Chapter 15 The Quidditch Final

â€Å"He sent me this,† Hermione said, holding out the letter. Harry took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read. Dear Hermione, We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed. Beaky has enjoyed London. I won't forget all the help you gave us. Hagrid â€Å"They can't do this,† said Harry. â€Å"They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous.† â€Å"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it,† said Hermione, wiping her eyes. â€Å"You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope†¦Nothing will have changed.† â€Å"Yeah, it will,† said Ron fiercely. â€Å"You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help.† â€Å"Oh, Ron!† Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away. â€Å"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she sobbed. â€Å"Oh — well — he was old,† said Ron, looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go of him. â€Å"And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now.† The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons. He seemed numb with shock at the verdict. â€Å"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"There's still the appeal!† said Ron fiercely. â€Å"Don't give up yet, we're working on it!† They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively. â€Å"S'no good, Ron,† said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. â€Å"That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that†¦.† Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief. â€Å"Look at him blubber!† Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening. â€Å"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?† said Malfoy. â€Å"And he's supposed to be our teacher!† Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first — SMACK! She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. â€Å"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul — you evil –â€Å" â€Å"Hermione!† said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back. â€Å"Get off, Ron!† Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. â€Å"C'mon.† Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons. â€Å"Hermione!† Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed. â€Å"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!† Hermione said shrilly. â€Å"You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!† â€Å"We're due in Charms,† said Ron, still goggling at Hermione. â€Å"We'd better go.† They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom. â€Å"You're late, boys!† said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harry opened the classroom door. â€Å"Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today, we've already divided into pairs –â€Å" Harry and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags. Ron looked behind him. â€Å"Where's Hermione gone?† Harry looked around too. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, yet Harry knew she had been right next to him when he had opened the door. â€Å"That's weird,† said Harry, staring at Ron. â€Å"Maybe — maybe she went to the bathroom or something?† But Hermione didn't turn up all lesson. â€Å"She could've done with a Cheering Charm on her too,† said Ron as the class left for lunch, all grinning broadly — the Cheering Charms had left them with a feeling of great contentment. Hermione wasn't at lunch either. By the time they had finished their apple pie, the after-effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off, and Harry and Ron had started to get slightly worried. â€Å"You don't think Malfoy did something to her?† Ron said anxiously as they hurried upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password (â€Å"Flibbertigibbet†), and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room. Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. They went to sit down on either side of her. Harry prodded her awake. â€Å"Wh — what?† said Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. â€Å"Is it time to go? W — which lesson have we got now?† â€Å"Divination, but it's not for another twenty minutes,† said Harry. â€Å"Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?† â€Å"What? Oh no!† Hermione squeaked. â€Å"I forgot to go to Charms!† â€Å"But how could you forget?† said Harry. â€Å"You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!† â€Å"I don't believe it!† Hermione wailed. â€Å"Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things!† â€Å"You know what, Hermione?† said Ron, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. â€Å"I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much.† â€Å"No, I'm not!† said Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. â€Å"I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry †¦ I'll see you in Divination!† Hermione joined them at the foot of the ladder to Professor Trelawney's classroom twenty minutes later, looking extremely harassed. â€Å"I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come up in our exams; Professor Flitwick hinted they might!† Together they climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling tower room. Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down together at the same rickety table. â€Å"I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term,† Ron muttered, casting a wary eye around for Professor Trelawney, in case she was lurking nearby. â€Å"Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry,† Harry muttered back. â€Å"I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands.† â€Å"Good day to you!† said the familiar, misty voice, and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows. Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky glow of their crystal ball. â€Å"I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned,† said Professor Trelawney, sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. â€Å"The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice.† Hermione snorted. â€Å"Well, honestly†¦'the fates have informed her'. Who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!† she said, not troubling to keep her voice low. Harry and Ron choked back laughs. It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face was hidden in shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not. â€Å"Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art,† she said dreamily. â€Å"I do not expect any of you to See when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes –† Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise — â€Å"so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end of the class.† And so they began. Harry, at least, felt extremely foolish, staring blankly at the crystal ball, trying to keep his mind empty when thoughts such as â€Å"this is stupid† kept drifting across it. It didn't help that Ron kept breaking into silent giggles and Hermione kept tutting. â€Å"Seen anything yet?† Harry asked them after a quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing. â€Å"Yeah, there's a burn on this table,† said Ron, pointing. â€Å"Someone's spilled their candle.† â€Å"This is such a waste of time,† Hermione hissed. â€Å"I could be practicing something useful. I could be catching up on Cheering Charms –â€Å" Professor Trelawney rustled past. â€Å"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?† she murmured over the clinking of her bangles. â€Å"I don't need help,† Ron whispered. â€Å"It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight.† Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing. â€Å"Now, really!† said Professor Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized. â€Å"You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!† She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball. Harry felt his heart sinking. He was sure he knew what was coming — â€Å"There is something here!† Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. â€Å"Something moving†¦ but what is it?† Harry was prepared to bet everything he owned, Including his Firebolt, that it wasn't good news, whatever it was. And sure enough — â€Å"My dear,† Professor Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Harry. â€Å"It is here, plainer than ever before†¦ my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer†¦ the Gr –â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for goodness' sake!† said Hermione loudly. â€Å"Not that ridiculous Grim again!† Professor Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger. â€Å"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane.† There was a moment's silence. Then — â€Å"Fine!† said Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her bag. â€Å"Fine!† she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. â€Å"I give up! I'm leaving!† And to the whole class's amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight. It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Professor Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim. She turned abruptly from Harry and Ron's table, breathing rather heavily as she tugged her gauzy shawl more closely to her. â€Å"Ooooo!† said Lavender suddenly, making everyone start. â€Å"Ooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? ‘Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!† Professor Trelawney gave her a dewy smile. â€Å"Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs†¦The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lavender and Parvati looked deeply impressed, and moved over so that Professor Trelawney could join their table instead. â€Å"Some day Hermione's having, eh?† Ron muttered to Harry, looking awed. â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry glanced into the crystal ball but saw nothing but swirling white mist. Had Professor Trelawney really seen the Grim again? Would he? The last thing he needed was another near-fatal accident, with the Quidditch final drawing ever nearer. The Easter holidays were not exactly relaxing. The third years had never had so much homework. Neville Longbottom seemed close to a nervous collapse, and he wasn't the only one. â€Å"Call this a holiday!† Seamus Finnigan roared at the common room one afternoon. â€Å"The exams are ages away, what're they playing at?† But nobody had as much to do as Hermione. Even without Divination, she was taking more subjects than anybody else. She was usually last to leave the common room at night, first to arrive at the library the next morning; she had shadows like Lupin's under her eyes, and seemed constantly close to tears. Ron had taken over responsibility for Buckbeak's appeal. When he wasn't doing his own work, he was poring over enormously thick volumes with names like The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology and Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality. He was so absorbed, he even forgot to be horrible to Crookshanks. Harry, meanwhile, had to fit in his homework around Quidditch practice every day, not to mention endless discussions of tactics with Wood. The Gryffindor-Slytherin match would take place on the first Saturday after the Easter holidays. Slytherin was leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. This meant (as Wood constantly reminded his team) that they needed to win the match by more than that amount to win the Cup. It also meant that the burden of winning fell largely on Harry, because capturing the Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points. â€Å"So you must catch it only if we're more than fifty points up,† Wood told Harry constantly. â€Å"Only if we're more than fifty points up, Harry, or we win the match but lose the Cup. You've got that, Haven't you? You must catch the Snitch only if we're –â€Å" â€Å"I KNOW, OLIVER!† Harry yelled. The whole of Gryffindor House was obsessed with the coming match. Gryffindor hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since the legendary Charlie Weasley (Ron's second oldest brother) had been Seeker. But Harry doubted whether any of them, even Wood, wanted to win as much as he did. The enmity between Harry and Malfoy was at its highest point ever. Malfoy was still smarting about the mud-throwing incident in Hogsmeade and was even more furious that Harry had somehow wormed his way out of punishment. Harry hadn't forgotten Malfoy's attempt to sabotage him in the match against Ravenclaw, but it was the matter of Buckbeak that made him most determined to beat Malfoy in front of the entire school. Never, in anyone's memory, had a match approached in such a highly charged atmosphere. By the time the holidays were over, tension between the two teams and their Houses was at the breaking point. A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears. Harry was having a particularly bad time of it. He couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever he went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded by people. Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere he went, in case the Slytherins tried to put him out of action. The whole of Gryffindor House took up the challenge enthusiastically, so that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering crowd. Harry was more concerned for his Firebolt's safety than his own. When he wasn't flying it, he locked it securely in his trunk and frequently dashed back up to Gryffindor Tower at break times to check that it was still there. All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common room the night before the match. Even Hermione had put down her books. â€Å"I can't work, I can't concentrate,† she said nervously. There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George Weasley were dealing with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant than ever. Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch field in the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wand and muttering to himself Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were laughing at Fred's and George's jokes. Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione, removed from the center of things, trying not to think about the next day, because every time he did, he had the horrible sensation that something very large was fighting to get out of his stomach. â€Å"You're going to be fine,† Hermione told him, though she looked positively terrified. â€Å"You've got a Firebolt!† said Ron. â€Å"Yeah †¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Harry, his stomach writhing. It came as a relief when Wood suddenly stood up and yelled, â€Å"Team! Bed!† Harry slept badly. First he dreamed that he had overslept, and that Wood was yelling, â€Å"Where were you? We had to use Neville instead!† Then he dreamed that Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherin team arrived for the match riding dragons. He was flying at breakneck speed, trying to avoid a spurt of flames from Malfoy's steed's mouth, when he realized he had forgotten his Firebolt. He fell through the air and woke with a start. It was a few seconds before Harry remembered that the match hadn't taken place yet, that he was safe in bed, and that the Slytherin team definitely wouldn't be allowed to play on dragons. He was feeling very thirsty. Quietly as he could, he got out of his four-poster and went to pour himself some water from the silver jug beneath the window. The grounds were still and quiet. No breath of wind disturbed the treetops in the Forbidden Forest; the Whomping Willow was motionless and innocent-looking. It looked as though the conditions for the match would be perfect. Harry set down his goblet and was about to turn back to his bed when something caught his eye. An animal of some kind was prowling across the silvery lawn. Harry dashed to his bedside table, snatched up his glasses, and put them on, then hurried back to the window. It couldn't be the Grim — not now — not right before the match — He peered out at the grounds again and, after a minute's frantic searching, spotted it. It was skirting the edge of the forest now†¦It wasn't the Grim at all †¦ it was a cat †¦ Harry clutched the window ledge in relief as he recognized the bottlebrush tail. It was only Crookshanks†¦ Or was it only Crookshanks? Harry squinted, pressing his nose flat against the glass. Crookshanks seemed to have come to a halt. Harry was sure he could see something else moving in the shadow of the trees too. And just then, it emerged — a gigantic, shaggy black dog, moving stealthily across the lawn, Crookshanks trotting at its side. Harry stared. What did this mean? If Crookshanks could see the dog as well, how could it be an omen of Harry's death? â€Å"Ron!† Harry hissed. â€Å"Ron! Wake up!† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"I need you to tell me if you can see something!† â€Å"S'all dark, Harry,† Ron muttered thickly. â€Å"What're you on about?† â€Å"Down here –â€Å" Harry looked quickly back out of the window. Crookshanks and the dog had vanished. Harry climbed onto the windowsill to look right down into the shadows of the castle, but they weren't there. Where had they gone? A loud snore told him Ron had fallen asleep again. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall the next day to enormous applause. Harry couldn't help grinning broadly as he saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were applauding them too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as they passed. Harry noticed that Malfoy looked even paler than usual. Wood spent the whole of breakfast urging his team to eat, while touching nothing himself. Then he hurried them off to the field before anyone else had finished, so they could get an idea of the conditions. As they left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again. â€Å"Good luck, Harry!† called Cho. Harry felt himself blushing. â€Å"Okay — no wind to speak of — sun's a bit bright, that could impair your vision, watch out for it — ground's fairly hard, good, that'll give us a fast kickoff –â€Å" Wood paced the field, staring around with the team behind him. Finally, they saw the front doors of the castle open in the distance and the rest of the school spilling onto the lawn. â€Å"Locker rooms,† said Wood tersely. None of them spoke as they changed into their scarlet robes. Harry wondered if they were feeling like he was: as though he'd eaten something extremely wriggly for breakfast. In what seemed like no time at all, Wood was saying, â€Å"Okay, it's time, let's go –â€Å" They walked out onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. Three quarters of the crowd was wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them, or brandishing banners with slogans like â€Å"GO GRYFFINDOR!† and â€Å"LIONS FOR THE CUP† Behind the Slytherin goal posts, however, two hundred people were wearing green; the silver serpent of Slytherin glittered on their flags, and Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else, and a very grim smile. â€Å"And here are the Gryffindors!† yelled Lee Jordan, who was acting as commentator as usual. â€Å"Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years –â€Å" Lee's comments were drowned by a tide of ‘boos' from the Slytherin end. â€Å"And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill –â€Å" More boos from the Slytherin crowd. Harry, however, thought Lee had a point. Malfoy was easily the smallest person On the Slytherin team; the rest of them were enormous. â€Å"Captains, shake hands!† said Madam Hooch. Flint and Wood approached each other and grasped each other's hand very tightly; it looked as though each was trying to break the other's fingers. â€Å"Mount your brooms!† said Madam Hooch. â€Å"Three†¦two†¦one†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The sound of her whistle was lost in the roar from the crowd as fourteen brooms rose into the air. Harry felt his hair fly back off his forehead; his nerves left him in the thrill of the flight; he glanced around, saw Malfoy on his tail, and sped off in search of the Snitch. â€Å"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinner of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good, Alicia! Argh, no — Quaffle intercepted by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing UP the field — WHAM! — nice Bludger work there by George Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by — Johnson, Gryffindor back in possession, come on, Angelina — nice swerve around Montague — duck, Angelina, that's a Bludger!?C SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!† Angelina punched the air as she soared around the end of the field; the sea of scarlet below was screaming its delight â€Å"OUCH!† Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint went smashing into her. â€Å"Sorry!† said Flint as the crowd below booed. â€Å"Sorry, didn't see her!† A moment later, Fred Weasley chucked his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed. â€Å"That will do!† shrieked Madam Hooch, zooming between then. â€Å"Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!† â€Å"Come off it, Miss!† howled Fred, but Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Alicia flew forward to take the penalty. â€Å"Come on, Alicia!† yelled Lee into the silence that had descended on the crowd. â€Å"YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!† Harry turned the Firebolt sharply to watch Flint, still bleeding freely, fly forward to take the Slytherin penalty. Wood was hovering in front of the Gryffindor goal posts, his jaw clenched. â€Å"‘Course, Wood's a superb Keeper!† Lee Jordan told the crowd as Flint waited for Madam Hooch's whistle. â€Å"Superb! Very difficult to pass — very difficult indeed — YES! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! HE'S SAVED IT!† Relieved, Harry zoomed away, gazing around for the Snitch, but still making sure he caught every word of Lee's commentary. It was essential that he hold Malfoy off the Snitch until Gryffindor was more than fifty points up — â€Å"Gryffindor in possession, no, Slytherin in possession — no! Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's streaking up the field — THAT WAS DELIBERATE!† Montague, a Slytherin Chaser, had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cart-wheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle. Madam Hooch's whistle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past the Slytherin Seeker. â€Å"THIRTY-ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING –â€Å" â€Å"Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way –â€Å" â€Å"I'm telling it like it is, Professor!† Harry felt a huge jolt of excitement. He had seen the Snitch — it was shimmering at the foot of one of the Gryffindor goal posts — but he mustn't catch it yet — and if Malfoy saw it — Faking a look of sudden concentration, Harry pulled his Firebolt around and sped off toward the Slytherin end — it worked. Malfoy went haring after him, clearly thinking Harry had seen the Snitch there†¦ WHOOSH. One of the Bludgers came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick. Then again†¦ WHOOSH. The second Bludger grazed Harry's elbow. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in. Harry had a fleeting glimpse of Bole and Derrick zooming toward him, clubs raised — He turned the Firebolt upward at the last second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch. â€Å"Ha haaa!† yelled Lee Jordan as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each other, clutching their heads. â€Å"Too bad, boys! You'll need to get up earlier than that to beat a Firebolt! And it's Gryffindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle — Flint alongside her — poke him in the eye, Angelina! — it was a joke, Professor, it was a joke — oh no — Flint in possession, Flint flying toward the Gryffindor goal posts, come on now, Wood, save –!† But Flint had scored; there was an eruption of cheers from the Slytherin end, and Lee swore so badly that Professor McGonagall tried to tug the magical megaphone away from him. â€Å"Sorry, Professor, sorry! Won't happen again! So, Gryffindor in the lead, thirty points to ten, and Gryffindor in possession –â€Å" It was turning into the dirtiest game Harry had ever played in. Enraged that Gryffindor had taken such an early lead, the Slytherins were rapidly resorting to any means to take the Quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a Bludger. George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Wood pulled off another spectacular save, making the score forty-ten to Gryffindor. The Snitch had disappeared again. Malfoy was still keeping close to Harry as he soared over the match, looking around for it once Gryffindor was fifty points ahead — Katie scored. Fifty-ten. Fred and George Weasley were swooping around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were thinking of revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of Fred's and George's absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded. Madam Hooch was beside herself — â€Å"YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCORING AREA!† she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. â€Å"Gryffindor penalty!† And Angelina scored. Sixty-ten. Moments later, Fred Weasley pelted a Bludger at Warrington, knocking the Quaffle out of his hands; Alicia seized it and put it through the Slytherin goal — seventy-ten. The Gryffindor crowd below was screaming itself hoarse — Gryffindor was sixty points in the lead, and if Harry caught the Snitch now, the Cup was theirs. Harry could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he soared around the field, high above the rest of the game, with Malfoy speeding along behind him. And then he saw it. The Snitch was sparkling twenty feet above him. Harry put on a huge burst of speed; the wind was roaring in his ears; he stretched out his hand, but suddenly, the Firebolt was slowing down — Horrified, he looked around. Malfoy had thrown himself forward, grabbed hold of the Firebolt's tail, and was pulling it back. â€Å"You –â€Å" Harry was angry enough to hit Malfoy, but couldn't reach — Malfoy was panting with the effort of holding onto the Firebolt, but his eyes were sparkling maliciously. He had achieved what he'd wanted to do — the Snitch had disappeared again. â€Å"Penalty! Penalty to Gryffindor! I've never seen such tactics.† Madam Hooch screeched, shooting up to where Malfoy was sliding back onto his Nimbus Two Thousand and One. â€Å"YOU CHEATING SCUM!† Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall's reach. â€Å"YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B –â€Å" Professor McGonagall didn't even bother to tell him off She was actually shaking her finger in Malfoy's direction, her hat had fallen off, and she too was shouting furiously. Alicia took Gryffindor's penalty, but she was so angry she missed by several feet. The Gryffindor team was losing concentration and the Slytherins, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry, were being spurred on to greater heights. â€Å"Slytherin in possession, Slytherin heading for goal — Montague scores –† Lee groaned. â€Å"Seventy-twenty to Gryffindor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry was now marking Malfoy so closely their knees kept hitting each other. Harry wasn't going to let Malfoy anywhere near the Snitch†¦. â€Å"Get out of it, Potter!† Malfoy yelled in frustration as he tried to turn and found Harry blocking him. â€Å"Angelina Johnson gets the Quaffle for Gryffindor, come on, Angelina, COME ON!† Harry looked around. Every single Slytherin player apart from Malfoy was streaking up the pitch toward Angelina, including the Slytherin Keeper — they were all going to block her — Harry wheeled the Firebolt around, bent so low he was lying flat along the handle, and kicked it forward. Like a bullet, he shot toward the Slytherins. â€Å"AAAAAAARRRGH!† They scattered as the Firebolt zoomed toward them; Angelina's way was clear. â€Å"SHE SCORES! SHE SCORES! Gryffindor leads by eighty Points to twenty!† Harry, who had almost pelted headlong into the stands, skidded to a halt in midair, reversed, and zoomed back into the middle of the field. And then he saw something to make his heart stand still. Malfoy was diving, a look of triumph on his face — there, a few feet above the grass below, was a tiny, golden glimmer — Harry urged the Firebolt downward, but Malfoy was miles ahead — â€Å"Go! Go! Go!† Harry urged his broom. He was gaining on Malfoy — Harry flattened himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a Bludger at him — he was at Malfoy's ankles — he was level — Harry threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom. He knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and — â€Å"YES!† He pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Harry soared above the crowd, an odd ringing in his ears. The tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist, beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers. Then Wood was speeding toward him, half-blinded by tears; he seized Harry around the neck and sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Harry felt two large thumps as Fred and George hit them; then Angelina's, Alicia's, and Katie's voices, â€Å"We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup!† Tangled together in a many-armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth. Wave upon wave of crimson supporters was pouring over the barriers onto the field. Hands were raining down on their backs. Harry had a confused impression of noise and bodies pressing in on him. Then he, and the rest of the team, were hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd. Thrust into the light, he saw Hagrid, Plastered with crimson rosettes — â€Å"Yeh beat 'em, Harry, yeh beat 'em! Wait till I tell Buckbeak!† There was Percy, jumping up and down like a maniac, all dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall was sobbing harder even than Wood, wiping her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag; and there, fighting their way toward Harry, were Ron and Hermione. Words failed them. They simply beamed as Harry was borne toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup. If only there had been a Dementor around†¦As a sobbing Wood passed Harry the Cup, as he lifted it into the air, Harry felt he could have produced the world's best Patronus.

Airport Body Scanners and Personal Privacy Essay - 1810 Words

Airport Body Scanners and Personal Privacy Believe it or not, there was a time when passengers showed up an hour before their flights and walked directly to their assigned gates without taking off their shoes at a security screening station or throwing away their bottles of water. There was even a time when friends and family met passengers at the gate and watch their flights take off or land without having a ticket or identification†¦and that was only ten years ago. Air travel safety precautions changed dramatically after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that targeted passenger planes in the United States and killed well over 1,000 people. Precautions continue to evolve as new threats are detected and passengers are now concerned†¦show more content†¦In 2009, a man on a flight from the Netherlands to Detroit attempted to blow up a plane with explosives in his underwear. Although the body scanners were in the United States at the time, they were not in the Neth erlands. Passengers argue that no matter how many security measures are put in place, terrorists will find a new and innovative way to cause destruction. They claim that the only guarantee the body scanners can make is violation of privacy for innocent people. Privacy issues often become a heated debate in a country like the United States of America, which was founded on the basic principle of freedom. Passengers are outraged that officials are viewing nude images of their bodies. They are rebelling against intrusive pat-downs and demanding better solutions. The TSA takes all of these concerns under consideration and has made admirable efforts to ensure privacy, as well as to clarify points used in arguments against the new screenings. For example, the TSA has established strict guidelines regarding the images received by the body scanners. Images of women are only viewed by female agents and images of men are only viewed by male agents. The agents viewing the images are in a separate, secure room and never see the passengers they are viewing on screen. According to TSA’s privacy policy, â€Å"The two officers communicate via wirelessShow MoreRelatedAirport Security: Why Safety Is More Important Than Privacy1453 Words   |  6 Pages Airport Security: Why Safety Is More Important than Privacy Since September 11th, people have become concerned about airport security. The millimeter body scanner is one of the outcomes of people’s concerns. The scanner creates a full body image that can reveal any suspicious element that may be concealed on their person. While this type of image can calm some fears, the scanner is now a controversial issue. Arguments for each side focus on two main areas: privacy and safety. WhenRead MoreEthical Analysis Of American And Israeli Airport Security1591 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Analysis of American and Israeli Airport Security Airport security in the United States has been a controversial topic since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established to ensure the safety and security of US airports. Travelers voiced concerns and complaints over the heightened security measures, arguing that they invade privacy and are unethical. On the other hand, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport takes a very different approach toRead MorePersuasive Essay On Airport Security1136 Words   |  5 Pages Airport security in the United States has been a controversial topic since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established to ensure the safety and security of US airports. New regulations such as taking off shoes and full body scanners soon became the new normal in airports across the country. Travelers voiced concerns and complaints over the heightened security measures, arguing that they invade privacy and are unethical. On the otherRead MoreFull Body Scans: a Matter of National Security vs. Personal Indignities1304 Words   |  6 PagesKaitlin Dingess Dr. Carena English 102 Persuasive Research Paper April 10th, 2012 Full Body Scans: A Matter of National Security vs. Personal Indignities Safety and security is important and a high priority for anyone. As a result of several events, such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the now infamous Christmas day â€Å"Underwear Bomber† transportation security has been revamped and reinvented to protect innocent people from religious/political extremists and crazies alike. In some cases,Read MoreAir Transportation Security Act : A Common Target For Terrorism And Crime1607 Words   |  7 PagesAct was passed mandating the screening of passengers and any carry-on property at U.S. airports to ensure the safety of all passengers. After the terroristic attack against the twin towers, in 2001, there was an increase in the amount of precaution for greater security throughout the United States. As result, the Transportation Security Administration was put in the position of taking over responsibility for airport screening. Many new security measures were implemented, including limiting the numberRead MoreA Brief Note On The Avia tion And Transportation Security Act1125 Words   |  5 Pages4/6/2016 Quiz #1 Info. Privacy Business Travel Many people take advantage of air travel, whether it be for business or for travel but post September 11, there have been many issues with privacy in regards to the tightening of security. To fix this problem airport security has started to use full body scanners, searching bags, screening and many other things to tighten security. After 9/11. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed, allowing certain privacy laws to be overlooked. WithRead MoreJunior Research Paper1586 Words   |  7 Pages Are U.S. airport security regulations for flying too strict? â€Å"Since 9/11, (America’s airport security has) largely been a line of defense ahead of a departure gate to keep dangerous people and dangerous materials off a plane. By Bin Laden’s calculations, its cost $56 billion since 9/11. In one sense, it is worked as planned: No planes have been blown up or hijacked for a decade† (Airport Security Statistics). This quote explains that since 9/11 the airport security’s line of defense has been successfulRead MoreAirport Security Essay1775 Words   |  8 Pagesits airports. At that time, â€Å"the security scanners already in place in most airports included baggage x-rays, metal detectors, and chemical residue detectors, which help security staff search out illegal items that a passenger might have† (DiLascio). These security scanners unfortunately failed in their job. Since then, the Transportation Security Administration has been keeping American airports safe using the latest technology. Airports ha ve now been fitted with high-tech body scanners ratherRead MoreEssay on Safety vs. Freedom772 Words   |  4 PagesWhy is America taking such drastic moves like putting full body scanners in airports? The truth of the matter is that America is willing to do what ever it takes to protect the lives of American people and their families. The sectaries of America say scanners violate their freedom of rights. However, these scanners were prudently designed with the privacy of the customers in mind by not giving them a hard drive, or putting memory and data storage in them. America has had 21 terrorist attacksRead MoreFull Body Scanners in Airports1261 Words   |  6 PagesFull Body Scanners in Airports A full body scanner that is a device that is able to detect objects hidden under clothing by constructing a full 3-D image of a person, complete with detailed body contours. There are presently two types of scanning technology that are used in full body scanners: millimeter wave scanners and backscatter scanners. A millimeter wave scanner is able to use radio waves that are of tremendously high frequencies, which are decoded in order to produce a 3-D image. A backscatter

The Effect Of My Invention On Your Diet And Increase My...

Purpose: The target of my invention was to regulate my diet and increase my exercise. The behavior I was trying to change is to stop being inactive and instead being more active and eating healthier. The outcome I was expecting from this intervention is to decrease in weight and increase in energy and become more active. For diet, the target of my invention was to decrease the amount of carbohydrates (e.g. bread, pasta, rice) I consume and increase my consumption of healthy fat and protein such as fish, meat, eggs, peanuts etc. I also wanted to increase the amount of vegetables I consumed such as salad, broccoli, tomatoes, etc. For exercise, the target of my interventions was to increase the amount of exercise I do per day (with the exception of Sundays) with at least 20 minutes of walking. My main goal overall is to increase my energy, lose weight, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The benefits this will make to my lifestyle is it will help me have more willpower and reduce the chances of me obtaining severe illness in the future. Intervention: After doing some research online on different diet plans, I decided to do a low carb high fat (LCHF) diet plan. I made a list of options on what to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks according (that was on the LCHF) to the diet plan on my phone which was as followed: Breakfast: boiled egg, egg whites, or strawberry smoothie. Lunch: Salad with tuna or grilled chicken (prepared the night before) Dinner: Boiled broccoli,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Obesity In the United States1767 Words   |  8 PagesEbola. A large worry should be the epidemic in America that has killed more then 300,00 people a year (tuberose,1). An epidemic so strong that over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in the United States? (Nutrition,1). How would you feel if I told you this very epidemic was in your house now? America is at war right now and we are losing , this war started many years ago and has not yet been won. Every year we lose many of our beloved ones to this monster , what can weRead MoreCuring Aging, Television, And Ear Fee Of Mississauga Essay2859 Words   |  12 Pagesdiscuss the ageing phenomenon of attitude towards a long life expectancy. Their experiments to measure a consumer’s attitude of dietary restriction, supplements, and exercise illustrate the complexity of attitudes. The mix of nutritional supplements might be possible to cure aging, but a heathy life style which getting sufficient exercise can slow down individual’s ageing. Influencing us is a great variety of vitamins, advertising, and social and human behaviors. As consequence, our attitudes towardsRead MoreObesity Among Small Children And Young Adults2771 Words   |  12 Pagesmade than to come home and make a homemade healthy meal. A lot of time children in research has shown that children will not necessarily eat what the parent makes if it is healthy and therefore will make the child som ething â€Å"quick and easy† as one of my fellow neighbors has said. The purpose of this paper is to state fact about obesity in the world and how it affects the Health Care Costs in America. This paper will discuss what causes obesity, how it has affected the United States as a whole, andRead MoreHeart Disease : The Number One Killer3690 Words   |  15 Pagestreat heart disease faster to prevent more lives from being lost. Heart Attacks and Coronary Artery Disease are two of the most common subdivisions of heart disease. According to WebMD Coronary Artery Disease is â€Å"is a result of plaque buildup in your coronary arteries -- a condition called atherosclerosis -- that leads to blockages. The arteries, which start out smooth and elastic, become narrow and rigid, restricting blood flow to the heart. The heart becomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrientsRead MoreHolistic Approach14986 Words   |  60 Pagesthan many standard medical approaches use in the U.S. This includes homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. Non-western systems include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda . 2. MInd-body interventions: mind-body medicine uses many techniques to increase the minds ability to affect physical healing. Techniques of which that are now main stream include patient support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy. Other mind-body therapies include meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies for creativeRead MoreMedicine and Cardiology3277 Words   |  14 Pagesof surgery. From herbalism evolved Indian Medicine. The Indian’s were partial to Ayurveda. Ayurveda is â€Å"an ancient Indian system of holistic medicine drawn from Vedic literature that seeks to balance individual imbalances through adjustments in diet, exercise, and sleep and involving herbs, aromas, meditation, and yoga to address health issues.† (Webster Dictionary of English) This Ayurveda is a becoming more popular in medicine today. (History of Medicine) Egyptian medicine also played a major roleRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity3013 Words   |  13 PagesThe CDC estimated that around one out of three children are obese and the numbers are on the rise. Obesity affects around seventeen percent of children in the United States. There are many other factors that can cause children to be obese like no exercise, eating junk food, being lazy, also the child’s surrounding can affect them. Some people may argue that the lifestyle changes are bigger contributions to the rising number of childhood obesity. There are many serious diseases that can a result fromRead More Bad Media2732 Words   |  11 Pagesviolence and sexual images inappropriate for children’s viewing. It has become almost completely unavoidable. Yet, reports and research has been applied showing nothing less than a coincidental association with the rise with violence, along with the increase of the incongruous material being flashed in front of our eye s. Homicide by teens has been a gradual decrease upon most recent years. Along with that, more child blocks for internet and T.V. are now accessible. A steady decline has yet to stillRead MoreEnvironmental Chemicals and Obesity in Human Beings4507 Words   |  18 PagesPerfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) 8 Bisphenol A. 9 Polybrominated Diphenyl ethers (PBDES) 11 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) 11 Conclusion 16 References 17 Abstract Obesity is a common problem in the modern world in which technological inventions have deprived human beings from the physical outdoor activities. Human beings are inclined to perform their duties using machines which cause them to move less. Among the many causes of obesity, mankind has finally explored the factors of environmentalRead MoreDoes Tv Have a Negative Influence on Society7652 Words   |  31 PagesDOES TV HAVE A NEGATÄ °VE Ä °NFLUENCE ON SOCÄ °ETY The negative effects of television are huge. To minimize the potential negative effects of television, its important to understand what the impact of television can be on children. Violence Over the past two decades, hundreds of studies have examined how violent programming on TV affects children and young people. While a direct cause and effect link is difficult to establish, there is a growing consensus that some children may be vulnerable to violent

Descartes s Meditations, Descartes Essay - 1139 Words

Carisa Lopez Philosophy 1010 Sec. 4 November 16, 2016 Essay 3: Prompt 1 Though unstated throughout his meditations, Descartes primary goal in the Meditations is to lay a strong foundation for the mathematical science that is emerging during his lifetime. There are two Aristotelian doctrines that Descartes wants to reject, the first which is final causation. The second is qualitative science, because Descartes tends to favor quantitative science over final causation. In Descartes’s first meditation his method of doubt is seen clearly since he knows that he believes same false things, but he doesn’t know which of his beliefs are fake.. Descartes is in search of something that cannot be doubted to serve as a secure foundation or knowledge, and we cannot doubt all our beliefs one by one. In the first meditation Descartes attacks the foundations of his knowledge, but slowly he’s foundations will fall. Descartes has three foundations in which he will challenge, the first which challenges his perceptual illusion, the secon d which is the dreaming state, and the third, which is the evil demon. In the first stage of doubt, Descartes attacks the sensory perception, although the senses can fool us, and some things are not often what they are seen for or heard. It is thought that if something fools an individual once, then that individual should not trust it. However some information from the sense can be trusted completely, for example right now, I can not doubt that I am sitting at aShow MoreRelatedDescartes And Descartes s The Meditations987 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Meditations, Descartes believes you can figure out the truth based on your own mind and do not need to go to the outside world. Aristotle and Descartes wouldn’t agree. For example, a blind person. Aristotle would say he cannot know light so he would have to see it from some outside source to get knowledge. Descartes would say to not go to the outside world to find truth. Descartes would recommend meditation: self- reflection. Firs t, you will look at your own mind, using your own mind to lookRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes s The Meditations Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesExample and Our Ability to Perceive In the Meditations, Descartes abandons his views about everything he knows in the world. During this he discusses the idea of senses relying on the mind rather than the body. The role of senses is shown through his demonstration of the wax example and the ever changing properties the wax entailed. â€Å"The perception I have of it is a case not of vision or touch or imagination†¦but purely of mental scrutiny.† (Descartes 31) To Descartes, the senses were deceiving and couldRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes s The Meditations Essay1580 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the Meditations, Descartes successfully establishes methodical doubt about math and all sensory information, however, his answer to the doubt cast by the Evil Demon ploy does not fully relieve the dilemma of skepticism that his intense application of doubt has brought forth. Ultimately, Descartes is unable to satisfactorily answer the Evil Demon doubt because his argument does not prove that God’s existe nce would not prevent the serious errors in judgment and perception caused by the EvilRead MoreDescartes s Fourth Meditation On Truth And Falsity1439 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’s fourth meditation, he specifically demonstrates the relationship between the intellect and will, and his understanding of truth and falsity. Also, according to the objection regarding the cause of error, we know that Descartes’s idea of the source of error and the scope of the intellect and will is challenged. Objectors have different thoughts on the source of errors and they believe the scope of the intellect even seems to be wider than that of will. In fact, I agree with Descartes that the intellectRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On The Existence Of God929 Words   |  4 PagesDescartes sets out in his meditations to prove that something exists beyond any doubt. He determines that the only way to prove anything outside of his mind is to prove the existence of his idea of God. The ide as that come from his process are interesting, but he doesn’t prove the existence of God is undeniable. Several arguments Descartes uses to claim God exists, don’t hold up to what he has proved up to that point in his meditations. The first being his use of the causal principle on which theRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On First Philosophy1295 Words   |  6 Pagesback for centuries, millennia even. Over the years, many great thinkers have struggled to either defend or discredit this belief, a belief that has managed to spread to every corner of the globe. One such thinker is Renà © Descartes. In his Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes attempts to provide logical reasoning to support the existence of God, both asserting his own claims and defending them against possible objections. A prevalent argument against the existence of God is the simple fact thatRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On First Philosophy Essay2099 Words   |  9 PagesFirst published in La tin in 1641, Renà © Descartes philosophical study, entitled Meditations On First Philosophy, poses a question that continues to be both continously relevant, and hotly debated, in the field of philosophy. One of Descartes main queries in his meditations is as follows; how can we be fully assured that we know anything at all? Descarets theorises that, whilst not all knowledge may provide probable doubt, we can never be fully certain that there is no room for doubt, and if we cannotRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On First Philosophy894 Words   |  4 PagesDescartes opens Meditations on First Philosophy by telling us that in order to purify our knowledge from falsehood we must become radical skeptics, and question everything we know as we clear our minds from what we believe to be true. Descartes soon realizes that this is a major problem. Because if he is doubtful of everything, there is nothing to be known as true and he would have no foundation to build his thoughts off of. Pondering this, he came to realize that he himself must be real becauseRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On First Philosophy986 Words   |  4 Pagesas looking inwards, or as Renà © Descartes would call it, meditation. These ‘meditations’ are moments of reflection, time s pent with one’s thoughts, and time to figure out where one is placed within the world. During one of these meditations, Descartes creates the phrase, â€Å"cogito ergo sum†, I think, therefore I am, in his monumental book, Principles of Philosophy, though it was written in another form earlier, â€Å"ego sum, ego existo†, I am, I exist, in his book Meditations on First Philosophy. This phraseRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes s Meditation I 989 Words   |  4 PagesIn Meditation I, Descartes discusses those things that can be called into doubt. He starts off by talking about how he has been mislead by his beliefs before, so will start off by separating those beliefs that cause him to doubt. He would like to secure his foundational beliefs similar to a house, without a secure foundation, the house can fall. Descartes mentions how he occasionally realizes that he has been deceived by his senses. Some things seem small at a distance, but then when looking

Monitoring System Using Biometric Fingerprint Scanner free essay sample

Swipe card technology is the process plastic embedding of encoded data into card with a magnetic strip that is read by passing the card through a usually slotted electronic device. Personal recognition and identification are special function to this kind of technology. With the use of this, the instances of getting human incorrect identification will be avoided and. With this, organizations and will be in great advantage of security and order. Every school must be on its highest security and order to ensure it’s jurisdiction within the school premises.The system tracks the performance of employees regarding their attendance on a daily basis. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitoring System Using Biometric Fingerprint Scanner or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1. 2 System Overview Attendance Monitoring System provides a foolproof solution using fingerprint authentication with the use of a Barcode Scanner for input and affiliated with payroll system and human resource development system and provides efficient reports of the company.. The system records details such as arrival and departure of employees besides monitoring their attendance on a daily basis. 1. 2. 1 System Description Attendance Monitoring System takes input in a barcode scanner to collect and process data.Introduction Project Context In our life today, computer is one of the many inventions that greatly affected our way of living. In fact, it is regarded as an essential tool in many areas including business, industry, government, sciences, education, school, home, and in almost any organization and establishment that exists. It can perform operation and process data rapidly, accurately and reliably and by using these machines, spending a lot of time and effort in doing certain task is minimized. One amazing device gaining popularity nowadays is the biometric system.It    resulted from the collaboration of multiple scientific fields which attempted to automate human recognition based on a unique physical attribute. Currently, a person can be identified by multitude of different metrics including their fingerprints. A sensor is used to capture and store it in an electronic format. This information can be used later to identify or authenticate a person to a system. Attendance Monitoring System using Biometric Fingerprint Scanner is a system that manages and monitors the attendance of an employee in a certain establishment.It serves as a time log that is set up as a computerized database. It maintains a daily record of a persons arrival and departure time from work or school. This study is conducted for the enhancement of the existing manual attendance monitoring system in form of a fully developed computerized attendance monitoring system of the La Salette of Ramon High School Department and is intended to be used by the institution’s administrators, members of the faculty and staff.

Raising a child with high self esteem

Introduction Self esteem refers to an individual’s by and large valuation of his or her own significance. It includes convictions and feelings such as achievement, hopelessness, satisfaction and indignity. Self esteem is wide-reaching as it can refer to a distinctive aspect or can have a comprehensive coverage (Grose 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Raising a child with high self esteem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More An individual’s self esteem commences its development for the better or worse from the early stages of life. It is all about the kind of environment and upbringing that one goes through that determines their self esteem level. The manner in which a parent/guardian communicates with their child and the parent’s self image are all contributing factors to the child’s self esteem. For that reason, it is imperative that parents, guardians and teachers make certain that chi ldren are raised in a manner that boosts the development of their self worth. By the age of three years, though normally considered to be yet tender, a child has gone through quite an extensive array of emotions and is a psychologically complex individual (Grose 1). The importance of careful and psychologically sound upbringing cannot, thus, be overemphasized if parents and other caregivers aim to raise persons who will be able to develop and maintain good relations with other people and also have the capability to effectively be in charge of their emotions. Child learning and development experts advise that the psychological development of a child should be recognized and promoted at home and in the early learning environments like childcare schools and pre-units (Reese, Bird and Tripp, 461). Raising a child with high self esteem Parents, teachers and other caregivers need to lay emphasis on children’s psychological progress, the form of development that bears both physiolog ical and psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning aspects which affect behavior (Weiner 16). These feelings should be certainly emphasized to enhance a high self esteem right through the child’s life. The kind of reactions that a child receives from their earliest caretakers has a huge impact on how the child will be able to go about their sentiments and feelings later on in their life. A child having a safe and sound relationship with their mother and/or other caregiver(s) will be able to easily establish constructive relations and react positively to instigations with other people (Henderson 118). On the other hand, a child who has a relation with their caregiver that lacks self-confidence or assurance will exhibit more downbeat and pessimistic sentiments while interrelating with others.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A very important point to note is t hat in young children, self esteem is not gauged by their personality significance, but by how intimately the loved ones in their lives deference and take action to their specific needs. For instance, children who lack someone or some people worthy of imitation or those who lack parental prop up have a propensity to having an inferior self esteem since the general feeling is that these grown persons do not acknowledge or get concerned about them. This is the key element which children base their self esteem height in the course of their early days and then into their later life (Henderson 118). A good illustration of this is can be observed early on in babyhood growth of children who act in response and connect themselves to the adults or caregivers who show utmost love and care and are in charge of them. Parents and other caregivers of children need to establish a sense of connectedness by use of loving physical touch and words as the first step. These develop a sense of belonging and security. The child is assures that there is someone or there are a people who really care about them and thus their self esteem is boosted (Vallee 1). Early childhood development specialists advise that the fastest and effective means to quiet and calm a crying baby is by cuddling together while lightly stroking him or her. Such strokes have a remarkable power to show love and care. When an infant calms after this has been done to him or her, the indication is that he or she is acting in response to the caregiver who is without a doubt trusted (Vallee 1). This goes a long way in laying the foundation for the child’s prospective confidence and self worth. As much as everyone wants to bring up responsible and reliable kids, there needs to be a considerable allowance for making mistakes. It is appropriate and a positive contribution to a child’s self esteem when adults own up that they make slip-ups. It is more effective when they go ahead and talk about the existenc e of mistakes and blunders (Henderson 119). In doing this, they ensure that the psychological growth of the child is enhanced since the fear of attempting new things is dispelled. This is a big positive in terms of creativity and innovativeness. It is suggested that adults ask children their take on the most suitable actions to take whenever people commit mistakes or offences. Such sessions offer perfect opportunities for getting the take of the young ones on various issues and teaching them what is the best way of going about life. It also increases their feeling of self worth as they feel they are part and parcel of a family, classroom or school set up. They get to appreciate that mistakes are part of the larger learning process, and that they are not experiences to be beaten by. Otherwise, they will be left feeling powerless and vulnerable (Grose 1). A majority of them end up turning into class comics, oppressors, gloomy, drug abusers, and other forms of self-destruct behavior. T he mentality that nothing constructive can come out of one no matter what they do is responsible for this.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Raising a child with high self esteem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Children need to be made to feel that they are making a contribution to their family, classroom, and church, among others. Self esteem grows from feeling valued and worthy. For that reason, these developing people need to be offered ways in which they can make their contributions of whatever form. Everyone has got at least an area or competency and if this can be discovered so that it is exploited then the better (Grose 1). For instance, an example is given of a little boy who instead of going to school spent his time in the bushes. When interrogated innocently to find out what he really liked, he revealed that he would rather be at home caring for his pet dog. After this, the school head attracted him to take care of the school’s pet rabbit. With this, he looked forward to going to school every day since he had been offered to do what he enjoyed most and above all he felt that he had a contribution to make at school. Children who exhibit a likeness for various activities and duties need to be given chances to do that albeit in small or unsatisfactory levels to boost their self confidence. Giving a choice is such an important self esteem development tool that it should be employed always. Almost all things or activities can be made to be in the form of alternatives. For instance, if you give a child the alternatives of writing using either green or red ink they are going to write more than if they were just told to write. Giving choices or options helps build up logic of possession and accountability than situations whereby other individuals at all times make a decision on what you are to do, when and the manner in which you will do it (Vallee 1). Allowing children make choice s gives them the opportunity to try out, make gaffes and gain knowledge in nonthreatening states of affairs. Adults need to watch the language that they use around children. These young ones are not impervious to the inappropriate language that a substantive amount of people use. For example, children as young as five years old have been heard asking whether they are fat or not. One would expect that at this tender age they should not be having such thought in their minds. All this has resulted from what they hear and see in the mass media and what those around them are always talking about (Reese, Bird and Tripp, 463). To avoid such negative thoughts in children there is need to always watch one’s language when in their presence. Whatever that they are exposed to through the mass media needs to be controlled and regulated. Whenever they come up with such enquiries, one should try to find out where they got or heard that from so that such incidents can be controlled and avoid ed. Whenever describing people one needs to stick to personality and character rather than appearance.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Praising children boosts their self esteem. However, it should be done whenever deserved and care should be taken not to overdo it. Continuous praising eventually results in them soon or later ignoring these praises as false and thus a negative effect on their self esteem. It is important that challenging and giving confidence to children to take risks should come in between. Children need to be taught fine societal and conversational techniques by means of mock ups, direct coaching and directed performances. All these are vital skills in ensuring self esteem and boosting the way in which they will interact with other people in society (Grose 1). Another vital self esteem developer in children is talking about the kin stories, ancestors, customs, and nationality in an affirmative and constructive manner. Parents, other caregivers and children should begin to talk about past occurrences almost as soon as the children language capabilities allow it (Weiner 16). Past event discussions should be presented as positively as possible, in a more detailed manner. Children undergoing such narratives end up with enhanced autobiographical recollection. Such events also make certain that children’s oral and non-verbal remembrance is enhanced. Children need to be taught to set minor and main goals or objectives in a bid to assist them develop into responsible persons. They should be made to understand matters according to priority and thus enhance their planning and management skills (Henderson 120). They should be able to prioritize effectively so that they are in control of matters affecting their lives and thus hold high self esteem. All caregivers need to build up the intellect of distinctiveness in their children. The reason for this is due to the simple fact that every person has a unique talent or gift which needs to be enhanced for him or her to attain his or her full potential. Whenever one’s uniqueness is enhanced in a constructive way then their sel f worth gets a boost. All that is needed is to find occasions where this can be done. For example, if a child has shown a liking for drawing and/or painting, place drawing materials and tools within their reach and you can be sure that at one time or another they will get hold of these and draw or paint or both (Grose 1). Once you come across whatever that they have done be sure to commend and appreciate their work. This will boost their morale and self worth and they will seek to improve their skill even further. Conclusion Self development is usually a superior obligation as compared to self sacrifice. Having a first-rate self worth or mind set about oneself can describe self esteem (Grose 1). Children with a high self esteem always feel that the significant adults in their lives acknowledge and appreciate them and would go to whatever extent to make certain that they are out of harm’s way. A child’s self esteem is not a thing to do with genetics; it is founded and d eveloped with the help of parents and all the caregivers that the child comes across in the course of his or her development (Reese, Bird and Tripp, 467). Quite a substantial amount of time, commitment and affirmative back up is required for an effective development. These and the aforementioned prerequisites for the development of self esteem in children may or may not work depending on the specific conditions in which the child is. It is thus of essence to ensure that a child is raised in a favorable environment for development so that the child can be helped by parents/caregivers to develop self-esteem. Works Cited Grose, Michael. â€Å"Building high Self-Esteem in Your Child.† 2006- November 14. Web. Henderson, Shirley. â€Å"Boosting Your Child’s Self-Esteem.† Pp 118-120. Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. (2010). Reese E, Bird A and Tripp G. â€Å"Children’s Self-esteem and Moral Self: Links to Parent–Child Conversations Regarding Emotion.â₠¬  pp 461-467. University of Otago. (2007). Vallee, Tammy. â€Å"Parenting tips for raising children with high self-esteem†. 2002. Web. Weiner, Jessica. â€Å"Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem.† EBSCO Publishing, 2003. p. 16. This essay on Raising a child with high self esteem was written and submitted by user LivingLightning to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.