Fall of Labor Unions

What do you think of when you hear the phrase â€Å"labor unions?† Most people associate a negative connotation with labor unions. They think that labor unions are the only cause of strikes and work stoppages. Most think that people in unions are greedy and will do anything to get more money. Others swear by their unions, saying that their employers would take advantage of them if they didn†t organize their unions. However as we prepare to enter the new millennium, labor unions are decreasing in size. Let†s look at some of reasons. First, the numbers are unmistakable. At the end of 1997, when the most recent count was made, only 14.1% of workers belonged to unions, the lowest percentage since 1936 (Gross 23). This is a dramatic decrease from when unions were at their height at the end of World War II when 35.3% of Americans were in unions (Galenson 13). One cause of this fall of union membership is the decline of manufacturing in America and the transfer of much manufacturing work over seas (Gross 24). Because of advances in technology and labor saving innovations, fewer people are required to make steel and assembler automobiles. As a result, only 16.1% of U.S. workers now work in factories, down from 22.8% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 2). There has also been a decrease in size of the large corporations, which in the past usually signed industry-wide contracts to produce a particular item. The latest figures show that the 800 largest firms employed 17% of the total workforce, down from 25.7% twenty years ago (Aronwitz 3). Many of these companies have their work done abroad. Nike does not make a single shoe in the United States and many insurance companies are having paperwork processed over seas (Hacker 45). At home corporate jobs are frequently assigned to temporary workers, who are often classified as â€Å"independent contractors† and are not very likely to join unions. Indeed, there are fewer long-term jobs, something union seniority could once guarantee. Last year, among men aged forty to forty-five, only 39.1% had worked ten or more years at their current job, compared with 51.1 percent in 1983 (Galenson 27). So, one might ask, what caused this to happen? At some point in the 1980s, the balance of power shifted against labor unions. Some say the defining moment was in 1981, when then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan forced an end to the bitter air traffic controllers' strike. Others point to the 1985 victory of then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over striking coal miners (Gross 239). Whatever the reason, unions are trying to make a comeback. There are several strategies that unions have devised to return to their former glory. Unions have adopted a more lenient attitude towards management, reducing the number of strikes to record lows in the 1980s and early 90s, and attempting to negotiate contracts providing job security for members (Gross 278). Unions have also placed greater emphasis on organizing drives for new members. Although unions have been very successful in organizing government employees, they have been less successful with recruiting office workers in the rapidly expanding services sector. However, during the last two decades, the wage advantage for unionized workers with private jobs has fallen by 44.1 percent, although the public sector has increased by 9.5 percent (Maguire 20). Currently, 41.9% of union members are from the public sector. Among the most strongly unionized occupations are firefighters (71.6%), flight attendants (69.4%), and high school teachers (56.1%). Only 28.6 percent of coal miners belong to unions and only 19.5% of truck drivers (Hacker 47). Despite all of the downsides of unions they do have their benefits. Here are a few examples of salaries secured through collective bargaining by highly trained professionals: Pilots with only fifteen years of service at Northwest, American, United, and US Airways now earn on average over $175,000 a year. Professors at New York City University can now get as much as $101,655 for twenty-eight weeks of teaching. Under the current National Basketball Association contract, first year players-some of them right out of high school-will start at $300,000 (Hacker 48). The recent NBA lockout has shaped many peoples† opinions on labor unions. Most people, myself included, thought that it was ridiculous for these people to be having a labor dispute. The players are already making an insane amount of money and the owners are millionaires themselves looking to add to their pocketbooks also. The real losers in this battle are the fans who love the game. They cannot see their favorite players in action because of this dispute. This just goes to show you that labor markets affect us in our everyday lives. Another way labor unions can affect our lives is when they decide to strike. This can effect hundreds, even thousands of workers in the General Motors strike in 1998. In the case with the automobile industry, many factories are involved in the production of their cars. If even one of these factories strikes then the other factories must also shut down. This chain reaction can render thousands of workers jobless in just a few weeks. The union members know that there is always a potential risk of striking as accept as part of their job. What role will unions play in the future? Will they ever return to former glory? Nobody knows for sure. Economists have mixed feeling on this matter. Some say that the workers of the twenty-first century will demand a return to the unions and organize in record numbers. Others say that the current trend will prevail and almost wipeout unions completely until there are only a handful of them remaining. My opinion is that unions will stick around for as long as people are working. They will be there to protect the rights of the individual worker and make sure that he or she is treated fairly.

Environmental Issues Essay

Not enough can be said about the environmental problems that the planet earth and its inhabitants is currently facing. Aside from the rampant pollution that people nowadays have to live with, people must also be concerned with the inescapable problems that affect the ozone layer, which in turn causes global warming. Global warming is not an issue that only affects a few people from poorer parts of the world. It is a global problem that people must face now before time runs out. Although it is true that global warming, the thinning and the destruction of the ozone layer, are irreversible, people can start working as one now to help alleviate the problem. This time no one is spared from the problems that Mother Earth has bestowed its inhabitants after years of abuse. There are a number of things that one can do in order to start solving the planet. These may be done in one’s home, school, office or community, and may even be simpler than one can even imagine. At home, people may start being more disciplined and conscious in recycling everything that can be recycled. Paper, bottles, cans, plastics, and other items may be recycled properly and taken to recycling centers. Brown paper bags and plastic bags may be reused to line trash cans rather than using new trash liners and garbage bags. Food may be used in reusable containers instead on disposable plastic containers. Electric energy may be conserved by avoiding the use of electrical appliances when needed, such as turning of lights, electronic devices when a person leaves the room, less ironing of clothes that are only worn at home, or the use of manual can openers and knife sharpeners instead of using the electric can openers and knife sharpening devices. The use of cold water in the washer rather than hot water also saves energy as well as prolongs the longevity of one’s clothes. Turning off the faucet when not in use, or even turning the heat down and putting on sweaters indoors instead are also energy-conserving ways. In one’s yard, a compost pit may be started where leaves and other biodegradable household waste may be put into. Rather than using insecticides, homeowners and gardeners may opt to pull weeds instead. Planting dense shrubs close to the house’s foundation also adds insulation to one’s home to protect against draft and the cold. People should also be more conscious of the ways they use their cars. More and more people are now observed to be using their bicycles, which is not only an excellent workout but also helps conserve energy. Further, more and more people have rediscovered the joys of carpooling and the use of public transit. A lot of new cars are now more fuel-efficient and produce lower emissions, which must be one of the greater considerations when buying a new car. Old cars must be regularly tuned up, and its oil must be regularly changed as well. The same is true in one’s office. Recycle all the materials, such as paper, paper clips, boxes, among others properly. There are a number of electronic office devices which are energy efficient and may be acquired instead of less energy efficient ones. The higher price makes up for more savings in the long run. All in all, there are a million things people can do to help alleviate the environmental concerns the earth is now facing. Joining a conservation organization, volunteering one’s time to conservation projects or even allotting a few loose change for conservation projects may also be helpful especially if done sincerely. People must start encouraging each one to take part and be more involved in the proper care of the environment. Children must be taught as early as possible to respect and care for the environment. Conservation concerns must be properly disseminated to the community to enjoin its members to help and take part in caring for the environment.

Northern Ireland Conflict Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Northern Ireland Conflict - Case Study Example Carmichael and Knox (2004) suggest that the peace process could only happen due to the associated power sharing, elected assembly and reformed system of public administration and civic engagement. Carmiuchae and Knox suggest that the implementation of the peace process was only an attempt to institutionalise stability through a political agreement. Along with changes in the peace agreement, there has also been changes in governance and practices in public sector and civil administration. Following the peace agreement there is a more complex and multilayered governance structure along with participation of local authorities and public bodies that seem to control the administration. Issues of territorial management exposes problems of constitutional loopholes and controversies that still seem to afflict the governance process and it is important to highlight on the importance of an agreed system of governance for proper implementation of the peace process. This would obviously bring us to the question as to why the peace process in Northern Ireland was particularly so difficult to achieve and what were the barriers to a successful resolution of the Northern Ireland conflict. As we have suggested, the loss of a balance of power and governance could be one of the reasons for which the peace process was being delayed and was proving to be difficult. ... rocess focused on improving the Anglo-Irish relations and deterioration of this relation during the conflict was again one of the main obstacles to the peace process. O'Kane (2004) point out to the apparent shifts in policy between the British and Irish governments and suggest that policy variations have been a major barrier to the successful resolution of the Ireland conflict. Mnookin (2003) highlights on the strategic barriers to dispute resolution and peace process and uses the case of Northern Ireland to illustrate his study. He suggests that in two party negotiations, the parties try to maximise their own individual returns and that a requirement for unanimity creates strategic barriers that may delay the political process of negotiation. Although certain decisions may be taken even without unanimity, the importance of the sufficient consensus standard as used for the Northern Ireland peace process would show that that not all peace agreements could have a complete political support from all parties concerned. The changing patterns of violence and the role of paramilitary groups which would be reasons of obstacle of the peace process have been considered by Jarman (2004). Jarman discusses on the changing patters of violence and paramilitary forces in Northern Ireland highlighting instances of violent crime, domestic violence, punishment' attacks, racist, homophobic violence, public disorder and rioting. Jarman highlights the role of the young people and paramilitary organisations and the subsequent police reform program that seems to have made important contributions in the pre peace stage and after the conflict resolution stage ad could have even acted as barriers to peace within a culture of violence. Within the context of barriers to the peace process,

Company Director Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Company Director - Essay Example Normally, the directors of a company are not required to own any of its shares. Economists have analysed the problems, which may arise when the people managing a business do not own all of it. Managers in this position are believed to manage the business less efficiently than if they did own it.1 In broad terms the duties can be distilled into three propositions: Firstly, directors are under a duty to act bona fide in the interests of the company. Secondly, to exercise their powers under company's constitution for the proper purpose. Finally, to avoid conflict of interests and to profit from their position. For the first time, however, all the duties owed by directors to their company have been set out in statute, in Part 10 (ss.170-177) of the CA 2006. Section 171 of Companies Act 2006 states that duty to act within powers. A director of a company must (a) act in accordance with the company's constitution, and (b) only exercise powers for the purposes for which they are conferred. The constitution of the company is one or more documents setting out the rules by which the company is to be operated. While the constitution is subject to the Act, it sets out what powers directors have and how they are to exercise them. Directors must abide by these rules. If this power is given for one purpose, they cannot exercise it for a different proper purpose, even if they think that to do so would be in the best interests of the company.2 In Re Smith & Fawcett Ltd Lord Greene MR went to add that Directors must not exercise their powers for any "collateral purpose". This is called the proper purpose doctrine. The facts of Extrasure Travel Insurances Ltd v Cohen3, afford a clear illustration of a power being exercised for an improper purpose. More generally, however, the issue of whether Directors have used a power for a proper purpose arises in relation to their authority to issue shares. If shares are allotted in exchange for cash where the company is in need of additional capital the duty will not be broken. But where Directors issue shares in order to dilute the voting rights of an existing majority shareholder because he or she is blocking a resolution supporting, for example a takeover bid, then the duty will be breached. The Privy Council in Howard Smith Ltd v Ampol Petroleum Ltd4 subjected the content of the duty to through scrutiny. The Directors allotted shares to a company, which had made a takeover bid. The effect of the shares was to reduce the majority holding of two other shareholders who had made a rival bid from 55 to 36 percent. The two shareholders sought declaration that the share allotment was invalid as being an improper exercise of power. The court held that it must be unconstitutional for Directors to use their fiduciary powers over the shares in the company purely for the purpose of destroying an existing majority, or creating a new majority, which did not previously exist. Section 172 of Companies Act 2006 introduces significant change in common law. This Act states that duty to promote the success of the company. Section 172(1) a director of a company must act

Sexual Life in campas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sexual Life in campas - Essay Example -religious institutions, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the various research methodologies employed by (Freitas, 2008) and (Smith and Snell, 2009). The ever-changing dynamics of societal relations have incessantly worked to diminish people’s hold on religion. Most people, especially youths between the ages of 18 to 23, are continually moving away from religion by finding refuge in other forms of entertainment. These youths hold the notion that the church has become an annoying place. As such, they have lost the previous clingy stands that they had towards the church during their formative years (Smith and Snell, 2009). Not only has the appeal to embrace stern evangelical positions been pushed out of the window, but also the social cloth that defined the boundaries of right and wrong. To the female students in evangelical schools, the determinant for failing college was not grades, but, failure to get a fiancà © or a husband. Emphasis on getting a man has got nothing to do with religion; this implies that religion has again been given a backseat. This further reflects how people’s stance, even the evangelical school students, towards religion and people’s belief in religion as a social marker has considerably softened. In the evangelical colleges, not many people are secure about their sexual orientations (Freitas, 2008). This kind of insecurity is precipitated by the desire to fulfill religious obligations while at the same time balancing with the real life. In addition, the people in religious schools consider â€Å"saving themselves until marriage a sacred thing† (Freitas, 2008). As such, students who have already been involved in sexual encounters before marriage exhibit feelings of guilt that lead them towards wanting to change their sexual orientations. Most of the students in evangelical colleges consider talking to their partners as very romantic, and they value talking so much. This emphasis on talking does show that communication is

How Nurses Can Improve Nutritional Safety Research Paper

How Nurses Can Improve Nutritional Safety - Research Paper Example Monitoring of Patients †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..11 v. Replacement Meals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...14 Key Terms Standards: Refers to a level of quality against which performance can be measured. Protected Meal times: Described as protected uninterrupted time to focus on providing an environmen t conducive to eating, when there are no clinical interventions and all staff focus on people’s nutritional needs Screening: Refers to the process of identifying patients already malnourished or at the risk of becoming malnourished. Assessment: Refers to a more detailed process than screening where a range of specific methods are employed to identify and quantify impairment of. nutritional status. Nutritional needs or requirements: These are indispensable nutritional individual demands. Crockery: refers to tableware, eating and serving dishes collectively. Utensils: refers to implements for practical use; especially in a household. Introduction Nutrition and food experience are imperial to a patient. Not only is food essential for life and symbolizes a basic human right, but It is also a basis for extensive enjoyment, with vital social, religious and cultural roles all of which require deliberation within a health care unit. The provision of food and nutritional care in healt h care centers is a complex field of service and is the obligation of many members of the hospital team. This is a varied team that consists of the clinical staff: nurses, doctors, midwives, speech and language therapists, dieticians, domestic and catering health care assistants, and therapy assistants. For patients to get high quality service and get optimum benefit from food, all the members of the health care unit must work together and must â€Å"do their bit† in partnership with the caretakers. Nurses offer nursing services 24 hours a day, and for this reason, nurses are the only group in a health care center who have direct contact with the patient during meal times and any other time of the day. Therefore, nurses play an essential role in nutritional care and meal experience of the patients. Nurses have a broad obligation in a hospital. Their responsibilities include assessment planning, screening, serving, monitoring, practical assistance with drinking and eating and on occasion, preparation of food in the ward area. Nurses are answerable for their practice in the hospital in all facets of nutritional care, provision of food and drinks. Nurses should deliver services and care to the highest standard possible. Nurses and midwives in the United States are committed offering the best possible care and treatment to patients. As the health workers who spend most of the time with the patients, nurses have an enormous possibility to improve patient safety in relation to nutrition care, drinking and eating. This potency can only be realized by focusing on improving aspects of food, fluid and nutritional

A Literature Review on Consumer Voluntary Disposition Essay

A Literature Review on Consumer Voluntary Disposition - Essay Example uct dominant to consumer dominant has bought such reorientation on â€Å"customer focus† (Kohli and Jaworski, 1990, p.3) requires sophisticated understanding of consumer behaviours (Nwankwo, 1995). Consequently, the field of consumer research (Belk, 1986 cited in Holb rook, 1995) becomes an increasingly important constituent to marketing discipline than ever before. According to consumer culture theory (CCT), consumer research investigates/studies â€Å"the contextual, symbolic, and experiential aspects of consumption as they unfold across a consumption cycle that includes acquisition, consumption and possession, and disposition processes and analysis of these phenomena from macro-, meso-, and micro- theoretical perspectives† (Arnould and Thompson, 2005, p.871). This topic is important because, firstly, many disposition decisions have economic consequences for both the individual and society. Some (eg., when and how to properly dispose outdated prescription drugs) even have important health and safety ramifications. Secondly, since much purchase behaviour is cyclical, a variety of marketing implications can emanate from an understanding of the disposition subprocess. Thirdly, in an age of relative scarcity in which we can no longer afford the luxury of squandering resources, understanding disposition decisions and behaviour is logically prerequisite for effective environmental conservation – environmental implication (Jacoby, 1978). The rest of this paper first examines the definition of disposition, followed by an integrative review on disposition typologies, methodological issues, and factors that determine disposition by consumers. Finally, the status of the literature and implications for future research in the area are discussed. Disposal has been defined differently by different researchers. A product will be disposed under different situations. Some will contend that as soon as an owner relinquishes the possession of an appliance, (Jacoby 1978) there is

Research paper Critique for Nursing medication administration and work

Critique for Nursing medication administration and work flow using computerized pysician order entry - Research Paper Example This paper describes the research of the impact of CPOE on medication errors. The target populations in this research were the nurses. The research tries to get the impact of CPOE systems on the nurse’s workflow. The nurses who were available for this study were those in pediatrics unit and emergency unit. The criteria for including nurses in the study are the essence of their past having to do increased work plus the medication errors committed by the nurses. The Institute of Medicine had filed an earlier report showing that nearly 7000 patients every year die due to medication errors. In minimizing medication errors and time wasted by nurses in the course of administering medications. In the study conducted by Dana, the author agrees to the fact that their exists advantages and disadvantages of the CPOE system on the nurses after its introduction to help reduce the nurses work flow. Research questions in this research are the impacts of CPOE system on the nurses’ workflow and the disadvantages of using Computerized Physician Order Entry system to the nurses. The author’s hypotheses this case is justifiable after realizing that the introduction of CPOE systems in hospitals led to minimal interaction between nurses and physicians. In terms of the literature review, the hypotheses were not related since the literature review entirely talked of the problems nurses experience before CPOE system the introduction while the theoretical rationale speaks of the impact the system had on the nurses.

Self-experiences influence the dealings of a Counselor Essay

Self-experiences influence the dealings of a Counselor - Essay Example This is the reason when I met one of my clients with a similar problem, I could understand with greater depth the reason for the occurrence of sorrow. My client had a problem with her life partner. He was strict, bold and very much inclined to hurting with thoughts and actions. Just like my teacher could make be lose self-confidence in myself, the client's life-partner could severally disrupt her self-confidence. I had a special sympathy for the case and a genuine interest in helping her out. This is because my own experiences have made me aware of how painful such experiences can be. I therefore held the client's case under sincere consideration and projected every possible help that I could extend. I remember when I use to be late for the class by even a fraction of a minute; I was humiliated as though I was the most disobedient and irresponsible creature on earth. She hardly considered me as a human being with feelings. The same thing was with my client, even her little delay in c ooking food for her partner resulted in a very dominant and practically cruel feedback from him. I understand how bad and depressed a person can feel because of the generations of such negative feelings within the boundaries of survival. The client had suffered a lot because of health reasons. However, the greater source of sorrow for the client was the humiliations and dominant dealings of her partner. The inabilities to deal with harsh words were present in the client and were becoming a constant source of sorrow induction. I could understand the position of the client more so because I had similar experiences in my childhood and youth. Other than my strict teacher, my mother too held a very harsh way of dealing with me. The client too recollected from her past experiences the thoughts of pain, which had resulted in causing a painful presentation of life to her. It is also essential to note that the similarity in the dealings with the same source of sorrow could enable me to understand the position of the client with greater depth and clarity. A regular and continuous source of putting her down was creating tons of mental tortures, which were well understood by both the words, and the expressions of the client. She also remembered how her partner had humiliated her in front of her friends when she was stuck in the wheel chair and could not manage even slight movement because of the depression. She was not helped by her life-partner even in such a depressive position. This really brought much reason for her to weep bitterly. From this episode I remembered how my mother when once I was ill refused to even bring forth for me a glass of water for taking the medicine. In the unhealthy state of body, I tearfully gathered strength to take a glass of water for myself and take the medicine by self-effort. The disease was not so severe or chronic and therefore I was healed very soon from it. However, I can never forget what pain it is when a person is ill and is not being supported. The sorrow of pain of body seems less than the pain of not being helped by others. A continuous torture of words and actions had put me in such a phase that I could not even think of passing out my exams with good grades. There was so much of pain and torture in my life that I have no words to express the pain of my heart. The same was the condition of my client. My client had thought of

3-Day Exercise Activity Analysis Essay Example for Free

3-Day Exercise Activity Analysis Essay In this paper I will discuss my current exercise habits as well as discussing my Physical Activity Tracker results. I will also talk about how I can ultimately improve my exercise habits and how I can incorporate a workout routine into my everyday living and be able to use it throughout the entire year. My current exercise habits as of the present moment are none sadly to say. I am one of those people who do not work out. I come from a long line of people in my family who is very over weight. My mother and aunt as well as my sister suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. I know that the fact that those things run in my family puts me at an even greater risk for acquiring both of those ailments. I have dieting on numerous occasions as well as work out. I am a single mother of 4 children and I also work full time as well as attend classes here online. It is really hard to stick to any kind of plan that includes diet and exercise, however I know that if I do not take action soon then it will ultimately be too late. I also worry about my middle daughters weight as well because she takes after my side of the family and she also has type 2 diabetes because of her weight so I think that creating a workout routine followed with a diet will have a positive effect on myself as well as my children. Looking at my Physical Activity Tracker my activity level over a 3 day period was very minimal and just included house work. It was described as light intensity activity and that does not count toward MIE minutes. The total number of calories that I had burned within that 3 day period was only 6,789 which when broken down comes out to a total of 2,263 calories burned per day. My weekly goal for physical activity was 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and 2 days of muscle strength training every week. However I did not meet any of those goals at all. I know that I need to take more indicative when it comes to working out daily if I plan to get in shape and lose any weight at all. I believe that the changes that I need to make in my everyday life to be able to actually follow through with a workout routine and have more energy to be able to do so is to eat more healthier foods first of all, like green leafy vegetables and fruits along with taking my vitamins so that will help with my energy level. I know that I also need to start drinking water as I do not drink any at all right now and I know that that is very unhealthy. I think that just getting up and taking a walk around my neighborhood on a day to day basis will help. I think that I will start just by walking around a couple of blocks at first and then slowly increase that to 4 blocks and so on and so forth. I think that walking would be a great way to start but I also believe that doing some sit ups and leg lifts after I get my energy level built up after I start my walking regimen would really benefit me as well. When I was a teenager I had a daily routine of doing 50 sit ups a day along with 50 leg lifts. I did that for a whole year straight and I lost so much weight not to mention inches off of my waistline. I think that I will also look into joining a gym so that when it is cold outside I can go there and walk on the treadmill as well as use the other equipment, I have a friend that goes everyday faithfully and I think that working out with a partner would help get me more motivated as well. I intend to get in shape this year because I am not getting any younger and I know that my health is essential if I want to be here to be able to see my children grow up.

Evaluation Of Progesterone And Estrogen Biology Essay

Evaluation Of Progesterone And Estrogen Biology Essay Steroid hormones viz. progesterone, estrogen were estimated through TLC in a concentration and time dependent manner i.e. 2.5mg/ml, 5.0mg/ml for 30 45 minutes and, 0.2mg/ml, 0.4mg/ml for 30 45 minutes respectively. Progesterone and estrogen were stained with 50% v/v aq. solution of Conc. H2SO4 and were estimated through TLC in a concentration and time dependent manner.Different steroid hormones travel at different rates due to the differences in their attraction to the stationary phase and because of differences in solubility in the solvent. These Rf values obtained from both the hormones were then compared and it was found that there was a reasonable difference. Further, a study on the interaction of steroid hormones with fatty acids and proteins was undertaken using a spectrophotometer. Steroid hormones viz. progesterone and estrogen were made to interact with measured amounts of alcohol, stearic acid and bovine serum albumin (BSA) and their absorbance were recorded at the excita tion wavelength of 410 nm using a spectrophotometer. Progesterone (conc.2mg/ml) and estrogen (conc. 0.5mg/ml) were each mixed with 0.1 ml, 0.2ml and 0.4ml of stearic acid (conc. 0.5mg/ml) and 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg of BSA separately and their absorbance were noted at 410nm. A slight shift in the absorbance was found on the overall interaction of steroids: progesterone and estrogen with alcohol, stearic acid and BSA respectively, when excited to 410 nm. Thus an attempt was made to establish a valid spectrophotometric procedure for the study of interaction of steroid hormones with fatty acids and proteins. Key words: Progesterone, estrogen, stearic acid, bovine serum albumin, chromatography Running title : Evaluation of progesterone and estrogen Introduction: Steroids are a class of compounds that have a cyclopentano-perhydro-phenanthrene skeleton and that occur in nature and in synthetic products. The bile acids, androgens, estrogens, corticosteroids, ecdysteroids, sterols and vitamin D are compounds included in the class of steroids. Steroids and their metabolites are analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in a variety of samples such as biological samples or plants and pharmaceutical formulations. TLC continues to be an important method for the determination of steroids because of its advantages. Many samples can be analyzed simultaneously and quickly at relatively low cost, multiple separation techniques and detection procedures can be applied and the detection limits are often in the low nanogram range and quantitative densitometric methods are accurate. The albumin-mediated hepatic uptakes of free fatty acids [1], bile acids and Rose Bengal [2] have been reported, but the kinetics are not sufficiently clear. It was suggested by some experimental results in vitro using a liquid membrane system (hexane source phase/bovine serum/hexane receiving phase) that the rate of uptake of steroids from blood to intracellular space is controlled not only in the free form but also in forms bound with serum proteins such as albumin [3]. Nowadays, it is commonly accepted that the fractions of steroids which bind with high affinity to plasma proteins such as globulins are less easily available to tissues. Although steroids bind with low affinity to human serum albumin (HSA), most of the circulating steroids were bound to HSA due to the high concentration of albumin [4]. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to free steroids, those bound to albumin in plasma may also be available to tissues [5]. The binding of steroids to albumin is affected by temperature, pH, fatty acid and competing ligands. Plasma levels of FFA vary throughout the day [6] and the availability of steroids to tissues is changed by FFA binding to alb umin. Serum albumin is the most abundant protein in the circulatory system, accounting for 60% of the total serum protein . In mammals, albumin is synthesized by the liver and possesses a half-life in circulation of 19 days. Its principal function is to transport fatty acids, a great variety of metabolites and drugs such as anti-coagulants, tranquilizers and general anesthetics. Serum albumin has been one of the most studied proteins for over 40 years because its primary structure is very well known for a long time and its tertiary structure was determined a few years ago by X-ray crystallography. It is known that progesterone and estrogen were bound to the same site on serum albumin (SA) [7] and consequently a competition effect exist probably between these two steroid sex-hormones. Then, even if in vivo, the balance between the progesterone and the estrogen rate was controlled by multiple mechanisms and Gleasons observation could be explained by an enhancement of the progesterone displacement to its SA binding site by estrogen when Mg2+ cation concentration increased [8]. SA is the major plasma protein responsible for the reversible binding of a wide range of drugs [9]. Extensive studies on different aspects of drug-SA interactions are still in progress because of the clinical significance of the process, especially in the case of tightly bound drugs (K > 105Mà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢1) [10]. Numerous analytical techniques are used for protein binding studies and they are continuously being added to, along with extending knowledge about the complex mechanisms involved in the drug-SA binding process [11]. It has recognized that an inverse relationship exists between the number of polar groups in a steroid and the strength of interaction with serum albumin. With the aid of a spectrophotometric procedure (12), the validity of which was established by a comparison with the method of equilibrium dialysis, the influence of structural alterations in sex steroids on the interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated. It was found that introduction of 0x0 or hydroxyl groups in various positions weakens this interaction, and that introduction of methyl groups has the opposite effect. Characteristic differences were noted for CY substituents in their influence on the strength of association. Furthermore, the elution profiles of gel-filtration chromatography clearly showed that progesterone and testosterone are easily liberated from the steroid/BSA complexes and that FFA potentiates the binding of these steroids to BSA. In the case of HSA, the binding affini ties of progesterone and testosterone were not greatly affected by bound FFA [13,14]. This study was undertaken towards chromatographic evaluation of progesterone and estrogen using the H2SO4 staining method and spectrophotometric analysis of the interaction of both the sex steroids with BSA and stearic acid. Materials and Methods: Drugs and chemicals: Progesterone, Estrogen, Silica gel (ACME Chemicals, India) Sulphuric acid reagent, benzene, ethyl acetate, bovine serum albumin, stearic acid, ethanol, propylene glycol TLC Equipment: All the equipments used for TLC used were from ACME synthetics, Mumbai, India. Acme applicator, TLC glass plates, Beakers, Capillary pipettes for spotting solutions, Rulers, hot plates, Gloves were used for all chemical usage. Thin layer chromatography: This  is a chromatography  technique used to separate mixtures.  Thin layer chromatography is performed on a sheet of glass, plastic, or aluminum foil, which is coated with a thin layer of  adsorbent  material, usually  silica gel, aluminium oxide, or  cellulose. This layer of adsorbent is known as the  stationary phase. After the sample has been applied on the plate, a  solvent  or solvent mixture (known as the  mobile phase) is drawn up by the plate via  capillary action. Because different  analytes ascend the TLC plate at different rates, separation is achieved. In steroid analysis, TLC is the method of choice, especially when many simultaneous analyses have to be carried out, hundreds of analyses can be performed in a short time and with small demands on equipment and space. Samples can be analyzed with minimal clean up, and analyzing a sample by the use of multiple separation steps and static post-chromatographic detection procedure is also possible because all sample components are stored on the layer without the chance of loss. The time required in TLC analysis is about 10-60 min. As little as 0.001  µg of steroids/spot can be can be detected by TLC. Using a TLC plate with thicker adsorbent layers (0.5-2 min), several grams of substance can be isolated. Sulphuric acid staining method: After plate development, the plate is dried and sprayed with a 50% v/v aqueous solution of sulfuric acid in a fume hood. The hood was exposed to extremely corrosive materials and, thus, all fittings were made of glass or acid resistant plastic. After spraying, and while still in the fume hood, the plate is heated to about 80ËÅ ¡C for about 45 minutes on a hot plate or in an oven. The solutes are partially oxidized leaving behind a charred deposit of black carbon that is easy to distinguish. This method will detect most in volatile organic compounds. Sulfuric acid spray reagent was found to be particularly suitable for differentiating natural estrogens from diethylstilbestrol in both a mixture of natural steroids and in biologic preparations under daylight as well as ultraviolet light. Solvent system: Benzene and Ethyl acetate in the ratio of 5:1 Spectrophotometric evaluation: Spectrophotometric techniques are used to measure the concentration of solutes in solution by measuring the amount of light that is absorbed by the solution in a cuvette placed in the spectrophotometer. Spectrophotometry takes advantage of the dual nature of light. Namely, light has: 1. A particle nature which gives rise to the photoelectric effect 2. A wave nature which gives rise to the visible spectrum of light. The spectrophotometer can measure the amount of light (of certain frequency) transmitted or adsorbed by the solution. This light that has not been absorbed by the solution in the cuvette, will strike the phototube. The photons of light that strike the phototube will be converted into electrical energy. This current that is produced is very small and must be amplified before it can be efficiently detected. The signal is proportional to the amount of light which originally struck the phototube and is thus an accurate measurement of the amount of light which has passed through (been transmitted by) the sample. Different compounds having dissimilar atomic and molecular interactions have characteristic absorption phenomena and absorption spectra. Concentration of every component may be found from the spectrophotometer measurements and calibration curve made using the samples of known concentration. In this study the spectrophotometer used was Ultrospec III (Pharmacia). All samples were an alysed at an absorbance of 410 nm and optical density was recorded. SULFURIC ACID SPRAY CABINET Experimental Protocols: 1) INTERACTION OF STEROIDS WITH BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN (BSA) The sample solution consists of progesterone and estrogen mixed each with stearic acid and BSA in three different concentrations and the absorbance is noted at 410 nm. 2ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 5mg BSA 2ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 10mg BSA 2ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 15mg BSA 2ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 5mg BSA 2ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 10mg BSA 2ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 1 ml stearic acid (0.5mg/ml) + 15mg BSA 2) INTERACTION OF STEROIDS WITH ALCOHOLS The sample solution consists of progesterone and estrogen mixed each with ethanol and propylene glycol in the following concentrations and the absorbance of each sample is noted at 410nm. 0.5ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol 0.5ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 2 ml propylene glycol 0.5ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol 0.5ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 2 ml propylene glycol 3) INTERACTION OF STEROIDS WITH STEARIC ACID The sample solution consists of progesterone and estrogen mixed each with ethanol and stearic acid in three different concentrations and the absorbance is noted at 410 nm. 0.5ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.1 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) 0.5ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.2 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) 0.5ml progesterone (2mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.4 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) 0.5ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.1 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) 0.5ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.2 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) 0.5ml estrogen (0.5mg/ml) + 2 ml ethanol + 0.4 ml stearic acid(0.5mg/ml) Results: The results of experiments conducted with chromatographic and spectrophotometric evaluation of progesterone and estrogen are depicted in Table 1 2 and Figures 1 2. The results show appreciable difference in Rf values of progesterone and estrogen depending on the elution time. Similarly the addition of BSA to the reaction mixture of progesterone and estrogen showed appreciable difference in optical density as depicted in Figures 1 2. Stearic acid (0.5mg) was also able to shift the absorbance values of progesterone. TABLE 1: Conc. H2SO4 STAINED PROGESTERONE S.NO PROGESTE- RON CONC. (mg/ml) TIME DURATION (min) DIST. MOVED BY SOLUTE (cm) DIST. MOVED BY SOLVENT (cm) RETENTION FACTOR (Rf) 1 2.5 30 6.6 7.2 0.916 2 2.5 45 9.3 9.8 0.948 3 5.0 30 6.7 7.2 0.930 4 5.0 45 9.5 9.8 0.969 0.1ml progesterone (25mg/ml) + 50% v/v aq. solution of Conc. H2SO4 0.2ml progesterone (25mg/ml) + 50% v/v aq. solution of Conc. H2SO4 SOLVENT SYSTEM: Benzene and Ethyl acetate in the ratio of 5:1 TABLE 2: Conc. H2SO4 STAINED ESTROGEN S.NO ESTROGEN CONC. (mg/ml) TIME DURATION (min) DIST. MOVED BY SOLUTE (cm) DIST. MOVED BY SOLVENT (cm) RETENTION FACTOR (Rf) 1 0.2 30 6.6 7.8 0.858 2 0.2 45 6.7 8.2 0.804 3 0.4 30 6.8 7.8 0871 4 0.4 45 6.8 8.2 0.829 0.2ml estrogen (1mg/ml) + 50% v/v aq. solution of Conc. H2SO4 0.4ml estrogen (1mg/ml) + 50% v/v aq. solution of Conc. H2SO4 SOLVENT SYSTEM: Benzene and Ethyl acetate in the ratio of 5:1 Figure 1 Figure 2 Discussion: Steroids and their metabolites are analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in a variety of samples such as biological samples or plants and pharmaceutical formulations. TLC continues to be an important method for the determination of steroids because of its advantages [15].Many samples can be analyzed simultaneously and quickly at relatively low cost, multiple separation techniques and detection procedures can be applied and the detection limits are often in the low nanogram range and quantitative densitometric methods are accurate. The results of this study suggest the novel mechanism using concentrated H2SO4 to identify the eluted progesterone and estrogen on a thin layer chromatography plate. The results of the TLC obtained were satisfactory and although this technique is comparatively old but can be applied to find out the Rf values of the steroids in a simple manner. The benzene and ethyl acetate combination proved to be an effective mobile phase. There was some difference i n the Rf values based on the time duration of TLC but it was marginal. The results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. To evaluate the effect of fatty acid and protein, stearic acid and BSA, we conducted studies on the absorbance using the spectrophotometer. Our results suggest that addition of BSA to the reaction mixture caused significant change in optical density in both steroids i.e progesterone and estrogen (Fig.1 2). The cellular effects elicited by estrogen and progesterone [16] covalently conjugated to membrane impermeable BSA have been attributed to non-genomic actions mediated by membrane associated hormone receptors. It has previously been established that for physiological concentrations of progesterone and albumin in the circulating blood, approximately 99% of the steroid is bound to albumin. If more than one molecule of the protein participated in the binding of one molecule of progesterone, dimerization or complexing of more than two albumin molecules would result and should be demonstrable by the viscosity and by the sedimentation behavior of the system. Determination of viscosity an d sedimentation constants under the conditions outlined in the experimental part failed to reveal any differences between the albumin solutions with and without progesterone. It was concluded from these findings that only one molecule of human serum albumin complexes with one molecule of progesterone. It would seem reasonable to assume that a similar molar relationship exists in the interaction of other steroid molecules with serum albumin. The steric relationship between the two components in the complex was investigated by measuring the strength of interaction between albumin and epimeric steroids. Such a comparison should permit conclusions as to the spatial arrangement of the interacting molecules. Thus there are multiple reasons for the change in absorbance with addition of BSA to the reaction mixture [17]. Furthermore, fatty acid tends to minimize or eliminate the well-known differences in affinity between bovine and human albumin for interactions with these two steroids [18]. The values for binding affinity in the interaction of testosterone with these batches of human serum albumin are significantly higher than those previously published by some authors and the value for progesterone-bovine albumin interaction is not in accordance with the polarity rule. Studies of these same interactions by ultraviolet difference spectroscopy give further evidence of the augmentation in binding but, in the case of defatted bovine albumin only, the aromatic difference troughs are indicative of tyrosine perturbation whereas refatted bovine albumin, defatted and refatted human albumin manifest tryptophan perturbation. Quantitative correlation of perturbation with level of bound steroid suggests that fatty acid alters the ratio (possibly hydrogen-bonded to non hydrogen-bonded) of two forms of bound ster oid. This concept gains in validity when one considers the nature of the binding forces between steroid and protein. For lack of specific knowledge as to these forces, the binding between neutral steroids and proteins may best be interpreted as mediated by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces [19]. Common to both of these binding mechanisms is the low energy of the bond, of the order of 5 to 10 kcal per mole, which explains the ready dissociation of the complexes. Furthermore, they are highly dependent upon the distance; the van der Waals forces for spherical atoms are inversely proportional to the seventh power of the distance between the atomic centers. For efficient interaction, therefore, a close fit of the steroid and protein surfaces would be required. Whether the presence of stearic acid alone in any way alters chemical configuration and affects the absorbance by spectrophotometer can only be ascertained by specific chemical tests The change in stearic acid mediated absorbance with progesterone can be attributed to interplay of chemical forces between the steroid and the fatty acid. Studies with lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid showed that the decrease of binding affinity for progesterone was proportional to the amount of fatty acid added to albumin, and to its chain length. These results confirm and extend other findings of inhibition of progesterone binding to human albumin by saturated fatty acids. In conclusion this study describes a novel H2SO4 staining technique to visualize the sex steroids, progesterone and estrogen and a change in spectrophotometric absorbance of progesterone and estrogen by BSA and stearic acid. Legend for Figures and Tables Table 1: Table 1 describes the thin layer chromatographic evaluation of progesterone (2.5 5 mg) conducted using the concentrated H2SO4 staining technique and eluted for a duration of 30 and 45 minutes. The last column of the table shows the Rf values obtained. Table 2: Table 2 describes the thin layer chromatographic evaluation of estrogen (0.2 0.4 mg) conducted using the concentrated H2SO4 staining technique and eluted for a duration of 30 and 45 minutes. The last column of the table shows the Rf values obtained. Figure 1: Figure 2 describes the optical density values at absorbance of 410 nm obtained with estrogen (0.25 1 mg), ethanol (2ml), bovine serum albumin (10mg) and stearic acid (0.5 mg) alone or in combination. Figure 2: This figure describes the optical density values at absorbance of 410 nm obtained with progesterone (1 4 mg), ethanol (2ml), bovine serum albumin (10mg) and stearic acid (0.5 mg) alone or in combination.

Tortilla Curtain :: Tortilla Curtain Immigration Literature Essays

Tortilla Curtain The chapter starts with Delaney hitting an unidentified man on the highway while going through Topanga Canyon. Delaney hits Candido, one of the other main characters in the play. After Delaney hits him with his car, he then immediately asks himself if his car is all right. He gets over that, and realizes that he just hit a human being. The next paragraph is Delaney searching for the body and yelling "hello." He finally can hear some grimacing that comes from some nearby bushes. He finds Candido there, with blood coming from the Mexican's mouth and his face covered by raw flesh. His upper arm had dirt and pieces of leaves sticking to the blood. He was carrying a bag of tortillas, a grocery bag that was torn with small slivers of plastic through the glass. Delaney tried to speak to him in French and Candido couldn't understand. Finally the conversation ends and Delaney gives him $20 and leaves. He drives to the Acura dealership and tells the dealer that he ran over a dog or a coyote. D elaney then calls his wife from the dealership and his wife tells him to call Jack, a friend, lawyer, and adviser, to ask him what could happen to him if the Mexican filed suit. The chapter ends with Delaney saying he gave Candido $20 and then Kyra his wife asks why only $20. Delaney replies he was only Mexican. Chapter 2: The chapter begins with the introduction of Candido a new immigrant to the U.S. waking up at his "bed" near the river of a canyon. He is hurt from a "gabacho" or a white man that hit him the day before. He threw up instantly and tried to walk down to the creek to where he fell twice. Then America is introduce, she is Candido's wife. She is on the way back from a job interview that never materialized. Then she sees a man lying on the middle of the path to which leads to her camp. The man turns out to be Candido he is sleeping in the middle of the path. She walks him back to camp and she realizes all the scrapes, bumps, bruises, and cuts on his body. The narration skips to Candido where he is in bed back at camp. His pain is progressively getting worse. America offers him a drink he declines then America says he needs a doctor.

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government :: China Government Research Politics Papers

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government Introduction As a Chinese American, I have long admired the African American culture that spawned the civil rights movement. Here was a people buffeted by a history of discrimination that asserted its equal rights as men and women. Whether advocating nonviolence and integration or separation and violence if necessary, these men and women used and asserted their freedom of speech on the streets, in writings, and on the airwaves. Today we see China growing rapidly in economic power yet shaken by protests by workers displaced by the closings of state owned enterprises and migrant workers treated as second class citizens. We see organizations, from the Chinese Democratic Foundation to the Falun Gong, advocating and asserting human rights. The Chinese government has been relentless in "nip(ing) those factors that undermine social stability in the bud, no matter where they come from."(7) Many human rights organizations and dissident organizations have turned to the Internet to protest these government actions and to communicate, inform, and advocate their message to both the Chinese people and to the rest of the world. As a believer in protests and freedom of speech and someone who wants Chinese culture to grow, I should be a staunch supporter of these organizations and their actions. Yet, I am torn. What's Happening In China China is undergoing rapid and violent change. China has the fastest growing economy in the world, growing at 9.1% clip in 2003. SFGate recently reported on Shanghai novelist Mian Mian whose tale exposing an underground of rock, drugs, and promiscuity is reminiscent of America in the 60's. The number of Chinese Internet users is estimated at close to 80 million. A new generation of artists have appeared on the scene, wryly commenting on China's rapid change. China, nominally communist, seems freer than ever before and its future looks bright. Yet, you also hear reports of corruption, of large and growing underclass, and renewed repression. It seems that partly fueling China's engine of growth is a near inexhaustible supply of cheap and desperate labor spawned by the closing of state owned enterprises (S.O.E.s) and an impoverished rural population. These hardships have spawned a migrant labor population, estimated to swell to 100 million this year, that has flooded urban centers looking for work. These workers are denied education, medical care, pensions, are locked out of most jobs, and are vulnerable to labor abuses.

Power Utility Consumption Capm in Uk Stock Markets

Pricing of Securities in Financial Markets 40141 – How well does the power utility consumption CAPM perform in UK Stock Returns? ******** 1 Hansen and Jagannathan (1991) LOP Volatility Bounds Volatility bounds were first derived by Shiller (1982) to help diagnose and test a particular set of asset pricing models. He found that to price a set of assets, the consumption model must have a high value for the risk aversion coefficient or have a high level of volatility.Hansen and Jagannathan (1991) expanded on Shiller’s paper to show the duality between mean-variance frontiers of asset portfolios and mean-variance frontier of stochastic discount factors. Law of one price volatility bounds are derived by calculating the minimum variance of a stochastic discount factor for a given value of E(m), subject to the law of one price restriction. The law of one price restriction states that E(mR) = 1, which means that the assets with identical payoffs must have the same price. For th is constraint to hold, the pricing equation must be true.Hansen and Jagannathan use an orthogonal decomposition to calculate the set of minimum variance discount factors that will price a set of assets. The equation m = x* + we* + n can be used to calculate discount factors that will price the assets subject to the LOP condition. Once x* and e* are calculated, the minimum variance discount factors that will price the assets can be found by changing the weights, w. Hansen and Jagannathan viewed the volatility bounds as a constraint imposed upon a set of discount factors that will price a set of assets.Therefore, when deriving the volatility bounds, we calculate the minimum variance stochastic discount factors that will price the set of assets. Discount factors that have a lower variance than these values will not price the assets correctly. Furthermore, Hansen and Jagannathan showed that to price a set of assets, we require discount factors with a high volatility and a mean close to 1. After deriving these bounds, we can use this constraint to test candidate asset pricing models.Models that produce a discount factor with a lower volatility than any discount factor on the LOP volatility can be rejected as they do not produce sufficient volatility. Hansen and Jagannathan find evidence that using LOP volatility bounds, we can reject a number of models such as the consumption model with a power function analysed in papers such as Dunn and Singleton (1986). 2 Methodology To test whether the power utility CCAPM prices the UK Treasury Bill (Rf) and value weighted market index returns, we first calculate the LOP volatility bounds.The volatility bound is derived by calculating the minimum variance discount factors that correctly price the two assets for given values of E (m). The standard deviations of the stochastic discount factors are then plotted on a graph to give the LOP volatility bound shown in figure one. Figure 1 here The CCAPM stochastic discount factors are then calculated for different levels of risk aversion. The mean and standard deviation of these discount factors are then plotted on the graph and compared to the LOP discount factor standard deviations.Pricing errors can then be calculated and analysed to see whether the assets are priced correctly by the candidate model. To accept the CCAPM model in pricing the assets, we expect the stochastic discount factors variance to be greater than the variance of the LOP volatility bounds. It is also expected that pricing errors and average pricing errors (RMSE) will be close to zero. These results will be analysed more closely in the later questions. 3 Power Utility CCAPM vs LOP Volatility Bounds In order for the power utility CCAPM to satisfy the Law of One Price volatility bound test at any level of risk aversion, the standard deviation f the CCAPM stochastic discount factor at that level of risk aversion must be above the Law of One Price standard deviation bound for the mean value of t he CCAPM stochastic discount factor at the same level of risk aversion. This is the null hypothesis and if it is accepted then the model satisfies the test. The alternative hypothesis is that it the standard deviation of the stochastic discount factor is below the Law of One Price standard deviation bound for the mean value of the stochastic discount factor.If the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted then the model does not satisfy the test. Table 1 here Figure 2 here Figure 2 shows LOP volatility bounds and the standard deviations and means of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors for levels of risk aversion between 1 and 20. It is obvious the standard deviations (Sigma(m)) of the CCAPM stochastic discounts factors are much lower than the LOP volatility bounds corresponding to the means (E(m)) of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors.This is true for any level of risk aversion, because the entire CCAPM (green) line lies below the LOP volatility bou nds (dark blue) line. Table 1 shows the standard deviations of the stochastic discount factors and the precise LOP volatility bound values, corresponding to the stochastic discount factor means so that the CCAPM can be formally tested. All of the standard deviations are lower than their respective volatility bound values. Therefore the null hypothesis is to be rejected and the alternative hypothesis is to be accepted for all levels of risk aversion between 1 and 20.Furthermore it would take a risk aversion of at least 54 to accept the null hypothesis. Therefore the power utility CCAPM stochastic discount factor does not satisfy the Law of One Price volatility bound test. These results are consistent with the equity premium puzzle study by Mehra and Prescott (1985). The study examines whether a consumption growth based model with a risk aversion value restricted to no more than 10 accurately prices equities. They have found that according to the model equity premiums should not excee d 0. 5% for values of risk aversion (? ) between 0 and 10 and values of the beta coefficient (? ) between 0 and 1. However the average observed equity premium based on the average real return on nearly riskless short-term securities and the S&P 500 for the period 1989-1978 was 6. 18%. This is clearly inconsistent with the predictions of the model. In particular if risk aversion is close to 0 and individuals are almost risk neutral, the model fails to explain why the sample’s average equity returns are so high.If risk aversion is significantly positive the model does not justify the low average risk-free rate of the sample. The results of Mehra and Prescott’s (2008) empirical study are consistent with our results, because the power utility CAPM did not satisfy our empirical tests. 4 Kan and Robotti (2007) Confidence Intervals The Law of One Price volatility bounds calculated in part 2 are subject to sampling variation. We have calculated point estimates of the volatilit y bounds, but we did not take into account that our results are based on a finite sample of Treasury Bill and market returns.To more accurately test whether the power utility CCAPM passes the LOP volatility bounds test, we need to identify the area in which the population volatility bound may lie. The area used is that between the upper and lower 95% confidence intervals for Hansen-Jagannathan volatility bounds obtained by Kan and Robotti (2007), shown in table 2. If the standard deviations of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors lie below that area for values of risk aversion between 1 and 20, then the power utility CCAPM model is to be rejected according to this test.Table 2 here Figure 3 here Figure 3 contains point estimates of the LOP volatility bounds, the standard deviations and means of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors for levels of risk aversion between 1 and 20 and the 95% confidence intervals for the volatility bounds. All of the standard deviations are below the ar ea in between the upper and lower confidence intervals for the volatility bounds. This indicates that at a 95% certainty the CCAPM does not satisfy the LOP volatility bound test even when sampling errors are taken into account. Performance of Power Utility CCAPM In recent academic literature on the subject of asset pricing models a common formal method of evaluating model performance is to calculate the pricing errors on a set of test assets. In this report the test assets are the Treasury Bill and Market Index quarterly returns from Q1 1963 to Q4 2009. The pricing error is calculated as [pic] Where [pic], [pic] Treasury Bill and Market Index returns, and [pic] is the pricing errors. Table 3 hereFor a model to correctly price an asset it would require that the pricing errors are as close to zero as possible since the pricing error is a measure of the distance between the model pricing kernel and the true pricing kernel. From Table 3 we can see that the pricing errors for the differe nt values of risk aversion are not close to zero and the size of the errors actually increases with the level of risk aversion. We can also see that the Route Mean Square Pricing Error (RSME) which measures the average distance from zero of the pricing errors is not as close to zero as we would hope and also increases with the level of risk aversion.If we note the case for a risk aversion level of 20 then the RSME is 6. 76%, since this is quarterly data this works out to an annual RSME of approximately 27%. With such large pricing errors we would not expect this model to perform strongly. Hansen and Jagannathan (1997) found that for different levels of risk aversion the pricing errors do not vary greatly. As noted above, this is not the case in our sample in which the error increases with the level of risk aversion, thus creating an ever wider dispersion of pricing errors.This is counterintuitive to what we would usually assume as with increased levels of risk aversion the consumer is only willing to accept a certain level of return for lower and lower levels of risk, therefore we would expect at some point that the mean variance level would pass the volatility bounds and therefore correctly price the assets. Conforming with this report Cochrane and Hansen (1992) found that in order to satisfy the levels of variance necessary to surpass the volatility bounds a risk aversion level of at least 40 was necessary.It should be noted that in reality this is quite unreasonable and also that for this level of variance to be attained the expected return might also have to drop below the level necessary to surpass the volatility bounds. Table 4 here From Hansen and Jagannathan (1991) we know that in order to price a set of assets correctly the stochastic discount factor (SDF) should be close to one and have high levels of volatility. Table 4 shows that SDF’s at low levels of risk aversion are relatively close to one but have very low levels of volatility.When the level of risk aversion increases the SDF’s get further and further away from one yet the volatility also increases. Therefore it seems reasonable to conclude that we would not expect any of these SDF’s to price the assets correctly. The results illustrated above are consistent with the earlier analysis and point to the conclusion that the power utility CCAPM does not do a good job in pricing the two test assets and thus does not perform well in UK stock returns. Cochrane and Hansen (1992) agree with this conclusion but Kan and Robotti (2007) find the opposite.The reason for this could be the use of sampling error in the Kan and Robotti paper and the different data used the in the analysis. This report illustrates that there exists not only an equity premium puzzle but also a risk free rate puzzle. This risk free rate puzzle as noted by Weil (1989) states that if consumers are extremely risk averse, a result of the equity premium puzzle, then why is the risk free rate s o low. Weil cites market imperfections and heterogeneity as the probable causes of this puzzle; however, this is not the explanation that Bansal and Yaron (2004) find.Using a model that accounts for investor reaction to news about growth rates and economic uncertainty they are able to go some way to resolving not only the risk free rate puzzle but also the equity risk premium puzzle. One method that could be used to improve the performance of the power utility CCAPM would be to construct the model using conditioning information; this would enlarge the possible payoff space available to investors. Kan and Robotti (2006) find that including conditioning information in models reduces the pricing errors by allowing the prices of volatility to move in line with the market.Although as Roussanov (2010) finds, conditioning information does not necessarily improve model performance and may actually exacerbate the problem. 6 Sampling Error in the Volatility Bounds When using the volatility bo unds as specified by Hansen and Jagannathan (1991) to test asset pricing models we must be wary of sampling error in the bounds. As noted previously if a model does not lie within the Hansen and Jagannathan volatility bounds then we can conclude that it does not price the test assets correctly.However, Gregory and Smith (1992) and Burnside (1994) first noted that this test does not take into account significant sampling variation and could therefore reject models that price assets correctly. Burnside (1994) uses Monte-Carlo simulation to illustrate that over repeated samples if sampling error is ignored the volatility bounds test performs poorly. Gregory and Smith (1992) state that the sampling error could be due to large variability in the estimated bounds or the use of sample data in the analysis.Kan and Robotti (2007) derive the finite sample distribution of the Hansen and Jagannathan bounds in order to take account of this sampling error. They argue that confidence intervals tha t take into account the variation can be constructed and used to test asset pricing models. The importance of this new method of testing cannot be underestimated as it could affect the decision to reject an asset pricing model or not, this is best illustrated with reference to examples. Kan and Robotti test the equity premium puzzle using data from Shiller (1989) to show the implications of taking into account sampling error.Through constructing the 95% confidence intervals for the Hansen and Jagannathan volatility bounds they are able to show that the time-separable power utility model being tested may not be rejected at low levels of risk aversion. This is in stark contrast to the findings when sampling error is not taken into account where the model is strongly rejected except for unfeasible levels of risk aversion. From Figure 3, as noted earlier, even when sampling error is taken into account for the model tested in this report it does not fall within the volatility bounds.Howe ver, it does decreases the distance between the model and the volatility bounds which is the major consequence of the Kan and Robotti paper. This new method goes some way to solving the problem noted by Cecchetti, Lam, and Mark (1994) who found using classical hypothesis tests that the Hansen and Jagannathan bounds without sampling error rejected true models too often. Again, an extension here could be to use conditioning information to improve the volatility bounds by using the methods of Ferson and Siegel (2003) and as a result hopefully reduce the sampling error in the bounds.References Bansal, R. and A. Yaron, 2004, Risks for the long run: A potential resolution of asset pricing puzzles, Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 59(4), pages 1481-1509, 08. Burnside, C. , 1994, Hansen-Jagannathan Bounds as Classical Tests of Asset-Pricing Models,† Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 12(1), pages 57-79 Cecchetti, S. G. , P. Lam, and N. C. Mark, 1994, Testing Volatility Restrictions on Intertemporal Marginal Rates of Substitution Implied by Euler Equations and Asset Returns, Journal of Finance, 49, 123–152.Cochrane, J. H. and L. P. Hansen, 1992, Asset Pricing Explorations for Macroeconomics, NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1992, Volume 7, pages 115-182 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. Dunn, K. , and K. Singleton, 1986, Modelling the term structure of interest rates under Non-separable utility and durability of goods, Journal of Financial Economics, 17, 1986, 27-55. Ferson, W. E. , and A. F. Siegel, 2003, Stochastic Discount Factor Bounds with Conditioning Information, Review of Financial studies, 16, 567–595. Gregory, A. W. and G. W Smith, 1992.Sampling variability in Hansen-Jagannathan bounds, Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 263-267. Hansen, L. P. and R. Jagannathan, 1991, Implications of Security Market Data for Models of Dynamic Economies, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 99, No. 2 (Apr. , 1991), pp. 225-262   Hansen, L. P. and R. Jagannathan, 1997. Assessing specification errors in stochastic discount factor models. Journal of Finance 52, 591-607. Kan, R. , and C. Robotti, 2007, The Exact Distribution of the Hansen-Jagannathan Bound. Working Paper, University of Toronto and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Mehra, R. , and E. C.Prescott, (1985), The equity premium: A puzzle, Journal of Monetary Economics 15, 145-161. Roussanov, N. , 2010, Composition of Wealth, Conditioning Information, and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns, NBER Working Papers 16073, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. Shiller, R. , 1982, Consumption, Asset Markets and Macroeconomic fluctuations, Carnegie–Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Vol. 17. North-Holland Publishing Co. , 1982, pp. 203–238. Shiller, R. J. , 1989, Market Volatility, MIT Press, Massachusetts. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsev ier, vol. 16(3), pages 361-364.Weil, P. , 1989, The equity premium puzzle and the risk free rate puzzle, Journal of Monetary Economics 24. 401-422. Appendix [pic] Figure 1 LOP Volatility Bounds. The figure shows the LOP volatility bounds (dark blue line) which were found by using Treasury Bill and market returns as test assets. [pic] Figure 2 LOP Volatility Bounds with CCAPM.The figure shows the LOP volatility bounds (dark blue line) which were found by using Treasury Bill and market returns as test assets. It also shows the means and corresponding standard deviations of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors (green line) for values of risk aversion between 1 and 20. [pic] Figure 3 LOP Volatility Bounds with CCAPM and Confidence Intervals. The figure shows the LOP volatility bounds (dark blue line) which were found by using Treasury Bill and market returns as test assets.It also shows the means and corresponding standard deviations of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors (green line ) for values of risk aversion between 1 and 20. The figure contains the confidence intervals, with a 95% level of confidence, estimated by Kan and Robotti (2007) for E(m) between 0. 97 and 1. 0082 for the Law of One Price volatility bounds for their first set of test assets. The light blue line shows the upper bounds of the confidence intervals and the red line shows the lower bounds of the confidence intervals. Table 1 CCAPM stochastic discount factors’ means and standard deviations and corresponding LOP volatility bounds CCAPM |LOP volatility bounds |CCAPM | | |means | |st. dev. | | |0. 985121 |0. 82806186 |0. 011749 | |0. 980404 |1. 2067111 |0. 023503 | |0. 975849 |1. 57451579 |0. 035275 | |0. 971456 |1. 93015539 |0. 04708 | |0. 967223 |2. 27320637 |0. 58934 | |0. 963151 |2. 60350158 |0. 070853 | |0. 959239 |2. 92096535 |0. 082854 | |0. 955486 |3. 22555764 |0. 094953 | |0. 951893 |3. 5172513 |0. 107169 | |0. 94846 |3. 7960217 |0. 11952 | |0. 945187 |4. 06184126 |0. 132027 | |0. 942074 |4. 31467648 |0. 14471 | |0. 939121 |4. 5448604 |0. 15759 | |0. 93633 |4. 7812196 |0. 17069 | |0. 933701 |4. 99481688 |0. 184033 | |0. 931234 |5. 19520693 |0. 197645 | |0. 928931 |5. 38230757 |0. 211552 | |0. 926792 |5. 55602479 |0. 225781 | |0. 92482 |5. 71625225 |0. 240361 | |0. 923016 |5. 8628708 |0. 255322 |This table shows the means of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors for levels of risk aversion between 0 and 20, the corresponding LOP volatility bounds and the standard deviations of the CCAPM stochastic discount factors. Table 2 95% confidence intervals for E(m) between 0. 97 and 1. 0082 E(m) Lower Upper 0. 9700 3. 1823 5. 2069 0. 9710 2. 9385 4. 8383 0. 9719 2. 7038 4. 4830 0. 9729 2. 4781 4. 1411 0. 9738 2. 2617 3. 8125 0. 9748 2. 0544 3. 4974 0. 9757 1. 8565 3. 1959 0. 9767 1. 6680 2. 9080 0. 9776 1. 4890 2. 6337 0. 9786 1. 3195 2. 3731 0. 9795 1. 1597 2. 1262 0. 805 1. 0097 1. 8931 0. 9815 0. 8696 1. 6739 0. 9824 0. 7394 1. 4685 0. 9834 0. 6194 1. 2770 0. 9843 0. 5096 1. 0993 0. 9853 0. 4101 0. 9356 0. 9863 0. 3212 0. 7857 0. 9873 0. 2429 0. 6497 0. 9882 0. 1755 0. 5275 0. 9892 0. 1190 0. 4192 0. 9902 0. 0736 0. 3248 0. 9912 0. 0393 0. 2445 0. 9922 0. 0160 0. 1784 0. 9931 0. 0030 0. 1275 0. 9941 0 0. 0938 0. 9951 0 NaN 0. 9961 0 0. 0938 0. 9971 0. 0029 0. 1279 0. 9981 0. 0159 0. 1798 0. 9991 0. 0395 0. 2474 1. 0001 0. 0745 0. 3302 1. 0011 0. 1212 0. 280 1. 0021 0. 1796 0. 5408 1. 0031 0. 2498 0. 6689 1. 0041 0. 3317 0. 8123 1. 0051 0. 4255 0. 9714 1. 0061 0. 5309 1. 1461 1. 0072 0. 6481 1. 3368 1. 0082 0. 7769 1. 5437 This table shows the upper and lower bounds of the 95% confidence intervals Kan and Robotti (2007) calculated for the volatility bounds for their first set of test assets. The confidence intervals presented are for values of E(m) between 0. 97 and 1. 0082. Table 3 Pricing errors for the Treasury Bill (Rf) and the value weighted UK market index (Rm), and the Root Mean Square Pricing Error (RSME) for each level of risk av ersion Level of Risk Aversion |Error Rf |Error Rm |RSME | |1 |-0. 0104 |0. 0047 |0. 0080 | |2 |-0. 0152 |-0. 0001 |0. 0107 | |3 |-0. 0199 |-0. 0049 |0. 0144 | |4 |-0. 0244 |-0. 0094 |0. 0184 | |5 |-0. 287 |-0. 0138 |0. 0225 | |6 |-0. 0329 |-0. 0180 |0. 0265 | |7 |-0. 0369 |-0. 0221 |0. 0304 | |8 |-0. 0408 |-0. 0260 |0. 0342 | |9 |-0. 0445 |-0. 0297 |0. 0378 | |10 |-0. 0480 |-0. 0333 |0. 413 | |11 |-0. 0514 |-0. 0367 |0. 0446 | |12 |-0. 0546 |-0. 0399 |0. 0478 | |13 |-0. 0577 |-0. 0430 |0. 0508 | |14 |-0. 0606 |-0. 0459 |0. 0537 | |15 |-0. 0634 |-0. 0487 |0. 0564 | |16 |-0. 660 |-0. 0513 |0. 0590 | |17 |-0. 0684 |-0. 0537 |0. 0614 | |18 |-0. 0706 |-0. 0560 |0. 0636 | |19 |-0. 0727 |-0. 0580 |0. 0657 | |20 |-0. 0747 |-0. 0600 |0. 0676 | | | | | |The pricing errors above are calculated as [pic], where [pic], [pic] Treasury Bill and Market Index returns, and [pic] is the pricing errors. The RSME is simply the average pricing error of the stochastic discount factor for each level of risk aversion. Table 4 Summary Statistics for power utility CCAPM stochastic discount factor |Level of Risk Aversion |Average |St Dev |Min |Max | |1 |0. 9851 |0. 0117 |0. 9551 |1. 0436 | |2 |0. 804 |0. 0235 |0. 9214 |1. 1000 | |3 |0. 9758 |0. 0353 |0. 8889 |1. 1595 | |4 |0. 9715 |0. 0471 |0. 8575 |1. 2223 | |5 |0. 9672 |0. 0589 |0. 8273 |1. 2884 | |6 |0. 9632 |0. 0709 |0. 7981 |1. 3581 | |7 |0. 592 |0. 0829 |0. 7699 |1. 4316 | |8 |0. 9555 |0. 0950 |0. 7428 |1. 5090 | |9 |0. 9519 |0. 1072 |0. 7166 |1. 5906 | |10 |0. 9485 |0. 1195 |0. 6913 |1. 6767 | |11 |0. 9452 |0. 1320 |0. 6669 |1. 7674 | |12 |0. 421 |0. 1447 |0. 6434 |1. 8630 | |13 |0. 9391 |0. 1576 |0. 6207 |1. 9638 | |14 |0. 9363 |0. 1707 |0. 5988 |2. 0701 | |15 |0. 9337 |0. 1840 |0. 5777 |2. 1821 | |16 |0. 9312 |0. 1976 |0. 5573 |2. 3001 | |17 |0. 9289 |0. 116 |0. 5377 |2. 4245 | |18 |0. 9268 |0. 2258 |0. 5187 |2. 5557 | |19 |0. 9248 |0. 2404 |0. 5004 |2. 6940 | |20 |0. 9230 |0. 2553 |0. 4827 |2. 8397 | This table shows the average value, standard deviation, minimum and maximum for the stochastic discount factor at each level of risk aversion. ———————– 24th November 2011

The Selfish Giant

The Selfish giant â€Å"The giant was a selfish giant,† says the story â€Å"The selfish giant† written by Oscar Wilde from Ireland, who wanted to bring forth a special moral which has been a serious topic for many centuries, and no less these days than ever before. He uses many characteristics of fairytales to create a conscious fairytale about the problem that is to this day the reason why the world is the way it is. Therefore I am going to write an analysis of his work on what the moral is, and what messages that was sent through the fairytale, as well as looking at the means he used to write the story. First of all there is a question of symbols. Oscar Wilde used many symbols which are things we associate with other themes or feelings to create an atmosphere in the fairytale all together. A special example of this is the giant itself, because why didn't Oscar Wilde use a normal person? Or mayhap a wealthy old man for that matter? Many have heard the expression swollen. When a person is swollen, he is egotistical and self centred. He doesn't care about anyone else. Therefore, Oscar has pictured the giant's inner feelings with the outer appearance. Other symbols are also present, like the great wall, which at first means exactly what it is supposed to, keeping people outside of the wall. That wall represents the giant's heart. First the wall is sealed tight; no one is coming in or out. The giant is at first satisfied with the arrangement, with no one to bother him, but after a long time he feels lonely, and the wall around his hear finds a crack. This is where the children sneak in, and melts the giant's heart. Last of the examples of symbols there is the little boy who couldn't reach the branches of the tree. It is a test to give the giant the opportunity to do something nice, and he takes it. This little child is, as we get to know indirectly at the end, Jesus Christ. His hands bled, and the giant wished to avenge the little child. The child however dismisses the pledge, and says that it is the wounds of love, as Jesus died for all of human kind according to the bible. The giant had then grown old and feeble, and were on the verge of his lifespan. Therefore he got the reward for his kindness to children, by being allowed into heaven by Jesus himself. Oscar Wilde draws elements from other religions than Christianity as well, Buddhism for example, where he uses the Karma concept. â€Å"What goes around, comes around,† which means that if you are nice, you will be rewarded, and if you are bad you will be punished. That forwards me to my second point, about personification. When the giant was selfish, the powers of nature had a role of its own to play in the story. The different aspects of nature were given the ability to do humanlike feats, like talking, sleeping and dancing. Almost move at their own free will. For example when the giant was selfish, and closed up his garden. The winter and cold moved in to his life without leaving. The North wind was dancing, and said that they should invite the hail. This is something the forces of nature wouldn't do outside human imagination, but it puts a picture of nature having a life of its own. The flowers wouldn't come out of the ground because it felt sad for the children. The trees as well, bent as low as they could for the little boy who was too tiny for the tree climbing. As if trees could bend on their own free will. That makes nature a part of the judge of who is good and who is bad in this world. Throughout the whole story, there is different judges which indirectly or even directly determine who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. Where Jesus is one of the judges, nature is one of the judges and the children are judges. The part about nature judging men originates from ancient Celtic folklore where people sacrificed to the spirits of nature which had a will of their own. Thirdly, there are the elements of fairy tales. In fairytales there are almost always supernatural creatures, and in this one is no exception. There are two in â€Å"the selfish giant,† the giant himself and the Cornish ogre. The ogre himself is a symbol, because in folklore, the ogre is a bad creature who eats children. Therefore there are hints that the giant might have been influenced by the ogre on his travels, becoming even worse than he was before as the wall was not built until he came back from his trip, and he didn't seem to have that idea before. Other elements from fairytales are the number seven. The number seven appear when the selfish giant had been out travelling for seven years. There is however not much more reference to other numbers that is worth mentioning. Another element that is widely spread within fairytales is the personification which has been explained at the previous paragraph, where animals and inanimate objects get the abilities of a human. Last of all, there is the moral subject. Throughout the entire story you get the impression of what the moral is, and that is â€Å"what goes around comes around. In the beginning you can read that the giant was selfish, and that means that he cared only about himself. He did naught for others, and he did not get anything in return. He seemed content with this at first, but when he got lonely, and the winter wouldn't leg go we wished that he had done something good. When the children came, his heart melted and he wanted to help them. However, when he approached them, they ran away. That is a message that if you are a jer k, then everyone will think you are a jerk, no matter your intentions. However, when he helped the child, the other children understood they could trust him. He turned, and decided to play with them instead of chasing them away. In this he got rewarded more than once. Because he got both his summer and spring back, he got many friends to play with, and he ascended to heaven after he died. This underlines the moral that if you do good, then good will come to you. I conclude with an agreement with the moral, that good is reaped if you sow it, and that good is what is best for mankind. I really liked the story because I agree with the moral of the story, and it is a well written story as well. Oscar Wilde has used great elements in his story that brings it to life, and makes it interesting to read. It is very touching as well, because it requires a lot to make me cry. There is a joyful sadness about it all that makes you unsure if you are crying tears of joy, or of sadness. The part where he dies is kind of sad, because he dies. However, when it also confirms that he goes to a better place.

Chapter 16 Summary Essay

In this chapter we are going to learn about therapy, treating psychological disorders, evaluating psychotherapies, the biomedical therapies, and preventing psychological disorders. You have three ways on how to treat disorders. They are psychotherapy, biomedical therapy, and eclectic approach. Psychotherapy is treatment involving psychological techniques consisting of interactions between some seeking to overcome difficulties and a trained therapist. Biomedical therapy is prescribed medicine that acts differently on every person’s physiology. Lastly eclectic approach is an approach on the client’s problems which uses various forms of therapy. Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis was the first of the therapies to be formed. The techniques that we have are resistance, interpretation, and transferring. Interpretation is noting supposed dream meaning’s and other significant behaviors and events in order to promote insight. We have psychodynamic therapies which is a tradition that views on individuals when they respond to unconscious forces and childhood experiences. There are three psychotherapy skeptics which are people often need therapy when they are in crisis, clients need to believe that doing therapy will eventually help them with their problems, and clients need to speak kindly to their therapist and to respect what they have to say. Many studies are digested by what they call meta-analysis. Various therapies which have three benefits. These benefits are hope for demoralized people, a new perspective of the way we look at things, and a trusting, caring, empathetic relationship. The emotion between the client and his/her therapist is called therapeutic alliance which is a key concept to being a therapist. In our world we have antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs, and mod-stabilizing medications. Antipsychotic drugs are drugs used to schizophrenia and other severe disorders. While antidepressant drugs are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy is a therapy for severely depressed patients which is a brief electric current sent through the brain.

Egamova transfigered night

The time of first World War, a young enthusiastic man enlists as a volunteer gunner in the artillery as he has reached an impasse and sees war as a remedy. In a bar he comes across his fellow soldier, a surgeon lieutenant for whom war is an impasse, as he is trying to avoid sober realization of detrimental consequences of his civic duty by getting drunk. A lot of problems can be observed in the passage, but the most evident and tricking one is the irretrievable effect the brutality and gore of the war produces on human psychic, which comes as a quite contradictory fact since the narrator presumes that the war saved his life.To provide a profound feeling of that horrible days routine life the author inflates his text with parallel constructions, simple sentences and abundant use of lexical units representing negative connotation; these are (morbid despair, impasse, ferocious concentration, detest, etc. ) so it becomes clear that a war is by no means a remedy which the narrator was so desperately trying to find.What is more, when analyzing George's discourse a reader realizes the ambiguous nature of a war as his character is quite dual – despite all the redundancy of negative description of his appearance (ill-looking, ugly, fairly drunk, hunched over) and the absolute hopelessness in his talk (l want to go somewhere cold and dark, God preserve me from sanity) George still possessed of sinners energy which indicates to the fact that he has something background to fight or and that gives him this very kind of energy to overcome all the harsher, brutality and intoxication of that odious war.In the light of all this, any reader must not be influenced only by the superficial sense of the text, but go deeper to reveal the genuine authors message, inasmuch as any war is not merely a succession of human dying but also a glorious ground of evoking patriotism and marvelous bases for tear-jerking love stories.

Chapter 12 The Patronus

Harry knew that Hermione had meant well, but that didn't stop him from being angry with her. He had been the owner of the best broom in the world for a few short hours, and now, because of her interference, he didn't know whether he would ever see it again. He was positive that there was nothing wrong with the Firebolt now, but what sort of state would it be in once it had been subjected to all sorts of anti-jinx tests? Ron was furious with Hermione too. As far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of a brand-new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room. Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didn't try to persuade her to come back. All in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. Wood sought Harry out on the night before term started. â€Å"Had a good Christmas?† he said, and then, without waiting for an answer, he sat down, lowered his voice, and said, â€Å"I've been, doing some thinking over Christmas, Harry. After last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next one†¦I mean†¦we can't afford you to — well –â€Å" Wood broke off, looking awkward. â€Å"I'm working on it,† said Harry quickly. â€Å"Professor Lupin said he'd train me to ward off the Dementors. We should be starting this week. He said he'd have time after Christmas.† â€Å"Ah,† said Wood, his expression clearing. â€Å"Well, in that case — I really didn't want to lose you as Seeker, Harry. And have you ordered a new broom yet?† â€Å"No,† said Harry. â€Å"What! You'd better get a move on, you know — you can't ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!† â€Å"He got a Firebolt for Christmas,† said Ron. â€Å"A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A — a real Firebolt?† â€Å"Don't get excited, Oliver,† said Harry gloomily. â€Å"I haven't got it anymore. It was confiscated.† And he explained all about how the Firebolt was now being checked for jinxes. â€Å"Jinxed? How could it be jinxed?† â€Å"Sirius Black,† Harry said wearily. â€Å"He's supposed to be after me. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it.† Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Seeker, Wood said, â€Å"But Black couldn't have bought a Firebolt! He's on the run! The whole country's on the lookout for him! How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy a broomstick?† â€Å"I know,† said Harry, â€Å"but McGonagall still wants to strip it down –â€Å" Wood went pale. â€Å"I'll go and talk to her, Harry,† he promised. â€Å"I'll make her see reason†¦A Firebolt†¦a real Firebolt, on our team †¦She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do†¦I'll make her see sense. A Firebolt†¦.† Classes started again the next day. The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Harry that he had the shortest life line she had ever seen. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Harry was keen to get to; after his conversation with Wood, he wanted to get started on his anti-Dementor lessons as soon as possible. â€Å"Ah yes,† said Lupin, when Harry reminded him of his promise at the end of class. â€Å"Let me see†¦how about eight o'clock on Thursday evening? The History of Magic classroom should be large enough†¦I'll have to think carefully about how we're going to do this†¦We can't bring a real Dementor into the castle to practice on†¦.† â€Å"Still looks ill, doesn't he?† said Ron as they walked down the corridor, heading to dinner. â€Å"What d'you reckon's the matter with him?† There was a loud and impatient â€Å"tuh† from behind them. It was Hermione, who had been sitting at the feet of a suit of armor, repacking her bag, which was so full of books it wouldn't close. â€Å"And what are you tutting at us for?† said Ron irritably. â€Å"Nothing,† said Hermione in a lofty voice, heaving her bag back over her shoulder. â€Å"Yes, you were,† said Ron. â€Å"I said I wonder what's wrong with Lupin, and you –â€Å" â€Å"Well, isn't it obvious?† said Hermione, with a look of maddening superiority. â€Å"If you don't want to tell us, don't,† snapped Ron. â€Å"Fine,† said Hermione haughtily, and she marched off. â€Å"She doesn't know,† said Ron, staring resentfully after Hermione. â€Å"She's just trying to get us to talk to her again.† At eight o'clock on Thursday evening, Harry left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom. It was dark and empty when he arrived, but he lit the lamps with his wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binn's desk. â€Å"What's that?† said Harry. â€Å"Another Boggart,† said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. â€Å"I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr. Filch's filing cabinet. It's the nearest we'll get to a real Dementor. The Boggart will turn into a Dementor when he sees you, so we'll be able to practice on him. I can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like.† â€Å"Okay,† said Harry, trying to sound as though he wasn't apprehensive at all and merely glad that Lupin had found such a good substitute for a real Dementor. â€Å"So†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Professor Lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that Harry should do the same. â€Å"The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, Harry — well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm.† â€Å"How does it work?† said Harry nervously. â€Å"Well, when it works correctly, It conjures up a Patronus,† said Lupin, â€Å"which is a kind of anti-Dementor — a guardian that acts as a shield between you and the Dementor.† Harry had a sudden vision of himself crouching behind a Hagrid-sized figure holding a large club. Professor Lupin continued, â€Å"The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon — hope, happiness, the desire to survive — but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can't hurt it. But I must warn you, Harry, that the charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it.† â€Å"What does a Patronus look like?† said Harry curiously. â€Å"Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it.† â€Å"And how do you conjure it?† â€Å"With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory.† Harry cast his mind about for a happy memory. Certainly, nothing that had happened to him at the Dursleys' was going to do. Finally, he settled on the moment when he had first ridden a broomstick. â€Å"Right,† he said, trying to recall as exactly as possible the wonderful, soaring sensation of his stomach. â€Å"The incantation is this –† Lupin cleared his throat. â€Å"Expecto patronum!† â€Å"Expecto patronum,† Harry repeated under his breath, â€Å"expecto patronum.† â€Å"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?† â€Å"Oh — yeah –† said Harry, quickly forcing his thoughts back to that first broom ride. â€Å"Expecto patrono — no, patronum — sorry — expecto patronum, expecto patronum† Something whooshed suddenly out of the end of his wand; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas. â€Å"Did you see that?† said Harry excitedly. â€Å"Something happened!† â€Å"Very good,† said Lupin, smiling. â€Å"Right, then — ready to try it on a Dementor?† â€Å"Yes,† Harry said, gripping his wand very tightly, and moving into the middle of the deserted classroom. He tried to keep his mind on flying, but something else kept intruding†¦Any second now, he might hear his mother again†¦but he shouldn't think that, or he would hear her again, and he didn't want to†¦or did he? Lupin grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled. A Dementor rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned toward Harry, one glistening, scabbed hand gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently toward Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath. A wave of piercing cold broke over him — â€Å"Expecto patronum!† Harry yelled. â€Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto –â€Å" But the classroom and the Dementor were dissolving†¦Harry was falling again through thick white fog, and his mother's voice was louder than ever, echoing inside his head — â€Å"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please — I'll do anything –â€Å" â€Å"Stand aside — stand aside, girl –â€Å" â€Å"Harry!† Harry jerked back to life. He was lying flat on his back on the floor. The classroom lamps were alight again. He didn't have to ask what had happened. â€Å"Sorry,† he muttered, sitting up and feeling cold sweat trickling down behind his glasses. â€Å"Are you all right?† said Lupin. â€Å"Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry pulled himself up on one of the desks and leaned against it. â€Å"Here –† Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. â€Å"Eat this before we try again. I didn't expect you to do it your first time; in fact, I would have been astounded if you had.† â€Å"It's getting worse,† Harry muttered, biting off the Frog's head. â€Å"I could hear her louder that time — and him — Voldemort –â€Å" Lupin looked paler than usual. â€Å"Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will more than understand –â€Å" â€Å"I do!† said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. â€Å"I've got to! What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!† â€Å"All right then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Lupin. â€Å"You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate on†¦That one doesn't seem to have been strong enough†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry thought hard and decided his feelings when Gryffindor had won the House Championship last year had definitely qualified as very happy. He gripped his wand tightly again and took up his position in the middle of the classroom. â€Å"Ready?† said Lupin, gripping the box lid. â€Å"Ready,† said Harry; trying hard to fill his head with happy thoughts about Gryffindor winning, and not dark thoughts about what was going to happen when the box opened. â€Å"Go!† said Lupin, pulling off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forward, drawing its breath; one rotting hand was extending toward Harry — â€Å"Expecto patronum!† Harry yelled. â€Å"Expecto patronum! Expecto Pat –â€Å" White fog obscured his senses†¦big, blurred shapes were moving around him†¦then came a new voice, a man's voice, shouting, panicking — â€Å"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off –â€Å" The sounds of someone stumbling from a room — a door bursting open — a cackle of high- pitched laughter — â€Å"Harry! Harry†¦wake up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lupin was tapping Harry hard on the face. This time it was a minute before Harry understood why he was lying on a dusty classroom floor. â€Å"I heard my dad,† Harry mumbled. â€Å"That's the first time I've ever heard him — he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry suddenly realized that there were tears on his face mingling with the sweat. He bent his face as low as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldn't see. â€Å"You heard James?† said Lupin in a strange voice. â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Face dry, Harry looked up. â€Å"Why — you didn't know my dad, did you?† â€Å"I — I did, as a matter of fact,† said Lupin. â€Å"We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry — perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced†¦I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No!† said Harry. He got up again. â€Å"I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is†¦hang on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He racked his brains. A really, really happy memory†¦one that he could turn into a good, strong Patronus†¦. The moment when he'd first found out he was a wizard, and would be leaving the Dursleys for Hogwarts! If that wasn't a happy memory, he didn't know what was†¦Concentrating very hard on how he had felt when he'd realized he'd be leaving Privet Drive, Harry got to his feet and faced the packing case once more. â€Å"Ready?† said Lupin, who looked as though he were doing this against his better judgment. â€Å"Concentrating hard? All right — go!† He pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the Dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark — â€Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM!† Harry bellowed. â€Å"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!† The screaming inside Harry's head had started again — except this time, it sounded as though it were coming from a badly tuned radio — softer and louder and softer again†¦and he could still see the Dementor†¦it had halted†¦and then a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of Harry's wand, to hover between him and the Dementor, and though Harry's legs felt like water, he was still on his feet — though for how much longer, he wasn't sure†¦ â€Å"Riddikulus!† roared Lupin, springing forward. There was a loud crack, and Harry's cloudy Patronus vanished along with the Dementor; he sank into a chair, feeling as exhausted as if he'd just run a mile, and felt his legs shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Professor Lupin forcing the Boggart back into the packing case with his wand; it had turned into a silvery orb again. â€Å"Excellent!† Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat. â€Å"Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!† â€Å"Can we have another go? Just one more go?† â€Å"Not now,† said Lupin firmly. â€Å"You've had enough for one night. Here –â€Å" He handed Harry a large bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate. â€Å"Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?† â€Å"Okay,† said Harry. He took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the disappearance of the Dementor. A thought had just occurred to him. â€Å"Professor Lupin?† he said. â€Å"If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well.† Lupin turned very quickly. â€Å"What gives you that idea?† he said sharply. â€Å"Nothing — I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lupin's face relaxed. â€Å"Yes, I knew him,† he said shortly. â€Å"Or I thought I did. You'd better be off, Harry, it's getting late.† Harry left the classroom, walking along the corridor and around a corner, then took a detour behind a suit of armor and sank down on its plinth to finish his chocolate, wishing he hadn't mentioned Black, as Lupin was obviously not keen on the subject. Then Harry's thoughts wandered back to his mother and father †¦ He felt drained and strangely empty, even though he was so full of chocolate. Terrible though it was to hear his parents' last moments replayed inside his head, these were the only times Harry had heard their voices since he was a very small child. But he'd never be able to produce a proper Patronus if he half wanted to hear his parents again †¦ â€Å"They're dead,† he told himself sternly. â€Å"They're dead and listening to echoes of them won't bring them back. You'd better get a grip on yourself if you want that Quidditch Cup.† He stood up, crammed the last bit of chocolate into his mouth, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Ravenclaw played Slytherin a week after the start of term. Slytherin won, though narrowly. According to Wood, this was good news for Gryffindor, who would take second place if they beat Ravenclaw too. He therefore increased the number of team practices to five a week. This meant that with Lupin's anti-Dementor classes, which in themselves were more draining than six Quidditch practices, Harry had just one night a week to do all his homework. Even so, he was not showing the strain nearly as much as Hermione, whose immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted. â€Å"How's she doing it?† Ron muttered to Harry one evening as Harry sat finishing a nasty essay on Undetectable Poisons for Snape. Harry looked up. Hermione was barely visible behind a tottering pile of books. â€Å"Doing what?† â€Å"Getting to all her classes!† Ron said. â€Å"I heard her talking to Professor Vector, that Arithmancy witch, this morning. They were going on about yesterday's lesson, but Hermione can't've been there, because she was with us in Care of Magical Creatures! And Ernie McMillan told me she's never missed a Muggle Studies class, but half of them are at the same time as Divination, and she's never missed one of them either!† Harry didn't have time to fathom the mystery of Hermione's impossible schedule at the moment; he really needed to get on with Snape's essay. Two seconds later, however, he was interrupted again, this time by Wood. â€Å"Bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She — er — got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first.† Wood shook his head in disbelief. â€Å"Honestly, the way she was yelling at me†¦you'd think I'd said something terrible. Then I asked her how much longer she was going to keep it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He screwed up his face and imitated Professor McGonagall's severe voice. â€Å"As long as necessary, Wood†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦I reckon it's time you ordered a new broom, Harry. There's an order form at the back of Which Broomstick†¦you could get a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, like Malfoy's got.† â€Å"I'm not buying anything Malfoy thinks is good,† said Harry flatly. January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather. The match against Ravenclaw was drawing nearer and nearer, but Harry still hadn't ordered a new broom. He was now asking Professor McGonagall for news of the Firebolt after every Transfiguration lesson, Ron standing hopefully at his shoulder, Hermione rushing past with her face averted. â€Å"No, Potter, you can't have it back yet,† Professor McGonagall told him the twelfth time this happened, before he'd even opened his mouth. â€Å"We've checked for most of the usual curses, but Professor Flitwick believes the broom might be carrying a Hurling Hex. I shall tell you once we've finished checking it. Now, please stop badgering me.† To make matters even worse, Harry's anti-Dementor lessons were not going nearly as well as he had hoped. Several sessions on, he was able to produce an indistinct, silvery shadow every time the Boggart-Dementor approached him, but his Patronus was too feeble to drive the Dementor away. All it did was hover, like a semitransparent cloud, draining Harry of energy as he fought to keep it there. Harry felt angry with himself, guilty about his secret desire to hear his parents' voices again. â€Å"You're expecting too much of yourself,† said Professor Lupin, sternly in their fourth week of practice. â€Å"For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You aren't passing out anymore, are you?† â€Å"I thought a Patronus would — charge the Dementors down or something,† said Harry dispiritedly. â€Å"Make them disappear –â€Å" â€Å"The true Patronus does do that,† said Lupin. â€Å"But you've achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the Dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, You will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground.† â€Å"You said it's harder if there are loads of them,† said Harry. â€Å"I have complete confidence in you,† said Lupin, smiling. â€Å"Here — you've earned a drink. Something from the Three Broomsticks. You won't have tried it before –â€Å" He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase. â€Å"Butterbeer!† said Harry, without thinking. â€Å"Yeah, I like that stuff!† Lupin raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Oh — Ron and Hermione brought me some back from Hogsmeade,† Harry lied quickly. â€Å"I see,† said Lupin, though he still looked slightly suspicious. â€Å"Well — let's drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw! Not that I'm supposed to take sides, as a teacher†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he added hastily. They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry voiced something he'd been wondering for a while. â€Å"What's under a Dementor's hood?† Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully. â€Å"Hmmm †¦ well, the only people who really know are in no condition to tell us. You see, the Dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon.† â€Å"What's that?† â€Å"They call it the Dementor's Kiss,† said Lupin, with a slightly twisted smile. â€Å"It's what Dementors do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and — and suck out his soul.† Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer. â€Å"What — they kill –?† â€Å"Oh no,† said Lupin. â€Å"Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no†¦anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever†¦lost.† Lupin drank a little more butterbeer, then said, â€Å"It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the Dementors permission to perform it if they find him.† Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black. â€Å"He deserves it,† he said suddenly. â€Å"You think so?† said Lupin lightly. â€Å"Do you really think anyone deserves that?† â€Å"Yes,† said Harry defiantly. â€Å"For†¦for some things†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He would have liked to have told Lupin about the conversation he'd overheard about Black in the Three Broomsticks, about Black betraying his mother and father, but it would have involved revealing that he'd gone to Hogsmeade without permission, and he knew Lupin wouldn't be very impressed by that. So he finished his butterbeer, thanked Lupin, and left the History of Magic classroom. Harry half wished that he hadn't asked what was under a Dementor's hood, the answer had been so horrible, and he was so lost in unpleasant thoughts of what it would feel like to have your soul sucked out of you that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs. â€Å"Do watch where you're going, Potter!† â€Å"Sorry, Professor –â€Å" â€Å"I've just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room, Well, here it is, we've done everything we could think of, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all — you've got a very good friend somewhere, Potter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry's jaw dropped. She was holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever. â€Å"I can have it back?† Harry said weakly. â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Seriously,† said Professor McGonagall, and she was actually smiling. â€Å"I daresay you'll need to get the feel of it before Saturday's match, won't you? And Potter — do try and win, won't you? Or we'll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last night†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Speechless, Harry carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a corner, he saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear. â€Å"She gave it to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?† â€Å"Yeah†¦anything†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Harry, his heart lighter than it had been in a month. â€Å"You know what — we should make up with Hermione†¦She was only trying to help†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yeah, all right,† said Ron. â€Å"She's in the common room now working — for a change.† They turned into the corridor to Gryffindor Tower and saw Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed to be refusing him entrance. â€Å"I wrote them down!† Neville was saying tearfully. â€Å"But I must've dropped them somewhere!† â€Å"A likely tale!† roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron: â€Å"Good even, my fine young yeomen! Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to force entry to the chambers within!† â€Å"Oh, shut up,† said Ron as he and Harry drew level with Neville. â€Å"I've lost the passwords!† Neville told them miserably. â€Å"I made him tell me what passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I don't know what I've done with them!† â€Å"Oddsbodkins,† said Harry to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden, excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt. â€Å"Where'd you get it, Harry?† â€Å"Will you let me have a go?† â€Å"Have you ridden it yet, Harry?† â€Å"Ravenclaw'll have no chance, they're all on Cleansweep Sevens!† â€Å"Can I just hold it, Harry?† After ten minutes or so, during which the Firebolt was Passed around and admired from every angle, the crowd dispersed and Harry and Ron had a clear view of Hermione, the only person who hadn't rushed over to them, bent over her work and carefully avoiding their eyes. Harry and Ron approached her table and at last, she looked up. â€Å"I got it back,† said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt. â€Å"See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!† said Ron. â€Å"Well — there might have been!† said Hermione. â€Å"I mean, at least you know now that it's safe!† â€Å"Yeah, I suppose so,† said Harry. â€Å"I'd better put it upstairs.† â€Å"I'll take it!† said Ron eagerly. â€Å"I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic.† He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boys' staircase. â€Å"Can I sit down, then?† Harry asked Hermione. â€Å"I suppose so,† said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair. Harry looked around at the cluttered table, at the long Arithmancy essay on which the ink was still glistening, at the even longer Muggle Studies essay (‘Explain Why Muggles Need Electricity') and at the rune translation Hermione was now poring over. â€Å"How are you getting through all this stuff?† Harry asked her. â€Å"Oh, well — you know — working hard,† said Hermione. Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin. â€Å"Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?† Harry asked, watching her lifting books as she searched for her rune dictionary. â€Å"I couldn't do that!† said Hermione, looking scandalized. â€Å"Arithmancy looks terrible,† said Harry, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart. â€Å"Oh no, it's wonderful!† said Hermione earnestly. â€Å"It's my favorite subject! It's –â€Å" But exactly what was wonderful about Arithmancy, Harry never found out. At that precise moment, a strangled yell echoed down the boys' staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder — and then Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet. â€Å"LOOK!† he bellowed, striding over to Hermione's table. â€Å"LOOK!† he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face. â€Å"Ron, what –?† â€Å"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!† Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like — â€Å"BLOOD!† Ron yelled into the stunned silence. â€Å"HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?† â€Å"N — no,† said Hermione in a trembling voice. Ron threw something down onto Hermione's rune translation. Hermione and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.