Comparing Readers and TV Watchers :: essays research papers

Comparing Readers and TV Watchers In today’s society, one needs to be well prepared for the problems they will encounter. One might be offered drugs, or be faced with the decision of whether or not to breakup a friendship. How does one get prepared to deal with these types of situations? Reading books definitely will not help. Sure, one can get background knowledge on just about every topic from a book, but reading will not prepare you to deal with the outside world. Television is the best way to get a grasp of society’s problems at hand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Readers believe that not only is reading a form of entertainment, but you can learn from it also. Readers are generally better writers; however, too much reading can make you an introvert. There are probably dozens of books that try to depict real life problems, but it’s hard to get the emotional feeling by looking at text. When watching Television, you feel what the character feels. Additionally, readers lack the verbal communication skills possessed by T.V. watchers. To prepare yourself for a job interview, would you rather read a book, or watch people be interviewed? By watching them, one can see how they visually present themselves, and how they speak and listen. That, you cannot learn from a book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Television watchers have a tendency to be more extroversive. They are better verbal communicators, and they know how to present themselves to others. If you were to give a speech, the best way to prepare yourself would be to watch others, and take notes. Additionally, T.V. watchers can build vocabulary through listening to context on the television. When one watches T.V., they can share their experiences with most of America, since most Americans prefer television to reading. Thus, T.V. watchers will get along better with others. Lastly, T.V. sitcoms introduce all kinds of problems and solutions which can be adapted into real life situations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It’s quite obvious that reading will help one become more educated.

Website management - Im making a website on Mobile phones the website :: Computer Science

Website management - I'm making a website on Mobile phones the website will include mobiles from different manufactures. WEBSITE MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT 1 I'm making a website on Mobile phones the website will include mobiles from different manufactures, these will be Nokia, Motorola, Erickson, Siemens and Samsung and through these u will be able to access the different models these will all be on separate pages and I will also include a separate page on mobile phone accessories, their will also be a separate page so the users of this website can e-mail me with any complaints, suggestions and compliments on the site. There are going to be many links to different websites on mobile phones so people can get a rough idea about how good the site is and how competitive we are in the mobile phone business. The reason im making a website on this topic is because mobile phones are very popular and there is a huge demand for them in the world. The background colour will be dark and the same on every page so users will not have to adjust the contrast of their monitor, the font colour will be quite bright so it stands out on the background otherwise the users of my website will have a difficulty reading the font. The font colour will not be the same on every page it will vary through the bright colours so every page will have its own unique look. The font size for normal writing will be about a size 12, this size will vary through different sizes so you can tell which piece of writing is a heading and sub heading these will also be in different font styles the rest of the font will be very business like and also very clear so the site looks professional and so the font is easy to read. There will be many different pictures of mobile phones these pictures will also include a different angles of the phone. The dimensions of the phone will be below it and then I will have a description of the phone next to the picture, the description will include how it works

Americans Have the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Essay -- Constitutional

Americans Have the Right to Keep and Bear Arms   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Our rights as Americans started to take shape when the Constitution of the United States was drawn up by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Three years later, a very important part of American history called the Bill of Rights was added. The Bill of Rights is looked upon and interpreted every day. It gives the citizens of the United States many of the rights and freedoms that we value today, and some of those are in jeopardy. One right that is at stake is our right to bear arms, which is addressed in the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is a highly debatable topic, and many legal scholars and the Supreme Court have yet to resolve the issues and controversy dealing with the Amendment. Until a decision can be made, the law will remain as it is currently interpreted. The citizens of the United States of America have the right to keep and bear arms.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The controversy about the Second Amendment is derived from how it is worded (Jordan). The debate about the wording can be broken into two different arguments. To understand the arguments it is important to know how the Amendment is worded. The Second Amendment states, â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed (qtd. in Anastaplo 61).† The first argument is that some people view the Second Amendment as two separate rights. The right of the people to keep and bear arms can be interpreted with the idea that each individual has the right to keep and bear arms; whereas, it could be a collective right giving just the members of the Militia the right to have guns (Gold). It is believed that the original meaning of the right to bear arms and the militia in the same Amendment was because in the early times of America the citizens needed weapons to guarantee th eir freedom and prevent the government from forming a dictatorship (Edel xi). The second debate is that the Amendment is one statement, therefore meaning that the militia has the right to bear arms. The problem of understanding the meaning of the Second Amendment has been brought before many courts all across America and has been ruled upon in different ways at different times. However, the Supreme Court has never declared it illegal to own guns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Over the years, t... ...iminals would be able to get guns illegally if they wanted them (Smith 25). It comes down to the age old saying of â€Å"guns do not kill people, people kill people.† The ability to keep and bear arms is also a right given to the American people by the Bill of Rights and was reinstated when one of the framers, Thomas Jefferson, said, â€Å"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.† Works Cited Anastaplo, George. The Amendments to the Constitution: A Commentary. Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 1995. Chidsey, Donald Barr. The Birth of the Constitution: An Informed History. New York: Crown, 1964. Edel, Wilbur. Gun Control: Threat to Liberty or Defense Against Anarchy?. London: Praeger, 1995. Gold, Bruce. â€Å"The 2nd Amendment: A Historical Understanding.† Keep and Bear Arms.com. 5 April 2004 Hickok, Eugene W., ed. The Bill of Rights: Original Meaning and Current Understanding. Charlottesville: UP of Virginia, 1991. Jordan, Stan. â€Å"The Common Sense 2nd Amendment.† Keep and Bear Arms.com. 2001. 5 April 2004 Klein, Chuck. â€Å"What the Second Amendment Says.† The Cincinnati Enquirer 28 March 2001: B7. 5 April 2004 Smith, Guy. Gun Facts Version 2.0. 2000. 1 April 2004

Hiring an Accredited Administrator Essay

Several registered ISO certified companies are providing services to develop your standards according to the ISO. An ISO certified accredited administrator guides you throughout the entire process of standardization. For instance, in writing company’s policy statement, and sometimes even in complex operating procedures. A firm can hire ISO accredited registrar who has knowledge and background about the firm’s business. Nonetheless, the price of accredited administrator and registrar depend on numerous factors like nature and size of business. Objectives of ISO 9000 Design control, quality system, management responsibility, documentation and data control, process control, order entry, training, inspection of test status, delivery, handling, storing, packing, servicing, measurement and test equipment, statistical techniques, and internal quality audit are some of the main objectives of ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems. Cost of ISO 9000 The cost of implementing ISO 9000 standards in any type of company depends on several factors. Usually, gap analysis is employed when evaluating implementation cost. However, the factors which make an outline about cost focus on the following questions: how long will it take to develop your company’s quality management system working with ISO team? Registrar charges vary from country to country. What is the size of your company? Does it conduct business on international level or domestic level? How many people will be involved in setting up the standards whether you hire a person from outside or not? Normally, in gap analysis, companies calculate two kinds of costs: external and internal. Both include services and consultancy professional charges that include gap analysis, system documentation, system developing, training and awareness, system modifications, internal auditing services and so forth. Registrar fees like, application and registration fees, Product cost includes software and publication. Advantages and Disadvantages of ISO 9000 Advantages. The advantages of ISO 9000 are numerous such as maintenance of quality; opportunity to compete with bigger companies; clarity of customer focus; verification of the company; enhancements in facility performances and superiority as a result of implementing and maintaining the process; and increase in customer confidence and satisfaction. According to Ridley, â€Å"in organizations that are registered to ISO 9000 standards, the impact on control systems is significant. Besides, all your business partners agree that your company is producing product in highly standardized environment, which is not a small benefit. (Ridley, 1997) â€Å"The ISO 9000 registration process requires so much documentation and self-assessment that many businesses that undergo its rigors cite increased understanding of the company’s overall direction and processes as a significant benefit. † Moreover, the ISO 9000 certification process emphasis on self-analysis and operations management issues encourages various internal areas or departments of company to interact with one another in hopes of gaining a more complete understanding of the needs and desires of their internal customers†. (ISO 9000: Encyclopedia of Small Business). In addition, small business owners and large firms’ owners have agreed that ISO 9000 standard certification may be a good tool, which ensures funding from joint venture capital firms. According to another researchers Brewer and Mills, â€Å"ISO provides consistency for the end-customer and traceability for the company itself† (Brewer and Mills, 1994) Disadvantages of ISO 9000 Despite the advantages, there are some disadvantages as well. According to Sadiq, â€Å"senior management’s lack of understanding of the benefits they can derive by effectively implementing the standard also plays a role in creating this negative perception. In many situations top management– not understanding the standard or not having been trained in it-starts to view the standard`s requirements as a non-value– adding burden. † (Sadiq, 2002) Business executives and proprietors who are familiar with the ISO 9000 registration process know that this process may take several months to complete. Moreover, too much time is lost in proper documentation, which sometimes looks a hazardous job. According to Bibby â€Å"it virtually ignores the formulas of modern quality management: there is no mandate to reduce cycle time, cut inventories, speed up deliveries, and increase customer satisfaction†. (Bibby, 1996) Nonetheless, to achieve maximum advantage from this standard, standard languages are required for documenting good procedures. A well-managed system that implements practices can be applied throughout the organization. The documentation procedure should cover all parts of the organization within a certain limit and scope of registration in order to insure that quality objectives are met. A third party may be hired to measures audit models and to verify the certification of organizations. Future of ISO. The ISO 9000 is finally being modified according to the growing needs of the business community all around the world. The family of ISO 9000 and 2000, known as the family of Quality Management System standards, was finalized on 2000. According to Meyer, â€Å"the pressure for companies to become ISO 9000-certified is absolutely increasing and will continue to increase†. (Meyer, 1998) Nowadays, these standards are being distributed to the institute of ISO’s worldwide membership. In this regard, the three final draft international standards, which have been published, are as follows. †¢ â€Å"ISO/FDIS 9000, Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary †¢ ISO/FDIS 9001, Quality management systems – Requirements ISO/FDIS 9004, Quality management systems – Guidelines for performance improvements†. (What’s the Future of ISO? ISO 9000:2000) â€Å"The ISO Action Plan for Developing Countries defines a number of actions intended to mobilize its members, regional organizations and donor agencies. The actions are aimed at promoting developing country participation in ISO, building capacity through technical assistance programmes and enhancing interactions at regional and international levels. † (What’s the Future of ISO? ISO 9000:2000) ISO has planned some points for the developing countries for the period of 2005-2010, which includes the following: †¢ Intensify awareness among shareholders in developing countries for standardization of economic growth, global trade, and reliable development. †¢ Increase domestic and international cooperation in order to share training, experience, communication, technology, and communication †¢ Expand electronic communication and expertise in information technology tools to take part in global standardization †¢ Enhance participation in technical and governance work of international standard organization to voice priorities. Economic Benefits of ISO As most of the domestic and multinational organizations adopted ISO standards, it increased economic growth and played a fundamental role in globalizing the business world. Certainly, standards create environment for economic success. Equal sets of standards throughout the business world provide business partners an opportunity to trade globally without hesitating about product quality. In this regard, the primary objective behind setting one global standard is to reinforce the global business as a channel of economic activity. The fair market value of small firms registered with ISO 9000 in the year 1994 increased dramatically up to 0. 75 percent. International large firms have experienced more than 0. 80 percent worth of their business. As product quality has improved, public limited companies’ share prices have increased. â€Å"In the UK, the DTI commissioned research revealed the following facts: †¢ Standards make an annual contribution of ? 2. 5 billion to the UK economy; †¢ 13 per cent of the growth in labor productivity is attributed to the role of standards; †¢ Standards are an enabler of innovation and facilitator of technological change; and †¢ The economic return from investment in standards makes sound business sense at both the macro and the micro-economic level†. (TC_211_Newsletter_08. doc) Conclusion In today’s world of economy, the barriers of international trade have been knocked down. Domestic and multinational companies have enhanced their level of performance in order to survive in today’s global world. Today, ISO 9000 standards are globally accepted. They help companies achieve cost effectiveness and quality assurance methods. Many small- and large-scale firms around the world have been adopted ISO standards. According to Ingman, a resercher in this area, â€Å"most organizations will not stop with ISO as their â€Å"only† main quality initiative, but rather will continue to work toward the broader concept of total quality management (TQM)†. (Ingman, 1994) References Brewer Peter C. , Mills Tina Y, (Feb, 1994), Journal Article, ISO 9000 Standards: An Emerging CPA Service Area – International Organization For Standardization. Bibby, Thomas, (Apr 1996), ISO 9000, A Catalyst, Not A Solution, Manufacturing Engineering, EPA – Environmental Management Systems/ISO 14001 http://www. epa. gov/OWM/iso14001/isofaq. htm Accessed, May 12, 2007 How to Pursue ISO Certification http://www. isixsigma. com/library/content/c000917c. asp Accessed, May 12, 2007 ISO 9000 †¦ for better or worse,( Sept 25, 1997) American Metal Market, ISO 9000: Encyclopedia of Small Business http://business. enotes. com/small-business-encyclopedia/iso Accessed, May 12, 2007 ISO – International Organization for Standardization http://www. iso.org/iso/en/iso9000-14000/understand/basics/basics9000/basics9000_2. html Accessed, May 12, 2007 Meyer Harvey R, ( March, 1998 ). Journal Article, Small Firms Flock To Quality System – Intl Organization For Standards’ ISO 9000 Certification – Includes Related Articles, Nation’s Business Not Available www. geog. leeds. ac. uk/staff/m. blake/magis/glossary/esriglos. htm QUALITY MANAGEMENT WITH ISO 9000 http://www. bioingegneria. uniba. it/bollettino/qualita/q_management. html Accessed, May 12, 2007 Ridley Jeffrey , (August, 1997), Jounal Article, Embracing Iso 9000 – Generic, Organizational, Quality-System Standards. Sadiq, Naeem, (Oct 2002), Jounal Article, ISO 9000 Standards: Where’s The Value? Ingman, Lars, Journal Article, (Jan 1994), Life After ISO 9000 TC_211_Newsletter_08. doc http://www. isotc211. org/Outreach/Newsletter/Newsletter_08_2005/TC_211_Newsletter_08. doc Accessed, May 12, 2007 What’s the Future of ISO? ISO 9000:2000 http://www. isixsigma. com/library/content/c000917e. asp Accessed, May 12, 2007 Where ISO 9000 came from and who is behind it http://www. iso. ch/iso/en/iso9000-14000/understand/basics/basics14000/basics14000_1. html Accessed, May 12, 2007.

Miranda v. Arizona Essay

Early in 1963, a 17 years old woman was kidnapped and raped in Phoenix, Arizona. The police investigated the case, and soon found and arrested a poor, and mentally disturbed man. The name of this man was Ernesto Miranda. Miranda was 23 years old when he was arrested. On March 13, 1963, Miranda was arrested based on circumstantial evidence linking him to the kidnapping and the rape. After 2 police officers interrogated him for 2 hours, he signed a confession to the rape charge. The form he signed included the following statement: â€Å"I do hereby swear that I make this statement voluntarily and of my own free will, with no threats, coercion, or promises of immunity, and with full knowledge of my legal rights, understanding any statement I make may be used against me.† Miranda was not given a full and effective warning of his rights. He was not told of his right to remain silent and his right to counsel. Miranda was found guilty of kidnaping and rape and was sentenced to 20-30 years imprisonment on each count. During the prosecution, Miranda’s court-appointed lawyer, Alvin Moore, objected that because of these facts, the confession was not truly voluntary and should be excluded. In the end of 1966, The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice Earl Warren, ruled that the prosecution could not introduce Miranda’s confession as evidence in a criminal trial because the police had failed to first informs Miranda of his right to an attorney and against self-incrimination. The Supreme Court of Arizona detailed the principles governing police interrogation. Arizona ruled that detained criminal suspects, prior to police questioning, must be informed of their constitutional right to an attorney and against self-incrimination.

Ingvar Kampradi: Wealthy Man, Frugal Man, Entrepreneur Extraordinair

Introduction Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish born citizen and founder and former CEO of Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd or better known as IKEA. Kamprad created a one of a kind furniture company that has become the largest furniture store in the world. The uniqueness is because they company specializes in everything being able to be broken down and shipped, â€Å"from furniture to the now famous mobile kitchens- could be packed in flat, stackable boxes (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438)†. His way of running the company is based on creativity, hard work and being frugal in his own life as well as the way he runs his company.So frugal that when employees travel they must share hotel rooms, a policy not carried in any major company. The philosophies that he has developed for IKEA are distinctive and have provided a successful way of being very profitable. Kamprad’s leadership characteristics have made him a very wealthy entrepreneur and admirable person but with a dark past. A pas t that he does not deny but states that he has learned from this and according to some has a message to send to other that carries great wisdom. Issues Addressed Kamprad’s company IKEA has been on the rise along with that his personal problems also increased.Alcoholism, his history of Nazi affiliation, and store openings where people died were his biggest problems. Even during his personal problems he never failed to provide creativity for IKEA and to make sure the company was on the right track. He always found a way to lead his company in the direction to be successful despite his personal life. His appreciation for what it takes to be successful and the knowledge that he realizes â€Å"there are no guarantees to economic success tomorrow apart from hard work (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438). Answering the Questions 1. Kamprad is the manager of IKEA, while he is not the CEO he still continues to run the company. He is always trying to create any new ideas, and develop philosop hies to make the company better for their customers and employees. Kamprad is a leader because: he does not sit around pointing fingers and collecting money, but he is out there working to make IKEA a better company every chance he can. Continuing his innovative efforts so the company can be ne of a kind and cater to the people and through all his personal problems and personal achievements the company was always placed at the top of the list; â€Å"he likes to say that IKEA is his fourth child (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438). † 2. Kamprad encouraged a level of followership that has made IKEA a unique company. This followership that he created makes people want to work for IKEA and create new ideas. His philosophies are exceptional and out of the box; his claims of â€Å"we dare to do it a different way (Nelson and Quick, 2011-438)† Kamprad says about IKEA.The way he created IKEA and the way he makes sure the company draws people into being involved. People not only want to shop at his stores, but they want to be a part of the company anyway they can. 3. Kamprad does not want his employees to be sheep or yes men but effective active followers that are independent critical thinkers. Some of Kamprad’s leadership characteristics are â€Å"directive, supportive, participative and achievement oriented (Nelson and Quick, 2011- 413). According to the leadership grid Kamprad is deep in the 9, 1 quadrant which is â€Å"Authority-Compliance management: efficiency in operations results from arranging conditions of work in such a way that human elements interfere to a minimum degree (Nelson and Quick, 2011- 409). † 4. Leadership of Kamprad †¢Transactional – uses effort for reward because how much effort employees put into the company, means how much reward they or the company will receive. †¢Transformational – motivates his people to work for the prosperity of the company and not just for themselves. His vision about IKEA helps bond his followers/ employees to IKEA. He is charismatic – focusing on creating a message with his philosophies and connecting with his followers emotionally. †¢Authentic – role model towards the people due to his developing ingenuity and philosophies. 5. Key leadership lessons that can be observed by Kamprad’s experiences: a. Creativity & uniqueness b. Hard manual work c. Work hard but work smart d. Delegate less and get more involved, do not be afraid to be different, and listen to my people. Conclusions Ingvar Kamprad developed very young starting his business; selling matches and cards from his bicycle and later expanding his business to elling fish, Christmas decorations and pens and pencils. This small town boy from went on to build a company from a cash reward given to him by his father for doing well in academics, Ingvar Kamprad built a company that generated â€Å"more than $33 billion in revenue and nearly $4 billion in net income in 2011 ( http://topics. bloomberg. com/ingvar-kamprad/). † He was known as a very frugal man that had a dark past but he learned from his past explaining that his Nazi affiliations where the greatest mistake of his life. He said this because while he was not proud of being affiliated with this organization he learned a lot from being part of it.He learned to not waist anything, do not take money for granted and keep in common the one thing all rich people have; which is to leave beneath your means. ? References Bloomberg. Bloomber. com, http://topics. bloomberg. com/ingvar-kamprad/ Global Business leaders. http://www. globalbusinessleaders. org/WebPage/LeaderBio. aspx? leaderCd=l005&levelcd=c03r045 Nelson, D. & Campbell-Quick, J. , (2011). Organizational Behavior: Science, the Real World and You. (7th ed. ). Canada: South-Western Cengage Learning. Pace, Joe. The Workplace: Today and Tomorrow. The Professional Development Series, Book One.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 31. Talented

â€Å"What is the werewolves' part in this?† Tanya asked then, eyeing Jacob. Jacob spoke before Edward could answer. â€Å"If the Volturi won't stop to listen about Nessie, I mean Renesmee,† he corrected himself, remembering that Tanya would not understand his stupid nickname, â€Å"we will stop them.† â€Å"Very brave, child, but that would be impossible for more experienced fighters than you are.† â€Å"You don't know what we can do.† Tanya shrugged. â€Å"It is your own life, certainly, to spend as you choose.† Jacob's eyes flickered to Renesmee – still in Carmen's arms with Kate hovering over them – and it was easy to read the longing in them. â€Å"She is special, that little one,† Tanya mused. â€Å"Hard to resist.† â€Å"A very talented family,† Eleazar murmured as he paced. His tempo was increasing; he flashed from the door to Carmen and back again every second. â€Å"A mind reader for a father, a shield for a mother, and then whatever magic this extraordinary child has bewitched us with. I wonder if there is a name for what she does, or if it is the norm for a vampire hybrid. As if such a thing could ever be considered normal! A vampire hybrid, indeed!† â€Å"Excuse me,† Edward said in a stunned voice. He reached out and caught Eleazar's shoulder as he was about to turn again for the door. â€Å"What did you just call my wife?† Eleazar looked at Edward curiously, his manic pacing forgotten for the moment. â€Å"A shield, I think. She's blocking me now, so I can't be sure.† I stared at Eleazar, my brows furrowing in confusion. Shield? What did he mean about my blocking him? I was standing right here beside him, not defensive in any way. â€Å"A shield?† Edward repeated, bewildered. â€Å"Come now, Edward! If I can't get a read on her, I doubt you can, either. Can you hear her thoughts right now?† Eleazar asked. â€Å"No,† Edward murmured. â€Å"But I've never been able to do that. Even when she was human.† â€Å"Never?† Eleazar blinked. â€Å"Interesting. That would indicate a rather powerful latent talent, if it was manifesting so clearly even before the transformation. I can't feel a way through her shield to get a sense of it at all. Yet she must be raw still – she's only a few months old.† The look he gave Edward now was almost exasperated. â€Å"And apparently completely unaware of what she's doing. Totally unconscious. Ironic. Aro sent me all over the world searching for such anomalies, and you simply stumble across it by accident and don't even realize what you have.† Eleazar shook his head in disbelief. I frowned. â€Å"What are you talking about? How can I be a shield? What does that even mean?† All I could picture in my head was a ridiculous medieval suit of armor. Eleazar leaned his head to one side as he examined me. â€Å"I suppose we were overly formal about it in the guard. In truth, categorizing talents is a subjective, haphazard business; every talent is unique, never exactly the same thing twice. But you, Bella, are fairly easy to classify. Talents that are purely defensive, that protect some aspect of the bearer, are always called shields. Have you ever tested your abilities? Blocked anyone besides me and your mate?† It took me few seconds, despite how quickly my new brain worked, to organize my answer. â€Å"It only works with certain things,† I told him. â€Å"My head is sort of†¦ private. But it doesn't stop Jasper from being able to mess with my mood or Alice from seeing my future.† â€Å"Purely a mental defense.† Eleazar nodded to himself. â€Å"Limited, but strong.† â€Å"Aro couldn't hear her,† Edward interjected. â€Å"Though she was human when they met.† Eleazar's eyes widened. â€Å"Jane tried to hurt me, but she couldn't,† I said. â€Å"Edward thinks Demetri can't find me, and that Alec can't bother me, either. Is that good?† Eleazar, still gaping, nodded. â€Å"Quite.† â€Å"A shield!† Edward said, deep satisfaction saturating his tone. â€Å"I never thought of it that way. The only one I've ever met before was Renata, and what she did was so different.† Eleazar had recovered slightly. â€Å"Yes, no talent ever manifests in precisely the same way, because no one ever thinks in exactly the same way.† â€Å"Who's Renata? What does she do?† I asked. Renesmee was interested, too, leaning away from Carmen so that she could see around Kate. â€Å"Renata is Aro's personal bodyguard,† Eleazar told me. â€Å"A very practical kind of shield, and a very strong one.† I vaguely remembered a small crowd of vampires hovering close to Aro in his macabre tower, some male, some female. I couldn't remember the women's faces in the uncomfortable, terrifying memory. One must have been Renata. â€Å"I wonder†¦,† Eleazar mused. â€Å"You see, Renata is a powerful shield against a physical attack. If someone approaches her – or Aro, as she is always close beside him in a hostile situation – they find themselves†¦ diverted. There's a force around her that repels, though it's almost unnoticeable. You simply find yourself going a different direction than you planned, with a confused memory as to why you wanted to go that other way in the first place. She can project her shield several meters out from herself. She also protects Caius and Marcus, too, when they have a need, but Aro is her priority. â€Å"What she does isn't actually physical, though. Like the vast majority of our gifts, it takes place inside the mind. If she tried to keep you back, I wonder who would win?† He shook his head. â€Å"I've never heard of Aro's or Jane's gifts being thwarted.† â€Å"Momma, you're special,† Renesmee told me without any surprise, like she was commenting on the color of my clothes. I felt disoriented. Didn't I already know my gift? I had my super-self-control that had allowed me to skip right over the horrifying newborn year. Vampires only had one extra ability at most, right? Or had Edward been correct in the beginning? Before Carlisle had suggested that my self-control could be something beyond the natural, Edward had thought my restraint was just a product of good preparation – focus and attitude,he'd declared. Which one had been right? Was there more I could do? A name and a category for what I was? â€Å"Can you project?† Kate asked interestedly. â€Å"Project?† I asked. â€Å"Push it out from yourself,† Kate explained. â€Å"Shield someone besides yourself.† â€Å"I don't know. I've never tried. I didn't know I should do that.† â€Å"Oh, you might not be able to,† Kate said quickly. â€Å"Heavens knows I've been working on it for centuries and the best I can do is run a current over my skin.† I stared at her, mystified. â€Å"Kate's got an offensive skill,† Edward said. â€Å"Sort of like Jane.† I flinched away from Kate automatically, and she laughed. â€Å"I'm not sadistic about it,† she assured me. â€Å"It's just something that comes in handy during a fight.† Kate's words were sinking in, beginning to make connections in my mind. Shield someone besides yourself she'd said. As if there were some way for me to include another person in my strange, quirky silent head. I remembered Edward cringing on the ancient stones of the Volturi castle turret. Though this was a human memory, it was sharper, more painful than most of the others – like it had been branded into the tissues of my brain. What if I could stop that from happening ever again? What if I could protect him? Protect Renesmee? What if there was even the faintest glimmer of a possibility that I could shield them, too? â€Å"You have to teach me what to do!† I insisted, unthinkingly grabbing Kate's arm. â€Å"You have to show me how!† Kate winced at my grip. â€Å"Maybe – if you stop trying to crush my radius.† â€Å"Oops! Sorry!† â€Å"You're shielding, all right,† Kate said. â€Å"That move should have about shocked your arm off. You didn't feel anything just now?† â€Å"That wasn't really necessary, Kate. She didn't mean any harm,† Edward muttered under his breath. Neither of us paid attention to him. â€Å"No, I didn't feel anything. Were you doing your electric current thing?† â€Å"I was. Hmm. I've never met anyone who couldn't feel it, immortal or otherwise.† â€Å"You said you project it? On your skin?† Kate nodded. â€Å"It used to be just in my palms. Kind of like Aro.† â€Å"Or Renesmee,† Edward interjected. â€Å"But after a lot of practice, I can radiate the current all over my body. It's a good defense. Anyone who tries to touch me drops like a human that's been Tasered. It only downs him for a second, but that's long enough.† I was only half-listening to Kate, my thoughts racing around the idea that I might be able to protect my little family if I could just learn fast enough. I wished fervently that I might be good at this projecting thing, too, like I was somehow mysteriously good at all the other aspects of being a vampire. My human life had not prepared me for things that came naturally, and I couldn't make myself trust this aptitude to last. It felt like I had never wanted anything so badly before this; to be able to protect what I loved. Because I was so preoccupied, I didn't notice the silent exchange going on between Edward and Eleazar until it became a spoken conversation. â€Å"Can you think of even one exception, though?† Edward asked. I looked over to make sense of his comment and realized that everyone else was already staring at the two men. They were leaning toward each other intently, Edward's expression tight with suspicion, Eleazar's unhappy and reluctant. â€Å"I don't want to think of them that way,† Eleazar said through his teeth. I was surprised at the sudden change in the atmosphere. â€Å"If you're right – ,† Eleazar began again. Edward cut him off. â€Å"The thought was yours, not mine.† â€Å"If I'm right†¦ I can't even grasp what that would mean. It would change everything about the world we've created. It would change the meaning of my life. What I have been a part of.† â€Å"Your intentions were always the best, Eleazar.† â€Å"Would that even matter? What have I done? How many lives †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Tanya put her hand on Eleazar's shoulder in a comforting gesture. â€Å"What did we miss, my friend? I want to know so that I can argue with these thoughts. You've never done anything worth castigating yourself this way.† â€Å"Oh, haven't I?† Eleazar muttered. Then he shrugged out from under her hand and began his pacing again, faster even than before. Tanya watched him for half a second and then focused on Edward. â€Å"Explain.† Edward nodded, his tense eyes following Eleazar as he spoke. â€Å"He was trying to understand why so many of the Volturi would come to punish us. It's not the way they do things. Certainly, we are the biggest mature coven they've dealt with, but in the past other covens have joined to protect themselves, and they never presented much of a challenge despite their numbers. We are more closely bonded, and that's a factor, but not a huge one. â€Å"He was remembering other times that covens have been punished, for one thing or the other, and a pattern occurred to him. It was a pattern that the rest of the guard would never have noticed, since Eleazar was the one passing the pertinent intelligence privately to Aro. A pattern that only repeated every other century or so.† â€Å"What was this pattern?† Carmen asked, watching Eleazar as Edward was. â€Å"Aro does not often personally attend a punishing expedition,† Edward said. â€Å"But in the past, when Aro wanted something in particular, it was never long before evidence turned up proving that this coven or that coven had committed some unpardonable crime. The ancients would decide to go along to watch the guard administer justice. And then, once the coven was all but destroyed, Aro would grant a pardon to one member whose thoughts, he would claim, were particularly repentant. Always, it would turn out that this vampire had the gift Aro had admired. Always, this person was given a place with the guard. The gifted vampire was won over quickly, always so grateful for the honor. There were no exceptions.† â€Å"It must be a heady thing to be chosen,† Kate suggested. â€Å"Ha!† Eleazar snarled, still in motion. â€Å"There is one among the guard,† Edward said, explaining Eleazar's angry reaction. â€Å"Her name is Chelsea. She has influence over the emotional ties between people. She can both loosen and secure these ties. She could make someone feel bonded to the Volturi, to want to belong, to want to please them___† Eleazar came to an abrupt halt. â€Å"We all understood why Chelsea was important. In a fight, if we could separate allegiances between allied covens, we could defeat them that much more easily. If we could distance the innocent members of a coven emotionally from the guilty, justice could be done without unnecessary brutality – the guilty could be punished without interference, and the innocent could be spared. Otherwise, it was impossible to keep the coven from fighting as a whole. So Chelsea would break the ties that bound them together. It seemed a great kindness to me, evidence of Aro's mercy. I did suspect that Chelsea kept our own band more tightly knit, but that, too, was a good thing. It made us more effective. It helped us coexist more easily.† This clarified old memories for me. It had not made sense to me before how the guard obeyed their masters so gladly, with almost lover-like devotion. â€Å"How strong is her gift?† Tanya asked with an edge to her voice. Her gaze quickly touched on each member of her family. Eleazar shrugged. â€Å"I was able to leave with Carmen.† And then he shook his head. â€Å"But anything weaker than the bond between partners is in danger. In a normal coven, at least. Those are weaker bonds than those in our family, though. Abstaining from human blood makes us more civilized – lets us form true bonds of love. I doubt she could turn our allegiances, Tanya.† Tanya nodded, seeming reassured, while Eleazar continued with his analysis. â€Å"I could only think that the reason Aro had decided to come himself, to bring so many with him, is because his goal is not punishment but acquisition,† Eleazar said. â€Å"He needs to be there to control the situation. But he needs the entire guard for protection from such a large, gifted coven. On the other hand, that leaves the other ancients unprotected in Volterra. Too risky – someone might try to take advantage. So they all come together. How else could he be sure to preserve the gifts that he wants? He must want them very badly,† Eleazar mused. Edward's voice was low as a breath. â€Å"From what I saw of his thoughts last spring, Aro's never wanted anything more than he wants Alice.† I felt my mouth fall open, remembering the nightmarish pictures I had imagined long ago: Edward and Alice in black cloaks with bloodred eyes, their faces cold and remote as they stood close as shadows, Aro's hands on theirs†¦. Had Alice seen this more recently? Had she seen Chelsea trying to strip away her love for us, to bind her to Aro and Caius and Marcus? â€Å"Is that why Alice left?† I asked, my voice breaking on her name. Edward put his hand against my cheek. â€Å"I think it must be. To keep Aro from gaining the thing he wants most of all. To keep her power out of his hands.† I heard Tanya and Kate murmuring in disturbed voices and remembered that they hadn't known about Alice. â€Å"He wants you, too,† I whispered. Edward shrugged, his face suddenly a little too composed. â€Å"Not nearly as much. I can't really give him anything more than he already has. And of course that's dependent on his finding a way to force me to do his will. He knows me, and he knows how unlikely that is.† He raised one eyebrow sardonically. Eleazar frowned at Edward's nonchalance. â€Å"He also knows your weaknesses,† Eleazar pointed out, and then he looked at me. â€Å"It's nothing we need to discuss now,† Edward said quickly. Eleazar ignored the hint and continued. â€Å"He probably wants your mate, too, regardless. He must have been intrigued by a talent that could defy him in its human incarnation.† Edward was uncomfortable with this topic. I didn't like it, either. If Aro wanted me to do something – anything – all he had to do was threaten Edward and I would comply. And vice versa. Was death the lesser concern? Was it really capture we should fear? Edward changed the subject. â€Å"I think the Volturi were waiting for this – for some pretext. They couldn't know what form their excuse would come in, but the plan was already in place for when it did come. That's why Alice saw their decision before Irina triggered it. The decision was already made, just waiting for the pretense of a justification.† â€Å"If the Volturi are abusing the trust all immortals have placed in them†¦,† Carmen murmured. â€Å"Does it matter?† Eleazar asked. â€Å"Who would believe it? And even if others could be convinced that the Volturi are exploiting their power, how would it make any difference? No one can stand against them.† â€Å"Though some of us are apparently insane enough to try,† Kate muttered. Edward shook his head. â€Å"You're only here to witness, Kate. Whatever Aro's goal, I don't think he's ready to tarnish the Volturi's reputation for it. If we can take away his argument against us, he'll be forced to leave us in peace.† â€Å"Of course,† Tanya murmured. No one looked convinced. For a few long minutes, nobody said anything. Then Iheard the sound of tires turning off the highway pavement onto the Cullens' dirt drive. â€Å"Oh crap, Charlie,† I muttered. â€Å"Maybe the Denalis could hang out upstairs until – â€Å" â€Å"No,† Edward said in a distant voice. His eyes were far away, staring blankly at the door. â€Å"It's not your father.† His gaze focused on me. â€Å"Alice sent Peter and Charlotte, afterall. Time to get ready for the next round.†