To Soon For Jeff Essay Research Paper free essay sample

To Soon For Jeff Essay, Research Paper To shortly For Jeff ( essay ) Dashan is a friend of Jeff. Even though Christy became a truly good friend of his. Though Dashan wasted his clip and besides had his bosom broken by Christy he has suffered the least. Thingss could hold exercise for Dashan and Christy but no. Dashan was willing to take attention of the babe as a male parent. But shortly came to recognize he could non make that. Alternatively he went out to college. Uncle Steve is of class Jeff? s uncle. Uncle Steve and Jeff are truly close when Jeff was little his pa left him. Now when Christy Was remaining over at Jeff? s house, Jeff decided to travel to uncle Steve? s house so he won? Ts have to make anything with here while she is remaining over at Jeff? s house. Mr. Roger is Jeff argument instructor. We will write a custom essay sample on To Soon For Jeff Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mr. Roger was depending on Jeff to travel to the competition unluckily Jeff could non travel to the competition Because Christy was taken to the infirmary because of Ethan? s reaching to shortly. The argument squad was truly numbering on him and felt disappointed about him. Besides Jeff attended Brooker University. Jeff Wasted Half of his clip because he did non complete his four twelvemonth? s at Brooker. Brooker University was traveling to give Jeff a full four twelvemonth college scholarship. Nichole is one of Jeff? s teammates. Jeff and Nichole shortly acquire to cognize each other really good. Nichole ends up kiping with Jeff a twosome of times while they watch a film. Bibliography Introduction Young people making incorrect things and shortly repenting them. This book is largely about a cat named Jeff and his girlfriend Christy. Jeff was non even believing about holding a child at age 18 Jeff was non ready for sex. First he used a rubber holding sex with Christy but sooner they did it more and more but Christy came out to be pregnant. This book gets even better she lied to Jeff and said she was on the pill that? s how she came out to be pregnant. In your ain words what do you believe will go on in their relationship? Will Jeff stay with Christy and take attention of the babe she will shortly give birth to?

Political Institutions and their Effect on Economic Policy essays

Political Institutions and their Effect on Economic Policy essays Political Institutions and their Effect on Economic Policy Imagine, if you will, a country with no political institutions. A country ruled by anarchy. What kind of economic policy would this country have or would it have one at all? Now imagine a country with highly powerful and regimented political institutions. What kind of economic policy would this country have? The two fictitious countries mentioned above would certainly have very different economic policies. The first would probably be lucky to even have an economic policy at all. Its citizens would live in a world of economic uncertainty, never knowing what their future may hold. On the other hand, the citizens of the second country, although possibly unhappy with their ruler, would at least have a pretty good idea of their economic future. These citizens would be able to place their money in banks and exchange it in international markets. They could save for their future without the fear of having everything taken from them at any given moment. What is it though that makes the economic policies of these countries so different? While there are clearly many factors that affect a country's economic policy, in this paper I would like to argue that the most important one is the presence or lack of strong political institutions. In the beginning large nations or political states did not exist. The law of the land was every man for himself. As time went on small bands of people began to form. In the beginning membership in such groups was voluntary, but those who joined soon learned of the benefits of cooperation. With time these bands became larger and larger and it was apparent that some groups were stronger than others. The strongest of these groups became what is known as "roving bandits". (Olson 1993,568). If the "roving bandits" can be seen as the first form of political institution then the ...

Bible

There are many accounts in the Bible that state God as the creator. Genesis 1 and 2 are both creation stories but slightly differ in their accounts; Genesis 1 is a day by day account of all the things God created in not so much detail whereas Genesis 2 explains the creation story in a way that focuses more on the creation of man and woman than just the lands. Having two accounts of the creation story means that it is easier to come up with your own conclusion as to how the earth was created. The first line of Genesis 1 is â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth† There is no explanation as to where God came from or why He is there, He just exists and creates the heavens and the earth. This alone is showing God as the creator. Genesis then carries on to state all the things God created all with no scientific or physical proof or evidence as to why and how God is doing so. â€Å"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them† This quote is from line 27 and is on the 6th day. The repetition of the word ‘created’ is enforcing to the reader that God is the creator of everything and this is done so that there is no doubt in the readers mind whether God is the creator or not. God creating man and woman in his own image is showing that we are superior to other beings such as animals which shows that God is the humans superior. Being made in Gods image is his way of blessing the humans in life as we are made in the ‘Creators’ image. â€Å"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote is saying that God is passing down his ‘ruler ship’ on to the humans. This means that God is starting to ‘back away’ from his previous role and now feels that he has created a world that the inhabitants (humans) can look after. Genesis two is another creation story but has a few differences to Genesis 1. While Genesis 1 speaks a lot more of the specifics of how and when each part of the earth was made, Genesis 2 speaks a whole lot more about the creation of humans rather than the land. The most time that the creation of land is mentioned is at the beginning of Genesis 2. â€Å"This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-â€Å" This is the first thing said in Genesis 2 and it is stating that God is the creator. It says that God created both the heavens and the earth; there is never any question or vagueness about God creating the heavens and the earth it is all very matter of fact. Although Genesis 2 doesn’t always speak of God ‘creating’ things it often personifies God in such a way that he is planting or making objects. â€Å"And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-â€Å" This quote doesn’t say that God created the trees but made them grow from the ground, this is essentially saying that He created them as it was the first sighting of trees but is said in a different way as so not to force the ‘creation’ down your throat like Genesis 1 does. This is so that you can come to your own conclusion about which one is more plausible or correct but there is still no doubt as to god being the creator. Job 38 from the Book of Job is a story of how Satan and God have a disagreement where Satan was saying that Job only worships God because he is prosperous in his life, God then agrees to take away all his possessions and leave him with nothing to show Satan that Job would still worship him even if he was left with nothing. Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar try to comfort Job but they end up doing the opposite and tell Job that the reason for all his losses is because he has sinned and now God is making him suffer. In the end Job has had enough and questions God, this makes God angry and then Job has a better understanding and realises that he should have trusted God all along. God then returns all of Jobs health and possession in better amounts than they previously were. This story is God showing his power and his superiority to humans. â€Å"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? † This is God saying that he is mightier than any human and they do not compare to His power. This is also showing that God is omnipotent and that we know nothing compared to him. This is all enforcing that God is the creator and better than all the humans. â€Å"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place,† This is saying that God has dominance over everything in the world, humans and nature. After Gods account of all his majestic works (such as the world and humans) and power, Job has to acknowledge God’s right as creator to do as he pleases and to not be questioned. Job is essentially the personification of all humans who do not believe god as the creator, Job doubted God and his ability so god became angry; this is supposedly what happens every time someone doubts God. Psalm 8 is a song about the lord God and his creation. â€Å"You have set your glory above the heavens† While this quote form the first verse isn’t directly linked to God being the creator it is saying that God has stated his glory in a way that so far in this psalm we do not know yet, we know that God has glory which could mean he has done something great. â€Å"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers† Now we start to work out what it is that causes God to have glory, â€Å"the work of your fingers† we are literally told that God has made the heavens with his ‘fingers’. This personification of God shows that people saw him as one of them but also appreciated his greater power, this could possibly relate to humans being made in God’s image. â€Å"you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings† This quote is, like Job 38, stating God’s dominance over the humans. God made humans a little lower than heavenly beings so that they knew their place and that they were lesser than himself ‘the creator’.

An analysis of 12 angry men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An analysis of 12 angry men - Essay Example An analysis of "12 angry men" Note how the leadership in the movie depend on that which Aristotle had previously given . Also note that Aristotle's formation of rhetoric makes it a component of every human effort, apart from (perhaps) those aspects of technical discussion which are so famous as to be established practically without question. In groups, large or small, the identity and make up of who becomes the leader and who becomes the follower is difficult to explain. In the case of the movie "Twelve Angry Men," the small group is the jury and the verdict they have to find. There is an underlying assumption that the jury will judge their fellow man fairly and without any personal bias. However the imperfections of man make this process less than perfect. It is here, when emotions and logic are inserted into the thought process, that conflict, doubt and questioning of motives start to occur. When the leader, in this case the foreman, takes charge we see his influence and power over the other members of the group (jury) start to take place and eventually the power shifts to another individual, in this case another jury member, an architect. On first look, the jury probably would have unanimously voted for conviction, however, as the discussion progressed, the architect gets the rest of the members to question their quick decision. While the foreman was relying on his legitimate place of power as the foreman, the architect keeps the group talking and discussing the facts of the case, and listening to each other. The foreman stayed focused and kept the discussion going and wanted all voting procedures to be fair, while the architect used rationality and logic and wanted the others to discuss their way to a still unanimous decision, but better defended. The fear of disappointing the group is stronger than perhaps their own judgment, and after the vote was not unanimous for a guilty verdict, each member tried to convince the architect, the dissenting vote, as to why they feel the suspect is guilty. After much discussion, another vote is taken, only this time it is done by secret ballot, and eventually it comes back with another unanimous decision. However, this time it is opposite of its original position: not guilty, here we find Aristotle's leadership rhetoric plays an essential role here as in this scenario as the foreman bases his leadership on Aristotle's rhetoric of leadership he strongly believes that truth needs protection exactly like the perpetration of wrongs. The bad guys will defiantly make use rhetoric...why should the good guys be powerless There is a political sense in this theory too: right thinking leaders like the jury and foreman, those who have well of the most in mind, ought to be able to take effective leadership action like the jury and foreman did in the movie (and must do so).When the group was assembled in the jury room they were polite, organized and civil to each other. They very well knew what their responsibility was as well as they collectively were thinking this was a precise case. The expectations which most of the members of jury were that a decision of guilty would be reached quite promptly and all of them would be able to leave. Compliance with this norm was first evident with the first vote taken, only one of the jury members voted for a guilty verdict. No one wanted to disappoint the group. All of the jury's leadership strengths seem to again reflect Aristotle's leade

Crosscultural Miscommunication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Crosscultural Miscommunication - Essay Example Negotiating styles of Australians and Canadians are explored to identify their similarities and differences against the GLOBE framework. It is seen that negotiation skills are of primary importance for any leadership position across all kinds of businesses and it determines the success of the business to a large extent. Negotiation is of relevance when there is a need to achieve common goals and the same needs to be communicated to the other parties. Also, when communication and personality differences are identified, need for negotiation can arise. In such situations, the participants are required to have a clear idea of the goals needed to achieve and also be aware and respect the differences in communication and personality styles (Walters, 2007). Wade observes that a culturally common solution is offered at the beginning of any negotiation (1999). Both Australians and Canadians prefer to start an informal conversation before the actual negotiation process. Australians tend to prefer straight forwardness as their Canadian counterparts and do not leave much to be interpreted in a conversation. Both have a culture of saying 'no' directly when they are uncomfortable with the negotiations.

Analyse How an Adaptation of Your Choice Deals with Gender - Catwoman Essay Example for Free

Analyse How an Adaptation of Your Choice Deals with Gender Catwoman Essay The representation of female super heroes in the media can be said to have had huge institutional, political and social influences that would suggest those in power are favoured at the expense of those without. Female super heroes tend to promote sexualisation and stereotypical gender roles of women, throughout comic books and super hero movies, but why? In this essay I will look at the character of Catwoman, and her representation as a female, particularly in the 2004 adaptation film â€Å"Catwoman†. Originally, she is an iconic character in the batman series. Created in 1940 by Bob Kane (batman creator) and Bill Finger, she has had a strong presence in batman comics and adaptations since then. Her role as a mysterious burglar and jewel thief led her to just miss out on a place in the top ten, ranking 11th in IGN’s ‘Top 100 comic book Villains of all time’ (2009) and 51st in Wizard magazines ‘100 greatest villains of all time’ list (2006). The character has been used in hundreds of comic books, as well as video games, radio stations, TV series, animated series and films. Although she is featured in mostly batman productions and texts, Catwoman was given her first comic book series in 1993, written mostly by Jim Balent. Several years down the line, Catwoman stared as the lead role in the feature film, made in 2004. The movie was an example of post feminism at its best, as in the 1970’s, only 15% of action adventure movies cast female leads. The movie was directed by Pitof and was released on July 23 by Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures. The cast members include Halle Berry, who plays Catwoman, Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone and Frances Conroy. I have chosen to analyse this movie because females are not usually given dominant roles in superhero movies, especially as the lead character. There are many stereotypes that surround women, and I believe this movie challenges those. The film was inspired by the DC comics villain of the same name, however stars a new character, Patience Phillips. There are several similarities to the original character. For example, she has similar office job and is killed by someone she works for. In the 1992 movie staring Michelle Pfeiffer, she uncovers a dark secret in the company and is thrown to her death from a great height. The plot for the more recent movie is very like its predecessor. In both versions she is brought back to life by a group of wild cats. However the most relevant similarity is her appearance and costume. Throughout the film, Catwoman is dressed in a tight black latex costume, black connoting mystery and evil. This material is often associated with sexuality; it clings to her body and shows off her curves. Over the years her costumes have become even more provocative, with this Catwoman being more fetish than ever. These clothes represent Catwoman as a sexual image to be looked at by the opposite sex. Laura Mulvey describes this as the Male Gaze. She explains In their traditional exhibitionist role, women are simultaneously looked at and displayed with their appearance, coded for strong visual and erotic impact so it can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness. (1975, p33). It is arguable that woman in the genre of action, drama and super hero are not represented as women, rather an object of sexual desire. The women featured in such genres are slim, pretty, and all wear tight clothing. Lillian Robinson refers to woman super heroes as a pin up girl in a cape, rather than genuine characters (2006). The skimpy outfit has great erotic significance (Richard Reynolds 1994) and could create a negative portrayal of females, as well as being a very bad influence for the young women and girls who watch the movie, or read the comics. Clearly, the media heavily influences teenagers already. They follow the latest fashion trends from celebrities, coolest haircuts, and they diet and loose weight to look like the people they see on TV and in magazines. They look up to the people in the media, and the image of Halle Berry in the cat suit, may encourage young girls to objectify themselves in a similar way. Already, Playboy as a brand has become a fashionable thing, for young girls even at the age of 8. They have the playboy bunny pencil cases, posters and duvet covers. Just like this, cat woman may encourage youthful girls to dress inappropriately with increased sexuality. Even Catwoman’s make-up connotes sexualisation. Her lips are painted scarlet red, which draws your attention straight to her mouth, as well as being the colour of lust to stimulate sexual arousal. This idea is due to the fact men and women have more blood flowing through their lips whilst aroused, turning them a darker shade. Halle Berry was most likely cast because of her beauty. Her eyes, lips, body and sex appeal come before everything else in the movie, (Roger Ebert, 2006). The director of this movie has chosen to portray her as an object of sexual desire for men, rather than a role model for the power and liberation of women. Typical of Hollywood movies, the overtly sexualised view of women is rooted in the darkest chamber of male desire, (Kevin Maher, 2005). She appears powerful and dominant, however, she is in fact the opposite, and inferior to the gaze of men. Laura Mulvey says in her book Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, Women as image, men as bearer of the look, (1975). Personally this idea is predictable and brings nothing new to the genre. Wonder Woman first appeared on screen wearing a gold bra and blue knickers, and in those 36 years gone by, you have to ask yourself, why do superheroes need to be dressed so provocatively? Why can’t the action hero fight crime and ‘kick ass’ in a baggy jumper and a pair of dungarees? Kevin Maher, 2005). I believe the reason behind this is due to the fact that the representation of characters such as Catwoman and Wonder Woman where created by those with power over women. The institution DC comics created both in the 1940’s, which was largely if not entirely controlled by men. Women had no control over their creation and as powerful as Catwoman may be, she is still just an image of the male gaze. Created in a time where females had no authority, they where not able to argue against what could be considered as an unfair representation. Angelia McRobbie has a theory in defence of this sexualised representation, and believes men did not create this image. Women have gained the equality they where fighting for, and now they are using their assets to their advantages. In this case, Catwoman is willingly showing of her body to attract the male gaze, because it gives her power over men. She summarises that post feminism positively draws on and invokes feminism, (1994). However it’s not all negative, Over time things have changed, the presence of female leads in the super hero genre has increased, and to an extent therefore, time has favoured the female lead. Some 50 years ago, males where seen as the hero, there to protect the fragile women. Superman and Lois Lane are a classic example of where the lead role is given to a man, he is strong and courageous, while Lois is inferior to him, she has no special abilities and relies on him completely. However, the number of women in this genre proves a success for the feminist woman and an improvement in today’s society. Iconic actresses such as Angelina Jolie and Uma Thurman have stared as the female lead in modern action movies. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider and Kill Bill are both examples of woman taking active roles, and how accepting it is in this particular genre. Jolie also stared in Mr and Mrs Smith, which showed her as an equal to her husband, just as strong and just as capable of fulfilling the dominant lead. Catwoman has evolved over time, first known as The Cat in DC comics; she then progressed onto TV screens. Her sexual appearance made her an object of desire to the eyes of the male audience, and a role model to girls who wanted to be her, Suzan Colon (2004). In the Halle Berry adaptation, Catwoman is reborn a new woman, sleek, sexy, ambitious and not held back by the restraints of society. She is rebellious and follows her own desires as a feline crime fighter. This representation of Catwoman forces the question that perhaps contemporary women are constrained by the rules of society and are not free. Catwoman challenges the female stereotype and adopts the masculine lead role in this superhero movie. She is a protagonist, independent and capable of standing alone. A crucial scene in the movie shows Catwoman arguing with a large masculine looking man. She demands he turn down his music, which results in her physically attacking him. The argument ends with him lying on the floor with her foot on top of him. This scene portrays her as superior to the man, and the physical pose makes him vulnerable to her. This scene is important, because when she was her human self, known as Patience, the man would not listen to her. As Catwoman, her voice is heard. Simone de Beauvior Invokes ‘the independent women’ who wants to be active, wants to take things for themselves and refuses the passivity men try and want to impose on her. The modern woman accepts masculine values; she prides herself on thinking, getting a job and working to pay her own way, existing on the same terms as man, (1949). Catwoman does exactly that. She completely demolishes feminine stereotypes at the end of the movie when she rejects the love interest and chooses to be a free independent woman. She is not reliant on anyone, especially a man and because of that, I believe this movie demonstrates a victory for women. â€Å"Freedom is power† (Catwoman, 2004). Motivated by revenge, no man stands in her way. However another scene tells a very different story and shows off Catwoman as purely a vision of sexual desire. As she is transformed from patience Phillips, into Catwoman, supposedly now free and independent, we are reminded of her physical qualities. ‘Reminded’ is an understatement actually; it’s thrown in our faces. As she walks across a rooftop the camera angle starts from her feet, moves up her legs and to the top of her body. Paying particular attention to her bum, first impressions are everything! This scene completely confirms Mulvey’s theory, and as Liz Wells suggests, certain films objectify the female star, (2004). However Catwoman is not the only dominant female in this movie. Hedare Beauty is the company Patience works for, and is run by a man named George, or so you are made to believe. Yet in fact, the one calling all the shots is his wife, Laurel. She is controlling the strings of her puppet husband and forces him to her way of thinking. She is an evil, sinister character, full of greed, and in the end she kills her husband in cold blood. She is the villain in this movie, but also a woman in power and free from the constraints of society. In the early 1970’s, after the second wave of feminism, more women were gaining better professions and breaking out of the stereotypical roles. The post modern figure of a female became more appealing to both genders, and resulted in women wanting to achieve higher status in the world of work. An example of such acceptance was seen in the recently released song by male pop artist Ne-Yo, called ‘Miss Independent’. This continues the suggestion of the need for change in the way female super heroes where represented in order to capture the post-modern audience. Catwoman and Laurel Hedare are both great examples of female presence in superhero movies and the result of female empowerment. Judith Butler brings an interesting theory to the table. She believes gender is free floating, rather than fixed, that males and females aren’t simply masculine and feminine. She says that gender is a performance, rather than an aspect of our identity and we behave differently on different occasions. This theory suggests Catwoman isn’t necessarily challenging gender roles by taking on the masculine super hero, but rather an act she’s choosing to play. Women can be masculine because the individual chooses their gender identity. â€Å"When the constructed status of gender is theorized as radically independent of sex, gender itself becomes a free floating artifice, with the consequence that man and masculine might just as easily signify a female body as a male one, and woman and feminine a male body as easily as a female one† (Judith Butler, 1990, p6). Interestingly she suggests that if there where no longer conventional roles for either gender it would be considered the norm for a woman to be in a position of power at work or for a man to stay at home looking after the children. After looking into the history of Catwoman, her creation, and other adaptations in the past, I believe her image is over sexualised. The film is centralised around a beautiful woman, wearing the sexy, tight black costume to do none other than attract male attention. They do however promote that she is a powerful woman and has the freedom to do as she pleases. The fact that a female is the lead role in a movie of this genre is a positive thing. Although the message left behind is that to have freedom and power, you have to entail being objectified. In the end, this movie has done the same as its predecessors, portray woman in a sexualised, unrealistic and in a possibly insulting way.

Orson Welles :: essays research papers

Orson Welles 	Orson Welles was an actor, producer, director, writer, and columnist who revolutionized the film industry by directing movies that depicted men and woman as real human beings. Throughout his writing career, Welles’ characters reflected his own personality and inspired others to write about human struggles, both good and bad. An innovative, dynamic individual, Welles spent his entire life experimenting with different mediums and bringing to the world his vision of man’s never ending struggle to conquer his own inner demons. Welles was a man whose life was one of paradox. His films reflected his inner conflicts and his attempt to assuage the two extremes of his own existence. 	"For thirty years people have been asking me how I reconcile X with Y! 		The truthful answer is that I don't. Everything about me is a 			contradiction and so is everything about everybody else. We are made 		out of oppositions; we live between two poles. There is a philistine and 		an aesthete in all of us, and a murderer and a saint. You don't reconcile 	the poles. You just recognize them." [To Kennety Tynan, 1967] 	Orson Welles is often referred to as a "Renaissance man", an individual who’s ambitious and concerned with revolutionizing multiple aspects of life. He was a prolific writer and talented actor who often appeared in his own productions. A gifted artist, Welles, coupled his abundant energy with an enthusiasm for life. He tried everything and was not afraid to take risks and to suffer the consequences of failures as well as the acclaims of success. 	While, some critics say that Welles could never top "Citizen Kane", such movies as "The Trial", "Touch of Evil", and "The Lady from Shanghai" are considered classics and monumental feats in cinema production. However, movies like "The Stranger", "Chimes at Midnights", and "Mr. Arkadin" were criticized as being "One-Man Band" shows where Welles glorified and engrandized himself. 	Welles’ films reflect his ambivalent vision of life. He organized the Mercury Theater as the result of a feud with the Federal Theater Project after its attempt to sensor his work. Welles refused to bow to their demands to make his pro-labor play, The Cradle Will Rock, less political. Throughout the rest of his life, he preferred ostracism to compromise and often endured ridicule and condemnation rather than give in to the demands of those in authority. 	Welles utilizes very distinctive images that are extravagant and dynamic to convey his unique prospective.

Bloodlines Chapter Fifteen

ADRIAN SLEPT for a lot of the way back to Palm Springs. Apparently, his late-night partying with Carla and Krissy had resulted in very little rest. Thinking about it made me uncomfortable. Thinking about Jill experiencing it through him made me ill. There'd been little we could do for Carla and Krissy except offer our sympathies. Strigoi attacks happened. It was tragic and terrible, but the only way most Moroi could protect themselves was to exercise caution, keep their whereabouts secure, and stay with guardians if possible. For non-royal Moroi living and going to school in the world like Carla and Krissy were, guardians weren't an option. Plenty of Moroi got by like that; they just had to be careful. The two of them thought the circumstances surrounding their friend's death were awful. That was true. They were. But neither girl thought much past that or felt there was anything odd about the throat-slitting. I wouldn't have either if I hadn't heard Clarence's account of his niece's death. I brought Adrian back to Amberwood with me and signed him in briefly as a guest, figuring Jill would feel better about seeing him in the flesh. Sure enough, she was already waiting for us in the dorm when we arrived. She hugged him and flashed me a grateful look. Eddie was with her, and though he said nothing, there was a look of exasperation on his face that said I wasn't the only one who thought Adrian had behaved ridiculously. â€Å"I was so worried,† Jill said. Adrian ruffled her hair, which made her duck away. â€Å"Nothing to worry about, Jailbait. So long as the wrinkles come out of this shirt, there's no harm done.† No harm done, I thought, feeling anger kindle within me. No harm except Jill has to watch Adrian hook up with other girls and endure his drinking binges. It didn't matter if Lee had supplanted her old crush on Adrian. She was just too young to witness anything like that. Adrian had been selfish. â€Å"Now,† Adrian continued, â€Å"if Sage would be kind enough to keep playing chauffeur, I'll take us all out to lunch.† â€Å"I thought you didn't have any money,† I pointed out. â€Å"I said I don't have very much money.† Jill and Eddie exchanged looks. â€Å"We, um, were going to meet Micah for lunch,† Jill said. â€Å"Bring him along,† said Adrian. â€Å"He can meet the family.† Micah showed up shortly thereafter and was happy to meet our other â€Å"brother.† He shook Adrian's hand and smiled. â€Å"Now I see some family resemblance. I was starting to wonder if Jill was adopted, but you two kind of look like each other.† â€Å"So does our mailman back in North Dakota,† said Adrian. â€Å"South,† I corrected. Fortunately, Micah didn't seem to think there was anything weird about the slip. â€Å"Right,† said Adrian. He studied Micah thoughtfully. â€Å"There's something familiar about you. Have we met?† Micah shook his head. â€Å"I've never been to South Dakota.† I was pretty sure I heard Adrian murmur, â€Å"That makes two of us.† â€Å"We should go,† said Eddie hastily, moving toward our dorm's door. â€Å"I've got some homework to catch up on later.† I frowned, puzzled by the attitude change. Eddie wasn't a bad student by any means, but it had been obvious to me since coming to Amberwood that he didn't take the same interest in the school that I did. This was a repeated year for him, and he was content to just play along and only do what was necessary to stay in good standing. If anyone else thought his behavior was odd, they didn't show it. Micah was already talking to Jill about something, and Adrian still looked like he was trying to place Micah. Adrian's generous offer to buy lunch only extended to fast food, so our meal was quick. After a week of dorm food, though, I appreciated the change, and Adrian had long since made his views clear on Dorothy's â€Å"healthy† cooking. â€Å"You should've just gotten a kids' meal,† Adrian told me, pointing to my half-eaten burger and fries. â€Å"You could have saved me a lot of money. And gotten a toy.† ‘†A lot' is kind of an exaggeration,† I said. â€Å"Besides, now you have leftovers to help get you by.† He rolled his eyes and stole a fry off my plate. â€Å"You're the one who should take the leftovers home. How do you even function on so little food?† he demanded. â€Å"One of these days, you're just going to blow away.† â€Å"Stop it,† I said. â€Å"Just telling it like it is,† he said with a shrug. â€Å"You could stand to gain about ten pounds.† I stared at him incredulously, too shocked to even come up with a response. What did a Moroi know about weight gain? They had perfect figures. They didn't know what it was like to look in the mirror and see inadequacy, to never feel good enough. It was effortless for them, whereas no matter how hard I worked, I never seemed to match their inhuman perfection. Adrian's eyes drifted over to where Jill, Eddie, and Micah were animatedly talking about practicing more self-defense together. â€Å"They're kind of cute,† said Adrian in a voice pitched just for my ears. He played with his straw as he studied the group. â€Å"Maybe Castile was on to something about letting her date at the school.† â€Å"Adrian,† I groaned. â€Å"Kidding,† he said. â€Å"Lee would probably challenge him to a duel. He couldn't stop talking about her, you know. When we got back from mini-golfing, Lee just kept going on with, ‘When can we all go out again?' And yet, he dropped off the face of the earth when he was in LA and I needed him.† â€Å"Had you made plans to meet up?† I asked. â€Å"Had he agreed to take you home?† â€Å"No,† Adrian admitted. â€Å"But what else was he really doing?† Just then, a gray-haired man passed by, bumping into Jill's chair as he balanced a tray of burgers and sodas. Nothing spilled, but Eddie jumped to his feet with lightning speed, ready to fly across the table and defend her. The man backed up and mumbled an apology. Adrian shook his head in amazement. â€Å"Just send him as a chaperone with whoever she goes out with, and we'll never have to worry.† Knowing what I knew now about Adrian and Jill's bond, I was able to regard Eddie's protectiveness in a different light. Oh, sure, I knew his guardian training had instilled that nature into him, but there always seemed to be something a little stronger there. Something almost†¦ personal. At first, I'd wondered if maybe it was because Jill was just part of his larger circle of friends, like Rose. Now, I kept thinking it might go further than that. Jill had said Eddie had been the only one to try to protect her the night of the attack. He'd failed, most likely through timing and not because of a lack of skill. But what kind of mark must that have left on him? He was someone whose sole purpose in life was to defend others – and he'd had to watch someone die on his watch. Now that Adrian had brought her back to life, was it almost like a second chance for Eddie? An opportunity to redeem himself? Maybe that's why he was so vigilant. â€Å"You look confused,† said Adrian. I shook my head and sighed. â€Å"I think I'm just overthinking things.† He nodded solemnly. â€Å"That's why I try to never do it.† An earlier question popped into my head. â€Å"Hey, how come you told those girls your name was Jet?† â€Å"Standard practice if you don't want chicks to find you later, Sage. Besides, I figured I was protecting our operation here.† â€Å"Yeah, but why Jet? Why not†¦ I don't know†¦ Travis or John?† Adrian gave me a look that said I was wasting his time. â€Å"Because Jet sounds badass.† After lunch, we returned Adrian to Clarence's, and the rest of us went back to Amberwood. Jill and Micah went off to do their own thing, and I convinced Eddie to go to the library with me. There, we staked out a table, and I brought out my laptop. â€Å"So, we found out something interesting when I picked up Adrian today,† I told Eddie, keeping my voice library soft. Eddie gave me a wry look. â€Å"I'm guessing the whole experience of picking up Adrian was interesting – at least from what Jill told me.† â€Å"It could've been worse,† I speculated. â€Å"At least he was dressed when I got there. And there were only two other Moroi there. I didn't stumble into a sorority house full of them or anything.† That made him laugh. â€Å"You might have had a harder time getting Adrian out of there if that was the case.† My laptop screen flared to life, and I began the complicated process of logging into the Alchemists' mega-secure database. â€Å"Well, as we were leaving, the girls he was with found out that a friend of theirs was killed by Strigoi the other night.† All humor vanished from Eddie's face. His eyes went hard. â€Å"Where?† â€Å"In LA, not here,† I added. I should've known better than to open up the conversation like that without clearly stating beforehand that he didn't need to be on the lookout for Strigoi on campus. â€Å"As far as we know, everyone's right – Strigoi don't want to hang out in Palm Springs.† Eddie became about one percent less tense. â€Å"Here's the thing,† I continued. â€Å"This Moroi girl – this friend of theirs – was allegedly killed like Clarence's niece.† Eddie's eyebrows rose. â€Å"With the slit throat?† I nodded. â€Å"That's weird. Are you sure that's what happened – to either of them? I mean, we're just going off of Clarence's report, right?† Eddie drummed a pencil against the table as he pondered this. â€Å"Clarence is nice enough, but come on. We all know he's not quite there.† â€Å"That's why I brought you here. And why I wanted to check this database. We keep track of most Strigoi-related deaths.† Eddie peered over my shoulder as I brought up an entry on Tamara Donahue from five years ago. Sure enough, she'd been found with a cut throat. Another search on Melody Croft – Krissy and Carla's friend – also turned up a report from last night. My people had been on the scene and quick to log the information. Melody too had had her throat slit. There had been other reported Strigoi murders in LA – it was a big city, after all – but only two matched this profile. â€Å"Are you still thinking about what Clarence said – about vampire hunters?† Eddie asked me. â€Å"I don't know. I just thought it was worth checking these out.† â€Å"Guardians weighed in on both of these cases,† said Eddie, pointing at the screen. â€Å"They also declared them Strigoi attacks – there was blood taken from both girls. That's what a Strigoi does. I don't know what a vampire hunter does, but I just don't see drinking blood as part of their goal.† â€Å"I wouldn't think so either. But neither of these girls was drained.† â€Å"Strigoi don't always finish drinking from their victims. Especially if they're interrupted. This girl Melody was killed near a club, right? I mean, if her killer heard someone coming, they'd just take off.† â€Å"I suppose. But what about the throat-slitting?† Eddie shrugged. â€Å"We have tons of accounts of Strigoi doing crazy things. Just look at Keith and his eye. They're evil. You can't apply logic to them.† â€Å"Um, let's leave his eye out of this.† Keith wasn't a case I wanted brought up. I sat back in my chair and sighed. â€Å"There's just something bugging me about all the killings. The half-drinking. The throat-slitting. They're both strange things happening together. And I don't like strange things.† â€Å"Then you're in the wrong profession,† said Eddie, his smile returning. I smiled back, my mind still turning everything over. â€Å"I suppose so.† When I didn't say anything else, he gave me a surprised look. â€Å"You're not actually†¦ you don't think there are vampire hunters, do you?† â€Å"No, not really. We have no evidence to think they exist.† â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Eddie prompted. â€Å"But,† I said. â€Å"Doesn't the idea freak you out a little? I mean, right now, you know who to look out for. Other Moroi. Strigoi. They stand out. But a human vampire hunter?† I gestured to the students gathered and working in the library. â€Å"You wouldn't know who's a threat.† Eddie shook his head. â€Å"It's pretty easy, actually. I just treat everyone as a threat.† I couldn't decide if that made me feel better or not. When I returned to my dorm later, Mrs. Weathers flagged me down. â€Å"Ms. Terwilliger dropped something off for you.† â€Å"She brought me something?† I asked in surprise. â€Å"It's not money, is it?† So far, none of my coffee purchases had been reimbursed. By way of answer, Mrs. Weathers handed over a leather-covered book. At first, I thought it was the one I'd just finished. Then I looked more closely at the cover and read Volume 2. A yellow sticky note attached to the book had Ms. Terwilliger's spidery writing on it: Next. I sighed and thanked Mrs. Weathers. I'd do any task my teacher asked of me, but I was kind of hoping she'd assign me a book that was more of a historical account than recipes for spells. As I was walking down my hall, I heard a few exclamations of alarm from the far end. I could see an open door and a few people huddled around it. Hurrying past my own room, I went to see what the problem was. It was Julia and Kristin's room. Although I wasn't sure I really had the right, I pushed my way past some of the frightened onlookers. No one stopped me. I found Kristin lying on her bed, twitching violently. She was sweating profusely, and her pupils were so large, there was hardly any discernible iris. Julia sat near her on the bed, as did a couple girls I didn't know so well. She looked up at my approach, her face filled with fear. â€Å"Kristin?† I cried. â€Å"Kristin, are you okay?† When no response came, I turned to the others. â€Å"What's the matter with her?† Julia anxiously refolded a wet cloth and placed it on Kristin's forehead. â€Å"We don't know. She's been like this since this morning.† I stared incredulously. â€Å"Then she needs to see a doctor! We need to call someone now. I'll get Mrs. Weathers – â€Å" â€Å"No!† Julia jumped up and caught hold of my arm. â€Å"You can't. The reason she's like this†¦ well, we think it's because of the tattoo.† â€Å"Tattoo?† One of the other girls caught hold of Kristin's wrist and turned it so that I could see the inside. There, tattooed in glittering coppery ink on her dusky skin, was a daisy. I remembered Kristin pining for a celestial tattoo, but last I knew, she couldn't afford it. â€Å"When did she get this?† â€Å"Earlier today,† said Julia. She looked abashed. â€Å"I lent her the money.† I stared at that sparkling flower, so pretty and seemingly harmless. I had no doubt it was what was causing this fit. Whatever was mixed with the ink to provide the high wasn't reacting correctly with her system. â€Å"She needs a doctor,† I said firmly. â€Å"You can't. We'll have to tell them about the tattoos,† said the girl who had been holding Kristin's hand. â€Å"No one believed Trey, but if they saw something like this†¦ well, everything at Nevermore could be shut down.† Good! I thought. But to my astonishment, her words were met with nods from the other gathered girls. Were they crazy? How many of them had those ridiculous tattoos? And was protecting them really more important than Kristin's life? Julia swallowed and sat back down on the edge of the bed. â€Å"We were hoping this might pass. Maybe she needs a little time to adjust.† Kristin moaned. One of her legs trembled like it was having a muscle spasm and then stilled. Her eyes and their large pupils stared off blankly, and her breathing was shallow. â€Å"She's had all day!† I pointed out. â€Å"You guys, she could die.† â€Å"How do you know?† asked Julia in astonishment. I didn't, not for sure. But every once in a while, Alchemist tattoos didn't take either. In ninety-nine percent of the cases, human bodies accepted the vampire blood used in an Alchemist tattoo, allowing its properties to infuse with our own, kind of like a low-grade dhampir. We gained good stamina and long life, though hardly got the amazing physical abilities dhampirs received. The blood was too diluted for that. Even so, there was always the occasional person who got sick from an Alchemist tattoo. The blood poisoned them. It was made worse because the gold and other chemicals worked to keep the blood infused in the skin, so it never had a chance to leave. Those left untreated died. Vampire blood wouldn't cause a euphoric high, so I didn't believe there was any in this tattoo. But the treatment we used for Alchemist tattoos relied on breaking down the metallic components of the tattoo in order to release the blood, allowing the body then to clear it naturally. I had to assume the same principle would work here. Only, I didn't know the exact formula for the Alchemist compound and wasn't even sure it would break down copper like it did gold. I bit my lip, thinking, and finally made a decision. â€Å"I'll be right back,† I told them, racing to my room. All the while, an inner voice chastised me for foolishness. I had no business attempting what I was about to. I should go straight to Mrs. Weathers. Instead, I opened my room door and found Jill with her laptop. â€Å"Hey, Sydney,† she said, smiling. â€Å"I'm IM-ing with Lee and – † She did a double take. â€Å"What's wrong?† I turned on my own laptop and set it on the bed. While it booted up, I reached for a small metal suitcase I'd carefully packed but never expected to use. â€Å"Can you go get me some water? Quickly?† Jill hesitated only a moment before nodding. â€Å"Be right back,† she said, jumping off her bed. While she was gone, I unlocked the case with a key I always kept on me. Inside it were small amounts of dozens of Alchemist compounds, the kinds of substances we mixed together and used as part of our jobs. Some ingredients – like the ones I used to dissolve Strigoi bodies – I had lots of. Others, I had only a sampling of. My laptop finished booting up, and I logged onto the Alchemist database. A few searches and I soon had the formula for antitattoo treatment pulled up. Jill returned then, carrying a cup brimming with water. â€Å"Is this enough? If we were in any other climate, I could've pulled it straight from the air.† â€Å"It's fine,† I said, glad the climate had kept her from magic. I scanned the formula, analyzing which ingredients did what. I mentally deleted the ones I was certain were specific to gold. A couple I didn't even have, but I was pretty sure they were simply for skin comfort and weren't requisite. I began pulling out ingredients from my kit, carefully measuring them – though still moving as quickly as possible – into another cup. I made substitutions where necessary and added an ingredient I was certain would break down copper, though the amount required was only a guess on my part. When I finished, I took the water from Jill and added the same amount that was in the original instructions. The final result was a liquid that reminded me of iodine. I lifted it up and felt a little like a mad scientist. Jill had watched me without comment the entire time, sensing the urgency. Her face was filled with concern, but she was biting back all the questions I knew she had. She followed me when I left the room and headed back to Kristin's. More girls were there than before, and it was honestly a wonder Mrs. Weathers didn't just hear the racket. For a group so intent on protecting their precious tattoos, they weren't being particularly covert. I returned to Kristin's bedside, finding her unchanged. â€Å"Expose her wrist again, and hold her arm as still as possible for me.† I didn't direct the command to anyone but put enough force into it that I felt certain someone would obey. I was right. â€Å"If this doesn't work, we get a doctor.† My voice left no room for argument. Julia looked paler than Jill but gave a weak a nod of acceptance. I took the washcloth she'd been using and dipped it into my cup. I'd never actually seen this done and had to guess about how to apply it. I made a silent prayer and then pressed the washcloth against the tattoo on Kristin's wrist. She let out a strangled cry, and her whole body bucked up. A couple nearby girls instinctively helped hold her down. Tendrils of smoke curled up from where I was holding the washcloth against her, and I smelled a sharp, acrid odor. Waiting what I hoped was an acceptable amount of time, I finally removed the washcloth. The pretty little daisy was mutating before our eyes. Its clean lines began to run and blur. The coppery color began to shift, darkening into a bluish green. Before long, the design was unrecognizable. It was an amorphous blob. Around it, red welts appeared on her skin, though they seemed to be more of a superficial irritation than anything dire. Still, the whole thing looked terrible, and I stared in horror. What had I done? Everyone else was silent, no one knowing what to do. A couple minutes passed, but they felt like hours. Abruptly, Kristin stopped twitching. Her breathing still seemed labored, but she blinked, her eyes focusing as though suddenly seeing the world for the first time. Her pupils were still huge, but she managed to look around and at last focus on me. â€Å"Sydney,† gasped out Kristin. â€Å"Thank you.†

Dmt

It’s said to be the spirit molecule, for some it’s listed on the D. E. A’s schedule I list for illegal drugs and for others it’s been used in rituals throughout our earth’s history. Why haven’t we been informed about one of the US’s most illegal substances? Wouldn’t it help people make the right decisions when it comes to â€Å"experimenting† with life’s vices like the publics knowledge of heroin, cocaine, LSD and so on? Where did DMT come from and what is its purpose? Based on user accounts, FDA regulated studies and documentaries involving indigenous peoples in South America some of these questions were answered with even more interesting ones raised. Shamanic rituals throughout the Amazon region called for a special potion referred to as ayhuasca, a combination between a DMT containing plant and a â€Å"monoamine oxide inhibitor† which is a special chemical that allows the DMT to avoid digestion by the stomach and reach the bloodstream. There is evidence stretching back to 2130 BC supporting the fact that these rituals have been passed down and adopted by people living today. A pipe made out of puma bone of that time period was discovered and tested positive for DMT. An example of vegetation containing this chemical is pure inner root bark of the Mimosa Hostilis plant, and it’s used for its DMT properties for several reasons by Shaman; entering altered states of consciousness, shamanistic healing, meditation, spiritual exploration and mystical insight. DMT stands for Dimethyltryptamine. It is found in thousands of plant species across the world and in trace amounts in mammals. It is a type of tryptamine along with other natural occurring ones such as serotonin and melatonin. Its natural function in the human body is unknown, but it is produced in out pineal gland and can be found in our spinal fluid, urine, and blood. Our brain is one of the most complex items in our worlds known existence and for the most part it is highly accurate when it releases hormones and chemicals. Studies performed by Dr. Rick Strassman at the University of New Mexico, in which subjects were injected with doses of DMT, show strong correlation with other user accounts and interviews with shaman in brazil. The experiences are remarkably similar, the person who injects, smokes, snorts or eats DMT claim to encounter alien entities, or godly figures. Smoking the substance has been determined to cause the greatest effect, episodes lasting only from about 15-30 minutes. To the person under the effect of DMT it feels a lot longer than that, claims that it lasts for hours. One â€Å"toke† from a pipe and in a matter of seconds you are catapulted into another dimension, realm, world or form as described by account holders.

Reflection paper Essay Example

Reflection paper Essay Example Reflection paper Essay Reflection paper Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Reflection paper After learning about global awareness, I have come to appreciate the sense of vision. The eyesight is a fundamental sense in our bodies. It enables us do everything. Without sight, most of the things would be difficult to do and some would be impossible. For example, it would not be possible to drive or fly an aircraft. When I watch the blind people, I notice they always struggle to do some activities. For example, when they are reading, they have to use special books. Many books are written and printed normally. However, blind students find it almost impossible to find resources that are printed in Braille as these are quite inaccessible. Vision should not be taken for granted and it is not guaranteed. Those with sight should take care of their eyes and sight. They should eat healthy foods rich in nutrients for eyes and sight. It is our responsibility to help blind people in the society. We could help by donating fundamental facilities for them in their learning institutions. It is also important to help them in any other possible way. For example, helping them to walk across the road or anything else they need. Blind people are part of the society and they should not be set apart from other members of the community. When carrying out the vision experiment, I noticed a few things. Immediately I was blindfolded, I felt confused fro the first few moments. Seeing darkness made me feel uneasy and completely different. It made me realize light is also an important element of sight and it enables us to see clearly. Regardless of having vision, it is not possible to see without light. Lack of sight triggers sad or other negative emotions. When I was blindfolded, I felt sad since I was incapable of doing my usual activities. Sometimes blind people feel disappointed by the community’s attitude towards them. They argue that people see them as inferior since they are disabled. Other individuals offer them mere pity as opposed to opportunities for which they are capable. Individuals and the society have effect to the rest of the world. This mostly applies to people with disabilities. A good number of them feel alienated because of various reasons. For instance, there are inadequate public facilities for them. The society has the duty to accept them and assist them in every possible way. For example, organizing charity would help in supporting the welfare of the disabled. A society is a small unit globally and it can influence other societies in the world. Creating awareness ensures all the communities on a global scale are conversant with the issues. Disabled people have a role in our society and they are not given enough attention. Some of them have great potential in many areas but they cannot exploit them. This happens because there are barriers. In many countries, there is a perception that disabled people are not capable. It is rare to get a leader with any major disability like vision. It becomes depressing for them since they feel the urge to exploit their potential (Powell, 89) . It is encouraging to see how the society and the world at large have supported disabled people. There are a good number of learning institutions in many countries. They help these people to become independent and fit in the community. For instance, Occasionally, Paralympics take place. Disable people from all over the world have a chance of participating. This is another way of how the society is effective globally. Diverse people meet and interact with each other. It is a good feeling when these people meet and share experiences. Such sports support disabled people financially. The participants are compensated attractively and this uplifts their living standards. Societies and communities should continue to support disabled people because they are part of the community. Some of them are relatives and close friends. We cannot just ignore them and watch them suffer.

Explain how the existence of externalities (whether from congestion or Essay

Explain how the existence of externalities (whether from congestion or pollution) cause a less than optimal allocation of resources in road transport - Essay Example The resource allocation changes through externalities since the market fails to completely fund the external belongings caused by economic actions. Markets prices tend to reflect a price based on the original personal utility, while disregard the payback on the third parties. Therefore, personal costs may deviate from social costs as the pricing means fall short to replicate the social economic actions. When the demand for road uses rises above a given level, additional costs (externalities) such as congestion, pollution may result in increased costs such as increased fuel consumption, increased journey times and other running costs as shown below. Additionally pricing arrangement results in a sub-Pareto, most select allocation of resources as the marginal cost of an action equals its marginal private cost where equals its cost due to the failure of all relevant effects. The actual price of a product does not entirely resolve its allocation and consequently the purpose of the market to resourcefully distribute resources based on their accurate prices breaks down consequential in a misallocation. Lastly, according to Schmidtchen (2009, p.30), the continuation of externalities leads to sub-optimal allocation since both too many resources used in processes presenting and uncompensated collective repayment while the return maximizing production is less than the socially best

Victims' Assistance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Victims' Assistance - Assignment Example Generally, navigation through the City of Fountain Website has been made straightforward to victims. At the homepage, a victim can simply click on the word ‘Departments’ which will provide a list of departments. At the page of Police Department, a victim can easily access any department they wish to contact. The department has listed certain options on the right side of the page. These options provide contacts to anyone who is in need of police services. Some few some options include the Investigations Division, the Chief’s Office, Operations Division, Watch Programs etc (City of Fountain, Colorado, 2015b). All of which have links for their contacts. For victims who cannot speak English, there are no services apart from the contacts only that they can use to reach the police; this proves to be a barrier in the department. Despite that, all the information posted on the City of Fountain Website is victim friendly since the format in which the website options are or ganized can be easily navigated. This department offers excellent services to victims by ensuring a commitment to the community policing principles and creating partnerships with the citizens. It also offers procedures to all its residents and outsiders who are traveling on what they can do in case of an accident. In addition, this department displays the police officer badge probably to help residents be familiar with the badge since the department is still new. Further, the department displays its contacts to any victim who may require police service: its non-emergency dispatch, phone number, permanent address etc. Also, it displays its working hours during the week days: from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (City of Lone Tree, 2015). Navigation through the police department page is easy since there are no much navigation options in this page. At the page’s top left different options have been