What is the p-value of 1.92 Essay Example for Free

What is the p-value of 1.92 Essay The strategic plan for the first company is to grow 2.5 million dollars. The strategy helps an organization plan long-term actions to achieve the major objectives throughout the company. The key factors in a strategy include the market, product and the organizational development strategic alliance. The weakness of Tina’s plan is that it might not be enough change to drive 2.5 million in gross revenue. She may need more ideas to get her to 2.5 million. The strategic plan for the second company is to help improve the competitive performance throughout the organization. Ying’s strategy has three broad strategic options that help her collect receivables in a timely manner that should lead to accessible profits for the company. Ying is thinking outside the box to find a way to work with the locals who are out to sea for months on end and may have bills to pay while at sea, or may be short on cash because of the remote environment and lack of available jobs year round. Comparative Analysis Tina and Ying’s strategic plans have many things in common. Both took similar approaches to begin their strategic plans by providing company background, mission statement and values, etc. This approach provides readers information gradually, and makes the transition smooth. Both Tina and Ying also focused on the environmental analysis for their chosen organizations. However, there are many things different in Tina and Ying’s strategic plans as well. In Tina’s environmental analysis, she focused more on the organization’s external environment, especially the threats posed by the organization’s competitors. Ying analyzed her organization’s external environment from three aspects, remote, industry, and operation. As for the internal environment, Ying applied SWOT analysis to identify the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Another major difference between Tina and Ying’s strategic plans lies in the implementation plans. In Tina’s implementation plan, she took a departmental approach, which means different department will have different objectives, tactics, action items, milestones, and tasks. Ying’s strategic plan focused on reducing accounts receivable days, which is a business office function, thus the implementation plan targets the business office specifically. The Selected Strategic Plan Choosing a strategic plan is difficult due to the writer being a participant. However in this situation Ying has already laid the foundation for the selection. Tina’s paper is a bit more robust when it comes to a strategic plan for the company in general. Tina has worked in all departments of her company in her fifteen years of service, which allows a broader insight of the company’s needs. However, though Ying is focusing on just one department within the hospital, changing the cash flow will help the hospital considerably. Unfortunately, the hospitals leadership team could take the money earned by the receivable department and invest it elsewhere if it is not part of a bigger plan. Ying’s paper is well written and shows great understanding of her department and its needs. Justification ADO is a small company with a need for an increasing workforce. To continue to support the resources brought on to grow different departments, the company must bring more cash flow to the bottom line. Team D believes that  Tina’s plan covers a larger scope, and with a few more tweaks will have a better chance of attaining the interest of investors. Giving investors insight to the company helps promote trust. A level of trust is necessary because investors want to make a strong return on investment. Investors must feel that a company not only has a the inspiration of an idea but also the methodical diligence of execution. Conclusion Members of Learning Team D learned not only how to develop appropriate strategic plan, but also a key to the success of any team project is cooperation and collaboration. Through the journey of this team project, members in Team D have helped one another, and made progress and improvement with one another. It was truly a successful team work.

Techniques of Establishing Character Essay Example for Free

Techniques of Establishing Character Essay Opening a new business is never an easy task. Various factors count while starting a new venture and much is at stake. However the formalities and the difficulties also depend on the country one wants to do business in. Every country has certain rules and regulations as regards to doing businesses on its land. El Salvador is an open economy in Central America and attracts foreign investors. After Chile El Salvador has become the second most open economy in Latin America. Government is democratic and offers several promotional benefits for the investors. Several factors like â€Å". . . CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), low inflation, proximity to the US marketplace, competitive operational costs, and tax exemptions in free trade zones. . . † make the country an attractive option for foreign investment (â€Å"Doing Business in El Salvador†, 2007). Even though issues like unemployment and gang activities are bothersome but â€Å". . . sustainability and sound CSR (corporate social responsibility) policies in agribusiness, manufacturing, apparel, electronics, and the development of bio-fuels place El Salvador at the forefront of Latin American trade development† (â€Å"Doing Business in El Salvador†, 2007). The country also gets assistance from the United States to tackle with the negative issues in the society (â€Å"Doing Business in El Salvador†, 2007). Flexible policies of El Salvador make it much easier for the companies to do business in the country. State has free trade agreements with a number of countries like US, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic, Chile, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Taiwan, Colombia, and Central America and many other countries. It is an open market for US goods with very low tariffs and other trade restrictions. USA is the biggest trade partner of the country followed by Central America and Mexico. The official currency is US dollar. El Salvador has very less corruption. On the other hand there are also some limitations for the foreign companies. Judicial system of the country is time-consuming, lethargic and is partial as far as foreign companies are concerned. Crime rate is high and literacy rate is low leading to unemployment and lack of English proficiency (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). El Salvador offers significant growth in sectors like automotive parts and service equipment, dental equipment, printing and graphics and travel and tourism. Agents are the best way of entering the Salvadorian market and the concentration of trade in the capital city rules out the need for more than one agent. Companies or individuals must verify every agreement and bona fides of partners they are going to be associated with. There is no need of an exclusive territorial contract in the beginning with agents. The Salvadoran Commercial Code is meant to protect both the agents and the companies in default situations. Companies must consult local lawyers to get a hold of the legal system of the country. Several protections, compensations and damages must be considered while entering into an agreement with an agent or a partner (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). The next step is getting a license to open an office in the country. Presence of a lawyer in every step is crucial for hassle free progress from one step to another. â€Å"One stop† window of El Salvador’s National Investment Office provides every assistance for getting a license to open an office, branch, or agency. â€Å". . . it also provides assistance with labor related issues, immigration, and information about the Free Trade Zone Law regime† (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Different licenses are needed that can be listed as follows: a) Society or Company Registration b) Initial Balance Registration c) 1 st time Establishment Registration d) Income Tax Identification Number (NIT) (Ministry of Finance) e) Value Added Tax Identification Number (IVA) (Ministry of Finance) f) Invoices Correlative Registration (Correlativo de Facturas) (Ministry of Finance) g) First time Employer’s Identification Number (NIP) (Salvadoran Social Security Institute) h) Work Place Registration (Ministry of Labor) (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). All these formalities can be submitted at the â€Å"Integral Services Window† of the Registry of Commerce Office of the National Registry Center (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). $11,428 is the minimum capital needed to start a business. The Commerce Registry also needs the names of the companys board of directors and administrative personnel. All the accounting records of the company must be in Spanish and approved by a certified public accountant. The Commerce Registry issues the license only when the company’s location details are cleared by the municipality and it is registered in the National Industrial and Commercial Establishments Directory at the General Director of Statistics and Census. License is then printed in local newspaper. There is a need of further clearances from specific ministries for specific companies. For instance pharmaceuticals companies must complete all the formalities with the Superior Council for Public Health and so on for other sectors (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Franchise is another attractive option for starting a new business in El Salvador. US fast food joints are booming in the country. Others include: U. S. franchises operating in El Salvador include hotels and car rental, auditing/accountancy, credit reports, mobile advertising and media marketing, print shop/one hour photo labs, beauty/hair salons, fitness centers, computer learning, child care/learning centers, video rental, exterminator services, and dry cleaning (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Direct marketing using telemarketing mediums like mobile and internet and cable services is another option for establishing a business. A joint venture of US and Salvadorian company must be incorporated and duly registered in El Salvador (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Next step is concerned with the distribution and selling of the product. Import of products is handled by the distributors who can launch and utilize the opportunity of their already existing wide networks to market any new product in El Salvador. Small retailers buy some products like used vehicles and auto parts, clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and household goods from US themselves. Free trade zones form major distribution centers of the country. It is very important to market a product with as much efficiency and care as devoted in its production only then can the product reach its consumers. Using prominent newspapers, billboards and other media can be useful for introducing a new product and communication your idea to the end user. Grand launch at premium hotels and among significant personalities of the region can bring a new product in instant limelight: As competition increases, creative sales promotions such as contests, drawings, raffles, etc. , become more relevant. Samples of products are often handed out at supermarkets and department stores. Participation in local exhibits and sponsorship of local events and conferences is a common local practice for brand positioning. Shared budget for promotional campaigns and advertising is highly appreciated by local importer/distributor, and simple things such as the availability of brochures and other promotional materials in Spanish are very helpful for marketing products (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Government of El Salvador regulates only the liquefied propane gas rates, public transport rates, and energy rates. Import duty and the 13-percent value-added tax (VAT) is added to the price of imported products. â€Å"Import tariffs for capital goods are zero percent, raw materials range from zero to 5%, intermediate goods range from 5 to 10%, and finished goods are charged a maximum of 15%. Textiles, agricultural products, vehicles, and a few other non-essential products are charged higher tariffs that range from 15 to 30%† (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Free trade agreements between US and El Salvador reduce the amount of tariffs on the US products to a greater extent. No duty is imposed on 80 percent of the American products. Trade barriers are also minimal. However some services and professionals do face some barriers like architects and notaries must be local only. Rice and pork are the two products that buyers have to buy locally and their further demands follow an import quota system and 40 percent duties. Countries bound by CAFTA-DR do not question each others sanitary inspection methods. In case of imports, there is no need of import licenses and a commercial invoice and bill of lading can only be sufficient to serve the purpose. The National Registry Center (CNR) has one-single-import shop where a company can get import licenses of the following institutions: Customs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Economy (virtual), Ministry of the Environment, and the National Health of Public Council. Some products like arms and ammunition exported from US need an export license from the US government. There are other products that need a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). So the exporters must make sure that they have the required licenses and permissions to export their products to El Salvador. Some products like high-caliber firearms, machines and tools for making coins, counterfeited coins and bills, movies contrary to ethics and good behavior, abortives etc. are prohibited for import in the country (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Some rules regarding the labeling of the products can be listed below: †¢ Retailers must have the price of the product either on the packaging or in a visible place. †¢ Products that are sold by weight or volume or any other measure must have the weight, volume, or an exact measure of the contents on the label. †¢ For pharmaceuticals, the list of ingredients, expiration date, dosage, contraindications, risks involved when used, residual toxic effects, etc. as established by the Ministry of Public Health must be printed on the label. †¢ Labels on frozen and canned foods must include an expiration date. †¢ Labeling must be in Spanish language (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). Customs procedures are relaxed and simple in the country. Use of modern technology, internet and â€Å"Teledespacho† system in particular has reduced the time the formalities used to take. Teledespacho system rules out the need of a custom broker and provides a direct link between the importer/exporter and the Central Customs Service. Mandatory Salvadoran Standards (NSO) and Recommended Salvadoran Standards (NSR) are two types of standards used in the country: NSOs include the standards regulating the International System of Units; standards relating to materials, procedures, products and services that may affect human life, safety and integrity and the safety and integrity of other live organisms; environmental protection standards; and standards considered by the government to be relevant to the economy or in the public interest. NSRs are concerned with materials; procedures, products and services not covered by an NSO (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). El Salvador is an attractive option for doing businesses and the regulations of the government are flexible enough for the companies to open up and explore new opportunities in the country. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Both the foreign investors and the economy of El Salvador benefit from this flexible system. Growth and development of El Salvador depends largely on the foreign investment, in particular from US which is its biggest trade partner (â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies†, 2008). There are several similarities and differences in regulations and conditions with regards to opening a business in the US and El Salvador. Like El Salvador USA has several free trade agreements with numerous nations around the globe making it an attractive option for foreign investment. US is also a free, democratic and open economy. El Salvador has most of its business concentrated in its capital city while it is not the case in US. Laws and regulations are same in the entire nation of Salvador while in US every state has its own business regulations. Licenses and permits are required for doing only specific jobs in USA. Need of a license depends on the state and exact location of the business since every state has different local regulations. The owner also has to pay business taxes depending upon the location of business. Following business need licensing: †¢ for those businesses or professionals that go through extensive training before practicing, such as lawyers, physicians, nurses, accountants, dentists, teachers, or †¢ before carrying on a particular trade or business, in order to protect the environment and consumers from fraudulent activities and unsafe products or services. Real estate agents, restaurants, bars, insurance agents, pawnbrokers, peddlers, cosmologists, private investigators, and mechanics are representative of this group, to name a tiny fraction (â€Å"State licenses†). Like El Salvador every business needs an EIN (employer identification number). It is always a good step to hire a local lawyer and an accountant to aid in the initial legal proceedings of the country. Also since in US every state has different laws and statutes regarding a business so it is very important to seek local help. Major difference in doing business in US and in El Salvador is that †¢ US is a much bigger economy †¢ Offering much bigger opportunities †¢ There is no lack of help government offers to foreign companies and investors †¢ Laws are rigid to protect both domestic and foreign companies †¢ Literacy rate is much higher †¢ English proficiency is much higher among locals †¢ Multilingual and multicultural diversity of US allows everyone fulfill their dreams and reach their specific consumers. Translators and interpreters are available everywhere for every kind of help and bridging gaps among people of different language backgrounds. †¢ Crime and unemployment rates are much lower †¢ Infrastructure is well developed †¢ Every tool for direct marketing like internet, telemarketing, cable services, postal delivery systems, courier systems are very well developed and provide expanded prospects for different businesses. †¢ There is no shortage of resources and financial aids from government institutions and private banks.†¢ With proper planning any dream can turn into a wealthy and booming business. References â€Å"Doing Business in El Salvador† (2007). Retrieved August 12, 2008 from http://www. gatewayelsalvador. com/gateway_el_salvador_doing_business_in_el_salvador. html â€Å"Doing Business In El Salvador: A Country Commercial Guide for U. S. Companies† (2008). Retrieved August 12, 2008 from http://www. buyusa. gov/elsalvador/en/ccg. html â€Å"State licenses. † Retrieved August 12, 2008 from http://business-law. freeadvice. com/starting_a_business/state_licenses. htm

Role Of Media In Politics Media Essay

Role Of Media In Politics Media Essay Globalization has allowed us access to be more informed through the internet, radio, television and many other types of media, as we all know the role of media is to inform us about issues of the everyday life. So let me ask you a question do you trust the media you read or see and do you think informing us is their only role? Well through this essay you will learn the role of media in politics like the influence the media plays in presidential elections, For example if the media likes a presidential candidate it can help his career but it can also destroy his career. We will also see the influence they have on peoples every day decisions, lastly we will see how the different types of media have different impacts in politics, economy, education and so on. Keep reading and you will get a handful of information. According to the journalist Thomas Carlyle Media is often called the fifth branch of governments After the Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and the federal bureaucracy, saying that no other institution has such an impact on governments as the media has. Well I think I have to agree with Thomas even though the media members are not elected by the people and its motives are often driven by profit. When we listen or hear the media we tend to believe it because we assume they have done some research and the information we are receiving is true. But media sometimes takes sides for example in the Colombian recent elections the media played a key role in influencing the public vote, since the two main channels in Colombia are owned by wealthy families that preferred Juan Manuel Santos over the other candidates I would probably have to say that is why we saw more propaganda for Santos than for Mockus or any other candidate and also favoritism from the two channels. Media also play s a crucial role in shaping a democracy, democracy being the art of how states related with each other used to be secret but now thanks to media is very public and the government doesnt have its privacy like it used to. Nevertheless, the media can also be good since it makes us aware of various social, political and economical activities happening around us. The media in Latin America has evolved and become more active over the time that is why the modern media reminds politicians about their unfulfilled promises and relations with other countries they promised during elections. For example the Colombian media, when it comes to the war with the guerrilla they cover what politicians do not want us to see because it may be too grotesque and make the population scared, maybe the politicians are right in not lettings us see such grotesque pictures but I think is also important to know what is also happening in the country you live in and most importantly in the world. Television allows us to see live the major political events in fact Television has become so important that is the major platform of communication between political figures and the citizens. Television plays an important role in political socialization, helping both children and adults to acquire knowledge about the political system and how it operates. This type of media has allowed nations economies to rise at unprecedented levels, also accelerating the urbanization trend and lastly it has also influenced the high schools and universities to pour millions of graduates every year. Television with the help of the radio has increased the number of voters for presidential elections since together they have reached less educated and less involved sections of the population. Nowadays we can say that the main role of television is to be a watchdog on government actions since they exercised the greatest influence on governments by pressuring them, in other words television is the bridge be tween the people and the government. But television also has its down sides for example the Latin American society has suffered a crisis of confidence of governmental private documents going public, Due to this Venezuelas president Hugo Chavez has entered to control what journalists are allowed to say in Venezuelas television, He is also controlling the access to the internet keeping the people from Venezuela informed in only what he thinks is good for them to know. Another type of media is the newspaper when I say newspaper I am also referring to magazines like semana. An essential function of the newspaper is to bring us news of all around the world, without newspapers we would be like a baby who knows nothing of the outside world. Newspapers keep citizens informed about the political activities of their governments, they give in detail the statements and the speeches made by presidents or other political figures at public meetings or congresses. Newspapers now a days due to their freedom of speech criticize governments on what they do wrong and advice them. They also describe the economic policies of the government for example they describe its import and export policies, its economic development, and the prices of different things to keep people aware. Newspapers gives the same information as television does, the only difference is that is more detailed and specific. Newspapers also describe the problems of unemployment, farmers struggle wit h the guerrilla. Newspapers also convey information regarding the different crimes taking place every day they inform us about the political, economic and social changes occurring everyday in different countries, They give descriptions of the revolutions in different parts of the world, they provide descriptions of changes taking place in other societies in the fields of education, agriculture and a country defense preparation for war. But not everything is news they also have a space to relax with great comics and crossword puzzles. In the recent years the Internet has not replaced the influence of newspapers, radio, or television. However the internet has an advantage over the older media types since The Internet is an interactive medium that allows citizens to send information as well as receive it in real time, something that television and newspapers dont allow. In Colombias latest election the presidential candidates were able to developed web sites to support their campaigns. They also developed groups in facebook, twitter and many other websites, by this new form of communication presidential candidates were able to reach new audiences on the World Wide Web, creating the potential for an even greater influence in society. We could say that the key word for the Internet and politics is power. The 2010 Colombian presidential campaign demonstrated the power of the Internet to raise funds for candidates by collecting contributions via the Websites, Thats why I say dont be surprise next time the presidential c andidate debates are via chat rooms. Among the main internet users are the young adults maybe this is a reason why it has become so important since we are the leaders of tomorrow. The internet serves many functions to society some of them are that is serves as virtual community, information source, employment portal for jobseekers, research center, discussion forum, and entertainment center, among others. The internet brings together buyers and sellers and facilitates the flow of information, making it a key driver of trade. It also has some benefits like doing fast business gathering new ideas but the internet is not as great as it sounds it also has some limitations like the hackers or the privacy control problems we are facing right now I guess we will just have to wait and for the solutions. The last type of media we are going to analyze is the radio since its the oldest one with the most advantages. The most important advantage that radio offers is its ability to reach specific audiences through specialized programming. Radio can be adapted for different parts of the country and can reach people at different times of the day, For example radio is the ideal media for reaching people driving. When the radio first appeared it gave great potential for improving living conditions in the rural areas in Latin America. It is the most universal mass communication medium and is presently the cheapest type of media. Radio has also some effects in society the Excessive coverage of sensitive and violent news has led to communal riots at times in the case of Colombia the sindicatos when they found out about plan Colombia they formed a riot to stop the trade agreement of Colombia with the united states since they were going to be damaged by it. The constant repetition of news especial ly the violent ones can have major impacts especially on kids and make them repeat what they see for example if kids see a shooting they might be tempted to buy a gun and shoot their friends I know its a bit exaggerated but its just an illustration of how much power the media has on society as a whole.The media also plays a role in international political affairs as well, For example when Colombias government invaded Raul Reyes Camp people were all for it they were proud of the Colombian soldiers but when the internet and television stations started showing the other countries reactions a lot of people gave their back to the Colombian government saying they dint respected their neighbors and that they were disappointed on Colombia even though Colombia had already apologize to Ecuador. Radio and the other types of media also play an important role in war, in other words war is good for the media business because despite the excessive costs of sending correspondents for coverage, usin g expensive satellite equipment and airtime, war is precisely the type of event on which the media earns most of their money. A lot of the times the information is transformed and converted to be more dramatic that is why we should work with the media to help them focus in peace agreements and not so much in yellow news. In conclusion the Medias specific role in politics and society is informing us through persuasion always trying to influence us in our decisions. That is why media should have more clearly defined restrictions as to what they can write or cannot write. The media should be obligated to tell the truth and not manufacture or elaborate stories, even if it does not sound as good. Even though most of the television news stations are owned by wealthy individuals, they should not be so biased. The media and the politicians only want us to see what a perfect world we live in, so they tend to hide the truth or work their way around it. We can also conclude that the media has positive and negative things and that is good to read, listen or see the news but most importantly what I recommend is not to believe everything they tell us because they always come with a twist so just make your own decisions based on what you believe in and not letting yourself be influenced by anything. Through this es say we also saw the different types of media and their roles and how in the future the internet is going to be the most important type of media since it allows us to send information and receive information. Finally I recommend to the media to focus a little bit more in peace coverages than on violent news even though they sell better. The End BLIBLIOGRAPHY: Aronson, JD (2005) causes and consequences of the communication and internet revolutionin: Baylis J. Smith(2005). Globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations. Oxford university press. Pg 621-643 comparing media systems: three models of media and politics (Daniel C. Hallin, Paolo Mancin pg 1-46) University of Haifa; Better-looking politicians get more media coverage.  (2010,  July). NewsRx Health Science,55.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID:  2080833321). Cindy T Christen,  Ã‚  Albert C Gunther.  (2003). The influence of mass media and other culprits on the projection of personal opinion.  Communication Research,  30(4),  414-431.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:  373810331). The Role of the Media in the Consolidation of Democracy in Latin America, The Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars,  Volume 7, Issue 2, February 2005 Lazaroiu,  G..  (2010). NEW MEDIA AND THE NATURE OF THE NEWS MARKET.  Economics, Management and Financial Markets,  5(1),  189-195.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID:  2084371381). Television and Politics, Tom Brennan, Article first published online: 24 AUG 200s DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-923X.1978.tb02221.

Comparing the Poetry of Gary Snyder and Ruth Stone Essay -- Comparison

Comparing the Poetry of Gary Snyder and Ruth Stone Gary Snyder is not only a poet, but a preacher of sorts. His poems carry powerful messages about getting back to your roots. His poems contain strong themes of anti-consumerism and spirituality. "Facts" is a short piece consisting of facts on consumerism in America. This piece warns of the dangers of over consumption and lack of moderation. In some cases, however, Snyder does appear far too extreme in his views, like in "By Frazier Creek Falls" where is says "We could live on this Earth / Without clothes or tools." This theme of "primitivism" is a common theme in Snyder's poetry. Many of his poems are about nature and the "uncivilized" world. the settings of his poems are often woods, lakes, mountain trails, or other similar uninhabited uncultivated areas. Snyder's poetry is sometimes political activism in disguise. "Four Changes" is less like a poem and more like an environmental extremist's manifesto. Each of the "changes" closes with a suggestion of what type of soci al or political action to take in order to make the aforementioned change occur. Loss is a major theme in Ruth Stone's poetry, although her poems are rarely depressing as one might expect from loss poems. Instead, her poems contain a bitter yet sharp tone of humor. She writes about the loss of her husband, old lovers, her mother, and the past. Stone also writes about the dangers of getting too caught up in the modern world and losing touch with our roots. In "The Solution" she refers to "My friend the Supermarket" which brings her gratification in several ways. In "Lullaby" she writes about babies who kiss their computer goodnight and tells how they program computers after putting on thei... ...aired Mother† and writes many poems about mothers. Both Snyder and Stone make use of strong concrete images in their poems. In â€Å"The Bath† Snyder appeals to almost all of the senses by talking about the â€Å"crackle of waterdrops† and â€Å"the scent of cedar† and his wife entering the sauna, â€Å"letting in cool air.† In â€Å"Simplicity† Stone’s intense use of adjectives and figurative language creates strong images in the reader’s mind. She describes her surroundings as â€Å"wrinkled skin on a cup of boiled milk† an describes â€Å"the water’s muscular flow.† The writings of both poets can be described as both simple and complex at the same time, just like the world they’re writing about. While on a purely literal level you may be reading about loss, family, traveling, or nature, all of the poems have a deeper meaning about these topics that the poet leaves the reader to discover.

The Donner Party :: essays research papers

DAVID McCULLOUGH, Host: Good evening and welcome to The American Experience. I'm David McCullough. At the start of spring in the year 1846 an appealing advertisement appeared in the Springfield, Illinois, Gazette. ''Westward ho,'' it declared. ''Who wants to go to California without costing them anything? As many as eight young men of good character who can drive an ox team will be accommodated. Come, boys, you can have as much land as you want without costing you anything.'' The notice was signed G. Donner, George Donner, leader of what was to become the most famous of all the hundreds of wagon trains to start for the far west, the tragic, now nearly mythic Donner Party. For years Western scholars and novelists have been drawn to the story, yet until now there has been no documentary. Ric Burns's film is a first. Westward ho, indeed. If ever there was a moment when America seemed in the grip of some great, out-of-the-ordinary pull, it was in 1846. The whole mood was for movement, expansion, and the whole direction was westward. It was in 1846 that the Mormons set out on their trek to the Great Salt Lake. It was in 1846 that the Mexican war began and effectively all of Texas, Mexico and California were added to the United States. And it wasn't just young men who answered the call. Whole families and people of all stations in life joined the caravan, which is part of the fascination of our haunting story. One is struck, for example, by how many women there were in the Donner party and how many of them survived the horrific ordeal they met. Imagine packing up an entire household, saying good-bye to all you've known and setting off to walk essentially to walk to California, a continent away, little knowing what was in store. ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE: ''It is odd to watch with what feverish ardor Americans pursue prosperity. Ever tormented by the shadowy suspicion that they may not have chosen the shortest route to get it. They cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet rush to snatch any that comes within their reach as if they expected to stop living before they had relished them. Death steps in, in the end, and stops them before they have grown tired of this futile pursuit of that complete felicity which always escapes them.

Reputation Management :: Visibility, Transparency, Responsiveness

The research suggests that reputation comes from relationships and trust. Fombrun (1996) stated that to have a positive reputation managers must invest in building and maintaining good relationships. Building relationships with the company’s publics can result in a higher opinion of their reputation. These relationships also builds trust in the company. â€Å"Trust, like reputation, can take years and resources to build up, and while it may be difficult to break, it, again, like reputation, can take considerable time and even more resources to restore† (Bronn, 2010, pg. 310). With both relationships and trust, a company must be communicating with its publics. Van Riel and Fombrun (2007) developed six key communications principles that yield a high reputation: visibility, distinctiveness, authenticity, transparency, consistency and responsiveness (pg. 313). Applying these six principles to the Carnival case, we can determine if Carnival used them in managing their reput ation. Visibility deals with the public and market prominence of the organization or how much people know about the organization (pg 313). During this crisis, Carnival used social media to keep people updated about what was happening at sea. Before this instance, Carnival was a common name in the cruise industry. According to the Carnival website (www.carnival.com) Carnival is apart of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance. Coombs (2010) said that, â€Å"a strong reputation prior to a crisis is an asset to organizations during the crisis† (pg. 478). Having this positive reputation before hand should help Carnival in the end with customers. Distinctiveness are the characteristics that set an organization apart from others. These characteristics can be its logo, slogan and trademarks (pg. 314). Carnival has all three, a distinct logo, slogan â€Å"Fun for All. All for Fun.† and trademarks on the names of ships, â€Å"Splendor†, â€Å"Freedom† and †Å"Liberty† to name a few of the 23 different ships (www.carnival.com). Authenticity helps make an organization real, genuine, accurate, reliable and trustworthy (pg. 314). By using social media and addressing the crisis head on, the company appears trustworthy to people. Carnival took responsibility for the accident and tried to solve it as quick as possible. The CEO of Carnival also made a public apology to those on the ship and to Carnival customers. Next, transparency is how much information and access stakeholders have about an organization (pg. 314). The Carnival Cruise Director John Heald went to his blog to offer updates and on-broad accounts to consumers and the press. Reputation Management :: Visibility, Transparency, Responsiveness The research suggests that reputation comes from relationships and trust. Fombrun (1996) stated that to have a positive reputation managers must invest in building and maintaining good relationships. Building relationships with the company’s publics can result in a higher opinion of their reputation. These relationships also builds trust in the company. â€Å"Trust, like reputation, can take years and resources to build up, and while it may be difficult to break, it, again, like reputation, can take considerable time and even more resources to restore† (Bronn, 2010, pg. 310). With both relationships and trust, a company must be communicating with its publics. Van Riel and Fombrun (2007) developed six key communications principles that yield a high reputation: visibility, distinctiveness, authenticity, transparency, consistency and responsiveness (pg. 313). Applying these six principles to the Carnival case, we can determine if Carnival used them in managing their reput ation. Visibility deals with the public and market prominence of the organization or how much people know about the organization (pg 313). During this crisis, Carnival used social media to keep people updated about what was happening at sea. Before this instance, Carnival was a common name in the cruise industry. According to the Carnival website (www.carnival.com) Carnival is apart of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance. Coombs (2010) said that, â€Å"a strong reputation prior to a crisis is an asset to organizations during the crisis† (pg. 478). Having this positive reputation before hand should help Carnival in the end with customers. Distinctiveness are the characteristics that set an organization apart from others. These characteristics can be its logo, slogan and trademarks (pg. 314). Carnival has all three, a distinct logo, slogan â€Å"Fun for All. All for Fun.† and trademarks on the names of ships, â€Å"Splendor†, â€Å"Freedom† and †Å"Liberty† to name a few of the 23 different ships (www.carnival.com). Authenticity helps make an organization real, genuine, accurate, reliable and trustworthy (pg. 314). By using social media and addressing the crisis head on, the company appears trustworthy to people. Carnival took responsibility for the accident and tried to solve it as quick as possible. The CEO of Carnival also made a public apology to those on the ship and to Carnival customers. Next, transparency is how much information and access stakeholders have about an organization (pg. 314). The Carnival Cruise Director John Heald went to his blog to offer updates and on-broad accounts to consumers and the press.

Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-three

THE FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE that followed seemed to stretch out to eternity. Everyone was confused, each for totally different reasons. Jill's initial surprise had been laced with excitement, but as she stared around from face to face, her smile faded and faded until she looked as bewildered as the rest of us. â€Å"What's going on?' asked a new voice. Moments later, Emily Mastrano appeared beside her daughter. Emily glanced at me and Sydney with curiosity and then gasped when she saw the third member of our group. â€Å"Sonya!' Emily jerked Jill back, her face filled with panic. Emily wasn't guardian-fast, but I admired her responsiveness. â€Å"Emily †¦ ?' Sonya's voice was very small, on the verge of cracking. â€Å"It †¦ it's me †¦ really me †¦' Emily tried to tug the man inside as well but stopped when she got a good look at Sonya. Like anyone else, Emily had to acknowledge the obvious. Sonya had no Strigoi features. Plus, she was out in broad daylight. Emily faltered and opened her mouth to speak, but her lips couldn't quite manage it. She finally turned to me. â€Å"Rose †¦ what's going on?' I was surprised that she would regard me as an authority, both because we'd only met once and because I honestly wasn't sure what was going on either. It took me a few attempts to find my voice. â€Å"I think †¦ I think we should come inside †¦' Emily's gaze fell back on Sonya. Jill tried to push forward to see what all the drama was about, but Emily continued blocking the door, still not totally convinced it was safe. I couldn't blame her. At last, she gave a slow nod and stepped away to give us access. Sydney's eyes flicked toward the car, where Victor, Robert, and Dimitri were waiting. â€Å"What about them?' she asked me. I hesitated. I wanted Dimitri to be with me to drop the bombshell, but Emily might only be able to handle one thing at a time here. Moroi didn't have to run in royal circles to know who Victor Dashkov was or what he looked like. Our trip to Las Vegas had been proof of that. I shook my head at Sydney. â€Å"They can wait.' We settled into the family's living room and learned the guy who'd answered the door was Emily's husband, John Mastrano. Emily went through the motions of offering us beverages, like this was a perfectly ordinary visit, but the look on her face confirmed she was still in shock. She handed us glasses of water like a robot, her face so pale she might have been Strigoi. John rested his hand on Emily's once she sat down. He kept giving us wary looks, but for her, he was all affection and concern. â€Å"What's going on?' Emily's eyes were still dazed. â€Å"I †¦ don't know. My cousin is here †¦ but I don't understand how †¦' She looked back and forth at me, Sydney, and Sonya. â€Å"How is this possible?' Her voice shook. â€Å"It was Lissa, wasn't it?' exclaimed Jill, who undoubtedly knew this relative's sordid history. She was understandably shocked–and a little nervous–but excitement was beginning to stir. â€Å"I heard what happened with Dimitri. It's true, isn't it? Lissa can heal Strigoi. She saved him. She saved †¦' Jill turned toward Sonya, enthusiasm wavering a little. I wondered what kind of stories she'd heard about Sonya. â€Å"She saved you.' â€Å"Lissa didn't do it,' I said. â€Å"Another, uh, spirit user did.' Jill's face lit up. â€Å"Adrian?' I'd forgotten about her crush on him. â€Å"No †¦ someone else. It's not important,' I added hastily. â€Å"Sonya's †¦ well, she's Moroi again. Confused, though. Not quite herself.' Sonya had been drinking in the sight of her cousin but now turned to me with a wry, knowing smile. â€Å"I can speak for myself, Rose.' â€Å"Sorry,' I said. Emily turned to Sydney and frowned. They'd been introduced, but no more. â€Å"Why are you here?' Emily didn't have to say what she really meant. She wanted to know why a human was here. â€Å"Are you a feeder?' â€Å"No!' exclaimed Sydney, jumping up from her spot beside me on the loveseat. I had never seen her filled with such outrage and disgust. â€Å"Say that again, and I'll walk right out of here! I'm an Alchemist.' She was met with blank stares, and I pulled Sydney back down. â€Å"Easy, girl. I don't think they don't know what Alchemists are.' Secretly, I was glad. When I'd first discovered the Alchemists, I'd felt like I was the last person in the world to find out. It was nice to know others were out of the loop too. Keeping things simple for now, I explained to Emily, â€Å"Sydney's been helping us.' Tears brimmed in Emily's blue eyes as she turned back to her cousin. Emily Mastrano was one of the most stunning women I'd ever met. Even tears were beautiful on her. â€Å"It's really you, isn't it? They brought you back to me. Oh God.' Emily rose and walked over to hold her cousin in a deep embrace. â€Å"I've missed you so much. I can't believe this.' I almost felt like crying, too, but sternly reminded myself that we had come with a mission. I knew how startling this all was. We had just turned the Mastrano family's world upside down †¦ and I was about to complicate things even more. I hated to do it. I wished they could have the time they needed to adjust, to celebrate the miracle of having Sonya back. But the clock at Court–and on my life–was ticking. â€Å"We brought her †¦' I said at last. â€Å"But there's another reason we're here.' I don't know what tone my voice conveyed, but Emily stiffened and stepped back from Sonya, sitting down beside her husband. Somehow, in that moment, I think she knew why we were here. I could see in her eyes that she was afraid–as if she'd been dreading this type of visit for years, as if she'd imagined it a hundred times. I pushed forward. â€Å"We know †¦ we know about Eric Dragomir.' â€Å"No,' said Emily, her voice an odd mixture of harshness and desperateness. Her obstinate manner was remarkably similar to Sonya's initial refusal to aid us. â€Å"No. We are not doing this.' The instant I'd seen Jill, the instant I'd recognized those eyes, I'd known we had the right place. Emily's words–more importantly, her lack of a denial–confirmed it. â€Å"We have to,' I said. â€Å"This is serious.' Emily turned to Sonya. â€Å"You promised! You promised you wouldn't tell!' â€Å"I didn't,' said Sonya, but her face wore its earlier doubt. â€Å"She didn't,' I said firmly, hoping to reassure them both. â€Å"It's hard to explain †¦ but she kept her promise.' â€Å"No,' repeated Emily. â€Å"This isn't happening. We cannot talk about this.' â€Å"What †¦ what's going on?' demanded John. Anger kindled in his eyes. He didn't like seeing strangers upset his wife. I directed my words to Emily. â€Å"We have to talk about this. Please. We need your help. We need her help.' I gestured to Jill. â€Å"What do you mean?' asked Jill. That earlier eager spark was gone, cooled by her mother's reaction. â€Å"It's about your–‘ I came to a stop. I'd rushed into this, ready to find Lissa's sibling– her sister, we now knew–with little thought of the implications. I should have known this would be a secret from everyone–including the child in question. I hadn't considered what a shock this would be to her. And this wasn't just some random stranger. This was Jill. Jill. My friend. The girl who was like a little sister to all of us, the one we looked out for. What was I about to do to her? Looking at John, I realized things were worse still. Did Jill think he was her father? This family was about to be shaken to its core– and I was responsible. â€Å"Don't!' cried Emily, jumping up again. â€Å"Get out! All of you! I don't want you here!' â€Å"Mrs. Mastrano †¦' I began. â€Å"You can't pretend this isn't real. You have to face it.' â€Å"No!' she pointed to the door. â€Å"Get out! Get out, or I'll †¦ I'll call the police! Or the guardians! You †¦' Realization flashed over her now that the initial shock of seeing Sonya had faded. Victor wasn't the only criminal Moroi would be on guard for. â€Å"You're a fugitive! A murderer!' â€Å"She is not!' said Jill, leaning forward. â€Å"I told you, Mom. I told you before it was a mistake–‘ â€Å"Get out,' repeated Emily. â€Å"Sending us away won't change the truth,' I said, forcing myself to stay calm. â€Å"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?' John's face was flushed red, angry and defensive. â€Å"If I don't have an answer within thirty seconds, I'm calling the guardians and the police.' I looked over at Jill and couldn't speak. I didn't know how to say what I needed to, at least not tactfully. Sydney, however, didn't have that problem. â€Å"He's not your father,' she said bluntly, pointing at John. There was a slight pause in the room. Jill almost looked disappointed, like she'd hoped for more exciting news. â€Å"I know that. He's my stepdad. Or, well, my dad as far as I'm concerned.' Emily sank back on the couch, burying her face in her hands. She seemed to be crying, but I was pretty sure she could jump up at any moment and call the authorities. We had to get through this fast, no matter how painful. â€Å"Right. He's not your biological father,' I said, looking steadily at Jill. The eyes. How had I never noticed the eyes? ‘Eric Dragomir is.' Emily made a low keening sound. â€Å"No,' she begged. â€Å"Please don't do this.' John's anger morphed back to the confusion that seemed to be so in fashion in this room. â€Å"What?' â€Å"That †¦ no.' Jill slowly shook her head. â€Å"That's impossible. My father was just †¦ just some guy who ran out on us.' In some ways, that wasn't far from the truth, I supposed. â€Å"It was Eric Dragomir,' I said. â€Å"You're part of their family. Lissa's sister. You're †¦' I startled myself, realizing I had to look at Jill in a whole new way. â€Å"You're royalty.' Jill was always full of energy and optimism, operating in the world with a naive hope and charm. But now her face was grim and sober, making her look older than her fifteen years. â€Å"No. This is a joke. My dad was a lowlife. I'm not †¦ no. Rose, stop.' â€Å"Emily.' I flinched at the sound of Sonya's voice, surprised to hear her speak. I was more surprised at her expression. Authoritative. Serious. Determined. Sonya was younger than Emily by–what? Ten years, if I had to guess. But Sonya had fixed her cousin with a stare that made Emily look like a naughty child. â€Å"Emily, it's time to give this up. You have to tell her. For God's sake, you have to tell John. You can't keep this buried anymore.' Emily looked up and met Sonya's eyes. â€Å"I can't tell. You know what will happen †¦ I can't do that to her.' â€Å"None of us know what will happen,' said Sonya. â€Å"But things will get worse if you don't take control now.' After a long moment, Emily finally looked away, staring at the floor. The sad, sad look on her face broke my heart. And not just mine. â€Å"Mom?' asked Jill, voice trembling. â€Å"What's happening? This is all a big mix-up, right?' Emily sighed and looked up at her daughter. â€Å"No. You are Eric Dragomir's daughter. Rose is right.' John made a small, strangled sound but didn't interrupt his wife. She squeezed his hand again. â€Å"What I told you both over the years †¦ it was true. Mostly. We did just have a brief †¦ relationship. Not a cheap one, exactly. But brief.' She paused and glanced over at John this time, her expression softening. â€Å"I told you †¦' He nodded. â€Å"And I told you the past didn't matter to me. Never affected how I felt about you, about Jill. But I never imagined †¦' â€Å"Me neither,' she agreed. â€Å"I didn't even know who he was when we first met. It was back when I lived in Las Vegas and had my first job, dancing in a show at the Witching Hour.' I felt my eyes go wide. No one seemed to notice. The Witching Hour. My friends and I had been to that casino while hunting for Robert, and a man there had made a joke about Lissa's father being interested in showgirls. I knew Emily worked in a Detroit ballet company now; it was why they lived in Michigan. Never would I have guessed that she'd started as a feather-and-sequin-clad dancer in a Las Vegas show. But why not? She would have had to start somewhere, and her tall, graceful frame would lend itself well to any type of dancing. â€Å"He was so sweet †¦ and so sad,' Emily continued. â€Å"His father had just died, and he'd come to sort of drown his sorrows. I understood how a death would devastate him, but now †¦ well, I really understand. It was another loss to his family. The numbers were dropping.' She frowned thoughtfully and then shrugged. â€Å"He was a good man, and I think he truly loved his wife. But he was in a dark, low place. I don't think he was using me. He cared about me, though I doubt what happened between us would have in other circumstances. Anyway, I was fine with the way things ended and was content to move on with my life †¦ until Jill came along. I contacted Eric because I thought he should know–though I made it clear I didn't expect anything from him. And at that point, knowing who he was, I didn't want anything. If I'd let him, I think he would have acknowledged you, had a role in your life.' Emily's eyes were on Jill now. â€Å"But I've seen what that world is like. Court life is politics and lies and backstabbing. In the end, the only thing I'd accept from him was money. I still didn't want that. I didn't want to feel like I was blackmailing him–but I did want to make sure your future was secure.' I spoke without thinking. â€Å"You don't really live like you're using that money.' I regretted the words as soon as they were out. Their home was perfectly nice, hardly the depths of poverty. But it also didn't match the funds I'd seen moved around in those bank accounts. â€Å"I'm not,' said Emily. â€Å"It's on hand for emergencies, of course, but mostly I set it all aside for Jill, for her future. To do whatever she wants.' â€Å"What do you mean?' asked Jill, aghast. â€Å"What kind of money are you talking about?' â€Å"You're an heiress,' I said. â€Å"And royalty.' â€Å"I'm not any of those things,' she said. She was frantic now, looking around at all of us. She reminded me of a deer, ready to bolt. â€Å"There's a mistake. You've all made some mistake.' Emily stood up and walked over to Jill's chair, kneeling on the floor before it. Emily clasped her daughter's hand. â€Å"It is all true. And I'm sorry you have to find out like this. But it doesn't change anything. Our lives aren't going to change. We'll go on just like we have before.' A range of emotions raced over Jill's features–especially fear and confusion–but she leaned down and buried her face against her mother's shoulder in acceptance. â€Å"Okay.' It was a touching moment, and again, I almost felt like crying. I'd had my own share of family drama and parental issues. Like before, I wanted the Mastranos to have this moment–but they couldn't. â€Å"You can't,' I told them. â€Å"You can't go on like before. Jill †¦ Jill has to go to Court.' Emily jerked away from Jill and stared at me. Only a second ago, Emily had been full of grief and distress. Now, I saw intense anger and ferocity. Her blue eyes were stormy, fixing me with a sharp glare. â€Å"No. She is not going there. She is never going there.' Jill had already visited Court before, but both Emily and I knew that I wasn't referring to some casual sightseeing trip. Jill had to go with her true identity. Well– maybe true wasn't the right word. Illicit royalty wasn't part of her nature, at least not yet. She was who she'd always been, but her name had changed. That change had to be acknowledged, and the Moroi Court would be shaken. â€Å"She has to,' I urged. â€Å"The Court's getting corrupted, and the Dragomir family has to play its part to help fix things. Lissa has no power alone, not without a family quorum. All the other royals †¦ they're trampling her. They're going to push laws that won't help any of us.' Emily still knelt by the chair, as though shielding Jill from my words. â€Å"And that's exactly why Jill can't go. It's why I wouldn't let Eric acknowledge her. I don't want Jill involved. That place is poison. Tatiana's murder is proof.' Emily paused and gave me a sharp look, reminding me that I was the chief suspect. Apparently we weren't past that yet. â€Å"All those royals †¦ they're vicious. I don't want Jill turning into one of them. I won't let her turn into one of them.' â€Å"Not all royals are like that,' I argued. â€Å"Lissa's not. She's trying to change the system.' Emily gave me a bitter smile. â€Å"And how do you think the others feel about her reform? I'm sure there are royals who are happy to see her silenced–royals who wouldn't like to see her family reemerge. I told you: Eric was a good man. Sometimes I don't think it's a coincidence their family has died out.' I gaped. â€Å"That's ridiculous.' But I suddenly wasn't so sure. â€Å"Is it?' Emily's eyes were on me, as though guessing my doubts. â€Å"What do you think they'd do if another Dragomir came forward? The people who oppose Vasilisa? What do you think they'd do if only one person stood between them and her family's power?' Her implications were shocking †¦ yet, I knew they weren't impossible. Glancing over at Jill, I felt an empty, sinking feeling in my stomach. What would I be subjecting her to? Sweet, innocent Jill. Jill wanted adventure out of life and could still barely talk to guys without blushing. Her desire to learn to fight was half-youthful impulse and half-instinct to defend her people. Stepping into the royal world could technically help her people too–though not in a way she'd ever expected. And it would mean getting involved with the dark and sinister nature that sometimes filled the Court. Emily seemed to read my silence as agreement. A mix of triumph and relief crossed her face, all of which vanished when Jill suddenly spoke up. â€Å"I'll do it.' We all turned to stare. Thus far, I'd been regarding her with pity, thinking of her as a victim. Now, I was startled at how brave and resolved she looked. Her expression was still underscored with a little fear and shock, but there was a steel in her I'd never seen before. â€Å"What?' exclaimed Emily. â€Å"I'll do it,' said Jill, voice steadier. â€Å"I'll help Lissa and †¦ and the Dragomirs. I'll go with Rose back to Court.' I decided mentioning the myriad difficulties of me getting anywhere near Court wasn't important just then. Honestly, I had reached a point where I was playing all of this by ear, though it was a relief to see Emily's fury shifted away from me. â€Å"You will not! I'm not letting you near there.' â€Å"You can't make this choice for me!' cried Jill. â€Å"I'm not a child.' â€Å"And you're certainly not an adult,' retorted Emily. The two began arguing back and forth, and soon John jumped in to support his wife. In the midst of the family bickering, Sydney leaned toward me and murmured, â€Å"I bet you never thought the hardest part of finding your â€Å"savior' would be getting her mom to let her stay out past curfew.' The unfortunate part about her joke was that it was kind of true. We needed Jill, and I certainly hadn't envisioned this complication. What if Emily refused? Clearly, keeping Jill's heritage a secret was something she'd been pretty adamant about for a while– say, like, fifteen years. I had a feeling Jill wouldn't be beyond running away to Court if it came down to that. And I wouldn't be beyond helping her. Once more, Sonya jumped into the conversation unexpectedly. â€Å"Emily, didn't you hear me? This is all going to happen eventually, with or without your consent. If you don't let Jill go now, she'll go next week. Or next year. Or in five years. The point is, it will happen.' Emily sank back against the chair, face crumpling. â€Å"No. I don't want this.' Sonya's pretty face turned bitter. â€Å"Life, unfortunately, doesn't seem to care what we want. Act now while you can actually stop it from being a disaster.' â€Å"Please, Mom,' begged Jill. Her jade Dragomir eyes regarded Emily with affection. I knew Jill might indeed disobey and run off–but she didn't want to, not if she didn't have to. Emily stared into the distance, long-lashed eyes vacant and defeated. And although she was standing in the way of my plans, I knew she did it out of legitimate love and concern–traits that had probably drawn Eric to her. â€Å"Okay,' said Emily at last. She sighed. â€Å"Jill can go–but I'm going too. You aren't facing that place without me.' â€Å"Or me,' said John. He still seemed bewildered but was determined to support his wife and stepdaughter. Jill regarded them both with gratitude, reminding me again that I'd just turned a functional family dysfunctional. Emily and John coming with us hadn't been part of my plans, but I couldn't blame them and didn't see what harm they'd cause. We'd need Emily anyway to tell everyone about Eric. â€Å"Thank you,' I said. â€Å"Thank you so much.' John eyed me. â€Å"We still haven't dealt with the fact that there's a fugitive in our home.' â€Å"Rose didn't do it!' That fierceness was still in Jill. â€Å"It was a setup.' â€Å"It was.' I hesitated to speak my next words. â€Å"Probably by the people opposing Lissa.' Emily paled, but I felt the need for honesty, even if it reaffirmed her fears. She took a steadying breath. â€Å"I believe you. Believe that you didn't do it. I don't know why †¦ but I do.' She almost smiled. â€Å"No, I do know why. It's because of what I said before, about those vipers at Court. They're the ones who do this kind of thing. Not you.' â€Å"Are you sure?' asked John uneasily. â€Å"This mess with Jill is bad enough without us housing a criminal.' â€Å"I'm certain,' said Emily. â€Å"Sonya and Jill trust Rose, and so I do. You're all welcome to stay here tonight since we can hardly head out to Court right now.' I opened my mouth to say we most certainly could leave right now, but Sydney elbowed me sharply. â€Å"Thank you, Mrs. Mastrano,' she said, summoning up that Alchemist diplomacy. â€Å"That would be great.' I repressed a scowl. Time was still pressing on me, but I knew the Mastranos were entitled to make some preparations. It was probably better to travel in the daytime too. A rough check of my mental map made me think we could do the whole drive back to Court in one day. I nodded in agreement with Sydney, resigning myself to a sleepover at the Mastrano house. â€Å"Thanks. We appreciate it.' Suddenly, something occurred to me, summoning back John's words. This mess with Jill is bad enough without us housing a criminal. I gave Emily as convincing and reassuring a smile as I could muster. â€Å"We, um, also have some friends with us waiting out in the car †¦'