You Too Can Sponsor A Word!

You Too Can Sponsor A Word! You Too Can Sponsor A Word! You Too Can Sponsor A Word! By Maeve Maddox Of all the free language references available online, my absolute favorite is the Online Etymology Dictionary: a map of the wheel-ruts of modern Englishexplanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago. My usual practice in researching a post is to consult several referencesonline and in print. When my topic is a single word or expression, I usually begin with the Online Etymology Dictionary. Hmm, I just tried to abbreviate the title, but realized that I cant use its initials because they are the same as another, better-known reference. In all the time Ive been using the OEtyD, this is the first time Id given any thought to how its creators are able to provide this wonderful site for free. The other day my eye fell on a link Id never noticed before: Sponsor a word, and help keep the Online Etymology Dictionary free and open. The link led me to the plea for donations, but unlike most such pleas, this one is hard to resist. For a mere $10, donors can sponsor a word of their choice for six months. Think of it! If no one else has already claimed it, you can sponsor a beautiful word like hyperventilation or minuscule. You can dedicate a word to your girl friend or boy friend. You can even submit a photo to go with your word and a personalized message explaining why you chose it. I couldnt resist. After all, I do use this reference a lot. And I enjoy it. In fact, sometimes I enjoy it so much I spend more time researching than is absolutely necessary. Ive signed up to sponsor the word standard. Check it out. If nothing else, youll enjoy browsing the Sponsors page and reading the various reasons for their word choices. Online Etymology Dictionary Home Page Sponsors and their words Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your StoryUse a Dash for Number RangesNarrative, Plot, and Story

10 Tips for Crowdfunding a Novel Practical Ideas and Pointers from an Unbound Author

10 Tips for Crowdfunding a Novel Practical Ideas and Pointers from an Unbound Author Im the co-author of a new comic novel, Kitten on a Fatberg, which is currently crowdfunding on Unbound. Unbound uses a different model to the traditional publishing one. Essentially, a books author(s) have to raise a certain amount of through pre-ordered copies before the book goes into production. Once that happens, Unbound handles promotion and distribution. And because the publisher has covered its costs up front, the payment deal isnt a royalty percentage but a 50:50 profit share. Another advantage of this approach is that the publisher gets to see what sort of demand there is for a particular title, and who the market is. At the time of writing, were currently 31 percent funded. Here are some of the many things weve learned along the way Dont mistake crowdfunding for vanity publishing. Getting accepted Understand your potential base. With crowdfunding, you have two target audiences – those who know YOU (family, friends, co-workers) and those interested in the book (who may not know you at all). Focus your efforts on the first group. Work your network. Beyond your inner circle, you have lots more connections you could approach: former colleagues, old school friends, social media contacts. These people are all easier to interest than strangers because you are a known quantity, so long as you approach them with care. Get your approach right. There is no one right way to approach people, but a personalised message is essential. Some education about crowdfunding may be useful. Humour can be effective. Above all, nothing too hard sell. Dont beg. Avoid framing your ask as if you are seeking donations. You are selling a book, not asking for a handout. Avoid the temptation to batch-and-blast. Dont just email all your contacts in one go. Far better to send a handful of emails every day, topped and tailed with a personal message. Explore press and PR options. In our case weve written a series of articles on writers blogs, in literary magazines, and in the local press. Where theres a fee for an article, we put that towards our target too. Be savvy about social media. Find different ways to spread you message. Ask for influencers in your world to help spread the word. If youve been published Work those nudges. People often need to hear a message three or four times till they act on it. So find ways to subtly remind people about your book – add a message to your email signature, share updates on Facebook, put up flyers in local cafes and bookshops – the more imaginative your ideas, the better. Be patient. Crowdfunding is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be days when you get flurries of interest – especially near the beginning – and days when nothing happens, despite your best efforts. All you can do is keep plugging away, keep emailing, keep thinking of new ways to reach people

Does the MMR vaccine cause an increase on the incidence of Autism Research Paper

Does the MMR vaccine cause an increase on the incidence of Autism - Research Paper Example Would these statistical record of claims are considered apparent proof that MMR vaccine really cause an increase in the incidence of autism? Thorough analysis on the statistical report will reveal the possible reasons of the alarming increase on rates of autism cases. In this discussion, how the controversy started will also be highlighted. The government faced the challenging controversy and seemingly performed its tasks in tackling the issues and the problems of claim brought about by the controversial issue of linking autism case increase to administering of MMR vaccinations. Yet, even there is no scientific research that proved true of the relation of MMR vaccines to rising number of autism cases claims, we cannot ignore the fact that there are victims of morbid complications of maybe improper administration of some vaccines. Indeed, the government is working at its best in dealing the problems. Does the MMR Vaccine Cause an Increase on the Incidence of Autism? Vaccinations, whic h cause the immune system to produce antibodies against diseases that a person has never had before, have been considered as important measures in saving lives especially infant lives. Through vaccinations, children acquire immunity from some diseases. In most part of the world where childhood shots are readily available, routine immunizations have believed to be an influential factor in dramatic declines in the incidence of targeted childhood diseases. Thus, in many places around the world, routine series of immunizations is somehow mandatory, though the number of boosters required may vary. In fact, for most Americans today, administering vaccines have been a routine part of their healthcare. â€Å"According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), children younger than two years old need to be vaccinated at least once against a series of diseases,† wherein the recommended common vaccinations include hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chicken pox, whooping cough or pertussis, diphtheria, bacterial meningitis, influenza, pneumococcal disease and rotavirus (Bocco, 2010). Actually, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in general agreement with similar agencies around the world, are recommending combination vaccines, such as MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella), given in one shot, to help reduce the number of shots a child receives (â€Å"Your Child’s Immunizations†, n.d., para.7). However, recently, questions have arisen regarding commonly accepted practices of immunization especially to children due to some reported allegations of morbid complications of vaccinations. Such assertion particularly relating MMR vaccinations as a contributing factor to increased incidence of autism. How the Alleged Controversy Started The controversial issue of increasing rates of autism to children linking to side effects of MMR vaccinations was possibly heightened by the hypothetical studies presented by Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues. According to AAP (2009), â€Å"those who claim that MMR causes autism often cite two papers by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues†, hence, their Immunization section summarized and noted these two articles presented (para.1) The first article was published in 1998, in the Lancet medical journal, entitled "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children." This hypothetical stud

Ethics in History Film Response Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics in History Film Response Paper - Essay Example Much of the cast consists of Algerians. The film is available in three versions of different lengths: 120, 125 and 135 minutes respectively. This paper attempts to interpret the films political connotation in light of historical developments since the colonial period. Much of the film is a flashback of Ali, the Algerian Front de Liberation (FLN) leader. The flashback begins when the French generals corner him in 1957. Some three years before the French hunt him down, Ali was a mere thief who made the decision to be part of the secretive organization (FLN) with the hope that he could rescue Casbah from the atrocities of the colonial government. Pontecorvo goes to the roots of the liberation struggle and unearths the stringent measures that the French government resorted to in a bid to calm the situation before it reached a national scale. When Ali’s flashback is done with, the French murder generals him alongside other notorious FLN leaders. Thereafter, the film resumes a more general focus that eventually culminates in the independence declaration for the African nation in 1962. Imperialism has been a strange issue to most filmmakers. In fact, Pontecorvo did a great job to highlight some of the thorny questions surrounding Western colonialism in the Battle of Algiers. He paints out the picture of imperialism even as the West is fighting hard to eradicate terrorism and rebel tactics of indigenous people. Pontecorvo drives home the point that even though the French torturous operations earned them defeat against the Algerian rebels during the war, the rebels finally had the last laugh as the French could not hold on to the colony for long. This contrast raises the debate as to whether the use of violent means is effective enough to deal with acts of terrorism currently growing worldwide. The film should not be underrated because of its underlying implications. The United States is particularly on the limelight owing

Roe V Wade Essay Goverment Essay Example for Free

Roe V Wade Essay Goverment Essay 1. Roe V. Wade 410 U.S. 113 (1973) and docket number 70-18. The petitioner in this particular case was wade and the respondent was Roe heard by the Burger Court (1971-1972). 2. The case was based on the enumeration, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Over non enumerated rights 1791. The ninth amendment was placed to state that this case was handled in a due process manner. 3. A pregnant single woman named Roe brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of incrimination of abortion. Hallford a Texas physician who was also under the gun, and certified to perform abortion testified on behalf of Roe. The basis of Roes lawsuit was in regards to saving her life; therefore, she did in fact have a basis to bring up this case. The Supreme Court also heard it because they knew that this was a staple case in history and they wanted to clarify the medical and legal views of abortion because a private matter especially in regards to a woman and her child had never been brought up before and it lacked a solid foundation. The Supreme Court also took into consideration two valid state interests: protecting the health of the pregnant woman and to protect the potentiality of human life. 4. The final Supreme Court decision was seven votes for and 2 votes against. 5. majority opinion and dissenting opinion 6. Roe won her case! The finalization of this case led to the instatement of these three guidelines for women still to go by today.

Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, Sometimes I think :: English Literature

Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got. How do you judge Atticus as a parent? Does he make any mistakes? What do other characters say about him? Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, "Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got." How do you judge Atticus as a parent? Does he make any mistakes? What do other characters say about him? Atticus is a single parent who is nearly fifty years old when we first meet him. He lives with his two children, Jem who is 10 at the beginning of the book, and Scout who is six. His wife died when Scout was two, so Atticus has had to bring the children up for four years, on his own, with help from Calpurnia-a coloured servant. Atticus is a lawyer, who practises in his hometown, which is a small town called Maycomb in Alabama. Hard times fall upon the Finch family when Atticus is appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl. Atticus does not have to agree to take the case, but his self-respect and pride demand that he makes sure Tom gets a fair trial. He knows that he does not have a good chance of winning the trial, because it is a case of a white mans word against a black man, he admits this, "we were licked before we started". This act displays his belief in humanity and his sense of justice. It also verifies that Atticus is not a racist man and views the black community as equals. This attitude was not prevalent at the time, despite the fact that it was over seventy years since the Civil War. We learn of Atticus' approach to bringing up his children when Scout says, "he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment". This, however, is not the only view Scout and Jem have of their father. To begin with they seem disappointed that their father does not do the same sort of things that other fathers do. He does not play football or poker, and he does not drink or smoke. Even though Atticus may have been remote in some of his dealings with his children, he did speak frankly to them, even about embarrassing things. He bought them a shotgun for Christmas, telling them not to kill a mocking bird. He may have been reserved, but I think he was

Hospitality Management Essay

Introduction The tourism industry is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing and successful industries, with revenue of recorded 693 million international tourist arrivals in 2001, reported by World Tourism Organization (WTO), nevertheless its definition cannot be agreed on. Youell (1998; pg.9) presents a definition given by WTO in 1993 defining tourism as â€Å"activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure and other purposes.† During the nineteen century, there was a surge of mass tourism due to the advancement of all types of transportation as well as the development of seaside resorts. Society had greater income and more time for leisure (Urry, 2002; pg 16). Although tourism industry continued to grow, there was a shift in the tourism behaviour, WTO justifies this behaviour stating that society had become more aware of the environment and developed the sudden interest in different activiti es and opportunities involving local culture. Fennel describes alternative tourism as â€Å"small scale†; â€Å"locally-oriented†, tourists became more aware of local communities and with the environment. This theory is supported by WTO adding that consumers are now looking for â€Å"special, high quality, unforgettable experiences in which they can be active participants†. Furthermore it is added that special interest tourism is an extra motivation to tourist interest in engaging in more specific activities. Focusing solely on this topic, the author is to write a report on the grounds of special interest tourism. In order to achieve this, the author has chosen to analyze the surroundings of ecotourism in Amazon, Brazil. Therefore the report should offer the reader, provided with a justification, a sight full reportage based on one only special interest tourism, highlighting its history, size of market, market segmentation and examples of products available for the chosen special interest tourism. A review of models of motivation and tourism motivation enabling a study of different characteristics of the participants in the chosen special interest tourism should be included on the second section the report. The third section provides the reader an evaluation and profile of ecotourism identifying key organizations, agencies, communities, and businesses involved in the development of ecotourism in Brazil. Finally the last section incorporates an appropriate conclusion and recommendation which should include approaches that could provide a greater opportunity for the development and promotion of the ecotourism in the Amazon. Descriptive profile of the Special Interest Tourism activity The author had a chance to consider all options of research and carefully chosen to undertake a research and write a report concerning ecotourism in the Amazon. This topic was chosen as this is a new concept of special interest tourism and is in constant growth. Also this gives the author a chance to inform herself about ecotourism and its significance to the environment. As for the destination, Amazon was chosen because of its size, as it is the biggest tropical rainforest in the world and biggest biodiversity. Ecotourism activities have had a significant growth over the years due to â€Å"consumer concern about the environment† (WTO, 2002). United Nations decided to make 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism, focusing their reason to â€Å"bring together governments, international agencies, NGOs, tourism enterprises, representatives of local and indigenous communities and identify some agreed principles and priorities for the future development and management of ecotour ism† (Butcher, 2007, cited in CNEP/ WTO 2002a:7). Although 2002 was awarded as the International Year of Ecotourism by the United Nations, there is a general uncertainty concerning its history and meaning. Fennel (1995, pg. 25) defines ecotourism relating to nature, stating it is â€Å" a sustainable form of natural, resource-base tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature† connoting that such activity should occur in natural areas, contributing to the preservation of this. Opposing to this, WTO gives an alternative meaning to ecotourism, also based on the grounds of nature as â€Å"form of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature† (WTO, 2002) Further to this, WTO views ecotourism as a form of tourism with 5 characteristics: 1. Tourists’ motivation should be nature-based involving observation and appreciation of nature as well as  preserving it. 2. It should contain educational features. 3. It should be organized by specialized tour operators for small groups. 4. It should minimize the negative impacts of the environment. 5. It should support the maintenance of natural areas by generating beneficial income to local communities, organisations and authorities responsible for the conservation of ecotourism areas. In contrast to the above definitions, based on nature, the International Ecotourism Society (ITES) offers a more profound meaning relating nature to local communities, â€Å"is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people† (ITES). It is agreed that both organisations have the same principles regarding the maintenance of ecotourism areas, where tourists should respect the environment, provide financial benefits and empowerment to local communities. Although there is a general disagreement on the exact meaning of ecotourism, all researchers agree that involves the environment and local communities; however it appears that there is an uncertainty about its origin. Research shows that ecotourism can be traced back to the late 1970s, this supported by Fennel (1999.pg 18) who presents reasonable arguments from studies demonstrating the origin of ecotourism. He describes how ecotourism emerged through tourists searching for environmental travelling surrounding nature and wildlife. In accordance with WTO (2002) ecotourism is a small niche market with a big potential for growth and economic advancement, one that if well managed can be used in conservation and preservation of nature and of the environment. Following their research based on the most popular countries for ecotourism, WTO has identified the market segmentation for ecotourists, which shows that: †¢ The majority is aged between 30 and 50 years old †¢ Mostly women †¢ Preferred activities were wildlife viewing, being in wilderness areas followed by seeing rare species. †¢ The top five preferred destinations for ecotourists were United kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America Estimated as the biggest and richest ecosystems in the world, the state of Amazon in Brazil comprises of nine countries in South America all together, occupying almost half of the whole country. The state of Amazon is approximately 5million square kilometres, home to 200 mammal species, 950 bird species, 2,500 fish species and 300 reptiles’ species, making the Amazon the largest tropical rainforest in the world. In addition, the Amazon River, which cuts right through the state, is the second biggest river in the world after the Nile. Boats and ships are the best way of transportation as the Amazon is covered in forest. Amazon got its name after the Portuguese explorers started expeditions along the river for a lost city known as ‘Eldorado’ in the hope of uncovering a city made of gold, before the British, French and Spanish explorers found it. Eldorado could never be found, but the name remained the same. Amazon is not only the habitat of thousands of species but also home to indigenous tribes who live off the land just like their ancestors did depending on the ecosystem for their food, shelter and livelihoods. Although ecotourism is a new concept, it is rapidly becoming a fast growing economic factor in the Amazon as it attracts major tourists for its attractions. On the other hand, it is also in danger due to deforestation, logging and forest cleaning, which presents a threat to the Amazon (www.amazon-rainforest.org). As a form of special interest tourism, it is important to have products available for this, which represents the nature preserving its natural habitat. With this in mind, there are many activities disposable for tourism as ecotourism is growing in the Amazon (www.embratur.gov.br). With the growth of ecotourism in the Amazon, many ecological crosswalks activities are provided to tourists wanting contact with the largest biodiversity of the world. The National Park of Pico da Neblina and the national Park of Jaà º are two of the most popular locations for crosswalks in the Amazon (www.embratur.gov.br). Another popular product available to tourists is cave tourism otherwise known as espeleotourism, consisting of exploring the inside of caves and studying their formations. Within the Amazon, Mato Grosso is the most visited cave  (www.embratur.gov.br). Floatation is an additional form of ecotourism activity, consisting of light diving with the use of a snorkel and a mask allowing the diver to be enchanted by the beauty underneath the water. Mato Grosso is the most popular and sought after location for this in the State of Amazon. Fauna watching is popular for those mostly interested in wildlife. National Parks in the Amazon grants visitors with thousands of different species, experiencing nature at its best. Bird watching has become reasonably popular to numerous tourists who travel specifically to Amazon for its biodiversity in search of all types of endangered species. Considered as the most sophisticated city on the planet and an important location for ecological tourism, Manaus the capital of Amazon forest is home to almost 1.5 million inhabitants. The city attracts tourists for its natural beauty, ecological parks and a diverse of over 15 attractions (www.embratur.gov.br). These include: âž ¢ Paricatuba Waterfall located in the bank of Negro river formed by sediment and surrounded by vegetation. âž ¢ Love cascade situated at Guedes bayou and filled with cold and crystal clear water. âž ¢ Parque do Mindà º, one of the last resorts housing endangered species. âž ¢ Grove of the National Research Institute of Amazonia (INPA) âž ¢ Zoo of the Forest War Instruction Center (CIGS) which house 300 species of animals, among monkeys, jaguars, ariranhas (Brazilian otters), snakes, alligators, macaws, tapirs and land turtles. âž ¢ Tupà © Beach whose only access is by riverboat It is clear that tourists travel to Brazil for its raw beauty, especially to Amazon which is rich in biodiversity. Ecobrasil has published statistics on international ecotourism to which shows that 39% of tourists visit Brazil for its natural beauty, this being their main motivation for doing so, while 7% visit Amazon as their main source for ecotourism (www.ecobrasil.org.br). Ecobrasil has also demonstrated results carried by Embratur Domestic market study carried in 2005/2006 in which shows that 6% of tourists view ecotourism as a motivation for travel, confirming that only four million tourists are interested in ecotourism. Profile of the evidence of the motivation and satisfaction of SIT Above the author mentioned the statistics for tourists that visit Brazil and their motivation for such. However some researchers have identified other motives for motivation which explain reasons to choose a specific ecotourism location. Maslow generated a hierarchy of needs based on what motivates individuals when deciding where to go on holidays and what activities to pursue. This hierarchy of needs is based on a series of levels, starting on the lowest level and terminating on the upper level once all levels of achievement are satisfied. The hierarchy of needs is displayed as a pyramid and at the lowest level, this for physiological needs, where individuals have the needs to satisfy their most basic needs such as eating and clothing. Once this need is achieved, Maslow identifies the individuals desire to carry on achieving the remaining needs until all levels of the pyramid are satisfied (Mullins, 2007, p.258). On the contrary to this view, Ryan (1997) has argued that the tourist behaviour is behind the motivation of the traveller leading to a certain type of holidays, focusing on the social motivation rather than needs. He identifies how two tourists from different backgrounds can have different attitudes to holidays but have similar motivation for such stating â€Å"both sets of behaviour arise from the need to be with others†. Ryan also recognizes theoretical models of motivation by classifying theories and their researchers. One of these the concept identified by Pearce who argued travel motivation through the concept of travel career ladder, this corresponding to â€Å"learning through tourist experience† (Ryan, 1997, p.37). The travel career ladder is characterised by different forms of motivations, with relaxation at the bottom of the ladder, followed by stimulation, relationship, self-esteem and development and fulfilment, and it should be by order of travel experience, the more experience they are, more interest they start developing and their motivation to travel start to increase. This meaning that a tourist on their first holiday is looking for relaxation however the more they travel, motivation starts to change as they become more concerned with learning about history and culture, and in time, the tourists will rich the upper level of the ladder, searching to get more involved in the province (Ryan, 1997). Other analyses have emerged with the expectancy of encountering tourists’ motivation for choosing this type of special interest tourism. Thus Hall and Weiler (1992) have identified researchers who have studied motivations for specific special interest tourism. Hall and Weiler (1992) have identified research made by Crompton in which he noted that tourist were in a cultural and educational travel motivations. This can be said it is closed linked to what was later interpreted by Read (1980) in which he admits what motivates tourists is the need for authenticity and uniqueness as well as educational. With this he emerged with the idea of REAL tourism, translating that travelling should be rewarding, enriching, adventuresome and a learning experience for the tourist. Hall and Weiler have created a table identifying tourists motivations associated with the specific special interest tourism and they have concluded that tourists may have various motivators related to the special interest activity. Therefore, it is said that the motivations for the participants in ecotourism are apart from learning is to be in contact with the nature or indigenous civilians. A further argument into the motivations of tourists has emerged, as Page and Dowling (2002) presented two sides of ecotourism: hard and soft tourism. Hard tourism refers when the participant are environmentalist who take sustainability quite serious and is purely interest in the nature and being in contact with the wilderness, taking a prolonged trip in almost undisturbed location, while soft tourism refers to tourists in short term trip, have little contact with nature and are not strongly committed environmentalists. However, motivations are not the only factors tourists take into account when deciding on the special interest tourism. The type of product and expertise by those involved promoting this specific special interest tourism. Hall and Weiler (2002) argue that experienced professionals play an important role on the tourists’ selection of destination. Professionals such as Specialty Travel Index offer a multitude of travel opportunities worldwide (http://www.spectrav.com/index.shtml). Evaluation of the development of a named SIT within an identified destination area Butcher (2007) views community participation as an important step to the development of ecotourism, as decisions made concerning ecotourism affects the community and their lives. Butcher adds that this initiative is also supported by World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) in which they state communities should have a high level of control on the development of ecotourism. Additionally communities should be intensely in all decision-making concerning the growth of the landscape â€Å" tourism should therefore respect and value local knowledge and experience, maximise benefits to communities, and recruit, train and employ local people at all levels (Butcher, p.67). Ecotourism should be beneficent local communities, conservation of the environment and provide financial contribution to the upkeep of a conservation project. In addition local communities’ involvement in the development of ecotourism â€Å"improves the tourist experience† (Page and Dowling, 2002). Alternative Travel Group (ATL) is an example of the above, in which they work effectively with local communities. Founded in 1979 is an organisation based upon sustainability http://www.atg-oxford.co.uk/index.php) ATL collaborates with local communities, listening and acting on what was suggested. This allows communities to express their concern about the conservation of their habitat (http://www.atg-oxford.co.uk/index.php). Profits go towards construction of infrastructures and conservation projects in the most necessitated areas. They incentive individuals to present their ideas and providing they are sustainable to which they can invest on. Hence they have various projects ongoing worldwide which benefit local communities and preserve the environment (http://www.atg-oxford.co.uk/index.php). It is not only local communities that play a vital role in the making and development of ecotourism, many organisations, agencies and small businesses have an important and constant involvement in the successful and promoting of this growing form of special interest tourism. World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) is the largest non-governmental organisation in the world. Based in over fifty-two offices and active in over ninety countries, it has over five million supporters worldwide, many volunteers (Butcher, p. 42). WWF has three main missions that represent their work: safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and changing the way residents live. Consequently they have generated a program designed to protect the environment. Amongst other projects, WWF is working in ensuring the ecosystem in the Amazon maintains its environmental and cultural contribution to local people (http://www.wwf.org.uk/). WWF main objectives regarding the Amazon as a whole are: âž ¢ Tackling deforestation âž ¢ Encouraging responsible agriculture and production âž ¢ Helping create protected forest âž ¢ Ensuring free-flowing rivers and forest-friendly roads Moreover WWF has enlisted the help of Sky TV in promoting the safeguarding of rainforest in Amazon. Both work with local communities offering them with economical help to look after millions of hectares of forest, combating illegal logging and forest deforestation (http://www.wwf.org.uk/). Additionally WWF closely works with two UN bodies, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). WWF has written guidelines highlighting a community-based ecotourism in which the organisation directly works with communities in conserving and preserving the environment and provide advice on how to deal with issues surrounding their landscape. One of their project is based in Manaus, capital of Amazon, a community –based initiative, the Silves Association for Environmental and Cultural Preservation, this aims at protecting the fishing lakes at this site. On top pf this, WWF opened an ecolodge in the same region run by local people, 20% of all profits go towards the management of preservation of the site. In addition, WWF has created a programme in Brazil solely based on raising awareness about forms of ecotourism that should be practiced based on its principles (http://www.icrtourism.org/Publications/WWF1eng.pdf). The international ecotourism society (TIES) is a non-governmental organisation funded in 1990 with the objectives of aiding the development of ecotourism, helping communities, organisations to promote and practice the principles of ecotourism. TIES have clear aims concerning ecotourism which consists of bringing together individuals, institutions and tourism industries in the interest of ecotourism, educating tourist and professionals on ecotourism and influencing organisations on practicing all principles regarding ecotourism. Working in partnership with other NGOs such as Planeterra and yourtravelchoice.org, all three organisations provide tourists with opportunities to get involved in ecotourism activities, help local communities, work together in inform tourists on how to conserve the nature. Furthermore, they offer their own input on eco-destinations, allowing individuals to get some relevant information on ecotourism and its issues (www.ecotourism.org) Although Planeterra is more involved with community, they still remain concerned with the environment. This non-governmental organisation organises community based projects worldwide in order to help local people live in a more environmental safe surroundings (http://www.planeterra.org/). The Brazilian Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ABETA) is an association that closely works on the development of ecotourism activities in Brazil. Their goal is to promote the conservation and preservation of Brazil’s cultural and historical heritage (http://www.brazilnature.travel/index.php). ABETA promotes amongst adventure tourism, ecotourism activities such as bird watching, caving, safari and wildlife. Thus in partnership with the Tourism ministry, Brazilian tourism board (Embratur) and BBECO which is administered by ABETA, all have the same common aspiration: promote Brazil as one of the top destinations for ecotourism while keeping it environmentally safe (http://www.brazilnature.travel/index.php). Embratur, a Brazilian Tourism Board is an organisation responsible for providing policies in tourism related activities, including ecotourism activities such as hiking, cave tourism, floatation, bird watching and fauna watching (www.embratur.gov.br) Ecobrasil, a Brazilian ecotourism Association  is a NGO founded in 1993 whose primarily focus is on ecotourism. Whilst incorporate a clear mission in which they want to promote Brazil as a â€Å"reliable destination for ecotourism†, their vision is to â€Å"forward ecotourism and sustainable tourism through building knowledge networks and participate in and/or develop projects that helped advance the knowledge about good ecotourism practices and planning in Brazil†. Hence their objectives is to create a network of data solely on ecotourism, commitment in minimising the impact of tourism on the environment, acknowledge statistics on ecotourism and represent ecotourism on a worldwide level (www.ecobrasil.org.br). Proecotur – Programa de Desenvolvimento do Ecoturismo na Amazà ´nia Legal (programme of ecotourism development at the Legal Amazon) recognises that ecotourism has a huge potential to be converted into the biggest source of income on the Amazon, predicting up to three million ecotourist annually. Therefore they have generated new strategies to guarantee that Amazon becomes the most popular state for ecotourism. They believe the creation of a sustainable environment does not require greater investments, rather intelligent strategies for transportation. With this to attract tourists they agree that there is a need for improvement in the transportation and improvement of the quality of services available to tourists plus there should be a creation of more sustainable products (http://www.faunabrasil.com.br). Conclusion Although tourism is not a new concept, ecotourism is. This emerged with the individuals growing concern with the environment. There is a general disagreement when defining ecotourism but many researchers and organisations agree that is a form of activity in which participants want to be in touch with the nature and with the environment and this should follow principles set by organisations for the safekeeping of the environment and also benefiting local communities. Various researchers have attempted to clarify the motivations for tourist choice of destinations and specials type of interest, and with this it was concluded that none could have a general agreement on these except that  tourist could have common attitude when selecting destinations. They could be educational and cultural; however the idea of tourist wanting new, unique and untouched surroundings gave away to the new concept of Real travel: rewarding, enriching, adventuresome and learning. Ecotourism is a growing and prosperous form of special interest tourism and the activities incorporated for this are increasingly generating income to those involved in promoting ecotourism and to local communities who should be involved in the decision-making concerning the development of ecotourism. The author during the research into organisations involved in the promotion of ecotourism has come across the fact that most organisations are non-governmental organisations that depend on volunteers. Also the majority of these organisations are interrelated having common objectives when it comes to ecotourism: promoting all ecotourism activities, safeguarding the environment and preserving the nature. Recommendations Although organisations are interlinked with one another, it appears that it is not enough, as the market segmentation show, only a certain type of individuals practice ecotourism and ecotourism related activities. Brazil is popular with tourist for its beauty therefore NGOs, agencies and business should do more to promote ecotourism in Brazil, speciality in Amazon, which is a huge area with a lot to offer to all types of tourists. Hence all organisations should work together not only in the safeguarding of the environment but advertise Brazil as the best country for ecotourism, enhancing its beauty and reasons to visit as well as promoting ecotourism activities in a way that appeals to all age groups and gender. Additionally NGOs, agencies and business should stress the need to practice the imposed regulations in protected areas in order to preserve the nature for tomorrow. Another recommendation would be to look how other forms of special interest tourism could be useful in providing aid in the development of ecotourism. An example of this would be religious tourism. For this type of special  interest tourism there is an online religious organisation which incentives spiritualists to include faith in their living. They relate religion and faith with the environment believing that there are simple steps that individuals could do to help recreate the earth preserving the environment, it also emphasises the need to care for nature. Therefore this initiative could be adopted in order to lure tourists into caring and investing more in ecotourism. Words: 4,017 References: †¢ Abeta (2008) Brazil: land of nature and adventure. [Internet], Brazil, Available from:< http://www.brazilnature.travel/index.php> [Accessed 30 November]. †¢ Amazon rain forest (2004) Save the Amazon rainforest [Internet]. Available from: < http://www.amazon-rainforest.org/> [Accessed 2nd December 2009]. †¢ ATG Oxford (1979) ATG: Quality value [Internet], Oxford, Available from :< http://www.atg-oxford.co.uk/index.php> [Accessed 3rd December 2009]. †¢ Butcher, J. ed (2007) Ecotourism, NGOs and development: a critical analysis. Oxon, Routledge. †¢ Fauna Brasil (2005) O portal da fauna brasileira. [Internet], Brazil, Available from: < http://www.faunabrasil.com.br/sistema/> [ Accessed 13 December 2009]. †¢ Fennell, D. (1999) Ecotourism.2ed. Oxon, Routledge. †¢ Instituto Ecobrasil (1993) Instituto Ecobrasil: ecoturism-turismo sustentavel [Internet], Brazil. Available from: < www.ecobrasil.org.br> [Accessed 2nd December 2009]. †¢ Ministerio do turismo (2005) Brasil [Internet], Brazil, Available from: < http://www.embratur.gov.br/site/gb/home/index.php> [Accessed 2nd December 2009]. †¢ Mullins, L. (2007) Management and Organisational Behaviour.8ed. England, Pearce Education Limited. †¢ Page, S.J & Dowling, R. Ed (2002) Ecotourism. Essex, Pearson Education Limited †¢ Planeterra (2003) Planeterra. [Internet],Available from: < http://www.planeterra.org/> [Accessed 27 November 2009]. †¢ Specialty Travel Index (1980) Adventure & Special Interest Travel [Internet], San Anselmo, Available from: < http://www.spectrav.com/index.shtml> [Accessed 2nd December 2009]. †¢ The International Ecotourism Society (1990) International Ecotourism Society. Washington. Available from: < http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.4832143/k.BD87/Home.htm> [Accessed 27 September 2009]. †¢ Urry, J. (2002) The Tourist gaze.2ed. London, Sage Publications LTD. †¢ Youell, R. (1998) Tourism: an introduction.2ed.Essex, Addison Wesley Longman Limited. †¢ Weiler, B & Hall, C.M, Ed (1992) Special Interest tourism. London, Belhaven Press. †¢ World Tourism Organisation (2002) World overview & tourism topics. Madrid, world tourism organisation. †¢ WWF (1961) WWF for a living planet [Internet], Surrey, Available from: < http://www.wwf.org.uk/> [Accessed 3rd December 2009]. †¢ WWF (2001) Guidelines for Community-based ecotourism development. WWF International.

Thorn Queen Chapter Twenty

Tim surfaced the next morning after some liaison or another, and I decided not to mention that our wards had been broken. He handled my array of paranormal activities fairly good-naturedly, but that was largely because they usually didn't follow me home. So, I called the witch who'd originally laid the wards and asked her to come back and discreetly redo them, scheduling a time when I knew Tim would be out. After that it was off to the first shamanic job I'd had in a while, fighting a nixie who'd taken up residence in some poor family's swimming pool. The ease with which I dispatched her was a bit alarming. Earlier in the year, Dorian and I had fought off a group of them that Jasmine had sent. Dorian had done the fighting, and at the time, they'd seemed overwhelming. Now, with my magic becoming more and more instinctual, fighting a water creature like this was ridiculously simple. Admittedly, I still banished her the old-fashioned way, not wanting to rely on magic more than I had to. I didn't agree with Roland about its use-though my fight with him still stung-but it was exhilarating recalling how easily I'd fought the water elemental. If I could only summon water creatures like Jasmine could, my life would be easier still. And speaking of Jasmine, I summoned Volusian away from her later that evening. I was going to the Thorn Land shortly and felt confident that she wouldn't get knocked up before then. Well, I hoped so, at least. Volusian appeared in the darkest corner of my bedroom, scaring off one of the cats that had been sleeping on my bed. â€Å"My mistress calls,† he said in his monotone. â€Å"I have a job for you.† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"I need you to go to Yellow River and check out the house of a shaman there. Do not let him see you-or sense you, if you can help it.† My vibe from Art was that while he could fight Otherworldly creatures, he didn't possess the same sensitivity I did. â€Å"And what would my mistress like me to do once I am there?† â€Å"Look around. Tell me if there's anything suspicious going on-particularly in regard to any gentry girls. Make sense?† Volusian's look was scathing. â€Å"Certainly it makes sense. Do not confuse me with the other underlings who serve you.† Once he had the address, he disappeared in that way of his, and I sighed. It might be worth enslaving another minion destined for the Underworld. It was easy enough for me, particularly if I got one who wasn't too strong. I didn't have a huge amount of respect for Volusian, but he'd been right about one thing. He was so powerful that his skills were better suited to protection and battle. A lesser spirit would suffice for all these errands I seemed to be sending him on lately. That was a thought for another day. For now, it was back to the Thorn Land. I planned on spending the night there since I wanted to get an early start on our demon hunting. Kiyo had said he'd come at sunrise, and I didn't want to miss a moment of being with him. When I arrived at my castle, I was a bit surprised to see a party going on. Well, not a true party, but Shaya, Rurik, and a few of the other head servants were hanging out in one of the parlors, drinking wine and laughing. Girard was still around and had joined them. Even Ysabel was there, looking happy for a change. None of them seemed to have expected me that night and most leapt up like naughty children. Shaya started to stammer something like an apology, but I silenced her with a gesture. â€Å"No, no. Keep having fun.† I somehow always thought of them as utilitarian fixtures around here, but of course, they were only human-well, figuratively speaking-and entitled to their downtime. After a few uneasy moments, they settled back down, and Rurik offered me a glass of wine. I shook my head. â€Å"You know,† he said, â€Å"that your minion disappeared.† â€Å"Yeah, I know. I sent him on a task.† â€Å"I doubled the guards on her when I heard.† â€Å"Good. Let's hope she's managed to keep her clothes on in this short of time.† â€Å"You should have killed her,† Ysabel noted darkly. I ignored that and turned away, leaving them to their party. â€Å"I'm going to check on her myself.† The bedroom Shaya had assigned Jasmine was one floor up and very cleverly chosen-not that I'd expect any less from Shaya. It was spacious and furnished but not so large that the guards within couldn't see her most of the time-the bathroom excluded. The room's one window was only a tiny slit, too small for anyone to get out of. Four guards stood on duty outside and four within. To my relief, Jasmine simply lay on her bed, reading one of the books I'd sent. Girard's new cuffs had a longer, thinner chain that gave her much more range of motion but was packed with iron. Those blue-gray eyes looked up at my approach, but the rest of her didn't move. â€Å"Oh. You.† I sat down on a narrow wicker bench and sent the guards outside with a curt nod. â€Å"I came to check on you.† â€Å"Right. Because you care so much.† â€Å"I do. Well, kind of.† â€Å"The only things you care about are having the heir yourself and forcing me to get rid of your monsters.† â€Å"Demons,† I corrected. â€Å"And believe me, the last thing I want is to have the heir.† â€Å"I heard the guards talking. They said you've been hanging out with Dorian a lot. Why else would you do that? No one else would rather have our father's grandson. Well, except Aeson.† A grimace fell over her face at the mention of her old lover. â€Å"Dorian's just my friend, something you'll understand when you're older.† Oh, Eugenie, you are such a hypocrite. â€Å"And you're better off without Aeson.† Her eyes returned to her book. â€Å"I loved Aeson. You have no idea what love is.† â€Å"Oh, I do. I know that it's the best high and the worst hurt all at the same time-not to mention confusing as hell.† Jasmine looked back at me, still sullen but with a new sort of consideration. â€Å"What do you want? Are you just here to babysit me until that fucking imp comes back? God, I hate him.† I started to tell her to watch her language and then decided there was no point. â€Å"I came to tell you we're going to take out those demons tomorrow.† â€Å"At gunpoint.† â€Å"I don't have a choice. They're terrorizing people. How can you not understand how serious that is?† She shrugged with her typical apathy and pushed some of that long blond hair out of her face. â€Å"Your problem. Not mine.† Self-centered brat. She frowned for a moment, though. â€Å"Are they still taking girls?† She sounded almost concerned. Almost. â€Å"I don't know,† I admitted. â€Å"I don't know if this group's connected or not. I actually think there are humans involved.† The book slipped to her lap, forgotten. â€Å"Why would they do that? That doesn't make any sense.† â€Å"I'll tell you when you're older,† I said dryly, which was silly considering all that she'd been through. â€Å"And you're certain†¦you're certain the group chasing you wasn't human?† â€Å"Yes, for like the hundredth time. They were shining ones.† â€Å"You said they were soldiers†¦.† A startling thought came to me. â€Å"Leather armor? Red shirts?† â€Å"That's how soldiers dress, isn't it? Well, maybe not the red shirt. Depends on who they work for, I guess. I don't remember the color.† â€Å"Does it happen a lot?† I asked, recalling past thoughts about the similarities between the two of us. â€Å"Are guys coming after you a lot to†¦you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Get me pregnant? Yeah, sometimes.† There was a sad look in her eyes, a very vulnerable one. â€Å"But†¦you don't always give in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Jesus Christ, Eugenie. I won't sleep with anyone. What kind of a slut do you think I am?† A considerable one, actually. But I didn't say so, and I wondered if she'd ever been raped. â€Å"Sorry. You just seem so anxious to have that baby.† â€Å"Yeah, well, not with just anyone. And certainly not through rape.† She held her head up, a fierce look in her eyes. â€Å"No one does that to Storm King's daughter. It's an insult to our father's awesomeness.† Try as she might to deny her heritage, only the human part of her could have pulled up â€Å"awesomeness† to refer to a tyrannical fairy warlord. â€Å"You know I don't quite share the same regard for him that you do.† â€Å"I know,† she said. â€Å"Which is why you have such bad taste in men. You wouldn't catch me sleeping with a kitsune. I need someone worthy†¦like Aeson.† I started to argue again that Aeson had been a despotic asshole but knew logic and love rarely worked together-particularly if my own life was any indication. I was saved from further commentary when a coldness settled into the room and Volusian appeared. â€Å"Fuck,† said Jasmine. Man, did she have a mouth on her. I stood up, crossing my arms and trying to look imposing. It was a common attitude I kept around Volusian so there would be no question of my control. â€Å"Did you go to Art's house?† â€Å"Yes, mistress.† â€Å"And? Did you find anything?† â€Å"No, mistress. I could not enter.† â€Å"What do you mean? Did he invite you out back for beer too?† Volusian didn't blink. â€Å"The house was warded.† â€Å"The house was warded,† I repeatedly flatly. â€Å"And you couldn't cross it?† â€Å"They'd have to be some serious wards if he couldn't,† said Jasmine. â€Å"Thanks, Little Miss Stating the Obvious.† I racked my brain, thinking of the local witch network. I didn't know them well enough, not like I knew the shamans. â€Å"Where the hell would he find someone that strong?† â€Å"The wards were not the usual type found in the human world. They were laced with magic from this world as well,† continued Volusian. â€Å"What? How would Art get gentry help to lay wards-especially if he's abducting them?† â€Å"Maybe he put a gun to their head,† said Jasmine, in a fair imitation of my own dry tone. Another family trait, perhaps. â€Å"I've got to get into that house,† I muttered. â€Å"I guess that's gotta wait like everything else, though. Well, thanks for trying, Volusian.† â€Å"I neither require nor desire your gratitude, mistress. I want nothing in these worlds save your death.† Jasmine laughed. â€Å"Well, I'm sure you guys'll have a great time together.† I opened the door and beckoned the guards back in. With Volusian back, only two needed to be inside. â€Å"I'll see you both in the morning for demon hunting.† After that, I considered joining the others for their impromptu party but decided that would be the same as a boss crashing her employees' happy hour. Instead, I made my way to my own room but was intercepted by Girard. â€Å"Your majesty.† He swept me a bow in that flourish-filled way of his, making his cloak flare out dramatically. â€Å"I've made considerable progress on the project you requested.† â€Å"Already?† I knew he had magic for this kind of thing, but still. He smiled. â€Å"The queen asks, and I obey.† From within the folds of his cloak, he produced a rolled-up piece of parchment, which he opened up for me. On it was a detailed diagram of a sword, and scrawled all around it were assorted technical notes about weight and composition. Those meant little to me. Mostly I noticed the sword's beauty, particularly its hilt. â€Å"This is lovely,† I said. â€Å"I should hope so. Fit for a king.† In spite of myself, I smiled back. Dorian had left me in a miasma of emotions, but I'd been trying hard not to let that interfere with the honest favors he'd done me. And when he'd mentioned needing a new sword, I'd gotten the idea yesterday to have Girard make one. By all accounts, there were few more skilled, and his ability to touch iron made him particularly gifted. Girard traced the line of the sword's blade and tapped the end. â€Å"I can work iron into the tip here, and it shouldn't harm the Oak King so long as he's holding the hilt. It also shouldn't affect his ability to control the rest of the blade.† As a master of the earth and its contents, Dorian could infuse copper and sometimes bronze blades with magical heat. â€Å"But the tip will be deadly to his enemies,† I said. The idea to work iron into it had been mine. â€Å"Considerably. I can begin production right away, but I'll need to get an understanding of his current sword's balance before I can finalize this one.† â€Å"He'll be here tomorrow. You can talk to him then.† Dorian too had offered to help oust my demons. â€Å"Excellent. And Mistress Shaya tells me you have the materials here that I could use, if I have your permission to do so. Otherwise, I can return to my workshop in the Rowan Land.† I shook my head. â€Å"No, no. Use whatever you need here.† His lips twitched in a wry smile. â€Å"That's probably just as well. Were I to return home†¦well, I suspect my lord prince would spend days asking me about you.† I sighed. â€Å"Is he still upset about that?† â€Å"He was, forgive me, quite heartbroken over your rejection of the gift and of him.† â€Å"I didn't want that. I liked him-still do. I just wanted us to be friends.† â€Å"In my experience, your majesty, men and women often have difficulty with that. It's not impossible-but not always easy.† I thought about Dorian. â€Å"That's for damned sure. Well, thank you for this, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help with it. But seriously-don't go work on it now. Go back to that party. Drink up. Flirt with Shaya. She could use a good guy.† Girard erupted into laughter. It was a rich, honey-filled sound. â€Å"I treasure my neck too much to risk the captain of your guards wringing it.† It took me a moment to catch on. â€Å"Who, Rurik? He doesn't like Shaya†¦not that way, at least. She's too, I don't know, refined. He only goes after trashy kitchen girls.† Girard merely shrugged. â€Å"I'm serious!† I wasn't sure why this astounded me so much. â€Å"They might seem close, but it's because they work together. They're just friends.† Girard flashed another grin. â€Å"Didn't you just hear what I said about men and women being friends?† He dared a wink and bowed again. â€Å"Until tomorrow, your majesty.† I watched him go, that flamboyant red cape swirling around him. I was still in disbelief. Shaya and Rurik? No, it was ridiculous. I was certain she had no interest in him, and if he did want her, it was only for the same cheap reasons he wanted any woman. She was too smart for that. â€Å"You give my lord gifts yet still claim no interest.† I turned and saw Ysabel standing near a corner in the hall. She'd apparently overheard my conversation with Girard. Did this woman have nothing to do except lurk in halls and wait for me? â€Å"He's done a lot of favors for me lately. It's the only way I can really repay him.† â€Å"No doubt there are other ways you could repay him,† she said snidely. I started to give the â€Å"friends† line but had already had enough of that with Girard. â€Å"Please, I don't want to go through this same old song and dance. And you know, we both fulfilled our side of the deal with Dorian. I let you teach me. You're free. He's coming here tomorrow to help with the demon problem. Go home with him afterward.† Those big blue eyes widened in surprise. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Why what?† â€Å"Why would you let me go?† â€Å"Because you don't want to be here. You gave me the foundation of what I need to know, and I've been building on it pretty quickly.† With a shiver, I recalled how I'd nearly suffocated that gentry in my yard. That had been intentional. I had no accident excuses as I'd had with her. It was probably something I shouldn't mention to her quite yet. As it was, she looked troubled enough. â€Å"Yes†¦you have learned quickly. The magic burns so strongly in you, I don't think it needs much of an excuse to burst out. You really are like Storm King.† â€Å"Did you know him?† I asked curiously. I was always conflicted on hearing about him. Part of me wanted nothing to do with him, yet the other part longed to know more. â€Å"I wouldn't say ‘know,'† she mused. â€Å"My father was one of his bodyguards, so I saw Storm King a few times. He was†¦terrifying. Terrifying and awe-inspiring.† She tried to hide her fear but shuddered anyway. â€Å"From what I hear, that's the reaction most people have.† Kiyo too had seen Storm King in his youth, and I'd once had a flashback of my own brief meeting with my father. â€Å"The power you try to summon†¦he was able to bring it about in a heartbeat. He had only to think about a storm and the world would tremble with its force.† â€Å"Well, I guess everyone can rest easy. I'm a long ways from that.† â€Å"Do you know why?† she asked. â€Å"Practice?† She shook her head and pursed her lips. â€Å"Because for all your titles and regard and impressive use of magic so far†¦you are still human in your heart.† Human, by her tone, was a very ugly thing to be. â€Å"Not according to my stepfather.† It didn't seem like I'd ever fit anyone's expectations. â€Å"You think like one. You want to divide everything up logically. The way you approach magic, it's very†¦scientific.† Not a word gentry used very often. â€Å"You treat it coldly. You parcel up each fragment of air and categorize it. Magic requires control, yes, but at its heart, it is tied to your emotions. You said you'd summoned lightning accidentally. What was going on?† â€Å"I was scared.† It had also happened, I realized, when I was aroused. â€Å"And, um, excited.† â€Å"You were lost in your emotions, and the power seized you. But you'll never be able to do that regularly, never by choice. You repress your emotions. You don't give in to them.† Her smile turned triumphant. â€Å"And that is why my lord will never love you like he does me.† Of course. I should have known there was a barb waiting at the end of this lesson. I wondered what she'd think if she knew her lord had been pretty willing to love me up yesterday. â€Å"Well, thanks for the pep talk, but I'm going to my room now. I meant what I said. Go with Dorian tomorrow and love him as much as you want. I'll carry on without you somehow.† No point in hiding the sarcasm I felt. Ysabel gave me a sickeningly sweet smile. â€Å"You're presuming you'll come back.† I jerked around and gave her a sharp look. â€Å"Are you threatening me?† â€Å"Certainly not. I have nothing to do with your adventure tomorrow. But you're going to face demons. Anything can happen. And if you don't return, I won't weep.† Great. Nothing like a good omen to go into battle with.

How to Deal with Behavioral Interview Questions

How to Deal with Behavioral Interview Questions For some hiring managers, a job interview is a chance to get a candidate’s psychological profile as well as his or her direct qualifications for the job. This might include â€Å"staring contest† type questions, hypothetical situations that seem to have little to do with the topic at hand, or questions about your life outside of work. These can pull you out of your interview comfort zone, but they don’t have to. Here are some strategies for navigating behavioral interview questions.DON’T fall into the silent treatment trap.Most people, when faced with silence (especially with someone they don’t know well), feel obligated to fill that silence. If an interviewer asks you a question, and you answer it only to be met with a stare and no reply, don’t try to shovel in more information or clarify further. You already answered the question, and going off the cuff could talk you out of the job. It’s okay to give the pause a few minutes, then as k, â€Å"Is there anything else you’d like to know on this point?† Make sure that when you ask, it’s not sarcastic or nervous- just a straightforward question.DON’T try to match the silent treatment with aggression.Staring down your interviewer, nostrils flaring like you’re in an Old West showdown, is not going to help your cause. It’s not necessarily a case of â€Å"he who backs down first loses,† but rather just a test of how you react. Keep it calm and friendly.DO be prepared to talk about what you do outside of work†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦but try to keep it at least semi-related to the job discussion. If you do volunteer work, talk about the kind of skills you apply there. If you talk about a hobby, emphasize that it’s something that helps you decompress outside of work hours. Before you talk about any outside interests, make sure it’s appropriate for the company and professional conversation. NSFW hobbies should be left off t he table completely (and hopefully your R-rated blog is well hidden under a non-identifiable pseudonym!).DON’T let unnerving questions be a backdoor to illegal interview information.Whether intentional or not, shifting the focus of the interview to personal activities, or to making you so nervous that you’re willing to spill anything, can produce information that the interviewer should not be privy to.For example, if you’re asked about your personal goals and activities, and you talk about your church youth group mentoring, you’ve introduced religion to the interview. If you talk about the Mommy-and-Me yoga class you started in your neighborhood, you’ve opened up family status. Be choosy about what you discuss.DO be creative for â€Å"What would you be†¦?† questions.If you’re asked what kind of tree/animal/Backstreet Boy you’d be, answer the question. But you don’t have to answer it totally faithfully to your person ality. Tailor it to what you think would best match the job and the company. For example, I wouldn’t answer, â€Å"I’d be a panda, because I’m slow and like to eat salad.† Instead, I’d say, â€Å"I’d be an octopus, because I’m great at multitasking.†These questions may be designed to knock you slightly off your game and get to the real you, so you shouldn’t worry too much when they happen. Just be ready to keep the focus on the job that’s up for grabs, and always find a way to spin it back to your qualifications.

Abelisaurus - Facts and Figures

Abelisaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Abelisaurus (Greek for Abels lizard); pronounced AY-bell-ih-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of South America Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (85-80 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 30 feet long and 2 tons Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Large head with small teeth; openings in skull above jaws About Abelisaurus Abels lizard (so named because it was discovered by the Argentinian paleontologist Roberto Abel) is known by only a single skull. Although entire dinosaurs have been reconstructed from less, this lack of fossil evidence has forced paleontologists to hazard some guesses about this South American dinosaur. As befitting its theropod lineage, its believed that Abelisaurus resembled a scaled-down Tyrannosaurus Rex, with fairly short arms and a bipedal gait, and only weighing about two tons, max. The one odd feature of Abelisaurus (at least, the one that we know of for sure) is the assortment of large holes in its skull, called fenestrae, above the jaw. Its likely that these evolved to lighten the weight of this dinosaurs massive head, which otherwise might have unbalanced its entire body. By the way, Abelisaurus has lent its name to an entire family of theropod dinosaurs, the abelisaurswhich includes such notable meat-eaters as the stubby-armed Carnotaurus and Majungatholus. As far as we know, abelisaurs were restricted to the southern island continent of Gondwana during the Cretaceous period, which today corresponds to Africa, South America and Madagascar.

The processing of applications at the VEC Assignment

The processing of applications at the VEC - Assignment Example The number of people involved in processing an application CT ? Processing period (35?5.71=6). Each application is processed by 6 people. 4. Throughput efficiency = Work content * 100 ------------------- Throughput time Therefore, throughput efficiency is 200?35?100= 571,2 % b) The problem with the process is that it takes a long period to process the application forms. The VEC is comprised of three ‘checkers’ with three support staff, a pool of twelve clerks who are responsible for data entry/filing and ten auditors (who prepare and issue the grant approval documentation. From these figures, it can be seen that the number of checkers is small since they may not be able to cope with the pressure in processing the number of the forms received. The number of checkers should be increased so as to make sure that the processing time for the forms is speeded up. The other problem is that all the applications that arrive at the VEC are placed in an in-tray. One of the eight cle rks opens the applications that are then put in an in-tray pending collection by the coding staff. The coding clerks are only two and this may be difficult for them to cope with the large number of files that may need to be processed at a given period. These applications are only processed further when a checker becomes available. This is where the major problem lies. If the checker is not available, then it means that there is no work being done. As noted, in each section, the clerical, coding, checkers, secretarial and auditors have incoming work but at one stage, the applications are not promptly dealt with. In some instances, they can only be checked if the checkers become available. The other issue that affects the processing is that only files from the bottom are processed first. This may result in some files staying for a long period in the trays since they are just placed there without proper order. Once the file has been placed in the incoming tray, it should be processed p romptly and moved to the next stage rather than keeping it in the tray. c) In order to improve the process, it is essential to make sure that each department is staffed with an equal number of people to process the applications. For instance, the number of clerks should be equivalent to the number of coding staff. This is meant to ensure that pressure does not mount on an individual person responsible for checking or vetting the forms to make sure that there are no mistakes. It is also important for the processors of the applications to adopt a line strategy where the forms move from one point to the next point along the processing line. Once the form has been checked, it should move up to the net person for further processing and verification. The form should not be put back in the incoming tray since this cause a mix up in the processed and unprocessed forms. Effort should be put in order to ensure that each processed form from the bottom line moves to the top in their chronologic al order. This helps the staff members to make sure that there is no duplication of duties where the processed form is put back in the incoming tray. Once all the forms have been verified, they should be passed to the auditors who will make sure that all the information on the forms is correct. These forms will then need to be passed to the dispatchers who will do the final verification of the forms. In order to ensure that the process flows smoothly, there must be additional staff members responsible for handling complaints only. This is meant to ensure that all the queries are dealt with by the right person. If the tasks are clearly spelled such that each person is aware of his or her duties, it becomes easy to eliminate all the impediments that can slow the process. In this case, the linear strategy of processing the