Understanding HR concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding HR concepts - Essay Example Evidently, human resource managers use training as a performance appraisal tool, which they conduct either after selection of the employees or during a specific time of the year. Organizations such as Ubisoft initiate a yearly program of performance appraisal as part of their talent development strategy. The value of employee training is an issue that has drawn a lot of controversy within the field of research. Research shows that employee training is a complex and expensive process that demands both time and resources from the organization. Therefore, training increases an organization’s expenses within a year, a feature that has become undesirable for many organizations. During a century of intensive business competition, organizations are experiencing financial constraints and their priority is to minimise any expenses. Some organizations have eliminated their training programs as one way of cutting the costs of production. However, there is evidence that employee training may have a wide range of benefits for an organization. First, training keeps the employees motivated and gives them the zeal to work confidently within their department. Secondly, there is evidence that trained employees have a higher work output and this contributes to an increase in the profit generate d within a year. In addition, employee training helps to develop employee’s talents to help them grow as the organization grows (Bratton & Gold, 2001). This explains why large companies have elaborate training programs that seek to improve the employee performance. However, there are obstacles to employee training programs that the human resource managers must anticipate while implementing performance appraisal. Training may become ineffective when employee have acquired optimal performance and feel that they cannot learn more. In this case, investing in employee training does not improve worker performance. In other cases, the employees may feel

Enterprise Architecture (EA) Enables SDLC Processes Paper Research

Enterprise Architecture (EA) Enables SDLC Processes - Research Paper Example There have been several attempts to define EA in a more precise way but it is clear that finding a common definition that embodies all that EA stands for. According to quote (year) however, the harder this attempt is made, the more divergent opinions come up as to what EA really stands for. For the purpose of the current paper however, a definition that is used by The Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge (2013) is adopted, which explains that EA analyses areas of common activity that are found within an organization by exchanging information and other resources to guide future states. EA are also known to be very applicable from an integrated viewpoint in terms of strategy, business and technology (quote). From the definition given about EA, it would be understood that EA emphasizes on the exchange of information. Meanwhile, at the initiation, planning or concept of phase of SDLC, sponsors identify a need or opportunity that they seek to pursue (quote). By incorporating EA, these sponsors will be aided to exchange information with other stakeholders to confirm the viability of the needs or opportunities that they identify (quote). This means that EA helps sponsors not to make bad decisions as to whether they have to carry on the opportunities with other phases of the system development. In effect, EA can help in gathering useful information as to whether the system development should be started in the first place. The requirement analysis phase of any SDLC has been noted to be a resource focused phase as it ends with decisions on the requirements that will be needed in undertaking the whole system development (quote). By extension, a lot of the financial budgeting is done at the requirements analysis phase. With this noted, quote (year) indicated that EA can be used to support the requirements analysis phase by

Toll Road Development in Indonesia

Toll Road Development in Indonesia In Indonesia, road is classified into Public Road and Toll Road. Public road means the road provided for general traffic. Road itself mean land transportation infrastructure that comprises all parts of the road, including the supplementary building along with the equipment thereof dedicated for transportation. Meanwhile the definition of Toll Road in Indonesia is public road that become part of a road network system and as a national road in which the users are required to pay toll Function of Toll Road in Indonesia Based on Law 38/2004 and Government Regulation 15/2005, toll road has position and function described as the following : The toll road is operated to: a. ensures an obstructed traffic in a developed area; b. increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the goods and services distribution service in order to improve the economic development; c. alleviate the financial burden of the Government by means of including the participation of the road user; and d. to improve the equal distribution of the results of development and justice. The toll road shall be managed by the Government and/or a business entity that is qualified to do so. The user of a toll road shall be subjected to a mandatory requirement of paying a fee for the toll to be used as a return of investment, maintenance and development of the toll road. Requirement of Toll Road The toll road shall have a higher specification, higher safety and convenience service levels than those of the existing public roads which have requirement as follows: The toll road used for intercity traffic shall be designed at least eighty (80) kilometers per hour, and a toll road in urban areas shall be designed at a speed plan of at least sixty (60) kilometers per hour. The toll road shall be designed to enable it to hold the heaviest axle of eight (8) tons at the lowest; Each toll road link shall have railings and be served by crossing facilities in the form of bridges of tunnels. The pints which may be dangerous to toll road users shall be equipped with safety structures with the strengths and structures that are able to absorb vehicle crash energy. Economic Function of Toll Road The main principle economic function of toll road is based on achieving economic optimum that can be described as follows : Policy to encourage road network development and its benefits, as well as balanced inter-regional development Ensuring equal distribution of development activities and gains, and equilibrium in area development with due principle of justice, Increasing the efficiency of distribution services for improvement of the economy particularly in the more developed areas Ease the financial burden of the government through road user participation Decreasing congestion in highly growth regions resulting efficient travel times and low vehicle operating costs Concept of Public Private Partnership (PPP) The term of public-private partnership was used first time in the United States to definite correlation between joint public and private sector for educational programs for urban renewal in the 1950s until 1960s(Yescombe 2007). In fact, there is no single or uniformed definition of PPP in the world including in Indonesia. According to Delmon (2009) PPP is defined as an arrangements between public and private entities for delivery of infrastructure services and are seen as a way of raising additional funds for infrastructure investments but more importantly as a means to extend or leverage better budget funding through efficiency gains. In UK, PPP is explained as an arrangement by which a government service or private business venture is funded and operated through a partnership of government and the private sector. (NAO 2009) The term PPP covers a range of different structures which can be used to deliver a project or a service. The term can cover a spectrum from relatively short term management contracts; through concession contracts; to joint ventures and partial privatizations where there is a sharing of ownership between the public and private sectors which depend on the country and the politics of the time. PPP fills a space between traditionally procured government projects with governments budget and full privatization with privates budget, where government no longer has a direct role in ongoing operations. PPP enables to develop projects which do not have enough profitability with revenues only from projects and are not self-sustaining. Under traditional public sector approach, the public sector designs, builds, operates, and maintains infrastructure, and sets level of quantity and standards of service quality, while under privatization approach, the private sector conducts all of these aspects in place of the public sector. Under PPP approach, the public sector is ultimately accountable for service provisions, although the private sector designs, builds, operates There are various characteristics of PPP as follows: PPP is an arrangement between public and private sector. Usually, it takes form of Contract or Agreement. PPP is applied as a method for provision of public services. Public Services in this definition, are not limited to road services. Public sector remains responsible for the project because a PPP project is operated to deliver public services specified by public sectors. PPP often includes investment and construction of facilities by private sectors. But there can be PPP which does not include facility construction. PPP is applied only when it delivers Value for Money. It means adoption of PPP is recommended if it can bring larger benefits to the public compared to other means of project. PPPs can follow a variety of structures and contractual formats. However, all PPPs incorporate three key characteristics: A contractual agreement defining the roles and responsibilities of the parties, Sensible risk-sharing among the public and the private sector partners, and Financial rewards to the private party commensurate with the achievement of pre specified outputs. PPP is one tool available for decision makers in reforming infrastructure or service delivery. It is most effective way when it is accompanied by other reform activities to underpin and reinforce the PPP and to support sustainable improvement. A successful PPP is designed with careful attention to the context or the enabling environment within which the partnership will be implemented. Where the operating environment can be reformed to be more conducive to the goals of PPP, this should be accomplished. Where elements of the operating context cannot be changed, the PPP design must be tailored to accommodate existing conditions. To be successful, PPP must be built upon a sector diagnostic that provides a realistic assessment of the current sector constraints. Specifically, the sector diagnostic will cover: (1) technical issues; (2) legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks; (3) Institutional and capacity status; and (4) Commercial, financial, and economic issues. Objectives of PPP The prime objective of government in using PPP is to achieve improved value for money, or improved services for the same amount of money as the public sector would spend. Besides that, other objective is desiring to provide increased infrastructure provision and services within imposed budgetary constraints by utilizing private sources of finance, if possible, via off balance sheet structures or to accelerate delivery of projects which might otherwise have to be delayed. The Main Principles of PPP According(Agency 2012) in Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) of Road Project, the main principles of PPP are: a. Transfer of Risk The risk allocation between every stakeholder must be well informed therefore every party both government and private know every risk on staging of toll road development such as design, construction and operation/maintenance, including financing of its project. b. Value for Money The government has authority to determine the economical and financial of project, in using government money and private money or combination both of them. c. Managerial Responsibility Private sector have capability and responsibility to manage, operate and maintain of road project d. Payment for Service For road project that full financed by government, the staging of road development is carried out by Private Sector. The Government has authority to regulate and monitor every progress of its staging. Government will pay the private sector based on performance of project and has right to terminate project if it is needed. e. Partnership The government and private are committed to cooperate in practice to get efficient and effective result. f. Private-sector Innovation By understanding risk factors in road project, the private sector has used innovation for efficiency of road development staging. The Private Sector concept encourages a productive partnership between the public and private sectors, by using private capital and commercial expertise to fund initial construction and long-term maintenance of Private Sector roads in operation year. Investment Concept Regarding (Horngren 1994) investment decisions concerning long-term plan for the use of capital (capital budgeting) consist of six staging process: (1) identification stage, choosing type of investment suitable with organizational objective, (2) search stage, seeking alternative investment capital that can meet the organizational goals, (3) information-acquisition stage, searching data and qualitative and quantitative analysis of various alternative investment capital, (4) selection stage, choosing one capital investments based on financial analysis by the method: discounted cash flow ( net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR)), payback and accrual accounting rate or return, (5) financing stage and (6) implementation and control stage. Those all concepts shall be directly apply to initial investment concept, including Public Private Partnership Risk Allocation in Public Private Partnership Definition of Risk In term definition, risk is unpredictable variation in value. It includes the possibility of unexpectedly good or unexpectedly bad, outcomes. The risk of a project is unpredictable variation in the total value of the project, taking account not only of the value of the project company but also of the value accruing to customers, the government, and other stakeholders. A stakeholders risk in a project is unpredictable variation in the value of the stakeholders interest in the project. Each risk should be allocated, along with rights to make related decisions, so as to maximize total project value, taking account of each partys ability to(Irwin 2007): 1. Influence the corresponding risk factor. 2. Influence the sensitivity of total project value to the corresponding risk factor, for example, by anticipating or responding to the risk factor. 3. Absorb the risk. Risk in Public Private Partnership The purpose of the risk identification stage on toll road project is to define as extensively as possible, a list with all types and sources of risks and uncertainties that might have an impact on the project. It is a crucial stage for the risk management process, because if a risk cannot be identified, it cannot consequently be evaluated and managed. (Tanaka, et al. 2005) Toll Road project risks should be assigned to the public or private entity that is best at controlling and managing them. In most of the cases, the private sector has taken on risk associated with the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities, general regulatory risks as well as cover for insurable force majeure events. On the other hand, the public sector has been responsible for environmental license approvals and other planning permits, right-of-way land acquisition, discriminatory regulatory risk, and uninsurable force majeure events and political risks. Risk Allocation Principles in Public Private Partnership Determination of the Concession obligations in a PPP Agreement need to conform with the risk allocation principles understood by every party . An optimal risk allocation is vital in maximizing the value for money. The common principle for risk allocation is that a risk should be allocated to party which is relatively able to manage the risk, or having the least cost of absorbing such risk. If this principle is implemented properly, it is expected that the risk premium and the project cost would be lower leading to positive impact to the project stakeholders. The implementation examples of such principle in the market are as follow: Risks which have not been managed well in the past, or those which the agency has little experience in managing, should be transferred if cost-effective, particularly where the risk can be influenced by the controlling party; Risks which are outside the control of either party, or are equally influenced by both parties (e.g. certain force majeure events) should be shared; Risks that the government can manage well, or is in a more informed position to control than the private sector (e.g. planning approvals, legislation risks) should be retained; and There may also be some risks that, while transferred, may possibly remain an exposure for the public sector (e.g. risk of sponsor default). If an event cannot be resolved satisfactorily, the government steps in and assumes full responsibility for the risk (or the project as a whole). This is appropriate where the project is delivering critical social infrastructure and associated services. Models of Risk Allocation of Public Private Partnerships One of PPPs benefits is there is possibility to share the possible risk of the project between private sector and government. On one hand, the private sector has the capability to deal with commercial risk, but on the other hand, they need to relief from non-commercial risk that beyond their control (Soedjito 2009). Models of risk allocation in public private partnership is depicted in The common models for public private partnerships are BOT and concession and the difference between these two depends on the level of support provided by the government. Risk Assessment Approaches From a review on the existing methodologies used for the evaluation and assessment of risk in the financial appraisal of projects, two main categories of approaches were identified: qualitative techniques and quantitative techniques. Qualitative Techniques Qualitative techniques have been used for compiling a list of the main risk sources and describing their likely consequences, without entering in details about the quantification of their probability of occurrence. (Merna and Njiru 2002). The next step after all sources of risk are identified is to define some kind of order of priority. On the limited time, risk assessment may be biased towards the use of relatively simple procedures such as qualitative and semi-quantitative techniques (Ward, 1999). Quantitative Techniques Quantitative techniques aim to represent the likelihood and impact of risks in terms of the usual planning measures, such as time and money (Grey, 1995). Two of the most widely used quantitative risk analysis techniques in the financial appraisal of projects are: deterministic analysis techniques and probabilistic analysis techniques (Merna and Njiru, 2002). Sensitivity analysis, as part of deterministic techniques, is probably the most representative approach among the quantitative techniques. Sensitivity analysis examines the effect of changes in the value of the models dependent variable resulting from the changes in the value of one or more of the input variables to the model. The most popular form of sensitivity analysis is the one-factor-at-the time approach, wherein the main advantage is that it allows interpretation of the results in an easily understandable way. Another form of sensitivity analysis is the scenario analysis, which recalculates the model for a combination of simultaneous changes in the input variables (Van Groenendaal and Kleijnen, 1997). Frequently, three types of scenarios are distinguished: an optimistic case, a base case, and a pessimistic case. Some of the major shortcomings of using sensitivity analysis are: 1. Equal probability of occurrence is given to all scenarios (despite the likelihood of getting some scenarios with extreme values is lower); 2. Possible inter-dependencies between the variables are ignored; 3. In big projects with many items/activities, a combination of all variables can create a too large set of scenarios. Implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Indonesia Indonesian government through Ministry of Public Works based on Decree of Minister of Public Work number 567/KPTS/M/2010 operated 757.47 km and plans 4618 km of toll roads as part of the national road network divided in 5 major islands in Indonesia (see ) In the implementation of toll road development in Indonesia, there were some periods due to regulations and legislation in valid at that period of time as follows: First Period (1978 1983), Fully financed by Government funds (Government Equity). Second Period (1983 1990), Subsidiary Loan Agreement (SLA) to PT Jasa Marga (two step loan), State Own Enterprise for toll road development. Third Period (1990 1994), Cooperation with private sector using BOT scheme. Fourth Period (1994 2005), Modified BOT scheme (i.e., revenue sharing concept, land acquisition cost is part of investment cost borned by the investor). Fifth Period (2005 present), using Build Operate Transfer (BOT)/ PPP Scheme Law and Regulation for Public Private Partnership of Toll Road in Indonesia After regulatory reform with the Road Law No.38/2004 and Toll Road Government Regulation No.15/2005 allow the development of toll roads through public private partnership, including domestic and international investor. Main regulatory framework for toll roads includes law, regulations, and decrees are presented as follows: Law No. 38 of 2004 concerning Road Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No.15 of 2005 concerning Toll Road Regulation of Minister of Public Works No. 295/PRT/M/2005 Concerning Indonesia Toll Road Authority Public Work Ministerial Decree No. 369/KPTS/M/2005 on National Road Network Master Plan to include toll road network master plan Presidential Decree No. 36/2005 on Land Acquisition for Public Purpose Presidential Decree No.67/2005 on PPP Between Government and Enterprises on Infrastructure Provision Finance Ministerial Decree No.518/KMK.01/2005 on Risk Management Unit Decree of Minister of Public Work number 567/KPTS/M/2010 on Status of Toll Road in Indonesia Implementation Framework on Toll Road Project in Indonesia According to the Road Law No.38 of 2004 concerning Road and the Government Regulation No.15 of 2005 concerning Toll Road, roles and institutional framework of toll road project are defined as showed in and Figure 2.. Government of Indonesia set up Indonesia Toll Road Authority (BPJT) which has authority for preparing feasibility study, Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA), bidding documents and selecting private concessionaires. Indonesia Toll Road Authority also has duty to implement a part of toll road management in Indonesia such as set toll road concession, commercialization of toll roads, supervision of toll roads including monitoring and evaluation in Indonesia. This authority is also to deliver Public Private Partnership scheme in toll road investment. Toll Road Investment Procedure in Indonesia Procedure of toll road investment, from project preparation through sign of concession agreement, is shown in . The whole process take approximately 24 months (2 years). Then, it is followed by implementing the agreement through the whole period in accordance with the concession period agreed which vary 30 to 40 years depend on the project condition and project by project basis. AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION (ÂÂ ± 14 months) (ÂÂ ± 4-6 months) PREPARE PQ DOCUMENT SUBMIT PQ DOCUMENT PREPARE BID PROPOSAL SUBMIT BID PROPOSAL BID BOND RECEIVE NOTICE AWARD PRIVATE SECTOR SIGN CONTRACT PERFORMANCE BOND, LAND ACQUISITION COST, FINANCIAL CLOSURE BID CONFERENCE-BID PREPARATION PQ AND BID INVITATION PREQUALIFICATION OF BIDDER RECEIPT AND OPENING BID PROJECT PREPARATION EVALUATION OF BID APOINTMENT OF SUCCESFUL BIDDER CONSESSION AGREEMENT BPJT/GOVERMENT PREPARE SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE Figure 2. Toll Road Investment Procedure (source: BPJT 2010) Existing PPP Model of Toll Road Project in Indonesia There are 3 (three) models that can be applied under the PPP scheme in Indonesia, depend on the economic and financial viability of the projects (Karsaman 2008). These models are shown in Figure 2. Scheme 1, where the economic viability of the toll road is good but its financial viability poor, the government take over the finance and construction of the toll road, but when it has been finished, then it will tendering for its operating maintaining to private sector. This has been applied in Tanjung Priok Access Road, Jakarta and Suramadu Bridge, East Java. Scheme 2, where the economic viability of the toll road is good but its financial viability is marginal, the Government can support Land Acquisition and partly construction cost and the private sector has to finance and constructing other part and then operate and maintain the toll road. This scheme is applied in Solo-Ngawi-Kertosono Toll Road (Central Java and East Java) case and might be applied in other links. Scheme 3, where the economic and financial viabilities of the toll road are good, the private sector has to finance and constructing all of the road and then operate and maintain it through the concession period. This scheme is applied in most of the toll road development in general. Financial Feasibility of Toll Road Investment Indikator Kelayakan yang akan dipergunakan dalam studi ini, adalah : 1. Net Present Value (NPV) Net Present Value adalah selisih antara Present Value Benefit dikurangi dengan Present Value Cost. Hasil NPV dari suatu proyek yang dikatakan layak secara finansial adalah yang menghasilkan nilai NPV bernilai positif. Dalam hal ini semua rencana akan dilaksanakan apabila NPV > 0, atau persamaan di atas memenuhi : Net Present Value (NPV) = PVBenefit PVCost = positif Hal tersebut berarti bahwa pembangunan konstruksi jalan akan memberikan keuntungan, dimana benefit/ cash flow positif akan lebih besar dari pada cost/ cash flow negatif. 2. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 3. Payback Ratio Rasio DSCR Public private partnership (PPP) are a generic term for the relationships formed between the private sector and public bodies often with the aim of introducing private sector resources and/or expertise in order to help provide and deliver public sector assets and services. The term PPP is used to describe a wide variety of working arrangements from loose, informal and strategic partnerships to design-build finance- operate (Private Sector) type service contracts and formal joint venture companies. (4Ps, UK local government procurement agency) In general, the basic concept of toll road development and management are as follows.1 The Government establishes Master Plan of Toll Road Network as a guidance of toll road development, while the toll road links will be determined by the Minister. Government holds authority of toll road development, where as parts of the authority concerning toll road business are being executed by Indonesia Toll Road Authority BPJT (Task and authorities of BPJT are described in Minister of Public Works Regulation No.295/PRT/M/2005.) Toll road business can be financed by the Government and/or qualified business entity. Financing by Government is for the toll road links that economically feasible, but not financially feasible. Financing by business entity is for toll road links which are both economically and financially feasible. Under particular conditions, where the toll road can not be developed by business entities, the Government will take proper action in accordance with the authorities. Initial tariff will be established by Minister as stated in concession agreement. The tariff will be adjusted every two years based on inflation index, an determined by the Minister. Procurement of either part of all aspects of toll road operation will be done through an open and transparent tender process. Land acquisition is responsibility of the Government, however its budget can be provided by Government and/or business entity.

Fairy tale conventions and Great Expectations :: essays papers

Fairy tale conventions and Great Expectations Great Expectations and Fairy tales Tolkien describes the facets which are necessary in a good fairy tales as fantasy, recovery, escape, and consolation - recovery from deep despair, escape from some great danger, but most of all, consolation. Speak- ing of the happy ending,†¦all complete fairy stories must have it†¦However fantastic or terrible the adventure, it can give to child or man that hears it,†¦a catch of breath, a beat and lifting of the heart near to tears. Great Expectations shares many of the conventions of fairy tales. The one dimensional characters, the use of repetition, and the evil women seem to make the similarities strikingly strong. However, are they strong enough to conclude that it is indeed a fairy tale? It can not be ignored that it also falls short on some important areas, such as the traditional fairy tale ending. Is there enough evidence to classify it either way? Fairy tales have characters of complete good or complete evil. There are no characters who posses both of these qualities. In reading Great Expectations it is plain to see that there is indeed total goodness and total evil. This can be seen in many of the characters. There is no goodness to be found in Orlick. He plays the role of the bully. His hot temper results in the near death of Mrs. Joe and in the near death of Pip. Compeyson is another who has no goodness to be found in him. He is full of evil and hate. It was said that "He had no more heart than a iron file, he was cold as death and he had the head of the devil". He broke the heart of poor Miss Havisham so he could have her money. He also longed to kill his enemy, Magwitch, and ends up reporting him to the officials to get him put to death. Nowhere in this tale do either of these men show one ounce of compassion or goodness. They can both be regarded as the enemies and the "Bad guys" of the story. Joe is a character who shows complete goodness. He is kind hearted and gentle. His generosity and forgiveness is demonstrated countless times in the story. When the escaped convict speaks about the food he stole from Joe and asks his forgiveness, Joe's response is not one of anger.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 24

Stefan woke early. He spent the time from dawn until breakfast just watching Elena, who even in sleep had an inner glow like a golden flame through a faintly rose-colored candle. At breakfast, everyone was more or less Stillwrapped up in thoughts of the day before. Meredith showed Matt the picture of her brother, Cristian, the vampire. Matt briefly told Meredith about the inner workings of the Ridgemont court system and painted her a picture of Caroline as werewolf. It was clear that both of them felt safer at the boardinghouse than anywhere else. And Elena, who had woken up with Stefan's mind al around her, embracing her, and her own mind Stillful of light, was completely at a loss for a Plan A or any other letter. She had to be told gently by the others that only one thing made sense. â€Å"Stefan,†Matt said, draining a mug of Mrs. Flowers's pitch-black coffee. â€Å"He's the only one who might be able to use his mind instead of Post-it Notes on the kids.† And, â€Å"Stefan,†said Meredith. â€Å"He's the only one Shinichi might be afraid of.† â€Å"I'm no use at all,†Elena said sadly. She had no appetite. She had gotten dressed with a feeling of love and compassion toward al humankind and a desire to help protect her hometown, but as everyone pointed out, she was probably going to have to spend the day in the root cel ar. Reporters might come to cal . They're right, Stefan sent to Elena. I'm the only logical person to find out what's really going on in Fell's Church. He actual y went while the rest of them were finishing breakfast. Only Elena knew why; only she could feel him at the limits of her telepathic range. Stefan was hunting. He drove into the New Wood, got out, and final y startled a rabbit out of the brush. He Influenced it to rest and not be frightened. Surreptitiously, in this thin woodland without cover, he took a little blood from it†¦and choked. It tasted like some kind of hideous liquid flavored with rodent. Was a rabbit a rodent? He had been lucky enough to find a rat one day in his prison cel and it had tasted vaguely like this. But now, for days, he had been drinking human blood. Not just that, but the rich, potent blood of strong, adventurous, and in several cases paranormal y talented individuals – the crme de la crme. How could he have gotten used to it so quickly? It shamed him now, to think of what he'd taken. Elena's blood, of course, was enough to drive any vampire wild. And Meredith, whose blood had the deep crimson taste of some primordial ocean, and Bonnie, who tasted like a telepath's dessert. And final y Matt, the Al -American red-blooded boy. They'd fed him and fed him by the hour, far past what he needed to survive. They'd fed him until he'd begun to heal, and seeing that he was healing, they'd fed him more. And it had gone on and on, ending with Elena last night – Elena, whose hair was taking on a silvery cast and whose blue eyes seemed almost radiant. Back in the Dark Dimension, Damon hadn't exercised any restraint at all. Elena hadn't exercised any on her own behalf. That silvery cast†¦Stefan's stomach clenched when he thought about it, about the last time he'd seen her hair that way. She'd been dead then. On her feet, but dead just the same. Stefan let the rabbit scamper away. He was taking another oath. He must not make Elena into a vampire again. That meant no significant blood exchange between the two of them for at least a week – either giving or taking might tip her over the edge. He must once again adjust to the taste of animal blood. Stefan shut his eyes briefly, remembering the horror of the first time. The cramps. The shakes. The agony that seemed to tel his entire body that it wasn't getting fed. The feeling that his veins might explode into flame at any moment, and the pain in his jaws. He stood up. He was lucky to be alive. Luckier than he ever could have dreamed he would be in having Elena beside him. He would work through the readjustment without bothering her by tel ing her, he decided. Just two hours later Stefan was back at the boardinghouse, limping slightly. Matt, who met him at the heavy front door, noticed the limp. â€Å"You okay? You'd better get in and ice it.† â€Å"Just a cramp,†Stefan said briefly. â€Å"I'm not used to exercise. Didn't get any back there in – you know.†He looked away, flushing. So did Matt, hot and cold and furious at the people who had put Stefan in this condition. Vampires were pretty resilient, but he had the feeling – no, he knew – that Stefan had almost died in his prison cel . One day under lock and key had convinced Matt that he never wanted to be imprisoned again. He fol owed Stefan to the kitchen where Elena, Meredith, and Mrs. Flowers were – what else? – drinking mugs of tea. And Matt felt a twinge when Elena instantly noticed the limp and got up and went to Stefan, and Stefan held her tightly, running reassuring fingers through her hair. Matt couldn't help but wonder, though – was that glorious golden hair turning lighter? More like the silvery gold it had been when Elena had first gone with Stefan and was on her way to turning into a vampire? Stefan certainly seemed to be inspecting it closely, turning each handful as he raked his fingers through it. â€Å"Any luck?†Elena asked him, tension in her voice. Wearily, Stefan shook his head. â€Å"I went up streets and down streets and wherever I found a – a young girl who was contorted, or whirling round and round, or doing any other of the things the papers mentioned, I tried to Influence them. Well, maybe I shouldn't have bothered with the whirling girls. I couldn't catch their eyes. But the final count is zero for eleven.† Elena turned toward Meredith in agitation. â€Å"What do we do?† Mrs. Flowers busily began rummaging through bundles of herbs that hung above her stove. â€Å"You need a nice cup of tea.† â€Å"And a rest,†Meredith said, patting him lightly on the hand. â€Å"Can I get you anything?† â€Å"Well – I've got a new idea – scrying. But I need Misao's star bal to see if it wil work. Don't worry,†he added, â€Å"I won't use any of the Power in it; I just need to look at the surface.† â€Å"I'l bring it,†Elena offered, getting up promptly from where she was sitting on his lap. Matt started slightly and looked at Mrs. Flowers as Elena went to the door of the root cel ar and pushed. Nothing moved and Mrs. Flowers simply watched benignly. It was Stefan who rose to help her, Stilllimping. Then Matt and Meredith got up, Meredith asking, â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, are you sure we should keep the star bal in that same safe?† â€Å"Ma ma says we're doing the right thing,†Mrs. Flowers answered serenely. After that things happened very fast. As if they'd rehearsed it, Meredith pressed the exact place to open the root cel ar door. Elena fel to her hands and knees. Faster than even he had imagined he could go, Matt went barreling toward Stefan with one shoulder down. Mrs. Flowers was frantical y pul ing great swaths of dried herbs down from where they hung above the kitchen table. And then Matt was hitting Stefan with al the power in his body and Stefan was stumbling over Elena, his head going down and down and meeting no resistance on the way. Meredith was coming at him sideways and helping him do a complete forward flip in the air. As soon as the flip took him out of the doorway and he was cartwheeling down the stairs, Elena got up and shut the door and Meredith leaned against it, as Matt shouted, â€Å"How do you keep in a kitsune?† â€Å"These might help,†gasped Mrs. Flowers, stuffing odiferous herbs into the crack under the door. â€Å"And – iron!†cried Elena, and she and Meredith and Matt al ran to the den where there was an enormous, tripartite iron fire screen. Somehow they bundled it back to the kitchen and set it upright against the root cel ar door. Just then the first crash came from the inside against it, but the iron was heavy and the second crash against the door was weaker. â€Å"What are you doing? Have you al gone crazy?†Stefan shouted plaintively, but as the entire group began to cover the door in Post-it Note amulets, he cursed instead and became pure Shinichi. â€Å"You'll be sorry, damn you! Misao's not right. She cries and cries. You'll make it up to her with your blood, but not before I introduce you to some special friends of mine. The kind who know how to cause real pain!† Elena lifted her head, as if hearing something. Matt watched her frown. Then she cal ed to Shinichi, â€Å"Don't even try to probe for Damon. He's gone. And if you try to track him I'l fry your brains.† Sul en silence greeted her from the root cel ar. â€Å"My goodness gracious, what next?†murmured Mrs. Flowers. Elena simply nodded for the others to fol ow her, and they went al the way to the very top of the house – Stefan's room – and spoke in whispers. â€Å"How did you know?† â€Å"Did you use telepathy?† â€Å"I didn't know at first,†Matt admitted, â€Å"but Elena was acting as if the star bal was in the root cel ar. Stefan knows it's not there. I guess,†he added with a guilty start, â€Å"that I invited him in.† â€Å"I knew as soon as he started groping my hair,†Elena said with a shudder. â€Å"Stefan and D – I mean, Stefan knows I only like it touched lightly, and at the ends. Not mauled like that. Remember al Shinichi's little songs about golden hair? He's a nutcase. Anyway, I could tel from the feel of his mind.† Matt felt ashamed. Al his wondering about Elena maybe changing into a vampire†¦and this was the answer, he thought. â€Å"I noticed his lapis ring,†Meredith said. â€Å"I saw him with it on his right hand as he went out earlier. When he came back he had it on his left hand.† There was a brief pause as they al stared at her. She shrugged. â€Å"It was part of my training, noticing little things.† â€Å"Good point,†Matt said at last. â€Å"Good point. He wouldn't be able to change it in sunlight.† â€Å"How did you know, Mrs. Flowers?†Elena asked. â€Å"Or was it just the way we were behaving?† â€Å"Goodness, no, you're al very good little actors. But as soon as he stepped over the threshold Ma ma fairly shrieked at me: ‘What are you doing, letting a kitsune into your house?'So then I knew what we were in for.† â€Å"We beat him!†Elena said, beaming. â€Å"We actual y caught Shinichi off guard! I can hardly believe it.† â€Å"Believe it,†Meredith said with a wry smile. â€Å"He was off guard for a moment. He'l be thinking up revenge right now.† Something else was worrying Matt. He turned to Elena. â€Å"I thought that you said that both you and Shinichi had keys that could take you anywhere, anytime. So why couldn't he have just said, ‘Take me inside the boardinghouse where the star bal is'?† â€Å"Those were different keys from the Twin Fox key,†Elena said, her brows drawn together. â€Å"They're, like, the Master Keys and Shinichi and Misao Stillhave them both. I don't know why he didn't use his. Although it would have given him away the moment he was inside.† â€Å"Not if he went inside the root cel ar, and stayed there the whole time,†Meredith said. â€Å"And maybe a Master Key can override the ‘not invited inside'rule.† Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"But Ma ma Stillwould have told me. Also there are no keyholes in the root cel ar. at all.† â€Å"‘No keyholes'wouldn't matter, I don't think,†Elena answered. â€Å"I think he just wanted to show how clever he was, and how he could fool us into giving him Misao's star bal .† Before anyone else could say a word, Meredith held out her palm, with a shining key on it. The key was golden with diamonds inset and had a very familiar outline. â€Å"That's one of the Master Keys!†cried Elena. â€Å"It's what we thought the Twin Fox key would look like!† â€Å"It sort of came out of his jeans pocket when he did that flip,†Meredith said innocently. â€Å"When you were flipping him over me, you mean,†said Elena. â€Å"I suppose you picked his pocket too.† â€Å"So, right now, Shinichi doesn't have a key to escape with!†Matt said excitedly. â€Å"No key to make keyholes,†Elena agreed, dimpling. â€Å"He can have fun changing into a mole and burrowing out of the root cel ar,†Meredith said cool y. â€Å"That's if he's got his transforming gear or whatever with him.†She added, with a troubled change in her voice, â€Å"I wonder†¦if we should have Matt tel one other person where he's actual y hidden the star bal . Just†¦Well, just in case.† Matt saw knitted brows al around him. But suddenly the realization hit him that he had to tel someone that he'd hidden the star bal in his closet. The group – including Stefan – had picked him to hide it because he had so stubbornly resisted when Shinichi was using Damon's body as a puppet to torture him a month ago. Matt had proved then that he would die in hideous pain rather than endanger his friends. But if Matt were to die now, Misao's star bal might be lost to the group forever. And only Matt knew how close he had come today to tumbling down the stairs along with Shinichi. Far below they al heard a shout. â€Å"Hel o! Is anybody home? Elena!† â€Å"That's my Stefan,†Elena said and then, without a shred of dignity, she ran to launch herself from the foyer into his arms. He looked startled, but managed to break her fal before they both went down on the porch. â€Å"What's been going on?†he said, his body vibrating infinitesimal y, as with the urge to fight. â€Å"The whole house smel s like kitsune!† â€Å"It's All right,†Elena said. â€Å"Come and see.†She led him upstairs to his room. â€Å"We've got him in the root cel ar,†she added. Stefan looked confused. â€Å"You've got who in the root cel ar?† â€Å"With iron against the door,†Matt said triumphantly. â€Å"And herbs and amulets al over it. And, anyway, Meredith got his key.† â€Å"His key? You're talking about – Shinichi?†Stefan turned on Meredith, green eyes wide. â€Å"While I've been gone?† â€Å"It was mostly an accident. I sort of stuck my hand in his pocket when he was upside down and off balance. And I lucked out and got the Master Key – unless this is an ordinary house key.† Stefan stared at it. â€Å"It's the real thing. Elena knows that. Meredith, you're incredible!† â€Å"Yes, it's the right one,†Elena confirmed. â€Å"I remember the shape – pretty elaborate, yes?†She took it from Meredith's hand. â€Å"What are you going to – â€Å" â€Å"Might as well test it,†Elena said with a mischievous smile. She walked to the door of the room, shut it, said, â€Å"The den downstairs,†inserted the winged key in the lock, and opened the door, stepping through and shutting the door behind her. Before anyone could speak, she was back, with the poker from the den held aloft in triumph. â€Å"It works!†Stefan cried. â€Å"That's amazing,†Matt said. Stefan looked almost feverish. â€Å"But don't you realize what it means? It means we can use this key. We can go anywhere we like without using Power. Even to the Dark Dimension! But first – while he's Stillhere – we ought to do something about Shinichi.† â€Å"You're in no condition to do that now, dear Stefan,†Mrs. Flowers said, shaking her head. â€Å"I'm sorry, but the truth is that we have been very, very lucky. That wicked kitsune was off guard back then. He won't be now.† â€Å"I Stillhave to try,†Stefan said quietly. â€Å"Every one of you has been tormented or had to fight – whether with your fists or your minds,†he added, bowing slightly to Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"I've suffered but I've never had a chance to fight him. I have to try.† Matt said, just as quietly, â€Å"I'l go with you.† Elena added, â€Å"We can al fight together. Right, Meredith?† Meredith nodded slowly, taking Stefan's poker from his fireplace. â€Å"Yes. It may be a low blow, but – together.† â€Å"I say it's a higher blow than letting him live and go on hurting people. Anyway, we'l take care of it†¦together,†Elena said firmly. â€Å"Right now!† Matt started to get up, but his motion was frozen in midair as he stared in horror. Simultaneously, with the grace of hunting lionesses or bal et dancers the two girls closed in on Stefan, and simultaneously they swung their separate pokers; Elena hitting him in the head and Meredith hitting him squarely in the groin. Stefan reeled away from the blow to the head, but simply said, â€Å"Ow!†when Meredith hit him. Matt knocked Elena out of the way and then, turning as precisely as if he were on the footbal field, got Meredith out of â€Å"Stefan's†way too. But this imposter had obviously decided not to fight back. Stefan's form melted. Misao, green leaves woven into her scarlet-tipped black hair, stood before them. To Matt's shock, her face was pinched and pale. She was obviously very il , although Stilldefiant. But there was no mockery in her voice tonight. â€Å"What have you done with my star bal ? And my brother?†she demanded feebly. â€Å"Your brother's safely locked up,†Matt said, hardly knowing what he was tel ing her. Despite al the crimes Misao had committed he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She was clearly desperate and il . â€Å"I know that. I was going to say my brother wil kil you al – not as a game, but in anger.†Now Misao looked wretched and frightened. â€Å"You've never seen him really angry.† â€Å"You've never seen Stefan angry either,†Elena said. â€Å"At least not when he had al his Power.† Misao just shook her head. A dried leaf floated from her hair. â€Å"You don't understand!† â€Å"I doubt we understand anything. Meredith, have we searched this girl?† â€Å"No, but surely she wouldn't have brought the other one – â€Å" Elena said crisply, â€Å"Matt, take a book and read it. I'l tel you when we're done.† Matt was reluctant to turn his back on a kitsune, even a sick one. But when even Mrs. Flowers nodded gently he obeyed. Still, back turned or not, he could hear noises. And the noises suggested that Misao was being held tightly and searched thoroughly. At first the sounds were al negative murmurs. â€Å"Huh-uh†¦huh-uh†¦huh-uh†¦huh- oops!†There was a rattle of metal on wood. Matt only turned when Elena said, â€Å"Okay, you can look. It was in her front pocket.†She added to Misao, who was looking as if she might faint, â€Å"We didn't want to have to hold you and search you. But this key – where in heaven's name did you get keys like this, anyway?† A pink spot showed on Misao's cheeks. â€Å"Heaven is right. They're the only two left of the Master Keys – and they belong to Shinichi and me. I figured out how to steal them from the Celestial Court. That was†¦a long time ago.† At that moment they heard a car on the road – Stefan's Porsche. In the dead silence that fol owed, they could also see the car through Stefan's window as it swung into the driveway. â€Å"No one goes down,†Elena said tersely. â€Å"No one invites him in.† Meredith shot her a keen glance. â€Å"Shinichi could have tunneled out like a mole by now. And he's already been invited in.† â€Å"My fault for not warning you al – but anyway, if it is Shinichi and he's done anything to hurt Stefan he's going to see me when I'm angry. The words Wings of Destruction just popped into my head and something inside me wants to say them.† There was a chil in the room. No one met Stefan, but in a moment they could al hear running footsteps. Stefan appeared at his door, burst through, and found himself confronted with a row of people al looking at him suspiciously. â€Å"What the hell is going on?†he demanded, staring at Misao, who was being held up between Meredith and Matt. â€Å"Misao – â€Å" Elena took two steps toward him – and wound herself around him, drawing him into a deep kiss. For a moment he resisted, but then, bit by bit, his opposition col apsed despite the roomful of observers. When Elena final y let go, she just leaned against Stefan, breathing hard. The others were al crimson with embarrassment. Stefan, flushed as he was, held her tightly. â€Å"I'm sorry,†Elena whispered. â€Å"But you've already ‘come home'twice. First, it was Shinichi and we locked him in the root cel ar. Then it was her.†She pointed, without looking, toward the cowering Misao. â€Å"I didn't know how to make sure that Shinichi hadn't escaped somehow – â€Å" â€Å"And you're sure now?† â€Å"Oh, yes. I recognize you. You're always ready to let me in.† Matt realized that she was shaking and quickly stood up so she could sit, for at least a minute or two, in peace. The peace lasted less than a minute. â€Å"I want my star bal !†Misao cried. â€Å"I need to put Power in it or I'l go on weakening – and then you'l have murdered me.† â€Å"Go on weakening? Is the liquid evaporating out of the star bal or something?†Meredith asked. Matt was thinking about what he'd seen on his home block before the Ridgemont sheriffs had got him. â€Å"You've gathered Power to put in it?†he asked mildly. â€Å"Power from yesterday, maybe?† â€Å"Power from ever since you took it. But it isn't joined with†¦ me. With my star bal . It's mine, but not yet.† â€Å"Like maybe some Power from making Cole Reece eat his guinea pig while it was alive? From making kids burn down their own houses?†Matt's voice was gravel y. â€Å"What does it matter?†Misao retorted sul enly. â€Å"It's mine. They were my ideas, not yours. You can't keep me away – â€Å" â€Å"Meredith, keep me away from her. I've known that kid Cole since he was born. I'l always have nightmares†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Misao perked up like a wilting plant getting water. â€Å"Have nightmares, have nightmares,†she whispered. There was a silence. Then Meredith said, careful y and expressionlessly, as if she were thinking of the stave, â€Å"You're a nasty little thing, aren't you? Is that your food? Bad memories, nightmares, fear of the future?† Misao was plainly stumped. She couldn't see the catch. It was like asking a regular hungry teenager â€Å"How about some pizza and a Coke? Is that what you want?†Misao couldn't even see that her appetites were wrong, so she couldn't lie. â€Å"You were right before,†Stefan said forceful y. â€Å"We have your star bal . The only way to make us give it back would be to do something for us. We're supposed to be able to control you anyway because we have it – â€Å" â€Å"Old-ways thinking. Obsolete,†Misao growled. There was a dead silence. Matt felt his stomach plummet. They had been betting on â€Å"old-ways thinking†al along. To get Shinichi's star bal by making Misao tel them where it was. Their ultimate goal had been to control Shinichi using his star bal . â€Å"You don't understand,†Misao said, pitiful y and yet angrily at the same time. â€Å"My brother wil help me fil my star bal again. But what we did in this town – it was an order, not just for fun.† â€Å"Could'a fooled me,†Elena murmured, but Stefan's head jerked up and he said, â€Å"An order? From who?† â€Å"I†¦don't†¦know!† Misao screamed. â€Å"Shinichi gets the orders. Then he tel s me what to do. But whoever it is should be happy by now. The town is almost destroyed. He ought to give me some help here!†She glared at the group, and they stared back. Without knowing that he was going to say it, Matt said, â€Å"Let's put her in the root cel ar with Shinichi. I've got this feeling that we might al be sleeping in the storage room tonight.†

Importance of Poetry Essay

â€Å"Poetry may make us from time to time a little more aware of the deeper, unnamed feelings which form the substratum of our being, to which we rarely penetrate; for our lives is mostly a constant evasion of ourselves. † ‘ T. S. Eliot. Poetry, just as in other literature contributes a major role in the development of many aspects of life. The utilization of poets and poetry can serve for many different positive purposes and effects on society. Thus, poetry is important to each of us. A person is constantly involved in thinking a variety of things. Through poetry, one can lend voice to one’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Often, poetry is the resultant of misunderstandings that a person often undergoes. The anger, frustration and agony are revealed through penning down the different expressions one feels at that moment. Poetry allows you to visualize things from the eyes of the writer, thus marking the importance of writing poetry. Ever Merrian sharing the same thought has said â€Å"Pick it up with your fingers and lick, the juice that may run down your chin† in his poem â€Å"How To Eat a Poem. † He compares a poem to a fruit and the emotions behind it as its juice. Poetry has been in existence since ages. Poems from the ancient historical eras give us a glimpse of the previous generations, right from depicting historical events to the primeval lifestyles. The thoughts and feelings of the oldies are depicted to us. What was considered beautiful, important or even profound, is clearly stated to us through those poems. Just as Maya Angelou has evidently expressed the same in her poem â€Å"I rise†, â€Å"You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I’ll rise. † Therefore, poetry is an imperative section of literature that holds great importance in our lives, and cannot be eliminated or replaced. Succinctly, the importance of poetry is best revealed through a John Keats quote which states, â€Å"Poetry should†¦ should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost a remembrance. †