Family Means

When asked â€Å"what does family mean? † I automatically think of the legal definition. The legal definition of family is a group of individuals consisting of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives, who have ties of blood, marriage, or adoption. Now that the legal definition is out of the way, we can get to my definition. Family also known as kin, folk, clan, relatives, or dynasty, to me is a little bit different from the legal definition. Family to me is a group of people who love you unknowingly but still unconditionally.Family is where you can be yourself and for me that is probably one of the turning points between family and close friendship. To others family might be the group of people that you tell boring stories to just because you know that regardless of anything they are still your family. There are times I find it hard to sleep at night and I text my cousin Lindsey and no matter what happens, I can tell her about it and she doesn't say anything to anybod y. There was one time when I thought I was failing a class because, this year especially, I feel like i'm slacking a little bit.So I told Lindsey about it and she said â€Å"stop playing games and study because I know your grandma does not play. † Just that one line kind of put everything in perspective because my grandma, no matter how nice she may seem, she really doesn't play when it comes to grades and her family. Family in short can make someone a part of something bigger than themselves. Family is the one word that can make someone go back somewhere they really didn't want to ever go back to. Some family members make you mad, angry, upset, frustrated.Some make you want to call them every name in the book, and by book I don't mean the Bible. But, at the same time your  family is the only thing you can find yourself confiding in, and crying to, and loving more than ever. So when it comes to family no one should feel like they have to have some type of guard up because t hese are the people that are supposed to care the most. Everyone's definition of family or kin is different but, to me that is what it should be. What's your definition?

A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-six

Jon Jon was showing Dareon how best to deliver a sidestroke when the new recruit entered the practice yard. â€Å"Your feet should be farther apart,† he urged. â€Å"You don't want to lose your balance. That's good. Now pivot as you deliver the stroke, get all your weight behind the blade.† Dareon broke off and lifted his visor. â€Å"Seven gods,† he murmured. â€Å"Would you look at this, Jon.† Jon turned. Through the eye slit of his helm, he beheld the fattest boy he had ever seen standing in the door of the armory. By the look of him, he must have weighed twenty stone. The fur collar of his embroidered surcoat was lost beneath his chins. Pale eyes moved nervously in a great round moon of a face, and plump sweaty fingers wiped themselves on the velvet of his doublet. â€Å"They . . . they told me I was to come here for . . . for training,† he said to no one in particular. â€Å"A lordling,† Pyp observed to Jon. â€Å"Southron, most like near Highgarden.† Pyp had traveled the Seven Kingdoms with a mummers' troupe, and bragged that he could tell what you were and where you'd been born just from the sound of your voice. A striding huntsman had been worked in scarlet thread upon the breast of the fat boy's fur-trimmed surcoat. Jon did not recognize the sigil. Ser Alliser Thorne looked over his new charge and said, â€Å"It would seem they have run short of poachers and thieves down south. Now they send us pigs to man the Wall. Is fur and velvet your notion of armor, my Lord of Ham?† It was soon revealed that the new recruit had brought his own armor with him; padded doublet, boiled leather, mail and plate and helm, even a great wood-and-leather shield blazoned with the same striding huntsman he wore on his surcoat. As none of it was black, however, Ser Alliser insisted that he reequip himself from the armory. That took half the morning. His girth required Donal Noye to take apart a mail hauberk and refit it with leather panels at the sides. To get a helm over his head the armorer had to detach the visor. His leathers bound so tightly around his legs and under his arms that he could scarcely move. Dressed for battle, the new boy looked like an overcooked sausage about to burst its skin. â€Å"Let us hope you are not as inept as you look,† Ser Alliser said. â€Å"Halder, see what Ser Piggy can do.† Jon Snow winced. Halder had been born in a quarry and apprenticed as a stonemason. He was sixteen, tall and muscular, and his blows were as hard as any Jon had ever felt. â€Å"This will be uglier than a whore's ass,† Pyp muttered, and it was. The fight lasted less than a minute before the fat boy was on the ground, his whole body shaking as blood leaked through his shattered helm and between his pudgy fingers. â€Å"I yield,† he shrilled. â€Å"No more, I yield, don't hit me.† Rast and some of the other boys were laughing. Even then, Ser Alliser would not call an end. â€Å"On your feet, Ser Piggy,† he called. â€Å"Pick up your sword.† When the boy continued to cling to the ground, Thorne gestured to Halder. â€Å"Hit him with the flat of your blade until he finds his feet.† Halder delivered a tentative smack to his foe's upraised cheeks. â€Å"You can hit harder than that,† Thorne taunted. Halder took hold of his longsword with both hands and brought it down so hard the blow split leather, even on the flat. The new boy screeched in pain. Jon Snow took a step forward. Pyp laid a mailed hand on his arm. â€Å"Jon, no,† the small boy whispered with an anxious glance at Ser Alliser Thorne. â€Å"On your feet,† Thorne repeated. The fat boy struggled to rise, slipped, and fell heavily again. â€Å"Ser Piggy is starting to grasp the notion,† Ser Alliser observed. â€Å"Again.† Halder lifted the sword for another blow. â€Å"Cut us off a ham!† Rast urged, laughing. Jon shook off Pyp's hand. â€Å"Halder, enough.† Halder looked to Ser Alliser. â€Å"The Bastard speaks and the peasants tremble,† the master-at-arms said in that sharp, cold voice of his. â€Å"I remind you that I am the master-at-arms here, Lord Snow.† â€Å"Look at him, Halder,† Jon urged, ignoring Thorne as best he could. â€Å"There's no honor in beating a fallen foe. He yielded.† He knelt beside the fat boy. Halder lowered his sword. â€Å"He yielded,† he echoed. Ser Alliser's onyx eyes were fixed on Jon Snow. â€Å"It would seem our Bastard is in love,† he said as Jon helped the fat boy to his feet. â€Å"Show me your steel, Lord Snow.† Jon drew his longsword. He dared defy Ser Alliser only to a point, and he feared he was well beyond it now. Thorne smiled. â€Å"The Bastard wishes to defend his lady love, so we shall make an exercise of it. Rat, Pimple, help our Stone Head here.† Rast and Albett moved to join Halder. â€Å"Three of you ought to be sufficient to make Lady Piggy squeal. All you need do is get past the Bastard.† â€Å"Stay behind me,† Jon said to the fat boy. Ser Alliser had often sent two foes against him, but never three. He knew he would likely go to sleep bruised and bloody tonight. He braced himself for the assault. Suddenly Pyp was beside him. â€Å"Three to two will make for better sport,† the small boy said cheerfully. He dropped his visor and slid out his sword. Before Jon could even think to protest, Grenn had stepped up to make a third. The yard had grown deathly quiet. Jon could feel Ser Alliser's eyes. â€Å"Why are you waiting?† he asked Rast and the others in a voice gone deceptively soft, but it was Jon who moved first. Halder barely got his sword up in time. Jon drove him backward, attacking with every blow, keeping the older boy on the heels. Know your foe, Ser Rodrik had taught him once; Jon knew Halder, brutally strong but short of patience, with no taste for defense. Frustrate him, and he would leave himself open, as certain as sunset. The clang of steel echoed through the yard as the others joined battle around him. Jon blocked a savage cut at his head, the shock of impact running up his arm as the swords crashed together. He slammed a sidestroke into Halder's ribs, and was rewarded with a muffled grunt of pain. The counterstroke caught Jon on the shoulder. Chainmail crunched, and pain flared up his neck, but for an instant Halder was unbalanced. Jon cut his left leg from under him, and he fell with a curse and a crash. Grenn was standing his ground as Jon had taught him, giving Albett more than he cared for, but Pyp was hard-pressed. Rast had two years and forty pounds on him. Jon stepped up behind him and rang the raper's helm like a bell. As Rast went reeling, Pyp slid in under his guard, knocked him down, and leveled a blade at his throat. By then Jon had moved on. Facing two swords, Albett backed away. â€Å"I yield,† he shouted. Ser Alliser Thorne surveyed the scene with disgust. â€Å"The mummer's farce has gone on long enough for today.† He walked away. The session was at an end. Dareon helped Halder to his feet. The quarryman's son wrenched off his helm and threw it across the yard. â€Å"For an instant, I thought I finally had you, Snow.† â€Å"For an instant, you did,† Jon replied. Under his mail and leather, his shoulder was throbbing. He sheathed his sword and tried to remove his helm, but when he raised his arm, the pain made him grit his teeth. â€Å"Let me,† a voice said. Thick-fingered hands unfastened helm from gorget and lifted it off gently. â€Å"Did he hurt you?† â€Å"I've been bruised before.† He touched his shoulder and winced. The yard was emptying around them. Blood matted the fat boy's hair where Halder had split his helm asunder. â€Å"My name is Samwell Tarly, of Horn . . . † He stopped and licked his lips. â€Å"I mean, I was of Horn Hill, until I . . . left. I've come to take the black. My father is Lord Randyll, a bannerman to the Tyrells of Highgarden. I used to be his heir, only . . . † His voice trailed off. â€Å"I'm Jon Snow, Ned Stark's bastard, of Winterfell.† Samwell Tarly nodded. â€Å"I . . . if you want, you can call me Sam. My mother calls me Sam.† â€Å"You can call him Lord Snow,† Pyp said as he came up to join them. â€Å"You don't want to know what his mother calls him.† â€Å"These two are Grenn and Pypar,† Jon said. â€Å"Grenn's the ugly one,† Pyp said. Grenn scowled. â€Å"You're uglier than me. At least I don't have ears like a bat.† â€Å"My thanks to all of you,† the fat boy said gravely. â€Å"Why didn't you get up and fight?† Grenn demanded. â€Å"I wanted to, truly. I just . . . I couldn't. I didn't want him to hit me anymore.† He looked at the ground. â€Å"I . . . I fear I'm a coward. My lord father always said so.† Grenn looked thunderstruck. Even Pyp had no words to say to that, and Pyp had words for everything. What sort of man would proclaim himself a coward? Samwell Tarly must have read their thoughts on their faces. His eyes met Jon's and darted away, quick as frightened animals. â€Å"I . . . I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"I don't mean to . . . to be like I am.† He walked heavily toward the armory. Jon called after him. â€Å"You were hurt,† he said. â€Å"Tomorrow you'll do better.† Sam looked mournfully back over one shoulder. â€Å"No I won't,† he said, blinking back tears. â€Å"I never do better.† When he was gone, Grenn frowned. â€Å"Nobody likes cravens,† he said uncomfortably. â€Å"I wish we hadn't helped him. What if they think we're craven too?† â€Å"You're too stupid to be craven,† Pyp told him. â€Å"I am not,† Grenn said. â€Å"Yes you are. If a bear attacked you in the woods, you'd be too stupid to run away.† â€Å"I would not,† Grenn insisted. â€Å"I'd run away faster than you.† He stopped suddenly, scowling when he saw Pyp's grin and realized what he'd just said. His thick neck flushed a dark red. Jon left them there arguing as he returned to the armory, hung up his sword, and stripped off his battered armor. Life at Castle Black followed certain patterns; the mornings were for swordplay, the afternoons for work. The black brothers set new recruits to many different tasks, to learn where their skills lay. Jon cherished the rare afternoons when he was sent out with Ghost ranging at his side to bring back game for the Lord Commander's table, but for every day spent hunting, he gave a dozen to Donal Noye in the armory, spinning the whetstone while the one-armed smith sharpened axes grown dull from use, or pumping the bellows as Noye hammered out a new sword. Other times he ran messages, stood at guard, mucked out stables, fletched arrows, assisted Maester Aemon with his birds or Bowen Marsh with his counts and inventories. That afternoon, the watch commander sent him to the winch cage with four barrels of fresh-crushed stone, to scatter gravel over the icy footpaths atop the Wall. It was lonely and boring work, even with Ghost along for company, but Jon found he did not mind. On a clear day you could see half the world from the top of the Wall, and the air was always cold and bracing. He could think here, and he found himself thinking of Samwell Tarly . . . and, oddly, of Tyrion Lannister. He wondered what Tyrion would have made of the fat boy. Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, the dwarf had told him, grinning. The world was full of cravens who pretended to be heroes; it took a queer sort of courage to admit to cowardice as Samwell Tarly had. His sore shoulder made the work go slowly. It was late afternoon before Jon finished graveling the paths. He lingered on high to watch the sun go down, turning the western sky the color of blood. Finally, as dusk was settling over the north, Jon rolled the empty barrels back into the cage and signaled the winch men to lower him. The evening meal was almost done by the time he and Ghost reached the common hall. A group of the black brothers were dicing over mulled wine near the fire. His friends were at the bench nearest the west wall, laughing. Pyp was in the middle of a story. The mummer's boy with the big ears was a born liar with a hundred different voices, and he did not tell his tales so much as live them, playing all the parts as needed, a king one moment and a swineherd the next. When he turned into an alehouse girl or a virgin princess, he used a high falsetto voice that reduced them all to tears of helpless laughter, and his eunuchs were always eerily accurate caricatures of Ser Alliser. Jon took as much pleasure from Pyp's antics as anyone . . . yet that night he turned away and went instead to the end of the bench, where Samwell Tarly sat alone, as far from the others as he could get. He was finishing the last of the pork pie the cooks had served up for supper when Jon sat down across from him. The fat boy's eyes widened at the sight of Ghost. â€Å"Is that a wolf?† â€Å"A direwolf,† Jon said. â€Å"His name is Ghost. The direwolf is the sigil of my father's House.† â€Å"Ours is a striding huntsman,† Samwell Tarly said. â€Å"Do you like to hunt?† The fat boy shuddered. â€Å"I hate it.† He looked as though he was going to cry again. â€Å"What's wrong now?† Jon asked him. â€Å"Why are you always so frightened?† Sam stared at the last of his pork pie and gave a feeble shake of his head, too scared even to talk. A burst of laughter filled the hall. Jon heard Pyp squeaking in a high voice. He stood. â€Å"Let's go outside.† The round fat face looked up at him, suspicious. â€Å"Why? What will we do outside?† â€Å"Talk,† Jon said. â€Å"Have you seen the Wall?† â€Å"I'm fat, not blind,† Samwell Tarly said. â€Å"Of course I saw it, it's seven hundred feet high.† Yet he stood up all the same, wrapped a fur-lined cloak over his shoulders, and followed Jon from the common hall, still wary, as if he suspected some cruel trick was waiting for him in the night. Ghost padded along beside them. â€Å"I never thought it would be like this,† Sam said as they walked, his words steaming in the cold air. Already he was huffing and puffing as he tried to keep up. â€Å"All the buildings are falling down, and it's so . . . so . . . â€Å" â€Å"Cold?† A hard frost was settling over the castle, and Jon could hear the soft crunch of grey weeds beneath his boots. Sam nodded miserably. â€Å"I hate the cold,† he said. â€Å"Last night I woke up in the dark and the fire had gone out and I was certain I was going to freeze to death by morning.† â€Å"It must have been warmer where you come from.† â€Å"I never saw snow until last month. We were crossing the barrowlands, me and the men my father sent to see me north, and this white stuff began to fall, like a soft rain. At first I thought it was so beautiful, like feathers drifting from the sky, but it kept on and on, until I was frozen to the bone. The men had crusts of snow in their beards and more on their shoulders, and still it kept coming. I was afraid it would never end.† Jon smiled. The Wall loomed before them, glimmering palely in the light of the half moon. In the sky above, the stars burned clear and sharp. â€Å"Are they going to make me go up there?† Sam asked. His face curdled like old milk as he looked at the great wooden stairs. â€Å"I'll die if I have to climb that.† â€Å"There's a winch,† Jon said, pointing. â€Å"They can draw you up in a cage.† Samwell Tarly sniffled. â€Å"I don't like high places.† It was too much. Jon frowned, incredulous. â€Å"Are you afraid of everything?† he asked. â€Å"I don't understand. If you are truly so craven, why are you here? Why would a coward want to join the Night's Watch?† Samwell Tarly looked at him for a long moment, and his round face seemed to cave in on itself. He sat down on the frost-covered ground and began to cry, huge choking sobs that made his whole body shake. Jon Snow could only stand and watch. Like the snowfall on the barrowlands, it seemed the tears would never end. It was Ghost who knew what to do. Silent as shadow, the pale direwolf moved closer and began to lick the warm tears off Samwell Tarly's face. The fat boy cried out, startled . . . and somehow, in a heartbeat, his sobs turned to laughter. Jon Snow laughed with him. Afterward they sat on the frozen ground, huddled in their cloaks with Ghost between them. Jon told the story of how he and Robb had found the pups newborn in the late summer snows. It seemed a thousand years ago now. Before long he found himself talking of Winterfell. â€Å"Sometimes I dream about it,† he said. â€Å"I'm walking down this long empty hall. My voice echoes all around, but no one answers, so I walk faster, opening doors, shouting names. I don't even know who I'm looking for. Most nights it's my father, but sometimes it's Robb instead, or my little sister Arya, or my uncle.† The thought of Benjen Stark saddened him; his uncle was still missing. The Old Bear had sent out rangers in search of him. Ser Jaremy Rykker had led two sweeps, and Quorin Halfhand had gone forth from the Shadow Tower, but they'd found nothing aside from a few blazes in the trees that his uncle had left to mark his way. In the stony highlands to the northwest, the marks stopped abruptly and all trace of Ben Stark vanished. â€Å"Do you ever find anyone in your dream?† Sam asked. Jon shook his head. â€Å"No one. The castle is always empty.† He had never told anyone of the dream, and he did not understand why he was telling Sam now, yet somehow it felt good to talk of it. â€Å"Even the ravens are gone from the rookery, and the stables are full of bones. That always scares me. I start to run then, throwing open doors, climbing the tower three steps at a time, screaming for someone, for anyone. And then I find myself in front of the door to the crypts. It's black inside, and I can see the steps spiraling down. Somehow I know I have to go down there, but I don't want to. I'm afraid of what might be waiting for me. The old Kings of Winter are down there, sitting on their thrones with stone wolves at their feet and iron swords across their laps, but it's not them I'm afraid of. I scream that I'm not a Stark, that this isn't my place, but it's no good, I have to go anyway, so I start down, feeling the walls as I descend, with no torch to light the way. It gets darker and darker, until I want to scream.† He stopped, frowning, embarrassed. â€Å"That's when I always wake.† His skin cold and clammy, shivering in the darkness of his cell. Ghost would leap up beside him, his warmth as comforting as daybreak. He would go back to sleep with his face pressed into the direwolf s shaggy white fur. â€Å"Do you dream of Horn Hill?† Jon asked. â€Å"No.† Sam's mouth grew tight and hard. â€Å"I hated it there.† He scratched Ghost behind the ear, brooding, and Jon let the silence breathe. After a long while Samwell Tarly began to talk, and Jon Snow listened quietly, and learned how it was that a self-confessed coward found himself on the Wall. The Tarlys were a family old in honor, bannermen to Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South. The eldest son of Lord Randyll Tarly, Samwell was born heir to rich lands, a strong keep, and a storied two-handed greatsword named Heartsbane, forged of Valyrian steel and passed down from father to son near five hundred years. Whatever pride his lord father might have felt at Samwell's birth vanished as the boy grew up plump, soft, and awkward. Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks, drinking in the rich smells as he snitched lemon cakes and blueberry tarts. His passions were books and kittens and dancing, clumsy as he was. But he grew ill at the sight of blood, and wept to see even a chicken slaughtered. A dozen masters-at-arms came and went at Horn Hill, trying to turn Samwell into the knight his father wanted. The boy was cursed and caned, slapped and starved. One man had him sleep in his chainmail to make him more martial. Another dressed him in his mother's clothing and paraded him through the bailey to shame him into valor. He only grew fatter and more frightened, until Lord Randyll's disappointment turned to anger and then to loathing. â€Å"One time,† Sam confided, his voice dropping from a whisper, â€Å"two men came to the castle, warlocks from Qarth with white skin and blue lips. They slaughtered a bull aurochs and made me bathe in the hot blood, but it didn't make me brave as they'd promised. I got sick and retched. Father had them scourged.† Finally, after three girls in as many years, Lady Tarly gave her lord husband a second son. From that day, Lord Randyll ignored Sam, devoting all his time to the younger boy, a fierce, robust child more to his liking. Samwell had known several years of sweet peace with his music and his books. Until the dawn of his fifteenth name day, when he had been awakened to find his horse saddled and ready. Three men-at-arms had escorted him into a wood near Horn Hill, where his father was skinning a deer. â€Å"You are almost a man grown now, and my heir,† Lord Randyll Tarly had told his eldest son, his long knife laying bare the carcass as he spoke. â€Å"You have given me no cause to disown you, but neither will I allow you to inherit the land and title that should be Dickon's. Heartsbane must go to a man strong enough to wield her, and you are not worthy to touch her hilt. So I have decided that you shall this day announce that you wish to take the black. You will forsake all claim to your brother's inheritance and start north before evenfall. â€Å"If you do not, then on the morrow we shall have a hunt, and somewhere in these woods your horse will stumble, and you will be thrown from the saddle to die . . . or so I will tell your mother. She has a woman's heart and finds it in her to cherish even you, and I have no wish to cause her pain. Please do not imagine that it will truly be that easy, should you think to defy me. Nothing would please me more than to hunt you down like the pig you are.† His arms were red to the elbow as he laid the skinning knife aside. â€Å"So. There is your choice. The Night's Watch†Ã¢â‚¬â€he reached inside the deer, ripped out its heart, and held it in his fist, red and dripping—†or this.† Sam told the tale in a calm, dead voice, as if it were something that had happened to someone else, not to him. And strangely, Jon thought, he did not weep, not even once. When he was done, they sat together and listened to the wind for a time. There was no other sound in all the world. Finally Jon said, â€Å"We should go back to the common hall.† â€Å"Why?† Sam asked. Jon shrugged. â€Å"There's hot cider to drink, or mulled wine if you prefer. Some nights Dareon sings for us, if the mood is on him. He was a singer, before . . . well, not truly, but almost, an apprentice singer.† â€Å"How did he come here?† Sam asked. â€Å"Lord Rowan of Goldengrove found him in bed with his daughter. The girl was two years older, and Dareon swears she helped him through her window, but under her father's eye she named it rape, so here he is. When Maester Aemon heard him sing, he said his voice was honey poured over thunder.† Jon smiled. â€Å"Toad sometimes sings too, if you call it singing. Drinking songs he learned in his father's winesink. Pyp says his voice is piss poured over a fart.† They laughed at that together. â€Å"I should like to hear them both,† Sam admitted, â€Å"but they would not want me there.† His face was troubled. â€Å"He's going to make me fight again on the morrow, isn't he?† â€Å"He is,† Jon was forced to say. Sam got awkwardly to his feet. â€Å"I had better try to sleep.† He huddled down in his cloak and plodded off. The others were still in the common room when Jon returned, alone but for Ghost. â€Å"Where have you been?† Pyp asked. â€Å"Talking with Sam,† he said. â€Å"He truly is craven,† said Grenn. â€Å"At supper, there were still places on the bench when he got his pie, but he was too scared to come sit with us.† â€Å"The Lord of Ham thinks he's too good to eat with the likes of us,† suggested Jeren. â€Å"I saw him eat a pork pie,† Toad said, smirking. â€Å"Do you think it was a brother?† He began to make oinking noises. â€Å"Stop it!† Jon snapped angrily. The other boys fell silent, taken aback by his sudden fury. â€Å"Listen to me,† Jon said into the quiet, and he told them how it was going to be. Pyp backed him, as he'd known he would, but when Halder spoke up, it was a pleasant surprise. Grenn was anxious at the first, but Jon knew the words to move him. One by one the rest fell in line. Jon persuaded some, cajoled some, shamed the others, made threats where threats were required. At the end they had all agreed . . . all but Rast. â€Å"You girls do as you please,† Rast said, â€Å"but if Thorne sends me against Lady Piggy, I'm going to slice me off a rasher of bacon.† He laughed in Jon's face and left them there. Hours later, as the castle slept, three of them paid a call on his cell. Grenn held his arms while Pyp sat on his legs. Jon could hear Rast's rapid breathing as Ghost leapt onto his chest. The direwolf's eyes burned red as embers as his teeth nipped lightly at the soft skin of the boy's throat, just enough to draw blood. â€Å"Remember, we know where you sleep,† Jon said softly. The next morning Jon heard Rast tell Albett and Toad how his razor had slipped while he shaved. From that day forth, neither Rast nor any of the others would hurt Samwell Tarly. When Ser Alliser matched them against him, they would stand their ground and swat aside his slow, clumsy strokes. If the master-at-arms screamed for an attack, they would dance in and tap Sam lightly on breastplate or helm or leg. Ser Alliser raged and threatened and called them all cravens and women and worse, yet Sam remained unhurt. A few nights later, at Jon's urging, he joined them for the evening meal, taking a place on the bench beside Halder. It was another fortnight before he found the nerve to join their talk, but in time he was laughing at Pyp's faces and teasing Grenn with the best of them. Fat and awkward and frightened he might be, but Samwell Tarly was no fool. One night he visited Jon in his cell. â€Å"I don't know what you did,† he said, â€Å"but I know you did it.† He looked away shyly. â€Å"I've never had a friend before.† â€Å"We're not friends,† Jon said. He put a hand on Sam's broad shoulder. â€Å"We're brothers.† And so they were, he thought to himself after Sam had taken his leave. Robb and Bran and Rickon were his father's sons, and he loved them still, yet Jon knew that he had never truly been one of them. Catelyn Stark had seen to that. The grey walls of Winterfell might still haunt his dreams, but Castle Black was his life now, and his brothers were Sam and Grenn and Halder and Pyp and the other cast-outs who wore the black of the Night's Watch. â€Å"My uncle spoke truly,† he whispered to Ghost. He wondered if he would ever see Benjen Stark again, to tell him.

The Dainty and the Brute

Love is an expression of a feeling that is often associated with emotions, yet it is a part of what has been called functions of the brain. The complicated process that goes through the brain must be too intricate that it sometimes lead to an intertwine of rationality and irrationality and they keep on a locked embrace and mystical mishaps. It takes different forms and twigs could be felt everywhere. Loving a dainty velvet coat would require delicate care. The value of which, in our present-day society filled with different norms of beauty and kindness, is higher than those of the other cloths that may be found.Whether it is silk, fur, cotton, or anything else, when one is in love with the velvet coat there would simply be no other better for it has become the best in a blindfolded eye. One could only see the velvet coat and that alone. The lint, the miscalculated cuts, and the loose threads are not an issue for it is the entire coat that is being loved. Not a single part nor the imp erfections but the whole. One accepts everything and loves everything just to have a feel of loving that coat and having it embrace the body in return.Soon, after the long, or at times short, waiting and hoping, things get better as the body starts to get a feel of the coat wrapped around it. Happiness comes joyfully linger around every portion where the body meets the coat. Sometimes it could bring an itch or a shiver. Water droplets, snowflakes falling, and wind gusting makes the two go well together. Appreciation of the presence of one another is heightened during times when they realize the worth of one another. As the coldness starts to set in around the two, they realize more the warmth and comfort of being with one another.The coat acts as a shield and the body, the source of warmth. It is the giving and the receiving that matters and not the purpose of what one is in the life of another. For if it is only in the purpose where the two would rely on, it would be more a need th an love. After each and every cold and dark night, the scorching heat of the sun would have to come back in the morning. At sunrise, it is still healthy to have a dose of the rays of the sun. However, as temperature starts to rise until the noon, suddenly things seem to be intolerable for both the coat and the body.The coat would not want to get soaked in sweat and the body does not want to sweat, too. It really happens that they are looking at the same direction, at the same image, and at the same angle but different lenses are used. It is the same as the story of the blind men and the elephant where each of the six blind men tried to paint a picture of an elephant taking it from their blinded perspectives and does not take into account what their companions are feeling for them to be able to get hold of the real situation (Adams 149).Just the same, it would be hard for the coat and the body, as both do not want to exist in the same place where they are not happy, to see beyond wha t they are feeling and include the sphere of what the other feels. This is a common mistake that is often associated with the body wearing the coat. There are instances where one could never tolerate having the other and would simply want to give. The idea that being together does not only mean certain situations but rather includes everything there is should be understood.When one would accept being in the space of someone and is likewise accepted to thrive in the personal space of another, stepping out of it could never be easy without leaving a mark that the two were together that is why the body could still hold on for different reasons. Sometimes it is because of the thought of still having the coat all to that particular body. On other instances, it is because the body has been too familiar with the coat that it could not see the self without it.Furthermore, the possibility of holding on no matter how much uneasiness and discomfort there may be attributed to sacrifice and the feeling of warmth during the cold days. It should be noted, however, that the situation of when it could be said that enough is enough is very arbitrary. It is a subjective thought that not even the wisest person could quantify in terms of heat, cold, or reason. There are different factors that could eventually lead to the need to take off the coat and the body separated from it.When the body decides to take off the coat with reasons understood by both from their end, one is given the option to go back to where they are before. If they decide to go back to the old situation, then the temperature of the body would learn to adjust to the one provided by wearing the coat. Likewise, the coat, with the patience of the body, would let air go in for the body and this is the start of something where they would understand one another though it would still not be the best fit and would still give way to different problems, which is normally expected.On the other hand, when it is deemed best t hat another suit is chosen, there are a variety of options to choose from and it is likely that one could get choose another one which is not suited to his/her personality and it would again, be determined whether or not it would be successful. Whichever way, the journey would still be worth the while and would have to go on until the right garment is found; the most comfortable and the most precious of them all. Reference Adams, Mary. Ecosystem Matters: Activity and Resource Guide for Environmental Educators. U

Business Law Court Paper Assignment Essay

On November 5, 2008, I came to observe a proceeding in the King County Superior Court where the judge’s name was Shaffer Catherine. I did observe the closing arguments and the jury’s motion to the case in a criminal proceeding where subject of the case was assault in the second degree. Mark Alan Bell, as the defendant in the observed case, was charged with second degree assault for punching a man named Jesse Gill at a wedding reception, and eventually knocking him down to the ground. Bell was alleged to have punched Gill because the latter was then sexually harassing women at the wedding reception. Gill, with all freedom, also alleged to have harassed Bell’s wife and in return he got punched in the face by Bell. To stop the commotion caused by the harassment by done Gill and the eventual punching against him, people at the wedding responded by calling the police. The state ended up charging Mark Bell for assault in the second degree for the alleged punching against. With Bell having been charged with assault in second degree in a criminal proceeding, it was a big surprise to me when Judge Jude Shaffer changed the case into civil one because of self defense invoked by defendant Bell. At this point, the court went to recess before bringing the jury back out. While in court recess, we went to the defendant’s lawyer and asked him a couple of questions. I am not sure as to what the lawyer’s name but she was the only one that was willing to talk to us about the case. The prosecutor simply walked out as soon as the court went to recess. The defendant’s lawyer told us that the trial has been going on for about two weeks then and that luckily the judge had decided that the defendant was not guilty to the second degree assault charge when we came to observe. The same lawyer also told us that she was still waiting for the jury to come out and decide whether or not Bell should get the money back from the state, e. g. money he had lost from work while in court, lawyer fees, parking fees, etc. The defendant’s lawyer gave us a very informative briefing and was very helpful. After talking to the defendant’s, lawyer the court resumed and the jury was brought into the courtroom. It was interesting to see them come right out and sit in a very organized manner. The defendant’s lawyer and the prosecutor both talked to the jury and explained their side of the argument. The defendant’s lawyer seemed to convince the jury that the state should pay Bell all of the money that he had lost as a result of being brought to court. After the prosecutor and the defendant’s lawyer got done explaining their views to the jury, the judge summarized parts of the case to the jury and concluded by saying that the defendant was not guilty to the second degree assault charge. The judge then asked the jury two questions. The jury could only say a simple â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no† to each question and nothing else. All twelve said â€Å"yes† to each question. Soon after that the criminal case was dismissed by the court, happiness broke out for the defendant, his lawyer, and his family. The prosecutor quickly congratulated the defendant’s lawyer and walked out the court thereafter. Bell had about three family members that were in the court. Including us, it was a total of 5 people listening to the case. This seemed odd to me because I had always thought that a lot of people would be inside the court just like the movies and television shows. As we were leaving the court, we also congratulated the defendant’s lawyer and thanked her for the help. We asked the lawyer if we could get some documents explaining the case and what had happened during the two week trial. The lawyer gave us a case number and told us to go down to the sixth floor and use the computers they have there to search documents using that case number. We did as she had said, but unfortunately we found no documents as they were not yet available for this case. Part 2 – Opinion This case was a very interesting event. I always knew but never truly accepted the fact that any offense in this country could actually go to court. Protecting yourself or others could still get you into trouble and you could still be made to answer in the court of law. Mr. Bell was found by police to be the one assaulting but his act as came out of decision was in defense of other persons including his wife from being harassed. His act of punching Gill, the harassing person, was seen by the police as an act of assault and for which reason he was charged with a crime of assault in second degree. But since Bell was doing what was normal in humans, as found by court, in order to assert their right of defending other people’s honor or person, then, I believe the courts’ decision to change from criminal case to civil case must not be baseless after wall. The court may have found that there was no criminal intent on the part of the Bell to be charged of the crime since Bell was fully exercising a valid of defending another person including his wife or primarily defending first his wife before the others. Indeed how could he be charged something when he was not doing the punching to attach Gill for nothing but was using necessary the means to alert Gill that was already out of his mind or perhaps committing a crime in making the harassment? Having right people to help you out and protect you in a court case or situation must be interesting because one’s honor or liberty is at stake. I mean the defendant could either win or lose the case. If he loses he goes to prison or if he wins he gets free. If Mr. Bell did not have a good lawyer to help him out, he would have been totally charged with assault and would then have to face serious consequences. To have observed the defendant’s lawyer in helping Mr. Bell out with all the accusations against him was rather touching. So much pathos has to be used in order to overcome the facts on paper. In other words, the lawyer had to be emotional by having others imagine if they were in such a situation. I think it is the human drama in court that made my court experience very much interesting although I may not agree with the outcome of the court’s decision. My reason for disagreeing in the decision is that I would be mad if my girlfriend was sexually harassed or other women in front of me but I find not a valid excuse to lay a hand on someone else for mere harassment. I don’t believe that I should have the right to defend someone else, unless they are being physically hurt and even then the best thing to do is to stop the action and not cause more damage. In my understanding, Mr. Bell was never once touched during the wedding; rather he started the fight and the damage by â€Å"punching† another guy. As bad as it sounds to a person’s pride or ego, Mr. Bell should have totally been charged with assault. I thought that the attorney did a pretty decent job defending Mr. Bell. I mean, given the fact that I am against the outcome of the court, the lawyer must have done a good job to get him out of the trouble that I think he should be in. Perhaps my understanding was not supported by evidence as presented or controverted by the lawyer as there is the possibility that the fight did not really start from Mr. Bell and that he was acting in defense of his wife’s honor. If such was the real case borne by evidence, I believe there should be justification for the dismissal of the charge against Bell. To believe this latter version would seem reasonable because the punch was in direct response to the dishonor caused to the wife due to the harassment. I mean punching a man by another to the defend a wife’s honor need not me unreasonable enough to justify the assault. But then as I said, this latter version is different from my own understanding as stated earlier. The trial could be described as well run with the defense lawyer, prosecutor, the judge and the jury having performed their functions in the case. But again, since I do not agree with the decision due to my own understanding of the facts, I feel not emotionally at ease with the way things have come about. However, the fact that the criminal proceeding was change to civil proceeding and the fact that the judge had the agreement from the jury on the questions propounded, it stands to good reason that perhaps justice is served upon the accused or defendant. The fact the lawyer also mentioned about the defendant having to claim the lost amount of money or damages against as a result of Bell being dragged to court, may be taken as a reason to merit the strength of the decision acquitting the defendant. To sum it all, I believe the difference of my opinion as to what should have been done by court and my disagreement with the result would have to be considered really on the basis of what really happened as borne by evidence. Since I may not know the complete facts if my only basis is my observation, I believe I should have the access to more information that may have to answer questions in my mind as to the result of this case. I believe the case is important or any even any case that would merit the attention of the judge and jury. To be brought to court which could put one’s life, honor, property or person at stake must be of paramount importance. Nobody wants to have a guilty person set free but nobody wants to see an innocent person also to be in jail. Work cited TITLE LXII, Criminal Code, Chapter 631, Assault And Related Offenses, Section 631:2, {www document} URL, http://www. gencourt. state. nh. us/rsa/html/LXII/631/631-2. htm, Accessed November 18, 2008

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Valuation of Shopping Centers Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Valuation of Shopping Centers - Research Paper Example rom the fact that investment behaviours in shopping centres have been changed due to dramatic progress in the retail industry of Germany and it can be explicitly understood from the fact that until 2011 Germans were dominating investors in the market. However, now German retail industry has largely attracted foreign investors accounting for 62% overall investment in the retail market. Due to the desired aim of maximizing profits, owners of retail properties hire professional companies to evaluate the properties accurately by taking different criteria into consideration. However this is a complex and difficult task, especially with high investments like shopping centres. The real estate crises has shown what impact wrong valuations can have. This is why it is important that the valuation process is done correctly and with caution. The aim of this paper is, next to an introduction of the shopping centre market, the general definition of shopping centres, the different classification types and the historic development, to answer the question what factors influence the market value of a property. In this context, the meaning of valuation will be discussed, followed by an analysis of different factors incluencing the value. In order to link the theoretcial approach with practical experience these factors will be anaylsed by means of project made during an internship at Jones Lang LaSalle in Frankfurt in summer 2012. Additionally, the project will be briefly described and the outcome of the valuation will be mentioned. Trends of shopping centres are continuously changing since the development of shopping centres’ phenomenon among masses. Researchers have suggested that with the passage of time and emerging technologies it has been noticed that trends of shopping and shopping centres are gaining much attention (Coleman, 2012, pp. 6-105). Business of shopping centres is successfully going with growing populations’ needs and increasing social awareness. Intellectuals

Postsecret Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Postsecret - Essay Example ?t want to go to college; I want to grow shit.’ These pictures are linked to the theme of self esteem which they depict in each of these individuals. Self esteem can be described as how one feels about themselves. Possessing little Regard for one can affect ones general life and even how they view the world (Mc Kay 53). Low self esteem can lead to depression and as a result fall short of their potential (Clarke 60). The belief people have about themselves often appeared to be statements of facts though they are actually only opinions (Schiraldi, 2007). Decision making also depends majorly on how much we value our self since it affects our thinking also becomes biased. Childhood and adolescent stages are always the most affected stages in individual’s life (Clarke 55). The rules of living enable one to function in the world as long as you go by them (Clarke 68). For instance, if you believe you are stupid, your rule of living will automatically be, better not† try†. Since failure is the only possible outcome and the other peers will make you a laughing stock. Therefore, because people live in a diversified society with lots of people, new things and challenges to meet, everyone has to set their own standards. Once this is done, one is able to measure their potential and strive to achieve the goals that bring self-fulfillment to them. The feeling of accomplishing one’s goals can make one to have self-esteem. Otherwise, one would be despaired. In the second picture, the adolescent had bump in right in the face, at a point that he had no way of stopping anyone from noticing it. Since not everyone gets to have this, it tended to draw unnecessary attention towards him giving him a feeling of discomfort. Consequently, his self esteem went down thus ruining his 7th and even 8th grade, creating long time of loneliness and mind destabilization (Fennell 91). The swelling made criticize himself, due to fear of judgment he might have avoided activities that involve

Human resource strategies for change management Essay

Human resource strategies for change management - Essay Example More specifically, the behaviour of the environment is being examined in order to identify the reasons of failure that the change management faced in this occasion. Griffiths reforms should be analyzed and evaluated in accordance with the necessity and the extension of change management initiatives as well as the general environment (political, economic, social, technological and legal) in which they are intended to operate. The change when occurring in a professional environment has to face a lot of difficulties and oppositions. The existence of ‘recognized’ and ‘well-established’ right of decisions of certain ‘groups’ or people is usually the reason for the hostility towards the attempts for change at their first appearance. That’s why the element of change management that should be a priority when introducing new strategies in a work environment is the creation of conditions of acceptance (Walker, 1994). If the current situation is ‘blocked’ and there will be no effort to create a climate of trust and positively thinking towards the proposed changes, then their application could be unachievable. In this context, the detailed diagnosis of the problem in accordance with the identification of the areas of dissatisfaction with the existing situation could help the change to be more desirable from the participants involved. In order to achieve an objective and appropriate diagnosis we could use the following two techniques: a) the assessment of the efficiency of the organization and b) the diagnosis of the organizational weaknesses and strengths (Grit, Dolfsma, 2002). In this particular situation, it seems that the proposed reforms although containing detailed and – in general terms – effective rules regarding the organizational restructuring, the major problem is the lack of sufficient research regarding the existing managerial structures so that the

Law 2 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Law 2 - Case Study Example In Australian law, the legal transaction involving selling or buying of property is referred to as ‘conveyancing’ (Civil Law ‘Sale of Residential Property’ Act 2003). This law deals with transfer of property ownership and the process to be followed by buyer and seller. The process is more involved with the buyer than the seller. The seller’s duty is mainly to make sure that the buyer receives good title, ensure any mortgage payout over the property is settled, and making sure the agreement cost is settled. The buyer on his part has to ensure clarity of the title, prepare documents required for the transfer, and organize the funds required for the transaction. For the situation, the buyer (Gary) should sue Sheldon for providing false documents in the contract. He is therefore, entitled to compensation as stated in section 19 of the sale of residential property. Under this section, where it is a requirement that the buyer be compensated if the statements or reports provided as per section 9, are false or misleading or are not prepared with exercise of practical skill and care, and as a result, the buyer is subjected to loss. Gary may also lose the case if it is found that it is through neglect that he got involved in the situation at hand. Gary was supposed to be extremely cautious in getting into the contract by fulfilling some of the most decisive legal requirements that would make Sheldon obligated to him. These would involve him, ensuring that all the special conditions are inserted pertaining the agreement. This would have been best if he hired a solicitor to check the contract before agreeing to sign. Through this, he would have been aware of defects in the contract such as Sheldon’s missing name and signature. It is a requirement by the sale of property in NSW, for any deposit made to be held by the seller’s agent or solicitor. The deposit is protected by legislation in the hands of solicitor or agent from any form of misuse. The

Comparing between harvey norman and wesfarmers ( financially) Essay

Comparing between harvey norman and wesfarmers ( financially) - Essay Example On the other hand, stock price appreciates almost exclusively through good financial results. Through the use of financial analysis, this paper compares the performance of two companies Harvey Norman and Westfarmers in different financial aspects namely liquidity, profitability, asset efficiency and capital structures. The company’s ability to generate wealth for its stockholders is the ultimate measure of the financial performance of a business organization and should become the basis of where to invest. It should be noted that as opposed to creditors, companies have little liability to its stockholders. Before dividends are paid, current liabilities are first settled together with long term obligations. In fact, payments to stockholders are not required. Thus, stockholders have the last claim in the company’s earnings and if it is able to keep much for them after other liabilities are settled, the business organization’s stock is considered as a better investment. In this consideration, this paper recommends the use of return of equity as the sole ratio for the investment decision. Thus, investment in Harvey Norman appears to be more profitable than Westfarmers. It should be noted that during the fiscal year 2007, Harvey Norman’s return on equity is 26.74% which represents an increase of 8.7% from the 18.04% recorded in 2006. This is much higher than the 0.125% recorded by Westfarmers in 2007. Thus, we recommend that funds should be better invested in Harvey Norman as it has a better ability of maximizing shareholder wealth through higher

Police statics discussion 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Police statics discussion 2 - Assignment Example 1). Finally, the data published by the US Department of Health and Human Services focus on drug use, alcohol use, tobacco use, substance abuse, among others (US DHHS, 2010). What are the major strengths and weaknesses of each? The strengths of the FBI reports are the availability and accessibility to crime reports on the most updated manner, where the latest statistics provided is for the year 2013. The weakness is that some data are not provided; for instance, the site disclosed that in violent crimes, clearance and arrest data are not available (FBI, n.d.). For the NCVS, the strength is the clear structure of the reports; while the weakness is that the latest information available is 2012 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013). Finally, the information provided by the DHHS is also comprehensive in the area of drug use; however, the weakness is that the latest available statistics pertain to the year 2010 (US DHHS, 2010). Which of the three different examples do you think is the most useful from a practitioners perspective and why? From a practitioner’s perspective, the most useful would depend on the statistics needed as well as the information on the type of crime that the practitioner needs. Yet, the most current and updated statistics provided by the FBI is deemed to be most relevant since it provides the most updated information that reveals current and historical patterns. US DHHS. (2010). Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. Retrieved December 16, 2014, from oas.samsha.gov:

The Best Vacation I Ever Had Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Best Vacation I Ever Had - Essay Example I was so relieved when I finally heard my captain's announcement that the plane would be touching down at my designated country's Changi International Airport in a few minutes. The weather was fine on that Sunday morning when I finally arrived at my destination. I was so happy to be able to synchronize my watch and try to adapt to the local time. My biological clock took some time getting used to the current time zone I was in. I was in a high, exuberant mood and could not wait to get to my hotel. I wanted to start sight-seeing straightaway because I was that excited. I cleared customs and immigration in just under half an hour. I looked around for the directional signs and located the taxi-stand where I took a cab to my hotel, the Raffles Hotel. I loved the city the minute I got into my short cab ride to my hotel. It was bustling with life. There were hundreds and thousands of people everywhere. It looked as though the whole city was like a giant hive teeming with people. People just poured out from buildings and they were on the move all the time. I got an eyeful of what the city was like before I arrived at my hotel. I had my currency converted back home in L.A. so I counted out the correct amount and got back my change. I was glad I did not have to pay a tip to the driver. The Raffles Hotel was totally grand. ... He looked magnificent in his livery. The front desk's reception staff were very polite, courteous and helpful. I got settled into my hotel room in a few minutes. I hit the shower and was so glad to have my first real shower about twenty-fours after my last one in my own home. I changed into fresh clothing and packed a daytime carry bag with my personal essential valuables and camera. I was ready to go for my first day tour of Singapore. I enquired at the information desk on the best tourist location to visit. I was told to see Sentosa. It was an island resort with all the beautiful tourist spots to entertain, educate and engage any visitor.As I was not hungry for breakfast, I opted to get aboard the island of Sentosa and have my late breakfast there. I boarded the hotel's bus to get to the cable car station. There was an orderly queue to buy tickets for the cable car. I bought my ticket and had the luxury of having the entire cable car to myself for the duration of the ride. It was b eautiful up there, being suspended in a moving cable car and transported driverless along a long wire. I looked down and saw that the transportation on the roads were as small as ants. I was lucky to have no fear of vertigo. The scenery was breathtaking. I took pictures through the glass window. My cable car was pulled along soundlessly over the sea. I looked down and saw all sizes of sea transport cruising through the waterways. It was like traveling in a low flying aircraft. Pretty soon, my cable car ride came to an end. I had reached the long end of the electric cable line. The first person who greeted me when I stepped out of my vehicle was a photographer. He was touting snaps against an enlarged scenery photograph backdrop. I thought it was expensive at USD 15 per shot so

CHICANO 310 - Summary In Your Own Words Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Ralph Vaughan Williams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Essay Example At this juncture, in order to understand the reasons behind the great degree of neglect Vaughan Williams faced, it is necessary to start from the beginning of his musical life. Ralph Vaughan Williams was born as the third child of Arthur and Margaret Vaughan Williams, on 12 October 12, 1872, in Down Ampney. Arthur was the vicar of All Saints Church at Down Ampney. Ralph received his early music lessons from his aunt Sophy as music was important in the family. Thus, at the age of six, he produced his first piano piece named ‘The Robin Nest’. According to records, he also loved reading, playing duets, and enjoying Shakespearian works3. As he reached the preparatory school at Rottingdean, he realised that he was good in violin. However, his family wanted him to concentrate on organ instead of violin. After his preparatory school, he joined the Royal College of Music where Sir Hubert Parry gave him in depth knowledge about music. Furthermore, it was at this time that he was filled with a degree of nobility and greatness of English choral tradition. One can see the influence of folk songs on the texture, contours, and melodies of his works like Fen Country and Norfolk Rhapsodies. In addition, there was the impact of his connection with hymn-tunes on his works as he was the musical editor of the English Hymnal for a long time. At that time, he spent considerable amount of time studying the works of Tudor and Elizabethan composers. In fact, over these years, he was influenced by the works of a lot of great people ranging from Sir Hubert Parry, Tudor, and Elizabethan choral music. Thus, in the year 1910, he produced remarkable works like Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and A Sea Symphony. As Alain Frogley points out, the lack of recognition received by Vaughan Williams was not a mere accident; instead, his contribution was distorted and blighted â€Å"not only by the international musical politics of this century,

The Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Auditing Research Paper

The Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Auditing - Research Paper Example Within this context of understanding there are a number of specific requirements. These elements are the necessity of auditors to identify all significant financial reporting elements, including both accounts and disclosures ("Sarbanes-oxley section 404:," 2008). Within these accounts and disclosures, the relative level of risks associated with a potential accounting error must be designated ("Sarbanes-oxley section 404:," 2008). After the identification of these risks have been established, entity-level controls must be established as a means of mitigating accounting error risk with effectiveness ("Sarbanes-oxley section 404:," 2008). This ensures that situation and organizationally specific auditing and accounting measures are developed to further improve accurate financial statements ("Sarbanes-oxley section 404:," 2008). Similarly, transaction-level controls must be implemented in situations where entity-level controls do not apply ("Sarbanes-oxley section 404:," 2008). Finally a comprehensive assessment mechanisms must be implemented that takes into account the nature, extent, and timing of the financial accounting inputs to assure accuracy and precision. the Sarbanes-Oxley Act demonstrates a drastic shift in accounting and auditing standards. In this context of understanding, before the implementation of SOX corporate firms, while required to record financial measures, were oftentimes able to escape stringent account practices by intentionally or unintentionally neglecting the efficient recording of financial inputs. Before SOX corporations such as Enron and WorldCom were able to strategically create inefficient processes wherein aspects of corporate financial inputs that reflected unfavorably on the organization were able to conveniently implement outdated or poor assessment procedures ("Sox 404 reduces," 2010). Conversely, after the passage of SOX 404 top-down risk assessment, auditors were required to not simply examine an

Drinking Water Management on both the Federal and Provincial Level Essay

Drinking Water Management on both the Federal and Provincial Level Affecting Ontario - Essay Example Is the federal government or other provinces ripe for another 'Walkerton-size' situation Eleven different government acts and legislative documents with respect to protection of Ontario's drinking water and water management along with the Federal Act concerning the Safe Water Act were consulted. The official report provided to both the Ontario Government and the Federal Government of Canada regarding the outcome of the incident in Walkerton, Ontario in 2001 was also consulted as a means to declare if the situation has improved and what measures have been put in place to avert this type of disaster from arising again. There were some main points that have come about from the readings, especially from unbiased material not produced by the government, that would make it seem plausible that this situation that did happen in Walkerton could have been averted in the first place with stricter agency intervention and that the people of Ontario and Canada may be blindsided by government ineptitude. There were many recommendations that did come out of the entire enquiry and many more improvements to the Canada Water Act were completed. The main views extracted from the official documents include: 1 How the incident at Walkerton ensured the right officials were held both criminally and monetarily responsible for one of the largest environmental cases in Ontario history and recommendations that were made along with accountability. 2. Current government Acts related to potable water and environmental factors relating to fresh water systems 3 Review of the current management practices with respect to water management policy Search Strategy Search was conducted strictly via Internet using exact search topics of "Agenda 21-Principle 18", "federal water policy", "Canada Water Act", "Federal Water Policy", "Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999", "Safe Drinking Water Act", "Ontario Water Resources Act" and "clean water act". Findings As expected, the government documents simply provided a copy of the official documentation related to each of the Government Acts, but, the importance of the literature from such sources as the Canadian EPA and the report from the inquiry into the Walkerton disaster, along with the media reporting of the trial, provided a much further insight whether the Province or Federal Government knew of the problem long before the disaster happened; or, has the Government made enough improvements into the water management schema to ensure public confidence in fresh water treatment. One of the major issues surrounding such provocative topics as water management within Ontario and the rest of the world is in how much the public trusted officials that do manage water treatment plants prior to this incident. The public was not as aware of potential risks and death

Business Policy and Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Business Policy and Strategic Management - Essay Example At a time when people are struggling to pay their bills Starbuck $4 coffee appears to be a luxury in comparison to say, Dunkin’ Donuts $2 coffee. Secondly from section 1 we do not see Starbucks coming out as an organization with a strong strategy to tackle the competition that is increasing within its industry. Starbucks may be the leading coffee chain currently but the threat posed by its biggest competitors is very high. Firstly, its two main rivals are McDonalds and Dunkin’ Donuts. Within the United States, Dunkin’ Donuts is winning the battle for the no frills, cost-conscious coffee drinker and also the market segment tired of the ubiquity of Starbucks. In the global arena, McDonalds has more outlets than Starbucks and therefore poses a big threat abroad. Also we cannot fail to mention that McDonalds has $23.5 billion in revenue as compared to Starbucks’s $9.8 billion (Schwartz 1). This implies that McDonald could easily deploy more resources targete d towards pulling away consumers from Starbucks. Work cited Schwartz, Ariel. â€Å"Sustainability Faceoff: McDonald's vs. Starbucks.† Fast Company 17 May 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. 

See work below in description Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

See work below in description - Case Study Example Achieving a 20% price decrement is a challenge that can lead to closure of a firm if not well planned for. Givaudan management ought to come up with various strategies that focus on reducing its overheads in the production line. For instance, adopting automation in its production system may assist the firm in achieving this objective. Both automated handling and inventory systems are effective ways of reducing labor overheads. They allow a faster and a shorter production line as they eliminate much of human involvement in the production line. Second, ERP system in the line of production is an essential aspect that allows easy, faster and less costly tracking of a firms resources and its production capacity. It also allows the firm process and communicate its information with all stakeholders at the minimum cost. A third strategy is to eliminate any brokerage aspect in the supply channel between Givaudan and Tastyco to reduce the cost of supply (Rukstad, 2014). Merging deal with the competitor is another key alternative that can deliver Givaudan from the dilemma. This entails approaching the competitor in the same business line and sign an agreement to merge the two firms to a new firms based on common securities. The deal must be a friendly, horizontal and mutual one that benefits both firms. This eliminates the competition between Givaudan and Nan Ya. In any consideration of the strategic supplier, the new merged firm will scope the position. All the benefits accrued to one firm will be mutually benefiting the two firms (Rukstad, 2014). The reduction of the overhead costs has highlighted various strategies that can help Givaudan realize the objective. An automated system in both manufacturing and handling activities requires fewer workers to operate the system. This eliminates a substantial number of workers hence reducing labor costs (Rukstad, 2014). ERP system eliminates the cost of

Ethical Challenges Essay Example for Free

Ethical Challenges Essay When meeting clients at community and social events the issue of confidentiality and privacy arises. And I agree with Stacey Mason that personal and professional boundaries should not be blurred meaning that clients should not try to consider social event as an excellent opportunity to talk to counselor about certain disturbances. I think confidentiality won’t be broken if relations between the counselor and client remain professional and defined. Of course, some clients may think counselor may share discussed information with the audience, but professional counselor will never use shared information as advantage over the person. I agree that the principles of beneficence and confidentiality should not be violated in any case. In situations, when client is viewed as danger to counselor, the last should take preventive measures either reporting police or informing the relatives. Thus, I agree with Stacey mason that the only case when the principle of confidentiality may be violated is when it is necessary to prevent a suicide attempt. I think that Meagan Bowser’s position on key ethical challenges is valid as well. There are clients who don’t want others to not about their visits to counselors, and, in such situation, counselor is recommended no to approach the client until the client says something to the counselor showing willingness to communication in informal environment. Of course, the counselor should not talk about treatment, counseling or other related issues. I think that counselors should always think of client’s privacy and confidentiality. I see the second situation is more confused and perplexing and professional counselor has to reassure the client that his confidentiality won’t be violated as, there are cases, when under severe stress students attempt to commit a suicide. I agree with the idea that the key responsibility of the counselor is to persuade the girl to tell parents about her problems, not to tell parents himself. Only professional counselors are able to process student’s emotions and direct them in the beneficial way.

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Essay Example for Free

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Essay Etiology of Diabetes Mellitus â€Å"Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of different organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.† (Association, National Center for Biotechnology Information , 2009, p. 1) â€Å"The cause of type 1 and type 2 diabetes remains a mystery. Although genetic factors may play a role†. (Association, Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 2010, pp. 562-569) Diabetes mellitus generally results from an insulin deficiency or resistance. Insulin transports sugar into cells for use as energy and storage as glycogen which is a carbohydrate. Insulin also stimulates protein synthesis and free fatty acid storage. Insulin deficiency or resistance compromises the bodies access to essential nutrients for fuel and storage. Several processes called pathogens(capable of causing disease) are involved in the development of diabetes. The reasons of the abnormalities in carbohydrates, fats, and protein metabolism in diabetes is deficient action of insulin on certain tissues in the body. The term Deficient insulin action, results from not enough insulin secretion and/or diminished tissue response to insulin at one or more points in the complex pathways of hormone action (a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another). If insulin secretion is blocked or impaired, then defects in the insulin action occur in the same patient, and it is often unclear which abnormality, the cause of the hyperglycemia. (Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 1997, pp. 107-109) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is defined as an autoimmune disorder or simply put an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells (What-is-Autoimmune-Disease). This form of diabetes is brought on by a viral infection in which certain cells are destroyed which leads to absolute (complete) insulin deficiency and is usually diagnosed in childh ood. Many pediatric patients that have diabetes normally have Type 1 diabetes and therefore a lifetime dependency on insulin. â€Å"Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, an anabolic hormone.† (Diabetes-MellitusDefinition-Causes-Symptoms-and-Treatment) In contrast Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a more progressive disorder in which the glandular organ in the digestive system and endocrine system known as the pancreas makes less insulin over time. Because the body’s cells have a reduced response to insulin, symptoms arise that include poor control of liver glucose (sugar) output, a decrease in cell function, and eventually cell failure. The true cause of Type 2 diabetes is unknown; however, it usually occurs in adulthood, from heredity, excessive obesity and sedentary lifestyle. These lifestyle choices may play a major role in its development. For both types of diabetes the main feature is chronic high blood glucose (sugar) levels (Ignatavicius, 2006). Risk factors for Diabetes Mellitus include obesity, physiologic or emotional stress, which can lead to an elevation of stress hormone levels. In women sometimes pregnancy, which causes weight gain and increases levels of estrogen and placental hormones, may aggravate insulin output. There is also something called the metabolic syndrome which is a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are also some medications that can provoke the effects of insulin, including thiazide diuretics, adrenal corticosteroids, and hormonal contraceptives (Mackay, 2004). Classification of Diabetes Mellitus There are several different types of diabetes mellitus; they may differ in cause, clinical course, and treatment. The major classifications of diabetes are: * Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) is caused by B-cell destruction, usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency a) Immune mediated b) Idiopathic * Type 2 diabetes (previously referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) ranges from those with predominant insulin resistance associated with relative insulin deficiency, to those with a predominantly insulin secretory defect with insulin resistance (Alberti, 2007). Insulin is secreted by beta cells, which are one of four types of cells in the islets of Langerhans (dendritic cells = antigen-presenting immune cells) in the pancreas. Insulin is an anabolic, or storage hormone. When a person eats a meal, insulin secretion increases and moves sugar from the blood into muscle, liver, and fat cells. In those cells, insulin transports and metabolizes glucose for energy. Later it stimulates storage of sugar in the liver and muscle (in the form of glycogen). Following this it signals the liver to stop the release of glucose, then enhances storage of dietary fat in adipose which is a storage tissue. Finally it accelerates the transport of amino acids (derived from dietary protein) into the body’s cells. â€Å"Insulin also inhibits the breakdown of stored glucose, protein, and fat. During fasting periods (between meals and overnight), the pancreas continuously releases a small amount of insulin (basal insulin); another pancreatic hormone called glucagon (secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans) is released when blood glucose levels decrease and stimulate the liver to release stored glucose. The insulin and the glucagon together maintain a constant level of glucose in the blood by stimulating the release of glucose from the liver. Initially, the liver produces glucose through the breakdown of glycogen (glycogenolysis). Glycogen is the storage form for glucose in the liver and muscles. Glycogenolysis is the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver. After 8 to 12 hours without food, the liver forms glucose from the breakdown of non-carbohydrate substances, including amino acids (gluconeogenesis)† (Hamouda, 2012). Type 1 Diabetes Treatment and Study This form of diabetes is immune-mediated in over 90% of cases and idiopathic in less than 10%. The rate of pancreatic B cell destruction is quite variable, being rapid in some individuals and slow in others. Type 1 diabetes is usually associated with ketosis in its untreated state. It occurs at any age but most commonly arises in children and young adults with a peak incidence before school age and again at around puberty. It is a catabolic disorder in which circulating insulin is virtually absent, plasma glucagon is elevated, and the pancreatic B cells fail to respond to all insulinogenic stimuli. Exogenous insulin is therefore required to reverse the catabolic state, prevent ketosis, reduce the hyperglucagonemia, and reduce blood glucose. Clinical manifestations of all types of diabetes include the â€Å"three Ps†: polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Polyuria (increased urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst) occur as a result of the excess loss of fluid associated with osmotic diuresis. The patient also experiences polyphagia (increased appetite) resulting from the catabolic state induced by insulin deficiency and the breakdown of proteins and fats. Other symptoms include fatigue and weakness, sudden vision changes, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, dry skin, skin lesions or wounds that are slow to heal, and recurrent infections (Hamouda, 2012, p. para. 8). The onset of type 1 Diabetes may also be associated with sudden weight loss or nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pains. (Association, Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus, 2010) In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the impact of diabetes mellitus on the central nervous system (Lukovits TG, 1999).Clinically and epidemiologically, it has been shown that diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents (Kannel WB, 1979), and may underlie many of the neuropsychological and cognitive deficits observed in diabetic patients (CM, 1988). Few studies have sought to establish the pathophysiological mechanisms that occur before these deficits appear, with a view to detecting early subclinical abnormalities that could serve as markers of the risk for stroke in patients who might benefit from preventive treatment. The study I read was performed in 15 insulin-dependent diabetics (eight men and seven women) with no history of central neurological symptoms. Their ages ranged from 27 to 59 years (mean 46 ±8 years) and the mean time since diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was 19 ±6 years. The characteristics of the patients are given in the Table below. The study was been reviewed by the hospitals ethics clinical committee, and before being enrolled each patient gave written informed consent. Characteristics of study subjects No. 15 Gender (M/F) 8/7 Age (years) 46 ±8 Arterial hypertension (yes/no) 5/12 Total cholesterol (mg/dl) 214 ±49 Time from diagnosis of IDDM (years) 19 ±6 Hemoglobin A1C (%) 8.19 ±0.8 Diabetic nephropathy (no/micro/macro albuminuria) 10/1/4 Diabetic retinopathy (yes/no) 7/8 Diabetic neuropathy (yes/no) 7/8 IDDM, Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus The study dealt with the Cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) which is the capacity of cerebral arteries and arterioles to dilate, thus increasing blood flow in areas of decreased perfusion pressure (WJ, 1991). It is one of the first mechanisms of the brain to be activated in cases of hemodynamic compromise and is an early indicator of its existence (Baron JC, 1981). The chemical Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, induces dilatation of the cerebral microvasculature and has been widely used in assessing CVR in large series of patients with different cerebrovascular disorders. (Julio F. Jimà ©nez-Bonilla, 2001). The study concluded that Insulin-dependent diabetic patients with no clinical history of neurological disorders present baseline abnormalities in cerebral perfusion and a decrease in CVR in extensive areas of the brain. The decrease in CVR and the behavior of baseline subclinical abnormalities after administration of acetazolamide suggested the existence of chronic cerebrovascular disease, the severity of which varied between patients and was better assessed with this technique than with baseline SPET (PET scan). In addition, the introduction of acetazolamide made it possible to classify baseline irregularities as being of probable metabolic origin or of probable ischemic origin. They concluded that the post-acetazolamide brain SPET is a valid tool which, in comparison with baseline SPET, provided additional information on cerebral perfusion in insulin-dependent diabetes. The technique should prove useful in evaluating future preventive strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of complications in diabetics. (Julio F. Jimà ©nez-Bonilla, 2001) The main goal of diabetes treatment is to normalize insulin activity and blood glucose levels to reduce the development of vascular and neuropathic complications. Insulin is indicated for type 1 diabetes as well as for type 2 diabetic patients with insulin openia whose hyperglycemia does not respond to diet therapy either alone or combined with other hypoglycemic drugs. The therapeutic goal for diabetes management is to achieve normal blood glucose levels (euglycemia) without hypoglycemia and without seriously disrupting the patient’s usual lifestyle and activity. There are five components of diabetes management †¢ Nutritional management – teaching the patient to eat properly and manage their diet accordingly. †¢ Exercise †¢ Monitoring – Use of a glucose meter and watching their numbers. †¢ Pharmacologic therapy – medicines that help level off sugars in their system. †¢ Education – finding out all the information they can about the disease so they will be informed as to the preventative measures taken to lead a more normal life. Bibliography Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. (1997). Diabetes Care, 20:1183-97. CITATIONS AND CLINICIANS NOTES: ETIOLOGY, PREDICTION, AND INCIDENCE OF DIABETES. (2005). Current Medical Literature: Diabetes, 22(2), 32-33. Alberti, K. M. (2007). International Diabetes Federation: a consensus on Type 2 diabetes prevention. Diabetic Medicine, 24(5), 451-463. doi:10.1111/j.1464-5491.2007.02157.x. Association, A. D. (2009, January). National Center for Biotechnology Information . Retrieved from PMC US National Library of Medicine : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2613584/ Association, A. D. (2010, January). Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care, pp. 562-569. Baron JC, B. M. (1981). Reversal of focal â€Å"misery-perfusion syndrome† by extra-intracranial arterial bypass in hemodynamic cerebral ischemia. A case study. Stroke, 12: 454-459. CM, R. (1988). Neurobehavioral complications of type I diabetes. Examination of possible risk factors. Diabetes Care, 11: 499-505. Diabetes-MellitusDefinition-Causes-Symptoms-and-Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved 12 15, 2012, from www.healthguidance.org: http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/7366/1/Diabetes-MellitusDefinition-Causes-Symptoms-and-Treatment.html Hamouda, M. (2012, May 24).

Hdl and Ldl Essay Example for Free

Hdl and Ldl Essay HDL means high density lipoproteins, Lipoproteins are a combination of lipid and proteins. They are very essential for the body to restore tissues and cell membranes. High density lipoproteins move very easily throughout the blood, they do not get stuck in it. HDLs are produced by the combination of unsaturated fats, cholesterol and protein. These tend to carry cholesterol from the tissues to the liver to be broken down. LDL or low density lipoprotein is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. When a person has too much LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood, it can slowly build up within the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. The formation of a clot in the region of this plaque can block the flow of blood to part of the heart muscle and cause a heart attack. If a clot blocks the flow of blood to part of the brain, the result is a stroke. A high level of LDL cholesterol reflects an increased risk of heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is often called bad cholesterol. LDL are made up from saturated fats, cholesterol and proteins, these take cholesterol from the liver to the tissues where it is stored. Effects of the diet on levels of HDL and LDL The diet has a massive effect on the lipoprotein in the blood. It is best to keep a low fat diet which ensures a low lipoprotein content. A higher concentration of HDL is preferable as that lipoprotein breaks down cholesterol instead of storing it inside arteries. Why is flora heart healthy even though it is a high fat spread? Flora is heart healthy as it contains plant sterols which actively remove cholesterol from the body by partly blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Cholesterol that isn’t absorbed is then removed from the body, resulting in a lowering of LDL cholesterol levels.

Genre Analysis Essay Example for Free

Genre Analysis Essay For this rhetorical analysis I have done research on two electronics engineering documents commonly referred to as project proposals. The first project proposal that was reviewed was for Security Guard Monitoring Systems by Group Engineering Solutions (GES). The second proposal is a business-oriented document for Multi-Robot Manipulation and Maintenance for Fault-Tolerant Systems by Shanghai International Conference Center (SICC). The purpose of this rhetorical analysis is to identify various similarities and differences within the specified texts using Anne Beaufort’s (a linguist in the field of writing) five-knowledge domains: genre, subject matter, rhetoric, writing process, and discourse community. The attention of this rhetorical analysis will be mainly focused on the intended audience, context of the documents, writing structure and format, and each author’s appeal to Anne Beaufort’s rhetorical knowledge domain. The Shanghai proposal was written by an electronics engineer for viewers within several different qualifications and statuses. Apparently this proposal’s targeted audiences are people at the Shanghai Conference Center. The primary audience would consist of employees that are in the workplace genre of mechatronics and automation (MA), such as financers, operators, and managers. The second audience consists of those that may work in smaller sections of the field, such as maintenance workers, auditors, and supervisors. There are also audiences besides the primary and secondary audiences. Other potential audiences might include legislatures, product testers, and other smaller services within the field of engineering. This is evident through the description of the projects maintenance procedures. Someone has to test the machine and meetings must be held to discuss them. Unlike the Shanghai proposal the Group Solutions Engineer (GES) proposal has various audiences that don’t spread out to the same extent that Shanghai’s do. The project proposal by GES does not meet the expectations of business companies instead, their proposal meet expectations for good academics. This claim was easily identified at the beginning of text. They clearly stated that â€Å"Dr. Miguel Figueroa and Dr. Nayda G. Santiago† was receiving the proposal. Additional support to this claim was found through extended research on the two professors. The two professors are both neurologist which seemingly has nothing to do with engineering. This makes it apparent that the professors were teaching at a college or university during the proposal of this project. This also explains why they were the targeted audience (primary audience) for the proposal. The secondary audiences for the GES proposal are other university graduate students. Similar to Shanghai, the GES proposal also has a third audience except, these audiences consist of spectators and scouts. In other words, these viewers are graduate students from another university or managers out for potential employees. Moreover, Shanghai’s proposal contains several rhetorical aspects in is context. Shanghai’s proposal was obviously written in response to a company’s request for improved multi-robot systems. This demand was recognized because of the frequently used term referring to problems, errors, and system malfunctions. More specifically, they used the term â€Å"failure† more consistently than others throughout the paper. For instance, in part â€Å"a† of section five (V Multi- Robot Maintenance policy) the writer of this Shanghai proposal says â€Å"In this period†¦the failure rate of the robot is also increased. † Another aspect contained within the Shanghai proposal is on how they express time as an issue. The term â€Å"failure† also implies that there is a time limit for this project proposal. It is relevant to assume that this project proposal was in the process of being developed during the time that the multi-robot machines were failing to operate accordingly. One can also tell that demand for the proposal was growing by reading the maintenance policy section. They take previous robot failures into considerations and develop loop holes to overcome it. Although the company that the proposal was written for isn’t mentioned in the document, it is easy to see that this proposal was written in response to some company’s policy. Unlike Shanghai’s proposal, the GES proposal does express who the proposal was written in response to. GES proposal was written in response to the request of the University of Puerto Rico (title page). Another contextual aspect in which differs from Shanghai’s proposal is the time constraint that is also posed on their proposal. GES makes it easier to recognize that they are working in a timely manner. They clearly state â€Å"A work breakdown structure has been created in which all members†¦work in two variables: time and personnel† (section 1. 3). This evidence arises from the fact that the group of graduate students working on this proposal are attempting to fulfill the requirements for the project. This evidence is also apparent because of diagrams and charts used to show how much the project proposal has progressed (section 2. 6). In addition to sections 2. 6, section 2. 7 gives explicit detail, also using diagrams and charts, on the â€Å"work breakdown structure. This section displays the tasks assigned to each genre of the project such as, oral presentation, software prototype, web application, and final report. The work is divided evenly amongst the group to ensure that they have successfully completed the requirements relative to the audiences’ values which will, later on, be discussed in further detail. In addition to the contexts (frameworks) of the proposals, there are several similarities in both GES and Shanghai’s writing structures and formats. The first similarity located in the proposals is often used in writing books such as literature, political science, and algebra. Both proposals use a wide range of bold letters, titles, and numbers. They also use titled numbers or subheadings, bullets, and roman numerals. Even though these writing style are incorporated in both project proposals, GES uses titled numbers, subheadings, and bullets (even checks) more frequently than Shanghai’s proposal. Shanghai’s proposal repeatedly uses roman numerals, and subheadings with starting letters (for example; B. Robot Failure). Both seem to be an effective approach to formatting project proposals. Moreover, abbreviations are also used quite frequently throughout the proposals. Like GES, Shanghai makes an effort to use abbreviations to make it less difficult for readers to comprehend. However, their attempt in doing so has obvious flaws that can potentially puzzle the reader and shorten the number of intended audiences. For example, â€Å"Weibull distribution depicts the decreasing-failure-rate (DFR)†¦period of the bathtub curve† (section B: Robot Failure). The proposal tells what each letter in the acronym stands for, but it does not define the abbreviation as a whole whereas, GES proposal doesn’t give an explicit description of each term, but defines it completely. Another method of writing noticed within the proposals is the inclusion of references at the end. These references often consists of others documents that helped produce the current one. It is apparent that references are commonly used in any form of written documents regardless of its field or genre. Adding to the structure and formatting, both proposals present several rhetorical features relative to Anne Beaufort’s rhetorical knowledge domain (ethos, logos, and pathos). The GES proposal puts most of its efforts into establishing its credibility (ethos). In the personal biography section of their proposal they give explicit detail about their background experiences in their field of study such as, software and hardware engineering. The proposal also provides charts and graphs of estimated costs which show that they are the best team to be chosen for the project. It also shows that they are prepared for real life situations. Shanghai’s proposal does not focus the entirety of its text on ethos, because most of its audiences are professionals within their company. There is no evidence to prove their experience in the field however; the credibility that is provided in the document consists of only charts and drawings that show that they will likely have effective productivity. These graphs and charts also help the company see the approach taken to improve the systems. Moreover, both proposals take consideration in establishing logos. The charts and graphs each proposal uses to establish credibility is also used to establish logic. These charts and graphs are used to support their claim that they meet all the required policies for the completion of the project. Pathos is also used widely in Shanghai and GES proposals. As mentioned earlier both proposals are relevant to the audiences common values (end of page 3). These values are expense, time, proficiency, and development. The charts and graphs used to support the ethos and logos in each proposal are also used to support this claim. They provide a description of estimated cost, efficiency and productivity, and give a timely description of the projects progression. The wide-ranging of appeal to these values allows for each proposal to be very persuasive while passing on factual statistics. Most project proposals are done similar to Shanghai’s and Group Engineering Solutions (GES) proposals. These two documents contain several similarities and differences in their rhetorical features. Although both texts may differ in their proposal method, they both have the same goal. They were meant to convince the reader that they were the most fit group or company for the completion of the project proposal. After completing this rhetorical analysis I realize the significance in writing in the specific genre. Each project proposal reflects positively according to the necessity of the request.