B.F. Skinner Essay -- Biographies Biography Psychologist Essays

B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner was born on frame in 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a happy and stable home environment. Skinner spent a lot of time as a child building and inventing things. After Skinner attended Hamilton College, he worked as a newspaper writer. Then, he went to New York City for a few months and worked as a bookstore clerk. It was here that Skinner sound out books about the famous behavior theorists, Pavlov and Watson (B.F. Skinner Foundation, 2002).When Skinner turned 24, he attended graduate school at Harvard University. As a psychological science student, he teamed up with Physiology Professor, William Crozier. To tuckerher, they began to study the relationship between behavior and experimental conditions. During his time at Harvard, Skinner conducted many experiments using rats (B.F.Skinner Foundation, 2002). Skinners findings made him the most influential psychologist of the 20th century (Roblyer,2003, p.57).B. F. Skinner reason that peop le could ment completelyy have control over all of their responses. He believed that a reinforcement and/or consequence given after a behavior would influence future behavior (Roblyer,2003, p.57). In other haggling, reinforcements and/or punishments can shape human behavior. For example, if a child eats all of his ve compactables at dinner and his parents reward him with positive words and a cookie, then the child will probably eat his vegetables at the next dinner.Skinners theory can be employ inside the classroom as well. A teacher can get her students to behave by positively reinforcing acceptable behavior and punishing or negatively reinforcing poor behavior. A teacher can similarly get her student to work hard in her class by doing the very(prenominal) thing. I am planning ... ... with Skinner when he said, The major problems of the creative activity today can be solved only if we improve our understand of human behaviors (B.F.Skinner Foundation, 2003). As a future teach er, I believe that I can reinforce students to behave desirably in the future. I can also positively reinforce the use of technology in the classroom so students are excited to learn about and use this technology. This is mainly because I feel technology is such an important tool in the classroom. In conclusion, B.F. Skinners theory about shaping behavior by using positive and/or negative reinforcements can be highly useful in the classroom.Works CitedB.F.Skinner Foundation. (2002, October 18) About B.F.Skinner. Retrieved September 18,2003 from http//www.bfskinner.org/bio.aspRoblyer, M.D. (2003). Integrating educational Technology into Teaching Merril Prentice Hall.

Henrik Isbens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

briny Theme     I discrete to write about one of the themes of A Dolls Houses. I thought the main themewas a classic slick of womens suffrage. How Nora parted from gild. Breaking away from thesocial standards of their time and fulfilling the way they want is showed by several of the personalitys. No one character demonstrates this better than Nora.     The time period in which the play takes place, women were not to be assertingthemselves. Women were chew overd to support their keep ups, take care of their children, andmade trusted everything was perfect around the house. Work, politics, and decisions were left tothe men. Noras first break from society was when she decided to borrow money to pay for herhusbands treatment. By doing this, she not only stony-broke the law but she stepped away from the rolewomen play in her society. She was suppose to be easeless and completely dependent uponTorvald.       &nbs p  Noras second break from society was shown by her decision to leave Torvald and herchildren. She was suppose to be under her husband. This is shown in the way Torvald spokedown to her. He would say things like, "worries that you couldnt possibly help me with," and,"Nora, Nora, just like a woman." She is almost considered to be property of his. By walking outon her family, she takes a position equal to her husband and brakes the rules of society. Noraalso brakes societys expectations of staying in a marriage since disarticulate was unheard of duringthat era. Her decision was a separation from all expectations put on a woman and a wife bysociety.     Nora knew the consequences her decisions. They were very take and thought out.She knew what society expected of her and continued to do what she felt is right. I think Ibsenwas sympathetic to Nora. Her examples of defying the stereo type of women were used Ibsen toshow faults of society. In the first example, Ibsen shows that even though Nora did the rightthing, it was deemed wrong and not allowed by society because she was a woman. Ibsen iscritical of societys expectations of a marriage. He does this by viewing how Nora is forced to bea wife, than be herself and this eventually deteriorates the marriage. Throughout the play Nora islooked down upon and treated as a possession by her husband.

Does modern technology make life more convenient Essay

Does innovational technology guard demeanor more(prenominal) convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? Technology nowadays has definitely make life easier and better. As we look at the technologies, what is modern technology? Technology is part of life and it has greatly improved as time is passing Scientists argon continually working in found to develop useful products, in which facilitate our lives. Even though many people say that technology has lessened our lives quality, I think that it has made the ball our life more convenient. Technology provides to us a express focal points of locomotion, better knowledge, chat, wellness issues and solution for environment issues. The computer is iodine important feature from technology, which is very utilize by people in order to increase their knowledge. Books are no longer the main way to improve the understanding of a specific matter. Universities are acquiring more and more computers to facilitate the stu dents life, and to provide steadyer information. Students are using a lot more the Internet, which gives to them the right information without the contract of going to a library. For example, a psyche needs to do a research nearly a matter, and then instead of going to the library, this person could gather good and diverse information using the Internet.Consequently, heshe would elaboration hisher research faster than doing it in the library by hand. Technology is lot teachers and students to better understand the content of their subjects, and allows them to develop the teaching and studying methods in order to get more benefits the role of technology in schools and universities has off-key from a simple (computer class or IT class) into a multipurpose larn tool that can change the way we demonstrate concepts, assign projects, and valuate programsThus, technology, which created the computer, has definitely helped the universities and the students to get a better knowledge. Nowadays, ways of locomotion much(prenominal) as car, motorcycle, train, and airplane, has facilitated our lives. Centuries ago, the main way to blend in a long standoffishness was the ship, or the horse. Today, the airplane is the most useful way to make fast travels, which gives to us more time. For example, comparing with the ship which usually crosses the Atlantic marine in one or two weeks, the airplane can slow cross it in about 10 hours, and is still the safest way to travel in the world.The car and train also get to become a very good way to travel, which can bring us contiguous to our family and to our work. Because of this, these comfortable automobiles and airplanes have been of the essence(p) to peoples lives.When we talk about communication, the television, the telephone, and the Internet come into our mind. Their uses are essential to the society, and it has become much easier to give-up the ghost by telephone than by spot. Centuries ago, the mail was th e main way to communication between people, and it was real numberly slow because it mostly had to be shipped. Therefore, the use of the mail is no longer being used, and the telephone and Internet have interpreted place of the mail. People can pay bills by the Internet in a safe way and phone familiars instantly. In other words, these ways of communications are a lot faster than it was centuries ago, and it has made our world a better place to live. Take the innovation of e-book for instance. Although quite a few people like to touch real papers, they cannot deny all(prenominal) year the industry of book-publishing has consumed a large amount of woods.And many scientists have proposed that one of solutions to green-house issue is preventing forests from decreasing. So, the advent of e-book makes modern people change their tralatitious reading habit it allows people to turn virtual pages by tapping the shield and enables to read several books on an electronic device without carr ying heavy weights. Obviously, publishers are more likely to present books or magazines through e-book instead of real papers. Due to less needs of printing books, woods can be saved for our future generations. As we know, many technological innovations have been used on researching mental or physical diseases.For example, pregnant women must do many checks during their three trimesters. Doctors use ultrasound facility to check scotchs situation and attain useful information to decide if on that point is any disease, such as Downs syndrome. Consequently, if there were no technology assisting doctors to check patients bodies, people may struggle with unknown health problems. In conclusion, the reasons above are why I strongly consort that technology has made our life more convenient. The computer, the automobile, the telephone, other machineries for health bursting charge and those which can become our solution for environmental problems have surely been essential to us and I thi nk that the world has so many things only to be developed in order to help the society and make it good place to live.Referenceshttp//www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/DA8177ED1A80D332CA257BF0001B08EE/$File/ocpahfsv5.pdfhttp//www.searo.who.int/publications/journals/seajph/media/2012/seajph_v1n2/whoseajphv1i2p125.pdf?ua=1http//www.essayforum.com/writing-3/technology-modern-life-advantageous-57712/http//www.essayforum.com/writing-3/impact-technology-modern-life-critique-thx-2139/http//www.essayforum.com/writing-3/blessed-modern-tools-technology-7303/

Cold War Ethical Reflection

Reflection of the iciness War The Cold War, from 1945 to 1991, is one of the most important periods of time that has greatly influenced and shaped the modern demesne. It was non just a battle among two super effects, the USA and the Soviet Union, that also a clash of two really popular ideologies during that time. There was the American maintain of fighting for freedom and democracy and the Soviet claims of fighting for the interests of the workers and the common people.Now in theory, these ideologies seemed ethical, but through with(predicate)out this period, both countries actions severely opposed the ideologies they be on numerous occasions. Some say it all came down to a argument of achieving the most power and influence and just using what theyre conjectural to represent as a disguise to hide the true tendency of their actions. Now this is partly true and in this reflection I exit explain the cynicism caused by both superpowers and decide which one very represent ed a greater evil. Lets start with Soviet Union.They were communistic and actually held true to these values inside their own country but did use brutal force to destroy anyone who opposed their totalitarian regulation and this often lead to some deaths. Even though life nether Soviet Union had its ups and downs, it is the actions that they did in different countries which really gave them a damaging trope peculiarly in the west, throughout most of the heatless struggle. wholeness of the first atrocious acts they committed was the Berlin Blockade which was an attempt to exercise their power over East Berlin.They blocked the country from receiving necessary supplies and instead of back up the workers and installing socialism, they were oppressing them and this was a major event that deteriorated their image, and they even did this again with the device of the Berlin Wall. The same thing happened in Czechoslovakia. Although they were supporting Communism in the country, they were not representing the interests of the common people.Most wanted freedom but the Soviets just roll in their tanks to intercept this from happening, first in 1948 by arranging a coup detat to put the unpopular communist party in power, and then they rolled in the tanks again in the Prague Spring but this time were ruined in stopping the uprising. The Soviets had a habit of undermining eastern European countries through force and keeping them in the Iron Curtain which later led to popular distaste of their regime like in the snipe solidarity Movement.But you could vie that they even though they used brute force to install communism, they were in general, supporting their ideologies. Also whenever there was a communist uprising in any foreign country, they would almost always support it either politically, or by supplying arms and finance. They did this for ideological reasons usually because part of the Marxist theory is that communism is inevitable, so it was their duty to booster a communist regime in trouble.They did exactly this by supporting the communist party in the Greek Civil War who were being violently laden by the other side (Irony) and there actually was a big social class division in Greece at the time and many people wanted communism as a solution so the soviets justly supported the movement even though it failed. They did this again in the Korean War, and the first Indo China War whose situations were pretty similar. But their great success was in the Chinese Civil War and when the Communists won, it drastically change Soviet Russias Ideologies.Now lets talk about USA. They s withald for freedom and democracy and were really against the communist ideology. But throughout most of the cold war, it is impossible to depict USA as a good influence. The pose Plan although was one of the greatest actions USA had taken and they gave about 13 million dollars in aid to the war devastated countries in order to help them rebuild. Som e might argue that they only did this to improve their trade championship with these countries and to help form NATO in order to compete with the Soviets and this is partially true.Other things they did which showed they actually stood up for democracy was supporting the democratic revolutions in the Korean War, Polish Solidarity Movement, and the Velvet Revolution. They not only did they do this for freedom, but also to stop the authoritarian spread of Communism which they deemed exceedingly undemocratic and even propagandized it as evil peculiarly during the Berlin Airlift which is one of the most famous eleemosynary event that the USA orchestrated. But those were the only freedom fighting they took. Everything else they did was highly undemocratic.USA has a tendency to overthrow foreign government activity if they dont please their interests. Their first major anti-freedom action was overthrowing the democratically elected government of Iran simply because the new leader dec ided to nationalize the oil for return of the Iranian People. Then they did the exact same thing in Guatemala because the interests of their output companies were in danger. All of these overthrows were done through US backed coups and the condition of America played a key role in this, in particular in Latin America.This Superpower has caused so oft devastation in Latin America through that work that it was unbelievable. They would train agents in that school to do the most brutal actions necessary to stop communism. The US backed coups in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, along with supporting the PRI in Mexico brought long time of alarm in those countries that heretofore affect them today. All of this happened only because the elected leaders had some socialist tendencies and that was all the excuse USA needed. So much for freedom and democracy.They even illegally and secretly invaded Cuba (tried to) and Grenada and brought more horror to those places peculiarly to Grenada w hose economy was completely destroyed for a while. They used massive propaganda beg off all their illegal actions especially in Vietnam which was their biggest mistake. Three million Vietnamese (mostly Civilians) died in this pointless war to stop the spread of Communism. They were so many opportunities to negotiate a peace treaty but this Superpower was too intent on dragging it on for twenty years.So many innocents were slaughtered especially during the Cambodian Genocide which was also caused by USA that lies about this war reached American citizens who then protested to stop the war, especially after the coverage of the My Lai trouncing where US soldiers killed over 300 innocent men, women, and children. The country was so anti-communist at one point that the freedom of expression of the people was destroyed during the McCarthy witch-hunt. Anyone who was associated with communism or had communist tendencies was unjustly prosecuted and this lasted for a whole six years from 1950 to 1956.It was of the greatest tragedies In US history because it greatly destroyed the image of freedom usually associated with the country. The feeling of cynicism towards both Superpowers was definitely justified because both had committed multiple atrocious acts during the cold war, but USA is legato definitely in my opinion the greater of the two evils. Even position the Soviet Union was brutally authoritarian in many cases, they still stayed true in general in their claims about supporting communism and never once did anything anti-communist.They supported multiple communist struggles across the world economically and militarily, some of these actions were morally justified and others werent. The USA on the other hand had overthrown so many democratically elected governments for the most unethical reasons ever that it is hard for me to associate freedom with USA. The Soviets at least kept true to their claims (brutal as they were) but the same cannot be said for the other Superpower. They did considerably a so many undemocratic and anti-freedom actions which massively deteriorated their claims in my opinion.They only positively influenced Europe but devastated the rest of the world especially Latin America who were pretty much set back a couple of decades thanks to USAs actions. This country was involved in multiple illegal conflicts that opposed their claims and led to the senseless deaths of millions of people well-nigh the world and many more were negatively affected by these actions, especially economically. As much devastation both countries caused to the world, USA defiantly represented a greater evil in the cold war. By Afzal Manzoor

Indigenous Societies

Whale Rider Extra Credit Questions invoke ________________________________________ Class Start Time ___________ 1. What object does the grandad throw overboard a boat (and expects leave be supposed)? a. his fathers governance heirloom pistol b. his traditional chiefs necklace c. his sacred black harpoon d. his sacred smoking pipe e. his radio 2. What is the central conflict in Whale Rider? a. How do indigenous societies keep their traditions and yet yield change? b. How indigenous societies must fight through the legal transcription to gain title to their land. . How can indigenous societies reverse language acquittance? d. How do indigenous societies gain control over rising pedigree pressure? 3. What item has not been finished, but finally is (and is then used) at the end of the film? a. a chiefs house b. a traditional canoe c. a womans hut d. a ritual club 4. What (or who) is the grandfather trying to find? a. the sacred cut steering paddle for his carved war canoe. b. a leader who will lead his people into the bordering generation. c. a new husband for his old maid flower granddaughter. d. all of the above 5.What does the grandfather do when the object is not retrieved? a. leaves it thither and sinks into a depression. b. retrieves it himself and then breaks it in half with his bare hands. c. forces his son to retrieve it. d. leaves it there and it is never retrieved again. e. calls up a eerie whale origin who swallows it up and spits it onto the beach. 6. This film a. captures the confusion of a traditional culture in transition to a modern wiz. b. graphically depicts the abuse of native peoples at the hands of more technologically advanced white colonists. . focuses on what expertness be called slave labor conditions in Third World sweatshops. d. portrays how one man is able to overcome his drug addiction to become the next chief of the tribe. e. all of the above 7. How does Whale Rider conclude? a. the grandfather drowns, killed as he tri es to ride a whale. b. the girl is allowed to become a leader. c. the girls mother is brought back to life by the supernatural whale spirit. d. the girl helps win the court battle, and gains ocean fishing rights for her people.

Climate Zones Essay

The word is divided into 6 mode zones. These zones depend on several factors. The first is temperature if a country lies nigh the equator it tends to be warm but if its near the poles it tends to be rimeder. A country can overly fall in a gelid humor if its rattling mountainous with most of its land sitting surface above sea level. Wind direction can also bring humor. If winds are being blow from a hot area they bequeath raise temperatures, the opposite is also true. If winds have been blown from cold areas, they allow for lower temperatures. Closeness to the sea is also important in decision making a country humour. Thats because the sea cannot warm up or cool down as much as land. So coastal areas dont really experience natives in temperature, but areas and countries puff up away from the influences of the sea can get real hot and very(prenominal) cold.Not either part of the adult male has the corresponding seasons either. We have quadruplet seasons summer, winter, fall and spring. However, some countries only have two seasons. A moisture season and a dry season, whilst countries on the equator can have the same temperature and weather all the socio-economic classlong. There are 6 different clime zones. These are temperate, where winters are cold and summers are mild frigid where its very cold and dry and all year long arid, here its waistcloth dry and hot tropical, where it stays hot and wet all of the year Mediterranean, where the winters are mild and the summers hot and dry mountainous, where it stays very cold throughout the year.TEMPERATE partition off equable tempers dont have extremes of temperature or rainfall its uncomplete too warm or too cold, too wet or too dry. Temperate climate can be quite changeable, one day it could be raining, the attached that may be sunny it is also very difficult to forecast. wintry ZONEPolar climates stay very cold throughout the year. They intromit the tundra and ice cap climates, where temperatures stay below freezing all of the time. dried-out ZONEArid climates are normally hot and also very dry so they have severe lack of water.TROPICAL ZONECountries close to the equator, where the weather is hot and humid have tropical climate. In tropical climate during the wet season, it can rain very firmly almost every day.MEDITERRANEAN ZONEA Mediterranean climate produces hot, dry and ice chest wetter winters. This type of climate occurs in regions slightly Mediterranean Sea but you can also get a Mediterranean-style climate.MOUNTAINOUS ZONEA mountain climate usually refers to countries with richly lands consequently the climate is normally cold and with free-and-easy snow. Alpine climates consisting of glaciers, risque level pastureland and rare plant life are also included in this climate zone.CLIMATE CHANGEScientists believe that the worlds climate is changing as a result of the immense quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that were pumping int o the earths atmosphere. This had conduct to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather so as the Earth heats up in the old age ahead, we may find that the climate in each of these zones could change too. foursome instances, our polar regions may experience milder weather causing the ice caps and permafrost to melt. whatever scientists also believe that climate change may also disembowel the Amazon region much drier resulting in the large-scale ravaging of tropical rainforest.SUMMARYThe earth has six climate zones temperate zone, polar zone, arid zone, tropical zone, Mediterranean zone, and mountainous zone.TEMPERATE ZONETemperate climates dont have extremes of temperature or rainfall its neither too warm or too cold, too wet or too dry.POLAR ZONEPolar climates stay very cold throughout the year.ARID ZONEArid climates are normally hot and also very dry.TROPICAL ZONEIn tropical climate during the wet season, it can rain very heavily almost every day.MEDITERRANEAN ZONEA Med iterranean climate produces hot, dry and cooler wetter winters.MOUNTAINOUS ZONEThe climate is normally cold and with occasional snow.CHANGE IN THE FUTUREWorlds climate is changing as a result of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that were pumping into the Earths atmosphere. This had led to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather so as the Earth heats up in the years ahead the climate in each of these zones could change too.

Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER FIFTEEN GAIA-S

GAIA-SSura Novi now stepped into the control room of the knock d declarehearted and rather old-fashi sensationd displace that was carrying Stor Gendibal and herself across the parsecs in deliberate Jumps.She had recordably been in the compact change room, where oils, warm air, and a minimum of water system freshened her body. She had a robe wrapped active her and was holding it tightly to herself in an suffering of modesty. Her hair was dry precisely tangled.She verbalize in a low division, Master?Gendibal intuitive feelinged up from his charts and from his computer. Yes, Novi?I be sorrow-laden She pa dod and thence format slowly, I am re eithery sorry to b opposite you, Master (then she slipped again) only when I be loss-ridden for my clothing.Your clothing? Gendibal st atomic number 18d at her blankly for a present moment and then rose to his feet in an access of contrition. Novi, I forgot. They needed cleaning and theyre in the detergent-hamper. Theyre cleaned, dried, folded, all set. I should maintain winn them go forth(p) and place them in clear sight. I forgot.I did not like to-to (she looked down at herself) offend.You dont offend, give tongue to Gendibal cheerily. Look, I promise you that when this is over I shall meet to it that you make a great deal of clothing new and in the latest fashion. We left in a hurry and it never occurred to me to sum up a supply, entirely really, Novi, thither are scarcely the two of us and well be to clearher for some period in genuinely stringent quarters and its needless to be to be so relate about He gestured vaguely, became aware of the horrified look in her eyes, and thought Well, shes only a coun savor girl after all and has her riseards probably wouldnt inclination to improprieties of all kinds entirely with her clothes on.Then he entangle mortified of himself and was glad that she was no assimilator who could sense his thoughts. He verbalize, Shall I issue forth yo ur clothes for you?Oh no, Master. It be not for you. I know where they are.He succeeding(a) saw her properly dressed and with her hair combed. at that place was a straightforward shyness about her. I am ashamed, Master, to pass on be make upd so improperly. I should have found them for myself.No matter, said Gendibal. You are doing very surface with your Galactic, Novi. You are picking up the language of scholars very quickly.Novi smiled abruptly. Her teeth were clean un provided, but that scarcely detracted from the stylus in which her face brightened and grew to the highest degree dessert under praise, thought Gendibal. He told himself that it was for that reason that he rather fate to praise her.The Hamish allow think little of me when I am covering fire home, she said. They exit say I be am a word-chopper. That is what they yell someone who speaks odd. They do not like often(prenominal).I doubt that you for depict be going back to the Hamish, Novi, said Gen dibal. I am for certain thither will continue to be a place for you in the complex with the scholars, that is when this is over.I would like that, Master.I dont suppose you would care to invite out me Speaker Gendibal or just No, I converge you wouldnt, he said, responding to her look of s female genitalsdalized objection. Oh well.It would not be fitting, Master. except may I supplicate when this will be over?Gendibal shook his head. I scarcely know. Right now, I essential merely get to a particular place as quickly as I mass buoy. This send out, which is a very acceptable enter for its kind, is slow and as quickly as I post is not very quick. You analyze (he gestured at the computer and the charts) I must work out ways to get across large stretches of blank quad, but the computer is particular in its abilities and I am not very skillful.Must you be there quickly because there is jeopardy, Master?What makes you think there is insecurity, Novi?Because I watch y ou sometimes when I dont think you discriminate me and your face looks I do not know the word. not afeared I implicate, terrified and not bad-expecting, either.Apprehensive, muttered Gendibal.You look concerned. Is that the word?It depends. What do you meanspirited by concerned, Novi?I means you look as though you are saying to yourself, What am I going to do next in this great bustle?Gendibal looked astonished. That is concerned, but do you see that in my face, Novi? Back in the quad of Scholars, I am extremely careful that no one should see everything in my face, but I did think that, alone in space draw for you I could relax and let it sit around in its underwear, so to speak. Im sorry. That has embarrassed you.. What Im trying to say is that if youre so perceptive, I shall have to be more(prenominal) careful. Every once in a opus I have to relearn the lesson that even nonmentalics underside make sharp-worded guesses.Novi looked blank. I dont understand, Master. Im talking to myself, Novi. Dont be concerned. See, theres that word again. notwithstanding is there risk of infection?Theres a problem, Novi. I do not know what I shall induce when I reach Sayshell that is the place to which we are going. I may keep myself in a situation of great difficulty.Does that not mean danger?No, because I will be able to handle it.How can you regularize this?Because I am a scholar. And I am the best of them. There is nothing in the coltsfoot I cannot handle.Master, and something very like agony twisted Novis face, I do not hankering to offensify I mean, yield offense and make you angry. I have seen you with that oafish Rufirant and you were in danger then and he was only a Hamish farmer. Now I do not know what awaits you and you do not, either.Gendibal felt chagrined, are you afraid, Novi?Not for myself, Master. I fear I am afraid for you.You can say, I fear, muttered Gendibal. That is soundly Galactic, too.For a moment he was engaged in t hought. Then he looked up, took Sura Novis rather coarse hands in his, and said, Novi, I dont want you to fear anything. Let me explain. You know how you could rate there was or rather capacity be danger from the look on my face almost as though you could pick up my thoughts?Yes?I can read thoughts break off than you can. That is what scholars learn to do and I am a very good scholar.Novis eyes widened and her hand pulled loose from his. She looked to be holding her breath. You can read my thoughts?Gendibal held up a finger hurriedly. I dont, Novi. I dont read your thoughts, except when I must. I do not read your thoughts.(He knew that, in a practical sense, he was lying. It was impossible to be with Sura Novi and not understand the general tenor of some of her thoughts. One scarcely needed to be a Second Foundationer for that. Gendibal felt himself to be on the edge of blushing. But even from a Hamishwoman, such an attitude was flattering. And yet she had to be reassure ou t of common humanity He said, I can overly change the way race think. I can make people feel hurt. I canBut Novi was frisson her head. How can you do all that, Master? RufirantForget Rufirant, said Gendibal testily. I could have halt him in a moment. I could have made him fall to the ground. I could have made all the Hamish He halt suddenly and felt un tardily that he was boasting, that he was trying to impress this provincial woman. And she was shaking her head still.Master, she said, you are trying to make me not afraid, but I am not afraid except for you, so there is no need. I know you are a great scholar and can make this ship fly through space where it seems to me that no soul could do aught but I mean, anything but be lost. And you use machines I cannot understand and that no Hamish person could understand. But you need not key out me of these powers of mind, which surely cannot be so, since all the things you say you could have through with(p) to Rufirant, you did not do, though you were in danger.Gendibal pressed his lips together. Leave it at that, he thought. If the woman insists she is not afraid for herself, let it go at that. insofar he did not want her to think of him as a welcome mat and braggart. He simply did not.He said, If I did nothing to Rufirant, it was because I did not wish to. We scholars must never do anything to the Hamish. We are guests on your world. Do you understand that?You are our masters. That is what we always say.For a moment Gendibal was diverted. How is it, then, that this Rufirant attacked me?I do not know, she said simply. I dont think he knew. He must have been mind-wandering uh, out of his mind.Gendibal grunted. In any caseful, we do not aggrieve the Hamish. If I had been forced to stop him by hurting him, I efficacy have been poorly thought of by the other scholars and might by fall out have lost my position. But to save myself being badly hurt, I might have had to handle him just a small consequ ence the smallest possible.Novi drooped. Then I need not have come cannonball along in like a great fool myself.You did exactly right, said Gendibal. I have just said I would have do ill to have hurt him. You made it unnecessary to do so. You stopped him and that was well done. I am grateful.She smiled again blissfully. I see, then, why you have been so kind to me.I was grateful, of course, said Gendibal, a little flustered, but the important thing is that you must understand there is no danger. I can handle an army of ordinary people. Any scholar can especially the important ones and I told you I am the best of all of them. There is no one in the Galaxy who can stand against me.If you say so, Master, I am sure of it.I do say so. Now, are you afraid for me?No, Master, except Master, is it only our scholars who can read minds and. Are there other scholars, other places, who can oppose you?For a moment Gendibal was staggered. The woman had an astonishing gift of penetration.It wa s necessary to lie. He said, There are none.But there are so more stars in the sky. I once tried to count them and couldnt. If there are as many worlds of people as there are stars, wouldnt some of them be scholars? similarly the scholars on our own world, I mean?What if there are?They would not be as strong as I am.What if they leap upon you suddenly forwards you are aware?They cannot do that. If any strange scholar were to approach, I would know at once. I would know it long before he could harm me.Could you run?I would not have to run. But (anticipating her objection) ifI had to, I could be in a new ship soon better than any in the Galaxy. They would not catch me. major power they not change your thoughts and make you hindrance?No.There might be many of them. You are but one.As soon as they are there, long before they can imagine it would be possible, I would know they were there and I would leave. Our whole world of scholars would then round of golf against them and they would not stand. And they would know that, so they would not dare do anything against me. In position, they would not want me to know of them at all and yet I will.Because you are so much better than they? said Novi, her face glitter with a doubtful pride.Gendibal could not resist. Her native intelligence, her quick understanding was such that it was simple joy to be with her. That softvoiced monster, Speaker Debra Delarmi, had done him an incredible respect when she had forced this Hamish farmwoman upon him.He said, No, Novi, not because I am better than they, although I am. It is because I have you with me.I?Exactly, Novi. Had you guessed that?No, Master, she said, wondering. What is it I could do?It is your mind. He held up his hand at once. I am not reading your thoughts. I see merely the outline of your mind and it is a smooth outline, an signally smooth outline.She put her hand to her forehead. Because I am unlearned, Master? Because I am so foolish?No, dear. He did not n otice the manner of address. It is because you are honest and possess no guile because you are artless and speak your mind because you are warm of heart and and other things. If other scholars send out anything to touch our minds yours and mine the touch will be instantly visible on the eloquence of your mind. I will be aware of that even before I would be aware of a touch on my own mind and I will then have time for counteractive strategy that is, to fight it off.There was a silence for long moments after that. Gendibal realized that it was not just triumph in Novis eyes, but exultation and pride, too. She said softly, And you took me with you for that reason?Gendibal nodded. That was an important reason. Yes.Her voice sank to a whisper. How can I help as much as possible, Master?He said. Remain calm. Dont be afraid. And just just stay as you are.She said, I will stay as I am. And I will stand between you and danger, as I did in the case of Rufirant.She left the room and Gen dibal looked after her.It was strange how much there was to her. How could so simple a creature hold such complexity? The smoothness of her mind structure had, beneath it, enormous intelligence, understanding, and courage. What more could he ask of anyone?Somehow, he caught an image of Sura Novi who was not a Speaker, not even a Second Foundationer, not even educated grimly at his boldness, playing a vital auxiliary role in the shimmer that was coming.Yet he could not see the details clearly. He could not yet see precisely what it was that awaited them.A single Jump, muttered Trevize, and there it is.germanium? asked Pelorat, looking over Trevizes shoulder at the screen.Gaias sun, said Trevize. deal it Gaia-S, if you like, to avoid confusion. Gaiactographers do that sometimes.And where is Gaia itself, then? Or do we call it Gaia-P for planet?Gaia would be sufficient for the planet. We cant see Gaia yet, however. Planets arent as easy to see as stars are and were still a deo xycytidine monophosphate microparsecs away from Gaia-S. Notice that its only a star, even though a very bright one. Were not close enough for it to show as a disc. And dont stare at it directly, Janov. Its still bright enough to injure the retina. Ill throw in a filter, once Im through with my observations. Then you can stare.How much is a hundred microparsecs in units which a mythologist can understand, Golan? terce billion kilometers about twenty times the distance of Terminus from our own sun. Does that help?Enormously. But shouldnt we get appressed?No Trevize looked up in surprise. Not right away. After what weve heard about Gaia, why should we eruption? Its one thing to have guts its another to be crazy. Lets take a look first.At what, Golan? You said we cant see Gaia yet?Not at a glance, no. But we have seeable viewers and we have an excellent computer for rapid analysis. We can for sure study Gaia-S, to begin with, and we can perhaps make a hardly a(prenominal) other observations. Relax, Janov He reached out and slapped the others shoulder with an avuncular flourish.After a pause Trevize said, Gaia-S is a single star or, if it has a companion, that companion is much farther away from it than we are at the present moment and it is, at best, a red dwarf, which means we need not be concerned with it. Gaia-S is a G4 star, which means it is perfectly capable of having a liveable planet, and thats good. If it were an A or an M, we would have to turn around and leave right now.Pelorat said, I may be only a mythologist, but couldnt we have opinionated the spectral class of Gaia-S from Sayshell?We could and we did, Janov, but it never hurts to check at closer quarters. Gaia-S has a planetary system, which is no surprise. There are two muff monsters in view and one of them is nice and large if the computers distance assessment is accurate. There could easily be another on the other side of the star and therefore not easily detectable, since we hap pen by chance to be somewhat close to the planetary plane. I cant make out anything in the inner regions, which is also no surprise.Is that bad?Not really. Its expected. The habitable planets would be of reel and metal and would be much smaller than the gasoline giants and much closer to the star, if theyre to be warm enough and on both(prenominal) counts they would be much harder to see from out here. It means well have to get in considerably closer in order to probe the celestial sphere within four microparsecs of Gaia-S.Im ready.Im not. Well make the Jump tomorrow.why tomorrow?Why not? Lets give them a day to come out and get us and for us to get away, perhaps, if we spot them coming and dont like what we see.It was a slow and cautious process. During the day that passed, Trevize grimly directed the calculation of several(prenominal) divergent approaches and tried to choose between them. Lacking hard data, he could depend only on intuition, which unfortunately told him n othing. He lacked that sureness he sometimes experienced.Eventually he punched in directions for a Jump that locomote them far out of the planetary plane.That will give us a better view of the region as a whole, he said, since we will see the planets in every part of their surface area at level best apparent distance from the sun. And they whoever they may be might not be quite as watchful over regions outside the plane. I hope.They were now as close to Gaia-S as the nearest and largest of the gas giants was and they were nearly half a billion kilometers from it. Trevize placed it under full magnification on the screen for Pelorats benefit. It was an impressive sight, even if the three sparse and narrow ring of debris were left out of account.It has the usual train of satellites, said Trevize, but at this distance from Gaia-S, we know that none of them are habitable. Nor are any of them settled by human beings who survive, let us say, under a glass dome or under other strictl y unlifelike conditions.How can you tell?Theres no radio noise with characteristics that point them out as of intelligent origin. Of course, he added, qualifying his statement at once, it is thinkable that a scientific outpost might go to great nisus to shield its radio signals and the gas giant produces radio noise that could pretend what I was looking for. Still, our radio reception is delicate and our computer is an inordinately good one. Id say the chance of human occupation of those satellites is extremely small.Does that mean theres no Gaia?No. But it does mean that if there is a Gaia, it hasnt bothered to settle those satellites. Perhaps it lacks the capacity to do so or the interest.Well, is there a Gaia?Patience, Janov. Patience.Trevize considered the sky with a seemingly aeonian supply of patience. He stopped at one point to say, Frankly, the fact that they havent come out to pounce on us is disheartening, in a way. Surely, if they had the capacities they were descr ibed as having, they would have reacted to us by now.Its conceivable, I suppose, said Pelorat glumly, that the whole thing is a fantasy.Call it a myth, Janov, said Trevize with a wry smile, and it will be right up your alley. Still, theres a planet moving through the ecosphere, which means it might be habitable. Ill want to key it for at least a day.Why?To make sure its habitable, for one thing.You just said it was in the ecosphere, Golan.Yes, at the moment it is. But its field of operations could be very eccentric, and could eventually carry it within a microparsec of the star, or out to fifteen microparsecs, or both. Well have to determine and compare the planets distance from Gaia-S with its orbital speed and it would help to note the direction of its motion.Another day.The orbit is nearly circular, Trevize said finally, which means that habitability becomes a much salutaryr bet. Yet no ones coming out to get us even now. Well have to try a closer look.Pelorat said, Why does it take so long to arrange a Jump? Youre just taking little ones.Listen to the man. forgetful Jumps are harder to control than big ones. Is it easier to pick up a rock or a fine grain of sand? Besides, Gaia-S is nearby and space is sharply curved. That complicates the calculations even for the computer. Even a mythologist should see that.Pelorat grunted.Trevize said, You can see the planet with the unaided eye now. Right there. See it? The period of gyration is about twenty-two Galactic Hours and the axial inclination is twelve degrees. It is a good deal a textbook example of a habitable planet and it is life-bearing.How can you tell?There are substantial quantities of free oxygen in the atmosphere. You cant have that without well-established vegetation.What about intelligent life?That depends on the analysis of radio-wave radiation. Of course, there could be intelligent life that has abandoned technology, I suppose, but that seems very un promising.There have been cases of that, said Pelorat.Ill take your word for it. Thats your department. However, its not likely that there would be nothing but pastoral survivors on a planet that frightened off the Mule.Pelorat said, Does it have a satellite?Yes, it does, said Trevize casually.How big? Pelorat said in a voice that was suddenly choking.Cant tell for sure. Perhaps a hundred kilometers across.Dear me, said Pelorat wistfully. I wish I had some worthier set of expletives on instant call, my dear chap, but there was just that one little chanceYou mean, if it had a giant satellite, it might be Earth itself?Yes, but it clearly isnt.Well, if Compor is right, Earth wouldnt be in this Galactic region, anyway. It would be over Sirius way. Really, Janov, Im sorry.Oh well.Look, well wait, and risk one more small Jump. If we find no signs of intelligent life, then it should be safe to land except that there will then be no reason to land, will there?After the next Jump, Trevize said in an astonished voice, That does i t, Janov. Its Gaia, all right. At least, it possesses a technological civilization.Can you tell that from the radio waves?Better than that. Theres a space station circling the planet. Do you see that?There was an object on display on the viewscreen. To Pelorats unaccustomed eye, it didnt seem very remarkable, but Trevize said, Artificial, metallic, and a radio-source.What do we do now?Nothing, for a magic spell. At this stage of technology, they cannot fail to detect us. If, after a while, they do nothing, I will beam a radio message at them. If they still do nothing, I will approach cautiously.What if they do do something?It will depend on the something. If I dont like it, then Ill have to take advantage of the fact that it is very unlikely that they have anything that can match the facility with which this ship can make a Jump.You mean well leave?Like a hyperspatial missile.But well leave no wiser than we came.Not at all. At the very least well know that Gaia exists, that it has a working technology, and that its done something to scare us.But, Golan, lets not be too easily scared.Now, Janov, I know that you want nothing more in the Galaxy than to learn about Earth at any cost, but beguile remember that I dont share your monomania. We are in an un build up ship and those people down there have been isolated for centuries. Suppose they have never heard of the Foundation and dont know enough to be deferential of it. Or suppose this is the Second Foundation and once were in their custody if theyre annoyed with us we may never be the same again. Do you want them to wipe your mind clear and find you are no longer a mythologist and know nothing about any legends some(prenominal)?Pelorat looked grim. If you put it that way. But what do we do once we leave?Simple. We get back to Terminus with the news. Or as near to Terminus as the old woman will allow. Then we might return to Gaia once again more quickly and without all this inching along, and we return w ith an armed ship or an armed fleet. Things may well be different then.They waited. It had grown to be a routine. They had spent far more time waiting in the approaches to Gaia than they had spent in all the relief valve from Terminus to Sayshell.Trevize set the computer to automatic alarm and was even everyday enough to doze in his padded chair.This meant he woke with a lift off when the alarm chimed. Pelorat came into Trevizes room, just as startled. He bad been interrupted while shaving.Have we received a message? asked Pelorat.No, said Trevize energetically. Were moving.Moving? Where?Toward the space station.Why is that?I dont know. The motors are on and the computer doesnt respond to me but were moving. Janov, weve been seized. Weve come a little too close to Gaia.

MedNet †Analysis and Strategic alternatives Essay

We ar presented with a theatrical role where Heather Yates, vice president for business development at MedNet.com, a web land pose delivering wellness information free to consumers, was losing one of their biggest advertizer Windham Pharmaceuticals. She on with the lead team were on the task of convincing Mahria Baker, Windhams CMO to continue advertisement with them instead of investing their advertisement dollars on Marvel which was essentially a large search engine with a huge sense of hearing. Mednet is also veneering tough competition from several other websites providing expert information on therapeutic treatments and condition specific diseases akin cholesterol. rough MedNetMedNet is an Ameri coffin nail great deal which caters health information services. The website was created with a mission of providing reliable and trustworthy checkup information to consumer audience for free and to snitch profits with advertize from pharmaceutical companies. Two import ant aspects to be always monitored by MedNet to be on top of the things are its Visitors and Advertisers. What does an advertiser want? Sales, leads, provoker awareness? What are the outgo metrics for measuring these? The advertisers here are pharmaceutical companies who buy onscreen publicize space from websites. Though branding in the form of promoting companys logo, slogan, and their point of intersections name along with its features is paramount to any company, it is the numbers in terms of Sales tax revenue that matters the most. The possible measuring metrics is the Banner advertising charging advertisers on a cost per kilobyte impressions (CPM) basis where an impression doer that one visitor actually saw an online advertisement. The second is Click through rate (CTR) regularity which counts each time a say-so buyer clicks the advertisement seek more product information. CPM accounts more for the brand awareness whereas the click through accounts more for the Sale s revenue generated in popular, however, the winning metrics greatly depends on the industry one is catering to.What specific consumer behaviors determine whether or not a business model produces the results an advertiser wants? MedNet is greatly financed by advertising, selling online magazines and sponsorships. It has a business model thats very some(prenominal) centered on advertising. MedNet is a go-to re parentage for basic health and diagnostic information. However, competitors like cholesterol.com and others emerged that offered tailored and condition-specific health recommendations to each visitors specifications for such chronic diseases. Though MedNet was known to post the most up to battle and reliable health information which doed them enforce trusted relationships with their audience, it was important that they underwrite that the customer returns back to them each time. Based on the CTR and the CPM, the advertisers can only analyze the consumers preference s and purchasing patterns. What is the best argument Yates can make to justify charging Windham for impressions instead of click throughs?Does she have acceptable secondarys? MedNet charges for cost per thousand impressions to Windham Pharmaceuticals while Marvel, the search engine is doing it for free. Yates, the VP, rightly argues that though the impression skill not be an accurate measure of a sale of the product but it does have an assuring and positive impact about the advertiser on the consumer. It instills a belief of goodness of a product qualification it highly apparent that the consumer buys it at a later point of time. She primed(p) emphasis on the trusted relationship which however, is not quantifiable. I think, the best argument she puts across is along the lines of the posteriored audience. According to reports, more consumers seek health information than finance or health information online. Health comes offset printing and a diligent consumer would want to ac cess only reliable diagnostic information which is guaranteed via MedNet which is an established well known website for its health information services. Thus, audience looking at the Windhams ad through MedNet is more likely to buy the product. The alternative approach to this is as follows1) MedNet could charge Windham for click throughs only. However, this is non acceptable keepn the small audience that MedNet captures. It is little likely for this express mail audience to actually go click an advertisement. This would affect their sales revenue. 2) Windham can wait to see the results of the Vesselia (prescription medication) coupons that were redeemable at the pharmacy. This way, Windham could know if MedNet was more declare and profitable than Marvel. What place to the customer does a global interest site contribute that a ecological niche site cant? familiar interest sites like MedNet faced tough competition from the specialized niche sites like cholesterol. Howeve r, the hobby are a few aspects that give the world-wide sites an edge over the niche ones. 1) They provide a wide source of information on different medical conditions. This way, they are running a business that attracts a larger audience. They are providing real value to these customers. 2) global interest sites are more well known to the unprofessional and less sophisticated consumer base. They might not be aware of the niche sites. Thus, general interest sites provide a larger coverage of the general audience. 3) Because general sites cater to larger audience who are their regular visitors, they can bear with to provide cheap services to their advertisers in that respectof making their scheme oftentimes more attractive than the niche sites. 4) The niche sites providing Tailored recommendations were running a huge risk of providing the full diagnosed information violating the state and federal govt. regulations thus in turn, risking their customers integrity.What steps can MedNet take to hail emerging competitive threats?MedNet is facing a tough competition from potential competitors like Marvel, Cholesterol etc. The major underlying issue universe the limited visitor traffic. Most of the traffic gets diverted to Marvel.1. In enjoin to increase their popularity and generate more returning traffic, they can do the following Retain the same content but add more value by using social media to create community throngs to encourage group discussions, create forums and blogs that helps people learn from reviews and feedbacks. These community tools testament make the site more interactive and encourage visitors to return to the site. MedNet is in the business of advertising where it is promoting its advertisers. But self-advertising is important too. Promote and Publicize self, using conventional means of advertising like prints on paper like newspapers, Yellow pages and magazines. They should target advertisers of more common ailments like high blood p ressure, allergies and depression/anxiety. Thus, in order to increase the value provided to Windham, MedNet needs to focus on the saturation of the consumer traffic and make sure these consumers return.2. Target employer websites and private online health portals, which give employees a secure gateway through which they can access their personal health information, and insurance claims. This will help diversify revenues and maintaining existing consumers. Alongside, it would help in branding through Corporate Word of Mouth. Though there will be initial setup and marketing costs, but this will pay off in the long run. MedNet should also discuss with the employers to provide pharmaceutical ads in addition to these services they offer to the employees.3. MedNet can stretch out their pool of advertisers that currently focus only on pharmaceutical companies to others like professional high profile clinics, pharmacies, health insurance companies etc. in that location is a tough com petition among these smaller advertisers because they are large in number and thus would need advertising to promote self-more than ever. So these are potential customers to MedNet.Thus above are a few alternative approaches that MedNet can take to have an edge over its competitors.ReferencesAbout WebMD. Retrieved from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebMD. The official WebMD site to understand the look and feel of a health information service website. Retrieved from http//symptoms.webmd.com/default.htmconditionView.

Beliefs About Students Essay

It is undeniable that the beliefs or so educatees and education have a profound tinct on what is taught and how it is taught, fitting as the beliefs about life have a profound impact on how individuals live their lives. Educational beliefs are revised and refined and over time becomes stronger as they seem to serve us well and prove to be true. Thus, these beliefs ultimately become our philosophy of education. It is possible that every student that enters a classroom can succeed. However, in order for them to accomplish this, instruction should be student centered.Students should be encouraged to understand and appreciate their uniqueness and to be accountable for their learning and behavior. According to Ornstein and Hunkins (2004) Perennialism relies on the past curiously the past asserted by agreed-on universal knowledge and cherished values. Dunn (2005) also agreed that Perennialism is the oldest educational philosophy and is in that respectfore traditional. It is belie ved that students are vessels to be modify and disciplined in the proven strategies of the past.This philosophy is supported by the realist philosopher illusion Locke, who was of the belief that at birth the mind is a outer space airplane of paper on which the teacher could write knowledge (Tabula Rasa). According to the essentialist viewpoint, there are certain basic or essential knowledge, skills and understandings that students should master in order to function successfully in the society. These are reading, writing, computing and in todays world, computer skills. Plato, who was the father of idealism, believed that both male and female are equal and should be enlightened equally.Therefore, the curriculum is the same for everyone and readying to execution of lessons are dominated by the teacher. However, one should not immobilize that these beliefs are teacher centered and tend to be more tyrannical and conservative and emphasize only the values and knowledge that have su rvived by dint of time. Learning occurs done experience, Therefore students should be allowed to develop cognitively through experimentation and to reach their get personal potence instead of being shaped into a specific mould.Dunn (2005) cited Immanuel Kant who agreed that knowledge is rooted in the experience of mankind and can only be achieved by an ready and exploratory mind, rather than one that is passive and receptive. Carl Rogers also believed in existential learning. He believed that unlike academic knowledge, experiential knowledge is required to reckon the needs of the learner in order to complete important real-life tasks such as learning to drive a car. Every student is different, no single set of learning outcomes is appropriate for all students.Thus a set curriculum will not be suitable for all. Students should be able to determine what they need to study with the guidance of the teacher. This will attention them to arrive at their own understandings. Jean Sart re, a leader of existentialist philosophy believed that mans responsibility is vested in man himself. He promote stated that people are entitled to be human with hauteur andis a human only when he or she is entirely drop and accepts responsibility for his freedom.You whitethorn be led to believe that students are blank slates and learn based on mainly academic knowledge that has been tried, time-tested and proven and that all humans are equal and should be educated equally. However, do not ignore the fact that students are taking to the classroom, their own ideas and materials rather than receiving material in class as it is given. Students restructure the modernistic information to fit into their own cognitive frameworks. In this manner, they actively and respectively construct their own knowledge. They also are different thus, the same stringent curriculum will not work for all students.From these facts one may conclude that in order to back up students reach their full p otential and gain the knowledge and skills that they will require in their daily lives as a democratic citizen of our society, the student centered approach to how students learn moldiness be practiced. Therefore it is recommended that teachers facilitate students instead of being fountains of wisdom. The teacher should help students in their pursuit for knowledge and also help them acquire the communication, business solving and critical thinking skills which will enable them to be life-long learners.

Chapter 20 The First Task

gravel got up on sunshine morning and dressed so inat bivouacively that it was a while onwards he realized he was laborious to pull his hat onto his tail end instead of his sock. When hed fin every(prenominal)y got either his c plenitudehes on the right part of his body, he zip tally-key to take chances Hermi star, locating her at the Gryffindor board in the Great h onlyway, w here she was eating breakfast with Ginny. Feeling to a fault unhinged to eat, harry apparent movemented until Hermione had swallowed her last spoonful of porridge, indeed dragged her reveal onto the g cannonball alongdles. There, he told her all or so the decampdrakes, and approximately every subject Sirius had verbalize, while they overlyk an former(a)(a) extensive walk approximately the lake.Alarmed as she was by Siriuss warnings ab tabu Karkaroff, Hermione still musical theme that the cream of tartars were the much than pressing problem.Lets skillful try and keep you aliv e until Tuesday flating, she verbalize desperately, and then we can worry ab step to the fore Karkaroff.They walked troika measures nigh the lake, trying all the way to call bandaging of a simple fleck that would concentrate a dragon. Nothing whatsoever occurred to them, so they retired to the library instead. Here, ravage pulled bewilder appear every book he could find on dragons, and two of them brand to work searching by the large pile.Talon-clipping by charmstreating scale-rot This is no beloved, this is for nutters uniform Hagrid who want to keep them healthyDragons are extremely difficult to slay, owe to the ancient magic that imbues their buddy-buddy hides, which none mere(prenominal)ly the most in good order spells can penetrate tho Sirius utter a simple one would do itLets try some simple spellbooks, then, utter brace to, throwing aside men Who Love Dragons Too Much.He re moody to the table with a pile of spellbooks, mark off them batch, and be gan to flick through severally in turn, Hermione whispering non curb at his elbow.Well, at that place are Switching Spells exactly whats the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would desexualise it less dangerous.The trouble is, like that book say, non a great passel is passage to maturate through a dragons hide.Id record Transfigure it, just now something that big, you actually tie along tont got a hope, I doubt even prof McGonagallunless youre supposed to put the spell on yourself? Maybe to confront yourself bare powers? But theyre non simple spells, I mean, we birthnt done whatsoever of those in class, I moreover k like a shot to the highest degree them because Ive been doing O.W.L. practice written document.Hermione, elicit state, through gritted teeth, will you shut up for a bit, gratify? I m trying to concentrate.But all that happened, when Hermione fell silent, was that arouses thought filled with a s traighten bug place of blank buzzing, which didnt memorial tablet to allow elbow room for concentration. He stared hopelessly down the index of Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed. exacting scalping only if dragons had no hairpepper intimationthat would probably extend a dragons firepowerhorn tongue right what he require, to kick down it an extra weaponOh no, hes stand off again, why cant he read on his pudden- promontory ship? express Hermione irritably as Viktor Krum slouched in, cast a splenetic look over at the pair of them, and settled himself in a distant corner with a pile of books. Come on, harry, well go subscribe to the common roomhis fan clubll be here in a act, twittering away.And sure enough, as they left the library, a gang of girls tiptoed early(prenominal) them, one of them wearing a Bulgaria scarf level(p) more or less her waist. get at barely slept that night. When he awoke on Monday morning, he seriously considered for the eldest judgment of conviction ever just running away from Hogwarts. But as he looked virtually the Great Hall at breakfast time, and thought ab forth what leaving the castle would mean, he knew he couldnt do it. It was the only correct he had ever been happy well, he supposed he essential take aim been happy with his parents too, scarce he couldnt remember that.Somehow, the kat onceledge that he would earlier be here and facing a dragon than rump on Privet Drive with Dudley was good to come it made him quality reasonably calmer. He finished his bacon with difficulty (his throat wasnt working too well), and as he and Hermione got up, he maxim Cedric Diggory leaving the Hufflepuff table.Cedric still didnt k immediately slightly the dragonsthe only champion who didnt, if incrust was right in specifying that Maxime and Karkaroff would bewilder told Fleur and Krum.Hermione, Ill see you in the greenhouses, get to utter, coming to his decision as he watched Cedric leaving the Hall. Go on, Ill gain you up.Harry, youll be late, the bells about to ring -Ill catch you up, okay?By the time Harry r all(prenominal)ed the bottom of the marble staircase, Cedric was at the top. He was with a load of sixth-year friends. Harry didnt want to talk to Cedric in front of them they were among those who had been quoting Rita Skeeters article at him every time he went salutary them. He followed Cedric at a distance and saw that he was cope toward the Charms corridor. This gave Harry an idea. Pausing at a distance from them, he pulled out his billy, and took painstaking aim.DiffindoCedrics bag split. Parchment, quills, and books spilled out of it onto the floor. Several bottles of ink smashed.Dont b opposite, retell Cedric in an anger voice as his friends bent down to help him. Tell Flitwick Im coming, go onThis was exactly what Harry had been hoping for. He slipped his wand back into his robes, waited until Cedrics friends had disappeared into their schoolroom, and move up th e corridor, which was now empty of everyone but himself and Cedric.Hi, said Cedric, plectron up a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that was now splattered with ink. My bag just splitbrand-new and allCedric, said Harry, the first task is dragons.What? said Cedric, expression up.Dragons, said Harry, speaking quickly, in case professor Flitwick came out to see where Cedric had got to. Theyve got four, one for each of us, and weve got to unsex preceding(a) them.Cedric stared at him. Harry saw some of the panic hed been offsetal opinion since Saturday night flickering in Cedrics gray malls.Are you sure? Cedric said in a hushed voice.Dead sure, said Harry. Ive seen them.But how did you find out? Were not supposed to know.Never mind, said Harry quickly he knew Hagrid would be in trouble if he told the truth. But Im not the only one who knows. Fleur and Krum will know by now Maxime and Karkaroff both saw the dragons too.Cedric straightened up, his arms full of inky quill s, parchment, and books, his ripped bag reprieve off one shoulder. He stared at Harry, and there was a puzzled, well-nigh suspicious look in his snappers.Why are you enjoining me? he asked.Harry looked at him in disbelief. He was sure Cedric wouldnt thrust asked that if he had seen the dragons himself. Harry wouldnt beat allow his worst enemy face those monsters extemporary well, perhaps Malfoy or Snape.Its justfair, isnt it? he said to Cedric. We all know nowwere on an even footing, arent we?Cedric was still hooking at him in a slightly suspicious way when Harry hear a familiar clunking racket fanny him. He turned around and saw Mad-Eye glum emerging from a nearby classroom.Come with me, Potter, he growled. Diggory, off you go.Harry stared apprehensively at Moody. Had he overheard them?Er prof, Im supposed to be in Herbology -Never mind that, Potter. In my office, satisfyHarry followed him, wonder what was issue to happen to him now. What if Moody wanted to know how hed found out about the dragons? Would Moody go to Dumbledore and spot on Hagrid, or just turn Harry into a ferret? Well, it aptitude be easier to get sometime(prenominal) a dragon if he were a ferret, Harry thought dully, hed be small, much less easy to see from a summit take overing of fifty feet.He followed Moody into his office. Moody c meetd the door fag them and turned to look at Harry, his magic eye fixed upon him as well as the normal one.That was a very decent thing you just did, Potter, Moody said quietly.Harry didnt know what to say this wasnt the reaction he had expected at all.Sit down, said Moody, and Harry sat, looking around.He had vi dumbfounded this office nether two of its previous occupants. In Professor Lockharts day, the walls had been plastered with beaming, winking pictures of Professor Lockhart himself. When Lupin had lived here, you were more likely to come crossways a specimen of some fascinating new sable creature he had procured for them to st udy in class. Now, however, the office was full of a number of exceptionally odd intents that Harry supposed Moody had apply in the days when he had been an Auror.On his desk stood what looked hike a large, cracked, folderol spinning top Harry recognized it at once as a Sneakoscope, because he owned one himself, though it was much smaller than Moodys. In the corner on a small table stood an object that looked something like an extra-squiggly, gilded television aerial. It was humming slightly. What appeared to be a reverberate hung reverse gear Harry on the wall, but it was not reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around internal it, none of them clearly in focus.Like my sad Detectors, do you? said Moody, who was watching Harry virtually.Whats that? Harry asked, pointing at the squiggly florid aerial.Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it detects concealment and liesno use here, of course, too much interference students in every direction lying about why they confo undnt done their homework. Been humming ever since I got here. I had to disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldnt stop whistling. Its extra-sensitive, picks up glut about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up more than kid stuff, he added in a growl.And whats the reflect for?Oh thats my Foe-Glass. See them out there, skulking around? Im not really in trouble until I see the whites of their eye. Thats when I open my trunk.He let out a victimize, harsh laugh, and pointed to the large trunk under the window. It had sevener keyholes in a row. Harry wondered what was in there, until Moodys future(a) question brought him astutely back to earth.Sofound out about the dragons, meet you?Harry hesitated. Hed been panic-struck of this but he hadnt told Cedric, and he certainly wasnt going to recount Moody, that Hagrid had broken the rules.Its all right, said Moody, sitting down and stretching out his wooden leg with a groan. Cheatings a traditional part of the Triwizard to urnament and always has been.I didnt cheat, said Harry sharply. It was a sort of separatrix that I found out.Moody grinned. I wasnt accusing you, laddie. Ive been telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime wont be. Theyll defecate told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want to dodge Dumbledore. Theyd like to prove hes only human.Moody gave another(prenominal) harsh laugh, and his magical eye swiveled around so fast it made Harry feel queasy to watch it.Sogot any ideas how youre going to get past your dragon yet? said Moody.No, said Harry.Well, Im not going to tell you, said Moody gruf strike down. I dont show favoritism, me. Im just going to give you some good, general advice. And the first bit is play to your strengths.I havent got any, said Harry, forrader he could stop himself.Excuse me, growled Moody, youve got strengths if I say youve got them. hypothecate now. What are you better at?Harry tried to concentrate. What was he best at? Well, that was easy, really Quidditch, he said dully, and a fat lot of help -Thats right, said Moody, staring at him very grueling, his magical eye barely moving at all. Youre a damn good card from what Ive heard.Yeah, but Harry stared at him. Im not allowed a broom, Ive only got my wandMy second piece of general advice, said Moody loudly, interrupting him, is to use a nice, simple spell that will enable you to get what you carry.Harry looked at him blankly. What did he indispensableness?Come on, boy whispered Moody. Put them togetherits not that difficultAnd it clicked. He was best at flying. He demand to pass the dragon in the air. For that, he needed his Firebolt. And for his Fire-bolt, he needed Hermione, Harry whispered, when he had sped into greenhouse three minutes later, uttering a hurried apology to Professor Sprout as he passed her. Hermione I need you to help me.What dyou think Ive been trying to do, Harry? she whispered back, her eyes round with anxiety over the top of the quivering Flutterby Bush she was pruning.Hermione, I need to learn how to do a Summoning Charm properly by tomorrow afternoon.And so they practiced. They didnt have lunch, but liberty chited for a free classroom, where Harry tried with all his might to make various objects fly crossways the room toward him. He was still having problems. The books and quills unploughed losing emotional state fractionalway across the room and dropping hike stones to the floor.Concentrate, Harry, concentrate.What dyou think Im trying to do? said Harry angrily. A great big dragon keeps soda up in my head for some reasonOkay, try againHe wanted to skip Divination to keep practicing, but Hermione refused straight-from-the-shoulder to skive off Arithmancy, and there was no point in staying without her. He therefore had to endure over an hour of Professor Trelawney, who spent half the lesson telling everyone that the position of Mar s with relation to Saturn at that moment meant that mint born in July were in great danger of sudden, violent deaths.Well, thats good, said Harry loudly, his temper getting the better of him, just as keen-sighted as its not drawn-out. I dont want to suffer.Ron looked for a moment as though he was going to laugh he certainly caught Harrys eye for the first time in days, but Harry was still notion too resentful toward Ron to care. He spent the rest of the lesson trying to earn small objects toward him under the table with his wand. He managed to make a fly zoom straight into his kick the bucket, though he wasnt entirely sure that was his gallantry at Summoning Charms perhaps the fly was just stupid.He laboured down some dinner after Divination, then returned to the empty classroom with Hermione, using the Invisibility Cloak to avoid the teachers. They kept practicing until past midnight. They would have stayed longer, but Peeves turned up and, pretending to think that Harry wa nted things thrown at him, started chucking chairs across the room. Harry and Hermione left in a hurry in the lead the noise attracted Filch, and went back to the Gryffindor common room, which was now mercifully empty.At two oclock in the morning, Harry stood near the fireplace, surrounded by heaps of objects books, quills, several upturned chairs, an old set of Gobstones, and Nevilles toad, Trevor. Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of the Summoning Charm.Thats better, Harry, thats fill better, Hermione said, looking exhausted but very occupyd.Well, now we know what to do next time I cant manage a spell, Harry said, throwing a rune dictionary back to Hermione, so he could try again, hazard me with a dragon. Right He raised his wand once more. Accio dictionaryThe heavy book soared out of Hermiones circulate, flew across the room, and Harry caught it.Harry, I really think youve got it said Hermione delightedly.Just as long as it deeds tomorrow, Harry said. The Firebolts going to be much farther away than the stuff in here, its going to be in the castle, and Im going to be out there on the groundsThat doesnt matter, said Hermione firmly. Just as long as youre concentrating really, really hard on it, itll come. Harry, wed better get some sleepyoure going to need it.Harry had been focusing so hard on learning the Summoning Charm that evening that some of his finesse panic had heft him. It returned in full measure, however, on the following morning. The glory in the school was one of great tension and excitement. Lessons were to stop at midday, giving all the students time to get down to the dragons bound though of course, they didnt yet know what they would find there.Harry felt up oddly set forth from everyone around him, whether they were wishing him good endangerment or hissing Well have a box of tissues arrange, Potter as he passed. It was a extract of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he mightnt just lose his he ad when they tried to lead him out to his dragon, and start trying to assert everyone in sight. Time was behaving in a more peculiar elan than ever, rushing past in great dollops, so that one moment he seemed to be sitting down in his first lesson, business relationship of Magic, and the next, walking into lunchand then (where had the morning gone? the last of the dragon-free hours?), Professor McGonagall was pep pill over to him in the Great Hall. Lots of people were watching.Potter, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now.You have to get ready for your first task.Okay, said Harry, standing up, his fork falling onto his plate with a clatter. advantageously luck, Harry, Hermione whispered. Youll be fineYeah, said Harry in a voice that was most unlike his own.He heft the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall. She didnt seem herself either in fact, she looked nearly as nauseated as Hermione. As she walked him down the stone steps and out into the algid November after noon, she put her hand on his shoulder.Now, dont panic, she said, just keep a still head.Weve got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand.The main thing is just to do your best, and nobody will think any the worsened of you.Are you all right?Yes, Harry heard himself say. Yes, Im fine.She was jumper cable him toward the place where the dragons were, around the edge of the forest, but when they approached the clump of trees shag which the barrier would be clearly visible, Harry saw that a tent had been erected, its entree facing them, screening the dragons from view.Youre to go in here with the other champions, said Professor McGonagall, in a rather shaky sort of voice, and wait for your turn, Potter. Mr. roadman is in therehell be telling you the the procedure. Good luck.Thanks, said Harry, in a flat, distant voice. She left him at the magnetise of the tent. Harry went inside.Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner on a how wooden stool. She didnt lo ok nearly as composed as usual, but rather pale and clammy. Viktor Krum looked even surlier than usual, which Harry supposed was his way of presentation nerves. Cedric was pacing up and down. When Harry entered, Cedric gave him a small smile, which Harry returned, olfaction the muscles in his face working rather hard, as though they had disregarded how to do it.Harry Good-o said Bagman happily, looking around at him. Come in, come in, make yourself at homeBagman looked someway like a slightly overblown cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his old Wasp robes again.Well, now were all here time to fill you in said Bagman brightly. When the audience has assembled, Im going to be offering each of you this bag he held up a small sack of imperial silk and shook it at them from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face There are different er varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else tooah, yesy our task is to collect the golden eggHarry glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that he understood Bagmans words, and then started pacing around the tent again he looked slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadnt reacted at all. Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths that was certainly how Harry felt. But they, at least, had volunteered for thisAnd in no time at all, hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard way out the tent, their owners talk excitedly, laughing, joking.Harry felt as separate from the assembly as though they were a different species. And then it seemed like about a second later to Harry Bagman was opening the eff of the purple silk sack.Ladies first, he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour.She put a move hand inside the bag and pull out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck And Harry knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a de termined resignation, that he had been right wenche Maxime had told her what was coming.The equal held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck. He didnt even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground.Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, Harry put his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail, and the number four. It stretched its wings as he looked down at it, and bared its minuscule fangs.Well, there you are said Bagman. You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, Im going to have to leave you in a moment, because Im commentating. Mr. Diggory, youre first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? NowHarrycould I have a quick word? Outside?Eryes, said Harry blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman, who walked him a short distance away, into the trees, and then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face.Feeling all right, Harry? Anything I can get you?What? said Harry. I no, nothing.Got a plan? said Bagman, lowering his voice conspiratorially. Because I dont mind sharing a few pointers, if youd like them, you know. I mean, Bagman continued, lowering his voice still further, youre the underdog here, Harry.Anything I can do to helpNo, said Harry so quickly he knew he had sounded rude, no I I know what Im going to do, thanks.Nobody would know, Harry, said Bagman, winking at him.No, Im fine, said Harry, wondering why he kept telling people this, and wondering whether he had ever been less fine. Ive got a plan worked out, I -A whistle had blown somewhere.Good lord, Ive got to run said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off.Harry walked back to the tent and saw Cedric emerging from it, greener than ever. Harry tried to wis h him luck as he walked past, but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt.Harry went back inside to Fleur and Krum. Seconds hater, they heard the ululate of the ring, which meant Cedric had entered the enclosure and was now face-to-face with the living counterpart of his model.It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting there and listening. The crowd screamed let loosegasped like a single many-headed entity, as Cedric did any(prenominal) he was doing to get past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. Fleur had now interpreted to retracing Cedrics steps, around and around the tent. And Bagmans commentary made everything much, much worse.Horrible pictures form in Harrys mind as he heard Oooh, narrow look out on there, very narrow Hes taking risks, this oneClever move compassion it didnt workAnd then, after about fifteen minutes, Harry heard the deafen roar that could mean only one thing Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the golden egg.Very good indeed Bagman was shouting. And now the mark from the judgesBut he didnt shout out the label Harry supposed the judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd.One down, three to go Bagman shouted as the whistle blew again. Miss Delacour, if you pleaseFleur was trembling from head to foot Harry felt more cordially toward her than he had done so far as she heft the tent with her head held high and her hand great dealing her wand. He and Krum were left alone, at opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each others gaze.The same process started again.Oh Im not sure that was apt they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. Ohnearly Careful nowgood lord, I thought shed had it thenTen minutes later, Harry heard the crowd erupt into applause once more.Fleur must have been successful too. A pause, while Fleurs marks were being shownmore clappingthen, for the third time, the whistle.And here comes Mr. Krum cried Bagman, and Krum slouched out, leav ing Harry quite alone.He felt much more sure of his body than usual very aware of the way his heart was pumping fast, and his fingers tingling with fearyet at the same time, he seemed to be outside himself, seeing the walls of the tent, and hearing the crowd, as though from far away.Very daring Bagman was yelling, and Harry heard the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible, roaring shriek, while the crowd drew its collective breath. Thats some nerve hes showing and yes, hes got the eggApplause tattered the wintery air like breaking glass Krum had finished it would be Harrys turn any moment.He stood up, noticing dimly that his legs seemed to be made of marshmallow. He waited. And then he heard the whistle blow. He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic rising into a crescendo inside him. And now he was walking past the trees, through a gap in the enclosure fence.He saw everything in front of him as though it was a very highly colored dream. There were hundreds and hundr eds of faces staring down at him from stands that had been magicked there since hed last stood on this spot. And there was the Horntail, at the other end of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs, her wings half-furled, her evil, yellow eyes upon him, a monstrous, scaly, black lizard, thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground. The crowd was making a great deal of noise, but whether friendly or not, Harry didnt know or care. It was time to do what he had to doto focus his mind, entirely and absolutely, upon the thing that was his only chance.He raised his wand.Accio Firebolt he shouted.Harry waited, every fiber of him hoping, praying.If it hadnt workedif it wasnt comingHe seemed to be looking at everything around him through some sort of shimmering, transparent barrier, like a heat haze, which made the enclosure and the hundreds of faces around him swim strangely.And then he heard it, stop number through the air behind him he turned and saw his Firebolt hurtling toward him around the edge of the woods, soaring into the enclosure, and stopping dead in midair beside him, waiting for him to mount. The crowd was making even more noise.Bagman was shouting somethingbut Harrys ears were not working properly anymorelistening wasnt important.He swung his leg over the broom and kicked off from the ground. And a second later, something miraculous happened.As he soared upward, as the wind rushed through his hair, as the crowds faces became mere flesh-colored pinpnicks below, and the Horntail shrank to the size of a dog, he realized that he had left not only the ground behind, but also his fear.He was back where he belonged.This was just another Quidditch match, that was alljust another Quidditch match, and that Horntail was just another ugly opposing team.He looked down at the clutch of eggs and spotted the gold one, gleaming against its cement-colored fellows, residing safely between the dragons front legs. Okay, Harry told himself, diversionary tacticslets goHe dived. The Horntails head followed him he knew what it was going to do and pulled out of the dive just in time a jet of fire had been released exactly where he would have been had he not swerved awaybut Harry didnt carethat was no more than dodging a Bludger.Great Scott, he can fly yelled Bagman as the crowd shrieked and gasped. Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?Harry soared higher in a circle the Horntail was still following his progress its head revolving on its long neck if he kept this up, it would be nicely dizzy but better not push it too long, or it would be breathing fire again Harry plummeted just as the Horntail opened its mouth, but this time he was less aureate he missed the flames, but the tail came whipping up to meet him instead, and as he swerved to the left, one of the long spikes grazed his shoulder, ripping his robes He could feel it stinging, he could hear screaming and groans from the crowd, but the let down didnt seem t o be deep.Now he zoomed around the back of the Horntail, and a disaster occurred to him.The Horntail didnt seem to want to take off, she was too protective of her eggs. Though she writhen and twisted, furling and unfurling her wings and keeping those fearsome yellow eyes on Harry, she was afraid to move too far from thembut he had to persuade her to do it, or hed never get near them.The trick was to do it carefully, bit by bit.He began to fly, first this way, then the other, not near enough to make her breathe fire to stave him off, but still posing a sufficient threat to ensure she kept her eyes on him. Her head swayed this way and that, watching him out of those vertical pupils, her fangs bared.He flew higher. The Horntails head rose with him, her neck now stretched to its fullest extent, still swaying, hike a ophidian before its charmer.Harry rose a few more feet, and she let out a roar of exasperation. He was like a fly to her, a fly she was longing to swat her tail thrashed again, but he was too high to reach now.She shot fire into the air, which he dodged.Her jaws opened childlike.Come on, Harry hissed, swerving tantalizingly above her, come on, come and get meup you get nowAnd then she reared, spreading her great, black, leathery wings at last, as wide as those of a small airplane and Harry dived. Before the dragon knew what he had done, or where he had disappeared to, he was speeding toward the ground as fast as he could go, toward the eggs now unprotected by her clawed front legs he had taken his hands off his Firebolt he had seized the golden egg And with a huge spurt of speed, he was off, he was soaring out over the stands, the heavy egg safely under his uninjured arm, and it was as though somebody had just turned the script back up for the first time, he became properly aware of the noise of the crowd, which was screaming and applauding as loudly as the Irish supporters at the domain of a function Cup Look at that Bagman was yelling. Wi ll you look at that Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr. PotterHarry saw the dragon keepers rushing frontwards to subdue the Horntail, and, over at the entrance to the enclosure, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Hagrid hurry to meet him, all of them waving him toward them, their smiles evident even from this distance. He flew back over the stands, the noise of the crowd pounding his eardrums, and came in smoothly to land, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks.He had got through the first task, he had survived.That was excellent, Potter cried Professor McGonagall as he got off the Firebolt which from her was extravagant praise. He noticed that her hand shook as she pointed at his shoulder. Youll need to see Madam Pomfrey before the judges give out your score.Over there, shes had to mop up Diggory already.Yeh did it, Harry said Hagrid hoarsely. Yeh did it An agains the Horntail an all, an yeh know Charlie s aid that was the wors -Thanks, Hagrid, said Harry loudly, so that Hagrid wouldnt blunder on and reveal that he had shown Harry the dragons beforehand.Professor Moody looked very pleased too his magical eye was dancing in its socket.Nice and easy does the trick, Potter, he growled.Right then, Potter, the first aid tent, please said Professor McGonagall.Harry walked out of the enclosure, still panting, and saw Madam Pomfrey standing at the mouth of a second tent, looking worried.Dragons she said, in a disgusted tone, pulling Harry inside. The tent was divided into cubicles he could make out Cedrics shadow through the canvas, but Cedric didnt seem to be badly injured he was sitting up, at least. Madam Pomfrey examined Harrys shoulder, talking furiously all the while. Last year dementors, this year dragons, what are they going to bring into this school next? Youre very luckythis is quite changeitll need cleaning before I heal it up, though.She cleaned the cut with a dab of some purple liquid that smoked and stung, but then poked his shoulder with her wand, and he felt it heal instantly.Now, just sit quietly for a minute sit And then you can go and get your score.She bustled out of the tent and he heard her go next door and say, How does it feel now, Diggory?Harry didnt want to sit still. He was too full of adrenaline. He got to his feet, wanting to see what was going on outside, but before hed reached the mouth of the tent, two people had come darting inside Hermione, followed closely by Ron.Harry, you were brilliant Hermione said squeakily. There were fingernail marks on her face where she had been clutching it in fear. You were amazing You really wereBut Harry was looking at Ron, who was very white and staring at Harry as though he were a ghost.Harry, he said, very seriously, whoever put your name in that goblet I I reckon theyre trying to do you inIt was as though the last few weeks had never happened as though Harry were meeting Ron for the first time, r ight after hed been made champion.Caught on, have you? said Harry coldly. Took you long enough.Hermione stood nervously between them, looking from one to the other. Ron opened his mouth uncertainly. Harry knew Ron was about to apologize and suddenly he found he didnt need to hear it.Its okay, he said, before Ron could get the words out. Forget it.No, said Ron, I shouldntve -Forget it, Harry said.Ron grinned nervously at him, and Harry grinned back.Hermione burst into crying.Theres nothing to cry about Harry told her, bewildered.You two are so stupid she shouted, stamping her foot on the ground, tears splashing down her front. Then, before either of them could stop her, she had given both of them a hug and dashed away, now positively howling.Barking mad, said Ron, shaking his head. Harry, cmon, theyll be putting up your scores.Picking up the golden egg and his Firebolt, feeling more elated than he would have believed executable an hour ago, Harry ducked out of the tent, Ron by his s ide, talking fast.You were the best, you know, no competition. Cedric did this eldritch thing where he Transfigured a rock on the groundturned it into a doghe was trying to make the dragon go for the dog instead of him. Well, it was a pretty cool bit of Transfiguration, and it sort of worked, because he did get the egg, but he got burned as well the dragon changed its mind halfway through and decided it would rather have him than the Labrador he only just got away. And that Fleur girl tried this sort of charm, I think she was trying to put it into a trance well, that kind of worked too, it went all sleepy, but then it snored, and this great jet of flame shot out, and her fence in caught fire she put it out with a bit of water out of her wand. And Krum you wont believe this, but he didnt even think of flying He was probably the best after you, though. Hit it with some sort of spell right in the eye. Only thing is, it went trampling around in agony and squashed half the real egg s they took marks off for that, he wasnt supposed to do any damage to them.Ron drew breath as he and Harry reached the edge of the enclosure. Now that the Horntail had been taken away, Harry could see where the five judges were sitting right at the other end, in raised seats draped in gold.Its marks out of ten from each one, Ron said, and Harry squinting up the field, saw the first judge Madame Maxime raise her wand in the air. What hooked like a long silver ribbon shot out of it, which twisted itself into a large figure eight.Not bad said Ron as the crowd applauded. I suppose she took marks off for your shoulderMr. Crouch came next. He shot a number nine into the air.Looking good Ron yelled, walloping Harry on the back.Next, Dumbledore. He too put up a nine. The crowd was cheering harder than ever.Ludo Bagman ten.Ten? said Harry in disbelief. ButI got hurt.Whats he playing at?Harry, dont find fault Ron yelled excitedly.And now Karkaroff raised his wand. He paused for a momen t, and then a number shot out of his wand too four.What? Ron bellowed furiously. Four? You lousy, dark scum-bag, you gave Krum tenBut Harry didnt care, he wouldnt have cared if Karkaroff had given him correct Rons indignation on his behalf was worth about a hundred points to him. He didnt tell Ron this, of course, but his heart felt lighter than air as he turned to leave the enclosure. And it wasnt just Ronthose werent only Gryffindors cheering in the crowd. When it had come to it, when they had seen what he was facing, most of the school had been on his side as well as Cedrics.He didnt care about the Slytherins, he could stand whatever they threw at him now.Youre tied in first place, Harry You and Krum said Charlie Weasley, hurrying to meet them as they set off back toward the school. Listen, Ive got to run, Ive got to go and identify Mum an owl, I swore Id tell her what happened but that was unbelievable Oh yeah and they told me to tell you youve got to hang around for a few more minutes.Bagman wants a word, back in the champions tent.Ron said he would wait, so Harry reentered the tent, which in some way looked quite different now friendly and welcoming. He thought back to how hed felt while dodging the Horntail, and compared it to the long wait before hed walked out to face it.There was no comparison the wait had been immeasurably worse.Fleur, Cedric, and Krum all came in together. One side of Cedrics face was covered in a thick orange paste, which was presumably mending his burn. He grinned at Harry when he saw him.Good one, Harry.And you, said Harry, grinning back.Well done, all of you said Ludo Bagman, bouncing into the tent and looking as pleased as though he personally had just got past a dragon. Now, just a quick few words. Youve got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth but were giving you something to think about in the meantime If you look down at those golden eggs youre all holding, you will see that they opensee the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it All clear? accepted? Well, off you go, thenHarry left the tent, rejoined Ron, and they started to walk back around the edge of the forest, talking hard Harry wanted to hear what the other champions had done in more detail. Then, as they rounded the clump of trees behind which Harry had first heard the dragons roar, a witch leapt out from behind them.It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand blended suddenly against them.Congratulations, Harry she said, beaming at him. I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you felt facing that dragon? How you feel now, about the fairness of the scoring?Yeah, you can have a word, said Harry savagely. Good-bye.And he set off back to the castle with Ron.