Flower for Algernon Essay

I. Setting and Atmosphere The Flower for Algernon took place in New York, City 1960s. It tone is vary with Charlie’s mental insight. It’s all about mentally disabled person wants to become intelligent and who was abandon by his mother and bullied by other people. II. Plot and Structure  Beginning- Charlie is so innocent, don’t know how read and write. He is working at Donner’s Bakery. He wants to become intelligent. He is the subject for Prof. Nemur and Dr. Strauss’s experiment. Rising Action- Dr. Strauss performs an experimental surgery on Charlie that propels his intelligence to genius levels. Charlie falls in love with Alice but finds he is unable to consummate their relationship because he feels uncertain childhood embarrassment about his sexuality. Major Conflict- Charlie struggles to reach emotional maturity and feel like a whole person before his intelligence will fade and returns him to his original mentally disabled state. Climax- Charlie runs away from the scientists who are observing him because he wants freedom. Alice tells Charlie that his work at the laboratory is more important than his relationship with Fay. Charlie realizes in this moment that he can no longer run from his fate or the importance of his emotional journey. Falling Action- Charlie discovers that he will soon lose his intelligence. Charlie finds his mother and sister and forgives them for how they treated him as a child. Charlie has a brief, fulfilling relationship with Alice. Charlie returns to his original mentally retarded state and checks himself into the Warren State Home. III. Characters Charlie Gordon is the narrator and main character of the story. He is 32-year-old mentally disabled who works at Donner’s Bakery and is chosen by the scientist to undergo experimental surgery to improve his intelligence. Before he got the surgery or become intelligent, he is friendly man and who trust people easily. And then he realized that people around him are taking advantage and when they are kind to him, it usually has been out of awareness that he is inferior when his intelligence eventually grows. He also realized that he has a feeling for Alice Kinnian since first. Because of the experimental operation promotes Charlie’s intelligence to such a level that his new genius distances him from people as much as his disability does he feels isolated from people and it makes him to pursue his course of self- education and struggles to untangle his emotional life. He is inspired by his mother to reach his goals like to be emotionally mature. Although Charlie hates the abuse he endured while disabled, he harbors anger toward his old self and, unluckily, feels the same lack of respect for his intellectual inferiors that many others used to feel for him. In the final weeks of Charlie’s sharp intelligence, before he returns to his previous mental retardation that he learns to forgive his family and give and receive love. Charlie’s brief moment of emotional grace comes in the form of the fulfilling but short-lived romantic affair he has with Alice. Finally, though Charlie spaces back to his original state at the end of the novel, a fresh sense of self-worth remains within him, despite the fact that he has lost his short-lived intelligence. Algernon is a white mouse that also undergoes the surgery of Charlie. Algernon’s intelligence is higher that Charlie’s when they first met. Soon, Charlie beats him. Charlie feels a real relationship with Algernon and becomes his friend. Alice Kinnian is the one who teaches Charlie how to read and write and recommends Charlie for Nemur and Strauss’s experiment. She also teaches literacy skills to mentally disable. She’s the one person with whom Charlie comes to experience a truly fulfilling personal relationship. Professor Nemur is the man that has great intellect but little ability to relate to others. Unlike Dr. Strauss, his partner, He is never interested in Charlie’s emotions but he only cares about Charlie’s progress as an experimental subject. He is desperate about his career and wants to be known as brilliant. Dr. Strauss is the neurosurgeon who performs Charlie’s surgery. He is also the psychiatrist whom Charlie meets with on a regular basis for therapy. He is opposite to Prof. Nemur, he is very kind and tries to help recalling memories of Charlie. Rose Gordon is Charlie’s mother. She is ashamed Charlie’s disability and insisted that her son is normal. And when she gave birth to Norma, younger sister of Charlie, she turned her full attention to Norma and ignored Charlie. IV. Point of View The story is told in a form of first-person. Everything in the story is filtered through Charlie’s mind of which change radically over the sequence of the novel, as Charlie’s IQ triples and then falls back to its original level. V. Theme  The theme of the story is the mistreatment of mentally disabled person and the conflict between mind and feelings. VI. Summary The novel’s action begins in Charlie’s thirty-second year in Donner’s Bakery, New York, where he works. Charlie narrates his experience through ‘progress reports,’ which he has to submit to the research team from Beckman College. Charlie is a retarded adult, and he has agreed to submit himself to experimental surgery in order to improve his intelligence. The reports reveal Charlie’s experiences in the bakery to which the owner, his uncle’s friend, has brought him from the Warren State Home for retarded people. Charlie becomes a part of the bakery, and considers the people there as his friends. Yet, he is dissatisfied and wants to be ‘smart.’ So, he joins a special school for retarded people at Beckman College. After this, his teacher, Alice Kinnian, recommends him to a research team at Beckman psychology department. The team is in search of a retarded volunteer, for the experimental surgery to increase intellige nce. Charlie then undergoes weeks of testing and competing with a white mouse, Algernon at completing mazes. He is depressed when the mouse beats him every time. The operation takes place and Charlie is disappointed at not ‘getting smart’ immediately. However, he is assured that he will progress gradually, but steadily. Over a period of time, Charlie finds himself being able to read more, win some mazes and master complex processes at the bakery. The other workers resent him. He is disillusioned with many of them. He has to spend a lot of time reading and being tested at the Beckman lab. By now, he knows that Algernon has also had surgery similar to his, which accounts for his intelligence. Charlie surges ahead in gathering knowledge and mastering languages. He begins to see his supportive teacher Alice, as an attractive young woman. They become close and he tries to make love to her. On several occasions, he finds he has a violent physical reaction when he is making love to her and therefore has to stop. He can’t understand why this happens. Around the same time, Charlie’s repressed memories of his home, surface. Disturbing scenes, like, his mother pushing him to study or others when he is being pushed aside in favor of his younger sister, flash through his memory. Charlie is upset, but he finds his newfound intellectual ability thrilling and works hard. He finds that he and Algernon are to be taken to Chicago for a convention, at which Nemur will present the findings of the team. Once there, Algernon and Charlie are the prime ‘exhibits,’ objects, and humiliating remarks are made in his hearing. He also discovers that the researchers have not given sufficient time to verify their experimental findings before performing the experiment on him. Charlie releases Algernon, and runs away with him to New York. He hides here for some time and rents a house. He understands that his time is short and decides to check the same experiments, in order to trace the reasons for its failure. Charlie gets permission from the sponsors, to work independently on this subject at Beckman. His relationship with Nemur becomes tense and hostile. He can’t overcome his problems with Alice and gets involved with Fay, an unconventional artist living next door. With her, he can defeat his inhibitions. But as his work gets more demanding, their relationship becomes strained and finally breaks. In the meantime, Algernon’s condition gets worse, and he dies. Charlie knows this indicates his own approaching end, and therefore he seeks out his parents. His father is alone in the Browse. Charlie meets him but can’t bear to reveal who he is, for fear of disappointment. His meeting with his mother and sister is anticlimactic, as the mother is old and senile, and his sister is having a bad time coping with the responsibility alone. He is satisfied that he can tell them of his achievements. He makes his peace with them and leaves. He confronts Nemur at a party and charges him of being insensitive. Charlie is also charged of selfishness and arrogance, which he admits is the truth. He accepts that the retarded Charlie is an important and enduring part of him. He and Alice get together but only find fulfillment for a short time. As Charlie’s mind gets worse, he forces her to leave him. He works at the bakery, and when his condition becomes very bad, he moves to the Warren Home.

Language and Literacy in Social Practice Essay

Language and Literacy in Social Practice is one of a set of four readers which looks at literacy and language practices as they are moulded and shaped by the cultures of the societies they serve. Edited by Janet Maybin, the book is a collection of key articles by seminal writers in the field who investigate the role of language and literacy as part of social practice. Broken down into four sections, the book begins with articles by Malinowski, Dell Hymes, Halliday and Volosinov and sets the scene for an anthropoligical/historical exploration of the sophisticated interaction and interrelationships between language, culture and social structure. Section two then provides ethnographic accounts of recent research by researchers like Taylor and Heath who document detailed evidence of literacy practices in a wide range of situations. They show in effect how literacy practices are very much the product of economic, religious, cultural and political processes and in particular the profound effect of differing socio-cultural expectations on the educational experiences and successes of learners at the macro level of the family and the local community. Section three moves away from a local focus to review literacy practices from a cross-cultural and historical perspective drawing on the writings of Street, Graff and Gee to look at literacy and language not so much as competencies and skills but rather as a product shaped by sociocultural parameters and some socioeconomic ‘myths’. The final section draws on the cultural and historical perspectives presented thus far and adds the further specific dimension of the political aspects of language planning and teaching to investigate how literacy and language teaching is very much a product of the rhetoric of governments and a tool to control and disposses minorities and to maintain a status quo that is elitist and exclusivist. What then is the value of Maybin’s book? It certainly doesn’t work as a sourcebook or a handbook of how to improve literacy practices in any given situation – and nor is it meant to. What it does work as is as a body of readings for reflective practitioners who would like to explore the significance of the crucial place language and literacy teaching holds in most Western societies and to look at the ways in which even the most ‘mundane’ literacy practices are heavily influenced by discrete parameters of culture, society and history. Its merit lies in the way that it, through historical perspective, social theory and current research, strongly encourages the reader to value what McGinitie has referred to as ‘the power of uncertainty’. Language and Literacy in Social Practice forces the reader to consider the complex and interrelated nature of language learning and the nature of literacy acquisition as value laden activity – value laden because of the variety of social factors which vie for dominance in the formation and maintenance of a majority Discourse. The structure of the book is logical and easy to follow. For myself, I found the first section to be the least valuable in terms of what it had to offer me, but, given its intention to provide a theory base for the sociological perspective of language as a social semiotic, it achieved its aim adequately. What was much more thought provoking were the articles in section two which detailed the ways in which literate practices were inextricably related to social and cultural practices and values. Of particular value to me as well were the articles by Rockhill on Gender, language and the politics of literacy and Paolo Freire on Adult literacy processes . Language and Literacy in Social Practice is not a book of readings preaching to the converted. Rather it is a thought provoking collection of writings which will encourage the sensitive literacy educator to examine again the values one transmits. Particularly in the culturally plural Australian context, Maybin’s book provides readings that, while not specific to the Australian context, are nevertheless very easily transferrable in the principles and understandings they embody. So much so that if one were to carefully think through and implement by negotiation the broad principles outlined in the book, Language and Literacy in Social Practice could well serve as a blueprint for a policy framework for literacy education in any society that truly valued its cultural diversity and which was determined to provide the sort of education that would question the status quo. Additionally, it would offer all participants real access to those constructions of empowering literate behaviour that are the staple of the disourse practices and power relationships of everyday life. It is not, I don’t believe, overly strong when Rockhill says that ‘the politics of literacy are integral to the cultural genocide of a people†¦ ‘. Language and Literacy in Social Practice raises the sorts of issues that will help us re-examine our own personal politics to prevent just that sort of ‘cultural genocide’ no matter how well intentioned or how genteel our motives. It is a book for all educators, cutting across cultures and specifics, providing a body of thought that, if it doesn’t change existing practice, will at the very least strongly encourage a reappraisal of what it is that one actually does in the classroom.

A nation should require all of its students to study the same national curriculum until they enter college Essay

ducation is one of the most important pillars of the nation’s development. Education is a weapon which can change the world. Primary education is the base for the students. So a country should have a very good curriculum for the students in their Primary school study. A curriculum, which will make each student withstand the future competition and will lead to country’s development. So if a nation have the same national curriculum it would be beneficial in so many perspectives. If a nation have same national curriculum then it would be easy for government to construct a nationwide program to train teachers. It would be easy to evaluate students on the same basis. Same national curriculum will decrease the efforts to construct the region wide education course in country. In India we have Central Board and State Board. Central board is followed by some states, while all other states follow a separate State board program. Each state has its own Program of primary education including different evaluation system, marking system and subjects to study. This requires a big management to maintain the track. So same national curriculum will cut down these efforts and can make use of these efforts in improving the education system. This approach would be beneficial for the students in terms of options available. The same curriculum will open the doors of all the colleges and courses available there nationwide. Students will have a healthy competition environment. Students can study variety of courses and will be able to go in desired college. In the current system of a student wants to go in any other college belong to other state then he has to give an entrance examination and it differs according to the course he wants to study. But if this approach get followed by the nation then it would be easy for a student to get this rid of this. A student can follow his heart and make his dreams true. It would be propitious for them who have to frequently transfer their locations because of their service such as in military services, government services etc. Currently it is very difficult for their children’s to accommodate in new environment, especially school and its curriculum. For example in India If a student belonging to Maharashtra went to study in Chennai then it would be difficult for him to get into routine. He has to start again in new way in the new environment. But if the curriculum would be same at national level till college then it would be easy for them to continue their study without any difficulty. But though this approach is good enough, it may create some problems while implementing it at national level. Like to change the established system and to implement the new on nationwide would take significant amount of time and efforts. Students in the middle of the primary education may find it somewhat difficult to get adjust to new curriculum. As students would be having more options to choose then it might lead to confusion while making choice. Those students who don’t want to leave their native place or state then it would be difficult for them. For example if a student don’t get admission I any college residing at his place then that student might have to go another place. But overall this approach is beneficial enough to implement. Though it would require some efforts and time once get implemented it would be best.

Preventive car need assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preventive car need assessment - Essay Example A general foot care is to be conducted. Feet must be examined for any sort of sores, circulation, or sensation problems. Diabetes may at times result in thickening ingrown. There may develop a feeling of numbness, or pins and needles in the feet. The patients must note down in their log if they feel any sort of sores, circulation, or sensation problems. Patients who are suffering from diabetes must be very regular with their physical exercise. The physical exercise may be of any type walking, jogging, swimming or gym at home. It is important that the patients note down the time of their physical activity in their logs. The effect of physical activity done by the patients will be monitored by their weight gain or loss because of the physical activity. Normally, everybody should have at least one check up for diabetes every year by their physician. An individual should follow a wellness plan if he/she is at risk for diabetes or has newly acquired diabetes or had diabetes for some time. A wellness plan must be developed which keeps a regular check on individual’s sugar, blood pressure, and blood fats. The doctor may want to examine his diabetic patient after every three months or so to check the progress. The patient may also see the doctor any time with in these three months if he feels that he is not well. It is important that when the patient comes to visit the doctor he brings with himself his log in which he had been making entries of his home test of blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise etc. A diabetic education packet must be provided to every patient so that they know how to deal with different aspects of diabetes, what is the best diet, what is the best range of blood pressure, blood sugar etc for them. For those patients who have developed the micro vascular disease, they must follow the A1C goal it will help them in the macrovascular risk reduction. For all those patients who have

Strategic Management wk 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Management wk 2 - Essay Example In gaining the financial objectives a company has to strategise to achieve superior performance. The improvement in performance metrics, results in increased sales, greater customer satisfaction, more brand loyalty, and consequently profitability that is higher than the industry average. This is the competitive advantage of the company. The managers of the company actively strategise to gain competitive advantage and other stakeholders are its active components. An effective strategist works in close association with all the stakeholders. He can objectively conceive the corporate objectives in theory and can effectively deploy and mobilise the resources of the company for company’s objectives. He clearly identifies the corporate objectives and then chalks a corporate strategy for achievement of the goals. This involves careful analysis of the internal and external strengths and weaknesses of the organisation. The strategy is then expressed as a sequential time-bound implementation plan with clear delineation of duties and jobs. The conceptual strategic framework is then put into practice and the outcomes are dynamically monitored. The effective implementation of corporate strategy yields desired results. A strategic mission can be sold to stakeholders by projection of realistic and achievable business objectives of profitability and customer satisfaction. If we can successfully demonstrate that the company’s profitability and customer satisfaction are two sides of the same coin, and develop an organisational culture for its attainment, we can sell a strategic mission to the stakeholders. The environmental dimensions of Cquay Technologies are technological, political, and economic. The technological dimension includes the spread of web and software technology in coming times, and how the users perceive its use, in the multi-business information technology industry. The political dimensions consist of national regulatory environment of

Choose from the attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Choose from the attachment - Essay Example A case in point is the Japanese philosophy of life; the Japanese history was mainly impacted by religion including Shinto, which is the primary religion of Japan, Buddhism from India and Confucianism the Chinese way of life. A significant number of modifications and transformations have been experienced in the world and to the manner in which individuals live and labor. It has established new opportunities and developed new impacts on the universe. Globalization is a great upsurge of transformation that has influenced the universe. The influences have been increasing over the world, particularly to the non-western region where the excessive transformations had occurred at least twice amid westernization and upgrading. Impacts of globalization rapidity are because of the fast advancements on technology, information, as well as on finances. This paper has main objectives of demonstrating the criticism of globalization and its impacts on the local diversity. Impacts of Globalization on Local Diversity Currently, people live in a world in which media; regulation, companies, markets, and research in sciences are global, cosmopolitan, as well as multiethnic. A significant number of individuals are becoming apprehensive of this present world order, fearing that it is being developed on the victories of one or another person, or culture or status. Certainly, the procedure of globalization interrupts delicate nations and interrupts customary identities, however, globalization does not essentially imply uniformity. Undeniably, in some reverences globalization promotes and permits differences. For instance, nearly each city of any size in the entire world currently provides residences the choice of food inclusive of French, Italian, Chinese, and Thai among others. Multiculturalism is all over the universe in all sectors including education, finance, and computer production business among others. It is stated that even a number of world`s ethnic individuals have linked to an international relationship that shares information by technology. The conception of multiculturalism pursues ways in which such values could get on with indulgent and identify one another. In addition, globalization has also had an impact on local politics, where they are being reconfigured along lines of local diversity. The new pattern of globalization will continue to be in existence. Nevertheless, in order to achieve this, it is vital to attain a new dimension, a worldwide agreement to implement controls, payments, and assessments while allowing the unrestricted movement of business. Therefore, every country must embrace a system that has excellent information and international collaboration in order to guarantee security that will be able to avert an international financial slowdown, and be in a position to defeat violence. Thus, globalization in some cases has resulted into insecurity within the local setting thus interfering with the local diversity. Accordingly, global tr ading and the radical expansion of global markets have massively affected the economy of the world, particularly in the user growth in the whole world affecting the values, dialectal and communication, as well as the standard of living of people. The forces of globalization are becoming a big threat to cultural variances in society and customary ways of life. Globalization or the increase in the scope and size of human connection, collaboration, and interdependency is inevitable.

Human resources management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human resources management - Essay Example This field is one that will continue to last for a long period of time until some other discipline is introduced by the management gurus which is considered better and more up to date than the human resources management ideology which is ruling the roost as of now. Within the management concerns, the need is to understand how management and leadership play their dire roles within the making up of the human resources management function that individuals know of. This is the reason why management and leadership tenets are being appreciated by people because they bring in a sense of empathy with how things are carved out and how these will continue to be in the coming times. The management understanding is based on the premise that employees will be led by someone who knows how to take care of the people working under him and how they will relate with one another on an organizational level. How management turns out to be the savior for organizations today is a point that needs much atte ntion (Rees 2001). This is because organizations know that if the management concerns are paying heed to the likes and dislikes of its employees whilst at the same time concentrating on manifesting its own role, then perhaps it is doing something worthwhile. However, this needs patience on the part of the organization which is doing its best to bring about a change for the better of all and sundry. The ideology behind it is to bring a change which will instill a new direction and a sense of purpose which was felt missing from the related ranks. Similarly, leadership is of dire value because it asks of the employees to be commanded by a leader that has his own will, direction, and authority. It gives him the room to maneuver how he wants to see things through and basically to lead people through his meticulous ways. The leaders always find it hard in the beginning to bring drastic changes but with the passage of time and perseverance, they are able to bring the amendments that they h ad already planned for in the past, as far as organizational requirements and tasks were concerned. Leadership is also an interesting topic because it touches upon areas of significance, gives the employees something to think about and basically makes everyone within the organization something to derive learning from (Hopkins 1998). A good leader allows his team to grow and develop with the passage of time, and with this professional growth and development is just a part and parcel as there are many other dimensions that are readily paid heed within the thick of things. Hence leadership that knows how to instill a sense of pride within the employees’ realms is indeed the leadership that knows how to make do with things that are available at its disposal. When it comes to recruitment measures, human resources management’s role is well cut out. What this implies is the need to comprehend that human resources management considers recruitment as one of the most significant aspects of its institution (Boxall 2007). It suggests for the amendments that are required on its part. What is more important is the fact that the human resources management department knows beforehand that all recruitment and selection entities will be covered by the lengths and breadths of this unit. If this happens on a consistent basis, there will be room for improvement as and when required and minor changes will be the order of the day.

Death of A Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Death of A Marriage - Essay Example In my lifÐ µ, and spÐ µcifically in my marriagÐ µ, I havÐ µ undÐ µrgonÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µs which support thÐ µ points of both of thÐ µsÐ µ authors. I havÐ µ liÐ µd to protÐ µct my partnÐ µr’s fÐ µÃ µlings, and wÐ µ havÐ µ liÐ µd to oursÐ µlvÐ µs togÐ µthÐ µr as a tÐ µam, whilÐ µ thinking that wÐ µ wÐ µrÐ µ bÐ µing moral. As Еricsson notÐ µs, wÐ µ all liÐ µ. It is nÐ µarly impossiblÐ µ to gÐ µt through lifÐ µ without strÐ µtching thÐ µ truth; it is oftÐ µn in our sÐ µlf intÐ µrÐ µst to do so, and wÐ µ Ð µxcusÐ µ thÐ µ bÐ µhavior if it gÐ µts us ahÐ µad. â€Å"WÐ µ liÐ µ. WÐ µ all do. WÐ µ Ð µxaggÐ µratÐ µ, wÐ µ minimizÐ µ, wÐ µ avoid confrontation, wÐ µ sparÐ µ pÐ µoplÐ µ's fÐ µÃ µlings, wÐ µ convÐ µniÐ µntly forgÐ µt, wÐ µ kÐ µÃ µp sÐ µcrÐ µts, wÐ µ justify lying to thÐ µ big-guy institutions. LikÐ µ most pÐ µoplÐ µ, I indulgÐ µ in small falsÐ µhoods† (Еricsson, 2011). In my m arriagÐ µ, my spousÐ µ and I both rÐ µalizÐ µ this, and wÐ µ also rÐ µalizÐ µ it about Ð µach othÐ µr. WhÐ µn wÐ µ fight, wÐ µ may call Ð µach othÐ µr liars, but on a basic lÐ µvÐ µl, wÐ µ both know that lying is somÐ µthing wÐ µ also do togÐ µthÐ µr. Еricsson dÐ µscribÐ µs this act of lying togÐ µthÐ µr in social groups, in hÐ µr Ð µssay as groupthink.

The Similarity and Differences between Chinese Supermarkets and Essay

The Similarity and Differences between Chinese Supermarkets and British Supermarkets - Essay Example Cohen named the brand Tesco Tea even before the business acquired the name Tesco. The name Tesco was drawn from the initials of a partner in tea suppliers TE Stock well and Jack’s surname Cohen. The first Tesco supermarket in the UK was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak and in 1932; Tesco became a private limited company. This enabled the company to expand its operations using the additional capital from shareholders. In 1934, Jack Cohen acquired a plot in Edmonton to establish Tesco’s headquarters and a warehouse (Tesco Plc, 2012). Tesco’s stocks were first sold at the Stock exchange in 1947 at a price of 25p. The entry to the stock exchange was a huge step in terms of additional capital and Tesco’s competitiveness. The first Tesco supermarket was opened in Maldon in 1956. Tesco made a huge step in 1960 when the company acquired 212 stores in Northern England and 144 stores between 1964 and 1965. Tesco opened its first petrol station in 1974 and by 1982, Tescoà ¢â‚¬â„¢s annual sales had exceeded 2 billion. A plan to build 29 additional stores began in 1987 and the first Tesco Express was established in 1994. Today, Tesco has established its operations in 14 markets in Europe, Asia and the United States. In these markets, Tesco develops its competitiveness through pricing strategies, high quality products, a wide range of products and constant innovation. Tesco is the third largest retailer globally after War-Mart and Carrefour (Tesco Plc, 2012). 1.1.2 Carrefour in China The Fournier and Defforey families established the Carrefour Company in 1959. The company opened its first supermarket in Haute-Savoie in the following year. Carrefour explored a new concept of hypermarkets in 1963 and established its first hypermarket in Sainte-Geneva ve-des-bois in the same year. Another hypermarket was opened in Belgium in 1969 and in the following year, Carrefour was listed in the Paris stock exchange. The first Carrefour in Spain was established in 197 3, Brazil hypermarket in 1975 and in Argentina in 1982. Other hypermarkets were opened in Taiwan, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, and Malaysia in the 1990s. Carrefour entered the Chinese market in 1995 and managed to open 100 stores in a span on 12 years. By 2006, Carrefour had 40, 000 employees, 98% of which were Chinese. Carrefour was serving over 300 million customers annually. The Carrefour group purchases products from about 22,300 suppliers from China. Carrefour entered the Chinese market through a joint venture with Zhong Chuang to form Jia Chaung (Carrefour, 2012). Changes in the Chinese market have caused Carrefour to evaluate and adjust its management strategy from time to time. The management strategy differs across various regions in China due to difference in market characteristics. Carrefour’s aim is to be the preferred retailer in every market. Carrefour works towards ensuring that each store attracts and retains its customers. This is achieved through offering high qua lity products, competitiveness prices, and high quality customer service. The company analyses customers’ needs in every market and provides products and service that meet those needs effectively. Social commitment and good employee relations have also helped Carrefour to expand its client base in local and international markets. The company has adopted a client-oriented culture that enables it to understand its customers and therefore offer better services. Another strategy in Carrefour is continuous

Case Analysis on Satyam Essay Example for Free

Case Analysis on Satyam Essay This case illustrates the downfall of Satyam, one of the biggest IT giants in India, because of the fraudulent activities carried out by its founder Mr. Ramalinga Raju and his associates. Business world at that point had garnered immense respect for Satyam in terms of risk management and corporate governance practices and Satyam was ranked as the fourth largest IT Company in India. This was the case before December 16, 2008, when Satyam promoter Mr. Ramalinga Raju proposed his intent to acquire Matyas Infra and Matyas Properties. When this announcement of acquisition reached to the public, investors had a tremendously negative reaction towards Satyam’s decision. Satyam founder eventually admitted fraud in a financial statement revealing that he had been cooking the books of Satyam for quite some time. Raju and his team manipulated cash balance, bank balance, accrued interest figures, overstated debtors and understated liability in order to manipulate the share prices of the company in the market by misleading its investors and the public. After admission of fraud, share prices of Satyam sharply fell down and Satyam was eventually removed from the New York stock exchange and the Bombay stock exchange. The US investors initiated several class action suits against Satyam for its fraudulent activities and top executives of Satyam were charged with violation of federal securities laws by issuing false and misleading financial statements. The Satyam scandal has shaken the roots of the Indian financial market and has put a big question mark on corporate governance and how far corporations (people) can go to enhance their own personal benefits. Major Issues in the Case Corporate governance Satyam failed to follow the corporate governance practices that every firm was meant to follow, it looked for loop hopes that could be tweaked to enhance the company’s profit and hide liabilities from the investors as well as the general public. The Satyam Board was composed of ‘chairman-friendly’ directors who failed to question managements strategy. They were also extremely slow to act when it was known that the company was in financial distress. The Board ignored critical information related to financial wrongdoings before the company ultimately collapsed. Agency problems The Chairman (Ramalinga Raju) and the CFO (Srinivas Vadlamani) worked together to defraud the stakeholders for their personal gain, while the investors thought that the company was generating revenues, and investing in different areas. Clearly, the Chairman and CFO had personal gain in mind rather than company benefit. There also seems to be conflicting interest of the management and the shareholders i. e. the management wanted to take over two construction companies Maytas properties and Maytas Infra which was against the interest of the shareholders. Arguments It’s hard to imagine a leading company like Satyam manipulating its financial statements but in this highly competitive industry it is necessary to remain profitable in order to survive in the long-run. This is perhaps the reason why Satyam resorted to manipulating its financial statement. We can see that there were large amount of manipulation in the income statement as well as in the balance sheet of Satyam’s financial statements. Manipulation in the Income Statement The income statement consisted of some inconsistencies that were made intentionally to maintain the level of profitability of the company. The amount of sales revenue has been overstated by Rs. 588 crore i. e. was recorded as Rs. 2700 crore instead of Rs. 2112 crore. The operating profit margin was recorded as Rs. 649 crore (i. e. 24 % of the sale revenue) when the actual operating profit margin was Rs. 61 crore (i. e. 3 % of the sales revenue). The number of employee was also manipulated i. e. it was recorded as 52000 employees when the actual number of employees was only 43622 employees. Manipulation in the Balance Sheet  The balance sheet also seemed to have some level of inconsistencies from the actual value that were done intentionally to show a strong liquidity position of the company. The cash balance that was recorded as Rs. 5361 crore consisted of non-existence amount of Rs. 5040 crore i. e. the actual cash balance was Rs. 321 crore. The assets side also consisted of accrued interest of Rs. 376 crore which was non-existent and the debtors amount was overstated by Rs. 490 crore i. e. the actual value of debtor was Rs. 2161 crore whereas the recorded value was Rs. 2651 crore. The liability side of he balance sheet was understated by Rs. 1230 crore which was the amount borrowed from the known sources by Mr. Raju to ensure the operations are running. Even after such manipulations the regulatory authorities, the independent executive and the external auditors were not able to raise the red flag which shows that there is a huge hole in the corporate governance. The company also seems to be having conflicting interest between the management and the shareholders. The company was looking to diversify its business by taking over the construction companies Maytas Properties and Maytas Infra at a cost of 1. billion dollars. Satyam was looking to enter the real-estate business but this was a surprising strategic decision for the shareholders. The shareholders wanted Satyam to expand in related businesses. The negative reaction of the shareholders toward the decision caused the share prices to fall by 70% in a just a few days of the decision. Managerial Implication Agency problem The problem of motivating one party to act on behalf of another can be called the principal-agent problem or agency problem for short. (Wikipedia, 2013) Agency problems arise in a variety of different contexts. The agency problem usually refers to a conflict of interest between a companys management and the companys stockholders. The manager, acting as the agent for the shareholders, or principals, is supposed to make decisions that will maximize shareholder wealth. However, the decision must be in the favor of all parties but it was not the case with Satyam. Satyam decided to acquire Maytas Properties and Maytas Infra. The shareholders resisted the decision claiming it to be unrelated business and acquisition should not take place with Maytas which became a finishing blow to the company. Corporate governance and business ethics Corporate governance refers to the system by which corporations are directed and controlled. The governance structure specifies the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different participants in the corporation (such as the board of directors, managers, shareholders, creditors, auditors, regulators, and other stakeholders) and specifies the rules and procedures for making decisions in corporate affairs. (Wikipedia, 2013) Governance is a mechanism for monitoring the actions, policies and decisions of corporations. On a quarterly basis, Satyam’s earnings grew. Mr. Raju admitted that the fraud which he committed amounted to nearly $276 million. In the process, Satyam violated all the rules of corporate governance. The Satyam scam has been an example for following poor governance practices. The issue of governance rose at Satyam because of non fulfillment of the obligation of the company towards its stakeholders like separating roles of board and management, and also the role of CEO and chairman. Business ethics reflects the philosophy of business, one of whose aims is to determine the fundamental purposes of a company. Business ethics are implemented in order to ensure that a certain required level of trust exists between consumers and various forms of market participants with businesses (Investopedia, 2013). The culture in Satyam, especially dominated by the board, symbolized such an unethical culture. Satyam as the smallest of the four players was under pressure to show good results in order to survive. Apart from this there was greed causing them to indulge in unethical behavior. On the one hand, Raju’s rise to stardom in the corporate world joined with immense pressure to impress investors made him a compelled leader to deliver outstanding results. On the contrary, Mr. Raju had to suppress his own morals and values in favor of the greater good of the company. The lure of big compensation to members further encouraged such behavior. In the end the fraud came to an end and the implications were great. Alternatives The failure of company like Satyam which had been awarded for its corporate governance and risk management creates a dilemma for the investors as to which company to believe and invest. Hence, investors, board, government intervention, accounting standards and ethics and Code of conduct must all work hand in hand to resolve the issue. Investors play an important role in detecting fraudulent activities of a company. They must ensure that information about the company is latest and from trustable source. Hence, they should take more care and compare the trend of the company with the industry before investing. Board must monitor the ethical policies and the way they are being maintained in the company. Transparency and effectiveness in auditing and regulatory checks through internal and external auditors and monitoring agencies should be maintained as it helps to build and maintain trust and loyalty from stakeholders, increase goodwill and investor’s confidence and establish long lasting credibility for the company. Government should play an active role in company’s affair, frequently checks of the company’s performance and take necessary steps to discourage malpractice and falsification. There is a need to create strong measures to prevent fraudulent activities from happening in future and the auditing firms also need to be brought under the regulatory umbrella. Moreover, all companies need to practice ethical behavior. Every company should also have its own fraud detection mechanism. It is also important for companies to establish an organizational culture, which supports ethical conduct through a code of conduct and properly laid out corporate governance policies and procedures.

Scandinavian Civil Law

Scandinavian Civil Law Introduction to Scandinavian Civil Law Scandinavian civil law applies to the five Scandinavian countries, namely Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Norway. Historically, it has it roots set in Germanic law, but Scandinavian civil law is now more closely akin to the civil law of the common law countries such as the UK and Australia. History of Scandinavian Civil Law Scandinavian civil law has not always been recognised as a unified system of law for the five Scandinavian countries. Until the early 9th century, Scandinavian civil law did not exist as a concept at all; instead, the five nations all had their own independent legal and administrative systems. Despite the five countries having their own systems, legally, they were all based on similar theories and it was not long until they started to merge into one body of Scandinavian civil law. Initially, Scandinavian civil law was entirely unwritten; it was based on customs and social development that gradually became a codified system. The customary type of Scandinavian civil law was managed by group meetings which could be attended by all men. This system of Scandinavian civil law worked well until the 11th century when the rules became too difficult to manage and some basic laws were codified into a written text. Generally, Scandinavian civil law was put together by private individuals, although increasingly the king became involved. By the 13th century, the body of Scandinavian law was largely complete in its current form. Scandinavian civil law became much more unified across the five countries, over the centuries. However, there were still differences regarding where the laws originated from. For example, the Gulathing Law originated from Norway, in the 11th century, whereas the Law of Uppland came from Sweden, in the 13th century. These early laws formed the basis of future Scandinavian civil law; however, they were not in the same format as modern Scandinavian civil law. The first codification of Scandinavian civil law started with the areas of matrimony, property, inheritance and contract, although gradually this extended to cover the areas of administrative and criminal law. Religious law was dealt with entirely separately, with its own court and justice decisions. Despite the early shift towards codifying Scandinavian civil law, the first common law system that was centrally arranged was actually criminal law, particularly in the area of manslaughter and blood feuds. Religious law also started to become intertwined into the Scandinavian civil law, primarily in order to ensure that assisting the poor was something written down in law. Power also shifted towards the king, with King Magnus’s Swedish code of 1350 being the first of its kind, placing power on the King’s officials to manage the commencement of criminal proceedings. Although this only dealt with the criminal law element of the legal system, it was, nevertheless, the beginning of the Scandinavian civil system as we know it today. By 1380, Denmark and Norway had come under the rule of one king, although the legal systems remained independent. This unification was the first step towards the Scandinavian civil law becoming one system. Over the next three hundred years, the Scandinavian civil law system gradually gained codification and unification across the two countries, influences of which filtered into the neighbouring countries. The codes that were developed by the two Scandinavian countries were extremely well written and the envy of many of other countries. The wording in this code of Scandinavian civil law was both simple and easy to understand. Sweden was one of the first countries to accept the new code, actively, and it became clear that this was set to be the widely accepted Scandinavian civil law code. Scandinavian Civil Law Today Whilst the historic codes were both popular and widely accepted, the complexity of modern life has meant that Scandinavian civil law has more recently become regulated by more and more statutes. During this modern development, the five Scandinavian countries have all largely followed the same basic theories, yet have generated their own legal standards. Essentially, all Scandinavian civil law is based on the Swedish laws of the early 18th century. Although there is a degree of separation in terms of legal structures in the Scandinavian countries, there is still the agreement between the states to cooperate on matters of legislation. This agreement was entered into in 1872 and has become more and more important and the foundation of Scandinavian civil law as we know it today. Typically, areas such as commerce and contracts have always ensured that there is conformity amongst the Scandinavian states. One of the main benefits of having a largely uniform Scandinavian civil law is that trade and movement of both people and commerce is much more fluently achieved across the Scandinavian countries. Scandinavian civil law is a unique blend of many different legal systems, although most notably German and French laws. This influence is primarily down to the way in which the law is taught in Scandinavia, with many Scandinavian based lawyers studying in France and Germany before returning to practise in Scandinavia. Despite the unique format of the Scandinavian civil law, it does largely follow in line with other European countries when it comes to matters of international trade and shipping. Although it has been necessary for Scandinavian civil law to become suitably in line with other European states, the Scandinavian states have opted to stay as straightforward and close to real life practicalities, as possible. This is particularly evident when it comes to welfare law. In a similar way to the English law courts, the judges are largely responsible for making the law, although in a different way to the English courts. For example, there is no principle of binding precedent, which makes Scandinavian civil law particularly flexible and able to deal with changes is social needs as and when they arise. Scandinavian civil law is very flexible, yet sufficiently structured to allow the Scandinavian states to compete on an entirely level footing with other European states for the purposes of commercial contracts. Many legal theorists believe that Scandinavian civil law is, in fact, a model code which should be considered by many other modern countries across the world.

The Significance Of Dreaming :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander the Great dreamt of a dancing satyr before conquering Tyre. An interpreter said his dream meant, â€Å"thine is Tyre†, which fortified Alexander before the battle (Boxer 1). President Lincoln dreamt about his own death before it actually occurred several days later, but ignored the dream (Cartwright 3). Is it possible that if he had taken his dream more seriously he could have taken precautions that would have spared his life on that fateful evening at the theater? The course of U.S. history could have been altered just as history was altered when Alexander the Great dreamt of a dancing satyr that led to the courage to conquer Tyre.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Understanding dreams and why we have them is important, but shouldn’t influence how we react to our daily lives. Many diverse hypotheses have been made on how and why we dream and there is a wide-spread disagreement by psychologists and scientists to explain these strange happenings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the foremost authorities on dreaming was Sigmund Freud, who attributed dreaming to psychological causes. Freud said, â€Å"The dream hides not a divine message, but a wish from the dreamer’s unconscious† (Boxer 1). He felt that all dreams were tied to desires that a person wasn’t aware of consciously, and dreaming allowed these desires to be fulfilled (Evans 84).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By way of contrast, Dr. J. Allen Hobson does not subscribe at all to Freud’s psychological notions, and suggests that dreams are the product of brain stem activity. He says a wish can’t be a cause of a dream because the non-thinking part of the brain, the brain stem, activates a dream. â€Å"Hobson believes that neurophysiology even explains why dreams seem so emotionally loaded†¦because the brain stem activates the emotional center--the limbic brain—and because the ‘startle network,’ the part of the brain stem that speeds the heart and breathing is turned on† (Boxer 3). G. William Domhoff, Ph.D., of the University of California, Santa Cruz, believes that dreams reveal the cultural stereotypes and preoccupations of men and women (Boxer 4). â€Å"You break down a verbal report of a dream into its constituent elements and count the number of times each element appears† (4). Analyses of dreams, counting the number of men versus women, friendly versus aggressive interactions, indoor versus outdoor locations, day versus night time, etc., can find out a dreamers preoccupation’s, explains Domnoff (4). Analyses like these can prove what men and women both notice more in their dreams.

Should Marijuana be Legalized? Essay -- The Debate Over Marijuana

Weed, bud, ganja, chronic, dro, herbs, grass, trees, pot, reefer; these are all names of the one drug that causes so much dispute, marijuana. Loved by so many, and hated by the law. It’s a two sided argument which everyone has their own opinion on. Is there any specific reason why weed should be illegal, or is the government just making money from catching people with it? Is there any real medical purpose for marijuana, or is it just a gateway drug for kids? These are the questions everyone should know the answers to. Whose side are you on? First, when trying to decide what you think about the legalization of marijuana, you need to stop to listen, and actually understand where each side of the argument is coming from. Some or even half of the U.S. argues, â€Å"The drug marijuana, is equally or less as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco products. Telling the people they can or can’t smoke or do what they want to their bodies, is an invasion the people’s right to freedom. If marijuana is legal, then it would be sold at a cheaper price, so the users of marijuana would not have to steal as much and it would lower the theft rate. There are all sorts of medical purposes, and it treats cancer patients and other people who need a treatment, but cannot take any other medications. Less people would be getting hurt and murdered in the streets over marijuana related drug disputes. The government could put tax on it and make more money and maybe get us out of the economies horrible recession. The cops could sto p wasting their time on little problems like marijuana, and start focusing on more serious crimes. The courts and jails could make more time for more serious offenses as well. Other drug dealers would lose a lot of ... ...history.html Science Blog. Study says marijuana is no gateway drug (December 4, 2006). Retrieved on August 11th from http://scienceblog.com/12116/study-says-marijuana-no-gateway-drug/ Kimberly Back. EduBook. Why Marijuana should be illegal (6-11-2009) retrieved on August 11th from http://www.edubook.com/why-marijuana-should-be-illegal/7039/ James Vaughn. Why Marijuana should not be legalized (November 3, 2005) retrieved on August 11th from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/13115/why_marijuana_should_not_be_legalized.html High Times. AlterNet. The top ten reasons marijuana should be legal (September 1st, 2007) retrieved on August 11th from http://www.alternet.org/drugs/60959/ Drug War Facts. Retrieved on August 11th from http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/53 Drug War Clock. Retrieved on August 11th from http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

Author-function :: Reading Literature Essays

Author-function In the second chapter of his book The Order of Books, Roger Chartier deconstructs the way that past and present readers think of authors of texts. He uses Foucault’s term â€Å"author-function,† which Foucault used in his famous essay â€Å"What is an Author?,† to describe this concept. â€Å"Author-function† is an elusive term. In essence, it refers to the way that a reader’s concept of the "author" functions in his reading of a text. His interpretation of a text is shaped by his understanding of its author. Without any concept of who the author of a text is, it is easy to develop many different interpretations of that text. However, in light of an author’s gender, ethnicity, time period, political leanings, or other applicable known information, the text often leans toward one plausible interpretation. For example, a reader’s interpretation of Invisible Man is greatly colored by her knowledge of its author Ralph Ellison as a black man fighting racial discrimination. Her interpretation of the same novel would be quite different if the author was really a white person with a history of racist action. Modern readers rely heavily on their knowledge of a text’s author, often without realizing it, to shape their interpretations of that text. Necessary to a more complete understanding of the concept of author-function is an understanding of the social function of authors through the ages which Chartier lays out in â€Å"Figures of the Author.† Chartier agrees with Foucault, an influential literary theorist who claims that the author-function changed in the 19th century when copyright laws were established. With these new laws, â€Å"a system of ownership came into being . . . strict rules concerning author’s rights, author-publisher relations, rights of reproduction, and related matters were enacted† (qtd. in Chartier 30). In other words, with copyright laws, the author was seen as the source of information and was given credit (and money) for that information. Chartier agrees that author-function did change with these changing ideas of information as property, but he claims that the idea of the author-function is older and broader. According to Chartier, there is evidence that the author served a functional role in the reading of texts in Medieval Europe (31, 59). Foucault acknowledges that in the Middle Ages, anonymous authorship of â€Å"literary† texts was common, while the veracity of scientific texts was judged by the authority of the text’s author (31).

Nvq 3 Assignment 307 Avi

307 AIV Explain TWO ways of helping other practitioners to understand the different systems used to record information in adult social care settings. Answer: Explain them, let them shadow you, monitor them as they use them. 206 AI Explain THREE differences between a WORKING relationship and a PERSONAL relationship. Answer: A personal relationship is one where your personal life and extra curricular activities and social life are involved. A work relationship is another way of describing a relationship with your coworker. You spend time together at work, you work well together, but you have little or no contact outside of work.It's strictly professional. 206 AII Give TWO examples of different working relationship in an adult social care setting Answer: The relationship between manager and care worker, the relationship between care worker and care worker, the relationship between nursing staff and care staff†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. and so on. 206 AIII Explain why it is important that so cial care workers to work in partnership with individuals using the service and their family Answer: It is very important that you work in partnership with your colleagues and all other people.This will include carers, families, advocates, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, other health professionals, social workers, voluntary organisations and other people. Others people may be able to provide useful information to support you in your work and you may be able to provide useful information to support them in being part of the individual’s lives. This is good partnership working. If there are communication difficulties with service users. A carer or family member can share information with you about how you can best communicate with an individual. 206 AIVIdentify THREE ways of working that can help improve partnership working Answer: 1) it is important to work with others as we have a common goal to protect from harm such as illness abuse or injury to ensure we are all involved in decision making to contribute to the growth and development of the whole team 2) using your skills to the best of your ability, train new staff, attend training,know your own role and responsibilitys 3) seek advice from your manager if you had issues in your working relationships. seek advice from your manager if you were unable to resolve the conflict yourselfTask D Presentation or report Prepare a presentation or report on an issue or area of public concern related to the care profession. Your presentation or report should include: †¢ A description of the issue or area of public concern raised †¢ An outline of the different points of view regarding the issue or area of public concern raised †¢ A description of how the issue or area of public concern has affected service provision and methods of working †¢ A description of how public opinion is affected by issues and areas of concern in either the health, social care or children’s and young pe ople's sectorsThe fallout from Panorama's programme on 31 May, Undercover Care, is being felt across social care. The BBC screened undercover footage of people with learning disabilities being choked, pushed and taunted by members of staff at Winterbourne View hospital, run by Castlebeck. Arrests made/hospital closed Police have arrested and bailed 11 people in relation to the case, on suspicion of ill-treatment under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, while Castlebeck has suspended two managers and 11 front line members of staff. The 24-bed hospital has now closed.The provider has apologised unreservedly for the abuse and commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out an investigation into its services. However, in a damning report on Winterbourne View, the Care Quality Commission accused Castlebeck of â€Å"misleading† it by failing in its duty to report serious incidents to the regulator. This was followed by a damning report on Castlebeck as a whole by the CQC, which found t hat half of its services were not meeting essential standards. Since then, two other Castlebeck services for people with learning disabilities, Rose Villa and Arden Vale, have closed after the CQC threatened legal action.Whistleblowing concerns Concerns at Winterbourne View came to light after a charge nurse raised the issue with the hospital in October 2010 and his allegations were passed on to the local authority, South Gloucester shire Council, in its capacity as lead safeguarding agency, and then relayed to the CQC in December. However, Castlebeck admits that its own whistleblowing procedures were not followed, and a multi-disciplinary safeguarding meeting into the issue was not held until February 2011.The CQC also failed to contact the whistleblower, which it admitted prevented it from taking swift action. It has subsequently disciplined a member of staff over the case, while it has also emerged that the CQC did not conduct any inspections of learning disability hospitalsbetwe en October 2010, when concerns were raised at Winterbourne, and January 2011 The CQC is also conducting an internal review into its role, while South Gloucester shire Safeguarding Adult Board has launched a serious case review, which will be chaired by adult protection expert Margaret Flynn.Care services minister Paul Burstow is considering an independent review into the case, to examine failings by the CQC and safeguarding agencies, and will decide whether to call a probe on the basis of the SCR's findings. In addition, Burstow has called on the CQC to carry out a series of unannounced inspections of learning disability hospitals such as Winterbourne View. This comes with use of private hospitals on the increase and in the wake of two national audits of specialist health provision for learning disabled people in recent years, both of which identified poor standards.Commissioners are also subjecting learning disability hospitals to extra scrutiny in the wake of the scandal, while th e number of inspections by the CQC has rocketed. Experts demand reform However, 86 learning disability experts and organisations have written to government to say this is not enough, and that learning disability services need wholesale reform, including an end to placements in hospitals and investment in alternatives in the community.Though these placements are designed for short-term assessment and treatment, aCommunity Care investigation found that patients had been resident in them for an average of almost two years, with one in five in hospitals for at least five years. However, a government-commissioned report has warned that there are few incentives for providers or commissioners to overhaul private hospital services. Good practiseCommunity Care has published a number of good practise pieces responding to the case: Why institutional services such as Winterbourne are still being commissioneddespite years of expert guidance calling for community-based alternatives to be used ins tead. How staff training and good recruitment practises can ensure good-quality residential care for people with learning disabilities. Training tips for providers working with adults with challenging behaviour, from the British Institute of Learning Disabilities.Community Care has also published a number of opinion pieces responding to the case: Social worker Phil Collins says the profession must stand up and be counted in hospital and secure settings. The manager of a private mental health hospital examines the barriers to good safeguarding facing the sector. The British Institute of Learning Disabilities' Sharon Paley sets out her blueprint for avoiding another Winterbourne View.A council contract monitoring officer argues that it is becoming harder to tackle poor quality care because of cuts. A therapist questions the claims of some learning disability services to offer ‘therapeutic environments'. Castlebeck was urged to put values at the heart of its services by Andy Lusk , director of autism services at the charity Ambitious about Autism. Debate is raging online on what the case means for care services for vulnerable people. Have your say on Community Care’s Care Space forum.

No one take birth as a criminal Essay

No matter one make a crime but he/she may be driven by conditions so one could thought they were humans if they did not did it constantly for their sake criminals deserve to be punished. Most of the people would not hesitate to claim that those who break the law should be punished ans]d put into prison as long as possible in case they continue to endager our lives and property. Also, if criminals are not given any punishment they may commit crimes again and again.Crime in general is the worst thing a person can do because it violates the law and it is a violation against the victims.Therefore, to protect the security of the society they should be punished according to the severity of the crime. So, regardless of what sort of crime someone is commiting they have to pay for their crime. think that the criminals should not be punished as they are not born criminal. They become criminals due to the circumstances faced by them . A person does not commit a crime without any reason. The bible also says ‘HATE THE SIN AND NOT THE SINNER ‘. So the criminals should not be given the punishment but the crime should be punished One thing is clear – there are far too many people in American prisons. There are far too many ‘criminals ‘ in prison despite the fact that they pose no significant threat to society. As a result – otherwise productive citizens are sitting in a jail cell costing taxpayers money to look after. Despite this, there are many non-violent crimes which warrant jail time. Without this, the penalties for breaking the law might be so mild, that people will take calculated risks. For instance, when I was a child, I was told not to eat more than two cookies. However, the punishment if caught would be that I would have to return the excess cookies. Therefore, from my point of view, it made sense for me to always try and get away with extra cookies. If the punishment had been a spanking, being grounded etc – then I would have factored in the risk, and would have decided against taking extra cookies. Imagine if CEO ‘s took the same view towards corporate fraud. Now, I am not suggesting that people who break any infraction of the law should go to prison, nor am I suggesting that the current system is perfect, or even remotely close to perfect for that matter. However, I do feel that there are many non-violent crimes which merit a prison term – not community service, not a suspended sentence, not house arrest and not probation – but prison. Here are a few examples: 1) Repeatedly driving drunk or with a suspended sentence. 2) Defrauding seniors out of their life savings. 3) Ignoring the constitution and illegally wiretapping American citizens. 4) Making hundreds of millions of dollars while falsifying documents to trick investors into investing in your company. 5) Selling crack. Do we really want these people on the streets? Do we really want to give them a slap on the wrist? Do we really want to give these people a chance to escape and go to a South American country to retire? Absolutely not. These people might not kill, but they are every bit as dangerous as the drunk who punches a cop in the face No man take birth as a criminal. Their circumstances force them to do what their heart never wills. Their circumstances can be anything it can be due to poverty, ailments or shortage of food. As in the drama bishops candlesticks the convict steals to save his wife from suffering which he never wanted to do. But there was no way other than stealing. But after stealing as by his luck he was caught. And the punishment given to him was too big for his shoes. This was just an example. Imagine how many people in this world would be suffering like this.Instead of understanding the pros and cons of the prisoner he is chained and whipped behind the bars. After a great suffering in the jail they just convert the criminals into a wild beast. Criminals are also human beings and they need to be consulted.No man is born great and no man is a criminal.They want to get wok but there is no employement for them because of shortage of wealth. Society should treat them like normal people.They should be consulted and given a job.People are the future.People should change the world.In this generation by stealing or by lazing around there is no escape.They have to be preached in a certain manner. By these i conclude that criminals arent wicked and do not deserve punishment. We can leave even 1000 criminals to escape but nowhere should one innocent be prosecuted I do not agree with the statement that All Criminals Are Wicked And Deserve Punishment. No body is a criminal from birth. It is the environment in which he grows that makes him a criminal or a respected man. Some people turn into criminals due to poverty as they are not able to nourish their family as theConvict in the Bishop’s Candlesticks. He is a good man but his poverty made him worst. Crime needs punishment but first one must look into the reason of the crime and then punish the culprit. Nowadays it is seen that criminals are roaming free and innocent people are sent to prison.One wrong step can turn innocent people into criminals.To remove crime and criminals we have to clean and purify this world and there should bejustice for everyone. o man take birth as a criminal. Their circumstances force them to do what their heart never wills. Their circumstances can be anything it can be due to poverty, ailments or shortage of food. As in the drama bishops candlesticks the convict steals to save his wife from suffering which he never wanted to do. But there was no way other than stealing. But after stealing as by his luck he was caught. And the punishment given to him was too big for his shoes. This was just an example. Imagine how many people in this world would be suffering like this.Instead of understanding the pros and cons of the prisoner he is chained and whipped behind the bars. After a great suffering in the jail they just convert the criminals into a wild beast. Criminals are also human beings and they need to be consulted.No man is born great and no man is a criminal.They want to get wok but there is no employement for them because of shortage of wealth. Society should treat them like normal people.They should be consulted and given a job.People are the future.People should change the world.In this generation by stealing or by lazing around there is no escape.They have to be preached in a certain manner. No man take birth as a criminal. Their circumstances force them to do what their heart never wills. Their circumstances can be anything it can be due to poverty, ailments or shortage of food. As in the drama bishops candlesticks the convict steals to save his wife from suffering which he never wanted to do. But there was no way other than stealing. But after stealing as by his luck he was caught. And the punishment given to him was too big for his shoes. This was just an example. Imagine how many people in  this world would be suffering like this.Instead of understanding the pros and cons of the prisoner he is chained and whipped behind the bars. After a great suffering in the jail they just convert the criminals into a wild beast. Criminals are also human beings and they need to be consulted.No man is born great and no man is a criminal.They want to get wok but there is no employement for them because of shortage of wealth. Society should treat them like normal people.They should be consulted and given a job.People are the future.People should change the world.In this generation by stealing or by lazing around there is no escape.They have to be preached in a certain manner. By these i conclude that criminals arent wicked and do not deserve punishment. we can leave even 1000 criminals to escape but nowhere should one innocent be prosecuted

The Return: Midnight Chapter 35

Elena felt as if she had been doing nothing in al her life except walk under a shady canopy of high branches. It wasn't cold here, but it was cool. It wasn't dark, but it was dim. Instead of the constant crimson sunlight from the bloated red sun in the first Dark Dimension, they were walking in a constant dusk. It was unnerving, always looking up for the sky and never seeing the moon – or moons – or the planet – that might well be up there. Rather than sky, there was nothing but tangled tree branches, clearly heavy and so intricately entwined as to take up every bit of space above. Was she crazy, thinking that maybe they were on that moon, the diamond bright tiny moon that you could see from the outside of the Nether World Gatehouse? Was it too tiny to have an atmosphere? Too smal for proper gravity? She had noticed that she felt lighter here and that even Bonnie's steps seemed quite long. Could she†¦? She tensed her legs, let go of Stefan's hand, and jumped. It was a long jump, but it hadn't taken her anywhere near the canopy of woven branches above. And she didn't land neatly on her toes, either. Her feet flew out from under her on mil ennia of leaf mold and she skidded on her rear end for maybe three feet, before she could dig her fingers and feet in and stop. â€Å"Elena! Are you All right?†She could hear Stefan and Bonnie cal ing from behind her, and a quick, impatient: Are you crazy? from Damon. â€Å"I was trying to figure out where we were by testing the gravity,†she said, standing up on her own and brushing leaves off the seat of her jeans, mortified. Damn! Those leaves had gone up the back of her T-shirt, had even gotten inside her camisole. The group had left most of their furs behind at the Gatehouse, where Sage could guard them, and Elena didn't even have spare clothes. That had been stupid, she told herself angrily now. Embarrassed, she tried to walk and shimmy at the same time, to get the crumbled leaves out of her top. Final y she had to say, â€Å"Just a second, everybody. Guys, could you turn around? Bonnie, could you come back here and help me?†Bonnie was glad to help and Elena was astonished at how long it took to pick gunk away from her own flinching back. Next time you want a scientific opinion, try asking, Damon's scornful telepathy commented. Aloud, he added, â€Å"I'd say it's about eighty percent Earth's gravity here and we could well be on a moon. Doesn't signify. If Sage hadn't helped us with this compass, we'd never be able to find the tree's trunk – at least not in time.† â€Å"And remember,†Elena said, â€Å"that the idea that the star bal is near the trunk is just a guess. We have to keep our eyes open!† â€Å"But what should we look for?†Once, Bonnie would have wailed this. Now she simply asked quietly. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Elena turned to Stefan. â€Å"It wil look bright, won't it? Against this horrible half-light?† â€Å"This horrible camouflage-green half-light,†Stefan agreed. â€Å"It should look like a slightly shifting bright light.† â€Å"But put it like this,†Damon said, walking backward graceful y and flashing his old 250-kilowatt smile for a second at them. â€Å"If we don't fol ow Sage's suggestion, we'l never find the trunk. If we try to wander randomly around this world, we wil never find anything – including our way back. And then not only Fel ‘s Church, but we wil al die, in this order. First, we two vampires wil break with al civilized behavior, as starvation – â€Å" â€Å"Stefan won't,†cried Elena, and Bonnie said, â€Å"You're just as bad as Shinichi, with his ‘revelations'about us!† Damon smiled subtly. â€Å"If I were as bad as Shinichi, little redbird, you would already be punctured like an empty juice box – or I would be sitting back with Sage, enjoying Black Magic – â€Å" â€Å"Look, this is pointless,†Stefan said. Damon feigned sympathy. â€Å"Maybe you have†¦problems†¦in the canine area, but I do not, little brother.†He deliberately held the smile this time so everyone could see his pointed teeth. Stefan wouldn't be baited. â€Å"And it's holding us up – â€Å" â€Å"Wrong, little brother. Some of us have mastered the art of speaking and walking at the same time.† â€Å"Damon – stop it! Just stop!†Elena said, rubbing her hot forehead with cold fingers. Damon shrugged, Stillmoving backward. â€Å"You only had to ask,†he said, with just the slightest emphasis on the first word. Elena said nothing in return. She felt feverish. It wasn't al just straight walking. Frequently there were huge mounds of knotted roots in their way that had to be climbed. Sometimes Stefan had to use the axe from his backpack to make footholds. Elena had come to hate the deep green demi-light more than anything. It played tricks on her eyes, just as the muffled sound of their feet on the leaf-strewn ground played tricks on her ears. Several times she stopped – and once Stefan did – to say, â€Å"There's someone else here! Fol owing us!† Each time they had al stopped and listened intently. Stefan and Damon sent telepathic probes of Power as far as they could reach, seeking another mind. But either it was so well disguised as to be invisible or it didn't exist at all. And then, after Elena felt as if she had been walking her whole life, and would keep walking until eternity ended, Damon stopped abruptly. Bonnie, just behind him, sucked in her breath. Elena and Stefan hurried forward to see what it was. What Elena saw made her say, unsteadily, â€Å"I think maybe we missed the trunk and†¦found†¦the edge†¦Ã¢â‚¬  On the ground in front of her and as far as she could see, was the star-studded darkness of space. But washing out the light of the stars was a huge planet and two huge moons, one swirled blue and white and one silver. Stefan was holding her hand, sharing the wonder with her, and tingles ran up her arm and into her suddenly weak knees, just from his feather-light touch on her fingers. Then Damon said caustical y, â€Å"Look up.† Elena did and gasped. For just an instant her body was completely unmoored. She and Stefan automatical y wound their arms around each other. And then Elena realized what they were seeing, both above and below. â€Å"It's water,†she said, staring at the pool spread out before them. â€Å"One of those freshwater seas Sage told us about. And not a ripple on it. Not a breath of wind.† â€Å"But it does look as if we're on that smal est moon,†Stefan said mildly, his eyes deceptively innocent as he looked at Damon. â€Å"Yes, Well, then there's something exceedingly heavy at the core of this moonlet, to al ow for eight-tenths the gravity we normal y experience, and to hang on to so much atmosphere – but who cares about logic? This is a world we reached through the Nether World. Why should logic apply?†He looked at Elena with slightly narrowed, hooded eyes. â€Å"Where is the third one? The grave one?† The voice came from behind them – Elena thought. She was – they al were – turning from looking at bril iant light into half-darkness. Everything shimmered and danced before her eyes. â€Å"Grave Meredith; laughing Bonnie; And Elena with golden hair. They whisper and then are silent†¦ They plot and I no longer care†¦ But I must have Elena, Elena with the Golden Hair†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well, you're not going to have me!†cried Elena. â€Å"And that poem is a complete misquote, anyway. I remember it from freshman English class. And you're crazy! â€Å"Even through her anger and fear she wondered about Fel ‘s Church. If Shinichi was here, could he bring about the Last Midnight there? Or could Misao simply set it off with a languid wave? â€Å"But I will have you, golden Elena,†the kitsune said. Both Stefan and Damon had knives out. â€Å"That's just where you're wrong, Shinichi,†Stefan said. â€Å"You wil never, ever touch Elena again.† â€Å"I have to try. You've taken everything else.† Elena's heart was pounding now. If he'l talk sense to any of us, he'l talk to me, she thought. â€Å"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the Last Midnight, Shinichi?†she asked in a friendly tone, inwardly trembling in case he should say, â€Å"It's already over.† â€Å"She doesn't need me. She wouldn't protect Misao. Why should I help Her?† For a moment Elena couldn't speak. She? She? Other than Misao, what other She was involved in this? Damon had a crossbow out now, with a quarrel loaded in it. But Shinichi just went rambling on. â€Å"Misao couldn't move anymore. She had put al her Power into her star bal , you see. She never laughed or sang any longer – never made up any plots with me. She just†¦sat. â€Å"Final y she asked me to put her into myself. She thought we'd become one that way. So she dissolved and merged right into me. But it didn't help. Now†¦I can barely hear her. I've come to get my star bal . I've been using its energy to travel through the dimensions. If I put Misao into my star bal , she'l recover. Then I'l hide it again – but not where I left it last. I'l put it farther up where no one else wil ever find it.†He seemed to focus on his listeners. â€Å"So I guess it's Misao and I who are talking to you right now. Except that I'm so lonely – I can't feel her at all.† â€Å"You wil not touch Elena,†Stefan said quietly. Damon was looking grimly at the rest of the group at Shinichi's words, â€Å"†¦I'l put it farther up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Go on, Bonnie, keep moving,†Stefan added. â€Å"You too, Elena. We'l fol ow.† Elena let Bonnie go some feet ahead before saying telepathical y, We can't break up, Stefan; there's only one compass. Watch out, Elena! He might hear you! came Stefan's voice, and Damon added flatly, Shut up! â€Å"Don't bother tel ing her to shut up,†Shinichi said. â€Å"You're mad if you think that I can't just pick your thoughts right out of your minds. I didn't think you were that stupid.† â€Å"We're not stupid,†Bonnie said hotly. â€Å"No? Then did you figure out my riddles for you?† â€Å"This is hardly the time for that,†Elena snapped. It was a mistake, for it caused Shinichi to focus on her again. â€Å"Did you tel them what you think about the tragedy of Camelot, Elena? No, I didn't think you'd have the courage. I'l tel them, then, shal I? I'l read it as you put it in your diary.† â€Å"No! You can't have read my diary! Anyway – it's no longer applicable! â€Å"Elena flared. â€Å"Let me see†¦these are your own words now.†He assumed a reading voice. ‘Dear Diary, one of Shinichi's riddles was what I thought of Camelot. You know, the legend of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the knight she loved, Lancelot. And here's what I thought. A lot of innocent people died and were miserable because three selfish people – a king, a queen, and a knight – couldn't behave in a civilized way. They couldn't understand that the more you love, the more you find to love. But those three couldn't give in to love and just share – al three of them†¦'† â€Å"Shut up!†screamed Elena. â€Å"Shut up!† My God, Damon said, my life just lapped itself. So did mine. Stefan sounded dizzy. Just forget about all of it, Elena told them. It's not true anymore. Stefan, I'm yours forever, and I always was. And right now w e've got to get rid of this bastard, and run for the trunk. â€Å"Misao and I used to do that,†Shinichi said. â€Å"Talk alone together on a special frequency. You're certainly a good manipulator, Elena, to keep them from kil ing each other over you.† â€Å"Yes, it's a special frequency I cal the truth,†Elena said. â€Å"But I'm not half as good a manipulator as Damon is. Now attack us or let us go away. We're in a hurry!† â€Å"Attack you?†Shinichi seemed to be thinking over the idea. And then, faster than Elena could track it, he went for Bonnie. The vampires, who had been expecting him to try to get to Elena, were caught off guard, but Elena, who had seen the flicker of his eyes toward the weaker girl, was already diving for him. He moved back so quickly that she found herself heading for his legs, but then she realized she had a chance to throw him off balance. She deliberately went for a headbutt with his kneecap, at the same time stabbing deep into his foot with her knife. Forgive me, Bonnie, she thought, knowing what he would do. It was the same as what he'd had his puppet, Damon, do when he'd held Elena and Matt hostage before – except that he didn't need a pine branch to direct the pain. Black energy erupted directly from his hands into Bonnie's smal body. But there was another factor he hadn't taken into account. When he'd had Damon attack Matt and Elena he'd had the sense to keep away from them while directing agony into their bodies. This time, he'd seized Bonnie and wrapped his arms around her. And Bonnie was a most excel ent telepath herself, especial y at projecting. When the first wave of agony hit her, she screamed – and redirected the pain toward Shinichi. It was like completing a circuit. It didn't hurt Bonnie any less, but it meant that anything Shinichi did to her he felt in his own body, amplified by Bonnie's terror. That was the system that Elena slammed into as hard as she could. When her head impacted with his knee, his kneebone was the more fragile of the two, and something inside it crackled. Dazed, she concentrated on twisting the knife she'd stabbed through his foot and into the soil below. It wouldn't have worked if she hadn't had two extremely agile vampires right behind her. Since Shinichi didn't fal over, she would just have been putting her neck at the perfect level for him to snap cleanly. But Stefan was only a split second behind her. He seized her and was out of Shinichi's reach before the kitsune could even assess the situation properly. â€Å"Let me go,†Elena gasped at Stefan. She was determined to get Bonnie. â€Å"I left my knife,†she added craftily, finding a more concrete reason for forcing Stefan to let her back into the fray. â€Å"Where?† â€Å"In his foot, of course.† She could feel Stefan trying not to laugh out loud. â€Å"I think that's a good place to leave it. Take one of mine,†he added. If you've quite finished your little chat, you might get rid of his tails, came Damon's cold telepathy. At that moment Bonnie passed out, but with her own telepathic circuits Stillwide open and directed back toward Shinichi. And now Damon had gone into offensive mode, as if he cared nothing about Bonnie's well-being, as long as he could get through her to Shinichi. Stefan, quick as a striking snake, went for one of the many tails that now waved behind Shinichi, advertising his tremendous Power. Most of them were translucent, and they surrounded his real tail – the flesh-and-blood tail that every fox had. Stefan's knife went snick and one of the phantom tails fel to the ground and then disappeared. There was no blood, but Shinichi keened in fury and pain. Damon, meanwhile, was ruthlessly attacking from the front. As soon as Stefan had distracted the kitsune from the back, Damon slashed both Shinichi's wrists – one quickly on the upstroke, the other just as fast on the down-stroke. Then he went for a body blow just at the moment that Stefan, with Elena held like a baby on his hip, snicked away another phantom tail. Elena was struggling. She was seriously worried that Damon would kill Bonnie to get to Shinichi. And besides, she herself would not be toted around like a piece of luggage! Civilization had tumbled down al around her and she was reacting from her deepest instincts: protect Stefan, protect Bonnie, protect Fel ‘s Church. Put the enemy down. She hardly realized that in her heightened state she had sunk her unfortunately Still-human teeth into Stefan's shoulder. He winced slightly, but he listened to her. All right! Try to get Bonnie, then – see if you can ease her. He let go of her just as Shinichi whirled to deal with him, channeling the black pain that, back on Earth, had flung Matt and Elena off their feet in seizures, directly toward Stefan. Elena, just released, found that everyone was making a half turn, as if to oblige her, and suddenly she saw a chance. She snatched at the limp form of Bonnie, and Shinichi dropped the smal er girl into her arms. Words were echoing in Elena's brain. Get Bonnie. See if you can ease her. Well, she had Bonnie now. Her own sense split Stefan's two orders with another – get her away from Shinichi. She's the priceless hostage. Elena found that she could almost scream with fury even now. She had to keep Bonnie safe – but that meant leaving Stefan, gentle Stefan, at the mercy of Shinichi. She scrambled away with Bonnie – so smal and light – and at the same time threw a backward glance at Stefan. He was wearing a slight frown of concentration now, but he was not only not overwhelmed with pain, he was pressing forward the attack. Even though Shinichi's head was on fire. The bril iant crimson tips of his black hair had burst into flames, as if nothing else would express his enmity and his certainty of winning. He was crowning himself with a flaming garland, a hel ish halo. Elena's anger at that turned into chil s down her spine as she watched something most people never lived to analyze: two vampires attacking together, perfectly in sync. There was the elemental savagery in it of a pair of raptors or wolves, but there was also the awesome beauty of two creatures working as a single, unified body. The distance in Stefan's and Damon's expressions said that this was a fight to the death. The occasional frown from Stefan or vicious smile from Damon meant that Shinichi was sending his searing dark Power through one or the other of them. But these weren't weak humans Shinichi was playing with now. They were both vampires with bodies that healed almost instantly – and vampires who had both fed recently – from her – Elena. Her extraordinary blood was feuling them now. So I'm already a part of this, Elena thought. I'm helping them right now. That would have to satisfy the savagery this no-holds-barred fight elicited in her. To ruin the perfect synchronicity with which the two vampires were handling Shinichi would be a crime, especial y when Bonnie was Stilllimp in her arms. As humans, we're both liabilities, she thought. And Damon wouldn't hesitate to tel me so, even if al I wanted was to get in one single stroke. Bonnie, come on, Bonnie, she thought. Hold on to me. We're getting farther away. She picked up the smal er girl under the armpits and dragged her. She backed up into the olive dimness that stretched in al directions. When she tripped over a root and accidental y sat down, she decided that she'd gone far enough, and maneuvered Bonnie into her lap. Then she cupped her hands around Bonnie's little heart-shaped face and she thought of the most soothing things she could imagine. A cool plunge at Warm Springs back home. A hot bath at Lady Ulma's and then a four-handed massage, lying comfortably on a drying couch with the scent of floral incense rising around her. A cuddle with Saber in Mrs. Flowers's informal den. The decadence of sleeping late and waking up in her own bed – with her own mother and father and sister in the house. As Elena thought of this last, she couldn't help giving a tiny gasp, and a teardrop fel onto Bonnie's forehead. Bonnie's eyelashes fluttered. â€Å"Now, don't you be sad,†she whispered. â€Å"Elena?† â€Å"I've got you, and nobody's going to hurt you again. Do you Stillfeel bad?† â€Å"A little. But I could hear you, in my mind, and it made me feel better. I want a long bath and a pizza. And to hold baby Adara. She can almost talk, you know. Elena – you're not listening to me!† Elena wasn't. She was watching the denouement of the fight between Stefan and Damon and Shinichi. The vampires had the kitsune down now and were squabbling over him like a couple of fledglings over a particularly tasty worm. Or maybe like a pair of baby dragons – Elena wasn't sure if birds hissed at each other. â€Å"Oh, no – yuck!†Bonnie saw what Elena was watching and col apsed, hiding her head against Elena's shoulder. Okay, Elena thought. I get it. There's no savagery at allin you, is there, Bonnie? Mischief, but nothing like bloodlust. And that's good. Even as she thought this, Bonnie abruptly sat up straight, bumping Elena's chin, and pointing into the distance. â€Å"Wait!†she cried. â€Å"Do you see that?† That was a very bright light, which flared brighter as each vampire found a place to his liking on Shinichi's body and bit simultaneously. â€Å"Stay here,†Elena said, a little thickly, because when Bonnie had bumped her chin she'd accidental y bitten her tongue. She ran back to the two vampires and knocked them as hard as she could over the heads. She had to get their attention before they got completely locked into feeding mode. Not surprisingly, Stefan detached first, and then helped her to pul Damon off his defeated enemy. Damon snarled and paced, never taking his eyes off Shinichi as the beaten kitsune slowly sat up. Elena noticed drops of blood scattered around. Then she saw it, tucked into Damon's belt, black and crimson-tipped and sleek: Shinichi's real tail. Savagery fled†¦fast. Elena wanted to hide her head against Stefan's shoulder but instead turned up her face for a kiss. Stefan obliged. Then Elena stepped back so that they formed a triangle around Shinichi. â€Å"Don't even think of attacking,†Damon said pleasantly. Shinichi gave a weak shrug. â€Å"Attack you? Why bother? You'l have nothing to go back to, even if I die. The children are pre-programmed to kil . But† – with sudden vehemence – â€Å"I wish we'd never come to your damned little town at all – and I wish we'd never fol owed Her orders. I wish I'd never let Misao near Her! I wish we hadn't – â€Å"He stopped speaking suddenly. No, it was more than that, Elena thought. He froze, eyes wide open and staring. â€Å"Oh, no,†he whispered. â€Å"Oh, no, I didn't mean that! I didn't mean it! I have no regrets – â€Å" Elena had the feeling of something coming at them at tremendous speed, so fast, in fact, that she just had time to open her mouth before it hit Shinichi. Whatever it was, it kil ed him cleanly and passed by without touching anyone else. Shinichi fel facedown onto the dirt. â€Å"Don't bother,†Elena said softly, as Stefan reflexively moved toward the corpse. â€Å"He's dead. He did it to himself.† â€Å"But how?†Stefan and Damon demanded in chorus. â€Å"I'm not the expert,†Elena said. â€Å"Meredith is the expert on this. But she told me that kitsune could only be kil ed by destroying their star bal s, shooting them with a blessed bul et†¦or by the ‘Sin of Regret.'Meredith and I didn't know what that meant back then – it was before we had even gone into the Dark Dimension. But I think we just now saw it in action.† â€Å"So you can't be a kitsune and regret anything you've done? That's – harsh,†Stefan said. â€Å"Not at all,†Damon said crisply. â€Å"Although, if it had operated for vampires, no doubt you would have been permanently dead when you woke up in the family vault.† â€Å"Earlier,†Stefan said expressionlessly. â€Å"I regreted striking you a mortal blow, even as I was dying. You've always said I feel too guilty, but that is one thing I would give my life to take back.† There was a silence that stretched and stretched. Damon was at the front of the group now, and no one but Bonnie could see his face. Suddenly Elena grabbed Stefan's hand. â€Å"We Stillhave a chance!†she told him. â€Å"Bonnie and I saw something bright that way! Let's run!†He and Elena passed Damon running and he grabbed Bonnie's hand too. â€Å"Like the wind, Bonnie!† â€Å"But with Shinichi dead – Well, do we real y have to find his star bal or the biggest star bal or whatever is hidden in this awful place?†Bonnie asked. Once, she would have whined, Elena thought. Now, despite whatever pain she felt, she was running. â€Å"We do have to find it, I'm afraid,†Stefan said. â€Å"Because from what he said, Shinichi wasn't at the top of the ladder after al . He and his sister were working for someone, someone female. And whoever She is, She may be attacking Fel ‘s Church right now.† â€Å"The odds have just shifted,†Elena said. â€Å"We have an unknown enemy.† â€Å"But Still – â€Å" â€Å"Al bets,†Elena said, â€Å"are off.†