Poetry Analysis of Going Blind by Rainer Maria Wilke

I chose the poem Going Blind by Rainer Maria Wilke. Essentially, the poem outlines an observer’s thoughts about a girl at a party who is blind. My initial feeling during the first few lines was pity for the blind girl, as the poem talks about her hesitant smile and how she holds her cup differently than everyone else because she can’t see them. She tries to follow along, laughs when cued, is left behind as partygoers start to wander. But then the feeling changes during the last line and another feeling emerges, one of sparked curiosity and a slight shift of perspective.Leading up to that, the observer viewed the girl almost as weak and incapable, left of out the evenings events. She pitied the vacant stare and the slow movements. But then observer catches a glimpse of something else, a glimmer of deeper existence behind the milky eyes. The focus shifts to less of a judgement towards this unknown girl towards herself and a place of self-awareness. She realizes that every thing may not be as her first glance may have suggested.Going Blind is written in a loose rhyme scheme that contributes to the relatable yet mysterious tone of the poem. The punctuation is not dissimilar to prose, but the sixteen lines in quatrain form are cut off to create the rhyme, which is a, b, b, a. I feel this poem appealed more to the sight, as the description given painted, for me, a clear picture of the room full of people, the way she sat with her tea, how the guests ambled from room to room, the way her eyes looked.As far as metaphorical phrases go, the blind girl’s eyes were compared to a lit pond, and her demeanor was compared to a nervous performer’s. The theme of Going Blind, from my perspective, is the complexity and the area of unknown within each blank face we see. We can think we have someone figured out, when in reality, there is more than meets the eye, and specifically, there is more to the character of this poem than her disability.

A Look Into The Arts Essay

Art is one aspect of the past that has carried on for decades. Art in any form may it be poetry, novels, and playwright, sculpting as well as painting, has been an outlet for generations and continues to be an outlet and a means for expression. This paper will discuss â€Å" The Mona Lisa† one of Da Vinci’s most famous paintings, as well as another great painting, Antonio Veneziano’s â€Å"Virgin and Child†(c. 1380). Both paintings focus on the human form and exhibit many variations of styles from lines, shading, color and possible meanings behind the work. The first piece of artwork that will be looked is from the Renaissance Era. Da Vinci’s â€Å"Mona Lisa†(c. 1519) a painting that is known around the world, which has been known to cause skepticism as to who is this woman. Did she really exist? Or is this merely a self-portrait that Da Vinci was able to show his private devotion for the female form? The second piece of artwork that will be discussed is from The Middle Ages. Antonio Veneziano’s â€Å"Virgin and Child†(c. 1380) both pieces of art work stem from different eras but share many commonalities as well as shows the transformation of art techniques from Sfumato, to perspective, as well as linear perspective, Humanism, foreshortening and more between each era. In the Early Renaissance Era, artists from Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael Sanzio, Piero della Francesca, Sandro Botticelli and more, developed a passion and ability to create art that could capture a moment may it be a beautiful moment or tragic moment. These artists were also able spark creativity and question in the human mind as to what is or was and why. Much like the middle Ages, art from both eras focused on religious forms, humanism, from the finite details of a lock of hair to the muscle tone. The Renaissance era developed the linear perspective to create; depth and angles in work, though the Middle Ages opened the door for linear perspective to be created. Most depictions from the Middle Ages showed a human form that was stiff and schematic, like a rough draft that was never completed. However art from the Renaissance Era had a profound effect on European art. Lilian H. Zirpolo (SNHU. â€Å"Chapter 8.† 2012 FAS 201, Introduction to Humanities I.) Stated â€Å" The outburst of creativity of the era, resulted in the most influential artistic revolution ever to have taken place.† There was so much depth and thought put into Renaissance art that it was the stepping-stone for all who dared to create. Da Vinci’ s the â€Å"Mona Lisa†(c.1519) holds Miss. Zirpolo’s statement to be true. When viewing the piece, one can see the exquisite line work and Foreshortening, to linear perspective. This art form shows his attention to detail and his passion for his work. The â€Å"Mona Lisa† (c.1519) is a small piece of artwork that became very popular. To this day the â€Å"Mona Lisa†(c.1519) still triumphs over Michelangelo’s â€Å"Creation Of Adam† (c.1511), which became a part of the â€Å"Sistine Chapel.†(C.1512) When one views â€Å"The Mona Lisa† they can see the dark color scale that is used, perhaps to depict an unhappy time. Da Vinci through out this piece is able to use an aerial perspective within the background of this portrait. Da Vinci was the first artist to successfully depict an aerial perspective. Da Vinci also uses Sfumato in his negative space by blending, blurring and softening the landscape, this technique is used to create a gradual transition between areas of different color, avoiding sharp outlines, to which I believe was done as to not take away the focal point in his positive space of the canvas. Another great aspect to the â€Å"Mona Lisa† is that is demonstrates the art of science discoveries that came to fruition in the Renaissance period, which is that they were able to acknowledge how the eye perceives light, thusly how light reacts with colors and how the human eye adapts to the change in color and light. So why is that of any significance in art? Well when one takes a painting such as the â€Å"Mona Lisa† once can see how the color gradation changes to separate the neck and face from her clothing. It creates more of a realistic feel to the art. The Middle Ages on the other hand focused on two-dimensional compositions, their depictions of humans were frail and stiff, and the human art form was inert. (SNHU. â€Å"The Middle Ages.† 2012 FAS 201, Introduction to Humanities I.) Like art from the Renaissance, they also focused a lot on Religion, saint hood and humans. In fact it depicted the importance of humans based on the size they were painted or sc ulpted. It focused on women and God, as the two were of major importance at the time. Woman we scared and givers of life and love, their beauty was unfounded and they were cherished. God was the almighty and the one who created a life form that woman were there to carry on the tradition, so to speak. Is it believed through the Bible and studies that Jesus was born into this world as a miracle from a virgin. So Antonio Veneziano’s â€Å"Virgin and Child†(c. 1380) upholds that belief and leaves room for discussion. In the early times of God and Mary and the birth of Christ it was believed that Immaculate Conception was possible, as pre-martial sex was a sin. So to have depictions of such a scene may make one wonder if it was at all possible at one point in time. This picture depicts a Virgin mother coddling her newborn, both are pictured with a â€Å"halo† above their heads which signifies the importance of their religion and the acceptance of religion into not only their life but into Gods life. As you can see here as well as in the â€Å"Mona Lisa† there is a contrast between light and dark as to separate the two bodies and distinguish the Virgin from the Child. In a personal opinion in the color choice of the Virgin as compared to the Child, I would say that light colors are used for the child because he is born pure and free from sin, where as the Virgin is with sin and thusly wears a dark robe. Art from the middle ages depicts religious events, because it was the basis of life at the time. Most art from that time were done by artists who either choose to or had to be anonymous, they we for the most part two dimensional pieces of art work with a single color background, which when looking at Antonio Veneziano’s â€Å"Virgin and Child†(c. 1380) one can see how this, the background is primarily one color, it has been shaded to show detail in the halo and architect, but holds close to the standard for Middle Aged era art. Though the painting is set fourth to show a natural pose of a mother and child, the line work and attention to detail in the human form lacks. This painting though a well painted, blends the line work of the bodies making the figures seem almost uncomfortable in their poses. The colors used in this painting may foreshadow an unhappier time for the two, as dark colors tend to represent tragic, mournful and displeased events. As one can see the â€Å"Mona Lisa† from the Renaissance and the â€Å"Virgin and Child† from the Middle Ages, share many similarities in terms of their impressions of humans. Both eras focus their art on humanism, religious, two and three – dimensional works of art, the hatching used to create depth and more dimensions. Both the Renaissance and the Middle Ages have very different ways of executing the precision of the human form. The Renaissance paid very close attention to detail, the line work that is depicted in the human form is natural and lifelike, and where as artists from the Middle Ages who painted humans were stiff and motionless. Though both Eras have great works of art, it was the Renaissance that had more of a well-rounded and idealistic way of executing their work, thusly making it one of the better Eras for art. Resources Page: SNHU. † Chapter Seven The Middle Ages.† 2012 FAS 201, Introduction to Humanities I. SNHU. † Module Eight The Renaissance, Reformation and Age of Exploration.† 2012 FAS 201, Introduction to Humanities I.

Long Star

John Sayles’s Long Star (1996) is a movie about what Nietzsche called the tyranny of history, or, as the character of Wesley Birdsong (played by Gordon Tootoosis) suggests, about the struggle that faces those people struggling to forget an old name, literally and metaphorically, in order that they might learn a new one.   It is a film, in other words, that despite its sleepiness takes on an issue of epic importance as it explores with unflinching intelligence and open-mindedness the lines and borders that cut wide and frequently destructive paths across individual lives. On the one hand, a vibrant and richly detailed history of Frontera, Texas, a small and intensely-corrupt town that straddles the cultural, economic, and psychological border with Mexico, this film is, on the other, a profound anti-history, a dismantling of the easy binaries that we have traditionally secured at the center of a collective understanding of the past.   As the character of Otis Payne (Ron Canada) states without equivocation, this is a film that focuses on the dynamics of the border itself, of living in a world in which easy divides collapse into a kind of post-modern re-imagining of the potentialities of living a border life. As Payne suggests: â€Å"It's not like there's a line between the good people and the bad people. It is not like you're one or the other†; put simply, living on the border leaves individuals living, ultimately and passionately, in a world distanced from the easy answers, the stable questions, and the knowable, comfortable horizons of the familiar.   These are characters trapped perpetually on the liminal, on the threshold of one emotional state or another, of one epistemological condition or another, and, inevitably throughout the film, of one moral dilemma or another. The impetus for this penetrating dance along border life erupts full force for the townspeople with the unearthing of the remains of Charley Wade (Kris Kristofferson).   A symbol of the town’s racist and casually corrupt past, Wade’s decomposing body establishes a kind of trajectory for the varied border-crossings that accrete during the course of the film, most notably for the current sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper), whose own father, Buddy (Matthew McConaughey), was Wade’s premier deputy. But as Sam’s investigation begins, so, too, does his inability to dance the fine lines that he needs to in order to keep his intensely compartmentalized life (his border-less life) in tact. Even moving barely below the surface of   this historical case (buried in the past, Wade was also murdered in the past) soon opens outward to include other stories of other â€Å"pasts† that Sam cannot anticipate and, more tellingly, cannot keep from bleeding over into his current investigations, most notably the history of racial discrimination (against blacks and Hispanics, especially) that implicates all members of the town; the troubled memories that Sam still carries with him as the son of the infamous Buddy Deeds; and the emotional repercussions of his â€Å"reunion† with Pilar Cruz (Elizabeth Pena), his first love but also a love that is bordered off (or so society is led to believe) by the moral and genetic taboos placed on such relationships. Or is it?   In such a relativist borderland as Frontera, even this intense stricture can be skirted as simply, it seems, as agreeing that it doesn’t matter since no one knows.   What goes on in the past stays in the past in this case, or, put in terms with which Sayles might concur, what goes on in the present is actually an un-bordered past rising again through interpretations, tellings, and re-tellings. If the discovery of Wade’s body makes Lone Star a murder mystery, the Deeds-Cruz relationship turns this into a film that crosses borders in terms of genre as well as in terms of geography and psychology; murder blends readily with romance; the authority of the sheriff’s department crosses over with its own anti-thesis, as Buddy Deeds gradually emerges from the shadow of the past to become the prime suspect in the murder of his former boss. As the minor character Chucho Montoya (Tony Amendola) underscores in a film that challenges the very idea that any character in any story can ever be seen as minor, as much as this is a film that dances its precarious balance along its various borders, it is also a film that dismantles the very nature of border-ness.   Nowhere is this more clearly articulated than in a scene in which Montoya challenges the younger Deeds’s faithful belief in the lines that serve as the defining characteristics of borders: Chucho Montoya: You're the sheriff of Rio County, right? Un jefe mui respectado. [Drawing a line in the sand] .   Step across this line. You're not the sheriff of nothing anymore, just some tejano with a lot of questions I don't have to answer. A bird flying south, you think he sees this line? Rattlesnake? Javelina? Whatever you got. You think halfway across that line they start thinking different? Why should a man? Sheriff Sam Deeds: Your government's always been pretty happy to have that line, the question's just been where to draw it. Chucho Montoya: My government can go fuck itself, and so can yours! I'm talking about people here. Men. Borders are made by men and recognized by men, Montoya underscores, but are, in the end, unnatural constructions that serve more as barriers to a fully integrated understanding of the town and of the individuals in it.   More importantly, Montoya’s comment implies, it is our individual faithfulness in the stabilizing and restorative powers All of this flux does not mean that Lone Star meanders aimlessly or that the characters are denied always a kind of peaceful â€Å"ordering† to their lives.   The fluid editing of the film allows the various stories to flow together almost seamlessly, erasing borders between scenes, between characters, and between past and present.   As these final two bleed together, the tyranny lifts ever so slightly.   As the characters come to understand that their presents are connected by the various interconnections crisscrossing their pasts, they begin to recognize slowly that it is what they do with this knowledge in the present that means the most. Life is for the living, not the dead, and life is lived in the present not in fear of the bordered off worlds that find their footings deep in years gone.   This does not mean, by any stretch of the bordering lines, that Sayles’s film invokes a grand statement or grander meaning.   As the character known only as the Indian Shop Owner observes in a moment of profundity that resonates through the various layers of this film: â€Å"This stretch of road runs between nowhere and not much else.†Ã‚   In the end, perhaps that is all that can be hoped for as one dances along the border of his own life.   

Analytical critique of Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Essay

Analytical critique of Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - Essay Example Shaara has largely referred to Harrison, who was an actor whom General Longstreet had selected as a spy to gather the consents of the Union forces. Harrison has been used in the book as a narrator, thus neutralizing the approach of Shaara in narration of the events preceding, during and after the battle. Maintaining extreme neutrality, Shaara has conveyed the planning of Union forces as well as that of the Confederate. The story gains its start from June 1863. Third summer during the American Civil War was in season and only few days were left to the commencement of the bloodiest battle in the history of America, the battle of Gettysberg. â€Å"Often referred to as the â€Å"High Water Mark of the Rebellion†, it was the war's bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties and the setting for President Abraham Lincoln's â€Å"Gettysburg Address†Ã¢â‚¬  (National Park Service, 2011). It was the deadliest and the largest battle among all fought on the land of America. 120 rebell ious men were given under the command of the Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain who was already commanding the 20th Maine. Unlike the other men of the regiment who had signed contracts for two years, these mutinous men that had freshly been given under the command of the Colonel signed contracts for three whole years. Therefore, these 120 men had to undergo great emotional stress as they saw other men leave for home after two years of service. These men were penalized and were starved. They were all brought to Chamberlain who was allowed to murder anyone who would not willfully go back for fighting. Prior to joining the war, Colonel Chamberlain had remained a faculty member in a college in US. Having come from an educative background, Chamberlain was quite considerate and listened to the concerns of the men. He was against the view of forcing anyone into the fight of freedom and thought of such concepts as ironic and disgusting. Therefore, Chamberlain remained kind enough to promis e the men that he would address their concerns once the Battle of Gettysberg was over. Although Chamberlain considered loss of the Battle of Gettysberg loss of the whole Civil War, yet he provided the men with the choice of participating in or retreating from the battle. However, Chamberlain did adopt a fairly reasonable and educated approach to convince the men to participate whole heartedly in the war. He took the men into confidence and told them that even if their fight was not meant for acquisition of any power or land, their participation in the war would serve the noble cause of providing others with freedom. He told the men that if they won the battle with their effort and participation, it would bring a significant change in the society and the people would be credited for their hard work, and not for their belongingness or race, cast or creed. Chamberlain remained so humble and considerate throughout in his dealing and interaction with the mutinous men that all except for six of them acceded to his opinions and agreed to follow his directions. General Robert E. Lee happened to be an extremely flexible leader who would make abrupt changes in plans and reintroduce fresh strategies every time, he felt things were not going the way they should. Like Chamberlain, General Lee also maintained a very humble character who refused to gamble, drink, or curse. Shaara has

A full statement of purpose to study Health and social care module Personal

A full of purpose to study Health and social care module - Personal Statement Example Pursuing a health and social care course enables a student to gain evidence-based practice, current skills and knowledge to deliver quality care (p. 331). This is because, while at school, a health care student can directly interact with cares and users of services gain experience which will help them deliver and meet the modern needs of health and social care. In addition, another purpose of studying health and social care is that it equips students with the sought of knowledge and skills that they need for this beneficial career path. Once a student finishes the course, he or she will be in demand and have plenty of options that he or she can choose from. For instance, one can choose to work with children, elderly people, those with disabilities, or young people in housing, health centres, care giving homes, or community care settings (p. 343). Another purpose of studying health and social care course is that a student is able to progress with other careers such as social work, midwifery, nursing, probation, or care management with further training or even

Bronfenbrenner Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bronfenbrenner Analysis - Research Paper Example The theory largely illustrates how the environmental factors affect early education of a child towards full maturity. Though many theories put more emphasis on the nurture vs. nature relation (Paquette and Ryan, 2), Bronfenbreenner’s ecological system theory goes deeper into the perspective of the child’s environment in terms of the quality and context of the child’s environment. Therefore, in order to understand human development in a better perspective of the entire ecological system has to be considered and its relation to the growth and development of the child. This involves considering the micro systems that refer to the relationship between the developing person, the environment and the macros system, which refers to institutional patterns that include customs, economy and bodies of knowledge. The theory is much detailed and goes beyond the facts considered by other developmental theories in child development. Bronfebrenner (38) explains that the first proposition of the general ecological model state that especially in the early stages and largely to the entire life, the human development takes process though complex, reciprocal and progressive process that interacts between an active evolving bio-psychological human organism and the persons, objects, symbols that are in the immediate environment. The forms of interaction in the immediate environment are referred to as proximal process and may include, mother –child and child-child relationship. The theory implicates that a child has to be considered in the context of a wider scope to the social spheres of influence. The child cannot develop outside a unique historical, ideological and sociopolicatical set of circumstances. The advantage of this theory is that while others concentrate on the impacts of thinking, perception, motivation and learning that is perceived at an isolated level of

Business Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Business Communications - Essay Example In case you choose to confirm, the orientation starts from Monday, 6th August 2012 at 9.00 am, which is also your hire date. I will contact Mr. Smith by first emailing him, after which I will give him a call to request for an in-person meeting. The email will be a follow up of the offer letter. In the email, I will briefly indicate the contents of the employment offer letter, such as the salary, the benefits, and the company policies. Additionally, I will give a brief description of the format of filling the documents enclosed to the offer letter. I will also inform him of his duties in case he decides to take the job offer. In addition, I will give him the contact details he can use in case he needs clarification of any data. I will offer details regarding the location of our offices and inform him of the stating date and time for orientation, which will also be your hire date. Another aspect that I would include in the email is the name of a Smith’s superior and how he can get into contact with him if need be. I will explain to him why it is important that he accepts the employment offer but assure him that he is free to make the decision on his own upon reading all the enclosed documents. One day after sending the email, I will give Smith a call to confirm that he had understood the terms and conditions as well as what is required of him in case he chooses to accept the employment offer. Using the email is an appropriate choice because email is a widely used form of communication due to its effectiveness. Email is a favourable communication means; since emails are sent instantly, they are easy to use, are widespread means of communication, and are accessible through varying means such as computer, phone or PDA from nearly anywhere in the world (Merrier, Logan, Krizan, and Williams 447-450). Writing an email takes some time, so it is an

Finance and Accounting Math Problem on Cooperate Finance

Finance and Accounting on Cooperate Finance - Math Problem Example Contribution from the parents would be invested at 6% annually for a period of 3 years. However the remaining amount will be raised from Aunt Hilda’s gift. So, at the moment, the future value of the contribution from the parents would be calculated and then this future value from the parents would be deducted from $10,000 to find the future value of the amount that would be raised from the Aunt Hilda. Once this amount is identified, the present value of Aunt Hilda gift will be calculated to identify the amount required from her. Parents would contribute $5,000 and that will be invested for 3 years at 6%. Therefore the future value of $5000 after 3 years would be FV = $5000 (1+ 6%) ^ 3 FV = 5,955 As the total value after 3 years required would be $10,000. So, after three years amount required for the trip except from the contribution of the parents would be $10,000 - $5,955 = $4045 $4,045 would be the amount that would be needed after 3 years. So, this is the future value of th e gift of Aunt Hilda. As this amount would be invested for three years at 10% therefore the present value of this amount would be: PV = 4,045 / (1 + 10%) ^ 3 PV = $3,039 Therefore, $3,039 would be taken from Aunt Hilda as gift. Question #2 Quark industries has four potential projects and the summary and expected cash flows of these projects have been shown below: Project M Project N Project O Project P Year 0 -2,000,000 -2,000,000 -2,000,000 -2,000,000 Year 1 500,000 600,000 1,000,000 300,000 Year 2 500,000 600,000 800,000 300,000 Year 3 500,000 600,000 800,000 300,000 Year 4 500,000 600,000 400,000 300,000 Year 5 500,000 600,000 200,000 300,000 Rate 6% 9% 15% 22% The above table shows the cash flows of each of these projects. In order to determine which project should be accepted, Net Present Value will be used. Net Present value discounts the future cash flows of the project and identifies its work in present (McLaney, 2009). After using the NPV following values have been identifi ed of each of the project: Project M Project N Project O Project P Rate 6% 9% 15% 22% NPV $100,171.60 $306,230.05 $285,765.03 ($935,170.55) Ranking 3 1 2 The above table shows that the project N would be the most feasible one for Quark industries. Ranking has been made that is showing that the Quark industries should invest first in Project N and then in Project O and then in Project M. The company should not invest in Project P as it has a negative NPV. References McLaney, E. (2009). Business Finance: Theory and Practice, New Jersey, Pearson Education Ross, S., Westerfield, R. and Jordan, B. (2009). Fundamentals Of Corporate Finance Standard Edition, New York,

Summary of a book chapter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Summary of a book chapter - Assignment Example Precisely, this means that there is a ‘rising importance of religious beliefs, practices, and discourses in life,’ which has signiï ¬ cant inferences for international relations (Thomas 2005: 26). Religion and politics are profoundly intertwined in the ancient days, unlike the modern world where these elements stand as independent entities. Medieval authority spread among a chain of command of religious and political rulers. When the Thirty Years War in Europe (1618–48) was over, a new modern era presaged the liberation of European leaders from the religious–political authority of Christendom. Power and authority became concentrated at one point. Although religious beliefs were disgorged from the political life, religion still inï ¬â€šuences the political agenda in many countries. Policy and issues approach seeks to prove that in an anarchist world ‘states have a hierarchy of interests. Specifically, the pattern occurs with security at the top, followed by economic welfare, and then the ideological and humanitarian concerns at the lowest level (Desch 1998: 160). Some theorists believe human economic and social activity is taking place in a way that portends some form of deindustrialized society (Lee 1993). The anthropocentric and Judeo-Christians argue that man exploits nature in pursuit of human destiny and development. Notably, this is different from an eco-radical worldview that puts an equal value of humans and nature (Eckersley 1992; Goodin 1992). Eco-radicals contend that the state is the cause of the environmental crisis (Carter 1993). Nevertheless, there is no agreement about the role of the state or its alternative. Consequently, this brings the current debate on the scope and depth of necessary reforms for facing the environmental challenge. The New Patterns of War and Peace approach claims that armed conï ¬â€šict takes place within

Principles of international diversification Essay Example for Free

Principles of international diversification Essay The perspective that it needs to focus on some aspect of an investment that is responsible for funds that are diversified internationally both by market and by asset. At times a more theoretical comment may also be presented, as many of the ideas and principles of international diversification have been the subject of internal research. Various markets in which international diversification must be applied; exchange markets, money markets, and equity markets. But more often true with statistically oriented academic literature, the study lags the developments in the real world by not including in the analysis the rapidly growing share of the global investment. The report were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis and are not misstated due to material fraud or error. The financial statements include amounts that are based on managements best estimates and judgments. Management also prepared the other information in the annual report and is responsible for its accuracy and consistency with the financial statements. Established and maintains a system of internal control that provides reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of the financial statements, the protection of assets from unauthorized use or disposition, and the prevention and detection of fraudulent financial reporting. The system of internal control provides for appropriate division of responsibility and is documented by written policies and procedures that are communicated to employees with significant roles in the financial reporting process and updated as necessary. Management continually monitors the system of internal control for compliance. A corporate compliance plan as it helps reduce the risk of compliance errors and can limit the liability of directors and management. An effective plan can also reduce liability under the federal sentencing guidelines. Best of all, a corporate compliance plan helps employees follow the laws and enables management to know that the laws are being followed. The founding a comprehensive compliance program in which commonly known as corporate ethics program code of conduct has a number of benefits that goes beyond the direct compliance related aspects. The vast majority of employees want to do the right thing, and they want to work for a company of which they can be proud. They also want some way to make sure that the company does the right thing, so hotlines or other ways to report wrongdoing are appreciated. Empirical studies confirm that how the corporation approaches ethics and legal compliance management has a significant impact on employee’s attitudes and behaviors. Further Extensions: The focus of this research project is to develop approach that is best practice for sourcing ascendancy, process synchronization and information integration in the context of business research. The study aspire to first build a conceptual framework for business research opportunity that will make possible the development of solutions to the management challenges associated with achieving a companys strategic goals its operational constructs procedure has centered or build the organization with a business research course that has led to in receipt of enhanced business performance from arranging a process of direction within an organization A team oriented functioning in a environment and strong feelings of possession are also anticipated by a lot and as a consequence of or probably an indispensable component of a business research. There were several approaches that can be used to measure within the constructs and they are domain sampling, coefficient data and factor analysis and I used the analysis factor, explaining its component using the data to study the scale fundamental the construct. This analysis was used to examine whether the number of scope conceptualized might be established empirically. The preliminary examination results might show problems with more than a few events along with the mechanism of research. As the outline of the research it is significant to have a steadiness as it is only a part of construct strength. In sort to institute the construct weight of a measure, the amount to which the evaluate show a relationship with other events premeditated to calculate the similar problem and whether it conclude behave as anticipated it required also to be explained The authenticate of the construct of business research within an organization and shaped a useable instrument for diagnostic dimension of this construct. And the outcomes of business research opportunities within an organization appear to be applicable. Portfolio will have process that is constantly checking the index partition for the solution of other conflict groups and makes a queue, by indices of the partial solutions with the order of queue, so that the portfolio is able to proceed with the optimal task receive order flows from international traders and investors in the retail market and trade open positions with speculators in the wholesale market. The larger the open positions the more volatile the exchange rate has to be in order to equilibrate the wholesale market and the costlier the closing out of the positions for the intermediaries. However, the larger the predictable trading volume the smaller the revenues each currency unit exchange has to generate so that the dealer breaks even. Transaction costs of currency exchange can thus decrease with trading volume and will always increase with exchange rate volatility as well as dealers’ fixed costs. However, with the new framework not only s single but also several vehicle currencies can emerge, depending on the fundamental payments flows, the initial structure of exchange and dealer expectations about it, the market-specific volume-volatility relation and the structures of fixed costs for making markets and for opening formerly inactive markets. Moreover, both trading volumes as well as exchange rate volatilities are endogenous to the optimal exchange pattern. Those currencies with high fundamentals-based trading volume and low exchange rate volatility with respect to all or a sunset of currencies can emerge as vehicles. While in the goods market approach the idea is that exchange rates are determined basically through the trade of real assets, the asset market approach points to the importance of capital flows. The concept of purchasing power parity states that the exchange rate equates the national price levels of two countries in the sense that the PPP of a unit of currency is the same in both countries. A theory of exchange rate determination, it asserts that the exchange rate change between two currencies over any period of time is determined by the change in two countries’ relative price levels: Conclusion: To appreciate fully the arguments advanced in favor of international portfolio diversification, it is useful to have some knowledge of modern portfolio theory. Those readers familiar with Professor Markowitz’ seminal contribution need little further introduction to this subject. For others, it is useful to start with a brief theoretical overview of the effects of combining investments in two stock markets into an international portfolio. The expected return on a two-market international portfolio is simply the expected return in each market weighed by the fraction invested in the market. The variability of returns for this international portfolio is slightly more complex since it depends both upon the variability of each of the two markets held and the degree of co-movement or correlation between them. One of the key elements of the company’s value system, its basic beliefs, and another fundamental element is the business environment in which the firm conducts business. Then there are also the heroes of the company, plus its day-to-day routines and special ceremonies. Finally, there is the cultural network, the informal communication system within the firm. The many realities of the business world in which a firm operates play a major role in carving out the firm’s character and culture. Some aspects of the business environment have a very subtle influence. But as relentless winds and waters can erode jagged boulders to a smooth finish with the passing of years, so are some cultures gradually shaped by constant pressures from the marketplace. Since the company had run down the effects of estimated 46% of the loss revenue, the company is having a growing problem as its hold its position in undertaking the proposals, since it can plunge into worse than what is expected with the companies in such industry. Certain procedures, or frameworks or types of information, symbolically come to represent rationality within particular epochs, cultures or ways of thinking. Foreign direct investment in developing countries has long history; it has fluctuated over time, as investors have responded to changes in the environment for investment, including government policies toward foreign direct investment and the broader economic policy framework. After all the data was gathered it now the time that the management will consider possible strategies to spar the said problems, they are given possible strategies to choice which one would suit best their situation, application of such strategy is controlled well by the management for every plan is considered crucial until they iron up all this problems. Foreign direct investments in developing countries have flowed mainly into manufacturing and processing industries. It has traditionally been concentrated in a small group of countries, which partly reflects the size of their economies. Reference: 1. Elton, E. J. and Gruber, M. J. (2003). Modern Portfolio Theory and Investments Analysis. (6th edition), Wiley New York 2. .Elton. E. J and. Gruber, M. J. (1977). Risk Reduction and Portfolio Size: An Analytical Solution The Journal of Business, Vol. 50, No. 4. (Oct. , 1977), pp. 415-437.

Resource Planning and Accounting Informations

Resource Planning and Accounting Informations ERP has become one of the most popularity systems for a company that planning to implement a full ERP system to increase the productivity and efficiency on current business process flow. This report objective will discuss on the definition and function of ERP system, advantages and disadvantages that will bring to an organization after the implementation. Which and what major element and factor that needs to be well taking care for a successful implementation. The major implication of AIS will also further discuss in this report and how AIS will be affected with the implementation of the software. Introduction An Information system (IS) is any combination of Information technology and peoples activities using that technology to support operations, management, and decision making.(Miranda, E., 2010). ERP which is Enterprise Resource Planning is business software systems in different type of industries and companies. (Vala, P., 2010). ERP system is a process of integration of different data and sources from different department of one organization under one single unit system. ERP software that will make sure this integration to be work accurately and effectively. While AIS which stands for Accounting Information system is a computerized system that gather all the data, stores and then processes it into information used by managers, investor and creditors. This information generated from AIS can eventually help the company decision maker to operate organizations more smoothly. Main Body 3.1 Role and Purpose of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems With the growth of technology, everything have found in rapidly changing especially for business environment. Most of the organizations have choosing to implement the ERP software as the best solution which ERP is the only system that designed and developed to integrate and linked all the information among the internal department system. Major role of ERP is to streamline the business operation and workflow. All functional departments that are involved in operations or production can be integrated by using one system, while the elimination of the unnecessary manual work has simplified the business process. Production planning team can directly check for the goods produce process through the latest status updated by production operator. According to Sheldon D.H (2005), ERP maintain the inventory accuracy that enhance the process of tracking on supplier purchased and planning team are able to predict the demand of the market based on input from various department, the system can even schedule a plan when the product shall start produce and when to buy in extra raw material. In finance module, ERP allows a company to maintain their financial information, assist a company save a sum of money for long term while efficiency, performance and productivity will be improved as well. A company is also able to study their processes, earnings, and performance by combining the operation information with the financial information. With this information, a company can become more competitive and productive and so it can gain more customer satisfaction. Perceived benefits and drawbacks for companies of implementing ERPs There are many different type of ERP that serve businesses varying procedure types. With the ERP solution there are numerous benefits after an organization implementing the ERP system example in department of Sales, Human Resource, Finance, Procurement and Production. The ERP system will integrate all the data from other system so that the information will not have to be entered into several systems which will save a real time and manpower for the manual work. Every department information are linked and the sales person no longer need to take time to check with production or warehouse for the goods delivery status, checking with finance on the term on payment This knowledge indirectly can increase the sales performance and improve customer satisfaction. HRM system developed in the payroll module, recruitment module and HR Management module to ease the human resource department in operating their daily workflow and help to increase the efficiency and deliver the best service to their employees. They no longer need to manually count for the thousands of employees salary, overtime, incentive and other allowance. Besides saving up a lot of time, this may also reduce the risk of human error and mistake in calculating. The employees attendances are now even easier with the punch in/out system. By implement the E-pay statement its help the organization to reduce costs and work load of HRD as well, employees can access to corporate intranet to view, to save or to print the pay slip. (Edward, J., 2008) In Production department, most of the organization has using the Baan, BPCS, ERPLN, and ERPLX. It has developed solutions for the company that covers the bar-coding of transactions, such as receiving, put away, cycle counting, production order completions, and shipping. This has increased the productivity and cost reducing. From the warehouse to the shop floor, material and manpower processes become easier, complements and extends the existing ERP applications, empowers users in the production department speed up transactions, and ultimately eliminates the root causes of data inaccuracy. For purchasing department with Purchase Order System, the employees are able to go for electronic market place to order the stationary/ tools and consumable. By clicking a submit button, in about 3 minutes supplier can actually receive the order from the company. This has enhances the information sharing among one company and the supplier. Manager are easily to check which employee are creating the PO and which preferred supplier is selected on the order that its actually ease and shorten the lead time for the process, as lead time is shorten, production operation are able to meet the schedule and on time delivery for orders. Disadvantages of implementing ERP system: The most common disadvantages of implementing an ERP system are the high cost. (OLeary, D. E., 2010). According to Escalle et al, 1999, the cost might be a two o three percent from the revenues for the startup and on-going maintenance fees. Some hidden implementation costs like buying software, hardware, expert consultation fees, staff training cost that will incur to smoothen the project as the implementation process will need the expert consultation and IT administrator in developing this kind of system. (Mabert, V. 2002). The licensing fees can be one of the huge costs that need to be paid annually which depending on the size of the software established. That is why the expensive cost and long times consuming to implement may not be acceptable to each company specially for those small-medium size business. Besides, there is limitation on ERP software customization. ERP system can be a complex and difficult to use software, the organization daily activities will be impacted and usually will involve business process reengineering to fit the current standard process after the ERP implementation. (Benjamin, B. and Paul, A., 2004) There is a risk of failure on the implementation process if an organization did not having a proper planning. Inadequate resources, training, inexperience staff and invest not within budget will bring the company down to winding up too. Role and purpose of Accounting Information Systems (AIS) A primary role of AIS is to fasten the financial transaction recording, accountants that input the financial transaction into the AIS that will create information and financial reporting for review. Besides, AIS also important in support management to get timely information in decision making. AIS are usually web or server based which provide a centralized place where financial data stored, allowing managers have quicker access to review the financial information for that organization. Accountants play roles of tremendous significance in the economy. Without information expertise of accountants, business will be unable to evaluate their cost and profit position, gauge product or business unit performance, or to plan future financial success (Martin, B., 1996). Well-organized AIS will make everyday business a lot easier and more effective (Hall, 2001). How AISs may be affected by the implementation of a full ERP system. Before ERP implementation, finance department employee are still using the pen-paper basis in recording finance transaction, legacy system that only able to focus on one function and cannot be replaced. After the implementation of a full ERP system with SAP, AIS seems to have bigger changes in all the function. SAP that will integrates all the business transaction that entered from different area of operation. Thus, employee from different branches or division can automatically access to review the information at whatever place and however often it is necessary while in a discussion or meeting with the accurate and timely information. Thus, it really saves a great deal of time. AIS will make the accounting activities quicker and accurate as the transaction and records are prepared with the system and this has indirectly reduced human error and mistakes. It is also increased flexibility in information generation and improved quality of reports and financial statements. (Spathis and Constantinides 2003) AIS help to maintain financial control and accountability. (Joel, D. Wisner et al, 2009). Financial information are reliable and up to date all the time in order to prevent the management had use the old and out-dated information for decision making as with the uses of irrelevant data may seriously affect the decision in reducing cost, raise profit, increase sales and purchase new assets and etc. The merged of ERP and AIS has also improving the auditor task while auditing task while performing auditing in the company. Each transaction record can link to other related transaction record or softcopy attachment with just a click. (Anon, 2010) For negative effect, the integration process will be very complex and consume a long period to complete, thus it will incurred a very high cost for an organization. Data security not guarantee safe because info are shared and linked among the module within the ERP system, some of the important financial or business strategic information might easily spread out to the market or competitor that will affect the business strategic. Major Implication of AIS There are several components to the AIS such as transaction processing system, general ledger or financial reporting system and the management reporting system. (Hall, J.A., 2004). Major implications of AIS are to analyzed and determine whether the information should captured by the AIS and its speed up the bookkeeping process which bookkeeping mean to keep track the day to day activities of one organizations income and expenses, to collect necessary financial information for reporting and tax purpose, thereby improving the company profitability. (Anderson, C., 2010) After the bookkeeping process, system will automatically generate those data into information to generate a reporting that will use by both internal and external parties and reporting format may vary from different users for different purpose. (Anderson, C., 2010) Conclusion The implementation of ERP has a big impact for an organization business performance especially in accounting module that help to make the accounting transaction become easier and manageable, thus many of the other small-medium size organization can actually take consideration for implementation of ERP system in order to improve the productivity and efficiency and most importantly to maintain competitive. ERP system that will have drawbacks if the implementation process did not manage correctly, if an organization that required a successful implementation, top management should have a plan ahead that consist of the time consuming, the implementation cost, enough expert consultation on the process and special training provided to their staff.

Gender Issues and Barriers in Chinese Business

Gender Issues and Barriers in Chinese Business What kind of barriers blocked (interrupt) female to be an organization leader in China? Abstract China is one of the most populous countries in the world, with over 50 percent of its female population in full time work. Like many other countries, China’s women are under-represented in senior management or organisational leadership roles within Chinese organisations. Yet Chinese women are being educated as well as men, if not better, and benefit from fundamental policies which prevent discrimination in the world of work. It appears that there are barriers which affect Chinese women’s ability to advance along the career ladder to become organisation leaders. A qualitative, Grounded Theory based study was carried out to determine what, if any, were the barriers to women becoming organisation leaders in China. The study aimed to ensure a focus on women themselves and so the sample comprised women already working within Chinese businesses and organisations, who were asked to identify barriers to their becoming business leaders or senior executives. Sensitising questions followed up an initial questionnaire and proforma, to probe into more detail about their responses. The Grounded Theory process of Open, Axial and Selective Coding was followed systematically, and the final three categories of Leadership Effectiveness, Stereotypes and Preconceptions, and Social and Societal Norms and Expectations and Personal Characteristics were identified and discussed. It seems that the key barriers to women becoming organisational leaders are their capacity to be effective leaders, the stereotypes and preconceptions of them as women workers, on the part of others and on the part of the women themselves, and the social norms versus their personal characteristics. This last category included unique aspects of Chinese culture and business etiquette which pose significant challenges for women in leadership roles. More research is now needed to explore in more concrete ways these barriers, and to identify practical and achievable ways that they might be overcome. Introduction China is one of the most populous nations in the world (Saran and Guo, 2005). â€Å"China is a large country, with more than half a billion women, over 50 per cent of who are in full-time employment† (Cooke, 2004 p 243). This represents a significant percentage of the workforce. There is, apparently, a discrepancy between the numbers of women in employment and the numbers of women who achieve senior leadership roles within Chinese organisations. It seems that â€Å"knowledge about these Chinese women in general and women in management in specific, remains very limited† (Cooke, 2004 p 243). There appear to be very little sources of information on the numbers of women in senior management or leadership positions in either the public or the private sector in China. While this may not seem to be a surprise to many, it does beg the question of why women do not achieve senior leadership positions within businesses and organisations in China, particularly given a growing aware ness of China’s success within the global business environment, which must influence business and organisational practices. It is established within the business and organisational literature, as well as other social literature, that â€Å"gender discrimination remains a reality in our society† (Agars, 2004 p 103). This is despite evolution of societies and apparent changes in values, because there is evidence that in all aspects of social life people and their reactions and judgements are affected by gender stereotypes and preconceptions (Agars, 2004). It is also well known that there are more men than women in managerial roles in the business and occupational world (Lublin, 1996), and this disparity increases the higher the seniority of the position (Agars, 2004; Adler and Izraili, 1994; AMBA, 1996). The rationale for investigating the barriers which block or interrupt women from being organisation leaders in China stems partly from the great reliance of the Chinese economy on its economic capacity, and in particular its business capacity, locally and in the global marketplace. Economic success of developing countries (if China can still be considered such) is clearly linked to gender equality (Morrison and Jutting, 2005). If Chinese businesses are to succeed, they need to espouse and contain the characteristics of successful businesses. If Chinese state organisations are to function at their optimal capacity and make best use of available resources, they should optimise their usage of those resources, a significant one being their human resources. Women may be being overlooked as potentially valuable contributors to senior management and leadership positions. However, this may simply reflect the lower status of women in Chinese society (Tian et al, 2007). Paradoxically, Chinese women are not necessarily viewed by all as of lower status. Foo et al (2006) quote a United Nations Development Fund study which summarises Chinese women as outshining men in the business arena because they are better at communications; they are able to think more rationally; and because they pursue their careers with single-minded resolve. Yet there is ongoing evidence that these women are still under-represented in senior leadership roles. Noble (2006) states â€Å"excluding women from leadership roles impacts on productivity and militates against a workforce characterised by a diversity of workers† (p 599). This idea of gender inequality comes down to simple business sense. â€Å"Models of women in senior positions and in equal numbers generally benefit the institutions offering different perspectives, experiences and contributions women can make. (Noble, 2006 p 599). Noble (2006) describes the lack of women in such roles as a â€Å"wastage of management and leadership talent which arises from and is perpetuated by the current under representation of women at senior levels,† and which â€Å"seriously undermines organisations’ ability to respond to change and threatens its future viability and vitality in the face of the economic challenges of the changing workplace.† p 599). Therefore, it can easily be seen that for optimal business performance, the capacity of women to contribute to its s uccess should not be overlooked, and so a study into the barriers which face women in achieving such positions could be of considerable significance for such organisations within China. However, the other rationale for this choice of investigation is to promote the interests of women within the Chinese world of employment and entrepreneurship, and to ensure that the research carried out focuses on their perspectives and illuminates their experiences. It is typical of the business world that the theoretical arena it is supported by is dominated by studies based on rationalistic principles and on outputs and outcomes relating to success and factors which contribute to that success. There is a human dimension of business, which the theoretical domain is now starting to appreciate, in which business capacity and success can be found to be reliant not only on the skills of the workforce, but on their capacity to contribute in multiple ways to the organisation and its outputs. Understanding the views and experiences of women may help not only to define the barriers which face them in relation to achieving leadership roles, but to set out some ways in which such barriers m ight be overcome, sidestepped, reduce or even removed from their path. Women within employment seem to consistently suffer, at a certain level, from a relative inequality with men. Women in China, however, have for a long time enjoyed employment rights based on equality legislation which has shaped social norms to support women into full time employment, which continues throughout their working lives, even when they have children (Cooke, 2004). Despite this, women do not enjoy the same levels of seniority in organisations and businesses as men do, and certainly not in similar numbers. This is a human rights issue (Noble, 2006) and one which is of concern to China and to all women and women’s activists. It may be related to a trend within former socialist countries of what Fan (2003) calls ‘transition’, which is characterised by a resurgence of gendered differences in occupational spheres. Because China is a business culture in a state of transition and change, and in which the effects of change may not be realised for some time, there is a need for investigative studies which explore the characteristics of this culture, from the points of view of those within it. There is an issue here about understanding what barriers present themselves to women who aspire to leadership roles, but also, whether or not women in these Chinese business and occupational spheres do view themselves as working towards such advancements. Because of the lack of empirical research on the subject of the barriers which present themselves to women who wish to aspire to leadership roles in organisations in China, the choice of methodological approach for the inquiry was limited, as quantitative studies are based on hypotheses developed from previously published research. Good quality quantitative research studies also require large samples of a diverse study population, and the limitations of this academic research project do not allow for the kind of survey that would provide adequate numbers, statistically, for a purely quantitative study. Therefore, having explored a range of options for the investigation of the research question, the author came to the conclusion that a quantitative approach would be best suited to this area. However, the author was keen to include simple descriptive statistics within the study data, and also wanted to achieve a similar level of rigour as is usually achievable within the quantitative d omain. Therefore, the author settled on the use of Grounded Theory (Glaser and Strauss, 1967), which is a methodology derived from symbolic interactionism and within which there are rigidly defined stages of the investigation, with clearly outlined process and steps towards the development of theoretical understandings which nevertheless remain firmly grounded in the data derived from the study (Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Goulding, 2005). The following dissertation is set out within the traditional parameters required by the university and by the academic standards of higher education. There is first a literature review, then a description and exploration of the methodology utilised within the study. This is followed by an outline of the data characteristics and background, which is then followed an exploration and discussion of the qualitative data derived from the study. This data is considered and evaluated alongside extant research findings which relate to the data, as is required by the Grounded Theory method, in which data analysis and literature analysis occur simultaneously, such that the accessed literature is treated much as the data is, and subject to the same constant comparison (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). This is followed by conclusions and recommendations for practice and further research. The study aimed to illuminate the murky depths of untapped knowledge and understanding of the barriers which interru pt women’s career progression within Chinese organisations, and thus barriers will be identified and to some extent, their meanings or significance explored. The literature review and the data analysis are separated into themed subheadings, to better signpost the emergent discursive threads of the study. Literature Review Due to the nature of the topic area, it is not possible to address all the available literature, but a critical literature review of key issues will be attempted. The literature review draws on sources related to Chinese business, women in business, entrepreneurship, social theory and even feminist theory, as well as general business and organisational studies, in order to explore the potential barriers that might have already been identified as challenging women to be organisational leaders. The balance of research is affected by the available literature, and by the nature of the research which has already been carried out into similar topics. Little however is written, in terms of empirical research, which directly addresses this dissertation’s research question. However, there are valuable contributions to be made by research from across the business and organisational literature in relation to generic and specific factors affecting women’s opportunities to become or ganisational leaders. China has a vast area of land, and is characterised by considerable social, economic, geographic and ethnic diversity (Chow et al, 2004). Only those factors which can directly be related to the study question will be addressed here. This will allow for the setting of the context and current understanding of the factors which affect the experience of women in China aspiring to become organisational and business leaders. In China, women work alongside their husbands throughout their lifespan, and are supported by employment policies which assure them a reasonably equal role as workers, in terms of basic employment rights (Chow et al, 2004). Therefore, women have a firm foundation within the world of employment, and should, it could be argued, be surrounded by the same opportunities as their male counterparts in terms of career advancement. However, this does not seem to be the case. It is a global feature of business that women seem to experience what is known as the ‘glass ceiling’ within occupational life (Ryan and Haslam, 2005; Cortis and Cassar, 2005). This refers to the fact that women can attain up to a certain level of seniority in many organisations or businesses, but cannot break through into senior leadership roles. There are numerous studies which explore how and why this glass ceiling came to exist, and how it is perpetuated. In terms of Chinese culture, there are strong traditions of loyalty to family and loyalty to one’s boss or employer (Fu et al, 2004). This author would question whether this notion of loyalty contributes to the glass ceiling within Chinese organisations. Gender Obviously, the first and most obvious potential barrier for women in business in China (and in any other culture or nation-state) is that of gender. Gender within this context needs defining, as theoretically, it is still the subject of some argument. Ahl (2006) refers back to feminist scholarship which employed the term gender to distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed definitions of sex, the social practices and representations associated with femininity or masculinity† (p 596). In this article, gender is used to refer to sex in terms of the biological differences between male and female, and the socially-constructed models of masculine and feminine. It is important to note that these may differ according to Western and Chinese norms, and where possible, differentiations between cultural definitions of gender will be highlighted. It has long been known that business is a male or masculine domain. There has been research which suggests that men and women even differ in terms of occupational aspirations, such that males would tend to aspire towards male-dominated occupations in which they can hope for better success, and women, though to a somewhat lesser extent, showing a tendency to veer towards female-dominated occupations in which they are more likely to be able to excel more easily (Powell and Butterfield, 2003). This may be partly due to historical and even current forms of gender discrimination within business and occupational/professional spheres. Gender discrimination however is no longer as apparent as it used to be, thanks to anti-discrimination policies in most organisations and nations (Beck and Davis, 2005). However, in China, â€Å"the half a century’s state intervention in women’s employment has largely focused on protecting women’s labour rights and increasing their share in employment quantitatively, whereas little provision exists which aims to ensure and improve the quality of women’s employment prospects† (Cooke, 2004 p 245). Cooke (2004) shows that women are less represented in professional or management positions, and are more prevalent in clerical and lower-level manual work (Sargeson 2006; Sargeson 2007a). This is significant, given that Chinese women do not traditionally take career breaks to have children, and view their role as equal to that of their husbands in terms of full time work (Cooke, 2004; Sargeson 2007b). This is in direct contrast to the Westernised (and perhaps globalised) norms of women’s occupational experience, wherein women have to either accepted diminished occupational capacity and career advancement in order to have children, or embrace childlessness in order to comply with inherent business norms and achieve success within those parameters (Wood and Newton, 2006; Burke, 1999). Even so, â€Å"men make up the majority of employees in most of the occupations and in state owned sectors where average earnings are highest† (Cooke, 2004 p 245). This is no new finding. For women in China, â€Å"historical and socio-political factors such as the legacy of Marxism, state/party control, economic reform, political upheavals, local conditions and global influences† have affected their self identity, they understanding of their place within the business and employment worlds, and the ways in which they perceive of and experience their career progress and success (Chow et al, 2004, p 161). China has followed an intellectual revolution which has brought to the fore gender studies and feminist studies (Chow et al, 2004), which suggests that the cultural response would likely be that women are more aware of the kinds of organisational and societal cultural barriers to their career advancement into leadership roles. Studying Chinese women’s experiences of barriers to career advancement could be problematic, however, because the very terms used by Westernised scholarly discourse to describe issues of gender and women’s equal rights are essentially difficult to translate (Chow et al, 2004). However, as all literature for this assignment is accessed in English, this should only be viewed as a potential weakness to the study if the respondents are first language Chinese and there are discrepancies between underlying meanings. Another feature of gender discrimination in Chinese business is the fact that the â€Å"state-owned enterprises and public-sector organisations typically operate in an internal labour market system in which jobs are rarely advertised, and promotion decisions are made internally†¦by superiors† (Cooke, 2004, p 249). This means that internal cultural and business mores and codes, which are often set and perpetuated by managers and leaders (who are most likely men), are perpetuated in a way that might exclude women from achieving advancement (Boisot and Child, 1996; Church et al, 2003). These are however buried, often, and not easily labelled as gender discrimination (Beck and Davis, 2005). This is a common feature of all businesses and organisations, it seems, which continue to operate along traditional ‘patriarchal’ and hierarchical lines. Cultural issues also point to gender issues which may present as barriers to women’s career advancement (Brush, 1992). Hanser (2005) explores emerging conceptions of gender in China, in relation, in particular, to service work. This ethnographic study within three urban Chinese retain settings shows that there are gendered class distinctions which are communicated and perpetuated within this sector, which a move from socialism to a more marketized society, wherein younger, youthful and feminine (and urban) women are valued while older and rural women are devalued (Hanser, 2005; Duehr and Bono, 2006). This is reflected in other international contexts and other types of societies (Egri and Ralston, 2004). Hanser (2005) related this to a legitmization of certain roles for certain women within Chinese employment contexts, a fact supported by Coe (1992). This then has nothing to do with role effectiveness, but to do with the external characteristics of women (Hanser, 2005; Cooke; 2 003; Cooke, 2005). Appropriate ‘behaviours’ may be reinforced and inappropriate behaviours censured by such limited characterisations of the suitable female employee (Hanser, 2005). Lewis (2006) uses the example of women entrepreneurs, and suggests that â€Å"the behaviour (business or other) of women involved in entrepreneurial activity of whatever sort is defined and evaluated according to the standards of an invisible masculine norm† (p 453). This shows that underlying business activities are gendered definitions of how people within the market should behave and present themselves (Collinson and Collinson, 1990; Connell, 2005). Because of this, women’s ability to gain commercial, business or occupational success is defined and constrained by apparently unseen (but very real) forces (Cornelius and Skinner, 2008): â€Å"Where this behaviour is judged as differing from the normative standard of serious, professional business, women experience an ‘othering’ as the non-male and are marked out.† (Lewis, 2006 p 453). This is a constant theme of the business literature, that the male is the standard and the female is viewed as ‘other’, as unconventional, as non-standard (and perhaps inherently non-compliant) (Beechey, 1987). Perceptions of gender and gender limitations may also be internalised by many women, and may explain one reason why women do not lead as many successful businesses as men, or are not business leaders as frequently (Bryman, 1987). Kalleberg and Leicht (2005) show that women are less likely to innovate, take risks or step out in new directions in business than men, perhaps due to â€Å"the social disapproval girls are likely to incur for straying from socially accepted, gender-normative patterns of behaviour, and the encouragement and tolerance that boys typically receive for engaging in innovative play and nonconforming behaviour† (p 142). Education It is thought by some theorists that the lower representation of women in senior positions is due to their marginally lower levels of education compared to those of men in China (Cooke, 2004). However, it is also apparent that amount of women in higher education has been increasing recently in China, at a much faster rate than men (Cooke, 2004). Education is seen as a key to senior executive careers (Baruch and Peiperl, 2000; Bickerstaffe, 1992; Carpenter, 1997). This would suggest that the relative lack of education suggested as a barrier to women achieving senior leadership roles may be a factor which is being rapidly eroded. However, it is hard to find evidence of this. Cooke (2004) also argues that â€Å"discrimination against women starts in the recruitment selection to higher education in institutions† (p 247), and this has follow-on effects throughout their subsequent careers. Women are under-represented in certain subjects, including science and business subjects, and have to perform better than men to achieve the same levels of acclaim (Cooke, 2004). Bahry and Marr (2005) show how women’s education in Qatar has developed to such an extent that women are being over-represented in higher education, and that this might signify a shift in gender-dominance in future business domains. However, the nature of this education is not necessarily such that it would develop the kinds of abilities and capacities that are needed in order to gain leadership roles later on in life (Bahry and Marr, 2005). Globalisation and the current international business environment It is important to consider where women business leaders or potential business leaders in China might locate themselves, ideologically and paradigmatically, and how the current environment might affect their ability to assume such senior roles. Mamman and Liu (2008) discuss the difference between macro-level examinations of globalisation on business (and on culture and society), and the micro-level, in which the effects of globalisation on individuals can be appreciated. Globalisation can potentially affect all areas of business (Gunkel et al, 2007). China has, since the 1980s, both embraced and significantly benefited from industrial and business globalisation (Fishman, 2006; Hirst and Thompson, 1999; Stiglitz, 2002; 2003; 2006). According to Mamman and Liu (2008), â€Å"globalisation is particularly important to a society like China where the impact of globalization can have both positive and negative connotations depending on where individuals are geographically located and wheth er they operate in the public or private sector† (p 2). Thus, there may be barriers to achieving career success or business leadership for women in China which are directly related to their personal experience or understanding of globalisation. Mamman and Liu (2008) suggest that â€Å"the form and manner in which globalization is pursued by organizations (private or public) and the nation states is an aggregation of thoughts and behaviour of individuals enabled and constrained by global forces† (p 6). This kind of understanding would suggest that global forces may act as barriers to women becoming business leaders, but it could also be viewed that globalisation could likely be an emancipating force for women in China, because it might at least provide role models for business leadership in other areas and across a diverse range of businesses (Elliott and Stead, 2008). However, it is not enough to cite the forces that emerge from globalisation, such as greater participation in more diverse markets or the presence of women peers with which to do business. It is also important to understand the individual level of response to the new global business environment. It seems that â€Å"to understand why and how organizations and institutions behave in the global economy, we also need to understand how key actors interpret global phenomenon† (p 6). Therefore, accessing individual women who work within business, and women who are seeking to develop as entrepreneurs, would provide th is personal understanding of the global forces of business and perhaps identify more individual as well as international barriers to women succeeding as business leaders. Globalisation is viewed in the business literature usually in positive terms (Mittelman, 2006), but Oka (1998) argues that this may not be the case. Oka (1998) suggests that the terminology of globalisation has â€Å"a distinct connotation of something whole †¦[that] suggests absolute relatedness, harmony, balance and smoothness† (p 32). However, this, according to Oka (1998) is not the case, and there is the argument that globalisation might corrupt social values which underpin society and over-value economics and material gain. However, given the current socialist model of society and economy in China, globalisation may not necessarily be a destabilising force, and the history of business in China in the last two decades certainly suggests that the country and its industry has taken full advantage of the opportunities globalisation presents (Mamman and Liu, 2008; Parker, 2005). Mamman and Liu (2008) carried out research in individual views and responses to globalisation in China, and found that â€Å"respondents view globalization from economic perspective rather than from cultural convergence or political convergence perspective.† (p 32). This suggests that globalisation is most significant to industry and business for Chinese women in business. Mamman and Liu (2008) also state that their respondents viewed globalisation as a product of capitalism: â€Å"they view globalization not only as economic activities but as a philosophical and ideological (not cultural) shift in the way the world conducts economic activities† P 32). This research suggests that globalisation is not part of a potential package of cultural barriers to women business or organisation leaders in China. But Child (2002) does underline the potential cultural conflicts which might challenge women in responding to global business markets, if they have not really had the appropriate training, experience or support during their business or organisational careers. Yet, it may be that many women who wish to assume leadership positions in China are not challenged by global forces or by potential cultural differences, simply because they take a pragmatic view of business and leadership. For these, globalisation might erode barriers to them achieving such roles (Dunning, 2003; Fiss and Hirsch, 2005). Understanding the global context however, is possible from international literature. Beck and Davis (2005) cite the case of a financial organisation Australia that was attempting to increase the numbers of women at managerial level. This organisation had to overcome not only attitudinal barriers but personal barriers (Beck and Davis, 2005). Bahry and Marr, (2005) discuss the social and ideological shifts which have changed women’s roles and status in Quatar, such that they may be becoming more endowed with the capacity to take on leadership roles. However, Singh and Vinnicombe (2004) show that it is still the norm that masculine senior level managers and boards maintain their hegemonic status: â€Å"Evidence shows that senior women do not easily gain access to the boardroom, where an elite group of male directors maintain their power† (Singh and Vinnicombe, 2004 p 479). If Chinese businesses are being significantly affected by Westernised business practices, there is the potential that these practices present more barriers to women taking on senior leadership positions, rather than helped to change entrenched cultural values which have been seen as inherent in Chinese business practice. Gobalisation may therefore be viewed as a source of new hurdles and obstacles to be surmounted for women in China. These barriers include what are described as ‘informal’ or ‘hidden’ processes associated with senior promotion (Alimo-Metcalfe, 1995), a relative lack of appropriate and available career development routes and activities (Ragins et al, 1998), and, the more obvious barrier, the lower levels of pay allocated to women (Oakley, 2000). There are also behavioural and cultural barriers, which include the gender role stereotyping of leadership capability (Schein and Muller, 2002), communication styles which reflect gendered differences (Tannen, 1994), and the social exclusion, corporate cultural norms, entrenched power dynamics and old boys’ networks which characterise British and American businesses (Ragins Sundstrom, 1989). It can be seen that while there may be similarities in Chinese businesses in terms of barriers which emerge from traditional business norms and behaviours, there may be others which could be derived from the businesses they are exposed to in the Global marketplace. Therefore, Chinese women may find themselves having to face and adapt to more or different challenges to ascending the corporate or organisational ladder. Personal Capabilities Other factors which may affect women’s career success at senior level is a perception that they are not capable of leading businesses as well as men (Cooke, 2004; Kalleberg and Leicht, 2005; Fischlmayr, 2002), and the women being faced with competing family demands, particularly from children (Beatty, 1996). This is not necessarily the case in China, however, because it has become the cultural norm for women to work full time, even after having had children, and women do not take career breaks to have children, a fact which is facilitated by the one-child rule (Cooke, 2004). Women may be viewed however in terms of their gender and this will likely affect not only perceptions of their effectiveness as leaders, but evaluations of their success as well (Gunkel et al, 2007; Gutek, 1985; Fondas, 1997). Ryan and Haslam (2005) suggest that when traditional masculi

The Kongo and the Pygmy Tribes in the Modern Day Zaire Essay -- Explor

The Kongo and the Pygmy Tribes in the Modern Day Zaire The study of tribes in the Congo is a very confusing matter. Linguistic, regional and political divisions are all very prevalent characteristics of these people. Two tribes who speak the same unique language may be separated by thousands of miles. The three major linguistic groups are the Bantu, Central Sudanic, and Ubangian with Bantu being the most prevalent. 2000 to 3000 years ago large numbers of Bantu speaking people slowly but steadily began to migrate from modern day Sudan to the Congo basin, or modern day Zaire (www.nbufront.org). The original inhabitants of this area were the Pygmies, the diminutive forest people. I am going to focus on the two most celebrated of the Congo civilizations: the Kongo Kingdom and the Pygmy tribe. The Kingdom of the Kongo began as a small Bantu-speaking chiefdom founded by Ntinu Wene near the modern day town of Boma in the fourteenth century (Ranger pg. 29). The kingdom expanded rapidly through expansion and conquest of other small chiefdoms. Kingship was a pil...

Essay --

There were many great composers during the late baroque period, each with their own distinct talents. Each composer played a key role in shaping the baroque period. Arcangelo Corelli was one of those important composers that influenced many people during his time. He lived in Italy from 1653 to 1713. He was a composer, teacher, and a violinist. Corelli was an influential person in the baroque period; â€Å"History has remembered him with such titles as ‘Founder of Modern Violin Technique,’ the ‘World's First Great Violinist,’ and the ‘Father of the Concerto Grosso.’† (Arcangelo Corelli: A Concise Biography). Little was known about Corelli’s early life. Arcangelo Corelli was born in Fusignano, Italy. His mother, Santa Raffini, named him after his father who had passed away a month before he was conceived. Corelli’s mother had to raise five children, including Arcangelo, by herself. However, she was well of because she owned land and was fairly wealthy. When he was thirteen, he began learning about music from Leonardo Brugnol. Corelli studied about the violin at Bologna. Eventually, at age... Essay -- There were many great composers during the late baroque period, each with their own distinct talents. Each composer played a key role in shaping the baroque period. Arcangelo Corelli was one of those important composers that influenced many people during his time. He lived in Italy from 1653 to 1713. He was a composer, teacher, and a violinist. Corelli was an influential person in the baroque period; â€Å"History has remembered him with such titles as ‘Founder of Modern Violin Technique,’ the ‘World's First Great Violinist,’ and the ‘Father of the Concerto Grosso.’† (Arcangelo Corelli: A Concise Biography). Little was known about Corelli’s early life. Arcangelo Corelli was born in Fusignano, Italy. His mother, Santa Raffini, named him after his father who had passed away a month before he was conceived. Corelli’s mother had to raise five children, including Arcangelo, by herself. However, she was well of because she owned land and was fairly wealthy. When he was thirteen, he began learning about music from Leonardo Brugnol. Corelli studied about the violin at Bologna. Eventually, at age...

Nutrition/Diet Therapy Project

Health is an important aspect for the people as this manifests as the foundation of their lives and welfare. Ideally, good health can be maintained through adhering to a strict discipline and a physically nurturing lifestyle. Having proper nutrition, adequate rest, regular exercise and avoidance from vices can lead to a healthy personal development bringing forth longer with a pleasant condition. Among the three approaches to a healthy living, the aspect of diet and nutrition commonly manifests as the most influential factor as this can significantly affect the general development of the physical body. Healthy body condition can be maintained through adhering through a proper diet even the prevention and resistance to many health ailments such as heart diseases. Indeed, heart diseases are serious problems which must be given sufficient attention as they are mostly life-threatening. One common approach for reducing treatment ad prevention of heart diseases is adhering to a proper diet and nutrition therapy. Nutrition is mainly taken through eating and drinking. The body extracts the needed vitamins and minerals from the food and water taken in to properly maintain the basic processes vital for a healthy living. In the aspect of treating or preventing heart diseases, the value of the foods taken in terms of vitamins and minerals play much significance. Naturally, the origin of heart disease also has other factors such as hereditary as determined from the history of the family lineage. For cases wherein a person indeed has history of heart disease cases running down his or her family, the value of the dietary nutrition can have preventive effects to the probability of the development of heart ailments for the said individual. To further elaborate the significance of the said health recommendation, an actual study health study will be implemented wherein the author of this paper will establish a personal dietary recommendation in relation to his health information. As this author has determined, a significance percentage of heart disease has to be considered, as the problem is present in the family history. As gathered through intrinsic research, the risk factor is associated with the case of the subject’s father dying from a heart attack, which is likely due to high cholesterol level similar to the case of the subject’s grandfather. Considering the present health status of the subject, there is still no sign of heart disease symptoms and the cholesterol is still regular within the normal level. From these informations, it can be ruled that heart disease in terms of hereditary and congenital nature however, a consideration for precaution is still necessary. Thus, this dietary recommendation project will be significantly focused on the development of preventive approach and maintenance of healthy condition. In preventing heart disease ailments, it is important to consider the nutritional value of the diet being taken by the subject. In this project, three particular diet elements are highly recommended namely: emphasize on fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products inclusion of lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts on the regular diet and reduction in saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium and, added sugars. A strict adhesion to these three diet factors is important in the aspect of preventing health ailments as their nutritional benefits are incremental thus aiding the proper development of the body. The health values gain from this diet works mainly in two ways namely first through promoting the development of the body’s health and natural defenses, and second through reducing the likely diet causes of heart problems. It must be noted that cases of high cholesterol level are present in the family background and the likely contributor to the development of the heart problem of the subject’s father, thus, it must this diet recommendation project wishes to emphasize the elimination of this factor. This health diet project has also considered the said factor through eliminating the food sources of cholesterol. Reduction of cholesterol is addressed through eliminating saturated fats on the diet and focusing more on fruits, vegetables, grains, wheat, and other. Indeed, this diet recommendation eliminates the risk factor determined from family history and promotes the development of a healthy lifestyle for the subject. To better realize the effect of the recommendations of the mentioned diet project, it is also important to adhere to a healthy lifestyle particularly regular exercise and sufficient rest. In this project, an emphasis on cardiovascular exercises on a regular basis is recommended namely the basic jogging, simple stretching, and brisk walking. This form of exercises develops the capacity and healthy condition of the circulatory system particularly the heart, lung, and blood vessels. In addition, these exercises also promote proper waste removal from the body through perspiration and the maintenance of the cholesterol level. These exercises must be done at maximum of thrice a week for maintenance purposes. As additional recommendations, exercise done with mechanical assistance such as treadmill and tension bikes is also recommended but not necessary as these will require additional expense for the project. Having sufficient rest periods is also important in this health project. Insufficient rest can reduce the capacity and health of the muscles in the body and this effect has detrimental consequences mainly on the heart organ. Thus, to maintain the benefits from the food recommendations and exercise, proper rest periods ranging within 8 to 10 hours must also be given consideration. In general, this diet recommendation project is not solely focused on heart diseases as the benefits in this program can also address other health problems. It is a general emphasis on this program to develop a strong and healthy body for its subject through maintaining a proper healthy lifestyle. By adhering to a nutritious and healthy diet, a regular exercise, and adequate sleep program, the subject can easily improve his or her physical well-being and natural defenses, enabling the subject to prevent numerous health problems particularly heart diseases. Indeed, in the approach of preventing health problems, the primary approach for this aspect is to develop a strong body through a healthy lifestyle throughout his or her life. Bibliography Lee, Dennis & Stoppler, Melissa Conrad (2007). Disease Prevention Through Diet and Nutrition. MedicineNet, Inc. http://www.medicinenet.com/prevention/article.htm. September 7, 2007. Medical Update (1993). Take heart – and save it, too! (preventing heart disease with healthy diet). Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc. Vol 17, Page 2. Mirkin, Gabe (2003).The Healthy Heart Miracle: Your Roadmap to Lifelong Health. Collins Publication. 1st Edition. ISBN-10: 0060196807

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Eight

â€Å"What?† said Elena dully. â€Å"Well, the way she ended up, in her slip. She looked just like she did when we found her on the road, only then she was all scratched up, too.† â€Å"Cat scratches, we thought,† said Meredith, finishing the last bite of her cake. She seemed to be in one of her quiet, thoughtful moods; right now she was watching Elena closely. â€Å"But that doesn't seem very likely.† Elena looked straight back at her. â€Å"Maybe she fell in some brambles,† she said. â€Å"Now, if you guys are finished eating, do you want to see that first note?† They left their dishes in the sink and climbed the stairs to Elena's room. Elena felt herself flush as the other girls read the note. Bonnie and Meredith were her best friends, maybe her only friends now. She'd read them passages from her diary before. But this was different. It was the most humiliating feeling she'd ever had. â€Å"Well?† she said to Meredith. â€Å"The person who wrote this is five feet eleven inches tall, walks with a slight limp, and wears a false mustache,† Meredith intoned. â€Å"Sorry,† she added, seeing Elena's face. â€Å"Not funny. Actually, there's not much to go on, is there? The writing looks like a guy's, but the paper looks feminine.† â€Å"And the whole thing has sort of a feminine touch,† put in Bonnie, bouncing slightly on Elena's bed. â€Å"Well, it does,† she said defensively. â€Å"Quoting bits of your diary back at you is the kind of thing a woman would think of. Men don't care about diaries.† â€Å"You just don't want it to be Damon,† said Meredith. â€Å"I would think you'd be more worried about him being a psycho killer than a diary thief.† â€Å"I don't know; killers are sort of romantic. Imagine your dying with his hands around your throat. He'd strangle the life out of you, and the last thing you'd see would be his face.† Putting her own hands to her throat, Bonnie gasped and expired tragically, ending up draped across the bed. â€Å"He can have me anytime,† she said, eyes still closed. It was on Elena's lips to say, â€Å"Don't you understand, this isserious ,† but instead she hissed in a breath. â€Å"Oh,God ,† she said, and ran to the window. The day was humid and stifling, and the window had been opened. Outside on the skeletal branches of the quince tree was a crow. Elena threw the sash down so hard that the glass rattled and tinkled. The crow gazed at her through the trembling panes with eyes like obsidian. Rainbows glimmered in its sleek black plumage. â€Å"Why did yousay that?† she said, turning to Bonnie. â€Å"Hey, there's nobody out there,† said Meredith gently. â€Å"Unless you count the birds.† Elena turned away from them. The tree was empty now. â€Å"I'm sorry,† said Bonnie in a small voice, after a moment. â€Å"It's just that it all doesn't seem real sometimes, even Mr. Tanner's being dead doesn't seem real. And Damon did look†¦ well, exciting. But dangerous. I â€Å"And besides, he wouldn't squeeze your throat; he'd cut it,† Meredith said. â€Å"Or at least that was what he did to Tanner. But the old man under the bridge had his throat ripped open, as if some animal had done it.† Meredith looked to Elena for clarification. â€Å"Damon doesn't have an animal, does he?† â€Å"No. I don't know.† Suddenly, Elena felt very tired. She was worried about Bonnie, about the consequences of those foolish words. â€Å"I can do anything to you, to you and the ones you love,† she remembered. What might Damon do now? She didn't understand him. He was different every time they met. In the gym he'd been taunting, laughing at her. But the next time she would swear that he'd been serious, quoting poetry to her, trying to get her to come away with him. Last week, with the icy graveyard wind lashing around him, he'd been menacing, cruel. And underneath his mocking words last night, she'd felt the same menace. She couldn't predict what he'd do next. But, whatever happened, she had to protect Bonnie and Meredith from him. Especially since she couldn't warn them properly. And what was Stefan up to? She needed him right now, more than anything. Wherewas he? It started that morning. â€Å"Let me get this straight,† Matt said, leaning against the scarred body of his ancient Ford sedan when Stefan approached him before school. â€Å"You want to borrow my car.† â€Å"Yes,† Stefan said. â€Å"And the reason you want to borrow it is flowers. You want to get some flowers for Elena.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"And these particular flowers, these flowers you've just got to get, don't grow around here.† â€Å"They might. But their blooming season is over this far north. And the frost would have finished them off anyway.† â€Å"So you want to go down south – how far south you don't know – to find some of these flowers that you've just got to give to Elena.† â€Å"Or at least some of the plants,† Stefan said. â€Å"I'd rather have the actual flowers though.† â€Å"And since the police still have your car, you want to borrow mine, for however long it takes you to go down south and find these flowers that you've just got to give to Elena.† â€Å"I figure driving is the least conspicuous way to leave town,† Stefan explained. â€Å"I don't want the police to follow me.† â€Å"Uh huh. And that's why you want my car.† â€Å"Am I going to give my car to the guy who stole my girlfriend and now wants to take a jaunt down south to get her some kind of special flowers she's just got to have? Are you crazy?† Matt, who had been staring out over the roofs of the frame houses across the street, turned at last to look at Stefan. His blue eyes, usually cheerful and straightforward, were full of utter disbelief, and surmounted by twisted, puckered brows. Stefan looked away. He should have known better. After everything Matt had already done for him, to expect more was ridiculous. Especially these days, when people flinched from the sound of his step and avoided his eyes when he came near. To expect Matt, who had the best of reasons to resent him, to do him such a favor with no explanation, on the basis of faith alone, reallywas insane. â€Å"No, I'm not crazy,† he said quietly, and turned to go. â€Å"Neither am I,† Matt had said. â€Å"And I'd have to be crazy to turn my car over to you. Hell, no. I'm going with you.† By the time Stefan had turned back around, Matt was looking at the car instead of him, lower lip thrust forward in a wary, judicious pout. â€Å"After all,† he'd said, rubbing at the flaking vinyl of the roof, â€Å"you might scratch the paint or something.† Elena put the phone back on the hook.Somebody was at the boarding house, because somebody kept picking up the phone when it rang, but after that there was only silence and then the click of disconnection. She suspected it was Mrs. Flowers, but that didn't tell her anything about where Stefan was. Instinctively, she wanted to go to him. But it was dark outside, and Stefan had warned her specifically not to go out in the dark, especially not anywhere near the cemetery or the woods. The boarding house was near both. â€Å"No answer?† said Meredith as Elena came back and sat down on the bed. â€Å"She keeps hanging up on me,† Elena said, and muttered something under her breath. â€Å"Did you say she was a witch?† â€Å"No, but it rhymes with that,† said Elena. â€Å"Look,† said Bonnie, sitting up. â€Å"If Stefan's going to call, he'll call here. There's no reason for you to come and stay the night with me.† Therewas a reason, although Elena couldn't quite explain it even to herself. After all, Damon had kissed Bonnie at Alaric Saltzman's party. It was Elena's fault that Bonnie was in danger in the first place. Somehow she felt that if she were at least on the scene, she might be able to protect Bonnie. â€Å"My mom and dad and Mary are all home,† Bonnie persisted. â€Å"And we lock all our doors and windows and everything since Mr. Tanner was murdered. This weekend Dad even put on extra locks. I don't see whatyou can do.† She left a message for Stefan with Aunt Judith, telling him where she was. There was still a lingering constraint between her and her aunt. And there would be, Elena thought, until Aunt Judith changed her mind about Stefan. At Bonnie's house, she was given a room that had belonged to one of Bonnie's sisters who was now in college. The first thing she did was check the window. It was closed and locked, and there was nothing outside that someone could climb, like a drainpipe or tree. As inconspicuously as possible, she also checked Bonnie's room and any others she could get into. Bonnie was right; they were all sealed up tight from the inside. Nothing from the outside could get in. She lay in bed a long time that night, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. She kept remembering Vickie dreamily doing a striptease in the cafeteria. What was wrong with the girl? She would remember to ask Stefan that next time she saw him. Thoughts of Stefan were pleasant, even with all the terrible things that had happened recently. Elena smiled in the darkness, letting her mind wander. Someday all this harassment would be over, and she and Stefan could plan a life together. Of course, he hadn't actually said anything about that, but Elena herself was sure. She was going to marry Stefan, or no one. And Stefan was going to marry no one but her†¦ The transition into dreaming was so smooth and gradual that she scarcely noticed it. But she knew, somehow, that shewas dreaming. It was as if a little part of her was standing aside and watching the dream like a play. She was sitting in a long hallway, which was covered with mirrors on one side and windows on the other. She was waiting for something. Then she saw a flicker of movement, and Stefan was standing outside the window. His face was pale and his eyes were hurt and angry. She went over to the window, but she couldn't hear what he was saying because of the glass. In one hand, he was holding a book with a blue velvet cover, and he kept gesturing to it and asking her something. Then he dropped the book and turned away. â€Å"Stefan, don't go! Don't leave me!† she cried. Her fingers flattened whitely on the glass. Then she noticed that there was a latch on one side of the window and she opened it, calling to him. But he had disappeared and outside she saw only swirling white mist. Disconsolately, she turned away from the window and began walking down the hall. Her own image glimmered in mirror after mirror as she went by them. Then something about one of the reflections caught her eye. The eyes were her eyes, but there was a new look in them, a predatory, sly look. Vickie's eyes had looked that way when she was undressing. And there was something disturbing and hungry about her smile. As she watched, standing still, the image suddenly whirled around and around, as if dancing. Horror swept over Elena. She began to run down the hall, but now all the reflections had a life of their own, dancing, beckoning to her, laughing at her. Just when she thought her heart and lungs would burst with terror, she reached the end of the corridor and flung open a door. She was standing in a large and beautiful room. The lofty ceiling was intricately carved and inlaid with gold; the doorways were faced with white marble. Classical statues stood in niches along the walls. Elena had never seen a room of such splendor, but she knew where she was. In Renaissance Italy, when Stefan She looked down at herself and saw she was wearing a dress like the one she'd had made for Halloween, the ice blue Renaissance ball gown. But this dress was a deep ruby red, and around her waist she wore a thin chain set with brilliant red stones. The same stones were in her hair. When she moved, the silk shimmered like flames in the light of hundreds of torches. At the far end of the room, two huge doors swung inward. A figure appeared between them. It walked toward her, and she saw that it was a young man dressed in Renaissance clothing, doublet and hose and fur-trimmed jerkin. Stefan! She started toward him eagerly, feeling the weight of her dress swing from the waist. But when she got closer she stopped, drawing in a sharp breath. It was Damon. He kept on walking toward her, confident, casual. He was smiling, a smile of challenge. Reaching her, he put one hand over his heart and bowed. Then he held out the hand to her as if daring her to take it. â€Å"Do you like dancing?† he said. Except that his lips didn't move. The voice was in her mind. Her fear drained away, and she laughed. What was wrong with her, to have ever been afraid of him? They understood each other very well. But instead of taking his hand, she turned away, the silk of the dress turning after her. She moved lightly toward one of the statues along the wall, not glancing back to see if he was following her. She knew he would. She pretended to be absorbed in the statue, moving away again just as he reached her, biting her lip to hold in the laughter. She felt wonderful right now, so alive, so beautiful. Dangerous? Of course, this game was dangerous. But she had always enjoyed danger. The next time he drew near her, she glanced at him teasingly as she turned. He reached out, but caught only the jeweled chain at her waist. He let go quickly, and, looking back, she saw that the pronged setting on one of the gems had cut him. The drop of blood on his finger was just the color of her dress. His eyes flashed at her sideways, and his lips curved in a taunting smile as he held the wounded finger up. You wouldn't dare, those eyes said. Oh, wouldn't I? Elena told him with her own eyes. Boldly, she took his hand and held it a moment, teasing him. Then she brought the finger to her lips. After a few moments, she released it and looked up at him. â€Å"Ido like dancing,† she said, and found that, like him, she could speak with her mind. It was a thrilling sensation. She moved to the center of the room and waited. He followed her, graceful as a stalking beast. His fingers were warm and hard when they clasped hers. There was music, although it faded in and out and sounded far away. Damon placed his other hand on her waist. She could feel the warmth of his fingers there, the pressure. She picked up her skirts, and they began dancing. It was lovely, like flying, and her body knew every move to make. They danced around and around that empty room, in perfect timing, together. He was laughing down at her, his dark eyes glittering with enjoyment. She felt so beautiful; so poised and alert and ready for anything. She couldn't remember when she'd had this much fun. The room around her was blurring. She could see only his eyes, and they were making her feel more and more sleepy. She allowed her own eyes to half close, her head to fall back. She sighed. She couldfeel his gaze now, on her lips, on her throat. She smiled to herself and let her eyes close completely. He was supporting her weight now, keeping her from falling down. She felt his lips on the skin of her neck, burning hot as if he had a fever. Then she felt the sting, like the jabs of two needles. It was over quickly, though, and she relaxed to the pleasure of having her blood drawn out. She remembered this feeling, the feeling of floating on a bed of golden light. A delicious languor stole through all her limbs. She felt drowsy, as if it were too much trouble to move. She didn't want to move anyway; she felt too good. Her fingers were resting on his hair, clasping his head to her. Idly, she threaded them through the soft dark strands. His hair was like silk, warm and alive under her fingers. When she opened her eyes a slit, she saw that it reflected rainbows in the candlelight. Red and blue and purple, just like – just like the feathers†¦ And then everything shattered. There was pain at her throat suddenly, as if her soul was being torn out of her. She was pushing at Damon, clawing at him, trying to force him away. Screams rang in her ears. Damon was fighting her, but it wasn't Damon; it was a crow. Huge wings beat against her, thrashing in the air. Her eyes were open. She was awake and screaming. The ballroom was gone, and she was in a darkened bedroom. But the nightmare had followed her. Even as she reached for the light, it came at her again, wings thrashing in her face, sharp beak diving for her. Elena struck out at it, one hand flung up to protect her eyes. She was still screaming. She couldn't get away from it, those terrible wings kept flailing frantically, with a sound like a thousand decks of cards being shuffled at once. The door burst open, and she heard shouts. The warm, heavy body of the crow struck her and her screams went higher. Then someone was pulling her off the bed, and she was standing protected behind Bonnie's father. He had a broom and he was beating at the bird with it. Bonnie was standing in the doorway. Elena ran into her arms. Bonnie's father was shouting, and then came the slam of a window. â€Å"It's out,† Mr. McCullough said, breathing hard. Mary and Mrs. McCullough were just outside in the hallway, clad in bathrobes. â€Å"You're hurt,† Mrs. McCullough said to Elena in amazement. â€Å"The nasty thing's pecked you.† â€Å"I'm okay,† Elena said, brushing at a spot of blood on her face. She was so shaken that her knees were â€Å"How did it getin?† said Bonnie. Mr. McCullough was inspecting the window. â€Å"You shouldn't have left this open,† he said. â€Å"And what did you want to take the locks off for?† â€Å"I didn't,† Elena cried. â€Å"It was unlocked and open when I heard you screaming and came in,† Bonnie's father said. â€Å"I don't know who else could have opened it but you.† Elena choked back her protests. Hesitantly, cautiously, she moved to the window. He was right; the locks had been unscrewed. And it could have been done only from the inside. â€Å"Maybe you were sleepwalking,† said Bonnie, leading Elena away from the window as Mr. McCullough began putting the locks back on. â€Å"We'd better get you cleaned up.† Sleepwalking. Suddenly the entire dream flooded back to Elena. The hall of mirrors, and the ballroom, and Damon. Dancing with Damon. She pulled out of Bonnie's grasp. â€Å"I'll do it myself,† she said, hearing her own voice quaver on the edge of hysteria. â€Å"No – really – I want to.† She escaped into the bathroom and stood with her back to the locked door, trying to breathe. The last thing she wanted to do was look in a mirror. But at last, slowly, she approached the one over the sink, trembling as she saw the edge of her reflection, moving inch by inch until she was framed in the silvery surface. Her image stared back, ghastly pale, with eyes that looked bruised and frightened. There were deep shadows under them and smears of blood on her face. Slowly, she turned her head slightly and lifted up her hair. She almost cried out loud when she saw what was underneath. Two little wounds, fresh and open on the skin of her neck.