Friday, November 15, 2019

Ethical Leadership Is Mostly About Leadership Integrity Philosophy Essay

Ethical Leadership Is Mostly About Leadership Integrity Philosophy Essay Leaderships comes from emotions, and one cannot lead without emotions. The passion and drive to lead that make others look him or her in the eye and say I want to follow you (Patrick D, 2010). These are the moral values moral and principles that form the ethics that leaders lead by. Ethics, Integrity, Leader Ethics are a set of moral and just principles that serve as a deep guiding sense of what is right, fair and proper while Integrity is part of this principle, defined as the quality that makes people trust the leader. It acts as a bridge between personal ethics and professional ethics that the leader adhere to values that may be outside of themselves, mainly, truth where trust is built on. Trust is of paramount importance in all personal relationship(John, A, 1987). Integrity also represents the consistency and accuracy of actions and behaviour which further assures the trust people put in the leader. Ethical leadership, law abiding or human compassion? Ethics comes different perspective, depending on situation and objective, for instance, euthanasia. Mercy killing is not legalised in many countries including Singapore, so is it humanely ethical for a medical practitioner to follow the law and watch his/her patient suffer emotionally and physically day after day? Is it professionally ethical to disregard the law and have professionals and patients question the practitioners ability to perform his or her duty in a professional manner, would anyone prefer an emotionally compromised doctor to treat him or her? Many professional doctors will establish a professional code of ethics that they do not get personally and emotionally involved in such cases, and continue to treat patients in such cases with painkiller to ease their pain till they pass on. In my opinion, a passionate doctor will definitely be emotionally involved, after all it is what they love to do saving lives and reliving people of their pain. We all have different opinion s of what should be done, depending on the principle and experiences that form our moral awareness(refer to Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development, figure 1). Integrity is practiced when regardless of which decision the doctor choose to make he or she stands out and be responsible by facing the consequences of his/her actions. Supporters from both sides of the argument can deem the doctors actions to be right or wrong but they cannot deem the doctor to be unethical because of the level integrity the doctor display. Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development(figure1) Different leaders can have different standards of ethics and when we talk about ethical standards, there is the question of whether this standards are applicable, after all ethical behaviour is actually an absolute, good or bad-right or wrong.(Ken, L, 2002). Kohlbergs stages of moral development begs to differ. Stage 1, a person in this stage is aware only of one fixed set of rules enforced by authorities which he or she must unquestioningly obey. Failure to do so will result in punishment. Ethical behaviour in this stage only limits to punishment avoidance. Stage 2, person in this stage now realise and is aware that there are more than one view points with regards to right or wrong, different personality have different viewpoints. Ethical behaviour in this stage is widen to include self-interest. Stage 3, moral values become more complicated in this stage involving, intention and emotions. person in this stage is very conscious of what others think because what is right or wrong subjects to the approval of the family or community. Ethical behaviour in this stage factors in the persons emotional state and motives. Stage 4, person becomes aware of the consequences of failure maintaining law and order. right or wrong depends on the greater good for the society. Ethical behaviour in this stage involves keep social order. Stage 5, person in this stage adopts a more utilitarian philosophy, where social utility or public interest is put on top of social order. Ethical actions involves protecting the rights of the individual according to rules agreed upon by the whole society. unethical action involves totalitarian rule, which bring social order but morally flawed. Ethical decision is one that ensure all parties are satisfied and on agreeable terms. Stage 6, person in this stage has attained the highest level of moral awareness, moral principle becomes the main concern. Where the principles of justice is based on treating prerogatives of all parties in an unprejudiced manner, individually respecting the basic dignity of all people, therefore, universal. Ethical decision is one that is made based on individual point of view of all parties, under the veil of ignorance(Rawls, 1971). According to Kohlberg: A person moral reasoning progress stage by stage up the stages without skipping stages. A person progresses up the stages upon encountering moral dilemmas, assuming he or she seeks to solve the moral dilemmas while a person in the lower level cannot comprehend the reasoning of the next level. How is integrity in anyway involved in these 6 stages? Other than stage 1 where there is clearly no need for the application of integrity, we can say that integrity is achieved so long as ethical behaviours, decisions and actions are being made/performed in each of these 5 stages. In supporting the previous argument of the euthanasia case, it does not matter what level of moral awareness a person or a leader has attained, as long as he or she act according to the result of his or her moral reasoning, it is ethical. Therefore, it is suffice to say that integrity is the backbone of ethical behaviour/ ethical leadership, that a person or a leader does what he or she feels is right. Uncompromising integrity is the most important quality. All of the other characteristics stand upon this steel-reinforced concrete foundation- Danny Cox, 2002 Moral person moral manager leadership(Figure 23) A leaders reputation for ethical leadership are based on perceptions of the public or followers of the leader both as a moral person and a moral manager(Trevinio, L. K., Hartman, L. P., Brown, M. 2000). To put it into a clearer perspective, moral person represents ethics while moral manager represents leadership so it is the combination of these two morals that forms the reputation for ethical leadership. We look at the scandal of City Harvest Church involving several senior members charged with the misappropriation of S$24 million to allegedly fund the music career of Sun Ho, wife of the churchs founder. Before the emergence of this scandal we can easily assume that head pastor Kong Hee with his fellow executives are ethical leaders based on the fact that they displayed behaviours of a moral person and acted in accordance to a moral manager. We can safely say that they are definitely moral managers but it is not fully accurate for us, as third persons or even some followers to deem Kong Hee and his executives as ethical leaders as we do not know them personally, we do not see or experience them in all aspects of their life. So how can we know if they are genuinely moral persons or if it is just a show? We may never know until they are tested in the presence of the public, thatà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s where people with no integrity says do anything but donà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t get caught, while people with integrity says its only matter of time before the truth gets out. Kong Hee and his executives, while still on trail, now has a reputation as hypocritical leaders due to the scandal(test), we are now aware that although they are moral managers performing their duties, they are not moral persons as they personally do not believe or practice what they preach to the congregation. The case is an example that integrity cannot be faked, it is attribute that circumscribe the traits of honesty and trustworthiness. One may argue that Kong Hee is an ethical leader until certain bad apple or bad barrels comes in and corrupts him. To this, the answer is very simple, integrity is a trait of a leader that automatically resists temptations, a leader with integrity is therefore incorruptible. Integrity is the clear line between a ethical leader and a hypocritical leader. Lead by example Leaders have the ability to influence the followers, therefore, the leader have to responsible for the behaviours and actions of his or her followers. Compromise of integrity can lead to followers behaving or acting in disregard to ethics, after all the leader is the model example of what behaviour, actions and decision are expected. In cases where followers have a higher stage of moral awareness(figure1), compromise of integrity can cause followers to lose faith in achieving their ambitions or aspirations. When nurturing a child, how can parents expect their child to develop ethical moral values and living by them if they fail to do so themselves? In developing future leaders, how can a mentor teach integrity to his or her students and expect them to believe in it if he or she compromises in integrity? They can state themselves as bad examples, a child can be corrected but integrity probably will be the last lesson the mentor ever teach the students.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Importance of Geography in The Killer Angels Essay -- Killer Angel

The Importance of Geography in The Killer Angels      Ã‚   War is a complicated event.   Many different factors are considered in the strategic planning during a war.   The number of troops, ammunition supplies, and the lay of the land are just three of the considerations that must be given when fighting a battle.   Such considerations were made during the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.   In The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, Shaara uses geography throughout his recounting of the event.   His use of geography is seen in his descriptions of the people involved, his description of the climate, and his superb outlining of the natural landscape.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel, Shaara begins by describing the Armies.   On the side of the South is the Army of Northern Virginia, led by Robert E. Lee.   This army is composed of 70 thousand men who are volunteers and rebels.   They are within a certain culture.   The men of this army share   not only a common language and religion, but they also share the same customs.   Most of the men are Anglo-Saxon and Protestant.   Their language is English.   Most of all, this army is fighting for a mutual cause which is disunion.   Victorious is the feeling among these men.   Wholeheartedly, the men of the Army of Northern Virginia believe that they can defeat the Army of the Potomac.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Army of the Potomac differs greatly in composition than the South's army.   Although they have a common goal, to defeat the Southerners, the men who make up this army have little else in common.   They are led by Major General George Meade.   Most of these 80,000 men are volunteers.   Language barriers exist within this group.   Also, a shared religion does not exist.   Unlike the Army of Northe... ... Northern Virginia, they have to move into open spaces and climb hilly and rocky terrain.   Obviously, Shaara's use of geography is apparent in his outlining of the events at the Battle of Gettysburg.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, Michael Shaara vividly recounts the Battle of Gettysburg.   Throughout his novel, The Killer Angels, Shaara's use of geography allows the reader to understand the people, feel the climate of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and relive the action as it unfolds.   Strategic plans are made by the Army of Northern Virginia, but in this battle the natural landscape is too cumbersome.   Victorious is the Army of the Potomac.   Thanks to its near perfect view. Works Cited Shaara, Michael.   The Killer Angels. New York: Ballantine, 1975.    Maps Maps of Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 www.militaryhistoryonline.com/gettysburg   

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Host Chapter 8: Loved

You're afraid to fly?† The Seeker's voice was full of disbelief edging toward mockery. â€Å"You've traveled through deep space eight times and you're afraid to take a shuttle to Tucson, Arizona?† â€Å"First of all, I'm not afraid. Second, when I traveled through deep space I wasn't exactly aware of where I was, what with being stored in a hibernation chamber. And third, this host gets motion sickness on shuttles.† The Seeker rolled her eyes in disgust. â€Å"So take medication! What would you have done if Healer Fords hadn't relocated to Saint Mary's? Would you be driving to Chicago?† â€Å"No. But since the option of driving is now reasonable, I will take it. It will be nice to see a bit more of this world. The desert can be stunning -â€Å" â€Å"The desert is dead boring.† â€Å"-and I'm not in any hurry. I have many things to think through, and I will appreciate some time alone.† I looked pointedly at her as I emphasized the last word. â€Å"I don't understand the point of visiting your old Healer anyway. There are many competent Healers here.† â€Å"I'm comfortable with Healer Fords. He has experience with this, and I don't trust that I have all the information I need.† I gave her another significant look. â€Å"You don't have time to not hurry, Wanderer. I recognize the signs.† â€Å"Forgive me if I don't consider your information impartial. I know enough of human behavior to recognize the signs of manipulation.† She glowered at me. I was packing my rental car with the few things I planned to take with me. I had enough clothes to go a week between washing, and the basic hygiene necessities. Though I wasn't bringing much, I was leaving even less behind. I'd accumulated very little in the way of personal belongings. After all these months in my small apartment, the walls were still bare, the shelves empty. Perhaps I'd never meant to settle here. The Seeker was planted on the sidewalk next to my open trunk, assailing me with snide questions and comments whenever I was in hearing distance. At least I was secure in the belief that she was far too impatient to follow me on the road. She would take a shuttle to Tucson, just as she was hoping to shame me into doing. It was a huge relief. I imagined her joining me every time I stopped to eat, hovering outside gas station bathrooms, her inexhaustible inquisitions waiting for me whenever my vehicle paused at a light. I shuddered at the thought. If a new body meant freeing myself of the Seeker†¦ well, that was quite an inducement. I had another choice, too. I could abandon this entire world as a failure and move on to a tenth planet. I could work to forget this whole experience. Earth could be just a short blip in my otherwise spotless record. But where would I go? A planet I'd already experienced? The Singing World had been one of my favorites, but to give up sight for blindness? The Planet of the Flowers was lovely†¦ Yet chlorophyll-based life-forms had so little range of emotion. It would feel unbearably slow after the tempo of this human place. A new planet? There was a recent acquisition-here on Earth, they were calling the new hosts Dolphins for lack of a better comparison, though they resembled dragonflies more than marine mammals. A highly developed species, and certainly mobile, but after my long stay with the See Weeds, the thought of another water planet was repugnant to me. No, there was still so much to this planet that I hadn't experienced. Nowhere else in the known universe called to me as strongly as this shady little green yard on this quiet street. Or held the lure of the empty desert sky, which I'd seen only in Melanie's memories. Melanie did not share her opinion on my options. She had been very quiet since my decision to find Fords Deep Waters, my first Healer. I wasn't sure what the detachment meant. Was she trying to seem less dangerous, less of a burden? Was she preparing herself for the invasion of the Seeker? For death? Or was she preparing to fight me? To try to take over? Whatever her plan, she kept herself distant. She was just a faint, watchful presence in the back of my head. I made my last trip inside, searching for anything forgotten. The apartment looked empty. There were only the basic furnishings that had been left by the last tenant. The same plates were still in the cupboards, the pillows on the bed, the lamps on the tables; if I didn't come back, there would be little for the next tenant to clear out. The phone rang as I was stepping out the door, and I turned back to get it, but I was too late. I'd already set the message system to answer on the first ring. I knew what the caller would hear: my vague explanation that I would be out the rest of the semester, and that my classes would be canceled until a replacement could be found. No reason given. I looked at the clock on top of the television. It was barely past eight in the morning. I was sure it must be Curt on the phone, having just received the only slightly more detailed e-mail I'd sent him late last night. I felt guilty about not finishing out my commitment to him, almost like I was already skipping. Perhaps this step, this quitting, was the prelude to my next decision, my greater shame. The thought was uncomfortable. It made me unwilling to listen to whatever the message said, though I wasn't in any real hurry to leave. I looked around the empty apartment one more time. There was no sense of leaving anything behind me, no fondness for these rooms. I had the strange feeling that this world-not just Melanie, but the entire orb of the planet-did not want me, no matter how much I wanted it. I just couldn't seem to get my roots in. I smiled wryly at the thought of roots. This feeling was just superstitious nonsense. I'd never had a host that was capable of superstition. It was an interesting sensation. Like knowing you were being watched without being able to find the watcher. It raised goose bumps on the nape of my neck. I shut the door firmly behind me but did not touch the obsolete locks. No one would disturb this place until I returned or it was given to someone new. Without looking at the Seeker, I climbed into the car. I hadn't done much driving, and neither had Melanie, so this made me a bit nervous. But I was sure I would get used to it soon enough. â€Å"I'll be waiting for you in Tucson,† the Seeker said, leaning in the open passenger-side window as I started the engine. â€Å"I have no doubt of that,† I muttered. I found the controls on the door panel. Trying to hide a smile, I hit the button to raise the glass and watched her jump back. â€Å"Maybe†¦,† she said, raising her voice to almost a shout so that I could hear her over the engine noise and through the closed window, â€Å"maybe I'll try it your way. Maybe I'll see you on the road.† She smiled and shrugged. She was just saying it to upset me. I tried not to let her see that she had. I focused my eyes on the road ahead and pulled carefully away from the curb. It was easy enough to find the freeway and then follow the signs out of San Diego. Soon there were no signs to follow, no wrong turns to take. In eight hours I would be in Tucson. It wasn't long enough. Perhaps I would stay a night in some small town along the way. If I could be sure that the Seeker would be ahead, waiting impatiently, rather than following behind, a stop would be a nice delay. I found myself looking in the rearview mirror often, searching for a sign of pursuit. I was driving slower than anyone else, unwilling to reach my destination, and the other cars passed me without pause. There were no faces I recognized as they moved ahead. I shouldn't have let the Seeker's taunt bother me; she clearly didn't have the temperament to go anywhere slowly. Still†¦ I continued to watch for her. I'd been west to the ocean, north and south up and down the pretty California coastline, but I'd never been east for any distance at all. Civilization fell behind me quickly, and I was soon surrounded by the blank hills and rocks that were the precursors to the empty desert wastelands. It was very relaxing to be away from civilization, and this bothered me. I should not have found the loneliness so welcoming. Souls were sociable. We lived and worked and grew together in harmony. We were all the same: peaceful, friendly, honest. Why should I feel better away from my kind? Was it Melanie who made me this way? I searched for her but found her remote, dreaming in the back of my head. This was the best it had been since she'd started talking again. The miles passed quickly. The dark, rough rocks and the dusty plains covered in scrub flew by with monotonous uniformity. I realized I was driving faster than I'd meant to. There wasn't anything to keep my mind occupied here, so I found it hard to linger. Absently, I wondered why the desert was so much more colorful in Melanie's memories, so much more compelling. I let my mind coast with hers, trying to see what it was that was special about this vacant place. But she wasn't seeing the sparse, dead land surrounding us. She was dreaming of another desert, canyoned and red, a magical place. She didn't try to keep me out. In fact, she seemed almost unaware of my presence. I questioned again what her detachment meant. I sensed no thought of attack. It felt more like a preparation for the end. She was living in a happier place in her memory, as if she were saying goodbye. It was a place she had never allowed me to see before. There was a cabin, an ingenious dwelling tucked into a nook in the red sandstone, perilously close to the flash flood line. An unlikely place, far from any trail or path, built in what seemed a senseless location. A rough place, without any of the conveniences of modern technology. She remembered laughing at the sink one had to pump to pull water up from the ground. â€Å"It beats pipes,† Jared says, the crease between his eyes deepening as his brows pull together. He seems worried by my laugh. Is he afraid I don't like it? â€Å"Nothing to trace, no evidence that we're here.† â€Å"I love it,† I say quickly. â€Å"It's like an old movie. It's perfect.† The smile that never truly leaves his face-he smiles even in his sleep-grows wide. â€Å"They don't tell you the worst parts in the movies. C'mon, I'll show you where the latrine is.† I hear Jamie's laughter echo through the narrow canyon as he runs ahead of us. His black hair bounces with his body. He bounces all the time now, this thin boy with the sun-darkened skin. I hadn't realized how much weight those narrow shoulders were carrying. With Jared, he is positively buoyant. The anxious expression has faded, replaced by grins. We are both more resilient than I gave us credit for. â€Å"Who built this place?† â€Å"My father and older brothers. I helped, or rather hindered, a little. My dad loved to get away from everything. And he didn't care much about convention. He never bothered to find out who the land actually belonged to or file permits or any of that pesky stuff.† Jared laughs, throwing his head back. The sun dances off the blond bits in his hair. â€Å"Officially, this place doesn't exist. Convenient, isn't it?† Without seeming to think about it, he reaches out and takes my hand. My skin burns where it meets his. It feels better than good, but it sets off a strange aching in my chest. He is forever touching me this way, always seeming to need to reassure himself that I am here. Does he realize what it does to me, the simple pressure of his warm palm next to mine? Does his pulse jump in his veins, too? Or is he just happy to not be alone anymore? He swings our arms as we walk beneath a little stand of cottonwood trees, their green so vivid against the red that it plays tricks on my eyes, confusing my focus. He is happy here, happier than in other places. I feel happy, too. The feeling is still unfamiliar. He hasn't kissed me since that first night, when I screamed, finding the scar on his neck. Does he not want to kiss me again? Should I kiss him? What if he doesn't like that? He looks down at me and smiles, the lines around his eyes crinkling into little webs. I wonder if he is as handsome as I think he is, or if it's just that he's the only person left in the whole world besides Jamie and me. No, I don't think that's it. He really is beautiful. â€Å"What are you thinking, Mel?† he asks. â€Å"You seem to be concentrating on something very important.† He laughs. I shrug, and my stomach flutters. â€Å"It's beautiful here.† He looks around us. â€Å"Yes. But then, isn't home always beautiful?† â€Å"Home.† I repeat the word quietly. â€Å"Home.† â€Å"Your home, too, if you want it.† â€Å"I want it.† It seems like every mile I've walked in the past three years has been toward this place. I never want to leave, though I know we'll have to. Food doesn't grow on trees. Not in the desert, at least. He squeezes my hand, and my heart punches against my ribs. It's just like pain, this pleasure. There was a blurring sensation as Melanie skipped ahead, her thoughts dancing through the hot day until hours after the sun had fallen behind the red canyon walls. I went along, almost hypnotized by the endless road stretching ahead of me, the skeletal bushes flying by with mind-numbing sameness. I peek into the one narrow little bedroom. The full-size mattress is only inches away from the rough stone walls on either side. It gives me a deep, rich sense of joy to see Jamie asleep on a real bed, his head on a soft pillow. His lanky arms and legs sprawl out, leaving little room for me where I am meant to sleep. He is so much bigger in reality than the way I see him in my head. Almost ten-soon he won't be a child at all. Except that he will always be a child to me. Jamie breathes evenly, sleeping sound. There is no fear in his dream, for this moment at least. I shut the door quietly and go back to the small couch where Jared waits. â€Å"Thank you,† I whisper, though I know shouting the words wouldn't wake Jamie now. â€Å"I feel bad. This couch is much too short for you. Maybe you should take the bed with Jamie.† Jared chuckles. â€Å"Mel, you're only a few inches shorter than I am. Sleep comfortably, for once. Next time I'm out, I'll steal myself a cot or something.† I don't like this, for lots of reasons. Will he be leaving soon? Will he take us with him when he goes? Does he see this room assignment as a permanent thing? He drops his arm around my shoulders and tucks me against his side. I scoot closer, though the heat of touching him has my heart aching again. â€Å"Why the frown?† he asks. â€Å"When will you†¦ when will we have to leave again?† He shrugs. â€Å"We scavenged enough on our way up that we're set for a few months. I can do a few short raids if you want to stay in one place for a while. I'm sure you're tired of running.† â€Å"Yes, I am,† I agree. I take a deep breath to make me brave. â€Å"But if you go, I go.† He hugs me tighter. â€Å"I'll admit, I prefer it that way. The thought of being separated from you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He laughs quietly. â€Å"Does it sound crazy to say that I'd rather die? Too melodramatic?† â€Å"No, I know what you mean.† He must feel the same way I do. Would he say these things if he thought of me as just another human, and not as a woman? I realize that this is the first time we've ever been really alone since the night we met-the first time there's been a door to close between a sleeping Jamie and the two of us. So many nights we've stayed awake, talking in whispers, telling all of our stories, the happy stories and the horror stories, always with Jamie's head cradled on my lap. It makes my breath come faster, that simple closed door. â€Å"I don't think you need to find a cot, not yet.† I feel his eyes on me, questioning, but I can't meet them. I'm embarrassed now, too late. The words are out. â€Å"We'll stay here until the food is gone, don't worry. I've slept on worse things than this couch.† â€Å"That's not what I mean,† I say, still looking down. â€Å"You get the bed, Mel. I'm not budging on that.† â€Å"That's not what I mean, either.† It's barely a whisper. â€Å"I meant the couch is plenty big for Jamie. He won't outgrow it for a long time. I could share the bed with†¦ you.† There is a pause. I want to look up, to read the expression on his face, but I'm too mortified. What if he is disgusted? How will I stand it? Will he make me go away? His warm, callused fingers tug my chin up. My heart throbs when our eyes meet. â€Å"Mel, I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His face, for once, has no smile. I try to look away, but he holds my chin so that my gaze can't escape his. Does he not feel the fire between his body and mine? Is that all me? How can it all be me? It feels like a flat sun trapped between us-pressed like a flower between the pages of a thick book, burning the paper. Does it feel like something else to him? Something bad? After a moment, his head turns; he's the one looking away now, still keeping his grip on my chin. His voice is quiet. â€Å"You don't owe me that, Melanie. You don't owe me anything at all.† It's hard for me to swallow. â€Å"I'm not saying†¦ I didn't mean that I felt obligated. And†¦ you shouldn't, either. Forget I said anything.† â€Å"Not likely, Mel.† He sighs, and I want to disappear. Give up-lose my mind to the invaders if that's what it takes to erase this huge blunder. Trade the future to blot out the last two minutes of the past. Anything. Jared takes a deep breath. He squints at the floor, his eyes and jaw tight. â€Å"Mel, it doesn't have to be like that. Just because we're together, just because we're the last man and woman on Earth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He struggles for words, something I don't think I've ever seen him do before. â€Å"That doesn't mean you have to do anything you don't want to. I'm not the kind of man who would expect†¦ You don't have to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looks so upset, still frowning away, that I find myself speaking, though I know it's a mistake before I start. â€Å"That's not what I mean,† I mutter. â€Å"Have to' is not what I'm talking about, and I don't think you're that kind of man.' No. Of course not. It's just that -â€Å" Just that I love him. I grit my teeth together before I can humiliate myself more. I should bite my tongue off right now before it ruins anything else. â€Å"Just that†¦?† he asks. I try to shake my head, but he's still holding my chin tight between his fingers. â€Å"Mel?† I yank free and shake my head fiercely. He leans closer to me, and his face is different suddenly. There's a new conflict I don't recognize in his expression, and even though I don't understand it completely, it erases the feeling of rejection that's making my eyes sting. â€Å"Will you talk to me? Please?† he murmurs. I can feel his breath on my cheek, and it's a few seconds before I can think at all. His eyes make me forget that I am mortified, that I wanted to never speak again. â€Å"If I got to pick anyone, anyone at all, to be stranded on a deserted planet with, it would be you,† I whisper. The sun between us burns hotter. â€Å"I always want to be with you. And not just†¦ not just to talk to. When you touch me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I dare to let my fingers brush lightly along the warm skin of his arm, and it feels like the flames are flowing from their tips now. His arm tightens around me. Does he feel the fire? â€Å"I don't want you to stop.† I want to be more exact, but I can't find the words. That's fine. It's bad enough having admitted this much. â€Å"If you don't feel the same way, I understand. Maybe it isn't the same for you. That's okay.† Lies. â€Å"Oh, Mel,† he sighs in my ear, and pulls my face around to meet his. More flames in his lips, fiercer than the others, blistering. I don't know what I'm doing, but it doesn't seem to matter. His hands are in my hair, and my heart is about to combust. I can't breathe. I don't want to breathe. But his lips move to my ear, and he holds my face when I try to find them again. â€Å"It was a miracle-more than a miracle-when I found you, Melanie. Right now, if I was given the choice between having the world back and having you, I wouldn't be able to give you up. Not to save five billion lives.† â€Å"That's wrong.† â€Å"Very wrong but very true.† â€Å"Jared,† I breathe. I try to reach for his lips again. He pulls away, looking like he has something to say. What more can there be? â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But?† How can there be a but? What could possibly follow all this fire that starts with a but? â€Å"But you're seventeen, Melanie. And I'm twenty-six.† â€Å"What's that got to do with anything?† He doesn't answer. His hands stroke my arms slowly, painting them with fire. â€Å"You've got to be kidding me.† I lean back to search his face. â€Å"You're going to worry about conventions when we're past the end of the world?† He swallows loudly before he speaks. â€Å"Most conventions exist for a reason, Mel. I would feel like a bad person, like I was taking advantage. You're very young.† â€Å"No one's young anymore. Anyone who's survived this long is ancient.† There's a smile pulling up one corner of his mouth. â€Å"Maybe you're right. But this isn't something we need to rush.† â€Å"What is there to wait for?† I demand. He hesitates for a long moment, thinking. â€Å"Well, for one thing, there are some†¦ practical matters to consider.† I wonder if he is just searching for a distraction, trying to stall. That's what it feels like. I raise one eyebrow. I can't believe the turn this conversation has taken. If he really does want me, this is senseless. â€Å"See,† he explains, hesitating. Under the deep golden tan of his skin, it looks like he might be blushing. â€Å"When I was stocking this place, I wasn't much planning for†¦ guests. What I mean is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The rest comes out in a rush. â€Å"Birth control was pretty much the last thing on my mind.† I feel my forehead crease. â€Å"Oh.† The smile is gone from his face, and for one short second there is a flash of anger I've never seen there before. It makes him look dangerous in a way I hadn't imagined he could. â€Å"This isn't the kind of world I'd want to bring a child into.† The words sink in, and I cringe at the thought of a tiny, innocent baby opening his eyes to this place. It's bad enough to watch Jamie's eyes, to know what this life will bring him, even in the best possible circumstances. Jared is suddenly Jared again. The skin around his eyes crinkles. â€Å"Besides, we've got plenty of time to†¦ think about this.† Stalling again, I suspect. â€Å"Do you realize how very, very little time we've been together so far? It's been just four weeks since we found each other.† This floors me. â€Å"That can't be.† â€Å"Twenty-nine days. I'm counting.† I think back. It's not possible that it has been only twenty-nine days since Jared changed our lives. It seems like Jamie and I have been with Jared every bit as long as we were alone. Two or three years, maybe. â€Å"We've got time,† Jared says again. An abrupt panic, like a warning premonition, makes it impossible for me to speak for a long moment. He watches the change on my face with worried eyes. â€Å"You don't know that.† The despair that softened when he found me strikes like the lash of a whip. â€Å"You can't know how much time we'll have. You don't know if we should be counting in months or days or hours.† He laughs a warm laugh, touching his lips to the tense place where my eyebrows pull together. â€Å"Don't worry, Mel. Miracles don't work that way. I'll never lose you. I'll never let you get away from me.† She brought me back to the present-to the thin ribbon of the highway winding through the Arizona wasteland, baking under the fierce noon sun-without my choosing to return. I stared at the empty place ahead and felt the empty place inside. Her thought sighed faintly in my head: You never know how much time you'll have. The tears I was crying belonged to both of us.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Theoretical Yield Example Problem - Chemistry Homework

Theoretical Yield Example Problem - Chemistry Homework This example problem demonstrates how to predict the amount of product produced from a given amount of reactants. Problem Given the reactionNa2S(aq) 2 AgNO3(aq) → Ag2S(s) 2 NaNO3(aq)How many grams of Ag2S will form when 3.94 g of AgNO3 and an excess of Na2S are reacted together? Solution The key to solve this type of problem is to find the mole ratio between the product and the reactant.Step 1 - Find the atomic weight of AgNO3 and Ag2S.From the periodic table:Atomic weight of Ag 107.87 gAtomic weight of N 14 gAtomic weight of O 16 gAtomic weight of S 32.01 gAtomic weight of AgNO3 (107.87 g) (14.01 g) 3(16.00 g)Atomic weight of AgNO3 107.87 g 14.01 g 48.00 gAtomic weight of AgNO3 169.88 gAtomic weight of Ag2S 2(107.87 g) 32.01 gAtomic weight of Ag2S 215.74 g 32.01 gAtomic weight of Ag2S 247.75 gStep 2 - Find mole ratio between product and reactantThe reaction formula gives the whole number of moles needed to complete and balance the reaction. For this reaction, two moles of AgNO3 is needed to produce one mole of Ag2S.The mole ratio then is 1 mol Ag2S/2 mol AgNO3Step 3 Find amount of product produced.The excess of Na2S means all of the 3.94 g of AgNO3 will be used to complete the reaction.grams Ag2S 3.94 g AgNO3 x 1 mol AgNO3/169.88 g AgNO3 x 1 mol Ag2 S/2 mol AgNO3 x 247.75 g Ag2S/1 mol Ag2SNote the units cancel out, leaving only grams Ag2Sgrams Ag2S 2.87 g Ag2S Answer 2.87 g of Ag2S will be produced from 3.94 g of AgNO3.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Who To Follow essays

Who To Follow essays In today's world society is filled with more violence, hate and crime. The confusion of what is right and wrong can be inflicted onto a child's set of morals. When a child has someone older to look up to he/she is able to take in and learn positive values from a responsible role model. The child can be properly informed on decisions they should make in there life. A good role model holds a high importance in a child's growing times so that they can learn the difference between good and bad and begin to practice a While growing up, a child may be around good people, but that do things that they shouldn't do. A child who has been raised by smokers may have a better chance of starting to smoke then one that has been always taught the harm of it. But with the exposure of a positive influence, there is still hope that the child can learn better, such that smoking is bad and that they won't start. He/she can learn through their mentor postive ideas giving them a higher self-esteem, confidence, and goals to work for when they are older. Also by beginning to lead a healthy lifestyle, they are more likely to set a good example for children later on in their life. Surviving in the home and learning a healthy family life style is more difficult now then before. In many homes both parents work and the time they have now to spend with their children is limited. Before when women used to stay at home, they were able to teach their children the cultural view's and religon that particular family followed. Children now don't learn manners that their grandparents may have learned and Ms. Manner, an author of an article in the paper, would be dissapointed in today's kids manners. If the role model happens to be a celebrity often the child wishes to ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

How have media technologies changed our experience of space, and how Essay

How have media technologies changed our experience of space, and how have these changes been represented - Essay Example Inasmuch as pre-modern art was based on fetish techniques adopted by individual artists, messages contained in each artistic medium did not contradict standards of rationality. Rutsky (1999) mentioned that contents of traditional media represented perennial happiness and perceptive inclination of both artists and audiences. Those perceptive inclinations constrict individuals to adopt a uniform rationality of ideas contained in media channels. However, contemporary media possess substantial difference from its traditional versions. Today, incorporation of technology in media has significantly changed the audiences’ perception of space and time. Media technologies today are constantly evolving. Consequently, contents of media continue affecting audiences’ lives in a complex manner. The media environment together with its representation of space and time causes a substantial impact on social, economic and political aspects of human life. Increasing dynamics within the media’s virtual environment presents temporary ramifications of time and space orientation. According to Frederick and Mast (2007), current contents of digital media throws consumers into a strange environment of ordered and linear coordinates of space and time scales. As acknowledged earlier, traditional media demonstrated uniformity and objectivity in terms of content representation. However, digital media today represents concepts by immersing then into inconceivable spatial dimensions. This creates a situation where consumers are in constant quest for the difference between real and virtual representation of life aspects. Rutsky (1999) added t hat spatial dimensions in digital media take consumers into environments with contents that cannot be comprehended through simple sensory perceptions. Meaning of digital contents does not result from immediate experience. Rather, understanding them requires mediation between concepts of rationalism and instrumentalism. In order to understand

Friday, November 1, 2019

Human resource development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human resource development - Essay Example Next, it will be presumed the possible effectiveness and ineffectiveness of E-HRM and finally, the details of appropriateness and inappropriateness of practical E-HRM will be stated. Reul et al. (2004) presume that the essence of E-HRM technology lies with the implementation of E-HRM technology in accordance with the requirements of the organization’s HR business. The purpose of E-HRM can be defined from three perspectives like operational E-HRM, relational E-HRM and transformational E-HRM. Operational E-HRM more specifically relates to functional administrations. In this genre, E-HRM is generally used to do stuff like payrolls which are personal data of employees. For example, today many Australian companies implement Affinity Payroll System, which is convenient for most complicated pay conditions and assimilates wizards and workflow to eliminate manual input. It ensures accuracy and saves time thus helping Australian companies to achieve controllable targets. It also decreases related stress, paperwork and rework. Besides, E-HRM technology supports the relational HRM work like performance, appraisal, recruitment and training. Australian Human Resource I nstitute extensively utilizes e-training and e-learning foundations to prepare employees for maximum business activities. Instead of the regular functioning of human resource department, intranet can be used to implement training and skill learning techniques. Meanwhile, transformational E-HRM strategically manages the transactional activities of HR. With proper development of E-HRM technology, it can be used as a platform to bring about transformational change to enhance the operational functions of HR in business transactions (Foster, 2009). In the future, E-tech can improve HR decision support and distributions transactions of a new business transaction program of Qantas to attain the planned growth and maintain sustainability and