There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica Essay Example

There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica Paper I agree with the statement above, There are many similarities between Looking for a rain god and Veronica. Both of the stories are written in a way that draws the reader into the stories picture, the other similarity is that of the themes. The themes, which the two stories include, are those of poverty, isolation, death and helplessness. Both stories are set in countries and places, which are far removed from ours in distance and culture adding to the similarities between the two. However these themes are presented in different ways, both giving a similar impression. There is a mixture of key elements, which make the two stories differ in the way they are presented; in structure, characterisation, use of language and dialogue. These differences are used to give us the reader a diverse and greater understanding of how the separate themes work in the different stories. As in all good stories themes are used help us to understand the characters and the author on a deeper level. The most evident theme in Veronica and Looking For A Rain God is that of isolation and distance. The land, which Bessie Head (writer of Looking For A rain God) describes, is one that is cut off from the rest of the world and ultimately lonely. The opening line conveys this well We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on There are many similarities between looking for a rain god and Veronica specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is lonely at the lands where people go to plough Bessie Head (The writer of Looking For A Rain God) uses the first paragraph to set a scene of distance and isolation. This is done to try to help us gain insight and understand the situation and characters. Adewale Maja-Pearce or Okeke (The writer of Veronica) also tries to use the theme of isolation and distance to help understand the story better. Although in contrast to Looking For A Rain God it is for a more personal reason, partly to understand his friends actions. When Okeke returns to Veronica for the first time after becoming a doctor he is shocked at how little has changed. Veronica is not so shocked and although her words may sound accusing they in fact reveal a level of understanding of her isolation. She says simply to Okeke I am still here, as you left me. The writers have been brought up in areas distant to ours and the western world. The isolation they talk about seems shocking and extreme to us, but the writers are more concerned with the effects of living in isolation. This isolation that both writers try to tackle brings about a helplessness they both feel towards the different situations. In Veronica Okeke is about to move away to the city and wants Veronica to follow him there as he feels helpless to the fact she is stuck in a constant cycle of unhappiness. He tries to persuade her to come with him, but there is always something standing in the way. When asked to come to the city she replies sharply No, the city is for you, not me. What will I do once I get there? I have no qualifications, not even Standard Six. This is in contrast to LFARG as it seems like there is no solution to the seven year drought. Bessie talks about how such a tiny village whos economy relies solely on farming as the main source of money can suffer. She writes about the helplessness and growing concern No one knew what to do to escape the heat and tragedy that was in the air The themes in both stories help to mould the tone, making it solemn and remorseful. The stories carry such a tone because both narrators perhaps feel an underlining guilt for what happened, accompanied by a feeling that they would not have acted differently if it had happened to them. Bessie Head makes her views clear when she writes But all people who lived off crops knew in their hearts that only a hairs breadth saved them from sharing a similar fate. In Veronica to the scene where Veronica refuses to go to the city, the writer admits that he understood her point of view. But he was still resentful as he writes Although I knew there was a lot of truth in what she said I resented her arguments. There is a similar setting in Veronica and Looking For A Rain God which may explain why they share many prominent themes. This can be explained due to the fact that they are both stories taken from writers who have lived in an isolated and distant place. But this can over shadow the fact that both stories differ greatly in how they present similar but vastly different ideas. The structure is very different in the Looking For A Rain God to Veronica. Bessie Head writes the story from a third person narrative and is describes a villagers view of story, which gives us a wider insight. Looking For A Rain God is split into three sections; the first creates a background to the story and a short image of what life is like, the second tells the story of the family, finally the third analyses what has happened and portrays its effect on the village. Veronica, in comparison, is not so complicated in structure; instead it focuses solely on the relationship between the writer and Veronica, ending in her death. The story is mainly told using dialogue and a bit of narrative, it is written only in the first person. The use of dialogue seperates the two stories, as it gives Veronica an added depth to the characters and leaves more to be interpreted by the reader. The language in Looking For A Rain God compared to Veronica is far richer, describing in detail the significant elements of the story. This works towards setting a deeper background making up for the lack of personal touch. For instance Bessie Head describes the land seven times in the opening paragraph. The language in Veronica is direct, with the Okeke letting the actions which happen tell the story rather than him, again showing a further willingness for the story to be interpreted freely. This works as he does not write with a particular view instead just his memoirs. The Narrative is the main reason why the stories are noticeably presented differently. Veronica is written in the first person narrative, as the writer actually experienced what he is writing about, so we see it through his eyes. His motives for writing the story lend well to a first person narrative, as he wants to analyses what happened between him and Veronica. So by going over his actions and speech he can better understand how he felt about her. Rather than the story being only about veronica it is instead about what Okeke did or said in relation to her. Again as in Veronica the narrative is dictated in Looking For A Rain God by the aims of the writer. Bessie Head wishes to convey a way of showing the effects of isolation and distance when a major disaster happens and what the implications for that can be. The third person narrative also helps Bessie Head, convey the complex mixture of old traditions and new ones, also to analyses that. As none of what happens involved her she writes about it as an onlooker to the story and offering her explanations. As the title of this essay says there are many similarities between Veronica and Looking For A Rain God. But the narrative and aims of the two writers means these ideas are presented in different ways.

When Should You Take the SAT or ACT Best Test Dates

When Should You Take the SAT or ACT Best Test Dates SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The college admissions process is a long one, encompassing most of a student's high school career. One of the most important parts, the SAT or ACT standardized test, is also one of the most challenging. Butyou can really benefit from early planning and deciding ahead of time when you should take it. It's always a good idea to begin early, but to decide on specific test dates, you'll need to factor in circumstances like your personal schedule, your admissions deadlines, and the classes you're currently taking. All of these make a big difference inwhen it’s best for you to take the SAT or ACT. In this guide, we'll debunk a common myth about the best time to take the test, discuss the most important factors for determining when you should take the SAT or ACT, and go over the besttesting planfor most high school students. Myth: Some SAT/ACT Test Dates Are Always Easier Than Others A common myth about the SAT and ACTis that specific test dates tend to be easier or harder than others. The (incorrect) logic here is that each test date is curved based on the students who take that specific test.Therefore, if you take the test with many ambitious, hard-working students, the curve will be harder and your test score will be lower. On the other hand, if you take the test with a lot of younger, unprepared students, the curve will be easier and your score will be higher. This myth is factually untrue for several reasons. First, both the College Board and ACT, Inc,.do not curve their tests based on student performance. In other words, whom you take the SAT or ACT with haszero impact on your final score. Instead, both the SAT and ACT use an equating process to account for slight differences in test difficulty across test dates. For example, if the ACT you took in April was harder than the ACT given in June, your raw scores would translate into slightly higher scaled scores to account for this difference in difficulty. Both test makers want to give students test scores that can be compared with scores from any other test date, on an equal basis.As a result, a score on one test will always indicate the same level of ability as that same score on a different test date. For example, a 1200 on one SAT will mean the same thing in 2016 as it does in 2020. This is the whole point of a standardized test! Here’s another reason this myth doesn’t make sense: if test curves varied from test to test, then colleges would need to take into account the test date on your application. For instance, they'd need to treat a 30 on an April ACT differently from a 30 on a June ACT. To date, no college admissions office has given any evidence that they take specific test dates into account. It is true that tests do vary in difficulty on a personal level. For example, when I was preparing for the SAT, some reading passages were just easier for me than other passages, especially if the passage topics were in my area of interest. However, you can't predict this ahead of time. As I mentioned above, many other factors go into choosing the test date that’s best for you. 4 Important Factors for Your SAT/ACT Date Like most things in life, early planning pays off- in this case, in higher test scores. Don't wait until college applications are duein your senior year to take your first SAT or ACT- you'll perform nowhere near your best and might not get into the schools you apply to. Beyond the general tip of planning early, you'll need to decide onthe specific test date you’ll be taking the SAT or ACT. Each test now has seven test dates throughout the year, and your score can vary on each test date based on a few key factors. In order of priority, here are the four most important factors to think about when determining when you should take the SAT or ACT: #1: Deadlines for College Admissions and Scholarships The most important factor for determining when you should take the SAT or ACT is your college admissions deadlines. As we'll explain later, you should begin preparing for the SAT/ACT a year before your first important deadline;you should also take your chosen test at least twice. For most students, regular decision deadlines fall in December or January of their senior year, which means you'll need to take your last SAT or ACT by, latest, December. If you're applying early action or early decision and have a due date in November, your last possible test date will be the October SAT or ACT. As a result, you'll need to begin preparing for the SAT/ACT during your junior year. There might be also other deadlines at play for you. For example, if you're recruited for athletics, you'll want to reach your SAT/ACT target goal by the end of your junior year. As we discuss in this article about how college recruiting works, college coaches won't want to spend time recruiting you if they don't think you have a good chance of getting into that school, which means your academics need to be on par with those of non-student athletes at the schools you're applying to. You don't necessarily need to shoot for a top SAT/ACT score and GPA, but you should aim to hit 25th percentile SAT/ACT scores and around 80% of the average GPA. The specifics of what you can get away with will depend on the school, sport, and specific person. For instance, a volleyball player at Harvard will have to meet higher academic standards than a football player at FSU. Deadline considerations also apply for academic merit scholarships. Several SAT/ACT score-based scholarships have deadlines well in advance of the January regular decision admissions deadlines. As a result, you might need to adjust when you take the test(s) to make sure your scores will be ready when you apply. The bottom line? Know your deadlines as you plan out your SAT/ACT testing schedule. #2: Content Readiness and Classes in School Much of the SAT and ACT tests general concepts you'll learn in high school, and your scores will be higher once you’ve taken the classes that cover material on the tests. The best time to take the SAT or ACT is after you've taken Geometry and Algebra II classes. Both tests feature algebra and geometry (though the SAT places less emphasis on geometry these days). If you've never encountered these subjects, your knowledge foundation will cause you to do poorly on the Math section. As for the Reading and Writing/English sections, most students will have had enough exposure to English and grammar to form a baseline understanding of the concepts tested on the SAT and ACT.To excel on these sections, though, you'll need to prep specifically for the SAT and ACT. Now, this doesn’t mean that just because you took Algebra II and English classes, you'll do well on the SAT/ACT. The test questions are very different from what you've seen in school, and much of SAT/ACT prep involves learning special types of questions and becoming familiar with the test format. That said, having the underlying content foundation will make you improve much faster. Plus, if you're in a state that requires juniors to take the SAT or ACT, you might also get some extra prep targeted at the SAT/ACT during class time. #3: Personal Schedule and Stress If possible, it’s best to take the SAT or ACT when you're not stressed about five other things in life. Many high school students struggle with balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, a social life, and test prep. Therefore,avoid taking the SAT or ACT when you have a lot of other activities going on. For example, May is especially busy for many students because of AP exams, finals, and end-of-year events. But for you, March might be a bad time because you're gearing up for state championships for your sport. In my experience with thousands of students, students who plan to take the SAT or ACT during busy times like these get very stressed, don’t have enough time to prep, and unfortunately end up getting lower-than-expected scores on test day. Try to choose a test date on either side of a busy period so you have more time in your schedule to prep and less stress and anxiety. Ultimately, this can make a big difference in your test scores! #4: Prep Time For most students, we recommend studying at least 40 hours for the SAT or ACTfor a big score improvement. If you can study more than this- e.g., 80 hours or 120 hours- you'll likely be rewarded with higher test scores. If you've already taken the test several times but don’t have time to prep for your next test, you’re unlikely to see a big score improvement. It's an unfortunate truth, but without learning more content and attacking your weaknesses, you're simply not going to improve your score. In the end, try to schedule the SAT/ACT for a time when you can dedicate focused study time to test prep. For example, many students like scheduling the test right after winter break or summer vacation so they can take advantage of their free time by putting in serious study hours. By thinking deeply about these four major factors, you'll be able to figure out which test dates are best for you. Next up, we show you the testing plan that works best for 95% of students. A Reliable SAT/ACT Testing Schedule for Most Students For most students, this SAT/ACT testing schedule will give you the best chance of getting the score you want. It makes sure you test early, gives you room to improve, and offers enough buffer time so that you can get the score you want before your college applications are due. Here are the four steps you'll need to take: Step 1: Take the PSAT as a Junior If you’re aiming for aNational Meritscholarship, you'll want to prepare for the PSAT (which is essentially a practice SAT) and take it your junior year.For most students, though, there's no need to prepare for it; rather, you shouldlook at the PSAT as an opportunity to get early exposure to the SAT. If you plan to take the ACT instead of the SAT, you could opt for the PreACT or the ACT Aspire Program. Step 2: Take the February ACT or March SAT as a Junior These are the first SAT/ACT test dates after winter break, so use your break to prepare for the test. Make sure you have a study planand take at least one or twofull-length SAT/ACT practice testssometime before the test so you can get used to the format. As this will be your first official test, look at your score as a starting score to improve on later. Step 3: Take the April/June ACT or the May/June SAT as a Junior You’ll need to prep a little harder for this test. Make sure you have a long-term study schedule during the school year and are factoring in enough time to study.When deciding between April/May and June test dates, consider your personal schedule and aim to give yourself as little stress as possible. In truth, you're likely to improve your score just by taking the test a second time!Thus, at this point, it’s very possible that yourSAT or ACT score will be good enough for the colleges you want to apply to. If you still want to improve, however, move on to step 4. Step 4: Take the August SAT or September ACT as a Senior From steps 2 and 3, you'll know how much room you need to grow to hit your SAT goal scoreor ACT goal score. During the summer, it's important to work really hard at improving your scores- even at the expense of your social life and personal fun. (It's well worth it, though, as a higher score will get you access to better colleges and scholarships!) Step 5: Still Dissatisfied With Your Score? Take the SAT/ACT in the Late Fall Late fall your senior year is typically yourlast chance to take the SAT/ACT and still get your scores to your schools in time. That said, if you've already taken the test multiple times, you're unlikely to see more than incremental change without a lot of dedicated prep. To really raise your score, you'll need to set aside plenty of time to study. This might mean spending less time with friends or even easing off some of your extracurriculars to give you more time to fully concentrate on the test. Why is this five-step plan so effective?For one, it gives you early warning signs for your starting score so you know how much you have to improve by. It also offers enough flexibility for you to schedule your prep time as needed. Finally, it gives you several chances to take the test in case you have a bad day and don't score as highly as you want to. As a final tip, remember to register well in advance of the deadline so you canpay as few fees as possible. SAT/ACT Testing Schedule for Intensive Studiers If you're a student who's hoping to aim for the highest scores on the test, you'll want to structure your test taking a little differently. The schedule below ensures that you start early and spend more time studying for each test. Step 1: Take the PSAT as a Sophomore While you can't qualify for National Merit as a sophomore, taking the PSAT in 10th grade will give you valuable insight into how you're doing and where your weaknesses lie. Since you're mainly taking the PSAT to get more information about your skill level (rather than to qualify for a scholarship competition), there's no need for any extra preparation. Step 2: Take the PSAT/NMSQT as a Junior This advice is the same as for our regular testing schedule above: if your goal is to qualify for National Merit, you'll need to spend some time prepping for the PSAT (at the very least, by taking an official PSAT practice test). Step 3: Take the September/October ACT or October/November SAT as a Junior Take advantage of your summer vacation and the beginning of fall semester to prepare for this test. Plan to spend at least a few hours prepping each week. As always, follow a study plan and take a fewfull-length SAT/ACT practice testsso you can get more accustomed to the format of the exam. Remember, this is your first official test, and your score on it will be the starting score you'll try to improve on. Take it seriously! Unfortunately, you'll also have the PSAT around this time, so try to balance your study time wisely. Since the PSAT is so similar to the SAT, you can really just study for the SAT and apply what you've learned to the PSAT as well. If you're taking the ACT, on the other hand, the only difference is that you'll probably want tobrush up on your science knowledge. Step 4: Take the March SAT or April ACT as a Junior A spring test is a solid time for a second attempt as you'll have winter vacation (and possibly spring break, too) to study for it.As you did the first time around, make studying part of your routine. This time, however, you should have a better understanding of what specific weaknesses to focus on. Since you'll have gotten back your PSAT scores and your SAT/ACT scores from your fall test, make sure to incorporate any insights you can glean from your performances on these and apply them to your prep. For instance, if your Writing/English score was a lot lower than you expected it to be, you should dedicate more time to reviewing criticalSAT/ACT grammar rules. Step 5: Take the August SAT or September ACT as a Senior If you still haven't hit your goal score, this is a good time to take a third SAT/ACT. You'll absolutely need to prep for this test.The scores you got in step 4 will tell you how much you need to improve by. By giving yourself four to five months to study, you'll have a far better chance of making big score gains (than if you were to opt for the earlier June SAT/ACT). Make full use of the summer to work really hard, even if it comes at the expense of your social life. Remind yourself that a higher score will ultimately give you access to better colleges and even scholarships. Step 6: Unhappy With Your Score? Take the December SAT/ACT as a Senior This is your absolute last chance to take the SAT/ACT and still have your scores meet your college application deadlines. As we recommend for our regular schedule above, if your score is lagging behind the target you've set, it's best to drop as many other activities as you can to improve it. In particular, reduce your extracurriculars and your social life so you can concentrate more on the test. However, you also need to be realistic. Compare your desired score increase withour recommended study time for the SAT and ACT. Can you realistically put in that much study time? More importantly, are you willing to do this? If not, consider adjusting your target score and the schools you want to apply to. What's Next? How high does your SAT/ACT score need to be? Learn more about what a goodSAT scoreand a goodACT scoreis, based on the colleges you're applying to. Want more guidance on how long to study for the SAT/ACT? Check out our expert step-by-step guides for the SAT andACT. Not sure when to take the test? Check out the full schedule of upcoming test dates for the ACT and SATso you can pick the most convenient time for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Wake County , North Carolina Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Wake County , North Carolina - Research Paper Example The Wake Courthouse was established in the county as the very first courthouse leading to the formation of the militia as well as giving way to elections. This county can be found on the map in the north east region of North Carolina, towards the central areas. The exact area is also worldwide recognised as the ‘fall line’; the name being given as this is the location that gives rise to a number of creeks and waterfalls. There are piedmont regions in this area as well, with flat lands and rolling hills. Lake Crabtree, Crabtree Creek and the Neuse River are some renowned water bodies that are found in Wake County. The County also is home to parts of the Jordan and Falls Lake. Geographically speaking, the County is well inhabited also because of its moderate and pleasant climate. It has a subtropical climate with relatively hotter summers than the other states near it. The winds are very high, sometimes leading to a very high amount of humidity. However, during the winters the County has also been known to achieve layers of snow as well as fatal ice storms during peak cold seasons. Between the years 1787 and 1911, Wake County did lose a reasonable amount of its land space in order to give way to the formation of other counties like Durham and Franklin. After Fayeteville, Raleigh, the seat of Wake County, was made the permanent state capital for the purpose of serving the General Assembly. Raleigh was built on approximately 1000 acres which were purchased by the other famous man in whose land the state capital would have been made, had the people not commenced rejoicing the matter beforehand, by the name of Joel Lane. As part of the North Carolina General Assembly, the Triangle J Council of Governments was formed in 1959 with its foundations laid down by the Research Triangle Foundation. Wake County thus became a member of this Council as well governed by a board of seven County

Oral nutritional therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oral nutritional therapy - Essay Example Body organs that are commonly affected by stress are the gastrointestinal tract, the adrenal glands, and the lympatic structures like spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes. Sometimes, deep ulcers may appear in the stomach lining. 1 The GAS can cause a wide range of physiologic responses to the stressor. Stressor stimulates the sympathetic nervous system which in turn, stimulates the hypothalamus. It is the hypothalamus that releases corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) that stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). At time of stress, adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to sympathetic stimulation. Once the body responses to epinephrine, increased in myocardial contractility, bronchial dilation, increased blood clotting, increased in cellular metabolism, and increased in fat mobilization is likely to happen.2 skin. There are around 1000 different ailments that can occur. Psoriasis is one of the most common skin disorders. In a lot of cases, these skin disorders are resulted from allergies of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.3 The skin determines whether a person is properly nourished or can be diagnosed as malnutrition. A person with good nutrition has a smooth, slightly moist, and is good in color skin. On the other hand, anyone who gets a poor nutrition has a rough, dry, scaly, pale, pigmented, irritated, and bruised skin. Psoriasis is a chronic, noninfectious, inflammatory disease of the skin wherein the production of the epidermal cells is about six (6) to nine (9) times faster than the normal rate. 4 For this reason, the normal event of the skin cell maturation and growth does not take place. Thus, the formation of normal layers that protects the skin is restricted. This type of skin disorder wherein there is an over production of keratin in the skin is hereditary. Stress and anxiety is known to trigger psoriasis. Other

Evocative Production about Aging Care Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evocative Production about Aging Care - Article Example Gaugler et al. observed that the test for civilization in any society is the manner in which it takes care of its frail members. The policy for the aged in Australia safeguards old people in the society from fearing the young as well as feeling misplaced. If the aged are offered the necessary attention and care, their life is prolonged and opportunistic ailments in old age may be avoided thereby reducing the cost of care as well as the workload of the caregivers. It is important to teach children and the youth that the aging was young just like them and that they too are headed for old age. Sometimes the old might be perceived as having little contribution to the society’s advancement in terms of wealth creation and social development. Nevertheless, the young need to appreciate the efforts of those who came before them in the maintenance of an enabling environment for them to act. For example, if the aged polluted the environment and caused the depletion of natural resources available at this particular time, the youth could not enjoy living on earth as they do. Naturally, an old person who is ill-treated in the society visualizes it as the young population taking advantage of the weak. Baxter cautioned that the society should not let their aging population regret their own existence. Rather, they should be made to feel loved and useful in community affairs. Furthermore, their experience is critical in molding and instilling good morals to the young. The natural wisdom they possess as a result of having interacted and worked with diverse people for a long time may have a significant impact on the conduct of future generations. Stigmatization of the aged may result in the loss of a resourceful component of the society since their capacity to actively participate in communal activities.

Rational Choice Theory Analytical Framework

Rational Choice Theory Analytical Framework Before I begin on my analytical review of the selected article, I firstly, feel that it is crucial to outline and define what an analytical framework is and what it consists of. Due to the nature of the subject we are assessing, that being social science, it is clear that researchers have to contend with many different variables from different theoretical standpoints to the vast differing ideological paradigms of this subject. If a study does not possess a proposed analytical framework within its main body of writing, it will often be criticised for being overly descriptive and lacking a precise investigation, thus meaning the academic work will lack clear focus and suffer from being vague. Secondly, analytical frameworks are many and varied, some utilise observable reality within society from institutions such as family, education and the state. These are ideal if the researcher intends on gathering evidence from that particular institution, allowing the researcher test their hypothesis of Y affects X etc. However many analytical frameworks within the social sciences are usually intertwined to key intellectual theories; these include areas such as Marxism, Rational choice and Network theory. Researchers using these types of framework allow for a focused document, which adopts a particular intellectual theory and systematically evaluates it to the chosen topic area from that standpoint. All analytical frameworks do share one particular trend whether it is assessing ideologies or the various institutions, their first initial task is to mobilise the intellectual approach through the body of literature. Furthermore this analytical framework must be chosen with careful consideration by academics, as within their chosen framework there will consist of theorists who share similar views on that particular issue. E.g. Rational choice theorists believe that we make choices based upon our personal preference, having theorists support your argument increases validity and strengthens structure of your argument, thus allowing you to raise particular questions such as is there rationality of radical Islam? In short these frameworks consist of a set of intellectual tools that guide the researcher through his/her research for example, how to collect, sort, and interpret the results found, obviously guiding is not the only application within the theoretical framework but it also has close links with the particular sub-questions asked within that theory. Firstly, an important detail to reference about the particular article, is the title of the article itself The Rationality of Radical Islam this shows a clear indication of the authors analytical standpoint The use of Rationality within the title suggests that Wiktoro Kaltenhaler are taking a Rational Choice perspective approach within the article. Before I begin on exploring how Wiktoros has employed this rational choice theory to terrorism, it is important to address what rational choice theory really is and its assumptions. Throughout much of the western hemisphere in the early part of the 21st century, we have witnessed a shift in the way we analyse human behaviour. This shift was at large partly due to the emergence of RCT which has been dominant within economics but has spread to other disciplines. This Rational choice theory consists of three independent theories at its core including social choice theory, game theory and economics. Essentially RCT is actually three things at the same time, because not only does it possess a logical structure to which many use it as a fundamental ideology to theorising. But it is both a normative empirical method of investigation into the actions and behaviours of the individual. RCTs primary underlying focus begins with the clear acknowledgment of the individual, not the interaction between several individuals. RCT would therefore advocate a minimalist state which is only used for preserving individual liberties and non invasive on the individual. Furthermore RCT is also concerned with the explanation of all social phenomenons within society whether it be conforming, or deviant acts, it views humans as rational creatures meaning there are calculated mental process that exist within our choices. Because rational choice is derived from economics it acknowledges all social exchanges are like that of economic exchanges to which an actor will choose an action rationally, based on a hierarchy of preferences, that promises to maximize benefits and minimize costs (Zey 1998 p.2) these basic premises of humans, portray that our decisions are reared towards the sole aim of profit or pleasure. This article explores the The Rationality of Radical Islam it specifically asks the question Why do Islamist radicals engage in high-cost/risk activism (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.296) and the incentives behind it. This particular analytical framework is perfect to use as, terrorism throughout the general population is widely considered highly irrational, especially in the case of Jihadist terrorism, as how can you sacrifice yourself and others for a greater good? The reasons many see terrorists and their sympathizers as irrational is due to that their beliefs are so improbable and dogmatic, (Wiktorowicz, cited 2004 in Caplan, 2006 p.97) and what factual evidence do Jihadist terrorists have for gaining a place straight into paradise where they can enjoy the company of 72 virgins? We foresee this certain approach as being nothing more than plain foolish, due to the dependency on belief. However Wiktrorowicz believes that we cannot judge an action such as this, as irrational simply because we dont agree with it, and if the individual is optimizing their top preference then they are acting rationally (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.300). The second major point tackled by these two authors, is the assessment on the various incentives terrorist organisations offer, as all groups proffers its ideology as an efficient path to salvation, which serves as a heuristic device for in-doctrinal actors to weigh the costs benefits of certain behaviour (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.301). In other words most organisations dont offer material or worldly goods which by western culture does not reflect economic or personal benefit for the individual, but it shows that spiritual good are more important to some. But there is evidence that those who joined Algerias armed Islamic groups chose to do so to benefit economically from insurgency, such as smuggling (wiktorowicz 2006 p.302). Referring back to the previous point, a case study brought up in the article was on the Al-Muhajiroun which proved to be a popular group throughout the UK, but after the attacks on 9/11 the British state condemned the group for expressing radical views. However during its time this case study provides a perfect example of payoffs, as the Al-Muhajiron only offered spiritual payoffs for such a high risk activity, many in this group viewed activism and even risk itself as means to achieve salvation and entrance to paradise (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.302). These points articulate that RCT doesnt provide an explanation of preference formation, but explains a strategy of choices under a set of ordered preferences (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.302) so RCT is not concerned with why individuals prioritise terrorism to the top of the list but it just wants to understand why we rationally choose to do something highly illegal and dangerous. Lastly Bruce Hoffman in regards to rationality of terrorism defines terrorism as the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change. All terrorist acts involve violence or the threat of violence. (Hoffman 1998) his use of literature such as deliberate creation backs up the arguments of Wiktorowicz that terrorists pre-plan and prepare every step of terrorism, this could be in terms of signing up for Jihadist attacks or the preparation of bombs, the terrorists know what they are doing and gladly do it pursuing their own self interest at any cost. Delving into the theoretical underpinnings of the article, I firstly, came across within the literature a reference to Mother Teresa in which she advocated that religion was self-sacrificial and wasnt motivated by external rewards (Wiktorowicz 2006 p.302). This has one of two benefits; one the use of a similar theorist strengthens Wiktorowiczs argument, as the author is acknowledging a rationale in the idea that material goods are not the only driving force of an individual. And secondly, within this article by Kwilecki Wilson we can see a clear running theme for RCT as in the opening abstract they state that this paper applies rational choice to the religion of Mother Teresa (Kwilecki 2000 p.205). Lastly, upon viewing Wiktorowiczs endnote system, we can see the material they used to reference and guide their analysis is heavily interlinked to the analytical framework of RCT, such as the economic approach to human behaviour an introduction to rational choice by Jon Estler clearly shows that the theoretical underpinnings all point to a RCT perspective approach and has been applied to the topic of terrorism. With RCT being a major ideological contender within the social science world over the past six decades, there is now a huge library of literature attacking and defending RCT and is currently still growing. To begin I want to discuss the advantages of this particular approach in general. Firstly, RCT has survived this long due to its genuine fundamental strengths e.g. rationality accords with common sense in certain simple settings. For example, consider a choice between $5 and $10, no strings attached. (Herrnstein 1990 p.357) On this basis of behaviour, we would always choose the larger sum of money no matter what, so in a sense arguing against RCT is like arguing against the principal of indisputable truth and against common sense in general. Second, the sheer power of this theory is an undisputable strength of its own, as it has manifested itself into all disciplines that examine behaviour from political philosophy to the behaviourism in psychology; it is hard to critique such a coherent framework. So its generality in other words allows assumptions to be placed into a wide variety of topic areas, without them being splintered into a mix of complicated sub-theories. This common deductive base detaches them from other main theories as by reducing the area of disagreement it can work much more efficiently. Before 9/11 investigations into terrorist cells were minimal, so too were activities regarding anti-terrorism. However after the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, we witnessed a major influx with both participants in high risk activities as well as counter terrorism agencies investigating these radical motives. One thing is clear in terms of terrorism is the fact that RCT has opened up radical movements who were previously described as unflappable, ideological zealots trapped by rigid adherence to dogma, are now regarded as strategic thinkers.'(Wiktorowicz 2005 p.13) This approach breathes life into the study of terrorists actions and how to counteract such activities e.g. Deterrence, there is little doubt that old-fashioned deterrence reduces the amount of terrorism, and in theory increasing the risk and severity of being caught should also continue to drop the amount of people who adopt radical beliefs. Secondly moving on to the general criticisms of this theory, which has seen a wide range of claims made against it, for instance RCT cannot explain the existence of various social phenomenons such as trust, reciprocity and especially charity, as in such organisations the masses are the ones benefitting from the individuals actions, and the individual isnt rationally choosing to maximise their personal benefits. Furthermore in terms of the individuals choices, it is safe to say that individuals do not possess all knowledge and information on everything anything, so essentially humans rely on heuristics to guide our thought processes which essentially intelligent guesswork. This limitation can also go further into the fact that in society today and even in the past, peoples choices are constrained by the many social institutions of society the modal individual will find his or her actions checked from birth to death by familial and school rules; laws and ordinances'(Freidman 1991 p.208) . Continuing on from the last point its seems clear that its not just institutions structures holding individuals back, but the pressures of so called acceptable behaviour as these social norms are essentially a barrier to the pursuit of self-interest. Lastly on the general criticisms towards RCT Id like to discuss a point raised in the book by Paul Anard who wrote if rationality is about consistency, including logical consistency, then human agents cannot be considered rational in a full sense. (Anard 2002 p.22) This quote articulates a very interesting standpoint against the fundamental underpinnings of this theory as if RCT states we are so rational in mind body the n why do we have inconsistencies of thoughts, and why are these behaviours such a common occurrence within our society. A weakness RCT has in relation to terrorism is that RCT generally operates in a post-hoc manner where researchers usually examine past precedents to rationalise and predict similar event of the future, (Lindauer 2012 p.8) but in the area of terrorism this is not a good idea, as one terrorism is irrational that mathematically people cannot always predict events and secondly, if a mistake was to be made the consequences could be devastating and traumatic as peoples lives are at risk. As discussed previously within this essay, RCT has a high number of loyal followers and a wide literature on all subjects, so as RCT is focused upon behaviour, it has made important inroads to other topic areas not just the study of terrorism. One key area RCT is dominant in, is the low turnout rate within elections. RCT states that turnout is, for many people most of the time, a low-cost, low-benefit action. (Aldrich 1993 p.261) so will always suffer. This theory has been the backbone of reform and incentives to revert voter apathy and re-engage people back into politics. For example it is important for a political campaign to outline what benefits it will have on the individual causing it to be a high benefit action. Secondly RCT is prominent within criminology and the rationality of criminals, this topic is similar to terrorism in respect that, RCT argues the decision to commit an offense is negatively related to the perceived costs of crime and positively related to the perceived rewards of crime (Nagin 1993 p.479) thus meaning there is a rational mental process taking place within the individual before a crime is committed. Like petty crime is often committed at night or during quiet hours as criminals mentally calculate the benefits, such as they will be less likely to be disturbed or be seen committing a crime. RCT creates a wonderful overview to the behaviours of crime and the individuals within it. In conclusion the analytical framework utilised within the article of terrorism allows for a detailed and unique perspective on why individuals choose to commit terrorist actions. The authors use of case studies back up the RCT theory, adding not only depth but lying out clear empirical evidence of Rational choice for the reader to ponder. Because RCT is a more coherent group defined by a very clear methodology (Burnham 2008 p.26) allows the theory to be implemented into other areas. To give an example, the rationality within committing crime can be directly compared and contrasted towards terrorism interlinking the mental process that go with it, thus in turn creating a powerful theory of analysis which has much literature and backing. Lastly, concluding with my thoughts on using an analytical framework within academic research. I feel using a framework is crucial in order obtain an essay that consists of structural rigour. Studying a topic area can be a daunting task especially a v ery broad topic like many in the social sciences, but using an analytical framework can help break down the topic of your choice helping you research, gather present your findings into a coherent argument. Furthermore without a set framework the article will attempt to answer more questions than it can answer making it a weak descriptive academic piece of work.

Lusitania Essay -- essays research papers

Lusitania It was 2:10 p.m. on May 7, 1915. Leslie Morton, a lookout on the Lusitania, screamed, "Torpedoes coming on the starboard side." Two explosions followed. Within 18 minutes the huge liner, once the largest ever built, sank to the bottom of the Celtic Sea. 1,195 out of the 1,959 people aboard died. Walther Schwieger, commander of the German submarine U- 20, who had fired a single torpedo 750 yards away from the ship, later called it the most horrible sight he had ever seen. The Lusitania entered service between Liverpool and New York on September 7, 1907. Funded by the British Admiralty, the Lusitania, built by the Cunard Steamship Company, was required to double as an auxiliary cruiser in case of war. This was a secret agreement between the Admiralty and Cunard. On May 12, 1913 she was put in drydock to be double plated and hydraulically riveted, as well as modified for the application of guns. War was declared on August 4, 1914, and the ship was sent again into drydock. There she was armed with 12 six-inch guns(Simpson 60). Britain wanted to ship war materials over the Atlantic, but there was an embargo of shipping munitions on passenger ships. America also tended to publish the cargo manifests so that the Allies as well as the Germans would know what is being shipped. Britain found a loophole in this. New cargo added at the last minute did not go on the original manifest, thus a supplementary manifest would be submitted 4 or 5 days later. Also, due to t...

Book of Negroes Essay

As an old woman, Aminata Diallo is brought to London, England, in 1802, by abolitionists who are petitioning to end the slave trade. As she awaits an audience with King George, she recounts her remarkable life on paper, beginning with her life in Bayo, in western Africa, prior to being abducted from her family at age 11, seeing the death of her mother and father, and being marched in a coffle of captives to the coast along with others from her village. Chekura, a boy of similar age who assists the slave catchers, is at the last minute abducted himself and forced to join Aminata on the slave ship. Despite suffering humiliation, witnessing atrocities, enduring squalor and languishing in starvation, Aminata survives the passage to America because she is able to apply the knowledge and skills passed on to her by her parents, especially the ability to â€Å"catch† babies and to understand some African languages. In South Carolina, Aminata is auctioned off to an indigo plantation, along with a man from her village who has lost his senses during the ocean crossing. She learns the language of the â€Å"buckra† through the teachings of Georgia, an American-born slave, as well as from Mamed, the overseer of the plantation. Daily, Aminata must navigate the new dangers of disease and the eye of the plantation master while she searches for a way to return to her homeland. As she carries Chekura’s child, she is warned that Master Appleby could take it away at any time. Sure enough, at ten months, Aminata’s son, Mamadu, is sold by Appleby and Chekura also disappears. Stricken with grief, Aminata falls into a depression and refuses to work on the plantation. Appleby sells her to Solomon Lindo, the indigo inspector of the region, and she departs for a new life in Charles Town where Lindo promises to treat her as a â€Å"servant† rather than as a â€Å"slave† in that she works for wage and pays rent to Lindo. During rioting in New York City that coincides with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, Aminata is presented with an opportunity to escape and does so, while Lindo is forced to flee back to the Carolinas. Aminata quickly makes new friends and connections and supports herself by catching babies and working at a tavern, all the while helping others by teaching them how to read and write. Following the surrender of the British, former slaves who have worked for one year or more behind the lines for the British are offered asylum in Nova Scotia. These people’s names are recorded in a ledger called The Book of Negroes, penned in part by Aminata because of her knowledge of many languages. Aminata and Chekura reunite and are given passage aboard the ship Joseph, but Appleby returns for one final act of vengeance against Aminata: he makes a claim to her, separating her from Chekura once more. While Chekura continues to Nova Scotia, Aminata must stand trial, and it is Solomon Lindo who ends up setting her free. Aminata lands in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, on the last Loyalist ship, and she has to use her talents as a baby catcher, reader and teacher once again to survive, for the sake of herself and her unborn child, as she prepares for the journey to reunite with Chekura in Annapolis Royal. However, her inquiries come up empty. May, their three-year-old child, is abducted by the Witherspoons, a white couple who had befriended Aminata, and Aminata returns to a life without hope. When the opportunity arises for Aminata to cross the ocean again to begin a colony in Sierra Leone, Africa, she is shocked to learn of Chekura’s death and decides to make the journey to her homeland. The struggle to maintain the colony of Freetown under the control of the Sierra Leone Company is complicated by its proximity to Bance Island and the slave trade. Relations with the local Temne are strained, and tempers flare when slave coffles are marched directly in front of Freetown. Longing to see her beloved Bayo village, Aminata agrees to travel back to Bance Island to secure passage into the interior. However, one month into her journey inland, she learns of the betrayal that she is to be sold back into slavery; she flees for days until she finds sanctuary in a village. Realizing that she will never return to her true home, she leaves for London to join the abolitionists to end slavery. She writes an account of her life that is shared in Parliament, and she meets with King George III and Queen Charlotte Sophia. Because of the attention from the newspapers, Aminata’s long-lost daughter, May, finds her after an eighteen-year separation and takes care of her in her old age as the struggle to end slavery continues in Parliament.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 23. Memories

Tm so sorry, Seth. I should have been closer.† Edward was still apologizing, and I didn't think that was either fair or appropriate. After all, Edward hadn't completely and inexcusably lost control of his temper. Edward hadn't tried to rip Jacob's head off – Jacob, who wouldn't even phase to protect himself – and then accidentally broken Seth's shoulder and collarbone when he jumped in between. Edward hadn't almost killed his best friend. Not that the best friend didn't have a few things to answer for, but, obviously, nothing Jacob had done could have mitigated my behavior. So shouldn't have been the one apologizing? I tried again. â€Å"Seth, I – â€Å" â€Å"Don't worry about it, Bella, I'm totally fine,† Seth said at the same time that Edward said, â€Å"Bella, love, no one is judging you. You're doing so well.† They hadn't let me finish a sentence yet. It only made it worse that Edward was having a difficult time keeping the smile off his face. I knew that Jacob didn't deserve my overreaction, but Edward seemed to find something satisfying in it. Maybe he was just wishing that he had the excuse of being a newborn so that he could do something physical about his irritation with Jacob, too. I tried to erase the anger from my system entirely, but it was hard, knowing that Jacob was outside with Renesmee right now. Keeping her safe from me, the crazed newborn. Carlisle secured another piece of the brace to Seth's arm, and Seth winced. â€Å"Sorry, sorry!† I mumbled, knowing I'd never get a fully articulated apology out. â€Å"Don't freak, Bella,† Seth said, patting my knee with his good hand while Edward rubbed my arm from the other side. Seth seemed to feel no aversion to having me sit beside him on the sofa as Carlisle treated him. â€Å"I'll be back to normal in half an hour,† he continued, still patting my knee as if oblivious to the cold, hard texture of it. â€Å"Anyone would have done the same, what with Jake and Ness – † He broke off mid-word and changed the subject quickly. â€Å"I mean, at least you didn't bite me or anything. That would've sucked.† I buried my face in my hands and shuddered at the thought, at the very real possibility. It could have happened so easily. And werewolves didn't react to vampire venom the same way humans did, they'd told me only now. It was poison to them. â€Å"I'm a bad person.† â€Å"Of course you aren't. I should have – ,† Edward started. â€Å"Stop that,† I sighed. I didn't want him taking the blame for this the way he always took everything on himself. â€Å"Lucky thing Ness – Renesmee's not venomous,† Seth said after a second of awkward silence. ‘†Cause she bites Jake all the time.† My hands dropped. â€Å"She does?† â€Å"Sure. Whenever he and Rose don't get dinner in her mouth fast enough. Rose thinks it's pretty hilarious.† I stared at him, shocked, and also feeling guilty, because I had to admit that this pleased me a teensy bit in a petulant way. Of course, I already knew that Renesmee wasn't venomous. I was the first person she'd bitten. I didn't make this observation aloud, as I was feigning memory loss on those recent events. â€Å"Well, Seth,† Carlisle said, straightening up and stepping away from us. â€Å"I think that's as much as I can do. Try to not move for, oh, a few hours, I guess.† Carlisle chuckled. â€Å"I wish treating humans were this instantaneously gratifying.† He rested his hand for a moment on Seth's black hair. â€Å"Stay still,† he ordered, and then he disappeared upstairs. I heard his office door close, and I wondered if they'd already removed the evidence of my time there. â€Å"I can probably manage sitting still for a while,† Seth agreed after Carlisle was already gone, and then he yawned hugely. Carefully, making sure not to tweak his shoulder, Seth leaned his head against the sofa's back and closed his eyes. Seconds later, his mouth fell slack. I frowned at his peaceful face for another minute. Like Jacob, Seth seemed to have the gift of falling asleep at will. Knowing I wouldn't be able to apologize again for a while, I got up; the motion didn't jostle the couch in the slightest. Everything physical was so easy. But the rest†¦ Edward followed me to the back windows and took my hand. Leah was pacing along the river, stopping every now and then to look at the house. It was easy to tell when she was looking for her brother and when she was looking for me. She alternated between anxious glances and murderous glares. I could hear Jacob and Rosalie outside on the front steps bickering quietly over whose turn it was to feed Renesmee. Their relationship was as antagonistic as ever; the only thing they agreed on now was that I should be kept away from my baby until I was one hundred percent recovered from my temper tantrum. Edward had disputed their verdict, but I'd let it go. I wanted to be sure, too. I was worried, though, that my one hundred percent sure and their one hundred percent sure might be very different things. Other than their squabbling, Seth's slow breathing, and Leah's annoyed panting, it was very quiet. Emmett, Alice, and Esme were hunting. Jasper had stayed behind to watch me. He stood unobtrusively behind the newel post now, trying not to be obnoxious about it. I took advantage of the calm to think of all the things Edward and Seth had told me while Carlisle splinted Seth's arm. I'd missed a whole lot while I was burning, and this was the first real chance to catch up. The main thing was the end of the feud with Sam's pack – which was why the others felt safe to come and go as they pleased again. The truce was stronger than ever. Or more binding, depending on your viewpoint, I imagined. Binding, because the most absolute of all the pack's laws was that no wolf ever kill the object of another wolfs imprinting. The pain of such a thing would be intolerable for the whole pack. The fault, whether intended or accidental, could not be forgiven; the wolves involved would fight to the death – there was no other option. It had happened long ago, Seth told me, but only accidentally. No wolf would ever intentionally destroy a brother that way. So Renesmee was untouchable because of the way Jacob now felt about her. I tried to concentrate on the relief of this fact rather than the chagrin, but it wasn't easy. My mind had enough room to feel both emotions intensely at the same time. And Sam couldn't get mad about my transformation, either, because Jacob – speaking as the rightful Alpha – had allowed it. It rankled to realize over and over again how much I owed Jacob when I just wanted to be mad at him. I deliberately redirected my thoughts in order to control my emotions. I considered another interesting phenomenon; though the silence between the separate packs continued, Jacob and Sam had discovered that Alphas could speak to each other while in their wolf form. It wasn't the same as before; they couldn't hear every thought the way they had prior to the split. It was more like speaking aloud, Seth had said. Sam could only hear the thoughts Jacob wanted to share, and vice versa. They found they could communicate over distance, too, now that they were talking to each other again. They hadn't found all this out until Jacob had gone alone – over Seth's and Leah's objections – to explain to Sam about Renesmee; it was the only time he'd left Renesmee since first laying eyes on her. Once Sam had understood how absolutely everything had changed, he'd come back with Jacob to talk to Carlisle. They'd spoken in human form (Edward had refused to leave my side to translate), and the treaty had been renewed. The friendly feeling of the relationship, however, might never be the same. One big worry down. But there was another that, though not as physically dangerous as an angry wolf pack, still seemed more urgent to me. Charlie. He'd spoken to Esme earlier this morning, but that hadn't kept him from calling again, twice, just a few minutes ago while Carlisle treated Seth. Carlisle and Edward had let the phone ring. What would be the right thing to tell him? Were the Cullens right? Was telling him that I'd died the best, the kindest way? Would I be able to lie still in a coffin while he and my mother cried over me? tt didn't seem right to me. But putting Charlie or Renee in danger of the Volturi's obsession with secrecy was clearly out of the question. There was still my idea – let Charlie see me, when I was ready for that, and let him make his own wrong assumptions. Technically, the vampire rules would remain unbroken. Wouldn't it be better for Charlie if he knew that I was alive – sort of – and happy? Even if I was strange and different and probably frighteningtohim? My eyes, in particular, were much too frightening right now. How long before my self-control and my eye color were ready for Charlie? â€Å"What's the matter, Bella?† Jasper asked quietly, reading my growing tension. â€Å"No one is angry with you† – alow snarl from the riverside contradicted him, but he ignored it – â€Å"or even surprised, really. Well, I suppose we are surprised. Surprised that you were able to snap out of it so quickly. You did well. Better than anyone expects of you.† While he was speaking, the room became very calm. Seth's breathing slipped into a low snore. Ifelt more peaceful, but I didn't forget my anxieties. â€Å"I was thinking about Charlie, actually.† Out front, the bickering cut off. â€Å"Ah,† Jasper murmured. â€Å"We really have to leave, don't we?† I asked. â€Å"For a while, at the very least. Pretend we're in Atlanta or something.† I could feel Edward's gaze locked on my face, but I looked at Jasper. He was the one who answered me in a grave tone. â€Å"Yes. It's the only way to protect your father.† I brooded for a moment. â€Å"I'm going to miss him so much. I'll miss everyone here.† Jacob,I thought, despite myself. Though that yearning was both vanished and defined – and I was vastly relieved that it was – he was still my friend. Someone who knew the real me and accepted her. Even as a monster. I thought about what Jacob had said, pleading with me before I'd attacked him. You said we belonged in each other's lives, right? That we were family. You said that was how you and I were supposed to be. So†¦ now we are. It's what you wanted. But it didn't feel like how I'd wanted it. Not exactly. I remembered further back, to the fuzzy, weak memories of my human life. Back to the very hardest part to remember – the time without Edward, a time so dark I'd tried to bury it in my head. I couldn't get the words exactly right; I only remembered wishing that Jacob were my brother so that we could love each other without any confusion or pain. Family. But I'd never factored a daughter into the equation. I remembered a little later – one of the many times that I'd told Jacob goodbye – wondering aloud who he would end up with, who would make his life right after what I'd done to it. I had said something about how whoever she was, she wouldn't be good enough for him. I snorted, and Edward raised one eyebrow questioningly. I just shook my head at him. But as much as I might miss my friend, I knew there was a bigger problem. Had Sam or Jared or Quil ever gone a whole day without seeing the objects of their fixations, Emily, Kim, and Claire? Could they? What would the separation from Renesmee do to Jacob? Would it cause him pain? There was still enough petty ire in my system to make me glad, not for his pain, but for the idea of having Renesmee away from him. How was I supposed to deal with having her belong to Jacob when she only barely seemed to belong to me? The sound of movement on the front porch interrupted my thoughts. I heard them get up, and then they were through the door. At exactly the same time, Carlisle came down the stairs with his hands full of odd things – a measuring tape, a scale. Jasper darted to my side. As if there was some signal I'd missed, even Leah sat down outside and stared through the window with an expression like she was expecting something that was both familiar and also totally uninteresting. â€Å"Must be six,† Edward said. â€Å"So?† I asked, my eyes locked on Rosalie, Jacob, and Renesmee. They stood in the doorway, Renesmee in Rosalie's arms. Rose looked wary. Jacob looked troubled. Renesmee looked beautiful and impatient. â€Å"Time to measure Ness – er, Renesmee,† Carlisle explained. â€Å"Oh. You do this every day?† â€Å"Four times a day,† Carlisle corrected absently as he motioned the others toward the couch. I thought I saw Renesmee sigh. â€Å"Four times? Every day? Why?† â€Å"She's still growing quickly,† Edward murmured to me, his voice quiet and strained. He squeezed my hand, and his other arm wrapped securely around my waist, almost as if he needed the support. I couldn't take my eyes off Renesmee to check his expression. She looked perfect, absolutely healthy. Her skin glowed like backlit alabaster; the color in her cheeks was rose petals against it. There couldn't be anything wrong with such radiant beauty. Surely there could be nothing more dangerous in her life than her mother. Could there? The difference between the child I'd given birth to and the one I'd met again an hour ago would have been obvious to anyone. The difference between Renesmee an hour ago and Renesmee now was subtler. Human eyes never would have detected it. But it was there. Her body was slightly longer. Just a little bit slimmer. Her face wasn't quite as round; it was more oval by one minute degree. Her ringlets hung a sixteenth of an inch lower down her shoulders. She stretched out helpfully in Rosalie's arms while Carlisle ran the tape measure down the length of her and then used it to circle her head. He took no notes; perfect recall. I was aware that Jacob's arms were crossed as tightly over his chest as Edward's arms were locked around me. His heavy brows were mashed together into one line over his deep-set eyes. She had matured from a single cell to a normal-sized baby in the course of a few weeks. She looked well on her way to being a toddler just days after her birth. If this rate of growth held†¦ My vampire mind had no trouble with the math. â€Å"What do we do?† I whispered, horrified. Edward's arms tightened. He understood exactly what I was asking. â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"It's slowing,† Jacob muttered through his teeth. â€Å"We'll need several more days of measurements to track the trend, Jacob. I can't make any promises.† â€Å"Yesterday she grew two inches. Today it's less.† â€Å"By a thirty-second of an inch, if my measurements are perfect,† Carlisle said quietly. â€Å"Be perfect, Doc,† Jacob said, making the words almost threatening. Rosalie stiffened. â€Å"You know I'll do my best,† Carlisle assured him. Jacob sighed. â€Å"Guess that's all I can ask.† I felt irritated again, like Jacob was stealing my lines – and delivering them all wrong. Renesmee seemed irritated, too. She started to squirm and then reached her hand imperiously toward Rosalie. Rosalie leaned forward so that Renesmee could touch her face. After a second, Rose sighed. â€Å"What does she want?† Jacob demanded, taking my line again. â€Å"Bella, of course,† Rosalie told him, and her words made my insides feel a little warmer. Then she looked at me. â€Å"How are you?† â€Å"Worried,† I admitted, and Edward squeezed me. â€Å"We all are. But that's not what I meant.† â€Å"I'm in control,† I promised. Thirstiness was way down the list right now. Besides, Renesmee smelled good in a very non-food way. Jacob bit his lip but made no move to stop Rosalie as she offered Renesmee to me. Jasper and Edward hovered but allowed it. I could see how tense Rose was, and I wondered how the room felt to Jasper right now. Or was he focusing so hard on me that he couldn't feel the others? Renesmee reached for me as I reached for her, a blinding smile lighting her face. She fit so easily in my arms, like they'd been shaped just for her. Immediately, she put her hot little hand against my cheek. Though I was prepared, it still made me gasp to see the memory like a vision in my head. So bright and colorful but also completely transparent. She was remembering me charging Jacob across the front lawn, remembering Seth leaping between us. She'd seen and heard it all with perfect clarity. It didn't look like me, this graceful predator leaping at her prey like an arrow arcing from a bow. It had to be someone else. That made me feel a very small bit less guilty as Jacob stood there defenselessly with his hands raised in front of him. His hands did not tremble. Edward chuckled, watching Renesmee's thoughts with me. And then we both winced as we heard the crack of Seth's bones. Renesmee smiled her brilliant smile, and her memory eyes did not leave Jacob through all the following mess. I tasted a new flavor to the memory – not exactly protective, more possessive – as she watched Jacob. I got the distinct impression that she was glad Seth had put himself in front of my spring. She didn't want Jacob hurt. He was hers. â€Å"Oh, wonderful,'71 groaned. â€Å"Perfect.† â€Å"It's just because he tastes better than the rest of us,† Edward assured me, voice stiff with his own annoyance. â€Å"I told you she likes me, too,† Jacob teased from across the room, his eyes on Renesmee. His joking was halfhearted; the tense angle of his eyebrows had not relaxed. Renesmee patted my face impatiently, demanding my attention. Another memory: Rosalie pulling a brush gently through each of her curls. It felt nice. Carlisle and his tape measure, knowing she had to stretch and be still. It was not interesting to her. â€Å"It looks like she's going to give you a rundown of everything you missed,† Edward commented in my ear. My nose wrinkled as she dumped the next one on me. The smell coming from a strange metal cup – hard enough not to be bitten through easily – sent a flash burn through my throat. Ouch. And then Renesmee was out of my arms, which were pinned behind my back. I didn't struggle with Jasper; I just looked at Edward's frightened face. â€Å"What did I do?† Edward looked at Jasper behind me, and then at me again. â€Å"But she was remembering being thirsty,† Edward muttered, his forehead pressing into lines. â€Å"She was remembering the taste of human blood.† Jasper's arms pulled mine tighter together. Part of my head noted that this wasn't particularly uncomfortable, let alone painful, as it would have been to a human. It was just annoying. I was sure I could break his hold, but I didn't fight it. â€Å"Yes,† I agreed. â€Å"And?† Edward frowned at me for a second more, and then his expression loosened. He laughed once. â€Å"And nothing at all, it seems. The overreaction is mine this time. Jazz, let her go.† The binding hands disappeared. I reached out for Renesmee as soon as I was free. Edward handed her to me without hesitation. â€Å"I can't understand,† Jasper said. â€Å"I can't bear this.† I watched in surprise as Jasper strode out the back door. Leah moved to give him a wide margin of space as he paced to the river and then launched himself over it in one bound. Renesmee touched my neck, repeating the scene of departure right back, like an instant replay. I could feel the question in her thought, an echo of mine. I was already over the shock of her odd little gift. It seemed an entirely natural part of her, almost to be expected. Maybe now that I was part of the supernatural myself, I would never be a skeptic again. But what was wrong with Jasper? â€Å"He'll be back,† Edward said, whether to me or Renesmee, I wasn't sure. â€Å"He just needs a moment alone to readjust his perspective on life.† There was a grin threatening at the corners of his mouth. Another human memory – Edward telling me that Jasper would feel better about himself if I â€Å"had a hard time adjusting† to being a vampire. This was in the context of a discussion about how many people I would kill my first newborn year. â€Å"Is he mad at me?† I asked quietly. Edward's eyes widened. â€Å"No. Why would he be?† â€Å"What's the matter with him, then?† â€Å"He's upset with himself, not you, Bella. He's worrying about†¦ self-fulfilling prophecy, I suppose you could say.† â€Å"How so?† Carlisle asked before I could. â€Å"He's wondering if the newborn madness is really as difficult as we've always thought, or if, with the right focus and attitude, anyone could do as well as Bella. Even now – perhaps he only has such difficulty because he believes it's natural and unavoidable. Maybe if he expected more of himself, he would rise to those expectations. You're making him question a lot of deep-rooted assumptions, Bella.† â€Å"But that's unfair,† Carlisle said. â€Å"Everyone is different; everyone has their own challenges. Perhaps what Bella is doing goes beyond the natural. Maybe this is her gift, so to speak.† I froze with surprise. Renesmee felt the change, and touched me. She remembered the last second of time and wondered why. â€Å"That's an interesting theory, and quite plausible,† Edward said. For a tiny space, I was disappointed. What? No magic visions, no formidable offensive abilities like, oh, shooting lightning bolts from my eyes or something? Nothing helpful or cool at all? And then I realized what that might mean, if my â€Å"superpower† was no more than exceptional self-control. For one thing, at least I had a gift. It could have been nothing. But, much more than that, if Edward was right, then I could skip right over the part I'd feared the very most. What if I didn't have to be a newborn? Not in the crazed killing-machine sense, anyway. What if I could fit right in with the Cullens from my first day? What if we didn't have to hide out somewhere remote for a year while I â€Å"grew up†? What if, like Carlisle, I never killed a single person? What if I could be a good vampire right away? I could see Charlie. I sighed as soon as reality filtered through hope. I couldn't see Charlie right away. The eyes, the voice, the perfected face. What could I possibly say to him; how could I even begin? I was furtively glad that I had some excuses for putting things off for a while; as much as I wanted to find some way to keep Charlie in my life, I was terrified of that first meeting. Seeing his eyes pop as he took in my new face, my new skin. Knowing that he was frightened. Wondering what dark explanation would form in his head. I was chicken enough to wait for a year while my eyes cooled. And here I'd thought I would be so fearless when I was indestructible. â€Å"Have you ever seen an equivalent to self-control as a talent?† Edward asked Carlisle. â€Å"Do you really think that's a gift, or just a product of all her preparation?† Carlisle shrugged, ‘it's slightly similar to what Siobhan has always been able to do, though she wouldn't call it a gift.† â€Å"Siobhan, your friend in that Irish coven?† Rosalie asked. 1 wasn't aware that she did anything special. I thought it was Maggie who was talented in that bunch.† â€Å"Yes, Siobhan thinks the same. But she has this way of deciding her goals and then almost†¦ willing them into reality. She considers it good planning, but I've always wondered if it was something more. When she included Maggie, for instance. Liam was very territorial, but Siobhan wanted it to work out, and so it did.† Edward, Carlisle, and Rosalie settled into chairs as they continued with the discussion. Jacob sat next to Seth protectively, looking bored. From the way his eyelids drooped, I was sure he'd be unconscious momentarily. I listened, but my attention was divided. Renesmee was still telling me about her day. I held her by the window wall, my arms rocking her automatically as we stared into each other's eyes. I realized that the others had no reason for sitting down. I was perfectly comfortable standing. It was just as restful as stretching out on a bed would be. I knew I would be able to stand like this for a week without moving and I would feel just as relaxed at the end of the seven days as I did at the beginning. They must sit out of habit. Humans would notice someone standing for hours without ever shifting her weight to a different foot. Even now, I saw Rosalie brush her fingers against her hair and Carlisle cross his legs. Little motions to keep from being too still, too much a vampire. I would have to pay attention to what they did and start practicing. I rolled my weight back to my left leg. It felt kind of silly. Maybe they were just trying to give me a little alone time with my baby – as alone as was safe. Renesmee told me about every minute happening of the day, and I got the feeling from the tenor of her little stories that she wanted me to know her every bit as much I wanted the same thing. It worried her that I had missed things – like the sparrows that had hopped closer and closer when Jacob had held her, both of them very still beside one of the big hemlocks; the birds wouldn't come close to Rosalie. Or the outrageously icky white stuff – baby formula – that Carlisle had put in her cup; it smelled like sour dirt. Or the song Edward had crooned to her that was so perfect Renesmee played it for me twice; I was surprised that I was in the background of that memory, perfectly motionless but looking fairly battered still. I shuddered, remembering that time from my own perspective. The hideous fire†¦ After almost an hour – the others were still deeply absorbed in their discussion, Seth and Jacob snoring in harmony on the couch – Renesmee's memory stories began to slow. They got slightly blurry around the edges and drifted out of focus before they came to their conclusions. I was about to interrupt Edward in a panic – was there something wrong with her? – when her eyelids fluttered and closed. She yawned, her plump pink lips stretching into a round O, and her eyes never reopened. Her hand fell away from my face as she drifted to sleep – the backs of her eyelids were the pale lavender color of thin clouds before the sunrise. Careful not to disturb her, I lifted that hand back to my skin and held it there curiously. At first there was nothing, and then, after a few minutes, a flickering of colors like a handful of butterflies were scattering from her thoughts. Mesmerized, I watched her dreams. There was no sense to it. Just colors and shapes and faces. I was pleased by how often my face – both of my faces, hideous human and glorious immortal – cropped up in her unconscious thoughts. More than Edward or Rosalie. I was neck and neck with Jacob; I tried not to let that get to me. For the first time, I understood how Edward had been able to watch me sleep night after boring night, just to hear me talk in my sleep. I could watch Renesmee dream forever. The change in Edward's tone caught my attention when he said, â€Å"Finally,† and turned to gaze out the window. It was deep, purply night outside, but I could see just as far as before. Nothing was hidden in the darkness; everything had just changed colors. Leah, still glowering, got up and slunk into the brush just as Alice came into view on the other side of the river. Alice swung back and forth from a branch like a trapeze artist, toes touching hands, before throwing her body into a graceful flat spin over the river. Esme made a more traditional leap, while Emmett charged right through the water, splashing water so far that splatters hit the back windows. To my surprise, Jasper followed after, his own efficient leap seeming understated, even subtle, after the others. k The huge grin stretching Alice's face was familiar in a dim, odd way. Everyone was suddenly smiting at me – Esme sweet, Emmett excited, Rosalie a little superior, Carlisle indulgent, and Edward expectant. Alice skipped into the room ahead of everyone else, her hand stretched out in front of her and impatience making a nearly visible aura around her. In her palm was an everyday brass key with an oversized pink satin bow tied around it. She held the key out for me, and I automatically gripped Renesmee more securely in my right arm so that I could open my left. Alice dropped the key into it. â€Å"Happy birthday!† she squealed. I rolled my eyes. â€Å"No one starts counting on the actual day of birth,† I reminded her. â€Å"Your first birthday is at the year mark, Alice.† Her grin turned smug. â€Å"We're not celebrating your vampire birthday. Yet. It's September thirteenth, Bella. Happy nineteenth birthday!†

Anthro assignment Essays

Anthro assignment Essays Anthro assignment Essay Anthro assignment Essay A second ethical issue that could arise from genetic testing would be that it might be hard to interpret the information about the child through facts and online readings. If a mother decides to abort her child due to a gene mutation she doesnt consider positive, she isnt giving this child a chance to possibly fight it and live longer than expected. Theres not a chance given if the mother takes it away. Lastly, another ethical issue regarding genetic testing would be that it could rut the mothers attitude towards her pregnancy. Some mothers may not be emotionally sound enough to handle the information if it may be bad and that can take a toll on the overall pregnancy. #3 One bias Diamond could have would be the fact that hes Jewish. ATA-Cash seems to be more prevalent in Jewish communities and seeing that Diamonds Jewish this could make the content of his article more geared towards how much it affects Jewish descendants. A second bias or baggage that the author could have is that Hess a male so that could make it a little reader for him to understand or comprehend how the woman might feel during this time. This impacted the article because I think that when he talks about abortions and the options after MIS more matter of fact than sentimental. I think if a woman had written this maybe her nurturing side would have been more prominent than Diamonds views. Lastly another bias see Diamond express in his article is that hes older. I think this impacts the article because he has a lot more facts and explanations that he has gained ever time so it helps him make his point and outline what he has to say. 4 One possible reason the ATA-Cash allele still remains prevalent in certain populations even though they no longer live in ghetto-like environments is because the gene could have been mutated to fit into another environment. Humans and mutations are forever evolving and adapting to this world so TFH gene for ATA-Cash could have changed.

The fail city---Philadelphia, PA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

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Court Observation Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Court Observation Report - Essay Example The witness called the police reporting the incident. Police Dispatch alerted to patrolling cars around the area to the incident. The responding police officers noticed the defendant driving recklessly and notified him of their presence. They instructed the defendant to step out of the vehicle and the defendant accelerated. He attempted to get away but was soon apprehended. The arresting police officer did not instruct the defendant to take part in any legal field sobriety test. The defendant was reluctant to use the Alco-blow device as they were not sure how recently it had been cleaned or where it had last been. The defendant faces two charges; According to Washington State DUI laws, any individual receiving a driver’s license within the state has implied consent to chemical test in the event they are arrested under the suspicion of driving under the influence. The defendant blatantly ignored requests from the arresting officer to use the alcohol Breathalyzer. The client is clearly in violation of RCW 46.20.308. The police engaged in an active pursuit with the defendant after they had spotted him. The police engage pursuit without clearly determining whether the defendant was indeed driving in a wreck less or negligent manner. For this reason, the client was never charged for reckless and negligent driving as required under RCW 46.61.500. The defendant is clearly in violation of by attempting to elude the police when they had given a clear signal of their presence and their intention. The defendant did not heed to request made by the arresting police officer to stop, and instead instigated a car chase with the arresting officers. Under provisions of sections RCW 46.61.502Â  and RCW 46.61.504, the defendant was subjected to a chemical and breath test. The defendant’s alcohol levels were found to be 0.08. The defendant was never under the influence of alcohol. In conclusion, the responding or