Bruno in the East Village Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bruno in the East Village - Essay Example The people have the power to dictate the progress and operations of a restaurant as in the case of Bruno. I totally agree with that view as the people who visit the restaurants can determine its present challenges as well as enabling it to overcome them. The challenges that the restaurant faces despites its short stay is a result of their own making if what the author says is anything to go by. The poor conditions at Bruno such as uncomfortable seats marked by a long row of tables with chairs and banquettes have served to keep people away from the restaurant. The author compares the seating arrangements at the restaurant as those in the police cells and that confirms how worse the conditions are. One has to wait for a long time before their meals are served and that indicates poor customer relations. The critics who are quick to criticize all the efforts that are being undertaken by the restaurant in an effort to improve their services should not do so in haste. The restaurant should be given time to adjust to new conditions before they begin to receive negative responses from bloggers, critics, and competitors. I firmly agree that some restaurants just like other businesses are successful in making their advertisement very alluring and catchy to the eyes of the public but very little to show for it when one visits the actual places. The things that a firm shows to the public should not be very different from the actual events within their premises.

Case Scenario, Final Discussion Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Scenario, Final Discussion - Case Study Example These include social aspects of people. For example, there are people who are difficult to deal with. People who are non-compliant. In text books and literature, it is assumed that all patients are compliant.This means that what is taught in text books is enhanced by the actual practice. Therefore one cannot fully rely on the knowledge in schools when they get to the actual practice. This however does not mean that it should be ignored. There are also hospitals and procedures that govern a health facility. There are the standards set to regulate the actual in the work place. They can be different from what the nursing text books say and other forms of literature. This is because every facility is unique with its own set of rules. A nurse should therefore know when to apply the books knowledge and when to apply knowledge gained from experience (Ramsden, 1992). A culture of safety is when an organization priorities the safety of patients. Elements of culture safety include making safety a priority across the organization, Training of on going assessment of safety, clear safety goals for patients and policies. The only way the culture of safety can be attained is by speaking up. Many health workers witness cases of rules being broken among their colleagues, but they do not report. Drew’s case is not different. He should speak up without feeling intimidated in order to uphold the culture of safety. He should approach the RN with those concerns and should not be intimidated by the fact that he is an inexperienced fresh graduate. Drew should also air his concerns in writing to the relevant authority.He should stand up for what is right and this will even earn him respect from his colleagues. The hospital environment should set an atmosphere where health workers can speak up openly. Patient safety can be defined as liberty from accidental harm due to medical care or medical error. If Drew speaks up, he will prevent patients from getting infections and

Conservative Government Welfare State: 1951-1964

Conservative Government Welfare State: 1951-1964 Why did the Conservative government of 1951 to 1964 expand the Welfare State? Introduction The underlying consensus at the beginning of the 1950’s, thanks to a growing sense of affluence, was that poverty was gradually being eliminated and levels of pre-war deprivation were something of the past that was reflected in a move towards fuller employment and the reallocation of resources directed towards the welfare state (see, for example, Rowntree and Lavers, 1951). There were, however doubts raised as to the reality of this optimism (Silver and Silver 1991: p. 148). Although post-war 1945 welfare provisions brought in by the Labour party may have led to the amelioration of poverty this, at the same time, had the affect of masking the fact that poverty was still a significant social problem (Titmus 1962; Macdonald 1963). Sections of the UK population thus still appeared to suffer from poverty (Harvey 1960). Interestingly, during the post–war Labour administration, the Conservative opposition voiced agreement with the inauguration of the welfare state because the Second World War had shown the benefits to be derived from collective effort. Such effort was subsequently reassigned to the organisation and planning of state bodies that helped promote opportunities throughout society (Silver and Silver 1991 p. 156). In this regard, when the Conservatives regained power in 1951, they were already predisposed to take a positive stance towards Attlee’s welfare reforms not least because the Labour government had been quite moderate in its general outlook (Morgan 2000, p. 8). Moreover, immediately after the end of the Second World War the Conservatives had expected to be returned to power but the Labour party had instead been elected. This was thought to be because the Conservatives were regarded as the party of war whereas Labour appeared to be better placed to deal with post-war social reconstruction. The Conservative Period in Office and Attitudes to Welfare On coming to power in 1951, the Conservatives under Churchill (who retired in 1955) were expected to â€Å"roll back the welfare state† but, as a result of the post-war political consensus, were not inclined to reverse the welfare reforms of the previous Labour government. In fact, the Tories were keen to demonstrate that they were capable of administering the welfare state as well, if not better, than the Labour party (Lehmberg and Heyck 2002). This was despite those in the Conservative party, such as Thornycroft, who were against such a policy (Bridgen and Lowe 1998). Furthermore, the Tories continued to hold to the â€Å"one nation† ideal of Disraeli and Baldwin. Having said this, the Conservatives tended to allow state control to be ceded somewhat to the demands of a market economy causing a rupture to open up between the needs of welfare and economic imperatives. In this respect, they also denationalised the steel industry and road haulage system. And some changes to Labour policy were enacted with more of a bias towards private finance in certain sectors of welfare but all the Tory leaders of the period were keen to uphold social peace and, in this regard, the trade unions were treated with respect (More 2006, p. 164). Churchill, in particular, with memories of the trade union riots in 1910 and the General Strike in 1926, wished to rule over a harmonious land (Morgan 2000, p. 9). Eden (prime minister from 1955-1957) had also been a â€Å"one nation† politician who had previously stood down from Chamberlains administration. Douglas-Home as the last Conservative prime minister (1963-1964) of this administration also believed in non-confrontational politics. The Conservative party’s attitude to welfare from 1951 to 1964 has been referred to as a wet-dry cycle by Willetts (1992). The dry period is deemed to have occurred between 1951 and 1957 that involved containing the welfare state. In fact, housing expenditure actually increased from 1951 to 1954 yet welfare benefits hardly kept up with the inflation rate and means tested national assistance declined in value in comparison to earnings (Atkinson, 1969 p. 20). Moreover, spending on health care also came under restraint (Webster, 1996 p. 6). This may have been connected to problems with the UK’s balance of trade in 1952. 1954, however, saw the end of austerity and rationing that was to lead the way to the â€Å"feel good† factor. Fortunately, international economic events began to weigh in Britain’s favour in relation to the terms of trade that meant more could be spent on welfare projects without damaging the value of sterling (Porter, 1999). Churchill had te nded to leave domestic affairs to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, R. A. Butler, who was keen to continue with the welfare policies of his Labour predecessor, Gaitskell, leading to what has been termed â€Å"Butskellism.† Churchill’s successor, Anthony Eden, took a similar line in renouncing laissez-faire economics as the arbiter of social affairs (Lehmberg and Heyck 2002 p. 252). However, after 1957 and during the â€Å"wet period†, Harold Macmillan’s (prime minister from 1957 to 1963) â€Å"middle way† saw the welfare system again undergoing expansion.[1] This was reflected in the increasing prosperity of the country and the move towards full employment. It was during this period that the existing Chancellor of the Exchequer, Peter Thorneycroft, resigned in response to Macmillan’s unwillingness to reduce public expenditure. Importantly, Macmillan, had already helped frame the Tory’s policy on social reform during the 1930’s, which was influenced by the high unemployment rate of this period, and was therefore disposed to continue with Butskellism and a managed economy. In this respect, Macmillan has been referred to as the quintessential moderate (Morg an 2000, p. 9). In fact, Macmillan seemed to have been successful in wooing many working class voters to the Conservative cause that was exemplified in the statement â€Å"you have never had it so good.† Macmillan’s policies therefore led to an increased acceptance of the need for a managed economy, full employment and the necessity of welfare. The Tories were split by two opposing forces; one where national economic efficiency was to be enhanced as opposed to improvement in opportunities and living standards of those at the lower margins of society. This necessitated reduced taxation and incentives to promote individual enterprise and increased investment in housing and education to ensure an appropriate workforce. The question arose, however, as to what extent should the market or central government dictate the course of events. National efficiency was, at the time, regarded as crucial in order to prevent any further reduction in the UK’s economic prowess. Yet raised public expenditure was deemed necessary to improve social assistance to those on lower incomes that would serve to narrow the continuing disparities in wealth. In response to the latter, the amount spent on welfare gradually increased during the Conservative term in office from 14% to approximately 16% of national income. The Hospital Plan of 1962 also saw a move towards greater investment in the NHS and in 1959 insurance contributions became linked to earnings to provide the basis for a state pension. Most of these initiatives, however, were predicated on the idea of the â€Å"opportunity† state where the government provided the conditions allowing individuals to have greater opportunities and equality to succeed in society (More 2006, p. 165). In this way, Macmillan thus sought to balance the needs of the economy with a more just welfare system. Conclusion The main reasons why the 1951-1964 Conservative government chose to continue with and, to some extent, improve the welfare state had to do with: The previous experiences of key Tory politicians with the divisiveness relating to social issues of the pre-war years. The coming to power of the Labour party after the end of the Second World War suggesting that the electorate was ready for a new start and wanted to rectify the social failings of the first half of the 20th century. The Tories had seen the benefits of this policy and therefore wanted to continue with the system to realise a â€Å"one nation† objective. The growing prosperity of the country together with almost full employment, especially during the latter part of the 1950’s, meant that welfare was more affordable. A realisation that poverty continued to be a problem in particular areas and social situations. The recognition that social policies, especially in areas of health, education and social security, could benefit the economy. The fact that Macmillan had been re-elected with an increased majority in 1959 was evidence that such a policy had been successful and should be extended. The need for a â€Å"middle way† to be struck between the needs of the economy and the demands relating to welfare and poverty. A positive welfare policy created the conditions for an â€Å"opportunity† state making the economy more dynamic and flexible. Although Conservative policies had led to improvements in economic prosperity during their period in office, this was accompanied by as â€Å"stop-go† economy that had led to the UK falling behind foreign competitors leading to the impression that forward looking ideas were in short supply. The coming to power in 1963 of the titled Douglas-Home only served to reinforce this impression and the Labour party were returned to power in 1964 with Harold Wilson as prime minister. References Atkinson, A. B. 1969. Poverty in Britain and the Reform of Social Security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bridgen, P. and Lowe, R. 1998. Welfare policy under the Conservatives 1951-1964. Kew, UK. Public Record Office. Macdonald, D. 1963, Our Invisible Poor. The New Yorker Magazine. January 19. More, C. 2006. Britain in the 20th Century. Harlow: Pearson Education. Morgan, K.2000. British Political Culture Since 1945 – Consensus, Protest and Change. pp. 4-22 In, The Great, the New and the British: Essays on Postwar Britain. A. Ribberink. and H. Righart. (eds.) Instituut voor Geschiedenis: Utrecht. Harvey, 1960. Casualities of the Welfare State. Fabian Tract (London) No. 32. Lehmberg, S. E. and Heyck, T. W. 2002. A History of the Peoples of the British Isles. London: Routledge. Porter, D. 1999. Juggling with Welfare and Greatness: Britain under the Tories, 1951-64. History Review. p. 28 Rowntree, B.S. and Lavers, G.R. 1951. Poverty and the welfare state: a third social survey of York dealing only with economic questions. London: Longmans. Silver, H. and Silver, P. 1991. An educational war on poverty: American and British policy-making 1960-1980. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Titmus, R. M. 1962, Income, Distribution and Social Change. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Webster, C 1996. The Health Serivices since the war. Vol. 2. London: HMSO. Willetts, D. 1992. Modern Conservatism. London: Penguin. 1 Footnotes [1] Macmillan’s book â€Å"The Middle Way† published in 1938 based on his experiences of mass unemployment in the north east of England set out his political outlook that combined some market oriented principles with public control that helped secure a sustainable economy for the benefit of a greater swathe of the population.

The Hypocrisy of Teaching American History Essay -- American History

The Hypocrisy of Teaching American History Reading, writing and arithmetic, these three subjects are the basic outline for American schools. In those subjects, where does history fit in? Some believe that teachers avoid history because of how corrupt America has been. James W. Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, says, "Parents may feel undermined when children get tools of information not available to adults and use them in ways that seem to threaten adult-held values." (Loewen 296.) The adults had to learn the same false history children are being taught today. By teaching children the truth about history, are adults risking the authority they hold along with adult-held values? "Learning social studies is to no small extent, learning to be stupid." (LMTTM 298.) What happens when history teachers and textbooks lie? Not only will the children grow up to be uneducated, but they'll continue to teach the same lies to their own children. The excuse most teachers use, according to Loewen, is they "feel they are supposed to defend and endorse America." (LMTTM 289.) If teachers told students about Woodrow Wilson being racist, Columbus forcing Indians into slavery, or how the FBI worked against the civil rights movement then children would be too aware of how the world works. Is this necessarily a bad thing? No, because the truth is always better than a lie, regardless of how ugly it may be. In order to be a truly good American, children must learn this country's true his...

7 main approaches in psychology Essay

*Many psychologists may believe that each perspective has valid explanations depending on the specific situation, and this point of view is called eclectic. This term refers to the claim that no one perspective has all the answers to the variety of human thought and behavior. Psychologists tend to use various perspectives in their work depending on which point of view fits best with the explanation. Humanistic (1950s-Present) Carl Rogers-Person-centered therapy and unconditional positive regard Abraham Maslow-Hierarchy of Needs and Self-Actualization Unique aspects of human experience Belief that we choose most of our behaviors and these choices are guided by physiological, emotional or spiritual needs. Humans are free, rational beings with the potential for personal growth, and they are fundamentally different from animals. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic (1900-Present) Sigmund Freud-Personality and States of Consciousness Carl Jung-the most important and lifelong task imposed upon any person is fulfillment through the process of individuation, achievement of harmony of conscious and unconscious, which makes a person one and whole Alfred Adler-â€Å"IndividualPPsychology,† a term which is sometimes misunderstood. It refers to the indivisibility of the personality in its psychological structure. Unconscious determinants of behavior Belief that the unconscious mind—a part of our mind that we do not have conscious control over or access to—controls much of our thought and action. Unconscious motives and experiences in early childhood govern personality and mental disorders.  Roger Sperry-showed that if the two hemispheres of the brain are separated by severing the corpus callosum (the large band of fibers that connects them), the transfer of information between the hemispheres ceases, and the coexistence in the same individual of two functionally different brains can be demonstrated. George Miller-The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on our Capacity for Processing Information Physiological bases of behavior in humans and animals An organism’s functioning can be explained in terms of the bodily structures and biochemical processes that underlie behavior. How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences Evolutionary/Darwinian (Also called sociobiologists) (1980s-Present) David Buss-His primary interests include the evolutionary psychology of human mating strategies; conflict between the sexes; prestige, status, and social reputation; the emotion of jealousy; homicide; anti-homicide defenses; and stalking. Charles Darwin-the Origin of Species in 1850. Evolutionary bases of behavior in humans and animals. Examines human thought and behavior in terms of natural selection. Behavior patterns have evolved to solve adaptive problems; natural selection favors behaviors that enhance reproductive success. B.F. Skinner-Operant Conditioning and invented the Skinner Box Effects of environment on the overt behavior of human and animals. Explain human thought and behavior in terms of conditioning and look strictly at observable behaviors and what reaction organisms get in response to specific behaviors. Belief that only observable events (stimulus response relationships) can be studied scientifically.  Noam Chomsky-Theorized the critical-period for language acquisition Herbert Simon-one of the founding fathers of modern research in artificial intelligence Ulric Neisser-focused on pattern recognition, visual search, brief information processing, and memory. Thoughts; mental process Examine human thought and behavior in terms of how we interpret, process, and remember environmental events. The rules that we use to view the world are important to understanding why we think and behave the way we do. Overall, human behavior cannot be fully understood without examining how people acquire, store, and process information.

Marketing of Zoo Essay

Q .Which tools and media would you use to attract visitors to see Gorilla Kingdom? Answer: First I would like to say something about the actual gorilla kingdom that the ZSL London zoo has created to boost the animal diversity that it is having. Gorilla kingdom is a new product offering by the zoo authorities in which not only gorilla but the scenic beauty of the area also in which it has been conceptualised is an eye catching sort of thing. Here follows the description of gorilla kingdom, â€Å"The Island that will form the gorillas’ outdoor space is a beautiful green oasis boasting a cave, heated rocks, a hill that provides a perfect gorilla vantage point and a scene-setting waterfall that cascades through the gorillas’ home and the public area. African style plants will give the gorillas extra food to munch on if they want and trees and ropes offer a stimulating climbing environment. The gorillas’ indoor day gym includes ropes to swing on, climbing walls all around and nesting baskets high up for them to snooze in.† Now coming to the important features of Gorilla that the ZSL London Zoo can highlight:- * It is showcasing an endangered species. * Gorilla is very intelligent animal. * They show emotions. * The Gorilla Kingdom has been created as a place of experience and not only as a place of sightseeing. * Its natural habitat is endangered. Following are some advertising activities that the Zoo authorities can undertake to showcase the various features / features mix of the Gorilla kingdom to attract the visitors to visit:- 1. Creating Awareness – To create awareness about the gorilla kingdom the authorities can start with pamphlets and leaflet distribution among the tourists and locals at places where they go for leisure, those leaflets should have information about Gorilla Kingdom and Gorilla. 2. Liking – The Zoo authorities need to create liking about the animal and the gorilla kingdom both, for this hey can use radio. Radio will really help because a radio is something that keeps playing mostly on streets, the authorities can ask radio channel to create a character on the lines of gorilla and use a voice that sounds peculiar to Gorilla. This will attract the youths and children’s. 3. Preference – There are a lot of parks, malls in London where the people generally go for experience, so the London Zoo authorities should create a image of Gorilla Kingdom and promote it as a new place to experience. For doing this the authorities can go for advertisement in newspapers and on the tickets of buses and metro throughout the London. 4. The authorities can talk to some local souvenir manufacturing units to print the image of Gorilla or the Gorilla kingdom along with a enticing message on it. A good example of it is Coffee Cup advertising. 5. Crowd sourcing – The concept of crowd sourcing has given way to the trend of user-generated advertisements. User-generated ads are created by consumers as opposed to an advertising agency or the company themselves, most often they are a result of brand sponsored advertising competitions. For the 2007 Super Bowl, the Frito-Lays division of PepsiCo held the Crash the Super Bowl contest, allowing consumers to create their own Doritos commercial. The resulting ads were among the most-watched and most-liked Super Bowl ads. 6. The Zoo authorities can also ask travel and tourism companies to show information on their websites as new things to see in London and marketing as must watch destinations along with printing on  their coupon and tickets. The points that I have given above could be used by the ZSL London Zoo authorities to attract visitors. The various media used in my suggestion were like: * Radio advertising * Print advertising * Mass advertising

About the US Civil Rights Act of 1875

About the US Civil Rights Act of 1875 The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a United States federal law enacted during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era that guaranteed African Americans equal access to public accommodations and public transportation.  The Act came less than a decade after the Civil Rights Act of 1866 had taken the nation’s first steps towards civil and social equality for black Americans after the Civil War.   The law read, in part: â€Å"†¦ all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement; subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, and applicable alike to citizens of every race and color, regardless of any previous condition of servitude.† The law also prohibited the exclusion of any otherwise qualified citizen from jury duty because of their race and provided that lawsuits brought under the law must be tried in the federal courts, rather than state courts. The law was passed by the 43rd United States Congress on February 4, 1875, and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1875. Parts of the law were later ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Civil Rights Cases of 1883. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was one of the main pieces of Reconstruction legislation passed by Congress after the Civil War. Other laws enacted included the Civil Rights Act of 1866, four Reconstruction Acts enacted in 1867 and 1868, and three Reconstruction Enforcement Acts in 1870 and 1871. The Civil Right Act in Congress Initially intended to implement the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1875 traveled a long and bumpy five-year journey to final passage. The bill was first introduced in 1870 by Republican Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, widely regarded as one of the most influential civil rights advocates in Congress. In drafting the bill, Sen. Sumner was advised by John Mercer Langston, a prominent African American attorney and abolitionist who would later be named the first dean of the Howard University law department. In considering his Civil Rights Act to be the key to achieving the highest goals of Reconstruction, Sumner once stated, â€Å"Very few measures of equal importance have ever been presented.† Sadly, Sumner did not survive to see his bill voted on, dying at age 63 of a heart attack in 1874. On his deathbed, Sumner pleaded to famed African-American social reformer abolitionist, and statesman Frederick Douglass, â€Å"Don’t let the bill fail.† When first introduced in 1870, the Civil Rights Act not only banned discrimination in public accommodations, transportation, and jury duty, it also prohibited racial discrimination in schools. However, in the face of growing public opinion favoring enforced racial segregation, Republican lawmakers realized that the bill had no chance of passing unless all references to equal and integrated education were removed. Over the many long days of debate on the Civil Rights Act bill, lawmakers heard some of the most impassioned and impactful speeches ever delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives. Relating their personal experiences of discrimination, African American Republican representatives carried the debated in favor of the bill. â€Å"Every day my life and property are exposed, are left to the mercy of others and will be so long as every hotel-keeper, railroad conductor, and steamboat captain can refuse me with impunity,† said Rep. James Rapier of Alabama, adding famously, â€Å"After all, this question resolves itself into this: either I am a man or I am not a man.† After nearly five years of debate, amendment, and compromise the Civil Rights Act of 1875 won final approval, passing in the House be a vote of 162 to 99. Supreme Court Challenge Considering slavery and racial segregation to be different issues, many white citizens in the Northern and the Southern states challenged Reconstruction laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1875, claiming they unconstitutionally infringed of their personal freedom of choice. In an 8-1 decision issued on October 15, 1883, the Supreme Court declared key sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to be unconstitutional. As part of its decision in the combined Civil Rights Cases, the Court held that while the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibited racial discrimination by the state and local governments, it did not grant the federal government the power to prohibit private individuals and organizations from discriminating on the basis of race. In addition, the Court held that the Thirteenth Amendment had been intended only to ban slavery and did not prohibit racial discrimination in public accommodations. After the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Civil Rights Act of 1875 would be the last federal civil rights law enacted until ​the  passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during the early stages of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 Stripped of all protections against discrimination and segregation in education, the Civil Rights Act of 1875 had little practical impact on racial equality during the eight years it was in force before being struck down by the Supreme Court.   Ã‚   Despite the law’s lack of immediate impact, many provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 were eventually adopted by Congress during the civil rights movement as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Fair Housing Act). Enacted as part of the Great Society social reform program of President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 permanently outlawed segregated public schools in America.

Professional Development

Professional Development leadership in many nations. It is important to learn and understand complex culture for one to be a good leader. I built a habit of learning the Indonesian culture which is very important in my professional development. Many great leaders adopted global cultures to be successful in their regions. The interaction of folk music and Indonesian dance is a reflection of roots of diverse cultures of the world. Each good leader must embrace and develop respect for culture since people do value them therefore respect for culture is respect for people. It is an interactive tool in leadership. If a leader ignores culture he/she ignores the people he/she leads This relies completely on the emphasis people place on the culture. Culture is an in-born trait among people. Professional growth in culture is a wide field thus people find it challenging in the selection of culture to use in their leadership studies. Leadership skills are not universal. The Indonesian culture has enhanced my interpersonal skills hence I can influence people positively with no conflict.

Benefits of Social Media

Did you know that it has been proven that using social media makes people happier than spending time with family, sporting events, or having more money? (THE GUARDIAN, 2014). The rise of social media usage in modern society, particularly amongst young people, has raised concerns among many commentators about the risks and disadvantages of this type of communication. With more and more people choosing to spend large quantities of time communicating via site such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, critics of social media question the privacy, security, and usefulness of social media to modern society. There are both benefits and disadvantages to the increasing use of social media in our modern society. However, despite the very real disadvantages and dangers, research has indicated that social media has real benefits for modern users. Social media carries definite and proven risks for users; however, it can also be enormously beneficial. Social media has been criticized as harmful to the communication skills and benefits of real, face-to-face interactions (READING EAGLE, 2012); because social media encourages virtual communication, it can be seen as impersonal, superficial, and lacking in true empathy. However, research has also indicated that using social media makes people happy. In a study that examined a number of situations such as having more money, spending time with family, and sports events, social media was shown to be the activity that rated highest as making people happy (THE GUARDIAN, 2014). It is likely that this is a direct result of the feeling of inclusiveness and connectedness that social media creates for users, who feel that they can be heard and involved through the use of social media; it may also be a result of the fact that social media facilitates many of the other factors seen to make people happy. At the same time, social media has been criticized as harmful to the communication skills and benefits of real, face-to-face interactions (READING EAGLE, 2012). It is more accurate, however, to say that social media has changed the ways in which people communicate with one another, allowing faster and more informal and impulsive communication. Research has shown that, for businesses in particular, this change in communication methods has resulted in benefits for users in both economic terms and in terms of connectedness to others (THE SOCIAL SAVIOR, 2015). Social media makes it easier for individuals to connect to one another, but also for individuals and groups to communicate effectively, making it easier for messages and ideas to be shared widely and collectively. Communications via social media, for example, can lack security and are vulnerable to invasions of privacy because of their public nature (READING EAGLE, 2012). Outweighing these disadvantages, however, is the fact that different studies have also shown that social media can help to equip young people with a range of valuable life-skills. These benefits occur as a result of the constant practice at communication it encourages (THE WASHINGTON TIMES, 2009). By being so constantly connected to the public, young people have the opportunity to explore and challenge social conventions, develop new interests and technical abilities, and develop their personal sense of identity (THE WASHINGTON TIMES, 2009). These skills help to keep society cutting-edge and progressive, and also help prepare the next generation for life, work, and society. As can be seen, therefore, social media carries definite and proven risks for users; however, it can also be enormously beneficial. It cannot be denied that using social media carries certain risks to security, privacy and personality. However, the benefits that accrue from appropriate use of social media can be seen to outweigh those risks extensively. References

David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding Essay

David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding - Essay Example On the other hand, Hume tells of ideas as being part of a copy principle from impressions, which means that ideas are derived from impressions and they directly correspond to the impression from which they are derived, to create a complete image of both. This he goes to state that ideas are thoughts, beliefs or memories that are directly connected to our memories, which may not serve as much of a distinction between the two, as it ties or binds the two aspects tightly. This is to mean that we construct ideas from impressions, where the mind looks at three crucial factors prior to generating an idea; resemblance, contiguity and effect (Landy 120). In the case of ideas, the issue of the mind using resemblance shows a clear application of impression, especially reflection, to come up with ideas, as it requires the mind to relate to different factors and find the merging point, or even establish the relationship between the two. This is again applied in the case of cause and effect as it requires one to establish the relationship between two or more aspects in order to comprehend how they affect each other. This application requires the use of sensation and reflection, which are both aspects of impression, to generate ideas crucial for any part of thinking. Hume also shows a difference between the two by the use of the earlier mentioned vivacity, where impressions are far much stronger as compared to ideas. This is because impressions are real and occur as first hand experiences, before they are played by the mind to retrieve ideas through reflection, which makes impressions more powerful than ideas. Another difference provided between impressions and ideas is that it man is liable to have difficulty in distinguishing between ideas and will even make mistakes about ideas. This, however, does not apply to impressions or is rather difficult to face, as impressions are highly distinct and can be told apart at any given time based on their powerful nature, and especial ly the concept of vivacity based on reflection and sensation. In addition, impressions can stand on their own, while ideas do not, but only serve to build further on impressions as an idea enriches what one perceives, but not how it is perceived. This is to mean that ideas assist in the construction of concepts, in which an example of a dog is given, impressions are applied based on direct sensations and ideas are developed, where the mind associates all impressions of a dog and creates an overall impression or idea of what a dog is, as well as its properties (Lacewing 1). In order to back his claim that ideas are copies impressions, Hume goes into the issue of the copy principle, which in the first place is used to distinguish between ideas and impressions. As such, he describes ideas as being dependent on impression, as one cannot construct knowledge or concepts from scratch without a hint of sensation and reflection. This means that one must have an impression of the concept from which ideas are to be developed, as ideas are part of the mental entity impression. With this in mind, Hume supports his claim by stating that for ideas to be in existence, there is a

Discuss the theory of Optimal Capital Structure Essay

Discuss the theory of Optimal Capital Structure - Essay Example It gives the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC). If the firm needs to have the lowest WACC, it should design its capital structure in such a way that the debt equity ratio is high which would bring down the WACC. The Optimal Capital Structure is that mix of debt and equity that maximizes the firm’s value or minimizes the cost of capital. There is no standard mix of debt and equity that maximizes the firm’s value, but each firm should strike a balance between risk and return thereby maximizing the share price, depending on its size and financial position. 1) If the firm size is small, it is difficult to make regular principal and interest payments in the event of shortages in generating substantial cash flow. Such firms face heavy fines and penalties by the creditors. Trade-off Theory: Maximum debt can be raised when the share price is at its maximum. If the firm raises any more debt, the share price will decline. The point where share price is maximum, it is the trade-off point; risk and return are both at their peaks. Any change would cause a disbalance in the position of risk and return. The maximum risk involved is that of bankruptcy and the maximum return is the maximum value of the shares. Below is a graph that depicts the trade-off between risk and return. Signaling Theory: This theory states that when the firm issues bonds for debt financing, it sends out a positive signal in the market. The cost of borrowing will be low as compared to the return the firm will get by putting money in that project. When the firm issues shares for equity financing, it gives out a negative signal in the market because it reflects the credibility of the company and insinuates that the firm cannot raise finance by borrowing from the market and that it is in dire need of funds. 5) Future flexibility. The firm should leave room for maneuvering and have flexibility in the capital structure

Ethics in a Universalist Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in a Universalist Society - Essay Example In addition, moral Universalists hold that once a certain behavior or conduct is seen to be wrong in a particular community or environment, the same will apply to other communities and environments regardless of circumstances in those environments. According to Gert, the theory of moral universalism has been of great essence in determination of international human rights and certain laws governing ethical conduct. For instance, the United Nations while in Geneva Convention of 1948 settled upon the needs for fair treatment of war prisoners. Moral universalism dictates that human beings have certain special rights whose breaching qualifies for immorality (Gert). Moral universalism operates under the notion that moral assessment of persons and their conducts of social governance should base on basic doctrines that not in any way discriminate against other people in the society. Moral Universalists further argue that freedom to exercise self-desires and wills constitute the basic element s of morality in the societies. Protagonists of moral universalism insist that any morally wrong behavior or accomplishment of by an individual is always within that person’s control and authority as it were before the accomplishment. Immanuel Kant and theory of Moral Universalism Kant investigates that universal moral requirements base on the standard rationality known as the categorical imperative (CI). Kant defines immorality as any circumstantial violation of categorical imperative and therefore qualifies to be irrational. Kant presentation of moral universalism intends to impact particular sense of self-respect and respect to the other human beings. According to Johnson, a moral individual has the right to make viable judgments and decisions that do not defile anyone’s freedom within the surrounding. The moral judgment arrived at by an individual should be that which any morally sane, sober, normal and reasonable adult will confer with. Kant further argues that mo ral universalism with rational wills acquaints individuals with autonomy. Kant argues that in order to achieve ethical sanity in our environment, the rational moral values should be determined first before any other attempt. Kant’s theory of moral universalism dictates that development of appropriate ethical values lies on the basic factors of analysis of concepts like goodwill, obligation and logical relation. Kant’s theory of moral universalism has been used to investigate behaviors of individuals in line with moral requirements (Johnson). The good will component of morality that depends upon the common sense of an individual assists particular persons in making viable moral decision that are in conformity with the laws of morality. The idea of good will in the Kant’s theory of moral universalism leads people into performing their exact outstanding moral duties and responsibilities without unnecessary breach of other peoples’ dignity. The idea of good w ill has been used by many personalities in executing their exact basic and righteous duties without considering other external factors. The idea of commonsense has been repeated in the societies with basic stand of nurturing peace and harmonious coexistence among individuals living in the

Misuse and Abuse of Antibiotics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Misuse and Abuse of Antibiotics - Essay Example regulated. Despite the Penicllin Act of 1948, more and more resistant strains of bacteria kept evolving, and continued research led to development of newer and newer antibiotics. The effect was devastating. In 1950s, a resistant strain of the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus led to catastrophic events throughout the world, especially in the hospital setting and especially in children admitted to the hospital. Thus, the mechanism of resistance was probed into, and researches ultimately found that development of resistance is produced by indiscriminate use of the antibiotics, and such use may well be termed as misuse or abuse (Wenzel, R.P., 2002). The rational use of antibiotics is dependent on understanding of their mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicities, interactions; bacterial strategies of resistance; and bacterial susceptibilities in vitro. The acquired resistance is a well-known major limitation to effective antibacterial chemotherapy. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics develop by mutation of the resident bacterial genes or by acquisition of new genes that resist antibiotics to cause bacterial death. Almost all bacteria have cellular mechanisms of transmission of genetic traits by a system of mobile genetic elements, such as, plasmids, transposons, and bacteriophages (Martnez, J.L. and Baquero, F., 2002). As a result, the new genes mediating resistance are spread from bacteria to bacteria to create a colony of resistant bacteria. Such populations flourish in areas of high antibiotic use where they enjoy a selective advantage over susceptible population. To answer the question how resistance becomes operative, one can deduce that the antimicrobial...Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy; 52: 564 - 571. Martnez, J.L. and Baquero, F., (2002). Interactions among Strategies Associated with Bacterial Infection: Pathogenicity, Epidemicity, and Antibiotic Resistance. Clinical Microbiologic Review; 15: pp. 647 - 679. Metlay, J.P., Shea, J.A., and Asch, D.A., (2002). Antibiotic Prescribing Decisions of Generalists and Infectious Disease Specialists: Thresholds for Adopting New Drug Therapies. Medical Decision Making; 22: 498 - 505.

Nursing Dissertation to strengthen the Scientific Foundation

Nursing to strengthen the Scientific Foundation - Dissertation Example 4.2.1 Applications of Complexity Theory to Health Care Delivery 76 4.2.2 Advantages of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 77 4.2.3 Significance of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 79 4.2.4 Implications of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 79 4.3 Complexity Science as the Guiding Framework 81 4.4 Descriptive Overview of Conceptual Model of Nursing Best Practice 82 4.5 Proposed Definition of Key Concepts 82 4.6 Summary 88 Chapter V: Conclusion 89 5.1 Introduction 89 5.2 Findings of the Study 89 5.3 Implications for Nursing 92 5.4 Conclusion 92 Chapter I: Introduction to the Study 1.1 Introduction This introductory chapter provides a description of the research problem, as well as the rationale, purpose, framework, and the research questions that guided the study. 1.2 The Problem One of the goals of the discipline of nursing is to increase and strengthen the scientific foundation upon which to base clinical practice. The use of research evidence in practice is an accepted way to achieve this goal and in turn can improve nursing care, optimise patient outcomes, and decrease costs (Higgs, Bum, & Jones, 2001; Titler et al., 1994). However, while the requirement to remain current in knowledge and deliver efficient quality patient care has led to an enthusiastic interest in using research evidence in nursing, as a strategy for the fortification of the basis of the science of nursing, little is known about how evidence is actually translated into nursing practice. One strategy that has been suggested for increasing awareness and the use of evidence in nursing practice is revising and updating organisational policy and procedure manuals based on the... The results of this inquiry provide a new theoretical foundation for nursing practice that is qualitatively different from medicine. This research explains how nurses in practice help patients make transitions and move toward future possibilities by merging the art of nursing with the science of nursing. It further makes visible the experience of nurses and reflects on and claims this work as an essential part of professional practice. The study has the potential to challenge the assumptions that underlie nursing's approach to practice, education, theory and research in its challenge to the dominance of scientific over artistic approaches in the practice of nursing. In particular, this work challenges the analytical, problem focused basis of the nursing process and suggests instead that nurses promote transitions in a process akin to narrative structure in the way that assumes standpoints, makes interpretive leaps, brings events to a climax and recognizes closure. In conclusion, science has approached a better understanding of the universe by reducing phenomena into manageable component parts, and the hallmark of research rigor has been the degree to which confounding influences are isolated or controlled. Management strategies have been focused on finding the best way to achieve desirable performance and then exerting control over process and structure in order to maintain the desired organizational or system performance level. The conceptualization of nursing best practice as an emergent property of a complex adaptive healthcare system.

Ethics in a Universalist Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in a Universalist Society - Essay Example In addition, moral Universalists hold that once a certain behavior or conduct is seen to be wrong in a particular community or environment, the same will apply to other communities and environments regardless of circumstances in those environments. According to Gert, the theory of moral universalism has been of great essence in determination of international human rights and certain laws governing ethical conduct. For instance, the United Nations while in Geneva Convention of 1948 settled upon the needs for fair treatment of war prisoners. Moral universalism dictates that human beings have certain special rights whose breaching qualifies for immorality (Gert). Moral universalism operates under the notion that moral assessment of persons and their conducts of social governance should base on basic doctrines that not in any way discriminate against other people in the society. Moral Universalists further argue that freedom to exercise self-desires and wills constitute the basic element s of morality in the societies. Protagonists of moral universalism insist that any morally wrong behavior or accomplishment of by an individual is always within that person’s control and authority as it were before the accomplishment. Immanuel Kant and theory of Moral Universalism Kant investigates that universal moral requirements base on the standard rationality known as the categorical imperative (CI). Kant defines immorality as any circumstantial violation of categorical imperative and therefore qualifies to be irrational. Kant presentation of moral universalism intends to impact particular sense of self-respect and respect to the other human beings. According to Johnson, a moral individual has the right to make viable judgments and decisions that do not defile anyone’s freedom within the surrounding. The moral judgment arrived at by an individual should be that which any morally sane, sober, normal and reasonable adult will confer with. Kant further argues that mo ral universalism with rational wills acquaints individuals with autonomy. Kant argues that in order to achieve ethical sanity in our environment, the rational moral values should be determined first before any other attempt. Kant’s theory of moral universalism dictates that development of appropriate ethical values lies on the basic factors of analysis of concepts like goodwill, obligation and logical relation. Kant’s theory of moral universalism has been used to investigate behaviors of individuals in line with moral requirements (Johnson). The good will component of morality that depends upon the common sense of an individual assists particular persons in making viable moral decision that are in conformity with the laws of morality. The idea of good will in the Kant’s theory of moral universalism leads people into performing their exact outstanding moral duties and responsibilities without unnecessary breach of other peoples’ dignity. The idea of good w ill has been used by many personalities in executing their exact basic and righteous duties without considering other external factors. The idea of commonsense has been repeated in the societies with basic stand of nurturing peace and harmonious coexistence among individuals living in the

Nursing Dissertation to strengthen the Scientific Foundation

Nursing to strengthen the Scientific Foundation - Dissertation Example 4.2.1 Applications of Complexity Theory to Health Care Delivery 76 4.2.2 Advantages of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 77 4.2.3 Significance of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 79 4.2.4 Implications of Complexity Theory Conceptualization of Nursing Best Practice 79 4.3 Complexity Science as the Guiding Framework 81 4.4 Descriptive Overview of Conceptual Model of Nursing Best Practice 82 4.5 Proposed Definition of Key Concepts 82 4.6 Summary 88 Chapter V: Conclusion 89 5.1 Introduction 89 5.2 Findings of the Study 89 5.3 Implications for Nursing 92 5.4 Conclusion 92 Chapter I: Introduction to the Study 1.1 Introduction This introductory chapter provides a description of the research problem, as well as the rationale, purpose, framework, and the research questions that guided the study. 1.2 The Problem One of the goals of the discipline of nursing is to increase and strengthen the scientific foundation upon which to base clinical practice. The use of research evidence in practice is an accepted way to achieve this goal and in turn can improve nursing care, optimise patient outcomes, and decrease costs (Higgs, Bum, & Jones, 2001; Titler et al., 1994). However, while the requirement to remain current in knowledge and deliver efficient quality patient care has led to an enthusiastic interest in using research evidence in nursing, as a strategy for the fortification of the basis of the science of nursing, little is known about how evidence is actually translated into nursing practice. One strategy that has been suggested for increasing awareness and the use of evidence in nursing practice is revising and updating organisational policy and procedure manuals based on the... The results of this inquiry provide a new theoretical foundation for nursing practice that is qualitatively different from medicine. This research explains how nurses in practice help patients make transitions and move toward future possibilities by merging the art of nursing with the science of nursing. It further makes visible the experience of nurses and reflects on and claims this work as an essential part of professional practice. The study has the potential to challenge the assumptions that underlie nursing's approach to practice, education, theory and research in its challenge to the dominance of scientific over artistic approaches in the practice of nursing. In particular, this work challenges the analytical, problem focused basis of the nursing process and suggests instead that nurses promote transitions in a process akin to narrative structure in the way that assumes standpoints, makes interpretive leaps, brings events to a climax and recognizes closure. In conclusion, science has approached a better understanding of the universe by reducing phenomena into manageable component parts, and the hallmark of research rigor has been the degree to which confounding influences are isolated or controlled. Management strategies have been focused on finding the best way to achieve desirable performance and then exerting control over process and structure in order to maintain the desired organizational or system performance level. The conceptualization of nursing best practice as an emergent property of a complex adaptive healthcare system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology Essay Example for Free

Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology Essay The mobile phone has many advantages and disadvantages. It is easy to contact friends and family. Since the first mobile was created we have been able to make calls to anywhere in the world by the click of a button. You are able to get in touch with people nearly 24/7. You have access to constant internet. Having the internet at your finger tips any time you need it has many advantages. Need to find out want time a movie is on in the cinema? No problem. Need to look up the number of a restaurant you fancy having dinner at? Just use your phone. A mobile phone is an all in one device. Having music, a camera, GPS, phone and mini laptop all in one device is handy. Nowadays we use our phones as our calculator, flashlight and fax machine. Many people do not even own a camera anymore as who needs one when you can high quality shots with you camera phone. Mobile phones also allow us to facetime or Skype family and friends. Skype and facetime allow us to view our friends and family members no matter where they are in the world. These apps also allow you to choose between making a video and a voice call. You can connect with anyone else who has internet connection. People survived for years without carrying a phone with them. Its becoming a necessity for people to carry portable phones with them. Having a phone which is portable is handy for those situations where you break down on a country road; a portable phone can help make sure you are never stuck. Phones nowadays work almost everywhere, there are very few locations where phones dont work. Read more:  Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology Essay A phone helps ensure business people are always in touch with their clients and those who they need to talk to right away, from work or even at home. A portable phone works if charged during power outs, after accidents or whenever an emergency arises, a phone can be a lifesaver. Portable phones are becoming entertainment on the go. From television and movie downloads to games. Portable phones are great for helping people organize their lives. Some phones can handle e-mail addresses, appointments and more. Its like carrying a personal computer with you on the go. Mobile phones do so much that we find ourselves glued to them almost every day instead of people interacting with each other they sit with their eyes stuck to their phones having virtual conversations instead of real ones.  When trying to do work it is hard to concentrate when there is a mobile sitting staring at you as the temptation to have a look on facebook or other websites is huge. Mobile phones can actually cost lives when drivers, focused on their mobile phones lose control of their vehicles and cause major accidents. Not as serious but you could fall down stairs, trip or run into something or someone when you’re stuck on facebook. Most phones nowadays have passwords on them but if you leave your phone unlocked and someone gets a hold of it them all your details are exposed – your contacts, messages, social media accounts and maybe even your bank details. Even if your phone is protected with a password a hacker can still access your information if they really want to. There is a lot of evidence that mobile phones cause damage to the brain. Phones produce radiation and should not be left near you when sleeping. They also affect a lot of people’s sleeping patterns which result in sleeplessness and insomnia. Many people like to be constantly upgraded with the newest phone. Some people want a different phone every month, as well as all the accessories that are now on the market for each mobile phone. Also what is the point of a phone without credit? Mobile phones are bottomless money pits. The landline also has many advantages and disadvantages. A landline always has coverage making it totally reliable and easy to access in the case of an emergency. In case of an unfortunate event of an earthquake or landslide, the mobile phone receives no network while the landline stays active. The reliability of a land line makes them advantageous when it comes to emergencies. For example, if someone is hurt and needs immediate medical care, you do not have to worry about poor reception. Landlines also provide a fixed location that emergency responders can rush to. If there is no power and a mobile phone dies, the user is without a phone completely if there is no landline connected to a wired phone. A landline home phones will rescue a user when their mobile phone dies. The larger size of a landline phone allows you to more easily cradle the phone between your head and shoulder. In general, landlines are much less expensive than mobile phones. The setup costs, hardware costs and calling costs of mobile phones are all typically higher. Most landline service providers offer free local calls. Keeping a landline at home can help reduce your phone bill and allow you to talk as  long as you want without worrying about racking up charges. Landlines do not meet the needs of people today. Most people spend more time outside the home. Using their mobile phone allows freedom from checking the home recorder for messages. Nowadays if someone is waiting on an important call they do not have to sit at home and wait for the call. They can send and receive calls from anywhere there is phone service. A landline is not portable and it cannot travel with you. Landline service only works inside the home and it also limits the callers ability to move around while on a call. Landline services offer fewer options than mobile phone services. Many mobile phone companies include internet access, text messaging, voice mail and a whole range of applications. Landlines however do not include these options. If you have a landline phone, your number and home address is in the phone book. While there are benefits to having your number listed, theres also one huge disadvantage which is telemarketers. Landline phones are more likely to get calls from telemarketers trying to sell you something at all hours. Thats because many calling centres will scroll through the phone book, calling listed number after number. These can be annoying to phone owners. Landlines consume more energy than cell phones, as they remain plugged in at all times. This is true of cordless landline phones as well, because of the charger required. While mobile phones do not last as long as landlines they are easier to recycle. The Internet has been the greatest means of communication yet. It is now faster and more reliable than ever. Nowadays it is possible to use video, chat and messenger services. There are many ‘chat rooms’ on the web that can be accessed to meet new people, make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends. Social networking has become so popular amongst youth that it might one day replace physical networking. It has evolved as a great way to connect with millions of people with similar interests. Apart from finding long-lost friends, you can also look for a job, business opportunities. The Internet has made life very convenient. With numerous online services you can now perform all your transactions online. You can book tickets for a movie, transfer funds, pay utility bills, taxes etc., and right from your home. Entertainment is another popular reason why many  people prefer to surf the Internet. The internet has even become some peoples TV as you can watch endless programmes at the click of a button. Also downloading games or just surfing the celebrity websites are some of the uses people have discovered. The Internet has any kind of information on any topic under the sun. The search engines help you to find data on any subject that you need. You can also shop online, there are many online stores and sites that can be used to look for products as well as buy them using your credit card. You do not need to leave your house and can do all your shopping from the convenience of your home. E-mail is another advantage, with e-mail you can send and receive instant electronic messages. Your messages are delivered instantly to people anywhere in the world. If you use the Internet for online banking, social networking or other services, you may risk a theft to your personal information such as name, address, credit card number etc. People can access this information through unsecured connections then use your personal details for their benefit. Internet users are often plagued by virus attacks on their systems. Virus programs may get activated if you click a seemingly harmless link. Computers connected to the Internet are very prone to targeted virus attacks and may end up crashing. People are drifting apart from their friends and family because of the internet. Even children prefer to play online games rather than going out and mingling with other kids. The Internet can be harmful to little children. Children nowadays use the Internet on a daily basis. The Internet has provided a way for children to gain access to all sorts of websites. Cyber bullying is also another huge disadvantage when it comes to the internet. There are now many more ways that people can be harassed and bullied when they have access to the internet. Cyber bullying is one of the worst as it invades the victims’ life in a place they are comfortable in and think they are safe, because they are being harassed in their personal area, cyber bullying leads to more depression decreased self esteem, loneliness and suicide which are all big disadvantages. Another disadvantage of the internet is that it has allowed a great deal of anonymity to a large number of people who have access to different websites and chat rooms available. This has allowed perverted individuals to take advantage of innocent people and abuse their trust. We can always hear from news that paedophiles used  the internet to make crimes. With all its falls the internet has the potential to ma ke your life simple and convenient, as well as wreak havoc in your life. Having a fax machine certainly has its benefits, there are also disadvantages associated with relying on this sending tool. With a fax machine, you can quickly send documents from one building to another without any cost. Not only does a fax machine make this rapid transfer easier and more cost-effective, it also allows for the transfer to take place more quickly. Fax machines provide senders with a receipt after the document has finished the fax process; the user has some evidence that they did, in fact, send the document. Faxes are delivered immediately to around the globe. This method of data transmission is effective when access to email or file share are unattainable or unfeasible. Fax machines are very inexpensive and several are part of multifunction systems. Just like all technology, fax machines can fail. If a company depends too heavily upon the fax machine and the machine fails to operate, the people using the machine may experience some difficulty. Also you cannot send a fax to someone who does not also have a fax machine; the receiver must have a fax machine to get the document. Documents you sent may not be as safe and secure. Information thieves have ways of pulling information from old fax machines or discarded printing cartridges. Any time you send a document, via fax or otherwise, you open up the possibility of someone accessing your data, putting you at risk. Fax machines take up space and also create an opportunity for mechanical failures that may require costly repairs. Emailing documents takes no additional hardware besides an existing computer, and files can be stored digitally rather than taking up space in paper form. Fax machines need regular maintenance. You have to stock the machines with paper and also supply toner, which are the powdered ink fax machines use to print. There is also the possibility that once a document has been faxed and the information is read or entered into a computer, the paper will be thrown away or recycled. Finally, like every machine, fax machines require occasional cleaning.

Raymond Carvers Short Stories Mine Little Things

Raymond Carvers Short Stories Mine Little Things Analysis of Raymond Carvers Short Stories Mine Little Things The word genre is derived from the French word kind or class. Genre is a term which is used to identify a form of literature. It is widely used in rhetoric, literary theory, media theory and linguistics (Chandler). It is an elaborative classing system. There are different kinds of Genre but the one used in this story is a narrative short story (Genre Types). Essay is a short piece of writing, a literary device for saying almost everything. It can be literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, etc. This short story can be categorized as a dialogue essay. Critical Analysis Both the stories narrate the incidence of a fight between a husband and a wife. The reason for the discontentment is not mentioned in the story but it clearly describes the argumentative dialogues of the husband and the wife (Chandler). The arguments take hype when both start fighting for the possession of their little baby. The story starts with an angry quarrel as the man prepares to walk out of his house leaving his wife and trying to snatch his baby from the wife. Their hatred for each other demonstrates itself as a physical struggle over their baby, with each parent pulling on an arm until the baby is seriously injured (Chandler). The story Little Things is more descriptive and describes the situation more clearly. The story Mine leaves on the reader to decide certain things i.e. the reader has to make guesses after reading the story and arrive on conclusions. The second story, appealed me the most as it describes the situation in the story in a much better way and helps the reader to understand it very clearly (McDermott). The version Little Things is better than the version Mine because it is more elaborative and descriptive. It describes the emotions of the husband, wife and the baby more deeply than the version Mine. This version clearly describes the happenings in the story and the conversations between the husband the wife (McDermott). There are a few word alterations, omissions and paragraphing changes in the version Little Things, but the focus is on the beginning and ending paragraphs where the most important changes occur, which strengthen the story. It explains the emotional attachment of the parents with the baby and their fight because of this emotional relationship (McDermott). The Readers response theory can be applied for the version Mine, in which the reader has to find out the conclusion and analyze the situation, thus it requires more constructive participation form the reader. But it does not describe the situation clearly, which is a big shortcoming of this version (McDermott). The version Mine focuses on the sun and the revised version on weather, which is much broader and enables the reader to make more affiliations. It arouses the humanistic element by evoking expressions such as under the weather or heavy weather that are used to describe health in emotional agitation (McDermott) The omission of whose chubby face gazed up at them from the picture on the table is a vast improvement, as shifting the emphasis from the baby to the picture of the baby was a great mistake in the version Mine. The scuffle is over the baby and not on the picture; the shift causes a loss of momentum. In the last sentence also, shifting to passive expression strengthens the meaning (McDermott). This is a subtle change, but modifying they decide the issue to the issue was decided shows the lack of control the parents have, as they are not deciding anything. Thesis statement Based on the above discussion, following thesis can be stated: The two short stories entitled Mine and Little Things written by Raymond Carver consist of narrative genre and can be termed as Dialogue essays. The version Little Things is more appealing than the version Mine (McDermott). The two versions of the same story entitled Mine Little Things describe the situations prevailing between the husband and the wife, while they are having a feud for the possession of the baby. The version Little Things is considered to be more impressive as it is more elaborative and descriptive and describes the whole situation more clearly. It gives a better understanding of the story to the reader. It shows a clear picture of the emotions of both the husband and the wife for their baby (McDermott). Mine reflects the dramatic action of the story. This title is so explicit in representing the action, as the parents fight for the baby reminds of how children fight for their possession. On the other hand, the title Little Things is a commentary on the character of the parents for putting such selfish needs (wining possession) ahead of the babys welfare. Thus, Little Things is an improved version of Mine (Chandler). Work Cited Genre Types. 2007. http://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/uploads/File/balancedliteracy/Genre%20Types.doc Chandler, Daniel. 2002. An Introduction to Genre Theory http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/intgenre/intgenre1.html McDermott, Steven J. Feb 2004. Storyglossia: The Art of Short Stories. http://www.storyglossia.com/blog/archives/2004_02_08_archive.html

Use of Culture in Writing Essay -- essays research papers

The Culture â€Å",Culture†, is a concept which is related to the art, beliefs and traditions of a society. Even if it is thought as a concept used in social norms, it is the real value of a society by carrying the significant characteristic features of being â€Å",identity†,. It means that the culture forms the society’,s real identity. There are so many writers whose works are based upon the concept of the culture. Stephen Greenblatt is the one who has an essay about the culture and its affects on literature under the name of â€Å",Culture†,. Greenblatt stresses that the cultural norms include the constraints and mobility in his own building. He wants to say that the cultural norms include both the limited and changeable qualities in it. It causes the paradox and the paradox causes the creation of new things and improvisation. In his essay, Greenblatt says, â€Å",...a set of patterns which have enough elasticity...†,. With this sentence, Greenblatt implies the relationship between culture and literature. For him, the culture is tied to the literature strongly. Moreover, they can not be sepa...

Speech: Universal Health Care :: Papers Argumentative Medicine Essays

Speech: Universal Health Care Topic: Universal Health Care General Purpose: To persuade. Specific Purpose: To Persuade my audience that the United States needs to adopt universal health care. Central Idea: Americans current health care system is faulty and needs to be changed to Universal Health Care for all citizens. INTRODUCTION I. Have you ever went without health insurance between jobs, or while working part time or because you just couldn?t afford it? No having health insurance is a big risk in a time where medical costs are sky high, Prescription drug prices are outrageous and when your paying your family doctor $50 for a office visit. Fifty dollars represents a full 8 hours of work for many Americans. A. Health care reform is needed in America. Service for pay medical treatment leaves uninsured citizens going without health care, or seriously in debt. B. Today I want to tell you why adopting universal health care is the answer to the question of health care reform. II. I have had many negative encounters with the health care system. A. At one time because of being a part time student and employee, I could not get insurance though my parents, my work, or my school. I was not eligible for Medicaid, and found the cost of private insurance was completely out of my budget. 1. This was a bad mistake. I was born with neutropenia, a blood disease that affects the immune system I get sick very easily, and my body has a hard time fighting off any infections and trying to stay healthy without insurance soon became impossible B. Suddenly I found myself in serious debt from missing work, doctor?s office visits, and paying outrageous prescription costs. I am still paying off medical bills for lab work, and other tests and emergency room visits. III. Today I want to discuss the reasons why our current health care system is ineffective, the benefits of changing to universal health care, and we will also look at Hawaii?

This Kind of Love happens only once in a lifetime

The Bridges of Madison County,† the surprise hit of summer 1995, centers on a particular concept of adulterous romance that is very apropos of the neoconservative epoch. While many contemporary married women indeed may take comfort in the film's message (that one can have a secret love, but then must go back to the normalcy and maturity of married life), its implications are perhaps something less than a comfort as viewers see them as part of a larger theme about gender equality and human liberation.The complexity of the story’s theme requires not just a good director but also good actors, actors who can link or bridge the character’s character to the audience and live through the film’s reality for at least two hours. But before we discuss how Meryl Streep in particular made us connect with the film and empathize with her character, let us first walk around the story of Bridges of Madison County.The story explores the character of Francesca, an Italian wom an who somehow ended up as a farm housewife in Iowa. Like most of us, she dreamt of a more exotic life than ‘shuckin' the corn and ‘sloppin' the ‘hawgs’, but sometimes life just turns out the way it does. Humans follow where life leads them for a while, and before we realize it, decades have passed. This is so true with Francesca.Her path initially was destined, straight and predictable until an unexpected fork in the road causes her to question everything she had come to expect from life. While her husband and children are away at the Iowa state fair in the summer of 1965, Robert Kincaid happens upon the Johnson farm and asks Francesca for directions to Rosamunde Bridge. He explains that he is on assignment from National Geographic magazine to photograph the bridges of Madison County. She agrees to show him to the bridges and thus begins the bittersweet and all-too-brief romance of her life.Through the pain of separation from her secret love and the stark i solation she feels as the details of her life consume her, she writes down the story of this four-day love affair in a 3-volume diary. The diary is found by her children among her possessions and alongside Robert Kincaid's possessions after Francesca is dead. The message they take from the diaries is one of hope that they will do what is necessary to find happiness in their lives — whatever is necessary. After learning that Robert Kincaid's cremated remains were scattered off Rosamunde Bridge and that their mother requested a similar disposition for her own ashes, the children must decide whether to honor their mother's final wishes or bury her alongside their father as the family had planned. Adapted from the novel by Robert Waller, this is the story of love that happens just once in a lifetime — if you're lucky.The central theme is that there are deep universal feelings inside of all of us which we train ourselves to ignore in the execution of everyday life. Inside e very adult is an idealistic youth who planned a completely different life. But our dreams never go away, requiring only the right stimulus to reappear.As Waller implied in his novel, sometimes the old dreams are the best dreams. They're gone now, but it leaves a trace bound to last forever The parallel is drawn quite interestingly when Kinkaid explains that he works for the â€Å"National Geographic† magazine rather than acting as an artist because no one is interested in his work as art. Both he and Francesca have settled into a life that isn't what they hoped it would be. What is wonderful about this plot point is that both are still successful in their lives and relatively happy. Neither one is miserable or particularly hurt by their experiences and yet, under all the layers of their existences lies a yearning for something more, a need to live out unfulfilled dreams and be glad to have dreamt them.The two embark upon a four day romance that is realistic and touching. Stre ep's' Francesca is highly aroused by the photographer and yet she is also aware of the â€Å"improper† nature of her feelings. Coming from what was probably a more liberal background (European, i.e. Italian), she has acclimated herself to the ways of rural Iowa life. To remind us of the narrow nature of the mores of the time, a tertiary character is shown to be the town's gossip (while Kinkaid is visiting) because her extramarital affair has recently been discovered.What follows in Waller's story-in-the-novel is his description of the actual affair that takes place between Robert and Francesca while her family is out of town, along with Robert's â€Å"proposal† that Francesca leave behind her unfulfilling life in Iowa and run away with him to places far and wide, a proposal that is entertained but ultimately turned down by the heroine.   Instead, Francesca places duty and fidelity in front of passion and romance, choosing to live out the remainder of her days on the farm outside of Winterset, Iowa.During one day in August for every year thereafter, however, she would gather props and remembrances and pay ceremonial homage to her romantic interlude by staging a solitary fantasy ritual recalling the original seduction.  Ã‚   Over the course of those two and one-half decades, Mrs. Johnson attempted to locate Kincaid only once, and then unsuccessfully, after the passing of her husband.Two final points are in order about Waller's telling of the story-within-the-novel. The first is that, notwithstanding the brevity of the actual affair of Robert and Francesca, Waller leaves little doubt that theirs was much more than a fleeting romance or momentary concession to impulse. As Robert said upon learning that Francesca must stay with her family, â€Å"In a universe of ambiguity, this kind of certainty comes only once.†(By this point in the story, such utterances are entirely in character for Mr. Kincaid, whose mystical mix of New Age sensitivity and Marlboro Man machismo Waller gives ample amplification relative to the largely ill-defined character of the heroine. â€Å"I am the highway and the peregrine and all the sails that ever went to sea,† Waller has Robert whispering into Francesca's ear.)   The last point worthy of underscoring here is the framing device used by  Waller in telling the story.Waller's reconstruction of the romance is portrayed as a truthful re-creation that he, as the teller, was able to piece together from a letter Francesca left for her children, recounting the affair that they read only after her death.Remarkably, and yet apparently of great importance in establishing the story's credibility among readers, Waller agrees to tell the story of Robert and Francesca only in response to an invitation from the late Francesca’s children.(3)Meryl Streep in the film successfully expressed Francesca’s struggle, happiness and failure in the film In the said film, Streep’s acting is effortless. We can credit her previous acting roles for her showcase of talent in the film because she has been in several drama movies before she did â€Å"Bridges of Madison County.†Moreover, Streep has won an Oscar award in a drama film Kramer vs. Kramer. In this film, she is a mother who left her family because of discontent which is also real because males today are much more concern with their careers than with their family. This is also quite true in the movie Bridges of Madison County because in the film it is implied that she is too a little discontented with her routinary life as a wife and mother. If she had been contented and happy, she would have ignored Robert Kincaid.   These questions and what ifs are clear indicators that Streep made us feel Francesca. Made us feel that she is a human subject to limitations.In addition, Streep was already forty-six years old when she did the film. As woman, as mother and as a wife, she has rich experiences in life which contribute in her acting. It was easy for her to internalize and give justice to her character because she has been through several experiences not only in her career as an actress but also as a woman in general.There is more to the brilliance in her acting in the said film, according to Streep in an interview on Entertainment Weekly Magazine (2000)â€Å"I had a picture of who this was – I knew it was an Italian war bride, and I had grown up down the street from one. Her husband was a tall, blond man, and she barely spoke any English. Over the years she learned – she was a very bright, interesting woman – but there was always something exotic about her. Anyway, the book had this woman in jeans and braless. It was just hard for me to understand her. I had a pretty vivid picture of her, and I didn't want to complicate it (laughs) with the author’s actual intent. I honestly didn't finish the book. I started it and then thought, I'll wait for the screenplay . The screenplay had a woman in it.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Clint called me and said ‘Just read the script. I want you to push past whatever you think you know about the book'.   Ã‚  Meryl Streep, More Magazine, December 2002Based from the interview we can say that her performance is significantly affected by the idea that she read the book which made her understand the character thoroughly in the novelist’s perspective and that Eastwood (the director) made sure that the script was well written.And lastly, it is always Streep’s passion to act and always it is her goal to deliver her character to the audience in the most realistic possible way.

Discuss What Government Policies Can Be Used to Overcome

Discuss what government policies can be used to overcome a recession A recession is two or more consecutive quarters of a year that experiences a decline in GDP or has negative GDP growth; recessions are believed to be caused by a widespread fall in spending. Employment, investment, household incomes and business profits all fall during recessions; while bankruptcies and the unemployment rate rise.Governmennts respond to recessions by adopting expansionary economic policeys such as the expansionary fiscal policey or loose monetary policey. The exapansionary fiscal policey involves the government attempting to increase aggregate demand, the two main instruments the government use to achieve this is government spending and taxation.The government increases its spending in the economey which stimulates the economey through the multiplyer effect, this huge increase of government spending acts as an injection into the circular flow and will eventually increase consumer incomes which will increase the consumers marginal propensity to consume which will therefore shift aggregate demand to the right as all of this additional income is being spent, this right shift will then lead to an increase in economic growth, this is shown on the graph below.The government can also decrease taxes such as VAT which will also increases consumer spending as it will make consumers have more disposable income therefore acting as an incentive for them to consume, causing aggregate demand to shift to the right causing growth, the government can either increase spending or decrease taxes or even apply both to the economy.However the effect of the fiscal policy will depend on how much money is pumped into the economy and how much the taxes have been reduced because if government spending has increase by a small percent or taxes have decreased a small percent it may not have much of an effect on the consumer marginal propensity to consume and so may fail to increase aggregate demand. Also de pending on the inflation rate in the economy already the fiscal policy could cause the price level to increase due to a major increase in aggregate demand as shown in the graph above.Also the policy could cause crowding out because if the increase in government spending is raised from taxes then it would lead to a reduction in private spending and if the increase is financed by borrowing then it could lead to a rise in interest rates which would lead to a decrease in private investment. There will also be a time lag involved as the government will have to wait for the multiplier effect to kick in and so in the short term this policy may prove ineffective however in the long term its effectiveness will show.Another policy the government can use is the expansionary monetary policy, the expansionary monetary policy aim to shift aggregate demand to the right by lowering the interest rates, the lowering of the interest rates lowers the cost of borrowing for example using credit cards and decreases consumers marginal propensity to save which therefore encourages consumption. These lower interest rates also encourage firms to borrow and invest therefore further increasing aggregate demand in the economy.These lower interest rates will therefore increase aggregate demand shown in the graph below. This increase in aggregate demand will therefore increase GDP as shown in the graph above. However the amount the government can decrease the interest rates by will depend at what level they are at already, for example the interest rate for the UK at this moment of time is 0. 5 and so the government would not realistically be able to decrease this any more and so the monetary policy would prove ineffective in this situation.So if the decline in interest rates does not work the monetary policy uses the tool of qauntative easing which is were the MPC â€Å"monetary policy committee† creates money through selling bonds, buying banks assets and selling loans to other banks , this money is then spent in sectors of the economy which will act as an injection into the circular flow, this will then again generate growth as it will cause aggregate demand to shift outwards.This increase in cash reserves due to the selling of bonds and so on will also mean banks will increase their lending to households and businesses which will again make it easier for people to obtain money and therefore consume therefore shifting aggregate demand to the right causing and increase in growth.Although the use of this policy could also cause inflation as shown in the graph above, the MPC also predict the future economic trends so the policy can be used at full effect and so if the prediction is wrong it could have negative effects on the economy, furthermore the effect of the qauntative easing will depend on how much the MPC is actually able to obtain through bonds, selling loans and acquiring bank assets.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fiftyone

Jeyne Poole had been confined with her, but Jeyne was useless. Her face was puffy from all her crying, and she could not seem to stop sobbing about her father. â€Å"I’m certain your father is well,† Sansa told her when she had finally gotten the dress buttoned right. â€Å"I’ll ask the queen to let you see him.† She thought that kindness might lift Jeyne’s spirits, but the other girl just looked at her with red, swollen eyes and began to cry all the harder. She was such a child. Sansa had wept too, the first day. Even within the stout walls of Maegor’s Holdfast, with her door closed and barred, it was hard not to be terrified when the killing began. She had grown up to the sound of steel in the yard, and scarcely a day of her life had passed without hearing the clash of sword on sword, yet somehow knowing that the fighting was real made all the difference in the world. She heard it as she had never heard it before, and there were other sounds as well, grunts of pain, angry curses, shouts for help, and the moans of wounded and dying men. In the songs, the knights never screamed nor begged for mercy. So she wept, pleading through her door for them to tell her what was happening, calling for her father, for Septa Mordane, for the king, for her gallant prince. If the men guarding her heard her pleas, they gave no answer. The only time the door opened was late that night, when they thrust Jeyne Poole inside, bruised and shaking. â€Å"They’re killing everyone,† the steward’s daughter had shrieked at her. She went on and on. The Hound had broken down her door with a warhammer, she said. There were bodies on the stair of the Tower of the Hand, and the steps were slick with blood. Sansa dried her own tears as she struggled to comfort her friend. They went to sleep in the same bed, cradled in each other’s arms like sisters. The second day was even worse. The room where Sansa had been confined was at the top of the highest tower of Maegor’s Holdfast. From its window, she could see that the heavy iron portcullis in the gatehouse was down, and the drawbridge drawn up over the deep dry moat that separated the keep-within-a-keep from the larger castle that surrounded it. Lannister guardsmen prowled the walls with spears and crossbows to hand. The fighting was over, and the silence of the grave had settled over the Red Keep. The only sounds were Jeyne Poole’s endless whimpers and sobs. They were fed—hard cheese and fresh-baked bread and milk to break their fast, roast chicken and greens at midday, and a late supper of beef and barley stew—but the servants who brought the meals would not answer Sansa’s questions. That evening, some women brought her clothes from the Tower of the Hand, and some of Jeyne’s things as well, but they seemed nearly as frightened as Jeyne, and when she tried to talk to them, they fled from her as if she had the grey plague. The guards outside the door still refused to let them leave the room. â€Å"Please, I need to speak to the queen again,† Sansa told them, as she told everyone she saw that day. â€Å"She’ll want to talk to me, I know she will. Tell her I want to see her, please. If not the queen, then Prince Joffrey, if you’d be so kind. We’re to marry when we’re older.† At sunset on the second day, a great bell began to ring. Its voice was deep and sonorous, and the long slow clanging filled Sansa with a sense of dread. The ringing went on and on, and after a while they heard other bells answering from the Great Sept of Baelor on Visenya’s Hill. The sound rumbled across the city like thunder, warning of the storm to come. â€Å"What is it?† Jeyne asked, covering her ears. â€Å"Why are they ringing the bells?† â€Å"The king is dead.† Sansa could not say how she knew it, yet she did. The slow, endless clanging filled their room, as mournful as a dirge. Had some enemy stormed the castle and murdered King Robert? Was that the meaning of the fighting they had heard? She went to sleep wondering, restless, and fearful. Was her beautiful Joffrey the king now? Or had they killed him too? She was afraid for him, and for her father. If only they would tell her what was happening . . . That night Sansa dreamt of Joffrey on the throne, with herself seated beside him in a gown of woven gold. She had a crown on her head, and everyone she had ever known came before her, to bend the knee and say their courtesies. The next morning, the morning of the third day, Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard came to escort her to the queen. Ser Boros was an ugly man with a broad chest and short, bandy legs. His nose was flat, his cheeks baggy with jowls, his hair grey and brittle. Today he wore white velvet, and his snowy cloak was fastened with a lion brooch. The beast had the soft sheen of gold, and his eyes were tiny rubies. â€Å"You look very handsome and splendid this morning, Ser Boros,† Sansa told him. A lady remembered her courtesies, and she was resolved to be a lady no matter what. â€Å"And you, my lady,† Ser Boros said in a flat voice. â€Å"Her Grace awaits. Come with me.† There were guards outside her door, Lannister men-at-arms in crimson cloaks and lion-crested helms. Sansa made herself smile at them pleasantly and bid them a good morning as she passed. It was the first time she had been allowed outside the chamber since Ser Arys Oakheart had led her there two mornings past. â€Å"To keep you safe, my sweet one,† Queen Cersei had told her. â€Å"Joffrey would never forgive me if anything happened to his precious.† Sansa had expected that Ser Boros would escort her to the royal apartments, but instead he led her out of Maegor’s Holdfast. The bridge was down again. Some workmen were lowering a man on ropes into the depths of the dry moat. When Sansa peered down, she saw a body impaled on the huge iron spikes below. She averted her eyes quickly, afraid to ask, afraid to look too long, afraid he might be someone she knew. They found Queen Cersei in the council chambers, seated at the head of a long table littered with papers, candles, and blocks of sealing wax. The room was as splendid as any that Sansa had ever seen. She stared in awe at the carved wooden screen and the twin sphinxes that sat beside the door. â€Å"Your Grace,† Ser Boros said when they were ushered inside by another of the Kingsguard, Ser Mandon of the curiously dead face, â€Å"I’ve brought the girl.† Sansa had hoped Joffrey might be with her. Her prince was not there, but three of the king’s councillors were. Lord Petyr Baelish sat on the queen’s left hand, Grand Maester Pycelle at the end of the table, while Lord Varys hovered over them, smelling flowery. All of them were clad in black, she realized with a feeling of dread. Mourning clothes . . . The queen wore a high-collared black silk gown, with a hundred dark red rubies sewn into her bodice, covering her from neck to bosom. They were cut in the shape of teardrops, as if the queen were weeping blood. Cersei smiled to see her, and Sansa thought it was the sweetest and saddest smile she had ever seen. â€Å"Sansa, my sweet child,† she said, â€Å"I know you’ve been asking for me. I’m sorry that I could not send for you sooner. Matters have been very unsettled, and I have not had a moment. I trust my people have been taking good care of you?† â€Å"Everyone has been very sweet and pleasant, Your Grace, thank you ever so much for asking,† Sansa said politely. â€Å"Only, well, no one will talk to us or tell us what’s happened . . . â€Å" â€Å"Us?† Cersei seemed puzzled. â€Å"We put the steward’s girl in with her,† Ser Boros said. â€Å"We did not know what else to do with her.† The queen frowned. â€Å"Next time, you will ask,† she said, her voice sharp. â€Å"The gods only know what sort of tales she’s been filling Sansa’s head with.† â€Å"Jeyne’s scared,† Sansa said. â€Å"She won’t stop crying. I promised her I’d ask if she could see her father.† Old Grand Maester Pycelle lowered his eyes. â€Å"Her father is well, isn’t he?† Sansa said anxiously. She knew there had been fighting, but surely no one would harm a steward. Vayon Poole did not even wear a sword. Queen Cersei looked at each of the councillors in turn. â€Å"I won’t have Sansa fretting needlessly. What shall we do with this little friend of hers, my lords?† Lord Petyr leaned forward. â€Å"I’ll find a place for her.† â€Å"Not in the city,† said the queen. â€Å"Do you take me for a fool?† The queen ignored that. â€Å"Ser Boros, escort this girl to Lord Petyr’s apartments and instruct his people to keep her there until he comes for her. Tell her that Littlefinger will be taking her to see her father, that ought to calm her down. I want her gone before Sansa returns to her chamber.† â€Å"As you command, Your Grace,† Ser Boros said. He bowed deeply, spun on his heel, and took his leave, his long white cloak stirring the air behind him. Sansa was confused. â€Å"I don’t understand,† she said. â€Å"Where is Jeyne’s father? Why can’t Ser Boros take her to him instead of Lord Petyr having to do it?† She had promised herself she would be a lady, gentle as the queen and as strong as her mother, the Lady Catelyn, but all of a sudden she was scared again. For a second she thought she might cry. â€Å"Where are you sending her? She hasn’t done anything wrong, she’s a good girl.† â€Å"She’s upset you,† the queen said gently. â€Å"We can’t be having that. Not another word, now. Lord Baelish will see that Jeyne’s well taken care of, I promise you.† She patted the chair beside her. â€Å"Sit down, Sansa. I want to talk to you.† Sansa seated herself beside the queen. Cersei smiled again, but that did not make her feel any less anxious. Varys was wringing his soft hands together, Grand Maester Pycelle kept his sleepy eyes on the papers in front of him, but she could feel Littlefinger staring. Something about the way the small man looked at her made Sansa feel as though she had no clothes on. Goose bumps pimpled her skin. â€Å"Sweet Sansa,† Queen Cersei said, laying a soft hand on her wrist. â€Å"Such a beautiful child. I do hope you know how much Joffrey and I love you.† â€Å"You do?† Sansa said, breathless. Littlefinger was forgotten. Her prince loved her. Nothing else mattered. The queen smiled. â€Å"I think of you almost as my own daughter. And I know the love you bear for Joffrey.† She gave a weary shake of her head. â€Å"I am afraid we have some grave news about your lord father. You must be brave, child.† Her quiet words gave Sansa a chill. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"Your father is a traitor, dear,† Lord Varys said. Grand Maester Pycelle lifted his ancient head. â€Å"With my own ears, I heard Lord Eddard swear to our beloved King Robert that he would protect the young princes as if they were his own sons. And yet the moment the king was dead, he called the small council together to steal Prince Joffrey’s rightful throne.† â€Å"No,† Sansa blurted. â€Å"He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t!† The queen picked up a letter. The paper was torn and stiff with dried blood, but the broken seal was her father’s, the direwolf stamped in pale wax. â€Å"We found this on the captain of your household guard, Sansa. It is a letter to my late husband’s brother Stannis, inviting him to take the crown.† â€Å"Please, Your Grace, there’s been a mistake.† Sudden panic made her dizzy and faint. â€Å"Please, send for my father, he’ll tell you, he would never write such a letter, the king was his friend.† â€Å"Robert thought so,† said the queen. â€Å"This betrayal would have broken his heart. The gods are kind, that he did not live to see it.† She sighed. â€Å"Sansa, sweetling, you must see what a dreadful position this has left us in. You are innocent of any wrong, we all know that, and yet you are the daughter of a traitor. How can I allow you to marry my son?† â€Å"But I love him,† Sansa wailed, confused and frightened. What did they mean to do to her? What had they done to her father? It was not supposed to happen this way. She had to wed Joffrey, they were betrothed, he was promised to her, she had even dreamed about it. It wasn’t fair to take him away from her on account of whatever her father might have done. â€Å"How well I know that, child,† Cersei said, her voice so kind and sweet. â€Å"Why else should you have come to me and told me of your father’s plan to send you away from us, if not for love?† â€Å"It was for love,† Sansa said in a rush. â€Å"Father wouldn’t even give me leave to say farewell.† She was the good girl, the obedient girl, but she had felt as wicked as Arya that morning, sneaking away from Septa Mordane, defying her lord father. She had never done anything so willful before, and she would never have done it then if she hadn’t loved Joffrey as much as she did. â€Å"He was going to take me back to Winterfell and marry me to some hedge knight, even though it was Joff I wanted. I told him, but he wouldn’t listen.† The king had been her last hope. The king could command Father to let her stay in King’s Landing and marry Prince Joffrey, Sansa knew he could, but the king had always frightened her. He was loud and rough-voiced and drunk as often as not, and he would probably have just sent her back to Lord Eddard, if they even let her see him. So she went to the queen instead, and poured out her heart, and Cersei had listened and thanked her sweetly . . . only then Ser Arys had escorted her to the high room in Maegor’s Holdfast and posted guards, and a few hours later, the fighting had begun outside. â€Å"Please,† she finished, â€Å"you have to let me marry Joffrey, I’ll be ever so good a wife to him, you’ll see. I’ll be a queen just like you, I promise.† Queen Cersei looked to the others. â€Å"My lords of the council, what do you say to her plea?† â€Å"The poor child,† murmured Varys. â€Å"A love so true and innocent, Your Grace, it would be cruel to deny it . . . and yet, what can we do? Her father stands condemned.† His soft hands washed each other in a gesture of helpless distress. â€Å"A child born of traitor’s seed will find that betrayal comes naturally to her,† said Grand Maester Pycelle. â€Å"She is a sweet thing now, but in ten years, who can say what treasons she may hatch?† â€Å"No,† Sansa said, horrified. â€Å"I’m not, I’d never . . . I wouldn’t betray Joffrey, I love him, I swear it, I do.† â€Å"Oh, so poignant,† said Varys. â€Å"And yet, it is truly said that blood runs truer than oaths.† â€Å"She reminds me of the mother, not the father,† Lord Petyr Baelish said quietly. â€Å"Look at her. The hair, the eyes. She is the very image of Cat at the same age.† The queen looked at her, troubled, and yet Sansa could see kindness in her clear green eyes. â€Å"Child,† she said, â€Å"if I could truly believe that you were not like your father, why nothing should please me more than to see you wed to my Joffrey. I know he loves you with all his heart.† She sighed. â€Å"And yet, I fear that Lord Varys and the Grand Maester have the right of it. The blood will tell. I have only to remember how your sister set her wolf on my son.† â€Å"I’m not like Arya,† Sansa blurted. â€Å"She has the traitor’s blood, not me. I’m good, ask Septa Mordane, she’ll tell you, I only want to be Joffrey’s loyal and loving wife.† She felt the weight of Cersei’s eyes as the queen studied her face. â€Å"I believe you mean it, child.† She turned to face the others. â€Å"My lords, it seems to me that if the rest of her kin were to remain loyal in this terrible time, that would go a long way toward laying our fears to rest.† Grand Maester Pycelle stroked his huge soft beard, his wide brow furrowed in thought. â€Å"Lord Eddard has three sons.† â€Å"Mere boys,† Lord Petyr said with a shrug. â€Å"I should be more concerned with Lady Catelyn and the Tullys.† The queen took Sansa’s hand in both of hers. â€Å"Child, do you know your letters?† Sansa nodded nervously. She could read and write better than any of her brothers, although she was hopeless at sums. â€Å"I am pleased to hear that. Perhaps there is hope for you and Joffrey still . . . â€Å" â€Å"What do you want me to do?† â€Å"You must write your lady mother, and your brother, the eldest . . . what is his name?† â€Å"Robb,† Sansa said. â€Å"The word of your lord father’s treason will no doubt reach them soon. Better that it should come from you. You must tell them how Lord Eddard betrayed his king.† Sansa wanted Joffrey desperately, but she did not think she had the courage to do as the queen was asking. â€Å"But he never . . . I don’t . . . Your Grace, I wouldn’t know what to say . . . â€Å" The queen patted her hand. â€Å"We will tell you what to write, child. The important thing is that you urge Lady Catelyn and your brother to keep the king’s peace.† â€Å"It will go hard for them if they don’t,† said Grand Maester Pycelle. â€Å"By the love you bear them, you must urge them to walk the path of wisdom.† â€Å"Your lady mother will no doubt fear for you dreadfully,† the queen said. â€Å"You must tell her that you are well and in our care, that we are treating you gently and seeing to your every want. Bid them to come to King’s Landing and pledge their fealty to Joffrey when he takes his throne. If they do that . . . why, then we shall know that there is no taint in your blood, and when you come into the flower of your womanhood, you shall wed the king in the Great Sept of Baelor, before the eyes of gods and men.† . . . wed the king . . . The words made her breath come faster, yet still Sansa hesitated. â€Å"Perhaps . . . if I might see my father, talk to him about . . . â€Å" â€Å"Treason?† Lord Varys hinted. â€Å"You disappoint me, Sansa,† the queen said, with eyes gone hard as stones. â€Å"We’ve told you of your father’s crimes. If you are truly as loyal as you say, why should you want to see him?† â€Å"I . . . I only meant . . . † Sansa felt her eyes grow wet. â€Å"He’s not . . . please, he hasn’t been . . . hurt, or . . . or . . . â€Å" â€Å"Lord Eddard has not been harmed,† the queen said. â€Å"But . . . what’s to become of him?† â€Å"That is a matter for the king to decide,† Grand Maester Pycelle announced ponderously. The king! Sansa blinked back her tears. Joffrey was the king now, she thought. Her gallant prince would never hurt her father, no matter what he might have done. If she went to him and pleaded for mercy, she was certain he’d listen. He had to listen, he loved her, even the queen said so. Joff would need to punish Father, the lords would expect it, but perhaps he could send him back to Winterfell, or exile him to one of the Free Cities across the narrow sea. It would only have to be for a few years. By then she and Joffrey would be married. Once she was queen, she could persuade Joff to bring Father back and grant him a pardon. Only . . . if Mother or Robb did anything treasonous, called the banners or refused to swear fealty or anything, it would all go wrong. Her Joffrey was good and kind, she knew it in her heart, but a king had to be stern with rebels. She had to make them understand, she had to! â€Å"I’ll . . . I’ll write the letters,† Sansa told them. With a smile as warm as the sunrise, Cersei Lannister leaned close and kissed her gently on the cheek. â€Å"I knew you would. Joffrey will be so proud when I tell him what courage and good sense you’ve shown here today.† In the end, she wrote four letters. To her mother, the Lady Catelyn Stark, and to her brothers at Winterfell, and to her aunt and her grandfather as well, Lady Lysa Arryn of the Eyrie, and Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun. By the time she had done, her fingers were cramped and stiff and stained with ink. Varys had her father’s seal. She warmed the pale white beeswax over a candle, poured it carefully, and watched as the eunuch stamped each letter with the direwolf of House Stark. Jeyne Poole and all her things were gone when Ser Mandon Moore returned Sansa to the high tower of Maegor’s Holdfast. No more weeping, she thought gratefully. Yet somehow it seemed colder with Jeyne gone, even after she’d built a fire. She pulled a chair close to the hearth, took down one of her favorite books, and lost herself in the stories of Florian and Jonquil, of Lady Shella and the Rainbow Knight, of valiant Prince Aemon and his doomed love for his brother’s queen. It was not until later that night, as she was drifting off to sleep, that Sansa realized she had forgotten to ask about her sister. A Game of Thrones Chapter Fiftyone Jeyne Poole had been confined with her, but Jeyne was useless. Her face was puffy from all her crying, and she could not seem to stop sobbing about her father. â€Å"I’m certain your father is well,† Sansa told her when she had finally gotten the dress buttoned right. â€Å"I’ll ask the queen to let you see him.† She thought that kindness might lift Jeyne’s spirits, but the other girl just looked at her with red, swollen eyes and began to cry all the harder. She was such a child. Sansa had wept too, the first day. Even within the stout walls of Maegor’s Holdfast, with her door closed and barred, it was hard not to be terrified when the killing began. She had grown up to the sound of steel in the yard, and scarcely a day of her life had passed without hearing the clash of sword on sword, yet somehow knowing that the fighting was real made all the difference in the world. She heard it as she had never heard it before, and there were other sounds as well, grunts of pain, angry curses, shouts for help, and the moans of wounded and dying men. In the songs, the knights never screamed nor begged for mercy. So she wept, pleading through her door for them to tell her what was happening, calling for her father, for Septa Mordane, for the king, for her gallant prince. If the men guarding her heard her pleas, they gave no answer. The only time the door opened was late that night, when they thrust Jeyne Poole inside, bruised and shaking. â€Å"They’re killing everyone,† the steward’s daughter had shrieked at her. She went on and on. The Hound had broken down her door with a warhammer, she said. There were bodies on the stair of the Tower of the Hand, and the steps were slick with blood. Sansa dried her own tears as she struggled to comfort her friend. They went to sleep in the same bed, cradled in each other’s arms like sisters. The second day was even worse. The room where Sansa had been confined was at the top of the highest tower of Maegor’s Holdfast. From its window, she could see that the heavy iron portcullis in the gatehouse was down, and the drawbridge drawn up over the deep dry moat that separated the keep-within-a-keep from the larger castle that surrounded it. Lannister guardsmen prowled the walls with spears and crossbows to hand. The fighting was over, and the silence of the grave had settled over the Red Keep. The only sounds were Jeyne Poole’s endless whimpers and sobs. They were fed—hard cheese and fresh-baked bread and milk to break their fast, roast chicken and greens at midday, and a late supper of beef and barley stew—but the servants who brought the meals would not answer Sansa’s questions. That evening, some women brought her clothes from the Tower of the Hand, and some of Jeyne’s things as well, but they seemed nearly as frightened as Jeyne, and when she tried to talk to them, they fled from her as if she had the grey plague. The guards outside the door still refused to let them leave the room. â€Å"Please, I need to speak to the queen again,† Sansa told them, as she told everyone she saw that day. â€Å"She’ll want to talk to me, I know she will. Tell her I want to see her, please. If not the queen, then Prince Joffrey, if you’d be so kind. We’re to marry when we’re older.† At sunset on the second day, a great bell began to ring. Its voice was deep and sonorous, and the long slow clanging filled Sansa with a sense of dread. The ringing went on and on, and after a while they heard other bells answering from the Great Sept of Baelor on Visenya’s Hill. The sound rumbled across the city like thunder, warning of the storm to come. â€Å"What is it?† Jeyne asked, covering her ears. â€Å"Why are they ringing the bells?† â€Å"The king is dead.† Sansa could not say how she knew it, yet she did. The slow, endless clanging filled their room, as mournful as a dirge. Had some enemy stormed the castle and murdered King Robert? Was that the meaning of the fighting they had heard? She went to sleep wondering, restless, and fearful. Was her beautiful Joffrey the king now? Or had they killed him too? She was afraid for him, and for her father. If only they would tell her what was happening . . . That night Sansa dreamt of Joffrey on the throne, with herself seated beside him in a gown of woven gold. She had a crown on her head, and everyone she had ever known came before her, to bend the knee and say their courtesies. The next morning, the morning of the third day, Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard came to escort her to the queen. Ser Boros was an ugly man with a broad chest and short, bandy legs. His nose was flat, his cheeks baggy with jowls, his hair grey and brittle. Today he wore white velvet, and his snowy cloak was fastened with a lion brooch. The beast had the soft sheen of gold, and his eyes were tiny rubies. â€Å"You look very handsome and splendid this morning, Ser Boros,† Sansa told him. A lady remembered her courtesies, and she was resolved to be a lady no matter what. â€Å"And you, my lady,† Ser Boros said in a flat voice. â€Å"Her Grace awaits. Come with me.† There were guards outside her door, Lannister men-at-arms in crimson cloaks and lion-crested helms. Sansa made herself smile at them pleasantly and bid them a good morning as she passed. It was the first time she had been allowed outside the chamber since Ser Arys Oakheart had led her there two mornings past. â€Å"To keep you safe, my sweet one,† Queen Cersei had told her. â€Å"Joffrey would never forgive me if anything happened to his precious.† Sansa had expected that Ser Boros would escort her to the royal apartments, but instead he led her out of Maegor’s Holdfast. The bridge was down again. Some workmen were lowering a man on ropes into the depths of the dry moat. When Sansa peered down, she saw a body impaled on the huge iron spikes below. She averted her eyes quickly, afraid to ask, afraid to look too long, afraid he might be someone she knew. They found Queen Cersei in the council chambers, seated at the head of a long table littered with papers, candles, and blocks of sealing wax. The room was as splendid as any that Sansa had ever seen. She stared in awe at the carved wooden screen and the twin sphinxes that sat beside the door. â€Å"Your Grace,† Ser Boros said when they were ushered inside by another of the Kingsguard, Ser Mandon of the curiously dead face, â€Å"I’ve brought the girl.† Sansa had hoped Joffrey might be with her. Her prince was not there, but three of the king’s councillors were. Lord Petyr Baelish sat on the queen’s left hand, Grand Maester Pycelle at the end of the table, while Lord Varys hovered over them, smelling flowery. All of them were clad in black, she realized with a feeling of dread. Mourning clothes . . . The queen wore a high-collared black silk gown, with a hundred dark red rubies sewn into her bodice, covering her from neck to bosom. They were cut in the shape of teardrops, as if the queen were weeping blood. Cersei smiled to see her, and Sansa thought it was the sweetest and saddest smile she had ever seen. â€Å"Sansa, my sweet child,† she said, â€Å"I know you’ve been asking for me. I’m sorry that I could not send for you sooner. Matters have been very unsettled, and I have not had a moment. I trust my people have been taking good care of you?† â€Å"Everyone has been very sweet and pleasant, Your Grace, thank you ever so much for asking,† Sansa said politely. â€Å"Only, well, no one will talk to us or tell us what’s happened . . . â€Å" â€Å"Us?† Cersei seemed puzzled. â€Å"We put the steward’s girl in with her,† Ser Boros said. â€Å"We did not know what else to do with her.† The queen frowned. â€Å"Next time, you will ask,† she said, her voice sharp. â€Å"The gods only know what sort of tales she’s been filling Sansa’s head with.† â€Å"Jeyne’s scared,† Sansa said. â€Å"She won’t stop crying. I promised her I’d ask if she could see her father.† Old Grand Maester Pycelle lowered his eyes. â€Å"Her father is well, isn’t he?† Sansa said anxiously. She knew there had been fighting, but surely no one would harm a steward. Vayon Poole did not even wear a sword. Queen Cersei looked at each of the councillors in turn. â€Å"I won’t have Sansa fretting needlessly. What shall we do with this little friend of hers, my lords?† Lord Petyr leaned forward. â€Å"I’ll find a place for her.† â€Å"Not in the city,† said the queen. â€Å"Do you take me for a fool?† The queen ignored that. â€Å"Ser Boros, escort this girl to Lord Petyr’s apartments and instruct his people to keep her there until he comes for her. Tell her that Littlefinger will be taking her to see her father, that ought to calm her down. I want her gone before Sansa returns to her chamber.† â€Å"As you command, Your Grace,† Ser Boros said. He bowed deeply, spun on his heel, and took his leave, his long white cloak stirring the air behind him. Sansa was confused. â€Å"I don’t understand,† she said. â€Å"Where is Jeyne’s father? Why can’t Ser Boros take her to him instead of Lord Petyr having to do it?† She had promised herself she would be a lady, gentle as the queen and as strong as her mother, the Lady Catelyn, but all of a sudden she was scared again. For a second she thought she might cry. â€Å"Where are you sending her? She hasn’t done anything wrong, she’s a good girl.† â€Å"She’s upset you,† the queen said gently. â€Å"We can’t be having that. Not another word, now. Lord Baelish will see that Jeyne’s well taken care of, I promise you.† She patted the chair beside her. â€Å"Sit down, Sansa. I want to talk to you.† Sansa seated herself beside the queen. Cersei smiled again, but that did not make her feel any less anxious. Varys was wringing his soft hands together, Grand Maester Pycelle kept his sleepy eyes on the papers in front of him, but she could feel Littlefinger staring. Something about the way the small man looked at her made Sansa feel as though she had no clothes on. Goose bumps pimpled her skin. â€Å"Sweet Sansa,† Queen Cersei said, laying a soft hand on her wrist. â€Å"Such a beautiful child. I do hope you know how much Joffrey and I love you.† â€Å"You do?† Sansa said, breathless. Littlefinger was forgotten. Her prince loved her. Nothing else mattered. The queen smiled. â€Å"I think of you almost as my own daughter. And I know the love you bear for Joffrey.† She gave a weary shake of her head. â€Å"I am afraid we have some grave news about your lord father. You must be brave, child.† Her quiet words gave Sansa a chill. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"Your father is a traitor, dear,† Lord Varys said. Grand Maester Pycelle lifted his ancient head. â€Å"With my own ears, I heard Lord Eddard swear to our beloved King Robert that he would protect the young princes as if they were his own sons. And yet the moment the king was dead, he called the small council together to steal Prince Joffrey’s rightful throne.† â€Å"No,† Sansa blurted. â€Å"He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t!† The queen picked up a letter. The paper was torn and stiff with dried blood, but the broken seal was her father’s, the direwolf stamped in pale wax. â€Å"We found this on the captain of your household guard, Sansa. It is a letter to my late husband’s brother Stannis, inviting him to take the crown.† â€Å"Please, Your Grace, there’s been a mistake.† Sudden panic made her dizzy and faint. â€Å"Please, send for my father, he’ll tell you, he would never write such a letter, the king was his friend.† â€Å"Robert thought so,† said the queen. â€Å"This betrayal would have broken his heart. The gods are kind, that he did not live to see it.† She sighed. â€Å"Sansa, sweetling, you must see what a dreadful position this has left us in. You are innocent of any wrong, we all know that, and yet you are the daughter of a traitor. How can I allow you to marry my son?† â€Å"But I love him,† Sansa wailed, confused and frightened. What did they mean to do to her? What had they done to her father? It was not supposed to happen this way. She had to wed Joffrey, they were betrothed, he was promised to her, she had even dreamed about it. It wasn’t fair to take him away from her on account of whatever her father might have done. â€Å"How well I know that, child,† Cersei said, her voice so kind and sweet. â€Å"Why else should you have come to me and told me of your father’s plan to send you away from us, if not for love?† â€Å"It was for love,† Sansa said in a rush. â€Å"Father wouldn’t even give me leave to say farewell.† She was the good girl, the obedient girl, but she had felt as wicked as Arya that morning, sneaking away from Septa Mordane, defying her lord father. She had never done anything so willful before, and she would never have done it then if she hadn’t loved Joffrey as much as she did. â€Å"He was going to take me back to Winterfell and marry me to some hedge knight, even though it was Joff I wanted. I told him, but he wouldn’t listen.† The king had been her last hope. The king could command Father to let her stay in King’s Landing and marry Prince Joffrey, Sansa knew he could, but the king had always frightened her. He was loud and rough-voiced and drunk as often as not, and he would probably have just sent her back to Lord Eddard, if they even let her see him. So she went to the queen instead, and poured out her heart, and Cersei had listened and thanked her sweetly . . . only then Ser Arys had escorted her to the high room in Maegor’s Holdfast and posted guards, and a few hours later, the fighting had begun outside. â€Å"Please,† she finished, â€Å"you have to let me marry Joffrey, I’ll be ever so good a wife to him, you’ll see. I’ll be a queen just like you, I promise.† Queen Cersei looked to the others. â€Å"My lords of the council, what do you say to her plea?† â€Å"The poor child,† murmured Varys. â€Å"A love so true and innocent, Your Grace, it would be cruel to deny it . . . and yet, what can we do? Her father stands condemned.† His soft hands washed each other in a gesture of helpless distress. â€Å"A child born of traitor’s seed will find that betrayal comes naturally to her,† said Grand Maester Pycelle. â€Å"She is a sweet thing now, but in ten years, who can say what treasons she may hatch?† â€Å"No,† Sansa said, horrified. â€Å"I’m not, I’d never . . . I wouldn’t betray Joffrey, I love him, I swear it, I do.† â€Å"Oh, so poignant,† said Varys. â€Å"And yet, it is truly said that blood runs truer than oaths.† â€Å"She reminds me of the mother, not the father,† Lord Petyr Baelish said quietly. â€Å"Look at her. The hair, the eyes. She is the very image of Cat at the same age.† The queen looked at her, troubled, and yet Sansa could see kindness in her clear green eyes. â€Å"Child,† she said, â€Å"if I could truly believe that you were not like your father, why nothing should please me more than to see you wed to my Joffrey. I know he loves you with all his heart.† She sighed. â€Å"And yet, I fear that Lord Varys and the Grand Maester have the right of it. The blood will tell. I have only to remember how your sister set her wolf on my son.† â€Å"I’m not like Arya,† Sansa blurted. â€Å"She has the traitor’s blood, not me. I’m good, ask Septa Mordane, she’ll tell you, I only want to be Joffrey’s loyal and loving wife.† She felt the weight of Cersei’s eyes as the queen studied her face. â€Å"I believe you mean it, child.† She turned to face the others. â€Å"My lords, it seems to me that if the rest of her kin were to remain loyal in this terrible time, that would go a long way toward laying our fears to rest.† Grand Maester Pycelle stroked his huge soft beard, his wide brow furrowed in thought. â€Å"Lord Eddard has three sons.† â€Å"Mere boys,† Lord Petyr said with a shrug. â€Å"I should be more concerned with Lady Catelyn and the Tullys.† The queen took Sansa’s hand in both of hers. â€Å"Child, do you know your letters?† Sansa nodded nervously. She could read and write better than any of her brothers, although she was hopeless at sums. â€Å"I am pleased to hear that. Perhaps there is hope for you and Joffrey still . . . â€Å" â€Å"What do you want me to do?† â€Å"You must write your lady mother, and your brother, the eldest . . . what is his name?† â€Å"Robb,† Sansa said. â€Å"The word of your lord father’s treason will no doubt reach them soon. Better that it should come from you. You must tell them how Lord Eddard betrayed his king.† Sansa wanted Joffrey desperately, but she did not think she had the courage to do as the queen was asking. â€Å"But he never . . . I don’t . . . Your Grace, I wouldn’t know what to say . . . â€Å" The queen patted her hand. â€Å"We will tell you what to write, child. The important thing is that you urge Lady Catelyn and your brother to keep the king’s peace.† â€Å"It will go hard for them if they don’t,† said Grand Maester Pycelle. â€Å"By the love you bear them, you must urge them to walk the path of wisdom.† â€Å"Your lady mother will no doubt fear for you dreadfully,† the queen said. â€Å"You must tell her that you are well and in our care, that we are treating you gently and seeing to your every want. Bid them to come to King’s Landing and pledge their fealty to Joffrey when he takes his throne. If they do that . . . why, then we shall know that there is no taint in your blood, and when you come into the flower of your womanhood, you shall wed the king in the Great Sept of Baelor, before the eyes of gods and men.† . . . wed the king . . . The words made her breath come faster, yet still Sansa hesitated. â€Å"Perhaps . . . if I might see my father, talk to him about . . . â€Å" â€Å"Treason?† Lord Varys hinted. â€Å"You disappoint me, Sansa,† the queen said, with eyes gone hard as stones. â€Å"We’ve told you of your father’s crimes. If you are truly as loyal as you say, why should you want to see him?† â€Å"I . . . I only meant . . . † Sansa felt her eyes grow wet. â€Å"He’s not . . . please, he hasn’t been . . . hurt, or . . . or . . . â€Å" â€Å"Lord Eddard has not been harmed,† the queen said. â€Å"But . . . what’s to become of him?† â€Å"That is a matter for the king to decide,† Grand Maester Pycelle announced ponderously. The king! Sansa blinked back her tears. Joffrey was the king now, she thought. Her gallant prince would never hurt her father, no matter what he might have done. If she went to him and pleaded for mercy, she was certain he’d listen. He had to listen, he loved her, even the queen said so. Joff would need to punish Father, the lords would expect it, but perhaps he could send him back to Winterfell, or exile him to one of the Free Cities across the narrow sea. It would only have to be for a few years. By then she and Joffrey would be married. Once she was queen, she could persuade Joff to bring Father back and grant him a pardon. Only . . . if Mother or Robb did anything treasonous, called the banners or refused to swear fealty or anything, it would all go wrong. Her Joffrey was good and kind, she knew it in her heart, but a king had to be stern with rebels. She had to make them understand, she had to! â€Å"I’ll . . . I’ll write the letters,† Sansa told them. With a smile as warm as the sunrise, Cersei Lannister leaned close and kissed her gently on the cheek. â€Å"I knew you would. Joffrey will be so proud when I tell him what courage and good sense you’ve shown here today.† In the end, she wrote four letters. To her mother, the Lady Catelyn Stark, and to her brothers at Winterfell, and to her aunt and her grandfather as well, Lady Lysa Arryn of the Eyrie, and Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun. By the time she had done, her fingers were cramped and stiff and stained with ink. Varys had her father’s seal. She warmed the pale white beeswax over a candle, poured it carefully, and watched as the eunuch stamped each letter with the direwolf of House Stark. Jeyne Poole and all her things were gone when Ser Mandon Moore returned Sansa to the high tower of Maegor’s Holdfast. No more weeping, she thought gratefully. Yet somehow it seemed colder with Jeyne gone, even after she’d built a fire. She pulled a chair close to the hearth, took down one of her favorite books, and lost herself in the stories of Florian and Jonquil, of Lady Shella and the Rainbow Knight, of valiant Prince Aemon and his doomed love for his brother’s queen. It was not until later that night, as she was drifting off to sleep, that Sansa realized she had forgotten to ask about her sister.