College Degree Vs High School Diploma - 1142 Words

College Degree vs High School Diploma Do we really need a college degree to be a successful human? Is a high school diploma good enough to live a great life? Does working at a fast food franchise such as Mcdonald s appeal to you? Do you want to work a nine dollar wage job for the rest of your life? Working a nine hour job, whereas you can be earning forty dollars an hour seem fair? I strongly consider that having a college degree is well accepted and needed to be a successful person in todays society. I will illustrate you points that will help you answer the questions asked. Starting from, minimum wage comparison, unemployment rates between a college degree and a high school diploma only, the unemployment rate, and yearly income on both. According to an online salary information website, a banker who just graduated and has their high school diploma will earn about twenty five dollars an hour at a bank. ( Earning Gap Between, 8) Take in mind this individual will have to go through a training program in order to be able to achieve the correct banking skills for the job. Although twenty five dollars an hour is a great pay for someone who didn t have to stress out on college classes, financial aid, and etc. it is not equal to what you would obtain if you had a college degree. Having your college degree at a bank earns you a better chance on getting a higher position, resulting in a better pay! You can go from earning twenty five dollars an hour to earning forty dollarsShow MoreRelatedGetting The Facts : College Degree Vs. High School Diploma919 Words   |  4 PagesGetting the Facts: College Degree vs. High School Diploma--Learn the Top 5 Benefits of Going to College Many high school students, and perhaps their parents, often wrestle with the question: Does a person with a college degree make more money than one with just a high school diploma? Can I earn more money with a college degree or by going straight to work after high school? Is it worthwhile to go to college? Research shows that yes, those who have a college education usually do make more than thoseRead MoreBenefits Of A College Degree1314 Words   |  6 Pages Benefits of a College Degree Earning a college degree is such an important step in life that it has become a central part of the â€Å"American Dream†. Go to college, get a job, buy a house, raise a family. It may not always be that simple, but it all starts with your college education.Earning a college degree is all about opening up opportunities in life. It repares you, both intellectually and socially, for your career and your adult life. benefits of a college include better career opportunitiesRead MoreA Brief Note On Social Class And Education847 Words   |  4 Pagessuccess and wealth in society. Earning a college degree and learning skills will have a chance to higher income and lower unemployment rate and poverty level in this society. However, higher education requires a good financial state. College cost has risen. High tuition fee gives an unequal opportunities to every student, even though the college degree give opportunities to chance overcoming poverty. children in a rich family have more chance to get high education and the education drive to successRead MoreIs College A Worth It? Essay1147 Words   |  5 PagesWood November 2016 College Readiness Period:3 Is College is worth it: In today s world, a college degree has great significance. It is worth the effort to obtain a degree, and this is due to the increasing wages that come with a degree, the lowering of unemployment rates, and having a degree is a requirement for many jobs. Having a college degree will get you far in life. For example the wage gap increases between high school graduates and college graduates, at the rate the degree does. The higherRead MoreCollege Is It Worth It?1317 Words   |  6 PagesCollege, is it Worth it? Is college really worth the time and money? This is the question I am going to be exploring. While many people may have an idea that college is just an abundance of debt, other students argue that most of the information they learn doesn’t provide them with the value they thought it would (Adams 1). Many college students who grow up with the opportunity to go to college usually don’t stress the idea of going to school, but most students who don’t have the opportunity toRead MoreIs Higher Education Worth It?930 Words   |  4 Pagesadults finish high school they are driven to enroll into a higher education program. With the constant talks of soaring tuition costs, in addition to the massive student loan debt, taking this step can be worrisome. Reyna Gobel, a journalist on financing college and repaying student debt, states. â€Å"It’s easy to stop believing that a college education is worth it when the nation has over a trillion dollars in debt, but col lege graduates still earn more over a lifetime than those without a degree. Plus, they’reRead MoreCommunity College vs University Essay examples778 Words   |  4 PagesContrast Essay Community College vs. Universities Choosing a college means going to a new, unfamiliar world of immense possibilities. One of the hardest decisions a high school graduate face is the choice between attending a Community College or a University. Although Universities and Community College serve the same purpose, each has its differences and similarities in their learning such as the admission requirements, expenses, size, and student life. Community College are the most common typeRead MoreUniversity s Center On Education And The Workforce Estimates875 Words   |  4 Pageswill require some postsecondary education or training beyond a high school diploma. The premise of this article is that the traditional college prep curriculum at most high schools is not favoring a sizable percentage of American teenagers. Some people consider technical or vocational high schools a valid choice for students who choose not to pursue a customary educational path. Highlighted are two schools: Mercy Vocational High School in Philadelp hia and David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center inRead MoreGraduation Speech : College Education1689 Words   |  7 Pagesever that having a college education is an unavoidable requisite in order to better ourselves. Every year thousands of students graduate high school and start to enroll in college. Another key factor in the decision towards obtaining a college degree is the example the young student saw at home; however, not all of the young students entering college come from a family with college graduate parents, which can play as a huge motivation in their path toward their college degree. Many people see thisRead MoreHigh School Vs. College873 Words   |  4 PagesHigh School Vs. College The transition from high school to college is not only an exciting challenge, but also a great milestone in one’s life. High school and college both share the common goal of expanding students’ knowledge; however, there are many differences between high school and college. They are similar in such ways that you still have to go to class, do class work, take test, and study hard. They differ because in college one is taking on an entire new load of responsibility and options

The Foreign Trade of Bangladesh - Its Composition,...

The Foreign Trade of Bangladesh: Its Composition, Performance, Trend, and Policy Mohammad Mafizur Rahman Abstract Despite structural limitations in the Bangladesh economy, the export sector performed well throughout the 1990s. The export growth rate of Bangladesh was higher than that of the world and the SAARC countries. However, the balance of trade of Bangladesh was always in deficit and the trade deficit with India is huge. The export share of primary commodities has decreased while that of manufactured commodities has increased over the years. The growth rate of manufactured commodities is better than that of primary commodities. The import share of principal primary commodities has declined while that of principal industrial†¦show more content†¦In terms of positive growth, engineering products topped the list 25 (842.34%), followed by petroleum by products (215.45%), chemical products (50.95%), raw jute (34.89%), other products (20.77%), frozen food (16.55%), knitwear (13.34%), agricultural products (12.96%), jute goods (5.61%) and readymade garments (4.28%) (EPB, 2004). price index in this sector increased by 0.36% indicating a volume wise increase of 8.40% (EPB 2004). Exports Performance Compared to Imports The export earnings also continuously increased over the years with increased import payments. Though import payments are always higher than the export earnings in absolute terms, the percentage of Bangladesh‟s export to imports is improving gradually and in recent years has been quite impressive. In FY 1983-84 the value of Bangladesh‟s exports was US$ 811 million and the corresponding figure for Bangladesh‟s imports was US$ 2073 million that represents export/import ratio of 39.12%. The export-import ratio increased to 70.09% and 67.80%, respectively, in FY2001-02 and FY 2002-03 (EPB 2004). Exports of Primary and Manufacturing Commodities EPB (2004) reports that out of the total export earnings of US$ 6548.44 million during the FY 2002200,3 the share of primary goods stood at US$ 462.59 million and that of manufactured goods at US$ 6085.85 million i.e. 7.06% and 92.94%Show MoreRelatedRecent International Trade Scenario of Bangladesh Bop4939 Words   |  20 Pages[pic] Topic: Recent International Trade scenario of Bangladesh BOP Submitted To: Mr. Shantanu Kumar Roy Joint Director Foreign exchange policy department. Bangladesh Bank, Sylhet. Lecturer Department of Business Administration Metropolitan University, Sylhet. Submitted By: Mir Md. Nazmul Haydar MBA 22nd Batch ID No: 111-126-025 Metropolitan University Content |Sl No. |Title |PageRead MorePerformance of Merchant Banking in Bangladesh6317 Words   |  26 Pagesâ€Å"Management of Financial Institutions†, M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Professor of Finance Department at Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka, who is also the course instructor has assigned us a topics regarding â€Å"Merchants Banks in Bangladesh† where industry performance and activities are analyzed by the listed merchants banker in our country. 1.2 Background The Progress of any economy mainly depends on the efficient financial system of the country. This importance of the financial sector reformsRead MoreFsav Lafarge Essay3729 Words   |  15 Pages| Financial Statement analysis and ValuationHeidelberg Cement Bangladesh Limited | | 7/22/14 | F401 | | ------------------------------------------------- Course Instruction Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation F-401 ------------------------------------------------- Submitted to Dr. Mahmood Osman Imam Professor Department of Finance University of Dhaka ------------------------------------------------- Submitted by Md. Faraz Hassan 17-026 ------------------------------------------------- Read MoreImpact of Globalization and Bangladesh18126 Words   |  73 PagesGLOBALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON BANGLADESH ECONOMY A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE Strategy by RAHMAN MD FAIZUR, MAJOR, BANGLADESH M.D.S., National University of Bangladesh, 2004 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2005 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reportingRead MoreLoan Portfolio Management23089 Words   |  93 Pagesmanagement begins with oversight of the risk in individual loans. Prudent risk selection is vital to maintaining favorable loan quality. Therefore, the historical emphasis on controlling the quality of individual loan approvals and managing the performance of loans continues to be essential. But better technology and information systems have opened the door to better management methods. A portfolio manager can now obtain early indications of increasing risk by taking a more comprehensive view of theRead MoreBangladeshs Trade Barriers in Global Perspective - a Comparative Analysis11770 Words   |  48 PagesPF/C-180/IRP ABSTRACT Freeing trade frequently benefits the poor especially. Many developing countries have high tariffs. Since early 1980s Bangladesh promoted trade mainly through removal of structural obstacles to production and trade. In this paper a number of measures to determine crosscountry Trade Barrier were discussed. Though the methodology adapted by Dr Raihan got especial treat as it is current and relates to Bangladesh. Then Bangladesh’s progress of trade with SAFTA countries and otherRead MoreFrozen Food Business in Bangladesh10464 Words   |  42 PagesAbstract This paper is a review of Bangladeshi Frozen Food Business. Frozen Foods in Bangladesh encompass from fishes to ready-to-cook foods. However, fishes and shrimps are exported and generate foreign exchanges for Bangladesh, whereas, the semi-processed foods are imported and produced locally. Indeed, it is a potential business where rural people can be benefited by investing little amount of money, and producing and meeting the emergence demand in the market. This paper additionally concernsRead MoreTerm Paper on Islami Bank Limited17265 Words   |  70 PagesCHAPTER-ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background of the Study Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) is the first of its kind in the South East Asia which was established in 1983 with a view to provide banking services based on Islamic principles. The bank, which started its operation with only 3 branches in the first year of its inception, has now 207 branches in 26 years of operation. As a bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited receives deposits from its customers from all over the country as wellRead MoreOpening, Lodgment and Retirement Procedures and Performance of Prime Bank Limited14692 Words   |  59 PagesAn Internship Report On Letter Of Credit Opening, Lodgment And Retirement Procedures And Performance LimitedOf Prime Bank Limited- An Analysis A Report Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Degree Of Bachelor Of Business Administration Supervised By Md. Mehadi Masud Lecturer Faculty of Business Studies Department of Accounting Information Systems University of Dhaka Prepared By Mohsina Akter Roll-11124 Section-B, Batch-11 Faculty of Business Studies Department of AccountingRead MoreInfluential Factors of International Business and International Business Environment4145 Words   |  17 Pagesinternal factors of business environment. For instance Land, Labor, Capital, Business Location etc. [pic] EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 1. SOCIAL CONDITIONS A Sociological perspective of environment includes the Demographic Status and Trends, the Work Ethic and Personal Values and General Cultural Values. Each of these influences how management accomplishes its jobs. Each country has a unique Social Environment and as business becomes international, management must understand these unique

Management For Delivering Proper Care †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Research proposal on effective leadership and management for delivering proper care to the residential aged care facility users. Answer: Background There has been a plethora of existence of observational evidence that concerns the implications of effective leadership and management, quality of care and work environment in the residential care facilities that is designed for the elderly population. However, no randomized trials of control have been conducted for assessing the effectiveness of the leadership interventions used in the care facilities. These care facilities need to integrate effective and efficient strategies of management and leadership interventions so that the best treatment can be provided to the users. This proposal has been designed with the intention to leadership model that is used in such care facilities so that the ultimate purpose of their existence can be accomplished. The objective is to bring innovation to the leadership and management structure in the Australian care facilities for aged people. The research flows from the studies made on the life of the old people in various homes existing in Australi a. The measures that can be played by an efficient leadership for delivering high-quality service directed towards the aged people have been an integral part of the research proposal. Various previous studies have been incorporated into the proposal so that the readers can get an insight on the present care scenario of elderly people in Australia. The literature review that has been included in the proposal basically focus on the experience of the registered nurses as managers and leaders in the residential care facilities for the aged population so that their skills can be polished further. The research paper Experiences of registered nurses as managers and leaders in residential aged care facilities: a systematic review. highlights the fact that the staff, and nurses of the care system exhibit strong motivation to work in the demanding environment but they lack professional support and collaboration from the allied medical managers and leaders. At the present time, there is limited scope to learn and develop as nurses in the aged care facility. This area needs to be effectively addresses so that the ultimate service quality can get enhanced. Aims of the study The fundamental aim of the research proposal is to understand the current leadership approach adopted in residential care facilities for the old population so that new approaches can be developed to enhance the service quality. The senior members including the nurses, managers and other staffs of the residential care home need to take the initiative to bring about appositive change in the current system (Bevilacqua, Mazzuto Paciarotti, 2014). The council also recommends that the practices of age-friendly and independence enhancements are the part of life so these should be included as the future initiatives to improve the quality of life during their long stay in the care facilities. Quality of life is a term that has become increasingly popular in the current times. The usage of this term has become extensive since it covers almost all the phases of an individuals daily living. So here in this research proposal, this term quality of life is particularly related to the aged resident s who stay in the old age. They need to be treated with respect in the long-term care facilities and this fact must be understood by the service providers. They are considered to be the most susceptible groups in the society, due to their increase in age and the utmost level of dependency (Cazzaniga Fischer, 2015). A sincere leadership is a key that can enhance the life quality of the aged residents when they are at a vulnerable stage of their life. An inspiring leader can bring about a much-needed improvement in the care model by using his effective leadership management skills. A lot of debate is going around the globe regarding the quality of service that is provided to the elderly facility users in the residential old age homes. This research proposal has included the key elements that can add value to the prevailing system. The attempt of the proposal is to contribute to the ongoing debate in a significant manner so that the various factors that determine the quality of life of the old aged residents can be upgraded (Chen, et al., 2014). The model that will be suggested will be designed by analyzing the data that has been collected using secondary data from previous research studies and primary data. An interview process would be conducted with the care staff, managers, residents, and relatives so that the prevailing quality of care can be assessed. The different perspectives would help to identify the areas that need to be modified in order to enhance the quality of life of the old people living in the care homes (Dwyer, 2011). Significance and innovation of the proposed study Most of the publications have outlined that there is a role of the effective management in addressing the issues related to better care and improved quality of service for the aged people. A smaller number of researchers have highlighted the significance of the leadership in this delicate sector of aged care. However, in the recent times many new research studies have appeared that give high importance to the need of an inspiring and effective leader. In 2008, a report was released by the Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance on the same topic concerning the residential care and it stated that the proactive role of the service providers is crucial to improving the living standard of the aged care residents and there is need to promote leadership traits in the facility operators (Dunn, 2016). This has strengthened the need to introduce best management and leadership skills in the aged care scenario. The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency that came into existence in 2014 also focuses on these aspects so that the users can experience high-quality care service (Dwyer, 2011). The significance of this proposal is that it suggests the requirement of the visionary leadership for improving the living conditions and quality of the residents of the care home facilities (Rosato, et al., 2014). Expected outcomes/implications for practice The research proposal on the subject is a unique initiative that can bring about the needed change in the quality of service that is provided to the aged residents living in the old age homes in Australia. Both secondary data and primary data would help in the identification of the prevailing gaps in the system so that the leadership and management model could be improvised (Dwyer, 2011). With the managers leadership, the staff can feel motivated while offering service to the residents. This positive change would enhance the job satisfaction and retention of the workforce. The delivery of high quality care would ensure the overall well-being of the care users (Fitzpatrick, et al., 2014). The qualities that are essential for the good leadership in the aged care management include friendly approach towards the people, and expertise in professional skills, team building, and recognition model. Along with this flexibility and effective communication would enhance the care system. However, the outcomes of the management and the successful leadership are dependent on the rational and good leadership in the organization (Fortenberry Jr McGoldrick, 2016). Research plan: Methodology The systematic literature review and the narrative synthesis would play an active role in the research proposal. Previous research studies would help to understand the leadership and management scenario that is prevalent in the care system for the aged population in Australia. It would help in the identification of current gaps (Dwyer, 2011). Then the primary research study with in form of interview would be carried out in the selected residential aged care facility. It would help the objective of the research i.e. to develop intervention strategies to strengthen the leadership scenario in the facilities in the island nation. Here qualitative research is used to collect the data (Fortenberry McGoldrick, 2016). The topic that has been considered for the research proposal is quite sensitive and it relates to the quality of service that is provided to the old population that lives in residential care facilities in Australia. Both sources of data have come into play in the process since the older research studies would help to identify the flaws and loopholes that exist in the system and the primary model would throw light on the key areas that can be improved in order to enhance the quality of leadership and management (Green, 2016). The methodology has been designed so that the best recommendations can be designed in relation to the context of the issue. Hence, the research studies that already exist on the topic play a major role in this research proposal (Seid Aydagnehum, 2013). Data sampling The random sampling technique would be used to collect primary data from the different sections of the care facility system. Since the interview process would be conducted on the managers, staff, patients, relatives, the sampling technique on each sub-group would help to collect sufficient amount of data that must be analyzed. All the processes of the research process would be explained to the involved parties so that there would be no chance of biases in the research process. (Hassona, et al., 2017). A total of 30 interview responses would be selected on a random basis from all the respondents covering all the participant groups. The interview process would be kept short and simple so that the activity could be wrapped up quickly (Fortenberry McGoldrick, 2016). This research design would be adopted since there would be a one-on-one interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee so there would be limited chances of confusion. (Singh Lillrank, 2015). Data collection The interview process has been selected for the data collection process. The interviewer would have a direct conversation with the participants relating to various aspects of the care facility and its operations. The answers would be written by the interviewer while the interviewee would be providing his input. Once the process would be finished, the respondent could review the sheet and sign on it (Hassona et al., 2017). The signature would be necessary to show the authentication of the interview responses. Even though this approach could lengthen the process but it would ensure fairness and originality of the approach (McGregor et al., 2017). This qualitative research technique would act as a framework for the research process since it would highlight the views of different facility members on the leadership and management model of the old age home. The data from the literature review would play a vital role in this process so that the current gaps could be addressed in the best possible manner (Huppertz, et al., 2014). The advantage of conducting the interview is that it would allow the participation of all the members of the facility. They could offer their views and give responses to the directed questions without being influenced by an external element (Zeng Yang, 2013). Data analysis The content data analysis would be adopted on the collected qualitative data. A number of predetermined categories would have been set prior to the data collection process so that once the same has been collected; the leadership and management behaviour of the care staff members including the managers and leaders could be effectively assessed. It would positively contribute to the effectiveness of the research study (Kim, et al., 2014). This analytical technique would help to make relevant comparisons in order to examine the perspective of different groups of the care facility in Australia. The data that would be saved in form of interview sheets would be kept at a confidential location so that no one other than the concerned research team would have access to it (Leggat Holmes, 2015). Ethical considerations The National Health and Medical Research Council as well as the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007) would be considered so that all the ethical aspects could be effectively met while carrying out the research process. In case any requirement of ethical approval would be required in the process, the same would be considered so that no party would be negatively affected in the process (Romero et al., 2014). Sufficient confidentiality would be maintained throughout the process and respect would be given to all the privacy aspects of all the participants. All the issues relating to confidentiality, approval of ethics, and the withdrawal of participants would be taken care of (McGregor, et al., 2017). The same set of interview questions would be presented to all the participants so that the uniformity can be maintained. The privacy of the participants would be ensured at all times of the process. Once the research activity would be finished the interview responses would be destroyed after a certain point of time (McGuckin Govednik, 2015). Study limitations This research proposal that has been highlighted focuses only on one of the residential facilities of Australia. The primary data analysis would be carried out based on the collected data from the specific care facility so it might vary for other care facilities. The availability of limited funds for the study would act the major limitation (Roberts, et al., 2016). The small fund allocated for the activity would limit the overall scope of the study. It is assumed that all the respondents were sincere while giving the interview questions. The small number of participants could also act as a key limitation in the research process (Romero, et al., 2014). As such, the outcome of the research activity would be entirely based on the primary data responses and the former research studies on the subject. Administration of the research Budget plan and Timeframe Expenses in Dollars Personnel: Coordinator of the project (social work student) Research assistant: 37.5 hours in a week Number of weeks 14-25 29 dollars paid per hour In-Kind 13050 $ Costs of transcription: 12 x 1 hour of interviews 15 dollars per hour For transcribing one hour of interview it takes 7 hours 1260 $ Premises: Office location In- Kind Tape recorder, tapes, microphone, stationery, etc 400 $ Travel: For interviewing the participants 1500 $ Contingency 1000 $ Total costs 17618 $ Conclusion The proposal has been designed with the objective to enhance the management and leadership scenario that is currently exhibited in residential care facilities that are designed for older population in Australia. Both primary data and secondary data would form an integral part of the research process since they would allow capturing the holistic picture relating to the quality of service offered by care homes. Questionnaire What are the issues related to leadership and management with respect to health care other than old age for instance, such as community, acute, primary health care and sub-acute? What the issues related to management and leadership with respect to old aged, nursing homes, long term care, or residential aged care? What do you think is the policy and the system solutions are required for building the capacity of the workforce leadership that is sustainable and for effective management in the residential aged care? What are the crucial features and the impacting factors that are necessary for sustaining the effective workforce management and leadership? What do you think are the best models for developing the workforce leadership within the management that is sustainable in the residential aged care? References Bevilacqua, M., Mazzuto, G., Paciarotti, C. (2014). A combined IDEF0 and FMEA approach to healthcare management reengineering.International Journal of Procurement Management,8(1-2), 25-43. Cazzaniga, S., Fischer, S. (2015). How ICH Uses Organizational Innovations to Meet Challenges in Healthcare Management: A Hospital Case Study. InChallenges and Opportunities in Health Care Management(pp. 355-361). Springer International Publishing. Chen, H., Cheng, B. C., Liao, G. T., Kuo, T. C. (2014). Hybrid classification engine for cardiac arrhythmia cloud service in elderly healthcare management.Journal of Visual Languages Computing,25(6), 745-753. Dwyer, D. (2011). Experiences of registered nurses as managers and leaders in residential aged care facilities: a systematic review. International Journal of Evidence?Based Healthcare, 9(4), 388-402. Dunn, R. (2016).Dunn and Haimann's Healthcare Management. Health Administration Press. Fitzpatrick, P. G., Butler, M., Pitsikoulis, C., Smith, K., Walden, L. (2014). The case for integrating healthcare management courses into the curricula of selected healthcare providers.Journal of Management Policy and Practice,15(4), 92. Fortenberry Jr, J. L., McGoldrick, P. J. (2016). Internal marketing: A pathway for healthcare facilities to improve the patient experience.International Journal of Healthcare Management,9(1), 28-33. Green, A. (2016). Information overload in healthcare management: How the READ Portal is helping healthcare managers.Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association/Journal de l'Association des bibliothques de la sant du Canada,32(3), 173-176. Hassona, Y., Al?Hadidi, A., Ghlassi, T. A., Dali, H. E., Scully, C. (2017). Pfeiffer syndrome: oral healthcare management and description of new dental findings in a craniosynostosis.Special Care in Dentistry. Huppertz, J. W., Strosberg, M., Burns, S., Chaudhri, I. (2014). The uniqueness of US healthcare management: A linguistic analysis of competency models and application to health administration education.Journal of Health Administration Education,31(3), 197-214. Ketelhhn, N., Sanz, L. (2016). Healthcare management priorities in Latin America: Framework and responses.Journal of Business Research,69(9), 3835-3838. Kim, H. S., Lee, K. H., Kim, H., Kim, J. H. (2014). Using mobile phones in healthcare management for the elderly.Maturitas,79(4), 381-388. Leggat, S. G., Holmes, M. (2015). Content analysis of mission, vision and value statements in Australian public and private hospitals: Implications for healthcare management.Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management,10(1), 46. McGregor, A. J., Siqueira, C. E., Zaslavsky, A. M., Blendon, R. J. (2017). Do elections matter for private-sector healthcare management in Brazil? An analysis of municipal health policy.BMC health services research,17(1), 483. McGuckin, M., Govednik, J. (2015). A review of electronic hand hygiene monitoring: considerations for hospital management in data collection, healthcare worker supervision, and patient perception.Journal of Healthcare Management,60(5), 348-362. Roberts, J. P., Fisher, T. R., Trowbridge, M. J., Bent, C. (2016, March). A design thinking framework for healthcare management and innovation. InHealthcare(Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 11-14). Elsevier. Romero, J. A. V., Sears, J. D. L., Heredero, C. D. P., Nuijten, M. (2014). Relational coordination and healthcare management in lung cancer.World Journal of Clinical Cases: WJCC,2(12), 757. Rosato, L. O. D. O. V. I. C. O., Raffaelli, M. A. R. C. O., Bellantone, R., Pontecorvi, A., Avenia, N., Boniardi, M., ... De Palma, M. A. U. R. I. Z. I. O. (2014). Diagnostic, therapeutic and healthcare management protocols in parathyroid surgery: II Consensus Conference of the Italian Association of Endocrine Surgery Units (UEC CLUB).Journal of endocrinological investigation,37(2), 149-165. Seid, M. A., Aydagnehum, S. G. (2013). Medicinal plants biodiversity and local Healthcare management system in Chencha District; Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia.Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry,2(1). Singh, V. K., Lillrank, P. (Eds.). (2015).Innovations in Healthcare Management: Cost-Effective and Sustainable Solutions. CRC Press. Zeng, Q. L., Li, D. D., Yang, Y. B. (2013). VIKOR method with enhanced accuracy for multiple criteria decision making in healthcare management.Journal of medical systems,37(2), 9908.

Is Collusion Possible Essays - Game Theory, Oligopoly, Collusion

Is Collusion Possible? Essay in Microeconomics. Topic: Is Collusion Possible? 18.12.2000 Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Two types of behaviour (Collusive and non-collusive). 3. Game theory. a.) Concept. b.) The problem of collusion. c.) Predatory pricing. 4. Repeated games approach. a.) Concept. b.) Finite game case. c.) Infinite game case. i.) Trigger strategy ii.) Tit-for-Tat. d.) Finite game case, Kreps approach. 5. The motives for retaliation. 6. Conclusion. 7. Bibliography. 1. Introduction. In this essay I would discuss the price and output determination under the one essential type of imperfect competition markets- oligopoly. Inter-firm interactions in imperfect markets take many forms. Oligopoly theory, those name refers to competition among the few, lack unambiguous results of these interactions unlike monopoly and perfect competition. There is a variety of results derived from many different behavioural assumptions, with each specific model potentially relevant to certain real-world situations, but not to others. Here we are interested in the strategic nature of competition between firms. Strategic means the dependence of each person's proper choice of action on what he expects the other to do. A strategic move of a person influences the other person's choice, the other person's expectation of how would this particular person behave, in order to produce the favourable outcome for him. 2. Two types of behaviour (Collusive and non-collusive). Models of enterprise decision making in oligopoly derive their special features from the fact that firms in an oligopolistic industry are interdependent and this is realised by these firms. When there are only a few producers, the reaction of rivals should be taken into account. There are two broad approaches to this problem. First, oligopolists may be thought of as agreeing to co-operate in setting price and quantity. This would be the Collusive model. According to this model, firms agree to act together in their price and quantity decisions and this would to exactly the same outcome as would have been under monopoly. Thus the explicit or co-operative collusion or Cartel would take place. Second approach of the oligopoly analysis is based on the assumption that firms do not co-operate, but make their decisions on the basis of guesses, expectations, about the variables to which their competitors are reaching and about the form and the nature of the reactions in question. The Non-collusive behaviour deals with this model. Here, though in equilibrium the expectations of each firm about the reactions of rivals are realised, the parties never actually communicate directly with each other about their likely reactions. The extreme case of this can even imply competitive behaviour. Such a situation is much less profitable for firms than the one in which they share the monopolistic profit. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the case of the possibility of collusion between firms in order to reach the monopolistic profits for the industry, assuming that they do not co-operate with each other. This would be the most interesting and ambiguous case to look at. 3. Game theory. a.) Concept. The notion of game theory would a good starting point in the study of strategic competition and would be very helpful in realising the model and the problems facing oligopolistic firms associated with it. Game theory provides a framework for analysing situations on which there is interdependence between agents in the sense that the decisions of one agent affect the other agents. This theory was developed by von Neumann and Morgenstern and describes the situation, which is rather like that found in the children's game Scissors&Stones. Each firm is trying to second-guess the others, i.e. the behaviour of one firm depends on what it expects the others to do, and the in turn are making their decisions based upon their expectations of what the rivals (including the first firm) will do. In our case, the players of the game are the firms in the industry and each of them wants to maximise its pay-off. The pay-off that a player receives measures how well he achieves his objective. Let's assume in our model the pay-off to be a profit. Their profits depend upon the decisions they make (the strategies chosen by the various players including themselves). A strategy in this model is a plan of actio n, or a complete contingency plan, which specifies what the player will do in any of the circumstances in which he might find himself. The game

George Berkeley Research Paper

George Berkeley Research Paper In the Principles of Human Knowledge, George Berkeley argues that material objects are nothing more than images within the mind. This idealism suggests that no physical non-thinking entities are real. The only reality of the objects is the image within the mind of the perceiver of the objects. For instance, objects are perceived by the senses. We then perceive or interpret our own ideas or sensations. Thus, the ideas have more reality to us than does the objects that we supposedly perceive. Next, Berkeley defines the term existence. For a body to exist, one must perceive it or have the potential to perceive it. Yet, everything that we perceive or have the potential to perceive is ideas. Thus, to say that a body exists is to say that you merely had an idea of that body. An objection to this argument is that one cannot have an idea of something without perceiving the real object. To retort this statement, Berkeley suggests that we cannot distinguish the sensible objects form the percep tion of these objects. In other words, it is impossible to separate, in thought, the so called real bodies that we see and feel from the mental perception of these bodies. Berkeley asserts that to separate these images would be analogous to dividing a human body or separating the image of a rose from the smell of a rose. According to Berkeley, separating these images would be an example of abstraction. In his effort to prove that material objects only exist within the mind of the perceiver, Berkeley asserts that one must actually perceive an object to have an idea about it. An idea exists only if it is perceived. Physical objects are collections of ideas. Physical objects can therefore only exist when perceived. For example, consider a person to be thinking of a certain tree in his favorite pasture. If he does not actually look at this tree or directly sense it, then his idea of the tree is based only on a previous idea or image of the tree. The recollection of former ideas does not constitute the existence of an object. Although only ideas themselves, the senses play a key role in the arguments for Berkeleys idealism, such as in this quick proof for the nonexistence of the qualities of bodies. Berkeley defines sensible qualities of bodies to be such things as color, taste, figure, and motion. These qualities are perceived by the senses. The senses perceive ideas. Therefore, the qualities of bodies are ideas. Berkeley furthers his defense for this view by arguing that numbers and certain senses are ideas within the mind. He states that numbers only exist within the mind because they depend entirely on the understanding of man. Similarly, heat, cold, colors and other sensible qualities are nothing more than affections of the mind. These sensible qualities are not a part of matter and could only exist if someone is there to experience the sensation. One of Berkeleys most crucial arguments for the nonexistence of active bodies lies in his explanation of why actions can exist only within the mind. First, it is given that ideas exist only within the mind. As proven earlier, ideas are all that is perceived. An idea is defined as passive in nature. This means that an idea cannot directly do anything and cannot be the direct cause of anything. Thus, an idea cannot be the resemblance of an active being because an idea exists only as an idea. Therefore, we can conclude that extension, figure, and motion cannot cause sensation because these descriptions are merely ideas within the mind. Berkeley continues his attack on the Matter that makes up objects. Matter is defined as inert, senseless substance in which extension, figure, and motion do actually subsist (258). Since extension, figure, and motion are ideas within the mind, matter must also be an idea because it is defined by extension, figure, and motion. Likewise, one cannot perceive of matter without using the senses, which exist only in the mind. Berkeley asks us to suppose for a moment that matter exists in reality but that the sensible or secondary qualities (258) exist only within the mind. The physical body and the secondary qualities would be utterly inseparable from each other because both were needed to comprise the object. Berkeley then proposes that the sensible ideas cannot exist only within the mind while the objects exist only in reality if the two are entirely inseparable. Thus, the objects must exist within the mind as well. At the conclusion of his arguments, Berkeley depicts the entities that exist within the mind of man. He explains that a spirit causes ideas within the mind. The understanding perceives the ideas while the will operates or produces ideas. Also, Berkeley describes laws of nature which are the methods and patterns that are perceived by the idea of senses. These laws may be the only real ideas because they are imprinted in us by the Author of Nature and teach us to associate certain ideas with others to learn how to live.

Project Based Learning for Special Education

Project Based Learning for Special Education Project-based learning is an excellent way to differentiate instruction in a full inclusion classroom especially when that class includes students of widely different abilities, from the cognitively or developmental disabled to the gifted children. Project-based learning is also excellent in resource rooms or self-contained classrooms with either typically developing partners or with sufficient support or accommodations. In projects: Science: Create a model of a concept, perhaps insects, and label each part.Reading: Create a television commercial or a web page to promote a book, one you have read together or one that the group has read in a literary circle.Social Studies: Create a play, a power point presentation, or display for a State (as in Michigan,) a country, a political system (socialism, capitalism, republic, etc.) or a political point of view.Math: Plan a trip to a preferred spot (Paris, Tokyo) and create a budget for hotels, flights, meals, etc. In each case the project may support any number of educational objectives: Reinforce Content Retention Project learning has proven, in research, to improve concept retention in a range of students. Deeper Understanding When students are asked to use content knowledge, they are driven to use higher level thinking skills (Blooms Taxonomy) such as Evaluate or Create. Multi-Sensory Instruction Students, not just students with disabilities, all come with different learning styles. Some are strongly visual learners, some are auditory. Some are kinetic and learn best when they can move. Many children benefit from sensory input, and students who are ADHD or Dyslexic benefit from being able to move as they process information. Teaches Skills in Cooperation and Collaboration Future jobs will require not only higher levels of training and technical skills but also the ability to work collaboratively in groups. Groups work well when they are chosen by both the teacher and the students: some groups could be affinity-based, others could be crossability, and some could be friendship based. Alternate Means of Assessing Students' Progress Using a rubric to lay out standards can put students of varying abilities on a level playing field. Student Engagement at its Best When students are excited about what they are doing in school, they will behave better, participate more fully and benefit the most. Project-based learning is a powerful tool for the inclusive classroom. Even if a student or students spend part of their day in a resource or self-contained classroom, the time they spend in project-based collaboration will be a time when typically developing peers will model both good classroom and academic behavior. Projects can enable gifted students to push their academic and intellectual limits. Projects are acceptable across abilities when they meet the criterion established in a rubric. Project-based learning also works well with small groups of students. Pictured above is the scale model of the solar system one of my students with Autism created with me: We figured out the scale together, measured the size of the planets, and measured the distances between the planets. He now knows the order of the planets, the difference between terrestrial and gaseous planets and can tell you why most planets are uninhabitable.

The Elephant Man Demands of Society in the play Essay

The Elephant Man Demands of Society in the play - Essay Example However, the name Elephant Man was mistakenly given as his sobriquet because many thought that he was afflicted with elephantiasis. Born in England in 1862, it became apparent that there was something wrong with him while he was still a toddler. It was during this early stage in his life that disfiguring tumors began to emerge on his face. It was Merrick's belief that his deformity was caused by his mother's having been frightened by an elephant. Even this notion was quite ludicrous for Victorian England, but Merrick stuck to this belief since he was unable to receive ample quality education. His mother died when Merrick was 10 and his stepmother, unable to cope with the child's growing deformity, convinced her husband to throw the boy into the streets. And so at a young age, Merrick had his first taste of human cruelty and became a street urchin. Merrick was peddling shoe polish by the time he was 12 years old. Still living on the streets, he was not only exposed to the elements but was also subject to regular taunting, bullying and even persecution. He afterwards became a ward of the state and was forced to work in a welfare sweatshop. Merrick's face and also his body were covered with lumpy growths and tumors. The tumors were also made up of hard bone. An attempt was made to cut away the excess growths but this ended in failure. Merrick's deformity grew through time. People stared and gaped at Merrick wherever he went. Thus, Merrick decided that if they have to look, they might as well pay for it and so he began his career as a sideshow freak (Kayser 1966). Merrick remained in the London Hospital until he died mysteriously of suffocation. In a way, he became a sport of pet monster for the upper-class Victorians. His presence took away their fear of the strange and unusual. The Nature of Joseph Merrick Merrick wrote a short autobiography wherein he stated that his experiences as a sideshow freak was not hurtful. He said that he was treated with the "greatest kindness." In contrast, he wrote, it was real life that proved to be hurtful (Daily Chronicle 1890). Although brutally exploited as a sideshow freak, Merrick showed his gentleness even among those who persecuted him. He was eventually able to read widely, learned the arts, visited beautiful places and entertained royalty. As Lady Geraldine Somerset described his gentle nature and circumstance, "such a gentle, kindly man, poor thing!" (Howell & Ford, 1980). Although his physical appearance elicited shudders from the public, his genuinely sterling character made him the perfect fairy tale monstrosity. Merrick was a very ill man and his condition worsened through time. The pain became more pronounced and crippling as the disease advanced. He would spend hours sitting and staring into emptiness, seemingly despondent as he tapped the fingers of his disfigured right hand on the arm of his chair or a pillow. Despite his despondent state, Merrick gave hope to his well-wishers reiterating that the world they live in is a good one. He also expressed his gratitude to those who called on him: "Tis true my form is something odd, But blaming me is blaming God; Could I create myself anew I would not fail in pleasing you. "If I could reach from pole to pole Or grasp the ocean with a span, I would be measured by the soul; The mind's the standard of the man." (Howard & Ford, 189) In the first verse, Merrick accepts his oddity. But he also does not cast any blame on

Practice report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Practice report - Coursework Example The paper is an analysis of the issue of managing across cultures for the benefit of an organization. Cross cultural management is a very important in the daily operations of any organization that is situated in a multicultural environment. Understanding different cultures and appreciating their differences is essential in determining how people within the organization are going to interact with each other and with other people outside the organization. Proper cross cultural management ensures that there is understanding in and out of the organization (Tjosvold and Leung, 2003). This helps create conducive working environment, which eventually translates into better returns for the company. In this paper, I will look at different sources that have information about cross- cultural management and communication. I will analyze all the sources, and pick two which are most relevant to my area of research. Currency: it is not clear how recent the information is. However, it is indicated at the bottom of the article that the webpage was last updated on 22nd November, 2010. the information seems to be up to date with the requirements of my topic. Reliability: The information in this article is basically about what cross cultural communication is all about, its global rise and its incorporation into educational organizations. The content appears to be well balanced. The author does provide some references for his article. This adds to the reliability of the content. Authority : No one is indicated to be the author of the article, but Wikipedia may be regarded as its owner. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that can be accessed free of charge by anyone. Wikipedia is not a very reputable source since nothing is known of the credentials of the author. The publisher (Wikipedia) does not have any interest in the content of the article. There are no

Business ethics Essay Example for Free

Business ethics Essay In business there will always be the line to act with integrity or to lie, cheat, and steal. Famous author Douglas Adams once said, â€Å"To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity† (Heathfield, n. d). The priority of any business is to serve the needs and wants of the customer and more important his or her stakeholders. Any business decision made in major corporations must line up with stakeholder’s interests, but more important stakeholders have the social responsibility to represent in the best interest of the entire corporation. The prevalence of so many major scandals with corporations caught in the public is drawing much needed attention on concepts of ethic, and social responsibility. Ethics and corporate responsibility is a direct application of the ideas of in business practice. This papers purpose is to explain the role of ethics and social responsibility in building a strategic plan while incorporating the stakeholder interests. Business execs have the responsibility to adhering to the unspoken ethics they have only not taught but also have enforced by society and the law. Ethics are inherently common sense decisions made by those in authority with the power to affect an entire organization. When, business executives make decisions they must consider business ethics and the organizations (stakeholders) values. Once the essential questions ask is, â€Å"Do the organization’s values reflect accepted society values? (Young, 2004) Business executives must execute strategic business plans where they take into account not only each value associated with each choice, but the consequences of each choice. The interests of the stakeholder are one of the prime obligations of an organization. The demands of the stakeholders are generally to increase profits; this is echoed by economist Milton Friedman, the â€Å"one and only one social responsibility of business is to increase its profits, assuming an honest and open marketplace†. (Bigelow, 2013), According to Friedman also that corporations owe no responsibilities to society. However, critics will disagree that corporate social responsibility is always to put the customer first, which ensures a customer’s happiness and loyalty. Stakeholders are not only investors into companies but they also have voting power, which carries social, and financial influence within the company. Their social responsibility is to the customers and to the employees (Jones, 2012). They have decision power, and ultimate control over allocation of resources. Corporations and organizations ultimately exist to satisfy the needs and agendas of the stakeholders. The problem lies in, however; when the needs and the agendas of the stakeholders can blur the line between what is ethically right and what is considered against the law. The organization’s obligation to the stakeholder is as much as a priority as the relationship to the public. â€Å"The relationship between a customer and a firm exists because of mutual expectations built on trust, good faith, and fair dealing in their interaction† (Ferrell). When creating a strategic business plan the organization must incorporate its social responsibilities for the customer, and prevent any ethical dilemmas. Clear examples that recently have captivated the news over the decade has been the highly publicized cases of Waste Management, Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, HealthSouth, which exaggerated earnings to meet the expectations of stakeholders, Freddie Mac, AIG, Bernie Madoff, and host of others. These examples of accounting fraud, manipulation of books, and stealing from clients made by top executives in the position to meet the expectations of stakeholders and not making ethically sound decisions. To prevent these scandals from occurring, ruining not only the organization, the employees but also the public’s faith within the corporate world, according to research ethical risk management is an option dependent on the infrastructure in which it promotes ethical conduct and standards. The directives and the support from management in the way it manages potential problems with the lack of ethical standards. Because of the number of scandals not only have businesses implemented stronger measures for ethical practices but also have the legal systems. The establishment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002, which came after the scandal of WorldCom, was because the number of major corporations collapsing under the weight of their own unethical practices. According to the SEC, â€Å"the Act mandated a number of reforms to enhance corporate responsibility, enhance financial disclosures and combat corporate and accounting fraud, and created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, also known as the PCAOB, to oversee the activities of the auditing profession† (SEC, 2012). Ethics is a fundamental part of compliance and governance systems. Ethics explicitly should integrate into the elements of strategic planning in businesses. In determining the roles that factor into managing stakeholder’s interests ethically organizations must first take into consideration that the business is the first line of defense in taking responsibility for managing and supervising corporate responsibility effective in accordance with the level of influence the business set by the organization. Executives in a position to communicate to stakeholders must always implement ethical decisions when balancing their needs and the organizations’. The executives must be responsible in providing clarification and verification of ethical standards in place. The executives must drive the culture and work environment of compliance toward ethical standards and practices to ensure the effectiveness. Business ethics is important in every organization and the main responsibility is to act with integrity and honesty. References Ferrall, O. C. (2004). Business ethics and customer stakeholders. Academy of Management Executive, 18(2), retrieved from http://danielsethics. mgt. unm. edu/pdf/Customer Stakeholders. pdf. Bigelow, L. (2013). What are the social responsibilities of a company to its stakeholders? Hearst Newspapers, Retrieved from http://smallbusiness. chron. com Heathfield, S. (n. d. ). Inspirational quotes for business and work: Integrity. Retrieved from http://humanresources. about. com Young, P. (2004). Ethics and risk management: Building a framework. Risk Management, 6(3), 23-34. Retrieved from http://www. jstor. org â€Å"The Laws That Govern the Securities Industry. † (2012). SEC. Retrieved from http://www. irmi. com/expert/articles/2005/head02. aspx.

Essay --

ANALYSIS OF YANBU CEMENT COMPANY AND IS PRODUCT Name Institution History of YANBU Cement Company YANBU Cement Company is a joint stock Saudi company formed in the year 1977. It produces different kinds of cement such as the Portland cement and the Portland Pozzolan Cement. The company owns about 60% of Yanbu Saudi Kuwait for Paper Products Co. Limited. The company currently has a capacity of 22,500 tpd per day. The company sells most of its products in Makka and Madina and other Western regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company operates in the rapidly growing Saudi cement industry. Saudi Arabia is the third largest producer of cement after Iran and Egypt. Product, features and history Cement is a finely ground compound of limestone and clay or marl (Chandigarh, 2001). It is used in hydraulic binding since it hardens and binds together aggregates and becomes waterproof thereafter. The most popular use of sand is in building and construction where it is used to bind sand and gravel to obtain concrete used in constructing houses, roads, water channels, among others. Yanbu Cement company produces different types of cement such as Portland cement types I, II, III and IV. Effects of changing prices and other factors Changing prices Yanbu operates in a highly competitive industry with several well-established cement manufacturers. Its main competitors include Saudi Cement, Yanama Cement, Arabian Cement, Qassim Cement, Al Safwa cement, among other cement companies. By the year 2010, Yanbu had the second largest cement production capacity after Saudi Cement. The price charged for each bag of cement is a major determinant of demand for a company’s cement in the market. According to the law of demand, m... ... has contributed to higher volumes of production. Saudi Arabia is endowed with large deposits of limestone making it a suitable location for cement manufacturing. Proximity to the source of raw materials also reduces the transport cost. Finally, government policy influences the supply of cement. A price ceiling on cement leads to a reduction in cement supplied in the domestic market and an increase in the quantity exported. An export ban restricts cement manufacturers to supply their products to the domestic market. In addition, government control is effected through issuance of licenses to cement manufacturers. The cement industry had been dominated by eight companies but this has changed with the issuance of licenses to additional seven companies. An increase in the number of firms licensed to manufacture cement leads to an increase in the supply of cement.

Lord Of The Flies Chapter 5 Essay

The boys life has deteriorated a lot since they first arrived on the island and from the look of the situation things can only get worse unless they change their behaviour and attitude . There is a lot of conflict between Ralph and Jack, the fear of the unknown is growing, the boys are turning into savages and becoming more uncivilised by the day, rules and taboos are being disobeyed and ignored, and bullying and rivalry is becoming more of a problem. The conflict between Ralph and Jack is causing a lot of tension in the group and is therefore affecting the boys lives. It has already divided them into separate groups with different priorities as some have followed Jack and some have followed Ralph. Jack and Ralph’s different priorities is the main reason for the conflict between them as they are completely opposite. Jack wants control and started of wanting to be leader but was out done by Ralph who was voted the leader. Jack is short tempered and very big headed where as Ralph is realistic, kind hearted and organised. Ralph’s main priority is to be rescued and have fun have fun on the island. Their relationship is described in the book as ‘two continents of experience’ and ‘ baffled in love and hate’. Their personality also clash as they are completely different. Ralph is optimistic, respectful, fair, practical and naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve, where as Jack is arrogant, boastful, power hungry, self centred, easily angered and brutal. The boys fear of the unknown is represented in different ways but is rapidly growing and could get out of hand. It started of as being a beastie, then a snake like creature, and now a beast from water or even a ghost. At first it was only the ‘litluns’ that were scared of the beastie and believed it existed but now the older boys are starting to get worried and have their doubts so none of the quite knows what to believe. Even Ralph has his doubts about what the thing is and he is supposed to be leader, ‘ I don’t believe in ghosts at least I don’t think so’. This comment from Ralph shows that he is now considering there being some type of creature on the island even though he just dismissed the idea at the beginning. Deterioration has also been caused by the boys becoming totally uncivilised and turning into savages. Although they are now looking like savages as their hair has grown, Jack is mainly responsible for them turning into savages. He was so obsessed with hunting to kill that he influenced the other boys that became his hunters. At the beginning they hunted but did not manage to kill for a ling time. Then when Jack finally did he became even more obsessed and made masks that he could hide behind while hunting, ‘ the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack lived’. This made Jack a different person when he put on the mask, he was a killer with no taboos or responsibilities. Jack’s passion for hunting also caused a major disagreement between him and Ralph because on the day a ship went by the fire was let out by boys that Jack made go hunting with him that day. Ralph said to Jack when he got back ‘ There was as ship, you let the fire out.’ There was a strong chance that they may have been rescued then but down to Jack they ended up eating their first pig. From successfully killing his first pig Jack felt very strong and had fulfilled his ambition so did not really care about the fire or Ralph. Rules have been completely ignored lately and systems of organisation disrespected. This has led to the boys becoming lazy and uncivilised. At one point things were going well and most things were well organised. There was toilet system worked out so there was not mess all over the island and water was being stored in coconut shells in the shade so hat it would be cool and fresh. Though now these systems have been ignored and the boys are going to the toilet anywhere on the island and no water is being stored. Ralph also tried to built shelters for them to sleep in which would have been practical but Simon was the only one that would help in the end so they could not be completed. This shows how disorganised the boys have become and disrespectful. They have no taboos and without adults they have forgotten the way they had to behave. Bullying has also become a problem that has led to a deterioration in the boys life. Jack consistently picks on Piggy and uses him as scapegoat for his own mistakes. He makes little of Piggy and by doing this he is trying to show that he has power over the boys as well as Ralph. The litluns are also being ignored and sometimes bullied by the elder boys. Although this might have happened a bit before they arrived on the island but there were still taboos that the older boys had. All these reasons have led to deterioration in the boys life. Their behaviour on the island has had consequences and meant that their lives have become less structured and disciplined and more savage like. Ralph described the situation by saying, ‘we are all drifting and things are turning rotten’. This shows us that the boys are drifting apart and could possibly separate into different groups completely which would also make their life deteriorate more.

Last Sacrifice Chapter Seven

THE PROBLEM WAS, OF COURSE, that I soon lost myself in the darkness. After living in the wilds of Montana, I was used to how completely the night could swallow you once you stepped away from even the tiniest hint of civilization. I was even used to wandering the twists and turns of dark forests. But the St. Vladimir's terrain had been familiar. The woods of West Virginia were new and foreign, and I had completely lost my bearings. Once I was pretty sure I'd put enough distance between me and the motel, I paused and looked around. Night insects hummed and sang, and the oppressive summer humidity hung around me. Peering up through the leafy canopy of trees, I could see a brilliant sky of stars, totally untouched by city lights. Feeling like a true wilderness survivor, I studied the stars until I spotted the Big Dipper and figured out which direction was north. The mountains Sydney had driven us through had been to the east, so I certainly didn't want to go in that direction. It seemed reasonable that if I hiked north, I'd eventually hit an interstate and either hitchhike or walk my way back to civilization. It wasn't an airtight plan, but it wasn't the worst one I'd ever had, not by a long shot. I wasn't really dressed for hiking, but as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I managed to avoid most trees and other obstacles. Following the tiny road out of town would have been easier–but was also what Dimitri would expect me to do. I fell into a steady, subconscious rhythm as I made my way north. I decided it was a good time to check in on Lissa, now that I had time on my hands and no guardians trying to arrest me. I slipped into her mind and found her within the depths of the guardians' headquarters, sitting in a hallway lined with chairs. Other Moroi sat nearby, including Christian and Tasha. â€Å"They'll question you hard,' Tasha murmured. â€Å"Especially you.' That was to Christian. â€Å"You'd be my first choice if something illicitly blew up.' That seemed to be everyone's opinion. From the troubled look on her face, I could see Tasha had been as surprised by my escape as I had. Even if my friends hadn't filled her in on the whole story yet, she had probably pieced most things together–at the very least, who was behind it. Christian gave her as charming a smile as he could manage, like a kid trying to dodge being grounded. â€Å"They'll know by now that it wasn't caused by magic,' he said. â€Å"The guardians will have scoured every inch of those statues.' He didn't elaborate, not in public, but Lissa's mind was working along the same lines as his. The guardians would know now the explosion hadn't been elemental. And even if my friends were the primary suspects, the authorities would have to wonder–just as I had–how teenagers would get a hold of C4. Lissa nodded her agreement and rested her hand on Christian's. â€Å"We'll be okay.' Her thoughts turned to both Dimitri and me, wondering if we'd made it out according to the plan. She couldn't focus on finding Tatiana's killer until she knew we were safe. Like me, the breakout had been a hard choice: freeing me put me in more danger than keeping me locked up. Her emotions were keyed up, prickly and a bit wilder than I would have liked. So much spirit, I realized. She's using too much. Back at school, she'd managed it with prescription medication and later through self-control. But somewhere, as our situations grew increasingly complicated, she'd allowed herself to wield more and more. Recently, she'd used astonishing amounts, and we'd come to take it for granted. Sooner or later, Lissa's reliance on spirit would catch up with her. With us. â€Å"Princess?' A door across from Lissa opened, and a guardian peered out. â€Å"We're ready for you.' The guardian stepped aside, and inside the room, Lissa heard a familiar voice say, â€Å"Always a pleasure speaking with you, Hans. We should do it again sometime.' Abe then appeared, strutting out with his usual swagger. He stepped past the guardian in the doorway and gave Lissa and the Ozeras a winning, all-is-right-in-the-world grin. Without a word, he strode past them toward the hall's exit. Lissa almost smiled but reined it in, putting on a sober look as she and her companions entered. The door shut behind them, and she found herself facing three guardians seated at a table. One of them I'd seen around but had never met. I think his last name was Steele. The other two I knew well. One was Hans Croft, who ran the guardians' operations at Court. Beside him–to my astonishment–was Alberta, who was in charge of St. Vladimir's guardians and novices. â€Å"Lovely,' growled Hans. â€Å"A whole entourage.' Christian had insisted on being present when Lissa was questioned, and Tasha had insisted on being present with Christian. If Abe had known the interrogation time, he probably would have joined the group too, undoubtedly followed by my mother †¦ Hans didn't realize he'd dodged a house party. Lissa, Christian, and Tasha sat down opposite the guardians. â€Å"Guardian Petrov,' said Lissa, ignoring Hans's disapproval. â€Å"What are you doing here?' Alberta gave Lissa a small smile but otherwise kept in professional guardian mode. â€Å"I was here for the funeral, and Guardian Croft decided he'd like an outside opinion for the investigation.' â€Å"As well as someone familiar with Hathaway and her, uh, associates,' added Hans. Hans was the kind of guy who got straight to the point. Usually, his attitude bothered me–that was my normal reaction to most authority figures–but I did respect the way he ran operations here. â€Å"This meeting was intended just for you, princess.' â€Å"We won't say a word,' said Christian. Lissa nodded and kept her face smooth and polite, even though there was a trembling in her voice. â€Å"I want to help †¦ I've been so, I don't know. I'm so stunned about everything that's happened.' â€Å"I'm sure,' said Hans, voice dry. â€Å"Where were you when the statues exploded?' â€Å"With the funeral procession,' she said. â€Å"I was part of the escort.' Steele had a pile of papers in front of him. â€Å"That's true. There are plenty of witnesses.' â€Å"Very convenient. What about afterward?' asked Hans. â€Å"Where did you go when the crowd panicked?' â€Å"Back to the Council's building. That's where all the others were meeting up, and I thought it'd be safest.' I couldn't see her face but could feel her trying to look cowed. â€Å"I was afraid when things started going crazy.' â€Å"We also have witnesses to support that,' said Steele. Hans drummed his fingers on the table. â€Å"Did you have any prior knowledge about any of this? The explosions? Hathaway's breakout?' Lissa shook her head. â€Å"No! I had no clue. I didn't even know it was possible to get out of the cells. I thought there was too much security.' Hans ignored the dig on his operations. â€Å"You've got that bond thing, right? You didn't pick up anything through that?' â€Å"I don't read her,' explained Lissa. â€Å"She sees my thoughts but not the other way around.' â€Å"That,' said Alberta, speaking up at last, â€Å"is true.' Hans didn't contradict her but still wasn't buying my friends' innocence. â€Å"You realize, if you're caught concealing information–or aiding her–you'll face consequences almost as serious as hers. All of you. Royalty doesn't exempt you from treason.' Lissa lowered her gaze, as though his threat had frightened her. â€Å"I just can't believe †¦ I just can't believe she'd do this. She was my friend. I thought I knew her. I didn't think she could do any of these things †¦ I never thought she'd murder anyone.' If not for the feelings in the bond, I might have taken offense. I knew the truth, though. She was acting, trying to distance herself from me. It was smart. â€Å"Really? Because not long ago, you were swearing up and down that she was innocent,' pointed out Hans. Lissa looked back up and widened her eyes. â€Å"I thought she was! But then †¦ then I heard about what she did to those guardians in the escape †¦' Her distress wasn't entirely faked this time. She still needed to act like she thought I was guilty, but the news of Meredith's condition had reached her–which truly had shocked her. That made two of us, but at least I now knew Meredith was okay. Hans still looked skeptical at Lissa's change of heart but let it go. â€Å"What about Belikov? You swore he wasn't a Strigoi anymore, but obviously something went wrong there as well.' Christian stirred beside Lissa. As an advocate for Dimitri, Christian grew as irritated as us at the suspicions and accusations. Lissa spoke before Christian could say anything. â€Å"He's not Strigoi!' Lissa's remorse over me vanished, her old, fierce defense of Dimitri kicking in. She hadn't expected this line of questioning about him. She'd been preparing herself to defend me and her alibi. Hans seemed pleased at the reaction and watched her closely. â€Å"Then how do you explain his involvement?' â€Å"It wasn't because he was Strigoi,' said Lissa, forcing her control back. Her heart was pounding rapidly. â€Å"He changed back. There's no Strigoi left.' â€Å"But he attacked a number of guardians–on more than one occasion.' It looked like Tasha wanted to interrupt now and defend Dimitri as well, but she visibly bit her lip. It was remarkable. The Ozeras liked to speak their minds, not always tactfully. â€Å"It wasn't because he was Strigoi,' Lissa repeated. â€Å"And he didn't kill any of those guardians. Not one. Rose did what she did †¦ well, I don't know why. She hated Tatiana, I guess. Everyone knew that. But Dimitri †¦ I'm telling you, being Strigoi had nothing to do with this. He helped her because he used to be her teacher. He thought she was in trouble.' â€Å"That was pretty extreme for a teacher, particularly one who–before turning Strigoi– was known for being level-headed and rational.' â€Å"Yeah, but he wasn't thinking rationally because–‘ Lissa cut herself off, suddenly caught in a bad situation. Hans seemed to have realized quickly in this conversation that if Lissa was involved with recent events–and I don't think he was certain yet–she would have an airtight alibi. Talking to her, however, had given him the chance to pursue another puzzle in my escape: Dimitri's involvement. Dimitri had sacrificed himself to take the fall, even if it meant others not trusting him again. Lissa thought she'd made people think his actions were a former teacher's protective instinct, but apparently, not everyone was buying that. â€Å"He wasn't thinking rationally because?' prompted Hans, eyes sharp. Before the murder, Hans had believed Dimitri truly had become a dhampir again. Something told me he still believed that but sensed there was something big dangling before him. Lissa stayed silent. She didn't want people thinking Dimitri was Strigoi. She wanted people to believe in her powers to restore the undead. But if Dimitri helping a student didn't seem convincing enough to others, all that mistrust might surface again. Glancing at her interrogators, Lissa suddenly met Alberta's eyes. The older guardian said nothing. She wore that neutral, scrutinizing expression that guardians excelled at. She also had an air of wisdom about her, and Lissa briefly allowed spirit to show her Alberta's aura. It had good, steady colors and energy, and in Alberta's eyes, Lissa swore she could see a message, a knowing glint. Tell them, the message seemed to say. It'll create problems–but they won't be as bad as your current ones. Lissa held that gaze, wondering if she was just projecting her own thoughts onto Alberta. It didn't matter who'd come up with the idea. Lissa knew it was right. â€Å"Dimitri helped Rose because †¦ because they were involved.' As I'd guessed, Alberta wasn't surprised, and she seemed relieved to have the truth out there. Hans and Steele, however, were very surprised. I had only seen Hans shocked a few times. â€Å"When you say â€Å"involved,' do you mean †¦' He paused to structure his words. â€Å"Do you mean romantically involved?' Lissa nodded, feeling horrible. She'd revealed a big secret here, one she'd sworn she'd keep for me, but I didn't blame her. Not in this situation. Love–I hoped–would defend Dimitri's actions. â€Å"He loved her,' said Lissa. â€Å"She loved him. If he helped her escape–‘ â€Å"He did help her escape,' interrupted Hans. â€Å"He attacked guardians and blew up priceless, centuries-old statues brought over from Europe!' Lissa shrugged. â€Å"Well, like I said. He wasn't acting rationally. He wanted to help her and probably thought she was innocent. He would have done anything for her–and it had nothing to do with Strigoi.' â€Å"Love only justifies so much.' Hans clearly wasn't a romantic. â€Å"Shes underage!' exclaimed Steele. That part hadn't escaped him. â€Å"She's eighteen,' corrected Lissa. Hans cut her a look. â€Å"I can do the math, princess. Unless they managed some beautiful, touching romance in the last few weeks–while he was mostly in isolation– then there were things going on at your school that someone should have reported.' Lissa said nothing, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Tasha and Christian. They were trying to keep their expressions neutral, but it was obvious this news wasn't a surprise to them, no doubt confirming Hans's suspicions that illicit things had been going on. I actually hadn't realized Tasha knew about Dimitri and me and felt a little bad. Had she known that part of his rejection of her had been because of me? And if she knew, how many others did? Christian had probably tipped her off, but something told me more people were probably starting to find out as well. After the school's attack, my reaction had likely been a big clue about my feelings for Dimitri. Maybe telling Hans now wasn't so big a deal after all. The secret wouldn't be a secret much longer. Alberta cleared her throat, speaking up at last. â€Å"I think we have more important things to worry about right now than some romance that may or may not have happened.' Steele gave her an incredulous look and slammed his hand against the table. â€Å"This is pretty serious. Did you know about it?' â€Å"All I know is that we're getting distracted from the point here,' she replied, neatly dodging the question. Alberta was about twenty years older than Steele, and the tough look she gave him said that he was a child wasting her time. â€Å"I thought we were here to figure out if Miss Hathaway had any accomplices, not dredge up the past. So far, the only person we can say for sure that helped her is Belikov, and he did it out of irrational affection. That makes him a fugitive and a fool, not a Strigoi.' I'd never thought of my relationship with Dimitri as â€Å"irrational affection,' but Alberta's point was taken. Something in Hans's and Steele's faces made me think soon the whole world would know about us, but that was nothing compared to murder. And if it cleared Dimitri of being a Strigoi, then it meant he'd be imprisoned instead of staked if ever captured. Small blessings. Lissa's questioning continued a bit longer before the guardians decided she was free and clear of any part in my escape (that they could prove). She did a good job playing surprised and confused the whole time, even mustering a few tears over how she could have so misjudged me. She spun a little bit of compulsion into her act too–not enough to brainwash anyone, but enough that Steele's earlier outrage transformed to sympathy. Hans was harder to read, but as my group left, he reminded Tasha and Christian that he would be speaking with each of them later, preferably without an entourage. For now, the next person in the hot seat was waiting in the hall: Eddie. Lissa gave him the same smile she'd give any friend. There was no indication that they were both part of a conspiracy. Eddie nodded in return as he was called to the room for his interrogation. Lissa was anxious for him, but I knew his guardian self-control would make sure he stuck to the story. He probably wouldn't pull the tears Lissa had, but he'd likely act just as shocked by my â€Å"treason' as she had. Tasha left Christian and Lissa once they were outside, first warning them to be careful. â€Å"You've gotten out of this so far, but I don't think the guardians have completely cleared you. Especially Hans.' â€Å"Hey, I can take care of myself,' said Christian. Tasha rolled her eyes. â€Å"Yes. I see what happens when you're left to your own devices.' â€Å"Hey, don't get all pissy because we didn't tell you,' he exclaimed. â€Å"We didn't have time, and there were only so many people we could get involved. Besides, you've done your share of crazy plans before.' â€Å"True,' Tasha admitted. She was hardly a role model for playing by the rules. â€Å"It's just that everything's gotten that much more complicated. Rose is on the run. And now Dimitri †¦' She sighed, and I didn't need her to finish to guess her thoughts. There was a profound look of sadness in her eyes, one that made me feel guilty. Just like the rest of us, Tasha had wanted Dimitri's reputation restored. By freeing the queen's accused assassin, he'd seriously damaged any chance at acceptance. I really wished he hadn't gotten involved and hoped my current escape plan paid off. â€Å"This'll all work out,' said Christian. â€Å"You'll see.' He didn't look so confident as he spoke, and Tasha gave him a small, amused smile. â€Å"Just be careful. Please. I don't want to see you in a cell, too. I don't have time for jail visits with everything else going on.' Her amusement faded, and her outspoken activist mode kicked in. â€Å"Our family's being ridiculous, you know. Can you believe they're actually talking about running Esmond for us? Good God. We've already had one tragedy after another around here. At the very least, we should try to salvage something out of this mess.' â€Å"I don't think I know Esmond,' said Christian. â€Å"Moron,' she said matter-of-factly. â€Å"Him, I mean. Not you. Someone's got to talk sense into our family before they embarrass themselves.' Christian grinned. â€Å"And let me guess: you're just the one to do it?' â€Å"Of course,' she said, a mischievous gleam in her eye. â€Å"I've already drawn up a list of ideal candidates. Our family just needs some persuasion to see how ideal they are.' â€Å"I'd feel bad for them if they weren't still being assholes to us,' Christian remarked, watching his aunt walk away. The stigma of his parents turning Strigoi still lingered after all these years. Tasha accepted it more gracefully–despite her complaining–if only to be able to participate in the Ozera family's larger decisions. Christian made no such attempts at civility. It was terrible enough to be treated as less than other Moroi, to be denied guardians and other things royals were entitled to. But from his own family? It was especially harsh. He refused to pretend it was acceptable. â€Å"They'll come around eventually,' said Lissa, sounding more optimistic than she felt. Any response of Christian's was swallowed when a new companion fell into step with them: my father. His abrupt appearance startled both of my friends, but I wasn't surprised. He probably knew about Lissa's interrogation and had been skulking outside the building, waiting to talk to her. â€Å"It's nice out,' said Abe amiably, looking around at the trees and flowers as though the three of them were on a nature walk through Court. â€Å"But it's going to be scorching when the sun comes up.' The darkness that was giving me so much trouble in the woods of West Virginia made for pleasant, â€Å"midday' conditions for those on a vampiric schedule. Lissa gave Abe a sidelong glance. With eyes well-tuned to low light, she had no difficulty taking in the brilliant teal dress shirt under his beige sports jacket. A blind person could have probably seen him in that color. Lissa scoffed at Abe's faked casualness. It was a habit of his, opening with small talk before moving on to more sinister topics. â€Å"You're not here to talk about the weather.' â€Å"Trying to be civilized, that's all.' He fell silent as a couple of Moroi girls passed them. Once they were well out of ear-shot, he asked in a low voice, â€Å"I assume everything went well at your little meeting?' â€Å"Fine,' she said, not bothering to fill him in about â€Å"irrational affection.' She knew all he'd care about was that none of their associates had been implicated. â€Å"The guardians have Eddie now,' said Christian. â€Å"And want me later, but I think that'll be it for all of us.' Lissa sighed. â€Å"Honestly, I have a feeling the interrogation was the easy part, compared to what's coming.' She meant figuring out who had really killed Tatiana. â€Å"One step at a time,' murmured Abe. â€Å"No point in letting the larger picture overwhelm us. We'll just start at the beginning.' â€Å"That's the problem,' said Lissa, kicking irritably at a branch lying across the cobblestone path in front of her. â€Å"I have no idea where to start. Whoever killed Tatiana did a good job covering their tracks and shifting it all to Rose.' â€Å"One step at a time,' repeated Abe. He spoke in that sly tone of his that annoyed me sometimes, but to Lissa today, it was grating. Until now, all of her energy had been focused on getting me out of jail and somewhere safe. That was the goal that had driven her and kept her going in my escape's aftermath. Now, after some of the intensity had faded, the pressure of it all was beginning to crash down on her. Christian put an arm around her shoulders, sensing her dismay. He turned to Abe, unusually serious. â€Å"Do you have any ideas?' Christian asked Abe. â€Å"We certainly don't have any real evidence.' â€Å"We have reasonable assumptions,' Abe replied. â€Å"Like that whoever killed Tatiana would have had access to her private rooms. That's not a long list.' â€Å"Its not short either.' Lissa ticked off people on her fingers. â€Å"The royal guards, her friends and family †¦ and that's assuming no one altered the guardians' records of her visitors. And for all we know, some visits were never logged at all. She probably had secret business meetings all the time.' â€Å"Unlikely she'd have business meetings in her bedroom, in her nightgown,' mused Abe. â€Å"Of course, it depends on the type of business, I suppose.' Lissa stumbled, realization stunning her. â€Å"Ambrose.' â€Å"Who?' â€Å"Hes a dhampir †¦ really good-looking †¦ He and Tatiana were, um †¦' â€Å"Involved?' said Christian with a smile, echoing the interrogation. Now Abe came to a stop. Lissa did the same, and his dark eyes met hers. â€Å"I've seen him. Sort of a pool boy type.' â€Å"He'd have access to her bedroom,' said Lissa. â€Å"But I just can't–I don't know. I can't see him doing this.' â€Å"Appearances are deceiving,' said Abe. â€Å"He was terribly interested in Rose back in the courtroom.' More surprise for Lissa. â€Å"What are you talking about?' Abe stroked his chin in an evil-villain sort of way. â€Å"He spoke to her †¦ or gave her some signal. I'm not really sure, but there was some kind of interaction between them.' Clever, watchful Abe. He'd noticed Ambrose giving me the note but hadn't fully realized what had happened. â€Å"We should talk to him then,' said Christian. Lissa nodded. Conflicting feelings churned inside of her. She was excited by a lead– but upset that it meant kind, gentle Ambrose might be a suspect. â€Å"I'll take care of it,' said Abe breezily. I felt her gaze fall heavily on him. I couldn't see her expression, but I did see Abe take an involuntary step back, the faintest glimmer of surprise in his eyes. Even Christian flinched. â€Å"And I'm going to be there when you do,' she said, steel in her voice. â€Å"Do not attempt some crazy torture-style interrogation without me.' â€Å"You want to be there for the torture?' asked Abe, recovering. â€Å"There won't be any. We'll talk to Ambrose like civilized people, understand?' She stared hard at him again, and Abe finally shrugged in acquiescence, as though being overpowered by a woman half his age was no big deal. â€Å"Fine. We'll do it together.' Lissa was a little suspicious at his willingness, and he must have picked up on that. â€Å"We will,' he said, continuing walking. â€Å"This is a good time–well, as good as any time–for an investigation. Court's going to get chaotic as the monarch elections get under way. Everyone here will be busy, and new people will start pouring in.' A breeze, heavy with humidity, ruffled Lissa's hair. The promise of heat was on it, and she knew Abe would be right about sunrise. It would be worth going to bed early. â€Å"When will the elections happen?' she asked. â€Å"As soon as they put dear Tatiana to rest. These things move fast. We need our government restored. She'll be buried tomorrow at the church with a ceremony and service, but there'll be no repeat of the procession. They're still too uneasy.' I felt kind of bad that she hadn't received a full queenly funeral in the end, but then, if it meant her true murderer was found, maybe she would have preferred it that way. â€Å"Once the burial happens and elections begin,' Abe continued, â€Å"any family who wants to put out a candidate for the crown will do so–and of course they'll want to. You've never seen a monarchial election, have you? It's quite a spectacle. Of course, before the voting occurs, all the candidates will have to be tested.' There was something ominous in the way he said â€Å"tested,' but Lissa's thoughts were elsewhere. Tatiana had been the only queen she'd ever known, and the full impact of a regime change was staggering. â€Å"A new king or queen can affect everything–for better or worse. I hope it's someone good. One of the Ozeras, maybe. One of Tasha's people.' She glanced hopefully at Christian, who could only shrug. â€Å"Or Ariana Szelsky. I like her. Not that it matters who I want,' she added bitterly. â€Å"Seeing as I can't vote.' The Council's votes determined the election's winner, so again, she was locked out of the Moroi legal process. â€Å"A lot of work will go into the nominations,' Abe explained, avoiding her last comment. â€Å"Each family will want someone to further their interests but who also has a chance of getting votes from–‘ â€Å"Oomph!' I was thrust harshly out of the calculating world of Moroi politics and back into the wilds of West Virginia–very painfully so. Something solid and fierce slammed me against the hard-packed earth, leaves and branches cutting my face and hands. Strong hands held me down, and Dimitri's voice spoke in my ear. â€Å"You should have just hidden in town,' he said, a little amused. His weight and position allowed me no room to move. â€Å"It would have been the last place I looked. Instead, I knew exactly where you'd go.' â€Å"Whatever. Don't act so smart,' I said through gritted teeth, trying to break out of his hold. Goddamn it. He was smart. And once again, the closeness of him was disorienting. Earlier, it had seemed to affect him too, but he'd apparently learned his lesson. â€Å"You made a lucky guess, that's all.' â€Å"I don't need luck, Roza. I'll always find you. So, really it's up to you how difficult you want this situation to be.' There was an almost conversational tone to his voice, made all the more ridiculous by the situation we were in. â€Å"We can do this over and over, or you can do the reasonable thing and just stay put with Sydney and me.' â€Å"It's not reasonable! It's wasteful.' He was sweating, from the heat and undoubtedly because he'd had to run pretty hard to catch up with me. Adrian wore a cologne that always made me heady, but the natural scent of Dimitri's warm skin was intoxicating too. It was amazing to me that I could keep noticing these little things–and be attracted to them–even when I was legitimately mad at him for keeping me captive. Maybe anger was a turn-on for me. â€Å"How many times do I have to explain the logic behind what we're doing?' he asked in exasperation. â€Å"Until you give up.' I pushed back against him, trying again to get loose, but all it did was put us closer together. I had a feeling the kissing trick wouldn't work this time. He jerked me to my feet, keeping my arms and hands pinned behind my back. I had a little more room to maneuver than I had on the ground, but not quite enough to break free. Slowly, he began trying to make me walk back toward the direction I'd come from. â€Å"I am not letting you and Sydney risk getting in trouble with me. I'll take care of myself, so just let me go!' I said, literally dragging my feet. Seeing a tall, skinny tree, I stuck one leg out and hooked myself onto the trunk, completely bringing us to a halt. Dimitri groaned and shifted his grip to get me away from the tree. It almost gave me an escape opportunity, but I didn't even manage two steps before he had a hold of me again. â€Å"Rose,' he said wearily. â€Å"You can't win.' â€Å"How's your face feeling?' I asked. I couldn't see any marks in the poor lighting but knew the punch I'd given him would leave a mark tomorrow. It was a shame to damage his face like that, but he'd heal, and maybe it would teach him a lesson about messing with Rose Hathaway. Or not. He began dragging me again. â€Å"I'm seconds away from just tossing you over my shoulder,' he warned. â€Å"I'd like to see you try.' â€Å"How do you think Lissa would feel if you got killed?' His grip tightened, and while I had a feeling he'd make good on his over-the-shoulder threat, I also suspected he wanted to shake me. He was that upset. â€Å"Can you imagine what it would do to her if she lost you?' For a moment, I was out of snappy retorts. I didn't want to die, but risking my life was exactly that: risking my life. No one else's. Still, I knew he was right. Lissa would be devastated if anything happened to me. And yet †¦ it was a risk I had to take. â€Å"Have a little faith, comrade. I won't get killed,' I said stubbornly. â€Å"I'll stay alive.' Not the answer he'd wanted. He shifted his hold. â€Å"There are other ways to help her than whatever insanity you're thinking of.' I suddenly went limp. Dimitri stumbled, caught by surprise at my sudden lack of resistance. â€Å"What's wrong?' he asked, both puzzled and suspicious. I stared off into the night, my eyes not really focused on anything. Instead, I was seeing Lissa and Abe back at Court, remembering Lissa's feeling of powerlessness and longing for her vote. Tatiana's note came back to me, and for a moment, I could hear her voice in my head. She is not the last Dragomir. Another lives. â€Å"Youre right,' I said at last. â€Å"Right about †¦ ?' Dimitri was at a total loss. It was a common reaction for people when I agreed to something reasonable. â€Å"Rushing back to Court won't help Lissa.' Silence. I couldn't fully make out his expression, but it was probably filled with shock. â€Å"I'll go back to the motel with you, and I won't go running off to Court.' Another Dragomir. Another Dragomir needing to be found. I took a deep breath. â€Å"But I'm not going to sit around and do nothing. I am going to do something for Lissa–and you and Sydney are going to help me.'