Closer Critique essays

Closer Critique essays Closer, performed on November 26, 2000 at the Mark Taper Forum was an overall excellent show. The show is about two men and two women who are thrown together by chance. Throughout the play they connect, disconnect and reconnect in bewildering combinations with each other as they try to get closer All their privacies as well as secrets are brought out in the open and nothing is hidden. It is presented to the audience in a daring, and obscene manner, which is at the same time thrilling, intimate, and funny. Closer reveals much about todays modern sexual politics and how little we sometimes really know about it. During the performance I found it difficult at times to follow, however this is at no fault of the actors and only of that of the playwright. All the actors presented themselves extremely well. There are several moments such as the opening that contain monologues. This in my opinion is always one of the hardest things to do however I thought that the actress was not in her moment during the beginning of her monologue. She seemed to be just saying her lines while staring into space. It was only after a few minutes where it seemed like she turned on a switch and suddenly popped into character. I thought about this for a while and I kept wondering why she could do it a few minutes into her monologue but not at the beginning. The only conclusion that I had for this was that the show was held for nearly twenty minutes and this added stress to the actor (since she had the opening of the show) and perhaps she warmed down in this period of time. This only convinced me more on how important it is to warm up before a show as we discussed in class. There also was one point in the show where no lines existed between two characters. They were chattering over the Internet and the only way we knew what they were saying was there was a projection screen that displayed wha ...

scarlet letter symbols essays

scarlet letter symbols essays Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most prolific symbolists in American literature. In literature a symbol is most often a concrete object used to represent an idea more abstract and broader in scope and meaning. In the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne has many of these symbols but in order to understand his novel the scarlet letter A, light and darkness, and the settings of the novel must be analyzed with the purpose of relating them to the novels major themes. The scarlet letter A is one of the most obvious symbols, but it has various meanings throughout the book depending on its context. All through the book the letter symbolizes adultery, penance, and penitence. Hester, who wears the letter A, goes through suffering and loneliness and also is rejuvenated. It appears throughout the book first in the preface as a material object, then it becomes an elaborately embroidered A which Hester wears. It also appears in the armor breast-place at Governor Bellinghams mansion. These letter As in these parts of the book show that Hester is hidden by this enormous, exaggerated symbol as her life and feelings are hidden behind the sign of her sin. Later in the book the letter A appears in the sky as a vast red letter, also as a green A of eelgrass which Pearl had made. Even later it appears on Hesters dress which was decorated by Pearl with prickly burrs, and on Dimmesdales chest, and finally is seen on the epitaph at the end of the book On a field , sable, the letter A, gules (179). In all of these examples, the meaning depends on both the context and sometimes even the interpreter. For example, when the community sees the scarlet A in the sky they see it as a sign that the dying Governor Winthrop has become an angel, while Dimmesdale sees it as a sign of his secret sin. Another example is the community sees the letter on Hesters bosom as a mark of her punishment and also as a mark to deter others...

Solar energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solar energy - Essay Example Using oil as a major resource to generate power is insufficient, as oil is a non-renewable energy source and there is no way to obtain more once it has been depleted. This fact has the potential to cause a major threat to the country. In addition, using oil produces considerable amounts of gases that result in damaging our environment. Topic and thesis This research will examine power generating in the United Arab Emirates. It will analyze the importance of changing the method of using oil to generate power. Furthermore, this proposal will discuss how renewable energy can be beneficial to this country. The emphasis of this research will be on the significance of using solar energy instead of using oil. The government of the UAE should communicate the importance of solar energy to the major cities due to the following three reasons: Solar energy is completely renewable Solar energy doesn't create pollution UAE has a good environment and conditions to consider using solar energy Backgr ound Information The UAE is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is considered to be one of the richest countries in regard to oil. Indeed, oil has a large array of uses in the UAE. One of its main uses is to generate power. For example, conventional steam is created, which is when oil is burned to heat water to create steam to generate electricity. Also, they can burn the oil so that it produces hot gases, which spin a turbine to generate power. This method is known as combustion. This massive consumption of oil leads to many serious environmental problems. These problems should be controlled by using an alternative way of generating power, which can be done by using solar energy. This kind of energy, unlike the burning oil, doesn't produce pollution. Solar energy can be used through technology devices such as solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity and solar architecture. Sources of Information Future Energy - Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for Our Planet (book) Photovoltaic Systems for High-Performance Housing Solar Energy Masdar City website Organization and the scope of the Proposal What is solar photovoltaics? Why is the UAE a good place to use solar energy? Is solar energy renewable? What is the impact of both solar PV and burning oil to our planet? Key Terms Solar energy: energy that uses the power of the sun's light and heat to produce electricity Photovoltaic: a piece of equipment that changes light into electricity How do solar photovoltaics work? Here is an explanation from Science NASA News about how PV works: The diagram below illustrates the operation of a basic photovoltaic cell, which is also called a solar cell. Solar cells are made of the same kind of materials as semiconductors, such as silicon, which is used in the microelectronics industry. For solar cells, a thin semiconductor wafer is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other. When light en ergy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides, forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current -- that is, electricity. This electricity can then be used to power a load, such as a light or a tool. Environment and climate The UAE has a great environment and climate to implement solar energy to generate power

Article review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Article review - Essay Example ut strategic remedies, deep enough in scope not only to address the symptoms of basic problems, but those that help address keys issues at stake (O’Kane & Cunningham, 2013). From the article ‘Leadership Changes and Approaches During Company Turnaround’ by O’Kane and Cunningham, it is discernible that it is easy, in fact enjoyable to be a â€Å"good† leader in periods of institutional booms, yet complete different set of skills is required in times of crisis. Right in-between the application of the different set of skills is the tactical tradeoff between the long-term mindset with the ability to make and implement difficult decisions within prescribed time limits to prevent further deterioration, depending on the situation of an institution. Basically, leadership, irrespective of the size of an institution is all about the measures put in place to boost team efforts [morale] and more importantly, identifying problems and giving necessary guidance in confronting problems through regular, honest and credible communication. Additionally, clarity of every bit of communication around goals and objectives is an indispensible virtue t hat must be cultivated at all cost. Not a single individual aspire to be a failure. It must be noted, however, that success is worked for, and that without stepping up to the challenge of leadership, success becomes just but a mirage. Whether one likes it or not, responsibility begins with

Philosophy of education Essay Example for Free

Philosophy of education Essay Philosophy is a set of beliefs or ideas one has towards their discipline or line of work. Don Kauchak and Paul Eggen, authors of the textbook â€Å"Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional,† define philosophy as â€Å"The study of theories of knowledge, truth, existence, and morality† [ (Kauchak Eggen, 2011) ]. The philosophy of education is a very important aspect of teaching. It is meant to guide teachers in the classroom and offer insight to the thinking of past experts [ (Kauchak Eggen, 2011) ]. It often will answer the main questions any new and even seasoned teachers have when preparing to teach in the classroom. There are various degrees of philosophy, for example; there is the philosophy of life, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of education. However, there are four philosophies of education they include: Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism, and Social Reconstructionism. After calculating my scores on the philosophical assessment in the Kauchak and Eggen textbook, I found that my personal philosophy of education is an equal combination of Perennialism and Social Reconstructionism. According to Kauchak and Eggen, Perennialism consists of the teaching of classic knowledge [ (Kauchak Eggen, 2011) ]. This includes literacy, mathematics, and science. Another way of looking at this is teaching student’s subjects that they will use in the future, even if it does not seem relevant now. The definition of perennial is â€Å"long-term† and that is exactly how a teacher with a Perennialism philosophy teaches. Social Reconstructionism, according to Kauchak and Eggen is â€Å"An educational philosophy suggesting that schools, teachers, and students should lead in alleviating social inequities in our society† [ (Kauchak Eggen, 2011) ]. In other words, a teacher with this philosophy teaches their students about social problems, improving society and teaching their students about personal responsibilities. Perennialism and Social Reconstructionism are each on opposite ends of the spectrum. Social Reconstructionism focuses more on the society in which the student lives, while Perennialism focuses more on the intellect of the student. Having these two as my personal philosophies is a bit difficult. While I do believe teaching tolerance and understanding is important, I also know that learning mathematics, science and literacy is equally important. After reading the scenario on page 219 of the Kauchak and Eggen textbook, I would respond to the students by first trying to motivate them. Offering incentives is a great way to get students’ attention; they are more eager to pay attention if they are pursuing it to get something out of it. You can use anything as a motivator; my favorite was always free dessert at lunch! You can also give extra credit points on the next quiz or for younger students you could offer an incentive such as â€Å"line leader† or â€Å"bathroom monitor† for the day. The younger students love when they think they are in charge of something, it can also help their self-esteem knowing they are doing something important. I do believe this is more of an example of Perennialism, however, depending on the specific motivator and the response it gets; it could be Social Reconstructionism as well. The second response I would try is starting a discussion. I would try getting the students’ attention by putting them in discussion groups or having a discussion as a whole class. This would definitely be an example of Social Reconstructionism. This encourages the students to work together and to come up with a solution together. It gives them a chance to ask each other questions before asking the teacher. It also compels them to stay focused on the topic and eliminates the â€Å"my hand wasn’t raised† excuse. My third response, though I would make it my last resort, would be to write a summary on what was taught during the instruction. By doing this, it makes the students want and need to listen in order to do their assignment correctly. This also offers a chance to get some feedback from the teacher and allows you to reflect on what you learned and what you need to work on. This is an example of Perennialism, as it deals with the thought process and encouraging literacy. While Perennialism and Social Reconstructionism are complete opposites, they also share some characteristics, making it easier to teach using both philosophies. Many common knowledge subjects can be transitioned to include activities that work well to alleviate social problems. In math, you can have the students work in groups. This promotes team work and logic. In literacy, you may give reading assignments dealing with a specific problem in society (e. g. poverty, bullying, etc) and have the students write summaries on what they read. This can promote logical thinking as well as establishing knowledge of the society issue in the reading.

The Impact of Globalization on Qantas Airlines Marketing Strategy Essay

Globalisation is having a significant impact on marketing. This is because a business, by distributing itself across international borders makes its product more readily available to international customers and creates employment opportunities in the country it has moved to. To understand the impacts, globalisation, marketing (particularly market segmentation), global marketing strategies and general history of Qantas need to be examined. Qantas is the oldest airline in the English speaking world. It was founded by the three aviation pioneers Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness and Fergus McMaster as the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service in 1920 and has grown from one aircraft which offered air taxi services and joyrides to a vast, complex fleet operating all over the world. By 1930 Qantas’ air routes had expanded to reach up to North Eastern Australia and was later purchased in 1947 by the Australian Federal Government. Globalisation is the process where a business will expand and operate over international boundaries. In doing this, wider communication with the world can be established, the potential to explore new markets can occur and employment opportunities can be created for residents of the countries in which International businesses are situated. Qantas has entered the global airline market successfully since 1958 when it offered the first â€Å"round the world† air service, in 1999 joined the Oneworld Alliance which consists of eight of the world’s top airlines (Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia and Lan Chile). When travelling to Europe, we experienced globalisation when purchasing airline tickets through Qantas’ website which were later discovered to be affiliated w... ...h began by offering aerial taxi services and joy rides. Bibliography Qantas A380s flying again from Saturday after engine blast grounding, (2010). [Online]. Available from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-a380s-flying-again-from-saturday-after-engine-blast-grounding/story-e6frg95x-1225959213793 Accessed 25th February 2012. Qantas Spirit Of Australia. (2012). [Online]. Available from: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/home/au/en Accessed 4th March 2012. Qantas fleet remains grounded. (2011). [Online]. Available from: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/stranded-passengers-stung-by-flight-costs-in-hope-of-reaching-destination/story-fn7x8me2-1226180030416 Accessed 29th February 2012. Chapter 1 The history of Qantas. (2012). Get Smart Education. Chapter 3 Marketing. (2012). Get Smart Education.

Arachne EC

Earache From Ovoid's Metamorphoses, Earache remains a relevant myth in all its forms. The Myth of Earache provides both a spiritual almost religious moral baseline as well as an origin for a common household creature. In the myth, Earache- a talented weaver, challenges the weaving skills of Palls (also known as Athena). Intrigued, Athena weaves her tapestry and â€Å"Earache weaves hers in reply'. (Book VI: 103-128, http:// Ovid. Lib. Virginia. Due/trans/Metamorphose. HTML). Even Athena has to admit that Earache is the greatest weaver and in anger ruins her tapestry.Earache in shame kills resell, and is resurrected by Athena to live her life as a spider so that she can continue to weave. (Book VI: 129-145) This myth serves several purposes specifically to Greek culture. Firstly, it reminds those who revere the Greek Gods; that they are not only all powerful but that they have the same nature as humans do. Athena is human in the sense that she is jealous of the work of Earache. She t hen returns from Jealousy to show Earache compassion and love by resurrecting her to weave forever. In a religious way is an example of the condemnation of suicide within organized religion.All religions address suicide differently, but nevertheless it is addressed. The other common theme being that those within religious stories that choose to challenge a God/ Goddess in any way, never come out triumphant. It reminds those reading that the Gods are all powerful and always will be. This myth also creates an origin story for the word â€Å"arachnid† for spiders, a household creature. This helps the myth survive and makes it relevant to cultures across the world including my own, linking something that everyone knows, and everyone has seen to an origin and a person.Suddenly, those scary eight-legged little monsters are a piece of a woman's soul. They weave for the woman that bore them. When a small child is about to squash the spider and their loved one stops them and tells the m the story of Earache. The creature that Earache is turned into, directly reflects her as a woman. Firstly, the talented weaver is resurrected as a creature that weaves to survive. Secondly, after she has hung herself to end her life, she is turned into a creature that hangs onto the material that extends her life. She must now live from the art that caused her to take her own life.Besides teaching readers an example of hubris, the story teaches the importance of not boasting. When Athena is warned of the young woman's challenge, she gives her a last chance to learn some humility. The woman continues to boast and ignores the ominous warning. The practical piece of this myth is that it would be, could be told to children because it teaches so many warnings. It is fairly easy to imagine the matriarch or patriarch of the family sitting down the small proud child and telling them the story of Earache, and letting their eyes brighten as they relate and understand the story in all its po wer and meaning.The reason most myths and stories remain in a culture is usually centric to religion. Nearly every culture on the planet has some form of organized religion. The reason that stories linked to religion carry on, opposed to others is that they draw people together. These ideologies are passed among family members, on through generations and create links between families. This is part of the reason that other stories, not religiously based do not survive. They remain in families, changing over time, never chronicled and decomposing slowly over time.Build a big enough religious following and your stories will live forever. I find many of these stories including Earache's fascinating but slightly dramatic. Killing yourself over a ripped tapestry is a bit over the top. The phrase â€Å"crying over spilt milk† comes to mind. I understand the stories purpose as a lesson but wonder whether there wasn't a less severe way to get the point across. This specific story will live on because its namesake creatures are a household critter. I wonder if people see spiders and think â€Å"if only Earache wouldn't have challenged Athena.

The Return: Nightfall Chapter 33

Damon just sat there. Then he licked his mouth and said nothing, did nothing. â€Å"You bastard!† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"You're saying that Stefan didn't really walk out on me?† â€Å"Yes. I mean – correct.† â€Å"Who wrote the letter in my diary, then?† Damon said nothing, but looked away. â€Å"Oh, Damon!† She didn't know whether to kiss him or shake him. â€Å"How could you – do youknow,† she said in a choked and threatening voice, â€Å"what I've gone through since he disappeared? Thinking every minute that he just suddenly decided to up andleave me ? Even if he intended to come back – â€Å" â€Å"I – â€Å" â€Å"Don't try to tell me you'resorry ! Don't try to tell me you know what it feels like feeling that, because you don't.How could you? You don't have feelings like that!† â€Å"I think – I've had some similar experience. But I wasn't going to try to defend myself. Only to say that we have a limited time while I can block Shinichi from seeing us.† Elena heart was shattering into a thousand pieces; she could feel each one pierce her. Nothing mattered anymore. â€Å"You lied, you broke your promise about never harming each other – â€Å" â€Å"I know – and that should have been impossible. But it started that night when the trees closed in on Bonnie and Meredith and†¦Mark†¦.† â€Å"Matt!† â€Å"That night, when Stefan knocked me around and showed me his true Power – it was because of you. He did it so I would stay away from you. Before that he'd just hoped to keep you hidden. And that night I felt†¦betrayed somehow. Don't ask me why that should make sense, when for years before I've knocked him down and made him eat dirt any time I wanted.† Elena tried to make sense of what he was saying in her shattered condition. And she couldn't. But neither could she ignore a feeling that had just dropped down like an angel in chains grabbing hold of her. Try to look with your other eyes. Look inside, not outside for the answer. You know Damon. You've already seen what is inside him. How long has it been there? â€Å"Oh, Damon, I'm sorry! I know the answer. Damon – Damon. Oh, God! I cansee what's wrong with you. You're more possessed than any of those girls.† â€Å"I – have one of those things in me?† Elena kept her eyes shut while she nodded. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she felt sick even as she made herself do it: gather enough human power to see with her other eyes, see as she had somehow learned to seeinside people. The malach that she had seen before inside Damon, and the one Matt had described had been huge for insects – as long as an arm, maybe. But now in Damon she sensed something†¦huge. Monstrous. Something that inhabited him completely, its transparent head inside his beautiful features, its chitinous body as long as his torso; its backward-twisted legs inside his legs. For a moment she thought she would faint; but then she controlled herself. Staring at the ghostly image, she thought, What Would Meredith Do? Meredith would stay calm. She wouldn't lie, but she would find some way to help. â€Å"Damon, it's bad. But there has to be some way to get it out of you – soon. I'm going to find that way. Because as long as it's in you, Shinichi can make you do anything.† â€Å"Will you listen to why I think it's grown so large? That night, when Stefan dismissed me from his room, everyone else went home like good little girls and boys, but you and Stefan took a walk. A fly. A glide.† For a long time it meant nothing to her, even though it had been the last time she'd seen Stefan. In fact, that was its only significance to her: it was the last time she and Stefan had†¦ She felt herself freeze over inside. â€Å"You went into the Old Wood. You were still the little spirit child who didn't really know what was right and what was wrong. But Stefan should have known better than to do that – on my own territory. Vampires take territory seriously. And in my own resting place – right in front of my eyes.† â€Å"Oh, Damon! No!† â€Å"Oh, Damon, yes! There you were, sharing blood, too absorbed to have noticed me even if I had leaped out and tried to pry you apart. You were wearing a high-necked white nightgown and you looked like an angel. I wanted to kill Stefanright then.† â€Å"Damon – â€Å" â€Å"And it wasright then that Shinichi appeared. He didn't need to be told what I was feeling. And he had a plan, an offer†¦a proposition.† Elena shut her eyes again and shook her head. â€Å"He'd prepared you beforehand. You were already possessed and ready to be full of anger.† â€Å"I don't know why,† Damon went on as if he hadn't heard her, â€Å"but I scarcely thought about what it would mean to Bonnie and Meredith and the rest of the town. All I could think of was you. All I wanted was you, and revenge on Stefan.† â€Å"Damon, will you listen? By then, you had already been deliberately possessed. I couldsee the malach in you. You admit† – as she felt him swelling up to speak out – â€Å"that something was influencing you before that, forcing you to watch Bonnie and the others die at your feet that night. Damon, I think these things are even harder to get rid of than we imagine. For one thing, you wouldn't normally stay and watch people do – private things, would you? Doesn't the fact that you did in itself prove that something was wrong?† â€Å"It's†¦a theory,† Damon granted, not sounding happy. â€Å"But don't you see? That was what made you tell Stefan you only saved Bonnie out of whim, and that was what made you refuse to tell everyone that the malach weremaking you watch the trees' attack, hypnotizing you. That and your stupid, stubborn pride.† â€Å"Watch it on the compliments. I may dry up and blow away.† â€Å"Don't worry,† Elena said flatly, â€Å"whatever happens to the rest of us, I have a feeling your ego will survive. What happened next?† â€Å"I made my deal with Shinichi. He would lure Stefan somewhere out of the way where I could see him alone, then smuggle him out of this place to somewhere Stefan couldn't find you – â€Å" Something bubbled up explosively again inside Elena. It was a tight hard ball of compressed elation. â€Å"Not kill him?† she managed to get out. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Stefan's alive? He's alive? He†¦he's really alive?† â€Å"Steady,† Damon replied coldly. â€Å"Steady on, Elena. We can't have you fainting.† He held her by the shoulders. â€Å"You thought I meant to kill him?† Elena was trembling almost too hard to answer. â€Å"Why didn't you tell me before?† â€Å"I apologize for the omission.† â€Å"He's alive – for sure, Damon? You're absolutely sure?† â€Å"Positive.† Without a thought of herself, without a thought of any kind, Elena did what she did best – gave in to impulse. She threw her arms around Damon's neck and kissed him. For a moment Damon just stood rigid with shock. He had contracted with killers to hijack her lover and decimate her town. But Elena's mind would never see it that way. â€Å"If he were dead – † He stopped and had to try again. â€Å"Shinichi's whole bargain depends on keeping him alive – alive and away from you. I couldn't risk you killing yourself orreally hating me† – again the note of distant coldness. â€Å"With Stefan dead, what hold would I have over you, princess?† Elena ignored all this. â€Å"If he's alive, I can find him.† â€Å"If he remembers you. But what if every memory he had of you were taken away?† â€Å"What?† Elena wanted to explode. â€Å"If every memory of Stefan were taken away fromme ,† she said icily, â€Å"I would still fall in love with him the very moment I saw him. And if every memory of me were taken away from Stefan, he would wander all over the world looking for something without knowing what he was looking for.† â€Å"Very poetic.† â€Å"But, oh, Damon, thank youfor not letting Shinichi kill him!† He shook his head at her, looking bewildered at himself. â€Å"I couldn't – seem to – do that. Something about giving my word. I figured that if he were free and happy and didn't remember, that would satisfy enough†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Of your promise to me? You figured wrong. But it doesn't matter now.† â€Å"It does matter. You've suffered for it.† â€Å"No, Damon. All thatreally matters is that he's not dead – and he didn't leave me. There's still hope.† â€Å"But Elena,† Damon's voice had life now; it was both excited and inflexible: â€Å"Can't you see? Past history aside, you have to admit thatwe're the ones that belong together. You and I are simply better suited to each other by nature. Deep down you know that, because we understand each other. We're on the same intellectual level – â€Å" â€Å"So is Stefan!† â€Å"Well, all I can say is that he does a remarkable job of hiding it, then. But can't you feel it? Don't you feel† – his grip was becoming uncomfortable now – â€Å"that you could be my princess of darkness – that something deep inside you wants to? I can see it, if you can't.† â€Å"I can't beanything to you, Damon. Except a decent sister-in-law.† He shook his head, laughing harshly. â€Å"No, you're only suited for the main role. Well, all I can say is that if we live through the fight with the twins, you'll see things in yourself that you've never seen before. And you'llknow that we're more suited together.† â€Å"And allI can say is that if we live through this fight with the Bobbsey twins from Hell, it sounds as if we're going to need all the spiritual power that we can get afterward. Andthat means getting Stefan back.† â€Å"We may not be able to get him back. Oh, I agree – even if we drive Shinichi and Misao away from Fell's Church, the likelihood that we're going to be able to do away with them completely is about zero. You're no fighter. We're probably not even going to be able to hurt them very much. But even I don't know exactly where Stefan is.† â€Å"Then the twins are the only ones who can help us.† â€Å"If they stillcan help us – oh, all right, I'll admit it. TheShi no Shi are probably complete frauds. They probably take a few memories from vampire chumps – memories are the coin of choice in the realm of the Other Side – and then send them away while the cash register is still jingling. They're frauds. The whole place is a giant slum and freakshow – sort of like a rundown Vegas.† â€Å"But they're not afraid that the vampires they cheat will want revenge?† Damon laughed, this time musically. â€Å"A vampire who doesn't want to be a vampire is about the lowest object on the totem pole on the Other Side. Oh, except for humans. Along with lovers who've fulfilled suicide pacts, kids who jump off the roof because they think their Superman cape can make them fly – â€Å" Elena tried to pull away from him, to reprove him, but he was surprisingly strong. â€Å"It doesn't sound like a very nice place.† â€Å"It isn't.† â€Å"And that's where Stefan is?† â€Å"If we're lucky.† â€Å"So basically,† she said, seeing things, as she always did, in terms of Plans A, B, C, and D, â€Å"first we have to find out where Stefan is from these twins. Second, we have to get the twins to heal the little girls they've possessed. Third, we have to get them to leave Fell's Church alone – for good. But before any of that, we have to find Stefan. He'll be able to help us; I know he will. And then we just hope we're strong enough for the rest.† â€Å"We could use Stefan's help, all right. But you missed the real point – for now, what we have to do is keep the twins from killing us.† â€Å"They still think you're their friend, yes?† Elena's mind was flickering through options. â€Å"Make themsure you are. Wait until a strategic moment comes, and then take the chance. Do we have any weapons against them?† â€Å"Iron. They do badly against iron – they're demons. And dear Shinichi is obsessed with you, although I can't say his sister will approve when she realizes it.† â€Å"Obsessed?† â€Å"Yes. With you and with English folk songs, remember? Although I can't fathom why. The songs, I mean.† â€Å"Well, I don't know what we can make of that – â€Å" â€Å"But I'll bet that his obsession with you will make Misao angry. It's just a hunch, but she's had him to herself for thousands of years.† â€Å"Then we set them against each other, pretend that he's going to get me. Damon – what?† Elena added in tones of alarm as he tightened his grip on her as if concerned. â€Å"He's not going to get you,† Damon said. â€Å"I know that.† â€Å"I don't quite like the idea of anyone else getting you. You were meant to be mine, you know.† â€Å"Damon, don't. I've told you. Please – â€Å" â€Å"Meaning  ¡Ã‚ ®please don't make me hurt you'? The truth is that you can't hurt me unless I let you. You can only hurt yourself against me.† Elena could at least pull their upper bodies farther apart. â€Å"Damon, we just made an agreement, made plans. Now, what are we doing, throwing them all away?† â€Å"No, but I thought of another way to get you a grade-A superhero, right now. You've been saying I should take more of your blood for ages.† â€Å"Oh†¦yes.† It was true, even if that had been before he had admitted to her the terrible things he'd done. And†¦ â€Å"Damon, what happened with Matt in the clearing? We went looking all over for him, but we didn't find him. And you wereglad .† He didn't bother to deny it. â€Å"In the real world I was angry at him, Elena. He seemed to be just another rival. Part of the reason we're here is so I can remember exactly what happened.† â€Å"Did you hurt Matt, Damon? Because now you're hurting me.† â€Å"Yes.† Damon's voice was light and indifferent suddenly, as if he found it amusing. â€Å"I suppose I did hurt him. I used psychic pain on him, and that's stopped a lot of hearts from beating. But your Mutt's tough. I like that. I made him suffer more and more, and yet he still went on living because he was afraid to leave you alone.† â€Å"Damon!† Elena wrenched herself back, only to find that it did no good. He was far, far stronger than she was. â€Å"How could you do that to him?† â€Å"I told you; he was a rival.† Damon laughed suddenly. â€Å"You really don't remember, do you? I made him abase himself for you. I made him eat dirt, literally, for you.† â€Å"Damon – are you crazy?† â€Å"No. I'm just now finding my sanity. I don't need to convince you that you belong to me. I can take you.† â€Å"No, Damon. I won't be your princess of darkness or – or anything else of yours without asking. At the most you'll have a dead body to play with.† â€Å"Maybe I'd like that. But you forget; I can enter your mind. And you still have friends – at home, getting ready for supper or bed, you hope. Don't you? Friends with all their limbs; who've never known real pain.† It took Elena a long time to speak. Then she said quietly, â€Å"I take back every decent thing I ever said about you. You're a monster, do you hear that? You're an abomin – † Her voice wound slowly down. â€Å"They're making you do this, aren't they?† she said finally, flatly. â€Å"Shinichi and Misao. A nice little show for them. Just like they made you hurt Matt and me before.† â€Å"No, I do only what I want to.† Was that a flash of red Elena saw in his eyes? The briefest flaring of a flame†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Do you know how beautiful you are when you're crying? You're more beautiful than ever. The gold in your eyes seems to rise to the surface and spill down in tears of diamond. I would love to have a sculptor carve a bust of you weeping.† â€Å"Damon, I know you're not really saying this. I know that the thing they put inside you is the one saying it.† â€Å"Elena, I assure you, it's all me. I quite enjoyed it when I made him hurt you. I liked to hear the way you cried out. I made him tear your clothes – I had to hurt him a lot to get him to do it. But didn't you notice that your camisole had been torn, and that you were barefooted? That was all Mutt.† Elena forced her mind back to the moment she had come to herself leaping out of the Ferrari. Yes, then, and in the time afterward she had been barefooted and bare-armed, wearing only a camisole. Quite a bit of the fabric of her jeans had been left on the roadside after that, and in the surrounding vegetation. But it had never occurred to her to wonder what had happened to her boots and socks, or how her camisole had been torn in strips at the bottom. She'd simply been so grateful for help†¦to the one who had hurt her in her first place. Oh, Damon must have thought that ironic. She suddenly realized she herself was thinking ofDamon and not ofthe possessor. Not of Shinichi and Misao.But they weren't the same, she told herself. I've got to remember that! â€Å"Yes, I enjoyed making him hurt you, and I enjoyed hurting you. I made him bring me a willow rod, just the right thickness, and then whipped you with it. You enjoyed that, too, I promise you. Don't bother to look for marks because they've all gone like the others. But all three of us enjoyed hearing your cries. You†¦and me†¦and Mutt, too. In fact, of all of us, he may have enjoyed it most.† â€Å"Damon, shut up! I won't listen to you talk about Matt that way!† â€Å"I wouldn't let him see you without your clothes on, though,† Damon confided, as if he hadn't heard a word. â€Å"That was when I had him – dismissed. Put into another snow globe. I wanted to hunt you as you tried to get away from me, in an empty globe that you could never get out of. I wanted to see that special look in your eyes that you get when you fight with everything you have – and I wanted to see it defeated. You're no fighter, Elena.† Damon laughed suddenly, an ugly sound, and to Elena's shock his arm shot out and he punched through the wall of the widow's walk. â€Å"Damon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She was sobbing by now. â€Å"And then I wanted to dothis .† With no warning, Damon's fist forced her chin up, jerking her head back. His other hand tangled in her hair, bringing her neck back to the exact position he wanted her to be in. And then Elena felt him strike, quick as a cobra, and felt the two tearing wounds in the side of her neck, and her own blood spurting out of them. Ages later, Elena woke up sluggishly. Damon was still enjoying himself, clearly lost in the experience of having Elena Gilbert. And there was no time to make different plans. Her body simply took over by itself, startling her almost as much as it startled Damon. Even as he lifted his head, her hand plucked the magical house key off his finger. Then she gripped, twisted, lifted her knees as high as she could, and kicked outward, sending Damon smashing through the splintered, rotted wood that formed the outside railing of the widow's walk.

Differences in American and Asian Culture essays

Differences in American and Asian Culture essays The family and cultural values of Asian countries and the United States are very different. However, those values in Asia differ dramatically among different countries. Therefore, it would be difficult to explain the values of Asia as whole, but rather, it would be easier to explain the values based in one country. Some of the most common countries people mention as part of Asia are Japan and China. These two countries are considered the most dominant in the Asian Continent. However, their values differ from one another. Therefore, you would have to choose between these two cultures and differing it with the United States culture. Beings a lot of business is done between the United States and Japan, it would seem most fittingly to differ these two countries in regards to their cultures. Many Americans travel to Japan each year for business related purposes, whether for a corporation or for the Armed Forces, whatever the case, Americans would spend part of their life in Japan. Americans must know that their cultures are different of those in Japan. For example, the family in Japan is considered closer than that compared to families in the United States, and marriages are also different from those in America. Also, certain behaviors that are of everyday use differ between these two countries. Weddings in America are different from those in Japan in some forms and comparable in others. In Japan, the grooms family is to send a formal letter to the brides family, requesting for the hand of the bride. Also, a letter is prepared and presented to the brides family on the day of the wedding to confirm and commemorate the official acceptance of the bride into the grooms family. In picking the wedding date, an astrologer is used to select an auspicious date for the wedding. On the wedding day, the grooms family sends out a whole bridal procession of musicians, servants, and relatives to fetch ...

The Sunset Essay Example

The Sunset Essay Example The Sunset Essay The Sunset Essay The early morning fog hovers lazily, a couple of feet above the ground. It is cold and dark out. Traces of dew are still evident among the leaves, and lie thick along the pasture. The blades of grass are wet, and appear to be razor sharp. In a couple of minutes, the scene will change from dark to light and a new day will begin. A gentle breeze blows south and it seems that the trees loose their leaves in the gust. Its as if they are pointing in the direction of the wind. The leaves rustle together copiously and the sound is rather loud. Now the wind has died down, and the attention is once again turned to the thick mist. The trees are once again settled. It is difficult to see far off into the distance as the ghostly gray fog is dense and surrounds the entire scene. It is dark, and the scene almost looks scary. The grass is intimidating and the fog seems as though it belongs above a graveyard. I am sitting on top of a cliff peering over into the distance, it is hard to see but I can make out the murky water. It is calm and motionless. I make my way down to the sand where I wait to see the sun hit the water and change the mood from an eerie scene out of a horror movie to a picturesque prospect that would even please the harshest of people. Im sitting on the cold white sand, alone, taking in the surrounding beauty. The mist begins to lift and retreat ready to come out again at the same time exactly one day later. The darkness fades away and light begins to dominate. The tip of the sun meets the water and changes it from a depressing murky colour, to a sparkling shine. A line is created down the water from the sun, but is disturbed and skewed by the waves. The water is still relatively calm; the current is heading out to the northeast. The birds begin to chirp noisily, and this is the signal of a new day. A few fly, or more accurately glide above my head and come to rest high up in the tree, busy with their own days accounts. The sun creeps slowly furthering itself from the ground. It begins to overlook the water as though it will engulf it. A beautiful opaque color of orange fills the air as it robustly generates off the suns surface. It procrastinates for me to appreciate its beauty. People say that you should never directly look into the sun, but then who could they appreciate its magnificence? The sun soars above the water, getting closer to its well-known position in the sky. The day is now lit brightly as the sun begins to work. Coldness has turned to hot, and any areas of darkness have been banished and the scenario is only filled with joyful sections of well light encounters. I could write for ten years and still not nearly describe its beauty accurately. Witnessing the sunrise at my favorite beach location can only be seen as priceless. This is a sanctuary for me, a place to escape reality and just drift away, drift away in the ocean towards the sun, hoping that one day I can finally reach it.

Financial Innovations and Monetary Policy Term Paper

Financial Innovations and Monetary Policy - Term Paper Example on of debit and credit card into the economy was seen as a major step as this was believed to significantly curb the risks associated with carrying cash and eliminate the losses incurred by investors due to destruction of money as a result of losing cash or fire epidemic. Use of cash is also dispirited due to the continual problem of counterfeiting and the often contested argument that it makes it easy for criminals such as prostitutes and drug dealers to conduct business (Mishkin, 2009; Goodhart, 2000). While the prognoses for the eradication of cash have demonstrated to be quite challenging, the boom in internet shopping has sent a clear signal to futurists that the cashless society is almost becoming an overpowering reality which will present its benefits and drawbacks to consumers and banks, particularly when the whole concept of monetary policies is taken into consideration (Goodhart, 2000). Many developed economies are presently striving towards an economy where cash will be mi nimal and e-money, which in its broadest sense is electronic money often exchanged electronically through technical devices including mobile handsets and computers, is also significantly reduced (Goodhart, 2000). A cashless society implies that coins and currency will be absent but that does not imply a backward development towards barter system, but rather a development towards a society with widespread use of EFTS (Electronic Funds Transfer System). In the US, for instance, only 7% of transactions are in cash as over 90% of transactions are sealed via e-money (Palley, 2011). Apparently, these transactions are low-value transactions involving only small amounts of money. People have accepted EFTS, and it is not surprising that organizations have been forced to use EFTS to remain competitive. However, as the move towards a cashless economy proceeds incrementally, it raises significant issues with regard to monetary policy, the consumer, and payment system threats. Under the monetary

From the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison i need to answer, How does Essay

From the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison i need to answer, How does Paul's D concern with his masculinity cause him to act in certain ways throughout the novel - Essay Example Though kind and optimistic, Paul D remains concerned with his masculinity and this causes him to act in certain specific ways throughout the novel. Morrison uses Paul D’s concern with his masculinity to subtly allude to the attitude of the male members of the African American community and their expectations of how females need to act. The author portrays Paul as a character, who really loves and cares for Sethe. However, while he feels â€Å"proud of her† on the one hand, he becomes â€Å"annoyed by her† on the other when he realizes that she did not need either her husband or Paul to go through her delivery (Morrison 4). His annoyance derives from his concern for his masculinity due to which he believes that Sethe must depend on him or her husband for the delivery. Paul D’s masculinity can be seen as a dominating trait in him even in the scene when he first arrives at Sethe’s home after several years and she starts cooking for him and he says â€Å"Don’t go to any trouble on my account† (7). This dialog manifests his concern and love for Sethe on the one hand and he is prepared to quit a meal lest he gives any trouble to the woman for whom he cares a lot. However, on the other hand, it transpires that his reaction to her invitation also stems from his concern for his masculinity due to which the idea of a female taking a trouble for a male like him does not appeal to him. More significantly, in the context of the story’s theme, it can be seen that the storyline basically relies on Paul D’s knowledge of his masculinity. He is a person who has always known his value as a â€Å"laborer who could make profit on a farm† (120). Thus, he takes pride in his own strength and the ability to work. This, perhaps, is the power that imbibes in him the quest for freedom, which ultimately culminates into the attempted escape. In addition, he nourishes a desire in him to save Sethe from her problems and also drives out the evil from her