The Media s Influence On Women - 1729 Words

While waiting for a recent hair appointment, I picked up the latest issue of Vogue and began to flip through the pages. I had barely turned ten pages when I began to feel a pit in my stomach. The cover models were all skinny, long-legged girls with luscious, straight hair: the complete opposite of the average girl. The way the media portrays the female gender is far from realistic, and consequently, the pressure to put your ‘best’ self forward has never been more prevalent. Each time I see a model on the cover of a magazine, or even a slightly altered photo, I find myself making comparisons. Unfortunately, even knowing that most cover images are digitally altered, the question of how my own body measures up still haunts me. Since the average American female will collect over 250,000 persuasive media messages by the time they are seventeen, the ubiquitous images seen are major factors in the way women perceive themselves (Gallivan, Heather). The media has not always been this demanding of young women. Today, when most think of the â€Å"ideal body† we think of women who are skinny. The media constantly throws diets, cleanses, and workouts at people in order to achieve the perfect model body. As humans, we have always been obsessed with looking a certain way, however, skinny was not always in. The female body type has been analyzed, picked at, and depicted in so many different ways throughout our history, whether that be in art, writing, or personal examinations. This ideologyShow MoreRelatedMedia s Influence On Women Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesMedia enforces the social-cultural standards, which women are required to follow in order to look and behave in a manner that society considers acceptable. Newspapers, commercials, posters, magazines, fliers, reality shows, and cartoons only name a few of our everyday interaction with the media (Scholar, C.2011). However, these standards presented by media send a false perception of women, thus portraying women in a negative and disrespectful manner. Society views woman as mentally, morally, andRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Women Essay810 Words   |  4 PagesThose media with tendentious views always lead to people deepen misconceptions. The media prefer to use hyper-sexualized images to sell products, ideas, and services keep people’s eyes. In fact, using hyper-sexualized images to sell products, ideas, and services is just good for enterprise, but it will change people’s idea, and keep women in an unfair state. In addition, the media catch people’s mentality, which are people are more interested in what did not know before, or they do not have. ForRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Women1659 Words   |  7 Pagesbehavior as well. Women on television are constantly fighting, backstabbing, and being obnoxious in attempts to be recognized in the celebrity world. The media is the leading outlet to the people of the world. I t affects everybody whether you want to believe it or not. Body dissatisfaction is defined as â€Å"a negative subjective evaluation of the weight and shape of one’s own body†. (Eating Disorders). Body dissatisfaction is very common in women, but more in young girls. The media portrays women as a prizeRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Women1909 Words   |  8 Pagesdifferent societal views. In America, famous, wealthy women exposed their pregnancy to the whole world. Most celebrities do this through the use of media. The way media revealed child bearing is through nude photos of pregnant celebrities: mothers covering their breasts with one hand, while placing, or holding their baby bump with their other hand. Although many portrayed this act as innocent and beautiful, others claim it is immoral and wrong, believing women should reveal their pregnancy with respect toRead MoreMedia Influence On Women s Body Image1688 Words   |  7 Pagesthe female sex, especially thro ugh media. â€Å"Americans spend about 68 hours per week exposed to various forms of media† (US Census Bureau 2009). This media exposure through outlets such as t.v., radio, music videos, movies, and the internet, all influence the way people think about gender. The media influence is very evident in the way people view women and think about women in different cultures. Media influence on women creates negative viewpoints with how women view themselves and even how men viewRead MoreMedia s Influence On Beauty Standards Of Women1213 Words   |  5 PagesMedia’s Influence on Beauty Standards of Women There are several types of social standards that are held in the world today. Among those standards are the beauty standards of how women should look. This is one of the most talked about topic of discussions today. It is safe to say that the media is the reason to blame for these undocumented sets of beauty standards that women should abide by because of the types of women that are portrayed through the media. The unrealistic beauty standards the mediaRead MoreSocial Media s Influence On Women1249 Words   |  5 Pages Throughout history women specifically have felt the need to change their physical appearance in order to be accepted by societies beauty ideal. Social media has influenced women to believe that the word â€Å"beauty† defines the outward appearance according to the internets definition — â€Å"beauty is a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.† The definition itself allows anyone to mistakenly interpret the word â€Å"beauty† to determineRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Women s Body1102 Words   |  5 Pagesthe way women’s bodies are portrayed in the media. This also brings about an even greater problem; the manipulation of photographs. The media have perpetuated what is the ideal weight for a woman thus creating pressures for women to be that ideal. Are the media acting ethically by inaccurately portraying women? Should pictures that are altered carry warning labels? One of the biggest media industries to blame for the thin ideal representation of women is the advertising industry. Unlike journalismRead MoreMedia s Influence On Women s Thin Ideal Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pagesthe poor and marginalized. Working as a community to help those around you through the good and bad times. Having special concern for those in need. men and women who will live not for themselves, but for the service to God, to make those that suffer have the support they need in order to get back on their feet. Media s Influence on Women s Thin-Ideal Internalization Sociocultural factors, or in other words, customs, lifestyles and values that characterize a society or group, play a large partRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Women And Its Consequences On The Society1306 Words   |  6 PagesThe media advertisements promote gender stereotypical images and create a negative impact on the society. The advertisements in any form, such as television ads, magazine photos, textual contents or movies, perpetuate the gender inequality and expect different genders to perform in a certain way only. In her article† Hunger as Ideology,† Susan Bordo analyzed several media advertisements and represented how brand promotions have used gender based identity to increase the demand and desire of their

The Baseball Hall Of Fame - 1814 Words

Every November ballots are prepared, dated, and mailed out to the select few honorary members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. In their hands rests a piece of paper and the opportunity to cap off the storied career of a former Major League Baseball player by allowing him to reach the pinnacle of the game. Being voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame is the highest honor a player can achieve. But reaching what seems to be the culmination of a career is not at all an easy feat. For a player to even be considered for the honor they must meet the requirements proposed by the hall of fame. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame website, â€Å"Any player on Baseball’s ineligible list shall not be an eligible candidate.† To this day, there is no mention of performance enhancing drugs being a factor to keep someone off the ballot and into the hall of fame. With that being said, it proposes this question deeply rooted in ethics. Should a pl ayer be allowed into the National Baseball Hall of Fame if they at any time used performance-enhancing drugs? There are a few parts in the film Bigger, Faster, Stronger that relate to and talk about the use of steroids in Major League Baseball. One of the scenes that stood out the most when I watched the film was when Chris Bell (2008) says the following, â€Å"But things are different now. And even baseball s changed from when my dad was growing up. And now when I think of baseball I don t think about the Babe or HammerinShow MoreRelatedThe Baseball Hall Of Fame1174 Words   |  5 Pagesdecision shocked the baseball community as one of the game’s biggest icons, Pete Rose, agreed to permanent ineligibility from major league baseball activities for betting on his own team as both a player and manager. As a result, he was also banned for life from the Baseball Hall of Fame. A month ago, in September 2015, MLB’s all-time hits leader met with the commissioner of baseball, Rob Manfred, regarding the possibility of being granted induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This has on ce againRead MoreThe Baseball Hall Of Fame928 Words   |  4 PagesIt’s that time of the year again, for Baseball Writers’ Association of America to vote for who they believe should be candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The conversation of steroids always pops up at this time because some of the most prolific baseball players have been known to use steroids, such as Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and Alex Rodriguez. These guys have been proven that they used the enhancing drug, but these are some of the league’s best players of all time and they aren’t gettingRead MoreThe National Baseball Hall Of Fame2132 Words   |  9 Pages They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, sometimes a number can be worth even more than that. Here are some numbers: there have been 50 Super Bowl games played in football history. 312 people are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. There are 347 college basketball teams in Division One of the NCAA . And, in 2015, 1,134 young black men were killed by police in the United States of America. 1,134 people, in one year. That is almost 22 people each week, that is slightlyRead MoreVisiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame Essay752 Words   |  4 PagesThe busts of hundreds of players, managers, coaches, umpires, and baseball pioneers occupy the hallowed halls of a quiet building located in Cooperstown, New York. Thousands of fans travel to this building, otherwise noted as the National Baseball Hall of Fame, each year to get a glimpse of baseball’s immortalized heroes. Hundreds of sportswriters across the nation weed out numerous hall of fame hopefuls once a year and cast their votes on who will be enshrined in Cooperstown and who will merelyRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs in Baseball and the Hall of Fame1749 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to the dictionary a Hall of Fame is a building set aside to honor outstanding individuals in any profession. The Baseball Hall of Fame specifically is an American History Museum and Hall of Fame for Major League Baseball. There are however certain players who have not been allowed entrance to the hall of fame. These players may not have been allowed in for two reasons; the first is possibly because of their use (alleged or proven) of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), or it may alsoRead MoreThe Pete Rose : The Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame1548 Words   |  7 PagesThe Pete Rose Dilemma â€Å"Does Pete Rose belong in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame?† This is a question that is debated among many pundits for a number of decades. Rose is undeniably one of the best hitters in the game of baseball. Twenty plus years ago, however, he was banned from the game due to the gambling allegations made against him. â€Å"Outside of baseball and my family, nothing has ever given me the pleasure, relaxation, or excitement that I got from gambling. Gambling provided an escapeRead More Supporting Ban on Pete Rose from Baseball Hall of Fame Essay2232 Words   |  9 Pages What has the game of baseball meant for Americans? For many baseball is a game of integrity, honesty, and without a doubt skill. When one of these factors is allowed to overtake the other it leaves the game unbalanced with lost priorities. Like everything else in life, baseball has rules and regulations which should be followed and enforced. The Baseball Hall of Fame honors persons who have excel led in playing, managing, and serving the sport. Having ten years of experience in the game andRead MorePete Rose Should Be Allowed Into the Hall of Fame991 Words   |  4 Pagesmany questions that go through a Major League Baseball fan of the Cincinnati Reds. The most important question that is on every Reds fan mind is why Pete Rose should be allowed into the Hall of Fame? Most players that have been inducted in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame such as, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and everyone else were inducted for their pitching or baseball playing ability. Therefore, the main idea of being accepted into the Hall of Fame would be how well each player performed onRead More Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesPete Rose in the Hall of Fame To some, including myself, baseball is the greatest sport that has ever been played. It is a game played by two opposing teams made of multiple players, but only nine players per team play at the same time. To be part of one of the thirty teams that get to play professional baseball, a player has to play the game extremely well (www.baseballhalloffame.com). When a player plays the game better than most have played he gets rewarded, usually with lots of money in aRead MoreRace to the Hall of Fame for Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesHall of Fame In the summer of 1998, every baseball fan, critic, and writer watched Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa race to break Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs in one season. The two players both seemed to hit a homer every day of that summer. When the season came to the end of that summer of 1998, both Major league Baseball stars were tied at fifty-five home runs. McGwire and Sosa both surpassed Maris’ record within the first couple weeks of September. The Fans thought this was a once in a lifetime

Differences between country and city living free essay sample

Do you want to live in country or city? These two options are very dissimilar, although in both you can learn a lot. These differences include style of living, benefits and social life. The first difference is style of living. In the city, the buildings are high and land is scarce and expensive, so city people have to build many houses in a small space. Also, there are buildings with many houses on top of each other. In contrast, in the country, the houses tend to be for a family as there are more houses that are built on the ground next to each other. Another difference between city and country living are the benefits. In the city there are more services offered of all kinds, including the entertainment. Compared with the country where services are limited and there are fewer people, there are often fewer services. In the cities, there are many more benefits than a people who live in the country, such as career advancement opportunities. We will write a custom essay sample on Differences between country and city living or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Work is concentrated in trades such as fishing, farming, mining and timber. While in the city, there are very many different types areas of work and a person can perform many trades. The last difference is the social life. The social life in the city is very diverse because it has many options. Young people have friends getting together to go to the movies, to go to dancing or to play sports. Children have opportunities to shave whit classmates, going to the park, to the movies and playing at home. On the contrary, the children’s country plays in the river with animals and with the few neighbors who have around your farm. In conclusion, both the life of the country as well as the city have something that attracts and somewhat discouraging. It is not easy to say which is the best or the worst place to live all depends that you want to make and that type of life you want to lead.

My Summer Vacation free essay sample

I didnt understand what [insert name] was talking about with this dolphin high, but then I kinda figured out what he was trying to say. If I ran around the yard really fast with the lawnmower, my brain would get endolphins that make you high. So, I grabbed the lawnmower and raced off to finish mowing the grass so that I could be high too. It worked! We sat there laughing about being paid to get high. The rest of my summer vacation was spent mowing grass, painting a garage, and in helping my dad put new cupboards into the kitchen for my mom. They never suspected that I was getting high on dolphins while I was working. Parents are pretty dumb about that stuff; they thought that I was smiling because I liked getting paid. Well, the pay was good too because I made enough to buy a new [insert item] at a back to school sale. We will write a custom essay sample on My Summer Vacation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On this summer vacation I learned that I want to exercise more so that I can play sports at school, and then teach the whole team how to get high on endolphins. Adults are so stupid trying to get high on drugs and alcohol while dolphins are still legal. Kids are smart. We know a good thing when we see it. Theres nothing like spending your summer vacation getting high legally, and getting paid to go do it. [Teachers name] I asked my Mom to read this summer vacation essay before I turn it in, and she wants you to write her a note that I can take home with me to explain what endolphins are. My big sister says they are endorphins, not dolphins, but she always lies to me to get me in trouble at back to school time. Thank you. The end.

Why Should You Hire a Writer Online Why Its Better than in Person

Why Should You Hire a Writer Online Why Its Better than in Person Why Should You Hire a Writer Online: Why It’s Better than in Person Should you hire a writer online, or find a writer nearby who you can meet in person? If you’re considering different options, choose to hire a writer online. Here are the reasons why: More Choice There are many companies online that offer the convenience and anonymity of ordering online. There are literally hundreds of these companies who source writers from all over the world to write papers. If you hire a writer from a local agency, it is likely that you did not have many options. You may only have one or two brick and mortar agencies nearby to get help with a paper. Cost-Effectiveness Aside from spending money on gas to drive to an agency, hiring online is more economical because the Internet is a global marketplace and as such, it is more competitive then your local marketplace. You have the advantage of currency exchange which works in your favor and helps stretch the dollar. Everyone likes an option that is easy on the wallet, especially cash strapped students. From Home Opportunities Working online means no time and effort spent travelling. Not to mention you will need no appointment, will not need to sit in any waiting room, or wait for anyone else. You simply communicate via email, when it is a convenient time for you. Updates Any Time Hiring online allows you to be updated wherever you are. Since business is managed via email you can check the status or receive a notification instantly, from wherever you are. No waiting for phone calls or checking messages. Â  Communicate online, from wherever you happen to be. You can even communicate while on vacation, or during the weekend. More Control A local agent acts as a middleman between you and the writer. Instead of dealing with the writer directly, you communicate with the agency. A lot of communication and meaning can be lost in the interchange, and you will not be able to assess the writer’s understanding or clarify misunderstandings right away. Why not cut out the middle man and deal directly to you maintain control of the project and save time? Being a student means having many tasks, assignments and responsibilities simultaneously. It can be impossible to find the time to get everything done. Spending extra time contacting a local writing agency, making an appointment, traveling to the location, and meeting with someone is just not worth it. It is easy to see why the best choice is to hire a writer online. The benefits are numerous and the convenience can not be beaten.

Ayuda para inmigrantes vctimas de abuso laboral

Ayuda para inmigrantes vctimas de abuso laboral El Departamento de Justicia brinda ayuda a los inmigrantes que vienen a Estados Unidos con una visa no inmigrante de trabajo y son và ­ctimas de explotacià ³n laboral. Porque deben saber que la ley los protege. Lamentablemente son relativamente comunes los casos de todo tipo de abusos, que van desde no pagar el salario acordado a retener pasaportes pasando por instancias muy desagradables de asalto sexual. Si se producen alguna de esas conductas, se puede solicitar ayuda. Y a continuacià ³n se informa sobre quà © debe saberse. Ejemplos de trabajadores protegidos en sus derechos Los extranjeros que vienen temporalmente a trabajar en la agricultura con H-2A o en trabajos que no requieren titulacià ³n pero no son agrà ­colas como la H-2B. E incluso los que vienen por intercambio con una visa J, como la de maestros u au-pair, o profesionales con otro tipo de visas laborales como la TN para mexicanos o la H-1B. Porque desgraciadamente todos los trabajadores pueden ser và ­ctimas de abuso. A quà © tiene derecho los extranjeros con una visa de trabajo Entre los derechos de los que gozan se encuentran los siguientes: Conservar en todo momento consigo su pasaporte y otros documentos de identificacià ³n.A ser pagados de acuerdo a la ley. No pueden ser pagados menos que un estadounidense por el mismo tipo de trabajo. En este punto, consultar siempre cul es el salario mà ­nimo establecido por el gobierno federal y tambià ©n el que fija el estado en el que se desempeà ±a el trabajo, ya que puede ser superior y entonces habrà ­a que respetarlo.A no ser obligados a continuar trabajando, si uno no lo desea. Pero ojo con abandonar el trabajo sin consejo de un abogado, ya que podrà ­a dar lugar a que la visa se diese por terminada y a que no se pueda tener presencia legal en Estados Unidos.A reportar abuso laboral sin sufrir ningà ºn tipo de represalias.A pedir ayuda a sindicatos (unions) y a grupos relacionados con la defensa de los derechos e intereses de los trabajadores.A no ser và ­ctima de promesas falsas por parte del empleador relativas a la paga, nà ºmero de horas trabajadas, tipo de trab ajo, lugar a desempeà ±arlo o incluso sobre las caracterà ­sticas del alojamiento. Quà © hacer en los casos de explotacià ³n laboral Se recomienda llevar un diario en el que se anotan los problemas que surgen cada dà ­a asà ­ como las horas que se trabajan y la retribucià ³n de las mismas. Asimismo, debe mantenerse el trabajo salvo casos extremos. Ayuda a inmigrantes và ­ctimas de explotacià ³n laboral Llamar para reportar abuso a la Là ­nea para reportar explotacià ³n laboral en el nà ºmero 1-888-428-7581. Este nà ºmero de telà ©fono depende del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos y es atendido de lunes a viernes en de 9 de la maà ±ana a 5 de la tarde, en horario de la costa Este.   En casos graves y urgentes siempre se puede llamar a la Policà ­a marcando al 911.  Los mexicanos pueden contactar con el Centro de Informacià ³n y Ayuda conocido como CIAM. Es un telà ©fono gratuito que brinda excelente informacià ³n sobre quà © hacer o refieren a abogados u organizaciones sin fin de lucro con buena reputacià ³n. Adems, si cree que usted es và ­ctima de explotacià ³n laboral no acepte el consejo del abogado que le provea su empleador, ya que sus intereses y los de à ©ste no coinciden y el consejo recibido puede que no sirva a sus intereses. A tener en cuenta con visas H-2A y H-2B Lamentablemente, los abusos son especialmente frecuentes  en casos de inmigrantes temporales legales que tienen visas H-2A (agricultura) y H-2B (no agricultura).   Incluso a veces el abuso comienza antes de viajar a Estados Unidos cuando los reclutadores exigen condiciones muy gravosas para dar el trabajo, por ejemplo, que se deje en fianza las propiedades de fincas. Es muy importante evitar esos abusos. Esta es una lista de reclutadores en Mà ©xico para esas visas incluyendo un listado de aquellos que causado en el pasado este tipo de problemas. A esos los hay que evitar. Especial para indocumentados Si se est en los Estados Unidos en una situacià ³n migratoria de indocumentado verificar cules son las reglas del estado en las que se vive en relacià ³n a los derechos para recibir salarios y sobre condiciones laborales. Algunos  estados protegen a los trabajadores en esos dos aspectos sin preguntar cul es el estatus migratorio. En todo caso tener presente las leyes migratorias de Estados Unidos y la nueva polà ­tica de deportaciones establecida por orden ejecutiva del presidente Donald Trump. Este artà ­culo no es asesorà ­a legal para ningà ºn caso concreto. Su funcià ³n es meramente informativa.

Is there a case to downgrade ecstasy to a class B drug in the UK Essay

Is there a case to downgrade ecstasy to a class B drug in the UK - Essay Example It is said to generate extreme heat in the body as a result of highly stimulated frenetic dancing. Each tablet is said cost between ? 10 and ? 20 and the drug has been classified in the list of â€Å"A† class illegal drugs under Misuse of Dugs Act (Arnold, 2013, p. no page no). There has been no significant study on the effects of Ecstasy in Britain. Dr Hendry of National Poisons Information Unit at Guy’s Hospital, London, the only scientist licensed to supply pure Ecstasy, is reported to have commented that the ongoing tussle between the two opposing groups concerned with legalization of drugs is actually preventing research in respect of the drug consumed by almost 500,000 people every week end as to what really is the effect of the drug in their bodies though some studies have revealed that it causes midweek depression. The DOB or the â€Å"Golden Eagle† , a potent derivative of Ecstasy 33 times its strength is reported to have caused several death in Britain during 1998 when it began to be sold. The drug which was developed in the United States is meant for use as antidepressant also called as â€Å"flatliners† claimed to cause out-of-body experience. About 36 derivatives of Ecstasy were brought under the purview of the Misuse of Drugs Act as a class A drug. Purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a case for downgrading the drug as B class drug in view of it being a soft drug and several campaigns for downgrading. Ecstasy is a derivative of amphetamines which are stimulants. They are responsible for increasing cerebral activity and causing excitement and euphoria. In high doses, it is known to cause hallucinations and drug induced psychosis similar to paranoid schizophrenia. The fatalities caused by this drug are not usually dose-related and postmortem toxicology can only be measured qualitatively rather than on quantitative basis. The impairments caused also do not correlate with blood levels unlike in alcohol consumption. Amphetamines have been used for various conditions in the past. They were also once used to induce anorexia. It is currently used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They have euphoriant effects and are responsible for psychomotor stimulation. Users tend to increase their dose up to 50x to overcome psychological dependence caused by the drug. The sympathomimetic effects which can be pronounced and lasting for several hours are : dilated pupils, ta chycardia, hypertension, and tachypnoea. Although death due to overdose is rare, it can occur due to hyperpyrexia, fits and heart failure. Long term consumption in large doses causes psychosis accompanied by paranoid ideas and delusions of persecution. Cardiomyopathy is also found to occur due to its use. Ecstasy, a derivative of amphetamine has mild psychedelic effect and causes pseudo-hallucinogenic effect in high doses. With development of gradual tolerance, its long-term use causes mood disorders. As the drug is classified as emphathogen (or enactogen), is known as love-drug. Its chemical variants have the same effects. Ecstasy related deaths in high-profile events have attracted media attention and most of them have been associated with at least one other drug. Death occurs due to multiple causes and mechanisms including exacerbation of undiagnosed heart conditions,

Liberalism in International Political Economy Compared with Marxism Research Paper

Liberalism in International Political Economy Compared with Marxism and Realism - Research Paper Example Liberalism and Marxism (and Gramscianism) In the theory of Liberalism, Adam Smith is one of its well-known proponents. His ideas on liberal capitalism focus more on how behaviors and market competitions are controlled by the â€Å"invisible hand†, believing that merchants or individuals are relying on their own in contributing greatly to economic improvement without the need for the intervention of the government.4Also, the collective individual initiatives are just as important as the contribution of each individual, because morality done on a personal level and through the perspective of others is important in order to maintain order and peace under liberalism.5 In essence, under the theory of Liberalism, there is an assumption of having similar thoughts and ideas among people, which makes it easier to assess whether an individual’s actions will benefit others or not. ...This, in turn, will increase the likelihood that people will start thinking similarly, making it e asier to govern them.6 Also, there will be no inequality because everyone is experiencing similar circumstances, and unless there are problems in the ruling body itself, under Marxism there will be peace, equality, emancipation, and justice because people share the same ideas and beliefs like in Liberalism.7 Liberalism and Marxism may share some similarities such as the importance of equality, but these two theories differ in other aspects. For example, the core belief of Liberalism is that markets wield power over economic growth but does not increase the gaps between various social and economic classes because of morality. However, this is contested by Marxism ideas, saying that while everyone may acquire benefit from participating in trade and commerce, the equality of gains will not be absolute among all parties. Because of this, there can be the unequal distribution of wealth, with merchants gaining more wealth over members of the market or the consumers as the result of differ ing relative gains for the merchants and the consumers.8More often than not if there is the unequal distribution of commodities there is also an unequal distribution of wealth, and vice-versa. Also, Liberalism is highly-idealistic in terms of giving importance to morality, and the fact that the margin between the rich and the poor are not decreased this means that Liberalism does not function as it is supposed to because not all participants in commerce regularly engage in fair trade and fair markets.

Strenthening Early Literacy Skills in Studnets Language Essay Example for Free

Strenthening Early Literacy Skills in Studnets Language Essay When discussing early literacy, its development begins at birth and continues its development throughout yearly childhood years. Literacy is having the skill to read and write. Early stages of literacy begin to develop with the pre-alphabetic skills where they are able to understand the function and its characters and print. â€Å"An alphabetic period wherein the child becomes conversant with the alphabetic code and acquires increasingly function word identification and text processing skills Literacy: Reading (Early Stages), 2005.† Phoneme awareness is developed during this stage of literacy as well. The third and final stage of literacy is considered to be advanced alphabetic/orthographic stage where children have the ability to combine their knowledge in decoding and spelling. These beginning years of a young child are the years where teachers and parents have the ability to prepare youngsters with concepts and skills in reading and wring. Having this ability will allow students to further a lifelong desire for reading that may help other areas of development as a growing child. In this paper, practical techniques in increasing early literacy skills among children will be discussed and examined. Strategies in improving development in all areas of literacy including listening skills will also be gathered and discussed. Promoting Development of Phonological Awareness Being phonetically aware offers the foundation in becoming a fluent reader, along with preparing them in skills for later reading skills in phonics, word analysis, and spelling words out. Studies have shown that the common thread in early reading skills is the failure to understand or process language phonologically (David J. Chard and Shirley V. Dickson, 1999). This problem has been considered to be effecting for both students with and without learning disabilities. The basis of phonological awareness comprehends how â€Å"oral language can be divided into smaller components and manipulated. Spoken language can be broken down in many different ways, including sentences into words and words into syllables (David J. Chard and Shirley V. Dickson, 1999).† One other component that is associated with these skills is obtaining phonemic awareness. This is having the understanding how words individually sound, while being able to influence or change these words into blends or segmenting them into new words. Promoting phonological skills and awareness begins as early as four years old. Including a variety of activities that will help train these youngsters in developing strong reading skills is highly important and much needed to see successful progression. Reasonable instructional actives for young children should include rhyming activities, nursery rhymes, and other activities the sensitize children with in comparison and differences in sounds of words. Segmentations words games such as â€Å"I scream you scream† while clapping each word out and change the name games by removing first letters of words to make new words. Vocabulary based learning can positively help develop literacy development. Children are able to make further connections when words that are already spoken are implemented into new parts of instruction. Implementing sight words, letter patterns, and pictures words are also highly recommended when trying to infuse old and new skills. Enhancing Listening Skills Successful learning is needed in many areas that teachers need to consistently meet and introduce. Students need direct instruction, structure, practice, and time on task routines where they are able to explore and engage in active learning. â€Å"Skills associated with reading readiness include: (a) auditory discrimination: the ability to identify and differentiate familiar sounds, similar sounds, rhyming words, and the sounds of letters; (b) visual discrimination: including color recognition, shape, and letter identification; (c) visual motor skills: such as left to right eye progression, cutting on a line with scissors and coloring within the lines of a picture; and (d) large motor skills: such as skipping, hopping, and walking on a line (Early literacy development, 2011).† Oral language can also be included when considering successful literacy development. Storytelling and â€Å"talk and literacy† can be both considered to be two great activities that teachers and parents can include in everyday experiences. Sharing picture books, listening to a story aloud, drawing, coloring and early writing are all samples of literacy; however, reading aloud helps students gain experiences for later samples where students may transfer comprehension to writing. Listening also increases engaged conversation, while offering insight of comprehension of text (Early literacy development, 2006). When introduced properly oral language development should increase in areas such as inexpressive skills, receptive, and vocabulary usage. Techniques on Promoting Literacy Components Comprehension strategies help children understand, remember and communicate what they read. Comprehension helps children have the ability to connect what they are reading to what they already know. With practice, students are able to make predictions, create ideas, raise questions, and problem solve. Both teachers and parents will be able to build vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and motivation while making assessments, reflections, planning, and teaching/re-teaching any skills that were introduced. Reading fluency allows students read text accurately and quickly. Teaching skills that can help promote reading fluency is identifying punctuation, grouping words, and using expressive language to make further outcomes. When a student demonstrates weakness in fluency they read slowly, word to word, focusing on decoding rather than comprehending the context of what they are reading. Offering age appropriate instruction and materials when implementing particular skills or curriculum is highly recommended. Playing games or using nursery rhymes using words in one way to informally implement or reinforced these particular skills. Using sentence strips promotes sight word identification, building simple or complex sentences, or grouping words together. Having weekly spelling bees using pictures prompts will help promote connections to words as well. Breaking units into smaller units and modeling activities as it is first introduced help increase success with literacy. (Chard, David J., Dickenson, Shirley V., 1999) Incorporating Writing Beginning stages of writing is when young a young child’s draws and scribbles. Pretend writing, making list, writing or drawing messages or stories are also samples of writing. Letters or clusters of letters are followed. â€Å"Children move into the letter- name stage in which vowels beings to appear along with prominent constants (The Development of Literacy in the Elementary Schools, 2011).† Students also play with letters and pictures when they begin to invent words calling it â€Å"invent spelling†. Keeping track of ideas and assessments with journal entries help teacher assess student’s progression. Activities and Techniques in Oral and Written Language By the age of 10, children can view their writing through the eyes of a reader. Their writings become more multidimensional, and they can shift between narrative and description and narrative and dialogue in one piece (The Development of Literacy in the Elementary School, 2011).† Writing becomes meaningful when students are able to think and rethink ideas. Students should be able to make mix print, spoken words, visual, and digital components into completing writing abilities. Reading and writing go hand in hand. The best ways to help implement these skills is by having students involved in what they are currently reading. Providing samples of illustrations while offering different styles or types of writing are essentially needed. Graphic organizes help keep students ideas well organized. Writing letters, teaching students how to navigate through email, using cross word puzzles, word walls, creating stories, creating recipes or directions on how to build something are great examples of incorporating both reading and writing skills. Building Strong Partnership with Parents Parent involvement is very important when trying to implement literacy skills in young students. Encouraging parents by offering enriched reading samples or a book to children is a good step towards increasing literacy awareness. Talking and singing song to children are also great opportunists for children to learn new words or ideas. Preparing students with reading readiness programs are all helpful when trying to instill social, physical and cognitive abilities. At times, teachers will have to teach parents how to become more responsive when reading or sharing information. Parents should offer a variety of opportunities in exposing children to words, symbols, and logos where students may be able to increase literacy skills. Keeping both parents and teachers equally informed will help bridge the gaps of between illiteracy and emergent learners. In closing, providing the foundation for building successful literacy skills should be considered while engaging them in meaningful discussions and learning. These beginning years of a young child are the years where teachers and parents have the ability to prepare youngsters with concepts and skills in reading and writing. Having this ability will allow students to further a lifelong desire for reading that may help other areas of development as a growing child. Reference Early literacy development. (2006). In Key Concepts in Early Childhood Education and Care. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/sageukecec/early_literacy_development Early Literacy Development. (2011). In Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/routengart/early_literacy_development Chard, David J., Dickenson, Shirley V. (1999) Phonological Awareness: Instructional and Assessment guidelines. http://www.ldonline.org/article/6254 The Development of Literacy in the Elementary School. (2011). In Handbook of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Retrieved http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference.com/entry/routengart/the_development_of_literacy_in Miller, M., Veatch, N. (2010). Teaching literacy in context: Choosing and using instructional strategies. The Reading Teacher, 64(3), 154-165. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/791757793?accountid=7374 Gordon, C. (2010). Meeting Readers Where They Are. School Library Journal, 56(11), 32.

Analysis Of The Bridge Of San :: essays research papers

People who thinks of Thornton Wilder primarily in terms of his classic novella â€Å"Our Town,† The Bridge of San Luis Rey will seem like quite a switch. For one thing, he has switched countries; instead of middle America, he deals here with Peru. He has switched eras, moving from the twentieth century back to the eighteenth. He has also dealt with a much broader society than he did in â€Å"Our Town,† representing the lower classes and the aristocracy with equal ease. But despite these differences, his theme is much the same; life is short, our expectations can be snuffed out with the snap of a finger, and in the end all that remains of us is those we have loved. The novella begins by describing the quest of a Franciscan monk, Brother Juniper, to figure out why some people’s lives are cut short while others, apparently less deserving of life, live well into their eighties and nineties. He has happened to witness a terrible accident (the sudden collapse of a national landmark, the Bridge of San Luis Rey) which five people were crossing at the time of the disaster. All five were killed instantly: a little boy, a young girl, a wealthy old woman, an old man, and a youth. Brother Juniper is shocked into a metaphysical thought: â€Å"If there were any pattern in the universe at all, any plan in a human life, surely it could be discovered mysteriously latent in those lives so suddenly cut off. Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan. And in that instant Brother Juniper made the resolve to inquire into the secret lives of those five persons, that moment falling through the air, and to surprise the reason of their taking off† (Wilder, 5). This is the wonderful premise behind Wilder’s examination of the connected lives of these five people. Several of them never actually meet, any more than we â€Å"meet† people with whom we happen to ride an elevator but, each of them knows someone who knows one of the other victims. Wilder goes on to clear up the stories of their lives, devoting a chapter to each of the major characters: The old woman, The Marquesa; The young man, Esteban; and the old man, Uncle Pio. (The other two victims, the young maid Pepita and the child Jaime, are not really explored, because they are seen primarily in relationship to the adults they accompany.

De Las Casas

In Bartolome De Las Casas’s â€Å"from The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies† a lot of descriptive verbiage is utilized to paint a distinct picture of good vs. evil in an unjust world. Referencing the Spaniards as Christians is done with a great deal of anger, and sarcasm. These Spaniards performed many acts of evil as they brutally tortured, killed, and enslaved the Native American peoples.According to De Las Casas â€Å"they attacked the towns and spared neither the children nor the aged nor pregnant women nor women in childbed, not only stabbing them and dismembering them but cutting them to pieces as dealing with sheep in a slaughter house†. (40) This was such a gruesome, cruel, and violent act of murder, without regard to even those we view as pure innocence such as that of a child.This provokes the reader to feel an intense sorrow and heartache for these innocent Native Americans. De Las Casas portrays the Native American people as innoce nt, gentle prey to the Spaniards, thus referring to them as â€Å"sheep. † They were deemed weak in their efforts to fight back, and they were unable to seek refuge in the mountains where they tried to flee. This piece incorporates multiple biblical representations throughout as well.The â€Å"sheep† biblically represent the followers of Christ, and they are submissive followers with little to no resistance like that of the Native American peoples. However, the so-called Christian Spaniards acted like ravenous, greedy animals rather than human Christ like leaders. De Las Casas, Bartolome â€Å"from The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature 8th ed. Ed Nina Baym et al. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 38-42.

Coco Chanel Essay

Coco Chanel Coco Chanel was one of the most prominent fashion designers of the 20th century. Her contribution in the development of fashion can hardly be underestimated. In fact, she revolutionized fashion in a way, since she was one of the first fashion designers who made women think of themselves first rather than think how they look for their men, which was a traditional view on female fashion at the epoch. In actuality, the significance and her great contribution in the development of fashion as well as 20th century culture at large was marked by her contemporaries as well as modern specialists. For instance, she was the only person in the field of fashion design to be named on TME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century (Charles-Roux, 145). In such a way, she gained a public approval and popularity which made her name one of the most recognizable in the fashion world. At the same time, her life was quite difficult, especially during her early years and war time periods. In fact, she witnessed two world wars but she kept working regardless of all the problems and challenges she faced in her life. In fact, her work was her true passion she remained devoted to from her early life until the end. Gabrielle Bonheur â€Å"Coco† Chanel was born on August 19, 1883. She was a second daughter of travelling salesman Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle in a small city of Saumur, France (Orecklin, 49). In fact, her family was poor and she was raised in poverty stricken neighborhood along with her five siblings. Remarkably, when she got her birth certificate her name misspelled â€Å"Chasnel† because nobody knew how to spell Chanel correctly. As a result, the mayor of the city had to improvise and added the letter â€Å"S† in her name, which later became a serious problem for her biographers, who could not trace her origin and define genealogical tree because of such an error in her name (Orecklin, 51). However, the misspelling of her name was definitely not the biggest misfortune that happened to her in her early life. She lived in poverty and was practically of an opportunity to get a good education. Moreover, when she was twelve, her mother died of tuberculosis that provoked a serious psychological trauma for the child. At the same time, her father could not stay with the children all the time. He had to work to earn for living and to maintain the family, in which he was the only breadwinner. This is why Coco Chanel was sent to the orphanage of the Catholic monastery of Aubazine, where she spent seven years and where she received her basic education. In fact, it is in the monastery she learned the trade of seamstress. However, she did not spend all the time in the monastery. During the vacations she went to her relatives in a provincial city, where her female relatives taught her to sew with more flourish than the nuns in the monastery were able to demonstrate. In such a way, her interest, her passion to design had started to develop since her childhood as she learned to sew and gradually she became very skilful in this field. At this point, it should be said that she was apparently a gifted person since she managed to develop her skills and abilities to the extent that she became able not only to create traditional wear, but she proved to be able to experiment and find new, original solutions, which were unusual for her time (Dwight, 119). However, at the early started to demonstrate her talent, which though was immature at the epoch. Nevertheless, her professional knowledge, to a significant extent, defined her further life, as her first job was the work at a local tailor, where she was employed at the age of eighteen as she left the orphanage. In fact, it was her first step in her professional career insignificant it seems to be, but still it was very important in regard to her future professional career since she could have hardly find a different work. Moreover, it was the only work where she could realize her full potential and implement her creative ideas while developing new wear. At the same time, it should be said that she could not afford working at a tailor for a long time because she needed to realize her ideas and she wanted to create clothes of her own. However, she could hardly start her own business, if she had failed to meet Etienne Balsan at the tailor’s shop where Coco Chanel worked. In fact, it was an occasional encounter which though outgrew into a love affair which opened Chanel the way to a new, different and better life. Etienne Balsan was rich and quite influential. It is during her life with Balsan, Coco Chanel started to design hats. At first, it was just a hobby which gradually transformed into a true passion for designing new clothe items, especially hats, where she grew more and more skillful. Her early works were characterized by high originality since they were quite different from traditional hats. At the same time, the high quality of her products attracted a lot of customers, while her acquaintance with Balsan allowed her to engage customers representing the upper-class of the French society (Charles-Roux, 210). Nevertheless, her love affair with Balsan failed to evolve into a true love. At any rate, their relationships did not last for a long period of time and Coco Chanel left Balsan, moved to Paris and took over his apartment in the French capital. In 1913, she opened her first shop, where she sold fashionable raincoats and jackets. Remarkably, the originality and quality of her wear contributed to the huge success of her shop which allowed her to maintain relatively high standards of life and she became very popular in Paris, which, at the epoch, was one of the world’s centers of the fashion industry. However, the development of her business in Paris was overshadowed by the outbreak of World War I, which started in 1914 and affected the life of the entire country dramatically (Charles-Roux, 219). Nevertheless, Coco Chanel had never stopped working and continued designing new products which still remained popular and the demand for her wear was traditionally high. But she had to stop her business in Paris because she was deprived of all her properties. Nevertheless, Coco Chanel was not discouraged and carried on her professional work and designing became an essential part of her life. On the other hand, she could live with her ideas only. She needed money to earn to maintain living. In this regard, the assistance of Balsan’s friend, Arthur â€Å"Boy† Capel proved to be very helpful for Coco Chanel. Their friendship evolved into a love affair which made them very close and Capel helped Coco Chanel to open a new shop in Brittany, France, which, similarly to the shop in Paris, became very popular among local customers (Weber, 35). It is worth mentioning the fact that celebrated French actresses buy wear in Chanels’ shop which was very important for the promotional campaign of her shop. In fact, the interest of celebrities to her shop contributed to the growing popularity of her products and her design in France that contributed to her professional recognition, while the popularity allowed her to expand her business steadily. Due to her popularity, she managed to introduce new women’s sportswear at her new boutique in Deauville. In such a way, she could expand her business, but, what was even more important, Coco Chanel changed the philosophy of women’s wear. To put it more precisely, her new design and new wear made women confident of the fact that they were supposed to dress for themselves but not for their men. In fact, it was a revolutionary philosophy for France as well as the entire world at the epoch of World War I, when the ominance of men was unchallengeable, while the development of feminism was still insignificant (Charles-Roux, 248). Nevertheless, the design and new philosophy of Chanel produced a significant impact on the development of fashion and the 20th century culture at large. Remarkably, as Coco Chanel grew more and more popular she attempted to change some facts from her past. For instance, she pretended to be born in 1893, instead of 1883, while she insisted that she lo st her mother at the age of six, instead of twelve. In such a way, she created a kind of tragic image of an orphan girl, who managed to achieve a tremendous success due her talent and hard work. At the same time, such manipulations with her past evoked numerous controversies which were insurmountable for her biographers. This is why some details of her biography are still quite controversial and unclear. The 1920s were the epoch of the fast progress of Coco Chanel as a designer and her business developed successfully. Her design was really unique and her wear was very popular in France as well as in other countries. In this respect, it is worth mentioning the fact that her acquaintance with Vera Bate Lombardi, a daughter of Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Duke of Teck, became of a paramount importance for Chanel’s empire. In fact, Vera Lombardi became Chanel’s muse and public relations liaison to a number of European royal families, including the British royal family. Her acquaintance with representatives of royal families and upper-classes contributed to her empire growth in power. As a result, before World War II, Chanel’s was one of the most influential designers in Europe as well as the world, because Europe, especially Paris, where Coco Chanel resided in the Hotel Ritz Paris, was the heart of the world’s fashion design (Barringer, 28). However, World War II forced Coco Chanel to stop her work and business. Nevertheless, she remained in Paris even during the German occupation. This period in her life was probably the most controversial because, after the war, she was repeatedly accused of collaborationism. For instance, she was suspected of having a love affair with a German officer and Nazi soy Hans Gunther von Dinklage. Moreover, she was even arrested after the war but she escaped the t rial after the interference of the British royal family, but she was forced to move to Switzerland where she lived until 1954. In 1954, she returned to Paris where she renewed her work and her business, but her new collection did not have much success with the Parisians and French because they believe Chanel to be a collaborationist, which produced a negative impact on her public image. Nevertheless, in spite of the failure in France, Chanel had open a new market, the USA, where her wear became extremely popular and the USA became her main market in the post-World War II period. On the other hand, even though the USA was the main market for Chanel’s Empire, Coco Chanel, herself, had never left Paris and stayed in this city until her death on 10 January 1971. She died at the age of 88 in her private suit in the Ritz Hotel Paris and she was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland (Charles-Roux, 341). Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that Coco Chanel was a very influential fashion designer. She had changed the traditional view on women’s wear and she had changed the women’s philosophy in regard to the wear. She was one of the first designers who made women think of themselves above all, instead of thinking of their men when they choose the clothes. At the same time, her personality is still quite controversial because, in spite of a huge popularity before World War II, she failed to regain the popularity in France after the war.

Benito Cereno essays

Benito Cereno essays After reading Herman Melvilles Benito Cereno, it is clear to me that Melville views the institution of slavery as a cruel and inhumane act. Slavery is the evil of the story. The slaves on the San Dominick rebelled because they were treated cruelly. It is wrong for one person to own another and look down upon them and treat them poorly. Evil seems to breed evil, and therefore, the slaves revolted with violence. In the story there are two captains; Benito Cereno and Captain Delano. Cereno is captain of the San Dominick, and although he is the captain of the ship which holds the slaves, he is truly a good man. He too seems to be a victim of evil. The slaves rebellious behavior turned him into a very edgy and nervous man. Although he may not seem like a good guy, Cereno showed his goodness when he jumped into Delanos boat to warn him of the danger that lied ahead for his crew and himself. Delano is alo a simple, good-hearted man. He is a good captain and runs his ship well. While on the other hand it seems that Cereno does not have that much experience. That is why Delano immediately went and offered his assistance to Cereno when he saw the San Dominick aimlessly wandering about the waters. Delano does not always see things as they really are because he is a very naive person, and it is because of this trait that he does not really realize all that is happening aboard the San Dominick. At the times when he did have a suspicion about the happenings of the ship, he would just tell himself he was being silly and forget about it. After he actually realized the chaos that was happening aboard Cerenos ship, Delano sent his crew to take down the slaves, and it is he who saved Cereno and the ship. ...

Fatty Arbuckle Scandal and Trials

Fatty Arbuckle Scandal and Trials At a raucous, three-day party in September 1921, a young starlet became severely ill and died four days later. Newspapers went wild with the story: popular silent-screen comedian Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle had killed Virginia Rappe with his weight while savagely raping her. Though the newspapers of the day reveled in the gory, rumored details, juries found little evidence that Arbuckle was in any way connected with her death. What happened at that party and why was the public so ready to believe Fatty was guilty? Fatty Arbuckle Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle had long been a performer. When he was a teenager, Arbuckle traveled the West Coast on the vaudeville circuit. In 1913, at the age of 26, Arbuckle hit the big time when he signed with Mack Sennetts Keystone Film Company and became one of the Keystone Kops. Arbuckle was heavy- he weighed somewhere between 250 and 300 pounds- and that was part of his comedy. He moved gracefully, threw pies, and humorously tumbled. In 1921, Arbuckle signed a three-year contract with Paramount for $1 million- an unheard-of amount at the time, even in Hollywood. To celebrate just having finished three pictures at the same time and to celebrate his new contract with Paramount, Arbuckle and a couple of friends drove up from Los Angeles to San Francisco on Saturday, September 3, 1921, for some Labor Day weekend revelry. The Party Arbuckle and friends checked into the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. They were on the twelfth floor in a suite that contained rooms 1219, 1220, and 1221 (room 1220 was the sitting room). On Monday, September 5, the party started early. Arbuckle greeted visitors in his pajamas and though this was during Prohibition, large quantities of liquor were  being drunk. Around 3 oclock, Arbuckle retired from the party in order to get dressed to go sight-seeing with a friend. What happened in the following ten minutes is disputed. Delmonts version:Bambina Maude Delmont, who frequently set-up famous people in order to blackmail them, claims that Arbuckle herded 26-year-old Virginia Rappe into his bedroom and said, Ive waited for this a long time, Delmont says that a few minutes later party-goers could hear screams from Rappe coming from the bedroom. Delmont claims she tried to open the door, even kick it in, but couldnt get it open. When Arbuckle opened the door, supposedly Rappe was found naked and bleeding behind him.Arbuckles version:Arbuckle says that when he retired to his room to change clothes, he found Rappe vomiting in his bathroom. He then helped clean her up and led her to a nearby bed to rest. Thinking she was just overly intoxicated, he left her to rejoin the party. When he returned to the room just a few minutes later, he found Rappe on the floor. After putting her back on the bed, he left the room to get help. When others then entered the room, they found Rappe tearing at her clothes (something that has been claimed she did often when she was drunk). Party guests tried a number of strange treatments, including covering Rappe with ice, but she still wasnt getting any better. Eventually, the hotel staff was contacted and Rappe was taken to another room to rest. With others looking after Rappe, Arbuckle left for the sight-seeing tour and then drove back to Los Angeles. Rappe Dies Rappe was not taken to the hospital on that day. And though she didnt improve, she wasnt taken to the hospital for three days because most people who visited her considered her condition to be caused by liquor. On Thursday, Rappe was taken to the Wakefield Sanitorium, a maternity hospital known for giving abortions. Virginia Rappe died the following day from peritonitis, caused by a ruptured bladder. Arbuckle was soon arrested and charged with the murder of Virginia Rappe. Yellow Journalism The papers went wild with the  story. Some articles stated Arbuckle had crushed Rappe with his weight, while others said he had raped her with a foreign object (the papers went into graphic details). In the newspapers, Arbuckle was assumed guilty and Virginia Rappe was an innocent, young girl. The papers excluded reporting that Rappe had a history of numerous abortions, with some evidence stating she might have had another a short time before the party. William Randolph Hearst, the symbol of yellow journalism, had his  San Francisco Examiner  cover the story. According to Buster Keaton, Hearst boasted that Arbuckles story sold more papers than the  sinking of the Lusitania. The public reaction to Arbuckle was fierce. Perhaps even more than the specific charges of rape and murder, Arbuckle became a symbol of Hollywoods immorality. Movie houses across the country almost immediately stopped showing Arbuckles movies. The public was angry and they were using Arbuckle as a target. The Trials With the scandal as front-page news on almost every newspaper, it was difficult to get an unbiased jury. The first Arbuckle trial began on November 1921 and charged Arbuckle with manslaughter. The trial was thorough and Arbuckle took the stand to share his side of the story. The jury was hung with a 10 to 2 vote for acquittal. Because the first trial ended with a hung jury, Arbuckle was tried again. In the second Arbuckle trial, the defense did not present a very thorough case and Arbuckle did not take the stand. The jury saw this as an admission of guilt and deadlocked in a 10 to 2 vote for conviction. In the third trial, which began on March 1922, the defense again became pro-active. Arbuckle testified, repeating his side of the story. The main prosecution witness, Zey Prevon, had escaped house arrest and left the country. For this trial, the jury deliberated for only a couple of minutes and came back with a verdict of not guilty. Additionally, the jury wrote an apology to Arbuckle: Acquittal is not enough for Roscoe Arbuckle. We feel that a great injustice has been done him. We feel also that it was our only plain duty to give him this exoneration. There was not the slightest proof adduced to connect him in any way with the commission of a crime.He was manly throughout the case and told a straightforward story on the witness stand, which we all believed.The happening at the hotel was an unfortunate affair for which Arbuckle, so the evidence shows, was in no way responsible.We wish him success and hope that the American people will take the judgment of fourteen men and women who have sat listening for thirty-one days to the evidence that  Roscoe Arbuckle  is entirely innocent and free from all blame. Fatty Blacklisted Being acquitted was not the end to Roscoe Fatty Arbuckles problems. In response to the Arbuckle scandal, Hollywood established a self-policing organization that was to be known as the Hays Office. On April 18, 1922, Will Hays, the president of the new organization, banned Arbuckle from filmmaking. Though Hays lifted the ban in December of the same year, the damage was done Arbuckles career had been destroyed. A Short Come-Back For years, Arbuckle had trouble finding work. He eventually began directing under the name William B. Goodrich (similar to the name his friend Buster Keaton suggested Will B. Good). Though Arbuckle had begun a come-back and had signed with Warner Brothers in 1933 to act in some comedy shorts, he was never to see his popularity regained. After a small one-year anniversary party with his new wife on June 29, 1933, Arbuckle went to bed and suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep. He was 46.

Intersex and Intersex Surgery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Intersex and Intersex Surgery - Essay Example In the western society, the field of intersex is very clear in educating people on the various disorders that human beings bear and the efforts that scientists have made in the comprehension of the conditions. Many writers have also made tremendous strides forward in a bid to educate people on the various conditions involved in the field of intersex. Another aspect of the field that has close ties with the main subject is intersex surgery. This is the kind of surgery performed on people with the intersex disorder in a bid to accomplish varying purposes. The two main reasons that the surgery is performed are to either save the life of the person or to address social issues that the person may be facing (Sytsma 106). However, many scientists warn about the issue of genital surgery as research shows that the results got from the surgery are far worse than good on not only the areas under surgery but also the entire body system of the person. Katrina Roen is a very famous writer who has written many books and articles concerning the area of intersex. She is the writer of one critically analyzed and reviewed article called â€Å"But We Have to Do Something.† The article has had major reviews from the manner in which Katrina focuses on the issues portrayed by various writers in the field of intersex and intersex surgery. She majorly focuses on the issue of cosmetic surgery in the western society in relation to infants atypically sexed. In her publication, she criticizes the rest of the publications stating that the manner in which they feature the female and human body as a whole is not only demining but also bothering the rest of the population. In the 21st century, many changes have been made in the surgical processes carried out, and this has had great benefits to many people. However, Katrina states that these changes should not be a reason for people to always opt for surgery and especially when dealing with young people and infants. Katrina states that t he young and infants are rather vulnerable at their ages and getting them through surgery is a rather traumatic process. She goes ahead to state that parents should take responsibility for their actions as anything may happen in the surgical rooms having authorized the procedures. It is not right for children and infants to go through the strenuous surgical processes as they may have a negative impact on their development, and the outcome is never certain (Roen 42). Katrina also states that taking them through the procedures is rather poor as the kids had no approval of undergoing the procedure. She then advises that parents halt such procedures and just wait for their kids to grow up and make their own decisions as to whether they should undergo the surgery or continue living in their conditions. Another factor that she takes into consideration while going around her discussion is about the work published by feminists and their regard to intersex procedures. She criticizes other fe male writers and professors from the manner in which they portray the female body. According to Katrina, many feminists in the 21st century have been swept by the moving wind of globalization and technology. She states that this is not a bad fact and is rather commendable as it increases the field of research for problem solution. However, she claims that this should not be an excuse for

About me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

About me - Essay Example I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria more than two years ago and have been teaching the subject in secondary schools since then. Right from my time in the university, I have nursed the idea to promote and sustain Yoruba language and culture within the shores of Nigeria. No wonder, therefore, that one of my research projects in the university was â€Å"Word Creation Processes In English: A Case Study Of Affixation, Blending And Compounding Involving English And Yoruba Words†. However, the society seems to be having a different perspective; English appears to have a clear cut preference over the Nigerian languages which are labeled ‘vernacular’. Although there are a few who share my school of thoughts, the general societal belief system is non-accommodative, thus the desire to look beyond my society. The ideas I have nurtured passionately for years collapses well into the Fulbright FLTA Program; a program that will not only open up the avenues of refining my English language proficiency and teaching skills, but also power on the opportunity to exchange cultural values with foreign individuals. Interestingly, I have always imagined how exciting it would be to actualize my dream of sharing my cultural roots with total strangers. I liken such to a possible scenario of two young lovers; a perfect avenue to burn passion and express emotions. I remember with nostalgia the days in University seeing foreigners [Europeans or maybe Americans] struggle to study the Yoruba language and culture, yet missed opportunities to have a tete-a-tete with them. Nonetheless, that was then, with a totally different objective to accomplish; obtaini ng a first degree. The opportunity presented in this particular program will be perfect as much. Teaching English language may be very interesting, nothing would be more fulfilling than seeing people [foreigners] appreciate the Yoruba culture and

Information Technology and Change Management Research Paper

Information Technology and Change Management - Research Paper Example As the report declares people are habitual creatures, they like designs, patterns and repetition. If there is sudden change in their expected pattern (habit) the brain goes into a puzzled mode and starts figuring it out, which is laborious. IT changes represent a change in the patterns and designs, a different path from what people normally use for their everyday tasks. And the biggest ‘problem’ with IT processes is that they keep on changing. So people need to keep up to date with that data base. According to paper findings John Kotter is a leadership and change management guru. He is a professor at Harvard Business School and is an expert on change management. Before diving into Kotter’s theory about change management theory, it would be wise to separate two types of changes that the corporates face; Change management and change leadership. These two terms are not interchangeable. In this paper, the focus is on change management but here is a brief account of why it’s wise not to mingle it with change leadership. Change leadership deals with driving forces, processes and visions that propel large scale transformations while change management refers to the tools and processes that are used to keep the change under control. The goal here is to diminish the impact of the change. Kotter’s change management theory is governed by certain factors that define the impact of the change. No matter what the type of the organization, a change in management needs to b e contained.

Non-Verbal Communication Essay Example for Free

Non-Verbal Communication Essay A number of people pay more attention on what they want to say,however,how to say it means more important. â€Å"In fact, studies suggest that during face-to-face communication, only 7% of meaning comes from the verbal content of the message —38% comes from tone of voice and 55% comes from body language. † Obviously, non-verbal communication refers to the process of the communication by means of receiving and sending the messages which are wordless. As an important tool of communication, non-verbal communication plays an important part in job interviews, medical care and social interactions. The process of a job interview is full of communication, including both verbal and nonverbal communications; however, nonverbal communication is more important than verbal communication in some ways. When people do the interview, it is critical for people to send the right messages and receive the good responses as well as maintaining eye contact, using facial expressions and making proper postures. Eye contact is essential when people are talking to the interviewer. The sustained eye contact could be respectful which show your confidence and trust. Also, this makes sure that you are listening and understanding about what you are communicating with each other. However, it’s not good to stare at interviewers constantly, which make them uncomfortable. The best way is to maintain the eye contact for several seconds, and then change your vision away from the interviewers briefly, finally put the eye contact on the interviewers. Meanwhile, facial expression is a necessary component in a job interview. Commonly, smile is a powerful communication tool, which is able to deliver the friendliness, happiness and interests. It helps people relieve nervous tension in order to make a good performance in the front of the interviewers. Also, it’s better to add a smile with your eyes so that you can show a real smile in your face, which makes your interview more successful. Additionally, making good postures can affect the quality of the job interview. The way of standing, sitting or talking shows the level of our attitude and manners, particularly in a job interview. For example, first, sit on the edge of the chair is a signal of nervousness and express you’re uncomfortable. Second, stand in the space belonging to the others and cross the arm, which can be hostile. In order to make your job interview extremely successfully, you’d better prepare eye contact, facial expressions and right postures. Furthermore, nonverbal communication is related to the development of medical care. Usually, most people are getting involved with each other through verbal communication. However, when people are getting older, they are lacking the functions of social network and body function degradation so that they need to depend on nurses’ care— nonverbal behavior,which establish the relationship between nurses and patients, such as, smiling, body positioning and touch. Smiling may be one of the most important characteristics of a nurse who wishes to establish good rapport with patients (Schabracq 1987; Heintzman et al. 1993). Smiling is positively judged by other people and is considered as a sign of good humour, warmth and immediacy (Mehrabian 1972, Reece Whitman 1962). † The body positioning points out whether the person is caring and listening. In the process of nonverbal behavior, the forward leaning indicates that nurse pay attention and care about the condition of the patients. In earlier research Reece Whitman (1962) showed that leaning forward conveys warmth and friendliness. Forward leaning combined with smiling, eye contact and verbal attentiveness (hm-hm) communicates an attitude of involvement. † Additionally, touch is an essential part in the medical care, which is a significant connection between nurses and patients. Touch can deliver the feeling of comfort, identification and encouragement in order to give patients a strong response to be optimistic through the medical process. In the medical way, touch can be divided into two parts; one is â€Å"instrumental touch†, another is â€Å"expressive† touch. Instrumental touch refers to the physical touch, such as bind up a wound. Expressive touch is more emotionally and spontaneous. Hence, touch is a key tool in the medical care; it makes patients more positive to face the medical treatment. What’s more, social interactions are a significant form of nonverbal communication. Symbolic stands for religious and status. On one hand, status can be a symbol of social level with person through his uniform, the brand of the car, and the size of the house. On the other hand, religious belief is equal to the culture, which makes certain people have unique communication. However, comparing to the difference between cultures, it’s pretty obviously that we can see the difference in the nonverbal communication. For example, physical space is a main difference. The acceptable physical distance in Latin America and Middle East is much shorter than it in America and Europe. Commonly, that’s why people often leave enough space for each other when they are standing online to buy the food. Besides, in terms of physical postures, the common example is the habit of many Americans who prefer to have a rest with their feet on the desk, but in Asia, Europe, and Middle East is unrespectable behavior. Additionally, hand and arm gestures means different between cultures. In some cases, for instance the â€Å"OK† sign, commonly it means everything is all right perfect. However, it means worthless in France and is money in Japan. Also, it even means rude in Germany. Another gesture â€Å"thumbs up†, usually it indicated all things are OK. But, in Nigeria, it means very offensive, while in Turkey, it means political rightist party. To sum up, nonverbal communication affects the way of people’s daily life, which tends to add more value to our communication. It makes our job review perfectly, promotes the development of the medical care, and enhances the progress of social interactions. As a result, nonverbal communication, as an essential communication skill, is getting more important and brings people the powerful communication with each other in different areas.

Race and Representation in Congress Essay -- Politics Political Scienc

Race and Representation in Congress The topic of race, redistricting, and minority representation in Congress has emerged as one of the most salient issues in contemporary political thought. The creation of so‑called majority minority districts has been attacked as unfair and racially polarizing by some observers and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The study of race in relation to American politics and institutions, and, in particular, to the institution of Congress, has produced a wealth of research and literature in recent years. This scope of budding research ranges from legislative activity and Congressional voting to the electoral process and campaigning. This study examines the effects of race in Congressional elections and campaigning, and will be primarily focused on constituent relationships with members of the House of Representatives. Through this research, a better understanding of the differences in constituent relationships and engagement between African American Ho use members and their Caucasian colleagues will be reached. Based on the current literature and prevailing scholarly attitudes, one could likely conclude that African American Congress members, on the whole, develop closer and more personal relationships with their constituents than do white representatives. This basis for this research requires further explanation. The rationale for excluding Senators from this study and for narrowing the focus exclusively to black House members reflects the difference in representation between House members and Senators. By studying House districts comprised of a smaller electorate, one can draw important conclusions about the constituency characteristics and the subsequent... ...y Weekly Report. 51.3 (Jan. 16 1993): 75 Seifman, David. â€Å"Dems Concede Engel’s Right on the Button.† The New York Post. 17 June 2000. Sherman, Mark. â€Å"Georgia Campaign ’96.† The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 22 Sept 1996: 4D. Singh, Robert. The Congressional Black Caucus. London: SAGE Publications, 1998. Spaid, Elizabeth Levit. â€Å"Georgia Judges Overrule Black District.† Christian Science Monitor. 88.15 (Dec 15 1995): 4. Swain, Carol M. Black Faces, Black Interests. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1993. â€Å"Weller spurs GOP’s Spanish-language education.† Morris Daily Herald Online. 5 June 2003. 24 Nov. 2003. Whitby, Kenny. The Color of Representation. University of Michigan, 1997. Race and Representation in Congress Essay -- Politics Political Scienc Race and Representation in Congress The topic of race, redistricting, and minority representation in Congress has emerged as one of the most salient issues in contemporary political thought. The creation of so‑called majority minority districts has been attacked as unfair and racially polarizing by some observers and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The study of race in relation to American politics and institutions, and, in particular, to the institution of Congress, has produced a wealth of research and literature in recent years. This scope of budding research ranges from legislative activity and Congressional voting to the electoral process and campaigning. This study examines the effects of race in Congressional elections and campaigning, and will be primarily focused on constituent relationships with members of the House of Representatives. Through this research, a better understanding of the differences in constituent relationships and engagement between African American Ho use members and their Caucasian colleagues will be reached. Based on the current literature and prevailing scholarly attitudes, one could likely conclude that African American Congress members, on the whole, develop closer and more personal relationships with their constituents than do white representatives. This basis for this research requires further explanation. The rationale for excluding Senators from this study and for narrowing the focus exclusively to black House members reflects the difference in representation between House members and Senators. By studying House districts comprised of a smaller electorate, one can draw important conclusions about the constituency characteristics and the subsequent... ...y Weekly Report. 51.3 (Jan. 16 1993): 75 Seifman, David. â€Å"Dems Concede Engel’s Right on the Button.† The New York Post. 17 June 2000. Sherman, Mark. â€Å"Georgia Campaign ’96.† The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 22 Sept 1996: 4D. Singh, Robert. The Congressional Black Caucus. London: SAGE Publications, 1998. Spaid, Elizabeth Levit. â€Å"Georgia Judges Overrule Black District.† Christian Science Monitor. 88.15 (Dec 15 1995): 4. Swain, Carol M. Black Faces, Black Interests. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1993. â€Å"Weller spurs GOP’s Spanish-language education.† Morris Daily Herald Online. 5 June 2003. 24 Nov. 2003. Whitby, Kenny. The Color of Representation. University of Michigan, 1997.

Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 3

one for, lost, a goner. Blaise had chosen him, and it was only a matter of how she was going to play him. A parade of names marched through Thea's mind. Randy Marik. Jake Batista. Kristoffer Milton. Troy Sullivan. Daniel Xiong. And now: Brie Ross. But Eric was talking, sounding animated. â€Å"Your cousin? Is she that other new girl? Thea?† â€Å"Yes. Now-â€Å" â€Å"Look, do you know where she is? I really want to talk to her.† The hazy look descended again, and Eric stared into the distance. â€Å"She's just†¦ I've never met anybody like her†¦.† Blaise let go of the notebook and stared. From her hiding place, Thea stared, too. It had never happened before. This guy didn't even seem to see Blaise. That was strange enough. But by the Blue Monkey-headed Goddess of Inquisitiveness, what Thea really wanted to know was why she herself felt so relieved by it. A bell rang. Blaise was still standing there flabbergasted. Eric stuffed the notebook in his backpack. â€Å"Could you just let her know I asked about her?† â€Å"She doesn't care if you asked about her!† Blaise snapped, voice no longer honeyed. â€Å"She said very explicitly that she never wanted to see you again. And I'd watch out if I were you. Because she has a temper.† The last word was uttered in rising tones. Eric looked slightly alarmed-and crestfallen. Thea saw his throat move as he swallowed. Then, without saying good-bye to Blaise, he turned and walked out the far side of the corridor. Well by the Red Crow-headed Thunderbolt Goddess. Blaise turned around and stalked up the corridor in Thea's direction. Thea didn't even try to hide. â€Å"So you saw all that. Well I hope you're happy,† Blaise said waspishly. Thea wasn't. She was confused. Strangely agitated-and scared, because the Cup of Death was still floating before her eyes. â€Å"I guess we should both just leave him alone/' she said. â€Å"Are you kidding? I'm going to have him,† Blaise said. â€Å"He's mine. Unless,† she added, eyes glittering, â€Å"you've already staked a claim.† Thea floundered, shocked. â€Å"I†¦ well no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Then he's mine. I like a challenge.† Blaise ran a hand through her hair, disordering the black waves. â€Å"Isn't it nice that Gran has so many love charms in the shop,† she mused. â€Å"Blaise†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea had a hard time collecting her thoughts. â€Å"Don't you remember what Gran said? If there's any more trouble†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"There isn't going to be any trouble for us,† Blaise said, her voice flat and positive. â€Å"Only for him.† Thea walked to her next class feeling oddly empty. Ignore it, she thought. There's nothing you can do. She didn't see many Night People along the way to class. A young kid, probably a freshman, who looked like a shapeshifter; a teacher who had the hunting light of the lamia-the born vampires-in his eyes. No made vampires, no werewolves. No other witches. Of course, she couldn't be certain. All the people of the Night World were masters of secrecy, of blending in, of passing unseen. They had to be. It was what allowed them to survive in a world where there were so many more humans†¦ and where humans loved to kill anything different. But when she was sitting in the world literature classroom, Thea noticed a girl in the next row. The girl was small-boned and pretty, with thick eyelashes and hair as black and soft as soot. She had a heart-shaped face-and dimples. But what caught Thea's eye was the girl's hand, which was playing with a pin on the girl's blue-and-white-striped vest. A pin in the shape of a black flower. A dahlia. Thea immediately turned to a blank page in her notebook. While the teacher read a passage from the story Rashomon, Thea began drawing a black dahlia, tracing it over and over until it was large enough for the girl to see distinctly. When she raised her head, she saw the girl was looking at her. The girl's lashes swept down as she looked at the drawing, then up again. She smiled at Thea and nodded slightly. Thea smiled and nodded back. After class, without any need to discuss it, Thea followed the girl to the front of the school. The girl looked around to make sure no one was in earshot, then turned to Thea with something like resigned wistfulness. â€Å"Circle Midnight?† she said. Thea shook her head. â€Å"Circle Twilight. Aren't you?† The girl's face lit up with shy delight. Her eyes were dark and velvety. â€Å"Yes!† she said and rushed on, â€Å"But there are only two more of us-two seniors, I mean-and they're both Circle Midnight, and I was afraid to hope!† She thrust out her hand, dimpling. â€Å"I'm Dani Abforth.† Thea felt her heart lighten. The girl's laughter was infectious. â€Å"Thea Harman. Unity.† It was the age-old greeting of the witches, the symbol of their harmony, their oneness. â€Å"Unity,† Dani murmured. Then her eyes widened. â€Å"Harman? You're a Hearth-Woman? A daughter of Hellewise? Really?† Thea laughed. â€Å"We're all daughters of Hellewise.† â€Å"Yes, but-you know what I mean. You're a direct descendent. I'm honored.† â€Å"Well, I'm honored, too. Abforth is ‘All-bringing-forth,' isn't it? That's a pretty impressive line itself.† Dani was still looking awed, so Thea said quickly, â€Å"My cousin's here, too-Blaise Harman. We're both new-but you must be, too. I've never seen you around Vegas before.† â€Å"We moved in last month, just in time to start school,† Dani said. Her brow puckered. â€Å"But it you're new, what do you mean you haven't seen me around?† Thea sighed. â€Å"Well, it's kind of complicated†¦.† A bell rang. Both she and Dani looked at the school building in frustration, then at each other. â€Å"Meet me here at lunch?† Dani asked. Thea nodded, asked which way her French class was, and then flew off toward the other side of the building. She sat through her next two classes trying to actually listen to the teachers. She didn't know what else to do. She had to concentrate to keep the image of gray-flecked green eyes out of her mind. At lunch, she found Dani sitting on the steps out front. Thea settled beside her and opened a bottle of Evian water and a chocolate yogurt she'd bought at the snack bar. â€Å"You were going to explain how you know Vegas,† Dani said. She spoke softly because there were kids everywhere in the front courtyard, sprawled in the sun with paper bags. Thea eyed a row of sago palms and felt herself sighing again. â€Å"Blaise and I-our mothers died when we were born. They were twin sisters. And then both our dads died. So we grew up sort of moving around from relative to relative. We usually spend the summers with Grandma Harman, and we live with somebody else during the school year. But these last couple of years†¦ well, we've been in five high schools since we were sophomores.† â€Å"Five?† â€Å"Five. I think five. Isis knows, it could be six.† â€Å"But why?† â€Å"We keep getting expelled,† Thea said succinctly. â€Å"But-â€Å" â€Å"It's Blaise's fault,† Thea said. She was mad at Blaise. â€Å"She does-things-to boys. Human boys. And somehow it always ends up getting us kicked out of school. Both of us, because I'm always too stupid to tell them she's the one responsible.† â€Å"Not stupid, I bet. Loyal,† Dani said warmly, and put her hand on Thea's. Thea squeezed it, taking some comfort in the sympathy. â€Å"Anyway, this year we were in New Hampshire living with our Uncle Galen-and Blaise did it again. To the captain of the football team. His name was Randy Marik†¦.† When Thea stopped, Dani said, â€Å"What happened to him?† â€Å"He burned the school down for her.† Dani made a sound halfway between a snort and a giggle. Then she straightened out her face quickly. â€Å"Sorry, not funny. For her?† Thea leaned against the wrought-iron stair railing. â€Å"That's what Blaise likes,† she said bleakly. â€Å"Having power over guys, messing with their minds. Getting them to do things they would never ordinarily do. To prove their love, you know. But the thing is, she's never satisfied until they're completely destroyed†¦.† She shook her head. â€Å"You should have seen Randy at the end. He'd lost his mind. I don't think he'll ever get it back.† Dani wasn't smiling anymore. â€Å"Power like that†¦ she sounds like Aphrodite,† she said softly. And that's right, Thea thought. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love who could turn passion into a weapon that brought the whole world to its knees. â€Å"Remind me sometime to tell you what she's done to the other guys she's played. In a way. Randy was lucky†¦.† Thea took a breath. â€Å"So, anyway, we got shipped back here to Grandma Harman because there weren't any other relatives willing to take us. They figured if Gran couldn't straighten us up, nobody could.† â€Å"But that must be wonderful,† Dani said. â€Å"I mean, living with the Crone. Part of the reason my mom moved us here was that she wanted to study with your grandmother.† Thea nodded. â€Å"Yeah, people come from all over to take her classes, or to buy her amulets and things. She's not always easy to live with, though,† Thea added wryly. â€Å"She goes through a couple of apprentices a year.† â€Å"So is she going to straighten Blaise up?† â€Å"I don't think anybody can. What Blaise does-it's just her nature, the way it's a cat's nature to play with mice. And if we get in trouble again, Gran says she's going to send us to our aunt Ursula at the Connecticut enclave.† â€Å"The Convent?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"Then you'd better stay out of trouble.† â€Å"I know. Dani, what's this school like? I mean, is it the kind of place where Blaise can keep out of trouble?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dani looked dismayed. â€Å"Well-I told you before, there's only two other witches in our class, and they're both Circle Midnight. Maybe you know them†¦ Vivienne Morrigan and Selene Lucna?† Thea's heart sank. Vivienne and Selene-she'd seen them going to summer Circles, wearing the darkest robes of any of the Circle Midnight girls. The two of them plus Blaise would make†¦ well, a lethal combination. â€Å"Maybe if you explain to them how important it is, they might help you keep Blaise under control,† Dani said. â€Å"You want to go talk to them now? They'll be on the patio by the cafeteria-I usually eat with them there.† â€Å"Um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea hesitated. Talking to those two- well, she doubted it would help. But on the other hand, she didn't have a better idea. â€Å"Why not?† On the way to the cafeteria, she saw something that made her stop dead. Taped to the stucco wall was a giant piece of butcher paper, painted orange and black at the margins. In the center was a grotesque figure: an old woman with a black dress, disheveled white hair, and a wart-covered, haglike face. She was straddling a broom and wearing a pointy hat. Lettering under the picture said coming OCTOBER 31 †¦ THE ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN PARTY. Hands on hips, Thea said, â€Å"When will they learn that witches never wore pointy hats?† Dani snorted, her heart-shaped face surprisingly dangerous. â€Å"You know, maybe your cousin has the right idea after all.† Thea looked at her, startled. â€Å"Well, they are an inferior species. You have to admit that. And maybe it sounds prejudiced, but then they're so prejudiced themselves.† She leaned closer to Thea. â€Å"You know, they even have prejudices against skin.† She held out her arm. Thea looked at the flawless skin, which was a deep, clear brown. â€Å"They'd think we were two different races,† Dani said, pressing her arm against Thea's tan one. â€Å"And that maybe one was better than the other one.† Thea couldn't deny it. All she could say, feebly, was, â€Å"Well, two wrongs don't make a right†¦.† â€Å"But three lefts do!† Dani burst out, finishing the old witch carol. Then she dissolved into laughter and led Thea to the patio. â€Å"Let's see, they should be over there†¦. Oh. Oops.† Oops, Thea thought. Vivienne and Selene were at a secluded table on the far side. Blaise was with them. â€Å"I should have known she'd find them first thing,† Thea muttered. From the way the three girls had their heads together, it looked as if trouble were brewing already. As Thea and Dani approached the table, Blaise looked up. â€Å"Where've you been?† she said, waving a finger reproachfully. â€Å"I've been waiting to introduce you.† Everybody said hello. Then Thea sat down and studied the other two girls. Vivienne had fox-red hair and looked tall even sitting down. Her face was animated; she seemed sparkling with energy. Selene was a platinum blond with sleepy blue eyes. She was smaller, and moved with languid grace. Now, how do I politely say, â€Å"Please help me suppress my cousin?† Thea wondered. She could already tell it wouldn't be much use. Viv and Selene seemed to be under Blaise's spell already-they turned to her every other second as if checking for approval. Even Dani was watching Blaise with something like fascinated awe. Blaise had that effect on people. â€Å"So we were just talking about guys,† Selene said, twirling a straw languorously in her bottle of Snapple iced tea. Thea's heart plummeted. â€Å"Toyboys,† Vivienne clarified in a lovely melodious voice. Thea felt the beginnings of a bad headache. No wonder Blaise is smirking, she thought. These girls are just like her. She'd seen it at other schools: young witches who seemed to flirt with breaking Night World law by flaunting inhuman power over boys. â€Å"Aren't there any of our kind of guys here?† Thea asked, as a last hope. Vivienne rolled her eyes. â€Å"One sophomore. Alaric Breedlove, Circle Twilight. That's it. This place is a desert-no pun intended.† Thea wasn't really surprised. There were always more witch girls than guys-and nobody seemed to know why. More girls got born, more survived to grow up. And in some places the ratio was particularly unbalanced. â€Å"So we just have to make do,† Selene drawled. â€Å"But that can be fun sometimes. Homecoming dance is this Saturday, and I've got my boy all picked out.† â€Å"So,† Blaise said, â€Å"have I.† She glanced at Thea significantly. And there it was. Thea felt her throat close. â€Å"Eric Ross,† Blaise said, savoring the words. â€Å"And Viv and Sel have told me allll about him.† â€Å"Eric?† Dani said. â€Å"He's the basketball star, isn't he?† â€Å"And the baseball star,† Vivienne said in her beautiful voice. â€Å"And the tennis star. And he's smart-he takes honors courses and works at the animal hospital, too. He's studying to get into U.C. Davis. To be a vet, you know.† So that's why he cared about the snake, Thea thought. And why he's got flatworms in his notebook. â€Å"And he's so cute,† Selene murmured. â€Å"He's so shy with girls-he can hardly talk around them. None of us have gotten anywhere with him.† â€Å"That's because you used the wrong methods,† Blaise said, and her eyes were very smoky. Thea's insides seemed hollow and there was a circlet of pain around her head. She did the only thing she could think of. â€Å"Blaise,† she said. She looked her cousin directly in the face, making an open appeal. â€Å"Blaise, listen. I hardly ever ask anything of you, right? But now I'm asking something. I want you to leave Eric alone. Can you do that-for me? For the sake of Unity?† Blaise blinked slowly. She took a long drink of iced tea. â€Å"Why, Thea, you're getting all worked up.† â€Å"Ism not.† â€Å"I didn't know you cared.† â€Å"I don't. I mean-of course I don't care about him. But I'm worried about you, about all of us. I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thea hadn't meant to say this, but she found the words spilling out anyway. â€Å"I think he might have some suspicions about us. This morning he told me that I seemed so different from other girls†¦.† She managed to stop herself before she mentioned that he'd guessed she had healed him. That would be incredibly dangerous, especially since she didn't know who Vivienne or Selene might blab to. Blaise's pupils were large. â€Å"You mean-you think he's a psychic?† â€Å"No, no.† She knew he wasn't a psychic. She'd been inside his mind, and he wasn't from any lost witch family. He didn't have any powers. He was as much a human as that snake had been a snake. â€Å"Well, then,† Blaise said. She chuckled, a rich, rippling sound. â€Å"He just thinks you're different-and that's hardly something to worry about. We want them to think we're different.† She didn't understand. And Thea couldn't explain. Not without getting herself into very hot water. â€Å"So, if you don't mind, we'll just consider my claim staked,† Blaise said courteously. â€Å"Now, let's see, what to do with the boys at the dance. First, I think we need to spill their blood.† â€Å"Spill what?† Dani said, sitting up. â€Å"Just a little blood,† Blaise told her absently. â€Å"It's going to be absolutely vital for some of the spells we'll want to do later.† â€Å"Well, good luck,† Dani said. â€Å"Humans don't like blood-they're going to run like bunnies from you after that.† Blaise regarded her with a half-smile. â€Å"I don't think so,† she said. â€Å"You don't understand this business yet. If it's done right, they don't run. They're scared; they're shocked; and they just keep coming back for more.† Dani looked shocked herself-and still fascinated. â€Å"But why do you want to hurt them?† â€Å"We're just doing what comes naturally,† Blaise purred. I don't care Thea thought, it's none of my business. She heard herself say, â€Å"No.† She was staring at a pile of squashed napkins in her hand. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Blaise's exasperated expression. The others might not know what Thea was saying no to, but Blaise always understood her cousin. â€Å"I asked you before if you wanted him,† Blaise said. â€Å"And you said you didn't. So now you're changing your mind? You're going to play him?† Thea stared at her wad of napkins. What could she say? I can't because I'm scared? I can't because something happened between him and me this morning and I don't know what it was? I can't because if I keep seeing him I have this feeling I might break the law, and I don't mean the one about never telling humans that we exist; I mean the other one, the one about never falling in love†¦. Don't be ridiculous. That sort of thing is out of the question, she told herself. All you want is to keep him from ending up like Randy Marik. And you can do that without getting involved. â€Å"I'm saying I want him,† she said out loud. â€Å"You're going to play him?† â€Å"I'm going to play him.† â€Å"Well.† Instead of snarling, Blaise laughed. â€Å"Well, congratulations. My little cousin is growing up at last.† â€Å"Oh, please.† Thea gave her a look. She and Blaise had been born on two different days-just barely. Blaise had been born one minute before midnight, and Thea one minute after. It was another reason they were so connected-but Thea hated it when Blaise acted older. Blaise just smiled, her gray eyes glinting. â€Å"And, look-there's lover boy right now,† she said, feigning elaborate surprise. Thea followed her nod and saw a figure with sandy hair and long legs at the other side of the patio. â€Å"What luck,† Blaise said. â€Å"Why don't you just walk over and ask him to the dance?†