Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 free essay sample

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Script (Hogwarts is encircled by Dementors †Snape is remaining at one of the doors in to Hogwarts †Hogwarts understudies are being walked In lines †Snape is watching them. Harry has made Dobby a grave that says here falsehoods dobby a free mythical being †Ron and Hermione are perched on seats in shell house while Luna is playing with the Wind toll) Luna: It’s delightful here. Charge: It was our aunties, we used to come here as children the request use it now as a sheltered house what’s left of us at any rate. Luna: Muggles think these fend abhorrent off, however there wrong Harry strolls Towards Bill, Fleur and Luna) Harry: I have to converse with the Goblin (Bill drives them into Griphook’s Room) Harry: How right? Griphook: Alive Harry: That’s great Griphook: You covered the mythical person Harry: yes Griphook: And brought me here you are an unordinary wizard. How could you stop by this blade? Harry: It’s confounded. For what reason did Bellatrix Lestrange figure it ought to be in her vault at Gringotts? Griphook: It’s convoluted Harry: The blade introduced itself to us in a snapshot of need we didn’t take it Griphook: There is a sword in Madam Lestrange’s Vault yet I don’t think it is this one it is a phony. It was put there this late spring. Harry: And she never presumed it was a phony Griphook: An imitation is exceptionally persuading just a troll would remember it this is the genuine blade of Gryffindor Hermione: Who’s the colleague? Griphook: A Hogwarts teacher as I comprehend it he is presently superintendent Ron: Snape. He put a phony blade in Bellatrix’s vault. Why? Griphook: There are increasingly hardly any inquisitive things in the vaults at Gringotts Harry: And in madam Lestrange’s vault too Griphook: Perhaps Harry: I have to get into Gringotts into one of the vaults Griphook: It is outlandish Harry: Alone yes yet with you no Griphook: Why would it be advisable for me to support you? Harry: I have gold bunches of it Griphook: I have no enthusiasm for gold Harry: Then what Griphook: That (Points to blade of Gryffindor) that is my value (They Step Out of Griphook’s room) Hermione: Are you imagining that there’s a horcrux in Bellatrix’s vault Harry: Well she was frightened when she thought we’d been in there she continued asking what else we’d taken I wager you anything that there’s another horcrux in there another bit of his spirit let’s discover it and slaughter it and afterward where one bit nearer to executing him Ron: And what happens when we discover it how are we expected to devastate it bare with the sword and Griphook. Harry: I’m as yet taking a shot at that part Fleur: His frail Harry: Mr Ollivander I have to ask you a couple of inquiries Mr Ollivander: Anything my kid anything Harry: Would you mind distinguishing this wand we have to know whether it’s safe to utilize (Harry gives Mr Ollivander a wand) Mr Ollivander: Walnut monster heartstring 12 and 3 quarter inches unel unelding this had a place with bellatrix Lestrange treat it cautiously. (Harry takes Bellatrix’s wand and gives Mr Ollivander another wand) Mr Ollivander: Horthorn unicorn hair 10 inches sensibly flexible this was the wand of Draco Malfoy Harry: Was. Is it not still Mr Ollivander: Well maybe not in the event that you won it from him I sense it devotion has changed Harry: You talk about wands as though they have emotions can think Mr Ollivander: The wand picks the wizard Mr. Potter that much has consistently been obvious to us who have contemplated wandlore Harry: And what do you think about the dreadful honors Mr Ollivander: It is supposed there are three the senior wand the shroud of imperceptibility to conceal you from your adversaries and the revival stone to bring back friends and family from the dead together they make one the ace of death yet few really accept that such items exist Harry: Do you do you accept they exist sir Mr Ollivander: Well I see no motivation to place distinct into an old spouses story Harry: You’re lying. you know one exists you educated him concerning it you informed him regarding the senior wand and where he could go searching for it Mr Ollivander: He tormented me other than just passed on bits of gossip there’s no telling whether he will discover it Harry: He has discovered it sir we’ll let you rest Mr Ollivander: He’s after you Mr. Potter if it’s genuine what you state and he has the senior wand I’m apprehensive you truly don’t have a potential for success Harry: Well I’ll assume we need to murder him before he discovers me Ron: Are you certain that’s hers Hermione: Positive (Hermione has utilized Polyjuice elixir to change into Bellatrix) Hermione: Well how would I look? Ron: Hideous Harry: you can offer that to Hermione to hold okay (Griphook puts the blade of Gryffindor into Hermione’s beaded pack †Harry, Ron and Hermione set up their hands †Griphook puts his hand on top) Harry: We’re depending on you Griphook. In the event that you get us past the gatekeepers to enter the vault. The blades yours (Harry, Ron, Hermione and Griphook Disaparate to Diagon Alley †Bellatrix strolls up the means) Death Eater: Madam Lestrange Hermione: Good morning Griphook: Good Morning Good Morning? your Bellatrix Lestrange not some dewy-looked at school young lady Ron: Hey simple Griphook: If she parts with us we should utilize the blade to cut our own throats comprehend Hermione: no he’s right I was being moronic Harry: alright. Let’s do it at that point (Harry Bends down so Griphook can go on his shoulder Ron puts the shroud of imperceptibility on them †they enter Gringotts) Hermione: ehe I wish to enter my Vault Goblin: Identification Hermione: I scarcely feel that will be vital Goblin: Madam Lestrange Hermione: I don’t like to be continued pausing Griphook: They realize they know she’s a fraud they’ve been cautioned (Gringotts monitor is strolling towards them) Ron: Harry what do we do Harry Goblin: Madam Lestrange would you mind introducing your wand Hermione: And for what reason should I do that Bogrod: It’s the bank’s strategy I’m sure you comprehend given the current customer Hermione: no I definitely don't comprehend Bogrod: I’m apprehensive I should demand. Very well Madam Lestrange If you will tail me (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook and the Goblin go to the Lestrange Vault through an enchantment Cart †They see a cascade) Harry: What is that Griphook Griphook? (They get sprinkled in the water and the enchantment truck kicked of their seat and they tumble down around 20 meters shouting) Hermione: Alecto force! Harry: Well done Hermione Oh no you appear as though you again Griphook: The thief’s ruin washes away all charms can be fatal Ron: You don’t state simply out of intrigue is there some other way out of here Griphook: No Bogrod: What the demon are everything you doing down here. Cheats. you surrendered the Ron: Imperio. (They hear a winged serpent shout) Ron: That doesn’t sound great They stroll to the Lestrange’s Vault and go over a mythical beast) Ron: Bloody damnation that’s the Ukrainian Ironbelly Griphook: here (Passes Ron a Clanker Griphook strolls over to the monster and starts shaking the Clankers with Ron) Griphook: it’s been prepared to expect torment when it hears that commotion Hermione: that’s Barbaric (They keep strolling to The Lestrange’s Vault and Griphoo k puts Bogrod’s Hand on the entryway to open the Vault †They enter the Vault which is Dark inside they see treasure wherever †Harry puts a light on his wand) Harry: Lumos Harry, Ron and Hermione begin checking out Ron: Blimey Hermione: accio Horcrux Ron: you’re genuinely not attempting that one again right? Griphook: that sort of enchantment won’t work here Ron Weasley: Is it in here, Harry? Would you be able to feel anything? (Harry admires where he can hear parseltongue †He sees Helga Huffelpuff’s cup †Hermione thumps something over and it increases) Harry: [Seeing Helga Huffelpuffs cup] that’s it, up there! (Ron thumps things over and it increases) Griphook: Flagrante and Geminio each think you contact will duplicate Harry: Give me the blade Hermione Throws Harry the Sword) Harry is scaling and everything is increasing by twenty and he is getting canvassed in Treasure Hermione: (to Ron) quit moving (Harry keeps climbing and is getting the Cup by methods for the sword †Ron and Hermione look frightened on the grounds that there is no fortune increasing †yet Harry comes out of the Treasure with the sword and Helga Huffelpuff’s cup) Harry: Got it (The cup flies out of his hand and Griphook gets it and doesn’t give it Harry) Harry: We had an arrangement Griphook: the cup for the sword! Harry gives Griphook the blade and Griphook tosses the cup to Hermione who gets it) Griphook: I said I’d get you in. I didn’t say anything regarding getting you out (Griphook utilizes Bogrod’s hand to escape the vault †Harry, Ron and Hermione are battling against the increasing fortune) Griphook: Thieves Harry: Griphook: hoodlums Ron: that old git at any rate we’ve still got Bogrod Most appalling (The Gringotts monitors beginning tossing spells at Ron, Hermione and Harry) Hermione: We cant simply remain here. Whos got a thought? Ron: Youre the splendid one! Hermione: I’ve got something however it’s distraught Reducto (Hermione runs and bounces on the Dragon) Hermione: Well gone ahead at that point! (Harry and Ron hop on the monster too) Hermione: Relashio (The mythical serpent fires ascending the divider †the trolls at the passage are working quietly when the light fixture is shaking and out of nowhere the winged serpent comes out of the floor and crashes the spot and breaks out of Gringotts) Ron: Now What Hermione: Reducto Harry: Hold on Ron: That was Brilliant. Totally Brilliant Harry: We’re dropping Ron: I state we bounce Hermione: When Harry: NOW! (Harry, Ron and Hermione hop off

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Common Muslim and Arab Stereotypes in TV and Film

Normal Muslim and Arab Stereotypes in TV and Film Indeed, even before the 9/11 fear monger assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Arab-Americans, Middle Easterners, and Muslims confronted clearing social and strict generalizations. Hollywood movies and TV programs as often as possible delineated Arabs as miscreants, if not through and through psychological oppressors, and sexist beasts with in reverse and strange traditions. Hollywood has to a great extent depicted Arabs as Muslims, ignoring the huge number of Christian Arabs in the United States and the Middle East. The media’s racial generalizing of Middle Eastern individuals has supposedly delivered terrible results, including abhor wrongdoings, racial profiling, separation, and tormenting. Middle Easterners in the Desert At the point when Coca-Cola appeared a business during Super Bowl 2013 highlighting Arabs riding camels in the desert, Arab-American gatherings werent satisfied. This portrayal is to a great extent obsolete, much like Hollywood’s basic depiction of Native Americans as individuals in undergarments and war paint going through the fields. Camels and the desert can be found in the Middle East, yet this depiction has gotten cliché. In the Coca-Cola business, Arabs show up in reverse as they contend with Vegas showgirls and cattle rustlers utilizing progressively helpful types of transportation to arrive at a monster container of Coke in the desert. â€Å"Why is it that Arabs are constantly appeared as either oil-rich sheiks, psychological oppressors, or stomach dancers?† asked Warren David, leader of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, during a Reuters meet about the business. Bedouins as Villains and Terrorists There is no deficiency of Arab lowlifess and fear based oppressors in Hollywood movies and TV programs. At the point when the blockbuster â€Å"True Lies† appeared in 1994, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a covert agent for a mystery government organization, Arab-American backing bunches arranged fights in significant urban communities, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, on the grounds that the film highlighted an anecdotal psychological militant gathering called the â€Å"Crimson Jihad,† whose individuals, Arab-Americans whined, were depicted as one-dimensionally vile and against American. Ibrahim Hooper, at that point a representative for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, disclosed to The New York Times: â€Å"There is no reasonable inspiration for their planting atomic weapons. They are nonsensical, have a serious contempt for everything American, and that’s the generalization you have for Muslims.† Middle Easterners as Barbaric At the point when Disney discharged its 1992 film â€Å"Aladdin,† Arab-American gatherings voiced shock over the delineation of Arab characters. In the principal minute, for instance, the signature melody pronounced that Aladdin hailed â€Å"from a faraway spot, where the band camels meander, where they remove your ear on the off chance that they don’t like your face. Its boorish, yet hello, it’s home.† Disney changed the verses in the home video discharge after Arab-American gatherings shot the first as cliché. Be that as it may, the tune wasn’t the main issue support bunches had with the film. There was likewise a scene in which an Arab shipper proposed to hack off the hand of a lady for taking nourishment for her destitute youngster. Middle Easterner American gatherings additionally disagreed with the rendering of Middle Easterners in the film; many were drawn â€Å"with tremendous noses and evil eyes,† The Seattle Times noted in 1993. Charles E. Butterworth, at that point a meeting educator of Middle East governmental issues at Harvard University, revealed to The Times that Westerners have generalized Arabs as uncouth since the Crusades. â€Å"These are the awful individuals who caught Jerusalem and who must be tossed out of the Holy City,† he stated, including that the generalization saturated Western culture over hundreds of years and is found in Shakespeares works. Bedouin Women: Veils, Hijabs, and Belly Dancers Hollywood additionally has spoken to Arab ladies barely. For quite a long time, ladies of Middle Eastern plunge have been depicted as sparsely clad midsection artists and array of mistresses young ladies or as quiet ladies covered in cloak, like how Hollywood has depicted Native American ladies as Indian princesses or squaws. The tummy artist and hidden female sexualize Arab ladies, as per the site Arab Stereotypes: â€Å"Veiled ladies and paunch artists are two of a kind. From one viewpoint, tummy artists code Arab culture as intriguing and explicitly accessible. ... Then again, the cloak has figured both as a site of interest and as a definitive image of oppression.† Movies, for example, Aladdin (2019), â€Å"Arabian Nights† (1942), and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944) are among a large group of motion pictures highlighting Arab ladies as hidden artists. Middle Easterners as Muslims and Foreigners The media almost consistently depict Arabs and Arab-Americans as Muslims, albeit most Arab-Americans recognize as Christian and only 12 percent of the world’s Muslims are Arabs, as per PBS. Notwithstanding being sweepingly distinguished as Muslims in film and TV, Arabs are frequently introduced as outsiders. The 2000 evaluation (the most recent for which information on the Arab-American populace is accessible) discovered that about portion of Arab-Americans were conceived in the U.S. what's more, 75 percent communicate in English well, however Hollywood more than once depicts Arabs as vigorously complemented outsiders with unusual traditions. When not psychological oppressors, Arab characters in movies and TV frequently are oil sheiks. Depictions of Arabs conceived in the United States and working in standard callings, for example, banking or instructing, stay uncommon. Assets and Further Reading: â€Å"Arab-Americans Protest True Lies.† New York Times, 16 July 1994. Scheinin, Richard. â€Å"‘Aladdin’ Politically Correct? Middle Easterners, Muslims Say No Way ⠁ -Criticisms That Kid Movie Is Racist Takes Disney by Surprise.† Entertainment the Arts, Seattle Times, 14 Feb. 1994, 12:00 a.m. â€Å"Veils, Harems Belly Dancers.† Reclaiming Our Identity: Dismantling Arab Stereotypes, Arab American National Museum, 2011.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Are Cheap Tires Safe Enough to be Worth the Savings

Are Cheap Tires Safe Enough to be Worth the Savings Are Cheap Tires Safe Enough to be Worth the Savings? Are Cheap Tires Safe Enough to be Worth the Savings?Cheap tires can be a great way to save money, but youll need to be extra careful.A smart blog once said “cars need tires.” And you know what? They were right! A car without tires is just a tiny toilet-less house. But having tires is a trade-off. Sure, they make your car not be useless, but they can also get expensive to repair and replace.You’re going to want to find cheap tires, but how can you be certain they’re safe? Other than the brakes, the tires are probably the part of the car you’d least like to have fail on you.That’s why we talked to the experts to make sure you can safely burn rubber without burning too much cash.Are your tires tired?Before we get into how you should replace your tires, it’s important to know when you should replace your tires. Obviously, you’ll need to replace or repair any tires that get a flat or a blowout, but they’ll also need to be replaced after enough regular wear and tear.The e xperts at RepairPal (@RepairPal) came up with a handy guide to tell you when you should replace your tires:“Tires are considered legally worn out when the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch. Sure, you can purchase an inexpensive tread depth gauge to help you measure your tires, but there are also two easy ways to inspect your tread depth.“First, most tires have ‘wear bars’ on them. These bars are spaced periodically into the grooves of the tire. They are raised to 2/32 so that when the bars become level with the remaining tread, you know its time to replace your tires.“Second, you can use a regular United States penny to get an idea of how much tread you have left. First, take a penny and pinch Lincolns body between your fingers. Find a spot on the tire where the tread seems the lowest and put Lincolns head down into the groove. If any part of Lincolns head is obscured by the tread, youre okay. If you can see the top of Lincolns hair, or where it says ‘In God We Trust,â €™ its time for you to get new tires.”Additionally, they suggested a time-based consideration: “You should also replace tires when they approach five years old. As tires age, they become susceptible to dry rot and cracking, which increases their risk for failure.”Safety danceNow that you know when to replace your tires, can you get safe tires on the cheap? Well, as Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com (@CARiD_com), explained, first, you have to specify exactly what safe means:“What is a ‘safe’ tire? If we are analyzing new tire choices for your car or truck, it might be easier to first define what is an ‘unsafe’ tire. An unsafe tire is NOT properly sized or rated to adequately support your vehicle for the loads and speeds of which it is capable. Buying smaller tires to save money is never recommended.“Tires must be able to support a vehicle’s gross weight, defined as the weight of the vehicle itself plus the maximum weight of its cargo capacity. A two-seat convertible with a small trunk has a much smaller carrying capacity than a seven-passenger minivan with room for three suitcases in its storage area. All vehicle manufacturers specify the minimum load that each tire must be rated to carry.“So, at a minimum, a ‘safe’ tire is the same size as the original factory tire and meets the same load and speed requirements. Where does the owner find this information? It is molded into the sidewall of the tire. The size is a series of alpha-numeric characters, like this example: 215/50R17.Rather than define each of those characters, we will again emphasize: the new tires should be exactly the same size. Do not let the tire store salesperson tell you that he has ‘205/50R17’ in stock, and that size is ‘close enough.’ It’s not.Let’s hit the road!So now that we know what it means to have a safe tire, we can finally determine whether you can get them for a discount.Reina believes you can make some price comparisons as lo ng as you’re keeping an eye on the specs: “If the goal is to purchase the least-expensive tires without sacrificing safety, then as long as the size, load, and speed ratings meet factory specs, you can shop based on price. Also, remember that a cheaper tire may not last as long, so the buying decision should also consider how long you plan to keep the car.“If you drive 12,000 miles/year, and you purchase a ‘cheap’ set of 4 tires for $400, which wear out in 20,000 miles, those tires cost you 2 cents per mile and will need replacing in 1 2/3 years. If you purchase a ‘less cheap’ set for $600, and they last for 40,000 miles, they cost you 1.5 cents per mile (25% better), and you will drive on them for 3 1/3 years (twice as long). Do the math before you buy.”Other experts were even more cautious about going the cheap route. “If you do not have money to buy good quality car tires, and you have no choice to go cheap, then go cheap, but I guarantee you will regret your de cision after a short time,” warned Jill Trotta (@RepairPal_Jill), director of the automotive group at RepairPal.“Cheaper tires are made with more inexpensive materials that can affect the braking distance, the handling, and the overall longevity. Tires are the one thing that you shouldnt skimp on; they are the cushion between you and the road. Do your research and know what you are buying before you install it on your vehicle. There are some off brands that will come at a lesser cost than the major brands but overall investing money in your tires is something you wont regret.”Comparing tiresCar Coach Lauren Fix  (@laurenfix) offered some tips to help you comparison shop: “ Look for deals online. There are incentives for buying 4 tires. Online sellers like tirerack.com can ship tires to your mechanic or to certified shops. Compare prices and make a deal for the proper size, load rating and type of tire.”Like our other experts, however, she warned against being too reckless: “Each tire type offers a grading on the sidewall. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading, commonly abbreviated as UTQG, is the term encompassing a set of standards for passenger car tires that measures a tires treadwear, temperature resistance, and traction. Buying cheaper tires is not a wise idea. You get what you pay for. There are ONLY four things that touch the ground no matter what vehicle you drive â€" that’s your tires! This is NOT an area to cut corners.”As long as you’re careful and have the time, you can try and compare your options when it comes to tires. But at the end of the day, the cheapest tires right now may end up more expensive in the long run, especially if they increase your risk of an accident.Do you have any tricks you use while shopping for tires? We want to hear! You can  email us  or you can find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  ContributorsLauren Fix  (@laurenfix)  lives life in the fast laneâ€"literally. When this automotive expert, author, spokesperson , keynote speaker, TV personality, ASE certified technician, race car driver, wife, and mother of two roars past, head’s turn. Lauren Fix is an award-winning author of three automotive books, was the National Automotive Correspondent for Time Warner Cable and has appeared on Oprah, TODAY, 20/20, Regis Kelly, The View, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, HLN and MSNBC, to name a few. Whether she’s perfecting her new line of automotive products, sharing her CAR SMARTS ®, reporting live from one of the world’s top auto shows, test driving the latest hot ride, or debating an industry crisis in front of multiple cameras, Lauren Fix is never finished reinventing the wheel.Richard Reina  is the Product Training Director at  CARiD.com  (@CARiD_com) and a life-long car enthusiast.Jill Trotta  (@RepairPal_Jill) is an automotive professional with over 25 years of professional experience. ASE Certified technician and consultant. She is currently working on the Automotive Professional Team at  RepairPal . They do the hard work of identifying technically qualified, customer friendly auto shops and presenting them to consumers. They are working to develop transparency in the Automotive Industry. They also have a very accurate automotive repair price estimator that is available to shops and consumers.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

World War I Was A Global War - 1615 Words

World War II was a global war that took place from 1939 to 1945, engulfing the entire world in a devastating conflict. There are many different reasons that the world was plunged into this conflict, all mainly dealing with the outcome of the previous world war, World War I, that took place from 1914 to 1918. The treaty that ended World War I was the Treaty Of Versailles, which required the country of Germany to demilitarize, pay reparations, and accept responsibility in starting the war. Also, the treaty changed the territories of many European countries and created the League of Nations, an international organization with the goal of maintaining peace between the nations. Despite these drastic changes, the world was plunged into World War II in 1939 for many different reasons, including the rise of Dictator Adolf Hitler in Germany, the aggression of his allies, the failure of the League of Nations, and the decisions made by the Allied nations. One of the main reasons World War II began was because of the rise of Dictator Adolf Hitler in Germany. The end of World War I left many countries with major problems, such as hyperinflation, economic downfall, and weak leadership. Due to the harsh demands of the Treaty of Versailles, these issues were especially prominent in Germany, allowing an Austrian man named Adolf Hitler to step in and become dictator of Germany in 1933. Hitler sought world domination, was determined to unite all German speaking people, and had a strongShow MoreRelatedThe World War I Was A Global War1200 Words   |  5 PagesWorld war one was not only called the Great War but was considered a global war. During the war there had been many conflicts between European countries that contributed to the start of the war and industrial advancement. Not only was there rivalries, but alliances were formed as well. And the growth of nationalism had yet another serious result, as well as the growth armies that were exp anding, increasing existing tensions in Europe and the assassination of the archduke which all helped fuel theRead MoreWorld War I Was A Global War1511 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction World War I was a global war between the Allies and the Central Powers. It was called the war to end all wars and it was immediately triggered after the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914. 5 years later in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed and ended WWI. The treaty blamed Germany for starting WWI and was wrongly punished for it. Germany retaliated and Adolf Hitler restored Germany s economy and became their dictator and started WWII in 1939 by invadingRead MoreDemocracy Was Not The Global Result Of World War I884 Words   |  4 PagesDemocracy was not the global result of World War I. The preceding argument is one many would make based on the fact that World War II occurred, demonstrating that democracy on a global stage could not have been possible. Otherwise, World War II would not have taken place. However, as one examines Woodrow Wilson’s â€Å"14 points† speech and assesses the world vision that Wilson put into his talking points, one begi ns to take a different approach, where the essential wheels were in motion following World WarRead MoreThe Global Effects of Imperialism, World War I and the Great Depression1424 Words   |  6 PagesThe Global Effects of Imperialism, World War I and the Great Depression Bentley first talked about cross-cultural interactions as a way to categorize the World’s history. He in addition wrote aboutRead MoreThe First World War I Essay1144 Words   |  5 PagesThe First World War was a global war that started in Europe and lasted from 1914 to 1918. It was one of the deadliest war which caused many political changes including revolution in some of the countries involved. It all start ed when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. This was done in protest to Austria-Hungary having control over the region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia which led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. This caused Russia to get involvedRead MoreWorld War II : Will Humanity End Itself Through The Destruction Of Nuclear War?1606 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War III Will World War III ever happen? Will humanity end itself through the destruction of nuclear war? Will the world start another global war. A major war could lead civilization to ruin, taking many people s lives through the process. As technology advances, weapons are stronger than ever before, able to wreak havoc on large cities. Even though World War III is associated with nuclear warfare in the people s mind, it is unlikely there would be a massive nuclear war. The superpowersRead MoreWhat Does The U.s. Spend On The Military Every Year?1242 Words   |  5 Pagesthat war and violence are inevitable? Those raised to believe that war is inevitable will have a cynical outlook of the world and will continue to perpetuate violence or accept it as a means of resolving conflicts. Those who hold this outlook will not recognize that there are alternatives to conflict resolution and will not look towards alternative solutions and violence will continue. 12. Were you raised to believe we will always live with war? (you may answer just â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no†) No, I was notRead MoreWas the Cold War Truly a Cold War? Essay examples1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe ‘Cold War’ is one of the most interesting ‘wars’ fought in world history. The sheer number of countries both directly and indirectly involved is enough to pose the question – To what extent was the Cold War a truly Global War? This essay will examine this idea. It will identify two main areas of argument, focusing on the earlier part of the conflict (1945-1963). Firstly it will examine the growing US and Soviet influence in the world post 1945. Secondly it will examine three main conflicts, theRead MoreEvents Between 1870-19451419 Words   |  6 PagesHe in addition wrote about the importance of understanding events from a global perspective, not just one country’s point of view. Because of these two fundamental elements to his argument, we can assess events differently than before hand, finding out ways to take a step back and look at actions as they affect multiple nations simultaneously. Of these international events from 1870-1945, the Age of Imperialism, World War I, and the Great Depression had worldwide impacts on economic and social issuesRead MoreThe Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian Archduk Essay772 Words   |  4 Pagesgruesome wars to ever happen in human history. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Austrian Archduke, by the hands of a Bosnian Serb propelled a conflict of gigantic proportions, pitting country against country and dividing the continent into two rival factions. However, the mayhem that ensued was for nothing. It is evident that the war was unnecessary, for its roots were pointlessly trivial, it could have been avoided, and yet it left a shattered world behind, damaging the world in a way that

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Mandatory Military Service Essay - 1029 Words

As many other countries mandate young adults partaking in the military for two years, the United States should follow suit. Many beneficial consequences would be rendered as a result of the increase in service. This would also be a great commencement into the real world for any young adult. These statements can be explored by discussing the benefits of free college tuition, disciplined young adults who are ready to follow orders, and the sheer power of numbers. One exceptional perk of joining the military would be free college tuition. This would allow the students who have not excelled as fast as others a doorway to achieve their full potential. This would also benefit the United States as a whole country. Along with expanding the†¦show more content†¦Another benefit of mandating the service of young adults is that they would be disciplined and setup for success in life as a productive citizen of the United States. Military boot camp is designed to break the recruit down to where they are not better than any other recruit, and then they train them to do their best in every task they approach. This creates unrivaled discipline and extreme excellence in every operation the United States military executes. Not only will this be useful while in military service, but also when they begin to operate in the working world. This requirement will unify the working force as a result of the mandated service. Businesses will be able to work ef ficiently and accurately in all that they accomplish. Again, this will improve the United States as a country. Why would the United States refuse this mandate? The only reason would be that they bring the law down to the lowest denominator of the few people who argue with the benefits. These people might say that not all people are designed to be in the military. However, the military has jobs for every make and model. Every talent is useful to the military. Making young adult serve in the military for two years would actually give them time to figure out what their future career is meant to be. Some people cannot ever be satisfied, and would object to anything! On the contrary, decisions that have the abundance of benefits as mandating service for youngShow MoreRelatedMilitary Service Should Be Mandatory Essay904 Words   |  4 Pagesactivist, an artisan or a business professional, the military has something for everyone. Finding a path in life is often filled with uncertainty an d procrastination. The United States military is a path in itself, should one wish to retire from it; however, should a person wish to make their own path, there are benefits for that as well that can remove all doubt and curb procrastination. Due to these many benefits, I believe that it should be mandatory for all adults to enlist for a minimum of twenty-fourRead MoreEssay on Military Service Should be Mandatory822 Words   |  4 PagesMilitary Service Should be Mandatory Americans, especially baby boomers, should be ashamed of themselves. How can the worlds richest population let its military go begging for recruits? Each year, the military services -- Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy -- establish recruiting goals to maintain adequate numbers of personnel. The numbers change annually depending on, among other factors, service needs, recruitment figures the year before and retention of current troops. Most informed folksRead MoreMandatory Military Service in the United States Essay1952 Words   |  8 PagesMandatory Military Service in the United States The idea that members of a community have the duty to defend it, is as old as civilization itself (Ruschmann 10). The United States has an extensive history, starting with the original thirteen States of involuntary conscription in time of conflict. Citizen’s service is a standard principle of American military service, which places the obligation of service upon citizens to serve and to ensure that the state require those citizens to serve (DalehiteRead MoreEssay about Customs and courtesies1003 Words   |  5 Pagesyou have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to contribute. Military courtesy is one of the major features of the Army. It is intended to reinforce discipline and the chain of command, defining how soldiers treat their chain of command and vice versa. There are a number of traditions that have been established over the history of the military services. These many traditions can be broken into a number of customs and courtesies. A custom is a way of actingRead MoreMental Health Accommodations For Our Military Men And Women Sufficient1548 Words   |  7 PagesAre mental health accommodations for our military men and women sufficient? Soldiers are put through trying conditions when deployed. Many of the men and women are sent to a foreign country away from their homes full of the people they love the most, who are spending their time with a worry in the back of their mind if they will get the chance to hold, touch, or see their loved ones ever again. Often, the soldiers who do make it back home to their families tend to develop some mental p roblems overRead MoreRespect in the Military1183 Words   |  5 PagesEssay The purpose of this essay is to further my knowledge of the Army NCO support channel, chain of command and why we as Soldiers use them. It is also to inform the parties that may be what I feel loyalty, dedicated service and also my interpretation of Military bearing and Discipline. I am explaining the importance of obeying a lawful order from an NCO and performing that order in a timely manner. The NCO support channel is designed to be subordinate to and supportive of the chain of commandRead MoreShould The United States Bring Back The Draft For The Armed Forces?1220 Words   |  5 PagesShould the United States Bring Back the Draft for the Armed Forces? The United States should not bring back mandatory military service, also known as â€Å"the draft†. I personally am not supportive of the draft due to many issues including health and mental concerns brought about by the war. These concerns include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Substance Abuse, just to name a few. I also feel that the education of the soldiers would be limited because after age 18, most peopleRead MoreImportance of Being on Time1193 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of Being on Time in the Military by [Name] [Institution] INTRODUCTION A soldier is considered as the man of the moment. It is because, the military organizations treat timeliness with extreme importance. It orients all courses of their activities and their success depends on the quality of that orientation. Therefore constant researches go on in every military organization to raise the understanding of timeliness among its members, manyRead MoreMilpds Analysis Essay1516 Words   |  7 Pages The Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) The Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) The Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) is the Human Resource (HR) system that comprises each active duty Air Force, Guard and Reserve member’s personnel record as well as retirees. MilPDS is an Air Force wide military system constituting one of the worlds largest Oracle HR implementations, comprising over 100 military subsystems. MilPDS is used to process pay transactions, track accountability andRead MoreIs College Worth It?1177 Words   |  5 Pageswalked across the stage at your high school graduation ceremony you probably were confronted by the options of college, military service, work force, etc. If you decide college is the place to go, then questions start to arise, how am I going to pay for college, where should I go, what do I want to study. Is college is a voluntary place to further your education or is it mandatory to achieve a decent paying job? College has now become something that everyone is choosing because no one wants to be paid

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Shooting an Elephant - 1125 Words

Shooting an elephant written by George Orwell brings to light the evil of imperialism. Being a police officer in the lower Burma, Orwell hated his job. The reason was because the people in Burma ridiculed, insulted and laughed at him whenever they felt safe to do so. Orwell opposed imperialism, and thus was able to feel the hatred of the people of Burma, but still resented them. The story starts with Orwell receiving a phone call about a tame elephant destroying bazaar. He carried with him an old rifle in order to scare off the elephant. After questioning a couple of Burmans he came to know that the tame elephant doesn’t usually go wild but it’s in the ‘must’ period that it becomes intensely violent. Going further ahead down the road he†¦show more content†¦He felt that he had to show that he was the â€Å"sahib† and had to prove his strength. Orwell like his previous essay â€Å"politics and the English language† targets an audience; the targeted audience in this essay was for the people who might actually end colonialism. His belief was that this practice caused problems for both the countries (the colonized and colonizer). When read carefully we understand that Orwell is trying to explain about the British colonialism and the problems it faced. He views show that he was strongly against colonialism. His essay is rich in vocabulary stating that his essay was also intended for educated people. Orwell provokes a number of emotions. He establishes that his character is weak when he talks about Burmese people and how they laugh, mock at him and carry the anti-European feeling. He tries to win the reader’s sympathy by narrating an incident of being purposely tripped by a Burmese in a football field and not been called a foul. He next narrates about how he was forced against his will to shoot at the elephant. Its dramatic death provoked a number of emotions. Orwell shows that he is knowledgeable when he was in a state of dilemma whether to shoot the elephant or not because he felt that shooting an elephant would cause them to lose a costly and huge piece of machinery. He thought deeply that a dead elephant would cost around five pounds but anShow MoreRelated Shooting an Elephant1601 Words   |  7 PagesOrwell spent the next twenty years as a writer; the essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† set in the Burma of the 1920s and written in 1936, is one of his most famous works. In the early twentieth century, Burma was still a colony of Britain but anti-imperialism protests and social movements developed very fast, causing â€Å"great tension between Burmese, Indians and English, between civilians and police† (Meyers 56). Orwell’s essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is based on this historical tension. In this essay, OrwellRead MoreShooting an Elephant840 Words   |  4 PagesDISCUSS ORWELLS USE OF PERSUASIVE TOOLS SUCH AS, SYMBOLISM, METAPHORS AND IRONY IN THIS ESSAY AND EXPLAIN HOW HE USES EACH OF THESE TO CONVEY HIS ARGUMENT OR MESSAGE In the extract, Shooting An Elephant Orwell conveys his message through the use of various persuasive tools. He wants the reader to identify when somebody assumes power. This technique is used to show that the powerful are also a captive to the will of people they control. Everyone involved in the situation becomes affected. InRead More Shooting an Elephant Essay1373 Words   |  6 Pagesessay, Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell illustrates his experiences as a British police officer, and reflects it to the nature of imperialism. He hates his job as a police officer in Moulmein because an â€Å"anti-European feeling was very bitter† due to British Empire’s dictatorship in Burma. Therefore, Orwell, a white man is being treated disrespectfully by the Burmese which allows him to hate his job and British Empire, the root of everything. However, the incident of shooting of an elephant givesRead MoreEssay on Shooting an Elephant486 Words   |  2 Pages â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I was not comfortable with many aspects of this story. The prejudice throughout the book was unimaginable, I find I am uncomfortable with any kind of bigotry. Reading of the Burmese people and their disrespect toward someone who was there to â€Å"protect and serve†, was difficult. I suppose I am naà ¯ve, I try to hold on to the belief that people of God are inherently good. I know there are bad apples in all walks of life, bad people areRead MoreShooting An Elephant By George Orwell1670 Words   |  7 Pageseventually caused me to comply. In â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† by George Orwell, Orwell faced a similar dilemma. â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is an essay that depicts Orwell’s conflictions about shooting a rampaging elephant while he served as an Imperial policeman in Burma during British colonial rule. In his essay, Orwell describes the difficult decision of whether or not to shoot the elephant and why he made his decision. Although he did not initially want to shoot the elephant, the social pressure of being surroundedRead MoreShooting an Elephant by George Orwell 884 Words   |  4 Pageshuddled in the corner in a state of shock with blood marks on his head and back. However, as I inspected the parakeets back closer, I saw that in fact the blood was flesh from the base of the wing which was missing. Similarly, like Orwell in Shooting an Elephant, I did not know what to do in the situation but I had to find a solution (pg.230). I did not have a clue how to treat an injured bird or if I should figure out first what and how the incident happened. The parakeet was bleeding heavily andRead MoreShooting an Elephant Literary Analysis895 Words   |  4 Pagesstory â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† demonstrates the total dangers of the unlimited authority a state has and the astounding presentment of â€Å"future dystopia†. In the story, Orwell finds himself to be in an intricate situation that involves an elephant. Not only does the fate of the elephant’s life lie in Orwell’s hands, he has an audience of people behind him cheering him on, making his decision much more difficult to make. Due to the vast crowd surrounding his thoughts, Orwell kills the elephant in theRead MoreThe Feminine Mystique And Shooting An Elephant898 Words   |  4 PagesBoth The Feminine Mystique and â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† discuss the confrontation between the self and society. In The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan addresses â€Å"The Problem That Has No Name† referring to the widespread unhappiness of the housewife due to their obligation to uphold their ideal image rather than pursuing their dreams; in â€Å"Shooting an Elephant†, George Orwell comments on the societal expectations of imperialism and its effects on people who have the duty to uphold the law. In both ofRead More George Orwells Shooting an Elephant Essay783 Words   |  4 PagesGeorge Orwells Shooting an Elephant In Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell finds himself in a difficult situation involving an elephant. The fate of the elephant lies in his hands. Only he can make the final decision. In the end, due to Orwells decision, the elephant lay dying in a pool of blood. Orwell wins the sympathy of readers by expressing the pressure he feels as an Anglo-Indian in Burma, struggling with his morals, and showing a sense of compassion for the dying animal. Read MoreShooting an Elephant by George Orwell Essay585 Words   |  3 PagesShooting an Elephant by George Orwell In his essay Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell explains how the controlling authorities in a hostile country are not controlling the countrys population but are in fact a mere tool of the populous. Orwells experience with the elephant provided the insight for his essay, and gives a clear example of the control the natives have over the authorities. The authorities in Lower Burma were there to police the state that their government controlled, but

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Leadership Management Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.Explain the Difference between Hierarchical Leadership and shared Leadership. 2.Explain why Dispersion and Heavy reliance on Technology make E-Leadership more Challenging than F2F Leadership 3.Discuss two task-related Behaviours that are likely to make an E-Leader Effective in his / her Role. Answers: 1.Hierarchical Leadership and Shared Leadership The hierarchical leadership has been established for forming the functional operations and its structure is in forms of division (Kayworth Leidner, 2002). The shared leadership is formed for providing the benefit of the division of responsibilities and work. The comparison of hierarchical and shared relationship is given below, Hierarchical Leadership Shared Leadership Maintains the right of ownership of information Believes in sharing of information and knowledge Believes in positioning of authority and right to lead Forms collective leadership in operations of the leadership activities Allocate time and resources as per the need only Help in providing immediate time and resources 2. Impact of dispersion and heavy reliance on technology on e-leadership The development of technology and formation of more effective tools had developed the operations of the organization and brought about the concepts of WAT approach (Drescher Garbers, 2016). The use of work at home had helped in considering the prospects of the team members working from home. The use of technological advancements had brought about the concept of development of e-leadership where the leaders of the team can manage team from different locations. Dispersion: The dispersion of team members plays a significant hindrance for the development of operations and smooth operations of e-leaderships (Dust Ziegert, 2015). The e-leaderships have a prominent back support for the development of operations and formation of overall operations of the organization. However, the dispersion of the team members had helped in developing the issues in forming the conflict management and causing delay in communication with the team members for the operations of the e-leadership. Heavy reliance on technology: The current operations of organization are largely dependent on the operations of the technology and the tools used. The heavy reliance on technology had caused the depletion of the manual working habitat. The e-leadership has been facing issues like lack of social presence, articulation of the solutions for any issue and absence of verbal communication for the operations. 3.Task related behaviors and improvement of E-leadership There are two tasks that should be developed for relating the behaviors of E-leaderships with the operations of the organization. They are Managing Dispersion and Maintaining the Communication with the operations of the organization (Snellman et al., 2015). Managing dispersion is effective for the development of the operations for managing the team members that are dispersed all over. Maintaining the communication is another effective and smart development of operations for keeping the communication of the leaders with the team members undisturbed and undistorted. Some suggestions for improving the operations of e-leadership are, Development of cohesion among team: The development of the cohesive team operations would help in dealing with the issues and problems in completion of activities of the organization. Training for the cultural awareness: The training for the cultural awareness had been helpful for prompting the development of the cultural of operations and keeping the activities aligned to the requirements. Establishment of video conference: The use of video conference for occasional meetings with the team members would help in easing the e-leadership activities. References Drescher, G., Garbers, Y. (2016). Shared leadership and commonality: A policy-capturing study.The Leadership Quarterly,27(2), 200-217. Dust, S. B., Ziegert, J. C. (2015). Multi?Leader Teams in Review: A Contingent?Configuration Perspective of Effectiveness.International Journal of Management Reviews. Kayworth, T. R., Leidner, D. E. (2002). Leadership effectiveness in global virtual teams.Journal of management information systems,18(3), 7-40. Snellman, K., Silva, J. M., Putnam, R. D. (2015). Inequity outside the Classroom: Growing Class Differences in Participation in Extracurricular Activities.Voices in Urban Education,40, 7-14.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Nevermind by Nirvana free essay sample

Bleach was fantastically raw and metal-ish; Incesticide was filled with punk-y b-sides; Nevermind was full of catchy poppy melodies; Unplugged was an album of haunting, acoustic, tunes; and In Utero? In Utero was a combination of that. The last studio album by Nirvana (unless you count Unplugged) is all of those things mixed together. With this record, they captured a more abrasive sound than Nevermind, while still keeping their sound more musical than say, Bleach. The album kicks off with â€Å"Serve The Servants†, a song in â€Å"loud-quiet-loud† format. And it ends with a song I find slower and quieter called â€Å"All Apologies† Nirvana was the first band to TRULY popularize the grunge sound. You’ve probably heard this a million times before but they took punk to the masses. Instead of just marketing their own punk-y sound though, they also sort of, in a way, advertised other great punk/grunge/alternative bands like Sonic Youth and The Pixies, getting more people into that kind of music. We will write a custom essay sample on Nevermind by Nirvana or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Despite the fact that Nirvana is this amazing band that almost everyone knows and likes, SOME people have this idea that their overrated. Some people think they killed punk. Some people overlook the actual music of the band and instead, they focus on the devastating suicide of their lead singer, Kurt Cobain. They overlook the actual music of the band and instead, they focus on all the horrible drugs he did. They overlook the actual music of the band and instead focus on the fact that he married a so-called â€Å"crazy b****† AKA Courtney Love (I actually like her, judge me) of the band Hole. The music is great, in my opinion. As I’ve basically already stated, their songs are full of shredding guitars, and scream-y vocals that are filled with emotion yet they still manage to keep their songs listenable, catchy, even. The lyrics may be a little nonsensical, I don’t know, but the way he sings them, and the way they go with the music, is just phenomenal. But despite what people say, Nirvana are great. Give them a chance, and by giving them a chance, I mean, listen to actual albums. Don’t just listen to the popular songs off Nevermind, like, â€Å"Smells Like Teen Spirit† or â€Å"Come As You Are†. The main theme of the article is this: LISTEN TO IN UTERO!!!!!

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. The WritePass Journal

Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. Introduction Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes. IntroductionCauses of diabetic foot ulcerSigns and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcerMethodsPrevention of diabetic foot ulcerGood foot care Existing education provision Education – best practiceConclusion Related Introduction Currently I am working in a nursing home where the elderly residents have various illnesses including the after effects of strokes and dementia. Due to their age and particular care needs the education for health support workers, senior carers and nurses who are at the centre of this care provision is fundamentally important. The aim of this assignment will therefore be the appraisal of this education, meaning their training and ongoing monitored development, with a specific focus on the prevention of foot ulcers in patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus. This is an important area for consideration because at the moment health care support workers have no formal education in the prevention of foot ulcers in diabetes patients and can be ignorant of its symptoms. As with nurses it is reasonable to expect that they should have attained a certain level of knowledge in this area as the consequences of foot ulcers can be very serious and in cases can lead to amputation. This ultimately has a significant impact on the quality of life of the diabetes sufferer and the carer therefore has a duty of care to protect their patient against this preventable outcome. It should be noted that 85% of cases which end in amputation can avoided (Garay- Sevilla et al., 2002, 81-86). In order to carry out this critical appraisal the first step is to consider the causes of diabetic foot ulcers, it signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention. The assessment of these factors is necessary because it deconstructs the knowledge required by health care workers and subsequently allows the provision of education to be accordingly evaluated for its accuracy and comprehensiveness. The next point to discuss is the current state of education on offer. This will be assessed in terms of how far it provides the level of knowledge needed by people who are in the position of diagnose and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Recommendations for best practice will then be make. Causes of diabetic foot ulcer One of the effects of diabetes is decreased immunity and poor wound healing. In the absence of normal blood flow specific lesions of the arteries, particularly in the extremities, can occur. Diabetic foot syndrome is one such complication and occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes. These changes are a consequence of the existence of diabetic neuropathy. Motor neuropathy in diabetes leads to muscle atrophy and impaired co-flexors and extensors whilst also effecting deformation rate. Sensory neuropathy, sensory disturbance of pain by temperature and touch, increases the risk of injury which in turn contributes to the formation of ulcers. Autonomic neuropathy results in the formation of arterial venous fistulas and impaired blood oxygenation which leads to disorders affecting the trophic ulcers (Rubin Peyrot, 1998, 81–87). The syndrome occurs in the later stages of the disease and is one of its most severe complications as it can lead to death. It manifests itself in comple x changes in the joints and foot nerves, limb deformation, and deep tissue damage. It is also associated with damage to blood vessels, nerves, skin and bones. The initial abnormality takes the form of a pressure point which can be caused by, for example, ill-fitting shoes which cause blistering, cuts, and bites caused by foreign bodies. Vascular disease, resulting in decreased blood flow, contributes to poor healing and infections can be caused by numerous microorganisms (Manson Spelsberg, 2004, 172–184). Patients who experience sensory disturbances find that pain is suppressed and consequently they might not recognize the seriousness of their situation leading to a delay in treatment. The treatment that is required must be prompt and responsible but it can also be protracted (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). Foot problems can affect anyone who has Diabetes regardless of whether they are being treated with insulin, non-insulin, tablets, injections, a controlled diet or physical activity. Signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer In order that treatment is successful it is necessary that health care professionals and care workers can recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcers especially when caring for the elderly who are unable to detect the signs and symptoms. The main features of the disease include explicit sores, prolonged healing sores, changes in the shape of limbs, and, in later stages, gangrene. In the early stages symptoms usually coincide with complaints of fatigue which is accelerated by walking and standing, a sense of gravity, and freezing feet due to the deformation problems with wearing familiar footwear. One of the most pressing reasons for a good standard of education in diabetic foot ulcers is the variety of forms it might take. This means that the health care worker must be able to recognize the condition in different scenarios. The neuropathic foot is the most common form with 70% of cases of diabetic foot falling into this category. It takes the form of a hot pink color with a palpable pulse and impaired deep sensation (Wysocki Buckloh, 2002, 65–99). Another form is known as ischemic. This condition is caused by peripheral vascular occlusive. Diagnosis includes history (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) and intermittent claudication. The foot assumes a cold bluish tinge and has no palpable pulse. The sufferer experiences a pain in motion and severe pain at rest (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). The final form is neuropatyczno-ischemic. This is characterized by the worst prognosis (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The main course of action is to preserve the integrity of the skin. This is because the main danger lies in the wounds and fractures where if infection takes hold the result will be purulent inflammation and necrosis. Severe pain or numbness, sores, blisters, and peeling require the most urgent medical intervention because these can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation of the affected limb. As the only quantifiable sign of inflammation, which indicates tissue lesions, is skin temperature it is necessary to used infrared thermometers. These can be used to determine the temperature of the skin in different areas of the foot. Dermal thermometers are also useful in the interpretation of the different phases of Charcot foot and in determining the most appropriate orthopodologic treatment in each phase. However, these are specialised tools and are unsuitable for carers to use nursing homes. Methods There is very particular method which should be implemented for assessing the health of a diabetes suffer’s feet. It is this type of information which should be included in an educative strategy used to train health care workers. Before measuring the temperature of the skin in the feet, the patient should be barefoot for at least five minutes before the examination to avoid a rise in temperature due to footwear or hosiery. The result should then be recorded. The next step is to repeat the measurement in the same area of the contralateral foot and compare the results obtained. This should be done for all the high risk areas. A difference in temperature of less than 2 º c can be considered normal. Once infection has been ruled out, differences greater  Ã‚   than  Ã‚   2 º C in diabetic patients are highly suggestive of Charcot activity. When the examination is done in a patient with Charcot foot and the difference is less than 2 º C it shows that the acute period has c ome to an end. If the patient observes a difference in temperature greater than 2 ºC in self-examination on two consecutive days, he or she should contact a healthcare professional to determine the cause of the difference (www.diabeticfootjornal.net). Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for diabetic ulcers but reducing the load on the feet does offer hope of saving the affected limb. Alternative treatments can involve the use of hydrotherapy and ulcer surgery to remove necrotic tissue. Algorithm for the treatment of infected feet includes glycemic control (insulin), strain rates (shoe inserts, crutches, plaster casts), antibiotics and surgical procedures (drainage, incision, removal of dead tissue). Prevention of diabetic foot ulcer One of the most effective treatments is preventative. All patients with Diabetes Mellitus should be screened when there is a sensation of numbness or pain exists even if there are no visible lesions or ulcers (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The education of health care workers in foot ulcers therefore needs also to take into account prevention. Inspection of the stop should be performed as often as possible. If the skin of the foot shows sign of a scratch or crack you cannot use adhesive, alcohol or fat-containing ointments as these tools lead to further irritation. Redness or paleness, the presence of edema, blunting of the sensitivity, fungal lesions, and the overall deformation of the foot should be examined for deviations from the norm. If identified treatment should start immediately. In addition, from time to time, it is desirable to perform a neurological examination to determine the tactile, thermal, and vibration sensation of the foot. Angiographic diagnosis of vasc ular leg reveals the presence of thrombus. Basic steps can also be taken to prevent the occurrence of gangrene. These include the maintenance of desired blood sugar levels, the monitoring of the hygiene of the feet, making regular visits to an endocrinologist and follow their recommendations. (Clement, 1995, 1204–1214). Good foot care Education is important because good foot care has lots of pitfalls. Using the wrong cream, overcutting toe nails, walking barefoot, wearing the wrong shoes or socks can increase the chances of foot ulcers. It is necessary that the carer should be able to advise diabetes sufferers in all the dos and don’ts when it comes to looking after their feet in the proper manner to decrease the chances of contracting a foot ulcer in the first place (www.patient.co.uk). Some of these dos and don’ts are as follows; In contrast to what might seem like common sense it is vital to avoid using items such as moisturising oils or cream designed for dry skin and the prevention of cracking. Look out for athletes foot (common minor skin infection) as it can cause flaky and cracked skin The space between toes can become sore and can become infected. It is essential to monitor this. Cut your nails by following the shape of the end of the nail. Do not cut down the sides of the nails as this may cause damage or lead the nails to develop an ingrown nail. It is important to wash feet regularly and dry them carefully, especially between toes. Do not walk barefoot even at home You right treads Always wear sole or shoes or other footwear however don’t wear too tight socks around the ankle as they may affect circulation Shoes, trainers and other foot wear should; Fit well to make into accounts any awkward shapes or deformities Have broad front and plenty of room for toes Heels to avoid pressure on toes. Have good laces, buckles to prevent movement and rubbing of feet in the toes When you buy shoes, wear the type of socks that you usually wear Avoid slip on shoes, shoes with pointed toes, sandals, or flip flops. Always feel inside foot wear before you put footwear on to check for stores, rough edges etc. Tips include avoiding food burns and water burns checking the bath temperature with your hand before stepping in to it It important to avoid using items such as hot water bottles, electric blankets or foot spas. Do not sit too close to fires. Further measures include looking very carefully at the feet each day including between the toes. This involves examining the area for reduced sensation in order to not miss any vital signs of the inset of a foot ulcer. It is also necessary to look for any cuts, abrasions, bruises, blisters, redness or bleeding. If any of these symptoms are spotted carers should immediately inform the nurse who is in charge who should in turn carry contact a podiatrist or similar specialist. Existing education provision To date education in diabetic foot ulcers takes several forms. NICE recommends that all people with diabetes should be offered structured education as an integral part of their diabetes management (www.nice.co.uk). The purpose of this is to raise awareness of the side-effects and complications of diabetes in those who suffer with it. This increases the chance for early identification of foot ulcer symptoms. The XPERT Programme was launched in 2007 to provide education to all health care professionals across Wales so they are able to give structured advice to patients with type2 diabetes. In addition the National Service Framework (NSF) (2001) for diabetes set out a ten year programme for change. It outlined evidence-based standards for the planning, organising, and delivery of diabetes services. This programme represents the Welsh Assembly’s strategy for improving diabetes and through the progressive implementation of the NSF the quality of care and treatment for those living with diabetes (www.wales.gov.uk). However within this long-term plan there is little direct reference to patients in residential or nursing homes. This is also the case with the Desmond, Dafne and Bertie programmes which have little relevance for the care of the elderly. Clearly there is a significant gap within the education of health care professionals. This gap is apparent in the nursing home where I work as none of the staff have received any particular training specifically related to diabetes mellitus. This clearly puts the residents of the home in an at risk category because the chances of their carers recognising the early symptoms of foot ulcers are substantially reduced. Within the nursing home and home care system however there does exist a health care specialist with the expertise to assist in raising awareness about the causes and prevention of foot ulcers; the podiatrist. The work of a podiatrist is overseen by the Chiropody Code Of Conduct which states that chiropodists and podiatrists must be able to work, where appropriate, in partnership with other professional support staff, service users and their relatives and carers. They should also ‘be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating information, advice, instruction and professional opinion to colleagues, service users, their relative s and carers’ (Standards of proficiency, Health Professions Council, 2009). However, in practice this is frequently not the case. The health support workers are not currently included in visits and are not given the opportunity to learn or ask questions when the podiatrists are called to review residents. Neither do they pass on information about their findings to staff on duty. Evidently there is an issue of communication. The podiatrist is not the only person with a professional duty to assist health care workers with their treatment of foot ulcers. The NMC code of conduct states that nurses should work with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those in their care, their families and carers and the wider community. Therefore, the nurse in charge should ensure that learning opportunities are facilitated and that staff have feedback from these specialist visits which help to inform and improve the care delivered to residents. Education – best practice The current provision of education demonstrates that the education of health workers is largely at the discretion of their employers. If individual employers do decide to provide their staff with training there is little in the way of advice to follow and this can result in poorly informed, ill-conceived or simply inadequate education. At the same time it creates a situation whereby health care workers have to rely on experience gained on the job to identify the symptoms of foot ulcers or their own inclination to acquire further knowledge. For new members of the staff who lack experience there might exist a worrying amount of ignorance on the subject. There is however much potential to improve this situation. In best practice education takes a variety of forms. This may include formal study sessions, workplace booklets or posters and online education programmes. Therefore there is potential for foot ulcer education to be flexible and made to suit the particular needs of a workplace. At my workplace none of these options have been made available. Ideally the best situation would be a formal study session where the expert knowledge of a specialist can be imparted and where full training can be given. The information gained should then be reinforced at the workplace through posters or leaflets. Conclusion Conclusively it is very important that diabetic foot ulcers are prevented at all times while treating patients with diabetes, especially in the elderly who might for other reasons associated with dementia and impaired movement find it harder to care for themselves. Education of health care professionals is key in achieving this. They should have the necessary knowledge to help prevent foot ulcers, to recognise the first symptoms of one, and to provide effective treatment. They must also be able to advise the diabetes sufferer on how to care for their feet and how to avoid the contraction of a foot ulcer in the first instance. Despite this clear need for knowledgeable clinicians the situation as it currently stands fails to provide health care workers who look after the elderly with the training they require to the provide the best standard of service possible. Whilst measures are in place for the education of both diabetic sufferers and nurses, more work needs to be done on identifyi ng the educational requirements of those who care for elderly patients. Best practice in education should be drawn upon and formal training sessions organised alongside the better provision of information within the workplace. The expertise of specialists such as podiatrists should also utilised more effectively so that staff within the nursing home are well informed and understand the treatment their patients are undergoing and their specific needs. Communication is at the heart of this.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Marketing - Research Paper Example The camera has syncing capabilities with image-management software which makes the process of transferring photos convenient. There is a possible video recording feature. iPhone has superior battery life and is easy to recharge. It gives 5 hours of video playback with Talk time of 16+ hours, comparable to market standards. Another advanced feature in iPhones is Synchronization with Apple’s other products such as iTunes, iCal and Address Book. Apple has also launched iPhones with 3G and 3GS capabilities. These advanced models have the features of Digital Compass and GPS for navigation, and proximity and light sensors. Further, Apple also allows users to add applications of their choice on their iPhones. These applications are of various kinds and can be purchased from the Apple online stores. Apple is renowned for its quality products and the same tradition continued with iPhones. Despite the sleek design and the sensitive touch interface, the phones are very sturdy and durable. Moreover, they are strong on the software side as well. The Apple OS inside these phones is known for its reliability and user-friendly interface. Apple also has strict quality checks on the iPhone Apps that are developed by third-parties. Apples Warranty for iPhone covers limited warranty for one year. Warranty service for repairs is available at no charge for twelve months from the date of original retail purchase. The phone is sold individual packaging. The package design itself is very attractive. Typically the phone is shipped with the handset, headset, charger, cables and user manual in the package. iPhone is very strong on the branding side. Experts say the success of the phone is more accredited towards Apple’s strong branding as compared to the phone’s features. Apple chose to target the teenager’s market and create a strong reputation amongst them. Apple has created itself as a brand of the youth. It has a very intense

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 233

Assignment Example e 12 workweeks of leave in a 12 month period and twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12 month period in the instances when one has to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness in instances where the eligible employee is the spouse of a service member or even a parent, son, daughter or next of kin. In the first video, while Mark will need more time, 2 to 3 days every week for his chemotherapy which push his total leave weeks to between 14-15 weeks for the year, and the fact that he will still need some time off at the end of it all, Danielle cannot do anything about extending the FMLA leave for him since the act is very clear about an employee being entitled to twelve workweeks of leave in a 12 month period. In the case of Lucy, the fact that she refuses to disclose the main reason for which she will require the leave makes it difficult to determine whether she will qualify. However, in the case that she still qualifies, then it would be difficult to allow her 2 months off if she has already exhausted his recommended 12 weeks. This will be left to the HR to determine. In the third video, the fact that the employee is pregnant makes her qualify for the FMLA leave for 12 weeks. However, since she has already used 3 weeks to take care of her mother will leave her with only nine weeks hence her request for three more weeks could only be considered in the event that her mother was a covered service member in which case she would be entitled to twenty six workweeks of leave during a 12 month period. and Families of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Second Session, on the Implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, May 9, 1996. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 1996.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Reflective Journal On Interpersonal Skills Nursing Essay

Reflective Journal On Interpersonal Skills Nursing Essay An effective management is about getting works or things done through people. It is the capability of a person to perform in the complexity of the organization as a restrained or subtle, insightful, incisive performer that determines the success as a manager. For a person to work in a group either as a member or a leader in order to achieve a common goal it is essential to be interdependent and interactive among the group. This interactive skill is also called as interpersonal skill, people skills, social skills which help to build the social competence level. Social competent people are those who possess these necessary skills to produce desired effects on other people in situations in terms of influencing someone to work harder, make a deal, make an effective negotiation, or support someone in a crisis situation. This is also a very important consideration in fields like management, social networking, education and relationships. It determines how we communicate with bosses, superi ors, subordinates, peers, family and everyone around us. Interpersonal skills can be learned; most people learn how to relate on the basis of experience, through unstructured and unintentional processes of trial and error. Sometimes this approach is successful but at times it can be ineffective and unreliable. This social skill set helps in influencing others which is very important when working in an organization at a managerial level and you need to influence your subordinates to work towards achieving a target or goal. Many people working in organizations experience problems when attempting to influence others. Sometimes the source of difficulty is perceived to be rooted in a particular relationship and sometimes it is experienced as a more general inability. People react to this perceived problem in different ways; some give up trying and accept the impossibility of introducing any significant change while some respond by trying harder and becoming aggressive. They devote more energy to influence others and achieving results but when t hings do not go their way it leads to frustrations. The most effective people however seem to be those who expect to experience resistance in their attempts to influence others, but still have a way around to get things done. I faced a similar situation when I started managing a team for the first time, which is described below. In my previous employment, I got promoted to a Managerial role and became the clearing In-charge handling a team of 8 members. This department handled high transaction volumes and cheque clearance on a daily basis. It was the first time that these staffs reported me directly on any clearing matter. Overall it was a very new experience for me to perform as a manager. First I allotted individual job roles to everyone so that each one of them could focus on the required part and complete it accurately within the given timeframe. It was very important that all of my team members including me worked cohesively to deliver the task efficiently. Despite of clear work allocation and proper supervision of work; we still strive hard to do fire fighting in meeting deadlines and there was huge pressure on the team. In due course, I realized that this was primarily because I had not considered the teams inputs when doing the work allocation, and as such many people in the team were unhappy with th eir work. Post realizing this I corrected this, got the teams feedback and did reallocation of work. Although not everyone was still happy, I built a reputation for being considerate and listening to the team, which increased the motivation levels and helped in improving our teams productivity This chapter taught me that self awareness is closely linked to the ability to read the behavior of others, construct course of action and deliver an effective performance. People who have a high level of self awareness understand how their own values, beliefs and subjective theories influence what they see and do. In order to raise the awareness of how theories in use influence the way interaction with others can be managed, it is essential to observe own self of action. This can be possibly done by reflecting on patterns of past behavior and monitoring it. It is also important to be open and responsive to others feedback. In my previous company where I worked as a bank officer, I faced many situations where it was important to have a strong interpersonal skill. As a front office executive I was supposed to directly deal with the customers, understand their needs, and give them quality service. Many a times, I came across very demanding people who are tough to please. There was an instance when a very high net worth customer holding a priority account with our bank wanted to close the account because of some transaction issues. Apart from that he was very disappointed by my colleagues behavior, so with an angry attitude he came to my desk and asked to close the account. At that time I had two options, one was to close his account or try to pacify the customer and retain the account. I handled the case very effectively; offered him a cup of coffee, listened to him properly, understood his requirements, and gave him the solution. He was so happy with my attitude that he changed his decision and continued banking with us. The concept of micro skill approach to develop interpersonal competency gave me a clear picture of the steps to be followed in building the interpersonal relationships like accenting, following, listening, helping and negotiating. Utilizing these ideas which I learned from this chapter, I can further develop on my skills to strengthen it and implement in future for building stronger interpersonal relationships and use it in face to face encounters to arrange my behavior so that it is in line with the objectives. Summary of critical incident During our first tutorial we were asked to select our team members and form a group. The tutorial had 30 students from different nationalities and is designed to give the students an opportunity to interact with classmates from different places, know their culture and exchange values. I was very keen to be in a mixed culture group so that I can utilize this opportunity and learn of different cultures. But unfortunately no one was willing to include me in their group. Everyone was comfortable in making a group with people from their own nationalities. I tried to do likewise and asked an Indian group to include me. They refused saying that they are already a big team of 5 members. I felt sad wondering why none of my team mate wanted to consider me in their group. Later three members joined the tutorial and I teamed up with them, but still kept wondering about what happened. I realized that maybe since I did not socialize with people, they did not know anything about me and hence prefer red to include known people. Thereafter I voluntarily stood up, introduced myself, and started socializing with my classmates. The ability to work effectively within a group either as a leader or member requires good interpersonal skill. As my other friends were speaking various languages, I found it difficult to fit into their discussion which is known as cross cultural communication barrier. Some of my classmates had difficulty communicating in English and therefore were shy in discussing with me. But I made them comfortable by listening to them for long hours, understanding them, helping them in clearing their doubts. I tried to determine my strengths and weaknesses from the competency tests that I have appeared previously. Reflecting the findings of my chosen self analysis toolkit The psychometric test results indicate that I have a very lively social manner which I can leverage to build a good working atmosphere and to support others in developing their own ideas. I can easily integrate into a team, both as a leader as well as a member. The Worlds personality test defines me as performer with ESPF style which means I am sociable, optimistic and open to others. However my personality trait is authoritative and indicates that I like to have autonomous-decision making. I am good at arguing rather than convincingly and prefer to actively influence my group members. This functioning style may not fit in all situations; in case of my tutorial groups, I should not try to dominate and have my own way of independent decision making. This would portray me as an arrogant person; rather I should try to have more interactive session which allows equal opportunities to all to participate in discussions. This will encourage team spirit and I can still continue to motivate t hem as and when required. Implications for future career or personal development Post completing MBA, I intend to rejoin the banking industry and hence it is important that I improve my interpersonal skills which will enable me have an effective communication. This will be required for both professional as well as my personal development. The test result emphasized my core strengths as confident, sociable, organized while my weaknesses is that I deliberately follow my own convictions therefore find problems in predefined objectives which contradicts my viewpoint. I realize I need to leverage my strengths and work on my weaknesses to build a better personality. Summary of critical incident II I would like to share another incident from my tutorial activity related to decision making skills. One of our tutorial activities required us to analyze a case study in which we had to put ourselves in the shoes of a train driver and had to decide on which rail track to choose in a difficult situation. There were two rail routes; a running track in working condition and an unused track closed for some unknown reasons. At a distance ahead there were 10 children playing around; 9 of them were playing in the used rail track and only 1 child was playing in the unused route. At that time the train approaches, and we as the driver of that train had to decide on which track to take. This was indeed a tough decision as the lives of small children were at stake. I analyzed from 2 different aspects; considering the emotional value perhaps it was better to divert the train in the unused route so that 9 children can be saved. But logically, it did not seem appropriate; taking the unused track m ay cause derailment, which in turn would put the lives of thousands of passenger in danger. Therefore as the driver my decision would have been to take the used track and not put the lives of all passengers at stake. We had some interesting discussions in the class; with few people sharing the same thoughts as mine, while others argued that it does not make sense for killing 9 children over 1, they believed our conscience would never allow that. Another classmate gave a very different opinion saying that it is better to run the train towards the 9 children so that they will learn a lesson and never repeat this again to which Frankie, our tutor laughed and said, Will they realize after their death that they shouldnt play in such dangerous place? Finally the correct decision should have been taking the used track as the 9 children would be used to trains approaching on that track and hence would move out on time. However this analysis helped us in determining the emotional intelligenc e factor and we realized that as future leaders we may have to decide between things which may have contrary emotional and logical values. Reflecting the findings of my chosen self analysis toolkit The Jungs typology test indicated that I am a logical and well organized person. But it also says that I decide more based on feeling rather than thinking. This indicates that I am an emotional person and mostly I take decisions based on how I perceive things. Decision making capabilities based on situations sometimes require us to see whether the judgment benefits a larger mass or not. In such cases emotional values have to be controlled. My weakness is my inability to control my emotions at times, especially in stressful situations. Further from the Johari Window test, I found that my friends perceive me as indecisive. I respect this feedback and believe that my emotional quotient many a times makes me indecisive. Therefore I need to improve decision making abilities in order to become a successful manager in future. Implications for future career or personal development As I intend to return to the banking Job and continue my career as a Manager, I realize I need to leverage my strengths and work on my weaknesses. As a manager, I would be required to take tough decisions on the spot. I need to learn to show more maturity in dealing such situations and therefore I need to develop my reasoning skills, control my emotions and thereby improve my decision making abilities.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism Essay -- Expos

How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism We all know we live in a highly materialistic culture in which conspicuous consumption governs much of our lives. We strive to acquire goods which will define us to ourselves and to others and somehow satisfy our human need to justify existence. At the end of the day, we also all know that there’s a trap built into the system: the more you consume, the more you are pressed to consume more because whatever satisfaction possession of things brings us is always fleeting thus driving us further and further down the material path of life seeking nirvana around the next corner at the mall. Many modern philosophers have pondered this question, often giving rise to scathing critiques of consumerism as shallow; the product of a decadent and decaying culture. This is where most people turn away, not because they reject what the philosophers say, but precisely because they know it to be at least partially accurate and this is unbearable. It’s unbearable because while we know the meaning of life can’t be reduced to a new SUV, we don’t know what on earth we would replace consumerism with if we were to abandon it as the bedrock of our daily lives. What would we do with our time? Why would we work overtime? Why would we get up in the morning? I don’t propose here to rehash the arguments about why consumerism is evil, but I would like to propose some solutions to the conundrum of modern living: how to find satisfaction through consuming differently and thoughtfully. 1. Value what you have The first step is to look around your space and start to appreciate the sheer number of labour-hours that are invested in the things that you already own. Imagine having to make them you... ... you to pause at least for a moment†¦ Consuming for its own sake is indeed a great temptation, but like all others it can be overcome. This doesn’t require a twelve-step program to wean us permanently from the habit, afterall it’s only human. It does require that we acknowledge what makes having things satisfying: social relations with other people. If we recognize our links to others through the products they make and we consume, and if we assume the responsibility that comes with that recognition, we can consume less, consume differently and garner much more satisfaction from the act. We need to ignore the spin doctors and their promises of eternal happiness or salvation and realize that we are the authors of our own happiness and that happiness cannot be branded, packaged or sold by the pound. Step down from the gerbil wheel and take a moment to think about it.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Zoe’s Tale PART II Chapter Seventeen

The four of us moved as silently as we could into the forest, from the place where Gretchen had seen Magdy, Enzo and their two friends go into the tree line. We listened for their sounds; none of them had been trained to move quietly. It wasn't a good thing for them, especially if the creatures decided to hunt them. It was better for us, because we wanted to track them. We listened for our friends on the ground, we watched and listened for movement in the trees. We already knew whatever they were could track us. We hoped we might be able to track them, too. In the distance, we heard rustling, as if of quick, hurried movement. We headed that direction, Gretchen and I taking point, Hickory and Dickory fast behind. Gretchen and I had been training for months, learning how to move, how to defend ourselves, how to fight and how to kill, if it was necessary. Tonight, any part of what we learned might have to be used. We might have to fight. We might even have to kill. I was so scared that if I stopped running, I think I would have collapsed into a ball and never gotten up. I didn't stop running. I kept going. Trying to find Enzo and Magdy before something else did. Trying to find them, and to save them. â€Å"After Gutierrez left, Magdy didn't see any point in keeping our story quiet anymore, so he started blabbing to his friends,† Gretchen had told me. â€Å"He was giving people the idea that he'd actually faced these things and had managed to keep them off while the rest of us were getting away.† â€Å"Idiot,† I said. â€Å"When you parents came back without the hunting party, a group of his friends came to him about organizing a search,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Which was actually just an excuse for a bunch of them to stalk through the forest with guns. My dad caught wind of this and tried to step on its head. He reminded them that five adults just went into the forest and didn't come out. I thought that was the end of it, but now I hear that Magdy just waited until my dad went to go visit yours before gathering up some like-minded idiots to head off into the woods.† â€Å"Didn't anyone notice them heading off?† I asked. â€Å"They told people they were going to do a little target practice on Magdy's parents' homestead,† Gretchen said. â€Å"No one's going to complain about them doing that right about now. Once they got there they just took off. The rest of Magdy's family is here in town like everyone else. No one knows they're missing.† â€Å"How'd you find out about this?† I asked. â€Å"It's not like Magdy would tell you this right now.† â€Å"His little group left someone behind,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Isaiah Miller was going to go with him, but his dad wouldn't let him have the rifle for ‘target practice.' I heard him complaining about that and then basically intimidated the rest of it out of him.† â€Å"Has he told anybody else?† I asked. â€Å"I don't think so,† Gretchen said. â€Å"Now that he's had time to think about it I don't think he wants to get in trouble. But we should tell someone.† â€Å"We'll cause a panic if we do,† I said. â€Å"Six people have already died. If we tell people four more people – four kids – have gone off into the woods, people will go insane. Then we'll have more people heading off with guns and more people dying, either by these things or by accidentally shooting each other because they're so wired up.† â€Å"What do you want to do, then?† Gretchen asked. â€Å"We've been training for this, Gretchen,† I said. Gretchen's eyes got very wide. â€Å"Oh, no,† she said. â€Å"Zoe, I love you, but that's loopy. There's no way you're getting me out there to be a target for these things again, and there's no way I'm going to let you go out there.† â€Å"It wouldn't just be us,† I said. â€Å"Hickory and Dickory – â€Å" â€Å"Hickory and Dickory are going to tell you you're nuts, too,† Gretchen said. â€Å"They just spent months teaching you how to defend yourself, and you think they're going to be at all happy with you putting yourself out there for something to use as spear practice. I don't think so.† â€Å"Let's ask them,† I said. â€Å"Miss Gretchen is correct,† Hickory said to me, once I called for it and Dickory. â€Å"This is a very bad idea. Major Perry and Lieutenant Sagan are the ones who should deal with this matter.† â€Å"My dad's got the whole rest of the colony to worry about at the moment,† I said. â€Å"And Mom's in the medical bay, getting fixed from when she dealt with this the last time.† â€Å"You don't think that tells you something?† Gretchen said. I turned on her, a little angry, and she held up a hand. â€Å"Sorry, Zoe. That came out wrong. But think about it. Your mom was a Special Forces soldier. She fought things for a living. And if she came out of this with a wound bad enough for her to spend her night in the medical bay, it means that whatever is out there is serious business.† â€Å"Who else can do this?† I asked. â€Å"Mom and Dad went after that hunting party on their own for a reason – they had been trained to fight and deal with experiences like that. Anyone else would have gotten themselves killed. They can't go after Magdy and Enzo right now. If anyone else goes after them, they're going to be in just as much danger as those two and their other friends. We're the only ones who can do this.† â€Å"Don't get angry at me for saying this,† Gretchen said. â€Å"But it sounds like you're excited to do this. Like you want to go out there and fight something.† â€Å"I want to find Enzo and Magdy,† I said. â€Å"That's all I want to do.† â€Å"We should inform your father,† Hickory said. â€Å"If we inform my father he'll tell us no,† I said. â€Å"And the longer we talk about this the longer it's going to take to find our friends.† Hickory and Dickory put their heads together and clacked quietly for a minute. â€Å"This is not a good idea,† Hickory said, finally. â€Å"But we will help you.† â€Å"Gretchen?† I asked. â€Å"I'm trying to decide if Magdy is worth it,† she said. â€Å"Gretchen,† I said. â€Å"It's a joke,† she said. â€Å"The sort you make when you're about to wet your pants.† â€Å"If we are to do this,† Hickory said. â€Å"We must do it on the assumption that we will engage in combat. You have been trained with firearms and hand weapons. You must be prepared to use them if necessary.† â€Å"I understand,† I said. Gretchen nodded. â€Å"Then let us get ready,† Hickory said. â€Å"And let us do so quietly.† Any confidence that I had any idea what I was doing left me the moment we entered the forest, when the running through the trees brought me back to the last time I raced through them at night, some unknown thing or things pacing us invisibly. The difference between now and then was that I had been trained and prepared to fight. I thought it would make a difference in how I felt. It didn't. I was scared. And not just a little. The rustling, rushing sound we had heard was getting closer to us and heading right for us, on the ground and moving fast. The four of us halted and hid and prepared ourselves to deal with whatever was coming at us. Two human forms burst out of the brush and ran in a straight line past where Gretchen and I were hiding. Hickory and Dickory grabbed them as they passed by them; the boys screamed in terror as Hickory and Dickory took them down. Their rifles went skidding across the ground. Gretchen and I rushed over to them and tried to calm them down. Being human helped. Neither was Enzo or Magdy. â€Å"Hey,† I said, as soothingly as I could, to the one closest to me. â€Å"Hey. Relax. You're safe. Relax.† Gretchen was doing the same to the other one. Eventually I recognized who they were: Albert Yoo and Michel Gruber. Both Albert and Michel were people I had long filed away under the â€Å"kind of a twit† category, so I didn't spend any more time with them than I had to. They had returned the favor. â€Å"Albert,† I said, to the one closest to me. â€Å"Where are Enzo and Magdy?† â€Å"Get your thing off of me!† Albert said. Dickory was still restraining him. â€Å"Dickory,† I said. It let Albert go. â€Å"Where are Enzo and Magdy?† I repeated. â€Å"I don't know,† Albert said. â€Å"We got separated. Those things in the trees started chanting at us and Michel and I got spooked and took off.† â€Å"Chanting?† I asked. â€Å"Or singing or clicking or whatever,† Albert said. â€Å"We were walking along, looking for these things when all these noises started coming out of the trees. Like they were trying to show us that they had snuck up on us without us even knowing.† This worried me. â€Å"Hickory?† I asked. â€Å"There is nothing significant in the trees,† it said. I relaxed a little. â€Å"They surrounded us,† Albert said. â€Å"And then Magdy took a shot at them. And then things really got loud. Michel and I got out of there. We just ran. We didn't see where Magdy and Enzo went.† â€Å"How long ago was this?† I asked. â€Å"I don't know,† Albert said. â€Å"Ten minutes, fifteen. Something like that.† â€Å"Show us where you came from,† I said. Albert pointed. I nodded. â€Å"Get up,† I said. â€Å"Dickory will take you and Michel back to the tree line. You can get back from there.† â€Å"I'm not going anywhere with that thing,† Michel said, his first contribution to the evening. â€Å"Okay, then you have two choices,† I said. â€Å"Stay here and hope we come back for you before these things do, or hope that you make it to the tree line before they catch up with you. Or you can let Dickory help you and maybe survive. Your choice.† I said it a little more forcefully than I had to, but I was annoyed that this idiot didn't want help staying alive. â€Å"Okay,† he said. â€Å"Good,† I said. I picked up their rifles and handed them to Dickory, and took his. â€Å"Take them to the tree line near Magdy's homestead. Don't give them back their rifles until you get there. Come back and find us as soon as you can.† Dickory nodded, intimidated Albert and Michel into movement, and headed off. â€Å"I never liked them,† Gretchen said as they left. â€Å"I can see why,† I said, and gave Dickory's rifle to Hickory. â€Å"Come on. Let's keep going.† We heard them before we saw them. Actually, Hickory, whose hearing goes above human range, heard them – trilling and chirping and chanting. â€Å"They are singing,† Hickory said quietly, and led Gretchen and me to them. Dickory arrived, silently, just before we found them. Hickory handed over its rifle. In the small clearing were six figures. Enzo and Magdy were the first I recognized. They knelt on the ground, heads down, waiting for whatever was going to happen to them. The light was not good enough for me to see any expression on either of their faces, but I didn't have to see their faces to know that they were scared. Whatever had happened to the two of them had gone badly, and now they were just waiting for it to end. However it would end. I took in Enzo's kneeling form and remembered in a rush why I loved him. He was there because he was trying to be a good friend for Magdy. Trying to keep him out of trouble, or at the very least to share his trouble if he could. He was a decent human being, which is rare enough but is something of a miracle in a teenage boy. I came out here for him because I still loved him. It had been weeks since we'd said anything more than a simple â€Å"hello† at school – when you break up in a small community you have to make some space – but it didn't matter. I was still connected to him. Some part of him stayed in my heart, and I imagined would for as long as I lived. Yes, it was a really inconvenient place and time to realize all of this, but these things happen when they happen. And it didn't make any noise, so it was all right. I looked over at Magdy, and this is the thought I had: When all of this is through, I am seriously going to kick his ass. The four other figures†¦ Werewolves. It was the only way to describe them. They looked feral, and strong, and carnivorous and nightmarish, and with all of that was movement and sound that made it clear that there were brains in there to go along with everything else. They shared the four eyes of all the Roanoke animals we had seen so far, but other than that they could have been lifted right out of folklore. These were werewolves. Three of the werewolves were busy taunting and poking Magdy and Enzo, clearly toying with them and threatening them. One of them held a rifle that it had taken off of Magdy, and was jabbing him with it. I wondered if was still loaded, and what would happen to Magdy or the werewolf if it went off. Another held a spear and occasionally poked Enzo with it. The three of them were chirping and clicking at each other; I don't doubt they were discussing what to do with Magdy and Enzo, and how to do it. The fourth werewolf stood apart from the other three and acted differently. When one of the other werewolves went to poke Enzo or Magdy, it would step in and try to keep them from doing it, standing between the humans and the rest of the werewolves. Occasionally it would step in and try to talk to one of the other werewolves, gesturing back to Enzo and Magdy for emphasis. It was trying to convince the other werewolves of something. To let the humans go? Maybe. Whatever it was, the other werewolves weren't having any of it. The fourth werewolf kept at it anyway. It suddenly reminded me of Enzo, the first time I saw him, trying to keep Magdy from getting into an idiotic fight for no reason at all. It didn't work that time; Gretchen and I had to step in and do something. It wasn't working now, either. I glanced over and saw that Hickory and Dickory had both taken up positions where they could get clean shots at the werewolves. Gretchen had moved off from me and was setting up her own shot. Between the four of us we could take all of the werewolves before they even knew what had happened to them. It would be quick and clean and easy, and we'd get Enzo and Magdy out of there and back home before anyone knew anything had happened. It was the smart thing to do. I quietly moved and readied my weapon, and took a minute or two to stop shaking and steady up. I knew we'd take them in sequence, Hickory on the far left taking the first of the three group werewolves, Dickory taking the second, Gretchen the third, and I the last one, standing away from the rest. I knew the rest of them were waiting for me to make the shot. One of the werewolves moved to poke Enzo again. My werewolf hurried, too late, to stop the assault. And I knew. I didn't want to. I just didn't. Didn't want to kill it. Because it was trying to save my friends, not kill them. It didn't deserve to die just because that was the easiest way to get back Enzo and Magdy. But I didn't know what else to do. The three werewolves started chittering again, first in what seemed like a random way, but then together, and to a beat. The one with a spear began thumping it into the ground in time, and the three of them started working off the beat, playing against each other's voices for what was clearly a victory chant of some sort or another. The fourth werewolf started gesturing more frantically. I had a terrible fear of what was going to happen at the end of the chant. They kept singing, getting closer to the end of that chant. So I did what I had to do. I sang back. I opened my mouth and the first line of â€Å"Delhi Morning† came out of it. Not well, and not on key. Actually, it was really bad – all those months of practicing it and playing it at hootenannies were not paying off. It didn't matter. It was doing what I needed it to do. The werewolves immediately fell silent. I kept singing. I glanced over to Gretchen, who was not so far away that I couldn't read the Are you completely insane? look that she had on her face. I gave her a look that said, Help me out please. Her face tightened up into something unreadable and she sighted down her rifle to keep one of the werewolves squarely in target – and started to sing the counterpoint of the song, dipping above and below my part, like we had practiced so many times. With her help I found the right key to sing and homed in. And now the werewolves knew there was more than one of us. To the left of Gretchen, Dickory chimed in, mimicking the sitar of the song as he did so well. It was funny to watch, but when you closed your eyes it was hard to tell the difference between it and the real thing. I drank in the twang of his voice and kept singing. And to the left of Dickory, Hickory finally came in, using its long neck to sound off like a drum, finding the beat and keeping it from then on. And now the werewolves knew there were as many of us as them. And that we could have killed them anytime. But we didn't. My stupid plan was working. Now all I had to do was figure what I had planned to do next. Because I really didn't know what I was doing here. All I knew was that I didn't want to shoot my werewolf. The one, in fact, who had now stepped off entirely away from the rest of his pack and was walking toward where he thought my voice was coming from. I decided to meet him halfway. I set down my rifle and stepped into the clearing, still singing. The werewolf with the spear began to raise it, and suddenly my mouth was very dry. I think my werewolf noticed something on my face, because it turned and chattered madly at the spear carrier. The spear went down; my werewolf didn't know it, but he'd just saved his friend a bullet in the head from Gretchen. My werewolf turned back to me and started walking toward me again. I kept singing until the song was through. By that time, my werewolf was standing right next to me. Our song was finished. I stood there, waiting to see what my werewolf would do next. What he did next was point to my neck, to the jade elephant pendant Jane had given me. I touched it. â€Å"Elephant,† I said. â€Å"Like your fanties.† He stared at it again and then stared at me again. Finally it chirped out something. â€Å"Hello,† I said back. What else was I going to say? We had a couple more minutes of sizing each other up. Then one of the three other werewolves chirped something. He chirped something back, and then tilted his head at me, as if to say, It would really help me if you actually did something here. So I pointed to Enzo and Magdy. â€Å"Those two belong to me,† I said, making what I hoped were appropriate hand signals, so my werewolf would get the idea. â€Å"I want to take them back with me.† I motioned back in the direction of the colony. â€Å"Then we'll leave you alone.† The werewolf watched all my hand signals; I'm not sure how many of them he actually got. But when I was done, he pointed to Enzo and Magdy, then to me, and then in the direction of the colony, as if to say, Let me make sure I've got this right. I nodded, said â€Å"yes,† and then repeated all the hand signals again. We were actually having a conversation. Or maybe we weren't, because what followed was an explosion of chittering from my werewolf, along with some wild gesticulating. I tried to follow it but I had no idea what was going on. I looked at him helplessly, trying to get what he was saying. Finally he figured out I had no clue what he was doing. So he pointed at Magdy, and then pointed at the rifle one of the other werewolves was holding. And then he pointed at his side, and then motioned at me as if to take a closer look. Against my better judgment, I did, and noticed something I missed before: My werewolf was injured. An ugly furrow was carved into his side, surrounded by raw welts on either side. That idiot Magdy had shot my werewolf. Barely, sure. Magdy was lucky that his aim continued to be bad, otherwise he'd probably already be dead. But even grazing it was bad enough. I backed up from the werewolf and let him know I'd seen enough. He pointed at Enzo, pointed at me, and pointed back to the colony. Then he pointed at Magdy and pointed at his werewolf friends. This was clear enough: He was saying Enzo was free to go with me, but his friends wanted to keep Magdy. I didn't doubt that would end badly for Magdy. I shook my head and made it clear I needed the both of them. My werewolf made it equally clear they wanted Magdy. Our negotiations had just hit a really big snag. I looked my werewolf up and down. He was stocky, barely taller than me, and covered only in a sort of short skirt cinched up with a belt. A simple stone knife hung from the belt. I'd seen pictures of knives like it from history books detailing the Cro-Magnon days back on Earth. The funny thing about the Cro-Magnons was that despite the fact that they were barely above banging rocks together, their brains were actually larger than our brains are now. They were cavemen, but they weren't stupid. They had the ability to think about serious stuff. â€Å"I sure hope you have a Cro-Magnon brain,† I said to my werewolf. â€Å"Otherwise I'm about to get in trouble.† He tilted his head again, trying to figure out what I was trying to say to him. I motioned again, trying to make it clear I wanted to talk to Magdy. My werewolf didn't seem happy about this, and chattered something to his friends. They chattered back, and got pretty agitated. But in the end, my werewolf reached out to me. I let him take my wrist and he dragged me over to Magdy. His three friends fanned themselves out behind me, ready if I should try anything stupid. I knew outside the clearing Hickory and Dickory, at least, would be moving to get better sight lines. There were still lots of ways this could go very very wrong. Magdy was still kneeling, not looking at me or anything else but a spot on the ground. â€Å"Magdy,† I said. â€Å"Kill these stupid things and get us out of here already,† he said, quietly and fast, still not looking at me. â€Å"I know you know how. I know you have enough people out there to do it.† â€Å"Magdy,† I said again. â€Å"Listen to me carefully and don't interrupt me. These things want to kill you. They're willing to let Enzo go, but they want to keep you because you shot one of them. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?† â€Å"Just kill them,† Magdy said. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"You went after these guys, Magdy. You were hunting them. You shot at them. I'm going to try to keep you from getting killed. But I'm not going to kill them because you put yourself in their way. Not unless I have to. Do you understand me?† â€Å"They're going to kill us,† Magdy said. â€Å"You and me and Enzo.† â€Å"I don't think so,† I said. â€Å"But if you don't shut up and actually listen to what I'm trying to say to you, you're going to make that more likely.† â€Å"Just shoot – † Magdy began. â€Å"For God's sake, Magdy,† Enzo said suddenly, from Magdy's side. â€Å"One person on the entire planet is risking her own neck for you and all you can do is argue with her. You really are an ungrateful piece of crap. Now would you please shut up and listen to her. I'd like to get out of this alive.† I don't know who was more surprised by that outburst, me or Magdy. â€Å"Fine,† Magdy said, after a minute. â€Å"These things want to kill you because you shot one of them,† I said. â€Å"I'm going to try to convince them to let you go. But you're going to have to trust me and follow my lead and not argue and not fight back. For the last time: Do you understand me?† â€Å"Yes,† Magdy said. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"They think I'm your leader. So I need to give them the idea I'm angry with you for what you did. I'm going to have to punish you in front of them. And just so you know, this is going to hurt. A lot.† â€Å"Just – † Magdy began. â€Å"Magdy,† I said. â€Å"Yeah, all right, whatever,† Magdy said. â€Å"Let's just do this.† â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Sorry about this.† Then I kicked him in the ribs. Hard. He collapsed with a whoosh and fell flat to the ground. Whatever he was expecting, he wasn't expecting that. After he had gasped on the ground for a minute I grabbed him by the hair. He clutched at my hand and tried to get away. â€Å"Don't fight me,† I said, and gave him a quick punch in the ribs to make the point. He got it and stopped. I pulled his head back and yelled at him for shooting the werewolf, pointing at his rifle and then the wounded werewolf and back and forth several times to make the point. The werewolves seemed to make the connection and chittered among themselves about it. â€Å"Apologize,† I told Magdy, still holding his head. Magdy reached out to the wounded werewolf. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"If I had known that shooting would mean Zoe got to beat the crap out of me, I would never have done it.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said, and then let go of his hair and smacked him hard across the face. Magdy went down again. I looked over to the werewolf to see if this was sufficient. He didn't look like he was quite there yet. I loomed over Magdy. â€Å"How are you doing?† I asked. â€Å"I think I'm going to throw up,† he said. â€Å"Good,† I said. â€Å"I think that would work. Need any help?† â€Å"I got it,† he said, and retched all over the ground. This got impressed chirps from the werewolves. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Last part, Magdy. You really have to trust me on this one.† â€Å"Please stop hurting me now,† Magdy said. â€Å"Almost done,† I said. â€Å"Stand up, please.† â€Å"I don't think I can,† he said. â€Å"Sure you can,† I said, and wrenched his arm to give him motivation. Magdy inhaled and stood up. I marched him over to my werewolf, who eyed the both of us, curiously. I pointed at Magdy, and then to the werewolf's wound. Then I pointed to the werewolf, and made a slashing motion on Magdy's side, and then pointed at the werewolf's knife. The werewolf gave me yet another head tilt, as if to say, I want to be sure we understand each other, here. â€Å"Fair's fair,† I said. â€Å"You're going to let him stab me?† Magdy said, his voice rising dramatically at the end of that sentence. â€Å"You shot him,† I said. â€Å"He could kill me,† Magdy said. â€Å"You could have killed him,† I said. â€Å"I hate you,† Magdy said. â€Å"I really really really hate you now.† â€Å"Shut up,† I said, and then nodded to the werewolf. â€Å"Trust me,† I said to Magdy. The werewolf drew his knife, and then looked back at his companions, who were all chattering loudly and beginning to chant what they were chanting earlier. I was all right with that. The difference now was that it was my werewolf who would do whatever violence would be done. My werewolf stood there for a minute, soaking in the chant of his fellow werewolves. Then without warning he sliced at Magdy so quickly that I only got him moving back, not forward. Magdy hissed in pain. I let him go and he fell to the ground, clutching his side. I moved in front of him and grabbed his hands. â€Å"Let me see,† I said. Magdy moved his hands and winced preemptively, expecting a gush of blood. There was only the thinnest red line on his side. The werewolf had cut Magdy just enough to let him know he could have cut him a lot worse. â€Å"I knew it,† I said. â€Å"You knew what?† Magdy said. â€Å"That I was dealing with a Cro-Magnon,† I said. â€Å"I really don't understand you,† Magdy said. â€Å"Stay down,† I said. â€Å"Don't get up until I tell you.† â€Å"I'm not moving,† he said. â€Å"Really.† I stood up and faced the werewolf, who had put his knife back on his belt. He pointed to Magdy, and then pointed to me, and then pointed back toward the colony. â€Å"Thank you,† I said, and gave the werewolf a little nod of my head, which I hoped would convey the idea. When I looked up again, I saw him staring at my jade elephant again. I wondered if he'd ever seen jewelry before, or if it was simply because an elephant looks like a fantie. These werewolves followed the fantie herds; they would be a main source of food for them. They were their lives. I took off my necklace and handed it to my werewolf. He took it and gently touched the pendant, making it twirl and glitter in the dim light of the night. He cooed at it appreciatively. Then he handed it back to me. â€Å"No,† I said. I held up a hand, and then pointed to the pendant, and to him. â€Å"It's for you. I'm giving it to you.† The werewolf stood there for a moment, and then uttered a trill, which caused his friends to crowd around him. He held up the pendant for them to admire. â€Å"Here,† I said, after a minute, and motioned to him to hand me the necklace. He did, and I – very slowly, so I wouldn't surprise him – put it around his neck and fastened it. The pendant touched his chest. He touched it again. â€Å"There,† I said. â€Å"That was given to me by someone very important, so I would remember the people who loved me. I'm giving it to you, so you'll remember that I'm thanking you for giving me back people I love. Thank you.† The werewolf gave me another of his head tilts. â€Å"I know you don't have any idea what I'm saying,† I said. â€Å"Thank you anyway.† The werewolf reached to his side, pulled his knife. Then he laid it flat on his hand and offered it to me. I took it. â€Å"Wow,† I said, and admired it. I was careful not to touch the actual blade; I'd already seen how sharp it was. I tried to return it but he held up his hand or claw or whatever you want to call it, in a mirror of what I did for him. He was giving it to me. â€Å"Thank you,† I said again. He chirped, and with that he returned to his friends. The one holding Magdy's rifle dropped it, and then without looking back they walked to the nearest trees, scaled them at an unbelievable speed and were gone almost instantly. â€Å"Holy crap,† I said, after a minute. â€Å"I can't believe that actually worked.† â€Å"You can't believe it,† Gretchen said. She came out of hiding and stalked right up to me. â€Å"What the hell is wrong with you? We come out all this way and you sing at them. Sing. Like you're at a hootenanny. We are not doing this again. Ever.† â€Å"Thank you for following my lead,† I said. â€Å"And for trusting me. I love you.† â€Å"I love you too,† Gretchen said. â€Å"It still doesn't mean this is ever going to happen again.† â€Å"Fair enough,† I said. â€Å"It was almost worth it to see you beat the crap out of Magdy, though,† Gretchen said. â€Å"God, I feel horrible about that,† I said. â€Å"Really?† Gretchen said. â€Å"It wasn't just a little bit of fun?† â€Å"Oh, all right,† I said. â€Å"Maybe a little.† â€Å"I'm right here,† Magdy said, from the ground. â€Å"And you need to thank Zoe you are,† Gretchen said, and bent down to kiss him. â€Å"You stupid, exasperating person. I am so happy you are still alive. And if you ever do anything like this again, I will kill you myself. And you know I can.† â€Å"I know,† he said, and pointed to me. â€Å"And if you can't, she will. I get it.† â€Å"Good,† Gretchen said. She stood up and then held out her hand to Magdy. â€Å"Now get up. We've got a long way to go to get home, and I think we just blew all our dumb luck for the year.† â€Å"What are you going to tell your parents?† Enzo asked me, as we walked home. â€Å"Tonight? Not a thing,† I said. â€Å"Both of them have enough to worry about tonight. They don't need me coming in and saying that while they were out I faced down four werewolves who were about to kill two more colonists, and defeated them using only the power of song. I think I might wait a day or two to drop that one. That's a hint, by the way.† â€Å"Hint taken,† Enzo said. â€Å"Although you are going to tell them something.† â€Å"Yes,† I said. â€Å"We have to. If these werewolves are following the fantie herds then we're going to have problems like this every year, and every time they come back. I think we need to let people know they're not actually murdering savages, but we're all still better off if we just leave them alone.† â€Å"How did you know?† Enzo asked me, a minute later. â€Å"Know what?† I said. â€Å"That those werewolf thingies weren't just murdering savages,† Enzo said. â€Å"You held Magdy and let that werewolf take a shot at him. You thought he wouldn't stab Magdy to death. I heard you, you know. After it did it, you said ‘I knew it.' So how did you know?† â€Å"I didn't,† I said. â€Å"But I hoped. He had just spent God knows how long keeping his friends from killing the two of you. I don't think he was just doing it because he was a nice guy.† â€Å"Nice werewolf,† Enzo said. â€Å"Nice whatever he is,† I said. â€Å"Thing is, the werewolves have killed some of us. I know John and Jane killed some of them trying to get our people back. Both of us – the colonists and the werewolves – showed we were perfectly able to kill each other. I think we needed to show that we were capable of not killing each other, too. We let them know that when we sang at them instead of shooting them. I think my werewolf got that. So when I offered him a chance to get back at Magdy, I guessed he wouldn't really hurt him. Because I think he wanted us to know he was smart enough to know what would happen if he did.† â€Å"You still took a big risk,† Enzo said. â€Å"Yeah, I did,† I said. â€Å"But the only other alternative was to kill him and his friends, or have them kill all of us. Or all of us kill each other. I guess I hoped I could do something better. Besides, I didn't think it was too big a risk. What he was doing when he was keeping the others away from you two reminded me of someone I knew.† â€Å"Who?† Enzo asked. â€Å"You,† I said. â€Å"Yes, well,† Enzo said. â€Å"I think tonight marks the official last time I tag along with Magdy to keep him out of trouble. After this he's on his own.† â€Å"I have nothing bad to say about this idea,† I said. â€Å"I didn't think you would,† Enzo said. â€Å"I know Magdy gets on your last nerve sometimes.† â€Å"He does,† I said. â€Å"He really, really does. But what can I do? He's my friend.† â€Å"He belongs to you,† Enzo said. â€Å"And so do I.† I looked over at him. â€Å"You heard that part, too,† I said. â€Å"Trust me, Zoe,† Enzo said. â€Å"Once you showed up, I never stopped listening to you. I'll be able to recite everything you said for the rest of my life. Which I now have, thanks to you.† â€Å"And Gretchen and Hickory and Dickory,† I said. â€Å"And I will thank them all, too,† Enzo said. â€Å"But right now I want to focus on you. Thank you, Zoe Boutin-Perry. Thank you for saving my life.† â€Å"You're welcome,† I said. â€Å"And stop it. You're making me blush.† â€Å"I don't believe it,† Enzo said. â€Å"And now it's too dark to see.† â€Å"Feel my cheeks,† I said. He did. â€Å"You don't feel especially blushy,† he said. â€Å"You're not doing it right,† I said. â€Å"I'm out of practice,† he said. â€Å"Well, fix that,† I said. â€Å"All right,† Enzo said, and kissed me. â€Å"That was supposed to make you blush, not cry,† he said, after we stopped. â€Å"Sorry,† I said, and tried to get myself back together. â€Å"I've just really missed it. That. Us.† â€Å"It's my fault,† Enzo started. I put a hand up to his lips. â€Å"I don't care about any of that,† I said. â€Å"I really don't, Enzo. None of that matters to me. I just don't want to miss you anymore.† â€Å"Zoe,† Enzo said. He took my hands. â€Å"You saved me. You have me. You own me. I belong to you. You said it yourself.† â€Å"I did,† I admitted. â€Å"So that's settled,† Enzo said. â€Å"Okay,† I said, and smiled. We kissed some more, in the night, outside Enzo's front gate.