Thursday, October 31, 2019

Inference paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Inference paper - Essay Example ormal intuition is the essential property of our sensibility by means of which alone objects are given to us, and if this sensibility represents not things in themselves but their appearances, then we shall easily comprehend†¦ that all external objects of our world of sense must necessarily coincide in the most rigorous way with the propositions of geometry.† Kant further claims that this epistemological conclusion implies that objects in space are only representations of human sensuous intuition, as well as that â€Å"Pure space is not at all a quality of things in themselves†. This paper will seek to expound on the meaning of Kant’s claim, as well as to offer rejection of this claim. Kant’s arguments are mainly aimed at encouraging an appreciation for the limitations of human knowledge. He argues that it is impossible to have any knowledge beyond the empirical, which means that for human minds, transcendental knowledge is not real but ideal. These constraints to transcendental knowledge, in turn, have two a priori sources, in which the mind possesses sensibility or receptive capacity and understanding or conceptual capacity. Kant notes that sensibility refers to the means through which human understanding accesses objects. He further argues that synthetic a priori judgment in mathematics and geometry is possible because space can be considered as an a priori type of sensibility, which means that the claims of mathematics can be known with a priori certainty only where this experience of objects is our experience’s necessary mode. In addition, Kant also argues that without the ability to represent objects spatially, it is not possible to experience them. In this case, without delineating the space that an object occupies, it is not possible to grasp it. Without spatial representation, human sensations would remain undifferentiated, which would make it impossible to ascribe specific objects with properties. Kant also argues that time is a necessary

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Alcoholism Is Destroying Our Society Essay Example for Free

Alcoholism Is Destroying Our Society Essay Alcoholism is the inability to control alcohol and have a strong craving for alcohol.There are cases where people are so addicted to alcohol that they cant remain without it whitin more than one hour.Some even drink alcohol as if they are drinking water.Alcoholism is really becoming a big problem for our society.There is no real cure to alcoholism other than to stop drinking. First of all i would talk about the effect of alcoholism.It has physical effects which are the most important as it can causes death. For example alcoholism causes cancer in the stomach, kidney and liver.Besides alcohol alters digestion of nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy.Alcoholism also causes severe damage in the neurons,so it causes alteration in the body movements,loss of appetite and depression. There are other effects in the body like gastritis and cirrhosis of the liver. All these physical consequences could cause your death if you drink alcohol in mass quantities. The second effects caused by alcoholism are psychological. At the beginning, alcohol makes you feel relaxed, but if you drink it in excess, it increases anxiety and causes depression. It also causes family and legal problems, violence, changes of behavior, suicide, among others. Alcohol is very powerful and alters all your normal behaviors.Moreover alcoholism causes economic effects as well. Alcohol is not cheap. If someone drink two or three times in a week, it could cost him a lot.People do not think about the money and spend almost everything when they are drunk. Studies show that some individuals are more likely to experience alcoholism at some point in their lives than others. For example, genetics can play a role in whether or not a person is likely to be drawn to alcohol. Often the children of alcoholics will have a higher risk of one day becoming an alcoholic themselves. Psychological problems also increase the risk for alcoholism. Individuals suffering from depression, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder and many other psychological disorders often turn to alcohol to make them feel better or ease their suffering. This often turns into a dependency. How individuals experience alcoholism in their lives?Genetics can play a role in whether a person is likely to drawn to alcohol.Often the children of alcoholics will have a greater risk of becoming an alcoholics themselves.psychological problems also increase the risk of alcoholism.Individual suffering from depression,attention deficit and many other phsycological disorder often turn to alcohol to make them feel better or to ease their suffering.But this often turns to dependency.The family of those who suffer from alcoholism,may suffer as this person will need money to drink,the family might not afford to fulfill their basic needs.Moreover an alcoholism might lose his job if he cannot be active at work.This causes financial problems to the family. To conclude,alcoholism is destroying the person who suffer from it and his family as well,this causes harm to the whole society.Therefore measures should be taken so that the drinker stops drinking as there are no other real solution to this problem.If the drinker does this soon enough, some of the damage to his or her body may reverse itself. However, most experts feel that a person is an alcoholic for life, and will never be able to drink socially again without falling back into addiction.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Psycho 1960 Alfred Hitchcock | Analysis

Psycho 1960 Alfred Hitchcock | Analysis Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock was considered one of the scariest films of its time. Created in 1960 it broke the conventions of film shocking audiences, leaving it rated X, now rated at 15 people of today wouldnt understand the shock factor it had in the 60s but is instead seen as a classic and a great horror film for the conventions it broke for all films. Psycho: The best horror film of all time is the headline of a recent article on the Guardian website proving that still in 2010, 50 years on that its still considered the greatest. Horror as a genre holds many codes and conventions of its own that psycho portrays for example the big house in the middle of nowhere and obviously the rain. Things like this are aimed to create fear, to deal with things from nightmares, to elicit suspense, which was the aim for Hitchcocks films. Psycho was Hitchcocks first horror film and from then on hes been known as the master of suspense. He was the creator of the MacGuffin, something that drives the story, he used sharp violins to create suspense, while the audience let their own minds create the rest. In this essay I plan to deconstruct two scenes from the film, looking at the Mise-en-scene and mise-en-shot. Mise-en-scene being everything in front of the camera that creates the scene, Hitchcock only puts something in shot if it meant something. Mise-en shot-being the opposite everything behind the scenes the camera work that helps create the emotion in Hitchcock films, the construction of the shots. Opening scene The opening scene begins with the credits criss-crossing in a pattern with the images mirroring, which could be seen as foreshadowing the schizophrenic personality of Norman Bates. A wide panning shot establishes the surroundings being a city and the audience see the exact time of day( 2:43pm). The camera zooms into a room window the blinds are drawn and the camera sneaks in as if it were a peeping tom. The characters in the room, Marion and Sam, are obviously hiding something having the blinds drawn in the middle of the day and the audience sneaking in makes them a part of the secret. Once in the room we see Marion laid on the bed half naked which was unheard of in films of the 60s let alone being in the room with a half-naked man that she isnt married too. Even the implication of sex was a taboo in films. Marion brings up the subject of marriage whilst in his embrace. The camera shot is a close up as if we are a part of the situation. When he doesnt give her the answer she was looking for her body language changes, as does the camera angle. She is giving him the cold shoulder as does the audience, which shows Marion as the main character, that we are on her side. He gives in and tells her what she wants to hear not before leaving the guilt trip on her because of how emasculated he felt. The camera angles represent the distance and emotion between the characters. Sam begins to moan about his lack of money and mentions his Ex-wife as opening the blinds and looking out as if to look for her, trying to find reasons not to get married. The camera is pulled out again showing the characters relationship troubles. We know Marion wants to marry Sam and would do anything for it to be possible. The Parlour scene Marion is in her hotel room waiting for Norman when she hears arguing between Norman and his mother. She becomes concerned as Norman comes down looking nervous and stuttering. He doesnt want to enter Marions room for fear of upsetting his mother he even found it difficult showing her around the room because he feels uncomfortable with being alone in a room with her, especially showing her the bathroom which he cant even say because its even more uncomfortable being in a room where people are naked. He suggests going to the parlour where he feels more comfortable using the excuse of warmth, all the time the camera stays mainly at mid shots perhaps showing how uncomfortable he is. The room is filled with stuffed birds of prey as if he has her in his trap, as if she is his prey. The conversation is small; his weird nervous comments are seen as small talk and not all threatening. He comes across as lonely when he brings up his hobby of taxidermy, which explains the mass of birds Well, its, its more than a hobby. A hobbys supposed to pass the time, not fill it, and a boys best friend is his mother proving he has no friends. The conversation stays conventional and each character is framed by medium shots. As the subject of his mother becomes a bigger topic he leans forward as if on the edge of his seat. Norman explains how he resents his mother and would like nothing more than to just leave her, but he cant because shes ill. The camera angle is now to the side and just below Norman r evealing and owl in the striking position as if he is the prey this time, he is captured by his mother. The atmosphere becomes very defensive when Marion suggests sending his mother to a home. The camera closes in on Normans face showing his reaction he becomes short and snappy describing a mental home as if hes been there before or as if he is afraid of it. He doesnt feel she deserves to be in a home, stating she is harmless But shes harmless! Shes as harmless as one of those stuffed birds! giving the audience a foreshadowing that shes actually a corpse. The camera angle becomes less intense in the change of subject when Marion wants to return to her room, Norman stays sitting when she gets up to leave as if it will make her stay, he wants to stay in her company. Marion slips up when Norman asks her name again telling him where shes going and her real name rather than the one she wrote in the logbook. He asked her these questions just as she was leaving as if he knew she was lying. A more sinister look comes across Normans face when he realises hes been lied too; he knows his mother wouldnt like it and would think she was a trouble maker. As Norman leaves the parlour to go back and tend to his mother we see the change happening like something switches in his head. In conclusion we see how important mise-en-scene and mise-en-shot is in every aspect of the film; Hitchcock uses camera angles to depict emotion in all of his characters, wide shots to show cold emotions, close intense shots to show anger and low angles to show vulnerability. Also Hitchcock proves that it doesn t have to be the same MacGuffin to push the story along throughout the film as Marion is killed early on. Psycho is the proof that horror doesnt just have to be gore and blood its more psychological than that.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The impact of Queen Victorias Death on Australia :: essays research papers fc

Queen Victoria’s Death Queen Victoria’s reign, lasted 63 years, from 1837 to 1901. She ascended the throne of Great Britain, when she was 18. Despite being the Queen of Britain, and a very influential and prominent person, she also had an impact on Australian history. In Australia the most apparent legacy of Queen Victoria’s reign is manifested in the names of the two states, Victoria and Queensland. There are also a large number of other important buildings and places, named in her honor such as, the Queen Victoria Building, in Sydney. Victoria was loved and respected by her subjects, and Australian society at the time was affected greatly by the loss of their beloved Queen. An example of the affection and grief felt by the Australian people is apparent in the following poem, written by J D Horne of Castlemaine, Victoria. â€Å"Who can recall to memory the life Of one so loved, so dear — A devoted mother, Queen and wife A friend when few drew near — And not in silent agony Be melted into tears. A nation weeps her, The whole world mourns her... Dead, did I say? Ah! No! She lives In every loving heart. A nation’s grief is not assuaged – No time can heal the smart. She lives forever, and her deeds Will live in memory too, And history recount her praise For all the ages through. For never monarch lived on earth So worthy of our song...†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Victorian era, as it became known, was the time of Queen Victoria’s reign. Victoria’s death signaled the end of an era. It was a rich and significant period in Britain, which had a positive influence on Australia also. It saw profound social changes culminating in the rise of the middle class, population growth, and an increase in wealth. Victoria was Queen and so it was seen as a product of her reign and so the love for her increased. Victoria’s death created a feeling of insecurity and uncertainty of what would result. However, it also created the feeling of opportunity and a new beginning. â€Å"There was a sense not only in London but in all the capitals of the world that an age had come to an end, a stronger sense than there had been when the 19th century itself drew to a close.† (1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There were mixed feelings with the end of Victoria’s reign. At the time Australian culture still revolved around Britain and most Australian’s were either born in Britain, or had relatives residing there.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Horizontal Mergers Essay

Mergers occur when one business firm buys or acquires another business firm (the acquired firm) and the combined firm maintains the identity of the acquiring firm. Business firms merge for a variety of reasons, both financial and non-financial. There are a number of types of mergers. Horizontal and non-horizontal are just two of many types. WHAT IS HORIZONTAL MERGER? A merger occurring between companies in the same industry. Horizontal merger is a business consolidation that occurs between firms who operate in the same space, often as competitors offering the same good or service. Horizontal mergers are often a type of non-financial merger. In other words, a horizontal merger is undertaken for reason that have little to do with money, at least directly. Simply stated, a horizontal merger is usually the acquisition of a competitor who is in the same line of business as the acquiring business. By acquiring the competitor, the acquiring company is reducing the competition in the marketplace. Suppose, for example, that Pepsi were to buy Coca-Cola. This would be a horizontal merger. Horizontal mergers are common in industries with fewer firms, as competition tends to be higher and the synergies and potential gains in market share are much greater for merging firms in such an industry. Many businesses use this strategy when one is failing to perform. T hey merge as a last ditch effort to keep from going completely out of business. NON-HORIZONTAL MERGER A non-horizontal merger is the opposite of horizontal mergers. A merger between companies in different industry. It is a business consolidation that occurs between firms who operate in different space offering different goods and services. They involve firms who do not operate in the same market. It necessarily follows that such mergers produce no immediate change in the level of concentration in any relevant market. Although non-horizontal mergers are less likely than horizontal mergers to create competitive problems, they are not invariably innocuous. FORMS OF HORIZONTAL MERGERS There are two basic forms of non-horizontal mergers: vertical mergers and conglomerate mergers. Vertical mergers are mergers between firms that operate at different but complementary levels in the chain of production. Vertical mergers or vertical integration happens when the acquiring firm buys buyers or sellers of goods and services to the company. In other words, a vertical merger is usually between a manufacturer and a supplier. It is a merger between two companies that produce different products or services along the supply chain toward the production of some final product. Vertical mergers usually happen in order to increase efficiency along the supply chain which, in turn, increases profits for the acquiring company. In vertical mergers there is no direct loss in competition as in horizontal mergers because the parties’ product did not compete in the same relevant market. Just like horizontal mergers, vertical mergers can result in anti-trust problems in the marketplace by reducing competition. An example would be if an automobile manufacturing company was to buy up other businesses that exist along its supply c hain. It takes many different types of businesses to support automobile manufacturing. If an automobile company bought a seat belt manufacturing company, companies that manufactured different parts of the engine block and the transmission, as well as sources of its raw materials, transportation, technology, and sales (dealerships), imagine the market power that would accrue to that automobile manufacturing company. It would effectively totally control the price for its vehicles without having to consider any other factors. That is the kind of market power that anti-trust laws are meant to control. However, it should be noted that in general vertical merger concerns are likely to arise only if market power already exists in one or more markets along the supply chain. Conglomerate mergers involve firms that operate in different product markets, without a vertical relationship. They may be product extension mergers, i.e. mergers between firms that produce different but related products or pure conglomerate mergers. Conglomerate mergers generally involve the union of two companies that have no type of common interest, are not in competition with any of the same competitors, and do not make use of the same suppliers or vendors. Essentially, the conglomerate merger usually brings together two companies with no connections whatsoever under one corporate umbrella. This type of arrangement can be very desirable when the investors for the newly created conglomerate wish to create a strong presence in two different markets. In practice, the focus is on mergers between companies that are active in related or neighboring markets, e.g., mergers involving suppliers of complementary products or of products belonging to a range of products that is generally sold to the same set of customers in a manner that lessens competition. Proponents of conglomerate theories of harm argue that in a small number of cases, where the parties to the merger have strong market positions in their respective markets, potential harm may arise when the merging group is likely to foreclose other rivals from the market in a way similar to vertical mergers, particularly by means of tying and bundling their products. When as a result of foreclosure rival companies become less effective competitors, consumer harm may result. However, it should be stressed that in these cases there is a real risk of foregoing efficiency gains that benefits consumer welfare and thus the theory of competitive harm needs to be supported by substantial evidence

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

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Letter of Recommendation It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Mr.. Rah Kumar as he has an indisputable potential and motivation for graduate studies. I have known Mr.. Rah Kumar since 2008. During his coursework in department of electronic and telecommunication engineering and Management I had the opportunity to closely interact with him in the semesters that I have taught him. This has convinced me that he is very genuine in pursuit of his academic excellence. His Final year Project on Room light Controller and Wireless Camera Security System as a talk among the staff members.While discussing the concepts of his project work he has been very impressive. He has shown excellent capability to understand technical papers, implement those ideas and work indefatigably on the modules undertaken thus far. Academically he is an intelligent and hardworking student, which is clearly reflected in the excellent marks that he has consistently achieved. He was m y student for the His performance in these courses has been courses superior,impressing me with his commitment to learn and think innovative.Rah has always been an all-rounder be it Academically or Co-curricular activities and has always excelled in them. Rah is a student of high moral and ethical standards. I am sure he will put forth all his effort into any task that he confronts. By providing him a postgraduate program in your college you will not only give him an opportunity for career growth but also help his achievements to culminate. I recommend him for postgraduate studies and deserving financial assistance. I feel that his academic proficiency and potential for research make him one of the truly outstanding candidates I have come across.

Romeo and Juliet Impulsive Behavior Essay Essays

Romeo and Juliet Impulsive Behavior Essay Essays Romeo and Juliet Impulsive Behavior Essay Paper Romeo and Juliet Impulsive Behavior Essay Paper A simple defect can be more fatal than decease itself. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. this becomes evident to the reader in many instances. Romeo is a really blemished character whose unprompted behaviour led to the decease of non merely himself but besides his darling Juliet. Romeo rapidly altering his deathless love he felt with Rosaline to Juliet without any compunction. subsequently when he kills Tybalt without thought of the effects. and once more when he learns of Juliet’s decease. Romeo’s headlong attitude plays a immense function in his life. and this shows merely before Romeo is about to come in the Capulet uninvited without believing much about it. At first. Romeo goes to the party to see his thought-to-be love Rosaline. but than rapidly changes his love from Rosaline to Juliet at his first sight of the beautiful Capulet. â€Å"Is she a Capulet? / O beloved history! My life is my foe’s debt† ( I. iv. 118- 119 ) . Romeo cognizing that Juliet is a Capulet. cognizing his life is in the custodies of his enemy. decides to set this aside because his love is excessively strong for her. This is a great illustration of Romeo’s impulsiveness. If Romeo was non speedy to take these actions. Romeo and Juliet would hold neer met. This would do both of their lives a batch easier. This is non the lone clip Romeo’s impulsiveness takes a large impact in his life. Later. Mercutio. Romeo’s friend and Tybalt. Juliet’s cousin have an statement and get down to contend one another. One thing leads to another and Tybalt ends up by chance knifing Mercutio with his blade. Romeo thinks this is his mistake seeing that he was seeking to keep Mercutio back at the clip. When Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt he acts like he isn’t injury. that it is merely a little abrasion. while the truth is so he is greatly injured. Mercutio dies in forepart of Romeo and Romeo’s impulsiveness boots in instantly. Alive in triumph-and Mercutio slain! / Away to heaven. several lenience. / and fired-eyed rage be my behavior now. / Now. Tybalt. take the â€Å"villain† back once more / that late 1000 gravest me. for Mercutio’s psyche / is but a small manner above our caputs. / Staying for thrine to maintain him company. / Either 1000 or I. or both. must travel with him. † ( III. I. 84-92 ) Romeo stating this is a great illustration of his fatal defect. Alternatively of believing through what he wants to make about Tybalt killing Mercutio. he rapidly jumps to his battle and has a battle with Tybalt. Romeo ends up killing Tybalt. doing every affair worse. Romeo was really huffy that Tybalt killed his friend Mercutio. but if he took a minute to believe of his actions before making it he would hold been better off. Romeo’s impulsiveness does non merely do the love to Juliet. or the violent death of Tybalt. but Romeos impulsive character causes possible the biggest error of his life. After killing Tybalt. Romeo is banished from Verona. He is told that he is lucky non to be killed for his actions. Romeo does non believe that manner at all. as Romeo stats he would instead be dead than have to populate without his Sweet Juliet. Friar Lawrence and Juliet think of a program to acquire Romeo and Juliet back together. The dark before Juliet’s weeding to Paris. she must imbibe a potion that will do her appear dead. After she is laid to rest to rest in the family’s crypt. Romeo will come and salvage her so they can populate free together. The weeding unexpectedly gets moved a twenty-four hours earlier. Juliet drinks her potion the twenty-four hours before the weeding and goes on with the program. The job is Romeo hears merely of Juliet’s decease. the message of Juliet feigning to be dead did non acquire to him in clip. Romeo rapidly goes to Juliet’s grave to see her. but he finds Paris at that place every bit good. Romeo and Paris battle and Romeo kills him out of fury. â€Å"Wilt 1000 provoke me? Then have at thee. male child! † ( V. three. 78 ) Romeo so takes a expression at Juliet’s organic structure for the really last clip. Romeo drinks the potion to kill himself. but non before he kisses Juliet one last clip. Soon after. Juliet wakes up but merely to see Romeo’s dead organic structure lying following to her. She. like Romeo can non populate without him and knife herself with Romeo’s sticker. Romeo’s unprompted behaviour non merely took his life. but besides his true love Juliet.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Free Essays on Color Consious

Shoppers at the Wilson’s Leather Outlet in Albertville, MN are seeing the merchandise in a whole new light. Instead of the old in store lighting strategy, the retailer installed new metal halide pulse start lights. The lamps from Osram Sylvania, combine conventional pulse-start characteristics with a unique â€Å"bulgy† arctube design that delivers improved reliability and greater color consistency from lamp to lamp. The new lamps are said to be showing the merchandise in a new light. Wilson has traditionally used 250-watt metal hide lamps with a protective shroud. Managers did not like these lamps because they gave off low light and the colors were not consistent. Wilson searched for a product that had a higher color-rendering index, better lumen maintenance and minimal color shift. When the new lamps were compared to old ones there was no comparison, the new bulbs were hands down the better bulbs. With the new bulbs in the stores, merchandise and graphics were extremely sharper. Over time Wilson’s plans to integrate the new bulbs into all of its old and new stores throughout the country. With all of the new technological advances in lighting, each store must be up on their competitors. Although lighting may not directly affect sales, it does however help keep the customers inside since the lighting was more pleasurable.... Free Essays on Color Consious Free Essays on Color Consious Shoppers at the Wilson’s Leather Outlet in Albertville, MN are seeing the merchandise in a whole new light. Instead of the old in store lighting strategy, the retailer installed new metal halide pulse start lights. The lamps from Osram Sylvania, combine conventional pulse-start characteristics with a unique â€Å"bulgy† arctube design that delivers improved reliability and greater color consistency from lamp to lamp. The new lamps are said to be showing the merchandise in a new light. Wilson has traditionally used 250-watt metal hide lamps with a protective shroud. Managers did not like these lamps because they gave off low light and the colors were not consistent. Wilson searched for a product that had a higher color-rendering index, better lumen maintenance and minimal color shift. When the new lamps were compared to old ones there was no comparison, the new bulbs were hands down the better bulbs. With the new bulbs in the stores, merchandise and graphics were extremely sharper. Over time Wilson’s plans to integrate the new bulbs into all of its old and new stores throughout the country. With all of the new technological advances in lighting, each store must be up on their competitors. Although lighting may not directly affect sales, it does however help keep the customers inside since the lighting was more pleasurable....

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Marketing Trends Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Trends Starbucks - Essay Example The market structure is not very complicated in the coffee segment as there are not that many reputed players in the coffee market. Unlike what we see in segments like in the mobile phone market, some of the well known competitors of Starbucks include McDonalds Corporation, Dunkin Brands, Inc. and Nestlà ©. Having a strong brand image and a loyal customer base certainly helps the company, but in order to ward off the threat from competing companies the company has always tried to be innovative in its approach and offerings. With presence1 in 43 countries outside US and 7,087 Company-operated stores, besides 4,081 licensed stores, the company is on a strong footing and looking after its business interests quite well. In addition the company takes good care of its workforce and appreciates the role of its diverse workforce in taking the company to such heights. The company has been recognized as amongst the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by Fortune magazine. In fact the company has received such recognition consistently2 for many years now. Coffee or soft drinks are the items which almost every individual loves to have every now and then. But as far as eating and drinking habits are concerned, an individual loves to go for the taste which suits him or her. Therefore, for new entrants the main challenging task is not only to attract the customers towards their products and services, but to retain them as well. Therefore it will be preposterous to think that new companies entering into the fray will overnight start posing a serious threat to Starbucks. But in these times of globalization and liberalization one should not underestimate the emerging competition. For example if Apple Inc, known for computer hardware products, can create a serious threat to reputed mobile companies with the successful launch of iPhone, there could be companies offering coffee and

Friday, October 18, 2019

Reading and researching Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reading and researching - Essay Example In addition, a literature review intends to illustrate, sum up, review, elaborate and/ or incorporate the substance of primary accounts (Crano, 2002). The review of related or relevant literature is almost at all times a standard chapter of a research proposal and a full-blown dissertation. The review outlines an essential chapter in a research thesis where its objective is to present the setting or backdrop to and rationale for the research embarked on. Furthermore, the objective of a literature review is to demonstrate to the reader that the researcher have actually read, and have a good understanding of, the key available scholarly literature concerning a specific subject matter or issue in his/her discipline. This work could be in layout, integrating online references or sources. It could be a project taken apart, or one of the preliminary portions of a thesis, report or a dissertation. Nevertheless, in research proposals and dissertations in particular, the review will be directed by particular research objectives of by the subject matter or argument that a researcher will be discussing and will present the structure for further work (Fairclough, 2003). On the other hand, aside from outlining a clear-cut review of related literature, social research also relies on three paradigmatic approaches, namely, positivism, interpretivism and critical approach, in defining the processes and disposition of a research proposal or dissertation. Primarily, the principle which states that all knowledge originates from positive data or information from observable facts or phenomenon is the territory of positivism; the origins of positivism rest specifically with empiricism, which operates merely with observable details, believing that further than this is the dimension of exactness of mathematics and logic (Bryman, 1992). On the other hand, the interpretivism paradigm of social research is a strategy founded on

Describe in DETAIL the A-B-C-D-E therapeutic approach of REBT Essay

Describe in DETAIL the A-B-C-D-E therapeutic approach of REBT - Essay Example The thesis below will discuss the A-B-C-D-E therapeutic approach of REBT in details. Ellis formulated the therapeutic approach method to help solve psychological problems easily. The core method is used in the first and the subsequent sessions where the therapist explains each session. Letter A in the sequence is the activation event that elicits stress or worry. The worries caused by bad performance at work, lack of confidence that propels the victim to a counselor. B represents the belief system. There are two types of beliefs rational and irrational (Sharf, 2011). Irrational behaviors are exaggerated and leads to disturbed feeling that do not help victims reach their goals. However, it is important to identify irrational behaviors early so that they can be solved. C stands for consequences of the irrational behavior (Sharf, 2011). People with negative thoughts may repeat these thoughts creating a condition known as rumination that acts like self-programming trigger. People with the repeated negative thinking may seclude themselves hence the need for such to replace the irrational thinking with positive thoughts that can make one to address problems reasonably (Sharf, 2011). D represents disputing irrational behaviors. Therapists must challenge the client belief directly. This way, the client can substitute negative thinking with more realistic ways of solving problems. E represents the client’s way of interpreting the situation. If the treatment is effective, the client loses the pessimism, anxiety, distress, and starts focusing on practical ways to solve problems (Sharf, 2011). The clients resume into their normal self and starts making reachable

The Nature Of Quality And The Categories Of Quality Television Essay

The Nature Of Quality And The Categories Of Quality Television - Essay Example Value is about finances, cultural importance, and artistic importance. However, it is financial value that must first be addressed to then move towards addressing the more esoteric values. Quality is determined by who is defining the concept. Cultural changes and shifts will also affect the concept of quality. Through an exploration of the concept of family in television, as an example, an understanding of how culture is influenced by television as much as it influences the nature of programming can be understood. The categories of culture that are defined for the concept of ‘quality’ television are related to the idea that the elite determine the distribution of information, thus informing the public and formatting belief systems and cultural boundaries. In an examination of the idea of quality and relating it to the idea of categories of culture, the nature of power and information control emerges. The concept of quality television is a topic for families, social group s, and theorists. It is not often, however, a topic of interest for programmers. The first issue in trying to determine how to define quality television is through an understanding that that those most interested in quality are not necessarily those who are responsible for making television. Television is business, therefore the interests of the programmers is to find television programming that will sell, which is not always in line with what is considered high quality. Television is the business of making programs that can be made for the least amount of money in order to gain the highest profit from advertising dollars. The interest from the business end that might contribute to higher quality television would be in the realm of writers, directors, creators and producers. McCabe and Akass quote Robin Nelson for having stated that â€Å"notions of quality are ‘an open narrative of the broad cultural and institutional context of the evaluation and the valuer, rather than a c losed resolution answering the question of worth for all time† (McCabe and Akass, 4). Quality is a question of fashion as much as it is a question of culture. The nature of a piece of ‘art’ is considered of high quality only because society has determined that it represents a notion of quality. Quality means different things to different sectors of society. The very concept of quality cannot be determined through an overall sense of the idea as each individual provides their own framework of quality. According to Friske and Jenkins, the differences between quality as determined by the bourgeoisie and that of the elite, the concept of quality is determined through different criteria. Quality is relevant, to the bourgeoisie, through its functionality. Therefore, in trying to understand the nature of quality, the concept of relevance must be determined. The defining concept of relevance lays within â€Å" A consensus of what is high quality can be reached through a determinant of what is valued. Relevance is a way in which quality is determined and judged as it is â€Å"activated in the specifics of each moment of reading: unlike aesthetics, relevance is time – and place bound† (Fiske and Jenkins, 103). It might be determined, then that the way in which quality is discovered is through an understanding of its relevance to time and space, the way in which it fits into the greater scheme of cultural meanings. Quality is a custom, rather than a specific identifiable quantity. To determine quality is to associate it to how something functions within the dynamics that are relevant during a time period. This is specifically relevant to the nature of television as most programs have a very small, finite time in

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Emily Elizabeth Dickenson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emily Elizabeth Dickenson - Essay Example Reading Dickinson is not an intellectual enterprise, it is an emotional journey. Her poetry leads not to a finite conclusion, but invites to further rumination. This writer is thus inclined to explore the thesis articulated by Bray of Dickinson as visionary. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson lived the life of a recluse, seldom leaving the house or entertaining visitors; her aversion to public life was such that she attended only one year’s schooling at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, before returning home out of extreme homesickness. The few people she did come in contact with, however, profoundly influenced her thoughts and poetry, particularly the Reverend Charles Wadsworth. Many critics speculate that Wadsworth was the object of Dickinson’s â€Å"heartsick flow of verses† for the person she called â€Å"my closest, earthly friend†. It is not certain that the Reverend was Emily’s unrequited love is, however, because it might have equally been Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge Otis P. Lord, and Samuel Bowles, the editor of the Springfield Republican. Some even believe that this romantic inspiration may even have been Susan Gilbert Dickinson, wife of Emily ’s brother, Austin, by virtue of the many poems and letters dedicated by Emily to her – a matter to which feminist admirers of her work were quick to attribute her unique and eccentric writing style. Throughout her life, Dickinson’s siblings, Austin and Lavinia, were her constant friends and intellectual companions. Other influences in her poems were the seventeenth century English Metaphysical poets and her conservative Christian upbringing. Most biographies on Dickinson describe her work as having been undertaken in isolation and complete privacy; in truth, Dickinson undertook a lively and active correspondence with a good number of friends, among whom was her sister-in-law Susan Gilbert, literary

Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System Essay

Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System - Essay Example Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System The U.S. criminal justice system has come under critical public scrutiny in the recent years for one of the age-old problems afflicting the nation - racial discrimination. The present research attempts a review of criminal justice administration in the U.S. with a view to establishing the thesis that minorities, Blacks and Latinos, are discriminated against at every stage within the criminal justice system - the racial minorities are charged with more serious crimes, have less opportunity to plea-bargain, are convicted more frequently, and receive harsher sentences when compared with Caucasians in similar situations. The scope of the research is limited to the extent of establishing the thesis and shall not attempt to analyze the underlying causes and/or examine the possible strategies for ensuring equal justice to all. It is significant to note that the issue of unfair treatment of minorities has been a subject of research and academic interest by mainly social science researchers and lawyers. While researchers tend to disagree on the sources of disparity or overrepresentation of minorities, as to whether it is due to disproportionate involvement in criminal offenses or to criminal justice system biases, there is a general consensus that minorities are disproportionately represented and are treated unfairly at almost every stage of the justice system. [Kramer and Steffensmeir, 1993; Blumstein, 1993; Cole, 1999] A review of the available research is attempted to understand how researchers have approached and addressed the issue. According to Coramae Mann, racial discrimination is endemic to the United States; it permeates the criminal justice system and all other American institutions, resulting in the unjust treatment of racial minorities. She claims that when the "more flagrant, systemic means of economic and political control of minorities used in the past were no longer feasible or morally acceptable ... criminal law began to be used to warehouse American minorities and maintain their unequal status." [Mann, 1993; p. 127] David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and an attorney with Center for Constitutional Rights, who studied unequal racial justice in the U.S. claims that "our [the U.S.] criminal justice system affirmatively depends on inequality" [Cole, 1999; p.5] He claims that in the absence of race and class disparities the criminal justice system could not have afforded the policy of mass incarceration pursued since the 1980s. Cole claims that African Americans, who constitute 12 percent of the general population, comprise more than half of the prison population and have higher arrest and conviction rates, serve longer sentences, face higher bail amounts and are often victims of police use of deadly force than white citizens. [Cole, 1999; p.4] According to Cassia Spohn, blacks and Hispanics who are young, male, and unemployed are particularly more likely than their white counterparts to be sentenced to prison and receive longer sentences in some jurisdictions. Spohn's study also claim that minorities convicted of drug offences, those with longer prior criminal

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Nature Of Quality And The Categories Of Quality Television Essay

The Nature Of Quality And The Categories Of Quality Television - Essay Example Value is about finances, cultural importance, and artistic importance. However, it is financial value that must first be addressed to then move towards addressing the more esoteric values. Quality is determined by who is defining the concept. Cultural changes and shifts will also affect the concept of quality. Through an exploration of the concept of family in television, as an example, an understanding of how culture is influenced by television as much as it influences the nature of programming can be understood. The categories of culture that are defined for the concept of ‘quality’ television are related to the idea that the elite determine the distribution of information, thus informing the public and formatting belief systems and cultural boundaries. In an examination of the idea of quality and relating it to the idea of categories of culture, the nature of power and information control emerges. The concept of quality television is a topic for families, social group s, and theorists. It is not often, however, a topic of interest for programmers. The first issue in trying to determine how to define quality television is through an understanding that that those most interested in quality are not necessarily those who are responsible for making television. Television is business, therefore the interests of the programmers is to find television programming that will sell, which is not always in line with what is considered high quality. Television is the business of making programs that can be made for the least amount of money in order to gain the highest profit from advertising dollars. The interest from the business end that might contribute to higher quality television would be in the realm of writers, directors, creators and producers. McCabe and Akass quote Robin Nelson for having stated that â€Å"notions of quality are ‘an open narrative of the broad cultural and institutional context of the evaluation and the valuer, rather than a c losed resolution answering the question of worth for all time† (McCabe and Akass, 4). Quality is a question of fashion as much as it is a question of culture. The nature of a piece of ‘art’ is considered of high quality only because society has determined that it represents a notion of quality. Quality means different things to different sectors of society. The very concept of quality cannot be determined through an overall sense of the idea as each individual provides their own framework of quality. According to Friske and Jenkins, the differences between quality as determined by the bourgeoisie and that of the elite, the concept of quality is determined through different criteria. Quality is relevant, to the bourgeoisie, through its functionality. Therefore, in trying to understand the nature of quality, the concept of relevance must be determined. The defining concept of relevance lays within â€Å" A consensus of what is high quality can be reached through a determinant of what is valued. Relevance is a way in which quality is determined and judged as it is â€Å"activated in the specifics of each moment of reading: unlike aesthetics, relevance is time – and place bound† (Fiske and Jenkins, 103). It might be determined, then that the way in which quality is discovered is through an understanding of its relevance to time and space, the way in which it fits into the greater scheme of cultural meanings. Quality is a custom, rather than a specific identifiable quantity. To determine quality is to associate it to how something functions within the dynamics that are relevant during a time period. This is specifically relevant to the nature of television as most programs have a very small, finite time in

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System Essay

Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System - Essay Example Unfair Treatment of Minorities in the Criminal Justice System The U.S. criminal justice system has come under critical public scrutiny in the recent years for one of the age-old problems afflicting the nation - racial discrimination. The present research attempts a review of criminal justice administration in the U.S. with a view to establishing the thesis that minorities, Blacks and Latinos, are discriminated against at every stage within the criminal justice system - the racial minorities are charged with more serious crimes, have less opportunity to plea-bargain, are convicted more frequently, and receive harsher sentences when compared with Caucasians in similar situations. The scope of the research is limited to the extent of establishing the thesis and shall not attempt to analyze the underlying causes and/or examine the possible strategies for ensuring equal justice to all. It is significant to note that the issue of unfair treatment of minorities has been a subject of research and academic interest by mainly social science researchers and lawyers. While researchers tend to disagree on the sources of disparity or overrepresentation of minorities, as to whether it is due to disproportionate involvement in criminal offenses or to criminal justice system biases, there is a general consensus that minorities are disproportionately represented and are treated unfairly at almost every stage of the justice system. [Kramer and Steffensmeir, 1993; Blumstein, 1993; Cole, 1999] A review of the available research is attempted to understand how researchers have approached and addressed the issue. According to Coramae Mann, racial discrimination is endemic to the United States; it permeates the criminal justice system and all other American institutions, resulting in the unjust treatment of racial minorities. She claims that when the "more flagrant, systemic means of economic and political control of minorities used in the past were no longer feasible or morally acceptable ... criminal law began to be used to warehouse American minorities and maintain their unequal status." [Mann, 1993; p. 127] David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and an attorney with Center for Constitutional Rights, who studied unequal racial justice in the U.S. claims that "our [the U.S.] criminal justice system affirmatively depends on inequality" [Cole, 1999; p.5] He claims that in the absence of race and class disparities the criminal justice system could not have afforded the policy of mass incarceration pursued since the 1980s. Cole claims that African Americans, who constitute 12 percent of the general population, comprise more than half of the prison population and have higher arrest and conviction rates, serve longer sentences, face higher bail amounts and are often victims of police use of deadly force than white citizens. [Cole, 1999; p.4] According to Cassia Spohn, blacks and Hispanics who are young, male, and unemployed are particularly more likely than their white counterparts to be sentenced to prison and receive longer sentences in some jurisdictions. Spohn's study also claim that minorities convicted of drug offences, those with longer prior criminal

Counter Point Essay Example for Free

Counter Point Essay Starbucks is one of the most successful business serving coffee and drinks beverage. Starbucks is known for serving hot and cold coffee beverage with a high quality products. Starbucks went public in 1992 with a priced at $17 share and the stock jumped to $21 at the opening bell. By 2007 Starbucks had become one of the most widely recognized and admired global brands. In addition, by 2008 Starbucks has 4500 locations in 43 countries out side the United States. Overall Starbucks known as a good business with a good standing. Starbucks has many problems starting with the price. Starbucks coffee is more expensive than other competitors like Dunkin’ Donuts and Caribou. In addition, Dunkin’ Donuts offering drinks at prices 20 percent lower than Starbucks. For example, Kathleen Brown, a 30-year-old Boston lawyer, used to treat herself to a $4 Starbucks Caramel Macchiato but switched to Dunkin’ Donuts. Also, she mention that with Starbucks price for a cup of coffee she can buy a cup of coffee with a sandwich from Dunkin’ Donuts. Moreover, Starbucks did not pay attention to the customer comment cards and they did not respond to their customers needs or their feedback about the product or the service. Starbucks should ask the customers about what type of milk they want. Another problem is that Starbucks used to offer just hot beverage and they thought cold coffee like Frappuccino was not a true coffee drink. After Starbucks knew their competitors were offering a cold beverage they started to serve cold beverages and they tested their concoction with customers and again customers approved. Moreover, Starbucks stores were reconfigured with fewer comfy chairs and less carpeting making Starbucks a less inviting place in which to linger over a cup of coffee. In the beginning Starbucks had a problem and they could not advertise because the cash was tight. Finally, Starbucks machines were so tall that the customers could no longer see the coffee being made. Starbucks need to work to reduce the price of their products since most of the people from the middle and low income cant offer their products. If Starbucks want to increase their sales and earn more profit they should reduce their prices to let the people from all class can offer their products and be satisfied but Starbucks did not do any changes to their prices because there vision was to educate consumers about fine coffees and brought from a good place. Starbucks did lots of thing to increase their profit and to be more successful. For example, Starbucks opened many stores and some times in the same area just to help to serve the customers in a good way. For example, Starbucks opened many store to help the customers get what they want in a short time. Starbucks had learned that nearly stores did not necessarily hurt one another’s sales and in fact could actually help. Moreover, more stores meant a better chance for customers to find a short line or empty parking space and for Starbucks to capture the sale. Also, Starbucks open a drive through service to help the parents with young children and the drive through help Starbucks earned more profit and be more successful. Starbucks choose their store location by focusing on the are population and a matrix of regional demographic profiles and an analysis of how best to leverage operational infrastructure. In addition, Starbucks planned at least one big community event to celebrate its arrival and offer two free drink coupons with the note asking the customers to share Starbucks with a friend. In addition, since Starbucks know that there prices was high so they try to offer a seasonal offering such as a strawberry and cream Frappuccino in the summer and gingerbread latte at Christmas. Starbucks did not want to loose their money and workers so they developed a 24-hour training program converting Coffee Knowledge (four hours). Brewing the Perfect Cup (four hours), Customers Service (four hours) and also basic skills. Starbucks wants to have a good working environment and to be loyal to their employees so they provide their employees with a health insurance to all partners even the part-timers. Keeping the same employee with a full benefits would cost Starbucks $1500 rater than loosing $3000 to train a new hire. Starbucks work to develop their product mix by adding music and book to their customers. Starbucks knew their prices are expensive and they did a great thing to solve this problem by opening many stores and provide a nice atmosphere to their customers by serving many kinds of snack, cold and hot beverages, sandwiches. â€Å" Customers say one of the reason they come to Starbucks it because they can discover new things, a new coffee from Rwanda, a new food item. The solutions that I considered is Starbucks need to pay attention to their customers feedback for the price of the product and to try to make their price reasonable to the people over the whole world. Since many people like the atmosphere in Starbucks and its more fancy than Dunkin’ Donuts but the price in Starbucks need to recognized and reduce. There are many solutions I recommend to Starbucks. First, the most important is the price. Starbucks need to find a solution with their product price since their price is much more expensive than other competitors like Dunkin Donuts. Most of the people switch to Dunkin Donuts because their product mix are cheaper. Moreover, they should offer free refills to their customers and make sure to give their customers a chance to give their feed back on the product. According to the case Americans will never pay $1.50 for a cup of coffee. So because of that Starbucks need to reduce their price to be more successful. In conclusion, Starbucks is a powerful business with a good product mix ( non coffee drinks, food items, music, books). Moreover, Starbucks has many stores and sometime in the same area just to help their customers to get their need in a very short of time with offering their customers a drive through service and that cause the profit of around $1.3 million compared to $1 million at stores without a window. But the price of their products is so expensive than Dunkin’ Donuts.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Impacts of the 2003 Iraq War

Impacts of the 2003 Iraq War The impact of the 2003 Iraq war on both the war on terror  and the prospects for peace in the Middle East Introduction The reasons for the U.S. led war in Iraq in 2003 were numerous and, as it turns out, rather complicated. But, for better or worse, the U.S. led coalition of nations invaded Iraq with â€Å"shock and awe† in 2003. This war in Iraq was conducted under the banner of â€Å"the war on terror.† This second U.S. led military endeavor into Iraq had a twofold mission, which was combative and aggressive on the one hand, and more conciliatory and democratizing on the other. These were the original intentions. The questions to be explored in this paper revolve around these dual aspects of the 2003 Iraq war. How has it affected the overall and global â€Å"war on terror,† and has it achieved a measure of peace and stability in the Middle East? From the beginning of the recent U.S. led war efforts in Iraq, there has been a twofold mission announced by President George W. Bush. The first mission is centered in the war against all terrorists and those who harbor terrorist organizations.[1] The second has been the desire to plant the seed of democracy in the Middle East; a desire which the President hoped might flourish into an eventual, lasting peace. In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush said, â€Å"We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror.†[2] In this line, his commitment to a war against terror is evident, but so is his desire to help bring about a peaceful world. The very name of the military offensive dubbed by the Bush Administration was â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom.† A â€Å"Just War† and the Necessity of Peace In all recent discussions of Just War theories, scholarship is united at least in the aspect of the theory that involves the attempt at peace following the war. That is, no war can be considered â€Å"just† if the winner merely walks away from the loser of a given war without any attempt to bring about a measure of stability, security, and peace. Much of this reasoning has to do with the ideas bound up within the just-war tradition. There are many scholars, secular, Catholic, and otherwise, writing within this tradition, as it pertains to the 2003 Iraq war. As George Weigel notes in a recent essay, in the writings of contemporary scholars in this tradition (e.g., James Turner Johnson and Michael Walzer), one encounters the essence of an approach to war that is commensurate with the U.S. President’s intentions expressed above. To engage in a war justly is not only to fight those forces of evil that seek to dominate or corrupt one’s society, nor is it merely about how nations ought to engage in warfare. Although those are considerations brought to bear on just-war theorizing, the fundamental underpinning of this approach to thinking about war â€Å"is ultimately about the peace we seek to establish in contrast to the war the terrorists have set in motion.†[3] That is, the overarching goal in all wars (including the war on terror) should be the eventual achievement, not merely of removing immediate threats to national security or of pacification of an enemy, of using war as an instrument to establish peace in a land. Peace brings prosperity, whereas continual war and factionalism never bring about progress or prosperity – only suffering which seems endless to those affected by it. The Successes, Trials and Tribulations of the War Perhaps because we are still so near the beginning of the war and because the operation continues to this moment, it is difficult to gauge the relative success of the war efforts themselves and as regards the broader â€Å"war on terror.† In fact, the situation today is still the reality that the success or failure of the war depends largely on who you ask. The war effort has been a politically polarizing issue, which has certainly affected the press, as well as the scholarly community. A simple survey of the books on the shelves to the articles and essays within journals will reveal this truth. It is therefore somewhat difficult to get a proper understanding of exactly what the ramifications of the 2003 Iraq war may be for the broader war on terror, but there is at least some consensus in a few areas useful for exploration in this regard. There are those who, like Charles Hill, can find little more than wide-reaching success in the current war efforts. He writes, â€Å"Iraq is moving toward the full legitimacy that Saddam Hussein stole from the Iraqi people. Sovereignty has been restored, free elections have been held, and a constitution has been approved.†[4] The press and other scholars have, on the other hand, not been so friendly in their detractions and perceptions of the war efforts. The â€Å"Reviews Responses† section of recent editions of the journal Foreign Affairs have been filled with review essays of books very critical of the war.[5] Sometimes the reviews are sympathetic; often times they are not. All of this is supportive of the difficult task ahead of scholars regarding the effort to separate the hubris from the reality of what implications the 2003 Iraq war may have for peace and the larger war on terror. There is no denying the success of disposing of the Taliban in Afghanistan and of Saddam Hussein and his regime in Iraq. This success was decisive, dramatic, and, in the words of Victor Davis Hanson, â€Å"audacious.†[6] Both of these regimes were legitimately argued to have been the most oppressive and potentially dangerous in the region. This is perhaps one of the most compelling reasons adhered to by most Americans originally supporting both war efforts. The question on the minds of most in the scholarly community is whether there was adequate planning for the immediate post-war environment.[7] However, even for those who were very supportive of the initial decision to invade Iraq, recent events over the last year at least, have been sobering. In an article written for the April edition of the journal First Things, George Weigel identifies four distinct wars that have constituted the entire Iraq war since 2003. The first war was the obvious one of deposing Saddam Hussein and creating conditions for the responsible establishment of an interim government and relative stability. This war was concluded quickly and successfully, most all scholars agree. The second war erupted shortly after the first had ended, and this one was against the Baathist loyalists and recalcitrants. The third war broke out as Jihadists (i.e., â€Å"al-Qaeda in Iraq†) began to flood into Iraq through the under-watched and unprotected borders and tried to disrupt the democracy being established there as well as drive out the â€Å"infidels† from the Gulf. The fourth, and perhaps most danger ous today, is the practical civil war that broke out in earnest between Sunnis insurgents and Shia militias after the bombing of a major Shia shrine in February, 2006. Weigel argues that only the first of these four wars has ended. The other three continue to this day and overlap each other.[8] Is it possible that the U.S. led coalition could have anticipated these mini-wars which followed the success of the first? Is it likely that the coalition did all it could to establish a peaceful, post-war environment? Reconstruction Challenges One of the sharpest criticisms of the 2003 Iraq war, even by those who originally supported it, is that there was not enough planning in terms of rebuilding the nation after the decisive defeat of the Iraqi military. First, by any reasonable standards, the amount committed to the reconstruction of Iraq after the war was not nearly enough. In hindsight, all seem to recognize this. Though the intentions of the Bush Administration were admirable in that they sought the just-war approach, which was to replace the dangerous regime with democracy, freedom, and a re-built nation, the reality was that through the combination of inadequate funds and bloated bureaucracy, the U.S. did not adequately anticipate what would realistically be needed to bring their intentions about.[9] George Weigel points out that only $2.5 billion had been originally budgeted for reconstruction assistance, and this was far away from the actual amount needed, given the dilapidated state of the nation due to Saddamâ €™s misrule and a decade of U.N. sanctions.[10] Peace through Civil War? The war created what most analysts have agreed to be a political vacuum. Once the rule of Saddam Hussein was done away with, there was not a quick enough turnaround time for a new and, perhaps most importantly, legitimized ruling government. The largest looming danger now is the risk of civil war in Iraq, which will almost certainly follow from the near-future withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, as most scholars agree. â€Å"Especially if the United States withdraws from Iraq, the odds are good that a military coup in which some subset of the Iraqi army leadership declares that the elected government is not working and that a strong hand is necessary to impose order will result.†[11] As alluded to above, the civil war began to erupt after the bombing of the Shia holy site in February, 2006. At this point, it seems that the Sunni minority in Iraq, which has been a constant trouble from nearly the beginning, is only exacerbating its violence against the Shia to the south . Under the self-styled leadership of Muqtada al-Sadr, the various Shia militia forces have engaged in gross acts of terror in return.[12] Conclusion In a recent article, Victor Davis Hanson takes a realistic approach to the successes in Iraq. They cannot be underplayed, nor devalued. The overturning of the Iraqi regime, which was the main goal of the war, was achieved and likely the world is better for it. On the other hand, in retrospect the post-war aftermath was not fully appreciated until it was far too late. Three separate wars therefore erupted, and the most significant (the civil war) looms on the not-too-distant horizon. The prospects for peace are still available to the Middle East but only with properly calculated U.S. led coalition strategy for the future. If nothing else, the various shortcomings of the recent war will hopefully serve as a corrective and impetus to future successes in the war on terror. Successes have occurred, to be sure, but so have enormous challenges to peace, world-wide. Bibliography Bottum, Joseph, and Michael Novak. â€Å"The Leadership of George W. Bush: Con Pro.† First Things. March, 2007, No. 171, pp. 31-35. Diamond, Larry. â€Å"The Pressure Builds.† Hoover Digest. 2006, No. 3, pp. 21-29. Dobriansky, Paula J., Henry A. Crumpton, and F. Gregory Gause III. â€Å"Tyranny and Terror: Will Democracy in the Middle East Make Us Safer?† Foreign Affairs. Jan/Feb, 2006. Vol 85, No. 1, pp. 135-138. Fearon, James D. â€Å"Iraq’s Civil War.† Foreign Affairs. Mar/Apr, 2007. Vol. 86, No. 2, pp. 2-15. Feldman, Noah. What We Owe Iraq: War and the Ethics of Nation Building. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2004. Hanson, Victor Davis. â€Å"Five Years On.† Hoover Digest. 2006, No. 4, pp. 82-86. Hanson, Victor Davis. â€Å"Hard Pounding.† Hoover Digest. 2006, No. 3, pp. 10-17. Hill, Charles. â€Å"The Rogues are Losing: Why the Rogues of the Middle East Have a Very Short Future.† Hoover Digest. 2005, No. 4, pp. 66-68. Kagan, Frederick W. â€Å"Iraq is Not Vietnam.† Policy Review. Dec, 2005 Jan, 2006, No. 134, pp. 3-14. Weigel, George. â€Å"Just War and Iraq Wars.† First Things. April, 2007, No. 172, pp. 14-20. Yoo, John. The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2005. 1 [1] These commitments are very readily found in his 2002, 2003 and 2004 â€Å"State of the Union† addresses, as well as in his â€Å"Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People,† given on September 20, 2001. All of these speeches are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov. [2] It would seem that there are few who disagree with the President’s intentions in this regard. Renowned Middle East scholar, Bernard Lewis has long argued that the war on terror and the search for freedom are bound up the one with the other. The two must exist side by side and cannot exist one without the other. NYU law professor Noah Feldman argues that â€Å"the most defensible account of our nation-building policies in Iraq 2003–4, and the standard to which future U.S. efforts should be held, is the production of a basically legitimate, functioning democracy there.† What We Owe Iraq: War and the Ethics of Nation Building (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2004), p. 20. [3] George Weigel, â€Å"Just War and Iraq Wars,† First Things, April, 2007, no. 172, p. 14. Weigel is here quoting James Turner Johnson. [4] Charles Hill, â€Å"The Rogues are Losing: Why the Rogues of the Middle East Have a Very Short Future,† Hoover Digest. 2005, no. 4, p. 68. In this same essay, he goes on to point out the various ramifications of the initial stages of success of the Iraq war: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon all having positive moves and reactions to the strength of the initial war in 2003. Libya’s decision to give up its arsenal is probably the most dramatic ramification of the initial successes of the war that supporters can point to, as Hill does in his essay. [5] The January/February 2006 edition of Foreign Affairs is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Every single review essay of that edition deals with the Iraq war. [6] â€Å"Five Years On.† Hoover Digest, 2006, no. 4, p. 84. Regarding the progress wrought by the Iraq war, Hanson writes, â€Å"thousands of terrorists killed, Al Qaeda scattered, Europe galvanized about Islamism and sobered about the consequences of its cheap anti-U.S. rhetoric, Iran’s nuclear antics revealed, democracy birthed in the Middle East, Palestinian radicals exposed for their fraud, the United nations under overdue scrutiny, America much better defended at home† came largely as a result of the war on terror, beginning with Afghanistan and culminating in Iraq. There is much significant impact there to be pondered. [7] Victor Davis Hanson, â€Å"Hard Pounding,† Hoover Digest, 2006, no. 3, pp. 14-15. [8] Weigel, â€Å"Just War and Iraq Wars,† p. 15. Frederick W. Kagan agrees with this assessment of the various wars being fought in Iraq, although he believes that Weigel’s second war largely ended with the capture of Saddam Hussein. Cf. â€Å"Iraq is Not Vietnam,† Policy Review, Dec, 2005 Jan, 2006, no. 134, p. 6. [9] Although, to be fair, it should be pointed out that former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, did anticipate that the cost of military operations and rebuilding efforts would amount to $3.9 billion per month in 2003. Cf. John Yoo, The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11 (Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2005), p. 157. [10] Weigel, p. 17. [11] James D. Fearon, â€Å"Iraq’s Civil War,† Foreign Affairs, Mar/Apr, 2007, vol. 86, no. 2, p. 6. For concurring opinions see Larry Diamond, â€Å"The Pressure Builds,† Hoover Digest, 2006, no. 3, p. 29 and Weigel, p. 19. [12] Diamond, â€Å"The Pressure Builds,† pp. 26-8.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Richard II in William Shakespeare Essay -- Hero Richard II Shakespeare

Richard II in William Shakespeare The plays of William Shakespeare are generally easy to categorize, and the heroes of these plays are equally so. However, in the history play Richard II, Shakespeare’s king is more ambiguous than Hamlet or Romeo– there is no clear cut answer to whether Richard II is a tragic hero... or simply a tragedy. Historically, Richard II was crowned at a very young age, forced into the role of monarch, and thrust without hesitation into the murky world of political intrigue, which perhaps lends his character sympathy because he had no choice in his fate. However, despite his forced role in life, Richard II seems to rely on the concept of divine right to secure his throne, making no effort to sustain it once it is â€Å"irrevocably† his. Richard II is both the tragic hero and the tragedy– simply playing the role of King for the majority of the play, but only coming into his own after he is deposed, and only then to fight for his own existence. From the beginning of the play, Richard II is apathetic at best in his royal role. By exiling Bolingbroke and...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation Essay -- Resea

The Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation All mammals exhibit Rapid-Eye-Movement, or REM, sleep, and yet on certain levels this type of sleep would seem to be disadvantageous. During REM sleep, which is when most dreams occur, the brain uses much more energy than during non-REM (NREM) sleep. (1) This "waste" of energy coupled with the increased vulnerability of this state on account of the body's paralysis at this time suggests that there must be a very important reason, or reasons, for the existence of REM sleep and in extension of dreams. Determining the function of dreams, however, has proved very problematic with many arguments which directly oppose each other. Some of the primary functions of dreaming have been tied to is role in development, its production of neuro-proteins, and also to how it may allow for the "rehearsal" of neurons and neuronal pathways. The influence of dreaming on learning is one of the hottest debates. Some argue that dreams aid in learning, others that dreams aid in forgetting, and yet other s that dreams have no effect on learning or memory. That REM sleep seems to aid in development might argue that REM sleep may be connected to learning. It seems that most scientists believe that REM sleep aids in certain memory consolidations although some argue that it actually leads to "reverse learning. Before discussing the role of NREM and REM in learning, it is necessary to clarify the identity of and differences between the two. This type of sleep is marked by different stages based on different the different brainwaves exhibited. REM sleep differs from NREM in that most dreams occur during REM sleep although the two activities are not synonymous. REM is also marked by an incre... ...ource http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web1/alippman.html 3)The REM Sleep-Memory Consolidation Hypothesis," article on Center for Sleep Research's homepage, Interesting site for sleep disorders http://www.nrip.ucla.edu/sleepresearch/science/1058full.html 4)Nature website, good for scientific articles http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/news020218/020218-20 5)MIT News website, interesting articles http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/dreams.html 6); TALK ABOUT SLEEP, Inc., basics answers about sleep http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web2/)%20http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/basics/Sleep_Understanding_NINDS.htm 7)Harvard Undergraduate Society for Neuroscience, connected to Computer Science Program http://hcs.harvard.edu/~husn/BRAIN/vol1/sleep.html 8)UCSC Psych Website, http://psych.ucsc.edu/dreams/Articles/purpose.html

Friday, October 11, 2019

Arkansas V. Sanders

Arkansas Vs. Sanders Do you agree or disagree with the way Arkansas Vs. Sanders case was ruled? In my opinion I don’t agree with the way the Arkansas Vs. Sanders case was ruled Because they violated his rights. I understand he was transporting drugs to possibly sell them but they should have handled it in a better way. I don’t think that it was right for the police to search his property with out permission or even a warrant because it violates the 4th and 14th amendment, which clearly states that The  fourth amendment  of the U.S. Constitution provides, â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no  warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. † Ultimately, these words endeavor to protect two fundamental liberty interests – the right to privacy and freedom from arbitrary invasions.And the 14th amendment says, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, which included former slaves recently freed. In addition, it forbids states from denying any person â€Å"life, liberty or property, without due process of law† or to â€Å"deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. On April 23, 1976 officer David Isom of the little rock, Arkansas, police department received information that the suspect would be arriving at American Airlines Flight No. 1 at 4:35 that afternoon.He was also informed that the suspect who was later identified, as David Rambo would be carrying a green suitcase containing marijuana. Officer David Isom had already come in contact with the suspect before in January 1976 when he was charged with possession of marijuana. So officer Isom and 2 other police officers watched out for the suspect who arrived on time just like the in formant told them. As the suspect left the airport he was followed by officer isom and one other police officer and with help of a patrol car they pulled them over a couple blocks away from the airport.When the officer Isom approached the vehicle he asked the taxi driver to open his trunk and with out the suspects permission he searched his luggage. On October 14,1976 the case made it to the Supreme Court and the suspect David Rambo was charged with possession of marijuana and with intent to deliver. Before the trial the suspect moved to suppress the evidence that was in the suitcase, because they violated his right under the 4th and 14th amendment.On January 31, 1977 the court had another trial to suppress the evidence but they overruled it with no exception but the supreme court of Arkansas looked at the suspect conviction and that the people should have thrown out the evidence because they did not have a warrant or any permission to search his belongings but they searched it beca use there was probable cause. On recent cases like United States v. Chadwick, supra and Coolidge v. New Hampshire they went through the same thing when the police searched their belongings without a warrant so when they had there trial they over ruled the suppress motion because of probable cause.On February 3, 1977 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was fined $15,000. In rendering a decision in Sanders,  the Court concerned itself with aspects of the case comparable to United States v. Chadwick  where evidence was illegally obtained under similar circumstances. As in Chadwick police acting on probable cause opened luggage found in the trunk of a parked  car  and searched it without a warrant. The majority justices reasoned that in both cases there was no danger of law enforcement losing the luggage or its contents since the containers were under the exclusive control of the arresting officers.Thus, the Court concluded the state failed to demonstrate a need for warra nt less search of property stored in the trunk of a stopped automobile; like the vehicle in which it rode, the luggage was no longer mobile. Arresting officers had to assess the likelihood of an automobile leaving the scene at the point immediately before a search commenced. In circumstances where police had already seized the object of their interest and held it directly under their control, a search could not be conducted without a warrant.Thus, in rendering the Court's decision, the justices provided specific guidance for law enforcement and the lower courts. The Warrant Clause contained in the Fourth Amendment applies to personal luggage taken from an automobile to the same degree it applies to luggage seized in other locations Although the general principles applicable to claims of Fourth Amendment violations are well settled, litigation over requests for suppression of highly relevant evidence continues to occupy much of the attention of courts at all levels of the state and f ederal judiciary.Courts and law enforcement officials often find it difficult to discern the proper application of these principles to individual cases, because the circumstances giving rise to suppression requests can vary almost infinitely. However, an apparently small difference in the factual situation frequently is viewed as a controlling difference in determining Fourth Amendment rights. The present case presents an example. Only two Terms ago, we held that a locked footlocker could not lawfully be searched without a warrant, even though it had been loaded into the trunk of an automobile parked at a curb.United States v. Chadwick, (1977). In earlier cases, on the other hand, the Court sustained the constitutionality of warrant less searches of automobiles and their contents under what has become known as the â€Å"automobile exception† to the warrant requirement. Chambers v. Maroney (1970), Carroll v. United State (1925). We are presented with the task of determining wh ether the warrant less search of respondent's suitcase falls on the Chadwick or the Chambers/Carroll side of the Fourth Amendment line. Although in a sense this is a line-drawing process, it must be guided by established principles.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 24. Blood

There were distant sounds of a fight, the loud noise of a vampire being torn apart, but my eyes were only able to see one thing ?C Bella. She was lying on the ground, crumpled, broken, while the pool of blood continued to grow wider underneath her. The red fluid, spilling, wasting, on the floor, the scent pulsing through the air. The amount was cataclysmic, as each second passed a distinctive, yet intangible, spice of the most delicious aroma left burning lacerations in my aching throat. My knee was placed resolutely in the middle of the puddle, soaking me in her blood†¦her life. I took a deep breath and ignored my longing, my lust, my ravenous desire – I focused on the angel. â€Å"Bella,† I soothed her. â€Å"You're going to be fine.† Unresponsive, detached. A plea entered my voice. â€Å"Can you hear me, Bella? I love you.† I sent a reverent petition to which ever god would answer a creature like me. â€Å"Edward,† she croaked, answering my silent request. â€Å"Yes, I'm here,† I declared earnestly. Slow, small, and irregular quantity of tears trickled down her cheeks. â€Å"It hurts,† she uttered many inarticulate lamentations of grief as her eyes closed tightly. Her words plagued and tormented me. I lightly brushed her hair from her face. â€Å"I know, Bella, I know.† I shifted my posture to Carlisle. â€Å"Can't you do anything?† I asked him urgently, peremptorily. This doesn't look good. I need you to prepare yourself for the worst. â€Å"My bag please,† Carlisle reached his hand out. The scent†¦Alice's eyes were wild when she passed the bag to him. â€Å"Hold your breath, Alice, it will help,† Carlisle declared while grabbing his bag. â€Å"Alice?† Bella questioned in a sustained mournful cry. Alice continued to hold her breath, unable to answer her. Bella, she lamented a sigh silently. â€Å"She's here,† I assured her. â€Å"She knew where to find you,† I silently thanked Alice as our eyes met for a fraction of a second. Alice made a slight and quick bend of her head. Not soon enough, her eyes were deep with sorrow. A quick glance around the room brought the total devastation and destruction back into focus. The mirror was cracked and shiny blood was smeared across the floor and mirrors. â€Å"My hand hurts,† Bella mumbled in an almost unintelligible extent, bringing me back from my distraction. â€Å"I know, Bella.† Another scorch mark broke down my throat as I took in another breath to answer the angel who was lying in front of me. I'm about to administer some morphine into her system. Her pain should go away fairly quick after that. â€Å"Carlisle will give you something, it will stop.† All the noise, the fighting, the sound of cracking wood, it was all drowned out when a sharp and piercing cry echoed through the Ballet Studio. â€Å"My hand is burning,† Bella shouted, her eyes fluttering, trying to open but were restricted because of the blood. â€Å"Bella?† I cried out, frightened. I felt a great mental suffering, as her screams were slowly torturing me. The morphine should be working. Another loud wail. â€Å"The fire! Someone stop the fire!† she screamed and moaned in paroxysms of grief. I looked over my shoulder as Emmett was starting a fire to burn James ?C but it was nowhere near us. I turned back to her, going to the source of her first cries. There were perfect teeth imprints on her wrist where a vampire, I growled in rage, had bit her. â€Å"Carlisle! Her hand!† I yelled in disgust, hoping he might have a remedy or that I was wrong all together. An icy surge of terror filled my lungs. I watched as his eyes looked over the outline of the mark. â€Å"He bit her.† Carlisle stated in revulsion. A deep breath entered my lungs as her scent rippled down my flaming throat, the horror entering my body. My view was obliterated by anger ?C I was seeing red. I can't do it. â€Å"Edward, you have to do it,† Alice commanded while wiping the blood out of Bella's eyes. Her stare was so intent you would think she was trying to force Bella to mend just by looking at her. â€Å"No,† I roared, looking at Carlisle, hoping he would tell me something different. â€Å"Alice,† Bella cried in a low, mournful sound. Edward, if you want her to stay human†¦ â€Å"There may be a chance,† Carlisle persisted. â€Å"What?† I begged, not understanding why they wanted me to do it. â€Å"See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean,† Carlisle explained as he stitched Bella's head wound. The shock from this statement was so huge it rooted me to the spot for several seconds. â€Å"Will that work?† Alice's throat was obstructed by the fear of losing her friend. I assume it would work the same as a snake bite. â€Å"I don't know,† he admitted. â€Å"But we have to hurry.† You have to do this, Edward; I can't do this for you. The thought of consuming her blood, even if it was saving her life sent pleasure and pain flooding into my body. To taste her would be wrong†¦fallacious. I felt utterly disgusted with myself but the temptation was growing. My veins felt like they were being filled with acid as I contemplated putting her life in more danger†¦the liability†¦to place her in mortal peril, where she may never come back to me†¦ I felt like I was choking. â€Å"Carlisle†¦I,† I faltered. The thoughts tilted back and forth in my mind like a see saw. â€Å"I don't know if I can do that,† the words were laced with the agony that was consuming me, I felt like I was being strangled, desperate for air. Carlisle was working quickly over Bella's head, pulling a needle through her skin over and over, sewing her up. He looked at my face. â€Å"It's your decision, Edward, either way. I can't help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand.† Bella jerked a quick sharp pull of her body. Another thrust and a suddenly arrested motion as she thrashed against the burning pain in her hand as my mind was racing for alternatives. â€Å"Edward!† she shouted spasmodically. Her eyes flew open and her dark brown eyes darted around in every direction until they landed on me. Watching her writhing in burning pain, pain that I remember well, burnt me, like I could feel it too. I could take the pain away ?C I could make it all stop ?C but would I take her life in the process? â€Å"Alice, get me something to brace her leg!† Carlisle shouted as he was finishing up the stitches on Bella's head. Maybe he should let her become a vampire; it would make things a whole lot easier. â€Å"Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late.† At his thoughts ?C to think of Bella as a vampire ?C death would be better than this†¦this†¦life. Bella was beginning to jerk in violent spasmodic muscular movements, the abrupt motions making her leg flail limply around. Carlisle caught her leg to hold it still. Now, Carlisle ordered in his head. I shot him a furtive look. My fingers wrapped around her tiny and delicate wrist, preventing her involuntary reflexes, like she was pulling her hand away from a flame. The desire to taste, the agony of the bite†¦every second I bent closer to her my mind tittered on an unstable line of right and wrong. My mind was traveling between two different worlds. Reason, truth, maybe some standard or principle ?C this had to be the solution; the right answer. Not proper, awry, not appropriate. The thoughts scattered across my already stressed mind as I bent down further. She thrust against my hold making the prolonged pain of my intense mental suffering grow exponentially. Her breathing was harsh and ragged as her wild yells filled the studio, reverberating off the mirrors and walls. My lips touched her skin, the fresh blood soaking into my lips. Hunger. Completely ravenous. I pulled her blood from the bite wound and it rushed into my mouth. The blood was hot and wet in my mouth. Sensations I'd never felt before tingled my tongue, sending a pleasurable warmth down my frozen and dry aching throat. Each second the monster was threatening to take over as he reared his head in appreciation. She screamed and lashed, struggling to get away from my grip. I knew it was hurting her, but my instincts had taken over, I held her tighter, intensely eager to devour the palatable, savory†¦delectable†¦I tried not to moan in pleasure. The luxuriant fullness that had consumed me brought intense satisfaction. I was ultimately determined to seize her, to have all of her, as I sucked down the blood in large gluttonous amounts. I could feel her becoming limp in my strong grasp as I continued my consumption of her gratifyingly warm, red†¦crimson blood. â€Å"Edward,† Bella mumbled incoherently, bringing me from my frenzy ?C like a soft voice had just whispered in my ear. Edward! Please†¦please don't kill her. Stop! Alice cried in her mind, not wanting to scare Bella. â€Å"He's right here, Bella.† Her voice trembled slightly, her visions showing her an unsure course. Bella's eyes rolled in her head like marbles on an unstable surface. She was dying. With a stupendous effort I let go, placing her hand down gently, forcibly reminding myself of her delicate nature. The dazzling sunlight of the day bathed the studio with a natural light, making the pool of blood glitter. Bella was silent and limp, her heart barely pumping the little amount of blood that was left in her body. Did I kill her? I felt like someone had just stabbed me in my heart. Would this be her brutal ending? I felt a horrible compression in my chest at my thoughts. They placed an inexcusable trust in me! I looked at her intently, waiting for another reaction with increasing desperation. She took an unsteady breath ?C the small cry of pain still present. I was devoutly thankful to whatever god had been watching over her this morning. â€Å"Stay, Edward, stay with me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She barely breathed. I sighed heavily at the beautiful angel voice. â€Å"I will,† I promised, the stress of the situation still evident in my triumphant voice. I put her words on repeat in my mind, realizing even though I put her in this danger and almost sucked her dry of life, she still loved me†¦still wanted me to stay with her. I brushed my hand lightly against her cheek. A small sigh escaped her lips, her pain obviously dulling as her eyes closed lightly. You didn't kill her, Carlisle thought proudly. â€Å"Is it all out?† he checked. I didn't kill her. The relief was so exquisite it was nearly pain. The ache†¦anxiety, my oppression was slowly dissipating. â€Å"Her blood tastes clean,† I breathed a sigh of relief. â€Å"I can taste the morphine.† Let's make sure before we take her to the hospital. The morphine might be covering up the pain. â€Å"Bella?† Carlisle called out, bringing Bella from an almost slumber. Bella didn't bother to open her eyes, her body lying limp on the ground. â€Å"Mmmmm?† â€Å"Is the fire gone?† Carlisle stared at me, waiting for the answer. Bella's voice was slow and sluggish. â€Å"Yes,† she sighed. â€Å"Thank you, Edward.† I felt a profound feeling of warmth radiate from my body. â€Å"I love you,† I breathed in deep affection. To taste something so sensational and be able to stop†¦ I sighed, the benevolent reverence I had for her grew suddenly, like she was divine in nature. â€Å"I know,† she breathed once more, her words becoming incoherent with sleep. At her words ?C her almost sarcastic words, a low chuckle escaped my lips. The sound was doused in relief. Did you see her mother? Is she dead? Carlisle's face looked grave. We both listened for a moment, trying to hear a heart beat†¦someone breathing, but there was nothing. I shook my head. â€Å"Bella?† Her lips twitched into a frown. â€Å"What?† she mumbled. â€Å"Where is your mother?† he asked. â€Å"In Florida,† she sighed. Then her face barely distorted in anger. â€Å"He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos.† I gritted my teeth in anger, the reminder of James came to the forefront of my mind as I looked over my shoulder at the rapidly growing flames that were licking up the walls of the studio. â€Å"Alice.† Bella's eyes fluttered and failed to open. â€Å"Alice,† she called again. â€Å"The video ?C he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from,† her voice drifted off weakly. â€Å"I smell gasoline,† she added quietly. This building is going to be up in flames shortly, we need to leave. â€Å"It's time to move her,† Carlisle looked at me. Can you carry her? You must be careful not to hold her too tightly. We don't want her ribs protruding into her organs. I nodded my head. â€Å"I want to sleep,† Bella protested. â€Å"You can sleep, sweetheart, I'll carry you,† I tried to soothe her as I brought her gently into my arms, like she was a delicate soap bubble. She's more fragile than a soap bubble, I laughed internally, the first real signs of the ending danger.†Sleep now, Bella,† I kissed her lightly on the forehead, the blood unaffecting me in this most relief filled moments. She fell limp in my arms, her eyes shut lightly, like she was in a deep slumber. I emerged from the flames of the studio as Alice opened the car door of the Cadillac for me. I slowly laid her down in the backseat. I sat beside her, pulling her into my lap. I wanted to keep her as close to me as possible. I looked up through the shining sunlight, where Alice was glittering like millions of tiny facets were embedded in her skin, and noticed the relief on her face also. â€Å"Where's Emmett and Jasper?† I wondered, catching a glimpse of the Mercedes still parked out front. â€Å"They've gone back to the hotel. I'm not riding with you, I'm going to meet them there. We are going to set up a†¦scenario.† I saw in her mind the plan ?C they were going to break the glass wall of one of the stair wells ?C saying Bella had fallen down the stairs and through the window, causing her injuries. â€Å"Will that work?† I asked. â€Å"Yes.† She stated while shutting the door and sprinting off in the dark shadows around the buildings. Carlisle was already in the driver's seat, the car starting. I didn't speak, and neither did he during our ride to the hospital, though I could always hear his thoughts. I guess the glass from the window and falling down stairs could account for her injuries. Hum†¦ Alice is truly clever. I can't believe Edward was able to stop when Bella's blood calls to him so absolutely. Two lefts and a right†¦ We pulled into the emergency room lane, Carlisle helped Bella out of the car and handed her back to me. I carried her through the large glass doors as they slid open for me automatically. The nurse at the front desk stood immediately, gasped at the sight of the blood, her thoughts becoming panicky, and ran to get help. Soon there were doctors and more nurses running through the halls, all ready to help her. It pained me to see the slowness that they moved, though their pace was particularly fast considering they were just mere humans. I brushed her face lightly as I placed her on the gurney. â€Å"My name's Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I would like to help in any way that I can. She is like family to me,† Carlisle spoke quickly to the doctor on duty. I knew he was beginning to feel this away about her, but he had never thought or said that statement out loud. She was family, though. To see all of the Cullen's, even Rosalie, ban together to protect the one fragile human that I loved so deeply made me realize that maybe she was my destiny†¦that even after tasting her blood, I was able to keep her alive. I shook my head. It was idiotic to think that way. I would have never tasted her blood if it weren't for me putting her in danger in the first place. This was entirely my fault. She was being rushed to surgery because of me. Her bones are broken†¦she was bit by a vampire! Each thought was a struggle, I saved her, but she wouldn't have needed saving had I never invited her into my secret life. Another thought. When I left Forks†¦if I never returned†¦she would be dead now. I saved her! The battle between right and wrong was taking over my body as I sunk down into the nearest chair and waited for some news. A couple of very long minutes later Alice came prancing through the doors, exultant at her prized display of a fake accident, her eyes were reminiscent. Carlisle came bursting through the big white emergency doors. â€Å"We need permission from her mother or father before she can have surgery.† â€Å"Already done,† Alice trilled. â€Å"She should be calling the hospital in three seconds.† Suddenly the phone rang and the nurses' station picked up. â€Å"Hold on just one minute, Mrs. Dwyer,† the nurse pressed the hold button and then another button to send the call back to the doctor on duty. â€Å"That's my cue,† Carlisle said. â€Å"I'll keep you informed.† He turned on his heal and walked smoothly and gracefully through the doors sending an everything will be all right, thought my way. I sighed and sank down into a chair. I sat still for an hour. A very long hour. I still hadn't recovered from the shock of seeing Bella in such a broken state as I sat there frozen and unmoving. Hate and revulsion were there, squarely in my chest, reminding me of the monster I am. I sat there, silent and unmoving ?C rigid as a wax work while the battle raged inside me. I kept turning cold thinking about what would have happened if I hadn't shown up. I shuddered. Another hour passed, and this one was longer than the first. I begged the earth to crack open and swallow me whole. Alice didn't say anything, just sitting quietly next to me, realizing it wasn't a good time to talk. I hoped to deflect any invitation to join into a conversation with her. Alice continued to gaze dreamily out the window. I heard feet racing down the hall way and I looked to my right as Carlisle busted through the big white emergency doors to report on how Bella was doing. â€Å"She's going to be fine. She will be out of surgery shortly. There was a lot of damage to her leg, but they were able to fix it. She should have no permanent damage,† Carlisle informed me, placing his hand on my shoulder, speaking bracing words of comfort. â€Å"Relax. I'll show you where her room will be.† I leapt to my feet. We walked slowly through the hallways of the hospital; the walls were bland and off white. There was a sickening smell in the air†¦the smell of iodine and death. We reached big metal doors to an elevator. Alice pressed the button to go up, already knowing which room we were going to be in. I waited impatiently for the doors to open. Ding. The elevator doors opened to admit us and we all three stepped through them, Alice once again pressing the button, one that said four. I felt a shifting under me as my stone like body was slowing ascending the many floors of the building. Ding. The doors opened to admit us onto the fourth floor, which was just as boring as the first. â€Å"This way,† Alice said. I followed her until we reached room four-oh-eight. I stepped through the threshold. No Bella. I sank down in the chair next to the bed, waiting once again impatiently. I leaned over and put my head in my hands, trying to dislodge the thoughts and feelings that were consuming my body, setting it aflame and then dousing it with cold water. The scent was still strongly present on my hands. I pulled them away to examine the damage. There was no white space, my hands were covered in scarlet blood. A stubby nurse walked into the room. â€Å"Oh,† she gasped. â€Å"I didn't realize anyone was in here.† I looked up at her and she jumped back several feet. His eyes! I looked away quickly. â€Å"I'll just come back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she bustled out of the room quickly. â€Å"That's right! I almost forgot,† Alice chimed in. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† I groaned. She tossed me a small white box. I flipped it over in my hands. Contacts. Crap, another reminder, I thought angrily. I went into the bathroom to place the contacts over my bright red eyes†¦bright red because of Bella's blood. All of this because of my†¦need. It was true, I needed Bella. Would I ever be able to leave her and stop bringing danger to her door step? I fluttered my eye as an obstruction fell over my vision. I could see every line and contour of the wretched thing. I pulled the other contact out to place in my other eye. I brought my face close to the mirror, studying it. I was oddly flushed and more pink than normal; my eye was scarlet red because I was full of human blood. The gleaming red eye reminded me of the monster that I am. I sighed and placed the contact in my eye as my vision became obstructed again. I washed my hands thoroughly, watching the water turn red and run down the drain. I walked out of the bathroom. â€Å"Much better,† Alice said. I heard a squeal of wheels being pushed down the lament floor. Be prepared, Carlisle warned. Worry and anxiety filled my stomach like acid as I stood to open the door, realizing I had less resolution than ever.