Literature Review About Management Information Systems Management Essay Research Paper Example

Literature Review About Management Information Systems Management Essay Research Paper Example Literature Review About Management Information Systems Management Essay Paper Literature Review About Management Information Systems Management Essay Paper In this chapter all of the constructs, theories and methods that are related with the direction Information system such as system, information system and MIS will be discussed. The construct of educational direction system is besides good presented. In other subdivisions the construct of EMIS will be considered in the universe by particularly concentrating this construct in Pakistan will be discussed. In concluding subdivisions of this chapter EMIS of COMSTAS institutes of information engineering will be discussed. This information will be so act as guideline to analyse the empirical findings of primary informations. 2.1 Management Information system There have been legion sorts of systems that have been developed over the past several old ages. These information systems had helped to carry through the demands and demands of determination doing non merely at managerial but besides at the operational degree. Every organisation develops its ain direction information system ( MIS ) which is wholly dependent on the personal demands of the organisations. Management information system developed for one organisation is useless for other organisations with different demands ( Cassidy and Cresswell, 1997 ) . In the direction information system, non merely the system itself is of import but to acquire the maximal advantages from the system it is of import that the human intelligence, perceptual experience and judgement must be powerful and strong plenty to acquire combined with the system information ( Thierauf 1984 ) . This combination will supply directors with the unique and valuable tool for the information direction in any company ( C assidy and Cresswell, 1997 ) . 2.1.1 What is a system? The system is capable of change overing the collected information from the everyday user and machine interactions in to the effectual information which subsequently on is used by the determination shapers to do efficient determinations. In the direction information system, the most of import entity is system itself which is set of defined and interconnected constituents which are by and large described as all of the direct or indirect complex constituents or elements that are related in a insouciant web. Within any peculiar clip period, all of these complex constituents are related in more or less stable manner with at least some other constituents ( Thierauf 1984 ) . So a well developed and synergistic system is one which provides best and utile information to the directors at all degrees. 2.1.2 Information system? The best system is one that provides utile information and user interaction at all degrees. An information system is a aggregation of activities, processs, methods, engineering and peoples that are organized to acquire the valuable related informations and information. This system must besides be able to hive away this information until it is required by the user. It should be capable of informations processing and reacting to its terminal user by supplying the replies to all set of questions. Information systems should outdo interacts and communicates with the terminal user In order to supply the accurate required information ( Knight A ; Silk, 1990 ) . 2.1.3 Management Information System The information system which is composed of formalistic processs that can supply all of the relevant appropriate information at all degrees to all of the directors is called direction information system ( MIS ) . This system uses all of the internal and external resources to supply informations and information to the terminal users which enable them to take timely determinations that are effectual from the directing, planning and commanding point of position. As a whole this is an efficient system that can supply all of the needed information to the direction at all degrees at appropriate times. Management information system is fundamentally an affectional combination of human and engineering resources that consequences in informations storage, aggregation, and communicating, informations retrieval and use. In managerial operations and concern planning, these MIS systems play a critical function in concern success ( Lucey, 1989 ) . In literature, there are several definitions of the direction information systems ( Lucey, 1989, Thierauf, 1984 ) . The system is capable of change overing the collected information from the everyday user and machine interactions in to the effectual information which subsequently on is used by the determination shapers to do efficient determinations. The specialised systems that are being used for determination devising for the direction at all degrees are by and large known as direction information systems ( Thierauf, 1984 ) . Information systems are of important importance in any type of organisation, by and large, it is truly impossible for any organisation to run without any kind of information system. These information systems are developed by concentrating the demands and demands of the peculiar organisation which are alone for every other organisation. In the early 1960 s, the importance of system interior decorators and decision makers gained much importance and attending. In an organisation, at the administrative degree, direction information systems are composed up of the human and machine combination that are used to carry through the information demands at these degrees. In really big organisations, these MIS are besides a combination of many interconnected bomber systems which are sharing the same resources for informations and processing. While discoursing the construct of MIS in an organisation, this activity is considered merely as a portion of all of the other on-going activities. This MIS activity is of import because it equips the top direction with all of the information about the lower direction and maintains a uninterrupted flow of information throughout the organisation. MIS system besides facilitates the proprietors of the organisations with the general information about the organisation. The chief advantage of MIS system in an organisation is to keep appropriate information flow that can be achieved by spliting organisations in to different sub systems with some integrated and alone maps. This map integrating of the bomber system must be much efficient to do the whole organisation as an affectional MIS system. By following this attack, every bit shortly as all of the demands of the sub systems are achieved, all of the demands of the organisation are achieved. In literature, there are many features discussed for an effectual MIS system ( Cassidy and Creswell, 1997 ) . Some of them are listed below: MIS system should be composed of incorporate sub systems with the ability of forward and backward looking systems. MIS system should be capable of planning and commanding the clearly defined concern activities. MIS system should be capable of bring forthing the studies that can assist the direction at all degree in planning and commanding all of their current and expected concern activities. MIS system should be able to recover the information about the operations control at appropriate clip and should let the transactional information processing. For the timely response, MIS system should hold the batch processing every bit good as synergistic operational manners. In order to hive away the informations that is being often accessed, MIS system should utilize all of the information protection processs that can guarantee to authorise user in more protective manner. In order to pull out the comparative information rapidly, MIS system should hold appropriate informations storage medium like random or direct entree storage. In order to bring forth the meaningful and affectional end product for the on-going control operations, MIS system should enable the criterion and usage made theoretical account that must hold the storage medium for the online informations. 2.2 Educational Management Information System The revolution in the information and communicating engineerings ( ICTs ) has greatly influenced the life manner of whole universe. Over the past several old ages, ICT substructure is considered as a symbol for a state s development. In every manner of life, there is a critical function of these Information and Communication Technologies ( ICTs ) by all agencies to better the quality, standardising the different stakeholders function and leaving the operating processs ( Ed Crowley, 2003 ) . ICTs has a proved function in the field of medical, concern, industry, amusement, communications but now these engineerings has emerging efficient function in instruction field. In developing states, particularly like Pakistan instruction sector is one of the nucleus countries that require more attending for the state s rapid development. The end of every educational institute is to supply the quality instruction to all of its pupils. In these institutes direction at all degree uninterrupted strives to accomplish this aimed end. Universities are engaging extremely qualified professors and fiting their scientific research labs with latest equipments, adding new engineerings and books to their libraries. In these educational institutes the construct of digital libraries is besides introduced, in schoolrooms multimedia undertakings are installed. The construct of distant acquisition, different tutorials like web and disc based every bit good as the construct of audio and ocular informat ions to assistance talks is introduced in these institutes. In short, ICTs have played a major important function for knowledge airing among assorted groups in these educational institutes. In order to acquire the maximal benefits of the available installations of hardware and package, it is non adequate to merely linking the research labs with the cyberspace installation but there is batch more in to this. This type of human attitude towards the computing machine resources propose that there is ever a demand for some educational intercession to acquire the possible benefits. The better use of information and communicating engineerings ( ICTs ) can be attained by pedagogic intercessions ( Jorge Ferreira Franco et all, 2006 ) . As the issues raises, it starts making interesting chances for the persons and organisations for bettering the persons comprehensibility and accomplishments. From the educational point of position, it is believed that when the persons understanding is challenged and they receive any kind of rational or practical support so their productive and originative endowments are used which can besides be enhanced ( Jorge Ferreira Franco et all, 2006 ) . In all this competitory ICTs equipped educational institutes there is much more than the quality instruction that is expected by the pupils. Students need choice service in all of the needed information that is required by them. In order to show their twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours jobs, pupils needs environment that can ease them in every manner. Different higher educational institutes are continuously endeavoring to accomplish this mark. For illustration when a pupil necessitate his transcripts after classs finalisation so it can take more than a month clip when there is conventional system installed in educational institutes. It can take more clip because of the limited figure of moving staff members that are covering with the consequences and transcripts publishing procedure. There are many other day-to-day issues that can originate every twenty-four hours and this limited figure of staff will non be able to motivate outright to all of the pupils. In order to manage such feverish modus operandi universities used to employee more employees but as its known that increasing manpower can neer work out the job so another solution is required that can get by up with all such issues. There are many activities that can non be handled with simple processing applications and they are besides much clip devouring but these are simple procedures like admittance, enrollment, conductivity of scrutiny, maintaining path of the employees and pupils and pull offing both employees and pupils histories ( Marlon Pierce et all, 2002 ) . In order to pull off 1000s of its pupils and employees the best effectual manner is to utilize the information and communicating engineerings in more efficient manner. Educational direction system ( EMIS ) is an illustration of such an information system that has been developed over past several old ages to acquire the maximal benefits from the human and machine interaction to bring forth the appropriate information. This construct of EMIS has been imported from the concern universe which represents a system for information processing for educational direction. This system is non developed to replace the statistics based system and this system itself is non a statistical system. This system has been developed to manage all informations types which may be statistical in nature. An important professional is required to develop this information as dependable, verified, important and professionally trained. This authorization must be professional and independent entity that must be acceptable by all of the other users in an organisation. When an information system is being developed so it is really much necessary to acquire the exact and dependable sta tistics before this system acquire applied to any kind of direction. Information systems are ever designed to treat valid informations into information non the refuse informations. In educational direction systems, these information systems should turn to both of the direction and statistics in more efficient manner and should bring forth information in an affectional format. In literature, there are many definitions and descriptions about the EMIS systems as its being developed over the past several old ages ( EPRD, 1997 ) . Educational direction system is a formalistic aggregation of the operational processs, procedures and common understanding that are integrated in such a manner that it can bring forth utile information and information for the educational institutes and all of related entities like instructors, pupils and other direction at all degrees. All of the informations relevant to the concerned entities is aggregated, collected and organized, managed and processed which is so disseminated across the organisation and is used by the concerned governments and direction at all degrees to take the good determinations for the educational institutes ( EPRD, 1997 ) . EMIS contains all of the relevant information that is required by the educational directors at all degrees to back up all of their activities. EMIS systems ever responds to the consumers for the affectional information and serves the demands of terminal users, therefore it can be said that these information systems are functioning on the footing of demand response methodological analysis. In order to acquire the maximal benefits out of this information system it is really much necessary that the procedure concatenation of information direction and in the dealing between the terminal users demand of information and the system response of information bringing, all of the statistics must be updated and reviewed decently. If this whole concatenation of information direction is non decently maintained so there will be no meaningful information from the informations collection and processing. The system integrating is besides much of import in EMIS to acquire the best possible result from the system because if there will be any job with the system integrating it will consequences in irrelevant information bringing that will do w hole EMIS as an irrelevant system. In order to work these EMIS systems up to dated, it is necessary to carry on clients studies. These studies will assist the educational institutes to get by up with all of the freshly raised demands and so it will give up dated response to its consumers. These studies will besides assist to calculate out the demands of manufacturers and will bring forth a user friendly and explainable services and merchandises consequently. Educational institutes should besides make general consciousness among the users about the advantages of these EMIS systems that can supply information for determination devising. In order to avoid a entire system loss, it is really much of import that these EMIS systems should be self sustainable and they must hold a dorsum up even if maestro system will neglect to carry through the demands of all of its terminal users. At the really earlier phase of system development it is of import to develop the single entities but at the ulterior phase of capacity edifice this preparation is non of much importance. EMIS systems have been employed in many different states as a large success and there these systems have provided support services and capacity edifice to the distributed every bit good as the decentralised statistical maps. There are many specialised maps needed for the EMIS development such as puting the criterions, development of application package, quality control, supplying proficient aid and preparation services every bit good as organizing one-year statistics production. System integrating is an of import measure in EMIS development because all of the loose parts will be combined expeditiously can develop an affectional system end product. Quality control is besides of much significance because it can guarantee quality cheques at all degrees. In educational institutes, an effectual and efficient information direction system that should assist direction at all degree for planning, policy devising, and direction can be developed by following common informations aggregation instruments, by developing informations processing package and by following all of the processs for quality control and confidence. Such a developed system can guarantee the effectual public presentation of all of the statistical maps in the institutes. The procedures of informations aggregations its entry and confirmation are all really near to the beginning. This information is so transmitted as an electronic transcript all around the institute. At every degree of direction, this information is analyzed on the footing of the users demands which guarantee the minimisation of incompatibility and undertaking duplicates. Such a system besides ensures the quality, dependability, informations cogency and effectivity every bit good as the terminal users sati sfaction at all degrees. 2.3 EMIS in World As discussed above that the construct of educational direction information system ( EMIS ) has been adopted by many developed and developing states over the past several old ages. In some of the states, this technique has failed because of disregarding many of import entities and critical processs that were necessary to follow in order to guarantee its success. In these states, these EMIS were non large success because they forgot that following a new proficient name, obtaining financess and grants and improper system version neer guarantee the version of new engineering. In developing states there are some tendencies listed for increasing the demand for EMIS ( Chapman, 1990 ) . They are: Explosive growing of Educational System This is the foremost and of import tendency that pressurized the developing states to do them follow EMIS systems. This tendency will reflect the growing of population which subsequently will demo the increased rate of engagement. It besides puts the force per unit area on the instruction stuffs and on the judicial admission of the qualified instructors and staff. This explosive growing later limited the development of the educational resources and caused the diminution in instruction quality in these developing states ( Chapman A ; Mahlck, 1993 ) . Increased Complexity of Educational System As the educational system has grown explosively in the development states, it besides consequences in its complexness. Educational ministry has pursued multiple objective so many different and new class works has been under taken so that instruction quality can be improved. Increased Fiscal Pressure Many authoritiess are sing the increased fiscal force per unit area so they need to follow those resource allotment processs that are efficient in longer tally. International Funding In order to pull international support bureaus in the country of instruction, it is necessary to supply them with the quantitative informations that must demo the success and advancement of the educational undertakings. These bureaus are supercharging the development states so that they can besides warrant their ain answerability. In developing states, they are financing merely when they get accurate statistics and informations that can measure their funded undertakings so they require rigorous answerability. Low Cost Information Technology As engineering is progressing so it is available at really low cost. In these developing states, big informations sum is being handled by utilizing the low cost advanced information engineering. All around the universe, there are policies of different organisations to better the educational systems. UNESCO is besides one of the organisations that has strategic aims in the field of instruction with their clear policy of bettering the quality of instruction. This policy includes the docket of bettering educational quality through variegation of methods and content, diffusion, experimentation publicity, duologue, by following best patterns, invention and by information sharing. Information and engineering promotion has put the force per unit area all around the Earth to follow these ICTs in their educational system and tech them to the pupils. This acquisition of advanced ICTs is really of import to get by up with the challenges of twenty-first century. UNESCO, in its World educational study discussed some of the cardinal deductions that ICTs have for the conventional acquisition and instruction ( UNESCO World Education Report, 1998 ) . In order to run into all of the demands t hat are must for the integrating of these ICTs in the conventional systems there are some models proposed in different publications ( UNESCO World Education Report, 2002 ) . These are cardinal demands that are identified as the of import schemes for the instructor instruction, for pull offing the alteration procedure in acquisition, for pull offing alteration procedure in following and integrating of these ICTs. Technology has become a accelerator that is transforming the acquisition and whole instruction systems ( UNESCO World Education Report, 1998 ) . Different multimedia undertakings have been employed that are utilizing the information visual image techniques and are good for the citizens of the far distant states. In this manner, pupils from the distant states are besides larning new engineerings. These multimedia applications are besides installed in schools so that pupils can larn new engineerings at the really basic school degree. This helped the school community to research both the existent and practical engineerings within the context information and by utilizing the synergistic envisioned systems ( John P. Dougherty et all, 2002 ) . In footings of information engineering ( IT ) , there have been significant treatments for the readying of the work force that can work globally. In developing states, still there are limited resources along with the limited figure of professionals that can do best usage of this IT so the promise to increase the productiveness in educational system by the usage of IT is still on clasp. In order to win at any degree of life, it is now a must to integrate these IT in their callings so that the rapid alteration of the universe can be handled ( John P. Dougherty et all, 2002 ) . All around the universe, these EMIS started as a consequence of the single research undertakings or as an advanced thought that has been initiated by academic persons by taking hazards that result in the development of the web based enterprises which were non a complete system. On the other manus, there are now many complete systems that are good planned, institutionally comprehensive and consistently integrated ( JC Taylor, 2001 ) . For illustration, at the University of Southern Queensland, where there is history of distant acquisition for about 25years, there the transmutation to the IT environment was a natural measure. The organisation itself as a whole adopted this new move instead than by merely following by some persons. They adopted the web based information and communications engineerings at universities and reflect on component of the corporate mission statement i.e. To be a leader in flexible acquisition and the usage of information and communications engineerings ( JC Taylor, 2001 ) . The word portal has gained much attending in past several old ages which means door entryway or gate ( Winston Dictionar, 2009 ) . In higher educational systems, it is hard and hazardous but is necessary to develop a portal so that the educational system can vie and recognize the importance of ICTs. In this manner, universities and colleges can acquire a really clear thought about the benefits of puting on to the endeavor systems, informations warehouses and in other information services. By developing their ain portals, educational institutes can incorporate services, information and other substructure so that unvarying information will flux all around the institute. It s a large challenge to integrate higher instruction and engineering, same is the instance with portal scheme but the consequence is ever good to the organisation. 2.4 EMIS in Pakistan EMIS is non a new field of survey, but as we see that now it is having more importance around the Earth. But in Pakistan in past few decennaries EMIS research encircle Basic A ; Primary instruction System but my research on EMIS in HE of Pakistan is wholly new country of research for Pakistan. Besides the Educational Organizations are larning new methods of heightening the efficiency of their organisations, separately and as a whole as a group. In Pakistan, many reforms have been made after the constitution of the Higher Education Commission ( HEC ) . These reforms target the betterment of the quality of the instruction every bit good as to bring forth more resources for the growing of instruction in the higher instruction in the state. In Pakistan, the most recent tendency is to better the procedures and resources in the universities. In these yearss, Engineering and Technology plans has created a large ballyhoo so bulk of the pupils are taking admittance in these countries. Higher Education Commission ( HEC ) every bit good as Pakistan Engineering Council ( PEC ) has set certain critera that universities need to carry through before offering admittances to pupils in these countries. This critera required the handiness of work force, certain substructure, extremely qualified staff, good equipt labs, and quality instruction procedure. In order to bring forth extremely qualified and trained staff, HEC is offering certain sch olarship and support strategies so that more qualified work force can be produced. 2.5 COMSATAS Institutes of Technology 2.5.1 EMIS in COMSATAS Institutes of Technology In order to standardise the universities much attending is driven to the version of new engineerings every bit good as towards the substructure development and betterment of the operating processs. The standard of HEC for the higher instruction establishments is really rigorous and is based on resource numeration, aggregation of public presentation informations and aggregation of all of the corresponding ratios which are in underside up manners until the concluding studies are generated. This rating standard demands the single appraisal system for each section in the university so that independent and choice information can be elaborated. This whole procedure will ensue in heightening the quality of different operating processs and procedures that are being exercised in the institute and will consequences in heightening the university ranking. There are many ways by which this feedback cringle can be achieved in the higher educational establishments. It is possible that certain studies and indexs may be widely available all around the campus every bit shortly as they are generated so that effectual information is readily available. At assorted determination devising points, the cardinal forces can take immediate disciplinary action when required by merely maintaining a crisp oculus on these studies. This is important in a manner that it will increase the consciousness in the whole academic community. Whenever disposal decides for any needed alteration so all of the standard steps can be taken. The possible step that can increase the dependability of the feedback cringle is to do certain that all of the relevant elements in the institutional information system are readily available. By following this technique, all of the entities will be for good connected and consulted the information all around the institute. Other step that can be adopted is that all of the old pattern that are being performed at different sections can be refined. This procedure of polish needs the experience that has already accumulated and it can besides take into history the suggestions by all of its users or the involved entities. The purpose for the development of the EMIS for COMSATS IIT was to polish most of the activities that were being performed at assorted degrees in different sections of the university. This polish will be done by taking in head all of the accrued users suggestions and from the experience of the all of the involved entities. In this EMIS, a new service bed has been added that corresponds to the extraction of all of the related derived information. This information is peculiarly designed to back up university direction at several degrees. 2.5.2 COMSATS University Online System ( CU-Online ) In order to acquire the advantage of the maximal possible ICT use, COMSATS IIT, Pakistan has developed an automated educational direction system which is normally known as CU-Online ( Iqbal Saadat et all, 2000 ) . This system has been developed to make an integrated educational system. This system aims to keep all of the information related to the pupils, ease the employees to entree all of the resources related to the course of study that can assist them in lesson planning, scrutiny conductivity, consequences describing and pull offing all of the other pupils and instructors histories. This system has the capableness to describe and analyse different informations and information for the single users and corporate users that can assist them at all degrees to acquire a broader image of the whole educational institute and system. This system has been developed with the purpose to supply user connectivity everyplace all times as a pure web based application. It provides academic, transa ctional and administrative entree to all its users which consequences in development of the collaborative campus. In CU-Online system there are four chief constituents that constitute its environment ( Iqbal Saadat et all, 2000 ) . They are: Datas Student/Parent Management, module, staff Hardware In this EMIS system, there are assorted stakeholders like module, parents and pupils and direction and staff. Faculty needs this system to be after their lessons and course of study, for progress study and category appraisal. This is a tool by which module can communication with parents and pupils. It besides reports the advancement towards pupil s ends. This EMIS enables the parents and pupils to maintain a cheque of the advancement studies, work assignments. They can besides look into their work assignments and advancement towards their graduation demands. Management and staff usage this system to accomplish all of the staff and pupil information ( Iqbal Saadat et all, 2000 ) . This system has faculties for admittance, pupil information system, library, human resource direction, class portal, stock list and hardware monitoring and for fee and histories. In COMSATS IIT, the debut of ICTs non merely automates all of the sections but besides facilitates all of the involved entities in the university. Students are acquiring quality instruction and they are required many facilitations in different facets. In order to gain good name to university, direction is required to follow quality process and must guarantee quality at all degree of direction. While in a university, pupils can come across many different processs and jobs so this system must ease them in every facet so that they can merely concentrate on their surveies. Similarly staff and module members must avoid all of the cumbersome processs and must merely execute their needed responsibilities ( Iqbal Saadat et all, 2000 ) . All of such installations must make to the users with easiness on their desktops.

What Is TTY Mode How Does It Work on Cell Phones

What Is TTY Mode How Does It Work on Cell Phones SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips A TTY (teletypewriter) is a device that helps people who are deaf, speech-impaired, or hard-of-hearing use a phone to communicate. While TTY devices were initially designed for landline phones, they are used today with both landlines and cell phones. In this article, I’ll be talking about TTY mode meaning on a cell phone and how to use it, as well as offering other, more modern options for people with hearing or speech impairments to communicate. What Is TTY Mode on a Cell Phone? A TTY device is used to communicate by people with speech and hearing impairments. A user with a speech impairment can type a message on the TTY machine and the machine will send the message through a phone line or mobile signal. For users with hearing impairments, the TTY machine will turn voice messages into text messages so the user can read them. While a TTY machine may sound a lot like text messaging, its actual functions are more seamless. TTY machines allow users to continuously communicate as part of one conversation, without receiving constant message notifications and updates like from text messages. During a TTY conversation, the messages appear immediately on the other party’s TTY screen without interruption. TTY devices can be connected to both landlines and cell phones, allowing for portable communication. Today, many cell phones have a TTY mode. What's the TTY mode meaning? Well, TTY mode allows the phone to function as a TTY device. Depending on the phone, it may have a built-in TTY software, allow you to connect the phone to an external TTY device, or both. Many phones have three different TTY modes: TTY Full, TTY VCO, and TTY HCO. TTY Full mode allows both the sender and receiver to communicate through TTY messages. TTY VCO mode is for hearing-impaired users who can send messages through voice, but need to receive messages on a TTY text display. TTY HCO mode is for users who can receive voice messages, but need to send text messages. How to Use TTY Mode on a Cell Phone You can activate TTY mode on both an Android phone and an iPhone. In this section, I’ll talk you through how to use TTY mode on both operating systems. How to Use TTY Mode on an iPhone Tap the â€Å"Settings† app. Tap â€Å"General† from the â€Å"Settings† menu. Tap â€Å"Accessibility† from the â€Å"General† menu. Select â€Å"TTY†. Select if you will use the built-in â€Å"Software TTY† or if you will attach an external device through â€Å"Hardware TTY.† Exit to the home screen. Select â€Å"Phone.† Select the person you want to call. When the call screen opens, tap the â€Å"TTY† button. Type the message you’d like to send to begin the call. If you’ve turned TTY mode on an iPhone on, you can make a call with or without the TTY mode. You can also return to the settings menu to turn TTY mode off if you no longer need it. How to Use TTY Mode on an Android Phone Select the â€Å"Applications† tab. Select the â€Å"Settings† application. Select â€Å"Call† from the â€Å"Settings† application. Select â€Å"TTY mode† from the â€Å"Call† menu. Select the desired TTY mode (TTY Off, TTY Full, TTY HCO, TTY VCO, which are three different types of TTY I discussed in the previous section). Tap back to the main menu to make a call. You can now select whether you want to make the call normally, or using the selected TTY mode. To turn TTY mode off, you simply follow the same steps and select â€Å"TTY off† from the TTY mode menu. Alternative Options for Communication for People With Speech or Hearing Impairments Today, physical TTY devices are fairly out-dated. Most people use TTY mode on their cell phones, or communicate through one of these alternative means. Text Messaging For people with speech and hearing impairments, text messaging has become one of the easiest and most effective means of communication. Text messaging is easy, built-in to every cell phone, and most tablets, and computers, and doesn’t require any extra set up. Video Calls The rise in video calling technology like Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Skype has made it easier for people with speech and hearing impairments to communicate using sign language. Today, people with these disabilities can use video conferencing technology to talk in real-time with their friends and loved ones using sign language that both parties can see. Video Relay Services Video Relay Service is a form of Telecommunications Relay Service that enables persons with hearing disabilities who use American Sign Language to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text. Video equipment links the VRS user with a TRS operator (Called a communications assistant, or CA) so that the VRS user and the CA can see and communicate with each other in signed conversation. Because the conversation between the VRS user and the CA flows much more quickly than with a text-based TRS call, VRS has become an enormously popular form of TRS. Recap: Using TTY Mode on a Cell Phone What is TTY mode on a cell phone? TTY mode allows people with hearing and speech impairments to communicate by using text-to-voice or voice-to-text technology. Today, most cell phones are equipped with built-in TTY technology meaning that you don’t have to purchase an additional TTY device to communicate. There are also numerous other methods of communication for people with speech and hearing impairments, including text messaging, video calls, and video relay services.

Analysis of The Godfather Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of The Godfather - Assignment Example It is worth noting that movie shows all violence graphically. There are brutal beatings, machine gun killings, betrayals, and bodies soaked in blood. The murders are not so long but their expressions of horror on the victim's faces make it truly gruesome. Nudity and sex is a part of whole melodrama where the focus in on power, money and crime. Michael is back from the World War II to attend his sister Connie Corleone's wedding. Michael is not interested in his fathers business and wants to pass a normal life. A drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) who is backed by Tattaglia family in his ventures wants to collaborate with Vito so as to get protection from his political connections and furthering his drug business. Vito is against the drug business that any godfather will be in any civilized society. With the godfather status enjoyed by Vito, he refuses to strike any deal with Sollozzo realizing that it may devastate his reputation in the society. This drives Sollozzo crazy and tempts him to lead an assassination attempt on Vito. While Vito in the hospital, his eldest son Sonny (James Caan) takes to rein in his hand and gets Bruno of Tattaglias family killed. Michael hatches a conspiracy and invites Sollozzo and his associate to a restaurant and finishes them successfully. The movie The Godfather reflects about the gang wars, gruesome assassinations, killings and gun throbbing that happen in the real world. After all, it is a power game that causes one gang to fight against another to establish their supremacy and control over the business. It is so spontaneous that business rivalry turns into a personal revenge in no time among two criminally active gangs. Usually, a business stake is so much that one is out to finish other in the open gang wars circumventing state laws and regulations. Marlon Brando has played a memorable character called The Godfather. Equally effective have been the roles played by Al Pacino of the youngest son Michael and James Caan playing for Vitos eldest son Sonny.  

Cas22 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cas22 - Case Study Example Subsequently, she files a suit against the company for deception. The following part of this paper will critically analyze Johansen’s scope of proceeding with the claim either at arbitration or at Federal court. It is stated that the contract contains an arbitration mediations clause which demands Johansen ‘to complete the process if there is a contract dispute and the results will be caused to waive her future rights in federal and state court to contest any employment violations’. Although the company can justify its employment termination on the strength of this clause, obviously the firm has violated the legal norms of the employment regulations. The case clearly indicates that the employer has breached the terms of the contract as well. She can argue that employer’s demand of being the key member of a client escort service was out of the terms of the written contract. The contractual laws clearly tell that a contract can be legally broken if any one of the parties has committed a breach of contract. In such situation, the contract loses its legal validity. Although Johansen has signed the contract containing the dispute provisions, her basic interests as a citizen has to be preserved first. She can claim compensation for her termination from the job.

The Confederate Flag Essay Example for Free

The Confederate Flag Essay Within the United States of America, arguments, involving the Confederate Flag, are solved every sngle day. However, some controversies have managed to carry on from the 1800’s until present day without any solution. The text and symbolic meaning behind the â€Å"Confederate Flag† is a perfect example. The Confederate Flag is one of America’s most embattled symbolic controversies. Created in 1861in a battle between the South, Confederates, and the North, Union, two men by the name P. G.  T. Beauregard and Congressman William P. Miles designed and created a flag that would represent the true southern pride and demands that would not only bring about conflict with one half of the nation but also with our American society today. The South wanted to fulfill their demands of a new government with a victory, but the North opposed that thought. Today, people in our society misunderstand and misinterpret the true meaning behind the Confederate Flag and what it represents. People have came to believe that the Confederate Flag represents slavery in the 19th century, but in actuality it represents people wanting to govern themselves. The Confederacy had two flags. One being a national flag or â€Å"the stars and bars† and the other to be a battle flag. The southern people believed their national flag was to be respected and not to be used in battle so they wanted a battle flag. Two men by the names, P. G. T. Beauregard and Congressman William P. Miles came up with the design. These men were chosen because of their active duty within the Confederacy. Both showed much pride and served with active duty. P. G. T. Beauregard was chosen as one of the eight full leading generals and led the Confederacy to their first win in battle in the â€Å"battle of Manassas† and commanded at the Battle of Shiloh after Albert Sidney Johnston’s death. Given such great honor, he was chosen to be one of the designers of the flag. William P. Miles was appointed by the Provisional Congress as chairman of the Flag and Seal Committee. William Miles took much pride in the Confederacy and what they represented so was chosen to help design flags for the nation and approval of them as well. Their design was similar in comparison to the national flag. The battle flag would have a blue X on a red field. The flag had thirteen stars to represent the thirteen states in the Confederacy, often referred to as the Rebel Flag,† Southern Cross, or â€Å"Dixie Flag. † It represented a battle for a lesser government, just as P. G. T, Beauregard and Miles followed. These men and their fellow Southerners wanted less taxes and for people to govern themselves. The flag was flown in honor of those fighting for these demands and the pride of the confederacy and their struggle to win. In conclusion, both men shared great dignity in the Confederacy and wanted to represent their people and demands with reason to overturn the government. This flag was first flown in July 21st, 1861 and is still displayed in the United States. Both men, today, continue to receive much honor for their active duty served and creating a flag that symbolizes the Southern nation as one. The typical audiences portraying the â€Å"Rebel Flag,† in a majority, are whites. Back in the 1800’s during the battle of the Civil War, blacks were mainly looked down upon and used as slaves. Blacks had no power amongst the white people in the southern states and were to work for them and follow their orders. Due to this, only white people had taken pride in their flag. Whites were fighting for their demands of a better government. Thus, only white people played a main role during this time period. Yet, blacks, being viewed down upon at this time, are viewed in the audience as well. Today, blacks look at the situation as a major issue with their race at the time and hopes for survival. But why is this? When the flag is presented in our society today, some look at the flag, with disgust, as representation of racism because the flag was flown during a time period in which racism dominantly occurred. Also, based upon the text I had chosen, it consists of white people in battle. The audience of the text promptly follows the text with pride. These audience members were not just white or black people, but also southerners and northerners. In the battle it was the southerners of the thirteen confederate states of America who portrayed the flag as a new government ran by the people when the North portrayed the flag as a banishment of a perfectly ran government. No northerners opposed the idea that the Confederacy should be erased as the no southerners opposed the idea of a new government. Thus, made the issue more complicated due to disagreements. The reaction of the southern white audience would portray anger due to their loss in battle as well as pride in their sacrifice. The audience would have hoped for a different conclusion to the battle giving the Confederates the victory and joyfulness of their people at the time. The northerners reacted the exact opposite. They celebrated their victory and the government was given more dominance. The author intended the reaction of the audience to be very informed because a great amount of information and history was given. The author knew what the flag truly represented and wanted the readers to know the same. Given so much information, the audience would become very informed and learn to understand the flag in a respectful manner. However, people in this present day continue to fly the flag with no knowledge of the meaning or respect. Some, with no knowledge, look at the flag as a gang or group symbol while others respectfully present it as a historical time period. So why get rid of this flag? Being a nation that prohibits slavery in written law, some Americans who continue to believe the false rumor that the flag represents slavery and racism or are less educated with the history behind the flag and want to get rid of it. Our society has represented the Confederate flag in a disrespectful manner and needs to change that. Hear the Northern thunders mutter! Northern flags in South’s winds flutter! To Arms, To Arms, To Arms in Dixie! Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To Arms, To Arms, To Arms in Dixie! Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah! For Dixie’s land we take our stand, And we live or die for Dixie! To Arms! To Arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! To Arms! To Arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! –Confederacy chant. Many people praise it, display it, and chant it, yet others view it with pure disgust. Once again, the Confederate or â€Å"Rebel Flag has been shoved onto the table of debate due to the raising of the flag in front of the South Carolina State House. So much debate has arose that President Obama was questioned where this flag should be placed? President Obama replied with a very considerate answer. His answer was, â€Å"In a museum. † But why would he want to take down the flag and retire it? Many have applauded him upon the issue, yet others are left confused as to why? Many people fly the Confederate Flag with pride and none of which are racist. In fact, the flag does not even represent anything considering racism. Only current connotation has led people to believe that. People today do not understand the true meaning and history behind the flag so they are unknowingly spreading false information. It is compared to the Nazi flag as a white supremacy symbol today. Another fact is that the Confederate Flag was never once flown on a slave ship; it was the present American flag that had been flown. The true meaning behind the flag was a lesser or new government. Southern people were getting tired of being overtaxed and wanted to govern themselves. Following these demands, arguments between the North and South grew more intense. Slaves were more acceptable in the south rather than the north. Southerners’ main use of slaves was to work in plantations to help incorporate a better and more profitable farm. This was not ok with the northerners. The northerners’ believed slavery was uncivilized and should be abolished. Prior to his election, Abraham Lincoln said he wanted to â€Å"free the slaves. † This quote developed more controversy especially since Lincoln, at the time, had slaves of his own. Southerners became furious such an ironic statement and began stating their opinions about the presidency towards Lincoln while demanding a lesser government, lower taxes, and to keep slavery. Northerners began to stand behind Lincoln and would speak on behalf of him. More issues and controversies developed which lead to a feud between the North and South. This feud is now known as, the American Civil War (1861-1865). In mix of battle, the Confederacy respected their national flag and did not want it to be displayed in mix of battle. This is when the â€Å"Rebel† or â€Å"Battle† Flag was created. As Confederates would rush into battle, they would carry the thirteen-stared blue X on a red field flag with pride and dignity. The Confederates then formed secession from the United States becoming, the Confederate States of America as the northerners became referred to as the Union. After carrying their flag for four bloodshed/devastating years, the Confederacy fell to the Union. Slavery would then become abolished as would the Confederate States of America. The Rebel Flag then slowly began to disappear. Due to the, all of a sudden, emergence of the flag in our society today, people argue that it should be rid of or as Obama said, â€Å"In a museum. † The flag, to a majority people, is a historical symbol that brings back the thought of their ancestors who fought in battle and our nation falling apart when the North and South fought killing 620,000 of our nation’s people. The flag stood out in Civil War as a symbol of the South wanting a change in government. Our society needs to become more educated when it comes to the understanding of Confederate Flag and learn how to display it in a correct manner. With great debate over the embattled symbolic meaning behind the Confederate Flag, our society has yet to reach a solution. Many people are continuing to spread false information while others are arguing the true meaning behind the flag. Who knows how long this controversy will last. P. G. T. Beauregard and William P. Miles created the flag to represent the southern demands of a lesser government with no disregard towards racism. Confederates used the flag’s symbolic meaning to connect their nation as one and to fight together to overcome this battle with the North. As I previously mentioned, our society needs to learn to become more educated when it comes to understanding the Confederate Flag and learn to display it in a proper manner. As a nation we must learn to solve and consider our issues rather than speaking with fault and resorting to violence.

Exploring the Renaissance in England Essay -- British history, european

During the times 1400s and 1500s primarily in Italy, there was an essential change that encompassed all aspects of life. It is called a Renaissance. The word renaissance means rebirth and it was a response to adversities in middle ages. In Western European history Renaissance or rebirth marks a transition between the times of Medieval and modern era. It is also the beginning of the modern history. Religion is a dominant culture in itself and also a set of beliefs that represent the social order but with the beginning of the renaissance, people started to examine the nature, instead of focused on religious issues .The church was not the center of attention anymore. With Renaissance there is a concept accrued which is based on human and their feelings, it is encouraged people to explore and be more creative than it used to be. The English renaissance is a cultural and artistic movement in England from the 16th century to the17th century. Renaissance arrived England long after due to detention of the printing press. Thus, it became an impossible thing to encourage literacy and help to spread new ideas. The other reason of this detention might be linked with the idea that British people give less importance to their language. The changing of religion that is made by the king is the most significant occasion which shows Renaissance officially affected on England. With this variation, religion no longer ruled their lives. Apparently, that is the reason of why Renaissance arrived in England. When we looking at the period as a whole we can easily see that Renaissance embraces a series of differentiation include social, politic and artistic aspects of lives. During the renaissance in England, social life gained numerous advanc... ...ery professional. There was a new sense of fun occurred which was pointed to effect audience. Compared with the previous periods, we see that In Shakespeare’s time subject matters turned into more humanistic interest such as rhetoric logic. Thus, he had a significant effect on expansion of English vocabulary. I would want to conclude this brief essay on life in renaissance to say that, Renaissance became synonymous with the idea of â€Å"rebirth and it reflected the great changes in politics, society and artistic aspects of live. As a matter of fact, Elizabeth era left a remarkable impression that time in England, it came up with today’s world famous authors, artists, architects and composers. It is inevitable to say that Renaissance period in England reminds all people of the most significant moments around the world in terms of cultural and historical movements. Exploring the Renaissance in England Essay -- British history, european During the times 1400s and 1500s primarily in Italy, there was an essential change that encompassed all aspects of life. It is called a Renaissance. The word renaissance means rebirth and it was a response to adversities in middle ages. In Western European history Renaissance or rebirth marks a transition between the times of Medieval and modern era. It is also the beginning of the modern history. Religion is a dominant culture in itself and also a set of beliefs that represent the social order but with the beginning of the renaissance, people started to examine the nature, instead of focused on religious issues .The church was not the center of attention anymore. With Renaissance there is a concept accrued which is based on human and their feelings, it is encouraged people to explore and be more creative than it used to be. The English renaissance is a cultural and artistic movement in England from the 16th century to the17th century. Renaissance arrived England long after due to detention of the printing press. Thus, it became an impossible thing to encourage literacy and help to spread new ideas. The other reason of this detention might be linked with the idea that British people give less importance to their language. The changing of religion that is made by the king is the most significant occasion which shows Renaissance officially affected on England. With this variation, religion no longer ruled their lives. Apparently, that is the reason of why Renaissance arrived in England. When we looking at the period as a whole we can easily see that Renaissance embraces a series of differentiation include social, politic and artistic aspects of lives. During the renaissance in England, social life gained numerous advanc... ...ery professional. There was a new sense of fun occurred which was pointed to effect audience. Compared with the previous periods, we see that In Shakespeare’s time subject matters turned into more humanistic interest such as rhetoric logic. Thus, he had a significant effect on expansion of English vocabulary. I would want to conclude this brief essay on life in renaissance to say that, Renaissance became synonymous with the idea of â€Å"rebirth and it reflected the great changes in politics, society and artistic aspects of live. As a matter of fact, Elizabeth era left a remarkable impression that time in England, it came up with today’s world famous authors, artists, architects and composers. It is inevitable to say that Renaissance period in England reminds all people of the most significant moments around the world in terms of cultural and historical movements.

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 28

They walked right by the weeping door-guards. But very quickly, they discovered that while almost everyone was listening to Lady Fazina, in each room of the palace that was open to the public, a black-clad, white-gloved steward awaited, ready to give out information, and to keep a watchful eye on his lady's possessions. The first room that gave them any kind of hope was Lady Fazina's Hall of Harpery, a room devoted entirely to the display of harps, from ancient, bowlike, single-stringed instruments, undoubtedly played by individuals who were similar to cavedwellers, to tall, gilded, orchestral harps like the one Fazina was now playing, the music audible throughout the palace. Magic, Elena thought again. They seem to use it here instead of technology. â€Å"Each kind of harp has a unique key to tune the strings,† Meredith whispered, looking down the length of the hall. On each side the line of harps marched into the distance. â€Å"One of those keys might be the key.† â€Å"But how will we even know?† Bonnie was fanning herself lightly with her peacock feather fan. â€Å"What's the difference between a harp key and the fox key?† â€Å"I don't know. And I've never heard of a key being kept in a harp, either. It would rattle around the sound box every time the harp shifted slightly,† Meredith admitted. Elena bit her lip. It was such a simple, reasonable question. She should feel dismayed, should be wondering how they could ever find one small half of a key in this place. Especially considering that the clue they had – that it was in the Silver Nightingale's instrument, suddenly seemed absurd. â€Å"I don't suppose,† Bonnie said a little giddily, â€Å"that the instrument is her voice, and that if we reach down her throat†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena turned to look at Meredith, who was looking heavenward – or at whatever was above this hideous dimension. â€Å"I know,† Meredith said. â€Å"No more drinks for birdbrain here. Although I suppose it's possible that they give out little silver whistles or instruments as favors – all big parties used to do that, you know – give you a gift.† â€Å"How,† Damon said in a carefully expressionless tone, â€Å"would they possibly get the key into a favor for a party being given at least weeks away, and how could they ever hope to retrieve it? Misao might as well have told Elena, ‘We threw the key away.'† â€Å"Well,† began Meredith, â€Å"I'm not at all sure that they did mean for the keys to be retrievable, even by them. And Misao could have meant ‘You'd have to search all the garbage from the night of this gala' – or some other party Fazina performed at. I imagine she gets asked to play at a lot of other people's parties, too.† Elena hated bickering, even though she was a champion bickerer herself. But she was a goddess tonight. Nothing was impossible. If only she could remember†¦ Something like white lightning struck her brain. For just an instant – one instant – she was back, struggling with Misao. Misao was in her fox form, biting and scratching – and snarling out a reply to Elena's question about where the two halves of the fox key were. â€Å"As if you would understand the answers I could give. If I told you that one was inside the silver nightingale's instrument, would that give you any kind of idea?† Yes. Those had been the exact words, the real words that Misao had spoken. Elena heard her own voice, repeating the words distinctly now. And then she felt something like an arc of lightning leave her mind – only to meet another's not far away. The next thing she knew her eyes were flying open in surprise because Bonnie was speaking in that blank toneless way she always did when making a prophecy: â€Å"Each half of the fox key is shaped like a single fox, with two ears, two eyes, and a snout. The two fox key halves are gold and covered with gems – and their eyes are green. The key you seek is yet in the Silver Nightingale's instrument.† â€Å"Bonnie!† Elena said. She could see that Bonnie's knees were trembling, her eyes unfocused. Then they opened and Elena watched as confusion surged in to fill the blankness. â€Å"What's going on?† Bonnie said, looking around to see everyone looking at her. â€Å"What – what happened?† â€Å"You told us what the fox keys look like!† Elena couldn't help this exclamation – almost a shout of joy. Now that they knew what they were looking for they could free Stefan; they would free Stefan. Nothing would stop Elena now. Bonnie had just helped move this quest to an entirely different level. But while she was quaking inside with joy at the prophecy, Meredith, in her own level-headed way, was taking care of the prophet. Meredith said quietly, â€Å"She's probably going to faint. Would you please†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith didn't have to ask further, for the vampires, Damon and Sage, were each quick enough to catch and support Bonnie on opposite sides. Damon was staring down at the diminutive girl in surprise. â€Å"Thanks, Meredith,† Bonnie said, and let out a breath, blinking. â€Å"I don't think I'll faint,† she added, and then with a glance up at Damon through her lashes, â€Å"But it's probably just as well to make sure.† Damon nodded and got a better grip, looking serious. Sage turned half away, seeming to have something stuck in his throat. â€Å"What did I say? I don't remember!† And after Elena had solemnly repeated Bonnie's words it was just like Meredith to say, â€Å"You're sure now, Bonnie? Does that sound right?† â€Å"I'm sure. I'm positive,† Elena cut in. She was positive. The Goddess Ishtar and Bonnie had unlocked the past for her and shown her the key. â€Å"All right. What if Bonnie and Sage and I take this room, and two of us can be distracting the steward, while the third looks in the harps for keys?† Meredith suggested. â€Å"Right. Let's do it!† Elena said. Meredith's plan proved to be more difficult in practice than it sounded. Even with two glorious young girls in the room and one terminally fit guy, the steward kept spinning in little circles and catching one or another of them handling and peering into a harp. Naturally, the handling was strictly forbidden. It put the harps further out of tune and it could easily damage them, especially since the only way to make absolutely sure that a small golden key was not in a harp's sound box was to actually shake the harp and listen for rattling. Worse, each of the harps was displayed in its own little nook, complete with dramatic lighting, a flamboyant painted screen behind it (most of them portraits of Fazina playing the harp in question), and a plush red rope across the front of the nook that said â€Å"Keep Out† as plainly as a sign. In the end Bonnie, Meredith, and Sage resorted to having Sage Influence the steward to be entirely passive – something he was only able to do for a few minutes of time, or the steward would notice the gaps in Lady Fazina's program. They would then each frantically search harps while the steward stood like a wax figure. Meanwhile Damon and Elena were wandering the palace, looking through the rest of the mansion that was off-limits to visitors. If they found nothing, they intended to search the more available rooms as the gala continued. It was dangerous work, this stealing in and out of darkened, cordoned-off – often locked – empty rooms: dangerous and strangely thrilling to Elena. Somehow, it seemed that fear and passion were more closely related than she had fully realized. Or at least, it seemed that way with her and Damon. Elena couldn't help noticing and admiring little things about him. He seemed to be able to pick any lock with a single little implement he produced from inside his black jacket, the way other people produce fountain pens, and he had such a swift, graceful way of taking the pick out and putting it back in. Economy of motion, she knew, earned by living for around five centuries. Also, no one could argue it: Damon seemed to keep his head in any situation, which made them a good pair right now when she was striding around like a goddess who could not be bound by the rules of mortals. This was even enhanced by the scares she got: shapes that looked like guards or sentries looming up at her turned out to be a stuffed bear, a slim cupboard, and something Damon didn't allow her more than a glimpse of, but what looked like a mummified human. Damon wasn't fazed by any of them. If I could just channel some more Power to my eyes, Elena thought, and things immediately brightened up. Her Power was obeying her! God! I'll have to wear this dress for the rest of my life: it makes me feel so†¦powerful. So†¦unashamed. I'll have to wear it to college, if I ever get to college, to impress my professors; and to Stefan's and my wedding – just so people understand I'm not a slut; and – to the beach, just to give the guys something to ogle†¦ She stifled a giggle and was surprised to see Damon glance with mock reproach at her. Of course, he was as closely focused on her as she was on him. But it was a slightly different case, of course, because, to his eyes, she wore a big label with STRAWBERRY JAM written on it, tied around her neck. And he was getting hungry again. Very hungry. Next time I'm going to see that you eat properly before you go out, she thought at him. Let's worry about succeeding this time before we start planning for next time, he returned, with just the faintest firefly hint of his 250-kilowatt smile. But it was all mixed in, of course, with a little of the sardonic triumph that Damon always carried with him. Elena swore to herself that laugh at her as he might, beg her as he might, threaten or cajole as he might, she wouldn't give Damon the satisfaction of even one nip tonight. He could just pop the top off another jam pot, she thought. Eventually, the sweet music of the concert was stilled and Elena and Damon dashed back to meet with Bonnie, Meredith, and Sage in the Harpery Hall. Elena could have guessed the news by Bonnie's stance, even if she hadn't already known from Sage's silence. But the news was worse than Elena could have imagined: not only had the three found nothing in the Harpery Hall, but they had finally resorted to quizzing the steward, who could speak, if not move, under Sage's Influence. â€Å"And guess what he told us,† Bonnie said, and added before anyone could venture a word, â€Å"Those harps are each cleaned and tuned every single day. Fazina has, like, a whole army of servants for them. And anything, anything that didn't belong to a harp would be reported at once. And nothing has been! It just isn't there!† Elena felt herself shrink from omniscient goddess to baffled human. â€Å"I was worried it would be like this,† she admitted, sighing. â€Å"It would have been just too easy the other way. All right, Plan B. You mingle with the gala guests, trying to get a look at each room that's open to the public. Try to dazzle Fazina's consort and pump him for information. See if Misao and Shinichi have been here recently. Damon and I will keep looking in the rooms that are supposed to be closed off.† â€Å"That's so dangerous,† Meredith said, frowning. â€Å"I'm afraid of what the penalty might be if you're caught.† â€Å"I'm afraid of what the penalty might be to Stefan if we don't find this key tonight,† Elena retorted shortly, and turned on her heel, leaving. Damon followed her. They searched endless darkened rooms, now not even knowing whether they were looking for a harp or something else. First Damon would check if there were a breathing body inside the room (there might be a vampire guard, of course, but there wasn't much to do about that), then he picked the lock. Things were working seamlessly until they reached a room at the end of a long hall facing west – Elena had long since gotten lost in the palace, but she could unerringly tell west, because it was where the bloated sun hung. Damon had picked the lock of this room and Elena had originally started forward eagerly. She searched the room, which contained, frustratingly, a silver-framed picture of a harp, but with nothing as bulky as the half of the fox key inside it, even when she had carefully used Damon's lock pick to unscrew the backing. It was while she was placing this picture back on the wall that they both heard the thump. Elena winced, praying that none of the black-suited â€Å"security servants† who roamed the palace had heard the noise. Damon quickly put a hand over her mouth and dialed the gaslight knob into darkness. But they both could hear it now†¦footsteps approaching from outside in the hallway. Someone had heard the thump. The footsteps stopped outside the door and there was the distinct sound of an upper servant's discreet cough. Elena whirled, feeling in that moment as if Wings of Redemption were within her reach. It would only require the slightest rise in adrenaline and she would have the security worker on his or her knees, sobbing in the penitence of a lifetime's work at evil. Elena and Damon would be gone before – But Damon had another idea, and Elena was startled into going along with it. When the door opened silently a moment later, the steward found a couple locked in such a tight embrace that they seemed not even to notice the intrusion. Elena could practically feel his indignation. The desire of a couple of guests to discreetly embrace in the privacy of Lady Fazina's many public rooms was understandable, but this was part of the private household. As he turned the lights up, Elena peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. Her psychic senses were open enough to catch his thoughts. He was going over the valuables in the room with an experienced but bored gaze. The exquisite miniature vase with the trailing roses picked out in rubies and emerald-encrusted vines; the magically preserved 5,000-year-old wooden Sumerian lyre; the twin pair of solid gold candlesticks in the shape of rearing dragons; the Egyptian funerary mask with its dark, elongated eyeholes seeming to watch out of its brilliantly painted features†¦all were here. It wasn't even as if her ladyship kept anything of great value here, but still, â€Å"This room is not part of the public display,† he told Damon, who merely clasped Elena closer. Yes, Damon seemed very determined to put on a good show for the steward†¦or something like that. But hadn't they already†¦done so? Elena's thoughts were losing coherency. The last thing†¦the very last thing that they could afford†¦was to†¦lose the chance of†¦finding the fox key. Elena started to pull away, and then realized that she mustn't. Mustn't. Not couldn't. She was property, expensive property to be sure, decked out the way she was tonight, but Damon's to dispose of as he chose. While someone else was looking on, she must not seem to disobey her master's wishes. Still, Damon was taking this too far†¦farther than he had ever taken liberties with her, although, she thought wryly, he didn't know that. He was caressing the skin left unprotected by the ivory goddess dress, her arms, her back, even her hair. He knew how she liked that, how she could somehow feel it when her hair was held and the ends caressed softly or gently crushed in a fist. Damon! She was down to the last resort now: pleading. Damon, if they detain us, or do anything to us that keeps us from finding the key tonight – when will we have another chance?†¦She let him feel her desperation, her guilt, even the treacherous desire she had to forget everything and let each minute carry her further on this wave of ardor that he had created. Damon, I'll†¦say it if you want. I'm†¦begging you. Elena could feel her eyes prickling as tears flooded them. No tears. Elena heard Damon's telepathic voice gratefully. There was something strange about it, though. It couldn't be starvation – he'd had her blood not much more than two hours ago. And it wasn't passion, for she could hear – and sense – that, all too clearly. Yet Damon's telepathic voice was so taut with control that it almost frightened her. More, she knew he could feel that it frightened her and that he chose to do nothing about it. No explanation. No exploration, either, she realized as she found that behind the control, his mind was entirely shut to her. The only thing she could liken the feeling that she got from his steely control was pain. Pain that was just on the edge of the endurable. But from what? Elena wondered helplessly. What could cause him pain like that? Elena couldn't waste their time on wondering what was wrong with Damon. She turned up the Power of her own hearing and began to listen at the doors before they entered. It was while she was listening that suddenly a new idea solidified in Elena's mind, and she stopped Damon in a pitch-dark hallway and tried to explain to him what kind of room she was looking for. What, in modern days, would be called a â€Å"home office.† Damon, familiar with the architecture of great mansions, took her, after only a few false starts, into what was clearly a lady's writing room. Elena's eyes were by now as keen as his in the dimness as they searched by the light of a single candle. While Elena was being frustrated after searching a remarkable desk with pigeonholes for secret drawers, and not finding any, Damon was checking the hallway. â€Å"I hear someone outside,† he said. â€Å"I think it's time to leave now.† But Elena was still looking. And – as her eyes raced across the room – she saw a small writing desk with an old-fashioned chair and an assortment of various pens, from ancient to modern, flaunting themselves from elaborate holders. â€Å"Let's go while it's still clear,† Damon murmured impatiently. â€Å"Yes,† Elena said distractedly. â€Å"All right†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And then she saw. Without an instant's hesitation she strode across the room to the desk and picked up a pen with a brilliant silver plume. It wasn't a genuine quill pen, of course; it was a fountain pen made to look elegant and old-fashioned – with a plume. The pen itself was curved to fit her hand, and the wood felt warm. â€Å"Elena, I don't feel very†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Damon, shhh,† Elena said, ignoring him, too absorbed in what she was doing to really hear. First: try to write. No go. Something was blocking the cartridge. Second: unscrew the fountain-pen carefully, as if to refill its cartridge, while all the time her heart was clamoring in her ears and her hands were shaking. Keep moving slowly†¦don't miss anything†¦for God's sake don't let anything fall away and bounce in this dimness. The two parts of the pen parted in her hand†¦ †¦and onto the dark green desk pad fell a small, heavy, curved piece of metal. It had just fit inside the widest part of the pen. She had it in her hand and was reassembling the pen before she could get a good look at it. But then†¦she had to open her hand and see. The small crescent-shaped object dazzled her eyes in the light, but it was just like the description Bonnie had given Elena and Meredith. A tiny representation of a fox with a nominal body and a jewel-encrusted head that sported two flat ears. The eyes were two sparkling green stones. Emeralds? â€Å"Alexandrite,† Damon said in a bedroom whisper. â€Å"Folklore has it that they change color in candlelight or firelight. They reflect the flame.† Elena, who had been leaning back against him, recalled with a chill the way Damon's eyes had reflected flame when he had been possessed: the bloodred flame of the malach – of Shinichi's cruelty. â€Å"So,† Damon demanded, â€Å"how did you do it?† â€Å"This is really one of the two pieces of the fox key?† â€Å"Well, it's hardly something that belongs in a fountain pen. Maybe it's a Crackerjack prize. But you went right to it the moment we entered the room. Even vampires need time to think, my precious princess.† Elena shrugged. â€Å"It's too easy, actually. When it was clear that all those harp keys were no goes, I asked myself what else was an instrument that you'd find in someone's house. A pen is a writing instrument. Then I just had to find out whether Lady Fazina had a study or writing room.† Damon let out a breath. â€Å"Hell's demons, you little innocent. You know what I've been looking for? Trap doors. Secret entries to dungeons. The only other instrument I could think of was an ‘instrument of torture' and you'd be surprised at how many of them you'll find in this fair city.† â€Å"But not in her house – !† Elena's voice rose dangerously, and they were both silent a moment to make up for it, listening, on tenterhooks, for any sound from the hallway. There was none. Elena let out her breath. â€Å"Quick! Where, where will it be safe?† She was realizing that the one fault of the goddess dress was that there was absolutely no place to hide anything. She'd have to speak to Lady Ulma about that for next time. â€Å"Down, down in the pocket of my jeans,† Damon said, seeming to be as urgent and shaking as badly as she was. When he had jammed it deep into the recesses of his black Armani jeans he caught her by both hands. â€Å"Elena! Do you realize? We've done it. We've actually done it!† â€Å"I know!† Tears were leaking out of Elena's eyes and all of Lady Fazina's music seemed to be swelling in one great, perfect chord. â€Å"We did it together!† And then somehow – like all the other â€Å"somehows† that were getting to be a habit with them, Elena was in Damon's arms, sliding her own arms under his jacket to feel his warmth, his solidity. She wasn't surprised, either, to feel a double piercing at her throat when she dropped her head back: her lovely panther was really only a little tamed, and needed to learn a few basics of dating etiquette; such as you kiss before you bite. He had said he was hungry earlier, she remembered, and she had ignored him, too enthralled by the silver pen to put the words together. But she put them together now, and understood – except why he seemed to be so exceptionally hungry tonight. Maybe even†¦excessively hungry. Damon, she thought gently, you're taking a lot. She could feel no response but the raw hunger of the panther. Damon, this could be dangerous†¦for me. This time Elena put as much Power as she could into the words she sent. Still no response from Damon, but she was floating now, down into darkness. And that gave her the vague thread of an idea. Where are you? Are you here? she called, picturing the little boy. And then she saw him, chained to his boulder, curled up in a ball, with his fists covering his eyes. What's wrong? Elena asked immediately, floating near to him, concerned. He's hurting! He's hurting! Are you hurt? Show me, Elena said instantly. No! He's hurting you. He could kill you! Husshh. Husshhh. She tried to cradle him. We have to make him hear us! All right, Elena said. She really was feeling odd and weak. But she turned, along with the child, and cried voicelessly: Damon! Please! Elena says stop! And a miracle happened. Both she and the child could feel it. The little sting of fangs being withdrawn. The stop of energy flow from Elena to Damon. And then, ironically, the miracle began to take her away from the child, with whom she really wanted to speak. No! Wait! she tried to tell Damon, clinging to the child's hands as hard as she could, but she was being catapulted back to consciousness as if by a hurricane. The darkness faded. In its place was a room, too bright, its one candle blazing like a police searchlight aimed directly at her. She shut her eyes and felt the warmth and heaviness of the corporeal Damon in her arms. â€Å"I'm sorry! Elena, can you speak? I didn't realize how much – † There was something wrong with Damon's voice. Then she understood. Damon's fangs were unretracted. Wha – ? Everything was wrong. They'd been so happy, but – but now her right arm felt wet. Elena pulled away from Damon entirely, staring at her arms, which were red and with something that wasn't paint. She was still too worked up to ask questions properly. She slipped behind Damon and pulled his black leather jacket off him. In the brilliant light she could see his black silk shirt marred by line after line of dried, partially dried, or just plain wet blood. â€Å"Damon!† Her first reaction was horror without a touch of guilt or understanding. â€Å"What happened? Did you get in a fight? Damon, tell me!† And then something in her mind presented her with a number. Since she had been a child, she had been able to count. In fact. she'd learned to count to ten before her first birthday. Therefore, she'd had seventeen full years of learning to count the number of irregular, deep, still-bleeding cuts in Damon's back. Ten. Elena looked down at her own bloody arms and at the goddess dress, which was now the horror dress because its pure milky whiteness was marred with brilliant red. Red that should have been her blood. Red that must have felt like sword slashes into Damon's back as he channeled the pain and the marks of the Night of her Discipline from her to him. And he carried me all the way home. The thought came swimming in from nowhere. Without a word about it. I would never have known†¦. And he still hasn't healed. Will he ever heal? That was when she started screaming on all frequencies.

Child Rearing Practices

Every aspect of one’s life has a distinct effect on his well being. This aspect can possibly be from emotional, environmental, physical, to social aspects of life. Family is connected and a part of each aspect, hence why the family can never be excluded in everyone’s life. Looking more into the influences of the smallest unit of the society, there are many factors that contribute to the impact brought by this agent that seeks for attention. One of these factors that affect an individual’s personality is the way his parents raise him up.Parenting in the early years is an exciting but challenging time, it is never an easy task. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship, it dwells on how a parent or a guardian in some cases brought up a child providing his needs, ensuring safety, disciplining, showing love and affection. Parenting in simple words is guiding and supporting your child into an outstanding life until he is old and capable enough to do it by himself. How is Parenting Usually Occurs Nowadays in Terms of Disciplinary Strategies?The rapid phase of time is slowly changing the customary and conservative practices of raising a child inside a Filipino family. Base from what the elders often told the youngsters, the way of upbringing they had experienced during their childhood into adulthood life was a thousand times strict compare to what the generation as of today undergo. Looking back to the time of our grandparents, the way their own parents raise them was too old-fashioned and superstitious. According to some old folks their parents usually have set rules that once a single one is broken will immediately result to a punishment for them to learn from and remember.An old lady said that in their household her father used to set a rule that requires every member of the family particularly the children will have to do their designated chores, and if forgotten or neglected they will receive fi ve to ten times hit on their hands using a very thin stick. Since there is no law against such action back that time, it was a norm to have rules with assigned punishments in a regular Filipino threshold. At the present day, laws against violence are widely implemented rendering people to cause physical pain or assault.From each respondent of the parenting interview conducted, there are still rules being enforced in every household. Only that these rules are what can be called fundamental or basic rules such as asking permission before leaving, attending to their household task (if they have), the usual sleeping and curfew time for the younger children, prioritizing studies all the time, etc. According to a grandfather whom stands as a guardian to his daughter’s children, these kind of rules have to be enforced to ensure their safety, health, and also as an opportunity to train the younger children on following rules.However, when asked to rate themselves on a scale of one to ten of how strict they are towards their children (ten being very strict), majority of the respondents appear to be lax to their children giving five, six and seven as the highest rate. They claimed that they don’t have to be very strict towards their kids because they already know what the consequences are awaiting for them and simply because adults pose as a good example to them.In relation with the strictness of parents, the rules, and the suitable punishments, parents were asked how they discipline their children once they commit a mistake or break a rule. A working parent and mother of two teenage boys said that if a mistake was committed, she usually ask them to sit, explain what was wrong of their action, lecturing them why is it inappropriate and should be avoided and last, remind them to never do it again. Majority of the parents said that; â€Å"pinapagalitan sa una at saka pagsasabihan† are what they often do to handle their children’s misbehaviours and discipline them.While some says that it takes a little threatening of taking away things like cell phone or reducing allowance for them to think twice before repeating the same mistake. Spanking Some parents claimed that although they strongly disagree of spanking or any other cause of physical pain as a method of discipline, there are times where physical act cannot be avoided because of several reasons. For instance is during times where in the parent worries to much about the safety of his child due to leaving without permission, resulting to releasing anger through spanking.A widow said that; â€Å"minsan talaga hindi rin maiiwasan na makasakit ka (e. g. kurot) dahil hindi makontrol ang emosyon mo gaya sa mga panahon na marami kang iniisip o problema tapos nadagdagan pa ng pag-aalala sa anak mo†. Although some physical act cannot be avoided sometimes, parents do not recommend this type of disciplinary method and as much as possible according to them should be avoided because it will only bring trauma, fear, and might drive the child into violence.Child- Rearing Practices for Warmth and Nurturance All dimensions of maternal and paternal nurturing and involvement were positively related to positive characteristics of peer relationships, self-esteem and life satisfaction (Rohner, Khalique, & Cournoyer, 2005). Through nurturance of parents, children develops a sense of security that enables them to grow up with confidence and which serves as their foundation in life.

Surefire Tactics to Meet Girls in College

Surefire Tactics to Meet Girls in College High school is over and its time to matriculate in more ways than one. With the passing of a momentous occasion in your life you now find yourself poised and prepared to head off to college where, among the homework, study sessions, pizza, and parties, you will have the chance to meet what you have been dreaming of for your entire high school life College Girls! While you may have been a maverick at the school you were just at, you might find that girls in college arent as impressed by your achievements as your previous interests might have been. For some, meeting new people in a new environment can put knock you off of your game and make others retreat to the sidelines completely to avoid the ever so brutal rejection shots. For others, meeting people was never their forte, and at a time when hormones are high and the urge to experiment is even higher, meeting girls in college can seem like an insurmountable task. But it doesnt have to be! Girls in college, like every other human being, ARE PEOPLE! And because they are people, you can do typical people things to meet, chat, and evenwait for itgo on dates with them! It doesnt matter if you are: Shy Quiet Nervous Inexperienced Have a Fear of Rejection You can learn to push through the fear, worry, stress, and over excitement with The Best Guide To Meeting Girls In College! Common Sense Knowledge First and foremost, we want to point out that while meeting girls in college requires talking, it ALSO requires listening. Consent is REAL. If someone doesnt want to talk to you, dont shame, blame, or harass them. We all have our own lives going on and right now, for her, life has you two moving in different sequences. Respect that and move on to the next girlunless she isnt interestedthenrespect her right to consent and keep looking until you have found someone who values their time and yours. Secondly, there are a few things that you are just going to have (or do) to meet girls in college. It isnt anything you havent heard but we will cover it with a quick list in case you need a refresher: Be Polite Be Confident Be Authentic Be Noticeable Be Precise Manage Your Appearance Make Eye Contact (We will go deeper into this later) While we cant tell you how to be some of these things, we can tell you some tips for using your natural talents to meet college girls! Meeting College Girls in Social Scenarios Parties The most well-known scenario for meeting girls is the college party. Notorious for being wild, loud, and a fantastic gathering of (what is for tonight) the most amazing girls you have ever seen. And after soaking up the vibes of everything going on around you, you want to talk to one of those college girls now. But what do you do? Approach her? Wait for her to approach you? Talk to one of her friends first? Do something stupid? Maybe Dangerous? The answer is simple. Pay attention to the situation around you and work your environment to your benefit! If there is a game she is playing, go over and play. If she is talking with a group of her friends, invite them all to join in on a party activity. If she is alone in a corner not talking to anyone, maybe check to see if she needs anything. Maybe she has been waiting for someone to talk to her all night. If you can juggle, just start juggling, girls will notice and they will come over. The trick is to add to the situation not diminish it. Avoid overt gestures that single a girl out or ruin the vibe of the party. If you arent sure whether your plan to meet a college girl is something that is going to create unforeseen negative consequences ask a friend. Be confident and loosen up a bit. You are at a party for goodness sake! Sports Games Organized Activities Meeting girls at a college sports game is very similar to meeting college girls at parties except you have the benefit of already having an icebreaker to lead with. The score of the game. While it may not be the most creative line on the planet, it breaks the ice for the conversation to continue. For example: Dude: â€Å"Hey, do you happen to know the score of the game?† College Female: â€Å"Ummm I dont know, but I think we are winning? I dont really follow sports, just came to support my friend.† Dude: â€Å"Oh cool, is your friend playing?† College Female: â€Å"No, they are in the marching band.† Dude: â€Å"Right on. Are you into music as well? I am Dude by the way, and you?† College Girl: â€Å"I am College Girl. Yeah, I like music! I play an instrument myself† As you can see here, with a simple question related to what is already happening, you can start, build, and continue a conversation with an actual college girl! If you are someone who never knows what to say, meeting college girls at sports games or other organized campus activities is probably a really good option for you. It is a singular and focused event that sets up every opening line for you. Meeting College Girls in Low Key Scenarios The Library For a lot of students, the library is one of two places: a place to get work done, or a place to blow off work and look for ways to procrastinate while looking like you are getting work done. If partying isnt your thing and you prefer to meet a college girl in a setting that has a bit less chaos to it then the library is the perfect spot! Talking to a girl in a library can be tricky because, as we stated earlier, people are there for a purpose and dont necessarily want to be disgraced. Our advice is to make sure that you are not perceived as a distraction. This includes: Comment on a book that she is reading/holding Reach for something that she needs that is out of her reach Find common ground by complaining about the paper you are writing Ask if she knows where the ::insert category:: section is. (Doesnt matter if you even need it) At a library, people are focused on the task in front of them. While you might not be able to pull them away from it completely, you can at least do your part with a nice gesture, a curious request, or a mutual dislike for the current days work. No matter how you do it one fact remains: You will be talking to and meeting more girls in college this way than by hiding in the stacks desperate for that girl to come and talk to you. On campus Sometimes you just see a girl walking out of class or around campus and you think, I want to meet that girl! Bogged down by nerves, fear, or a combination of the two you pass and let her go just as you have done any other day. If you see a college girl walking around and you want to meet her, there are a few things you can do to make that scenario go a lot smoother: Have something that you want to say Make sure that whatever you say isnt rude, shaming, or â€Å"negging† Make eye contact. But also blink. But not too much. Staring creeps everyone out. And not looking at someone makes them feel unimportant. Both things that wont help you meet girls in college A good opener for this type of meeting could be: â€Å"Hey, I have seen you around campus a few times and always notice your backpack. It is really cool. Where did you get it?† A line like that is simple, non-threatening, and leads to follow up answers and questions. Those answers and questions could provide the foundation for getting a phone number, making a date, hanging out, studying together, etc. Things to Never Worry About We know that as you have been reading this there have probably been a series of what ifs and buts and I just couldnt running through your mind. We want you to add the following frames of thought to your own as a way of reminding you that you are not alone: Yes. Rejection is real and it hurts. But there are other fish in the sea. You will probably make an ass of yourself in an attempt to meet a girl in college. If it works who cares? No girl is out of your league. You need to get in the game. Funny matters. A lot. Sensitivity Matters. A lot. Your body type is not indicative of the person you are on the inside. You can make someone happy if you first learn to make yourself happy. The Takeaway College is a melting pot of people, interests, and ideas. College girls are part of that pot and if you want to meet them, you need to first find the confidence to talk to them. Once the first few words are out, it is easy to build a dialogue, learn about mutual interests, throw in a charming compliment or two, and seal the deal whatever your intentions may be. By the way, do you know these 10 things about dating a college classmate? Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to body type, personality, and characteristics. While you may not be one college girls specific type, it doesnt mean that there arent a million other college girls out there who would really like to get the chance to meet you. So, take a shower, brush your teeth, put on something that makes you look approachable, and go start meeting girls in college!