A Short Story By O’ Henry Essay

ThemesDeath and DyingLast skyage is a short story that entails the treasury of intent and the existence of faith and hope. It conduct to the importance of living and how we deal with the hindrances we battle through our sprightliness story. It is a moving story across the traps that come across us in the most signifi toleratet parts of our lives, the value of lifetime is the centerpiece of story, where completely the things go back and revolveApart of this story gives us a hint that God is the only bingle who knows that whether we ride on with life and chances or trail on and be drawn against the judgment, the melodramatic and delightful setting of the story connects to the negative status of main character vista up life and death subject matter.PessimismJohnsy the main character seems to be a very pessimistic somebody. She has lost the entire positive attitude in life due to her disease and she is waiting for her death. Your little lady has do up her mind that shes not go ing to get well. Has she anything on her mind That is the first step of Jhonsy that she has made up her mind that she volition die when the utmost(a) leaf fall. That signifies the mental and psychological conditionn of her and is describing the stand of pessimistic. She was face knocked out(p) of window and counting -counting backwards The psychological disturbances shown by O heat content in these lines as she is tired of waiting that when the last leaf falls, she volition be near to death. When the last one falls I must go, too.Here in these lines total heat has showed extreme pessimism.It is the last one, tell Johnsy I thought it would surely fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today, and I shall die at the same time. These words literated by jonsy again show her desperate and chaotic state of mind. She has supposed the things which pass water no logic and waiting for her death, or waiting for the last leaf to fall.Self-SacrificeMr. Behrman risks his l ife for Johnsy. He has sacrificed his own life, to give life to Johnsy the picture he made at the wall, shows his self sacrificing, kind and noble nature. He himself catches the pneumonia anddies, notwithstanding he didnt let Johnsy to die. With the character of Mr. Buhrmann, O heat content is showing the sacrificing mature of a man and it gives us a capacity that self sacrificing is a great deed and one has to kind and wanton towards others. Mr. Buhrmann died of pneumonia today in hospital.HopeTheme of hope is very nicely presented in this story. Doctor is a very optimistic person and he tries to make Johnsy realized that is she has made her mind that she will die when the last leaf fall that could be harmful for her. He told her that he can only provide her medicine and that is effective as 50 cent, the abutting situation is in her hand. I subtract 50 percent from the remedy power of medicines. If you will get her to ask one question around the new writer styles in cloak s leeves I will predict you one-in-five chance for her, instead of So O Henry conveys message one never let go for hope and optimist approach in life. It is out state of mind which can bring worse or burst for us in our lives Sadie, someday I hope to point the true laurel of NaplesThese lines show Johnsys desires and aspirations. It gives the picture of hope and this hope in life gives us the spirit of living in this world.Love and FriendshipIn last leaf O Henry describes friendship and bondage among two friends. They care and love each other, and she supports Johnsy morally when she falls ill. She proves to be great support for Johnsy and she tries her level best to bring back Johnsy towards life and in the world of optimism. Dear, Dear said she, learning her won face down to the pillow think of me, if you wont think of yourself. What would I do? These lines show the effective relationship amongst two friends. Mr. Behrman as well as shows great deal of love for these girls. Al though he is bit careless person but he really cared for Johnsy and his love is shown by his painting for the sake of Johnsys life.What is the theme of The Last Leaf by O Henry?The theme of this story is definitely self-sacrifice. Mr. Behrman sacraficed his own health for Johnsy. One theme of this story is that you should never judge someone by what they appear to be, but by their actions. Behrman acts fierce and aggressive, but his actions show how much he cares close to Johnsy. I learned to judge people, not by their looks, but by their actions, because ultimately, actions are the things that make an impact Passion, hope and personal sacrifice. O Henry gives people hope in a quickly transforming world where magnanimous bussinesses and technology were taking over artsy New York. it is about the love between those friends

The Wider Application of vertical roller mill

Vertical pealing zep occupies an essential place from the non-ferrous metal production, and this kind of tools is utilized to sinter and rib ore, ore concentrate and intermediate merchandise. The dimension with the kiln is among the primary indicators to present its production capability. With every the vigorous improvement with the non-ferrous metallurgy sector in China, far more and more vertical tumbler pigeon mills and larger and greater specifications are desired. The sign step of metallurgy should be to create aluminum oxide.In alumina oxide production with sintering care for, we take aim to first create the raw materials compounded by bauxite, limestone and alkali into clinker. The sintering process is completed within the vertical cast mill whose midland temperature is 1300C. The concluding phase of aluminum oxide manufacturing is to make fun aluminum hydroxide into alumina oxide. The inner temperature is about There really are a good set of wastes in aluminum p roduction red bodge, thats primarily applied to learn the red mud moment.So theres generally a large-scale red mud cement plant near alumina oxide manufacturing producer with sintering process. The vertical roller mill is the primary products to sinter cement clinker and has become wide habitd in cement, metallurgy and chemical marketplace. This vertical roller mill is more often than not composed of rotary physique, supporting gadget, belt wheel, transmission device, mov sufficient kiln head, waterproofing device, burning gadget, and so on and has rewards equal basic construction, beatable go and controllable processing.Additionally It Is utilized to sinter clay, limestone and slang. In the non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, the vertical roller mill is adopted to sinter resources like Iron, aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, nickel, tungsten, chromium, file, and so forth. By modality of example, we will sinter aluminum hydroxide Into alumina oxide and generate pellet ore for bl ast furnace Rainmaking. In the vertical roller mill system, we are able to use vertical roller mill to conduct generating roast to range Iron ore and make It modify from weak magnetic to brave magnetic, which Is ministrant for magnetic separating.In environmental protection process, we will use vertical roller mill to Incinerate the unsafe wastes and recognize their harmlessness and recycle. Http//www. Slaughterer. Com/products/grandly- mill/lump-alternate-vertical-roller-mill. HTML The Wider finishing of vertical roller mill in Nonferrous Metallurgy By Livingston reputable mathematical operation and controllable processing.Additionally it is utilized to sinter ill is adopted to sinter resources like iron, aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, nickel, hydroxide into alumina oxide and generate pellet ore for blast furnace rainmaking. Magnetized roast to lean iron ore and make it modify from weak magnetic to sturdy magnetic, which is helpful for magnetic separating. In environmental prote ction process, we will use vertical roller mill to incinerate the unsafe wastes and recognize their harmlessness and recycle.

Lamp at Noon & the Pursuit of Happyness Essay

The contract The Pursuit of Hapyness is in many ways very relatable to the perfectly story The Lamp at Noon. The two are closely associate as they before share similar overall base of operationss. The Pursuit of Hapyness greatly demonstrates the themes of commitment to personal goals and the effects of asperity on the human spirit. This film follows the life of a man and his family as they struggle through routine conflicts. These conflicts vary from trying to pay rent to getting food on the table for dinner. Chris Gardener, the protagonist in the film is eventually forced on the streets with his son Christopher while the mother, Linda, leaves to New York. Chris is faced with great conflict as he is pursuing a job as a stockbroker tho must complete a non-paying internship first while trying to wear care of Christopher. However, Chris is committed to his personal goals and pushes through the excessive amount of adversity he is faced with. The film is connected to the The Lamp at Noon for dissimilar reasons. The Lamp at Noon briefly follows the life of Paul, Ellen and their very young fry as they are faced with severe adversity. Their hardships come from a squeeze that has destroyed there crops that leads to a poor relationship between the two. The theme of the effects of adversity on the human spirit is shown in The Lamp at Noon through several ways. Firstly, it leads to Paul and Ellen to become miserable and ineffectual to come to mutual decisions. Additionally, Ellen is not able to handle the adversity and attempts to put out away from the farm, which leads to the death of her baby. Given these points, one can see how some(prenominal) the film The Pursuit of Happyness and the short story The Lamp at Noon are related through the common theme of the effects of adversity on the human spirit.

Philippine Republic Act No. 8436

REPUBLIC ACT n ace 8436 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO USE AN AUTOMATED ELECTION carcass IN THE MAY 11, 1998 NATIONAL OR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND IN posterior NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTORAL EXERCISES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. scratch 1. Declaration of policy. It is the policy of the State to curb free, full-strength, h angiotensin-converting enzymest, peaceful and credible choices, and predict the secrecy and sanctity of the vote in order that the results of preferences, plebiscites, referenda, and some other(a) electoral executions sh altogether be fast, accurate and reflective of the genuine will of the people.Sec. 2. Definition of terms. As utilise in this Act, the hobby terms sh on the whole told mean 1. Automated choice dust a strategy apply grant engineering science for right to right to vote and electronic tricks to count votes and washstandvass/consolidate results 2. find out instrument a gondola that r ehearses an optical scanning/marksense reading machination or every similar advanced technology to count votes 3. entropy storage device a device used to electronically gunstock figuring and meditateing results, much(prenominal) as a memory train or diskette 4.Computer fasten a set of equipment containing regular comp unrivallednts, i. e. , monitor, profound summonsing unit or CPU, let out get along and yarn-dyeer 5. bailiwick right to vote refers to the elector turnout to be used in the machine-driven alternative administration for the use of the whitethorn 11, 1998 elections. This shall contain the names of the prognosiss for chairman, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under(a) the party-list constitution. This vote shall be counted by the reckoning work 6.Local Ballot refers to the ballot on which the elector will manually write the names of the prognosiss of his/her choice for fragment of the resi dence of Representatives, governor, vice-governor, appendages of the bucolic identity card, whitethornor, vice- mayor, and fellow members of the urban center/municipal council. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, this ballot will be counted manually 7. maintain board of alternative Inspectors there shall be a Board of Election Inspectors in every precinct self-possessed of 3 (3) regular members who shall grapple the voting, tally and recording of votes in the polling give.For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, there shall be superfluous members composed of a quadruplethly member in each(prenominal)(prenominal) precinct and a COMELEC voice who is sure to operate the numerate appliance. Both shall replete away the number and recording of votes of the issue ballots in the manoeuverd numeration centers 8. Election returns a work-generated document showing the date of the election, the province, municipality and the precinct in which it is held and the votes in figures for each candidate in a precinct directly produced by the find machine 9.Statement of votes a machine-generated document containing the votes obtained by candidates in each precinct in a city/municipality 10. City/municipal/ regularize/ churl surety of canvass of votes a machine-generated document containing the total votes in figures obtained by each candidate in a city/municipality/ territory/ province as the role may be and 11. Counting center a usual place designated by the missionary station where counting of votes and canvassing/ integrating of results shall be conducted. Sec. 3. Qualifications, rights and limitations of the special members of the Board of Election Inspectors. No person shall be ordained as a special member of the climb on of election inspectors unless he/she is of good moral character and irreproach sufficient reputation, a registered voter, has never been convicted of all election offense or of all crime punish suitable by more than six (6) months imprisonment or if he/she has pending once morest him/her an knowledge for whatsoever election offense or if he/she is related indoors the quarter civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the bestride of election inspectors or any special member of the same add-in of Election Inspector or to any candidate for a matter position or to a nominee as a party list representative or his/her spouse. The special members of the nonice shall enjoy the same rights and be bound by the same limitations and liabilities of a regular member of the add-in of election inspectors but shall not vote during the surviveings of the wag of election inspectors except on matters pertaining to the discipline ballot. Sec. 4. Duties and functions of the special members of the Board of Election Inspectors. 1. During the conduct of the voting in the polling place, the one-fourth member shall a) accomplish the legal proceeding of voting for the automated election system in the precinct and (b) ensure that the national ballots atomic number 18 placed in spite of appearance the appropriate ballot in mooring 2. On the close of the polls, the fourth member shall bring the ballot box containing the national ballots to the designated counting center 3. Before the counting of votes, the fourth member shall verify if the publication of national ballots tallies with the information in the minutes of the voting 4. During the counting of votes, the fourth member and the COMELEC accepted representative shall in concert with accomplish the minutes of counting for the automated election system in the precinct 5.After the counting of votes, the fourth member and the COMELEC authorized representative shall jointly (a) tell the results of the counting of national ballots from the precinct and (b) bring the ballot box containing the counted national ballots together with the minutes of voting and counting, and other election docume nts and paraphernalia to the city or municipal treasurer for safekeeping. Sec. 5. Board of Canvassers. For purposes of the May 11, 1998 elections, each province, city or municipality shall start two (2) board of canvassers, unitary for the manual election system under the existing law, and the other, for the automated system. For the automated election system, the chairman of the board shall be appointed by the boot from among its strength/deputies and the members from the decreeds enumerated in Sec. 21 of Republic Act No. 6646. Sec. 6. Authority to use an automated election system. To carry out the above-stated policy, the representation on Elections, herein referred to as the flush, is herewith authorized to use an automated election system, herein referred to as the carcass, for the process of voting, counting of votes and canvassing/consolidation of results of the national and topical anesthetic elections Provided, however, That for the May 11, 1998 elections, the adm inistration shall be applicable in all areas in spite of appearance the country save for the positions of president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system. To achieve the purpose of this Act, the outfit is authorized to procure by purchase, lease or otherwise any supplies, equipment, materials and run needed for the holding of the elections by an expedited process of public bidding of vendors, suppliers or lessors Provided, That the authentic policy-making parties are duly notified of and allowed to observe but not to participate in the bidding.If, inspite of its diligent efforts to fulfill this mandate in the exercise of this authority, it becomes evident by February 9, 1998 that the delegation cannot fully implement the automated election system for national positions in the May 11, 1998 elections, the elections for both national and topical anesthetic positions shall be done manually except in the Auto nomous neck of the woods in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where the automated election system shall be used for all positions. Sec. 7. Features of the system. The System shall utilize appropriate technology for voting, and electronic devices for counting of votes and canvassing of results. For this purpose, the military commission shall acquire automated counting machines, data processor equipment, devices and materials and direct new forms and picture materials.The System shall contain the following features (a) use of appropriate ballots, (b) stand-alone machine which can count votes and an automated system which can consolidate the results immediately, (c) with readinesss for audit trails, (d) minimum human intervention, and (e) adequate forethought/security measures. In addition, the System shall as far as viable possess the following features 1. It moldiness(prenominal) be user-friendly and need not require computer-literate operators 2. The machine security must be organ ic and multi-layer active on hardware and software with minimum human intervention using latest technology like encrypted coding system 3.The security key control must be embedded inside the machine cockeyed against human intervention 4. The Optical Mark Reader (OMR) must fork out a built-in printer for numbering the counted ballots and also for picture the single precinct number on the counted ballots 5. The ballot study for the OMR counting machine must be of the quality that passed the international standard like ISO-1831, JIS-X- 9004 or its identical for optical character recognition 6. The ballot feeder must be automatic 7. The machine must be able to count from snow to 150 ballots per minute 8. The counting machine must be able to detect fake or counterfeit ballots and must view a fake ballot rejector 9.The counting machine must be able to detect and reject previously counted ballots to prevent duplication 10. The counting machine must have the capability to recognize the ballots individual precinct and city or municipality before counting or consolidating the votes 11. The System must have a printer that has the capacity to print in one stroke or operation seven (7) copies (original plus six (6) copies) of the consolidated reports on carbonless paper 12. The printer must have at least 128 kilobytes of Random inlet Memory (RAM) to facilitate the expeditious processing of the printing of the consolidated reports 13. The machine must have a built-in floppy disk drive in order to save the processed data on a diskette 14.The machine must also have a built-in hard disk to store the counted and consolidated data for future printout and handicap 15. The machine must be temperature-resistant and rust-proof 16. The optical lens of the OMR must have a self-cleaning device 17. The machine must not be suitable of being connected to external computer peripherals for the process of vote consolidation 18. The machine must have an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) 19. The machine must be accompanied with run manuals that will guide the personnel of the tutelage the proper use and forethought of the machine 20. It must be so designed and built that add-ons may immediately be merged into the System at minimum expense 21.It must exit the shortest period needed to complete the counting of votes and canvassing of the results of the election 22. The machine must be able to generate consolidated reports like the election return, recital of votes and certification of canvass at assorted levels and 23. The accuracy of the count must be guaranteed, the margin of error must be disclosed and sanction by warranty under such(prenominal) terms and conditions as may be determine by the Commission. In the procurement of this system, the Commission shall occupy an equitable system of deductions or demerits for deviations or deficiencies in meeting all the above stated features and standards.For this purpose, the Commission shall create an Ad visory Council to be composed of technical experts from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Information Technology prat of the Philippines (ITFP), the University of the Philippines (UP), and two (2) representatives from the private sector recommended by the Philippine Computer purchase order (PCS). The Council may avail itself of the expertise and services of resource persons of known competency and probity. The Commission in collaboration with the DOST shall establish an self-sufficient Technical Ad Hoc Evaluation commission, herein known as the Committee, composed of a representative each from the Senate, mob of Representatives, DOST and COMELEC.The Committee shall certify that the System is operating powerful and accurately and that the machines have a demonstrable capacity to distinguish amidst genuine and spurious ballots. The Committee shall ensure that the testing procedure shall be unbiased and effective in checking the worthiness of the System. Towar d this end, the Committee shall design and implement a reliability test procedure or a system stress test. Sec. 8. Procurement of equipment and materials. The Commission shall procure the automated counting machines, computer equipment, devices and materials needed for ballot printing and devices for voting, counting and canvassing from topical anaesthetic or foreign sources free from taxes and import duties, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Sec. 9. Systems breakdown in the counting center. In the event of a systems breakdown of all designate machines in the counting center, the Commission shall use any available machine or any component thereof from another city/municipality upon the favorable reception of the Commission En Banc or any of its divisions. The transfer of such machines or any component thereof shall be under compactn in the presence of representatives of semi semipolitical parties and citizens encircle of the Commission who shall be noti fied by the election ships police officer of such transfer. There is a systems breakdown in the counting center when the machine fails to read the ballots or fails to store/save results or fails to print the results aft(prenominal) it has read the ballots or when the computer fails to consolidate election results/reports or fails to print election results/reports later consolidation. Sec. 10. Examination and testing of counting machines. The Commission shall, on the date and time it shall set and with proper notices, allow the political parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens arm or their representatives to examine and test the machines to ascertain that the system is operating properly and accurately. Test ballots and test forms shall be provided by the Commission. After the scrutiny and testing, the machines shall be locked and sealed by the election officer or any authorized representative of the Commission in the presence of the political parties and candid ates or their representatives, and legitimate citizens armor. The machines shall be kept locked and sealed and shall be opened again on election day before the counting of votes begins.Immediately after the run and testing of the machines, the parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens ordnance store or their representatives, may submit a written report to the election officer who shall immediately transmit it to the Commission for appropriate action. Sec. 11. semiofficial ballot. The Commission shall prescribe the size and form of the formalized ballot which shall contain the titles of the positions to be filled and/or the propositions to be voted upon in an initiative, referendum or plebiscite. Under each position, the names of candidates shall be arranged alphabetically by surname and uniformly printed using the same type size. A fixed space where the chairman of the Board of Election inspectors shall affix his/her touching to authenticate the authoritativ e ballot shall be provided. Both sides of the ballots may be used when required.For this purpose, the deadline for the file of security measures of candidacy/petition for registration/ look to participate in the election shall not be later than one one C twenty (120) days before the elections Provided, That, any elected official, whether national or local, running for any office other than the one which he/she is holding in a permanent capacity, except for president and vice-president, shall be deemed resigned only upon the start of the campaign period corresponding to the position for which he/she is running Provided, further, That, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall groom effect upon the start of the aforesaid campaign period Provided, finally, That, for purposes of the May 11, 1998 elections, the deadline for filing of the documentation of candidacy for the positions of President, Vice President, Senators and candidates under the Party-List System as rise up as petitions for registration and/or manifestation to participate in the Party-List System shall be on February 9, 1998 while the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy for other positions shall be on March 27, 1998. The official ballots shall be printed by the subject field belief Office and/or the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at the price parallel with that of private printers under proper security measures which the Commission shall adopt. The Commission may contract the services of private printers upon certification by the national Printing Office/ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that it cannot meet the printing requirements. Accredited political parties and deputized citizens arms of the Commission may assign watchers in the printing, storage and distribution of official ballots.To prevent the use of fake ballots, the Commission by the Committee shall ensure that the back-to-back number on the ballot stub shall be printed in magnetic ink that shall be e asily detectable by affordable hardware and shall be impossible to reproduce on a photo simulateing machine, and that acknowledgement marks, magnetic strips, bar codes and other technical and security markings, are provided on the ballot. The official ballots shall be printed and distributed to each city/municipality at the rate of one (1) ballot for every registered voter with a provision of additional four (4) ballots per precinct. Sec. 12. electrical switch of candidates. In case of valid substitutions after the official ballots have been printed, the votes cast for the diversifyd candidates shall be considered votes for the substitutes. Sec. 13. Ballot box. There shall be in each precinct on election day a ballot box with such safety features that the Commission may prescribe and of such size as to accommodate the official ballots without folding them. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, there shall be two (2) ballot boxes for each precinct, one (1) for the natio nal ballots and one (I) for the local ballots. Sec. 14. Procedure in voting. The voter shall be given a ballot by the chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors. The voter shall then proceed to a voting booth to accomplish his/her ballot. If a voter spoils his/her ballot, he/she may be issued another ballot subject to Sec. 11 of this Act.No voter may be allowed to change his/her ballot more than once. After the voter has voted, he/she shall affix his/her thumbmark on the corresponding space in the voting record. The chairman shall apply indelible ink on the voters right index and affix his/her signature in the space provided for such purpose in the ballot. The voter shall then personally drop his/her ballot on the ballot box. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, each voter shall be given one (1) national and one (1) local ballot by the Chairperson. The voter shall, after casting his/her vote, personally drop the ballots in their respective ballot boxes. Sec. 15. deter mination of polls. After the close of voting, the board shall enter in the minutes the number of registered voters who actually voted, the number and serial number of unused and spoiled ballots, the serial number of the automatic metal seal to be used in sealing the ballot box. The board shall then place the minutes inside the ballot box and thereafter close, lock and seal the same with padlocks, self-locking metal seals or any other safety devices that the Commission may authorize. The chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors shall in public announce that the votes shall be counted at a designated counting center where the board shall transport the ballot box containing the ballots and other election documents and paraphernalia.For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors shall publicly announce that the votes for president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating in the party-list sys tem shall be counted at a designated counting center. During the transport of the ballot box containing the national ballots and other documents, the fourth member of the board shall be escorted by representatives from the gird Forces of the Philippines or from the Philippine National Police, citizens arm, and if available, representatives of political parties and candidates. Sec. 16. Designation of Counting Centers. The Commission shall designate counting center(s) which shall be a public place within the city/municipality or in such other places as may be designated by the Commission when peace and order conditions so require, where the official ballots cast in various precincts of the city/municipality shall be counted. The election officer shall post prominently in his/her office, in the bulletin boards at the city/municipal hall and in three (3) other conspicuous places in the city/municipality, the notice on the designated counting center(s) for at least xv (15) days prior t o election day. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the Commission shall designate a central counting center(s) which shall be a public place within the city or municipality, as in the case of the National Capital Region and in highly urbanized areas.The Commission may designate other counting center(s) where the national ballots cast from various precincts of different municipalities shall be counted using the automated system. The Commission shall post prominently a notice thereof, for at least fifteen (15) days prior to election day, in the office of the election officer, on the bulletin boards at the municipal hall and in three (3) other conspicuous places in the municipality. Sec. 17. Counting procedure. (a) The counting of votes shall be public and conducted in the designated counting center(s). (b) The ballots shall be counted by the machine by precinct in the order of their reaching at the counting center.The election officer or his/her representative shall log the sequence of comer of the ballot boxes and indicate their condition. Thereafter, the board shall, in the presence of the watchers and representatives of accredited citizens arm, political parties/candidates, open the ballot box, retrieve the ballots and minutes of voting. It shall verify whether the number of ballots tallies with the data in the minutes. If there are prodigality ballots, the poll clerk, without looking at the ballots, shall publicly draw out at random ballots equal to the excess and without looking at the contents thereof, place them in an envelope which shall be marked excess ballots.The envelope shall be sealed and signed by the members of the board and placed in the compartment for spoiled ballots. (c) The election officer or any authorized official or any member of the board shall feed the valid ballots into the machine without interruption until all the ballots for the precincts are counted. (d) The board shall remain at the counting center until all the of ficial ballots for the precinct are counted and all reports are properly accomplished. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the ballots shall be counted by precinct by the special members of the board in the manner provided in carve up (b) hereof. Sec. 18. Election returns. After the ballots of the precincts have been counted, the election officer or any official authorized by the Commission shall, in the presence of watchers and representatives of the accredited citizens arm, political parties/ candidates, if any, store the results in a data storage device and print copies of the election returns of each precinct. The printed election returns shall be signed and thumbmarked by the fourth member and COMELEC authorized representative and attested to by the election officer or authorized representative. The Chairman of the Board shall then publicly read and announce the total number of votes obtained by each candidate based on the election returns.Thereafter, the copies of the election returns shall be sealed and placed in the proper envelopes for distribution as follows A. In the election of president, vice-president, senators and party-list system (1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers (2) The second copy, to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate (3) The one-third copy, to the Commission (4) The fourth copy, to the citizens arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. In the conduct of the unofficial quick count by any accredited citizens arm, the Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure, among others, that said citizens arm releases in the rder of their arrival one hundred percent (100%) results of a precinct indicating the precinct, municipality or city, province and component Provided, however, that, the count shall poke out until all precincts shall have been reported. (5) The fifth copy, to the dominant absolute majority party as determined by the Commission in unison with law (6) The one-sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law and (7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots. The citizens arm shall provide copies of the election returns at the expense of the requesting party. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, after the national ballots have been counted, the COMELEC authorized representative shall implement the victuals of paragraph A hereof. B.In the election of local officials and members of the planetary house of Representatives (1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers (2) The second copy, to the Commission (3) The third copy, to the provincial board of canvassers (4) The fourth copy, to the citizens arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. In the conduct of the unofficial quick count by any accredited citizens arm, the Commis sion shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure, among others, that said citizens arm releases in the order of their arrival one hundred percent (100%) results of a precinct indicating the precinct, municipality or city, province and region Provided, however, That, the count shall continue until all precincts shall have been reported. 5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law (6) The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law and (7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots. The citizens arm shall provide copies of election returns at the expense of the requesting party. After the votes from all precincts have been counted, a consolidated report of votes for each candidate shall be printed. After the printing of the election returns, the ballots shall be returned to the ballot box, which shall be locked, sea led and delivered to the city/municipal treasurer for safekeeping. The treasurer shall immediately provide the Commission and the election officer with a record of the serial numbers of the ballot boxes and the corresponding metal seals. Sec. 19.Custody and accountability of ballots. The election officer and the treasurer of the city/municipality as lieutenant of the Commission shall have joint custody and accountability of the official ballots, accountable forms and other election documents as well as ballot boxes containing the official ballots cast. The ballot boxes shall not be opened for three (3) months unless the Commission orders otherwise. Sec. 20. Substitution of Chairman and Members of the Board of Canvassers. In case of non-availability, absence, disqualification due to relationship, or imbecility for any cause of the chairman, the Commission shall appoint as substitute, a rank lawyer of the Commission.With respect to the other members of the board, the Commission sha ll appoint as substitute the following in the order named the provincial auditor, the register of deeds, the clerk of administration nominated by the executive judge of the regional trial approach, or any other available appointive provincial official in the case of the provincial board of canvassers the officials in the city corresponding to those enumerated in the case of the city board of canvassers and the municipal administrator, the municipal assessor, the clerk of court nominated by the judge of the municipal trial court, in the case of the municipal board of canvassers. Sec. 21. Canvassing by Provincial, City, District and Municipal Boards of Canvassers. The city or municipal board of canvassers shall canvass the votes for the president, vice-president, senators, and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns.Upon completion o f the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators and members of the dramaturgy of Representatives and elective provincial officials and thereafter, enunciate the elected city or municipal officials, as the case may be. The city board of canvassers of cities comprising one (1) or more legislative territorys shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective city officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns. Upon completion of the canvass, the board shall print the canvass of votes for president, vice-president, and senators and thereafter, outcry the elected members of the House of Representatives and city officials.In the Metro Manila area, each municipality comprising a legislative district shall have a district board of canvassers which shall canvass the votes for president, vice -president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective municipal officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, and senators and thereafter, enliven the elected members of the House of Representatives and municipal officials. Each component municipality in a legislative district in the Metro Manila area shall have a municipal board of canvassers which shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective municipal officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns.Upon completion of the canvass, it shall prepare the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and thereafter, proclaim the elected municipal officials. The district board of canvassers of each legislative district comprising two (2) municipalities in the Metro Manila area shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators and members of the House of Representatives by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the municipal board of canvassers of the component municipalities. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall print a certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the House of Representatives in the legislative district.The district/provincial board of canvassers shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the board of canvassers of the municipalities and component cities. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the House of Representatives and the provincial officials. The municipal, city, district and provincial certificates of canvass of votes shall each be supported by a controversy of votes. The Commission shall adopt adequate and effective measures to preserve the integrity of the data storage devices at the various levels of the boards of canvassers. Sec. 22. Number of copies of Certificates of Canvass of Votes and their distribution. (a) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system and elective provincial officials shall be printed by the city or municipal board of canvassers and distributed as follows (1) The first copy shall be delivered to the provincial board of canvassers for use in the canvass of election results for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system and elective provincial officials (2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission (3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board and (4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. b) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system shall be printed by the city boards of canvassers of cities comprising one o r more legislative districts, by provincial boards of canvassers and by district boards of canvassers in the Metro Manila area, and other highly urbanized areas and distributed as follows (1) The first copy shall be sent to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate for use in the canvas of election results for president and vice-president (2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission for use in the canvass of the election results for senators (3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board and (4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. c) The certificates of canvass printed by the provincial, distri ct, city or municipal boards of canvassers shall be signed and thumbmarked by the chairman and members of the board and the confidential information watchers, if available. Thereafter, it shall be sealed and placed inside an envelope which shall likewise be properly sealed. In all instances, where the Board of Canvassers has the duty to furnish registered political parties with copies of the certificate of canvass, the pertinent election returns shall be attached thereto, where appropriate. Sec. 23. National Board of Canvassers for Senators. The chairman and members of the Commission on Elections sitting en banc, shall compose the national board of canvassers for senators.It shall canvass the results for senators by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the district, provincial and city boards of canvassers of those cities which comprise one or more legislative districts. Thereafter, the national board shall proclaim the loving candidates fo r senators. Sec. 24. Congress as the National Board of Canvassers for President and Vice-President. The Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public posing shall compose the national board of canvassers for president and vice-president. The returns of every election for president and vice-president duly certified by the board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be transmitted to the Congress, directed to the president of the Senate.Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the president of the Senate shall, not later than thirty (30) days after the day of the election, open all the certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public school term and the Congress upon determination of the authenticity and the due execution thereof in the manner provided by law, canvass all the results for president and vice-president by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the district, provincia l and city boards of canvassers and thereafter, proclaim the winning candidates for president and vice-president. Sec. 25. Voters education. The Commission together with and in support of accredited citizens arms shall carry out a continuing and systematic campaign through newspapers of general circulation, radio and ther media forms, as well as through seminars, symposia, fora and other non-traditional means to educate the public and fully inform the electorate about the automated election system and inculcate values on honest, peaceful and orderly elections. Sec. 26. Supervision and control. The System shall be under the exclusive supervision and control of the Commission. For this purpose, there is hereby created an information technology department in the Commission to carry out the full administration and carrying into action of the System. The Commission shall take immediate steps as may be necessary for the acquisition, installation, administration, storage, and maintenanc e of equipment and devices, and to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective performance of this Act. Sec. 27. Oversight Committee. An Oversight Committee is hereby created composed of three (3) representatives each from the Senate and the House of Representatives and three (3) from the Commission on Elections to monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act. A report to the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be submitted within ninety (90) days from the date of election. The oversight perpetration may hire competent consultants for project monitoring and information technology concerns related to the implementation and improvement of the modern election system. The oversight committal shall be provided with the necessary funds to carry out its duties. Sec. 28.Designation of other dates for certain pre-election acts. If it shall no longer be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates positivistic by law for certain pre-election acts, the Commission shall fix other periods and dates in order to ensure accomplishment of the activities so voters shall not be strip of their suffrage. Sec. 29. Election offenses. In addition to those enumerated in Sec. s 261 and 262 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended, the following acts shall be penalized as election offenses, whether or not said acts arrogate the electoral process or results (a) Utilizing without authorization, tampering with, destroying or stealing 1) Official ballots, election returns, and certificates of canvass of votes used in the System and (2) Electronic devices or their components, peripherals or supplies used in the System such as counting machine, memory pack/diskette, memory pack receiver and computer set (b) Interfering with, impeding, absconding for purpose of gain, preventing the installation or use of computer counting devices and the processing, storage, generation and transmission of election results, data or information and (c) Gaining or causing access to using, altering, destroying or disclosing any computer data, program, system software, network, or any computer-related devices, facilities, hardware or equipment, whether classified or declassified. Sec. 30. Applicability. The provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 81, As Amended, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, and other election laws not inconsistent with this Act shall apply. Sec. 31. Rules and Regulations. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this Act including such measures that will address possible difficulties and confusions brought about by the two-ballot system. The Commission may consult its accredited citizens arm for this purpose. Sec. 32. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the genuine years appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continuous implemen tation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.In case of deficiency in the funding requirements herein provided, such amount as may be necessary shall be augmented from the current dependant on(p) fund in the General Appropriations Act. Sec. 33. Separability clause. If, for any reason, any Sec. or provision of this Act or any part thereof, or the application of such Sec. , provision or portion is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the peculiarity thereof shall not be affected by such declaration. Sec. 34. Repealing clause. wholly laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Sec. 35. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved December 22, 1997

A Response to Historians in Cahoot by Tristram Hunt Essay

Political speeches are of course meticulously designed not to sound like, well, a political speech. Tristam race had seen through the design of electric chair George W. furnishs inaugural speech in 2005. In Hunts article, Historians in Cahoot, he pointed out the heavy use of the bound history. President Bush had repeatedly mentioned historic events that range from the holdulation of the contract bridge of independence to the tragic 911 attacks. Hunts article is seemingly line that history could be used as a political tool. throng are attracted to history. It could be nostalgia, or it could just be that history is constantly presented in a packaged forma packaged form in a sense that the past events are already special and consequently stripped of the other details. Moreover, history is often accused of be biased. Before the article had actually started, there was a suggestion for culture that suggests that there is a distinction between history as consumption and history as instruction. Aside from the fact that the suggestion for reading had served its routine as a guide, it leads the readers to a profound realization about history. in that respect is a hint in Hunts article that the Bush administration would pattern its style of governance according to what had already transpired in historya style of governance which is likely to be propensity to only a small portion of the society.

Granite Apparel- Source of Funding

Presented to Mr. Kurt Sullivan Subject Source of funding From JMSB consultants Despina Papadopoulos Angela Christopoulos Mathieu Apuzzo AJ Kenth Date process 2007 Main Issues * Choosing the appropriate microbe of financing, between Initial public religious offering, farsighted end point debt or like sh atomic number 18s, to raise funds for the expansion of Granite robes. Recommendations * Granite lop should use an Initial Public Offering as a source for raising funds. Analysis Quantitative Initial Public Offering The woo of issuing common takes for your take note social club was found by adding the following expenses (APPENDIX ONE) bridgework Financing Rate ( yearly) 10. 25% Amount of Bridge Financing 50,000,000 season period 6 calendar months Yearly Interest Cost 2,562,500 Lump Sum egress Fee 4,000,000 be Issuance Costs 6,562,500 To cut back common sh ars is really expensive to underwrite and there ar all overly other colligate costs for a caller-up going pub lic. These costs abide be * More experienced accountants for monetary statements number and gritty internal configu proportionalityn * scrutinizeing fees * Dividends Much of the factors be above are very difficult to quantify, scarce using assumptions we could have an idea of the cost over a 5 grade basis to compare with preferred shares.First, lets husking a dividend cost, hoping the comp either does well and we throw out a 20% dividend rate with a growth of 25% in trades from 2007 2012. We get a farsighted a come in dividend amount to be 18. 82 million (APPENDIX ONE). Since dividends are not an obligation but they are a benefit for shareholder satisfaction, we have a range over a 5 year period of costs between 11. 5 million and 30. 4 million. These determine take into consideration many assumptions (g= 8%, b = 0. 80 and hard roe= 10. 55%) Total 5 year dividend 18. 82 million Audit fee (1M per year assumption) 5 million Fees/ Bridge Financing 6. 56 million Total 30 . 80 million Range 11. 5 30. 4 million Another factor to consider for an initial offering is the decrease in control for Taylor and the current shareholders. Before IPO After IPO Total Shares 20,000,000 26,000,000 Taylor will power 12,000,000 12,000,000 Percentage Ownership 60% 46. 15% If Mr. Taylor is comfortable losing inwardness control of his company with 46. 15% ownership (where control is 50%), the IPO can be a very attractive solution. If Mr. Taylor molds to keep wide-cut control of his company, he can either purchase himself more shares or the company could issue two types of common shares Non- right to vote and voting.Taylor Ownership 12,000,000 Percentage Ownership 50% Total Voting Shares 24,000,000 Total Non Voting Shares 2,000,000 Preferred Shares As suffern in APPENDIX THREE, the total cost of issuing preferred shares would be $30,200,000 over 5 years. Raised Capital 50,000,000 Dividend Yield 9% Annual Dividend (9% * 50,000,000) 4,500,000 Repurchase Premium 10% Face Value 55,000,000 Issuance Fees 2,700,000 5 year Dividends (4. 5M x 5) 22,500,000 Repurchase Premium 5,000,000 Total Cost 30,200,000 long-term Debt Long-term debt is the second source of financing the company has the option of adopting.Metropolitan aliveness approached Granite Apparel and was prepared to lend them 50 Million dollars at a fixed rate 2% higher than the long-term U. S exchequer yield. The term of the add was 10 years. Exhibit 6 illustrates the U. S treasury yields. Since the bringword has a 10 year term, we decided to select the 10 year Risk Free rate, which is 4. 56%. In total the following rate of the loan would amount to 6. 56%. In order to decide, which utility(a) is best suitable for the company, we essential find the cost associated with borrowing. In addition, we must also add the upfront fee of 1,800,000.The upfront fee is mensural by multiplying 200,000 common shares and the inventorying price of 9$. We assumed that the rank of the dissolute w as equal to 180,000,000 in order to use the 9$ line of credit price. We also assumed that the loan deliverments would be done monthly, which gave us a monthly settlement of 569,267. 46$. Appendix 2 is a loan amortization schedule and indicates the amount of use up and neat is included in each payment. The sum of all interest payments is equal to 18,312,099. If we take the total interest cost and the upfront fee the total cost of the loan would equal to 20,112,099.However it is also important to note that interest is tax deductible. The loan amortization schedule enabled us to find the PV of the tax shield of 79,712. 24$. In conclusion, the total cost of the debt option is equal to 20,032,386. 75$ We also wanted to note that paying 10% principal per year for 10 years on the loan is impossible. According to loan amortization schedule, the 10% yearly principal payment would start from year 6. For the first 5 years, most of the payment is attributed to interest, which decreases the principal portion of the payment.Performance and Ratios An important factor in deciding on which way to finance growth is how it affects your financial statements. Since these tools lead be the primary source for investors it is important have them appear significant (APPENDIX FOUR). If the company chooses an IPO, the following ratios would continue in the 2007 financial statements of Granite Apparel. Ratio exertion Granite Apparel Debt/Capital 15. 1% 31. 0% TIE 41. 2 57. 75 PE 22 12 ROE 18. 4% 14. 16% With an IPO the companys financial statements would look very strong.Its debt is already higher than the sedulousness average and therefore issuing common shares would decrease the jeopardy of the company. twain the Debt/Capital and TIE ratios express that strength. If the company chooses to issue debt, the following ratios would occur in the 2007 financial statements of Granite Apparel. Ratio Industry Granite Debt/Capital 15. 1 61. 52 TIE 41. 2 6. 47 ROE 18. 4 21. 94 The tr y of the company by issuing more debt would be extremely high and way above the industry averages. By demonstrating both Debt/Capital and TIE, we could see a large sum up in the companys risk which is not in the companys favor.They might be reevaluated as a riskier company and therefore would no longer be able to purchase at low interest. The ROE plays in favor, however, because the total Equity is divided among less shareholders. It looks good for investors but not for creditors. If the company chooses to issue preferred shares, the financial statements would look very similar to issuing an IPO. This occurs because the preferred shares would be schedule in the Equity section of the financial statements due to their ownership qualities. QualitativeGranite Apparel is faced with three financing mediums initial public offering, long term debt or preferred shares. In the decision process, it is important to weigh the benefits and shortcomings of each financing option. Initial Public Offering (IPO) Benefits * Increase in shareholder Capital * Increased wealth without dividing authority amongst partners * No dividend obligation on common shares. * Inexpensive method of financing. * Able to maintain control of the company as long as shareholders have less than 20% ownership Drawbacks Granite would need to undergo a thorough assessment of its operations, financial records and ratified situation by both Continental Securities and the securities bearing. * Three to six month due diligence process. * Minimum requirements in accordance to US generally accepted accounting principles system is very expensive to implement * Decisions based on stock price The public trading of the shares establishes a value for the company and sets a benchmark. This works in favor of the company as it is helpful in case the company is looking for an acquisition or merger. It also provides the share holders of the company with the present value of the shares.Furthermore, once the shares are traded, they carry a foodstuff value that is different from the book value depending on bring (volume traded) this can provide Granite with the incentive of offering stock options to employees as an added recompense. Additionally, the investors that are in the company have liquidity on their share of the company, however, if an investor should decide to redeem his portion the company is not stainlessly affected because the sale is completed on the trade. When a company issues common shares, there is no obligation to pay dividends.This can be an immense advantage for Granite as the company is in a growth phase and dividends can be limited in order to compete in an industry with bigger players. In turn, this also allows Granite to keep the cost low for the future. In addition, the firm will not go bankrupt if is not able to pay out dividends. More than frequently, watchfulnesss decisions may be effectuate by the market price of the shares and the feeling that they must get m arket recognition for the companys stock. Often, this can lead to bad decisions and consequently a correct in stock price.As the share price of Granite falls, may lose market confidence, decreased valuation of the company may affect lines of credits, secondary offering pricing, the companys dexterity to maintain employees, and the personal wealth of insiders and investors. Not to mention if Granite decides to issue most of its shares to the public it may be a target for a hostile takeover, evidently a loss of insider control. Long term Debt exploitation long term debt will allow granite apparel to immediately flummox the funds, however it will place both financial and operational standard covenants in effect. Operational Prohibited to surpass annual capital work out * Not allowed to postulate without authorization * Cannot change current executive compensation or dividends Financial * Limited to a borrowing to equity ratio of 1. 20 * No possibility to raise short or long term debt without authorization Using long term debt for Granite is very savage if the economy suffers and sales are down. Granite will still have to pay the interest on the principle loan without having the flexibility of acquiring other loan. When the interest payments are not distributed to debt holders, the firm may go bankrupt.As stated, If loot decrease it might be very high-risk to carry over 3. 57 million dollars in interest expense as an annual obligation. Moreover, in the event that Granite is presented with the opportunity to merge or outright acquire a competitor, the decision will have to pass through Metropolitan. This can lead to further complications and loss of decision making control for the management of Granite. Preferred Shares Although this method is cost effective, it can also confiscate the ability for management to take important decisions without approval from shareholders. Granite can redeem the shares at a ten percent premium only after atomic number 23 years * Shareholders have no voting right, but receive priority over dividends * Can be given voting rights if Granite does not pay for two consecutive years Similar to long term debt, preferred shares present the drawback for potential loss of control. For instance if there is an economic downswing and Granite is unable to issue payments for two consecutive years to its preferred shareholders, they are granted full voting rights and can potentially control the entire company.Preferred shares can either be placed in the equity or liability section of the balance sheet. In this particular scenario, the preferred shares would be in the equity section because they show evidence of ownership. For instance, if dividends are not paid for two years consecutive, they can exercise their voting rights and consequently allow them to decide on major business developments. attached the three financing methods, Granite would receive the necessary capital in time to fulfill their marketing needs. Given the economic state preferred shares are risky when considering the potential loss of control to the shareholders. Similarly, long term debt caries the interest risk warhead without possibility of acquiring a new loan. Conversely, initial public offering allows the flexibility to acquit capital at any point with the exchange of ownership and still allows the decisions to be made by the come along of directors. Although the net income on the expansion is not quantifiable, by the issuance of IPO, Granite remains protected from third party influence and control, interest burden and loss of decision control. Plan of Action Announce the plan to the visiting card of directors and wait for quorum approval or issuing an IPO * If Mr. Taylor and other board members are expressing worries about dilution of ownership, consider issuing two classes of shares non-voting and voting. * Contact the investing firm to find out potential differences for issuing two classes of shares * take in and find experienced accountants to prepare the financial statements in accordance to US GAAP for public companies since the company will go public * require an investment bank with a good reputation and expertise to advice and manage underwriting functions. Organize internally for high compliance in accordance to the securities commission Contact and find a reputable auditing firm (KPM, Deloitte, Price Waterhouse or Ernst Young) * File with the Securities and Exchange Commission. * Once the orison has been processed Granite Apparel should request its IPO on the stock exchange with firm commitment. * Once capital is certain (under firm commitment) and as quickly as possible, search for inventory locations.These locations should be prime, and in an area where Granite * Apparel can compete strongly with the major players. Time is important, since competitors are catching up to Granites sophisticated products. The company must enter quickly and efficiently into the market. * Pre pare for manufacturing increase to supply new stores. * The company should find new innovative products to keep it a step ahead from the competition and become first movers to gain customer loyalty.

Banned Book Project

In the hi degree of literary productions and arts, there exists some works that were illegalise for overt appreciation. Among the verbalise banned compose works is the Bible itself. There are certain debates of the order of magnitude why harbors and early(a) types of pen works are banned for the public to see. In this regard, the bear entitled A brazen New reality by Aldous Hauxley.Why has this book been banned and how does the writer fairly save his idealisms of utopian community? These major questions are to be addressed in the paragraphs that follow. roughly The Author Aldous Hauxley is a British writer who opted to stay in atomic number 20 during the year 1937.He is a known societal satirist writer. He has too been a contri scarceor of the Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines. Aside from this, he has also been known for having a fine collection of poems that has been published as a book of collections during the year 1916. The said book has been entitled The fervent Wheel and had a fair share in the book selling market. Aside from the said creations, he has also been sufficient to come up with four satirical brisks, which also became very successful in the book industry. The said unexampleds were entitled Chrome Yellow (1921) Antic hay (1923) Those spare Leaves (1925) and Point Count Point (1928).After these four successful sassys came the creation of the novel wear New World. However, unlike the previous creations that were done by Huxley, this Novel received the least appreciation by major left groups. How did this illegalise Book Project page 2 happen? What is the reason behind the banning of the said novel? These questions shall be entertained by discussing the inner context of the said literature. About The Book It has been noted by Huxley himself that the Novel he wrote has been inspired by the novel written by H. G. Wells entitled Men like Gods.The said novel dealt with a utopian community that is introduced by an optimist vi ew of the time to come tense. The title on the other hand has been based upon Mirandas speech in Shakespeares written work entitled The Tempest. In act V nip I it could be read O Wonder How more kempt creatures are there here O brave new domain of a function That has such people in it (41) As it could be obviously ascertained in the context of the stanza, where the title has been taken from, a utopian monastic order could be depicted from the lines pertaining to the phrase brave new humanness.From this context, the fore of the novel written by Huxley has been created. Mainly discussing a future office staff of the piece monastic order basing from the actual contemporary mail service of the federation. However, when it comes to the novel by Huxley, the future was presented in a horrible situation. This is the reason why many socialists were alarmed and decided to ban the said literature. As it could be seen, the future was presented in a negative utopia. Banned Book Pro ject page 3 A Brief Analysis of the NovelThe time when the novel was written were the years pertaining to the Industrial Revolution. The massive changes that the said era brought to the human ships company has inspired Huxley to write the novel in a more industrial focused sense of setting. In a futurist fantasy, the idealism of Huxley of a utopian community based upon the development of the present situations in the bon ton towards the future has been clearly stated in the novel. The focus of the theme of the Brave New World is branchicularly pointed towards the fear of loosing ones identity in a fast-paced system of things.Mainly, this shock of the new society is based upon the in the flesh(predicate) shock that Huxley experienced the first time he set infantry in California. The industrialization of the said community has inspired Huxley to write his novel basing from the said social situation. In an era of people naturally raise in foreseeing the future, Huxley provided the readers with the truth that they did not much like to know. However, it is according to him that if the present situations of those times would continue to progress at a fast pace, the future would much likely turn out to be what his novel suggests.The story started in capital of the United Kingdom. The situation of the world was much likely centralized by a world government that is called The World State. Through the said government, the society is divided into five classes, mainly, the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon. The whole human society is characterized to be continuously happy. However, the said happiness is rigidly ill defined. It is characterized by a trained community in becoming good consumers. Everyone in the society is encouraged to do a social life, being aloof from the society is discouraged, aside form this sexualBanned Book Project page 4 promiscuousness is a social norm. Human production is also encouraged but not in a natural way. On the other hand, the gentility process happens in a laboratory wherein hybrid children are heighten and reproductions are controlled in a way that the industry could still however support the population. On another part of the story, another society is introduced. It is ascertain in New Mexico. Most likely, this society depicts the present situation of the human community, whereas there is fashion, arts and science that identifies a persons happiness.Normal reproduction is also present in the said community. The characters that came from this side of the story considered Londons advancement and happiness to be a soulless situation that is dried up by the progress of industrialization. Why the Novel Was Banned As clearly described on the previous paragraphs, the novel has been highly abandoned to picturing a an ideal society when it comes to economic status, however, when it comes to moral philosophy and individual being, the said society is thus a negative community.For this reason, the socialis ts who were competent to know the contents of the said novel feared that the society who would be able to read the said literature would be able t take a shit a negative view of the future and would consider sexual sleeping around and other immoral ways of living as a social norm. This whitethorn then lead to a social downfall when it comes to pietism and individuality. On the contrary, it could be observed that the novel has been a simple hyperbole of the actual situation of the society at present. In a unstained measurement of the social situations at present, it could be recognized that there is indeed a possibility byBanned Book Project page 5 which a future society as to that situation which was portrayed in the novel of Huxley. As it could be seen, sexual relations today are still promoted through the media. Pornography and the materials that introduce it to the society are even considered as a norm. All these are manifested by the profit driven world that exists in th e society today. In an optimistic way, the publication and the distribution of the book may have heat upn up the society as to how things major power turn out to be if they continue to thrive in a profit-focused situation.Personally, the author of this literature analysis sees the banning of the book to be an supererogatory move of the socialists. As the author views the work of Huxley as a wake up call to the human society for them to at least have time to change their ways and be more positively inclined especially when it comes to morals. Conclusion In a positive view, the novel of Huxley may be an exaggeration of the present situation in the society. However, publishing it may have caused many readers to become more aware of the changes that happen in the society and thus shift their profit-driven priorities towards a more morality-focused life.Young children may not understand the context of the novel as a whole however, devising them see the need of social change is a vita l part of ensuring a social future inclined to a more virtuously clean social view. Hence, it could be noted that banning the said novel may have been a mistaken move for the socialist groups. BIBLIOGRAPHY Aldous Huxley. (1998). Brave New World. Harper Perennial Modern Classics Reprint edition BLTC. (2005). sunny NEW WORLD ? A Defense Of Paradise-Engineering. http//www. huxley. net/. (December 1, 2006). Shakespeare Homepage. (2005). The Tempest. http//www-tech. mit. edu/Shakespeare/tempest/. (December 1, 2006).

Martin Luther King Jr and Nonviolent Resistance Essay

Letter from Birmingham Jail, the letter which Martin Luther poove jr. wrote to his fellow members of clergy composition he was imprisoned in 1963, is founded on the idea of peaceable resistance. His social movement to end injustice was not aggressive, but rather it was defensive of the handling of the Afri potty-American people during that time. The only violence that took place was the offensive pitilessness of the white moderate. Martin Luther King junior and his supporters were unprovoking in their protests, similar to the unbloody approach Mahatma Gandhi took when there was oppression in India in 1930.In adjoin of 1930, Mahatma Gandhi direct the Indian people on a satyagraha. This word has connotations of a force contained in uprightness and love, and it essentially means a unprovocative resistance (Erickson 23). The Salt March, in which Gandhi and his followers walked two hundred miles to the chute of India, ending in the town of Dandhi. They because waded into the ocean and collected the salt, and Gandhi boost the Indian people to make their own salt against government regulations (Erickson 29).This symbolize was not violent, but it did resist the unfair laws of Great Britain forbidding the Indians to fruit and sell their own salt. Gandhis love for his homeland and his people led to his fighting for their rights. He recognized the truth in the fact that the Indian people should be able to rule their own land, and it was unfair for them to be under the administration of the British government. This concept of satyagraha, a force contained in truth and love, was the spirit of his nonviolent resistance against injustice. Like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. promoted this idea of nonviolent resistance.His statement, Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity clearly states that he was in opposition to the treatment of blacks during that time (Erickson 30). However, hi s approach to this battlefield allows us to realize that resistance does not need to take the appoint of violence. People can get the point across and make changes in the world without resorting to the same inhumane behavior they are fighting to abolish. King describes himself as an extremist, at first being disappointed but then recognizing the merit of this title.He was an extremist for the right reasons, driven by truth and love as Gandhi was. He then makes the statement, So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? (Erickson 32) He is saying that we all moldiness choose what we will fight for, good or demonic, justice or injustice. We all have a choice to floor up for what is right, or to sit back and let things happen. Gandhi also taught the principle of ahisma, which is the refusal to do handicap and the duty to do good (Erickson 40). This refusal to do harm is the objection to vi olence, and choosing a more civilized method of resistance.Neither Gandhi nor King upheld violence they did not wish to harm others. Their only desire was to get rid of the evil prejudices and unjust laws that permeated their societies. Their struggle was to do what they could for the benefit of all human beings. They matte up compelled by the duty to do good, the obligation to do what so umpteen others would not. This sense of duty drove them on, reminding them what they stood for and why it was so important. This system of nonviolent resistance paid off in the end for both societies.Mahatma Gandhis movement eventually led to the liberation of India from British rule. Martin Luther King Jr. s movement led to the end of segregation of blacks and whites in the coupled States. Their peaceful approaches to their situations were not in vain, and we can learn from them. We must stand up for what is right, not necessarily fighting in a real sense, but taking into consideration what is the best way to solve the problem. We do not need to resort to violence and aggression to accomplish our goals. We can take the same approach as Gandhi and King, resisting in a nonviolent way.

Multi Decision-Makers Equalizer Essay

A multi objective and multi termination- energisers decision support musical arrangement, which finds a equilibrate tooth root among different proposals make ab initio by the decision-makers, is presented here. The software, denominated multi decision-makers equalizer, balances the interests of the different decision-makers by inducing them to accept losses in certain objectives in exchange for gains in others. The method uses neither parameters of appreciation with an in send meaning, such as the weights of relative importance, nor averages.It does non c altogether for all the tuition at the beginning of the regale, but through an iterative process of learning and exchange of information, it offers different possibilities. To begin with the decision support governance helps each decision-maker, independently, to define his preferred alternative. The alternatives defined by the decision-makers will debate then among themselves, in a collective negotiation process, in pla ce to define the final alternative to be implemented. (Drucker, 2005)In this initial represent of the process, a model named Equalizer helps each decision-maker, independently to find a non-dominated solution, in such a manner that the values achieved for the objectives are balanced according to his preferences in a similar way to that of the well-known equalizers of a music stereo component. In which, using visual aids, the decision-maker navigates over the Pareto Frontier. given(p) a point, the decision-maker can choose to improve one objective at the expense of another, increasing or diminishing the values achieved for the objectives to those he would be willing to accept.Once the new-made levels of achievements need been defined for certain objectives, the system obtains new values for the others, guaranteeing that the combination of the values achieved for the objectives is feasible and efficient (or non-dominated). This methodological analysis assists the decision-maker in the understanding of the relationships in the feasible region of the problem being analyzed. During the search, the decision-maker is presented with information such as constraints, limitations, feasibilities, and efficient interchanges. It allows the decision-maker to begin learning and instruct process and progressively to select the preferred solution.In this manner he will be able to understand the system as an interrelated one, and to determine the levels at which he must sacrifice approximately objectives in order to improve others, and to observe the consequences of possible decisions. The method allows each decision-maker to aim to the substantial group his preferred alternative. Once completed, the Multi decision-Maker Equalizer identifies the region for negotiation, which includes all the proposals, that is the part of the feasible region that envelops all the proposals, and assigns ranges of values for the objectives.The system defines a balanced solution according to these ranges as a temporary solution to the conflict. It is evaluated by all decision-makers, and if there is no agreement to the proposed solution, a new negotiation process is started. The method will allow each decision-maker, independently, to move with the system, looking for a way to impel the process toward his interests, by make sacrifices in some objectives which may not be so grand to him, but that could be very important to the others. Once the new proposals have been made, the method looks for a new agreement.The process is repeated until a definitive solution, which satisfies all the decision-makers, is reached. it is easier for a consensus to be reached. The method serves as a rapprochement mechanism, not only for the values achieved for the objectives but also for the decision-makers interests. Execution of Decisions The go on re agreement of the banks procedures and departments was fueled by a evolution understanding of the banks administration as an organic whole or system. Various organization charts, process charts, and routing diagrams documented this idea.They showed the managements insight into the fact that its internal and external products were the result of the systematic treat of data and information through the whole organization. Moreover, this insight served to align to a greater extent efficiently the direct criteria of the banks performance (with respect to reservation profit by satisfying its clients) and secondary criteria having to do with, for instance, balancing urinate speed and time taken for deliberation during the processing of actual legal proceeding by employees.As far as we can deduce from the information available, this was not explicitly aimed at in ROBAVER. The new technology was not used to allow further division of labor or to pick out employees further from decision making that would involve primary criteria. Employees were not made more automaton-like by the new technology. On the contrary, as w e noted before, the direct contact that was established between the employees and customers meant that even at the lower levels of the organization, primary criteria had to be taken into account when making decisions.Summarizing, three of the four elements we severalize have been shown to be present in the context of the reorganizations of ROBAVER in the inlet of the punched-card and other information technology. Improving the structure of the organization, and especially the communication flows, served to growth the accountability of the various departments, managers, and individual employees and also the possibilities of central management to admonisher and control the organization as a whole in pact with primary criteria.The more precise division of labor and tasks and functions of the employees at the departments allowed some measure of scientific management and the development of secondary criteria used to send the behavior of employees. However, this was done in a way th at encouraged the employees to make decisions involving, at least in part, primary criteria and taking the overall interests of the organization into account. In general, the employees were stimulated to come up with ideas useful to the organization. (Howard, & Matheson 2006)

Online Shopping: Risks and Benefits

There has long been a need for the consumer to bargain for goods with step up ever having to leave their home. The industry started with mail order catalogs such as Sears Roebuck that offered consumers the convenience to order goods without having to travel a long remoteness to follow through what was available. The catalog offered everything from clothing to toys, and even farming equipment that made it easier for early American families to procure goods without having to travel to a city possibly hundreds of miles away. The industry has adopt a long way since the golden years of the Sears catalog.When the ad hominem learning processing system was invented in 1976 people were astonished at its power. After later information and the PC went on the market place for all(prenominal) Americans to purchase, it couldnt do much than to a not bad(p)er extent than word processing and simplified record keeping, but when the PC was connected to the World Wide Web in 1989, the pe rsonal data processor began to become a household stop. The World Wide Web or better write outn simply as the internet, allowed users to access files, information, pictures, video, expose online, and ofttimes more.The internet connects a personal computing device to servers which connect computers from all slightly the world. Despite danger, the benefits of online obtain can outweigh the risks. Ever since the invention of the personal computer and the World Wide Web, consumers have become more and more eager to shop online. Shopping online can give a salient advantage to many people. Shopping online as well as has many risks and disadvantages that could arguably friction match or outweigh the benefits. When p arnts spoke of going obtain 20 years ago, it meant set down ready and get in the car.Today, it can mean both to get ready to go close towhere or go to the computer and get your credit control board ready. Most people shop online for the convenience. Customers n ever have to leave their home and can do all of their obtain from the living room couch, which eliminates crowds, stress and the forsaken checkout line. A nonher convenience is that a web situation can non turn out its lights and lock the door. Online stores in the US and Canada are also forever and a day open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The customer never has to worry approximately acquiring to a store before it closes, or waiting for it to open.This makes online shopping, to nigh people, the most convenient form of shopping (Hobbs). Another advantage of shopping online is that it allows customers to shop or browse through many contrastive categories of items. The internet also allows people to shop from places located hundreds of miles away and even around the world. If person needs something from across the country that is not available in their area, it is more efficient to order online rather than traveling a owing(p) distance to purchase the item (Ho bbs).Shopping online is also faster and simpler than using a mail order catalog. It is easy to find except about anything you sine qua non to buy online versus getting in a car and driving to many stores while having to worry about things like finding a place spot, burning fuel, and navigating through traffic only to look at items you may or may not be interested in at a brick and mortar store (Fabiola). Online shoppers are also less pliable to impulse items. Every item found in a retail store is strategically placed to maximize sales in that detail store (Romeo).For example, at home watching television and all of the jerky the screen goes black because the dog just chewed the cable to the TV. A get away to the nearest retail store is required just to purchase a replacement cable. Retailers often strategically place items with enticing prices which could easily feed to the customer coming home with a new TV and not a replacement cable that would have fixed your old one. Th is is a good example of impulse shopping. This is what retail stores want customers to do.They fill cobblers last caps and stack-bases with products they know customers leave buy if they are visible but are not a planned purchase. Shopping online takes most of that away. There arent shelves to place impulse items on for customers to see on their way in or way out of the door. The customer can click on what they need, purchase it, and be finished. When customers shop online, it is far easier to compare prices at different online stores than it is to compare prices of retail stores. When shopping online one can browse seamlessly come in after site and even tab between different online stores with just the press of a button.When comparing prices from retail and outlet stores, it means feeling at sales papers and going from store to store to escape down that great deal which can consume a great deal of time (Hobbs). Many people have been skeptical about shopping online. With its be nefits, also come great risks and disadvantages. One of the most car park problems with shopping online is security. When get an item off the internet, it is important to know that the site is secure (Snowdon). Personal information such as credit card numbers, addresses, and even personal computers need to be protected from any eccentric person of threat.There are sites that are built specifically just to phish information like email addresses, usernames, and passwords therefore, when consumers want to make a purchase online, they really have to trust the site and know it is secure and that their information is not at risk. Another disadvantage of shopping online is that it is not a hands-on purchase. Customers like to see and hold what they are buying in person. When shopping online, there is an image of the product, but the box cannot be opened to be sealed it isnt damaged.When there is a picture of the item, its more than likely not the exact one you will receive (Jessica). F or example, when purchasing a flavoured candle or even a nursing bottle of perfume online, it is impossible to test the scent. Some sites offer sample scent cards that can be sent through the mail to be sure you like what you are ordering, but they dont unremarkably offer that unless you are making a large purchase. Frequent online shoppers know all about expedited shipping. This is one of the most dreaded downfalls of online shopping. When purchasing an item at a retail store, it goes with the customer when the transaction is complete.The clerk puts the purchase in a bag and the customer walks out the door and goes home. When shopping online, there is almost never an instance where one can get the purchase the same day unless there is in-store pickup from a major(ip) retail store thats nearby with the item already in stock. Prices are usually cheaper online, but shipping cost always has to be factored in to the total. Sometimes online merchants offer free shipping on items over a certain amount, but most likely the customer will have to conduct some sort of shipping cost. Then, there is always the wait.Depending on shipping specifications, delivery could be the next day if you pay extra, but usually shipping takes one to four weeks depending on the coat of the item and the company who delivers it (Chits). I recall that online shopping will parent for years to come. It is getting safer and harder for hackers to break into online sites. Shopping online is more convenient for some items like electronics, car parts, office supplies, and other items that may just cark someone to go out for or for and item that may not be available in your area, but I also believe that shopping online will never replace the old fashioned retail store.Customers will always want to try on their jeans to make sure they fit before they purchase them, and see what is new on the market every time they go out. People love to go out and shop. They love the experience, even though some people would disagree. But, how would you feel if you did all of your shopping online? Never going to a store and never and seeing the actual item they are buying. You would get tired of sending things sand and not getting what you thought you were buying. Online shopping is definitely a great shopping tool but all that glitters is not gold.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 41

Stefan didnt move or direct for spacious flakes. Elenas taket swelled. on the spur of the moment she was as afraid as he clearly was. She went to him and in additionk both his hands, which were shaking.Darling, dont cry, she sent. There must still be judgment of conviction to save Fells Church. There must. It bunst end this management. And besides, Shinichi is g angio hug drugsin converting enzyme We female genitals perish to the children we do-nothing break the conditioning She stopped. It was as if the word conditioningechoed in her ears. Stefans kelvin eyes were fil ing her vision. Her mind was redeemtingit was getting fuzzy. E precisething was sightly unreal once again. In a minute she wouldnt be able toShe wrenched her eyes away, breathing hard.You were Influencing me,she verbalise. She could hear the anger in her own vocalize.Yes,Stefan whispered. Ive been Influencing you for half an hour.How d ar you? Elena thought, honourable for him.Im halt it straightaway ,Stefan said quietly.As am I, a spote added, sounding exhausted.And the universe did a s number 1 spin and Elena remembered what it was that they were al keeping from her.With a wacky sob, she rose, distri andion intuitive feeling step to the fore all overlets, coming to her feet wish an avenging goddess. She looked at acute. She looked at Stefan.And Stefan proved how queer he was, how much he love her. He t venerable her what she already knew. Damon is g wiz, Elena. Im so puritanical. Im sorry ifif I kept you from being with him as much as you valued to. Im sorry if I came between you. I didnt understand how much you loved to each one early(a). I do now.And whence he dropped his face into his hands.Elena cute to go to him. To scold him, to hold him. To tel Stefan that she loved him dear as much, drop for drop, grain for grain. scarcely her bole had gone numb, and the darkness was threatening againal she could do was hold come come forward of the closet her arm s as she dead set(p) onto the grass. And indeed nighhow f var.(a) and Stefan were both there, the three of them al bastard Elena with the intensity of new discoin truth Stefan with a lost sound that Elena had n constantly comprehend before and middling with a dry, wrenching exhaustion that perceivemed to compulsion to shatter her smal body. m lost al meaning. Elena pauperizationed to grieve for each moment of Damons painful death, and for ever soy moment of his conduct, too. So much had been lost. She couldnt get her show around it, and she didnt want to do anything hardly cry until the harming darkness took her mind again.That was when rational broke.He grabbed Elena and pul ed her up, and shook her by the shoulders. It snapped her head back and forth.Your town is in ruinshe shouted, as if this was her fault.Midnight whitethorn or may not bring disaster. Oh, yes, I saw it al in your mind when I went in to Influence you. Little Fel s Church is already devastated. And you wont compensite maintain for itSomething blazed done Elena. It melted the numbness, the iciness. Yes, Il fight for itshe screamed. Il fight for it with either breath in my body, until I stop the the great unwashed who did it, or until they kil meAnd how, puis-je savoir, wil you get back in conviction? By the fourth dimension you walk back the way you came, it wil al be overStefan was beside her, refreshed her, shoulder to shoulder. hence wel force you to send us or so otherwise way so that we passel get back in timeElena stared. No. No. Stefan couldnt nonplus said that. Stefan didnt force his way and she wouldnt have him changing himself. She whirled back on discerning. Theres no need to fight I have a Master Key in my backpack, and magic deeds here inside the Gatehouseshe cried. just now Stefan and sage were staring each other down, each fierce and intent. Elena wanted to go to Stefan but the world was doing another(prenominal) of its slow somersaults. She w as afraid that Sage would attack Stefan, and that she couldnt regular fight for him. still sooner, suddenly, Sage threw back his head and laughed wildly. Or perhaps it was something between thunderous express mirth and crying. It was as eerie as the sound of a wildcat well baying, and Elena felt reasonables smal , trembling body hug her to comfort both of them.What the hel Sage type B owed, and now there was a wild look in his eyes, too. Mais oui, what the Hell?He laughed again. After al , I am the Gatekeeper, and I have already broken the rules by al owing you through two different doors.Stefan was Stillbreathing hard. Now he reached out and grabbed Sage by his broad shoulders and shook him with the strong suit of a vampire gone mad. What are you talking astir(predicate)? Theres no time for talkAh, but there is, mon ami. My friend, there is. What you need is the fire actor of the heavens to save Fel s Church and to divulge the damage that has already been done. To wipe i t out, to confuse it as if it had neer happened.And,Sage added deliberately, smell directly at Elena,perhaps just perhaps to divulge this days events, also.Suddenly every inch of Elenas skin was tingling. Her whole body was earshot to Sage, leaning toward him, yearning, succession her eyes widened with the still other question that mattered.Sage said, very softly, very triumphantly, Yes. They can bestow life upon the dead. They have that Power. They can bring back mon petit tyran Damon as they brought you back.Stefan and Bonnie were holding Elena up. She couldnt stand on her own.But why would they help?she whispered painful y. She wouldnt al ow herself even a breath of rely, not until she understood everything.In ex lurch for what was stolen from them international nautical mile ennia ago,Sage replied. You are in a fortress of Hel , you know.That is what the Gatehouse is. The Guardians cannot enter here. They cannot wedge the gate and demand back what is insidethe seven pardon, now half dozen kitsune treasures.Not a breath of hope. Not a breath. But Elena heard herself give a wild laugh.How do we give them a putting putting surface? Or a line of business of minacious roses?We give them the rights to the land that the lay and the field of roses lie upon.Not a breath, even though the bodies on either side of Elena were shaking now. And how do we offer them the Fountain of constant Youth and Life?We do not. However, I have here motley containers, waiting to be col ected as garbage. The threat of a gal on bottle of La Fontaine randomly spread al over your acresthat would devastate them. And, of course,Sage added, I know the kinds of gems with enchantments already upon them that they would intimately desire. Here, let me open the doors al at once We take al we can the rooms, strip them bareHis enthusiasm was contagious. Elena half- glowering, breath held, eyes widened to make up the first glowing of a doors light.Wait.Stefans voice was ha rd suddenly. Bonnie and Elena turned back and froze, embracing each other, trembling.What is your your father loss to do to you when he brings out that you al owed this?He wil not kil me,Sage said brusquely, the wild tone back in his voice. He may even find it as amusant as I do, and we wil be sharing a bel y laugh tomorrow.And if he doesnt find it amusing? Sage, I dont speak upDamon wouldnt have wanted Sage whirled around and for the first time since she had met him, Elena could reckon with her whole soul that he was the son of his father. His eyes had even seemed to change emblazon, to the yel ow of a flame, with rhomb pupils like a cats. His voice was like steel splintering, harder even than Stefans. What is between my father and me is my own business exploit apprehension here if you want. He never bothers himself most vampires, anyway he says theyre utter already. But I am going to do everything I can to bring mon cheri Damon back.Whatever the cost to you?The hel with the costTo Elenas surprise, Stefan gripped Sages shoulders for a moment and then simply hugged as much of him as he could hold.I just wanted to make sure,he said quietly. Thank you, Sage. Thank you.Then he turned and strode over to the Royal Radhika plant, and with one yank, pul ed it out of its bower.Elena, heart beating in her lips and throat and fingertips, ran to gather the empty containers and bottles Sage was tossing out of a ninth doorway that had appeared in between the mine shaft and the field of black roses. She snatched up a gal on container and an Evian water system bottle, both with secure caps intact. They were made of p remainderic, which was good, because she dropped them both just going across the room to the bubbling fountain. Her hands were shaking that badly and al the time she was sending up a monotonous prayer, Oh, please. Oh, please. Oh, pleaseShe got water into both containers at the Fountain and capped them. And then she realized that Bonnie was Stills tanding in the inwardness of the Gatehouse. She looked bewildered, frightened.Bonnie?Sage?Bonnie said. How do we get these things to the heavenly Court to bargain with them?Have no worries,Sage said kindly. I am certain that Guardians wil be waiting just extraneous to arrest us. They wil take us to the Court.Bonnie didnt stop trembling, but she nodded and speed to help Sage get bottles of Black Magic and break them. A symbol,he said. Un signe of what we wil do to this area if the ethereals dont agree. Be careful not to cut your pretty hands. Elena thought she heard Bonnies husky voice then, and that it was not a happy tone. But Sages rumbling murmur was reassuring. And Elena would neither al ow herself to hope nor despair. She had a task in hand, a scheme. She was making private Plans for the Celestial Court.When she and Bonnie had al the plunder they could carry, and their backpacks were ful as Well, when Stefan had two narrow black boxes that held deeds, and when Sage looked like a cross between Santa Claus and a bronzed, gorgeous, hirsute Hercules, as he carried two sacks made of pil ow trips, they gave one last look around at the ravaged Gatehouse.All right,Sage said then. Time to face the Guardians.He smiled reassuringly at Bonnie.As usual, Sage was right. The moment they came out with their booty, Guardians from two different dimensions were ready for them. The first type were the ones who looked mistily like Elena blond hair, dark soft eyes, slender. The Guardians of the Nether World seemed precedential to these, and were lithe women with skin so dark it was around ebony, and hair that change surface tightly in a cap over their heads. Behind them were bril iant well-off air cars.You are under arrest,one of the dark ones said, not looking as if she enjoyed her job, for removing treasures that rightful y cash in ones chips to the Celestial Court out of the sanctuary where it was agreed that they would be kept, under the laws of both our dimen sions.And then it was only when a matter of hanging on to the lucky air cars while hanging on at the same time to their unlawful booty.The Celestial Court wascelestial. Pearly white with a faint hint of blue. Minarets. It was a long distance from the heavily guarded gate where Elena had seen a 3rd type of Guardian, one with short red hair and slanted, piercing green eyes to the actual palace, which seemed to encompass a city.But it was when Elenas group was command to the canful room that the real culture shock hit. It was far big and far more glorious than any room Elena had ever imagined. No bal or gala in the Dark Dimensions could have prepared her in the to the lowest degree for it. The cathedral ceiling seemed to be made entirely of gold, as were the double line of stately columns that marched vertical y across the degree. The floor itself was of intricately patterned malachite and gold-threaded lapis lazuli, with gold seemingly used as grouting and with a heavy han d at that. The three golden fountains in the middle of the room (the central one was the largest and most elaborate) threw into the air not water, but delicately perfumed inflorescence petals that sparkled like diamonds in turning at their apex and then floated down again. Stained-glass windows in bril iant colors that Elena couldnt remember ever having seen before threw rainbow light like a benediction from high on every wal , giving warmth to the otherwise cool engraved gold.Sage and Elena and Stefan and Bonnie were seated in smal comfortable chairs just a few feet back from a great dais, draped with a fantastical y woven golden cloth. The treasures were spread out in front of them, as attendants dressed in flowing blue and gold took the objects one by one up to the current ruling triumvirate in back.The rulers comprised one each of the groups of Guardians fair, dark, redheaded. Their seats on the dais ensured that they were far from and high above their petitioners. But with Power sent to her eyes, Elena could see perfectly well that they each sat on an exquisitely jeweled golden throne. that they each sat on an exquisitely jeweled golden throne.They were speaking softly together, admiring the Royal Radhika flower blue delphiniums at the moment. Then the dark one smiled and sent one of her attendants running for a pot with soil for the plant to survive in.Elena stared sightlessly at the other treasures. A gal on of water from the Fountain of unceasing Youth and Life. Six bottles of unbroken Black Magic wine, and the shards of at least that many around them. A blazing rainbow to rival the stained-glass windows in fist-sized gems, some raw, some already faceted and polished, but most of them not only faceted, but also hand-carved with mysterious gold or silver inscriptions. cardinal long, black, velvet-lined boxes with yel owing cylinders of papyrus or paper inside them, one with a pure black rose lying next to it, and the other with a simple spray of l ight springtime-green leaves. Elena knew what the yel owed documents with their cracked waxen seals were. The deeds to the field of black roses and the kitsune paradise.When you saw al the treasures together like this, it almost seemed too much, Elena thought. Any one object from any one of the Seven no, now Six kitsune Treasures was enough to trade worlds for. One sprig of the Royal Radhika, which was even now being returned, (pink larkspur changing to a white orchid) properly embed again, was immeasurably precious. So was a single velvety black rose, with its power to hold the most powerful of magics. One jewel from the hoard in the mining cavern, maybe a double-fist-sized diamond that put the Star of Africa and the princely Jubilee to shame. One day in the kitsune paradise, where a day could seem like a perfect lifetime. One sip of that effervescent water that could make a merciful live as long as the oldest one-time(a) OneOf course there should also have been the largest s tar bal in existence, ful of eldritch Power, but Elena was hoping that the Guardians would overlook that.Hoping? She wondered and shook her head at nothing, causing Bonnie to squeeze her hand tightly. Not hoping. She didnt dare hope. Not a breath yet.Another attendant, red-haired, flashing them a cold distrustful look, picked up the plastic gal on bottle that said Sector 3 Water on the label. Sage rumbled as she left, Quest-ce qui lui prend? I mean, what is her problem? I like the water in the vampire sector. I dont like the centre water in the Nether World.Elena had already figured out the color code for the Guardians. The blond ones were al business, impatient only with delays. The dark ones were the kindest maybe there was less work for them to do in the Nether World. The green-eyed redheads were just plain bitchy. Unfortunately, the young woman on the central throne up there on the dais was a redhead.Bonnie?she whispered.Bonnie had to gulp and sniff before she could get out, Yes?Have I ever told you how much I like your eyes?Bonnie gave her a long brown-eyed gaze before beginning to shake with jest. At least it started out like laughter, and then Bonnie burrowed her head into Elenas shoulder and simply shook.Stefan squeezed Elenas hand. Shes been exhausting so hard for you. She she loved him too, you see. I didnt even know that. I guessI guess Ive just been blind on al sides.He ran his free hand through his already-tousled hair. He looked very young, like a little boy who had been suddenly punished for doing something he hadnt been told was wrong. Elena remembered him in the backyard of the boardinghouse, dancing with her feet on his feet, and then in his attic room, kissing her hands, her knucks bruised with hammering, the pulsing inside of her wrists. She wanted to tel him that everything was going to be All right, that the laughter would come back to his eyes, but she couldnt stand the chance of lying to him.Suddenly Elena felt like a very, very old woman, who could hear and see only dimly, whose every movement caused her terrible pain, and who was cold inside. Her every formulate and every bone was fil ed with ice.At last, when al the treasures, including a sparkling, diamond-set, golden Master Key, had been taken up for the young women on the thrones to handle, heft, examine, and discuss, a warm-eyed dingy woman came to Elenas group. You may approach Their High Judgments now.And,she added in a voice as soft as the stroke of a get behindonflys wing, they are very, very impressed. That doesnt often happen. Speak meekly and keep your heads low and I cipher you shal have your heartsdesires.Something inside Elena gave a bound that would have sent her dancing to clutch at the retreating attendants robe, but fortunately Stefan had her in an embrace of iron. Bonnies head came off Elenas shoulder, and Elena had to restrain her, in turn.They walked, the very portrait of meekness, to where four orange red cushions blazed against the golden weave of the floor cloth. Once, Elena would have refused to abase herself.Now, she was thankful for a soft resting place for her knees.This close, she could see that the rulers each wore a circlet of some metal, from which a single stone hung on to her forehead.We have considered your petition,the dark one said, her white-gold circlet with its diamond pendant dazzling Elena with pinpricks of lilac and red and royal blue. Oh, yes,she added, laughing. We know what you want. charge a Guardian on the street would have to be very bad at her job not to know. You want your townrenewed. The fire buildings rebuilt. The victims of the malach pestilence re-created, their souls swathed again in flesh, and their memories But, first,interrupted the fair one, waving a hand, dont we have business at hand? This girl Elena Gilbert may not be eligible to be a spokesman for her group. If she becomes a Guardian, she doesnt belong with the petitioners.The redhead tossed her head like an impatient fil y, causing the rose gold of her circlet to flash, and its ruby to shimmer.Oh, go on then, Ryannen. If your recruitment levels are so low The businesslike fair one ignored this, but bent forward, some of her hair held back from her face by her circlet of yel ow gold with its sapphire pendant. What about it, Elena?I know our first encounter was unfortunate. You must believe that I am sorry for that. But you were well on your way to becoming a ful Guardian when we had orders from Above to weave you into a new body so that you could take up your life as a human again.You did that? Of course you did.Elenas voice was soft and low and flattering. You can do anything. But our first encounter? I dont remember You were too young, and you saw just a flash of our air car as it passed your parentsvehicle. It was meant to be a minor accident with one apparent possibility you. But insteadBonnies hands flew to her mouth. She was clearly getting something Elena wasnt. Her parents vehicle? The last time shed impelled with her father and mother and little Margaret had been the day of the crash. The day shed distracted her father, whod been operateLook, Daddy Look at the pretty And then had come the impact.Elena forgot about being meek and keeping her head low. In fact, she raised her head, and met gold-splattered blue eyes very much like hers. Her own gaze, she knew, was piercing and hard.You killed my parents?she whispered.No, nothe dark one cried. It was an operation gone sour.We only had to intersect with the Earth dimension for a few minutes. But, quite unexpectedly, your talent flared. You saw our air car. Instead of a crash with only one apparent casualty you, your father turned to look andSlowly her voice trailed off as Elenas turned unbelieving eyes on her.Bonnie was staring sightlessly into the distance, almost as if she were in trance. Shinichi,she breathed. That weird riddle of his or whatever it was. That one of us had murdered, and that it w as nothing to do with being a vampire or a mercy kil ingId always assumed it was me,Stefan said quietly. My mother never real y recovered after my birth. She died.But that doesnt make you a murdererElena cried. Not like me. Not like me Well, that was why I was asking you now,the businesslike blond woman said. It was a flawed mission, but you understand that we were only trying to recruit you, yes? Its the traditional method. Our genes have honed us to be the best at managing powerful, irrational demons, who dont respond to traditional strength but require on-the-spot recalculation Elena choked back a scream. A scream of wrath agony disbelief guilt she didnt know what. Her Plans. Her schemes. The way she had handled boisterous boys in the bad old days it was al genetic. Andher parentswhat had they died for?Stefan stood up. His chitchat was hard, his green eyes were burning bril iantly. There was no gentleness in his face. He clasped Elenas hand and she heard, If you want to f ight, Im in.Mais, non. Elena turned around and saw Sage. His extrasensory voice was unmistakable. She was compel ed to listen. We cannot fight them on their own ground and win. even up I cannot. What you can do is make them pay Elena, my brave one, your parentsspirits have undoubtedly found new homes. It would be cruel to drag them back. But let us demand of the Guardians anything you desire. For a year and a day in the past, demand whatever you wish I think back that we all will back you.Elena paused. She looked at the Guardians and she looked at the treasures. She looked at Bonnie and Stefan, who were waiting. There was permission in their eyes.Then she said slowly to the Guardians, This is really going to cost you. And I dont want to hear that any of it is impossible. For al your treasures back and the Master Key tooI want my old life. No, I want a new life, with my real old life behind me. I want to be Elena Gilbert, exactly as if Id receive with my high school class, and I want to go to Dalcrest Col ege. I want to wake up in my aunt Judiths house in the morning and find that no one realizes Ive been gone for almost ten months. And I want a 4.5 grade point average for my last year in high school just in case of emergencies.And I want Stefan to have lived in the boardinghouse peaceful y al that time, and to have everyone accept him as my boyfriend. And I want every single thing that Shinichi and Misao and whoever they were working for did reverse and forgotten. I want the soul they were working for dead. And I want everything that Klaus did in Fel s Church undone as well. I want Sue Carson back I want Vickie Bennett back I want everyone back Bonnie said faintly, Even Mr. Tanner?Elena understood. If Mr. Tanner had not died mysteriously drained of blood then Alaric Saltzman would never have been cal ed to Fel s Church. Elena remembered Alaric from the out-of-body experience sandy hair, laughing hazel eyes.She thought of Meredith and his almost-engage ment to her.But who was she to play God? To say, yes, this person can die because he was unlovely and unloved, but this one has to live because she was my friend.