Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Deep State Theory, Defined and Explained

The Deep State Theory, Defined and Explained The seed for many tantalizing conspiracy theories, the term â€Å"deep state† in the United States implies the existence of a premeditated effort by certain federal government employees or other persons to secretly manipulate or control the government without regard for the policies of Congress or the President of the United States. Origin and History of the Deep State The concept of a deep state - also called a â€Å"state within a state† or a â€Å"shadow government† – was first used in reference to political conditions in countries like Turkey and post-Soviet Russia. During the 1950s, an influential anti-democratic coalition within the Turkish political system called the â€Å"derin devlet† – literally the â€Å"deep state† - allegedly dedicated itself to ousting communists from the new Turkish Republic founded by Mustafa Ataturk after World War I. Made up of elements within the Turkish military, security, and judiciary branches, the derin devlet worked to turn the Turkish people against its enemies by staging â€Å"false flag† attacks and planned riots. Ultimately, the derin devlet was blamed for the deaths of thousands of people. In the 1970s, former high-ranking officials of the Soviet Union, after defecting to the West, publically stated that the Soviet political police – the KGB – had operated as a deep state secretly attempting to control the Communist Party and ultimately, the Soviet government. In a 2006 symposium, Ion Mihai Pacepa, a former general in the Communist Romania secret police who defected to the United States in 1978, stated, In the Soviet Union, the KGB was a state within a state.† Pacepa went on to claim, â€Å"Now former KGB officers are running the state. They have custody of the country’s 6,000 nuclear weapons, entrusted to the KGB in the 1950s, and they now also manage the strategic oil industry renationalized by Putin.† The Deep State Theory in the United States In 2014, former congressional aide Mike Lofgren alleged the existence of a different type of deep state operating within the United States government in his essay titled â€Å"Anatomy of the Deep State.† Instead of a group comprised exclusively of government entities, Lofgren calls the deep state in the United States â€Å"a hybrid association of elements of government and parts of top-level finance and industry that is effectively able to govern the United States without reference to the consent of the governed as expressed through the formal political process.† The Deep State, wrote Lofgren, is not â€Å"a secret, conspiratorial cabal; the state within a state is hiding mostly in plain sight, and its operators mainly act in the light of day. It is not a tight-knit group and has no clear objective. Rather, it is a sprawling network, stretching across the government and into the private sector.† In some ways, Lofgren’s description of a deep state in the United States echoes parts of President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, in which he warned future presidents to â€Å"guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.† President Trump Alleges a Deep State Opposes Him Following the tumultuous 2016 presidential election, President Donald Trump and his supporters suggested that certain unnamed executive branch officials and intelligence officers were secretly operating as a deep state to block his policies and legislative agenda by leaking information considered critical of him. President Trump, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, along with ultra-conservative news outlets like Breitbart News claimed that Former President Obama was orchestrating a deep state attack against the Trump administration. The allegation apparently grew out of Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that Obama had ordered the wiretapping of his telephone during the 2016 election campaign. Current and former intelligence officials remain divided on the question of the existence of a deep state secretly working to derail the Trump administration.   In a June 5, 2017 article published in The Hill Magazine, retired veteran CIA field operations agent Gene Coyle stated that while he doubted the existence of â€Å"hordes of government officials† operating as an anti-Trump deep state, he did believe the Trump administration was justified in complaining about the number of leaks being reported by news organizations. â€Å"If you are that appalled at the actions of an administration, you should quit, hold a press conference and publicly state your objections,† said Coyle. â€Å"You can’t run an executive branch if more and more people think, ‘I don’t like the policies of this president, therefore I will leak information to make him look bad.’† Other intelligence experts argued that individuals or small groups of individuals leaking information critical of a presidential administration lack the organizational coordination and depth of deep states such as those that existed in Turkey or the former Soviet Union. The Arrest of Reality Winner   On June 3, 2017, a third-party contractor working for the National Security Agency (NSA) was arrested on charges of violating the Espionage Act by leaking a top-secret document related to the possible involvement of the Russian government in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to an unnamed news organization. When questioned by the FBI on June 10, 2017, the woman, 25-year-old Reality Leigh Winner, â€Å"admitted intentionally identifying and printing the classified intelligence reporting at issue despite not having a ‘need to know,’ and with the knowledge that the intelligence report was classified,† according to the FBI affidavit. According to the Justice Department, Winner â€Å"further acknowledged that she was aware of the contents of the intelligence reporting and that she knew the contents of the reporting could be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation.† The arrest of Winner represented the first confirmed case of an attempt by a current government employee to discredit the Trump administration. As a result, many conservatives have been quick to use the case to bolster their arguments of a so-called deep state within the United States government. While its true that Winner had publicly expressed anti-Trump sentiments both to co-workers and on social media, her actions in no way prove the existence of an organized deep state effort to discredit the Trump administration.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

ESL Dialogue About Having a Hard Time Finding a Job

ESL Dialogue About Having a Hard Time Finding a Job Original Conversation Mark: Hi Peter! How are you doing these days?Peter: Oh, Hi Mark. Im not doing very well, actually. Mark: Im sorry to hear that. What seems to be the problem?Peter: ... you know Ive been looking for work. I cant seem to find a job. Mark: Thats too bad. Why did you leave your last job?Peter: Well, my boss treated me badly, and I didnt like my chances of advancing in the company. Mark: That makes sense. A job without opportunities AND a difficult boss isnt very attractive.Peter: Exactly! So, anyway, I decided to quit and find a new job. I sent out my resume to more than twenty companies. Unfortunately, Ive only had two interviews so far. Mark: Have you tried looking online for a job?Peter: Yes, but so many of the jobs require moving to another city. I dont want to do that. Mark: I can understand that. How about going to some of those networking groups?Peter: I havent tried those. What are they? Mark: Theyre groups of people who are also looking for work. They help each other discover new opportunities.Peter: That sounds great. Ill definitely try some of those. Mark: Im glad to hear that. So, what are you doing here?Peter: Oh, Im shopping for a new suit. I want to make the best impression possible at my job interviews! Mark: There you go. Thats the spirit. Im sure things will look up for you soon.Peter: Yes, youre probably right. I hope so! Reported Conversation Mark: I saw Peter today.Susan: Hows he doing? Mark: Not too well, Im afraid.Susan: Whys that? Mark: He told me had been looking for work, but hadnt found a job.Susan: That surprises me. Was he fired or did he quit his last job? Mark: He told me his boss had treated him badly. He also said he didnt like his chances of advancing in the company.Susan: Quitting doesnt sound like a very wise decision to me. Mark: Thats true. But hes been working hard at finding a new job.Susan: Whats he done? Mark: He said he had sent out his resumes to more than twenty companies. Unfortunately, he told me that only two had called him for an interview.Susan: Thats tough. Mark: Tell me about it. However, I gave him some advice and I hope it helps.Susan: What did you suggest? Mark: I suggested joining a networking group.Susan: Thats a great idea. Mark: Yes, well, he told me he would try a few groups.Susan: Where did you see him? Mark: I saw him at the mall. He told me he was shopping for a new suit.Susan: What?! Buying new clothes and no work! Mark: No, no. He said he wanted to make the best impression possible at his job interviews.Susan: Oh, that makes sense. More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures/language functions for each dialogue.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

SOAP Note Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SOAP Note - Essay Example As a pharmacist, I have employed SOAP note format on various occasions, one of which involved a 62 year old woman. She came to the CVS clinic complaining of constipation and inquired on the availability of any drug that could assist in countering the condition. After careful assessment, I recommended her Senokot tablet. I did this after following SOAP note format for collecting information about the patient. The first questions I asked the patient were subjective and aimed at knowing how the patient felt. They aimed at knowing the symptoms of the condition the patient had. Constipation was the main problem the woman had. However, it was accompanied with abdominal pain and regular movement of the bowel (Ferrell, Betty & Nessa 516). She informed me that the first time she experienced the problem was two weeks ago and that it has occurred daily since then. After constipation, she usually looses appetite for several hours. I carried out an objective observation of the patient and this started by first asking the patient other conditions that she suffers from. I sought to know if she had heart disease or bowel disorder such as Crohn’s disease. She did not have any other disease or condition and was not under any other medication. However, her abdomen was swollen and there were infrequent actions of the bowel. Subsequently, I carried out an assessment of the patient and directed that some tests to be done to properly diagnose the condition. I found that she had hard stools and felt nausea and vomited at times. The tests I ordered to be carried out were blood tests, barium tests and colonoscopy. These were to determine weather the cause was hormonal imbalance or colon obstruction respectively. . The patient complained of abdominal pain and regular abdominal movements. She also felt tired and dizzy even without doing any physical work. She also complained of

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Anti-poverty practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Anti-poverty practice - Essay Example A 'theory of social work' would aim at developing the participant's ability to build a foundation about human social functioning from which they can continue to analyse and integrate theories from many sources that emphasise social, biological, psychological, and cultural factors in human life.( Dominelli, L, 2004). The theoretical apparatus for social work may include applying theories to understand and explain persons in their environment; identifying, appreciating, criticizing, and comparing social paradigms, particularly with regard to the manner in which they sustain and constrain theories on development and interaction; integrating theories for advancing social work practice and policy; assessing the social effects of different theories, transferring learning across various settings, and forming a unified framework for social work; evaluating the influence of social paradigms on oneself as a social worker; and by identifying world views that affect one's beliefs, actions, and i nteractions and reflecting on their consequences for social work with different mandates, groups, and settings. Social work is generally considered as being 'dedicated' to enhancing human life locally, nationally and globally by that builds on client system strengths and empowerment abilities. The practice is geared to rural and indigenous populations and is focused on improving social and economic justice with at-risk populations. Social workers must be able to promote efforts to develop and improve human services in a variety of settings; to enhance practitioners' ability to work with diverse clients; to promote active efforts to address poverty, structural racism, and oppression; and to contribute to the development of knowledge and scholarly work reflecting rural knowledge and practice that flows from local to international contexts. Social work practice is a process intended to assist people in need or to respond to human needs. The 'mission' of a social worker may be expressed as the following goals: to practice as generalist social workers with knowledge, values, and skills for working with diverse client systems of various sizes in rural settings; to understand and work effectively with diverse populations, especially those indigenous to the area in which he/she works; to promote continued professional development and enhancement of knowledge, values, and skills for generalist social work practice; and to provide service to the community and promote social and economic justice. (Wood and Tully, 2006) Social work and poverty The social work profession's roots are entwined with poverty from the time of the Elizabethan Poor Laws in England which are usually cited as the first attempts at the policy of poverty management, to the present-day's "welfare reform" measures. Although the term "poverty" can be applied to relative depletion of any resource--of the spirit, of health, of attitude-- the term usually refers to economic poverty. Social workers' efforts with respect to those who are poor and the circumstances that produce poverty have been to mitigate the impact of poverty on people as well as to develop policies that prevent poverty. Their concern with poverty

Sunday, November 17, 2019

School of Management and Economics Essay Example for Free

School of Management and Economics Essay During this work, we experienced how to manage the relationships within our work group in order to be efficient. Trust and collaboration have been the prerequisites for the formation of this team. We considered this bachelor thesis as an ongoing process, where all the parts of the paper have been rewritten many times. This work enables us to see marketing from a new perspective, more complex, maybe closer to the reality of companies. We would like to thank the managers from L’Orà ©al, Edouard Laclavià ¨re, Valentin Guillois, the manager located in Honk Hong, Ivan Coste-Manià ¨re, Iku, Aico, Mayumi, Ying, Sun-Young, Ahra and Katrin that dedicated time to answer to our questions. We are grateful to all these persons as they made the writing of this thesis possible. We would like to thank our tutor, Christine Lundberg that helped us finding our way in this process by providing us with good advice. We would like to thank also Marie Thuriot and Isabelle Petit, from IPAG, Nice, who answered from France to our emails and helped us in our researches orienting us to the right websites and to the right persons. Finally, we would like to thank our friends and relatives for their support, comprehension and criticism. Và ¤xjà ¶, May 25th 2006 Emilie, Lauranne and Tytti EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bachelor thesis in Economics at Và ¤xjà ¶ University, 2006 Authors: Lauranne Fina, Tytti Luc and Emilie Venezia Examiner: Jerzy Kociatkiewicz Tutor: Christine Lundberg Title: The Role of Cultural Differences in the Product and Promotion Adaptation Strategy: A L’Orà ©al Paris Case Study Introduction: Nowadays, firms are becoming more and more global. However, are consumers becoming global too? Therefore, the challenge for the firms consists in determining if they should adapt their products or if they should consider the consumers as being global, and keep their product standardized. The purpose of this paper is to investigate adaptation strategy in South Korea, Japan and People’s Republic of China (PRC) for make-up products and its promotion considering the influence of culture on the consumer behaviour. This is studied referring to the European market. L’Orà ©al Paris is used as an example to illustrate the study. Methodology: This study is a case study about L’Orà ©al Paris. To conduct it, we chose to use qualitative interviews and document analysis. Different kinds of interviews have been done in order to know more about the company adaptation strategy, the culture and the consumer behaviour in Asia. Written sources as external documents from L’Orà ©al Paris, websites, press articles, scientific articles and literature have been used to complete the primary data. Theoretical framework: Culture is a system of meanings shared by members of a group. It is an important part of marketing because it influences the consumers’ wants and needs and because it impacts on the interpretations of products’ communication. This demonstrates that the culture impacts consumer behaviour. The study of the consumer behaviour conducts companies to adapt their products features, their packaging, their symbolic attributes, their service attributes and their promotion. Empirical data: The empirical data comes from various sources. We interviewed three managers from L’Orà ©al Paris and as well girls from the following nationalities: three Japanese girls, one Chinese girl and two Korean girls. We also interviewed a specialist of cosmetics. All these interviews were conducted in order to answer our objectives. The interviews with the Asian girls and with the specialist of cosmetics were conducted in order to collect data on the culture and on the consumer behaviour. The interviews with the managers of L’Orà ©al Paris were conducted in order to collect data on their adaptation and standardization strategies on the studied markets. Analysis: Cultural aspects impact directly or indirectly on the consumer behaviour. The culture diversity creates the consumer behaviour diversity as it can be noticed in South Korea, Japan and PRC where the culture and the behaviours are very different than in Europe. L’Orà ©al Paris is trying to know more about these consumer behaviour differences in order to answer the consumers’ demands and to adapt its products and promotion strategy. Conclusion: L’Orà ©al Paris is adapting some elements of its product range and its promotion. The three countries studied are very different culturally speaking. However, the adaptations on products and promotion made by L’Orà ©al Paris do not take fully into account these cultural and consumer behaviour differences. Moreover, many promotion and products aspects are standardized. Thus, the L’Orà ©al Paris adaptation strategy in the Asian zone is a mix between standardization and adaptation. In its adaptation strategy, the firm considers some elements of the consumer behaviour therefore of the culture. To conclude, the cultural differences may influence the make-up products and promotion adaptation strategy.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Impact of Bad Habits on My Life Essay -- essays research papers

The Impact of Bad Habits on My Life It is very hard for people to accept their mistakes, but the hardest part is to correct them since no one is perfect and it might take some time as well. Some people think they are too perfect in life; unfortunately, I am one of those who believe it. However, thinking that I am a perfect person does not make any harm to people, but, when I come back to reality and see things around me from a different point of view, I realize that are my bad habits the ones hurting my family and friends. Therefore, being always late, being lazy, and drinking heavily has marked my family and friends deeply, causing on me a bad reputation and a bad person in life. First of all, being always late has caused me so many problems, not only with my family and friends but ...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 4. GESTURE

The wedding flowed into the reception party smoothly – proof of Alice's flawless planning. It was just twilight over the river; the ceremony had lasted exactly the right amount of time, allowing the sun to set behind the trees. The lights in the trees glimmered as Edward led me through the glass back doors, making the white flowers glow. There were another ten thousand flowers out here, serving as a fragrant, airy tent over the dance floor set up on the grass under two of the ancient cedars. Things slowed down, relaxed as the mellow August evening surrounded us. The little crowd spread out under the soft shine of the twinkle lights, and we were greeted again by the friends we'd just embraced. There was time to talk now, to laugh. â€Å"Congrats, guys,† Seth Clearwater told us, ducking his head under the edge of a flower garland. His mother, Sue, was tight by his side, eyeing the guests with wary intensity. Her face was thin and fierce, an expression that was accented by her short, severe hairstyle; it was as short as her daughter Leah's – I wondered if she'd cut it the same way in a show of solidarity. Billy Black, on Seth's other side, was not as tense as Sue. When I looked at Jacob's father, I always felt like I was seeing two people rather than just one. There was the old man in the wheelchair with the lined face and the white smile that everyone else saw. And then there was the direct descendant of a long line of powerful, magical chieftains, cloaked in the authority he'd been born with. Though the magic had – in the absence of a catalyst – skipped his generation, Billy was still a part of the power and the legend. It flowed straight through him. It flowed to his son, the heir to the magic, who had turned his back on it. That left Sam Uley to act as the chief of legends and magic now___ Billy seemed oddly at ease considering the company and the event – his black eyes sparkled like he'd just gotten some good news. I was impressed by his composure. This wedding must have seemed a very bad thing, the worst thing that could happen to his best friend's daughter, in Billy's eyes. I knew it wasn't easy for him to restrain his feelings, considering the challenge this event foreshadowed to the ancient treaty between the Cullens and the Quileutes – the treaty that prohibited the Cullens from ever creating another vampire. The wolves knew a breach was coming, but the Cullens had no idea how they would react. Before the alliance, it would have meant an immediate attack. A war. But now that they knew each other better, would there be forgiveness instead? As if in response to that thought, Seth leaned toward Edward, arms extended. Edward returned the hug with his free arm. I saw Sue shudder delicately. â€Å"It's good to see things work out for you, man,† Seth said. â€Å"I'm happy for you.† â€Å"Thank you, Seth. That means a lot to me.† Edward pulled away from Seth and looked at Sue and Billy. â€Å"Thank you, as well. For letting Seth come. For supporting Bella today.† â€Å"You're welcome,† Billy said in his deep, gravelly voice, and I was surprised at the optimism in his tone. Perhaps a stronger truce was on the horizon. A bit of a line was forming, so Seth waved goodbye and wheeled Billy toward the food. Sue kept one hand on each of them. Angela and Ben were the next to claim us, followed by Angela's parents and then Mike and Jessica – who were, to my surprise, holding hands. I hadn't heard that they were together again. That was nice. Behind my human friends were my new cousins-in-law, the Denali vampire clan. I realized I was holding my breath as the vampire in front – Tanya, I assumed from the strawberry tint in her blond curls – reached out to embrace Edward. Next to her, three other vampires with golden eyes stared at me with open curiosity. One woman had long, pale blond hair, straight as corn silk. The other woman and the man beside her were both black-haired, with a hint of an olive tone to their chalky complexions. And they were all four so beautiful that it made my stomach hurt. Tanya was still holding Edward. â€Å"Ah, Edward,† she said. â€Å"I've missed you.† Edward chuckled and deftly maneuvered out of the hug, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder and stepping back, as if to get a better look at her. â€Å"It's been too long, Tanya. You look well.† â€Å"So do you.† â€Å"Let me introduce you to my wife.† It was the first time Edward had said that word since it was officially true; he seemed like he would explode with satisfaction saying it now. The Denalis all laughed lightly in response. â€Å"Tanya, this is my Bella.† Tanya was every bit as lovely as my worst nightmares had predicted. She eyed me with a look that was much more speculative than it was resigned, and then reached out to take my hand. â€Å"Welcome to the family, Bella.† She smiled, a little rueful. â€Å"We consider ourselves Carlisle's extended family, and I am sorry about the, er, recent incident when we did not behave as such. We should have met you sooner. Can you forgive us?† â€Å"Of course,† I said breathlessly. â€Å"It's so nice to meet you.† â€Å"The Cullens are all evened up in numbers now. Perhaps it will be our turn next, eh, Kate?† She grinned at the blonde. â€Å"Keep the dream alive,† Kate said with a roll of her golden eyes. She took my hand from Tanya's and squeezed it gently. â€Å"Welcome, Bella.† The dark-haired woman put her hand on top of Kate's. â€Å"I'm Carmen, this is Eleazar. We're all so very pleased to finally meet you.† â€Å"M-me, too,† I stuttered. Tanya glanced at the people waiting behind her – Charlie's deputy, Mark, and his wife. Their eyes were huge as they took in the Denali clan. â€Å"We'll get to know each other later. We'll have eons of time for that!† Tanya laughed as she and her family moved on. All the standard traditions were kept. I was blinded by flashbulbs as we held the knife over a spectacular cake – too grand, I thought, for our relatively intimate group of friends and family. We took turns shoving cake in each other's faces; Edward manfully swallowed his portion as I watched in disbelief. I threw my bouquet with atypical skill, right into Angela's surprised hands. Emmett and Jasper howled with laughter at my blush while Edward removed my borrowed garter – which I'd shimmied down nearly to my ankle – verycarefully with his teeth. With a quick wink at me, he shot it straight into Mike Newton's face. And when the music started, Edward pulled me into his arms for the customary first dance; I went willingly, despite my fear of dancing – especially dancing in front of an audience – just happy to have him holding me. He did all the work, and I twirled effortlessly under the glow of a canopy of lights and the bright flashes from the cameras. â€Å"Enjoying the party, Mrs. Cullen?† he whispered in my ear. I laughed. â€Å"That will take a while to get used to.† â€Å"We have a while,† he reminded me, his voice exultant, and he leaned down to kiss me while we danced. Cameras clicked feverishly. The music changed, and Charlie tapped on Edward's shoulder. It wasn't nearly as easy to dance with Charlie. He was no better at it than I was, so we moved safely from side to side in a tiny square formation. Edward and Esme spun around us like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. â€Å"I'm going to miss you at home, Bella. I'm already lonely.† I spoke through a tight throat, trying to make a joke of it. â€Å"I feel just horrible, leaving you to cook for yourself – it's practically criminal negligence. You could arrest me.† He grinned. â€Å"I suppose I'll survive the food. Just call me whenever you can.† â€Å"I promise.† It seemed like I danced with everyone. It was good to see all my old friends, but I really wanted to be with Edward more than anything else. I was happy when he finally cut in, just half a minute after a new dance started. â€Å"Still not that fond of Mike, eh?† I commented as Edward whirled me away from him. â€Å"Not when I have to listen to his thoughts. He's lucky I didn't kick him out. Or worse.† â€Å"Yeah, right.† â€Å"Have you had a chance to look at yourself?† â€Å"Urn. No, I guess not. Why?† â€Å"Then I suppose you don't realize how utterly, heart-breakingly beautiful you are tonight. I'm not surprised Mike's having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married woman. I am disappointed that Alice didn't make sure you were forced to look in a mirror.† â€Å"You are very biased, you know.† He sighed and then paused and turned me around to face the house. The wall of glass reflected the party back like a long mirror. Edward pointed to the couple in the mirror directly across from us. â€Å"Biased, am I?† I caught just a glimpse of Edward's reflection – a perfect duplicate of his perfect face – with a dark-haired beauty at his side. Her skin was cream and roses, her eyes were huge with excitement and framed with thick lashes. The narrow sheath of the shimmering white dress flared out subtly at the train almost like an inverted calla lily, cut so skillfully that her body looked elegant and graceful – while it was motionless, at least. Before I could blink and make the beauty turn back into me, Edward suddenly stiffened and turned automatically in the other direction, as if someone had called his name. â€Å"Oh!† he said. His brow furrowed for an instant and then smoothed out just as quickly. Suddenly, he was smiling a brilliant smile. â€Å"What is it?† I asked. â€Å"A surprise wedding gift.† â€Å"Huh?† He didn't answer; he just started dancing again, spinning me the opposite way we'd been headed before, away from the lights and then into the deep swath of night that ringed the luminous dance floor. He didn't pause until we reached the dark side of one of the huge cedars. Then Edward looked straight into the blackest shadow. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward said to the darkness. â€Å"This is very†¦ kind of you.† â€Å"Kind is my middle name,† a husky familiar voice answered from the black night. â€Å"Can i cut in?† My hand flew up to my throat, and if Edward hadn't been holding me I would have collapsed. â€Å"Jacob!† I choked as soon as I could breathe. â€Å"Jacob!† â€Å"Hey there, Bells.† I stumbled toward the sound of his voice. Edward kept his grip under my elbow until another set of strong hands caught me in the darkness. The heat from Jacob's skin burned right through the thin satin dress as he pulled me close. He made no effort to dance; he just hugged me while I buried my face in his chest. He leaned down to press his cheek to the top of my head. â€Å"Rosalie won't forgive me if she doesn't get her official turn on the dance floor,† Edward murmured, and I knew he was leaving us, giving me a gift of his own – this moment with Jacob. â€Å"Oh, Jacob.† I was crying now; I couldn't get the words out clearly. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"Stop blubbering,Bella. You'll ruin your dress. It's just me.† â€Å"Just? Oh, Jake! Everything is perfect now.† Hesnorted. â€Å"Yeah – the party can start. The best man finally made it.† â€Å"Now everyone I love is here.† I felthis lips brush my hair. â€Å"SorryI'm late, honey.† â€Å"I'm just so happy you came!† â€Å"That was the idea.† I glanced toward the guests, but I couldn't see through the dancers to the spot where I'd last seen Jacob's father. I didn't know if he'd stayed. â€Å"DoesBilly know you're here?† As soon as I asked, I knew that he must have – it was the only way to explain his uplifted expression before. â€Å"I'm sure Sam's told him. I'll go see him when†¦ when the party's over.† â€Å"He'll beso glad you're home.† Jacob pulled back a little bit and straightened up.He left one hand on the small of my back and grabbed my right hand with the other. He cradled our hands to his chest; I could feel his heart beat under my palm, and I guessed that he hadn't placed my hand there accidentally. â€Å"I don't know if I get more than just this one dance,† he said, and he began pulling me around in a slow circle that didn't match the tempo of the music coming from behind us. â€Å"I'd better make the best of it.† We moved to the rhythm of his heart under my hand. â€Å"I'm glad Icame,† Jacob said quietly after a moment. â€Å"I didn't think I would be. But it's good to see you†¦ one more time. Not as sad as I'd thought it would be.† â€Å"I don't want you to feel sad.† â€Å"I know that. And I didn't come tonight to make you feel guilty.† â€Å"No – it makes me very happy that you came. It's the best gift you could have given me.† He laughed. â€Å"That's good, because I didn't have time to stop for a real present.† My eyes were adjusting, and I could see his face now, higher up than I expected. Was it possible that he was still growing? He had to be closer to seven feet than to six. It was a relief to see his familiar features again after all this time – his deep-set eyes shadowed under his shaggy black brows, his high cheekbones, his full lips stretched over his bright teeth in the sarcastic smile that matched his tone. His eyes were tight around the edges – careful; I could see that he was being very careful tonight. He was doing all he could to make me happy, to not slip and show how much this cost him. I'd never done anything good enough to deserve a friend like Jacob. â€Å"When did you decide to come back?† â€Å"Consciously or subconsciously?† He took a deep breath before he answered his own question. â€Å"I don't really know. I guess I've been wandering back this direction for a while, and maybe it's because I was headed here. But it wasn't until this morning that I really started running. I didn't know if I could make it.† He laughed. â€Å"You wouldn't believe how weird this feels – walking around on two legs again. And clothes! And then it's more bizarre because it feels weird. I didn't expect that. I'm out of practice with the whole human thing.† We revolved steadily. â€Å"It would have been a shame to miss seeing you like this, though. That's worth the trip right there. You look unbelievable, Bella. So beautiful.† â€Å"Alice invested a lot of time in me today. The dark helps, too.† â€Å"It's not so dark for me, you know.† â€Å"Right.† Werewolf senses. It was easy to forget all the things he could do, he seemed so human. Especially right now. â€Å"You cut your hair,† I noted. â€Å"Yeah. Easier, you know. Thought I'd better take advantage of the hands.† â€Å"It looks good,† I lied. He snorted. â€Å"Right. I did it myself, with rusty kitchen shears.† He grinned widely for a moment, and then his smile faded. His expression turned serious. â€Å"Are you happy, Bella?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Okay.† I felt his shoulders shrug. â€Å"That's the main thing, I guess.† â€Å"How are you, Jacob? Really?† â€Å"I'm fine, Bella, really. You don't need to worry about me anymore. You can stop bugging Seth.† â€Å"I'm not just bugging him because of you. I like Seth.† â€Å"He's a good kid. Better company than some. I tell you, if I could get rid of the voices in my head, being a wolf would be about perfect.† I laughed at the way it sounded. â€Å"Yeah, I can't get mine to shut up, either.† â€Å"In your case, that would mean you're insane. Of course, I already knew that you were insane,† he teased. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Insanity is probably easier than sharing a pack mind. Crazy people's voices don't send babysitters to watch them.† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Sam's out there. And some of the others. Just in case, you know.† â€Å"In case of what?† â€Å"In case I can't keep it together, something like that. In case I decide to trash the party.† He flashed a quick smile at what was probably an appealing thought to him. â€Å"But I'm not here to ruin your wedding, Bella. I'm here to .. .† He trailed off. â€Å"To make it perfect.† â€Å"That's a tall order.† â€Å"Good thing you're so tall.† He groaned at my bad joke and then sighed. â€Å"I'm just here to be your friend. Your best friend, one last time.† â€Å"Sam should give you more credit.† â€Å"Well, maybe I'm being oversensitive. Maybe they'd be here anyway, to keep an eye on Seth. There are a lot of vampires here. Seth doesn't take that as seriously as he should.† â€Å"Seth knows that he's not in any danger. He understands the Cullens better than Sam does.† â€Å"Sure, sure,† Jacob said, making peace before it could turn into a fight. It was strange to have him being the diplomat. â€Å"Sorry about those voices,† I said. â€Å"Wish I could make it better.† In so many ways. â€Å"It's not that bad. I'm just whining a little.† â€Å"You're†¦ happy?† â€Å"Close enough. But enough about me. You're the star today.† He chuckled. â€Å"I bet you're just loving that. Center of attention.† â€Å"Yeah. Can't get enough attention.† He laughed and then stared over my head. With pursed lips, he studied the shimmering glow of the reception party, the graceful whirl of the dancers, the fluttering petals falling from the garlands; I looked with him. It all seemed very distant from this black, quiet space. Almost like watching the white flurries swirling inside a snow globe. â€Å"I'll give them this much,† he said. â€Å"They know how to throw a party.† â€Å"Alice is an unstoppable force of nature.† He sighed. â€Å"Song's over. Do you think 1 get another one? Or is that asking too much?† I tightened my hand around his. â€Å"You can have as many dances as you want.† He laughed. â€Å"That would be interesting. I think I'd better stick with two, though. Don't want to start talk.† We turned in another circle. â€Å"You'd think I'd be used to telling you goodbye by now,† he murmured. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but I couldn't force it down. Jacob looked at me and frowned. He wiped his fingers across my cheek, catching the tears there. â€Å"You're not supposed to be the one crying, Bella.† â€Å"Everyone cries at weddings,† I said thickly. â€Å"This is what you want, right?† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"Then smile.† I tried. He laughed at my grimace. Tm going to try to remember you like this. Pretend that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That what?That I died?† He clenched his teeth. He was struggling with himself – with his decision to make his presence here a gift and not a judgment. I could guess what he wanted to say. â€Å"No,† he finally answered. â€Å"But I'll see you this way in my head. Pink cheeks. Heartbeat. Two left feet. All of that.† I deliberately stomped on his foot as hard as I could. He smiled. â€Å"That's my girl.† He started to say something else and then snapped his mouth closed. Struggling again, teeth gritted against the words he didn't want to say. My relationship with Jacob used to be so easy. Natural as breathing. But since Edward had come back into my life, it was a constant strain. Because – in Jacob's eyes – by choosing Edward, I was choosing a fate that was worse than death, or at least equivalent to it. â€Å"What is it, Jake? Just tell me. You can tell me anything.† â€Å"I – I†¦ I don't have anything to tell you.† â€Å"Oh please. Spit it out.† â€Å"It's true.It's not†¦ it's – it's a question. It's something I want you to tell me† â€Å"Ask me.† He struggled for another minute and then exhaled. â€Å"I shouldn't. It doesn't matter. I'm just morbidly curious.† Because I knew him so well, I understood. â€Å"It's not tonight, Jacob,† I whispered. Jacob was even more obsessed with my humanity than Edward. He treasured every one of my heartbeats, knowing that they were numbered. â€Å"Oh,† he said, trying to smother his relief. â€Å"Oh.† A new song started playing, but he didn't notice the change this time. â€Å"When?† he whispered. â€Å"I don't know for sure. A week or two, maybe.† His voice changed, took on a defensive, mocking edge. â€Å"What's the holdup?† â€Å"I just didn't want to spend my honeymoon writhing in pain.† â€Å"You'd rather spend it how? Playing checkers? Ha ha.† â€Å"Very funny.† â€Å"Kidding, Bells. But, honestly, I don't see the point. You can't have a real honeymoon with your vampire, so why go through the motions? Call a spade a spade. This isn't the first time you've put this off. That's a good thing, though,† he said, suddenly earnest. â€Å"Don't be embarrassed about it.† â€Å"I'm not putting anything off,† I snapped. â€Å"And yes I can have a real honeymoon! I can do anything I want! Butt out!† He stopped our slow circling abruptly. For a moment, I wondered if he'd finally noticed the music change, and I scrambled in my head for a way to patch up our little tiff before he said goodbye to me. We shouldn't part on this note. And then his eyes bulged wide with a strange kind of confused horror. â€Å"What?† he gasped. â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"About what†¦ ? Jake? What's wrong?† â€Å"What do you mean? Have a real honeymoon? While you're still human? Are you kidding? That's a sick joke, Bella!† I glared at him. â€Å"I said butt out, Jake. This is so not your business. I shouldn't have†¦ we shouldn't even be talking about this. It's private – â€Å" His enormous hands gripped the tops of my arms, wrapping all the way around, fingers overlapping. â€Å"Ow, Jake! Let go!† He shook me. â€Å"Bella! Have you lost your mind? You can't be that stupid! Tell me you're joking!† He shook me again. His hands, tight as tourniquets, were quivering, sending vibrations deep into my bones. â€Å"Jake – stop!† The darkness was suddenly very crowded. â€Å"Take your hands off her!† Edward's voice was cold as ice, sharp as razors. Behind Jacob, there was a low snarl from the black night, and then another, overlapping the first. â€Å"Jake, bro, back away,† I heard Seth Clearwater urge. â€Å"You're losing it.† Jacob seemed frozen as he was, his horrified eyes wide and staring. â€Å"You'll hurt her,† Seth whispered. â€Å"Let her go.† â€Å"Now!† Edward snarled. Jacob's hands dropped to his sides, and the sudden gush of blood through my waiting veins was almost painful. Before I could register more than that, cold hands replaced the hot ones, and the air was suddenly whooshing past me. I blinked, and I was on my feet a half dozen feet away from where I'd been standing. Edward was tensed in front of me. There were two enormous wolves braced between him and Jacob, but they did not seem aggressive to me. More like they were trying to prevent the fight. And Seth – gangly, fifteen-year-old Seth – had his long arms around Jacob's shaking body, and he was tugging him away. If Jacob phased with Seth so close†¦ â€Å"C'mon, Jake. Let's go.† â€Å"I'll kill you,† Jacob said, his voice so choked with rage that it was low as a whisper. His eyes, focused on Edward, burned with fury. â€Å"I'll kill you myself! I'll do it now!† He shuddered convulsively. The biggest wolf, the black one, growled sharply. â€Å"Seth, get out of the way,† Edward hissed. Seth tugged on Jacob again. Jacob was so bewildered with rage that Seth was able to yank him a few feet farther back. â€Å"Don't do it, Jake. Walk away. C'mon.† Sam – the bigger wolf, the black one – joined Seth then. He put his massive head against Jacob's chest and shoved. The three of them – Seth towing, Jake trembling, Sam pushing – disappeared swiftly into the darkness. The other wolf stared after them. I wasn't sure, in the weak light, about the color of his fur – chocolate brown, maybe? Was it Quil, then? Tm sorry,† I whispered to the wolf. â€Å"It'sall right now,Bella,† Edward murmured. The wolf looked at Edward. His gaze was not friendly. Edward gave him one cold nod.The wolf huffed and then turned to follow the others, vanishing as they had. â€Å"All right,† Edward said to himself, and then he looked at me. â€Å"Let's get back.† â€Å"But Jake – â€Å" â€Å"Sam has him in hand. He's gone.† â€Å"Edward, I'm so sorry. Iwas stupid – â€Å" â€Å"You did nothing wrong – â€Å" â€Å"I have such a big mouth! Why would I†¦ I shouldn't have let him get to me like that. What was I thinking?† â€Å"Don't worry.† He touched my face. â€Å"We need to get back to the reception before someone notices our absence.† I shook my head, trying to reorient myself. Before someone noticed? Had anyone missed that? Then, as I thought about it, I realized the confrontation that had seemed so catastrophic to me had, in reality, been very quiet and short here in the shadows. â€Å"Give me two seconds,† I pleaded. My insides were chaotic with panic and grief, but that didn't matter – only the outside mattered right now. Putting on a good show was something I knew I had to master. â€Å"My dress?† â€Å"You look fine. Not a hair out of place.† I took two deep breaths. â€Å"Okay. Let's go.† He put his arms around me and led me back to the light. When we passed under the twinkle lights, he spun me gently onto the dance floor. We melted in with the other dancers as if our dance had never been interrupted. I glanced around at the guests, butno one seemed shocked or frightened. Only the very palest faces there showed any signs of stress, and they hid it well. Jasper and Emmett were on the edge of the floor, close together, and I guessed that they had been nearby during the confrontation. â€Å"Are you – â€Å" Tm fine,† I promised. â€Å"I can't believe I did that. What's wrong with me?† â€Å"Nothing is wrong with you† I'd been so glad to see Jacob here. I knew the sacrifice it had taken him. And then I'd ruined it, turned his gift into a disaster. I should be quarantined. But my idiocy would not ruin anything else tonight. I would put this away, shove it in a drawer and lock it up to deal with later. There would be plenty of time to flagellate myself for this, and nothing I could do now would help. â€Å"It's over,† I said. â€Å"Let's not think of it again tonight.† I expected a quick agreement from Edward, but he was silent. â€Å"Edward?† He closed his eyes and touched his forehead to mine. â€Å"Jacob is right,† he whispered. â€Å"What am I thinking?† â€Å"He is not.† I tried to keep my face smooth for the watching crowd of friends. â€Å"Jacob is way too prejudiced to see anything clearly.† He mumbled something low that sounded almost like â€Å"should let him kill me for even thinking †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Stop it,† I said fiercely. I grabbed his face in my hands and waited until he opened his eyes. â€Å"You and me. That's the only thing that matters. The only thing you're allowed to think about now. Do you hear me?† â€Å"Yes,† he sighed. â€Å"Forget Jacob came.† I could do that. I would 60 that. â€Å"For me. Promise that you'll let this go.† He stared into my eyes for a moment before answering. â€Å"I promise.† â€Å"Thank you. Edward, I'm not afraid.† â€Å"I am,† he whispered. â€Å"Don't be.† I took deep breath and smiled. â€Å"By the way, I love you.† He smiled just a little in return. â€Å"That's why we're here.† â€Å"You're monopolizing the bride,† Emmett said, coming up behind Edward's shoulder. â€Å"Let me dance with my little sister. This could be my last chance to make her blush.† He laughed loudly, as unaffected as he usually was by any serious atmosphere. It turned out there were actually lots of people I hadn't danced with yet, and that gave me a chance to truly compose and resolve myself. When Edward claimed me again, I found that the Jacob-drawer was shut nice and tight. As he wrapped his arms around me, I was able to unearth my earlier sense of joy, my certainty that everything in my life was in the right place tonight. I smiled and laid my head against his chest. His arms tightened. â€Å"I could get used to this,† I said. â€Å"Don't tell me you've gotten over your dancing issues?† â€Å"Dancing isn't so bad – with you. But I was thinking more of this,† – and I pressed myself to him even tighter – â€Å"of never having to let you go.† â€Å"Never,† he promised, and he leaned down to kiss me. It was a serious kind of kiss – intense, slow but building†¦. I'd pretty much forgotten where I was when I heard Alice call, â€Å"Bella! It's time!† I felt a brief flicker of irritation with my new sister for the interruption. Edward ignored her; his lips were hard against mine, more urgent than before. My heart broke into a sprint and my palms were slick against his marble neck. â€Å"Do you want to miss your plane?† Alice demanded, right next to me now. â€Å"I'm sure you'll have a lovely honeymoon camped out in the airport waiting for another flight.† Edward turned his face slightly to murmur, â€Å"Go away, Alice,† and then pressed his lips to mine again. â€Å"Bella, do you want to wear that dress on the airplane?† she demanded. I wasn't really paying much attention. At the moment, I simply didn't care. Alice growled quietly. â€Å"I'll tell her where you're taking her, Edward. So help me, I will.† He froze. Then he lifted his face from mine and glared at his favorite sister. â€Å"You're awfully small to be so hugelyirritating.† â€Å"I didn't pick out the perfect going-away dress to have it wasted,† she snapped back, taking my hand. â€Å"Come with me, Bella.† I tugged against her hold, stretching up on my toes to kiss him one more time. She jerked my arm impatiently, hauling me away from him. There were a few chuckles from the watching guests. I gave up then and let her lead me into the empty house. She looked annoyed. â€Å"Sorry, Alice,† I apologized. â€Å"I don't blame you, Bella.† She sighed. â€Å"You don't seem to be able help yourself.† I giggled at her martyred expression, and she scowled. â€Å"Thank you, Alice. It was the most beautiful wedding anyone ever had,† I told her earnestly. â€Å"Everything was exactly right. You're the best, smartest, most talented sister in the whole world.† That thawed her out; she smiled a huge smile. â€Å"I'm glad you liked it.† Renee and Esme were waiting upstairs. The three of them quickly had me out of my dress and into Alice's deep blue going-away ensemble. I was grateful when someone pulled the pins out of my hair and let it fall loose down my back, wavy from the braids, saving me from a hairpin headache later. My mother's tears streamed without a break the entire time. â€Å"I'll call you when I know where I'm going,† I promised as I hugged her goodbye. I knew the honeymoon secret was probably driving her crazy; my mother hated secrets, unless she was in on them. â€Å"I'll tell you as soon as she's safely away,† Alice outdid me, smirking at my wounded expression. How unfair, for me to be the last to know. â€Å"You have to visit me and Phil very, very soon. It's your turn to go south – see the sun for once,† Renee said. â€Å"It didn't rain today,† I reminded her, avoiding her request â€Å"A miracle.† â€Å"Everything's ready,† Alice said. â€Å"Your suitcases are in the car – Jasper's bringing it around.† She pulled me back toward the stairs with Renee following, still halfway embracing me. â€Å"I love you, Mom,† I whispered as we descended. Tm so glad you have Phil. Take care of each other.† â€Å"I love you, too, Bella, honey.† â€Å"Goodbye, Mom. I love you,† I said again, my throat thick. Edward was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I took his outstretched hand but leaned away, scanning the little crowd that was waiting to see us off. â€Å"Dad?† I asked, my eyes searching. â€Å"Over here,† Edward murmured. He pulled me through the guests; they made a pathway for us. We found Charlie leaning awkwardly against the wall behind everyone else, looking a little like he was hiding. The red rims around his eyes explained why. â€Å"Oh, Dad!† I hugged him around the waist, tears streaming again – I was crying so much tonight. He patted my back. â€Å"There, now. You don't want to miss your plane.† It was hard to talk about love with Charlie – we were so much alike, always reverting to trivial things to avoid embarrassing emotional displays. But this was no time for being self-conscious. â€Å"I love you forever, Dad,† I told him. â€Å"Don't forget that.† â€Å"You, too, Bells. Always have, always will.† I kissed his cheek at the same time that he kissed mine. â€Å"Call me,† he said. â€Å"Soon,† I promised, knowing this was all I could promise. Just a phone call. My father and my mother could not be allowed to see me again; I would be too different, and much, much too dangerous. â€Å"Go on, then,† he said gruffly. â€Å"Don't want to be late.† The guests made another aisle for us. Edward pulled me close to his side as we made our escape. â€Å"Are you ready?† he asked. â€Å"I am,† I said, and I knew that it was true. Everyone applauded when Edward kissed me on the doorstep. Then he rushed me to the car as the rice storm began. Most of it went wide, but someone, probably Emmett, threw with uncanny precision, and I caught a lot of the ricochets off Edward's back. The car was decorated with more flowers that trailed in streamers along its length, and long gossamer ribbons that were tied to a dozen shoes – designer shoes that looked brand-new – dangling behind the bumper. Edward shielded me from the rice while I climbed in, and then he was in and we were speeding away as I waved out the window and called â€Å"I love you† to the porch, where my families waved back. The last image I registered was one of my parents. Phil had both arms wrapped tenderly around Renee. She had one arm tight around his waist but had her free hand reached out to hold Charlie's. So many different kinds of love, harmonious in this one moment. It seemed a very hopeful picture to me. Edward squeezed my hand. â€Å"I love you,† he said. I leaned my head against his arm. ‘That's why we're here,† I quoted him. He kissed my hair. As we turned onto the black highway and Edward really hit the accelerator, I heard a noise over the purr of the engine, coming from the forest behind us. If I could hear it, then he certainly could. But he said nothing as the sound slowly faded in the distance. I said nothing, either. The piercing, heartbroken howling grew fainter and then disappeared entirely.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Risk of Entry by Potential Competitors in Fast Food Industry

6. The common sense of principle that defines the generally observed relationship between demand, supply, and prices: as increases the price goes up, which attracts new suppliers who increase in supply bringing the price back tom normal. However, in the marketing of high price (prestige) goods, such as perfumes, jewellery, watches, Cars, Liquor, a low price may be associated with low quality, and may reduce demand. Demand is how much desire consumer have for de product or service is available .When demand is great and supply is low the price of a product or service increase when demand is low and supply is great . The price of a product or service decreases. The effect on price is the quantification of supply and demand. Demand in many instances is driven by disposable income and free time. Henry ford recognized this in increasing the wages of his workers and decreasing their work time. 8. Relationship between risk and return The relationship between risk and return is a fundamental financial relationship that affects expected rates of return on every existing asset investment.The Risk-Return relationship is characterized as being a â€Å"positive† or â€Å"direct† relationship meaning that if there are expectations of higher levels of risk associated with a particular investment then greater returns are required as compensation for that higher expected risk. Alternatively, if an investment has relatively lower levels of expected risk then investors are satisfied with relatively lower returns. This risk-return relationship holds for individual investors and business managers.Greater degrees of risk must be compensated for with greater returns on investment. Since investment returns reflects the degree of risk involved with the investment, investors need to be able to determine how much of a return is appropriate for a given level of risk. This process is referred to as â€Å"pricing the risk†. In order to price the risk, we must first be ab le to measure the risk (or quantify the risk) and then we must be able to decide an appropriate price for the risk we are being asked to bear.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

James Dalton Trumbo Essays - English-language Films, Dalton Trumbo

James Dalton Trumbo Essays - English-language Films, Dalton Trumbo Dr. Roger B. Beck History 1526G 6 October 2015 Book Review James Dalton Trumbo was a screenwriter and novelist. Born December 9, 1905 in Montrose, Colorado(John). Trumbo was born into a slightly over the poverty level family, where his dad was a shoe clerk. He was the first and only boy, followed by two sisters Catherine and Elizabeth. Trumbo attended and graduated from Grand Junction High school. Trumbo left to attend college (University of Colorado), while his family moved due to the financial struggle, which lift him to acquire a job at a bakery shop(John). He worked there for approximatively 10 years, while still writing short stories. Oscar Trumbo (father of James) passed away just before he received the job at the bakery(Biography). There Trumbo landed a job at a magazine company known as the Saturday evening Post there his career elevated. After being released from there for advertising himself and rehired by Colombia pictures(Biography). Trumbo had many of the books written; The time of the toad, The biggest thief in town, Night of t he Aurocks, and the eclipse. Trumbo known for his Oscar award for the brave one in 1956. He was also known for his blacklisting for his association with the Communist Party from 1947 to 1960. Although he had antiwar novel Johnny got his gun he was said to be misunderstand according to (Biography). 1975 the Academy recognized Trumbo as the academy winner. 1976 Trumbo died from a heart attack in lost Angeles, at 70 September 10, 1976 (Dalton Trumbo) The book set in world war 1-time period. The larger picture of the novel is the main character Joe Bonham, begins to think to himself about his current state. He has no sense of smell, touch, or sight. And his question is why? Why is he in the bed limbless from a war that did not have anything to do with him. As he thinks back of how his position was chosen or could have been different. At the beginning he continues to keep imagining older memories in his life, while still ignorant to the fact that everything that he thinks about is the closet thing he could get to going back to normal. As each day goes by, Joe begins to notice all the things he could no longer do. The first thing he is aware of is him being unable to hear. Overall the conspiracy behind the novel is how the government and/or military involve our people in war thats not our own. In the fact that there is no democracy, honor, or winning a war. No matter who is declared a winner you still lose. If anyone tries to inform you on that information, the government will try the best to contain it or suppressed it. Chapter 1, Joe Bonham feels nervous and hears a ringing sounds similar to a phone. In a dream he was having, he walks through the room of the bakery where he works. His mother called to let him know that his father died. Joe informs Jody Simmons and the night foreman that his father died and that he needs to go home. (page 3, paragraph 1) Chapter 2, Joe remembers how his mother would bake bread twice a week. He remembers her singing while she worked. when he was young, he used to go to the store while his father worked. His father would give him money, and Joe would order three hamburgers from the hamburger man and meet his father at home with them. (page 8, paragraph 1) Chapter 3, Joe becomes conscious again. He can not see or hear, he realizes that he feels doctors working on him and he is pleased with the help. He feels a doctor working on his arm then realizes that they have amputated it. He immediately reacts with anger, he feels the doctors are to lazy to fix and rather take it off to save time and energy. Joe ponders over what they will do with his arm. He also realizes that the ring his girlfriend gave him gave him is on that hand. (page 12, paragraph 1) Chapter 4, Joe feels hot and starts to think back again; he imagines him working on the railroad in the desert with

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ladybugs, Family Coccinellidae

Ladybugs, Family Coccinellidae Ladybugs, or ladybirds as they are also called, are neither bugs nor birds. Entomologists prefer the name lady beetle, which accurately places these lovable insects in the order Coleoptera. Whatever you call them, these well-known insects belong to the family Coccinellidae. All About Ladybugs Ladybugs share a characteristic shape- a dome-shaped back and a flat underside. Ladybug elytra display bold colors and markings, usually red, orange, or yellow with black spots. People often believe the number of spots on a ladybug tells its age, but this is not true. The markings may indicate a species of Coccinellid, although even individuals within a species can vary greatly. Ladybugs walk on short legs, which tuck away under the body. Their short antennae form a slight club at the end. The ladybugs head is almost hidden beneath a large pronotum. Ladybug mouthparts are modified for chewing. Coccinellids became known as ladybirds during the Middle Ages. The term lady references the Virgin Mary, who was often depicted in a red cloak. The 7-spot ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata) is said to represent the Virgins seven joys and seven sorrows. Classification of Lady Beetles Kingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – ColeopteraFamily - Coccinellidae The Ladybug Diet Most ladybugs are predators with ravenous appetites for aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Adult ladybugs will eat several hundred aphids before mating and laying eggs on the infested plants. Ladybug larvae feed on aphids as well. Some ladybug species prefer other pests, like mites, white flies, or scale insects. A few even feed on fungus or mildew. One small subfamily of ladybugs (Epilachninae) includes leaf-eating beetles like the Mexican bean beetle. A small number of beetles in this group are pests, but by far the majority of ladybugs are beneficial predators of pest insects. The Ladybug Life Cycle Ladybugs undergo complete metamorphosis in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Depending on the species, female ladybugs may lay up to 1,000 eggs within a few months from spring to early summer. Eggs hatch within four days. Ladybug larvae resemble tiny alligators, with elongated bodies and bumpy skin. Most species go through four larval instars. The larva attaches itself to a leaf, and pupates. Ladybug pupae are usually orange. Within 3 to 12 days, the adult emerges, ready to mate and feed. Most ladybugs overwinter as adults. They form aggregates, or clusters, and take shelter in leaf litter, under bark, or other protected places. Some species, like the Asian multicolored lady beetle, prefer to spend the winter hidden in the walls of buildings. Special Adaptations and Defenses of Ladybugs When threatened, ladybugs reflex bleed, releasing hemolymph form their leg joints. The yellow hemolymph is both toxic and foul-smelling, and effectively deters predators. The ladybugs bright colors, red and black in particular, may signal its toxicity to predators as well. Some evidence suggests that ladybugs lay infertile eggs along with fertile ones, in order to provide a food source for hatching larvae. When the natural food supply is limited, the ladybug lays a higher percentage of infertile eggs. Range and Distribution of Ladybugs The cosmopolitan ladybug can be found throughout the world. Over 450 species of ladybugs live in North America, though not all are native to the continent. Worldwide, scientists have described over 5,000 Coccinellid species.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Case Studies in Ethnic Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Case Studies in Ethnic Conflict - Essay Example Despite the Tamils being previously viewed as a passive and non-violent community, their terrorist organisation the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE was â€Å"arguably the most disciplined, dedicated, and ruthless guerrilla organization in the world†Ã‚  (DeVotta, 2004: 170). The secessionist movement of the LTTE also referred to as the Tamil Tigers, soon turned into a vicious struggle between them and the Sri Lankan government for territorial control over the eastern and northern regions. From a survey of the literature available on the LTTE, it is found that there are various factors that led to their emergence, ranging from ethnicity and language issues, to political, ideological, military and economic factors. This essay will study the various causal factors (national and international) that led to the rise of the LTTE and their subsequent importance in the Sri Lankan politics since 1983 until their demise in 2009. Discussion LTTE, which was founded in 1976, aimed a t creating an independent ethnic state for the Tamils in the north and north-eastern parts of Sri Lanka, often referred to as the Tamil Eelam. ... This view of a struggle for independence had a widespread acceptance among the Tamils, even among the non-combatant ones. To justify the Tamil claim for independence and separate identity from the Sri Lankan political system, it was claimed that the Singhalese and Tamils, prior to the British intervention, existed as two distinct communities occupying separate areas, and the Tamils were looking to re-assert their political sovereignty (Kulandaswamy, 2000). There were claims that the Singhalese and Tamils existed as two territorially distinct States with political sovereignty until 1833, when the British brought them together for administrative convenience, under the Colebrook Commission, and there were further claims that the Tamils did not give up their legal sovereignty and remained independent even under the British rule (Vaddukkodai Resolution, 1976). However, de Silva (1981) in his researches suggested that the LTTE brought in the ‘two-nation theory’ (prior to the B ritish rule), merely to justify their violent struggle for liberation and use of arms, which had a greater support and attraction at an international level. The characteristics used for establishing the ‘two nation’ theory were separate territories, language differences between the two communities, and distinct political entities. However, a closer analysis revealed that under the British rule, despite creating distinct divisions using their classical divide-and-rule policy, they managed to maintain a strict territorial integrity (de Silva, 1981). In another analysis, the conflict is termed a terrorist movement, which was a political difference between the Sri Lankan government and a secessionist group (Bandarage, 2009). Bandarage claimed that according to Uphoff (2000), the

Friday, November 1, 2019

A Women's Dillema Between Her work and Family Essay

A Women's Dillema Between Her work and Family - Essay Example At the lunch hour, she picks all of her children, drop them home and then returns to work. By the time she gets home in the evening, she is drop dead tired, but she still fix a decent meal for her family and put all of her children to bed before she retires herself. She also watches television with her husband and has healthy discussions about family matters, politics and work related issues. Before she hits the bed, she irons everyone’s clothes for the next day and then manages to get a shut eye of five hours, at most. On Sundays she does all the extra work like grocery shopping and laundry. She is a perfect example of what we call as a super lady. Though, Alena dutifully accomplishes all her responsibilities, she still gets to face her husband’s sarcasm about how she didn’t groom her children properly because she’s been working. She has to hear her children’s complaints about how she doesn’t look after them that well though she doesn’t lack anywhere. Women today have to face a lot of challenges when they decide to satiate the career oriented lady in them ranging from society’s disapproval to the family’s grunts. The statuses of working women have become better than what it was some 20-30 years ago. Isn’t it an accomplishment that they are not regarded as careless vamps who had no rights to vote