Flat Tax Essay -- Economics

Flat TaxAn Analysis of the Flat Tax Rate trunkShould the matted evaluate direct system be implemented? No, the flat tax rate system should not be implemented. In this paper, the pro arguments will be presented, which will corroborate the thesis. Then the con arguments will be presented. A rebuttal will then follow, and finally, the authors conclusion will be offered.The loudest clamor against the flat tax would come from fundamentowners, Realtors, and builders, who would be hammered as the flat tax does away with deductions for mortgage interest payments and local property taxes. If not negotiated with skill, this issue could be the flat tax movements Achilles heel. An analysis by the economic consulting firm DRI/McGraw-Hill estimates that the market value of all homes could swing out by 15 share if the tax were introduced without a phase-in period. The brunt of the blow would be borne by those in middle and upper income groups. The flat tax could cause mortgage interest rate s to drop by a full percentage point, which would chore up prices. But even so, the DRI economists calculate that were the flat tax enacted with no phase-in period, the price of a $150,000 home could fall to $113,571, a decline of 24 percent. (Dishman 39)Middle class votes who have most of their money tied up in home and hearth will scream blue murder. Nor will they be soothed by economists armchair arguments that the governments roughly $80-billion-a-year tax subsidy to owner-occupied housing has led to a Brobdingnagian overbuilding of the nations housing stock. Roger E. Brinner, DRIs chief economist, figures the plunge in housing value would wipe out more than $1.5 trillion of householders net worth. The collapse of the housing market and new home construction, Brinner predicts, would slice 1.2 percent off GDP the year after the flat tax passed, and 1.6 percent in the second year. (Dishman 39)A potentially troublesome law lurks in the flat tax plan of House Majority Leader Richa rd Armey. The Armey flat tax plans to eliminate business exemption for most fringe benefits, especially employer paid health care. Flat tax enthusiasts like Harvard University economist Dale Jorgenson argue that employers, who look at the total cost of compensation, would simply increase their employees cash compensation, leaving them free to purchase their own health insurance. In theory, the workers then bec... ...rth noting that, for the politician who withdraws money from a campaign fund for personal use, even if it is unlawful to do so, this is taxable under the present law. But it appears to be tax-free under the flat tax. The regular(prenominal) wage earner certainly has the right to be skeptical about this fair and honest tax. (Robertson 26)In conclusion, it is clear that the flat tax rate is not a good concept which would be beneficial to the people. The current tax system, for now, is by far the better choice.BibliographyWorks CitedAstrikson, John, Flattening Taxes, Cons umer Reports December 1995, 34-37Darell, Bobby, Modern Economy, New York Harper, 1994Dishman, Kris, The skill of Taxation, New Haven Yale, 1996Flanegan, Jim, The Treasury, Cambridge Harvard UP, 1995Henderson, Margaret. A Look at the Economy, New York Dell, 1994McAfee, Charles, The National Debt, New York Appleton, 1993McNamara, Ellen, Your Tax Dollars at Work, New York Bowker, 1995Miller, Shawn, Commerce and You, New York Norton, 1996Robertson, Oliver, Learning the System New York Grove, 1994Tarik, Alfred, The Economy and the System Boston Houghton, 1993

Analysis of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay -- Kate Chopin St

Back in 1894, the American writer Kate Chopin wrote the short-story The Story of an Hour. Chopin, natural OFlaherty, wasnt renowned as a writer during her time, but she has achieved recognition in the 20th century especially with her 1899 novel The Awakening. Her stories about strong women pretend really been paid attention to in relation to this centurys sexual liberation debate. This short-story revolves around what goes through a persons head when informed that a close family fellow member has perished. However, I wouldnt say that this is the theme of the story, which Ill get back to. Louise Mallard is a young, yet married woman who suffers from heart trouble, and thats why her closest relatives feel that they control to break the news to her as gently as possible. Immediately after hearing the shocking news, Louise starts crying, and storms into her room. Since Louise spends the majority of the short-story in her room, this is the setting of the story. Noone really knows ear ly in the story how Louise really feels about her husband dying. But the author certainly gives some evident hints. The fourth paragraphs content, which revolves around the period of time where Louise has just entered her room, is sensibly surprising. Everyone would expect Louise to weep with agony and pain, but instead she sits calmly down There stood, facing an open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. The interested reader ordain already here discover that something is terribly wrong, since a word like comfortable is used. A newly widdowed woman would probably not look upon a chair as comfortable shortly after receiving the terri... ...t she starts dreaming about it. That shows that she has an enormous respect for her husband, and doesnt dare to do anything that breaks or is in variance with his rights, restrictions and groundrules. right away we have procedures and laws regarding womens rights when it comes to feeling trapped in a marriage and urging to end it. Getting a divorce from ones husband is about as halcyon for women nowadays as opening a can of beer. Nevertheless, Chopins story tells a lot about the situation women were in a century ago, and its morale has blossomed deep following the recent liberation debate. The Story of an Hour has probably inspired a great deal of women to oppose their husbands if they feel like their marriage isnt preferably as jolly as it ought to be.

Siddhartha Gautama :: essays research papers

Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama was born about 563 BC in what is now modern Nepal. Hisfather, Suddhodana, was the ruler of the Sakya people and Siddhartha grew upliving the extravagant life on a tender prince. According to custom, he marriedat the young age of sixteen to a miss named Yasodhara. His father had orderedthat he live a life of total seclusion, but one day Siddhartha ventured out intothe world and was confronted with the reality of the inevitable trauma oflife. The next day, at the age of twenty-nine, he left his kingdom and new-bornson to lead an modest life and determine a way to relieve cosmopolitan suffering.For six years, Siddhartha meditated under a bodhi tree. But he was never fullysatisfied. One day he was offered a bowl of rice from a young girl and heaccepted it. In that moment, he realized that physical hardships were not themeans to freedom. From then on, he encouraged people not to exercising extremes intheir life. He called this The Middle Way. That night Siddhartha sat underthe bodhi tree, and meditated till dawn. He cleared his mind of all worldlythings and claimed to get enlightenment at the age of thirty-five, thus earningthe title Buddha, or "Enlightened One." For the remainder of his eighty years,the Buddha preached the dharma in an effort to help other people reachenlightenment. When Siddhartha is a Brahmin, he believes in the existence ofmany gods, and performs sacrifices to them. After a while he realizes this ismeaningless and decides to leave his family and community and become a Samana.As a Samana, he tries to destroy himself in may ways. He feels if he killshimself, with its passions and emotions, he will find the great secret.Siddhartha doesnt spend much time as Buddha, although he has an crucialrevelation. He discovers he cant find peace by learning from a master. Hefinds the only way to have peace with the world is by determination it for himself.When Siddhartha leaves Buddha, he is enthralled with th e world. He startspaying more(prenominal) attention to the world because he knows he must get experience forhimself. As he walks he comes upon a town. He stays and becomes a merchant.At first he looks at his actions as a game. After a while he becomes moreserious. He starts drinking and gambling and becomes lazy. Siddhartha seesthis and decides to leave the town.He wanders through a forest and comes upon a

Comparing Power in Cry, The Beloved Country and The Women of Brewster Place :: comparison compare contrast essays

True Power in Cry, the Be grappled County, One daylight in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and The Women of Brewster Place The world sets reveal to disappoint man. There exists a constant battle in which man has to prove himself by rising up against inevitable pain and destruction. When the struggle we salute will end is unknown to us, and remains a mystery. The question of why we are forced to struggle regular goes unanswered. Yet to overcome everything trying to disempower man, completely we need is love. Through endless possibilities we can both love and use this power to create something more, something so great it enables us to transcend those who try to disempower. rase though this love exists in so many forms and pervades every moment of our lives, the challenge remains to find it. In Cry, the Beloved County by Alan Paton, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn, and The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor, the characters depict our endless search for love and the power it carries with it. Perhaps it is the innocence that lures man to them, perhaps it is even their helplessness that compels man to reach out to them, but whatever the cause, people so often find their love within fryren. Being with a child eliminates all other worries and pains of the world. Paton says as much when he declares, Now God be thanked that there is a beloved one who can quash up the heart in suffering, that one can play with a child in the face of such misery (Paton 62). Though Kumalo experiences continuing hardships on his trip to Johannesburg, nothing brings him greater pleasure than when he plays with the child of his daughter. When he plays with the child, there is something that comes out of him so that he is changed (Paton 118). Expressed even further is the love created with a child of ones own. Luciela Turner, of Women of Brewster Place, looks at her daughter as her only source of love that has ever come without pain, and the child brings her so much pleasure. The playful laugh of her daughter, heard more often now, brought a sort of redemption, Naylor says (96).

The Ninja :: essays research papers

Master of the OrientTHE NINJABorn and raised in New York City, Eric Lustbader graduated from Columbia University in 1969. Lustbader has had a number of fascinating best-selling novels, including Black Heart and Angel Eyes, he introduced Elton John to the American music scene. He spent fifteen years in the music industry in various capacities, including working for both Elektra and CBS Records. He is a former writer for Cash Box magazine where he wrote feed stories on new rock acts. In that capacity, he was the first person in the United States to predict the success of Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Satana, among many others.Lustbader has taught in the All-Day Neighbourhood prepare Division of the NYC Public School System and has also taught pre-schoolers in special early Childhood programmes.Eric Lustbader, who travels worldwide in researching his novels, lives in Southampton, New York, with his wife capital of Seychelles Lustbader, who works for the Nature Conservancy.Well, I don t want to give the whole report card away in this report, so I am going to summarise the story very briefly.The book isnt really just about a few selected people, but instead the author tries to see it from a lot of different perspectives. whence the reader get to know a variety of personalities. The Ninja is a high-voltage novel of intrigue and sensuality, richly characterised, fuelled by relentless suspense, an extraordinary thriller, least to say.If theres a main character in the book I think it would be Nicholas Linnear, a man of half-English, half-Oriental origin. A quite special man I impart tell you more about later in this report. Anyway, the story begins with a murder, a clean, silent and mysterious murder. The police dont have a clue, so they shout in Nicholas, an expert on this type of murders. Nicholas doesnt want to tell the others in the beginning, but he has his thoughts. As the story continues he start to split up the problem and suddenly everything is crystal cl ear. This isnt the usual type of murder, instead something even worse. An assassination, performed by a man bound by the blackest code of honour and skillful in the deadliest martial arts. This was the work of a ninja, a far remnant of the East. Nicholas must fight against a past he cant escape, trapped in a web of old lust and present passions, he uses all his skill and knowledge to survive.

The Ninja :: essays research papers

Master of the OrientTHE NINJABorn and raised in New York City, Eric Lustbader calibrated from Columbia University in 1969. Lustbader has had a number of fascinating best-selling novels, including Black Heart and Angel Eyes, he introduced Elton John to the American music scene. He fatigued fifteen years in the music industry in various capacities, including working for both Elektra and CBS Records. He is a former writer for Cash loge magazine where he wrote lead stories on new rock acts. In that capacity, he was the first person in the United States to predict the success of Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Satana, among more others.Lustbader has taught in the All-Day Neighbourhood School Division of the NYC Public School System and has also taught pre-schoolers in special(prenominal) early Childhood programmes.Eric Lustbader, who travels worldwide in researching his novels, lives in Southampton, New York, with his wife Victoria Lustbader, who works for the Nature Conservancy.Well, I dont want to give the whole story away in this report, so I am going to summarise the story very briefly.The book isnt really just about a few selected people, but instead the author tries to see it from a lot of different perspectives. Therefore the reader get to know a variety of personalities. The Ninja is a high-voltage novel of intrigue and sensuality, richly characterised, fuelled by uncompromising suspense, an extraordinary thriller, least to say.If theres a main character in the book I think it would be Nicholas Linnear, a man of half-English, half-Oriental origin. A quite special man I will tell you more about later in this report. Anyway, the story begins with a murder, a clean, silent and mysterious murder. The police dont prepare a clue, so they call in Nicholas, an expert on this type of murders. Nicholas doesnt want to tell the others in the beginning, but he has his thoughts. As the story continues he start to split up the problem and suddenly everything is cryst al clear. This isnt the usual type of murder, instead something even worse. An assassination, performed by a man bound by the blackest code of honour and skilled in the deadliest martial arts. This was the work of a ninja, a far remnant of the East. Nicholas must fight against a past he cant escape, trapped in a web of old lust and present passions, he uses all his skill and knowledge to survive.

American name David Birth name Huayi

My partner is a in truth dynamic Chinese guy named Hua Yi, merely is known by his Ameri back end name, David Birth. He is an only son and lives with his immediate family although he has other family members and relatives in South East China. His father works as a truck driver and his mother, as an airline inspector. He goes back to China to visit every two years or so. On assessment, he believes that their family belongs to the middle class economic strata. Davids parents moved to the United States nine years ago in 2000 in search of wider horizons and better earning opportunities.David believes that he left his cultural roots in China, but he has never forgotten this, and so, despite his beingness in the United States, he has retained his cultural identity and learned to incorporate American farming into it. He believes he has half of his heart in China and half in the United States. David is a very physical person and loves to indulge in sports and other physical activities like table tennis, club and local golfing, as salubrious as fishing. He values his leisure time and spends this mostly with his family and friends.He likes to find out movies and spend time learning new things and discovering new possibilities. He is also very outgoing and can handle his emotions quite well. David finished his secondary gentility from North Penn High School in Lansdale four years ago in 2005. He has consistently been a B student and decided to turn from nursing to international business during his college years. He plans to pursue this degree in international business and later transfer to a temple from his community college.He is flex on finding a job in the Philadelphia area so that he can use this job as a stepping stone to procure his dream of being able to travel all around the world and learn new things. In the next year, he has also made a resolve to work hard to acquire good grades to enable him to transfer to a better college. He also plans to invest in hearty dry land when he has the resources and buy a luxurious house for his parents. David can be very unsure at times and he also has difficulty in verbalizing his emotions. He is very close to his family and so fears that one day they ordain acquire health problems and eventually die.INFERENTIAL SECTION Based on the simplicity of David, and his very simple aspirations, I can easily secern that he only seeks very ordinary dreams for himself and for the people around him. I think that his foremost craving would be to able to meet the basic requirements of a dignified brio, hence, quite likely, in the next ten years he would be focused on building his own family, leading a good family life, maintaining a decent and good paying job, and being able to acquire residential property. Considering his Asian background, David has higher(prenominal) hopes of moving to America.Based on his past, I can say that moving to America is a very welcome change for him and that this significant event in his life has wedded him a more liberal and permissive view of things, enabling him to be more decisive, more open to risks, and change. His Asian background has also vown him the propensity to view things based on the oriental belief of Karma, which means that according to his own personal philosophy, he thinks that the energy you put out to the universe, which could any be good or bad, is the same kind of energy that the universe will send back to you.VALUE SECTION As a person, my partners strengths are being able to maintain an open mind in all things and seek opportunities to try innovations. This mindset of his could be considered a strength because this will enable him to explore many new things in life and try out more opportunities therefore making him a more rounded and more holistic person than he is now. David is very open to criticism and he believes that he can learn many new things from what other people say as a strength, this can contribute to self-impro vement as well as individual development.David, on the other hand, can be very shy at times. This prevents him from vocalizing his ideas and making his thoughts known to other people. This, as his weakness, can cause him to become less satisfied of certain situations because he cannot verbalize what he wants to do about these things. He may also acquit problems with indicating what he truly wants in many cases because not all people can read other peoples minds. Treated the other way, this shyness can be converted into a strength if it is based on the concept of being mild-mannered and composed.This particular attitude of his can work the other way and give other people the impression that he can control himself well and is not prone to stray and baseless reactions and emotions. SELF-REFLECTION SECTION As a interpersonal communicator, I believe that the most important skill that I have is the ability to listen and allow the other person to speak. Many things can be gleaned from h ow another person reacts to our straitss and I am confident that I give due attention to these subtle and discreet reactions.Another ability of mine that I consider a strength is my skill of being able to rephrase the question for clarity. This can be very helpful especially if the person I am talking to has difficulty in comprehension. I am also given to being lively and bubbly at times so this serves to keep the interest of the person I am talking to. I also hunt down to be very intimate when it comes to communication maintaining eye contact, physical contact, and contact on a mental level.I avoid being too emotional when communicating to maintain objectivity. In my conversation with David he found me to be very entertaining. On the other hand, my approach to communication can be very hostile at times and this can intimidate the person I am talking to and cause them to shrink into themselves. My being very vocal and verbal can sometimes come across as intimidating. I tend to be very precise at times, and this can work against me by making me blend in more like an investigator than a communicator.To improve on my interpersonal communication skills, I believe that I need to expose myself to more real life situations and not treat encounters like they are opportunities to earn a good grade in the classroom. I have to learn the entertainment and fellowship value of communication and the various benefits that it can present to social relationships. Perhaps, I need to attend personality development seminars and workshops to make me more effective in interpersonal communications. To add to this, I also need to develop a certain degree of rapport with myself to be able to reflect this rapport to whoever I am communicating with.

Reflection of Team Work

The team project determined to be an excellent showcase of team feat. Teamwork is essential in any type of career, and by doing team projects while still in school pull up stakes continue to help me prepare for my future. The toilette Deere Dealership Program that I helped work on proven to be a success. Not only did the team learn how to work as a team the team is leaving something at this university that will help students in the future. I feel that if this program is implemented, many students can benefit from this internship experience.I exclusively wish that this program had been implemented four years ago so my colleagues or I might have had a chance to participate in this program. The project itself turned out to be a great learning experience for every fellow member of my team, including myself. A students school and work schedule is tough enough to work out, tho when there are four different schedules to work around one must collaborate with the another(prenominal) th ree to work out meeting times.The team I participated with worked out meeting times the best we could. I believe that this is an experience that each member should remember in the future, especially when we have to form meetings with colleagues in our career. While working on this team project conflict arose, and we had to overcome these conflicts. Conflicts are a big part of any team because of the summation of people working as a team. Conflicts are bound to arise, and each person must discover that their idea is not always right.I believe that knowing ahead of time that conflicts will arise that team should run a lot smoother. conversation is also a key to a successful team. If a person is reluctant to communicate with the rest of the team, his of her ideas will not be expressed in a completed project. I feel that in small teams like we had, it helps a backward person set out involved due to the small amount of people in the group.I believe that every persons opinion is impor tant in running a team, and I will accent to get every persons input before a final decision is made. The presentations that each team gave in front of the class proved to be a good experience for every member of each group. Some people are more comfortable than others in public speaking, but through the presentations, a backward speaker gets experience in speaking in front of people. I believe that experience is the only way to become comfortable speaking in front of eople. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this project. Each step of completion from the ground up was a great experience. I enjoy seeing our finished product, and enjoy people liking what our finished product looks like. I think all the hard work and conflicts pay bump off when I see a completed project. It has been a great team building experience for me, and I feel that the completion of this team project will help me in future team oriented projects.

Monday Morning

Monday Mornings It is give tongue to by many that on Mondays, it is the hardest day of the calendar week. After two old age of resting, Saturdays and sunshines, many dislike, Monday good mornings, nigh practic whollyy when they seduce to get up early to go to contribute for eight hours and or more. School I have assembly? OH I would exclaim with the most amount of disappointment. Now as a school we would all have to stand up and now for a little more than thirty (30) minutes, we would have to listen to the principle, Fr. Gregory Augustine, give the results or talk about the problems of what likewisek place that week in school.After, the rest of the day feels like an entire week at school. My mother, Lauretta, for one, dislikes Monday mornings, Period . She al panaches claimed that she only goes thought the process( working on Mondays) to get me thought my school years by that she means she goes to work on a Monday to put me thought school. Monday mornings for her is usually a tiring one. Laurettas saying of Mondays is that its the first working day of the week and usually its where you prepare for the week , getting up early ,then prepare meals for the children and ironing the childrens clothes.After she heads down to the office, picks up two colleagues on the way and drives, from Arima to Chaguanas . Boy, this must have been tiring for her. There are many things multitude around the world could tell you about their time/ experiences on Mondays. After Sundays resting, its always hard to get up early to go to work. * INTERVIEW Why go to work on a Monday if we vex it to be a problem? Some 89. 26 % of humans out there said that they do it for the money . Susan Espinoza, says that if she dont go to work she will be begging for a job.There are some people who are different, Sheila Richardson, is one who finds Thursday to be the hardest day of the week. Mondays and Fridays are, The easiest days of the work week She exclaimed. In Fatima College we will fin d that there are some people who adore Mondays, Greg, for one loves Mondays for he gets to tell his crew all what took place that weekend . He said in his interview that he will love his holidays unlike Sylvia on the Friday. To me weather a holiday waterfall on a Friday and or a Monday, I am glad for the holiday given and any way you ake it ,IT WILL STILL BE A LONG WEEKEND. Jelani said that his mother makes him come to school and if he got the chance he would stay home every Monday. This taught is of no good to anybody for his future I feel there is no good. In this essay, you will be able to see that not everyone is not the same. Some whitethorn like Mondays and others may not. A person once told me that if she could take a sick leave every Monday, she will be more than welcome too. Sylvia Espinoza doesnt like Mondays for it is too close to Sundays .She expresses that if she doesnt go to work she will lose her job and will be out of sick leave. She also said she wishes to change Mo ndays. into Sundays She doesnt like Mondays but will prefer holidays on Friday for three days of resting. The comparison was made that Sundays are red, composition Mondays are taught as Blue. This is because blue is seen as a sad colour for many. Regardless of if you like Mondays or not, the truth is it comes across like this. If I was to change or put three days of resting (Saturday.Sunday and Monday) as our weekends we will find that almost 90 percent of our population will and or nonplus to hate/dislike Tuesdays. This saying is something in our heads/minds which is not bad but yet not very healthy for us, for it is proven that some 0. 04 percent of people around the world lose their jobs for this taught and or act. The INTERVIEW FOR THIS TOPIC. Questions Do you like Monday mornings? Why do we find it so tiring? Do you find it to be the longest day of the work week? Why do we find it to be the longest day of the week?When would you prefer a holiday on a Friday or a Monday for th e LONG WEEKEND? Do you go to work on a Monday Morning? Why go to work on a Monday if we find it to be a problem? Why you think Monday is such a hated day? Interviews Susan Espinoza Sheila Richardson Patrice Espinoza Charleen Murphy Lydia Doolam. Greg felician Jelani Ellis Sylvia Espinoza Lauretta Espinoza Neil Espinoza admission I , Noel Neil Espinoza was not tired, but concerned why my mother(Lauretta Espinoza), always disliked Sunday Evenings because she knew that then next day was Monday and how she HATED Mondays .I took it upon myself to write a sextuplet hundred and eighty seven worded essay on why PEOPLE DISLIKED MONDAYS SO MUCH I took a little over a week to do this with some intense interviews and a lot of research, this story was born and discovered. We know that some people are different and feel different ways about different things. I interviewed my neighbourhood and my school Fatima College and we thank everyone who gave an input to make this story as beautiful as it is . This story is (? ) three, depicts, of facts and (1/4)one quarter fiction.

Death memoir of Emperor Constantine the great Essay

Death memoir of Emperor Constantine the greatIntroduction I was born on February 22nd 272 in a place cognize as Naissus in Serbia. My father was the roman type Emperor by then only if he later died. I was not the one who was supposed to slang the position of the Emperor because there was a hale- established system of succession but my soldiers declared me as their leader and I had no option but to take the seat of the Roman Emperor in 306. I ruled for many years where I accept many achievements and failures. My time has come to word of farewell this world and the leadership of this world to other people but I found it important to write this memoir for those who do not know me well and the generation to come. Political field was my area of dominance for the years that have been in this world, I have many achievements in this field of governance which have helped the Roman Empire to be in the position it is currently. When I took the seat of the Emperor of Roman, there were man y Emperors that were ruling different parts of Roman territory and thence it was not easy to administer the area well (Hartley, 2006). I decided to conquer all those empires and I united Roman Empire as one territory. This brought stability to the whole territory because all the operations of the Empire were controlled from the capital of the empire which was Rome. My second step in my leadership role was the entre of a new capital of the Roman Empire. I was a bright leader and I knew how to focus on the future, this is why I figured come forth that Rome was not strategically advantaged especially in the time of state of war and that is why I decided to build Constantinople city which became the capital of Roman Empire. When the war arose between Rome and Italy I was able to defend the territory through the new capital because it was strategically positioned and thus is was easy to defend. My political leadership helped Roman Empire to experience the best time of stability ever in its history Besides being a political leader, I also locate my concern to major issues in the society like art and architecture. My predecessors Emperors did not consider this issue with a lot of seriousness and as a pass of that, during my time the art and architecture of the territory had decreased at a very high rate. I decided to revive the art of the Empire and that is where I went to the city of Greece and robed them all their finest art. I took the finest work of art to the artist who had remained and the one who were coming up in my Empire. This became source of inspiration to many artists and thus the work of art was revived again. The city of Constantinople was one of the cities at that time which had the highest level of architecture this was as a result of my work of bringing architecture from the town of Greece to help in the building of the city. The arch of Constantine is also one of the greatest works that shows the level I took architecture during my reign (K ousoulas, 2007). If I am not wrong, people will remember me because of the role I did in religion much than the one I played in politics. Worship of perfection gods was the most common type of religion in the Empire but I overcame all the pressure of those religions and I introduced Christianity which I believe in come future will be the largest religion in the world. I also brought order in Christianity where I came with Sunday as the official day of worship instead of Saturday which was there before. I brought the idea of pope in the church and the respect of priest and bishops. I did a lot of work to harmonize Christianity and politics and it was also one of the reasons why the Empire was very peaceful during my time. I had put Christianity ahead of my army because I knew very well that Gods protection was more than millions of soldiers protection and that is why I introduced the revenue collection initiative in order to support the Christianity especially the clergy. However , despite all the acceptable things I deed during my time, I am sorry to say that there are some things that history will forecast me harshly for. I introduced Christianity in the Roman Empire because of my political gain but not because of the love of God. I measured the progress of other Emperors who ruled a head of me and a saw that the only way I could survive in the leadership position is by introducing Christianity in the territory (Holloway, 2007). Many people will judge me not because of introducing Christianity but because of my intentions. I persecuted many Protestants who were against the idea of Catholics and that will also be the harshest judgment I will receive. As I leave this world, I would like to advise my successor to continue with my achievements and to rectify my failures.ReferencesHartley, E., Hawkes, J., Henig, M., & Yorkshire Museum. (2006). Constantine the Great Yorks Roman emperor. York York Museums and Gallery Trust.Kousoulas, D. G. (2007). The life and times of Constantine the Great The first Christian emperor. S.l. Booksurge?.Holloway, R. (2007). R. Ross Holloway. look into of Constantine the Great Yorks Roman Emperor by Elizabeth Hartley, Jane Hawkes, and Martin Henig. Caa.Reviews. doi10.3202/caa.reviews.2007.46Source document

Describe an Experience That Influenced Your Career Choice

Having grown up in a country where the prevalence of the shadow economy is on par with the continual political problems due to the mismanagement by autocrats. Public administration has surrounded me for as long as I can remember. On graduating ,i went to possess insight into many issues such as the counsel people and businesses react to the fracturement and management of government programs by ordinary administrators.I had some practical experience working at a hospital in Nigeria with sometime spent in the accounting department, this enabled me come across a practical experience of how the laws/duties/decisions made by public administrators affects people/individuals in real life situations such as explaining why people in less developed countries are prepared to pay for healthcare with private hospitals rather than using the national institutions which usually have worse service and miserable equipments mainly due to mismanagement, wrong fiscal policies and corruption.The iss ues of customer satisfaction and equity were studied first hand and when comparing with the UK system, one would only praise the NHS(National health Service) for its equitable approach unlike many other countries were only those than can afford treatment get it. During my university years, I was a part of the committee through whom student members voiced their opinion in reviving the Osun State Student Association at Bowen university ,which had lost his finesse.I was appointed the Financial Secretary and was then a challenge, as we had to work hard as a squad creating and implementing programs and reforms, managing and allocating our own time and finances to ensure success, I was also part of the team that assisted the students to get there bursary from the State Government, and trust me it wasnt easy in the sense that we had to keep writing letters and going out of our way to ensure the students get paid because its part of their civil right. During my National Youth Service Co rps(NYSC) as a member of the Sports Community Development Group.Having acquired the silver award after the torment of hiking over double figure mileage distances to raise funds for the homeless children in Enugu State of Nigeria, it has enabled me to be more organized and helped me develop my ability to make quick, accurate and appropriate decisions in peril. Currently I am an accountant and a Guardian counselor in a immemorial and nursery school day in Nigeria which goes by the name Macro Nursery and Primary school, I assist the younger generations in making right,responsibe,reputable and reasonable decisions in life.Leadership is also an important quality at succeeding in most areas, hence my appointment as one of the prefects in my secondary school has definitely helped me develop as a young adult. These duties are very rewarding and will be vital skills in preparing for life after public administration, studying this course in your university will enable me further my interes t in economic issues as well as fulfilling my life time ambition.

English Language Varieties Essay

English has spread rapidly, even since independence, either as a first wrangle or as a medium of education for non-native treaters (Platt and Weber, 2002). The actual range of varieties of English is much greater than is found in the British Isles. On the bingle hand we can speak of an acrolect or high status variety, and on the other a basilect or low status variety, with the mesolect acquireing the talk terms position.These terms are usually descriptive of what is known as a post-creole continuumthat is the range of non-discrete varieties in a post-colonial situation ranging from the acrolect, which is generally very close to the example language of the colonial power, through to the basilect, which morphologicly resembles a creole. It is sufficient here to characterise a creole as a mixed language, resulting historically from touch on between speakers of different and mutually unintelligible languages.Creoles are usually associated with colonial situations and are general ly assigned a very low complaisant status. Basilectal speakers, who occupy the lowest position in a post-creole continuum, are often quite unintelligible to speakers of the acrolect. All speakers occupy a range on this acrolectbasilect continuum, which correlates closely with their social status, shifting along it according to social context in much the same way as British speakers manipulate lingual variables. Of course, the extent of lingual difference is much greater.Such continua fill been described in Jamaica by De Camp (2001) and in Guyana by Bickerton (1995), and it is likely, we should note, that these studies will be of increasing relevance to an understanding of the sociolinguistic structure of ethnic minority communities in Britain. A detailed account of the structure and function of pidgins and creoles is not directly relevant here, but provoke readers are referred to Todd (2000) for an introductory account of the social, political and linguistic issues involved.A lthough respectable Victorians were already reacting strongly against the prescriptive attitudes of the eighteenth century, the most extreme anti-prescriptive statements, as far as we know, are those made by some members of the American structuralist school of philology. Bloomfield (199322) felt that discovering why aint is considered bighearted and am not good is not a fundamental question in linguistics, and he thought it strange that people without linguistic training should devote a great deal of lawsuit to futile discussions of this topic.Bloomfield was certainly implying that the study of prescriptivism was not of central interest to linguistics he was at that placeby limiting the field of linguistics to a descriptive study of form and system in language which takes relatively little account of language as a social phenomenon. Some of Bloomfields chase have gone further than this and have attacked unscientific approaches to language with missionary zeal. C. C.Fries (1997) seems to have equated traditional school grammar with prescription (which was by definition bad and unscientific in the view of structural linguists of the time), and in his book on English syntax he went so far as to even protest traditional linguistic terms such as noun, verb and adjective. Friess work was directed towards the educational system at the ordinary consumer. sickish to assure all his readers that their use of language was just as good as that of anyone else, he pro contained that there is no such thing as good or bad, correct or incorrect, grammatical or ungrammatical, in language.English in Western Europe and America Although linguistic scholars would certainly gainsay the details of this pronouncement, they have continued (for the most part) to assert or assume that their discipline is descriptive and theoretical and that they do not deal in prescription. In Western Europe and America most theoretical linguists would still affirm that all forms of language are i n principle equal.As Hudson (2002191) has put it Linguists would claim that if they were simply shown the grammars of two different varieties, one with high and the other with low prestige, they could not tell which was which, any more than than they could predict the skin colour of those who speak the two varieties. Although some evidence from work by social psychologists (Giles et al. , 2000) lends some support to Hudsons point, we do not, in fact, know whether standardized languages can be conclusively shown to have no purely linguistic characteristics that differentiate them from non-standard forms of language (the matter has not really been investigated).It appears to be an article of faith at the arcminute that judgments evaluating differences between standard and non-standard varieties are always socially conditioned and never purely linguistic. However, we shall later suggest that the process of language standardisation involves the suppression of nonobligatory variabili ty in language and that, as a consequence, non-standard varieties can be observed to permit more variability than standard ones (e. g. in pronunciations of particular words). Thus, there may be one sense at least in which the linguistic characteristics of non-standard varieties differ from those of standards.Standard English UK Variety In the UK, one burning critic of the supposed malign influence of linguistics on English language article of faith is John Honey (1997-2003). He has named an array of linguistic scholars (including amazinglyNoam Chomsky, who has never been concerned with educational or social issues), as encouraging a neglect of Standard English teaching in schools. This is an entirely stupid claim. It is true that there has been some opposition to the teaching of English grammar, but in our experience this has arisen mainly from the preference of lecturers for literature teaching.Far from discouraging grammar, university linguists have been closely involved in mai ntaining and encouraging its teaching. No one has ever opposed the teaching of standard English, and many of those named by Honey as enemies of standard English have devoted much of their careers to teaching ittraining students to write clear and correct standard English. Experienced teachers will not take well-disposed to an attack that simply appears to them as ignorant, presumptuous and pointlessly offensive.The linguists academic interest in the human capacity to learn and use language is not a threat to the teaching of Standard English, and it can be a great benefit. It does not delineate from the educational necessity to focus on the standard that we should neglect to examine and explain the different norms and conventions of speech and writing, or that we should fail to acknowledge that standardised usage is most fully achieved in writing. Nor does it follow that we should neglect the fact that non-standard spoken vernaculars have grammars of their own.To investigate the st ructure of language varieties is an intellectual requirement that cannot be compromised, and which in no way contradicts the importance of the teaching of literacy in a standard language. Amongst other things, research on real language in use can help us to clarify and understand what standard English actually is and appreciate more exactly what its roles and functions are. We will not improve practical language teaching by ignoring such matters or by maligning those who study conversational speech and non-standard vernaculars as enemies of standard English.The authors of elementary books on linguistics, however, have usually been anxious to dissociate their account of the theater of operations from that of traditional handbooks of correctness. As we have seen they usually dismiss prescription routinely, and assert that linguistics is descriptive. Their general pointthat, if one is to study the nature of language objectively, one cannot make prior value-judgmentsis frequently misun derstood, and it has sometimes called forth splenetic and misinformed denunciations of linguistics as a whole.One example amongst many is Simon (2002). In an essay empower The Corruption of English (2002), Simon blames structural linguistics and literary structuralists for an alleged decline in language use and for permissive attitudes to language What this is, masquerading under the euphemism descriptive linguisticsis a benighted and despicable catering to mass ignorance under the supposed aegis of democracy. His essay is outspoken and full of emotive language (pseudoscientific mumbo big, rock-bottom illiteracy, barbarians, vandalism, etc.), and it betrays ignorance of what linguistics is roughly. To Simon, linguists are almost equated with some menace that is threatening Western (i. e. American) civilisation from outside. It is unfortunate that misunderstandings and misapplications of the American structural linguists teaching should have made it seem reasonable for anyone to write in this ignorant way. As many people still interpret descriptive linguistics as inimical to standards of usage, there has clearly been some failure of communication between linguistic scholars and the general public.One reason for this is that mainstream linguistics has concentrated more on the abstract and formal properties of language than on language in its social context. Bloomfield (1993), as we saw above, considered that prescription was irrelevant to linguistics as a science. Yet some linguists have been directly interested in prescription. Haas (2002), for example, has pointed out that prescription is an integral part of the life of language.By refusing to be interested in prescription, he adds linguists only ensure that every enterprise of linguistic planning will be dominated by ignorant enthusiasts and cumbersome pedants (Haas, 20023). Since Haas made these comments, some social and educational linguists have been very active in commenting on public attitudes and e ducational policies, and some have represented the discipline on advisory committees. A general linguist, R. A. Hudson, is responsible for the Language Workbooks series, published by Routledge.Several relevant books on language variation have appeared, and linguistic correctness was the topic of the 1996 BBC Reith Lectures, delivered by Jean Aitchison (1998). In the USA much of the interest in language differences has been driven by public concern about the language of ethnic minorities. In 1997, the Linguistic Society of America published a document inspired by a controversy about Ebonics (African American Vernacular English), which was recognised by the Oakland (California) School plank as a legitimate form of language.It ended with the following comments There is evidence from Sweden, the US, and other countries that speakers of other varieties can be aided in their learning of the standard variety by pedagogical approaches which recognize the legitimacy of other varieties of a language. From this perspective, the Oakland School Boards decision to recognize the vernacular of African American students in teaching them Standard English is linguistically and pedagogically sound.

Hysteria Comparison of the Salem Witch Trials and the Holocaust Essay

During almost(prenominal) the devastating final solution in the Germ each and the tragic Salem Witch Trials in the teeny township of Salem, innocent concourse were brutally kil take, causing hysteria among the people. Both groups of people endured hardships because of the hysteria that occurred among them. This hysteria caused people to react in ways that they would not usually act. Both of these events are genuinely historical and help The United States of America be a unified and prosperous country that it has grown to nonplus today. Hysteria is outlined as an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping according to the Websters Dictionary. The final solution is often defined as the brutal violent death of about eleven million innocent people because of a racial prejudice against the Jewish race.This tragic occurrence was conducted by the awful and merciless dictator known as Adolf Hitler. The Jewish people were not the perfect race that Adolf Hitler wanted to create. He contradicted himself because not even he fell under the requirements that it took to become this perfect race. The Jewish people, such as ones that were only small babies and the elderly, were inhu partly killed in multiple ways. One example of this brutal killing of the innocent was when small children could be ripped away from their parents to be sent to the work camps that were scattered throughout the country of Germany.These work camps often worked the children so hard that a because of their lack of food and water killed them. This thing that these innocent people endured inside of these ruthless work camps is sometimes unimaginable to the human mind. The Salem Witch Trials took blot in the little town of Salem. These events were sparked by a group of adolescent girls who were caught dancing in a forest and supposedly conjuring spirits. Witchcraft was very much frowned upon during those times. Religion was very important and in this circumstance many of the people of Salem were put to death.The girls had convinced themselves that if they lied and accused other people of being witches, they could take the blame off of themselves. John Proctor, who was a farmer in Salem that was accused of witchcraft, was willing to taint his own soul by admitting that he had an affair with Abigail. Abigail, who can be seen as the antagonist of this story was one of the girls that was accusing others of witchcraft. After John Proctor had be practically condemned by his once loyal servant Mary Warren and the other girls he knew that there was no more hope for him ever becoming an innocent man. A fire, a fire is burning I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face And it is my face and yours, Danforth(Miller 111).When John Proctor said this, he being a somewhat religious man himself, knew that only the Devil could be behind all of these horrible things that were happening in his hometown.He felt up that if he was going to go to hell so were the rest of the people that accused him of witchcraft. The people that accused him had done no better. John Proctor was led to react like this solely because of his fear of being put to death and leaving his wife, Elizabeth, alone. The lies turned into a large scandal among the people. The religious conflict in Salem deeply affected the outcome of the trials. This led to many innocent people being put to death because they were accused of being witches. In both the Holocaust and the Salem Witch Trials innocent people were put to death. Elderly people were not respected throughout the trials and their opinions about what should happen were never rightfully listened to.The elderly people in the holocaust had no say so in anything and often they were looked at as a complete waste of space. gibe the Nazis, the vicious soldiers who ran these brutal camps, the elderly people could easily be killed so that they could make room inside of the often over crowded work camps. curt people were also were frowned upon during the Salem Witch Trials. Many of the people, who had money and were well off, thought of them as scum. In a lot of cases there are people that tend to think that because someone does not have money they cannot make logical choice or decision. In the Holocaust many people that were low-down were imprisoned. These people were not considered important.They were often considered to be the lowest of the low. During both of these events it is sad that just because someone is old or someone that lacks money could be set as any less of a person that was younger or had money. There were deep rooted issues in both Germany and Salem that led to these dysfunctional occurrences that caused a mass hysteria among the people. Unity was the key factor that lacked among the people in the town Salem and the country Germany. Although Germany was join patriotically they were not united religiously. In Salem the people lacked a religious uni ty.They were not confident in their faith in theology. If they were strong in their faith they would have had some sort of conscience and feel bad that they knowingly put innocent people to death. Lying was the main thing that led to the downfall of Salem. These lies left the town devastated both emotionally and economically. Germany also suffered from being economically and emotionally hurt. The very minimal amount of people that were still alive after the dreadful Holocaust had to recover from the devastating loss of all of these people. The emotional toll must have been huge amongst the people that lost loved ones.Also, with the amount of people that were bygone it greatly affected the amount of money flow. Without all of these people to work in many of the businesses and make money for the country also caused Germany to struggle deeply. The Holocaust caused far more issues for Germany than there ever was before World War II. In conclusion, a mass hysteria can occur at any plac e or at any time.Being religiously unified as a country or as a small town should be one of the main goals because without it there will as we have seen in both of these events be a mass destruction of people and economy. God helps those who are desperate in times of need, and also those who surround their life with God. So if a country or town were to surround its laws around Also, man should be able to stand for what he believes in no matter what the situation or occurrences. Staying strong in your faith will eventually proceeds one in the end.Works CitedEffects of World War II. Www2.sunysuffolk.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.Jewish Life during the Holocaust. Www.jfedpgh.org. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY Penguin, 1996. Print. Religious Persecution and Its Impact The Holocaust. Msbyrneatalex.edublogs.org. N.p., 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Discussion and Application Questions Essay

1. (a) The mission statement should be a clear, short, and to the peak representation of the companies purpose for existence. It should incorporate socially meaningful and measurable criteria addressing concepts such as the moral/ respectable position of the enterprise, public image, the target market, products/serv fruitcakes, the geographic domain and expectations of growth and profitability.The intent of the Mission Statement should be the first consideration for any employee who is evaluating a strategic decision. The statement can range from a real simple to a very complex set of ideas.(b) Medtronic gives a strategic direction to its organization by committing to the research, design, manufacturing, and the sale of their product.(c) My career mission statement Obtain my period to position myself for future advancement within the organization I work. Exceed expectations by persistence, professionalism, and integrity.2.(a) Empire State competencies is providing adult education through individualizes degree programs, distance learning, and flexible independent studies. (b) My favorite restaurant competencies are customer service and a orotund variety of beer and soups. (c) Dells competencies are customer service and technology.3.The main result of each of the trinity phases of the strategic marketing process. (a) Planning Marketing plans (or programs) that define goals and the marketing mix strategies to achieve them. (b)Implementation Results (memos or ready reck adeptr outputs) that describe the outcomes of implementing the plans. (c)Control Corrective action memos, triggered by comparing results with plans, that (1) suggest solutions to problems and (2) take advantage of opportunities.4. Select one strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat from the SWOT analysis for Ben and Jerrys shown in Figure 2-6, and suggest a specific accomplishable action that Unilever might take to exploit or address each one. Strength Prestigious, well-known tell on nam e among U.S. consumers and Unilever can expand its growth globally as is a market for quality ice cream. Weakness Need for experience managers to help grow. Unilever is the worlds largest ice cream company and has the resources Ben and Jerry need.luck Unilever can help Ben and Jerry react to the demand for frozen yogurt and other low-fat desserts by using their acquaintance and experience.Threat Pillsbury and Haagen-Dazs brands are their competitors and Unilever being the largest ice cream company would help them step-up their market share.

Massey Commission Report

This document is an excerpt from the Massey foreign mission invoice (1951). In the year 1949, a commission was set up to encourage the awareness in arts, genial sciences, humanities and letters. The members of the commission were appointed by the federal government activity by commonly applied to the august Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, appointed by the federal government with Vincent Massey, the chancellor of the University of Toronto as it head.The other members of the commission included Arthur Surveyer, a civil engineer of Montreal Norman A.M. MacKenzie, chairman of the University of British Columbia the Most Rev Georges-Henri Lvesque, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Laval U and Hilda Neatby, professor of history at the University of Saskatchewan (Kallmann 2006 in The Canadian Encyclopedia).The document does offer some background understanding of the outcome it was produced in. The document concerns mainly the measure taken to remedy the pretermit of importance accorded to humanities and social studies in the curriculum, until then in the Canadian educational front. It is known from the previous chapters that the three Rs i.e. practice Writing and Arithmetic were earnn the utmost importance in the schools of Canada with sciences in general, being neglected.The document explicates that the lack had been recognized even prior to the formation of the commission, in the establishment of National Research Council for scientific studies. It seemed to dupe met with some success too, as indicated by the words that the success of National Research Council in hike of scientific studies offered an example that should perhaps be followed.The audience of the document was, obviously, the general public of Canada. The commission conducted search in four major cities of Canada, between the months August 1949 and July 1950. Hundreds of petitions were received and heard in these four cities, and on the basis of th ese briefs, experts were called in to prepare and include special studies that imparted more knowledge of the sciences.However, the Massy commission has rejected aspiration of the National Research Council in setting up the National Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. The document proceeded to give the reason for rejection too, as that the implied parallel between the two was misleading. Furthermore, it held the earlier National Research Council partially obligated for the current crisis, since the scientific studies were isolated into a separate body and also because they were subjected to too rigid techniques and methods of organization.The answer of the document was to encourage studies in humanities and social sciences, by establishing flexible schemes of scholarships and grants which will aid the Canadian people to have scientific education and international exchanges especially under world bodies such as the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cu ltural Organization) and importantly closer contacts with France and Great Britain. It has to be remembered that during this period Quebec was given autonomy in pagan issues and hence was successful to a large extent in preserving the French identities and cultural awareness in its population, causing greater divide between itself and other English dominated areas of Canada.It must be tell that Massey commission was largely successful in its intent and purpose, because most of the commissions recommendations were executed by the federal government in the subsequent years, despite opposition from the French provinces.Source Report regal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters, and Sciences1949-1951. (Ottawa Kings Printer 1951)376-7 and Kallmann, Helmut The Canadian Encyclopedia. Massey Commission In The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved on 28 Oct 2006. http//www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1SEC838040

Satirical Essay

11/19/12 English III Homelessness has been an cut down of more(prenominal) dispute through push through time, regardless of whether it is in presend day Portland, Maine or in the antique city of Rome, Italy. People take over been trying to aid the wanderers for a very long time, but clearly, lead never found a solid resolving to the problem. People are sick and tired of go out of their door in the morning and finding a vagrant, still reeking of alcohol which they purchased with a good Samaritans donation, on their stoop.The people fortunate enough to have a home and a good job should not have to suffer when they walk down the street past hobos implore for a few dollars. It is not fair that the wealthy have to interact with the dregs of connection on a daily basis. This problem has to be dealt with. That is why I propose that our society is in much need of the program, Clean Up The Streets (CUTS). The program resolves many different aspects of the issue . If the homeless ar e sent to landfills to collect cardboard and other material in which they give the gate build their own houses with, this gets them out of chaw of the wealthy.In addition to removing the homeless from our lives, it also aids the environment. With this new program, hobos are given a job in which they remove materials from landfills which they can then use to build shelters with. Yearly, the Statesns feature away 30. 9 tons of good food this will make wasteful people feel as if they are actually serving people when they throw away unappreciated food. This also means that there will be grass of food for the newly housed and lend oneselfed people. Also, about $1 billion dollars worth of medicine is thrown out each year, so illness will be quelled as well.The new CUTS program is perfect it resolves the issues of Grinnell 2 vagabond grow, employment, and environmental problems. In todays society, the homeless only get in our way. This is why it is imperative that the CUTS program b e accepted. The first step in cleaning up our streets is housing the homeless. We can do this without donating half of our yearly salary to some hopeless program that supposedly builds fancy houses for the lesser people. With the CUTS program, all homeless are sent to landfills where they alleviate our waste. This is very beneficiary to both arties of society. The primary destruction of the CUTS program is to house every single homeless person in America, and we can do this without burdensome the rich to give to the poor. They (societys privileged few) can now feel good about themselves when they throw away their trash, knowing its going to a good place. In our current economic state, it is more important than ever to improve employment rates. The homeless are to blame for a good pct of the unemployment rate. If the CUTS program was to be accepted, the unemployment rate would drop, drastically.A secondary goal of CUTS, which goes hand in hand with the other objectives, is to emp loy the homeless at landfills across America. Their work would entail searching for waste products. They would only have to salvage 100 lbs of trash a week in order to stay employed and housed. Due to the age of technology, we are learning more and more about our planet. For example, we have learned about how bad Americas gluttony is. With only 6% of the worlds population, Americans generate 35% of the trash and consume 35% of the worlds resources.With the accession of the CUTS program, who knows what those statistics will look like in just ten years. The programs participants will be working, getting free Grinnell 3 food, and also helping save the world in the process. With hundreds of people in their own little community landfills sifting through trash and filth, unimaginable amounts of waste could be reused in the future. The CUTS program could resolve three very current issues if it were to be accepted homelessness, employment, and environmental problems. Although the flawless solution could be considered inhumane, this couldnt be further from the truth.The humanity comes in because the homeless are not agree to the citizens residing in the upper class, mostly because they do not pay tax incomees or work. Why should good tax paying people (who work hard for what they have) be forced to give money to people who have nothing and dont work? Why should those who work hard have to suffer because of the slackers of society? They shouldnt. They are much better suited working hard, just like the upper class does, and bring to society, instead of bumming on the streets. Remember, one mans trash is another mans treasure.

Disability Services in College

Before the advent of the reformation Act of 1973 and the American Disabilities Act Title II in 1990, a young adult with each a intellectual or somatic disability had a hard road ahead of them if they chose to inhabit their education after high school. Colleges typic eithery were not set up for alter assimilators and could not harbor special needs. When the special needs student lagged behind because of a specific disability, it was gener exclusivelyy considered a shoulder-shrugging oh wellspring sort of thing.Considering that nearly one out of every five people in the United States fix from some type of disability that impairs his ability to accomplish the daily activities of life story, it is somewhat of a sad program line on our society that these Acts were not implemented much earlier in our history. (Treloar 1999 p. 1). In any case, these Acts helped those students who possibly had tried to hide their disabilities from fear of prejudice or rejection. Few college prof essors prior to 1973 had any exposure or experience with change students, and many of the dis able-bodiedd students were left feeling mis chthonicstood and unable to arrant(a) their education.The jump step in trying to make the college experience as positive for a disabled student as for a normal student was to attempt to change the publics perception of the disabled. typically media images of the disabled evoked sympathy, pity, or even horror from the public. This perception had to be changed in order to delegate that the disabled students were, at their core, just students trying to get an education. The focus had to be shifted from their disability to how to make their discipline experience a positive one.(Treloar 1999 p. 1).Federally funded colleges cannot discriminate against or exclude a qualified person from programs or activities solely on the basis of his or her disability. A qualified student meets the technical and academic qualifications for fellowship in an educat ional program or activity. (Treloar 1999 p. 2). Colleges are expected to make reasonable accommodations so that these other qualified students birth the same opportunity to participate as other students.Accommodations may include amicable locations, extended time for test-taking, substitution of nonessential courses for degree requirements, reconcileive equipment or technology such as tape-recording cliquees, or other services such as the use of note takers or readers. (Treloar 1999 p. 3). Though the changes engage likely seemed slow in coming to those they affect, the reality is that each year more strides are do to help those with disabilities stupefy the same college degree as their disability-free counterparts.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national police that protects qualified man-to-mans from discrimination based on their disability. The critical word in that sentence is qualified. Individuals with disabilities are outlined as persons with mental or physical impairments which impregnablely limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for oneself, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks and learning.(United 2006 p. 2).This law applies to any employers or constitutions that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. nearly all public and most private colleges are recipients of funds from the Federal Government, therefore fall under the ADA. Section 504 prohibits organizations from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services. (United 2006 p. 2). at that placefore, if an individual is hindered in one or more of the above major life activities by a disability, they cannot be excluded from any federally funded organization or employer. The American Disabilities Act prohibits the denial of servic es or benefits on specified discriminatory grounds. honest as a government office cannot refuse to issue food stamps or other benefits to an individual on the basis of his or her race, it cannot refuse to provide benefits solely because an individual has a disability. (ADA 2005 p. 2).An example of this would be that a city could not refuse to admit an individual to a city council meeting that is pioneer to the public merely because the individual is deaf. As related to college students, they cannot be denied participation in any class or activity which they are otherwise qualified for, and must be granted the considerations necessary to complete their education. For instance, a visually impaired student would need to be placed at the front of the class, and all possible accommodations made so that he was able to see what was necessary to complete the class.(ADA 2005 p. 3).Both of these Acts made substantial strides in many areas for those with disabilities, education being only o ne of them. Despite these strides, however, there are cool off areas in colleges that need significant improvement in order to fully meet the needs of the disabled students. In 1996 approximately six percent of students enrolled in postsecondary education had disabilities, with the majority of these reporting sensory force out casualty (visual or hearing) or orthopedic conditions.(Palmer 2000 p. 1).Despite the obvious nature of these disabilities, the effective number one reported conundrum from the students with disabilities is that there are significant deficits in the knowledge of disability rights in a majority of universities and university personneland that the college students with disabilities need assistance in dealing with complex social interactions such as the request and talk over demands in the accommodation situation (Palmer 2000 p. 2).In other words, the problem is not inadequacy of accommodations necessarily, but more that the students with disabilities lack the skills required to state their needs and negotiate the help they require. Another area in which students with disabilities need finicky help lies in career counselor-at-law services. The collegians with disabilities are in greater need of career guidance services than their nondisabled peers. Students with disabilities face attitudinal barriers including lowered expectations, delayed vocational development and unsatisfactory career development contain services. (Benshoff 1990 p. 2).It becomes clear that the Acts passed in the last three decades have been crucial in providing physical, concrete help for students with disabilities, nevertheless the attitudes toward the disabled still exist, even though they may be cloaked in outward helpfulness. The disabled students feel they are severely lacking in career charge as well as that they face barriers erected from others attitudes toward their disabilities. Learning disabilities are much less mentioned than physical disabilities , yet recent years have shown a significant growth in students with learning issues.In 1998 over 35% of all freshman college students verbalize they had a learning disability, up from 24% in 1991. This creates a challenge to professors and colleges alike, because many professors prefer that all students meet the same set of requirements within the same time period and are ill-prepared either to adapt their instruction to address the individual needs of students or to identify appropriate, fair and reasonable accommodations. (Thomas 2000 p. 1).This remains an on-going problem, and one with no easily identifiable answers. Many students, twain regular and disabled, take nett-based college classes which fit in with their busy lives and schedules better, in many cases, than the traditional classroom. While physical barriers are obvious accessibility concerns confronting students with disabilities, sack scalawag developers must be aware that online barriers can also cause accessibi lity problems for disabled users. (Flowers 2000 p. 2).Web page developers need to be very aware of those users with disabilities and follow the standards set that allow more accessibility to students with disabilities. There are many new technologies which allow students to access information such as Braille outturn systems for the visually impaired, modified keyboards, screen enlargements and voice output utilities. Web developers can provide alternative shipway to access information presented with images, sounds, applets and scripts. (Flowers 2000 p.3).Though we are a nation of internet users, the disabled student has special issues regarding the web that must be addressed. When all is said and done, it must be remembered that positive classroom experiences in college are critical to successful inclusion of students with disabilities in the campus community. Faculty relationships are known to have a crucial effect on whether at risk students, like students with disabilities, a re embraced in the college environment. (Smith 2004 p. 1).Instructors need to be able to develop a safe atmosphere where all students can express their own life experiences and purport at the differences between one another. In this type of an atmosphere all students can talk just about the issues they find most relevant in their personal lives, leading to an atmosphere much more contributing(prenominal) to learning. Students with disabilities sometimes have difficulty absorbing the lectures by their professors, but if they feel like they are in an environment where they can safely express their concerns, the satisfaction level tends to go up significantly.In a train done at Baylor University, three of the issues disabled students felt to be most important to their success were counseling which included an in-depth assessment of the students requirements and needs, caring people who offered a solid support system, and duplicate time on their tests. Study skills, time managemen t and a solid sense of security in their environment were other issues these students felt were of great importance to their success. (Smith 2004 p.4).There are many groups who seek to help students with disabilities, such as the National Association of Blind Students, College and Career Programs for Deaf Students, and CHADD, a leading non-profit organization for both children and adult students with ADHD. One group, known as frontwards or Association on Higher commandment And Disability, is a group committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in post secondary education. (Smith 2004 p. 5).AHEAD values such things as diversity, personal growth and creativity in those with disabilities, while promoting leadership in this same group. AHEAD seeks to stay abreast of current issues regarding disabilities, education and accessibility for those with disabilities. Since 1977 AHEAD has excelled in delivering quality training to those with disabilities and actively addresse s disability issues on campuses. There are many challenges and issues facing disabled college students.Thanks to the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, the actual physical challenges have lessened immensely for students and great strides have been made in accommodating physical disabilities in most all areas of classrooms, dorms, library, parking and cafeteria. More work needs to be done, however on the mental disability issue, as there tends to be more negativity and stigma attached to mental disabilities than physical, and colleges still have a ways to go to accommodate these students.

Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lissa didnt harbour to say rough(prenominal)thing to express her shock. The feelings of utter astonishment pouring into me utter more than any words could give way. I, however, had wiz important word for herDuckI think it was her surprise that made her respond so quickly. She dropped to the floor. The question was clumsy, merely it removed her body from Reeds direct attack and put her (mostly) discover of range of the window. He bland collided with her shoulder and the side of her channelise, however it only bumped her and ca employ a little pain.Of course, a little pain meant in completely different things to us. Lissa had been tortured a couple of times, but most of her battles were mental. Shed never been in a private physical confrontation. Getting thr feature against w all in alls was an average occurrence for me, but for her, a small swipe to the idea was monumental.Crawl away, I ordered. Get away from him and the window. Head for the door if possible.Lissa sta rted moving on her hands and feet, but she was too slow. Reed caught hold of her hair. I pleasing of felt interchangeable we were playing a spicy of teleph unity. With the delay in me giving direction and her figuring out how to respond, I might as good put up been passing the message through five people before it got to her. I wished I could find her body like a puppeteer, but I was no philia user.Its going to hurt, but publish around as best you can and add him.Oh, it did hurt. Trying to turn her body meant his hold on her hair tugged that much more painfully. She managed it reasonably well, though, and flailed out at Reed. Her hits werent that interrelated, but they surprised him enough that he let go of her hair and tried to fend her off. Thats when I noticed he wasnt overly coordinated either. He was stronger than her, aline, but he obviously had no combat training short of basic hits and throwing his weight atomic reactor around. He hadnt come here for a true fi ght hed come to just push her out the window and be done with it.Get away if you can desex away if you can.She scrambled crosswise the floor, but unfortunately her escape path didnt give her access to the door. Instead, she ventureed further into the room until her ass hit a rolling desk chair.Grab it. Hit him with it.Easier said than done. He was right in that respect, still attempt to grab her and jerk her to her feet. She caught hold of the chair and tried to roll it into him.Id wanted her to pick it up and hit him with it, but that wasnt quite so easy for her. She did, however, manage to get to her feet and get the chair between them. I directed her to keep hitting him with it in an effort to get him to retreat. It worked a little, but she didnt quite have the force to truly damage him.Mean speckle, I half expected A rattling to occasion in the fight. It wouldnt have scoopn much effort to assist Reed in subduing Lissa. Instead, out of the corner of Lissas eye, I saying Avery posing perfectly still, her eyes unfoc utilise and slightly glazed over. Okay. That was weird, but I had no complaints about her world out of the conflict.As it was, Lissa and Reed were in a stalemate, one I had to get her out of. Youre on the defensive, I said. You subscribe to to take the attack to him.I finally got a direct answer top. What? I cant do anything like that I have no clue howIll show you. Kick him-preferably between the legs. Thatll take down most guys.Without words, I tried to send the feelings into her, teaching her the right way to tense muscles and spank out. Steeling herself, she pushed the chair away so that there was null between her and Reed. It caught him by surprise, giving her a design opening. Her leg in love out. It missed the golden spot, but it did hit his knee. That was almost as good. He stumbled spikelet as his leg collapsed underneath him and just managed to grab the chair for support. It tried to roll, which didnt help him any.Liss a didnt contain any urging to sprint for the door at that point-except it was blocked. Simon had just entered. For a moment, some(prenominal) Lissa and I felt sculptural relief. A defender Guardians were safe. Guardians protected us. The thing was, this guardian worked for Avery, and it soon became clear his services went beyond merely retentivity Strigoi away from her. He strode in, and with no hesitation grabbed Lissa and dragged her harshly cover charge to the window.My direction faltered at that moment. Id been an okay animal trainer at showing her how to fend off a surly teenage boy. But a guardian? And that surly teenage boy had recovered himself and joined Simon to finish the job.Compel himIt was my stand up desperate bid. That was Lissas strength. Unfortunately, while her earlier drinking had metabolized enough to improve her coordination, it was still affecting her control of spirit. She could touch the advocate-but not very much of it. Her control was clumsy too.N onetheless, her resolve was strong. She drew as much of the spirit as she could, channeling it into want. energy happened. Then, I felt that weird tickling in my head. At first I thought Avery was back on the scene, only rather than someone reaching into me, it was like they reached through me.The power in Lissa surged, and I realized what had happened. Oksana was still there, somewhere in the background, and she was lending her strength again, channeling it through me and into Lissa. Simon froze, and it was almost amusing. He twitched slightly, rocking back and forth as he tried to advance on her and finish the lethal task. It was like he was suspended in Jell-O.Lissa was hesitant to move, for fear of breaking her control. There was also the issue that Reed was not being compelled, but for the moment, he seemed too confused about what was happening to Simon to react.You cant just kill me Lissa blurted out. Dont you think people are going to ask questions when they find my body sh oved out a window? They wont notice, said Simon stiffly. Even the words required effort. Not when youre resurrected. And if you cant be, then it was just a tragic accident that befell a troubled girl.Slowly, slowly, he began breaking out of her compulsion. Her power, while still there, was weakening a little-there was a unwrap somewhere, and it was dripping out. I suspected it might be Averys influence or simply Lissas mental fatigue. peradventure both. A supreme look of sitisfaction crossed Simons features as he lunged forward, and then. He froze again.A hell gold aura lit up in Lissas periphery. She glanced over just enough to see Adrian in the doorway. The look on his reflexion was comical, but shocked or not, hed picked up enough to target Simon. It was Adrians compulsion holding the guardian in place now. Lissa squirmed away, yet again trying to keep out of that beshrew windows opening.Hold him Lissa cried.Adrian grimaced. I cant. What the hell? Its like theres someone els e thereAvery, said Lissa, sparing a instruct glance at the other girl. Averys face had gone pale rase for a Moroi. Her breathing was heavy, and her sudation had increased. She was fighting Adrians compulsion. A few seconds later, Simon broke free yet again. He advanced on Lissa and Adrian, though his movements seemed sluggish.Son of a bitch, I thought.Now what? demanded Lissa.Reed. Go for Reed. Get him out of the picture.Reed had been frozen during the struggle with Simon, watching with fascination. And like those of the guardian, Reeds actions seemed a little sluggish. Still, he was moving toward Lissa again. Simon had apparently decided Adrian was the immediate terror and was heading that way. Time to see if dividing and conquering would work.What about Adrian? Lissa asked.Were going to have to leave him on his own for a minute. Get to Reed. Knock him out.WhatBut she advanced on him anyway, moving with a determination that warm up me with pride. His face curled into a snarl. He was frantic and overconfident, though-not thinking clearly and still moving in an ungainly way. Once more, I attempted to teach Lissa without words. I couldnt make her do anything, but I tried to make her feel what it was like to punch someone. How to draw back her arm, curl her fingers in the proper(ip) way, build up the strength. After what Id seen her do earlier, the best I could hope for was a decent melodic theme of a punch, enough to keep him off her and create further delay.And thats when something truly beautiful happened.Lissa socked him in the nose. And I mean, socked. We both heard the impact, heard the nose break. Blood came out. He flew backward, both he and Lissa staring wide-eyed. Never, never would I have thought Lissa capable of something like that. Not sweet, delicate, beautiful Lissa.I wanted to yell and dance with joy. But this wasnt over yet.Dont stop Hit him again. Youve got to knock him outI did she cried, horrified at what shed done. Her fist was also in agonizing pain. I hadnt really mentioned that part during my coaching.No, youve got to incapacitate him, I told her. I think he and Avery are bonded, and I think shes taking her strength from him. It made finger now, why hed frozen when Avery drew power to use compulsion, why hed hunch overn to show up when he had. Shed used their bond to summon him.And so Lissa went after Reed again. She got in two more punches, one of which knocked his head against the wall. His lips parted and his features went slack. He dropped to the floor, eyes staring vacantly. I wasnt sure if he was entirely unconscious, but he was out of this for the moment. Off to the side, I heard a small cry from Avery.Lissa false to Adrian and Simon. Adrian had ceased any attempts at compulsion, because Simon was engaged in a full-on attack. Adrians face showed hed taken a few hits of his own, and I figured that, like Lissa, hed never engaged in this kind of physical combat. Without any need for direction from me, Lissa strode over and turned on her compulsion. Simon jerked in surprise, not stopping his attack, but caught off guard. Lissa was still weak, but the walls around him had dropped a little, just as Id suspected they would.Help me cried Lissa.With the momentary lapse on Simons part, Adrian tried to wield his spirit too. Lissa felt and saw the change in his aura as the antic flowed through him. She felt him join her in their psychic attack on Simon, and a moment later, I sensed Oksana joining the fray. I wanted to play general and shout orders, but this wasnt my battle anymore.Simons eyes went wide, and he fell to his knees. Lissa could sense the other two spirit users-and was a bit surprised by Oksanas presence-and had the vague impression that they were all doing slightly different things to Simon. Lissa was trying to compel him to stop his attack, to simply sit still. Her brief brush with Adrians magic told her he was trying to make the guardian sleep, and Oksana was attempting t o get Simon to run out of the room.The conflicting messages and all that power were too much. The last of Simons defenses fell as all those mixed messages blasted into him, creating a tidal motion of spirit. He collapsed to the floor. With all of their magic combined, the spirit users had knocked him unconscious. Lissa and Adrian turned to Avery, bracing themselves, but there was no need.As soon as all that spirit had blasted into Simon, Avery had begun screaming. And screaming and screaming. She gripped the sides of her head, the sound of her voice horrible and grating. Lissa and Adrian exchange glances, unsure how to handle this new development.For Gods sake, gasped Adrian, exhausted. How do we shut her up?Lissa didnt know. She considered approaching Avery and trying to help her, in spite of all that had happened. But a few seconds later, Avery grew quiet. She didnt pass out like her companions had. She just sat there, staring. Her expression no longer resembled the dazed look s hed had while wielding spirit. It was just blank. Like there was nothing in her at all.Wh-what happened? asked Lissa.I had the answer. The spirit flooded from Simon into her. It fried her.Lissa was startled. How could it go from Simon to her?Because theyre bonded.You said she was bonded to ReedShe is. Shes bonded to both of them.Lissa had been too distracted while fighting for her life, but Id been able to notice everyones auras through her eyes. Avery-no longer mask hers-had possessed a gold one, just like Adrian and Lissa. Simon and Reed had had nearly identical ones, with ordinary colors-ringed in black.They were shadow-kissed, both having been brought back from the dead by Avery.Lissa asked no more questions and simply collapsed into Adrians arms. There was nothing amatory about it, just a desperate need on both their parts to be compressed to a friend.Why did you come? she asked him. atomic number 18 you kidding? How could I not? You guys were like a bonfire with all the spi rit you were wielding. I felt it all the way across campus. He glanced around. Man, I have a lot of questions.You and me both, she muttered.I have to go, I told Lissa. I felt a little wistful at having to leave them.I miss you. When will you be back?Soon. convey you. Thank you for being there for me.Always. I suspected I was smiling back in my own body. Oh, and Lissa? Tell Adrian Im proud of him.The academy room faded. I was once more sitting on a bed halfway around the world. Abe was looking at me with concern. Mark also was concerned, but he had eyes only for Oksana, who lay down beside me. She looked a little like Avery, pale and sweating. Mark clasped her hand frantically, fear all over him. Are you okay?She smiled. Just tired. Ill be all right.I wanted to hug her. Thank you, I breathed. Thank you so much.Im glad to have helped, she said. But I hope I dont have to do it again. It was strange. Im not sure what role I played there.Me either. It had been weird. Sometimes it was li ke Oksana had actually been there, fighting right along with Lissa and the rest. Other times, Id felt as though Oksana had merged with me. I shuddered. Too many minds linked together. nigh time, you have to be by her side, Oksana said. In the real world.I looked down at my hands, confused and unsure what to think. The silver ring gleamed up at me. I took it off and handed it to her.This ring deliver me. give the bounce it heal you even though you made it?She held it in her hand for a moment and then gave it back. No, but like I said, Ill recover. I heal quickly on my own.It was true. Id seen Lissa heal remarkably fast in the past. It was part of always having spirit in you. I stared at the ring, and something troubling came to mind. It was a thought that had struck me while riding with the old couple to Novosibirsk, when Id moved in and out of consciousness.Oksana a Strigoi touched this ring. And for a few moments-while he did-it was like well, he was still Strigoi, no question. B ut while he held it, he was almost like his old self too.Oksana didnt answer right away. She looked up at Mark, and they held each others gazes for a long time. He bit his lip and shook his head.Dont, he said. Its a fairy tale.What? I exclaimed. I looked back and forth between him. If you know something about this-about Strigoi-you have to tell meMark spoke sagaciously in Russian, a warning in his voice. Oksana looked equally determined. Its not our place to withhold information, she replied.She turned to me, face grave. Mark told you about the Moroi we met long ago the other spirit user?I nodded. Yeah.He used to tell a lot of stories-most of which I dont think were true. But one of them well, he claimed he restored a Strigoi to life.Abe, silent thus far, scoffed. That is a fairy tale.What? My whole world reeled. How?I dont know. He never elaborated much, and the details often changed. His mind was going, and I think half of what he said was imaginary, she explained.Hes crazy, sa id Mark. It wasnt true. Dont get caught up in an insane mans fantasy. Dont fixate on this. Dont let it become your next vigilante quest. You need to go back to your bondmate.I swallowed, every emotion in the world churning in my stomach. Was it true? Had a spirit user restored a Strigoi to life? Theoretically well, if spirit users could heal and bring back the dead, why not the undead? And Dimitri Dimitri had definitely seemed altered while holding the ring.Had spirit affected him and touched some piece of his old self? At the time, Id just assumed it was fond memories of his family affecting himI need to talk to this guy, I murmured.Not that I knew why. Fairy tale or not, it was too late. Id done it. Id killed Dimitri. zero point would bring him back now, no miracle of spirit. My heart rate increased, and I could hardly breathe. In my minds eye, I saw him falling, falling falling forever with the stake in his chest. Would he have said he love me? I would ask myself that for the re st of my life.Agony and grief flooded me, though at the same time, relief was there too. I had freed Dimitri from a state of evil. I had brought him peace, sending him on to happiness. Maybe he and mason were together in heaven somewhere, practicing some guardian moves. I had done the right thing. There should be no regret here.Oblivious to my emotions, Oksana addressed my last statement. Mark wasnt kidding. This man is crazy-if hes even still vital. The last time we saw him, he could barely hold up a conversation or even use his magic. He ran off into hiding. No one knows where he is-except maybe his brother.Enough, warned Mark.Abes attention was piqued, however. He leaned forward, shrewd as ever. Whats this mans name?Robert Doru, said Mark after a few hesitant moments.It was no one I knew, and I realized how pointless this all was. This guy was a lost cause and had believably imagined the whole idea of saving a Strigoi in a fit of insanity. Dimitri was gone. This part of my lif e was over. I needed to get back to Lissa.Then I noticed that Abe had gone very still.Do you know him? I asked.No. Do you?No. I scrutinized Abes face. You sure look like you know something, Zmey.I know of him, Abe clarified. Hes an illegal empurpled. His father had an affair, and Robert was the result. His father actually included him as part of the family. Robert and his half-brother grew quite close, though few knew about it. Of course Abe would know about it, though. Doru is Roberts mothers last name.No surprise. Doru wasnt a royal name. Whats his fathers last name?Dashkov. Trenton Dashkov.That, I told him, is a name I know.I had met Trenton Dashkov days ago while accompanying Lissa and her family to a royal holiday party. Trenton had been an old, stooped man then, kind but on the brink of death. Moroi often lived to be over a hundred, but hed been pushing a hundred and twenty-which was ancient even by their standards. There had been no sign or whisper of him having an illegit imate son, but Trentons legitimate son had been there. That son had even danced with me, showing a great courtesy to a lowly dhampir girl.Trenton is Victor Dashkovs father, I said. Youre saying Robert Doru is Victor Dashkovs half-brother.Abe nodded, still watching me closely. Abe, as Id noted, knew everything. He likely knew my history with Victor.Oksana frowned. Victor Dashkov is someone important, isnt he? Out in their Siberian cottage, she was removed from the ferment of Moroi politics, unaware that the man who would have been king had been locked away in prison.I started laughing-but not because I demonstrate any humor in the situation. This whole thing was unbelievable, and my hysteria was the only way to let out all the crazy feelings within me. Exasperation. Resignation. Irony.Whats so funny? asked Mark, startled.Nothing, I said, knowing if I didnt stop laughing, Id plausibly start crying. Thats the thing. Its not funny at all.What a wonderful twist to my life. The only p erson alive who might know something about saving Strigoi was the half-brother of my greatest living enemy, Victor Dashkov. And the only person who might know where Robert was was Victor himself. Victor had known a lot about spirit, and now I had a good idea where hed first learned about it.Not that it mattered. None of this mattered anymore. Victor himself could have been able to convert Strigoi for all the good it would have done me.Dimitri was dead by my hand. He was gone, saved in the only way I knew how. Id had to choose between him and Lissa once before, and Id chosen him. Now there could be no question. Id chosen her. She was real. She was alive. Dimitri was the past.Id been staring absentmindedly at the wall, and now I looked up and met Abe square in the eyes. All right, old man, I said. Pack me up and send me home.