Information Technology and Change Management Research Paper

Information Technology and Change Management - Research Paper Example As the report declares people are habitual creatures, they like designs, patterns and repetition. If there is sudden change in their expected pattern (habit) the brain goes into a puzzled mode and starts figuring it out, which is laborious. IT changes represent a change in the patterns and designs, a different path from what people normally use for their everyday tasks. And the biggest ‘problem’ with IT processes is that they keep on changing. So people need to keep up to date with that data base. According to paper findings John Kotter is a leadership and change management guru. He is a professor at Harvard Business School and is an expert on change management. Before diving into Kotter’s theory about change management theory, it would be wise to separate two types of changes that the corporates face; Change management and change leadership. These two terms are not interchangeable. In this paper, the focus is on change management but here is a brief account of why it’s wise not to mingle it with change leadership. Change leadership deals with driving forces, processes and visions that propel large scale transformations while change management refers to the tools and processes that are used to keep the change under control. The goal here is to diminish the impact of the change. Kotter’s change management theory is governed by certain factors that define the impact of the change. No matter what the type of the organization, a change in management needs to b e contained.

Non-Verbal Communication Essay Example for Free

Non-Verbal Communication Essay A number of people pay more attention on what they want to say,however,how to say it means more important. â€Å"In fact, studies suggest that during face-to-face communication, only 7% of meaning comes from the verbal content of the message —38% comes from tone of voice and 55% comes from body language. † Obviously, non-verbal communication refers to the process of the communication by means of receiving and sending the messages which are wordless. As an important tool of communication, non-verbal communication plays an important part in job interviews, medical care and social interactions. The process of a job interview is full of communication, including both verbal and nonverbal communications; however, nonverbal communication is more important than verbal communication in some ways. When people do the interview, it is critical for people to send the right messages and receive the good responses as well as maintaining eye contact, using facial expressions and making proper postures. Eye contact is essential when people are talking to the interviewer. The sustained eye contact could be respectful which show your confidence and trust. Also, this makes sure that you are listening and understanding about what you are communicating with each other. However, it’s not good to stare at interviewers constantly, which make them uncomfortable. The best way is to maintain the eye contact for several seconds, and then change your vision away from the interviewers briefly, finally put the eye contact on the interviewers. Meanwhile, facial expression is a necessary component in a job interview. Commonly, smile is a powerful communication tool, which is able to deliver the friendliness, happiness and interests. It helps people relieve nervous tension in order to make a good performance in the front of the interviewers. Also, it’s better to add a smile with your eyes so that you can show a real smile in your face, which makes your interview more successful. Additionally, making good postures can affect the quality of the job interview. The way of standing, sitting or talking shows the level of our attitude and manners, particularly in a job interview. For example, first, sit on the edge of the chair is a signal of nervousness and express you’re uncomfortable. Second, stand in the space belonging to the others and cross the arm, which can be hostile. In order to make your job interview extremely successfully, you’d better prepare eye contact, facial expressions and right postures. Furthermore, nonverbal communication is related to the development of medical care. Usually, most people are getting involved with each other through verbal communication. However, when people are getting older, they are lacking the functions of social network and body function degradation so that they need to depend on nurses’ care— nonverbal behavior,which establish the relationship between nurses and patients, such as, smiling, body positioning and touch. Smiling may be one of the most important characteristics of a nurse who wishes to establish good rapport with patients (Schabracq 1987; Heintzman et al. 1993). Smiling is positively judged by other people and is considered as a sign of good humour, warmth and immediacy (Mehrabian 1972, Reece Whitman 1962). † The body positioning points out whether the person is caring and listening. In the process of nonverbal behavior, the forward leaning indicates that nurse pay attention and care about the condition of the patients. In earlier research Reece Whitman (1962) showed that leaning forward conveys warmth and friendliness. Forward leaning combined with smiling, eye contact and verbal attentiveness (hm-hm) communicates an attitude of involvement. † Additionally, touch is an essential part in the medical care, which is a significant connection between nurses and patients. Touch can deliver the feeling of comfort, identification and encouragement in order to give patients a strong response to be optimistic through the medical process. In the medical way, touch can be divided into two parts; one is â€Å"instrumental touch†, another is â€Å"expressive† touch. Instrumental touch refers to the physical touch, such as bind up a wound. Expressive touch is more emotionally and spontaneous. Hence, touch is a key tool in the medical care; it makes patients more positive to face the medical treatment. What’s more, social interactions are a significant form of nonverbal communication. Symbolic stands for religious and status. On one hand, status can be a symbol of social level with person through his uniform, the brand of the car, and the size of the house. On the other hand, religious belief is equal to the culture, which makes certain people have unique communication. However, comparing to the difference between cultures, it’s pretty obviously that we can see the difference in the nonverbal communication. For example, physical space is a main difference. The acceptable physical distance in Latin America and Middle East is much shorter than it in America and Europe. Commonly, that’s why people often leave enough space for each other when they are standing online to buy the food. Besides, in terms of physical postures, the common example is the habit of many Americans who prefer to have a rest with their feet on the desk, but in Asia, Europe, and Middle East is unrespectable behavior. Additionally, hand and arm gestures means different between cultures. In some cases, for instance the â€Å"OK† sign, commonly it means everything is all right perfect. However, it means worthless in France and is money in Japan. Also, it even means rude in Germany. Another gesture â€Å"thumbs up†, usually it indicated all things are OK. But, in Nigeria, it means very offensive, while in Turkey, it means political rightist party. To sum up, nonverbal communication affects the way of people’s daily life, which tends to add more value to our communication. It makes our job review perfectly, promotes the development of the medical care, and enhances the progress of social interactions. As a result, nonverbal communication, as an essential communication skill, is getting more important and brings people the powerful communication with each other in different areas.

Race and Representation in Congress Essay -- Politics Political Scienc

Race and Representation in Congress The topic of race, redistricting, and minority representation in Congress has emerged as one of the most salient issues in contemporary political thought. The creation of so‑called majority minority districts has been attacked as unfair and racially polarizing by some observers and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The study of race in relation to American politics and institutions, and, in particular, to the institution of Congress, has produced a wealth of research and literature in recent years. This scope of budding research ranges from legislative activity and Congressional voting to the electoral process and campaigning. This study examines the effects of race in Congressional elections and campaigning, and will be primarily focused on constituent relationships with members of the House of Representatives. Through this research, a better understanding of the differences in constituent relationships and engagement between African American Ho use members and their Caucasian colleagues will be reached. Based on the current literature and prevailing scholarly attitudes, one could likely conclude that African American Congress members, on the whole, develop closer and more personal relationships with their constituents than do white representatives. This basis for this research requires further explanation. The rationale for excluding Senators from this study and for narrowing the focus exclusively to black House members reflects the difference in representation between House members and Senators. By studying House districts comprised of a smaller electorate, one can draw important conclusions about the constituency characteristics and the subsequent... ...y Weekly Report. 51.3 (Jan. 16 1993): 75 Seifman, David. â€Å"Dems Concede Engel’s Right on the Button.† The New York Post. 17 June 2000. Sherman, Mark. â€Å"Georgia Campaign ’96.† The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 22 Sept 1996: 4D. Singh, Robert. The Congressional Black Caucus. London: SAGE Publications, 1998. Spaid, Elizabeth Levit. â€Å"Georgia Judges Overrule Black District.† Christian Science Monitor. 88.15 (Dec 15 1995): 4. Swain, Carol M. Black Faces, Black Interests. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1993. â€Å"Weller spurs GOP’s Spanish-language education.† Morris Daily Herald Online. 5 June 2003. 24 Nov. 2003. Whitby, Kenny. The Color of Representation. University of Michigan, 1997. Race and Representation in Congress Essay -- Politics Political Scienc Race and Representation in Congress The topic of race, redistricting, and minority representation in Congress has emerged as one of the most salient issues in contemporary political thought. The creation of so‑called majority minority districts has been attacked as unfair and racially polarizing by some observers and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The study of race in relation to American politics and institutions, and, in particular, to the institution of Congress, has produced a wealth of research and literature in recent years. This scope of budding research ranges from legislative activity and Congressional voting to the electoral process and campaigning. This study examines the effects of race in Congressional elections and campaigning, and will be primarily focused on constituent relationships with members of the House of Representatives. Through this research, a better understanding of the differences in constituent relationships and engagement between African American Ho use members and their Caucasian colleagues will be reached. Based on the current literature and prevailing scholarly attitudes, one could likely conclude that African American Congress members, on the whole, develop closer and more personal relationships with their constituents than do white representatives. This basis for this research requires further explanation. The rationale for excluding Senators from this study and for narrowing the focus exclusively to black House members reflects the difference in representation between House members and Senators. By studying House districts comprised of a smaller electorate, one can draw important conclusions about the constituency characteristics and the subsequent... ...y Weekly Report. 51.3 (Jan. 16 1993): 75 Seifman, David. â€Å"Dems Concede Engel’s Right on the Button.† The New York Post. 17 June 2000. Sherman, Mark. â€Å"Georgia Campaign ’96.† The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 22 Sept 1996: 4D. Singh, Robert. The Congressional Black Caucus. London: SAGE Publications, 1998. Spaid, Elizabeth Levit. â€Å"Georgia Judges Overrule Black District.† Christian Science Monitor. 88.15 (Dec 15 1995): 4. Swain, Carol M. Black Faces, Black Interests. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1993. â€Å"Weller spurs GOP’s Spanish-language education.† Morris Daily Herald Online. 5 June 2003. 24 Nov. 2003. Whitby, Kenny. The Color of Representation. University of Michigan, 1997.

Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 3

one for, lost, a goner. Blaise had chosen him, and it was only a matter of how she was going to play him. A parade of names marched through Thea's mind. Randy Marik. Jake Batista. Kristoffer Milton. Troy Sullivan. Daniel Xiong. And now: Brie Ross. But Eric was talking, sounding animated. â€Å"Your cousin? Is she that other new girl? Thea?† â€Å"Yes. Now-â€Å" â€Å"Look, do you know where she is? I really want to talk to her.† The hazy look descended again, and Eric stared into the distance. â€Å"She's just†¦ I've never met anybody like her†¦.† Blaise let go of the notebook and stared. From her hiding place, Thea stared, too. It had never happened before. This guy didn't even seem to see Blaise. That was strange enough. But by the Blue Monkey-headed Goddess of Inquisitiveness, what Thea really wanted to know was why she herself felt so relieved by it. A bell rang. Blaise was still standing there flabbergasted. Eric stuffed the notebook in his backpack. â€Å"Could you just let her know I asked about her?† â€Å"She doesn't care if you asked about her!† Blaise snapped, voice no longer honeyed. â€Å"She said very explicitly that she never wanted to see you again. And I'd watch out if I were you. Because she has a temper.† The last word was uttered in rising tones. Eric looked slightly alarmed-and crestfallen. Thea saw his throat move as he swallowed. Then, without saying good-bye to Blaise, he turned and walked out the far side of the corridor. Well by the Red Crow-headed Thunderbolt Goddess. Blaise turned around and stalked up the corridor in Thea's direction. Thea didn't even try to hide. â€Å"So you saw all that. Well I hope you're happy,† Blaise said waspishly. Thea wasn't. She was confused. Strangely agitated-and scared, because the Cup of Death was still floating before her eyes. â€Å"I guess we should both just leave him alone/' she said. â€Å"Are you kidding? I'm going to have him,† Blaise said. â€Å"He's mine. Unless,† she added, eyes glittering, â€Å"you've already staked a claim.† Thea floundered, shocked. â€Å"I†¦ well no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Then he's mine. I like a challenge.† Blaise ran a hand through her hair, disordering the black waves. â€Å"Isn't it nice that Gran has so many love charms in the shop,† she mused. â€Å"Blaise†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea had a hard time collecting her thoughts. â€Å"Don't you remember what Gran said? If there's any more trouble†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"There isn't going to be any trouble for us,† Blaise said, her voice flat and positive. â€Å"Only for him.† Thea walked to her next class feeling oddly empty. Ignore it, she thought. There's nothing you can do. She didn't see many Night People along the way to class. A young kid, probably a freshman, who looked like a shapeshifter; a teacher who had the hunting light of the lamia-the born vampires-in his eyes. No made vampires, no werewolves. No other witches. Of course, she couldn't be certain. All the people of the Night World were masters of secrecy, of blending in, of passing unseen. They had to be. It was what allowed them to survive in a world where there were so many more humans†¦ and where humans loved to kill anything different. But when she was sitting in the world literature classroom, Thea noticed a girl in the next row. The girl was small-boned and pretty, with thick eyelashes and hair as black and soft as soot. She had a heart-shaped face-and dimples. But what caught Thea's eye was the girl's hand, which was playing with a pin on the girl's blue-and-white-striped vest. A pin in the shape of a black flower. A dahlia. Thea immediately turned to a blank page in her notebook. While the teacher read a passage from the story Rashomon, Thea began drawing a black dahlia, tracing it over and over until it was large enough for the girl to see distinctly. When she raised her head, she saw the girl was looking at her. The girl's lashes swept down as she looked at the drawing, then up again. She smiled at Thea and nodded slightly. Thea smiled and nodded back. After class, without any need to discuss it, Thea followed the girl to the front of the school. The girl looked around to make sure no one was in earshot, then turned to Thea with something like resigned wistfulness. â€Å"Circle Midnight?† she said. Thea shook her head. â€Å"Circle Twilight. Aren't you?† The girl's face lit up with shy delight. Her eyes were dark and velvety. â€Å"Yes!† she said and rushed on, â€Å"But there are only two more of us-two seniors, I mean-and they're both Circle Midnight, and I was afraid to hope!† She thrust out her hand, dimpling. â€Å"I'm Dani Abforth.† Thea felt her heart lighten. The girl's laughter was infectious. â€Å"Thea Harman. Unity.† It was the age-old greeting of the witches, the symbol of their harmony, their oneness. â€Å"Unity,† Dani murmured. Then her eyes widened. â€Å"Harman? You're a Hearth-Woman? A daughter of Hellewise? Really?† Thea laughed. â€Å"We're all daughters of Hellewise.† â€Å"Yes, but-you know what I mean. You're a direct descendent. I'm honored.† â€Å"Well, I'm honored, too. Abforth is ‘All-bringing-forth,' isn't it? That's a pretty impressive line itself.† Dani was still looking awed, so Thea said quickly, â€Å"My cousin's here, too-Blaise Harman. We're both new-but you must be, too. I've never seen you around Vegas before.† â€Å"We moved in last month, just in time to start school,† Dani said. Her brow puckered. â€Å"But it you're new, what do you mean you haven't seen me around?† Thea sighed. â€Å"Well, it's kind of complicated†¦.† A bell rang. Both she and Dani looked at the school building in frustration, then at each other. â€Å"Meet me here at lunch?† Dani asked. Thea nodded, asked which way her French class was, and then flew off toward the other side of the building. She sat through her next two classes trying to actually listen to the teachers. She didn't know what else to do. She had to concentrate to keep the image of gray-flecked green eyes out of her mind. At lunch, she found Dani sitting on the steps out front. Thea settled beside her and opened a bottle of Evian water and a chocolate yogurt she'd bought at the snack bar. â€Å"You were going to explain how you know Vegas,† Dani said. She spoke softly because there were kids everywhere in the front courtyard, sprawled in the sun with paper bags. Thea eyed a row of sago palms and felt herself sighing again. â€Å"Blaise and I-our mothers died when we were born. They were twin sisters. And then both our dads died. So we grew up sort of moving around from relative to relative. We usually spend the summers with Grandma Harman, and we live with somebody else during the school year. But these last couple of years†¦ well, we've been in five high schools since we were sophomores.† â€Å"Five?† â€Å"Five. I think five. Isis knows, it could be six.† â€Å"But why?† â€Å"We keep getting expelled,† Thea said succinctly. â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"It's Blaise's fault,† Thea said. She was mad at Blaise. â€Å"She does-things-to boys. Human boys. And somehow it always ends up getting us kicked out of school. Both of us, because I'm always too stupid to tell them she's the one responsible.† â€Å"Not stupid, I bet. Loyal,† Dani said warmly, and put her hand on Thea's. Thea squeezed it, taking some comfort in the sympathy. â€Å"Anyway, this year we were in New Hampshire living with our Uncle Galen-and Blaise did it again. To the captain of the football team. His name was Randy Marik†¦.† When Thea stopped, Dani said, â€Å"What happened to him?† â€Å"He burned the school down for her.† Dani made a sound halfway between a snort and a giggle. Then she straightened out her face quickly. â€Å"Sorry, not funny. For her?† Thea leaned against the wrought-iron stair railing. â€Å"That's what Blaise likes,† she said bleakly. â€Å"Having power over guys, messing with their minds. Getting them to do things they would never ordinarily do. To prove their love, you know. But the thing is, she's never satisfied until they're completely destroyed†¦.† She shook her head. â€Å"You should have seen Randy at the end. He'd lost his mind. I don't think he'll ever get it back.† Dani wasn't smiling anymore. â€Å"Power like that†¦ she sounds like Aphrodite,† she said softly. And that's right, Thea thought. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love who could turn passion into a weapon that brought the whole world to its knees. â€Å"Remind me sometime to tell you what she's done to the other guys she's played. In a way. Randy was lucky†¦.† Thea took a breath. â€Å"So, anyway, we got shipped back here to Grandma Harman because there weren't any other relatives willing to take us. They figured if Gran couldn't straighten us up, nobody could.† â€Å"But that must be wonderful,† Dani said. â€Å"I mean, living with the Crone. Part of the reason my mom moved us here was that she wanted to study with your grandmother.† Thea nodded. â€Å"Yeah, people come from all over to take her classes, or to buy her amulets and things. She's not always easy to live with, though,† Thea added wryly. â€Å"She goes through a couple of apprentices a year.† â€Å"So is she going to straighten Blaise up?† â€Å"I don't think anybody can. What Blaise does-it's just her nature, the way it's a cat's nature to play with mice. And if we get in trouble again, Gran says she's going to send us to our aunt Ursula at the Connecticut enclave.† â€Å"The Convent?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"Then you'd better stay out of trouble.† â€Å"I know. Dani, what's this school like? I mean, is it the kind of place where Blaise can keep out of trouble?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dani looked dismayed. â€Å"Well-I told you before, there's only two other witches in our class, and they're both Circle Midnight. Maybe you know them†¦ Vivienne Morrigan and Selene Lucna?† Thea's heart sank. Vivienne and Selene-she'd seen them going to summer Circles, wearing the darkest robes of any of the Circle Midnight girls. The two of them plus Blaise would make†¦ well, a lethal combination. â€Å"Maybe if you explain to them how important it is, they might help you keep Blaise under control,† Dani said. â€Å"You want to go talk to them now? They'll be on the patio by the cafeteria-I usually eat with them there.† â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea hesitated. Talking to those two- well, she doubted it would help. But on the other hand, she didn't have a better idea. â€Å"Why not?† On the way to the cafeteria, she saw something that made her stop dead. Taped to the stucco wall was a giant piece of butcher paper, painted orange and black at the margins. In the center was a grotesque figure: an old woman with a black dress, disheveled white hair, and a wart-covered, haglike face. She was straddling a broom and wearing a pointy hat. Lettering under the picture said coming OCTOBER 31 †¦ THE ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN PARTY. Hands on hips, Thea said, â€Å"When will they learn that witches never wore pointy hats?† Dani snorted, her heart-shaped face surprisingly dangerous. â€Å"You know, maybe your cousin has the right idea after all.† Thea looked at her, startled. â€Å"Well, they are an inferior species. You have to admit that. And maybe it sounds prejudiced, but then they're so prejudiced themselves.† She leaned closer to Thea. â€Å"You know, they even have prejudices against skin.† She held out her arm. Thea looked at the flawless skin, which was a deep, clear brown. â€Å"They'd think we were two different races,† Dani said, pressing her arm against Thea's tan one. â€Å"And that maybe one was better than the other one.† Thea couldn't deny it. All she could say, feebly, was, â€Å"Well, two wrongs don't make a right†¦.† â€Å"But three lefts do!† Dani burst out, finishing the old witch carol. Then she dissolved into laughter and led Thea to the patio. â€Å"Let's see, they should be over there†¦. Oh. Oops.† Oops, Thea thought. Vivienne and Selene were at a secluded table on the far side. Blaise was with them. â€Å"I should have known she'd find them first thing,† Thea muttered. From the way the three girls had their heads together, it looked as if trouble were brewing already. As Thea and Dani approached the table, Blaise looked up. â€Å"Where've you been?† she said, waving a finger reproachfully. â€Å"I've been waiting to introduce you.† Everybody said hello. Then Thea sat down and studied the other two girls. Vivienne had fox-red hair and looked tall even sitting down. Her face was animated; she seemed sparkling with energy. Selene was a platinum blond with sleepy blue eyes. She was smaller, and moved with languid grace. Now, how do I politely say, â€Å"Please help me suppress my cousin?† Thea wondered. She could already tell it wouldn't be much use. Viv and Selene seemed to be under Blaise's spell already-they turned to her every other second as if checking for approval. Even Dani was watching Blaise with something like fascinated awe. Blaise had that effect on people. â€Å"So we were just talking about guys,† Selene said, twirling a straw languorously in her bottle of Snapple iced tea. Thea's heart plummeted. â€Å"Toyboys,† Vivienne clarified in a lovely melodious voice. Thea felt the beginnings of a bad headache. No wonder Blaise is smirking, she thought. These girls are just like her. She'd seen it at other schools: young witches who seemed to flirt with breaking Night World law by flaunting inhuman power over boys. â€Å"Aren't there any of our kind of guys here?† Thea asked, as a last hope. Vivienne rolled her eyes. â€Å"One sophomore. Alaric Breedlove, Circle Twilight. That's it. This place is a desert-no pun intended.† Thea wasn't really surprised. There were always more witch girls than guys-and nobody seemed to know why. More girls got born, more survived to grow up. And in some places the ratio was particularly unbalanced. â€Å"So we just have to make do,† Selene drawled. â€Å"But that can be fun sometimes. Homecoming dance is this Saturday, and I've got my boy all picked out.† â€Å"So,† Blaise said, â€Å"have I.† She glanced at Thea significantly. And there it was. Thea felt her throat close. â€Å"Eric Ross,† Blaise said, savoring the words. â€Å"And Viv and Sel have told me allll about him.† â€Å"Eric?† Dani said. â€Å"He's the basketball star, isn't he?† â€Å"And the baseball star,† Vivienne said in her beautiful voice. â€Å"And the tennis star. And he's smart-he takes honors courses and works at the animal hospital, too. He's studying to get into U.C. Davis. To be a vet, you know.† So that's why he cared about the snake, Thea thought. And why he's got flatworms in his notebook. â€Å"And he's so cute,† Selene murmured. â€Å"He's so shy with girls-he can hardly talk around them. None of us have gotten anywhere with him.† â€Å"That's because you used the wrong methods,† Blaise said, and her eyes were very smoky. Thea's insides seemed hollow and there was a circlet of pain around her head. She did the only thing she could think of. â€Å"Blaise,† she said. She looked her cousin directly in the face, making an open appeal. â€Å"Blaise, listen. I hardly ever ask anything of you, right? But now I'm asking something. I want you to leave Eric alone. Can you do that-for me? For the sake of Unity?† Blaise blinked slowly. She took a long drink of iced tea. â€Å"Why, Thea, you're getting all worked up.† â€Å"Ism not.† â€Å"I didn't know you cared.† â€Å"I don't. I mean-of course I don't care about him. But I'm worried about you, about all of us. I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea hadn't meant to say this, but she found the words spilling out anyway. â€Å"I think he might have some suspicions about us. This morning he told me that I seemed so different from other girls†¦.† She managed to stop herself before she mentioned that he'd guessed she had healed him. That would be incredibly dangerous, especially since she didn't know who Vivienne or Selene might blab to. Blaise's pupils were large. â€Å"You mean-you think he's a psychic?† â€Å"No, no.† She knew he wasn't a psychic. She'd been inside his mind, and he wasn't from any lost witch family. He didn't have any powers. He was as much a human as that snake had been a snake. â€Å"Well, then,† Blaise said. She chuckled, a rich, rippling sound. â€Å"He just thinks you're different-and that's hardly something to worry about. We want them to think we're different.† She didn't understand. And Thea couldn't explain. Not without getting herself into very hot water. â€Å"So, if you don't mind, we'll just consider my claim staked,† Blaise said courteously. â€Å"Now, let's see, what to do with the boys at the dance. First, I think we need to spill their blood.† â€Å"Spill what?† Dani said, sitting up. â€Å"Just a little blood,† Blaise told her absently. â€Å"It's going to be absolutely vital for some of the spells we'll want to do later.† â€Å"Well, good luck,† Dani said. â€Å"Humans don't like blood-they're going to run like bunnies from you after that.† Blaise regarded her with a half-smile. â€Å"I don't think so,† she said. â€Å"You don't understand this business yet. If it's done right, they don't run. They're scared; they're shocked; and they just keep coming back for more.† Dani looked shocked herself-and still fascinated. â€Å"But why do you want to hurt them?† â€Å"We're just doing what comes naturally,† Blaise purred. I don't care Thea thought, it's none of my business. She heard herself say, â€Å"No.† She was staring at a pile of squashed napkins in her hand. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Blaise's exasperated expression. The others might not know what Thea was saying no to, but Blaise always understood her cousin. â€Å"I asked you before if you wanted him,† Blaise said. â€Å"And you said you didn't. So now you're changing your mind? You're going to play him?† Thea stared at her wad of napkins. What could she say? I can't because I'm scared? I can't because something happened between him and me this morning and I don't know what it was? I can't because if I keep seeing him I have this feeling I might break the law, and I don't mean the one about never telling humans that we exist; I mean the other one, the one about never falling in love†¦. Don't be ridiculous. That sort of thing is out of the question, she told herself. All you want is to keep him from ending up like Randy Marik. And you can do that without getting involved. â€Å"I'm saying I want him,† she said out loud. â€Å"You're going to play him?† â€Å"I'm going to play him.† â€Å"Well.† Instead of snarling, Blaise laughed. â€Å"Well, congratulations. My little cousin is growing up at last.† â€Å"Oh, please.† Thea gave her a look. She and Blaise had been born on two different days-just barely. Blaise had been born one minute before midnight, and Thea one minute after. It was another reason they were so connected-but Thea hated it when Blaise acted older. Blaise just smiled, her gray eyes glinting. â€Å"And, look-there's lover boy right now,† she said, feigning elaborate surprise. Thea followed her nod and saw a figure with sandy hair and long legs at the other side of the patio. â€Å"What luck,† Blaise said. â€Å"Why don't you just walk over and ask him to the dance?†

Nurse in Vietnam Essay

Today, we have lost a legacy. Malcolm X was one of the greatest and most influential African Americans the world has ever known. He did so much to make us feel connected with our African American heritage. He would say the things we were thinking but were too afraid to say ourselves. He taught us to stand up for ourselves and our rights as black men. Who knew that a troubled young boy would become a powerful and educated leader? As a young troubled maker doing prison time, it was during his ten years in prison that he educated himself as well as introducing himself to the Nation of Islam teachings. After serving a couple of prison stints he even became a minister of numerous temples in Boston, Philadelphia and New York. He also started a newspaper titled â€Å"Muhammad Speaks† which touched on controversial views about his idea that blacks were superior. He became second in command to Elijah Muhammad but they butted heads and ended up going their own ways. Elijah stuck to his ideas of Nation of Islam, while Malcolm X focused on what true Islam taught. He felt that the Civil Rights Movement had the Blacks begging the whites for freedom, and he was not a fan of begging. He instead advocated black power and black consciousness even if it resulted in violence. He had several speeches, including â€Å"Black Man’s History,† â€Å"The Black Revolution,† and â€Å"Gods Judgment of White America† ( also known as â€Å" The chicken Come Home to Roost). These speeches he gave during the Nation of Islam. When he was transitioning to true Islam he gave â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet.† After his transition to True Islam he gave a speech at Ford Auditorium. Today at 3:10 PM we were gathered at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem to which him address the Organization of Afro-American Unity when three of Elijah  Muhammad’s follower brutally killed Malcolm X. They shot him 15 times at point blank range. He was pronounced dead on the arrival at Columbia Presbylerian Hospital shortly thereafter. He was 39 years old. The three men convicted of the assassination of Malcolm X were members of the National of Islam: Talmandge Hayer, Norm 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson. After Malcolm X’s death in 1965, his bestselling book The Autobiography of Malcolm X popularized his ideas, particularly among black youth, and laid the foundation for the Black Power Movement of the late 1960’s and 1970’s. References www.tru.tv.com Malcolm X By Walter Bell www.biography.com