Harvard Guide to Happiness, Freakonomics, Can’t a Woman Be Einstein Essay

The methods suggested from a research conducted over 10 years on 1,600 Harvard students are relevant today more than ever. The global trend of shift in workforce from manufacturing to white collar work necessitates workers obtain higher degrees of education. Individuals with higher education degree are more equipped with the capacity to better manage given tasks of the service sector employing analytical thinking. Workforce comprised of such highly educated individuals enhances competitiveness in the increasingly complex global economy. Thus the value of individual academic pursuit is critical in sustaining economic development of a nation. Assuming that students furthering their studies decide based on freewill, keeping students motivated is the key to encouraging them to pursue higher education. Basing on the results from the study, increasing interaction among the various elements within the school system such as faculty and peer-students propel students to achieve higher grades, become more intellectually engaged and increase their overall happiness. An NBER study of a group of Kenyan girls in 69 primary schools comparing those who were randomly selected to receive scholarships to those who did not receive any surprisingly concluded that greater education does not in fact lead to greater democracy. However I believe the relationship between education and democracy can either be strengthened or weakened based on the content of the education received by the citizens and how it is famed in the classroom setting. Education systems that emphasize and value freedom of expression through heated discussion among peers inevitably provide an opportunity for the students to experience democratic way of handling things. The way information was given to the young girls in Kenya and its substance may have been the reason in the failure of increased education to result in greater democracy. The essay that demonstrated that biological difference exists between male and female but does not suggest a difference in aptitude pose an important issue in the field of education. I agree that the results hint a change in the education system but I hesitate to agree with Leonard Sax in his belief that â€Å"coed schools do more harm than good†. The fact that current coed schools might not provide an environment for boys and girls to learn at the pace of their maturing brains does not necessitate those students to be educated in single-sex schools. The problem, if there is any, would lie in the lack of division of classes based on the level of each subject. Division of class in coed schools based on proficiency, for instance beginners, intermediate and advanced seems an appropriate response that effectively deals with the problem embraces outliers at the same time.

Child and Marginal Places

In the short essay â€Å"In Praise of Margins†, Ian Frazier puts himself back to the place in time when he did activities just for the sake of doing them. As a kid, Frazier traveled to the woods behind his house without a real sense of purpose. His main goal for the day or afternoon was just to explore, whatever that word may mean to him. Frazier and his friends spent hours on end in the woods simply breaking thin ice sheets, â€Å"throwing rocks at a fresh mudflat to make craters, shooting frogs with slingshots, making forts, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Indian burial mound† (53).They weren’t doing anything important, but that was the point, to do something so insignificant but have it mean so much. Frazier explains that the activities he did as a kid â€Å"was a higher sort of unpurpose† (53), or in other words, marginal. I agree with Frazier about the important of marginality, because children in particular need to try out ideas for themselves and have some breathing room on their own. Marginal activities and places are important to kids, because they allow them to try out ideas or purposeless activities.As an example, Annie Dillard wrote a short essay called â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† in which she talks about receiving a microscope as a Christmas present and going down to her basement to play with it endlessly. Dillard received a microscope from her parents because she had wanted one ever since she read â€Å"The Field Book of Ponds and Streams† (82). She was utterly convinced that everyone needed a microscope. At first, Dillard failed and could not use the microscope correctly because the slides she saw were a â€Å"bust. † Eventually in late spring, Dillard succeeded and saw an amoeba.Proud of her accomplishment, she rushed upstairs to tell her parents, but they seemed more interested in their coffee than excited (83). From that point on she understood that you do what you do for pure enjoyment and love for the activity itself and that no one really cares, but yourself. The microscope was her marginal activity and the basement was her marginal place where she could do whatever she wanted. Dillard ends her short essaying stating: â€Å"Anything was possible. The sky was the limit. † (83). â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† and â€Å"In Praise of Margins† both have the similar idea of doing something for pure enjoyment.Dillard considers her work in the basement â€Å"play† because she enjoys it, but she didn’t actually realize that she was learning. This is a prime example of a marginal activity because she only used it for her enjoyment without a sense of real purpose. No purpose is needed because marginal activities allow you to be yourself and do something that you like to do, not because there is an end goal. Marginal activities like Dillard’s microscope allow children to try out ideas that they otherwise may neve r have found. A safe haven or a place to escape reality can be important to children.As a child, I lived in the typical two-story home in a typical suburbia neighborhood. I never really could keep much to myself or have ultimate freedom. My parents were typical over-protective parents who were scared that the world may danger and hurt their precious young boy. The only source of escape or get away I ever had was found in the play set in my back yard. It was just a little orange and blue play set that featured a slide and landing. Whenever I couldn’t be found, everyone knew that I was in my little play set in the back yard with my siblings and cousins.My play set was my marginal place because that was where I could come up with crazy imaginations and as soon as I stepped in my thoughts ran free. The play set was a get away from over bearing parents, homework, or even vegetable filled dinners. In that back yard, we could be anyone we wanted to be, think of the craziest adventur es, or even just sit and talk. The play set in the back yard didn’t consist of judgment or scrutiny; rather, it was filled with bliss and innocence. It was such an important part of my childhood and I honestly don’t know if I would be the same person I am today if my play set hadn’t exist.Frazier’s woods are equivalent to my play set in the back yard. It was our get away from reality, the pure pleasure of doing nothing and something at the same time. My play set was my marginal activity and place because it allowed me to explore thoughts and try out the craziest of ideas. It is important as a child to have a get away where you can do anything you wanted because sometimes children are brought up to be perfect. Expectations can get to a child and a safe haven from that is all that is needed.In the words of Ian Frazier â€Å" The margin is where you can try out odd ideas that you might be afraid to admit to with people looking on† (54). Marginal place s and activities are very important to children because it allows for breathing room. Not everything has to be purpose filled. Activities and places can be purposeless and just as satisfying as if it were purpose filled. Frazier took himself back to a time where everything was much simpler, and realized that marginal activities are very important. Marginal places and activities are important for everyone especially children. Child and Marginal Places In the short essay â€Å"In Praise of Margins†, Ian Frazier puts himself back to the place in time when he did activities just for the sake of doing them. As a kid, Frazier traveled to the woods behind his house without a real sense of purpose. His main goal for the day or afternoon was just to explore, whatever that word may mean to him. Frazier and his friends spent hours on end in the woods simply breaking thin ice sheets, â€Å"throwing rocks at a fresh mudflat to make craters, shooting frogs with slingshots, making forts, picking blackberries, digging in what we were briefly persuaded was an Indian burial mound† (53).They weren’t doing anything important, but that was the point, to do something so insignificant but have it mean so much. Frazier explains that the activities he did as a kid â€Å"was a higher sort of unpurpose† (53), or in other words, marginal. I agree with Frazier about the important of marginality, because children in particular need to try out ideas for themselves and have some breathing room on their own. Marginal activities and places are important to kids, because they allow them to try out ideas or purposeless activities.As an example, Annie Dillard wrote a short essay called â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† in which she talks about receiving a microscope as a Christmas present and going down to her basement to play with it endlessly. Dillard received a microscope from her parents because she had wanted one ever since she read â€Å"The Field Book of Ponds and Streams† (82). She was utterly convinced that everyone needed a microscope. At first, Dillard failed and could not use the microscope correctly because the slides she saw were a â€Å"bust. † Eventually in late spring, Dillard succeeded and saw an amoeba.Proud of her accomplishment, she rushed upstairs to tell her parents, but they seemed more interested in their coffee than excited (83). From that point on she understood that you do what you do for pure enjoyment and love for the activity itself and that no one really cares, but yourself. The microscope was her marginal activity and the basement was her marginal place where she could do whatever she wanted. Dillard ends her short essaying stating: â€Å"Anything was possible. The sky was the limit. † (83). â€Å"Hitting Pay Dirt† and â€Å"In Praise of Margins† both have the similar idea of doing something for pure enjoyment.Dillard considers her work in the basement â€Å"play† because she enjoys it, but she didn’t actually realize that she was learning. This is a prime example of a marginal activity because she only used it for her enjoyment without a sense of real purpose. No purpose is needed because marginal activities allow you to be yourself and do something that you like to do, not because there is an end goal. Marginal activities like Dillard’s microscope allow children to try out ideas that they otherwise may neve r have found. A safe haven or a place to escape reality can be important to children.As a child, I lived in the typical two-story home in a typical suburbia neighborhood. I never really could keep much to myself or have ultimate freedom. My parents were typical over-protective parents who were scared that the world may danger and hurt their precious young boy. The only source of escape or get away I ever had was found in the play set in my back yard. It was just a little orange and blue play set that featured a slide and landing. Whenever I couldn’t be found, everyone knew that I was in my little play set in the back yard with my siblings and cousins.My play set was my marginal place because that was where I could come up with crazy imaginations and as soon as I stepped in my thoughts ran free. The play set was a get away from over bearing parents, homework, or even vegetable filled dinners. In that back yard, we could be anyone we wanted to be, think of the craziest adventur es, or even just sit and talk. The play set in the back yard didn’t consist of judgment or scrutiny; rather, it was filled with bliss and innocence. It was such an important part of my childhood and I honestly don’t know if I would be the same person I am today if my play set hadn’t exist.Frazier’s woods are equivalent to my play set in the back yard. It was our get away from reality, the pure pleasure of doing nothing and something at the same time. My play set was my marginal activity and place because it allowed me to explore thoughts and try out the craziest of ideas. It is important as a child to have a get away where you can do anything you wanted because sometimes children are brought up to be perfect. Expectations can get to a child and a safe haven from that is all that is needed.In the words of Ian Frazier â€Å" The margin is where you can try out odd ideas that you might be afraid to admit to with people looking on† (54). Marginal place s and activities are very important to children because it allows for breathing room. Not everything has to be purpose filled. Activities and places can be purposeless and just as satisfying as if it were purpose filled. Frazier took himself back to a time where everything was much simpler, and realized that marginal activities are very important. Marginal places and activities are important for everyone especially children.

Feasability assignment to establish a bakery deli in downtown

Feasability to establish a bakery deli in downtown Connellsville pa 15425 - Assignment Example But like a hit song that made its way to the top of the music billboard during the first weeks and months of release, foods and services have its own duration of a peak popularity and savoring public acceptance. This is one natural weakness in the trade that we seek to improve and consequently be on top. That is where we will venture out to be creative and consistently popular. In this feasibility study and research, we propose to meet the needs and challenges of Connelsville residents, who are as discriminating as the uniqueness and individuality of choices and lifestyle in this area of some 9,500 permanent residents and transient visitors and plain travelers from one city to another numbering by the hundreds every month. 2 Executive Summary. A number of reports, findings, sample survey questionnaires and other important considerations follow in the next pages of this presentation. Except for food, excitement and product acceptance has its own peak and climax. Foods and drinks stay forever so long as life itself permits. The more challenging task is how to keep customers eating and satisfied and remain on top. In such very competitive and diverse entrepreneurship as foods and beverages,, uniqueness in both taste and looks, cleanliness and customer-friendly services are the major considerations. They form part of every marketing strategies to start a food business and its eventual expansion. One of the main ideas of establishing this business or any similar endeavor for that matter, is by starting small and growing big. In that respect, quality control takes a primary role in the shelf and baking areas. We will create and introduce new-to-your-senses menus of panera bread style similar but more innovative than those casual-setting, low-priced, quick-service chains nationwide. In order to be different, we must take advantage of the potentials normally present in starting a business such as introducing a new tradition in creative, tasteful and healthy bread makin g Connellsville style. Ambitious as it may seem, but creative bread making is tantamount to a daily changing menu. We can follow through by remaining true and humble to our vision of customer satisfaction and value for money food provisions and services. 3 Introduction. Establishing the business in a strategic area in Connellsville takes so much preparations and planning to ensure a high rate of success. This includes choosing the right location and hiring of the best and creative people. This portion of the report will take a lot of problem solving by anticipating them and facing them ahead of time even before it can present itself as a problem. One of the most effective ways to solve a problem is to anticipate and discern them. In such important areas as human resources, snags can be prevented from setting in with periodic programs of business-family bonding, camaraderie, dialogue and constant communications. As much as time and finances permit, a reward and systems of recognition , no matter how simple and inexpensive can do a lot of magic to the morale and efficiency in day-to-day operations. What you give to them always have a good habit of returning back double in terms of loyalty, efficient and more productive services. Food business is issue-sensitive business. Some of the problems that we may find hard to overcome are negative comments from customers, real or

Risk in Multitasking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk in Multitasking - Essay Example Managing different projects at the organization is important. Tasks need to be assigned to employees accordingly. If too much tasks are assigned, then it will result in chaos and employees would not be able to complete the tasks. Therefore a project manager needs to make sure that tasks are assigned appropriately and employees are not overburdened because they can give only a limited time at work and if more work is assigned to them then they may not be able to complete the work within the time or maintain high quality of work (Kerzner, 2003). The main findings of the article are similar to what I have encountered at the workplace. Even at my organizations, manager tends to assign different tasks without even asking whether the previous task has been completed or not. Such a situation impacts the concentration of the employees. If tasks are given one at a time to employees, then they would be able to better manage the task and complete it with better quality. Organizations should also manage the tasks in a way that too many tasks are not assigned to the employees at a time. In this article, it has been analyzed that the projects were not managed appropriately. Managing the resource in projects is critical in making sure that the project is completed within the cost, time and scope. If the projects are not managed considering the resources the organization has, then it will result in such situations and the projects will not be completed (Hamilton,

Bullying become normal in US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bullying become normal in US - Essay Example America having its cultural basis in the concept of enlightenment is experiencing most of bullying problems as compared to other western countries. This situation is a question mark for the governments, educational institutes as the basic idea during formation of America was equal opportunities to all the people of the country both economically and socially (UNESCO). Bullying causes division of society on the basis of race, religion or sexuality. This division can make one group of human beings in superiority complex while others in inferiority complex. A situation which is quite alarming to all the members of society as well as for the economic growth of the country; as economic progress demands full working power of individuals to attain a common goal of prosperity for the country. The first experience of Bully most of the American student have is the discrimination of students on the basis of color. White students have violent behavior towards black students and African Americans also. In opposition black people tend to form their own communities and somewhat try to compete with white students. This type of division from the start of professional career remains towards the end of their lives. It can be clearly seen throughout longitude and latitude of the country. Division of humans on any basis is unethical and moral less. Especially it is remarkable to know these facts even in this age when planet earth is supposed to be global village and America is regarding an ideal regarding liberty and related concepts. The division on the basis of race is opposed by both federal and local governments throughout the country. Yet there are many amendments required laws regarding this type of discrimination (UNESCO) (FEC). The curriculum of psychology also needs to be changed, in my opinion as there is continues flaws in the psychiatrist’s education as most of the experts yet cannot define normal or abnormal person in this regard. Major source of this differentia tion is done at the young age starting commonly from difference in fashions, hair styles and clothing. Most of the African America students have distress education career; also most of these children even now days are facing family economic problems like poverty continuous eviction notices and loss of jobs their parents continuously have. This creates an inferiority complex in such students and they tend to get in a hole with other students like them creating a unique community to live; right from the start of their lives. This affects the whole life of the children. Later they become middle class citizens having mediocre jobs and this situation is continuing for decades now. On the other hand white students make their own community. Clearly based on superiority they have socially over the black or African American students. It is the major cause of other psychiatric condition called superiority complex. It continues throughout their whole educational career and all over the life of people. America as we know today is divided extensively on this. Also there is bullying for other immigrants also. Second type of bullying faced majorly by American students is the division of people on the basis of sex. This bullying is faced by majority of female students even today. The consequences of this type of bullying are more devastating than the first one. This type of mental illness is much difficult to

Internal Memorandum of Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internal Memorandum of Law - Essay Example Owen and Dolly Jones, owners of the campground does not have any security, lifeguards, or the proper posting of safety precautions available despite its years of operation because it is a mom and pop ownership and the funds were unavailable. The morning after their arrival, they all went to breakfast to a restaurant while waiting to go swimming at the pool which opened at 10:00 a.m. The girls left early to get ready to go to the pool while Tamera’s parent stayed at the restaurant drinking alcoholic beverages. Tamera’s parents told them to get ready for the pool and wait for their arrival. After twenty to thirty minutes had passed, the parents still have not showed. The girls decided to go ahead and go swimming without supervision. The girls entered the pool at 9:30 a.m. They ignored the sign posted at the pool which states that the pool will only open at 10:00 a.m. Due to Shayla’s dyslexia, she was unable to comprehend the sign. After Tamera had entered the pool first nearly injuring herself, she yelled something out but Shayla did not hear. Shayla dove in the pool. She hit the bottom and broke her arm. After Tamera had pulled Shayla to the side of the pool and save her from drowning, the Owens arrived and then called an ambulance company for their services. Shortly after the ambulance arrived, Tamera’s parents arrived back at the campground and then Shayla was taken to a hospital were she was treated. Mary has incurred medical bills from Shayla’s accident. The current estimates of medical bills that have been incurred are $8,000.00 and will be incurring more bills for future medical treatment and physical therapy sessions. The Attractive Nuisance Doctrine which was applied in numerous cases involving swimming pool liabilities states that the owner of the land or property may be held liable for the injuries sustained by a child-plaintiff while in the said property, if the property imposed a condition or situation which attracted the child and caused

M&S Lingerie ad 'Socially Irresponsible' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

M&S Lingerie ad 'Socially Irresponsible' - Essay Example The article compares this image to another recently banned image used by Lynx, for the same sexually suggestive reasons. The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is cited as beginning to take a tougher approach on these issues, backed by David Cameron in a bid to stop unregulated sexual imagery. This comes at a time when the Prime Minister himself is trying to uphold ‘family values’ and thus the advertisement industry is being required to comply with these new political ideas. This issue has wider implications because it involves the marketing industry as a whole as well as calling into question ethical theory and social responsibility for companies. Schlegelmilch & Oberseder (2010) have examined ethical trends in marketing (through the use of several types of marketing literature) and found the following: a generally increasing appreciation of ethical and moral issues in marketing (see figure 1), an increase in sexual imagery issues within ethical marketing, an increased understanding of the ethical needs associated with different religious and social groups, and an increased role for the internet in ethical marketing debates Figure 1 – The number of ethics related articles found in various marketing journals throughout recent decades; showing an increasing trend (Schlegelmilch & Oberseder, 2010) This general increase in scholarly articles about the ethics of marketing, as well as the evidence from the original article that the ASA is taking an increased interest in the reduction of available sexual imagery is interesting. Firstly, it suggests that there is an increased need for marketing companies to ensure that their images are socially appropriate without losing any of the impact factor needed to be effective. Secondly, it suggests that overly sexual imagery may not have the desired effect on the customer, and may have a ‘turn-off’ factor above a certain level. Finally, the evidence suggests that sexual imagery needs to be con fined to the appropriate avenues, rather than being used in outdoor advertisements like this Marks & Spencers advertisement. Interestingly, this was not the only article about the links between marketing and social effect to be published in Marketing Week recently. Another article describes the banned Final Destination poster involving disturbing imagery (see Figure 2) with a skull being shattered by steel rods (Johnson, 2011). Again, this image was for use in the public domain in outdoor locations, easily seen by children. The advertisement series was banned for being disturbing and showing horrific imagery where it was not appropriate. Again, this shows a growing concern about the type of advertising imagery available in the public domain and a need to show concern for who may be able to view this imagery. It also suggests that sexual imagery is not the only target for responsible marketing, and all types of image should be considered before release. Again, it must be noted that i mages need to fall within a small threshold of effectiveness and social responsibility (Sen & Bhattacharya, 2001). Research by Robin & Reidenbach (1987) suggests that many marketing directors believe that there should not be an issue between social responsibi

Summary (Information Security Management ) Essay

Summary (Information Security Management ) - Essay Example To address those risks that are supposed to be unacceptable ISO/IEC 27001 suggests modeling and application of rational and comprehensive suite of information security controls. Comparatively, NSIT lays out on security management by identifying 17 controls organized into three categories: The Management Control section addresses security topics that can be characterized as managerial. The Operational Control section addresses security controls focusing on steps that are, broadly speaking, implemented and executed by people (as opposed to systems). The Technical Control section implicates on security controls that the computer system executes. Main advantage of NSIT document is network-based IDSs, which are usually passive devices that do not interfere with the normal operation of a network, are very secure against attack and even made invisible to many attackers. A major weakness here is, Network-based IDSs may have difficulty processing all packets in a large or busy network therefo re, may fail to recognize an attack launched during periods of high traffic. The scope of NSIT is limited as it lacks, especially in the area of time defined as â€Å"heavy traffic†.

Changing Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Changing Fashion - Essay Example The essay "Changing Fashion" discusses how and why fashion and trends change. From the definition of Barnard it is evident that fashion can mean different things to different people. Kawamura propounds a sociological approach to fashion that is based on a system of social institutions that produces and nurtures the concept of fashion as well as the phenomenon or practice of fashion. An institutionalized system comprising a persistent network of beliefs, customs and formal procedures form a distinct social organization with the acknowledged focal purpose of creating or producing fashion. Fashion is dynamic, it keeps changing, it is a target that keeps moving; yet fashion is not just change per se, it has been defined as â€Å"institutionalized, systematic change produced by those who are authorized to implement it.† Again, it has also to be understood that notwithstanding the fact that fashion undergoes a continuous process of change, the institutions, organizations and firms t hat form the basis of fashion can be relatively very stable. Some researchers tend to incorporate this dichotomy into their works by differentiating between style and fashion. Style is defined as â€Å"one of the main components of group identity A style is the external manifestation of certain underlying values and principles †¦ Style is not just musical taste, ways of dress or speech. It should be seen as a combination of all this elements, where the whole is more than the sum of its parts.† Fashion is considered to be the variations.

What is the best way to address obesity in the United States Essay

What is the best way to address obesity in the United States - Essay Example If we look at 'obesity' etiologically, we would come to know that it is a multifactor issue caused by poor diet and physical inactivity. Poor diet refers to poor dietary habits include intake of junk food or high calorie fast food and excessive sugar in our diet. Instead of using fresh food, fruits and vegetables in our everyday diet, we prefer preserved or frozen food followed by no exercise or physical activity at all. One of the most common reasons for rapid increase in obesity among U.S population is the increased interaction of people between built in environment followed by technology and social context. "The built in environment encompasses the entire range of structural and social elements that make up the fabric of a community: housing, roads and walkways, stairways, density, transportation networks, shops, markets, parks, public amenities, and public spaces. The structural features of the urban built environment its enormous size, its large and densely clustered population, its social institutions, its psychosocial stressors, its economy, its rapid pace, its violence, the configuration of its streets, parks, schools, and play spaces all affect health, growth, and development of individuals". (Frieden et al, 2003, p. 684) The rising trend in obesity is further followed by the convenience, which is driven by modern technology like the concept of walking is becoming vague by the passage of time; people like to use any mode of transportation in order to travel even minute distances. In this kind of technologically savvy society, modes of entertainment have changed. Gone are those days when parties and social gatherings were considered to be entertaining. Today, entertainment comes through watching television, playing video games and sitting for hours in front of computer. Hence our lives are driven by a sedentary lifestyle escorted by technological advancements. While coming back to 'foods' it is found that often people in United States feel insecure when food is concerned. The diet of food insecure people tends to be less healthy. One reason for the intake of frozen foods is that "canned fruits and vegetables, which tend to have more salt and sugar, are much less expensive than fresh fruits. Leaner cuts of meat tend to cost more. However, according to Dr. Walter C. Willet, "A calorie is a calorie is a calorie." (Willet, 2001, p.44) Theoretically, no matter how unhealthy a person's diet, that person can only gain weight from fat by using fewer calories than he or she takes in. The quality of diet would only affect susceptibility to disease and health problems". (Obesity1) In my opinion there are two reasons for very little choices in food, one leads to the economic infrastructure of United States in which healthy and nutritious foods are often more expensive than junk or fast foods, also they are easily available and accessible by all the classes. The second reason for no choice in food other than fast food is the lack of time. More than half of the population of United States believes in "time is money", whether it is middle-middle or middle-upper class, every individual has to work in order to achieve a better living. It seems there is a social race in which every individual wants his car to move faster and faster, due to which they have no time to prepare and enjoy their family life and so

Moral achievements during adolescents Essay Example for Free

Moral achievements during adolescents Essay The adolescent period is marked by a number of physical and emotional changes for individuals. During this period, an individual strives to move from the identity that is dependent on parental and societal influence in to one that is determined by the individual. The purpose of this paper is to review the moral developments during this period of identity formation, and whether it is an entirely free process. To do this, the paper will rely on selected literature to study the various dimensions related to the issue. Introduction One of the hallmarks of adolescence is the search for identity. At this stage of human development, the individual attempts to cultivate a personal identity that will act as the basis for person’s future life. Consequently, this stage is mostly marked by defiance and general non conformity, which happens as one tries to explore practices that are not necessarily in line with both societal and familial norms and expectations. Although important, the search for identity may be a source of discord between an individual and the family or society. The discord may become a source of antagonism between the individual and the society, but more importantly, it may lead to a realization of moral consciousness for the adolescent. In the context of this paper, the word moral shall be taken to be what one perceives right or wrong based on personal conscience. In that regard, moral achievement refers to positive changes in conscience one undergoes during the adolescent period. The paper will be based on selected literature available on the subject. It is however worth noting that the subject under discussion is a multidimensional one, and for that reason, the paper will confine itself to those dimensions covered in the literature as a way of ensuring systematic coverage. The paper will study coping socialization agents, drug use, parental influence on school disposition and identity problems. These are some of the dimensions related to moral achievements. However, even though an individual is supposed to develop a personal identity during this period, the resulting identity is always influenced by external factors such as that from peers, societal and parental influence. Coping Coping refers to an individual’s ability to appropriately react to situations as they arise. Adolescents, like all the other human beings experience adjustments and extensive stressors. According to (Garcia, 2009), some of these stressors and adjustments include dealing with peer relationships, physical and emotional changes that an individual experiences during the period, family dynamics, poverty and crime. Proper coping means that the adolescents must be able to deal with these challenges with resilience and show positive health outcomes (Garcia, 2009). An adolescent achieves cognitive and moral development in a set of three stages. According to (Garcia, 2009), these stages are assimilation, accommodation and equilibration. In addition to these strategies, the adolescent develops critical thinking and information processing, which enables for gradual development of the mind in an adult like thinking one. Guided by the newly acquired traits of critical thinking and information processing, the individual moves away from what they conceive as parental influence and set out to develop their own way of approaching life. At this stage the individual is torn between peer influences and conformity with parental expectations. According to (Garcia, 2009), a well coping individual should be able to develop a healthy identity, which is one developed by the individual as opposed to one imposed by peers or parents. An important element related to coping developed during the adolescent period is the coping strategy. Most prominent of these strategies, according to (Garcia, 2009) is problem solving or help seeking. In other words, during this period, the adolescent will develop coping strategies. In the study, (Garcia, 2009) undertook a study of literature related to the general subject of coping. The study identified coping as coping as one of the key pillars in the health of adolescents. The study found that unhealthy coping strategies lead to unhealthy mental health states such as depression and exhaustion. It is therefore important that during adolescence one develops appropriate coping strategies towards various stressors and adjustments. Religion, peer pressure and drug use These issues are related to search for identity. At this stage, the individuals experiment with new religions, try different types of drugs, which may all be a result of succumbing to influences from peers. According to a survey reported by (Bahr Hoffman, 2008), 22% of youths admitted having used cigarettes, while another 45% had used alcohol, with another 30% reporting being drunk and 18% acknowledged using marijuana. This was a survey done on high school seniors, most or all of who are in the adolescent stage. The finding is a pointer to how life is volatile for the adolescent. (Bahr Hoffman, 2008) further notes that there is a negative correlation between religiosity and drug use. In a way, the report endorses religion as a way of reducing drug use because youths with religious affiliations showed less affinity to drug use. To justify this correlation, the study uses social control theory. According to the theory, deviance is more of a natural act while conformity is not. It then follows that religiosity brings in prosocial controls that encourage individuals to conform. Without it, the individuals would follow their natural instincts, which would mean becoming defiant. The other theory used by the report is social learning theory. From the perspective of social learning theory, the religious groups take precedence over friends and family on matters concerning drug use so that instead of individuals picking this habit from them, they are taught by the church (Bahr Hoffman, 2008). After establishing theories to explain correlations, the study of (Bahr Hoffman, 2008) notes some control variables such as gender and race and then goes ahead to carry out a survey to validate the hypothesis. The result found a negative correlation on religion measured against cigarettes, heavy drinking and marijuana. The results on other illicit drugs were inconsistent and therefore inconclusive. From the study however, it clear that adolescents can, to an extent, be protected from drug use by being encouraged to take up religiosity. Socialization for adolescents Within an adolescent’s life, there are several agents of socialization. Among these are school, family, peer groups (friends) and community. (Arnon, Shamai, Ilatov, 2008) did a research in which peer pressure was examined and its effects compared with those of the other agents such as family, school and community. The researchers’ decision to focus on peer influence is premised on the fact that as people approach adolescence, they tend to move away from parents, religious institutions and other official socialization institutions within the community. That therefore leaves peers as the most significant influences at this point because the youths will tend to spend more time with them at the exclusion of the other socialization agents. The study also relies on social theory to explain the influences of peer groupings. Although the study notes the negative influence of peers, it nevertheless notes that it is important for peers to move away from parents for them to develop an independent identity. What the study finds negative is the tendency of the peers to move from parental influence in to conformity towards peer expectations. The identity so obtained will not be a healthy one according to the earlier noted definition. From the study, it emerged that peer groups were the most influential followed closely by family. Other agents, notably school and community only provided secondary influence. It is therefore clear that adolescents submit themselves to be influenced by peers and other socialization agents. Taking in to account the context of this paper, one can conclude that an adolescent’s moral achievement will largely be dictated by the kind of socialization agents in play during the period. Identity problem symptoms in adolescents (Berman, Weems, Petkus, 2009) defines identity disorder as the inability of an individual to accept aspect oneself. A person is deemed to an identity disorder if for one reason or another, the individual cannot accept certain or all aspects related to his persona. Consequently, the individual becomes predisposed to self denial leading to a form of distress, which may manifest itself in a number of ways. Some of the areas of concern related to this problem, as listed by (Berman, Weems, Petkus, 2009), include career choice, sexual orientation, friendship and religious identification. The research underscores the importance of identity disorder by citing the fact that the problem is listed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) criteria for mental disorders. The importance of identity formation is identified by Erik Erikson as crucial process in young adults because it does provide one with a future direction while at the same time giving a sense of continuity from the past (Berman, Weems, Petkus, 2009). Adolescent’s search for identity is characterized by two dimensions; exploration and commitment. The two dimensions can be combined by the individual differently so as to come up with differing identity statuses. For instance, one of the statuses is known as achievement. An individual with this kind of status has a high exploration and commitment tendencies. Such kinds of individuals tend to be less predisposed to identity disorders. The aim of the study was to show that trouble with identity fit the definition necessary for them to be termed as disorder. Currently, issues related to identity crisis are classified as problems and not disorder, and have consequently been downgraded within the DSM hierarchy. The downgrade is symbolic because the hierarchy is used by various medical stakeholders such as insurance companies and medical practitioners to determine priority in terms of coverage and treatment. The study found that 14. 3% of the sample met DSM IV criteria for identity problem (Berman, Weems, Petkus, 2009). It goes to show that the current classification of the problem is unfair because it underestimates its effects. The study then attributes the rise in the identity problem to increased globalization and immigration, which has subsequently led to more clashes between different cultures and more confusion. Moral achievement in as far as identity formation is therefore dependent on how the youth is able to cope with the increase cultural diversity (or clashes) and globalization. Parental influence and its role in on student’s attitude towards school Parents have a role to play in influencing the attitudes children adopt towards schooling. (Annear Yates, 2010) did a study on how parents influence the children’s disposition towards school. The study drew from a number of aspects of parenting related to schooling such as perceptions of a child’s potential, monitoring and control, level of affect and focus on a child’s ability. The study takes the view that authoritarian kind of parenting was likely to result in lower grades as opposed to parents who allowed their children to undergo the normal process of socialization. It refers to the authoritarian type of parenting as restrictive parenting while for the more liberal parenting, the term used in autonomy support. The study used a sample made up of both parents and students to come up with its findings. The only variable within the study was whether the parent in question was a mother or father. Generally, the study found that autonomy support to have favorable results both in terms of grades and disposition. Further to that, the study found additional side effects of restrictive parenting as sadness, depression and loneliness. Conclusion From the foregoing, it clear that extraneous factors are more responsible at determining an individual’s moral achievement during adolescents. Ultimately, an individual will be responsible for shaping the direction life will take after breaking free of childhood dependencies and parental influence. It however emerges from the paper that even as one breaks free of these influences in search of individual identity external influence is not extinguished, rather, it is just transferred from one entity to another. Implied here is the fact that freedom from childhood dependencies does not mean complete freedom. In an ideal situation, approaching adulthood would mean that one gets to chart the future devoid of external influences so that the individual can claim full credit for the personality developed thereafter. However, that postulation is invalidated by the paper. Theories such as social learning and social control theory would have no place in an adolescent’s world or an adult’s world was that assumption to hold water. This paper limited itself to the adolescent ages between 12 and 18 years, and may not have sufficient grounds to make any inferences concerning post adolescent life. However, this matter can also be extrapolated, to some extent. Given that individuals at adolescence have partially entered adulthood, it also follows that adolescent behavior is not far from adult behavior. For that reason, it is safe to assume that adult behavior will also be subject to influences from external sources, and especially, socialization agents. Bibliography Annear, K. D. , Yates, G. C. (2010). Restricitve and supportive parenting: Effects in childrens school affect and emotional responses. The Australian Educational Researcher , 63-82. Arnon, S. , Shamai, S. , Ilatov, Z. (2008). Socialization agents and activities of young adolescents. San diego: Libra publishers. Bahr, S. J. , Hoffman, J. P. (2008). Religiosity, peers, and adolescent drug use. Journal of Drug Issues , 743-770. Berman, S. L. , Weems, C. M. , Petkus, V. F. (2009). The Prevalence and Increamental Validity of Identity Problem Symptoms in a High School Sample. Child psychiatry and human development , 183-195. Garcia, C. (2009). Conceptualization and measurement of coping during adolescence: A review of the literature. Journal of Nursing scholarship , 166-185.

Digital image processing

Digital image processing Vision is the most dynamic of all our senses since it provides us with a huge amount of information about what surrounds us. It is not surprising that an ancient Chinese proverb that quotes: â€Å"A picture is worth a thousand words† is still widely used. All this information is valuable for simple procedures (for example planning our everyday activities), but also for more complex processes as the development of our intelligence. At the level of social organization, images are also important as a means of transmitting information, and almost all of todays media are based on our vision. The huge amount of visual information and the need for its processing, lead scientists and technicians towards research in order to discover a means for digital image storage and processing using computers. This effort resulted in a new Information Engineering Industry called â€Å"Digital Image Processing and Analysis†. This industry began to grow fifteen years ago. However, it has show n a dynamic development, especially during the most recent years and it is considered a science and technology with a promising future and many potential. As the title indicates, Digital Image Processing is concentrated on digital images and their processing by a computer. Therefore, both the input and output of this process are digital images. Digital image processing can be used for various reasons: improvement of the quality of images, filtering of noise caused by transmission, compression of image information, image storage and digital transmission. On the other hand, digital image analysis deals with the description and recognition of the content of an image. This description is usually symbolic. Therefore, the input when it comes to digital image analysis, is a digital image and the output is a symbolic description. Image analysis principally tries to mimic human vision. Therefore, an identical term which is often used is â€Å"Computer Vision†. It has to be underlined that computer vision is a complex neuro-physiological mechanism driven by upper level knowledge (high level vision). The characteristics of this mechanism are not known and existing mathematical models are yet inadequately accurate. As a result, it is difficult to simulate high level vision by a computer. For this reason, the methods used for image analysis when it comes to machine vision and human vision vary significantly. Image analysis is easier in the case of applications where the environment, objects and lighting conditions are fixed. This is usually the case of a production process in industry. The branch of computer vision which is used in industry is called â€Å"Robotic Vision†. The analysis is much more difficult in applications where the environment is unknown and there is a large number of objects or the different objects are unclear or difficult to separate (for example in biomedical applications or in outdoor / natural scenes). In such applications, even exper ts find it difficult to recognize objects. For these reasons, it is still difficult to obtain a general image analysis system. Most existing systems are designed for specialized applications. OTHER RELATED RESEARCH AREAS Digital image processing and analysis are related to various other scientific areas because of their subject of research. Recently, there is a tendency, at least in terms of applications, for digital image processing to become an interdisciplinary industry. Some related research areas are: Digital Signal Processing Graphics Pattern Recognition Artificial Intelligence Telecommunications and Media Multimedia Systems We will examine the relation of each of these areas with digital image processing and image analysis independently, since the way they are related is not very clear. Digital Image Processing Vs Digital Signal Processing Every image can be described as a two-dimensional signal. Therefore, for the analysis and processing of digital images all the techniques of digital signal processing can be used. This area provides the theoretical and programming base for image processing. Digital Image Processing Vs Graphic Fundamentally, the subject of graphic is digital synthesis. Therefore, the input is a symbolic description and the output is a digital image. For this purpose a geometric modelling of the display object takes place, as well as a digital description of the lighting conditions and digital production of the objects illuminants in the assumed position of the camera. Digital Image Processing Vs Pattern Recognition Pattern recognition deals with the classification of an object to a class of models (class pattern). For example, trying to recognize whether a new object is a resistor, a capacitor, or an integrated circuit. For this purpose, an object has to be described using certain characteristics (features), mostly numbers (for example: diameter and area), and then it can be classified based on these characteristics. Digital Image Processing Vs Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence and image understanding are areas where a symbolic representation of an image is converted to another more complex representation or a representation more easily comprehensible to humans. Usually, techniques for representation of human knowledge (knowledge representation) and reasoning (inference) are used for this purpose. The analysis of a â€Å"scene† requires higher cognitive processes and that is why it is also known as high-level vision. On the other hand, image processing is more related to the lower levels of vision, that take place in the human eye and optic nerve and as a result it is also known as low level vision. Digital Image Processing Vs Telecommunications The field of telecommunications is related to digital image transmission in telecommunication networks that transmit voice and data. The resulting networks are called Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN). A key problem concerning image transmissions is the compression of the images content, since a colour image requires about 750 Kbytes for its description. The construction of special algorithms for coding and decoding is also required. Digital image processing is also directly connected to the HDTV (High Definition TV). Its basic aim is the compression of the vast amount of information and the improvement of the quality of images that are received. Digital Image Processing Vs New Generation Databases The new generation of databases includes image, signal (voice) and data storage. In this field, digital image processing deals with image coding and analysis by finding smart ways of recovery (retrieval) of images. DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING Digital image processing includes several areas that are closely related. Some of those areas are mentioned below: Capture of the image Digital Filtering of the image Edge Detection Region Segmentation Shape Description Texture Analysis Motion Analysis Stereoscopy It is logical that the description of all these areas is not possible in a short presentation. However, the literature is so wide that several books would be needed in order to describe adequately the digital image processing. Moreover, image processing is a cognitive area that makes extensive use of specialized mathematical, which makes it difficult to be presented to an audience. For this reason the description of the area it is purely qualitative. Capture of the Image The first thing that has to be described is the capturing mechanism of the images. The most classic means of capturing an image is by a photographic camera and a film. However, this technique is not very useful in the field of digital image processing, since the captured image cannot be easily processed by computer. On the other hand, electronic capture is particularly interesting because the image can be digitized and then processed by a computer. For this reason, conventional electronic video cameras are widely used. Electronic video cameras scan the image and produce an electrical signal as an output. There are various camera technologies (for example Orthicon, Vidicon, CCD). The electric signal produced by the camera is then led to a frame grabber. During the process of digitalization, the analogue signal is converted to a digital signal using an A / D converter. Thus, the image is converted into a matrix of 256256 or 512512 points (spots). Each point is typically represented by 8 bits, i.e. 256 levels of brightness. However, a common technique in some fields (e.g. robotics) is a binary representation of images that uses only 1 bit / position. This representation is used in order to save memory and speed in the case of simple applications. In some other cases where the colour of an image is critical, colour cameras and three A / D converters are used. In this case the three primary RGB colours (red-green-blue) are saved with 38 bits / position. As a result, digital image processing has large memory requirements, even for black and white images. The digitized image is stored as a file on the computers local disk. To be able to see the image, we need to transfer it to a special RAM memory (image memory) connected to a monitor. Such monitors may be black and white or colour (RGB). Colour monitors are mostly used even in black and white applications because they have the ability to show â€Å"pseudocolours†. Finally, the image in any program of image pro cessing appears as a two-dimensional table (array) 256256 or 512512 which is â€Å"filled† by the computers local disk or by the image memory in which the image is stored. The process of capturing an image can cause the following distortions: Blurring Noise Geometric Distortions Therefore, before any application the correction of these distortions is essential. Geometric corrections are mostly needed where geometric information is important, e.g. stereoscopes, topography. The reduction of blurring is done through the process of recovery (restoration). The recovery process is particularly important in applications where there is movement, (e.g. a ‘scene of a road) because the motion introduces blurring. In most cases the filtering of the image is also very important in order to remove noise. This can be done by various linear or nonlinear filters. Usually, nonlinear filters are mostly used because they maintain the contrast of the edges, which is a very important factor for human vision. The overall image contrast can also be improved by special non-linear techniques (contrast enhancement). Edge Detection Another important process of image analysis is the recognition (tracing) of contours. There are many techniques that can be used for edge detection. The development of various edge detection techniques was imperative due to the important information about the objects used for identification, which can be found in the contours. The dual problem of edge recognition is the recognition of regions in an image. This problem is called image segmentation. Usually the different regions of an image are coloured with â€Å"pseudocolours†. Texture Analysis In several industrial applications the recognition (or analysis) of the texture is very important. An example of the importance of texture recognition in industrial applications is its use in recognition of different fabrics, or recognition of flaws in a cloth. Recognition of traffic is also a very important field of computer vision for many applications, e.g. traffic monitoring, automatic driving, recognition of moving objects, digital television, videoconferencing, telephone with image compression and broadcast animation. Is should be noticed, that recognition of traffic has large memory requirements for storage and real time processing. This can only be achieved through parallel image processing and use of special VLSI chips. Shape Description Another area of computer vision which is particularly useful in pattern recognition is the description of shape (shape representation). A shape is described either by its border, or by the area it covers. The edge of a shape can be described in different ways, e.g. Fourier descriptors, splines. The area of a shape can be described by methods of mathematical morphology, decomposition with simple shapes, etc. These methods are used either for the storage of a shape, or for its identification. Stereoscopes Many applications require measurement of depth. In this case stereoscopy with two cameras can be used. Stereoscopy is particularly useful in photogrammetry and robot movement in a three dimensional space.

Role of the Health and Social Care Worker | Reflection

Role of the Health and Social Care Worker | Reflection Sharon Heather Ferguson-Guy Outcome 1 – Understand working relationships in health and social care 1:1Â  explain how a working relationship is different from a personal relationship: A working relationship is where your attitude is to be more reserved yet professional. You will be placed with people that you would work with as part of a team, each of you will work towards achieving the same priorities of care, working together knowing the procedures of the workplace. You must be aware of your responsibilities for any errors or mistakes, being aware that you are accountable for your actions. You are not in the job to like the people you work with but, having respect for your fellow work colleague is vital as well as obtaining the same in return. So then your personal opinions and feelings are best kept to yourself. A working relationship must have good professional communication skills. A personal relationship is a relationship through your own choices, like a friend that can share the same things as yourself, such as hobbies and interests. You may share your thoughts and opinions, the relationship is reciprocated because of the friendship you have formed with them, also; with a personal relationship you can say what is on your mind without the worry of being reported for stepping out of line. This is where trust bonds a personal relationship and communication is relaxed. 1:2Â  Describe different working relationship in health and social care setting: Two types of working relationships in social care are; Professional relationships i.e. with a doctor, district nurse, service users and the friends or family of them. Working relationships i.e. with my manager, colleagues. (It would be disrespectful to talk to a Doctor for example in the same manner as your work colleague) Outcome 2 – Work in ways that are agreed with the employer: 2:1Â  describe why it is important to adhere to the agreed scope of the job role: It is important to adhere to an agreed scope because by straying outside of this I may put individuals at risk, such as patients in my care and fellow work colleagues. Knowing that I was employed for my skills and qualifications that are in the job description, my employer would be assured in my capabilities for the position. You must not undertake a job role if you are not trained or qualified to do as this can put people in danger as well as yourself, and you will be made accountable. If I was asked to undertake a task that was not in my job role; I would have to refuse as I may not be qualified for that particular task. My colleague should be understanding in my refusal as I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger. 2:2Â  Access full and up-to-date details of agreed ways of working: Agreed ways of working includes policies and procedures. The employer would have given me my role and responsibilities for my scope of practice; this is to make sure that the information given to me for my role is done in the correct manner. They also trust me that I shall do my job within the role with a professional attitude. 2:3Â  Implement agreed ways of working: It is important to update policies to reflect changes in legislation and make sure that staff understands them, as these will give a general guidance on how you should carry out your duties within the workplace. If something changes and you are not so sure on the proceedings then you should ask your senior or workplace manager for advice. They will be pleased that you have taken notice of any changes and asking them for advice. Outcome 3 – Work in partnership with others: 3:1Â  explain why it is important to work in partnership with others: By working in partnership with others we can use their expertise and provide more effective care, as you will be providing more of a holistic type of care. You will be looking at the individual as a whole person and you will be in touch with their family and friends, also you would be in contact with other carers, social workers and Doctors. You are all taking part as a team of support providers that will benefit the individual with their overall care. 3:2Â  Demonstrate way of working that can help improve partnership working: Working in small teams and regular meetings and keeping good communication all improve partnership working. This will include keeping any information to the relevant persons involved. Having agreed values or outcomes. Ensuring confidentiality. 3:3Â  Identify skills and approaches needed for resolving conflicts: Skills needed for resolving conflict include diplomacy, patience, empathy and good communication skills. There will come a time where a conflict will arise between work colleagues service users or others that you may have to encounter. Working together as part of a team you can put together knowledge and any ideas to resolve the matter. There will be social factors, values and also conflicts from differences in opinions; these can add fuel to the fire. Communication problems can arise with a lacking of listening skills; this can build up the walls so lack of information sharing can falter. You must find a quiet area where conflicts can be discussed so things cannot be misread; using mediation skills between parties involved you should therefore use the example below: All importance is to listen to all sides Anything that is said even if it is criticism must responded to, with empathy Being impartial to those involved and the points of conflict Don’t take criticism to heart as it won’t be directed to you personally If help from someone else is needed, ask for it Is the person showing congruence to what they are trying to put across Look for a compromise that will resolve the issue Resolve and defuse for the desired outcome Staying calm Staying focussed and without interruption 3:4Â  Demonstrate how and when to access support and advice about: Partnership working – I should access support and advice about partnership working before taking responsibility for any major decisions. Resolving conflicts – To take advice on resolution before any conflict gets out of hand. References Caroline Morris, 2011. Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma. By Caroline Morris, Val Michie. Edition. Hodder Education. 96-108 Doane, GA, 2002. Beyond behavioural skills to human-involved processes: relational nursing practice and interpretive pedagogy. Journal of Nursing Education, 41 issue 9, 400-404. Higgins, M, 2013. Use your influence for good. Nursing Standard, 27 issue 49, 62-63. Tingle, J, Cribb, and A 2002. Nursing Law and Ethics. 2 Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. 22. 2.2 Webb, K, 2013. Stand up and be accountable care. Nursing Standard, 27 issue 29, 26. Sharon H Ferguson-Guy / NVQ3 Diploma ECA 1 of 2

China :: essays research papers

China is a Communist Republic government. This means that the government regulates, sets rules, and runs most business in China. However, the increase in a worldwide economy around the middle of the 20th century caused China to evaluate their government and decide that something must be done to stimulate the Chinese economy and bring entrepreneurs to China otherwise they will be left behind in the forever-growing global economy. In fact, China has changing a lot from the past 30 years, and we can really tell the change. China is a great capitalism country now. That means, the government is controlling everything. However, with the change of the Chinese government, they become more flexible than before. This way can helping at the economy grow, and improve people ¡Ã‚ ¦s lives. We can see from the videos that there are more and more building, shops, and bars build in the cities of China. If you go to visit about 30 years ago, you may not see these views.  ¡Ã‚ §China is improving step by step, ¡Ã‚ ¨ one man said from the video. However, as the report shows, there are too many building now in China, and there are not many people who want and can afford to buy the buildings. That may loose the original purpose of this idea. Deng Xiaoping, the leader of China disbands communes who had already died, allowing farmers to freely sell their products and introduces profit incentives for factories. It is called  ¡Ã‚ §Socialism with Chinese characteristics ¡Ã‚ ¨ - a wonder of rhetoric. From there, many of the farmers start to sell their lands, and move to the big cities like Beijing, or open shops instead of farm. Under Jiang Zemin ¡Ã‚ ¦s leadership who is the leader after Deng Xiaoping ¡Ã‚ ¦s dead, the 15th Party Congress reveals its plan to sell most state-owned industries. It becomes privatize. In the coming years, tens of million of workers will be laid off; with no social protection is sight. Now, is this still socialism, no it ¡Ã‚ ¦s the raw capitalism. For the average Chinese, it might be the worst of both worlds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people will put the Confucianism into the discussion of the capitalism. Chinese people called this combine idea as Internalism. Capitalism for China is to centralize all of the Chinese market, and use Confucianism into the modernity idea. It can help the developing of the economy and the growth of the production. In other words, they are just using Confucianism ¡Ã‚ ¦s united idea and thinking to look at the capitalism.

Physics of Billiards :: physics sport sports pool billiards

Physics can be found anytime, anywhere. Billards is one game where the more you know about physics the better a player you will be. Some of the main physics principles in Billards are: Newton's Laws: 1st: An object in motion tends to stay in motion while an object at rest will stay at rest, unless acted upon by an outside force. 2nd: Force is proportional to mass times the acceleration. 3rd: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Conservation of Momentum: In an isolated system, (a system with no outside force acting upon it) then the total momentum will remain constant. Inertia: The tendency an object has to follow the same path all the time and not change its motion. Friction: Sliding Friction: the friction on an object while it is moving. Static Friction: Static Friction is the friction that acts on an object that is stationary. There are a few different techniques to striking the cue ball and each will give a different results. Center ball: When you hit center ball, the cue ball slides for a ways, and then rolls. Draw: Is achieved by hitting the cue ball below center. First the ball rotates backward. This rotation slows as the ball slides, and then the ball rolls forward as it does on other shots. The harder you shoot, the farther the ball will travel with this backward spin. And the lower you cue the ball, the farther the ball will travel with this backward spin. Follow: The opposite of draw is follow. This is achieved by hitting the cue ball above center. The cue ball then rotates forward. If the cue ball then hits another ball, it will roll forward after the collision. Stop shot: When the cue ball is very close to the object ball, this can be accomplished with center ball.

Surgical Treatment For Morbid Obesity Essay -- Medicine Health Papers

In today’s society where good looks, physical fitness, appearance, and good health are used to measure success, confidence, and self-control, it is ironic that eating disorders are so prevalent in our culture. People are so concerned with how other people view their physical appearance that when they cannot meet their own or others’ expectations they often develop eating disorders. However, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are not the only types of eating disorders. Today there is an increasing number of obese people who suffer from overeating. These people find it especially difficult to have the kind of lifestyles that they desire. Obesity and associated medical complications take the lives of thousands of people each year. Many obese individuals are aware of current or possible medical problems, but though they have tried diverse measures to solve their eating problems by using suppression drugs, commercial diet programs, behavioral therapies, hypnosis, exercise programs, jaw wiring, etc., they usually regain the weight after it is lost. Surgical intervention, which started in the 1960’s, however, has gained increased popularity in the last 50 years as a means of controlling and maintaining weight loss for morbidly obese individuals. This paper will provide you with general facts concerning surgical intervention for obese patients, claims made by web sites, as well as evidence and results based on scientific findings. The goal for paper is to help readers understand the surgical procedures, the benefits and risks involved, and to answer questions that potential candidates for surgical intervention may have. Who Qualifies for Surgery? According to the SurgiLite web site (surgilite.net/Introduction.htm), although i... ... Bibliography Chandarana P., Holliday R., Conlon P., Deslippe T. (1988). Psychosocial considerations in gastric stapling surgery. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 32 (1) 85-92. Garrow, JS. (1989). When to advise surgery for severe obesity. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 65 (759) 10-3. O’Brien., Brown WA., Smith A., McMurrick PJ., Stephens M. (1999). Prospective study of a laparoscopically placed, adjustable gastric band in the treatment of morbid obesity. British Journal of Surgery, 86 (1) 113-118. Reeves-Darby V., Soloway RD., Halpert R. (1990) Gastric bezoar complicating gastric stapling. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 85 (3) 326-327. Schauer PR., Ikramuddin S., Gourash WF., (1999) Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a case report at one-year follow up. Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques: Part A, 9 (1) 101-106.

Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Nine

The flight was more like thirty hours. Getting from the middle of Siberia to the middle of Montana wasn't easy. I flew from Novosibirsk to Moscow to Amsterdam to Seattle to Missoula. Four different flights. Five different airports. A lot of running around. It was exhausting, yet when I handed over my passport to get back into the U.S. in Seattle, I felt a strange surge of emotion in me†¦ joy and relief. Before leaving Russia, I had thought Abe might come back with me and finish his task himself, hand-delivering me to whomever had hired him. â€Å"You really are going back now, aren't you?† he asked at the airport. â€Å"To the school? You aren't going to get off at one of your stops and disappear?† I smiled. â€Å"No. I'm going back to St. Vladimir's.† â€Å"And you'll stay there?† he pressed. He didn't quite look as dangerous as he had in Baia, but I could see a glint of hardness in his eyes. My smile slipped. â€Å"I don't know what's going to happen. I don't have a place there anymore.† â€Å"Rose-â€Å" I held up a hand to stop him, surprised at my own determination. â€Å"Enough. No after-school specials. You said you were hired to get me back there. It isn't your job to say what I do after that.† At least, I hoped not. Whoever wanted me back had to be someone at the Academy. I'd be there soon. They had won. Abe's services were no longer required. Despite his victory, he didn't look happy about relinquishing me. Glancing up at one of the departure boards, he sighed. â€Å"You need to go through security, or you'll miss your flight.† I nodded. â€Å"Thanks for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What exactly? His help? â€Å"†¦ For everything.† I started to turn away, but he touched my shoulder. â€Å"Is that all you're wearing?† Most of my clothing had been scattered around Russia. One of the other Alchemists had located shoes, jeans, and a sweater, but otherwise, I was winging it until I got back to the U.S. â€Å"I don't really need anything else,† I told him. Abe arched an eyebrow. Turning to one of his guardians, he made a small gesture toward me. Immediately, the guardian took off his coat and handed it over. The guy was lanky, but the coat was still too big for me. â€Å"No, I don't need-â€Å" â€Å"Take it,† ordered Abe. I took it, and then to my further shock, Abe began unwinding the scarf from around his neck. It was one of his nicer ones, too: cashmere, woven with an array of brilliant colors, more suited to the Caribbean than here or Montana. I started to protest this as well, but the look on his face silenced me. I put the scarf around my neck and thanked him, wondering if I'd ever see him again. I didn't bother asking because I had a feeling he wouldn't tell me anyway. When I finally landed in Missoula thirty hours later, I was pretty sure I didn't want to fly in a plane anytime soon-as in, like, the next five years. Maybe ten. Without any luggage, getting out of the airport was easy. Abe had sent word ahead of my arrival, but I had no idea who they'd send to get me. Alberta, who ran the guardians at St. Vladimir's, seemed a likely choice. Or maybe it would be my mother. I never knew where she was at any given moment, and suddenly, I really, really wanted to see her. She would be a logical choice too. So it was with some surprise that I saw that the person waiting for me at the airport's exit was Adrian. A grin spread over my face, and I picked up the pace. I threw my arms around him, astonishing both of us. â€Å"I have never been happier to see you in my life,† I said. He squeezed me tightly and then let me go, regarding me admiringly. â€Å"The dreams never do justice to real life, little dhampir. You look amazing.† I'd cleaned up after the ordeal with the Strigoi, and Oksana had continued healing me in spite of my protests-even the bruises on my neck, which she had never asked about. I didn't want anyone else to know about those. â€Å"And you look†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I studied him. He was dressed as nicely as always, with a three-quarter-length wool coat and green scarf that matched his eyes. His dark brown hair had that crafted messiness he liked, but his face-ah, well. As I'd noted before, Simon had gotten a few good punches on him. One of Adrian's eyes was swollen and ringed with bruises. Nonetheless, thinking about him and everything he'd done†¦ well, none of the flaws mattered. â€Å"†¦ Gorgeous.† â€Å"Liar,† he said. â€Å"Couldn't Lissa have healed that black eye away?† â€Å"It's a badge of honor. Makes me seem manly. Come on, your carriage awaits.† â€Å"Why'd they send you?† I asked as we walked toward the parking lot. â€Å"You are sober, aren't you?† Adrian didn't dignify that with an answer. â€Å"Well, the school has no official responsibility to you, seeing as you're a dropout and everything. So they weren't really obligated to come get you. None of your other friends can leave campus†¦ but me? I'm just a free spirit, hanging out. So I borrowed a car, and here I am.† His words sparked mixed reactions in me. I was touched that he'd taken the trouble to come out here but was bothered by the part about the school having no responsibility to me. Throughout all my travels, I'd gone back and forth in thinking of St. Vladimir's as home†¦ yet, in the most technical terms, it truly wasn't anymore. I would just be a visitor. As we settled into the drive, Adrian caught me up on the aftermath at the school. After the big psychic showdown, I hadn't delved much into Lissa's mind. Oksana had healed my body, but mentally, I was still exhausted and grieving. Even though I'd accomplished what I set out to do, that image of Dimitri falling and falling still haunted me. â€Å"It turns out you were right about Avery bonding Simon and Reed,† Adrian said. â€Å"From what information we could gather, it sounds like Simon was killed in a fight that Avery witnessed years ago. Everyone thought it was a miracle he survived, not actually realizing the truth.† â€Å"She kept her powers hidden like the rest of you,† I mused. â€Å"And then Reed died later?† â€Å"Well, that's the weird thing,† said Adrian, frowning. â€Å"No one can really tell when he died. I mean, he's royal. He's been pampered his whole life, right? But based on what we could get out of him-which wasn't much, since they're all pretty messed up now-it sounds like Avery may have intentionally killed him and then brought him back.† â€Å"Just like with Lissa,† I said, recalling Simon's words during the fight. â€Å"Avery wanted to kill her, bring her back, and bond her. But why Lissa of all people?† â€Å"My guess? Because she's a spirit user. Now that spirit's not a secret anymore, it was only a matter of time before Avery heard about Lissa and me. I think Avery thought bonding Lissa would increase her own power. As it was, she was sucking up a lot of energy from those other two.† Adrian shook his head. â€Å"I wasn't kidding about sensing that spirit all the way across campus. The amounts Avery had to wield to compel so many people, mask her aura, and who knows what else†¦ well, it was staggering.† I stared off at the freeway ahead of us, considering the consequences of Avery's actions. â€Å"And that's why Reed was so messed up-why he was so angry and ready for a fight. He and Simon were absorbing all that darkness she was producing by using spirit. Just like I do with Lissa.† â€Å"Yeah, except you were nothing like these guys. It wasn't so obvious with Simon-he was better at keeping a straight face-but both of them were totally on the edge. And now? They're over the edge. All three of them are.† I recalled Simon staring at nothing and Avery screaming. I shivered. â€Å"When you say over the edge†¦?† â€Å"I mean totally and completely insane. Those three are going to be institutionalized for the rest of their lives.† â€Å"From what you†¦ we all did?† I asked, aghast. â€Å"Partly,† he agreed. â€Å"Avery was throwing all that power at us, and when we threw it back and then some†¦ well, I think it was like an overload to their minds. And to be honest, considering how Reed and Simon already were, the stage was probably set for this. With Avery too.† â€Å"Mark was right,† I murmured. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"The other shadow-kissed guy I met. He was talking about how Lissa and I might be able to heal the darkness away from each other someday. It takes a careful balance of power between the spirit user and the shadow-kissed. I still don't fully get it, but I'm guessing Avery's little circle of three wouldn't have been able to handle that kind of balancing act. I don't think bonding to more than one person is healthy.† â€Å"Huh.† Adrian didn't say anything for a while and simply pondered all this. Finally, he laughed. â€Å"Man, I can't believe you found another spirit user and shadow-kissed person. It's like finding a needle in a haystack, but that kind of thing always happens to you. I can't wait to hear the rest of what you've been doing.† I looked away and rested my cheek against the glass. â€Å"It's actually not very interesting.† None of the Academy officials knew about my role in the showdown with Avery. So it wasn't like anyone questioned me when we got back. They were still doing cleanup and asking Adrian and Lissa a lot of questions. Spirit was still such a new phenomenon that no one knew what to think of what had happened. Avery and her bondmates had been taken away for help, and her father had already gone on a temporary leave of absence. Adrian signed me in as his guest, which got me a campus pass. Like all visitors, I was also given a list of where I'd stay and what I could and couldn't do. I promptly ignored it. â€Å"I have to go,† I told Adrian immediately. He gave me a knowing smile. â€Å"I figured.† â€Å"Thank you†¦ for coming to get me. I'm sorry I've got to leave you-â€Å" He waved off my worries. â€Å"You aren't leaving me. You're back; that's what counts. I've been patient this long-I can hold out a little longer.† I held his eyes for a moment, startled at the warm feelings that suddenly bubbled up within me. I kept them to myself, though, only giving Adrian a quick smile before I set off across campus. I got a lot of strange looks when I went to Lissa's dorm. It was right after classes had ended, so student traffic was pretty busy with people rushing in or out to get somewhere. Yet, when I passed by, silence fell and people stopped moving and talking. It reminded me of when Lissa and I had been returned to school after running away. We'd been marched through the cafeteria and had received similar treatment from our peers. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it seemed worse this time. The looks more shocked. The silence heavier. Last time, I think people had believed we'd run off as some sort of prank. This time, no one really knew why I'd left. I'd come out of the school's attack a hero, only to drop out and disappear. I think some of Lissa's dorm mates thought they were seeing a ghost. Ignoring the gossip and opinions of others was something I had a lot of practice with, and I sprinted past the onlookers without a backward glance, taking the stairs two at a time. I shut myself off to Lissa's feelings as I walked down her hall. It seemed silly, but I wanted to be surprised. I just wanted to open my eyes and see her in person, with no warnings as to how she was feeling or what she was thinking. I knocked on the door. Adrian had said seeing me in dreams couldn't compare to seeing me in person. The same was true with Lissa. Being in her head was nothing like being near her in reality. The door opened, and it was like an apparition materializing before me, some sort of heavenly messenger descended from above. I'd never been away from her for this long, and after all this time, part of me wondered if I was imagining this. Her hand went to her mouth, and she stared at me wide-eyed. I think she felt the same way-and she hadn't even had warning of my visit. She'd just been told I was coming â€Å"soon.† No doubt I seemed like a phantom to her, too. And with that reunion†¦ it was like I was emerging from a cave-one I'd been in for almost five weeks-into the bright light of day. When Dimitri had turned, I'd felt like I'd lost part of my soul. When I'd left Lissa, another piece had gone. Now, seeing her†¦ I began to think maybe my soul might be able to heal. Maybe I could go on after all. I didn't feel 100 percent whole yet, but her presence filled up that missing part of me. I felt more like myself than I had in ages. A world of questions and confusion hung in the silence between us. In spite of everything we'd been through with Avery, there was still a lot of unresolved business from when I had first left the school. For the first time since I'd set foot on the Academy's grounds, I felt afraid. Afraid that Lissa would reject me or scream at me for what I'd done. Instead, she drew me into a giant hug. â€Å"I knew it,† she said. She was already choking on her sobs. â€Å"I knew you'd come back.† â€Å"Of course,† I murmured into her shoulder. â€Å"I said I would.† My best friend. I had my best friend back. If I had her, I could recover from what had happened in Siberia. I could go on with my life. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"So sorry for what I did.† I pulled away in surprise. Stepping into the room, I shut the door behind us. â€Å"Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?† Despite my joy at seeing her, I'd come here expecting her to still be angry at me for leaving. None of that mess with Avery would have happened if I'd stayed around. I blamed myself. She sat down on her bed, eyes wet. â€Å"For what I said†¦ when you left. I had no right to say the things I did. I have no right to control you. And I feel horrible because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She ran a hand over her eyes, trying to dry the worst of the tears. â€Å"I feel horrible because I told you I wouldn't bring back Dimitri. I mean, I know it didn't matter, but I should have still offered to-â€Å" â€Å"No, no!† I sank down in front of her and grabbed her hands, still awed to be with her again. â€Å"Look at me. You have nothing to be sorry for. I said things I shouldn't have, too. It happens when people are upset. Neither of us should beat ourselves up over it. And as for bringing him back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed. â€Å"You did the right thing in refusing. Even if we had found him before he'd been turned, it wouldn't have mattered. You can't safely bond more than one person. That's what went wrong with Avery.† Well, that was part of what had gone wrong with Avery. Manipulation and abuse of power had played a huge role too. Lissa's sobs quieted. â€Å"How did you do that, Rose? How were you there at the end when I needed you? How did you know?† â€Å"I was with another spirit user. I met her in Siberia. She can actively reach into people's minds-anyone's, not just those she's bonded to-and communicate. Like Avery could, actually. Oksana reached into me while I connected to you. It's really strange how it all went down.† To say the least. â€Å"Another power I don't have,† said Lissa ruefully. I grinned. â€Å"Hey, I have yet to meet any spirit user who can throw a punch like you can. That was poetry in motion, Liss.† She groaned, but I sensed her pleasure at my use of the old nickname. â€Å"I hope I don't ever have to do that again. I'm not meant to be a fighter, Rose. You're the one who charges out there. I'm the one who waits with moral support and post-battle healing.† She held up her hands and looked at them. â€Å"Ugh. No. I definitely don't want to do any more hitting or punching.† â€Å"But at least now you know you can. If you ever want to practice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No!† She laughed. â€Å"I've got too many things to practice with Adrian now-especially after you keep telling me about more and more things that everyone else can do with spirit.† â€Å"Fine. Maybe it's best if things go back to how they were.† Her face sobered. â€Å"God, I hope so. Rose†¦ I did so many stupid things while Avery was around.† Through the bond, I felt her greatest regret: Christian. Her heart ached for him, and she'd shed a lot of tears. After having Dimitri ripped away from me, I knew how it felt to lose that kind of love, and I swore to myself that I'd do something to help her. But now wasn't the time. She and I need to reconnect first. â€Å"You couldn't help it, though,† I pointed out. â€Å"She was too strong with her compulsion-especially when she got you to drink and killed your defenses.† â€Å"Yeah, but not everyone knows that or will understand it.† â€Å"They'll forget,† I said. â€Å"They always do.† I understood her angst over her reputation, but I doubted there would be any truly permanent damage-aside from Christian. Adrian and I had analyzed Avery's manipulation and figured things out once we'd paired it with Simon's comment about Lissa having an unfortunate accident. Avery had wanted to make Lissa look unstable in the event Avery somehow didn't have the strength to resurrect her. If Lissa actually died, no one would investigate much. After weeks of crazy, drunken behavior, her losing control and accidentally falling out of a window would be tragic but not completely out of the realm of possibility. â€Å"Spirit's a pain in the ass,† Lissa declared. â€Å"Everyone wants to take advantage of you-non-users like Victor and users like Avery. I swear, I'd go back on my medication if I wasn't paranoid now about protecting myself from other Avery-type people. Why'd she want to kill me and not Adrian? Why am I always the target?† I couldn't help a smile in spite of the grim topic. â€Å"Because she wanted you for a minion and him for a boyfriend. She probably wanted a guy who could help escalate her rise in society and couldn't risk killing him in a bonding attempt. Or who knows? Maybe she would have eventually tried him, too. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she felt threatened by you and wanted to make sure she had the only other known female spirit user under her control. Face it, Liss. We could spend hours trying to figure out how Avery Lazar thinks and get nowhere.† â€Å"True, true.† She slid off the bed and sat next to me on the floor. â€Å"But you know what? I feel like we could talk about anything for hours. You've been here ten minutes, and it's like†¦ well, it's like you never left.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. Before he was a Strigoi, being with Dimitri had always felt natural and right. Being with Lissa also felt natural and right-though it was a different kind of rightness. In my grief over Dimitri, I'd nearly forgotten what I had with her. They were two sides of me. In that uncanny way she had of guessing thoughts, Lissa said, â€Å"I meant what I said earlier. I'm sorry for what I said-about acting like I have some right to dictate your life. I don't. If you decide to stay or guard me, you do that by your choice and your kindness. I want to make sure you live and choose your own life.† â€Å"There's nothing ? ®kind' about it. I've always wanted to protect you. I still do.† I sighed. â€Å"I just†¦ I just had things to take care of. I had to get myself together-and I'm sorry I didn't handle it with you very well.† There was a lot of apologizing going on, but I realized that was how it was with people you cared about. You forgave each other and moved on. Lissa hesitated before asking her next question, but I'd known it was coming. â€Å"So†¦ what happened? Did you†¦ did you find him†¦?† At first, I didn't think I wanted to talk about it, but then I realized that I needed to. And the thing was, a few different things had gone wrong with Lissa and me before. One had been that she'd taken me for granted. The other had been that I wouldn't tell her the truth-and then I'd resent her for it later. If we were going to patch up this friendship and forgive each other, we had to make sure we didn't repeat the past. â€Å"I did find him,† I said at last. And I launched into the story, telling her everything that had happened to me: my travels, the Belikovs, the Alchemists, Oksana and Mark, the unpromised, and of course, Dimitri. Just as Lissa had joked earlier, we talked for hours. I poured out my heart to her, and she listened without judgment. Her face was compassionate the whole time, and when I reached the end, I was sobbing, all the love and rage and anguish I'd been holding onto since that night on the bridge exploding out of me. I hadn't told anyone else in Novosibirsk exactly where I'd been during my time with Dimitri. I hadn't dared tell anyone I'd been a blood whore for a Strigoi. I had stayed vague, hoping if I didn't talk about it, then maybe it wouldn't be real. Now, with Lissa, I had to accept the reality of everything and truly feel it: I had killed the man I loved. A knock at the door jolted us out of a world that contained only her and me. I glanced at the clock and was startled to see it was almost curfew time. I wondered if I was being thrown out. But when Lissa opened the door-after I'd hastily dried my eyes-the waiting dorm worker had a message of a different sort. â€Å"Alberta wants to see you,† the woman told me. â€Å"She thought you might be here.† Lissa and I exchanged glances. â€Å"When? Now?† I asked. The woman shrugged. â€Å"From the way she sounded? Yeah, I'd say now. Or sooner.† She shut the door. Alberta was the captain of the guardians on campus, and when she spoke, people acted. â€Å"I wonder what this is about?† asked Lissa. I stood up, hating to leave. â€Å"Any number of things, I imagine. I'll go see her and then head back to guest housing. Not that I'll sleep. I have no clue what time zone I'm in anymore.† Lissa gave me a parting hug, one we both had a hard time letting go of. â€Å"Good luck.† I started to turn the door's handle and then thought of something. I slipped the silver ring off of my finger and handed it to Lissa. â€Å"Is this the ring you-oh!† She wrapped her hand around it, her face growing enraptured. â€Å"Can you feel the magic in it?† I asked. â€Å"Yeah†¦ it's weak, but it's in there.† She held the ring up to the light and stared at it. She probably wasn't going to notice when I left because I had a feeling she'd be studying the ring all night. â€Å"It's so strange. I can almost immediately feel how she did this.† â€Å"Mark said we probably had a while to go before we could do the healing they do†¦ but maybe you could figure out how to make charms while we wait?† Her jade green eyes were still on the ring. â€Å"Yeah†¦ I think I might.† I smiled at her excitement and tried to leave again, but she caught my arm. â€Å"Hey†¦ Rose†¦ I know I'll see you tomorrow, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But what?† â€Å"I just wanted to say, after everything that's happened†¦ well, I don't want us to ever have this kind of separation again. I mean, I know we can't be together every single second-and that's kind of creepy anyway-but we're bonded for a reason. We're meant to look out for each other and be there for each other.† Her words sent a shiver through me, like we were wrapped in powers greater than ourselves. â€Å"We will be.† â€Å"No, I mean†¦ you're always there for me. Every time, I'm in danger, and you come rushing in to save me. Not anymore.† â€Å"You don't want me to save you anymore?† â€Å"That's not what I meant! I want to be there for you too, Rose. If I can throw a punch, I can do anything. Even though that really hurt.† She exhaled in frustration. â€Å"God, I'm not making any sense. Look, the point is, if you ever have to go off alone, take me with you. Don't leave me behind.† â€Å"Liss-â€Å" â€Å"I'm serious.† Her luminous beauty burned with determination and purpose. â€Å"Whatever obstacles you have to go against, I'm going to be there for you. Don't go alone. Swear to me that if you ever decide to take off again, you'll bring me. We'll do it together.† I started to protest as a million fears came to my mind. How could I risk her life? Yet looking at her, I knew she was right. For better or worse, we had a bond we couldn't escape. Lissa was indeed tied to that piece of my soul, and we were stronger fighting together than apart. â€Å"Okay,† I said, clasping her hand. â€Å"I swear it. The next time I go do something stupid that might get me killed, you can come along.†