Saturday, May 23, 2020

A Christian Approach to Homosexuality - 7265 Words

CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO HOMOSEXUALITY 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. BIBLE AND HOMOSEXUALITY 1. Biblical View of Sexuality 2. Old Testament on Homosexuality 2a. Stories of Sodom and Gibeah 2b. Levitical Texts 3. New Testament on Homosexuality 3a. Paul’s Statements in Romans 3b. Other Pauline Texts II. BIOLOGY AND HOMOSEXUALITY III. LAW AND HOMOSEXUALITY IV. CHURCH AND THE HOMOSEXUAL CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY†¦show more content†¦BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEXUALITY The discussion on any issue related to sexuality has to begin from what the Bible teaches about sexuality and marriage. The first account of creation as given in Genesis 1 affirms the equality of sexes, since both were created in the image of God and both share the stewardship of the earth. The second account of creation as given in Genesis 2 affirms the complementarity of the sexes which constitutes the basis for heterosexual marriage. John Stott lists three fundamental truths that emerge from the second account of creation. The first truth is man’s need for companionship. God found that it is not good for man to be alone (2:18). Being created in the image of God who is love, man has the capacity and the need to love and to be loved. Here God declares that He will make ‘a helper’ or companion ‘suitable for him’. This companion was also designed to be his sexual partner with whom he was to become ‘one flesh’ and procreate children. Secon dly, Genesis 2 reveals God’s provision to meet man’s need. God parades before Adam all the beasts and the birds that he created. Having found no suitable companion for man among them, God makes a woman out of man. This was a special work of creation in which the sexes were differentiated. Out of the undifferentiated humanity of theShow MoreRelatedGender As A Person s Identity1111 Words   |  5 Pagesas the Holy Bible for the Catholics and the Quran for the Muslims. Of the data given, some Christians and Muslim non-heterosexuals experience social exclusion because of some spiritual texts (Yip, 2005). According to a survey by Pew Research Center s Social Demographic Trends done in 2013 on the religious affiliations, 48% of the LGBT Americans did not have one. The executive director of the Gay Christian Network, Justin Lee said, [the study] reflects a lot of my own experience in the LGBT communityRead MoreSexual Identity1409 Words   |  6 Pagesvalue system. Prior to taking this class, I used the legalism approach to form all my values on sexual experiences. Growing up, I was taught that sex before marriage was wrong. As I grew into a young adult, I used the situational ethics approach, and I still do today. The approach that formulates a value system based on moral law is the legalism approach (Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, 2005). However, the situational ethics approach bases decisions on the value system according to the situationRead More Homosexuality in the Film Latter Days and in Sexual Perversion by Nagel1369 Words   |  6 Pagesbetter understanding on one of the most controversial types of relationships, homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality isn’t easy to openly talk about but it is important as philosophy students, to have an open-mind about topics that we don’t partake in. Doing so allows us to promote new ways of thinking about the world around us and see them in a whole new light. In this personal response paper, I will discuss homosexuality in connection with the film Latter Days to determine why a homosexual relationshipRead MoreHomosexuality And Its Effect On Society896 Words   |  4 Pageswould not have been necessary to write an article on the subject of homosexuality. It wasn’t a topic that was discussed in public, it was illegal, against the law and those who were engaged in any type of same sex relationship did so quietly and discreetly and largely away from the public eye. That was to change dramatically with the increase of Postmodernism, as a more tolerant and inclusive society emerged, the subject of homosexuality was brought out into the open and society had to deal with it. AtRead MoreDifferences Between Homosexuality And Homosexuality1444 Words   |  6 Pagesdiffering opinions on homosexuality. Sadly, these divisive differences are even found in the Church, forcing people to pick sides and stand against those we should be united with. As a young child, this w as made apparent to me when my family stopped attending a conservative Mennonite Church due to their stance on homosexuality; rather, we began attending a Missionary Church. However, these two denominations aren’t the only that have differences in belief about homosexuality. From one denominationRead MoreExamine the Way in Which One Religion Uses Scripture as a Basis for Its Teachings on Sexual Behaviour1525 Words   |  7 Pagesas a basis for its teachings about sexual behaviour (30 marks). The Christian religion implements the use of scripture as the highest command for the way in which sexual ethics is implemented. Christian teaching explores several issues in light of sexuality such as extra-marital and pre-marital sex, homosexuality and pro-creation and I will write about these in this essay. When looking at pre-marital sex, traditional Christian teachings of the bible suggest that sex is only for married couples andRead MoreShould Gay Be A Racist?1320 Words   |  6 Pagesre referencing calling all they fought for frivolous right? There is definitely a smear agenda going on. As soon as the whole gays-getting-equal-rights thing came into the spotlight all of a sudden christians are being called bigots because we don t support being gay. the funny thing is, homosexuality is not genetic in any way shape or form. a person can get off on a man or woman...or inanimate object. therefore the idea that gays can t help it because they aren t attracted to the oppositeRead MoreSynthesis Paper on Gay Marriage1240 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Support for Homosexuals’ Civil Liberties†, Kristin Kenneavy discusses how religious outlooks influence a family’s beliefs on same sex marriage. The two articles show the different views on gay marriage by explaining differ ent attitudes toward homosexuality, the future implications of gay marriage and the role that religion determines when it comes to beliefs on same-sex marriage. The American gay movement was inspired from Germany because in 1867 â€Å"a renegade legal scholar named Karl Heinrich UlrichsRead MoreA Counselor s Level Of Competence1373 Words   |  6 Pagesevolving and practitioners must adapt to the changes within practice and ACA ethical guidelines. This paper explores a counselor s level of competence, etiology findings for homosexuality, controversies with treatment practice by professional and paraprofessional therapy, and new frontier approach with client-centered approach. Since the multicultural movement has become a pillar for ACA code of ethics, it is with great importance to embrace new cultural styles. Although, the counseling field hasRead MoreEssay about Homosexuality1071 Words   |  5 PagesHomosexuality 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

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Columbian Exchange Essay example - 1077 Words

The Columbian Exchange is the exchange of plants, animals, food, and diseases between Europe and the Americas. In 1492, when Christopher Columbus came to America, he saw plants and animals he had never seen before so he took them back with him to Europe. Columbus began the trade routes which had never been established between Europe and the Americas so his voyages initiated the interchange of plants between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, which doubled the food crop resources available to people on both sides of the Atlantic. When the Europeans explored the Americas, they were introduced to new plants, foods, and animals, as well as riches and land. Foods such as corn, white and sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cacao, fruits,†¦show more content†¦Grains such as wheat, rye, barley, oats and rice were shared. Citrus fruits, grapes, onions, cabbage, turnips, cotton, coffee, sugarcane, as well as spices and herbs, were among the many other foods and plants introduced to Nat ive American culture. Also introduced were European religion and culture, new tools for agriculture, and new weaponry such as knives and firearms. One consequence of the exchange was mass death. In the search for new routes for trade, people of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas came in contact with each other, causing the spread of disease. Columbuss colonization brought a host of new diseases to the populations of the Americas. Europeans exported their diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis and smallpox. In return, European traders and colonizers returned the Europe with syphilis and typhus from the Americas. The slave trade caused the spread of malaria and yellow fever from Africa to the Caribbean and North America, and yellow fever to Europe. While trying to adapt Native Americans to European customs, Columbus and his followers took advantage of the Indians. The Spanish burned the Natives sacred objects and would not allow them to practice their own religions. They also ab used the Natives, enslaving them, taking land from them, and raping their women. Because of the conquistadors quest for gold and other riches,Show MoreRelatedAlfred W. Crosbys Article The Columbian Voyages, The Columbian Exchange, and Their Historians769 Words   |  4 Pages In his article â€Å"The Columbian Voyages, the Columbian Exchange, and Their Historians†, Alfred W. Crosby seems to think that much of the Columbian voyages and what came out of them was detrimental to many cultures, most of all the Native Americans. Crosby brings up many institutions and ideologies to re-enforce his opinion, such as the slave trade and the conquest of many Native American cultures. One of the major effects of the Columbian exchange was the decimation of the Native American populationRead MoreAmerica Before Columbus And The Columbian Exchange1597 Words   |  7 Pagesthe fact that it was not merely the arrival of conquistadors and colonists that irrevocably changed the landscape of the Americas, but that it was also the coined term known as the â€Å"Columbian Exchange† that afforded these travelers the ability to proliferate so successfully. The basic definition of the Columbian exchange is one that defines the importation of European flora and fauna. It could also loosely represent other imports, both intended and unintended, such as tools, implements, and even diseaseRead MoreHow The Columbian Exchange Changed Global Consumption Patterns Essay1220 Words   |  5 Pagesbefore. When he found the new world he brought with him European plants and animal species that were foreign to the citizens of the New World. The Columbian Exchange introduced many foo ds that are still essential to consumption in today’s world along with the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. The potato is a prime example of how the Columbian Exchange changed global consumption patterns because it was nutritious and had an abundant amount of calories in it and caused a mass population increaseRead Morecolumbian exchange817 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ The Columbian Exchange The Columbian exchange created an enormous interchange of various political ideas, cultures, foods, diseases, animals, and people between the old world and the new world, this give and take relationship caused many changes some positive and some negative between the two areas and help redistribute resources between the two hemispheres. There were many positive things that happened as a result of the Columbian exchange. Potatoes and corn became major food sources forRead MoreThe Columbian Exchange1317 Words   |  6 PagesAtlantic and vipers on the other. After 1492, human voyagers in part reversed this tendency. Their artificial re-establishment of connections through the commingling of Old and New World plants, animals, and bacteria, commonly known as the Columbian Exchange, is one of the more spectacular and significant ecological events of the past millennium. When Europeans first touched the shores of the Americas, Old World crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and turnips had not traveled west across the AtlanticRead MoreIndians And The Columbian Exchange1487 Words   |  6 Pages The Columbian Exchange is a huge exchange of goods and ideas between the old world and the new world. The old world is considered Europe, Asia and Africa and the new world is considered America. Their colonies started to trade with each other and that’s when they formed the Columbian Exchange. Many countries were involved in this trade, including China, Africa and Italy. The exchange of the new ideas, traditions, food, religion and diet changed cultures everywhere. The Natives gave and receivedRead MoreThe Columbian Exchange Statistics782 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange Statistics By the Numbers Estimated population of Europe in 1492: about 60 million Estimated population of the Americas in 1492: 40-100 million Estimated population of Europe in 1800: 150 million Estimated population of the Americas in 1800: 25 million (the vast majority of whom were of European or African descent) Major domesticated animals in the New World in 1492: dog, llama Major domesticated animals in the Old World in 1492: horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chickenRead MoreImpact Of The Columbian Exchange909 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange was an event that was very impactful on modern day. The Columbian Exchange was the widespread trade of plants, animals, guns, and diseases. It occured between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Examples of products that the Americas contributed are turkey, squash, and potatoes. Examples of products that Europe contributed are horses, sugar, and smallpox. Columbian exchange was a huge impact on our modern day world because it changed war and hunting, it introduced new ingredientsRead MoreEssay On The Columbian Exchange816 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange The discovery of the New world or America in the year 1492, and The Columbian Exchange it played a significant role on bring resources to various parts of the world. It brought the exchange of various resources like plants, animals, and diseases across the world. The year was 1492 is when Christopher set sail and put in motion The Columbian Exchange or also known as The Great Exchange. The Columbian Exchange affected the geographic location with the trading routes withRead MoreImpact Of The Columbian Exchange970 Words   |  4 PagesCrosby used the term â€Å"Columbian Exchange† for this significant event. In general, the Columbian Exchange has not only changed Europeans and Native Americas ways of life but also helped to shape the world today. First of all, the changes in agriculture has a great impact on both the Old World and the New in terms of culture and economy. The popular New World crops such as maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc travel to the Old Worlds during the Columbian Exchange. Thanks to the suitable

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Verbal Communication Nonverbal Communication - 1428 Words

Paper Two months ago I use to perceive that rolling eyes, shrugging shoulders, and nodding head etc. are just the attitude of people. The real communication is just based on the words we communicate with each other to deliver our messages and intentions. However, after taking this class it is quite clear to me that communication is not just verbal communication but nonverbal as well. After taking this course, I have become able to understand the nonverbal aspects in each and every communication, I use to encounter with or actions I use to see or experience. This course lets me understood that nonverbal communication covers several types of expression such as eye contact, posture, soft or hard touch, sweaty eyebrow, speeds or nature of the movement. One more thing that I have noticed is that the style of clothing and the especial looks on different occasions does also include in nonverbal communication. Since business engages frequent interactions of employees, partners, and stakeholders, thus the understanding of nonverbal communication is a must. Use of nonverbal communication: Nonverbal communication plays two major acts in the corporate perspective. Managers make heavy use of non-verbal communication to persuade internal customers (employees) and the members of their team. Without even realization, nonverbal communication is also used by employees and team members during their interaction with peers and colleagues. By showing the aggression, increasing the tone ofShow MoreRelatedVerbal Communication : Nonverbal Communication905 Words   |  4 PagesBusiness communication is a skill not everyone has; it is however something that can be learned. Many people think of only verbal skills when working on their business communication; however some forget how nonverbal cues can affect a message. Nonverbal communication can make or break a business conversation. If a potential partner interprets nonverbal communication conveying a different message than the verbal does it can lead to complications when trying to close an opportunit y. As the world hasRead MoreVerbal Communication : Verbal And Nonverbal Communication1274 Words   |  6 Pagesprepared *Feedback given *Communication needed *Message understood *Message interpreted *Message sent * Message receive For a good communication we need to have the following: ââ€"  sender – the person who start a conversation ââ€"  message – what another person involved in communication will received ââ€"  medium –the way we can communicate by using for example the phone, computer, erc. ââ€"  collector – the person who can collect the message and send it to people involved in communication ââ€"  understanding – theRead MoreVerbal Communication And Nonverbal Communication831 Words   |  4 Pagesnot? 2. How has the use of the Internet and text messaging affected the verbal communication and nonverbal communication exchanged in relationships? 3. Describe a time when you or someone else used nonverbal gestures which made you or others feel uncomfortable. 4. Often cited research by Professor Albert Mehrabian (Links to an external site.) says that only 7% of feelings and attitudes are delivered in words (verbal communication); 38% of feelings and attitudes are paralinguistic (tone of voice/volume/pace/vocalRead MoreVerbal And Nonverbal Communication And Communication941 Words   |  4 Pagesthing. For example, if someone is feeling mad, they might be more harsh when they say things rather than more careful wording when someone is feeling sympathetic for someone else. These two different aspects that add into communication within one another are known as verbal and nonverbal symbols. In the show, Law and Order: Special Victim Unit, there is a specific scene with two detectives that show this. There is a serial rapist who was finally caught after six years of looking for him. In order forRead MoreVerbal Communication And Nonverbal Communication1235 Words   |  5 PagesCommunication is a natural thing that we as human beings do every d ay whether we speak or not. There is two different types’ verbal communication and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication is when we communicate using words exchange in the form of speech in writing or oral. Nonverbal communication does not use words for exchange a message. We use body language, facial expressions, sign language, and eye contact among a few things (Adler, Elmhorst, Lucas, 2013). Read MoreNonverbal Verbal And Verbal Communication957 Words   |  4 PagesI have learned a lot about communication. I learned how significant nonverbal and verbal communication is, along with listening. I never fully understood how big communication is in our daily lives. I now realize that it is a huge aspect of how we continue in our lives. This course has showed me different levels of communication. Nonverbal communication is behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning with out the use of words. Sometimes accompanying verbal messages, to clarify or reinforceRead MoreVerbal and Nonverbal Communication1472 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch done on verbal and nonverbal communication. First, we need to know what verbal and nonverbal communication is. Nonverbal communication is the way in which people communicate, intentionally or unintentionally, without words. Nonverbal communication uses nonverbal cues including facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, body position, movement, the use of touch, and gaze (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). Verbal communication is what a person actually says. This communication relies on the wordsRead MoreVerbal And Nonverbal Communication740 Words   |  3 PagesHuman society was built upon our ability to communicate with one another whether it be through verbal or nonverbal means. Without communication, we as a species would’ve most likely never reached the place we are as a society today. Most people believe that verbal communication is what has brought us so far but in fact, we as a race have been using a melding of both verbal and nonverbal means to communicate with on another. These means are usually comprised of gestures that we all use throughoutRead MoreVerbal and Nonverbal Communication11225 Words   |  45 Pages Verbal and Nonverbal Communication When we are attempting to transfer our meaning to another person, we use three different modes, methods, or channels to carry our intentions. We use these modes to tell people who we are, how we experience the world, and the meaning we attach to our experience. We communicate verbally and nonverbally, and often with mixed signals or noise. When two persons, A and B, are attempting to communicate with each other, their communication is distorted by their personalitiesRead MoreNonverbal Communication : Non Verbal Communication890 Words   |  4 PagesLiterature Review According to some psychologists, non-verbal communication varies based on a person’s cultural background, more so in the individualism-collectivism dimension. Additionally, studies have indicated that intercultural diversities in how verbal communications are observed can be traced to differences in facial signs that individuals from West and East look for when detecting emotions (Serlin, Berger Bar-Sinai, 2007). Therefore, people from distinctive cultures are expected to be

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Painful Truth About Affirmative Action - 1992 Words

Minorities and their supporters in the late 1960s gave birth to the implementation of what is now known as Affirmative Action (AA) at institutions of higher education. This mark in history was viewed as a great effort to integrate minorities into society through the use of preferences in college and university admissions. Lately when addressing AA people have begun to question its cause and if it truly is a positive force for change. However, AA has not always been shrouded in a veil of suspicion. In fact, questioning of whether AA fails to successfully place students in institutions where they can succeed is fairly recent. The doubting of AA comes from what is called mismatching. Mismatching questions whether preferences in school†¦show more content†¦For this reason, Sander is known as one of the leading supporters and researchers in mismatching, his research was even used in the Supreme Court Case Fisher v. University of Texas as the leading work to oust AA as a failure. In an amicus brief in the case, the following was stated to show Sanders involvement, â€Å"the study most often cited is by Richard H. Sander† (Lempert par.1). Sander believes that the use of preferences, especially those that are based on race can affect the performance of students. He argues that mismatching prevents minorities from excelling at prestigious institutions because they are not as competitive as their white counterparts. Sander even claims that â€Å"even though blacks are more likely to enter college than whites with similar backgrounds, they will usually get much lower grades, rank toward to the bottom of the class, and far more drop out† (Sander par.4), a statement that implies that black students cannot compete academically with white students from the same backgrounds. Furthermore, Sander goes as far as to state â€Å"racial preference policies often stigmatize minorities, reinforce pernicious stereotypes, and undermine the self-confidence of beneficiaries† (Sander par.4). With this statement AA can only be viewed as a tool whose sole purpose is to create racial diversity and not as a tool to benefit the ac ademic careers ofShow MoreRelatedThe Gender Division Between Men And Women Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagesdistractions. This is coded language: the dress code serves as another form of hegemony against females. Limiting what can be worn, and shaming those who don t comply certainly does not sound right for a free society such as ours, but it is the unfortunate truth. These deeply ingrained sexist protocols have now invaded high schools and colleges alike, and have deeply affected our youth. In America it has been made clear that the bare skin of females is inadmissible and is dangerous to our carefully craftedRead MoreAnalysis Of Sal Castro And Maria Tula s Hear My Testimony1698 Words   |  7 Pagesthrough a personal response of someone who experience it first hand. As the Blowouts progressed the Chicano students attitudes changed. A student explains after the movement, â€Å"‘were the first time that we began to develop consciousness...It was very affirmative. Thats where you began to have an identity’†(Garcia Castro, Blowout! pg 322). The Chicano students realized that their complaints for the school were actually a bigger problem that had to do with the larger education system. They recognized thatRead MoreWalt Whitman and War Essay1626 Words   |  7 Pagessometimes lessons need to repeat. Life during the time of Walt Whitman was oddly and sadly similar to our very own time in some ways. Like us, Whitman dealt in Leaves of Grass with living in a nation during wartimes; and if you can say anything about war, it is that, it is never fast and never easy. Armd year-year of the struggle, No dainty rhymes or sentimental love verses for you terrible year ( Whitman 227). War tears down nations, piece by piece bit by bit; and even thoughRead MoreEssay on Personal Leadership1764 Words   |  8 Pagesproblems early, before they become too painful to ignore. Unfortunately, honest self-evaluation is one of the hardest skills to master. People tend to be self-serving in their thoughts. For most people, self-reflection involves looking into a mirror, with all the information warped and distorted until it barely resembles reality. True self-evaluation is challenging, and requires you to be open to â€Å"see† your strengths and weaknesses, and to develop a plan of action to develop those areas that are lackingRead MoreEssay on Maxine Waters: Raising consciousness, not money5192 Words   |  21 Pagescast her into the lime light, given her a platform to state her agenda, her concerns, and to point out the skewed set of priorities that exists in American Politics today. Maxine Waters is not a naÔve woman, she has seen and she has felt the painful hand of oppression. The hand of oppression has laid its wrath upon her and her constituency, Americas minorities, particularly African Americans, with such force that the blow, be it the pain, the social inequality, the outright disrespect for humanityRead MoreThe Challanges Faced by White Teachers Teaching Black Students2432 Words   |  10 Pagespopulation increasingly becoming the minority) and that the main role of our teachers, most of whom are white, is shaping the education of our students, the question is: How can white teachers effectively teach students of color? Although little is known about the effectiveness of white teachers and achievement in students of color, there definitely is an underlying philosophy of multicultural education that students benefit from being taught by someone of similar race and cultural background. That beingRead More Social and Legal Definitions of Slavery Narr ative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave3974 Words   |  16 PagesMr. Covey seemed now to think he had me, and could do what he pleased; but at this moment -- from whence came the spirit I dont know -- I resolved to fight; and, suiting my action to the resolution, I seized Covey hard by the throat; and as I did so, I rose. (Douglass 112, chapt. 10) In Chapter 10 of Frederick Douglass Narrative of the Life of... an American Slave, Douglass describes an important incident in which he forces backward the standard master-slave hierarchy of beating privilegesRead MoreGender Inequality And Gender Roles2518 Words   |  11 Pagesappropriate way defined by society. These are shaped through the years by parents, teachers, and by themselves, as they begin to learn social norms and what it means to fit in society. The actions that gender associate to sexes, demoralizes the strength that many women posses compared to their male counterparts. Feministic actions such as walking slowly and sitting in closed position restricts the level of activity performed by girls, making them less susceptible to join sports such as football, sports thatRead MoreRemains of the Day as a Postmodern Novel5345 Words   |  22 Pagesstatic). Stevens, alike all of Ishiguros narrators, is not at all objective and trustworthy. His memory plays tricks on him (mot if especially present in his earlier two novels with Japanese protagonists), his language distorts to reveal the actual truth that is buried under layers of self-deception. The language is seen as an important weapon, and as much as it is used by Ishiguros narrators, as the means of suppression of the actual state of affairs, it is also the very thing that unmasks them.Read MoreEssay about The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro5293 Words   |  22 Pagesstatic). Stevens, alike all of Ishiguro’s narrators, is not at all objective and trustworthy. His memory plays tricks on him (motif especially present in his earlier two novels with Japanese protagonists), his language distorts to reveal the actual truth that is buried under layers of self-deception. The language is seen as an important weapon, and as much as it is used by Ishiguro’s narrators, as the means of suppression of the actual state of affairs, it is also the very thing that unmasks them.

The Return Midnight Chapter 42 Free Essays

â€Å"It’s not a problem,†the fair ruler, Ryannen, said unexpectedly. â€Å"We can make it so that your Mr. Tanner repel ed an apparent vampire attack and the school cal ed in Alaric Saltzman to take his place and investigate. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Midnight Chapter 42 or any similar topic only for you Order Now All right, Idola?† – to the redhead, and to the dark one – â€Å"All right, Susurre?† Elena wasn’t All right. Despite the example she’d just had of turn-on-a-dime plotting and scheming, she was scarcely listening. Al she knew was that her voice had gone husky and that tears blurred her eyes. â€Å"And†¦for the Master Key – I want – â€Å" Stefan squeezed her hand. Elena suddenly realized that they were al standing, al three of them, beside her. And the look on every face was the same. Dead resolve. â€Å"I want Damon back.†Elena hadn’t heard quite this note in her voice since the day she’d been told both her parents had died. If there had been a table, she would have put her clenched fists on it and did her best to loom over the women. As it was, she simply leaned toward them, speaking in a low and grating voice. â€Å"If you do that – bring him back, exactly as he was before he walked into the Gatehouse – then you get the Master Key and the treasures. You say no – and you lose everything. Everything. This is non-negotiable, get it?† She kept staring into Idola’s green eyes. She refused to see dark Susurre drop her forehead onto three fingertips and begin to rub it in smal circles. She wouldn’t give a glance to blond Ryannen, who was looking at her steadily, having gone into people-management mode. She stared directly into those green eyes under their wil ful eyebrows. Idola gave a little huff and shook her gorgeous head. â€Å"Look, someone clearly has screwed up in preparing you for this interview.†A glance at Susurre. â€Å"The other things you’ve asked for – al together, it forms a very heavy ransom. Do you understand that? Do you understand that it involves changing the memories of al the people for miles around your town, and changing them for every day of ten months? That it means changing everything in print about Fel ‘s Church – and that there is a lot in print – not to mention other media outlets? It means begging for three human spirits and weaving flesh around them again. I’m not sure we even have the personnel for this – â€Å" Blond Ryannen put a hand on the redhead’s arm. â€Å"We have it. Susurre’s women have little to do in the Nether World. I can lend you perhaps thirty percent of mine – after al , we’re going to have to send up a petition to a higher Court for those spirits – â€Å" Idola the redhead interrupted. â€Å"All right. What I was saying is that we might just be able to manage – if you throw in the Key. However, your vampire companion – we can’t give life back to the lifeless. We can’t work with vampires. Once they’re gone – they’re gone.† â€Å"That’s what you tell us!†Stefan cried, trying to get in front of Elena. â€Å"But why are we so particularly damned, of al creatures? How do you know it’s impossible? Have you ever even tried? â€Å" Red-haired Idola was making a disgusted gesture, when Bonnie interrupted, her voice shaking. â€Å"It’s ridiculous! You can rebuild a town, you can kil the person who’s real y behind al Shinichi and Misao did, but you can’t bring one little vampire back? You brought Elena back!† â€Å"Elena’s death as a vampire al owed her to become the Guardian she was original y meant to be. As for the person who gave orders to Shinichi and Misao: It was Inari Saitou – Obaasan Saitou, as you knew her – and she is already dead, thanks to your friends in Fel ‘s Church, who weakened her – and to you, who destroyed her star bal .† â€Å"Inari? You mean Isobel’s grandma? You’re saying it was her star bal in the Great Tree’s trunk? That’s impossible!†Bonnie cried. â€Å"No, it’s not. It’s the truth,†blond Ryannen said simply. â€Å"And she’s dead now?† â€Å"After a long battle which nearly kil ed your friends. Yes – but what actual y killed her was having her star bal destroyed.† â€Å"So,†dark Susurre said quietly, â€Å"if you fol ow the curve†¦in a way your Damon did die to save Fel ‘s Church from another massacre like the one on that Japanese island. He kept saying that was what he’d come to the Nether World to do. Do you not think he would be†¦satisfied? At peace?† â€Å"At peace?†Stefan spat bitterly, and Sage growled. â€Å"Woman,†he said, â€Å"you obviously have never met Damon Salvatore before.†The tone in his voice – more resonant, more threatening somehow – made Elena final y break off her staredown with the red-haired Idola. She turned and looked – – and saw the enormous room fil ed with Sage’s out-spread wings. They weren’t like any of her ephemeral Wings Powers. They were clearly part of Sage. They were velvety and reptilian, and, unfurled like this, they stretched from distant wal to wal , and touched the grand, golden ceiling. They also demonstrated why Sage didn’t usual y wear shirts. He was beautiful this way, bronze skin and hair against those giant, leathery soft-looking arches. But Elena, after one look at him, knew that the time had come to play the ace up her sleeve. She turned around to meet Idola’s green gaze squarely. â€Å"Al this time we’ve been bargaining for a Gatehouse ful of treasures,†she said, â€Å"and – one Master Key.† â€Å"A Master Key, stolen by the kitsune ages upon ages ago,†Susurre explained quietly, lifting her dark eyes. â€Å"And you’ve said that it’s not enough for you to bring Damon back.†Elena forced her voice not to waver. â€Å"Not even if it were your only request.†Ryannen tossed a golden lock of hair over her shoulder. â€Å"So you say. But†¦what if I throw into the pot†¦another Master Key?† There was a pause, and Elena’s heart began to pound in sick terror. Because it was the wrong kind of pause. There were no shocked gasps. No astonished glances from one Guardian ruler to another. No looks of disbelief. After another moment Idola said smugly, â€Å"If you mean the other stolen key that your friends had on Earth – it was confiscated as soon as they hid it. It was stolen property. It belonged to us.† She’s been here too long, in the Dark Dimensions, Elena thought with one part of her mind. She’s enjoying herself. Idola leaned toward her, as if to confirm Elena’s guess. â€Å"It – simply – is not – possible,†she said emphatical y. â€Å"Real y, it isn’t,†the fair Ryannen added briskly. â€Å"We don’t know what happens to vampires. But they don’t pass through our purview. We never see them after death. The simplest explanation is that they just – go out.†She snapped her fingers. â€Å"I don’t believe that!† Elena was aware that her voice had risen in volume. â€Å"I don’t believe that for one moment!† Voices, not attached to anyone in particular, burst into a clamor of argument around Elena, forming a sort of poem: Not possible. It’s simply not possible! ( But please†¦) No! Damon is gone, and to ask where is like asking where a candle flame goes when it’s blown out. ( But shouldn’t you try to bring him back, at the least? ) Whatever has happened to gratitude? You four should be grateful that the other things you asked for can be done. ( But in exchange for both Master Keys – ) No Power we can command could bring Damon back! Elena must try to reconcile herself to reality. She has been pampered too much already! ( But what harm can it do to try again? ) All right! If you must know, Susurre has already forced us to try. And nothing came of it! Damon†¦is†¦gone! His spirit was nowhere to be found in the ether! That is what happens to vampires, and everyone knows it! Elena found herself looking down at her own hands, which were very clean but with broken nails and every knuckle bleeding. The outside world had become unreal again. She was inside herself, struggling with her grief, struggling with the knowledge that Idola, the central ruler of Guardians, hadn’t even mentioned before that they had looked for Damon’s spirit. And that it was†¦gone. Suddenly, the room was pressing in on her. There wasn’t enough air. There were only these women: these powerful, magical Guardian women; who Stilldid not have enough power or magic to save Damon – or at least didn’t even care enough to try twice. She wasn’t sure what was happening to her. Her throat felt puffed out, her chest was both huge and tight. Each heartbeat sounded through her as if trying to shake her to death. To death. In her mind’s eye, she saw a hand hold up a glass of Clarion Loess Black Magic. And then, Elena knew that she had to stand a certain way, and hold her arms a certain way, and whisper certain words in her own mind. But the last, the naming of the spel , had only to be said aloud at the end. At the end – when things slowed. When green-eyed Idola – what a perfect name for someone who idolized herself, Elena thought – and fair businesslike Ryannen and nurturing Susurre – al stared at her with open mouths, too shocked to move even a finger as, quietly and calmly, Elena said, â€Å"Wings of Destruction – â€Å" It was a soldier, just an ordinary one of the rank and file, one of the dark women, who stopped it. She leaped up onto the dais, and, with inhuman speed, slapped her hand over Elena’s mouth, so that the final syl able was a mumble, and the golden, green, and blue hal did not explode into fragments with hot metal running in rivulets like lava, and the flower-fountain did not vaporize, and the stained-glass windows didn’t shatter into atoms. Then there were more arms around Elena, holding her down, scarcely letting her breathe, even when she went limp for lack of air. Elena fought like an animal, with her teeth and nails, to escape. But she eventual y was completely restrained, pinned to the floor. She could hear Sage’s deep voice raging and Stefan, in between desperate telepathic bursts to her, pleading and explaining, â€Å"She’s Stillnot in reality! She doesn’t even know what she’s doing!† But louder, she could hear the voices of the Guardians. â€Å"She would have kil ed us al !†Ã¢â‚¬ Those Wings – I’ve never seen anything so deadly!†Ã¢â‚¬ A human! And with just three words, she could have wiped us out!†Ã¢â‚¬ If Lenea hadn’t tackled her – â€Å"†Or if she had been another few feet away – â€Å"†She destroyed a moon, you know! No life on it at allnow, and ashes Stillfal ing from the sky!†Ã¢â‚¬ That isn’t the point. The point is that she shouldn’t have Wings powers at all. She’s got to be clipped of them.†Ã¢â‚¬ That’s right – clip her Wings! Do it! â€Å" Elena recognized Ryannen’s and Idola’s voices at the end there. She was Stilltrying to fight, but they held her so tightly and piled on her so ruthlessly that it had become a fight simply to get air and al she did was exhaust herself. And then they clipped her Wings. It was quick, at least, and Elena felt very little. What hurt most was her heart. Some proud, stubborn streak had been brought out with the fighting, and now she was ashamed to feel each pair cut off. First went Wings of Redemption, those great rainbow-hued arches. Then Wings of Purification, white and iridescent as frosted cobwebs. Wings of the Wind, like honey-colored thistledown. Wings of Remembrance, soft violet and midnight blue. And then Wings of Protection – emerald green and gold, the Wings that had saved her friends from Bloddeuwedd’s frenzied attack on them the first time they had entered the Dark Dimensions. And, final y, Wings of Destruction – high, ebony arches with edges as delicate as black lace. Elena tried to keep silent as each power was taken. But after the first one or two had fal en at her sides, in shadows that perhaps only she could see, she heard a smal gasp, and realized that it was her own voice. And with the next cut, an involuntary little cry. For a moment there was silence. And then suddenly there was overwhelming noise. Elena could hear Bonnie keening and Sage roaring, and Stefan, gentle Stefan, shouting blasphemies and curses at the Guardians. Elena guessed from the stifled sound of his voice that he was fighting them, fighting to get to her. He reached her, somehow, just as the deadly, delicate Wings of Destruction were sheared from her shoulders and mind, and fel like tal shadows to the ground. It was good that he did reach her then, because at last, when Elena was the least dangerous she had been since the Powers of Wings had begun awakening in her, suddenly the Guardians seemed afraid. They stepped back from her, these strong and dangerous women, and only Stefan was there to catch her and hold her in his arms. Stunned, dazed, she was an eighteen-year-old girl who was ordinary. Except for her blood. They wanted to rob her of her blood as well†¦to â€Å"purify†it. The three rulers and their attendants had already gathered in a determined, multihued triangle around her and were working their magic when Sage bel owed, â€Å"Stop!† Elena, drooping over Stefan’s shoulder, could see him vaguely, his velvety black wings Stillspread from wal to wal , Stilltouching the golden ceiling. Bonnie clung to him like a bit of stray dandelion fluff. â€Å"You have already diminished her aura to almost nothing,†he growled. â€Å"If you ‘purify’the blood of this pauvre petite completely, she wil die – and then she wil awaken. You wil have created un vampire, Mesdames. Is that what you wish?† Susurre reeled back. For the ruler of such a harsh and unyielding realm, she seemed almost too gentle – but not too soft to shear off my Wings, Elena thought, wriggling her shoulders to ease them. Maybe she didn’t know how much it would hurt, another part of her mind offered vaguely. Then al her mind came together in an emergency meeting. Something warm and cooling was sliding down the back of her neck, in tiny droplets. Not blood. No, this was infinitely more precious than what the Guardians had taken away. Stefan’s tears. She rocked hard, trying to take her own weight on her feet. Somehow, shakily, she managed it. She only realized just how shaky she was when she tried to lift a hand and wipe the tears off Stefan’s cheeks with her thumb. Her whole hand wobbled as if she were making a childish joke. Her thumb struck his cheek with enough force to make anyone else wince. She looked at him with dumb apology, too shocked to try to speak. Stefan was speaking. Over and over. â€Å"It doesn’t matter,†he was saying. â€Å"It’s All right, love. Oh, lovely love, it wil be All right.†He wiped her eyes with a hand that was rock steady, and al the time he was looking only at her, and – she knew – thinking only of her. She knew that because she also knew the moment when it changed. Red hair was in her line of sight, blurred through new tears. Red hair and narrow green eyes, too close to her. That was when Elena felt Stefan remember that there was anything other than Elena in the world. His face changed. He didn’t snarl or stick out his chin. The change was an entire alteration, but it centered around his eyes, which became deadly hard while everything else became sharp and fierce. â€Å"If you touch her again, you vicious bitch, I wil rip out your throat,†Stefan said, and each word was like a chip of ice-cold iron dropped onto the floor. Elena’s tears stopped with the shock of it. Stefan didn’t talk that way to women. Even Damon didn’t – hadn’t. But the words were Stillechoing in the sudden silence of the cathedral-like room. People were backing away. Idola was backing away too, but her lip was curled. â€Å"Do you think that because we are Guardians that we cannot harm you – ?†she was beginning, when Stefan’s voice cut through hers cleanly. â€Å"I think that because you are ‘Guardians’you can kil sanctimoniously and get away with it,†Stefan said, and his lip made a far more compel ing – and frightening – line of scorn than Idola’s had. â€Å"You would have kil ed Elena if Sage hadn’t stopped you. Damn you,†he added softly, but with such utter conviction that Idola took another step backward. â€Å"Yes, you’d better ral y al your little friends around,†he added. â€Å"I might just decide to kil you anyway. I kil ed my own brother, as I’m sure you realize.† â€Å"But surely – that was only after taking a mortal blow yourself.†Susurre was between the two of them, trying to intercede. Stefan shrugged. He looked at her with the same contempt as he had the other ruler. â€Å"I Stillhad the use of my arm,†he said deliberately. â€Å"I could have decided to drop my sword, or to merely wound him. Instead I chose to put a blade straight through his heart.†He showed his teeth in a distinctly unfriendly smile. â€Å"And now I don’t even need a weapon.† â€Å"Stefan,†Elena managed at last to whisper. â€Å"I know. She’s weaker than I am and you don’t want to see me kil her. That’s why she’s Stillalive, love. It’s the only reason.†As Elena lifted half-frightened eyes to him, Stefan added in a voice only she could hear, Of course, there are some things about me you don’t know, Elena. Things I’d hoped you’d never have to see. Knowing you – loving you – made me almost forget about them. Stefan’s voice in her head woke something inside Elena. She lifted her head and looked at the blurry mass of Guardians around them. She saw strawberry-blond curls suspended in midair. Bonnie. Bonnie fighting. Doing it weakly, but only because a pair of the fair Guardians and another pair of dark ones were holding her in the air, one to each limb. As Elena stared at her she seemed to regain energy and fought harder. And Elena could hear†¦ something. It was faint and far away, but it almost sounded like†¦her name. Like her name spoken by whispering branches or the whirring of passing bicycle wheels. lay†¦nah†¦eee†¦lay†¦ Elena reached inwardly for the sound. She tried desperately to grasp whatever came after, but nothing happened. She tried a trick she would have found easy yesterday – channeling Power to the center of her telepathy. It didn’t work. She tried her telepathy. Bonnie! Can you hear me? There wasn’t even the slightest change in the smal er girl’s expression. Elena had lost her link to Bonnie. She watched as Bonnie realized the same thing, watched the fight go out of the smal body. Bonnie’s face, upturned in blank despair, was indescribably sad, and somehow indescribably pure and beautiful, al at once. That will never happen to us, Stefan’s voice in her mind told her fiercely. Never! I give you my – No! Elena thought back, superstitiously terrified of a jinx. If Stefan swore, something might happen – she might have to become a vampire or a spirit – to ensure that he didn’t break his word. He stopped, and Elena knew that he had heard her. And somehow this knowledge, that Stefan had heard a single word from her, Stilled her. She knew he wasn’t spying. He’d heard because she’d sent the thought to him. She wasn’t alone. She might be ordinary again; they might have taken her wings and most of the Power of her blood, but she wasn’t alone. She leaned toward him, her forehead against Stefan’s chin. â€Å"No one is alone.† She’d told Damon that. Damon Salvatore, a being who no longer existed. But who Stillcal ed forth from her one more word, one final cry. His name. Damon! He’d died four dimensions away. But she could feel Stefan backing her, amplifying her transmission, sending it like one last beacon through the multitude of worlds that separated them from his cold and lifeless body. Damon! There wasn’t the slightest glimmer of an answer. Of course not. Elena was making a fool of herself. Suddenly something stronger than grief, stronger than self-pity, even stronger than guilt, took hold of her. Damon wouldn’t have wanted her to be carried out of this hal – even by Stefan. Especial y by Stefan. He would have wanted her to show no sign of weakness to these women who’d shorn her and humiliated her. Yes. That was Stefan. Her love, but not her lover, wil ing to love her chastely from now until the end of her days†¦. The end†¦of her days? Elena was suddenly glad that she couldn’t project to strangers telepathical y and that Stefan had set shields around them when he’d taken her into his arms. She turned to Ryannen, who was watching†¦warily, but Stillwith business in her eyes. â€Å"I’d like to go now, if you don’t mind,†she said, picking up her backpack and slinging it over her shoulder with a gesture as arrogant as she could make it. There was a bolt of agony as the weight of the strap hit the place from which most of her wings had sprung, but she kept her face contemptuous and indifferent. Bonnie, back on the ground since she wasn’t fighting any longer, fol owed Elena’s lead. Stefan had left his backpack in the Gatehouse, but he gently cupped a hand around Elena’s elbow, not guiding her, but showing that he was there for her. Sage’s wings folded back into themselves and were gone. â€Å"You understand that for the return of these treasures which are ours by right – but which we were barred from retrieving – you wil be granted your requests with the exception of the imposs – â€Å" â€Å"I understand,†Elena said flatly, just as Stefan said, much more brusquely, â€Å"She understands. Just do it, wil you?† â€Å"It is already being organized.†Ryannen’s eyes, dark blue splashed with gold, met Elena’s with a look not entirely unsympathetic. â€Å"The best thing,†Sussure added hastily, â€Å"would be for us to put you to sleep and send you to your – your old, new dwellings. By the time you awaken, al wil have been accomplished.† Elena forced her face not to change. â€Å"Send me to Maple Street?†she asked, looking at Ryannen. â€Å"Aunt Judith’s house?† â€Å"In your sleep, yes.† â€Å"I don’t want to be asleep.†Elena moved even closer to Stefan. â€Å"Don’t let them put me to sleep!† â€Å"No one’s going to do anything to you that you don’t want,†Stefan said, and his voice was like the edge of a razor. Sage rumbled his support, and Bonnie stared at the fair woman hard. Ryannen bowed her head. Elena woke up. It was dark, and she’d been asleep. She couldn’t remember exactly how she’d fal en asleep, but she knew she wasn’t on the palanquin, and she knew she wasn’t in a sleeping bag. Stefan? Bonnie? Damon? she thought automatical y, but there was something odd about her telepathy. It felt almost as if it were confined to her own head. Was she in Stefan’s room? It must be pitch-black outside, since she couldn’t even see the outline of the trapdoor that led to the widow’s walk. â€Å"Stefan?†she whispered, while various bits of information pooled in her mind. There was a smel , at once familiar and unfamiliar. She was lying on a comfortable double bed, not one of Lady Ulma’s silken-and-velvet extravaganzas, but not any lumpy featherbed from the boardinghouse, either. Was she in a hotel? As these various thoughts came together in her brain, there was a soft quick rapping. Knuckles on glass. Elena’s body took over. She tossed off the bedspread and ran to the window, mysteriously avoiding obstacles without thinking about them at all. Her hands wrenched aside curtains that she somehow knew were there and her skyrocketing heart brought a name to her lips. â€Å"Da – !† And then the world stopped and did its slowest somersault of al . The sight of a face, fierce and concerned and loving and yet strangely frustrated, just on the other side of the second-story window, brought Elena’s memories back. Al of them. Fel ‘s Church was saved. And Damon was dead. Her head bent slowly until her forehead touched the cool pane of glass. How to cite The Return: Midnight Chapter 42, Essay examples

Advantages and disadvantages of multitouch interfaces free essay sample

What are the advantages and disadvantages of multitouch interfaces? How useful are they? Explain. Extremely good for object manipulations Touch, drag, â€Å"pinch† to zoom in and out, slide finger up and down or sideways as if they were physical objects without moving a mouse, pressing buttons or striking keys. For example, Perceptive Pixel offers pressure-sensitive multi-touch displays that can sense an unlimited number of simultaneous touches with accuracy and precision. Their displays come bundled with the right software and have applications in broadcasting, medical imaging, data exploration, digital storyboarding, industrial design and more. More versatile than single-touch interfaces as opposed to the single-touch screen, which recognizes only one touch point. Multitouch interface allows one or more fingers to perform gestures to manipulate objects. Multi touch gestures are easier to remember than commands Based on ingrained human movements that do not have to be learned. Touch is ideal for consuming/presenting information. Because it is a more natural interface, it increases user productivity. Collaborative use before the multitouch technology was invented, even with computer display connected to an external projector and another mouse, it was impossible for more than one person to make edits when pulling together a PowerPoint presentation. There is now an operating system that would support a minimum of dual input for â€Å"group conversations† on a single workstation. Made editing easier as more than one person can make edits to a project or presentations at the same time. There are some disadvantages for the multi touch that might be a problem to some and to others might be only a simple accommodation to new technology. Eyes on Touch screen interfaces are nearly all â€Å"eyes on†. You cannot type by touch while your eyes are occupied elsewhere like most cases of 12-17 year old kids than can text and type without looking. With an all touch-screen interface you generally cannot start, stop, or pause your MP3 player, for example, or close and answer your phone by reaching into your pocket, purse, or briefcase like you usually do since you dont have a one mechanical key to memorize its location and operate eyes free. This risks serious accidents for example if someone tries to operate a multi touch car radio while driving. Hands on Handheld devices that rely on touch screens for input require two hands to operate: one to hold the device and the other to operate it. Thus, operating them generally requires both eyes and both hands. Unlike the usual phones that can be operated and held using one hand: one hand to hold the device and a finger of the same hand to operate it. Fingers on Your finger is not transparent: the smaller the touch screen, the more you obscure what is being pointed at. That is why a stylus or pointer should be used: it is very skinny and accurate in such a way that nothing on the screen gets obscured. There is a reason we don’t rely on finger painting: even on large surfaces, writing or drawing with the finger is generally not as effective as it is with a brush or stylus. And on small surfaces, it is even more ineffective to try and draw or write with a finger.? This is a disadvantage as for note taking and writing as well as for applications for drawing and design since it is ineffective, a stylus should be used instead to replace the keyboard on a multi touch surface. Prices Prices of such devices might be too high at the beginning as it is for every new emerging technology. That might be a disadvantage and people might refrain to buy it and be afraid to try new stuff but eventually prices will continually decrease year after year until the product reaches every customer it can in order to spread the new technology Multi touch in businesses Multi touch has several uses in the business model of today’s technological era. There are several connections that today’s case study will have to emphasize on. Examples are such as: Mobile applications Tools for sales teams, technicians, medical staff, logistics tracking, banking, insurance, and teaching: professional mobile apps are popping up in all industry sectors, particularly for tablets. Here are some of the latest to appear on the market: †¢ An in-store digital sales companion developed by SFR (Vodaphone) for its in-store sales representatives. With access to catalogues, prices, special offers, real-time updates, etc. , the sales reps now have new ways to pitch and sell products and services via an attractive interface. †¢ What do L’Oreal, the French boy scouts and Bouygues have in common? They all use the services of â€Å"Urban Gaming†, a French company that claims to â€Å"turn the city into a playground† with touch-screen tablet-based team-building and incentive activities. Equipped with tablets with â€Å"serious game† apps, the teams are let loose in a city as part of a team-building exercise with a difference. The long-neglected office-based workers Touch-screen devices are huge at the moment: tablets enhance users’ image and are ideal for mobile staff and executives. But what about staff who are chained to their desks all day? The future will doubtless see an increase in interactive desks, i. e.  touch-screen features but copied onto a physical desk, with all the advantages of interactive, paperless functions. Microsoft and Samsung have already begun with the launch of Surface 2, a 40’’ multi-touch table that can be laid horizontal or mounted on to four legs and costing around â‚ ¬6,000. It can be used for anything from medical imaging to air patrol configuration and post-flight debriefing (as demonstrated by Dassault at this year’s Paris Air Show). Canadian company ExoPC is also working on a 40’’multi-touch interactive desk that is compatible with Windows 7 and can be hooked up to a monitor. ExoDesk will be on sale for around â‚ ¬1,000.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Employment Relation Legal Working Process

Question: Discuss about the Employment Relationfor Legal Working Process. Answer: Introduction The report is prepared to provide a detailed knowledge regarding the legal working process in the Australian enterprises. In that context, the report will provide the key insights with respect to the workplace relations system by taking into consideration the economic, social and industrial environment which can bring changes within the enterprises. In relation to that, the Australian government had started the reshaping as well as the structural transformation of the organizations to bring enhancement in the Australian economy. Thus due to that reason, there will be the proper description of the boot process which will describe the better off overall tests of the employees within the organization. In return, the boot process will provide the analysis of the proper validity of the enterprise project. Thus the report is prepared with an aim to provide some more recommendations by which the BOOT test can be improvised more (Annink den Dulk, 2015). For that reason, the report has been addressed to the President of Work Fair Commission who is responsible for bringing any kind of changes within the organization by the use of proper enterprise agreement. It is also that the process of BOOT also affects the employee relations within the organizations by the help of the enterprise agreement. So the work fair commission carries out the process by setting as well as varying the minimum wage fixation, industrial awards, handling the claims properly, dispute resolution and the approval of enterprise agreements. Therefore the report will provide the details of the requirements by which the President can be able to bring changes to the Work Fair Commission in the organization (Bartling, Fehr Schmidt, 2013). Fair Work Act The basic part which is focused as per the concept of the report is the better off overall test and the agreement associated with the enterprise. Thus it is necessary to have a clear idea regarding the better off overall test as well as the agreement and the enterprise agreement. In relation, the government of Australia had started with a new system called the Fair Work Act. This act has been started in 2009 (Bartling, Fehr Schmidt, 2013). As per this act the employees, employers, contractors as well as the communities get complied with a system enclosed within the agreement. In that case, the government set the requisite rules which will help in resolving the workplace issues by conducting relevant investigations in the workplace (Bogg, 2014). Thus the Fair Work Commission is supposed to establish the clear set of rules as well as obligations that will help with the approval of the enterprise agreement. What does the Agreement Mean? The proper meaning of an agreement is the part that provides the requisite terms as well as conditions regarding the employment within the employee or the group of employees and the employer of the organization. Thus the agreement is the fact that has been carried out as per the national workplace relations systems in two categories, namely, enterprise agreements and the agreement-based transitional instruments (Dorssemont, Lrcher Schmann, 2013). As per Zakaria Hashim, the agreement-based transitional instruments basically provide the insight by which it will help the agreements to continue the process until it is terminated or replaced. In relation to that, the agreement-based transitional instruments include the collective agreements, preserved individual and collective state argument, individual transitional employment agreements, pre-reform certified agreements and the Australian Workplace Agreements (Zakaria Hashim, 2015). At the same time, the enterprise agreement is the part that builds up the relation in between the one or more system of employers and the employees in the organization. This process goes as specified within the agreement (French, 2014). These enterprise agreements are such formulated that it will provide an ease to the parties during the negotiation. In that context, the parties carry out the negotiation with proper bargaining in a good faith within the level of the enterprise. Thus the Fair Work Commission that works with any kind of projects or businesses or activities and undertaking. The enterprise agreement is therefore worked with three kinds of agreements, namely, single enterprise agreement, multi-enterprise agreement, and Greenfields agreement (Jensen, 2015). The single enterprise works with the part that shows the agreement made in between the single employer and the employees which are employed while the issuance of the agreement. In that process, these are basically used by the single interest employers in a joint venture or any kind of common enterprises (Kersley, et al., 2013). Thus, in this case, the Work Fair Commission should have provided the employers the authority to become the single interest employers. Similarly, the multi-enterprise agreement is basically carried out in between the two or more employees along with the employees that are employed in the organization at that time of the agreement (Tan, 2015). These all are being covered by the agreement. Thereafter the Greenfields agreement is such an agreement which is made in between the employer as well as the employee who are employed in the generation of a new enterprise. This agreement can either be the single enterprise agreement or the multi-enterprise agreement (Lai, 2016). Thus in that context, the parties that are involved in this agreement are supposed to be the employer as well as one or number of employees associated to the enterprise. Depending upon the initiation of the enterprise agreement it is also essential to know that what the requisite requirements of the agreements are. Thus the successful agreements should definitely contain the necessary elements by which the agreement can operate smoothly. It should also contain the proper deductions from the wages for the generation of the authorized purpose of any enterprise (Tan, 2015). Further enterprise should also contain the basic terms which will properly signify the relationship in between the employee and the employer during the trading process (Lucio, 2015). In addition to that, the enterprise agreement should definitely contain the nominal expiry date, dispute settlement procedure, flexibility term and the consultation term. Along with that while considering the enterprise agreement it is seen that the amount which must be the rate of pay of any employee under any employer as per the agreement then he or she must be the paid should not be less than that of any relevant rate of pay as per the modern award system. This is the process which comes under the national minimum wage order for the employee (McDonald Thompson, 2016). What is the BOOT? Now coming to the basic portion of the report, which will help in providing a signified description of the BOOT as well as the description regarding its functioning within the processing of Work Fair Commission? The effective description of the BOOT will provide a proper validation to the enterprise agreements to carry out an enterprise project successfully. In that case, the enterprise agreements are prepared in such manner that it should definitely pass the better off overall test or BOOT. Passing this test will ensure the approval of the enterprise by the Fair Work commission in Australia (Nettleton, et al., 2016). Thus the enterprise agreement gets passed from the test the Fair Work Commission gets satisfied from the award covered employee along with all other prospective award covered employee. So basically the BOOT is the part that is applied to the process while measuring the employees employed under the agreement as compared to any kind of relevant modern award. In this regard, the BOOT is the process which has been used the Fair Work Commission to take the test of the employee classes (Nicaise, 2016). In that process, the Fair Work Commission found that it has made the assumptions regarding the process which indicated that in the absence of evidence it is seen that the award covered employees are found to be better than that of the modern award employee (Snyman, Ferreira Deas, 2015). Thus the better off overall test is the particular point seen in the time test where there will be the presence of the both award covered employee and the prospective award covered employee. In that context, the particular which should be considered as the test time is the time when the bargaining representative applies in front of the Commission to make the approval of the enterprise agreement (Palmen, et al., 2013). So basically it can be said that the better off overall test is the matter that provides the base in the approval of the enterprise agreement. On the contrary, the Commission does not provide approval to the agreement due to some unexpected conditions or exceptional circumstances. It can also be said that the approval of agreement cannot be supposed to be contrary to the public interest in any instance. Another reason that forms the basis for the approval of the enterprise agreement is it can also provide the exact rate of pay to the employees (Schtz Jacobs, 2014). It is mentioned in the earlier part that this test is a point in time test but along with that it also enables the situation for the employees to get their basic rate of pay which must not be lower than that of the basic rate of the national minimum wage order. Therefore this becomes the matter then the particular employee must be paid at a rate of equal pay as mentioned in the enterprise agreement. It will eventually satisfy the conditions mentioned under the national minimum wage order rate of the employee (Schz, 2014). Recommendations to Bring Changes in BOOT in Work Fair Commission Basically, while the matter of enterprise agreements is considered at that time there has been the proper description of the Work Fair Commission in Australia under the Act of Fair Work. In that case, it is seen that many of the projects started facing many kinds of issues by going through the procedural traps of the FW Act that generally arise during the bargaining process and most of the time hinders the growth of the approval of the enterprise agreements. In relation to that, it is seen that FW Commission has set the Act that provides the minimum requirements which the Commission must go through before providing approval to any kind of enterprise agreement. The reason behind it has to go through various functions like the negotiations, bargaining, and explanation to the employees along with the advice to the employees upon the vote on the agreement. Thus the whole process revolves around a specific scenario that says the Fair Work Commission should go through the proper correct steps to ensure the proper execution of the process. Otherwise, it can be seen that the process of negotiations can take months to get resolved due to the presence of many procedural errors. For that reason, this report will definitely provide a clear scenario regarding the changes that should be done to bring a union by which the Work fair Commission should take the decision of approval of the enterprise agreement smoothly. Thus while viewing the whole list of acts carried out by FW Commission it is seen that the issues were raised there is not any clear news that at what time the employer agreed to the bargaining process and because of this there should be the initiation of obligation in the process. Again the issues are raised when the employees who are be notified are on leave. Further, it is seen that the when the employees that have to be covered are not identified in a proper manner which hindered the approval process. The approval process also gets hindered due to the agreement coverage is the exact matter of negotiation in all cases. So basically it can be recommended to the President that the bargaining process should be provided with time duration of 14 days. After that, the process should be cancelled and depending upon that the concerned employer in that matter should definitely take care of the every possible reasonable step to make the circulation of the notice to all the employees properly. Apart from that, the employers should take a personal care regarding the Notice of the Employee Representational Rights in front of the employees during signing the agreement. Along with that, the President should also bring into consideration that the Notice which should be provided to the employees must be substantial compliance in form of the template as per the regulations of Work Fair Commission. Apart from that, it is also recommended that the regulations included with the Work Fair Commissions should definitely enclose the process regarding the delivery of the Notice in front of the employees. Thus this delivery of the Notice can be done by the help of email or making the display of the notice. By sending the proper email to the work mail of the employee with a proper address along with the Notice will help the employee in getting the update through the electronic link in the intranet. Next to that by displaying the notice the process is carried out in any kind of prominent location so that employee should easily trace the Notice. Thus the Notice should be easily accessible to the employees. In that case by opting this recommendation the President of the Work Fair Commission will help to manage the issue of miscommunication of the employer with the employees. Thereafter the next change or the recommendation to be provided is the matter of timing. In that case, the change should be brought in case of the providing time before starting any kind of voting process. Thus the employer should provide an extended duration of access period to the employees. In relation to that, the employer should keep 7 days duration of the access period. In that period it is recommended that the employer should ensure that the employees have the detailed knowledge of the agreement for which they are voting for. Along with that the employer should also go forwards and provide the notification to the employees regarding the timing as well as the place of the vote and the proper method of voting. By taking this method of voting the employer can very easily find out any kind of mistake from the agreement which will help in the rectification. It will also provide the proper incorporation of the material within the agreement. Moreover, the employer should take the proper advantage of the access period so that the employer should go through all the requisite terms associated with the agreement. Again by this manner, the employee can have the regard towards the particular needs of the employees. And lastly, the President should take care that the voting process should take place by the end of access period. It can also be kept within the consideration that the access period should be within the 21 days after the distribution of Notice in between the employees. Conclusion The report has presented the key points regarding the implementation of the better off overall test for completing the approval of the enterprise agreements in the organization. Moreover, the report includes the description of how the implementation of the better off overall test is carried out by the Work Fair Commission in Australia. And the most important fact regarding the report is that it contains the best possible recommendations regarding the changes which should be undertaken by the Commission for the betterment of the agreement approval process. Thus it can be concluded that if President opts for the changes then the Commission will be able to find effective ways to provide approval for the agreements of the enterprise or activity or project. References Annink, A. and den Dulk, L., 2015. 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