Aphasia Essays - Huntingtons Disease, Chorea, Woody Guthrie

Aphasia -What is Huntington's Disease? -Huntington's Disease, also known as Huntington's Chorea, is a severe, degenerative, hereditary disorder of the nervous system. -Who or what is Huntington's Disease named for? -It is named after George Huntington, an American physician who first described the disease in 1872. -Who does Huntington's Disease affect? -Anyone who inherits an abnormal gene on one of a pair of chromosomes designated as chromosome 4. One of the patient's parents has to have had Huntington's Disease in order for it to be passed on to their offspring. If one of the parents has the distorted chromosome, there is a 50 percent chance it will be passed on to their offspring(s). Anyone who inherits the chromosome will inevitably fall victim to Huntington's Chorea. -At what age or ages are most patients affected? -The symptoms usually begin when the patient is 35-40 years of age. However, the disease can strike anytime; children and people in their old age can also begin to show symptoms. Patients who develop Huntington's Disease as children rarely live till adulthood. -What are some early symptoms of Huntington's Disease? -Early symptoms include: Clumsiness, restlessness, dullness, irritability, carelessness about one's personal grooming, depression, forgetfulness, mood swings, and involuntary twitching and/or lack of coordination. -What are some later symptoms of the disease? -Later symptoms include: Loss of memory, loss of concentration, pouting of lips, irregular raising of eyelids, pouting on cheeks. Soon, the head, shoulders, arms, and legs spasm uncontrollably. The disease gradually destroys the patient's memory and intellect, and the patient loses all control over muscles and over mental ability. -Is Huntington's Disease fatal? -Yes, anyone who inherits it will inevitably die from it. At the present, there are no medications and no known cure. -Is there anyway to determine whether or not someone has the disease? -Yes. In 1993 the HD gene was isolated and a direct genetic test was developed that accurately determines whether or not someone carries the gene. However, since there is no known cure, many unsure patients decide not to take the test. -Why is Huntington's Disease often called Huntington's Chorea? -It is called Huntington's Chorea because often the patient's spasms, combined with their voluntary walking, somewhat resemble a dance. Chorea means dance. It is derived from the same root as choreography. -Are there any celebrity casualties? -Woody Guthrie, the legendary depression-era folk singer and songwriter, was diagnosed with the disease in 1954, and lived with it for 13 years, until his death in 1967. Guthrie's mother, Nora Guthrie, had also developed the disease, but as the rural Oklahoma doctors could not diagnose it, Mrs. Guthrie was placed in the state insane asylum, where she died. Medicine

Celebrity SAT Scores (Kesha, Bill Gates, and more)

Celebrity SAT Scores (Kesha, Bill Gates, and more) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What do you have in common with Kesha, Bill Gates, Al Gore, and Derek Jeter? They all had to take the SAT when they were in high school, just like you! However you feel about the SAT, it’s a landmark in the lives of many American students (and lots of international ones, too). Taking the SAT is an experience that many of you will share and remember well for the rest of your lives. Let’s check out some SAT scores of the rich and famous - and talk about how you can achieve some Kesha-worthy scores of your own. Feature image: Nicole Abalde/Flickr SAT Scores of Famous People We've gathered a complete list of celebrity SAT scores. These were often revealed in interviews or through investigative research. Some people were proud of their high scores, others proud of their low scores - and others couldn't care less. Here it is: Celebrity SAT Score (out of 1600) College Attended Paul Allen 1600 Washington State University Will Smith Rumored to be perfect None Ben Affleck Almost perfect Occidental College, University of Vermont Bill Gates 1590 Harvard Ben Bernanke 1590 Harvard Bill O'Reilly 1585 Marist College Ryan Fitzpatrick 1580 Harvard James Woods 1579 MIT Ben Stein 1573 Columbia Kesha 1500 None Scott McNealy 1420 Stanford Natalie Portman 1400+ Harvard Al Gore 1355 Harvard Stephen King 1300s University of Maine Meredith Vieira 1300s Tufts University George W. Bush 1206 Yale Derek Jeter 1200 University of Michigan John Kerry 90 Yale Courtney Cox 50 Mount Vernon College Amy Tan 00s Linfield College, San Josà © State University Kobe Bryant 1080 None Scarlett Johansson 1080 None Bill Clinton 1032 Georgetown Peyton Manning 1030 University of Tennessee Alex Rodriguez 910 None Clearly all people on this list are considered successful, indicating you don't need a high SAT score to be successful, if you have passion, drive, and talent. You can either get a Kesha-like SATscore of 1500 or a Kobe-like one of 1080. But for most people in the world (like you and me), working hard in school, getting good grades, and earning high scores set up a brighter future with more open opportunities. Actors, singers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and politicians are scattered all up and down the list, but how can you join the ranks of Bill Gates, Will Smith, and Kesha up at the top? Read on for the important strategies and resources you need to score high on the SAT. Walmart/Flickr Where Will You Fall On This List? You need a high SAT score to get into good colleges, and we've got tips for you to improve your score. Get to Know the SAT Well To do well on the SAT, you have to know the SAT - you must be familiar with its content and format, as well as able to work fast and efficiently. High quality materials are a must in readying yourself and improving your scores. Questions that aren’t well written or don’t match the complexity of real SAT questions won’t get you very far. Timing yourself as your practice will also help you with pacing. Study Smart, Not Dumb Getting ready is not just about how much you prep, but about how well you prep. There are several important strategies to your approach, including setting small, manageable goals and rooting out your particular strengths and weaknesses. Check out our free E-Book for the tips you need to know to customize your study methods to your abilities and learning style. Understand the Test Inside and Out By the time you take the SAT, you don’t want to have any lingering questions or uncertainties about the test, including how long the sections are or how your scores are calculated. To learn the ins and outs of the SAT, check out our numerous resources. Just a few good places to start involve how long the test is, how it is scored, and how you can get a perfect SAT score. Know About Upcoming SAT Changes These celebs took the old version of the SAT, when it was scored out of 1600. The current SAT is scored out of 2400, with a maximum possible score of 800 for Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Starting in the spring of 2016, however, the redesigned SAT will return to the 1600 scale system, with a maximum point value of 800 for Critical Reading and Writing (together) and 800 for math. There are several other changes in content that you should know about if you’ll be taking the new SAT. The new PSAT, furthermore, which all juniors will take in the fall, is changing this year (2015) to match the new SAT. Read about the redesign here, and learn how it will help next year’s juniors prepare for the new SAT. The SAT is a rite of passage that many high school students share on the road to college. What scores will end up being reported for you? What’s Next? No two people are exactly the same, so no two approaches to studying should be the same either. A good starting point to customizing your SAT prep to your unique strengths and skills is setting personalized goals. Find out what’s a good SAT score, a bad SAT score, and an excellent SAT score here so you can set your own individual target scores. The SAT is a long and important test, so obviously you wouldn’t be well served by only cramming the night before. But when exactly should you start prepping for the SAT? Learn how to schedule out your time to effectively study for the SAT. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Dating and Marriage Vocabulary in English

Dating and Marriage Vocabulary in English This dating and marriage vocabulary guide provides common expressions used in English to speak about romance, going out and getting married including the verbs, nouns, and idioms used with these expressions. These are often similar to those used when ​​speaking about romantic relationships. Before Marriage Verbs to ask someone out - to ask someone to go on a date Alan asked Susan out last week. She still hasnt given him an answer.   to date - to see someone repeatedly in a romantic sense They dated for two years before they decided to get married. to fall in love - to find someone that you love They fell in love while on a hike through Peru. to go out - to date once, to go out repeatedly (often used in the present perfect continuous form) Were going out next Friday. Weve been going out for a few months now.   to court - to try to date someone (older English, not often used in modern, everyday English) The young man courted his love by sending her flowers every day. to go steady - to date regularly over a long period of time Tim and I are going steady.   to have a boyfriend/girlfriend - to have a continuing relationship with one person Do you have a boyfriend? - Thats none of your business! to arrange a marriage - to find marriage partners for other people   In the US most people find a partner by dating. However, its common to arrange marriages in a number of cultures around the world.   to woo someone - to try to go out or date someone How long have you been wooing Anna? Have you asked her out yet? Nouns speed dating - modern technique to find someone to date, people speak to each other quickly one after the other in order to find someone to date Speed dating might seem strange to some, but it certainly helps people find others quickly. online dating - sites that help arrange relationships by meeting possible romantic partners online As many as one in three marriages start with online dating these days. courtship - a period of time during which a man tries to convince a woman to marry him (not generally used in modern English, but common in English literate) The courtship lasted for six months, after which the couple married.   relationship - when two people have a committed attachment to each other Im in a relationship at the moment. Idioms a match made in heaven - two people who are perfect for each other Bob and Kim are a match made in heaven. Im sure theyll have a happy and healthy marriage.   love at first sight - what happens when someone falls in love the first time they see someone I feel in love with my wife at first sight. Im not sure it was the same for her. love affair - a romantic relationship Their love affair lasted for more than two years. blind date - to go out with someone you have never seen before, blind dates are often arranged by friends She was surprised at how much fun she had on her blind date last week. Becoming Engaged Verbs to propose - to ask someone to marry you   Im going to propose to Alan next week. to ask someone to marry you - to ask someone to be your spouse Have you asked her to marry you yet? to ask for someones hand in marriage - to ask someone to marry you Peter arranged a romantic dinner and asked Susans hand in marriage. Nouns proposal - the question made when asking someone to marry   He made his proposal when they brought out the champagne. engagement - the state of being engaged, making the promise to marry each other They announced their engagement at the Christmas party last week. fiance - the person to whom you are engaged My fiance works in education. betrothal - a literary term synonymous with engagement (not commonly used in modern English) The couples betrothal was approved by the king. Idioms to pop the question - to ask someone to marry you When are you going to pop the question? Marrying Verbs to get married - the action of becoming husband and wife They got married in a historic church in the countryside.   to marry - to get married They are going to wed next June. to wed - to get married We wed twenty years ago on this day. to say I do - the agree to marry the other person at a wedding The bride and groom said I do after their vows. Nouns anniversary - the day of your wedding, celebrated by married couples Our anniversary is coming up next week. What should I get her? marriage - the state of being married Their marriage is very good. Theyve been married for twenty years. wedding - the ceremony during which people get married The wedding was lovely. I couldnt help crying a little. matrimony - the state of being married (used less commonly than marriage) The matrimony withheld the test of time.   wedlock - the state of being married (used less commonly than marriage) Weve been in wedlock since 1964.   vow - the promise made between two people during a wedding We exchanged our vows in front of our family and friends.   bride - the woman who marries The bride was so beautiful. They looked so happy together. groom - the man who marries The groom looked arrived twenty minutes late for the wedding. Everyone was very nervous!

Moral Attitudes and Values Development in School

Moral Attitudes and Values Development in School Hashtag: #FailingTheHonest Moral Attitudes and Values Development in School Most parents typically taught their children not to lie and be honest in everything they do as our society in general favors those who are truthful, sincere, and equitable. Similarly, educational institutions play a major role in ensuring that each student recognizes the worth and value of being honest in purpose, work, and principle. However, despite social norm and value learned in school, honestly in some society received punishment rather than admiration or respect. The reason why schools typically avoid false systems of merits and demerits is the fact that such practice teaches children to work for end results rather study and learn. However, telling the truth in this world is not always the best policy particularly when it involves admitting your fault or exposing somebody in power. One reason is the fact that our perception of things offends those that are note aligned with them. Some people find it difficult to confront the truth as such complex reality demands emotional and intellectual integrity. Many college students according to one study consider freedom, honesty, happiness, and competence as important personal values but they do not consider honestly as an obligation. These college students may be aware that such attitude sometimes frustrates other people. The study shows that some people actually gave up their honest behavior because of a bad experience. Punishing people for being honest makes them avoid such situation again through lies and deceit. You may also like these articles: The Value of Academic Debate The Scientific Basis for Defining Seasons Remembering Our First Stage of Education Junk Food in School Practice What You Preach The Effect of Dysfunctional Social Norms Honesty builds trust and should be treated with respect but in many circumstances, a person’s honesty seems more of a disadvantage than a helpful characteristic. One problem is that traditional belief on the value of honesty is now overshadowed by alternative social norms that tolerate dishonesty. According to study, some society rationalized dishonesty and other dysfunctional norms as unavoidable and even condone fraudulent and inefficient decisions made by social leaders and public authorities. In fact, this type of attitude prevails regardless of economic costs and serious consequences such as violations of public interests. In business organizations according to research, an establishment of a norm of dishonesty among employees often make honest employees accept the norm and start viewing themselves as people who can also engage in theft and fraud. The organizations responses over this dysfunctional employee norm such as investing in high-tech security and surveillance systems seem to worsen the problem more. For instance, as costly security measures send the message that the company does not trust its employees, the sense of organization community is decreased. Moreover, it can also lead to employee hostility and retaliation as security system facilitates the belief that management is an enemy. In school, students who regularly cheat and get away them makes cheating an acceptable behavior to their peers. In time, such academic dishonesty will become a dysfunctional but well-accepted social norm among students. Moreover, since people internalized norms and cheating does not stop after graduation, these students will likely continue doing other forms of dishonesty in later life such as cheating their spouse, lying to their workplace superiors, cheat customers, theft, fraud, and others. The saddest thing about it is the fact that habitual dishonesty often makes people view their misconduct as morally acceptable regardless of company financial losses and severe social consequences.

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

Business Ethics - Essay Example In fact, an individual can not achieve the purpose and goals of management without taking care of the daily life needs and necessities of the subordinates. In light of the importance of the role of a manager in an organizational context as discussed above, I would allow the assembly line worker to leave early with his/her child’s teacher, though I fully understand that it is my responsibility to be impartial to the maximum extent and equally take care of the needs of his/her coworkers as well. Despite that, it is often not possible for manager to address the needs of all of the subordinates at any one specific time. There are two types of needs that a manager needs to take care of simultaneously. These two needs are the subordinates’ needs and the business needs. Subordinates’ individualistic needs revolve around their personal lives and have often no concern with the business. On the other hand, business needs are directed at the achievement of organizational go als and are often unconcerned with the individualistic needs of employees.

The Myth of Horoscope Is Not True Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Myth of Horoscope Is Not True - Essay Example However, I personally think the myth of horoscopy is not completely true. It is an unrealistic approach towards astronomy and a combination of psychological theories and techniques which effects people’s imagination and beliefs. Before talking about the truth of horoscope, it is important to know that where it came from. It can be traced back in Mesopotamia five thousand years ago; where many different races such as Babylonians and Assyrian lived. Their original religion had certain level of believe in celestial body. In fact, astronomy was practiced as horoscopy during that time period. They used to relate certain stars with the animal or human image. Later in about 592 B.C., Greeks named the images on sky after their gods and created stories to explain about their existence in sky. These illusions became what we call constellations nowadays. Horoscopy uses those constellations, planets and their movement in solar system to predict. Constellations are just configuration of stars as we see it from earth. The contradiction is how a person’s fate can be judged by the stars which are hundred million light-years away from earth. Constellations are nihility, and it is not necessary for astronomers to name each group of stars. Astronomers can simply assign a number to stars, but it will make astronomy somewhat boring for people. Therefore, in order to make it interesting and easy to remember, Greeks associated constellations with fairy tales. Astronomy is art of science, but unfortunately, horoscopy manipulates the original meaning of astronomy. Those who believe in it completely are losing their sense of judgment. Horoscopy is merely a combination of statistical and psychological techniques. First, astrologers collect the data about a group of people with same constellation. On the basis of collected data, they analyze people for similar characteristics. Second, they classify constellation’s characteristics with the

The Star Appeal of Farid al-Atrash and Yusuf Wahbi Assignment

The Star Appeal of Farid al-Atrash and Yusuf Wahbi - Assignment Example Farid’s mother had to work as a singer in private functions like parties and weddings as her children also did jobs as they went to school. Farid and his young sister Amal took an interest in their mother’s love for singing and thus she encouraged them to sing as she taught Farid how to play the oud. Early in their youth, Farid and Amal (who later became Ashmahane), began drawing the attention of composers and song-writers who were amazed by their musical talents and beautiful voices. Soon, they were singing in radio stations and in large gatherings. The cinema also opened a door for success for Farid and Ashmahane after they starred in two films. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and Ashmahane died after being involved in a grizzly car accident. It was rumoured that she was involved with the British intelligence (IMDB 1990). Farid’s quick success brought him into a life of night clubs, love affairs and gambling in which he got involved. Soon, he went into debt and w as abandoned by his mother. It is during this time that his sister died (IMDB 1990). According to Sis.gov, Farid studied the lute at the public service department of the Institute of music and at the same time worked as a driver to earn a living. This was a time of financial difficulty for him and his family. Some of his teachers were the renowned composers Safar Ali and Mohamed al-Qasabgi. Farid later worked in the night club called Badie'a Mosabni. During Farid’s time in 1952, there was a revolution known as the 23 July Revolution. It began on 23rd July with a military coup d’etat by the Free Officers Movement. This was a group of army officers led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser. This revolution was initially aimed at overthrowing king Farouk I but later went on to abolish the constituional monarchy and aristocracy of Egypt and Sudan, establish a republic and finally secure Sudan’s independence that was governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium. Thi s revolutionary government established a republic and among its goals was to secure the independence of Sudan. This revolutionary government adopted a staunch, nationalist, anti-imperialist agenda that came to be expressed mainly through Arab nationalism and international non-alignment (Khan 2010). Farid was a mixture of the oriental music’s originality and modernity of Western music. He was the best lute player of his age and one of the first to introduce the show business to Egyptian movies. He died in the year 1974. Indeed, Fareed Al-Atrash was a legend that will always be remembered throughout in history (Sis.gov). Yusuf Wahbi Yusuf Wahbi was an Egyptian stage and film actor and director who was a leading star of the 1930s and 40s. He was one of the most prominent Arab stage actors ever. Born the son of a pasha in 1898, Yusuf was expected to become an engineer like his father but his passion for acting took him to an unexpected direction. He joined the circus and this bot h surprised and enraged his father. He became someone whose testimony was not acceptable in court and he was considered a disgrace to his family. He was expelled from home by his father who later enrollrd him in an agricultural school in order for him to be reformed (Kanema 2008). Wahbi ran away to Italy where he changed his name to Ramses and only

The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant - Essay Example He has successfully brought together all the elements of the story to reach the conclusion of the story, a lesson that his readers would find important as one journey through life. Wetherell’s symbolisms are very simple and uncomplicated and his readers won’t find it difficult to understand the mark he wanted to leave them. Ultimately, the bass, though a flat character, is central to the conflict of the story. The importance of the bass is apparent when he says, â€Å"†¦it seemed I would be torn apart by longings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This signifies that the bass stands for the narrator’s values in life, his longing for accomplishment and capture something important for him. Fishing is an important part of the narrator’s life. Wetherell makes sure that the readers know this as the narrator prepares for his date with Sheila Mant. The first thing that links the narrator to the importance of fishing in his life is offering Sheila Mant a canoe ride instead of a car ride to go Dixford, where a band will be playing. As he is preparing his canoe, he is seen polishing it, and, â€Å"automatically, without thinking about it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he s tuck a fishing rod in the stern. This implies that fishing has always been part of his river trips, and as narrated, he â€Å"never went anywhere that summer without a fishing rod.† The narrator even takes the time to tell the readers what he is doing when not trying to impress Sheila. And that is all about fishing. Wetherell ensures that the readers truly feel that fishing is significant to his main character. This indicates that the bass is not just some fish that the narrator wants to catch. The description of how big it could have been indicates how big its importance is. This signifies that all of us have values that we want to protect and the accomplishments we’re working on to get. The conflict of the story does not begin when the bass gets caught in the narrator’s line. The conflict begins when Sheila Mant hears splashing sounds

Poverty should be defined in multi-dimensional terms. Define, using Essay

Poverty should be defined in multi-dimensional terms. Define, using examples from your wider reading - Essay Example Conversely, there have been cases of poverty reduction is certain developing countries for example, Ghana, Bolivia, Cambodia and Tanzania. This is impressive though, the fight against poverty is real and it will take the collaboration of the people, governments and international organizations to win it. Poverty has been largely understood in terms of income until recently. Being poor meant that an individual could merely provide a proper diet at home. However, poverty is way more than a shortfall of income or food availability. It is more about the denial of choices and opportunities that are necessary for one to lead a decent, health and long life with self- esteem, respect and dignity. People simply live in campsites, slums and in poor living conditions because they have no other choice. Nearly half of the world’s population is faced by problems such as possessing few skills to compete in the market, multiple health problems and little or no income at all. There are many asp ects of poverty that are inter- linked resulting to a vicious cycle (Bhalla 2002:79). In other words, poverty is a multi- dimensional concept and some of its facets include: i. Mismanagement of Resources The world is endowed with numerous resources in the form of minerals, oil, and a massive work force among many others (Chen and Ravallion, 2008:56). In most incidences, resources are poorly managed leading to wastages and this contributes to increasing poverty levels. This is common to developing countries such as South Sudan where there are constant fights over resources. It also entails the unequal distribution of resources among different regions that contributes high poverty level. ii. Food Mismanagement and Insecurity Food is a key need for human survival and if not properly managed it could lead to hunger among the population (Ivanic and Martin, 2008). Food security is paramount for the growth and development of an economy since it ensures that there is a constant supply even during dry spells. Food insecurity is common in most developing countries owing to fluctuations in weather patterns and lack of appropriate storage mechanisms. iii. Poor Health Disease and disability may hinder individuals from working thereby limiting their income. If the bread winner is ill, it means that the entire family will be negatively affected. This not only translates to loss of income and an increase in costs due to the need for health care. Other causes of poverty include: war and insecurity, the spread of HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructural and institutional development and corruption (Department for International Development (DfID, 2009). This paper analyses poverty as a multi- faceted concept with regards to mismanagement of food and resources. It further looks at the perspective of poverty by organizations like the UN and World Bank. It also gives an in depth analysis of the progress made by countries towards the achievement of the MDGs. Finally, the paper examines some o f the indicators of poverty levels including different countries’ GDP and the human development index (HDI) Poverty from Mismanagement of Food and Security Thousands of people die every day of hunger- related causes according to recent reports. Regrettably, it is children who die most frequently yet there is an abundant supply of food for the world’

Ambition Essay Example for Free

Ambition Essay You should be familiar with the proverb â€Å"Hitch your wagon to a star. † The logic behind this proverb is simple. If you do not aspire for something great, you will not strive for the goal set consequently leading a life of regrets. Living a life of regrets determines a path less than desirable when you can follow the road of greater choice and be ambitious and go forth to lead a fulfilling and rewarding life. An ambition is an eager desire for honor, superiority, power, and the attainment of something set as a goal, accomplishment, or achievement. Ambition comes from the Middle English word â€Å"ambicioun,† meaning and excessive desire for power, money, or wealth. Ambition is something that you, no matter your age or cultural background, have inside of them. Ambition can be a driving force for success, or in some cases a road to failure. Through ambitious undertakings you can set goals and find yourself using your God-given talents. You too can have a dream! My ambition or goal in life is becoming a doctor. Since I was a young girl watching my Mom working at the hospital I have dreamed of wearing that white coat and the stethoscope. My earliest memories include the stories from my mother with regard to caring for patients. You can believe that one day you will be able to see me look into my patient’s eyes and be able to know exactly how to diagnose and mend that person’s ailment. The road to making my dream a reality will not be easy, nor can you expect your dreams to be easy. Each one of you will have many great college classes, labs, examinations, and sleepless nights ahead in the years to come. But, in the end you will know it is worth all the hard work and sacrifice and you will be able to stand proud knowing that it was your ambition that allowed you to achieve success! In choosing medical school you would have to do well on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and hearing that that examination is brutal makes me want to achieve success even more! Well my journey has begun here in Colorado and with God’s grace making good grades will allow me to be accepted into a medical program that will require ambition and drive. Specializing in Neonatology will require me to ocus each day using ambition to proceed forward in my career. Neonatology is the medical specialty of taking care of newborn babies, sick babies, and premature babies. You can also use ambition to move forward with your goals you may have set forth. This is my ambition making me believe that with hard work and determination you can achieve! Helen Keller rightly echoes these sentiments when she says â€Å"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, Ambition inspired, and success achieved. †

Determination of Gold Nanoparticle Sizes

Determination of Gold Nanoparticle Sizes Daron Chua Synopsis In this experiment, the objectives of this experiment was to understand the diverse applications of gold nanoparticles and to synthersize Colloidal gold nanoparticles by liquid chemical method. Z-average of nanoparticles for the reddish solution and the greyish solution was 60.86 and 50.40 respectively. However it was noted that there were impurities in the solution hence affecting the Z-average. As such, the colour of the solution and the Z-average did not tally. It was discovered that by adding salt into the solutions there will be colour change. This is due to NaCl aggregating the nanoparticles together. This causes the nanoparticles to absorb the red light hence reflecting the solution in a more blue colour. Other methods of forming gold nanoparticles and a diverse application for gold nanoparticles were noted. Introduction The objectives of this experiment was to understand the diverse applications of gold nanoparticles. Colloidal gold nanoparticles were synthesized by means of liquid chemical method. Theory Liquid Chemical Method Most of the gold nanoparticles are produced in a liquid (liquid chemical methods) byreduction of hydrogen tetrachloroautate (H[AuCl4]). By dissolving H[AuCl4], the solution is rapidly stirred while a reducing agent is being added. This causes Au3+ ions to be reduced to neutral goldatoms. As more and more of these gold atoms form, the solution becomes supersaturated, and gold gradually starts toprecipitatein the form of sub-nanometer particles. The rest of the gold atoms that form stick to the existing particles, and, if the solution is stirred vigorously enough, the particles will be fairly uniform in size showing the solution as red.To prevent the particles from aggregating, some sort of stabilizing agent that sticks to the nanoparticle surface is usually added. Also, gold colloids can be synthesized without stabilizers bylaser ablationsin liquids. They can be functionalized with various organic ligands to create organic-inorganic hybrids with advanced functionality. Several methods that revolve around this idea are Turkevich method, brust method and perrault method, etc. Gold Nanoparticles Colloidal goldis a suspension particles ofgoldin a fluid, usually water. The liquid is usually either an intense red colour (for particles less than 100nm) or blue/purple (for larger particles). As particle size increases, the wavelength of surface plasmon resonance related absorption shifts to longer, redder wavelengths. Red light is then absorbed, and blue light is reflected, yielding solutions with a pale blue or purple color. A change in temperature will also affect which the gold to be at a different energy band. The diameter of gold nanoparticles determines the Wavelength of light absorbed as shown on the diagram illustrated above. Procedures Stock Solution 0.1g of H[AuCl4] was dissolved in 500ml distilled water to obtain 1.0mM hydrogen tetrachloroautate. 0.5g of Na3C6H5O7.2H2O (trisodium citrate dehydrate) was dissolved in 50ml of distilled water to obtain 1% concentration. 0.5g of NaCl was dissolved in 10ml of distilled water. Experiment 20ml of 1.0mM H[AuCl4] was added to a conical flask. The conical flask was placed in a stirring hot plate and a magnetic stir bar was added. 2 samples were prepared. One was stirred continuously even it was at boiling point. The other sample stopped stirring once it was boiled. 2ml of 1% solution of trisodium citrate dehydrate was then added to the boiling solution. Gold Sol was gradually formed as citrate reduces the gold (III). Presence of a colloidal suspension was observed by the reflection of a laser beam from the particles. The solution of both samples were being transferred to two test tubes. 5 10 drops of 1M NaCl solution was added into one of the test tubes and the color change of the solution was being observed. The two solutions in the test tubes were being filtered with a 0.45 um syringe filter. The solutions were subsequently transferred into a sample holder. The Malvern Zetasizer Nano S Light scattering equipment was used to measure the size of the nanoparticles in the two sample holder. (0.47 refractive index was used.) Results Results as follows : Solution with spin even at boiling point : Colour observed : Reddish Brown Size of Gold nanoparticle : 63.77 with 3 peaks Peak 1 : 41.1, Peak 2 : 433.2, Peak 3 : 3913 Solution without spin at boiling point : Colour observed : Greyish / Bluish / Clear Size of Gold nanoparticle : 53.31 with 3 peaks Peak 1 : 143.9, Peak 2 : 1.651, Peak 3 : 3213 Calculation Standard Calibration 67.54nm 63.63nm = 2.91nm Size of Gold nanoparticle (Reddish/Brown) Z-Average 63.77nm 2.91nm = 60.86 nm Size of Gold nanoparticle (Greyish/Blue) Z-Average 53.31nm 2.91 nm = 50.40 nm Discussion From the results, Z average for the reddish brown solution was calculated at 60.86nm, while the greyish/blue was calculated at 50.40nm. With reference to theory, the results concluded by Z-average is inaccurate. By right, anything at the blue shift is of a larger particle size. By reading off the highest intensity peaks of both graphs of red and blue solutions, size of particles were 41.1nm and 143.9nm respectively. Ideally 1 peak in the chart would be best. Other peaks that affected the Z-average were probably impurities. This error may be due to carelessness of assuming all equipments provided for the experiment were clean. Hence there could be dirt or dust trapped whatsoever. In order to obtain even smaller particle sizes, adding of all solutions should have been done slowly, for example adding trisodium citrate drop by drop, allowing the droplet to fully react with the solution before adding in another. With that, the mixing part is no doubt the most crucial process parameter of the experiment. Other factors that affect particle sizes are mixing time and temperature and concentration. Different temperatures within the reaction will cause heat and mass transfer gradients. A low concentration of solution will yield too low of a result and lastly for our case, mixing time. Insufficient mixing time/stoppage of mixing will disallow the nanoparticles to disperse. Hence having a larger particle size. 1. Explain the functions of trisodium citrate used in this experiment. In this experiment, Trisodium citrate acts as an reducing agent to reduce hydrogen tetrachloroautate in order to produce spheroidal gold paticles. In general, the greater the concentration and power of the reducing agent. The smaller the resultant gold particles in the suspension. 2. Account for the colour change observed in step 4.6 In step 4.6 of the practical booklet, NaCl solution is added into the solution causing a colour change. By adding NaCl into the solution, it causes the gold nanoparticle surface charge to turn neutral, causing the nanoparticle to aggregate. As a result the solution colour changes from red to black blue. As for the greyish bluish solution, it turns to a even clearer solution. A larger particle size will cause absorption of the red light hence reflecting the solution as blue. 3. State two other synthesis methods for gold nanoparticles beside the liquid chemical method. Sonolysis One method for the experimental generation of gold particles is by sonolysis. The process is based on ultrasound. It uses the reaction of an aqueous solution of HAuCl4withglucose. The reducing agentsare hydroxyl radicals and sugar pyrolysis radicals. The morphology obtained is that of nanoribbons with width 30–50nm and length of several micrometers. These ribbons are very flexible and can bend with angles larger than 90Â °. When glucose is being replaced by cyclodetrin (a glucose oligomer), only spherical gold particles are obtained. Block Copolymer-mediated Method Other method for gold nanoparticles is by using a block copolymer.In this synthesis methodology, block copolymer plays the dual role of a reducing agent as well as a stabilizing agent. The formation of gold nanoparticles comprises three main steps: reduction of gold salt ion by block copolymers in the solution and formation of gold clusters, adsorption of block copolymers on gold clusters, and further reduction of gold salt ions on the surfaces of these gold clusters for the growth of gold particles in steps. This method usually has a limited-yield (nanoparticle concentration), which does not increase with the increase in the gold salt concentration. Recently a test has been done that by adding trisodium citrate in 1:1 molar ratio increases the gold formation by many gold. 4. Cite some other application in addition to those mentioned under introduction. Electronics Gold nanoparticles are designed for use as conductors from printable inks to electronic chips. As the world of electronics become smaller, nanoparticles are important components in the chip design. Nanoscale gold nanoparticles are being used to connect resistors, conductors, and other elements of an electronic chip. Probe Gold nanoparticles are relatively dense, making them useful as probes for transmission electron microscopy. Catalyst Gold nanoparticles are used as catalysts in a number of chemical reactions. The surface of a gold nanoparticle can be used for selective oxidation or in certain cases the surface can reduce a reaction (nitrogen oxides). Gold nanoparticles are being developed for fuel cell applications. These technologies would be useful in the automotive and display industry. Conclusion In conclusion, the experiment was not very successful as there were impurities in the solution. Hence the Z average was being affected. However objectives were met as colloidal gold was being synthesized and applications of gold particles were also understood. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_gold http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/materials-science/nanomaterials/gold-nanoparticles.html http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/9.html http://clustertwo.org/Shaowei Chen lectures/Cluster 2 lecture 2.pdf http://www.ivdtechnology.com/article/manufacturing-high-quality-gold-sol

Conflict in the Twilight :: history

Conflict in the Twilight When has war ever been fair, just or necessary? Yet, we all wage wars. In my opinion all wars are a result of the breakdown of the rules of society which leads to the polarization of sensibility and reason. The root cause of the problem is usually trivial compared to the consequential disaster. No reason can warrant the taking of precious innocent lives; yet wars take place despite the wisdom and the best efforts of the human race, almost as if they are preordained. I don’t believe they are preordained, but they are certainly bred. As we are taught right from wrong each one of us builds an ideology based on teachings and experiences. This ideology, which is ideally meant to make one a better human being, becomes the reason for conflict when one is rigid and applies one’s standards onto others. As soon as the first bullet is fired both sides are on a roller coaster and they live off a mixture of ego, righteousness, comradeship, strategies, victories, setbacks and revenge. The situation grows to obsession and desperation and soon the gloves are off - the nastier the better. During WW II the British were fighting the war as gentlemen but British parliamentarian, Mr. R. T. Bower, said, â€Å"when you are fighting for your life against a ruthless opponent you cannot be governed by Queensberry rules†- the code that governs boxing. Speaking about the government policy of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain he is claimed to have said â€Å"The government would rather lose the war under Queensberry rules than do anything unbecoming to an absolutely perfect gentleman†. â€Å"That kind of thing will not do† he said. Soon after Winston Churchill took over as Prime Minister the policy changed and covert operations were executed to set Europe ablaze by sabotage, assassinations and a host of other irregular warfare. It has happened in every war and on every side. In the twilight the right and the wrong look similar, such are the times that we live in. The ‘A’ bomb was invented and immediately used. It may have brought an end to the war but the Japanese people have yet to recover from the psychological trauma of the event. They shun violence and their constitution forbids them to send their troops out of Japan, not even for the United Nations, except, recently, as peace keepers. Their constitution was written for them by the Americans after the war but even after all these years of economic development, which has made them an economic super power, they are not willing to change that provision in their constitution.

Religious Imagery in Flannery OConnors The Life You Save May Be Your

Religious Imagery in Flannery O'Connor's The Life You Save May Be Your Own The religious imagery in Flannery O'Connor's 'The Life You Save May Be Your Own' gives the story a cynical undertone along with a healthy dose of irony. O'Connor uses allusions to Jesus and Christianity to examine the hypocrisies of the religion and its adherents. Her character Tom T. Shiftlet is portrayed paradoxically as both the embodiment of Christ and an immoral, utterly selfish miscreant. By presenting these polarities side by side within one persona, O'Connor shows the dichotomies between so-called Christian morality and the reality of the Church. During his first encounter with the Lucynell Craters, Mr. Shiflet appears to be a harmless, generous wanderer. As he approaches the Crater?s home he ?swung ...

Facebook vs Twitter Case Study Analysis Essay

Facebook (originally â€Å"The facebook†) is a social networking website launched in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, then 23, while studying psychology at Harvard University. Membership was initially limited to students of Harvard College, but soon the social site was subsequently extended to other Boston universities, the Ivy League and eventually all US universities (Yadav, 2006). It became Facebook. com in August 2005 after the site’s address was obtained for a relatively meager $200,000. By the end of the following year it was also open to high schools. As of September 2006, Facebook was extended beyond educational associations to anybody with a registered email address. They have over 175 million active users worldwide currently and are growing every day. Facebook’s mission statement seems simple: â€Å"Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected (Reagan, 2009). Twitter still no business model but it has a new mission statement: â€Å"To instantly connect people everywhere to what’s most important to them. †(Evans, 2011). Who is better than who? Or one could say who is going to be the king of the hill? Facebook has tried to purchase Twitter with no success. It is hard to say who will come out on top or who will be the ultimate winner of the social war. There are some key differences between the sites (Lacy, 2009). It’s far easier to find people on Facebook and most of the time you can tell if it’s actually them. Facebook and Twitter are both free sites and are both popular. Facebook and Twitter are both time conversations, but Twitter is a little faster. They both seem to have their good and bad qualities. Twitter has a character restriction and has no popups. Twitter users can also post to their Facebook page. Facebook does not have a character limit. They both can post pictures and videos, but Facebook has more capacity for sharing videos and photos without forcing you to link out to another window (Lacy, 2009). Facebook has a better privacy blocking system, if you can find it with the ever changing improvements. A lot of users are not aware of this option. Facebook allows businesses to advertise and reach more people faster. Facebook makes there revenue off the ads on their site, witch keeps it free for their users. Facebook has games for their users to play as well. These games also generate some of their revenue. Twitter has no games and the only source of revenue is its investors. Facebook is threatened with losing users to a less familiar, social networking website. The major problem that exists is the fact that Twitter has a controlled level of social networking. Facebook does not allow one way interaction options meaning that if I want to follow someone’s posts then they themselves would have to accept my friend request, and Facebook also does not allow someone to track real time information is always adding improvements that the client base does not like. With this happening it may mean that many Facebook members may leave and start using twitter because of some of the restrictions that are placed on the members of Facebook. The first alternative solution is for Facebook to purchase stellar star technology and offer the capability to track real-time information. This solution will help to eliminate Twitter’s current advantage of having the capability to track real-time information. Another alternative solution is to develop a way for one-way relationships to be possible on Facebook, while maintaining its’ security. Many users want to broadcast their status information, but not actually follow all of their status viewers and get somewhat irritated with the flow of game postings that clog up their pages. I know I do to the point that I log off and sometimes go and check out Twitter. In conclusion, there will never be a happy medium here. Technology is constantly evolving and there will probably be another social network that will be created and pose threats to both of these networks. In my opinion, Facebook is more personal, whereas Twitter is more Hollywood. Facebook deals with contacting old friends and family members and Twitter is about following an entertainer. Myspace is simply out of space as there aren’t really too many users out there anymore. LinkedIn is a way to network via business and doesn’t contain the content that any of these sites do, as it wouldn’t be professional. Facebook will definitely be around for a long time, as will Twitter. Most can’t have one without the other, I know I can’t.

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Three

I DIDN'T NEED THE BOND to find Lissa. The crowd tipped me off to where she–and Dimitri–were. My first thought was that some kind of stoning or medieval mobbing was going on. Then I realized that the people standing around were simply watching something. I pushed through them, heedless of the dirty looks I got, until I stood in the front row of the onlookers. What I found brought me to a halt. Lissa and Dimitri sat side by side on a bench while three Moroi and–yikes–Hans sat opposite them. Guardians stood scattered around them, tense and ready to jump in if things went bad, apparently. Before I even heard a word, I knew exactly what was going on. This was an interrogation, an investigation to determine what Dimitri was exactly. Under most circumstances, this would be a weird place for a formal investigation. It was, ironically, one of the courtyards Eddie and I had worked on, the one that stood in the shadow of the statue of the young queen. The Court's church stood nearby. This grassy area wasn't exactly holy ground, but it was close enough to the church that people could run to it in an emergency. Crucifixes didn't hurt Strigoi, but they couldn't cross over into a church, mosque, or any other sacred place. Between that and the morning sun, this was probably as safe a location and time as officials could muster up to question Dimitri. I recognized one of the Moroi questioners, Reece Tarus. He was related to Adrian on his mom's side but had also spoken in favor of the age decree. So I took an instant dislike to him, particularly considering the haughty tone he used toward Dimitri. â€Å"Do you find the sun blinding?† asked Reece. He had a clipboard in front of him and appeared to be going down a checklist. â€Å"No,† said Dimitri, voice smooth and controlled. His attention was totally on his questioners. He had no clue I was there, and I kind of liked it that way. I wanted to just gaze at him for a moment and admire his features. â€Å"What if you stare into the sun?† Dimitri hesitated, and I'm not sure anyone but me caught the sudden glint in his eyes–or knew what it meant. The question was stupid, and I think Dimitri–maybe, just maybe–wanted to laugh. With his normal skill, he maintained his composure. â€Å"Anyone would go blind staring into the sun long enough,† he replied. â€Å"I'd go through what anyone else here would.† Reece didn't seem to like the answer, but there was no fault in the logic. He pursed his lips together and moved on to the next question. â€Å"Does it scald your skin?† â€Å"Not at the moment.† Lissa glanced over at the crowd and noticed me. She couldn't feel me the way I could through our bond, but sometimes it seemed she had an uncanny sense of when I was around. I think she sensed my aura if I was close enough, since all spirit users claimed the field of light around shadow-kissed people was very distinct. She gave me a small smile before turning back to the questioning. Dimitri, ever vigilant, noticed her tiny movement. He looked over to see what had distracted her, caught sight of me, and faltered a little on Reece's next question, which was, â€Å"Have you noticed whether your eyes occasionally turn red?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dimitri stared at me for several moments and then jerked his head back toward Reece. â€Å"I haven't been around many mirrors. But I think my guards would have noticed, and none of them have said anything.† Nearby, one of the guardians made a small noise. He barely managed to keep a straight face, but I think he too had wanted to snicker at the ridiculous line of questioning. I couldn't recall his name, but when I'd been at Court long ago, he and Dimitri had chatted and laughed quite a bit when together. If an old friend was starting to believe Dimitri was a dhampir again, then that had to be a good sign. The Moroi next to Reece glared around, trying to figure out where the noise had come from, but discovered nothing. The questioning continued, this time having to do with whether Dimitri would step into the church if they asked him to. â€Å"I can go right now,† he told them. â€Å"I'll go to services tomorrow if you want.† Reece made another note, no doubt wondering if he could get the priest to douse Dimitri in holy water. â€Å"This is all a distraction,† a familiar voice said in my ear. â€Å"Smoke and mirrors. That's what Aunt Tasha says.† Christian now stood beside me. â€Å"It needs to be done,† I murmured back. â€Å"They have to see that he isn't Strigoi anymore.† â€Å"Yeah, but they've barely signed the age law. The queen gave the go-ahead for this as soon as the Council's session let out because it's sensational and will make people pay attention to something new. It was how they finally got the hall cleared. ‘Hey, go look at the sideshow!'† I could almost hear Tasha saying that word for word. Regardless, there was truth to it. I felt conflicted. I wanted Dimitri to be free. I wanted him to be the way he used to be. Yet I didn't appreciate Tatiana doing this for her own political gain and not because she actually cared about what was right. This was possibly the most monumental thing to happen in our history. It needed to be treated as such. Dimitri's fate shouldn't be a convenient â€Å"sideshow† to distract everyone from an unfair law. Reece was now asking both Lissa and Dimitri to describe exactly what they'd experienced the night of the raid. I had a feeling this was something they'd recounted quite a bit. Although Dimitri had been the picture of nonthreatening composure so far, I still sensed that gray feel to him, the guilt and torment he felt over what he had done as a Strigoi. Yet, when he turned to listen to Lissa tell her version of the story, his face lit up with wonder. Awe. Worship. Jealousy flashed through me. His feelings weren't romantic, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that he had rejected me but regarded her as the greatest thing in the world. He'd told me never to talk to him again and sworn he'd do anything for her. Again I felt that petulant sense of being wronged. I refused to believe that he couldn't love me anymore. It wasn't possible, not after all he and I had been through together. Not after everything we'd felt for each other. â€Å"They sure seem close,† Christian noted, a suspicious note in his voice. I had no time to tell him his worries were unfounded because I wanted to hear what Dimitri had to say. The story of his change was hard for others to follow, largely because spirit was still so misunderstood. Reece got as much out of it as he could and then turned the questioning over to Hans. Hans, ever practical, had no need for extensive interrogation. He was a man of action, not words. Gripping a stake in his hand, he asked Dimitri to touch it. The standing guardians tensed, probably in case Dimitri tried to grab the stake and go on a rampage. Instead, Dimitri calmly reached out and held the top of the stake for a few moments. There was a collective intake of breath as everyone waited for him to scream in pain since Strigoi couldn't touch charmed silver. Instead, Dimitri looked bored. Then he astonished them all. Drawing his hand back, he held out the bottom of his muscled forearm toward Hans. With the sunny weather, Dimitri was wearing a T-shirt, leaving the skin there bare. â€Å"Cut me with it,† he told Hans. Hans arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Cutting you with this will hurt no matter what you are.† â€Å"It would be unbearable if I were a Strigoi,† Dimitri pointed out. His face was hard and determined. He was the Dimitri I'd seen in battle, the Dimitri who never backed down. â€Å"Do it. Don't go easy on me.† Hans didn't react at first. Clearly, this was an unexpected course of action. Decision finally flashed across his features, and he struck out, swiping the stake's point against Dimitri's skin. As Dimitri had requested, Hans didn't hold back. The point dug deep, and blood welled up. Several Moroi, not used to seeing blood (unless they were drinking it), gasped at the violence. As one, we all leaned forward. Dimitri's face showed he definitely felt pain, but charmed silver on a Strigoi wouldn't just hurt–it would burn. I'd cut a lot of Strigoi with stakes and heard them scream in agony. Dimitri grimaced and bit his lip as the blood flowed over his arm. I swear, there was pride in his eyes at his ability to stay strong through that. When it became obvious he wouldn't start flailing, Lissa reached toward him. I sensed her intentions; she wanted to heal him. â€Å"Wait,† said Hans. â€Å"A Strigoi would heal from this in minutes.† I had to give Hans credit. He'd worked two tests into one. Dimitri shot him a grateful look, and Hans gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Hans believed, I realized. Whatever his faults, Hans truly thought Dimitri was a dhampir again. I would love him forever for that, no matter how much filing he made me do. So, we all stood there watching poor Dimitri bleed. It was kind of sick, really, but the test worked. It was obvious to everyone that the cut wasn't going anywhere. Lissa was finally given leave to heal it, and that caused a bigger reaction among the crowd. Murmurs of wonder surrounded me, and those enraptured goddess-worshipping looks showed on people's faces. Reece glanced at the crowd. â€Å"Does anyone have any questions to add to ours?† No one spoke. They were all dumbfounded by the sights before them. Well, someone had to step forward. Literally. â€Å"I do,† I said, striding toward them. No, Rose, begged Lissa. Dimitri wore an equally displeased look. Actually, so did almost everyone sitting near him. When Reece's gaze fell on me, I had a feeling he was seeing me in the Council room all over again, calling Tatiana a sanctimonious bitch. I put my hands on my hips, not caring what they thought. This was my chance to force Dimitri to acknowledge me. â€Å"When you used to be Strigoi,† I began, making it clear that I believed that was in the past, â€Å"you were very well connected. You knew about the whereabouts of lots of Strigoi in Russia and the U.S., right?† Dimitri eyed me carefully, trying to figure out where I was going. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Do you still know them?† Lissa frowned. She thought I was going to inadvertently implicate Dimitri as still being in contact with other Strigoi. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"So long as none of them have moved.† The answer came more swiftly this time. I wasn't sure if he'd guessed my tactic or if he just trusted that my Rose-logic would go somewhere useful. â€Å"Would you share that information with the guardians?† I asked. â€Å"Would you tell us all the Strigoi hideouts so that we could strike out against them?† That got a reaction. Proactively seeking Strigoi was as hotly debated as the other issues going around right now, with strong opinions on all sides. I heard those opinions reiterated behind me in the crowd, some people saying I was suggesting suicide while others acknowledged we had a valuable tool. Dimitri's eyes lit up. It wasn't the adoring look he often gave Lissa, but I didn't care. It was similar to the ones we used to share, in those moments where we understood each other so perfectly, we didn't even need to vocalize what we were thinking. That connection flashed between us, as did his approval–and gratitude. â€Å"Yes,† he replied, voice strong and loud. â€Å"I can tell you everything I know about Strigoi plans and locations. I'd face them with you or stay behind–whichever you wanted.† Hans leaned forward in his chair, expression eager. â€Å"That could be invaluable.† More points for Hans. He was on the side of hitting out at Strigoi before they came to us. Reece flushed–or maybe he was just feeling the sun. In their efforts to see if Dimitri would burn up in the light, the Moroi were exposing themselves to discomfort. â€Å"Now hold on,† Reece exclaimed over the increasing noise. â€Å"That has never been a tactic we endorse. Besides, he could always lie–â€Å" His protests were cut off by a feminine scream. A small Moroi boy, no more than six, had suddenly broken from the crowd and run toward us. It was his mother who had screamed. I moved in to stop him, grabbing his arm. I wasn't afraid that Dimitri would hurt him, only that the boy's mother would have a heart attack. She came forward, face grateful. â€Å"I have questions,† the boy, obviously trying to be brave, said in a small voice. His mother reached for him, but I held up my hand. â€Å"Hang on a sec.† I smiled down at him. â€Å"What do you want to ask? Go ahead.† Behind him, fear flashed over his mother's face, and she cast an anxious look at Dimitri. â€Å"I won't let anything happen to him,† I whispered, though she had no way of knowing I could back that up. Nonetheless, she stayed where she was. Reece rolled his eyes. â€Å"This is ridic–â€Å" â€Å"If you're Strigoi,† the boy interrupted loudly, â€Å"then why don't you have horns? My friend Jeffrey said Strigoi have horns.† Dimitri's eyes fell not on the boy but on me for a moment. Again, that spark of knowing shot between us. Then, face smooth and serious, Dimitri turned to the boy and answered, â€Å"Strigoi don't have horns. And even if they did, it wouldn't matter because I'm not Strigoi.† â€Å"Strigoi have red eyes,† I explained. â€Å"Do his eyes look red?† The boy leaned forward. â€Å"No. They're brown.† â€Å"What else do you know about Strigoi?† I asked. â€Å"They have fangs like us,† the boy replied. â€Å"Do you have fangs?† I asked Dimitri in a singsong voice. I had a feeling this was already-covered territory, but it took on a new feel when asked from a child's perspective. Dimitri smiled–a full, wonderful smile that caught me off guard. Those kinds of smiles were so rare from him. Even when happy or amused, he usually only gave half smiles. This was genuine, showing all his teeth, which were as flat as those of any human or dhampir. No fangs. The boy looked impressed. â€Å"Okay, Jonathan,† said his mother anxiously. â€Å"You asked. Let's go now.† â€Å"Strigoi are super strong,† continued Jonathan, who possibly aspired to be a future lawyer. â€Å"Nothing can hurt them.† I didn't bother correcting him, for fear he'd want to see a stake shoved through Dimitri's heart. In fact, it was kind of amazing that Reece hadn't already requested that. Jonathan fixed Dimitri with a piercing gaze. â€Å"Are you super strong? Can you be hurt?† â€Å"Of course I can,† replied Dimitri. â€Å"I'm strong, but all sorts of things can still hurt me.† And then, being Rose Hathaway, I said something I really shouldn't have to the boy. â€Å"You should go punch him and find out.† Jonathan's mother screamed again, but he was a fast little bastard, eluding her grasp. He ran up to Dimitri before anyone could stop him–well, I could have–and pounded his tiny fist against Dimitri's knee. Then, with the same reflexes that allowed him to dodge enemy attacks, Dimitri immediately feinted falling backward, as though Jonathan had knocked him over. Clutching his knee, Dimitri groaned as though he were in terrible pain. Several people laughed, and by then, one of the other guardians had caught hold of Jonathan and returned him to his near-hysterical mother. As he was being dragged away, Jonathan glanced over his shoulder at Dimitri. â€Å"He doesn't seem very strong to me. I don't think he's a Strigoi.† This caused more laughter, and the third Moroi interrogator, who'd been quiet, snorted and rose from his seat. â€Å"I've seen all I need to. I don't think he should walk around unguarded, but he's no Strigoi. Give him a real place to stay and just keep guards on him until further decisions are made.† Reece shot up. â€Å"But–â€Å" The other man waved him off. â€Å"Don't waste any more time. It's hot, and I want to go to bed. I'm not saying I understand what happened, but this is the least of our problems right now, not with half the Council wanting to rip the other half's heads off over the age decree. If anything, what we've seen today is a good thing–miraculous, even. It could alter the way we've lived. I'll report back to Her Majesty.† And like that, the group began dispersing, but there was wonder on some of their faces. They too were beginning to realize that if what had happened to Dimitri was real, then everything we'd ever known about Strigoi was about to change. The guardians stayed with Dimitri, of course, as he and Lissa rose. I immediately moved toward them, eager to bask in our victory. When he'd been â€Å"knocked over† by Jonathan's tiny punch, Dimitri had given me a small smile, and my heart had leapt. I'd known then that I'd been right. He did still have feelings for me. But now, in the blink of an eye, that rapport was gone. Seeing me walk toward them, Dimitri's face grew cold and guarded again. Rose, said Lissa through the bond. Go away now. Leave him alone. â€Å"The hell I will,† I said, both answering her aloud and addressing him. â€Å"I just furthered your case.† â€Å"We were doing fine without you,† said Dimitri stiffly. â€Å"Oh yeah?† I couldn't believe what I was hearing. â€Å"You seemed pretty grateful a couple minutes ago when I thought up the idea of you helping us against Strigoi.† Dimitri turned to Lissa. His voice was low, but it carried to me. â€Å"I don't want to see her.† â€Å"You have to!† I exclaimed. A few of the departing people paused to see what the racket was about. â€Å"You can't ignore me.† â€Å"Make her go away,† Dimitri growled. â€Å"I'm not–â€Å" ROSE! Lissa shouted in my head, shutting me up. Those piercing jade eyes stared me down. Do you want to help him or not? Standing here and yelling at him is going to make him even more upset! Is that what you want? Do you want people to see that? See him get mad and yell back at you just so you don't feel invisible? They need to see him calm. They need to see him†¦ normal. It's true–you did just help. But if you don't walk away right now, you could ruin everything. I stared at them both aghast, my heart pounding. Her words had all been in my mind, but Lissa might as well have strode up to me and chewed me out aloud. My temper shot up even more. I wanted to go rant at both of them, but the truth of her words penetrated through my anger. Starting a scene would not help Dimitri. Was it fair that they were sending me away? Was it fair that the two of them were teaming up and ignoring what I'd just done? No. But I wasn't going to let my hurt pride screw up what I'd just achieved. People had to accept Dimitri. I shot them both looks that made my feelings clear and then stormed away. Lissa's feelings immediately changed to sympathy through the bond, but I blocked them out. I didn't want to hear it. I'd barely cleared the church's grounds when I ran into Daniella Ivashkov. Sweat was starting to smudge her beautifully applied makeup, making me think she'd been out here for a while watching the Dimitri-spectacle too. She appeared to have a couple friends with her, but they kept their distance and chatted amongst themselves when she stopped in front of me. Swallowing my anger, I reminded myself she'd done nothing to piss me off. I forced a smile. â€Å"Hi, Lady Ivashkov.† â€Å"Daniella,† she said kindly. â€Å"No titles.† â€Å"Sorry. It's still a weird thing.† She nodded toward where Dimitri and Lissa were departing with his guards. â€Å"I saw you there, just now. You helped his case, I think. Poor Reece was pretty flustered.† I recalled that Reece was related to her. â€Å"Oh†¦ I'm sorry. I didn't mean to–â€Å" â€Å"Don't apologize. Reece is my uncle, but in this case, I believe in what Vasilisa and Mr. Belikov are saying.† Despite how angry Dimitri had just made me, my gut instinct resented the dropping of his â€Å"guardian† title. Yet I could forgive her, considering her attitude. â€Å"You†¦ you believe Lissa healed him? That Strigoi can be restored?† I was realizing there were lots of people who believed. The crowd had just demonstrated as much, and Lissa was still building her following of devotees. Somehow, my line of thinking always tended to assume all royals were against me. Daniella's smile turned wry. â€Å"My own son is a spirit user. Since accepting that, I've had to accept a lot of other things I didn't believe were possible.† â€Å"I suppose you would,† I admitted. Beyond her, I noticed a Moroi man standing near some trees. His eyes occasionally fell on us, and I could have sworn I'd seen him before. Daniella's next words turned my attention back to her. â€Å"Speaking of Adrian†¦ he was looking for you earlier. It's short notice now, but some of Nathan's relatives are having a late cocktail party in about an hour, and Adrian wanted you to go.† Another party. Was that all anyone ever did here at Court? Massacres, miracles†¦ it didn't matter. Everything was cause for a party, I thought bitterly. I'd probably been with Ambrose and Rhonda when Adrian went searching. It was interesting. In passing on the invitation, Daniella was also saying that she wanted me to go. Unfortunately, I had a hard time being as open to it. Nathan's family meant the Ivashkovs, and they wouldn't be so friendly. â€Å"Will the queen be there?† I asked suspiciously. â€Å"No, she has other engagements.† â€Å"Are you sure? No unexpected visits?† She laughed. â€Å"No, I'm certain of it. Rumor has it that you two being in the same room together†¦ isn't such a good idea.† I could only imagine the stories going around about my Council performance, particularly since Adrian's father had been there to witness it. â€Å"No, not after that ruling. What she did†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The anger I'd felt earlier began to blaze again. â€Å"It was unforgivable.† That weird guy by the tree was still waiting around. Why? Daniella didn't confirm or deny my statement, and I wondered where she stood on the issue. â€Å"She's still quite fond of you.† I scoffed. â€Å"I have a hard time believing that.† Usually, people who yelled at you in public weren't too â€Å"fond† of you, and even Tatiana's cool composure had cracked near the end of our spat. â€Å"It's true. This will blow over, and there might even be a chance for you to be assigned to Vasilisa.† â€Å"You can't be serious,† I exclaimed. I should have known better. Daniella Ivashkov didn't really seem like the joking type, but I really did believe I'd crossed the line with Tatiana. â€Å"After everything that's happened, they don't want to waste good guardians. Besides, she doesn't want there to be animosity between you.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, I don't want her bribery! If she thinks putting Dimitri out there and dangling a royal job is going to change my mind, she's wrong. She's a lying, scheming–â€Å" I stopped abruptly. My voice had gone loud enough that Daniella's nearby friends were now staring. And I really didn't want to say the names I thought Tatiana deserved in front of Daniella. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. I attempted civility. â€Å"Tell Adrian I'll come to the party†¦ but do you really want me to go? After I crashed the ceremony the other night? And after, um, other things I've done?† She shook her head. â€Å"What happened at the ceremony is as much Adrian's fault as it is yours. It's done, and Tatiana let it go. This party's a much more lighthearted event, and if he wants you there, then I want him to be happy.† â€Å"I'll go shower and change now and meet him at your place in an hour.† She was tactful enough to ignore my earlier outburst. â€Å"Wonderful. I know he'll be happy to hear that.† I declined to tell her that I was actually happy about the thought of flaunting myself in front of some Ivashkovs in the hopes that it would get back to Tatiana. I no longer believed for an instant that she accepted what was going on with Adrian and me or that she would let my outburst blow over. And truthfully, I did want to see him. We hadn't had much time to talk recently. After Daniella and her friends left, I figured it was time to get to the bottom of things. I headed straight over to the Moroi who'd been lurking around, hands on my hips. â€Å"Okay,† I demanded. â€Å"Who are you, and what do you want?† He was only a few years older than me and didn't seem at all fazed by my tough-girl attitude. He crooked me a smile, and I again pondered where I'd seen him. â€Å"I've got a message for you,† he said. â€Å"And some gifts.† He handed over a tote bag. I looked inside and found a laptop, some cords, and several pieces of paper. I stared up at him in disbelief. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Something you need to get a move on–and not let anyone else know about. The note will explain everything.† â€Å"Don't play spy movie with me! I'm not doing anything until you–† His face clicked. I'd seen him back at St. Vladimir's, around the time of my graduation–always hovering in the background. I groaned, suddenly understanding the secretive nature–and cocky attitude. â€Å"You work for Abe.†

Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth Essay

The play was set in 1040 in Scotland; it deals with the issues in his life that is still relevant today in order to fulfil his emission. Macbeth starts out as a national hero and co leader of the Scottish army, he quickly gains popularity. Until one day he receives a prophecy, which turns him on an evil rampage. Where he sets off in a killing spree to try and become king. However he has doubts and maybe even some regrets about his choices. It seems to mess with hiss head for example after he killed Duncan he keeps seeing what he thinks is his ghost, is he sane? Other characters include Lady Macbeth, the three witches, Banquo, Duncan, Malcolm and Mac duff. In total there are 32 characters. Lady Macbeth is a very strong minded character. She can be very ruthless at times; she is very supportive of her husband but can also push him into things. She has a strong influence on him when committing several murders. She knows what needs to be done to get the job done. This would be very different from the typical Shakespearian woman who would have been very quiet and little power over their husbands her opening soliloquy introduces her as a very strong character that will stand up and fight for what she believes in. If it had not been for lady Macbeth the murder of Duncan may not have went ahead as it was mainly her who put him up to it. She also went back for the daggers that he used to murder him so this stopped him getting caught, this shows that she doesn’t want any harm to come to her husband and she clearly must love him. However what she had turned Macbeth into would be his down fall. She had turned him into something he had never wanted to become, a cold blooded murder. Back in Shakespearian people were very scared and believed fully in the supernatural. They would have heard stories of these sorts of things so when they heard of the three witches telling prophecies they would have been wary. The appearance and strange characteristics of the witches also added an effect. Their clothing added a 3rd dimension to their character, the way they are descried â€Å"the ripped old dirty rags†. Their skinny bodies, cold withered faces add to the disturbing image. All in all not the sort of people you want to meet in a dark alley. When they told Macbeth that he would become king if he killed Duncan, this had a very strong influence on Macbeth. If it had not been for them he would have never thought twice about killing him. The help of the witches soon led to many regrets â€Å"neither man nor woman can harm him† said the witches. The witches may have liked him all along; this is why they told him their predictions. Macbeth’s character changes dramatically through the play, so also do peoples views of him. In the beginning he is introduced as a highly respected general, a hero! Soon becomes easily scared and persuaded into bad things. I think this show how the pursuit for power can destroy your life. Macbeth had a great position and lots of respect but it wasn’t enough. He gave every thing he had to pursue being king and look here it got him, committed terrible deeds and the people just lost all respect for him.

Selenium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements

Selenium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements Selenium  Basic Facts Atomic Number: 34 Symbol: Se Atomic Weight: 78.96 Discovery: Jà ¶ns Jakob Berzelius and Johan Gottlieb Gahn(Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p4 Word Origin: Greek Selene: moon Properties: Selenium has an atomic radius of 117 pm, a melting point of 220.5 °C, boiling point of 685 °C, with oxidation states of 6, 4, and -2. Selenium is a member of the sulfur group of nonmetallic elements and is similar to this element in terms of its forms and compounds. Selenium exhibits photovoltaic action, where light is converted directly into electricity, and photoconductive action, where electrical resistance decreases with increased illumination. Selenium exists in several forms, but is usually prepared with an amorphous or crystalline structure. Amorphous selenium is either red (powder form) or black (vitreous form). Crystalline monoclinic selenium is deep red; crystalline hexagonal selenium, the most stable variety, is gray with a metallic luster. Elemental selenium is fairly nontoxic and is considered an essential trace element for proper nutrition. However, hydrogen selenide (H2Se) and other selenium compounds are extremely toxic, resembling arsenic in their phy siological reactions. Selenium occurs in some soils in amounts sufficient to produce serious effects on animals feeding on plants grown from those soils (e.g., locoweed). Uses: Selenium is used in xerography to copy documents and in photographic toner. It is used in the glass industry to make ruby-red colored glasses and enamels and to decolorize glass. It is used in photocells and light meters. Because it can convert AC electricity to DC, it is widely used in rectifiers. Selenium is a p-type semiconductor below its melting point, which leads to many solid-state and electronics applications. Selenium is also used as an additive to stainless steel. Sources: Selenium occurs in the minerals crooksite and clausthalite. It has been prepared from flue dusts from processing copper sulfide ores, but the anode metal from electrolytic copper refineries is a more common source of selenium. Selenium may be recovered by roasting the mud with soda or sulfuric acid, or by smelting with soda and niter: Cu2Se Na2CO3 2O2 → 2CuO Na2SeO3 CO2 The selenite Na2SeO3 is acidified with sulphuric acid. Tellurites precipitate out of solution, leaving selenous acid, H2SeO3n. Selenium is liberated from selenous acid by SO2 H2SeO3 2SO2 H2O → Se 2H2SO4 Element Classification: Non-Metal Selenium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 4.79 Melting Point (K): 490 Boiling Point (K): 958.1 Critical Temperature (K): 1766 K Appearance: soft, similar to sulfur Isotopes: Selenium has 29 known isotopes including Se-65, Se-67 to Se-94. There are six stable isotopes: Se-74 (0.89% abundance), Se-76 (9.37% abundance), Se-77 (7.63% abundance), Se-78 (23.77% abundance), Se-80 (49.61% abundance) and Se-82 (8.73% abundance). Atomic Radius (pm): 140 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 16.5 Covalent Radius (pm): 116 Ionic Radius: 42 (6e) 191 (-2e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.321 (Se-Se) Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 5.23 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 59.7 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.55 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 940.4 Oxidation States: 6, 4, -2 Lattice Structure: Hexagonal Lattice Constant (Ã…): 4.360 CAS Registry Number: 7782-49-2 Selenium Trivia: Jà ¶ns Jakob Berzelius found a red sulfur-like deposit at a sulfuric acid manufacturing facility. He originally thought the deposit was the element tellurium. After further examination, he decided he had found a new element. Since tellurium was named after Tellus, or Earth goddess in Latin, he named his new element after the Greek Moon goddess Selene.Selenium is used in anti-dandruff shampoos.Gray selenium conducts electricity better when light is shined on it. Early photoelectric circuits and solar cells used selenium metal.Compounds containing selenium in the -2 oxidation state are called selenides.A combination of bismuth and selenium can be used to replace the more toxic lead in many brass alloys. (Lead is added to brass to increase its ability to be machined)Brazil nuts have the highest levels of nutritional selenium. One ounce of brazil nuts contain 544 micrograms of selenium or 777% the Recommended Daily Allowance. Quiz: Test your new selenium knowledge with the Selenium Facts Quiz. References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.) International Atomic Energy Agency ENSDF database (Oct 2010)    Return to the Periodic Table

EKEN Power Bands

EKEN Power Bands Executive Summary Considering the international relations from the trading position, we have chosen the idea of confronting of the Australian market and the American market with the purpose to help Australian EKEN Power Bands brand expend at the international arena.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on EKEN Power Bands specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We are going to consider the product and its significance at the Australian and US markets, identify competitors, check the options for entering international markets and expand there, underline the country of product origin and the consumers behaviour there, consider American consumer ethnocentrism and animosity, point to the market segmentation, target audience and positioning and on the basis of this information highlight international marketing mix and other related factors with the recommendations EKEN Power Bands should follow if it wants to enter international market and expand there. Having chosen a good advertising strategy, offering unique bands, an office in Los Angeles, creating positive public image in the country of origin and correspondence to the newest technological developments may result in high consumer activities and raise of selling rates in the USA. Country-of-Origin, Consumer Ethnocentrism and Consumer Animosity Country-of-origin Australia is the country which produces EKEN Power Bands and is considered to be its place or origin. The country is developed in the relation to sport, but it seems to be seasonal and the company wants to provide year cycle business. Australian customers are rather prejudiced to the innovation. Much influence is provided by mass media, but the credibility of their impact is rather doubtful. The Australian market is full of sceptical views, the media is a powerful weapon in persuading the minds of people. The negative effect from such news is obvious. Once the news reported that â€Å"A Wristband clai ming to boost strength, balance and flexibility has been exposed as a fake† (Mawby, N 2010), people have taken the same side. However, mass media offers minimum reasons and it is impossible to draw conclusions about the reasonableness of such statement (Dowling Weeks 2011). This is the main characteristic of the Australian market as the country of origin for EKEN Power Bands. Consumer Ethnocentrism It should be stated that much attention is paid to the consumer ethnocentrism, as this issue influences customers’ choice, and as a result, defines market segmentation.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Considering consumer ethnocentrism, it should be mentioned that a lot of different factors may be considered as both advantageous and disadvantageous for the country of origin (Parts 2007). Trying to struggle over the American consumer ethnocentrism, EKEN Pow er Bands has taken a good strategy. The brand uses famous sport stars to impact Americans. According to the customers’ priorities, Americans’ choice can be in favour of the products used by the celebrities. When famous sportsmen wear the products by EKEN, people are tend to notice it and buy the advertised items, to make sure that they have reached their idol at least in cloths elements. Such strategy is going to help EKEN Power Bands avoid consumer ethnocentric relation from the American consumers. Consumer Animosity Consumer animosity in the relation to a specific country is defined as â€Å"the remnants of antipathy related to previous or ongoing military, political or economic events† (Lwin, Stanaland Williams 2010, p. 249) and â€Å"affects the intension of buy products imported from that country† (Hoffmann, Mai Smirnova 2011, p. 236). There are three main reasons which may cause animosity, that is perceived threat, antithetical political attitudes , and negative personal experiences (Hoffmann, Mai Smirnova 2011). There is no consumer animosity of Americans in the relation to Australia what is good news for EKEN which should not worry about this problem. The main difference between consumer ethnocentrism and consumer animosity is that the first notion shows antipathy to all foreign products and their consideration of bad quality, and in case of the second notion, the antipathy is based on the negative attitude to the specific country and may not be connected with goods quality. Conclusion Recommendations In conclusion, it should be stated that Australian company EKEN Power Bands has chosen a good international strategy. Focusing on people who are either fond of sport or going in for sports on the professional basis, the company has chosen the USA as the target market with the advertising campaign directed at the encouraging people to but bands by means of using celebrities and sport stars, EKEN Power Bands is going to achiev e good success, if other international market factors are followed. It has been stated that EKEN Power Bands should work more to establish successful public relation in Australia and not to make company’s public image in Australia (influenced negative by a number of unsupported publications which pointed to the usefulness of bands) spoil its sales in the USA.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on EKEN Power Bands specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, it can be stated that the choice of the target market and target audience helps the company implement successful market segmentation and occupy a niche at the American market as EKEN Power Bands position itself as the one which produces unique products. Reference List Dowling, G Weeks, W 2011, ‘Media analysis: what is it worth?’, Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 32, iss. 1, pp. 26-33. Hoffmann, S, Mai, R Smirnova, M 2011, Development and Valid ation of a Cross-Nationally Stable Scale of Consumer Animosity, Journal of Marketing Theory Practice, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 235-252. Lwin, M, Stanaland, A Williams, J 2010, Exporting America, International Journal of Advertising, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 245-278. Mawby, N 2010, ‘Power Balance wristbands exposed as a sham’, Herald Sun, 23 December, https://www.news.com.au/technology/power-wristbands-banned-and-refunds-ordered-by-accc/news-story/a084dc95add900567d5ee9918203577e Parts, O 2007, The Measurement of Consumer Ethnocentrism and COO Effect in Consumer Research, Transformations in Business and Economics, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 139-154.

Frank Fountain and Paula Banks; acquiring corporate power and influence.

Frank Fountain and Paula Banks; acquiring corporate power and influence. Free Online Research Papers Frank Fountain was born in 1944 in Brewton, Alabama. He grew up on a sharecropper farm in the segregated South and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Bengal, India, prior to attending business school. In 1973, after receiving his MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business, he joined the Chrysler Corporation as an investment analyst. After 20 years in the finance trenches, he accepted an assignment with the company’s Washington, D.C., government affairs office. He is now senior vice president of government affairs and president of the Chrysler Foundation. He is also a former president of the Executive Leadership Foundation and serves on the boards of Detroit’s Museum of African-American History, the United Way, and his alma maters. (Cobbs, Turnock 2007). As we observe others rise to higher levels of leadership, we ask ourselves How do they do it? (Glaser 2006) During his early years at Chrysler, Fountain noticed and asked about a relatively young man who had been appointed as CEO. Everyone he asked alluded to the young man’s close relationship with an important company executive. Fountain realized that he would probably never gain that level of personal support from such a high level executive so he developed a simple but very effective plan for building his own supportive peer relationships. I got together six or seven of us, all basically on the same level but in different finance departments. I had gotten to know them through work assignments, and I had confidence in them. I was the only black one. I thought by getting together and communicating, developing a tight-knit group of pretty smart people-I thought they were smart-we could leverage each other in a very informal but deft way.† (Cobbs, Turnock 2007). According to Fountain, the key was having people who you felt had potential and were ambitious but whose egos would allow them to be a part of and contribute to a team. Fountain developed relationships with these types of people during previous assignments of his own. Having the ability to share information and push each other raised the performance level of everyone in the group. As the old saying goes, It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. (Anonymous) Fountain realized this very early on and began networking as early as high school. â€Å"I viewed everybody the same, and my relationships were genuine with all of the people. I wasnt identified with the elite group or the regular folks. I was me, not that the elite would ever have considered me one of theirs. I wrote my own speeches, I didnt have the teachers help me the way some of my opponents did. I was the junior and senior class president and then student council president. (Cobbs, Turnock 2007) Paula A. Banks was born 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. She began her career with Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 1972 as a management trainee and rapidly rose through the store-management hierarchy. In 1975, she accepted a special human resources assignment and discovered her talent for sensitive people issues. In 1989, she was named president of the Sears Foundation. After 24 years, she left to join Amoco as the president of its Foundation. When Amoco merged with BP two years later, she parlayed her expertise into a demanding new position. Now based in London, she is senior vice president, Social Strategy and Policy, and president of The BP Foundation. She works to advance the integration of business objectives with social issues on a global scale, partnering with more than 155 BP business unit leaders operating in over 100 countries on six continents. (Cobbs, Turnock 2007) Banks began as a management trainee at Sears and did well early on in her management roles. Eventually she accepted several extremely delicate labor relations assignments relying on promises that she would be able to return to line management. One day she got a call and was asked if she would like to become a part of the employee and labor relations team. She was the only person of color and just the second woman to ever fill this job in the company. Banks found out about six months into the job that all the males on the staff begged the boss to get rid of her. â€Å"Instead-and I give this guy lots of credit-he gave me the responsibility for those states where we had the biggest contracts to negotiate. I had Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the largest automotive service centers. And I was only twenty-seven years old. (Cobbs, Turnock 2007). Acquiring power and becoming a successful executive requires the use of all your skills and resources. You are unlikely to receive key assignments unless you have worked hard and proven yourself capable and efficient. â€Å"The distinction between the leader and others is not a gender distinction. Women can rise to leadership positions, as long as they understand how.† (Glaser 2006) When BP and Amoco merged, Paula Banks received an assignment she didnt want, the BP Amoco Foundation. According to Banks, she had to accept it because they offered it to her in a public forum with other people around. She immediately went to her boss and voiced her dissatisfaction with the decision. Her boss told her that the only other available option was an assignment that would require a move to London which he didn’t think she would want. Banks, intent on making her own decisions, accepted the latter assignment and moved to London. Both men and women face similar challenges every day in the pursuit of corporate power and influence. How do we bring our ideas to the forefront without stepping all over our peers? Showcasing our talents in a corporate America that overflows with talented executives is a challenge that does not discriminate based on gender. Fountain and Banks both exhibit the We-Centric behavior and mindset and built mutually beneficial relationships with other like-minded executives within their industries. References: Price M. Cobbs , Judith L. Turnock; Cracking the Corporate Code The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives Anonymous (n.d.). Putting Power to Work. Retrieved January 30, 2008 at: csupomona.edu/~msharifzadeh/chapter8.html Judith E Glaser (2006, March). Power and Influence. Leadership Excellence, 23(3), 16. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1013751031). 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