Example Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Example - Essay Example But how much truth lies behind claims that such cars are good for everyone? According to recent studies, there are very few reasons to purchase what have become known as environmentally friendly cars, which turn out to be anything but environmentally friendly. For years, electric vehicles have been lauded as the savior from so-called global warming, natural resource depletion and apocalyptic pollution, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are multiple reasons why government and car manufacturer claims about EVs’ superiority are fallacies. A widely publicized study reports that electric vehicles have limited range (often under 100 miles); long charge times (up to 20 hours); limited charge stations (gas stations outnumber them 10 to 1); an exorbitant price (even with a $7,500 tax credit, the Volt EV costs $14,000 more than the comparable Cruze gas vehicle); when factoring in manufacturing and disposal, EVs contribute to more pollutants than gas vehicles; government endorsement over-values EVs, promoting unaccountability and poor quality; and electric cars have been a repeated failure for 180 years, as gas has proven to be more efficient and easily accessible than electricity with regards to cars (Adams 2011). All of these strikes against electric vehicles go to show that these cars have only been a vehicle to extract money from gullible, undiscerning or politically motivated consumers. Hybrid cars, which run on a combination of gas and electricity, have also been proven to be a hoax when it comes to their environmental and financial benefits. But what about their touted excellent gas mileage that supposedly saves thousands with today’s high gas prices? It is reported that gas prices â€Å"would have to approach $8 a gallon before many of the cars could be expected to pay off in the six years an average person owns a car,† (Bunkley 2012). A person purchasing Nissan’s hybrid Leaf - over the comparable gas-powered Versa - wo uld have to drive it for nine years at today’s gas prices before seeing any savings - after paying a $10,000 higher price tag for the hybrid. Just as with EVs, the promises behind hybrids’ superior technology and better fuel economy do not pan out, as their â€Å"new† engineering proves to be more detrimental to the environment than their gas-engine counterparts, which are also much more economical. Yet, when it comes down to it, consumers purchase hybrid cars not because of their proven benefits, but because of the social and politically correct pressure to drive what is considered a smart and environmentally friendly car, as opposed to a â€Å"stupid† and environmentally hazardous gas guzzler. However, the misinformation and manipulative effectiveness of the green agenda has seen sales of hybrids increase by 60 percent this year, which now accounts for three percent of total auto sales in the United States. In Japan, on the other hand, hybrid sales have decreased with the economic hardships brought upon by the massive 9.0 earthquake and tsunami last year, and the continued economic woes in the United States could trigger a similar trend, especially as more studies are exposing the fraudulent claims and deceitful endorsement of green vehicles by car manufacturers and governments alike. Buying electric vehicles and hybrid cars are proving to be not all that they are cracked up to be as more and more research divulges

The Role of Tragedy in Early Greek Legacy Essay Example for Free

The Role of Tragedy in Early Greek Legacy Essay Tragedies have been a big and important part of Greek culture and history. Greek tragedies are dramas performed before a large audience, usually during festivities of gods, that narrate the story of a hero and all the unusual challenges and sufferings that he has to go through in order to achieve something or learn an important lesson. Tragedies usually have complex plots wherein disasters happen one after the other and their resolutions reveal important lessons or realizations. These dramas have apparently started around the 5th century BCE, a pivotal time in Greek history that also marked a lot of their other contributions like democracy. Thespis, known as the father of drama, introduced the idea of one actor acting on stage that started the flourishing of tragic dramas (â€Å"Greek Tragic Drama†). Later on, three masters of tragedy emerged namely Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Many of the tragedies that have survived from their time were written by these men who made Greek tragedies a real part of literature. But tragedies are not merely stories popularized just to be performed before an audience. Tragedies serve as an important expression of culture and creativity of Greek society. They are well supported by the Greek society because tragedies serve as means of reminding the Greeks of the moral lessons values that their culture upholds and believes in. The arrival of tragedies was in Greece was a very significant timing in history because it was around the time when Greek culture gaining momentum and flourishing. The â€Å"great surge in creativity catalyzed the concept of the Greek tragedy† (Reed 1). It encouraged the creation of dramas with crucial themes by presenting them as one of the highlights of festivities. A tragedy usually â€Å"depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods† (â€Å"Tragedy: the Basics†). Heroes are great men and women but remains imperfect humans capable of doing good and committing mistakes. They are not totally good nor totally bad, but they are usually prominent or greater than other people around them. They are also packaged as people destined to experience big transformations in their lives. Tragedies became avenues for the creative minds of playwrights to let their imagination and talent out. In the Greek society, tragedies also function as â€Å"lessons in behavior† because of the way they incorporate moral teachings into the changes of the lives of the heroes (Reed 1). The trials, successes, failures, and losses that the heroes experience serve as effective teaching tools for the Greeks. Tragedies convey different realities and some of the most common themes they present are that â€Å"actions do not go unpunished, and the gods work in mysterious – an often ironic – ways† (Reed 2). Since the characters of tragedies are not always perfectly virtuous, they are given certain tasks that challenge and influence the actions they take in their lives. The twists in the plots also give constant reminder of the intertwined quality of human life and the power of the wills of the gods. Tragedies function as manifestations of the reality that life is never perfect for men. They also serve as reminders for Greeks of the different experiences that could possibly happen to a human person, giving them idea what path should one take and what should be avoided. Tragedies are very easy to appreciate despite having heavy themes because they deal with specific instances of life. They revolve around adventures in families, in battles, and in religion. Tragedies usually follow relationships of people with others and with their gods as guides for their plots. Divine presence in everything in this world is a very significant character of Greek culture and many tragedies highlight the importance of faith in ones daily life. Tragedies are very important to the Greek society because they give lessons about virtue and warnings how people should live their life morally by using immense disasters that complicate a heros life. It is not easy being a hero in a Greek tragedy although â€Å"the hero need not die at the end, but he or she must undergo a change in fortune† in order to understand and live out the the different virtues of the Greek society (â€Å"Tragedy: the Basics†). The goal of every tragedy is to make the audience see what may come out with good values and what are the probable tragic events for every mistake or wrong action. These are specific warnings or reminders about life, about the use of power, and about morality as a part of everyday life. â€Å"Greek tragedies speak volumes about the lives of those dwelling in this ancient society† (Reed 3). They are representations of what was the culture of Greece in its early years. Through their plots, their characters, and the ideals incorporated in their stories, tragedies are able to preserve the culture and beliefs that the Greeks have. Tragedies have a unique way of teaching and passing on knowledge to people through the presentations on the stage. The Greeks â€Å"responded so well to this approach because their core values are being addressed in a way that enables everyone to participate† (Reed 3). Performed art was very close to the hearts of this creative and rich nation. â€Å"Classic Greek drama was a community art, not a business venture† and the dramatists are regarded with high importance in their society (â€Å"Greek Tragic Drama†). Tragedies serve the effective purpose of educating people about examples of moral actions, cleansing of souls, and other related religious and virtuous beliefs. Another significance of these tragedies is that they bind the Greeks together as one society. Tragedies are affairs that serve as a â€Å"community gathering largely sponsored by the government†(Reed 1). Presentations usually take a form of contests and have emerged to become annual events in Ancient Greece. Large venues are allotted for them because â€Å"performance of tragedies fostered a sense of community amongst the Greek people†and every citizen in the society are expected to witness them. Therefore, performances of tragedies gather thousands of people together to performances that entertain and educate, effectively passing on of political and religious messages promoted in Greek culture. Although very entertaining and usually presented in festivals, tragedies were not intended only for entertainment purposes only for they also unit the Greeks as one community. â€Å"With so many individuals, ranging from prominent politicians to peasants, a tragedy was something all people could share† (Reed 3). In a theater where tragedies are performed, people from different classes, educated or not educated, men and women, are all given the chance to appreciate and witness the tragic dramas. And through these events, people learn more about the roles of their government, their communities, and their religion in their lives. Tragedies are considered very important and significant in Greek society. Indeed, they are capable of making people more responsible in their roles in their communities and more respectful of their gods. Greek tragedies are also expressions of devotion to their gods because they describe the important role that gods play in the lives of humans. Today, a lot of tragedies still prevails and recognized as some of the most important contributions of the Greek civilization to people. They were elaborately supported by the Greek society because of the benefits they were able to share in making their community educated, prosperous, and peaceful. Tragedies usually challenge ideas of too much pride, injustice, foolishness, and other human flaws. They encourage knowledge and moral living. Tragedies present frank and definite examples of what happen to people who question the powers of gods or the intentions of the government. Because of this, they are able to nurture a citizenship well aware of the purpose and significance of their culture. Works Cited â€Å"Greek Tragic Drama. † Memphis University School. n. d. Web. 20 July, 2010. Retrieved from http://faculty. musowls. org/Sheltont/Literature/HO(gtd). htm. Reed, Sloane. â€Å"The Critical Role Greek Tragedies Played in Greek Society. † Associated Content. com 13 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 July 2010. Retrieved from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/1180307/the_critical_role_greek_tragedies_played_pg3. html? cat=37. â€Å"Tragedy: the Basics. † Grand Valley State University. 2008. Web. 20 July 2010. Retrieved

Lebanese Arabic Conversational

Lebanese Arabic Conversational Question 1: Describe a â€Å"conversational routine† from a language other than English (but not a greeting). Include some detail on how it may vary and the situations in which it is appropriate. Then discuss in some depth how this routine reflects cultural assumptions or values. Language: the Mirror of Cultural Values Introduction Having a deep faith that culture is the way of life of people or in other words what crafts their â€Å"lifestyle,† beliefs, customs and practices, a person attains that the language articulated by the people possess culture embedded traits learnt since childhood. That is why language is a very essential component in culture because it reflects the important cultural assumptions and values of a society. Lebanese is a language with a rich vocabulary that includes a large number of cultural keywords; these key words are words that reflect cultural values, beliefs and even history. Therefore this paper will be focusing and accessing a particular Lebanese Arabic conversational routine, where one can learn about a particular culture by studying its language, moreover clearly noticing the presence of cultural assumptions and values in it. Cultures Impression on Language Language is highly influenced by the culture of the speaker and they seem inseparable. Language is what Kramsch and Widdowson () say â€Å"expresses cultural reality†¦. made up of signs that in them have cultural value †¦. Speakers view their language as a symbol of their social identity.† Thus I depend on their quote that â€Å"language symbolizes cultural reality† Being aware that culture is a very complex issue, with many different definitions. Defining culture is far beyond the aim of this paper, but for this purpose it will suffice to quote a few definitions to point to the main elements of the relevant senses of the word here in this essay. Culture is defined by Frow and Morris (1993 cited in June 2002 Center for cultural research) as the â€Å"the whole way of life of a social group †¦.. it is a network of representations texts, images, talk, codes of behavior and narrative structures †¦. shaping every aspect of social life.† Another usage in the Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary stressing the social aspect of culture and defines it as 5 a/b:â€Å"the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations b:the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also :the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time.† Considering the above, cultures language reflects the things that are important in that culture and judging on Sapirs (1956 cited in wikepedia) hypothesis that culture is â€Å"to a large extent built upon the language habits of the group,† below I will give a simple introduction to the Lebanese culture in order to explain the culture embedded language . Lebanese Background Lebanon has accumulated thousands of years of culture in its 1042 m2 of land because of hundreds of empires having passed by its lands and with each passing the people grasped the essence of their knowledge. Also its people were migrating to western countries because of political upheavals and the Civil War. Affirming this Dr Mora () declares that cultural values are formed from â€Å"environmental adaptations, historical factors, social and economic evolutions and contact with other cultural groups.† It would need a more in depth study of the Lebanese culture. Nevertheless, here is a rough and ready introduction to some of there customs/cultural norms. As indicated in Khalidi and Mcllorys Culture Dictionary (2003), Lebanon is a small country that has its basis on religion. It is made up of Christians, Muslims, and Armenian and their various factions. Hence it is made up of many communities and all in all has 18 recognized dominant religions and despite 4000 years of occupation we arent wiped of the map (Medley 2007). Depending on experience and Medley (2007), Lebanese people are extremely sociable people in streets and at home. Also, they are identified as a â€Å"collectivistic culture† (based on Triandas definition cited in Neuliep 2000a) due to religious facets (Ayyash 2001) and because you are never alone in your burdens. Emphasizing that every one knows everyone, we convey closeness, respect and conciliation through physical touching unlike the West (Ronowiez 1995 and Wierzbicka 2003) and we tend to treat all unrelated people as family because to us family is the â€Å"nucleus of culture.† So you can be addressed by the strange taxi man at the airport as â€Å"uncle.† Proclaiming the sensibility of warmth and kindness are the most striking features in our country and especially in our language because our vocabulary is ample with thanks and blessings reflecting the blessings of God. Looking at it from this religious angle, the Lebanese tend to be like this because they are to be judged on their behaviors later in the Afterlife. Looking into another matter, it should be noted that the Arabic language Fos ha is used in legal matters, parliamentary issues, news reports, biblical references and the Quran and official speeches etc. because the language was closely linked with Islam in the past. This supports and is based on what Bessley (1998) stated, â€Å"many language communities adopt their standard orthography more or less by historical accident.† On the contrary, most Lebanese use a modern Lebanese dialect in daily conversations, bulletin boards, shop titles, internet chatting etc. and dont speak the language they write, which dramatically differs from Fos ha (Medley 2007). Below I will demonstrate in the conversational routine per se this modern spoken Lebanese vernacular. Conversational Routines In the field of linguistics the term routine refers to a â€Å"formulaic utterance† used in certain ordinary situations (greetings, parting, thanks, apologizes etc.) that can be as short as an utterance to as long as a phrase (UNE Course notes). Upon this definition, then one can state that a conversational routine is when a certain word or phrase is commonly used and soon becomes a habit. And as time goes, more and more of these routines are thought up and applied. In every culture, there are several, but the actual number is too great to be counted. The Lebanese culture has allowed the use of many conversational routines. Some examples are: Yaani = I mean Ya aami = Uncle or hey Yii ya allah = Oh! My God Mashi = ok or walking Ya zalameh = Yo! Man Yalla = coming or ok! Inshallah = hopefully Habiibii = lover or my beloved Shoo = what These are all words and phrases used in peoples daily lives and on a regular basis. Integrating conversational routines such as these and others helps reveal the Lebanese â€Å"ethnic and hybrid† identity stated by Tabar (2007). Succeeding this, I will exemplify the conversational routine â€Å"Walla† in its different contexts/meanings in five different dialogues and uncover its impinging religious and cultural elements. Other conversational routines are also used here, but I will stress on one to be concise. Note that I have attempted to Romanize the Lebanese Arabic into English phonetics instead of Arabic scripts to represent the Lebanese vernacular of Arabic and the abbreviations below imply the following: First Speaker (S1) and Second Speaker (S2). 1st usage: S1: â€Å"Laykee habiib sheftee shou sar la Hilda? Ya haram, rahet aala al mestashfa.† (Honey, Did you see what happened to Hilda? Poor Hilda, She was hospitalized.) S2: â€Å"Shoo, Walla! Leish? shou sar?† (What? Really! Why? What happened?) 2nd usage: S1: â€Å"Khalast darssak, ya sabii?† (Did you finish your studies boy? S2: â€Å"Walla, drasset kolou.† (I swear by God, I finished all my studies.) 3rd usage: An incident where a child accidentally falls and the observer says: â€Å"Wa-allah yehmeek† meaning ‘And God protect you. 4th usage: S1: â€Å"Btekhidinee aala al souk?† (Will you take me shopping or to the mall?) S2: â€Å"Walla, inshallah aaboukra.† (I promise, hopefully tomorrow.) 5th usage: When someone is hosting you with a drink or appetizer and you refuse shyly by saying: â€Å"La wallah† meaning â€Å"No thank you.† I have demonstrated from personal experience the usages of â€Å"Walla† as: ‘Really, ‘I swear, ‘I promise, ‘God protect, and ‘No thanks and there are many more functions. Equally interesting and stimulating, Peeters (2002) reviewed Traversos (2002) analysis of the word ‘Walla in the spoken Arabic. In her line of research, she examines how it â€Å"underscores the complexity of the relationship between language and cultures† and shows not only what Arabic grammarians see as a â€Å"corroboration device i.e. emphatic marker meaning ‘by God but â€Å"operating as a grammaticalized discourse particle comparable to the English particle such as ‘really and ‘truly (Wierzbecka cited in Peeters 2002.) Peeters (2002) adds that it is a â€Å"key word† like Wierzbeckas ‘a la` â€Å"because of it frequent use and its cultural specificity† (cited in Peeters 2002.) Similarly to Tabars (2007) study of the word ‘Habiib it has a common core with ‘Walla that is they both refer to a form of bonding between the speakers â€Å"on a basis of ethnicity or religion.† This theory also applies that when Arab origins use these terms they reveal a sense of â€Å"closeness† illustrating the ethnical element and friendship/family nature of the Lebanese Arab cultures. Overall, a conversational routine can be used everywhere. It doesnt exactly have a specific place to be put in, but a clue on how to use them according to the Lebanese would be that most express exclamations, surprises, frustrations, anger etc. and if not, then their second most common use would be to fill up a place where you have nothing to say or when you are trying to think of something to say. Rationalizing on what Thorton (1988:26 cited in Language and Cultures) proposed then we should not ask â€Å"what culture is but what culture does† to our language. In conclusion, this paper bought to light that the cultural norms of the interlocutors language are exposed through it. And that this intertwined relationship between language and culture aimed to point that they largely depend on each other to reflect and determine the cultural assumptions and values of a specific social culture in order to address and build a better understanding world for all.

The Lamb Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A time lost in it’s own morals, seeks refuge in the knowledge and innocence of the past. William Blake used direct dictation through his poem, â€Å"THE LAMB†, in disseminating his theorem, which we, humans, seek to find peace within our selves only after reestablishing our identity with something pure. In the poem William Blake uses the Lamb, as a vessel, to interpret the innocence, we would seek to use. The speaker is seeking answers to his questions, about how the lamb gained such natural innocence. Blake’s biblical reference is also clear; although one may possibly, with out major knowledge of biblical testaments, know that Adam and Eve both â€Å"sinned†; therefore damning all mankind to eternal suffering. This eternal suffering is what the speaker may be trying to express, envy for the lamb’s godlike quality and innocence that it still retains, unlike the speaker a human by default.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lamb Lamb, who made thee?† A rhetorical question to ponder upon, not to seek an answer. To ask the lamb its self â€Å"who made thee?† it may answer â€Å"My mama†. Although William Blake may have not intended such simplistic interpretation; William Blake may have sought scholarly biblical people to read and interpret that single line as a passage to his chamber of innocence, and metaphorical visions of happiness. Throughout the poem the speaker continues to haggle the lamb about its nature, as if to repress the lamb’s self worth. The lamb is seen as...

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 18. INSTRUCTION

â€Å"THAT HAD TO BE THE LONGEST PARTY IN THE HISTORY of the world,† I complained on the way home. Edward didn't seem to disagree. â€Å"It's over now,† he said, rubbing my arm soothingly. Because I was the only one who needed soothing. Edward was fine now – all the Cullens were fine. They'd all reassured me; Alice reaching up to pat my head as I left, eyeing Jasper meaningfully until a flood of peace swirled around me, Esme kissing my forehead and promising me everything was all right, Emmett laughing boisterously and asking why I was the only one who was allowed to fight with werewolves. . . . Jacob's solution had them all relaxed, almost euphoric after the long weeks of stress. Doubt had been replaced with confidence. The party had ended on a note of true celebration. Not for me. Bad enough – horrible – that the Cullens would fight for me. It was already too much that I would have to allow that. It already felt like more than I could bear. Not Jacob, too. Not his foolish, eager brothers – most of them even younger than I was. They were just oversized, over-muscled children, and they looked forward to this like it was picnic on the beach. I could not have them in danger, too. My nerves felt frayed and exposed. I didn't know how much longer I could restrain the urge to scream out loud. I whispered now, to keep my voice under control. â€Å"You're taking me with you tonight.† â€Å"Bella, you're worn out.† â€Å"You think I could sleep?† He frowned. â€Å"This is an experiment. I'm not sure if it will be possible for us all to . . . cooperate. I don't want you in the middle of that.† As if that didn't make me all the more anxious to go. â€Å"If you won't take me, then I'll call Jacob.† His eyes tightened. That was a low blow, and I knew it. But there was no way I was being left behind. He didn't answer; we were at Charlie's house now. The front light was on. â€Å"See you upstairs,† I muttered. I tiptoed in the front door. Charlie was asleep in the living room, overflowing the too-small sofa, and snoring so loudly I could have ripped a chainsaw to life and it wouldn't have wakened him. I shook his shoulder vigorously. â€Å"Dad! Charlie!† He grumbled, eyes still closed. â€Å"I'm home now – you're going to hurt your back sleeping like that. C'mon, time to move.† It took a few more shakes, and his eyes never did open all the way, but I managed to get himoff the couch. I helped him up to his bed, where he collapsed on top of the covers, fully dressed, and started snoring again. He wasn't going to be looking for me anytime soon. Edward waited in my room while I washed my face and changed into jeans and a flannel shirt. He watched me unhappily from the rocking chair as I hung the outfit Alice had given me in my closet. â€Å"Come here,† I said, taking his hand and pulling him to my bed. I pushed him down on the bed and then curled up against his chest. Maybe he was right and I was tired enough to sleep. I wasn't going to let him sneak off without me. He tucked my quilt in around me, and then held me close. â€Å"Please relax.† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"This is going to work, Bella. I can feel it.† My teeth locked together. He was still radiating relief. Nobody but me cared if Jacob and his friends got hurt. Not even Jacob and his friends. Especially not them. He could tell I was about to lose it. â€Å"Listen to me, Bella. This is going to be easy. The newborns will be completely taken by surprise. They'll have no more idea that werewolves even exist than you did. I've seen how they act in a group, the way Jasper remembers. I truly believe that the wolves' hunting techniques will work flawlessly against them. And with them divided and confused, there won't be enough for the rest of us to do. Someone may have to sit out,† he teased. â€Å"Piece of cake,† I mumbled tonelessly against his chest. â€Å"Shhh,† he stroked my cheek. â€Å"You'll see. Don't worry now.† He started humming my lullaby, but, for once, it didn't calm me. People – well, vampires and werewolves really, but still – people I loved were going to get hurt. Hurt because of me. Again. I wished my bad luck would focus a little more carefully. I felt likeyelling up at the empty sky: It's me you want – over here! Just me! I tried to think of a way that I could do exactly that – force my bad luck to focus on me. It wouldn't be easy. I would have to wait, bide my time. . . . I did not fall asleep. The minutes passed quickly, to my surprise, and I was still alert and tense when Edward pulled us both up into a sitting position. â€Å"Are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?† I gave him a sour look. He sighed, and scooped me up in his arms before he jumped from my window. He raced through the black, quiet forest with me on his back, and even in his run I could feel the elation. He ran the way he did when it was just us, just for enjoyment, just for the feel of the wind in his hair. It was the kind of thing that, during less anxious times, would have made me happy. When we got to the big open field, his family was there, talking casually, relaxed. Emmett's booming laugh echoed through the wide space now and then. Edward set me down and we walked hand in hand toward them. It took me a minute, because it was so dark with the moon hidden behind the clouds, but I realized that we were in the baseball clearing. It was the same place where, more than a year ago, that first lighthearted evening with the Cullens had been interrupted by James and his coven. It felt strange to be here again – as if this gathering wouldn't be complete until James and Laurent and Victoria joined us. But James and Laurent were never coming back. That pattern wouldn't be repeated. Maybe all the patterns were broken. Yes, someone had broken out of their pattern. Was it possible that the Volturi were the flexible ones in this equation? I doubted it. Victoria had always seemed like a force of nature to me – like a hurricane moving toward the coast in a straight line – unavoidable, implacable, but predictable. Maybe it was wrong to limit her that way. She had to be capable of adaptation. â€Å"You know what I think?† I asked Edward. He laughed. â€Å"No.† I almost smiled. â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"I think it's all connected. Not just the two, but all three.† â€Å"You've lost me.† â€Å"Three bad things have happened since you came back.† I ticked them off on my fingers. â€Å"The newborns in Seattle. The stranger in my room. And – first of all – Victoria came to look for me.† His eyes narrowed as he thought about it. â€Å"Why do you think so?† â€Å"Because I agree with Jasper – the Volturi love their rules. They would probably do a better job anyway.† And I'd be dead if they wanted me dead, I added mentally. â€Å"Remember when you were tracking Victoria last year?† â€Å"Yes.† He frowned. â€Å"I wasn't very good at it.† â€Å"Alice said you were in Texas. Did you follow her there?† His eyebrows pulled together. â€Å"Yes. Hmm . . .† â€Å"See – she could have gotten the idea there. But she doesn't know what she's doing, so the newborns are all out of control.† He started shaking his head. â€Å"Only Aro knows exactly how Alice's visions work.† â€Å"Aro would know best, but wouldn't Tanya and Irina and the rest of your friends in Denali know enough? Laurent lived with them for so long. And if he was still friendly enough with Victoria to be doing favors for her, why wouldn't he also tell her everything he knew?† Edward frowned. â€Å"It wasn't Victoria in your room.† â€Å"She can't make new friends? Think about it, Edward. If it is Victoria doing this in Seattle, she's made a lot of new friends. She's created them.† He considered it, his forehead creased in concentration. â€Å"Hmm,† he finally said. â€Å"It's possible. I still think the Volturi are most likely . . . But your theory – there's something there. Victoria's personality. Your theory suits her personality perfectly. She's shown a remarkable gift for self-preservation from the start – maybe it's a talent of hers. In any case, this plot would put her in no danger at all from us, if she sits safely behind and lets the newborns wreak their havoc here. And maybe little danger from the Volturi, either. Perhaps she's counting on us to win, in the end, though certainly not without heavy casualties of our own. But no survivors from her little army to bear witness against her. In fact,† he continued, thinking it through, â€Å"if there were survivors, I'd bet she'd be planning to destroy them herself. . . . Hmm. Still, she'd have to have at least one friend who was a bit more mature. No fresh-made newborn left your father alive. . . .† He frowned into space for a long moment, and then suddenly smiled at me, coming back from his reverie. â€Å"Definitely possible. Regardless, we've got to be prepared for anything until we know for sure. You're very perceptive today,† he added. â€Å"It's impressive.† I sighed. â€Å"Maybe I'm just reacting to this place. It makes me feel like she's close by . . . like she sees me now.† His jaw muscles tensed at the idea. â€Å"She'll never touch you, Bella,† he said. In spite of his words, his eyes swept carefully across the dark trees. While he searched their shadows, the strangest expression crossed his face. His lips pulled back over his teeth and his eyes shone with an odd light – a wild, fierce kind of hope. â€Å"Yet, what I wouldn't give to have her that close,† he murmured. â€Å"Victoria, and anyone else who's ever thought of hurting you. To have the chance to end this myself. To finish it with my own hands this time.† I shuddered at the ferocious longing in his voice, and clenched his fingers more tightly with mine, wishing I was strong enough to lock our hands together permanently. We were almost to his family, and I noticed for the first time that Alice did not look as optimistic as the others. She stood a little aside, watching Jasper stretching his arms as if he were warming up to exercise, her lips pushed out in a pout. â€Å"Is something wrong with Alice?† I whispered. Edward chuckled, himself again. â€Å"The werewolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind.† Alice, though the farthest from us, heard his low voice. She looked up and stuck her tongue out at him. He laughed again. â€Å"Hey, Edward,† Emmett greeted him. â€Å"Hey, Bella. Is he going to let you practice, too?† Edward groaned at his brother. â€Å"Please, Emmett, don't give her any ideas.† â€Å"When will our guests arrive?† Carlisle asked Edward. Edward concentrated for a moment, and then sighed. â€Å"A minute and a half. But I'm going to have to translate. They don't trust us enough to use their human forms.† Carlisle nodded. â€Å"This is hard for them. I'm grateful they're coming at all.† I stared at Edward, my eyes stretched wide. â€Å"They're coming as wolves?† He nodded, cautious of my reaction. I swallowed once, remembering the two times I'd seen Jacob in his wolf form – the first time in the meadow with Laurent, the second time on the forest lane where Paul had gotten angry at me. . . . They were both memories of terror. A strange gleam came into Edward's eyes, as though something had just occurred to him, something that was not altogether unpleasant. He turned away quickly, before I could see any more, back to Carlisle and the others. â€Å"Prepare yourselves – they've been holding out on us.† â€Å"What do you mean?† Alice demanded. â€Å"Shh,† he cautioned, and stared past her into the darkness. The Cullens' informal circle suddenly widened out into a loose line with Jasper and Emmett at the spear point. From the way Edward leaned forward next to me, I could tell that he wished he was standing beside them. I tightened my hand around his. I squinted toward the forest, seeing nothing. â€Å"Damn,† Emmett muttered under his breath. â€Å"Did you ever see anything like it?† Esme and Rosalie exchanged a wide-eyed glance. â€Å"What is it?† I whispered as quietly as I could. â€Å"I can't see.† â€Å"The pack has grown,† Edward murmured into my ear. Hadn't I told him that Quil had joined the pack? I strained to see the six wolves in the gloom. Finally, something glittered in the blackness – their eyes, higher up than they should be. I'd forgotten how very tall the wolves were. Like horses, only thick with muscle and fur – and teeth like knives, impossible to overlook. I could only see the eyes. And as I scanned, straining to see more, it occurred to me that there were more than six pairs facing us. One, two, three . . . I counted the pairs swiftly in my head. Twice. There were ten of them. â€Å"Fascinating,† Edward murmured almost silently. Carlisle took a slow, deliberate step forward. It was a careful movement, designed to reassure. â€Å"Welcome,† he greeted the invisible wolves. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward responded in a strange, flat tone, and I realized at once that the words came from Sam. I looked to the eyes shining in the center of the line, the highest up, the tallest of them all. It was impossible to separate the shape of the big black wolf from the darkness. Edward spoke again in the same detached voice, speaking Sam's words. â€Å"We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control.† â€Å"That is more than enough,† Carlisle answered. â€Å"My son Jasper† – he gestured to where Jasper stood, tensed and ready – â€Å"has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style.† â€Å"They are different from you?† Edward asked for Sam. Carlisle nodded. â€Å"They are all very new – only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you – it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves.† A rumble passed down the shadowy line of wolves, a low growling mutter that somehow managed to sound enthusiastic. â€Å"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary,† Edward translated, his tone less indifferent now. Carlisle smiled. â€Å"We'll see how it plays out.† â€Å"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?† â€Å"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path.† â€Å"Thank you for the information. We will watch.† With a sighing sound, the eyes sank closer to the ground one set at a time. It was silent for two heartbeats, and then Jasper took a step into the empty space between the vampires and the wolves. It wasn't hard for me to see him – his skin was as bright against the darkness as the wolves' eyes. Jasper threw a wary glance toward Edward, who nodded, and then Jasper turned his back to the werewolves. He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. â€Å"Carlisle's right.† Jasper spoke only to us; he seemed to be trying to ignore the audience behind him. â€Å"They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively. Emmett?† Emmett stepped out of the line with a huge smile. Jasper backed toward the north end of the opening between the allied enemies. He waved Emmett forward. â€Å"Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack.† Emmett's eyes narrowed. â€Å"I'll try not to break anything,† he muttered. Jasper grinned. â€Å"What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either. Just go for the easy kill, Emmett.† Jasper backed up a few more paces, his body tensing. â€Å"Okay, Emmett – try to catch me.† And I couldn't see Jasper anymore – he was a blur as Emmett charged him like a bear, grinning while he snarled. Emmett was impossibly quick, too, but not like Jasper. It looked like Jasper had no more substance than a ghost – any time it seemed Emmett's big hands had him for sure, Emmett's fingers clenched around nothing but the air. Beside me, Edward leaned forward intently, his eyes locked on the brawl. Then Emmett froze. Jasper had him from behind, his teeth an inch from his throat. Emmett cussed. There was a muttered rumble of appreciation from the watching wolves. â€Å"Again,† Emmett insisted, his smile gone. â€Å"It's my turn,† Edward protested. My fingers tensed around his. â€Å"In a minute.† Jasper grinned, stepping back. â€Å"I want to show Bella something first.† I watched with anxious eyes as he waved Alice forward. â€Å"I know you worry about her,† he explained to me as she danced blithely into the ring. â€Å"I want to show you why that's not necessary.† Though I knew that Jasper would never allow any harm to come to Alice, it was still hard to watch as he sank back into a crouch facing her. Alice stood motionlessly, looking tiny as a doll after Emmett, smiling to herself. Jasper shifted forward, then slinked to her left. Alice closed her eyes. My heart thumped unevenly as Jasper stalked toward where Alice stood. Jasper sprang, disappearing. Suddenly he was on the other side of Alice. She didn't appear to have moved. Jasper wheeled and launched himself at her again, only to land in a crouch behind her like the first time; all the while Alice stood smiling with her eyes closed. I watched Alice more carefully now. She was moving – I'd just been missing it, distracted by Jasper's attacks. She took a small step forward at the exact second that Jasper's body flew through the spot where she'd just been standing. She took another step, while Jasper's grasping hands whistled past where her waist had been. Jasper closed in, and Alice began to move faster. She was dancing – spiraling and twisting and curling in on herself. Jasper was her partner, lunging, reaching through her graceful patterns, never touching her, like every movement was choreographed. Finally, Alice laughed. Out of nowhere she was perched on Jasper's back, her lips at his neck. â€Å"Gotcha,† she said, and kissed his throat. Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. â€Å"You truly are one frightening little monster.† The wolves muttered again. This time the sound was wary. â€Å"It's good for them to learn some respect,† Edward murmured, amused. Then he spoke louder. â€Å"My turn.† He squeezed my hand before he let it go. Alice came to take his place beside me. â€Å"Cool, huh?† she asked me smugly. â€Å"Very,† I agreed, not looking away from Edward as he glided noiselessly toward Jasper, his movements lithe and watchful as a jungle cat. â€Å"I've got my eye on you, Bella,† she whispered suddenly, her voice pitched so low that I could barely hear, though her lips were at my ear. My gaze flickered to her face and then back to Edward. He was intent on Jasper, both of them feinting as he closed the distance. Alice's expression was full of reproach. â€Å"I'll warn him if your plans get any more defined,† she threatened in the same low murmur. â€Å"It doesn't help anything for you to put yourself in danger. Do you think either of them would give up if you died? They'd still fight, we all would. You can't change anything, so just be good, okay?† I grimaced, trying to ignore her. â€Å"I'm watching,† she repeated. Edward had closed on Jasper now, and this fight was more even than either of the others. Jasper had the century of experience to guide him, and he tried to go on instinct alone as much as he could, but his thoughts always gave him away a fraction of a second before he acted. Edward was slightly faster, but the moves Jasper used were unfamiliar to him. They came at each other again and again, neither one able to gain the advantage, instinctive snarls erupting constantly. It was hard to watch, but harder to look away. They moved too fast for me to really understand what they were doing. Now and then the sharp eyes of the wolves would catch my attention. I had a feeling the wolves were getting more out of this than I was – maybe more than they should. Eventually, Carlisle cleared his throat. Jasper laughed, and took a step back. Edward straightened up and grinned at him. â€Å"Back to work,† Jasper consented. â€Å"We'll call it a draw.† Everyone took turns, Carlisle, then Rosalie, Esme, and Emmett again. I squinted through my lashes, cringing as Jasper attacked Esme. That one was the hardest to watch. Then he slowed down, still not quite enough for me to understand his motions, and gave more instruction. â€Å"You see what I'm doing here?† he would ask. â€Å"Yes, just like that,† he encouraged. â€Å"Concentrate on the sides. Don't forget where their target will be. Keep moving.† Edward was always focused, watching and also listening to what others couldn't see. It got more difficult to follow as my eyes got heavier. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, anyway, and it was approaching a solid twenty-four hours since the last time I'd slept. I leaned against Edward's side, and let my eyelids droop. â€Å"We're about finished,† he whispered. Jasper confirmed that, turning toward the wolves for the first time, his expression uncomfortable again. â€Å"We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again.† â€Å"Yes,† Edward answered in Sam's cool voice. â€Å"We'll be here.† Then Edward sighed, patted my arm, and stepped away from me. He turned to his family. â€Å"The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents – so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them.† â€Å"Certainly,† Carlisle said to Sam. â€Å"Whatever you need.† There was a gloomy, throaty grumble from the wolf pack as they all rose to their feet. My eyes were wide again, exhaustion forgotten. The deep black of the night was just beginning to fade – the sun brightening the clouds, though it hadn't cleared the horizon yet, far away on the other side of the mountains. As they approached, it was suddenly possible to make out shapes . . . colors. Sam was in the lead, of course. Unbelievably huge, black as midnight, a monster straight out of my nightmares – literally; after the first time I'd seen Sam and the others in the meadow, they'd starred in my bad dreams more than once. Now that I could see them all, match the vastness with each pair of eyes, it looked like more than ten. The pack was overwhelming. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Edward was watching me, carefully evaluating my reaction. Sam approached Carlisle where he stood in the front, the huge pack right on his tail. Jasper stiffened, but Emmett, on the other side of Carlisle, was grinning and relaxed. Sam sniffed at Carlisle, seeming to wince slightly as he did. Then he moved on to Jasper. My eyes ran down the wary brace of wolves. I was sure I could pick out a few of the new additions. There was a light gray wolf that was much smaller than the others, the hackles on the back of his neck raised in distaste. There was another, the color of desert sand, who seemed gangly and uncoordinated beside the rest. A low whine broke through the sandy wolf's control when Sam's advance left him isolated between Carlisle and Jasper. I stopped at the wolf just behind Sam. His fur was reddish-brown and longer than the others, shaggy in comparison. He was almost as tall as Sam, the second largest in the group. His stance was casual, somehow exuding nonchalance over what the rest obviously considered an ordeal. The enormous russet-colored wolf seemed to feel my gaze, and he looked up at me with familiar black eyes. I stared back at him, trying to believe what I already knew. I could feel the wonder and fascination on my face. The wolf's muzzle fell open, pulling back over his teeth. It would have been a frightening expression, except that his tongue lolled out the side in a wolfy grin. I giggled. Jacob's grin widened over his sharp teeth. He left his place in line, ignoring the eyes of his pack as they followed him. He trotted past Edward and Alice to stand not two feet away from me. He stopped there, his gaze flickering briefly toward Edward. Edward stood motionless, a statue, his eyes still assessing my reaction. Jacob crouched down on his front legs and dropped his head so that his face was no higher than mine, staring at me, measuring my response just as much as Edward was. â€Å"Jacob?† I breathed. The answering rumble deep in his chest sounded like a chuckle. I reached my hand out, my fingers trembling slightly, and touched the red-brown fur on the side of his face. The black eyes closed, and Jacob leaned his huge head into my hand. A thrumming hum resonated in this throat. The fur was both soft and rough, and warm against my skin. I ran my fingers through it curiously, learning the texture, stroking his neck where the color deepened. I hadn't realized how close I'd gotten; without warning, Jacob suddenly licked my face from chin to hairline. â€Å"Ew! Gross, Jake!† I complained, jumping back and smacking at him, just as I would have if he were human. He dodged out of the way, and the coughing bark that came through his teeth was obviously laughter. I wiped my face on the sleeve of my shirt, unable to keep from laughing with him. It was at that point that I realized that everyone was watching us, the Cullens and the werewolves – the Cullens with perplexed and somewhat disgusted expressions. It was hard to read the wolves' faces. I thought Sam looked unhappy. And then there was Edward, on edge and clearly disappointed. I realized he'd been hoping for a different reaction from me. Like screaming and running away in terror. Jacob made the laughing sound again. The other wolves were backing away now, not taking their eyes off the Cullens as they departed. Jacob stood by my side, watching them go. Soon, they disappeared into the murky forest. Only two hesitated by the trees, watching Jacob, their postures radiating anxiety. Edward sighed, and – ignoring Jacob – came to stand on my other side, taking my hand. â€Å"Ready to go?† he asked me. Before I could answer, he was staring over me at Jacob. â€Å"I've not quite figured out all the details yet,† he said, answering a question in Jacob's thoughts. The Jacob-wolf grumbled sullenly. â€Å"It's more complicated than that,† Edward said. â€Å"Don't concern yourself; I'll make sure it's safe.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† I demanded. â€Å"Just discussing strategy,† Edward said. Jacob's head swiveled back and forth, looking at our faces. Then, suddenly, he bolted for the forest. As he darted away, I noticed for the first time a square of folded black fabric secured to his back leg. â€Å"Wait,† I called, one hand stretching out automatically to reach after him. But he disappeared into the trees in seconds, the other two wolves following. â€Å"Why did he leave?† I asked, hurt. â€Å"He's coming back,† Edward said. He sighed. â€Å"He wants to be able to talk for himself.† I watched the edge of the forest where Jacob had vanished, leaning into Edward's side again. I was on the point of collapse, but I was fighting it. Jacob loped back into view, on two legs this time. His broad chest was bare, his hair tangled and shaggy. He wore only a pair of black sweat pants, his feet bare to the cold ground. He was alone now, but I suspected that his friends lingered in the trees, invisible. It didn't take him long to cross the field, though he gave a wide berth to the Cullens, who stood talking quietly in a loose circle. â€Å"Okay, bloodsucker,† Jacob said when he was a few feet from us, evidently continuing the conversation I'd missed. â€Å"What's so complicated about it?† â€Å"I have to consider every possibility,† Edward said, unruffled. â€Å"What if someone gets by you?† Jacob snorted at that idea. â€Å"Okay, so leave her on the reservation. We're making Collin and Brady stay behind anyway. She'll be safe there.† I scowled. â€Å"Are you talking about me?† â€Å"I just want to know what he plans to do with you during the fight,† Jacob explained. â€Å"Do with me?† â€Å"You can't stay in Forks, Bella.† Edward's voice was pacifying. â€Å"They know where to look for you there. What if someone slipped by us?† My stomach dropped and the blood drained from my face. â€Å"Charlie?† I gasped. â€Å"He'll be with Billy,† Jacob assured me quickly. â€Å"If my dad has to commit a murder to get him there, he'll do it. Probably it won't take that much. It's this Saturday, right? There's a game.† â€Å"This Saturday?† I asked, my head spinning. I was too lightheaded to control my wildly random thoughts. I frowned at Edward. â€Å"Well, crap! There goes your graduation present.† Edward laughed. â€Å"It's the thought that counts,† he reminded me. â€Å"You can give the tickets to someone else.† Inspiration came swiftly. â€Å"Angela and Ben,† I decided at once. â€Å"At least that will get them out of town.† He touched my cheek. â€Å"You can't evacuate everyone,† he said in a gentle voice. â€Å"Hiding you is just a precaution. I told you – we'll have no problem now. There won't be enough of them to keep us entertained.† â€Å"But what about keeping her in La Push?† Jacob interjected, impatient. â€Å"She's been back and forth too much,† Edward said. â€Å"She's left trails all over the place. Alice only sees very young vampires coming on the hunt, but obviously someone created them. There is someone more experienced behind this. Whoever he† – Edward paused to look at me – â€Å"or she is, this could all be a distraction. Alice will see if he decides to look himself, but we could be very busy at the time that decision is made. Maybe someone is counting on that. I can't leave her somewhere she's been frequently. She has to be hard to find, just in case. It's a very long shot, but I'm not taking chances.† I stared at Edward as he explained, my forehead creasing. He patted my arm. â€Å"Just being overcautious,† he promised. Jacob gestured to the deep forest east of us, to the vast expanse of the Olympic Mountains. â€Å"So hide her here,† he suggested. â€Å"There's a million possibilities – places either one of us could be in just a few minutes if there's a need.† Edward shook his head. â€Å"Her scent is too strong and, combined with mine, especially distinct. Even if I carried her, it would leave a trail. Our trace is all over the range, but in conjunction with Bella's scent, it would catch their attention. We're not sure exactly which path they'll take, because they don't know yet. If they crossed her scent before they found us . . .† Both of them grimaced at the same time, their eyebrows pulling together. â€Å"You see the difficulties.† â€Å"There has to be a way to make it work,† Jacob muttered. He glared toward the forest, pursing his lips. I swayed on my feet. Edward put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer and supporting my weight. â€Å"I need to get you home – you're exhausted. And Charlie will be waking up soon. . . .† â€Å"Wait a sec,† Jacob said, wheeling back to us, his eyes bright. â€Å"My scent disgusts you, right?† â€Å"Hmm, not bad.† Edward was two steps ahead. â€Å"It's possible.† He turned toward his family. â€Å"Jasper?† he called. Jasper looked up curiously. He walked over with Alice a half step behind. Her face was frustrated again. â€Å"Okay, Jacob.† Edward nodded at him. Jacob turned toward me with a strange mixture of emotion on his face. He was clearly excited by whatever this new plan of his was, but he was also still uneasy so close to his enemy allies. And then it was my turn to be wary as he held his arms out toward me. Edward took a deep breath. â€Å"We're going to see if I can confuse the scent enough to hide your trail,† Jacob explained. I stared at his open arms suspiciously. â€Å"You're going to have to let him carry you, Bella,† Edward told me. His voice was calm, but I could hear the subdued distaste. I frowned. Jacob rolled his eyes, impatient, and reached down to yank me up into his arms. â€Å"Don't be such a baby,† he muttered. But his eyes flickered to Edward, just like mine did. Edward's face was composed and smooth. He spoke to Jasper. â€Å"Bella's scent is so much more potent to me – I thought it would be a fairer test if someone else tried.† Jacob turned away from them and paced swiftly into the woods. I didn't say anything as the dark closed around us. I was pouting, uncomfortable in Jacob's arms. It felt too intimate to me – surely he didn't need to hold me quite so tightly – and I couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to him. It reminded me of my last afternoon in La Push, and I didn't want to think about that. I folded my arms, annoyed when the brace on my hand intensified the memory. We didn't go far; he made a wide arc and came back into the clearing from a different direction, maybe half a football field away from our original departure point. Edward was there alone and Jacob headed toward him. â€Å"You can put me down now.† â€Å"I don't want to take a chance of messing up the experiment.† His walk slowed and his arms tightened. â€Å"You are so annoying,† I muttered. â€Å"Thanks.† Out of nowhere, Jasper and Alice stood beside Edward. Jacob took one more step, and then set me down a half dozen feet from Edward. Without looking back at Jacob, I walked to Edward's side and took his hand. â€Å"Well?† I asked. â€Å"As long as you don't touch anything, Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent,† Jasper said, grimacing. â€Å"It was almost completely obscured.† â€Å"A definite success,† Alice agreed, wrinkling her nose. â€Å"And it gave me an idea.† â€Å"Which will work,† Alice added confidently. â€Å"Clever,† Edward agreed. â€Å"How do you stand that?† Jacob muttered to me. Edward ignored Jacob and looked at me while he explained. â€Å"We're – well, you're – going to leave a false trail to the clearing, Bella. The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work. When they catch our scent, they'll split up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest, where her vision suddenly disappears. . . .† â€Å"Yes!† Jacob hissed. Edward smiled at him, a smile of true comradeship. I felt sick. How could they be so eager for this? How could I stand having both of them in danger? I couldn't. I wouldn't. â€Å"Not a chance,† Edward said suddenly, his voice disgusted. It made me jump, worrying that he'd somehow heard my resolve, but his eyes were on Jasper. â€Å"I know, I know,† Jasper said quickly. â€Å"I didn't even consider it, not really.† Alice stepped on his foot. â€Å"If Bella was actually there in the clearing,† Jasper explained to her, â€Å"it would drive them insane. They wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything but her. It would make picking them off truly easy. . . .† Edward's glare had Jasper backtracking. â€Å"Of course it's too dangerous for her. It was just an errant thought,† he said quickly. But he looked at me from the corner of his eyes, and the look was wistful. â€Å"No,† Edward said. His voice rang with finality. â€Å"You're right,† Jasper said. He took Alice's hand and started back to the others. â€Å"Best two out of three?† I heard him ask her as they went to practice again. Jacob stared after him in disgust. â€Å"Jasper looks at things from a military perspective,† Edward quietly defended his brother. â€Å"He looks at all the options – it's thoroughness, not callousness.† Jacob snorted. He'd edged closer unconsciously, drawn by his absorption in the planning. He stood only three feet from Edward now, and, standing there between them, I could feel the physical tension in the air. It was like static, an uncomfortable charge. Edward got back to business. â€Å"I'll bring her here Friday afternoon to lay the false trail. You can meet us afterward, and carry her to a place I know. Completely out of the way, and easily defensible, not that it will come to that. I'll take another route there.† â€Å"And then what? Leave her with a cell phone?† Jacob asked critically. â€Å"You have a better idea?† Jacob was suddenly smug. â€Å"Actually, I do.† â€Å"Oh. . . . Again, dog, not bad at all.† Jacob turned to me quickly, as if determined to play the good guy by keeping me in the conversation. â€Å"We tried to talk Seth into staying behind with the younger two. He's still too young, but he's stubborn and he's resisting. So I thought of a new assignment for him – cell phone.† I tried to look like I got it. No one was fooled. â€Å"As long as Seth Clearwater is in his wolf form, he'll be connected to the pack,† Edward said. â€Å"Distance isn't a problem?† he added, turning to Jacob. â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Three hundred miles?† Edward asked. â€Å"That's impressive.† Jacob was the good guy again. â€Å"That's the farthest we've ever gone to experiment,† he told me. â€Å"Still clear as a bell.† I nodded absently; I was reeling from the idea that little Seth Clearwater was already a werewolf, too, and that made it difficult to concentrate. I could see his bright smile, so much like a younger Jacob, in my head; he couldn't be more than fifteen, if he was that. His enthusiasm at the council meeting bonfire suddenly took on new meaning. . . . â€Å"It's a good idea.† Edward seemed reluctant to admit this. â€Å"I'll feel better with Seth there, even without the instantaneous communication. I don't know if I'd be able to leave Bella there alone. To think it's come to this, though! Trusting werewolves!† â€Å"Fightingwith vampires instead of against them!† Jacob mirrored Edward's tone of disgust. â€Å"Well, you still get to fight against some of them,† Edward said. Jacob smiled. â€Å"That's the reason we're here.†

Pronoun Review #2 Whos vs. Whose

Pronoun Review #2 Whos vs. Whose Pronoun Review #2 Who’s vs. Whose Pronoun Review #2 Who’s vs. Whose By Maeve Maddox A common error with who’s and whose is to confuse one for the other: Incorrect: She loves an author who’s books have become hard to find. Correct : She loves an author whose books have become hard to find. Incorrect: That’s a regular whose who of Fataverse All-Stars if I do say so myself. Correct : That’s a regular who’s who of Fataverse All-Stars if I do say so myself. Who’s is a contraction of the pronoun who and the verb is: Who’s [who is] that man sitting by your wife? Who’s Who [Who is Who] is the title of several biographical publications. Note: The phrase â€Å"who’s who† is used to mean a collection of people notable in a certain pursuit, for example, â€Å"a who’s who of jazz† or â€Å"a who’s who of vulgarity masquerading as humor.† Whose is the possessive form of the pronoun who: Helen is the woman whose face launched a thousand ships. I know whose sunglasses these are. Alone or before a noun, whose is used to introduce a question: Whose is that car parked in our driveway? Whose little dog are you? Whose children were injured in the mudslide? Whose is used as a relative to introduce a clause: Troy Landry, a Cajun whose family goes back three generations, is on a mission to hunt down a monstrous alligator. The family Tineidae includes the clothes moths, whose larvae feed on woolens, furs, and other textiles. The usual meaning of whose is â€Å"of whom† or â€Å"belonging to whom.† Because who is a pronoun that applies only to living creatures, a few obstinate grammar sticklers object to the use of whose as the possessive of which as illustrated in these examples: I can’t recommend The Magnificent Ambersons, the great Orson Welles film whose ending the studio gutted. In 1986, a flawed reactor design at Chernobyl, Russia caused a leak whose effects are still being felt today. Because using which to refer to people is nonstandard, critics argue that using whose to refer to inanimate things like film endings and leaks should not be allowed. This is one of those vain arguments that try to force idiom to conform to logic. The previous examples could be recast to conform to the so-called rule: I can’t recommend The Magnificent Ambersons, the great Orson Welles film of which the studio gutted the ending. In 1986, a flawed reactor design at Chernobyl, Russia caused a leak of which the effects are still being felt today. But the changes hardly lead to stylistic improvement. I’ll let The Chicago Manual of Style have the last word on whose to mean â€Å"of which†: Some writers object to using whose as a replacement for of which, especially when the subject is not human, but the usage is centuries old and widely accepted as preventing unnecessary awkwardness. Compare â€Å"the company whose stock rose faster† with â€Å"the company the stock of which rose faster.† Either form is acceptable, but the possessive whose lends greater smoothness. –CMOS, 5.61 Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Usage Review category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsGrammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesHow Long Should a Synopsis Be?

American Musical Theater Example

American Musical Theater Example American Musical Theater – Term Paper Example American Musical Theater The Broadway Musical has been a venue to showcase the most elaborately designed musical shows since 1949. Most shows were based on literary classics which were put to life and viewed by a wider range of audience, such as the famous Phantom of the Opera, Peter Pan, The Lion King, among others. The Harry Potter series could have potentials to be made into a musical opera due to its appeal to the audience, especially the young generation, and the diversely interesting plots contained therein.One of my most favorite Broadway Musical is Miss Saigon, shown in 1991 about the story of an American soldier, Chris (Jonathan Pryce) who married a Vietnamese, Kim (Lea Salonga) but had to go back to the United States. He eventually married an American and forgot about Kim. The story evolved as Chris found out that Kim is still alive and taking care of their son in Saigon in the middle of a war. The talent and commitment of the singers enabled them to garner the Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress awards in a Musical. The show was just magnificent and memorable.Other than entertaining, the Broadway Musical highlights the best performers in the field of music and acknowledges them through awards and merits that make them known the whole world over. In this regard, the West Side Story became one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time due to the beautiful and timelessness of the songs in the play, coupled with innovative dances, and the timelessness of the message: being an adaptation of the famous Romeo and Juliet. Audiences from generation to generation continue to be inspired by the songs sung in this Broadway Musical and have transformed the lives of many through the expression of various emotions depicted in West Side Story. There is this feeling of elation and extreme joy as audience get the chance to see any of the Broadway Musicals since the inception until contemporary times.

Ban on Tobacco Essays

Ban on Tobacco Essays Ban on Tobacco Essay Ban on Tobacco Essay Essay Topic: Equus Ban on Tobacco Ads by the Government of India: Introduction On Feb 6, 2001 Government of India (GOI) dropped a bombshell on the tobacco Industry when it announced that it would shortly table a bill banning Tobacco Companies from advertising their products and sponsoring sports and cultural events. The objective of such a ban was to discourage adolescents from consuming tobacco products and also arm the Government with powers to launch an anti-Tobacco Program. This decision seemed to have sparked an intense debate, not just over the ethical aspects of Governments moral policing but also over the achievability of the objective itself. Reacting strongly against the proposed ban, Suhel Seth, CEO, Equus Advertising said, The ban does not have teeth. It is a typical knee-jerk reaction by any Government to create some kind of popularity for itself. The Legislation has not been thought thorough. In its reaction to the GOIs decision, ITC Ltd1. announced that it would voluntarily withdraw from all of the sponsorship events, irrespective of the legal position on the subject. In a statement it said, ITC believes that this action on its part will create the right climate for a constructive dialogue that will help develop appropriate content, rules regulations to make the intended legislation equitable and implementable. The complexity of the issue was that, the issue involved the tussle between the ethical and commercial considerations. On the one hand, was tobacco, the most dangerous consumer product known, which killed when used as the makers intended. Therefore from an ethical standpoint, the Government had to discourage the habit, as it was responsible for the welfare of its citizens. On the other hand, the tobacco Industry was a major contributor to the State Exchequer (In the Year 2000-01 it contributed about Rs. 8000 crores in excise revenue) which was extremely important, given the financial crunch which it faced. In the light of the above statements, what approach should the government choose-the ethical or commercial and is it proper for government to interfere in matters of personal choice in the first place? To make the matter more complex, there was the question- was the objective achievable at all and was it equitable? The answers to these questions lay in understanding the viewpoints of both sides-those in favour and those against such bans. The Ayes The ban was not unusual keeping in view the international precedents. Countries like France, Finland, and Norway had already imposed similar bans. Advocates of free choice opposed to these bans, saying these amounted to unwarranted intrusion by the state in the private lives of its citizens. But, others pointed out that the state had the right to intervene in the overall interest of the citizens. They cited the example of drugs like cocaine, which was, banned the world over. In 1981, the Supreme Court (of Appeal) in Belgium gave its ruling that a ban on tobacco advertising was not unconstitutional. In 1991 the French Constitutional Council declared that the French ban on advertising tobacco products was not unconstitutional as it was based on the need to protect public health and did not curtail the freedom of trade. There were many precedents of restrictions being imposed on the advertising of dangerous or potentially dangerous products even if these products remained in the market (e. g. firearms, pharmaceutical Products).

Trade and world output Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Trade and world output - Essay Example This paper seeks to not only survey what trade and world output are all about but to also show their relation. Trade may be construed top refer to the business of transacting i.e. buying and selling of securities or commodities. It is also called commerce. Alternatively, trade may also refer to the willing transfer of goods or services or a combination of both from one party to another. One party is termed as the seller and the other the buyer or consumer. Therefore, for a transaction to be complete, and therefore say that trade has taken place, there must be the buyer, the seller, the commodity presented as goods or services or both and above all willingness for transfer of the commodities at agreed terms. Initially, the kind of trade done by our fore fathers was mainly barter trade but presently, many businessmen negotiate transactions through a medium of exchange called money. The two many types of trades may be distinguished by the number of parties involved in a transaction. For instance, trade between two traders or businessmen is termed as bilateral trade whereas that between more tha n two is said to be multilateral trade (US Congress, 1984). On the other hand the concept of world output needs to be understood before its relationship with trade can be highlighted. World Output is also called Gross world product (GWP) and it is the sum total Gross National Product (GNP) of all the nations in the whole world. Further, to understand GWP, there is need to define what GNP is all about. GNP is the measure of the average output of a country. Therefore, when all the average outputs of all countries in the world are added together they give the GWP. Gross Domestic Product, GDP also called Gross Domestic Income, GDI, of a country is the is the total cost of all the finished goods and services produced that particular country within stipulated period of time (usually a year). The other meaning of GDP is the sum total of all profits at every level of production of the finished goods and products in a country in a year. GDP is slightly different from GNP in that GNP, in its calculation includes foreign income usually in terms of inve stment which is not the case with GDP. Therefore, as said earlier, the GNP of each country is very important in the determination of the world output (Stutely, 2003). In the establishment of the relation between GNP and world output otherwise called GWP trade is implied because GNP is said to be the measure of the output of nationals in a given country. It usually focuses mainly on the parties that own the production. For instance, the measure of GNP revolves around American firms without regard of their location. The firms are the owners of production and this production is nothing without trade. Come to think of production: Purchase of raw material, conversion into finished goods and selling of the finished goods. So you reckon that trade is at every level of production and this production determined GNP ant this automatically tells us that trade determines or rather plays a major role in GNP and since sum total of GNP of all countries realizes the GWP, then trade determines GWP. This conclusion points to the relation between trade and world output (GWP) which simply boils down to a simple statement that the more the trade either bilateral or m ultilateral, the more the world output and vice versa. In 2005 the GWP rose by 4%. The growth was of course caused by increments in GNP of most countries with China leading the list with 9.3% followed by

The style of mini skirt in 1960s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The style of mini skirt in 1960s - Essay Example Historically, miniskirts have existed since the onset of civilization. However, they have aroused cultural implication and powerful political connotations in recent years. The origin and sustenance of miniskirts have a deep historical context. This article explores various historical contexts of miniskirts as determined by culture, designer, artist, materiality, and model. Miniskirt strongly communicates the breaking loose from cultural strains that bound the young people to older dress codes. Just like the young generations in 1960s, the modern day youths are driven by the need to be different. Placing things into perspective, miniskirts are among the changes that reflect cultural expression. The cultural context of miniskirts can be understood in three significant perspectives. One is that the world is changing rapidly. In this instance, the adoption of miniskirts can be attributed to some of the changes the world was undergoing at the time. For instance, the television sets were being invented, the cameras were being introduced and diversified functions of computers were being implanted among other changes.2 The Cultural context of miniskirts is also marked by aspects many aspects such as attitude changes to existing fashion. Lifestyles and technological advancements significantly shape the behavior and attitude of many young people. Civil rights, the rights of women and concerns over environment were shaping the minds of various young people. The last dimension of the cultural context of miniskirts is the new cultural expressions. The youths had much money to spend than ever before. Many economies had grown particularly in the stability of the aftermath of WWII. They probably spent a lot of the money they had on clothes. Furthermore, during the time, there were several boutiques, which changed their merchandise often. All those

Cultural Differences and People Management Essay

Cultural Differences and People Management - Essay Example This study shall discuss the aspects which make up this cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity. It shall also discuss the aspects of organisational life which are particularly influenced by cross-cultural differences. Body Accomplishing any work with the assistance of other people calls for the engaging flow of data in the workplace. However, in the current diverse work setting this is difficult to accomplish. Managers would often find themselves frustrated by employees who nod at everything they say without manifesting any clear comprehension of the instructions. However, culture is a major part of people’s behaviour on the job (Gardenswarts and Rowe, 2001). It dictates the way people talk with one another, the way they speak, how they manage conflicts, how they relate with the opposite sex or with other religions, and how they participate in office activities. There are various cultural norms which impact on a manager’s reactions, including hierarchy and status; gro ups versus individual orientation; time consciousness; communication; and conflict resolution (Gardenswarts and Rowe, 2001, p. 2). Managers who do not fully understand the impact of culture in the workplace often end up misinterpreting behaviours and creating a culturally divisive workplace. There are four cultural dimensions which apply to any organization. Hofstede (1980) mentions these as: power distance, masculinity/femininity; individualism/collectivism; and uncertainty avoidance. Individualism/collectivism refers to the relations between individuals and groups within the organisation (Hofstede and Bond, 1988). For highly individualistic societies, individuals often do not exist well in the collective setting as easily as those who are in collective societies and they are expected to be fend for themselves and not to consider other people for support. On the other hand, the more collectivist groups are part of a greater group who offer support to one another (Lowe, et.al., 1988 ). These societies function in a group structure in a family setting or large regional communities. The individualist or collective culture in the organisation impacts significantly in the management of the work setting, especially in instances when the culture of the organization or the corporation is individualist (Lowe, et.al., 1988). The burden of making such an environment more engaged in a multicultural set-up is on the manager. Masculinity/femininity within the work setting refers to gender roles in the workplace and how these genders are managed and accommodated in the work setting (Hofstede and Bond, 1988). There may be differences in the values placed on men and women with male values being more assertive and female values being more nurturing. In the workplace, the manager is often faced with issues which relate to gender discrimination, including homophobia (Lowe, et.al., 1988). The demand for the manager in these instances is to make the decisions based on non-gender re lated considerations or gender-based biases. Power distance as a cultural aspect of an organisation is based on â€Å"individual interactions and communication differentials between executive and employee† (Kaskel, 2010, p. 22). Humans have the ability to accept the hierarchical structure of most situations; other times, they cannot accept these situations. Individual interact

Dental Office Network Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dental Office Network Systems - Case Study Example This requirement can be met by advancing the firm’s Ethernet solutions to Gigabit Ethernet. This strategy will improve the firm’s Internet access speed rather substantially since Gigabit Ethernet endows higher bandwidth for many users, thereby eliminating bottlenecks. Moreover, Gigabit Ethernet grants full-duplex abilities that enhance the bandwidth’s efficiency (Jain, Bakker, & Anjum, 2004). Gigabit Ethernet reduces maintenance and ownership costs. This is because the bandwidth provided by Gigabit Ethernet has the capacity to convey high data quantities through one network at a fast rate. Furthermore, Gigabit enables east file sharing through high bandwidths, hence enabling file sharing between stationary and mobile dentists. Moreover, the firm has a sizeable requirement for all comprehensive coordination between stationary and mobile locations. The firm should, therefore, establish technologies that offer high speed Internet between the stationary and mobile lo cations within the metropolitan region. ... Mimax technology is appropriate since it allows fast data sending between locations in different regions of the city. The MAN technology is best suited for metropolitan regions since it allows mobility and speed of data transmission. Furthermore, the firm requires a network solution that connects all the city regions using a single network. A satellite microwave connection is the most viable option to fulfill this requirement since the technology permits connectivity across vast distances within the city. The technology sends signals from its ground station to a satellite then back to the other ground stations; hence encompassing massive distances. The firm also requires a secure and reliable network that protects confidential patient information as provided by the HIPPA requirements. HIPPA requires the protection of protected health data such as a patient’s past, current and future health condition, the health care services provided to the patient and past, current and future payment for health care (Castells, 1998). Because breaching these requirements is tantamount to a crime, the dental firm must maintain the integrity of confidential patient information. The firm’s greatest requirement is the protection of confidential patient information since a single breach or risk could result in loss of such confidential data. In order to connect the four dentists who work in the office but are also mobile, the firm should establish cloud technology, which has the capacity to connect both stationary and mobile offices. Cloud technology is an exceptional option since it delivers high storage capacity and computing to a multitude of users (Rhoton, 2009). Cloud technology will allow the four

Crime and Violence on Television and Its Impact on Wider Audiences Essay

Crime and Violence on Television and Its Impact on Wider Audiences - Essay Example An analysis of the media portrayals of crime and violence reveals that the phenomenon has been a critical component of television broadcasting, resulting in a widespread psychological impact on the minds of audiences that also extends to the incidence or occurrence of violent behavior. This paper will focus on comprehensively discussing the impact that depictions of crime and violence have had on the behavior of audiences. Specifically, the hypothesis presented in the paper asserts that viewing of violence and crime on television is positively correlated with an increase in violent behavior on the part of the audience. Additionally, the resources that are to be reviewed for the purposes of this paper will include, but are not limited to Centerwall (1992): Television and Violence, Philips (1983): The Impact of Mass Media on U.S Homicides and Kahlor and Eastin (2011): Television’s role in the culture violence towards women, David Bauder (Dec 21, 2012): Violence Baked into Popula r Culture and Savage, J. (2004): Does viewing violent media really cause criminal violence?. In conclusion, the paper presents an evaluation of the preceding discussion. Gross and Gerbner (1981) assert that in the light of empirical evidence and researches, it is a plausible assertion to make, that violence on television shares a strong relationship with the occurrence of aggressive behavior in both adults and children, however, the scale of this impact appears to narrow. This research essentially defines the age group of the audience who is at a greater risk of being targeted by violent depictions in the media in comparison with other age groups. According to Huesmann et al. (2003) the results of a longitudinal study lasting from the period of 1977-1992 indicated that while, male children are more likely to show aggressive and violent behavior due to extensive viewing of violence-laden television, the chances of this behavior transitioning into adulthood are foreseeable for both th e sexes. The primary reasons governing the positive correlation between the viewing of violence on television and an increase in violent behavior on the part of the audience include; the audiences’ ability to relate to the characters portraying violence and the extent to which they are able to develop an association between the virtual world of television and reality (Huesmann et al. 2003). Savage (2004) notes that researchers need to recognize the distinction between aggressive behavior and violent crime when assessing the two consequences with regards to the viewership of violence-laden television, as an evaluation of extensive empirical evidence does not prove the hypothesis that television violence is responsible for causing an increase in criminal acts. On the contrary, Centerwell’s (1992) assessment of three geographical samples of U.S, Canada and South Africa concluded that for two participant nations out of the three, the introduction of television resulted in a drastic increase in the homicide rate, with a 93% rise reported in U.S and 92% increase observed in the number of homicides in Canada. With regards to the current scenario of the television industry, concerns have risen regarding the essentially positive portrayals of criminals in mainstream television. Showtime’s TV series Dexter has garnered a massive fan following and critical appraise but several factions of society have criticized the show’s main premise which encourages viewers to empathize with its protagonist Dexter Morgan who is employed as a bloodstain pattern analyst by Miami Metro but also masquerades as a serial killer. Bauder (2012) observes that the popularity of shows such as Dexter and Homeland is reflective of what the audience wants. A report by the Nielsen Company concluded that of the ten most watched prime-time shows of this season seven are based on themes of either crime or violence (Bauder 2012). Cummings (2011) reports at least three instanc es where alleged fans of the

Children's Magazine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Children's Magazine - Essay Example The idea was to find whether the books and their display are able to fascinate the targeted readers and promote reading. During the survey, it was found that the libraries do have wide variety of books for children of different age groups but there is significant lack of children’s magazines and whatever few magazines are there, they do not attract the children. Children’s section is normally well segregated but lack of imagination, in the display of the titles, are found to be the main reason for disinterest amongst the children and the teens. The libraries make no efforts to apply creative approach to promote better reading. The bookstores like Waterstones and W. H. Smith have a huge selection of children’s magazines and story books which are prominently displayed. They often organize special events for children to promote children’s books which do make some headway in inculcating reading habits in children. The bookstores, too, have a separate section for the children where latest story books are attractively displayed. Unfortunately, the price factor is a big deterrent for the majority of the children who prefer to spend that much money on latest gadgets and audio-video games! The children need to develop reading habits for various reasons and the most important justification being that it hugely widens their knowledge horizon which becomes their greatest asset in the later life. To attract children towards reading, it is important that they be introduced to the pleasures of reading in a manner that makes it a big fun and which sufficiently prods their inherent curiosity so that they seek more interesting information in the books. It is also important that the government must encourage writers for writing children’s books and magazines that are interesting, fun filled and which satisfy interest level of children of

Dental Office Network Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dental Office Network Systems - Case Study Example This requirement can be met by advancing the firm’s Ethernet solutions to Gigabit Ethernet. This strategy will improve the firm’s Internet access speed rather substantially since Gigabit Ethernet endows higher bandwidth for many users, thereby eliminating bottlenecks. Moreover, Gigabit Ethernet grants full-duplex abilities that enhance the bandwidth’s efficiency (Jain, Bakker, & Anjum, 2004). Gigabit Ethernet reduces maintenance and ownership costs. This is because the bandwidth provided by Gigabit Ethernet has the capacity to convey high data quantities through one network at a fast rate. Furthermore, Gigabit enables east file sharing through high bandwidths, hence enabling file sharing between stationary and mobile dentists. Moreover, the firm has a sizeable requirement for all comprehensive coordination between stationary and mobile locations. The firm should, therefore, establish technologies that offer high speed Internet between the stationary and mobile lo cations within the metropolitan region. ... Mimax technology is appropriate since it allows fast data sending between locations in different regions of the city. The MAN technology is best suited for metropolitan regions since it allows mobility and speed of data transmission. Furthermore, the firm requires a network solution that connects all the city regions using a single network. A satellite microwave connection is the most viable option to fulfill this requirement since the technology permits connectivity across vast distances within the city. The technology sends signals from its ground station to a satellite then back to the other ground stations; hence encompassing massive distances. The firm also requires a secure and reliable network that protects confidential patient information as provided by the HIPPA requirements. HIPPA requires the protection of protected health data such as a patient’s past, current and future health condition, the health care services provided to the patient and past, current and future payment for health care (Castells, 1998). Because breaching these requirements is tantamount to a crime, the dental firm must maintain the integrity of confidential patient information. The firm’s greatest requirement is the protection of confidential patient information since a single breach or risk could result in loss of such confidential data. In order to connect the four dentists who work in the office but are also mobile, the firm should establish cloud technology, which has the capacity to connect both stationary and mobile offices. Cloud technology is an exceptional option since it delivers high storage capacity and computing to a multitude of users (Rhoton, 2009). Cloud technology will allow the four

Children's Magazine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Children's Magazine - Essay Example The idea was to find whether the books and their display are able to fascinate the targeted readers and promote reading. During the survey, it was found that the libraries do have wide variety of books for children of different age groups but there is significant lack of children’s magazines and whatever few magazines are there, they do not attract the children. Children’s section is normally well segregated but lack of imagination, in the display of the titles, are found to be the main reason for disinterest amongst the children and the teens. The libraries make no efforts to apply creative approach to promote better reading. The bookstores like Waterstones and W. H. Smith have a huge selection of children’s magazines and story books which are prominently displayed. They often organize special events for children to promote children’s books which do make some headway in inculcating reading habits in children. The bookstores, too, have a separate section for the children where latest story books are attractively displayed. Unfortunately, the price factor is a big deterrent for the majority of the children who prefer to spend that much money on latest gadgets and audio-video games! The children need to develop reading habits for various reasons and the most important justification being that it hugely widens their knowledge horizon which becomes their greatest asset in the later life. To attract children towards reading, it is important that they be introduced to the pleasures of reading in a manner that makes it a big fun and which sufficiently prods their inherent curiosity so that they seek more interesting information in the books. It is also important that the government must encourage writers for writing children’s books and magazines that are interesting, fun filled and which satisfy interest level of children of

Pheochromocytoma Essay Example for Free

Pheochromocytoma Essay Above the kidneys are two yellowish- orange colored glands that are approximately two and half by one inch called the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands play a very important role in secreting hormones and protecting the body from stress. The adrenal glands are composed of two parts, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex is the outer part of the adrenal gland that produces steroid hormones that regulate many different body functions. Not only that, but a hormone called aldosterone is produced by the adrenal cortex. This hormone regulates the amount of water and salt that is in a person’s body. The adrenal gland also has another part called the adrenal medulla which also has a significant role. The adrenal medulla’s functions mainly deal with stress and frightening situations. It produces hormones known as catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. Catecholamines deal with responding to acute or severe, sudden stress like in situations that are life threatening. Theses catecholamine hormones are responsible for the racing of the heart, known as palpations, sweating, the shakiness of the hands, and the widening of the eyes when a stressful situation occurs or when faced with sudden fear. When these glands begin to grow tumors called Pheochromocytoma. Phechromocytoma is a rare tumor that is found on the adrenal glands that causes hyper secretion of hormones that control the heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism called epinephrine and norepinephrine that results in intermittent or sustained hypertension. Pheochromocytoma most often occurs in young to middle- aged adults that are between the ages of 30 and 60. Out of the people who are affected, ten percent of them are children that develop symptoms between the ages of 6 and 14. Many factors contribute to the cause of phechromocytoma. Environmental and genetic factors both play a role in most cases. Pheochromocytoma can occur either alone, or in combination with other disorders. Neurofibromatosis Von Hippel-Lindau disease, tuberous sclerosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, also known as MEN syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia are the most common disorders that pheochromocytoma are associated with. Since it can combined with other conditions, there are also quite a few symptoms that go alomg with it as well. If a person has pheochromocytoma, high blood pressure is the most common symptom, which can be to the extreme at times. Although every child is different and may experience symptoms differently, other symptoms may include rapid pulse, headache, racing heart, poor weight gain despite a good appetite, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, pale skin, growth failure, nausea, clammy skin, and abdominal pain. Because pheochromocytoma may resemble other medical conditions or problems, it is always best to consult the child’s physician for a proper diagnosis. Diagnostic procedures for pheochromocytoma, along with a complete physical examination and medical history, may include a urine and blood test so that hormone levels can be measured, a CAT scan may be taken of the adrenal gland, which is more detailed than a general x- ray and a radioisotope scan. Also, genetic testing may be done as well. Once pheochromocytoma is diagnosed, treatment can begin. Based on the overall health, age, medical history, tolerance for specific medications, the extent of the disease, and ther factors, will help the physician determine the specific treatment needed for pheochromocytoma. Usually, the treatment includes removing the tumor. However, before the tumor can even be removed, the physician may prescribe some mediations to control high blood pressure. When dealing with children and pheochromocytoma, there may be multiple tumors. In this case, before the surgery, an extensive evaluation is required to locate the tumors. After surgery, to monitor the development of future tumors, on- going medical follow- ups may be necessary. Since, in most cases, genetics play a role in pheochromocytoma, family members are well- advised to be tested to rule out the presence of any tumors.