Methods of Personnel Development Essay Example for Free

Methods of Personnel Development Essay 1. Introduction Successful personnel development is necessary to help and organization to acquire a competitive edge in the market. A well trained and competent workforce and help and organization cut a competitive edge in the market which the competing organizations may find hard to replicate the long run.   Efficient methods of personnel development are necessary for the success of the organization. Personnel have become an important concern for all managers in all industry.   This has been promoted by the problems which have been experienced in hiring of personnel who can meet the required standards to deliver the needed services.    The current strategic human resource management has recognized employees as the most important asset that an organization has. In this regard it has become of paramount important for organization to carry out effective staff development programs which are likely to meet the required work standards.   There has been increasing for the organization to carry out effective individual training programs which will meet the demands of their customers.   When most organization have been emphasizing for the downsizing of their employee, it has become important for them to ensure that it effective training programs which will ensure there is overall growth. (Consulting, 2000) For an organization to ensure that there is effective growth of its workforce, employee training and development has become a priority rather than an option.   There are many organizations which have been carrying out training programs but which have not resulted to the required results.   Training and development  Ã‚   is usually an integral and an expensive part of the human resource department and therefore there should be all efforts aimed at ensuring that there is overall success of the exercise. Effective training and development programs are necessary in order to ensure that there is overall growth of the worker. The most important factor that can help the organization to carryout effective personnel development is to understand the goals of the organization and therefore work to achieve these goals.   The organization goal will assist the organization to come up with effective design and implementation of the organization. Efficient personnel development program are therefore necessary to ensure that the organization cuts a competitive edge in the market. (Jenning, 1996) 2. Success factors for training There are important factors in the overall development process that must be taken into consideration to have effective personnel development. The most important factor that the organizations need to realise in the design and implementation of personnel development is the mission and vision of the organization. This will help the management to become committed to the overall process of personnel development in the most efficient way.   The company should also evaluate the relative risk of exposure which is presented by the compliance requirement and therefore use this as an effective way of prioritizing the needs for planning training.   The management will also involve the key line representatives in order to design and implement train interventions. This means that training should be viewed as a way of helping the organization to remain competitive and not as a necessary evil.   The management should also be keep away of the focus of the training activities and the role  Ã‚   that the activities are intended to achieve and help the organization to achieve in its overall objectives. (Bowie and Jordan, 2001) There are important characteristic which are used to identify a successful training program.   The following are the common characteristics of a successful training in an organization;  · There should be a clear understating of the goals of the organization and the needs of all the line managers for training and development.   This means that   the training programs will be based on these key strategies which are likely to support the   goal of the organization  · There should be involvement of the key line personnel in the selection, design and the scheduling of training.  · The style for delivering the training program must focus on the adult learning concepts  Ã‚   including the relevant content of the course.  · The training activities should be seen as an integral part of the overall training place for the organization and not an individual or a one time event that will come and go.  · There should be a high accountability for the result which will justify the purpose for training.   There should be effective evaluation, measurement and a well organization reporting of the results of training.  · There should be frequent communication between the organization management and the person who are overseeing training program. This will ensure that there is overall support for the training programs and the enforcement of the training values. 3. In house vs. Third party training There are two broad methods which are used to deliver training programs.   These include the in-house training and the third party training program.   The organization is likely to choose the most efficient method that will ensure that there is delivery of the most efficient training program. In-house training will involve when an organization uses the instructor who are a part of the organization.   This employs will also be trained as they continue with their work which means there will less loss of time and the productivity for the organization will not be affected. However this method is likely to result to low employee expectation from the training program since they are likely to learn what they have been practicing. (Rouda and Kusy, 2005) The third party training take place when and organization brings in an extern expert. External experts are likely to come with new experience for the organization which will reinforce the development of the workforce.   Under this method the organization can also decide to take its staff for an external training program which will take place outside the organization.   This method is likely to be more effective since the staff will be expecting to learn new things from what they have been practicing in the organization. In the course of training there are different ways that can be used by the organization to source for training materials.   The organization can develop its own materials in the organization which will be in-house material development. The organizations can also source for material outside through purchase or leasing.  Ã‚   When the organization hires third party to come and training the staff, the conditions for hiring can also be that the third party will be expected to come with training materials. In order to select the best combination for the trainer and the program, the organization should be important consideration including the experience, time for development of the program, resources available, the money available for the program and the cost of the options, the expected quality, the training needs for the organization and the credibility of the method that will be used. 4. Program design The program design describes the way the overall training program will be planned.   Program design consist of   important   aspect of the training   including the conduction of the needs analysis for the   company, the prioritizing o the need in the training place, definition of the   course objectives to match the   training needs, and the selection of   the training formats that will be used in the   training program. a) Need analysis A need analysis is carried out in order to identify the  Ã‚   area in which the organization needs to carry out training.   The need analysis is the first step in determine the whole training program. The need analysis should be carried out comprehensively in order to understand the specific area under in which the training will emphasize. Usually a need analysis will come up with a long list of needs that the organization will have to look at. In need analyses there are three types of data that the trainer will have to collect. The pre-training behaviour will give the knowledge that the trainees have. The post training behaviour will give the expectation from the training that the organization wants to achieve through training.   The workplace reinforcement and constraints will give the factors for the job which can help or hinder the trainees in applying what they will have learned. (Jenning, 1996) b)    Course objectives This should identify the specific objectives that the training will achieve. Identification of the course objective is likely to increase the effectiveness of training and evaluation of needs assessment.   Basically three types of course objectives will have to be looked at. These include the planning objectives, the process objectives and the learning objectives.   This will help in the formatting of the training. c)    Training format There are different formats that can be used to deliver training.   The best format that an organization can choose is the one which will create a setting an environment which is most conducive to learn.   The format has to be flexible.   There are formal and informal training formats Informal training format will include format like one on one tutoring which   can be teem consuming but very effective,   use groups, discussion groups and   newsletters.   On the other hand formal training formats include formats like classroom training like lectures or demonstration, video or audio, computer based trailing, satellite training, teleconferencing, use of simulations, use of manuals, and on   job training.   The formal training methods have become most common used in organisational training since they are more effective and have been supported by the emerging technologies. (Consulting, 2000) d)    Program delivery This is the most important part in the training process. The way the training will be delivered is important in determining how it will be effective to achieve the goals of the training.   Delivery of training should be based on principle of adult learning since most of the employees who undergo training are adults.   There sold a proven adults-instructions practices rather than the traditional classroom delivery method which is likely to compromise the quality of training. e)    E-learning With the increased use of technology in the world, e-learning is also rising to be an important factor in the training programs. E-learning involves the process of delivering learning through the use of person computer. It is widely used in education institution but it is also fining it place in the employee training programs. In employee training e-learning has been providing an effective time saving method of learning as compared to other methods.   It is also easy to carry training from any part of the world can therefore can be used when an organisation choose third party training. However it is expensive since al the employees will need to have a computer. 5. How adults learn According to the learning theories, it has been shown that adults learn different from how children learn.   Unlike children, adults are likely to relate what they hear to their experience and the knowledge they have gathered over time.   Adults are also good listeners and will digest what they are listen.   This means that when training adults, one need to have all the facts to their fingers and ensure that they are correct as challenge can arise at any one time. (Consulting, 2000) According to the adult learning theories there are important factor that have to be considered when teaching them.   First it should be understood that adults are less interested in the overview, they are more interested in what they are learning. They need to be given examples which can help them to relate what they are learning with their real experience. Since they are more critical on what is delivery any information that is likely to contradict what they know should be delivered slowly and in an efficient manner. The training should assist them to make connections with what they already know.   The pace of training should also be suited for their mind. Fast training may prove difficult for them while a too slow training is boring.   The training should avoid trial and error ventures and should reinforce the learnt concept in their real life example. (Jenning, 1996) a)    Designing training experience for adults There are important principal that the trainers must consider when planning adult learning.   The structure of the workshop should take to consideration that adult learns usual need some feedback which is likely to mark their progress in training.   The usually learn best when their own experience is integrated in the learning process. They should be given opportunity to ask questions and interact to share experience.   The adult learners are responsible for their learning and they prefer to share with one another in the process.   This interaction must be given a chance.   Adults are likely to learn in an environment where there is mutual trust and respect for one another.   Adults learners must be motivate din order to feel the need to learn. This earns that they have to be shown the important of undergoing the training and how it is going to affect their job performance. b)    Classroom instruction In order to ensure that there is effectiveness of the training process, there are important characters and method that should be incorporated in the training. some of the   most important factors in training include the   inclusion of discussion breaks time which agreed with   all the participants, ensure that the participants are comfortable, state   clearly the objectives of the training, make a preparation of   the material to be used before the class being so that you can evaluate them, use training aids and establish rapports in the course of training, ensure that you don’t interrupt the   participate when they are contributing,   be yourself and more flexible in the course of the training, answer all the question asked and provide constant feedbacks to the participants. c) Documenting available training courses In order to keep up with the course of the training resources, it is important to keep written records as they have been learnt.   This will help the learners to remind themselves of what they have learned in the course of the training. This is also important as it will help the learners to understand what they have been learning and therefore keep up with the course of the training. It also helps the management to see the courses that are available. d)   Measuring and evaluating training effectiveness There had to be an effective way of evaluating the learning process in order to understand the effectiveness of the learning process. This is very critical since it will determine whether the organization is really meeting its objectives or not. It will help the organisation to understand the important steps that are being made in the course of the training. There are many methods of evaluation that is used in the course of the training. The most effective evaluation methods that are used include the use of smile sheet which is one of the five point evaluation which enquiries about the quality of the instructor and others, there is also the pre-test or post techs which is used to measure the increased in knowledge for the learners.   The presets will establish a baseline while the post test will confirm any improvement that is being made which can be directly attributed to the learning process. An observation can also be carried out on the specific performance of each individual including the trainer and the supervisor.   This will detect any changes in the work behaviour which can be directly attributed to the learning process.  Ã‚   Work performance can also e used as a method of evaluation. In this case work performance will look at the specific job tasks and performance indicators. These indicators are usually well defined and measured before and after training.

Actus Reus Essay -- Law

Actus Reus Introduction The Criminal Law of England and Wales "means the portion of the law of England and Wales, which deals with the components and consequences of criminal acts. The English criminal law is in large part not regulated by law, but in the tradition of common law judge-made law. The offense consists in the English law of Actus Reus and mens rea together. Actus Reus is the Latin term meaning the act of guilt (the outer or objective of a criminal offense). This is an essential element in the determination of a crime. Thus, when no reasonable doubt exists as a result of the demonstration of proof, the act of guilt, shown together with the intention of the individual to commit a crime (mens rea), creates criminal liability of the accused in criminal jurisdictions that follow the system of common law (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Ireland). Discussion and Analysis Actus Reus literally means conduct of a person. The phrase is used to refer to the element of an offense that involves prohibited conduct. The Actus Reus is one of two elements that make up criminal offenses. The second element is called mens rea or mental state. No crime may legally exist without an Actus Reus, while some regulatory crimes, called strict liability offenses, may exist without a mens rea. Examples of the Actus Reus element of a capital offense would be causing death, causing death while committing another crime, causing the death of a police officer, and causing death by using a bomb. In each of the examples, the mental state of the defendant is not relevant to Actus Reus. The mental state is relevant for the second element, i.e., the mens rea. General Perception The Actus Reus requirement is met if a defendant purpose... ...air, Medico legal Aspects of Automatism, qtd in McClain v. State, 678 N.E.2d 104, 106 (Ind. 1997), pp 56-78 David Ormerod (eds.): Smith and Hogan Criminal Law,12th Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2008, ISBN 978-0199202584, pp 34 David Ormerod, (2009), Smith and Hogan Criminal Law: Cases and Materials, 10th Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2009, ISBN 978-0199218691, pp 45-78 Felson, Marcus (1994), Crime and Everyday Life, Pine Forge, ISBN 0-8039-9029-4, Hirschi, Travis (1969). Causes of Delinquency, Transaction Publishers, ISBN 0-7658-0900-1 Morse, S. J. Diminished rationality, diminished responsibility, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law vol. 1 (2003), pp. 289–308 Siegel, Larry J. (2003). Criminology, 8th edition, Thomson-Wadsworth., pp. 139 Symposium, Act and crime, University of Pennsylvania Law Review vol. 142, (1994), pp. 1443–1890

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 6

One thing about working in a bookstore is you have immediate access to print media: Nocturnal Admission is a treat for the senses, one of those rare jewels that emerges from the dark obscurity of small clubs and restaurants. Of course, after last night's performance at the Verona, it's unlikely they'll be playing shoddy venues again. Nocturnal Admission is well on its way to becoming a household name – not only at the local level, but the national one as well. The opening staff and I oohed and aahed over the concert review in the Seattle Times, all of us clustering around the information desk, rereading our favorite quotes over and over. The writer had even provided a few words of Doug's bio – after several other lines praising his voice and onstage persona – adding that he worked at a â€Å"local bookstore.† We loved that; the nondescript reference almost made us feel like celebrities too. I let them chat on a bit longer, reveling in my own pride and pleasure for Doug, before finally breaking things up. â€Å"All right, kids, I hate to crack the whip, but I see customers at the door. â€Å" They dispersed reluctantly, but I saw Andy smirking when he thought I didn't notice him whispering something to Casey. The only word I caught was â€Å"whip.† Charming. One would think having a dominatrix reputation would at least make me a more formidable authority figure, rather than a source of ridicule. And today, I was the only authority figure. Paige was out sick again, so I had to unofficially work both her job and my own. At least the staff was in good form despite the late night, which made things easier. Casey seemed unaffected by last night, which I found remarkable. Maybe it was the resilience of youth. After drinking and smoking that much, I doubted I'd have been in as good a shape as she was – and I had the advantage of supernatural healing and recovery. My misgivings about Alec must have been premature, I decided, considering what a good mood she appeared to be in. She smiled every time I saw her during the day and was always ready with a friendly comment to customers and coworkers alike. When I stopped by to take something from a neighboring register, I heard a customer ask her if she knew offhand whether his books would total under twenty-five dollars or not. She flipped through the stack expertly and had an answer within ten seconds. â€Å"With tax, $26.57. Put this one back, and you'll be at $22.88. Closest you can get without going over.† â€Å"Did you do that all in your head?† I asked her later. Dimples showed in her pretty cheeks. â€Å"I'm an accounting major.† â€Å"Yeah, but my accountant sure as hell doesn't do my taxes in his head.† â€Å"Of course not. But this stuff's easy.† Doug came in at noon, much to the delight of the others. Practically strutting, he couldn't stop crowing about the review and kept asking me if I'd read such-and-such in the article. I had to assure him repeatedly that I'd read it all. Like Casey, he too acted untouched by last night's partying. He worked and bounced around with what was becoming his trademark energy. Compared to the two of them, I felt downright curmudgeonly, not to mention inadequate. Sheesh. What were immortality and shape-shifting next to superhuman computations and dazzling stage performances? When I returned from my lunch break, he practically sprinted up to me. â€Å"Kincaid, Kincaid – you gotta help me out.† â€Å"What's wrong?† He inclined his head toward one of the registers. Alec stood leaning against it, flirting with Casey. She smiled and nodded enthusiastically at something he said. â€Å"Alec came by to tell me he got us a major audition over at the Blue Gallery. We have got to go practice. Stat.† â€Å"Good grief. Slow down on the italics.† â€Å"Kincaid, I mean it! You have to cover for me. No one,ll know I left. These guys don't care, and Paige and Warren won't be in.† â€Å"How long do you need?† â€Å"The rest of the day.† â€Å"The rest of the – that's going to be over twelve hours for me! Besides, I can't close. I'm going to a play downtown.† Seth had just secured us some last minute tickets. â€Å"Then†¦stay as late as you can. Janice,ll handle closing.† I hesitated. Warren preferred that the manager or one of the assistant managers close, but Doug was right. Janice could handle it. â€Å"Kin -caid,† he begged. â€Å"Please. I need this. You know I do.† Doug had always been charming and irresistible. Something about him today particularly appealed to me. A master working another master, apparently. When I gave in to his pleas, he picked me up and spun me around in a most undignified way. Two minutes later, he and Alec left, and I settled in for a long day. When it finally neared its end, I felt certain the store would burn to the ground in my absence. Dragging myself away at last, I drove downtown, found parking, and sprinted into the theatre just as the lights were going down. Breathless, I slid into a seat between Seth and his thirteen-year-old niece Brandy. On the other side of him, Seth's brother and sister-in-law waved to me. Brandy grinned. She'd been shy the first time we met but now seemed to regard me as the older sister she didn't have. I adored her too. If Seth and I ever split up, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle keeping away from his family. â€Å"I didn't think you'd make it,† she told me, her features faintly discernible in the dim lighting. In days long past, people would have said she and her mother had â€Å"flaxen† hair, but no one really used that term anymore. Still, I always thought it appropriate when I saw that pale shade of gold. â€Å"Just making a fashionably late entrance,† I whispered back. â€Å"Remember that when you're older. It keeps men guessing. Once they start presuming anything, there's no living with them.† Brandy giggled. Seth only smiled, but his eyes radiated approval, as he assessed me. I wore wine-colored silk and had my hair in a French twist. His eyes, I'd long since discovered, could be as eloquent and expressive as his pen. The messages they sent me now hardly seemed decent for a public setting. He moved his hand over to cover mine, so that both rested on my thigh, and as the night progressed, I found myself thinking more about that hand placement than the excellent play. Afterward, he and I stood with his family in the lobby for a while, catching up. Terry and Andrea Mortensen were great people who always treated me with genuine kindness. From what I'd learned of Seth's antisocial habits, I think they regarded me as some sort of last hope for him. Brandy affirmed as much when she and I dashed to the restroom together. â€Å"Dad told Uncle Seth not to screw things up,† she informed me as we washed our hands. â€Å"He said even if Uncle Seth is famous, him getting a woman like you defies belief.† I laughed and smoothed down the skirt of my dress. â€Å"I don't know about that. I don't think your dad gives your uncle enough credit. â€Å" Brandy gave me a sage look, worthy of someone much older. â€Å"Uncle Seth spent last Valentine's Day at a library.† We returned to the lobby and spoke a bit more before Terry declared they needed to rescue the babysitter who'd been left with their other four daughters. Andrea touched my arm as they prepared to leave. â€Å"You're coming to Seth's birthday party, aren't you?† I looked at all of them in surprise. â€Å"When is it?† â€Å"Thanksgiving. They fall on the same day every once in a while.† â€Å"It's a good ploy to get turkey and presents,† remarked Terry. He was shorter and more clean-shaven than Seth but otherwise bore a fair resemblance to his older brother. â€Å"I didn't even know it was coming up.† I shot Seth an accusing look. â€Å"I forgot.† For anyone else, that would probably have been a lie, but I believed him. â€Å"So you'll be there?† Andrea again gave me the impression they were desperate to foster Seth's love life. I could have probably negotiated a stipend for showing up. â€Å"With bells on.† Seth and I went back to his place this time. I shape-shifted into my favorite pajamas – flannel pants and a cami – and crawled into bed with him. His bed was bigger than mine and had a feather duvet, as well as a teddy bear named Damocles who wore a University of Chicago T-shirt. Still a little wound up, we talked in the dark about Emerald City for a while, then moved on to books in general. We had a vast array of familiar literature in our repertoire, and we jumped around authors and genres. We both admired Toni Morrison and Tennessee Williams. Neither of us could get through Anna Karenina. Seth hated Jane Austen, whom I adored. As we debated back and forth, I was relieved to be reminded we truly did have a lot in common. Sex was not the only thing between us, even if it was the only thing that stood between us. At some point in the literary discussion, I began to drift off. The long day had worn me out, and sleep felt luxurious. Seth seemed tired too. He and I drew close, lying on our sides, legs touching. Random thoughts whispered in my head as unconsciousness tugged at me. How Aubrey was doing. Whether Paige's baby would be a boy or a girl. If Bastien was any closer to bedding Dana. How in the world Doug's band had become so amazing so quickly. I opened my eyes a couple hours later, uncertain what had woken me. One of those weird, unseen things that suddenly break you out of sleep, I guessed. Quiet darkness still enveloped us with no sign of morning in sight. A little moonlight filtered inside, casting funny shadows around the desk and other bedroom furniture. Unlike my place in Queen Anne, car traffic here dropped off at night, so I heard only the sound of breathing and electrical humming. Then I noticed that Seth and I had moved our bodies even nearer than before. Our legs wrapped around each other pretzel-style, our arms kept us close together. His scent flooded my nose. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed his were open as well. Intense pools of darkness. He was watching me. Still a little sleepy, I moved my hand up to his neck, twining my fingers in his hair, drawing my face closer to his. His hand rested on the small of my back where the tank top rose away from my flannel pajama bottoms. He touched the skin there just as he had at the concert, his hand sliding toward my side, tracing the curve of my hip before running toward my thigh. The fingers that beat such a steady tattoo on computer keys were as delicate as feathers on me. My eyes never left his as we touched each other, and I swore I could hear my heart thundering in my ears. Then, despite some screaming voice in the back of my foggy brain, I pushed my mouth toward his and kissed him. Our lips were tentative at first, as though surprised they had gotten this far. We tasted each other, slowly and gently. His hand on the back of my thigh slid upward, and something about shy Seth Mortensen stroking my ass sent a thrill through me. A soft exhalation lodged in my throat, and as my tongue explored past his lips, seeking more, he suddenly pushed me onto my back with an urgency that I think astonished both of us. His other hand slid up under my shirt and cupped the bottom of a breast, and through his boxers, I could tell that more than just his hands and lips wanted this to progress. Then, ever so slightly, I felt something else. A slight tingling. Angel-fine tendrils of prickly bliss slowly snaking through me, wrapping around me. Exhilarating. Better than any intoxicant I'd ever experienced. Pure life, pure energy. It was delicious and tantalizing, another dimension of the physical pleasure we stood on the brink of. The fact that it was Seth's was even more alluring. It had his unique essence written all over it. I wanted to dive into it, close my eyes and forget all about being responsible while that sweetness filled me. But I couldn't. My resolve was weakening by the second, true, but I was still holding on. Barely. I broke the kiss reluctantly, trying to muster my strength and move away from him. At the first sign of my struggle, he immediately let me go. â€Å"I – I'm sorry,† I said, sitting up and putting my face in my hands. I rubbed my eyes as though waking from a dream, which in a manner of speaking, I was. â€Å"We can't. It†¦it started†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Just from kissing.† It was a statement, his voice coming out husky with desire and sleepiness†¦and regret. He knew better than most how lethal a passionate kiss could be; I'd almost killed him the last time. Of course, that had been an exceptional situation, and my near-death state had sucked away much more than a deep kiss normally would. â€Å"Just from kissing,† I repeated bleakly. It didn't take intercourse for one person to give themselves up to another. There were no loopholes in this game. Tense silence crept in around us until Seth sat up as well and shifted his body away from mine. I could hear genuine pain and guilt when he spoke again. â€Å"I'm sorry about that. I don't know†¦meant to have better control. But I just sort of woke up†¦and I was half-asleep†¦and then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know,† I whispered into the darkness. â€Å"I know. And I'm sorry too.† More silence. â€Å"I guess,† he finally said, â€Å"I should go sleep on the couch†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I closed my eyes, feeling terrible but knowing he was right. We'd been playing with fire by fooling around with this chaste-sleeping thing. It was a wonder something bad hadn't happened sooner. The more it sunk in, the more I realized how much damage I could have caused. Hell, how much damage had I caused already by taking those few drops of life from him? A week off his lifespan? A few days? Even one minute would have been too much. Bitterness – at the world, not him – dripped from my voice when I spoke. â€Å"No. I'll take the couch. We're at your place.† â€Å"Whatever. Leave me some remnant of chivalry.† I didn't say anything, and we sat once more in awkward silence. A hundred questions hung in the air between us, but neither of us could broach them. Both our faults. When an emotional situation turned uncomfortable, I had a tendency to run from it or pretend it wasn't happening. And while Seth wouldn't exactly run away, he wouldn't initiate the dialogue needed to explore something like this. So we continued sitting there. At last, he stood up. â€Å"I'm sorry. Sorry for what I did.† He blamed himself, which was typical of him but not fair, especially since I had technically touched him first. I should have said something then, told him it wasn't all his fault. But the words stuck on my tongue, held up by my own confused feelings. After a few more moments, he left for the living room. I lay back down, Damocles in my arms, but slept badly the rest of the night. When morning came, Seth and I ate breakfast in more tense silence – he'd finally made my pancakes – broken only occasionally by stiff small talk. We then went to the bookstore together, parting ways quickly. I hardly saw him the rest of the day. Bastien was in the city for some reason or another that night, so he picked me up later and drove me over to his place for the ridiculous heist at Dana's. When I saw the post-sex energy wreathing him, I knew what had brought him downtown. â€Å"Don't you get tired of getting laid every day?† I asked him, wishing I could have gotten laid last night. â€Å"I'm going to pretend you didn't actually just ask that, Fleur .†He then proceeded to ramble on about his various Dana sightings in the last few days, how chummy they were getting, how it could only be a matter of time before the inevitable. When I didn't really respond, he cut me a sidelong glance. â€Å"What's the matter with you? You look miserable.† I sighed. â€Å"I kissed Seth last night.† â€Å"And?† â€Å"And what?† â€Å"What else happened?† â€Å"Well†¦nothing. I mean, a little groping here and there, but that's it.† â€Å"So?† â€Å"So, I shouldn't have done it.† A dismissive look crossed his face. â€Å"A kiss is nothing. It's not like you gave him a blow job or anything.† â€Å"Good lord, you're crass.† â€Å"Don't act like I offended your delicate sensibilities. And you know what I'm talking about.† â€Å"Doesn't matter. I was weak. I got some of his energy from that.† † Fleur , I love you as much as I've ever managed to love anybody, but this whole thing is absurd. You're never going to be happy until you've fucked this guy, so just get it over with. It'll take away the whole forbidden attraction and allow both of you to get on with your lives. â€Å" â€Å"‘Get on with our lives?' What's that supposed to mean?† I asked sharply. â€Å"I mean half the reason you guys are so infatuated with each other is because you can't have each other. It's not love, but it is a normal human reaction, a catalyst for physical attraction.† He paused and considered. â€Å"Your maniacal obsession with his books might also be a factor.† â€Å"That's not true. None of that's true at all. Well, I mean, those books are good enough to be the basis of a religion, but that's not the same thing. That's not why I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Love him? Hell. I still didn't know if I did or not. I wasn't even sure what love was after all this time. Bastien shook his head, not believing me but not wanting to argue either. â€Å"Fine. Keep going with this. I still think you should fuck him, though. Even if it doesn't make you both realize you're better off apart, it'll at least remove one source of tension between you and maybe let you attempt some sort of normal dysfunctional relationship.† I stared bleakly into space. â€Å"I can't. Not even one night. It'd take years off his life. I couldn't live with myself.† â€Å"Bah. Only a handful of years at most. What's that? Besides, men have done stupider things for sex – with women they don't even really like. If he really does love you, he might think it's a fair trade.† I shuddered. I didn't think it was fair at all, but he was right about the silly things men would do for sex. I'd seen and initiated plenty of them. We finally gave up both sides of the argument when we pulled into his driveway. The clock was ticking, and we had to start this operation. Bastien had watched Dana and Bill drive off earlier, and their teenage son had gone down the street to stay at a friend's house. Shifting to be invisible to mortal eyes, Bastien and I crept out the back of his house and scaled the fence into Dana's yard. It sort of made me feel like I was in a spy movie; I half wished we could crawl under some motion-detecting lasers. â€Å"They have a security system,† I whispered to Bastien as I watched him pick the back door's lock. More useful skills gleaned from long centuries. â€Å"Being invisible isn't going to deactivate it. â€Å" â€Å"No problem. I've done some invisible reconnaissance. I know the code.† Sure enough, he punched it into the console once we were in the house, and the readout's red light turned green. We started in the Dailey office, as that seemed like the most logical place to stash paperwork. Dana had a meticulous sense of organization that creeped me out, and we had to make sure we left everything the way we found it. Unfortunately, most of the stuff was completely useless. Memos. Efficient – and honest – budget reports. Invoices. Press releases. She had a lot of pictures too, which were at least more fun to look at than the papers. Most of them showed family or CPFV events. A number of the shots had Jody in them, which saddened me. I recalled the other woman's sly wit and passion for art. Why would someone with any sort of intelligence want to get involved in all this? â€Å"I didn't realize how active Jody was in this group,† I remarked to Bastien. â€Å"She wasn't so bad. Dana's corrupted her.† â€Å"Dana's a persuasive woman. Hey, did you know Jody's last name is Daniels? And her husband's name is Jack?† We giggled over that and continued searching a while longer before finally abandoning the office. We then ransacked – neatly, of course – any other cupboards or drawers we could find on the main floor. Nothing. â€Å"Maybe there are secret panels behind paintings,† suggested Bastien. â€Å"Or maybe the pool-boy thing was a fraud, Dana's honest with her business dealings, and there's really nothing else to get on her except that she's a prejudiced bitch.† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"One place left. The true sanctuary. The bedroom.† I grimaced. Going into someone's bedroom freaked me out. The ultimate violation of privacy. But Bastien charged on, still confident this wild goose chase would yield results. Fortunately, the bedroom had the neat, sterile look of a hotel, not the warm and sensual air of one's most intimate space. It made searching easier, like I was breaking into a vacant room. We sifted through drawers and closets, again finding little to go on. â€Å"Eek!† I suddenly cried, staring into an open drawer. Bastien flew to me. â€Å"What? What is it?† I held up what had to be the most wholesome pair of granny panties I'd ever seen. They were like great-granny panties. They were even white. You would have thought she could at least go out on a limb and get them in blue or green or something. Bastien elbowed me for my overreaction. â€Å"How can you even act surprised after hearing her rants about modest clothing?† â€Å"Modest is one thing, but Jesus†¦how high do these things go? Up to her neck?† â€Å"Put them back. We've got to – â€Å" Click. We'd both heard. I shot Bastien a panicked look and shoved the underwear back in the drawer. â€Å"I thought you said – † His tone was grim. â€Å"I know, I know.† Someone had just entered the house.

Archaeology and the Trojan War Essay - 1705 Words

Archaeology and the Trojan War â€Å"†¦ he [Heinrich Schliemann] found layers of ruins †¦ and two bore unmistakable signs of violent destruction. One of these layers, the seventh according to more recent excavators, was no doubt the city of Priam and Hector. The historicity of the Homeric tale had been demonstrated archaeologically.† - M.I. Finley, the World of Odysseus Introduction The Trojan War and its characters are detailed in the writings of Homer, Vergil, Dante and many others. It is a fantastical tale of a decade-long siege of a powerful city by a massive pan-hellenic force. However, even though it has proved to be such a rich source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists throughout history, it is debated whether it†¦show more content†¦Thucydides, much like Heroditus, believed that it had happened, though he does concede that Homer had changed the story in creating his poetry. Other authors who have drawn on the Trojan War include Plato, Vergil and Dante. Though the Trojan War was an event from early Greek history, the Romans too wrote about it. Vergil’s unfinished Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas. Indeed, classical civilisations did not have a monopoly on the Trojan War - Ulysses (Odysseus latinised) appears alongside Diomedes (another leader of the Achaeans who, amongst other deeds, went inside the famous Trojan Horse) in Dantes Inferno. Because so many authors have written about the Trojan War, there are conflicting versions of events. However, we can compare the different versions and conclude that anything that is repeated in each of the sources actually happened. At the most basic level, we can say that the Trojan War was a pan-hellenic assault on the city of Troy, which after a protracted siege, the attackers were the victors. (If we do not take it for granted that the Trojan War was an attack on the Trojans, then there is very little reason for calling it the â€Å"Trojan War†.) The other problems with the surviving accounts of the Trojan War are the involvement of the gods. Supposedly Apollo and Poseidon helped build Troy as punishment. Throughout the Aeneid, the gods aid mortals in their own particular struggles. Obviously, if the TrojanShow MoreRelatedArchaeology Has Proved the Historicity of the Trojan War. Discuss1748 Words   |  7 PagesArchaeology has proved the historicity of the Trojan War. Discuss Â… he [Heinrich Schliemann] found layers of ruins Â… and two bore unmistakable signs of violent destruction. One of these layers, the seventh according to more recent excavators, was no doubt the city of Priam and Hector. The historicity of the Homeric tale had been demonstrated archaeologically. - M.I. Finley, the World of Odysseus Introduction The Trojan War and its characters are detailed in the writings of Homer, VergilRead MoreThe Trojan War - Fact or Fiction?1674 Words   |  7 PagesThe Trojan War Ââ€" Fact or Fiction? The Trojan War. 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In today’s times we still may not have all the answers o f the Trojan War but we do have evidence and possibilitiesRead MoreEssay on Miol2911 Words   |  12 Pages7 Week 8 Week 9 18/2 11/2 25/2 4/3 11/3 18/3 25/3 HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND SCIENCE Term 2: Monday 29/4/13 – Friday 28/6/13 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 29/4 6/5 Week 10 1/4 8/4 TUTANKHAMUN’S TOMB TASK 1 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 20/5 13/5 Week 11 27/5 3/6 10/6 17/6 24/6 TASK 2 HOMER AND THE TROJAN WAR TUT’S TOMB THERA Task Term 3: Monday 15/7/13 – Friday 20/9/13 Week 1 Week 2 Read More Troy, Truth in the Myth? Essay example1962 Words   |  8 Pagessite in northwest Turkey, as it is believed to be the location of the ancient city. Alexander must have been puzzled when he had arrived in Ilion, the name of the city at the time of his visit. 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