7 Key Grammar Differences Between Spanish and English

7 Key Grammar Differences Between Spanish and English Because Spanish and English are Indo-European languages- the two have a common origin from several thousand years ago from somewhere in Eurasia- they are alike in ways that go beyond their shared Latin-based vocabulary. The structure of Spanish isnt difficult for English speakers to understand when compared with, for example, Japanese or Swahili. Both languages, for example, use the parts of speech in basically the same way. Prepositions (preposiciones) are called that, for instance, because they are pre-positioned before an object. Some other languages have postpositions and circumpositions that are absent in Spanish and English. Even so, there are distinct differences in the grammars of the two languages. Learning them will help you avoid some of the common  learning mistakes. Here are seven major differences that beginning students would do well to learn; all but the last two should be addressed in the first year of Spanish instruction: Placement of Adjectives One of the first differences youre likely to notice is that Spanish descriptive adjectives (those that tell what a thing or being is like) typically come after the noun they modify, while English usually places them before. Thus we would say hotel confortable for comfortable hotel and actor ansioso for anxious actor. Descriptive adjectives in Spanish can come before the noun- but that changes the meaning of the adjective slightly, usually by adding some emotion or subjectivity. For example, while an hombre pobre would be a poor man in the sense of one not having money, a pobre hombre would be a man who is poor in the sense of being pitiful. The two examples above could be restated as confortable hotel and ansioso actor, respectively, but the meaning might be changed in a way that isnt readily translated. The first might emphasize the luxurious nature of the hotel, while the second might suggest a more clinical type of anxiety rather than a simple case of nervousness- the exact differences will vary with the context. The same rule applies in Spanish for adverbs; placing the adverb before the verb gives it a more emotional or subjective meaning. In English, adverbs can often go before or after the verb without affecting the meaning. Gender The differences here are stark: Gender is a key feature of Spanish grammar, but only a few vestiges of gender  remain in English. Basically, all Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine (there also is a less-used neuter gender used with a few pronouns), and adjectives or pronouns must match in gender the nouns they refer to. Even inanimate objects can be referred to as ella (she) or à ©l (he). In English, only people, animals, and a few nouns, such as a ship that can be referred to as she, have gender. Even in those cases, the gender matters only with pronoun use; we use the same adjectives to refer to men and women. (A possible exception is that some writers differentiate between blond and blonde based on gender.) An abundance of Spanish nouns, especially those referring to occupations, also have masculine and feminine forms; for example, a male president is a presidente, while a female president is traditionally called a presidenta. English gendered equivalents are limited to a few roles, such as actor and actress. (Be aware that in modern usage, such gender distinctions are  fading. Today, a female president might be called a presidente, just as actor is now often applied to women.) Conjugation English has a few changes in verb forms, adding -s or -es to indicate third-person singular forms in the present tense, adding -ed or sometimes just -d to indicate the simple past tense, and adding -ing to indicate continuous or progressive verb forms. To further indicate tense, English adds auxiliary verbs such as has, have, did, and will in front of the standard verb form. But Spanish takes a different approach to conjugation: Although it also uses auxiliaries, it extensively modifies verb endings to indicate person, mood, and tense. Even without resorting to auxiliaries, which also are used, most verbs have more than 30 forms in contrast with the three of English. For example, among the forms of hablar (to speak) are hablo (I speak), hablan (they speak), hablars (you will speak), hablarà ­an (they would speak), and hables (subjunctive form of you speak). Mastering these conjugated forms- including irregular forms for most of the common verbs- is a key part of learning Spanish. Need for Subjects In both languages, a complete sentence includes at least a subject and a verb. However, in Spanish it is frequently unnecessary to explicitly state the subject, letting the conjugated verb form indicate  who or what is performing the verbs action. In standard English, this is done only with commands (Sit! and You sit! mean the same thing), but Spanish has no such limitation. For example, in English a verb phrase such as will eat says nothing about who will be doing the eating. But in Spanish, it is possible to say comerà © for I will eat and comern for they will eat, to list just two of the six possibilities. As a result, subject pronouns are retained in Spanish primarily if needed for clarity or emphasis. Word Order Both English and Spanish are SVO languages, those in which the typical statement begins with a subject, followed by a verb and, where applicable, an object of that verb. For example, in the sentence The girl kicked the ball, (La nià ±a pateà ³ el balà ³n), the subject is the girl (la nià ±a), the verb is kicked (pateà ³), and the object is the ball (el balà ³n). Clauses within sentences also usually follow this pattern. In Spanish, it is normal for object pronouns (as opposed to nouns) to come before the verb. And sometimes Spanish speakers will even put the subject noun after the verb. Wed never say something like The book wrote it, even in poetic usage, to refer to Cervantes writing a book but the Spanish equivalent is perfectly acceptable, especially in poetic writing: Lo escribià ³ Cervantes. Such variations from the norm are quite common in longer sentences. For example, a construction such as No recuerdo el momento en que salià ³ Pablo (in order, I dont remember the moment in which left Pablo) is not unusual. Spanish also allows and sometimes requires the use of double negatives, in which a negation must occur both before and after a verb, unlike in English. Attributive Nouns It is extremely common in English for nouns to function as adjectives. Such attributive nouns come before the words they modify. Thus in these phrases, the first word is an attributive noun: clothes closet, coffee cup, business office, light fixture. But with rare exceptions, nouns cant be so flexibly used in Spanish. The equivalent of such phrases is usually formed by using a preposition such as de or para: armario de ropa, taza para cafà ©, oficina de negocios, dispositivo de iluminacià ³n. In some cases, this is accomplished by Spanish having adjectival forms that dont exist in English. For example, informtico can be the equivalent of computer as an adjective, so a computer table is a mesa informtica. Subjunctive Mood Both English and Spanish use the subjunctive mood, a type of verb used in certain situations where the verbs action isnt necessarily factual. However, English speakers seldom use the subjunctive, which is necessary for all but basic conversation in Spanish. An instance of the subjunctive can be found in a simple sentence such as Espero que duerma, I hope she is sleeping. The normal verb form for is sleeping would be duerme, as in the sentence Sà © que duerme, I know she is sleeping. Note how Spanish uses different forms in these sentences even though English does not. Almost always, if an English sentence uses the subjunctive, so will its Spanish equivalent. Study in I insist that she study is in the subjunctive mood (the regular or indicative form she studies isnt used here), as is estudie in Insisto que estudie. Key Takeaways Spanish and English are structurally similar because they have common origin in the long-gone Indo-European language.Word order is less fixed in Spanish than it is in English. Some adjectives can come before or after a noun, verbs more often can become the nouns they apply to, and many subjects can be omitted altogether.Spanish has a much more frequent use of the subjunctive mood than English does.

Grammatical Function Definition and Examples

Grammatical Function Definition and Examples Grammatical function is the  syntactic role played by a word or phrase in the context of a particular clause or sentence. Sometimes called simply function. In English, grammatical function is primarily determined by a words position in a sentence, not by inflection (or word endings). Examples and Observations The five elements of clause structure, namely subject, verb, object, complement, and adverbial, are grammatical functions. In addition, we distinguish predicator as the function carried by the main verb in a clause, and predicate as the function assigned to the portion of a clause excluding the subject.​Within phrases, certain types of units can function as modifiers, more specifically as premodifiers or postmodifiers.There is no one-to-one correspondence between functions and their possible formal realizations. Thus the functions of subject and direct object are often realized by a noun phrase, but can also be realized by a clause. (Bas Aarts, Sylvia Chalker, and Edmund Weiner, The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2014.) Linguistic Context and Grammatical Function The production and interpretation of an utterance act is anchored to the constitutive parts of language: syntax, morphology, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics. While syntax is composed of structural units, for instance, constituents in traditional grammar, phrases in functional grammar and generative grammar, groups in systemic functional grammar or constructions in construction grammar, it is the linear ordering of the individual parts within a hierarchically structured sequence which constitutes their grammatical function. The adverb really, for instance, realizes the grammatical function of a sentence adverbial with wide scope if positioned initially or finally, as is the case in the utterance really, Sarah is sweet. If the adverb really is positioned medially, it is assigned the grammatical function of the adverbial of subjunct with narrow scope, as in Sarah is really sweet. Or, the proper noun Mary can realize the grammatical function of object in Sally kissed Mary, and it ca n realize the grammatical function of subject in Mary kissed Sally. Thus, it is not the grammatical construction as such which is assigned a grammatical function. Rather, it is the positioning of a grammatical construction within a hierarchically structured sequence which assigns it a grammatical function. (Anita Fetzer, Contexts in Interaction: Relating Pragmatic Wastebaskets. What Is a Context?: Linguistic Approaches and Challenges, ed. by Rita Finkbeiner, Jà ¶rg Meibauer, and Petra B. Schumacher. John Benjamins, 2012.) The Grammatical Functions of Subjects The most complex grammatical function is that of subject. Consider the example in (1).(1) The tigers hunt prey at night.Tigers precedes the verb. It agrees with the verb in number, as becomes clear when it is made singular: The tiger hunts its prey at night. In the active construction, it is never marked by any preposition. The corresponding full passive clause ... is Prey is hunted by the tigers at night; in the passive clause, the subject of (1), the tigers, turns up inside the prepositional phrase by the tigers.The above criteria- agreement in number with the verb, never being preceded by a preposition, occurring in the by phrase in the passive- are grammatical, and the noun they pick out in a given clause is the grammatical subject of that clause. (Jim Miller, An Introduction to English Syntax. Edinburgh University Press, 2002.) The Grammatical Functions of Direct Objects and Indirect Objects In traditional grammatical descriptions, the grammatical function borne by her in the English example in (41) has sometimes been called the indirect object, and the book has been called the direct object:(41) He gave her a book.The phrase the book is also traditionally assumed to be the direct object in examples like (42):(42) He gave a book to her.The classification of the book as a direct object in both (41) and (42) may have a semantic rather than a syntactic basis: there may be a tendency to assume that the book must bear the same grammatical function in each instance because its semantic role does not change. ... [T]he LFG [lexical-functional grammar] view differs: in example (41), the phrase her bears the OBJ [object] function, while in example (42), the phrase a book is the OBJ.Within the transformational tradition, evidence for the LFG classification for English came from certain formulations of the rule of passivization, which applies uniformly to transform an object into a subject. (Mary Dalrymple, Lexical Functional Grammar. Emerald Group, 2001.)

Side effects of tattoos Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Side effects of tattoos - Essay Example Tattoos are immensely harmful to the physical self of a human being. In different nations, there are different regulatory authorities that regulate different cosmetics. In the case of tattoos there is a lack of regulation and people may be subjected to injecting inks that contain materials that are harmful to their physical health. One of the most common identified side effects of tattoos is the allergic reactions caused due to materials used to create and inject tattoos. The ink that is injected into an individual’s skin comprises of metals such as nickel and lead and these metals cause allergic responses that may last for a longer period of time. There is other skin related diseases that may be caused due to injection of tattoos. These may include infections as well as tumors. Those who are involved in the business of crafting tattoos may not take precautionary measures and due to this, the customer may end up experiencing diseases such as AIDS. Tattoos can even impact the social life of an individual in a negative manner. Tattoos are used by people belonging to different backgrounds as a mark to differentiate themselves from others. Due to this individuals or groups having a biased opinion against the group whose tattoo is crafted on an individual may end up disliking the individual or alienate them. On the other hand, tattoos are most commonly worn by a gangster to exhibit their membership with a particular gang (Clements 46). Therefore, it is quite possible that people may remain away from them because they might fear them.

Argumentative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Argumentative - Research Paper Example This essay will argue in support of the points and concerns raised by the author by citing evidence from credible scholarly sources. It was anti-Semitism and fervent nationalism that consolidated government control of German, Italian and Chinese populations respectively in the bygone era. In today’s geo-political situation, terrorism is the most discussed issue in public discourse. Ever since the September 11, 2001 attacks on America, it has been a major pre-occupation of American diplomatic and military efforts. Since the United States is the leader of the prevailing uni-polar world, terrorism now has implications for all countries associated with it. In the context of the ongoing War on Terror, the concept of Islamist jihad is seen as the ideological springboard for the numerous suicide attacks witnessed recently. As a measure to retaliate and prevent terror attacks, America and its allies have initiated several counter-terror operations in perceived geo-political hotspots. To complement these efforts, the scale and scope of counter-intelligence operations are also upped. (Mcgrath, 2004, p.147) But the term counter-intelligence darkly reminds the reader of the CoIntelPro regime of the Cold War period, where the state abused its power to keep a check on citizen freedoms. Curbing civil liberties under whatever guise is seldom a progressive move, as examples from past and present clearly show: â€Å"Tyrants place populations under surveillance because that is a prime means of control. The Gestapo, the NKVD, the KGB, the Stasi, and the Chinese Politburo all requisitioned private data such as medical, banking, and library records; now, with the Internet, Chinese authorities track citizens’ computer use. One reason dictators demand access to such private data is that this scrutiny breaks down citizens’ sense of being able to act freely against those in power†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wolf, Chapter 5, p.81) While counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence operations might have legitimate causes in certain exceptional cases, today it has come to represent hegemony and power. The record of the United States, especially under eight year reign of George W. Bush speaks ill of the notion of counter-intelligence. Interrogators working on the War on Terror project have resorted to such dehumanizing tactics such as solitary confinement in nudity in order to elicit intelligence information from suspects. Interrogators were learnt to have imposed nudity as a way of inducing ‘learned helplessness’ – which is akin to the psychological subjugation of American public to the domination and control by the elite business and political class. The Obama administration continued this tactic with Pfc. Bradley Manning. Whistle-blowers are being held naked in solitary confinement, â€Å"while our political establishment, a complicit media, and a professional class of lawyers and behavioral scientists attempt to veil American atrocities . Current targeted assassinations of American citizens, landmines, torture, and military tribunals sadly converge with the Bush-Cheney era policy of war and  counter-terrorism.† (Glazier, 2009, p.957) The dangers of indirect censorship and control articulated by Noami Wolf are easier to understand when we study the implications of recent legislations. For example, under George W. Bush's reign, the Foreign Intelligence

Philosophy Skepticism Essay Example for Free

Philosophy Skepticism Essay Definitely the most fascinating thing when it comes to skepticism is not that severely philosophically doubtful people are present it is the opinions that come from guiltless principles and get to amazing deductions. Rationalists like Locke argue that â€Å"all knowledge is based on reason (and the reasoned analysis of certain innate concepts and ideas that are possessed and understood by everyone). † Therefore, the inherent uncertainty of sensory experience (i. e. optical illusions and hallucinations) cannot provide a solid foundation for knowledge. Normally, a skeptic starts from several of explanations for a single situation but they will always end in wrong conclusions. Skepticism can take you to fertile results if you contemplate the following and consider the Sorites Paradox. First of all, admit these three properties. If you have two eyes and can see clearly- that means you are not blind. And if you have mostly no eyes or cannot see either, then you are not blind. Likewise, if you take off one eye, this does not make you completely blind. So keep taking your two eyes off. Agreeing with this evidence, you should not get blind . However; you would get blind (www. philosophytalk. org). In addition, if we make reference to Descartes Meditations dispute. What Descartes argument means is that â€Å"the kind of evidence we have for our beliefs underdetermines what to believe (60). † Hence, we could use Bertrand Russells example. Imagine you had some kind of hallucinations consequence from some kind of drug or substance. In this case, how could someone differentiate their dream life from their real life? Since the skeptic never accepts that we are actually having a dream in the place of living. In fact, the skeptic states that our existing evidence does not regulate the chance that it could be a dream instead of real life. Idealism is definitely a good solution for skepticism. Moreover, skepticism creates the difference among our thoughts or observations and things that provide importance to these thoughts and perceptions such as dreams or any life experience. So, demanding that the universe is part of our ideas would separate the problematic of skepticism. For example, there is nothing concluded about the existence of a chair than just the impression that the table is there. During decades, many philosophers and skeptics have always had an extremist position as a way to give strength to their opinions. Though, idealism is actually more absurd than skepticism and our commonsense should allow us to reject it (Philosophical Reporter (4:50): Polly Stryker interviews Michael Shermer, the director of Skeptic Society). I believe that many skeptical opinions do not necessarily have to be based on a strong formation of knowledge. We can believe whatever we want whether or not those beliefs are based on a complete form of knowledge? If knowledge is hypothetically that type of belief-with that kind of authority- whatever it is, that sustains skeptical opinions, then we probably do not count the privilege of having that knowledge. Nevertheless, we believe in several things and some of those beliefs are more or less acceptable by argument and/or evidence. Undoubtedly, many of the things we believe in are strong enough for this life with a list full of different and infinite purposes, even if the skeptic is right that none of them deserve the honorific label knowledge† (Stroud, 96). Whenever we believe in something, we risk more than having some kind of knowledge . When I purely believe something and do not any doubt it and actually have evidences to support it, then that is when I cannot even have the thought or idea that my belief could be wrong for a certain reason. So Knowledge is in a way stronger than that. One cannot know that p, unless p is the case (Nozick, 109). There are serious doubts about the reliability of sensory experience on human beings in the development of ideas, and the possibility of ‘certain knowledge’ is definitely questionable. So, while experiences are the foundation for knowledge and certainty, we cannot fully trust our experiences, and cannot hope to accomplish certainty in our knowledge of the world. Reasoning a bit, we can realize that knowledge would always be dependable from the passing of time, and that knowledge could change anytime as well. Different kinds of advances, transformations and variations could lead knowledge to be moldable in anyway in any area depending on what we believe now and what we will believe later based on science or the resemblance of the past. All knowledge is a product of human experience, and is not possible that people are born with innate ideas . On the other hand, beliefs will always be based on the criteria of each people that comprise a whole different world, and our beliefs would hardly change the way we see and justify things that surround us in a period of five years or less. I do not think that knowledge is as important as it seems. I tend to believe that the rational part does everything. We want all of our beliefs to be constant under the stress that the rational pressure causes. When those balanced belief are being formed, our goal is to reach those beliefs that are receptive to all the stress of rational beliefs and that even after all that force of a rational belief, they can keep themselves firm. Perhaps a belief that is privileged of having such receptiveness to reasons and could appreciate the stability of not having any pressure by any rational beliefs, and then it would gain the honor to be named knowledge. * www. Philosophytalk. org * Nozick, Robert. An Analysis of Knowledge. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007 * Stroud, Barry. Philosophical Scepticism and Everyday Life. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007 * Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007.

Comparing Social Norms in My Last Duchess by Robert Browning and Ulysse

When one travels, it is easy to observe differences in social norms from country to country. One may also observe differences within a country, for example, the social norms of a small town or village versus those of a large metropolis. Differences in social norms can also be observed in literature. This essay will focus on two dramatic monologues, which were written by poets who lived in England during the same period. Robert Browning published My last Duchess in 1842, the same year that Alfred Tennyson published Ulysses. Both poets lived in England during the Victorian era. However, by examining characters from their poetry, namely Alfonso in My Last Duchess and Odysseus in Ulysses, we can see that they express opposite norms concerning controlling power, change, form and death. â€Å"E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together† (Line 42-46) (Browning 714). This implies that Alfonso can't sand his wife's behavior, which leads him to kill her. He doesn't want to stoop for her, which means he doesn't want to give in to her to gain her attention in that way. Instead of being nice to her, he chooses to affect his power over her, a power he is afraid to lose. Yet even after he kills her, he keeps her picture, and covers it with the curtain. This is his way of putting her in her place, a prison of sorts, in which he chooses when and to whom she will ever smile again. Then he says to the servant of the Count of Tyrol â€Å"the curtain I have drawn for you† and he shows the picture to him. From Alfonso’s words, we can tell that he is satisfied with this action becau... ... In My Last Duchess, Browning shows that thing has a form, which he literally has and everyone can see it, had a value and it will not change forever. Even Browning expresses that death still can bring back something he wants. In contrast, Tennyson mentions powers itself doesn’t attract or move him. A death won’t give anything to him. Therefore, to achieve what he wants means more to him. Browning doesn’t find any interest in the thing, which has a form and will not change forever. Change itself actually has value. From this, even though Browning and Tennyson lived in the same era, their norms are world apart. Works Cited Browning, Robert. "My Last Duchess." Literature Across Cultures. Ed. SheilaGillespie, et al 4th Ed. New York: Longman, 2005. Tennyson, Alfred. "Ulysses". Victorian Literature, 1830-1900.Boston: McPeek, 2002. pp. 399-400. Print.

Succubus Shadows Chapter 6

I awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon. For a moment, I had the strangest sense of d? ¦j? ¤ vu. When Seth and I were first getting to know each other, I'd crashed at his place after too much to drink. When I had woken up, I'd discovered a full breakfast spread in his kitchen. A few moments later, reality sunk in. There was no desk or bulletin board of book notes, no teddy bear in a University of Chicago shirt. It was my own dresser that looked back at me, my own tangled pale blue sheets wrapped around my legs. With a sigh, I clambered out of bed and walked out to the kitchen, wondering what was going on. To my astonishment, it was Roman playing chef at my stove, both cats sitting at his feet – no doubt hoping for a bit of dropped bacon. â€Å"You cook?† I asked, pouring a cup of coffee. â€Å"I cook all the time. You just don't notice.† â€Å"I notice you heating up a lot of frozen food. What's all this?† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm starving. You don't get a lot of time to eat when you're on stalking duty.† I eyed the eggs, bacon, and pancakes. â€Å"Well, I think you'll be good to go for the rest of the day. Maybe the next two days. You sure did make a lot,† I added hopefully. â€Å"No need to be coy,† he said, trying to hide a smile. â€Å"You can have some.† This was the best news I'd heard all day. Of course, I'd only been up for five minutes. Then, last night's events came slamming into me. â€Å"Oh, shit.† Roman glanced up from where he was flipping a pancake. â€Å"Hmm?† â€Å"A funny thing happened last night†¦.† I frowned. â€Å"Well, not so funny†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I explained that mystery force's reappearance last night, as well as my unexpected swim from the other day. Roman listened quietly, the earlier levity rapidly disappearing from his face. When I finished, he dumped his skillet of eggs into a bowl so hard that the bowl shattered. I took an uneasy step back. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† he growled. â€Å"Whoa, hey,† I said. An angry nephilim was nothing I wanted around. â€Å"That's part of a matched set.† He glared at me, but I knew the anger wasn't toward me, exactly. â€Å"Three times, Georgina. This has happened three fucking times, and I wasn't around.† â€Å"Why should you be?† I asked in surprise. My surprise then took an odd turn into outrage. â€Å"You aren't my keeper.† â€Å"No, but some entity is invading my home.† I decided not to point out that it was my home. â€Å"I should be dealing with that, not chasing some boring succubus for Jerome.† â€Å"Ask, and ye shall receive,† a familiar voice suddenly said. Jerome's aura washed over us as he materialized by the kitchen table. â€Å"About time,† snapped Roman, that dark look still on his face. â€Å"I've been waiting forever for you to show up.† Jerome arched an eyebrow and lit a cigarette. â€Å"Forever, huh? It hasn't even been a week.† â€Å"Feels like it,† said Roman. He handed me a plate of food, and I sat quietly at the table, deciding I should wait for this status report to unfold before delivering my latest problems to Jerome. â€Å"You guys should add following Simone to your list of punishments for the eternally damned.† Jerome smiled and flicked his ashes into a vase of gerbera daisies on my table. I wasn't thrilled about that, but at least it wasn't on my floor. â€Å"I take it you've seen no noteworthy activities? Mei reported the same thing.† Roman sat down beside me with his own food, setting the plate down with more force than he needed. I winced, but it didn't break. â€Å"She's done nothing but shop and take victims. Oh, and hit on Mortensen.† Both of Jerome's eyebrows rose this time. â€Å"Seth Mortensen?† I started to ask how many Mortensens he knew, but Roman's next words cut me off. â€Å"Yeah, she's shown up a couple times, attempting some sort of lame seduction.† My anger started to kindle again and then – â€Å"Wait. A couple times?† I exclaimed. â€Å"More than the coffee shop?† Roman looked at me, a brief glint of apology showing through his angry expression. â€Å"Yeah, I didn't have a chance to tell you. She came to the bookstore while you were out with Maddie yesterday. Very nicely timed with your absence.† I slammed my fork down on my plate. Really, it was a wonder I had any dishes left. â€Å"Why the hell didn't you tell me?† â€Å"Because I kind of didn't have the chance, seeing as we had bigger problems!† Jerome had stiffened when Roman mentioned Simone attempting to seduce Seth. The reaction was weird, like he'd been caught by surprise. That was rare for a demon, rarer still for one to show it. Several moments later, he regained his composure, turning his attention to Roman's comment. â€Å"Bigger problems?† â€Å"Georgina's being stalked,† declared Roman. â€Å"Georgina's always being stalked.† Jerome sighed. â€Å"What is it this time?† He kept his features neutral, but as we explained the situation, I saw something spark in his eyes†¦some sort of interest. At the very least, speculation. Silence fell when Roman and I finished our story. I glanced at him, both of us waiting for my overlord to offer some sort of explanation. â€Å"Your job with Simone is done,† Jerome said at last. â€Å"Thank God,† said Roman. â€Å"You're going to follow Georgie instead.† â€Å"What?† Roman and I exclaimed in unison. â€Å"Same deal,† added Jerome. â€Å"Invisible, no signature. Except when you're here, of course. Most know you two are roommates. It'd be odd if you disappeared off the face of the earth.† The last couple times that siren song had shown up, I'd desperately wanted Roman. I should have been glad to have him now, which is why the outrage that followed next was completely irrational. â€Å"But he needs to follow Simone!† â€Å"Oh?† asked Jerome. â€Å"Pray tell why? She's made no contact with anyone from Hell. Either she is here for innocent reasons, or she's too good at hiding her reports.† â€Å"But†¦but†¦she's following Seth. We need to figure out why!† â€Å"I don't think it takes a genius to deduce why,† said Jerome dryly. â€Å"We have to stop her, though.† The demon snorted. â€Å"Georgina, do you have any idea how much I don't care about your ex-boyfriend? There's more in this universe than your absurd love life – or lack of one.† I flinched. â€Å"Especially since he's sleeping with someone else now. If he's so in love with her now, Simone shouldn't be an issue. And don't glare at me like that,† he added. â€Å"You already screwed his soul over when you fucked him last spring. Simone won't make any difference.† I gritted my teeth. â€Å"I still don't think – â€Å" â€Å"No.† Jerome's voice was hard, and he was using that tone you didn't argue with. He turned his attention to Roman. â€Å"You're done with Simone. You're with Georgie now. Understood?† Roman nodded, not sharing my outrage. â€Å"Understood. Do you know what this is? What's happening to Georgina?† â€Å"I've got a few ideas,† Jerome growled. And like that, he vanished. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† I said. Roman swallowed a bite of egg and looked remarkably relaxed, compared to his earlier state. â€Å"Was that a general statement of frustration or a slander on Jerome?† â€Å"Both. Why do you look so pleased all of a sudden? You were ready to go on a rampage earlier.† â€Å"Because I'm done with Simone. And I get to chase better prey now.† â€Å"And because you don't care about Seth at all.† â€Å"That too.† I stared at my food without really seeing it. My appetite was gone. â€Å"I need to see him. I need to see her and find out if she's following him.† â€Å"No good can come of that,† warned Roman. I didn't answer. My mood had crashed. I was grateful for Roman's protection now, but in a lot of ways†¦well, I wanted to put Seth before myself. I wanted to defend him from†¦what? Having his life shortened by a succubus? Having his soul further darkened? Or were my motives more selfish†¦did I just not want him to sleep with another woman? Accepting him and Maddie was hard enough†¦and yet, if Simone did woo him, would that break up the impending marriage? No, I decided, Seth would stay true to Maddie. He wouldn't cheat on her. Wouldn't he? a nasty voice in my head asked. He cheated with you†¦. â€Å"Damn it. I wish you wouldn't look like that.† I glanced up at Roman. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"That pathetic look on your face is killing me.† He turned his gaze downward, moving eggs around his plate. With a sigh, he looked back up. â€Å"I know where Seth will be today. But I don't know if Simone will be there.† My eyes widened. â€Å"Where?† Roman hesitated only a moment later. â€Å"The art museum. He mentioned it to Maddie yesterday†¦. Some exhibit he wanted to see that she doesn't. He was going to swing by there today. I'm not sure of the time, but Simone might have overheard. If so, it'd be the perfect time.† I stood up, and my appearance instantly shifted, ready to go. Hair styled long and wavy. Jeans and a T-shirt. Makeup perfect. â€Å"Well, let's go. We need to stake the place out.† â€Å"Whoa there, speedy. Some of us can't get ready that fast. And some of us aren't done eating.† I sat back down, not bothering to hide my impatience. He ate on, pointedly ignoring me and chewing every bite with care. A thought popped up. â€Å"Can you hide my signature? I'll go invisible. Lure her in.† Roman shook his head in exasperation. â€Å"I was hoping you wouldn't think of that.† I expected him to refuse me, but to my surprise, he did indeed hide my immortal signature when we finally set out to the museum. After shifting invisible, I was as incognito as he was by my side. It was a pretty day to be out in downtown Seattle. The morning clouds had burned off, and the sun had nothing to hold it back. It was deceptive, though. The sky was a clear radiant blue, but fall's chill was starting to finally take its grip. So while the weather looked gorgeous through windows, a coat was required once outside. The Seattle Art Museum – or, as it was affectionately know by locals, SAM – was massive, and its regular collection held exhibits from every place and period imaginable. Roman had told me the exhibit Seth wanted to see was a special one, only in town for a few weeks. It was a display of Late Antiquity jewelry, and I would have wagered good money that Seth was there to do research for Cady and O'Neill. But when we arrived, there was no sign of Seth. Plenty of tourists – even on a weekday – filled the place, wandering aimlessly and pausing to study or read about the pieces. This period of time was near and dear to me, and I couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. It was the era I'd grown up in, the era I'd spent my mortal days in. Seeing those items – rings, bracelets, and necklaces – was surreal. Many were from the Mediterranean region of the Roman Empire. Sometimes, when I thought about my past, it would make my heart burn. Other times, I felt removed, like I was watching a movie about someone else's life. I'd been studying each piece in detail, intrigued at how some had been polished to brightness and others were corroded with time. A gentle nudge at my shoulder made me look up. I saw no one near me and realized it had been Roman. Turning around, I surveyed the gallery and found what – or rather who – he'd spotted. Seth stood on the opposite side of the room, face thoughtful and inquisitive as he studied one of the cases. A notebook and pen were in his hands. He'd come for research, as I suspected. I studied him with equal fascination. As far as I was concerned, he was as rare and precious to me as any of the jewelry surrounding us. Shit, I thought. I was an idiot if I thought I was over him. Just standing there in the same room, I felt more drawn to him than ever. I backed up to a wall near me, staying out of the way of patrons and simply keeping an eye on Seth, wondering if Simone would show her traitorous face. After a half-hour went by, my impatience grew. It was stupid, I knew. Seth would likely be here all afternoon, and she might arrive later. But†¦suddenly, talking to him seemed more important. I knew it was foolish, knew it was wrong†¦but, well, I'd done more idiotic things in the past. I stepped out of the gallery and into a stairwell that was momentarily empty. It only took a second to go visible again. In my ear, I heard Roman's voice hiss, â€Å"Are you crazy?† â€Å"Keep my signature hidden,† I snapped back. â€Å"If she shows, we'll sense her before she sees me.† An elderly couple came down the stairs just as I finished my words, giving me an odd look. I smiled winningly and held the door open for them. They scurried through. Seth was at a display of Byzantine diadems when I touched his arm. He flinched and turned around, though his shock immediately turned to pleasure when he saw me. Shit, I thought again. Far better if he'd looked dismayed. â€Å"Let me guess,† I said. â€Å"You're planning the perfect heist for Cady and O'Neill.† He smiled. â€Å"They're the good guys.† â€Å"They've been known to break the law,† I pointed out. â€Å"I like to think of it as bending the law. What are you doing here?† I gestured around. â€Å"Revisiting my youth – or what's left of it. The sands of time bury most things, but a few remain.† â€Å"I never thought of that,† said Seth, clearly intrigued. â€Å"This is your era. I should have been coming to you for research.† A vision of us having private study sessions came to mind. I immediately squashed it. â€Å"Better visual aids here. Anything catch your eye?† He pointed at the case of diadems beside him. â€Å"I like these. It's a shame we don't wear stuff like this anymore.† I followed his gaze. â€Å"Not enough bling in the hair nowadays?† He gave me one of those half-smiles. â€Å"No. There's just†¦I don't know. There's a beauty and skill we don't use. Look at that.† He gestured toward one diadem, meant to resemble a crown of gold coins. Little strings of small gold circles hung down, draping through the hair. â€Å"Look at the imperfections. That was handmade, each one of those.† â€Å"Some would call that flawed.† I loved it when Seth got caught up in these philosophical musings. â€Å"That's what makes it great. And anyway, I kind of like the idea of adorning women in crowns and jewels. Call me sexist, but I think the fair sex should be worshipped.† He paused. â€Å"And perfectly entitled to all the rights and opportunities of men.† I laughed and stepped away so that others could approach the case. â€Å"I think you're romantic, not sexist.† A troubling thought came to me, recalling how Maddie had admired pearl tiaras and headbands at the bridal stores yesterday. Modern-day diadems. Would Seth like that? â€Å"Call it what you want,† he said, â€Å"but I just think our civilization has declined when scrunchies have become the prevalent form of hair ornamentation.† We wandered around the exhibits after that, commenting on and analyzing them. I tried not to overthink the situation. I didn't delude myself about whether we could be friends. I didn't wallow in guilt over carrying a torch. I just tried to enjoy the moment. During none of our time together did I feel Simone. Since Roman's senses were stronger, I had to assume he hadn't either. I also suspected he was rolling his eyes over my time with Seth. Seth and I finally reached the last of the exhibit: Byzantine wedding rings. When I saw them, the warm, comfortable feelings that had wrapped around me suddenly turned to ice. I felt the change in Seth too. Most of the rings were of similar design, with a flat circle lying on top of the ring, the circle surface then engraved with some image. My troubled feelings had nothing to do with weddings or any other associations with Maddie. Last Christmas, Seth had had a ring made for me in this style. He hadn't intended it as a wedding or engagement ring. He'd just done it as a gift, knowing the style was part of my past. It was beautiful, and I still had it. It was locked away in a box of treasures I'd kept over the centuries – items too precious to throw out and too painful to look at. Neither of us said anything, and I wondered what he thought about. Was it just the awkward discomfort from memories of an ex-girlfriend? Was it stirring bittersweet feelings similar to the ones churning in me? When he and Maddie had gotten involved, I'd been convinced he'd moved on. Then, after our brief affair in the spring, I'd reconsidered. There were too many times now that he looked at me strangely, too many times that reminded me of when I was his girlfriend and the times he told me he loved me. But his wedding was still moving forward, with no sign of doubt on his part. I didn't know what to think. I'm not sure how long we stood in silence, but Seth broke it. â€Å"Well†¦I guess that's it for the exhibit, huh?† I glanced around as though attempting to determine if we'd seen it all. I already knew we had. â€Å"Yeah, I guess that's it.† He wouldn't meet my eyes, and his whole body radiated nervousness. â€Å"Thanks for the research help. I should get back to the store and put this to good use.† â€Å"Good luck.† His eyes lifted, and I offered a small smile that he returned. â€Å"Thanks.† We parted, and I left the museum, not sure where I was going – only that I had to go someplace where he wasn't. For an hour or so, I'd played make-believe with him, keeping that familiar depression away and allowing myself a small joy. Now, that darkness descended on me†¦and uneasily, I recalled how that mystery force always showed up when I was troubled. That was its lure: comfort when I felt desperate and alone. Roman might be my offense, but I decided then to go for a good defense. I needed distraction. â€Å"You aren't going to like this,† I murmured, assuming Roman was close enough to hear. Distraction wasn't the only thing I needed. I needed a good energy fix. I was sleeping with enough men regularly that I had a pretty consistent supply of energy. Still, being at full power, so to speak, would keep my strength up – which hopefully would increase my mental resolve. Not that sleeping with random men was always cheering. I was in no mood to go hunting for victims in a bar. I needed something slightly easier, something a little less sleazy. Normally those two were mutually exclusive, but I'd come up with an idea while driving home that might accomplish both. There was a twenty-something guy named Gavin who lived in a condo down the hall from me. He was nice enough and had a serious crush on me. He never said or did anything overtly, but it was obvious. He alternated between nervousness and poorly done jokes whenever I was around. He always seemed unwilling to part when we ran into each other in the garage or lobby or whatever. His gaze also spent more time on my cleavage than my eyes. The beauty of it all was that he also had a girlfriend. I didn't know if he'd cheated on her before or just wanted to. That wasn't important at the moment. What was important was that when I showed up at his door after the museum, his girlfriend wasn't around. â€Å"Georgina,† he said, taken aback. â€Å"How†¦how's it going?† â€Å"Not great,† I said, forcing distress into my voice. â€Å"I got locked out of my place and have to wait for my friend to show up with a spare set of keys. Can I wait here for her? I'm afraid if I go outside, it'll rain again.† It was then that Gavin seemed to notice my drenched state, particularly the now transparent white sundress I'd shape-shifted into without a bra. His eyes bugged out, and then he glanced quickly behind him before turning back to the wet, clinging fabric encasing my breasts and their hardened nipples. â€Å"It†¦it rained? But it's so nice out.† That brisk fall sunshine was pouring in through his windows. â€Å"I know,† I said glibly. â€Å"I was kind of surprised too. It was this really fast freak thing that came out of nowhere.† This was apparently so unbelievable that Gavin actually managed to tear himself away from me to once more scrutinize the brilliantly blue sky outside. Finally, deciding not to fight this, he beckoned for me to come in. â€Å"Do you have a T-shirt or anything I can wear?† I asked sweetly. â€Å"I'm freezing in this.† His scrutiny had shifted from my breasts to the very noticeable black thong underneath the dress. I think changing out of the dress was a huge disappointment for him, but he wasn't so socially inept as to refuse me. â€Å"Sure, come on.† I followed him to his bedroom where he dug out an oversized Seattle Mariners T-shirt and a pair of green flannel boxers. He handed them over. â€Å"See if these work,† he said, backing out of the room to give me privacy. â€Å"Thanks,† I said, giving him a winning smile. He managed a nervous one in return just before shutting the door. I crossed my arms and waited a minute, during which an invisible Roman said: â€Å"This is ridiculous. You should have just shown up as a pizza delivery girl.† â€Å"Hey, the wet dress technique is tried and true. Works every time.† Roman sighed. â€Å"Wait in the other room then,† I said. â€Å"This shouldn't take long.† I opened the door and shouted down the hall, â€Å"Hey, Gavin? Can you come help me?† He popped back in, and I couldn't help but notice his dark brown hair was a lot neater than it had been earlier. He'd probably dashed off to the bathroom in a quick grooming attempt to impress me. â€Å"What's wrong?† he asked. I turned around and pushed my hair over one shoulder, showing where the straps of my dress's halter top were tied behind my neck. â€Å"There's a knot here I can't get undone. Can you give it a shot?† He hesitated for only a moment before moving forward to assist. I'd shape-shifted a pretty good knot, and it took him some time to work through it, during which I backed up against him as close as I could. At last, he managed to undo it, pulling the straps apart and releasing them so that I could grab them. I missed, of course, and as the straps fell, so did most of the dress. It went against the laws of physics, seeing as how clingy that wet fabric had been. I caught the dress in a weak attempt at modesty, but not before it almost entirely fell off. Nearby, I heard another exasperated sigh from Roman. I turned to face Gavin, holding the dress against me in a way that completely exposed my chest. His eyes were naturally fixed on it, and I glanced down too, as though trying to figure out what he was looking at. â€Å"Oh, man. I'm wet all over. Do you have a towel? I don't want to get the shirt wet.† â€Å"Uh†¦what? Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In record speed, he raced to the bathroom and returned with a small hand towel. I decided then not to bother with any more convenient excuses and simply stepped forward, hoping he was smart enough to accept the invitation. He was. Hesitant at first, he slowly ran the towel over my breasts, lingering when it was obvious they were dry. He moved down to my stomach – which he dried pretty quickly – and then to my hips and thighs. I'd long since let my soggy dress fall to the floor and helpfully pulled off my thong so that he could reach every part. He had to kneel to do my inner thighs, and I heard him mutter, â€Å"Oh my God.† I wasn't sure if that was simply because of the situation he was in or because his girlfriend hadn't gone Brazilian. â€Å"You have great hands,† I purred. â€Å"Th-thanks,† he said inanely. He'd just finished my legs and stood up. I took the towel and tossed it on the bed. Catching hold of his hand, I gently stroked it and brought it between my thighs. â€Å"Really great,† I said in an even lower voice. â€Å"Long fingers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I guided a couple of those fingers into me, and I swear, he gasped louder than I did. After a little more urging, he no longer needed my assistance and began rapidly thrusting his fingers on his own. I pressed to him, moaning as though it were the most amazing experience of my life. I was wetter on the inside than out, and the only resistance he encountered was in how tight I'd made myself. Reaching around his arm, I unfastened his pants and pulled them off in one motion. His erection pointed out at me long and hard and ready. It had probably been that way the moment I showed up at the door. Gripping his shirt I pulled him toward the bed. â€Å"The rest,† I gasped, spreading myself in front of him. â€Å"Let me see how the rest feels.† The hand that had been in me left as he laid himself on top of me. He pushed my thighs apart and thrust in with a force that contradicted his earlier shyness. In fact, his face showed no nervousness whatsoever anymore. He was all eagerness and desire, emitting small grunts each time he shoved himself into me. â€Å"Harder,† I told him, giving him big, passionate eyes. â€Å"I want it harder.† He obliged, increasing the speed and force. After about a minute of this, he shifted up so that he was kneeling. Holding my thighs just below my knees, he spread my legs far apart and leaned in. The new position allowed him to get deeper, and I exclaimed my approval, urging him again to do it harder and harder. Steadily, I felt his life energy begin to flow into me. It was a decent amount, and it felt glorious, spreading through my being and reinvigorating me. With it came his thoughts and feelings, at which point I learned he never had actually cheated on his girlfriend before – but, oh, he'd wanted to plenty of times. She barely crossed his mind at the moment. He was too consumed by me to feel much guilt. The only brief concern he had was that he should have used a condom. That was a regret, but it wasn't strong enough for him to stop, not when I felt this good. I let my cries escalate into small screams and felt him grow closer and closer to coming. My head was getting dangerously close to the headboard, but the roughness of it all was really turning him on. He'd never had the opportunity to just go so wild. Harder and harder he went, thrusting himself in all the way each time. The energy increased by leaps and bounds, and just before the big moment came, I decided to drive home the guilt a little. It made me feel some guilt in return, but at the end of the day, guilt marked the soul, and that was what Hell employed me for. â€Å"Can she do this?† I panted. He was half a second from coming. â€Å"Can your girlfriend take it like this?† The orgasm exploded – and so did he. He pulled out at the last second, not because of what I'd said but because this was his solution to the condom problem. Withdrawal was a horrible safe sex method, but whatever. His body spasmed and he came on my stomach. It was warm against my flesh, and he watched with a perverse fascination. Yet, just before it had happened, I'd felt my dagger hit. He'd been so consumed by lust that he'd been able to block his girlfriend out earlier. My comment had pushed her to the fore-front, but there had been no way he could stop what he was doing by that point. I'd felt the spike of guilt, just as the last burst of life energy sparkled through me. He fell back against the covers, gasping and exhausted. Losing some of your life will do that to you. Whatever thoughts of guilt or satisfaction he felt now were his alone. The towel was still conveniently on the bed, and I used it to clean myself up. I stood up and walked over to the window while he still tried to catch his breath. He'd probably fall asleep in a few minutes. â€Å"Oh, hey,† I said cheerfully. â€Å"My friend's out there with the key.† I picked up the sodden dress and headed for the door. â€Å"Thanks for letting me hang out.†

Insigh Paper “Story of Earth” Essay

The Earth is said to be â€Å"the only home to life in the universe† but five billion years ago there was no signal of the planet that we can call it home. Instead there was only a new star and a cloud of dust in our solar system. Over billions of years, a series of violent changes led to the formation of our world and, eventually, the creation of life. As stated in the movie 4500 million years ago the earth looks like hell than home. Also, we can definitely see it as a â€Å"boiling ball of liquid rock or an endless ocean of lava† because the sun was only 22,000 kilometers away from our planet. As time goes by, Meteorite starts showering the planet and brings water 3, 900 million years ago. Then, 3,800 million years ago the molten rocks burst in the earth’s crust and rises up which forms a volcanic islands which may eventually became the first continent. Might as in this year, it begins to make the earth a planet that we can live but the atmosphere was toxic and meteorite dissolves and transport carbon, proteins, amino acids from space to the ocean. Microscopic organisms are also found and the first sign of life is called the single cell bacteria which is the chemicals under water. Furthermore, 3,500 million years ago Astrometalites was also found it is also called as â€Å"the most important element† because it helps in the photosynthesis process. Afterwards, 1,500 million years ago the earth is no longer a living planet. There were no complex life, plant, dinosaur and even humans. At this time, the earth was also called as the blue ball that has scattered volcanic islands. Then, the oldest known supercontinent was introduced it was called Rodinia. It was formed about 1100 million years ago and broke apart 750 million years ago. Also, in this year, the day was counted only 18 hours. 750 million years ago, the heat in the earth’s crust was said the reason why the supercontinent split into pieces. About 650 million years ago, it was the longest and coldest period of ice age ever to grief the earth and about 3 kilometers of ice was suppressing the earth so that the scientists call the earth as a â€Å"snow ball†. As the time passed by, the ice is also melted. And 540 million years ago, the primitive bacteria evolve into plants and something else. Trilobites are distance relatives of insects and even scorpions. Nomolicarius(sir I’m not so sure of the spelling) was also found in that era. It was 60 meters long and has a large eyes, sharp teeth and grasping limbs. Picaia(sir I’m not so sure of the spelling) a organism that has a 5 centimeters long and may also be evolving into spine. As conclusion, the earth created by dust and rocks at the universe. Also it was surpass different cycle. As the time passed by, a boiling ball of rock with an endless ocean of lava. Then it became a blue ball and finally an earth surrounded by ice.

Organizational Behavior Trends

Organizational Behavior Trends Free Online Research Papers According to Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn, organizational behavior, is the study of human behavior in an organization. It is a multidisciplinary field devoted to understanding individual and group behavior, interpersonal processes and organizational dynamics (2005, p. 3). Schermerhorn et al. continue to proclaim that organizational behavior is about everyday people who work and pursue careers in demanding settings. Organizational behavior is about common themes that describe the modern workplace such as ethical behavior, globalization, and technology, diversity, performance and work-life balance (2005, p. 3). Organizations today are challenged by the modern business environment. Many trends significantly persuade an organization’s behavioral blueprint and values. Employees are recognized as a company’s most important resource; therefore organizational behavior has increasingly become a more important topic. To be able to understand organizational behavior it is essential to identify and acknowledge trends in OB and how these trends influence workers. How ethics influence decision-making and the impact of technology on work-related stress are trends in OB that are present within an organization. What does it mean to be ethical and how has work-related stress been impacted by technology? Exploring the worth and impact of these two trends will illustrate how greatly they can have an effect on organizational behavior. Ethics in Decision-Making Applying principles or standards to moral dilemmas and asking what is right or wrong, good or bad in business transactions are a basic business ethic. Individuals within an organization are expected to act in union with high moral principles (Schermerhorn et al., 2005, p. 33). Ethical practice depends not just on awareness but on consequences and the use of personal and social values (Brownell, 2003). According to Loviscky, Trevino, and Jacobs, recent allegations of unethical decision-making by leaders in prominent business organizations have jeopardized the world’s confidence in American business and have rekindled interest in the moral judgment of leaders in the workplace. ‘‘Moral judgment is a psychological construct that characterizes the process by which people determine that one course of action in a particular situation is morally right and another course of action is wrong’’ (2007). To have an organization founded on ethical beliefs, a company must employ a workforce that is aware of the consequences of the decisions that are made and look to hire those individuals who are concerned with the effects on each person connected with the organization including clientele, and employees. An individual should first be able to recognize the ethical issue; evaluate the issue based on personal ethics, and resolve to comply with this ethical judgment and finally carry out an ethical action (Fang, 2006). Schermerhorn et al. believe that if integrity is held by leaders from top to bottom in an organization, followers will learn to trust and commit to act in ways that are in accordance with the leader’s expectations and the corporate mission statement (2005, p. 38). The practice of supplying ethical guidelines or codes of conduct for employees to use when challenged with a situation that is not covered by standard policies and procedures is a positive move for the entire company (DeJanasz, Dowd, and Schneider, 2001, p. 372). Technology and Work-Related Stress Stress, according to Schermerhorn et al. is anxiety from extraordinary demands, constraints, or opportunities (2005, p. 371). DeJanasz, et al. state that the effects of organizational stress include job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, employee turnover, accidents, low morale, poor interpersonal relations, low productivity, and poor customer service (2001, p. 66). Air traffic controllers, dentists, and coal miners are examples of highly stressful jobs that contain factors that cause stress that often is difficult to manage as it is seldom under a person’s control (DeJanasz, et al., 2001, p. 66). Information technology has multiplied job demands and is leaving employees with frequent change in the working environment; supplying progressively more information which is found to be difficult to handle. Due to these factors, stress levels are increased and if not regulated the effects of technology are seen in the shape of work related stress. Stress and personal well-being are connected; therefore managing stress is very important. The principal cause of job stress is a worker’s ability versus working conditions and another major position is an individual’s characteristic such as personality and coping technique (Stress Management, 2007). People are experiencing technology overload in the workplace today. Having to adjust to email, voice mail, faxes, pagers, and cell phones that make individuals all too easy to reach is creating stressful demands on workers. Information arrives too fast and some cannot keep up (Work Related Stress, 2005). Stress called destructive stress can impair both an individual and the organization in the form of job burnout that arrives and presents itself as loss of interest in and satisfaction with a job due to hectic working conditions. When an individual is burned out, there is a feeling of exhaustion, both emotionally and physically, making it impossible to deal optimistically with work responsibilities and opportunities (Schermerhorn et al, 2005, p. 373). Allowing employees access to rewards and benefits such as flexible work schedules, telecommuting options, or compensation time is advantageous to the company and the employee as stress-related troubles have huge financial implications for an employer (DeJanasz, et al., 2001, p. 70). Not all stress is bad for instance; the excitement of winning a race or completing a challenge can be exciting. This form of stress is called eustress; the positive stress. It allows an individual to get energized about life and provides a feeling of satisfaction (Stress Management, 2007). In conclusion, the practice of decision-making is set off by the confirmation of a moral issue that is the understanding that an ethical dilemma exists and ethical decision making is affected by both individual and organizational issues. Ethical conflicts are unavoidable today as human exchanges become gradually more numerous and complicated. Learning how to deal with conflict and how to decide on a solution that will not show prejudice against any party involved are just two examples of ethical issues that take place regularly in the workplace. Workplace stress is on the rise and everyone faces stress at work one time or another. It is almost impossible to remove situations that cause stress, but it may be possible to managed stress more effectively (Workplace Trends, 1999). References Brownell, E., (2003, January 24). Just what does it mean to be ethical in American business? The Business Review. Retrieved August 5, 2007, from http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/aboutus/about_the_paper.html DeJanasz, S. C., Dowd, K. O., Schneider, B. Z., (2001). Interpersonal Skills in Organizations. The McGraw?Hill Companies. Fang, Miao-Ling, (2006). Evaluating Ethical Decision-Making of Individual Employees in Organizations-An Integration Framework. Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 8(2), 105-112. Retrieved August 6, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 957238951). Loviscky, G. E., Trevià ±o, L. K., Jacobs, R. R., (2007). Assessing Managers Ethical Decision-making: An Objective Measure of Managerial Moral Judgment. Journal of Business Ethics, 73(3), 263-285. Retrieved August 5, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1275891241). Schermerhorn, J. R., Hunt, J, G., Osborn, R, N. (2005). Organizational Behavior, (9th ed.). John Wiley Sons, Inc. Stress Management, (2007). Impact of Technology on Work Related Stress. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from aboutstressmanagement.com/stressrelief/workplace-stress/management/impact-of-technology-on-work-related-stress.htm Workplace trends: Technology increases workplace stress. Office World News. Oct 1999. FindArticles.com. 07 Aug. 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3840/is_199910/ai_n8869850 ______________________________________________________ 4 pages 1039 words in the body Research Papers on Organizational Behavior TrendsMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperStandardized TestingRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)

Blister Beetles, Family Meloidae

Blister Beetles, Family Meloidae Few North American species of blister beetles will actually cause blisters, but its still smart to be cautious when handling members of the beetle family Meloidae. Theres some debate over whether blister beetles are pests (because the adults feed on many agricultural crops and can be hazardous to livestock), or beneficial predators (because the larvae ​consume the young of other crop-eating insects, like grasshoppers). Description Blister beetles look superficially similar to members of some other beetle families, such as the soldier beetles and darkling beetles. Blister beetles, however, do have some unique features that will help you identify them. Their elytra appear leathery and soft, rather than rigid, and the forewings wrap around the sides of the beetles abdomen. The blister beetles pronotum is usually cylindrical or rounded, and narrower than both the head and the base of the elytra. Most adult blister beetles are medium in size, although the smallest species measures just a few millimeters in length and the largest can reach 7 centimeters long. Their bodies are generally elongate in shape, and their antennae will be either filiform or monofiliform. While many are dark or drab in color, particularly in the eastern U.S., some do come in bright, aposematic colors. Look for blister beetles on flowers or foliage. Classification Kingdom – AnimaliaPhylum – ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – ColeopteraFamily - Meloidae Diet Adult blister beetles feed on plants, particularly those in the legume, aster, and nightshade families. Although rarely considered a major crop pest, blister beetles do sometimes form large feeding aggregations in plants. Many blister beetles consume the flowers of their host plants, while some feed on the foliage. Blister beetle larvae have unusual feeding habits. Some species specialize in eating grasshopper eggs, and for this reason, are considered beneficial insects. Other blister beetle larvae eat the larvae and provisions of ground-nesting bees. In these species, the first instar larvae may hitch a ride on an adult bee as it flies back to its nest, and then settle in to eat the bees offspring. Life Cycle Blister beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, like all beetles, but in a somewhat unusual way. The first instar larvae (called triungulins) usually have functional legs, well-developed antennae, and are quite active. These young larvae need to move because they are parasitoids and must find their hosts. Once theyre settled in with their host (such as in a bee nest), each successive stage is typically less active, and the legs gradually diminish or even disappear. This larval development is referred to as hypermetamorphosis. The final instar is a pseudopupa stage, during which the beetle will overwinter. Depending on the species and environmental conditions, the blister beetle life cycle may last as long as three years. Most species will complete a full life cycle within one year, however. Special Behaviors and Defenses Blister beetles are usually soft-bodied and may seem vulnerable to predators, but they arent defenseless. Their bodies produce a caustic chemical called cantharidin, which they exude from their leg joints when threatened (a defensive strategy called reflex bleeding). Meloid species with high levels of cantharidin can cause skin blisters when handled, giving these beetles their common name. Cantharidin is an effective repellent for ants and other predators but can be extremely toxic if ingested by people or animals. Horses are particularly susceptible to cantharidin poisoning, which can occur if their hay feed is contaminated with blister beetle remains. Range and Distribution Blister beetles are most diverse in arid or semi-arid regions of the world, though widely distributed. Globally, blister beetle species number close to 4,000. In the U.S. and Canada, there are just over 400 documented blister beetle species. Sources: Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson.Bugs Rule! An Introduction to the World of Insects, by Whitney Cranshaw and Richard Redak.Beetles of Eastern North America, by Arthur V. Evans.Family Meloidae – Blister Beetles, Bugguide.net. Accessed online January 14, 2016.Blister beetle, Texas AM University Department of Entomology website. Accessed online January 14, 2016.Blister Beetles: Pest or Beneficial Predator?, Washington State University Fact Sheet (PDF). Accessed online January 14, 2016.

Nursing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Nursing research - Essay Example so improved the organization as a whole since its HCAHPS scores have improved due to the solutions that I have developed, planned, and implemented to success. Significantly, the lessons learnt has impacted my level of knowledge and skills that have equipped my practice with crucial tools that will help me achieve success in my career. Journal entries are important in helping an individual complete their work by incorporating all the steps involved in the process of developing a project. In this case, it is important to point out that a step-by-step entry of the process of developing the process was crucial in including all the steps that necessitated the planning and consequent implementation of the project. While the overall objective of these journal entries was to help me achieve my objectives of the project by developing an effective implementation plan, it is crucial to point out that the journal entries provided me with the skills of being an effective planner by organizing my work. The knowledge and skills learnt will be crucial in my future practice since I will be able to develop and implement solutions based on the entries that I will be making in my journals, which will help me advance my nursing career. While the journal was crucial during my practicum and the consequent implementation of the project, it is crucial to point out that a continuous review of my practicum journal entries will be crucial in providing insights on the approaches that I should have taken to achieve a higher level of success than the one I achieved. In this case, the review will provide me with revelations about strategies that I used and were not appropriate at the time of implementing the project. Other than this, a future review will also provide me with the approaches that I would have used to make modifications, which I cannot be able to identify at the moment. In this case, the development of a set of knowledge and skills based on the review of the practicum journal

The Ethics of Consumers Engaging in Ethical Purchases Essay

The Ethics of Consumers Engaging in Ethical Purchases - Essay Example Brief Summary of the Topic Various scholars have studied consumer ethics in different perspectives. Newman (2011) studied them and explained that those consumers who try to make ethical purchases only to realize they were duped may become cynical and feel their efforts were futile. DaVinney et al. (2010) studied them in terms of consumer social behaviors while Nicholls & Opal (2005) studied the way they drive market and thus influencing fair-trade. According to Carrigan (2005), Consumer ethics are the moral principles that guide consumers in obtaining, using, and disposing of goods and services. These consumer ethics help us to understand how consumers make their judgment about products or services in questionable situations like fraud and shoplifting. The ethics helps consumers to conduct themselves in a way that help them remain in harmony with concerns of nature while not neglecting the needs and interests of their social reality and their immediate and material needs (Koslowski e t al 2004). These ethics can also help consumers to avoid unhealthy products and services and those products, which might pollute the environment. According to Schwartz (2010), it is necessary for consumers to consider the moral and ethical dimension of the products when making a purchase. However, there are very few who do so. In this era, what people say and what they actually do when shopping differ greatly (Miller 2001). Moreover, it is somehow very difficult to avoid unethical purchases completely and as a result, few people in the current world buy products and services purely on ethics. In most cases people tend to make emotional decisions based on the perception they have for a product or service when making a purchase (Arnold 2010). A good example of people who make ethical purchases are those who choose to buy a product that is labeled fair-trade because of their concern for the developing countries. Another good example is people who buy product because of the role they p lay in conserving the environment (Harrison et al. 2005). Various factors are believed to influence the consumer ethics. Some of these factors include culture, social-economic status, and religion (Carrigan 2005). Many scholars have studied these factors and tried to explain the roles they play in influencing a consumer to make an ethical purchase. It is also believed that when making an ethical purchase the consumer does not have to ignore other factors of the product or service like price and quality (Harrison et al. 2005). In this case, what a consumer should do is to use an additional criterion of ethics when deciding his purchases. Consider the Topic from the Views of at least Two Competing Ethical Perspectives We can consider the issue of consumer ethics from various different perspectives. One of these perspectives is when it comes to purchasing food staffs. In such a case, consumers are bound by various factors when deciding which product to buy. With the current development in economy and technology, various types of synthetic foodstuffs have emerged. These foodstuffs are promoted even in our media. Also due to competition of the sorts of foodstuffs in the market, no company can dare to tell the consumers the disadvantage of their products. The kind of