The Security Systems Of Bank Solutions - 975 Words

Most organizations incorporate information technology of some kind. The most fundamental factor in the use of technology is appropriate security of the system and information that is transmitted. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad is a framework designed to protect information from being disclosed, modified, or accessed by unauthorized parties (Hansen, 2012). Using the CIA model, the security systems of Bank Solutions (BS) were evaluated with proposed recommendations and implementation timeline. Security and Technology Concerns BS’s primary vulnerability is with back-up procedures and the ability to protect and retrieve the company’s information to efficiently conduct business. They lack a comprehensive security plan and do not have an enterprise-wide process for recovering disrupted systems and networks, and are at risk for not being able to resume normal operations when issues arise. It would be in their best interest to adopt a single system approach and consistent measures that reduce the impact of system disruptions and increase system availability. Strategy to Mitigate Security Vulnerabilities The action plan in this paper, based on the risk assessment, focuses on minimizing negative impact to BS’s business operations. Overall, implementation a cloud-based backup solution would address their security vulnerabilities and the recommended steps needed to accomplish this project are as follows: †¢ Review risk assessment and action plan with keyShow MoreRelatedInformation Technology And Security Gaps Of The Bank Solutions Inc.1457 Words   |  6 Pagesclarify that information security is an important asset to any organizations regardless of its size. To be more precise, information security is much important for financial institutions like Bank solutions Inc. whose main priority is to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of assets, individuals, information and information systems. Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the information technology/security gaps of the Bank solutions Inc. Disaster Recovery/BusinessRead MoreFinancial Institutions in Pakistan Face Security Challenges Essay623 Words   |  3 PagesInstitutes are facing large security challenges as they confront a changing threat landscape, managing the complex password policies and counterstriking the password hacking by social engineering/online tools and the shift towards greater mobility are quite challenging tasks for IT professionals. NIB Bank is the largest foreign bank in Pakistan in terms of its branch network and one of the largest corporate entities of the country with a paid up capital of Rs.103 billion. The Bank through its banking footprintRead MoreImplementing An Exclusive Audit On Bank Solutions Operations And Process Protocols Essay1692 Words   |  7 Pages Having done an exclusive audit on Bank Solutions’ operations and process protocols, several security loopholes were realized and inevitably are great threat-posing factors to the institution. Responsively, new technology and security measure have to be implemented in order to fill the gaps and heighten security standards in order to enhance customer privacy, information protection, the institution’s credibility and generally adherence to the standard security policies and controls. The technologiesRead MoreWhat Is The Host-Based Intrusion Detection System?1194 Words   |  5 PagesOne positive quality uncovered by the inspectors was the vigorous host-based intrusion detection system (IDS) that encompassed a thorough incident logging and reporting resource that was implemented by Bank Solutions. However, nothing was established regarding guidelines, policies or the DRBCP that would focus on managing security incidents, actions to take, or point of contacts to connect in case of incidents. A policy is simply an all-purpose proclamations or administrative instruction intendedRead MoreInformation Technology And Security Gaps1357 Words   |  6 PagesInformation technology /security gaps identified It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walk-through with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken long before being updated hence some elements of the plan may not be adequately addressed asRead MoreExternal Security Risks Associated With Internet Banking Essay969 Words   |  4 PagesExternal Security Risks associated with Internet Banking Introduction In recent years, The Internet Banking, namely, online banking means the transitions of banking activities including checking account information and payment of bills through the website (Singhal and Padhmanbhan, 2008; Ahasanul et al, 2009) is popular in the worldwide. Abdou (2014) shows that in the UK, the number of online banking user was increased from 63% to 70% between 2011 and 2012, and 47% of Americans used online bankingRead MoreInformation Technology And Security Gaps1344 Words   |  6 PagesInformation technology/security gaps identified. It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walkthrough with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken long before being updated hence some elements of the plan may not be addressed wholly as purposedRead MoreBank Solutions Inc. Security Plan Essay1691 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Bank SolutionsInc. is in need of a tailored IT security plan for strategic advantage, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. As an organization that relies on IT for innovation and technical advantage, it is essential to invest in necessary security controls. This will ensure the infrastructure supports a layered security posture to detect, deter, eliminate or reduce as many vulnerabilities and exposure as possible. It is the responsibility of executive management to determineRead MoreThe Protocol Of Operations Of Bank Solutions Essay1476 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract After the assessment and audit carried out on the protocol of operations of Bank Solutions, we identified uncontrolled access to event logs as one of the biggest security threat factor the institution is currently faced with. It goes without saying that as a result of this phenomenon, the institution’s information is at a great risk of alteration and even access by external entities. As a result, consumer protection is far from being guaranteed, as well as privacy policy being highly compromisedRead MoreDisaster Recovery And Business Continuation Pl Security Gap Analysis Essay1358 Words   |  6 PagesRecovery and Business Continuation Plan: Security Gap Analysis Arlecia Johnson October 31, 2016 Information technology/security gaps identified. It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walkthrough with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken long

Child Poverty Is A Harsh Condition - 1261 Words

Children in Poverty in Las Vegas Poverty is a harsh condition which is relentless at any given age. The difference among poverty in children and poverty in adults is that poverty in children could leave effects impacting the children for the rest of his life. Southern Nevada, specifically the Las Vegas Valley has one of the highest rates in children poverty of the nation. According to Talkpoberty.org in the state of Nevada itself, one in every four kids live in poverty. The issue of child poverty is one which the majority of Nevadans don’t take into consideration. Child poverty is an issue which affects the children in all aspects of his life and leaving life lasting impacts. For more than a decade the state of Nevada has struggled with the issue of poverty in general, furthermore it has majorly struggled with the issue of child poverty. Ever since the recession of 2008 we have seen increments in the number of poverty in general, in which more children continue to seem affected. Furthermore the poverty levels seem to continue to increase â€Å"The number of children living in poverty in Nevada is at 23 percent, up from 15 percent in 2008† (Rise in Poverty). The high levels of unemployment in parents seem to be the most influential issue that sets families under the poverty line. â€Å"Similarly the number of children whose parents lack stable jobs has risen 6 points to 32 percent† (Rise in Poverty). Children seem to be greatly affected by poverty in the academic aspect. Kids areShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Poverty On Middle Childhood Development1403 Words   |  6 PagesPoverty can have a strong influence on various kinds of development throughout middle childhood. It can alter socioemotional development, cognitive development, and physical health. (Evans, 2013). Parenting practices, neighborhoods, and overall environment play a significant role regarding to the emotional and physical health during development in middle childhood. Disruption with physical and emotional health could potentially cause harm to the child. In this essay, I will explain how poverty affectsRead Moreâ€Å"When People In The United States Think Of ChildrenS Rights1722 Words   |  7 Pagesthink of children in third world countries who are victims of abusive child labor practices or insurmountable poverty† (Wilson 1). However, in reality it is not just in third world countries, it is also in the Un ited States. From the American colonial period till the mid nineteenth century, child labor has been an important issue. It has taken many years to come to an agreement of the definition of child labor. One way to define child labor is: â€Å"All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, suchRead MoreCauses and Solutions to the Problem of Child Labor922 Words   |  4 PagesEvery year on 12 June, people around the world celebrate the World Day against Child Labour, a day dedicated to the goal of creating a world in which children everywhere can grow up without the threat of being forced into child labor. An estimated 246 million children are engaged in child labor, with nearly 70 percent of them (about 171 million) working in hazardous conditions, including work in mines and quarries, work with chemicals and pesticides or with dangerous machinery. â€Å"Children as youngRead More`` The Pale Face Of A Young Woman `` By Charles Dickens974 Words   |  4 Pagessurvive. Pove rty was a force that struck Victorian England with all of its might. Poverty is the state of being extremely poor and unable to provide for oneself. Trials and tribulations that one who is poverty stricken may encounter are vividly demonstrated in Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist. Questions to consider when trying to understand this common lifestyle during the Victorian Era would be who lived in poverty, what was their lifestyle, and what were their living conditions. Since poverty wasRead MoreTroubling Issues of Child Labor in Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys597 Words   |  3 Pagestroubling issue of child labor. The extent of child labor in a country is directly linked by the nature and extent of poverty within it. Child labor deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. It is detrimental to physical and mental development. Today, there are an estimated 246 million child laborers around the globe. This irritating social issue is not only violates a nation’s minimum age laws , it also involves intolerable abuse, such as child slavery, child traffickingRead MorePoor Living Conditions Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesIndia Belton Essay 2 English 1010 July 27, 2013 Professor Long Poor Living Conditions Affects Children While most people live their day to day life, there are some children living in poverty. Living in these types of living conditions can influence the mental health of a child. Children living in poor quality environments can be a lasting effect on their life. Adults are often affected by poor living conditions because of the financial strain on them; not being able to provide for their familiesRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On Children942 Words   |  4 Pagesfunctioning and physical health, yet poverty provokes this from occurring and children face poor health. Children living in poverty are at immense risk for their development, health and overall well-being. According to Komro, 2011, the absolute rate of poverty among children is higher in the United States than in other industrialized nations. Nationally, One in five children are living in poverty (Raphel, 2014). Malnourishment is one of the numerous outcomes from poverty; children are suffering each dayRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On Children945 Words   |  4 PagesPOVERTY MALNOURISHMENT Childhood and adolescence are expected to be the times of great functioning and physical health, yet poverty provokes this from occurring and children face poor health. Children living in poverty are at immense risk for their development, health and overall well-being. According to Komro, 2011, the absolute rate of poverty among children is higher in the United States than in other industrialized nations. Nationally, One in five children are living in poverty (Raphel,Read MoreChinas High Dependence On Child Labor1677 Words   |  7 PagesChild labor is a commonplace in China. Most of the children in China, families work income is dependent on their family’s survival. Child labor is a major issue throughout the global economy, especially in developing countries like China. Although, China has anti-child labor laws, many children in China are forced to work against their will. China is the home of many poor families and some of these families force their children to work beca use of their struggle with poverty and their lack of incomeRead MoreThe Value Of A Life1415 Words   |  6 PagesSullivan Professor Janice Shiu GOVT 35 23 September 2014 The Value of a Life Countries less privileged than America face the reoccurring issue of being taken advantage of. This occurs because these countries have high unemployment rates and are in poverty so they are given jobs through American factories. This process, though, is not always a fair one. Haiti and China are both countries with bad labor regulations, usually by American influence, and this hurts the welfare of these countries as a whole

Analyze Of Using Social media for Bbusiness †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analyze Of Using Social media for Bbusiness. Answer: Effectiveness and usefulness of the learning experience for me This research report is effective to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using social media for business. I have learned that social media site allows the company to enhance the communication process and increase the productivity level. In this way, it can be evaluated that social media site disseminates the information among a separate set of employees in an efficient manner[1].This learning experience was useful for me to implement social media strategy in different organizations. I have also pointed that project scope is wider as it provides the information regarding advantages and disadvantages of using social media practices. Usefulness of learning process for me I have gained my learning experience in different ways. I can apply this knowledge and insight into future. This research has increased my knowledge regarding thetype of social media. In this way, it can be evaluated that a platform like Facebook is a kind of social media which is used to develop the business and also create awareness of company through social media[2].Along with this, I have observed that Google+ is another platform that can increase the transaction of the company on social networking sites and also provides further benefit to the company. This learning experience could be beneficial for me to use this platform in an organization. As a result, I can improve my personal and professional career. I have increased my understanding about social media platform. In this way, it can be evaluated that Twitter is another social media platform that can be implemented by the corporation to spread the different kinds of news flash associated with businesses[3].This knowledge can be applied to me to promote the brands through Twitter in future. I have analyzed that Instagram is now owned by Facebook which aids me to build the visual type of storytelling as well as helps to attract a large number of consumers. Consequently, it would be beneficial to get business growth and success. Objectivity of the learning process I did different activities to gather the information about the advantages and disadvantages of using social media in business. I read that compelling and essential content will aid me to pull the attention of potential consumers and also gain more brand transparency. This can be effective for to grow my career. I have also read that social media content can indirect increase the websites based content. Moreover, I have observed that social media appears the different type of universal search results. It enables me to make further improvement to search traffic and increase the online revenues of the company. Learning Experience Business Research was useful for me to conduct the further research. Through this research, I have observed that consumer can also access through a separate set of new media. As a result, I am competent to build the loyalty among customer towards the brand. This business research is also significant for me to consider disadvantage of using social media as it would be beneficial to make effective marketing strategy. It is evaluated that social media can be used for declining goodwill for example; if a customer provides negative comment then it can damage the companys goodwill[4]. Through this business research, I have considered different points regarding social media. In this way, it can be determined that business can build the strong presence on a different channel of social media. But, I have also pointed that there is no platform that will aid corporation to increase more customers without the proper investment of time and efforts. This learning experience is significant for me t o make a judgment regarding social media. Learning process I did different activities in assignment 1 and assignment 2. These activities are research question and hypothesis, research design and methodology, research limitation and time schedule. Further, I have learned that research question is made to meet the research objective in an effective manner. Along with this, I have learned that research hypothesis is made for assessing the relationship between two variables named independent and dependent variable. This learning experience could be beneficial for me to develop the hypothesis in further research. I have also developed my understanding regarding qualitative and quantitative research. In this way, it can be evaluated that qualitative research is used to gather the non-numeric information regarding research topic[5]. It is analyzed that qualitative data can be gathered from different previous cases in which social media has helped or adversely impact on the performance of the organization[6]. Further, I have learned that quantitative research is beneficial to gather numeric based data that can be analyzed through statistical method. It is analyzed that these data are gathered from the questionnaire, survey, and polls. It can be either descriptive or experimental in nature[7]. Application of learning in future This learning will be applied by me within an organization to build an effective digital marketing strategy. It could be beneficial to improve the productivity and profitability of the company as I can become a good marketing manages in future. This can not only meet my short term goal but also beneficial to attain my long-term goal such as to become a successful entrepreneur. From this research, I have learned that there are different limitations of research. These limitations are lack of generalization, inappropriate action, and lack of technology[8]. I have also developed my understanding about the time schedule. In this way, it can be evaluated that time schedule is beneficial to understand the activities that will be performed and also define its duration[9]. Consequently, I am able to implement this strategy to complete the project in a specified time period. References Bolton, R. N., Parasuraman, A., Hoefnagels, A., Migchels, N., Kabadayi, S., Gruber, T., ...Solnet, D. (2013). Understanding Generation Y and their use of social media: a review and research agenda.Journal of Service Management,24(3), 245-267. Bryman, A. (2015).Social research methods. USA: Oxford university press. Leonardi, P. M., Huysman, M., Steinfield, C. (2013). Enterprise social media: Definition, history, and prospects for the study of social technologies in organizations.Journal of Computer?Mediated Communication,19(1), 1-19. Nielsen, R. K., Schrder, K. C. (2014). The relative importance of social media for accessing, finding, and engaging with news: an eight-country cross-media comparison.Digital journalism,2(4), 472-489. Okazaki, S., Taylor, C. R. (2013). Social media and international advertising: theoretical challenges and future directions.International marketing review,30(1), 56-71. Trainor, K. J., Andzulis, J. M., Rapp, A., Agnihotri, R. (2014). Social media technology usage and customer relationship performance: A capabilities-based examination of social CRM.Journal of Business Research,67(6), 1201-1208. Whiting, A., Williams, D. (2013). Why people use social media: a uses and gratifications approach.Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal,16(4), 362-369. Zeng, B., Gerritsen, R. (2014). What do we know about social media in tourism? A review. Tourism Management Perspectives,10, 27-36

Parallel Themes in the Great Gatsby and Winter Dreams free essay sample

He is so focused on pursuing his dream of wealth that the means by which this wealth is produced do not matter. Green’s pursuit of wealth is not quite as successful. Having earned his money through legitimate sources and hard work, he does not allow himself to feel comfortable around the very people he once aspired to befriend, thinking that this new status is purchased, rather than deserved. Neither man finds personal fulfillment through their wealth and status. Another similarity between Gatsby and Green is that they each fall in love with the beautiful and ignorant rich girl, who does not return the same affections. Gatsby uses his illegally gained wealth to impress his former girlfriend, Daisy Buchanan, who married another man while Gatsby was at war. She entertains his pursuits, but only until it was not beneficial to her to do so. Green also uses money to impress Judy Jones, a manipulative woman with a constantly rotating cast of various boyfriends. We will write a custom essay sample on Parallel Themes in the Great Gatsby and Winter Dreams or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, Green’s wealth is exaggerated, and eventually he also loses the woman he loves to another wealthy suitor. Gatsby and Green only want their love to be returned, when instead the objects of their affections leave them once the novelty of having a lover has worn off. The shared themes in The Great Gatsby and â€Å"Winter Dreams† manifest in the parallel characters of Jay Gatsby and Dexter Green. Each protagonist comes from a simple background, yet yearns for more in order to impress the woman that he loves. These women come from wealthier families, and they also manipulate others in order to get what they want. Although both Gatsby and Green achieve their dreams of wealth and status, neither finds the personal fulfillment that he was looking for. Somewhere along the road to success, these men forgot that money cannot buy true happiness.

Hubris - Oedipus essays

Hubris - Oedipus essays Oedipus like some other well-known Greek heroes was guilty of equating temporal success with godliness. Thus despite the prophecy of Apollo, Oedipus pushed himself into the very fate that was pre-ordained for him, while he was deliberately ignoring the negative tidings. He did not heed the prophecy believing that no one and nothing could destroy him, yet he himself brought destruction upon himself by his ruthless means and his arrogance. This excessive pride and arrogance is known as hubris and this was the tragic flaw of Oedipus that led to his downfall. It is because of this that Oedipus becomes spiritual blind and later becomes the cause of his physical blindness as well. Physical blindness was an indication of the destruction that his hubris had wrought. Spiritual blindness was indicated by his consistent rejection of Apollos prophecy. When Choragos asks Oedipus, "What god was it drove you to rake black Night across your eyes?" He replies in extreme state of agitation and anguish : He brought my sick, sick fate upon me. When all my sight was horror everywhere? Hubris thus becomes the greatest obstacle to deliberation- to the ability to reflect, think, ponder and react in moderation. The corresponding virtue for this vice was moderation. However Oedipus was blinded by his own success and thus became extremely arrogant; thereby causing his own destruction and downfall. He becomes the cause of his fathers death, sleeps with his mother and has children with her. This had all been predicted by Apollo but Oedipus was so blinded by arrogance and over confidence that he could discern what was happening. He couldnt see that Apollos predictions were coming true and thus began the hunt for his fathers killer- cursing him all along while the readers knew that he was in fact cursing himself. ...

Author Main Goal ACT English Questions

Author Main Goal ACT English Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Generally, ACT English tests two things: grammar and reading comprehension. Author main goal is a specific type of reading comprehension question that appears frequently on the ACT. Having a systematic approach to correctly answer these questions will boost your score and help you maximize your limited time to complete the ACT English section. Read this article for a thorough explanation of and guidance on how to figure out author main goal questions. In this post, I'll do the following: Define author main goal questions. Provide example questions from actual ACTs. Explain the process to answer specific author main goal questions. Provide general strategies for answering author main goal questions. General Construction of Author Main Goal Questions Author main goal questions are all presented in the same way, displayed bleow. Knowing the type of question you are being asked will help you to be able to answer it. Suppose the writer had intended to write an essay about (something). Would this essay fulfill that goal? A. Yes, because... B. Yes, because... C. No, because... D. No, because... As you can see, these questionsrequire you to understand the main idea of the passage. To answer them, you first have to determine if the main idea matches the intended main idea that's presented in the question. Then, you have to determine why the passage fulfills the author's intended purpose or why it doesn't. Now, let's take a look at specific author main goal questions from actual ACTs. Real Examples of Author Main Goal Questions Here are examples of three different author main goal questions from the ACT English section. You'll notice that all of the questions have the same construction. Example #1: Example #2: Example #3: Now that you can recognize an author main goal question, I'll teach you the process to correctly answer any author main goal question you may encounter on the ACT. The arrow should be pointing down. Strategy for Answering Author Main Goal Questions On the ACT English section, always save the main idea questions for last. After doing the other questions, you should be able to more quickly determine the main idea and have a better sense of what the passage is about. Luckily, these questions are normally at the end of a passage's set of questions. Remember that time is precious on this test, so we want to make sure that we have a strategy for approaching these questions that will be as efficient as possible. I believe that following these steps will help you maximize your time and arrive at the correct answer. Step #1: Determine the Main Idea So, how do you determine the main idea? Well, you should not reread the entire passage. Doing so will take way too much time, and it isn't necessary. If you're unsure about the main ideawhen you begin to tackle an author main goal question I recommend usingthe following strategiesto quickly and efficiently identifyit: Look at the Title The title often gives an indication about the scope or focus of the passage, allowing you to more easily determine the main idea. In Example #1 from above, the title is "An American Griot". Therefore, we know the focus will be on a griot from America. The passage defines a griot so we can incorporate that information in determining the main idea. Sentence #6 in the passage from the first example question provides the definition of a griot: Indeed, she identifies strongly with the griots of West Africa- those village storytellers where they use songs, poems, and narration to help preserve and transmit culture and history. So, based on the title,we know that the passage is about an American storyteller. However, what should you do if you're still unsure about the main idea? If the Title Doesn't Give You the Main Idea, Reread the First Few Sentences of the Passage Here are the first couple of sentences from Example #1: [1] When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens. [2] Wearing a brightly colored African dress, a large turban, and bracelets, the seventy-eight-year-old Smith seems to inhabit each of the different characters she describes. Given these two sentences and the title, we know that the passage is about an American woman named Mary Carter Smith who does a specific type of storytelling. In very rare instances, you may have to read more if you're still unsure of the main idea. Main ideas can also be found in the concluding paragraph or in the introductory sentences of other paragraphs. Remember, though, that you want to find the main idea of the whole passage. Just because something is mentioned in the passage doesn’t make it the main idea. After identifying the main idea, this is the next step: Step #2: Look at the Question Again Here's our question from Example #1: At this point we know the main idea and can use that information to answer the question. Identifying the main idea enables you to very quickly answer the first part of the question. Step #3: Start With Just the Yes or No Portion of the Question In our example, if we know that the focus of the essay is on Mary Carter Smith, who does a specific type of storytelling, would the essay fulfill a goal of focusing on the various ways that storytelling influences community values? No. Even though the ways that storytelling influences community values can be part of this essay, that’s not the focus. The focus is on Mary Carter Smith. After correctly answering the first part of the question, you have at least a 50% chance of getting the question right. Step #4: Eliminate the Two Choices that State â€Å"Yes† if You Know the Answer is â€Å"No," and Vice Versa In our example, we can immediately get rid of A and B. Now we're left with only two answer choices. All we have to do is determine why the passage doesn't fulfill the author's intended goal. Step #5: In Your Own Words, State Why "Yes" or Why "No" I would say that this essay wouldn't fulfill the goal of focusing on ways that storytelling influences community values because it focuses on Mary Carter Smith and her storytelling. Now that we have a reason, we can select the answer to the question. Step #6: Pick the Answer Choice That Most Closely Matches Your Reasoning Answer choice D most closely matches our reasoning. It's the only â€Å"No† answer choice that mentions that the essay focuses on a specific person, Mary Carter Smith, and her storytelling. While this may seem like a lot of steps, this whole process should take less than a minute, and these main idea questions typically take longer to answer than the sentence/paragraph reference questions in ACT English. Let's go through this process again with another author main goal question from an actual ACT. Unlocking the mystery of author main goal questions Another Actual ACT Example This is a real question from a real ACT. Check it out. First, we'll determine the main idea. The title of the passage is "Notes From Underground". From the title, we do know that the focus is about something underground. However, the title tells us little else, so we'll have to read the first couple of sentences. Here they are: A lot of people hate to ride the New York City subways, but I love them because I like to get places fast. A musician balancing a cello case, two Buddhist monks in saffron robes, and a group of stockbrokers in crisp, charcoal gray suits get on at Wall Street. Just from the first two sentences we know that the narrator loves the subway because it’s fast and there are many different types of people who ride it. After answering the other non-main idea questions, you would have probably noticed that the paragraphs are about the various people the narrator encounters on the subway. There's no mention of how economical the subway is in the introductory paragraph, so the focus is not that the subway is New York City’s most economical means of public transportation. Therefore, the answer is â€Å"no." Immediately, we can get rid of A and B. In our own words, the passage isn't about the subway being the most economical means of public transportation because it focuses on the author’s description of the many types of passengers on the subway and his encounters with them. Finally, we'll look at C and D to determine which answer choice most closely matches our own reasoning. Answer choice D is definitely incorrect. From the title and the first couple of sentences, we know that author is focusing on subways. Answer choice C matches our reasoning and is the correct answer. Let's review the process for answering author main goal questions. Quick Review of General Strategies for Author Main Goal Questions #1: Determine the Main Idea #2: Use the Title and the First Couple of Sentences to Determine the Main Idea #3: Answer "Yes" or "No" First #4: Eliminate the Two "Yes" or "No" Answers #5: Provide Your Own Reason for "Yes" or "No" #6: Pick the Answer Choice that Most Closely Matches Your Own Reasoning At this point, you should be much more comfortable with author main goal questions and one step closer to total ACT domination! What's Next? If you want to learn about another type of reading comprehension question on the ACT English section, check out this post on author technique. Also, as you continue your preparation for the ACT, you most definitely want to read these articles on the best ACT prep books and learn from a perfect scorer about how to get a perfect score on the ACT. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Authentic learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Authentic learning - Essay Example In many cases authentic learning incorporates a multiplicity of styles that are basically meant to enhance the quality of the learning process (Herrington & Herrington, 2006). The learning environment in authentic learning stretches beyond the classroom to include other aspects of learning that may lie beyond the school compound to the wider community. The resources of the learning process are obtained both from the school and the community around where the authentic learning takes place (Herrington, Reeves & Oliver, 2010). The students often engage in social discourses in order to make it possible for the learning process to proceed in a manner that is both resourceful and meaningful within the understanding of knowledge development. Studies on the effectiveness of authentic learning have argued that it enhances the process of cognitive development more than the traditional learning systems. The learning process is distinguished through a hands-on approach. This approach allows the students to participate in the learning process in a manner that is consistent with the need to develop a learner-centered strategy. One characteristic of authentic learning system is that it allows students to develop products that are meant for the benefit of a real audience (Mishan, 2004). For example students in a history may make use of authentic learning by developing an oral product that narrates some details of the learning product. The importance of authentic learning revolves around the aspect of the development of the learning process. It might be argued that the process of cognitive development is largely controlled by a combination of different experiences. Authentic learning usually involves the processing of knowledge from factors that are determined by the society and other forces often included within the element of learning. It might be argued that learning in such situations often involves a combination of social, individual and academic factors. A concise underst anding of the authentic learning process must begin with an appreciation of some of the factors that relate to the aspect of social development. Precisely, theories that emphasize on the social dimension of the learning process have been used to develop structures on which authentic learning takes place. The curriculum that supports authentic learning must involve some specific structures and operational mechanics that foster the element of social interactions throughout the learning process (Magliaro, Lockee & Burton, 2005). This kind of learning is results-oriented and tailored on specific needs of the society. In usual cases learning takes place within an open environment that allows for flexible participation of students in group activities. The goal of authentic learning is to develop a body of knowledge and skills that is responsive to the actual needs of the society. It derives from the philosophy that knowledge must address the needs of the society. It is precisely because o f this factor that it departs from the tradition of abstract learning. Authentic Learning Experience Plan Brief guided interactive discussion on authentic learning and behaviorism theory of learning, (10 minutes). Questions to be administered (10 minutes) 1. Apart from chalk and the writing board,

Rewriting the Fairytale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rewriting the Fairytale - Essay Example She put on her old but clean dress, wore a pair of torn down sandals, straightened her hair, and left for the party. At the party, the prince did not seem to be interested in any of the ladies. He looked at Cinderella, and offered her to dance with him. She was felling triumphant and looked at the step-sisters with pride. When the clock struck twelve, she decided to leave but when she was running down the stairs, she threw one of her shoes at the staircase, and returned to her home. When called upon by her step-mom, she replied that she was not going to suffer anymore. The next day, the prince’s men came over their place and asked Cinderella if that shoe was hers to which she replied in affirmative. Thus, they got married and lived happily ever after. Analysis The issue that was in my mind while modernizing the story of Cinderella was that: why, in this modern world, a woman should be treated like an inferior person by others. â€Å"Cinderella's story is a classic story of di scrimination† (Angie). In the original story, when she hopes that she will be offered to be taken to the ball, this means that she wants herself to be treated on an equal basis as her step-sisters.

The 5 Paragraph Essay Format Essay Example for Free

The 5 Paragraph Essay Format Essay This is only one method of organizing an essay.Introductory paragraphA. Catches the readers interestB. Gives brief background on your topicC. Begins or ends with the thesis statementBody (paragraphs 2, 3, etc.)A. Develops, expands, and/or supports the thesis statementB. Includes a topic sentence for each paragraphC. Includes supporting details which reinforce the topic sentence.Concluding paragraphA. Restates the thesis or sums up the argument.B. Tells the reader what you think is important to remember. (Often, this is a personal response). C. Never introduces new information in the conclusion. Extend your thinking on something from the essay. The 5 Paragraph Essay Format The first paragraph: 1) Begins with a topic sentence that introduces a general theme. 2) Follows the topic sentence with sentences that narrow the focus of the theme, so that it is less general. 3) Introduces the author of the text you are writing about. 4) Introduces the title of that text. 5) Narrows the discussion of the topic by identifying an issue or problem. 6) Finishes by making a debatable claim (a thesis statement, which is defined as a debatable point/claim). Body paragraphs: 1) Begin with topic sentences that clearly relate to the topic, or issue, or problem, which was identified in the introductory paragraph. 2) Sentences that elaborate on the issue, or problem discussed in the introductory paragraph, and also demonstrates a clear connection to the  thesis statement. 3) A sentence or sentences that make a claim about the topic, issue, problem. 4) A quote from the text you are analyzing that supports your claim. 5) Your interpretation of that quote, which explains how you arrived at your conclusion, and also demonstrates a clear connection to the thesis statement.  · Body parargraphs employ the One, Two, Three Rule, which is: 1) Make a debatable claim. 2) Support the claim with a quote. 3) Explain the connection between your claim and the quote, which means you make an intellectual conclusion. Concluding paragraph: 1) Begins with a topic sentence that clearly relates to the topic, or issue, or problem that was identified in the introductory paragraph. 2) Sentences that make connections with, or revisit, point from your introductory paragraph and your body paragraphs. These points now serve to close your argument. 3) A synthesis of these points that clearly demonstrates the focus of your thesis statement. 4) A final comment, or intellectual conclusion of sorts that points out the larger significance of your argument. Also see the handout How to Structure and Organize Your Essays. How to Structure and Organize Your Essays Structure and Organization: first of all, how do they differ? Structure simply means that each individual paragraph does what it is supposed to do. Alright then, what is a paragraph supposed to do? It depends what type of paragraph it is. The types of paragraphs are as follows: The introductory paragraph. The body paragraphs. The concluding paragraph. Basically, you just want to make certain that: Your introductory paragraph does its job. Your body paragraphs do their job. Your concluding paragraph does its job. For a one page handout that explains exactly what each paragraph must do, see The 5 Paragraph Essay Format. Okay, So Much for Structure, Now What About Organization? Organization is all about body paragraphs. Why? Because everything that comes between your first paragraph and last paragraph is a body paragraph. Your essay is mostly made up of body paragraphs. What is Organization? It is how you order the information. Think of it this way: in your essay you make a number of claims and provide much information that supports those claims. How you order claims and information is your essays organization. Example: You are writing a paper on the current state of research on human cloning. You decide to include two paragraphs of background information on the  history of cloning research. The two paragraphs appear on page four of your five page paper. Your professor suggests that the organization require revision because there is an abrupt shift in the essays narrative. Why after almost four full pages about the current state of cloning research does your reader get two paragraphs on history? Including history is fine, but perhaps it should be included at the beginning of the paper, so that your narrative moves from the early days of cloning research to the current state of cloning research. It is the same information, but ordered differently.

An Analysis of The Little Convent Girl Essay -- Little Convent Girl Es

An Analysis of The Little Convent Girl  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Grace King's The Little Convent Girl is an excellent example of post-Civil War realism incorporating a trick-ending. In this local color short story, King methodically lures the reader into a false belief that her story is about an insignificant and nameless young girl who, after twelve years seclusion in a convent, is exposed to the fervor and excitement of a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River. The success of Ms. King's trick-ending is achieved through three basic elements; 1) de-emphasizing the importance of the main character, 2) tidbits of information followed by wordy misdirection, and 3) a false climax. Ms. King masterfully downplays the importance of the little convent girl by not giving her a name, even the steamboat captain and crew members refer to her as "the little convent girl". As a result, the reader is led to believe that the story is not really about the little convent girl. She is merely the instrument chosen by the author through which the reader will experience a steamboat adventure. King further misleads the reader by offering paragraphs of information about the complexities of navigating the river, the habits of the crew members, and the skill of the steamboat pilots. On those occasions that the reader is provided bits of information about the little convent girl, King immediately misdirects the reader back to the overt theme of a steamboat adventure. King, in introducing the little convent girl to the reader, goes to great lengths to present her as a dreary and uninteresting creature. She wore dark clothing, sat rigidly upright, secluded herself in her room, and displayed little zest for life. Therefor, when King uses the work "blac... ...it up to each reader to draw their own conclusions and search their own feelings. At the false climax, the reader was surprised to learn that the quite, well-liked, polite, little convent girl was colored. Now the reader had to evaluate how the forces within their society might have driven such an innocent to commit suicide. In analyzing this story, there are several other interesting facts that merit further exploration. For instance, throughout the story all references to the little convent girl use black or dark references. But, when plunging to her death, the author describes the little convent girl as a "flutter of white petticoats, a show of white stockings". What is the significance of the sudden color change? Also, Since the reader must assume that the little convent girl is Catholic, what can be concluded about a proper catholic committing suicide?   

Jose Rizal, our national hero Essay

  Jose Rizal, our national hero was one of the Filipinos who asked for reformsduring the Spanish era. This was one of his best contributions in building our nation. These reforms will grant the ultimate dream of the reformists; assimilation. Filipinoswill be given the rights that they deserve. Rizal choose to seek for reforms than tostart a revolution because he knew that Philippines was not yet ready to stand onits own (during his time). Rizal used his liberal ideas in asking for reforms 5. Although Rizal hadrevolutionary ideas, he was not for armed revolution per se. He was more for thegradual and peaceful one. One that is catalyzed by the education of the Filipinopeople. He reasoned out that when subject people are educated, intelligent, and havebecome aware of their human rights, they would have self-determination and they would strive to be free from their mother country. When this revolution happens,drastic changes will occur in the political, economical, social, religious, andintelligence sphere of a society paving the way for its independence someday. Rizal reasoned out that when subject people are educated, intelligent, andhave become aware of their human rights, they would have self-determination andthey would strive to be free from their mother country. When this revolutionhappens, drastic changes will occur in the political, economical, social, religious,and intelligence sphere of a society paving the way for its independence someday.Even though Rizal did not actually support the revolution, we can say that healso contributed in this revolution. His works and writings were the corner stone of the revolution and he was indeed an inspiration for the Katipuneros during thosetimes. Rizal’s life was devoted to his country (Philippines). MIDTERM 1.Rizal shows his concern for a world community. This new order consists of nations which reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women . the nations would establish conditions of justice, social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom . the people would practice tolerance , live together in peace and maintain good relations among themselves 2. 3 â€Å"To the Filipino Youth† does carry a very strong one; strong enough to persuade those who are to be persuaded-the Filipino youth themselves. As one of those individuals, I could really feel the nationalistic spirit within me glow brighter the moment I finished reading the poem. It was like telling me that I am one of the existing hopes of our dear country and that through my abilities, expertise and knowledge of things, I am capable of protecting its freedom against oppressive forces that may come through. Furthermore, it was like telling me that together with my fellow youths, I am responsible for preserving the Philippines as a nation not for the foreigners but for me and the rest of the Filipinos. Finally yet most importantly, as to the sincerity of the poem, I can really consider â€Å"To the Filipino Youth† as indeed a work from the heart-no pretense, no plasticity and no sort of hidden motives. I can tell it so based on what I felt when I was reading the poem and the emotions that were expressed on each of the poem’s line. The fact that it came out during the Spanish era was also another thing that made me think that way. SEMIFINALS 1. If you don’t have a good EDUCATION system,   your MOTHERLAND is lacking in luster. the KEY is that RIZAL isn’t praising the Filipino education system †¦ he’s describing an ideal system and IS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SUGGEST that it’s the one he came out of. 2. The first step carrying out his education philosophy is depends on mother. Rizal appealed to all mothers to do their best in educating their children. Love for honor, sincere and firm character, clear mind , clean conduct, noble action, love for one’s fellowmen, respect for God. The country should not expect honor and prosperity so long as the education of the child is defective.

Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg  (15 June 1843  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 4 September 1907) was a  Norwegian  composer  and  pianist. He is best known for his  Piano Concerto in A minor, for  his incidental music  to  Henrik Ibsen's  play  Peer Gynt  (which includes  Morning Mood  and  In the Hall of the Mountain King), and for his collection of  pianominiatures  Lyric Pieces. [1] ————————————————- Biography Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in  Bergen,  Norway  on June 15, 1843. His parents were Hiemlik Grieg (1806–1875), a merchant and the American vice consul in Bergen, and Gesine Carrie Hagerupel (1814–1875), a music teacher and daughter of  Edvard Hagerup. The family name, originally spelled  Greig, hasScottish  origins. After the  Battle of Culloden  in 1746, however, Grieg's great-grandfather traveled widely, settling in Norway about 1770, and establishing business interests in Bergen. Edvard Grieg was raised in a musical home. His mother was his first  piano  teacher and taught him to play at the age of 6. Grieg studied in several schools, including Tank's School,. [2]  He often brought in samples of his music to class. In the summer of 1858, Grieg met the eminent Norwegian  violinist  Ole Bull, who was a family friend; Bull's brother was married to Grieg's aunt. Bull recognized the 15-year-old boy's talent and persuaded his parents to send him to the  Leipzig Conservatory, then directed by  Ignaz Moscheles. Grieg enrolled in the  conservatory, concentrating on the piano, and enjoyed the many concerts and recitals given in  Leipzig. He disliked the discipline of the conservatory course of study, but he achieved very good grades in most areas. An exception was the  organ, which was mandatory for piano students. In the spring of 1860, he survived a life-threatening  lung disease. The following year he made his debut as a concert pianist, in  Karlshamn,  Sweden. In 1862, he finished his studies in Leipzig and held his first concert in his home town, where his programme included  Beethoven's  Pathetique  sonata. (Grieg's own recording of his  Piano Sonata, made late in his life, confirms that he was an excellent pianist). In 1863, Grieg went to  Copenhagen,  Denmark, and stayed there for three years. He met the Danish composers  J. P. E. Hartmann  and  Niels Gade. He also met his fellow Norwegian composer  Rikard Nordraak  (composer of the  Norwegian national anthem), who became a good friend and source of great inspiration. Nordraak died in 1866, and Grieg composed a  funeral march  in his honor. On 11 June 1867, Grieg married his first cousin,  Nina Hagerup. The next year, their only child, Alexandra, was born. She died in 1869 from  meningitis. In the summer of 1868, Grieg wrote his Piano Concerto in A minor while on holiday in Denmark. Edmund Neupert  gave the concerto its premiere performance on 3 April 1869 in the Casino Theater in Copenhagen. Grieg himself was unable to be there due to conducting commitments in Christiania (as  Oslo  was then named). [3] In 1868,  Franz Liszt, who had not yet met Grieg, wrote a testimonial for him to the Norwegian Ministry of Education, which led to Grieg obtaining a travel grant. The two men met in  Rome  in 1870. On Grieg's first visit, they went over Grieg's Violin Sonata No. 1, which pleased Liszt greatly. On his second visit, in April, Grieg brought with him the manuscript of his Piano Concerto, which Liszt proceeded to sightread (including the orchestral arrangement). Liszt's rendition greatly impressed his audience, although Grieg gently pointed out to him that he played the first movement too quickly. Liszt also gave Grieg some advice on  orchestration, (for example, to give the melody of the second theme in the first movement to a solo trumpet). In 1874–76, Grieg composed  incidental music  for the premiere of  Henrik Ibsen's play  Peer Gynt, at the request of the author. Many of the pieces from this work became very popular in the orchestral suites or piano and piano-duet arrangements. Grieg had close ties with the (Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra) (Harmonien), and later became Music Director of the orchestra from 1880–1882. In 1888, Grieg met  Tchaikovsky  in  Leipzig. Grieg was struck by the sadness in Tchaikovsky. [4]  Tchaikovsky thought very highly of Grieg's music, praising its beauty, originality and warmth. [5] ————————————————- Latter years Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen Grieg's later life brought him fame. The Norwegian government awarded him a pension. In the spring 1903, Grieg made nine 78-rpm  gramophone recordings  of his piano music in Paris; all of these historic discs have been reissued on both LPs and CDs and, despite limited fidelity, show his artistry as a pianist. Grieg also made live-recording  player piano  music rolls for the  Welte-Mignon  reproducing system, all of which survive today and can be heard. In 1906, he met the composer and pianist  Percy Grainger  in London. Grainger was a great admirer of Grieg's music and a strong empathy was quickly established. In a 1907 interview, Grieg stated: â€Å"I have written Norwegian Peasant Dances that no one in my country can play, and here comes this Australian who plays them as they ought to be played! He is a genius that we Scandinavians cannot do other than love. †[6] Edvard Grieg died in the autumn of 1907, aged 64, after a long period of illness. His final words were â€Å"Well, if it must be so. † The funeral drew between 30,000 and 40,000 people out on the streets of his home town to honor him. Following his wish, his own  Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak  was played in an orchestration by his friend  Johan Halvorsen, who had married Grieg's niece. In addition, the  Funeral March  movement from  Chopin's  Piano Sonata No. 2  was played. His and his wife's ashes are entombed in a mountain crypt near his house,  Troldhaugen. ————————————————- Music Grieg is renowned as a  nationalist composer, drawing inspiration from  Norwegian folk music. Early works include a  symphony  (which he later suppressed) and apiano sonata. He also wrote three  sonatas for violin and piano  and a  cello sonata. His many short pieces for piano — often based on Norwegian folk tunes and dances — led some to call him the â€Å"Chopin  of the North†. 7] The  Piano Concerto  is his most popular work. Its champions have included the pianist and composer  Percy Grainger, a personal friend of Grieg who played the concerto frequently during his long career. An arrangement of part of the work made an iconic television comedy appearance in the 1971  Morecambe and Wise Show, conducted by  Andre Previn. Some of the  Lyric Pieces  (for piano) are also well-known, as is the  incidental music  to  Henrik Ibsen's  play  Peer Gynt, a play that Grieg found to be an arduous work to score properly. In a 1874 letter to his friend Frants Beyer, Grieg expressed his unhappiness with what is now considered one of his most popular compositions from  Peer Gynt,  In the Hall of the Mountain King: â€Å"I have also written something for the scene in the hall of the mountain King – something that I literally can't bear listening to because it absolutely reeks of cow-pies, exaggerated Norwegian nationalism, and trollish self-satisfaction! But I have a hunch that the irony will be discernible. â€Å"[8] Grieg's popular  Holberg Suite  was originally written for the piano, and later arranged by the composer for  string  orchestra. Grieg wrote songs, in which he set lyrics by poets  Heinrich Heine,  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,  Henrik Ibsen,  Hans Christian Andersen,Rudyard Kipling  and others. Russian composer  Nikolai Myaskovsky  used a theme by Grieg for the variations with which he closed his Third String Quartet. ————————————————- List of selected works Main article:  List of compositions by Edvard Grieg * Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7 * Violin Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 8 * Concert  Overture  In Autumn, Op. 11 * Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 13 * Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 6 * Incidental music  to  Bjornstjerne Bjornson's play  Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 22 * Incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play  Peer Gynt, Op. 23 * Ballade in the Form of Variations  on a Norwegian Folk Song  in G minor, Op. 24 * String Quartet  in G minor, Op. 27 * Album for Male Cho rus, Op. 30 * Two Elegiac Melodies for Strings, Op. 34 * Four  Norwegian Dances  for piano four hands, Op. 35 (later orchestrated) * Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 * Holberg Suite  for piano, later arr. for string orchestra, Op. 40 * Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 * Peer Gynt  Suite  No. 1, Op. 6 * Lyric Suite for Orchestra, Op. 54 (orchestration of four  Lyric Pieces) * Peer Gynt  Suite  No. 2, Op. 55 * Suite from  Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56 * Four  Symphonic Dances  for piano, later arr. for orchestra, Op. 64 * Haugtussa  Song Cycle after  Arne Garborg, Op. 67 * Slatter  (Peasant Dances) for piano, Op. 72 * Sixty-six  Lyric Pieces  for piano in ten books, Opp. 12, 38, 43, 47, 54, 57, 62, 65, 68 and 71, including:  Arietta,  To the Spring,  Little Bird,  Butterfly,  Notturno,  Wedding Day at Troldhaugen,  At Your Feet,  Longing For Home,  March of the Dwarfs,  Poeme erotique  and  Gone.

The Nature of Nurture.

The Nature of Nurture. Our global village is gradually increasing its capacity in an unconscious way. People living in this modern world no longer have the privilege to possess any objective or subjective thing larger than that which fits within one's own private space. However, some people, especially those with overwhelming power and renowned fame, still believe in the theory of "survival of the fittest" through the capitalistic system; they spread their influence to those who have limited strength and feeble minds as easily as they might blow away dust. It is so ridiculous that people have desired to take control over the biological world, but they are bullying and humiliating those around them for various purposes. If every individual could help others, especially for the privileged to aid the poor, they would create more opportunities and mutually benefit the life they all desire.It is no doubt that the United States is the strongest and most influential country on earth, it is also one of the most re active members that assists the underdeveloped countries to have well and healthy living, and promotes the necessity of the maintenance of the original global appearance.The United States, which becomes the current status through originally taking advantage of global resources out of Mother Nature, with sufficient financial budgets and well-known identity, believes that it is essential for competent countries to support the underprivileged nations because they should know the reason of give-and -take. They derive almost natural resources since they have more ability and power to access; meanwhile, they have to consider that the powerless nations have less chance to do so. It is reasonable for them to share supportive and substantial supply with the poor.Another unreasonable issue, the deterioration of Mother Nature by privileged people, definitely needs to be examined closely. Even though people...

How Reporters Can Write Great Follow-up News Stories

How Reporters Can Write Great Follow-up News Stories Writing a single basic breaking news article is a pretty straightforward task. You start by writing your lede, which is based on the most important facts in the story. But many news stories are not simply one-time events but rather ongoing topics that can last for weeks or even months. One example would be a crime story that unfolds over time - the crime is committed, then police search for and finally arrest a suspect. Another example might be a long trial involving an especially complex or interesting case. Reporters must often do what is called follow-up articles for long-lasting topics such as these. The Lede The key to writing an effective follow-up story starts with the lede. You cant write the same lede every day for a story that continues over an extended period of time. Instead, you must construct a fresh lede each day, one that reflects the latest developments in the story. But while writing a lede that includes those latest developments, you also need to remind your readers what the original story was all about to begin with. So the follow-up story lede really combines new developments with some background material about the original story. An Example Lets say you cover a house fire in which several people are killed. Heres how your lede for the first story might read: Two people were killed last night when a fast-moving fire swept through their house. Now lets say several days have passed and the fire marshal tells you the fire was a case of arson. Heres your first follow-up lede: A house fire that killed two people earlier this week was deliberately set, the fire marshal announced yesterday. See how the lede combines important background from the original story - two people killed in the fire - with the new development - the fire marshal announcing that it was arson. Now lets take this story one step further. Lets say a week has passed and police have arrested a man who they say set the fire. Heres how your lede might go: Police yesterday arrested a man who they say set the fire last week that killed two people in a house. Get the idea? Again, the lede combines the most important information from the original story with the latest development. Reporters do follow-up stories this way so that readers who may not have read the original story can figure out what is going on and not be confused. The Rest of the Story The rest of the follow-up story should follow the same balancing act of combining the latest news with background information. Generally, the newer developments should be placed higher in the story, while the older information should be lower down. Heres how the first few paragraphs of your follow-up story about the arrest of the arson suspect might go: Police yesterday arrested a man who they say set the fire last week that killed two people in a house. Police said Larson Jenkins, 23, used rags soaked with gasoline to set the fire at the house that killed his girlfriend, Lorena Halbert, 22, and her mother, Mary Halbert, 57. Detective Jerry Groenig said Jenkins was apparently angry because Halbert had recently broken up with him. The fire started around 3 a.m. last Tuesday and quickly swept through the house. Lorena and Mary Halbert were pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Again, the latest developments are placed high in the story. But they are always tied to background from the original event. This way, even a reader learning about this story for the first time will easily understand what has happened.

Transforming the Enterprise with IT Phase 1 DB 2 Essay

Transforming the Enterprise with IT Phase 1 DB 2 - Essay Example While the company does have its dedicated set of loyal customers, it does face threats when it comes to realising its goals of expanding its business and making an etching mark for itself on the international front. One of the main disadvantages that the company faces, is the fact that it has not expanded its reach in the virtual world, wherein their website needs a revamp, to deliver a lot more than the company overview and contact numbers! Since I am the Director of the Technical Support Team, I shall definitely look into the aspect of basically creating a more user-friendly, customer-oriented Internet approach, that would not only help my company gain in the real world, but also in the virtual one online. The basic requisite for the initiation of this idea, is to immediately make our company website a more informative, interactive and most importantly, a marketable one. In this connection, a Business Model Approach needs to be initiated from the company’s end. We have numerous business models available, like the Brokerage Model, the Advertising Model, the Merchant and Manufacturer Models. Among these, keeping in mind the strengths of the business, which lies in strong reseller network, good products and competitive product prices, it is in the best interest of the company, to follow the Merchant Business Model. This model offers the business, the ability to sell products through retailers and wholesalers or directly to the consumers, through the website. Besides this, it also possesses a brick-and-mortar real-world establishment, wherein the customers can contact in case of any

Intimate Partner Violence Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Intimate Partner Violence - Thesis Example Intimate partner violence has become one of the major issues causing women to develop significant unfavorable effects observed with the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological well-being of these women. For health workers who are often called to manage the health of these abused partners, knowledge and skills are very much needed in order to assist these abused partners. According to the Centers for Disease Control, intimate partner violence (IPV) is violence which usually â€Å"occurs between two people in a close relationship†. Intimate partner in this case includes current and former spouses as well as dating partners. This type of violence is observed as a single and as continuing episodes of violence. It also covers different types of behavior including physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. Physical violence occurs when one partner hurts or tries to hurt his or her partner by hitting, kicking, slapping, or inflicting other types of physical injuries on the partner. Threats include physical or sexual violence with the use of words, weapons, gestures or other tools of communication. Finally, emotional abuse involves threatening a partner or his or her possessions or loved ones or harming them and their self-worth. Examples may include stalking, intimidation, or preventing one from contacting or seeing his or her family and/or friends. This violence may later escalate to physical or sexual assaults, sometimes with growing frequency and severity.

Discussant assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussant - Assignment Example In order to increase its revenue and attract more customers, the cruise line has to offer longer duration of their cruises. The cruises should have options of one to three months in order to cub competitors who are also in the game. The stock prices of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are too high, hence limiting shareholders (Baldwin 8). The shares should be affordable in order to attract more customers. The company should also improve its services in order to attract better investors and to make them buy the stock without considering share prices (Baldwin 20). According to customer review carried out on the cruise ships, the Carnival Corporation PLC had the most reviews. However, these reviews indicated that they are not the best when it comes to customer satisfaction (Baldwin 12). Comparing the cruises Royal, Carnival and Norwegian, the customer review was 78%, 73% and 70% respectively (Baldwin 12). This shows that Carnival does not offer the best customer service in the cruise ship industry. The customers’ reviews of NCLH are the poorest compared to their rivals. This means the cruise line should offer better customer service and be more polite in order to maintain the loyal customers and attract new customers (Baldwin 4). The cabin crew members should be polite and can listen to the customers. Also, meals offered on cruises should be improved to enable customers notice it immediately. Entertainment on board is important and should be a variety for the people to choose (Baldwin 10). Employee satisfaction could improve their services to the customers a great deal. At all times, employees deserve to be treated with respect and paid their dues well to enable them deliver the organizational goals (Griffin 300). A happy employee means a happy customer and a happy customer equals loyalty and thus the growth of the company. Moreover, NCLH

Tourism: Vital To The Caribbean Region

Tourism: Vital To The Caribbean Region The impact of tourism on the physical environment has both negatively and positively affected the natural resources of Caribbean countries. Over the years more people are engaging in eco-tourism which forces the people of a county to preserve its wild life, flora and fauna, which are seen as tourism assets. When fees are charge to visit the preserved tourism assets of a country it assists to generate funds to aid in maintenance and protection of the tourism assets. Therefore tourist interest in ecotourism can be sustained for the country. Negatively, the tourists can have a destructive effect on a countrys ecological system. The Caribbean has coral reefs which are infamous for containing rare species of animal life. By tourist engaging in the water activities such as diving and snorkelling, they are directly affecting the endangered species which will seek to migrate when there habitat is being invaded. The endangered species may also die. In addition engaging in water sports will ca use physical damage to the coral reef which will destroy it. Economically tourism has significantly played a major role in the development of many Caribbean countries. Due to tourism, of jobs have an abundance been created in the Caribbean directly and indirectly. According to (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2012) In 2011 Travel and Tourism accounted for 614,000 jobs in the Caribbean directly from the Travel and tourism industry, this figure is expected to increase by 1.7% in 2012. The creation of jobs provides an income and the multiplier effect comes into play whereas those persons who are directly employed to the tourism industry will eventually spend their income for it to circulate in the countrys economy until it is leaked. The leakage concept states that money generated by one country is lost to another. Leakage occurs in Caribbean tourism in many forms, one of which includes chain hotels owned by foreign investors sending back profits to their home countries so the majority of the income does not remain in the Caribbean. Caribbean c ounties heavily depend on tourism for economic viability; this can be change within a day with natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes which can destroy roads, airports, hotels, because tourism is the main source of income for some Caribbean countries this would leave them helpless. Tourism encourages the public and private sectors of a country to build and improve tourism infrastructures (roads, hotels, airports etc.), leisure amenities (gyms, clubs, etc.). By doing this the local people benefits since they are able to use it for themselves even though it was intend for the tourist. Tourism inspires the local people to preserve their traditional customs, festivals, and cuisines since tourists are interested in culture. The culture of the Caribbean are often times sold by the local community members especially areas where the tourist resorts are found. This helps the community members to generate an income for themselves and their families, from which the government can increase tax revenues for the country. Though community tourist benefits the locals there are still negative impacts associated with community tourism. This includes, invasion of privacy by foreigners, drugs can be brought into the community or sold to tourist there which shows the country in a n egative light. The morals and values of local people can be lost through adaption of the foreigners culture. The relationship of tourism to the economy of Caribbean countries can be described as developing. The Caribbean is seen as the most tourism dependent region in the world, with the tourism sector contributing to 36% of the GDP (Caribbean Region: Tourism, n.d.). There are over 900,000 persons directly and indirectly employed to tourism industry according to the (Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), 2002). This figure contributes significantly to the growth of the GDP since employment will help to increase the standard of living for individuals. With tourism industry thriving for Caribbean countries others sectors that are linked to the tourism industry can benefit from the productivity such as the agriculture sector. There are however some challenges that the Caribbean tourism sector is facing. The tourism sectors of the Caribbean need to be more competitive in order to stay on top since more countries are turning to tourism as a feasible option to boosts their economy. Tourism is a c apital intensive activity which Caribbean countries rely heavily on, therefore it is essential to consider these keys variable of tourism as it relates to the Caribbean economies: the impact on GDP, Inter-sectoral impacts, balance of payments, Investment, Government revenue. Referances http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/ Rita kennedy no date http://traveltips.usatoday.com/positive-negative-effects-tourism-63336.html

Hedge Fund Policy Essay -- Economics Wealth Papers

Hedge Fund Policy What makes a hedge fund such a unique investment? And why is it so controversial? Many feel the risks of a hedge fund strongly outweigh its benefits. And with some funds, it does. But when a hedge fund strives, it has impeccable potential. It is arguable that the regulation on hedge funds, or lack there of, is what allows for so many to falter. However, despite various suggestions for policy changes, a few lemons still remain. Would changes in policy and regulation of a Hedge Fund allow it to be a more attractive investment opportunity? Although some alterations could make the hedge fund a safer investment, some risks are completely unavoidable. Ultimately, these changes may not only create more problems, but also take away from the uniqueness of this remarkable form of investment. A hedge fund is typically a private partnership invested primarily in publicly traded securities or futures. They are limited to 99 investors and require large minimum investments, which can range from $25,000 to several million dollars. Sixty five percent of the investors must have a net worth of at least $1 million. A general partner, who uses sophisticated strategies to make bets on the fund?s direction, and generally receives 20% of the profits, leads the fund. Hedge fund strategies fall into four open categories: absolute return, long/short equity, event driven, and global asset allocation. Absolute driven strategies are known as "market-neutral" funds, which seek to moderate the effects of overall market forces. Long/Short hedge funds, which represent about half of the assets in the hedge fund industry, seek to profit from underpricings by buying long, and overpricing through short selling. Event driven hedge funds ... ... able to grow and have the leverage it had, if it had not been lent the money," said Bert Ely. Though many may argue that hedge funds do more harm than good, they are still extremely popular investments and have proven to be very successful. Many have benefited with the current hedge fund policy and see no need for regulatory changes. Various proposed changes may not, in fact, be entirely beneficial. Once implemented, the suggested solutions could create more problems for the hedge fund world. And such changes would alter the characteristics that attract so many to such incredible investment opportunities. In the end, a better hedge fund policy is neither plausible nor desirable. Sources: http://library.hbs.edu/hedgefunds.htm http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~mtwomey/newspapers/100198he.html http://www.bernstein.com/perfstrat/products/ts_020401.htm

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Chapter 28~29

Twenty-eight The Sheriff To Burton, it sounded like there could be thirty or forty people wailing in the cave, let alone whatever was making the roaring noise. It might not be as easy to get rid of witnesses as he'd thought. If all the people he'd passed on the road earlier were in the cave, the SWAT snipers were going to have their work cut out for them. One thing was for sure, he couldn't let Crowe and this woman, whoever she was, leave the ranch alive. His cell phone rang and he pushed the answer button. â€Å"What?† He set his gun down and covered his ear to shut out the noise from the cave. â€Å"Nailsworth here,† the Spider said. â€Å"They're on the way. Give it forty minutes. And there's no other entrance to that cave.† Burton was not happy, having to lie in this crevice for another forty minutes, but once the SWAT team arrived, it would be over. â€Å"Nailsworth, shot in the dark here, but have you ever heard of someone calling themselves Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Wasteland?† â€Å"The Outland,† the Spider corrected. â€Å"Warrior Babe of the Outland. Of course, only the finest series of nuked-out future movies ever made. Kendra's a huge star. Was a huge star. Molly Michon was the actress's name. Why?† â€Å"Never mind. One of the suspects thinks she's a comedian.† â€Å"If you want some of the cassettes, I can let you have some copies for twenty bucks apiece. I've got almost the whole collection.† â€Å"Nailsworth, you're a pathetic piece of shit.† Burton disconnected. The wailing was still coming from the cave and the woman was screaming something he couldn't make out. Molly Theo's sneakers were still showing, sticking out between Steve's teeth. Molly grabbed her broadsword, ran up the Sea Beast's foreleg, and leapt onto his broad neck. She brought the broadsword down hard between his eyes and the impact made her hands go numb. â€Å"Spit him out! Spit him out!† Steve tossed his head, trying to throw her off, but she gripped him with her thighs and hacked away at his head. Chunks of his scales flew off and the blade sparked. â€Å"Spit him out! Spit him out!† Molly screamed, punctu-ating the panicked chant with blows from the sword. She'd seen this before. She knew that if she heard a crunch, Theo was finished. The Sea Beast opened his jaws to deliver the coup de grace and Molly could hear a gurgling scream come from Theo. She leapt to her feet on Steve's forehead, put the tip of the broadsword in the corner of his eye, and prepared to leap on the hilt to drive it into his eye socket. â€Å"Spit him out! Now!† Steve went cross-eyed trying to see his attacker, then made a grunting noise and hacked the constable out on the cave floor. He whipped his head and Molly went fly ing, hitting her back hard on the cave wall ten feet away and sliding down. The pilgrims' wails turned to sobs as Steve slunk to the back of the cave. Theo, mired in a puddle of blood, bat guano, and dragon spit, pushed himself up on his hands and knees and looked to Molly. â€Å"You okay?† he gasped. She nodded. â€Å"I think so. You?† Theo nodded and looked down to make sure his legs were still there. â€Å"Yeah.† He crawled over to her and sat back against the cave wall beside her, still heaving to get his breath back. â€Å"Nice friends you have. Why'd he stop?† â€Å"I think his feelings are hurt.† â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"He'll get over it. He's a big boy.† Despite himself, Theo started laughing, and before long he and Molly were leaning against each other, giggling uncontrollably. â€Å"Steve, huh?† Theo said. â€Å"He looks like a Steve, don't you think?† Molly said. Theo wiped the dragon spit from his mouth and leaned over to kiss her. She caught his chin in her hand and pushed him away. â€Å"Bad idea.† Another roar rose from the back of the cave, this one less angry and more sad than the last. â€Å"I guess so,† Theo said. â€Å"What in the hell is going on in there, Crowe?† Burton called from outside. â€Å"You don't have a lot of time to dick around here. There's a SWAT team on the way. What do you want?† â€Å"I don't even know what the hell you're talking about,† Theo shouted. â€Å"What do you want to walk away from this? Leave the state. Forget everything. How much? Give me a figure.† Theo looked at Molly as if she might have the answer. She said, â€Å"I thought we made our demands pretty clear.† â€Å"He's not going to let me go, Molly. And now he's not going to let you go either. If there's a SWAT team on the way, we're in big trouble.† â€Å"I need to go talk to Steve.† Molly stood and walked between the sobbing pilgrims to the back of the cave. Theo watched her fade into the dark where the Sea Beast was pulsing with dim spots of green and blue. Theo rubbed his eyes to try to clear his vision. â€Å"Well, Crowe? What'll it be?† â€Å"Make me an offer,† Theo said, trying to figure out some kind of insurance. Something that would keep him alive more than two seconds after he stepped out of the cave. â€Å"I'll give you a hundred thousand. It's a fair offer, Crowe. You can't prove anything anyway, not if Leander is dead. Take the money and walk away.† â€Å"I'm dead,† Theo said to himself. The size of the bluff offer itself betrayed Burton's seriousness. There was no way he was letting Theo get away alive. â€Å"We'll talk it over!† Theo shouted. His head was throbbing from the pistol whipping he'd taken and the vision in his left eye was blurry. His cell phone chirped from within the pile of pilgrims' clothing and he scrambled through the clothes and pill bottles to find it. His vision went black with the move-ment and he had to steady himself until it cleared. He found the phone nestled in a pair of panty hose and hit the answer button. Steve He knew an enemy when he saw one. He could sense waves of aggression and fear coming from them, and he had felt those things coming from his warmblood lover. He could feel the fear even now as she approached him through the feeder people. Why, if she was going to find another mate, did she go to the trouble of unwrapping the feeder people for him? He didn't mind being hit with the sharp thing, that felt good, he thought she wanted to mate again, but when she put it in his eye, he knew she would have killed him. He felt it. She had turned her loyalties to another. He considered biting off her head to show her how badly he felt. He tucked his head under his foreleg as she approached. She rubbed his gill tree and he sent a bolt of scarlet over his back to tell her to stop. â€Å"I'm sorry, Steve. I don't have many friends. I couldn't let you eat Theo.† He could sense benevolence in her tone, but he didn't trust her now. Maybe he would just bite off an arm as a test. His back pulsed magenta and blue. â€Å"You have to go, Steve. There's a SWAT team coming. You can get past that guy outside without a problem. In fact, you can eat that guy outside if you want. In fact, I'd really appreciate it if you'd eat that guy outside.† She stepped back from him. â€Å"Steve, you have to get out of here or they're going to kill you.† He pulsed a dull olive drab to her and tucked his head farther under his foreleg. She wanted him to go away, he could feel it. And he wanted to go away, but he didn't want her to want him to go away. He knew she could never be what he wanted, and he understood never now, but he didn't want the warmblood to have her either. Colors ran like sorrow over his scales. â€Å"I'm not rejecting you,† Molly said. â€Å"I'm trying to save your life.† She pushed through the pilgrims, who were all on their knees sobbing, and one woman, a thirtyish redhead with gravity-defying fake breasts, grabbed her arm. â€Å"I can sacrifice,† the woman said. â€Å"I can.† Molly pulled her arm away from the woman. â€Å"Fuck off, lady,† Molly said, â€Å"Martyrdom's easy, it comes with the plumbing.† Theo It was only when he answered the cell phone that Theo realized one of Burton's blows had caught him on the ear. â€Å"Ouch! Goddamn it. Ouch!† Theo limped around in a circle, despite the fact that his limbs weren't injured at all. â€Å"Theo?† Gabe said, his voice tinny in the receiver. â€Å"Yeah, it's me.† Theo changed the phone to his other ear, but still held it a few inches away, now that it had bitten him once. â€Å"Where are you? Who answered your phone?† â€Å"That was Molly Michon. We're in that cave up on the ranch where the mushroom farm used to be. Burton has us pinned in here and he's called in a SWAT team.† â€Å"Have you seen it?† â€Å"Yeah, I've seen it, Gabe. I think you were right about the brain chemistry thing. There's a bunch of people here all tranced out, saying they were called to give sacrifice. They all have prescriptions written by Val.† â€Å"Wow,† Gabe said. â€Å"Wow. What's it look like?† â€Å"It's large, Gabe.† â€Å"Could you be more specific?† â€Å"Look, Gabe, we need some help. Burton is going to kill us. I need witnesses up here so he can't claim that we fired on his men. Call the TV station and the paper. Get a news helicopter up here.† Theo felt Molly grab his shoulder. He turned to see her shaking her head. â€Å"Just a second, Gabe.† He covered the mouthpiece with his hand. â€Å"No reporters, Theo.† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"Because if they find out about Steve, they'll put him in a cage or kill him. No reporters. No cameras.† She gripped his shoulder until it hurt and tears welled up in her eyes. â€Å"Please.† Theo nodded. â€Å"Gabe,† he said into the phone, â€Å"Forget the reporters. No news people. No cameras. You guys come, though. I need witnesses here that don't work for Burton.† â€Å"You said there were a bunch of people there?† â€Å"They're all out of it, I don't think they're worth a damn. Besides, they're naked.† There was a pause. Gabe said, â€Å"Why are they naked?† Theo looked to Molly, â€Å"Why are they naked?† â€Å"To deter them from coming into the cave.† â€Å"To deter them from coming into the cave,† Theo said into the phone. â€Å"Well, that didn't work very well, did it?† Gabe said. â€Å"Why didn't she scare them off with the creature?† â€Å"That's what I've been telling you, Gabe. They're here to be with the creature.† â€Å"Fascinating. And Molly has control over him?† Theo looked at the dragon spit running down his jeans. â€Å"Not exactly. Gabe, please, bring Val and get your ass up here. You can claim to be here for scientific reasons or something. Val can say she's a trained hostage ne-gotiator. These people are her patients; that should help her credibility. Bring as many people as you can.† Molly grabbed Theo's arm again and shook her head. â€Å"Just the people who already know.† Theo cursed under his breath. â€Å"Scratch that, Gabe. Just you and Val. Don't tell anyone else.† â€Å"Mavis and Howard and Catfish know already.† â€Å"Just them. Please, Gabe, borrow Mavis's car and get up here.† â€Å"Theo, this isn't going to help you much. We might keep you from getting killed, but Burton is still going to arrest you guys. You know it. And once he gets you in his jail, well, you know.† â€Å"One thing at a time.† â€Å"Theo, we've got to preserve that creature. This is the greatest†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Gabe,† Theo interrupted. â€Å"I'm trying to preserve my ass. Get going, please.† â€Å"You've got to get that creature out of there, Theo. They might not shoot you if there are witnesses, but they won't let the creature go.† â€Å"He won't move. He's in the back of the cave, sulking.† â€Å"Sulking?† â€Å"I don't know, Gabe. Just come, okay.† Theo disconnected and sat down. To Molly he said, â€Å"Gabe's right. We may just be delaying the inevitable by bringing in witnesses. Maybe we should rush Burton before SWAT gets here.† Molly picked up the AK-47 from the floor, released the clip and tilted it so Theo could see it was empty. â€Å"Bad idea.† The Head of the Slug â€Å"Hostage negotiator?† Val Riordan said. â€Å"I did my residency in eating disorders. The closest I've ever come to a hostage negotiation is talking a sugar-jagged actress out of purging fourteen quarts of Ben & Jerry's Monkey Chunks after she lost her part on ‘Baywatch.'† â€Å"That counts,† said Gabe. He'd related everything that Theo had told him and was ready to run to the rescue, but Val was reluctant. â€Å"I believe the flavor is Chunky Monkey,† H.P. said. â€Å"Whatever,† said Val. â€Å"I don't see why Theo needs us if he's got a whole cave full of my patients.† Gabe was trying to be patient, but he could feel a clock ticking in the back of his brain, each tick taking away his chance to save his friend and lay eyes on a living specimen from the Cretaceous period. â€Å"I told you, Theo says they're out of it.† â€Å"Perfectly logical,† said H.P. â€Å"How so?† asked Val, obviously irritated at the stuffy restaurateur's tone. â€Å"The tradition of making sacrifice is as old as man. It may be more than just a tradition. The Babylonians sacrificed to the serpent, Tiamet, the Aztecs and Mayans sacrificed to serpent gods. Perhaps this creature was the serpent to which they sacrificed.† â€Å"That's ridiculous,† Val said. â€Å"This thing eats people.† H.P. chuckled, â€Å"People have been loving vengeful gods for thousands of years. Who's to say it isn't the vengeance that inspires that love? Perhaps, as Dr. Fenton has pointed out, there is some symbiotic relationship between the hunting habits of this creature and the brain chemistry of its prey. Perhaps it inspires love as well as sexual stimulation. That feeling needn't be reciprocal, you know. He could be as oblivious to his worshippers as any other god. He takes the sacrifices as his due, with no responsibility on his part.† â€Å"That's a steamin bag of dog snot if I ever heard it,† Catfish spouted. â€Å"I been near this thing and it ain't never done nothin but scare the daylights out of me.† â€Å"Is that right, Mr. Fish?† H.P. said. â€Å"Isn't it true that your fear of this creature has inspired a lifelong career in music? Perhaps you owe thanks to this beast.† â€Å"I owe ya'll a ride to the booby hatch, thass what I owe.† â€Å"Enough!† Gabe shouted. â€Å"I'm going. You can come or you can stay, but I'm going to help Theo and see if I can keep that creature alive. Mavis, can I borrow your car?† Mavis threw her keys on the bar. â€Å"Wish I was going with you, kid.† â€Å"May I join you?† H.P. asked. Gabe nodded and looked at Val. â€Å"They are your patients.† She pressed her back against the bar. â€Å"This is all going to blow up, and when it all comes out, I'm going to go to jail. I should help with that?† â€Å"Yes,† said Gabe. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because it's the right thing to do, and because it's important to me and you love me.† Val stared at him, then dragged her purse off the bar. â€Å"I'll go, but you will all be getting hate mail from me when I'm in jail.† Mavis looked at Catfish. â€Å"Well?† â€Å"Ya'll go on. I got the Blues on me.† They started out the door. â€Å"Don't you worry, honey,† Mavis called after them. â€Å"You're not going to jail. Mavis will see to it.† Twenty-nine Gabe Up until the time that Steve had come to town, the most fearsome prehistoric beast on the Central Coast was Mavis Sand's 1956 Cadillac convertible. It was lemon-pie yellow with a great chrome grill that seemed to slurp at the road as it passed and gold-plated curb feelers that vibrated in the wind like spring-loaded whiskers. The daytime regulars called it the â€Å"Banana† and in a fit of ambition had once even fashioned a giant blue Chiquita emblem, which they stuck on the trunk lid while Mavis was working. â€Å"Well,† Mavis said, more than somewhat surprised by their efforts, â€Å"it ain't the first banana I've rode, but it takes the size record by at least a foot.† Even in his youth, Gabe had never driven anything like the Banana before. It steered like a barge and it rocked and lurched over dips and potholes like a foundering scow. Gabe had activated the electric top when they'd first climbed in and hadn't figured out how to put it back up. Gabe spotted Val's Mercedes parked on the side of a hill off the main ranch road. There were six other vehicles parked next to it, all four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles: two Blazers and two larger Suburbans. A group of men in black jumpsuits were standing by the vehicles, the tallest watching them through binoculars and talking on a radio or cell phone. â€Å"Maybe we should have taken a more inconspicuous vehicle,† Gabe said. â€Å"Why didn't we take your car, Howard?† Val asked. She was slouched in the passenger seat. Howard sat in the back, as stiff as a mannequin, squinting as if this was his first exposure ever to sunlight. â€Å"I own a Jaguar. Superior coach works, none like them in the world outside of Bentley and Rolls. Walnut burl on all the interior surfaces.† â€Å"Doesn't run, huh?† â€Å"Sorry,† said Howard. Gabe stopped the Banana at the cattle gate. â€Å"What should I do? They're watching us.† â€Å"Go on up there,† Val said. â€Å"That's why we're here.† She had gotten brave all of a sudden. Gabe wasn't quite so self-assured. â€Å"Someone tell me again why the sheriff won't just shoot us along with Theo and Molly?† Val was getting into the spirit of the thing, realizing that this might be the only way to atone for what she'd done to her patients. â€Å"I'm a psychiatrist, Gabe, and you have a Ph.D. The police don't shoot people like us.† â€Å"You're kidding, right?† Howard said, â€Å"Does one require an advanced degree to be immune to gunfire, or does a life of scholarship count as well?† â€Å"Go, Gabe,† Val said. â€Å"We'll be fine.† Gabe looked over at her and she smiled at him. He smiled back, sort of, and pulled the Banana into the pasture toward five heavily armed men who did not look happy to see them. Theo Theo had searched the rest of the cave, using the disposable lighter he'd forgotten to abandon with the rest of his pot habit. The cathedral chamber was closed, except for the entrance where Burton waited. Theo gave the Sea Beast a wide clearance on his way back to Molly, who stood just inside the cave mouth. Burton shouted from outside, â€Å"Crowe, we've got your friends locked up! This is your last chance to make a deal! I'll give you five minutes, then we're using gas!† Theo turned to Molly in a panic. â€Å"We've got to get these people out of here, Molly. As soon as the first gas grenade comes in, it's all over.† â€Å"Don't we need hostages?† â€Å"For what? He's not going to negotiate. The only thing he wants is me – and probably you – dead.† â€Å"Why don't you call someone and tell them what you know? Then Burton won't have a reason to kill us.† â€Å"All I know is what I've seen. With Leander dead, there's no one to connect him to the labs. I've already told Val and Gabe. Now he's got them. I was an idiot to bring them into this.† â€Å"Sorry,† Molly said. â€Å"Wait.† Theo flipped open his phone and dialed. The phone rang eight times and Theo was glancing at the battery gauge, which showed only a quarter-charge, when a man answered. â€Å"Nailsworth,† the Spider said, leaving the caller to guess that they had contacted the Sheriff's Department's information officer. â€Å"Nailsworth, it's Theo Crowe. I need your help.† â€Å"Having a bad day, Theo?† What a prick, Theo thought. â€Å"Listen, I'm trapped†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know where you are, Theo. Remember, I know ev erything. Actually, I'm glad you called. I had something I wanted to ask you about.† Theo fought the urge to scream at the megalomaniacal geek. â€Å"Please, Nailsworth, I don't know how long this battery is going to hold out. I need you to do me a favor.† â€Å"Me first.† â€Å"Go,† Theo barked. â€Å"Well, when Burton called me, he mentioned that your accomplice said she was Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland. So I started looking around. Turns out there was a Molly Michon admitted to county psychiatric a few times. She left a Pine Cove address. I wondered if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's her,† Theo said. â€Å"Wow, you're kidding! No way!† â€Å"She's right here.† Theo looked at Molly and shrugged. â€Å"Look, you warned me not to go on the ranch. You know about Burton's crank network.† â€Å"I might,† Nailsworth said. â€Å"Don't be coy. You know everything. But what I need to know is do you have access to information that could be used as evidence – money transfers, checks, offshore accounts, phone records, and such – stuff you could give to the state attorney?† â€Å"Why, Theo, you're starting to sound like a cop.† â€Å"Can you get it?† â€Å"Theo, Theo, Theo, don't be silly. Not only can I get it, but I've had it. I've been compiling a file for years.† â€Å"Can you get it to the attorney general's office right now?† â€Å"What's in it for me?† â€Å"Nailsworth, he's going to kill us.† â€Å"Kendra is right there with you, huh? I can't believe it.† Theo shuddered, halfway between panic and anger. He held the phone out to Molly. â€Å"Say something Kendra-like.† Molly cleared her throat and said, â€Å"Die, you scum-sucking mutant pig. The only thing of mine you'll feel is cold steel!† â€Å"Oh my God! It's her!† the Spider said. â€Å"Yeah, it is,† Theo said. â€Å"Now will you help?† â€Å"I want a copy of the Norwegian Battle Babes. Can I get one?† Theo covered the receiver and looked at Molly. â€Å"Norwegian Battle Babes?† Molly smiled. â€Å"Kendra VI: Battle Babes in the Hot Oil Arena. The Norwegian version is the only version that has full nudity in all the arena scenes. It's very rare.† Theo's mouth had dropped open. His survival had come down to this? â€Å"So do you have a copy?† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"You got it,† Theo said into the phone. â€Å"I'll bring Kendra naked and in person to your office if you get moving now.† â€Å"I don't think so,† said Molly. â€Å"I'll send the file to Sacramento,† the Spider said, â€Å"but that won't do you any good. Even if you tell Burton about it, he's got you in a perfect situation to kill you anyway. You need media.† â€Å"Media? Helicopters? We're too far north to get anyone here in time,† Theo said. â€Å"No!† Molly shouted. â€Å"I'll call them,† the Spider said. â€Å"Hold them off for twenty minutes, maybe twenty-five.† â€Å"We don't have anything but naked people and a jealous sea monster to hold them off with.† â€Å"Is that more of your drug nomenclature?† the Spider asked. â€Å"It's what it is. If they use gas, we won't have twenty minutes.† â€Å"They won't.† â€Å"How do†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Twenty-five minutes. And Battle Babes better be in the original box.† The Spider hung up. Theo clicked his phone closed. â€Å"I said no helicopters, Theo,† Molly said. â€Å"Even if we get out, you know they'll hurt Steve. You need to call him and tell him no helicopters.† Theo felt he was close to losing it. He clenched his fists and tried very hard not to scream in her face. His voice went to a whisper. â€Å"Molly, even with a warrant out for Burton, he will kill us. If you want your dragon to live, then you've got to get him out of here before they get here.† â€Å"He won't leave. He won't listen to me. Look at him. He doesn't care about anything anymore.† Sheridan Sergeant Rich Sheridan was six-three, two-thirty, with dark hair, a mustache, and a long, hooked nose that had been broken several times. Like the other men on the hill, he was wearing body armor and a radio headset, as well as a weapons belt. He was the only one not holding his M-16. Instead he was talking on a cell phone. He had been a cop for ten years and working for Burton on the side for eight. If this had been an official activation of Special Weapons and Tactics he would have been second in command, but as the real commander wasn't in Burton's pocket, Sheridan was in charge. He let the binoculars dangle around his neck and waited while his men got firing angles on all of the yellow Cadillac's passengers before he approached. Sheriff Burton was screaming at him on the cell phone. â€Å"I'm pinned down up here, Sheridan. Handle this and get your ass up here. Now!† â€Å"Yes, sir. What do you want me to do with them?† â€Å"Find out who they are, then cuff them and leave them there. And hurry.† Sheridan hung up. â€Å"Get out of the car. Keep your hands where I can see them.† The two men and a woman did as they were told and submitted to pat-downs from Sheridan's men. When they were handcuffed, Sheridan spun the younger man around. â€Å"Who are you?† â€Å"Gabe Fenton. I'm a biologist.† Gabe smiled weakly. â€Å"Nice headsets. You guys could all be standing by to take my subscription order for Corrup-tion Weekly.† Sheridan didn't react. â€Å"What are you doing here?† â€Å"Endangered species protection. There's a very rare creature in that cave up there.† Val winced. â€Å"Were you supposed to tell him that?† she whispered. â€Å"How did you know to come here?† Sheridan asked. â€Å"This is the habitat of the California red-legged frog, very endangered. I saw your SWAT vehicle go by and the driver had that ‘I want to kill some rare frogs' look in his eye.† Gabe looked at one of the other SWAT guys, a stocky Hispanic man who was glaring at him over the sights of his M-16. â€Å"See, there's that look right there.† â€Å"We didn't bring the SWAT vehicle,† Sheridan said flatly. â€Å"Actually,† Val jumped in, â€Å"I'm a clinical psychologist. I have experience in hostage negotiation. I heard the SWAT team being dispatched on my scanner at home, and since you're so far north, I thought you might need some help. Dr. Fenton agreed to ride along with me.† â€Å"We weren't dispatched over the radio,† Sheridan said, dismissing Val as if she were an insect. He looked at Howard. â€Å"And you?† â€Å"Howard Phillips. I'm merely here to observe a hid eous ancient creature that has arisen from the darkest Stygian depths to wreak havoc on civilization and feast on human flesh.† Howard smiled (the smile of an undertaker at the news of a big bus crash, but a smile nonetheless). Sheridan stared blankly at H.P., saying nothing. â€Å"He's the caterer,† Gabe said quickly. â€Å"We brought him along to get your order. I'll bet none of you guys remembered to pack a lunch, did you?† â€Å"Who did you tell you were coming here?† Gabe looked at Val and Howard for some clue as to the right answer. â€Å"No one,† he said. Sheridan nodded. â€Å"We are going to put you in the back of that truck over there for your own safety,† he said. Then to the others he said, â€Å"Lock them in the K-9 unit. We've got to go.†