School Bullying Bystander Power Essay - 2572 Words

School Bullying: Bystander Power Frequently in our society, the news includes another tragic story of a bully victim committing suicide or striking out. Hailee in Nevada, Tyler in Georgia and Bart in Connecticut were all bullied to a tragic end. These are only three examples of the many news stories of children who committed suicide because we have yet to identify the solution to stop bullying. We all should agree, incidents like this should never occur. Additionally, no one knows how many children are considering suicide at this very moment. The psychological and physical toll the stress of being bullied has may not be as widely reported as the suicides, but it impacts numerous children daily. School bullying prevention programs cannot continue to primarily focus on punishments and counseling for bullies and victims. First, we must acknowledge the importance of bystander influence. Then as an integral part of the solution to bullying, we must educate bystanders regarding th eir impact and how to take appropriate action. Bullying: The Current State The statistics on bullying are alarming with 25% of students being bullied, 8% staying home to avoid being bullied and greater than 40% report fear of being bullied (STOMP Out Bullyingâ„ ¢, 2016). We are punishing the bullies and supporting the victims to no avail. Despite the national focus on bullying, the problem continues and appears on the rise with the introduction of cyberbullying. â€Å"PACER†, â€Å"Stop Bullying†,Show MoreRelatedBullying in Schools Today839 Words   |  3 Pagesthink of bullying they think of the big guy picking on the little guy, but in most cases the victim is a bully themselves. Bullying will not go away all together, but determining if the situation is actually bullying or not, and standing up to the bully is a great start to decrease bullying in schools today. Drama sometimes is difficult to differ from bullying, and it is important to understand the difference. (1b: SV, and SV.) Bystanders need to become involved to start the end of bullying. Also,Read MoreDaniel Briggs s Life At The Young Age Of 16 Essay1341 Words   |  6 Pagessoft spot for helping others. His interests included hunting and trapping, however, this was not popular where he lived. The bullying began when he was young and it carried on into high school. Once he had reached high school, it escalated. Daniel had difficulty finding friends who had common interests with him and ultimately made him a target for bullying. The bullying began with words then progressed to physical forms. such as having trash thrown at him, punched in the stomach, jumped from behindRead MoreAnti Bullying Programs And Schools1302 Words   |  6 Pagesincreased stress on schools to recognize bullying an issue. Some schools are implementing anti-bullying programs and schools are hoping the programs will be effective. Schools, teachers, staff, students and parents need to realize that bullying is not going to go away over night, but each program students learn will help them become more accepting and empathetic. Anti-bullying programs are effective in schools and give students lessons they will reference to their whole lives. Bullying in the United StatesRead MoreLiterature Review: Behavioural Responses of Student Bystanders in Situations of Bullying970 Words   |  4 PagesBullying, a form of aggression, can be experienced in several forms: physical, verbal, social or cyber. All bullying is composed of three specific concepts—causing their victims harm, possessing greater power than their victims and repetition (Oh Hazler, 2009). Most often it is just the bully and a victim taken into consideration yet this fails to identify a key influence: bystanders. It is their impact on bullying that creates serious problems thus understanding the bystander’s role is vitalRead MoreLiterature Review: Behavioural Responses of Student Bystanders in Situations of Bullying1102 Words   |  5 PagesBullying is a serious occurrence that is plaguing youth all over the globe. Bullying, a form of aggression, can be experienced in four forms: physical, verbal, social or cyber (Oh Hazler, 2009; Trach, Hymel, Waterhouse Neale, 2010). However, all bullying is composed of three specific concepts—causing their victims harm, possessing greater power then their victims and repetition (Oh Hazler, 2009). Read into the definition of â€Å"bullying† and one would simply identify a bully and a victim yetRead MoreBullying : A Child s Worst Nightmare868 Words   |  4 PagesBullying. A child s worst nightmare; it is a terrible and recurring sight in society. All children can handle this differently. The causes of bullying are normally related to how a child is raised or just on his/her mental status. Bullying has negative effects on everyone involved; the bully, the victim, and even the bystanders. The prevention or stopping of bullying is necessary for society. By having a clear understanding of the causes and effects of bullying it will guide people to stopping orRead MoreThe Bullies And Victims Article Focus On The Problems Of Bullying1750 Words   |  7 PagesThe Bullies and v ictims article focus on the problems of bullying in the United Kingdom. Bullying is not just a problem in the United Kingdom; it’s a serious issue throughout the world. When analyzing the incidences that occurred with Mark, Sarah, Theresa, Simon, and Debbie, these attacks were alarming since they were vicious where some of the victims suffered an injury from being physically assaulted. The brutality of these attacks deserves punishment since the bullies used physical aggression andRead MoreCyber Bullying And Its Effects On Its Victims1651 Words   |  7 Pagesadvances that are creating, changing and shifting the individuals who live in it, especially cyber bullying. With the rise in the use of technology, digital culture and anonymity, cyber bullying has become a prominent issue that can have negative psychological effects on its victims through the power of these technological advances. This new 21st century term is derived from standard physical bullying has become a promi nent and revolving issue as cellphone, texting and social media sites take awayRead MoreA Brief Note On Cyberbullying And Other Types Of Traditional Bullying1138 Words   |  5 Pagestraditional bullying. According to Nansel (2001) and Olweus (1993), bullying is characterized by intentional behavior that is meant to cause pain, both physical and emotional, to another person due to an imbalance of social or physical power. There are two forms of traditional bullying: direct and indirect. Direct bullying is characterized by physical attacks, such as hitting and kicking; it is also characterized by non-physical attacks, such as teasing. The characteristics of indirect bullying are lessRead MoreBullying Is A Serious Social Problem911 Words   |  4 PagesBullying is a serious social problem that happens in schools between adolescents. Bullying is not taken seriously and often dismissed. The perpetrator and the victim are expected to work out the situation on their own. There are m any forms of bullying such as physical, verbal, social, and cyber. The perpetrators can have a negative effect on the victim for many years and possibly even life. Despite numerous â€Å"anti-bullying† advertisements and campaigns, bullying is an important social issue that occurs

Do We Really Want A President Sneezes - 957 Words

Coughing Kills On September 12, 2016 the Star-Telegram reprinted the article, â€Å"Do we really want a president who coughs?† written by Rex Huppke, who is a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. With the upcoming Presidential elections in November, Mr. Huppke focused his attention on the Democratic nominee, Hilary Clinton and her recent coughing episode during a speech she gave in Ohio. He suggests that her cough should be a major concern for voters and her health examined thoroughly to see if she is fit enough to be the President of the United States. He sites what he calls â€Å"reliable websites† and he quotes seemingly reputable sources that are also deeply concerned she is not. His cautionary tone in the beginning of the article leads the reader to believe he has a serious point to get across. However, his fictitious words, hasty generalizations, and outright lies tell a different story. He also breaks numerous rules of fallacy throughout this satirical piece to make the poi nt Americans are ridiculously naà ¯ve if they rely solely on media to make significant decisions. In the beginning of his article, Mr. Huppke asks those Americans who are of legal age to vote to consider the question, â€Å"Do I really want a president who coughs?† (Huppke) to which he answers immediately for the reader, no. His argument begins with a definitive perspective that answering no to this question is the only rational answer. He goes on to say that â€Å"coughing is a sign of mental incapacity andShow MoreRelatedKant And Mill s Utilitarianism Theory1316 Words   |  6 PagesWhen presented with a choice between saving the life of one person, or saving the life of five, how should you choose which is the right thing to do? Is there even a right choice in this situation when either way someone is going to die? The theories presented by Kant and Mill seem to suggest there is. They each have their own beliefs on how you should handle the situation, and which is in fact the right choice to make. Kant’s deontological theory rests in the basis of morality. Mill’s utilitarianismRead MoreAnalysis Of Ken Kesey s One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest2592 Words   |  11 PagesMental illness has always been around, and asylums have been around since 1406 CE. Patients were treated like animals in the asylums up until 1946 when President Truman signed a law called the National Mental Health act. People speaking about mental illness is more of a recent thing because before people were just thrown away when they even mentioned mental illness. Once the mentally ill were gone, the public would ignore the entire issue, in the late 1880s Nelly Bly posed as a mentally ill womanRead MoreThe History of Birth Control and Society Essay1997 Words   |  8 PagesThe History of Birth Control and Society People have been desperate to control how many children they have and abstinence is not really an option adults want to choose. Some ancient forms of birth control include: animal skins and intestines for condoms, lemons as barriers to protect from pregnancy, poisonous cocktails to cause abortion, and animal dung cocktails as spermicides. When those measures failed, women turned to abortions. (Rengal intro ix) Humankind has been trying to have sex withoutRead More The Pursuit of Genetic Engineering Essay4075 Words   |  17 Pagesdue to advances in genetic engineering and cloning. These medical innovations have the potential to revolutionize our lives in numerous ways. However, the fear of controversy and the fear of the â€Å"new† could hinder and possibly halt any progress that we are capable of making. There are concerns that society should carefully consider. It is important, though, to thoroughly research and examine a topic in order to understand why there should be no fear caused by cloning and genetic engineering oneRead MoreEssay on Hitlers Rise to Power3943 Words   |  16 Pagesto starvation. The situation needed immediate attention and so they abolished the mark and created a new currency called the Rentenmark. This plan succeeded in gaining German stability and things were going well. ‘When America sneezes, Europe catches a cold’ this saying was especially true in Germany after the American stock exchange crashed in 1929. The effects of the crash were devastating on both the people and the economy. It left American speculators ruined, theRead MoreInside the Meltdown49737 Words   |  199 Pagesimportant place to be right now. We re getting a lot of media attention, and I think that s positive because I think the FDIC is all about public confidence. That s how we maintain the stability with people having confidence in our brand and our insurance guarantee, and I think we ve done that fairly successfully. We have seen a lot of stability. People are keeping their money in banks, which is good. ... I think we ll be judged by how history judges us, whether we continue to be effective in tryingRead MoreThe taste of melon by borden deal11847 Words   |  48 Pagestheme ââ€"   analyse story structure ââ€"   identify changes in the narrator’s perspective ââ€"   interpret characters’ motives 130 Look Closely D E A L When I think of the summer I was sixteen, a lot of things some crowding in to be thought about. We had moved just the year before, and sixteen is still young enough that the bunch makes a difference. I had a bunch, all right, but they weren’t sure of me yet. I didn’t know why. Maybe because I’d lived in town, and my father still worked there insteadRead MoreFraud Triangle15238 Words   |  61 Pagesthe start, I knew it was unethical, but I didn’t know it was indeed a crime until now. I have had to do a lot of thinking, praying, and talking to those close to me about this. I am truly sorry for what I have done, and I don’t EVER plan to do it again. All I want now is to make amends with the banks. I do not have the money to pay back either bank right now. I realize this hurts them. I want to try to set this right, whether I go to prison or not. I am prepared to work however long it takesRead Morewisdom,humor and faith19596 Words   |  79 Pagesharms and lengthens life.† Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Induction, Scene 2. â€Å"Laughter without a tinge of philosophy is but a sneeze of humor. Genuine humor is replete with wisdom.† Mark Twain, quoted in Opie Percival Read, Mark Twain and I (1940), 17. â€Å"Humor offers both a form of wisdom and a means of survival in a threatening world. It demands that we reckon with the realities of human nature and the world without falling into grimness and despair.† Roger Shattuck, The Banquet Years:Read MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 Pagesdà ©coupage when used to describe the final stage of a shooting script. Michael Taylor also coined the expression mirror construction to translate construction en abà ®me, to describe embedded narrative structures like a film within a film. This is not really very accurate but I have not found any solution better than embedded structure; see his explanation on page 230. Single shot sequence is usually used to translate plan sequence rather than shot sequence. Simi ´ xi x A NOTE ON THE TRANSLATION

Health Benefits Of Ergonomics Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Health Benefits Of Ergonomics Essay, Research Paper Biotechnologies involves planing workplaces and work tools to be used easy, expeditiously and efficaciously by people. The overall end is to advance wellness and productiveness in the workplace. Where ergonomic rules are non applied, chronic musculoskeletal upsets such as tendonitis of the arm and manus, eyestrain hurt and back hurts may be common.Most people are concerned when they can non utilize parts of the organic structure like they know they should be able to utilize them. Peoples are frequently incognizant of ways to forestall hurt, and biotechnologies will present methods that will assist cut down those hurts. Chiropractors recommend utilizing biotechnologies in a professional environment every bit good as at place. Following simple guidelines can assist forestall hurt to the weaponries and custodies, eyes, and back. Everyday activities at work, place, or play can do wear and rupture on musculuss, articulations, sinews, and nervousnesss. Problems can be a direct consequence of hapless position, insistent gesture, and inordinate force or force per unit area to any portion of the body.Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) provides ergonomic consulting services to companies, labour organisations and authorities bureaus. In an environment where Repetitive Strain Injury ( RSI ) and the associated workers # 8217 ; compensation costs continue to increase, these services are directed to placing the hazard factors to such upsets and helping clients in cut downing the jeopardies created by these factors.INTRODUCTIONIncreased or changeless productiveness is a concern of every employer. Employers want to cognize that their employees are making their best. Therefore, employers should endeavor to do the work environment suited for productiveness. The ergonomics plan is designed to make merely that. In most instances, a happy employer leads to happy employees.PurposeThe intent of the ergonomic plan is to do emplo yers cognizant of hurt bar. Such consciousness can to increased productiveness, a lessening in the figure of worker # 8217 ; s compensation instances, and a lessening in figure of lower dorsum injuries.The information provided to you in this proposal will do you, as an employer, see the necessity of using biotechnologies to your working environment. Surveies have shown that with increased computing machine usage, the Numberss of Repetitive Motion Disorders has tripled since 1979.ScopeThese ergonomic consulting serves are provided by trained and experient industrial applied scientists and wellness professionals. The scope of services include: Workstation rating and alteration ; Job ratings combined with recommendations for alterations ; Tool design to cut down manus and forearm weariness ; Training of employees and supervisors in ergonomic constructs, proper work interruption forms and exercisings ; Assistance with the rating and choice of furniture and manus tools ; Review of medic al direction protocol for employees with cumulative injury upsets ; Design of an effectual Biotechnologies Program to run into in-house demands and satisfy pending OSHA Ergonomic regulations.Definitions and Symptoms RSI ( besides known as RMI, insistent motion hurt, OOS, occupational overexploitation syndrome, and CTD, cumulative injury upset ) is a description, and non a diagnosing. It is a term which has many causes and many manifestations.Carpal tunnel syndrome, CTS, is a specific status, and hence a diagnosing. It is this kind of confusion which leads to many statements that # 8220 ; RSI does non exist. # 8221 ; The many diagnosable upsets that RSI encompasses include carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nervus entrapment, tennis cubitus, and tendonitis. These upsets can develop bit by bit and impact many parts of the organic structure as a consequence of insistent action over clip. Many symptoms may come and travel before settling in: ache, tenderness, swelling, hurting, snap, prick ling, numbness, loss of strength, loss of joint motion, and decreasing coordination of the injured country. These symptoms can so take to the upsets listed supra. Although the causes of RSI are controversial, most sick persons will hold that a nerve-racking twenty-four hours will decline their symptoms, merely by increasing musculus tenseness and thereby trouble. RSI is caused by many shared and single factors, including physical fittingness, musculus tenseness, single work wonts, emphasis, long hours, deficiency of interruptions, bad biotechnologies, and hapless, inactive position. In the office environment, the most common reported hurts were eyestrain, lower back hurting, and hurting in the weaponries and hands.Eyestrain BasicsReflective blaze, such as on computing machine screens, sometimes causes asthenopia. But its worse consequence may be doing you to alter your position to an uncomfortable place in order to see good. The most unmarked cause of asthenopia in offices is contra st # 8212 ; normally, a dark screen surrounded by a bright background such as a window or a illuminated wall. Eyess are strained more by near sing than by distant screening. If you gaze at something excessively long, your eyes can pall. Eyess need to concentrate at different distances from clip to clip. It is a good thought to follow the # 8220 ; 20/20 regulation # 8221 ; # 8212 ; every 20 proceedingss, look 20 pess off for 20 seconds. Computer work seldom causes myopia ; it more likely makes you realize that you need glasses.Low Back PainBack hurting is as perplexing today as it was decennaries ago. Despite first-class trials and processs, modern back specializers admit that up to eighty per centum of all instances have no clear physiological cause. In fact, many unpainful people show pouching or herniated phonograph record in X raies. Job features are forecasters of back hurting. Jobs with heavy or frequent lifting are high hazards, as are occupations affecting drawn-out stand ing or sitting. Peoples who sit for long periods are at hazard for back upsets. The two greatest jobs seem to be 1 ) sitting unsloped or forward, and 2 ) non altering place. An unsloped position with a ninety-degree hip place is really unhealthy. For a figure of grounds, the phonograph record experience more force per unit area # 8212 ; and the force per unit area is more lopsided # 8212 ; than while standing.Upper back and cervix uncomfortableness is frequently related to upward screening angles ( for illustration, proctors above oculus tallness ) or tilting, writhing, or making ( for illustration, looking down and sideways at a papers on the desk, or making for a mouse ) . Signs and symptoms include hurting when trying to presume normal position, decreased mobility, and hurting when standing or lifting from a seated position.Although back hurts account for no work-related deceases, they do account for a important sum of human agony, loss of productiveness, and economic load on compensations systems. Back upsets are one of the taking cause of disablement for people in their on the job old ages. Weaponries and HandsThere are many sorts of Cumulative Trauma Disorder ( CTD ) medical conditions that have ergonomic causes among office workers, including carpal tunnel syndrome and assorted sorts of tendon redness. Because of the complexness and elusive differences between upsets, doctors do non ever name CTDs right or easy. CTDs can go on when there is really small repetitive work. Besides repeat, other possible causes include:Holding one position. Muscles that hold a body part in position for long periods are more prone to fatigue than muscles that move a body part around.Non-neutral positions. In this context, â€Å"posture† is the position of an individual joint, not overall body posture. Any posture significantly different from â€Å"neutral† is considered to be at risk for musculoskeletal distress.Localized pressure. Direct pressure on nerves or tendons can cause damage in the long run. The wrist is one location of concern. The elbow (the funny-bone or crazy-bone nerve) is another.Use of force. Even small exertions can cause stress if small muscles are involved. Sudden, fast motions involving a jerk or a snap.Cold temperatures.Vibration, as with hand-help power tools or whole-body vibration as caused by driving heavy equipment.CHECKLIST FOR SOLUTIONSSolutions the common problems of eyestrain, back pain, and arm and hand pain, are relatively easy. Simple changes to oneâ⠂¬â„¢s everyday routine and surroundings can help lower work- related injuries. When one decides to change his or her office habits, there are a few things in one’s surroundings that can be changed. RSI and associated poor ergonomics not only affect the health of computer users — they hit the finances of their employers as well. One direct cost is a productivity loss of 20 percent , according to one study. The following remedies will not cure already existing problems, but are designed to prevent further distress. Simply changing work habits and at home can help reduce the cost of sick leave and staff turnover.ArmrestsThe use of armrests on chairs is a controversial subject in the ergonomic community. Ulnar nerve entrapment can result from resting forearms and elbows against hard surfaces, like some armrests. However, an armrest can provide some support if you are already injured, as long as the armrest is well-padded, and it is not forcing your shoulders up and preven ting you from relaxing your upper body.Monitor PlacementThe distance for computer monitors and documents depends entirely on how clearly they can be read at a given distance. The general rule is to keep viewed material as far away as possible if it can be easily read. For distance from your monitor, you should be between 18 and 28 inches away from your screen. Your screen should be adjusted so that it is between 15 and 30 degrees below your straight-ahead line of sight. If the screen is much lower than that, you can possibly end up slouching. The use of glare screens can reduce bright spots caused by light reflecting on monitor screens.Alternative Input DevicesLook into alternative input methods that will reduce strain on your hands and wrists. Many heavy keyboard users have found the split and adjustable keyboards to be more comfortable. The most popular alternative input device is the trackball, but the new â€Å"trackpad† is generating a lot of interest. Wrist PadsWrist pa ds/rests are usually the neoprene pads that many people put in front of their keyboards. The wrist pads help in two ways. First, the wrist pad is designed to remind you to lift up your wrist slightly so that your hands don’t rest on any surface as you type, because that angle can compress the carpal tunnel. Secondly, when you pause in your typing, you probably put your hands down, and it’s better to rest then on a soft pad than on the hard corner of a desk. This can cut off circulation and compress the carpal tunnel. When wearing wrist braces, the main rule of thumb is to pay close attention to how your hand and wrist feels. If you catch yourself working against the brace instead of with it, don’t wear it. Most experts agree it is a better idea to wear braces when your hands and wrists are passive, such as while asleep.The ChairThe chair is probably the most important piece of ergonomic furniture. The following are the basics:Tilt the seat pan to get your thighs slightly higher than your knees. This straightens the spine and helps support your head and arms.Check that your chair has a tiltable back. Ergonomic wisdom says that you should not sit bolt-straight, but a little back (no more than 10 degrees). If using armrests, make sure they are not too wide apart. Too wide leads to more ulnar deviation at the wrist.If using armrests, make sure they are not too close together. Too close together interferes with your arms during typing.If using armrests, make sure that they are not too high. This will force your shoulders upward and will lead to neck and shoulder tightness.If using armrests, make sure they are not too low. Too low leads to rounding of the spine, contraction of the chest, and restricted breathing.If using armrests, make sure they are not too hard. If it is too hard, it puts pressure on ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel at the elbow.STRATEGYOver the next four years, OSHA is committed to reducing workplace injuries and illnesses in three target groups: in the 100,000 workplaces where we conduct major interventions; in five hazard industries — food processing, nursing homes, shipyards, logging and construction; and in three serious safety and health problems — silicosis, amputations and lead poisoning. OSHA is planning extensive outreach to assist employers in developing safety and health programs and addressing ergonomic hazards. The agency also is working to improve training for inspectors to help them learn to evaluate workplace safety and health programs.PROMOTING HEALTHConventional medicine mostly addresses treating the symptoms. We need to focus on the causes and view the whole body as a complete system. One will have to go through trial-and-error to find a specialist that practices a skill that works for each individual since each repetitive injury case is different.Promoting habits for healing and health is a matter of personal taste. Investigate and learn what works for you. Good methods to try are the following:For stretching and gentle body movement: Try Yoga, Chi Kung, or Tai Chi.For reducing stress: Try meditation, visualization exercises, taking deep breaths, or going for a walkFor working through sore, stiff, or sensitive muscles: Try massage, physiotherapy, trigger point therapy, acupressure or shiatsuFor reducing inflammation and pain: Try ice or a package of frozen vegetables on the affected area.For relieving neck strain after sleeping: Use a cervical roll or a â€Å"contour pillow† and don’t sleep on your stomach.For general well-being: Take frequent rest breaks (recommended is 5 minute rests every 20 minutes and get out of your chair at least once an hour), drink lots of water, exercise, stretch, and move around often.CONCLUSIONSThose are the basics. The most important thing to ask yourself is: Are you comfortable throughout a day’s work? If it feels good and you tend not to shift trying to get comfortable, then you are probably les s at risk of injury or possible reinjury. Remember, people are not robots. Move around. Get up. A good chair lets you have a little room to move so you can stay loose. Leaning and slumping is fine once in a while, just don’t make that your continual working position.

Smiling at the Simplicity of It free essay sample

I walk to the center of the stage, the microphone stand a mere three inches from my mouth, taking the plastic between my fingers as the piano starts playing. I take a deep breath, tapping my foot to the beat, smiling to myself as I sing the first verse. I lose myself, forgetting for the slightest second that there are people in front of me listening to everything that comes out of my mouth. I’m in my own little world, singing solely for the pleasure that comes with expressing myself, never mind that people are actually watching me. Before I realize what’s happening, the piano stops playing and the crowd is applauding. I smile, look down to the first row, and lock eyes with this little girl about six or seven years old, standing in front of her seat clapping up at me. I can’t help but stare. We will write a custom essay sample on Smiling at the Simplicity of It or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She looks more like me than anyone I’ve ever seen. She has the same dimples. The same brown hair down to the middle of her back. She’s jumping from foot to foot like I always used to do, her eyes somehow finding a way to watch everything in the auditorium at the same time. And I remember when I was that little. When I was learning how to do addition and how to write and how to sing. And then the stage transforms around me. I’m back in this classroom with at least twenty-five other people, all first-graders except the man standing in the front of the room. I watch from the back as little me rushes to the magic carpet with all the other kids and sits somewhere in the middle of the only bench, around the exact same spot where I used to sit. The man presses the play button and the music starts, Phil Collins’s voice being over taken by the chorus of six year olds. I hear one voice in particular that I’ve come well acquainted with, one that I’ve come to love. And I can’t help but smile at where it all started. At how the simplicity of karaoke used to be enough. The song ends and the singing stops, the room fading more and more back into a stage every time I blink. I look back to the front row, but the little girl is leaving, walking away hand in hand with her mother who looks nothing like mine, her small back to me, practically running just to keep up. I walk to the edge of the stage and sit down, resting on my hands as the doors swing shut behind the last member of the audience, slamming the way they always have. I take a deep breath and smile, biting my lip as I remember the rush that came with singing. And the serenity that followed it. I run my fingers through my hair and push myself up from the floor, walking back towards the center of the stage, next to the microphone instead of behind it. I put my hands into my back pockets and sing as loud as my lungs will let me, my voice reaching the back of the auditorium with little-to-no effort. When I get to the final verse I stop singing and listen as the room becomes silent once again, smiling at the simplicity of it.

Free Essays on Managing the Outsourcing Process

MANAGING THE OUTSOURCING PROCESS Introduction Outsourcing is a management strategy that helps organizations to focus on their core competences in order to gain a competitive advantage and to provide non-core functions or activities with efficient vendors. Outsourcing represents a sophisticated relationship between the organization and the vendor. Outsourcing process helps the organization to find its outsourcing vendor. Outsourcing process, which should include nine steps, is very, impotant in order to select the right vendor for the organization. (Arslantaà ¾ 1999): STEPS OUTSOURCING PROCESS 1st step Requiring Outsourcing 2nd step Defining Organization’s Needs 3rd step Making Outsourcing Decision 4th step Evaluating Outsourcing Strategy 5th step Formulating Request for Proposal 6th step Evaluating Vendors 7th step Selecting The Best One Among Vendors 8th step Negotiating Contract with The Vendor 9th step Building and Managing Effective Relationship with The Vendor Exhibit 1. Outsourcing Process (Arslantaà ¾ 1999) A-Requiring Outsourcing There are many reasons for an organization to consider outsourcing. Organizations require outsourcing in order to (Arslantaà ¾ 1999); achieve strategic goals reduce costs reduce investment expenditures improve core competence reduce risk downsize and increase flexibility accelerate reengineering benefits access the world class capabilities manage out of control function access to improved technology transfer assets increase quality redirect resources manage financial resources available. B-Defining Organization’s Needs When organizations require outsourcing, they should define their organizations’ needs. Especially, top managers determine which functions or activities should be completed internally and whi... Free Essays on Managing the Outsourcing Process Free Essays on Managing the Outsourcing Process MANAGING THE OUTSOURCING PROCESS Introduction Outsourcing is a management strategy that helps organizations to focus on their core competences in order to gain a competitive advantage and to provide non-core functions or activities with efficient vendors. Outsourcing represents a sophisticated relationship between the organization and the vendor. Outsourcing process helps the organization to find its outsourcing vendor. Outsourcing process, which should include nine steps, is very, impotant in order to select the right vendor for the organization. (Arslantaà ¾ 1999): STEPS OUTSOURCING PROCESS 1st step Requiring Outsourcing 2nd step Defining Organization’s Needs 3rd step Making Outsourcing Decision 4th step Evaluating Outsourcing Strategy 5th step Formulating Request for Proposal 6th step Evaluating Vendors 7th step Selecting The Best One Among Vendors 8th step Negotiating Contract with The Vendor 9th step Building and Managing Effective Relationship with The Vendor Exhibit 1. Outsourcing Process (Arslantaà ¾ 1999) A-Requiring Outsourcing There are many reasons for an organization to consider outsourcing. Organizations require outsourcing in order to (Arslantaà ¾ 1999); achieve strategic goals reduce costs reduce investment expenditures improve core competence reduce risk downsize and increase flexibility accelerate reengineering benefits access the world class capabilities manage out of control function access to improved technology transfer assets increase quality redirect resources manage financial resources available. B-Defining Organization’s Needs When organizations require outsourcing, they should define their organizations’ needs. Especially, top managers determine which functions or activities should be completed internally and whi...

The Development of Roads in the Industrial Revolution

The Development of Roads in the Industrial Revolution Pre-1700, the British road network hadn’t experienced many major additions since the Romans had built some over a millennia and a half earlier. The main roads were largely the decayed remains of the Roman system, with little attempt at improvements until after 1750. Queen Mary Tudor had passed a law making parishes responsible for roads, and each was expected to use labour, which workers were obliged to offer, for free six days a year; landowners were expected to offer the materials and equipment. Unfortunately, the workers were not specialised and often didn’t know what to do when they got there, and with no pay there wasn’t much incentive to really try. The result was a poor network with much regional variation. Despite the appalling conditions of the roads, they were still in use and vital in areas not near a major river or port. Freight went via the packhorse, a slow, cumbersome activity which was expensive and low in capacity. Livestock could be moved by herding them while alive, but this was a tiring process. People used the roads to travel, but movement was very slow and only the desperate or the rich travelled much. The road system encouraged parochialism in Britain, with few people – and thus few ideas – and few products travelling widely. The Turnpike Trusts The one bright spot among the British road system were the Turnpike Trusts. These organisations took care of gated sections of road, and charged a toll on everybody travelling along them, to be ploughed into upkeep. The first turnpike was created in 1663 on the A1, although it was not run by a trust, and the idea didn’t catch on until the start of the eighteenth century. The first actual trust was created by Parliament in 1703, and a small number were created each year until 1750. Between 1750 and 1772, with the needs of industrialization pressing, this number was much higher. Most turnpikes improved the speed and quality of travel, but they increased the cost as you now had to pay. While the government spent time arguing over wheel sizes (see below), the turnpikes targeted the root cause of the problem in the shape of road conditions. Their work on improving conditions also produced road specialists who worked on larger solutions which could then be copied. There were criticisms of turnpikes, from a few bad trusts who simply kept all the money, to the fact that only around a fifth of the British road network was covered, and then only the major roads. Local traffic, the main type, benefited much less. In some areas parish roads were actually in better conditions and cheaper. Even so, the expansion of Turnpikes caused a major expansion in wheeled transport. Legislation After 1750 With a growing understanding of Britain’s industrial expansion and population growth, the government passed laws aimed at preventing the road system decaying any further, rather than improving the situation. The Broadwheel Act of 1753 widened the wheels on vehicles to reduce damage, and the General Highway Act of 1767 made adjustments to the wheel size and number of horses per carriage. In 1776 a law provided for parishes to employ men specifically to repair roads. The Results of Improved Roads With the quality of roads improving – albeit slowly and inconsistently – a greater volume could be moved faster, especially expensive items which would absorb the turnpike bills. By 1800 stagecoaches became so frequent that they had their own timetables, and the vehicles themselves were improved with better suspension. British parochialism was broken down and communications improved. For instance, the Royal Mail was set up in 1784, and their coaches took post and passengers across the country. While industry did rely on roads at the start of its revolution, they played a far smaller role in moving freight than the newly emerging transport systems, and it is arguably roads’ weaknesses which stimulated the building of canals and railways. However, where historians once identified a decline in roads as new transport emerged, this is largely rejected now, with the understanding that roads were vital for local networks and the movement of goods and people once they had come off the canals or railways, whereas the latter were more important nationally.

Management Information Systems IT Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management Information Systems IT Project - Essay Example CRM greatly impacts the running and overall performance of a business. The most important effect of CRM is the reduction of costs. Effective management of customer relation has direct positive effects on the profits of the business and also increases customer loyalty. It also increases efficiency as the customer correspondence is channelized through technological means such as online services. Application of social business strategies may be used for enhancing the procedures of sales, services and other business aspects. The CRM users typically include the customers, the company employees who use it to communicate or collect information of customers and the general public who use it for general information purpose or potential customers. CRM facilitates each user with simplified and hassle-free solutions. A company employee finds it easy to categorize and classify the customers according to company parameters and priorities. This allows for better coordination and better accommodates the quality market (Anderson, Kristin & Kerr, pp. 18). The customer finds it comfortable to have a channel to communicate their concerns and issues to the company and a quick response usually translates into sales. For people in general, CRM provides the right tools for social analysis and allows for reaching the desired market in efficient manner and reduce redundancies. People also get attracted by the features provided by CRM and turn into potential future customers. The CRM strategy of implementing software and electronic communication means has eliminated the manual work to a bare minimum. The present day customer finds the web to be the easiest way of acquiring information. CRM caters for this tendency effectively. Features like customer services, helpdesk and online customer care representatives allow for more customers to be attracted to the business. The company also operates without fear of losing data as the use of cloud computing system allows for data backups to be

Media reporting and child sexual abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Media reporting and child sexual abuse - Essay Example The United Nation’s 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that the child needs special care and protection including appropriate legal protection due to his physical and mental immaturity before and after birth. In the UK, children and young people are offered protection by two important pieces of legislation: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Act 1998.There have been plentiful and varied challenges involving children and young people, in particular under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act(Curtice and Tim,2010,p.361). The Children, Schools and Families Bill has taken some initiatives concerning publishing the family proceedings information. The measures are subject to controversy as there is need to strike the right balance between right of press to report court proceeding under Article 10 ECHR and right to privacy and its respect for children under Article 8 ECHR in addition to their best interest under the UN Convention on the Righ ts of the Child. Relaxation of limitation on media reporting of family proceeding has raised concerns over limiting children rights and providing them insufficient protection (JCHR, 2010). According to media laws, accredited journalists are permitted to observe family court proceedings; however, they are under strict reporting regulations that allow certain level of details for print. The limitation of print reporting are imposed in order to ensure privacy and well-being of children involved in the cases (Silk, 2009).Furthermore, according to Justice Secretary, Jack Straw (cited in Silk, 2009) the limitation will be relaxed in an effort to convey the case substance while children identity and lurid details about family must not be published. The modifications will permit the publication of expert witness reports, including those incorporating details of child abuse. The relaxation will ensure transparency in family justice system and increased public confidence on its services. The legislation has broaden the amount of information that can be reported which include child or parent’s medical, psychological, or psychiatric details in addition to the   information given by a child to his or her parents. It permits the publication of information regarding the case which is not â€Å"personal sensitive information† but the limitations are not clearly defined. The act ensures that names and identities of parties involved remain hidden to maintain lifelong anonymity of children (Baksi, 2010). Recently, numerous high-profile celebrities have accused media of intruding into their privacy during their cases in UK. Most cases are reported against the stories by ‘kiss-and-tell’ tabloids and photographs taken by freelance paparazzi. For instance, celebrity footballer David Bekham and pop star Victoria Bekham and members of British monarchy consistently tried to limit press interference into their personal lives (Drake, 2007, p.220). Apparently, Privacy limitations seems to be defined clearly, however, there is no statute in either English or Scottish law that can be attributed as Privacy Act. In addition, the publicity or personality rights are also not evident. Contrary to defamation or copyright laws, under no specific law we can hold some newspaper responsible for intruding into any individual’s or celebrity’s privacy. This scenario has led to extending the existing legislation in order to contain privacy related cases and to establish the concept in English law courts (Drake, 2007, p.220). Lacking legislation triggered the attempts to define privacy in UK AND Calcutt Committee defined it as â€Å"the right of the individual to be protected against intrusion to his personal life or affairs, or those of his family, direct physical means or by publication of information† (1990, p.7 cited in Drake, 2007, p.221). Absence of a general law for privacy led to the utilization of common law in such cases. I t includes; the 1998 Data Protection Act, 1997

Organizational Behavior and Communication Essay Example for Free

Organizational Behavior and Communication Essay Organizational Behavior and Communication is found in every company, organizations, and groups. Organizational behavior and communications are discussed by using Starbucks Coffee Company. The discussion will cover company’s values and mission statement. The mission statement contains the philosophy, vision, and values. Also, some background of the company will be given. There will a discussion on the communication and on what extent this is determine by the Starbucks Coffee Company Culture. Background Starbucks was start in the 1970 in the state of Washington. The name Starbucks was inspire by the novel Moby Dick. In 1987 purchased by a man name Howard Schultz. At the time of the purchase Starbucks had stores only the Pacific Northwest. After the purchase Starbucks was selling coffee in other countries such Europe. In the first vision of Schultz was to fine coffees. Organizational Culture The organizational culture of Starbucks is based on diversity. The formula that they use is Diversity=Inclusion+Equity+Accessibility. The definition is â€Å"Inclusion: human connection engagement, Equity: fairness justice, and Accessibility: ease of use barrier free† (www.starbucks.com, 2013). The company has divided the organizational culture (diversity) in the following parts: 1. Partner/employees: Starbucks wants partners as different as the cities they work in. The proper word could be diverse 2. Customers: Starbuck want their customers to have an extremely nice experience. In order to achieve this Starbucks by giving the customer their preferences. 3. Communities: Starbucks does make investment in local communities as well as worldwide. Starbucks by giving economic opportunities in ways of jobs and other forms of help. 4. Suppliers: Starbucks work with many minority groups of suppliers. Also suppliers that are women. Starbucks support many organizations. Examples of these are Community Service, Youth Groups, and Create Jobs for USA, Also the American Red Cross. The espoused values of Starbucks do agree with the enacted values. Example of this is on July 3, 2012 it was announced that Starbucks will have two openings in Latin America. â€Å"Starbucks Coffee Company reaffirmed its commitment to Latin America with two major openings- its first in Costa Rica, and its firs Farmer Support Center in South America located in Colombia† (China weekly news, 2012). Latin America provides large amount of the coffee that Starbucks us. Another example is that in 2010 Starbucks refuse to raise the prices of the coffee. Most companies raise their prices due the raise of the coffee prices. Starbucks decide not raise the prices for awhile but monitor the prices. The organizational communication of Starbucks is 100% determined by the organizational culture. The communications channels are very clear and easy to use. Starbucks have communication channels that employees can use. These channels are telephone calls, online reporting, e-mail, and written reports. The communication channels for the customers are the Starbucks website. The customer could find the mission statement or locate a store. Also, if a person wants to apply for a job they can do it on the website. Role of Communication â€Å"Starbucks uses a model of communication used generally by smaller group networks, all channel communication† (yahoo.com 2008) The communication plays an extremely important role in the organizational culture of Starbucks. The organizational communication is open to the customer. The customers can talk with an employee then the employees report to the supervisors or department heads. The communication channels are always updated by Starbucks. â€Å"Partners are encouraged to report all types of issues or concerns to the program through their choice of the offered communication channels.† (www.starbucks.com, 2013) Another form of communication is the Standards of Business Conduct booklet. This helps the employees make excellent decision and also how to act with the customers. The communication has no misalignment with the espoused values or enacted values. The organization gives many communication channels for the employees. Another reason is that the company from time to time sees what needs to be change so that the organization can run smoothly. Conflict in group communication Whenever a company or an organization has a group that works together there will be a communication conflict. A solution to any conflict needs to be found before the conflict can come out. While researching Starbucks there was no conflict mention. Starbucks does have a clear image. Starbucks does show press releases on the decision that are being made As for the employees are concern Starbucks does provide communication channels to report any issues. The issue that refers to any communication conflicts in the group communications. On the same website the organization will post any communication about the company. The organization can use the conflict to put an additional person in the group to deal with the conflict and find ways to keep the conflict out of the group. Additional Information Starbucks supports the Earth watch Institute, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, and Plant Green. These are just a few of the organizations that Starbuck is working with. When the employees are making a decision they have standards to rely on. These standards are Standard of Business Conduct. Starbucks has these standards printed in the following languages English, Chinese, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Thai. Conclusion Starbucks is an organization that puts customers and employees first. They have high levels of values, vision, mission, and philosophy. Starbucks do indeed help the communities that have their location. In the pass Starbucks kept their coffee prices down when the prices of the coffee bean were going up. Then Starbucks is opening up business in Latin American and Costa Rica. These businesses will be working hand- in- hand with the local farmers. In addition Starbucks has used the coffee is from the Latin American and Costa Rica. The communication channels are aligning with the mission, philosophy, vision, and values statement. Also Starbucks provide the customers communication channels to report any wrong doing. Starbucks makes extremely high efforts to have a strong company. References About Us. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Food Weekly News, 145. (2010).; Starbucks Coffee Company; Starbucks Responds to Surging Green Coffee Prices. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/75581576?accountid=35812 Our Mission Statement. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Seazone, S. (July 18, 2008). Successful Application of Organizational Behavior: Starbucks. Retrieved from http://www.voices.yahoo.com Starbucks Coffee Company. (2013). Business Ethics and Compliance. Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com Starbucks Coffee Company; Starbucks Broadens Presence in Latin America. (2012). China Weekly News, 192. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1022321948?accountid=35812

Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

Select one chapter from Lord of the Flies and assess its importance to the novel as a whole. ‘Lord of the Flies’ is about what happens to a group of schoolboys when they are abandoned on an island following a plane crash. Chapter eight ‘Gift for the Darkness’ has much significance in the novel, as it is here that Simon converses with ‘The Lord of the Flies’. Jack separates himself from Ralph’s group, showing that Jack has now been consumed by evil. The signal fire is moved and now there are two marked rival groups on the island, one belonging to Jack and the other Ralph. Chapter eight, ‘Gift for the Darkness’, has many themes, one of the most prominent being the Beast, which is the boys’ greatest fear. In chapter seven they had come across a dead parachutist and had believed it to be a beast. The beast represents the evil residing within everyone. The Beast is used as a scapegoat by the boys to avoid self-knowledge. Golding uses the boys’ daydreams to show their fears and desires. The Beast gives the boys’ fear something to focus on. Golding expresses various types of fears in the book and many are apparent in chapter eight. There is fear that all is not known concerning the Beast. â€Å"The beast had teeth†¦ and big black eyes.† The boys did not actually see the Beast and are making this up. This only causes their fear to escalate except for Piggy’s. He is by far the most intellectual and skeptical of the boys. He knows that the adult world and books would not abide by the legend of the ‘beastie’. Just after the only kill in chapter eight, the boys’ gradual degeneration into savages is obvious by their actions: â€Å"Then Jack found the throat and the hot blood spouted over his hands†¦then Jack grabbed Maurice and rubbed the stuff over his cheeks.† This is almost a tribal ritual making a mask. The boys use masks to cover their identity and this allows them to kill. â€Å"He was safe from the shame or self-consciousness behind the mask†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This illustrates that the mask somehow gives the boys a sense of security. â€Å"Demoniac figures with faces of white and red and green rushed out howling†¦Ã¢â‚¬  From this quote it can be seen that the boys have totally lost their individuality and become like animals, almost indistinguishable from the other.

Storm Born Chapter Twenty-Five

â€Å"I know what you're thinking.† I stretched my arms above me, tucking my hands between my head and the pillow. Sunlight poured over me from the giant window but did little to help my troubled mood. I'd been sullen and quiet all morning. â€Å"Not likely.† Dorian reached over to a tray of assorted pastries and sweets that had been sitting by the bed when we awoke. That and the newly built-up fire were only a couple of signs that tidying servants had been up and around in here. Their presence shouldn't have bothered me; everyone had already believed Dorian and I were sleeping together. Yet, knowing others had moved around us while we slept still felt odd. He popped a marzipan-stuffed tartlet into my mouth. I made a surprised sound but ate it anyway. He had excellent cooks. â€Å"Well, then, let me guess anyway. I do so love trying to reason out your thoughts.† He grinned at me, every inch the lighthearted and frivolous man I usually knew. He bore almost no trace of the impassioned lover from last night, the one who'd repeatedly told me in explicit detail exactly what he could do to me if he wanted – and then proved that he could. I rolled to my side, putting my back to him. â€Å"Knock yourself out.† â€Å"All right. You're now realizing you did the unthinkable. You made love to me – one of the shining ones. You crossed over that invisible line, and now the horror and regret of that is eating you up.† â€Å"No.† â€Å"No?† â€Å"No, that's not what I'm thinking.† â€Å"Oh.† I heard him shift again and then felt a cookie balanced delicately on my arm. I snagged it and munched on it, getting crumbs on the sheets while he reconsidered. Lemon sugar. â€Å"Very well. How about this: You're thinking about the kitsune. About Kiyo. You miss him and lament what happened. Being with me makes you feel guilty.† I hadn't been thinking about Kiyo, but mentioning him suddenly brought him to mind. I did miss Kiyo. I missed the easy way we interacted, his solid and steady presence. I missed the way he held me and made me feel safe. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Hmm. Well, then. My perception appears to be off this morning. It has been known to happen once or twice before.† I stared out the window, unsettled emotions turning over and over in me. Finally, I said, â€Å"I'm bothered by†¦how it was last night. How rough it was.† â€Å"Truly? I really don't know you so well. I thought you enjoyed it.† â€Å"I did.† He waited a beat. â€Å"Forgive me, then, but I don't quite grasp your concern.† I rolled back over toward him, and it all spilled out. â€Å"Don't you get it? All this time I've been trying to avoid hordes of gentry and monsters from raping me. And yet†¦that's essentially what happened last night. I let you†¦I let you be aggressive and possessive. And then I liked it. What's that say about me? What's wrong with me?† Dorian's face shifted to that rare and serious concern that sometimes seized it. He reached out and cupped my face with both of his hands. â€Å"Oh, gods, no. Is that what's upset you? Eugenie, Eugenie. That's not rape. Rape is brutal. Rape is done against your will, usually with someone you hate – or at least like a little less than me. What we did last night†¦that was a game. I believe it initially helped you get over a mental stumbling block, but after that†¦there was nothing violent or bad. It was a†¦novel way of approaching sex. You consented. There's nothing wrong with you for liking it.† Maybe he was right, but it still made me feel strange. â€Å"I've just never done anything like that. I've had rough sex before but never anything so†¦kinky.† â€Å"Kinky. Fantastic word. It always takes us awhile to catch up with your world's slang.† â€Å"It makes things weird between us. I mean, weirder than usual.† He ran his hand over my cheek and through my hair. â€Å"Then tell me how to make things right.† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Perhaps this will cheer you up: We're ready to go to Aeson's now.† â€Å"What?† That didn't cheer me up so much as surprise me. Where had this come from? â€Å"We can go whenever you wish.† â€Å"You're giving in because I have morning-after regrets?† â€Å"I'm ‘giving in' because you crossed the point I wanted you to with your magic.† I scoffed and rolled away. â€Å"Bullshit. I can make water drops appear in the air. Somehow I doubt that's the life-or-death difference needed on this mission.† â€Å"The life-or-death factor here is that you can control a fine portion of your magic now. I needed that to happen before I felt comfortable on this venture. I couldn't risk your emotions flaring and creating a storm that might kill us. Now, you may very well still have some sort of magical breakdown, but I believe your current skills will go far to at least minimize the impact.† â€Å"Then what you said before – about it being protection in case I was defenseless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes. I'm afraid that was a ruse. I'd hoped the thought might spur you on to try harder.† Typical Dorian. His absurdity made me half-smile. â€Å"You're happier now?† he asked. â€Å"I don't know if happy is the right word, but I will be when the Jasmine thing is over.† â€Å"Excellent. Come here.† He motioned me into his outstretched arm, and for a moment, I expected an advance. Like a Hey, baby, I'll make you happier type thing. I moved over tentatively, and he only put his arms around me. Just that simple. No jokes. No kinkiness. Just a simple embrace between two people, two people close enough to have rattled the headboard last night. I took comfort in it, relaxing into his warmth and security. He wasn't Kiyo, but he felt nice. At last he moved his face away so he could look at me. â€Å"Very well, then. Tell me how you would like this to unfold.† Staging another heist turned out to take a fair bit of planning and didn't actually unfold until later the next day. We assembled all three of my minions in one of Dorian's lounges. They waited patiently for orders, each watching me as their minds undoubtedly stirred with their assorted neuroses. As Volusian had once pointed out, they had little to lose. They couldn't die. When Dorian called in Shaya to join us, I couldn't help an exclamation of surprise. â€Å"Remember the distraction we discussed?† he asked me. I did. Before getting out of bed, we had come up with the tentative outline of a plan. Part of it had included a major distraction near Aeson's home, enough to draw the attention of his guard so we could enter undetected. My spirits had long since verified that the siege tunnel had been blocked off. Shaya, he explained, would be our distraction. She had the power to command small ranges of vegetation. In particular, she could summon and order around trees – something she'd apparently done before to great effect. Dorian's thought was that Shaya would have a small regiment of said trees attack the western side of Aeson's hold. On the eastern side, we knew there was a servants' entrance we could slip into. Normally, that would be too exposed but not if the castle's security was preoccupied elsewhere. I nodded, thinking it was a good plan. Shaya crossed her arms and looked thoroughly displeased. â€Å"You got a problem with it?† â€Å"I don't think it's our place to interfere with Aeson's affairs, nor do I feel this is worth risking my king's life over.† I glanced between her and Dorian uneasily. â€Å"So you won't do it?† â€Å"Of course I will. My king gives a command, and I obey. I am merely expressing my honest opinion first. I would be doing a disservice otherwise.† Dorian touched her cheek, smiling at her stern expression. â€Å"And that is why you are so valued.† â€Å"It's a bad idea,† said Finn suddenly. We all turned to him. â€Å"What do you mean?† I asked. â€Å"What's a few trees? It screams, ‘Hey, look at our obvious distraction.' It'll make them suspicious. You want to really get their attention, send him in.† He inclined his head toward Dorian. â€Å"A little bit of that rock mojo, and they'll think there's an all-out assault going on.† â€Å"We can't. I need him as my backup,† I argued, â€Å"and protection for Jasmine. Shaya can do her thing and get out of there quickly. If I go in without him, then we're in exactly the same situation as before.† â€Å"Except without the army waiting for you,† said Finn. Shaya shook her head, glossy black braids swinging. â€Å"I don't like the idea of my king left alone.† â€Å"He'll be in and out, no problem. And if he has to face off, he can take anything Aeson's people throw at him.† â€Å"Unless it's Aeson himself,† mused Dorian. â€Å"Is he stronger than you?† I asked. â€Å"We're very evenly matched.† â€Å"Huh. That surprises me. I mean, Kiyo walked away alive from a fight with him.† â€Å"King Aeson wasn't using his full power then,† said Nandi. â€Å"Most likely he feared burning down his home.† Seeing my startled look, she continued. â€Å"It would have created a terrible inferno from whence you would not have escaped. Your skin would have melted, only your bones left behind.† â€Å"So you're saying he wouldn't have to worry about that outdoors. He could unleash as much as he liked.† Something struck me, and I turned back to Dorian. â€Å"What about you? Are you limited indoors?† â€Å"Hypothetically, no. Realistically? Well†¦I still have to operate in a way that won't bury us alive.† He smiled, seeing my consternation. â€Å"Don't worry, my dear. I'll still be of use to you.† â€Å"More use outside,† said Finn. â€Å"We won't even need extra backup, not if nobody's inside to find us.† I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I'd walked into Aeson's with a lot less planning last time, and foolish or not, it had been a hell of a lot simpler than this. I turned to the room's darkest corner, which had been silent thus far. â€Å"Volusian?† He straightened up from where he'd slouched in the shadows. â€Å"I will be very surprised if we emerge from this without any sort of confrontation, regardless of who creates the initial distraction. If I must honestly answer what will keep you alive† – he sighed, obviously unhappy about that outcome. I suspected Nandi's horrific description of my death by fire had kindled warm and fuzzy feelings in him – â€Å"then yes, bringing the Oak King affords more protection for you and the girl, mistress.† â€Å"Then it's settled.† Finn pouted and turned his back on us, pacing around sulkily. After that, it simply became a matter of waiting. We wanted to go under cover of darkness. Dorian and Shaya left to pursue household duties, and the spirits flitted off to do whatever it was they did. This left me with a lot of downtime. I paced the castle's grounds, ruminating over the same old things: Kiyo, the upcoming raid, and the prophecy. The appointed time came, and our strike team reassembled for a few last-minute details. Most of it was simply a repetition of what we already knew. The spirits drifted along, but the rest of us set out on horseback. Shaya rode with the physical grace that permeated her normal movements, but I was surprised to see how agilely Dorian rode as well. He seemed so languid and comfort-oriented in his day-to-day affairs that I never thought of him as having athletic abilities, his feats in bed notwithstanding. We crisscrossed the assorted kingdoms. It seemed to take longer than last time, and Volusian affirmed as much for me. â€Å"The land has shifted its layout,† he explained. â€Å"It does that,† said Dorian, seeing the panic on my face. â€Å"It's normal. We're on the right path.† â€Å"Yeah, but will we make it there before sunrise?† â€Å"Certainly.† He smiled too broadly, and I could tell he didn't know for sure. I looked up. Right now we had perfect blackness, lit only by stars. The moon was dark tonight. Persephone's moon. I could feel the tingle of the butterfly on my arm and felt reassured. Before, I'd needed Hecate to escape back to my own world. Here, that wasn't an issue. Staying alive and sending my enemies on to death was the issue now, so I didn't mind the boost to my connection with the Underworld. â€Å"How much farther?† I asked a little while later. I felt like a kid on a road trip but couldn't help the anxiety tickling my brain. I might have imagined it, but I swore the eastern sky now looked deep purple rather than black. â€Å"Not far,† said Shaya, voice calm. Sure enough, we pulled off and secured the horses, going the rest of the way on foot, traveling through trees and undergrowth. I couldn't see anything, but we soon reached some significant point. Shaya split off from us to do her thing. Dorian squeezed her arm before she left, and she made a solemn bow of acknowledgment. I watched her disappear before I turned and joined the others to continue straight ahead. Aeson's fortress finally loomed up before us as we reached the edge of the tree line. It could really be perceived only through its blockage of the stars. Otherwise, it appeared almost as black as the sky beyond. We stopped just before the terrain cleared, staying under cover. Studying the building further, I could make out small black figures moving back and forth in front of the wall. Guards. Presumably there were lookouts on the towers too. â€Å"Now we wait,† I muttered. I was tired of waiting. I wanted action. Almost opposite us, on the other side of the forest, Shaya should have been preparing to summon her tree warriors. She and Dorian swore it would be a noisy affair, so there'd been no need for a secret countdown or anything like that. The castle was too far away for me to make out any identifiable features, but the spirits indicated the spot containing the side door. Minutes dragged by, and I imagined all sorts of horrible fates for Shaya. Oh, God. What if they caught and killed her? She'd come here out of loyalty to Dorian, and no matter what else had happened, I'd come to respect her immensely. I didn't want her to die because of this. Dorian approached my right side and put an arm around me. â€Å"Don't worry. This will be finished before you know it. Ah – there we are.† In the distance, we heard it. Wood crackling and splitting. A low roar. Faint shouts of alarm carried over the air, and the guards in our view took off running toward the noise. We waited until they'd cleared the area. â€Å"Now is our time,† murmured Volusian. â€Å"Go.† We streaked across the open area, toward the doorway. I could hear the noise on the other side. The sound of something breaking. More shouts. Shaya's plan had been to send about a dozen massive trees to beat on the walls over there. What a wake-up call that had to have been. â€Å"W-wait! Hold it!† I suddenly cried. The spirits stopped instantly. Dorian took a moment longer to slow down and gave me an odd glance. â€Å"What's wrong?† I peered around. My senses tingled. I could feel water, lots of it. The way I felt in crowds or at Dorian's. Water in numerous condensed clusters. The water sources were people. Lots of them. We'd been set up. Again. â€Å"Fuck!† They seemed to come out from everywhere, though I knew they all had to have been hiding in the castle's vicinity or else I would have felt them sooner. They came down from the roofs, out the door we'd been staking out, from around the corner. And somehow I knew the ones who ostensibly had run off would return. I heard Dorian yell, â€Å"They won't kill you – not if they don't have to!† Then, the side of the castle exploded in a downpour of huge black rocks, causing those above and still scaling to fall down to death or at least serious injury. Others standing nearby were buried by the fallout. My spirits had standing orders to attack anyone attacking us, and I saw them flare up for battle. As for me, I'd come packing two guns tonight, again courtesy of Lara. Both had steel cartridges, and my pockets held more clips still, plus a few silver ones. I kept what distance I could from the thick of the fray and fired, aiming for heads and faces if I could, but mostly happy if I could bring anyone down at all. Regular range practice paid off, and I hit almost everyone I fixed on. No one ever managed to get too close to me. The spirits I ignored. They couldn't die, and only another shaman or Dorian-caliber magic user could banish them. After his spectacular wall demolition, Dorian had resorted to a more conventional method: a copper sword he'd worn sheathed under his cloak. It glowed red in the darkness, and I realized he could enhance its power since copper came from inside the earth. He didn't fight with brute force, but he moved with speed and skill, surprising me as much as the horse-riding had. I wouldn't have minded another show of that earth power, but all magic took its toll. It would do no good for him to burn himself out yet. Suddenly, I saw one of the guards moving up on him, just out of Dorian's line of sight. I started to cry out a warning, and then a large, four-legged form ran forward, snarling as he threw his weight into the guard. Dorian gave a quick glance of surprise but quickly returned to fighting. I couldn't recover so quickly and could only stare as Kiyo, in what I had jokingly dubbed the â€Å"superfox† form, clawed and ripped at his victim. The man did manage to slice Kiyo's side, making me wince, but the fox seemed unaffected. Shaking my head, knowing I could neither wonder how he'd shown up nor worry about his safety, I returned to my own battles. A few victims later, I had my aim on someone when I sensed another form sneaking up behind me. I turned but wasn't quite fast enough. He grabbed my arm and bent the gun away from him, forcing me to the ground. With my left hand, I managed to drag out the other gun. It was more or less smothered as his body tried to pin mine down, and I had no real target. It didn't matter. I just sort of aimed in an upward direction and fired. He screamed and recoiled enough for me to push off and fire again with more precision. Someone else took advantage of my distraction and grabbed me from behind. I'd stuffed the extra gun back in my pants and now struggled against him with the first gun when suddenly it grew hot in my hands. Burning hot. I yelped and dropped it, staring as it lay sizzling on the ground, glowing faintly orange. I didn't have to hear his voice in my ear to know who held me. â€Å"Eugenie Markham, lovely of you to pay me a visit.† â€Å"I'm going to kill you,† I hissed. â€Å"Yes, yes, you told me that before, and yet, I see it's not really working out. You should have taken me up on my earlier offer.† He barked out a command to a nearby guard who ran up to us. â€Å"Disarm her before she kills anyone else.† With all the confusion, none of my other allies noticed what was happening. I opened my mouth and began chanting the ritual words to bring the spirits. They were currently too far out of range to simply hear me shout. Realizing what I attempted, Aeson threw me onto the ground, using his body weight to hold me while one hand covered my mouth. â€Å"Hurry!† The guard removed my athames and wand. For the extra gun, he wrapped his hand in the folds of his cloak to retrieve the weapon and then hastily tossed it away. â€Å"You're a damned nuisance – and a deadly one,† muttered Aeson. â€Å"Keeping you alive for nine months may be more trouble than it's – ow!† I didn't see what happened to him but heard a thunk above me. â€Å"You used your power to toss one rock at me?† he exclaimed, an almost comic note of incredulity in his voice. â€Å"On the contrary,† I heard Dorian say pleasantly. â€Å"I didn't use magic for that. I just threw it.† Aeson tossed me toward his guard, just as flames rose up from the ground. In the darkness, the bright light hurt my eyes, forcing me to glance away. Heat rolled off that scorching orange wall, instantly heating up my skin. The guard attempted to scramble back and hold me at the same time, doing a half-assed job at both, though he still managed – just barely – to keep me restrained. My gaze stayed on the fire's flickering colors until I suddenly felt the ground shake. Jerking my head up as much as my restraint allowed, I saw a cloud of darkness rise above the flames. It crashed down, like the palm of one's hand, and the fire abruptly went out, extinguished as pounds of dirt slammed it to the ground. Without missing a beat, Dorian gestured to the spot Aeson stood on. I felt shaking again and saw the earth ripple, like a wave of water moved under the surface. It knocked Aeson off-balance, and then a storm of rock shards – much as I'd seen with the nixies – swirled around, taking aim. Still on the ground, Aeson lifted his own hands. Waves of heat blasted away the rocks, scattering them in different directions. Some of them melted, dripping back to the earth in a molten shower. Ashes filled the air, and I could hear Aeson coughing as he stumbled to his feet. The ground trembled again, pushing him back to his knees. He supported himself with one hand and gave a shaking, raspy laugh. â€Å"It didn't have to come to this,† he said. â€Å"If you would have just shared her, she might already be with child.† A shower of rocks spattered Aeson as Dorian strode forward. They weren't razor sharp, but they looked like they hurt. The Alder King winced and shielded his face. â€Å"I don't share,† Dorian said flatly. The earth near Aeson coalesced into ropes of dirt, winding their way around his limbs. Score one for bondage fetishes. â€Å"Too bad. You might have lived had you felt differently.† Aeson suddenly burst up, breaking through the bonds of earth. As he did, fire blasted from all around him, outlining him and then shooting forward. My scream was smothered in my captor's hand as I saw Dorian fly backward. Aeson charged forward, his hands controlling and shaping the flames into a ring around Dorian's crouching form. The walls flared up high and thick, so hot they gleamed blue and white. I wouldn't have thought Dorian could survive that inferno, but Aeson kept talking to him as though he were still alive. â€Å"Too many theatrics, Dorian, and not enough strength left now to free yourself.† I looked around desperately. There weren't many guards left. In the distance, I saw Kiyo nail some guy pretty handily – the man's pain-filled scream affirmed as much – but he was too far to help, just like the spirits. I realized then my guard's hold had slackened; he was apparently transfixed by his master's showdown. Others, just as captivated, stopped and stared. Taking advantage of the guard's lack of attention, I shoved my elbow back into his stomach and attempted to spring free. I didn't really expect to achieve that goal, but it did uncover my mouth. I spoke the summoning words, and Nandi and Volusian appeared. â€Å"Get Aes – † I began, just before the hand slammed on my mouth again. Another guard joined mine to help with the confinement. The spirits shifted from humanoid form to something else, still vaguely anthropomorphic but more like a cloud of energy. They swooped toward Aeson, one shining and blue, the other black and silver. He deflected them with flames while still holding the walls on Dorian. An instant later, I saw a wand in one of his hands. No. He couldn't – He spoke banishing words, and I felt the surge of power in the air as he tore open a hole to the Underworld. The form that was Nandi trembled and then exploded, disappearing in sparkles. She'd found her peace at last – and without another two years of service to me. â€Å"Call the other one off,† snapped Aeson, â€Å"unless you want to lose him too.† The hand on my mouth lifted. I hesitated. I had nothing to lose if Volusian won or lost. In fact, Aeson's request likely indicated he couldn't banish the spirit to the land of death. Gentry rarely had that kind of power anyway, so Aeson probably couldn't do what I had been unable to do. But if he fought Volusian, it was possible he could have enough strength to break my control and enslave him as a minion. That was not an option. Better for the spirit to be destroyed than turned against me. â€Å"Hold, Volusian.† He retreated immediately, coalescing back into his normal shape. Aeson returned to Dorian. The Alder King held up his hand and brought his fingers together in a fist. The burning walls contracted, resembling more of a cocoon than a cylinder now. Through the crackling of flames, I heard Dorian scream. Helplessness choked my heart. Just like with the mud elemental. Just like with the nixies. I had no weapons and no freedom. This was exactly the kind of situation Dorian kept speaking of. The time magic would be handy. I couldn't use it, however. My abilities included only miniscule water manipulation and out-of-control storms and their consequences. Yet, suddenly, I didn't care about the consequences. I wanted to summon a major storm, a storm to devastate this whole area. Maybe it'd kill my friends and me, but things didn't really look good for us anyway. Focusing my mind on that, I tried to recall the angry tempests I'd created before. Only†¦it didn't work. Maybe it was because I'd never consciously done such a thing before. Or maybe it was because I could no longer see storms as a whole. They were pressure and charged particles and – most importantly – water. Dorian had taught me to compartmentalize the elements, and that's all I could do now. I thought about storms, but all my mind did was reach out and touch all the water sources nearby. Damn it. Finding water did no good, not unless I could move a whole lake and douse the fire. I doubted I could command that much water, even if I had a source like that nearby. But I didn't need one that big. I only needed to summon a smaller water source, one my powers could manage. I refocused. My magic reached out, grasping and connecting with the water molecules I wanted. They recognized me, and I called them forward. They resisted a little. There were more of them here than had been in the pitcher. Obey me! I shouted to them. Come to me! I am your mistress. Only a few seconds passed while I struggled for control of the water. Meanwhile, Aeson was still holding his arms up, collapsing the walls slowly in what was probably a sadistic effort to prolong Dorian's pain. Still, I needed the delay as I pushed and pulled the water more fiercely. A funny look crossed Aeson's face just then, and he glanced around, as though trying to find something. Yet, he didn't know what that was. Come to me! I could feel the water breaking free, unable to resist my command. A look of horror twisted Aeson's face. His hands dropped and clutched his head, almost as if he would claw it off. Behind him the flames around Dorian abruptly faded and disappeared, almost as if a lake had dropped onto them after all. But as I'd noted, I hadn't needed a lake. I'd only needed a smaller source. I'd needed Aeson. The water in him was a size I could manage, the source I'd called out to and commanded. After all, the human – or gentry – body is 65 percent water. And a moment later, all of it came to me. The other 35 percent didn't.

Paying Attention to Foreign Affairs: How Public Opinion Affects Presidential Decision Making Essay

              The foreign policy of United States has been altered since the era of George Washington. Even though Americans pay consideration to counsel of their respected founder, this is not enough because the world is different. Many people who have shaped the American foreign policy currently, admit the fact that membership to the world community makes United States not to ignore the significance of getting along. One of way in which public influence has or can influence foreign policy is through political leadership, this means that those politicians lead the American public to embrace certain issues. Research have shown that most Americans are ill formed and uncertain on foreign affairs because it is thought that leaders generally disregarded mass inclinations when making their foreign policy choices. Another way is through political responsiveness whereby normal politicians set aside their own principles and obediently follows the public opinion (Knecht and Thomas, 2010). Recent research shown that American public both holds foreign policy opinions and cares about foreign affairs that are normal and constant.                For any society that decides to terminate the period of discrimination, it must face the alike ethical dilemma. For instance, if everybody is given the right not to be discriminated against race, there is high probability of helping those victims who undergone past discrimination and the racial inclination is lost. Moreover if those members of the earlier omitted groups are preferred on basis of race then there is denial of right to prevent racial discrimination among other people. In my opinion generating a program is the best idea since it will assist much those victims who had suffered such unethical treatment of racial discrimination in past instead of applying racial preference. This program will fulfil the racial non-discrimination rule because the basis for help would be individual hurt and not racial identity. However, it will only assist a portion of those who are now benefiting from race-based confirmatory act (Higginbotham, 2013).               Due to frequent exhibitions of racial discrimination, it is evident that in some areas of the world and by governmental strategies centered on hatred or racial superiority, for example the apartheid, racial segregation is an ideal issue in any human society. However, the issue of affirmative action was suggested during reconstruction period which led to U.S civil war. When the battle ended, those groups of people who were in the southern region owned nothing and had inadequate skills which could help them to earn a living. The groups appealed for equal rights and wanted opportunity in the public grounds of employment and education to be equal. In various ways, they succeeded and as affirmative action developed, however, it portrayed rise of criticism from whites and men who viewed it as an â€Å"opposite segregation†. The debate over affirmative action has rotated around a collection of highly charged words, which sometimes complicates, instead of enlig htening the discussion. Therefore it is significant to note that affirmative action play as a control where discrimination has been found to exist or approved. Goals serve as one measure of non-discrimination and of the efficiency of affirmation achievement efforts, not as a directive for female employment or minority (Raza et. Al, 1999).               The implications of international economic policy on foreign policymaking has become more difficult in the period of globalization since the number of players that require to be engaged along has increased. Referring from the traditional foreign policy, only few number of governments could deal with each other on moderately number of issues in accordance to the established terms and conditions. Currently, however, that cannot apply for national interests to be considered. There is now, in accumulation to rising number of countries, an innumerable of fresh players which want to be considered as awn domestic addressees as well as the domestic addressees of the countries wants powerful economic units (Burns, 2010). References Burns, R N, Jonathon Price, Jr J. S. Nye, and Brent Scowcroft. The Global Economic Crisis: And Potential Implications for Foreign Policy and National Security. Aspen Institute, The, 2010. Print. Higginbotham, F M. Ghosts of Jim Crow: Ending Racism in Post-Racial America. , 2013. Print. Raza, M A, A J. Anderson, and Harry G. Custred. The Ups and Downs of Affirmative Action Preferences. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1999. Print. Knecht, Thomas. Paying Attention to Foreign Affairs: How Public Opinion Affects Presidential Decision Making. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2010. Print. Source document

Free Essays on Protestant Reformation

The Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church was a major 16th-century religious revolution, which ended the ecclesiastical supremacy of the pope in Western Christendom. Thus, resulting in the establishment of the Protestant churches. With the Renaissance proceeding and the French Revolution that followed, the Reformation completely altered the medieval way of life in Western Europe and initiated the era of modern history. Although the movement dates from the early 16th century, when Martin Luther first defied the authority of the church, the conditions that led to his revolutionary stand had existed for hundreds of years and had complex doctrinal, political, economic, and cultural elements. Conditions Preceding Reformation From the Revival of the Holy Roman Empire by Otto I in 962, popes and emperors had been engaged in a continuous contest for supremacy. This conflict had generally resulted in victory for the papal side, but created bitter antagonism between Rome and the German Emp ire; this antagonism was augmented in the 14th and 15th centuries by the further development of German nationalist sentiment. Resentment against papal taxation and against submission to ecclesiastical officials of the distant and foreign papacy was manifested in other countries of Europe. In England, the beginning of the movement toward ultimate independence from papal jurisdiction was the enactment of the statutes of Mortmain in 1279, Provisors in 1351, and Praemunire in 1393. These statutes greatly reduced the power of the church to withdraw land from the control of the civil government, to make appointments to ecclesiastical offices, and to exercise judicial authority. The 14th-century English reformer John Wycliffe boldly attacked the papacy itself, striking at the sale of indulgences, pilgrimages, the excessive veneration of saints, and the moral and intellectual standards of ordained priests. To reach the common people, he translated the Bible into Eng... Free Essays on Protestant Reformation Free Essays on Protestant Reformation The Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church was a major 16th-century religious revolution, which ended the ecclesiastical supremacy of the pope in Western Christendom. Thus, resulting in the establishment of the Protestant churches. With the Renaissance proceeding and the French Revolution that followed, the Reformation completely altered the medieval way of life in Western Europe and initiated the era of modern history. Although the movement dates from the early 16th century, when Martin Luther first defied the authority of the church, the conditions that led to his revolutionary stand had existed for hundreds of years and had complex doctrinal, political, economic, and cultural elements. Conditions Preceding Reformation From the Revival of the Holy Roman Empire by Otto I in 962, popes and emperors had been engaged in a continuous contest for supremacy. This conflict had generally resulted in victory for the papal side, but created bitter antagonism between Rome and the German Emp ire; this antagonism was augmented in the 14th and 15th centuries by the further development of German nationalist sentiment. Resentment against papal taxation and against submission to ecclesiastical officials of the distant and foreign papacy was manifested in other countries of Europe. In England, the beginning of the movement toward ultimate independence from papal jurisdiction was the enactment of the statutes of Mortmain in 1279, Provisors in 1351, and Praemunire in 1393. These statutes greatly reduced the power of the church to withdraw land from the control of the civil government, to make appointments to ecclesiastical offices, and to exercise judicial authority. The 14th-century English reformer John Wycliffe boldly attacked the papacy itself, striking at the sale of indulgences, pilgrimages, the excessive veneration of saints, and the moral and intellectual standards of ordained priests. To reach the common people, he translated the Bible into Eng...

How to Use FamilySearch Historical Records

How to Use FamilySearch Historical Records Whether your ancestors came from Argentina, Scotland, the Czech Republic, or Montana, you can access a wealth of free historical records online at FamilySearch, the genealogy arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has a wealth of indexes available through its free Historical Records Collection, which includes more than 5.57 billion searchable names in 2,300 collections from countries all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, France, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Hungary, the Philippines, and many more. However, theres a lot more data available thats not searchable via a keyword, which is where the huge trove of historical document images come in.   Basic Search Strategies There are so many records online at FamilySearch now that a general search often turns up hundreds if not thousands of irrelevant results. You want to be able to target your searches to wade through less chaff. If youve already tried using the exact search checkboxes next to the fields; searched birth, death, and residence places; used wildcards in names that could be spelled different ways; or tried to narrow by relationship with another person, location, or type of record already, you still have other options that can make your search more fruitful. Search by Collection A general search almost always turns up too many possibilities unless the search contains someone with a very unusual name. For best results, start by choosing a country to find collections, via the location search, or by browsing by location down to a particular record collection (e.g., North Carolina Deaths, 1906–1930). When you have the collection open that you want, you can use the narrow by technique within each collection (e.g., use parent surnames only to find married female children in the N.C. Deaths collection).  The more possible places and connected names that you can try, the more meaningful your results will turn out to be.Take notes on the title and years of the collection youre searching, in relation to whom. If the collection is missing records from certain years, youll know what youve been able to check- and what you havent- because those missing records could come online or become searchable one day. Vary the Fields You Use   The records might not have everything in them that youve typed into the narrow by fields if youve used multiple boxes, so it might not come up  even if its there. Try the search multiple ways, varying what fields you try to refine by. Use different combinations of fields. Use Wildcards and Other Search Refinements   FamilySearch recognizes both the * wildcard (replaces one or more characters) and  the ? wildcard (replaces a single character). Wildcards can be placed anywhere within a field (even at the beginning or end of a name), and wildcard searches work both with and without the exact search checkboxes being used. You can use and, or, and not in your search fields as well as quotation marks to find exact phrases. Show a Preview   After your search has returned a list of results, click on the little upside-down triangle to the right of each search result to open a more detailed preview. This reduces your time spent, versus clicking back and forth between the results list and the result pages. Filter Your Results   If youre searching across multiple collections at one time, use the Category list in the left-hand navigation bar to narrow your results by category. This is useful for filtering out census records, for example, which often end up topping results lists. After youve narrowed to a particular category (Births, Marriages Deaths, for example), the left-hand navigation bar will list record collections within that category, with the number of results that match your search query next to each collection title. Browse as Well as Search   Many  collections at FamilySearch are only partially searchable at any given point in time (and many are not at all), but this information isnt always easy to determine from the collection list. Even if a particular collection is searchable, compare  the total number of searchable records listed in the  Collections List  with the total number of records available by selecting the record set and scroll down  to see the number of records listed under View Images in This Collection. In many  cases,  you will find many records available for browsing that arent yet included in the searchable index. Use the Wrong Documents   A childs birth record can find information about his or her parents. Or, being the more recent document about the person, a death certificate could also contain his or her birthdate, if the birth certificate (or vital record or civil registration) is elusive. Dont Forget Nicknames and Variants   If youre searching for Robert, dont forget to  try Bob. Or Margaret if you search for Peggy, Betsy for Elizabeth. Try both the maiden name and married name for women. Volunteering Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have generously donated their time to help to index the collections through FamilySearch Indexing. If youre interested in volunteering, the software is easy to download and use, and instructions are well thought out and generally self-explanatory. A little of your time can help get that genealogy record online for someone else who is searching for it.