-59055067894200044577006724650004029075-800735 Essays - Free Essays

-59055067894200044577006724650004029075-800735 Essays - Free Essays -59055067894200044577006724650004029075-800735 27 Sep 191700 27 Sep 1917-923925-791845 19 July 183400 19 July 1834-914400-9067800038957254643755 Degas00 Degas-10191754669155 Edgar00 Edgar Edgar Degas was a French artist well-known for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. He was born on the 19th of july 1983 and died on the 27th of september 1917. Edgar is to be known as one of the founders of Impressionism although he refused the term, and preferred to be called a realist which was an artist or philosopher who believed in showing and discussing realism rather than visionary thoughts. Edgar's paintings and drawings are especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half of his work portray dancers. His portraits are known to to be amongst the finest in the history of art. In Edgar's early career, his passion was to be a history painter and he was well supported by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art.

WHite horse of ALih Essays

WHite horse of ALih Essays WHite horse of ALih Paper WHite horse of ALih Paper ENGLISH 7- PHILIPPINE LITERATURE 7:30 8:55 TTHS DECEMBER 14, 2013 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE SHORT STORY THE WHITE HORSE OF ALIH THE MOVIE BAGONG BUWAN A. Comparative Analysis a. Characters The White Horse of alih Setting The story happened on July 4 th in a city with a parade of people. Characters Alih a Moro who plans for killing the people celebrating theFilipino- American Friendship Day Omar the older brother of Allh who dictates him on what to doin every aspects of his life 0 Imam the village priest who tried to dissuade the two brothers,he explain to them that the prophets did not teach to do it 0 Lucy girl who lived in the reservation area where theAmericans live-she is the first girl Alih liked 0 Fermina a beautiful bar maid with a mole near her mouth- Alih likes her so much but the woman doesnt like himbecause of his impertinent manner towards her. plot Conflict- Alih did not want to kill but the fear he had for hisbrother hile he was growing urged him to the killings and alsobecause his brother taught him that killing will be their way towash away their shame and gain respect for their father haddied by the American soldiers without any reason. Complication- when they decided to become merchants therewere rebels who stole their Rising Action He saw a float with a girl whom he thought of as Fermina. He went near the float and assisted the girl to godown to the ground and found out that it is Fermina when esaw the little black mole on the corner of the girls mouth Climax- As he was about to hold her completely, Omar camebut to his surprise, he was drunk and tipsy! All along, he realizedthat Omar had been drinking tuba. Omar was about to killFermina. Falling Action- Alih kills his brother despite their plans to gainthe white horse for him to protect Fermina. Theme- the short story tells about the tradition, beliefs and faith of the Filipinos Point of View third person limited [continues]

The soicial functions of design and public design Research Paper

The soicial functions of design and public design - Research Paper Example A growing number of organizations, especially in the public sector; this across Western societies, are constantly seeking out innovations in the sphere of public design and design in general. The resultant effects of the global financial crisis have thrown many governments and their respective administrations into immense challenging situations. Every society has its own culture and traditional practices that make it unique. The cultural practices of different societies, in the world, are made and challenged by social groups depending on their benefit or detriment. Design and public design is one of the ways through which the process of constructing and challenging cultural issues. for instance, graphic design communicates the cultural and social beliefs that are practiced by political and economic groups and the society, at large. It is part and parcel of a process where beliefs and values are changed and transferred from one place to another. It does this in order to teach people n ew cultures and ways of doing things that are practiced in other societies. Design has a social role because it serves to change the beliefs and mindsets that people have about certain issues of life. In this case, change means the altering or transforming of beliefs and attitudes that affect people. For example, graphic design is a manifestation of the cultures that exist in different societies. Through design, people reproduce social power and imbalances, ways of communication and ideologies challenged or supported by people. Design amplifies and controls communication through publicizing messages without having to publish them. Design is a form of communication that travels through the world collecting and passing information about cultures and ways of interaction through criticism and viewpoints. For example, during the 1979 elections in Britain Graphic design was a radical and a driving force for social change through the support of right wing party ascension towards government . Design has been as a force that forges resistance to social order and authority that are discriminative upon the people (Ellis, 2010). Design and public design are also important to the society in the sense that it constructs and reconstructs racial and gender identities among societies. Race and gender are artificial concepts that are formulated in the mindsets of people and are beyond biological differences between people. Race and gender concepts are created and created and communicated through aspects, such as design and public design. This is because design travels throughout the world without difficulties. It communicates sociological concepts throughout the world without distinguishing distance, time or space. This way, they create social identities that are translated into beliefs held by people (Richard, 1990). Most European countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece, just to name but a few have faced bankruptcy for some time. This has necessitated, due to the tremendous pressure present, a dramatic shift towards reforming the public sector, including pension systems among others. Even those governments in less dire situations are also undertaking similar if not as radical measures as their counterparts. Examples include the United Kingdom’s introduction, through its coalition government; the notion of ‘Big Society’

A MORE PERFECT UNION(speech by pres. OBAMA) Essay

A MORE PERFECT UNION(speech by pres. OBAMA) - Essay Example In classical and the 20th century, various authors such as Aristotle, Michael Foucault and Chaim Perelman wrote theories on rhetoric, which has been brought out in this speech. Obama’s speech echoes the rhetorical theories among them pathos, ethos and logos that are thoroughly argued out in Aristotle’s the writing. Through the use, of ethos, which Aristotle argues to be the aid a speaker’s credibility and character adds in influencing the audience; Obama did make use of his character and credibility as the former senator of Illinois to influence Americans to vote for him in his speech, a more perfect union. Similarly, President Obama strategically employs pathos, a rhetoric device that changes the perception of the audience through emotional appeal and storytelling. In his choice to use pathos, President Obama did not only win the support of the majority of the American population but also caught their attention on the need to disregard racism as a vice that tear s apart the United States. Lastly, the concept of logos also had a tremendous impact given its input in Obama’s presidential speech. This is the use of reason to make an argument and express an idea. Aristotle’s the rhetoric gives a detailed account of this device. In his presidential speech, a more perfect union, President Obama used the argument on the need of unity among American citizens irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds for the common good of the United States as a whole (blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/18/text-of-obamas-speech-a-more-perfect-union). The success of president Obama ion delivering such an effective was founded on the factual information that he included in it. The breakthrough in Ethos is also based on biological, social, spiritual and intellectual levels. In his presidential speech, president Obama achieves this by use of historical references as well as interpolating to

Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack - Essay Example The essay "Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack" analyzes the Flack's paintings, heel of Fortune and Invocation. Both pieces feature an unrealistic collage of still life items, including a realistic human skull. The items included in these still lifes are not unrealistic in their depiction, but rather in their placement. Wheel of Fortune, for instance, makes any underlying structure impossible to discern while Invocation presents an abstract, dimensionless background. The illusionistic depiction of items such as the human skull, hourglass and nearly burned down candle classify Wheel of Fortune as a vanitas painting while similar images, minus the hourglass, are used in Invocation. Flack employs a full range of hues to produce a trompe l’oeil effect in many of these images. The paintings do differ in the way in which they are compositionally composed. Both use the human skull as focal point. In Invocation, the skull is placed in the geographical center of the painting with all other objects arranged around it. It is given a trompe l’oeil frame over which a paint tube, sitting next to the neck of the skull, drips a steady stream of red paint, and a candle, lit near the left edge of the image, burns. The composition is asymmetric with balance achieved by inversing round forms such as the base of the candle holder and the blooms of the bouquet. Wheel of Fortune, while also asymmetric, achieves its balance through the duplication of the skull. The original skull is placed off to the right side.

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay Feminism is a historically recurring phenomenon, being a potent form of cultural identity to take on linguistic and social expression (Simon, 1996; 7). The concept of gender in an era of feminism, a period powerfully influenced by feminist thought, has been the focus of research in the field of translation studies. Issues of gendered identity within translation was first introduced by feminist thinkers in the 1960s and 1970s to question the cultural and political powerlessness of women (von Flotow, 1997: 5). The emergence of Canadian feminist translations (Godard, 1990, Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991), established a school of work, modelling a theory from incorporating feminist ideology into translation, which resultantly has influenced international translation studies. The pre-established notion that language was not only a man-made artefact but an expressive tool to reflect on male ideology impelled discussions of gender and translation. Contemporary theorists viewed this patriarchal language, traditionally used in largely male-run institutions such as universities, as an instrument of womens oppression (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991). Needing to radically change these conventions, feminist translating during the 1970s sought to undermine and subvert patriarchal language, to introduce new, experimental ways of writing so that language could be used as a cultural intervention; an endeavour to alter expressions of dominance whether at the level of syntax or semantics (Simon, 1996: 9). Feminist theories have also initiated a revision of the terms central to translation studies and feminism, such as traditional hierarchies and gendered roles, and rules defining fidelity. Under the influence of the cultural turn, contemporary translation was not only an operation of linguistic transfer, but also one that created new textual forms and introduced new paradigms of knowledge. Translation is considered as a way of engaging with literature; where the feminist thought creates new lines of cultural communication, where translators are involved in a politics of transmission (Simon1996:viii). In addition, feminist theorisers saw a parallel between womens oppression in language and culture and its association to the devaluation of translation (Chamberlain, 1992). Translations themselves, given that they are secondary pieces of work, have negatively been linked with implications of discursive inferiority. The authority of the original over the reproduction is linked with imagery of masculinity and femininity; the original is considered the strong generative male, the translation the weaker and derivative female. (Simon, 1996: 1)  [1]  From this, the art of translating has been envisioned as a feminine activity (Simon 1996; Flotow 1997). Nonetheless, despite its historical status as a weak and passive composition, translating has offered a means of expression for women; allowing them to contribute to the intellectual and political aspects of society. In precedent years, scholarly authorship was primarily regarded as a male activity in European culture, and published literary work by women was susceptible to accusations of presumption (Krontiris 1992: 17-18).  [2]  Adversely, translation offered an opportunity for women to become involved in literary culture in a way that did not openly challenge social or literary power arrangements. Another theoretical view challenges the belief that the status of translation is analogous to that of women. Simon (1996) distinguishes a language of sexism in translation studies, noting connotations with dominance, fidelity and betrayal. Representative of this is the seventeenth century adage of les belles infidà ¨les, a term coined by Gilles Mà ©nage to describe the French practice of translation.  [3]  4The idea it encapsulates is that translations, like women, can be either beautiful or faithful, but not both; thus, being viewed as mutually exclusive. The term has hence come to signify a type of translation that diverges from its original to an extent that it betrays the source text. Such disparaging comparisons lead to objections and strong criticism on behalf of the feminist thinkers. According to Chamberlain (1992), terms such as les belles infidà ¨les express the traditional depreciation of both women and translation, resulting in the basis of feminist translation the ory: to identify and critique the tangle of concepts which relegates both women and translation to the bottom of the social and literary ladder (Simon, 1996: 1). From the revioson of such theories, it is discernible that taking a feminist approach on translation seeks to challenges the conventional hierarchies in society. Issues of language and gender have become intertwined, where gender can be seen as an element of identity and in some ways, takes form through social consciousness (Spivak, 1990). Applying a feminist voice to translation projects allows a translator to assert her identity and ideological stance. The feminist translator shows her critical judgement and her interminable re-reading and re-writing, flaunts the signs of her manipulation of the text highlighting her role on determining meaning to her work (Godard 1990: 91). What feminist theory highlights is this renewed sense of agency in translation, allowing the reader to make cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. Feminist translation endeavours to extend and develop the intention of the source text. Sherry Simon (cited in Arrojo, 1994) argues that the remarkable aspect of translation is that represents equivalence in difference. Taking into account the feminist perspective, provides an alternative voice to the original text, aiming to make the feminine visible in language (De Lotbiniere-Harwood, 1996: 15). Von Flotow (1997: 10) also expresses this intent by stating, if we continue to speak the same language, we will reproduce the same (his)story, therefore showing the need to create new lines of transmission. Exemplary of this approach is the Bible where revised versions provide a fresh vantage point for the reader. The eventual production of The Womens Bible (Stanton, 1895) was an attempt to draw attention to the sexist nature of current translations.  [5]  It was seen as a way to develop a language in an effort to alter expressions of domination and de-construct patriarchal language. political motive De Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood defined translation as a political activity making language speak for women. (Santaemilla, 2005: 36) but needs a limitation. Duly, feminist translation opens up the question of fidelity, which has been an established quandary throughout the history of translation.  [6]  The meaning of the original and the message intended for the reader can be uncertain and constantly subject to interpretation and distortion. A translation significantly altered will result in the work being an adaptation rather than a reproduction of the source text. Determinately, an excessive amount of manipulation will result in a loss of originality, where Brazilian critic Rosemary Arrojo (1994), states that it is contradictory to claim fidelity to a text one deliberately subverts.  [7]   However, for feminist translations, fidelity is to be directed toward the writing project itself, rather than to the authors original or the reader (Simon, 1996). Though there is recognition that the translator arbitrates the role of interventionist, as she reproduces faithfully but has scope for intervention, albeit this does not mean that the translation can be free in her reproduction but that her work should be shaped and focused by its final aims.  [8]   Another constraint is that translations themselves are made for a target audience, usually dependent on the receptor language. Likewise, a radically feminist text will only target one specific readership Equally, certain problems can arise from attempting to translate a highly masculine text With the prevalence of machismo in Spain and Latin America, the work of translating cultural gender differences has repeatedly raised issues of sexism. Suzanne Levine (1983: 83), experiences difficulties when translating metaphors and images referring negatively to women, questioning whether to repeat the same archetype in her translation.  [9]  Not only will it possess a question of fidelity but also a loss of originality. The presence of a system of sexist thinking in an authors work can make it very difficult to translate with a feminist approach. Obviously, the substance of the work represents a certain meaning that the author aspires to express, a meaning behind the choice of words, and through feminist thinking, this message could be lost through translation. Another obstacle when appropriating a feminist translation may stem from cultural problems rather than linguistic. Trying to re-work a text that is reflective of a specific time period it is written manifests difficulties. Translations of various books from the Bible have incorporated the use of neutral pronouns in an attempt to eliminate male-bias language (Haugerud, 1977).  [10]  Feminist revisions of the Bible do not seek to change the content of the text but are rather concerned with the language in which this content is expressed.  [11]  In riposte, Nida (cited in von Flotow, 1997: 55) asserts that the Bible needs to be read in the context of the male-dominated society in which it originated. Bearing these factors in mind, revising the language from a radically feminist perspective can considerably change the tone and meaning. Gender neutrality can be a way to explicitly avoid a Karen Nà ¶lle-Fischer (1995) translation has shown her the immense benefits of a language in which gender need not be immediately revealed in the nouns, adjectives or participles an author uses. In English, it is easy to postpone revealing the sex of any character, thus heightening the effect of gender when this mysterious person turns out to be contrary to what is believed.. It is thus possible to maintain ambiguities leave things up to the readers imagination and not impose one particular reading. It is difficult to maintain this ambiguity in gender marked languages. Given the characteristics inherent in languages with grammatical gender, where it explicitly references the sex of the noun, translators providing an English version of the source text will face uncertainties when translating. Canadian feminist translators innovated to find new formulas of expression that did not erase the gender marks of the original (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991).  [12]   When looking at the contents page of the text, various language manipulations occur, in the titles of the short stories. The majority of them reflect on the translators position to remain neutral when re-working the gender-marked Spanish: Regalo para una novia, where sweetheart has been chosen instead of the more obvious girlfriend. This again can be seen with El huà ©sped de la maestra, without making explicit references to the sex ot the subjects in English.  [13]   Another difference can be seen with the translation of a word, as is explicit in Marà ­a la boba. Boba which refers to silly or naÃÆ' ¯ve gives off a negative connotation, but the English simple is quite neutral, reflecting that the author wished not to attribute a negative connotation to Marà ­a, Peden presenting her own feminist perspective. Yet probably the most striking alteration is with Nià ±a perversa, where not only does the English opt out of referencing the sex of the child, but translates perversa as wicked. Although accurately, wicked is a true rendering of the word perversa, the two do not share the same connotation even after having read the story.  [14]   However, if perversa was translated as perverted in the English, it would have a rather stronger connotation than the Spanish, and thus ascertaining the issues behind a cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. The alteration in the translation is not of a significant difference, demonstrating Simons belief of equivalence in difference. Another example where meaning is sometimes lost through translation is during the opening paragraph of the story. The young girl, Elena, is described as skinny and unattractive, as una cachorra desnutrida where the English translates as a scrawny whelp. A few lines on, with regards to Elenas solitary character she is referred to as una gata, where Peden writes a waif. Does mean wicked but dependent on the context, and I dont think it applies here. In the Spanish the metaphors plants a specific image in the readers mind, which is therefore lost in the English translation, as there is no build up of metaphors.  [15]   Interestingly, the translation does not take a strong feminist approach, showing that all translations need not be radically feminine. Pedens English translation remains faithful to the original text, rendering the meaning of Allendes stories within her new reproductions.

Smoking Cigarettes Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Smoking The first article for review is titled Self-efficacy, Health Locus of Control, and Smoking. This article studies how the participants confidence levels and health locus prior to entering treatment predicts results of the quitting program. The program is called "Fresh Start" and was conducted in Victoria, Australia. It consisted of three groups: (A) those who made an attempt (Stop for one day), (B) those who met criteria in A, and did not smoke for duration of program, (C) those who abstained for six months. Confidence was tested by questionnaires (post, during and at 6-month period). Health Locus is defined by how the participant attributed health outcomes (internal, external or by chance). The results of this experiment showed that those individuals across the three groups who had high levels of self-efficacy was related not to the number of attempts to quit, but the success of the attempts, while "the role of Health Locus of Control [was found to be] complex needing further investigation" (Stuart, Borland, & McMurray, 1994, p. 1). The second article for review is titled, Sensation Seeking, Nicotine Dependence, and Smoking Motivation in Female and Male Smokers. This study was conducted using a sample of French smokers (36 F, 60 M) and non-smokers (23 F, 45 M). The goal of the experiment was to study "the relationship between sensation seeking and smoking" (p. 221). The objectives of the study was (a) to see if smokers are higher in sensation seeking than their non-smoking counterparts, (b) to see if there are any gender forces in smoking and sensation seeking, and (c) to examine "in each sex, the nature of the relationship between sensation seeking and smoking" (p. 221). These three items were measured on four sub-scales, they are: 1) The Disinhibition subscale (DIS) - shows desire to be socially open, extroverted 2) The Thrill and Adventure Seeking subscale (TA... ...s, 19(3), (p. 219- 227). Pergaman Press Ltd., Oxford, England. Crittendens, K.S., Manfredi, C., Lacey, L., Warnecke, R., & Parsons, J. (1994). "Measuring Readiness and Motivation to Quit Smoking among Women in Public Health Clinics" in Addictive Behaviors, 19(5), (p. 497-507). Pergaman Press Ltd., Oxford, England. Garvey, A.J., Hitchcock, J.L., Heinold, J.W., Rosner, B. (1992). Addictive Behaviors, 17, (p. 367-377). Pergamon Press Ltd., Oxford, England. Grove, R.J. (1993). "Attributional Correlates of Cessation Self-Efficacy Among Smokers" in Addictive Behaviors, 18(3), (p. 311-320). Pergaman Press Ltd., Oxford, England. Parrott, A.C. (1993). "Cigarette Smoking: Effects Upon Self-Rated Stress and Arousal over the Day", in Addictive Behaviors, 18(4), (p. 389-395). Pergaman Press Ltd., Oxford, England. Stuart, K., Borland, R., McMurray, N. (1994). "Self-Efficacy, Health Locus of Control, and Smoking Cessation" in Addictive Behaviors, 19(1) (p. 1-12). Pergaman Press Ltd., Oxford, England.

Frostbite Chapter 9

Nine I DIDN'T SEE DIMITRI FOR a while after that. He'd sent a message later that day saying that he thought we should cancel our next two sessions because of the rapidly approaching plans to leave campus. Classes were about to end anyway, he said; taking a break from practice seemed like the reasonable thing. It was a lame excuse, and I knew that wasn't the reason he was canceling. If he wanted to avoid me, I would have preferred he made up something about how he and the other guardians had to up Moroi security or practice top-secret ninja moves. Regardless of his story, I knew he was avoiding me because of the kiss. That damned kiss. I didn't regret it, not exactly. God only knew how much I'd been wanting to kiss him. But I'd done it for the wrong reasons. I'd done it because I was upset and frustrated and had simply wanted to prove that I could. I was so tired of doing the right thing, the smart thing. I was trying to be more in control lately, but I seemed to be slipping. I hadn't forgotten the warning that he'd once given me- that us being together wasn't just about age. It would interfere with our jobs. Pushing him into the kiss†¦well, I'd fanned the flames of a problem that could eventually hurt Lissa. I shouldn't have done it. Yesterday, I'd been unable to stop myself. Today I could see more clearly and couldn't believe what I'd done. Mason met me on Christmas morning, and we went to go hang out with the others. It provided a good opportunity to push Dimitri out of my head. I liked Mason- a lot. And it wasn't like I had to run off and marry him. Like Lissa had said, it would be healthy for me to just date someone again. Tasha was hosting our Christmas brunch in an elegant parlor in the Academy's guest quarters. Lots of group activities and parties were occurring throughout the school, but I'd quickly noticed that Tasha's presence always created a disturbance. People either secretly stared or went out of their way to avoid her. Sometimes she would challenge them. Sometimes she would just lie low. Today, she'd chosen to stay out of the other royals' way and simply enjoy this small, private party of those who didn't shun her. Dimitri had been invited to the gathering, and a bit of my resolve faltered when I saw him. He'd actually dressed up for the occasion. Okay, â€Å"dressed up† might have been an exaggeration, but it was the closest I'd ever seen him come to that. Usually he just looked a little rough†¦like he could spring into battle at any given moment. Today, his dark hair was tied at the back of his neck, as though he'd actually tried to make it neat. He wore his usual jeans and leather boots, but instead of a T-shirt or thermal shirt, he had on a finely knit black sweater. It was just an ordinary sweater, nothing designer or expensive, but it added a touch of polish I didn't usually see, and good God, did it fit him well. Dimitri wasn't mean to me or anything, but he certainly didn't go out of his way to make conversation with me. He did talk to Tasha, however, and I watched with fascination as they conversed in that easy way of theirs. I'd since learned that a good friend of his was a distant cousin of Tasha's family; that was how the two of them knew each other. â€Å"Five?† asked Dimitri in surprise. They were discussing the friend's children. â€Å"I hadn't heard that.† Tasha nodded. â€Å"It's insane. I swear, I don't think his wife's had more than six months off between kids. She's short, too- so she just gets wider and wider.† â€Å"When I first met him, he swore he didn't even want kids.† Her eyes widened excitedly. â€Å"I know! I can't believe it. You should see him now. He just melts around them. I can't even understand him half the time. I swear, he speaks more baby talk than English.† Dimitri smiled his rare smile. â€Å"Well†¦children do that to people.† â€Å"I can't imagine it happening to you,† she laughed. â€Å"You're always so stoic. Of course †¦ I suppose you'd be doing baby talk in Russian, so no one would ever know.† They both laughed at that, and I turned away, grateful Mason was there to talk to. He was a good distraction from everything, because in addition to Dimitri ignoring me, Lissa and Christian were chatting on in their own little world too. Sex appeared to have made them that much more in love, and I wondered if I'd get to spend any time with her at all on the ski trip. She did eventually break away from him to give me my Christmas present. I opened the box and stared inside. I saw a string of maroon-colored beads, and the scent of roses floated out. â€Å"What the †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I lifted the beads out, and a heavy gold crucifix swung from the end of them. She'd given me a chotki. It was similar to a rosary, only smaller. Bracelet-size. â€Å"Are you trying to convert me?† I asked wryly. Lissa wasn't a religious nut or anything, but she believed in God and attended church regularly. Like many Moroi families who'd come from Russia and Eastern Europe, she was an Orthodox Christian. Me? I was pretty much an Orthodox Agnostic. I figured God probably existed, but I didn't have the time or energy to investigate. Lissa respected that and never tried to push her faith on me, which made the gift that much weirder. â€Å"Flip it over,† she said, clearly amused at my shock. I did. On the back of the cross, a dragon wreathed in flowers had been carved into the gold. The Dragomir crest. I looked up at her, puzzled. â€Å"It's a family heirloom,† she said. â€Å"One of my dad's good friends has been saving boxes of his stuff. This was in it. It belonged to my great-grandmother's guardian.† â€Å"Liss †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said. The chotki took on a whole new meaning. â€Å"I can't†¦ you can't give me something like this.† â€Å"Well, I certainly can't keep it. It's meant for a guardian. My guardian.† I wound the beads around one wrist. The cross felt cool against my skin. â€Å"You know,† I teased, â€Å"there's a good possibility I'll get kicked out of school before I can become your guardian.† She grinned. â€Å"Well, then you can give it back.† Everyone laughed. Tasha started to say something, then stopped when she looked up at the door. â€Å"Janine!† My mother stood there, looking as stiff and impassive as ever. â€Å"Sorry I'm late,† she said. â€Å"I had business to take care of.† Business. As always. Even on Christmas. I felt my stomach turn and heat rise to my cheeks as the details of our fight came rushing back to my mind. She'd never sent one word of communication since it had happened two days ago, not even when I was in the infirmary. No apologies. Nothing. I gritted my teeth. She sat down with us and soon joined in the conversation. I'd long since discovered she could really only talk about one subject: guardian business. I wondered if she had any hobbies. The Badica attack was on everyone's mind, and this drove her into a conversation about some similar fight she'd been in. To my horror, Mason was riveted by her every word. â€Å"Well, decapitations aren't as easy as they seem,† she said in her matter-of-fact way. I'd never thought they were easy at all, but her tone suggested that she believed everyone thought they were cake. â€Å"You've got to get through the spinal cord and tendons.† Through the bond, I felt Lissa grow queasy. She wasn't one for gruesome talk. Mason's eyes lit up. â€Å"What's the best weapon to do it with?† My mother considered. â€Å"An axe. You can get more weight behind it.† She made a swinging motion by way of illustration. â€Å"Cool,† he said. â€Å"Man, I hope they let me carry an axe.† It was a comical and ludicrous idea, since axes were hardly convenient weapons to carry around. For half a second, the thought of Mason walking down the street with an axe over his shoulder lightened my mood a little. The moment quickly passed. I honestly couldn't believe we were having this conversation on Christmas. Her presence had soured everything. Fortunately, the gathering eventually dispersed. Christian and Lissa went off to do their own thing, and Dimitri and Tasha apparently had more catching up to do. Mason and I were well on our way to the dhampir dorm when my mother joined us. None of us said anything. Stars cluttered the black sky, sharp and bright, their glitter matched in the ice and snow around us. I wore my ivory parka with fake fur trimming. It did a good job keeping my body warm, even though it did nothing against the chilly gusts that seared my face. The whole time we walked, I kept expecting my mother to turn off toward the other guardian areas, but she came right inside the dorm with us. â€Å"I've been wanting to talk to you,† she finally said. My alarms clicked on. What had I done now? That was all she said, but Mason picked up on the hint immediately. He was neither stupid nor oblivious to social cues, though at that moment, I kind of wished he was. I also found it ironic that he wanted to fight every Strigoi in the world but was afraid of my mother. He glanced at me apologetically, shrugged, and said, â€Å"Hey, I've got to get, um, somewhere. I'll see you later.† I watched with regret as he left, wishing I could run after him. Probably my mom would only tackle me and punch my other eye if I tried to escape. Better to do things her way and get this over with. Shifting uncomfortably, I looked everywhere but at her and waited for her to speak. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few people glancing over at us. Recalling how everyone in the world seemed to know about her giving me the black eye, I suddenly decided I didn't want witnesses around for whatever lecture she was about to unleash on me. â€Å"You want to, um, go to my room?† I asked. She looked surprised, almost uncertain. â€Å"Sure.† I led her upstairs, keeping a safe distance away as we walked. Awkward tension built between us. She didn't say anything when we reached my room, but I saw her examine every detail carefully, as though a Strigoi might be lurking in there. I sat on the bed and waited while she paced, unsure what I should do. She ran her fingers over a stack of books on animal behavior and evolution. â€Å"Are these for a report?† she asked. â€Å"No. I'm just interested in it, that's all.† Her eyebrows rose. She hadn't known that. But how would she? She didn't know anything about me. She continued her appraisal, stopping to study little things that apparently surprised her about me. A picture of Lissa and me dressed up like fairies for Halloween. A bag of SweeTarts. It was as though my mother were meeting me for the first time. Abruptly, she turned and extended her hand toward me. â€Å"Here.† Startled, I leaned forward and held my palm out underneath hers. Something small and cool dropped into my hand. It was a round pendant, a small one- not much bigger than a dime in diameter. A base of silver held a flat disc of colored glass circles. Frowning, I ran my thumb over its surface. It was strange, but the circles almost made it look like an eye. The inner one was small, just like a pupil. It was so dark blue that it looked black. Surrounding it was a larger circle of pale blue, which was in turn surrounded by a circle of white. A very, very thin ring of that dark blue color circled the outside. â€Å"Thanks,† I said. I hadn't expected anything from her. The gift was weird- why the hell would she give me an eye?- but it was a gift. â€Å"I†¦ I didn't get you anything.† My mom nodded, face blank and unconcerned once more. â€Å"It's fine. I don't need anything.† She turned away again and started walking around the room. She didn't have a lot of space to do it, but her shorter height gave her a smaller stride. Each time she passed in front of the window over my bed, the light would catch her auburn hair and light it up. I watched her curiously and realized she was as nervous as me. She halted in her pacing and glanced back toward me. â€Å"How's your eye?† â€Å"Getting better.† â€Å"Good.† She opened her mouth, and I had a feeling she was on the verge of apologizing. But she didn't. When she started pacing again, I decided I couldn't stand the inactivity. I began putting my presents away. I'd gotten a pretty nice haul of stuff this morning. One of them was a silk dress from Tasha, red and embroidered with flowers. My mother watched me hang it in the room's tiny closet. â€Å"That was very nice of Tasha.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. â€Å"I didn't know she was going to get me anything. I really like her.† â€Å"Me too.† I turned from the closet in surprise and stared at my mom. Her astonishment mirrored mine. If I hadn't known any better, I'd have said we'd just agreed on something. Maybe Christmas miracles did happen. â€Å"Guardian Belikov will be a good match for her.† â€Å"I- † I blinked, not entirely sure what she was talking about. â€Å"Dimitri?† â€Å"Guardian Belikov,† she corrected sternly, still not approving of my casual way of addressing him. â€Å"What†¦ what kind of match?† I asked. She raised an eyebrow. â€Å"You haven't heard? She's asked him to be her guardian- since she doesn't have one.† I felt like I'd been punched again. â€Å"But he's†¦assigned here. And to Lissa.† â€Å"Arrangements can be made. And regardless of the Ozera reputation†¦she's still royal. If she pushes, she can get her way.† I stared bleakly into space. â€Å"Well, I guess they are friends and everything.† â€Å"More than that- or possibly could be.† Bam! Punched again. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Hmm? Oh. She's†¦interested in him.† By my mother's tone, it was clear that romantic matters actually held no interest for her. â€Å"She's willing to have dhampir children, so it's possible they might eventually make an, um, arrangement if he were her guardian.† Oh. My. God. Time froze. My heart stopped beating. I realized my mother was waiting for a response. She was leaning against my desk, watching me. She might be able to hunt down Strigoi, but she was oblivious to my feelings. â€Å"Is †¦ is he going to do it? Be her guardian?† I asked weakly. My mom shrugged. â€Å"I don't think he's agreed to it yet, but of course he will. It's a great opportunity.† â€Å"Of course,† I echoed. Why would Dimitri turn down the chance to be a guardian to a friend of his and to have a baby? I think my mom said something else after that, but I didn't hear it. I didn't hear anything. I kept thinking about Dimitri leaving the Academy, leaving me. I thought about the way he and Tasha had gotten along with each other so well. And then, after those recollections, my imagination started improvising future scenarios. Tasha and Dimitri together. Touching. Kissing. Naked. Other things †¦ I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second and then opened them. â€Å"I'm really tired.† My mom stopped mid-sentence. I had no idea what she'd been saying before I interrupted her. â€Å"I'm really tired,† I repeated. I could hear the hollowness in my own voice. Empty. No emotion. â€Å"Thanks for the eye†¦um, thing, but if you don't mind †¦Ã¢â‚¬  My mother stared at me in surprise, her features open and confused. Then, just like that, her usual wall of cool professionalism slammed back into place. Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much she'd let it up. But she had. For just a brief time, she'd made herself vulnerable with me. That vulnerability was now gone. â€Å"Of course,† she said stiffly. â€Å"I don't want to bother you.† I wanted to tell her it wasn't that. I wanted to tell her I wasn't kicking her out for any personal reason. And I wanted to tell her that I wished she were the kind of loving, understanding mother you always hear about, one I could confide in. Maybe even a mother I could discuss my troubled love life with. God. I wished I could tell anyone about that, actually. Especially right now. But I was too caught up in my own personal drama to say a word. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out and tossed it across the other side of the room. There was a burning, agonizing pain in my chest, and I had no idea how it could ever be filled. It was one thing to accept that I couldn't have Dimitri. It was something entirely different to realize someone else could. I didn't say anything else to her because my speech capabilities no longer existed. Fury glinted in her eyes, and her lips flattened out into that tight expression of displeasure she so often wore. Without another word, she turned around and left, slamming the door behind her. That door slam was something I would have done too, actually. I guess we really did share some genes. But I forgot about her almost immediately. I just kept sitting there and thinking. Thinking and imagining. I spent the rest of the day doing little more than that. I skipped dinner. I shed a few tears. But mostly, I just sat on my bed thinking and growing more and more depressed. I also discovered that the only thing worse than imagining Dimitri and Tasha together was remembering when he and I had been together. He would never touch me again like that, never kiss me again†¦ This was the worst Christmas ever.

Cat Vs. Dog Essays - Cat, Dog, Poodle, Litter Box, Pet, Cat Behavior

Cat Vs. Dog Essays - Cat, Dog, Poodle, Litter Box, Pet, Cat Behavior Cat Vs. Dog The Cat Versus The Dog There comes a time in most everyones life when he or she decides to buy a pet. Some people go for the unusual and choose a bird, snake, or rodent. Most people, however, decide on the more common four-legged creatures like a dog or cat. Dogs and cats are very different animals and they have different attitudes, needs, and habits. Understanding these differences can help in the process of choosing between them. For unwavering love and loyalty, not to mention protection, a dog is the choice. Dogs will not question authority, and they will, after some training, do exactly what they are told to do. There are many species of dogs, and they come in large, medium, and small sizes. Smaller sizes like poodles and bichons for people who just need an extra friends and bigger dogs like rottweilers and mastiffs for those who are in need of further protection. Dogs require a lot of attention, and they will make sure their owners are aware of it. They need to be watched constantly and must be taken regularly for walks, because, as most owners know, a dog cannot be trained to do his business in a litter box. A dog will, however, respond instantly to his owner's every wish and will lie at or on that owner's feet anytime, anywhere. A dog is very much like a child in that it cannot be left alone in the house for too long. It will get bored easily and can, without too much effort, make your house look as if a tornado were just there. On the other hand, for ease of care, or peace and quiet, cats can be a better choice. Cats will not question authority; they wont even listen to it. There are many species of cats, but their size will generally be the same for all breeds. They will only sleep on the bed if they want to, and will sleep at whichever end they choose. Cats are quite independent, and they do not require much attention over and above regular feeding and regular cleaning of the litter box. It is a comfort to the owner to know that the cat is simply there, and although a cat rarely responds to an owner's call, it will show affection by nuzzling or rubbing with its entire body. The purring sound a cat makes when it is content is one of the few indications of its love. Perhaps to compensate for their reticent nature, cats grow up quickly and are able to amuse themselves all day while their owners are away. They will only make a mess of the house if they are upset or sick. Cats and dogs make wonderful pets, and they both give many years of companionship. They are soothing to the soul, and they teach responsibility. The decision regarding which to choose, then, is one of duty. The pet owner must decide how much effort he or she wants to put forth. If a loyal, loving pet and trustworthy companion is desired, the dog is a good choice. If, conversely, quiet and low maintenance is more important, a cat is a better choice.

Free Essays on A Unpredictable Life

A Unpredictable Life â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† by Mark Halliday and â€Å"The Hand† by Sidonie-Grabrielle Colette have many things in common. The most profound similarity is how the stories end. In both stories the characters start out happy and without worries. In the end they see what they think is going to be, is not going to be. â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† and â€Å"The Hand† use a combination of plot, symbols, setting, and characters to show that life is not always what we see on the outside, that they should take a deeper look. Plot is the arranging of events in a story. The author puts events in a specific order to give the story structure. In â€Å"Young Man on 6th avenue† and â€Å"The Hand† the authors start the characters off having perfect lives. Then as the story progresses there are changes in their lives. When the character in â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† gets older he realizes that his whole life changes dramatically. When the character says â€Å"those years† he is implying that as the years go by, he comes to fear the things he did not when he is younger (Halliday 943). In â€Å"The Hand† the story begins with the husband and wife lying in bed, and the wife is enjoying her life at the moment. Later on she begins to recognize that her husband is not what she thinks he is. Her husband’s hand begins to scare her, but she gives into the role of the dutiful wife and lives with it. It is ironic that in â€Å"The Hand† the wife’s revela tion is that something is wrong the next morning, and in â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† it takes the man a lifetime to see. In both stories, in the end, there is nothing done about their mistakes. Symbols appear all around us. Without symbols our life is dreary and empty. A symbol is something that suggests more than it’s literal meaning. For example, the most outstanding symbol in â€Å"The Hand† is the hand of the husband. The hand represents the fear in the w... Free Essays on A Unpredictable Life Free Essays on A Unpredictable Life A Unpredictable Life â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† by Mark Halliday and â€Å"The Hand† by Sidonie-Grabrielle Colette have many things in common. The most profound similarity is how the stories end. In both stories the characters start out happy and without worries. In the end they see what they think is going to be, is not going to be. â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† and â€Å"The Hand† use a combination of plot, symbols, setting, and characters to show that life is not always what we see on the outside, that they should take a deeper look. Plot is the arranging of events in a story. The author puts events in a specific order to give the story structure. In â€Å"Young Man on 6th avenue† and â€Å"The Hand† the authors start the characters off having perfect lives. Then as the story progresses there are changes in their lives. When the character in â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† gets older he realizes that his whole life changes dramatically. When the character says â€Å"those years† he is implying that as the years go by, he comes to fear the things he did not when he is younger (Halliday 943). In â€Å"The Hand† the story begins with the husband and wife lying in bed, and the wife is enjoying her life at the moment. Later on she begins to recognize that her husband is not what she thinks he is. Her husband’s hand begins to scare her, but she gives into the role of the dutiful wife and lives with it. It is ironic that in â€Å"The Hand† the wife’s revel ation is that something is wrong the next morning, and in â€Å"Young Man on 6th Avenue† it takes the man a lifetime to see. In both stories, in the end, there is nothing done about their mistakes. Symbols appear all around us. Without symbols our life is dreary and empty. A symbol is something that suggests more than it’s literal meaning. For example, the most outstanding symbol in â€Å"The Hand† is the hand of the husband. The hand represents the fear in the w...

Political Science or Public Policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Political Science or Public Policy - Term Paper Example e leaders have perfected the art of using all manner of illegal tactics to remain in power such as vote rigging, detaining opposition leaders and altering the constitution. Some African leaders have objected the idea of multi-party democracy thus anybody seeking a political leadership opportunity should do so through one party which is controlled the by the incumbent president. The parliamentary systems are ineffective and weak since they are controlled by the executive. The main duty of the legislature is to oversee the smooth running and implementation of government policies but African governments have failed in this duty. The parliamentary systems is misused by the executive to rubber stamp the decisions of the executive while the judiciary lacks the independence to protect the constitution and civil rights. A flawed electioneering system and ethnic based politics will continue to precipitate political conflicts unless policy changes are implemented. Though the international community is greatly supporting Africa nations to implement full democratic and market-based economies, dictatorial leadership, unfair elections, diseases and unequal distribution of resources have hindered all the opportunities of ensuring democracy in several African countries. Natural resources like copper, gold and oil mining continue to be trafficked to foreign countries by corrupt leaders thus leading to low economic development of these conflicts. Unfair distribution of resources and underdevelopment of some parts of the countries, especially areas occupied by the marginalized ethnic communities is currently fueling ethnic-based conflicts for power and natural resources. Some leaders are busy utilizing the natural resources to fuel ethnic tensions and conflicts in order to remain in power. There are numerous challenges that have hindered entrenchment of liberal democracy in Africa. African countries will continue to experience political conflicts unless the leaders agree how to

Postural Changes associated with Pregnancy Literature review

Postural Changes associated with Pregnancy - Literature review Example But the curve of lumbar spine increases for most of the pregnant women during the last three months of pregnancy or a swayback posture is taken up by the body where they lean their upper body backward and the lower spine maintains the same position. Abdominal muscles and pubic bones in front of the pelvis support the weight of growing fetus as the curve of the lower spine increase and in the case of bodies which adopt the swayback position; pelvic ligaments and pelvic floor muscles experience more pressure because here the push is behind pubic bones. Most of the pregnant women keep their head back ward in order to balance their body from the forward pull exerted by the growing abdomen and as a result of which the thoracic spine loses its natural curve. The proximity of uterus to the respiratory diaphragm makes it difficult to take deep breath as the fetus grows and body uses an adjustment mechanism of spreading the lower ribs outward in order to make the process of breathing easier. Yet another change that takes place during pregnancy is in locomotion which is observable mainly during the third trimester. ... e â€Å"faulty body mechanisms† as the reason for back pain associated with pregnancy and according to him body changes its posture during pregnancy â€Å"to compensate for the weight of an enlarging fetus and to offset the progressive anterior displacement of their center of gravity. In so doing, the lumbar spine assumes a more lordotic configuration and the pelvis tilts forward† (Loftus 1996, p. 65). The weight-bearing responsibility is shifted to the posterior articular elements of the vertebral column. Mechanical advantages of the paraspinal muscles and the anterior abdominal wall muscles decreases as result of the pressure exerted on them and stress sacroiliac joints and the pelvis as the fetus grows. Abnormal mechanics of ambulation and lifting are observed as a result of the anatomical configuration changes in the spine and pelvis (Loftus 1996, p. 65). Loftus finds the role of a postural etiology as a support providing factor for most of the pregnancy related bac k pain theories which is contradicted by the hypothesis put forward by Fast et al and Hansson et al where the former support the Fahrni’s postural theory and his observations of absence of back pain in primitive societies where the people maintained a flexed lumbar structure for long periods during the day and the findings of the latter which argues that there is no relationship between back pain and the curvature of vertebral column. On the other hand, there are experts who believe that back pain originates as a result of changes which take place in sacroiliac joints and pelvis during pregnancy and Christopher observes that â€Å"biochemical changes related to increased ligamentous laxity in the symphysis pubis and sacroiliac joints contribute to a sacroiliac pain syndrome† (Loftus 1996, p. 65). Many