Monday, December 23, 2019

Invention Over Time Technology - 1363 Words

Invention over Time Technology in World Civilization: A Thousand-year History is a book written by Arnold Pacey in 1990. Pacey is an associate lecturer at the Open University, Britain. He attempts to look globally at the development of technology soley in a world civilization. He focuses mainly on the dialogue between different countries, and the developments that happen. One of the major arguments of the book is the simultaneity of invention. Pacey’s thesis is extremely sound, and provides many sources for evidence, as well as maps and drawings to further his development. This argument is presented well, and used throughout the entire book. I agree with it entirely because I think over time society looks at the successes of others and mold it to fit their society. The argument of simultaneity of invention claims that the process in which discovery happens is in a defined fashion rather than a random one. Ideas are passed through cultures, and become more improved as the move on. Pacey says, â€Å"that the achievements of one society stimulated people elsewhere to make different but related inventions† (Pacey vii). Pacey explains this concept through basic guns, and gunpowder in China (Pacey vii). These tools were invented in China, but when news of this traveled to Europe it created new and better devices, such as the cannon. In the United States they created Transistors, while Japan developed new products based off of this electric device. Stimulus effects create new andShow MoreRelatedThe Funding Agreement Requires Universities1442 Words   |  6 Pagesfunding agreement requires universities to (1) â€Å"disclose each subject invention to the [relevant] Federal agency within a reasonable time†; (2) â€Å"make a written el ection within two years after disclosure to the Federal agency† stating it is electing to take title to the subject invention ; and (3) file a patent application subject to any statutory bar date. Notably, â€Å"the Federal government may receive title to any subject invention† when either the university does not elect to retain rights or failsRead MoreIntellectual Property And Technology : The Real World : Legal Matters Sweet As Candy1071 Words   |  5 PagesIntellectual Property and Technology in the Real World Legal Matters Sweet as Candy Roald Dahl’s well-known children’s book, Charlie the Chocolate Factory, depicted a talented inventor of candy known as Willy Wonka. The talented inventor’s creations were constantly under seize by his competitors, specifically Mr. Slugworth, Mr. Fickelgruber, and Mr. Prodnose. Wonka went to extreme measures to ensure his trade secrets, creations, and technologies were kept safe from his competitors. The amountRead MoreTechnology And Its Effect On Society Today1302 Words   |  6 Pagesthat you are looking at some form of technology. Imagine living in the world without the simple things that we overlook each and every day, things such as fire, and paper. Imagine the world without cars, TV, or the Internet. Most of us could not envision what life would be like without the many inventions and advancements of technology because we have become so accustomed and consumed by the modern technology all around us. With the inventions of simple technology made long ag o, it has transformedRead MoreThe Telephone: Then and Now1221 Words   |  5 PagesEvans The Telephone: Then and Now HUMN 303: Introduction to the Humanities Instructor E. Elliott February 11, 2011 The Telephone: Then and Now The telephone was one of the greatest American inventions. Developed in the 1800’s by Alexander Graham Bell, it quickly became one of the most used inventions in the world. The telephone had many impacts on society and the way we communicated and still plays a huge role in the world we live today. The telephone has developed from something that was notRead MoreEssay on Imagine a World Without Technology778 Words   |  4 PagesImagine living in a world where technology didn’t exist. That iPhone you have, computer you’re reading on, or even that nice car you drive, all gone with a single blink of an eye. The world you would be living in would be nothing but an empty, dark and cold place. You would have to learn to adapt to a new way of life. That’s why today, with the incredible breakthroughs in technology, the world is becoming more and more evolved. The technology we use today, whether it is the simple things we takeRead MoreDa Vinci Better Inventor Tha n Edison1385 Words   |  6 Pagespeople around the world. Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci may be most famous for his works as an artist; he actually spent quite a bit more time working on his endeavors in science and technology. His inventions are categorized as flying machines, war machines, architectural innovations, and water and land machines. For me, two of his great inventions were the parachute and the armoured car. The most famous of da Vinci’s war machines, the armored car was designed to intimidate and scatter an opposingRead MorePros Cons of the Technological Imperative1312 Words   |  6 PagesImperative† March 20 2011 Technological advances have been gaining more and more information over the past years and by doing so, they are able to advance their technology each and everyd ay. These improvements have helped but they also have the potential to hinder society. The Flying Machine, Locks, Computers and Why we Play God, and, Zap! It’s the Future are all written examples of how technology can be positive and how it can also be negative. The Flying machine written by Ray Bradbury, ClocksRead MoreTechnology and The Crusades1361 Words   |  6 PagesTechnology and The Crusades Many people consider the Crusades as wars of bloodlust, greed, and power. War can be described as an escalated conflict, most commonly over money or other resources. The outcome of war is usually the advancement of one society due to its newly acquired resources or knowledge. If one were to look at the Crusades, and their original purpose, which was to assist Constantinople and free the Holy Land from Muslim control, then one may make the conclusion that the CrusadesRead MoreThe History of Chemistry: Apple Computers Essay776 Words   |  4 PagesBefore the age of Apple Technologies, Pcs and androids were the most popular items on the market, and that soon changed once Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak introduced their new toy to the public. Their â€Å"toy† will change the world forever weather they knew it or not. Apple Computer first came to be a company in 1976. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak worked extremely hard on their new inventions. These two intelligent men dropped out of college, and were often judged upon doing so. Apple officially startedRead MoreAmerican Airpower s Dependence On Technology And Its Influence On Future Employment1254 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican airpower’s dependence on technology and its influence on future employment are best described with the words of General H. H. Arnold shortly after the Second World War: â€Å"The first essential of air power necessary for peace and security is the preeminence in research . . . . We must count on scientific advances requiring us to replace about one-fifth of existing Air Forces equipment each year and we must be sure that these additions are the most advanced in the whole world.† Furthermore

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Montresor Free Essays

The murder of Fortunato, executed in a   gruesome manner in Edgar Allan Poe’s 1846 tale The Cask of Amontillado, is a classic example of the premeditated crime.Its perpetrator, Montresor, was actuated by malicious intent, the circumstances surrounding it showed evident premeditation and meticulous planning, and he executed it in such a way as to avoid suspicion and punishment. Montresor’s motive was simple: to avenge an insult, of which details the author does not tell us. We will write a custom essay sample on Montresor or any similar topic only for you Order Now    He confides that he is of a vindictive nature,   not be satisfied with the simple act of inflicting punishment on his tormentor. He must avenge himself in cold blood, ensuring that the victim would know he delivered the fatal blow, and escape unpunished (1). Montresor’s plan was simple enough: let Fortunato accompany him to the underground wine vaults and there, through treachery and deceit, chain him to the wall and entomb him alive.  Ã‚  Ã‚   He   cunningly devised a plan to lure Fortunato into his trap.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fortunato according to the author, â€Å"prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine† (1).   He knew his friend would not be able to resist showing off his expertise in judging old vintages like the Amontillado.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Himself being skilled in Italian wine, Montresor had the perfect cover for inviting his prey into the catacombs. To escape suspicion, Montresor had to do it at such time when people would least notice something was amiss.  Ã‚  Ã‚   He thought the height of the carnival season, particularly at night when merrymakers would be wildly drunk and     carousing on the streets, would be the perfect time to carry out his plan.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author does not tell us if he wore a costume, but Fortunato was dressed as a clown, bells and all, and people would not have recognized him, or remembered who he was last seen with.  Ã‚   â€Å"The man,† described the author, â€Å"wore motley.  Ã‚   He had on a tight-fitting part-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells†(1). Montresor the avenger complimented his friend on â€Å"how remarkably well† he looked, feigning goodwill and friendship so as not to arouse any suspicion, of which there really was no need.  Ã‚   His friend clearly had no idea what he was up to.  Ã‚   Then the plotter subtly released the bait: he told Fortunato of his purchase of â€Å"a pipe of what passes for Amontillado† and his doubts thereof.  Ã‚   He had gone to the extent of buying the ancient cask in order to have a credible and irresistible cover for extending an invitation to his quarry. Knowing Fortunato well, Montresor pretended to be on his way to consult Luchresi, another vintage expert, whom Fortunato detested.   He appealed to Fortunato’s vanity, saying, â€Å"And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own†(1). Thinking like a criminal, Montresor had carefully avoided making any threats against Fortunato, knowing any slight hostility or animosity between them could later on be picked up by the police and lead to suspicion against him. On the contrary, he was careful to cultivate his friendship. On the night appointed, as they met at the carnival, his friend accosted him â€Å"with excessive warmth†. Montresor greeted him with equal pleasure, although for a different, sinister reason. On their way to the catacombs, Montresor continually feigned concern for Fortunato, who was being wracked by violent coughing, entreating him to return, although he knew his friend in his drunken state would not turn back.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   He actually added to his intoxication by making him drink some more from the bottles of Medoc that lay about their path (2).   Montresor showed sardonic wit as they proceeded on their way.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fortunato was asking him for a sign that he was indeed a member of the Masonic brotherhood as Montresor claimed.  Ã‚   In reply Montresor produced a trowel from the folds of his roquelaire.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fortunato the clown laughed it off as a joke (3). Passing through the catacombs, they finally arrived at the predetermined scene of the crime, which lay at the remotest end of the crypt.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Here was an interior crypt or recess whose contents of skeletal remains had been thrown off.   It was â€Å"backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite†(4). Taking advantage of Fortunato’s weakened and drunken state, while he was bewildered upon finding himself in a cul-de-sac, Montresor quickly bound him to the granite wall.  Ã‚   Then Montresor produced from the pile of bones a quantity of building stone and mortar and with his trowel began mixing them and walling up the entrance of the niche. Even after having secured his victim, Montresor was still feigning concern for Fortunato, showing him the dampness caused by the nitre, and entreating him to return.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The realization by Fortunato of his doomed state was slow in coming.  Ã‚   It only came later when, having seen the wall rising higher and higher, and as his intoxication gradually wore off, he saw the horrible reality of the crime being committed against him.   Before he was completely enclosed, Fortunato apparently lost his sanity. â€Å"A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back,† writes the author.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fearful that his victim might have escaped, he unsheathed his rapier (4).  Ã‚   Here is another proof that Montresor exercised forethought, arming himself for the trip just in case things went awry. As we consider the facts, it is clear that Montresor thought of every detail to carry out his vow of revenge, of which two foremost considerations must be satisfied: 1) the avenger was not to be caught, and 2) he must â€Å"make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.†Ã‚     Ã‚  All his acts pointed to careful planning and execution of the crime: cultivating affection towards Fortunato, buying the cask of Amontillado, bringing the mortar and stone   to the secret niche, waiting for the height of the carnival season to carry out the plan.   The police must have looked for Fortunato in the usual places except in the crypt. Knowing he was in frail health, they must have written him off as having drunk away the night and ended up a victim of some drunken brawl or robbery.     Ã‚  The old rampart of bones that covered the niche was not disturbed for half a century (5).   Even if they could produce some circumstantial evidence against Montresor, like being last seen with him,   such evidence would not stand in court, as the corpus delicti must first be proved.  Ã‚   His crime was not found in his lifetime.  Ã‚   Thus he lived up to the motto of the Montresors: nemo me impune lacessit. WORK CITED Poe, Edgar Allan.   â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†.  Ã‚   15 February 2007. How to cite Montresor, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Clintons Tax Stuff Essay Research Paper Economic free essay sample

Hilary clintons Tax Stuff Essay, Research Paper Economic Essay My subject is the addition if the revenue enhancements which Clinton Administration is be aftering. This addition in revenue enhancements will aim? transnational Corporations, stop the favorite revenue enhancement intervention of excess long term bonds? , It will besides raise capital additions revenue enhancements by? altering the regulations for calculating the cost footing of securities when they are sold at a net income? . What this will make is increase the revenue enhancements for the rich and will diminish the difference between the rich and the hapless. The program is captive on cutting the in-between category revenue enhancement and finance higher instruction ( yeah right ) . The current revenue enhancement jurisprudence decreases the Federal Treasury Revenue and makes the economic system less efficient or less competitory. The transnational revenue enhancement would forbid multinationals to? presume? half of their goods are foreign even if they are made in the US. We will write a custom essay sample on Clintons Tax Stuff Essay Research Paper Economic or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thus they could export to a state with low revenue enhancements and therefore pay less revenue enhancements. This alteration would convey an addition of 7.9 Billion in corporate revenue enhancements over the following 5 old ages. This withdraws a batch of money from the economic system and may therefore diminish demand for goods, as people have less money to pass. The multinationals would use many people and with and increase in their cost ( revenue enhancement is a type of cost ) they would be forced to diminish the mean sum of rewards which the their employees received. This may take the signifier of reduced rises, or the puting off of some people. This would therefore diminish aggregative demand for goods Nationally ( as Multinationals would use people in the US ) . It would besides do the companies to bring forth their goods in other states and therefore diminish the sum of people employed in the US. It would assist the economic system of other states as those multinationals would travel at that place. Thus the supply of goods demanded in the US would diminish. This lessening in economic activity ( due to the decrease of the money supply and the rewards of the people ) would do the economic system to decelerate down and may immerse the state further into recession. These companies may besides supply goods for the US and would therefore decrement the supply of goods in America. The multinationals produce goods in the US to export into other states. This would diminish. They would bring forth goods in the states with lower revenue enhancement costs and import them into the US. With the US balance of trade in such a hapless form, I am certain that any farther harm to it would non be good to the economic system. They besides wish to coerce people to utilize a package of stocks when calculating capital additions revenue enhancement. Soon there are 3 methods for calculating the? cost footing of stock? and most people, like the economic adult male, effort to cut down the sum of revenue enhancement paid. This would convey another 600 million a twelvemonth. Thus there would be even less money in the economic system and that would farther diminish demand. Wall Street would hold a lessening in trading as people would non purchase as many stocks as they did before, and the economic system would lose out due to the multiplier consequence, of the people in Wall Street losing a small, and go throughing this on to the stores which they buy things from etc.. These proposals would forestall the big corporations from acquiring more capital, but increase the sum of little concern in the economic system. This alteration in the market construction may be good and bad. The exclusive owner would profit due to the revenue enhancement cuts to the in-between category. However the big companies, which are normally Public Limited Companies would lose out.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control

Introduction Water is a most important commodity in human life and it is actually used in almost every aspect of human life besides the fact that it supports the entire ecosystem. It is used in drinking, cooking, washing and on top of that, it is important in industries where it is used for various purposes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unfortunately, not all the users of water are responsible to ensure that proper disposal or treatment of the used water is done before the water is returned to the water bodies. Due to the multiple uses of water, there is a possibility that contaminated water may find its way into the ecosystem and therefore causes harmful results to both human beings and animals in the society. It is in this plight that many people and organizations have endeavored to study in detail the various effects that water pollution may have to the society and how the causes of this pollution can be controlled. Sources of Water Pollution It is difficult for one to discuss the effects of water pollution without understanding what water pollution is and the causes of water pollution (Calow 258). Water pollution may be defined as the contamination of water bodies with substances that do not allow the water to be safe for human use or makes the water unable to support the living organisms that depend on water for their survival (Hill 110). There are several causes of water pollution ranging from the day to day activities that human beings carry out to large scale industrial operations. These causes can also be divided into two groups those which are direct causes and the indirect causes which can be linked to water pollution through a chain of activities. Water pollution causes can also be sub divided into point source and non point source group depending on whether the source of the pollution is f rom a single and relatively easy to identify source or from a multiple interrelated sources. Water pollutants can decrease the quantity of oxygen in the water body or even change the water composition of the water (Merchant 319). To begin with, presence of pathogens in water can cause the water quality to drastically reduce to the extent of being unable to support the marine life. Pathogens are known to be harmful to human being especially if the water that contains them is used for drinking.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Though there are other causes of pathogens that are present in water, the ineffective sewerage system is one of the major causes of this. Untreated or semi treated sewerage system mostly finds its way into water bodies thus, contaminating the water (Hill 113). The problem of sewerage system is more pronounced in the third world countries howeve r, it is also present in developed countries where the sewerage pipes might have leakages. Manufacturing industries usually use water for cleaning and cooling purposes among other uses. Unfortunately, in many cases the process of water treatment before disposing it off to water bodies by these firms is not that efficient and water that contains harmful chemical substances finds its way into the water bodies. Some of the chemical substances that are found in this water include oxygen demanding organic toxins like fats and grease besides the hydrocarbons from petroleum, industrial solvents, lubricants and other fuel by products which are highly used in industries and even in motor vehicles (Chiras 314). Substances used by people for their day to day activities such as the detergents, cosmetics and even water disinfectants produce by products which contribute to water pollution. There are also some inorganic substances that are emitted by human activities into water bodies consequently causing water pollution. Chemical waste products from industries, farming and other activities where chemicals are highly used form the bulky of this cause (Sengar 145). On top of that, surface run off can also collect the chemicals that are not properly disposed from various parts and take them to rivers and other water bodies where these chemicals are deposited causing a change in water PH among other effects. The change in the physical properties of water is also pollution since it interferes with how water can be used and the marine life. The increase and decrease of water temperature causes interference in the composition of water sometimes eliminating essential components (Chiras 521). Industries always tend to be located close to large water bodies and they use water as a coolant and dispose this water back into the water bodies thus, leading to high temperature variations. The emission to the atmosphere from industries, motor vehicles and even from domestic use also cause w ater pollution by combining with rain water hence, forming acidic rain which falls back to the ground causing harmful effects to both plant and animals especially the marine organisms (Jensen and Steven 88). On the same note, the chemical compounds that mix with rain water are also harmful to human being and have been known to cause various disease and even deaths. Effects of Pollution Pollution has far reaching effects both in the developed world where control measure have been highly effective and in the developing world where little has been done to curb the effects of pollution. It is paramount to note that, water pollution still is the cause of very many deaths in the world either directly or indirectly despite the efforts being made towards reducing the effects of pollution (Miller and Scott 91).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Firstly, marine life comes under great threat of survival the moment water is polluted because then it means their ecological unit is affected. Once water is polluted marine animals are unable to get food from the water or they take poisonous food substances which causes death to marine animals. Additionally, the inorganic deposits that find their way into water bodies sometimes float on the surface of water hindering free flow of oxygen thus, reducing the survival chances of marine organisms (Calow 334). On the same note, the oxygen demanding substances that are released into water bodies by factories or homesteads reduce the amount of oxygen in water therefore, causing death of marine organisms. Chemicals that are present in polluted can cause various effects to human beings. If contaminated water is used for bath taking, the chemicals present can enter in the body of a person through the open pores and cause serious health implications. On top of that, drinking of contami nated water or using it for cooking or any other domestic purposes exposes one to the danger of consuming the dangerous chemicals which besides causing heath implication can also cause death (Copeland 219). There have been cases where people have been reported to have suffered from various diseases including cancer, mental health problems, birth defects and central nervous systems and these conditions have been related to water pollution. Additionally, water pollution hardens water making it ineffective in washing thus, causing the community to increase their spending since they have to buy water softeners or they use a lot of soap than they could have used if the water was soft (Sengar 145). Another serious effect of water pollution is that it causes poisonous substances to enter into the ecosystem. Poisonous substances in water are consumed by the minute sea organisms which are then consumed by fish. This process sometimes causes death of fish and other sea animals (Miller and Sco tt 105). If these animals are lucky to escape death, sometimes they are not lucky to escape the fisherman’s bait and thus, find their ways into people’s table as sea food. Poisonous sea food causes various health problems to human beings including death. In this light, water pollution causes great disruption of the ecosystem distorting the natural ecological balance and leading to a series of problems. In conjunction with that, water contamination results in the presence of chemical compounds that sometimes the body system is unable to deal with. Nitrates from fertilizers when consumed by infants, aging and pregnant women are known to cause adverse health effects. Infants’ body is unable to detoxify these chemical compounds and end up suffering from blue baby syndrome where their blood is unable to efficiently carry oxygen around the body thus causing death (Merchant 237).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the same point, chemicals present in hard water can be deposited in the water pipes and after a long period of time they end up blocking and causing corrosion of these pipes hence interfering with the normal water supply. Furthermore, water that passes through corrode water pipes contains toxic substances which are harmful to human beings and other animals. Polluted water also allows toxic plants to thrive in them which in the end cause effects to human beings and sea animals. The toxins produced by the algae that thrive in polluted water are poisonous substances that poison marine organisms thus, interfering with the marine ecosystem (Copeland 233). These algae also can cause illness to human being in the long run if people end up consuming the poisoned sea food or if the water that is infested by the poisonous algae is used for domestic purposes. It is also important to point out that these algae sometimes end up blocking the gills of fish in the water thus, interfering with th e oxygen transport in these animals sometimes causing death. On the same note, at death these algae are deposited to the bottom of water bodies where during decomposition oxygen from the water is used up thus, rendering the water inhabitable (Jensen and Steven 291). In the long run though some organisms are able to change their point of occupancy to higher levels where they can get oxygen, small and micro organisms which are not able to move suffer the consequences and lose their lives. Due to the pollution of water that causes death and diseases of various marine animals, the ecological system of rivers and oceans have been affected greatly. When certain animals and plants die, other animals miss food and they are also unable to survive. Due to the imbalance that results from the disturbance of the natural way of dependency among living things in the water, the water bodies become unable to support to the full the diversity of living things by decreasing the factors of their surviv al (Calow 439). It has also been reported that rain water has long run effects on the vegetation since the water contains toxic substances which when accumulate over a long period of time cause vegetation to dry up and these has led to high rate of deforestation in the world. Since forests support wildlife destruction of forests means that wildlife is jeopardized and this can lead to extinction of several animals. On top of that, there are many human water borne diseases that are even more pronounced when the quality of water is questionable. These diseases have been known to cause a lot of deaths in the world especially in the developing countries where water treating system is not up to standard (Merchant 110). Though in the developed countries like the US success has been recorded in the efforts of reducing water borne diseases, cases are still reported of people who suffer from the same diseases. These diseases not only cause economical constraints to the citizens who have to di g dip into their pockets to secure medication but also to the state which has to provide health care to the people. Furthermore, there is evidence that certain chemicals that are present in contaminated water do disrupt the functioning of animal hormones therefore, altering the normal way of live of these animals. The hormonal disruptions that occur due to consumption of these chemicals can cause reduced immune response in animals, abnormal mating and parent behavior besides causing inability to breed in these animals therefore threatening the continuity of certain animal species (Chiras 114). These chemicals are mostly contained in sewerage waste products that end up in water bodies as it has been the case in southern California coast where there has been an upspring of intersex fish. Human beings are also not spared from the effects of these hormone-disrupting chemicals and the result has been decreased fertility, reduced immune function and increase in some type of chronic diseas es. On top of that, mercury which is another major cause of water pollution has dire effects on the live of animals. Research has shown that mercury can cause brain damage in young children, learning deficits and delayed or incomplete brain development as well as brain damage while adults exhibit problems of the central nervous system, heart complications and even death due to consumption of mercury. Nevertheless, still more needs to be done in understanding the exact effects of water pollution to the environment and animals for that matter. It is also important to note that, the effects of petroleum pollution are not yet recorded with certainty and therefore scientific research is essential to enhance understanding of these effects. Control of Pollution Water pollution and any other kind of pollution for that matter can easily be controlled and even eliminated with the right efforts and mechanisms. Pollution control comes with some kind of social and economical costs but helps to p revent what could otherwise be a long term disaster. By being responsible and trying to minimize the activities that cause pollution or properly dispose any waste material that is toxic or that can cause harm to human beings and the environment. The most contributing factor to water pollution is the sewerage system which can easily be taken care of through proper treatment of the sewer before allowing the same into water bodies. While most of the cities in the US have put in place good sewerage treatment procedures only 90% of the pollutants can be eliminated which means that m ore still is yet to be done (Miller and Scott 310). Despite the advanced treatment process through the secondary treatment and the subsystems that treat nutrients and pathogens, there are no mechanisms of eliminating the toxic substances that are found in the sewerage system. On the same note, the industrial waste should also be treated correctly to avoid chemical substances getting into the water system. The industries can put in place treatment measures that can help in the reduction of toxic substances before emptying the waste water into the council treatment centers. At the same time is should be a requirement that all industries that produce huge quantities of waste products to have their own complete treatment systems that take care of all the chemical substances which are available in their waste water (Hill 115). Additionally, industries that use a lot of water for cooling services can make their own dams where they can be channeling the hot water for cooling before they release the water to rivers and seas. Use of chemicals in farming has gained a lot of emphasis in US due to the good returns that are associated with the use of fertilizers and agro-chemicals. In this respect, erosion washes chemicals from the surface to water bodies forming the greatest danger of pollution. Therefore, proper agricultural practices should be used to control erosion which is the major cause of s urface run off. Crop mulching, crop rotation, afforestation mixed cropping and agro forestry as well as installation of riparian buffers will go a long way in preventing soil erosion (Copeland 227). On the same note, the management of the amount of nutrients that are applied in farms is important in ensuring that excess nitrogen and phosphorus are controlled. Furthermore, safety of our lives begins with our efforts to ensure that our environment is clean and that whatever we take is not dangerous to our health. Therefore, right from the homesteads people should exercise due care in ensuring that all waste material are properly disposed (Jensen and Steven 165). People should try as much as possible to ensure that what they use in the houses are non-toxic and they are also disposed properly in away that this substances will not get their way into the sewerage system. On top of that, those substances and commodities that are non-degradable should not be disposed in a manner that they w ill end up in the sewerage system because they will hinder the treatment of the sewer. Self restraint should be exercised by people to reduce or completely eliminate the littering of water bodies, while at the same time people should be encouraged to use products that do not pose a threat to the environment. Conclusion Water is a very important resource that is used in every sector of the economy besides supporting life of every living thing. Unfortunately, this important resource is prone to very many kinds of pollution which makes it a threat to the very lives that it is supposed to protect. Furthermore, water pollution has far reaching effects that end up touching almost every aspect of the ecosystem. It is therefore, paramount that efforts are made towards reducing water pollution because it is possible to eliminate water pollution hence boosting health of the whole society. Works Cited Calow, Peter P. Handbook of Environmental Risk Assessment and Management. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2009. Print. Chiras, Daniel D. Environmental Science. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2009. Print. Copeland, Claudia. Water Pollution Issues and Development. New York: Nova Publishers, 2008. Print. Hill, Marquita K. Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 2010. Print. Jensen, Clayne R. and Steven Guthrie. Outdoor Recreation in America. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print. Merchant, Carolyn. American Environmental History: An Introduction. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. Print. Miller, Tyler G. and Scott Spoolman. Environmental Science. Stanford: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Sengar, Dharmendra S. Environmental Law. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd, 2007. Print. This research paper on Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control was written and submitted by user Camilo Graves to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

On the SAT, How Many People Get a 1400, 1500, or 1600

On the SAT, How Many People Get a 1400, 1500, or 1600 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips How many students get a high score on the SAT? How many students get a perfect score? Here we look at the number of students and the percentile of these top ranks. Then we find out whether you should retake the SAT if you get these scores. Note:This guide was created when the SAT used its old 2400 scoring scale. Unfortunately, we don't have the same data for the current version of the SAT (out of 1600 points), but we do have a conversion chart below so you can convert your 1600-scale SAT score to a 2400-scale score and still make use of the information in this article. SAT Score Conversion Chart Below is the conversion chart you can use to convert your current SAT score to the old 2400-scale version of the SAT. For example, if you scored an 1150 on the current version of the SAT, that's equivalent to a 1590 on the old SAT. So 1590 is the score you'd use for reference as you read the rest of the article to get a sense of where you rank in regards to other SAT test takers. New SAT Old SAT New SAT Old SAT New SAT Old SAT 1600 2390 1200 1670 800 1060 1590 2370 1190 1650 790 1040 1580 2350 1180 1640 780 1030 1570 2330 1170 1620 770 1010 1560 2300 1160 1610 760 990 1550 2280 1150 1590 750 980 1540 2260 1140 1570 740 960 1530 2230 1130 1560 730 950 1520 2210 1120 1540 720 930 1510 2190 1110 1530 710 910 1500 2170 1100 1510 700 900 1490 2150 1090 1490 690 880 1480 2130 1080 1480 680 870 1470 2110 1070 1460 670 860 1460 2090 1060 1450 660 850 1450 2080 1050 1430 650 840 1440 2060 1040 1420 640 830 1430 2040 1030 1400 630 820 1420 2020 1020 1390 620 810 1410 2000 1010 1370 610 800 1400 1990 1000 1360 600 790 1390 1970 990 1340 590 780 1380 1950 980 1330 580 770 1370 1930 970 1310 570 760 1360 1920 960 1300 560 750 1350 1900 950 1280 550 740 1340 1880 940 1270 540 730 1330 1870 930 1250 530 730 1320 1850 920 1240 520 720 1310 1840 910 1220 510 710 1300 1820 900 1210 500 700 1290 1810 890 1200 490 690 1280 1790 880 1180 480 680 1270 1780 870 1170 470 670 1260 1760 860 1150 460 660 1250 1750 850 1140 450 650 1240 1730 840 1120 440 640 1230 1710 830 1110 430 630 1220 1700 820 1090 420 620 1210 1680 810 1070 410 610 400 600 Which SAT Data Is the Most Important for You? Before we talk about the exact numbers, it's important to know which data you should care about. Take a score like 2200. According to the College Board, who has comprehensive statistics on all takers of the official SAT, there are 2,574 students who got exactly a 2200 in 2014. However, if you are comparing yourself to the College Board's official numbers, you should be careful about how they construct it.The College Board is only looking at 2014 college-bound seniors - so if you are pretty far removed from this group, it won't represent how you're performing. For example, if you are a sophomore, a 2200 will be much more impressive than the official table of numbers suggests because you've had two less years of school compared to high school seniors. Percentiles vs Absolute Numbers You should also consider whether you should care about absolute numbers or percentiles most. If you care about how you're doing compared to the average test taker, you might care more about percentiles - a 2200 is 98th percentile (or inverted top 2 percentile). This tells you you're within the top 2% of test takers. Picture the median test taker in your mind: aUS student who performs average in class and prepares just a few hours for the SAT. When does comparing against this person help you determine where you are? I suggest that the absolute number of people matters more.After all, Harvard takes in a class of 1200 per year, the top ten colleges probably take in around 20,000, and how you numerically fit into that picture matters more. Cumulative Numbers Back to absolute numbers - 2,574 students got a 2200. But that doesn't mean that if you got a 2200, you're within the top 2,574 students. You have to count all the people who got 2200 or above. In statistics, this is called the cumulative number. This is important because you're not just competing against people who got a 2200 exactly - you're pretty much neck-to-neck with those who got 2210, 2220 and so forth. That's why you want to look at people who got a score or above. This number is most useful to figure out the sort of colleges you're competitive for. For example, if you're in the top 3000 or so, you're competitive for every college, since the top two to three colleges together accept that many per year. Likewise, wherever you place, you can count the slots colleges have above that. The Raw Facts Here is the table showing data for scores from 2200 to 2400, and below is more explanation of what each of the columns show. Score Number of Students Cumulative Number Precise Top Percentile 2400 583 583 0.0348% 2350 630 2969 0.1775% 2300 1371 8812 0.5269% 2250 1914 17225 1.0299% 2200 2574 28834 1.7241% Your Score = The SAT 3-Section Score (out of 2400) Number of Students = Number of students in 2014 who got exactly your score. This number is not cumulative and isn't the best measure of performance. Cumulative Number = This is the total number of students in 2014 who got the same score as you or more. This is the group you're competing with. Precise Percentile = Here we include the precise percentile this score puts you in. The College Board represents percentiles only roughly - they just tell you 99%+ in your score report. We use their exact numbers to re-run the calculation and tell you what exact top fraction you're in. Bonus: Should You Retake the SAT? I've written before that students can easily get 100 points more or less during different SATs without doing anything different, and colleges know that. A change of 100 points is not statistically significant. Does that mean colleges don't care about a 100 point difference - that colleges don't care between a SAT score of 2150 and a 2250, or between a 2250 and 2350? Not at all - because the idea of statistical significance is not the same as expected difference. (This is where my master's degree in statistics can shine!) Statistical significance measures whether someone who got 2350 could get 2250 by likely chance - the answer is absolutely yes! But expected difference measures whether on average, someone who happens to get a 2350 is better than someone who got a 2250 - the answer is also yes. It's not hard to understand intuitively - if you get a 2350 you probably just got a couple of questions wrong, all due to a careless mistake. When you get in the 2250 zone, you're getting up to half a dozen wrong, and that on average reflects a degree of care and mastery that's simply different from a 2350. Our advice then is that especially due to superscoring, even if you're getting 2200, it's worth retaking it up to just above a 2300. What's Next? Not happy with your SAT score?If you want to raise your score,check out our guide on low SAT scoresfor helpful tips. For more strategies, take a look at our guides to getting a perfect SAT score on Reading, Math, Writing and overall. What kinds of study materials do you need to study for the SAT? We break down what the best prep books are (and which books to avoid) in this expert guide. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!

Friday, November 22, 2019

Amazon Com An E Commerce Retailer Marketing Essay

Amazon Com An E Commerce Retailer Marketing Essay Aggressive competition, along with the external factors of a poor economy and possible repeal of the Internet sales tax exemption, has forced Amazon.com to reevaluate its current strategies and redevelop an â€Å"effective differentiating strategy† in order to make the company a â€Å"consistent money maker† in the short and long-term time frames, while still continuing to pursue corporate objectives of expanding at reasonable costs and staying ahead of the company’s competition. 2. Summary statement of the recommended solution: Develop and implement a competitive business-to-business (B2B) exchange for suppliers, retailers, manufacturers and distributors. B. THE SITUATION Amazon.com was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and was , â€Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦considered to be the premier online retailer in the world† (Collins, P., Mockler, R., & Gartenfeld, M., p. 2, 2003) in 2003. The company originally only started with selling books, but later expanded into severa l other product lines such as: CD’s, DVD’s & videos, electronics, toys, apparel, and home & garden supplies. Amazon.com also offered services which included: online auctions, partnerships with retailers (i.e. The Gap & Eddie Bauer,) Zshops (store hosting) and website management. In 2003 the company reported its first operating profit of $64.1 million, which was an 115.55% increase from 2001’s $412.2 million operating loss, for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 2002. Amazon continued to meet its internal goals, â€Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦of focusing on increased market share, expanded product offerings, and overall sales growth, the company was still facing pressureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to produce consistent operating profits and to prove that its business model worked financially over the long-term.† (Collins, P., Mockler, R., & Gartenfeld, M., p. 3, 2003) The pressure the company was facing, combined with a decreasing consumer confidence, an increased unemploymen t rate, and competitive threats from other online companies, like eBay and Yahoo!, who had started to expand into Amazon.com’s current markets, left Bezos â€Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦with the task of developing an effective differentiating enterprise strategy if Amazon.com was to survive and prosper against aggressive competitionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Collins, P., Mockler, R., & Gartenfeld, M., p. 2, 2003) II. ANALYSIS A. ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION 1. Management In Amazon.com first year as a company, they focused completely on increasing market share and superior customer service, but when the dotcom â€Å"bubble burst† happened and Amazon.com’s stock prices fell Bezos and his management team struck a good balance between their goal of increasing market share and their goal of producing a profit. This shows that the management team for Amazon.com is rather flexible one and is willing to change strategies when the opportunities arise and the company is willing to modif y its business model if it feels that an opportunity to expand in a new area will be profitable. 2. Operations Amazon.com has a corporate headquarters, which is located in Seattle, WA, and several distribution centers that are located in New Castle Delaware, Coffeyville Kansas, as well as in Campbellsville and Lexington Kentucky. Having these distribution centers allow for a better ability to regionally segment the United States, which allows for faster order fulfillment and higher customer satisfaction. Since they operate online, they have also expanded their website operations into several different countries including: Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

BUS499-Module 1 - Case- The Financial Perspective Essay

BUS499-Module 1 - Case- The Financial Perspective - Essay Example It is a service based company which offers services like marketing and promotional strategies, advertising scripts and advertising production for media channels, market research as well as forecasting. It is a globally recognized brand which represents global brands like Procter & Gamble, Toyota/Lexus, Visa International, and General Mills/Pillsbury. Charles and Maurice Saatchi, two brothers, founded the eponymous organization and after that in a decade the company grew phenomenally through mergers and acquisition. This company became popular because of its efficient and creative services to the clients. From the phenomenal growth in 80s the company came to recession in the early 1990 and in 1995 the company went bankrupt. To get better competitive advantages the agencies were linked with common ownership. The management of the company had decided to make changes in two areas of balanced scorecard; these are customer perspective and financial perspective. In terms of financial perspective, the management made the structural changes of the top hierarchy of the organization. In 1995, the joint directors i.e. the two Saatchi brothers quit this company and Bob Seelert, a senior official of P&G joined as a chairman of the company. Kevin Robert who was a top official of General Foods joined as CEO of in 1997 (Business-Intelligence, 2006, p.3). After this reformulation in the top level, the company started de-merging and publicly announced the next three years strategies of company’s comeback. Those goals were; growing company revenue more than market revenue, 30% of incremental revenue converting to operating revenue, doubling the EPS of the company. These goals were well accepted by the existing shareholders and become interested to the new investors (Business-Intelligence, 2006, p.3). The new management team found that the different business unit of the company did not have a common goal. They did financial health check by financial prospective analysis of

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Heidegger Being and Time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Heidegger Being and Time - Essay Example Going by the introduction by George Steiner to the luminous thoughts of Martin Heidegger, it looks certain that Steiner is willing to run the marathon race and he immensely enjoys it. He is not an ordinary critic. The issue with the ordinary critics is that the moment they do not comprehend the writings of an author, such thoughts are labeled as controversial. Didn’t the fox, after abandoning the efforts, say that the grapes were sour, when it could not reach out to the dangling, juicy bunches? The experience-level mind doesn’t move on the beaten track. It takes up unexpected and amazing unchartered paths. The thought-process emanates from the original impulse. Their convictions are undoubted; their explanations borders devotion. They are not available for second-opinions or for revisions. Their ‘first manuscript’ is the ‘final manuscript’. The problem with the specialists is they go on analyzing the leaf to such an extent (its size, shape, col or etc), that they forget that the root is the original cause of leaf! Or even further—Mother Earth is the original cause†¦or even further on and on†¦ No written sentences and paragraphs can arrest the spirit. The spirit by itself is the arresting as well as the freeing authority. So, to say ’eureka’ one should be able to grasp the true nature of the spirit. Once a difficult problem of mathematics is solved, the steps look so simple...Yes, only when it is solved! Before that how many times the climber has slipped from the steps of the ladder? Is it the fault of the ladder? Nobody will ever get to the bottom of the Being (this vast ocean is bottomless) It is impossible to define it, but the process of trying to know it, is rich and rewarding. At every step of the progress, one feels that the effort is worthwhile. Let me repeat, one’s reward is in the process of trying to know it! The problem for a lay reader is to understand Heidegger’s language. George

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Sun Network - Kalanidhi Maran Essay Example for Free

Sun Network Kalanidhi Maran Essay I welcome you to my presentation on India’s media baron also known as the sunshine boy of india, yes i am here to deliver a small presentation on Mr Kalanidhi Maran. ,founder , Chairman and the ex managing director of Sun Networks. Sun network is considered as The most profitable broadcaster in Asia and the largest satellite tv network in india. Before i could present the different businesses that function under the parent company Sun Network i would like to share the early life and family back ground of Mr Kalanithi Maran. Born on July 24th 1964 in one of the most powerful political family in tamil nadu. He is none other than the grand nephew of the former chief minister of tamil nadu Dr Karunanidhi , president of DMKparty, Kalanithi maran’s father Murasoli Maran , ex Union minister for commerce . Kalanidhi’s brother is also a well known face in the Indian politics, former union minister for information technology and communication and textile ministry Mr dhayanidhi maran. Born in such an influential family helped him to pursue his education in some of the best institutions. He did his schooling in Egmore Don bosco Chennai After which he went on to Loyola College Chennai where he was elected as the student chairman and is still remembered for leading an agitation on the evils faced by the tamilians living in Srilanka. He also received his MBA from University of Scranton, Pennsylvania USA. He started his career in late 80’s with a weekly tamil magazine named †Kunkumam† which was owned by his father murasoli maran. He worked with kunkumam where he learnt the advantages and scope for media in India. In 1990 at the age of 26 he started his own monthly video newsmagazine named poomalai which was circulated among the tamils in india and abroad. Here he realised the acceptance of video format in magazines but this business failed ,because of the piracy problem that prevailed thus prompting him to start a television channel. Kalanidhi maran realised the difficulties in starting a tv channel directly so he wanted to learn the nuances of the game before venturing into the business so for the first time he approached zee tv with the idea of airing 3 hours of tamil shows which was rejected straight away and later on accepted by ATN channel. But Kalanidhi’s aim was to start a 24 hour tv channel. On April 14th 1993 Sun TV was born with an investment of 20 Lakhs by availing a bank loan. Expanded its operations to a 24 hour tv channel in tamil telugu kannada Malayalam and Bengali languages nd thus sun network was born . Kalanidhis brand of leadership is marked by innovation and staying several steps ahead of competition. At a time when news programming was considered a non-revenue-generating obligation, his was the first private channel in the country to telecast a Daily News Bulletin. The phenomenal success of Sun TVs News, rewrote viewership and advertising projections. Today, Sun TV is also the first channel in the country to set up its own earth station.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Colonialism in the Literary Short Story Essay -- Literary Analysis

The idea of heritage and tradition in the modern world has become an idea of importance to both the indigenous peoples and the descendants of the European colonists who attempted to Westernize the lands they discovered and the people in them. This idea has taken numerous forms in recent years and not-so-recent years. One form it has been examined in is the literary short story. Thomas King’s â€Å"One Good Story, That One† and Chinua Achebe’s â€Å"Dead Men’s Path† use characters and conflict to make a statement about the loss of tradition and heritage in order to demonstrate the effect of colonialism on indigenous people and their culture. The representatives of colonialism in these stories are white men in positions of superiority. In King’s story, they take the role of anthropologists, well-educated and well-dressed, while in Achebe’s story, the white man is a supervisor in charge of overseeing everything the black main character does. The presence of these men, all of European descent, is a metaphor for the manner in which the original colonist behaved. The supervisor’s position of authority over the ‘lesser’ black man is reflective of the attitude that causes loss of heritage, while in King’s story the attitude the anthropologists display is that of the conqueror: expecting to have their wants (to hear an old traditional story) met by those who have been conquered. They do not even deign to sit with the person they are asking this of. â€Å"These three like to stand. Stand still.† (pg... p...) These characters remain nameless and faceless, only known by their titles, throughout both stories. Perhaps this is because their true purpose in the story is not as a character, but as a symbol for the attitudes of the colonists. If the white men ... ...ce if the lessons taught through these literary short stories are taken to heart and lived out in daily life. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. "Dead Men's Path." Short Fiction: Classic and Contemporary. Ed. Charles Bohner. Prentice Hall, 2002. 40-42. Print. Derry, Ken. "Religion and (Mimetic) Violence in Canadian Native Literature." Literature & Theology: An International Journal of Religion, Theory, and Culture 16.2 (2002): 201-219. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. Heinimann, David. "Trickster Ethics, Richler and King Fiddling." English Studies in Canada 30.3 (2004): 39-56. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. King, Thomas. "One Good Story, That One." One Good Story, That One. HarperCollins, 1993. 3-10. Print Lindfors, Bernth, ed. Conversations with Chinua Achebe. Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1997. Print.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Issues Surrounding Masculinity in United States Essay

Our society today has little tolerance for men and masculinity in general. Masculinity can be defined as having qualities or appearance of male. It includes behaviors typically associated with men. In his book, Ferguson takes us into the world of a sole, municipal elementary school attended by students who have been labeled as troublemakers and potential jail inmates. She identifies how a group of young boys of African American origin aged between 11 to 12 years are identified by their school work force as lovers of jail (14). Over the years black Americans boys have been subjected to a kind of discrimination both in school and outside. There are claims that teachers treat these boys as if they are doomed to fail. Ferguson (26) goes on to criticize the form of punishment given to the boys which according to him does not instill discipline but simply perpetuating troublemakers and creating potential inmates (67). According to equality index carried out by Pascoe (114), black men in America have high chances of being unemployed than white men. The black men are seven times more likely more to be imprisoned with a jail sentence of above ten months over their white counterparts. The report also discloses other disparities ranging from unemployment, school drop out rates and annual income. While there have been some improvements on the gap between the black men and white men in United States of America, black masculinity is still being faced with greater problem. Despite the condemnation given to them, Ferguson argues that Black American boys look seriously at schooling and excelling in life. In addition she identifies how the whole society beliefs in a natural difference of black children from the white children. Most people according to him identify the black men as criminal and it is this view that disproportionately put them in danger of disappointment and punishment. this is a greatly interfere with the black American boys according who in future end up taking the negative behavior as implied by their mentors. Ferguson bases her argument on a fundamental theory of learning, drawn from two sources: Marxist & Bowles speculation view of society which gives school the task of reproducing the existing communal pecking order, and Foucault’s post-structural theory of disciplinary authority that views punishment as an instrument of social segregation (82). He contrasts this speculative frame to the commonly held liberal idea that schools are meritocratic (112). But the black American boys are hyper aware of their individuality pattern. According to Fergusson (123), they act upon their masculinity through impressive performances and disruptions in class work and they achieve their self worth for themselves by using hostility behavior strategy to regain their sense of self. Â  To identify themselves as resourceful, authoritative and knowledgeable in the face of the humiliation they encounter in school. By masculinity, Malin (36) seems to mean men who not only reveal the physical qualities of toughness but also who also possesses some noble principle. In his book, Malin claimed that Clinton has been shown as a conflicted and sensitive, yet strong man (42). It is these characters according to Malin (43) that helped him win presidential elections. Clinton’s personality remained a package of conflicts that variously embraced and overthrown different stereotypes of masculinity hence he was able to remain a strong man. Malin 2005 (78). Sonenstein associates masculinity with culture, and socialization and encourages men to try to live up to cultural standards of masculinity (342). According to Malin, men fraternity face pressures and dilemmas around race- and gender-based individuality structure is always a flagrant force that works against these students maintaining an obligation to schooling. This is why schools across the nation for example in US observe a continual attrition of schoolboys as they link the ranks of troublemakers (67). According to Ferguson (112), molding our boys viewing them as Bad Boys is a powerful challenge to current views on the setback of the black males in school. Currently black males are severely constrained by the society and culture of their high school and of American society in general. This form of treatment world neither favor girl child who is always more vulnerable to several situations. Due to this unhealthy treatment the black American Male end up performing poorly in their education which lead them to drug abuse and criminal activities which in future lead them to be on the wrong side of the law. Ferguson 2000 (P 139) Both black and white men have their roles to play as men in America. Ferguson advocates for need to change the social organization and the culture of the society so as to enhance a suitable learning environment of the African American males in particular and all children in general. Solutions begin from an assurance that slight inputs, short-term interventions and person prescriptions into schools are greatly sufficient to cure an organization that is mainly flawed. The organization should aim for metropolitan black kid who seems to be the formation of a community which will basically obey the rules of civilization. A reform of the whole educational system is what is urgently necessary according to Ferguson (234). Overhauling the whole school system is the only way according to Ferguson (113) for eliminating all kind of institutionalized discrimination. She states that significant changes may take position by altering the curriculum and establishing lesser classes whereby student gets enough attention from their trainers. In addition, antiracist education for student teachers and reciprocated respect among adults and youth will also form a very good base to eliminate society and cultural constrain. Schools that are reorganized in this way would help in bringing new meaning to the Black masculinity (235).

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 12 INTRUDER

MY EYES FLEW WIDE OPEN WITH FRIGHT, THOUGH I WAS so exhausted and muddled that I was not yet positive whether I was awake or asleep. Something scratched against my window again with the same thin, high-pitched sound. Confused and clumsy with sleep, I stumbled out of my bed and to the window, blinking the lingering tears from my eyes on the way. A huge, dark shape wobbled erratically on the other side of the glass, lurching toward me like it was going to smash right through. I staggered back, terrified, my throat closing around a scream. Victoria. She'd come for me. I was dead. Not Charlie, too! I choked back the building scream. I would have to keep quiet through this. Somehow. I had to keep Charlie from coming to investigate And then a familiar, husky voice called from the dark shape. â€Å"Bella!† it hissed. â€Å"Ouch! Damn it, open the window! OUCH!† I needed two seconds to shake off the horror before I could move, but then I hurried to the window and shoved the glass out of the way. The clouds were dimly lit from behind, enough for me to make sense of the shapes. â€Å"What are you doing?† I gasped. Jacob was clinging precariously to the top of the spruce that grew in the middle of Charlie's little front yard. His weight had bowed the tree toward the house and he now swunghis legs dangling twenty feet above the groundnot a yard away from me. The thin branches at the tip of the tree scraped against the side of the house again with a grating squeal. â€Å"I'm trying to keep†he huffed, shifting his weight as the treetop bounced him†my promise!† I blinked my wet blurry eyes, suddenly sure that I was dreaming. â€Å"When did you ever promise to kill yourself falling out of Charlie's tree?† He snorted, unamused, swinging his legs to improve his balance. â€Å"Get out of the way,† he ordered. â€Å"What?† He swung his legs again, backwards and forward, increasing his momentum. I realized what he was ttying to do. â€Å"No, Jake!† But I ducked to the side, aecause it was too late. With a grunt, he launched himself toward my open window. Another scream built in my throat as I waited for him to fall to his deathor at least maim himself against the wooden siding. To my shock, he swung agilely into my room, landing on the balls of his feet with a low thud. We both looked to the door automatically, holding our breath, waiting to see if the noise had woken Charlie. A short moment of silence passed, and then we heard the muffled sound of Charlie's snore. A wide grin spread slowly across Jacob's face; he seemed extremely pleased with himself. It wasn't the grin that I knew and lovedit was a new grin, one that was a bitter mockery of his old sincerity, on the new face that belonged to Sam. That was a bit much for me. I'd cried myself to sleep over this boy. His harsh rejection had punched a painful new hole in what was left of my chest. He'd left a new nightmare behind him, like an infection in a sorethe insult after the injury. And now he was here in my room, smirking at me as if none of that had passed. Worse than that, even though his arrival had been noisy and awkward, it reminded me of when Edward used to sneak in through my window at night, and the reminder picked viciously at the unhealed wounds. All of this, coupled with the fact that I was dog-tired, did not put me in a friendly mood. â€Å"Get out!† I hissed, putting as much venom into the whisper as I could. He blinked, his face going blank with surprise. â€Å"No,† he protested. â€Å"I came to apologize.† â€Å"I don't accept!† I tried to shove him back out the windowafter all, if this was a dream, it wouldn't really hurt him. It was useless, though. I didn't budge him an inch. I dropped my hands quickly, and stepped away from him. He wasn't wearing a shirt, though the air blowing in the window was cold enough to make me shiver, and it made me uncomfortable to have my hands on his bare chest. His skin was burning hot, like his head had been the last time I'd touched him. Like he was still sick with the fever. He didn't look sick. He looked huge. He leaned over me, so big that he blacked out the window, tongue-tied by my furious reaction. Suddenly, it was just more than I could handleit felt as if all of my sleepless nights were crashing down on me en masse. I was so brutally tired that I thought I might collapse right there on the floor. I swayed unsteadily, and struggled to keep my eyes open. â€Å"Bella?† Jacob whispered anxiously. He caught my elbow as I swayed again, and steered me back to the bed. My legs gave out when I reached the edge, and I plopped into a limp heap on the mattress. â€Å"Hey, are you okay?† Jacob asked, worry creasing his forehead. I looked up at him, the tears not yet dried on my cheeks. â€Å"Why in the world would I be okay, Jacob?† Anguish replaced some of the bitterness in his face. â€Å"Right,† he agreed, and took a deep breath. â€Å"Crap. Well II'm so sorry, Bella.† The apology was sincere, no doubt about it, though there was still an angry twist to his features. â€Å"Why did you come here? I don't want apologies from you, Jake.† â€Å"I know,† he whispered. â€Å"But I couldn't leave things the way I did this afternoon. Thar was horrible. I'm sorry.† I shook my head wearily. â€Å"I don't understand anything.† â€Å"I know. I want to explain† He broke off suddenly, his mouth open, almost like something had cut off his air. Then he sucked in a deep breath. â€Å"But I can't explain,† he said, still angry. â€Å"I wish I could.† I let my head fall into my hands. My question came out muffled by my arm. â€Å"Why?† He was quiet for a moment. I twisted my head to the sidetoo tired to hold it upto see his expression. It surprised me. His eyes were squinted, his teeth clenched, his forehead wrinkled in effort. â€Å"What's wrong?† I asked. He exhaled heavily, and I realized he'd been holding his breath, too. â€Å"I can't do it,† he muttered, frustrated. â€Å"Do what?† He ignored my question. â€Å"Look, Bella, haven't you ever had a secret that you couldn't tell anyone?† He looked at me with knowing eyes, and my thoughts jumped immediately to the Cullens. I hoped my expression didn't look guilty. â€Å"Something you felt like you had to keep from Charlie, from your mom ?† he pressed. â€Å"Something you won't even talk about with me? Not even now?† I felt my eyes tighten. I didn't answer his question, though I knew he would take that as a confirmation. â€Å"Can you understand that I might have the same kind of situation?† He was struggling again, seeming to fight for the right words. â€Å"Sometimes, loyalty gets in the way of what you want to do. Sometimes, it's not your secret to tell.† So, I couldn't argue with that. He was exactly rightI had a secret that wasn't mine to tell, yet a secret I felt bound to protect. A secret that, suddenly, he seemed to know all about. I still didn't see how it applied to him, or Sam, or Billy. What was it to them, now that the Cullens were gone? â€Å"I don't know why you came here, Jacob, if you were just going to give me riddles instead of answers.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† he whispered. â€Å"This is so frustrating.† We looked at each other for a long moment in the dark room, both our faces hopeless. â€Å"The part that kills me,† he said abruptly, â€Å"is that you already know. I already told yon everything!† â€Å"What are you talking about?† He sucked in a startled breath, and then leaned toward me, his face shifting from hopelessness to blazing intensity in a second. He stared fiercely into my eyes, and his voice was fast and eager. He spoke the words right into my face; his breath was as hot as his skin. â€Å"I think I see a way to make this work outbecause you know this, Bella! I can't tell you, but if you guessed it! That would let me right off the hook!† â€Å"You want me to guess? Guess what?† â€Å"My secret! You can do ityou know the answer!† I blinked twice, trying to clear my head. I was so tired. Nothing he said made sense. He took in my blank expression, and then his face tensed with effort again. â€Å"Hole on, let me see if I give you some help,† he said. Whatever he was trying to do, it was so hard he was panting. â€Å"Help?† I asked, trying to keep up. My lids wanted to slip closed, but I forced them open. â€Å"Yeah,† he said, breathing hard. â€Å"Like clues.† He took my face in his enormous, too-warm hands and held it just a few inches from his. He stared into my eyes while he whispered, as if to communicate something besides the words he spoke. â€Å"Remember the first day we meton the beach in La Push?† â€Å"Of course I do.† â€Å"Tell me about it.† I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. â€Å"You asked about my truck† He nodded, urging me on. â€Å"We talked about the Rabbit† â€Å"Keep going.† â€Å"We went for a walk down the beach† My cheeks were growing warm under his palms as I remembered, but he wouldn't notice, hot as his skin was. I'd asked him to walk with me, flirting ineptly but successfully, in order to pump him for information. He was nodding, anxious for more. My voice was nearly soundless. â€Å"You told me scary stories Quileute legends.† He closed his eyes and opened them again. â€Å"Yes.† The word was tense, fervent, like he was on the edge of something vital. He spoke slowly, making each word distinct. â€Å"Do you remember what I said?† Even in the dark, he must be able to see the change in the color of my face. How could I ever forget that? Without realizing what he was doing, Jacob had told me exactly what I needed to know that daythat Edward was a vampire. He looked at me with eyes that knew too much. â€Å"Think hard,† he told me. â€Å"Yes, I remember,† I breathed. He inhaled deeply, struggling. â€Å"Do you remember all the stor† He couldn't finish the question. His mouth popped open like something had stuck in his throat. â€Å"All the stories?† I asked. He nodded mutely. My head churned. Only one story really mattered. I knew he'd begun with others, but I couldn't remember the inconsequential prelude, especially not while my brain was so clouded with exhaustion. I started to shake my head. Jacob groaned and jumped off the bed. He pressed his fists against his forehead and breathed fast and angry. â€Å"You know this, you know this,† he muttered to himself. â€Å"Jake? Jake, please, I'm exhausted. I'm no good at this right now. Maybe in the morning† He took a steadying breath and nodded. â€Å"Maybe it will come back to you. I guess I understand why you only remember the one story,† he added in a sarcastic, bitter tone. He plunked back onto the mattress beside me. â€Å"Do you mind if I ask you a question about that?† he asked, still sarcastic. â€Å"I've been dying ro know.† â€Å"A question about what?† I asked warily. â€Å"About the vampire story I told you.† I stared at him with guarded eyes, unable to answer. He asked his question anyway. â€Å"Did you honestly not know?† he asked me, his voice turning husky. â€Å"Was I the one who told you what he was?† How did he know this? Why did he decide to believe, why now? My teeth clenched together. I stared back at him, no intention of speaking. He could see that. â€Å"See what I mean about loyalty?† he murmured, even huskier now. â€Å"It's the same for me, only worse. You can't imagine how tight I'm bound† I didn't like thatdidn't like the way his eyes closed as if he were in pain when he spoke of being bound. More than dislikeI realized I hated it, hated anything that caused him pain. Hated it fiercely. Sam's face filled my mind. For me, this was all essentially voluntary. I protected the Cullens' secret out of love; unrequited, but true. For Jacob, it didn't seem to be that way. â€Å"Isn't there any way for you to get free?† I whispered, touching the rough edge at the back of his shorn hair. His hands began to tremble, but he didn't open his eyes. â€Å"No. I'm in this for life. A life sentence.† A bleak laugh. â€Å"Longer, maybe.† â€Å"No, Jake,† I moaned. â€Å"What if we ran away? Just you and me. What if we left home, and left Sam behind?† â€Å"It's not something I can run away from, Bella,† he whispered. â€Å"I would run with you, though, if I could.† His shoulders were shaking now, too. He took a deep breath. â€Å"Look, I've got to leave.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"For one thing, you look like you're going to pass out at any second. You need your sleepI need you firing on all pistons. You're going to figure this out, you have to.† â€Å"And why else?† He frowned. â€Å"I had to sneak outI'm not supposed to see you. They've got to be wondering where I am.† His mouth twisted. â€Å"I suppose I should go let them know.† â€Å"You don't have to tell them anything,† I hissed. â€Å"All the same, I will.† The anger flashed hot inside me. â€Å"I hate them!† Jacob looked at me with wide eyes, surprised. â€Å"No, Bella. Don't hate the guys. It's not Sam's or any of the others' faults. I told you beforeit's me. Sam is actually well, incredibly cool. Jared and Paul are great, too, though Paul is kind of And Embry's always been my friend. Nothing's changed therethe only thing that hasn't changed. I feel really bad abour the things I used to think about Sam† â€Å"Sam was incredibly cool.† I glared at him in disbelief, but let it go. â€Å"Then why aren't you supposed to see me?† I demanded. â€Å"It's not safe,† he mumbled looking down. His words sent a thrill of fear through me. Did he know that, too? Nobody knew that besides me. But he was rightit was the middle of the night, the perfect time for hunting. Jacob shouldn't be here in my room. If someone came for me, I had 😠® be alone. â€Å"If I thought it was too too risky,† he whispered, â€Å"I wouldn't have come. But Bella,† he looked at me again, â€Å"I made you a promise. I had no idea it would be so hard to keep, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try.† He saw the incomprehension in my face. â€Å"After that stupid movie,† he reminded me. â€Å"I promised you that I wouldn't ever hurt you So I really blew it this afternoon, didn't I?† â€Å"I know you didn't want to do it, Jake. It's okay.† â€Å"Thanks, Bella.† He took my hand. â€Å"I'm going to do what I can to be here for you, just like I promised.† He grinned at me suddenly. The grin was not mine, nor Sam's, but some strange combination of the two. â€Å"It would really help if you could figure this out on your own, Bella. Put some honest effort into it.† I made a weak grimace. â€Å"I'll try.† â€Å"And I'll try to see you soon.† He sighed. â€Å"And they'll try to talk me out of that.† â€Å"Don't listen to them.† â€Å"I'll try.† He shook his head, as if he doubted his success. â€Å"Come and tell me as soon as you figure it out.† Something occurred to him just then, something that made his hands shake. â€Å"If you if you want to.† â€Å"Why wouldn't I want to see you?† His face turned hard and bitter, one hundred percent the face that belonged to Sam. â€Å"Oh, I can think of a reason,† he said in a harsh tone. â€Å"Look, I really have to go. Could you do something for me?† I just nodded, frightened of the change in him. â€Å"At least call meif you don't want to see me again. Let me know if it's like that.† â€Å"That won't happen† He raised one hand, cutting me off. â€Å"Just let me know.† He stood and headed for the window. â€Å"Don't be an idiot, Jake,† I complained. â€Å"You'll break your leg. Use the door. Charlie's not going to catch you.† â€Å"I won't get hurt,† he muttered, but he turned for the door. He hesitated as he passed me, staring at me with an expression like something was stabbing him. He held one hand out, pleading. I took his hand, and suddenly he yanked metoo roughlyright off the bed so that I thudded against his chest. â€Å"Just in case,† he muttered against my hair, crushing me in a bear hug that about broke my ribs. â€Å"Can'tbreathe!† I gasped. He dropped me at once, keeping one hand at my waist so I didn't fall over. He pushed me, more gently this time, back down on the bed. â€Å"Get some sleep, Bells. You've got to get your head working. I know you can do this. I need you. to understand. I won't lose you, Bella. Not for this.† He was to the door in one stride, opening it quietly, and then disappearing through it. I listened for him to hit the squeaky step in the stairs, but there was no sound. I lay back on my bed, my head spinning. I was too confused, too worn out. I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of it, only to be swallowed up by unconsciousness so swiftly that it was disorienting. It was not the peaceful, creamless sleep I'd yearned forof course not. I was in the forest again, and I started to wander the way I always did. I quickly became aware that this was not the same dream as usual. For one thing, I felt no compulsion to wander or to search; I was merely wandering out of habit, because that was what was usually expected of me here. Actually, this wasn't even the same forest. The smell was different, and the light, too. It smelled, not like the damp earth of the woods, but like the brine of the ocean. I couldn't see the sky; still, it seemed like the sun must be shiningthe leaves above were bright jade green. This was the forest around La Pushnear the beach there, I was sure of it. I knew that if I found the beach, I would be able to see the sun, so I hurried forward, following the faint sound of waves in the distance. And then Jacob was there. He grabbed my hand, pulling me back toward the blackest part of the forest. â€Å"Jacob, what's wrong?† I asked. His face was the frightened face of a boy, and his hair was beautiful again, swept back into a ponytail on the nape of his neck. He yanked with all his strength, but I resisted; I didn't want to go into the dark. â€Å"Run, Bella, you have to run!† he whispered, terrified. The abrupt wave of deja vu was so strong it nearly woke me up. I knew why I recognized this place now. It was because I'd been here before, in another dream. A million years ago, part of a different life entirely. This was the dream I'd had the night after I'd walked with Jacob on the beach, the first night I knew that Edward was a vampire. Reliving that day with Jacob must have dredged this dream out of my buried memories. Detached from the dream now, I waited for it to play out. A light was coming toward me from the beach. In just a moment, Edward would walk through the trees, his skin faintly glowing and his eyes black and dangerous. He would beckon to me, and smile. He would be beautiful as an angel, and his teeth would be pointed and sharp But I was getting ahead of myself. Something else had to happen first. Jacob dropped my hand and yelped. Shaking and twitching, he fell to the ground at my feet. â€Å"Jacob!† I screamed, but he was gone. In his place was an enormous, red-brown wolf with dark, intelligent eyes. The dream veered off course, like a train jumping the tracks. This was not the same wolf that I'd dreamed of in another life. This was the great russet wolf I'd stood half a foot from in the meadow, just a week ago. This wolf was gigantic, monstrous, bigger than a bear. This wolf stared intently at me, trying to convey something vital with his intelligent eyes. The black-brown, familiar eyes of Jacob Black. I woke screaming at the top of my lungs. I almost expected Charlie to come check on me this time. This wasn't my usual screaming. I buried my head in my pillow and tried to muffle the hysterics that my screams were building into. J pressed the cotton tight against my face, wondering if I couldn't also somehow smother the connection I'd just made. But Charlie didn't come in. and eventually I was able to strangle the strange screeching coming out of my throat. I remembered it all nowevery word that Jacob had said to me that day on the beach, even the part before he got to the vampires, the â€Å"cold ones.† Especially that first part. â€Å"Do you know any of our old stories, about where we came fromthe Quileutes, I mean?† he asked. â€Å"Not really,† I admitted. â€Å"Well, there are lots of legends, some of them claiming to date back to the Floodsupposedly, the ancient Quileutes tied their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees on the mountain to survive, like Noah and the ark.† He smiled then, to show me how little stock he put in the histories. â€Å"Another legend claims that we descended from wolvesand that the wolves are our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them. â€Å"Then there are the stories about the cold ones.† His voice dropped a little lower. â€Å"The cold ones?† â€Å"Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some much more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our land.† Jacob rolled his eyes. † Your great-grandfather?† â€Å"He was a tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the natural enemies of the wolf well, not the wolf really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves.† â€Å"Werewolves have enemies?† â€Å"Only one.† There was something stuck in my throat, choking me. I tried to swallow it down, but it was lodged there, un-moving. I tried to spit it out. â€Å"Werewolf,† I gasped. Yes, that was the word that I was choking on. The whole world lurched, tilting the wrong way on its axis. What kind of a place was this? Could a world really exist where ancient legends went wandering around the borders of tiny, insignificant towns, facing down mythical monsters? Did this mean every impossible fairy tale was grounded somewhere in absolute truth? Was there anything sane or normal at all, or was everything just magic and ghost stories? I clutched my head in my hands, trying to keep it from exploding. A small, dry voice in the back of my mind asked me what the big deal was. Hadn't I already accepted the existence of vampires long agoand without all the hysterics that time? Exactly, I wanted to scream back at the voice. Wasn't one myth enough for anyone, enough for a lifetime? Besides, there'd never been one moment that I wasn't completely aware that Edward Cullen was above and beyond the ordinary. It wasn't such a surprise to find out what he wasbecause he so obviously was something. But Jacob? Jacob, who was just Jacob, and nothing more than that? Jacob, my friend? Jacob, the only human I'd ever been able to relate to And he wasn't even human. I fought the urge to scream again. What did this say about me? I knew the answer to that one. It said that there was something deeply wrong with me. Why else would my life be filled with characters from horror movies? Why else would I care so much about them that it would tear big chunks right out of my chest when they went off along their mythical ways? In my head, everything spun and shifted, rearranging so that things that had meant one thing before, now meant something else. There was no cult. There had never been a cult, never been a gang. No, it was much worse than that. It was a pack. A pack of five mind-blowingly gigantic, multihued werewolves that had stalked right past me in Edward's meadow Suddenly, I was in a frantic hurry. I glanced at the clockit was way too early and I didn't care. I had to go to La Push now. I had to see Jacob so he could tell me that I hadn't lost my mind altogether. I pulled on the first clean clothes I could find, not bothering to be sure they matched, and took the stairs two at a time. I almost ran into Charlie as I skidded into the hallway, headed for the door. â€Å"Where are you going?† he asked, as surprised to see me as I was to see him. â€Å"Do you know what time it is?† â€Å"Yeah. I have to go see Jacob.† â€Å"I thought the thing with Sam† â€Å"That doesn't matter, I have to talk to him right now.† â€Å"It's pretty early.† He frowned when my expression didn't change. â€Å"Don't you want breakfast?† â€Å"Not hungry.† The words flew through my lips. He was blocking my path to the exit. I considered ducking around him and making a run for it, but I knew I would have to explain that to him later. â€Å"I'll be back soon, okay?† Charlie frowned. â€Å"Straight to Jacob's house, right? No stops on the way?† â€Å"Of course not, where would I stop?† My words were running together in my hurry. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"It's just well, there's been another attackthe wolves again. It was real close to the resort by the hot springsthere's a witness this time. The victim was only a dozen yards from the road when he disappeared. His wife saw a huge gray wolf just a few minutes later, while she was searching for him, and ran for help.† My stomach dropped like I'd hit a corkscrew on a roller coaster. â€Å"A wolf attacked him?† â€Å"There's no sign of himjust a little blood again.† Charlie's face was pained. â€Å"The rangers are going out armed, taking armed volunteers. There're a lot of hunters who are eager to be involvedthere's a reward being offered for wolf carcasses. That's going to mean a lot of firepower out there in the forest, and it worries me.† He shook his head. â€Å"When people get too excited, accidents happen† â€Å"They're going to shoot the wolves?† My voice shot through three octaves. â€Å"What else can we do? What's wrong?† he asked, his tense eyes studying my face. I felt faint; I must be whiter than usual. â€Å"You aren't turning into a tree-hugger on me, are you?† I couldn't answer. If he hadn't been watching me, I would have put my head between my knees. I'd forgotten about the missing hikers, the bloody paw prints I hadn't connected those facts to my first realization. â€Å"Look, honey, don't let this scare you. Just stay in town or on the highwayno stopsokay?† â€Å"Okay,† I repeated in a weak voice. â€Å"I've got to go.† I looked at him closely for the first time, and saw that he had his gun strapped to his waist and hiking boots on. â€Å"You aren't going out there after the wolves, are you, Dad?† â€Å"I've got to help, Bells. People are disappearing.† My voice shot up again, almost hysterical now. â€Å"No! No, don't go. It's too dangerous!† â€Å"I've got to do my job, kid. Don't be such a pessimistI'll be fine.† He turned for the door, and held it open. â€Å"You leaving?† I hesitated, my stomach still spinning in uncomfortable loops. What could I say to stop him? I was too dizzy to think of a solution. â€Å"Bells?† â€Å"Maybe it's too early to go to La Push,† I whispered. â€Å"I agree,† he said, and he stepped out into the rain, shutting the door behind him. As soon as he was out of sight, I dropped to the floor and put my head between my knees. Should I go after Charlie? What would I say? And what about Jacob? Jacob was my best friend; I needed to warn him. If he really was aI cringed and forced myself to think the wordwerewolf (and I knew it was true, I could feel it), then people would be shooting at him! I needed to tell him and his friends that people would try to kill them if they went running around like gigantic wolves. I needed to tell them to stop. They had to stop! Charlie was out there in the woods. Would they care about that? I wondered Up until now, only strangers had disappeared. Did that mean anything, or was it just chance? I needed to believe that Jacob, at least, would care about that. Either way, I had to warn him. Or did I? Jacob was my best friend, but was he a monster, too? A real one? A bad one? Should I warn him, if he and his friends were were murderers! If they were out slaughtering innocent hikers in cold blood? If they were truly creatures from a horror movie in every sense, would it be wrong to protect them? It was inevitable that I would have to compare Jacob and his friends to the Cullens. I wrapped my arms around my chest, fighting the hole, while I thought of them. I didn't know anything about werewolves, clearly. I would have expected something closer to the moviesbig hairy half-men creatures or somethingif I'd expected anything at all. So I didn't know what made them hunt, whether hunger or thirst or just a desire to kill. It was hard to judge, not knowing that. But it couldn't be worse than what the Cullens endured in their quest to be good. I thought of Esmethe tears started when I pictured her kind, lovely faceand how, as motherly and loving as she was, she'd had to hold her nose, all ashamed, and run from me when I was bleeding. It couldn't be harder than that. I thought of Carlisle, the centuries upon centuries that he had struggled to teach himself to ignore blood, so that he could save lives as a doctor. Nothing could be harder than that. The werewolves had chosen a different path. Now, what should I choose?

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How the College Admissions Process Works

How the College Admissions Process Works Despite the hysteria surrounding college admissions and the beastly amount of paperwork, the process itself is fairly straightforward. So before you get swept up in that panic, or fall prey to the marketing campaigns that fuel the multi-billion dollar college prep industry, here’s a broad overview of how the process works, what you should be doing and when: High School - Freshman Year When people say the college application process starts a freshman or sophomore year of high school – or worse, with pre-PSATs in seventh grade or pre-pre-PSATs in kindergarten - don’t fret. What they mean are high school grades and coursework count. And some requirements – math and English, for example - can only be fulfilled by starting the freshman or sophomore year. As long as your child takes four or, preferably, five serious academic courses each year, he’ll be fine. He needs to end up with four years of English, three or four of math, two science, three history, two years of a foreign language and, depending on the college, a year of visual or performing arts. The rest of his schedule can be filled with things he enjoys, whether it’s wood shop, music or more of any of the above courses. If hes aiming for a very competitive college, advanced placement courses should be on his list. The College List In order to apply to college, your child will need a list of 8 to 10 universities that are good fits for him: places he really likes, and where he stands a good chance of getting in. Some families hire college consultants to help them compile the list, but with a laptop and a few hours of free time, your child can do the same thing for himself for free. So the junior year is an excellent time to start researching possibilities, hit a college fair and make a few college visits – all while keeping a tight rein on reality. This â€Å"DIY College Admissions Advice† guide will help your family compile that list and provide your own reality check. The Exams   Although hundreds of college have gotten off the SAT train, most still require the SAT or ACT exam for entry. Your child should take one of these exams a junior year, so theres still time to retake it in the fall, if necessary. If he opts to take a test prep course, take it in the weeks immediately prior to the exam date, not the summer before. Some schools also require the SAT II. The Essays The summer between junior and senior year is a good time for your child to start mulling college essay topics and writing drafts. Take a sneak peek at the Common Application, a basic application used by hundreds of colleges, and which includes some of the most common essay topics. The Application Fall of senior year is college application season – and yes, it quickly degenerates into a stressful haze of paperwork, spreadsheets, and parental nagging. He will need to keep close tabs on which schools require what – essays, supplemental materials, test scores, transcripts and recommendations - and when. It helps to remember that this is your child’s process and his decision. He needs to own the process. Your role as a parent is equal parts cheerleader, cookie-supplier and sounding board. Also, number one nag, as deadlines loom. But the application, essays, and ultimate decision are his. The Wait   Most college applications are due between mid-November and January 10. Early decision and early action apps are due in early Fall - and decisions come back around the winter holidays - and rolling admissions rewards early birds with early replies. But for most students, once the paperwork is in, you’re in for a long wait. Most college acceptances arrive in March and early April. Your child should use the time to make sure every last piece of paperwork, including teacher recommendations, was submitted, fill out financial aid paperwork (in January) and keep his grades up. Colleges can and do rescind the acceptances of senioritis-struck students. The Decision Good news arrives via fat packages and thin envelopes, e-mail and even text messages these days. And it often comes with an invitation to Admit Day, an open house for newly accepted freshmen. Now comes decision time. Your child must notify the school of his choice by the deadline, typically May 1, in writing and with a deposit check. He also needs to notify any other schools that accepted him that he will not be attending – if he thinks that’s an unnecessary step, remind him that it’s not just a courtesy to admissions officers at those schools, it’s a kindness to the kids languishing on waiting lists. And after you’re done celebrating, it will be time to move on to Paperwork Round #2: final transcripts, housing applications, health forms and on and on.