Motaba Virus – Immune System and Operation Clean Sweep

The mercenary camp was in the Motaba River Valley of Zaire was bombed to stop the virus from spreading. 2. No I would have removed all the people and disinfected all of them so the virus would stay in the forest and nobody would die. 3. Sam Daniels and his crew were sent out to the Motaba Valley because there was a level 4 virus. 4. The conditions in the Motaba valley were sad, smoky, poor and there were dead people everywhere. 5. The symptoms of the mystery disease at Motaba Valley were blistering everywhere, sever headaches and bleeding from every orifice. 6.No the virus that caused the mystery disease at Motaba Valley was not airborne. 7. A. The tribesman’s explanation of why the disease was affecting the tribe was because it was the gods punishment for cutting down the rain forest. B. No I don’t think the explanation makes any sense because mother nature couldn’t be happy with the loss of the plants and forest. 8. They wore thick space suits and multiple airl ocks, ultra violet light rooms and workers must be intensely trained. 9. The virus got to the U. S. by the monkey that Jimbo traveled with from the forest. 11.The electron microscope shows about the Motaba virus in Kidney cells, and it showed it was invaded, multiplied and killed the cells. 12. Jimbo is the owner of the infected monkey, and the monkey with the virus kills many people. 13. Rudy is the store owner of the animal store, and she is around these animals all the time. 14. Robby tried to find out if Jimbo had any contact with animals or how he got sick before he died. 15. A. Jimbo got infected by the virus by a monkey spitting on his mouth. B. Rudy got infected by the monkey scratching him. c. Jimbo’s girlfriend Alice got infected by kissing Jimbo. D.Henry got infected by blood splattering on him. E. People at the movie theatre got infected by being coughed on by someone with virus. F. Robby got infected by being stabbing herself with the needle. G. Casey got infecte d by taking his suit in an infected area. 16. A. The Motaba virus mutated because it became airborne. B. The Motba virus was so dangerous because it becoming airborne made it a lot easier to spread a lot faster. 17. A They forced the people to stay in town and they couldn’t leave their houses. B. Family members had to endure that they will eventually die because of the spread of the virus, the sick ad to be tested and would most likely die. 18. Operation clean sweep was the bomb that is powerful but not nuclear and is dropped on the California area, killing the disease and virus. 19. Many government officials thought it was necessary because the virus wouldn’t spread and kill millions. 20. Yes I think it is acceptable to kill a few lives to save the human population. Sometimes you have to take desperate measures when there’s a deadly virus going around. It would be better to take a few lives than kill the whole human population.It makes sense to kill the people with the virus (because there were few) and save the rest of the population. They could permanently kill off the virus by killing the people with it and saving other people form getting it. I think it would be necessary because to save a whole population would be essential over saving a few people. 21. I think that if there was a positive and known solution that would help the cause by sacrificing the animals, then it would be necessary so not so many people would die. 22. Danielle’s prevented the success of Operation Clean Sweep by flying there airplane right in front so they couldn’t bomb the city.And by telling them they found the cure. 23A. They determined the identity of the virus by drawing blood from an infected person. 23B. They determined the cause of the disease by analyzing blood and putting it under a microscope and they found tons of ebola viruses in the blood. 23C. They tracked the spread of the virus by keeping track of who had it, how they got it, when and where. 24A. Finding the host of the virus was critical and finding the anti-serum because they had to create the anti-serum from the monkey’s blood. 24B.Danielle’s was so intent on capturing the monkey in California because that’s how they would find the cure for the virus, since the monkey was indeed the virus carrier. 25A. A host cell is a living cell in which a virus reproduces. A primary host or definitive host is a host in which the parasite reaches maturity and, if possible , reproduces †¦ 25B. The monkey could have been referred to as virus carrier or infected living organism. 26. After capturing the monkey, Daniells and his team were able to find the cure to the virus and vaccine. 27. They used that room because they did not want the virus to spread anymore. 8. A. Antiserum is blood serum containing polyclonal antibodies. B. Antiserum is used to pass on passive immunity to many diseases. C. Passive antibody transfusion from a previous human surv ivor is the only effective treatment for Ebola infection. D. An antigen is a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, esp. the production of antibodies. E. Antibodies in the antiserum bind the infectious agent or antigen. The immune system then recognizes the antibody and the antigen and antibody work together to fight off viruses in immune systems. F.Antibodies in the antiserum bind the infectious agent or antigen. The immune system then recognizes foreign agents bound to antibodies and triggers a more robust immune response. The use of antiserum is particularly effective against pathogens which are capable of evading the immune system in the unstimulated state but which are not robust enough to evade the stimulated immune system. The existence of antibodies to the agent therefore depends on an initial â€Å"lucky survivor† whose immune system by chance discovered a counteragent to the pathogen, or a â€Å"host species† which carri es the virus but does not suffer from its effects.Further stocks of antiserum can then be produced from the initial donor or from a donor organism that is inoculated with the pathogen and cured by some stock of preexisting antiserum. G. They gave a lot the monkey and they wouldn’t have been able to find a cure that works that fast and be distributing it out to everyone to save currently sick people. It would have taken at least a month to find a cure and those people that were in the hospital would have died and not have been saved in real life. H.They gave a lot the monkey and they wouldn’t have been able to find a cure that works that fast and be distributing it out to everyone to save currently sick people. It would have taken at least a month to find a cure and those people that were in the hospital would have died and not have been saved in real life. They make the process of the antiserum look like an easy and fats process when really it takes months. It is a dif ficult task that takes an extremely long time. It’s not likely that they would find a cure in two days and not logical.They couldn’t pass on the cure that quickly to save the people that were currently in he hospital. They would have had to do many tests t find the cure to the virus it would not have taken just two days. 29. I thought the movie was good, but parts were not realistic. It showed how dangerous ebola really was and how fast it could spread. The government would probably take desperate measure to save the whole population. Ebola spreads so quickly and kills so fast. The movie was a good representation of ebola, how it spreads and how quickly and dangerous it is. 30. A. Yes viruses kill and they scare man and are deadly and fast moving.B. Everyone was so fearful and hopeless that if It happened today everyone would freak out and live in fear. C. It’s significant because man doesn’t have all fears but most would have a fear of deadly virus becau se it’s unknown and unseen, D. I think that man will ultimately dominate because there are so man doctors and scientist searching for viruses. That if an outbreak happened they would have a cure so fast with all the technology being created. A virus is a deadly, killer but I don’t see an outbreak in the future because of all the technology and there hasn’t been an incident for decades.

Gustav klimt

They may be completely different to another figure. Josephine Wall is a popular British artist and sculptor. Famous for fantastical works. This painting shows a beautiful girl with strawberry blonde hair out and about on a summer afternoon. The young girl enjoys the sun on her face on a warm midsummer day. The top of her head is covered with a straw hat, and she is surrounded by vibrant summer flowers and trees, and vivid butterflies. But perhaps the most wonderful part of this painting is what is happening right on top of the girl's hat.The Tara around her hat turns into a field where people are enjoying the summer and one another. I find this painting to be wonderful. There is such simplicity behind this painting that helps u feel relaxed when looking at it. The simple lives of the people on top of the girls hat are relaxing because we can easily make out that they are having a wonderful time in the summers sun. It captures the soul of summer and what summer should look like in a s ense. Rob Gonzales is a Canadian painter of magic realism with a unique perspective and style.The Sun Sets Sail is a smooth and calming painting that is also a wonderful optical illusion. Surrealistic paintings which show two seemingly different realistic scenes that magically merge into one. Gonzales exhibits his talent to trick the audience's perception by establishing the ships as the negative space of the arches under the aqueduct. His treatment of details on the ships and the aqueduct create an optical illusion, and a wonderful piece of artwork.Gonzales used shape in order to define the contours of the sailing hips; the arches under the aqueduct are roughly the same shape as the ships. This diagonal composition strengthens the sensation of movement that the ships create. The space created in the painting extends well beyond the edges. There is no limit set by any object in the space. The aqueduct starts to define an edge, but the arches show more space beyond. The colors in the painting also play a role in defining the optical illusion.The aqueduct is a blue silhouette on the left, and that color becomes the sky on the right. The choice to use Just blues and whites make the illusion smooth and simple. Franz Saver Windcheater (20 April 1805 – 8 July 1873) was a German painter, known for his portraits of royalty in the mid-nineteenth century. The Princess Leonia reclines on a low Turkish sofa on a veranda overlooking a lush tropical landscape. The style is naturalistic, and the detail is so precise, it looks like a photograph.It was painted in Rome when Franz met the Princess and her husband and made portraits of both of them. Princess Leonia she was a daughter of one of the most influential families of the Russian nobility. Known for her great beauty and intellect, the Princess is resplendent in a luxurious gown of ivory silk moor ©. She is lying on an open balcony and behind the column are plants, and further back, the ocean with a distant island and clouds in the sky displaying the colors of sunset. Windcheater used atmospheric perspective as he painted each receding item with less detail.The detail of the carpet in the foreground, and the large column and rapiers in the background, do not quite as precise, thus, not seem as important. This technique serves two purposes: to show the distance of the island and the horizon from the balcony, and also to ensure that Princess Leonia is the focus of the painting. I chose this painting because of the many different elements of design and principles of art used. The implied texture of her gown; the depth created with atmospheric perspective; the asymmetrical balance, as she is definitely more on the left side of the picture.

What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for Research Paper - 1

What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for pregnant women - Research Paper Example For instance, a woman that has a low vitamin D status will likely suffer from cardiovascular diseases, certain forms of cancer, diabetes, depression, and cognitive decline, among others. Vitamin D is naturally obtained in certain foods and added to others in order to make it a dietary supplement. Alternatively, vitamin D is optimally acquired when one exposes their skin to the ultraviolet sunlight rays that strike the skin and triggers the synthesis of the vitamin. To pregnant mothers, this vitamin is quite essential, not only for their distinct wellbeing, but also for the well-being of their unborn babies. This is because of the numerous benefits that are to be achieved from the consumption of the vitamin D such as the maintenance of the adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body. This is to allow for the attainment of a normal mineralization of the bones, and prevention of conditions such as hypocalcaemia among the pregnant women (Perampalam, Ganda, Chow, Opie, Hickman, Shadbolt & Nolan, 2011). The deficiency of this Vitamin D in the body system of a pregnant woman can have serious implications to their health and that of the unborn baby. For instance, according to a study by the US National Institute of Health, the presence of sufficient vitamin D in the body of a pregnant woman would enhance the growth of her bones, and remodel her osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Without a sufficiency in the supply of the vitamin to the body, the bones of the pregnant woman may become brittle, thin and misshapen. To the fetus, the deficiency in the supply of vitamin D into their bodies may result in them acquiring disease conditions such as rickets upon being born, while the mother may suffer from conditions such as osteomalacia (bone pain). Vitamin D presence in the body of the pregnant woman also performs several other functions such as the modulation of the growth of body cells, treatment of weak bones (osteoporosis), and bone loss in

Assignment Listening SKILLS Video Project Essay

Assignment Listening SKILLS Video Project - Essay Example I ventured to analyze myself in the video critically through four key listening skills of Non-verbal Communication, Verbal Communication, Questioning for Understanding, and Paraphrasing. The very first quality of an effective listener is to create a comfortable environment for the speaker. In this context, I employed non-verbal elements such as body posture, body language, and facial expressions in many ways. In the journal ("Developing Effective Communication Skills", the author states how important it is for the speaker and listener to be in the same posture, that is, sitting or standing (2009). I use this strategy by ensuring both of us were sitting and facing each other and my eyes were at the same level with him. I also made sure there was the right amount of space between us with no tangible barriers like furniture, and my hands were not crossed or clasped behind my neck . All these conveyed to Jimmy a sense of comfort and ease rather than a feeling of hostility or guarded behavior from my side. However, it would have been more ideal to have a warmer environment. I constantly made eye contact and at 1:57, I leaned forward to represent understanding and interes t through my body posture. In order to avoid blank expressions, at points 00:58 and 1:09, I smiled at Jimmy or changed my facial or physical expressions as he did. This is as known as the mirroring technique where I match his physical gestures. Dr. Walker says â€Å"Mirroring someone’s expressions and gestures indicates that you are in step with them† (2009). Another effective skill I used is to nod and emit vocal sounds such as ‘mmm’ and ‘ahan’ during the first minute to demonstrate I was listening and to help him on overcome his hesitation. I took care to not move around too much so as not to distract Jimmy. I kept in mind to smile and laugh at the right time such as at 1:25

V of Plato's Republic Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

V of Plato's Republic - Term Paper Example In the novel entitled Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, a society based on the eradication of individuality is described. All members of society are given a drug called â€Å"soma† in order to live in a chemically induced euphoria as prescribed by the social leaders. Similarly, in Plato’s Book V of the Republic, it is intended that society eliminate the barriers imposed by family units in order for the community as a whole to contain people that are all equally affiliated with one another in order for the community to act as one organism in and of itself. As far as a communist theory goes, this is described as ideal because the overall whole of the population is then able to see itself as one equally related group of people, without one person having special interest in the well being of another person more so than they would anyone else within that society. In addition to making each person equally associated to all other persons within this society, it is pointed out by Plato that women and men are capable of performing many of the same tasks therefore somewhat eliminating gender roles and furthering the elimination of the family unit. Plato did however tend to express his thoughts that women were inferior to men in many ways including intellect, â€Å" For men born and educated like our citizens, the only way, in my opinion, of arriving at a right conclusion about the possession and use of women and children is to follow the path on which we originally started, when we said that the men were to be the guardians and watchdogs of the herd† (Plato, pp. 2). This quote serves to illustrate Plato’s intention to expand on a woman’s role in his idealistic society, but yet he still places men in a leadership position above women. It can also be said that Plato examined the notion of the whole populace as a gene pool and only the best specimens out of that gene pool should reproduce thus rendering the best possible offspring. In Brave New World, there

Shape Security Profile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shape Security Profile - Research Paper Example Shape Security business strategies include diversification of product line through internal and external funding. For example, in 2014, the company allocated $40 million in funding (Ingrid, 2014). In this way, it was able to expand its products to include website hosting, high-speed internet, domain registration and email hosting among other. Shape Security target customers include banks, firms using ecommerce, healthcare organizations, cyber cafes and individuals using different websites among other users. Given the extensive use of internet globally, the company customer base will increase in future. This implies that by creating a strong promotion and more advertising, the company sales will ultimately increase. As the need for marketing in order to expand the customer base increases, firms have noted the importance of value proposition. For the case of Shape Security, innovation has been the key pillar in its brand improvement (Maranville, 1992). The company value proposition is that automation is at the heart of every botnet. In this way, customers are guaranteed of the value and capability of the ShapeShifter in dealing with the attacks. As the competition in the technology industry increases, more firms still are joining the sector due to the high profits enjoyed by firms. ShapeSecurity main competitors include Invincea, Crowdstrike and Defense.net. The enterprise was given the brand name Shape Security in 2011 when it was founded by Sumit Agarwal, Justin Call and Derek Smith. To ensure that potential customers are not confused or fail to differentiate the company brands from those of the competitors, Shape Security has a website- http://shapesecurity.com. The company operations are in line with US IP laws and thus competitors are prevented from producing brands that are the same like those of Shape Security. Shape Security enjoys the support of various investors. For example, Sierra Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and

Existentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Existentialism - Essay Example This begins with the aspect that religion is a problem that afflicts humanity in daily struggles of life. For example, he asserts that religion has played the fundamental role of brainwashing and confusing people instead of providing light. This suggests that it has stopped being a necessity for humanity in their common endeavors to find meaning. There is also a disconnect between religion and nature that affects the existence of human beings amicably (Nishitani 339). This means that religion has a contradictory spectrum that conflicts with its necessity for the masses especially the poor. The writer makes some implications that people can always do without religion in their regular roles and responsibilities. This is through seeking the purpose of religion and aligning it with the essential needs of humanity especially in the understanding of life. Learning and arts in some aspects are not necessities as viewed by humanity in the context of sociological indoctrination. For example, in existentialism, the concept of the absurd affirms that humanity has nothing to gain from the world except the meaning they attach to its happenings. Additionally, the concept continues to add that there is a lot of meaningless in most of the things people value. This is also reflected in the futility of life whereby tragic events occur at the split of seconds without any warning (Nishitani 340). Therefore, the obsession with arts and learning in the context of education should be dissociated with the meaning of life to help humanity cope. Alternatively, even in the concept of authenticity in existentialism, it is upon the individual to find him/herself without making attachments to creations of other human beings. This suggests that a person should exercise his freedoms according to his wishes without getting affected by the demands of humanity. There are several consequential effects of attempting to force religion in the view of its purpose for the masses. This implies that it is a case of futility in attempting to understand the meaning of religion because it is not a necessity. It is also sociologically incorrect to subject it an existentialistic argument because it is devoid of human appeal. Another perspective deals with the issue of evaluating the merits and demerits of religion because it is also useless. This is because the seeking of religious quest leads to confusion in the search of the meaning of life. In other words, according to most of the existentialism concepts, there is no rationality in reaching decisions based on things defined by man (Nishitani 340). These include religious devotion and its eventual evaluation to derive some of meaning for humanity. It also connotes the sense of anger and despair in human beings on things that lack meaning in their daily existence. Religious quest is also paramount in terms of helping people to define themselves within the broader spectrums of nature. However, there are certain conflicting obstacles th at deter people from attaining the level of religious horizon or pinnacle. This is known to breed a sense of nihility and the questioning of self-being through doubts and indecisive moments (Nishitani 341). Therefore, in Nishitani’s assumptions, the ways become unblocked through the comprehension of nihility in its sense of unblocking the sense of self. The author defines nihility as a thing that attaches meaninglessness to the

Transitional Economy of Azerbaijan Research Paper

Transitional Economy of Azerbaijan - Research Paper Example One of the transitional economic systems can be identified as the currently practiced structure of Azerbaijan which legitimately began with the execution of ‘Law on Basic Economic Development’ since the year 1991 followed by the commencement of ‘Cost of Liberalization’ in the preceding year 1992. This transition escorted to hyperinflation rates in Azerbaijan which was recorded to be approximately 1.66% by the end of the year 1994. Subsequently, since, 1991 to 1994, the national income of the country had to witness a steep decline from USD 35,006 million (in 1991) to USD 1.031 million (in 1994). The radical decline in the growth rates was further learned to have a crucial effect on the agricultural and industrial output of the country which consequently increased the rate of unemployment within the economy (Baranick & Salayeva, 2005).   The economy of Azerbaijan The economy of Azerbaijan was able to retain its growth since the year 1995 after witnessing a s ubstantial decline in terms of its income level as well as its overall industrial output. The reforms in the economic conditions have taken place in the year 1995 when the government attempted to set up a widespread stabilization approach in its economic system with the support of International Monetary Fund (IMF) with respect to its Systematic Transformation Facility (STF). The increasing growth of the economy was immensely supported by the country’s persistence towards the stabilization of policies within the private and governmental institutions. As well as the IMF, The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been identified as a few of the major prominent financial contributors in the developmental process of the economic conditions in Azerbaijan. With regards to the forecasting view of IMF towards the development of the country, it had been projected that Azerbaijan is quite likely to attain a sus tainable growth rate of around 7.1% by the year-end of 2012. It was also assumed by IMF that the inflation rate, likely to be witnessed by the country in its progress during 2012, would be around 10.3% (Mirzeyev, 2012).

Communication Change Challenge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication Change Challenge - Assignment Example The researcher states that when his colleagues make false statements, he cannot confront or argue with them about the issue. This is because the author feels that he has undermined their expression and he leave this for them to decide. The researcher would like to improve on this as it can cause many problems, which he would avoid if he could correct their statements. When his parents, do anything that is not normal, the author cannot correct or question them on the issue. This is because they are older that the author feels disrespectful when he correct or question them on their allegations. When friends or family members ask for assistance in the form of advice or money, he cannot deny the assistance. This is because the researcher has been staying with them as friends and family members and he has been assisting them in case of any problem. When the author tries to deny their assistance, he feels that they are traumatized and uncomfortable as family members and friends. When the a uthor is answering questions in public or meetings, he does not go direct to the point without explanation. This is because the researcher feels that the audiences are not satisfied without elaboration of the points. Through explanation, the audience will feel free and comfortable to ask any question in the course of the discussion. The researcher feels uncomfortable in the family or the field when some tasks are pending or incomplete. This makes the author not to concentrate on anything else as he feels that he has a weakness somewhere due to incomplete tasks or duties. The researcher won't deny any assistance requested by someone. This shows that he is in a position to deny the assistance, but due to his willingness to assist, the author cannot deny the assistance. As he is used to a life of assisting other people the author will be comfortable when others are suffering yet he is able and willing to assist them. This is the motive, which makes me not to deny any assistance request ed by different people even when the researcher is not able to help, he will try.

Globalisation. Its causes and results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Globalisation. Its causes and results - Essay Example This framework is the international strategy or strategic planning which is formulated by senior managers and executives detailing decisions regarding key issues such as where and how to produce goods or services, what products to sell, where to sell, and how and where to get resources for the production process. They must also decide how to compete with competitors and the key success factors for the company and product. Firms enter new markets for various reasons such as increased competition, discovery of new foreign markets, reaction to domestic market changes among others. Whatever the reason, the managers must chose the right market entry strategy and align it to corporate objectives (Andexer, 2008). Different strategies are linked to different entry modes depending on the situation, financial, economic, and environmental factors. The role of timely accurate marketing research and analysis to guide decision making is increasingly becoming critical. Depending on its situation, a firm may choose to use export, joint venture, direct investment, franchising, licensing, mergers and Acquisitions or global supply chains to enter new markets. The paper is going to analyse the market entry strategies of NatWest Bank since 2008. Company Background The National Westminster (NatWest) Bank is the largest retail and commercial bank in the U.K. It was established in 1968 after a merger of National Provincial bank and Westminster and District bank and began its operations in 1970. It has 1600 branches and 3400 cash machines across Britain. It also operates more than 7.5m customers and 850000small business accounts. It also has separate operations at Coutts & Co, Ulster bank, and Isle of man bank. It has been expanding over time and became a part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS) which is the second largest bank in UK in terms of assets and the fifth largest in the world by market capitalisation in 2000. However, it operates as a distinct brand though most fun ctions were merged with those of RBS. The bank has many subsidiaries and offers both banking and insurance services to personal, business and commercial customers across brands and channels. It is regulated and authorised by Financial Services Authority and it is also a member of the British Bankers’ Association (Worldwide web, 2012). Global Business Development Strategy International strategy is a comprehensive framework to help a business in achieving its fundamental goals (Andexer, 2008). It is more complex than a single country strategy for a firm in that it involves dealing with complex issues such as differences in language, culture, labour, political, legal, and currency among others. The strategy is aimed at attaining global efficiency, international flexibility and worldwide learning and can take the form of home replication, multidomestic strategy, global strategy and transnational strategy (Tielmann, 2010). Home replication focuses on transferring competitive advan tage from home market to foreign market. In this case, the firm develops a strategy and uses it in international firms. It is used when the need for flexibility and global integration is low. A firm may also use multidomestic str

Free

Freedom Riders Essay Important events in the Civil Rights Movement that occurred between 1942 and 1961, like an article that was written in the Washington Post (may 16 1961 ), and the James Zwerg incident and another things that happened were things like sits in (or lunch ins) boycotts against public transportation and , several peaceful protests. The freedom riders were peaceful protestors, Most of the events that occurred where in the south where there was still a lot of discrimination, inequality and segregation. So when the freedom riders were created people thought they were instigators because the freedom riders were trying to change the way the people in the south were living. A lot of events occurred during the time frame 1942 to 1961, and most of them showed how they were peaceful protestors The Freedom riders were not instigators of peace , they were just people fighting for what believe was right the freedom Riders were taking a stand, and were sought out as instigators of violence because they were changing the way people used to live. An editorial article in washington post on May 16 talks about how Alabama calls itself the â€Å"heart of dixie† which is a saying for places that so kindness and hospitality, the writer for this article is saying how can Alabama have the title of â€Å"heart of Dixie† when it is not fulfilling the name it has been given. The writer goes on to say that â€Å"The freedom riders engaged in no disorderly conduct and did nothing to provoke violence-save to exercise a constitutional right. †, the writer is saying that the Freedom Riders have not done anything wrong and have not provoked violence intensensionally. More evidence showing that the Freedom Riders were not instigators of violence is a statement made to the Department of Justice by Robert F. Kennedy on May 24, 1961 saying that other than the â€Å"Freedom Riders there were people seeking their own goals like curiosity seekers and publicity seekers. those people would act like Freedom Riders but have their own goal in mind and that is what caused the Freedom Riders to be seen as instigators of violence, when in fact they were peaceful protestors. The ‘ Freedom Riders† were peaceful protesters and in the transcript of an interview of a Freedom Rider Arrested in Jackson,Mississippi you will see how there were peaceful and how they were treated wrong. This Freedom Rider talks about how when blacks were coming from down from the north to south they were greatly harassed. When this Freedom Rider was being registered into the Hinds County Penitentiary one of the guards hold him said â€Å" One thing you got to remember is while you’re here, this is Mississippi and if one of my guards says anything to you, you answer ‘yes, sir, no,sir. do you understand,† the Freedom Rider could have said something back to the to guard and stood up for himself but he did not he kept quiet and peaceful showing he was not an instigator or provoker of violence. More evidence can be found in a the Beloit Magazine written in spring of 1989 . in this magazine there is an article about one of the Freedom Ride’s for Ja mes Zwerg. The article takes about how he was assaulted, beaten near death. Zwerg was attack by multiple men and was given no prompt medical attention, He was unconscious in Montgomery Hospital for two and a half days, James Zwerg goes on to say that he would have probably been dead if someone did not interfere and protect him. This shows that the Freedom Riders were peaceful protesters because he could have fought back and had a fight chance , but he chose not to showing that they were peace Some may say that the Freedom Riders were not peaceful protesters , may say that rather the Freedom Riders were Instigators Of violence instead. The Freedom Riders knew what they were getting into , when they tried to change the ways of the people living in the south, and they should have expected to receive discrimination and harassment. In the New york Times ( a Newspaper) there was an article entitled eyes on the prize written on June, 4th 1961, there was an article that basically says that the Freedom Riders have made began to provoke violence, and should stop because they have made their point but, that is invalid because in the whole picture the Freedom Riders ere Peaceful protesters, the Freedom Riders did not finish making their point , yes they knew that the journey of finding peace would be hard they had to make a change. Thats why the Freedom Riders were peaceful protesters. The Freedom Riders were on a journey of finding peaceful in America , and there were a lot of incidents, but for them the incidents were worth it. The Freedom Riders were peaceful protesters because there were so many opportunities that they co uld have retaliated but they chose not to , rather the Freedom Riders choose to keep the peace to the best of their abilities, and that is why they were peaceful protestors.

Australian Standard 3.2.3 for Food Premises and Equipment Essay Example for Free

Australian Standard 3.2.3 for Food Premises and Equipment Essay In Australia, premises where restaurants, bars etc are to be established have to adhere some standards. These standards have been developed by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority [ANZFA] in collaboration and consultation with both the State and Territory health authorities, the other interested institutions, the food industry and general public. For establishing a restaurant cum bar, one has to follow the rules and regulations set out in the standard 3. 2. 3 Food Premises and Equipment. It is to be noted that new standards mirror international best practice on designing and establishing a restaurant cum bar. These standards have become mandatory with effect from February 2001 in Australia. The main objective of the standard 3. 2. 3 is mainly to make sure that the layout of the premises lessens the chances for food contamination. It is the duty of the food business to make sure that the food premises ,fittings ,fixtures , transport vehicles , equipment are designed in such a way that it is constructed to be cleaned and , wherever essential , sanitised. Further, food business must make sure that the premises are offered with the required services of waste disposal, water, ventilation, light, cleaning and personal hygiene facilities, storage space and free access to toilets. The design and construction of food premises should consist the following: ? It should be suitable for the activities for which the building or premise is employed. ? It should contain enough space for the activities to be carried out on the food premises and for the equipment, furniture and fittings employed for the food activities. ? The food premises should be kept clean and if essential , it should be sanitized; and ? It should try to avoid the following : ? Should avoid dust, dirty, smoke, fumes and other contaminants. ? Not to allow the entry of pests; and ? Not to act as breeding grounds for pests. It is to be noted that if a food business operate without licence or without an accredited food safety program, then it will be liable to fined for 1000 units wherein a penalty unit equal to Australian $ 75. The following assumptions have been made for this research essay. a) The toilet facilities comply with the relevant building and plumbing legislation and the position of the facilities is located as detailed in the plans. b) There is a common bulk waste and recyclables storage area in the on the ground floor of a multi-level shopping complex where the proposed restaurant cum bar is to be located. c) The proposed premise meets all town planning requirements and that an application is not required under the Integrated Planning Act 1997. Steps to be perused before making an application for the approval of design and plan; It should be noted that applicant should prior to undertake any commencement of work on his proposed food premises; he should first take approval from the Council’s health services. The application should include two copies of plan and design for the proposed restaurant cum bar. The plans must adhere to a scale of not less than 1:100 and must include the following:- o Particulars of the proposed layout of the restaurant cum bar exhibiting the position of all benches, equipment, appliances, fixtures and counters. o Details of specification which should list all material to be employed , finishes to floors , ceiling ,walls ,work benches ,cupboards and descriptions /details of all equipments to be employed including the model number and the manufacturer’s name wherever applicable. o Details regarding the types of food involved the specifications if work to be carried out in each area and the total number of proposed employees. o Particulars of capacity of the hot water service which includes the service rating. o Where mechanical ventilation is demanded , additional plans must be forwarded which include: †¢ A full dimensional drawing exhibiting front and end elevation. †¢ Details relating to the filter capacity, rated motor power and provision for make up air. 2. ASSESSING THE APPLICATION AND PLANS; ? It is to be noted that all construction techniques and methods are to be in compliance with the building code of Australia 2005/2006 VOL 1, and should adhere all Australian standards and council building guidelines. ? The walls should be of an approved smooth flat impervious material and finished in light coloured washable glass paint. ? Ceiling to be of an approved smooth non-absorbant imperious material and finished in light coloured glass paint. ? Floors, ceilings and walls should be free from any cracks or crevaces. ? All fittings fixed to the walls shall be sealed with an approved sealant. ? Bench tops should be 1. 2 mm s/s bonded to 18mm waterproof ply backing and painted underside with white glass enamel. ? All ducts ,pipes , electrical wirings and like fittings not concealed in walls shall be mounted on brackets with a minimum 25 millimetres clearance from walls and 150 millimetres clearance from the floor. ? If no approval for a mechanical ventilation system is given separately, then food premises should have only equipment not requiring a mechanical exhaust ventilation system which complies with AS1668. 2:1991, which is permitted within the food premises. ? The food premises should have adequate artificial or natural lighting, Light fittings shall be recessed or flush mounted and fitted with a cover or diffuser and constructed to prevent contamination of food with dust, dirt or other falling matter. ? The food premises should have coving with a minimum radius of 25 millimetres and continued up all fixtures, walls and plinths for not less than 70millimetres. The coving shall be an integral part of the floor surface. ? The food premises should have wheels or castors on all heavy equipment over 16 kilograms to permit easy movement for cleaning of the floor area ? Premises should have impervious barrier, at least 300mm in height in between the double bowl sink and hand washbasin provided within the front area. ? Food premises should be effectively offer pest proof. The following table will help to analyse the significant factors that have to be considered while assessing the application and plans in the case of a new restaurant cum bar.

Communication Skills and Ethical Practice in IT Service

Communication Skills and Ethical Practice in IT Service Harpreet Singh TASK 1 Definition of Intra and Interpersonal Communication. INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION It has taken place within a single person who observes the situation and creates ideas. For example, there is the ongoing case in a court two lawyer protect their clients by arguing with each other and the judge is the person who is observing the situation and take the decision. Interpersonal communication totally depends on some various aspects like self-concept, perception, and expectation. Self-concept This concept is totally an initial stage of intrapersonal communication, its depend on how a person behave while talking with other and his body language how he is using gestures also his attitude toward the person is he intend to listen to that person although the most import thing is value for the person to whom he is talking all these things define the persons Internal understanding with himself there are lots of things that can affect self-concept. Perception Perception in the simple language what is you thinking about others it can be a person or anything. Expectation Expectation means you expecting something from another person in returns, for example, if you are giving a gift to your friend then you might expect something from him on your birthday. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION Interpersonal communication is happening between or more two persons, it supposed to be Face to face communication it can be via video calling or interviewer interview candidate so he will ask questions direct away to the interviewee to make the conversation more clear and check that persons IQ level or reaction how he reacts. This type of communication will create a long-term relation between two people because they are sharing their feelings or idea. Interpersonal communication can be done to motivate a person so he can elaborate his in front of public or anyplace it will boost the confidence of a person. This type of communication can be done verbally and non-verbally through messages or emails etc. There are various aspects of Interpersonal communication skills. Interpersonal communication will increase organizational skills like face to face meeting, it can also enhance group communication skill so that a person can speak in the front of the group of people with the confidence. But this skill should be used in the organization. For instance handling an angry customer. It will also add up written communication skills like writing emails to clients in a formal way or writing messaging in daily life is the best example of informal written communication skills. Listening skills plays a vital role in interpersonal communication skills a good communicator always a good listener if a person is not listening other people then he does not have good communication skills. (Faculty buffalostate) Verbal and Non-verbal communication. There are many situations when you tried to explain something but you are not able to explain because of the different language or lack of listening skill or might be some other reason in the day to day life. For example when I came to Auckland I face many problems to adopting kiwi accent or the way they speak so my flight land to Auckland airport, no one is there to pick me up and I asked one of the kiwis in the airport how to reach city he replied me sorry because their accent is different from us then I tried to explain him via my gestures then he understand a bit but not exact what I am trying to tell him then he told me to ask someone who knows your local language by gesture as I am new here to its take too much time to understand their accent for me then as I wrote it down on the piece of paper and he wrote on that paper hire a cab ,then I understand what he is trying to say this the first incident happened with me. After that one day, I tried to identify the barriers like wher e I am lacking and why other people dont understand my accent. Language Barriers: In this as we interact with each other in the same language but speaker use some high vocabulary words that are not used in day to day tasks and the listener not able to understand the meaning of that certain words here the language barriers falls. Like when I came here in Auckland I dont know much about kiwis accent and they use some high vocabulary words that I dont even hear before. Psychological Barriers:- In my situation that kiwi guy might be angry on me but he didnt react that way because he knows how to manage stress or anger in that situation so basically managing stress or anger and giving a feedback is all about overcoming psychological barriers. Cross-cultural barriers:- In this two person having different cultures and values like that kiwi having totally different culture as compare to me so this barrier might fall while I am trying to interact with him. Role of personality and self-management in the learning environment. The role of personality It plays a vital role in the learning environment because it shows the characteristics of a person like his style to speak with his collages and other people around him, behavior, attitude, and how he convey people with his sweetness, calmness and how he seeing the world is all about personality. If that person is not has attitude of learning new things then no one would take him seriously, so the personality in the learning environment is like how a person indulge in curriculum activities, research, active listening, attitude toward his teacher, study and putting question to gain some knowledge like if a person is not interested in a particular subject then he is lacking somewhere he had to show interest if he wants to build a good personality. The role of self-management Self-management refers to how a person manages himself and managing his time, setting aims, self-motivation, building patience, avoid stress, assessing yourself and solving your problem. If you have this kind of skills so your learning will never bother you and it will become a fun activity which helps you to grab more opportunities in your life. Some strategies that will definitely help you in learning environments are:- Time Management Strategies Time management is managing your time whole performing day to day activities. In this, you set your priority like which work is more important for you, how you make a plan to do that tasks and you should utilize that given time period as you can. For example if you are working on a project in the corporate sector then there are certain deadline set by them so its depend upon you how complete that project by making some plan and splitting the work among employees, make a commitment like if there is deadline given by company then you set your deadline before company deadline so the project has to be done between that time period and you achieve your goal. Attitude Strategies Set an attitude because once you set it then other people around you will never judge you like dont make excuses other people around you can take your excuse as their advantage. Concentration Focus on your works dont let other people distract your concentration be an active listener, make a list of task in your mind that you have to perform, try to make busy yourself so you can avoid stress and achieve your goals. (student-learning.tcd.ie, n.d.) Task (2) Example of Intercultural miss-communication. First of all what is culture A culture everything you learn about how to speak, how to behave, how to think about of the things like how you think about another person, these things you will be learned by talking with you neighborhoods, parents, teachers and most important is how you observe them by listening actively. Like Your neighborhood can be a Sikh they go to the Gurudwaras on Sunday and you are following them very steadily here culture falls it is totally your observation towards the world. Now Intercultural communication is two people following different culture their language is diff their dresses sense is diff they hardly talk with each other this is intercultural comm. For example a person working in a company he might be a Christian and there is lots of Hindu working the way that Christian talks are totally different his Facial expression, eye contact, gesture, behavior will create miss-communication between that Hindu worker because they are comfortable to talk to their mother language and another person might have diff mother language so here intercultural miss-communication lies. Case Study: Selena should not have burst out without knowing whats that gesture means for them. It was rude of her to have shouted such words on George. George disrespectfully calling someone for help. As if they have hired you. A communication breakdown happens when two parties cannot understand each other language or gesture. In this case, Selena belonging to the South Asian culture misunderstood what raising a hand and snapping figure could mean in Auckland. Mr. George had snapped his fingers in the air to aware Selena that he needs help. However, in South Asian culture snapping fingers to get someones attention is considered very disrespectful and that you are being dominated by other person. The same gesture having different meanings in different cultures led to a communication breakdown in this case. No, nothing was unreasonable or inconsiderate their behaviors. Both of them were unaware of the different meaning of the gesture and so their reactions were justified. However, since Selena is new to the country she should have learnt some of the kiwi gestures and phrases commonly used. Before bursting out on George she could have asked him what that means or told him its a disrespectful gesture in her culture. Task (3) Advantages and Disadvantages of working in a team Advantages 1 Work has been divided equally A leader having a certain work pressure on him to control this pressure he divides the work to among employee in his team and he makes sure there will be no partiality of workload everyone will put equal effort to complete that work before the deadline. 2 More people more ideas If there is more member in the team then there will be more ideas and creativity in the work it will take your team to another level of the working environment. 3 Enhance leadership skills- Working in a team will always open up your fear of public speaking, it will improve your communication skill and how you present yourself also your initiative in the team you have to put your legs in the hot water. It motivates you lot by sharing your ideas, views etc. 4 Responsibilities have been shared- As I told earlier if the work is divided equally then the responsibilities has also been shared because someone is perfect is some task so the leader should decide which task is given to the which person who can utilize it properly. 5 Relationship Working in the team environment will always build up the good relationship with among team members see the ups and down will happen but at the end, if the work is done effectively and the result is above expectation then it will always create better understanding and a good relation. Disadvantages 1 If something went wrong everyone in the team should be blamed.- When you are performing a team work then you always ensure that is everything thing should be going smoothly if one of the team members did mistake then remember everyone in the team will be blamed. 2 Misunderstanding- Misunderstanding happens when there is miscommunication between all team member like there is a team of 5 members and the leader is giving different tasks to each member and when the team member talk with each other they come to know something else like he has been given the same task to all team member it will create confusions and misunderstanding between him and among team members. 3 Partiality of work- A leader is doing work to overcome from his work pressure when he is giving work to the member of his team who capable more than that limited work other will think this is partiality, they will think he might be his very good friend thats why he is giving him a simple task so the partiality of the work is always there if your leader is doesnt having that observing skill he should know the capability of a person and utilize him as per his capacity. 4 less flexibility Less flexibility leads to late submissions of projects because if the team members are not flexible with each other and they might have to do their own tasks not talking with other might have some ego it will destroy many things. 5 Ideas Collisions Most important thing while performing in the team more people more ideas different people different thinking so there might be confusion for selecting ideas for a leader he has to think of all team members. Factors that affect team performance. TASK1: LIFTING A CAR THAT IS AGROUND IN THE BEACH In this task 4 team member required equal power, coordination, motivation and timing. I will explain each factor required to lifting a car. 1 Equal power: The first most important factor in this all the member in the team should be physically fit and able to put equal power to lift the car. if one of the team members is not fit then it will trouble a lot, the car might be fallen down on his hand. 2 Co-ordination: If you dont coordinate with all team member and you have a plan to pull the car then how can you lift it so make a plan and explain to each teaches member how its work. 3 Motivation: Motivation is the requirement to force him-self, yes you can do it so can do attitude will boast your motivation and you will be indulging in all activities automatically that are performing by your all team members. 4 Timing: If you have all those 3 factors in your team then this will lead you to lift the car by setting a time on that all the team member pull the car together and it will lift easily. TASK2: CLIMBING TO EVEREST To climbing the Everest a team leader must be an experienced one, he should also listen to all the team member because this task requires lots of force one step wrong it will lead to death. In this, each member has to perform an individual task but they have shared their knowledge with each other , also the leader should guide them properly basically the coordination in this task must require. A further thing is motivation willing power are the factor if a person has this quality then he must climbing to Everest. Task4 THREE-FACTOR OF EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1 Presenting Yourself When we talk about effective customer service the factor is how you present yourself in the front of the customer talk politely listen to them and keep smiling while communicating with them. 2 Show Care For Them Try to involve with customer as much you can while tell them if you are in that situation what you can do give some solution, and guide them in the right way they will be impressed automatically, giving good services is always a benefit to satisfy customer and try to create good relationship with them so that they can trust you easily. 3 Convincing Power: If you build trust then convince them is more easily but some customer wont convince because their expectation became more from a service representative so you always try to update them by promoting you new products and give them some extra benefits if they will buy they will refer more customer. The main barriers to customer service in IT business. Failure to solve complaints quickly With todays smart generation, people only reach out to customer care Centres of companies only when the problem is real complex. Customer service fails if one isnt able to serve the complex complaint in the first instinct or immediately direct them to the right person to help them out. (Real Business, n.d.) Inability to provide easy access to customers It should be easy for people to contact the companies to get their issues resolved. Their websites or customer care centers should be easily accessible to all. Failure to provide this a big barrier to customer service. (Real Business, n.d.) Not using customer feedbacks Customer feedbacks satisfy the customers as well as help organizations to improve their customer services in the future. They also help the businesses to know areas where they are lacking and can improve. (Real Business, n.d.) Overworked Staff Having less staff or giving a few people lots of tasks can exhaust them which in turn will lead to loss of interest in working properly. No client will be given importance. The employee will just want finish off the tasks and go home. This will result in dissatisfied customers and hence poor customer service. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Underworked Staff Having all the more staff is a barrier too. Underworked staff might feel they have no importance and that they are not challenged or are not appreciated for their work. This in turn can again have a similar effect as the overworked staff has. Employees might take too long to solve issues since they have plenty of time hence delaying the service and dissatisfying customers. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Non-Caring Culture If the environment of the place where you work is not positive and the staff is careless about their work, a good customer service is not given. Customers are not given importance and the result is unhappy customers. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Insufficient Systems Lack of proper technology when dealing with the customer can lead to the slow and poor performance of the staff. Systems with insufficient data about the customers history or any data related to the client act as a barrier to good customer service. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Lack of Incentive Lack of incentives to the staff gives them no reason to perform better customer service. They ll be bored and work just fine without appreciation. Any incentive, monetary or non-monetary, can improve an employees customer service. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Scripted communication Clients prefer communication customized for them, not a scripted service. Even though a scripted communication might be easier for the employees but a little personal touch for every customer makes them feel important and hence a great customer service. (Provide Support, n.d.) Delayed response The most common reason for complaints and dissatisfied customers is that they were put on hold for a very long time. A swift response to their queries is the most important part of an excellent customer service. Waiting customers result in poor customer service. (Provide Support, n.d.) Not valuing the customers Staff should know how to value customers otherwise they will not treat the customers as they are supposed to. Mistreating them leads to poor customer service. (Entre Propel, n.d.) Poor accountability The staff should be held accountable for customer service they provide. Otherwise, they will not try to perform better, they will never be blamed for an unhappy customer and so they wont be willing to improve. Recording and tracking their conversations will result in better customer service. (Entre Propel, n.d.) References (n.d.). Retrieved from student-learning.tcd.ie: https://student-learning.tcd.ie/undergraduate/topics/self-management/ Entre Propel. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.entre-propel.com/: http://www.entre-propel.com/customer-service/8-barriers-to-outstanding-customer-service/ Faculty buffalostate. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://faculty.buffalostate.edu: http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/smithrd/uae%20communication/unit4.pdf Provide Support. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.providesupport.com: http://www.providesupport.com/blog/10-barriers-outstanding-customer-service/ Real Business. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://realbusiness.co.uk: http://realbusiness.co.uk/sales-and-marketing/2013/10/09/10-barriers-to-effective-customer-service/

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis :: essays research papers

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader By: C.S. Lewis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three main characters in the story, Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace. Lucy and Edmund are brother and sister and Eustace is their cousin. Edmund is a young teenager, very smart and very kind. Lucy is in her mid teens as well, she is a very happy person. Lucy is always trying to help people with there problems.The setting is first the early 1900’s in England and then in Narnia the fictional world the story is based on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story begins with Edmund and Lucy sitting in there room talking about Narnia. Eustace is listening outside their door and comes in to make fun of them. There is a picture of a ship on the wall and as Eustace calls Narnia fake water begins coming into the room out of the picture. The next thing they know they are in the ocean and the ship is at there side. The ship is a group of Narnians sailing east looking for the seven lost lords of Narnia. Caspain the king of Narnia is leading the search group along with Ripecheep the leader of the talking mice.( In Narnia animals talk and walk around like humans) Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace since came into the world in the ocean they have to go along on the rescue mission. They come to an island and they had to find food and supplies. Eustace decided to go rest for awhile and finds a place up a hill. When he wakes from his nap there is a thick fog and he thinks he knows the way that he came from. He walks down into a valley and sees a pond and decides to take a drink. He sees a cave and decides to go in. Inside the cave there is gold, jewels, crowns, diamond, all kinds of treasure. He puts a bracelet on and while he was sitting in a pile of gold he fell back asleep. When he woke up his arm was very sores and noticed the band was now very tight. Eustace walked over to the pond to take a drink and see s the relexion of a dragon in the water. He had been turned to a dragon by taking the dragons gold. He is a dragon for a few days then Aslan(Aslan is the great emperor of Narnia) comes to visit him and changes him back.

Original Writing :: Plagiarism Influence Authors Argumentative Essays

Original Writing My writing as a poet has been heavily influenced by writers like Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker and Slam poets such as Black Thought and the Last Poets. These writers write and speak about the struggles and uniqueness of Black culture. Their individual experiences and political stances as well as the influences of other artist are evident in their work. For example in Giovanni’s poem â€Å"Revolutionary Music† she quotes some of the lyrics from Sam Cooke and James Brown to illustrate her personal views on racism and the equal rights movements. Hughes in his piece titled â€Å"Message to the President† skillfully incorporates the political events of his time into his poem using it to sardonically articulate his view on racial inequalities that were occurring in his time. Black Thought and the Last Poets utilize jazz and urban hip hop along with their idea of Black to relay their message. In writing my individual poems, I find it difficult not to incorporate the style of the writers mentioned. I gained my consciousness of Black culture and struggle through the words of these writers their ideas have no choice but to be reflected in my own writing. I wrote a piece titled â€Å"Books not Bombs† which originated during the time the troops were being sent to Iraq to fight a war that was unnecessary in my opinion. The students at my high school and schools around the city were walking out of class to protest in city hall; however, we were told that we would be suspended by the principal if we left. I felt that the administration was silencing our voices by holding us with the threat of suspension. In this poem I used a line from a local pop song from the group OutKast, â€Å"They’re throwing bombs over Baghdad, but what about the bombs that are exploding right here, right now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Using this mimics Giovanni and Hughes’ incorporation of musica l lyrics of the time to make the piece relatable to the intended audience. I was also influenced by the social political climate that was being hotly debated at the time (war). My particular social influence is reflective of Robert P. Yagelski’s essay â€Å"Who’s Afraid of Subjectivity†. In his essay he used Donald Murray’s experience of writing and rewriting his piece which was reflective of his war years and the political controversy of his time. â€Å"†¦which provided impetus to write the poem and helped and helped shape the very content of the poem.

Homosexuality Essay -- Gay Lesbian Homosexual Essays

Homosexuality My frustration with debate about homosexuality stems not so much from the arguments themselves, but the actual method of argument. Often, two â€Å"experts† will approach the topic from two radically different â€Å"expert† fields. One may be a New Testament scholar and thus draws out the intricacies of Romans 1:18-28 and the true meaning of the word â€Å"homosexual offender† (i.e. older man sleeping with a young boy) in that case. The other may be a biologist who appeals to natural logic and reproduction to defend sex as a behavior meant for heterosexuals. Both of them are right within their own expertise. But they cannot, then, debate, for it would be like Chuck pitching to a batter on another baseball field. I was pleasantly surprised, then, when Via and Gagnon approached the issue of homosexuality from the same basis—the Bible. If indeed homosexuality is to be embraced (or rejected) by the Church as a legitimate expression of one’s being, then one cannot dismiss the Bible as only part of the argument. Behind almost every denominational tradition, the Bible stands as a primary source of wisdom/ethics/practice that, even if its inerrancy is being questioned more recently, cannot be discounted so easily. Approaches: Therefore, they both come to scripture as authoritative, though both also read it through a historical/cultural critics’ lens. Gagnon certainly takes the position that the Old Testament and New Testament commandments condemning homosexual practices are absolute, saying that a purely scientific renege of multiple biblical instructions is not enough. As scripture interprets scripture, he points out that Ezekiel, Jude, and other texts all support homosexualities’ blanket condemnation. Via seems m... ..., they should not act upon them in a sexual way, as they can be fully alive without sex. Some questions I still harbor: If homosexuality is something God has given humanity as a sign of God’s wrath (as Via implies) and not necessarily a sin, ought we still accept it? Can we take the Leviticus passage out of context and put it with the â€Å"impure† laws about menstruation when it actually rests between a verse about not sacrificing to idols (obviously against both OT and NT law) and having sex with animals? If we can, then we may make the case that beastiality was just an impurity law and is now a legitimate form of sexual expression. Should we make decisions in the Church based on what is best for the whole body in terms of acceptance and love of people (so that others may be more open to hearing the gospel message), even if it may be â€Å"wrong† according to scripture?

Chapter 21 The House-elf Liberation Front

Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to the Owlery that evening to find Pigwidgeon, so that Harry could send Sirius a letter telling him that he had managed to get past his dragon unscathed. On the way, Harry filled Ron in on everything Sirius had told him about Karkaroff. Though shocked at first to hear that Karkaroff had been a Death Eater, by the time they entered the Owlery Ron was saying that they ought to have suspected it all along. â€Å"Fits, doesn't it?† he said. â€Å"Remember what Malfoy said on the train, about his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks together at the World Cup†¦.I'll tell you one thing, though, Harry, if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the goblet, he's going to be feeling really stupid now, isn't he? Didn't work, did it? You only got a scratch! Come here – I'll do it -â€Å" Pigwidgeon was so overexcited at the idea of a delivery he was flying around and around Harry's head, hooting incessantly. Ron snatched Pigwidgeon out of the air and held him still while Harry attached the letter to his leg. There's no way any of the other tasks are going to be that dangerous, how could they be?† Ron went on as he carried Pigwidgeon to the window. â€Å"You know what? I reckon you could win this tournament, Harry, I'm serious.† Harry knew that Ron was only saying this to make up for his behavior of the last few weeks, but he appreciated it all the same. Hermione, however, leaned against the Owlery wall, folded her arms, and frowned at Ron. â€Å"Harry's got a long way to go before he finishes this tournament,† she said seriously. â€Å"If that was the first task, I hate to think what's coming next.† â€Å"Right little ray of sunshine, aren't you?† said Ron. â€Å"You and Professor Trelawney should get together sometime.† He threw Pigwidgeon out of the window. Pigwidgeon plummeted twelve feet before managing to pull himself back up again; the letter attached to his leg was much longer and heavier than usual – Harry hadn't been able to resist giving Sirius a blow-by-blow account of exactly how he had swerved, circled, and dodged the Horntail. They watched Pigwidgeon disappear into the darkness, and then Ron said, â€Å"Well, we'd better get downstairs for your surprise party, Harry – Fred and George should have nicked enough food from the kitchens by now.† Sure enough, when they entered the Gryffindor common room it exploded with cheers and yells again. There were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface; Lee Jordan had let off some Filibuster's Fireworks, so that the air was thick with stars and sparks; and Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had put up some impressive new banners, most of which depicted Harry zooming around the Horntail's head on his Firebolt, though a couple showed Cedric with his head on fire. Harry helped himself to food; he had almost forgotten what it was like to feel properly hungry, and sat down with Ron and Hermione. He couldn't believe how happy he felt; he had Ron back on his side, he'd gotten through the first task, and he wouldn't have to face the second one for three months. â€Å"Blimey, this is heavy,† said Lee Jordan, picking up the golden egg, which Harry had left on a table, and weighing it in his hands. â€Å"Open it, Harry, go on! Let's just see what's inside it!† â€Å"He's supposed to work out the clue on his own,† Hermione said swiftly. â€Å"It's in the tournament rules†¦.† â€Å"I was supposed to work out how to get past the dragon on my own too,† Harry muttered, so only Hermione could hear him, and she grinned rather guiltily. â€Å"Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!† several people echoed. Lee passed Harry the egg, and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open. It was hollow and completely empty – but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room. The nearest thing to it Harry had ever heard was the ghost orchestra at Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party, who had all been playing the musical saw. â€Å"Shut it!† Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears. â€Å"What was that?† said Seamus Finnigan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed it shut again. â€Å"Sounded like a banshee†¦Maybe you've got to get past one of those next, Harry!† â€Å"It was someone being tortured!† said Neville, who had gone very white and spilled sausage rolls all over the floor. â€Å"You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!† â€Å"Don't be a prat, Neville, that's illegal,† said George. â€Å"They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing†¦maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower. Harry.† â€Å"Want a jam tart, Hermione?† said Fred. Hermione looked doubtfully at the plate he was offering her. Fred grinned. â€Å"It's all right,† he said. â€Å"I haven't done anything to them. It's the custard creams you've got to watch -â€Å" Neville, who had just bitten into a custard cream, choked and spat it out. Fred laughed. â€Å"Just my little joke, Neville†¦.† Hermione took a jam tart. Then she said, â€Å"Did you get all this from the kitchens, Fred?† â€Å"Yep,† said Fred, grinning at her. He put on a high-pitched squeak and imitated a house-elf. â€Å"‘anything we can get you, sir, anything at all!' They're dead helpful†¦get me a roast ox if I said I was peckish.† â€Å"How do you get in there?† Hermione said in an innocently casual sort of voice. â€Å"Easy,† said Fred, â€Å"concealed door behind a painting of a bowl of fruit. Just tickle the pear, and it giggles and -† He stopped and looked suspiciously at her. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Nothing,† said Hermione quickly. â€Å"Going to try and lead the house-elves out on strike now, are you?† said George. â€Å"Going to give up all the leaflet stuff and try and stir them up into rebellion?† Several people chortled. Hermione didn't answer. â€Å"Don't you go upsetting them and telling them they've got to take clothes and salaries!† said Fred warningly. â€Å"You'll put them off their cooking!† Just then, Neville caused a slight diversion by turning into a large canary. â€Å"Oh – sorry, Neville!† Fred shouted over all the laughter. â€Å"I forgot – it was the custard creams we hexed -â€Å" Within a minute, however, Neville had molted, and once his feathers had fallen off, he reappeared looking entirely normal. He even joined in laughing. â€Å"Canary Creams!† Fred shouted to the excitable crowd. â€Å"George and I invented them – seven Sickles each, a bargain!† It was nearly one in the morning when Harry finally went up to the dormitory with Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. Before he pulled the curtains of his four-poster shut. Harry set his tiny model of the Hungarian Horntail on the table next to his bed, where it yawned, curled up, and closed its eyes. Really, Harry thought, as he pulled the hangings on his four-poster closed, Hagrid had a point†¦they were all right, really, dragons†¦. The start of December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Drafty though the castle always was in winter. Harry was glad of its fires and thick walls every time he passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was pitching in the high winds, its black sails billowing against the dark skies. He thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly too. Hagrid, he noticed, was keeping Madame Maxime's horses well provided with their preferred drink of single-malt whiskey; the fumes wafting from the trough in the comer of their paddock was enough to make the entire Care of Magical Creatures class light-headed. This was unhelpful, as they were still tending the horrible skrewts and needed their wits about them. â€Å"I'm not sure whether they hibernate or not,† Hagrid told the shivering class in the windy pumpkin patch next lesson. â€Å"Thought we'd jus' try an see if they fancied a kip†¦we'll jus' settle 'em down in these boxes†¦.† There were now only ten skrewts left; apparently their desire to kill one another had not been exercised out of them. Each of them was now approaching six feet in length. Their thick gray armor; their powerful, scuttling legs; their fire-blasting ends; their stings and their suckers, combined to make the skrewts the most repulsive things Harry had ever seen. The class looked dispiritedly at the enormous boxes Hagrid had brought out, all lined with pillows and fluffy blankets. â€Å"We'll jus' lead 'em in here,† Hagrid said, â€Å"an' put the lids on, and we'll see what happens.† But the skrewts, it transpired, did not hibernate, and did not appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in. Hagrid was soon yelling, â€Å"Don panic, now, don' panic!† while the skrewts rampaged around the pumpkin patch, now strewn with the smoldering wreckage of the boxes. Most of the class – Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle in the lead – had fled into Hagrid's cabin through the back door and barricaded themselves in; Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were among those who remained outside trying to help Hagrid. Together they managed to restrain and tie up nine of the skrewts, though at the cost of numerous burns and cuts; finally, only one skrewt was left. â€Å"Don' frighten him, now!† Hagrid shouted as Ron and Harry used their wands to shoot jets of fiery sparks at the skrewt, which was advancing menacingly on them, its sting arched, quivering, over its back. â€Å"Jus' try an slip the rope 'round his sting, so he won hurt any o' the others!† â€Å"Yeah, we wouldn't want that!† Ron shouted angrily as he and Harry backed into the wall of Hagrid's cabin, still holding the skrewt off with their sparks. â€Å"Well, well, well†¦this does look like fun.† Rita Skeeter was leaning on Hagrid's garden fence, looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak with a furry purple collar today, and her crocodile-skin handbag was over her arm. Hagrid launched himself forward on top of the skrewt that was cornering Harry and Ron and flattened it; a blast of fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby. â€Å"Who're you?† Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter as he slipped a loop of rope around the skrewt's sting and tightened it. â€Å"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter,† Rita replied, beaming at him. Her gold teeth glinted. â€Å"Thought Dumbledore said you weren' allowed inside the school anymore,† said Hagrid, frowning slightly as he got off the slightly squashed skrewt and started tugging it over to its fellows. Rita acted as though she hadn't heard what Hagrid had said. â€Å"What are these fascinating creatures called?† she asked, beaming still more widely. â€Å"Blast-Ended Skrewts,† grunted Hagrid. â€Å"Really?† said Rita, apparently full of lively interest. â€Å"I've never heard of them before†¦where do they come from?† Harry noticed a dull red flush rising up out of Hagrid's wild black beard, and his heart sank. Where had Hagrid got the skrewts from? Hermione, who seemed to be thinking along these lines, said quickly, â€Å"They're very interesting, aren't they? Aren't they. Harry?† â€Å"What? Oh yeah†¦ouch†¦interesting,† said Harry as she stepped on his foot. â€Å"Ah, you're here. Harry!† said Rita Skeeter as she looked around. â€Å"So you like Care of Magical Creatures, do you? One of your favorite lessons?† â€Å"Yes,† said Harry stoutly. Hagrid beamed at him. â€Å"Lovely,† said Rita. â€Å"Really lovely. Been teaching long?† she added to Hagrid. Harry noticed her eyes travel over Dean (who had a nasty cut across one cheek). Lavender (whose robes were badly singed), Seamus (who was nursing several burnt fingers), and then to the cabin windows, where most of the class stood, their noses pressed against the glass waiting to see if the coast was clear. â€Å"This is o'ny me second year,† said Hagrid. â€Å"Lovely†¦I don't suppose you'd like to give an interview, would you? Share some of your experience of magical creatures? The Prophet does a zoological column every Wednesday, as I'm sure you know. We could feature these – er – Bang-Ended Scoots.† â€Å"Blast-Ended Skrewts,† Hagrid said eagerly. â€Å"Er – yeah, why not?† Harry had a very bad feeling about this, but there was no way of communicating it to Hagrid without Rita Skeeter seeing, so he had to stand and watch in silence as Hagrid and Rita Skeeter made arrangements to meet in the Three Broomsticks for a good long interview later that week. Then the bell rang up at the castle, signaling the end of the lesson. â€Å"Well, good-bye, Harry!† Rita Skeeter called merrily to him as he set off with Ron and Hermione. â€Å"Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!† â€Å"She'll twist everything he says,† Harry said under his breath. â€Å"Just as long as he didn't import those skrewts illegally or anything,† said Hermione desperately. They looked at one another – it was exactly the sort of thing Hagrid might do. â€Å"Hagrid's been in loads of trouble before, and Dumbledores never sacked him,† said Ron consolingly. â€Å"Worst that can happen is Hagrid'll have to get rid of the skrewts. Sorry†¦did I say worst? I meant best.† Harry and Hermione laughed, and, feeling slightly more cheerful, went off to lunch. Harry thoroughly enjoyed double Divination that afternoon; they were still doing star charts and predictions, but now that he and Ron were friends once more, the whole thing seemed very funny again. Professor Trelawney, who had been so pleased with the pair of them when they had been predicting their own horrific deaths, quickly became irritated as they sniggered through her explanation of the various ways in which Pluto could disrupt everyday life. â€Å"I would think,† she said, in a mystical whisper that did not conceal her obvious annoyance, â€Å"that some of us† – she stared very meaningfully at Harry- â€Å"might be a little less frivolous had they seen what I have seen during my crystal gazing last night. As I sat here, absorbed in my needlework, the urge to consult the orb overpowered me. I arose, I settled myself before it, and I gazed into its crystalline depths†¦and what do you think I saw gazing back at me?† â€Å"An ugly old bat in outsize specs?† Ron muttered under his breath. Harry fought hard to keep his face straight. â€Å"Death, my dears.† Parvati and Lavender both put their hands over their mouths, looking horrified. â€Å"Yes,† said Professor Trelawney, nodding impressively, â€Å"it comes, ever closer, it circles overhead like a vulture, ever lower†¦ever lower over the castle†¦.† She stared pointedly at Harry, who yawned very widely and obviously. â€Å"It'd be a bit more impressive if she hadn't done it about eighty times before,† Harry said as they finally regained the fresh air of the staircase beneath Professor Trelawney's room. â€Å"But if I'd dropped dead every time she's told me I'm going to, I'd be a medical miracle.† â€Å"You'd be a sort of extra-concentrated ghost,† said Ron, chortling, as they passed the Bloody Baron going in the opposite direction, his wide eyes staring sinisterly. â€Å"At least we didn't get homework. I hope Hermione got loads off Professor Vector, I love not working when she is†¦.† But Hermione wasn't at dinner, nor was she in the library when they went to look for her afterward. The only person in there was Viktor Krum. Ron hovered behind the bookshelves for a while, watching Krum, debating in whispers with Harry whether he should ask for an autograph – but then Ron realized that six or seven girls were lurking in the next row of books, debating exactly the same thing, and he lost his enthusiasm for the idea. â€Å"Wonder where she's got to?† Ron said as he and Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower. â€Å"Dunno†¦balderdash.† But the Fat Lady had barely begun to swing forward when the sound of racing feet behind them announced Hermione's arrival. â€Å"Harry!† she panted, skidding to a halt beside him (the Fat Lady stared down at her, eyebrows raised). â€Å"Harry, you've got to come – you've got to come, the most amazing thing's happened – please -â€Å" She seized Harry's arm and started to try to drag him back along the corridor. â€Å"What's the matter?† Harry said. â€Å"I'll show you when we get there – oh come on, quick -â€Å" Harry looked around at Ron; he looked back at Harry, intrigued. â€Å"Okay,† Harry said, starting off back down the corridor with Hermione, Ron hurrying to keep up. â€Å"Oh don't mind me!† the Fat Lady called irritably after them. â€Å"Don't apologize for bothering me! I'll just hang here, wide open, until you get back, shall I?† â€Å"Yeah, thanks!† Ron shouted over his shoulder. â€Å"Hermione, where are we going?† Harry asked, after she had led them down through six floors, and started down the marble staircase into the entrance hall. â€Å"You'll see, you'll see in a minute!† said Hermione excitedly. She turned left at the bottom of the staircase and hurried toward the door through which Cedric Diggory had gone the night after the Goblet of Fire had regurgitated his and Harry's names. Harry had never been through here before. He and Ron followed Hermione down a flight of stone steps, but instead of ending up in a gloomy underground passage like the one that led to Snape's dungeon, they found themselves in a broad stone corridor, brightly lit with torches, and decorated with cheerful paintings that were mainly of food. â€Å"Oh hang on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Harry slowly, halfway down the corridor. â€Å"Wait a minute, Hermione†¦.† â€Å"What?† She turned around to look at him, anticipation all over her face. â€Å"I know what this is about,† said Harry. He nudged Ron and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. It showed a gigantic silver fruit bowl. â€Å"Hermione!† said Ron, cottoning on. â€Å"You're trying to rope us into that spew stuff again!† â€Å"No, no, I'm not!† she said hastily. â€Å"And it's not spew, Ron -â€Å" â€Å"Changed the name, have you?† said Ron, frowning at her. â€Å"What are we now, then, the House-Elf Liberation Front? I'm not barging into that kitchen and trying to make them stop work, I'm not doing it -â€Å" â€Å"I'm not asking you to!† Hermione said impatiently. â€Å"I came down here just now, to talk to them all, and I found – oh come on, Harry, I want to show you!† She seized his arm again, pulled him in front of the picture of the giant fruit bowl, stretched out her forefinger, and tickled the huge green pear. It began to squirm, chuckling, and suddenly turned into a large green door handle. Hermione seized it, pulled the door open, and pushed Harry hard in the back, forcing him inside. He had one brief glimpse of an enormous, high-ceilinged room, large as the Great Hall above it, with mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, and a great brick fireplace at the other end, when something small hurtled toward him from the middle of the room, squealing, â€Å"Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!† Next second all the wind had been knocked out of him as the squealing elf hit him hard in the midriff, hugging him so tightly he thought his ribs would break. â€Å"D-Dobby?† Harry gasped. â€Å"It is Dobby, sir, it is!† squealed the voice from somewhere around his navel. â€Å"Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see him, sir!† Dobby let go and stepped back a few paces, beaming up at Harry, his enormous, green, tennis-ball-shaped eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He looked almost exactly as Harry remembered him; the pencil-shaped nose, the batlike ears, the long fingers and feet – all except the clothes, which were very different. When Dobby had worked for the Malfoys, he had always worn the same filthy old pillowcase. Now, however, he was wearing the strangest assortment of garments Harry had ever seen; he had done an even worse job of dressing himself than the wizards at the World Cup. He was wearing a tea cozy for a hat, on which he had pinned a number of bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over a bare chest, a pair of what looked like children's soccer shorts, and odd socks. One of these, Harry saw, was the black one Harry had removed from his own foot and tricked Mr. Malfoy into giving Dobby, thereby setting Dobby free. The other was covered in pink and orange stripes. â€Å"Dobby, what're you doing here?† Harry said in amazement. â€Å"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!† Dobby squealed excitedly. â€Å"Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir! â€Å"Winky?† said Harry. â€Å"She's here too?† â€Å"Yes, sir, yes!† said Dobby, and he seized Harry's hand and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four long wooden tables that stood there. Each of these tables, Harry noticed as he passed them, was positioned exactly beneath the four House tables above, in the Great Hall. At the moment, they were clear of food, dinner having finished, but he supposed that an hour ago they had been laden with dishes that were then sent up through the ceiling to their counterparts above. At least a hundred little elves were standing around the kitchen, beaming, bowing, and curtsying as Dobby led Harry past them. They were all wearing the same uniform: a tea towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest, and tied, as Winky's had been, like a toga. Dobby stopped in front of the brick fireplace and pointed. â€Å"Winky, sir!† he said. Winky was sitting on a stool by the fire. Unlike Dobby, she had obviously not foraged for clothes. She was wearing a neat little skirt and blouse with a matching blue hat, which had holes in it for her large ears. However, while every one of Dobby's strange collection of garments was so clean and well cared for that it looked brand-new, Winky was plainly not taking care other clothes at all. There were soup stains all down her blouse and a burn in her skirt. â€Å"Hello, Winky,† said Harry. Winky's lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, which spilled out of her great brown eyes and splashed down her front, just as they had done at the Quidditch World Cup. â€Å"Oh dear,† said Hermione. She and Ron had followed Harry and Dobby to the end of the kitchen. â€Å"Winky, don't cry, please don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Winky cried harder than ever. Dobby, on the other hand, beamed up at Harry. â€Å"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?† he squeaked loudly, over Winky's sobs. â€Å"Er – yeah, okay,† said Harry. Instantly, about six house-elves came trotting up behind him, bearing a large silver tray laden with a teapot, cups for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, a milk jug, and a large plate of biscuits. â€Å"Good service!† Ron said, in an impressed voice. Hermione frowned at him, but the elves all looked delighted; they bowed very low and retreated. â€Å"How long have you been here, Dobby?† Harry asked as Dobby handed around the tea. â€Å"Only a week. Harry Potter, sir!† said Dobby happily. â€Å"Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see, sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed -â€Å" At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow. â€Å"Dobby has traveled the country for two whole years, sir, trying to find work!† Dobby squeaked. â€Å"But Dobby hasn't found work, sir, because Dobby wants paying now!† The house-elves all around the kitchen, who had been listening and watching with interest, all looked away at these words, as though Dobby had said something rude and embarrassing. Hermione, however, said, â€Å"Good for you, Dobby!† â€Å"Thank you, miss!† said Dobby, grinning toothily at her. â€Å"But most wizards doesn't want a house-elf who wants paying, miss. ‘That's not the point of a house-elf,' they says, and they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid. Harry Potter†¦.Dobby likes being free!† The Hogwarts house-elves had now started edging away from Dobby, as though he were carrying something contagious. Winky, however, remained where she was, though there was a definite increase in the volume other crying. â€Å"And then, Harry Potter, Dobby goes to visit Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed too, sir!† said Dobby delightedly. At this, Winky flung herself forward off her stool and lay face-down on the flagged stone floor, beating her tiny fists upon it and positively screaming with misery. Hermione hastily dropped down to her knees beside her and tried to comfort her, but nothing she said made the slightest difference. Dobby continued with his story, shouting shrilly over Winky's screeches. â€Å"And then Dobby had the idea. Harry Potter, sir! ‘Why doesn't Dobby and Winky find work together?' Dobby says. ‘Where is there enough work for two house-elves?' says Winky. And Dobby thinks, and it comes to him, sir! Hogwarts! So Dobby and Winky came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir, and Professor Dumbledore took us on!† Dobby beamed very brightly, and happy tears welled in his eyes again. â€Å"And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!† â€Å"That's not very much!† Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor, over Winky's continued screaming and fist-beating. â€Å"Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off,† said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver, as though the prospect of so much leisure and riches were frightening, â€Å"but Dobby beat him down, miss†¦.Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.† â€Å"And how much is Professor Dumbledore paying you, Winky?† Hermione asked kindly. If she had thought this would cheer up Winky, she was wildly mistaken. Winky did stop crying, but when she sat up she was glaring at Hermione through her massive brown eyes, her whole face sopping wet and suddenly furious. â€Å"Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!† she squeaked. â€Å"Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!† â€Å"Ashamed?† said Hermione blankly. â€Å"But – Winky, come on! It's Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not you! You didn't do anything wrong, he was really horrible to you -â€Å" But at these words, Winky clapped her hands over the holes in her hat, flattening her ears so that she couldn't hear a word, and screeched, â€Å"You is not insulting my master, miss! You is not insulting Mr. Crouch! Mr. Crouch is a good wizard, miss! Mr. Crouch is right to sack bad Winky!† â€Å"Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry Potter,† squeaked Dobby confidentially. â€Å"Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr. Crouch anymore; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won't do it.† â€Å"Can't house-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?† Harry asked. â€Å"Oh no, sir, no,† said Dobby, looking suddenly serious. â€Å"‘Tis part of the house-elf's enslavement, sir. We keeps their secrets and our silence, sir. We upholds the family's honor, and we never speaks ill of them – though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to – to -â€Å" Dobby looked suddenly nervous and beckoned Harry closer. Harry bent forward. Dobby whispered, â€Å"He said we is free to call him a – a barmy old codger if we likes, sir!† Dobby gave a frightened sort of giggle. â€Å"But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter,† he said, talking normally again, and shaking his head so that his ears flapped. â€Å"Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him.† â€Å"But you can say what you like about the Malfoys now?† Harry asked him, grinning. A slightly fearful look came into Dobby's immense eyes. â€Å"Dobby – Dobby could,† he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. â€Å"Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old masters were – were – bad Dark wizards!† Dobby stood for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck by his own daring – then he rushed over to the nearest table and began banging his head on it very hard, squealing, â€Å"Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!† Harry seized Dobby by the back of his tie and pulled him away from the table. â€Å"Thank you. Harry Potter, thank you,† said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head. â€Å"You just need a bit of practice,† Harry said. â€Å"Practice!† squealed Winky furiously. â€Å"You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way about your masters!† â€Å"They isn't my masters anymore, Winky!† said Dobby defiantly. â€Å"Dobby doesn't care what they think anymore!† â€Å"Oh you is a bad elf, Dobby!† moaned Winky, tears leaking down her face once more. â€Å"My poor Mr. Crouch, what is he doing without Winky? He is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her†¦oh what is they saying if they knew Winky was freed? Oh the shame, the shame!† She buried her face in her skirt again and bawled. â€Å"Winky,† said Hermione firmly, â€Å"I'm quite sure Mr. Crouch is getting along perfectly well without you. We've seen him, you know -â€Å" â€Å"You is seeing my master?† said Winky breathlessly, raising her tearstained face out of her skirt once more and goggling at Hermione. â€Å"You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?† â€Å"Yes,† said Hermione, â€Å"he and Mr. Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament.† â€Å"Mr. Bagman comes too?† squeaked Winky, and to Harry ‘s great surprise (and Ron's and Hermione's too, by the looks on their faces), she looked angry again. â€Å"Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't liking him, oh no, not at all!† â€Å"Bagman – bad?† said Harry. â€Å"Oh yes,† Winky said, nodding her head furiously, â€Å"My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying†¦Winky – Winky keeps her master's secrets†¦.† She dissolved yet again in tears; they could hear her sobbing into her skirt, â€Å"Poor master, poor master, no Winky to help him no more!† They couldn't get another sensible word out of Winky. They left her to her crying and finished their tea, while Dobby chatted happily about his life as a free elf and his plans for his wages. â€Å"Dobby is going to buy a sweater next, Harry Potter!† he said happily, pointing at his bare chest. â€Å"Tell you what, Dobby,† said Ron, who seemed to have taken a great liking to the elf, â€Å"I'll give you the one my mum knits me this Christmas, I always get one from her. You don't mind maroon, do you?† Dobby was delighted. â€Å"We might have to shrink it a bit to fit you,† Ron told him, â€Å"but it'll go well with your tea cozy.† As they prepared to take their leave, many of the surrounding elves pressed in upon them, offering snacks to take back upstairs. Hermione refused, with a pained look at the way the elves kept bowing and curtsying, but Harry and Ron loaded their pockets with cream cakes and pies. â€Å"Thanks a lot!† Harry said to the elves, who had all clustered around the door to say good night. â€Å"See you, Dobby!† â€Å"Harry Potter†¦can Dobby come and see you sometimes, sir?† Dobby asked tentatively. † ‘Course you can,† said Harry, and Dobby beamed. â€Å"You know what?† said Ron, once he, Hermione, and Harry had left the kitchens behind and were climbing the steps into the entrance hall again. â€Å"All these years I've been really impressed with Fred and George, nicking food from the kitchens – well, it's not exactly difficult, is it? They can't wait to give it away!† â€Å"I think this is the best thing that could have happened to those elves, you know,† said Hermione, leading the way back up the marble staircase. â€Å"Dobby coming to work here, I mean. The other elves will see how happy he is, being free, and slowly it'll dawn on them that they want that too!† â€Å"Let's hope they don't look too closely at Winky,† said Harry. â€Å"Oh she'll cheer up,† said Hermione, though she sounded a bit doubtful. â€Å"Once the shock's worn off, and she's got used to Hogwarts, she'll see how much better off she is without that Crouch man.† â€Å"She seems to love him,† said Ron thickly (he had just started on a cream cake). â€Å"Doesn't think much of Bagman, though, does she?† said Harry. â€Å"Wonder what Crouch says at home about him?† â€Å"Probably says he's not a very good Head of Department,† said Hermione, â€Å"and let's face it†¦he's got a point, hasn't he?† â€Å"I'd still rather work for him than old Crouch,† said Ron. â€Å"At least Bagman's got a sense of humor.† â€Å"Don't let Percy hear you saying that,† Hermione said, smiling slightly. â€Å"Yeah, well, Percy wouldn't want to work for anyone with a sense of humor, would he?† said Ron, now starting on a chocolate eclair. â€Å"Percy wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cozy.†