A Beautiful Mind - 1467 Words

Nicole Calabro Professor Kulpanowski PSY 2013 October 21, 2013 A Beautiful Mind â€Å"A Beautiful Mind† is a sad yet unique, inspiring film. The film was directed by Ron Howard and provided people a whole new perspective on psychological disorders. When people generally hear the words â€Å"mental illness,† the thoughts of crazy, insane, different, abnormal and weird come into place. â€Å"A Beautiful Mind,† based on a true story and a novel by Sylvia Nasar, has proven the standard thoughts to be inaccurate. John Nash was a man of extraordinary character. He held a position of great intelligence and had proven it to be true when he was awarded with the Nobel Memorial Prize in economics. Nash was also faced with great difficulty when he was†¦show more content†¦There are less problems concerning memory and emotions, but still obtains symptoms of anger, violence, anxiety, hallucinations, verbal confrontations, suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors, distant, scornful manners, and delusions (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008). When it comes to sch izophrenia, the main concern people have is if it is hereditary or not. There has been no sole foundation for the disorder but there are contributing factors such as environmental factors which happen to be hardships faced during childhood, the loss of a parent or someone very close, bullying, violence, poverty, physical and/or emotional neglect, sexual abuse and the list could go on forever (Dryden-Edwards, 2010). These symptoms have been said to possibly help trigger paranoid schizophrenia (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008). In â€Å"A Beautiful Mind†, there seems to be no origin explaining. John Nash explained that his first grade teacher had once told him that he was â€Å"born with two servings of brain but only half a serving of heart.† The film does not reveal much about childhood experiences, just the simple fact that Nash does not like people. It has been said that paranoid schizophrenia is caused by brain dysfunction (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008). â€Å"A Beautiful Mindà ¢â‚¬  is a very unpredictable film. After seeing John Nash in the mental hospital undergoing all of the requiredShow MoreRelatedA Beautiful Mind (Summary)805 Words   |  4 PagesA Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar 1.) A.) A Beautiful Mind is a biography based on the events that happened to a mathematical genius John Forbes Nash Jr. He was invited to go to Princeton University on only one term, and it was to create a truly original idea based on using mathematics. Once he is enrolled in Princeton he is looked at as a social outcast. Once after originating his idea of what other mathematicians thought was unsolvable, he shocked the mathematical world by becoming an overallRead MoreAnalysis Of A Beautiful Mind 1197 Words   |  5 PagesI chose the film â€Å"A Beautiful Mind† produced in 2001. The main character is John Forbes Nash, Jr. portrayed by Russell Crowe. The heart, not the mind is where the true meaning of life is found. A mathematical genius who is fixated on finding an original idea to ensure his legacy embarks on a mission with the belief that mathematics will lead him to a higher truth. â€Å"I cannot waste time with these classes and these books, memorizing the weak assumptions of lesser mortals. I need to look through toRead MoreA Beautiful Mind Characterization and Dialogue1176 Words   |  5 PagesWriting Portfolio The 2001 biopic/drama film ‘A Beautiful Mind’, directed by Ron Howard is a prime example of a text in which visual and verbal techniques are used to develop the personality of a character. An important job for the director of any film is to establish a framework and personality for the protagonist. ‘A Beautiful Mind’ is no different, and visual and verbal techniques are used effectively to develop the personality of John Nash. But because Ron Howard is dealing with a veryRead MoreA BEAUTIFUL MIND The film A Beautiful Mind portrays the story of the splendid mathematician John500 Words   |  2 PagesA BEAUTIFUL MIND The film A Beautiful Mind portrays the story of the splendid mathematician John Forbes Nash who experiences suspicious schizophrenia. This film was guided by Ron Howard and its dependent upon a correct biography of the virtuoso mathematician Nash which is depicted by the performing artist Russel Crowe. At the start of the film Nash begins his profession at Princton University as a math graduate person where he was well known for his insights. Nash is a pompous, ungainly socially-uncouthRead MoreBeautiful Mind: Reaction Paper1584 Words   |  7 PagesA BEAUTIFUL MIND SYNTHESIS John Nash first arrives as a new graduate student at Princeton University. There he meets his roommate Charles, a literature student, who soon becomes his best friend. He also meets a group of other promising math and science graduate students. John sometimes goes out to a bar with his fellow students to try to meet women, but is always unsuccessful. However, the experience is what ultimately inspires his work in the concept of governing dynamics, a theory in mathematicalRead MoreA Beautiful Mind By Sylvia Nasar1201 Words   |  5 PagesThe book that I read for my report was A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar. The book was published in 1998 by Simon Schuster. I got the book at Barnes Noble, and it is one of the best reads I have had in a long time. A Beautiful Mind is a book about a very intelligent mathematician, John Forbes Nash, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. The plot was organized chronologically from the time that he arrived at Princeton University, until he is older and won the Nobel Price. Nasar does not worshipRead MoreA Beautiful Mind By John Nash Essay2033 Words   |  9 PagesPushing Past the Voices, Delusions, and Hallucinations: A Beautiful Mind A Beautiful Mind, about John Nash, follows him has he goes through life living with schizophrenia and accomplishing the biggest feat; knowing reality from unreality. When people with schizophrenia are around others, that is when their mental illness shows. Social behavior affects everyone based on who they are around and the thoughts and feelings as a response to how others act and treat you (Grant, 1963). They do not knowRead MoreJohn Nash s A Beautiful Mind862 Words   |  4 PagesAs someone who has always found mental illnesses very intriguing the film â€Å"A Beautiful Mind† never fails to tug at my emotions. John Nash, a brilliant mathematician, faces a series of struggles due to his bad case of schizophrenia that makes him believe he is a secret agent that is on a very complex mission; this effects not only his work life but family. In this film I felt the attitudes towards John’s disability varied; his wife Alicia did everything she could to support John regard less of theRead MoreA Beautiful Mind Is The Film That Changed My Life905 Words   |  4 PagesA Beautiful Mind was the film that changed my life. It is biographical drama film based on the life of John Nash (Mathematician), a Nobel Laureate in Economics. A Beautiful Mind was directed by Ron Howard, starting Russell Crowe as John Nash and Jennifer Connelly as his wife (Alicia Nash). The film starts off with John Nash (Crowe) at Princeton University, who was there for scholarship of mathematics alongside with other well respected classmates. John Nash (Crowe) was pressured to get publishRead More Schizophrenic Creativity in Nasars A Beautiful Mind and Ron Howards Movie2030 Words   |  9 PagesNasars A Beautiful Mind and Ron Howards Movie In Ron Howards (2001) A Beautiful Mind, Russell Crowe gives life to Sylvia Nasars depiction of the schizophrenic genius John Nash in her novel of the same title. Both Nasar and Howard try to depict Nashs creative genius in an effort to unlock understanding of the creative process. The underlying reality of Nashs psychological creative process may never fully be realized due to the extreme difficulty of coherently portraying the mind of a schizophrenic

King Kong Comparison Essay - 630 Words

The original 1933 King Kong was created as a movie: to convey a story and entertain and audience. Peter Jackson’s 2005 remake took the foundation for King Kong and expanded upon it in almost every way in order to â€Å"make again† the amazement of the original for a modern audience. Audiences received the original King Kong very well. The stop motion sequences of Kong were amazing for their time and the movie grossed $90,000 in its opening weekend. In order to bank upon its success again sequels were made and then in 1976 a remake was made to improve upon the original. Paramount updated the movie to color, changed the story, and cast Jeff Bridges, a well-known actor of the time, as the lead. Although the movie received mixed reviews, it did†¦show more content†¦While Jackson’s remake is true to the original for the most part, there are some small changes made in order to make the movie more appealing. In the original King Kong it is the lead actor in th e movie that saves the damsel in distress but in the 2005 remake it is the scriptwriter that saves the female actress. This change is likely due to the recent trend of heroes coming from unlikely places. Studios know that if a movie does well the first time, it is likely to do well the second time and even the third time. King Kong is no exception. Producers can presume that the glory of the original will pass on to the remake since audiences hope for that feeling again. Whether the movie is better or not doesn’t matter. Audiences will go to see King Kong over the years because the remakes are associated with the original. Every King Kong remake is based on the same principles: wanting to create a movie that will capture audiences and instill in them a sense of wonderment and awe. The original did this and the remakes try to do it again. Directors, producers, and studios may change the story, update the actors and technology but they are essentially just trying to cash in on the success of the original. Take a good idea, update it, and reap the benefits again andShow MoreRelatedTechnological Evolution in the Film Industry Essay701 Words   |  3 Pagesreintroduce a classic story. Some examples of films that have been remade include Scarface (1932), remade in 1983, and The Magnificent Seven (1960), remade in 1998. King Kong (1933) is another example of a film that has been remade. The remake, King Kong (2005), directed by Peter Jackson, shows technological innovation in comparison to the original version. Although the original version introduced many technological advances that helped to tell the fantastical story at the time, the technologiesRead MoreKing Kong Vs Godzilla Analysis1223 Words   |  5 Pagesmeaning, has been incorporated in a multitude of occasions throughout IshirÃ…  Honda’s 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. Utilizing two of the most iconic monsters in cinematic history, Honda integrated these creatures to represent different c ultures and the battle that ensued as one culture shifted to another. By highlighting certain characteristics shared between one monster and culture, Honda showed how King Kong was the embodiment of the modern Japanese culture, while Godzilla represented the traditionalRead MoreAnalysis Of Virginie Despentes ( 1969 )1489 Words   |  6 Pagesthe author for the King Kong Theory. A theory which merged together her autobiography and the feminist theory, it also acts as a backdrop to the famous novel Baise-Moi (2000) which was then made into a movie. The title can be translated in English as ‘Fuck me’. Baise Moi shocked French audiences with its graphic rape scenes, murder plots and real sex scenes which entail nudity. She is also known for two other movies; Pretty Things (2001) and Bye Bye Blondie (2012). The King Kong Theory was originallyRead MoreEssay on Beauty of Giselle and the Beast of Lebron1648 Words   |  7 Pageshate, racism, and inequality. For example, take Gisele a world’s top model, and a NBA star athlete Lebron James and you put them on the front cover of Vogue’s April 2008 issue with Lebron with his arm around Gisele showing facial expressions of King Kong. Meanwhile holding Gisele resembles Botticelle’s Venus. The result is going to be a buzz of speculation about what we are really looking at when we see this current issue of Vogue Magazine. Although the images of Lebron and Giselle intend to reflectRead MoreLebron James and Kobe Bryant Essay example1037 Words   |  5 Pagesplayers in the NBA today. Each player has his own playing style that separates him from the rest of the league. Both players have their own career achievements, endorsements, and personal life stories behind the game. If you ask anybody, the comparison between these two players is great. It is a never ending debate between who is better because both players have something different to bring to the table. Side by side on paper, both players seem dominant and may one day end up in the basketballRead More10 Most Unique Commercial Airports1190 Words   |  5 PagesInternational Airport (IPC) The Mataveri International Airport or Isla de Pascua Airport located on Rapa Nui (Easter Islands) is the most remote airport in the world. The nearest continental point lies 3512 kms (2182 miles) away in Central Chile in comparison that is more than the distance from New York to Mexico City (2090 miles) and the nearest inhabited point 2075 kms (1289 miles) away in Pitcairn Island. It has scheduled flights from Santiago, Chile (3759 kms) and is the main entry point forRead MoreThe Chinese National Of Chinese Movies2802 Words   |  12 Pagesas people from one fabric. Chinese film, even though can logically be differentiated from Taiwanese and Hong Kong film and cinema, where mainland China with a critical media base at Shanghai has often been pushed to the fringes, the dynamics of politics, parties and systems of administration that have characterized China as an autonomous territory and the subsequent inclusion of Hong Kong per se have created a film and cinema culture that strongly identifies with the national theme as we shall analyzeRead MoreHuman Primates And Human Primate1661 Words   |  7 Pagesnatural occurrence. The changes on earth through different events that occurred over time could be the cause of such a variety of species to exist on earth. When looking back at the movie â€Å"King Kong†, that movie displayed examples of the primate dev eloping different behaviors naturally. By being seen as a big beast Kong was able to interact with Jane changing his behavior. Where you could see how a non-human and human primate interacted and showing the differences between the two. When looking back atRead More Eating Disorders, Body Image and Cultural Contexts Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pagesmore prevalent in the female population. Male students, however, usually report greater weight dissatisfaction than females; this usually comes from being underweight. These findings are consistent with research done between students in China and Hong Kong (Davis, Katzman, 1998). With the idea that Western ideals and White populations have a higher occurrence of eating disorders, comes a great deal of research that compares Western and Eastern cultures. One study explored the differences in bodyRead MoreAn Assessment of Articles Related to Medicine1706 Words   |  7 Pageschange to reduce incidence. The sample size, however, was too small to make any statistically significant finding. Ka Yi Yeung and Ying Yu Chui: An exploration of factors affecting Hong Kong ICU nurses in providing oral care. Journal of Critical Nursing 19, 3063 3072 The authors examine whether or not Hong Kong intensive care nurses provide oral care to patients with VAP since oral care has been shown to improve patient outcome. The authors used a qualitative methodology rather than a quantitative/statistical

Positive Opinions Of Wolves FreeSamples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Positive Opinions Of Wolves. Answer: The discovery of wolves and how they affect the other creatures in the ecosystem led to the rise of pro-environment ethos in the western world. The wolf became a metaphor for a lost paradise. With this, two completely opposing views were trying to establish their dominance over the other in the arena of public policy and the public discourse. One prescribed nature be left alone, while others advocated to control it. The following years only helped to establish the importance of wolves in the ecosystem even further, which again helped to fuel the tension between the two different views. In 1995, America took some wolves from Canada and introduced them in the Yellowstone National Park in hopes to make sure that the numbers of the wolves would grow once more[1]. Even though it was highly controversial at the time of being introduced, the United States Government still did all it could to help the wolves. Today, the grey wolves have grown so much in numbers that, the government is consid ering to remove them from the list of endangered species throughout the entire lower forty-eight states. It has been documented that tourists would beg the park rangers to borrow the scope and then be overjoyed if they could see the wolves using the devices[2]. The government is expected to take the decision to take the wolves out of the list by this year itself. Even the people reciprocated with the governments decision to help the wolves and the dream that Schleifenbaum had as a child, of becoming an ambassador of the wolves, is finally materializing. Response Schleifenbaum emphasizes on the dreams that he had as a child. The decision of the government finally seems to help him to make his dreams come true. For me, I believe that wolves are as necessary to the ecosystem as an y other creature and the disappearance of them from the wild can lead to serious problems for the humans, animals and the general ecosystem as a whole. the focus of the US government makes sense to me because of the simple fact that the ecosystem requires a balance and that balance would have been trampled if the wolves were extinct. The Yellowstone national Park rangers have worked tirelessly so that wolves can live safely in the safe heaven that was created for them[3]. I think that the Canadian and the US government can work together to ensure the wolves survival. The US government should be praised for not baking down when the decision to introduce the wolves back into the wilds was met with hostilities and even criticisms sparked across the nation. This shows tha t the government was focused upon maintaining the ecological balance and not be suppressed because of any other problems. The Canadian government also helped in the cause by letting America take some of their wolves, which has ultimately resulted in the number of wolves for today[4]. Mary Theberge also agrees with the decision References Beschta, Robert L., and William J. Ripple. "Riparian vegetation recovery in Yellowstone: The first two decades after wolf reintroduction."Biological Conservation198 (2016): 93-103. MacNulty, Daniel R., et al. "The challenge of understanding northern Yellowstone elk dynamics after wolf reintroduction."Yellowstone Science24 (2016): 25-33. Nelson, Abigail A., et al. "Native prey distribution and migration mediates wolf (Canis lupus) predation on domestic livestock in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem."Canadian Journal of Zoology94.4 (2016): 291-299. Ripple, William J., Robert L. Beschta, and Luke E. Painter. "Trophic cascades from wolves to alders in Yellowstone."Forest Ecology and Management354 (2015): 254-260.

The Supreme Court Of The United States Essays -

The Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court of the judic ial branch of the United States government. Many of the cases that make it to the supreme court are based on rights set forth by the Bill of Rights. The Bil l of Rights is comprised of the first ten amendments to the United States Consti tution, and is what this nation was founded upon. The first of these amendment s deals with freedoms given to the people, one of these freedoms being Freedom o f the Press. This freedom gives organizations the right to print and publish what they want without being told what they can and can't publish by the governm ent. There are of course restrictions to this such as "prior restraint" which i s the government's right to censor material beforehand that it does not want pub lished, because it would compromise national security (Bender, 136). Prior rest raint was found unconstitutional in the Near v. Minnesota case of 1931. In this case the court ruled that an injunction to stop publication of a newspaper with objectionable material was an example of prior restraint and therefore unconsti tutional (Bender, 136). This became known as the due process clause of the 14th amendment to the constitution. Another part of Freedom of the Press is the rig ht for people to be able to read books, and not have books removed from a public place because certain people feel they are inappropriate (Cantwell, 34). There are two cases that clearly show these two points, and how the Supr eme Court used its power to solve them. One of these cases is New York Times Co mpany v. United States in 1971 which is also k This case shows how the Supreme Court used its position as the top court to rul e against the United States executive branch (Bender, 137). Another case is Boa rd of Education, Island Trees School District v. Pico in 1982. This case had to do with book censorship in a public high school library by the school board of that school (Gold, 17). The Supreme Court has had many cases dealing with free speech, and how t he government has tried to prevent the people from seeing certain pieces of info rmation. One such example of the Supreme Court dealing was the New York Times v . United States case which took place in 1971. This case was brought up by the United States after top secret documents from the Pentagon, known as the Pentago n Papers, were leaked to the New York Times and Washington Post (Bender, 132). These documents contained information about the military presence in Vietnam tha t the U.S. government felt was a risk to national security if known by its enemi es, and therefore only 15 copies of these documents were produced. Daniel Ellsb erg, was a high level Pentagon researcher who had legal access to the documents because he was involved in compiling and editing the Pentagon Papers. Ellsberg made a photocopy of these documents and gave them to Neil Sheehan of the New Yor k Times. Once the Times had these papers, they set a team of reporters to write articles about the U.S. involvement in Vietnam based on the information contain ed in the documents. A short time later, the same Daniel Ellsberg gave parts of the Pentagon Papers to the Washington Post, and that paper wrote articles about nown as the Pentagon Papers case. The federal government objected to the publication in daily newspapers o f these documents which it had deemed top secret. The government claimed that d istribution of the material in the Pentagon Papers would be damaging to the nati onal security of the United States and to its soldiers in Vietnam. Therefore th e government brought legal action against the New York Times and the Washington Post to stop them from publishing articles about this sensitive material (ACLU). Representatives of the Times said the federal government's attempt to st op the publication of these articles about the Pentagon Papers was an example of prior restraint. The Times contended that this would be a violation of freedom of the press, which is guaranteed in the first Amendment. The federal governme nt's side of the argument was that the publication of this top secret informatio n would put the lives of soldiers in danger,

Comparative study of three children literature books

Comparative study of three children literature books Introduction There are many literature methods that are used to enable the student understand the meaning of the story or what the author wants to convey. When writing children books, it is imperative that these literal devices as well as the language be carefully formulated so as to enable the children understand the message be conveyed and also for the reader to learn the lesson that the author wants to convey.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Comparative study of three children literature books specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The plot of the story must be carefully organized such that it is coherent and the children understand the story. Various authors use different literal devices so as to convey the message to the child and also ensure that he enjoys reading the book as well as in deriving meaningful teaching from the stories (Zile Napoli 9). In this work, a comparative analysis of three books with the st ory of Thumbelina was carried out. The main aim was to compare and contrast the different aspects and literal devices that authors used to convey the message to the child. The story The three fairly tail books present the same story of Thumbelina. The plot starts with the magical birth of the girl. After she is born, she is happy and her mood is jovial till the day she is taken by the mother toad who wants her to marry her ugly son. The girl is kept floating on a lily leaf at the middle of the river and she can’t be able to escape. At this point, the books show that the girl in a sad mood as she doesn’t want to be married by the ugly frog. The girl is rescued from the trap by fish who chew the stem of the lily allowing her to escape. After escape however, she does not go to her original home, rather, she is swept by the river until she is captured by the bug. The bug saves the girls and then takes her to a leaf. However, the other beetles are not pleased with her and t hey consider her ugly. The beetle agrees with the perception of the others and lets the girl go. Thumbelina then lives in the glass where she eats nectar for survival. At this point the girl is happy but the cold season of winter affects her as she does not have food and shelter. She is again rescued by a rat who takes her to her home. She is to stay in the house until winter is over. During her stay, she is happy and helps the old mouse in cleaning the house. Her life seems happy but again she is thrown into confusion when the rich mole who stays underground wants to marry her. She again becomes confused as she does not want to marry the mole and stay underneath the ground in darkness.Advertising Looking for assessment on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thumbelina then rescues a sparrow at the verge of death. She nurses the sparrow until she recovers and flies away. Just before she gets marri ed to the mole, the sparrow she saved rescues her and she takes her to a good kingdom where there will be no winter. In the new kingdom, Thumbelina finds people who are exactly like her. The prince of that kingdom falls in love with her and she marries her. Then the girl becomes happy in her life. The plot of the story is an important aspect (Tara 7). All the three story leave the child with suspense and this makes him want to read ahead and find out what happened to the poor girl. The author swings the mood of the child from sadness to happiness and from certainty to uncertainty. The story begins with a sad mother who then gets happy after getting Thumbelina. This mood swings to uncertainty when the toad kidnaps the girls. The tone then changes to sadness when the toad frog proposes; this mood and tone swing ensures that the kid is interested to know what happened next. These changes ensure that the child get some suspense and wants to continue reading. There is also a systematic f low of events that ensures that the girl returns to her people. This does not happen just once but the girl passes through a lot of uncertainty so as to reach her people and to become the princess. Use of illustrations and pictures One of the main aspects in the three children books is the use of illustrations so as to convey the message to the children. In all the three books, we find that the use of pictures being predominant in all the pages. The use of pictures enables the child to visualize how the character in the story looked like. The pictures also enable the child to perceive a given scenario that is being narrated in the story. For example when Thumbelina is born from a flower, we see a big flower busting (Biro 177). Also when the frog carries Thumbelina, the picture portrays the same theme. Most of the illustrations are used when unveiling a new plot in the story. When the writers is indicating a new development in the story, he uses pictures to illustrate this event, for example, when the frog take Thumbelina for be the wife to her son, the illustrations shows this concept (Biro, 177 Tanner, 7 ). Pictures enable the child to create their own imaginations and also connect the character they see in the books with the event that’s taking place. This enables them to perceive the books as being real to them (Nikki 5).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Comparative study of three children literature books specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The illustrations are also used to create a mood and the tone of the story. When Thumbelina is taken captive by the frog and the mole, we see her crying and the pictures also show the same effect. The use of pictures to create a given mood to the mind of the child reader is important as the child can closely follow the story and understand. The pictures in these stories are also used to provide entertainment to the child reader. In all the thre e books, we find attractive pictures about the unfolding story. These pictures are used to entertain the kids as they learn the story. There is need to capture the attention of the child by drawing pictures to represent the aspect be discussed. Through this entertainment, the child can study the whole books without be distracted or lacking concentration. Pictures are also used to enable the child recall what different pictures means. In Tanner, (4) book, the reader is first supposed to understand what different pictures mean and then apply them as he reads the story. Through these pictures, the children ability to recall the meaning of the pictures is tested. Use of large print Another method that is used is the large text and pictures. These enable the child to read with ease. Children are likely to get bored if they have to strain reading. This large text enable them read with ease and also understand the story without straining. In the three story books analyzed, we find that lar ge texts are used throughout the story. In additions to ease of learning, the use large text provides a lot of enjoyment to the kids when learning as they don’t have to struggle so as to read. The use of onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia writing entails the use of language to describe what is happening in the story. The story describes what the writer sees smells, touches and tastes. In this story we find the use of onomatopoeia writing be very common. For example when the frog’s son sees Thumbelina, all the frog could say was â€Å"croak, croak croak†( Biro 181). The book also says that the birds sang â€Å"tweet, tweet what a beautiful girl† (Biro 183). However, the use of descriptive language is not found in the other two fairy tale bookAdvertising Looking for assessment on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Use of descriptive writing Use of descriptive witting is also common in the story. In descriptive writing, the author describes a given event so that the reader can get a grasp of what is going on. In the three storybooks, the use of descriptive writing is found in most parts of the books. Most of the events are described in full and this enables the reader to understand what the story is all about. In the three fairly tales, there are a lot of instances where the descriptions are used. For example, Thumbelina living conditions and what she used to do before she was taken by the frog are described at length so as to bring the notion that she was happy and comfortable. There is a lot of descriptive writing is used to describe every place where Thumbelina goes to. For example, when he was rescued by the fish, the author describes how she floated and birds would sing for her. The winter is described as be very cold and Thumbelina was very hungry. Literary exaggerations One of the most used themes in the children books is extraordinary exaggeration. Most of the exaggerations appears not real to an adult but to a child, it is real. Literal exaggerations are found in all the three books under study. In Biro (p 189) book, the mole is depicted as having a big house underground â€Å"he is very rich and has a big house underground†. Another exaggeration is when the fish saw Thumbelina crying, they nibbled the stem of the lily plant so as to rescue her from the frog. In the story we find the fish recognizing that the Thumbelina was too beautiful to be married by the ugly toad and they nibbled the lily stem Pictures are also used to enable the child recall what different pictures mean. In Tanner (12) book the reader is first supposed to understand what different pictures mean and then apply them as he reads the story. Through these pictures, the children ability to recall the meaning of the pictures is tested. There is also very many instances when animals behave and act like human beings. Again these are aspects of enhance the learning process and bring about enjoyment when reading the book. The birds, the frogs, rat and mole are all able to talk with Thumbelina. The physical size of Thumbelina is also an exaggeration as it is not possible in the real life. The use of exaggerations in story a book is important as it increases the child ability to visualize the aspect that is be conveyed by the author. For example, the mole was rich because he had a big house. By relating this event to a big house, the students are able to perceive the amount of wealth that the mole has. Use of Metaphor and Similes A simile is used in literature to compare two different things. Similes use the words like and as so as to compare a certain character or event to another that is well understood. In the children books, it is imperative to use comparisons so that the child can understand a given aspect based on another aspect that is simple to compare. Similes in cludes words such as ‘as tall as a tree, as fat as a pig†. In the three books, It was found out that similes were used to enable the children understand a particular event. When Thumbelina was born, she is described as â€Å"she was beautiful but no bigger than the young wife’s thumb (Biro 189) and â€Å"the prince thought that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen† (Biro 198). The Dyer and stone (2009) book describe Thumbelina as â€Å"she was so tiny that she was only half as big as a thumb† the toad son is described as â€Å"He was as ulgy as his mother†( Dyer and stone 16). Smiles are also used in the Tanner, (3) to compare different aspects, for example Thumbelina is compared to the size of a thumb. The use of similes and metaphor adds value to the story as they help the child reader to connect the two aspects, one is the unknown complex situations and the other is the known less complex aspect (Larry 5). The use of metaphors and similes also enable the child to understand the story in a more precise manner as they can link a particular character to a particular event (Murray and Rosamund 5). In all the stories, a lot of personifications have been used to so as to create value and meaning to some aspects and characters. In the pictures, we see the mouse, the rat, toad and the beetle behaving like human beings. All the activities they do are closely related to the human activity. This creates values in the books as the child is able to relate the current story with a certain event that occurs at home. For example, the mole comes as dressed in human clothing, the rat is portrayed as living in a house and all the animals can be able to talk. Use of recall The use of recall to enable the reader to understand the story by using pictures to describe the characters in the story. Recall can also be tested by asking questions after the child have read the story. This aspect is found in Tanner, 1989 story about Th umbelina. The author first creates a list of pictures for all the characters in the story, then, throughout the story, these pictures are used instead of the name of the character. The importance of using pictures so that the kid can recall the names of the actor is beneficial as it keeps the child actively engaged during the study and also sharpens the child memory. The other two books don’t have this aspect. Use of simple and straight forward language Another aspect of all the three fairly tales analyzed is the use of simple language to communicate the message. The authors understand that the ability of the child to comprehend issues is low and as such, he has to use plain English to explain a particular issue. The use of simple language enable the students to understand the whole story and this important in the learning process of a child. In Tanner, (5) books, the use of pictures in the books instead of word has been done so as to ensure that the kids get an understanding of what the story is about and also recall the name of the characters (Dyer and stone 16) Repetitions Another tool that used in one of the tales is repetition. This is done so as to ensure that the child understand the meaning of the sentences and also links up the current story event with the previous event. For example â€Å"the leaf floated away down the stream and Thumbelina floated too† she floated away from the toad and away from the toad’s son, she floated downstream into the sunshine â€Å"(Dyer and stone 16) here it can be seen that the act of Thumbelina floating and escaping from the toad is repeated severally so that the child can understand and link the previous event and the current development in the story. Conclusions In conclusion, various literally concepts and methods are used in the preparations of children’s books. These literary concepts enhance the learning process and they enable the child understand the story, develop interests in readi ng through the story, get some pleasure and develop a liking for story books. Among the main methods used are; the use of illustrations, similes, metaphors, descriptive writing, repetitions, use of exaggerations, and the use of straight forward language. The use of illustrations enables the reader to understand the current event by linking the words with the pictures. When writing children stories, it is necessary to use similes and metaphor. The use of this technique enables the child to understand complex phenomena by comparing it with a simple event. Another dominant aspect is the use descriptive writing where the author describes a given area, person and event as much as he can. Exaggerations is also another dominant theme, exaggerations are out of the norm events and they are used widely in children stories as they help the child understand what is being described better. Repetition entails describing of a given event over and over again. This helps the children better understa nd the story and further, the students are able to connect the current happening with the previous event in the story. In culminations most of the aforementioned styles are used together so as to develop a clear and coherent story that will impact positively to the children learning process. Biro, Val. Thumbelina. Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. Print Dyer Berence and Petula Stone. Thumbelina. Leicestershire : Ladybid books publishers.1982. Print Jay, Braiman. Literary devices. Web. Larry Constantine. â€Å"Use and Misuse of Metaphor†. Rowley, MA. Constantine Lockwood, Ltd. Print. Murray Knowles and Rosamund Moon. Introducing Metaphor. New York, Routeledge publishers. 2006. Print. Nikki, Gioyanni. Using literary devices to analyze literature. Tennessee: Claude Mckay. Print. Tanner Jane. The story of Thumbelina. London: Award publication ltd. 1989. Pint Tara McCarthy. Teaching Literary Elements: Easy Strategies and Activities to Help  Kids. London: Harper Collins publ ishers, 1997, Print. Zile, Susan Napoli Mary. Teaching Literary Elements with Picture Books: Engaging, Standards-Based Lessons and Strategies. London: Scholastic Teaching Resources. 2009, Print.

A Brief Timeline of Events in America - 1651 - 1675

A Brief Timeline of Events in America - 1651 - 1675 The American Revolution would not commence until 1765, when the Stamp Act Congress, representing the thirteen colonies, disputed the right of the British parliament to tax the colonists without providing them with representation in the House of Commons. The American Revolutionary War would not begin until 1775. During the period from 1651 to 1675, however, attempts by the British government to control commerce in the American colonies gradually created an atmosphere in which rebellion was almost inevitable. 1651 England passes the Navigation Act that forbid goods to be imported from the colonies to England in non-English ships or from locations other than where they were produced. This action causes supply shortages hurting colonies and eventually leads to the Anglo-Dutch War which lasts from 1652-1654. 1652 New Amsterdam is given permission to form its own city government.Rhode Island passes the first law in America which prohibits slavery.Maine is included within the boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.The Anglo-Dutch War begins in July.In defiance of England, Massachusetts Bay declares itself independent. 1653 Massachusetts Bay does not support the New England Confederation in declaring war against the Dutch colonists.   1654 The first Jewish immigrants arrive in America when they settle in New Amsterdam.The new governor of Maryland, William Fuller, does away with the Toleration Act which gave Catholics the right to practice their religion and removes Lord Baltimore from authority. 1655 A civil war between Catholic and Puritan factions after the revocation of the Toleration Act in 1654 results in a Puritan victory.The Dutch, after years of conflict with New Sweden, are able to defeat the Swedes and end royal rule by Sweden in America. 1656 Lord Baltimore is returned to power in Maryland and Josias Fendell is named its governor.Quakers who arrive in Massachusetts Bay are treated horribly and banished which is supported by the New England federation. Later in the year, Connecticut and Massachusetts pass laws to allow for the banishment of Quakers. 1657 Quakers who arrive in New Amsterdam are punished and then banished to Rhode Island by Governor Peter Stuyvesant. 1658 Massachusetts colony passes laws that do not allow for religious freedom of Quakers including the holding of their meetings. 1659 Two Quakers are punished by hanging when they return to Massachusetts Bay after being banished. 1660 Lord Baltimore is removed from power by the Maryland assembly.The Navigation Act of 1660 is passed requiring only English ships with a three-quarters English crew be allowed to be used for trade. Certain goods including sugar and tobacco could only be shipped to England or English colonies. 1661 The English crown, in protest to the rules against Quakers, orders them released and returned to England. They are later forced to stop the harsh penalties against Quakers.The first bible to be printed in America was published in the Algonquin language. 1662 Connecticut is given a royal charter.The Massachusetts Bay Colonys charter was accepted by England as long as they extended the vote to all landowners and allows for freedom of worship for Anglicans. 1663 The Carolina colony is created by King Charles II and has numerous proprietors.Rhode Island is given a royal charter.All imports to the American colonies are required to come from England on English vessels with the second Navigation Act. 1664 The Hudson River valley Indians surrender part of their territory to the Dutch.The Duke of York is given a charter to control lands that include the Dutch area of New Netherland. By the end of the year a naval blockade by the English of the area causes Governor Peter Stuyvesant to surrender New Netherland to the English. New Amsterdam is renamed New York.The Duke of York grants land called New Jersey to Sir George Carteret and John, Lord Berkeley.Maryland and later New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia pass laws that do not allow for the freeing of black slaves. 1665 New Haven is annexed by Connecticut.The Kings Commissioners arrive in New England to oversee what is occurring in the colonies. They demand that colonies must comply by swearing allegiance to the King and allowing for the freedom of religion. Plymouth, Connecticut, and Rhode Island comply. Massachusetts does not comply and when representatives are called to London to answer to the King, they refuse to go.The territory of Carolina is extended to include Florida.   1666 Maryland prohibits the growing of tobacco for a year due to a glut of tobacco on the market. 1667 The Peace of Breda officially ends the Anglo-Dutch War and gives England formal control over New Netherland. 1668 Massachusetts annexes Maine. 1669 The Fundamental Constitutions are issued in Carolina which provides for religious tolerance. 1670 Charles Town (present-day Charleston) is established by Joseph West.The Treaty of Madrid is completed between England and Spain. Both parties agree that they will respect each others rights in America.The Virginia Assembly only allows landowners the right to vote. 1671 Plymouth forces King Philip (Metacomet), chief of the Wampanoag Indians, to surrender his weapons.French explorers claim the interior of North America for King Louis XIV. 1672 First copyright law is passed in the colonies by Massachusetts.The Royal Africa Company is given a monopoly for the English slave trade. 1673 Virginia is granted by the English crown to Lord Arlington and Lord Culpepper.French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet travel down the Mississippi River exploring down to the Arkansas River.The Dutch launch a naval attack against Manhattan to try and win back New Netherland during the third Anglo-Dutch War. Manhattan is surrendered. They capture other towns and rename New York to New Orange. 1674 The Treaty of Westminster ends the third Anglo-Dutch War with the American Dutch colonies reverting back to England.Father Jacques Marquette establishes a mission at present-day Chicago. 1675 Quaker William Penn is granted rights to portions of New Jersey.King Philips War begins with retaliations for the execution of three Wampanoag Indians. Boston and Plymouth unite to fight against the Indians. Nipmuck Indians unite with the Wampanoags to attack settlements in Massachusetts. The New England Confederation then reacts by officially declaring war on King Philip and raising an army. The Wampanoags are able to defeat settlers near Deerfield on September 18th and Deerfield is abandoned. Source: Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M., ed. The Almanac of American History. Barnes Nobles Books: Greenwich, CT, 1993.

A Report on Social Marketing Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

A Report on Social Marketing Campaign - Essay Example The spread of HIV and AIDS is mainly caused by social and health problems, therefore social marketing offers mechanisms for solving such problems through encouraging people to live healthier lifestyles. According to Kotler & Roberto (1989); Rogers (1995), the idea of diffusion and social marketing has been transformed to form strategies for use by the public throughout Asia, Africa, North America and south America. According to the United Nations, in the past two decades 60 million people have been infected by HIV/AIDS and reportedly 20 million deaths have been reported. Ninety-five percent of the infected population presently live in developing countries. The report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, UNAIDS (2002) warned that unless prevention and treatment measures are put in place and followed diligently, over 68 million people would die in the next 20 years. Established cases of HIV/AIDS infection have increased in occurrence throughout different region and numerous countries repor t severe HIV epidemics amongst injecting drug users (IDUs). The countries with high frequency of HIV infections among IDUs are Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India and Iran. Justification One of the major HIV/AIDS epidemic accelerants is the drug abuse and misuse. The major barrier in the fight against new HIV infections, recent drug use and emerging responses is the limited up-to date information on the magnitude of the problem. Reports across several countries on the number of HIV infection cases show drastic increase among IDUs. Countries in transition and especially developing countries are extremely susceptible to drug abuse and the risks associated therewith, piling serious burden on already frail health and social facilities. UNAIDS (2002) and WHO (2004) state that there was and still is the potential for a main outbreak of HIV among the IDUs particularly in Russia and bordering countries in the Eastern Europe and in other numerous countries es pecially across Asia. In some countries with high HIV frequency among the IDUs, HIV prevention measures have been implemented however reports of low effective impact ability upon epidemic among the IDUs is due to their limited availability and thus receive few drug users. On the other hand some assessed countries are yet to enact policies that specifically address HIV/AIDS issues affecting the IDUs. Some countries rarely address the issue before it becomes an epidemic and therefore the policy makers and programs tasked with the drug use and HIV are deemed unnecessary. Across the world over, HIV and AIDS response in Australia is recognised as a success. The national prevalence is lower compared to other high income countries. Through peer education and community based organisations the IDUs, gay communities, and sex workers in Australia on a national gesture prepared early and efficient on the embryonic crisis such as providing support, care and education on the importance of safe se x and drug injecting practises. Initially, the government and healthcare professionals established sturdy leadership program, across the affected communities and the epidemic at large. Australia continues to utilize and gain from the good leadership foundation and the level of the policy innovation. For instance, the implementation of

How does the living wage relate to the labour movement and how does Essay

How does the living wage relate to the labour movement and how does the labour movement relate to the living wage (employment relationship) - Essay Example In addition to that, globalization has also led to a few number of state renounce the laws that govern the employees. Due to the mere ignorance and the globalization factor, majority of the states have cut of the wages of their employees to go down more than they deserve. This occurs mostly in the sector where skills are not needed and they are not counted as increasing the economy (McConnell & Brue, 1999). Due to all the reasons mentioned above, numerous organizations that claim to fight off low pay, or living wage or fair pay have been introduced in the last twenty years. This has happened in majority of the countries both the developed countries and the developing. They have acted a key part in the society since they gather, educate and air the views of unsatisfied employees to the government who for a very long time have been going on with a low pay, way down more than the standard one. The activities that these labor organizations do have yielded positive results for instance, one of the results they have yielded is that wage tribunals have been happening more than they used to. In addition to that, the labor work force has also been awarded for the good work they portray of campaigning for or fellow human rights. Some of the benefits that the employees have gained for is for instance having a weekend, which has two days, if they work on holidays they get paid and majority of the organizations that employ them have focused on the 8 hours of working each day and compensation for any extra minute spent working (Victor et al., 1998). In a lay mans’ dictionary if we try to look at the definition of the term labour movement, it is the movement of workers for enhanced management by employers, for the most part through the creation of labour unions. So how does it (the labour movement) relate to the living wage and how does the living wage relate to the labour movement? Living wage and the labour movements go hand in

Enlightenment thinking Essay Example for Free

Enlightenment thinking Essay The Declaration of Independence is the basis of our government here in the United States. When the authors of this document were writing it they included many references to enlightenment theories. Of these many theories three within the document can be attributed to John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Hobbes. John Locke was a believer in the three natural rights of man, life, liberty, and property. In the Declaration of Independence Lockes idea can be found throughout but one example is, It is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government laying its foundation of such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. This quote is exactly along the lines of Lockes thinking. He believed that a government is there to serve and protect, and if the government does not do its duty, then the people have a right to overthrow a government and start a new one. Rousseau believed that all men were free and ought to be, therefore any government must act according to the will of the people. The Declaration of Independence includes this too, A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. This quote reflects Rousseaus ideas exactly. That man is in chains by the government a must be free. Finally, Thomas Hobbes was a believer in the social contract stating that to gain rights people had to give up rights. One right which people were supposed to gain was protection by the government. This idea can be found within the Declaration of Independence, He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us. The Declaration of Independence contains many different enlightenment ideas. These ideas had a great impact on the founding of the United States and still do today.

Juvenile Death Penalty Essay -- capital punishment, death penalty

A 16 year old boy is at the peak of their adolescent life, learning and discovering about puberty, maturity, right and wrong and future life goals. On the other hand, a man of 25 has matured, lived long enough to have made both good and bad judgments and has already been in the process of achieving those life goals they once thought of as a teenager. In a given situation, is it ethical to hold these two age groups, with mentalities that are worlds apart, to the same standards and punishments in the justice system? Until Roper v. Simmons in 2005, the justice system did just that, treat the actions of 16 year old with the same consequences as if they had been committed by an adult. In Roper v. Simmons the United States Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile under the age of 18 to the death penalty. Before, Roper v. Simmons, in Thompson v. Oklahoma it had been decided that only those under the age of 16 could not be considered for the death penalty. Were these decisions correct? If an adolescent can commit such a heinous crime as homicide should they not also be able then to handle the consequences? The other side of the argument against the juvenile death penalty states that juveniles do not have the same reasoning skills as an adult and therefore cannot be held to same criminal blameworthiness. Facts will show that the United States Supreme Court was correct in their decision to ban the death penalty for all those under the age of eighteen. Recent brain imaging scans have shown that an adolescent’s brain is not fully developed until late in adolescence causing them to be immature, have diminished decision making capacity and underdeveloped reasoning and thinking skills (Aronson, 2007); qualities which ... ...onduct. (2011). Ethics and Judicial Conduct. Guide to Judiciary Policy, 1-19. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2010, August 18). Brain Basics: Know Your Brain. Retrieved July 2011, from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/know_your_brain.htm North, M. (2002). Greek Medicine: The Hippocratic Oath. Retrieved July 2011, from National Institute of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/greek_oath.html Paus, T. (2005). Mapping Brain Maturation and Cognitive Development During Adolescence. TRENDS in Cognitive Sciences, 60-68. Steinberg, L., & Scott, E. S. (2003). Less Guilty by Reason of Adolescence. American Psychologist, 1009-1018. Strater, S. D. (1994-1995). The Juvenile Death Penalty: In the Best Interests of the Child? Layola University Chicago Law Journal, 147-182.

Rhetorical analysis of “The Scarlet letter” Essay

Pearls have always held a great price to mankind, but no pearl has ever been earned at as high a cost to a person as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s powerful heroine Hester Prynne. Her daughter Pearl, born into a Puritan prison in more ways than one, is an enigmatic character serving entirely as a vehicle for symbolism. From her introduction as an infant on her mother’s scaffold of shame, Pearl is an empathetic and intelligent child. Throughout the story she absorbs the hidden emotions of her mother and magnifies them for all to see, and asks questions nothing but a child’s innocence permit her to ask, allowing Hawthorne to weave rich detail into The Scarlet Letter without making the story overly narrative. Pearl, at times, is a vehicle for Hawthorne to express the irrational qualities of Hester and Dimmesdale’s illicit bond, and at others a forceful reminder of her mother’s sin. Pearl Prynne is Hester’s most precious possession and her only reason to live, but also a priceless treasure purchased with her life. Pearl’s strange beauty and deeply enigmatic qualities make her an increadably powerful symbol. The product of Hester’s sin and agony, Pearl was a painfully constant reminder of her mother’s violation of the Seventh Commandment: ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’. Hester herself felt that Pearl was given to her both as a blessing and also a punishment worse than death. She is tormented by her daughter’s childish teasing and endless questioning about the scarlet â€Å"A† and it’s relation to Minister Dimmesdale and his maladies. After Pearl has created a letter â€Å"A† on her own breast out of seaweed, she asks her mother: â€Å"But in good earnest, now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean? — and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom? — and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?† Pearl implies that she knows much more about the scarlet letter than she lets on. Throughout the conversation Pearl is impish and teasing, saying one thing and contradicting it soon after. She refuses to say just what she means, which makes it hard for Hester to give a straight reply. Hester is  shocked that her playful daughter has lead their conversation to the topic of the scarlet letter, and even more disturbed that she has assumed Hester’s letter and Dimmesdale’s habit of pressing his hand to his heart branch from the same issue. Pearl, in bringing this forbidden and painful subject about, unwittingly inflicts agony upon her mother. Hester cannot tell her daughter what has passed between the minister and herself and come clean. Pearl symbolizes a hidden part of her mother that has not, and will never be exposed and therefore washed free of sin. Pearl was always drawn to the â€Å"A†, and seemed to twist the symbolic knife in Hester’s bosom every time she thought she was free of her weighty burden of sin. Pearl’s questioning wrenched Hester’s heart when the child seemed to somehow know about the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne herself realized that Pearl was unlike other children, and prayed that she was not sin incarnate. When Hester finally frees herself of her sin and removes the scarlet letter after years of it’s leaden weight on her chest, it was little Pearl who brought the reality of her eternal condemnation back to Hester with a stinging blow. She was â€Å"the scarlet letter endowed with life†. Pearl represented the part of Hester to be always dulled by the searing judgment of others in that she was Hester’s ceaseless reminder of the sin she had committed, but also symbolized everything about Hester that was free and alive. She brings Hesters inner feelings to life, magnifying them for the world to see. Pearl is the only happiness in Hester Prynne’s lonely life. Without a child to care for, teach, and love, Hester would have long ago given her soul and life over to evil. Yet she is also the contradictory pain that weighs down Hester’s shoulders. If Pearl had never have been born, she would not be condemed to her sinned concience. This wonderful child is symbolizing the strong connection bettween two rivaling forces; love and pain. Although Pearl is the product of an illicit bond bettween two people, she is also the only thing Hester has to live for. When town authorities, shocked at Pearl’s apparent belief that she was plucked from a rose bush and not created by God, recommended she be taken from Hester and placed in a school, Hester responds with the following: â€Å"God gave me this child!†¦ She is my happiness, she is my torture none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life!†¦Ye shall not take her! I will die first!† Pearl, though Hester understands that she was God-given as a constant reminder or her sin, is her only love and a friend that does not judge her by things past. Later, Hester comments that she would have â€Å"signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine own blood!† if they had taken Pearl from her. Her daughter is her only earthly salvation, as well as her only friend. Pearl is a blessing upon Hester in that her light-heartedness and seeming innocence allow her mother to forget about her troubles. To see Pearl playing on the beach and creating a fascinating world of her own is to allow Hester to momentarily throw off the shackles imposed on her by Puritan society and be truly happy. The Scarlet Letter is overflowing with masterfully crafted symbolism and representation, but Pearl Prynne is the purest and deepest symbol in the story. She was born not only out of utter sin, but out of the deepest and most absolute love imaginable. She serves as a messenger of God’s salvation through pain, and as a symbol of all that is blissful and content in Hester Prynne’s life. In the end, it is Pearl who kisses Arthur Dimmesdale as he lies dying on the scaffold, having admitted his sin. She breaks a spell that had lain over the dyad in adultery and herself – the product of their sin -, completing her service as a symbol of pain and hardship, but more importantly a symbol of love, salvation, and the deep bond between two lovers condemned by the strict decorum of the Puritan days.

Home School vs. Public School Essay

I prefer home schooling over public schooling; which one do you prefer? There are both pros and cons for both Home Schooling and Public Schooling. I am going to explain this all to you in my essay. I personally was home schooled for a few years during middle and high school. All of elementary school and part of middle school I went to a regular school. My reasoning for choosing to be home schooled is I have Agoraphobia which is an anxiety disorder caused by situations where people perceive the environment as being difficult to escape or get help. As soon as I would walk into a class room I would have a panic attack. One thing I liked about public school was being able to play volleyball. I loved playing it for the little bit of time that I was in middle school. Even though I wasn’t really all that great, So I didn’t play very much. That is one con of being home schooled. You cannot play sports affiliated with any school. A pro for public schooling is you have a group environment to learn in with others to help you. On the other hand with home schooling you are on your own. In home schooling you have less choices of curriculum as you would if you were going to public school. You also have more diversity in public school. When going to public school you have a higher student to teacher ratio, now with home schooling there is a small teacher to student ratio. In home schooling you are free to choose your schedule, as in public school your schedule is strict and chosen for you. Public school chooses the curriculum for you. Unlike in home schooling you can choose your own. There are now roughly millions of children being home schooled. Being home schooled teaches students to be independent in their learning choices. Sometimes home schooling can be more expensive than going to public school. Teachers are not always qualified to teach all subjects, and colleges sometimes have stricter admission policies concerning home schooled students. It is also harder to provide social interaction when being home schooled. Like I had stated before I prefer home schooling but everyone has their own opinions. This is the reason why I have enrolled myself into the University of Phoenix online. So that I can have the flexibility of my classes, this way I can work around my everyday life and not miss out when it comes to spending time with my boys. I hope that the information in my essay was helpful to you.

The Inuit People of the Arctic essays

The Inuit People of the Arctic essays The Inuit are one of the many self-designations of the Eskimo people. They are considered to be of Asian decent, which is noticeable from their small hands and feet. Another distinguishing feature is the appreciable percentage of the B blood type, which seems to be totally absent from the American Indian, whom they are usually mistaken to be descendants of (Mastny 25). These Inuit are scattered in small communities across Northern Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and the Chukotka region of Eastern Siberia. The Inuit in these regions total around 150,000 that makes up barely 4 percent of the Arctics total population of 3.8 million (Mastny 25). The origins of the Inuit living in this region is very unclear, it is believed that they have been there for more than 4,000 years surviving the cold harsh winters and cool to cold summers. Temperatures in the regions range from 31 degrees F in the winter to 50 degrees F in the summer months (Mastny 24). With this temperature range and the smaller amount of sunlight the Inuit have not been able to become true agriculturalists. Lichen, mosses, small shrubs, and a variety of small flowering plants are the only types of vegetation this climate can support. So, for the Inuit their lives have depended on the animals that inhabit the region. Caribou, seal, walrus, fish and whale meat were their major sources of food. The Inuit population just as in many other societies drastically decreased due to the arrival of the Europeans in the 19th century by introducing new diseases. These colonialists also dismissed local land claims, relocated or integrated groups, and even removed their traditional ways. Now that they have been in contact with other societies their lives have changed greatly. Snowmobiles have replaced the traditional dogsled for land transport and rifles have replaced the harpoon during the hunt. Outboard motors, Store-bought clothing, and other numerous m...

Tips for Maintaining Your Hybrid Vehicle

Tips for Maintaining Your Hybrid Vehicle Hybrids differ little from regular vehicles when it comes to routine maintenance items. Other than the systems that control the onboard storage batteries and the additional electric drive motor, routine maintenance for hybrids follows pretty much lock step with your fathers Oldsmobile. Follow our routine vehicle maintenance schedule to make sure you have all of the basics covered. Full Hybrid Vehicles If operated as designed, full hybrid vehicles have the ability to shut off their internal combustion engines and operate on the electric motor only under certain conditions. (e.g. low-speed maneuvering and light cruising). Needless to say, the engine doesn’t work as hard resulting in reduced wear and tear. Hybrids also often employ regenerative braking systems that both charge the batteries and reduce wear on brake components. Because of the way that the internal combustion engine, the electric drive motor, and the transmission are mated together to work more or less as an entity, a malfunction in one component can affect the way the others function. Serious troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair of this system is best left to professionals. You can check the transmission fluid, change out spark plugs and fuel and air filters, but delving much deeper does require specialized training. Sophisticated Electronics The complex electronic modules that control the electric drive motor for both propulsion and regenerative braking can generate enormous amounts of heat, so those often have their own dedicated cooling systems. The battery control modules regulate both charge and discharge rates as well as the state of charge of the entire bank. To operate consistently under all conditions, these systems will often employ both heating and cooling systems. When performing the regular maintenance on the engine cooling system, remember to check the individual hoses, pipes, and clamps as well as any additional filters that may be used on the motor and battery cooling/heating system. Be Safe and Beware the Orange Hybrids generally are equipped with dual voltage systems. Though most of the electrical system is safe standard 12-volt, the drive motor and related components operate well in excess of 100 volts. The safety threshold is low and narrow, an electrical shock with as little as 50 volts can prove fatal. To warn technicians and operators of these high voltage circuits, the cables are wrapped in a bright orange casing. To safely maintain and repair these components, the system must be de-powered, a task that is absolutely best left to trained technicians.

LAB IP 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

LAB IP 2 - Essay Example This includes ‘the peripatric’, ‘the parapatric’, ‘sympatric’, and ‘the allopatric’ speciation (Geographic, 2012). The allopatric speciation is said to occur when a particular species is separated into two groups. Isolation is a factor that emanates after separation. A separation occurs when a physical barrier creates a situation whereby the two isolated species cannot breed with each other. After the separation, the two species develop different features that are dictated by the new environment that constitutes their habitats. An example of this speciation is the Arizona Grand Canyon (Geographic, 2012). It is depicted that when this canyon formed, small mammals such as the squirrel could not interbreed. This was as a result of the newly created geographical barrier. It is noted that two different species of squirrels dominant the two parts of the Grand Canyon. However, birds were still able to fly over the barrier and thus were not affected by it. This meant that they were not divided into two different species. The same would happen if there were a barrier that would separate a species into two groups. They would develop new traits that march their new habitats. This will be possible if they are unable to bypass the barrier to interbreed with each

Paper one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paper one - Essay Example For me personally I think that the creation story is not really based in fact because there is no proof for any of it. The myth sounds really good and it does provide some kind of explanation for how the world began, but there are so many unanswered questions about it. For example, it has been scientifically proven that the world is billions of years old yet according to the Bible it has only been a few thousand. Something doesnt add up because the difference between these two points of view is rather extreme. I could somewhat believe the Biblical account if it was more in line with what science has proven is real. Another thing that I fail to understand is that global warming is something that is completely dismissed by most Christians. There is no argument for this because evidence shows that the earth is experiencing extreme weather, and this will affect our lives in the future also. It is almost like Christians dont care about the world because they believe that they will go to heaven one day anyway. I can understand that but what they dont realize is that by ignoring the claims of global warming they are making the environment worse for their children and grandchildren. I appreciate the right to free speech, so I am not against Christians for what they believe about the world. I might be attracted more to the religion if it could be modernized and take more of a scientific view of the world. We now live in the 21st century and some things are now fact rather than fiction because they can be proven to be real. Finally, I would say that the Christian world view is becoming less and less popular simply because it has failed to take into account significant changes in our modern society. Nothing lasts forever, but that does not mean that everything about what Christians believe should be thrown away. There are some good things that they believe, yet there are also some things that hold them back. One such example is the

Review la confidential Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

La confidential - Movie Review Example The character of Dudley Smith played by James Cromwell is tough and disciplined. Being the head of the LAPD he plays a protagonist role against the ‘bad boys’ in the city and is also loyal to his collogues and the department. Bud white (Russell Crowe), a police detective who is often hard and violent to enforce justice and law. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) a cop cum detective works strictly for the policing policies while being totally aware of the politics within the department. Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is the sparkling Hollywood detective serving as a technical adviser for a television series. Mickey Cohen took over the running crime scene of Los Angeles bringing down the reputation of LA police department and turning the department against him. But soon this guy is arrested while the legacy of crime scenes continues. The story revolves around three detectives; Exley, Jack and Bud white. Bud white watches a man abusing her wife. He is bought to death by Bud White. On the other hand Jack Vincennes serves as a narcotics detective and arrest two men engaged with marijuana. Exley moves to the murder investigation and Vincennes joined the Vice Squad. Bud White’s suspension is also over taken when they set out for the mission. The three now set out to stop criminals entering the LA and trying to take over Mickey Cohen’s business. The suspected criminals are taken to a remote location, beaten hard by Bud White and then forced to leave the city. The detectives now plan to find Cohen’s subordinates to trace and catch his network; this working strategy helped them while Cohen remains in the prison. There is a twist in the story with the murders at Nite Owl. Every police detective now starts to investigate about this crime scene while leaving all the other aims aside. If the killers are caught, Exley will lead the interrogations. Bud White left this

The Process And Problems Of Land Clearing Environmental Sciences Essay

The Process And Problems Of Land Clearing Environmental Sciences Essay Land clearing is an activity of chopping down trees, stumps, and other obstacles from an area as required to increase the size of the crop producing land base of an existing farm, to obtain logs or for urbanization. Australia native forests cover about 164 millions hectares which is about 21% of the continent (WWF 2007). Therefore, 50-100 plant and animal species are disappearing. Australia has the fifth rate of land clearing and clears more bush each year than poverty-stricken countries. It can be said that the number one threat to the survival of plants and animals in Australia is the large scale clearing of mature bushland. Biology A forest is an area with a high density of trees. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines forest as a land with trees cover the area of more than 0.5 hectare. 5 metres is the minimum height the trees should be able to reach at maturity in situ (FAO 2006). Forests are further subdivided into cultivated area and natural forests. Natural forests are forests composed mainly of original trees and not deliberately planted. The forest floor is frequently covered with decaying leaves, twigs, and other detritus where recycling occurs. Herbaceous plants such as grasses and ferns blanket the herb layer and get less. Shrub layer is categorized as woody vegetation that grows rather close to the ground. Small immature trees and trees that are shorter than the main canopy level of the tree predominant the understory of forest which give shelter for numerous animals. Canopy is where the most of the forests trees meet and form a thick layer and lastly emergents layers are trees that crown s emerge above the canopy (Klappenbach 2007). Reasons the lands are cleared Some native vegetation communities in the Southwest Australia region has been cleared, basically for food production upwards of 90%. Most landowners are economically stressed to put more land more intensively. In Tasmania, over 100000 hectares of native forest across public and land have been converted to plantation during the last 10 years (WWF 2007). Another constant pressure on Australiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s forests is livestock grazing and also fires. The international timber trade is currently the major reason of global forest destruction that contains the highest levels of biodiversity (WWF 1997). Areas of high biodiversity is likely to contain the oldest, thus in many case the largest and most commercially valuable, trees. The global timber trade tend to get appealed to forest with high biodiversity and exploit it. The conversion of non-forest lands from forest areas for settlement and agriculture is lead by rapid population and housing area developments together with urbanizati on. More people need more timber to construct houses, malls and business centres. This takes a great loss of forest lands for harvesting forest products. Besides, road constructions through the forest make the rainforest accessible for transportation and movement of timber produced from the forest. Moreover, large hydroelectric projects have led to widespread forest loss. This is due to large areas of the forest are flooded to construct dams. Effects of land clearing One of the bad impacts of land clearing is the greenhouse effect. The burning and degeneration of cleared vegetation, and the subsequent oil emissions causcausedhe greenhouse effect. from the entire transport sector every cleared vegetation, e Australiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s total carbon dioxide emissions produced to be and the subsequent oil emissions. over 13%. This equals to emissions from the entire transport sector in Australia. Over 5 million honeyeaters, parrots, robins and other land birds are killed every year as a result of land clearing. Nearly half mammal species, including wallabies, wombats and bandicoots, are either threatened with extinction or extinct because of land clearing. Australia has lost more mammals and plants to extinction than any other country and has more endangered animals than 98% of the worlds countries (Bush Heritage Australia 2002). A report (The University of Queensland 2007) showed that 150 years of land clearing added significantly to the drying an d warming of eastern Australia. Mean summer rainfall declined by between 4% and 12% in eastern Australia, and by 4% and 8% in southwest Western Australia. Runoff rapidly flows into rivers when forest cover is lost, thus rising river levels and subjecting downstream areas to flooding. During the dry season, such areas can likely to have long droughts that last for months which disturb river navigation, wreak destruction on crops, and disrupt industrial operations. 5.0 Solutions It would be ideal to replant the cleared lands quickly so as to avoid soil erosion and soil saliently instead of clearing large areas of land all at one time and leaving the soil open to the elements, to help maintain natural habitats. Sustainable Commercial Logging Options is an effort to control logging to ensure it is done in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way by authorising logging at a minimal rate. Government also has to stricken laws so that cutting trees in forest becomes a major crime. Besides its flow may be reversed, it will also lead to deforestation being controlled in a major way. All cities have to be managed properly, have enough green cover and new trees have to be planted where ever possible. Other solution is by establishing Good Wood. Good Wood is timber harvested from well managed forests or plantations or reused, recycled or salvaged wood. It allows consumers to continue using wood products without causing forest destruction (Greenpeace Good Wood Gui de 2009). Moreover, the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) system of reserves for Australias forests has been advocated by Australias National Forest Policy Statement. The aims of the national CAR reserve system are to safeguard old-growth, biodiversity, wilderness and other natural and cultural values of the forests (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2003). 6.0 Conclusion Land clearing can lead to the destruction of natural habitat and extinction and various climate problems. The developers have to balance out between suburbanization and environments. Everyone plays an important role on this planet to save the environment from being destroyed.

Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton :: Cry, The Beloved Country Essays

Cry The Beloved Country The quote â€Å"But there is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves he seeks no power, therefore he has power,† as stated in the book in the book Cry the Beloved Country is not a true statement. No man has absolute power over any one thing. Although people seek power in many different places, there is only one true power, and that is God. There are many different levels of power in the world, but no level has complete power over anything else. Love is a power that God has given to man, but it cannot be controlled. Man doesn’t have power over love. He can search for it in many different places, but the power he is searching for remains in God. A human has no control over their likes and dislikes. People cannot make something better or worse than it is. Love is the same. One cannot help it if they love something. People or things can touch a person’s life, and they naturally grow to or learn to love it. There are different definitions of love, but the true definition lies with God. People can spend their entire lives searching for more power. The thing that they must realize is that no amount of power will mean anything to God when it comes time for judgment. People base their lives too much on what material things they have, rather than what they have spiritually. They search for happiness in things like money and fame, but they are never fulfilled. It is impossible to find happiness in things like money and fame. No one can obtain happiness in a place where happiness cannot be found. When people start living their lives for the Lord, they will be the ones who hold the power in heaven. God has power over all things, because he created them all. People have the option of turning the power in the direction that best suits them, but God controls what will happen when one does turn the power. No man can control sickness, death, or natural disasters. The only thing that matters in man’s life is what he does for the glory of God. The most important power that man has is the power of choice. Man has the choice to follow God.

Representation of Adolescence Through Fiction

Representations of Adolescence through Fiction According to Kate Legged, an Australian Journalist, young adult novels are too dark and pessimistic, as she states in the following quote: Father bashes mother, mother abandons children†¦ Violence, drugs, suicides. The novels of some top writes of young people's fiction have never been bleaker or more explicit†¦ (Kate Legged; The Australian Magazine; 1998) ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began' by John Married and ‘Ugly by Constance Brioche both involve issues which could be considered bleak and disturbing.They tell stories of violence, one in a war situation while the other in the form of child abuse. However, young adults are represented in an optimistic light in both novels, becoming responsible and able to persist and show resilience through the circumstances they are faced with, making them able to overcome these challenges. These books promote the awareness and understanding of issues, and show that hope is what the c haracters cling to in their time of need. The main characters in both books are adolescents who develop and become stronger in their difficult situations.Constance (Clare), in ‘Ugly, writes an autobiography of her life of eating and neglect by her mother. Elli, the main character in ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began', writes a diary about guerilla warfare in an invasion where her parent's are prisoners of war. Therefore, both are put in a position of responsibility whereby they must look after themselves without parent's being there for protection. They are represented in a positive light which contrasts with their negative surroundings. ‘Ugly presents violence which is directed at Clare in the home environment.Clare suffers physical abuse (even leading to hospitalizing) and sexual harassment which re consequential of adults in the book, in particular her mother Carmen. Her treatment of my sisters was certainly very different from her treatment of me. They did not get the unkind words I got, or have their nipples pinched, and they were not beaten or punched. † (Clare; Ugly; p. 8 -9) Although Clare is unaware why she is victimized by her mother, it is possibly because she is darker skinned than the rest of the family.Carmen abuses her daughter through verbal abuse, neglect and physical harm. Her self-esteem is lowered through name calling such as the following: Lord, sweet Lord, how come she so ugly? Ugly. Ugly. If I hadn't given birth to her, sweet Lord, I would have sworn she was a fraud. Heavenly Jesus, sweet and kind, why have you given me a swine? (Carmen; Ugly; p. 52) Child abuse is intolerable in our society. As the reader sees the pain and suffering that Clare experiences, they respond to the torment by feeling sympathy towards Clare and disgust towards Carmen.So readers are positioned to admire Clare for her courageousness in persevering with life, fending for herself, her determination to become a barrister and her continual study and work ethic to achieve this goal. At the end of the book a spirited Clare visits her mother and lets her know what she thinks: You made me (Clare) hate you (Carmen), and I do. You know what? I don't think that you should ever have had children. And not that bad after all. (Clare; Ugly; p. 08) When Clare finally confronts Carmen, readers feel relief and thrilled for Clare because she has moved on from her mother's cruelty, to lead a better life and become a successful proud woman, unlike Carmen. From a horrible background, this young adult is able to achieve her lifetime goal. Unlike ‘Ugly, where personal violence is the main issue, ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began' conveys violence which is directed at the whole country in a war scenario. Elli, the protagonist, records the story of fighting the enemy for her country and family.The characters in ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began' also grow throughout the novel and become fighters for others' lives, rather than always pu tting themselves first. While ‘Ugly has one main character, ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began' features a group of seven friends, who are able to support one another throughout the war which the group discovers has broken out while they are on a camping trip. From innocence, the group is suddenly faced with a massive change in their lives: We believed we were safe. That was the big fantasy.Now we know we're not, and like you said, we'll never feel safe again, and so it's bye-bye innocence. (Elli; Tomorrow, When the War Began; p. 107) Readers can associate with these characters as they are typical Australian teenagers, which is seen through their behavior and country town in which they live. Although they are from a variety of different backgrounds, they show true Australian qualities, making them likeable to the reader as they hold the name values. The characters become more cautious and realize how important friends and family are.War has meant they are no longer innocent a nd must grow up and fend for themselves, becoming more responsible and independent with every minute, which is illustrated in this quote: We've got to stick together, that's all I know. We all drive each other crazy at times, but I don't want to end up here alone†¦ (Elli; Tomorrow, When the War Began; p. 284) These young adults (Elli, Homer, Lee, Carrie, Kevin, Robin and F') find the strength to live on while their country has been invaded ND their families captured.As with Clare, the reader is positioned to admire these characters because they show traits that most readers would can relate to and respect such as courage, commitment, independence, responsibility and family values as seen in the following quote. ‘It's our own families,' said Carrie. ‘That's what everyone's worried about, isn't it? I guess I'd fight for my country but I'm going mad wondering what's happened to my family'. (Carrie; Tomorrow, When the War Began; p. 172) One goal remains throughout which is to fight for their families and country ND their own survival.Through the representations of personal and social issues which are explored in the two books, readers are positioned to view the world as bleak and disturbing, which supports the view of young adult novels presented in Ledge's quote. However, the representations of young adults in the novels suggest that they are very capable of dealing with immense problems and overcoming them. Young adults in the novels are able to move past these issues because of their resilience and a small ray of hope in their lives, so they can continue to work towards a better life.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Chapters 5

â€Å"Everyone knows that old-timey vampires had to stay in coffins during the day,† I went on. â€Å"To keep out of the sun. That's common knowledge, Diego.† â€Å"You're right. Al the stories do say that.† â€Å"And what would Riley gain by locking us up in a lightproof basement – one big group coffin – al day, anyway? We just demolish the place, and he has to deal with al the fighting, and it's constant turmoil. You can't tel me he enjoys it.† Something I'd said surprised him. He sat with his mouth open for a second, then closed it. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Common knowledge,† he repeated. â€Å"What do vampires do in coffins al day?† â€Å"Er – oh yeah, they're supposed to sleep, right? But I guess they're probably just lying there bored, 'cause we don't†¦ Okay, so that part's wrong.† â€Å"Yeah. In the stories they're not just asleep, though. They're total y unconscious. They can't wake up. A human can walk right up and stake them, no problem. And that's another thing – stakes. You real y think someone could shove a piece of wood through you?† I shrugged. â€Å"I haven't real y thought about it. I mean, not a normal piece of wood, obviously. Maybe sharpened wood has some kind of†¦ I don't know. Magical properties or something.† Diego snorted. â€Å"Please.† â€Å"Wel, I don't know. I wouldn't just hold stil while some human ran at me with a filed broom handle, anyway.† Diego – stil with a sort of disgusted look on his face, as if magic were real y such a reach when you're a vampire – rol ed to his knees and started clawing into the limestone above his head. Tiny stone shards fil ed his hair, but he ignored them. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"Experimenting.† He dug with both hands until he could stand upright, and then kept going. â€Å"Diego, you get to the surface, you explode. Stop it.† â€Å"I'm not trying to – ah, here we go.† There was a loud crack, and then another crack, but no light. He ducked back down to where I could see his face, with a piece of tree root in his hand, white, dead, and dry under the clumps of dirt. The edge where he'd broken it was a sharp, uneven point. He tossed it to me. â€Å"Stake me.† I tossed it back. â€Å"Whatever.† â€Å"Seriously. You know it can't hurt me.† He lobbed the wood to me; instead of catching it, I batted it back. He snagged it out of the air and groaned. â€Å"You are so†¦ superstitious!† â€Å"I am a vampire. If that doesn't prove that superstitious people are right, I don't know what does.† â€Å"Fine, I'l do it.† He held the branch away from himself dramatical y, arm extended, like it was a sword and he was about to impale himself. â€Å"C'mon,† I said uneasily. â€Å"This is sil y.† â€Å"That's my point. Here goes nothing.† He crushed the wood into his chest, right where his heart used to beat, with enough force to punch through a granite slab. I was total y frozen with panic until he laughed. â€Å"You should see your face, Bree.† He sifted the splinters of broken wood through his fingers; the shattered root fel to the floor in mangled pieces. Diego brushed at his shirt, though it was too trashed from al the swimming and digging for the attempt to do any good. We'd both have to steal more clothes the next time we got a chance. â€Å"Maybe it's different when a human does it.† â€Å"Because you felt so magical when you were human?† â€Å"I don't know, Diego,† I said, exasperated. â€Å"I didn't make up al those stories.† He nodded, suddenly more serious. â€Å"What if the stories are exactly that? Made up.† I sighed. â€Å"What difference does it make?† â€Å"Not sure. But if we're going to be smart about why we're here – why Riley brought us to her, why she's making more of us – then we have to understand as much as we possibly can.† He frowned, every trace of laughter total y gone from his face now. I just stared back at him. I didn't have any answers. His face softened just a little. â€Å"This helps a lot, you know. Talking about it. Helps me focus.† â€Å"Me, too,† I said. â€Å"I don't know why I never thought about any of this before. It seems so obvious. But working on it together†¦ I don't know. I can stay on track better.† â€Å"Exactly.† Diego smiled at me. â€Å"I'm real y glad you came out tonight.† â€Å"Don't get al gooey on me now.† â€Å"What? You don't want to be† – he widened his eyes and his voice went up an octave – â€Å"BFFs?† He laughed at the goofy expression. I rol ed my eyes, not total y sure if he was making fun of the expression or of me. â€Å"C'mon, Bree. Be my bestest bud forever. Please?† Stil teasing, but his wide smile was natural and†¦ hopeful. He held out his hand. This time I went for a real high five, not realizing until he caught my hand and held it that he'd intended anything else. It was shockingly weird to touch another person after a whole life – because the last three months were my whole life – of avoiding any kind of contact. Like touching a sparking downed power line, only to find out that it felt nice. The smile on my face felt a little lopsided. â€Å"Count me in.† â€Å"Excel ent. Our own private club.† â€Å"Very exclusive,† I agreed. He stil had my hand. Not shaking it, but not exactly holding it, either. â€Å"We need a secret handshake.† â€Å"You can be in charge of that one.† â€Å"So the super-secret best friends club is cal ed to order, al present, secret handshake to be devised at a later date,† he said. â€Å"First order of business: Riley. Clueless? Misinformed? Or lying?† His eyes were on mine as he spoke, wide and sincere. There was no change as he said Riley's name. In that instant, I was sure there was nothing to the stories about Diego and Riley. Diego had just been around more than the others, nothing more. I could trust him. â€Å"Add this to the list,† I said. â€Å"Agenda. As in, what is his?† â€Å"Bul ‘s-eye. That's exactly what we've got to find out. But first, another experiment.† â€Å"That word makes me nervous.† â€Å"Trust is an essential part of the whole secret club gig.† He stood up into the extra ceiling space he'd just carved out and started digging again. In a second, his feet were dangling while he held himself up with one hand and excavated with the other. â€Å"You better be digging for garlic,† I warned him, and backed up toward the tunnel that led to the sea. â€Å"The stories aren't real, Bree,† he cal ed to me. He pul ed himself higher into the hole he was making, and the dirt continued to rain down. He was going to fil in his hidey-hole at this rate. Or flood it with light, which would make it even more useless. I slid most of the way into the escape channel, just my fingertips and eyes above the edge. The water only came up to my hips. It would take me just the smal est fraction of a second to disappear into the darkness below. I could spend a day not breathing. I'd never been a fan of fire. This might have been because of some buried childhood memory, or maybe it was more recent. Becoming a vampire was enough fire to last me. Diego had to be close to the surface. Once again, I struggled with the idea of losing my new and only friend. â€Å"Please stop, Diego,† I whispered, knowing he would probably laugh, knowing he wouldn't listen. â€Å"Trust, Bree.† I waited, unmoving. â€Å"Almost†¦,† he muttered. â€Å"Okay.† I tensed for the light, or the spark, or the explosion, but Diego dropped back down while it was stil dark. In his hand he had a longer root, a thick snaky thing that was almost as tal as me. He gave me an I-told-you-so kind of look. â€Å"I'm not a completely reckless person,† he said. He gestured to the root with his free hand. â€Å"See – precautions.† With that, he stabbed the root upward into his new hole. There was a final avalanche of pebbles and sand as Diego dropped back onto his knees, getting out of the way. And then a beam of bril iant light – a ray about the thickness of one of Diego's arms – pierced the darkness of the cave. The light made a pil ar from the ceiling to the floor, shimmering as the drifting dirt sifted through it. I was icy-stil, gripping the ledge, ready to drop. Diego didn't jerk away or cry out in pain. There was no smel of smoke. The cave was a hundred times lighter than it had been, but it didn't seem to affect him. So maybe his story about shade trees was true. I watched him careful y as he knelt beside the pil ar of sunlight, motionless, staring. He seemed fine, but there was a slight change to his skin. A kind of movement, maybe from the settling dust, that reflected the gleam. It looked almost like he was glowing a little. Maybe it wasn't the dust, maybe it was the burning. Maybe it didn't hurt, and he'd realize it too late†¦. Seconds passed as we stared at the daylight, motionless. Then, in a move that seemed both absolutely expected and also completely unthinkable, he held out his hand, palm up, and stretched his arm toward the beam. I moved faster than I could think, which was pretty dang fast. Faster than I'd ever moved before. I tackled Diego into the back wal of the dirt-fil ed little cave before he could reach that one last inch to put his skin in the light.