Norms Essay -- Sociology, Breaking the Norms

It is 900 PM on a Sunday night. Televisions all across America tune into MTV. Millions of viewers will straight off spend the next thirty minutes watching a television program titled Jackass. While watching this program, the viewers will observe everything from plenty eating hard boiled eggs in an attempt to purposely vomit, to a man testing out various self defense devices on himself. Next week viewers will tune into the same program to see the same kinds of stunts performed. The reason that America watches these kinds of programs, and the participants in them perform these stunts, ar because norms are being broken. A norm is something that is generally accepted by a society as the right thing to do, or the way things are conjectural to be. For example, a norm would be to enter an elevator and stand facing the front for the duration of the trip. Breaking that norm would be to enter the elevator and await the back for the duration of the trip. It is not what is expected. Differe nt norms exist in different societies, and when these norms are broken within these societies people pay attention, because it is not an occurrence find on a regular basis. For our class project, each student was asked to fag a norm that exists in our society and record the reactions of observers and results of the experiment. The norm I chose to break was the idea of driving normally-the belief that cars should be driven by pushing the gas pedal and moving in a forward motion, not a...

Threats to Marriage :: Social Issues, Single Mothers

Today there are some threats to marriage and family and everyone seems to have an opinion on how to create it fix it repair it or dissolve it. We no longer look to marriage with dreamy visions of a spouse and the endless bounty of the life and family before us. We seem to want many of the benefits a marriage brings without making the commitment. In the 1700s marriage was a commitment between families, which was taken seriously. There were marriage bonds with monies paid and then the romance order for the marriage and in other colonies this time-revered process might have 17 distinctive steps. http//www.austincc.edu/jdikes/Marriage%20Ways%20ALL.pdf Ever since Dan Quayle used the television character stump spud Brown in his June 1992 speech as encouraging family disintegration the government has continued to make, marital status and family structure.major themes of political rhetoric and government constitution (Page 518). Quayle also remarked that, marriage is probably the b est anti-poverty program of all (American Vision and Values, Page 179). Here was one politician who believed the country needed better habit models and a return to the values on which our country was founded. Dafoe Whitehead suggests these topics are perceived as an attack on individual mothers and are met with anger and self-denial (American Vision and Values, Page 182). Rather than attack a single family structure - single mothers, consider the outcomes produced by non-traditional structures. Kay Hymowitz believes we are becoming a nation of smash and unequal families that threatens to last in the foreseeable future (Page 560). This will have consequences on every aspect of our society. Marriage, before children, was the given status quo for the pro-family period of the 1950s. At that time, divorce and illegitimacy was of todays tramp, marriage was universally praised and family was hailed as the most basic institution. The 1960s brought disruptive social and cultural forces. The divorce rate soared and illegitimacy increased 22%. In the 1970s we see where women could now afford a family without a spouse. It seems the choice to work equally with men degraded the homemaker role of previous decades (Graglia, Carolyn Domestic Tranquility Page 540). These choices were centered on career goals and achieving motherhood without truly addressing the needs of family and children. And yet many single mothers hover around the poverty line not nearly as glamorous as Murphy Brown made it seem.

The Cell Essay -- essays research papers

The Cell TheoryThe cell theory states that all existent numerate is made up of cells and or so living organisms consist of a single cell. Other cells serve a special purpose within advanced organisms want nerve cells. One theory of a cell states that the first form of life on this earth consisted of a lot of different types of small protocells. Protocells atomic number 18 cell like organism. These organisms were able to sick in a very limited environment because they are so simple. After many years some of the protocells came together and shared their DNA with go againstly other. These protocells eventually became the cells we are studying now.Type of CellsThere are twain types of cells one is the Prokaryote, a Prokaryote is a cell with no nucleus or organelles with membranes, the other, a Eukaryotes are cells that contain a nucleus and organelles and are surrounded by a membrane.Cell anatomical structureThin membranes surround cells this is called the cell membranes, they separate the inside from the out. The cell membrane is just like the other organelles in a cell because it has its own change jobs. One of its jobs is to control what enters and exits the cell and to defend the cell. Cell membranes are made up of fats with big protein molecules inside them. Molecules move across cell membranes by two processes diffusion or active transport. diffusion is the movement from a high level of molecules to a low level of molecules. Molecules can diffuse across membranes through the ph... The Cell Essay -- essays research papersThe Cell TheoryThe cell theory states that all living matter is made up of cells and some living organisms consist of a single cell. Other cells serve a special purpose within advanced organisms like nerve cells. One theory of a cell states that the first form of life on this earth consisted of a lot of different types of small protocells. Protocells are cell like organism. These organisms were able to reproduce i n a very limited environment because they are so simple. After many years some of the protocells came together and shared their DNA with each other. These protocells eventually became the cells we are studying now.Type of CellsThere are two types of cells one is the Prokaryote, a Prokaryote is a cell with no nucleus or organelles with membranes, the other, a Eukaryotes are cells that contain a nucleus and organelles and are surrounded by a membrane.Cell StructureThin membranes surround cells this is called the cell membranes, they separate the inside from the out. The cell membrane is just like the other organelles in a cell because it has its own specialized jobs. One of its jobs is to control what enters and exits the cell and to protect the cell. Cell membranes are made up of fats with big protein molecules inside them. Molecules move across cell membranes by two processes diffusion or active transport. Diffusion is the movement from a high level of molecules to a low level of mo lecules. Molecules can diffuse across membranes through the ph...

Math Coursework - The Fencing Problem :: Math Coursework Mathematics

The Fencing Problem A farmer has 1000m of fencing and wants to skirt off a plot of take aim land. She is not concerned about the shape of plot, but it must have a perimeter of 1000m. So it could be IMAGE Or anything else with a perimeter (or circumference) of 1000m. She wishes to fence of the plot of land with the polygon with the biggest area. To find this I will find whether ir symmetrical shapes are big than regular ones or visa versa. To do this I will find the area of irregular triangles and a regular triangle, irregular quadrilaterals and a regular square, this will prove whether irregular polygons are larger that regular polygons. Area of an isosceles irregular triangle ======================================== (Note I found there is not a right angle triangle with the perimeter of exactly 1000m, the hand-to-hand I got to it is on the results table below.) To find the area of an isosceles triangle I will need to use the formula 1/2ba se*height. But I will first need to find the height. To do this I will use Pythagoras theorem which is a2 + b2 = h2. IMAGE IMAGE First I will half the triangle so I get a right angle triangle with the base as 100m and the hypotenuse as 400m. Now I will find the height a2 + b2= h2 a2 + 1002 = 4002 a2 = 4002 - 1002 a2 = 160000 - 10000 a2 = 150000 a = 387.298m Now I will find the area 100*387.298 = 3872.983m2 My table shows the areas of other irregular triangles, but to prove that regular shapes have a larger area I will show the area of a regular triangle Area of a regular triangle Tan30= 166.6666667/x X= 166.666667/Tan30 X= 288.675m 288.675*166.6666667 = 48112.5224m2 This shows clearly that the regular triangles area is larger than the

Free Narrative Essays - Dodging Bullets -- Example Personal Narratives

Dodging Bullets       It was a warm fall day in archaeozoic October, a day that I recall quite vividly.  The smells of the transition from summer to fall were in the air, accompanied by the sounds of birds singing and the wind blowing through the trees. It was on this beautiful day that my existence was almost terminated.       After school on this day, a friend and I firm to go hunting before our level basketball practice. I really dont know why we called it hunting, because we didnt have an idea exactly what we were hunting for. We had forty acres of my backyard to do our merciless killing of raw animals. We were two ignorant kids with semi-automatic and lever-action .22 caliber rifles. As we strolled into the woods to see what terror we could create for the creatures of the forest, we noticed a large abundance of squirrels.  They seemed to be dancing nearly as if they were gathering on that point before us in groups--laug hing at us, begging us to shoot them.  We had to keep walking, for we were still too close to the adjoining houses to be shooting these rifles.  So we trudged along, occasionally commenting on how the leaves crunching beneath our feet would scare off the squirrels, as if we were some fierce snipers in desperate need of stealth.         At last we made it to an area far enough from the houses.  My friend was the one with the semi-automatic, and he immediately started unloading his clip on everything in sight.  The sound of the bullets being propelled from the barrel echoed throughout the woods.  After his barrage of shots, I noticed a large oak tree with squirrels in i... ...e to dodge bullets. I felt that I could see those bullets in their spiraling motion coming at me. This idea made me laugh, but I didnt engage it for long, for I was still shaken by the event.  What if Id been hit by the onslaught of bullets and turne d into a bloody piece of Swiss cheese? Worse yet, I could have been killed. I lay there for what seemed to be a short eternity until the shadow of my friend appeared over me. I ran out of bullets, he said in a relaxed tone. After I voiced a few choice words to my companion, he helped me up, and I slowly but surely went home.       Naturally, neither of us mentioned this scenario to our parents.       Later that evening, I decided that playing video games was a safer way to kill time before practice.  It was quite a while before we went hunting again.

Porter’s five forces Essay

Michael E Porter developed the Porters basketball team forces analysis in 1979 which serves as a framework for industry analysis and business strategy development. Its five forces determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractive force of a commercialize. Attractiveness in this context refers to the overall industry profitability. Three of Porters five forces refer to competition from external sources. The remainder be internal threats. It is useful to use Porters five forces in conjunction with SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Porter referred to these forces as the micro environment. They consist of those forces adjacent to a comp each that affect its ability to serve its customers and make a profit.The stronger the forces, the less profit they will make and vice-versa. A change in any of the forces normally, requires a business unit to re-assess the marketplace given the overall change in industry information. The overall industry a ttractiveness does not imply that both firm in the industry will return the same profitability. Porters five forces include three forces from horizontal competition threat of deputise products, the threat of established rivals, and the threat of new entrants and two forces from vertical competition the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of customers.The threat of the entry of new competitorsThe turn of new entrants depend on the ease with which they can enter the market.Markets with high profits will attracts new firms. The major barriers are* Need for economies of scale* high up entry costs* Lack of distribution channels* Government policies such as selective subsidies* Cost advantages of existing firms such as access to rude materials, know how* Strong product- loyal customersThe intensity of competitive rivalryStrong rivalry will reduce profits. This occurs when* Many firms, none dominant* Slow market growth* Fixed costs are high* High exit costs* Simila r productsIn high competitive markets, threat of new entrants is high.

Schiaparelli vs Chanel

In Judith Thur worldly concerns article for The rising Yorker, Mother of Invention in Fashion she tells of the life and mien influence of hu earthly concern bodyer Elsa Schiapargonlli. The name may not be familiar to fashion outsiders b atomic number 18ly the Italian designer emerged around the same time termination as the better-known Coco Chanel. While Chanel is most known for her easy cut clothing and classic designs, Schiaparelli is known for her courageous use of eclectic patterns and shot zippers.In a world of fashion where firsts are a rarity, Schiaparelli is recognized for innovations such as the overall, the power suit, colored hosiery and the wedge, a shoe that has yet to go out of style just to name a few. She had the boldness to design scarf dresses in bright fuchsia and mix and match sportswear in an aline of knits. She was there for party during a time of adventure and outspokenness and through her daring designs she gave women an outlet to express themselves.D uring World War II Schiaparelli put aim on the backburner due to the political situation and instead used her popular influence to help raise funds for various French relief charities. She refused to design clothes at such a time of suffering and terror and through this act she showed her solidarity and absolute ethics. Her rival, Gabrielle Coco Chanel was shacked up with a Nazi ships officer at the fancy Ritz while women were wearing her opaque designs to funerals for the many that were dying throughout the country.As the war came to an end Chanel came back strong with her original designs as simple and as black as ever just what society affected- nitwitted outfits. This society who was once willing to run for and try to stand out, now just treasured to blend into the sorrowful world that the war had turned life into, they didnt want to think at all. In the time of pre World War II, society was willing to go out of their way for fashion, to strive to stand out and be bold, t o try and to work for it. Schaparelli was a poet of couture as Thurman calls her, she designed clothes for an hearten and unbeholden New Woman.(Thurman, 1) Postwar the world was in a conservative state, the demand for fuchsia and graphic knitwear was not high, and her work was out of tune with the tastes of a conservative postwar public. (Thurman, 3) The innovative work of Schaparelli was recognized and at a time useful to the general public but its uniqueness was not good enough to stay in societys minds and unlike Chanel, it did not become a household name. Women no longer cherished to be outspoken, they instead wanted their clothing to speak for them.The little black dress practically invented by Chanel did just that-it spoke for itself. Throughout decades Chanel has created a following strong enough that in a sense it is its own category of style and has kept its affluent name throughout depressions and economic plights. The highest forms of royalty, the greatest icons and eve n the get-go Ladies of America clad themselves in the classic tweed of Chanel. The mindlessness of being able to rely on the classic cut, the clean lines and the dependent mix of grays and blacks are what makes Chanel a go-to for recognized and upper class women.Chanel represents the adaptation of fashion, postwar women did not want to try, they did not want to think too hard or work for fashion. Chanel doesnt want you to work at all, her clothing is meant to be worn and say enough for you, unrivaled of her classics, the little black dress symbolizes a womanhood putting on a dress that speaks for itself, it screams classy and timeless. Thurman writes, in reference to monumental breakthroughs such as monotheism, penicillin, the little black dress, history tends to remember those who live one big idea. (1) Chanel had big ideas, even if they were adapted from what was already invented, and those ideas were timeless. When one is wearing Chanel that is what is seen, it is not the wom en in Chanel that stands out but the Chanel on the woman. The little black dress which is casually referred to by todays designers as the LBD has become such a staple that rarely will a womans closet be lacking at least one. A little black dress is hardly as exciting and conversational as a hot pink pantsuit or as daring as sportswear with animal shaped buttons, but its black simplicity is mindless.It was exactly how society wanted its women to behave at the end of the 1940s the little black dress spoke for them because nobody wanted them to speak for themselves. A woman standing in the corner at a dinner party wearing Chanel does not need to be attended to, the fact that she is donning Chanel says just enough. She is wealthy, she is taken care of and anything she feels the need to say is being said by her Chanel outfit. One of the best known images of the little black dress is in Blake Edwards assume adaptation of Truman capotes breakfast at Tiffanys.Audrey Hepburn plays the naiv e yet eccentric temperament of Holly Golightly and her look has become legendary. Her hair pulled tightly into a bun and a never completion strand of pearls wrapped around her neck all of which accessorize her classic little black dress and a long stemmed cigarette that she has, without fail, for good in hand. Hepburn, frequently clad in Chanel, prances around the city as if it is her playground, nonchalantly yet tragically running with a different gentleman all(prenominal) evening.It would seem that she enjoys their company but she refers to them as rats during her daily rants to her new companion and neighbor. This character remains unnamed in the book but through the take away we learn that his name is Paul, although Holly finds him uncannily familiar to his brother and insists on calling him Fred. Holly Golightlys behavior is eccentric and sometimes unprompted and in both the mental picture and the novel the audience and readers are able to grasp this unpredictable aspect of her personality.Edwards and Capotes depiction of Holly is incredibly different in their respective portrayals of this screwball character. Although the storylines differ each of their portrayals successfully convey Holly as the entertaining woman that she is. Capotes interpreting makes readers push themselves and question Holly as a character is she a phony? Is her behavior literally past her? Does Holly not see what is going on? Readers are delving deep and thinking hard to understand the Holly Golightly in the text. We are looking deep into her character and trying to see her for who she is, to understand this seemingly complex woman.But then there is something about the Holly Golightly that Blake Edwards has created, a facade that appears in part due to her memorable ensemble. The movies Holly Golightly is easier for the audience to understand and empathize with. There is no thinking involved, just a beautiful demo and a simple little black dress. The Chanel-clad Holly all ows us to look at her without really looking into her, we are satisfied with what we see and our judgment is left at that. The Chanel little black dress is speaking for Holly and it is giving off an impression that leaves the audience excusing her for her petty actions.One of the most notable differences between the movie and the book is the ending that Paramount pictures completely changed from how Truman Capote first wrote it. Hollys main eccentricity is that she is constantly traveling, never being able to settle in one place that she finds herself leisurely in. I dont want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. Im not sure where that is(Capote,) At the end of the novel Holly remains her original nomadic and the last readers hear of her is through a postcard sent from Brazil to the narrator, like expected she has not settled down.Then there is the film version of Holly, a character who we choose to take for what she is, whatever that may be. In th e film the narrator Paul/Fred, is able to convince Holly to stay in New York, as he departs from a taxicab ride with her the audience thinks this is the last time they will ever see each other and the narrator, a man who is clearly head over heels for Holly, gives her a peace of his mind, and a glimpse into his broken heart You know whats wrong with you, Miss Whoever-You-Are?Youre chicken youve got no guts. Youre alarmed to stick out your chin and say, Okay, lifes a fact, people do chance on in love, people do belong to each other, because thats the only chance anybodys got for real happiness. You call yourself a free spirit, a wild thing, and youre terrified somebodys going to stick you in a cage. Well, baby, youre already in that cage. You built it yourselfits wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.(Breakfast at Tiffanys) Then to readers surprise but to audiences content Holly returns the narrators gestures The Holly in the book w ould have never settled for love and given in to one man Holly was a traveler never settling for one man or one address. The Holly in the movie has just been put in her place and audiences expect this of her and they accept it. Of course the lady in Chanel will fall in love in this fairytale-like rainy scene.For a Schiaparelli wearing character we expect more, we dont expect her to take such confrontation and to be told where she stands in the world, but the Chanel wearing woman will be swept off her feet and won over by her neighborly suitor. How is it that courtesy is given to the Holly Golightly in the film but yet the novels version of Holly would never be excused like this? Society, being the funny unpredictable way it is has the efficacy to turn its head at certain events or times.In Thurmans article we see that Schiaparelli and Chanel started off on equal ground but it is only one designer that is still around today Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli launched their fashion ho uses in the first decades of the last century like two rockets with equal payloads of ambition. Chanel settled into the discredit and brighter-more visible-orbit, which the gravity of convention begins to erode. Schiaparelli exerts her influence like a distant celestial body on women and designers who may see hot pink when they free-associate her name, but who otherwise have no small image of her work.(Thurman, 1) For such originality, Schiaparelli was merely lost in the times and is only a memory with no precise image attached to her name. Was she who we should have remembered? While Schiaparelli was working for a good cause during the war and using her resources to raise money for French charities, Chanel was holed up decadently with a Nazi officer living a lifestyle totally oblivious to the worlds events. Yet society turns its head and excuses Chanels actions just as quickly as they forget Schiaparellis heroic ones.Schiaparelli might not have been lost in the times had she made it simpler on us, had she tended to societys needs. We give Chanel the courtesy that we give Edwards version of Holly Golightly and we give Schiaparelli no courtesy at all. Edwards Holly Golightly makes it easy to fall for her quirky little expressions and slight towards the real world, the fairytale ending we are left with is simple and does not leave the audience wondering and digging deeper and for that we love the simplicity and mindlessness of the films Holly Golightly.It is the Holly Golightly in the film adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffanys that has become illustrious throughout the years her timelessness has stuck around like Chanels while the original novellas fame has fizzled out like Schiaparellis. Like Chanel, the film version of Holly Golightly is one that the audience does not have to work to understand. Readers are sick of working to understand Truman Capotes original Breakfast at Tiffanys like women were sick of working to understand Schiaparelli.Sometimes it is the easy and the mindless that society not only wants but needs, and they are willing to throw all originality out the window for it. Works Cited Breakfast at Tiffanys. Dir. Blake Edwards. Paramount Pictures, 1961. DVD. Capote, Truman. Breakfast At Tiffanys. New York Vintage Books, 1993. Thurman, Judith. Mother of Invention in Fashion. The New Yorker 27 Oct. 2003 1-3. Print.

A Clean Well Lighted Place Analysis Essay

A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway is a cryptic short story nigh a desensitise hu gayness in a bar late at night with the waiter draw in frustrated with him because he wishes to go kinsfolk. The discourse slowly turns to two waiters who inject a symbolic exchange. This entire piece of full of symbology and is in my touch sensation a story up the the interpretation of each individual reader. In the daytime the street was dusty, only at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and flat at night it was quiet and he felt the difference. In this sequence we see the prototypic comparison made between light and darkness, and we see the daytime being described as dusty and the in the night the dew eliminated the dust.This state of moistness or lubrication perhaps represents a state of mental lubrication, free from the dullness of the day. Its withal interesting that a deaf man would be able to speciate the difference betwe en the sounds of the day and sounds of the night. In my opinion this means that at night when its expected to be desolate the man feels more at home than he does in the daytime when there is expected to be commotion. Last week he tried to commit self-annihilation, one waiter said. why? He was in despair. What about? Nothing. How do you know it was nothing? He has plenty of money. This is a humorous dialogue about the condition of money vs happiness. The man is described as being in despair, but yet they know now what he has to be despaired about if he has means to provide him happiness. thus far they do not see the true ironic sadness of the situation.A old man is sitting alone in a cafe at night downing shots of brandy. It is obvious to the reader that the old man does not exhaust a very pleasant life. They sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door of the cafe and looked at the patio where the tables were all empty except where the old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved slightly in the wind. A girl and a soldier went by in the street. The street light shone on the typeface number on his collar. The girl wore no head covering and hurried beside him. This is the second time the shadow of the leaves of the tree is mentioned, this is demonstrative by the author that this is cardinal and essential symbology to understand. Obviously the eaves privy produce no real shadow since its night, however since it is under an electric light the leaves produce a fancied shadow from a inconclusive light. The legal definition of false light is a portrayal that is highly offense to a campaignable person but not so much so that its defamation. This allows the old man sitting there to perhaps portray himself as offensive to the waiter, as we leave see in a later exchange, but not so much so that he defames himself. The man is also able to view from the terrace the soldier and the women passing by. This might be t he man looking down and reminiscing on memories of old.An early(a) exchange that struck me was between the two waits discussing the events of the attempted suicide of the man. Hes drunk now, he said. Hes drunk every night. What did he want to kill himself for? How should I know. How did he do it? He hung himself with a rope. Who cut him down? His niece. Why did they do it? Fear for his soul. How much money has he got? Hes got plenty. This exchange shows the audience the severity of this mans insobriety, and imbibing almost goes without symbology itself as an expression of relieving anything from stress, to recreation, to wallowing in pity.They again fail to recognize the plight and sorrow this man has, they suffer from a delusion that this mans great wealth brings him joy and happiness, however again we canister tell that it doesnt. The waiters also state that the mans niece who came and saved him did so out of timidity for his soul, not fear for his life, but fear fo r his soul. To me this is indicative that this mans life is in such a sorrowful that its not worth saving, but his soul is all that remains of him, and the only thing that is worth saving of him.Again we see in the continued dialogue between the two waiters, and we see the more they speak the more they reveal about this man. They also continue to speak about him in a false light, that is being offensive without defamation. He stays up because he likes it. Hes lonely. Im not lonely. I have a married woman waiting in bed for me. He had a wife once too. A wife would be no good to him now. You cant tell. He might be better with a wife. His niece looks after him. You said she cut him down. I know. I wouldnt want to be that old. An old man is a nasty thing. Not always. This old man is light. He intoxications without spilling.Even now, drunk. Look at him. I dont want to look at him. I wish he would go home. He has no regard for those who must work. The man stays up late because he is lonely, and had a wife, but the other waiter speaks of him in a false light because he says A wife would be no good to him now which would be in my opinion considered offensive. They also speak ill of his age, however the other waiter defends him by saying he is showy and doesnt spill, even while drunk. Being clean represents the man exercising a lack of vulgarity, and he is civilized and dignified by not spilling, even in a compromised state of being intoxicated.They also continue to be offensive to him by one of the waiters stating I dont want to look at him. I wish he would go home. He has no regard for those who must work The exchange between the two waiters further reveal the reason and life behind the lonely man in the cafe. Why didnt you let him stay and drink? the unhurried waiter asked. They were putting up the shutters. It is not half-past two. I want to go home to bed. What is an hour? More to me than to him. An hour is the same. You talk like an old man yours elf. He can buy a bottle and drink at home. Its not the same. No, it is not, agreed the waiter with a wife. He did not wish to be unjust. He was only in a facilitate. And you? You have no fear of going home before your usual hour? Are you trying to insult me? No, hombre, only to make a joke. No, the waiter who was in a hurry said, rising from pulling down the metal shutters. I have confidence. I am all confidence. You have youth, confidence, and a job, the senior waiter said. You have everything. And what do you lack? Everything but work. You have everything I have. No. I have never had confidence and I am not young. Come on.Stop talking nonsense and lock up. I am of those who like to stay late at the cafe, the older waiter said. With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night. I want to go home and into bed. The hurried waiter speaks that he wishes to leave so he can get many sleep, and they reveal that the extra hour saved by the waiter meant more to the man than it did to the waiter. The two waiters eventually get into the topic of having youth and confidence, where one states that he has great confidence and youth and the other says he has never had confidence and is not young.This statement reveals more about the nature of the old man, showing that the old man lacked youth and confidence that he used to have, and drinks to regain whats left of his dignity and pride, as show earlier. The older waiter also states that he doesnt desire to leave earlier, as to provide a sebastion of hope and light for those who need it, like the deaf man. The waiter thinking to himself while sitting at the bar shows us the real reason why the deaf man tries to commit suicide, and the real reason why a clean and well-lighted place is needed in the middle of the night. Turning off the electric light he continued the talk with himself. It was the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant.Y ou do not want music. Certainly you do not want music. Nor can you stand before a bar with dignity although that is all that is provided for these hours. What did he fear? It was not a fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was a nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order. some(a) lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada. We see here now that the man wanted to end his life because it was nothing and he was nothing, and that a empty hollowness that he had.He did not despair and was not in grief, but simply felt an emptiness and only a clean well-lit place such as this cafe provided. In closing we hazard the older waiter conversing with himself He disliked bars and bodegas. A clean, well-lighted cafe was a very different thing. Now, without thinking further, he would go home to his room. He would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep. After all, he said to himself, its probably only insomnia.Many must have it. We find here that this older waiter does to some extent feel the same emptiness as the old man does. He find the daylight as a time to sleep, opposite of normal. He finds the daytime as a lack of activity, and the night as a time for activity. The waiter is in some ways institutionalized and imprisoned to the service of those who feel empty. After all of this we find the significance of all of this imagery and symbolism we see the story of a man whose life has essentially finished its course, only that his heart remains beating.We see a man who is often looked down upon because of the extent of his drinking and is seen in a false light. We find a man who does not drink to forget or drink to remember or drink because he is in sorrow or grief, but he drinks because of nothing. He drinks because he feels nothing and experiences nothing. We find that his wife and days of youth and confidence have left him and not he has absolutely nothing. This man and many others like this find cafes such as this one that are clean and well-lit to be bastions and beacons of hope to those who have this feeling of nothingness.

Observing a Preschool Classroom Bicultural

July 1, 2012 M L HD 351/551 Assignment5 Book blasted Resolving contraventions at work Reading some of The ten strategies for everyone on the job, one that I found very important was, why mess engage in tricky behavior, is because, sometimes we judge people by their troublesome behavior, and we do not take the time to ask why they behave that way. For us could seems (senseless) or irrational to us, we ought to find out why they behave that way.Every time we ask an honest, emphatic question Why, we ask may lead to a more accurate description of the reasons they chose to engage in difficult behaviors. Every accurate description of those behaviors evoke help us to become a strategy for stopping or discouraging them. One story in the narration is near a group of employees learned this lesson when they asked the question Why one someone refused to go along with the consensus and adamantly refuse to accept the design favored by the rest of the group.Her difficult behavior create d considerable conflict and criticism, but she held firm, seeming to enjoy the conflict and smiling as she stood her ground. By asking Why and other open-ended questions, they discovered that her real issue had zipper to do with her design of the coordinating committee, but concerned her work team where she had been unsuccessful in raising or solving the problem. Another important check that I read was, that sometimes family or co-workers engage in difficult behavior because they have family problems at home.One example, I recall when I was supervising this person with a difficult behavior, I found out she was having personal problems, I never asked the question why. Perhaps if I would have the knowledge of this handwriting Resolving conflicts at work, it could be easier for me to work with this person. What the author want us to believe is to understand better, why people behave that way, never to blame them for their difficult personally. Moreover, not regarding their negative behavior, but honestly calling attention to the difficulties it creates for us.One of the patterns I have discovered in the reading was that we would find people with this patient of of difficult behavior in our job, co-workers and our own families I read that difficult behaviors start in the family. Some of these difficult behaviors probably began long before we entered in their lives. Another important point in The ten strategies duologue about some difficult behaviors people have since childhood, they follow a pattern because no one resolved their conflicts before. Resolving conflicts at work strategy 7 we also learned how to understand people with difficult behaviors, bust also talks about methods for changing difficult behaviors. By focusing on the behaviors of the others, offering empathetic feedback, ceasing to reward their behaviors, and searching for collaborative solutions, it is possible for us to shift from scent hopeless in our conflicts to being strategic about the m. The follow methods can help us to become more strategic in our response to difficult behaviors.They developed these methods to support the staff of a large U. S. government agency in changing their focus defining their problems as difficult people and personalities to identifying the inveterate behavioral problems within the organization and developing the skills, they needed to address them. These are only a few of the methods. * Surfacing the conflict They began by interviewing the staff about their experiences with conflicts in the work place.Summarized the main issues and distributed their comments to everyone without censoring or watering them down. They make a list of all the problems that needed to be solved and placed them on the table for discussion, negotiation, and problem solving. * Conflict coaching It talks about coaching the leadership team in the organization on how best to respond to conflicts and the difficult behaviors that created them, how to model openness t o criticism, how to be strategic by not rewarding them, and how to reward honest, empathetic communications instead. Teamwork By having a group conflict annunciation session, they assigned everyone to random teams and asked them to read the comments from the interviews. I believed in todays competitive workplace, your ability to communicate is the most important business skill. After reading this book, Resolving conflicts at work, I am planning to use these strategies when I need to resolve a conflict at work. One of my questions is How can we resolve our conflicts with our own brothers and sisters.

One Step Home Brewing Kit Essay

There are a lot of home brewing kits available in market but exclusively have a typical problem associated with it. We have come with a new One Step Home Brewing Kit based on our patented technology. Soon we plan to launch it in market. We did a market research for such product and gained a lot of valuable information. Based on all those observations we have come with the following plan. We would be operating through internet instead of setting up a shop for it, at least(prenominal) for the initial phase. Not only it reaches to more than people but also is more convenient to operate.We wont run the website ourselves but would eruptsource to a separate company. Our research shows that outsourcing would be cheaper. We have finalized our hosting company and hosting plans. The initial one time cost comes to be around $10,000/-. Regarding our financials For the first month our primary direct is set our infrastructure right. We need to get comfortable with the setup, optimize our set tings. So, for the first month we wont be spending much on publicise but would mainly focus on our acquaintance and word-of-mouth publicity to get our customers.We have kept a modest sales target of blow units. Each kits selling price would be $30/-. Cost of revenue is assumed to be 45% of revenue. Biggest expense during this time would be of setting up the website which includes one time cost of website hosting, web designing and taking photographs of our product. The setting up process go away take around 20 -25 days. From the last few days of the month we would increase our advertisements and also would put user experiences of our product on the website.Rough estimate shows a loss for the first month which is very well evaluate at the beginning of a business firm. In the second month we expect sales of around 500 units. This increase is expected due to increase in our advertising and the positive feedback given by our customers for our product. We ourselves have no doubt tha t our product is best and hence expect backbreaking positive atmosphere for our product in the market. To cater to this increasing need we would need to purchase a new computer and hire an operator for that.The parvenu systems cost is put in office equipment expenses field. This would increase our cater from 1 to 2. We also would have to work in those positions to curtail our staff requirements For the 3rd month we expect sales of around 800 units and anticipate to induce a new staff and a new computer to keep up with our increasing customer visits and their database. We hope to reach our break even point by the end of 3rd month. For the next prat we hope to keep a calm speed and again check our system and get the work boundaries of everyone more finer.We would take one more employee at non technical position. For 3rd quarter we again expect a rapid increase in our sales due to the previous quarters corrective steps. We will introduce a new staff in our team to concentrate spec ifically on our advertising. So our advertising cost reaches an all time high. For final quarter we hope to keep up this good trend. For 2nd year we will try to outsource some of our processes like dispatching, packing etc. so that we focus more on our core competence i. e. our product.We will also try to start R&D around our product. This will help us bring out some new product. We will first be looking to bring some product that would complement our product. Also we may venture out in new areas if they seem perfect for our conditions. Our Rent is going to increase by 20% In 3rd year we will double our infrastructure. This may be for our new product or to keep the increased volume of sales of our existing product. This year we will definitely setup our R&D if they are not setup to the full extent in the second year.As the world is progressing fast in technology fields and future would hold florid days for technology products. We will surely bring some product in this domain. Our c ore product would of course be always our focus and we will always try to better it. As we move past the expected milestones we would surely be getting more experienced and will fine correct our expenses, Mobilize our staff to specific positions. This is our plan till now and we hope to surpass it every month, quarte

Packer Telecom Essay

This case talked about risk of exposure attention. As a telecom company with high-speed development, Packer Telecom discrete to use risk care to protect and promote itself. It wanted to not only enlarge market share but also pared budget at the same time. The project manager developed a risk management template based on the risk management plans other companies employ in the past. He tried to persuade the sponsor that the template would work well at Packer Telecom, but the sponsor had not totally agree about this. For me, the telecom industry was in a state of turmoil and rapid advance.On this occasion, seeking to qualify by exploitation risk management would be a great way for Packer to take the lead. Risk management would be a good part to improve efficiency and reduce cost. They could get better control over the future, if they did risk management right. The project manager did not do it right. To identify, assess, response, and control the risks, the risk management plan s hould change with the situation of company and time. I highly doubt that if there are best practices or template for the risk management. To make a good risk management, knowing what the company will face is the first thing to do.The project manager built the template only because other companies were using or utilize it. He gave so much credence to his work that he did not considered about the real situation of his company. After all, even though his template would work, using it for all the projects at once was still not a good idea. It might or might not fix all the projects, and they should not couch all their eggs in one basket. I thought the sponsor knew risk management and project management better than the manager. He asked some terrible questions and did not agree with the manager from beginning to end.I hoped he could make the right decision and found a better project manager later. What they should do now is making a risk management group, might be a new department. Th ey could count on one project manager to do all the risk management work. That template might help them to finish the job, it should be changed based on each project or case. The risk management should be used at the new projects at first. It would help to cut down some high risk projects or cases. At the same time, the employees in the Packer should be trained to understand the risk management. This is the right way to make it become a company culture.

Christmas tree Essay

artistic creation is an object or piece of work that brings one pleasure. Art is also something you see or have and you cannot even begin to describe the ways you like it or how it makes you feel. Art is something that portrays beauty and happiness. Art lets you see the world through another persons perspective. Most art seems to tell a story about where a person has been and the things they have encountered along the way. It lets you plug in with the artist and see things through their eyes. Art is a way of expressing ones self without words.When I think of art, I think of paintings, portraits, sketches, and sculptures. I do it there are many other forms of art, but my favorite form is painting. I normally respond first to the mood of the art and the idea it brings to mind. I like art that makes me feel happy. Second I would say I respond to the colors in the art. I like warm and soothing colors. I prefer scenery in art work. I like paintings of autumn, filled with warm oranges and yellows in the trees, country roads covered with fallen leaves.Those kinds of paintings make me feel warm and happy. One of my favorite autumn scenes is by Robert A Tino, a local artist in Sevierville, TN. It is called Autumn Psalm. It is a small country church setting just off of a country road lined with trees. The trees in the painting are almost bare, and the beautiful autumn leaves are illogical on the ground. This painting gives me a sense of peace and happiness. The content of art is not quite as important to me as the way it makes me feel. I lamb works of art that portray a place that I have been or know.It is nice to see something you are familiar with from another persons perspective. For instance, Harrisburg Holiday, another great work of art by Robert A Tino. It is a painting of a covered bridge that I am really familiar with, but he has painted it as he saw it in 1975. It is a beautiful winter scene. He paints the roads covered with play false and an old red C hevy truck hauling a Christmas tree. The scene has two snowmen at the entrance to the covered bridge. It fills your heart with warmth andholiday purpose just to look at it. Portraits to me are art in a different sense. Some of my favorite portraits are by Martin Waugh. It is what he calls Liquid Sculpture. He uses high speed photography to capture drops of fluidness as the splash into lakes and other bodies of water supply. To me there is just something so soothing about his work. It is amazing how a tiny drop of liquid can create such a beautiful work of art. His work impresses me, because I never really thought of liquid as art before I saw one of his photos.The formal qualities of art work are somewhat important. I like paintings that flow smoothly with very fine brush strokes. I think some of the most beautiful art work is produced with a combination of canvas and oil paints. I like portraits that capture images I normally could not see otherwise. Portraits that capture the colors you can see when light reflects on a ripple of water amaze me. I do not know a great deal about art, but art seems to be much more public opinion than fact.

Life Without Televisions

Life without Television When my familys only television set went to the repair shop the other day, my parents, my babe, and I thought we would have a terrible week. How could we get through the long evenings in such a quiet brook? What would it be like without on the whole the shows to keep us company? We concisely realized, though, that living without television for a while was a stroke of good fortune. It became easy for apiece of us to enjoy somewhat activities al wiz, to complete some postponed chores, and to spend rewarding time with distributively(prenominal) other and friends.First of all, with no television to compete for our time, we found plenty of hours for personal interests. We all drive more that week than we had read during the six months before. For instance, I was able to finish The Scarlet Letter, a novel assigned in my English class. Also my younger sister read 300 pages of the last book of the Twilight series. We each also enjoyed some hobbies we had ig nored for ages. My dads old enthusiasm for gardening re bided, and he started set vegetables in his garden.My mom had time to open her bakery book and bake Italian desserts such as Profiterole and tiramisu. My sister and I played volleyball in the back yard, a sport that we loved since we were younger. In addition, my sister and I both stopped procrastinating with our home drop dead. We both found out that it was really helpful to work on homework ahead of time therefore I worked on chapter three and four of my Algebra homework for next week. I also finished my study guide for my English test. My sister as comfortably worked on her French and Government assignments.Second we did chores that had been hanging over our heads for too long. There were many jobs around the house that had needed attention for some time. Cleaning our rooms was the first chore we did my sister and I cleaned our faultless room and vacuumed the carpet. Then my mom cleaned the counter tops and all the shelve s of the kitchen. Finally my dad managed to clean his service department and put all of his tools back on the shelves. We also had a chance to do some long- postponed shopping. My novice went to SEARS to buy a sofa that was needed in his room.My mom went to LOWES to buy accessories for her bathroom. My sister and I went to the nerve centre to buy her prom dress and I was able to buy two pairs of jeans and two shirts that I wanted. And each of us also caught up with e-mails and did paperwork that was long overdue. My mom had some office work done, such as sales reports for the committee of her company. My dad finally wrote an e-mail to my grandma that is living in Spain with my aunt Susan. My sister also replied to e-mails from her friends that live in Italy.And I was able to complete my FASFA application for the fall semester. Finally, and probably virtually important, we spent time with each other. Instead of just being in the same room in concert while we stared at a screen, we actually talked for many pleasant hours. My parents and I never had long conversations before, and during that week, we got to inhabit each other more than we did for the past five years. My sister and I talked more about each other and we found out that we have a lot of interests in common. Moreover, for the first time in years, my family played some games together.My sister enjoys playing Monopoly therefore, we played almost every night. We also played chest, one of my dads favorite games. My moms favorite game is dominos although my sister terminate up winning every game. And because we didnt have to worry about missing this or that show, we had some family friends over on a couple of evenings and spent enjoyable time with them. We would play volleyball in the back yard. After several games we would have dinner in the back patio enjoying the lovely go while listening to classical music.And finally after dinner we would make a bonfire and hinge on around it and remember memor ies with our friends. Once our television returned, we were not prepared to put it in the attic. But we had a sense of how it can take over our lives if we are not careful. We are now more selective. We turn on the set for our favorite shows, certain sports events, and the news, but we dont leave it running all evening. As a result, we find we can enjoy television and still have time odd over for other activities and interests.

Graffiti and vandalism acts in our community Essay

IntroductionGraffiti and vandalism ar a major blight on communities. Vandalism tail assembly lead to important services, such as ordinary telephones, being damaged so that they dont work, or removed, for display case motorbus shelters, to shelter from choke ahead harm. Vandalism can make the environment untidy, and graffito can be offensive. All of these things post to an air of decline, and can lead to mickle fearing crime more. dresss of vandalism can include breaking windows, smashing up payphones, and graffito. Many incidents of vandalism and graffito be not reported. This is often because it is against private property and the victims do not consider it serious enough to tell the police, or think that the police wont be able to do anything roughly it, or find the culprit. Sometimes, the the great unwashed who own the property (for display case, the mess up board) argon based a long counseling away, and never see the damage to complain ab knocked out(p) it.Vanda lism and graffito argon a criminal offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. The penalty for vandalism and graffiti is a maximum fine of 500 and/ or 3 months in prison if the value of damage is less than 000. The court can in like manner make a requital order. Possessing equipment with intent to cause damage is as well an offence, and, if intent can be proven to the court, spray cay would be included as such equipment.Types of graffiti in that location are many different types of graffitiTagging this is perhaps the most frequent type of graffiti. People solicit their own signs, or tags, which identify them. These are put in as many places as possible to show that the writer has been there, to mark out their territory.Pieces are the larger pictures, more traditionally associated with graffiti. These can have some artistic merit in the correct context.Glass etching sometimes also called Dutch graffiti. This is where people scratch into glass, for example on a bus or train, wit h a sharp implement like a sway or bottle top.Writing slogans these are often just sprayed onto large walls, and are often intentional to be offensive. They may be racist, sexist or homophobic. some other slogans may be political.Who vandalises or graffitis? two-year-old people are associated with a great many incidents of vandalism and graffiti. The scribbling of names and more simple tags are known to come from children and youthful people. Many use felt-tips, or other comm whole available materials.Other people are also involved telephone boxes may be vandalised by people stressful to build money out of them political activists may write their slogans on blank walls or received artists may use graffiti in their art.Why do people do it?Here are some of the reasons why people graffitiOffenders gain pleasure from finishing a piece of graffiti without getting caught and then afterwards from the permanence of their work. The job grows as other vandals follow and what started as a single tag ends up as a wall covered in graffiti.Young peoples eagerness to mark their territory. This can take on a more sinister kind when gangs use it to stake out a claim to an area or to intimidate the local society and potential rivals.It can be because people see nothing better to do, or they want to be daring.Peer pressure can lead to people, especially juniorer people, doing things they would not normally do. This is made worse by the use of graffiti in youth culture, for example in advertising and music.Spaces are create with little consideration for design, so that large blank walls become enormous canvases.Problems caused by vandalism and graffitiThe problems of vandalism and graffiti go much further than the obvious costs of repairs and cleaning. It causes fear of crime and a sense of insecurity. There is evidence that peoples fear of crime is influenced by their impression of frequent spaces which are dingy and run down because of vandalism, litter and graff iti. Graffiti can make people determine threatened and vulnerable, particularly if it is racist, sexist or homophobic.The Broken Windows Theory, developed in America, suggests that if a low-toned window is not repaired, other windows will soon be broken in response to the essence that no one cares. It is argued that more broken windows or greater vandalism will influence the way people perceive crime in the area and will assume that other crime is also on the increase.What can I do about it?Investment to tackle graffiti and vandalism has to be long-term. If it is cut back when the problem starts to improve, the problem will come back.What can we do about vandalism?As with graffiti, repairing the damage as soon as it is done can deter vandals from causing further damage.When the vandalism is to property, securing empty nominates with metal screens over the doors and windows can be effective, but this does advertise the fact that the house is empty and can encourage vandals. It al so adds to theair of disrepair in an area, and makes people feel less safe. moving picture recordings of incidents can be used to alert parents and can be used as evidence in court.What can we do about graffiti?Research shows that the best way to deal with graffiti and occluded front it coming back is to clear it up immediately. However, there are a great many websites for displaying photos of graffiti so the perpetrators may not be that worried about their graffiti being removed, as they get recognition this way. Cleaning up graffiti is something your participation could get involved in. Tenants and residents groups often have bid graffiti squads. If yours doesnt, why not suggest it at the next meeting?Some councils offer exempt paint to people who want to paint over graffiti in their neighborhood. You could suggest your council does this.Another topic is providing a legitimate site where people are allowed to graffiti. There are mixed views on such graffiti walls or zones. There is some evidence that they bring their own problems, as graffiti tends to bypass out to sur oscillationing walls. Also, it is unlikely to stop users doing illegal graffiti elsewhere. Young people are attracted to legal graffiti zones because they dont have to rush and dont have to constantly be afraid of being caught. They have time to produce a good piece of work. However, most young people prefer to tag whereas the owners of the wall or site usually prefer pictures. Another problem is young people graffiti-ing on their way to or from the legal graffiti site. One project got round this by providing all the paint on site.Innovative designs of walls, with more windows or unusual materials may help, as it reduces the amount of blank canvas available. Even better is to have railings instead of walls where possible, as this not only limits the possibility of graffiti, but also increases natural surveillance, making people feel safer.Where large walls are inevitable, for example a round an industrial site, using wall paintings to decorate the walls may stop people putting their own pictures there. If public art is not a possibility, using vegetation, for example ivies and creepers, can help with stopping people graffiti. It also makes the area look more attractive.Other ways to limit graffiti and vandalism in your neighbourhood includeEducating young people about the impact which graffiti and vandalism have on the wider community (e.g. making people feel unsafe, costing millions of pounds a year to fix and clean up) Young people are often unaware of the cost of cleaning up graffiti or repairing criminal damage. They take aim to know that it is unacceptable and is taken seriously.Helping find other things for young people to do link to yp sectionWhat can schools and youth services do?Schools or youth groups can adopt badly vandalised areas, such as subways or playgrounds, keeping them clean and well looked-after. These schemes work best where young people ca n get involved in the design or creation of the area themselves, for example by creating a mural or planting trees.The same approach has been used successfully by targeting groups of young people who are thought to be responsible for some of the damage. Detached youth workers can make contact with the young people and establish what they would like to do instead. A practical construction project often appeals. There are many examples of successful projects where young people have taken pride in what they have created and ensured that it stays vandal-free.What can others do to help?Agencies owning buildings or utilities which are prone to vandalism can assess the location and design of these to see if vandalism can be reduced.Measures might includeDemolishing unwarranted buildings, or finding a temporary use for them (such as a youth centre).Relocating services, e.g. phone boxes and bus stops, so that they are closer to other facilities where they may be less prone to vandalism.Bet ter damage-reporting procedures and quicker repair.Target-hardening, e.g. better lighting, toughened glass, graffiti-resistant paint.Authorising graffiti in some areas, e.g. graffiti walls.Probation service community service schemes may be able to help with repairs and graffiti removal. Under the Crime & Disorder Act, the court can require offenders to repair damage done by imposing a Reparation Order.

Frostbite Chapter 13

ThirteenPEOPLE STOOD UP AND SHOUTED, everyone hopeing their opinion to be comprehend. As it was, roughly of them held the same view Tasha was wrong. They told her she was crazy. They told her that in sending bulge Moroi and dhampirs to fight the Strigoi, shed be expediting the extinction of both races. They even so had the nerve to suggest that that was Tashas plan all along- that she was somehow collaborating with the Strigoi in all of this.Dimitri stood up, disgust all oer his features as he surv eyeball the chaos. You might as headspring leave. Nothing usefuls passing game to happen now. mason and I rose, nevertheless he shook his head when I started to follow Dimitri out.You go on, tell mason. I want to check something out.I glanced at the standing, arguing people. I shrugged. Good luck.I couldnt believe it had only been a few days since Id speak to Dimitri. Stepping out into the hall with him, I felt standardised itd been years. Being with Mason these last couple of days had been fantastic, but testing Dimitri again, all of my old feelings for him came rushing back. Suddenly, Mason seemed analogous a child. My distress over the Tasha situation also came back, and stupid rowing fell out of my verbalize earlier I could stop them.Shouldnt you be in there protecting Tasha? I asked. Before the ingroup gets her? Shes going to get in big trouble for using magic like that.He raised an eyebrow. She can take care of herself.Yeah, yeah, because shes a badass karate magic user. I get all that. I barely count on since youre going to be her guardian and allWhere did you hear that?I stupefy my sources. Somehow, saying Id perceive it from my mom sounded less cool. Youve decided to, right? I mean, it sounds like a good deal, seeing as shes going to give you fringe benefits.He gave me a level research. What happens between her and me is none of your business, he replied crisply.The words between her and me stung. It sounded like he and Tasha were a done deal. And, as often happened when I was cause to be perceived, my temper and stead took over.Well, Im sure you cat-o-nine-tailssll be happy together. Shes safe your type, too- I know how much you like women who arent your own age. I mean, shes what, six years older than you? Seven? And Im seven years younger than you.Yes, he said subsequently several moments of silence. You are. And every second this conversation goes on, you only prove how young you really are.Whoa. My jaw most hit the floor. Not even my mother punching me had hurt as badly as that. For a heartbeat, I thought I saw regret in his eyes, like he too realized just how harsh his words had been. exactly the moment passed, and his expression was hard in one case more.Little dhampir, a vowelize suddenly said nearby.Slowly, still stunned, I turned toward Adrian Ivashkov. He grinned at me and gave a brief nod of acknowledgment to Dimitri. I suspected my face was bright red. How much had Adrian heard?He held up his workforce in a casual gesture. I dont want to interrupt or anything. Just wanted to gibber to you when you have time.I wanted to tell Adrian I didnt have time to play whatever second he was into now, but Dimitris words still smarted. He was looking at Adrian now in a very disapproving expressive style. I suspected he, like everyone else, had heard about Adrians bad re effectation. Good, I thought. I suddenly wanted him to be jealous. I wanted to hurt him as much as hed hurt me lately.Swallowing my pain, I unearthed my man-eating smile, one I hadnt used to full effect in sometime. I walked over to Adrian and put a hand on his arm.Ive got time now. I gave a nod of my own to Dimitri and steered Adrian away, walking fast to him. See you later, Guardian Belikov.Dimitris dark eyes followed us stonily. Then I turned away and didnt look back.Not into older guys, huh? asked Adrian once we were alone.Youre imagining things, I said. Clearly, my stunning beauty has clouded your mind.He express mirthed that nice laugh of his. Thats entirely possible.I started to step back, but he tossed an arm roughly me. No, no, you wanted to play pally with me- now youve got to see it through.I rolled my eyes at him and let the arm stay. I could peck intoxicant on him as well as the perpetual smell of cloves. I wondered if he was sot now. I had the feeling that there was probably smallish difference between his attitudes drunk or sober.What do you want? I asked.He studied me for a moment. I want you to grab Vasilisa and come with me. Were going to have some fun. Youll probably want a swimsuit too. He seemed disappointed by the addition of this. Unless you want to go naked.What? A bunch of Moroi and dhampirs just got slaughtered, and you want to go swimming and have fun?Its not just swimming, he said patiently. Besides, that slaughter is exactly why you should go do this.Before I could argue that, I saw my friends round the corner Lissa, Mason, and Christian. Eddie Castil e was with the group, which shouldnt have surprised me, but Mia was as well- which sure did surprise me. They were deep in conversation, though they all stopped public lecture when they saw me.There you are, said Lissa, a puzzled look on her face.I remembered Adrians arm was still around me. I stepped out of it. Hey, guys, I said. A moment of awkwardness hung around us, and I was pretty sure I heard a low chuckle from Adrian. I beamed at him and thus my friends. Adrian invited us to go swimming.They stared at me in surprise, and I could almost see the wheels of speculation turning in their heads. Masons face darkened a little, but like the others, he said nothing. I stifled a groan.Adrian took me inviting the others to his occult interlude pretty well. With his indulgent attitude, I hadnt really expected anything else. Once we had swimsuits, we followed his directions to a doorway in one of the far travel of the lodge. It held a staircase that led down- and down and down. I ne arly got dizzy as we wound around and around. Electric lights hung in the walls, but as we went farther, the painted walls changed to carved stone.When we reached our destination, we discovered Adrian had been right- it wasnt just swimming. We were in a finical spa area of the re shape, one used only for the most elite Moroi. In this case, it was reticent for a bunch of royals I assumed were Adrians friends. There were about thirty others, all his age or older, who bore the marks of wealth and elitism.The spa consisted of a series of hot mineral pools. Maybe once theyd been in a cave or something, but the lodge builders had long since gotten rid of any sort of rustic surroundings. The black stone walls and ceiling were as polished and beautiful as anything else in the resort. It was like creation in a cave- a really nice, designer cave. Racks of towels lined the walls, as did tables full of alien food. The baths matched the rest of the agencys hewn-out d?cor stone-lined pools containing hot water that was heated from some underground source. Steam filled the room, and a faint, metallic smell hung in the air. Sounds of partygoers laughing and splashing echoed around us.Why is Mia with you? I asked Lissa softly. We were winding our way through the room, looking for a pool that wasnt occupied.She was talking to Mason when we were getting ready to leave, she returned. She kept her fathom just as quiet. It seemed mean to just I dont know leave her Even I hold with that. Obvious signs of grief were written all over her face, but Mia seemed at least momentarily deflect by whatever Mason was telling her. I thought you didnt know Adrian, Lissa added. Disapproval hung in her vocalization and in the bond. We finally found a large pool, a little out of the way. A guy and a girl were on the opposite side, all over each other, but there was push-down stack of room for the rest of us. They were easy to ignore.I put a foot into the water and pulled it back immedia tely.I dont, I told her. Cautiously, I inched the foot back in, slowly followed by the rest of my body. When I got to my stomach, I grimaced. I had on a maroon bikini, and the scalding water caught my stomach by surprise.You must know him a little. He invited you to a party.Yeah, but do you see him with us now?She followed my gaze. Adrian stood on the far side of the room with a group of girls in bikinis much smaller than mine. One was a Betsey Johnson suit Id seen in a magazine and coveted. I sighed and looked away.Wed all slipped into the water by then. It was so hot I felt like I was in a soup kettle. Now that Lissa seemed convinced of my innocence with Adrian, I tuned into the others discussion.What are you talking about? I interrupted. It was easier than listening and figuring it out myself.The meeting, said Mason excitedly. Apparently, hed gotten over seeing me and Adrian together.Christian had settled onto a small shelf in the pool. Lissa curled up beside him. Putting a copy righted arm around her, he tipped his back so it rested on the edge.Your boyfriend wants to send an army against the Strigoi, he told me. I could tell he was saying it to provoke me.I looked at Mason questioningly. It wasnt worth the effort to challenge the boyfriend comment.Hey, it was your aunt who suggested it, Mason reminded Christian.She only said we should find the Strigoi before they find us again, countered Christian. She wasnt pushing for novices fighting. That was Monica Szelsky.A waitress came by then with a tray of pink throws. These were in elegant, long-stemmed crystal glasses with sugared rims. I had a strong suspicion the drinks were alcoholic, but I doubted anyone who do it into this party was going to get carded. I had no idea what they were. Most of my experiences with alcohol had involved flashy beer. I took a glass and turned back to Mason.You think thats a good idea? I asked him. I sipped the drink, cautiously. As a guardian in training, I felt like I should invariably be on alert, but tonight I once again felt like being rebellious. The drink tasted like punch. Grapefruit juice. Something sweet, like strawberries. I was still pretty sure there was alcohol in it, but it didnt appear strong enough for me to lose sleep over.Another waitress soon appeared with a tray of food. I eyed it and recognized almost nothing. There was something that looked vaguely like mushrooms stuffed with cheese, as well as something else that looked little round patties of meat or sausage. As a good carnivore, I reached for one, persuasion it couldnt be that bad.Its foie gras, said Christian. There was a smile on his face I didnt like.I eyed him warily. Whats that?You dont know? His tone was cocky, and for once in his life, he sounded like a true royal touting his elite knowledge over us underlings. He shrugged. Take a chance. Find out.Lissa sighed in exasperation. Its goose liver.I jerked my hand back. The waitress moved on, and Christian laughed. I glared at him.Meanwhile, Mason was still hung up on my question about whether novices going to battle before graduation was a good idea.What else are we doing? he asked indignantly. What are you doing? You run laps with Belikov every morning. Whats that doing for you? For the Moroi?What was that doing for me? Making my heart race and my mind have indecent thoughts.We arent ready, I said instead.Weve only got six more months, piped in Eddie.Mason nodded his agreement. Yeah. How much more can we find?Plenty, I said, thinking of how much Id picked up from my tutoring sessions with Dimitri. I finished my drink. Besides, where does it stop? Lets say they end schooling six months early, then send us polish off. What next? They decide to push back further and put out our senior year? Our junior year?He shrugged. Im not afraid to fight. I could have interpreted on Strigoi when I was a sophomore.Yeah, I said dryly. Just like you did skiing on that slope.Masons face, already flushed from the heat , turned redder still. I immediately regretted my words, particularly when Christian started laughing.Never thought Id live to see the day when I agreed with you, Rose. But sadly, I do. The cocktail waitress came by again, and both Christian and I took new drinks. The Moroi have got to start helping us defend themselves.With magic? asked Mia suddenly.It was the first time shed spoken since wed got here. Silence met her. I think Mason and Eddie didnt respond because they knew nothing about fighting with magic. Lissa, Christian, and I did- and were nerve-racking very hard to act like we didnt. There was a funny sort of hope in Mias eyes, though, and I could only imagine what shed gone through today. Shed woken up to learn her mother was dead and then been subjected to hours and hours of political bantering and battle strategies. The fact that she was sitting here at all seeming semi-composed was a miracle. I assumed people who actually liked their mothers would barely be able to func tion in that situation.When no one else looked like they were going to answer her, I finally said, I suppose. But I dont know much about that.I finished the rest of my drink and averted my eyes, hoping someone else would take up the conversation. They didnt. Mia looked disappointed but said no more when Mason switched back to the Strigoi debate.I took a three drink and sank into the water as far as I reasonably could and still hold the glass. This drink was different. It looked chocolatey and had whipped cream on top. I took a taste and definitely detected the bite of alcohol. Still, I figured the chocolate probably diluted it.When I was ready for a fourth drink, the waitress was nowhere in sight. Mason seemed really, really cute to me all of a sudden. I would have liked a little romantic attention from him, but he was still going on about Strigoi and the logistics of leading a strike in the middle of the day. Mia and Eddie were nodding along with him eagerly, and I got the feeling that if he decided to extend Strigoi right now, theyd follow. Christian was actually joining the talk, but it was more to play devils advocate. Typical. He thought a sort of preemptive strike would require guardians and Moroi, much as Tasha had said. Mason, Mia, and Eddie argued that if the Moroi werent up to it, the guardians should take matters into their own hands.I confess, their enthusiasm was kind of contagious. I rather liked the idea of getting the drop on Strigoi. But in the Badica and Drozdov attacks, all of the guardians had been killed. Admittedly the Strigoi had organized into huge groups and had help, but all that told me was that our side needed to be extra careful.His cuteness aside, I didnt want to listen to Mason talk about his battle skills anymore. I wanted some other drink. I stood up and climbed over the edge of the pool. To my astonishment, the world started spinning. Id had that happen before when I got out of baths or hot tubs too quickly, but when things didnt right themselves, I realized those drinks might have been stronger than I thought.I also decided a fourth wasnt such a good idea, but I didnt want to get back in and let everyone know I was drunk. I headed off toward a side room Id seen the waitress disappear into. I hoped maybe there was a secret stash of desserts somewhere, chocolate mousse instead of goose liver. As I walked, I paid special attention to the slippery floor, thinking that falling into one of the pools and cracking my skull would definitely cost me coolness points.I was paying so much attention to my feet and trying not to stagger that I walked into someone. To my credit, itd been his fault hed endorse into me.Hey, watch it, I said, steadying myself.But he wasnt paying attention to me. His eyes were on another guy, a guy with a bloody nose.Id walked right into the middle of a fight.

Water shortage may be next cause of world war

While much attention and debate have been correctly focused on the be planet-wide oil shortage, a far greater calamity awaits us as the reality of the looming global peeing crisis becomes more apparent. It is not unreasonable to wonder whether the next world war will be fought everywhere oil or body of pissing.No resource on Earth is more precious than piddle. While ongoing events except our attention to oil, we ignore what will become the just about serious resource issue in this ascorbic acid the international water shortage. The reports that nearly a third of the worlds population lacks clean water for personal daily use and estimates that by 2025 that number will grow to half of the worlds population. A number of world leaders have even suggested that the next world war could be sparked by water disputes.In places as different as the American west, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and China the line of diminishing water supplies is becoming steadily more serious and more dangerous. The World Bank has inform that as many as 80 countries now have water shortages that threaten their economies as puff up as their citizens health, while 40 percent of the worlds population have no main course to clean water and sanitation.In addition, more than a dozen nations receive most of their water from rivers that cross borders of neighbouring countries viewed as hostile. As readily as people and countries ght over control of oil, one can only intend what it will be like when our precious life source of water is no longer unattached in sufficient quantities.According to Frank Rijsberman, the director of the International Water Management Institute, Globally, water usage has increase six times in the past 100 years and will double again by 2050, driven mainly by irrigation and demands of agriculture.The consequences of this increase in demand will be widespread scarcity and rapidly increasing water prices. As described in a report issued last horrible by W WF, the global conservation organization, rather than being simply a problem effecting poor and undeveloped countries, the combination of climate change and drought and loss of wetlands that store water, along with poorly thought kayoed water infrastructure and resources management, is making this (water) crisis authentically global.In the Middle East, Israelis and Palestinians are ghting over shrinking water resources. In China & India more than 400 of 600 towns & nearby cities are suffering water shortages and in Peru, as around the world, mountain glaciers are in retreat, taking with them vast stores of water that grow crops, generate electrical energy and sustain communities.The situation will only be exacerbated as climate change is predicted to bring get rainfall, increased evaporation and changed patterns of snow melting.So what is to be go ine about this imminent case of water insecurity? The most important rst step is to develop a better method of agricultural irrigati on. right away 70 percent of all water use is agricultural, with 60 percent of that water being wasted, originally through seepage and evaporation. Other strategies to address this growing global water problem include water conservation, more desalination plants, slowing population growth, reducing pollution, and simply better managing the supply and demand of our most precious resource.Ultimately, there will be no remedy for this seemingly intractable problem unless and until truly sustainable practices of water conservation are undertaken at the personal, national and global level. If we fail to do this, and dont learn to conserve and cooperate, the war(s) for control of the oil in the Middle East will break through mere picnics by comparison.And in addition to the already existing No Blood for Oil sound off signs, ournewest antiwar protesters will be carrying signs saying, No War for Water.