Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon 1952 Essay - 1

Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon 1952 - Essay Example This fight has taken time, and it may take more time before the racial prejudice is eradicated entirely from society (Noble 48). In Black Skin, White Masks, the author wanted to bring the attention of the reader to the racial injustice that many of the people suffered. This paper will address some of the statements in the book, and what they might have meant as they had an impact on society. Fanon Frantz was a published author who championed the fight against racial discrimination through literature. His fight for the Algerian people against colonization from the French was deeply appreciated. His analysis on the manner in which individuals were passionate about their rights against colonization was brought out in many of his works. In Black Skin, White Masks, he brings about the issue of hybridity among the African people, and the role they played in bringing about anti-colonial cultures. The acceptance of ‘hybrids’ into the French system was seen as a means to oppose colonial practices, and a means of accepting cultures across borders. By neither applying his works to either assimilation or white supremacist regimes, his works received a lot of attention (Fanon 56). In one of his famous statements, Fanon describes the manner in which Africans are racialized and forced to live. He insists that black people must put on a facade for them to get by in the white community. This is so as to allow them to have the right access to some of the elementary provisions of life. What Fanon implies in that statement is the manner in which race has deformed the manner in which people live, whether black or white. When the whites want to dominate the African continent, they have to rely on their skin colour to express their dominance and superiority. They are enslaved in their thinking that being white is the reason why they should be feared. The manner in which Africans are racialized is to

Talent Management Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Talent Management Strategy - Essay Example According to the report often it is observed that corporate environments are more goal specific and outcome oriented. It should however not be neglected that the path to the accomplishment of the aspired goals is the actual key to success. Treading this path with insight and taking care of all the factors that emerge within it gives organizations a smooth sailing to the target location.From this study it is clear that  organizations term the recruiting and handling of talented individuals as the most challenging task for an organizational setup. The better the employees of an organization get suited to the structural needs of the setup, the better it is for the growth of that particular corporate environment. This adoption and integration is often termed as talent management. â€Å"A major contributor is obviously your employees. Aligning the organization’s business strategy with its workforce is called talent management, and it involves aligning the right person with the r ight role with the right tools.†Ã‚  It is imperative that a specific approach should be adopted that would safeguard the needs of talented employees and would also harness their talents for the progressiveness of the organizational setup as a whole. Following discussion narrates a few strategically inevitable steps that may be termed as components of the talent management strategy.  It is essentially the first ever step in the making of any organizational set up that the organizational goals and strategy should be developed.... The progressive execution of these components assists the organization in treading towards leading endeavors. Figure 1 is a graphical representation of the Talent Management Strategy. Figure 1: Integrated Approach to Talent Management Strategy. ( Accenture Seven Imperatives for Achieving Dynamic Supply Chains. Copyright  © 2011 ) Planning Employee Assignments Strategically It is essentially the first ever step in the making of any organizational set up that the organizational goals and strategy should be developed. Employees who possess just the right talent for the organizational goals and the positions where there integration would be suited best should be identified. The identifications of the roles and individuals may reveal the need for the induction of more talented individuals with respect to the emerging needs. And in order to cover any gaps that may be present in the current setup. Harnessing Talent The identification, polishing and rightful embedding of the talent existin g within an organization is a very peculiar task indeed. If deficient in the required skills, talent hunt may need to be generated in order to bring in individuals that possess just the required talents. Sometimes the talent within the existing employees may be overshadowed by the tasks that they are presently assigned with. It is therefore recommended that the talent hunt should be done both within and outside the parent organization. Managing Performances The key concern of revolutionizing talent management with respect to every individual organization is that the employees’ performances should be managed in line with the strategy of the organization itself. Employees’ Motivation, Career

Properties of Water for Organism Survival

Properties of Water for Organism Survival NDUI PRISCILLAH Discuss the assertion that water has several unique properties that make it vital not only for human beings, but for all living organisms to survive. Introduction Water is a very important aspect of all living organisms’ plants and animals alike. What makes it so useful and relevant to survival are its unique properties which relate to its functions and hence its relevance to living things as discussed below. Water is a dipolar molecule Water is a normal oxide of hydrogen consisting of two hydrogen molecules covalently bonded to one oxygen molecule. The water molecule is not linear and the oxygen atom has higher electro negativity than the hydrogen atoms. The atoms of oxygen carry a slightly negative charge whereas, the hydrogen atoms are slightly positive, this gives the water molecule its dipole movement (en.wikipedia.org). Hence, the water molecule can form up to four bonds with it self and other molecules. This property gives water most of its properties. Water is a Universal solvent A solvent is a liquid which dissolves other substances. Because of its ability to form four bond with other molecules (dipole), no other chemically inert solvent is able to dissolve a variety of materials as water nor the amount of them it can hold in solution (Edward J.K 1996). Water is able to dissolve a variety of substances solids, liquids and gases alike. (Edward, 1999) adds on to say â€Å"water is the best solvent and provides a medium for the movement of molecules within and outside the cell.† hence water is important in both plants and animals in that it aids movement of materials through diffusion as salts, sugars acids, alkalis and gases such as carbon dioxide (carbonation) and oxygen dissolve in it and can be transported in the organism as a transport medium as in blood, lymphatic and excretory system, the alimentary canal and xylem and phloem (Taylor D.J 1984). Water is wet Because of its molecules forming hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, water makes things wet. This is due to its cohesive and adhesive properties (Dr. Jain VK, 1974). Cohesion is the attraction between like molecules in this case water while adhesion is the attraction of molecules of different substances. This gives water high capillary forces, that is the tendency of water to move up a narrow tube against the concentration gradient. This is a very important property to vascular plants such as trees as it enables water to move along very narrow spaces such as during transpiration which help control the temperature of a plant. Its cohesion property is also relevant in cells and in translocation of water through xylem in plants. This is also vital in the rising or moving up of sap in plants. Surface tension The cohesive property of water brings about surface tension. Besides mercury, water has the greatest tendency to cohere causing its surface to contract to the smallest possible areas as a result of the hydrogen bonds (Edward J.K, 1996), because of this many small organisms are able to settle on water or skate over its surface, thus providing them a habitat, for example the water striders. It also aids reproduction by way of seed dispersal, garmetes and larval stages of aquatic organisms. Water has a high specific heat capacity The specific heat capacity of water is the amount of heat required to raise one (1) gram of water from O0C to 10C. Compared to other liquids a considerably high amount of energy is required to change the temperature of water (Edward J.K, 1996). This property is also due to the numerous hydrogen bonds between water molecules. This is very vital to both humans and plants as it helps in moderating the earth’s climate by buffering large fluctuations in temperature. It also protects the plants from very harmful temperature fluctuations. High specific heat capacity of water is also vital to marine and fresh bodies of water to help maintain a constant temperature over longer period of time and to be stable over short periods of time. Latent heat of vaporization Vaporization or evaporation is the change of state from liquid to gas. The latent heat of vaporization is the energy required to convert a liquid into gas (Vapour) at constant temperature (Dr V.K Jain, 1974). Water has the highest latent heat of vapourisation of all common substances which is about 44 Kj/Mol at 250C. The high latent heat of vaporization of water enables the plants to cool themselves by giving out heat through transpiration. It is also a major factor in the transfer of heat between the ocean and the atmosphere, thereby driving the weather climate. Beside these, animals also use this property in cooling by the sweating and panting in mammals. That is, the opening of the mouth by some reptile’s e.g crocodiles in sunshine and mammals like dogs. Latent heat of fusion Latent heat of fusion is the heat required to convert a unit of mass of a solid to liquid at the same temperature. To melt 1gram of ice at 00C, 80cal. (335J) of energy is needed which is very high and caused by the presence of hydrogen bonds. This means water must loose a relatively huge amount of heat energy to freeze. This helps protect the contents of the cells not to be damaged as their environments are less likely to freeze. Water expansion and density One of the unique properties of water is that, it reaches its maximum density at 40C and diminishes above and below that temperature. It has a tendency to expand as it freezes and its density is decreased (Dr. Jain V.K, 1974), hence ice has a lower density than water and floats on top of oceans, lakes and rivers. It forms at the surface first and last at the bottom, this provides insulation of the water below it and increase the chances of survival for acquatic organisms especially in cold climates and during cold seasons. Penetration of light Water which has no suspended particles is transparent in the visible electro magnetic spectrum. This implies relatively great amounts of infrared and ultra-violet rays can penetrate through it. This enables acquatic plants to survive as they are able to carry out photosynthesis. It can therefore be deducted that water indeed has several unique properties related to its importance to all living organism without which most of these might become extinct. Besides these water provides a habitat for millions of living organisms and is also vital in sanitation for human beings helping to prevent the spread of infections such as viruses, protozoa and worms. Hence, water is a very vital aspect without which life might not exist. BIBLIOGRAPHY Edward J.K (1996), Concepts of Ecology; fourth edition. Pearson Education. New Jersey. en. Wikipedia.org/wiki/water Dr. Jain V.K (1974), fundamentals of Plant Physiology; S. Chand and Company Ltd. New Dhehi Taylor D.J et al (1984), Biological Science 1 2, Cambridge University Press. New York.

A Comparison of Shakespeares Prince Hamlet and Machiavelli’s The Princ

A Comparison of Prince Hamlet and Machiavelli's The Prince  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   Machiavelli states that "it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good, and use this knowledge and not use it, according to the necessity of the case." Machiavelli's ideas both compare and contrast to the methods used by Hamlet. Hamlet's desire to drive the king mad and eventually kill him, is what he thinks he must do in order to set things right. Hamlet struggles to maintain his position as prince. Perhaps he lacks the essential qualities of a prince outlined by Machiavelli.    According to Machiavelli, the pursuit of all things regarded as virtuous and praiseworthy will only lead to the prince's ruin. This is completely true in the case of Hamlet, because he is on a quest to avenge his father's death. The battle between good and evil is constantly in the forefront of Hamlet's mind, as he wavers between acting civil or getting revenge outright. In the beginning, Hamlet struggles to remain good at all times, but this causes him extreme anguish. Hamlet is an honest man, who grieves for his father. He suffers because of the dishonesty of the others in the court, especially his mother and his uncle, and later, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet is able to see through them all, and realize that they're dishonest. He speaks these words to Guildenstern: "Anything but to th' purpose. You were sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to colour. I know the good King and Queen have sent for you." (Hamlet, II, ii., 278-280)    Hamlet's honesty is also seen when he is speaking with his mother. In act I, scene ii, Gertrude asks him why the de... ...e his goal was to get and retain power. He wanted to prove Claudius to be an unfit king, and he did so, but only as Hamlet himself was about to die. Hamlet had to cause grief by killing the king, but in the end, he is seen as a hero, because he unmasked his father's killer.    Sources Cited and Consulted: Gray, Terry A. "Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet." http://www.palomar.edu/Library/shake.htm. Jones, W. T. Masters of Political Thought. Ed. Edward, McChesner, and Sait. Vol. 2. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947. Lee A. Jacobus.   A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers.   5th edition. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1998. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Trans. Hill Thompson. Norwalk: The Easton Press, 1980. Shakespeare, William. The Three-Text Hamlet. Eds. Paul Bertram and Bernice Kliman. New York: AMS Press, 1991.

“Lines Written in Early Spring” Analysis Essay

Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth is a comparison of the state of nature to the state of mankind. This fits into the Romantic period because of how many of Wordsworth’s poems represented the revolt against contemporary English poetry, which he believed should have been based on true emotion, rather than intellect and style. There is evidence that Wordsworth is writing about nature and the poor state mankind when he writes: â€Å"In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to the mind† (Stanza 1, Lines 3-4). Also, he suggests that mankind and nature should not be as different as they are in terms of happiness, when he writes: â€Å"To her fair works did nature link the human soul that through me ran; And much it greaves my heart to think what man has made of man† (Stanza 2, Lines 7-8). Wordsworth makes use of many literary devices in Lines Written in Early Spring. Personification is the most common of literary devices used. Examples of this are shown when he writes: â€Å"And ’tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes† (Stanza 3, Lines 11-12). He is giving a flower the human characteristic of enjoying the air it â€Å"breathes†. Another example of personification in this poem is when Wordsworth writes: â€Å"The budding twigs spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air† (Stanza 5, Lines 17-18). In this verse he is giving budding twigs the human characteristic of spreading out to catch breezy air. Wordsworth also describes nature as a being rather than a thing when he writes: â€Å"If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature’s holy plan† (Stanza 6, Lines 21-22). In this verse he describes nature as having the ability to plan. This poem also reflects on Wordsworth appreciation and love for nature, as he sees it as a force rather than just a thing. This poem is a good representation of its time period because it gives insight into how many people neglected nature, and furthermore, gives insight into the troubles and lifestyles of people during the Romantic Era.

Ethnic Identity and African Americans Essay

Ethnic identity is the sum total of group member feelings about those values, symbols, and common histories that identify them as a distinct group (Smith 1991). Development of ethnic identity is important because it helps one to come to terms with their ethnic membership as a prominent reference group and significant part of an individuals overall identity. Ethnic reference group refers to an individuals psychological relatedness to groups (Smith 1991). These reference groups help adolescents sense, reflect and see things from the point of their ethnic groups in which they actively participate or seek to participate. What is ethnic identity? The establishment of identity is an important, complex task for all adolescents, and is considered a major developmental task for all adolescents. It is particularly complicated for adolescents belonging to ethnic and minority groups. Ethnic identity of the majority group of individuals is constantly validated and reinforced in a positive manner where as the minority group is constantly ridiculed and punished in a negative manner. What does this say for those adolescents who are the minority and not the majority? It is important to study or research ethnic identity because it provides better knowledge to help one understand striving for a sense of unity and connectivenesss in which the self provides meaning for direction and meaning of ethnic identity (Spencer, 1990). It is also important to study or research the differences between these groups due to beliefs and values. Adolescents that are the minority are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age then Caucasian adolescents majority and they are constantly aware of ethnic differences, which means it is of greater importance to understand the development of the minority individual. It should lead to different assessments when it comes to ethnic identity. For example, African American adolescents are psychologically compared to Caucasian American adolescence diagnoses, which are sometimes inaccurately assessed. Bronfenberner explains the theoretical perspective such as the ecological perspective by saying, The implications for clinical treatment of African American adolescents, mental health workers must be sensitive to the ecological context of their clients. Mental Health workers must realize that there is no single entity called the black family . The black families compared to the other families established their American family. He suggests that these families vary dramatically in backgrounds, social economic status, values, and degree of acculturation to the norms and values of mainstream America (1990). There are also, significant differences that may exist in preparation of African American adolescent, at the level of rearing family practices and in schools (1990). That is, schools continue to reflect historical values that deal with racial-stereotypes and prejudice and beliefs. At the same time there are families trying to avoid and make light out of such situations. These families and communities continue to show constancy by instilling their own beliefs and values through child rearing which maybe different from Caucasian Americas. Identity and ethnicity as adolescent issues Identity has been defined in many ways. It is the concept used to describe an individual’s sense of who he or she is (Dashefsky and Shapiro, 1976). Changes in identity occur throughout the life cycle, however, the changes in identity are usually most notable during adolescence. Integrating a positive sense of ethnic identity into one’s overall personal identity is an important task of late adolescence (Steinberg, 1996). Ethnic identity has been defined as the aspect of one’s sense of identity concerning ancestry or racial group membership (Steinberg, 1996). Ethnic identity development is an essential human need because it provides a sense of belonging and historical continuity. Ethnic socialization Minority children are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age than their majority counterparts (Smith, 1991). Parents can help to speed up the early stages of ethnic identity development by taking an active approach to ethnic socialization. Ethnic socialization, according to Steinberg(1996), refers to the process through which parents teach their children about their ethnicity and about the certain experiences they may have with the broader society. Ethnic socialization consists of three themes: 1) understanding one’s own culture, 2) getting along in mainstream society, and 3) dealing with racism (Steinberg, 1996). Possible outcomes of ethnic identity development. There are four ways to deal with ethnicity (Steinberg, 1996): Â ·Assimilation–adopting the cultural norms of the majority while rejecting the norms of one’s own culture. Â ·Separation–rejecting the majority culture and associating only with members of one’s own culture. Â ·Marginality–living within majority culture but feeling estranged. Â ·Biculturalism–maintaining ties to both cultures. According to Steinberg (1996) many believe that biculturalism is more successful than the other four. With biculturalism minority youth have access to the norms of the majority and minority culture depending on the situation. References. Â ·Smith, Elise J. Ethnic Identity Development: Toward the Development of A Theory within the Context of Majority/Minority Status. Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD. v70. n1. Sept. 1991. p. 181-188. Â ·Spencer, Margaret Beale. Child Development. v61 n2. Apr. 1990. P. 290-310. Â ·Dashefsky, A. (Eds. ). (1976). Ethnic identity in society. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing Co. Smith, E. J. (1991). Ethnic identity development: Toward the development of a theory within the context of majority/minority status. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 181-187. Â ·Steinberg, L. (1996). Adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

2nd Grade Math Course of Study

2nd Grade Math Course of Study The following list provides you with the basic concepts that should be attained by the end of the school year. Mastery of the concepts at the previous grade is assumed. Numbers Read print numbers to 20 and locate, compare, order, represent, estimate, identify numbers to 1000 and mentally add and subtract numbers to 20Understand place value to be able to trade 10 ones for a ten, etc.Count by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s beyond 100.Locate numbers when requested to 1000Understand the reverse properties of whole numbers 57 is the same as 75Add and subtract two-digit numbers (no carrying/regrouping)Introduction to division using sharing as examplesCount by skipping numbers when requestedAdd and subtract coins up to $1.00Compute word problems with addition and subtraction, (We have 20 children in swimming class, 8 are boys, how many are girls?) Measurement Use and understand more than, less than, the same as, heavier than, lighter than, taller than etc.Measure with a variety of cups, rulers and measuring spoonsTime - hours, minutes and secondsUse the terms inches, feet, yards, centimeters, meters etc.Know the months of the year and tell time to the quarter hourUse a thermometer and count money to a dollar including being able to create different sets that equal a dollarCompare a variety of measurement tools Geometry Describe, identify, create and sort and build with shapes (squares, triangles, circles, rectangles etc.)Identify a variety of geometric shapes in everyday structuresCompare and sort 2- and 3-dimensional shapes (3-D terms include sphere, prism cones etc.)Extend and make patterns with shapesDetermine lines of symmetry, flips, slides, turns, and transformations of shapesDescribe locations on a grid - up four and over two etc. Algebra/Patterning Identify, describe, reorganize and extend patterns with more than one attributeGive specific rules about patterns for numbers, shapes, pictures, and objectsIdentify and describe patterns in the world around us (wallpaper, paint etc) Probability Use graphs to record number of pets, hair color temperature with 1 and 2 attributesDesign or construct bar graphs and include pertinent informationInterpret a variety of picture and bar graphs and give explanationsInvestigate what happens when coins are flipped and die are rolled All Grades Pre-K Kdg. Gr. 1 Gr. 2 Gr. 3 Gr. 4 Gr. 5 Gr. 6 Gr. 7 Gr. 8 Gr. 9 Gr. 10 Gr.11 Gr. 12

The eNotes Blog The King in Yellow Analysis and Plot Summary of the Book that Inspired HBOs TrueDetective

The King in Yellow Analysis and Plot Summary of the Book that Inspired HBOs TrueDetective HBO has a monster hit on its hands with  True Detective, a very dark Southern Noir cop show that takes place in Louisiana. The show is littered with references to the 1875 book by Robert Chambers entitled The King in Yellow. The connections between the show and the book are sometimes blunt and direct, such as similar place names, and at times obscure and thematic. But what is  The King in Yellow  about? has a plot summary and brief analysis. Heres quick excerpt to get you familiar with the basic concepts of the book: The King in Yellow  is a combination of fantasy and romance fiction; the fantasy pieces have won and maintained the works reputation. These stories have two central themes. One is the existence of a sinister, banned book, also known as  The King in Yellow, that has the ability to morally corrupt or spiritually destroy all those who read it. The second theme is that the fictional book within Robert Chambers’ work is based on the almost unknown truth that there is an actual â€Å"King in Yellow† who comes from beyond the stars and whose unseen, baleful influence on human life is more pervasive than can be imagined. But what about specific connections between the book and the show? Using the amazing Homework Help section, we were able to surface some pretty amazing connections. Heres a short excerpt from Educator KarythCaras in-depth answer: Both  True Detective  (2014) and  The  King in  Yellow  Ã‚  (1895) are tales of madness, to borrow the words of  True Detective  writer, Nic Pizzolatto. He and Chamberswhose short stories in the collection  The  King in  Yellow,  which is the same title as the fictional play that courses its way through the short stories, provide allusions and pivotal plot elements for  True Detectiveboth address the idea, expressed in Chambers opening short story The Repairer of Reputations, that human nature has  limits  of endurance for the darkness that is the strain, that is the poison, of humans souls. Check out the complete answers here, and if you have your own connections to add, we invite you to do so!

Definition and Examples of Subordinate Clauses

Definition and Examples of Subordinate Clauses In  English grammar, a subordinate clause is a  group of words that has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a dependent clause. Contrast this with a main clause and coordinate clause. Subordinate clauses are usually attached to main clauses or embedded in matrix clauses. Pronunciation: Suh-BOR-din-it Exercises Exercise in  identifying adverb clausesPractice identifying independent and dependent clauses Examples and Observations Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.(Mark Twain)That spring, when I had a great deal of potential and no money at all, I took a job as a janitor.(James Alan McPherson, Gold Coast, 1969)Memory is deceptive because it is colored by todays events.(Albert Einstein)Bailey and I did arithmetic at a mature level because of our work in the store, and we read well because in Stamps there wasnt anything else to do.(Maya Angelou,  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969)If you cant leave in a taxi you can leave in a huff. If thats too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff.(Groucho Marx, Duck Soup)If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.(John F. Kennedy)When you lose your laugh, you lose your footing.(Ken Kesey)Every book is a childrens book if the kid can read.(Mitch Hedberg) Grammatical Juniors Subordinate clauses are grammatical juniors, dependent on the main clause for complete sense. They are not subordinate in any other way; they need not be stylistically inferior, and indeed may be more informative than the main clause they depend on, as in this example: If you go on with a diet that consists exclusively of cottage cheese, dry toast, and Brazil nuts, I shall worry. The main clause is I shall worry: it is, I think, rather feeble in view of what precedes it, a sad anticlimax to what was promising to be a fairly arresting sentence. But although that previous clause is much more interesting in every other way, it remains grammatically subordinate: it could not stand on its own.(Richard Palmer, Write in Style: A Guide to Good English, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2002) Types of Subordinating Conjunctions Finite clauses are introduced by a subordinator, which serves to indicate the dependent status of the clause together with its circumstantial meaning. Formally, subordinating conjunctions can be grouped as follows: simple conjunctions: when, whenever, where, wherever, because, if, unless, until, while, as, althoughconjunctive groups: as if, as though, even if, even though, even when, soon after, no soonercomplex conjunctions:: there are three subclasses: (i) derived from verbs . . .: provided (that), granted (that), considering (that), seeing (that), suppose (that), supposing (that), so (that)(ii) containing a noun: in case, in the event that, to the extent that, in spite of the fact that, the day, the way(iii) adverbial: so/as long as, as soon as, so/as far as, much as, now (that) Angela Downing,  English Grammar: A University Course. Routledge, 2006) Subordinate Clauses in Poetry When I heard the learn’d astronomer;When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.(Walt Whitman, When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer. Leaves of Grass)

Pyramidal ownership structure Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pyramidal ownership structure - Coursework Example ountries, and tends to exists irrespective of whether new companies are developed by smaller organizations or even groups and is crucial to underpin the entrepreneurial activity The organizational structures which various firms are connected through equity financing are ubiquitous in upcoming markets and in majority of developed countries. They are normally arranges as pyramided, where a family or individuals controls an organization, which later controls another company, which could also control another firm, and the chain continues. Despite their control, it is yet to be clear why such firm arise (Almeida and Wolfenzon, 2005). It is normally argues that such ultimate firm owners create pyramid in separating control right from the rights of cash flow and capture private control benefits at the expense of minor shareholders. Business group describes various types of organization. It is used to describe a set of legally independent companies by single families like family groups in East Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe. The term has also been used for companies with lower stance of core control achieved via interlocking directorates and school ties. Some of the examples of these business group include the Japanese Keiretsu where individual managers have a higher degree of autonomy in their companies but coordinate their tasks through the common main bank and the president council. Another illustration for the loose association is the horizontal financial groups found in Russian which are majorly industry alliances. The paper therefore, concentrates on the family groups. There is a wide economic literature on the business groups of families. The theories have suggested various arguments about the existence of business groups and the reason they use various ownership structures. To achieve that control of the member firms, families hold shared directly in their horizontal structure or alternatively it can control some of the companies through the relations of

Answer this question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer this question - Assignment Example Those who earned more contributed more and hence will receive more. Those in the public sector either rely on their pensions or the 403(b) which is available for the church ministers, certain tax-exempt organizations as well as public school employees. The retirement money is provided through an insurance company, invested in mutual funds or a retirement account set up. The public employees’ retirement system is common in the state of Nebraska making it stand out from the other states such as Kansas as the retired public employees live comfortably on their retirement savings plan paid monthly (Fenge, De Menil and Pestieau 172). Americans have moved from the corporate sponsored retirement plan where the corporates were offering pensions. With the increase of people in this sector, the plan was simply too much to sustain and the employers moved towards the defined benefit (DB). The DB plan is sponsored by the employer in addition to employee contributions. The money is then pooled together with the available funding from government and other sponsors of the plan. Employees under this plan are therefore able to receive certain benefits based on their number of years in service as well as their average salary. The DB plan can also offer payment monthly for as long as the annuitants live instead of a lump-sum distribution option (Slesnick and Suttle, 115). There is also the retirement plan of defined contribution pension plan (DC) which works similarly like a regular insurance. The employer specifies the amount of money needed for the plan to be contributed on a regular basis. The money in invested and the performance of the investment over time as well as amount contributed will determine how much they will get in their retirement funds. Even though the plan provides more flexibility in payment, the investment risks are shouldered by the employee (Slesnick and Suttle,

Homebase Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Homebase - Coursework Example The balanced scorecard tool is explained before designing the scorecard for the case company. Also the use of the balanced scorecard in the performance evaluation and monitoring of the modern businesses are discussed. Both the balanced scorecard outcomes and the designed strategy map are explained and analyzed to provide suitable recommendations to the Board of Directors of Homebase for deciding on the future strategic direction of the company. The recommendations are given with the aim of supporting the management of Homebase to take suitable corporate and business decisions and devise the appropriate strategies for the achievement of the business goals and objectives and for implementing the formulated strategies in the most efficient and value adding manner. Homebase  is a home improvement retail company based in the United Kingdom. The company operates in the segment of home improvement and garden centre and is a subsidiary of the famous Home Retail Group. Homebase operates with 323 outlets across different locations in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The company is a highly successful retailer in the United Kingdom which has recorded a profit of GBP 18.9 million in the financial year 2013-2014. Also, the revenues for the company were recorded to have a value of GBP 1.46 billion in the financial year of 2013-2014 as per the annual report published by the company. The vision of the company is to provide the customer groups in the country with a wide range of home improvement products and services within a differentiated environment. The company aims to provide both convenience and value for its customers through its operations (Crawford, 2008). Homebase uses a number of strategies in its operational, financial, human resource management and other business functions for the purpose of developing consistency in its service provision and for creating competiveness and success in the dynamic business environment in which it functions. The

Engineering drawing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Engineering drawing - Essay Example Drawing is considered as a vital part of the entire engineering assignment and is a major portion of the designing region of the field of engineering. There are several fields of engineering, including: mechanical, technical and civil engineering and all fields have placed certain amount of importance on the activity of engineering drawing. Engineering drawing has two meanings, firstly it is the act of drawing itself and secondly it is the output of drawing or a piece of art that is visible to others. Engineering drawing is considered as a language and this language even comprises of grammatical rules such as the grammatical rules invested in English language (Ve?n?ugo?pa?l V). There is a huge difference between both engineering drawing and artistic drawing although certain amount of people may use both the terms interchangeably. All engineers need to learn the proper way of conducting the act of engineering drawing as it can have devastating effects as any language if not used in th e proper manner can have devastating impacts. Body Those who are not related to the field of engineering may regard both engineering as well as artistic drawing as simply drawing; both engineers and artists may share similar traits as both are involved in the process of drawing images. But the purpose of both types of drawings differ, drawing that is artistic in nature is conducted with the purpose of conveying emotional messages, and the purpose of engineer made drawing is to spread information and provide insight (Madsen 11). Another major difference between both forms of drawing is that of understanding, in order to understand engineer made drawings, one needs to have knowledge of the field of engineering. The engineer has to pass through a particular possess and needs to obtain certain skill set in order to develop drawings for engineering purpose. This process is even regarded as technical drawing and is used in various disciplines of engineering and non engineering disciplines . Engineering is a very vast field and they may share certain common types of drawings and certain drawings are only limited to a particular field of engineering. For example in the case of metal engineering, the field specific types of drawings may include fabrication and casting and the fabrication part of metal engineering may further be divided into other forms of drawings. Engineer made drawings even act as legal documentation as this document interacts and transfers information regarding what resources and assistance is desirable for those will ultimately transform a drawing of an idea into a real end product (Choi 10). Engineering drawings are used as a means of creating a contract between two parties, there are parties involved when an engineering idea in drawing form is sold to someone, it even becomes a part of the purchasers and sellers purchase and sale order and is even a part of any changes made to the product. This drawing helps in saving a manufacturer from being hel d responsible if the manager had followed all the steps that were stated in the drawing and still failed to produce a successful outcome. In this scenario the drawing is analyzed and the engineer who drew the engineering drawing

Breaching Experiment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Breaching Experiment - Research Paper Example For this experiment, in which the student will assume the personality of a FaceBook creeper, the reaction to being a creeper is the most important point. If the social breach succeeds and social norms are compromised, how people react is evidence of mechanisms through which they attempt to combat the breach or make sense of the abnormal behavior (Garfinkel, 2011). Whereas it is expected that lighthearted breaches in the FaceBook creeper experiment will induce curiosity, confusion, and laughter, breaches of a more serious nature are expected to cause anger and anxiety. It was also expected that the experiment would show how uncomfortable people are about unexpected notification or information. The Facebook picture creeper experiment was chosen for this study, in which I had to go through the photo album of an acquaintance on Facebook and comment on about fifteen to twenty photos. These photos were supposed to be more than six months old and the comments were to be posted over a period of three days. In addition, the experiment required that only positive comments were written on the posts, such as â€Å"cute photo† and other positive comments. After posting, I was to check back to identify whether anyone else had commented on photo as a result of my posts and a description of the responses was to be made, as well as a description of how I felt about making these posts. For the experiment, I picked one of my friends from high school, whom I had not seen or talked to for some time and was not a friend on Facebook. I searched for her name on Facebook and identified her photo, after which I made a friend request that was accepted. Immediately after we became friends on the site, I commented on twenty of her photographs from her photo album and, as required by the experiment, I ensured that all my comments on the photos were positive. In the beginning, I commented on only a few photographs

City of God Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

City of God - Essay Example Among the emergent themes in the movie are urban crime, social network, education, urban slums, the lack of economic and social mobility, and the global city. These themes are presented through the lives of Rocket and Jose ‘Lil Ze’ who are in opposite paths in their lives’ but are both shackled to the city of their childhood. The torn down buildings and the dirty streets serve as the backdrop of the film’s storyline and the object of Rocket’s gritting photographs. In the Broken Window Principle, the idea is that one broken window will lead to many broken windows. In an experiment, the pristine condition of windows deters the commission of voluntarily shattering them. James Wilson and George Kelling write that the police play an important role in reclaiming their own authorities in streets that have been overrun by gang-related violence. This is further strengthened when the people see them as a partner in driving out those who commit organized crimes to return their communities to a peaceful state. â€Å"The process we call urban decay has occurred for centuries in every city... Earlier crime waves had a kind of built-in self-correcting mechanism: the determination of a neighborhood or community to reassert control over its turf† (4). Sadly, this was not shown in the film as corruption was a rampant attribute of the local police force. Zukin’s Whose Culture, Whose City? (75) with its setting in New York, reveals that public space is continually being privatized by corporate entitles, resulting in a cultural war within its streets. In this regard, it is equally important to look at the cultural relevance of urban decay with respect to education. It not only functions to develop the individual but the nation at large. For developing nations, education has a pivotal developmental role. In this movie, education in the developing Rio de Janeiro, is quite accessible but an extensive portion of the populace remained ignorant.

Breaching Experiment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Breaching Experiment - Research Paper Example For this experiment, in which the student will assume the personality of a FaceBook creeper, the reaction to being a creeper is the most important point. If the social breach succeeds and social norms are compromised, how people react is evidence of mechanisms through which they attempt to combat the breach or make sense of the abnormal behavior (Garfinkel, 2011). Whereas it is expected that lighthearted breaches in the FaceBook creeper experiment will induce curiosity, confusion, and laughter, breaches of a more serious nature are expected to cause anger and anxiety. It was also expected that the experiment would show how uncomfortable people are about unexpected notification or information. The Facebook picture creeper experiment was chosen for this study, in which I had to go through the photo album of an acquaintance on Facebook and comment on about fifteen to twenty photos. These photos were supposed to be more than six months old and the comments were to be posted over a period of three days. In addition, the experiment required that only positive comments were written on the posts, such as â€Å"cute photo† and other positive comments. After posting, I was to check back to identify whether anyone else had commented on photo as a result of my posts and a description of the responses was to be made, as well as a description of how I felt about making these posts. For the experiment, I picked one of my friends from high school, whom I had not seen or talked to for some time and was not a friend on Facebook. I searched for her name on Facebook and identified her photo, after which I made a friend request that was accepted. Immediately after we became friends on the site, I commented on twenty of her photographs from her photo album and, as required by the experiment, I ensured that all my comments on the photos were positive. In the beginning, I commented on only a few photographs

Characters in Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Characters in Hamlet Essay In Hamlet, Polonius interacts in very different ways with the various characters. While talking with Reynaldo, he speaks in a sneaky, sly and clever manner. When talking with his daughter Ophelia, he seems very concerned. When talking with Hamlet, he seems confused, not knowing what Hamlet is talking about. When talking with the Players, however, he acts imperiously, exerting his authority over them. When talking with Reynaldo, Polonius speaks in a clever and sneaky manner. He tells Reynaldo exactly how to speak to people while trying to find Laertes. He tells him exactly what to say so that the other person will be forced to tell him of the whereabouts of Laertes. He told him that he should say you may say, not well. But, if t be he I mean, hes very wild. Poloniuss sneakiness is seen through his clever tactic in sending Reynaldo to Paris for the purpose of discovering Laertes habits. When talking with his daughter Ophelia, however, he seems genuinely concerned. This is true because in regard to Laertes, Polonius was looking for an excuse to punish or disown him for leaving the country. However, by Ophelia, Polonius is really concerned. While speaking with Gertrude and Claudius, Polonius is very honest. He comes before the king and queen bringing good news. The good news is that he knows why Hamlet is so upset. The reason is because of Ophelia. After discovering Hamlets lust for his daughter, he told Ophelia to stop meeting Hamlet and to send back Hamlets love letters. Then, he asks the king and queen if there has ever been a time where he had not told the truth. Claudius responds not that I know. To prove his fidelity, he is prepared to have his head chopped off if he is wrong. When talking with Hamlet, Polonius is confused. Polonius does not understand what Hamlet is talking about. When confronting Hamlet, Hamlet is reading a book. When asked what kind of book he is reading, Hamlet responds Slanders sir. While speaking with the Players, Polonius is arrogantly domineering. The Players come to perform a play for hamlet in order to cheer him up. While  doing their play, Polonius rudely interrupts them. He makes comments such as This is too long. In addition, after the play, when Hamlet instructs Polonius to treat the Players well, Polonius responds arrogantly, My lord, I will use them according to their desert. In response to Poloniuss disrespectful statement, Hamlet says Gods bodykins man, much better. Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after you honor and dignity. In conclusion, Poloniuss character varies with every individual he interacts with. It varies to the extent that his character can change from extremely honest to sly and sneaky. Also, it can change from confused to arrogantly domineering. His unique character traits differ greatly to the extent that by the end of Act II, Polonius is viewed as a necessary and crucial character in the play.

Theme of Civilization and Savagery in The Novel The Lord of The Flies

Theme of Civilization and Savagery in The Novel The Lord of The Flies Theme of Civilization and Savagery in The Novel The Lord of The Flies The novel written by William Golding is an allegorical novel where lots of elements of fiction are used to communicate the main ideas and themes of the novel. One of the themes that can be explored trough this novel is civilization and savagery. The central concern of Lord of The Flies deals with the collapse of civilization to the rebirth of civilization. The conflict appear from this theme is communicate through the disintegration of the British young boys well look behaviour as they adapt themselves to a uncivilized, brutal life in the jungle after they were stranded on an island. The theory of inborn evil human evil hold an essential aspect in this theme as the young boys evolve more primitive, the beast that they scared of developed within themselves. The inborn evil is the beast that destructs the civilization as savageness call for its status. In the novel, The lord of the flies symbolizes the existence of the beast within the young boys mind. The rift of the theme of civiliza tion and savagery is also communicated through the symbols exist in this novel, the conch which related with the character Ralph and the lord of the flies which related with the character Jack. The fundamental concernment of this novel is the theme of civilization and savagery where civilization giving away to savagery within human heart, as the young boys shed their civilization for savagery after being influence by fear, superstition and their desires. Through the whole of this novel, the theme civilization and savagery communicates by the conflict between Ralph and Jack, who respectively represent civilization and savagery. The vary theory are deliberate by each two boys different attitude toward authorization on the island. Ralph who was selected to become a chief used his authority to set up rules on that island in order to have a better life between them. From the novel, Ralph said Thats what this shell called. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speaking (Golding, 43). This shows that the only person who can speak is the one who hold the shell which called conch during the meeting. Ralph has set up the rules so that no one will interrupt when someone is speaking to ensure the smoothness of the meeting which shows us that they are still civilized boys that have moral and ethical codes of the English society. On the other hand, Jack is more interest in gaining power over the others to satisfy his most primal impulses which is his desires of hunting pigs. All the same you need an army-for hunting. Hunting pigs, said Jack on the novel (Golding, 43). Jack desires for power shows that savagery has started taking over his mind. When Jack begin acting savage, the savage side become evident with the power of the leader, Ralph, collapse. Jack overthrows Ralph as a leader. He manage to persuade the others boys to join his tribe, a tribe which involve with hunting pigs, making sacrifices to the beast and having fun without realizing that they were stranded on an deserted island. This is proved by the line Now listen. We might go later to the castle rock. But now Im going to get more of the biguns away from the conch and all that. Well kill the pig and give a feast. He paused and went on more slowly. And about the beast. When we kill well leave some of the kill for it. Then it wont bother us, maybe (Golding, 165). He and his tribe go so far until it results in the destruction of th e peaceful environment on the island as well as the collapsing of their civilized mind. The cleft of the theme is also demonstrate through the novels major symbol which are the conch that affiliate with character Ralph and The Lord of the Flies that affiliate with the character Jack. The conch that was found by Ralph is a powerful symbol which shows the democratic order on that island, agreeing Ralphs leadership that was determine through the election and also the power of assembly among the young boys. From the novel, Piggy said, We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. Theyll come when they hear us (Golding, 22). This shows that the conch has the power to call the others for a meeting which represent the symbol of authority and order that related to the civilization among the boys. However, as the engagement between Ralph and Jack getting worse, the conch loses symbolic importance. You havent got it with you, said Jack, sneering. You left it behind. See, clever? And the conch doesnt count at the end of this island (Golding, 186). From what Jack has said, th is shows that the conch started to loses its power of authority and order and represent the decline of civilization on the island. In the meanwhile, The Lord of the Flies, which is a sacrifice to the suppositious beast on the island, contributes to the dominance of the savagery on the island and also symbolise Jacks authority over his tribe. From the novel, Jack spoke loudly, This head is for the beast. Its a gift (Golding, 170). In addition, the demolition of the conch at the scene where Piggy was killed manifests the complete destruction of civilization on the island. In the novel, the devastation of the conch is shows from the phase, The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee, the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist(Golding, 222). At the end of this novel, the savagery has totally displaced civilization as the prevailing system on the island. The clash between the theme of civilization and savagery in this novel also can be explored through the symbol of fire which associate with civilization and the symbol of mask which associate with savagery. The symbol of fire in this novel is very important as it bring lots of meaning to the boys. It represents the hope of being rescue, survival and also civilization. In the novel, Ralph said Theres another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire(Golding, 49). This indicates that the boys know that the fire is very important because without the smoke from the fire, they would never be rescued. The symbol of fire shows the only civilization left on the island as it is a form of hope, survival and most importantly, rescue as Ralph said in the novel Your only hope is keeping a signal fire going as long as theres light to see. Then maybe a ship will notice the smoke and c ome and rescue us and take us home. But without that smoke weve got to wait till some ship comes by accident. We might wait years; till we were old (Golding, 219). On the other hand, the symbol of mask in this novel stands for savagery and barbaric behaviour. The mask has encouraged the incivility in the boys and provides them with a different identity. From the novel, Jack said For hunting. Like in the war. You know -dazzle paint. Like thing trying to look like something else (Golding, 79).The mask has made the boys started to transform from civil to savage. When the boys hide behind the mask, the boys somehow are given a new identity which gives confidence and a sense of carefree. Behind the masquerade, they commit acts of barbarity. It liberates them from shame and leads them into a savage like creatures. It also detaches them from reality and triggers them to neglect their responsibility. As the novel progress, Golding shows how different people feel the influences of the instincts of civilization and savagery to different degrees. Generally, however, Golding implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal and fundamental to the human mind than the instinct of civilization. The Lord of the Flies is a chronicles of civilization giving way to savagery within human nature, as the young boys who were stranded on the island shaped by the supremely civilized British society become fully savage guided only by fear, superstition and desire.

The Cloning Dilemma :: Science Genetics Essays

The Cloning Dilemma Cloning is one of the most widely talked about topics in this world. It is one topic that evokes a great public response worldwide. The defenders of cloning believe that cloning and genetic engineering will be the answer to most of the diseases in the future. On the other hand, the people against cloning view it as ‘ playing God ’. Cloning is unethical because people will lose their identities if their clones come into this world. We are taking nature into our own hands by cloning animals or humans. Cloning is the process of creating a cell, tissue line or even a complete organism from a single cell. The concept of cloning was introduced in 1903, and plants were the first living organisms to be cloned. Other examples of clones are trees sending up runners, worms dividing into smaller worms, populations of genetically identical bacteria and cells dividing into tissue. The word clone actually comes from the Greek root for â€Å" twig † ( klon ). Human cloning is a prospect no longer left to the fantastic realm of science fiction novels; rather it is a modern possibility. In 1997, embryologists in Scotland cloned the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly. Shortly thereafter, scientists in the United States cloned a set of monkeys. There are many advantages and disadvantages of cloning and a lot of ethical issues related to it. The entire realm of biotechnology is fraught with dangers and problems that require careful study and democratic debate of key ethical issues. In an era where everything depends on technology and where life can be created and redesigned in a Petri dish and genetic codes can be edited like a digital text, the distinction between ‘ natural ’ and ‘ artificial ’ have become very complex. The defenders of biotechnology extol its potential to increase food production and quality and to cure diseases and prolong human life. Its critics, on the other hand, claim that genetic engineering of food would produce â€Å" Frankenfoods † (Best and Kellner 440) that would pollute

Major Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology Essay -- Psychology Paper

Major Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology INTRODUCTION In this assignment I will be describing the five major schools of psychological research. These are Behaviorism, Biological, Cognitive, Humanist and Psychoanalytical. I will then attempt to evaluate the pros, cons and practical applications of the Behaviorist and Psychodynamic approaches. BEHAVIORISM The earliest origins of behaviorism can be stemmed from the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704). He believed that the human being is born as a 'tabula rasa'. This effectively means a neonate is a blank slate with no prior knowledge or ideas. According to Locke it is experience through senses, which provides the mind. The modern founding father of behaviorism is John Watson (1878-1958). He believed that ÃŽÂ ¨ should be about the study of observable behavior and that behavior is molded by experience. Behaviorists believe that however complex a piece of behavior might be, it is possible to break it down and analyze it in basic STIMULUS-RESPONSE units. This theory also relates to Reductionism, where psychologists attempt to understand behavior by looking at the most basic parts. This S-R theory can be best demonstrated in the work of a Russian psychologist called Pavlov (1849-1936). His theory of Classical Conditioning centred on his study of dogs and his attempt to artificially condition a natural response. The sight/smell of food leading to salivation is an unconditioned S-R. He introduced a neutral stimulus when food was presented so the dogs associated the two. After this conditioning was complete the dog salivated when presented with the neutral stimu... ...ed from one subject. So if the basis for the research is in doubt the results must also be brought into question. In modern research a large sample is demanded to give room for error and individual differences. The main theme is that we are controlled by our past, this is true to an extent but it implies that we have no control over our lives. All our actions are pre-determined by past experiences. This has also brought reservations about the merit of Freud's theories. Flawed though it is, without it the world of psychology would be a different place. BIBLIOGRAPHY Printed publications: Perspectives in psychology Wadeley and Birch 1997 Macmillan Psychology in perspective Hayes 2002 Palgram Mind watching H and M Eysenck 1994 MMB Internet Sites: www.psychclassics.yorku.ca www.psychology.org

World Bank Report Concept Of Water Security Environmental Sciences Essay

Water security implies low-cost entree to clean H2O for agribusiness, industrial and household use and is therefore of import portion of human security. Water along with nutrient and energy signifiers a critical portion of ‘new security docket ‘ and redefines the apprehension of security as a footing for policy response and long term planning. 23. Water security for India implies effectual responses to altering H2O conditions in footings of quality, measure and uneven distribution. Unheeded it can consequence relationship between South Asiatic states. Water security has been recognized as being of import plenty to be enshrined in UN human rights declaration and is now a basis of UN ‘s millenium development ends[ 1 ]. Water insecurity is all permeant in South Asiatic part, seeable in struggles and tensenesss break outing within and across states. Therefore, the demand to incorporate H2O security as a cardinal constituent of human security is important. 24. Water Availability & A ; Consumption. Planet is covered largely by H2O but merely 3 % of it is fresh H2O and out of which 2 % is frozen in ice caps and glaciers. Mere 1 % is in signifier of lakes, pools, rivers, watercourses, swamps, marshesand bogs is readily available for human ingestion. By 2030 it is believed that demand for H2O will be 40 % more than its current demand and 50 % higher in most rapidlydeveloping states that include India and China[ 2 ].As per the estimations, by 2030 universe population is projected to make 7.5 billion ( low estimation ) and 9 billion ( medium estimation ) by 2050 from the current degree of 6.7 billion people.The majority of the population addition will be in states already sing H2O deficits. The of all time spread outing spread between demand ( in footings of turning population & A ; economic system ) and supply ( in footings of handiness ) will potentially do H2O a serious issue in the coming decennaries peculiarly in dumbly populated states . 25. Union Ministry of H2O resources has estimated the states H2O demands to be around 1093 BCM for the twelvemonth 2025 and 1447 BCM for the twelvemonth 2050. With jutting population growthof 1.4 billion by 2050, the entire available H2O resources would hardly fit the entire H2O demands of the state. In 1951 the one-year per capita handiness of H2O was 5177m, which reduced to 1342m by 2000. The facts indicate that India is expected to go ‘water stressed ‘ by 2025 and ‘water scarce ‘ by 2050. Harmonizing to the UNEP. ‘water emphasis ‘ occurs when demand for H2O exceeds the available sum during a certain period or when hapless quality restricts its usage. Water emphasis causes impairment of fresh H2O resources in footings of quality and measure. A state whose renewable fresh H2O handiness on an one-year per capita footing, exceeds about 1700 centimeter will endure merely occasional or local H2O job. Below this threshold states being to see periodic o r regular H2O emphasis. When fresh H2O handiness falls below 1000cm per individual per twelvemonth, states experience chronic H2O scarceness, in which the deficiency of H2O Begins to halter economic development, human wellness and good being. When renewable fresh H2O supplies fall below 500 centimeters per individual, states experience absolute scarceness. 24. Six billion people of planet Earth use about 30 % of the universe ‘s entire accessible renewable supply of H2O. By 2025, that value may make 70 % . Yet at present one million millions of people lack basic H2O services and 1000000s die each twelvemonth from H2O related diseases. Some believe that fresh H2O will be critical restricting resource for many parts in the close hereafter. About one tierce of te universe ‘s population lies in states that are sing H2O emphasis. In Asia, where H2O has ever been regarded as an abundant resource per capita handiness declined by 40-60 % between 1955 & A ; 1990. Projections suggest that most Asiatic states will hold terrible H2O jobs by the twelvemonth 2025. 25. Water Security. Water security is an elusive construct, but consensus is get downing to emerge in the universe community as to its dimensions, its parametric quantities, and the best attacks for its accomplishment. The Second World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration ( 2000 ) , endorsed that H2O security implies the followers: – Human entree to safe and low-cost H2O for wellness and wellbeing. Assurance of economic and political stableness. Protection of human populations from the hazards of water-related jeopardies. Equitable and concerted sharing of H2O resources. Complete and just rating of the resource. Sustainability of ecosystems at all parts of the hydrologic rhythm.Dimensions of Water Security26. The issue of H2O security has several dimensions such as viing utilizations, debasement of quality and scarceness. World Bank defines it as a combination of increased productiveness and lessened destructivity of H2O. In the yesteryear, the competition for H2O has triggered societal tensenesss and struggles between water-use sectors and states as the domestic demands for H2O has forced authoritiess to be after and put in expansive H2O undertakings such as the River-Linking Project by India and Three Gorges undertaking by China. The H2O profile of the part with complex mutualities implies that internal kineticss within a state may now progressively manifest itself in an inter-State dimension. 27. Water is arguably one of humanity ‘s most valuable resources and that is why all antediluvian civilisations grew along rivers be it the Indus or the Nile. It has come under increased demand due to rapid population and economic growing and may go a changeless beginning of struggles both within the states every bit good as between states. South Asia is an disposed instance survey of H2O both as a beginning of cooperation and every bit good as struggle. The concern for H2O is more pressing in the South Asiatic mainland dwelling of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Nepal. The China factor and impact of its H2O policies has added another dimension to the job. 28. Water scarceness is a serious and turning job throughout the universe, and the twin force per unit areas of ‘Population Growth ‘ and ‘Climate Change ‘ will merely escalate this job. The United Nations estimates that â€Å" the figure of people populating in water-stressed states will increase from about 700 million today to more than 3 billion by 2035[ 3 ]. The underdeveloped universe entirely will be home to 90 % of the 3 billion people expected to be added to the planetary population by 2025. 29. It is estimated that by 2025, over half of the universe ‘s dwellers will be straight affected by H2O scarceness. Most of them will populate in either China or India. China has entree to about 7 % cent of the universe ‘s H2O resources, but is place to around 20 % of the planetary population, while India possesses about 4 % of H2O resources with merely a somewhat smaller public[ 4 ]. Both states, along with eight other Asiatic states and 47 % of the universe ‘s people, are to a great extent dependent on the Tibetan Plateau for H2O. Any H2O policies for the part hence will hold a multinational impact. 30. Measured by conventional indexs, H2O emphasis, which occurs when the demand for H2O exceeds the available sum during a certain period or when hapless quality restricts its usage, is increasing quickly, particularly in developing states like India and China. Harmonizing to the 2006 Human Development Report[ 5 ], about 700 million people in 43 states live below the water-stress threshold of 1,700 three-dimensional metres per individual. By 2025, this figure will make 3 billion, as H2O emphasis intensifies in China, India, and South Asia.Factors Determining Water Security31. The graduated table of the ever-present social challenge of accomplishing and prolonging H2O security is determined by many factors, of which three stand out. First there is the hydrologic environment, the absolute degree of H2O resource handiness, its inter- and intra-annual variableness and its spacial distribution, which is a natural bequest that a society inherits. Second, there is the socio-economic environ ment, the construction of the economic system and the behaviour of its histrions, which will rei ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ect natural and cultural bequests and policy picks. Third, there will be alterations in the hereafter environment, with considerable and turning grounds that clime alteration will be a major portion. These factors will play of import functions in finding the establishments and the types and graduated tables of substructure needed to accomplish H2O security.The Hydrologic Environment32. Relatively low rainfall variableness, with rain distributed throughout the twelvemonth and Perennial River i ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ows sustained by groundwater base i ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ows, consequences in hydrology that is comparatively â€Å" easy † to pull off. Achieving a basic degree of H2O security is straightforward and requires relatively low degrees of accomplishment and investing ( chiefly because H2O is sufi ¬?cient, widespread and comparatively dependable ) . â€Å" Difi ¬?cult † hydrol ogies are those of absolute H2O scarceness ( i.e. comeuppances ) and, at the other extreme, low-lying lands where there is terrible i ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ood hazard. Even more difi ¬?cult is where rainfall is markedly seasonal or where there is high inter-annual clime variableness. With progressively â€Å" difi ¬?cult † hydrology, the degree of institutional rei ¬?nement and substructure investing needed to accomplish basic H2O security becomes signii ¬?cantly greater. Not coincidently, most of the universe ‘s hapless face difi ¬?cult hydrologies. 33. A bequest of trans-boundary Waterss, hydrologic and political or a â€Å" trans-boundary † hydrologic bequest can signii ¬?cantly perplex the undertaking of pull offing and developing H2O to accomplish H2O security owing to inter-jurisdictional competition both within and between states. While this is clearly evident in federal states with some province sovereignty over H2O, it is peculiarly acute in the instance of international trans-boundary Waterss. Rei ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ecting this complexness, the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses was under readying for 20 seven old ages prior to acceptance by the UN General Assembly in 1997 and has non been entered into force. Many of today ‘s trans-boundary basins are the consequence of twentieth Century colonial boundary lines that cut across water partings and created international rivers, peculiarly in South Asia.The Socio-Economic Environment34. Water Infrastructure and Institut ions. Investings in H2O substructure and establishments are about ever needed to accomplish H2O security. States with â€Å" difi ¬?cult hydrology † will constantly necessitate more substructure and stronger establishments, with the development of each of these being greatly complicated where Waterss are trans-boundary. In about all societies, semisynthetic assets have besides been developed, from simple small-scale cheque dikes, weirs and bunds that became the foundation of early civilizations, to, at the other terminal of the graduated table, investing in bulk H2O direction substructure typically developed by industrialising states, such as multipurpose dikes for river ordinance and storage and inter-basin transportation strategies. 35. Macroeconomic Structure and Resilience. The construction of economic systems plays an of import function, with more vulnerable economic systems necessitating more investing to accomplish H2O security. Historical investings in H2O direction establishments and substructure, the economic system ‘s trust on H2O resources for income coevals and employment and its exposure to H2O dazes will all be relevant. 36. Hazard and the Behaviour of Economic Areas. In the poorest states, where endurance is a existent concern for big parts of the population and there are few functional societal safety cyberspaces, economic histrions tend to be highly risk averse, puting merely after there is signii ¬?cant presentation of returns. States with â€Å" difi ¬?cult † hydrology, such as India and Pakistan may good confront the highest hazards ; yet have the most risk-averse populations, the lowest substructure investing and the weakest establishments.Climate Change37. Climate alteration is doing H2O security harder to accomplish and prolong. Global clime alteration is likely to increase the complexness and costs of guaranting H2O security. Overall, climate alteration is expected to take to decreased H2O handiness in the states that are already H2O scarce and an addition in the variableness with which the H2O is delivered. This combination of hydrological variableness and extremes is at the bosom of the challenge of accomplishing basic H2O security. The H2O security challenge will hence be compounded by clime alteration and it will necessitate signii ¬?cant version by all states. This will peculiarly be the instance in hapless states which lack the establishments and substructure to pull off, shop and present their H2O resources and where clime alteration will be superimposed on bing and in some instances utmost exposures. 38. Harmonizing to assorted scientific studies, by 2050 Himalayan glaciers will hold receded by 27.2 % . Slow depletion of these glaciers would greatly cut down the river H2O flow particularly to India, escalating bing jobs of H2O scarceness and competition. Similar alterations will impact the 11 Asiatic states to which Himalayan Waterss flow[ 6 ]. A 2009 Purdue University survey, predicts an eastern displacement in monsoon circulation caused by the altering clime, which today causes more rainfall over the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh and Burma and less rainfall over India, Nepal and Pakistan. This displacement raises serious concerns for the states anticipating reduced rainfall. Summer monsoon rainfall provides 90 % of India`s entire H2O supply and as the effects of clime alteration become more marked, agricultural populations in India and Pakistan dependant on monsoons and glacial thaw for irrigation will be deeply affected.International Conventions on Water Sharing39. Water knows no b oundaries and flows in maintaining with the ballad of the land, necessitating Riparian International Water Laws to regulate the non navigational usage. The 1815 Law for the Navigational Use of International Waters secured the critical sea lines of communicating between the western states and the colonial powers. Ironically, no such Torahs were created for direction of the river classs. 40. United Nations General Assembly Convention. In 1966, the International Law Association adopted the Helsinki Rules, which provide a set of guidelines for ‘reasonable and just ‘ sharing of common waterways. In 1970, the United Nations General Assembly commissioned is ain legal advisory organic structure, the International Law Commission ( ILC ) , to analyze â€Å" Codification of the Law on Water Courses for Purposes other than Navigation. † The first formal effort to pull off the riparian Waterss was the 1997 Draft United Nations Convention, which is yet to be ratified by the needed figure of states. 41. The convention has been criticized as it is practically impossible to hold one convention that would integrate all possible scenarios, as besides a specific convention would be unacceptable to all members of the UN as demands and demands defer from part to part and state to state.Generalized Principles of Trans-boundary Water Allotment42. Water has become a important beginning of struggle and has led to differing perceptual experiences between assorted provinces such as the Arabs and Israelis, Americans and Mexicans, and among all 10s Nile basin co-riparians. The generalised rules to extenuate jobs of H2O allotment include Absolute Sovereignty, Absolute Riverine Integrity, Limited Territorial Sovereignty and Economic Criteria[ 7 ]. These can be summarized as under: – ( a ) Absolute sovereignty is based on hydrography and implies one-sided control over Waterss within a state ‘s district while the philosophy of absolute riverine unity emphasizes the importance of historical use, or chronology, and suggests that every riparian has a right to the Waterss that flow through its district. ( B ) Limited territorial sovereignty reflects the right to reasonable and just usage of international Waterss while bring downing no important injury on any other co-riparian while the rule of economic standards uses the market to apportion H2O among viing users in an economically efficient mode.Approachs to Water Security43. In seeking to understand the assorted histrions and their attacks on the issue of H2O, it is of import to recognize at the beginning that there are plurality of histrions in the H2O sector-the province which includes authoritiess, bureaucratism and the province machinery, who can besides be termed the â€Å" directors † and the market ; civil society administrations and groups ; H2O communities or H2O users ; and knowledge establishments. Each group is characterised with its ain schemes and attacks, and within each group there are differences and fluctuations. 44. Technology Solutions. As the demand for this scarce resource additions daily, it has become an pressing necessity that H2O should be conserved and wastage of this scarce resource should be minimized. Some of the of import techniques such as rainwater harvest home, recycling, infrared or pes operated spigots, drip irrigation method etc save the use of H2O but there is a demand to germinate engineering solutions to this crisis. 45. Drain Basin Approach to Water Security. Drain basins are an indispensable, if non the lone factor in cut downing H2O emphasis. They have besides been historically of import for finding territorial boundaries, peculiarly in parts where trade by H2O has been of import. It is hence natural to pull off H2O resources on the footing of single basins because the drainage basins are consistent entities in a hydrological sense.

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray Essay

Thomas Gray’s poem, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, was first published in 1751. Gray’s idea of rustic life as describe in this poem is agrarian and devoted to the land. He talks of the plow turning the sod and of the sickle mowing down the grain. He mentions the plowmen driving their team of draught animals from the fields. He tells of straw sheds and of people awaking to the crow of the rooster.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gray uses the metaphor of sleep to describe death. He says that those asleep no longer hear the voices of children or the touch and the kisses of those loved ones. He describes death as lending a cold ear and those dead as no longer hearing a call to honor nor does it hear any words of flattery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gray comments on the deaths of the rich and powerful, saying that those dead are no better off than the poor dead rustics. He says that the fact that the rich man’s bones are in some fine urn does not allow him to enjoy his mansion any more than the farmer enjoys the humble earth in which his bones are placed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gray takes on the issue of class as a rhetorical device to get his point across that the rewards for both are equal and that death is a leveler of the playing field. He impresses upon the reader the fact that in the humble churchyard may lie the remains of a life that had potential for greatness. He says that many sweet blossoms bloom, live and crumble to dust unseen and unknown by anyone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If I were to be lying in the graveyard of the country church I would like to have Gray say of me that I was a friend of heaven, of course, and that I saw and enjoyed the dawns of my days and lived my life to the fullest. Now that I am dead left me sleep in peace and forgive and forget the frailties I displayed on earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gray, T.   Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard 1751

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 2

Ella â€Å"I swear to God if we don't find a bathroom soon, I'm going to piss in my pants.† Lila bounces up and down in the driver's seat. The air conditioner is turned up as high as it will go and â€Å"Shake it Out† by Florence + The Machine plays from the speakers. There's a long road of highway stretched out in front of us, weaving over the hills spotted with trees, sage brush, and the pale pink glow of the sunset. My cell phone is in my pocket, heavy like it weighs a hundred pounds. â€Å"You can always pull over and pee behind a bush.† I prop my bare feet up on the dash and pull my white lacy tank top away from my skin to get air flowing. â€Å"Besides, we're like five minutes away from the off-ramp.† â€Å"I can't hold it for five more minutes.† She shoots me a dirty look and squeezes her legs together. â€Å"You're not going to think it's so funny when the car smells like piss.† I smother a laugh and search the GPS for the nearest restroom. â€Å"There's one right off the exit, but I think it's more of an outhouse.† â€Å"Does it have a toilet?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Then it works.† She makes a sharp swerve, cutting off a silver Honda. The Honda lays on its horn and she turns in her seat to flip him the middle finger. â€Å"What a jerk. Doesn't he understand that I have to pee?† I shake my head. I love Lila to death, but sometimes she can be a little self-centered. It's part of what drew me to her; she was so different from my old friends back in Star Grove. My phone beeps again for the millionth time, letting me know I have a message waiting for me. Finally, I shut it off. Lila turns down the music. â€Å"You've been acting weird ever since we left. Who called you?† I shrug, gazing out at the grassy field. â€Å"No one I want to talk to right now.† Five minutes later, we pull up to the outhouse at the edge of town. It's more like a shack with rusty metal siding and a faded sign. The field behind it is spotted with corroded cars and trucks and in front of it is a lake. â€Å"Oh thank God!† She claps her hands and parks the car. â€Å"I'll be right back.† She jumps out and shuffles inside the bathroom. I climb out of the car and stretch my legs, trying not to look at the lake or the bridge going over it, but my gaze magnetizes toward the level bridge with beams curving overhead and out from the sides. The middle one was where I was standing the night I almost jumped. If I squint one eye and tilt my head, I can spot it. An old Chevy pickup comes flying down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust. As it nears, my nose twitches because I know who it is and he's one of the last people I want to see. The truck stops just outside the perimeter of the field behind the restrooms. A lanky guy, wearing a tight t-shirt, a snug pair of jeans, and cowboy boots comes strutting out. Grantford Davis, town pothead, infamous brawl starter, and the guy who dropped me off at the bridge that God awful night eight months ago. I bang on the bathroom door. â€Å"Come on Lila, hurry up.† Grantford looks my way, but there's no recognition in his eyes, which isn't surprising. I've changed since the last time anyone saw me, shedding my gothic clothes, heavy eyeliner, and tough-girl attitude for a more lighter and pleasant look, so I blend in with the crowd. â€Å"You can't rush nature, Ella,† Lila hisses through the door. â€Å"Now let me pee in peace.† I watch Grantford like a hawk as he rolls a tire across the field toward his pickup. The bathroom door opens and Lila walks out cringing. â€Å"Gross, it was so disgusting in there. I think I might have caught herpes just looking at the toilet.† She shivers, wiping her hands on the side of her dress. â€Å"And there were no paper towels.† Grantford has disappeared, although his truck is still there. I grab Lila's arm and tug her toward the car. â€Å"We need to go.† Lila elevates her eyebrows questioningly as she tries to keep up with me. â€Å"What's wrong with you?† â€Å"Nothing,† I say. â€Å"There was just this guy over in the field that I really don't want to talk to.† â€Å"Is he an old boyfriend?† â€Å"No, not even close†¦.† I trail off as Grantford rounds the bathroom. There's sweat on his forehead and grass stains on his jeans. â€Å"I need to talk to you for a minute.† â€Å"Why?† I question, swinging the car door open. Please don't bring up that night. Please. Lila freezes as she's opening the door and her gaze darts to me. â€Å"Ella, what's going on?† Grantford tucks his hands into his pockets, staring at the hood of the car. â€Å"This ain't your car, is it?† â€Å"No, we just stole it and took it for a joy ride.† Shit. Ten minutes back and my old attitude is slipping out. â€Å"I mean, yes it is – her car anyway.† I nod my head at Lila. â€Å"Well, I was just wondering how fast it goes?† He gives me a fox smile that makes me want to gag. I was never a fan of Grantford. He always had a sleazebag attitude, which was part of the reason why I had him drive me to the bridge that night – he was the only one I knew who would leave me there alone. I can't help myself. â€Å"Probably a lot faster than your pick up over there.† He has a shit-eating grin on his face. â€Å"Is that a challenge?† I shake my head and motion for Lila to get in the car â€Å"Nope, that wasn't a challenge. Just a mere observation.† Recollection fills his eyes. â€Å"Wait a minute. Do I know you?† Ignoring him, I start to shut the door, but he catches it. â€Å"Holy crap! I do know you. You're Ella Daniels.† His eyes mosey up my legs, cutoff jeans, lacy white tank top, and land on my eyes lined with frosty pink eyeliner. â€Å"You look†¦ different.† â€Å"College will do that to you.† I scale up his scuffed cowboy boots, his torn jeans, and stained shirt. â€Å"You haven't changed a bit.† â€Å"I see your mouth hasn't changed at all,† he snaps. â€Å"And besides, you didn't change for the better. In fact, you look like you could be friends with Stacy Harris.† â€Å"Don't exaggerate the situation,† I say. Stacy Harris was a popular girl in our grade; head cheerleader, homecoming queen, wore a lot of pink. His face scrunches. â€Å"You didn't just change on the outside either. If anybody would have compared you to Stacy Harris, you'd have punched them in the face.† â€Å"Violence solves nothing.† I begin to shut the door again. â€Å"I have to go.† He complements my move and seizes the door, prying it back open. â€Å"You ain't going anywhere until I get something out of you.† â€Å"Like a kick to the balls,† I threaten, but my insides churn. I can talk tough, but when it all comes down to it he's a really big guy who could easily hurt me. His grey eyes turn black as the sun sets behind the shallow hills. â€Å"I heard you bailed. Packed up your stuff one night and took off. Pissed off a lot of people, too. The ones that were always protecting you when that mouth of yours got you into trouble. Especially that one guy you were always with.† â€Å"Don't pretend like you don't know his name.† My voice is slightly uneven. I feel out-of-control of the situation and I'm starting to panic. â€Å"You don't forget the names of the people whose fist have slammed into your face.† A vein bulges in his thick neck as he punches the window. â€Å"That night I was wasted and Micha was completely sober. And it was total bull shit that he sucker punched me for leaving you on the bridge. I mean, you asked me to take you there. How the hell was it my fault?† Apparently, Micha hit him more than once because it's not the instance I'm referring to. I tug at the door handle. â€Å"I'm going to close the door now and you're going to walk away.† â€Å"Who are you?† His eyes are all over me. â€Å"I'm who I always was,† I mutter. â€Å"Just without all the baggage.† Calmly, I close the door. â€Å"You can drive away now, Lila.† She floors the car backwards and skids it onto the asphalt. I don't look back at Grantford or the bridge. I breathe through my nose, trying to stay composed and in possession of my feelings. â€Å"What was that about?† Lila asks. â€Å"Who was that creep?† I buckle my seatbelt and turn up the air conditioning. â€Å"Just some guy I used to know from high school.† â€Å"I thought he was going to kill you or something†¦ Maybe we should call the police.† Flashbacks of my old life resurface. â€Å"That's just how things are around here. Besides, he was all bark and no bite. Trust me. He was just irritated with something I did.† Her eyes enlarge and she grips the steering wheel. â€Å"What did you do?† I glance in the rearview mirror at the desolate road behind us. â€Å"Nothing I want to talk about.† She slows down as the speed limit decreases. â€Å"How did you do that? You were so calm even when he tried to hold the door open. I was freaking out.† â€Å"It was just instincts,† I lie. If she knew the real reason we sure as hell wouldn't be friends. *** The urge to make Lila flip a U-turn and floor it back to Vegas becomes more powerful the closer we get to my home. Lila relaxes about the Grantford ordeal when the outhouse is far behind us. We make the rest of the short drive talking about classes and frat parties, but when we pull into the driveway of my house, her fear and panic reemerges. â€Å"This is†¦ nice.† She shudders as she peers through the windshield. â€Å"So this is where you grew up?† The full moon shines in the starry sky, lighting up the trash piled in the driveway, the old cutlass balanced on cinderblocks in front of the garage, and the peeling paint off my two-story home trimmed with a broken rain gutter that's swaying in the wind. The tree beside my window looks like it's dying. It was once my gateway for sneaking out of my room, but the last time I snuck out was the night my mother died. I'll never climb that damn tree again. â€Å"Yep, this is home.† I step out into the cool breeze. Rise Against â€Å"Like an Angel† blasts from the speakers next door. The lights are on in the house, and there's a lot of screaming and yelling going on. The driveway is lined bumper to bumper with cars and people are smoking on the dry front lawn and on the deck. One of Micha's parties. It's like time has frozen and was waiting for me to return. â€Å"God things never change around here.† I round the back of the car. â€Å"Lila, can you pop the trunk, please.† The trunk pops open and Lila steps tentatively out of the car. Her eyes fasten on the party and she's chewing on her thumbnail, which is a nervous habit of hers. â€Å"Jeez, it's more intense than even a frat party. I didn't know that could be possible.† I sling a heavy bag over my shoulder. â€Å"Are you sure you want to sleep at my house tonight?† I rummage through the trunk for the bag holding all my toiletries. â€Å"There are some pretty decent hotels in the next town over.† â€Å"I'm just not used to this kind of a place. That's all†¦ But I'm sure it's fine.† She collects one of my pillows from the trunk and hugs it tightly. â€Å"Are you absolutely sure?† I balance a small box under my arm. I don't want her to stay and witness this side of my life. â€Å"This place is a lot to take in for some people.† She narrows her eyes and points a finger at me. â€Å"I may come from an upper class town, but that doesn't mean I haven't been in rougher areas before. Besides, we went to that pawn store that one time in Vegas and that neighborhood was definitely sketchy.† It really wasn't that bad of an area, but I decide to let it go, since she'll only be staying here for one night. â€Å"Sorry, I just†¦ I want to make sure you're comfortable.† I shift the bag onto my hip and feel around the dark trunk for my other bag. â€Å"I promise I can manage for one night.† She crosses her heart with her finger and smiles. â€Å"In fact, I might even get brave enough to go check out the party next door.† I rapidly switch the subject. â€Å"We can probably get the rest of this stuff out tomorrow, since it's dark and I can barely see. And I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.† â€Å"I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her eyes wander in the direction of the driveway. â€Å"Dear God Almighty, who is he? Wait a minute. Isn't he†¦ yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She lets out a quiet squeal and hops up and down. â€Å"Ella, I think it's the guy from your drawing, that Micha guy you insist you never dated.† My bag falls to the ground as I slouch down, debating an escape. Duck under the car? Run into the house? Dive into the trunk? â€Å"Hey there, beautiful,† Micha says in his flirty tone. â€Å"You shouldn't park your car out here in the open. Someone will probably jack it.† The sound of his voice sends a tremble through my body that coils down deep inside me. I thought the feeling would be gone after being away for eight months, but somehow time has had the opposite effect – it's amplified and taking over my body. I pretend to be engrossed by a box in the trunk and put my head amidst the shadows. Lila giggles. â€Å"I'm sure my car will be okay. This is my friend's house.† â€Å"Your friend's house†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He drifts off, making the connection and anxiety strangles me. â€Å"Wait a minute? Are you talking about Ella Daniels?† Collecting myself, I slam the trunk down. When he sees me, his eyes enlarge and he has the same expression on his face as when his mama told him his daddy wasn't ever coming back. He blinks the stunned expression away and a hint of anger transpires. â€Å"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Vegas.† For a moment, I'm unable to speak, caught in a mixture of emotions from seeing him again. Micha has always been stunningly beautiful in a way that makes artists' hands ache. He's dressed in a red plaid shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of black boots. His lips are full and ornamented with a silver loop and his dirty blonde hair has a slight wave to it. His skin is like porcelain and his aqua eyes carry more than I can handle. â€Å"I was down there for school, but I'm back now,† I say in the polite tone I've used with everyone over the last eight months. But on the inside my heart is wild, and my blood is roaring with the same yearning I felt for him when I left. â€Å"Wait a minute. You knew I was down there?† He sidesteps around Lila and positions himself directly in front of me. Micha is one of the few guys that is taller than me and I have to angle my head up to meet his eyes. â€Å"I had no idea where you were until this morning,† he says. â€Å"Since you didn't tell anyone where you went.† The ache in his voice stabs at my heart and the phone carrying the voicemail in my pocket weighs a thousand pounds. â€Å"Sorry, but I needed a break from this place. It was†¦ things were†¦ well you know how it was.† â€Å"No, I don't know how it was.† He braces a hand on the trunk like he's going to fall over. â€Å"Since you took off and never told me where the hell you went.† I need to go before he gets to me, and all my self-control evaporates. Picking up my bag from the ground, I wave good-bye to him. â€Å"It was nice talking to you again, but we've been on the road for like twelve hours and all I want to do is lay down.† â€Å"I'm not really that tired,† Lila says and I press her with a pleading look. â€Å"Oh, wait maybe I am.† She fakes a yawn. I hurry for the side door of my house, but Micha blocks my path, and his hand comes down on the car like a railroad track barricade. He drags his lip ring into his mouth with a passionate look on his face, like he might kiss me or something. For a second, I wish he would. He leans toward my ear, lowering his voice to an intimate level. â€Å"Come with me somewhere. Please. I've been waiting eight months to talk to you.† I flinch at my body's fiery reaction his voice emits. â€Å"I can't talk to you, Micha.† I choke, backing away, and bumping my hip on the edge of the car. Tears threaten the corners of my eyes, but I haven't cried in over a year and I refuse to break down. Spinning on my heels, I dash for the house. He doesn't call out to me – it's not his style. But his gaze bores a hole into my messed up head the entire way, until I'm finally locked inside my house. Then I can breathe again. Micha I swear I'm dreaming. Ella is standing in front of me and she looks just like Stacy Harris, a slutty cheerleader we used to go to high school with and who Ella beat up once because Stacy was making fun of a girl in a wheelchair. It was one of the things that made me fall in love with her; the fire, passion, and the need to stick up for the outcasts, even if it meant being an outcast herself. She never fell into any category – she was just Ella – but now she looks like a freakin' Stepford Wife. She's still hot as hell, a rock hard body, and long legs that go on forever. I've pictured those legs wrapped around my waist many times and the same images flood my head, even though she looks like a stranger. Her gorgeous green eyes are glossed over, like she's repressed everything inside. She's unhappy to see me and it hurts a little, but pisses me off more. She starts rambling about being tired, something she used to do all the time to avoid confrontation. I watch her lips move, wanting to kiss her so God damn bad, but knowing she'd probably kick me if I tried anything. So I lean in, smelling her hair and beg her to come with me somewhere. Then she runs down the driveway and locks herself in the house. I start to chase after her, but a Frisbee smacks me in the side of the head. â€Å"Sorry man,† Ethan calls out, hopping over the fence with a smirk on his face. â€Å"It slipped.† Rubbing my head, I arch my eyebrows at Ethan. â€Å"Perfect timing asshole.† He holds up his hands. â€Å"I said I was sorry. You were just standing there all dazed out like a freaking whipped pussy, so I thought I'd snap you out of it.† He scoops up the Frisbee from the concrete and gives a low whistle at Ella's friend's Mercedes as he circles it rolling up his sleeves. â€Å"Whose sweet ride is this? Wait, is it Ella's?† â€Å"I think it's her friends.† I eye the back door of her house, debating whether I should barge in after her and demand to know why she shut me out for eight months. â€Å"Since when does Ella hang out with people who drive cars like this?† he asks, peeking through the tinted windows. â€Å"She's been gone for eight months.† I back toward the fence that separates Ella's yard from mine with my hands in my pockets. â€Å"Who the hell knows who she is anymore?† I need a drink, even though I haven't had a drop of alcohol in eight months. The day Ella took off, with no note or a good-bye, I had gone up to the cove, got drunk, and took all my anger out on Grantford Davis' face. The cops showed up and I got busted for being under the influence and for assault. I'm still on probation for it and I had to go to anger management classes for a while. I've been really good about keeping my crap together, but five minutes after Ella shows up and I'm about to throw it away. I head to the kitchen, scoop up a beer from the ice chest, and settle on the couch between a blonde and a brunette. The blonde one giggles. â€Å"Oh my God, is the bad boy Micha finally back?† I can't remember her name, but I play along. â€Å"I sure am, baby.† Then I swig my beer back and bury my pain, along with Ella. She's the only girl that's ever been able to get me this upset. The only girl that's never wanted me.