Individual Business Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Individual Business Report - Assignment Example The report expounds on the description of the product and services offered by the shop and its unique selling point. The marketing mix along with the customer segmentation also gets described to explain who the shop targets and how it builds its brand awareness. Finally, the report concludes with the financial area of the business, explaining the shop’s financial plan and its credit policies. For ages certain things have not changed, some people still have issues in buying gifts, especially flowers for their girlfriends, fiancà ©es, and wives (Reid & Bojanic, 2009). But, while other things do not change, fortunately, some change like technology that makes the gift-giving process much easier. The Red White and Bloom is certain that the opportunity to use technology in making it easier for people to buy custom flower arrangements along with delivery on the days they determine in advance. Red White and Bloom is a flower shop that I started, and I am the majority owner. The company targets the executive business people in the high street in London for each upscale, Frequent Lower Gift Program and long term. The Red White and Bloom differs from other traditional florists through cultivating personal relationships by using delivery services, technology and giving the Gift program that making the buying of flowers easy. Thus, this report explains further the aims of the busine ss, its environment, product description and the market mix along with its consumer segmentation and financial area. Red White and Bloom aims at using technology to enhance the delivery program and identify along with serving the ideal target audience within the high street in London. The company uses sophisticated marketing techniques in securing a core executive business people clientele and corporate accounts along with differentiating from other traditional and online florists. The company differentiates itself through the delivery program, Frequent Flower Gift Programs, and custom

Analysis of Death of Woman Wang Historical Novel by Jonathan Spence Essay

Analysis of Death of Woman Wang Historical Novel by Jonathan Spence - Essay Example The fascinating structure of the book consists majorly on the observation on the people having to do work on the land, their social conflicts and, their family structures. ... 2 In his quest to escape the challenges and the fact of being dismissed, he was not happy to go back to his home in Shao-wu, Fukien, out of fear of disgrace, this instead compelled him into an absolute poverty3. His attempt, after finishing the local history, culminated further into more sorrow. His return to Fukien was accompanied by the Rebellion of the feudatory. Since he was amongst the many literati and former officials, he got ordered to take up bureaucratic "office", it was upon refusing to resume the office that Feng retreated to the Fukien mountains, where the constant exposure in 'bitter weather led to his death. Another key actor aforementioned is Huang who was also a magistrate in the County, stationed in the county’s city. A Chinese imperial official, who had gone past the Confucian examinations and was posted in T'an-ch'eng. Upon coming to realizing T'an-ch'eng as a very poor area, in which, almost the whole population had been decimated. In his attempt, to allev iate the poverty by campaigning for tax cuts, particularly in areas where farming had ceased to operate as usual, taxes collection could help, not only from the rich landowners but also from the poor farmers. He came across a lot of challenges and concerns; one such was the superstitions, most of the residents committing suicides out of the hard life and a series of natural disasters. Though he is compassionate, Huang can safely be considered a product of the unsuccessful Chinese major system Confucian ethics and ideas, overwhelmed by the arrogance and the corruption of the rich and the degeneracy and despair of the poor.  Ã‚  

Impact of IMF Funding on Pakistans economy

Impact of IMF Funding on Pakistans economy Introduction The funding by International Monetary Fund (IMF) to developing countries has always raised a debate on its positive and negative impacts on the economy of the creditor country. Pakistan has an extended history of funding from IMF starting from 1958 to 2004 in various time spans and now the current agreement from 2008. This study analyzes the impact of IMF funding on Pakistan. Although there has been criticism regarding both issues of policies and the funding impact but the focus of this research is to study the impacts and not to discuss or criticize the policies of IMF. The IMF works to foster global growth and economic stability. It provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and also works with developing nations to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty. It is working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Although monetary fund provides financial assistance to the developing countries but its role in economic prosperity has been highly criticized from the last few years due to its strict policies and restrictions imposed on the borrower country. Under current agreement, IMF imposes 11 main conditions on Pakistan which includes: introduction of the Central Excise Duty on service and agricultural sector, reduction in the expenditures on Public Sector Development Program, devaluation of rupee, freezing of non-development expenditure under the defense budget, non-provision of supplementary grants to government departments, ending subsidy on gas and electricity, reduction in non-development expenditure of civil departments and federal ministries, increase in markup rate of banks and on inter-bank transactions, uniformity in the inter-bank and open market dollar exchange rate and stoppage of government financial intervention in stock markets. The main aim of IMF behind imposition of policies is to increase the revenues of the borrower country. But some studies reveal that it affects the economy both directly and indirectly. Directly it imposes impact in the sense of control of certain variables on which it put restrictions and indirectly with regard to the relationship of these variables with other macroeconomic driving variables that drives the economic growth. The matter here is not the IMF funding but the policy impositions that could impact the economic growth. IMF provides funds for the three major areas, to reduce deficit of fiscal account and current account and to increase the revenues. The question here arises that whether the increase in taxes, elimination of subsidies and development projects will help boost the economy or causes the real GDP to fall from the expected value through increased inflation. An extensive research has been done to address the issue of IMF policies and impact on economy of the borrower country but there are conflicting results derived by different researchers due to particular conditions related to that country, the researches that tried to study all countries under IMF program also reveals contradicting results. This study focuses specifically on Pakistan so that particular effects could be revealed that IMF funding is pouring on Pakistans economy. Problem statement The problem statement of research is Impact of IMF funding on Pakistans economy. Major variables that are used in this study include IMF funds and macro economic variables that are the indicators of an economy i.e. real GDP, employment rate, current account balance, balance of payments and FDI. Objectives The objectives of our study are: To study how IMF funding is putting its effect on economy of Pakistan. To reveal that whether there is any significant relationship between IMF funding and economic growth and if there is a relationship then whether it is positive or negative. To draw conclusion and make recommendations through analysis that whether Pakistan should borrow from IMF or seek other ways of borrowing Significance Although a number of studies have addresses the stated issue but these researches mostly carried out aggregate affect taking into account all the countries under IMF program. The Research that we are going to conduct will try to find out impact of IMF funding on economic growth in particular scenario of Pakistan. Delimitation Our scope of study will be limited to the impacts on Pakistan economy. More over the variable that we will use for analysis of economic growth will be only major macroeconomic variables which are majorly contributing towards the growth factor. In our study we are not considering the political instability and inconsistency in the prevailing policies and other social environmental issues that could impact economic growth side by side. Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature This chapter includes the work done in the same area by other researchers. It put a glance on studies of some of the researchers along with their proposed conclusions Literature review IMF funding has been one of the most debated issues from the last few years in terms of its policies, restrictions and its impact on the economy of countries under IMF programs. A number of studies have been done in this regard. However the results of these studies are contradicting making this issue still debatable. Recent studies have produced mixed and sometimes puzzling results regarding the impact of IMF programs on a nations balance of payments, current account balance, foreign direct investment, real GDP, per capita income and long-run economic growth. Martin Feldstein (1998) argues that the IMF required excessively large reductions in government deficits and restrictions on monetary policy. These restrictions resulted in substantial increases in tax rates, interest rates and increase in current account deficit. Feldstein argues that Asian economies have experienced a recession that worsened their economic problems as a result of these policy changes. Feldstein argues that many of the mandated reforms involve unjustified interference with national autonomy and have little or no relationship to the goal of resolving the payment problem. He notes that it would have been better to allow more time for negotiations between borrowers and lenders before providing IMF loans to a country experiencing payment problems. Ho: There is no significant Impact on the current account deficit by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H5: There is significant Impact on the current account deficit by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. Doug Bandow (1999) argues that the existence of IMF bailouts creates a moral hazard problem that encourages countries to not solve their fundamental problems. He suggests that all nations would benefit if healthy economies quarantined sick economies instead of providing economic assistance. Bandow argues that IMF assistance programs increase risk for healthy economies and do not provide long-term benefits for troubled economies. He notes that most IMF borrowers have received aid for a decade or more. Jensen (2004) suggests that international capital markets perceive IMF intervention as a negative development. Regardless of factors driving their decisions, Jensens research provides strong evidence that developing countries pay a serious price when they take advantage of IMF assistance. His research strongly reveals a negative relationship between IMF funding and foreign direct investment in the country. According to him investors dont perceive this funding in a positive way that why reducing net investment level in the country and as a result hindering economic growth. For impact of IMF on FDI following hypothesis is developed: Ho: There is no significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H1: There is significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. On the other hand there are a number of researchers like Dicks Mireaux (2000), who have found strongly positive economic growth effects of IMF funding. These researches found that there is appositive impact of IMF funding on the economy. While there are also studies which concluded that are no significant effects of IMF on the economy of a country under IMF agreement like, Hardoy(2003) and Hutchison (2004), who argue that IMF funding does not pour any significant impact on the economy of the borrower country. Mireaux argue that economy grows due to the increased tax revenues. Following hypothesis has been developed between tax revenue and IMF funding. Ho: There is no significant Impact on the Tax Revenue by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H3: There is significant Impact on the Tax Revenue by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. Nunnenkamp(1999) in his article discussed that IMF is under serious attack as critics blame that IMF lending lead to financial crisis and suggests to stop IMF funding also the researcher discussed the consequences of ending the lending ODriscoll (1997) in his article has conducted the descriptive research about the IMF policies towards developing countries by keeping the focus on USA economy. The Policy making of IMF for the developing countries are without any backing of historical decisions taken by the developing countries in past. Thus the financial crises and current account deficit crises is mainly attributed to such policy making. The researcher has give example of Asia in which case the above discussion is particularly true which roots in 1995. The IMFs handling of the Mexico crisis firmly established moral hazard in international lending and sowed the seeds for the Asian crisis. Thus far, IMF policy in Asia largely repeats the policy mistakes in Mexico.   Gina (2007) indicates in his article that the reforms enacted by Congress in USA are an important first step toward reforming the IMF. Even more important than the reforms, however, was the congressional debate over IMF funding. That debate focused attention on the process and Substance of IMF policymaking and even questioned the need for that organization in the post-Bretton Woods world. Przeworski and Vreeland (2000) Using a bivariate, dynamic version of the Heckman selection model, we estimate the effect of participation in International Monetary Fund IMF programs on economic growth. We find evidence that governments enter into agreements with the IMF under the pressures of a foreign reserves crisis but they also bring in the Fund to shield themselves from the political costs of adjustment policies. Program participation lowers growth rates for as long as countries remain under a program. Once countries leave the program, they grow faster than if they had remained, but not faster than they would have without participation. So for the relation between IMF and GDP following hypothesis are developed: Ho: There is no significant Impact on the GDP by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H1: There is significant Impact on the GDP by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. The estimates of Barroa Lee (2005) shows that a higher IMF loan-participation rate reduces economic growth. IMF lending does not have significant effects on investment, inflation, employment, government consumption, and international openness. However, IMF loan participation has small negative effects on democracy and the rule of law. Ho: There is no significant Impact on the Employment by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H2: There is significant Impact on the Employment by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. Chapter 3 Research Methodology This chapter includes the theoretical model, data collection technique and methodology approach used for the analysis Theoretical model Economic Growth Real GDP IMF Funding Employment FDI RRevenue Current Account Balance Data collection Secondary source for the data collection has been used in this research. For this purpose most of the data will be collected from the Economic Survey of Pakistan, international monetary fund web site and state bank of Pakistan website. The dependant variables that have been used to analyze the economic growth include: balance of payment, current account balance, real GDP, rate of employment and foreign direct investment. These are the major variables that are the determinants of economic growth of a country. The independent variable is the amount of funding by IMF. Data analysis Regression analysis is used for analyzing the impact of IMF funding on Pakistans economy. Data is analyzed using SPSS. Data for the IMF funding in Pakistan is in detail below:   YEARS IMF FUNDING 1973-1974 527 1974-75 1990 1975-76 1987 1976-77 2497 1977-78 232 1978-79 3406 1979-80 644 1980-81 3789 1981-82 6079 1982-83 7266 1983-84 2812 2000-01 35400 2001-02 65460 Chapter 4 Data Presentation and Findings This chapter includes the data which has been used for the analysis, analyzed results and the findings that follow through the analysis Data presentation and findings Following is the detailed data used for the analysis and the findings of the regression analysis. The data is presented separately for each variable used as the measure of economic growth of the country. IMF funding and GDP Data Analysis for First Hypothesis Ho: There is no significant Impact on the GDP by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H1: There is significant Impact on the GDP by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. IMF FUNDING GDP 1974 527 38439 1974-75 1990 39930 1975-76 1987 41229 1976-77 2497 42401 1977-78 232 45679 1978-79 3406 48204 1979-80 644 51736 1980-81 3789 55048 1981-82 6079 59012 1982-83 7266 62975 1983-84 2812 65968 2000-01 35400 180500 2001-02 65460 212200 Findings: To test the hypothesis, linear regression analysis used. The results of regression of One independent Variable (IMF Funding) against GDP (dependent variable) can be seen in the following output. Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .971 .943 .937 14025.2195 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF FUNDING ANOVA Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 35481741865.974 1 35481741865.974 180.379 .000 Residual 2163774597.718 11 196706781.611 Total 37645516463.692 12 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF FUNDING b Dependent Variable: GDP Coefficients Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Model B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) 43492.601 4451.563 9.770 .000 IMF 2.861 .213 .971 13.431 .000 a Dependent Variable: GDP Interpretation of analysis The ANOVA table shows that the F value of 180.379 is significant at the .000 levels. Degree of Freedom column in the table, the first number represent the number of Independent Variable (1) the second number (13) is the data collected for total number of years (N), minus the number of Independent Variable (K) minus 1 or 11=(N-K-1) or (13-1-1)= 12. The F statistics produce (F= 180.379) is significant at the .000 levels. Which shows that Model validity is significant at 0.000 level of significance. What the result mean is that 94.3 percent of variance (R square) in increase in GDP has been significantly explained by increasing Government Expenditure by way of IMF Funding (Independent variable) with standard error of estimate of 14025.2195. Standard error of estimate shows amount falls outside the regression line or shows standard deviation from mean. There is .000 percent or less chance of this is not holding true. There is correlation of 0.971 (denoted as r=0.971) between IMF Funding (Independent variable) and GDP (dependent variable) with level of significance 0.000. so there is positive relationship between the two variables and probability of this is not true is zero percent or less. That is 100 percent of time we would expect that this correlation to exist. There is a beta value of 0.971, which shows that 97.1 percent chance of making TYPE II error if null hypothesis is accepted when it is false. At the same time Un standardized coefficient B= 2.861 indicates that the valu e of GDP increase by 2.861 unit for a one unit increase in Government Expenditure by IMF Funding. What the result mean is that t value 13.431 significant at 0.000. Thus hypothesis 1 is substantiated. IMF funding and employment rate Data Analysis for Second Hypothesis Ho: There is no significant Impact on the Employment by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H2: There is significant Impact on the Employment by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. YEARS IMF FUNDING EMPLOYMENT 1973-1974 527 19.76 1974-75 1990 20.3 1975-76 1987 21.08 1976-77 2497 21.89 1977-78 232 22.73 1978-79 3406 23.62 1979-80 644 24.15 1980-81 3789 24.7 1981-82 6079 25.27 1982-83 7266 25.85 1983-84 2812 26.4 2000-01 35400 37.51 2001-02 65460 38.29 Findings: To test the hypothesis, linear regression analysis used. The results of regression of One independent Variable (IMF Funding) against Employment (dependent variable) can be seen in the following output. Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .912 .832 .817 2.5175 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF Funding ANOVA Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 345.318 1 345.318 54.485 .000 Residual 69.717 11 6.338 Total 415.035 12 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF Funding b Dependent Variable: EMPLOYMENT Coefficients Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Model B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) 22.636 .799 28.328 .000 IMF 2.823E-04 .000 .912 7.381 .000 a Dependent Variable: EMPLOYMENT Interpretation of analysis The ANOVA table shows that the F value of 54.485 is significant at the .000 levels. Degree of Freedom column in the table, the first number represent the number of Independent Variable (1) the second number (13) is the data collected for total number of years (N), minus the number of Independent Variable (K) minus 1 or 11=(N-K-1) or (13-1-1)= 12. The F statistics produce (F= 54.485) is significant at the .000 levels. Which shows that Model validity is significant at 0.000 level of significance. What the result mean is that 83.2 percent of variance (R square) in increase in Employment has been significantly explained by increasing Government Expenditure by way of IMF Funding (Independent variable) with standard error of estimate of 2.5175. Standard error of estimate shows amount falls outside the regression line or shows standard deviation from mean. There is .000 percent or less chance of this is not holding true. There is correlation of 0.912 (denoted as r=0.912) between IMF Funding (Independent variable) and Employment (dependent variable) with level of significance 0.000. So there is positive relationship between the two variables and probability of this is not true is zero percent or less. That is 100 percent of time we would expect that this correlation to exist. There is a beta value of 0.912, which shows that 91.2 percent chance of making TYPE II error if null hypothesis is accepted when it is false. At the same time Un standardized coefficient B= 0.00283 indicates t hat the value of Employment increase by 0.00283 unit for a one unit increase in Government Expenditure by IMF Funding. What the result mean is that t value 7.381 significant at 0.000. Thus hypothesis 2 is substantiated. IMF funding and tax revenue Data Analysis for Third Hypothesis Ho: There is no significant Impact on the Tax Revenue by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H3: There is significant Impact on the Tax Revenue by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. YEARS IMF FUNDING TAX REVENUE 1973-1974 527 9,444.00 1974-75 1990 11,428.70 1975-76 1987 13,914.80 1976-77 2497 16,112.50 1977-78 232 20,041.10 1978-79 3406 23,475.70 1979-80 644 30,720.40 1980-81 3789 36,509.30 1981-82 6079 40,367.60 1982-83 7266 46,475.00 1983-84 2812 55,360.00 2000-01 35400 444,800.00 2001-02 65460 486,000.00 Findings : To test the hypothesis, linear regression analysis used. The results of regression of One independent Variable (IMF Funding) against Tax Revenue (dependent variable) can be seen in the following output. Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .958 .917 .910 49565.7061 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF FUNDING ANOVA Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 300517013184.665 1 300517013184.665 122.323 .000 Residual 27024351475.824 11 2456759225.075 Total 327541364660.489 12 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF b Dependent Variable: TAX REVENUE Coefficients Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Model B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) 10370.086 15732.008 .659 .523 IMF 8.326 .753 .958 11.060 .000 a Dependent Variable: TAX REVENUE Interpretation of analysis The ANOVA table shows that the F value of 122.323 is significant at the .000 levels. Degree of Freedom column in the table, the first number represent the number of Independent Variable (1) the second number (13) is the data collected for total number of years (N), minus the number of Independent Variable (K) minus 1 or 11=(N-K-1) or (13-1-1)= 12. The F statistics produce (F= 122.323) is significant at the .000 levels. Which shows that Model validity is significant at 0.000 level of significance. What the result mean is that 91.7 percent of variance (R square) in increase in Tax Revenue has been significantly explained by increasing Government Expenditure by way of IMF Funding (Independent variable) with standard error of estimate of 49565.7061. Standard error of estimate shows amount falls outside the regression line or shows standard deviation from mean. There is .000 percent or less chance of this is not holding true. There is correlation of 0.958 (denoted as r=0.958) between IMF Funding (Independent variable) and Tax Revenue (dependent variable) with level of significance 0.000. So there is positive relationship between the two variables and probability of this is not true is zero percent or less. That is 100 percent of time we would expect that this correlation to exist. There is a beta value of .958, which shows that 95.8 percent chance of making TYPE II error if null hypothesis is accepted when it is false. At the same time Un standardized coefficient B= 8.362 indicate s that the value of Tax Revenue increase by 8.326 unit for a one unit increase in Government Expenditure by IMF Funding. What the result mean is that t value 11.060 significant at 0.000. Thus hypothesis 3 is substantiated. IMF funding and FDI Ho: There is no significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H1: There is significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. YEARS IMF FUNDING FDI 1973-1974 527 -189 1974-75 1990 447 1975-76 1987 675 1976-77 2497 321 1977-78 232 1065 1978-79 3406 1080 1979-80 644 840 1980-81 3789 1225 1981-82 6079 3430 1982-83 7266 1473.5 1983-84 2812 1680 2000-01 35400 19995 2001-02 65460 30051.4 Findings : To test the hypothesis, linear regression analysis used. The results of regression of One independent Variable (IMF Funding) against FDI (dependent variable) can be seen in the following output. Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .991 .982 .981 1290.1947 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF ANOVA Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 1010046942.200 1 1010046942.200 606.780 .000 Residual 18310625.532 11 1664602.321 Total 1028357567.732 12 a Predictors: (Constant), IMF b Dependent Variable: FDI Coefficients Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Model B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) -128.350 409.504 -.313 .760 IMF .483 .020 .991 24.633 .000 a Dependent Variable: FDI Interpretation of analysis The ANOVA table shows that the F value of 606.780 is significant at the .000 levels. Degree of Freedom column in the table, the first number represent the number of Independent Variable (1) the second number (13) is the data collected for total number of years (N), minus the number of Independent Variable (K) minus 1 or 11=(N-K-1) or (13-1-1)= 12. The F statistics produce (F= 606.780) is significant at the .000 levels. Which shows that Model validity is significant at 0.000 level of significance. What the result mean is that 98.2 percent of variance (R square) in increase in FDI has been significantly explained by increasing Government Expenditure by way of IMF Funding (Independent variable) with standard error of estimate of 1290.1947. Standard error of estimate shows amount falls outside the regression line or shows standard deviation from mean. There is .000 percent or less chance of this is not holding true. There is correlation of 0.991 (denoted as r=0.991) between IMF Funding (Independent variable) and FDI (dependent variable) with level of significance 0.000. So there is positive relationship between the two variables and probability of this is not true is zero percent or less. That is 100 percent of time we would expect that this correlation to exist. There is a beta value of 0.991, which shows that 99.1 percent chance of making TYPE II error if null hypothesis is accepted when it is false. At the same time Un standardized coefficient B= .483 indicates that the value of FDI increase by .483 unit for a one unit increase in Government Expenditure by IMF Funding. What the result mean is that t value 24.633 significant at 0.000. Thus hypothesis 4 is substantiated. IMF funding and current account deficit Data Analysis for Fifth Hypothesis Ho: There is no significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. H5: There is significant Impact on the FDI by increasing Government Expenditure through IMF Funding. YEARS IMF FUNDING CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT 1973-1974 527 3318 1974-75 1990 10639 1975-76 1987 9212 1976-77 2497 11718 1977-78 232 14835 1978-79

The Most Important Event of World War Two Essay -- World War Two Japan

The Most Important Event of World War Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was quite probably the most important event of World War II. Its consequences were greater than those of any other event of the war. On the morning of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay flew over the Japanese industrial city of Hiroshima and dropped the first atomic bomb through its hatches. The city went up in a fireball, causing destruction unlike anything the world had ever seen. The fact that it killed one hundred thousand people instantly made the atomic bomb known as an instrument of terrible destruction, the fact that it helped bring about the Japanese surrender and thus ended the Pacific war made the bomb an effective deterrent of war. Even now, after almost fifty years since the â€Å"nightmare,† one only remembers the devastation after the A-bomb exploded, forgetting all the hard work it took to bring the remarkable weapon to life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story began when on August 2, 1939, a month before World War II began in Europe, Albert Einstein signed a letter addressed to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Concede in careful terms, the letter stated that recent nuclear research indicated extremely powerful bombs of a new type, based on Uranium, might soon be possible. Einstein warned that the secret work with Uranium was going on in Nazi Germany. He urged that similar American research be accelerated. Roosevelt filled with fear that Nazi Germany would develop the bomb first, marked Einstein’s letter for action. Eleven days after President Roosevelt authorized the go-ahead for the Manhattan project, the Japanese, too, without American knowledge, entered the race to develop an atomic bomb.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the research for the first atomic bomb started, the military began its own preparation to use the atomic bomb. On Tuesday, August 29, 1944, General Barney Giles, assistant Chief of Air staff, decided that a well-respected Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tibbet should be awarded the honor of flying the first atomic mission. General Ent formally assigned the 393rd Heavy Bombardment Squadron, based in Nebraska, to Colonel Tibbet. Its fifteen bomber crews would provide the world’s first atomic strike force capable of delivering nuclear bombs on Germany and Japan. Their training base was at Wendover, Utah and the code name this project was named â€Å"Silverplate.† Tibbet was warned to commit as little as possible on pape... ...ing in its path. Hiroshima along with the crew of 509th composite group at that historic point guaranteed a page for themselves in the history books.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On August 9, another nuclear bomb was dropped, but this time on the port city of Nagasaki. Many more bombs were being readied, but President Truman gave orders to halt the attacks, saying he didn’t like the killings of â€Å"all those kids.† In the face of die-hard military opposition at home, Emperor Hirohita forced the issue of surrender and acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. â€Å"I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any longer,† he said, â€Å"ending the war is the only way to relieve the nation from the terrible distress with which it is burdened†¦The time has come when we must bear the unbearable.† (Thomas 323) The war was over. American celebrated August 14 as Victory over Japan day (VJ-Day), church bells rang, jubilant crowds danced in the streets, fireworks filled the skies, and war weary citizens from New York to San Francisco greeted the peace with flourish of uncorked energy. As Americans celebrated, the Japanese grieved for a nation defeated in war and for two cities sacrificed for the cause of peace.

Colored People Essay

The â€Å"I have a Dream† speech by Martin Luther King Jr. is considered one of the most memorable speeches of all time. The speech was given August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Some say that it was an effective speech and some say it wasn’t. In his speech Martin Luther King Jr. tried to convince his audience that all people should be treated equally. He believed that black people should have the same rights as the white people and not be punished as brutal than whites. In his speech King use pathos, ethos, and logos to try and get his audience to agree with him. He begins his speech by telling a short story about how an American signed the Emancipation Proclamation and was still not free because of segregation and discrimination. He descriptively talked about how the man is still in poverty and was not considered part of the American society. When talking about this King uses a lot of emotion. By using emotion he was able to emphasize and show his audience that discrimination really was a problem and that it was only getting worse. Martin Luther King’s speech is based on facts and it also comes from his heart. When stating facts, he talks about how colored people are victims of police brutality and how they aren’t allowed to stay at hotels and motels. He also says that they can’t vote, and should be allowed to. King talks about things that come from his heart, such as when he says, he wants his four children to live in a society where they will be judged for who they are and not by the color of their skin. He also said that he wanted all children to be able to be friends with each other and live normal lives together. In his speech King states, â€Å"One day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers â€Å" (3).

Nature of Linguistic Sign by Ferdinand de Saussure Essay

1. Sign, Signified Signifier Some people regard language, when reduced to its elements as a naming-process only–a list of words, each corresponding to the thing that it names. For example: operation–an assumption that is anything but true. But this rather naive approach can bring us near the truth by showing us that the linguistic unit is a double entity, one formed by the associating of two terms. We This conception is open to criticism at several points. It assumes that ready-made ideas exist before words; it does not tell us whether a name is vocal or psychological in nature (arbor, for instance, can be considered from either viewpoint); finally, it lets us assume that the linking of a name and a thing is a very simple have seen in considering the speaking-circuit that both terms involved in the linguistic sign are psychological and are united in the brain by an associative bond. This point must be emphasized. The linguistic sign unites, not a thing and a name, but a concept and a sound-image. The latter is not the material sound, a purely thing, but the psychological imprint of the sound, the impression that it makes on our senses. The sound-image is sensory, and if I happen to call it â€Å"material,† it is only in that sense, and by way of opposing it to the other term of the association, the concept, which is generally more abstract. The psychological character of our sound-images becomes apparent when we observe our own speech. Without moving our lips or tongue, we can talk to ourselves or recite mentally a selection of verse. Because we regard the words of our language as sound-images, we must avoid speaking of the â€Å"phonemes† that make up the words. This term, which suggests vocal activity, is applicable to the spoken word only, to the realization of the inner image in discourse. We can avoid that misunderstanding by speaking of the sounds and syllables of a word provided we remember that the names refer to the sound-image. The linguistic sign is then a two-sided psychological entity that can be represented by the drawing: The two elements are intimately united, and each recalls the other. Whether we try to find the meaning of the Latin word arbor or the word that Latin uses to designate the concept â€Å"tree,† it is clear that only the associations sanctioned by that languageappear to us to conform to reality, and we disregard whatever others might be imagined. Our definition of the linguistic sign poses an important question of terminology. I call the combination of a concept and a sound-image a sign, but in current usage the term generally designates only a sound-image, a word, for example (arbor, etc.). One tends to forget that arbor is called a sign only because it carries the concept â€Å"tree,† with the result that the idea of the sensory part implies the idea of the whole. Ambiguity would disappear if the three notions involved here were designated by three names, each suggesting and opposing the others. I propose to retain the word sign [signe] to designate the whole and to replace concept and sound-image respectively by signified [signifià ©] and signifier [signifiant]; the last two terms have the advantage of indicating the opposition that separates them from each other and from the whole of which they are parts. As regards sign, if I am satisfied with it, this is simply because I do not know of any word to replace it, the ordinary language suggesting no other. The linguistic sign, as defined, has two primordial characteristics. In enunciating them I am also positing the basic principles of any study of this type. 2. Principle I: the Arbitrary Nature of the Sign The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary. Since I mean by sign the whole that results from the associating of the signifier with the signified, I can simply say: the linguistic sign is arbitrary. The idea of â€Å"sister† is not linked by any inner relationship to the succession of sounds s-ïÆ'Ëœ-r which serves as its signifier in French; that it could be represented equally by just any other sequence is proved by differences among languages and by the very existence of different languages: the signifiedâ€Å"ox† has as its signifier b-ïÆ'Ëœ-f on one side of the border and o-k-s (Ochs) on the other. No one disputes the principle of the arbitrary nature of the sign, but it is often easier to discover a truth than to assign to it its proper place. Principle I dominates all the linguistics of language; its consequences are numberless. It is true that not all of them are equally obvious at first glance; only after many detours does one discover them, and with them the primordial importance of the principle. One remark in passing: when semiology becomes organized as a science, the question will arise whether or not it properly includes modes of expression based on completely natural signs, such as pantomime. Supposing that the new science welcomes them, its main concern will still be the whole group of systems grounded on the arbitrariness of the sign. In fact, every means of expression used in society is based in principle on collective behavior or–what amounts to the same thing–on convention. Polite formulas, for instance, though often imbued with a certain natural expressiveness (as in the case of a Chinese who greets his emperor by bowing down to the ground nine times), are nonetheless fixed by rule; it is this rule and not the intrinsic value of the gestures that obliges one to use them. Signs that are wholly arbitrary realize better than the others the ideal of the semiological process; that is why language, the most complex and universal of all systems of expression, is also the most characteristic; in this sense linguistics can become the master-pattern for all branches of semiology although language is only one particular semiological system. The word symbol has been used to designate the linguistic sign, or more specifically, what is here called the signifier. Principle I in particular weighs against the use of this term. One characteristic of the symbol is that it is never wholly arbitrary; it is not empty, for there is the rudiment of a natural bond between the signifier and the signified. The symbol of justice, a pair of scales, could not be replaced by just any other symbol, such as a chariot. The word arbitrary also calls for comment. The term should not imply that the choice of the signifier is left entirely to the speaker (we shall see below that the individual does not have the power to change a sign in any way once it has become established in the linguistic community); I mean that it is unmotivated, i.e. arbitrary in that it actually has no natural connection with the signified. 3. Principle II: the Linear Nature of the Signifier The signifier, being auditory, is unfolded solely in time from which it gets the following characteristics: (a) it represents a span, and (b) the span is measurable in a single dimension; it is a line. While Principle II is obvious, apparently linguists have always neglected to state it, doubtless because they found it too simple; nevertheless, it is fundamental, and its consequences are incalculable. Its importance equals that of Principle I; the whole mechanism of language depends upon it. In contrast to visual signifiers (nautical signals, etc.) which can offer simultaneous groupings in several dimensions, auditory signifiers have at their command only the dimension of time. Their elements are presented in succession; they form a chain. This feature becomes readily apparent when they are represented in writing and the spatial line of graphic marks is substituted for succession in time. Sometimes the linear nature of the signifier is not obvious. When I accent a syllable, for instance, it seems that I am concentrating more than one significant element on the same point. But this is an illusion; the syllable and its accent constitute only one phonational act. There is no duality within the act but only different oppositions to what precedes and what follows.

death essays

death essays Death is a fact of life and everyone has to deal with it. There is no way around death but there are ways to die happy. In the essay "Death with Dignity," the author, Dr. Kubler-Ross interveiwed many people that were dying. Eighty percent of the people interviewed wanted to die at home so they could die with dignity. Before you die in a hospital, you go through many types of loss. Loss of home, loved ones and hope are just a few of the losses you go through in Norma Richman's poem uses personification when she talks about the knotty pine face of each room in her father's home. Personification is also used when she describes the hospital white faces and sterile surroundings. Norma had a loss of family when her father died. Norma had no idea how to express the loss of hope for her father except to bang her head against the wall and write a poem for her father. In her poem, she is trying to explain that he had a loss of home and the familiar surroundings. In Dr.Kubler-Ross' essay, many bright people that had great potential lost all hope because they were dying. He said that "as long as the person is alive, he needs hope." One woman with liver disease was told by her doctor that "there is nothing else I can do for you." Statements such as this do not give people any hope. Families give up hope by putting a dying person in the hospital-even if they don't want to be there. A dying woman was sitting on her bed smiling. When asked what she was smiling about she said "Don't you see these beautiful flowers that my husband surrounded me with?" Her husband had stopped visiting her and there were no flowers. She had a loss of a loved one. By placing this woman in the hospital, she had lost all of In both the poem and the essay, loss of home, hope and family were clearly ...

Tundra Land Biome Description and Characteristics

Tundra Land Biome Description and Characteristics Biomes are the worlds major habitats. These habitats are identified by the vegetation and animals that populate them. The location of each biome is determined by the regional climate. The tundra biome is characterized by extremely cold temperatures and treeless, frozen landscapes. There are two types of tundra, the arctic tundra and the alpine tundra. Key Takeaways: Tundra Biome The two types of tundra, arctic and alpine, have distinct differencesArctic tundra regions are located between coniferous forests and the north pole, while alpine tundra regions can be anywhere in the worlds high elevationsArctic tundra vegetation is mostly limited due to a number of inhospitable conditions.Tropical alpine tundra vegetation consists of a variety of short shrubs, grasses, ​and perennialsAnimals that live in tundra regions are uniquely suited to endure the harsh conditions Tundra The arctic tundra is located between the north pole and the coniferous forests or taiga region. It is characterized by extremely cold temperatures and land that remains frozen year-round. Arctic tundra occurs in frigid mountaintop regions at very high elevations. Alpine tundra can be found in high elevations anywhere in the world, even in tropic regions. Although the land is not frozen year-round as in arctic tundra regions, these lands are typically covered in snow for most of the year. This image shows permafrost melting in the arctic region of Svalbard, Norway. Jeff Vanuga/Corbis/Getty Images Climate The arctic tundra is located in the extreme northern hemisphere around the north pole. This area experiences low amounts of precipitation and extremely cold temperatures for most of the year. The arctic tundra typically receives less than 10 inches of precipitation per year (mostly in the form of snow) with temperatures averaging below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. In summer, the sun remains in the sky during the day and night. Summer temperatures average between 35-55 degrees Fahrenheit. The alpine tundra biome is also a cold climate region with temperatures averaging below freezing at night. This area receives more precipitation throughout the year than the arctic tundra. The average annual precipitation is around 20 inches. Most of this precipitation is in the form of snow. The alpine tundra is also a very windy area. Strong winds blow at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. Location Some locations of arctic and alpine tundra include: Arctic Tundra North America - Northern Alaska, Canada, GreenlandNorthern Europe - ScandinaviaNorthern Asia - Siberia Alpine Tundra North America - Alaska, Canada, U.S.A., and MexicoNorthern Europe - Finland, Norway, Russia, and SwedenAsia - Southern Asia (Himalayan Mountains), and Japan (Mt. Fuji)Africa - Mt. KilimanjaroSouth America - Andes Mountains Vegetation Alaska Cottongrass. NCTC Image Library/USFWSÂ   Due to dry conditions, poor soil quality, extremely cold temperatures, and permafrost, vegetation in arctic tundra regions is limited. Arctic tundra plants must adapt to the cold, dark conditions of the tundra as the sun does not rise during the winter months. These plants experience brief periods of growth in the summer when temperatures are warm enough for vegetation to grow. The vegetation consists of short shrubs and grasses. The frozen ground prevents plants with deep roots, like trees, from growing. Tropical alpine tundra areas are treeless plains located on mountains at extremely high altitudes. Unlike in the arctic tundra, the sun remains in the sky for about the same amount of time throughout the year. This enables the vegetation to grow at an almost constant rate. The vegetation consists of short shrubs, grasses, ​and rosette perennials. Examples of tundra vegetation include: lichens, mosses, sedges, perennial forbs, rosette, and dwarfed shrubs. Wildlife A moose in the tundra. Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images/Moment/Getty Images Animals of the arctic and alpine tundra biomes must adapt to cold and harsh conditions. Large mammals of the arctic, like musk ox and caribou, are heavily insulated against the cold and migrate to warmer areas in the winter. Smaller mammals, like the arctic ground squirrel, survive by burrowing and hibernating during the winter. Other arctic tundra animals include snowy owls, reindeer, polar bears, white foxes, lemmings, arctic hares, wolverines, caribou, migrating birds, mosquitoes, and black flies. Animals in the alpine tundra migrate to lower elevations in winter to escape the cold and find food. Animals here include marmots, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, grizzly bears, springtails, beetles, grasshoppers, and butterflies.

Dean Corll and The Candy Man Murders

Dean Corll and 'The Candy Man' Murders Dean Corll was a 33-year-old electrician living in Houston who, with two teen accomplices, kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered at least 27 young boys in Houston in the early 1970s. The Candy Man Murders, as the case was called, was one of the most horrific series of murders in U.S. history. Corlls Childhood Years Corll was born on Christmas Eve in 1939 in Fort Wayne, Ind. After his parents divorced, he and his brother, Stanley, moved with their mother to Houston. Corll seemed to adjust to the change, doing well in school and described by his teachers as polite and well-behaved. In 1964, Corll was drafted into the military but received a hardship discharge a year later to help his mother with her candy business. He earned the nickname The Candy Man because he often treated children to free candy. After the business closed, his mother moved to Colorado and Corll began training as an electrician. An Odd Trio There was nothing remarkable about Corll except his odd choice of friends, mostly young male teens. Two were particularly close to Corll: Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks. They hung around Corlls house or rode in his van until Aug. 8,  1973, when Henley shot and killed Corll at his home. When police interviewed Henley about the shooting and searched Corlls home, a bizarre, brutal story of torture, rape, and murder emerged, called The Candy Man Murders. During police interrogation, Henley said Corll paid him $200 or more per head to lure young boys to his house. Most were from low-income neighborhoods, easily persuaded to come to a party with free alcohol and drugs. Many were Henleys childhood friends and trusted him. But once inside Corlls home, they become victims of his sadistic, murderous obsessions. The Torture Chamber Police found a bedroom at Corlls house that appeared to have been designed for torture and murder, including a board with handcuffs attached, ropes, a large dildo, and plastic covering the carpet. Henley told police that hed infuriated Corll by bringing his girlfriend and another friend, Tim Kerley, to the house. They drank and did drugs, and all fell asleep. When Henley awoke, his feet were bound and Corll was handcuffing him to his torture board.  His girlfriend and Tim also were bound, with electrical tape over their mouths. Henley knew what would follow, having witnessed this scenario before. He convinced Corll to free him by promising to participate in the torture and murder of his friends. Then he followed Corlls instructions, including attempting to rape the young woman. Meanwhile, Corll was trying to rape Tim, but he fought so much that Corll became frustrated and left the room. Henley grabbed Corlls gun, which hed left behind. When Corll returned, Henley shot him six times, killing him. Burial Grounds Henley readily talked about his part in the murderous activity and led police to the victims burial sites. At the first location, a boat shed Corll rented in southwest Houston, police uncovered the remains of 17 boys. Ten more were found at other sites in or near Houston. Altogether, 27 bodies were recovered. Examinations revealed that some boys had been shot while others were strangled. Signs of torture were visible, including castration, objects inserted into victims rectums, and glass rods pushed into their urethras. All had been sodomized. Community Outcry Houston police were criticized for failing to investigate missing persons reports filed by the dead boys parents. The police viewed most reports as probable runaways, although many came from the same area. Their ages ranged from 9 to 21; most were in their teens. Two families lost two sons to Corlls rage. Henley confessed to knowing about Corlls brutal crimes and participating in one murder. Brooks, although closer to Corll than Henley, told police he had no knowledge of the crimes. Following the investigation, Henley insisted three more boys had been murdered, but their bodies were never found. In a highly publicized trial, Brooks was convicted of one murder and sentenced to life in prison. Henley was convicted of six murders and received six 99-year terms. Killing The Candy Man was judged an act of self-defense.   Source Olsen, Jack.  The Man With the Candy: the Story of the Houston Mass Murders. Simon Schuster (P), 2001.

Financial statement analysis project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial statement analysis project - Essay Example Depreciation of company property and equipments is done on a straight line method. Amortization is also deducted from the fixed assets. The longest life spun of equipment is five years which account for its useful life. Buildings are considered for 25 years. From the analysis, there are three things that are interesting about the company. Google Inc provides credit to its specified customers with no need for collateral. These are provided for in the allocation for bad and doubtful debts. More than 40% of revenue is received from unsecured receivables. The company has only class A and B shares in its portfolio. From the analysis, is that from the ratios analysis, strong companies like Google Inc have a current ratio of more than 1. The profit margin of the company goes more that 20% to prove its sustainability in the competitive global market. Application of international standards in financial reporting cannot be avoided even by independent multinationals. The share value continues to shore up in the stock market because of guaranteed return on equity. Treating financial vote heads in the universal standards is not

Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman Movie Review

Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman - Movie Review Example In the movie, Isak Borg, the seventy eight year old physician, makes a journey back into his personal life, while he is in a journey by car to receive his jubilee doctorate. One of the most spectacular features of Wild Strawberries is the way Bergman portrays the tension and resolution in the life of the hero. "The most admirable feature of Wild Strawberries is Bergman's portrayal of tension and resolution in Borg's interior life. This is first done through skillful counterpointing of sound and scene, later through pictorial composition alone." (Scott, 1965, p 267). Whereas the overexposed shots provide the opening sequence of the movie the hideous whiteness, the use of the sound track achieves an original effect. Therefore, in a reflective analysis of the great movie by Ingmar Bergman it becomes lucid that it achieves significant artistic and technical success along with its success with a great story. The plot of the movie provides a tremendous treat to the audience and Bergman makes his mark as an excellent writer. Here, the major character Isak Borg, at the age of seventy eight, makes a stunning journey into his personal life which helps the audience in realizing essential facts regarding his life as a whole. The past events and experience of the character becomes part of the present and the whole story is reenacted in his memory. The journey he undertakes has an essential role in the self-realization of the character and he gradually gains insight into his own personality. The shortcomings in his life become obvious to Isak and he is able to rest peacefully after the jubilee festivities. The invigorating portrayal of the character as well as the captivating narration of the story by Bergman points to the success of the director. A careful analysis of the plot also helps one in realizing the skill of Bergman in writing as well as directing. "Isak Borg's search for peace and sel f knowledge takes the outer form of a journey through Sweden. He travels in a black, coffin-like car, which Bergman uses to suggest Isak's withdrawal from the world around him. Every time Isak spends out of his car, he in a sense steps into a world that challenges him to commitment. All of his experiences during the trip dramatize the existentialist view which is the film's philosophical core: that life is not a matter of merely being a spectator or submitting it to cold analysis." (Steene, 1968, p 71). Bergman is effective in presenting the essential transformation in the character of Isak who learns to be a human being concerned about the welfare of others as well as tp be a parent confronted by children. Therefore, the plot of the story is highly suggestive and the director's excellent use of the setting as well as the characters helps him depict the story in a highly effective and convincing way. In a profound analysis of the movie Wild Strawberries, the audience recognizes that it presents an essential Christian ethic which is symbolically suggested by Bergman and the journey undertaken by Isak suggests the pilgrimage of every faithful. Although there is no obvious link to Christian faith in the movie by Bergman, Wild Strawberries can clearly conceived as a symbolic pilgrimage which is a form of penance. It can be comprehended as a confessional drama in which the protagonist, Isak, goes

Caring- Nel Noddings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Caring- Nel Noddings - Essay Example These positive and negative things will have an impact on the child will become the intended person or not. Therefore, people want to â€Å"form beliefs and abilities required to continue going on with close relations and the desire to do so (Noddings, 2005, p. 21-22).† using Noddings’ four components including modeling, dialogue, practice, and confirmation in order to facilitate caring. The meaning of caring that emerges from the ethics include proficient standards, individual value, comprehending humankind continuance, understanding the meaning of norms, decisions, moral decisions, integrity, worth, people and colleagues in treatment. The extent of care is also pronounced in some good characters than others. In the case of decency or fairness, for example, that affection may not be readily apparent. With care, more than without any good values, its appreciation with passion is evident. When people care about each other, attending to each other’s needs, as a mot her looks after a new baby, physicist cares for a patient or an instructor cares for a struggling apprentice, the link between love and ethics is supposed. Care is an attribute that is interchangeable with love. The lack of care, more than anything else brings out man to be insensitive. To care is to how humanity, to show love. Not to love is to create a boundary between oneself and one’s own heart, on the same not, being humane to both those next to you and far away from you not only improve your relationship, it can also prolong your life, this is according to research conducted by a group of researchers at the university of Purdue. The absence of care is destruction of personality. Care may seem to be weighty, but on the contrary is the force that gives life its balance, its booming nature and its validity. Caring is taking excellent care of all things that matter to us. It involve being a compassionate witness, and listening keenly to another and not jumping to conclusion s. One shows that one cares with appropriate acts and kind words. When we do a job, we do it with our best effort. We are not insensitive to things that matter. We care deeply about the ethics we trust in. Caring can be said to be a sign of love. Should we care for others, then we are able to notice how they feel and attend to their needs. When we care about ourselves, we have nothing to offer others. Caring can as well be a gift from the heart. Caring for ideas and objects is different from caring for people and other living things. One cannot establish a bond with physics or a food processor. The cared- for cannot feel anything for us there is no significance in the second party. People instead describe a responsiveness for ideas and objects. We must consider the deepest sense of care as human beings. We care what will happen to us. We wonder whether there exists life just after death,or whether there is God who cares about us, whether those we love, love us back, whether we belon g somewhere. We wonder what we will be in future, who we are right now, how much control we have over our fate. For an adolescent, these are among the most pressing issues: who am I? How do others see me? Who love me? How do others perceive me? though schools spend most of time doing mathematics and physics than in trying to answer these questions take an example of yourself most likely you are wondering what will I be tomorrow .

Seeing the value in art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Seeing the value in art - Research Paper Example The great works of art purchase is not as is with normal public goods. Why then can’t art be able do fed and shelter us just like technology? What value have people therefore assigned art? According to Guest, (1), we concider art as feelings: the objective expwrience the the piece of art work instills in us. as such the quality of the artwork could be judged by how much feelings it evokes in us. As I investigate the value of art and why art needs to be assigned value just like technology so that it can feed and shelter us, this paper will establish the monetary, cultural and historical valuation of art. Additionally, it will discuss the reception of art work and art movements, as well art exhibitions that challenged tradition and subsequently broadened the definition of art present in contemporary visual artworks. Finally, the paper will outline the objectives and roles of public agencies involved in supporting the creation and installation of art before giving a brief summary conclusion on the findings. Assessing the value of an artwork involve a critical analysis of the term value. In economics, value refers to a commodity’s worth as measured against others. In ethics, it implies to those desirable and worthwhile qualities of a commodity. It may also include rating something in relation to its perceived worth, usefulness or importance. Sometimes value can also be understood in paintings and photography as the darkness or lightness of the given image. Monetary value refers to that property of having material worth. This is often indicated by how much money the property would bring if sold out. Monetary value of art has been an issue especially when it comes to how much is a given of art work decided. Smith (1) identifies that it is hard to seee art through the clutter of dollars. He asserts that the monetary value of art has been asigned by the new culture that differentiates

Things They carried Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Things They carried - Essay Example Each soldier has personal items that reminded him of life at home. This shows that the war was brutal and death was imminent. The author recounts how he was called to service. He explains how he tried to elope to Canada due to personal conviction that the war was not justified. However, fear of criticism and alienation made him adhere to the call. According to him the war was wasteful and he considers himself a coward for engaging in a war that was not justified, in his own sense. In the war, the deaths of comrades keep reminding survivors of the imminent danger. However, the soldiers are psyched up by their obligation to the country. They try to keep their dead friends alive in their minds by engaging in stories about them. The narrator uses fictional characters to represent real aspects of the war. The main characters are used to perpetrate the themes that the author wants to express. The characters include; Tim O’Brien, Mitchell Sanders, Kiowa, Bob â€Å"Rat† Kiley, Norman Bowker, Henry Dobbins, Curt , Bobby Jorgenson, Lemoned Lavender, Jimmy Cross,   Lee Strunk, Dave Jensen, Azar,. The named characters were members of the Alpha Company. He takes on a narrative format to express various themes that were pertinent in the war. It shows the suffering and hard decisions that soldiers had to make. The soldiers suffer physical and emotional burdens while at war. The theme is manifested symbolically through the heavy loads that they carry. They are perturbed by the status of their family, love relationships, fear and responsibility. For example, Dobbins carries his girlfriend pantyhose, an indication for longing of love. Jimmy carries a map which is a show of responsibility, just to name a few. Death claimed most of his of colleagues and was damaging to the emotions of the soldiers. Truth is another theme that is manifest in the novel. Though the

Materials for a Business Jet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Materials for a Business Jet - Essay Example In the paper, a comparison of the related costs of using the five different aircraft materials is shown. When using CFRP, there are also savings of assembling manpower. There will also be savings due to the reduced weight of using composite materials like CFRP and Kevlar.Maintenance cost of a material is determined by several variables. These include the density, ultimate tensile strength, tensile yield strength, durability (fatigue) and fracture toughness properties listed. In a comparison of the related costs of using the five different aircraft materials is shown, the properties of the five materials studied here are displayed. The aluminum alloys have properties which are specific to the number of the series they belong to. The alloy series is categorized by the metal that is the major alloying element. For instance, the 5xxx series aluminum alloys contain magnesium as the major alloying element. The 5xxx series alloys have moderate to high strength and good corrosion resistance. They are not heated treatable. Mechanical properties and strength are less desirable than in the 2xxx and 7xxx series. The 7xxx series aluminum alloys have zinc as the major alloying element. These alloys have the greatest strength of the heat-treated alloys. The 7xxx series alloys also have good heat-treating qualities. In a paper, the particular conditions and tempers used to obtain the material property values are as follows: For aluminum 7475, the T61 temper was used. For aluminum 5052, the H34 condition properties were used. For aluminum 2124, used T351 condition/temper. Kevlar K49 used for density, shear strength and modulus, and yield strength. For density and ultimate tensile strength, used Dupont Kevlar 49 Aramid fiber. For CFRP, data is for Type P-VSB-32 (Union Carbide) carbon fibers. Aluminum alloy 7475 has lower impurity limits than 7075. Aluminum 7475 is used for aircraft structures because of its good fracture toughness.

Things They carried Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Things They carried - Essay Example Each soldier has personal items that reminded him of life at home. This shows that the war was brutal and death was imminent. The author recounts how he was called to service. He explains how he tried to elope to Canada due to personal conviction that the war was not justified. However, fear of criticism and alienation made him adhere to the call. According to him the war was wasteful and he considers himself a coward for engaging in a war that was not justified, in his own sense. In the war, the deaths of comrades keep reminding survivors of the imminent danger. However, the soldiers are psyched up by their obligation to the country. They try to keep their dead friends alive in their minds by engaging in stories about them. The narrator uses fictional characters to represent real aspects of the war. The main characters are used to perpetrate the themes that the author wants to express. The characters include; Tim O’Brien, Mitchell Sanders, Kiowa, Bob â€Å"Rat† Kiley, Norman Bowker, Henry Dobbins, Curt , Bobby Jorgenson, Lemoned Lavender, Jimmy Cross,   Lee Strunk, Dave Jensen, Azar,. The named characters were members of the Alpha Company. He takes on a narrative format to express various themes that were pertinent in the war. It shows the suffering and hard decisions that soldiers had to make. The soldiers suffer physical and emotional burdens while at war. The theme is manifested symbolically through the heavy loads that they carry. They are perturbed by the status of their family, love relationships, fear and responsibility. For example, Dobbins carries his girlfriend pantyhose, an indication for longing of love. Jimmy carries a map which is a show of responsibility, just to name a few. Death claimed most of his of colleagues and was damaging to the emotions of the soldiers. Truth is another theme that is manifest in the novel. Though the

Alice Walker’s the Welcome Table Essay Example for Free

Alice Walker’s the Welcome Table Essay Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table is a short story that gives a historical and cultural look at how segregation in the south influenced people’s lives. The story portrays an old black woman as the main character. It has plot, setting, characters, symbolism, theme, tone and imagery that the author skillfully narrated in the third person omniscient point of view to create the story. The reader experiences an insight into behavior that was caused by segregation in the State of Georgia in the south. â€Å"The reverend of the church stopped her pleasantly as she stepped into the vestibule†¦..†Aunty, you know this is not your church?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Inside the church she sat on the very first bench from the back.† (Clugston, 2010) Head of the congregation the reverend instigates the act of religious segregation and without further prompting; his congregants willingly follows. The story also portrays the church people’s mindset to maintain religious segregation even in the act of worship. â€Å"They looked with contempt †¦.at the old woman†¦could their husbands expect them to sit up in church with that? No, no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Clugston, 2010) The narrator uses strong descriptions to recreate the era and to pull the reader into the story. It really shows how segregation influences people in their everyday life. Black slaves were freed. However, black and white people remained segregated because segregation was the way of life for the people during that period in Georgia. The system of segregation demanded that black people had to sit in the back of public busses and the old woman in the story knew her place because she freely sat at the back of the church. â€Å"Inside the church she sat on the very first bench from the back,† (Clugston, 2010). Religious segregation is the main theme. The song at the beginning of the story sets the tone and pulls the reader into the south where ex-slaves sang Negro spirituals for comfort. â€Å"I’m going to sit at the Welcome table; Shout my troubles over; Walk and talk with Jesus; Tell God how you treat me; One of these days!†(Clugston, 2010) Religious segregation was a major part of the culture in Georgia and it is the theme of this story; in that the author details the harsh cold manner in which it affects people. The spiritual at the beginning points to hope to one day experience welcome (acceptance), to sit and talk with Jesus who both the blacks and whites are worshipping but cannot do so under the same roof. In other words, the song is an expression of hope that segregation will end. The black old woman braves freezing temperature, without warm enough clothing to go to the house of worship. Winter represents death, stagnation and sleep (Clugston, 2010) and the old black woman represents slavery. The black old woman, symbolizing slavery is almost blind and almost dead. Yet she is determined to struggle through the freezing cold to push past the reverend, and ignore the young usher to seat herself in the whites only church. â€Å"She brushed past him anyway, as if she had been brushing past him all her life, except this time she was in a hurry. Inside the church she sat†¦It was cold, even inside the church†¦.† This act by the dying old black woman is symbolic of the ex-slaves’ struggle to conquer the final frontier of segregation more so religious segregation. The author uses symbolism in this case to represent the people’s behavior towards the old woman and her determination to have her way. The Author skillfully uses imagery to tell a powerful story The Welcome Table. The very beginning paints a picture of the main character. â€Å"In her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes:†¦.head rag stained with grease from the many oily pigtails underneath,† What seems like a simple description of her clothes contained words that contributed to the painting of the picture. Then on the other hand the ladies of the church required a different set of adjectives. â€Å"Leather bagged and shoed, with calfskin gloves to keep out the cold.This done, the wives folded their healthy arms across their trim middles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This vivid contrast also represents the religious disparity between the black people and the white people even though they are both worshipping the same god. â€Å"The reverend of the church stopped her pleasantly as she stepped into the vestibule†¦..†Aunty, you know this is not your church?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Inside the church she sat on the very first bench from the back.† (Clugston, 2010) The black old woman, symbolizing slavery is almost blind and almost dead. Yet she is determined to struggle through the freezing cold to push past the reverend, and ignore the young usher to seat herself in the whites only church. Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table gives a historical and cultural look at how segregation in the south influenced people’s lives. The author skillfully narrated in the third person omniscient point of view to create the story. The reader experiences an insight into behavior that was caused by segregation in the State of Georgia in the south. The spiritual at the beginning points to hope to one day experience welcome (acceptance), to sit and talk with Jesus who both the blacks and whites are worshipping but cannot do so under the same roof. In other words, the song is an expression of hope that segregation will end. REFERENCE Clugston, W. R., (2010). Journey Into Literature, San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc. Barnet, S., Berman, M., Burto, W., (1967) An Introduction to Literature 3rd Edition Toronto, CAN:Little, Brown and Company Inc.

The different types of animal cruelty

The different types of animal cruelty Different types of animal cruelty have ee around for many years. Laws relating to animal cruelty vary from state to state. As of 2009, about forty-six states have some felony provisions in their anti-cruelty and/or animal fighting laws (Wisch, 2005). As time passes and new things are being invented, people seem to loose interest in their pets. Even though people use animals for their testing/experiments, there are other ways to get a solution to something. Scientist and many others, find it easier and safer to test on animals than to test on other possible sources. They test products such as makeup, and cologne. They also use animal fur for designer clothing other types of fashion. Innocent animals are being used for useless products that we can live without. Many animals die due to different types of crucial testing. They suffer by going through several procedures. The goal is not to patch up ailing people but to use the human tissues in place of mice, dogs or other lab animals for testing new drugs, cosmetics and other products (New York Times, nd). With the donation of human cells, animal testing will be reduced. This way is safer can be both suited for animals and humans. If the animal- rights movement had a bible, it is Singers 1975 book, Animal Liberation (New York Times, Jan. 15, pg 30). Singer calls many of the attitudes human beings have toward other animals speciesism, a concept which can be found throughout history (Gargar o, 1991). Humans are just like animals as far as feeling pain. Eight billion animals are killed each year in this country for food. More than a thousand animals are killed and shipped to groceries stores to be bought. Slaughtering of cows, pigs, and other animals, happen everyday because consumers keep purchasing meat. Animals on todays factory farms are kept in crowded, filthy enclosures and denied everything natural and enjoyable to them. Most of them have no legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats. There are some fruits or vegetables that can give the same protein as meat. The Humane Slaughter Act requires that animals be rendered unconscious with one swift application of a stunning device before slaughter. Animals in slaughterhouses can smell the stench, hear the sounds and often see the slaughter of those before them. As the animals struggle from fright, the human workers who are pressured to keep the lines moving quickly often react with impatience towards the animals. Numerous cases of deli berate cruelty have been reported including workers who took sadistic pleasure from shooting the eyes out of cattle, striking them in the head, and electrically shocking them in sensitive areas of their bodies. As for the chemistry of the central nervous and endocrine systems, there is no difference between humans and other animals. All free-range, factory-farmed, egg-laying, dairy-producing, or wool-bearing animals that dont first die from disease are trucked to the slaughterhouse. To minimize costs, animals are crowded and must live in each others excrement. They are exposed to extreme weather conditions in the open trucks. Shipping fever, which can be fatal, is common in cattle transported long distances to the feedlots, the stockyards and then the slaughterhouse (Compassionate Action Institute, nd). Animal cruelty can be either deliberate abuse or simply the failure to take care of an animal. Either way, and whether the animal is a pet, a farm animal, or wildlife, the victim can suffer terribly. People with emotional problems may beat, shoot, or stab animals or set them on fire. Neglect is not giving an animal the right food, water, shelter or vet care. Their misery goes on for so long; animals who die of neglect can suffer just as much as animals who are harmed on purpose. All U.S. states have animal cruelty laws, and 47 states treat some forms of abuse as felonies. Farmers and researchers can do cruel things to animals that other people cant do legally, but all states have some protection for pets like dogs and cats. There are different cases in animal cruelty, for example cockfighting and dog fighting. Animal cruelty has not gone away. In Brea, California, 85 children, ages ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade, witnessed a cow being slaughtered at Carbon Canyon Christ ian School, according to PETA Action Alerts. The rational for having the students witness this cruel act was that they could see this act, instead of only experiencing it through the books they had read during the year. Chances are if an animal is being abused and there is a child in that household, then the child is also being abused. Chances are that a child abusing an animal can grow up to be someone who commits other violent crimes. Studies also found that a history of animal abuse was found in 25% of male criminals, 30% of convicted child molesters, 36% of domestic violence cases and 46% of homicide cases (The National Animal Abuse Registry, nd). While prosecution of animal cruelty cases is generally considered the exclusive purview of law enforcement, veterinarians who routinely examine and treat sick and injured animals occupy a unique role in the legal process of identifying cruelty and bringing its perpetrators to justice. People engage in animal cruelty, otherwise known as animal abuse, in every city throughout the world. There are many reasons why people mistreat animals some individuals act on sadistic desires others act unintentionally, harming animals with their carelessness. But the true abuse is systemic, involving the choices we make as a collective. Animals are used as dummies because people think they arent harming anyone by doing so. In the past few years, organizations and individuals have been using the power of the internet to spread awareness of animal cruelty facts a great sign considering animal abuse will only continue on a massive scale until enough people come face-to-face with the statistics. To fight this abomination, activists, scientists, authors, lawyers, and politicians have sacrificed their valuable time and money, occasionally their lives, to save suffering animals. With gratitude to those who accumulate animal cruelty facts and educate the populace, people are finally ta king notice of suffering animals and the mistreatment they undergo.

Stereotyping of Minority Students :: Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays

Stereotyping of Minority Students      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout most of my school years, before attending MCTC, I had never experienced inter-racial schooling.   I went to a small high school with about twenty minority students.   These students were not outcasts they were treated as any other non-minority student.   Therefore, I had little experience with minorities in a non-minority school.   After the speech that was given by Michael Jefferson, I was more informed on the effects of stereotyping of minority students in a non-minority school.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Stereotyping may cause students and teachers to view minority students on a non-minority campus as inferior.   This may cause some teachers or faculty members to believe that these minority students are not as capable of achieving the same quality of work as non-minority students. Scholarships are sometimes given out to non0minority students due to their racial background.   I suppose this happens due to the stereotype of minority students not being capable of the educational work as that of other students.   Classroom behavior toward minority students may be shown in appropriate, and/or unrecognized. For instance, a teacher may call on a non-minority student before a minority student.   The teacher may pick on the non-minority due to a belief that these students care about their schooling, whereas minority students are being pre-judged without the chance to really learn.   Some people even believe that combining the different minorities may cause problems.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Combining minority with non-minority students can create some conflict.   Some non-minority students, this attitude of aggression may be brought on by "close-minded" non-minority students.   These students let their attitude take over their learning time, by worrying about the other minority students.   Each student, whether thy be minority or non-minority, must put their mind on learning than on another minority on the campus. Some students may see that combining minority with non-minority students, as a way of learning about different people and their cultures.   I f students would open their eyes as they do their ears for learning, students would see a whole new possibility of meeting others, not minding if they are a minority or not.   These students should also learn to use their own ideas, and not always to believe in the media point of view.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today the media is a major source of minority and non-minority

Essay --

The Journey Beyond The characters in Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn both leave their wives to embark on a journey for different reasons, experiencing different conflicts, and return home with a different attitude about their life. On their journey, both characters encounter bizarre, unnatural events. Throughout both stories, the authors construct a clear picture of how society was, the role of gender, and religion. Rip Van Winkle and Young Goodman Brown both take place in small, early American villages. Rip Van Winkle is a resident of Catskill, New York, just next to the Hudson River. He was a kind-hearted, willing to please, neighborly man who was greatly admired by the women, children, and dogs of the town. Rip Van Winkle was always willing do favors and help neighbors out whenever they asked, but never wanted to do any work on his own farm. Rip Van Winkle was married to Dame Van Winkle. Dame was a short tempered woman who spends all of her time criticizing and nagged Rip about his responsibilities to the family and farm. Rip and Dane did not get along and the relationship continued to get worse. He would often leave the house to go to the bar or hunting in the woods to get away from his nagging wife. Goodman Brown is a resident of Salem, Massachusetts. He came from a Christian family that is known in the community as being godly men. He newly married to his wife, Faith. Faith wears pink rib bons in her hair, representing innocence. Like Goodman Brown, Faith is pure-hearted and religious. He viewed her as beautiful, trusting, and representation of purity and high moral standards. Both Rip Van Winkle and Goodman Brown have different motives as to why they are departing from t... ... world. He cannot believe the words of the minister and does not fully love his wife which lead him to live his life in sadness and dismay. The characters in Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn both leave their wives to embark on a journey for different reasons, experiencing different conflicts, and return home with a different attitude about their life. Rip Van Winkle left his wife on a journey to get away from her, facing many obstacles like the old man with the keg, and returned home happy with his life away from work, King George, and his wife. Goodman Brown sets out on a journey away from his wife because he promised to meet someone, he too facing many obstacles such as the old man with the staff who turns out to be the devil. He then returns home believing that everyone is bad and there is no good in the world. Essay -- The Journey Beyond The characters in Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn both leave their wives to embark on a journey for different reasons, experiencing different conflicts, and return home with a different attitude about their life. On their journey, both characters encounter bizarre, unnatural events. Throughout both stories, the authors construct a clear picture of how society was, the role of gender, and religion. Rip Van Winkle and Young Goodman Brown both take place in small, early American villages. Rip Van Winkle is a resident of Catskill, New York, just next to the Hudson River. He was a kind-hearted, willing to please, neighborly man who was greatly admired by the women, children, and dogs of the town. Rip Van Winkle was always willing do favors and help neighbors out whenever they asked, but never wanted to do any work on his own farm. Rip Van Winkle was married to Dame Van Winkle. Dame was a short tempered woman who spends all of her time criticizing and nagged Rip about his responsibilities to the family and farm. Rip and Dane did not get along and the relationship continued to get worse. He would often leave the house to go to the bar or hunting in the woods to get away from his nagging wife. Goodman Brown is a resident of Salem, Massachusetts. He came from a Christian family that is known in the community as being godly men. He newly married to his wife, Faith. Faith wears pink rib bons in her hair, representing innocence. Like Goodman Brown, Faith is pure-hearted and religious. He viewed her as beautiful, trusting, and representation of purity and high moral standards. Both Rip Van Winkle and Goodman Brown have different motives as to why they are departing from t... ... world. He cannot believe the words of the minister and does not fully love his wife which lead him to live his life in sadness and dismay. The characters in Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn both leave their wives to embark on a journey for different reasons, experiencing different conflicts, and return home with a different attitude about their life. Rip Van Winkle left his wife on a journey to get away from her, facing many obstacles like the old man with the keg, and returned home happy with his life away from work, King George, and his wife. Goodman Brown sets out on a journey away from his wife because he promised to meet someone, he too facing many obstacles such as the old man with the staff who turns out to be the devil. He then returns home believing that everyone is bad and there is no good in the world.

Blood Promise Chapter Six

I bolted upright, every part of me awake and alert. There were no city lights to shine through the window, and it took me several seconds to make out anything in the darkened room. Sydney was curled up in her own bed, her face unusually at peace as she slept. Where was the Strigoi? Definitely not in our room. Was it in the house? Everyone had said the road to Dimitri's town was dangerous. Still, I would have thought Strigoi would be going after Moroi and dhampirs-though humans were a big part of their diet too. Thinking of the nice couple who'd welcomed us into their home, I felt something tight clench in my chest. No way would I let anything happen to them. Slipping quietly out of the bed, I grabbed a hold of my stake and crept from the room without disturbing Sydney. No one else was awake, and as soon as I was in the living room, the nausea went away. Okay. The Strigoi wasn't inside, which was a good thing. It was outdoors, apparently on the side of the house near my room. Still moving silently, I went out the house's front door and walked around the corner, as quiet as the night around me. The nausea grew stronger as I approached the barn, and I couldn't help but feel smug. I was going to surprise this Strigoi who'd thought it could sneak into a tiny human village for dinner. There. Right near the barn's entrance, I could see a long shadow moving. Gotcha, I thought. I readied the stake and started to spring forward-And then something struck me on the shoulder. I stumbled, astonished, and looked into the face of a Strigoi. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shadow by the barn materialize into another Strigoi striding forward. Panic shot through me. There were two, and my secret detection system hadn't been able to tell the difference. Worse, they'd gotten the drop on me. A thought immediately flashed into my mind: What if one's Dimitri? It wasn't. At least, this close one wasn't. It was a woman. I had yet to get a feel for the second one. That one was approaching from my other side, moving fast. I had to deal with this immediate threat, though, and swiped at the woman with my stake, hoping to wound her, but she dodged so quickly, I hardly saw her move. She struck out toward me in an almost casual way. I wasn't fast enough to react and went flying toward the other Strigoi-a guy who was not Dimitri. I responded quickly, leaping up and kicking him. I held the stake out, creating distance between us, but it did little good when the woman came up from behind and grabbed me, jerking my body against hers. I gave a muffled cry and felt her hands on my throat. She was probably going to break my neck, I realized. It was a fast, easy technique for Strigoi that then let them drag off a victim for feeding. I struggled, jostling her hands slightly, but as the other Strigoi leaned over us, I knew it was useless. They'd surprised me. There were two of them. They were strong. Panic surged in me again, an overwhelming sense of fear and desperation. I was afraid every time I fought Strigoi, but this fear was reaching a breaking point. It was unfocused and out of control, and I suspected it was touched by a bit of the madness and darkness I'd absorbed from Lissa. The feelings exploded within me, and I wondered if they'd destroy me before the Strigoi did. I was in very real danger of dying here-of letting Sydney and the others get killed. The rage and distress of that thought were smothering. Then, suddenly, it was like the earth burst open. Translucent forms, glowing softly in the darkness, sprang up everywhere. Some looked like normal people. Others were horrible, their faces gaunt and skull-like. Ghosts. Spirits. They surrounded us, their presence making my hair stand on end and sending a splitting headache through my skull. The ghosts turned toward me. I'd had this happen before, on a plane, when apparitions had swarmed and threatened to consume me. I braced myself, trying desperately to summon up the strength to build barriers that would shut me off from the spirit world. It was a skill I'd had to learn, one I usually kept in place without any effort. The desperation and panic of this situation had cracked my control. In that horrible, blood-curdling moment, I again selfishly wished Mason hadn't found peace and left this world. I would have felt better if his ghost were here. Then I realized I wasn't their target. The ghosts were mobbing the two Strigoi. The spirits didn't have solid forms, but every place they touched and passed through me felt like ice. The female Strigoi immediately began waving her arms to fend the apparitions off, snarling in rage and something almost like fear. The ghosts didn't appear to be able to hurt the Strigoi, but they were apparently pretty annoying-and distracting. I staked the male Strigoi before he ever saw me coming. Immediately, the ghosts around him moved to the woman. She was good, I'd give her that. Despite struggling to fend the spirits off, she was still able to dodge my attacks fairly well. A lucky punch from her made stars burst before my eyes and sent me into the barn wall. I still had that ghost-induced splitting headache, and my head slamming into the barn didn't help. Staggering up, dizzy, I made my way back to her and continued my efforts to get a shot in at her heart. She managed to keep her chest out of my range-at least until one particularly terrifying ghost caught her off guard. Her momentary distraction gave me my chance, and I staked her, too. She fell to the ground-leaving me alone with the spirits. With the Strigoi, the ghosts had clearly wanted to attack them. With me, it was a lot like on the plane. They seemed fascinated by me, desperate to get my attention. Only, with dozens of phantoms swarming, it might as well have been an attack. Desperately, I tried again to summon my walls, to block the ghosts off from me as I'd done long ago. The effort was excruciating. Somehow, my out-of-control emotions had brought the spirits, and while I was calmer now, that control was harder to bring about. My head continued throbbing. Gritting my teeth, I focused every ounce of my strength into blocking out the ghosts. â€Å"Go away,† I hissed. â€Å"I don't need you anymore.† For a moment, it looked like my efforts were going to be useless. Then, slowly, one by one, the spirits began to fade. I felt the control I'd learned before gradually slip into place. Soon, there was nothing there but me, the darkness, and the barn-and Sydney. I noticed her just as I collapsed to the ground. She was running out of the house in her pajamas, face pale. Kneeling at my side, she helped me sit up, legitimate fear all over her. â€Å"Rose! Are you okay?† I felt like every scrap of energy in my brain and body had been sucked out. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. â€Å"No,† I told her. And then I passed out. I dreamed of Dimitri again, his arms around me and beautiful face leaning over me to care for me as he'd done so often when I was sick. Memories of things past came to me, the two of us laughing over some joke. Sometimes, in these dreams, he'd carry me away. Sometimes, we'd be riding in a car. Occasionally, his face would start to take on that fearsome Strigoi image that always tormented me. Then I'd quickly order my mind to brush such thoughts away. Dimitri had taken care of me so many times and had always been there when I needed him. It had gone both ways, though. Admittedly, he had not seemed to end up in the infirmary as much as me. That was just my luck. Even when he was injured, he wouldn't acknowledge it. And as I dreamed and hallucinated, images came to me of one of the few times I'd been able to take care of him. Just before the school had been attacked, Dimitri had been involved in a number of tests with me and my fellow novices to see how well we reacted to surprise assaults. Dimitri was so tough that he was almost impossible to beat, though he still got bruised up a number of times. I'd run into him in the gym once during these tests, surprised to see a cut on his cheek. It was hardly fatal, but there was a fair amount of blood showing. â€Å"Do you realize you're bleeding to death?† I'd exclaimed. It was kind of an exaggeration, but still. He touched his cheek absentmindedly and seemed to notice the injury for the first time. â€Å"I wouldn't quite go that far. It's nothing.† â€Å"It's nothing until you get an infection!† â€Å"You know that's not likely,† he said obstinately. That was true. Moroi-aside from contracting the occasional rare disease, as Victor had-hardly ever got sick. We dhampirs had inherited that from them, just as Sydney's tattoo gave her some protection. Nonetheless, I wasn't about to let Dimitri bleed all over. â€Å"Come on,† I said, pointing to the small bathroom in the gym. My voice had been fierce, and to my surprise, he'd actually obeyed. After wetting a washcloth, I gently cleaned his face. He continued protesting at first but finally fell quiet. The bathroom was small, and we were just a few inches from each other. I could smell his clean, intoxicating scent and studied every detail of his face and strong body. My heart raced in my chest, but we were supposed to be on good behavior, so I tried to appear cool and collected. He was eerily calm too, but when I brushed his hair back behind his ears to clean the rest of his face, he flinched. My fingertips touching his skin had sent shock waves through me, and he'd felt them too. He caught hold of my hand and pulled it away. â€Å"Enough,† he said, voice husky. â€Å"I'm fine.† â€Å"Are you sure?† I asked. He hadn't released my hand. We were so, so close. The small bathroom seemed ready to burst with the electricity building between us. I knew this couldn't last but hated to let go of him. God, it was hard being responsible sometimes. â€Å"Yes,† he said. His voice was soft, and I knew he wasn't mad at me. He was afraid, afraid of how little it would take to ignite a fire between us. As it was, I was warm all over, just from the feel of his hand. Touching him made me feel complete, like the person I was always meant to be. â€Å"Thank you, Roza.† He released my hand, and we left, both off to do our own things that day. But the feel of his skin and hair stayed with me for hours afterward†¦ I don't know why I dreamed that memory after being attacked near the barn. It seemed weird that I'd dream of taking care of Dimitri when I was the one who needed care. I guess it didn't really matter what the memory was, so long as it involved him. Dimitri always made me feel better, even in my dreams, giving me strength and resolve. But as I lay in that delirium and moved in and out of consciousness, his comforting face would occasionally take on those terrible red eyes and fangs. I'd whimper, fighting hard to push that sight away. Other times, he didn't look like Dimitri at all. He'd turn into a man I didn't know, an older Moroi with dark hair and cunning eyes, gold jewelry glinting on his neck and ears. I'd cry out for Dimitri again, and eventually, his face would return, safe and wonderful. At one point, though, the image shifted again, this time into a woman's. Clearly, she wasn't Dimitri, but there was something about her brown eyes that reminded me of him. She was older, in her forties maybe, and a dhampir. She laid a cool cloth across my forehead, and I realized I wasn't dreaming anymore. My body ached, and I was in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar room. No sign of the Strigoi. Had I dreamed them, too? â€Å"Don't try to move,† the woman said with the faintest trace of a Russian accent. â€Å"You took some bad hits.† My eyes widened as the events by the barn came back to me, the ghosts I'd summoned up. It hadn't been a dream. â€Å"Where's Sydney? Is she okay?† â€Å"She's fine. Don't worry.† Something in the woman's voice told me I could believe her. â€Å"Where am I?† â€Å"In Baia.† Baia, Baia. Somewhere, in the back of my head, that name was familiar. All of a sudden, it clicked. Long, long ago, Dimitri had said it. He'd only ever mentioned his town's name once and, even though I'd tried, I had never been able to remember it. Sydney would never tell me the name. But now we were here. Dimitri's home. â€Å"Who are you?† I asked. â€Å"Olena,† she said. â€Å"Olena Belikova.†