Sunday, August 23, 2020
Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Diary - Essay Example 6). Interestingly, in the American culture, classification and protection are given significance. In this way, it is unsatisfactory to get some information about age, pay, compensation, or even close to home subtleties, for example, weight, among others. It is unquestionably awkward for one to see or to encounter individuals from different societies carrying on in manners saw as unsuitable in one. For the specific case of open presentation of fondness, individuals from Western culture regard it typical and worthy to shake hands, grasping one another, embracing, as an indication of welcome or offering farewells. The conduct, viewed as unsuitable in Arab culture, and even in some Asian culture, ought to be uncovered and known in the Western culture so individuals would see how to appropriately carry on in everyday collaborations without culpable others from differing social directions. As showed in Echo Depiction, ââ¬Å"Arabs rapidly increase an adverse impression in the event that on e (even a westerner) carries on excessively open with an individual of the inverse sex.à à Arabs could decipher that kind of conduct by all accounts and consider the individual to have low good standardsâ⬠(standard. 5).
Friday, August 21, 2020
Chinese Students Attitude Towards the Giant Panda: A Study
Chinese Students Attitude Towards the Giant Panda: A Study Presentation Individuals have been pulled in by explicit species (Goedeke, 2004). Concerning explicit species, Kellert (1996) breaks down that people will in general be pulled in to the species which has an enormous body and can walk, run, or fly. The monster panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca is one of the most renowned among those appealing species (Lorimer 2007). The monster panda is an individual from the Ursidae family and happens in just three areas in China (Reid and Gong 1999). The species is named Endangered on the IUCN Red List with the assessed populace of close to 1600 people (IUCN 2009). In China, which is home to the monster panda, individuals express their ability to pay (WTP) for the mammoth panda preservation, which is sufficient to infer that this appealling species can gain their natural surroundings (Kontoleon and Swanson 2003). As opposed to this financial perspective, Yang (2005) alludes to the way that little is thought about Chinese people groups view of the mammoth panda, albeit a few examinations have been made on the general mentalities towards natural life. Along these lines, she considers the disposition of general society in China towards the mammoth panda. She breaks down the connection between the mentalities of Chinese individuals towards the goliath panda and the picture of the species in the media, and infers that the general demeanor in China is probably going to be related with the emblematic and local worth instead of natural logical worth. This relates with general Chinese perspectives towards natural life and the picture of the mammoth pand a developed by the media (Yang 2005). Be that as it may, since this end is drawn dependent on the writing audit, it may not reflect people groups real perspectives. In this manner, this disposition despite everything should be examined. This exploration expects to investigate Chinese understudies disposition towards the monster panda by semi-organized. This report comprises of three segments. To begin with, the examination techniques are introduced including member, the advancement of meeting, questions, systems, and an investigation. In the subsequent segment, the outcomes from an investigation of the understudies disposition are depicted. The last area of this paper talks about the bits of knowledge of fundamental finding and a few confinements of this meeting overview for additional exploration. Strategy Member Ten Chinese understudies at the University of Kent were met for this investigation. The meeting test was made out of two male and eight female understudies, and of two undergrad and eight postgraduate understudies. The understudies majors were named follows: Conservation and Tourism, International Commercial Law, Human Resource Management, Accounting and Financial Management, European Culture and Language, International Business Management, and English Literature. The respondents were selected through close to home contact with one Taiwanese and three Chinese understudies. The questioner educated about the reason, point, structure, and length of the meeting ahead of time to affirm investment (Sarantakos 2005). After an understudy concurs those conditions, the time and spot for the meeting was orchestrated. The improvement of thought for inquiries questions and methodology So as to normalize talk with guides, a pilot review was directed at an underlying stage (Newing in press). This pilot review on November first through the skype uncovered that the meeting was hard to reply and dissect attributable to explicit inquiries, in this manner, a portion of inquiries were changed to improve the meeting. The real meeting review, roughly 25 minutes for each meeting, was directed from November third to twentieth. The primary meeting was led with an understudy who knows about the mammoth pandas to test adjusted inquiries and to build up the foundation of inquiries; subsequently, an unstructured meeting was completed right now. In the subsequent meeting, the interviewee who was inexperienced with the theme was picked to affirm whether all inquiries in the meeting were not hard to respond in due order regarding all interviewees. Since the understudy appeared to be awkward to discuss a new subject, the spot was revised. Furthermore, with an end goal to diminish awkward imperatives on the understudy, the meeting was not recorded. Along these lines, further meetings were recorded by note-taking to lead similarly as this subsequent meeting. In light of these initial two meetings, the further inquiries and systems of the meeting were normalized. Questions This meeting comprises of six inquiries (see Appendix). The main inquiry expected to be a moderately simple inquiry to discuss (Robson 2002; Newing in press). The subsequent inquiry was identified with the primary inquiry, so it had the option to lead the interviewees to principle subject of the meeting. This inquiry was one of primary inquiries of this meeting just as the third, fourth, and fifth inquiry. These inquiries were set to comprehend Chinese understudies perspectives towards the mammoth panda. The last inquiry was not legitimately identified with the subject and it should be a basic inquiry as a chill question. In any case, it was found at the advancement phase of this meeting this 6th inquiry welcomed the further conversation about the connection between the mammoth panda and Chinese individuals. Along these lines, the inquiry was kept in each meeting. Strategies This meeting review followed the methodology depicted by Robson (2002:277); Introduction, warm-up, fundamental group of meeting, chill, and conclusion. In the presentation stage, questioners and the understudies were presented one another, and discussed their own courses at University of Kent as warm-up. During the meeting, it is weighted to evoke data to augment the benefit of a semi-organized meeting. Along these lines, the profundity of answer was shifted between the inquiries and the answerers. It is additionally critical to take note of that the meeting was regularly halted to explain what the interviewee implied or replied. Now and again, it was affirmed at chill stage or after the meeting by trading email. Examination During the information assortment, the questioner attempted to record comments, reminders, coding (Newing in press). At an underlying phase of an investigation, the coding method was led adhered to the guidance depicted by Newing (in press: 218). As top codes, a few qualities from Kellerts nine qualities (1996) (see Table 1) were utilized as predefined codes. For sub-codes, the itemized data identified with the characterized top codes was distinguished. At next stage, the technique proposed by Sarantakos (2005) was taken to create from open-coding to the idea. Be that as it may, the coding strategy for this meeting portrayal was not adequate for pivotal, specific coding since top codes utilized at open-coding stage and center classification were comparative with one another. Result Every single Chinese understudy demonstrated their positive mentalities towards the goliath panda. All things considered, the species has a unique importance for Chinese understudies, and a decent representation of this is the appropriate response that if the goliath panda gets terminated, it will be disorder, I mean frenzy feeling. As in Yangs study (2005), the emblematic worth appeared to assume the significant job in deciding the perspectives towards mammoth pandas. Notwithstanding, not at all like Yangs study (2005), the other five qualities, utilitarian, ecologistic-logical, humanistic, moralistic, and negativistic values, are likewise the significant factors on singular mentalities. As opposed to above qualities, three of nine qualities, naturalistic, tasteful, and household esteem, were hard to recognize during the meeting. The explanations behind this are (1) so as to get data for comprehension of Chinese understudies naturalistic and stylish worth, the subsequent inquiries c oncerning understudies encounters and perspective on nature ought to have been asked during the meeting. Notwithstanding, these inquiries would divert us a long way from the motivation behind this paper, (2) the household estimation of the monster panda was scarcely talked about all through the overview, despite the fact that Yang (2005) proposes that this worth is likewise one prevailing an incentive in Chinese individuals perspectives towards the mammoth panda. From these two reasons, the point by point discoveries about just utilitarian, ecologistic-logical, emblematic, humanistic, moralistic, and negativistic qualities will be depicted in following subsection. Utilitarian worth Understudies demonstrated two kinds of answers with respect to this worth; for ecotourism and for political relations. Concerning ecotourism, a few understudies referenced that they might want to have mammoth pandas in their towns to draw in travelers. This idea can be found in the appropriate response the goliath panda carry the cash to our town. Besides, an understudy outlined the animal varieties as cash when approached to pick single word for the monster panda. It was additionally referenced that travel industry for the goliath panda is an advantage for the advancement of nearby towns by opening the street for the offices, creating transportation administration, and giving business openings. The second kind of answer was utilizing the mammoth panda for strategic relations. A few words, for example, the instrument for discretionary/global trade, present for outside nations, and the ad for China were utilized when interviewees clarified the connection between Chinese individuals an d the goliath panda. Ecologistic-logical worth Every Chinese understudy demonstrated their biological information about the monster panda, and their insight is provided by natural training, instruction in essential and center school, media, and books. All respondents referenced that the goliath panda is endemic to China, subsequently, it is essential to secure the species. One interviewee kept on saying we treat them as a fortune. It was additionally referenced that the species requires explicit eating routine and living space to endure. Not everything except rather a large portion of Chinese understudies suggest the number of inhabitants in the monster panda in wild was not steady and referenced hostage rearing to save the species. Moreove
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Who is the Dreamer Complications of the American Dream - Literature Essay Samples
The core of the American Dream, for many, entails liberty, a value historically represented through New Yorkââ¬â¢s famed amusement park Coney Island. Millions of spectators visited the park as a place of leisure to escape social prescriptions as well as the humdrum everyday life. In reality, the park represented the rapid emergence of consumption through manipulative cooperation with industrial society. Like Coney Island, Americaââ¬â¢s hegemonic structure is really disguised behind its appeal of autonomy. Forced migrants and immigrants quickly realized that Americaââ¬â¢s picturesque aesthetics left little to no room for them. According the American Dream, everyone has a fair chance at wealth if the individual is driven and hardworking. This faà §ade, painting the country as the harbor of freedom and liberty, promotes the nostalgia of an America that exists for the ââ¬Å"otherâ⬠only after confronting the dynamics of Americanââ¬â¢s hegemonic society or conforming to its mass economic culture. This complex reality is notably exemplified through two facets of American popular culture: the transformation of an Eastern European family in Ragtime and the perspective of an African-American poet, Langston Hughes, through ââ¬Å"Let America Be America Again.â⬠The beginning of Hughesââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Let America Be America Againâ⬠complicated the notion that America is the land of the free through the medium of two perspectives. The first three stanzas resonant a voice of privilege and ignorance, in contrast to a learned voice (enclosed by parenthesis) that reveres with personal experience. The first narrator yearns for America to be ââ¬Å"America againâ⬠(Hughes). This desire in itself suggests two things, one about the country and one about the narrator: that the country has undergone an ideological shift and that the narrator is a conservative who is unhappy about it. The voice continues by describing the America that they want back. Perhaps reminiscent of the early settlements in the New World, the description specifically calls for ââ¬Å"the pioneer on the plain [to seek] a home where he himself is freeâ⬠(Hughes). Such a reference is suggestive of the beginnings of American prosperity, which was at the cost of Native A merican disenfranchisement. As the parenthetical voice suggests, ââ¬Å"America never was Americaâ⬠for everyone (Hughes). While one group gained freedom from ââ¬Å"kings conniveâ⬠and ââ¬Å"tyrants scheme,â⬠the other became displaced. Hughes conveys two perspectives that paint two distinct portraits of America (Hughes). The dominant voice describes an America where ââ¬Å"opportunity is real, and life is free, [and] Equality is in the airâ⬠(Hughes). If not for the parenthetical voice who insists that America has never offered them equality or freedom, the other perspective may hold full dominance and purity to the audience. Through punctuation and position, Hughes gives a sense of authority to the voice of the stanza; comparingly, the parenthesized voice is limited and dependant. The use of parenthesis in this instance makes clear that a different perspective is present but also that this voice is less significant. If performed, the back-and-forth might look like a monologue focused on one principal character while the other voice barely whispered in the background. Indeed, the reader may be tempted to skip the insertions altogether. On the other hand, stanzas are poetrys mandatory vehicles, and the voice of the stanzas places authority and superiority over the parenthesized sentences. Punctuation permits this distinction but so does position where the almost muted parenthesized voice is always placed after the dominant perspective. This placement suggests that the parenthesized voice is merely a response to its counterpart and would not exist without the voice of the stanza. In the America implicitly described by the first three stanzas, the disenfranchised Americans are inferior to and dependent on ââ¬Å"the pioneerâ⬠(Hughes). The rise of the now non-parenthesized voice as the narrator taunts the first narratorââ¬â¢s illustration of the America by teasing out ideals of exploitation as a means of privilege. The narrator begins by demonstrating that the ââ¬Å"meâ⬠in the parenthesized intervals of the past are several interconnected tribes including poor whites, black people, Native Americans, immigrants, farmers, and workers. These people are excluded from the American Dream, yet they constructed it. The narrator confesses that they too had a dream that was quickly disseminated after ââ¬Å"bearing slaveryââ¬â¢s scars,â⬠being ââ¬Å"driven from the land,â⬠being ââ¬Å"fooled and pushed apart,â⬠or being pitted against each other (Hughes). Together, as the narrator points out, these overworked individuals made this drea m possible for the privileged; they ââ¬Å"made America the land it has becomeâ⬠(Hughes). From Americaââ¬â¢s popular culture down to its industrial society, ââ¬Å"every brick and stoneâ⬠should be credited to ââ¬Å"the peopleâ⬠(Hughes). Having constructed the very fabric of America, the narrator says ââ¬Å"we, the people, must redeem the landAnd make America againâ⬠(Hughes). By grouping the often-separated groups of minorities, the narrator has constructed a counterhegemonic structure and hints at moving to hegemonic influence as a way to gain freedom and break the chains of exploitation. Like Hughes, Mameh, Tateh, and The Little Girl in E.L. Doctorowââ¬â¢s Ragtime challenge the notions of freedom within the American Dream. Immediately upon their arrival, the family encountered authoritative figures (immigration officers and judgmental police officers) who imposed a threat upon their hopes of freedom (Doctorow 14-15). Officers pushed them through a mechanical procedure in a ââ¬Å"human warehouseâ⬠where immigrants were tagged, given showers, and arranged on benches (Doctorow 14). Their first interactions in America commodified them in a way that would soon become all too familiar. Even the narrator of chapter three, limits these individuals to a people who ââ¬Å"killed each other casually,â⬠ââ¬Å"raped their own kind,â⬠ââ¬Å"stank of fish and garlic,â⬠and ââ¬Å"had no honorâ⬠(Doctorow 14). The family settles in the Lower East Side of New York with jobs and dreams of prosperity. From morning until nights, The Little Girl and Mameh s ew knee pants, earning a total of seventy cents per dozen. The father, on the other hand, ââ¬Å"made his living in the streetsâ⬠as a silhouette artist (Doctorow 15). With their combined income, the family can only afford to live in an unsanitary closet-sized tenement. The family is clearly in poverty, but that fact runs contrary to their effort. Like so many other immigrants, America exploits them by capitalizing from their work and returning mere pocket change. Simultaneously, this mechanical system commodifies individuals and strips them of freedom. Any attempts that the family makes to get ahead only pushes them backwards, proving their limitations and further installing their role in America as commodities. The girlââ¬â¢s entry to school signified a loss of revenue for the already-poor family. Education is a means of bettering oneself; it is a commitment that should yield long-term success. Rather than viewing it this way, ââ¬Å"the crisisâ⬠left Mameh and Tateh in disarray (Doctorow 16). Americaââ¬â¢s systematic abuse of their labor made them view themselves as well as their daughter as a commodity. When The Little Girl took sick, Tateh helplessly stood over his daughter; he did not want to leave her alone but also knew that a day without work would cost him (Doctorow 47). Mameh took notice of her value as a sexual commodity and utilized it, which in turn resulted in Tateh driving her away (Doctorow 15). The industrial complex of America takes a psychological toll on its workers. Because work provides such slim earnings, the workers overwork themselves and prioritize work over education, health, and love ââ¬âcommodifying themselves in the same ways that America does. Renaming himself ââ¬Å"Baron,â⬠Tateh realizes that he must sever connections himself f rom Americaââ¬â¢s working class and conform to the socialite society to achieve the freedom advertised by the American Dream. Doctorow reintroduces Tateh as a new character as he and his daughter vacation in Atlantic City. He introduces himself to Mother as Baron Ashkenazy, a man of the moving-picture business but never mentions his Jewish roots (Doctorow 254). This ââ¬Å"new existence,â⬠perpetuating the ills of consumer culture, participated in the capitalism that Tateh had previously observed with disgust (Doctorow 15, 258). Tateh and The Little Girl now wined and dined with privileged families like Mother and Father. Gramsciââ¬â¢s concept of ââ¬Å"contradictory consciousness,â⬠as explained by T.J. Jackson Lears, suggests that subordinate groups (like Tateh and The Little Girl who represent Jewish immigrants) may become compelled to identify with the dominant culture, even as they has previously resisted (Lears 576). Ultimately, assimilation became the rational solution for them. Despaired by the boundaries of Americaââ¬â¢s work society, Tateh saw no other way out. The American Dream advertises ideals of freedom, liberty, and prosperity but fails to give proper credit to those from which it exploits. Instead, the Americanist superiority complex imposes tools of exclusion and commodification to limit the ââ¬Å"otherâ⬠or ââ¬Å"the people,â⬠as Hughesââ¬â¢ refers. Nostalgic views of America then are only applicable to the dominant group while the subordinates only receive a fraction of this freedom, unless they conform. It is the nostalgic appearance of America, though, that continues to lure people in with the sense of false opportunity as Tateh and his family did. This system is a sequence in which the disenfranchised continue to blindly propel the hegemonic structure by remaining complicit in their exploitation or by assimilating with the hierarchies of society and turning thei r backs on heritage. References Hughes, L. (2004). Let America be America again and other poems (1st Vintage Books ed.). New York: Vintage Books. Doctorow, E. L. (1975). Ragtime. New York: Random House. Lears, T.J.J. (1985). ââ¬Å"The Concept of Cultural Hegemony: Problems and Possibilities.â⬠Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
My Long Term Educational And Professional Goals - 952 Words
When beginning the psychology major, I was unsure of what my long term educational and professional goals were. Now that I am in my senior year, I am still not positive about my path overall path. However, I do have a plan that I feel will work perfect for me. I am reaching a time in my life where I will be financial stable, be married, have a partner to share responsibilities, and have the knowledge to be the best parent possible. I think it is important for one parent to be home before the children enter preschool. Once the children are entered in school, I feel it would be a good time for me to either go back to school or choose a career I can achieve with my bachelorââ¬â¢s degree. If I were to go back to school, it would most likely be to obtain a masterââ¬â¢s degree for counseling. I am very interested in Central Washington Universityââ¬â¢s Master Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. In ten years, if I complete my masters, I see myself working with families, children or adolescents. This might be either in an office setting or school setting. I know that I would not want to go to the clientââ¬â¢s home as the primary setting. There are several ways in which the courses I have taken at Central Washington University have influenced personal growth for my educational goals. First, taking PSY 300 research methods, PSY 362 introductory statistics and participating in directed research has contributed immensely to my personal growth. Writing a research proposal in PSY 300 was veryShow MoreRelatedContinuing Academic Sucess1291 Words à |à 6 Pagesensure their academic success by knowing the benefits of setting goals, knowing available resources, and by knowing the writing process, and maintaining academic integrity. Benefits of setting goals Setting goals help increase your motivation by creating a positive climate. 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Importance of Research and Development - 720 Words
Today, as new technologies are arriving to the market faster than ever before and the world is becoming more connected. There is a necessity to develop the right tools and solutions to deliver the best value to the customers. In any sector of the economy, this necessity is driven by innovation in process, products and services with the objective to enhance the experience and value to the customer. Also, economic globalization and advances in technology have significantly increased market competitiveness. Consequently, innovation, RD, and education are three extraordinary opportunities for the Dominican Republic that need to be interconnected as a necessity to develop the human capital required for building the society of the future. In this context, several studies indicate that investment in RD will foster the capacity to create, spread, adopt, and adapt knowledge in ensuring long-term economic growth and sustainable development. A higher productivity level based on innovation promotes economic growth, creates employment with better levels of remuneration, reduces poverty on a sustainable basis and raises general living standards. The creation and spread of knowledge is carried out by government, businesses, universities, research institutes, and nonprofit organizations. RD is recognized as an important driver of economic and social progress worldwide. 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The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism ââ¬Free Samples for Students
Question: Describe about The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism? Answer: Introduction: The term celebrity refers to someone who is very famously and widely recognized and celebrated. These celebrities are sometimes known personally by few people but are always been an image that has been constructed by the different medias in the world like the press, television and also the online media which is fast growing and capturing the attention widely over the globe. Most of the people have an impression about a celebrity which is mainly related on the different statements and images that are created by them or are also based on the representations of the nature of what they are like (Alexander Garcia Dttmann (2000). They have been many new technologies in communication fields of the networked media that have made it possible for these well known celebrities as well as the non famous ones achieve this fame and glory. Therefore the aim of this case study is to investigate the famous pop star Lady Gaga who is one of the most followed celebrities in todays online media. Lady Gaga was born in a Greenwich Village club called The Bitter End. Her original name is Stefani Germanotta and she has plenty of things to be spoken about her career in music and as a performer. Her first two albums sold about 8 million copies in the U.S. and she is also one of the artists who got their first five singles reach in the number one position in the Billboard pop song charts. However the music alone does not explain the true spectacle of Lady Gaga along with this it could be seen how her relationship with the audience and her ability to recognize the impacts it has on her performance (Fredric Jameson (2001). Throughout her entire career has given a keen awareness of the way the changes are seen in communication through the context. Celebrity Culture: This is a field of study of those who are not very well established and prestigious in the field of entertainment. However few scholars study celebrity culture over the entire career of the celebrity, the importance of them to the public and also the way they penetrate into the society and make a difference in the rapidly growing decades and also results in the increase in the research amount of the recent fields (P. David Marshall (1997). This can also be called as a boom period in the analysis of the celebrity and this can further help the fans to understand themselves much better as they usually act as a reflection of the public figure in which the fans can see their images. This also can have a direct effect of the celebrities on the identities of the fans. This happens due to the majority of the celebrities who are traditional become famous and acquires their statuses through the presence of them in the various social media. Therefore the increased movement in the ethnic, religi ous, national and social boundaries the traditional ways of constructing and placing ones on identity in the world socially has decreased in its strength (Gamson. J. (1994). However in the present era the various social communities and reference groups in which the public can get a sense of belonging has increased around the forming of celebrities and the products of culture which is present in the media. This explains partially as to why celebrities are so important in the present age and also why so many people have a dream and longing to become someone famous and also as to why there is a constant demand for more new celebrities which are seen and taken as artifacts, news-stories, music and pictures. Therefore it is important that a celebrity should be studied because celebrity culture and well known individuals are playing a very strong role in the development of todays world in terms of their sense of belonging, sense of community and also in the construction of their identitie s. Also by doing these studies on celebrities it is also possible to get a better understanding of the people who are living in todays modern societies and how they value their surroundings and make sense about their existence in the world. The celebrities create a space in our lives which is ordinary and very lively since the peoples awareness is so used to being surrounded by their feelings and thoughts and hence celebrity culture also focuses on the ordinariness as a class of discourse and has become unexplored in the studies of the stars. However this positive build up of the ordinariness of the celebrities also gives way to the construction of the celebrities that lack in the cultural taste, style and capital for which they are subjected to the vilification of the entire nation. Many studies have also shown the importance in the celebritys culture and its value of the real self of these stars behind the public performances. It is also seen that celebrity culture is a constant struggle over the meaning of class and how to explore these discourses of class operations in the everyday world and how they are subjected to the working class (Chris Rojek (2001). Hence this theory explains the way the performances of the ce lebrities are categorized as fake and real in the magazines and the various fields of celebrity culture in which there is a constant flow of these genres. Lady Gaga is a celebrity who has a tendency for political and social activism and she also has the inbuilt power of spreading her political views through social media and draw attention to the different causes of charity and projects of humanity. There have been many researches done for Lady Gagas activism and the way she has harnessed the various social Medias like Twitter and Face book in order to connect and mobilize the fans based on the causes of the activists. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Gamsons ideas of the relationships of todays society and celebrity culture is a basic distinction between fame and celebrity images that is made by a number of social Medias. He states that a long lasting phenomenon which is mostly taken from the mass society which is urban ion nature and in which the individuals are glorified in their works is called fame. However on the other hand celebrity is a modern phenomenon which is related to mass media which is brought about by television, magazines, the internet, newspapers and various other technologies. Gamson also has very nicely analyzed all the complexities of the celebrity culture as a form and has provided the inside account without going on the native side. He also has given a critical view without overlooking the details in the making of the celebrities and its central place in the American society. References Alexander Garcia Dttmann Between Cultures: Tensions in the Struggle for Recognition, Verso, London 2000. Chris Rojek, Celebrity, Reaktion Books, London 2001. Fredric Jameson, Postmodernism or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism,Verso, London 2001. Gamson. J. (1994), Claims to fame: Celebrity in contemporary America, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. David Marshall, Celebrity and Power, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis 1997. The most explicit, but also the most intellectually rigorous, representative of the antiFiske industry is Jim McGuigan, Cultural Populism, Routledge, London 1992.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Comparison between Michael Henchard and Okonkwo Essay Example
Comparison between Michael Henchard and Okonkwo Paper This will be a direct comparison between the two leading characters in the books Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe and The Major of Casterbridge, written by Thomas Hardy. I will compare and contrast both the differences and similarities in the personalities of the Nineteenth Century major and the more contemporary trial leader. Okonkwo is more contemporary because the book is set in a very traditional African village, and has basic, moral issues associated with it. At the beginning of Chapter Five in The Major of Casterbridge we meet a man of distinct wealth and power, shown through the highly prestigious title that he has earned. It is of course Michael Henchard, newly elected Major of the corn-merchant town, Casterbridge. He is at the height of his success through his profiting business, and has earned the respect of fellow colleges through his perseverance of power. Okonkwo, a tribal elder, also earned his respect through his own successes. From the very first page we hear about his youthful triumph in the wrestling ring by, throwing Amalinze the Cat. His fame rested on solid personal achievements, and from that moment on he built up his possessions and power through the Obi that he owned. The Obi, in war and in farming was among the trappings of success. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between Michael Henchard and Okonkwo specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between Michael Henchard and Okonkwo specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between Michael Henchard and Okonkwo specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In both books we also learn about the mens shaded history, especially the events of Michael Henchard. From one profound mistake would base the beginning of his oath, an oath that would drive him to success. After more than just one dose of rum in his fermity, Henchard stood up before a crowded tent and proceeded to sell his wife. Only on the final bid of five Guineas, did the transaction conclude and his wife and newly born child disappear to a new life. His oath was made in some hope of repenting his terrible actions, and so before the altar, in Gods ver home, did Henchard swear never to touch another drop of alcohol for as many years as he had been alive. His idle and improvident father, Unoka, heavily influences Okonkwos history. Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and throughout his manhood had made no attempt to make a name foe himself or even provide the basic food and money (cowries) that his family needed to survive. He owed many men money, promising it was only a temporary solution and that he would soon pay them back. Unoka knew this was not true, he had no intention of paying off his debts and so just lived off other mens money. In turn it was left to Okonkwo, who became the leading man in the family, to graft hard and scrape together enough cowries to feed both himself and his mother. He started this process by collective farming yams, where by borrowing yam seeds from another farmer and planting them. In return a fixed amount of his crop would be theirs as a repayment. Slow and laborious it may have been, Okonkwo even failing to produce a crop in his very first year, yet Nwakibie, the farmer, could see the strengths in Okonkwo that the young man would go far, I can trust you. I know it as I look at you. So with great perseverance Okonkwo provided for his family. At this moment in the book, the present, Henchard seems to be in a stable situation in both his business matters and position in the town. There is, however, the lurking problem of his past, with history looking set to repeat itself. It is the return of his sold wife, Susan Henchard, who could bring unhappy reminders back with her and in turn cause the unmasking of Henchards shady past. This unveiling of younger days would be sure to jeopardise his position in the town. Another problem that looms ahead may be the problem of growing wheat and managing a business that seems to be out growing the control on Henchard. He is already the biggest and most successful wheat dealer in Casterbridge, but his business may grow so big that he is unable to run it economically and this could potentially ruin him. Okonkwo, on the other hand, has only his emotions to contend with to stay a respected elder in the tribe. He fears that one false move could leave him worse for wear and result in him turning out like his father. If there is one thing, more than anything Okonkwo is afraid of, it is his past. He does not want his fathers traits to surface in him or be attributed to him. He has always tried to be the opposite of his father, he had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father, and so went about being of high status in the clan. There is a similarity between these two men in the complexity and impulsiveness of their characters. The selling of Henchards wife shows a weakness in his character, in the way that he gave in to the pressure of those around him, who planted the idea in his head. It was also an act of impulse, the same impulse that grips Okonkwo when he beats his second wife during the week of peace, But Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through. They are also both controlled by pride. It was due to pride that Okonkwo would not stop his beating because he did not want to look weak among men, and he wanted his pride to be maintained. Henchard could not prevent the sale of his wife because he too did not want to back down in front of a crowd. I think that although both men have these weaknesses of character, it is only really Henchard who feels any kind of guilt towards his actions. You can tell this from the oath he makes in front of God and the way he adapts his lifestyle in the hope of making him a better person. Okonkwo, however, does nothing to repent his actions. When told by the priest he must, bring to the shrineone henand a hundred cowries, for beating his second wife during the week of peace, Okonkwo feels hard done by. He feels that the priest doesnt understand the reasoning behind it and that if he did, he would surely have not punished Okonkwo. Okonkwo, was not the man to go about telling his neighbours he was in error. Henchards first major battle to contend with is the competition and threat posed by the young, keen and intelligent Scots man, Farfrae. Farfrae decides to set up business to directly rival that of Henchards. This threat intimidates the insecure Henchard because he sees Farfrae to be undermining him and undoubtedly wants all the glory for himself. I think that this threat is all in the mind of Henchard and that it is really a case of Henchards pride, always wanting to be the best at everything. He may feel intimidated by Farfraes intelligence, something that Henchard lacks and is naturally jealous of. This jealously makes Henchard feel insecure about his own successes, and forces him to lash out at his workers and villagers. Impulsive reactions to his workers often end in sharp, rude remarks that offend and frighten his workers. When Abel Whittle was late for work one too many times, Henchard decided to make an example of him and humiliate him in front of everyone to teach him a lesson. Farfrae has a much gentler approach and demands that Whittle, get back home, and slip onbreeches, so that he may have a little dignity. When Henchard hears he has been questioned the result is a moment of tension between the two men as a battle for power emerges. It is these occasions that favour the kindness of Farfrae. Henchards response is to defend himself and he acts of course on impulse. He doesnt want to risk his livelihood being taken over by a younger, more intelligent and efficient Scots man. I have been hearing things that vexed me, says Henchard as the pressure is piled on him and the reality of Farfraes popularity among the villagers is revealed. It is a young boy who unleashes the true feelings and thoughts of those who know Henchard, all of which a good word among it cannot be found. Henchards a foolhes a diment. I dont think that Henchards livelihood is at steak, I feel it is only his pride and perhaps the amount of power he has over his own business. He is beginning to become less prominent in the running of the business and doesnt want to loose his power among the villagers. The people of Casterbridge used to hold him in awe because he has accomplished so much, yet now he feels that the only way to regain that is to regain complete control of business and his life. These actions would though have the reverse effect as the villagers carry Farfrae too close to their hearts to wish to see him suffer. Okonkwos reaction to pressure is evident from his reaction to mere criticism. His second wife, who had accidentally killed a banana tree, received a, good beating, for her actions and Okonkwo in turn took his gun in the intention of going hunting. He was not a hunter, and his beaten wife even dared to mutter so. In his impulsive rage he turns around and fires the gun in her direction, luckily for her missing. This is a man who values the traditions of his tribe and runs his life by the way things have been for centuries. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. Okonkwo did not want to appear weak to fellow tribal members, as his dad had appeared to his elders when he was a young man. You can feel the tension and hatred felt towards Unoka, who had caused such anger in Okonkwo because of his laziness and the shame he brought on the family. Okonkwo remembers the first time realising that his father was not all he had hoped, when a young boy had told him his father was, agbalaanother name for a womana man who had taken no title. From that day on, Okonkwo promised himself one thing, to hate everything his father, Unoka had loved. Unoka resembles gentleness in his approach to life, not caring or worrying too much about his debts or working hard to grow enough crops to support his family. So as a consequence, Okonkwo rules his household with a firm fist and doe not stand for idle people. With his passion for hard work and leadership, mixed with his impulsive character, you see moments in the book where he cannot control his own emotions and so lashes out at people. Two examples, both of which I have already mentions are the beating of his wife during the week of peace and the attempted shooting of another wife. Both these acts are classic examples of instant reactions, without thinking things through or considering the consequences it may have. In death, you see a difference in the characters. Although the decline of both men is slow and laborious, going from a respected position in their community to loosing all they own, their reasoning behind death are both contrary. Henchard pities his own existence and without a familiar figure to latch on to for support, like Farfrae or Elizabeth Jane, he finds himself sinking very low. He takes refuge in an old cottage, not wanting to show himself to anyone and wallow in his own pity until he no longer has the strength to survive. You can tell this by the note he leaves for whoever may find him as a form of will, no flours be planted on my grave and that no man remember me. He doesnt want anyone to think of him because in his own mind he is not worthy of being grieved over and he fears that people will only remember the bad things about him, like the impulsive nature and short fused temper when he did not get his own way. Okonkwos death, however, does seem to have an underlying motive. His thinking seems to be governed, at least in part, by the survival of the clan and restoration of traditions. He takes his own life to show the clan that they must keep the traditions alive if they want to survive in this world. It is an offence against the Earthfor a man to take his own life, and so, his body is evilonly strangers may touch it. Although such a loss to the clan tortures the men, it also shows them that they must follow the traditions of their elders, being that they cannot bury him for he has committed a deadly sin. A sin the other tribe men will have to cleanse. To shed blood on the clan is considered the ultimate crime as it is contradictory to everything else you are ever taught. His death is also pay back on the white people to show them the horrific atrocities they have enforced on the land and how they have destroyed the lives of many black Nigerians. He also wants to frustrate the white man by not telling then the message, found in the book. Throughout the two books you find many instances where both men are forced to express their emotions violently in many occasions and most definitely domineering. Each challenge that the pair faces seems to unleash even more of this inner demon, as if a chord inside them is slowly snapping under the constant demands.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Objectives and Goals of a Lesson Plan
Objectives and Goals of a Lesson Plan Objectives, also known as goals, are the first step in writing a strongà lesson plan. This article includes descriptions of the objectives of lesson plans, how to write them, examples, and tips. Goal-Writing Tips Whenever possible, write clearly defined and specific objectives (goals) that are easy to measure. That way, at the conclusion of your lesson, it will be relatively easy to determine if you met or missed your objectives, and by how much. Objective In the objectives section of your lesson plan, write precise and delineated goals for what you want your students to be able to accomplish after the lesson is completed. Here is an example: Lets say that you are writing a lesson plan on nutrition. For this unit plan, your objective for the lesson is for students to name a few food groups, identify the food groups, and learn about the food pyramid. Your goal should be specific and use numbers where appropriate. This will help you determine if you met your objectives or not after the lesson is over. What to Ask Yourself In order to define your lessons objectives, consider asking yourself the following questions: What will students accomplish during this lesson?To what specific level (i.e. 75% accuracy) will the students perform a given task in order for the lesson to be considered satisfactorily accomplished?Exactly how will the students show that they understood and learned the goals of your lesson? Will this occur through a worksheet, group work, presentation, illustration, etc? Additionally, you will want to make sure that the lessons objective fits in with your district and state educational standards for your grade level. By thinking clearly and thoroughly about the goals of your lesson, you will ensure that you are making the most of your teaching time. Examples Here are a few examples of what an objective would look like in your lesson plan. After reading the book Life in the Rainforest, sharing a class discussion, and drawing plants and animals, students will be able to place six specific characteristics into a Venn diagram of the similarities and differences of plants and animals, with 100% accuracy.While learning about nutrition, students will keep a food journal, create a balanced meal using the food pyramid (or food plate, as it is now called), write a recipe for a healthy snack, as well as name all of the food groups and the foods that correlate with them.While learning about the local government, the goal of this lesson is to have students identify the components of local government and be able to generate four to six sentences using local government facts and vocabulary.While students learn about the pattern of digestion, by the end of the lesson they will know how to physically point out areas of the digestive track, as well as tell specific facts about how the food we eat can turn into the fuel that our bodies need. After the objective, you will define the anticipatory set. Edited By: Janelle Cox
Saturday, February 29, 2020
A Comparison Study of Brutus and Antonys Speeches and Their Rhetoric
A Comparison Study of Brutus' and Antony's Speeches and Their Rhetoric Antonyââ¬â¢s speech at Caesarââ¬â¢s funeral in Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Julius Caesar was more effective than Brutusââ¬â¢ because Antony used a multifaceted emotional argument, instead of relying on one assertion, as Brutus had. Because of this, Antony was able to sway the crowd to his side, against Brutus and the Conspirators. ââ¬Å"[Antony] does notâ⬠¦ show the insufficiency of any one approachâ⬠¦ Rather, his different rhetorical devices play into and strengthen one anotherâ⬠(Wills 46). The main flaw in Brutusââ¬â¢ speech at Caesars funeral was that his argument had only one source of proof, his reputation. ââ¬Å"Brutusââ¬â¢ speech at Caesars funeral hammered home one argument- that his own honor had to be relied onâ⬠(Wills 79). During his speech, Brutus gave no tangible proof that Caesar was ambitious: no examples, witnesses, or letters proving that what he was saying was fact. The main weakness to this kind of argument is that if that one source of proof, in this case Brutusââ¬â¢ honor, is disproved, the entire argument falls away. Another flaw in Brutusââ¬â¢ oration was his failure to ââ¬Ëreadââ¬â¢ the crowd correctly, and because of this, he presented the wrong type of argument, a logical one, when he should have projected a more emotional one, as Antony did. While planning his speech, Brutus did not realize that the crowd would be more reactive to emotional prompts. While presenting a logical argument to more educated people usually has the desired effect, lesser educated people are almost always more responsive to emotional cues. During his address, Brutus only tries to emotionally involve the crowd once, when he tells them he loved Caesar, and was Caesars good friend, but he loved Rome more, and had no choice but to slay him. Although it is a good tactic, he did not emphasize it enough, and seeing that it was the only emotional point in his entire dialogue, the pathos part of his argument left much to be desired. ââ¬Å"[Brutusââ¬â¢ oration] is all very cut and dried, pedantically soâ⬠(Wi lls 53). Overall, Brutus uses to much logos, logical points of an argument, for a uneducated mob. They agree with him and cheer him on, and want to crown him king, proving that they do not understand Brutusââ¬â¢ real reason for killing Caesar. Brutus did not want a king. But Brutusââ¬â¢ most intriguing flaws are the flaws in his personality that blocked him from understanding the crowd. ââ¬Å"Brutus is a vain manâ⬠¦ an impractical idealistâ⬠¦ and lacks the saving sense of humor that springs from an understanding of his fellowmanâ⬠(Matthews, Web). The way he acts and thinks gives him a terrible disadvantage, because he does not understand or know how to talk to the people. Since Brutus is from the upper class, he didnââ¬â¢t have much interaction with the lower classes of society, and did not realize that common men are not logical, idealistic creatures. If they were, his speech would have been very effective. Antony, on the other hand, had several examples that Caesar was not ambitious. ââ¬Å"[Caesar] hath brought many captives home to Rome,/ Whose ransoms did the general coffers fillâ⬠(3.2.90-92 Shakespeare). Antony reminds the people of Rome that Caesar was not ambitious because he gave his war spoils to the people of Rome instead of keeping them for himself. ââ¬Å"When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;/ Ambition should be made of sterner stuffâ⬠(3.2.93-94 Shakespeare). He also tells them of Caesarââ¬â¢s compassion and empathy for the common people. ââ¬Å"I thrice presented to [Caesar] a kingly crown,/ Which he did thrice refuseâ⬠(3.2.98-99 Shakespeare). He then goes on to say that if Caesar had been ambitious, he would have taken the crown that Antony had presented to him. Caesars refusal proves Antonyââ¬â¢s point that Caesar was not ambitious, and Antony begins to gain the approval of the common people as they think about what he has said. One of the other techniques used by Antony to sway the people was deceit. He lied or talked about things he never could have known to reach the crowd on a more emotional level. For example, Antony tells the crowd how he remembered the first time Caesar put on the cloak that he died in. Antony was not an associate of Caesar during the military campaign that overcame the Nervii, when he said Caesar first put on the cloak. Also, Caesar probably would not be wearing an old cloak he had fought battles in to a ceremony at which he expected to be crowned. Later, Antony points out the various wounds on Caesars body, and assigns each one to a specific conspirator. But how could Antony, who didnââ¬â¢t witness Caesars murder, know who caused the individual wounds? The individual conspirators probably could not find the individual wounds they had caused because of the frenzied way they attacked him. But although it us untrue, this is a very good tactic employed by Antony because it ââ¬Ëput s a faceââ¬â¢ on the conspirators, and gives the now angry mob people to hate. Antony triumphs because his skills and are strong in every area that Brutusââ¬â¢ are weak, and he has the advantage of speaking after Brutus, he knows what heââ¬â¢s going up against. ââ¬Å"The psychology of the crowd that [Brutus] ignored or was ignorant of Mark Antony understands and appliesâ⬠(Matthews, Web). Antony is able to understand the mob, and tailor an argument full of emotional prompts that involve the mob, and make them feel pity and empathy for Caesar, like when he points out the holes in Caesars cloak. His other advantage, speaking after Brutus, makes Antonyââ¬â¢s job easier because now he knows exactly what he has to disprove, and has already seen how the crowd reacted to Brutus. With Brutus gone, Antony can disprove everything Brutus said without interference, and he does so with great ease, citing Caesars past actions and proving his lack of ambition. The many-pronged attack of Antony was what made his address to the mob much more effective than Brutusââ¬â¢. This was because he only had to disprove Brutusââ¬â¢ reputation as an honorable man to destroy Brutusââ¬â¢ entire argument. He did that easily by proving to the mob that Caesar was not ambitious, and therefore that Brutus was not honorable. Antony has lots of different examples to prove Caesar was not ambitious, and lied to get the audience more emotionally involved. He also figured out that he should focus more on pathos because the crowd was uneducated and very emotional. In the end, Antony was more effective because he used so many different advantages, proof, and various emotional ââ¬Ëpropsââ¬â¢ in such a masterful way that they tied in with each other and mutually supported each other, making him virtually invincible. Works Cited Delaney, Bill. Shakespeares JULIUS CAESAR. Explicator 60.3 (2002): 122. MAS Ultra School Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. Wills, Gary. Rome and Rhetoric: Shakespeares Julius Caesar. New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, c2011. Book. Matthews, Brander. The Plays from Plutarch. Shakespeare as a Playwright. Brander Matthews. Charles Scribners Sons, 1913. 254-263. Rpt. in Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Mark W. Scott. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. Literature Resource Center. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. Harley Granville-Barker, ââ¬Å" ââ¬ËJulius Caesarââ¬â¢,â⬠in his ââ¬Å"Prefaces to Shakespeare, first series, Sidgwick Jackson, Ltd., 1927, pp. 51-132 Stopford A. Brooke, ââ¬Å" ââ¬ËJulius Caeserââ¬â¢,â⬠in his ââ¬Å"Ten More Plays of Shakespeare, Constable and Company Ltd., 1913, pp, 58-90 Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
The quantitative analysis of Affordable Care Act Essay
The quantitative analysis of Affordable Care Act - Essay Example The policy denies the rich their rightful earnings from the work that they do through the high taxes levied against them, and as such discouraging them from working hard. They earn less when they work for more hours, whilst the low-income earners earn more when they work for less hours. This creates an economic state of reservation, whereby people feel reluctant, especially the low-income earners, from working hard and improving their social setting for fear of upgrading into a higher taxation level (Akosa, Asako and Kosali 45). Nevertheless, it is imperative to note that the Health care policy brought about the much-needed reforms into the heath care policy. The ObamaCare Act dubbed after president Obama, or the Patient protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) promotes social justice and equality by ensuring the low incomes earners who cannot afford insurance policies have the capacity to access them, and as such have access to a higher quality health insurance. The act provides regulations that govern the insurance market, thereby mandating the purchase of insurance. This creates a state of social equality in the health insurance market. Unlike before where these insurance firms preferred the rich and healthy as their most viable and valuable customers, and as such, shunned the low income earners and those with a sickness history, the act compels them to sell their insurance to the low-income earners as well, which promotes social care and affordability of health insurance (Dye 82). The best theory to use in analyzing this Affordable Care Act is the Theory of Marginal Utility, which is the additional increment to utility obtained through the consumption of an additional unit of good, or service. The marginal utility of the two income brackets in the United States subjected to this policy is very different. For instance, the Marginal Utility for the rich people is much lower than
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Prisoner of War Camps in United States during World War 2 Essay
Prisoner of War Camps in United States during World War 2 - Essay Example Describing the typical disorientation and vulnerability of these German prisoners, historian Ron Robin writes, "Captivity destroyed all remnants of their predictable routine and hurled the surrendering troops into a maelstrom of disorder, uncertainty, and disgrace. . . . At every stage of the arduous journey from the temporary stockades in Europe and Africa to POW camps in the United States, the prisoners were systematically deprived of all remaining symbols of their past, pride, and identity." (Ron Robin, 1995) American and German prisoners experienced vastly different traveling conditions en route to their permanent camps. American captives were either marched on foot or jammed into "40-and-8" railroad box cars. Prisoners were sometimes locked in these cars for days, without food, water, or any kind of sanitary facilities. The result, according to ex-POW Kenneth Simmons, was "a trip that would turn men into swine." (Simmons, 1960). Compounding the danger was the "friendly" fire of Allied planes that had no way of knowing who was trapped inside their targets. It is no exaggeration to compare this harrowing experience to the notorious "Middle Passage" endured by captive Africans on their way to slavery in the New World. German prisoners initially suffered similar dangers, but once safely on board ship creature comforts greatly improved, although they did face the possibility of being sunk by their own U-boats. Once they had landed safely in the United States, German prisoners were amazed to discover the comfort of a Pullman car. The POW camps in U.S. were all over the country, while largely in Michigan, due to the warm, mild climate. Starting with Michigan, POWs were generally at Fort Custer. They had all these POWs and there must have been 400-500 camped in there. Although in the camps, the POWs' work was to make Gerber baby food. They sowed all the vegetables and after that grounded them into Gerber baby food. They were good workers. Two of such camps were Camp Owosso and Fort Custer in Michigan: Camp Owosso in Michigan: The U.S. Government, during WWII setup a Prisoner of War Camp at the corner of M-21 and Carland Rd. The area was used as a dirt race track, but since it was not used during the war, it served as Camp Owosso. The prisoners were captured on the battlefields of Europe and Africa and after being brought to Owosso, were allowed to work on area farms, the Roach Canning Factory at Owosso or the Aunt Janes Pickle Factory on Easton Rd. near New Lothrup. Under the Emergency Farm Administration Labor Program, most prisoners chose to work and get paid, over staying confined in camp. The prisoners preferred working at the farms, as they given extra food and there had to be one guard for every 3 prisoners. They earned about 80 cents a day. The first prisoners were typical Nazis, but the later ones of 1945 had a different attitude. They preferred farm work if they had a chance. At the Canning Factory, corn, peas and tomatoes were canned there and the prisoners were transferred by truck to and from the plant each day. As they rode through town, they would sing and holler and wave to anyone they saw. They apparently enjoyed being prisoners, far from
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Culture Of India :: essays research papers fc
Nearly one sixth of all the human beings on Earth live in India, the world's most populous democracy. Officially titled the Republic of India, it's 1,269,413 sq. mi. lie in South Asia, occupying most of the Indian subcontinent, bordered by Pakistan (W); China, Nepal, and Bhutan (N); and Myanmar (E) and Bangladesh forms an enclave in the NE. Its borders encompass a vast variety of peoples, practicing most of the world's major religions, speaking scores of different languages, divided into thousands of socially exclusive castes, and combining the physical traits of several major racial groups (Compton's). The modern nation of India (also known by its ancient Hindi name, Bharat) is smaller than the Indian Empire formerly ruled by Britain. Burma (now Myanmar), a mainly Buddhist country lying to the east, was administratively detached from India in 1937. Ten years later, when Britain granted independence to the peoples of the Indian subcontinent, two regions with Muslim majorities--a lar ge one in the northwest (West Pakistan) and a smaller one in the northeast (East Pakistan)--were partitioned from the predominantly Hindu areas and became the separate nation of Pakistan. East Pakistan broke away from Pakistan in 1971 to form the independent nation of Bangladesh. Also bordering India on its long northern frontier are the People's Republic of China and the relatively small kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. The island republic of Sri Lanka lies just off India's southern tip (New World Encyclopedia).Much of India's area of almost 1.3 million square miles (3.3 million square kilometers--including the Pakistani-held part of Jammu and Kashmir) is a peninsula jutting into the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. There are three distinct physiographic regions. In the north the high peaks of the Himalayas lie partly in India but mostly just beyond its borders in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. South of the mountains, the low-lying Indo-Ga ngetic Plain, shared with Pakistan and Bangladesh, extends more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal (Compton's). Finally, the peninsular tableland, largely the Deccan, together with its adjacent coastal plains, makes up more than half of the nation's area. In general, India's climate is governed by the monsoon, or seasonal, rain-bearing wind. Most of the country has three seasons: hot, wet, and cool. During the hot season, which usually lasts from early March to mid-June, very high temperatures are accompanied by intermittent winds and occasional dust storms (Concise). Culture Of India :: essays research papers fc Nearly one sixth of all the human beings on Earth live in India, the world's most populous democracy. Officially titled the Republic of India, it's 1,269,413 sq. mi. lie in South Asia, occupying most of the Indian subcontinent, bordered by Pakistan (W); China, Nepal, and Bhutan (N); and Myanmar (E) and Bangladesh forms an enclave in the NE. Its borders encompass a vast variety of peoples, practicing most of the world's major religions, speaking scores of different languages, divided into thousands of socially exclusive castes, and combining the physical traits of several major racial groups (Compton's). The modern nation of India (also known by its ancient Hindi name, Bharat) is smaller than the Indian Empire formerly ruled by Britain. Burma (now Myanmar), a mainly Buddhist country lying to the east, was administratively detached from India in 1937. Ten years later, when Britain granted independence to the peoples of the Indian subcontinent, two regions with Muslim majorities--a lar ge one in the northwest (West Pakistan) and a smaller one in the northeast (East Pakistan)--were partitioned from the predominantly Hindu areas and became the separate nation of Pakistan. East Pakistan broke away from Pakistan in 1971 to form the independent nation of Bangladesh. Also bordering India on its long northern frontier are the People's Republic of China and the relatively small kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. The island republic of Sri Lanka lies just off India's southern tip (New World Encyclopedia).Much of India's area of almost 1.3 million square miles (3.3 million square kilometers--including the Pakistani-held part of Jammu and Kashmir) is a peninsula jutting into the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. There are three distinct physiographic regions. In the north the high peaks of the Himalayas lie partly in India but mostly just beyond its borders in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. South of the mountains, the low-lying Indo-Ga ngetic Plain, shared with Pakistan and Bangladesh, extends more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal (Compton's). Finally, the peninsular tableland, largely the Deccan, together with its adjacent coastal plains, makes up more than half of the nation's area. In general, India's climate is governed by the monsoon, or seasonal, rain-bearing wind. Most of the country has three seasons: hot, wet, and cool. During the hot season, which usually lasts from early March to mid-June, very high temperatures are accompanied by intermittent winds and occasional dust storms (Concise).
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Storm Born Chapter Two
Wil Delaney was in his early twenties, with straw-yellow hair in need of a haircut. He had pasty white skin and wore wire-rimmed glasses. When I showed up at his house the next morning, he had to undo about twenty locks before he could open the door, and even then, he would only peek out with the security chain in place. ââ¬Å"Yes?â⬠he asked suspiciously. I put on my business face. ââ¬Å"I'm Odile. Lara set up our appointment?â⬠He studied me. ââ¬Å"You're younger than I thought you'd be.â⬠A moment later, he closed the door and undid the chain. The door opened again, and he ushered me inside. I glanced around as I entered, taking in stacks and stacks of books and newspapers ââ¬â and a definite lack of light. ââ¬Å"Kind of dark in here.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can't open the blinds,â⬠he explained. ââ¬Å"You never know who'll be watching.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh. Well. What about the lights?â⬠He shook his head. ââ¬Å"You'd be amazed how much radiation lights and other electrical devices emit. It's what's making cancer run rampant in our society.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠We sat at his kitchen table, and he explained to me why he thought his sister had been abducted by the gentry. I had a hard time concealing my skepticism. It wasn't like this kind of thing was unheard of, but I was starting to pick up on Lara's ââ¬Å"schizoâ⬠vibe. It was highly possible that the gentry could simply have been a figment of his imagination. ââ¬Å"This is her.â⬠He brought me a five-by-seven picture showing him and a pretty girl leaning into each other against a grassy backdrop. ââ¬Å"Taken just before the abduction.â⬠ââ¬Å"She's cute. And young. Does sheâ⬠¦did sheâ⬠¦live with you?â⬠He nodded. ââ¬Å"Our parents died about five years ago. I got custody of her. Not much different than how it used to be.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you mean?â⬠Bitterness crossed that neurotic face, an odd juxtaposition. ââ¬Å"Our dad was always off on some business trip, and our mom kept sleeping around on him. So it's always just sort of been Jasmine and me.â⬠ââ¬Å"And what makes you think she was taken by gen ââ¬â fairies?â⬠ââ¬Å"The timing,â⬠he explained. ââ¬Å"It happened on Halloween. Samhain Eve. That's one of the biggest nights for abductions and hauntings, you know. Data supports it. The walls between the worlds open.â⬠He sounded like he was reciting from a textbook. Or the Internet. Sometimes I thought Internet access was like putting guns in the hands of toddlers. I tried not to roll my eyes as he rambled. I didn't really need a layman explaining remedial information to me. ââ¬Å"Yeah, I know all that. But a lot of scary people ââ¬â humans ââ¬â roam around on Halloween too. And lots of other times. I don't suppose you reported it to the police?â⬠ââ¬Å"I did. They weren't able to turn up anything, not that I really needed them. I knew what had happened because of the location. The place she disappeared. That was what made me know fairies did it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where?â⬠ââ¬Å"This one park. She was at a party with some kids from school. They had a bonfire in the woods, and they saw her wander off. The police traced her tracks to this clearing, and then they just stopped. And you know what was there?â⬠He gave me a dramatic look, evidently ready to impress me. I didn't give him the satisfaction of asking the obvious question, so he answered it for me. ââ¬Å"A fairy ring. A perfect circle of flowers growing in the grass.â⬠ââ¬Å"It happens. Flowers do that.â⬠He shot up from the table, incredulity all over his face. ââ¬Å"You don't believe me!â⬠I worked hard to keep my face as blank as a new canvas. You could have painted a picture on it. ââ¬Å"It's not that I don't believe what you're describing, but there are a lot more mundane explanations. A girl alone in the woods could have been abducted by any number of things ââ¬â or people.â⬠ââ¬Å"They said you were the best,â⬠he told me, like it was some kind of argument. ââ¬Å"They said you kick paranormal ass all the time. You're the real deal.â⬠ââ¬Å"What I can or can't do isn't relevant. I need to make sure we're on the right track. You're asking me to cross physically into the Otherworld. I almost never do that. It's dangerous.â⬠Wil sat back down, face desperate. ââ¬Å"Look, I'll do anything at all. I can't let her stay there with those ââ¬â with those things. Name your price. I can pay anything you want.â⬠I glanced around curiously, taking in the books on UFOs and Bigfoot. ââ¬Å"Uhâ⬠¦what exactly do you do for a living?â⬠ââ¬Å"I run a blog.â⬠I waited for more, but apparently that was it. Somehow I suspected that generated less money than even Tim made. Hmphf. Bloggers. I didn't get why everyone and their brother thought the world wanted to read their thoughts onâ⬠¦well, nothing. If I wanted to be subjected to meaningless blather, I'd watch reality television. He was still looking at me pleadingly, with big blue puppy dog eyes. I nearly groaned. When had I grown so soft? Didn't I want people to think of me as some cold and calculating shamanic mercenary? I'd vanquished a keres yesterday. Why was this sob story getting to me? It was actually because of the keres, I realized. That stupid sexual suggestion had been so revolting to me that I just couldn't erase the image of little Jasmine Delaney being some gentry's plaything. Because that's what she would be, though I'd never tell Wil that. The gentry liked human women. A lot. ââ¬Å"Can you take me to the park she disappeared from?â⬠I asked at last. ââ¬Å"I'll get a better sense if fairies really were involved.â⬠Of course, it actually turned out that I took him because I quickly decided I wasn't going to let him drive me anywhere. Having him as a passenger taxed me enough. He spent the first half of the ride slathering some really thick sunscreen all over him. I guess you had to take precautions when you lived in a cave and finally emerged into the light. ââ¬Å"Skin cancer's on the rise,â⬠he explained. ââ¬Å"Especially with the depletion of the ozone layer. Tanning salons are killing people. No one should go outside without some kind of protection ââ¬â especially here.â⬠That I actually agreed with. ââ¬Å"Yeah. I wear sunscreen too.â⬠He eyed my light tan askance. ââ¬Å"Are you sure?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, hey, it's Arizona. Hard not to get some sun. I mean, sometimes I walk to the mailbox without sunscreen, but most of the time I try to put it on.â⬠ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËTry,'â⬠he scoffed. ââ¬Å"Does it protect against UVB rays?â⬠ââ¬Å"Um, I don't know. I mean, I guess. I never burn. It smells pretty good too.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not good enough. Most sunscreens will protect from UVA rays only. But even if you don't burn, the UVB rays will still get through. Those are the real killers. Without adequate protection, you can probably expect an early death from melanoma or some other form of skin cancer.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠I hoped we got to the park soon. When we'd almost reached it, a traffic light stopped us under an overpass. I didn't think anything of it, but Wil shifted nervously. ââ¬Å"I always hate being stopped under these. You never know what could happen in an earthquake.â⬠I again schooled myself to neutrality. ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦it's been awhile since our last earthquake around here.â⬠Yeah. Like, never. ââ¬Å"You just never know,â⬠he warned ominously. Our arrival couldn't have come a moment too soon. The park was green and woodsy, someone's idiotic attempt to defy the laws of southern Arizona's climate. It probably cost the city a fortune in water. He led me along the trail that went to Jasmine's abduction spot. As we approached it, I saw something that suddenly made me put more credence in his story. The trail intersected another one at a perfect cross. A crossroads, often a gate to the Otherworld. No circle of flowers grew here now, but as I approached that junction, I could feel a slight thinness between this world and the other one. ââ¬Å"Who knew?â⬠I murmured, mentally testing the walls. It wasn't a very strong spot, truthfully. I doubted much could pass here from either world right now. But on a sabbat like Samhainâ⬠¦well, this place could very well be an open doorway. I'd have to let Roland know so we could check it when the next sabbat rolled around. ââ¬Å"Well?â⬠Wil asked. ââ¬Å"This is a hot spot,â⬠I admitted, trying to figure out how to proceed. It appeared I was zero for two in gauging the credibility of these last two clients, but when 90 percent of my queries were false leads, I tended to keep a healthy dose of skepticism on hand. ââ¬Å"Will you help me then?â⬠ââ¬Å"Like I said, this really isn't my thing. And even if we decide she was taken to the Otherworld, I have no idea where to look for her. It's as big as ours.â⬠ââ¬Å"She's being held by a king named Aeson.â⬠I spun around from where I'd been staring at the crossroads. ââ¬Å"How the hell do you know that?â⬠ââ¬Å"A sprite told me.â⬠ââ¬Å"A sprite.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. He used to work for this guy Aeson. He ran away and wanted revenge. So he sold the information to me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sold it?â⬠ââ¬Å"He needed money to put down a deposit on an apartment in Scottsdale.â⬠It sounded ludicrous, but it wasn't the first time I'd heard of Otherworldly creatures trying to set up shop in the human world. Or of crazy people who wanted to live in Scottsdale. ââ¬Å"When did this happen?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, a few days ago.â⬠He made it sound like a visit from the UPS guy. ââ¬Å"So. You were seriously approached by a sprite and only now thought to mention it?â⬠Wil shrugged. Some of the sunscreen he'd missed rubbing in showed on his chin. It kind of reminded me of kindergarten paste. ââ¬Å"Well, I'd already known she was taken by fairies. This just sort of confirmed it. He was actually the one who mentioned you. Said you killed one of his cousins. Then I found some locals that backed up the story.â⬠I studied Wil. If he hadn't seemed so hapless, I almost wouldn't have believed any of this. But it smacked too much of truth for him to be making it up. ââ¬Å"What did he call me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠ââ¬Å"When he told you about me. What name did he give you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦your name. Odile. But there was something else tooâ⬠¦Eunice?â⬠ââ¬Å"Eugenie?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, that was it.â⬠I paced irritably around the clearing. The second of two Otherworldly denizens to know my name in as many days. That was not good. Not good at all. And now one of them was trying to get Wil to lure me into the Otherworld. Or was it truly a lure? Sprites weren't really known for being criminal masterminds. If I'd killed his cousin, I suppose he might hope some other motivated creature would take me down. ââ¬Å"So what? Are you going to help me now?â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know. I've got to think on it, check up on some stuff.â⬠ââ¬Å"But ââ¬â but I've shown you and told you everything! Don't you see how real this is? You have to help me! She's only fifteen, for God's sake.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wil,â⬠I said calmly, ââ¬Å"I believe you. But it's not that simple.â⬠I meant it. It wasn't so simple, no matter how much I wanted it to be. I hated Otherworldly inference more than I hated anything else. Taking a teenage girl was the ultimate violation. I wanted to make the guilty party pay for this. I wanted to make them suffer. But I couldn't cross over with guns blazing. Getting myself killed would do none of us any good. I needed more information before I could proceed. ââ¬Å"You have to ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I snapped, and this time my voice wasn't so neutral. ââ¬Å"I do not have to do anything, do you understand? I make my own choices and take my own jobs. Now, I'm very sorry about your sister, but I'm not jumping into this just yet. As Lara told you, I don't generally do jobs that take me into the Otherworld. If I take this one, it'll be after careful deliberation and question-asking. And if I don't take it, then I don't take it. End of story. Got it?â⬠He swallowed and nodded, cowed by the fierce tone in my voice. It was not unlike the one I used on spirits, but I felt only a little bit bad about scaring Wil with it. He had to prepare himself for the highly likely possibility that I would not do this for him, no matter how much we both wanted it. On the way home, I swung by my mom's place, wanting to talk to Roland. Sunset threw reddish-orange light onto their house, and the scent of her flower garden filled the air. It was the familiar smell of safety and childhood. When I walked into the kitchen, I didn't see her anywhere, which was probably just as well. She tended to get upset when Roland and I talked shop. He sat at the table working on a model airplane. I'd laughed when he picked up this hobby after retiring from shamanism, but it had recently occurred to me it wasn't so different from working puzzles. God only knew what stuff I'd find to keep me busy when I retired. I had the uneasy feeling I'd make a good candidate for cross-stitching. His face broke into a smile when he saw me, making laugh lines appear around the eyes of the weathered face I loved. His hair was a bright silver-white, and he'd managed to keep most of it. I was five-eight, and he was only a little taller than me. But despite that height, he was solidly built and hadn't lost muscle with age. He might be pushing sixty, but I had a feeling he could still do some serious damage. Roland took one look at my face and gestured me to a chair. ââ¬Å"You're not here to ask about Idaho.â⬠I hadn't really understood their recent vacation choice, but whatever. Giving him a quick kiss, I held my arms around him for a moment. I didn't love many people in this world ââ¬â or any other ââ¬â but him I would have died for. ââ¬Å"No. I'm not. But how was it anyway?â⬠ââ¬Å"Fine. It's not important. What's wrong?â⬠I smiled. That was Roland. Always ready for business. If my mom would have let him, I suspected he'd still be out there fighting, right by my side. ââ¬Å"Just got a job offer. A weird one.â⬠I proceeded to tell him all about Wil and Jasmine, about the evidence I'd found for her abduction. I also added in Wil's bit of information about this Aeson guy. ââ¬Å"I've heard of him,â⬠said Roland. ââ¬Å"What do you know?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not a lot. Never met him, never fought him. But he's strong, I know that much.â⬠ââ¬Å"This gets better and better.â⬠He eyed me carefully. ââ¬Å"Are you thinking about doing it?â⬠I eyed him back. ââ¬Å"Maybe.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's a bad idea, Eugenie. A very bad idea.â⬠There was a dark tone in his voice that surprised me. I'd never known him to back down from any danger, especially one where an innocent was involved. ââ¬Å"She's just a kid, Roland.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know, and we both know that the gentry get away with taking women every year. Most don't ever get recovered. The danger's too high. That's the way it is.â⬠I felt my ire rising. Funny how someone telling you not to do something can talk you into it. ââ¬Å"Well, here's one we can get back. We know where she is.â⬠He rubbed his eyes a little, flashing the tattoos that marked his arms. My tattoos depicted goddesses; his were of whirls, crosses, and fish. He had his own set of gods to appeal to ââ¬â or in this case, God. We all invoked the divine differently. ââ¬Å"This isn't a drop-in and drop-out thing,â⬠he warned. ââ¬Å"It'll take you right into the heart of their society. You've never been that deep. You don't know what it's like.â⬠ââ¬Å"And you do?â⬠I asked sarcastically. When he didn't answer, I felt my eyes widen. ââ¬Å"When?â⬠He waved a hand of dismissal. ââ¬Å"That doesn't matter. What matters is that if you go over in body, you'll get yourself killed or captured. I won't let you do that.â⬠ââ¬Å"You won't let me? Come on. You can't send me to my room anymore. Besides, I've gone over lots of times before.â⬠ââ¬Å"In spirit. Your total time over in body's probably been less than ten minutes.â⬠He shook his head in a wise, condescending way. That irked me. ââ¬Å"The young never realize how foolish something is.â⬠ââ¬Å"And the old never realize when they need to step aside and let the younger and stronger do their jobs.â⬠The words came out before I could stop them, and I immediately felt mean. Roland merely regarded me with a level look. ââ¬Å"You think you're stronger than me now?â⬠I didn't even hesitate. ââ¬Å"We both know I am.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠he agreed. ââ¬Å"But that doesn't give you the right to go get yourself killed over a girl you don't even know.â⬠I stared at him in surprise. We weren't exactly fighting, but this attitude was weird for him. He'd married my mom when I was three and adopted me shortly thereafter. The father-daughter bond burned in both of us, obliterating any longing I might have had for the birth father I'd never known. My mom almost never spoke about him. They'd had some sort of whirlwind romance, I knew, but in the end, he didn't want to stick it out ââ¬â not for her, not for me. Roland would have done anything for me, kept me away from any harm that he could ââ¬â except when it came to my job. When he'd realized I could walk worlds and cast out spirits, he'd started training me, and my mother hated him for it. They were the most loving couple I'd ever met, but that choice had nearly broken them apart. They'd stayed together in the end, but she'd never been happy about what I did. Roland, however, saw it as a duty. Destiny, even. I wasn't like one of those silly people in the movies who could ââ¬Å"see dead peopleâ⬠and go crazy from it. I easily could have ignored my abilities. But as far as Roland was concerned, that was a sin. To neglect one's calling was a waste, especially when it meant others would suffer. So he tried to treat me as objectively as he would any other apprentice, fighting his personal feelings. Yet, for some reason now, he wanted to hold me back. Weird. I'd come here for strategy and ended up on the defensive. I changed the subject abruptly, telling him about how the keres had known my name. He cut me a look, not wanting to drop the Jasmine topic. My mom's car pulled in just then, giving me a temporary victory. With a sigh and a look of warning, he told me not to worry about the name. It happened sometimes. His had eventually gotten out too, and little had come of it. My mom came into the kitchen, and shamanic business disappeared. Her face ââ¬â so like mine, down to the shape and high cheekbones ââ¬â put on a smile as warm as Roland's. Only hers was tinged with something a little different. She always carried a perpetual concern for me. Sometimes I thought it simply had to do with what I did for a living. Yet, she'd had that worry ever since I was little, like I might disappear on her at any moment. Maybe it was just a mom thing. She placed a paper bag on the counter and began putting away groceries. I knew she knew what I was doing there, but she chose to ignore it. ââ¬Å"You going to stay for dinner?â⬠she asked. ââ¬Å"I think you've lost weight.â⬠ââ¬Å"She has not,â⬠said Roland. ââ¬Å"She's too skinny,â⬠complained my mom. ââ¬Å"Not that I'd mind a little of that.â⬠I smiled. My mom looked amazing. ââ¬Å"You need to eat more,â⬠she continued. ââ¬Å"I eat, like, three candy bars a day. I'm not depriving myself of calories.â⬠I walked over and poked her in the arm. ââ¬Å"Watch it, you're being all momlike. Smart, professional moms aren't supposed to be that way.â⬠She cut me a look. ââ¬Å"I'm a therapist. I have to be twice as momlike.â⬠In the end, I stayed for dinner. Tim was a great cook, but nothing could ever really replace my mom's food. While we ate, we talked about their vacation in Idaho. Neither Jasmine nor the keres ever came up. When I finally got back home, I found Tim getting ready to go out with a gaggle of giggling girls. He was in full pseudo-Indian regalia, complete with a beaded head wrap and buckskin vest. ââ¬Å"Greetings, Sister Eugenie,â⬠he said, holding up a palm like he was in some sort of Old West movie. ââ¬Å"Join us. We're going to a concert over in Davidson Park, so that we may commune with the Great Spirit's gift of springtime whilst letting the sacred beat of the music course through our souls.â⬠ââ¬Å"No thanks,â⬠I said, brushing past him and going straight to my room. A moment later, he followed sans girls. ââ¬Å"Oh, come on, Eug. It's gonna be a blast. We've got a cooler of beer and everything.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry, Tim. I don't really feel like being a squaw tonight.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's a derogatory term.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know it is. Very much so. But your bleach-blond posse out there doesn't deserve much better.â⬠I eyed him askance. ââ¬Å"Don't even think about bringing any of them back here tonight.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, yeah, I know the rules.â⬠He flounced into my wicker chair. ââ¬Å"So what are you going to do instead? Shop on the Internet? Work puzzles?â⬠I'd actually been thinking of doing both those things, but I wasn't about to tell him that. ââ¬Å"Hey, I've got stuff to do.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fuck, Eugenie. You're becoming a hermit. I almost miss Dean. He was an asshole, but at least he got you out of the house.â⬠I made a face. Dean was my last boyfriend; we'd broken up six months ago. The split had been kind of unexpected for both of us. I hadn't expected to find him screwing his real estate agent, and he hadn't expected to get caught. I knew now I was better off without him, but some niggling part always wondered what about me had made him lose interest. Not exciting enough? Pretty enough? Good enough in bed? ââ¬Å"Some things are worse than staying home alone,â⬠I muttered. ââ¬Å"Dean is one of them.â⬠ââ¬Å"Timothy?â⬠one of the girls called from the living room. ââ¬Å"Are you coming?â⬠ââ¬Å"One moment, gentle flower,â⬠he hollered back. To me he said, ââ¬Å"You sure you wanna hole up here all night? It isn't really healthy to be away from people so much.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm fine. Go enjoy your flowers.â⬠He shrugged and left. Once by myself, I fixed a sandwich and shopped on the Internet, exactly as he'd predicted. It was followed by a puzzle depicting an M. C. Escher drawing. A bit harder than the kitten. Halfway through, I found myself staring at the puzzle pieces without seeing them. Roland's quiet, fierce words played over in my head. Let Jasmine Delaney go. Everything he'd told me had been true. Dropping this was the smart thing to do. The safe thing to do. I knew I should listen to himâ⬠¦yet some part of me kept thinking of the young, smiling face Wil had shown me. Angrily, I shoved some of the puzzle pieces aside. This job wasn't supposed to be about gray moral decisions. It was black and white. Find the bad guys. Kill or banish. Go home at the end of the day. I stood up, suddenly no longer wanting to be alone. I didn't want to be left with my own thoughts. I wanted to be out with people. Clarification: I didn't want to talk to people, I just wanted to be around them. Lost in the crowd. I needed to see my own kind ââ¬â warm, living and breathing humans, not undead spirits or magic-infused gentry. I wanted to remember which side of the fence I was on. More important, I wanted to forget Jasmine Delaney. At least for tonight I threw on some jeans and the first bra and shirt I could find. My rings and bracelets always stayed on me, but I added a moonstone necklace that hung low in the shirt's V-neck. I brushed my long hair into a high ponytail, missing a few strands. A dab of lipstick, and I was ready to go. Ready to lose myself. Ready to forget.
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