Wednesday, July 31, 2019

David Jones Essay

David Jones has a skilled, experienced and expertise Board of directors which is accountable for caring the rights, interests and the management of David Jones. Chief Executive Officer and Managing director are responsible for setting strategy, planning and administration for the company on daily basis. Paul Zahra has been â€Å"Chief Executive Officer and Managing director† for David Jones since 18 June 2010. Mr Zahra has more than 30 years’ experience in the Australian retail industry. He has held senior management roles across the retail sector in the areas of buying, stores, visual merchandising, supply chain, store refurbishments, customer service and operations. Directors are from a mix of different backgrounds, knowledge, skills and experience in the areas of retailing, financial services, property management and development, marketing, human resources, information technology, finance and law. Board of Directors Committee Memberships Name Role Audit Remuneration and Nominations Peter Mason AM Chairman and Non-Executive Director Paul Zahra Chief Executive Officer Jane Harvey Non-Executive Director  John Harvey Non-Executive Director Chairman Philippa Stone Non-Executive Director Steven Vamos Non-Executive Director Chairman Leigh Clapham Non-Executive Director Executive Management Name Role Paul Zahra Chief Executive Officer Paula Bauchinger Group Executive – Human Resources Cate Daniels Group Executive – Operations Matthew Durbin Executive – Strategic Planning Antony Karp Group Executive – Retail Services Sacha Laing Group Executive – Marketing and Financial Services Donna Player Group Executive – Merchandise David Robinson Executive – Multi Channel Strategy and Integration Brad Soller Chief Financial Officer 2. Employees According to David Jones , to achieve the highest profits and improve customer satisfaction, the company need to create an effective working environment for their employees following these goals: Every employee is valued; Recognition and reward for their contribution and performance; provide opportunities for employees to achieve their full potential; Obligation to safety, health and welfare, environmental responsibilities; and Support for philanthropic causes that are important to both David Jones’ customers and employees. Therefore, David Jones’ commitment is to realising its vision of being the ‘best place for our people to work’. In FY2012, David Jones invested in a range of advantages to ensure employees feel valued and supported: David Jones Charity Leave Policy: Supporting the philanthropic causes that are important to its customers and team members. Employee Referral Program: To reward any team member whose referral results in the successful placement of an external candidate in a nominated vacancy. Employee Self Service: To help team members achieve their full potential, reduces administration and to meet David Jones’ objective of transitioning to an environmentally sustainable business model. Innovation Workshop: Encourage continued innovative thinking, 150 team members from across the business participated in an innovation workshop at the Company’s annual conference in August 2012. To invest in the future and build the management and leadership capability of line managers, David Jones has established training and development programs. David Jones Executive Leadership Program: is designed to address the development needs of the David Jones’ Executive Committee and Executive Leadership Team, and comprises five leadership modules including a 360-degree leadership survey. David Jones Future Leaders Program: is designed in-house to develop high potential people managers that have been identified as part of the Company’s annual succession planning process. Operations Online Compliance: is designed to ensures that frontline employees remain current in processes and policies that are important to their role, including workplace safety, food safety, customer service and the David Jones Code of Ethics and Conduct. Recognition and Reward: New Executive Incentive Framework New Enterprise Agreements New Frontline Incentive Program Excellence Awards Program David Jones does not tolerate harassment, discrimination or bullying in the workplace. Employees of David Jones can expect to be treated in a fair and professional manner. Unacceptable behaviours under the David Jones terms of employment: Harassment- Discrimination and Bullying. 3. Organisational Culture Diversity Management and the entire David Jones workforce are embraced of and attract diverse, talented and motivated people. David Jones’ diversity supports commitment to a culture that equally embraces: gender, age, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and family responsibilities of our people. David Jones encourages and supports all of our employees to reach their full potential and irrespective of gender. David Jones’ corporate sponsorship of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the operation of Rose Clinics, while a philanthropic initiative, also serves to demonstrate our commitment to raising health awareness among employees and customers alike. This is representative of our broader commitment to the promotion of women and issues that affect women Equity David Jones has a Share Trading Policy that complies with the requirements of ASX Listing Rule 12. This was lodged with the ASX in 2010 and is available in the Corporate Governance section of its website. Consistent with the legal prohibitions on insider trading, under the policy, all directors, officers, members of senior management, other employees and consultants are prohibited from dealing in David Jones securities while in possession of unpublished price sensitive information about David Jones. HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED is the biggest shareholders with 69,772,020 shares (13. 20%). The 20 largest ordinary shareholders hold 45.  17% of the ordinary shares of the Company. External environment I. General Environment 1. Political and Legal Carbon Pricing Scheme David Jones has a proven track record in reducing its carbon emissions and supports the government of the day in its attempts to move the economy towards a low-carbon future. David Jones conducted its own analysis in 2011 to determine the direct impact on its cost base and participated in roundtable discussions facilitated by the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) to review macro-environmental impacts of the scheme. Macro-environmental impacts ANRA advocated that the government release analysis outlining how households would be affected and compensated by the introduction of a carbon price. Subsequent to these discussions, additional information was released, addressing many of the unknown factors in relation to the scheme and confining any detrimental impact on consumer sentiment, which is a key driver of top-line growth for discretionary retailers. Direct financial impacts David Jones count on the Business Roundtable on Climate Change, established by the Federal government, to represent business interests in the development of the Clean Energy Future legislative package, including the carbon pricing scheme. Trading Hours David Jones follow retail industry’s opening hours Monday:9:30am – 7:00pm Tuesday:9:30am – 7:00pm Wednesday:9:30am – 7:00pm Thursday:9:30am – 9:00pm Friday:9:30am – 9:00pm Saturday:9:00am – 7:00pm Sunday:10:00am – 7:00pm 2. Economical Low Inflation rate and high Australian dollar makes foreign imports become cheaper, leads to an increase in profit of David Jones. On the other hand, increase in the value of money also makes customers become interested in shopping online or buy goods overseas, makes customers rate of David Jones fall. Therefore, David Jones should adjust the price of goods for both profitable and consistent with the economic situation and the needs of customers. An increase in the unemployment rate reduces people’s income and also their shopping needs. 3. Social Cultural People are trying to keep a balance between their work and social-life. Besides spending a whole day at work, they are willing to spend more time go to department stores on the weekdays. Based on population data from around Australia, Gen Y has appeared as Australia’s largest demographic with 4. 67 million people. Generation X has also grown to 4. 6 million. And, the Baby Boomer demographic is shrinking; falling by 6,000 to just 4. 11 million people. Generation X and Y are tremendously internet savvy. The internet is the first place that they look when purchasing goods and services. There are more educated people so their knowledge about fashion and fashion demand has increased. They are willing to purchase clothes with good quality from well-known suppliers. 4. Technological New Point of Sale (POS) system: will improve customers’ service experience and reduce transaction times. This system has multi-functionality and will play a pivotal role in David Jones’ OCR Strategy. David Jones also has new Workforce Management and Traffic Analytics System. 5. Natural David Jones is committed to managing its own operations in an environmentally sustainable manner and will meet this commitment by: Investing in efficiency measures and driving behavioural change to reduce the impact that the business has on the environment; Embedding environmental sustainability into the corporate cultural of the organisation; Developing robust  management systems to ensure transparency and confidence in environmental reporting. David Jones’ environment strategy comprises four strategic objectives: Improve environmental outcomes, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting and conserving natural resources, and optimising water use. Motivate cultural change, by encouraging behavioural change and then by integrating sustainability into decision making at all levels of the organisation. Engage with employees, customers and shareholders, to ensure that interested stakeholders are able to access information about David Jones’ environmental impacts and initiatives, and ensure that the Company’s approach to sustainability reflects stakeholder expectations. Meet and, where viable, exceed the Company’s mandatory and voluntary reporting obligations. II. Specific environment 1. Customers People are willing to dress nicer, fussy and trendy. The way they dress is usually according to the fashion trend. They are influenced from the internet; all the fashion trends are spreading quickly. 2. Competitors : Myer Myer is Australia’s largest department store group, and a market leader in Australian retailing, operating about 65 stores that offer some of the top style and fashion lines in the country. Merchandise (some 2,400 brands) is sourced from suppliers worldwide and includes accessories; women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel; beauty and cosmetics; electrical goods; housewares; and toys. Myer runs stores in about 25 of the top 30 largest shopping centres in Australia, with New South Wales as its top market, followed by Victoria and Queensland. Besides Myer, Target, Kmart and other smaller retailers are also David Jones’ competitors. 3. Suppliers Suppliers are an integral part of David Jones’ â€Å"Home of Brands† strategy, which makes David Jones stand out from its competitors. David Jones is committed to improving and strengthening their relationship with each of their suppliers. David Jones also appreciates suppliers that have understood Australian customers and have adjusted their prices. 4. Regulations ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION David Jones takes a responsible approach in relation to the management of environmental matters. David Jones’ report has followed with the requirements of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Cth) (NGER Act). No environmental breaches have been notified to the Company Entity by any government agency. David Jones is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors, visitors and customers. David Jones continues to work towards achieving an incident-free and injury-free workplace. This commitment is supported by the â€Å"SafetyFirst@davidjones† management system and the Company’s safety programs â€Å"SafetyFirst@ davidjones† management system imitates efforts of team members to put â€Å"SafetyFirst† in daily tasks and activities, by identifying and controlling hazards that have the potential to cause incidents and injuries. Safety Information Management system Incident, Hazard and Investigation: provides an on-line system to support the reporting of incidents and the completion of incident investigations, risk assessments and associated corrective actions; Case and Claims Management: focuses on the management of information related to workers compensation claim files, claim transactions and payments as well as Return to Work Plans for work related and non-work related injuries; Risk Management; Audit and Inspections; Training: focuses on core compliance training, safety accountabilities, hazard and risk management and injury management training.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Seven

WALKING INTO THE COURTROOM was one of the most surreal experiences of my life–and not just because I was the one being accused here. It just kept reminding me of Victor's trial, and the idea that I was now in his place was almost too weird to comprehend. Entering a room with a troop of guardians makes people stare–and believe me, there were a lot of people packed in there–so naturally, I didn't skulk or look ashamed. I walked with confidence, my head held high. Again, I had that eerie flashback to Victor. He too had walked in defiantly, and I'd been appalled that someone who had committed his crimes could behave that way. Were these people thinking the same thing about me? On the dais at the front of the room sat a woman I didn't recognize. Among the Moroi, a judge was usually a lawyer who had been appointed to the position for the purposes of the hearing or whatever. The trial itself–at least a big one like Victor's–had been presided over by the queen. She had been the one to ultimately decide the final verdict. Here, the Council members would be the ones to decide if I even reached that stage. The trial makes it official. That's where they pass the verdict and dole out the punishment. My escort took me to the front seating of the room, past the bar that separated the key players from the audience, and motioned me toward a spot next to a middle-aged Moroi in a very formal and very designer black suit. The suit screamed, I'm sorry the queen is dead, and I'm going to look fashionable while showing my grief. His hair was a pale blond, lightly laced with the first signs of silver. Somehow, he made it look good. I presumed this was Damon Tarus, my lawyer, but he didn't say a word to me. Mikhail sat beside me as well, and I was glad they'd chosen him to be the one who literally didn't leave my side. Glancing back, I saw Daniella and Nathan Ivashkov sitting with other high-ranking royals and their families. Adrian had chosen not to join them. He sat farther back, with Lissa, Christian, and Eddie. All of their faces were filled with worry. The judge–an elderly, gray-haired Moroi who looked like she could still kick ass–called the room to attention, and I twisted around to face forward again. The Council was entering, and she announced them one by one. Two sets of benches had been arranged for them, two rows of six with a thirteenth in back raised. Of course, only eleven of the spots were filled, and I tried not to scowl. Lissa should have been sitting there. When the Council was settled, the judge turned to face the rest of us and spoke in a voice that rang through the room. â€Å"This hearing is now in order, in which we will determine whether there is enough evidence to–â€Å" A commotion at the door cut her off, and the audience craned their necks to see what was going on. â€Å"What's this disturbance about?† the judge demanded. One of the guardians had the door partially open and was leaning out, apparently speaking to whoever was in the hall. He ducked back into the room. â€Å"The accused's lawyer is here, Your Honor.† The judge glanced at Damon and me and then delivered a frown to the guardian. â€Å"She already has a lawyer.† The guardian shrugged and appeared comically helpless. If there had been a Strigoi out there, he would have known what to do. This bizarre interruption of protocol was beyond his skill set. The judge sighed. â€Å"Fine. Send whoever it is up here and let's get this settled.† Abe walked in. â€Å"Oh dear lord,† I said out loud. I didn't have to scold myself for speaking out of turn because a hum of conversation immediately filled the room. My guess was that half were in awe because they knew Abe and his reputation. The other half were probably just stunned by his appearance. He wore a gray cashmere suit, considerably lighter than Damon's grim black. Underneath it was a dress shirt that was so bright a white, it seemed to glow–particularly next to the brilliant crimson silk tie he wore. Other spots of red were scattered about his outfit–a handkerchief in the pocket, ruby cuff links. Naturally, it was all as perfectly tailored and expensive as Damon's outfit. But Abe didn't look like he was in mourning. He didn't even look like he was coming to a trial. It was more like he'd been interrupted on his way to a party. And of course, he sported his usual gold hoop earrings and trimmed black beard. The judge silenced the room with a hand motion as he strutted up to her. â€Å"Ibrahim Mazur,† she said, with a shake of her head. There were equal parts amazement and disapproval in her voice. â€Å"This is†¦ unexpected.† Abe swept her a gallant bow. â€Å"It's lovely to see you again, Paula. You haven't aged a day.† â€Å"We aren't at a country club, Mr. Mazur,† she informed him. â€Å"And while here, you will address me by my proper title.† â€Å"Ah. Right.† He winked. â€Å"My apologies, Your Honor.† Turning, he glanced around until his eyes rested on me. â€Å"There she is. Sorry to have delayed this. Let's get started.† Damon stood up. â€Å"What is this? Who are you? I'm her lawyer.† Abe shook his head. â€Å"There must have been some mistake. It took me a while to get a flight here, so I can see why you would have appointed a community lawyer to fill in.† â€Å"Community lawyer!† Damon's face grew red with indignation. â€Å"I'm one of the most renowned lawyers among American Moroi.† â€Å"Renowned, community.† Abe shrugged and leaned back on his heals. â€Å"I don't judge. No pun intended.† â€Å"Mr. Mazur,† interrupted the judge, â€Å"are you a lawyer?† â€Å"I'm a lot of things, Paula–Your Honor. Besides, does it matter? She only needs someone to speak for her.† â€Å"And she has someone,† exclaimed Damon. â€Å"Me.† â€Å"Not anymore,† said Abe, his demeanor still very pleasant. He had never stopped smiling, but I thought I saw that dangerous glint in his eyes that frightened so many of his enemies. He was the picture of calm, while Damon looked like he was ready to have a seizure. â€Å"Your Honor–â€Å" â€Å"Enough!† she said in that resounding voice of hers. â€Å"Let the girl choose.† She fixed her brown eyes on me. â€Å"Who do you want to speak for you?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My mouth dropped open at how abruptly the attention shifted to me. I'd been watching the drama between the two men like a tennis match, and now the ball had hit me in the head. â€Å"Rose.† Startled, I turned slightly. Daniella Ivashkov had crept over in the row behind me. â€Å"Rose,† she whispered again, â€Å"you have no idea who that Mazur man is.† Oh, didn't I? â€Å"You want nothing to do with him. Damon's the best. He's not easy to get.† She moved back to her seat, and I looked between my two potential lawyers' faces. I understood Daniella's meaning. Adrian had talked her into getting Damon for me, and then she had talked Damon into actually doing it. Rejecting him would be an insult to her, and considering she was one of the few royal Moroi who'd been nice to me about Adrian, I certainly didn't want to earn her dislike. Besides, if this was some setup by royals, having one of them on my side was probably my best chance at getting off. And yet†¦ there was Abe, looking at me with that clever smile of his. He was certainly very good at getting his way, but a lot of that was by force of his presence and reputation. If there really was some absurd evidence against me, Abe's attitude wouldn't be enough to make it go away. Of course, he was sly, too. The serpent. He could make the impossible happen; he'd certainly pulled a lot of strings for me. That did not, however, change the fact that he wasn't a lawyer. On the other hand, he was my father. He was my father, and although we still barely knew each other, he'd gone to great lengths to get here and saunter in with his gray suit to defend me. Was it fatherly love gone bad? Was he really all that good a lawyer? And at the end of the day, was it true that blood ran thicker than water? I didn't know. I actually didn't like that saying. Maybe it worked for humans, but it made no sense with vampires. Anyway, Abe was staring at me intently with dark brown eyes nearly identical to mine. Trust me, he seemed to say. But could I? Could I trust my family? I would have trusted my mother if she were here–and I knew she trusted Abe. I sighed and gestured toward him. â€Å"I'll take him.† In an undertone, I added, â€Å"Don't let me down, Zmey.† Abe's smile grew broader as shocked exclamations filled the audience, and Damon protested in outrage. Daniella might have had to persuade him to take me on in the beginning, but now this case had become a matter of pride for him. His reputation had just been sullied by me passing him up. But I'd made my choice, and the exasperated judge would hear no more arguments about it. She shooed Damon away, and Abe slid into his seat. The judge began with the standard opening speech, explaining why we were here, etc., etc. As she spoke, I leaned toward Abe. â€Å"What have you gotten me into?† I hissed to him. â€Å"Me? What have you gotten yourself into? Couldn't I have just picked you up at the police station for underage drinking, like most fathers?† I was beginning to understand why people got irritated when I made jokes in dangerous situations. â€Å"My fucking future's on the line! They're going to send me to trial and convict me!† Every trace of humor or cheer vanished from his face. His expression grew hard, deadly serious. A chill ran down my spine. â€Å"That,† he said in a low, flat voice, â€Å"is something I swear to you is never, ever going to happen.† The judge turned her attention back to us and the prosecuting lawyer, a woman called Iris Kane. Not a royal name, but she still looked pretty hard-core. Maybe that was just a lawyer thing. Before the evidence against me was laid out, the queen's murder was also described in all its grisly detail. How'd she'd been found this morning in bed, a silver stake through her heart and a profound look of horror and shock on her face. Blood had been everywhere: on her nightgown, the sheets, her skin†¦ The pictures were shown to everyone in the room, triggering a variety of reactions. Gasps of surprise. More fear and panic. And some†¦ some people wept. Some of those tears were undoubtedly because of the whole terrible situation, but I think many cried because they'd loved or liked Tatiana. She'd been cold and stiff at times, but for the most part, her reign had been a peaceful and just one. After the pictures, they called me up. The hearing didn't run the way a normal trial did. There was no formal switching back of lawyers as they questioned witnesses. They each just sort of stood there and took turns asking questions while the judge kept order. â€Å"Miss Hathaway,† began Iris, dropping my title. â€Å"What time did you return to your room last night?† â€Å"I don't know the exact time†¦.† I focused on her and Abe, not the sea of faces out there. â€Å"Somewhere around 5 a.m., I think. Maybe 6.† â€Å"Was anyone with you?† â€Å"No, well–yes. Later.† Oh, God. Here it comes. â€Å"Um, Adrian Ivashkov visited me.† â€Å"What time did he arrive?† asked Abe. â€Å"I'm not sure of that either. A few hours after I got back, I guess.† Abe turned his charming smile on Iris, who was rustling through some papers. â€Å"The queen's murder has been pretty accurately narrowed down to between seven and eight. Rose wasn't alone–of course, we would need Mr. Ivashkov to testify to that effect.† My eyes flicked briefly to the audience. Daniella looked pale. This was her nightmare: Adrian getting involved. Glancing farther over, I saw that Adrian himself seemed eerily calm. I really hoped he wasn't drunk. Iris held up a sheet of paper triumphantly. â€Å"We have a signed statement from a janitor who says Mr. Ivashkov arrived at the defendant's building at approximately nine twenty.† â€Å"That's pretty specific,† said Abe. He sounded amused, like she'd said something cute. â€Å"Do you have any desk staff to confirm that?† â€Å"No,† Iris said icily. â€Å"But this is enough. The janitor remembers because he was about to take his break. Miss Hathaway was alone when the murder took place. She has no alibi.† â€Å"Well,† said Abe, â€Å"at least according to some questionable ‘facts.'† But no more was said about the time. The evidence was admitted into the official records, and I took a deep breath. I hadn't liked that line of questioning, but it had been expected, based on the earlier conversations I'd heard via Lissa. The no-alibi thing wasn't good, but I kind of shared Abe's vibe. What they had so far still didn't seem strong enough to send me to trial. Plus, they hadn't asked anything else about Adrian, which left him out of this. â€Å"Next exhibit,† said Iris. There was smug triumph all over her face. She knew the time thing was sketchy, but whatever was coming up, she thought it was gold. But actually, it was silver. A silver stake. So help me, she had a silver stake in a clear plastic container. It gleamed in the incandescent lighting–except for its tip. That was dark. With blood. â€Å"This is the stake used to kill the queen,† declared Iris. â€Å"Miss Hathaway's stake.† Abe actually laughed. â€Å"Oh, come on. Guardians are issued stakes all the time. They have an enormous, identical supply.† Iris ignored him and looked at me. â€Å"Where is your stake right now?† I frowned. â€Å"In my room.† She turned and glanced out over the crowd. â€Å"Guardian Stone?† A tall dhampir with a bushy black mustache rose from the crowd. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"You conducted the search of Miss Hathaway's room and belongings, correct?† I gaped in outrage. â€Å"You searched my–â€Å" A sharp look from Abe silenced me. â€Å"Correct,† said the guardian. â€Å"And did you find any silver stakes?† asked Iris. â€Å"No.† She turned back to us, still smug, but Abe seemed to find this new information even more ridiculous than the last batch. â€Å"That proves nothing. She could have lost the stake without realizing it.† â€Å"Lost it in the queen's heart?† â€Å"Miss Kane,† warned the judge. â€Å"My apologies, Your Honor,† said Iris smoothly. She turned to me. â€Å"Miss Hathaway, is there anything special about your stake? Anything that would distinguish it from others?† â€Å"Y-yes.† â€Å"Can you describe that?† I swallowed. I had a bad feeling about this. â€Å"It has a pattern etched near the top. A kind of geometric design.† Guardians had engraving done sometimes. I'd found this stake in Siberia and kept it. Well, actually, Dimitri had sent it to me after it had come loose from his chest. Iris walked over to the Council and held out the container so that each of them could examine it. Returning to me, she gave me my turn. â€Å"Is this your pattern? Your stake?† I stared. It was indeed. My mouth opened, ready to say yes, but then I caught Abe's eye. Clearly, he couldn't talk directly to me, but he sent a lot of messages in that gaze. The biggest one was to be careful, be sly. What would a slippery person like Abe do? â€Å"It†¦ it looks similar to the design on mine,† I said at last. â€Å"But I can't say for sure if it's the exact same one.† Abe's smile told me I'd answered correctly. â€Å"Of course you can't,† Iris said, as though she'd expected no better. She handed off the container to one of the court clerks. â€Å"But now that the Council has seen that the design matches her description and is almost like her stake, I would like to point out that testing has revealed†Ã¢â‚¬â€œshe held up more papers, victory all over her face–â€Å"that her fingerprints are on it.† There, it was. The big score. The â€Å"hard evidence.† â€Å"Any other fingerprints?† asked the judge. â€Å"No, Your Honor. Just hers.† â€Å"That means nothing,† said Abe with a shrug. I had a feeling that if I stood and suddenly confessed to the murder, he would still claim it was dubious evidence. â€Å"Someone steals her stake and wears gloves. Her fingerprints would be on it because it's hers.† â€Å"That's getting kind of convoluted, don't you think?† asked Iris. â€Å"The evidence is still full of holes,† he protested. â€Å"That's what's convoluted. How could she have gotten into the queen's bedroom? How could she have gotten through the guards?† â€Å"Well,† mused Iris, â€Å"those would be questions best explored in trial, but considering Miss Hathaway's extensive record of breaking into and out of places, as well as the countless other disciplinary marks she has, I don't doubt she could have found any number of ways to get inside.† â€Å"You have no proof,† said Abe. â€Å"No theory.† â€Å"We don't need it,† said Iris. â€Å"Not at this point. We have more than enough to go to trial, don't we? I mean, we haven't even gotten to the part where countless witnesses heard Miss Hathaway tell the queen she'd regret establishing the recent guardian law. I can find the transcript if you like–not to mention reports of other ‘expressive' commentary Miss Hathaway made in public.† A memory came back to me, of standing outside with Daniella while I ranted–with others watching–about how the queen couldn't buy me off with an assignment. Not a good decision on my part. Neither was busting in on the Death Watch or complaining about the queen being worth protecting when Lissa had been captured. I'd given Iris a lot of material. â€Å"Oh yes,† Iris continued. â€Å"We also have accounts of the queen declaring her extreme disapproval of Miss Hathaway's involvement with Adrian Ivashkov, particularly when the two ran off to elope.† I opened my mouth at that, but Abe silenced me. â€Å"There are countless other records of Her Majesty and Miss Hathaway sparring in public. Would you like me to find those papers too, or are we able to vote on a trial now?† This was directed at the judge. I had no legal background, but the evidence was pretty damning. I would have said that there was definitely reason to consider me a murder suspect, except†¦ â€Å"Your Honor?† I asked. I think she'd been about to give her declaration. â€Å"Can I say something?† The judge thought about it, then shrugged. â€Å"I see no reason not to. We're collecting all the evidence there is.† Oh, me freelancing was not in Abe's plan at all. He strode to the stand, hoping to stop me with his wise counsel, but he wasn't fast enough. â€Å"Okay,† I said, hoping I sounded reasonable and wasn't going to lose my temper. â€Å"You've put up a lot of suspicious stuff here. I can see that.† Abe looked pained. It was not an expression I'd seen on him before. He didn't lose control of situations very often. â€Å"But that's the thing. It's too suspicious. If I were going to murder someone, I wouldn't be that stupid. Do you think I'd leave my stake stuck in her chest? Do you think I wouldn't wear gloves? Come on. That's insulting. If I'm as crafty as you claim my record says I am, then why would I do it this way? I mean, seriously? If I did it, it'd be a lot better. You'd never even peg me as a suspect. This is all really kind of an insult to my intelligence.† â€Å"Rose–† began Abe, a dangerous note in his tone. I kept going. â€Å"All this evidence you've got is so painfully obvious. Hell, whoever set this up might as well have painted an arrow straight to me–and someone did set me up, but you guys are too stupid to even consider that.† The volume of my voice was rising, and I consciously brought it back to normal levels. â€Å"You want an easy answer. A quick answer. And you especially want someone with no connections, no powerful family to protect them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated there, unsure how to classify Abe. â€Å"Because that's how it always is. That's how it was with that age law. No one was able to stand up for the dhampirs either because this goddamned system won't allow it.† It occurred to me then that I had strayed pretty far off the subject–and was making myself look more guilty by slamming the age law. I reined myself back in. â€Å"Um, anyway, Your Honor†¦ what I'm trying to say is that this evidence shouldn't be enough to accuse me or send me to trial. I wouldn't plan a murder this badly.† â€Å"Thank you, Miss Hathaway,† said the judge. â€Å"That was very†¦ informative. You may take your seat now while the Council votes.† Abe and I returned to our bench. â€Å"What in the world were you thinking?† he whispered. â€Å"I was telling it like it is. I was defending myself.† â€Å"I wouldn't go that far. You're no lawyer.† I gave him a sidelong look. â€Å"Neither are you, old man.† The judge asked the Council to vote on whether they believed there was enough evidence to make me a viable suspect and send me to trial. They did. Eleven hands went up. Just like that, it was over. Through the bond, I felt Lissa's alarm. As Abe and I rose to leave, I looked out in the audience, which was starting to disband and buzzing with talk over what would happen now. Her light green eyes were wide, her face unusually pale. Beside her, Adrian too looked distressed, but as he stared at me, I could see love and determination radiating. And in the back, behind both of them†¦ Dimitri. I hadn't even known he was here. His eyes were on me too, dark and endless. Only I couldn't read what he was feeling. His face betrayed nothing, but there was something in his eyes†¦ something intense and intimidating. The image of him ready to take down that group of guardians flashed through my mind, and something told me that if I asked, he would do it again. He would fight his way to me through this courtroom and do everything in his power to rescue me from it. A brushing of my hand distracted me from him. Abe and I had started to exit, but the aisle ahead of us was packed with people, bringing us to a halt. The touch against my hand was a small piece of paper shoved between my fingers. Glancing over, I saw Ambrose was sitting near the aisle, staring straight ahead. I wanted to ask what was going on, but some instinct kept me silent. Seeing as the line still wasn't moving, I hastily opened the paper, keeping it out of Abe's sight. The paper was tiny, its elegant cursive almost impossible to read. Rose, If you're reading this, then something terrible has happened. You probably hate me, and I don't blame you. I can only ask that you trust that what I did with the age decree was better for your people than what others had planned. There are some Moroi who want to force all dhampirs into service, whether they want it or not, by using compulsion. The age decree has slowed that faction down. However, I write to you with a secret you must put right, and it is a secret you must share with as few as possible. Vasilisa needs her spot on the Council, and it can be done. She is not the last Dragomir. Another lives, the illegitimate child of Eric Dragomir. I know nothing else, but if you can find this son or daughter, you will give Vasilisa the power she deserves. No matter your faults and dangerous temperament, you are the only one I feel can take on this task. Waste no time in fulfilling it. –Tatiana Ivashkov I stared at the piece of paper, its writing swirling before me, but its message burning into my mind. She is not the last Dragomir. Another lives. If that was true, if Lissa had a half-brother or half-sister†¦ it would change everything. She would get a vote on the Council. She would no longer be alone. If it was true. If this was from Tatiana. Anyone could sign her name to a piece of paper. It didn't make it real. Still, I shivered, troubled at the thought of getting a letter from a dead woman. If I allowed myself to see the ghosts around us, would Tatiana be there, restless and vengeful? I couldn't bring myself to let down my walls and look. Not yet. There had to be other answers. Ambrose had given me the note. I needed to ask him†¦ except we were moving down the aisle again. A guardian nudged me along. â€Å"What's that?† asked Abe, always alert and suspicious. I hastily folded the note back up. â€Å"Nothing.† The look he gave me told me he didn't believe that at all. I wondered if I should tell him. It is a secret you must share with as few as possible. If he was one of the few, this wasn't the place. I tried to distract him from it and shake the dumbstruck look that must have been on my face. This note was a big problem–but not quite as big as the one immediately facing me. â€Å"You told me I wouldn't go to trial,† I said to Abe. My earlier annoyance returned. â€Å"I took a big chance with you!† â€Å"It wasn't a big chance. Tarus couldn't have got you out of this either.† Abe's easy attitude about all this infuriated me further. â€Å"Are you saying you knew this hearing was a lost cause from the beginning?† It was what Mikhail had said too. How nice to have such faith from everyone. â€Å"This hearing wasn't important,† Abe said evasively. â€Å"What happens next is.† â€Å"And what is that exactly?† He gave me that dark, sly gaze again. â€Å"Nothing you need to worry about yet.† One of the guardians put his hand on my arm, telling me I needed to move. I resisted his pull and leaned toward Abe. â€Å"The hell I don't! This is my life we're talking about,† I exclaimed. I knew what would come next. Imprisonment until the trial. And then more imprisonment if I was convicted. â€Å"This is serious! I don't want to go to trial! I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a place like Tarasov.† The guard tugged harder, pushing us forward, and Abe fixed me with a piercing gaze that made my blood run cold. â€Å"You will not go to trial. You will not go to prison,† he hissed, out of the guards' hearing. â€Å"I won't allow it. Do you understand?† I shook my head, confused over so much and not knowing what to do about any of it. â€Å"Even you have your limits, old man.† His smile returned. â€Å"You'd be surprised. Besides, they don't even send royal traitors to prison, Rose. Everyone knows that.† I scoffed. â€Å"Are you insane? Of course they do. What else do you think they do with traitors? Set them free and tell them not to do it again?† â€Å"No,† said Abe, just before he turned away. â€Å"They execute traitors.† Many thanks to all the friends and family who have lent their considerable support to me as I worked on this, especially my amazing and patient husband. I know I couldn't get through this without you! Special thanks also to my pal Jen Ligot and her eagle eyes. On the publishing side, I'm always grateful for the hard work of my agent Jim McCarthy, as well as everyone else at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management–including Lauren Abramo, who helps spread Vampire Academy around the world. Thank you also to the gang at Penguin Books–Jessica Rothenberg, Ben Schrank, Casey McIntyre, and so many others–who work a lot of magic for this series. My publishers outside the U.S. are also doing wonderful things for getting the word out about Rose, and I'm constantly amazed to see the growing international response. Thank you so much for all you do. A last shout-out to my readers, whose continued enthusiasm still overwhelms me. Thank you for reading and loving these characters as much as I do.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Mentoring Program Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mentoring Program - Research Proposal Example So, first of all, it seems necessary to define what particular outcomes we should expect from implementing an own mentoring program. One of the most significant is, I believe, developing a high performing team of professionals. Since team work is an essential part of our operations, it is important that our employees understand and accept this principle. Especially important it is because we cannot provide each with a mentor. Therefore, the first task to be accomplished while designing our mentoring program is choosing which particular people will be directly participating in the program. 2.1.1. 360 Degree Evaluation For this purpose I suggest to conduct a 360 degree evaluation: The 360 Degree Feedback System has recently experienced a wide spread among the organization wishing to improve and enhance their performance measuring systems. This particular method involves getting a feedback on an employee’s performance not only from a supervisor, as we do now, but also from four to eight peers, reports, colleagues or customers. In most cases the system also requires an employee oneself to assess own performance in an individual assessment (Heatfield, 2008). So, in addition to giving the manager an opportunity to get a wide range perspective on the employee’s performance, this system enables the supervisor to understand how the employee’s performance is viewed by others – that is to base evaluation not only on own perception, but on other’s opinions as well.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Research propsal - Operation Managerment (TQM) Essay

Research propsal - Operation Managerment (TQM) - Essay Example The study shows that though economies of scale, access to technology and sales operations channels remain significant factors to the advantage of big companies, they remain vulnerable to price wars and product switching schemes initiated by smaller players in the industry. The conclusion is that companies need to focus globally competitive strategies while remaining local in approach to consumers. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2004), the retail and consumer industry is one of the industries exhibiting one of the highest growths today. Though the UNCTAD subsequently report reduced the expected growth rate projections in 2006, the industry remains to be an attractive industry (Awbi, 2006a; Tesco expands in Japan, backtracks on China, 2006). As early as 2001, analysts have already predicted a developing price war among UK's supermarkets due to jockeying in the UK for market position as a platform of expansion (UK 'poised for supermarket wars'). Another important factor contributing to the competition in industry has been due to the entrants of small and big players into the industry which included the vigorous expansion of Wal-Mart in the UK (Schrage, 2005) However, indicators from the second half ... ed growth rate projections in 2006, the industry remains to be an attractive industry (Awbi, 2006a; Tesco expands in Japan, backtracks on China, 2006). Research Rationale As early as 2001, analysts have already predicted a developing price war among UK's supermarkets due to jockeying in the UK for market position as a platform of expansion (UK 'poised for supermarket wars'). Another important factor contributing to the competition in industry has been due to the entrants of small and big players into the industry which included the vigorous expansion of Wal-Mart in the UK (Schrage, 2005) However, indicators from the second half of 2006 have indicated that earlier projections in 2004 may still be achievable due to market growth in Europe (Awbi, 2006b). The UK supermarket industry has is critical in establishing market presence in the European Union (EU) and this is the motivation behind most companies in the industry vying for position in the local supermarket industry. This highlights the importance of developing TQM strategies that secure a retailer's position in the supermarket industry (Easterby - Smith et al, 2001). Objectives At the end of the study, the research aims to be able to enumerate the key TQM strategy elements that companies need to be competitive in the UK supermarket industry. The study will be able to identify key industrial characteristics that drive the market's movement as well consumer motivations and expectations. The study will provide insights on the dynamics of the UK supermarket industry as it continues to grow in significance globally. The study does not aim to prescribe the strategy to be taken but rather highlights what TQM programs are being utilized in the industry and their value in the formulation of individual companies'

The purpose of the Reflective Paper is for you to culminate the Essay

The purpose of the Reflective Paper is for you to culminate the learning achieved in the course by describing your understanding and application of knowledge in the field of human resource management - Essay Example Additionally, it is the duty of the human resource management to promote employee satisfaction, personal development, as well as complying with laws that are related to employment. The following are the tasks that the human resource management team should indulge themselves in. One of the main tasks that the human resource manager is given is hiring. Finding a suitable person to take up the position that a human resource manager intents to be filled is a very hard task to do. If the human resource management intends to hire the most suitable candidate for the job, the first step to take is to analyze the terms of the job. Analyzing the terms of the jobs include understanding the skills and knowledge acquired for the job, understanding how the job works and the typical settings of the work (Walker,1998). After the human resource management has analyzed what the job entails, the next step that is required is writing down the job descriptions. Writing the job descriptions entails writing the minimum requirements of the job. The first step to do is to provide a simple and short synopsis of what the job entails. The next step is to write down the duties. In writing down the duties, the human resource management should divide the tasks into minor sub duties of the job requirement. The final thing to do is to write the degree of supervision entailed. This includes whether supervision is given or received. The technique used in recruiting should be able to attract a large pool of people. This will enable the human resource management to find the perfect candidate for the job. The current employees provide a suitable candidate for the job since they know the rules and the regulations of the job. This should be done through internal posting of the job perhaps through the notice job. The next step is usually to screen the right candidate through their application and resumes.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Evidence-Based Information about the Benefits of Bedside Handoff Essay

Evidence-Based Information about the Benefits of Bedside Handoff - Essay Example The time spent in the hand-off lasted from 30 minutes to one hour. While some nurses reported lack of real-time information pertaining to the patient during hand-offs, others reported unnecessary lag time between coming to duty and seeing the patients. This lag time was a hindrance to the proper functioning of the nurses because of inability to answer call lights and delayed response to the complaints of the patients. Another major hurdle in the variability of hand-off system was increased number of errors (Trossman, 2009). According to the Joint Commission (2000), one of the leading causes of sentinel events in a hospital setting is the failure in proper communication during shift hand-off (Laws and Amato, 2010). Traditional shift reporting is often repetitive, unstructured and inconsistent as far as information is concerned. According to Johnson and Web (1995; cited in Laws and Amato, 2010), traditional hand-offs "are frequently subjective in their content and accompanied by value judgments and labeling of patients." Mosher and Bontomasi (1996; Laws and Amato, 2010) opined that traditional shift hand-off also lacked in the planning of care. This is evident from the study by Jordan et al (1991; cited in Laws and Amato, 2010) in which "only 12% of change-of-shift reports included care planning and 2% included evaluation of nursing care." Traditional hand-off methods also deliver poor information (OConnell et al, 2008). From this, it is evident that traditional hand-off methods have several disadvantages and research has shown that these disadvantages can be tackled by implementing bedside reporting. Cline (cited in Trossman, 2009) reported that bedside reporting has many benefits like a review of the patient together, review of physician and medication orders, participation from the patients and their families and establishing of patient goals.  Ã‚  

Friday, July 26, 2019

Principles of management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Principles of management - Essay Example In 1948, they reorganized that their business as a hamburger stands using production line principles.   Ray Kroc  joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth.[ McDonalds vision is to be the worlds best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile. Below is the content of the McDonalds Vision Statement which is detailed with their outlook of the future. This mission is an effective and successful statement which is powerful, compelling, conveying confidence and inspiring views of the future. The importance of these types of statements is not being underestimated but to describe the values, services and vision for the future. McDonalds brand mission is to provide customers with favorite place and way to eat and drink. Their worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy which is referred to as Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience of People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. They are committed to continuously improving their operations and enhancing their customers experience. The McDonalds headquarters is in the McDonalds Plaza which is located in  Oak Brook at Illinois. Its site is on the former headquarters of Paul Butler the founder of Oak Brook.  McDonalds moved into the Oak Brook facility from an office of the  Chicago Loop  in 1971. McDonalds was involved in a number of  lawsuits  and other legal cases which involved  trademark  disputes. His company had been threatened by many food businesses with legal action unless it drops the Mc or Mac from trading names. . The McDonalds company has defended itself in several cases that involve  workers rights. In 2001, the company was fined  £12,400 by British magistrates for employing illegally and

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Michael Hill Stores Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Michael Hill Stores - Assignment Example Proper leadership has played the leading role in the success of Michael Hill’s jewelry business. The company has been able to overcome the challenges and setbacks within the business environment due to proper leadership and organizational culture. Michael Hill has grown internationally and become a leader in jewelry retailing within its regional markets. A transformational leadership style is applied within the company and it acts as a driving force to the achievement of company objectives and goals. Transformational leadership style has allowed the leadership of Michael Hill to understand and meet the diverse needs of employees. The motivation within the company is due to competitive compensation package that is provided to employees. The company has also been able to meet the various needs of the employees as postulated within Maslow’s theory of motivation. This has led to a highly motivated workforce. Political, social, cultural, economic and environmental forces are some of the factors which have defined and determined the company’s success within its various retail stores across the world. A culture of success and values for high performance characterizes the company, which can be attributed to the competitiveness of the company through its ability to meet the needs of its customers. Section 1: The Organization Michael Hill is a jewelry chain which operates its retail business in Australia, Canada, the US and New Zealand. The company has more than 2000 employees across its 240 jewelry retail stores across the world. The headquarters of Michael Hill International are situated in the city of Brisbane, Australia. Michael Hill started the company in the year 1979 (Jewellery World, 2011). Since then the company has grown significantly. This is due to the dedication of the company’s leadership which has enabled it to overcome the inevitable challenges within its business environment. The success of the company is also attributed to the fact that it provides its customers with unique jewelry products and high quality formulae (First10, 2012). Furthermore, the company provides a variety of designs for its retail stores and a wide range of jewelry products, which makes it attractive to the customers. More significantly, there is the commitment of the company to branding and advertising its je welry products and services (Jewellery World, 2011). Michael Hill International has a decentralized organizational structure in which the national subsidiaries are headed by the regional managers who define the nature of regional operations. Nonetheless, Michael Hill who is the chairman of the company, acts as the overall head or leader of the company (First10, 2012). The decentralized structure of the company demonstrates its organic nature. The organizational structure also makes the company be able to adapt to the different business environments and the forces within regional markets. This is in line with the decentralized functions such as marketing, branding and competitive strategies. The company is, however, guided by the common mission: to be the most recognized by people and focused

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Discussion format 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion format 2 - Assignment Example What needs to be known about both of these big companies is that they provide many of the products for the lesser known store brands. In one store the mustard might have the store name on it, but it actually was made by either Kraft of Heinz. In many instances these store brands are made in the same factory and at the same time. These products are put into different bottles or plastic containers that carry the store’s name or brand. This is the way that business is being done in order to keep the cost of the store item low. Very few people understand how this is accomplished. The larger companies are not hurt by the store brands. What these companies would like for one to believe is that they have the customer’s interest at heart, when in actuality all they are interested in is the money that one will spend on their product. 2. Macy’; s vs. JC Penny has been competitors for many years; they have very similar shoppers. However the Penny shopper tends to be a littl e more frugal and is always watching her budget. The Macy’s shopper is a more outgoing and ready to spend. Both stores are in the same ball park; but in a game of their own.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Research project on Maritime transportation Paper

Project on Maritime transportation - Research Paper Example Primarily, this research project analyses the background, research problems, research objectives, literature review as well as shortcomings in the maritime transport. In the late 1960’s, the air travel was most embraced way of travel to the oversea. However, there was a very slight change in the ships transport in the 1960’s.on contrary, efficient in the engine did improve the carrying capacity of the ships regarding the public lounges, deck space and the passenger staterooms as effect from 1950’s.here in, this ships did transport passengers pertaining their classes for instance, third, second and first class. Following this, passengers in first class were more luxurious as compared to those in the second and third class. Mostly, frequent transportation was from New York all the way to London. following this, the most known ships in the era of ocean liners were the Queen Mary, Carolina ,Ocean Monarch and the Laconia just to mention but a few. Notably, the actual change did come in during 1960’s with the sell of 747s and other aircrafts all over the world. Besides, the â€Å"United States Federal Aviation Administration† established a global network of airport transportation. Following this, boat travel was not practical and economical since the rate of the jumbo had come into existence. Progressively, since passengers opted to travel with air, it was clear that the maritime transport could end. Apparently, the Love Boat decided to opt to the idea of luxury exploration, apart from the usual transport ability. Therefore, in order to revive this nature of maritime transport, the Love Boat made it more luxurious in order to capture the interest of those who wanted to travel in luxury or was going to vacation, and this was in influence by the year 1970s. Following this, there was a growth in the cruise ship vocational travel in all social classes. Casinos, Ocean Viewers, Pools and onboard entertainment were all available on the cruise ships.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Truth and Socrates Essay Example for Free

Truth and Socrates Essay Euthyphro – Plato Explain how the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue and why it takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. â€Å"Euthyphro answers that there is no difference of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety of punishing a murderer. Yes, rejoins Socrates, when they know him to be a murderer; but you are assuming the point at issue. If all the circumstances of the case are considered, are you able to show that your father was guilty of murder, or that all the gods are agreed in approving of our prosecution of him? And must you not allow that what is hated by one god may be liked by another? Waiving this last, however, Socrates proposes to amend the definition, and say that what all the gods love is pious, and what they all hate is impious. To this Euthyphro agrees. † But the pious or holy is loved by the gods because it is pious or holy, which is equivalent to saying, that it is loved by them because it is dear to them. Here then appears to be a contradiction,Euthyphro has been giving an attribute or accident of piety only, and not the essence. Euthyphro acknowledges himself that his explanations seem to walk away or go round in a circle, like the moving figures of Daedalus, the ancestor of Socrates, who has communicated his art to his descendants. Present the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates, and then explain how Socrates refutes each of Euthyphro’s definitions. 1) Euthyphro answers that there is no difference of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety of punishing a murderer. Yes, rejoins Socrates, when they know him to be a murderer; but you are assuming the point at issue. If all the circumstances of the case are considered, are you able to show that your father was guilty of murder, or that all the gods are agreed in approving of our prosecution of him? And must you not allow that what is hated by one god may be liked by another? Socrates proceeds to analyze the new form of the definition. He shows that in other cases the act precedes the state; e. g. the act of being carried, loved, etc. precedes the state of being carried, loved, etc. , and therefore that which is dear to the gods is dear to the gods because it is first loved of them, not loved of them because it is dear to them. 2) The next definition, Piety is that which is loved of the gods, is shipwrecked on a refined distinction between the state and the act, corresponding respectively to the adjective (philon) and the participle (philoumenon), or rather perhaps to the participle and the verb (philoumenon and phileitai). The act is prior to the state (as in Aristotle the energeia precedes the dunamis); and the state of being loved is preceded by the act of being loved. But piety or holiness is preceded by the act of being pious, not by the act of being loved; and therefore piety and the state of being loved are different. Through such subtleties of dialectic Socrates is working his way into a deeper region of thought and feeling. He means to say that the words loved of the gods express an attribute only, and not the essence of piety. 3) Then follows the third and last definition, Piety is a part of justice. Thus far Socrates has proceeded in placing religion on a moral foundation. He is seeking to realize the harmony of religion and morality, which the great poets Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Pindar had unconsciously anticipated, and which is the universal want of all men. To this the soothsayer adds the ceremonial element, attending upon the gods. When further interrogated by Socrates as to the nature of this attention to the gods, he replies, that piety is an affair of business, a science of giving and asking, and the like. Socrates points out the anthropomorphism of these notions, (compare Symp. ; Republic; Politicus. ) But when we expect him to go on and show that the true service of the gods is the service of the spirit and the co-operation Formulate your own argument as to what you think Socrates’s goal is in this dialogue. How do you know that is his goal? What features of the dialogue align with your interpretation of his goal? Generally, we do assume that we know things, although the skeptic is always around to remind us that maybe our confidence shouldnt be too high. The correspondence theorist insists that our knowledge claims are true, or at least very reliable, if our claims match up, or correspond, to the way the world actually is. The coherence theorist, in contrast, suggests that our various beliefs all must fit together, or cohere, correctly. Kant offers an alternative that combines a correspondence theory of truth (that is, our claims are true if they correspond to the world) and a rule–oriented theory of knowledge (that is, what we call knowledge must not break any of the rules that give us the ability to make those knowledge claims in the first place). a. Provide your own definition of piety/holiness and then create a Socratic response/critique of your definition. After you present your definition, take on the role of Socrates and respond to your own definition as you think he would.

National Museum of the Philippines Essay Example for Free

National Museum of the Philippines Essay Located at Padre Burgos Street, Manila City, sat the two branches of The National Museum of the Philippinesthe National Gallery of Art and the Museum of the Filipino People, where we went first. As we enter the hallway that leads to the first floor exhibits, we were greeted by a native Nipa hut complete with things that our ancestors used in the past. That same floor also houses the San Diego wreck site though it is a restricted area. We then went up to the next floor where it features the coming of the Spaniard merchant vessels in our country, our contacts with the other countries in terms of trade and commerce, as well as the Linnaeus and the Linnaeans. At the third floor, there were three galleries: The Origin (Pinagmulan), where it presents information on the origin of the Philippines and its people. It retold the story of how the Filipinos lived during the four pre-historic periodPaleolithic; Neolithic; Metal; and Ceramic Age. The second gallery is the Filipinos Today (Kinahinatnan), which features the diversion of our culture because of the influences of different countries and how colorful and beautiful it is. The last gallery is the Archaeological Treasures (Kaban ng Lahi), that showcases the burial jar collection and the importance of burial practice. The last floor was divided into two galleries. First one is the Kisame: Visions of Earth on Heaven that exhibits tons of photographs of ceiling paintings from Bohol colonial churches. It obviously displayed the religiosity of the Filipinos. The last gallery is all about the Biodiversity Exhibit, which shows the various flora and fauna in the country. After a couple of hours in the Museum of the Filipino People, we headed to National Gallery of Art. Although it is under renovation, it still welcomed visitors for free! The first gallery is called â€Å"The Hall of Masters† as it features the works of 19th century Filipino painters, Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo. The main attraction is the very famous Spolarium by Luna and opposite to it is Hidalgo’s â€Å"The Assasination of Governor Bustamante and his son†. As we move to the second floor, there is the fantastic Bones Exhibit. It displayed the skeletal remains of different animals—from mammals (including that of a human) to reptiles, to crustaceans and birds—that can be seen in the Philippines. At the center of the gallery is the humongous bone of a juvenile sperm whale. The last gallery on the third floor features the clothing of native Filipinos, and how it was made. REACTION: It was actually my first time to visit these museums and I was really glad that I already had the chance to. Although we spent almost five hours around the museum, I personally regret nothing. Every bit is worth the time. Seeing all those exhibits renewed my nationalistic heart and I’m more proud now to be a Filipino, realizing that we have tons of artistic countrymen and that there works are worthy of admirations. I’m also more aware now of our culture and how colorful it really is. I was really happy to see how our ancestors lived and how it evolved to our current lifestyle. I realized that why patronize foreign culture if you have your own that is way fun, right?

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Pc Gaming Vs Console Gaming Media Essay

Pc Gaming Vs Console Gaming Media Essay It wasnt that long ago that the PC was the only choice you had if you wanted to play games online. The first console that had online capabilities was the Sega Dreamcast, that lead the way for other consoles. The Dreamcast didnt sell very well, and the company wasnt able to support it anymore and went out of business. It wasnt until 2002 that PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube introduced online capabilities. Now that developers knew what gamers wanted it was very natural for a console to have online capabilities, to even be close to a successful system. Online games are very common in the gaming world, with Microsofts Xbox Live service leading the way with 23 million registered users. Sony has some tricks up there sleeve, and has big plans for online content for the PlayStation 3, consoles are starting to get game downloads only available on the PC. A few titles can now be played across systems, Final Fantasy XI uses this system and people with PS2, PC, and Xbox 360 can all explore the same world simultaneously. However, Computers still have the largest selection of online games. Some of the most popular games in the world are exclusive to the PC only. Games such as World of Warcraft and Counter Strike Source make up 40% of online PC gamers. There are many things to think about before deciding which device you want to buy. You have to decide what type of games you want to play, and how much money you are willing to spend, and if you need a computer for other things besides gaming. Ideally we would all have both a PC and a console, but if thats not an option, then a comparison of the two is needed. Multiplayer gaming has been made easy with Microsoft offering online services for their products. The Xbox comes equipped with a network card right out of the box, making it a simple hook up to a DSL or Cable Internet connection to get into multiplayer games on Xbox Live. With Xbox Live players are able to play with people around the country rather than having to play the AI, or have to go through the hassle of inviting friends over to play. You are able to trash talk your opponents if they you where in the same room. While these things are possible on a PC, consoles are built for this right out of the box. The biggest reason PC gaming isnt bigger than console gaming is mainly the cost. Most consoles today sell for less than $500 unless its within the first couple months of release, often with a couple games included. A PC around the same graphical power as an Xbox 360, or a PS3 can cost double the price of the console. On the PC, you have a very large range of often options everywhere you look. . Prices for a high-end PCs can get expensive very quickly A desktop can start at anywhere from $1,500 to $1,700. Not that you have to spend that much but, if youre going to spend time gaming on a PC, shouldnt you make the experience worthwhile? And, that startup cost presents a serious drawback for a lot of people (Charlie Deitch, Cityweekly.net). Everything in a PC is customizable to fit the gamers needs. You can pick and chose what you want to be in your computer, and when newer technology comes out you have the power to upgrade your computer if you want to. The second most obvious advantage is simplicity. PC Gaming can be a technical nightmare when trying to install games. People with Xboxes or PS3s can take their newly purchased game home and be playing within a matter of minutes. There are no operating systems to configure or drivers to update, you have the assurance that your game will work on your system unlike a computer. Console games are rented out more frequently than PC games, and more easily returned to the retailer if youre not satisfied with them. In other words, it is difficult to return PC games because they are easy to copy, and resale. The other problem with renting PC games they run off a CD/DVD with a serial code only working one time, so its not possible to Rent these games or return them. You have to take this into consideration when looking at the games available for both platforms. You will be able to rent games you dont want to buy, and if you do indeed buy the game you are able to return it and get something else if you are not satisfied. With the PC your return will just be simply rejected. Although sealing everything in one unit does seem like a good idea, when some of the components inside the box become out-dated there is no way to upgrade your console, or even repair your system without voiding a warranty. If you void your warranty by opening your system to try and upgrade or repair yourself then you can no longer send your Xbox in for repair meaning you have to buy a new one if you cant fix it yourself. The only safe choice you have to repairing your system is sending it back to the manufacture and waiting 4-6 weeks to get your system back. Consoles perform only one task really well, where PCs can be a wide variety of things. Some manufactures are trying to make consoles more flexible, but it is clear that it will be a long time before consoles will be able to run applications like the PC does. Keyboards use many more keys to do the same tasks you can do on a controller, but PCs offer a lot more control of the game, but it comes at a cost of hours of tutorials and practicing at the game. There is an obvious lack of connectivity between the different console brands. Many games are only available to a specific type of system, which means you can only play other people who own the same system as you. This means that people with Xboxes can only play against other people with Xboxes, for example there is no way for a person with a PS3 to jump the countless PC World of Warcraft servers available. The PS3 has made some progress in this area, paving the way for multi platform gaming between PS3, Xbox and PC users, but there are only a couple of titles that support this, and there done very poorly. While the PS3 and Xbox both have online capabilities a broadband connection is required for both systems. PS3s online services are free, while Microsoft charges a yearly fee for use of the Xbox Live service. One of the biggest advantages the PC has over consoles right now is that there are a lot more games available for the PC than there are for consoles, particularly when it comes to multiplayer online games. Not only are the vast majority of MMOGs designed for the PC, but PC gamers also have the option to play MUDs, email games, browser games, and a wide variety of titles that are distributed digitally or available as free downloads. As mentioned above, another clear advantage PCs have over consoles is that you can use them for a lot more than playing games. Furthermore, if you like to modify games or edit maps for them, a PC is essential, and you have to take a break from gaming sometime to read gaming sites. PCs are always on the cutting edge of gaming technology. The current generation of consoles with high-definition capabilities did briefly narrow the gap, but well-equipped PCs continue to offer superior graphics. Computer monitors can be found with considerably higher resolutions than HDTVs, and the latest multi-core processors and dual GPU solutions make it possible to build a remarkably powerful game system. Even if a console offers incredible technology upon its release, there is no way for it to compete with the rapid hardware advancements that have become a way of life in the computer industry. When it comes online gaming, PCs give people a variety of ways to connect to the Internet, and to each other, which arent restricted to proprietary services or software. Different brands of computer and event different operating systems generally communicate very well with one another. This is quite different from services like Xbox Live, for example, which is the only option available to Xbox users that want to play online, and is closed to everyone that doesnt have an Xbox. Finally, as your PC ages, there is a reasonable chance of extending its gaming life with a component upgrade, although it can get a bit messy. While PCs have come down considerably in price over the years, they are still quite expensive compared to consoles. There ways to economize on a PC, such as building it yourself, but its not easy to get the cost of a PC down to a price comparable to even the most expensive console. Computers are also getting a little more user friendly, but eventually every PC gamer will encounter some technical complication that interferes with their gaming, be it a device driver that needs updating or components that are simply incompatible. PCs are also much more vulnerable to viruses and other security breaches. The truth is, installing a game on your computer is always a bit of a gamble. You never really know if its going to work until youre actually playing the game, and even then, in the back of your mind, youre expecting it to crash at any moment. Unlike most console games, PC games have the potential to get ridiculously complicated. This can give a game depth, but it can also result in tedious arrays of keyboard commands and lengthy tutorials which one must endure to learn how to play. PC games are often not well-suited for playing on the couch, especially given that the mouse and keyboard are the preferred PC game controllers. Unlike console games, you also wont find many PC games that support two players on one machine at the same time. The latest round of consoles has a lot to offer online gamers, and if youre into sports and racing titles, consoles are a good way to go. If you like massively multiplayer games and online shooters, there are a great deal more to choose from on the PC. Online play options for consoles are getting better all the time, but proprietary networks and fees for services like Xbox Live make them a bit less attractive. For the most part, PCs are still the dominant platform for online gaming, and that appears likely to continue for a while yet.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Humorous Wedding Speech by Friend of Groom :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Humorous Wedding Speech by Friend of Groom Ladies and gentlemen, thanks Gary for those kind words. It has been a pleasure for all us attendants to play a small part in your big day. Before I say a word or two about the groom, what about that dress Jeanie is wearing? It has attracted so much favorable comment from the guests here that I have to give it a special mention. You look stunning Jeanie! When Gary asked me to be his best man I immediately thought of the speech. I saw it as an opportunity to talk about a great hero of mine†¦ a wonderful, handsome, kind-hearted man who is admired by many. But then I showed it to my wife and she ripped it up saying, ‘For once in your life Jason, talk about someone other than yourself!’ But unlike many of the best men you’ve probably encountered over the years – who were either old school friends or childhood friends of the groom – Gary and I actually met about six years ago. So not knowing an awful lot about his past, I made enquiries – at his local police station. I thought that would be a good place to start digging for dirt. But they had nothing to say†¦ except that he was the perfect guest whenever he stayed over. Next, I sought advice from his parents as to what he was like. ‘A model son driven by the ambition to succeed,’ was the answer from his mum. ‘A gentleman, a scholar and a sportsman,’ said his dad. Now, I know what you're all thinking - is this the same Gary? Well, all of this was indeed contradicted by his brother Stewart, who informed me that as a child, Gary was cheeky, naughty and the loudest kid on the estate. And as you may have judged from his earlier speech, not a lot has changed. To get a different perspective on the star of the day I contacted Gary’s school friends. Unfortunately, none of them volunteered any information – except one, who said his nickname ‘PlayByYourselfGary’ should provide some indication of his popularity with the other pupils. In the end I visited his old school to speak to some of his former teachers in the hope they could provide me with an amusing story to tell. The first person I got hold of was his math’s teacher of five years.

Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay

  Ã‚   Admonished by the ghost of his poisoned father, troubled by the stench of a kingdom in decline, outraged by his queen mother's incestuous liaison, why did Hamlet wait so long to act decisively?   Theories abound. Hamlet had an Oedipus complex. Hamlet was mad rather than merely pretending to be. Hamlet was an intellectual pansy. Hamlet was an existentialist. Etc. T. S. Eliot went so far as to say that the play itself was flawed, Hamlet's Problem actually the author's own, insoluble.   I believe that the Problem is actually ours. Perhaps the real issue is not Hamlet's hesitation, but our unwillingness to understand it. In an ironic maneuver, Shakespeare has Hamlet tell us about the self-destructive power of a tragic flaw: So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin-- By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens The form of plausive manners, that these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,-- Their virtues else--be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo-- Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault: the dram of eale Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his own scandal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Believers that virtuousness (or enlightenment) guarantees right conduct, take note!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The key to Hamlet's flaw, the stuckness that has puzzled so many readers, is lodged, not in the beginning, but in the end--the place of maximum emphasis--of the "to be or not to be" soliloquy, the most famous dramatic monologue... ...udies of Imagination. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Brown, Keith. 1973. 'Form and Cause Conjoin'd': Hamlet and Shakespeare's Workshop.' Shakespeare Survey 26:11-20. Fineman, Joel. 1980. 'Fratricide and Cuckoldry: Shakespeare's Doubles.' In Representing Shakespeare: New Psychoanalytic Essays, edited by Coppelia Kahn and Murray M. Schwarz. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins Press, 70-109. Fleissner, Robert. 1982. ' "Sullied" Or "Solid": Hamlet's Flesh Once More.' Hamlet Studies 4:92-3. Fowler, Alastair. 1987. 'The Plays Within the Play of Hamlet.' In 'Fanned and Winnowed Opinions': Shakespearean Essays Presented to Harold Jenkins, edited by John W. Mahon and Thomas A. Pendleton. London and New York: Methuen. Freud, Sigmund. 1953-74. The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works. 24 vols, trans. James Stachey. London: Hogarth.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Macbeth :: essays research papers

The Influence of External Forces  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There were many external forces that influenced Macbeth on making his major decision. The decision was whether or no to kill King Duncan. These forces were the apparitions, the old witches, and Lady Macbeth. The apparitions influenced Macbeth by making him think he was invincible. The witches influenced Macbeth by telling him that he was going to become king. Lady Macbeth also influenced him by emasculating him. Although these factors influenced Macbeth, it was still his choice to act upon this decision. Still, no matter how hard Macbeth tried, he could not avoid the influence of what others had to say.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first external force that influenced Macbeth was the apparitions. The apparitions influenced Macbeth by making him think he was invincible. The first apparition said, â€Å"Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware Thane of Fife, dismiss me; enough.†(act 4, scene 1, lines 71-73) This meant that Macbeth, had to watch out for Macduff, the Thane of Fife . The second apparition said, â€Å"Be bloody, bold, and resolute, Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none born of woman shall harm Macbeth.†( act 4, scene 1, lines 78-81) This meant that no man that was born out of the female birth canal could harm Macbeth. This statement contradicts the one statement made by the first apparition. Macbeth thought that since Macduff was human that he had to have been born through the birth canal. Macbeth did not know that Macduff was born by c-section, he was untimely ripped. The third apparition said, â€Å"Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care of who chafes, who frets, or where conspires are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.†(Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 89-94) This means that Macbeth should be brave and proud. It also means that Macbeth will not be killed until the forest marches up to his castle. Macbeth thinks though that that was absurd. He never imagined the forest walking. The forest did walk though. It walked when Macduff and his associates camouflaged themselves with it, and attacked Macbeth’s castle. The apparitions made him feel like he could do anything. Then he decided to take out Duncan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The witches also influenced Macbeth in killing King Duncan. They told Macbeth that he was going to become king. The first witch said, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Death Is Beautiful Essay

People tend to be afraid of what they can’t control and avoid. In terms of death, it meets those two conditions which make people scared of it. Since no one knows what it feels when one dies, but can only guess what will happen after death, most people might not want to imagine the last moment of their lives. In our society, moreover, death is described as something dark and negative in movies, books and daily life in general. As a result, it becomes difficult and unbearable to face death when it comes. Every minute, somewhere in the world, countless babies are born with great celebration, whereas somewhere in the world, numerous people are dying with grief. Most people can relate to these situation as life stages. One of differences between birth and death is that one can’t be ready to be born itself, but on the other hand, most of people get a chance to prepare the end of life themselves. While people tend to glorify birth and consider death as unlucky, it is not always true. Death can be beautiful perhaps more than the moment of birth, depending on the way of how happily one has lived. What death makes unhappy is within its features, such as uncertainty of when, how and why to die, but above everything else, fear of death. In her article, â€Å"On The Fear of Death† written by Kubler-Ross, she describes fear of death shown among people from the past to today differently. She highlites the fact that people in both the past and present have felt fear of death similarly, but the shape of fear shown today has some different characteristics. Dying today is more lonely, mechanical and dehumanized, the fear of death is represented as these kind of features† Accoring to Kubler, people today are more likely suffering from emotional problems such as loneliness, even living in high technology which seems to fill men’s life with richness. In this article, the author also points out the way of facing death these days. Many people today would experience death in hospital where patiens are treated as products, getting treatment even until the moment when they die. It shows that death today is getting lonely compared to figure of death in the past, which people were watching those who they loved were dying close to that person. It made death more beautiful and natural. As a result of desolate death happened frequently today, people are getting fear of death more than past. Fear of death is natural phenomenon shown in most people. In â€Å"Who Wants to Live Forever? Immortality, Authenticity, and Living Forever in the Present† written by Ted M. Preston and Scott Dixon, they describe death as â€Å"So death, the most frightening of bad things, is nothing to us; since when we exist, death is not yet present, and when death is present, then we do not exist. †(100) In the article, two authors suggest the way of how to overcome fear of death, emphasizing that people don’t have to be afraid of death which we even can’t feel at the end. It shows that being worried about death in advance is how useless. It seems pretty persuasive and inspired for those who are suffering from fear of death. However, having fear of death isn’t always bad in some ways. The horrible feeling which people face when imagining death possibly can fuction in positive way at the same time, by reminding people of the fact that they only have limited time for life, as if a movie asks audience â€Å"If you have only one week to live, what would you do? †. Thus, it will give them a great turning point to change from old view on death, which represents something scary, to something we can even be ready. The fact that we have only limited time in life makes us able to concern about how to live with full of happiness. More than that, fear of death functions as an opportunity to look back one’s life because we are gonna die at the end, we need to define who I am and how we have been living as human being since we were born. Another example of what death makes unhappy is unnatural death which doesn’t seem to be ideal form of death. Unnatural death is antonym of natural death that means death from natural causes such as aging. For example, in unusual forms of death such as suicide or murder, death can’t be beautiful in the way that it is tragic and irrational. Living as human being is bless and a precious chance which God gave us. Thus at least, human being ought to live as long as one’s lifespan permits. Killing oneself or others can’t be justified for any reason. In case of murder, particularly, it is one of miserable death that should never happen because it infringe one’s right to live. On the other hand, more than half of people might experience death as a natural precess of aging including diseases cuased by old age. Dying naturally as we grow older might be ideal death for most people. Even though everyone knows that death can’t be inescapable, it would be still hard to accept death as one of processes in life. Nevertheless, denying death means denying one’s whole life as the law of nature. Since death doesn’t give any information to anyone, interestingly, every single person might have different view on death. That’s why building own belief regarding death during life is important to understand one’s life stages from birth to death clearly. As importantly as making own definition of death, it is also needed to set proper plans in each stage of life because it helps one to understand one’s life systematically. For those who understand that one’s life time is categorized by each different period by age and has different characteristic to consider, one’s life time can be much more valuable rather than living life without strategy for each stage to come. Whenever one realizes this rule, everyday can be the first day to start new stage and it is totally applicable for anyone who wants to design plans for life. If one has managed one’s life satisfactorily, this person are more likely feeling happy when he or she dies. Namely, one’s quality of life and death are related closely. If birth is our beginning of life, the death is the end of one’s life. People tend to concern about how to live during life, not recognizing the meaning of how to die. That is why most people are not fully prepared for death. Not only how happily one has lived is important, but also how happily one dies is meaningful. How many people would feel happy in the end of their life? In Sounth Korea, there is an interesting program which people can experience one’s funeral in advance, by practicing as if it is real funeral of mine. A man who was 50-year old applied this program with his families and close friends. His funeral was held in front of him and he was watching this silently. Some people started to cry as if they already lost this man and his son started to read the last letter sending for father. The man started to cry right after starting his imaginary funeral as well because he realized how he was being loved and how happy person he was. If one’s life has been happy, esteemed and loved, one’s death also should be happy at the end. The fact that no one can live forever makes them to be able to manage time effectively and consider order of priority in one’s life. Those who look at death as positive function of life started to think about how to die as well as how to live. They believe that death can be beautiful as much as the fact of what we are born in the world. The biggest benefits of this view is that people can get a chance to look back one’s life and make clear goals in life in advance. As a result, being awared death helps people to get rid of their pain or fear of death by already being ready to face death. However, there are those who consider death as positive one and these people prepare to be ready for peaceful death by practicing how death can be beautiful. This movement was not appeared just today and it shows that death is not something which people want to avoid unconditionally anymore. There is a strong method which people can lessen their fears of death with. It is the power of religions. Even though every religion has different interpretation of death, most of them describe it as something sacred and they teach believers to follow their doctrine to greet peaceful death or be rescued by God by relying on religion strongly. As people get older, they start to feel that death is coming. For example, an woman who is almost 90 year-old, may be tying to accept the fact which she is going to die soon. She may recall some good memories with her eyes closed and thinking about her family members whom she has loved the most during her life. On the other hand, it will be somehow tragic, if one who faces death feels sorry and regretful about one’s life. When young, it is hard to prepare next stages to come by looking ahead to the future. However, after they get weak both metally and phsically, they might realize that life is not that long. That’s why understanding death excatly and being prepared for beautiful death by managing one’s life meaningfully. When it comes to death, how one has been successful can be a matter. However, more than than how one has been happy is the most important value when leaving this world. To design happy life, if so, unerstanding one’s life stages and even death is regarded importantly because both are closely connected each other. Since one is born in the world, one is heading to death at the same time. The deeper one understands death, the more valuable life time one can manage. For someone, death just can mean the last moment of life. On the othe hand, for someone who believe the world after death, otherwise, death might mean exploring for new world. For someone who reminds oneself of limited time with death, death can be boost for one’s efficient time management for life. People don’t have to be afraid of death because it will be just short mement compared to one’s whole life time. If one’s life has been happy, one’s death also should be happy at the end.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Confusion and Anxiety in Robert Frost’s Poems Essay

During his life fourth dimension, Robert Frost wrote poems that relate the discombobulation, anxiety, and struggles of the humankind mind. In his poems, he depicts how deals minds may be imbued by sloppiness and anxiety as they experience fuss and explore lifes possibilities. Particularly, in The lane Not Taken and present with the evil, the poet illustrates how thee deuce themes can lead a person to attempt to escape macrocosm and overstep up whizs life. The cardinal poems share connatural elements, unmatched of which is the icon.Both poems form the picture show of a involved person, someone filled with lots anxiety. In The Road Not Taken, the motive get alongs an analogy between the eccentrics situation in the woods and documentary life decisions one has to make in life. As the contribution chooses between the two lanes in front of him, he wants some assurance that the road or decision he will make is right. Seeing that both roads ascertain the same, he is quite confused which one to take. Nonetheless, he takes the road which he describes to be untraveled.Likewise, the persona in Acquainted with the Night suffers from surprise but unlike the other, his confusion is worse and more intense, somehow similar to a dilemma. The way the author presents this is overly climactic. First, he mentions the move around that he has taken, I fool walked out in fall and back in rain. I put up outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. (2-4) These journeys have do the persona weary and confused, which is why he claims to have been introduce with the night. The night in the frontmost stanza refers to the different images of the night that people are usually aware of. As he reveals in his journeys, there is the image of night based on its oral meaning, the image of night as the darkness or confusion, then there is in like manner the image relating to sorrow and emptiness. As the two poems relate the journeys they take, the time element of the poems becomes significant. In the first poem, the persona describes a flitting confusion that could affect his lifetime. The decision he makes that time would reveal other realities he will looking at in the future.This shows the endeavor of the persona to pers invariablye and move on, in spite of obstructions along the road. In contrast, the persona in the second poem imparts a confused state that has long existed. As he reveals, he has been to many places, and has experienced a lot of sadness, thus he has been acquainted with the night. This ailing confusion makes him decide to stop, as he relates, I have stood dormant and stopped the sound of feet. This shows the desire of the persona to stop the confusion, or end the sorrow, which too suggests a desire for death.This is the very cause why the first line is retell in the last stanza to establish a different meaning of night. The luminary clock in line 12 is time itself, with all its a bstractness. As it view ass that time was uncomplete wrong nor right, it tells the persona that it is non still the right time for him to die, and in fact, it cannot declare whether it is the wrong time either for no one can actually reckon death. Notably, as the persona confronts all these confusions, he implies the desire to discontinue, unlike the other persona who is more optimistic most his fate.As the personas in the poem think about their present struggles, they experience some anxieties. In the first poem, the persona expresses his anxiety regarding the road ahead of him, I doubted if I should ever come back. (15) In the real sense, he is anxious of the challenges he needs to face in life as he takes the untraveled road. In the second poem, the persona shows anxiety regarding sorrow and death. As he desires and waits for death to come, he apprehends and takes note of its culmination in another persons house far away an cut off cry came over houses from another stree t. (8-9) It is not clear how the persona feels about his misfortune to die, but this thought adds up to his anxieties. The themes of confusion and anxiety are commonly illustrated in the two poems based on the affable processes that the personas undergo. As both personas undergo these experiences, there shows a tendency to digress or escape their present confusion. In the first poem, the persona wishes to elude the road he has taken but realizes there is no turning back while in the other, the persona tries to escape his sorrows by accept death.As both personas fail to give up their present realities, the author on purpose imparts a unified message to his readers that is, no matter how confusing or gainsay life is, taking up our journey is still the wisest option.Works Cited Frost, Robert. Acquainted with the Night. 1923. In New Hampshire. 12 May 2009 . Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. (n. d. ). Poets. org. 12 May 2009 .