Knowledge Is Power Essay Example for Free

Knowledge Is Power Essay Knowledge is Power, but knowledge does not always come with power. Knowledge is the state of awareness or understanding gained from experience or study learning specific information about something. This means a person has the resourcefulness to obtain and criticize useful and informative information in order to become well informed citizens who can make intelligent decisions based upon their understanding and awareness of everyday situations. Does this make them powerful? Is a question that creeps into ones mind? Well, power is said to be the ability or capacity to act or perform effectively. Without knowledge, how can this ability to perform effectively, be possible? Indeed, it cannot. This proves that knowledge is very much a necessity to gain Power. Education is the key to success is one of the sayings that one hears throughout their college life. It is invariably true that every person who is knowledgeable leads a successful life. Education plays an important role in promoting a nations economic growth, as well. When you look at Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s rise to power during the past war era it is easy as well as trivial to attribute it to the abundance of natural resources and surplus number of new inventions. But, really we must consider how those inventions came about and how those natural resources were utilized to a productive end. More importantly than what made America the most powerful country in the world is why it became the most powerful country. It wasn’t luck, or coincidence or the fact that they had abundant resources but because they laid a firm foundation for their people by educating them and making them valuable members of the society who could meet the demands of the competing world. Investment in higher education is worthwhile because how much you spend on it right now definitely will make up for the amount it makes you gain later in life.

High Speed Internet Access Information Technology Essay

High Speed Internet Access Information Technology Essay Computer technologies have evolved new generation in the system of life. Almost in everywhere the computer technologies has been used for several purposes. Even the smallest organizations are depending on the computer technologies to operate most of their activities. One of the most important computer technologies is the computer networking, which provides many advantages. Nowadays, the computer networking becomes very useful to share the information easily. As you know , the computer networking are used in the active organizations, but lately even the small houses have got a home networks. Home network can be two or more computers are connected to each other to share some functions. Having a network are so useful for many reasons such as, hardware sharing. The users on network can use one hardware at the same time instead of using more than one. For example, if we have more than one computer at home we can use one printer base on our home network. Not only does a home net work provi de the ability to share resources found locally , but the fact that the home network can be connected to other networks. Most home networks, big or small, are also now connected to the global network which is the internet. A high-speed Internet connection is suitable in order to connect all computers on the home network to the Internet. There are many different types of internet connection. The three primary ways for home users to obtain a fast connection to the Internet are Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL), cable, and satellite. DSL is provided by telephone companies, cable is provided by cable TV companies, and satellite connections are provided by satellite TV providers. DSL shares the same phone line as the telephone service, but it uses a different part of the phone lines bandwidth. It does not interfere with normal phone service because there is a significant amount of unused capacity in current phone wires. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, including the minimum and maximum speed of Internet access, cost, and availability. I am going to make an active home network in our resident place ,which is located in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil , Savanna condo block A, 13th floor. This network will be used for many purposes such as using one internet subscription and one printer as well by more than one user. Besides that, I will take the advantages of transferring Data between the network users. As I am going to have a home network for six users or more, I have to pass through some steps. Firstly, I should know which types of internet connection are available and get the information about them. Secondly, according to the information that I will get, I am going to decide and choose one of the internet connections which has suitable costs and speed. Then I will apply to get the chosen connection. After that, I will choose the way to connect the users of the networks which rather will be wireless connecting and cables at the same time, which means I have to provide a wireless router and switch. Finally, as it is ment ioned above, I need to get a printer to be used by the all the network users. If we could make these steps done we will have a useful home network to achieve the particular purposes that I mentioned before, obviously after we implement it correctly. High Speed Internet Access: * Digital Subscriber Line (DSL):- The telephone system in this country has been around for more than a fifty years. And when you think about the actual physical infrastructure that make up the telephone system , you can see why it made sense and still makes sense to take advantage of the long distance of copper wire to connect computers at different sites. The telephone system is a switched network. This means that as a connection is established on the telephone systems network, it can be switched along different paths. For example, when you make a phone call, your voice communication does not necessarily move along the same route, even though you dial the same phone number when you call a particular person. As far as the transfer of data is concerned, the telephone system offers more than one possibility for moving information from source destination. This includes dial- up connection, dedicated lease line, and different switching technologies. One of the newest technologies for data transfer over the telephone system is Digital Subscriber Line. Digital Subscriber Line DSL is one of several popular broadband internet connectivity options. -Types of DSL: DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line.   Your basic high-speed connection that shares space with your phone line. ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.   Has a slower upstream (upload speed) and a faster downstream (download speed).   Ideal for personal use like e-mail or surfing the Web. HDSL stands for High bit-rate DSL.   Has a modem on either end of one or more twisted pairs of wires that delivers T1 speeds.   This method requires two phone lines. IDSL stands for Integrated DSL.   IDSL combines ISDN transmission coding and ISDN channels on one circuit.   There are no dial up or per-call fees.   This is a better option for subscribers that may live too far for regular DSL. VDSL stands for Very high bit-rate DSL.   It offers the highest speeds in DSL connections right now.   At present, this method is only being used for limited commercial use.   DSL providers hope to make this form of DSL more common in the future. SDSL stands for Single Line DSL.   SDSL is symmetric, which means that information can be carried upstream and downstream at the same rate. How DSL works: DSL works with a twisted pair of copper wires, just like the kind that connects to your telephone from the telephone company. When you make a DSL connection, your normal phone line becomes the medium for all of your voice conversations and your Internet data requests.   Just like in a cable connection, the line is shared by the two connections and the information is kept separate, so that signals do not cross. The equipments that we need to get DSL connection: A modem (also known as a transceiver) on the subscribers side, this hooks up the computer to the phone line and processes all information and data. In more details, computers work with digital information, the digital data that is, the ones (1) and zeros (0) must be converted so that it can be carried by the analog phone line. This conversation from digital information to analog information is called modulation. When analog information is received on the modem connected to the destination computer, the data must be converted from analog back to digital. This process is called demodulation. You can see that the name for these devices, modem, is taken from modulation and demodulation. Access Multiplexer on the service providers side, stands for DSL Access Multiplexer and it takes requests from many customers and sends them into a single connection to the Internet. DSL filter a filter is sometimes used to separate the information coming from voice conversations and from the Internet.   All signals fewer than 4 KHz are voice signals, everything over 4 KHz is Internet data either being uploaded or downloaded.   The filter acts as a barrier so that signals never cross. Advantages and disadvantages of DSL: 1- Advantages of DSL: There are many advantages DSL such as:- DSL offers a fast connection. DSL allows you to use an open Internet connection and use your telephone line for phone calls at the same time. DSL speed is typically a lot faster than a traditional modem and doesnt require new wiring. Actually you can use the phone line that you have already installed in your home to get DSL up and running. You will be able to download and upload files faster. 2- Disadvantages of DSL: surely, there are disadvantages to anything as is the case with DSL:- The closer you are to the central office of the DSL provider the better your connection will work. For example, if your location is far away you may get more problems of connecting using DSL line. Typically connection speeds are faster when receiving information and data than when sending data using a DSL connection. DSL internet providers in KL: There are many available DSL service providers in KL: * TIME Broadband: Broadband Internet is high speed Internet access with speeds greater than 256Kbps. Costs and speeds of TIME Broadband: Features HomeNET 256 HomeNET 384 HomeNET Pro* Download Speed 256kbps 384kbps 448kbps Upload Speed 256kbps 384kbps 448kbps Monthly Charge RM 78 RM 98 RM 138 One-Time Installation RM 120 RM 120 RM 120 (Author/ unknown, Timebroadband.time.net.my, 2009) The coverage of TIME Broadband: Buildings Postcode Casa Vista Condominium 50480 Mont Kiara Astana 50480 Mont Kiara Mozart Tower 50480 Mont Kiara Damai 50480 Mont Kiara Palma 50480 Mont Kiara Pelangi 50480 Mont Kiara Pines 50480 Mont Kiara Sophia 50480 Sri Wangsaria Condominium 50480 Straits Court Condominium 75050 Suasana Sentral Condo 50470 (Author/ unknown, Timebroadband.time.net.my, 2009) * Giga broadband: Its another DSL technology known as Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) provides an incredible amount of bandwidth, with speeds up to about 54 megabits per second (Mbps). VDSL Network Sdn Bhd is ready to bring Giga broadband using VDSL technology to the end users to enjoy true broadband speed running internet applications such as business portal, video on demand, voice over broadband, video game and other contents that require high bandwidth. Costs and speeds of giga broadband: residential    (Author/ unknown, Vdslnetwork.com, 2009) The coverage buildings: AsiaLife Building Avenue K Bangunan MBSA, Shah Alam Casa Vista Condominium Chulan Tower Crowne Plaza Empire Tower Hotel Istana Kenanga International, KL Kompleks Antarabangsa KUB.Com Lee Rubber Mahsa College (Author/ unknown, Vdslnetwork.com, 2009) * TM streamyx: Streamyx is Malaysias premier broadband provider, hooking up Malaysians nationwide with the fast-paced online world. The bandwidth provided by Streamyx gives you an unsurpassed Internet experience. Audio and video stream consistently. And youre easily kept abreast with the complex applications and heavy websites that are now in vogue. With Streamyx broadband well be able to: perpetually online enjoying unlimited usage for a fixed rate, and Downloading data at lightning speeds of up to 4.0Mbps! Costs and speeds: Package Download Speed Upload Speed Monthly Price Streamyx 384kbps 384kbps 128kbps RM20 for 10hrs additional usage: 5 sen/min (without modem) Streamyx 512kbps 512kbps 256kbps RM44 for 60hrs additional usage: 1 sen/min (without modem) RM66 (without modem) RM77 (with modem) Streamyx 1.0Mbps 1.0Mbps 384kbps RM88 (without modem) RM99 (with modem) Streamyx 2.0Mbps 2.0Mbps 384kbps RM188 (with modem) Streamyx 4.0Mbps 4.0Mbps 512kbps RM268 (with modem) (Author/ unknown, streamyx.com.my, 2009) The coverage of TM streamyx: You can check if your area is under the coverage or not by these ways: -By going to this website: (http://www.streamyx.com.my) By SMS Message: STXFIXED LINE NUMBER (e.g.: STX 0355195560) Send it in to 33535 And wait for the reply Comparison between the three mentioned service providers: Referring to our case (home network for five users) we should have an internet connection with accomplishment of speed at least 2 Mbps, so that, we are not going to consider TIME Broadband because it does not accomplish the speed that we need in our home network. The attached table shows the comparison according to our needs of our home network. Service provider Speed Monthly costs Availability TM streamyx 2.0Mbps RM188 (with modem) Available in our building Giga broadband 2.0Mbps RM148 (with modem) Unavailable in our building As you can see in the table there is only choice, which is TM streamyx, because its the only available provider we can get in our building. Beside that, it is considered as the most known DSL provider in Malaysia. *Cable internet:- Cable Internet is one of the most used ways of having an internet connection. Cable broadband Internet allows you to have a connection that delivers considerably faster speeds than other types of internet connection without effecting with your ability to make and receive telephone calls. A lot of people prefer Cable Internet to other internet options, such as DSL, because it works the same wiring already used to provide cable television in their resident places. This typically makes installation easier and faster. According to the information mentioned, we can define cable internet as high speed Internet access through a cable line provides the customer with high speed data without using a telephone line. How cable internet works: Cable Internet works same as cable television works. Cable providers use a transportation of backbone optic wires to transfer television channels. These same lines are used to connect the user to the Internet. This is possible because each wire actually consists of multiple channels. Most of these channels are used for television transmission, but some are booked for data and information transfer. Those channels are used for accessing the Internet and separate ones are used for uploading and downloading. The speed, in part, depends upon the number of channels made available for users. The transmissions go to the cable providers local data center. This center is considered as the main port for all of the television and data transmissions for this particular area. From here, the transmissions will be sent out along the fiber optic lines to the Local Node Box. This box collects transmissions for all of the households in this particular area. Since you only have one wire getting cable into your home, it will need to be supplied so that one part can connect to your cable television receiver while the other goes into your cable modem. You will also need an Ethernet card if your computer does not already have one. When your cable modem receives the Internet transmission, it translates it into Ethernet data which will be converted by the Ethernet card into information your computer can understand. The process is also used when you send data from your computer to the Internet. http://www.internetservicedeals.com/faqs/cable-internet cable_setup2 (Author/ unknown, electricinternet.com, 2009) As a summary we can get cable internet connection if we have these equipments -Equipments that we need in order to have cable internet connection: TV cable (the main source). Supplier (to make the cable wire split into two parts, one connected to TV and another connected to cable modem). Cable modem (translate Internet transmission into Ethernet data). Ethernet card (convert the Ethernet data into understandable information). Advantages and disadvantages of cable internet: 1- Advantages of cable internet: Cable internet service is always working and you can watch your TV channels while you are connecting to the internet. It is much faster than dial-up service. Cable internet service can use the cable outlet you already have at your home or business. A Cable Modem is typically supplied to you by your Cable internet provider. The distance between you and your internet provider will not affect your internet speed. 2- Disadvantages of cable internet: Cable internet service is shared between you and other people on your network segment. Cable internet service is not symmetrical in that the upload (send) internet speed is slower than the download (receive) internet speed. Cable internet service is not available everywhere. -Cable internet Service providers: Cable internet service is not available in Malaysia. * Satellite: Satellite high speed internet service is a technology for getting high speed internet connection by using satellite dish connected to the orbiting system. Satellite internet service is one of always on service, this means we can access to internet without affecting on the telephone lines as well. So shortly we can define Satellite high speed internet service as a high speed internet connection to the global internet network by using satellite dish. -How satellite high speed internet service works : Actually, satellite high internet service is divided into two types:- One way satellite service / which must be provided with standard phone line to make the data traveling via this standard phone line obviously trough the phone modem. It is called one way service referring to that the upload speed is very low and the download speed is higher than upload speed. oneway (Author/ unknown, sinosathk.com, 2009) Two ways satellite service / Two-way satellite Internet service can provide both sending and receiving data from the remote very small aperture terminal (VSAT) site via satellite to a hub teleport, which then sends the data via the terrestrial Internet. The satellite dish at each location must be exactly pointed to avoid interference with other satellites. The attached picture gives more explanations. VSAT Star-shaped Networks Equipments that we need in order to have satellite internet connection: Approximately a two-foot by three-foot dish Two modems (uplink and downlink) Coaxial cables between dish and modem Advantages and disadvantages of satellite internet: Advantages of satellite internet connection : Satellite internet connection is faster than dial-up, it can provide up to 1.5Mbps. Satellite internet does not require a hard wired connection to the provider. Satellite internet is almost available anywhere, even in rural areas. Disadvantages of satellite internet connection: The upload speed is not as good as the download speed. Satellite connection is affected by inclement weather. The signals travel for long distance that causes some problems of delay known as latency, which causes problems when playing games online or when making internet phone calls. -Satellite Service providers in Malaysia: * SMART Company: There two satellite services provided by SMART: service availability available speeds approximate monthly cost Smart Ku band anywhere Up to 1512kbps Starts from 350RM per month Smart C band anywhere Up to 2Mbps Starts from 998RM per month (Author/ unknown, smartmalaysia.com, 2009) * Broadband over Power Line (BPL): Broadband over power line is a new technology that allows the users to access to the global network (internet) by plugging computers into any electrical outlet. This technology is almost similar to the other types of DSL in speed and costs. In short, the BPL is defined as a technology that allows Internet data to be transmitted over utility power lines. How BPL works: diagram (Author/ unknown, howstuffswork.com, 2007) BPL works by modulating high-frequency radio waves with the digital signals from the Internet. These radio waves will be fed into the utility grid at specific points. They travel via the wires and pass through the utility transformers to subscribers homes and businesses. Obviously, it needs some necessary modification to the utility grid to allow transmission of BPL. The purpose of using BPL is that the data can be transferred by bundling radio-frequency waves on the same line with a current electric line, so that, data can be transmitted without the need for a separate data line. Because the current electric power and radio waves are vibrated at different frequencies, the two dont interfere with each other. -Equipments that are needed in order to build up BPL connection: bpl1 (Author/ unknown, electricinternet.com, 2006) As you can see in the picture above, equipments are divided into two sections: -Equipments that the provider should install them (disappear to the user):- 1- router: supports the implementation and switches the customer access gateway. 2- Coaxial cable: connects the coupler and the gateway together. -Equipments that appear to the user:- 1- Electric outlet: the source of the power. 2- BPL Modem: makes the data understandable to the computer. -Advantages and disadvantages of BPL: 1- Advantages of BPL:- BPL connection is not affected by the long distance compared with other types of Broadband, as long as there is a power line, BPL can be installed. BPL is generally not limited by technical constraints. BPL is less costly to be deployed than cable and phone companies, because it does not require upgrading the current power lines. 2- Disadvantages of BPL:- BPL can affect to the other radio waves which have the same frequency rang. BPL unintentionally, send broadband signals as radio signals which make some troubles that affect on the radio signals receivers. BPL providers in Malaysia: *Relam BPL communication: BPL is still not implemented in Malaysia. It is still under testing. Soon this service will be launched. This poster has been scanned to show you the costs of this service after being implemented. user posted image(Author/unknown, www.et.net.my) -Comparison between all types of internet high speed connections: Referring to the information mentioned above, here is a table to summarize and recommend which one is more suitable to this particular home network. This table concentrates on the available types in the place that the particular network is going to be launched in (Savanna condo, block A, 13th floor). Name of the provider type speed Monthly subscription fees TM streamyx DSL 1.0 Mpbs 99 RM Smart Ku band Satellite 1.0 Mpbs 350 RM As it is clearly shown, the obvious suitable connection for this particular home network is TM Streamyx, because it has less costs and it is the most known provider in Malaysia as well. Wi-Fi technology: Computer networking is becoming more improved and much useful. Previously, the computer networking started with a traditional way of connecting the devices together by using wires. This way was just the beginning of this technical generation. Recently a new technology has been introduced which made a huge change in the computer networking. This technology is called wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). Clearly, Wi-Fi technology has been used to give the users the freedom of being connected together without using any physical connectors. -Definition of Wi-Fi: (Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network technology that primarily provides short-rang wireless high speed data connection between mobile data devices and nearby Wi-Fi access point). (Author/ unknown, phonescoop.com, 2004) Description of the technologies involved: Wi-Fi is used for wireless local networking technology that uses 802.11standard. It comes as wireless router which is usually connected to DSL modem. This router transmit and receive the data by using radio frequency (RF) technology, this radio frequency goes through electromagnetic spectrum then it will be supplied to antenna which is usually Laptop or any device provided with Wi-Fi antenna. The wireless signal typically has a range of 300 feet. The connection speeds get slower as the distance the computer and the router increase. -Importance of Wi-Fi technology: Wi-Fi technology gives us much freedom of getting connected without any physical preclusion. It makes the networking much simple and easy, reliable. For example, the user of Wi-Fi networks can connect to the internet anywhere under the Wi-Fi coverage. Besides that, it makes transmitting the data faster compared to other types of wireless technologies. Wi-Fi implementation: There are many standards Wi-Fi technology but two of them are the most common nowadays, the first one is called 802.11b which provides a data transmission speed up to 11mbps, the other one is called 802.11g which provides a data transmission speed up to 54mbps. As it is mentioned the G one is faster, it is more popular and also support the B one devices so it will always be chosen for implementing Wi-Fi networks. Hardware that are needed in order to implement a Wi-Fi network: 1-ADSL modem: usually given by the internet service provider. 2-Wireless router (access point): usually comes with four RJ45 network ports.http://www.datapoint.com.mk/catalog/images/linksys%20wireless%20access%20point.jpg 3-Wireless adapter: in case if there is a computer desktop PC, this computer must have a wireless card to receive the Wi-Fi signal, there different type of Wireless adapter:- PCI card: means Peripheral Connect Interface, this is the name given to a type of port inside the pc, which enables the user to add thing such as network cards, modems, sounds cards. dlink_pci_dwl528 USB Wireless Dongle: any PC provided with USB ports can accept this type of wireless adapter. http://img.alibaba.com/photo/100641524/Wireless_USB_802_11g_Adapter_With_5_Dbi_Antenna.jpg Software: There is no specific software to implement Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi router can be installed and configured by using any internet browser such as internet explorer. In the other hand, there is some software to manage Wi-Fi networks. It makes managing the network easy and controllable. Costs of implementing Wi-Fi technology: According to the hardware needed for implementing a Wi-Fi home network, the costs will be as it is shown in the attached table. hardware Price Linksys wireless router WRT54G2 168RM DSL modem Provided by Strymex Wireless adapter Linksys USB dongle 140RM So the total costs of implementing Wi-Fi technology is 308RM. *operational requirements of Wi-Fi technology: -Safety: Wi-Fi technology could be harmful to the human-being. The high frequency of radio signals could cause some kind of cancers. Referring to the studies that have been done, no one could prove the negative effects of the radio waves; no one could prove that the Wi-Fi technology is harmless as well. However, to be more secure, we should not allow the children to use laptop for long time. Also we should not use laptops on our laps especially when we use the laptops for long period. Security * Security mechanisms: There are several mechanisms to secure any Wi-Fi network each mechanism has its own concept:- 1-SSID: SSID is the short form of Service Set ID. In other word, it can be considered as the name of the network. The purpose of SSID is connecting the clients to the access point. SSID will be broadcasting to be seen by the clients. Each access point has a name. In case if there is more than one access point with the same SSID, it will be shown as one access point which has the strongest signal. In the other side, SSID can be hidden for more security by changing the settings of the broadcast to be unviewed so that the client must know the SSID. Unfortunately, hiding the SSAD does not mean that the SSID is really invisible; there are some programs to find out the hidden SSID such as NetStumbler. 2-WEP: is the short form of Wireless Equivalency Protocol. When the user set up Wi-Fi network, there will be two options of encryption, one is WEP and the other is WAP. WEP provides lower level of protection. It uses 64bit and 128bit encryption by using RC4 logarithm. WEP uses a secret encryption key to encode data packets before a network client or an access point transmits them, and it uses the same key to decode the packets after they have been received, it also prevents unauthorized access to the network, it performs an integrity check on each packet, and it protects the data from eavesdroppers. Generally, WEP encryption can be easily broken compared to WAP encryption. 3-WPA/WPA2: is the short form of Wireless Protected Area. It was created as a partial solution to the weakness of WEP encryption. WPA is much better than WEP but that does not mean it is completely protected.WPA can be cracked but not as easy as WEP. WPA is more secure because it uses a method called Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to automatically change the encryption key after a specified period of time or after the system exchanges a specific number of packets. Obviously, there is a question has been on your mind, how does WPA actually can secure the network? Well, WAP works in two different ways. First, in large networks, (WPA uses an authentication server to verify the identity of each network user. The server uses Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) and the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to exchange encryption keys with the computers and other devices that are connected to the wireless network.) Second, ((in home networks and smaller business networks that do not have a server, A method called pre-shared key (PSK) mode uses a passphrase stored in the access point in place of the authentication server. To connect to the network, users must enter the same passphrase on their computers or other network devices (or set their devices to automatically enter the passphrase). When you set up WPA encryption, you must specify whether the network uses a server or PSK mode.)) (Author/ John Ross, The book of wireless, 2004) WPA2 is the recent version of WAP. They almost have the same concepts. There are some differences between WPA and WPA2. WPA Personal- Authentication method is PSK, Encryption Method is TKIP

The Influence of Christianity on Ancient and Modern Greece Essay

The Influence of Christianity on Ancient and Modern Greece Problems with format ?From the earliest establishment of Christian churches in Macedonia, Achaia, Epirus, and Crete, to the expansion of the Orthodox Church, Greece has been a formidable landmark for development of Christianity throughout the world.? From its arrival to Greece with the first preaching of Paul, the Christian faith has undergone a unique assimilation into the cultural and philosophical traditions of the Greek people to create a church, visibly distinguishable from all other sects and denominations of Christianity.? Christianity has certainly influenced the nation of Greece.? However, it is safe to say that Greek culture has also had a notable effect on the way its people view Christianity.? The purpose of this paper is to examine the mutually significant and interacting influences of the Christian faith on Greece and of the Greek culture on Christianity. ?From the onset of Paul?s mission to evangelize the non-Jewish world, it was clear that the ministry to the gentiles would take on an entirely different form than that to the Jews.? Where converting the Jews was an issue of convincing a small people, otherwise knowledgeable about the nature of God, that this Jesus was indeed the Messiah they had long waited for, preaching to the Gentiles would be a fundamentally different task.? Greek culture, largely influential to the Roman world, was already rich with philosophy, science, art, literature, and political values.? Reaching out to this people that was, in so many ways, far advanced beyond the Hebrew nation, would mean appealing to its philosophy and tradition as a foundation for proving Christ?s supremacy.? Greek Christianity was destined to... ...dia of Religion, 6, 95-97 [2] Schaff, Philip (1910).? History of the Christian Church, 1.? WM. B. Weerdmans Publishing Company: Michigan.? [3] Beardsley, Monroe C. (1966).? Aesthetics from Classical Greece to the Present: A Short History.? ? University of Alabama Press: University, Alabama.? [4] Carassava, Anthee (2001).? ?Many Greeks praying against John Paul II visit?.? Time Magazine, 157. [5] ?Pope Appologizes?.? Christianity Today, 45.? 2001. [6] Moschovis, Peter P. (2001).? ?Socialists give Evangelicals some relief?.? Christianity Today, 45. [7] Moschovis, Peter P. (1998).? ?Court upholds right to evangelize. Christianity Today, 42. [8] ?Greece?s churches divided over ID cards?.? Christian Century, 117.? 2000.? [9] Carassava, Anthee (2000).? ?Greeks debate privacy rights vs. religious identity?.? Christian Science Monitor, 92 (148).

Lottery :: essays research papers

"Mood Shifts" Many authors use mood shifts in their stories to leave a greater impact on the reader and make it easier to understand. The particular state of mind or feelings of a person is one’s mood. Various aspects of one’s surroundings can alter a mood. A story often creates a specific mood or even causes a number of different moods to arise in a short period of time. Shirley Jackson’s short story, "The Lottery" does just that, by forcing different moods to surface in various sections of the story. The peaceful mood at the story’s beginning, the anxiety that gradually builds, and the eventual horror at the story’s conclusion demonstrate mood shifts in this story. The mood at the beginning of the story is very happy and pleasant. "The morning of June 27 was clear and sunny, with the fresh worth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blooming profusing, and the grass was richly green"(112). This quote describes a beautiful scenic picture, which gives the reader an implication of peace and calmness. The village seems to be conducting a normal, uneventful day. At ten o’clock the villagers began to gather in the square. Everyone in the town is moving about, having conversations with the other townspeople who gather in the square. "Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes"(112). This describes how nothing is happening and it is just a regular day with ordinary conversations. The reader’s mood is one of happiness and calmness. It is not until further through the story the reader begins to detect small details that imply that something out of t he ordinary is about to occur in the townspeople’s peaceful lives. The cheerful pleasant mood at the beginning of the story slowly fades, as the tension and suspicion rise. Within the story the reader begins to detect small hints which suggest everything is not as it seems. The anxiety grows as the lottery approaches. "He held it firmly be one corner as he turned and went hastily back to his place in the crowd, where he stood a little apart from his family, not looking down Neale 2 at his hand"(115). The man’s nervous movements imply that some unusual action is going to take place. "By now, all through the crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hands, turning them over and over nervously"(115).

Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince Essay -- Machiaveli Prince Power Essa

Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince examines the nature of power and his views of power are still somewhat in existence today. I'll discuss this in this essay, emphasizing the following theses. Machiavelli discusses power over the people, dictatorial power, and power with people, shared power. While it is possible for power with to attain greater prevalence in society, it will not completely eliminate power over. In The Prince, Machiavelli discusses two distinct groups of people, the political elite, including nobles and other princes, and the general public. Today in the United States, the first group, the political elite, includes political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders and the leaders of strong lobbying groups. The composition of the general public has changed little from Machiavelli's time. Machiavelli concentrates on relations between the prince and the political elite. He claims that ambition and dictatorial power drive most nobles and princes. A prince must act with dictatorial power in order to maintain his position. Machiavelli assumes that shared power will not be effective with nobles, since "whether men bear affection depends on themselves, but whether they are afraid will depend on what the ruler does" (Machiavelli, p.60-61). Since the nobles are unforgiving and greedy it would be dangerous if not downright suicidal for a prince to rely on their good will. Equally important, Machiavelli states that a prince, a political leader, has different concerns than the general public. For a prince personal actions, which would be considered immoral or unvirtuous, may save lives or help the prince's country. In this way a prince is not immoral, but instead acts with a morality different in nature from the general public. Machiavelli gives several examples of this. Miserliness is considered a fault. Yet, a miserly prince "will come to be considered more generous when it is realized that his revenues are sufficient to defend himself against enemies that attack him, and to undertake campaigns without imposing special taxes on the people" (p.56). Likewise, starting a war is considered an immoral act by many. Yet, a prince should not allow troubles "to develop in order to avoid fighting a war for wars can not really be avoided, but are merely postponed to the advantage of others" (p.11). Avoiding war may ... ... the ugly political process preceding the results has overshadowed positive results like a lower deficit and improved economy. Clinton is neither feared nor loved by his political opposition, making it difficult for him to produce results without great struggles. The one result remembered by many is that Clinton raised taxes, taking away their property. Thus, Clinton has had difficulty with both appearances and results. One might say that in addition to power, a prince in relations needs political skill with the public. For a politician weaving a good story of one's accomplishments is more important than the accomplishments themselves. Machiavelli's idea of power and how it should be handles as he describes in The Prince can still be used to examine the present. While it's possible to see only the negative uses of power, one can also see the potential for power to promote the common good. Machiavelli would argue that attending to the common good is in a prince's best interests, since it gains the support of the people, something more valuable than any fortress or other expression of power. Works Cited: Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. England: Penguin Classics, 1981.

Marketing Plan Laser Eye Surgery

Laser XY, Inc. Marketing Plan Week 3 Assignment 1 MKT500 July 22, 2012 Executive Summary Laser XY is preparing to open up Clinics in predominantly Afro-American areas. It will be using promotional tools directed at Afro-Americans with Glaucoma. The strategy of Laser XY is to assist the Afro-American communities due to this groups high-risk for eye diseases. Thus, the company creates communications that conveys a positive concern for the eye health of the Afro-American communities.Laser XY has completed the initial market research to evaluate the potential sales opportunity in the United States (â€Å"Glaucoma health guide,† 2012). If successful, Laser XY is prepared to launch clinics in the Canadian markets as well in order to address the customer needs. As part of the preliminary research, Laser XY identified the market and target segments for its services and completed a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis to evaluate business fit. In addition, Laser X Y created and effectively communicated its position statement for the clinic lunch. â€Å"Glaucoma health guide,† 2012) Laser XY background Laser XY is a specialty clinic that performs Laser correction for African Americans with Glaucoma. Laser XY is an exciting, life-enriching procedure. Laser XY understands that each patient must feel fully comfortable with his or her decision to have the treatment, as well as with the vision care team who will supervise each step of the process. That's why Laser XY combines proven, state-of-the-art, FDA-approved technology with a professional team that specializes in Glaucoma correction. Strategic mission statementLaser XY â€Å"Healthy Vision for Life: Focus on African-American Eyes† is the latest aspect of its ethnical marketing platform to raise awareness of the eye health needs of at-risk group. The initiative started with the fast-growing African American market at higher risk for many eye health issues, in 2013. In addition to superior experience, Laser XY ensures the utmost success and safety during laser vision correction involves using state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel. This is translated into a higher cost compared to the so-called â€Å"discount Lasik chains†. We believe that our patients understand that a compromise on quality is unacceptable when it comes to one's vision. It is our commitment to best service and technology. † Marketing plan Determine and decide upon at least one (1) foreign market for the product and service. Provide your rationale for this market. Canada is a world leader in laser eye surgery and every year almost 40-50% of the laser eye surgery-taking place in Canada is conducted by a number of companies. The cost of laser eye surgery in Canada is more reasonable and affordable.This is due to a favorable exchange rate on the Canadian dollar, the lack of laser royalty fees in Canada, and the cost-effective economies of scale that are achieved in a sub-specialized center with many patients. According to the 2006 Census by Statistic Canada, 783,795 Canadians identified themselves as black, constituting 2. 5% of the entire Canadian population * About 30% of Black Canadians have Jamaican heritage. * An additional 32% have heritage elsewhere in the Caribbean or Bermuda. * 60% of Black Canadians are under the age of 35. 60% of Black Canadians live in the province of Ontario. * 97% of Black Canadians live in urban areas. There are 32,000 more black women than black men in Canada (â€Å"Why chose Canada,† 2012) Discuss the potential audiences for a marketing plan and the needs of those potential audiences. Worldwide, Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. It is also the first leading cause of blindness among African Americans. It is not clear why people of African ancestry have higher rates of glaucoma and subsequent blindness than Caucasians.One factor may be that African-Americans are more susceptible to devel oping elevated eye pressure (IOP) earlier in life, which is thought to contribute to optic nerve damage and eventual vision loss. Another reason may be that patients of African descent are less likely than Caucasians to have early eye examinations that may detect and treat glaucoma. Glaucoma affects 1 in 200 people aged fifty and younger, and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty. If the condition is detected early enough it is possible to arrest the development or slow the progression with medical and surgical means. Glaucoma Treatment, 2012) Marketing Strategy: ? Target Market: Low to Middle Income consumer’s ? between the age of 18-up 1) Positioning: To create and increase buyer awareness of the Laser XY services and brand. To attract new customers, resulting in increase in sales and market share for Laser XY insurance in the private health insurance industry along with encouraging long-term relationships with the existing and new customer through advertisement and media. It is e ssential that this target segment use all the marketing variables.In particular a judicious use of pricing policy can lead to excellent growth in sales revenues. 2) Product Line: Laser XY provides members with clear vision and freedom at a lower expense. Augmented services include care booth before and after the Lasik laser eye surgery, with four years free of charge guarantee, and customer support. 3) Price: Below competitors. Interest Free special for 12 or 24 months! Spread the cost of laser eye surgery over 12 or 24 months and pay no interest if you repay the total cost within the agreed timeframe. No deposit required. 2, 36, or 24 convenient monthly payments No early settlement fees or penalties. Laser Cost for One Eye – $1500, Laser Surgery Cost for Two Eyes – $3000. 4) Promotion: Laser XY will establish outlets and free vision screening booths in localities that have a high Afro-American population. Special outlets to be organized and price-offs to be offered fo r limited time period. This will allow the members to expand benefits with a lesser payment. Major newspapers, trade magazines and other health periodicals will be used to promote the service.Along with brochures describing the benefits of Laser XY surgery insurance will be made available in all services outlets. In addition, Laser XY, Inc. will promote the service via the Internet, providing a large amount of information, using banner exchange, and contacting particular user groups. (Glaucoma Treatment, 2012) Discuss the target market and provide a rationale for this target market. Consider the strategy of Laser XY. It declares the Afro-American communities as a high-risk group for eye diseases and creates communications that conveys a positive concern for the eye health of the Afro-American ommunities. For instance, Laser XY will open booths for checking eyes. This is a strong marketing strategy. When the potential customer presents herself for a check-up a need for service is rev ealed and the customer is directed to Laser XY. ? Laser XY sends communications targeted at the Afro-American community. It shows concern for the members of the communities, communicates that the Afro-American communities are at a far greater risk with a detection of Glaucoma, and so they need Laser XY services.The valuable education that they give is a disguised marketing communication targeted at this potentially lucrative segment. From the perspective of Laser XY, the Afro-American communities are a potentially attractive and lucrative segment. Perform a SWOT analysis (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats) for the company. The use of SWOT analysis is important to identify ways to minimize the effect of Laser XY Inc. weaknesses while trying to maximize its strengths and at the same time recognize ways to exploit its opportunities and respond to its threats.Strengths: * Afro-American communities as a high risk group for eye Glaucoma causes this a potentially attractive a nd lucrative segment * Unique offering with little or no competition in the market. ? * Locating Laser XY Inc. stores in Afro-American predominant areas and using promotional tools directed at Afro-Americans will go a long way in increasing the market share of Laser XY, Inc. Weaknesses: * Lack of brand name and reputation in the marketplace as compared to existing clinics. ? * Laser treatment does not give a surety of a 20/20 eye vision.However, it allows the patient to have a proper vision in absence of any glasses or corrective lenses. Such improvement encourages the patient to take a chance with the complication associated to laser eye surgery. Being a startup company, there is lack of strong financial base for spending on advertising or promotions compared to established clinics. Opportunities: ? * Strong growth opportunities in emerging markets in US, as well as strong potential in developed markets in Canada * The development of this service especially for Afro-American commun ities opens up new opportunities or Laser XY Inc. to maximize its revenues from the Afro-American segment. * Laser XY Inc. will show concern for the members of the communities, communicates that the Afro-American communities are at a far greater risk of Glaucoma, and so they need Laser XY, Inc. Threat * Threat of competition from established clinics as well as new potential entrants in the market due to low barriers of entry. ? * Major threats are potential imitation from other competitors and need to offer new products regularly in order to maintain competitiveness. Clients choosing more economical vision correction choices, such as prescribe eye drops, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. * Cost of LASIK eye surgery cost differs widely from one provider to another and depends on many factors. African American is a high risk of vision loss from this disease. With the commitment of our professional management team and enthusiastic staff, the culture of the organization driven by Laser XY , Inc. has been created to make a difference to this targeted group.Our marketing segment is to exploit our services for both men and women from low to middle segments of the society that are willing to use our services. Our target customers will not only have optional payment plans, it will also encounter superior experience, safety laser vision correction. This involves using state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel. Furthermore, locating Laser XY, Inc. stores in Afro-American predominant areas and using promotional tools directed at Afro-Americans will go a long way in increasing the market share of Laser XY, Inc.References Glaucoma /treatment. (2012, June). Retrieved from http://www. glaucoma. org/treatment/laser-surgery. php http://adam. about. net/reports/000025_8. htm African-Americans' glaucoma risk http://outlook. wustl. edu/2011/dec/glaucoma-risk Glaucoma health guide. (2012, July). Retrieved from Glaucoma http://health. nytimes. com/health/guides/disease/gl aucoma/risk-factors. html Why chose canada. (2012, July). Retrieved from Why choose Canada–http://www. lasikmd. com/north-york/corporate-information/why-choose-canada

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 34

I don't think about those things, Elena answered in the same way Damon had spoken and for the same reason. I don't think because if I do I'll go insane. But if I go insane, what good will I be to Stefan? I couldn't help him. Instead I block it all out with walls of iron and I keep it away at any cost. â€Å"And you can manage that?† Damon asked, his voice shaking slightly. â€Å"I can – because I have to. Remember in the beginning when we were arguing about the ropes around our wrists? Meredith and Bonnie had doubts. But they knew that I would wear handcuffs and crawl after you if that was what it took.† Elena turned to look at Damon in the crimson darkness and added, â€Å"And you've given yourself away, time after time, you know.† She slipped arms around him to touch his healed back, so that he would have no doubt about what she meant. â€Å"That was for you,† Damon said harshly. â€Å"Not really,† Elena replied. â€Å"Think about it. If you hadn't agreed to the Discipline, we might have run out of town, but we could never have helped Stefan after that. When you get down to it, everything, all you've done, you've done for Stefan.† â€Å"When you get down to it, I was the one who put Stefan here in the first place,† Damon said tiredly. â€Å"I figure we're just about even now.† â€Å"How many times, Damon? You were possessed when you let Shinichi talk you into it,† Elena said, feeling exhausted herself. â€Å"Maybe you need to be possessed again – just a little – so you remember how it feels.† Every cell in Damon's body seemed to flinch away from this idea. But aloud he just said, â€Å"There's something that everyone has missed, you know. About the archetypal story of how two brothers killed each other simultaneously, and became vampires because they'd dallied with the same girl.† â€Å"What?† Elena said sharply, shocked out of her tiredness. â€Å"Damon, what do you mean?† â€Å"What I said. There's something you've all missed. Ha. Maybe even Stefan has missed it. The story gets told and retold, but nobody catches it.† Damon had turned his face away. Elena moved closer to him, just a bit, so he could smell her perfume, which was attar of roses that night. â€Å"Damon, tell me. Tell me, please!† Damon started to turn toward her – And it was at that moment that the liftmen stopped. Elena had only a second to wipe her face, and the curtains were being drawn. Meredith had told them all the myth about Bloddeuwedd, which she'd got from a story-telling globe. All about how Bloddeuwedd had been made out of flowers and brought to life by the gods, and how she had betrayed her husband to his death, and how, in punishment, she had been doomed to spend each night from midnight to dawn as an owl. And, apparently, there was something the myths didn't mention. The fact that she had been doomed to live here, banished from the Celestial Court into the deep red twilight of the Dark Dimension. All things considered, it was logical that her parties started at six in the evening. Elena found that her mind was jumping from subject to subject. She accepted a goblet of Black Magic from a slave as her eyes wandered. Every woman and most of the men at the party were wearing clever attire that changed color in the sun. Elena felt quite modest – after all, everything out of doors seemed to be pink or scarlet or wine-colored. Downing her goblet of Magic, Elena was slightly surprised to find herself going into automatic party-mode behavior, greeting people she'd met earlier in the week with cheek kisses and hugs as if she'd known them for years. Meanwhile she and Damon worked their way toward the mansion, sometimes with, sometimes against the tide of constantly moving people. They made it up one steep set of white (pink) marble stairs, which sported on either side banks of glorious blue (violet) delphiniums and pink (scarlet) wild roses. Elena stopped here, for two reasons. One was to get a new goblet of Black Magic. The first had already given her a pleasant glow – although of course everything was constantly glowing here. She was hoping that the second cup would help her forget everything that Damon had brought up in the litter except the key – and help her remember what she'd been fretting over originally, before her thoughts had been hijacked by Bonnie and Meredith's talk. â€Å"I expect the best way is just to ask someone,† she told Damon, who was suddenly and silently at her elbow. â€Å"Ask what?† Elena leaned a little toward the slave who'd just supplied her with a fresh goblet. â€Å"May I ask – where is Lady Bloddeuwedd's main ballroom?† The liveried slave looked surprised. Then, with his head, he made a gesture all around. â€Å"This plaza – below the canopy – has gained the name the Great Ballroom,† he said, bowing over his tray. Elena stared at him. Then she stared around her. Under a giant canopy – it looked semipermanent to her and was hung all around with pretty lanterns in shades that were enhanced by the sun – the smooth grass lawn stretched away for hundreds of yards on all sides. It is bigger than a football field. â€Å"What I'd like to know,† Bonnie was asking a fellow guest, a woman who had clearly been to many of Bloddeuwedd's affairs and knew her way around the mansion, â€Å"is this: which room is the main ballroom?† â€Å"Oh, my deah, it depends on what you mean,† the guest replied cheerfully. â€Å"Theah's the Great Ballroom out of doors – you must have seen it while climbing – the big pavilion? And then theah's the White Ballroom inside. That's lit with candelabras and has the curtains drawn all round. Sometimes it's called the Waltz Room, since all that is played in there is waltzes.† But Bonnie was still caught in horror a few sentences back. â€Å"There's a ballroom outside?† she said shakily, hoping that somehow she hadn't heard right. â€Å"That's it, deah, you can see through that wall theah.† The woman was telling the truth. You could see through the wall, because the walls were all of glass, one beyond another, allowing Bonnie to see what seemed to be an illusion done with mirrors: lighted room after lighted room, all filled with people. Only the last room on the bottom floor seemed to be made out of something solid. That must be the White Ballroom. But through the opposite wall, where the guest was pointing – oh, yes. There was a canopy top. She remembered vaguely passing it. The other thing she remembered was†¦ â€Å"They dance on the grass? That – enormous field of grass?† â€Å"Of course. It's all especially cut and rolled smooth. You won't trip over a weed or hummock of ground. Are you sure you're feeling quite well? You look rathah pale. Well† – the guest laughed – â€Å"as pale as anyone can look in this light.† â€Å"I'm fine,† Bonnie said dazedly. â€Å"I'm just†¦fine.† The two parties met later and told each other of the horrors that they had unearthed. Damon and Elena had discovered that the ground of the outdoor ballroom was almost as hard as rock – anything that had been buried there before the ground was rolled smooth by heavy rollers would now be packed down in something like cement. The only place that anyone could dig there was around the perimeter. â€Å"We should have brought a diviner,† Damon said. â€Å"You know, someone who uses a forked stick or a pendulum or a bit of a missing person's clothing to home in on the correct area.† â€Å"You're right,† Meredith said, her tone clearly adding for once. â€Å"Why didn't we bring a diviner?† â€Å"Because I don't know of any,† Damon said, with his sweetest, most ferocious barracuda smile. Bonnie and Meredith had found that the inside ballroom's flooring was rock – very beautiful white marble. There were dozens of floral arrangements in the room, but all that Bonnie had stuck her small hand into (as unobtrusively as possible) were simply cut flowers in a vase of water. No soil, nothing that could justify using the term â€Å"buried in.† â€Å"And besides, why would Shinichi and Misao put the key in water they knew would be thrown out in a few days?† Bonnie asked, frowning, while Meredith added, â€Å"And how do you find a loose floorboard in marble? So we can't see how it could be buried there. By the way, I checked – and the White Ballroom has been here for years, so there's no chance that they dumped it under the building stones, either.† Elena, by now drinking her third goblet of Black Magic, said, â€Å"All right. The way we look at this is: one room scratched off the list. Now, we've already got half of the key – look how easy that was – â€Å" â€Å"Maybe that was just to tease us,† Damon said, raising an eyebrow. â€Å"To get our hopes up, before dashing them completely†¦here.† â€Å"That can't be,† Elena said desperately, glaring at him. â€Å"We've come so far – farther than Misao ever imagined we would. We can find it. We will find it.† â€Å"All right,† Damon said, suddenly deadly serious. â€Å"If we have to pretend to be staff and use pickaxes on that soil outdoors, we'll do it. But first, let's go through the entire house inside. That seemed to work well last time.† â€Å"All right,† Meredith said, for once looking straight at him and without disapproval. â€Å"Bonnie and I will take the upstairs floors and you can take the downstairs ones – maybe you can make something of that White Waltz Ballroom.† â€Å"All right.† They set to work. Elena wished that she could calm down. Despite most of three goblets of Black Magic oscillating inside her – or perhaps because of them – she was seeing certain things in new lights. But she must keep her mind on the quest – and only on the quest. She would do anything – anything – she told herself, to get the key. Anything for Stefan. The White Ballroom smelled of flowers and was garlanded with large, opulent blooms in the midst of abundant greenery. Standing arrangements were placed to shield an area around a fountain into an intimate nook where couples could sit. And, although there was no visible orchestra, music poured into the ballroom, demanding a response from Elena's susceptible body. â€Å"I don't suppose you know how to waltz,† Damon said suddenly, and Elena realized that she had been swaying in time to the beat, eyes closed. â€Å"Of course I do,† Elena answered, a little offended. â€Å"We all of us went to Ms. Hopewell's classes. That was the equivalent of charm school in Fell's Church,† she added, seeing the funny side of it and laughing at herself. â€Å"But Ms. Hopewell did love to dance, and she taught us every dance and movement she thought was graceful. That was when I was about eleven.† â€Å"I suppose it would be absurd for me to ask you to dance with me,† Damon said. Elena looked at him with what she knew were large and puzzled eyes. Despite the low-cut scarlet dress, she didn't feel like an irresistible siren tonight. She was too wrought up to feel the magic woven in the cloth, magic which she now realized was telling her she was a dancing flame, a fire elemental. She supposed that Meredith must feel like a quiet stream, flowing swiftly and steadily to her destination, but sparkling and glinting all the way. And Bonnie – Bonnie, of course was a sprite of the air, meant to dance as lightly as a feather in that opalescent dress, barely subject to gravity. But abruptly Elena remembered certain glances of admiration she had seen directed toward herself. And now suddenly Damon was vulnerable? Yet he didn't imagine she would dance with him? â€Å"Of course I would love to dance,† she said, realizing with a slight shock that she hadn't noticed before, that Damon was in flawless white tie. Of course, it was on the one night when it might hinder them, but it made him look like a prince of the blood. Her lips quirked slightly at the title. Of the blood†¦oh, yes. â€Å"Are you sure you know how to waltz?† she asked him. â€Å"A good question. I took it up in 1885 because it was known to be riotous and indecent. But it depends on whether you are speaking of the peasant waltz, the Viennese Waltz, the Hesitation Waltz, or – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, come on, or we'll miss another dance.† Elena grabbed his hand, feeling tiny sparks as if she'd stroked a cat's fur the wrong way, and pulled him into the swaying crowd. Another waltz began. Music flooded into the room and lifted Elena almost off her feet as the small hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her body tingled all over as if she had drunk some sort of celestial elixir. It was her favorite waltz since childhood: the one she'd been brought up on. Tchaichovsky's Sleeping Beauty waltz. But some child part of her mind could never help but pairing the sweet sweeping notes that came after the thundering, electrifying beginning together with the words from the Disney movie version: I know you; I danced with you once upon a dream†¦. As always, they brought tears to her eyes; they made her heart sing and her feet want to fly rather than dance. Her dress was backless. Damon's warm hand was on her bare skin there. I know, something whispered to her, why they called this dance riotous and indecent. And now, certainly, Elena felt like a flame. We were meant to be this way. She couldn't remember if it was an old quote of Damon's or something new he was just barely whispering to her mind now. Like two flames that join and merge into one. You're good, Damon told her, and this time she knew that it was him speaking and that it was in the present. You don't need to patronize me. I'm too happy already! Elena laughed back. Damon was an expert, and not just at the precision of the steps. He danced the waltz as if it were still riotous and indecent. He had a firm lead, which of course Elena's human strength could not break. But he could interpret little signals of her own, about what she wanted and he obliged her, as if they were ice dancing, as if at any moment they might twirl and leap. Elena's stomach was slowly melting and taking her other internal organs with it. And it never once occurred to her to think what her high school friends and rivals and enemies would have thought of her melting over classical music. She was free of petty spite, petty shame over differences. She was through with labeling. She wished that she could go back to show everyone that she'd never meant it in the first place. The waltz was over all too soon and Elena wanted to push the Replay button and do it from the beginning again. There was a moment just when the music stopped where she and Damon were looking at each other, with equal exaltation and yearning and – And then Damon bowed over her hand. â€Å"There is more to the waltz than just moving your feet,† he said, not looking up at her. â€Å"There is a swaying grace that can be put into the movements, a leaping flame of joy and oneness – with the music, with a partner. Those are not matters of expertise. Thank you very much for giving me the pleasure.† Elena laughed because she wanted to cry. She never wanted to stop dancing. She wanted to tango with Damon – a real tango, the kind you were supposed to have to get married after. But there was another mission†¦a necessary mission that had to be completed. And, as she turned, there were a whole crowd of other things in front of her. Men, demons, vampires, beastlike creatures. All of them wanted a dance. Damon's tuxedoed back was walking away from her. Damon! He paused but did not turn back. Yes? Help me! We need to find the other half of the key! It seemed to take him a moment to assess the situation, but then he understood. He came back to her, and taking her by the hand said in a clear, ringing voice, â€Å"This girl is my†¦personal assistant. I do not desire that she dance with anyone other than myself.† There was a restless murmuring at this. The kind of slaves that got taken to balls of this sort were not usually the kind that were forbidden to interact with strangers. But just then there was a sort of flurry at the side of the room, eventually pressing toward the opposite side where Damon and Elena were. â€Å"What is it?† Elena asked, the dance and the key both forgotten. â€Å"Who is it, I'd ask, rather,† Damon replied. â€Å"And I'd answer: our hostess, Lady Bloddeuwedd herself.† Elena found herself crowding behind other people to get a glimpse of this most extraordinary creature. But when she actually saw the girl standing alone in the doorway to the ballroom, she gasped. She was made out of flowers†¦ Elena remembered. What would a girl made out of flowers look like? She would have skin like the faintest blush of pink on an apple blossom, Elena thought, staring unashamedly. Her cheeks would be slightly deeper pink, like a dawn-colored rose. Her eyes, enormous in her delicate, perfect face, would be the color of larkspur, with heavy feathery black lashes that would make them droop half-shut, as if she walked always half in a dream. And she would have yellow hair as pale as primroses, falling down almost to the floor, wound in braids that were themselves incorporated into thicker braids until the whole mass was brought together just above her delicate ankles. Her lips would be as red as poppies, half-open and inviting. And she would give off a scent that was like a bouquet of all the first blossoms of spring. She would walk as if swaying in the breeze. Elena could only remember standing, gazing after this vision like the dozens of other guests around her. Just one more second to drink in such loveliness, her mind begged. â€Å"But what was she wearing?† Elena heard herself say aloud. She could not remember either a stunning dress or a glimpse of lustrous apple-blossom skin through the many braids. â€Å"Some sort of gown. It was made out of what else? Flowers,† Damon put in wryly. â€Å"She was wearing a dress made of every kind of flower I've ever seen. I don't understand how they stayed put – maybe they were silk and sewn together.† He was the only one who didn't seem dazzled by this vision. â€Å"I wonder if she would talk to us – just a few words,† Elena said. She was longing to hear the delicate, magical girl's voice. â€Å"I doubt it,† a man in the crowd answered her. â€Å"She doesn't talk much – at least until midnight. Say! It's you! How're you feeling?† â€Å"Very well, thank you,† Elena replied politely, and then quickly stepped back. She recognized the speaker as one of the young men who had forced their cards on Damon at the end of the Godfather's ceremony, the night of her Discipline. Now she just wanted to get away unobtrusively. But there were too many of the men, and it was clear that they were not about to let her and Damon go. â€Å"This is the girl I told you about. She goes into a trance and no matter how she's marked; she doesn't feel a thing – â€Å" † – blood running down her sides like water and she never flinched – â€Å" â€Å"They're a professional act. They go on the road†¦.† Elena was just about to say, coolly, that Bloddeuwedd had strictly forbidden this kind of barbarism at her party, when she heard one of the young vampires saying, â€Å"Don't you know, I was the one who persuaded Lady Bloddeuwedd to ask you to this get-together. I told her about your act and she was most interested to see it.† Well, scratch one excuse, Elena thought. But at least be nice to these young men. They might be helpful somehow later. â€Å"I'm afraid I can't do it tonight,† she said, quietly, so that they would be quiet themselves. â€Å"I'll apologize to Lady Bloddeuwedd directly, of course. But it just isn't possible.† â€Å"Yes, it is.† Damon's voice, just behind her, astounded her. â€Å"It's quite possible – given that someone finds my amulet.† Damon! What are you saying? Hush! What I have to. â€Å"Unfortunately, about three and a half weeks ago I lost a very important amulet. It looks like this.† He brought out the half of the fox key and let them all take a good look at it. â€Å"Is that what you used to do the trick?† someone asked, but Damon was far too clever for that. â€Å"No, many people saw me do the act just a week or so ago without it. This is a personal amulet, but with part of it missing, I simply don't feel like doing magic.† â€Å"It looks like a little fox. You're not a kitsune?† someone – too clever for their own good, Elena thought – asked next. â€Å"It may look like that to you. It's actually an arrow. An arrow with two green stones at the arrowhead. It's a – masculine charm.† A female voice somewhere in the crowd said: â€Å"I shouldn't think you need any more masculine charm than you have right now!† and there was laughter.