How Do Eye witness Testimonials Affect Jury Decision Making

How Do Eye observer Testimonials Affect Jury Decision Making A false jury situation was led to assess the impacts that observer declarations had on 139 members. So as to consider the genuine influences the declarations have on dynamic procedure, observer declarations were controlled into 3 distinct classifications (sound onlooker, undermined observer and no observer). Proof by the indictment and safeguard sides were likewise introduced and were steady over the three autonomous variable gatherings. In the past numerous scholar felt that irregularities in observers declarations have been the reason for some illegitimate feelings (Neufeld, 2008; Wagstaff et al., 2003). These past convictions have brought about the improvement of this investigation and the speculation that, having any kind of onlooker present would cause an emotional impact in creating progressively liable decisions by the members. Anyway the examination results were seen as uncertain in supporting our theory and potential explanations behind this, just as future investigations we re talked about. How Do Eye-witness Testimonials Affect Jury Decision Making? In a court, jury individuals are given numerous types of proof so as to help control the dynamic procedure. A usually utilized type of proof that is introduced by the arraignment side is called an onlooker declaration. An observer declaration is a perception that an outsider had to a wrongdoing or occurrence that occurred. The onlooker will affirm concerning what they saw and furthermore attempt to distinguish who carried out the wrongdoing. As expressed by Bradfield and Wells (2000), in 1972 on account of Neil versus Biggers the court announced that for an observer declaration to be substantial, 5 criterias must be met. These were (1) assurance of suspects ID, (2) nature of view the observers reports having of the suspect, (3) consideration paid to speculate, (4) how much the observers depiction of suspect match that of litigant and (5) time that has passed between seeing wrongdoing and ID of suspect. These 5 standards were later known as the 5 Biggers rules. As per Rutledge (2001), observer declarations much of the time are among the most significant types of proof that is introduced. Anyway it must be differentiated that in spite of the fact that declarations are a guide for dynamic, there is a wide acknowledgment that observer proof is as often as possible temperamental and incorrect (Neuschatz et al., 2007; Rutledge, 2001). Researchers have hypothesized that the acknowledgments of temperamental declarations by jury individuals are to a great extent the aftereffect of the high certainty level showed by observer at accurately recognizing the suspect, when in actuality they were off base (Luss Wells, 1994; Wells, Ferguson Lindsay, 1981). A potential reason to clarify how these high certainty levels create in an observer has been connected to what scholar call the input impact. It was indicated that input remarks by police, for example, very much done or great, you distinguished him during talking process, effectsly affected the onlookers certainty (Luss Wells, 1994; Wells Bradfield, 1998). Koriat, Lichtenstein and Fischhoff (1980, as refered to in Wells, Ferguson Lindsay, 1981), went further and expressed that this criticism prompted onlookers considering reasons that further upheld the choice they have made with respect to who they distinguished and the conditions of the wrongdoing they believed they had watched. Rattner (1988, as refered to in Bradfield Wells, 2000), further expresses that acknowledgment of mixed up distinguishing proof is the biggest single reason for unfair conviction. Rattners articulation was additionally exhibited by mock-jury contemplates attempted where it was indicated that in spite of the fact that there were irregularities in onlooker declarations, most of jury individuals conveyed a decision that the respondent was liable (Lindsay, Wells OConnor, 1989; Wagstaff et al., 2003). Along these lines due to the ever-expanding banter with regards to the unwavering quality and legitimacy of the announcements made and the outcomes it has in the jury dynamic procedure, examination into observer declarations is an important region of study. In the investigation it was conjectured that right off the bat, having any kind of observer will cause progressively blameworthy decisions over non liable decisions. Furthermore, it is theorized that with the introduction of an observer, the likelihood or certainty level that the suspect is blameworthy should increment over that of having no observer. Along these lines the more dependable an observer is, the greater likelihood the members should show of having a liable decision. Strategy Members The examination contained an aggregate of 139 PYB 102 understudies from Queensland University of Technology. Members were enrolled for this examination by methods for an agreed chipping in process held during an instructional exercise meeting. The complete number of understudies involved 107 females and 32 guys whose age run shifted between 17 to 51 years old. This likens to a normal period of 21.8 years and a standard deviation of 7.5 years. Plan All members were given an indistinguishable contention by the arraignment and resistance legal counselors, anyway the data with respect to the observer declaration were changed for members to shape 3 unique perspectives in regards to the onlooker declaration. Thusly, the autonomous factors in this examination were the 3 unique contentions that were introduced with respect to onlooker declarations (no observer, ruined onlooker and a valid onlooker). The 2 ward factors which were the results of this investigation were the blameworthy or not liable decisions and the members likelihood (certainty level) at the suspect carrying out the wrongdoing. Material Members were given a sheet expressing the wrongdoing situation with applicable realities about the wrongdoing, suspect, conditions of the capture and proof introduced to jury in court. Different materials utilized in this examination were pen and paper poll. The poll required a decision between a blameworthy or non liable decision alongside a likelihood of blame positioning from 0% to 100%. Method Every member got data with respect to a wrongdoing situation. Data given, expressed how the wrongdoing occurred and how the suspect was captured. Members were likewise educated by the arraignment side with respect to the proof that was found in the speculates ownership or on all fours. The resistance group likewise introduced their side, expressing a counter-explanation for the proof and assets being guaranteed by the indictment side. Members were likewise given data in regards to observer declarations. The data with respect to observer declarations were utilized as a free factor in the examination and were modified into 3 situations which influenced the exactness of the declarations. Gathering 1 was given data that had no observer articulations while bunch 2 was given an onlooker who had seen the wrongdoing however was not wearing his glasses at that point and was lawfully proclaimed visually impaired. Gathering 3 was given an onlooker who professed to have seen the occurrence and had no issues with respect to his sight. In the wake of being given all the data, members were approached to do two separate assignments. Errand 1 was an unmitigated assignment whereby member needed to choose whether they felt the suspect was liable or not blameworthy. The subsequent undertaking was to numerically express the likelihood that the suspect was liable. This certainty level had a potential worth which ran from 0% likelihood (in no way, shape or form sure that presume carried out the wrongdoing) to 100% likelihood (completely sure the wrongdoing was submitted by suspect). Results Table 1 shows the choices made by members of liable versus not liable, while table 2 shows how likely the members felt the suspect was blameworthy dependent on the onlooker declarations they were introduced. Table 1. Choices Made by Participants Based on Eye Witness Testimony. Test Condition Guilty Not Guilty No observer 15 (33%) 30(67%) Onlooker 21(45%) 26(55%) Disparaged observer 7(15%) 40(85%) Table 2. Likelihood that Participants Felt Suspect was Guilty Based on Eye-Witness Testimony. Test Probability speculate Standard Condition Is Guilty Deviation No observer 45.22 22.36 Onlooker 50.10 21.93 Ruined onlooker 36.38 19.24 Conversation Results saw that the rate contrasts in as liable decisions over every one of the three gatherings were factually critical utilizing a chi-square trial of autonomy which presumed that p = 0.007 existed ( x2 (2, N=139) = 9.94). Likewise the main likelihood or certainty level that was demonstrated to be critical utilizing autonomous example t-test was just obvious between the distinction in the onlooker gathering and disparaged observer gathering. It was discovered that members had a higher level of not blameworthy votes when given either a solid observer or an undermined observer and in this way the principal theory has been seen as uncertain. As expressed by Hosch, Beck, and McIntyre (1980), a dominant part of not liable decisions may have been picked by members of the jury not on the grounds that they felt that the litigant was honest, rather they may have felt the proof and onlooker declarations had not demonstrated blame past a sensible uncertainty. The subsequent speculation was additionally seen as uncertain in that in spite of the fact that we expected having an onlooker (undermined or tenable) would have a higher likelihood or certainty level than having no observer, our outcomes repudiated this by demonstrating that the no observer bunch had more blameworthy decisions than the ruined observer gathering. Nonetheless, in halfway help of the subsequent theory, it must be noticed that having a sound onlooker produced a higher likelihood of blame than having no observer. This result could be clarified by the way that members comprehended the ramifications of blameworthy decisions dependent on data which don't demonstrate bey

The Discipline of Innovation Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Discipline of Innovation - Article Example The extent of examiners for these range from a business and innovative progressions point of view, to regions of chance concentrated more on a social or segment nature. Innovative,astute administrators will recognize and apply every one of the seven zones of chance to the organization,while having the option to make an association culture that values,molds and drives â€Å"functional inspiration†, which require a specific degree of creative mind and out of the case thinking related with the obscure. In the public arena the idea of business enterprise is in some cases barely characterized. It is generally seen as new private companies or people who endeavor to get one through new organizations or thoughts. In any case, in a more extensive sense,any undertaking that makes new products,ideas or procedures is in reality a business person. The seven territories of advancement opportunity are: 1)Unexpected Occurrences-In organizations simply like life are very eccentric in nature. Regardless of whether it is an individual business visionary or a business,we must figure out how to manage changes and surprising circumstances with a dream toward uncovering and abusing any new chances or foundational enhancements that can emerge from such circumstances. 2)Incongruities-There are incalculable industries,jobs,situations and procedures where the nature or stream of the work is hindered or made less proficient in view of specific advances or prerequisites for the effective finishing of the project,process or employment as entirety. Analyzing,assessing and improving the stream or effectiveness of any item or process and dispensing with this crimps or confusions is a significant wellspring of important development. 3)Process upgrades Technological changes achieve various chances to not just fix old issues in any procedure or mechanical undertaking yet effectively improve the proficiency or viability of any procedure through imaginative and inventive utilization of new advances. 4)Industry and Market changes-Market conditions is very factor

The Best And Most Effective Ways of How to Cite a Blog

The Best And Most Effective Ways of How to Cite a Blog As the recent or new forms of online communication now become acceptable sources in the setting of academics. Few questions about the correct and proper citation are now continued to arise. Sometimes, you might be confused or worry regarding the citation of specific things.In this blog, we are going to show you the best ways to cite a blog. To cite a post of the blog, you must make a precise note of the following parts of the information: The title of the particular post you’re quotingThe name of the blog post that has been published onThe author name of the postThe direct link or URL to the postThe publisher of the site of the blog How to cite a blog in APA Style Summary How to cite a blog in APA StyleExample how to cite a blog in APA StyleHow to cite a blog in Harvard StyleExample of how to cite a blog in Harvard StyleHow to cite a blog in MLA StyleExample of how to cite a blog in MLA StyleHow to Cite an EBook in MLA Format Along With ExamplesExampleChicago StyleHow to Cite a Website in Chicago StyleConclusion The style of the APA citation was created in the year 1822 of July by the Psychological Association of America. Using the below following structure to cite a blog: Per the style of the APA format for a blog: When anyone paraphrasing or quoting part of a post of the blog, you must refer to that particular post.The elements such as (company or a person), when (day, month, year), what (blog post’s title), and where (Retrieved from and URL). Example how to cite a blog in APA Style Example (don’t overlook to mark the second and following lines): Jenny, F. (2014, May 27). What are human-made substances? [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apabooks.org/2015/08/12/what-are-man-made-subtance How to cite a blog in Harvard Style Web pages consist of blogs that are frequently updated on a specific topic or subject with the articles of a separable. The succeeding should exist in the reference list for the quotation of the blogs in the Harvard style. Blog Post TitleTitle of the websiteAuthorYear of the blog that was last publishedMonth/day of the posted blogAvailable at the: URL Example of how to cite a blog in Harvard Style When quoting a post of the blog, the given below format is used: Last name of the author, First name. (Year published). Title of Post. [Blog] Blog name. Accessible at: URL Example: Cena, T. (2014). Child Labor and Humanity. [Blog] Today And Yesterday. Accessible at:http://todayandyesterday.blogs.morningtimes.com/2014/04/06/child-labor-and-humanity/ [Retrieved June 26. 2015]. How to cite a blog in MLA Style The MLA is also is known as the Style of Modern Language Association. It is used for citing the sources of liberal arts, language and literature, and other subjects that are related to the division of humanity. This style also gives the readers with a system of “cross-referencing,” which permits them to find the publication facts of a source. Example of how to cite a blog in MLA Style last name of the author, first name. “Tittle of the blog post.” Blog name, Publisher, Date of Publishing of the blog post, URL of the blog post (https://) Jain, Neeraj. “5 tips to be a specialist of dating online”. Stellar posts, April 20 2018, How to Cite an EBook in MLA Format Along With Examples Nowadays, most of the people reading the e-books on their personal computer or device. The students usually tend to gather the applicable information on a particular topic through and e-book. To cite an e-book in the format of MLA below is the structure of it: Author’s last name, First name. Book Title, City of Publication: Publication’s Year, Publisher. Series. Medium. Example Harry, Sen. Predator. Mineola: Penguin Publications, 2012. Kindle Edition. Berger, Sen. The Growth of chambers: McGraw-Hill, 2004 Chicago Style The style of Chicago is also called as the Chicago Manual Style, i.e., CMS or CMOS, and sometimes a guide of style for American English.It was issued in the year 1906 from the Chicago Press University.The citation style of Chicago is used to reference the resources in subjects such as social science, natural science, and the humanities.It includes two simple documentation systems, i.e., the author-date system and the humanities style (bibliography and notes). How to Cite a Website in Chicago Style To refer a website according to the guidelines of the style of Chicago guide, given below is the format: Format: Author’s last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of Website. Date of Month, Publication Year/ Updated Month Date, Year OR Accessed Date of Month, Year of access. Website link. Example: Ferguson, David. “Deck, Yes! The Message Plan is here.” Gizmodo. August 19, 1897. Conclusion The above information is relevant to understand how to cite a blog. It is a major issue that most of the students are facing when citing blogs and articles. If you are facing any difficulty or problem about how to cite a blog. Our company is delivering appropriate, plagiarism-free, and relevant content to you. If you have any questions about the content, you can contact us. Our experts can resolve your query within some period.

Why Gun Violence is Getting Worse - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2244 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/03/20 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Gun Violence Essay Did you like this example? Guns are the reason for most homicides in america, they cause more and more damage each year, and recently in the past few years it has gotten worse due to mass shootings.So far this year only there has been about 307 mass shooting in America. The number of people who die do to gun violence is 96 and about 250 people get shot and survive. Overall, 64 percent of deaths were determined to be homicides, while an additional 27 percent were suicides and 9 percent were accidental shootings(Santhanam). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Why Gun Violence is Getting Worse" essay for you Create order This is the horrifying statistics of this country and yet, there is no major changes made. Although many people feel like guns area big part of protection, its only causing more and more madness by the day and getting it under control will save many lives. If there is new gun laws passed, that gives the people of this country insurance that innocent people wont continuously lose their life. Growing up and going to public elementary/schools, I am grateful nothing of such tragedy like school shootings has ever happened when I was there, but I cant help and think that there is innocent children losing their lives at such a young age from gun violence at a place where your expected to feel safe. This year one of the biggest school shooting was in Florida on Wednesday, February 14. A student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School named Nicolas Cruz, came to school where he opened fire killing 14 student and 3 teachers. The gun, a Smith Wesson MP 15 .223, was purchased at Sunrise Tactical Supply, according to the Associated Press.Federal law allows people 18 and older to legally purchase long guns, including this kind of assault weapon. With no criminal record, Cruz cleared an instant background check via the FBI criminal database (Jansen). He was not even asked questions because he passed a simple background check, this and many other incidence should have brought awareness to congress that you should only have to be 18 and have a clear background in order to go out and purchase such a dangerous weapon. There should be more than just background checks in order to purchase a gun, for example mental health is important and having mental illness can be dangerous to have and dangerous towards other people if you dont receive the help that you need. The reality is that most people with personality disorders do not seek treatment and are not known to mental health providers(Mental illness and gun laws: What you may not know about the complexities.) People even fail to acknowledge their mental illnesses because of the society we live in, and I honestly dont blame them either because most people believe that they will get bullied and made fun of by others, but by getting the help they need it might not reach a point where they might want to harm themselves or others. Its important to note that those with diagnosed serious mental illness, who are determined by a psychiatrist to be a serious risk of harm to themselves or others, already get admitted to acute or long-term inpatient care and are kept there until they are deemed not dangerous (Mental illness and gun laws: What you may not know about the complexities.) Can it be that hard for congress to make a law to ban guns that would actually help benefit people? I strongly believe that adding this simple law would save hundreds of people from hurting themselves or hurting others. Most gun and shooting accidents involve children who find unsecured, loaded guns around the house or in the family car. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says, The absence of guns from childrens homes and communities is the most reliable and effective measure to prevent firearm-related injuries in children and adolescents. However, many families have firearms at home and gun ownership has not decreased in recent years( Iannelli.) Parents are getting these firearms for protection but in result loosing their own children because they are not properly putting them away and keeping them out of childrens reach.In the span of two years almost 1,330 children have died from accidently shooting themselves and other children. A lot who have young children are not only not putting them far enough from children and they are most likely keeping their guns loaded with the bullets in the magazine. There has not been anything dramatically done to change the law of guns and there has barely nothing been done to control the issue. There is many other countries who have their gun controls under control or banned and that seems to be working for them, they dont have the same issues as America with all these extreme mass shootings. For example Canada does not ban guns but they do have strict laws for them such as: gun owners can not carry outside of their homes unless its part of their job, all guns must be kept locked away and they cannot be loaded, also they require safety training for owners. Ive lived in Minnesota for majority of my life, I have not witnessed many people die until I was about 15, and my brothers best friend was shot and murdered in burnsville MN. I remember him going through the worst depression I could emagine. It hurt him to know that his best friend life was taken from him so brutally and it made him more angry as years passed by. It was just something he couldnt get through and he didnt want to talk to anyone about. It continue to worry me me to see him not want to talk to anyone and distance himself from everything he loved, and I finally got the courage to ask him why he was still mad instead of being sad? He replied to me because he was shot and killed He then continued to explain to me that if it was natural cause that killed him he would not have the madness in his heart. As time went on we spent a lot of time together and I got him to go back and do the things he loved, and he started to enjoy life again because he noticed living that way was n ot healthy. About 2 years passed and on January 24, 2016 one of my friends lost their brother also due to gun violence. This one hurt very much, not just to see my friend and her family feel whats they were feeling but also the fact that I also knew him. He was a kind, sweet, caring person and only 19 when he was shot and murdered. His life was not worth what he died over and I knew that this feeling of losing a loved one was only going to get worse for her and her family due to the fact that not only did he die, but someone took his life with a gun. A lot of these people who go and shoot people only think in that moment and that person but they fail to understand that people will have a hard time continuing with their lives because that person whose life they took has people that care and love them. I also remember going to his funeral and my friend asking me to go into the room her brother was being washed in. When we went in, she automatically broke down, and Ive never been in such shock my l ife. He laid over us with five bullets in this chest and one in his head. His blood no longer running in his body and his body looking so dull. I broke down and just couldnt understand how someone could be so cruel and be so inhumane to do such thing. I watched his mother kiss him on his forehead and say goodbye as tears went down her face.It broke my heart to see her say goodbye to her son that only got to live 19 years of life. We then buried him and everyone that came soon started to get in their cars and leave because it was so cold. I sat at his grave with my friend and just watched her. She told me that she was so angry at the other man who took her brothers life with a gun. I remember talking about this with my brother and automatically that conversation came to my mind. I then started to notice that them being shot and murdered was making it harder to move on for her as well. I knew that this was going to be a tough time for her so I made sure to around as much as I could be so that she doesnt exclude herself from people and things she also loves doing. That same year in November 26th, I remember getting a call and being told that my brother was shot. I didnt know how it feel, I didnt know if he was dead or alive, I just remember my blood pressure rising and my body become completely frozen. I was at my cousins house and they wondered what was wrong and kept tapping me, i just started to cry and think the worst, after a few minutes of sitting there and breaking down my phone rang and it was his girlfriend to tell me that she was at the hospital and that he was shot in this rist and he was going to be fine. I was relieved that he was alive but still crying because if the fact that he was hurt, I ended up going to the hospital and seeing him sit on the bed asleep with a huge cast and just hug him and restful te was alive. Once he was awake he told me that he was outside of a restaurant in Minneapolis and there was a group of men in a car and let shots fired in front of the restaurant. He told me he was standing outside with his friend and as soon as he realized what was happening told me ran behind a car and before he got there hiding his head with his and and thats when he got shot. I was so happy he was alive and although the doctor told him the bones in his wrist completely shattered and that they would have to put a metal piece to hold his hand straight up. The doctor also let him know that he would never be able to move his wrist up and down again. I knew that was frustrating for him. He didnt deserve what happened to him and it made me angry to know that someone shot him and to know that him and many other innocent people standing outside that restaurant could have died that day. I noticed that day the damage that guns were doing to people and the amount of other people only have to deal with being shot or their loved ones of theirs either being shot and hurt, or being shot and murdered. Not long after that many boys from the city im from who are somali were shot and murdered. Its like it was getting worse by the months and I think i was realizing more because I was getting older. I went to about another funeral in December,2016 from this boy who didnt know but went to the same islamic school when we were younger. Being at his funeral only made me remember the last time i was there for the same case. It made me sad to see mothers and families cry once again. It made me more sad to know that his cause of death was because of a gun. After a while things started to calm down and on June,11 2017 I remember being at work on break and getting another call from my other brother and him telling me that he was shot in the leg the night before and quickly saying that he would be fine and that the doctores got the bullet out. I didnt want to cry because I was just so confused, I just wanted to leave and go to the hospital and be there with him. So thats exactly what did, without telling anyone I just left. I called my sister and told her the exact thing he told me. Me and my whole family met at the hospital and by that time he has a cast and he was just happy to see us. He was shot in an apartment complex by a guy looking for another man and mistaken him for my brother. It has only gotten worse in minneapolis with gun violence, I have been to 3 funerals this year alone of 3 young men, the oldest being 25 being shot and killed. Every Time I was there I would remember seeing the others who I came for. About a week ago a student from Saint Paul College who was out with his cousins and friends were playing with guns and his cousin accidentally shot him in the face. He was fighting for his life and was brain dead. He ended up just dying December 11, 2018. Ive never met or seen him, but my sister told me she had class with him and telling me how much of sweet and funny boy he was. Im not sure how old he was but he was surely not over the age of 22. Gun violence is only getting worse, and writing this paper only made me realize that some

The Aging Population Is The Fastest Growing Population

The aging population is the fastest growing population in our nation. By the year 2030, it is estimated that approximately 61 million people will be between the ages 65 -85 and 9 million individuals will be ages 85 and older (Ouchida Lachs, 2015). Perceptions of the elderly have slightly changed for the better in recent years, but biases and discrimination are still very widespread in our society today. â€Å"Ageism† is a phrase coined by Robert Butler in 1969 and implies a preconception, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults and can come in many forms. A kind of ageism I will be focusing on is the related to older adults and their treatment by healthcare professionals. The topic of ageism is what I will be exploring,†¦show more content†¦Older adults have more strengths and are more resilient than they are given credit for having. Many older adults are very active in their community and volunteer to help others, and many older adults in today s society and like to stay busy remain fit by exercising. They may appear frail but may have more will to try and bounce back after a procedure if given the opportunity to partake in physical/occupational therapy. To advance my current knowledge of how ageism affects older adults in relation to healthcare, I will review professional literature and interview two elders for their accounts of how they feel they are treated by their physicians, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. The individuals will be from different socioeconomic standings to find commonalities and differences of their experiences. Ageism is a significant topic for all social workers to understand and recognize when working with the older adult population for many reasons. Fist, as a social worker, one of the codes of ethics we are expected to live up to in our profession is to promote the dignity and worth of a person( NASW, 2017). By doing this, social workers recognize that older adults have the right to self –determination and decision-making ability for his/her life. An older adult who is not offered the same form of treatment for surgery based on age alone, is a form of ageism social workersShow Mo reRelated The Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population Essay examples1226 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population With new medical technology and improved knowledge about health and wellness, American’s life expectancy is longer than ever, with a better expected quality of life as well. Wyoming is the fastest aging state in the country according to the Billing’s Gazette. In addition to an already aging state, Wyoming has been named by national publications as a top place of retirement due to its tax structure and climate. 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Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five Free Essays

I HAD MOCKED KEITH when we first came to Palm Springs, teasing him for freezing up around Moroi. But as I stood there now, face-to-face with the stuff of nightmares, I knew exactly how he felt. I had no right to judge anyone for losing all rational thought when confronted with their greatest fears. We will write a custom essay sample on Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five or any similar topic only for you Order Now That being said, if Keith was here, I think he would’ve understood why Moroi weren’t as big a deal to me anymore. Because when compared to Strigoi? Well, suddenly the little differences between humans and Moroi became negligible. Only one difference mattered, the difference between the living and the dead. It was the line that divided us, the line that Adrian and I firmly stood together on one side of – facing those who stood on the other. I had seen Strigoi before. Back then, I hadn’t been immediately threatened by them. Plus, I’d had Rose and Dimitri on hand, ready to protect me. Now? There was no one here to save us. Just ourselves. There were only two of them, but it might as well have been two hundred. Strigoi operated at such a different level than the rest of us that it didn’t take very many of them to tip the odds. They were both women, and they looked as though they’d been in their twenties when they became Strigoi. How long ago that was, I couldn’t guess. Lee had zealously gone on and on about how being Strigoi meant you were â€Å"forever young.† Yet in looking at these two monsters, I didn’t really think of them that way. Sure, they had the superficial appearance of youth, but it was marred with evil and decay. Their skin might be wrinkle free, but it was a sickly white, far whiter than any Moroi. The red-ringed eyes that leered out at us didn’t sparkle with life and energy, but rather an unholy sort of reanimation. These people weren’t right. They weren’t natural. â€Å"Charming,† said one, her blond hair in a pixie cut. Her facial structure made me think she’d been a dhampir or human before being turned. She was eyeing us the same way I’d often seen my family’s cat watch birds. â€Å"And exactly as described.† â€Å"They’re soooo pretty,† crooned the other, a lascivious smile on her face. Her height said she had once been Moroi. â€Å"I don’t know which one I want first.† The blonde gave a warning look. â€Å"We’ll share.† â€Å"Like last time,† agreed the other, tossing a mane of curly black hair over one shoulder. â€Å"No,† said the first. â€Å"Last time you made both kills. That wasn’t sharing.† â€Å"But I let you feed from both afterward.† Before she could counter back, Lee suddenly recovered himself and staggered forward to the blond Strigoi. â€Å"Wait, wait. Dawn. You promised me. You promised you’d awaken me first before you do anything.† The two Strigoi turned their attention to Lee. I was still frozen, still unable to move or really react while being so close to these creatures of hell. But somehow, through the thick and overwhelming terror surrounding me, I still managed to feel small and unexpected pity for Lee. There was a little hate there too, of course, considering the situation. But mostly I felt terribly sorry for someone who truly believed his life was meaningless unless he sacrificed his soul for hollow immortality. Not only that, I felt sorry for him for actually thinking he could trust these creatures to give him what he wanted. Because as I studied them, it was perfectly clear to me that they were deciding whether or not to make this a three-course meal. Lee, I suspected, was the only one who didn’t realize this. â€Å"Please,† he said. â€Å"You promised. Save me. Restore me to how I was.† I also couldn’t help but notice the small red patch on his face where I’d hit him. I allowed myself to feel a bit of pride over that but wasn’t cocky enough to think I possessed any noteworthy fighting skills to battle my way out of this situation. The Strigoi were too close, and our exits were too few. â€Å"I know where more are,† he added, beginning to look uneasy that his â€Å"saviors† weren’t immediately jumping in to make his dreams come true. â€Å"One’s young – a dhampir.† â€Å"I haven’t had a dhampir in a while,† said the curly-haired Strigoi, almost wistfully. Dawn sighed. â€Å"I don’t really care, Jacqueline. If you want to awaken him, go for it. I just want these two. He doesn’t matter to me.† â€Å"I get the dhampir all to myself, then,† warned Jacqueline. â€Å"Fine, fine,† said Dawn. â€Å"Just hurry up.† Lee turned so radiant, so happy†¦ it was sickening. â€Å"Thank you,† he said. â€Å"Thank you so much! I’ve been waiting so long for this that I can’t believe it’s – ahh!† Jacqueline moved so quickly that I hardly saw it happen at all. One moment she was standing in the doorway, the next she had Lee pinned against the recliner. Lee gave out a semi-muffled scream as she bit into his neck, a scream that soon quieted. Dawn shut the door and nudged us forward. I flinched at her touch. â€Å"Well,† she said with amusement. â€Å"Let’s get a good view.† Neither Adrian nor I responded. We simply moved into the living room. I dared a glance at him but could discern little. He was so good at hiding his true feelings in general that I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised he could mask abject terror just as easily. He offered me no encouragement with either his expression or words, which I actually found kind of refreshing. Because really, I didn’t see any good end to this situation. Up close, forced to watch Jacqueline’s attack, I could now see the blissful expression that had settled over Lee’s face. It was the most awful thing I’d ever witnessed. I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut or turn away, but some force beyond me kept me staring at the grisly spectacle. I’d never seen any vampire feed, Moroi or Strigoi, but I now understood why feeders like Dorothy could so willingly sign up for their lifestyles. Endorphins were being released into Lee’s bloodstream, endorphins so strong that they blinded him to the fact that he was having his life drained away. He instead existed in a joyous state, lost in a chemical high. Or maybe he was just thinking about how happy he’d be once he was a Strigoi again, if it was possible to have any sort of conscious thought under these circumstances. I lost track of how long it took to drain Lee. Each moment was agonizing for me, as though I was taking the pain Lee should have been feeling. The process seemed to last forever, and yet there was also a weird sense of speed to it. It felt wrong that someone’s body could be drained in so short a time. Jacqueline drank steadily, pausing only once to remark, â€Å"His blood’s not as good as I expected.† â€Å"Then stop,† suggested Dawn, who was starting to look bored. â€Å"Just let him die and have these two with me.† Jacqueline looked as though she was actually considering it, again reminding me what a fool Lee had been to put his trust in these two. After a few minutes, she shrugged. â€Å"I’m almost done. And I really want him to get me that dhampir.† Jacqueline resumed drinking, but as she’d said, it didn’t take much longer. By this point, Lee was nearly as pale as the Strigoi, and there was a strange, stretched quality to his skin. He was perfectly still now. His face seemed frozen in a grin that was nearly as much shock as it was joy. Jacqueline lifted her face and wiped off her mouth, surveying her victim with pleasure. She then pushed up her shirtsleeve and rested her nails on his wrist. Before she could tear her own flesh, however, she caught sight of something. â€Å"Ah, much neater.† She stepped away and leaned down, retrieving Lee’s knife. It had slid under the love seat in our altercation. Jacqueline took it and effortlessly slashed her wrist, causing deep red blood to well out. Part of my brain didn’t think their blood should look so similar to mine. It should be black. Or acidic. She placed her bleeding wrist against Lee’s mouth and tipped Lee’s head back so that gravity could help the blood flow. Every horror I’d witnessed tonight had been worse than the last. Death was terrible – but it was also part of nature. This? This was no part of nature’s plan. I was about to witness the world’s greatest sin, the corruption of the soul through black magic to reanimate the dead. It made me feel dirty all over, and I wished I could run away. I didn’t want to see this. I didn’t want to see the guy I’d once regarded as something like a friend suddenly rise up as some perversion of nature. A touch to my hand made me jump. It was Adrian. His eyes were on Lee and Jacqueline, but his hand had caught hold of mine and squeezed it, even though he was still cuffed. I was surprised at the warmth of his skin. Even though I knew Moroi were as living and warm-blooded as me, my irrational fears always expected them to be cold. Equally surprising was the sudden comfort and connection in that touch. It wasn’t the kind of touch that said, Hey, I’ve got a plan, so hang in there because we’re going to get out of this. It was more like the kind of touch that simply said, You aren’t alone. It was really the only thing he could offer. And in that moment, it was enough. Then, something strange happened. Or rather, didn’t happen. Jacqueline’s blood was pouring steadily into Lee’s mouth, and while we didn’t have many documented cases of Strigoi conversions, I knew the basics. The victim’s blood was drained, and then the killing Strigoi fed his or her blood back into the deceased. I didn’t know exactly how long it took to work – it certainly didn’t require all of the Strigoi’s blood – but at some point, Lee should be stirring and getting up as one of the walking dead. Jacqueline’s cool, smug expression began to change to curiosity and then became outright confusion. She glanced questioningly at Dawn. â€Å"What’s taking so long?† Dawn asked. â€Å"I don’t know,† Jacqueline said, turning back to Lee. With her free hand, she nudged Lee’s shoulder as though that might serve as a wake-up call. Nothing happened. â€Å"Haven’t you done this before?† asked Dawn. â€Å"Of course,† snapped Jacqueline. â€Å"It didn’t take nearly this long. He should be up and moving around. Something’s wrong.† I remembered Lee’s words, describing how all his desperate attempts at taking innocent lives hadn’t converted him back. I only knew a little about spirit – and even less about it restoring Strigoi – but something told me there was no force on earth that would ever turn Lee Strigoi again. Another long minute passed as we watched and waited. At last, disgusted, Jacqueline backed away from the recliner and rolled up her sleeve. She glared at Lee’s motionless body. â€Å"Something’s wrong,† she repeated. â€Å"And I don’t want to waste any more blood figuring out what it is. Besides, my cut’s already healing.† I wanted nothing more than for Dawn and Jacqueline to forget I existed, but the next words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. The scientist in me was too caught up in a revelation. â€Å"He was restored – and it affected him permanently. The spirit magic left some kind of mark, and now he can’t be turned again.† Both Strigoi looked at me. I cringed under those red eyes. â€Å"I never believed any of those spirit stories,† said Dawn. Jacqueline, however, was still clearly puzzled by her failure. â€Å"There was something wrong with him, though. I can’t explain it†¦ but the whole time, he didn’t feel right. Didn’t taste right.† â€Å"Forget him,† said Dawn. â€Å"He had his chance. He got what he wanted, and now I’m moving on.† I saw my death in her eyes and tried to reach for my cross. â€Å"God protect me,† I said, just as she lunged forward. Against all odds, Adrian was there to stop her – or, well, try to stop her. Mostly, he just got in her way. He didn’t have the speed or reaction time to effectively block her and was especially clumsy with his cuffed hands. I think he’d just seen what I had, that she was going to attack, and had preemptively moved in front of me in some noble but ill-fated attempt at protection. And ill-fated it was. With one smooth motion, she shoved him aside in a way that looked effortless but knocked him halfway across the room. My breath caught. He hit the floor, and I started to scream. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain against my throat. Without a pause, Dawn had promptly grabbed me and nearly lifted me off my feet to get access to my neck. I mustered another frantic prayer as that pain spread, but within seconds, both prayer and pain disappeared from my brain. They were replaced by a sweet, sweet feeling of contentment and bliss and wonder. I had no thoughts, except that I was suddenly existing in the happiest, most exquisite state imaginable. I wanted more. More, more, more. I wanted to drown in it, to forget myself, to forget everything around me – â€Å"Ugh,† I cried out as I suddenly and unexpectedly hit the floor. Still in that blissful haze, I felt no pain – yet. Just as quickly as she’d grabbed me, Dawn had dropped and pushed me away. Instinctively, I reached out an arm to break my fall but failed. I was too weak and disoriented and sprawled ungracefully on the carpet. Dawn’s fingers were touching her lips, a look of outrage twisting her already-horrific features. â€Å"What,† she demanded, â€Å"was that?† My brain wasn’t working properly yet. I’d only had a brief taste of endorphin, but it was still enough to leave me addled. I had no answer for her. â€Å"What’s wrong?† exclaimed Jacqueline, striding forward. She looked from me to Dawn in confusion. Dawn scowled and then spit onto the floor. It was red from my blood. Disgusting. â€Å"Her blood†¦ it was terrible. Inedible. Foul.† She spit again. Jacqueline’s eyes widened. â€Å"Just like the other one. See? I told you.† â€Å"No.† Dawn shook her head. â€Å"There’s no way it could be the same. You would never have been able to drink that much of her.† She spit again. â€Å"It didn’t just taste weird or bad†¦ it was like it’s tainted.† Seeing Jacqueline’s skeptical look, Dawn punched her on the arm. â€Å"Don’t believe me? Try her yourself.† Jacqueline took a step toward me, hesitant. Then Dawn spit again, and I think that somehow convinced the other Strigoi that she wanted no part of me. â€Å"I don’t want another mediocre meal. Damn it. This is becoming absurd.† Jacqueline glanced at Adrian, who was standing perfectly still. â€Å"At least we’ve still got him.† â€Å"If he’s not ruined too,† Dawn muttered. My senses were coming back to me, and for half a second, I wondered if there was some insane way we might survive this. Maybe the Strigoi would write us off as bad meals. But no. Even as I allowed myself to hope that, I also knew that even if they didn’t feed off of us, we weren’t going to leave here alive. They had no reason to simply walk off. They’d kill us for sport before they left. With that same remarkable speed, Jacqueline sprang toward Adrian. â€Å"Time to find out.† I screamed as Jacqueline pinned Adrian against the wall and bit his neck. She only did so for a few seconds, just to get a taste. Jacqueline lifted her head up, pausing and savoring the blood. A slow smile spread over her face, showing her bloody fangs. â€Å"This one’s good. Very good. Makes up for the other.† She trailed her fingers down his cheek. â€Å"Such a shame, though. He’s so cute.† Dawn stalked toward them. â€Å"Let me try before you take it all!† Jacqueline ignored her and was leaning back toward Adrian, who had gone all glassy-eyed. Meanwhile, I was free enough of the endorphins that I was thinking clearly again. No one was paying attention to me. I tried to stand and felt the world sway. Staying low, I managed to crawl toward my purse, lying forgotten near the living room’s edge. Jacqueline had drunk from Adrian again, but only briefly before Dawn pulled her away and demanded a turn so that she could wash the taste of my blood out of her mouth. Startling myself with how fast I moved, I rustled through my cavernous purse, looking desperately for anything that might help. Some cold, logical part of me said there was no way we could get out of this, but there was also no way I could just sit there and watch them drain Adrian. I had to fight. I had to try to save him, just as he’d tried for me. It didn’t matter if the effort failed or if I died. Somehow, I had to try. Some Alchemists carried guns, but not me. My purse was huge, full of more stuff than I really needed, but nothing in the contents resembled a weapon. Even if it did, most weapons were futile against Strigoi. A gun would slow them down but not kill them. Only silver stakes, decapitation, and fire could kill a Strigoi. Fire†¦ My hand closed around the amulet I’d made for Ms. Terwilliger. I’d shoved it in my purse when she gave it to me, unsure what I should do with it. I could only assume blood loss and scattered thoughts made me draw it out now and consider the possibility of using it. Even the idea was ridiculous. You couldn’t use something that didn’t work! It was a trinket, a worthless bag of rocks and leaves. There was no magic here, and I was a fool to even think along those lines. And yet, it was a bag of rocks. Not a heavy one, but surely enough to get someone’s attention if it hit her in the head. It was the best I had. The only thing I had to slow Adrian’s death. Drawing back my arm, I aimed at Dawn and threw, reciting the foolish incantation like a battle cry: â€Å"Into flame, into flame!† It was a good shot. Miss Carson would have been proud. But I had no chance to admire my athletic skills because I was too distracted by the fact that Dawn had caught on fire. My jaw dropped as I stared at the impossible. It wasn’t a huge fire. It wasn’t like her entire body was engulfed in flames. But where the amulet had struck her, a small blaze ignited, spreading rapidly through her hair. She screamed and began frantically patting her head. Strigoi feared fire, and for a moment, Jacqueline recoiled. Then, with grim determination, she released Adrian and grabbed a throw blanket. She wrapped it around Dawn’s head, smothering the flames. â€Å"What the hell?† Dawn demanded when she emerged. She immediately began charging toward me in her anger. I knew then the only thing I’d accomplished was to speed up my own death. Dawn grabbed ahold of me and slammed my head against the wall. My world reeled, and I felt nauseous. She reached for me again but froze when the door suddenly burst open. Eddie appeared in the doorway, a silver stake in his hand. What was truly amazing about what followed was the speed. There was no pausing, no long moments to assess the situation, and no snarky banter between combatants. Eddie simply charged in and went for Jacqueline. Jacqueline responded with equal quickness, rushing forward to meet her one worthy foe here. After she’d released him, Adrian had slumped to the floor, still in the throes of the Strigoi endorphins. Keeping low to the ground, I scurried over to his side and helped drag him back to the â€Å"safety† of the far side of the living room while Eddie clashed with the Strigoi. I spared them only a moment’s glance, just enough to take in the deadly dancelike nature of their maneuvering. Both Strigoi were trying to get a grip on Eddie, probably in the hopes of breaking his neck, but were careful to stay away from the bite of his silver stake. I looked down at Adrian, who was dangerously pale and whose pupils had reduced to the size of pinpoints. I had only a sketchy impression of how much Jacqueline had drunk from him and didn’t know if Adrian’s state was more from blood loss or endorphins. â€Å"I’m fine, Sage,† he muttered, blinking as though the light hurt. â€Å"Quite the high, though. Makes the stuff I’ve used seem pretty soft-core.† He blinked, as though fighting to wake up. His pupils dilated to a more normal size and then seemed to focus on me. â€Å"Good God. Are you okay?† â€Å"I will be,† I said, starting to stand. Yet even as I spoke, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I swayed. Adrian did his best to support me, though it was pretty awkward with his bound hands. We leaned against each other, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous the situation was, both of us trying to help the other when neither of us was in any condition to do it. Then something caught my eye that chased all other thoughts away. â€Å"Jill,† I whispered. Adrian immediately followed my gaze to where Jill had just appeared in the living room’s entry. I wasn’t surprised to see her. The only way Eddie could be here was if Jill had told him what was happening to Adrian through the spirit bond. Standing there, with her eyes flashing, she looked like some fierce, battle-ready goddess as she watched Eddie spar with the Strigoi. It was both inspiring and frightening. Adrian shared my thoughts. â€Å"No, no, Jailbait,† he murmured. â€Å"Do not do anything stupid. Castile needs to handle this.† â€Å"She knows how to fight,† I said. Adrian frowned. â€Å"But she doesn’t have a weapon. Without one, she’s just a featherweight in this.† He was right, of course. And while I certainly didn’t want Jill endangering her life, I couldn’t help but think if she were properly equipped, she might be able to do something. At the very least, a distraction might be a benefit. Eddie was holding his ground all right against the two Strigoi, but he wasn’t making any progress against them either. He could use help. And we needed to make sure Jill didn’t rush into this with only her wits to defend her. Inspiration hit me, and I managed to stay on my feet. The world was spinning even more than before, but – despite Adrian’s protests – I managed to stagger to the kitchen. I just barely was able to get to the sink and flip the faucet on before my legs gave out underneath me. I caught hold of the counter’s edge, using it to keep me upright. â€Å"Jill!† I yelled. She turned toward my shout, saw the running water, and instantly knew what to do. She lifted her hand. The stream coming from the faucet suddenly shifted, shooting out of the sink and across the living room. It went to Jill, who collected a large amount of it between her hands and magically forced the water into a long cylindrical shape. It held itself in the air like that, a rippling but seemingly solid club of water. Gripping it, she hurried toward the fight and swung her weapon of water into Jacqueline’s back. Drops flew off of the â€Å"club,† but it held on to its rigidity enough for her to get a second hit in before completely exploding into a spray of water. Jacqueline spun around, her hand swinging out to strike Jill. Jill had expected as much and dropped to the floor, dodging in exactly the way I’d seen Eddie teach her. She scurried backward, out of Jacqueline’s way, and the Strigoi pursued – giving Eddie an exposed shot on her back. Eddie took the opportunity, evading Dawn, and plunged his stake into Jacqueline’s back. I’d never given it much thought before, but if shoved hard enough, a stake could pierce someone’s heart just as easily from the back as the chest. Jacqueline went rigid, and Eddie jerked his stake out, just managing to avoid the full force of a strike from Dawn. She still caught him a little, and he stumbled briefly before quickly regaining his footing and setting his sights on her. Jill was forgotten and hurried over to us in the kitchen. â€Å"Are you okay?† she exclaimed, peering at both of us. That fierce look was gone. She was now just an ordinary girl concerned for her friends. â€Å"Oh my God. I was so worried about you both. The emotions were so strong. I couldn’t get a fix on what was happening, just that something was horribly wrong.† I dragged my gaze to Eddie, who was dancing around with Dawn. â€Å"We have to help him – â€Å" I took two steps away from the counter and started to fall. Both Jill and Adrian reached out to catch me. â€Å"Jesus, Sage,† he exclaimed. â€Å"You’re in bad shape.† â€Å"Not as bad as you,† I protested, still worried about helping Eddie. â€Å"They drank more from you – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but I don’t have a bleeding arm wound,† he pointed out. â€Å"Or a possible concussion.† It was true. In all the excitement, I was so full of adrenaline that I’d all but forgotten about where Lee had stabbed me. No wonder I was so dizzy. Or maybe that was from getting my head smacked into the wall. It was anyone’s guess at this point. â€Å"Here,† said Adrian gently. He reached for my arms with his cuffed hands. â€Å"I can take care of this.† A slow, tingling warmth spread through my skin. At first, Adrian’s touch was comforting, like an embrace. I felt my tension and pain begin to ease. All was right in the world. He was in control. He was taking care of me. He was using his magic on me. â€Å"No!† I shrieked, pulling away from him with a strength I didn’t know I had. The horror and full realization of what was happening to me was too powerful. â€Å"Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me with your magic!† â€Å"Sage, you’ll feel better, believe me,† he said, reaching toward me again. I backed away, clinging to the edge of the counter for support. The fleeting memory of that warmth and comfort was being dwarfed by the terror I’d carried my entire life for vampire magic. â€Å"No, no, no. No magic! Not on me! The tattoo will heal me! I’m strong!† â€Å"Sage – â€Å" â€Å"Stop, Adrian,† said Jill. She approached me tentatively. â€Å"It’s okay, Sydney. He won’t heal you. I promise.† â€Å"No magic,† I whispered. â€Å"For God’s sake,† growled Adrian. â€Å"This is superstitious bullshit.† â€Å"No magic,† Jill said firmly. She took off the button-up shirt she’d been wearing over a T-shirt. â€Å"Come here, and I’ll use this to wrap it so that you don’t lose any more bl – â€Å" An earsplitting shriek jerked us all back toward the living room. Eddie had made his kill, driving his stake right into the middle of Dawn’s chest. In my brief scuffle with Adrian and Jill, Dawn must have gotten some shots in on Eddie because there was a large red mark on one side of his face, and his lip was bleeding. The expression in his eyes was hard and triumphant, however, as he pulled the stake out and watched Dawn fall. Through all the confusion and horror, basic Alchemist instincts took over. The danger was gone. There were procedures that needed to be followed. â€Å"The bodies,† I said. â€Å"We have to destroy them. There’s a vial in my purse.† â€Å"Whoa, whoa,† said Adrian as both he and Jill restrained me. â€Å"Stay where you’re at. Castile can get it. The only place you’re going is to a doctor.† I didn’t move but immediately argued with that last statement. â€Å"No! No doctors. At least, you have to – you have to get an Alchemist one. My purse has the numbers – â€Å" â€Å"Go get her purse,† Adrian told Jill, â€Å"before she has a fit here. I’ll bind the arm.† I gave him a warning look. â€Å"Without magic. Which, by the way, could make this ten times easier.† â€Å"I’ll heal on my own,† I said, watching as Jill retrieved my purse. â€Å"You realize,† added Adrian, â€Å"you’re going to have to get over your dieting fixation and consume some major calories to fight the blood loss. Sugar and fluids, just like Clarence. Good thing someone bagged up all this candy on the counter.† Eddie walked over to Jill, and she paused as he asked if she was okay. She assured him she was, and although Eddie looked like he could kill about fifty more Strigoi, there was also a look in his eyes†¦ something I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed before. Something I was going to have to think about. â€Å"Damn it,† said Adrian, fumbling with bandages. â€Å"Eddie, go search Lee’s body and see if there’s a key for these goddamned handcuffs.† Jill had been caught up in talking to Eddie but froze at the words â€Å"Lee’s body.† Her face went so pale, she could have been one of the dead. In all the confusion, she hadn’t noticed Lee’s body in the chair. There’d been too much movement with the Strigoi, too much distraction by the threat they presented. She took a few steps toward the living room, and that’s when she saw him. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out right away. Then she sped forward and grabbed his hands, shrieking. â€Å"No,† she cried. â€Å"No, no, no.† She shook him, as though that would wake him. In a flash, Eddie was by her side, his arms around her as he murmured nonsensical things to soothe her. She didn’t hear him. Her whole world was Lee. I felt tears spring to my eyes and hated that they were there. Lee had tried to kill me and then had summoned others to kill me. He’d left a trail of innocents in his wake. I should be glad he was gone, but still, I felt sad. He had loved Jill, in his insane way, and from the pain on her face, it was clear she’d loved him too. The spirit bond hadn’t shown her his death or role in our capture. Right now, she simply thought he was a victim of Strigoi. Soon enough, she’d learn the truth about his motives. I didn’t know if that would ease her pain or not. I was guessing not. Weirdly, an image of Adrian’s Love painting came back to me. I thought of the jagged red streak, slashing through the blackness, ripping it apart. Staring at Jill and her inconsolable pain, I suddenly understood his art a little bit better. How to cite Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five, Essay examples

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Lovely Bones Introduction Essay â€Å"The Lovely Bones† by Alice Sebold tells a story of a teenage girl who was raped and murdered by her strange neighbor. Susie Salmon watches from heaven as her family moan over her death. The author illustrates a main concept of grief over a death of a loved one. In the novel, each of the family members takes on a different notion of grief. Susie Salmon’s father, Jack Salmon had difficulties overcoming the loss of his oldest daughter.His initial reaction was anger. To bring justice for his daughter’s sake, Jack become obsessed with finding the killer, and there was somebody in his mind. George Harvey. â€Å"When he handed a stack to my father, the back of his hand touched my father’s fingers. It was like an electric shock. ‘You know something,’ my father said. He met my father’s eyes, held them, but did not speak. † After having a little talk with Mr. Harvey, the father started to suspect.I feel that he uses the need to find Susie’s killer as a way to keep his mind off the fact that his family is coming apart and also that Susie is no longer coming back. â€Å"Nothing is ever certain,† says Detective Len Fenerman, when he informs Susie’s father about a body part that they have found. The mother of the death girl, Abigail Salmon turned in on herself after hearing that her daughter was dead. She kept holding on to a small hope from the words of Detective Fenerman but as evidence proving that Susie is

Reflective Report on I am Eora Performance

Reflective Report on I am Eora Performance Introduction The performance of the epic tale I Am Eora was at the Carriageworks’ Bay 17, on 13 Jan 2012 at 08:30pm. The performance will last for 80 minutes live on stage. The director of the scene is Wesley Enoch who got support from the co writer Anita Heiss. The stage set up of the film was enormous and was nothing close to the expectation of the audience.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Reflective Report on I am Eora Performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The audience was massive, and the entertainers did not fail the audience. A band was the first to step on stage to entertain the audience before the onset of the epic pastiche. Jack Charles radical young and Frank Yamma were next on stage. They all did exceptional work in entertaining the audience. All these performances reflected their pride of being part of the culture. However, the main theme was the performance of Eora, (Robinson, Karantonis 2011 pp 54). I Am Eora is an epic tale that means â€Å"I am of this place†. The tale tries to put into play the struggles of the Aboriginal community as they try to maintain their culture. This is despite the challenges they face as they lose their land to grabbers. They face hardships that include killing of people of their race, and adaption of outside cultures. This is a tale of a community who despite all these challenges manage to preserve their culture and maintain an identity to themselves. This does not mean that they rejected new ideas and culture, but they managed to adapt to urban life and the multicultural society. The director, Wesley Enoch, took the three legend stories of the Aboriginal people. The three legends include the famous warrior Pemulwuy, Barangaroo, considered as self sufficient mother, and her husband Bennelong. Bennelong considered the analyst and promoter of the portrayed as an interpreter and advocate for the resolution of the problems faced by the Aboriginal. Enoch uses narrative, songs, dances graphics and videos to unfold the events of the show, (Hannah 2007 pp 90). The performance Most of the show was a surprise because Enoch used techniques not expected by the audience. I was expecting the performance to done by less than ten people. However, it was a shock to see a cast comprising of more than fifty people. He amazed his audience; by the way, he used songs, dance and graphics to present this tale.Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I was expecting a presentation filled with narration of the legendary stories of the characters. However, that was not the case. The first thing that he did against my expectation was the way he presented his cast. I was expecting the characters to come to stage their traditional attire. I was expecting the Radical son to come to stage with a suit. However, the most shocking par t was when Luke Currie-Richardson walks to the stage. He shocks many when he starts removing his clothing one by one. He stands naked in front of the crowd with nothing, but aboriginal drawings, (Kerwin, 2010 pp 123). This was a show that portrayed that the dignity of the Aboriginal people does not come with the clothes they put on, but the values they cherish. This was also a sign of the ancient times. During the time when Pemulwuy was fighting, there were no modern clothes like suits and ties. This is, therefore, a reminder and takes the audience back in time. The Radical son, a young boy, and Nooky play the role of Pemulwuy. The scene is breathtaking, and this is better by the vocal power of the radical son. He enacts his role with a lot of passion and connects with the audience well. The scene reminds me of the tales I heard about the legendary fighter who defended his people against the British invasion. The conversation between the three men makes the audience edgy and is full of suspense (Congreve Marquardt, 2005 pp 67). Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs enact the role of Barangaroo. She appears on stage as a young pregnant woman. She is a responsible young woman who is fishing a long the river. Her appearance on stage changes the mood created by the three young men playing the role of Pemulwuy. She brings in the feeling of warmth that has an association with mothers. She takes us back to the time when women are the sole providers for their families. Her role portrays a strong woman who will do anything for her people and most of all her children, (Kerwin, 2010 pp 65). Jack Charles plays the role of Bennelong. His captivating nature suits his role perfectly. He takes the audience back in time. He takes us through his life and his effort to reconcile the people. He takes the audience through his life without a single problem. He puts the audience in a situation where they have to reconsider and think about reconciliation.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Reflective Report on I am Eora Performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He tried to make both parties appreciate their culture. He tried to make his people adapt the European dressing style and taught the Europeans the Aboriginal culture. The show ends with a song by Frank Yamma titled She Cried. All through the play there are background songs played. During the emergence, of Barangaroo, Stiff Gins sings joyously to make the scene warm and motherly. Stiff Gins’ also sings at the end of the show singing, Diamonds on the Water, (Clark, 2007 pp 104). Director’s speech The director in his speech explains how he came up with the idea of enacting I am Eora. He says that the conversation was between him and Lindy Hume. He states that the conversation revolved around the Aboriginal people, their past and the influence they have on the city of Sydney. The stories revolved around the legendary stories of th e three heroes and heroines in the history of the Aboriginals. The tales moved from merely narratives to highly music-based tales (Kerwin, 2010 pp. 89). The first thing that formed the theme of the tale was the fact that the Aboriginal believe that the only thing that will never change is land. He says, ‘I got the chance to be given an explanation on the value of land, and that it is the only constant thing on earth. This was a new explanation to me because the western cultures belief that time is the only thing that never changes.’ He wanted to make the people of Sidney proud of their culture and roots. He says, ‘I wondered how I could bridge the gap and make people proud of their culture and say they are proud to be Eoras (Kerwin, 2010 pp. 45). Conclusion The main theme of performance was to make the people appreciate their culture. Enoch achieved this by intertwining the roles of the legends in shaping the nation. The role of Pemulwuy urges the audience to figh t for their rights and dignity. Bennelong, on the other hand, plays the role of teaching the people the importance of appreciating other people’s culture. He emphasizes on the importance of integrating new ideas into the society, but having the notion that one should not forget his own roots. List of References Clark, M. 2007. Mudrooroo: a likely story: identity and belonging in postcolonial Australia. Sydney: Peter Lang. Congreve, B. Marquardt, M. 2005. The Years Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy. Sydney: Wildside Press LLC.Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hannah, M. 2007. Transgressions: critical Australian indigenous histories.Issue 16 of Aboriginal History Monograph Series. London: ANUE Press. Kerwin, D. 2010.Aboriginal Dreaming Paths and Trading Routes: The Colonization of the Australian Economic Landscape. First Nations and the colonial encounter. Princeton: Sussex Academic Press. Kerwin, D. 2010.Annual register. California: University of California. Robinson, D. Karantonis, P. 2011. Opera Indigene: Re/Presenting First Nations and Indigenous Cultures. Ashgate interdisciplinary studies in opera. Sydney: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

How Should a Research Paper Abstract Look Like

How Should a Research Paper Abstract Look Like How Should a Research Paper Abstract Look Like Every student gets a bit nervous when hearing about a research paper. It is quite a difficult task, as it is not a personal opinion on a subject and not a simple review of a book or a movie. It is a serious piece of work, which includes research, analysis of multiple sources and providing a personal view on the topic. You should not only provide evidence on a certain topic but also demonstrate your writing skills, vocabulary knowledge and all the necessary features of an experienced writer. When you are assigned with a research paper, you may be asked to complete an abstract. Despite its small size, an abstract is quite a confusing assignment and many students don’t know how to complete it. However, don’t panic if you were assigned with such a task! Just go on reading and we will provide you with all the necessary details. Definition If some of you don’t know, an abstract is a summary of the bigger project, i.e. a research paper or anything else. It aims to give the reader a chance to understand the goal of the research, used methodology, results and possible conclusions. You need to remember that an abstract describes your project, not the topic itself, so before completing an abstract, it is highly recommended to finish your research paper to know what main details to include. The main idea of an abstract is to inform the reader about your paper. For example, if you discuss gun control you don’t need to explain what it is about. You need to write about the results of your research, how many cases of violence are known and so on. Leave theoretical part to your research paper and concentrate on the key points in the abstract. Abstract types There are different types of abstracts, including:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descriptive. It is probably one of the most popular types of abstracts. A descriptive abstract only summarizes information on the paper without any comparison to other works;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Critical. On contrary to descriptive abstracts, a critical one also provides a judgment on the projects importance and validity, comparing it to other papers of the same field;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Informative, which aims to give the reader general information on the research paper, your results and conclusions. You don’t need to compare your paper to others but you need to make recommendations if possible;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Highlight. It is quite a rare abstract type and its main goal is to grab reader’s interest and motivate him to read the research paper. Elements your abstract should consist of It doesn’t matter what abstract type you need to complete, as all of them should consist of four main elements. Make sure you are able to provide all of these elements before writing the abstract itself. Objective. This information can be considered the skeleton of your abstract, so you need to be very careful and attentive when competing it. Your objective should consist of a couple sentences, placed in the beginning, and explain your motivation to research a topic or describe the problem you are planning to solve; Methodology. Here you need to describe what methods you have used to research a topic and to get all the necessary results. There are different types of methods, depending on the subject, topic or field of research. For example, if you are writing an abstract on a social science, you can describe all the processes you have completed. If it is a humanities research, you can explain methodological tools and theoretical assumptions; Obtained results. This part of your abstract doesn’t need an explanation, as it is more than obvious. You need to express all the results you have obtained during your research. If it is not finished yet, you can make prognosis for the future or provide your assumptions on the possible outcome; Conclusions. It doesn’t matter what written assignment you are completing: conclusions always aim to summarize everything you have stated above. That is why your abstract’s conclusions should describe the results of your research. Think of the answers to the question ‘What these results can mean?’ and just write them down. In some cases, you may be asked to start your abstract with an introductory section. It consists of a couple sentences, which aim to explain theoretical basis for the research. However, in most of the cases, this section is omitted and you can start with an objective section. Things to avoid in your abstract When looking for guidelines on completing a certain paper, students are usually searching for the lists of things to include to their assignment. However, it is also important to know what things to avoid. That is why we have created a list of elements, which you need to exclude from your abstract to make it interesting and correct:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jargon or slang;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Abbreviations;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Watery text. Don’t try to boost the number of words. Just stick to the point;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pictures, tables, graphs and any other visual materials;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Long introduction. Your abstract shouldn’t contain theoretical information, so even if you have interesting background data on the topic, leave it for the research paper;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   References;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Confusing definitions;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Not important details, which simply distract the reader from your main goals. Steps to complete You already know what the abstract is about, what elements it should consist of and what items to avoid. Now it is a right time to learn what steps to complete to write a first-class abstract on your own. Always remember that you don’t need to increase the word count artificially, as an abstract should always be clear and straight to the point. Focus on the facts and give the reader a chance to understand your research paper through your abstract. Steps to complete an abstract include: Write your abstract only when your research paper is completed. You won’t be able to write a clear, interesting and relevant abstract without a general picture of your research paper. It will take lots of time to complete and you will hardly provide adequate information on the research; Take the key elements of your objective and conclusions from the corresponding sections of your research paper. Instead of spending time on writing everything anew, you can summarize everything in a brief mode and include to your abstract; Note down everything you did, when completing your research. Such notes will be of a great use, when completing the methodology paragraph. In such a way, you will complete a whole section without any efforts; To check whether your abstract is written correctly, ask yourself what the aim of your research was, how the research was completed, how you obtained the results and what they meant; Once your abstract is ready, read it carefully and delete unnecessary information. Be as brief as possible not to bore the reader; When you have deleted extra information, read your abstract again and make sure it corresponds with your research paper. Remember that your abstract should render general information of the paper, so you shouldn’t add anything new; For the last time you need to read your abstract attentively to find all possible mistakes, like grammar, punctuation, vocabulary usage and sentence structure. Even if your abstract contains outstanding information, you may risk getting low grades for a poor language. Make sure you spend enough time on proofreading and editing; Finally your abstract is ready. Breathe out and send it to your tutor! Things to remember   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It may not be so obvious but you need to pay attention to the length of your sentences. Many long sentences may bore the reader, as well as short ones may seem like they lack deep meaning. Combine two types of sentences for a better structure and they will be readable and smooth. Break long sentences into smaller ones if possible;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ask your professor whether using passive voice is appropriate. It may be a mistake in some of the cases, so you should know all the guidelines well in advance not to have to rewrite everything;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apply past tense for the cases, when your research has already been finished;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ask someone to check your abstract or read it aloud to understand whether it is smooth and readable. Conclusions Research paper is probably one of the most popular and widespread assignments among colleges in all parts of the world. It requires careful attention to details, as well as creating an abstract, which is a short summary of all the issues you have discussed in your research. Such abstracts may become a real headache but they are very easy to complete if you know main rules and features. Be brief, use only credible information from your research paper. In such a way, your abstract will be interesting and complete! In case you still have doubts, contact us or visit our blog for additional details.

MIcro and Macro Economic Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MIcro and Macro Economic Analysis - Assignment Example Speculations in the prices of oil causes the demand to rise or fall in various times of the year. For example, oil products are greatly demanded in countries experiencing winter because they are used for heating purposes. On the other hand, the supply of petroleum products is mainly dependent on the prices of crude oil, technology and the availability of qualified personnel to extract the products. It is also highly dependent on the political instabilities prevailing in OPEC countries (Etro, 2009). These countries usually have control on the supply and pricing of the product around the globe thereby affecting the profitability’s of many petroleum companies. b) Explain The Market Structure In Which The Chosen Company Operates With Regards To The Chosen Product The British Petroleum Company is found in the oligopoly structure of the market. This is because there are fewer sellers of the products around the globe. They are also highly sensitive to the other companies pricing alon g with their strategies of marketing. In this market structure it becomes very difficult for new entrants to join the market. The sellers in this market structures are always aware of the strategies that their competitors are using. There are several competitors for the company who have branches all around the globe though there are many restrictions that have been placed to bar entrants into the industry. Dealing in petroleum products also requires very high capital and is also a very risky business due to the risks involved (Dunn & Mutti, 2004). c) Explain What The Company Can Do To Continue To Operate In This Profitable Market Structure Or Move Towards A More Profitable Or Sustainable Market Structure In order to continue operating profitably in this market structure, the British Petroleum Company needs to adopt more efficient technologies that aid in their exploration efforts for newer sources of oil. The company should further invest in the exploration of non-conventional raw m aterials since the current sources are in very high demand and are nearing depletion. For example, the company can invest in exploring more into the field of oil sans which could yield a lot of untapped resources. These measures will eventually assist the company in countering the uncertainties that fill the pricing of crude oil. For example, the recent civilian uprisings in the Middle East greatly affected the prices of oil around the globe leading some trading companies into encountering losses (Mankiw, 2011). d) Comment On The Different Elasticity Concepts That Can Influence The Pricing Strategy Or The Competitiveness Of The Chosen Product/Company. The product is affected by various elasticity factors of demand and supply. The elasticity of demand that usually affect the products are the price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity between different companies. The price elasticity usually refers to the changes in the quantities of the products demanded in relation to the changes in the prices of the products. The income elasticity mainly refers to the changes that the company experiences in its income in relation to changes in the demand of petroleum products. The British Petroleum Company is also greatly affected by the cross elasticity that exists between different firms (Gwartney, Stroup, Sobel & MacPhearson, 2008). This type of elasticity is responsible for measuring the

American Apparel Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

American Apparel - Research Paper Example American Apparel Major companies, including American Apparel, have come to rely on the sex concept in selling their products to the American public, especially the youth. By incorporating provocative sexual images, their ads, are able to attract young women and men. The company’s chief executive contends that American Apparel’s goal has always been to create a heritage brand for the American public, especially the American pursuit for happiness, property, and liberty. They have been lauded for their ad’s realism since most of their ad subjects are portrayed with their asymmetrical features, imperfections, and blemishes that are attached and highlighted with personal and brief descriptions about them (Welters & Lillethun 65). American Apparel, in addition, rather than outsource their model recruitment, recruits its own ad models from the organization’s stores, on the street, or from photos sent directly to the company’s headquarters via the website. At some point in the past, American Apparel sought to pursue a strategy that dwelt on how the company treated its workers in order to sell the company brand and merchandise, promoting its products as being free of sweatshop activities. The company has also engaged in politically-charged advertisements, such as their anti-immigration laws campaign that referred to current laws as an American variation of apartheid alongside their company logo in 2008 (Welters & Lillethun 66).

Ethics In Business: The Bernard Madoff Investment Scandal

Ethics In Business: The Bernard Madoff Investment Scandal The organizational leadership of Bernard Madoff Investments Securities LLC was held by Bernard Madoff himself. Madoffs charismatic leadership style included seducing friends, those in secluded groups, and even his own employees. He seduced his clients by making them to believe they were investing in something special. He would often turn people away, which helped Bernard in courting people and charities with more assets to offer. Bernard Madoff created a system which was promising high returns in short terms and was nothing else but the Ponzi scheme. The systems idea relied on funds from the new investors to pay misrepresented and extremely high returns to the existing investors. He was doing this for years; tempting billions of dollars from wealthy individuals, charities by getting them to invest in his hedge fund. And they did so because of the extremely high returns, which were promised by Madoffs firm. But if anyone would look deeply into the structure of his firm, it would defin itely show that something is wrong. This is because nobody can make such big money, especially if no one else could at the time. How could one person, Madoff, who held all his clients assets, priced, and managed them. It is clearly a conflict of interest. His company was showing profits year after year, despite most of the companies having looses. In fact, Bernard Madoffs case is absolutely amazing, both in its range and in its list of investors who got caught up in it. Bernard Madoff Case Summary Bernard Madoff opened his firm in 1960. His business began to grow when his father-in-law Saul Alpern, who was an accountant, came to the firm. Because there were a lot of competitive firms at that time, Madoff decided to use innovative computer information technology to spread its quotes, which later on became the NASDAQ. This technology provided his firm with a really good income and at this point his securities become the largest buying and selling market maker at the NASDAQ. Eventually, his scheme reached a staggering 50 billion dollars under his management. It came to an end after market conditions let to a considerable amount of redemptions when investors started to take their money back. After Bernard Madoff, former NASDAQ chairman, was arrested on December 11, 2008, he acknowledged that his performance was nothing but the Ponzi scheme. He pled guilty to the biggest investor fraud ever committed by anyone on March 12, 2009. On June 29, 2009 Bernard Madoff was put in jail, and will spending there long 150 years. Stakeholders Madoff was able to align himself with government, rich individuals, and businessmen. This empowered him to have an unlimited access to different groups of investors. Among Madoffs Ponzi scheme victims, it is easy to find wealthy individuals, charitable organizations, and its stakeholders, such as employees, communities, vendors, and government. Investors that took the biggest losses, which was billions, because of this scheme are marked in the Wall Street Journal; among them are Fairfield Greenwich Group, Tremont Capital Management, Banco Santander, Fortis, and others. Investors lost their money because of their lack of conscious and unwillingness to understand or realize that it is impossible to have such high returns in a legally managed investment operation. They also failed to understand that one day they could lose everything. They would rather believe in a fairy tales about high returns in short terms, without any consequences. 7 Steps 1. What are the facts of the case? Madoffs business had obvious facts that showed he was doing a scheme. First of all, because he was being a pioneer in electronic trading, he refused to provide his clients with the on-line access to their accounts and sent out statements by mail. Though, most hedge funds in that time were e-mailing statements to their investors, in order to provide its customers with convenience and the ability to analyze their account. It should have been an important signal to investors, but it was ignored. Secondly, Madoffs firm processed all of its trades and appeared as its own broker-dealer. This made impossible for the outside investors to verify their actual holdings. In fact, one of Madoffs unusual tactics was to get rid of his holdings by selling them at the end of the period. It helped him to avoid filing disclosures of his holdings with the SEC. As well, he was always refusing to talk to any outside audit for the reason of secrecy of his firm. This should raise questions and concerns amongst its investors, but again it did not. The fact that Madoffs fund only had five down months since 1996 could have shown investors that Madoffs business was at least suspicious and warned them to avoid investing in his hedge fund. It is, for sure, impossible in investment or any business to have only a couple down months in more than 10 years of a companys performance. Besides, there are some known factors that helped Madoff to commit his fraud for years, including the following: Madoff had a good reputation in the investment field over the years. Madoff knew how to create the aura of trust. Madoff constantly promised high and stable returns to his investors. 2. What are the ethical issues? In 1980s Bernard Madoff was providing payments to his brokers to perform the customers orders through his brokerage. Later this system received a name, a legal kickback, and because of this he became the biggest dealer in the U.S. stock market. When academics questioned the ethics of these payments, Madoff replied that those payments did not change the price that the customer received, and were a legal business transaction. The SEC investigated Madoffs fraudulent practices and they had concerns that his firm did not show its customers orders to other traders, but they could not find anything illegal in the period from 1999 till 2000. As well, Madoff was too secretive about his investment performance and kept all financial statements closely protected. He usually refused to meet directly with his investors. After some time, he decided to invent a new investment method that was promising constant returns to selected investors, rather than supplying all new investors with high returns. This new innovation was too complicated for outsiders to understand. That should, for sure, raise some questions in his investors, but they did not demand any information and explanation. Of course, there were some investors in the Madoff case that used caution and could see that something is not really clear in his business, and as well because they did not want to lose their money, they removed it. And it was their best decision in regards to this fraud. 3. What are the norms, principles, values related to the case? The culture of a company is heavily influenced by the actions of upper-level management. Their actions are seen by workers throughout the organization and help develop a cultural norm within the company. When lower level employees witness those above them acting unethically, they will think that those actions are acceptable and the norm. This can lead to all types of unethical actions like, fact concealing, budget twisting, and many other unethical actions that were prevalent in the Madoff case. Ethical boundaries arent always clearly defined. The ethical action is not always perfectly obvious, placing investors money into risky investment while trying to gain in the short term is illegal. However, if not done carefully, it could be viewed as unethical. Because of this, it is necessary to train employees in ethical decision making processes. Then they will be able to make the right decision when the ethical thing to do is not completely obvious. In addition, an ethical environment must be set by management, in order to promote good ethical decision making processes. Making the correct decision in an ethical dilemma requires good judgment. Having a good example to follow definitely helps. However, a persons values and beliefs are important in making an ethical decision. If a decision does not seem morally right, then it is most likely not an ethical business decision. Promoting strong values and internal judgment helps employees at all levels of a company behave ethically. 4. What are the alternative courses of action? a) It is very important to provide education to board members about financial and operational matters, as well as analyze and modify all procedures in governance policy and investment policy areas, and always to remember to avoid conflicts of interest in business practice. b) It is also important to provide investors with companys records, for the purpose of due diligence. Inform and explain to the investors about each companys performance, even though it is a time consuming process. This effort will demonstrate a companys commitment to its investors. 5. What is the best course of action? The best course of the action is definitely to be open and clear with investors and committed to the best practices in governance and operations. This will help the company to succeed in the competitive investment environment. 6. What are the consequences of each possible course of action? These actions will open new horizons to interest new investors and will lead the company to profit and success. 7. What is the decision? The shocking Madoff scandal and an unfavorable economy created challenging times for stakeholders. In order foster a competitive environment that will interest new investors, a company needs to legally make profits and always provide clients with all the information. Laws are the minimum code of conduct to which the company has to abide by. The company can always take further actions, beyond what the law requires, in order to ensure investors confidence. What recommendations would you make to your client about the existing 35% investment with Bernard Madoff? I would explain to the client that keeping 35% investment in one investing company can be very risky, especially if the company is Bernie Madoffs which is not regulated or publicly traded. I would further advise my clients the following: Sell off 30% investment with Bernard Madoff. Invest 20% in equity mutual funds. Invest 5% in equity exchange-traded funds. Invest 5% in individual stocks. What recommendation would you make regarding the $100,000 they currently have in cash? I would advise that the $100,000 in cash cleverly would be to invest in different areas, such as in hedge fund the $15,000, Treasuries $25,000, mutual fund $10,000, Madoffs fund $10,000, and the rest $40,000 to spend on buying fixed asset. How would your recommendation be affected if your client tells you that they would like to give the additional $100,000 to Madoff to invest? My recommendation would not change if my client tells me that they would be interested in investing additional money in Madoffs fund. This is because my recommendation is based on the fundamentals of investments. However, I would spend more time explaining to my client the excessive risk they are taking by putting a significant portion of their eggs in one basket. With the information you have at this point in the case, is there anything else that you should do? Definitely, I have to inform the client of a possible risk of investing in Madoffs fund. I will present one some arguments, such as: Bernard Madoff denied outsiders access to records. The company hedge fund was not registered until 2006. Madoffs fund rarely lost its value, even in times of economic downturn. Should you mention to your client that the $5 million in sales may draw the attention of the IRS, because of the relative size of that number compared to the rest of the return? Based on the AICPAs Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTS) and Treasury Department Circular 230, which provides authority to the Treasury allowing disbarment or suspension from practice before the IRS, it is not considered unethical to mention to my client that the $5.0 million investment sales can interest and raise questions of the IRS. Though, I should make the client aware that $5 million in sales will be a red flag for the IRS because of its relative size to the rest of the return. At the same time I would need to let the client know that any sales number must be supported by proper documentation that would unquestionably prove its validity. As a professional tax practitioner, I would refrain from making those kinds of comments without any valid evidence. It can even be misleading to the client to give this kind of unsubstantiated advice. Should you discuss with your client the possibility that their account is being churned? I would not discuss with my client the possibility of the account being churned because it is beyond the scope of regular tax preparation. Additionally, churning, if proven can lead to prosecution of the broker since it is considered a fraudulent practice. Churning has been labeled as a falsified practice in 1934. Churning is when stock-brokers execute a large volume of sales on their customers accounts. Since those brokers are earning a commission on each transaction, they get paid more if they execute more transactions. So, those fraudulent brokers would carry out excessive amounts of small transactions, in order to earn their commissions, which would slowly drain the customers account. After awhile, the investors account would be reduced because of the constant charges. Eventually, the customers account would be drained and they would not know how it occurred, or that they had been defrauded. In fact, if I would have suspicion that the clients account is being churned, I should disclose that to the client. Churning is illegal and unethical, and suspected churning should be addressed. I should share with the client that sometimes brokers and traders maliciously trade securities very actively in a brokerage account in order to increase brokerage commissions rather than customer profits. And in this particular case Madoff may be tempted to churn the clients account because Madoffs income is not transparent and could be directly related to the volume of trading of the clients account. Based on the information you have thus far in the case, what further information do you believe you need in order to prepare the tax return with regard to the Madoff investment? I would need following information: The investment sale prices in order to estimate and accurately report capital gain/losses, and include the result in the gain/loss report. The investment purchase prices in order to correctly calculate and report capital gains/losses, and include the result in the gain/loss report. The date of the investment purchase and sale is also important in order to determine if the capital gain is short-term or long-term. As well, I would need the following data to complete the return: Investment sales price. Investment purchase price. Description of the securities purchased and sold during the year. Gain/Loss from the options. Market value of the open options at year-end. For sure, in order to prepare tax return to the Madoffs investment I should obtain all necessary tax forms from Madoffs accounting firm, including a 1099B for sales, 1099DIV or 1099 INT. I cannot just rely on his accountants explanation on how to calculate dividend and interest. Moreover, since options trading is a very complex subject I must do additional research on how to report income on options trading, and be sure that all the necessary tax forms are provided by Madoffs firm. We now know the Madoff investments for some period of time have been fraudulent. Were there indicators that might have caused you to react differently with regard to your clients investment? There were the following indicators: There was no online access to accounts. There was no issuance of forms a) 1099B (for investment sales transactions), b) 1099 DIV, and c) 1099 INT. David G. Friehling, a sole CPA practitioner, audited the hedge fund. Madoff did not file any disclosures of his holdings to the SEC, because he was easily selling his holdings. The business cannot have only couple down months when operating for years, it is impossible. In other words, the Madoff case was filled with signs of fraud that could have led one to think that something was going on and changed the way the average investor feels about investing. Fraud comes in many forms, it can be as simple as taking money from a companys account, or it can become as complex as the Madoff case. In order to catch fraud in companies as complex as Mr. Madoffs, one must pay attention to more subtle signs that could point to fraud. The transparency of Mr. Madoffs company was minimal and should have alerted someone that something was wrong. Mr. Madoff repeatedly denied outsiders access to records, which should have been available. The companys hedge fund was not registered with the SEC until late in 2006, which should have been another sign that something was amiss. This shows that Mr. Madoff had something to hide, because he did not want the SEC evaluating his hedge funds. In addition, the companys auditor was Mr. Madoffs brother-in-law, which opens the door for fraudulent activity. Auditors are supposed to be independent and definitely not family members of the company that they are auditing. This situation becomes more alarming when you consider that Mr. Madoff was frequently opposed to outside audits of any type. A family member as an auditor and a strong resistance to all other audits should have been the first sign that something fraudulent was occurring. Funds managed by Mr. Madoffs company performed so well, that it could have been another clue to the fraud that was taking place. Forecasts were matching outcomes, in areas like earnings per share, to the point that it became unrealistic to be able to forecast that accurately. Earnings per share figures have so many variables that it is nearly impossible to predict them accurately time and time again. In 2008, one of Mr. Madoffs hedge funds, which invested in the SP 500, gained almost 6% in value, while the SP 500 itself was down over 35%. This was yet another clue that something in this company wasnt right. Mr. Madoffs funds rarely lost value, even in times of economic downturn. So, while most investors were losing money in the market, Madoffs funds continued to profit. With the advantage of hindsight, what additional due diligence could you have performed? In regards to Financial Planning: A quick search on Google could have shown that Madoffs practice starting 1990s was exposed to accusations that he was front-running his investors, and the idea of this practice was to buy or sell shares before filling investors orders. All of the articles and complaints about Madoff in the early 2000s would have been revealed as well. Independently investors have to check the stock prices and trades on a daily basis. Dig into the small accounting Firm that audited Madoffs Fund. To check any Web sites in order to gain more information about his practice, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA. I would quickly come to the conclusion that my client should divest 100% of their investments in Madoffs fund. In regards to tax preparation: Dig further into the multi-page printout of listing of hundreds of transactions. Request for a formal 1099B (for investment sales transactions), 1099 DIV, and 1099 INT. Recalculate the gain/losses reported on the summary sheet. If you run across a similar situation in the future, do you feel any more comfortable about how to handle it? Yes. Would you report such situation to SES, IRS, or other regulatory body? Yes. Madoff stopped trading and has been fabricating investment return of his clients during middle 1990 till 2008. He and his accomplices have committed fraud. The crime was committed based on the value of greed and a get rich quickly scheme. From the investors position, greed is also what fueled billions of dollars to be invested in Madoffs Hedge Fund. Investors should have avoided the following: Invest into an unregulated hedge fund. Too little due diligence. Higher than average returns usually cannot always be realistic. Absence of the audit of financial statements. Now that we know how Madoff performed his Ponzi scheme, we will able to figure out and try to avoid scheme in future, and do not forget to: Broadly analyze the company performance. Watch closely for warning signs. Verify filing with the SEC. Check for the company reputation. 6 Pillars Applied: Responsibility: Though Madoff was performing the investment operations as a Ponzi scheme, but when his investors wanted to have their money back, they got it without any delays. Of course, this does not show his responsibility to all the investors, but a little percentage to those who were smart enough to withdraw their investment from his fund. Those investors definitely were aware that Madoffs firm does not conduct its business transactions according to law and ethics. In fact, Madoff has violated mostly all 6 pillars, such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. His only goal was to benefit himself and his family, while completely ignoring the well-being of others. Madoff cared little about those he harmed and only worked to better himself at the expense of others. Therefore, from an ethical perspective, Madoffs scam was a white color crime. White color crime creates victims by establishing trust and respectability. As in this case, victims of white-color crime trusting clients, who believed there were many checks and balances certified the Madoff investment operation as legitimate. Madoff appears to be the classic white-collar criminal. He was an educated and experienced individual in a position of power, trust, respectability, and responsibility, who abused his trust of personal gains. From the inception of his investment business, he knew he was operating a Ponzi scheme and defrauding his clients. As a result, he is serving jail time and will be paying restitution for the rest of his life. In the end, he knew this day would come.