Cause And Effect Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cause And Effect Paper - Essay Example Before the internet revolution era, available lines for communication were not only expensive but also slow and cumbersome; these lines were also subject to physical damages and other interference hampering their applications. However, revolutionized internet allows million users to share costs of high-performing circuits, reduce the number of lines and provide automatic re-routing of information in case of any interference. Internet has significantly contributed to effective and timely communication across the globe. Some of its significant contributions include timely sharing of information. Sharing information and occurrences across the world is an undemanding experience. Access to global news is easy using internet connectivity. Social networking renders it easy to access news through platforms such as Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Besides easy sharing of information, obtaining relevant and educational literature from online scholarly databases is easier and efficient for its users to access than before internet invention. Nearly all forms of literature are now easily retrievable from the internet. Easier retrieval of information from the internet is a cause of revolution in the education sector (Livingstone, 2009). Learners can do online research using information from Google books, academic database and other scholarly sites. Communications within cities, across borders and overseas is now easier and faster with internet than before the invention of internet. E-mail services render sending of information easier, faster and cheaper compared to conventional methods. The internet is a platform that provides convenience undertaking online transactions. Online business transactions improve lives; business partners need not to physically acquire goods and services after invent of online transactions. In some insta nces, people need no to be physically present at

Curriculum and instruction Essay Example for Free

Curriculum and instruction Essay The definition of curriculum transcends the conception of it as a mere document and ushers it into the realms of instruction itself. Certain researchers consider the curriculum to be a dynamic instrument that is vital to the way students and educators interact with the materials of education â€Å"in a free-wheeling setting† (Weade, 1987, p. 15). Much of the current trends in curriculum and instruction involve the constructivist practice of hands-on training (Ediger, 2001). This dictates that the curriculum takes the form of the drafting and implementation of practical methods in the planning of instruction. Depth of instruction is at the heart of current reformatory curriculum drafting, as it has been theorized by several educational researchers that the improper articulation of the intricacies of certain concepts has led to current educational problems (AAAS, 2000). The fact is that curricula, which serve as a guide for teachers, also have the ability to restrict their freedom in the classroom. The cursory way in which some curricula deal with concepts often has the effect of curtailing teachers’ tendency toward depth and breadth within a lesson, and this in turn has an adverse effect on the understanding of the students. In mathematics, for instance, a student may be having trouble understanding the application of an algebraic concept in the real world. The student may not be able to visualize the transformation of a perfect algebraic square such as (a + b)2 into the expression a2 + ab +b2. The student might not be aware of how the ab portion of the equation comes into play. Visualization of the problem might be aided through the labelling of the sides of a square with the measurements a + b and then dividing the square into bits to demonstrate the areas that correspond to a2, b2 and ab. The visual and practical demonstration of this would work in conjunction with the theoretical aspect of the algebraic problem to aid understanding and consequently memorization. In that way, freedom in the curriculum allowing for a greater depth in the instruction of the concept would lead to a better understanding for the student (AAAS, 2000). References American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Project 2061. (2000). Algebra for all — not with today’s textbooks, says AAAS. Press Release. Retrieved on October 2, 2007 from http://www. project2061. org/newsinfo/press/rl000426. htm. Ediger, M. (2001). â€Å"What makes for a quality science curriculum? † Journal of Instructional Psychology. 28(4): 241-243. Weade, R. â€Å"Curriculu ‘n’Instruction: the construction of meaning. † Theory into Practice, 26(1): 15-25.

The Evolution of Whales Essay -- Anthropology Essays Paleontology Pape

The Evolution of Whales The origin of modern day whales, a mystery that has puzzled paleontologists for years, may have just been solved with the discovery of an ankle bone. This discovery might sound simple and unimportant, but the bones of these ancient animals hold many unanswered questions and provide solid proof of origin and behavior. The relationship between whales and other animals has proven to be difficult because whales are warm-blooded, like humans, yet they live in the sea. The fact that they are warm-blooded suggests that they are related to some type of land animal. However, the questions of exactly which animal, and how whales evolved from land to water, have remained unanswered until now. In 2000, Dr. Philip D. Gingerich, a paleontologist from the University of Michigan, and his associates discovered two primitive whale fossils in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. By dating the limestone located in the Habib Rahi Formation of the Balochistan Province, Gingerich estimated these fossils to be about 47 million years old. According to author David Braun of National Geographic News, â€Å"The researchers have classified one, Rodhocetus balochistanensis, as a new species of an existing genus, and the other, Artiocetus clavis, as a new species and new genus† (Braun, 5). The discovery of these two fossils suggests that the closest living relative of these primitive whales could possibly be the modern day hippopotamus. This suggested relationship is based on similarities in the bone structure between the two animals. Hippopotami belong to a group of animals called artiodactyls. This group of animals, which includes deer, camels, sheep, pigs, and cows, are â€Å"named for the even number of fingers and toes... ...ould estimate where they spent most of their time. By the length of the other skeletal bones, the size and shape of the animals could be determined, which also shared insight to its behavior. The largest primitive whales could indeed walk on land, but only did so for short periods because their legs could not take so much weight for long amounts of time. These behaviors allow scientists and paleontologists to understand even more as to how these fascinating and mysterious animals went from ruling on land to taking over the sea. References Braun, David. Ancient Walking Whales Shed Light on Ancestry of Ocean Giants. National Geographic News, September 19, 2001. Retrieved online March 15, 2004. Gingerich, P.D. et al., 2001. Origin of Whales from Early Artiodactyls: Hands and Feet of Eocent Protocetidae from Pakistan. Science, v. 293, p2239-2242.

Book Report -the Notebook by Nicolas Sparks Essay

Summary The Notebook begins with a man in a nursing home, reading a story to a woman. The story is about two young lovers, Allie Hamilton and Noah, who meet one day at a carnival. Although the two are falling in love, Allie’s parents don’t allow the relationship between the two young lovers and decide to move Allie away from Noah and the town. They moved to New York, but Allie never gave up on Noah and always kept her faith to one day their love would have a way to come back, but after waiting for any sign (such as letters) from Noah from years, Allie meets Lon and becomes engaged. However, Allie still has feelings for Noah. Despite her commitment for Lon, Allie decides to visit Noah to see how he’s doing after seeing his picture in the newspaper in front of a house he said he was going to restore (and did). It soon becomes apparent that they still have feelings for each other. Allie spend wonderful days with Noah, but suddenly her mother Anne Hamilton surprises her finding her in Noah’s house. Allies mother confess her that she kept and hide from her the letters that Noah had been sending to her years ago. Allie now has to choose between Lon, the man she had already scheduled to marry, and Noah, the man who she wants. Allie picks Noah, her one true love, and dumps Lon. Noah and Allie end up having a happy life and die together peacefully in the nursing home, side by side. Characters Major Characters * Noah: The narrator of the book and the main character, Noah is a good and kind man who fell in love with Allie fourteen years before the novel opens. He has never forgotten her and is overwhelmed with how much he still loves her when she returns to tell him she is engaged. * Allison Hamilton: A young woman who comes from a privileged family, she spends a wonderful summer with Noah when they are young, but is forced to leave when her parents disapprove. She meets Lon and becomes engaged to him, but something in her makes her return to Noah to be sure she is not making a mistake. * Lon: He is Allie’s fiancà ©, who fights for her in the end, but is too late. He has allowed his career to disrupt any hope he may have had to win her for himself. Minor Characters * Gus: He is the black man who lives down the road from the house Noah has restored. He becomes Noah’s only family until Allie returns. * Anne Hamilton: She is Allie’s mother and had so disapproved of her being with Noah that she had never delivered his letters to her daughter. She finally gives Allie the letters, when she leaves, she whispers to Allie that she should follow her heart. Plot Love conquers all really, no matter how many times the old man (Noah) has to read the book to the old lad, he will. Hoping that one day she’ll remember him, she was his sweetheart and he would not leave her, for as long as she was there he would stay as well. Climax Noah and Ally die together in the same bed. They are old (she has Alzheimer) and in a nursing home. Noah is still telling the story of when they are young and how they finally ended up together. Ally suddenly remembers and recognized Noah, the she chose and that she is the girl from the story that he has been telling her the whole time.

Thorn Queen Chapter Five

I fully intended to make good on my promises, and in Tucson the next day, I began acquiring an odd assortment of goods that I hoped might improve the Thorn Land's situation. Admittedly, they were kind of lame, but I figured I had to start somewhere and was rather proud of my attempts when I finished. I was sitting down in front of the TV with an early dinner that night when Kiyo walked in, clad in his white vet's coat. Naturally, all the animals lifted their heads or actually walked over to him in greeting. If I hadn't been balancing a plate of ravioli on my lap, I would have leapt up and run into his arms. Instead, I gave him a dazzling smile, one that grew larger when I saw he carried a bouquet of flowers. â€Å"I would have been here sooner,† he said, tossing the coat onto a chair. â€Å"But I had an afternoon shift.† â€Å"Hey, I'm just happy to see you at all. I figured you'd still be busy with baby stuff.† â€Å"Nope.† He sat down in a chair opposite me and laid the bouquet down on the coffee table. â€Å"You were amazing there, you know.† â€Å"If by amazing, you mean shoddily dressed and leading on gentry princes-then, yes. Yes, I was. What are those for?† I gestured with my fork to the flowers-an arrangement of brightly colored gerbera daisies. â€Å"Do I need a reason? Aside from you being awesome?† I swallowed the piece of ravioli I'd just chewed. â€Å"Of course there's a reason. There's always a reason. We've talked about this before.† He gave me a lazy, dangerous smile, propping his head up on his elbow as his dark eyes assessed me. â€Å"Right. Standard practices in courtship and mating. Gifts given as subtle suggestions. ‘Here, take these plant sex organs.' Hint, hint.† It was an old joke between us. â€Å"Fortunately, in your case, you don't need to be that subtle. I already know you want sex.† â€Å"True, but I wanted to clear up any doubts. Besides, you've been so great lately†¦I don't know. I just wanted to do something nice. Figured we could have a fun night-although, you're dashing my dreams of taking you out to dinner with the way you're inhaling that ravioli.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said through a mouthful of food. â€Å"I've got a job tonight, so I had to eat early.† His eyebrows rose. â€Å"What kind of raw deal is this? I get off work so I can take you out on the town, and you've got to go into work now? Why can't you have Lara schedule you day jobs?† â€Å"Because I was busy today with Thorn Land business.† Kiyo gave me a wary look. â€Å"Hey, don't judge me,† I warned. â€Å"I wasn't actually over there. But I kind of found out recently that people are starving and going without water.† â€Å"Yeah. I've heard that.† Now I was the one with the incredulous look. â€Å"You knew and didn't tell me?† â€Å"Don't jump all over me! I figured you had people to deal with it. And probably those people had people.† â€Å"Yeah, well, all of those people are having a little trouble. In fact, I've got to go back tomorrow to help round up some brigands.† â€Å"Did you just say ‘brigands'? That's very†¦I don't know. Very 1683.† â€Å"Well, whatever they are, they're a pain in the ass and possibly abducting girls.† I gave him a quick recap. â€Å"You want to go with me and help?† He shook his head ruefully. â€Å"You know, I came here hoping to spend time with you. Instead, I find out you've got a job tonight and are playing sheriff tomorrow.† â€Å"Would it help if I wore a cowgirl outfit?† â€Å"It might.† He came over to sit beside me and kissed my cheek. â€Å"And yes, I'll go tomorrow. I'll even go tonight, if you want the company.† â€Å"You see? We are spending quality time together.† â€Å"I just hope there's some quality time in bed later to help make up for it all.† â€Å"Well,† I said haughtily, setting my plate on the table, â€Å"that depends on you, huh? I have no doubts about my quality.† He put a hand on my thigh and brushed his lips against my neck. â€Å"Oh, Eugenie. Don't push your luck here,† he growled, â€Å"or you might be late for work.† I grinned and answered by way of a long, deep kiss that probably would have turned into more if my appointment hadn't been so close. That, and we also heard Tim coming in the back door. He never took it very well when he found Kiyo and me in a compromising position. The two of us drove over near the university, to a quiet residential neighborhood that was split evenly between single-family residences and crowded houses shared by students. As we pulled up in front of a narrow two-story home in need of a new paint job, Kiyo frowned. â€Å"That microbus looks really familiar,† he said, eyeing the driveway. â€Å"Really?† I asked innocently. We got out of the car and approached the house. When we'd cleared the microbus, Kiyo paused to look at its slew of bumper stickers. Question Authority and Roswell or Bust! were only a few. He gave me a sharp, accusing look. â€Å"Eugenie, did Wil Delaney move?† â€Å"Nooo,† I said slowly. â€Å"But this is a friend of his.† Kiyo groaned. â€Å"If I'd known this, I would have stayed home. That guy is insane. And wait-did you just say he actually has a friend?† â€Å"A friend with a legitimate problem. And you can always go wait in the car.† Kiyo said nothing, merely steeling himself as we approached the door. Wil Delaney was a former client of mine. He was a conspiracy theorist who almost never left his home and whose sole income depended on a blog he ran that furthered his ideas on the government, aliens, mind control, genetic manipulation, and a whole host of other wacky premises. He was quite possibly the most paranoid person I'd ever met. He was also Jasmine's half-brother. It was how we'd met. He'd been the one to hire me to go find her in the Otherworld, long before I'd known anything about Storm King and the prophecy. Apparently, Wil and Jasmine's mother hadn't been so virtuous and had cheated on Mr. Delaney a lot-even with gentry warlords. About a dozen locks unclicked before we were allowed into the house, which was almost as many as Wil had at his own home. The person who greeted us was a woman, a very young one. She was short with plump cheeks, cropped brown hair, and pink cat-eye glasses. â€Å"Is this her?† she asked. A moment later, Wil's head peered around the doorway's side. He looked the same as last time: pale blond hair in need of cutting, glasses, and skin that never saw the sun. â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Who's the guy?† asked the woman suspiciously. â€Å"Her boyfriend. He's cool. Cairo.† â€Å"Kiyo,† I corrected. I held out my hand to her. â€Å"You must be Trisha.† â€Å"I prefer to be called Ladyxmara72,† she said. â€Å"Because really, we're all just anonymous faces in this society, as far as the government is concerned. Plus, Ladyxmara72 is one of my World of Warcraft character names. Ironic that a virtual society like that can be more honest and egalitarian than our own. Or maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused dramatically. â€Å"It's not so ironic.† Wil stared at her adoringly. Beside me, Kiyo made some sort of strangled noise. They led us inside a home nearly as dark as Wil kept his. I guessed Trisha-I refused to call her Lady-whatever-worried about the same issues with radiation that he did. Her home was neater, however, and bore slightly more feminine touches, like furniture that matched and a few scented candles. The candles appeared to be homemade, undoubtedly so they wouldn't poison the air with artificial scents or be laced with trackers that the government could use to listen in on Trisha's conversation. â€Å"So,† said Trisha as we entered the living room. An episode of The X-Files was paused on the TV. â€Å"You're here to take care of the alien problem.† â€Å"I'm here to-what did you say?† I looked back and forth between Wil and her. â€Å"Aliens,† she said. â€Å"My house is infested with them.† I peered around, half-expecting to see E.T. hanging out on the loveseat. All was empty and still. â€Å"I don't really understand. Didn't Wil tell you what I do?† â€Å"We don't know for sure that they're aliens,† he said hastily. â€Å"But there is something here.† â€Å"Of course they are!† she exclaimed. He cowered a little under her glare. â€Å"I've seen them looking in the windows-just like on that documentary.† Immediately, his chagrin turned to outrage. â€Å"Oh, come on! You know that's a hoax. The evidence is overwhelming.† â€Å"The hell it is! There's no way anyone could fake that kind of-â€Å" â€Å"Um, hey, you guys?† I said. â€Å"Can we just get this taken care of? Tell me more about the ali-whatever. Have you both seen them?† They nodded. â€Å"They're short with big eyes,† Trisha said triumphantly. â€Å"But they wear paisley suit coats,† added Wil. â€Å"And they do chores at night.† â€Å"Doesn't sound so bad to me,† murmured Kiyo. â€Å"Why get rid of them?† â€Å"Kobolds,† I said after a moment's thought. â€Å"You've got kobolds.† â€Å"There is no known planet by that name,† argued Trisha. I sighed. â€Å"Just take me to your basement.† Trisha led us through the house, and Wil drifted over beside me. â€Å"Isn't she amazing?† I swear he was on the verge of swooning. â€Å"Your first girlfriend?† I asked. â€Å"How'd you know?† â€Å"Instinct.† Engaging Wil in conversation was always dangerous, but seeing as he never left the house or had much social interaction, I just had to ask the next question. â€Å"How'd you guys meet?† â€Å"On a forum. We were both in this thread and kept arguing about whether there was a government connection between the overdoses of Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger, and then we-â€Å" â€Å"Okay,† I said, grimacing. â€Å"That's enough. Really.† We reached the basement door, and Trisha started to go down. â€Å"Don't,† I warned. â€Å"You guys need to stay up here.† I gave Wil a stern look. â€Å"Don't let her down there until we're done. You of all people know I'm not fucking around.† Wil blanched further-if that was possible-and gave a hasty nod. Wil had traveled with me to the Otherworld and fully understood the perils of my job. I could hear Trisha arguing with him as Kiyo and I descended the stairs, yet somehow, Wil managed to do his job and keep her away. â€Å"I never thought it was possible,† said Kiyo, once we were out of earshot. â€Å"He's found and fallen in love with someone exactly like him. I guess there really is someone for everyone.† â€Å"She's a little more assertive than he is, I think.† â€Å"Good. He needs it.† â€Å"On the bright side, this'll be cake. Kobolds aren't an issue.† Kiyo nodded his agreement but wrinkled his nose when we reached the bottom of the steps. â€Å"They're bad-smelling ones, though.† The basement wasn't finished and bore the usual clutter one found in such places. Lots of hiding spots for kobolds. I pulled on a hanging chain, and a bare bulb offered meager illumination. Taking out my wand, I extended my arm and swept the whole basement. â€Å"By the earth and fire you serve, I command you to reveal yourselves.† Shamanic magic tingled from me, through the wand and its gems, and into the room. A moment later, three forms materialized. They were about three-feet high, male, and hardly resembled the big-eyed aliens popular in modern culture. These guys were wizened, with patchy yellow hair. Wil's comment about the paisley coats wasn't entirely accurate either. One wore plaid. â€Å"Why did you call us out?† the one in plaid demanded in a high-pitched voice. â€Å"We haven't done anything to you. We haven't done anything to anyone.† â€Å"You guys, you can't stay here,† I said. â€Å"Not in this house. It's not yours. This world isn't yours.† I was a stickler for world ownership. â€Å"We're helping,† argued one of the paisley ones. â€Å"Do you know how messy these people are? Books and paper everywhere.† If Trisha's house had resembled Wil's before the kobolds arrived, I could well imagine it. Kobolds were kind of like benign goblins, originating in northern Europe and rarely given to maliciousness unless provoked. My hope was that they could simply be talked into leaving. â€Å"That's really nice and all, but I mean it: you can't stay here. I've got to send you back to the Otherworld. Give me a hard time about it, and I'll make it the Underworld.† The plaid one scowled. â€Å"You're as cruel as they say, Eugenie Thorn Queen. We've done nothing to deserve this.† I tried not to scowl right back. Before learning about my gentry blood, I'd often conducted shamanic business under the pseudonym Odile Dark Swan. It was what Otherworld denizens had known and feared me as. I wasn't thrilled to know that no part of my identity was a secret anymore. â€Å"You guys, I am not screwing around. You know who I am. You know what I can do, so stop wasting time.† Wand still in hand, I began to channel an opening to the Otherworld. â€Å"You can't take on both of us, let alone one.† â€Å"No,† agreed the other paisley one. â€Å"But he can.† â€Å"He-ahh!† Furry hands reached around from behind me just seconds after Kiyo exclaimed, â€Å"Eugenie!† Kiyo was normally on high alert but had been as cocky as me about dealing with the kobolds. His attention had been on them, and he hadn't sensed the other threat lurking in the basement. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Kiyo had scented this creature, if the odor emanating from its hands and arms was any indication. He just hadn't made the connection. I still didn't have a good look at my furry-armed captor, seeing as I was still struggling to break free of its grasp. Kiyo was on it in a flash, needing no weapons save his own brute strength. His hands closed around the creature's arms, and he managed to pull them loose enough for me to slip out of its grip. Once free, I was able to get a good look. It was a†¦ Huh. I wasn't really sure. It was furry, brown, and tall, with rounded ears like a mouse or bear and hooves like a deer and a whole other assortment of random animal parts. It gave a strangled roar of displeasure, and I braced for it to turn back on me. Usually, that was how it worked. Creatures who came after me usually had one of two goals: either rape me on the spot or kill me to prevent me from fulfilling the prophecy. But Smokey the Bear, or whatever it was, was going after Kiyo, ignoring me while the kobolds watched gleefully. Kiyo socked the creature hard in the chest, and I noticed a faint ripple of light spread through it that faded quickly. Smokey then returned with a punch that took Kiyo hard in the face and sent him toward the wall. It was hard, too-that punch had been meant to kill. Kiyo's reflexes were too fast, though, and he caught himself before his skull could smash against the solid concrete. I leapt into the fight then, pulling out my Glock. I'd loaded it with silver bullets earlier and was glad I'd done so. I got off a couple of shots into the monster. Each time, I saw its form ripple, but it still didn't come after me. It was too intent on killing Kiyo. The two grappled further, and I continued firing, knowing I had to be weakening it. Nonetheless, one lucky blow knocked Kiyo off his feet and onto his back. The kobolds cheered when he remained still. Me, I screamed in rage, taking my wand in my other hand and facing the furry monstrosity head-on. It attempted no killing blows on me and merely kept trying to get a hold of me as I fired and began the banishing words. Suddenly, Kiyo was on his feet again, thrusting himself between us. â€Å"Stay the hell away from her!† he snarled. I saw all the muscles in his body tense and had a feeling he was on the verge of shape-shifting. Smokey looked angry and turned into full assault mode again. â€Å"Get out of the way,† I said. â€Å"I've got him.† â€Å"I'm not letting him lay a hand on you,† retorted Kiyo, eyes fixed on his foe. A flash of gold glimmered in Kiyo's eyes. Gold like a fox's. â€Å"He's not trying to kill or rape me,† I argued, as Kiyo dodged another crushing blow. â€Å"He wants to subdue me-you he wants to kill.† But Kiyo was dead set on protecting me, and I finally decided he'd be safest if I hurried up and just finished the banishing rather than attempt to protect him. Firmly channeling my power into the wand, I again began opening a gate to the Otherworld. As I did, though, I kept thinking about those ripples I saw when I'd attacked the beast, like it couldn't quite stay together. An idea struck me, and rather than direct the banishing magic into ripping open the fabric of this world, I directed it toward Smokey-or, rather, toward the Otherworldly magic holding Smokey together. Kiyo sprang away from the fight, realizing what I was going to do. Sure enough. A spiderweb of light suddenly covered the monster, fragmenting his form. With the wand, I destroyed the magical bonds, and suddenly-he exploded. But not like Aeson had exploded. It was more like he fell apart. Gone was the large, hulking, furry form. Instead, scuttling on the ground was a swarm of woodland creatures: mice, rabbits, a deer, and a couple of ducks. The mice and rabbits immediately scurried into whatever nooks and crannies they could find. The ducks looked confused. The deer ran up the stairs. With the banishing magic already started, it was easy to complete the actual opening to the Otherworld and send the kobolds through. Just before they vanished, Kiyo leaned toward them-keeping out of the magic's way-and fixed them with a dark, angry expression. The blood on his face from the fight only added to his fearsome appearance. â€Å"Tell whoever sent you here to leave her the hell alone, or I will come after him myself and rip him apart limb by limb. And I'll do the same to you guys while I'm at it. None of you are ever going to lay a hand on her again,† he growled. The kobolds' faces reflected true fear as they disappeared from this world. Silence fell, aside from the quiet and confused quacking of the ducks who still didn't know what to do with themselves. â€Å"Well,† I gasped. â€Å"That was one of the more convoluted schemes I've seen yet.† Would-be rapists often did attempt to distract me with a seemingly ordinary banishing and then would swoop in unexpectedly. This person had sent the kobolds to lure me out and then that woodland conglomeration to actually subdue me and bring me back as a war prize. Kiyo, as an obstacle to that plan, had had to be eliminated first. I took in his ripped shirt and blood. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Fine, fine,† he said, wiping his face. â€Å"It's superficial. What the hell was that?† â€Å"Some monster that a gentry put together with magic. Bound all those animals into one stronger form and ordered it after me.† â€Å"Will it come back together?† â€Å"No. I broke the bonds, and they're all spreading apart anyway.† â€Å"Um, Eugenie?† Wil's voice suddenly rang down the stairs. â€Å"Is everything okay down there? A deer just ran through the living room†¦.† Kiyo and I both decided later that it was a good thing Smokey had disbanded like he had. Otherwise, if they'd seen his full form, Trisha and Wil would have had enough Bigfoot material for their forums to last until the next century. Goodness only knew what kind of threads and rumors this event alone would start. Trisha paid me in cash once we frisked the deer out of the house, and I told her she was on her own for the other animals in the basement. As we were leaving, Wil briefly caught me alone, his goofy, paranoid expression replaced by a much grimmer one. â€Å"Have you found Jasmine yet?† he asked in a very soft voice. I bit my lip. No matter how absurd I thought Wil was, whenever I saw how much Jasmine's disappearance grieved him, it broke my heart. I'd never told him the truth of her heritage. The only information I'd given him was that she was on the run and hadn't been kidnapped. I thought he'd take comfort in knowing she wasn't being held against her will, but it hurt him to think she didn't want to be with him. He truly loved his sister, no matter how much she despised the human world. It was really quite sad. â€Å"No, I'm sorry. I really am.† His face fell further, and he gave a weak nod. â€Å"Yeah. I figured. I know you'll keep looking, though. And you'll let me know if you find her?† I tried to give him a reassuring smile. â€Å"Sure.† The truth was, I didn't know if I would tell him. It all depended on what state I found her in. If I found her pregnant and bent on conquering the worlds†¦well, I wasn't entirely sure what I'd do then, but one thing I felt certain of was that there was no way I was ever going to let her return to this world.

Free Essays on Horticulture And Shakespeare

A predominant image presented in William Shakespeare’s plays is the image of a garden, infested with weeds. Even though the image pervades his works, the symbolic meaning of the garden evolves over the course time. The image becomes a metaphor for the management of human desires as well as the state of affairs of a country and corrupt kingdom. Through examination of Richard II, Hamlet and Othello, the development of the garden transforms from a political allegory to a metaphor for the human body. There is, however, a common theme among the three plays to eliminate the â€Å"weeds,† or corrupt forces that destroy or contaminate the garden. One of the first references of a neglected garden is presented in Richard II as a political allegory for the state of affairs in England. King Richard, an unsatisfactory head of state, is surrounded by advisors who take advantage of him to live a luxurious life in his court. The Richard's mismanagement of England is represented as a â€Å"sea-walled garden†¦full of weeds; her fairest flowers choked up, / Her fruit-trees all unpruned, her hedges ruin’d, / Her knots disorder’d.† His use of the term â€Å"seal-walled† echoes John of Gaunt’s speech in Act II, Scene I, in which the nobleman refers to â€Å"the silver sea / Which serves it [England] in the office of a wall.† In Gaunt’s speech, he praises the beauty of England but warns Richard of the consequences of leasing the land- a recommendation suggested by his advisors. The garden is an allegory for a mishandled country overpowered by the king’s advisors. The â€Å"fair flower choked up† depicts the deadly, consuming power of weeds and how they can destroy a garden if not removed. Not only does the gardener use the garden as a microcosm of England, but also he uses individual plants to represent the relationships between the king and his advisors: â€Å"Go, bind thou up young dangling apricokes / Which, like unruly children, make their sir... Free Essays on Horticulture And Shakespeare Free Essays on Horticulture And Shakespeare A predominant image presented in William Shakespeare’s plays is the image of a garden, infested with weeds. Even though the image pervades his works, the symbolic meaning of the garden evolves over the course time. The image becomes a metaphor for the management of human desires as well as the state of affairs of a country and corrupt kingdom. Through examination of Richard II, Hamlet and Othello, the development of the garden transforms from a political allegory to a metaphor for the human body. There is, however, a common theme among the three plays to eliminate the â€Å"weeds,† or corrupt forces that destroy or contaminate the garden. One of the first references of a neglected garden is presented in Richard II as a political allegory for the state of affairs in England. King Richard, an unsatisfactory head of state, is surrounded by advisors who take advantage of him to live a luxurious life in his court. The Richard's mismanagement of England is represented as a â€Å"sea-walled garden†¦full of weeds; her fairest flowers choked up, / Her fruit-trees all unpruned, her hedges ruin’d, / Her knots disorder’d.† His use of the term â€Å"seal-walled† echoes John of Gaunt’s speech in Act II, Scene I, in which the nobleman refers to â€Å"the silver sea / Which serves it [England] in the office of a wall.† In Gaunt’s speech, he praises the beauty of England but warns Richard of the consequences of leasing the land- a recommendation suggested by his advisors. The garden is an allegory for a mishandled country overpowered by the king’s advisors. The â€Å"fair flower choked up† depicts the deadly, consuming power of weeds and how they can destroy a garden if not removed. Not only does the gardener use the garden as a microcosm of England, but also he uses individual plants to represent the relationships between the king and his advisors: â€Å"Go, bind thou up young dangling apricokes / Which, like unruly children, make their sir...

Business Personal Statement What Why How

Business Personal Statement What Why How Business Personal Statement: What? Why? How? In this article, we are going to give you a step-by-step guide on all of the essential tips that you need to complete your business personal statement. What is a Business Personal Statement? It is very competitive to try and secure a space in a high-quality business studies course. Your business personal statement is one of the ways in which you can demonstrate your potential above and beyond your grades. An engaging and insightful business personal statement can be a way of standing out from the rest of the candidates who are competing for the available places on the course that you wish to study. Why Do You Need a Business Personal Statement? A business personal statement is designed to give some sense of who you are as a person. For many courses, it is an essential part of the application and candidate assessment process. How to Complete a Business Personal Statement? The key thing with a business personal statement is to be authentic, to be yourself, and to convey that in a professional way that connects with the people who are assessing your application. There are four main points that you should mention in your business personal statement. These are as follows: Why are you interested in studying this course? For example, you may say something like â€Å"I have had a lifelong interest in economics†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"I am fascinated by the operation of the stock market†¦Ã¢â‚¬  How do your previous studies qualify you for this course? For example, you may say something like â€Å"My previous studies of international politics have shown me the interrelation between politics and economics†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"My outstanding grades in my junior business studies qualification have given me an excellent basis to continue to challenge myself academically†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What life experience do you have that qualifies you for this course? For example, you may say something like â€Å"Having dealt with my family’s small business, I have a sound understanding of microeconomics†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"I’ve been an active participant in stock market simulations to help me build my understanding of real-time trading patterns†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Why have you chosen this specific course? You may say something like: â€Å"Having compared all of the available options, I believe this course will give me the skills and knowledge I need†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"The outstanding reputation of this course will be a tremendous asset to my CV†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It is important that you do not copy anyone else’s business personal statement. It is okay to look at some examples to see how best to structure what you are writing, but your business personal statement has to be about you, it has to reflect your experiences, and what you believe. The business personal statement has to be about you, but do not hesitate to seek assistance and feedback. Share your business personal statement with your friends, family, and professional network. Ask for feedback, ask whether it accurately reflects who you are, ask for any suggestions on how to improve it and make it more impactful. With a strong business personal statement, you will be well-placed to secure the business course to which you aspire.

Ultimate Study Guide SAT World History Subject Test

Ultimate Study Guide SAT World History Subject Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Subject Tests are required or recommended at the most competitive colleges because they provide a standardized measurement of your expertise in academic areas that interest you. If you're a history buff applying to very selective colleges, you might be considering the SAT Subject Test World History (aka the SAT 2 World History) as one of your options. This guide will help you figure out when to take the test, how the questions are formatted, and how you can study effectively. Should You Take the World History SAT Subject Test? When? Before you start studying, it’s important to know: Should you be taking this test right now? Or ever? Is the test even offered at the time when you plan to take it? You only need to take SAT subject tests if you’re applying to colleges that require or strongly recommend that you submit SAT II scores. In these cases, it's best totake one science or math subject test and one humanities subject test.Make sure World History is your best option for a humanities subject test before you commit to it.If there’s another humanities subject test that interests you more (or that you think you’d do better on), you should take that one instead! Also, be warned that the World History SAT Subject Test is only offered in August, December, and June, not on every regular SAT test date like some more popular subject tests. If you already knew all that and are definitely set on taking the test, you also have to think about which year you should take it.It’s best to take subject tests when you’ve just finished a year-long course in the corresponding subject.You may not need to study much at all if you’ve already spent time preparing for the final in your class. The College Board’s recommended preparation for the World History Subject Test includes: One-year comprehensive course in world history at the college-preparatory level Independent reading or study of historical topics covered on the test Review of world history textbooks Make sure you take this exam when you’re in the best position to score well! In the next few sections, I'lltalk more about the specifics of what you can expect to see on the test. This test is gonna be a SLAM DUNK if you take it right after a year-long world history class. What’s the Format of the SAT World History Subject Test? The World History Subject Test contains 95 multiple-choice questions which you will answer over the course of an hour. Like other subject tests, it is scored on a scale from 200-800.Unfortunately, there is still a quarter-point penalty for incorrect answers on the World History Subject Test, but you won’t get any points taken off for leaving questions blank. Each correct answer earns you one point. The College Board’s â€Å"Anticipated Skills† for SAT World History include: Familiarity with terminology, cause-and-effect relationships, geography, and other data necessary for understanding major historical developments A grasp of concepts essential to historical analysis An ability to use historical knowledge in interpreting data in maps, graphs, charts, or cartoons Individual questions are presented in several different formats, which I'll detail for you in the next section. What Types of Questions Are on the Test? I’ve divided the questions on this subject test into three main types.I’ll tell you what each entails and go through sample answer explanations. Type 1: Identification These are the standard questions you’ll see on the World History Subject Test.Basically, you must identify a statement that most accurately describes a certain ideology or event in history.In this case, you just need to know the main tenets of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was an ideology that modeled itself after the idea of natural selection, taking a favorable view of competition in society.Since we know Social Darwinism emphasizes competition, we can eliminate Choice B and Choice D.Choice E can also be eliminated because Social Darwinism was a highly secular ideology. Now we’re left with just A and C.A should be eliminated.Although it’s close to being correct, it’s not as harsh as Social Darwinism and doesn’t mention the concepts involved in natural selection.It’s too nice, to put it bluntly. Choice C is the correct answer here! Type 2: Image-Based These types of questions can refer to maps, symbols, or cultural markers and will ask you to interpret them based on your knowledge of world history (and, in this case, geography). From the question, we know we are looking for the dots that represent the easternmost and westernmost borders of the Islamic world in the 8th century. Muhammad died in the 7th century, after which the Islamic state continued to expand under the early Caliphs and the Umayyad Caliphate.At this point, the empire stretched all the way from western Asia to present-day Morocco in NorthAfrica.This means that the easternmost limit would be dot 1, and the westernmost limit would be dot 9. In this case, it's critical to know that the eastern boundary of the empire was in present-day Russia. If you could determine that dot 1 was the correct choice for the easternmost point, you were able to eliminate choices C through E right away. Then, you were left to decide whether 7 or 9 was the correct answer for the western border of the empire. Knowing that this was a time when the Islamic empire was expanding dramatically, dot 9 appears to be the most logical choice. You can see that even without EXACT knowledge of where the empire began and ended at this time, it's possible to make guided inferences to get to the correct answer.Choice B is the answer we want! Type 3: Cause and Effect These questions will ask why or how developments in history came about, so you'll need to possess a strong understanding of the progression of events in different geographical regions.This question asks why a certain ideology was developed. What were Christians pushing back against with the â€Å"monastic ideal†? To choose the correct answer, you have to understand the situation of Christians at the time.Most lived in the eastern Mediterranean region around Egypt in the late 3rd and early 4th century. You might remember that some of the first Christians were persecuted, so you’d be tempted to choose A or E.However, at the time when the â€Å"monastic ideal† became popular, Christianity had already been legalized under Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century. The monastic idealwas a direct rejection of riches and earthly pleasures for a Christian life of solitude and prayer. Of the remaining choices, Choice D fits the cause and effect relationship best.It’s the answer that’s most strongly connected to the main tenets of the monastic ideal and what it attempted to counteract. What Does the SAT World History Subject Test Cover? Here’s a breakdown of the topics you’ll see on the test by era and geographical region: Chronological Material Approximate Percentage of Test Prehistory and civilizations before 500 CE 25% 500 to 1500 CE 20% 1500 to 1900 CE 25% Post-1900 CE 20% Cross-chronological 10% Geographical Material Approximate Percentage of Test Global or comparative 25% Europe 25% Africa 10% Southwest Asia 10% South and Southeast Asia 10% East Asia 10% The Americas (excluding the US) 10% As you can see, questions are pretty evenly distributed amongthe different eras of world history.Europe is the most prevalent geographical region on the test, but global or comparative questions that span different regions are also common. SAT World History Subject Test Prep Materials There are a variety of tools you can use to prepare for the test.These include review books, online quizzes, and printable full practice tests.Here are a few examples of different prep materials that may be helpful to you: Review Books If you're looking for a resource that will walk you through the entire study process from planning to studying to practice testing, a review book might be the best option for you. These books provide sample practice questions and content summaries that cover only the most relevant information. Referring to a review book is easier than studying a whole year's worth of notes. Review books are particularly helpful if you're not coming to the test fresh out of a world history class. They're a great way of refreshing your memory without overwhelming you with information. Here are some options: Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests (if you’re taking other subject tests as well this might be nice to have) Official Study Guide for US History and World History Barron’s SAT Subject Test World History Cracking the World History Subject Test Kaplan SAT Subject Test World History College Board There are also free resources for practice questions on the College Board site. You'll find a few sample questions in the overall guide to every subject test as well as a setof automatically scored online practice questions: A few sample questions for World History (go to page 11) and answer explanations Online practice questions (automatic scoring) Other Unofficial Practice Tests Here are some additional unofficial online resources you might use to study individual topics in world history or take extra practice tests. Just keep in mind that these questions aren't always accurate reflections of what you'll see on the real exam. Maintain a balance between official and unofficial practice questions in your studying so that you don't run into any surprises on the test. Varsity Tutors Practice Tests These short quizzes cover all topics in SAT World History.They also show the difficulty level next to each quiz so you can tell whether you’re up to speed with the toughest questions. CrackSAT Practice Tests This site has two full-length practice tests with questions that accurately reflect the real test content.It also has a bunch of shorter quizzes on each historical era. Albert IO Quizzes Albert IOhas mini-quizzes for all the time periods and global regions up to 1945. Individual questions are categorized by difficulty level, although you do need to pay for a subscription to access most practice questions. 4Tests Practice Exam This is a quick 34-question diagnostic test that you can use to get a better sense of your overall readiness for the exam. Study Tips for the SAT Subject TestWorld History Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind as your review the material. Studying strategically will have a strong positive impact on your scores. Tip 1: Think on a Large Thematic Scale You don’t have to memorize everything that’s happened in human history to do well on this test.It’s about ideologies, empires, and major conflicts throughout history.If you understand the overall chronology, the major political players, and the different cultural viewpoints, you’ll get most of the questions right. During any given century, you should have a basic idea of what was going on in each geographical region.Ask yourself these questions: Who was in control? What was the ruling political ideology or religious philosophy? Which other important ideologies or political factions existed on the fringes? What major developments in the arts and sciences were facilitated? Then, you should be able to say why and how control shifted to other world powers in the next century or eraand ask yourself the same questions! Tip 2: Time Yourself on Practice Questions As I mentioned, this is a fast-paced test.You should prepare yourself to move quickly (no more than 30 seconds per question).The best way to do this is to take timed practice tests, or at least do sets of questions where you time yourself as you go through them.Get used to what 30 seconds per question feels like so you don’t run out of time when you have to take the real test! Tip 3: Map It Out If you find that diagrams and other visual aids help your studying, it might be helpful to bring a world map into the mix.If you can see the territory governed by various empires at certain times and how it was transformed, you might have an easier time remembering the information on the test.A global map is a good way to view change and cause-and-effect in history concretely on a large scale.If you’re feeling ambitious, you could label world maps for each historical era with the major states and empires that were active and how much territory they covered.This way you can see how things have evolved from the beginning of human history to the present day. Or, you can take things one step further and carve a realistic silhouette of the continents out of a slice of an old stump. Worth it. Test Taking Tips for the World History Subject Test Finally, here are some tips that will come in handy on test day! Even if you feel confident about your knowledge of the material, you can always improve your overall approach. Tip 1: Don’t Get Distracted by Extra Info Sometimes the questions on the test will give you the name of a historical figure or specific place that’s not necessary to know to answer the question correctly.For instance, in the multiple-choice example dealing with Social Darwinism, the question mentions Herbert Spencer. It’s great if you knew who Herbert Spencer was, but if you didn’t, it really wouldn’t matter as long as you were familiar with Social Darwinism overall.These extra details can be distracting because they make it seem like the question is asking for something more specific than it is.Most of these questions are pretty broad when you get down to what they’re asking at their core, so don’t panic if you see an unfamiliar name. Tip 2: Avoid Guessing Guessing on Subject Tests is (mostly) a no-no because the incorrect answer penalty still exists.Don’t take a guess unless you can narrow down your choices to four or fewer possible answers.The risks outweigh the benefits otherwise.If you don’t get to a question or are just completely stumped, leave it blank. Tip 3: Skip Hard Questions This is a fast paced test. Ninety-five questions in 60 minutes means a little more than 30 seconds per question.You absolutely cannot afford to waste any time.If you find yourself lingering on a question for more than 30 seconds without coming up with any answers, skip it and move onto the next one.Don’t risk missing out on points you might earn later in the section by dwelling on tough questions that you’re unlikely to answer correctly.If you do end up getting through the whole test before time is called, you can always go back and work on these questions. Don't commit self-sabotage by obsessing over the most difficult questions! Conclusion The World History SAT Subject Test will ask you to demonstrate a general knowledge of the progression of events throughout human history. It's best to take the test right after you finish a year-long class in world history so that you're already familiar with most of the information. The study tips I recommend employing for this test include: #1: Think on a Thematic Scale #2: Take Timed Practice Tests #3: Map Out History Some test-taking tips you should remember on exam day are: #1: Don't Get Distracted By Extra Information #2: Avoid Guessing #3: Skip Hard Questions (at First) You can use the review books and online resources listed in this guide to hone your skills and refresh your memory on content. If you've been primed by a course in world history, you shouldn't have a problem mastering this information and earning a high score. What's Next? Will you be taking both AP tests and SAT Subject Tests? Read this article to find out which type of test is more important and how they differ from one another. Are you applying to Ivy League or other highly competitive colleges? This article details the average subject tests scores for admitted students at these schools so you can set smart goals! If you think you'd be more interested in a Subject Test that covers a shorter period of history, head over to my ultimate study guide for the US History Subject Test. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

LG Electronics and The Use of SCM Software Article

LG Electronics and The Use of SCM Software - Article Example The present research has identified that LG requires constant supplies of the goods that it produces in order to fulfill customers’ needs. In order to facilitate this process efficient and effective management of the supply chain is extremely important. Therefore, effective organization of all parties involved in the supply chain is critical as a result of their role in adding value. In fact, Christopher indicates that a supply chain is a network that consists of various organizations that play a part in performing processes and activities that adds value to product or service in the hands of the consumer. In order for all parties to achieve competitive advantage in the process, the flow of inputs and components from suppliers to LG’s operations has to be managed in such a way as to facilitate the minimization of inventory holding cost and the maximization of inventory turnover. The need for the use of technology to drive improvements and the use of SCM software cannot be ignored. Management of the supply chain is crucial to the success of businesses that manufacture goods and the internet plays a very important role in this regard. LG Electronics, Inc is a producer of consumer electronics, mobile communications, and home appliances. The company’s operations consist of four distinct business units – home entertainment, mobile communication, home appliance, and air conditioning and energy solutions. LG also has an international presence consisting of 117 operations. Worldwide sales in 2011 were USD 49 billion. In order to increase efficiency and effectiveness, LG has consistently sought to improve its competitiveness by improving the management of its supply chain. This article focuses on LG’s operations in India and its use of information technology to improve the management of its supply chain worldwide.

Coventry's contribution to transportation Essay

Coventry's contribution to transportation - Essay Example The automotive industry in the United Kingdom- UK dates back to the end of the 19th century. During the 1950’s, the car manufacturing industry in the UK became the second largest in the globe falling behind to the United States (NAIGT 2008, p.89). At the time, the UK was the largest exporter of cars. In the decades following the 1950’s, the industry faced greater competition from other car manufacturing nations such as France, Japan and Germany. This led to a fall in growth of the industry. By 2008, statistics showing the production of cars by volume ranked the UK as the 12th largest car manufacturer. As competition in car making rose during after 1950, so too did the number of foreign car manufactures rise in the country (Tom, Jason & Clive 2012, p. 54). Companies such as BMW, TATA, and Volkswagen Group invaded the industry. Foreign company groups also claim a large percentage of ownership in traditional British car brands such as Rover, Triumph and Riley (Wells 2010, p. 103). Below is a picture of a Triumph Dolomite sprint car that got manufactured between 1973 and 1980; The Coventry motor industry has experienced innovations and inventions over the years as it faces competition and pressures from the market. The industry has invested heavily in modular design and technology in response to other competing automotive firms in other countries (Tom, Jason & Clive 2012, p. 13). ... This becomes possible through the industry’s extremely sophisticated systems integration skills. The industry has also seen massive technological progress since its inception. The industry has incorporated vital features to ensure vehicle safety (Tom & David 2000, p. 118). Technological progress has also seen the industry focus on issues such as fuel economy, environmental impact, comfort, performance and versatility. Technology and modern management skills have led to transformation of the industry through cutting edge design analysis, lightweight materials, extension of digital control to enable most car functions. Coventry has recently assisted in developing cars that embrace green technology such as electric cars and hydrogen powered vehicles (NAIGT 2008, p.65). The image below represents the technological advancements in green technology by the industry; Part 2: Report One sector that makes up the Coventry automotive industry gets to be research and development- R&D. the efforts of Coventry’s R&D get geared towards a technology roadmap that makes use of relevant resources to build cars that meet the consumers’ demands and environmental demands. This paper will analyze the R&D segment of Coventry’s automotive industry to determine its strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Success of the industry’s R&D will ensure that the industry remains competitive and relevant in the current global automotive industries (NAIGT 2008, p.59). The current global targets in transport aim towards decarbonizing the system by 2050, improving vehicle performance, safety and designs. R&D expenditures represent key information on the sustainability of an industry. The R& D represent an

Why are Oligopolies Tempted to Collude Even if it Means Breaking the Essay

Why are Oligopolies Tempted to Collude Even if it Means Breaking the Law - Essay Example A firm achieves maximum profits when it operates where its marginal revenue equals marginal cost (MC=MR). However, it is mostly not as easy as a question of operating at this point; the more competition the firm faces, the lesser it will be able to manipulate the consumers for its own economic gain (Sloman and Wride, 2009). The two extremes in market structures are (i) Perfect Competition and (ii) Monopoly. However, in real life, firms often operate somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. Such market structures are characterized by Imperfect Competition. There are two main kinds of markets that practice imperfect competition: (i) Monopolistic Competition and (ii) Oligopolies. Some famous oligopolistic firms are Pepsi, Coke, Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Nintendo (Sloman and Wride, 2009). In an oligopoly, the number of competitors is less and limited and there are high barriers which prevent frequent entry of new firms into the market. Barriers of entry may be created in the form of brand names, sunk costs, firm size, economies of scale, and large firm advantage (Boyes and Melvin, 2009). Competition between firms in an oligopolistic market is high and intense, it sometimes leads to price wars which become extremely detrimental for their effective functioning. In other instances, these firms choose to collude amongst themselves to minimize the downsides of operating in an oligopolistic market and to simultaneously maximize their profits. The products these firms make can either be differentiated or homogenous. Depending on the product type, there emerge two distinct kinds of oligopolies: pure oligopolies which produce homogenous products, for example the steel industry. Sometimes, however, an oligopoly may produce differentiated products; such oligopolies are called impure oligopolies. An example of such an oligopoly would be the automobile industry. The demand curve for both types of oligopolistic firms is downward sloping and fairly inelastic, there is also a degree of dependency on the reactions of competitor firms to price changes. Another key feature is mutual interdependence, which means that each firm is affected by the actions of its competitors and thus, whenever any firm is going to take an action, it does so with its competitors’ possible reactions in mind. Due to these circumstances there is a high degree of uncertainty in an oligopolistic industry because firms can never accurately predict how exactly their competitors will react to their actions and this any sort of action involves an inherent degree of risk (Sloman and Wride, 2009). In oligopolistic markets, there is price rigidity because setting product price is not at one firm discretion but a decision in which all firms are factored in. If one firm lowers price below market price, this can cause a price war where all firms start lowering their prices to match the initial decrease and this will continue and form a vicious downward price spiral. However, if one fir m raises its price above set market price, no other firm will raise its price to match it and the firm who raised prices will lose out as all its customers will shift to competitor firms who have the old, lower price (Bhaskar, 2007). Thus, in an oligopolistic market, prices mostly remain rigid and are not often seen increasing or decreasing as the prices in a perfectly competitive market that respond to the dynamic demand and supply levels. Therefore, the demand curve faces a kink at the existing market price level and market price will not change for small changes in production cost etc. (Sen, 2004). This is shown in the diagram below:

What effects does the glass ceiling have on womens career development Research Paper

What effects does the glass ceiling have on womens career development in law firms - Research Paper Example It should not be misunderstood by the reader that the glass ceiling is specific to the legal realm. Instead, a more nuanced and broad understanding of the glass ceiling within the legal field does not detract from the glass ceiling as it exists for other industries and professions; rather, it merely helps to underscore the fact that glass ceiling exists within many different professions and specialties. The gender representation within law offices around the country is recognizably skewed. Males outnumber females at a rate of nearly 10:1 in some states. This is is an interesting topic as it is indicative of a more nationwide trend and less culturally dependent and/or bound than the ways that the glass ceiling might be exhibited within other sectors of the economy (Bowling et al., 2006). Examination of such a determinant is necessary and important as it gives key insights into the broad/over-arching definitions of the glass ceiling as is evidenced through a large cross-section of our current society/government. Yet beyond merely a lack of representation within the legal field, the more pertinant issue with regards to the research topic at hand is with regards to the upward mobility that women experience within such a field (Guyot, 2008). Even a cursory level of analysis with Linda one to suspect that since females comprise such a very small percentage of the legal field, they might necessarily be promoted and experience success much the same degree as their male counterparts (Smith & Crittenden, 2012). However, an inherent bias is indicated to exist due to the fact that even though women make up less than 10% of this industry, they are overly represented within the lower positions and number of studies have indicated they are unlikely to be promoted throughout the course of their career; as compared to their male counterparts (Hoobler & Lemmon, 2009). Furthermore, the researcher denotes the existence of a

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Finance - Essay Example In the year 2007, British Petroleum, Plc took many of the restructuring initiatives. It had restructured its operations in the North Sea Organisation. The restructuring was aimed to simplify the organisation and to improve the efficiency of the various related processes. The company was compelled to initiate such changes as the production in that area was depicting decreasing trend while cost was rising rapidly (BP, 2007). As the chief executive of BP put it, the over all restructuring measure was not all about ‘cost reduction and cull’, rather it was about the a change in culture among the employees of BP, as he observed that the oil major has been suffering from ‘over- complexity’ (Macalister, 2007). Though the management claimed it to be mere change in culture but it invariably meant reduction in the employee force as the company was witnessing alarming financial results. To do away with the complexities that according to the top management were responsible for such deplorable financial results, the company decided to make processes simpler. The corporation used to have three major divisions namely ‘exploration and production’, ‘refining and marketing’ and ‘gas, power and renewable’. To make operational process straightforward and reduce costs, the management restructured the process by doing away with the third segment and incorporating it into the other two. The company introduced a separate division to handle business of low carbon and options of future growth and named it ‘alternative energy’ (Kukec, 2007). The objective of any restructuring plan that any corporate initiates, is to increase its profitability and the financial performance and to create enhanced value for the share holders. The financial results of the British Petroleum for the financial year 2008 clearly depicts that the restructuring plans

Evaluation of a Current Child Health Issue Essay

Evaluation of a Current Child Health Issue - Essay Example Depression, another emotional disorder, is also on the rise with young people with at least 2 per cent of children under 12 and 5 per cent of teenagers suffering from depression (op.cit.). Depression is associated with â€Å"feelings of extreme sadness† (NHS, 2010, para.6) which not only last for long periods of time, but is also recurrent and may further develop into suicidal tendencies (ibid). Brent and Birmaher (2002) noted that depression in both children and adolescents is not always demonstrated by sadness, but can take the form of irritability, boredom and the inability to find pleasure. Younger adolescents may show more anxiety-related symptoms, clinging behaviours, unexplained fears and physical symptoms, while older adolescents may experience a greater loss of interest and pleasure and also have more morbid thinking (Kalb & Raymond, 2003; Mondimore, 2002). Lewinsohn et al. (1998) found that nearly 89% of depressed adolescents reported disturbances in sleep. With youn ger children in the early childhood stage, depression is manifested by â€Å"masked† symptoms such as a complaint of stomach ache or aggression (Carlson & Cantwell, 1980; Hazel, 2002; Luby et al., 2003). These symptoms are fairly common in children, so it is not usually identified as a depressive symptom. However, when young children have these symptoms and are also seen to be irritable, bored or not finding pleasure, especially in play which is inherently fun, then they may present symptoms of early childhood depression (Brent and Birmaher, 2002). The difficulty with reaching a clear diagnosis of depression at this stage is that young children are perceived to be developmentally too immature to experience the effects of such a heavy emotion (Stalets & Luby, 2006). On the other hand, studies have shown that in fact children at this stage are far more emotionally sophisticated than they are given credit for (Denham et al., 2002; Denham et al., 2003; Saarni, 2000; Lewis et al., 1992; Lewis et al., 1989). Depression in very young children results in experiencing complicated emotions such as guilt and shame (Luby et al., 2009) and as younger children â€Å"mask† their depression it can be harder to identify a need early on. Some children who are depressed may actually avidly participate in activities with others such as singing and dancing and even exaggerate their actions. This makes diagnosis even harder and early intervention difficult. Depression can develop from a combination of different factors (risk factors) such as genetics, physiological, environmental and socio-economic factors such as parent’s unemployment , sickness and large families in small houses, bullying of peers or abuse from adults (Northen, 2004). If these risk factors are already present in the child’s life then significant life changes such as a death of a significant other, parental divorce and other tragedies will greatly increase the likelihood of childhood de pression. One particularly important factor that affects a child’s likelihood of developing depression is the quality of their relationship with their family. Brofenbrenner’s Ecological model (1979) explains that family is part of the child’s microsystem and the primary providers of the child’

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Finance - Essay Example In the year 2007, British Petroleum, Plc took many of the restructuring initiatives. It had restructured its operations in the North Sea Organisation. The restructuring was aimed to simplify the organisation and to improve the efficiency of the various related processes. The company was compelled to initiate such changes as the production in that area was depicting decreasing trend while cost was rising rapidly (BP, 2007). As the chief executive of BP put it, the over all restructuring measure was not all about ‘cost reduction and cull’, rather it was about the a change in culture among the employees of BP, as he observed that the oil major has been suffering from ‘over- complexity’ (Macalister, 2007). Though the management claimed it to be mere change in culture but it invariably meant reduction in the employee force as the company was witnessing alarming financial results. To do away with the complexities that according to the top management were responsible for such deplorable financial results, the company decided to make processes simpler. The corporation used to have three major divisions namely ‘exploration and production’, ‘refining and marketing’ and ‘gas, power and renewable’. To make operational process straightforward and reduce costs, the management restructured the process by doing away with the third segment and incorporating it into the other two. The company introduced a separate division to handle business of low carbon and options of future growth and named it ‘alternative energy’ (Kukec, 2007). The objective of any restructuring plan that any corporate initiates, is to increase its profitability and the financial performance and to create enhanced value for the share holders. The financial results of the British Petroleum for the financial year 2008 clearly depicts that the restructuring plans

What could happen if computers substituted human thinking Research Paper

What could happen if computers substituted human thinking - Research Paper Example Understanding and thinking is the route to develop curiosity in every human being which enables them to explore, learn and interact with the surrounding. Accordng to Walter (2008), we have a network of relationships in our mind (Preface, p. XIII). The conceived thought can be used either in a constructive manner or destructive manner. Human thinking skills have developed innovative technologies over the years. In modern civilized society, in many households we are using automatic dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, T.V. remote controls, automatic garage door openers, power screwdrivers, bread machines, electric pencil sharpeners, etc., etc. etc. Humans have created computers to facilitate this easy and comfortable life. Unfortunately this trend in workplaces and living areas is taking our lives into pitfalls by making us lethargic and passive. We are going against our health that too, without much realization. Overuse and overview of these items restricting our diverse physical movements, and still we are calling it as a wonderful life. Irony is that, do we really want our life to be dull, lazy with all ill health effects If we let these technologies take over us, it might happen that over the time we could become slaves of the technology. Computerization is facing criticism due to its unparalleled powers to harm life for all future generations. An unknown new way gives rise to whole set of new questions. These problems might be such that we would have never thought of. The consequences of the substitution of human thinking by computers might entail unprecedented risks to human health and the environment. The mental ability of human being is irreplaceable by any artificially created intelligence which is not self supportive. Computers are created and used to carry out number of predefined activities in an orderly fashion (Walter, 2008). They are programmed according to human intellect and translate the commands in a sequential fashion without knowing the end

Assimilation the Risk of Losing Culture and Identity Essay Example for Free

Assimilation the Risk of Losing Culture and Identity Essay Blacks should not assimilate with the popular dominant culture but instead maintain their own sense of cultural heritage. The black person who makes the choice to integrate into the dominating culture really must be honest with his or her self and admit that all their pronouncements of concern for the welfare of the black community take a backseat to their personal desire to assimilate. These black people are more of a role model to other black people on how to assimilate or integrate into the colorless and racially generic whole of American culture that just so happens to be controlled and dominated from the white community. Although it may sound wonderful to hear someone say that they don’t notice people’s skin color, reality says that people notice color all the time. The pressure placed on blacks by the dominant culture forces them to move toward assimilation hooks urges. ell hooks states that â€Å"One of the most tragic manifestations of the pressure black people feel to assimilate is expressed in the internalization of racist perspectives† (227). Young blacks need to realize that conforming to the dominant culture is not necessary to exist within it. hooks says that â€Å"It is crucial that those among us who resist and rebel, who survive and succeed, speak openly and honestly about our lives and the nature of our personal struggles† (221). In order to resist assimilation black people as a hold need to be more open and honest about the struggles that take place striving for education and success, those who have blazed the trail need to reach back and help those striving to get there. An excellent job is done by hooks in getting the point across about assimilations effects, and also gives those who have chosen to assimilate something to think about, what cost is one willing to pay, is one willing to break family ties and friendship because of the pressure from the dominant culture to assimilate. The pressures of trying to maintain family and community ties and succeeding in life are difficult, these issues gives us some groundwork to fix some of the problems. While it is difficult to achieve education and success while keeping community ties it is possible, hooks says that â€Å"The most powerful resource anyone can have to study and teach in university settings is full understanding and appreciation of the richness, beauty, and primacy of our familial and community backgrounds† (228). ooks has some very valid points, everyone has to look at them and put them into perspective on how it can fit into their lives. There is not one right answer or solution to this problem, everyone has to search within to find a solution, but those whom have traveled on this road less taken have an obligation to teach those who follow. It is imperative to let the youth know that their struggles for identity and success or not in vein and show them that they are appreciated within the comm unity. Without the bounding and nourishment needed to continue the ties, youth will continue to choose to assimilate and take the easy road with less pressure and headaches to deal with. Blacks could better serve the community by assimilating to the dominant culture forces, the melting-pot theory. This view is advantageous to both a government and its people. It is believed that the nation has reached its present state of development because it has been able to forge one national identity. Separating citizens by ethnicity or race and providing special privileges to Blacks can be harmful, where assimilation tends to put everyone on an even playing field. By keeping ties to community and family Blacks draw attention to differences and the dominant culture fosters resentment towards their culture. Blacks in society that make a full effort to be incorporated into the mainstream naturally reciprocate the benefits and approval from mainstream America. Blacks become successful by shedding their cultural heritage and adopting the ways of the popular dominant culture. Typically Blacks absorbed by the ways of the host society, while loosening to varying degrees their connection to their native culture become highly successful. Through this process Blacks are accepted into society and become a part of the dominant culture and national unity is retained. Works Cited: Assimilation: Does it hurt Black people? (2007) Retrieved on 2/10/2008, from www. topix. com/forum/afam/TPIKF7CB1VN57ONEJ Bell Hooks (2000), Where We Stand: Class Matters, By Routledge

Essay --

bizarre genetic disease that seems to accelerate ageing could hold the key to longer lives for children with progeria.Progeria is an extremely rare, fatal genetic condition which causes babies to age quickly. Progeria was first described in an academic journal by Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in 1886 and also by Dr. Hasting Gilford in 1897 both man was from England (Nordqvist 1). After discovering the two people they later came up with a new name for Progeria called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). Today in life there 53 cases of Progeria around the world and only 2 in the UK.1 in every 4 to 8 million babies are born with Progeria. Progeria effect all race equal boys and girls. As newborn, children with Progeria usually appear normal at birth. However, within a year their growth rate slows and they soon are much smaller and weigh less than other children they age. Then later they begin to accelerate aging and some signs of progeria may start. Growth failure, Loss of body, Loss of hair, Skin starts to look aged, Stiffness in the joint, Hip dislocation, Generalized atherosclerosis, and stroke are all symptoms that child with Progeria will have. Children who suffer from Progeria are genetically susceptible to premature, progressive heart disease (Davis 2). Progeria appears to occur without cause and it is not seen in siblings of affected children. Children with Progeria have a surprisingly appearance. 90% of children with Progeria have a mutation on the gene that encodes Lamin A, a protein that holds the nucleus of the cell together (Conley 4). Lamin A protein makes the nucleus stable it leads to the process of premature aging among Progeria patients. Experts do not believe that Progeria is hereditary. In about 1 in ev... ...yday because you they never know when they might lose them. Progeria is not usually passed down in family. Children with Progeria often suffer from symptoms typically seen in elderly people (Davis1). People inherit the disease only one copy of the LMNA gene is enough to cause the disease because it is an autosomal dominant gene. The Progeria Research Foundation was created in 1999. Progeria does have parallels with normal ageing; at least in one key aspect how out blood vessels deteriorate. Researchers found that a drug known as rapamyein slowed and even stopped the disease progression the cells. Progeria only affected newborn babies. Progeria is a very rare disease that no one knows where it comes from. Research today is still haven’t come up with a way to stop the cure for Progeria. Some research found a way to make Progeria patients live longer then the age 13.

What Happened to Disco? Essay -- essays research papers

What happened to Disco? Bellbottoms, afros, music, sex and drugs can best describe the Disco Era. The Disco Era was a care-free time in which there were no rules. People danced the nights away. Most of the people of the Disco Era lived normal lives, working nine to five jobs during the week, but when the weekend rolled around they put on their bellbottoms and dancing shoes and hit up the Disco Clubs. This is an era that will never be forgotten but will probably never be relived. Disco is said to have begun in the gay nightclubs of New York City in the mid 1960's. At these clubs Deejays played records from little known black artists and quickly and accidentally began channeling underground music to the population. This quickly caught the attention of major record production companies. Up until this point in time, deejays didn't get very much respect for their profession. Disk Jockeys began to play a major role, and soon they became celebrities, in the entertainment world. The whole idea to "Disco Music" was mixing recorded music with other forms of music. This included mixing it with live music as well as mixing it with other recorded tracks. As this type of sound became very popular, recording artists started mixing different types of music in the recording studio. There were so many popular artists during the Disco Era, and much of their music is still listened to today. One particular group that gained much fame during this era was the Bee Gees. When the Bee Gees first came out their popularity skyrocketed. They were said by many to be the next Beatles only with a different type of music. Those who did characterize them as the next Beatles were exactly right. They produced number one hits one after the other. Some of their biggest hits were placed on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever, which became the biggest selling album in history up to that point. Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, was a movie based on the life of Disco. John Travolta became a cultural Icon to young males during the 70's. Every guy dressed like him and wanted to live like him, and every female wanted to date him. This movie became one of the biggest influences on disco goers of this era. Before this movie came out, disco was very popular. After the re lease of the mo... ...because they acted like themselves. They didn't feel as though they had to be "Politically Correct" anymore. They went out and did what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, including, the chronic drug use and the careless sex. The sad thing about the Disco era is, although it will always be a part of our culture as a nation but it will never make a comeback. Sure, people still wear bellbottoms, and there are still hippies and disco music is still very popular, but the United States has become too modernized for the disco era to ever make a comeback. Personally, I think that it would be very cool if it were to make a comeback. I think that it would be fun to wear bellbottoms and crazy shirts, but I'm sure that I would get sick of it very quickly and go back to the way that I am used to living. First of all, the music industry would never allow for new disco acts to burst upon the scene. The music industry is what got the era going in the first place. Secondly, the United States government would never allow for such an era to occur again. The Disco Era will always play a very important role in the history of the United States and will forever live on in spirit.

The Stupidest Angel Chapter 20

Chapter 20 WINGING IT The angel had opened six envelopes of powdered hot-chocolate mix and handpicked out all the minimarshmallows. â€Å"They trap them in these little prisons with the brown powder. You must free them to put them in the cup,† the angel explained, tearing open another packet, pouring the contents into a bowl, picking up the little marshmallows, and dropping them into his mug. â€Å"Kill him while he's counting the marshmallows,† said the Narrator. â€Å"He's a mutant. No angel could be that stupid. Kill him, you crazy bitch, he's the enemy.† â€Å"Nuh-uh,† said Raziel, into his marshmallow foam. Molly looked at him over the rim of her mug. By the candlelight in the kitchen, he certainly was a striking fellow – those sharp features, the lineless face, the hair, and now the chocolate-marshmallow mustache. Not to mention the intermittent glowing in the dark, which had been helpful when she was looking for some matches to light the candles. â€Å"You can hear the voice in my head?† she asked. â€Å"Yes. And in my head.† â€Å"I'm not religious,† Molly said. Under the table, she held the tashi with her free hand, its blade resting across her bare thighs. â€Å"Oh, me either,† said the angel. â€Å"I mean, I'm not religious, so why are you here?† â€Å"Lunatics. We're attracted to them. It has something to do with the mechanics of faith. I don't really understand it. Do you have any more?† He held up the empty cocoa envelope. His mug was overflowing with melted marshmallow foam. â€Å"No, that's the whole box. So you're attracted to me because I'm loony and will believe anything?† â€Å"Yes, I think so. And because no one will believe you. So there's no violation of faith.† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"But you are attractive in other ways, too,† added the angel quickly, as if someone had suddenly smacked him in the head with a sock full of people skills. â€Å"I like your sword and those.† â€Å"My breasts?† It wasn't the first time that someone had said that sort of thing to her, but it was the first time it had come from a messenger of God. â€Å"Yes. Zoe has those. She's an archangel like me. Well, not like me. She has those.† â€Å"Uh-huh. So there are female angels as well?† â€Å"Oh yes. Not always. Everyone was changed after you happened.† â€Å"Me?† â€Å"Man. Mankind. Women. You. Before we were all one kind. But then you happened, and we were divided up and given parts. Some got those, others got other things. I don't know why.† â€Å"So you have parts?† â€Å"Would you like to see?† â€Å"Wings?† Molly asked. She actually wouldn't mind seeing his wings, if he had them. â€Å"No, we all have those. I mean my special parts. Would you like to see?† He stood and reached down the front of his pants. It wasn't the first time she'd had an offer like that, but it was the first time it had come from a messenger of God. â€Å"No, that's okay.† She grabbed his forearm and guided him back into his seat. â€Å"Okay, then. I should go. I have to check on the miracle and then go home.† â€Å"The miracle?† â€Å"A Christmas miracle That's why I'm here. Oh look, you have a scar on one of them » â€Å"He has the attention span of a hummingbird,† the Narrator hissed â€Å"Put him out of his misery â€Å" The angel was pointing to the jagged five-inch scar above Molly's left breast, the one she'd gotten when a stunt went wrong while filming Mechanized Death Warrior Babe VII. The injury that had gotten her fired, the scar that had ended her career as a B-movie action heroine. â€Å"Does it hurt?† asked the angel â€Å"Not anymore,† Molly said â€Å"Can I touch?† It wasn't the first time that someone had asked, but – well, you know. â€Å"Okay,† she said. His fingers were long and fine, his fingernails a little too long for a guy, she thought, but his touch was warm and radiated from her breast through her whole body When he pulled his hand away, he said, â€Å"Better?† She touched where he had touched It was smooth. Completely smooth. The scar was gone. The angel blurred in her vision as tears welled up in her eyes. â€Å"You complete shit bag of sentimental saccharine,† said the Narrator â€Å"Thank you,† Molly said, with a hint of a sniffle â€Å"I didn't know you could –  » â€Å"I'm good with weather,† said the angel. â€Å"Idiot!† the Narrator said â€Å"I have to go now,† said Raziel, rising from his chair â€Å"I have to go to the church to see if the miracle has worked » Molly led him through the living room to the front door. She held the door for him. Even so, the wind whipped his coat around him and she could see the white tips of his wings below. She smiled, laughing and crying at the same time. â€Å"Bye,† the angel said. He walked away into the woods. As Molly closed the door, something dark flew through it. The candles in the living room had blown out, so all she could see was a shadow flying through the house, disappearing into the kitchen. She got the door shut and trod into the kitchen, holding her sword at a low ready. By the candlelight in the kitchen, she could see the shadow over the kitchen window, two eyes shining orange back there in the dark. She picked up a candle from the table and moved toward the window until the shadow cast shadows of its own. It was some kind of animal, hanging from the shutter over the sink, looking like a black towel with a little doggy face. It didn't seem dangerous, just, well, a little goofy. â€Å"Well, this is it I am getting back on my meds tomorrow, if I have to borrow the money from Lena » â€Å"Not so fast,† said the Narrator. â€Å"It'll be so lonely in here when I'm gone. And you'll be back to wearing your normal clothes. Jeans and sweaters, you can't want that.† Ignoring the Narrator, Molly approached the creature on the shutters until she was only two feet away and staring right into its eyes. â€Å"Angels are one thing, but I don't even know what in the hell you are, little guy.† â€Å"Fruit bat,† said Roberto. â€Å"He might be a Spaniard,† said the Narrator. â€Å"Did you hear the accent?† â€Å"I'm going out there,† Theo Crowe said, finding a grip on the Christmas tree. â€Å"He still has one bullet,† said Tucker Case. â€Å"They are going to torch the place. I've got to get out there.† â€Å"To do what? You going to take their matches away?† Lena took Theo by the arm. â€Å"Theo, they'll never get a fire started in this rain and wind. Don't go out there. Ben didn't make it two steps.† â€Å"If I can get to an SUV, I can start running over people,† Theo said. â€Å"Val gave me the keys to her Range Rover.† â€Å"Well, that's not going to work,† said Tuck. â€Å"There's a bunch of them. You might get some of the feeble ones, but the rest will just run into the woods where you can't get to them.† â€Å"Fine. Suggestions? This place will burn like tinder, rain or no rain. If I don't do something we're going to get roasted.† Lena looked at Tuck. â€Å"Maybe Theo's right. If he can drive them into the woods, maybe the rest of us can make a break for the parking lot. They can't get all of us.† â€Å"Fine,† Theo said. â€Å"Divide people up into groups of five and six. Give the strongest member of each group the key to an SUV. Make sure everyone knows where they're going once they get out the door. When you hear the horn on the Range Rover play ‘Shave and a Haircut, it will mean I've done what I can do. Everyone make a break for it.† â€Å"Wow, you came up with that while stoned,† Tuck said. â€Å"I'm impressed.† â€Å"Just get everyone ready. I'm not going out on that roof until I'm sure no one is waiting for me.† â€Å"What if we hear a gunshot? What if they get you before you get to the car?† Theo pulled a key out of his pocket and handed it to Tuck. â€Å"Then it would be your turn, wouldn't it? Val had her spare car key with her, too.† â€Å"Wait a minute. I'm not running out there. You have an excuse, you're stoned, you're a cop, your wife threw you out, and your life is in shreds. Things are going good for me.† â€Å"When Constable Crowe leaves, then can we cut off his head?† asked Joshua Barker. â€Å"Okay, maybe not,† said Tuck. â€Å"I'm going,† Theo said. â€Å"Get everyone ready at the door.† The lanky constable made his way up the Christmas tree. Tuck watched him climb out on the roof, then turned to the others. â€Å"Okay, you guys heard him. Let's break into groups of five and six by the front doors. Nacho, grab the hammer, we're going to have to pull the nails on the reinforcements. Who's driving an SUV?† Everyone but the children raised their hands. â€Å"It won't spark, it's wet,† said Marty in the Morning. He was trying to coax fire out of a drenched disposable lighter. The undead stood around him, looking at the pile of gasoline-sodden debris they'd piled against the side of the chapel. â€Å"I love barbecue,† said Arthur Tannbeau. â€Å"Every Sunday out at the ranch, we used to –  » â€Å"Only in California could one refer to a citrus farm as a ranch,† interrupted Malcolm Cowley. â€Å"As if you and the yahoos would all go out on horseback to round up the tangerines.† â€Å"Didn't anyone find a dry lighter or matches in any of the cars?† Dale Pearson said. â€Å"No one smokes anymore,† said Bess Leander. â€Å"Disgusting filthy habit anyway.† â€Å"Said the woman who still has brain matter on her chin from that fellow in the sweater,† said Malcolm. Bess smiled coyly, most of her gums visible through her receded lips. â€Å"They were so tasty – it was like he'd never used them.† There was a chirp from the front of the chapel and all of them looked. Yellow lights flashed on one of the vehicles up there. â€Å"Someone's making a break for it,† screamed Dale. â€Å"I thought I told you to keep an eye on the roof.† â€Å"I did,† said the one-armed Jimmy Antalvo. â€Å"It's dark. I can't see shit.† As they rushed down the side of the chapel toward the front, they saw a dark shadow slide off the side of the roof to the ground.

Emotion of the circumstance Essay

‘†¦ Often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion. ‘ The opening of chapter 5, the climax of the story where the monster is brought to life, is a clear example of the use of the literary device of pathetic fallacy, where, in this case, the weather matches the emotion of the circumstance. There are also several more examples of this throughout the chapter. ‘It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils.. ‘ ‘Morning, miserable and wet, at length dawned,’ ‘†¦ although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky.. ‘ The ‘moment of creation’ is the most detailed of all, and excites the reader with the rich descriptive content. It also gives the reader a chance to compare their idea of what the monster looks like (having been influenced by film versions, comic versions or other forms of media) to how the monster is set out in the book. The description given by the book is as follows: ‘His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. ‘ In comparison to modern literature, there is a lot of description within this novel, the above quote is an example of this. To a modern audience, the fact that there is lots of detail makes the story seem slow moving, yet it provides a good build up right up until the end. Also, at Mary Shelley’s time, when the book was published, reading was an engaging form of entertainment, so the vast array of detail would have been enjoyed and appreciated a lot more and would have enhanced the experience for readers of the time. The story is structured well throughout, and the narrative structure, in particular from the different characters (Captain Walton, Frankenstein, the monster), is unexpected and adds to the tension, as well as allowing the reader to see the story from all points of view, and to enable the reader to empathise with the monster in his situation where he would otherwise be treated as the villain. Merely the fact that Frankenstein has been adapted many times into films, long detailed descriptive books, plays, radio, comic books, cartoons and the like is evidence that we, today, are still interested in it. All of the things I have mentioned beforehand all work together to continue to draw people to the book. Interfering with nature One of the main ‘lessons’ within the story itself is undoubtedly to respect God as the supreme creator- there are lots of examples in the text that warn against interfering with nature; Victor himself warns Captain Walton, a young ambitious explorer who has set foot into the unknown (an area of the north pole, which, at that time had remained undiscovered) ‘You may easily perceive, Captain Walton that I have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes†¦. You seek knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been†¦ when I reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am†¦ ‘ Also when telling his story to Capt. Walton he constantly reflects on what has happened, thinking about the consequences of his actions, and the consequences and implications that have resulted from his taking science too far. ‘Learn from me†¦. at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. ‘ Whilst telling his story to Capt. Walton, Victor talks of how his excitement and exhilaration at the prospect of reanimating the dead took over, and how he viewed himself as almost God-like: ‘A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. ‘ Shelley plays around with the idea that Victor is ‘playing God’ in the title; ‘Frankenstein- A modern Prometheus,’ referring to the mythological Greek tale of Prometheus, son of Zeus, whose job it was to create life. Prometheus felt sorry for the primitive mortals on the earth, so he stole fire from Zeus to give to them. As a consequence he was punished by Zeus, who had him shackled to the side of a mountain. Each day, Prometheus would be tormented by Zeus’ eagle as it tore at his immortal flesh and tried to devour his liver. Each night the torn flesh would mend so the eagle could begin anew at the first touch of dawn. This myth relates to Frankenstein, although loosely, it carries the same warning that Frankenstein also carries: if you interfere with the path of nature, bad things will happen to you. Whilst he is telling his story, Victor tells us that he had his doubts beforehand, however his ambition and thirst for knowledge quickly took over. ‘.. I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself†¦ but my imagination was too much exalted†¦ to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and as wonderful as man. ‘ In Chapter 4, Victor toys with the idea that he is a ‘creator’ and ponders the idea that the monster should view him as his father, and he his son; ‘No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. ‘ Victor becomes excited at the prospect of this and it drives him on, yet he does not pause to think about the possibility that things will go horribly wrong, as we know they do later on in the story. Nevertheless, Victor prepares himself to ‘reanimate’ his creation, but he panics when he has brought it to life, and, realising how repulsive it is, flees in terror, abandoning his creation, along with the idea that he could have had a meaningful father-son relationship with it. One could argue that the monster, despite having carried out the murders of Justine, William and Elizabeth later on in the story, is not at fault. Had Frankenstein accepted his creation from the very beginning, events might have been different, therefore, Frankenstein, although indirectly, is to blame for the evil deeds the monster has carried out. The monster does not come into the world as an evil being- it is full of love and kindness for mankind, yet is eventually turned against humans, who judge him by his appearance rather than his character. They taunt him, hurt him and reject him in the same way that Victor had. Therefore it is not surprising that, having been left alone, he acts on his instincts and reacts in the way he does. The main idea within the context of Frankenstein relates to modern day science in many ways: Science and technology are progressing at an astonishing rate. Many ethical and moral issues are frequently being brought up concerning these developments. The current controversy surrounding the cloning debate is one such example, as is the first successful ‘face transplant’ that has recently taken place -this scientific reality is very similar to Dr. Frankenstein’s frightening discovery that Mary Shelly imagined 200 years ago.