History os Asian Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History os Asian Art - Research Paper Example During this period, the ding had been secularized hence its other purpose included cooking and serving foods and wine apart from the other ritual functions. Dings were mainly used in the households of rulers particularly the royal families. They were symbols of status within the Chinese society and were also presented as gifts to foreign rulers. In the event of death of the members of the monarchy, they would be buried with the vessels which were meant to be used in the other world in serving the spirits (A universal guide for China studies, n.p). The bronze lidded vessel (ding) is circular in shape. It has two handles with each handle placed on either side of the vessel. Its three legs are attached separately at the base of the vessel. On the other hand, the lid is placed at the top (opening) of the vessel. There are statues of animals neatly curved on the lid-that is, a lioness and a tiger. On its surface, it is decorated with drawings of dragons and it is interlaced patterns of spirals (AMICA

Management in the News paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Management in the News - Research Paper Example However, from the period of 2007 Grady Memorial Hospital the charitable and training institution in Atlanta started suffering from a huge financial crisis. The huge financial crisis amounting to millions of dollars affected the operations of the hospital. However, the local and the national government have not taken any significant steps to help the hospital revive from the crisis. (Dewan & Sack, 2008) The Grady Memorial Hospital based in Atlanta share a nostalgic relationship with many Americans who have risen to higher positions in the country. In fact, the Grady Memorial Hospital had been the first home in the world to many people living in the region of Atlanta. The hospital observed to be a charitable organization caring for a host of immigrants, prisoners and low income groups is suffering from a financial crisis from the 2007 period. Management operations in the hospital are being carried on through a system of small financial packages obtained from various sources. The case of Grady earns similarity to other health organizations based in different areas of the United States like Memphis, Chicago and Miami. However, the magnitude of financial crisis has led Grady to surpass the distressful situation of around 1,300 hospitals operating in United States. The financial crisis loomed over Grady for the hospital operated on a traditional approach which failed to generate suffici ent funds to help the organization carry out its operations in an extensive manner. Grady Memorial Hospital renders maximum focus in the treatment of the patients belonging to the uninsured and immigrant groups. Moreover, the amounts received from the end of the insured patients also fail to suffice in meeting the operational costs. Further, the Grady Memorial Hospital faces huge competition from other private players operating in the health care arena of the country. The private hospitals and other non-profit health organizations earned high popularity in successfully rendering

Opinion Essay on Inventions Essay Example for Free

Opinion Essay on Inventions Essay In my opinion, the most important invention of all time in the history of human civilization and enterprise is the internet. Why the internet? Simply because I believe this invention has made the world a better place. In almost everything we do, we need the Internet. Whether it is to look for a job, research for a project or even find love. The Internet is a dominant factor that plays an important role in our lives. We just simply cannot escape the influence that the Internet has on us. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft enterprises, once said â€Å"The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow†. This quote may seem short, but to me, it significantly holds a deeper meaning that defines the power and potential of the Internet. The interesting part was that this famous entrepreneur had said this quote in 2003 which by then the internet was not a worldwide phenomenon like it is today. It is undeniable that this invention has done many wonders to our lives. The Internet has defined and simplified all means of communication, research and entertainment in our lives in this technological era. Internet was invented in the beginning of the 19th century but deigned and published in the year 1973-1974 to suit consumer needs and wants. This invention was solely meant for military purposes, to be used as a communication network for US militants. However, this invention failed to convince the military and was modified and published for the use of the public. This invention may not have proved its original purpose but it has indeed benefit society through its many functions and benefits. From the looks of what internet has done for us, it is evident that Internet has changed and improved life as it is. Basically our daily communication has changed for the better. It has made the world a smaller place to live in. Communication such as social websites or programs has brought great convenience as people globally can communicate and interact with one another with just a click of a button. It creates a cyber-world that promotes interaction in the midst of society, breaking the barrier s in telecommunications. Read more:  The World is a Smaller Place these Days Essay Examples of social websites or programs are Skype, Facebook, Twitter and MSN. Friends and family can always keep and touch. Websites like Facebook also enable people to know each other social activity without physical contact, this has definitely change people in this generation to know more people and have more friends. The best part of it all is that discrimination cannot be found in the Internet space as people cannot be seen physically. Businesses also rely on the Internet as a medium of promotion, marketing and advertising to gain publicity and fame to their companies. People can form partnerships or businesses without having the necessity of meeting each other face to face. Just like Bill Schrander once said, â€Å"Almost overnight, the Internets gone from a technical wonder to a business must.† I definitely agree with this statement as it is now apparent that physical distance becomes irrelevant with just with a click of a mouse button. Partners can hold conferences with the use of social programs that connects people worldwide. Advertising and marketing are also made easy through the use of the Internet, playing a big role in businesses today. This proves the immeasurable convenience the Internet has given us. Things that was impossible in the past, has been made possible with the invention of Internet. The improvement in the world’s communication is significant, contributing to the reason why it is the best invention in history. It has indeed made the world’s society hold a deeper connection between one other as cultures and lifestyles are being communicated vice versa creating a mutual understanding around the world. Internet has greatly played a role in the research department as the Internet is where countless of data and information is shared all over the world. A famous professor of mathematical literacy once said â€Å"The Internet is the world’s largest library. It’s just that a ll the books are on the floor.† This quote explains it clearly and precisely what the quote stated, the internet stores all the information. This information can easily be found in one floor. This quote is actually comparing the present to the past, when everybody had to gain knowledge and obtain information by reading and gathering books from in the library. It is inconvenient and definitely not like the internet, where any information can be found easily. The Internet has truly changed our world making it more convenient in general, unlike the past. We do not need to waste time searching for countless of books just to obtain information needed. In addition, the Internet brings the world one step ahead in education as students can attain knowledge with the click of a button. Internet has also become a universal storage system, because a human mind cannot withstand the information of the world throughout time. With this, information can be stored and shared to everybody in the world. The improvement of research is important because as time passes, humans will always strive to gain a better understanding of the universe and review all the past data which is stored in the Internet. When more knowledge is gained, we can apply, create and innovate the world to become a better place to live in. This is why the internet is of great importance, as the accumulated information will prove helpful for generations to come. The final reason why Internet is the best invention of all history is that internet does not only improve the world necessities in the means of convenience, communication and research. Internet also satisfies human pleasure. With the many programs, websites and applications, the Internet contributes to the expansion of entertainment. The definition of entertainment is an activity designed to give pleasure and relaxation to an audience. This is what internet is providing to us. Entertainment is a form of pleasure but is also important for human because they cannot handle continuous labor whether mentally or physically. With the invention of Internet, human pleasure is met. The Internet has a connection with the world and this is where people share their music and talents through the internet. Websites such as YouTube is a great example. Internet also allows free access to music, video and books. So the society does not need to be entertained by going out and using money. Instead, people can just go on the computer and get entertained through many websites. Entertainment as a whole help reliefs the stress and worries of many people. This is why I believe internet is the best invention in all history of human civilization and enterprise. In Conclusion, Internet is every combination of any other invention like phone or television. With internet, almost everything can be done through the power of the world wide connection. This shows how significant of value this invention is as it simplified all our means in communication, research and entertainment in our lives. The different programs have advance and improve our communication. The Internet’s ability to store unlimited information have brought the world one step ahead for convenient research and education. This is why I strongly believe Internet is the most important invention of all time in the history of human civilization and enterprise. Works Cited 5, December. History of the Internet. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet. Internet History Invention of the Internet. The Great Idea Finder Celebrating the Spirit of Innovation. Web. 02 May 2011. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/internet.htm. Internet Is The Greatest Invention In The World Till Now! Voice Of Dingchao. Web. 02 May 2011. http://www.handingchao.com/internet-is-the-greatest-invention-in-the-world-till-now/. Internet Quotes. Find the Famous Quotes You Need, ThinkExist.com Quotations. Web. 02 May 2011. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/internet/. Internet Quotes, Sayings about the World Wide Web. The Quote Garden Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. Web. 02 May 2011. http://www.quotegarden.com/internet.html. John Allen Paulos. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 May 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Paulos. Life of Marsa. Web. 02 May 2011. http://lifeofmarsa.blogspot.com/.

The Road To Cashless Economy Using Technology Finance Essay

The Road To Cashless Economy Using Technology Finance Essay Technology advances almost everyday and affects almost every part of our lives and in every industry. The latest advancement, or idea, is a cashless economy. This would eliminate the need for cash in our economic system. Are Americans ready for this? Can this really work? Americans will definitely need a lot of information before adjusting to this change. The younger generation seems all for it, and is already mostly using debit and credit cards. With so much fraud and counterfeit, could checks and cash soon be a thing of the past? What is a Cashless Economy? A cashless economy is a system where payments are made by electronic means rather then using cash or check to pay for goods or services. In an economy that is cashless, a person would pay with plastic methods like credit cards, debit cards or smart cards. This type of transaction electronically moves money from one account to another rather then using the traditional forms of exchanging printed currency or checks. In the time period of 1999 to 2005, the amount of card-swiping terminals tripled to the number of 6.9 million. (Samuelson, June 2007) This figure compares to the fact that 9.1 billion bills are printed each year in the United States, but 95% of that is to replace old and worn out bills and not to expand the supply of paper currency in circulation. In 1996, checks and cash were the payment method for 80% of transactions in the United States and that figure is now reduced to half. (Samuelson, June 2007). It is predicted that in 2010, cashless options will be used for 70% of transactions. For some situations, cash is no longer an option. American Airlines will no longer take cash for payment in flight for drinks and snacks offered. (Associated, May 2009) Other businesses will not accept checks as a form of payment and will only accept cash or electronic options. These facilities include major chains like Subway, McDonalds and Burger King. The largest retailers, Target and Wal-mart, will accept a check, but it is processed electronically rather then the paper deposits and paper trails of yesterday. Woodfords Model of Cashless Economy There has been much debate over Woodfords model of a cashless economy by many experts in the field of economics. Most experts believe that although some of the ideas brought forth make sense, the model is still incomplete because in real world economics, central banks can affect nominal interest rates. In Woodfords model, he assumes that this does not relate to the real world economy. Woodfords argument is that banks have committed themselves to straightforward objectives to control inflation but price stability creates a basis for economic performance. The basic questions brought about by Woodfords theory are: Should central banks control interest rates? As of now, banks follow a rules-based approach through interest rate targeting which is the preferred policy option. The most relative concepts of Woodfords model are: a pure credit economy, natural rate of interest, cumulative process and rules for monetary policy. In Woodfords model, markets are perfectly competitive, prices adjust continuously to clear markets, and there exist markets in which state-contingent securities of any kind may be traded. In this case, no one would have to hold money and all payments could be handled by transfers or other assets. Basically, all base money would be held in and transferred between bank accounts. In Woodfords cashless economy, he analyzes the need for money to hold according to household demands by holding stocks of assets by which the bank can still profit by generating flows of credit. In this setting, there would need to be perfect competition and complete financial markets making nominal assets that substitute for money. According to the rules of this system, the bank would become the price-taker, not the price-maker. Unfortunately, there is no such th ing as a perfect or complete market, so Woodford allows for central banks the power to vary their price, however, in this scenario it takes away from the purpose of the model in that it is no longer free of monetary friction. Woodfords model of a cashless economy is a concept that may not have an opportunity to be implemented by the central bank system because shortcomings may halt the process of converting to a pure credit economy. Woodford will admit that his model does have its own set of problems. The only way his price setting theory could work is if the environment is in low inflation; it is impossible for the system to work if inflation is accelerating. Experts seem to differ in opinion about a conversion like Woodfords and are not sure if the issues associated are more semantics but the general consensus is that while the model is a step towards a cashless economy; there are many wholes in the system as well. Pros and Cons of a Cashless Economy It almost seemed impossible 20 years ago that the currency that we use for our everyday activities and purchases would be replaced by electronic funds creating a cashless economy. Credit cards use to be the new thing on the market in the 80s but as times have advanced and Americans have embraced the idea, its a thing of the past and part of our economic growth system. The big idea behind the credit cards and direct deposit was to keep money out of the peoples hand and into the banks. Even though cash transitions are not in decline, cashless purchases are steadily increasing and surpassing cash purchases made. It seems to have accomplished its goal because at least one American or household has at least one credit card, if not more. Furthermore, smart cards are squeezing their way into the economy as well. But, with any shift of change especially affecting the economy, there is always a negative and positive side to things. There are many positive ideas about moving toward a cashless economy. The first idea is that in a world without cash, payment is made by using electronic means merely to change the numbers on peoples bank statements. Banks prefer this because its a less expensive way to shift value between people. In many circumstances, handling cash can be troublesome, risky and inconvenient. Surprisingly, we have no figures for the number and value of cash transactions, though we have excellent data for non-cash transactions. (Sydney, 2004) Another positive aspect is that when we talk about employers being paid, electronic funds always seem to be the better way and fastest to get paid. Employees are opting to get there paycheck direct deposited in their bank account rather than receiving the traditional paper check which is almost extinct. According to a survey conducted by the Australian Retailers Association in 2001, cash accounts for only about 40% of the value of all payments received by the su rveyed retailers. (Sydney, 2004) Smart cards on the other hand, are convenient for consumers. Checks are still the most popular way people pay their bills but now there are faster and more convenient ways to do it with the internet, smart cards and over the phone. They would eventually replace all other existing cards such as: credit cards, ATM cards, debit cards etc. Another benefit would be the fact that smart cards remember every transition that was made eliminating the need to save receipts for proof of payment. Third, smart cards would mean less cash handling for merchants. Currently it costs businesses and banks about $60 billion each year to handle cash and coin. Consider that cash gets counted at least five times between you, the merchant, and the bank. (Manchester, 1997) Fourth, it would mean less fraud for banks. Smart cards would virtually eliminate the need for banks to set aside money to cover fraud loss. Fifth, it eases the burden of the government. Collecting taxes fr om citizens could become much easier if taxes were collected from the cards. Even though smart cards seem to be the best thing that will hit the economic market, it has disadvantages to the consumer, and merchant. To begin with being that everything will be transferred to the card there is a need to know what is going on behind the scenes. In other words, when we handle cash or pay for purchases with cash we know exactly how much we paid and how much we have left. But, with the smart card, a transaction is non personal and with that comes usage fees. Another area of concern is the idea of consumer privacy. What information is actually kept private and the information that is being stored, what is it being used for? If your smart card is not properly programmed and secured, a merchant could access your health records, driving record or any other information on the card. (Manchester, 1997) Furthermore, will consumers accept the new card or reject them? Will the smart card require an upfront fee to purchase and fees thereafter? Plus, will the card be accepted an ywhere? Just like credit cards and ATMs there will always be malfunction problems and transaction problems that will need to be addressed. And when we talk about purchases and buying things online from merchants, we have to keep in mind that the merchants will have to update their machines to accept the cards and may have to pay a fee for the convenience of using them as well. So while we count up the advantages and disadvantages of the card the consumer, merchants, banks and government need to consider all of the components the smart card has to offer. America seems to be shifting into a microwave market meaning that they want it right now and dont want to wait. Even the childhood game, Monopoly has gone cashless. Sometimes cashless isnt the best thing, following the old sayings that if its not broken dont fix it. Will the smart card be the ultimate downfall or turning point of the economy? The years to come will only tell, but cash is still here to stay for a while. Electronic Methods of Payment One method of electronic payments is the debit card. A debit card is a bank issued plastic card that is directly linked to a bank account. When you use a debit card, money is deducted from your bank account right away. (Ellis, 2009) This card is beneficial because it allows the user to pay immediately and not pay any interest amount on the purchase because they are using money that is available immediately. Benefits of a debit card include the fact the user pays no interest and its convenience. Negative things about a debit card could be the high bank fees at some institutions and the possible increase of being vulnerable to identity theft of a card linked directly to a bank account. Another method of electronic payment is the credit card. Credit cards can be issued by banks, other financial institutions, retailers and oil companies. There are two different kinds of credit cards and those are credit cards and charge cards. Credit cards allow a line of credit and the user to pay a minimum amount each month and charge cards require the user to pay the full amount charged each month. (Columbia, 2006) Benefits of a credit card include the ability to pay immediately and the convenience. The negative effects would be the often times high interest charged for using the credit card. A third method of electronic payment is the smart card. A smart card is a plastic card the size of a credit card that has a microchip loaded with data. (Security, 2009) A smart card can be loaded for many different applications including dialing a connection to a mobile phone, establishing identity, using at parking meters, giving data at hospitals to avoid filling out forms, or purchase online at electronic stores. Smart cards are currently being used primarily in Europe but are expected to become a larger use of electronic payment as technology continues to advance. Summary A cashless economy seems to have many advantages and disadvantages. It creates less risk for the financial institutions, as well as saving them money. The smartcards save time for the consumer and the financials. The debit and credit cards offer many advantages for financial institutions and consumers as well. As research continues and different methods are explored, time will tell if cashless is the best way to go.

Richard II: His Dramatic Downfall Essay -- Literary Analysis, Shakespe

Shakespeare’s plays were grouped into three categories: comedies, tragedies and histories. The histories were those plays based on the lives of English kings. Shakespeare was one of the first writers to write about English history. According to Garber, â€Å"before Shakespeare’s time there were few history plays such written in England--- England history was told in verse and prose chronicles (239)†. It’s considered that Richard II is one of the early â€Å"historical plays†. The play became so iconic that even Queen Elizabeth said that she was â€Å"Richard the second, know ye not that†. Richard II tells the story about a king’s downfall. Richard II is not your average king. He is useless with his power and does not know how to use it. He is the king of England when the play begins but shortly after his kingship is taken away from him. Richard II is a young man who has not matured much since his adolescence. He is disconnected from his land and its people, which becomes one of the downfalls of his crown. He has an extraordinary flair for poetic language. He is witty and poetic personality doesn’t work with his higher calling in life. A king should be strong and fearless. King Richard II is not a man of action and as the play advances, he gets into more and more trouble. As his end approaches, he becomes very poetic. Like most Shakespearean heroes, Richard II has a strong theatrical personality. He likes putting on a show and enjoys a bit of wordplay, even at his own expense. What sets him apart from other Shakespearean characters is the perverse joy he takes in his downfall. There are many tragic events that lead to Richard’s downfall and consequently lost of his crown. The most important one was that he basically didn’t ... ...n moral and royal principles. By the end of this play, it’s clear that Richard has completely questioned the concept of divine right and when he has to shed his crown and turn over England to his enemy, he dramatically states â€Å"Throw away respect, Tradition, form, and ceremonious duty; For you have but mistook me all this while. I live with bread like you, feel want, Taste grief, need friends. (3.3.172-76). Just because Richard as a divine right to be the King doesn’t mean that he is the right choice to accomplished the requirement of what it takes to be a great king. Richard was lacking on the will power of a leader. His downfall was his fault in the sense that he couldn’t concentrate to see what he was doing to his region as a ruler. He failed as a leader but at the same time he gain sometime much better than a crown, Richard gain the understanding of who he is.

The Never Ending Israel-Palestine Peace Talks Essay -- International C

The news of people dying and suffering, killings of women and children, and bombings by terrorists and militaries, has undoubtedly grabbed the world’s attention towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. While Palestinian children scream for their dead parents, the world’s leaders and academics initiated a frantic debate, trying hard to point out the real cause and viable solutions for the current situation. This has led to many peace initiatives by the international community that were unfortunately a devastating failure. This deadlock had left leaders and supporters of both sides blaming each other for their stubbornness, in some cases elevating the unrest in Israel and Palestine (Reynolds). In this difficult condition, it is hard for us to determine what actually caused the failure of the peace talks without being biased towards one side. Therefore, my goal in this essay is to examine the cause of the peace talks’ failure objectively by observing the history of pa st peace talks, the reasons for disagreement that are given by Palestine and Israel and the key issues discussed in peace talks. Finally, I will conclude my research by developing my stand on the causes based on the research I have conducted. Before we move on to discussing the cause of peace talks’ failures, it is crucial that we understand the peace initiatives that had occurred between Israel and Palestine. The starting point for the peace talks was UN’s Security Council Resolution 1967 which occurred after the 1967 war (Reynolds). This resolution stressed on â€Å"withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict† and â€Å". . . respect for and acknowledgment . . . of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and re... ...tinue the Peace Process?: No, It's Heading for Disaster." Middle East Quarterly September 1995: 23-28. Reynolds, Paul. History of Mid-East peace talks. 27 August 2010. 1 April 2012 . Saad, Lynda and Steve Crabtree. Opinion Briefing: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. 30 March 2012. 2 April 2012 . Sabbagh, Karl. Palestine History of a Lost Nation. New Yourk: Grove Press, 2006. The Telegraph. "Middle East peace talks: key issues between Israel and Palestinians." The Telegraph 14 September 2010. Tibi, Ahmad. Pressing Netanyahu is the key to success in Mideast peace talks. 3 September 2010. 1 April 2012 . United Nations Security Council. Resolution 242 (1967). Official Record. New York: United Nations, 1967. —. Resolution 252 (1968). Official Record. New York: United Nations, 1968. The Never Ending Israel-Palestine Peace Talks Essay -- International C The news of people dying and suffering, killings of women and children, and bombings by terrorists and militaries, has undoubtedly grabbed the world’s attention towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. While Palestinian children scream for their dead parents, the world’s leaders and academics initiated a frantic debate, trying hard to point out the real cause and viable solutions for the current situation. This has led to many peace initiatives by the international community that were unfortunately a devastating failure. This deadlock had left leaders and supporters of both sides blaming each other for their stubbornness, in some cases elevating the unrest in Israel and Palestine (Reynolds). In this difficult condition, it is hard for us to determine what actually caused the failure of the peace talks without being biased towards one side. Therefore, my goal in this essay is to examine the cause of the peace talks’ failure objectively by observing the history of pa st peace talks, the reasons for disagreement that are given by Palestine and Israel and the key issues discussed in peace talks. Finally, I will conclude my research by developing my stand on the causes based on the research I have conducted. Before we move on to discussing the cause of peace talks’ failures, it is crucial that we understand the peace initiatives that had occurred between Israel and Palestine. The starting point for the peace talks was UN’s Security Council Resolution 1967 which occurred after the 1967 war (Reynolds). This resolution stressed on â€Å"withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict† and â€Å". . . respect for and acknowledgment . . . of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and re... ...tinue the Peace Process?: No, It's Heading for Disaster." Middle East Quarterly September 1995: 23-28. Reynolds, Paul. History of Mid-East peace talks. 27 August 2010. 1 April 2012 . Saad, Lynda and Steve Crabtree. Opinion Briefing: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. 30 March 2012. 2 April 2012 . Sabbagh, Karl. Palestine History of a Lost Nation. New Yourk: Grove Press, 2006. The Telegraph. "Middle East peace talks: key issues between Israel and Palestinians." The Telegraph 14 September 2010. Tibi, Ahmad. Pressing Netanyahu is the key to success in Mideast peace talks. 3 September 2010. 1 April 2012 . United Nations Security Council. Resolution 242 (1967). Official Record. New York: United Nations, 1967. —. Resolution 252 (1968). Official Record. New York: United Nations, 1968.

The Bully

Billy Wheeler seemed to be a very removed pupil. To his teachers and fellow pupils he seemed withdrawn. He had few friends, with the exception of Richard Head, who himself was seemingly secluded from other pupils. But not in the extreme, like Billy. Richard had some other friends including two twins, Ben and Ilene D' Oveur. Billy was often problematic towards his teachers as he was always in trouble. Whenever any incident arose, Billy was either at the scene of the trouble or it was just assumed that he was the cause of it. Due to his unacceptable behaviour and the lies he told in excuse, teachers for a long period of time concluded that Billy was a handful. They often believed the reason of this to be problems at home. It wasn't until a series of unexplainable events occurred in which Billy was involved but could not be blamed for and similarly neither could any of the other pupils, that everybody began to question this belief. The day everybody began to question all his or her explanations for Billy's behaviour began fairly normally, as the bell for first registration rang. As normal everyone rushed in from outside, knocking Billy to the floor as they went. This was a regular occurrence at St Birtrude's Academy, so as normal Billy just stood up and began limping towards his form room. When Billy arrived he slumped down into his normal seat at the front of the class and prepared himself for a long and ordinary day of endless insults. Registration seemed to drag on and Mrs Banks, his form mistress' voice droned on infinitely in the background. Finally after what seemed like hours the bell for first lesson rang. Mrs Banks kept Billy behind because he seemed troubled and when he finally entered the corridor it was deserted. As he walked to his next class he felt a sharp shove. â€Å"Thud† a door slammed behind poor Billy Wheeler followed by the turning of a key in the lock. He turned to realise he had been locked in a dark cupboard some where near the year seven classrooms. Billy reached his hand up his back to rub two sore areas that the rough shove had inflicted. After soothing this pained area he began to shout and thump on the door at which time he came to notice what sounded like a held back chuckle. Billy began to thump and shout louder with no effect. After about one minute of what seemed to Billy as pointless actions, he stopped and found an old rusty bucket to sit on. After about twenty minutes or what seemed to Billy as an hour, he heard footsteps walking past the locked broom cupboard and he started to thud on the locked door. The footsteps stopped and began to get louder as if approaching the locked door. Billy heard the turn of a key and the door was yanked open. There stood young Miss Gladwell, the Deputy Head, looking displeased. â€Å"What happened here Billy?† she solicited. â€Å"Some one pushed me in and locked the door.† â€Å"That's impossible only teachers and cleaners have a key to in here, and I doubt very much one of them locked you in!† â€Å"I swear,† protested Billy, â€Å"Well that's rather odd!† exclaimed Miss Gladwell. As she had no explanation as to why Billy had come to be in the cupboard, she could not continue any further and had no choice but to let Billy go, as the bell for break-time sounded. This event troubled Miss Gladwell and she decided to consult the other teachers on this matter. However she received few suggestions because all the teachers never received an image of Billy being bullied. She decided that she should further consult with Billy to see who else was involved. Meanwhile after the event Billy went to his only friend, Richard for advice. â€Å"I don't know what to do, who could it be, I didn't even see them!† Billy gasped, as he quickly explained what had happened and all his fears in one breath. Richard looked puzzled as he tried to understand his distressed friend. â€Å"Did you see anything at all?† he questioned, â€Å"No but he seemed too strong for a child!† â€Å"Then who could it be?† Billy, who now was sitting down, went into deep thought. As he was doing so a voice from behind startled him, â€Å"It could be one of the older kids,† suggested Ben, this was closely followed by â€Å"No they would've been at lessons† argued Ilene as the twins appeared from behind a bush. â€Å"Then who could it be!† shouted Billy as he grew increasingly frustrated. â€Å"I bet it was one of the teachers,† said Ben, â€Å"Or even the Head Master† joked Ilene, as everyone began to chuckle. Suddenly everyone but Billy stopped laughing â€Å"The Head that could be it† he said in mid-laugh. Then he stopped as he came to realise the Head Master was towering behind him. â€Å"I would like to see you in my office Mr Wheeler, NOW!† Billy stood in the large, dark, burgundy space, which was more commonly known as Mr Ashton's, the Head Master, office. â€Å"I hear you've finally figured out who's behind your torment Billy.† â€Å"Not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Billy suddenly froze as he realised the truth, he tried to back away but found he could not move. â€Å"You mean†¦. You†¦