Explain Washington landlord tenant law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Explain Washington landlord tenant law - Essay Example It is vital to note that the apartments allow for disability access. Pets are accepted in the apartments, but one has to pay a deposit of $400 to keep a pet and $200 is refunded when a tenant’s lease expires. However, there are breed restrictions on the type of animal one can keep. The tenant is also provided with one free covered parking space. The lease is one year long (McQueen 54). There are number provisions in the lease that comply with the law. For example, the lease provides the tenant with emergency maintenance and this ensures that the landlord repairs any damages to the apartment. This covers the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act RCW59. 18.230(1). I also find it interesting that the landlord expects tenants to pay a fee to keep a pet at the resident. This is an extra deposit to the security and damage deposit paid when one starts renting the apartment. This is a legal fee since the landlord has the right to charge for fees covering special cleaning. There is also a clause in the lease that the landlord can change the rules regarding the use of the community amenities like the swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis court. This is against the law since a landlord does not have the right to change the terms of a lease once the tenant has signed it. Change to the lease can only occur if the tenant agrees to it (Haupt and Kathryn 132). Another provision of the lease that I find interesting is that the landlord does not have to return the tenant’s security deposit if the apartment is damaged in any way. This is not legal according to the law of Washington State. The landlord is only allowed to keep the exact amount a tenant owes on repair costs. The rest of the money must be returned to the tenant (RCW 59.18.280). Another provision of the lease that I find interesting is the fact that if I move out before the end of the lease, I will be forced to pay all rent owed before the landlord can re-rent the apartment RCW

Assignment Writing Guide Essay Example for Free

Assignment Writing Guide Essay INTRODUCTION While your assignment comprises only 25% of your subject grade, it serves an  important function in helping you focus on the concepts and clarify your learning. In this sense, the assignment prepares you for the exam, which is much more heavily weighted at 75%. Scoring well on the assignment can sometimes mean the difference between a pass and a fail for the subject – or a high distinction versus just a distinction. This Assignment Writing Guide consists of five parts: 1. Importance of citation and referencing 2. Using peer reviewed / scholarly journal articles; 3. A nine-step approach to writing assignments; 4. The basic format of an assignment; and 5. Appendix A Example assignment with added comments IMPORTANCE OF CITATION AND REFERENCING 1. Assignments must contain proper citations and referencing using the Harvard ‘authordate’ style referred to in the AIB Style Guide, that is: a. citations (or in-text references) of quoted and paraphrased materials to support your arguments/comments; and b. a reference list relating specifically to your in-text references. 2. Your grade will be adversely affected if there are no or poor citations and/or reference list, as referred to above. 3. Your assignment should normally contain the following number of relevant references from different sources in the reference list. a. BBA assignments: 5 – 10 b. MBA assignments: 6 – 12 4. All references must be from credible sources such as books, peer reviewed journals, magazines, company documents and recent articles. Students are highly encouraged to use peer reviewed journal articles as this may contribute towards a higher grade. 5. You are encouraged to make use of the AIB online library (i.e., EBSCO Host) which can be accessed through the AIB website. 6. AIB checks assignments with anti-plagiarism software. Please carefully check your assignments before final submission to ensure that all quoted and paraphrased materials are properly cited and referenced. 7. You are strongly advised to carefully read The AIB Style Guide for clarification of these requirements. USING PEER REVIEWED/SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLES Peer review is an academically accepted measure of quality. Peer reviewed journal articles are normally considered more credible, authentic and reliable as they are evaluated and recommended for publication by several experts in the field. It is therefore strongly suggested that you use the most recent peer reviewed / scholarly articles for your assignment. This will not only provide you with up to date knowledge but will also enable you to produce quality work. The â€Å"Refine your search† option (as shown below) in the AIB Online Library can help you to filter and view the peer reviewed / scholarly articles. Preferably you should filter the publication date to within the last 3 to 5 years. A NINE-STEP APPROACH TO WRITING ASSIGNMENTS The following provides a recommended nine-step approach to writing assignments. It is strongly recommended that you follow these steps in sequential order in order to address your assignment requirements. 1. Read, understand and address the assignment question Carefully read the assignment question and make sure you understand clearly what is being asked. Your submission must be responsive to the assignment question. This is the first and most important step. By doing this you will know what you need to do, how to do it and whether you need some form of assistance to finish the assignment. Furthermore, make sure you check the word count and make sure you understand what is required. The word count  should be used as a guide as to the desired length of your written assignment. But, be mindful that submissions that exceed the word count guide by more than 10% will have marks deducted. Then, consider the subject of the assignment and who will read it. Do the assignment instructions suggest that the assignment should be aimed at a particular manager of a particular organisation? If no particular manager is mentioned in the instructions, assume that the instructor will be  the audience. Whoever the reader is, aim the assignment at them and their requirements and knowledge. 2. Do background reading and jot down notes Do some brief background reading around the topic, starting with your textbook, jotting down the main concepts and ideas that seem relevant. Is there any relevant history related to your topic? Or is there any important detail that will be of high significance to the future? Are there any important people involved? Knowing such details will give you a better idea as to how to start and finish your assignment. 3. Organise your assignment Make a tentative, organized list of headings and some sub-headings and topics about important issues that will have to be addressed. Inform yourself as to how Table of Contents (TOC) fields are formatted in MS Word, or other word processing application you may be using; and how to update the page numbers for your Table of contents as your composition grows and evolves. Fine-tune your listing of subject headings as you start gathering information about the assignment’s topics. Organisation is always the key to a well-written assignment. It not o nly gives you direction as you write, but it also gives your paper a certain level of professionalism. 4. Collate information and note your sources for proper citation and referencing Gather information from articles and other credible sources (preferably from peer  reviewed journal articles). Take notes and write down reference information about your sources (you may forget or lose them, otherwise). The AIB Style Guide has details of what information is required for referencing in the assignment; make sure you collect all that information when you first have your hands on the source of information. Collecting all the necessary information for proper citation and referencing as soon as you encounter the source will save you precious time during the course of your writing. The list will also come in handy if you want to double check information. 5. Organise your notes bearing in mind the marking criteria Organize your notes and finalise the outline with its headings and sub-headings and topics. Consult the Assignment Cover Sheet and Assessment Sheet and the marking criteria for your assignment with weightings for concepts, application of concepts and so on. Bear these in mind as you plan and write the assignment. Comparing your outline with the Assignment Cover Sheet and Assessment Sheet will let you know if you have covered everything that the assignment requires or if you have included something that is irrelevant. It will give you a chance to finalize your outline before proceeding with the actual writing. 6. Start writing the assignment Then, and only then, start writing the assignment. The notes below about the format of an assignment have details of how each part of the assignment should be written (and include the recommended length of some sections). For your assignment writing, we recommend you use the Office Word Format/Font command to set Times New Roman Regular 12 point font, and the Format/Paragraph command to set 1.5 line spacing – refer to the AIB Style Guide. 7. Re-read and re-write your assignment ensuring you adhere to the word count Re-writing is essential. Make sure you add or delete appropriate words or paragraphs and check the spelling and grammar. Prior to re-writing, read and re-read your draft. Check whether the flow of thoughts is clear and maintains continuity. Check for any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and/or improper use of periods, commas or question marks. Make sure you read your assignment carefully to check for errors or omissions. Lastly, ensure that you adhere to the required word count, and add / delete words as necessary. 8. Write the Executive Summary Now write the Executive Summary. This is the summary of the entire assignment. Include only salient points of your assignment. It is called a summary because it is supposed to be brief and comprehensive. 9. Write the References Add the References according the requirements of the AIB Style Guide, and submit the assignment to AIB, remembering to provide a word count which includes the Introduction section through to the beginning of the References section (that is, do not include the Executive Summary/Abstract, References or Appendices in the word count). BASIC FORMAT OF AN ASSIGNMENT REPORT This section will explain how you should develop the sections of your assignment. An example assignment that follows this format is provided at Appendix A. Title page Give your assignment a title and type out the main words from the assignment for the marker to know what the assignment is all about. Include the name of the business investigated if you are writing a case study. The title of the assignment should be comprehensive enough to give the reader an idea about the coverage of the assignment. Also, you need to place the word count (which includes all text from the Introduction section to the end of the Conclusion section) here. Executive summary This tells your reader what the assignment is about because it describes the topics or issues discussed, as well as providing a summary of the  conclusions and recommendations and reasons for them. Before going through the entire assignment, readers first want to see the summary. In fact in many busy business situations, sometimes decisions are often made solely on the basis of executive summary if it is persuasive. Your executive summary should include what you did, how you did it, what your main findings were and what are your key recommendations. Although the executive summary appears as first section of the  assignment, it should be written last after completing the assignment. Do not include any sub headings in this section. It is usually one or two paragraphs and should not be more than 250 words. Remember to not include these words in the word count, except if you are asked to write a marketing plan. As the executive summary is part of the marketing plan, it is included in the word count. Table of contents After the title page and the executive summary, you should show a table of contents with a list of the numbered sections and subsections of the assignment, with their page numbers. Numbered appendices, tables and figures with their titles should also be presented in the table of contents. MS Word provides a function for inserting an automatic table of contents. Please ensure the table of contents is updated before you submit the completed assignment. To update the page numbers in the contents table, when you have completed your assignment: †¢ left click on the table †¢ right click and select Update Field †¢ ensure â€Å"Update page numbers only† is selected †¢ click OK Introduction The introduction tells your reader what you are going to tell them in the body of your assignment. The first paragraph of your introduction gives the background to the assignment and why it is useful. Then your second paragraph should say what the aim, purpose or objective of the assignment is, any limitations and a very brief summary of the sections (no more than about two lines for this summary of the sections). The whole Introduction section should not take more than about half a page or so. Discussion The sections after the Introduction are where you begin the discussion, outlining relevant facts and events. A rule of thumb is that there should be at least one section or subsection heading per page. These sections after the Introduction will follow a logical pattern of thought. Make your headings longer than just one or two cryptic words, so that they also help the reader to quickly understand the sections and flow of the assignment. Present information in a logical order. Use information from a number of credible sources to support your findings and try not to include numeric calculations in the main body of the assignment. Instead, include these as an appendix to the assignment. This is to prevent interrupting the flow of the assignment. Acknowledge all sources using the Harvard ‘author-date’ style. The start of each section should make obvious its link to previous sections; for example, ‘The previous sections discussed strengths; this section turns to weaknesses’. Transition words are especially useful for this linking of paragraphs; for example, ‘moreover, furthermore, in addition, consequently, so, on the other hand, in contrast, but, however, nevertheless’.

Helping Phantom Limb Pain Essay examples -- Phantom Limb Pain Medical

Helping Phantom Limb Pain Over the years scientists have noted many complaints of a strange form of pain called phantom limb pain. This pain is strange because it is located in an appendage that no longer exists. By many of the amputees the pain is described as totally unbearable. Phantom limb pain has even driven some victims crazy. For the amputee population this is a very real problem that definitely needs to be solved. After James Peacock had his right arm amputated last December, he expected some difficulties. With those difficulties came pain so unbearable it could not be controlled with all the medicine in his cabinet. Derek Steen, otherwise known as "The one-armed pool player," lost a limb in a motorcycle accident at the age of 18. Although he lost the limb, he still plays a great game of pool. Nine years after the accident Steen continues to have pain in the missing arm. Deborah Finnegan-Ling, a graduate student in neuroscience, is writing her dissertation on phantom limb pain. Finnegan-Ling should know a lot about this phenomenon because three years ago, after a farming accident, her left leg was amputated. She has experienced much pain from this phantom limb especially in her personal life. The area of the brain for the foot is adjacent to the area for genitalia. Because of this connection Finnegan-Lingà ­s missing limb aches when she makes love."I consider myself tough," she says."But the pain is so acute that Ià ­ll cry." Some amputees experience the opposite of phantom pain - phantom pleasure. One man tells about feeling an orgasmic sensation in his lost foot during sex. Finnegan-Ling sighs."I wish," she says. Many scientists have studied amputees to determine the cause of this mysterious pain. Sussman (199... ...981). Persistent phantom limb pain. Journal of Perceptual and Motor Skills, 53(1), 135-138. Flor, H., Elbert, T., Knecht, S. & Wienbruch, C. (1995). Phantom limb pain as a perceptual correlate of cortical reorganization following arm amputation. Journal of Nature, 375(6531), 482-484. McKechnie, R. (1975). Relief from phantom limb pain by relaxation exercises. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 6(3), 262-263. Morris, D. (1992). The place of pain. Journal of Advances, 8(2), 3-24. Tsushima, W. (1982). Treatment of phantom limb pain with EMG and temperature biofeedback. American Journal of Clinical Biofeedback, 5(2), 150-153. Wain, H. (1986). Pain control with hypnosis in consultation and liaison psychiatry. Psychiatric Annuals, 16(2), 106-109. Sussman, V. (October 1995). The route of phantom pain. U.S. News & World Report, 76-78.

Capital Punishment in the Bahamas

Section Capital Punishment The Bahamas hanged 50 men since 1929 according to records kept at Her Majesty’s Prison. Five were hanged under the Ingraham administration; 13 were hanged under the Pindling government, and 32 inmates were executed between 1929 and 1967. The last act of capital punishment in The Bahamas took place on January 6, 2000 when convicted murderer David Mitchel was executed by hanging.Mitchel was convicted of stabbing two German tourists to death. (Nassau Guardian, published: August 27, 2012) A report released by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) encourages The Bahamas and other members of the Caribbean which maintain the death penalty to impose a moratorium on execution. The IACHR also urged The Bahamas to ratify the protocols of the American Convention on Human Rights in abolishing or reintroduce its application.In 2006 the Privy Council ruling determined that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional in The Bahamas. Because of this many inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison who were previously under the death penalty had their sentence commuted to life in prison, received other sentences or had their sentences overturned on appeal. Some inmates had been under the death sentence since the 1990s.In 2011, Parliament passed a law that outlines the categories of murder and states which would have the death penalty attached. The Privy Council ruled that the worst cases of murder is carefully planned and carried out in furtherance of another crime, such as robbery, rape, drug smuggling, human struggling, kidnapping, preventing witnesses from testifying, serial killing, as well as the killing of innocents â€Å"for the gratification of base desires†. (Nassau Guardian, published June 21, 2011)

Lysistrata

C/LT 320I: Notes on Greek Comedy and Lysistrata Waters/Fall 2011 this play acts as prophecy- war will destroy Pretext for Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (411 BCE)Homeric Epics- the bible for the greeks, the Iliad (more concerned with the war-translates as a catastrophe) and the odyssey, everybody looses type of thing, 1200bce, trojan war didn't happen, 1870 AD, Phallic Rituals- create something tall and worship it, masculine virility, ritual celebration, center of orgies and animal sacrifice, every woman has to get pregnant if they can, Dithyramb- chorus, both people and song, groups of farmers and shepards and practice and compete with song and dance, friendly competition, chorus never interacts with the main action- too busy bickering amongst their selves, Satyr Plays- satire- short comic skits done as popular entertainment, variations of themes, goatmen playing songs, structured like a bugs bunny cartoon, seduction songs ( forbidden fruit), satrys always get what they want, mood pieces ( gets people in the â€Å"mood†) Dionysus- story in spring, athens is greatest city at the time, god to celebrate, god of wine and feasting- the party god, is part human, the god most like us, he is constantly at war with himself, circular, father zeus + mother nymph, comic split- pulled between two worlds, always over does it Peloponnesian War (Athens v. Sparta) 15 years, spartans won, quagmire, end 6 years later with athens losing, alternative to self destruction, Characteristics of Greek Old ComedyAgon- means the problem, WAR, agonY, active and passive, explicit and inplicit, agon is active in lysistrata, comedy acts as a prophecy, Parabasis- seculusion of the dithyramb, â€Å"next to or simile† something like a doctor, basis foundation, parallel basis for pushing it forward, exaggeration variation of the agon of the play, is a point in the play when all of the actors leave the stage and thechorus is left to address the audience directly. The chorus partiall y or completely abandons its dramatic role to talk to the audience on a topic completely irrelevant to the subject of the play. Episodes- shorter punchier scenes at the end, pays off of initial investment, content gives way to pure form archetype: alazon is the baggard male, macho figure who needs to be brought down by clever servant miles gloriosus- † braggart solider† – boastful soldier, a posturing and self- deceiving boaster or bully igon- clever servant trong woman,Alazon- baggard male, macho figure who needs to be brought down by the clever servant Eiron-The modern term irony is derived from the eiron of the classical Greek theatre. Irony is the difference between the actual meaning of a something and the apparent meaning. [4] The eiron would frequently triumph over the alazon by making himself appear less than he actually is. ( the clever servant), Eiron usually succeeds in bringing his braggart opponenet ( alazon) down by making himself seem like less than he actually was Techne/Skene- stage, balconies, things high and above, tall massive backdrop, Orchestra- † pit† dancing place, social dance, costumes, megaphones, refer to paper Comic Effect in LysistrataScatology- humor based on bodily functions, gags that makes us go ew Reification- stereotyping, breaking down human beings into a cartoon, archetypes-caricatures, reification is always negatives, break down to appearance, attitude, things that make people vulnerable, think of lampido, the woman at the end as an object Anachronism- something that breaks us out of time, nobody is reading it in its time it is set, look for the ways translater takes the jokes that applies it to the current audience Anthropomorphism- attribution of human characteristics to non-human things, Early Comic Theory Aristotle, Poetics (ca. 350 BCE): Mimesis- name of the goddess of revenge, â€Å"to give what is due† Catharsis- purification or purgation of emotions that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tensionHubris- extreme pride or arrogance, indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence and abilities ( especially when the person is in power) ; arrogance before the gods, defiance of authority after pelponesian war, aristotle- important greek philosopher, poetics- how to tell a story, how to make the relate to life itself, dramatic narrative ( most important, most like us) not narrative or visual, mimesis- imitates life, how does the story imitate experience, we are attracted to the spectacular imitation of life, imitation of the spiritual, how does the play make us think about ourselves, aspiration validation, catharsis- emotional release, taking away the lesson, hubris- defiance of the gods, defying any type of authority, comedy gives us a false sense of liberty,

The Need for Peace in the Middle East essays

The Need for Peace in the Middle East essays The Need For Peace in the Middle East The quest for peace in the Middle East has been going on for decades. It all started in 1948 when Israel declared its independence and fought Arab nations to secure it. However, the Arabs were left unsatisfied while the Israelis wanted more control over land. In 1967, the six-day war erupted, resulting with Israel seizing the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The war left the situation unchanged and the Arabs and Israelis have been fighting ever since. Middle East peace is important because without an agreement, both sides will remain hostile towards each other and wars will be constantly taking place. Numerous people will be killed and a settlement wont be reached. Jerusalem, the creation of a Palestinian state, and American and International aid are the top three issues that need to be resolved. Jerusalem is the holy city for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Jerusalem is the sticking point of the peace summit and is the most difficult issue as it is virtually impossible to please both sides. Presently, Israel has control over the city. Israel insists on retaining sovereignty over the eternal city and hopes a deal will win world recognition of that right. Palestinians, on the other hand, wish to reclaim east Jerusalem for the capital of a new Palestinian state and want to share sovereignty. This issue should be resolved by making Jerusalem no mans land. Jerusalem should be governed by an independent, neutral third party. Palestinians and Israelis would share it, as neither party would have control. If the Christians can share it with the Jews and Arabs, why cant the Jews and Arabs share with each other? The creation of a Palestinian state is one of the main issues the Palestinians are fighting for. In order to become a state, territory, government, population, and sovereignty are needed. P...

Ben Folds Five essays

Ben Folds Five essays Ben Folds Five is a band who started in 1994. Ben Folds Five is a trio not a quintet, which it is often mistaken for. The band originated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Ben Folds Five is known for its half punk and half alternative sounds. The famous band Styx and the famous band Journey have given Ben Folds Five music the title of punk rock for sissies. In the late 1980s, Ben Folds played bass in a band called Maj=sha. The band was not very successful. Maj=sha only cut one record not giving itself a big name. In the early 1990s, he played drums in a group called Pots and Pans. Folds then moved to New York after Pots and Pans broke up. He did some theater work and signed a publishing deal with Sony Music for his singing. This publishing deal allowed him three weeks to return to Chapel Hill and form a new band. Ben Folds Five then originated. The trio includes three band members with much experience under their belts. The lead singer and pianist Ben Folds has been in many bands mentioned earlier. The bassist Robert Sledge formerly played with a band called The Toxic Popsicle. The drummer Darren Jesse was a former member of Limbo. Soon after the trio got together, they released a single, Jackson Cannery, which lead to a deal with a New York based publishing company called Caroline. Ben Folds states he feels more comfortable in littler towns like his own back home. So for their first year or two, they only stayed in local towns and small Getting the piano sound popular was not easy for this band. The sound popular then was the grunge distorted-guitar sound. Ben Folds knew it was going to be tough to become popular without that guitar sound. But still persued Folds states, I wont compromise-we just dont play if theres no piano. If ...

Battle of Fishers Hill in the American Civil War

Battle of Fishers Hill in the American Civil War Battle of Fishers Hill - Conflict Date: The Battle of Fishers Hill was fought September 21-22, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders: Union Major General Philip H. Sheridan29,444 men Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early9,500 men Battle of Fishers Hill - Background: In June 1864, with his army besieged at Petersburg by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, General Robert E. Lee detached Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early with orders to operate in the Shenandoah Valley.   The goal of this was to have Early reverse Confederate fortunes  in the region which had been sustained a blow due to Major General David Hunters victory at Piedmont  earlier in the month.   Additionally, Lee hoped that Earlys men would divert some Union forces away from Petersburg.   Arriving at Lynchburg, Early was able to force Hunter to withdraw into West Virginia and then drove down  (north) the valley.   Entering into Maryland, he pushed aside a scratch Union force at the Battle of Monocacy on July 9.  Ã‚  Responding  to this new threat, Grant ordered Major General Horatio G. Wrights VI Corps north from the siege lines to reinforce Washington, DC.   Though Early threatened the capital later in July, he lacked the forces to mount a meaningful assault on th e Union defenses.   With little other choice, he withdrew back to the Shenandoah. Battle of Fishers Hill - Sheridan Takes Command: Weary of Earlys activities, Grant created the Army of the Shenandoah on August 1 and appointed his cavalry chief, Major General Philip H. Sheridan, to lead it.   Composed of Wrights VI Corps, Brigadier General William Emorys XIX Corps, Major General George Crooks VIII Corps (Army of West Virginia), and three  divisions of cavalry under Major General Alfred Torbert,  this new formation received orders to eliminate Confederate forces in the Valley and render the  region worthless as a source of supplies for Lee.   Moving south from Harpers Ferry, Sheridan initially showed caution and probed to ascertain Earlys strength.   Leading four  infantry and two cavalry divisions, Early misinterpreted Sheridans early  tentativeness as  over-caution and permitted his command to be strung out between Martinsburg and Winchester. Battle of Fishers Hill - Gibraltar of the Shenandoah Valley: In mid-September, having gained an understanding of Earlys forces, Sheridan moved against the Confederates at Winchester.   In the Third Battle of Winchester (Opequon) his forces inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy and sent Early reeling south.   Seeking to recover, Early reformed his men along Fishers Hill just south of Strasburg.   A strong position, the hill was situated at a point where the valley narrowed with Little North Mountain to the west and Massanutten Mountain to the east.   Additionally, the north side of Fishers Hill possessed a steep slope and was fronted by a creek named Tumbling Run.   Known as the Gibraltar of the Shenandoah Valley, Earlys men occupied the heights and prepared to meet Sheridans advancing Union forces.    Though Fishers Hill offered a strong position, Early lacked sufficient forces to cover the four miles between the two mountains.   Anchoring his right on Massanutten, he deployed the divisions of Brigadier General Gabriel C. Wharton, Major General John B. Gordon, Brigadier General John Pegram, and Major General Stephen D. Ramseur in a line extending east to west.   To bridge the gap between Ramseurs left flank and Little North Mountain, he employed Major General Lunsford L. Lomaxs cavalry division in a dismounted role.   With the arrival of Sheridans army on September 20, Early began to realize the danger of his position and that his left was extremely weak.   As a result, he began making plans for a retreat further south to begin on the evening of September 22.      Battle of Fishers Hill - The Union Plan: Meeting with his corps commanders on September 20, Sheridan rejected mounting a frontal assault against Fishers Hill as it would cause heavy losses and had a questionable chance of success.   Subsequent discussions resulted in a plan to strike Earlys right near Massanutten.   While this was endorsed by Wright and Emory, Crook had reservations as any movement in that area would be visible to the Confederate signal station atop Massanutten.   Adjourning the meeting, Sheridan reconvened the group that evening to discuss a thrust against the Confederate left.   Crook, with support from one of his brigade commanders, future president Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, argued in favor of this approach while Wright, who did not wish his men to be relegated to a secondary role, fought against it.   When Sheridan approved of the plan, Wright attempted to secure leading the flank attack for VI Corps.   This was blocked by Hayes who reminded the Union commander that VIII Corps had spent much of the war fighting in the mountains and was better equipped to traverse the difficult terrain of Little North Mountain than VI Corps.   Resolving to move forward with the plan, Sheridan directed Crook to begin quietly moving his men into position.   That night, VIII Corps formed in heavy woods north of Cedar Creek and out of sight of the enemy signal station (Map). Battle of Fishers Hill - Turning the Flank: On September 21, Sheridan advanced VI and XIX Corps towards Fishers Hill.   Nearing the enemy lines, VI Corps occupied a small hill and began deploying its artillery.   Having remained concealed all day, Crooks men commenced moving again that evening and arrived at another concealed position north of Hupps Hill.   On the morning of the 21st, they ascended the east face of Little North Mountain and marched southwest.   Around 3:00 PM, Brigadier General Bryan Grimes reported to Ramseur that enemy troops were on their left.   After initially dismissing Grimes claim, Ramseur then saw Crooks men approaching through his field glasses.   Despite this, he refused to send more forces to the left end of the line until he discussed it with Early. In position by 4:00 PM, Crooks two divisions, led by Hayes and Colonel Joseph Thoburn, commenced their attack on Lomaxs flank.   Driving in the Confederate pickets, they quickly routed Lomaxs men and pressed on towards Ramseurs division.   As VIII Corps began to engage Ramseurs men it was joined on its left by Brigadier General James B. Ricketts division from VI Corps.   Additionally, Sheridan directed the remainder of VI Corps and XIX Corps to pressure Earlys front.   In an attempt to rescue the situation, Ramseur directed Brigadier General Cullen A. Battles brigade on his left to refuse back to face Crooks men.   Though Battles men mounted a fierce resistance, they were soon overwhelmed.   Ramseur then sent Brigadier General  William R. Cox’s brigade to aid Battle.   This force became lost in the confusion of the fight and played little role in the engagement. Pressing forward, Crook and Ricketts next rolled Grimes brigade as enemy resistance faltered.   With his line shattered, Early began directing his men to withdraw south.   One of his staff officers, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Pendleton, attempted to mount a rearguard action on the Valley Turnpike but was mortally wounded.   As the Confederates retreated in confusion, Sheridan ordered a pursuit in the hopes of dealing Early a fatal blow.   Chasing the enemy south, the Union troops finally broke off their efforts near Woodstock. Battle of Fishers Hill - Aftermath: A stunning success for Sheridan, the Battle of Fishers Hill saw his troops capture nearly 1,000 of Earlys men while killing 31 and wounding around 200.   Union losses included 51 killed and around 400 wounded.   As Early escaped south, Sheridan commenced laying waste to the lower part of the Shenandoah Valley.   Reorganizing his command, Early attacked the Army of the Shenandoah on October 19 while Sheridan was away.   Though the fighting at the Battle of Cedar Creek initially favored the Confederates, Sheridans return later in the day led to a change in fortunes with Earlys men being driven from the field.   The defeat effectively gave control of the valley to the Union and eliminated Earlys army as an effective force.    Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Battle of Fishers HillShenandoah at War: Battle of Fishers HillHistoryNet: Battle of Fishers Hill

Discuss the argument and evidence for the view that the roles of women Essay

Discuss the argument and evidence for the view that the roles of women and men in the family have changed significantly over the past 50 years - Essay Example Women have travelled a long way in the past 50 years as compared to their male counterparts and embark changes in the lifestyles. In the present era, women are getting married later and giving birth later in life; they make up 50 percent of the work force and also have immensely shifted the roles in families. This move of women is in the direction of equality. Besides performing the role as a good worker in the job which was initially the men’s territory, women do perform multiple roles at the family front like maintaining quality of marital relationships, looking after the household activities (Bernades, 1997). The division of domestic labour has also witnessed changes in the patterns of time spent by men and women (Cheal, 2002). In support of this, there had been a reduction in gender inequality in the performance of some of the normatively feminine-associated tasks, a larger proportional increase in the time contributed to domestic work tasks by men from lower socio-economic strata, to a position of near equality with men from higher socio-economic positions, and a substantial increase in more `egalitarian couples (Chafe, 1991). Womens lives today are spectacularly unlike from those of their mothers and grandmothers. Women are developing an independent thinking and this is displayed in the nature of their choices that eventually prepares them for longer lives, significant labor force contribution with matrimony and children moreover, they know that they are contributing to their own economic well-being, by gaining more education, and proving themselves in well-paying employment (Chafe,1991). On the same memorandum, mens roles have also changed in the past 50 years. Men have more responsibilities in the home and in caring for the children - and the majority of men now level having free time with family this has become

Incidence of Income Tax Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Incidence of Income Tax - Term Paper Example Under the progressive income tax policy (a progressive tax takes a larger share of the income of high-income taxpayers than of low-income taxpayers).   The incidence of the tax is shifted more on the high-income group than to the low-income group (Samuelson and Nordhaus 1992). Following are the effects of taxation on income: Under progressive income tax policy, ya family with $50,000 income is taxed more than one with $20,000 of income. Not only does the higher-income family pay a larger income tax, but it in fact pays a higher fraction of its income. Such income tax policies are aimed to minimize the distortions between haves and have-nots. It influences the consumption patterns of higher-income families and affects overall consumption patterns of an economy. On the other hand, progressive income taxation policies are politically controversial issues and are regularly used in electoral campaigns. A larger share of the burden of VAT falls upon the consumers because the producer/manufacturer (VAT registered persons or companies) pass on the financial impact of such a tax on to the consumers. Suppose that a product, say the laptop, has been imposed a VAT. The burden of this tax imposition will not be born by the supplier or manufacturer of the laptops rather it will be passed on to its customers by raising the price of laptops by the percentage of the tax imposed. The ultimate consumer bears the burden of VAT and it’s him whose consumption is being affected through a value-added tax. Advantages: Registration for VAT makes an overall good impression for your company. Since large corporations usually register for VAT, therefore, if a newly established company registers itself for VAT, the customers, and for that matter suppliers, heed it as an established, large company. Registration for VAT also has financial benefits. If a newly-established company registers for VAT then it automatically avoids the penalties for non-registering when it becomes legally mandatory to register for VAT. It is a precautionary step.

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

Ethics statement - Essay Example If values of both religions are compared, it can be deduced that human life is sacred in both religions. The best way to care oneself is to follow the divine personal rules. For example, for me, adopting the natural life style would be the best way to serve oneself. In which, waking up in the early morning would be the best service to oneself. In this way, the personal life would be healthy and it would put positive effect on one’s health which is fundamental to successful personal life. This success will also enable the person to perform other duties. Care and respect are two fundamental values that must be demonstrated from the character and behaviour of the person. Through these behaviours, tranquillity and mutual respect will spread among people which will increase the social cohesion in the society. For example, showing respects for elderly is the most important virtue in which a system of social cohesion is promoted. Additionally, if one witnesses an accident in which a person is critically injured, it is his moral responsibility to call the relevant authority and look after the injured until the police or any other rescue team is not arrived. â€Å"Family values are important for us† (Parma, 2009. p. 29).Family norms should always be followed. For example, showing respect to mother and father and caring them in their old age are some of those family duties and responsibilities that must not be compromised under any condition.

Who do you think you are Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Who do you think you are - Assignment Example Today he is presenting a lunch time programme at 91.8 Hayes FM. He is one of the most passionate reporters on the stories based on the local national stories. He was born on 17th August 1986. Craig Doyle a TV and radio broadcaster was born in 1970. He first studied sociology and history at St. Patrick College. He pursued his post graduate studies at London College of printing. He was awarded with diploma in Broadcast journalism. He was employed by BBC radio as a news and sports presenter. He did present Disney club magazine show together with Disney and other guest. The show was filmed in different places within a week. While at BBC he presented the programme called tomorrow world as an interviewer. This was one of the most watched science programmes at BBC. By the year 2000, he had been known for presenting sport more so appearing as guest presenter on football focus. During this time he doubled as a presenter at radio 5 live and the BBC music live. These he did until 2004 when he started doing his own show called Craig Doyle Show which was a travel celebrity programme in Ireland. He did appear on BBC2 on Sunday Grand stand. Craig did also present world worst weather. He doubled as both a presenter and a reporter on rugby, golf and triathlon. His style of presentation made him move from BBC to ITV sport. These he did together with event covering like in Tennis and Motor racing. I, a student of graphic and media design at London College of communication in my first year of study. I happened to book an appointment with journalist Jayson Mansaray and Craig Doyle a TV and radio broadcaster during the annual alumni conference held at famous 81/2th floor of London College of Communication. Jayson: well, yes and no. When I was growing up I loved watching news and camera shooting. I admired news reporting. The most difficult part was identifying the best college for journalism. I developed interest in

Explanatory Synthesis Essay (phone dangers) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Explanatory Synthesis (phone dangers) - Essay Example m to connect to their offices, plus the young adults who use these gadgets for entertainment (Sutko and Souza 811), it is impossible to ignore how this gadget can play a big role in an individuals life. The dangers associated with dependence on the gadget is not necessarily a psychological one, but rather, a physical one. While it can be argued that mobile phones provide people with â€Å"the ease and comfort of being able to contact family members immediately, or even being able to use it during emergencies† (Sutko and Souza 813-4), there is still considerable danger in the use of these gadgets. More people nowadays are able to purchase the gadget, while networks try so hard to keep up with the number of subscribers they can accommodate. While this may seem to be merely a business issue, as consumers, people should also understand what dangers lie under the presumption that mobile phones can be used for emergencies when in reality, a network being more and more crowded in time may prove this impossible. While that may still be under considerable argument, accidents caused by mobile phones is something that has been happening for decades. According to statistics, cell phone use causes over 300, 000 vehicle-related injuries and over 2, 500 vehicle-related deaths annually. These figures are out of the estimated 7 million vehicle-related accidents in the country per year (Blettner and Berg 927). That means mobile phone use is responsible for around 4.5% of vehicle-related accidents in the whole united States. For such a small gadget, this is such a big number. And for such a widely-used and relied on necessity, this is such a bothering fact. While some may argue that hands-free phone may resolve the issue, one has to consider that the advent of hands-free phones did not significantly reduce the number of mobile-phone related motor accidents in the past years (Blettner and Berg 931). Furthermore, the hidden dangers of mobile phone use associated with radiation (Zur,

Corporate Governance in Russia Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Corporate Governance in Russia - Dissertation Example A total of 74 companies was analysed, 34 companies from LSE, 4 from NYSE and 36 listed on RTS. The sample size was calculated from a Web-based sample size calculator using the following parameters : (1) a margin of error of 7%; (2) a confidence level of 95%; (3) a population size of 5,580; and (4) response distribution of 10%. The population size of 5,580 is the total number of companies listed with the Russian Trading System (297), the New York Stock Exchange (2,317) and the London Stock Exchange (2,966). The minimum recommended sample was 70 but for contingency, this number was increased by 5%, hence the actual sample size used was 74. Companies which were listed with LSE and NYSE are categorised as class listed (CL). These are the companies are listed abroad, numbering 38. The non-class listed companies (NCL) are those companies that are listed only with RTS in Russia. The list of the companies and a screenshot of the output from the Web-based sample size calculator can be found i n the Appendix.... The test is repeated until all the outliers are deleted. Grubbs test works on the principle that with the outliers deleted, data tend to be normally distributed (Thompson and Lowthian, 2011). In this regard, use of Grubbs test requires prudence in estimating normality of the distribution in the dataset. Moreover, the test may not be applied for a small sample size of six or less since repeated iterations alter the chances of detecting outliers (Thompson and Lowthian, 2011). In the case of this research, CL and NCL data sets made the use of the Grubb’s test impossible, because it detected too many outliers, because CL firms tend to be large and well-established, also the specific environment in which firms operate would influence their board characteristics and availability of data. Considering the big information availability difference of the treatment and benchmark populations comparison between those independent samples can be problematic. Log base 10 Further, logarithm was applied on operating revenue and number of employees. The most common description of log or logarithm of a number represents the exponent by which a fixed number, called the base, has to be exponentiated to generate the fixed number (Bland, 2007). For the current research common logarithms (logs to base 10) are useful in a several ways. First of all, they simplify the data output for further calculations. Secondly, log transformation is applicable to data in where the residuals tend to assume bigger values as the values of the dependent variable increases. The danger in this type of scenario is that the error or change in the value of an outcome variable is a percentage and not an absolute value. Hence, similar percentage

Explanatory Synthesis Essay (phone dangers) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Explanatory Synthesis (phone dangers) - Essay Example m to connect to their offices, plus the young adults who use these gadgets for entertainment (Sutko and Souza 811), it is impossible to ignore how this gadget can play a big role in an individuals life. The dangers associated with dependence on the gadget is not necessarily a psychological one, but rather, a physical one. While it can be argued that mobile phones provide people with â€Å"the ease and comfort of being able to contact family members immediately, or even being able to use it during emergencies† (Sutko and Souza 813-4), there is still considerable danger in the use of these gadgets. More people nowadays are able to purchase the gadget, while networks try so hard to keep up with the number of subscribers they can accommodate. While this may seem to be merely a business issue, as consumers, people should also understand what dangers lie under the presumption that mobile phones can be used for emergencies when in reality, a network being more and more crowded in time may prove this impossible. While that may still be under considerable argument, accidents caused by mobile phones is something that has been happening for decades. According to statistics, cell phone use causes over 300, 000 vehicle-related injuries and over 2, 500 vehicle-related deaths annually. These figures are out of the estimated 7 million vehicle-related accidents in the country per year (Blettner and Berg 927). That means mobile phone use is responsible for around 4.5% of vehicle-related accidents in the whole united States. For such a small gadget, this is such a big number. And for such a widely-used and relied on necessity, this is such a bothering fact. While some may argue that hands-free phone may resolve the issue, one has to consider that the advent of hands-free phones did not significantly reduce the number of mobile-phone related motor accidents in the past years (Blettner and Berg 931). Furthermore, the hidden dangers of mobile phone use associated with radiation (Zur,

Law and management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law and management - Essay Example Simply put, if you promise that you will do something for another person and in return, that person agrees to pay you something, then you and that person have made a contract. A contract can be in verbal or written form but the most important thing is that there would be an agreement especially between two parties. Likewise, according to the labour laws of many countries, both the worker and the employee are bound by certain statutory regulations that would ensure that no party will breach the agreed contract. Indeed, when a person has decided to enter into an agreement with someone, both parties should have a common ground of understanding of the nature of the contract they would be agreeing upon so as to avoid conflict and misunderstanding in the future. (ii) When another party has frustrated the contract entered into between the two involved parties, it can be said that this other part would have failed to owner the obligations stated in the contract in the long run as a result of difficult conditions arising during the course of the contract. Thus, according to information obtained online, the issue of frustration here is about the subsequent impossibility of the contract which may be a result of an unforeseeable event to both parties. In most cases, this event would be beyond the control of both parties such as death. No mortal being is able to stop death hence this becomes impossible for both parties to stick to the contractual obligations since it would be difficult to press ahead especially in the absence of a key actor in such a scenario. (b) The case involving Harry and Ian can be attributed to frustration of contract which in this case can be summed up as a legal termination of a contract as a result of unforeseen circumstances which may prevent that particular contract to achieve the intended goals or objectives. Whilst Ian had agreed to buy a motor vehicle from Harry, it is

The Brick Tower †a Speech by Justin Hudson Essay Example for Free

The Brick Tower — a Speech by Justin Hudson Essay Ladies and gentlemen, family, faculty and my fellow classmates of the class of 2010, before I begin I would like to thank those teachers who chose this modest speech among the outstanding collection of speeches written by my highly competent peers. I would also like to thank all the people who have expressed their support for me and their anticipation for this speech. To be told â€Å"You are the best person in the grade to give this speech†, or some variation of that statement, more than once is truly humbling, and you all are either the most polite people I know, or the kindest people I know. It is a great honor to give this address, and I promise I do not take it lightly. I have chosen every word quite carefully because I am fully aware of the responsibility you all have bestowed upon me. Today, I stand before you as a personification of conflictedness. I find myself on this podium experiencing numerous warring emotions, and I am certain many of you here empathize with me on that point. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, I am filled with a great sense of happiness and accomplishment. My peers and I have put much effort for the last six years—a third of our lives thus far—into being able to stand here today and say that we’ve earned the right to stand here. It was by no means easy, and there were many times when I thought I would not reach this finish line. But those struggles have only made this moment sweeter. The people who are on this stage survived four years of Latin, or 8th grade swim class, or English with Ms. D’Amico, or BC Calculus, or the 25% rule, and I think all of us can take some pride in that. Yet, my ambivalence on this day stems from the very fact that this ceremony is the end of an arduous journey. While I am ready to continue my academic endeavors, knowing that Hunter has thoroughly prepared me for them, I am also filled with a deep sense of anxiety and sadness. Hunter has been my second home for the last six years, and it has bordered on becoming my first home. Between my time diligently taking notes in the classroom, playing Chinese Poker in the hallway, taking a nap in the G. O. office, frantically rehearsing for a cultural show or theater production in the auditorium, cheering for an undefeated basketball team in the gymnasium, or simply sitting outside on the senior steps, istening to a boom box and enjoying nice weather in the courtyard, Hunter has truly become a sanctuary for me. My life has revolved around the fourstory brick building that stands on East 94th Street and Park Avenue, and Hunter’s intimate class size means that I have become as connected to the people of this school as I have to the building itself. It may sound disingenuous to say that I will miss each and every one of you, but all of you in some small way have shaped me into the person I am today, so I thank you all for that. Of course, the comfort that I have attained at Hunter makes this departure a rather anxious one, but with anxiety comes excitement, and the end of this journey signifies the start of a brand new one. As I leave behind the warmth that I have experienced at Hunter to enter a vastly new and quite frightening terrain, I can only help but think back to the last time I was in this situation, as a fresh-faced, wide-eyed twelve-year old entering the foreboding, windowless Brick Prison for the first time. Every aspect of my life since that point has been overwhelmingly positive, so all my fears about what lies ahead are slightly tamed by the idea that I will at least come close to experiencing in my future what I have already experienced at Hunter. However, ladies and gentlemen, more than happiness, relief, fear or sadness, I feel a very strong emotion that I cannot ignore today. More than anything else, today I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I don’t deserve any of this. And neither do any of you. We received an outstanding education at no charge based solely on our performance on a test we took when we were eleven year olds, or four year olds. We received superior teachers and additional resources based on our status as â€Å"gifted†, while kids who naturally needed those resources much more than us wallowed in the mire of a broken system. And now, we stand on the precipice of our lives, in control of our lives, based purely and simply on luck and circumstance. If you truly believe that the demographics of Hunter represent the distribution of intelligence in this city, then you must believe that the Upper West Side, Bayside and Flushing are intrinsically more intelligent than the South Bronx, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Washington Heights, and I refuse to accept that. It is certainly not Hunter’s fault that socioeconomic factors inhibit the educational opportunities of some children from birth, and in some ways I forgive colleges and universities that are forced to review eighteen year-olds, the end results of a broken system. But, we are talking about eleven year-olds. Four year-olds. We are deciding children’s fates before they even had a chance. We are playing God, and we are losing. Kids are losing the opportunity to go to college or obtain a career, because no one taught them long division or colors. Hunter is perpetuating a system in which children, who contain unbridled and untapped intellect and creativity, are discarded like refuse. And we have the audacity to say they deserved it, because we’re smarter than them. As students, we throw around empty platitudes like â€Å"deserve† and â€Å"earn†, most likely because it makes us feel better about ourselves. However, it simply isn’t the case. I know for a fact that I did not work as hard as I possibly could have, and I think the same is true for everyone on this stage. Nevertheless, people who work much harder than we ever could imagine will never have the opportunities that lie in front of us. I apologize if this is not the speech you wanted to hear, but you will have the rest of your lives to celebrate your accomplishments. I apologize if I have not inspired you, or uplifted you, but we have failed to inspire and uplift an entire generation of children. That being said, let me make it very clear that I am not giving anyone here a moral lecture, for I am as complicit in the system we are a part of as anyone else in this room. If anything, I only make these remarks to further emphasize how much Hunter has meant to me, because I am acutely aware of where I would be now without it. As recipients of fortune, we more than anyone else should be able to understand and respect what our high school experience has meant to us, and has done for us. My guilt ultimately stems from my awareness of the academic, social, emotional and psychological tools that Hunter has blessed us with. Therefore, I believe the best way to assuage this guilt is to use those fortuitous tools to not only better myself, but also improve the society that surrounds us outside these oh, so narrow walls. I do not know the capacity in which I will be able to make this world a better and more just place, but I strongly believe that education is the most effective means of creating social improvement, which is precisely why this is a battle we cannot concede. My experiences at Hunter have left me with one final emotion; the last sentiment I will share with you today is hope. I hope that I will use the tools that Hunter has given me as a means to provide opportunities to others, not out of a sense of paternalistic philanthropy, but out of a sense of duty to give to other people what Hunter has given to me. I also hope that you all will do the same, in whatever way you see fit. Even more so, I hope that in the near future, education itself will not be a privilege for the few in this world. I hope that a quality education will not be a privilege for the few in this country. I hope that the Hunter community will descend from its ivory tower made of brick, and distribute its tools evenly to the mass of humanity that is the City of New York. I hope that, despite its problems, Hunter can prove to be the rule, and not the exception, to what can exist as a school. Finally, I hope from the bottom of my heart that omeday a class speaker can stand on this podium and look into an audience of his closest and dearest friends whom he never would have met without Hunter and whom he’ll never forget, an audience of faculty members he has a deep respect and admiration for, an audience of family members who have supported him throughout his entire life without asking for anything in return. I hope this child can stand on this very stage, look at the most important people in his life, and feel happy, sad, relieved, scared, accomplished or whatever his heart desires, without feeling guilty about a damn thing. Thank you for your time.

Comparing Destruction in Rocking Horse Winner and Scarlet Ibis :: comparison compare contrast essays

Seeds of Destruction in Rocking Horse Winner and Scarlet Ibis Family relationships can, in many cases, bear the "seeds of destruction" that lead to the downfall of other family members. This is evident in Paul's relationship with his mother in "The Rocking Horse Winner" by D. H. Lawrence, and in Doodle's relationship with his brother in the short story "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst. Both Paul and Doodle are controlled by a relationship within their family that pushes them too hard, causing their deaths. Doodle is controlled by his brother with fear on several separate occasions. When they were younger, Brother took Doodle into the barn loft and showed him the coffin they had made, expecting him to die as a baby. Doodle becomes extremely frightened, and doesn't want to touch the coffin. Brother makes him touch it, by threatening to leave him alone if he doesn't. In response to the threat, Doodle cries, "Don't leave me, Brother," (p 3) and touching the casket, screams. Brother uses fear to control his younger brother, forcing him to do cruel things. In the other story, Paul also is controlled in family relationships. His mother puts great strain on him by being financially irresponsible, and living beyond their means. Paul feels the strain, and is influenced by it to take the pressure away. Also, Paul's mother did not love him. This is a controlling factor because he works extra hard to gain her love. The family relationships with both Doodle and Paul also push them beyond their limits. Doodle is forced to learn to walk through Brother's determination. "Shut up, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to teach you to walk," his brother has said before heaving him up to try again. Brother's pride pushes Doodle to be like the other children, causing them to set unattainable goals of rowing, climbing, and swimming. Doodle is stretched to exhaustion through these exertions.

Does Utopia describe an ideal society? Essay -- English Literature

Does Utopia describe an ideal society? Thomas More was born in London in 1477. More had an extensive education and rose quickly through the Government hierarchy and attained high office. In May 1515 he was appointed to a delegation to help revise an Anglo-Flemish commercial treaty. During this time he began writing Utopia and completed it upon his return to London. Utopia was first published in Latin, at Louvain in December 1516. More added Utopia just before the outbreak of the reformation, during a time when the stresses and corruption that led to the reformation were rapidly increasing towards conflict. Utopia itself depicts what its narrator Hythloday, claimed to be an ideal society. The book became a huge success and founded a literary tradition known as ‘the utopian novel’. This tradition is an authors attempt to describe a perfect and ideal society. The book is in two parts, and it is believed that the first was written last and the second was written first. The first book (book 1) is presented as an introduction to book 2 as well as providing commentary to it. It is also viewed by many that the first book was likely to have been written in two parts, firstly, to briefly introduce the characters particularly the narrator: Hythloday. With the second part being of Hythloday giving an extended speech on a number of subjects with some being of a major interest to More the author. Book one starts off as a discussion between More, Hythloday and Peter Giles. At first the discussion is very relaxed, starting off in a church, then continuing into a garden and also at a friend’s dinner but soon becoming more and more intense as they enter into debates such as practical politics and the problem of th... ...cter Hythloday translates into ‘expert in nonsense’. Showing that overall, More may not have perceived Utopia a society of idealism and perfection, but it would seem that many of Utopia’s policies offer criticisms and resolutions to the problems he saw in Europe at the time, and so it is vital to see that this book is a response to a specific historical period. Bibliography Logan, G, M., Adams, R, M. (1997). Utopia. London: Cambridge University Press. Skinner, Q. (1978). The foundations of modern political thought: The Renaissance V.1. London: Cambridge University Press. More, T., Turner, P (editor). Utopia (2003). London: Penguin Books ltd. Solomon, R, C., Higgins, K, M., (1996). A short history of Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Thomas More/Utopia Websites: www.d-holliday.com/tmore/bio/html www.utoronto.ca/links.html

Marketing and Cleopatra Soap

Colgate-Palmolive: Cleopatra (1)Evaluate the results of the market survey carried out in advance of the release of â€Å"Cleopatra† after analysing the Canadian soap market. If you believe the market survey was not appropriate, explain specifically how you would have modified it. The results of the market survey carried out in advance of the release of â€Å"Cleopatra† were less significant in confirming that there was a real strong demand for Cleopatra in the target Quebec market.This is mainly because of the following reasons:(1) Inappropriate Target Sampling The idea of introducing Cleopatra soap to Canada, especially Quebec Province with French background, came because of the grand success in France and the expectation that the cultural similarities between those two places would produce similar results. Though the basis of considering the Quebec Province was their French influence, the market survey was conducted in Toronto, a city in Quebec’s neighbouring p rovince Ontario that has British influence.So at the first place, the researchers got the target sampling completely wrong and the market survey results for the British-influenced market cannot be used to assess the demand in the French-influenced market. (2) Inappropriate Research Study Method. The first research study was conducted with a â€Å"super group† of articulate professional women who were introduced to the product, its price and advertising, followed by open discussion on likes and dislikes. This study showed positive and receptive results for Cleopatra.As Cleopatra was intended to be premium-quality, premium-priced soap, this study definitely validated the premium quality but there was still a question mark on the reception of premium price as the â€Å"super group† in this case are mainly concerned with the benefits of the soap and are less sensitive to the price. The second research study was conducted with more typical general consumers who were exposed to the advertising for Cleopatra and then asked if they were willing to buy the product. Also they were given a bar of soap for trial and were phoned a week later for their reactions.This study showed that 50% were willing to buy the product after exposure to the advertising and 64% would buy it when it is available at the stores. Though this study shows that the people are willing to buy the product, it does not validate the reception of the premium price or the willingness-to-pay of the consumers as the price was not exposed to this study group. Since the typical general consumers were more price-sensitive, their willingness-to-buy the product definitely does not mean their willingness-to-pay the premium price for the product. Because of the above reasons, I believe that the market survey was not appropriate.If I was in charge of the market survey, I would like to modify it as follows:STEP1: Clarify the objectives of the market survey as below:(a) Assess the acceptance (willingne ss-to-buy) of Cleopatra soap by consumers in Quebec(b) Assess the factors influencing the buying decision of the potential consumers(c) Assess the willingness-to-pay the premium price of Cleopatra soap(d) Assess the effectiveness of the proposed advertising commercial for Cleopatra soap(e) Assess the response of consumers on Cleopatra soap for planning future promotionsSTEP2: Collect the information for determining the above objectives by doing the following:(1) Conduct the survey in the target market, Quebec instead of Toronto to assess the demand in the French-influenced market. Start survey with mass consumers and then based on the results, survey further on specific target consumers. (2) Ask question like below to assess the key buying factors of the potential consumers.? Quebec. What are the things that you consider while buying a? skin care soap? Possible choices would be:(a) Price, (b) Quality, (c) Fragrance, (d) Mildness, (e) Soft for skin, (f) Other ( ___ )(3) Ask questions like below to assess the willingness-to-pay of the potential consumers.? Would you like to pay the premium price of $1. 29 for Cleopatra soap How much would you like to pay for Cleopatra soap?Possible choices would be:(a) below $0. 5, (b) $0. 5 to $0. 8, (c) $0. 8 to $1. 1, (d) $1. 1 to $1. 4, (e) above $1. 4(4) Get feedback (like/dislike/opinion) on the advertising commercial from typical general consumers to assess if the commercial is really effective. Typical questions could be:Q.? What did you like about the advertising commercial? What did you dislike about the advertising commercial? Q. Is the advertising commercial better than other advertising commercials for soaps? (5) Get feedback (like/dislike/opinion) on the Cleopatra soap from typical general consumers after trial use for planning future promotions. Typical questions could be:Q.What did you like about Cleopatra soap? Q. Why would you want to buy Cleopatra soap? Q. What did you dislike about Cleopatra soap? Q. Why woul d you not want to buy Cleopatra soap? Q. Is Cleopatra soap superior to other skin care soaps? (2) What was made clear by the additional survey conducted in January 1987? The additional survey conducted in January 1987 made the following clear. (1) Low trial% but high acceptance% and high brand loyalty of Cleopatra soap. (2) Superiority of Cleopatra soap brand over other skin care soap brands. (3) High price as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap. (4) Less availability as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap. 5) Advertising less effective in compelling people to try Cleopatra soap. (1) Low trial% but high acceptance% and high brand loyalty of Cleopatra soap. On calculating conversion rates based on data in exhibit 9, the trial% or the conversion rate from Brand Awareness to Ever Tried of Cleopatra is only 19. 3%, which is very low compared to 83. 9% and 87. 6% of Dove and Camay respectively. However, the acceptance% or the conversion rate from Ever Tried to Brand In-home of Cleopatra is48. 6%, which is high compared to 28. 6% and 17. 6% of Dove and Camay respectively. This means that 48. 6% of people who try Cleopatra make it as their brand in home.Calculations(a) Trial% or Conversion rate from Brand Awareness to Ever Tried (%) =( Ever Tried (%) / Brand Awareness (%) ) * 100%(b) Acceptance% or Conversion rate from Ever Tried to Brand In-Home (%) =( Brand In-home (%) / Ever Tried (%) ) * 100%(c) Conversion rate from Brand Awareness to Brand in-Home (%) =( Brand In-Home (%) / Brand Awareness (%) ) * 100% . Also on calculating the % of Brand Used with relative to Ever Tried, we find that Cleopatra has a higher % of using the brand â€Å"All of the Time†, â€Å"Most of the Time† and â€Å"Occasionally †compared to other brands in the skin care segment, while a lower % of â€Å"Stopped Using† than the other brands. This means that most of the people who try Cleopatra are loyal to it, confirming the high brand loyalty of Cleopatra soap.Calculations% of â€Å"All of the Time† relative to Ever Tried = ( All of the Time (%) / Ever Tried (%) ) * 100%% of â€Å"Most of the Time† relative to Ever Tried = ( Most of the Time (%) / Ever Tried (%) ) * 100%% of â€Å"Occasionally† relative to Ever Tried = ( Occasionally (%) / Ever Tried (%) ) * 100%% of â€Å"Stopped Using† relative to Ever Tried = ( Stopped Using (%) / Ever Tried (%) ) * 100%The calculated values are shown in the table below. (2) Superiority of Cleopatra soap brand over other skin care soap brands. From exhibit 10, Cleopatra soap has the maximum number of respondents out of 99Cleo Triers for all the attributes, showing that the Cleopatra soap brand is superior to the other skin care soap brands. This also shows that most people who have tried Cleopatra soap prefer to have it to other brands. 3) High price as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap From consumer research on likes/dislikes of Cleopatra soap (exhibit 11), 20% of 99Cleo Triers dislike Cleopatra soap because its price is too high. Also from consumer research on trial (exhibit 14), 19% of 204 respondents have given the reason for not trying Cleopatra soap as being too expensive. Thus, these results show that high price is a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap. (4) Less availability as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap From consumer research on trial (exhibit 14), 29% of 204 respondents have given the reason for not trying Cleopatra soap as being not available where they shop.Even though the people wanted to try Cleopatra soap, they could not buy it at their regular shopping stores. Thus, this result shows that less availability is a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap. (Note: In 1987, Cleopatra soap was available only in 70% of stores in Quebec. )(5) Advertising less effective in compelling people to try Cleopatra soap From consumer research on advertising (exhibit 13), only 37% of respondents have shown their intention to try Cleopatra soap after seeing the advertising, while 63% of respondents have no intention to try Cleopatra soap after seeing the advertising. Thus, this result shows that the advertising is less effective in compelling people to try Cleopatra soap.So the additional survey done in 1987 made clear that though the Cleopatra soap brand is superior to other soap brands, it has low trial% due to factors such as high price and less availability and the advertising not much effective in compelling people to try the soap. (3) From the perspective of Steve Boyd, evaluate both the qualitative and quantitative data to decide whether achieving the target market share of 4. 5% is feasible or not. Break down the strategic options available . In my opinion, achieving the target market share of 4. 5% is feasible. However, this would require modifications in the current marketing strategy along with more time and support from the sales and promotion activities. (1) Qualitative Analysis(1. ) Canadian B ar Soap Market Analysis For market analysis, I would like to use the 5 Forces framework on the Canadian bar soap market as below: The Key Success Factors (KSFs) of the company are(1) Good Relationship with Retailers, (2) Competitive Price, (3) High Availability. Threat of new entrants is medium. (Barriers to entry are medium. )- Difficult to differentiate- Tough price competition with the existing brands Suppliers' bar gaining power is weak. – Raw materials suppliers- General raw materials required for soap- Many suppliers of similar products Buyers' bar gaining power is strong. – End consumers- Lot of brand choices(35 to 40) available- Few perceivable differences among brands- Only 3 or 4â€Å"acceptable brands†- Price sensitive Competition in the industry is very tough (strong internal rivalry). $105 mil market to manufacturers- Revenue growth by 4-5% but Volume growth by 1. 0-1. 5% per year – Many new and existing brands- Lack of differentiation among brands- Retailers all-powerful- Price competition for gaining market share Threat of substitutes is low. – Substitute: liquid soaps- 8% market share- Maximum share not expected to grow beyond 10% in the future Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Strategy for Cleopatra Colgate-Palmolive used the differentiation strategy and positioned Cleopatra as the premium quality, premium priced skin care soap to avoid the price war. They bypassed retailers to avoid paying large sums of money to get the product listed and offering large trade allowances and discounts.Instead they tried to use electronic media and consumer promotions (Free Bar Coupons, Cleopatra Gold Collection, Sweep stakes) to create demand from the consumers and thus force retailers to keep the brand. Though the advertising commercial and the consumer promotions created the brand awareness among consumers, demand was not created as expected and so the retailers were pulling the Cleopatra brand off the shelves. In addition, Cleop atra was sold in single packs despite the developing trend towards larger bundle packs and twin packs becoming the norm in the skin care segment. Current Marketing Mix (4P)Product- Premium quality skin care soap, Cleopatra- Single pack Price- Premium price ($1. 29 / bar)Place- Retail stores- Maximum shelf presence andProper shelf positioning Promotion- Advertising commercial (15% Share Of Voice)- Consumer promotions(Free Bar Coupons, Cleopatra Gold Collection, Sweepstakes)- Bypassing retailers (no trade allowances and discounts for retailers)(1. 3) Cleopatra Shelf Position in 1987From exhibit 8, it can be seen that the shelf positioning of Cleopatra is deteriorated. It received less shelf space than other brands and was placed in the bottom shelf between Woodbury and Generic brands, not in the eye level of the consumers. Quantitative Analysis(2. 1) Cleopatra Soap Distribution Ratio and Market Share in 1987At the end of 1986, Cleopatra soap distribution ratio was 69%, well short of i ts target distribution ratio of 100% and its market share was 0. 9%, again well short of its target market share of 4. 5%. (2. ) Correlation between market share and distribution ratio On drawing the scatter plot for market share and distribution ratio data in exhibit 6 and drawing the linear trend line, we have R2of 0. 69581, which is a good fit. So we see that the market share seems to be correlated to the distribution ration. (2. 3) 1987 Survey Findings From exercise 2, we have the following findings from the 1987 Survey. (Please refer to exercise 2 for details. )(1) Low trial% but high acceptance% and high brand loyalty of Cleopatra soap(2) Superiority of Cleopatra soap brand over other skin care soap brands(3) High price as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap(4) Less availability as a factor of low trial% of Cleopatra soap(5) Advertising less effective in compelling people to try Cleopatra soapBased on the qualitative analysis and the quantitative analysis, the following p ros and cons/issues of the current marketing mix (4P) can be listed out: Current Marketing Mix (4P)Pros Cons/Issues Product- Premium quality skin care soap- Cleopatra triers consider Cleopatra soap brand superior over other skin care soap brands- High acceptance% (48. 6%) and High brand loyalty compared to other skin care brands- Low trial% (only 19. 3%)- No large bundle packs available Price- High margin due to premium price and no trade discounts- High price, compared to Dove($1. 19 / bar) (one of the factors of low trial%)- Not competitive price (failure to meet the KSF of â€Å"Competitive Price†)Place- Good correlation between market share and distribution ratio (increasing distribution ratio would contribute into ncreasing the market share)- Less availability – distribution ratio of only 69% in 1986 (failure to meet the KSF of â€Å"High Availability†)- Deteriorating shelf positioning and space Promotion- Effective in creating high brand awareness- Adopted Demand Pull strategy and bypassing the all powerful retailers resulting into:(a) Failure to get proper shelf space(b) Conflict of interest for retailers(c) Non availability due to retailer indifference(failure to meet the KSF of â€Å"Good Relationship with Retailers†)- Less effective in compelling people to try Cleopatra soap(Low contribution to increasing trial%)So we see that though Cleopatra has high acceptance% and high brand loyalty and is considered superior to other brands, it has a low trial% mainly due to high price, less availability or distribution ratio with no proper shelf space and ineffectiveness of promotional activities to make people try the soap. Despite the high Brand Awareness% and Acceptance%, we have low Brand In-Home% due to low Trial%. As a result, our sales are low and we have a low market share of 0. 9% only. (Note: Brand In-Home% = Brand Awareness% x Trial% x Acceptance%)Hence, if we could modify the current marketing strategy to achieve high Tri al%, it should be feasible to achieve the target market share of 4. 5%. We need to address the following issues to increase the Trial% of Cleopatra soap:(1) High price ? not competitive,(2) Less Availability or Low distribution ratio,(3) Deteriorating shelf positioning and space, and(4) Ineffectiveness of promotional activities to create the required pull to ensure the trial . I would like to propose the marketing mix below to address these issues to ensure increase in Trial%, thus resulting into increase of our market share%. Proposed Marketing Mix (4P)Product- Premium quality skin care soap, Cleopatra- Single pack + introduce Twin pack to follow the norm Price- Price same or slightly below Dove ($1. 9 / bar or slightly below),become more competitive in price, make it compelling to try Place- Increase contract with main retailers (for high availability or distribution ratio)- Negotiate with retailers for proper shelf positioning and space Promotion- Change advertising concept to fi t the Quebec market (try to create the pull to ensure the trial)- Consumer promotions compelling people to try Cleopatra soap such as distributing free soap bars instead of free bar coupons- Provide trade allowances and discounts for retailers (try to build good relationship with all powerful retailers)Although lowering the price, distributing free soap bars and providing trade allowances and discounts for retailers will result into a low contribution margin but with increase in sales, we should still end up with a healthy contribution margin. Modeling to estimate the Revenues for Cleopatra soap Revenues ($) =(Quebec Soap Market Volume (# of cases) x Cleopatra Market Share (%)) x Case Price ($)In order to increase the revenues, Cleopatra Market Share needs to be increased.Modeling to estimate the Market Share for Cleopatra soap Market Share (%) =[ (Brand Awareness % * Trial % * Acceptance %) * # of households in Quebec *Avg. # of Cases consumed per household ] / Quebec Soap Market V olume (# of cases)Since we have a high Brand Awareness % and Acceptance %, increasing the Trial% would lead to increase in the market share of Cleopatra soap. Calculation of Trial % required for achieving Target Market Share of 4. 5%Item Value Source Brand Awareness % 73. 5% Exhibit 9Acceptance % 48. 6% Calculated value using data in Exhibit 9((Brand In-Home% / Ever Tried %) * 100%)# of households in Quebec 2. 3 million Page 6Avg. # of Cases consumed per household0. 25 Assumption (0. 5 case per year)= 0. 25 * 48 soaps per year = 12 soaps per year = 1 soap per month Quebec Soap Market Volume(# of cases)2. 0 million Calculated value using Forecast data in Exhibit 6 which is based on target market share of 4. 5%Total Forecast from 1986 Feb to Dec / 0. 045= 90,500 / 0. 045 = 2,011,111= Approx. 2. 0 million cases From modelling to estimate the market share for Cleopatra soap, we have Market Share (%) =[ (Brand Awareness % * Trial % * Acceptance %) * # of households in Quebec *Avg. # of C ases consumed per household ] / Quebec Soap Market Volume (# of cases)That is,0. 045 = [ (0. 735 * Trial % * 0. 486) * 2. 3 million * 0. 25 ] / 2. million On solving for Trial %, we get Trial % = 43. 8%At present, we have a Trial % of 19. 3% with the Brand Awareness % of 73. 5%. So if we could increase the Trial % to 43. 8% (assuming that Acceptance% remains at 48. 6%), we should be able to achieve the target market share of 4. 5%. Available Strategic Options Steve Boyd, Group Product Manager, had the following three options available:(1) Admit defeat and discontinue the brand,(2) Continue the strategy with minor modifications, if necessary, and try to get a 4. 5%market share by giving it more time and support(3) Alter the strategy or even the product itself Recommended Strategic Option .I would like to recommend Option (2) to the management of Colgate-Palmolive based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis done in exercise 3. As we have seen that Cleopatra soap has been accept ed as a high quality soap and is considered superior brand to other brands in the skin care segment, but due to various factors, the trial% is very low resulting into less market share. So if minor modifications can be done in the marketing strategy (such as the proposed marketing mix in exercise 3) to try to address the existing issues resulting into low trial%, it should be possible to increase the trial% and finally achieve the target market share of 4. 5% in some time.Option (1) has the benefit of not losing any more money if Cleopatra continues to be afailure, but it also has the risk of losing the opportunity of making more money if Cleopatra could succeed by making minor modifications in the marketing strategy. Also it would be too early and unfair to discontinue a brand that is highly evaluated and accepted by the consumers after a short period of about a year. Option (3) has the benefit of altering the strategy or even the product and start up all again to try and make cons umers buy the product, but this is not required as the 1987 survey results show that Cleopatra has a high acceptance% of 48. 6% and a high brand loyalty.It would be wise to review the current marketing strategy and make minor modifications to address the existing issues resulting into low trial%. Option (2), however, has the risk of losing even more money if Cleopatra continues to be a failure but considering the fact that the product was so successful in a similar market in France and the 1987 market survey results that validated the acceptance of Cleopatra brand by the consumers, it should be a good risk to try and give the product more time and support. Making the price competitive, building good relationships with the retailers to get proper shelf positioning and space and making effective promotions to create a pull to ensure the trial are the key factors to the future of the Cleopatra brand.

The Blue Sword CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The next morning they left the Madamer Gate, to go back down the mountain as they had come. The little troop was less than half what it had been the morning before, and it moved more slowly, from weariness, wounds and †¦ a slight feeling of anticlimax, Harry thought. She had a foul headache. Every step Sungold took struck like a mallet behind her eyes, and her vision sparkled with it. â€Å"Does one always feel a bit lost, the day after a battle?† she asked Jack, who was riding somewhat stiffly at her side. Draco had suffered a cut over his poll, and the headpiece of the bridle was paddled with a bit of blue cloth. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"Even when you win.† They rode gently but steadily all that day. That evening Harry said to Kentarre: â€Å"You may leave now, if you wish, to go home. I – we're all grateful for your help. It's very likely we would not have held them off even long enough for – for Gonturan to drop the mountains on them, without you. And,† Harry said more hesitantly, â€Å"it is also good to find another friend and ally.† Kentarre smiled. She smiled much more easily now than she had when she and her archers first stepped out of the trees to pledge to Harimad-sol; and Harry didn't think it was only because the threat of the Northerners had been halted. â€Å"It is good to find a friend, lady, as you say, and it is ill to lose one too soon. We would follow you still, and see your king, and give you a little more glory at your return. I think perhaps we filanon have held alone in our woods too long; and without you, Harimad-sol, we would have no homes now to go back to. We were Damarians not so very long ago, and our fathers called Corlath's fathers king. We would go with you.† Four of her archers had materialized out of the firelight to stand beside her when she began to speak, and they nodded. One wore a white rag around his forehead, and it covered one eyebrow, which gave him a puzzled uncertain look; but there was no uncertainty in his sharp nod. Harry looked unhappily at her hands. â€Å"I – I'm not sure it would be wise of you to come to Corlath on my heels, calling me sol. I came here – left him and his army and his battle plans – expressly against his wishes, and I think it more than likely that I'm riding into trouble, as I choose to go back. I – er – applaud the idea that you should declare yourselves as Damarians again, but I – well – highly recommend that you make your own path to Corlath, without me.† Kentarre did not seem surprised by Harry's words; but then Terim or Senay must have told her the story. â€Å"Your Corlath I think is not a fool, and it would be foolish to treat with less than great honor the one who buried Thurra and thousands of his army. We will come with you, and if he turns you away, we will still come with you. You are welcome here,† Kentarre said with a wave of her hand and a faint musical clatter of the blue beads around her wrist. â€Å"You need not go into exile homeless.† Harry said nothing. She found that she was too tired to argue, and too grateful for their loyalty, for she was simply afraid of what she was returning to – afraid mainly because she realized how desperately she wanted to be able to go back. It was true, Corlath would be forced to honor her as the cause of Thurra's downfall, for he was no fool and he was a very honorable king; but she did not want him forced. â€Å"Very well,† she said at last; â€Å"let it be as you wish.† Kentarre bowed, a brief graceful sweep. â€Å"Thank you,† said Harry. â€Å"It is my honor to follow Harimad-sol,† said Kentarre. Jack smiled at Harry as she knelt down again by their fire, and was swarmed over by Narknon, who seemed in her own way to be as shaken by the mountains' falling as the human beings had been. â€Å"We cling to you like leeches,† he said, and she looked at him in surprise. â€Å"Or so I believe was the gist of your conversation just now.† Harry nodded. â€Å"So perhaps this is a good time to warn you that Richard and I and our lot are planning to come too – throw ourselves at the mercy of your Hill-king. There's nothing at home for us. And um – † he turned his hands over to warm the backs of them by the fire, and stared at his callused palms – â€Å"we'd like to.† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"You'll only be able to talk us out of it with an extraordinary amount of effort, because any reason you may come up with we will immediately assume has to do with your praiseworthy desire to spare us pain or trouble, and we are quite selfishly set on riding east on your heels. And we none of us have the strength for protracted arguing anyway, yourself included. And I may be old and stiff and sore, but I'm wonderfully stubborn.† There was a pause. â€Å"Very well,† said Harry. Richard, at Jack's left hand, poked the fire with a stick. â€Å"That was easier than I was expecting,† he said. Jack smiled mysteriously. They came to Senay's village the next day, and they were met with a feast. Senay's father explained: â€Å"We felt the mountain fall three days ago, for the earth shook under us and ash blew over us. The air felt brighter afterward, and so we knew it had gone well for you.† â€Å"The dust was blue,† said Rilly. â€Å"And it is a three days' ride to the Gate from here, so we expected you,† the young woman, Rilly's mother and Senay's father's second wife, explained; and Senay's father, Nandam, said: â€Å"Hail to Harimad-sol, Wizard-Tamer, Hurler of Mountains.† â€Å"Oh dear,† said Harry in Homelander, and Jack snorted and coughed, and Richard demanded to be let in on the joke. But when the platters, heavy and steaming, were passed, she decided that fame had its advantages. She had not eaten so well since she had sat at the banquet that made her a Rider †¦ with Corlath †¦ The next morning, to her dismay, Nandam appeared with a tall black horse with one white foot. â€Å"I will come with you,† he said. â€Å"This leg has made me useless in battle, but I am not without honor, and Corlath knew me of old, for Senay is not the first to ride to the king of the City from my family and my mountain. I will ride in your train too, Wizard-Tamer.† Harry winced. â€Å"But – † It was her favorite word of late. â€Å"I know,† said Nandam. â€Å"Senay told me. It is why I will come.† They avoided the fort of the Outlander town, lying peacefully in the sun, untroubled by the tiresome tribal matters of the old Damarians. The Outlanders had known all along there were too few of the Hillfolk to make serious trouble; and if the earth had shivered slightly underfoot a few days ago, it must be that the mountains were not so old as they thought, and were still shifting and straining against their place upon the earth. Perhaps a little volcanic activity would crack a new vein of wealth, and the Aeel Mines would no longer be the only reason the Outlanders went into the Ramid Mountains. Jack looked rather broodingly toward the iron-bound wall inside which he had spent most of the last eighteen years. He caught Harry looking at him and said: â€Å"Anything there waiting for me is something on the order of ‘Confine yourself to quarters while we decide what to do with you – poor man, the desert was too much for him and he finally went bonkers.' I'm not going back.† Harry smiled faintly. â€Å"I botched it, you know. If I'd known what I was doing, I could have gone alone, quietly dropped half a mountain range where it would do the most good – â€Å" â€Å"And ridden off into a cloud, never to be heard of again,† said Jack. â€Å"I sometimes think the blind devotion – or the press of numbers – of your loyal followers is all that is sending you back to your king at all.† Harry stared unseeingly at the horizon of her beloved Hills, and she remembered Aerin's words, and that Dickie had called her back to this world just a little too soon. â€Å"Is he really such an ogre?† Jack went on. â€Å"Don't you want to go back?† Harry turned and looked back at the smudge on the golden-grey sands that was Istan. â€Å"No, he is not an ogre. And, yes, I want to go back – very much. That is why I am afraid.† Jack looked at her; she could feel his gaze on her, but she would not meet his eyes. The trip back, Harry thought unhappily less than three days later, seemed a lot shorter than the trip away; and this in spite of the fact that they were moving slowly for the sake of their wounded, who had resisted staying in Nandam's village to be healed and demanded to come with them. â€Å"They don't want to miss out on any of the fun,† Jack said apologetically, as if it were all his fault. â€Å"Fun?† she said, exasperated. â€Å"Your attitude is perhaps a little unnecessarily rigorous,† suggested Jack. Harry muttered something that was better not said aloud, and added, â€Å"They take honor and loyalty very seriously here, you know, you Damarian-mad Homelander.† Jack shrugged. â€Å"And if they throw us out on our collective ear – even that is fun of a sort, I believe.† He paused, and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. â€Å"But I'm afraid I have the same optimistic outlook as the rest of Harry's bandits.† Harry protested, â€Å"But I know more about it!† â€Å"Ignorance is bliss,† replied Jack. They had no difficulty finding their way to the camp of the Hill-king. Harry never thought about it, beyond the simple word â€Å"east.† But although â€Å"east† covers a great deal of territory, she had pointed Sungold's nose as surely as if she were a route-rider, covering the same path she had traveled for years. She wished now she weren't quite so accurate. She could see the king's tent looming in the twilight before them, the sunset fading behind them, and their long shadows beginning to dissolve in the ripples of the grey sand underfoot. She knew that they were marked by the king's guard, but no one hailed them. She could well believe that she and Sungold and Gonturan were immediately recognizable, but she was surprised that even if she were not to be taken prisoner on sight the very obvious presence of twelve armed Outlanders in her train was exciting no comment. Since she did not know what else to do, she rode reluctantly but directly to the king's tent; it rose from the center of the other tents, the black-and-white banner flying from its peak. Still no one stopped or questioned her; but several offered her silent hand greeting, the kind a king's Rider might expect, and this comforted her a little. But she wished she would see someone she knew well enough to talk to – Mathin or Innath by choice – to ask what sort of welcome she might expect. There was little sign that this army had fought a desperate battle against the odds only days before; and she suddenly realized that it had never occurred to her that Corlath might lose. She was learning to believe what the backs of her eyelids told her. The tents were all neatly and precisely pitched, and the horses she saw were sleek and fit. There was a hum of tension about the camp, though, which she could feel; the silence had a stretched quality to it, and those people she saw hurrying from tent to tent looked as though their errands might be about life and death. Sungold's steps fell too quickly. She saw no other Rider, and at the door to the king's tent she paused, and her company came up behind her, and fanned out into a little court around their captain. The gold-sashed guard saluted her, just as he had done half a year ago; she thought it was even the same man, although he looked much older, almost as old as she felt. She stayed in the saddle; she wanted to stay there forever; at very least it made her taller than a man on foot – even Corlath. What was she to say? â€Å"The prodigal has returned? The mutineer wishes to be reinstated? The subordinate, having gone to a great deal of trouble to prove her commander wrong, has come back and promises to be a good little subordinate hereafter, or at least until the next time?† Then Corlath put back his golden silk door and stood before her, and she stared down at him, and she could not have gotten out of the saddle then even if she had wanted to. She realized why, when her kelar had shown him to her in battle some days ago, she had not at first recognized him, that his sash was the wrong color. He was wearing her sash. â€Å"Hari,† he said; then â€Å"Harimad-sol,† as he walked to Sungold's side; stiffly he moved, she thought, and her heart failed her at the thought that he might have been wounded. She stared down at him still, and could not move, and then, shyly, he put his hand around her dusty leather ankle and said, carefully, â€Å"Harry.† She pulled her leg over the withers and slid down Sungold's shoulder as she had once slid down Fireheart's, and put her arms around her king and hugged him fiercely; and his arms closed around her and he murmured something, but her blood was ringing in her ears, and she could not hear what it was. It is not very comfortable, holding someone close who is wearing a sword and various unyielding bits of leather armor, and it is less comfortable yet if both parties are so accoutered. Harry and Corlath dropped their arms after a short time and looked at each other, and each distantly thought that the other one was wearing a rather silly smile, and Harry noticed that Corlath's eyes were the color of gold. â€Å"You are unhurt?† she said; her voice sounded tinny in her hot ears. â€Å"I am unhurt,† he said. â€Å"And you?† â€Å"Yes,† said Harry, still looking at his golden eyes. â€Å"Or no. I am not hurt.† â€Å"I am glad,† her king said, and his voice was still low and shy, â€Å"to see you – here – and still – † he hesitated – â€Å"still of the Hills?† Harry took a deep breath. â€Å"I will be of the Hills till I die, but what are you going to do to me for going off like that? And it's not their fault,† she went on hurriedly, gesturing behind her, â€Å"but they would come with me even though I warned them how it was with me. Whatever you say, I will obey, but – what is it?† She stopped, for as she tried to make her apologies, or her amends, or whatever they were, she remembered that she and Corlath were not alone, and that she was a deserter. She looked up and around, but her company were only dark figures to her, dim in the fading light. â€Å"I will return to you your sash,† Corlath said, but his hands did not move to untie it from around his waist. â€Å"You should not have lost it – for I assume you lost it. If you had not, but flung it away deliberately, it would be a sign that you denied me, and Damar, and were making yourself an exile forever.† â€Å"Oh no,† said Harry, horrified; and the slightly foolish and uncertain smile on Corlath's face grew into a real smile, one unlike any Harry had ever seen on the Hill-king's face before. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"I hoped not.† Harry whispered: â€Å"You have done me much honor – since the beginning.† Corlath replied: â€Å"I did only what I must, for the kelar gave me no choice; but I – I came to believe in you, and I did not care what the kelar said.† â€Å"Did you believe in me then, when I rode away and left you, my king, and I a king's Rider, against your orders?† The smile faded, but his eyes were still bright yellow. â€Å"I did,† he said. â€Å"Luthe †¦ warned me you would do something mad – and I †¦ feared something else, for thus a man makes a fool of himself, and will not accept the wisdom the gods send him. I did not realize what Luthe had told me – I had forgotten what the kelar had told me – till you had gone.† â€Å"Something else?† said Harry. â€Å"What did you fear?† Her heart beat more rapidly as she waited for his reply, and she hoped he would ask her such a question, that she might answer it as her heart bade her. But Corlath looked around them. â€Å"The Outlanders you bring to my camp are not your escort home?† Harry shook her head violently. â€Å"They are my escort home only insofar as they would bear me company in my home, in the Hills, if you will have them.† â€Å"I will have them, and be honored,† said Corlath, and his eyes lingered on Jack, who sat Draco quietly between Richard and Terim, â€Å"they who stood at Madamer Gate and watched the mountain fall on Thurra. This tale they will tell, I hope, and tell often.† â€Å"And I hope I will never have to do anything like that again,† said Harry, and for a moment she could not see Corlath's yellow eyes, but a demon-thing that had once been human on a white stallion with the teeth of a leopard. Corlath looked down at the top of her bent head. â€Å"For you I hope that you do not either; the kelar strength is not a comfortable Gift. â€Å"I saw – I watched the mountain fall. I heard you call me and knew then who it was you faced – and thus why it was that I had not seen him before me: why we were able to throw the Northerners back, for all that they outnumbered us. They did not, I think, expect us to be so strong, or Thurra would not have divided his army as he did; for Thurra's demon blood had told him that only the demon Gifts are strong. â€Å"I was proud of you – and I was glad that it was I you called upon.† His voice died away to a murmur, but then he spoke loudly: â€Å"There is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, to Aerin and Tor, that we do not often see today, for there have been few women warriors of late, till Gonturan rode to battle again. But tradition is that a betrothed pair may exchange sashes, and thus they pledge their honor to each other, for all to see. I will return you your sash if you choose, for I have no right to wear it, as you have not granted me the right. But I have been honored to wear it, in my people's eyes, till you returned – for as I had had so little faith in you despite Luthe's words to me, so I decided to have faith that you would return, to the Hills and to me, and to hope that your answer might justify me.† Harry said clearly, that all might hear: â€Å"My king, I would far rather you kept my sash as you have kept it for me in faith while I was gone away from you, and gave me your sash to wear in its place. For my honor, and more than my honor, has been yours for months past, but I saw no more clearly than did you till I had parted from you, and knew then what it would cost me if I could not return. And more, I knew what it would cost me if I returned only to be a king's Rider.† Then a cheer went up from many throats, and not only from those of Harry's company; for many of the camp had gathered in the center court before the king's zotar to hear how this meeting would go, for they had seen Harimad-sol's sash around their king's waist, and those who remembered the tradition had told of it to those who did not. And there was no surprise, in those who had followed Harry or in those who had fought with Corlath, and there was much joy; and the echoes of those cheers must have come even to the city boundaries of the Outlander town called Istan, and the barred gate of the General Mundy. And the Outlanders who had followed Jack Dedham when he decided to follow the young Harry Crewe, who had become Harimad-sol and the Hill-king's Rider, and who did not know the Hill tongue, looked around them, and at the two tall figures before them standing beside the chestnut stallion, and they cheered too; and Jack, in a lull, said to them: â€Å"In case you would like to be sure what you're cheering, our Harry is going to marry this chap. He's the king, Corlath.† Under the cover of the shouting Corlath drew Harry closer to him and said: â€Å"I have loved you long, though at first I did not know it; but I knew it when I sent you into the Hills with Mathin and Tsornin for your teachers, for I saw then how I missed you. And when in the City I found that Narknon had followed you, I was jealous of a cat, who could go where she wished.† Harry said, softly, that only his ears might hear: â€Å"You might have spoken.† Corlath smiled wryly. â€Å"I was afraid to tell you, for I had stolen you from your people, and the awakening of your kelar might make you hate me, for she whose blood gave you the Gift left the Hills long ago. When you knew what it was that this heritage gave you, it might drive you back all the more strongly to your father's people, to a fate the Hills had no part of. The Gift is not a pleasant burden. â€Å"But when I saw you were gone I looked to the west, for I knew where you must be going, and I vowed that if we both lived, when we met again I would tell you that I loved you, and ask you to stand by me not as Rider but as queen; for suddenly it seemed worth the risk, and I could not bear it that you might never know.† Harry said: â€Å"I love you, and it has haunted me that for my disobedience I would be exiled, not from the people I have claimed as my own, though this were punishment enough, but from you that I loved best of anything and best of all. I think I knew you could not exile me, for the victory Gonturan had won for you and your Hills; but I knew that for you to have turned against me for leaving as I did, it would have been the bitterest exile, even if I sat at your left hand as Rider all my life.† It was Innath who grabbed her away at last and danced her around, for Innath had no dignity, and Corlath and Harry seemed able to ignore the tumult around them indefinitely. Then Jack took her away from him, and then she was embraced and knocked about and swung back and forth till she was dizzy; but she laughed and was happy, and thanked everyone who touched her. But there was one face in particular that she looked for and could not find, and its absence troubled her. At last they let her go to Corlath again, and her happiness was shaken for the face she could not find, and she seized his arm anxiously and said, â€Å"Where is Mathin?† Corlath, who had been dancing too, went very still. â€Å"He is not dead?† she said, and her voice rose till it broke; but when he shook his head it gave her no comfort. He took her hand in his and said, â€Å"Come,† and led her away, through the tents. Now she could see the traces of battle, for by lantern light she saw blood-stained gear and unidentifiable bits and tatters moving mournfully in the evening breeze, and some few people, bandaged, limping, or lying by campfires, gently tended by those who were unhurt. Corlath led her to a long low tent and drew her inside, and the smell of death struck her at once, although the figures lying on rugs and blankets and cushions were well cared for and cleanly bandaged, and their chests still rose and fell with breathing, and there were many nurses watching over them and bringing drink and thin invalid food. Corlath brought her to the far end of the narrow tent, and the figure there turned its head toward them. Harry threw herself on her knees, weeping, for here was Mathin. â€Å"I knew you would return,† said Mathin, and one hand moved a few inches to close weakly around Harry's; and Harry gulped and nodded, but still her tears flowed and she could not stop them. â€Å"And you will marry our king?† he went on, in what would have been a conversational tone if it had not been so faint, and Harry nodded again. â€Å"I wanted you to toast us at the wedding, my old friend and horse-breaker and teacher,† she said. Mathin smiled. â€Å"I leave my honor in good hands, best of daughters,† he said gently. â€Å"No,† said Harry, and while her tears still fell her voice gained strength. â€Å"No.† As she knelt, Gonturan dug a hole between her ribs, and she stood up impatiently and unbuckled her and let her fall; and as she bent down again a few of her tears fell on her own hand, and they were hot, scalding hot, and left red marks where they touched the skin; and she realized that her eyes and cheeks burned with them. She drew the blanket away from Mathin's chest and belly, where a long mortal wound oozed through its wrappings; the blood was almost black, and green-tinged, poisoned, and there was an unhealthy smell. â€Å"In Aerin's day,† murmured Harry, â€Å"kelar was good for things. It didn't only hurt things, and make trouble.† Corlath came to stand behind her. Mathin looked up at his king and said, â€Å"Aerin – â€Å" Harry felt Corlath's hands on her shoulders, and twisted where she knelt, and seized his hands. â€Å"Help me,† she said. â€Å"You helped me on that mountaintop. It was as though you held me up, held me by the shoulders as you did the first evening when I tasted the Water of Sight.† Her eyes, wide open, were going blind; it was like the golden war-rage, only worse; it would split her skin, she would wither and blacken in the heat of it. Corlath said, as if against his will, â€Å"Mathin fell, guarding me, while I was far away on a mountaintop; if it had not been for him, I would have had no body to return to.† Harry shivered and the heat plucked at her nerves and ate up her strength, and blindly she reached out one hand to touch Mathin, and her fingers touched the bare skin of his upper arm, and she felt him shudder, and his breath hissed between his teeth. Whatever it was thundered through her veins and filled her lungs and stomach, her hands and mouth; and she let go of Mathin and turned to the next bed, and scrabbled with the bedclothes, for she could see nothing but the golden storm and feel nothing but one of Corlath's hands tight in one of hers, and she touched the throat of the occupant of the pallet next to Mathin. She groped her way down the long length of that tent, stumbling, almost crawling but for Corlath, touching foreheads and hands and shoulders, and the nurses turned back the bedding, and the eyes of the dying looked into her blind eyes and hoped for her touch but feared it, and none but Corlath who were themselves whole came near enough even to brush the hem of her tunic, for it was hard just to breathe if she, with the power that was in her, was too near. The fire rose through her and crackled in her ears, so that she was deaf as well; but at last they came to the door, and Corlath led her out, her feeble feet not sure where they would find the earth with each step; and she felt the evening breeze, and the fire began to subside, reluctantly at first. But as it drained out of her, back to where it had come from, it took with it the marrow of her bones and the elastic of her muscles, for such was the fire's fuel, and she leaned against Corlath. He put his arms around her, and when the fire flickered at last and went out and she crumpled, he picked her up and carried her back to his zotar, and she lay in his arms as limp a burden as when he had put the sleep on her, the night he stole her from the Residency. Harry woke up feeling as if she had been sick for a year and was now approaching convalescence. She stared at the peaked roof of the zotar and slowly realized where she was. Even her thoughts were too weak to entertain the idea of moving. Narknon, by some extra feline sense, knew when she opened her eyes, and without moving from her sprawl across Harry's legs, began to purr. With the purr came Corlath, who had been sitting just beyond the curtain that had been hung by Harry's bed to give her peace from the comings and goings of the king's tent. He put back the curtain when he heard Narknon. He was himself weary, for much of the strength Harry had used the evening before was his; and he had not been able to sleep that night for watching her. He watched her sleeping, hoping only that she would awaken and still be Harry. His heart was in his mouth as he dropped down beside her. The look on his face brought Harry more strongly back to herself, and she sat shakily up; and he put an arm around her shoulders, and she was happy to rest her head against his chest and be silent. She did not want to ask, but she could not help herself, so at last she said: â€Å"Mathin?† His voice sounded deeper than ever with her ear against his chest when he spoke. â€Å"He will carry a handsome scar, but he will carry it lightly, and he will be strong enough to sit on Windrider when we leave this place to return to the City, in a few days' time; although his right arm still pains him somewhat, from the long raw burn near the shoulder, as though a fire had scorched him.† Harry remembered how she had known the fire was eating her, that it would leave nothing of her; and she opened her right hand, the hand that had touched Mathin. It looked as it always had, but for the small white mark across the palm, which was only two months old. â€Å"And the others?† â€Å"None will die, and while none is as quick to recover as Mathin, none either bears the mark of where Harimad-sol touched them.† â€Å"And – my people? Jack, and Kentarre, and those who follow them? And Nandam, and – and Richard? Have you met my brother Richard?† â€Å"Your Jack has introduced us.† Corlath had remembered Colonel Dedham when he saw him standing in the twilight behind Harry; remembered him as the one man who had seemed to listen to what Forloy said, and believe that the men of the Hills might be speaking the truth, even to Outlanders. It was that sight of the man who had offered the Hill-king his loyalty while standing on the Residency verandah that had given Corlath the courage to declare his love for Harry the night before. It had seemed a fine bold thing to him at the time to bind her sash around himself and wear it openly; it hadn't occurred to him till he saw her with her company at her back, and her pale eyes fixed on him with an expression he could not read, that it would force him to face her with it and what it meant immediately, whenever he saw her again – if he saw her again. It would doubtless have been kinder or more courteous – and less dangerous – to choose his time and place; and not make such a public display of it. But then, without the sash around his waist and his people watching eagerly for the outcome, it was so extremely possible that his courage would have failed him again, for all his noble words about risk-taking. All these things he would tell Harry later. â€Å"But Richard has the face of your family, though he has not the eyes, and I would have guessed who he must be.† â€Å"Jack would like better than anything in the world to ride a Hill horse.† Harry heard the beginning of his laugh far inside him before it burst out into the air; and she raised her head and looked inquiringly into his face. He shook his head at her and said, â€Å"My heart, your Jack shall have a hundred of our horses, and welcome,† and then he bent his head and kissed her, and she drew him down beside her. A few minutes later Narknon, with an offended growl, climbed off the bed and stalked away. Mathin was a trifle paler than usual when Corlath's army mounted and set their faces to the east, but he sat easily on Windrider and looked all around him as if reminding himself of what he thought he had lost; but most often he looked at Harimad-sol, riding at the king's right hand. The army moved slowly, for there were litters to carry, and they need not hurry. Even the desert sun overhead seemed glorious rather than relentless, and their king was to marry the damalur-sol who bore Gonturan the Blue Sword, and the Northerners had been defeated, at least for their time, and probably for their children's time, and perhaps even their grandchildren's; and Damar was still theirs. And it was as well also that the army was moving slowly for the sake of Jack Dedham and Richard Crewe, who were riding Hill horses, and finding Hill horsemanship a little more difficult than Harry had, and were dismayed at the idea of being able to stop a horse at full gallop simply by sitting down a little hard er in the saddle. Harry, when she was not with Corlath, rode circles around them and teased them and made Sungold do all sorts of fancy passes and turns, not really to annoy them but only because she could not contain herself for happiness. Sungold bucked and bounced till even Harry had to clutch at his mane to stay on – Jack had the temerity to laugh – and behaved not at all like a well-schooled war-horse, and seemed just as happy as she.