All About the Rock Called Chert

All About the Rock Called Chert Chert is the name for a widespread type of sedimentary rock that is made of silica (silicon dioxide or SiO2). The most familiar silica mineral is quartz in microscopic or even invisible crystals- that is, microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz. Learn more about how it is made and find out what it is made of. Chert Ingredients Like other sedimentary rocks, chert starts with particles accumulating. In this case, it happened in bodies of water. The particles are the skeletons (called tests) of plankton, microscopic creatures that spend their lives floating in the water column. Plankton secrete their tests using one of two substances that are dissolved in water: calcium carbonate or silica. When the organisms die, their tests sink to the bottom and accumulate in a growing blanket of microscopic sediment called ooze. Ooze is usually a mixture of plankton tests and extremely fine-grained clay minerals. A clay ooze, of course, eventually becomes claystone. An ooze that is primarily calcium carbonate (aragonite or calcite), a calcareous ooze, typically turns into a rock of the limestone group. Chert is derived from a siliceous ooze. The composition of ooze depends on details of geography: ocean currents, the availability of nutrients in the water, world climate, depth in the ocean, and other factors. Siliceous ooze is mostly made of the tests of diatoms (one-celled algae) and radiolarians (one-celled animals or protists). These organisms build their tests of completely uncrystallized (amorphous) silica. Other minor sources of silica skeletons include the particles made by sponges (spicules) and land plants (phytoliths). Siliceous ooze tends to form in cold, deep water because calcareous tests dissolve in those conditions. Chert Formation and Precursors Siliceous ooze turns to chert by going through a slow transformation unlike that of most other rocks. The lithification and diagenesis of chert is an elaborate process.   In some settings, siliceous ooze is pure enough to lithify into a lightweight, minimally processed rock, called diatomite if composed of diatoms, or radiolarite if made of radiolarians. The amorphous silica of a plankton test is not stable outside the living things that make it. It seeks to crystallize, and as ooze is buried to depths greater than 100 meters or so, the silica begins to mobilize with the modest rise in pressure and temperature. There is plenty of pore space and water for this to happen, and plenty of chemical energy being released by crystallization as well as by the breakdown of organic matter in the ooze. The first product of this activity is a hydrated silica (opal) called opal-CT because it resembles cristobalite (C) and tridymite (T) in X-ray studies. In those minerals, silicon and oxygen atoms align with water molecules in a different arrangement than that of quartz. A less-processed version of opal-CT is what makes up with water molecules in a different arrangement than that of quartz. A less-processed version of opal-CT is what makes up common opal. A more processed version of opal-CT is often called opal-C because in X-rays it looks more like cristobalite. The rock composed of lithified opal-CT or opal-C is porcellanite. More diagenesis causes the silica to lose most of its water as it fills pore space in the siliceous sediment. This activity converts the silica into true quartz, in microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline form, also known as the mineral chalcedony. When that happens, chert is formed. Chert Attributes and Signs Chert is as hard as crystalline quartz with a hardness rating of seven  in the Mohs scale   maybe a bit softer, 6.5, if it still has some hydrated silica in it. Beyond simply being hard, chert is a tough rock. It stands above the landscape in outcrops that resist erosion. Oil drillers dread it because its so hard to penetrate. Chert has a curvy conchoidal fracture that is smoother and less splintery than the conchoidal fracture of pure quartz; ancient toolmakers favored it, and high-quality rock was a trade item between tribes. Unlike quartz, chert is never transparent and not always translucent. It has a waxy or resinous luster unlike the glassy luster of quartz.   The colors of chert range from white through red and brown to black, depending on how much clay or organic matter it contains. It often has some sign of its sedimentary origin, such as bedding and other sedimentary structures or microfossils. They may be abundant enough for a chert to get a special name, as in the red radiolarian chert carried to land by plate tectonics from the central ocean floor. Special Cherts Chert is a quite general term for noncrystalline siliceous rocks, and some subtypes have their own names and stories. In mixed calcareous and siliceous sediments, the carbonate and the silica tend to segregate. Chalk beds, the calcareous equivalent of diatomites, may grow lumpy nodules of chert of the type called flint. (Similarly, thick chert beds may grow nodules and pods of limer ock limestone or dolomite rock.) Flint is commonly dark and gray, and more lustrous than typical chert. Agate and Jasper are cherts that form outside the deep-sea setting; they occur where fractures allowed silica-rich solutions to enter and deposit chalcedony. Agate is pure and translucent whereas Jasper is opaque. Both stones commonly have reddish colors from the presence of iron oxide minerals. The peculiar ancient banded iron formations consist of thin layers of interbedded chert and solid hematite. Some important fossil localities are in chert. The Rhynie Cherts in Scotland contain remains of the oldest land ecosystem from nearly 400 million years ago early in the Devonian Period. And the Gunflint Chert, a unit of banded iron formation in western Ontario is famous for its fossil microbes, dating from the Early Proterozoic time some two billion years ago.

Divorced beheaded survived Essay Example

Divorced beheaded survived Essay Example Divorced beheaded survived Paper Divorced beheaded survived Paper The pain from losing a beloved one Is In fact an Inevitable part of being alive. As much as we want to avoid it, the faint line between death and life is something we human beings have to learn how to live with. Robin Blacks short story: Divorced, Beheaded, Survived from 2010 portrays the life of Sarah before and after the tragic death of her brother. As Sarah is struggling with the difficulty of coping with her brothers death, she slowly draws closer to the essentials of the passage of life. Doubleday dealing with the plan of the loss of our loved ones Is tough and heart wrecking, but Is It possible to live on without a proper confrontation or closure of your grief? The storyline follows the protagonist Sarah through her mental progress of accepting the death of her brother, Terry. The emotional aspects in the story are exemplified through the twisted chronology consisting of Sarahs present life and flashbacks from her childhood. Black uses Sarah childhood home In Massachusetts as a contrast to show traces of Sarahs mental state of denial. WTFO my own children, that long- collected backyard is only part of grandmas and grandpas house, where we go for Thanksgiving, for the Christmas with Lyes folks in al- 52-53). It is shown here how the old backyard which used to hold a lot of importance for Sarah, her brother and their friends, has become a incidental place for annual occasions to her kids. This line emphasizes how Sarah has not passed on her Joyful memories to her kids as a result of her lack of confrontation about her late brother. The protagonist has still not fully processed her sorrow and she is therefore not capable f have her children involved in her own childhood. Also it is seen that Sarahs past still has a tremendous impact on her present life, as she speaks about the age gap between herself and Terry, comparing it to the amount of ages between her children Mark and Coco. The fact that she keeps intertwining past memories with her adult life throughout the storyline express that she Is still Incapable of letting go. Her present Is still muddled with the pain of the past. Later on Sarah reaches a significant turning point of her life, as a friend of her son, Mark, passes away in an accident. Sarah starts to see similarities between her son and herself, and slowly step-by-step she starts to open up about the details of the death of Terry. All the hurtful memories are reaching the light of day as Sarah for the first time In her life starts treating her long-hold sorrow. l took my son by the hand, into my room. Opened the dresser drawer and there he was, smiling out from above the softly folded scarves, the empty fingers of my own gloves seeming to want to hold him there. It was hard, I said to Mark, as he lifted the picture toward his face. There is no secret answer. It was terribly, terribly hard. (p. 5, II. 159-163). Near the end of the story, the amount of flashbacks and comparisons are reduced, as brother everyday, while feeling a little guilty, not only is her wound slowly healing, but Sarah draws closer to the understanding of life and death. It isnt only discomfort of disloyalty I feel, its the fact of utter disappearance after death. The idea that as loved as we may be, we may also be forgotten. If only for a day here and there. 4, II. 127-130). To bring the plot to a closure Black frames his short story with a last flashback about Sarahs near non-existent relation to her childhood friend, Molly Dunham. With this flashback Sarah finally understands how the thirty years without any confrontation has not been an essential way of coping with her pain, which could be one of the many messages of the story. Another message could be interpreted from the phrase where Sarah tries to convince herself that it is within human nature to keep on living. Maybe its a gift to be able to let go of the remembering. Some times. Some things. (p. 4, II. 155-156). With this phrase Black tells the readers that life goes on no matter what, and one should not be guilty about not thinking about the dead all the time, instead one should focus on holding on the Joyful memory and live life to its fullest. Another symbolic feature that lies within the choice of chronology and structure is the swift between present and past. It is a showcase for Sarahs past intertwining with her everyday life as a symbol of her incapability to let go. The title of the short story is Divorced, beheaded, survived which is the last part of a well-known phrase used to remember the six wives of king Henry 8th. The title itself is mostly explicit in the beginning and in the end of the story. Firstly as a memory of a fine day where Sarah, Terry and a couple of friends decides to act out the drama of king Henry 8th, then in another flashback from Sarahs high school days where they learn about king Henry 8th in history class. In many ways the title is sufficient to the plot and also from symbolic aspects. The phrase could be interpreted as a connection to the death of Terry. Intentionally the author chose to use the last part of the phrase as the title instead of the first. The only difference between the two parts is the fact that the word died is replaced with survived, Sarahs brother died by the hands of sickness, but because of all the memories that Sarah holds so dearly, Terry, still survived and he is therefore still alive in the heart of his sister. Judging from the essence of Robin Blacks short story, as much as life is filled with full and happy moments, all the dark sides like loss and death is something that is unavoidable. Death is part of life and the opposite. The sooner you realize it and start accepting those inevitable facts of the living the sooner you can free yourself from the endless cycle of grieving. For the protagonist, Sarah, the process of coping with her loss took decades, but luckily she realized that the only way out of the wilderness was to accept the fact that life goes on and our lost ones will always be alive in our hearts, even if we do not think of them every moment of our lives.

Choose what you want Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Choose what you want - Coursework Example The DIAD has also been put under tests that most smartphones cannot survive, and these include; heat, cold, torrential rain and drop from six feet. UPS’s investment in IT will help it achieve strategic business objectives in the following ways. Financial Strategic Objectives: UPS will be able to achieve its financial objectives since investment in IT will win it more loyal customers. More customers mean more profits and UPS will experience a financial growth. Customer Strategic Objectives: by investing in IT, UPS is improving its customer’s service approach. Customers are enjoying working with UPS with every technological advancement that they make. Customer satisfaction is important to customer retention and obtaining new customers. Operational Strategic Objectives: UPS’s investment in IT will see the parcel delivery company grow into the most technologically advanced company and thus will always be ahead of its competitors in the market. Their services will also be of high standard due to the efficiency of IT in business, for example, the use of cameras to document the extent of damage on a parcel will improve the handling of packages by the drivers. Moreover, UPS will be able to realize improved communication with the improvement in IT that is important in the development of operational strategic objectives as communication between a customer and the company improves the efficiency of any business. Ultimately, learning Strategic Objective: drivers employed by UPS have to learn how to use the new technology in package delivery and they have to be good at it. Good performance by the drivers and other staff members in use of IT in their job. The company will, therefore, be able to achieve its Learning Str ategic Objectives by training its employees on emerging trends in the IT

Conflicts in the Workplace Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words - 1

Conflicts in the Workplace - Research Paper Example Managing a conflict is an important task that occurs at three levels, according to Masters and Albright According to them, first of all, an individual must know how to deal with the conflict at a personal level like when he enters a conflict with a senior, a junior, a colleague, or a client. Second, he must be able to enable others in the organization to manage their personal conflicts. This is important because those conflicts will eventually come to you taking your extra time if they are not resolved in time by the people involved. Third, he must be able to work out an effective plan or strategy that should make sure that workplace conflicts are avoided and if occur then resolved in time. Conflicts at work â€Å"reflect systemic processes and patterns in how work gets done† thus it is important to determine those patterns so that better conflict management is made possible. It is also important to discuss here why at all managing a conflict at a workplace is important and wh y medication becomes necessary. Moore defines the mediation as the involvement of a third party, the mediator, in the resolution of the conflict, where the mediator has no personal relations with any of the conflicting parties involved. The mediator does not make decisions but assists the parties to reach such a solution that is acceptable for all those involved. Doherty and Guyler suggest that â€Å"there is a direct ratio between the quality of relationships across the workplace and long-term business effectiveness and success.†

Health Care Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Health Care Reform - Essay Example Some the benefits include allowing children to purchase insurance, at the start of 2014 women will no longer be charged more than men. Insurance firms will also be regulated so that they are not able to hike insurance rates when an individual falls ill will be of benefit to all the citizens. This regulate of the insurance will greatly help in ensuring that the health of any individual is not jeopardize just because of their social status and age The ability of state-based exchanges will also allow persons who are unemployed to purchase insurance. Subsidies will also be provided to those families that are below the federal poverty level. These reforms will be a great boost to most of the citizens who do not earn a decent income (Jill, 2012). Healthcare in the United States is a fundamental part of living. This is due to the many health issues that Americans face in a daily basis. However, the healthcare structure in the America is faced by a big problem of expensive services, which is not affordable to most of the people. A big percentage of American population is not medically insured and this leads to the physician visits being too expensive for an ordinary citizen. Approximately 44million Americans are not insured and an additional 38 million have insufficient health insurances. This population lives each day not sure what would happen if they fell sick or were in need of medical attention. The absence of a medical insurance therefore means that they cannot visit the physician for regular check ups and will always postpone illnesses or trips to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it. Delayed medical care for fear of expenses is a disaster considering the number of people in the country and the illnesses that could be treated early turning fatal. People without health insurance are at the greatest risk of not catching illnesses early enough and not acquiring medical

Hamlet And The Theories Of Tragedy

Hamlet And The Theories Of Tragedy Shakespeares Hamlet includes various theories and elements of tragedy, of which two will be discussed in this essay. Shakespeare addresses Aristotles theory of tragedy, but he challenges the theory in many aspects through setting, plot, and character. Shakespeare seems to heavily incorporate the wheel of fortune theory of tragedy, mostly through the character Hamlet. Aristotle, who is concerned with formal presentation of tragic plays, defines tragedy as: a representation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete in itself, and of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play; presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of pity and fear bringing about the purgation of such emotion. (Aristotle 38 9) Shakespeare employs character and plot in order to create an atmosphere that is unsettling and dark, which instead of conjuring fear and pity instead sets up an atmosphere rank with revenge. In this way, Hamlet does not follow Aristotles definition of tragedy. Another of the ways Aristotle characterizes tragedy is through The noble actions and the doings of noble persons (Aristotle 35). According to Aristotle, Hamlet should be a noble person committing noble actions. This is best represented in the scene where Hamlet refuses to kill Claudius during prayer. T his becomes the turning point for Hamlet, where he truly becomes an ignoble person, saying he wants Claudius Soul may be damned and black/ As hell, whereto it goes. Hamlet truly wants Claudius to suffer in the worst possible manner, and in doing so Hamlet falls from nobility. Aristotle also believed heroes are First and foremost good (Aristotle 51). Hamlet does contemplate good and evil frequently, but ultimately Hamlet fall from the path of goodness. Fortinbras may have been the kind of hero Aristotle characterizes, but Fortinbras is not a tragic character. The plot events with which Aristotle disagrees give meaning to Hamlets theme. Shakespeare intentionally portrays many characters unheroic. For example, Hamlet does not treat Ophelia well, but at the same time Ophelias unwavering loyalty to her father causes her to treat Hamlet badly. Both characters invoke disgust from the reader from their ignoble actions. The only characters who act somewhat heroic are Horatio and Fortinbras. Interestingly, these are the only two characters who survive, so Shakespeare may be making some kind of commentary on Aristotles tragic hero. Another theory of tragedy has to do with the wheel of fortune. This kind of Tragedy was perceived as a reversal of fortune, a fall from a high position. This view of tragedy derives from the Medieval concept of fortune, which was personified as Dame Fortune, a blindfolded woman who turned a wheel at whim; men were stationed at various places on the wheelthe top of the wheel represented the best fortune, being under the wheel the worst fortune. However, the wheel could turn suddenly and the man on top could suddenly be under the wheel, without warning. (Landmarks of Literature) There are many instances where Shakespeare incorporates these elements of tragedy into Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, Horatio cries out to the Ghost, Speak to me: If thou art privy to thy countrys fate, / Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, / O, speak! Horatios outburst suggests that fate isnt inevitable, but earlier Horatio indicates that the Ghost is a bad omen, just like in Rome before the mightiest Julius fell and the graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead/ Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets. Horatios conception of fate embodies the fate of the the entire country, not the individual. In response to a comment about how mens faults can ruin reputations, Hamlet responds by saying, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect/ Being natures livery or fortunes star/ Their virtues else- be they pure as grace/ As infinite as man may undergo/ Shall in the general censure take corruption/ From that particular fault. Hamlet establishes his view of fate and bad character with this claim; he thinks you are either born with bad qualities or you acquire them through the environment (through no device of your own), but its not something that a person is in control of; rather it is something that simply happens to a person, and there is no way to avoid it. Later in this scene Hamlet exclaims, My fate cries out, / And makes each petty artery in this body / As hardy as the Nemean lions nerve. Hamlet believes it is his fate to follow the ghost, and because it is his fate he is given the strength and vigor with which to do it. Hamlet asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern how they are, and Guildenstern answers, Happy, in that we are not over-happy, on fortunes cap we are not the very button. This is a joke that implies that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz live in Fortunes privates; This joke implies that Fortune is a whore. Later in the same scene, the idea that Fortune is a whore comes up again in a more serious tone. During a play, Hamlet asks the First Player to recite the piece of the death of Priam. Afterwards, the player comments: Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods, In general synod take away her power; Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven, As low as to the fiends! (2.2.493-497) The player is asking the gods to break Fortunes wheel and roll her down to hell. The idea is that our destinies are merely random, when people try to climb on top of the wheel it may simply move and the person on top becomes the one being crushed by the wheel. The First Players speech calls for a fate ruled by something other than Fortune. Hamlets third soliloquy suggests that fortune is simply out to hurt you and questioning whether it is even worth it to challenge the wheel of fortune: To be, or not to be: that is the question: / Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them? Before the play The Murder of Gonzago, Hamlet stands alone with Horatio and commends him as A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards / Hast taen with equal thanks. Hamlet goes on to praise Horatio for not becoming a pipe for Fortunes finger to play; Hamlet appears envious of Horatio, praising him for a quality that Hamlet himself lacks. Hamlet sees himself as passions slave, a person who cannot maintain a stable identity or sense of self. In The Murder of Gonzago the Player King tells his wife that he hopes when he dies she will find a good man and remarry. The wife promises vehemently she will not find another husband after his death, to which the king responds: This world is not for aye, nor tis not strange / That even our loves should with our fortunes change. The king points out that a man who has been favored by fortune could just as easily lose his fortune, and with it his friends, money, wife, etc. The king doesnt address it as though it is something to be deplored, but simply the way of life and something that needs to be accepted, because Our wills and fates do so contrary run / That our devices still are overthrown; / Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own. In the end, the king is right, and the wife quickly remarries after the kings death. After Polonius has been stabbed, Hamlet says to the body, take thy fortune; / Thou findst to be too busy is some danger. Hamlet believes Polonius fortune was not simply bad luck; Hamlet believes Polonius brought his own bad luck upon himself and had earned his own death. Later in the same scene, Hamlet says, For this same lord, / I do repent: but heaven hath pleased it so, / To punish me with this and this with me, / That I must be their scourge and minister. According to this view of things, Polonius death is not an accident at all, but part of a divine plan. In the last scene of the play, Hamlet writes to Horatio about how he found his own death warrant. Hamlet said he was sneaking around and told Horatio, let us know, / Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, / When our deep plots do pall: and that should teach us / Theres a divinity that shapes our ends, / Rough-hew them how we will. Hamlet suggests that even though something may look random it could be part of a plan that will turn out for the better. Then, later, Hamlet repeats the concept; Horatio asks how Hamlet could have possibly sealed a new warrant with the kings seal. Hamlet replies, Why, even in that was heaven ordinant and explains that Hamlet had his fathers signet by chance and used it to make the seal. Even later in the scene, right before the final fencing duel, Hamlet says that everything is ill in his heart. He doesnt hint that this feeling is prophetic of his own death in any way, but when Horatio offers to call off the fencing match, Hamlet speaks as though he kno ws hes about to die: Not a whit, we defy augury: theres a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all: since no man has aught of what he leaves, what ist to leave betimes? Let be. In another view of this revenge tragedy, Hamlet is the player of a Senecan tragedy. He is involved in a sensational murder scene, commanded by a Senecan ghost desiring revenge, and after hampered by court intrigue, resorts to feigned madness. Since apparitions are known to tell half-truths to deceive people, Hamlet is given instruction without a resolute plan. For majority of the play, he acts with passion and indecision and he proceeds with the ghosts wishes as his adversary allows. And, for the most part, only Claudius, Hamlet, and Horatio know the action of revenge. (Landmarks of Literature) Word Count: 1837

Biography of Isaac Newton :: Sir Isaac Newton Essays

Through his early life experiences and with the knowledge left by his predecessors, Sir Isaac Newton was able to develop calculus, natural forces, and optics. From birth to early childhood, Isaac Newton overcame many personal, social, and mental hardships. It is through these experiences that helped create the person society knows him as in this day and age. The beginning of these obstacles started at birth for Newton. Isaac was born premature on Christmas Day 1642, in the manor house of Woolsthorpe, 7 miles south of Grantham in Lincolnshire. It is said that â€Å"Because Galileo, . . . had died that year, a significance attaches itself to 1642†(Westfall 1). Though his father had died before Isaac was born, he was given his father’s name. He was born into a farming family that had worked their way slowly up the â€Å"social ladder†. The Newton’s were one of the few families to prosper in Lincolnshire(Westfall 1). At the age of three Isaac’s life would take a drastic turn. When Isaac was three his mother, Hannah Ayscough, remarried to the Reverend Barnabas Smith(Internet-newtonia). Isaac and the Reverend never got along and the Reverend would not have a child that was not his living with him. Isaac stayed with his grandparents when his mother went to live with the Reverend in North Witham. His maternal grandmother raised Isaac until he was ten. It is believed that his mother’s second marriage and her leaving caused many problems for Isaac as a child. While living with his grandparents he attended day school nearby in Skillington and Stoke. Many cousins and other family members in the area surrounded Isaac though, â€Å"He formed no bond with any of his numerous relatives that can be traced later in his life†(Westfall 11). In 1653 his mother returned after her second husband died. With her she brought one half brother and two half sisters. Although it is not known, bitterness may have inflicted Isaac when his three new siblings arrived. Never the less, two years later at the age of twelve he was sent to Grantham to attend grammar school. While attending grammar school Isaac lived with the apothecary Mr. Clark(Westfall 12). Mr. Clark had three stepchildren from the first marriage of his wife, Miss Storer, who were also living in his house. In school and at home Isaac was apparently different and did not get along with any other boys.

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Five

I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE anyone after that. I trekked back to my room as quickly as I could, hardly noticing the obstacles and people in my path. Over and over, Dimitri's words played in my head: Love fades. Mine has. Somehow, that was the worst thing he could have said. Don't get me wrong: The rest wasn't easy either. Having him tell me he was going to avoid me and ignore our past relationship made me feel awful too. Yet, within that, no matter how much it hurt, was the tiny hope that there was still some spark of love between us. That he still loved me. But†¦ love fades. That was something else altogether. It meant that what we had would die, going pale until it crumbled and drifted away like dried up leaves in the wind. The thought of it caused a pain in my chest and stomach, and I curled up on my bed, wrapping my arms around myself as though that might lessen the hurt. I couldn't accept what he had said. I couldn't accept that somehow, after his ordeal, his love for me had gone away. I wanted to stay in my room for the rest of the day, curled up in the darkness of my covers. I forgot about Sydney's conversation and my earlier concerns about Lissa's dad. I even let go of Lissa herself. She had a few errands today, but every so often, a message would flit to me through the bond: Come join me? When I didn't contact her, she began to grow worried. I was suddenly afraid that she–or someone else–might come seeking me in my room. So I decided to leave. I had no real destination; I just had to keep moving. I walked around the Court, scouting places I'd never seen before. It was filled with more statues and fountains than I'd realized. Their beauty was lost on me, though, and when I returned to my room hours later, I was exhausted from all the walking. Oh well. At least I'd dodged having to talk to anyone. Or had I? It was late, past my usual bedtime, when a knock came at my door. I was hesitant to answer. Who would be coming by so late? Did I want the distraction or did I want to keep my solitude? I had no idea who it could be, save that it wasn't Lissa. God. For all I knew, it was Hans, demanding to know why I hadn't been showing up for my work detail. After much thinking (and more persistent knocking), I decided to open it. It was Adrian. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said with a small, weary smile. â€Å"You look like you've seen a ghost.† Not a ghost, exactly. Believe me, I knew ghosts when I saw them. â€Å"I just†¦ I just didn't really expect to see you after this morning†¦.† He entered and sat down on my bed, and I was glad to see he'd cleaned up since our earlier talk. He wore fresh clothes, and his hair was back to its normal perfection. I still caught the lingering scent of cloves, but after what I'd put him through, he was entitled to his vices. â€Å"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to come by either,† he admitted. â€Å"But you†¦ well†¦ you got me thinking about something.† I sat down beside him, keeping a healthy distance. â€Å"Us?† â€Å"No. Lissa.† â€Å"Oh.† I'd accused Dimitri of being egotistic, but here I was, naturally assuming love for me was all that could have driven Adrian over. His green eyes turned speculative. â€Å"I kept thinking about what you'd said, about her dad. And you were right–right about the gambling thing. He'd have the money to pay off any debt. He wouldn't have had to keep it a secret. So I went and asked my mom.† â€Å"What?† I exclaimed. â€Å"No one's supposed to know that–â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah, I figured your information had been top secret. Don't worry. I told her that when we were in Vegas, we heard some people talking about it–about Lissa's dad making secret deposits.† â€Å"What'd she say?† â€Å"The same thing I did. Well, actually, she snapped at me first. She said Eric Dragomir was a good man and that I shouldn't spread rumors about the dead. She suggested that maybe he had a gambling problem, but if so, people shouldn't focus on that, when he did so many great things. After the Death Watch, I think she's afraid of me causing more public scenes.† â€Å"She's right. About Eric,† I said. Maybe someone had stolen those records as some part of a slander campaign. Admittedly, spreading rumors about the dead was pointless, but maybe someone wanted to blacken the Dragomir reputation and get rid of any chance of the voting law being changed for Lissa? I was about to say as much to Adrian when he interrupted with something even more shocking. â€Å"And then my dad overheard us, and he was like, ‘He was probably funding some mistress. You're right–he was a nice guy. But he liked to flirt. And he liked the ladies.'† Adrian rolled his eyes. â€Å"That's a direct quote: ‘He liked the ladies.' My dad is such an ass. He sounds twice his age.† I gripped Adrian's arm without realizing it. â€Å"What did he say after that?† Adrian shrugged but left my hand where it was. â€Å"Nothing. My mom got mad and said the same thing to him that she said to me, that it was cruel to spread stories no one could prove.† â€Å"Do you think it's true? Do you think Lissa's dad had a mistress? Was that what he was paying out for?† â€Å"Don't know, little dhampir. Honestly? My dad's the type who would jump on any rumor he could. Or make one up. I mean, we know Lissa's dad liked to party. It's easy to jump to conclusions from there. Probably he had some dirty secret. Hell, we all do. Maybe whoever stole those files just wanted to exploit that.† I told him my theory about it being used against Lissa. â€Å"Or,† I said, reconsidering, â€Å"maybe someone who supports her took it. So that it wouldn't get out.† Adrian nodded. â€Å"Either way, I don't think Lissa's in mortal danger.† He started to rise, and I pulled him back. â€Å"Adrian, wait†¦ I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed. â€Å"I wanted to apologize. The way I've been treating you, what I've been doing†¦ it wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry.† He looked away from me, eyes focused on the ground. â€Å"You can't help the way you feel.† â€Å"The thing is†¦ I don't know how I feel. And that sounds stupid, but it's the truth. I care about Dimitri. I was stupid to think I'd be unaffected by him being back. But I realize now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Love fades. Mine has. â€Å"I realize now that it's over with him. I'm not saying that's easy to get past. It'll take a while, and I'd be lying to both of us if I said it wouldn't.† â€Å"That makes sense,† Adrian said. â€Å"It does?† He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. â€Å"Yes, little dhampir. Sometimes you make sense. Go on.† â€Å"I†¦ well, like I said†¦ I've got to heal from him. But I do care about you†¦. I think I even love you a little.† That got a small smile. â€Å"I want to try again. I really do. I like having you in my life, but I may have jumped into things too soon before. You don't have any reason to want me after the way I've dragged you around, but if you want to get together again, then I want to.† He studied me for a long time, and my breath caught. I'd meant what I said: He had every right to end things with us†¦ and yet, the thought that he might terrified me. At last, he pulled me against him and lay back against the bed. â€Å"Rose, I have all sorts of reasons to want you. I haven't been able to stay away from you since I saw you at the ski lodge.† I shifted closer to Adrian on the bed and pressed my head against his chest. â€Å"We can make this work. I know we can. If I screw up again, you can leave.† â€Å"If only it were that easy,† he laughed. â€Å"You forget: I have an addictive personality. I'm addicted to you. Somehow I think you could do all sorts of bad things to me, and I'd still come back to you. Just keep things honest, okay? Tell me what you're feeling. If you're feeling something for Dimitri that's confusing you, tell me. We'll work it out.† I wanted to tell him that–regardless of my feelings–he had nothing to worry about with Dimitri because Dimitri had rejected me a number of times now. I could chase after Dimitri all I wanted, and it wouldn't do any good. Love fades. Those words still stung, and I couldn't bear to give voice to that pain. But as Adrian held me and I thought about how understanding he was about all of this, some wounded part of me acknowledged that the opposite was true as well: Love grows. I would try with him. I really would. I sighed. â€Å"You're not supposed to be this wise. You're supposed to be shallow and unreasonable and†¦ and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"And?† â€Å"Mmm†¦ ridiculous.† â€Å"Ridiculous I can manage. And the others†¦ but only on special occasions.† We were wrapped close together now, and I tilted my head to study him, the high cheekbones and artfully messy hair that made him so gorgeous. I remembered his mother's words, that regardless of what we wanted, he and I would eventually have to part ways. Maybe this was how my life was going to be. I'd always lose the men I loved. I pulled him hard against me, kissing his mouth with a force that caught even him by surprise. If I had learned anything about life and love, it was that they were tenuous things that could end at any moment. Caution was essential–but not at the cost of wasting your life. I decided I wasn't going to waste it now. My hands were already tugging at Adrian's shirt before that thought was fully formed. He didn't question it or hesitate in taking my clothes off in return. He might have moments of profoundness and understanding, but he was still†¦ well, Adrian. Adrian lived his life in the now, doing the things he wanted without much second-guessing. And he had wanted me for a very long time. He was also very good at this sort of thing, which was why my clothes came off faster than his. His lips were hot and eager against my throat, but he was careful to never once let his fangs brush my skin. I was a little less gentle, surprising myself when I dug my nails into the bare skin of his back. His lips moved lower, tracing the line of my collarbone while he deftly took off my bra one-handed. I was a little astonished at my body's reaction as we both fought to get the other's jeans off first. I'd convinced myself that I'd never want sex again after Dimitri, but right now? Oh, I wanted it. Maybe it was some psychological reaction to Dimitri's rejection. Maybe it was an impulse to live for the moment. Maybe it was love for Adrian. Or maybe it was just lust. Whatever it was, it made me powerless beneath his hands and mouth, which seemed intent on exploring every part of me. The only time he paused was when all my clothes were finally off and I lay there naked with him. He was almost naked too, but I hadn't quite gotten to his boxers yet. (They were silk because, honestly, what else would Adrian wear?). He cupped my face in his hands, his eyes filled with intensity and desire–and a bit of wonder. â€Å"What are you, Rose Hathaway? Are you real? You're a dream within a dream. I'm afraid touching you will make me wake up. You'll disappear.† I recognized a little of the poetic trance he sometimes fell into, the spells that made me wonder if he was catching a little of the spirit-induced madness. â€Å"Touch me and find out,† I said, drawing him to me. He didn't hesitate again. The last of his clothes came off, and my whole body heated at the feel of his skin and the way his hands slid over me. My physical needs were rapidly trampling over any logic and reason. There was no thought, just us, and the fierce urgency bringing us together. I was all burning need and desire and sensation and– â€Å"Oh, shit.† It came out as kind of a mumble since we'd been kissing, our lips eagerly seeking out the other's. With guardian reflexes, I barely managed to shift away, just as our hips started to come together. Losing the feel of him was shocking to me, more so for him. He was stunned, simply staring in astonishment as I wriggled further from him and finally managed a sitting position on the bed. â€Å"What†¦ what's wrong? Did you change your mind?† â€Å"We need protection first,† I said. â€Å"Do you have any condoms?† He processed this for a few seconds and then sighed. â€Å"Rose, only you would pick this instant to remember that.† That was a fair point. My timing kind of sucked. Still, it was better than remembering it afterward. In spite of my body's rampant desire–and it was still there, believe me–I suddenly had a startling, vivid image of Dimitri's sister Karolina. I'd met her in Siberia, and she'd had a baby that was about six months old. The baby was adorable, as babies often are, but by God, she had been so much work. Karolina had a waitressing job, and as soon as she was home from that, her attention went to the baby. When she was at work, Dimitri's mother took care of the baby. And the baby always needed something: food, changing, rescue from choking on a small object. His sister Sonya had been on the verge of having a baby too, and with the way I'd left things with his youngest sister, Viktoria, I wouldn't be surprised to find she was pregnant before long. Huge life changes made from small, careless actions. So I was pretty confident I didn't want a baby in my life right now, not this young. With Dimitri, it hadn't been a concern, thanks to dhampir infertility. With Adrian? It was an issue, as was the fact that while disease was rare among both our races, I wasn't the first girl Adrian had been with. Or the second. Or the third†¦ â€Å"So do you have any?† I asked impatiently. Just because I was in responsible mode, it didn't mean I wanted sex any less. â€Å"Yes,† said Adrian, sitting up as well. â€Å"Back in my bedroom.† We stared at each other. His bedroom was far away, over in the Moroi section of Court. He slid nearer, putting his arm around me and nibbling my earlobe. â€Å"The odds of anything bad happening are pretty low.† I closed my eyes and tipped my head back against him. He wrapped his hands around my hips and stroked my skin. â€Å"What are you, a doctor?† I asked. He laughed softly, his mouth kissing the spot just behind my ear. â€Å"No. I'm just someone willing to take a risk. You can't tell me you don't want this.† I opened my eyes and pulled away so that I could look at him directly. He was right. I did want this. Very, very badly. And the part of me–which was pretty much all of me–that burned with lust was attempting to win me over. The odds probably were low, right? Weren't there people who tried forever to get pregnant and couldn't? My desire had an okay argument, so it was kind of a surprise when my logic won. â€Å"I can't take the risk,† I said. Now Adrian studied me, and at last, he nodded. â€Å"Okay. Another time then. Tonight we'll be†¦ responsible.† â€Å"That's all you're going to say?† He frowned. â€Å"What else would I say? You said no.† â€Å"But you†¦ you could have compelled me.† Now he was really astonished. â€Å"Do you want me to compel you?† â€Å"No. Of course not. It just occurred to me that†¦ well, that you could have.† Adrian cupped my face in his hands. â€Å"Rose, I cheat at cards and buy liquor for minors. But I would never, ever force you into something you don't want. Certainly not this–â€Å" His words were cut off because I'd pressed myself against him and started kissing him again. Surprise must have kept him from doing anything right away, but soon, he pushed me away with what seemed like great reluctance. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said dryly, â€Å"if you want to be responsible, this is not a good way to do it.† â€Å"We don't have to let this go. And we can be responsible.† â€Å"All of those stories are–â€Å" He came screeching to a halt when I tossed my hair out of the way and offered my neck to him. I managed to turn slightly so that I could meet his eyes, but I said nothing. I didn't have to. The invitation was obvious. â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said uncertainly–though I could see the longing spring up in his face. Drinking blood wasn't the same as sex, but it was a yearning all vampires had, and doing it while aroused–so I'd heard–was a mind-blowing experience. It was also taboo and hardly ever done, so people claimed. It was where the definition of blood whore had originated: dhampirs who gave their blood during sex. The idea of dhampirs yielding blood at all was considered disgraceful, but I'd done it before: with Lissa when she needed food and with Dimitri when he'd been Strigoi. And it had been glorious. He tried again, his voice steadier this time. â€Å"Rose, do you know what you're asking?† â€Å"Yes,† I said firmly. I gently ran a finger along his lips and then slipped in to touch his fangs. I threw his own words back at him. â€Å"You can't tell me you don't want this.† He did want it. In a heartbeat, his mouth was at my neck and his fangs were piercing my skin. I cried out at the sudden pain, a sound that softened to a moan as the endorphins that came with every vampire bite flooded into me. An exquisite bliss consumed me. He pulled me hard against him as he drank, almost onto his lap, pressing my back against his chest. I was distantly aware of his hands all over me again, of his lips upon my throat. Mostly, all I knew was that I was drowning in pure, ecstatic sweetness. The perfect high. When he pulled away, it was like losing part of myself. Like being incomplete. Confused, needing him back, I reached for him. He gently pushed my hand away, smiling as he licked his lips. â€Å"Careful, little dhampir. I went longer than I should have. You could probably grow wings and fly off right now.† It actually didn't sound like a bad idea. In a few more moments, though, the intense, crazy part of the high faded, and I settled back to myself. I still felt wonderful and dizzy; the endorphins had fed my body's desire. My reasoning slowly came back to me, allowing (kind of) coherent thought to penetrate that happy haze. When Adrian was convinced I was sober enough, he relaxed and lay down on the bed. I joined him a moment later, curling up against his side. He seemed as content as I was. â€Å"That,† he mused, â€Å"was the best not-sex ever.† My only response was a sleepy smile. It was late, and the more I crashed down from the endorphin rush, the drowsier I felt. Some tiny part of me said that even though I'd wanted this and cared about Adrian, the whole act had been wrong. I hadn't done it for the right reasons, instead letting myself get carried away by my own grief and confusion. The rest of me decided that wasn't true, and the nagging voice soon faded into exhaustion. I fell asleep against Adrian, getting the best night of sleep I'd had in a long time. I wasn't entirely surprised that I was able to get out of bed, shower, get dressed, and even blow-dry my hair without Adrian waking up. My friends and I had spent many a morning trying to drag him out of bed in the past. Hungover or sober, he was a heavy sleeper. I spent more time on my hair than I had in a while. The telltale mark of a vampire bite was fresh on my neck. So I wore my hair down, careful to style it with a part so that the long waves hung heavy on the bite side. Satisfied the bruise would stay camouflaged, I pondered what to do next. In an hour or so, the Council was going to listen to arguments from factions with varying ideas on the new age decree, Moroi fighting, and the Dragomir vote. Provided they let me in the hall, I had no intention of missing the debates on the hottest issues in our world right now. I didn't want to wake up Adrian, though. He was tangled up in my sheets and slept peacefully. If I woke him up, I'd feel obligated to stick around while he got ready. Through the bond, I felt Lissa sitting alone at a cafe table. I wanted to see her and have breakfast, so I decided Adrian could fend for himself. I left him a note about where I was, told him the door would lock on his way out, and drew lots of x's and o's. When I was halfway to the cafe, though, I sensed something that ruined my breakfast plan. Christian had sat down with Lissa. â€Å"Well, well,† I muttered. With everything else going on, I hadn't paid much attention to Lissa's personal life. After what had happened at the warehouse, I wasn't entirely surprised to see them together, though her feelings told me there had been no romantic reconciliation†¦ yet. This was an uneasy attempt at friendship, a chance to get over their constant jealousy and distrust. Far be it from me to intrude on love at work. I knew another place near the guardians' buildings that also had coffee and doughnuts. It would do, provided no one there remembered that I was technically still on probation and had made a scene in a royal hall. The odds on that probably weren't good. Still, I decided to give it a try and headed over, eyeing the overcast sky uneasily. Rain wouldn't help my mood any. When I got to the cafe, I discovered I didn't have to worry about anyone paying attention to me. There was a bigger draw: Dimitri. He was out with his personal guard, and even though I was glad he had some freedom, the attitude that he needed close watching still angered me. At least there was no giant crowd today. People who came in for breakfast couldn't help but stare, but few lingered. He had five guardians with him this time, which was a significant reduction. That was a good sign. He sat alone at a table, coffee and a half-eaten glazed doughnut in front of him. He was reading a paperback novel that I would have bet my life was a Western. No one sat with him. His escort simply maintained a ring of protection, a couple near the walls, one at the entrance, and two at nearby tables. The security seemed pointless. Dimitri was completely engrossed in his book, oblivious to the guards and occasional spectators–or he was simply making a good show of not caring. He seemed very harmless, but Adrian's words came back to me. Was there any Strigoi left in him? Some dark part? Dimitri himself claimed he still carried the piece that prevented him from ever truly loving anyone. He and I had always had this uncanny awareness of each other. In a crowded room, I could always find him. And in spite of his preoccupation with the book, he looked up when I walked toward the cafe's counter. Our eyes met for a millisecond. There was no expression on his face†¦ and yet, I had the feeling he was waiting for something. Me, I realized with a start. Despite everything, despite our fight in the church†¦ he still thought I would pursue and make some pledge of my love. Why? Did he just expect me to be that unreasonable? Or was it possible†¦ was it possible he wanted me to approach him? Well, whatever the reason, I decided I wouldn't give it to him. He'd hurt me too many times already. He'd told me to stay away, and if that was all part of some elaborate game to toy with my feelings, I wasn't going to play. I gave him a haughty look and turned away sharply as I walked up to the counter. I ordered chai and a chocolate eclair. After a moment's consideration, I ordered a second eclair. I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. My plan had been to eat outside, but as I glanced toward the tinted windows, I could just barely make out the pattern of raindrops hitting the panes. Damn. I briefly considered fighting the weather and going somewhere else with my food, but I decided I wasn't going to let Dimitri scare me off. Spying a table far from him, I headed toward it, going out of my way not to look at or acknowledge him. â€Å"Hey Rose. Are you going to the Council today?† I came to a halt. One of Dimitri's guardians had spoken, giving me a friendly smile as he did. I couldn't recall the guy's name, but he'd seemed nice whenever we passed each other. I didn't want to be rude, and so, reluctantly, I answered back–even though it meant staying near Dimitri. â€Å"Yup,† I said, making sure my attention was only on the guardian. â€Å"Just grabbing a bite before I do.† â€Å"Are they going to let you in?† asked another of the guardians. He too was smiling. For a moment, I thought they were mocking my last outburst. But no†¦ that wasn't it. Their faces showed approval. â€Å"That's an excellent question,† I admitted. I took a bite of my eclair. â€Å"But I figure I should give it a try. I'll also try to be on good behavior.† The first guardian chuckled. â€Å"I certainly hope not. That group deserves all the grief you can give them over that stupid age law.† The other guardians nodded. â€Å"What age law?† asked Dimitri. Reluctantly, I looked over at him. As always, he swept my breath away. Stop it, Rose, I scolded myself. You're mad at him, remember? And now you've chosen Adrian. â€Å"The decree where royals think sending sixteen-year-old dhampirs out to fight Strigoi is the same as sending eighteen-year-olds,† I said. I took another bite. Dimitri's head shot up so quickly, I nearly choked on my food. â€Å"Which sixteen-year-olds are fighting Strigoi?† His guardians tensed but did nothing else. It took me a moment to get the bite of eclair down. When I could finally speak, I was almost afraid to. â€Å"That's the decree. Dhampirs graduate when they're sixteen now.† â€Å"When did this happen?† he demanded. â€Å"Just the other day. No one told you?† I glanced over at the other guardians. One of them shrugged. I had the impression that they might believe Dimitri was truly a dhampir but that they weren't ready to get chatty with him. His only other social contact would have been Lissa and his interrogators. â€Å"No.† Dimitri's brow furrowed as he pondered the news. I ate my eclair in silence, hoping it would push him to talk more. It did. â€Å"That's insane,† he said. â€Å"Morality aside, they aren't ready that young. It's suicide.† â€Å"I know. Tasha gave a really good argument against it. I did too.† Dimitri gave me a suspicious look at that last part, particularly when a couple of his guardians smiled. â€Å"Was it a close vote?† he asked. He spoke to me interrogation style, in the serious and focused way that had so defined him as a guardian. It was a lot better than depression, I decided. It was also better than him telling me to go away. â€Å"Very close. If Lissa could have voted, it wouldn't have passed.† â€Å"Ah,† he said, playing with the edges of his coffee cup. â€Å"The quorum.† â€Å"You know about that?† I asked in surprise. â€Å"It's an old Moroi law.† â€Å"So I hear.† â€Å"What's the opposition trying to do? Sway the Council back or get Lissa the Dragomir vote?† â€Å"Both. And other things.† He shook his head, tucking some hair behind his ear. â€Å"They can't do that. They need to pick one cause and throw their weight behind it. Lissa's the smartest choice. The Council needs the Dragomirs back, and I've seen the way people look at her when they put me on display.† Only the slightest edge of bitterness laced his words, indicating how he felt about that. Then it was back to business. â€Å"It wouldn't be hard to get support for that–if they don't divide their efforts.† I started in on my second eclair, forgetting about my earlier resolution to ignore him. I didn't want to distract him from the topic. It was the first thing that had brought the old fire back to his eyes, the only thing he seemed truly interested in–well, aside from pledging lifelong devotion to Lissa and telling me to stay out of his life. I liked this Dimitri. It was the same Dimitri from long ago, the fierce one who was willing to risk his life for what was right. I almost wished he'd go back to being annoying, distant Dimitri, the one who told me to stay away. Seeing him now brought back too many memories–not to mention the attraction I thought I'd smashed. Now, with that passion all over him, he seemed sexier than ever. He'd worn that same intensity when we'd fought together. Even when we'd had sex. This was the way Dimitri was supposed to be: powerful and in charge. I was glad and yet†¦ seeing him the way I loved only made my heart feel that much worse. He was lost to me. If Dimitri guessed my feelings, he didn't show it. He looked squarely at me, and, like always, the power of that gaze wrapped around me. â€Å"The next time you see Tasha, will you send her to me? We need to talk about this.† â€Å"So, Tasha can be your friend, but not me?† The sharp words were out before I could stop them. I flushed, embarrassed that I'd lapsed in front of the other guardians. Dimitri apparently didn't want an audience either. He looked up at the one who had initially addressed me. â€Å"Is there any way we could have some privacy?† His escort exchanged looks, and then, almost as one being, they stepped back. It wasn't a considerable distance, and they still maintained a ring around Dimitri. Nonetheless, it was enough that all of our conversation wouldn't be overheard. Dimitri turned back to me. I sat down. â€Å"You and Tasha have completely different situations. She can safely be in my life. You can't.† â€Å"And yet,† I said with an angry toss of my hair, â€Å"it's apparently okay for me to be in your life when it's convenient–say, like, running errands or passing messages.† â€Å"It doesn't really seem like you need me in your life,† he noted dryly, inclining his head slightly toward my right shoulder. It took me a moment to grasp what had happened. In tossing my hair, I'd exposed my neck–and the bite. I tried not to blush again, knowing I had nothing to feel embarrassed about. I pushed the hair back. â€Å"That's none of your business,† I hissed, hoping the other guardians hadn't seen. â€Å"Exactly.† He sounded triumphant. â€Å"Because you need to live your own life, far away from me.† â€Å"Oh, for God's sake,† I exclaimed. â€Å"Will you stop with the–â€Å" My eyes lifted from his face because an army suddenly descended upon us. Okay, it wasn't exactly an army, but it might as well have been. One minute it was just Dimitri, me, and his security, and then suddenly–the room was swarming with guardians. And not just any guardians. They wore the black-and-white outfits guardians often did for formal occasions, but a small red button on their collars marked them as guardians specifically attached to the queen's guard. There had to be at least twenty of them. They were lethal and deadly, the best of the best. Throughout history, assassins who had attacked monarchs had found themselves quickly taken down by the royal guard. They were walking death–and they were all gathering around us. Dimitri and I both shot up, unsure what was happening but certain the threat here was directed at us. His table and its chairs were between us, but we still immediately fell into the standard fighting stance when surrounded by enemies: Go back-to-back. Dimitri's security wore ordinary clothing and seemed a bit astonished to see their brethren, but with guardian efficiency, the escort promptly joined the advancing queen's guard. There were no more smiles or jokes. I wanted to throw myself in front of Dimitri, but in this situation, it was kind of difficult. â€Å"You need to come with us right now,† one of the queen's guards said. â€Å"If you resist, we'll take you by force.† â€Å"Leave him alone!† I yelled, looking from face to face. That angry darkness exploded within me. How could they still not believe? Why were they still coming after him? â€Å"He hasn't done anything! Why can't you guys accept that he's really a dhampir now?† The man who'd spoken arched an eyebrow. â€Å"I wasn't talking to him.† â€Å"You're†¦ you're here for me?† I asked. I tried to think of any new spectacles I might have caused recently. I considered the crazy idea that the queen had found out I'd spent the night with Adrian and was pissed off about it. That was hardly enough to send the palace guard for me, though†¦ or was it? Had I really gone too far with my antics? â€Å"What for?† demanded Dimitri. That tall, wonderful body of his–the one that could be so sensual sometimes–was filled with tension and menace now. The man kept his gaze on me, ignoring Dimitri. â€Å"Don't make me repeat myself: Come with us quietly, or we will make you.† The glimmer of handcuffs showed in his hands. My eyes went wide. â€Å"That's crazy! I'm not going anywhere until you tell me how the hell this–â€Å" That was the point at which they apparently decided I wasn't coming quietly. Two of the royal guardians lunged for me, and even though we technically worked for the same side, my instincts kicked in. I didn't understand anything here except that I would not be dragged away like some kind of master criminal. I shoved the chair I'd been sitting in earlier at one of the guardians and aimed a punch at the other. It was a sloppy throw, made worse because he was taller than me. That height difference allowed me to dodge his next grab, and when I kicked hard at his legs, a small grunt told me I'd hit home. I heard a few scattered screams. The people working at the cafe ducked behind their counter like they expected automatic weapons to come out. The other patrons who'd been eating breakfast hurriedly sprang from their tables, heedlessly knocking over food and dishes. They ran for the exits–exits that were blocked by still more guardians. This brought more screams, even though the exits were being cut off because of me. Meanwhile, other guardians were joining the fray. Although I got a couple of good punches in, I knew the numbers were too overwhelming. One guardian caught hold of my arm and began trying to put the cuffs on me. He stopped when another set of hands grabbed me from the other side and jerked me away. Dimitri. â€Å"Don't touch her,† he growled. There was a note in his voice that would have scared me if it had been directed toward me. He shoved me behind him, putting his body protectively in front of mine with my back to the table. Guardians came at us from all directions, and Dimitri began dispatching them with the same deadly grace that had once made people call him a god. He didn't kill any of the ones he fought, but he made sure they were out of action. If anyone thought his ordeals as a Strigoi or being locked up had diminished his fighting ability, they were terribly mistaken. Dimitri was a force of nature, managing to take on both impossible odds and stop me each time I tried to join the fight. The queen's guards might have been the best of the best, but Dimitri†¦ well, my former lover and instructor was in a category all his own. His fighting skills were beyond anyone else's, and he was using them all in defense of me. â€Å"Stay back,† he ordered me. â€Å"They aren't laying a hand on you.† At first, I was overwhelmed by his protectiveness–even though I hated not being part of a fight. Watching him fight again was also entrancing. He made it look beautiful and lethal at the same time. He was a one-man army, the kind of warrior that protected his loved ones and brought terror to his enemies– And that's when a horrible revelation hit me. â€Å"Stop!† I suddenly yelled. â€Å"I'll come! I'll come with you!† No one heard me at first. They were too involved with the fight. Guardians kept trying to sneak behind Dimitri, but he seemed to sense them and would shove chairs or anything else he could get a hold of at them–while still managing to kick and punch those coming at us head-on. Who knew? Maybe he really could have taken on an army by himself. But I couldn't let him. I shook Dimitri's arm. â€Å"Stop,† I repeated. â€Å"Don't fight anymore.† â€Å"Rose–â€Å" â€Å"Stop!† I was pretty sure I'd never screamed any word so loudly in my life. It rang through the room. For all I knew, it rang through the entire Court. It didn't exactly make everyone come to a halt, but many of the guardians slowed down. A few of the cowering cafe workers peered over the counter at us. Dimitri was still in motion, still ready to take everyone on, and I had to practically throw myself at him to get him to notice me. â€Å"Stop.† This time, my voice was a whisper. An uneasy silence had fallen over everyone. â€Å"Don't fight them anymore. I'm going to go with them.† â€Å"No. I won't let them take you.† â€Å"You have to,† I begged. He was breathing hard, every part of him braced and ready to attack. We locked gazes, and a thousand messages seemed to flow between us as the old electricity crackled in the air. I just hoped he got the right message. One of the guardians tentatively stepped forward–having to go around the unconscious body of his colleague–and Dimitri's tension snapped. He started to block the guardian and defend me again, but I instead put myself between them, clasping Dimitri's hand and still looking into his eyes. His skin was warm and felt so, so right touching mine. â€Å"Please. No more.† I saw then that he finally understood what I was trying to say. People were still afraid of him. No one knew what he was. Lissa had said him behaving calmly and normally would soothe fears. But this? Him taking on an army of guardians? That was not going to get him points for good behavior. For all I knew, it was already too late after this, but I had to attempt damage control. I couldn't let them lock him up again–not because of me. As he looked at me, he seemed to send a message of his own: that he would still fight for me, that he would fight until he collapsed to keep them from taking me. I shook my head and gave his hand a parting squeeze. His fingers were exactly as I remembered, long and graceful, with calluses built up from years of training. I let go and turned to face the guy who had originally spoken. I assumed he was some sort of leader. I held out my hands and slowly stepped forward. â€Å"I'll go quietly. But, please†¦ don't lock him back up. He just thought†¦ he just thought I was in trouble.† The thing was, as the handcuffs were clamped onto my wrists, I was starting to think I was in trouble too. As the guardians helped each other up, their leader took a deep breath and made the proclamation he'd been trying to make since entering. I swallowed, waiting to hear Victor's name. â€Å"Rose Hathaway, you are under arrest for high treason.† Not quite what I'd expected. Hoping my submission had earned me points, I asked, â€Å"What kind of high treason?† â€Å"The murder of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Tatiana.†

Advice on Writing a Dissertation or Thesis

Advice on Writing a Dissertation or Thesis Expert Advice on How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis It has been shown in research that a lot of students are often uncertain about what is expected of them when they start the process of writing a thesis or a dissertation. The following writing tips and strategies have been compiled by university experts and they are designed to show students how to manage these tasks effectively. This guide also includes advice from three newly graduated students who successfully completed theses or dissertations in recent times. Begin as early as possible Irrespective of whether it is a thesis or dissertation you are writing, it is best to begin planning the project as soon as you possibly can. A good starting point is to carry a notebook with you at all times and write down ideas when they occur to you. Join any courses where the subject matter and the instructor’s interests match yours. Where possible, pick writing projects that you can use as a foundation for your thesis or dissertation or ones that are compatible with your goals. A little strategic planning is a great way of developing a research â€Å"stream.† Any past research papers you have written are also a good way of helping to define areas of interest and you may be able to extend your previous work into a possible topic for a dissertation. Be Prudent in Your Choice of Advisors The experts who helped us write this guide suggest your first consideration should be people who are known to help students succeed. To find such people, you could ask more advanced-level students about university staff who are reputed to be â€Å"high achievers† or those who are known to have a positive attitude towards higher education and student achievement. Find out which faculty members are known to be helpful to students and those who are less so. Secondly, you need an advisor who is attentive to your degree requirements, your dissertation or thesis project, to meeting deadlines, and to your needs as a student. Choose someone who fully understands the thesis or dissertation process, is a good communicator, and who is discerning but fair. Lastly, the advisor you choose should be experienced so this means you may want to avoid new faculty members. The best advisors are likely to be those members who have previously served on dissertation committees. Be Prudent in Your Choice of Supervisory Committee Generally speaking, a dissertation supervision committee is made up of three or maybe four extra faculty staff. You should again consider those who have a good reputation for helping students prepare for graduation and who enjoy good levels of cooperation with fellow faculty members. One student who completed a sociology thesis for a Master’s degree recently claims that the process is made a lot easier when a supervisory committee is thoughtfully-designed and complements the student’s abilities and skills. So, what is the process for identifying these people? Get acquainted with your college professors. Go to research seminars to better understand the fields they work in. Enrol in classes and talk to the lecturers and professors. Read any work they have written. Speak to advanced-level students. However, the best strategy of all is to take your advisor’s advice when selecting a committee. Be Prudent in Your Choice of Topic When it comes to choosing a topic for a dissertation, there is one important word to remember, and that is ‘focus!’ This word can save you a lot of time, energy and effort when it comes to limiting your research question or problem. It is also advisable to select a topic that is manageable. It is most likely your dissertation will be quite big, but it should not be a lifelong work. Enlist the help of your advisor to whittle the topic down so that it does not take you two decades to graduate! Lastly, our university experts recommend choosing a topic you have a love-hate relationship with. This, they say, is because no matter what subject you choose, you will come to hate it in time. If a topic is not interesting or inspiring, it will eventually become easy to find reasons not to work on it. However, this should not happen with subject matter you like. Meet Regularly with Your Dissertation Adviser Maintain close contact with your dissertation adviser and continually ask for their advice. This person will have a broad perspective on your topic and their views should help you retain your focus. Plan meetings in advance to ensure these are of maximum benefit to you both. Have a list of questions or topics ready prior to every meeting so that you do not forget any discussion points. Put simply, this means preparing a meeting agenda. Make copious notes. After meetings with your adviser, sum-up your discussion and email it to him or her. Most likely, your adviser will be mentoring other students so it is not realistic to expect them to precisely recall your discussions at different meetings. However, sending a summary by email helps ensure you are both â€Å"singing from the same hymn sheet!† Keep a Copy of Every Single Thing Stories abound about students who store copies of important college papers in their fridge in case of a house fire. While this might be excessive, it is advisable to keep copies of different chapters in various places such as in an email folder, on an external drive, or on a flash drive. Another recently graduated student explained why it is important to keep an adviser’s feedback. This student says that a) advisers sometimes expect to see their feedback and/or comments worked into later or final papers, b) it is wise to keep copies of earlier drafts in case a tutor wants something put back in, and c) earlier drafts can be useful for seeing how ideas alter/develop with time. Do not be Afraid to Seek Help It may be that writing is not your strongest point. If so, our third recently graduated student recommends using college writing centers. He says that, a) these are free and the assistants are graduates with many having written dissertations themselves so they understand every stage of the process, and b) writing centers can keep up motivation, not least because students have to write something before their next tutor-student meeting. Another mechanism for helping maintain focus is organized college support groups. These groups can give feedback on writing and critical thinking skills, and generally offer encouragement. It can be especially useful to have other people to talk to when you have writer’s block or encounter various problems of the professional or personal variety. In many cases, colleges have a counsellor if you really run into difficulties. It must be Done So Do It! It all boils down to one thing at the end. Established routines are an effective way of achieving critical goals. So, write! For some students, this means scheduling specific times for writing – especially making optimum use of their most productive times. Some treat dissertation writing in a similar way to a part-time job with certain hours a week devoted to it. Setting a clear timeline – a backward-looking calendar – for completing an important writing project is also a good strategy. Build in critical milestones such as a timeline for collecting data, analyzing this, setting a schedule for different chapters, and so on. However, make sure your goals are realistic!

Desert Description - Land Biome Overview

Desert Description - Land Biome Overview Biomes are the worlds major habitats. These habitats are identified by the vegetation and animals that populate them. The location of each biome is determined by the regional climate. Deserts are dry areas that experience extremely small amounts of rainfall. Many people assume falsely that all deserts are hot. This is not the case as deserts can be either hot or cold. The determining factor for considering a biome to be a desert is the lack of precipitation, which can be in various forms (rain, snow, etc.). A desert is classified according to its location, temperature, and amount of precipitation. The extreme dry conditions of the desert biome makes it difficult for plant and animal life to thrive. Organisms that make their home in the desert have specific adaptations to deal with the harsh environmental conditions. Climate Deserts are determined by low amounts of precipitation, not temperature. They typically receive less than 12 inches or 30 cm of rain per year. The driest deserts often receive less than a half an inch or 2 cm of rain per year. Temperatures in the desert are extreme. Because of the lack of moisture in the air, heat quickly dissipates as the sun sets. In hot deserts, the temperatures can range from above 100 °F (37 °C) in the day to below 32 °F (0 °C) at night. Cold deserts generally receive more rainfall than hot deserts. In cold deserts, temperatures in winter range between 32 °F - 39 °F (0 °C - 4 °C) with occasional snowfall. Location Deserts are estimated to cover about one-third of the Earths land surface. Some locations of deserts include: HotNorth AmericaWest Coast of South AmericaCentral AustraliaNorth AfricaMiddle EastColdAntarcticaCentral AsiaGreenland The largest desert in the world is the continent of Antarctica. It spans 5.5 million square miles and also happens to be the driest and coldest continent on the planet. The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara Desert. It covers 3.5 million square miles of land in North Africa. Some of the highest temperatures ever recorded were measured in the Mojave Desert in California and the Lut Desert in Iran. In 2005, temperatures in the Lut Desert reached a sweltering 159.3 °F (70.7 °C). Vegetation Due to very dry conditions and poor soil quality in the desert, only a limited number of plants can survive. Desert plants have many adaptations for life in the desert. In very hot and dry deserts,   plants such as cacti and other succulents have shallow root systems to absorb large quantities of water in a short time. They also have leaf adaptations, such as a waxy covering or thin needles of desert plants include: cacti, yuccas, buckwheat bushes, black bushes, prickly pears and false mesquites. Wildlife Deserts are home to many burrowing animals. These animals include badgers, jack rabbits, toads, lizards, snakes, and kangaroo rats. Other animals include coyotes, foxes, owls, eagles, skunks, spiders and various kinds of insects. Many desert animals are nocturnal. They burrow underground to escape the extremely high temperatures in the day and come out at night to feed. This allows them to conserve water and energy. Other adaptations to desert life include light color fur that can reflect sunlight. Special appendages, such as long ears, help to dissipate heat. Some insects and amphibians adapt to their conditions by burrowing underground and remaining dormant until water is more plentiful. More Land Biomes Deserts are one of many biomes. Other land biomes of the world include: Chaparrals: Characterized by dense shrubs and grasses, this biome experiences dry summers and damp winters.Savannas: This large grassland biome is home to some of the fastest animals on the planet.Taigas: Also called coniferous forests, this biome is populated by dense evergreen trees.Temperate Forests: These forests experience distinctive seasons and are populated by deciduous trees (lose leaves in winter).Temperate Grasslands: These open grasslands are located in colder climate regions than savannas. They are found on every continent except for Antarctica.Tropical Rain Forests: This biome receives abundant rainfall and is characterized by tall, dense vegetation. Located near the equator, this biome experiences hot temperatures year round.Tundra: As the coldest biome in the world, tundras are characterized by extremely cold temperatures, permafrost, tree-less landscapes, and slight precipitation. Sources: Burton, James. â€Å"The Largest Deserts in the World.† WorldAtlas, 20 Jan. 2016, www.worldatlas.com/articles/10-largest-deserts-in-the-world.html.Staff, Live Science. â€Å"Wheres the Hottest Place on Earth?† LiveScience, Purch, 16 Apr. 2012, www.livescience.com/19700-hottest-place-earth.html.

History of Jazz and Dance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History of Jazz and Dance - Essay Example Traditional dance steps such as the Waltz and Foxtrot remained popular. Films produced during this era began to included the dance moves of actors such as Rudolph Valentino, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The popularity of dance and development of new steps continued through the Great Depression Era. Jazz music continued to change and evolve during this time, leading to the Cool Jazz and Funk of the 1950s. Jazz music initially came from New Orleans in the early 1920s, though it quickly spread to other cities such as Chicago and New York. Musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington began performing in New York City. New clubs such as the Cotton Club in 1923 and the Savoy Ballroom in 1926 opened in Harlem. Duke Ellington’s band Became the ‘house band’ of the Cotton Club. The Savoy featured Jazz artists like Bennie Goodman, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. Most of the well known Jazz artists later introduced new styles of music such as Be-bop at the clubs. New York city was not the only place that began to celebrate Jazz music and the new dances of the time. Many artists also made their way north to Chicago. Some of the well known artists of the time like Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines actually recorded music in the Windy City, which helped to increase the popularity of Jazz. Many more local groups formed in smaller cities through the Midwest during the 1920s and 1930s. Kansas City is home to the Count Basie Orchestra. Along with the new form of musical expression which became so popular came new styles in dance and dress.

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Dissertation

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital - Dissertation Example initions 2.3 Talent Management Frameworks 2.4 Talent Management Techniques  Vs  Replacement Planning and Succession Planning Techniques 2.5 Key Success Factors for Talent Management PART 2: Talent Management and Organizational Performance 2.6 Does the employee attitude towards Talent Management affect their performance? 2.7 Does the managers' attitude towards Talent Management affect their employees performance 2.8 Is there alignment between what employees perceive and what the managers practice? 2.9 Employee Motivation and Productivity and How to Enhance These 2.9.1 Employee Motivation and Factors that affect it 2.9.2 How to Enhance Employee Performance by Enhancing Motivation Chapter 3: Research Questions and Hypotheses Chapter 4: Research Methodology 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Choice of Methodology 4.3 Population and Sampling 4.4 Research Instruments 4.5 Procedure 4.6 Data Analysis 4.7 Ethical Considerations Chapter 5: Results 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Results 5.2.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 5.2.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 5.2.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 5.2.4 The Impact of the difference in the managers’ and the employees’ perception of the talent management practices on the business performance Chapter 6: Discussion 6.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 6.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 6.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 6.4 Managers Recognize Employees’ Strengths and Weaknesses 6.5 Challenges for the Organization Chapter 7: Conclusions 7.1 Summary of Findings... According to the research with the rapid advancement of business potential owing to the globalization and enhanced communication and Information technology, there is felt a need to develop human resources that are highly professional, skilled and apt to help any organization make a difference in the competitive market. The medical organizations, especially in the case of hospitals, need to enhance their competence while maintain their professional and ethical standards to serve the customers better. The growth in technological investment that is needed to remain viable for the hospitals has put additional cost pressures on them. Also, the highly mobile nature of medical professionals has required that the hospitals be prepared to develop job packages that are lucrative and attractive and that can keep the employees satisfied and motivated. The concept of talent management – or managing the entire talent pool in an organization from selection, to training and development and mo tivation – is readily applicable in the context of the health organizations. The premise for investing in talent management is that the organizational resources, capital or technological, are only one aspect for the organizational success. The main organizational resource is the human capital as the quality of people an organization employs largely dictates the quality of output and competitive advantage that it may enjoy. It therefore makes sense to focus on talent management in any organization and more specifically in the case of health organizations as much of the work involves human centered activities.