An Analysis of the Central Themes of the Bhagavad Gita and...

An Analysis of the Central Themes of The Bhagavad Gita and its Influence on Significant Historical Figures and Literature. Gavin McClung â€Å"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.† -Eleanor Roosevelt The Bhagavad Gita has been estimated to have been in existence since about 500 BCE although the oldest known handwritten copy is in a museum in London and is dated to 1488. It predates the Bible, the Quran, and 50 Shades of Grey. As one of the oldest pieces of literature known to us it has gained a reputation as†¦show more content†¦Yoga translates literally to â€Å"skill in action†. This means that it’s not good enough to just have knowledge; you have to use it and act on it. This is a pretty simple idea and something that holds true to everyone on a very basic and understandable level. When coupled with the idea of Renunciation this theme of â€Å"Yoga and Renunciation† simply means to understand that material goods and things are just that; material. They won’t last forever so its pointless to place any value in them because whether we’re busy placing value in and buying the newest gadget to come out or even in something as simple as a watch or a car, we’re only gathering stuff that’s going to make our lives complicated and put a lot of stress on us. The less you have, then the less you have to worry about. The Yoga part of â€Å"Yoga and Renunciation† means that it’s not enough o know and agree with this concept of living free from the material, you have to actually do it if you want to live a strew free life full of inner peace. Many of the world’s most influential thinkers knew this and routinely put it into play in their daily lives. Confucious said in his Analects â€Å"The Master said, Incomparable was Hui! A handful of rice to eat, a gourd full of water to drink, living in a mean street--others would have found it unendurably depressing, but to Huis cheerfulness it made no difference at all. Incomparable indeed

Blockbuster Inc a Strategy and Competitive Analysis

Blockbuster Inc: A Strategy and Competitive Analysis April 27, 2007 Table of Contents Introduction 3 Blockbuster History 4 Competition and the State of the Rental Industry 5 The Strategy to Remain Competitive 6 Economic Factors 10 Supply Chain Strategy 11 Sales, Service and Promotion Strategy 13 Conclusion 16 Appendix 17 Exhibit 1 Blockbuster SWOT Analysis 17 Exhibit 2 17 Blockbuster Video Facts 17 Hollywood Video Facts 17 Netflix Facts 17 Exhibit 3 U.S. Home Video Industry: Historical Statistics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦19 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦20 Introduction Blockbuster Video is facing many challenges in trying to remain†¦show more content†¦Blockbuster has lost significant amounts of money in recent years: $1.6 billion in 2002, almost $1.0 billion in 2003, and $1.2 billion in 2004. The past few years, Blockbuster has been busy reinventing itself for a future in which video rentals may be on the way out. Competition and the State of the Rental Industry Technological and market evolution is finally catching up with the brick and mortar movie rental business. With all the new sources of competition available, Internet subscription services (Netflix), cheap DVDs at Wal-Mart, online movie download services, cable and satellite movie channels plus video-on-demand, Telco entry into the video business, it’s no wonder that Blockbuster and Hollywood Video are struggling. In 2005, Joe Flint and Kate Kelly reported in the Wall Street Journal that â€Å"Blockbuster Inc. is facing new pressures as signs increase that a sharp decline in the video-rental market is putting a strain on the company’s finances.† The company’s stock prices fell by 9.7% in late 2005, hitting a low of $4.60 per share. Then Hollywood Video (Movie Gallery Inc.) reported that sales at many of its stores dropped 10% the same quarter in 2005. Meanwhile, Netflix was gaining momentum and a customer base of almost six million subscribers (see ex hibit 2). Antioco admitted to the Wall Street Journal that the â€Å"rental industry is in the tank† and the firm’s SEC filing in 2005 said that it anticipates a â€Å"faster than expectedShow MoreRelatedCase Study : Video Concepts, Inc.1091 Words   |  5 Pages Business Communication Assignment Case Analysis and Report Writing Case report on Video Concepts, Inc. Submitted to: Professor Indra Nityanandan Submitted by : Vikram Choudhary Section- A Executive Summary Chad Rowan, an Entrepreneur by choice has been interested in doing business. 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Effectual Marketing Planning New Ventures â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Effectual Marketing Planning New Ventures? Answer: Introduction Samsung Leader 8 is an innovative brand of smartphone, which is scheduled to be released in 2018 in the Australian market at a price of $1000-$1200. The phone has unique features such as a secure Folder, Samsung Proprietary features, Full HD Super AMOLED screens and a large internal storage memory. This report has discussed the marketing plan of Samsung Leader 8. Write the executive summary The executive summary provides a clear and precise description of what is to be expected in the whole document, (Smith, 2011)). In this case, the executive summary should entail all the key areas covered in the marketing plan. Write an analysis of the current situation When analyzing the current situation, one should indicate the competitors available, their products, their strengths opportunities available in the market and their weaknesses, (Resnick, Cheng, Simpson Lourenco, 2016). A situation analysis should include data on: Stakeholders Stakeholders are persons interested in the success of an organization, (Baines, Fill Page, 2013). Stakeholders may be classified as follows: Colleagues, competitors, and partners: To draft a good marketing plan, consider the stakeholders goals, their offers to the business, what they dont offer, how they operate, and where they may go next, (Wymbs, 2011). The Government: This is the ruling authority in the business area of operation, (Whalen Holloway, 2012). Consider where the government fits in the business and the effects it may have on the success of the marketing process. Performance indicators When writing a marketing plan, one should clearly define the key performance indicators of the organization. The performance indicators would act as a basis for measuring whether the marketing strategy is succeeding or failing, (Tiago Verissimo, 2014). Review your buyers personas For a marketing plan to be comprehensive, one should research and explain the buyer interest, why they buy, where they buy and how they buy. One should also evaluate the outside marketing influences like demographics, economy, social or societal factors and their effects on the specific marketing group, (Royle Laing, 2014). Write the SWOT Analysis. A marketing plan cannot be complete without an analysis of the opportunities, threats, weaknesses and the strengths of the business, (Baines, Fill Page, 2013). Strengths are the unique capabilities of a firm. Opportunities are gaps in the market, which a company can exploit, (Baker Saren, 2016). Threats may also refer to the strengths of a business competitor, while weaknesses are inadequacies that may make the firm less competitive. Indicate the marketing objectives and issues. After indicating the SWOT analysis, one should indicate the specific issues that the plan is to focus on, and form strategies for achieving such goals. Design the marketing strategy. After indicating the strategic goals, the marketer should then indicate the marketing strategies which will be used to achieve such goals. The strategies selected will outline the specific target market of the firm and give specifics of the 6 Ps of the marketing mix, like Product, Price, Promotion, place, people, and positioning, (Smutkupt, Krairit Bakhang, 2012). Prepare the action plan The action plan explains how the marketing objectives would be executed, (Kotler Armstrong 2013). It specifies what is to be done, who will do it, how it will be done and the expected outcome Indicate the resources required An effective marketing plan must have resources in terms of funds, people, and technology, (Hollensen, 2015). This section of the plan highlights the resources needed. A marketer must indicate how the performance of the drafted marketing plan would be monitored. The progress of the marketing plan may be monitored through the administration of controls. SWOT and Competitor analysis These are the unique capabilities held by an organization, (Armstrong, Adam, Denize Kotler, 2014). Strengths may be technological, innovative or financial. The strengths of Samsung leader 8 are as follows: High patent: Samsung Leader 8 is an innovative phone, with unique capabilities. Therefore, it shall enjoy patent rights, as no other company can develop similar products. Competent research and development department: The department entrusted with research and development have qualified employees who can develop innovative ideas Unique Brand: Samsung Leader 8 is a unique smartphone brand, which will attract potential buyers who are ready to try a new smartphone model. Opportunities. Opportunities are market gaps that can be filled by an organization, (Jobber Ellis-Chadwick, 2012). Samsung Leader 8 is a product in the introduction stage in the product lifecycle. Therefore, it must exploit opportunities for growth like rising smartphone market and increased demand for smartphone-based solutions. Weaknesses. Weaknesses may refer to the constraints of the organization, that other rivals may take exploit, (Armstrong, Kotler, Harker Brennan, 2012). Some weaknesses that may be faced when marketing Samsung leader 8 include: Low-profit margin: Since this is a new product, in the introduction and growth stage, there is low-profit margin which may inhibit expansion of the client base. Several Competitors: There are several competitors with other superior brands selling in Australia. These include Apples iPhone brand and other brands. Threats. Threats are factors that may inhibit a business ability to compete effectively in the market, (Huang Sarigollu, 2014). Some threats to effective marketing of Samsung leader 8 include rise of the Chinese manufacturer and the frequently changing market demands and consumer tastes A mission statement is a brief statement which describes an organizations purpose, scope of operations, kind of products, geographical region of operation and primary customers, (Persaud Azhar, 2012). Everything done by Samsung is guided by its mission- to be the best Digital Electronics Company. This can be discussed in a diagram as follows: Marketing and financial objectives achievable in the first six months. Marketing objectives. Marketing objective Duration. To improve Samsung Leader 8s brand awareness by 50 % Two months, from January to February. To increase the Sale of Samsung Leader 8 by 28%. 3 months, from March to May To increase the overall market share of Samsung Leader 8 by 30% 1 month, from the end of May, to end of June. Financial objectives. Variable Financial objective Time frame. Revenue To generate 100,000 dollars in sales. Two months from January to end of February. Cost To reduce selling, distribution and personnel costs by 10 %. 3 Months, from March to May. Advertising. To pull down the cost of advertising by 20%. One month, from the end of May, to end of June. Marketing mix strategy: Digital marketing communication plan. A marketing mix is a combination of tactics and marketing tools that an organization uses to sell a product in the market, (Wood, 2012). It entails four Ps: Price, product, place, and promotion. Price: This is the value attached to a product, (Singh, 2012). Samsung Leader 8 will sell at a price between $ 100 and 1200 Product: This is the market offer, (Jain, Ahuja Medury, 2015). Samsung Leader 8 is the product in this case. Its features such as faster internet access, a large RAM, and a large storage are its specifications. Place: This is the target market of the firm, (Singh, 2012). Samsung Leader 8 is mainly targeted at Australian customers who are passionate about technology, and willing to try a new smartphone. Promotion: Promotion refers to a combination of techniques used by marketers to convince, customers to buy a specific product, (Singh, 2012). Samsung Leader 8 will be marketed online, by use of a website, search engines, and social media Digital marketing communication plan. This is a document set to analyze a companys competitiveness in the digital market, (Royle Laing, 2014). A digital marketing plan for Samsung Leader 8 will contain: Online value proposition: This is a promise of value to be enjoyed by customers upon purchase of a product, (Royle Laing, 2014). If a customer purchases Samsung Leader 8 online, he/she will enjoy a high quality product with features like Snapdragon 821, 4 GB Ram, 64 GB inbuilt, Display 4.2 inch (Front), 4.0 inch (Rear), Primary 12 MP Secondary 5 MP, Android 6.0 Marshmallow/Nougat and a Battery size of 2300mAh. Objectives: This is the main aim of a business, (Royle Laing, 2014). The objectives of the marketing team will be to increase the brand awareness in the online context, by reaching out to potential customers using digital platforms like search engines, website, and social media. Strategic approach: This is the approach that would be used to communicate the marketing information, (Thome, Scavarda, Fernandez Scavarda, 2012). In the online platform, the photos of Samsung Leader 8 will be shown with the description, specifications, cost, and benefits of purchase The digital marketing communication plan for Samsung Leader 8. objective Action program To improve Samsung Leader 8s brand awareness by 50 % Taking to Facebook, holding workshops and conducting online exhibitions through the website. To increase the Sale of Samsung Leader 8 by 28%. Motivating buyers through active online advertising and offer after sale services. To increase the overall market share of Samsung Leader 8 by 30% Strengthening client relationships and smart hiring through the acquisition of competent marketing staff. Financial objectives Objective Action program To generate 100,000 dollars in sales in two months Venturing in online brand awareness and brand promotion through the website and Facebook. To reduce selling, distribution and personnel costs by 10 % in three months Abolishing personal selling and venturing into online marketing, through creating a Facebook account, a marketing website and optimizing google search engine. To pull down the cost of advertising by 20% in one month Using Facebook account and website as advertising platforms to reduce advertisement costs. Implementation and control of the marketing plan. Implementation and control is a process geared towards ensuring achievement of the particular goals enshrined in the marketing plan, (Royle Laing, 2014). Implementation process includes: Establishment of annual objectives: Proper annual objectives must be established so that the implementation and success of the plan are evaluated, (Wood, 2012) Resource allocation: Resources encompass staff, finance, and technology, (Royle Laing, 2014). The financial resources will support in the proper execution of the marketing process, competent staff would ensure proper marketing decisions are made while proper technology will enable the development of the website, Facebook accounts and google search optimization. Actual performance of the planned activities: This involves the use of qualified personnel to perform the specified tasks like brand awareness, google optimization, and website development and conducting online sales. Leading and controlling the activities and execution of the plan: The execution of the marketing plan should be controlled at all levels. This would ensure efficiency of the execution process. Control process. Setting the performance indicators: The performance metrics should be set to determine whether the plan is being implemented as required, (Royle Laing, 2014). For instance, the success of the plan would depend on sales volume, stock rotation, and market share. Identifying the deviations from the planned values: The deviation may be determined through variance analysis, (Royle Laing, 2014). The planned values are the objectives set in the marketing plan. Measuring the values of indicators: The range of deviation should be measured. If the deviation is negative, then the marketing plan should be amended, (Jobber Ellis-Chadwick, 2012). Executing control measures: Control measures should be installed to correct the deviations such as control of the annual plan, control of efficiency and control of profitability, (Whalen Holloway, 2012). The marketing plan may be amended so as to correct negative deviations. Conclusion. In conclusion, this report has given a comprehensive discussion of the steps in drafting a marketing plan, the SWOT and competitor evaluation, financial and marketing objectives, the marketing mix and digital marketing plan communication strategy, programs of achieving a marketing objective and the implementation and control process of Samsung Leader 8s marketing plan. References. Armstrong, G., Adam, S., Denize, S., Kotler, P. (2014).Principles of Marketing. Pearson Australia. Armstrong, G., Kotler, P., Harker, M., Brennan, R. (2012).Marketing: an Introduction. Pearson Prentice-Hall, London. Baines, P., Fill, C., Page, K. (2013).Essentials of Marketing. Oxford University Press. Baker, M. J., Saren, M. (Eds.). (2016).Marketing Theory: A Student Text. Sage. Hollensen, S. (2015).Marketing Management: A Relationship Approach. Pearson Education. Huang, R., Sarigollu, E. (2014). How Brand Awareness Relates to Market Outcome, BrandEquity, and the Marketing Mix inFashion Branding and Consumer Behaviors(pp. 113132). Springer New York Medury, Y. (2015). Digital Marketing Optimization. InStrategic E-Commerce Systems and Tools for Competing in the Digital Marketplace(pp. 162-170). IGI Jobber, D., Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2012).Principles and Practice of Marketing(No. 7th).McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (2013). Principles of Marketing (16th Global Edition). Persaud, A., Azhar, I. (2012). Innovative Mobile Marketing via Smartphones: Are ConsumersReady?Marketing Intelligence Planning,30(4), 418-443. Resnick, S. M., Cheng, R., Simpson, M., Loureno, F. (2016). Marketing in SMEs: a 4Ps Royle, J., Laing, A. (2014). The Digital Marketing Skills Gap: Developing a Digital MarketerModel for the Communication Industries.International Journal of InformationManagement,34(2), 65-73 Singh, M. (2012). Marketing Mix of 4Ps for Competitive Advantage.Journal of Business andManagement,3(6), 40-45. Smith, K. T. (2011). Digital Marketing Strategies that Millennials find Appealing, Motivating, or Just Annoying.Journal of Strategic Marketing,19(6), 489-499. Smutkupt, P., Krairit, D., Ba-Khang, D. (2012). Mobile Marketing and Consumer Perceptions Of Brand Equity.Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics,24(4), 539-560. Thome, A. M. T., Scavarda, L. F., Fernandez, N. S., Scavarda, A. J. (2012). Sales and Operations Planning: A Research Synthesis.International Journal of Production Economics,138(1), Tiago, M., Verssimo, J. M. C. (2014). Digital Marketing and Social Media: WhyBother?Business Horizons,57(6), 703-708. Whalen, P. S., Holloway, S. S. (2012). Effectual Marketing Planning for New Ventures.AMS Review,2(1), 34-43. Wood, M. (2012). Marketing Social Marketing.Journal of Social Marketing,2(2), 94-102.Wymbs, C. (2011). Digital marketing: The time for a new academic major has arrived.Journal Of Marketing Education,33(1), 93-106.

The Relationship between Human... free essay sample

The Relationship between Human Character on the Surface and the Inner CharacterIntroductionJoseph Conrad is the author of Heart of Darkness, the book that features most of two main characters. The book addresses the issue of moving from light into the darkness which is transcending from civilization into the savage. Through the two main characters Marlow and Kurtz in the book, the relationship between the inner and surface character. The main objective of the essay is to point out the portrays of the characteristics of human nature and how they are caused and its impact on the personality. Each character in the novel serves a purpose as they play a role in describing different characters from different personalities. Whereby this is the real portray of what happens in any given society. The novel is a real reflection of the actual happening in our current societies.The Heart of Darkness is characterized by the behavior of the human which is portrayed by characters in the novel. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Human or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The novel portrays the real behavior of human beings. This characterization, Conrad eliminate Marlow and Kurtz from the list of Europeans with the fact that they do not act like them and another group was the natives who were the Africans, and finally, Marlow and Kurtz represented their distinguished type of character. Sidelining of these two characters is significant in a manner that it explains how the character can be adopted and later become a personality. In Page 207 Conrad says human can be good or evil. This character of being good or evil can be depicted with the external or the internal character. The novel states out the difference between the Europeans and Africans regarding character and also the character of Marlow and Kurtz to be different from one another. Each group represents a different character and personality. This can also be caused by the desire to acquire something where there could be a need for a different personality. For the case, the character of Kurtz is altered by his greed over the ivory. This scenario draws a clear picture of how personality and character can be influenced by a desire of acquiring something. This can be either affected positively or negatively, thus the effect to those surrounding. Kurtz is true explanation and justification of the perception that all Europeans are civilized whereas they are not. They are part of the causative of the savage in Africa. In (pg.111), Marlow argues that the character of a person can be determined by the activities someone is doing. And also overexposure can affect these. Marlows argument is justified by the fact about Kurtz whose initial character changed due to his change from the initial idea that he came to do in Africa and later got engaged into the ivory business that got him ruined and got to the extent of exploiting the natives. The desire to get rich diverted his mind and made him inhuman to the extent of loving ivory more than his life, whereby these love for ivory cost him his life. This certain piece justifies that a character can be adopted and later get into someone permanently and can in turn cause harm In (pg. 140) Marlow talks on the empty vessel. He takes the manager to be an example of this when he says that he never gets sick because there is nothing in him. On the same perspective, he refers the brick maker to be a paper Mache. He describes the as the empty vessels that cannot have any feeling in them, and they think shallowly. He relates the emptiness in Kurtz and the brick maker and relates their minds in a way that they dont contain any substance at all. ConclusionAs explained in the novel, the character can be influenced also by several factors. There can also be a relationship between the surface character and the inner character, whereas at other times it can be different. For instance, the color of Europeans portrays some light in them and can describe the inner lightness in them, but this is contrary in the case of Kurtz who has the dark heart. The other hand Marlow also portrays both sides of lightness both internal and on the surface. The greedy dark hearted Europeans moves to Africa to exploit the natives who always have the light heart in contrary to the color they portray. In conclusion, the surface character can speak the inner of any person, and at other times, these can easily mean two different things. Africans despite their dark color are also light and good-hearted and Europeans like Kurtz are white but dark-hearted. When the European countries got civilized, individuals like Kurtz went to different countries in different continents to continue with their impunity towards people. This show how the characters differ in different people, not all people will have to adopt the same ways of doings things, some even resist on the right ways and choose to do the wrong things.

How to Play Guitar essays

How to Play Guitar essays The guitar is a very complicated yet very fulfilling instrument. I was first intrigued by the guitar when I was sixteen years old. I dont know what it was about the guitar that I found intriguing, but I knew I wanted to play it and become very much involved in it. There are quite a few aspects of the guitar and it is a science that I have not yet learned every minute detail about, but what I do know I will share in an attempt to make it not only understandable, but also enjoyable for the reader. There are three main aspects that I will be covering. Now keep in mind that there are far more than three main aspects about the guitar, but I have decided to describe the three main parts that I have found interesting and vital to the process of playing the guitar. The first being the actual notes and what they mean in relation to the guitar. The second being the types of chords you can make on the guitar, and finally the last part is about soloing and how to master it. As you go o n reading, you will notice how the many aspects all tie into one another almost like they are pieces of a puzzle. Now, the first aspect of the guitar that I have chosen is the notes. A note is a single pitch that can be made anywhere on the guitar. Lets use the A note for example. Moving up the guitar you will notice the notes in succession make a pattern that is the basis or foundation of the guitar. Starting from A and moving up the neck, you will find an A# (sharp) note, after that is the B note, followed by a C note. Keep in mind there is no B# or E#. After the C is a C# followed by D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, and finally taking you back to A after the G#. If you were to pick any note at random, this is the pattern you would follow up the neck of the guitar. The next aspect is the types of chords you can make. The first type is a power chord. The second is a barre chord and the third is an open chord. The ...

Dark Matter and a Distant Supernova Make an Eerie Cross

Dark Matter and a Distant Supernova Make an Eerie Cross A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...a massive star exploded. That cataclysm created an object called a supernova  (similar to the one we call the Crab Nebula). At the time this ancient star died, own galaxy, the Milky Way, was just starting to form. The Sun didnt even exist yet. Nor did the planets. The birth of our solar system still more than five billion years in the future. Light Echoes and Gravitational Influences The light from that long-ago explosion sped across space, carrying information about the star and its catastrophic death. ​Now, about 9 billion years later, astronomers have a remarkable view of the event. It shows up in four images of the supernova created by a gravitational lens created by a galaxy cluster. The cluster itself consists of a giant foreground elliptical galaxy collected together with other galaxies. All of them are embedded in a clump of  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹dark matter. The combined gravitational pull of the galaxies plus the gravity of dark matter distorts light from more distant objects as it passes through. It actually shifts the direction of the lights travel slightly, and smears the image we get of those distant objects. In this case, the light from the supernova traveled by four different paths through the cluster. The resulting images we see here from Earth form a cross-shaped pattern called an Einstein Cross (named after physicist Albert Einstein). The scene was imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. The light of each image arrived at the telescope at   a slightly different time - within days or weeks of each other. This is a clear indication that each image is the result of a different path the light took through the galaxy cluster and its dark matter shell. Astronomers study that light to learn more about the action of the distant supernova and the characteristics of the galaxy in which it existed.   How Does this Work? The light streaming from the supernova and the paths it takes are analogous to several trains that leave a station at the same time, all traveling at the same speed and bound for the same final destination. However, imagine each train goes on a different route, and the distance for each one is not the same. Some trains travel over hills. Others go through valleys, and still others make their way around mountains. Because the trains travel over different track lengths across different terrain, they do not arrive at their destination at the same time. Similarly, the supernova images do not appear at the same time because some of the light is delayed by traveling around bends created by the gravity of dense dark matter in the intervening galaxy cluster. The time delays between the arrival of each images light tell astronomers something about the arrangement of the dark matter around the galaxies in the cluster. So, in a sense, the light from the supernova is acting like a candle in the dark. It helps astronomers map the amount and distribution of dark matter in the galaxy cluster. The cluster itself lies some 5 billion light-years from us, and the supernova is another 4 billion light-years beyond that. By studying the delays between the times that the different images reach Earth, astronomers can glean clues about the type of warped-space terrain the supernova’s light had to travel through. Is it clumpy? How clumpy?   How much is there?   Answers to these questions arent quite ready yet. In particular, the appearance of the supernova images could change over the next few years. Thats because light from the supernova continues to stream through the cluster and encounter other parts of the dark matter cloud surrounding the galaxies.    In addition to the Hubble Space Telescopes observations of this unique lensed supernova, astronomers also used the W.M. Keck telescope in Hawaii to do further observations and measurements of the supernova host galaxy distance. That information will give further clues into conditions in the galaxy as it existed in the early universe.

You can choose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

You can choose - Essay Example Equally important, there are several moral codes and ethical conduct that are taught by the religious traditions. The link between law and religion is manifested in the Islamic sharia, Christian canon law, Hindu law, and Jewish among others. Therefore, drawing on a variety of sources the paper will discuss the links between law and religion. Both in substance and origin, the link between law and religion have always been assumed to exist, even though they are two different concepts. The connecting component between these two is the human being. Both law and religion contribute to the social order. On one hand, law is considered as a set of rules of conduct that is aimed at guiding human behavior in order to differentiate good from bad (Howard 79). Law is used to advance the general good by developing legal rights of which it is mandatory to abide by. On the other hand, Edge (29) notes that religion has numerous definitions and anti-definitions of which none have attained dominance. In a view shared by Matadi, religion is a normative system that affects people’s lives and also determines their conduct. Also, religion established the relationship between a person and the Supreme Being. For Muslims, the source of religion lies in the Quran, for Christians it lies in the Bible, and for the native religions, it lies i n the customs, rituals, and object passed on from the ancestor’s or gods. Hagedorn, Kratz, and Kratz (365) posit that there exists a complex relationship between law as a set of rules that govern the social and political existence of mankind, and religion, which is a body of spiritual doctrines and a system of rituals and norms of behavior.† Law is accepted as a natural product of the informal interaction rules in the society. Therefore, religion can also be accepted as a crucial source of law considering that social rules and norms are usually influenced by the religious values of societies. Correspondingly, religion also provides a set of

Crude Oil Prices between 1985 and 1994 Article Analysis Assignment

Crude Oil Prices between 1985 and 1994 Article Analysis - Assignment Example The authors point out that over time, competitive forces have caused a greater variance in the prices of oil in world oil markets even with the market arrangements brought by OPEC or by international oil companies. They agree with other authors such as Claudio Morana who states that both direct and indirect effects that came about because of consumption matters and technologies led to oil price volatilities (Morana, 2012, p. 2). Hence, the authors assert that between 1985 and 1994 there was a volatility in the price of oil as well as other non-oil commodities The two authors divided the article into six major parts. In the introduction, the authors introduce the trends in the volatility of the oil prices, the oil price shocks and the forces behind the volatility of the prices. In the introduction, the authors bring in a very important argument stating that the way competitive forces lead to an upsurge in oil prices, so do the factors that determine the availability and price of oil parallel the factors that determine other traded commodities (Institute for the 21st Century Energy, 2012, p. 2). In the next section titled ‘background and motivation,’ the authors look at the years before the 1985-1994 period and the manner in which oil prices were handled. The authors look at the failure of the major oil companies to set oil prices that led to the emergence of OPEC as the ultimate price determinant. They also look at the price of oil going into the 1980s period when OPEC was weakened by market forces in determining the price of oils. They point out 1983 as the most significant year when the transition to market forces happened and saw the creation of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

Travel Long Distances Essay Example for Free

Travel Long Distances Essay Whenever we have to travel long distances within the country we can travel by train or by air in an aeroplane. I remember my first train journey which I performed when I was just about four years old. After that journey so long back, I have made several journeys by train but, that first journey still lingers in my mind and thoughts. We had to go to Madras, where my father had to attend a Conference. Since we had not then seen Madras and our winter vacations were falling during the dates of the Conference, it was decided that we would all go with father and make a trip to the South. Regarding the visits to different places of the South I remember next to nothing as, I was rather small but the train journey is still very vivid in my mind. There, at Madras, my father had to attend a Conference whose date was the 18th of December so; it was decided to leave for Madras on the 15th. After a long wait, at last the 15th of December came and my excitement knew no bounds. I would be going on my first ever train journey, enjoying an outing and seeing new places. The train that we had to go by was known as the G.T. Express i.e. the Grand Trunk Express and we went to the station to board it. I think it was evening time when we boarded the train. Inside we had dinner and then my parents and my elder brother all slept. I could not get sleep as, I was just too excited. I remember that, I had taken a window so that I could see the fun outside but, alas. No sooner that we had finished dinner, it was dark and nothing was visible from the window. It was only at the stops at the stations, I would peep out and see the rush and life on the platform. Seeing the stations for sometimes, I finally slept. When I woke up in the morning after a comfortable sleep at night, I was absolutely thrilled to look outside. The area the train was now crossing depicted a very beautiful cross section of land forms and greenery, mills and villages. Oh, what a panoramic beauty it all was. When the train crossed over different land forms, the sounds it made were heard changing sometimes deep grunts, sometimes a smooth flow and at other times just a thud here and thud there. When the train crossed over bridges on expanses of water, the sound was of gurgling. This medley of sounds created by the movement of the train was a wonderful experience the different stretches of huge expanses of land and water and different plantations for miles on end, showed nature in its full form and beauty. As we passed through village areas, I noticed fields of rice, wheat, mustard and vegetables. Oh what a wonderful sight of the cross-section of India. At the stations the train would stop and another scene of civilization would take over from nature, and when the train again started, the nature would again take over. This hides and seeks of scenes continued throughout the journey, and the music of terrain and water changing off and on was just stunning. This interesting scene continued for almost thirty six hours but, believe me, I enjoyed every minute of it. A mobile home with all amenities, a look at nature and also human civilization was all seen packed up as one presentation package for me. The thirty six hours had just flown by and we were at the Madras junction. I cannot forget this first journey by train even after eight years now and I do wonder if I ever will.

Alcoholism- How Alcohol Affects the Body and Mind Essay -- Alcoholism:

In chemistry terms, alcohol is any organic compound where a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom from an alkyl. A hydroxyl group is a group consisting of an oxygen and hydrogen atom, bonded by a covalent bond. A covalent bonded is when two non-metals are bonded together. The type of alcohol suitable for consumption is known an Ethanol. Ethanol is a straight-chain alcohol, and its molecular formula is C2H5OH. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs. When a person drinks alcohol, it affects the central nervous system as a depressant, which causes a decrease in activity, anxiety, inhibitions and any underlying tension. Alcohol impairs concentration and judgment, even after only a few drinks. The intake of alcohol slows motor skills and clouds thinking. In some instances, when intoxicated, blackouts and memory loss occur because alcohol cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain. Every time a person becomes intoxicated thousands of brain cells are killed, because of the lack of oxygen. Another harmful occurrence is blood sludging, or when red blood cells clump together. Blood sludging cuts off oxygen from tissues and kills cells. This type of cell loss causes red eyes in the morning, and broken capillaries. Blood sludging is important to recognize because it can lead to hemorrhaging and furthermore, to death. Alcoholism can be defined as a habitual intoxication or, the prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks, leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol. Symptoms of alcoholism include, but are not limited to: confusion, drinking alone, making excuses to drink, neglecting to eat, not caring for physical appearance, lack of control over drinking and episodes of violence while drinking... ...scovery. 5 May 2004. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. . 9. "Google Health Alcoholism Information | AiR Assistance in Recovery." AiR Assistance in Recovery - Intervention, drug and alcoholism recovery management services. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. . 10. "Health - Delirium tremens." Google. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. . 11. "Hydroxyl." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 8 Oct. 2009. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. . 12. "Alcohol Metabolism." Alcoholism - The Alcoholism Home Page. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. . 13. "Alcohol Metabolism." Elmhurst College: Elmhurst, Illinois. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. .

Origins of World War 1

September 5, 2011 Origins of World War 1: Compare and Contrast During the twentieth century Europe seemed to enjoy a period of peace and progress. But below the surface several forces were at the work and would lead Europe into the Great War. World War 1 was the mayor conflict that made its appearance in the beginning of the twentieth century. As we read in â€Å"The origins of the first World War† by Ruth Heing and in â€Å"The Iron Dice: World War 1† by John G. Stoessinger, World War 1 began in 1914 it had many countries involved but not all of them entered at the same time. At the beginning of this war there were two sides to choose from. The triple entente that was unified by Great Britain, France and Russia; Later called the Allied Powers and also they included Italy. The other Alliance was the Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungry, and Italy; later on called the Central Powers whom instead of Italy who had join the Allied Powers, Turkey join this alliance. Although both chapters attempt to explain the origins of World War 1 they differ in various aspects. In the Reading â€Å"The origins of the first World War† by Ruth Henig, it is stated that cause of the war was the system. The system that was managed before the war was conformed by MAIN; which stands for, Militarism: Every country in Europe except for Great Britain had conscription, which means that every men over 18 years old should register for the army; The conscription plan resulted because as the time was going by all of the countries in Europe had a great growth in their military power; Also they were working on arms race, which means that they were developing new arms, the country that was the most benefit was Germany. MAIN also stands for Alliances: Alliances were a key concept because the alliances began the conflict in Sarajevo, if it weren’t because they had a close relationship with Germany this conflict would have been local, therefore Russia and Germany and later on France and Great Britain would had not participate. There would not have been a world war. The third letter in MAIN stands for Imperialism early twentieth century saw a great deal of colonization of Asia and Africa by European powers, each trying to colonize this lands. These colonies funded a great part of the ruling countries’ economies and expansion became necessary and desirable to advance the glory and the wealth of each European power. The last concept N stands for Nationalism, which means the identity that the government or the rulers created towards their population so they were proud of their country and wanted to fight for them. Through out the reading of â€Å"The Iron Dice: World War 1† by John G. Stoessinger, we are able to appreciate that it perfectly explains that the causes of world war 1 were attributed to the people in control. It perfectly examples that the lack of self-confidence in the leaders, the wrong perception on their adversary and specially the lack of empathy that was based on personal decisions, not based on facts but fears were the causes of the war. The reading is perfectly stating it in the following quote: â€Å"The Kaiser was indeed to blame. His flaw was both moral and political, for his form of loyalty demanded sacrifice beyond himself. It offered up the German nation, and it emboldened the senile monarchy of Austria-Hungary o take a desperate gamble†¦. What is closer to the truth is that he permitted other to rattle and ultimately use the saber for him†(p. 4-5). The lack of self-confidence is stated in the last sentence, he preferred that other people made decisions; it also states that he offered up the German nation because Archduke Franz-Ferdinand was a close friend. Between these two chapters we can distinguish that both chapters state that the fault of the origins of war was of Germany. In the second reading we can see this in the following quote: â€Å"succumbed to a power he had not reckoned with: the power of Fate; had not been for that, the war would never have started† (p. 4); and it is also clearly shown on the first reading when it is stated that if it weren’t for Germany who intervene in the conflict of Sarajevo, therefore there wouldn’t exist a war. There are not many similarities between these two texts, but different perspectives of presenting the information. In these two chapters it is clearly marked that the contrast between each other relies on the justification they give to the origins of war; the points of view stated in each chapter are related to different points of view. In the first reading â€Å"The origins of the first World War† by Ruth Henig it is clearly marked that the problem was the system failure. And as it is stated in the second reading â€Å"The Iron Dice: World War 1† by John G. Stoessinger, â€Å"Mortals made these decisions. They made them in fear and in trembling, but they made them nonetheless. We can infer that in this reading the ones to blame are the ones that were in control of the country: the leaders. Another difference between these two chapters is how the information is managed in the first reading the type of writing is strictly informative and in the second lecture it is more like a critique as we can see in the quotes that are stated in paragraphs before. In the second reading it is show n the relationship between leaders in a level where they interacted and send telegrams to each other; which it is not shown in the first reading. In conclusion I find more interesting the contrast between these two readings because that is the whole point of history; Specially in the causes (origins) of war can and must be shown from different perspectives. The reading I found more accurate through the reading is â€Å"The Iron Dice: World War 1† by John G. Stoessinger, because in my opinion the ones who have control of the system are the â€Å"mortals†, therefore they had in their hands the power to debilitate the system and stop the war from happening. Even if the system (MAIN) went out of control the ones how had the decisions to stop it in there hands where the leaders.

Financial Highlights of John Lewis Performance Essay

Sales Sales are the activity within a business for the purchases of products and service. This is also the operating revenues that is earned by the company  by selling their products or services. Last year, the business was involved in an accounting scandal, and saw the departure of some senior executives. However the retail giant, which has more than 3,300 stores in the UK, had a better Christmas than expected. The sales over the holiday period were down just 0.3 percent on the year before and up 0.1% if fuel sales are included. Overall, comparable sales for the three months to the beginning of January were down by 2.9%.Tesco’s chief executive, Dave Lewis, said the firm was â€Å"facing the reality of the situation† and was â€Å"seeing the benefits of listening to our customers†. Revenue Revenue are the amount of money that the business receives during a specific period which includes the discounts and deductions that are for returned merchandise Revenue is calculated by multiplying the price at which goods or services are sold by the number of units or amount sold. Tesco’s revenue increased from the years 2010 to 2011 from  £57,502m to  £61,174m. This infers to us that there would be an increase in the corporation’s stockholders’ equity and its assets. The revenues will increase the retained earnings section of stockholders’ equity. The assets that usually increase are cash or accounts receivable. Conversely within the years of 2012 to 2013 the business revenue decreased from  £64,541m to  £63,967. This indicates to us that the business reduced their pricing. However within 2013 and 2014 there was an increase within the revenue figures from  £63,967 to  £64,149. Profit Profit is the money that the business makes after accounting for all the expenses. This is a financial benefit that is realized when the amount of revenue gained from the business activity exceeds the expenses, costs and taxes needed to sustain the activity. Any profit that is gained goes to the business’s owners, who may or may not decide to spend it on the business. Tescos Britain’s biggest retailer Shares fell as much as 17 per cent to their lowest in around 14 years as it said trading profits for the year ending February 2015 would not exceed  £1.4bn. This is  £500m below current market forecasts of  £1.9bn. Debt Debt is the amount of money borrowed by one person from another. Many  corporations and individuals use debt as a method for making large purchases that they could not afford under normal circumstances. A debt arrangement gives the borrowing individual permission to borrow money under the condition that it is to be paid back at a later date, usually with interest. Within Tesco the debt decreased within the years of 2010 to 2013 from  £14.0b to  £13.5b because the business is paying off debts owed regularly which results in a positive cash flow. On the other hand the business debt increased within the years 2013 to 2014 from  £13.5b to  £14.5b. This is for the reason that the business are not paying off the liabilities that are owed. Pension A pension is a type of retirement plan, usually tax exempt, where an employer makes contributions toward a pool of funds set aside for an employee’s future benefit. The funds is then invested on the employee’s behalf, allowing the employee to receive benefits upon retirement. Philip Clarke and Laurie Mcllwee are members of the Tesco PLC pension scheme, which provides a pension up to two-thirds of base salary on retirement, normally at the age 60, dependent on service. Within the organisation each year’s pension earned before 1 June 2012 will be increased up to a maximum 5%. Turnover Turnover is the number of times an asset is replaced during a financial period. This would be the number of shares traded for a period as a percentage of the total shares in a portfolio or of an exchange. As we can see above, on Tesco profit and loss sheet there was an increase in the turnover from the years 2010 to 2011 from  £56910.0m to  £60455.0m. This indicates to us that Tesco has strong sales within this year as the business is re-stocking cash quickly and has a lower risk of becoming stuck with obsolete inventory. On the other hand within the years 2012 and 2013 there was a decrease in figures from  £63916.0m to  £63406.0m. This tells that the business is carrying too much inventory which suggest poor inventory  management and low sales.

Nazis in German Society essays

Nazis in German Society essays The Nazis perceived the Jewish community and other non-Aryan groups deviant and outsiders of the German society. If you were a true German, Adolph Hitler believed you should hate these people with a vengeance. The Jewish community made up a great percentage of Germany at the time Hitler and his totalitarianism began to make face. Hitler, obviously a racist, knew that these people could disagree with his authority and possibly do something about it. Therefore, Hitler took it upon himself to come up with the final solution. More than six million Jews were forced into concentration camps and later murdered in gas chambers. These people were humiliated all over the world. They were starved and naked and murdered in front of a party that could care less about these human beings. The Jews had to wear special emblems that would recognize them as a Jew and their very own homes and property were ransacked and violated by Hitlers henchmen. The rise of Nazism and the killing of the Je ws led to an unrest in much of the world. Hitler believed that Jews were evil and deserved to die, and he also believed in authoritarianism and war. The Jews fell prey to Hitler because he had a personal vendetta against them due to his personal afflictions and also because he believed that they brought down the German spirits because of socialism and capitalism. Hitler in no way could blame the Jews for his own misfortune, it just so happens that these are the people that he picked to take his anger out on. If anything in Germany was Jewish influenced such as department stores or feminism, Hitler took it out. Due to the fact that Hitler was a dictator, he thought that he could take over many other surrounding territories and perform the same acts of disgrace on them. This, he did. Hitler wanted as much power as possible to take out the rest of the world so that he could make up for the ...

Beatrixs Act Two Monologue from Promedy

Beatrixs Act Two Monologue from Promedy This comedic monologue is from Promedy, a teenage comedy about the senior prom, written by Wade Bradford. This monologue can be used as practice material for a performer, or as a monologue to use at an audition. It is also appropriate as a classroom exercise for drama students, especially for high school classes. Context of the Promedy Monologue In this scene, Beatrix confronts Dante, an arrogant drama-geek who has been chasing after the girl of his dreams since kindergarten, the lovely cheerleader, Kay Nordstrom. But once Kay finally falls for Dante, he freaks out and tries to run away. Fortunately, his friend and rival Beatrix talks some sense into him. BEATRIX: Hold it right there, Dante! I’ve watched you do this all your life, from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. But it’s not going to happen tonight. Don’t look at me like that, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Remember first grade? The lunchroom. You’re walking around begging for a chocolate chip cookie. â€Å"Oh, I’m little Dante and I’m so sad. My mommy packed nothing but veggies. Oh, I wish I had a cookie. Oh if only!† Here, Dante, I said kindly, here’s a chocolate chip cookie, and what did you say? I’m not hungry. Flash forward. Third grade, playground. It’s the game of tag. You’re it. A hundred kids are running around and you can’t catch a single one. You’re desperate, you’re panting, you’re crying for someone to slow down so that you don’t have to be it anymore. So, feeling sorry for you, because I’m an idiot, I walk right up and say, â€Å"Here Dante, I’ll be it. You can tag me.† And you say? I don’t want to tag you. That’s too easy. Whatever you can’t have, that’s what you want. That’s why you’ve said you were in love with Kay all these years. You knew, deep down that, she would never return your affection. And that made things easy and safe. Every time she ignored you, that meant that you’d never have to feel anything real. You’d never have to know what it’s like to have someone who wants to be with you, which meant that you could always be alone. But is that what you want, Dante? Look at her. You’ve been chasing Kay like she was some sort of dream. Well†¦don’t you want it to come true? Wait, why are you looking at me like that? Exploring the Monologue Beatrix is a senior in high school who has a romantic vision of the senior prom as a special event in life that should not be missed. However, the prom is canceled and she must find a way to revive it or risk losing out on this rite of passage. In this monologue, she shows a degree of maturity in understanding Dantes habit of only pursuing desires he cannot fulfill. Once they are possible, he abandons them. The performer can choose how sarcastic and mocking to be in delivering the lines. It can be played with a mix of genuine affection for Dante as a friend as well as the need to tell him the hard truth about his behavior. Promedy is published by Eldridge Plays.

The Management of Disasters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Management of Disasters - Essay Example Disaster management remains an important aspect of State and National management due to the fact that the occurrence and magnitude of most disasters are unpredictable (Kaser, 2007). Due to the severity in the need of ensuring that the occurrence of disasters does not outwit efforts that can be made by government through state institutions in responding effectively to the disasters, there has often been the call for collaboration with other agencies in disaster management in control. One of such agencies is the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is agreed that partnership between government agencies and non-governmental organizations can be very important for disaster recovery and response efforts. Generally, disaster response has been said to be the venture that cannot be accurately budgeted for (McKee, Figueras and Chenet, 1998). This is because of the unpredictable nature of disasters. Consequently, the allocation of resources on the part of government is often inadequate an d thus requires additional input from these NGOs. What is next, the management of disasters has been said to be better approached if they will be carried out in a manner that is holistic and community-based (Healy and McKee,1997). Meanwhile, most of these NGOs are community-based and thus have a better understanding of the needs and demands of the indigenes. Their contribution to planning, recovery and response efforts, therefore, become more people-centered (Kaser, 2007). Finally, it has been said that the decentralization of disaster response enhances effectiveness and efficiency. This is because it guarantees that recovery and response efforts will be carried out in a more proactive manner due to the fact that there will be detailed urgency among the local people (Kaser, 2007). What is more, the fact that the process is decentralized means that much can be achieved within a shorter timeframe? Meanwhile collaborating with NGOs is one way of bringing about decentralization of the d isaster response agenda.

Social media network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social media network - Essay Example In the past, when there were no cell phones, e-mails or chatting, people had no other means of communication but to post letters to their loved ones abroad. Those letters took days and often weeks to reach the destination, and an equal amount of time would be consumed by the reply to reach the original sender. Thus, a single question asked by the original sender might take weeks to be answered. Today, people can have their question answered within a fraction of a second. This has promoted understanding among the family members. While the social media networking has generally increased the frequency of chat among the family members, it has also played a very important role in disrupting the familial relationships by developing controversies and confusions among the family members. â€Å"While the network does offer opportunities for meaningful social interactions and self-esteem boosts, it also opens a Pandora’s box of options for spying, stalking and other insecurity- and jealousy-driven actions between lovers† (O’Dell, 2011). Since the introduction of such social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, people have been able to spy on their spouses’ activities, links and interactions. A lot of husbands have found out that their wives have been cheating upon them by having extra-marital affairs and so have many wives. People that are too sensitive about relationships cannot see their spouses making friends with other people. Children happen to be the biggest, if any, victims of the social media networking. A lot of children have used the social media websites in the negative way. Numerous cases of child pornography have surfaced in the recent years in which a child has either posted his/her own nude photo or the nude photos of some of the class fellows on the internet. While this may seem an exciting idea at such an immature age, many people have to bear the consequences of such actions for the rest of their

Poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Poetry - Essay Example I feel that the poet has tried to connect the moves of gymnastics with love and life. People rise and fall in life just like gymnasts rise and fall on their tracks. The poet talks about gymnasts, who may be walking straight on the balanced beams, yet they are not so efficient to walk straight on the path of love. They may be well prepared with powdered palms, yet the path of love and life is so slippery that they find themselves incapable of dealing very proficiently with the ups and downs of life. I can very well imagine that all they have are ropes of no hope, to which they are clinging. They think that these ropes will save them from falling or that these ropes are strong support for their feet; but, what they do not understand is that there is no hope attached to these ropes. These ropes are unfaithful, or in other words, this support is weak. And I feel sorry to think that, when they grow old, broken and bruised, they look into their lives as if they were nightmares. In the poem, ‘Apportioned’, written by Erin Badough, I feel that the poet has talked about how he fears the quick passing of time, and future. The tick-tick-tick of the clock reminds him of his miserable present and dreadful future. It is a harsh reality of life, as I see, that man fears the passing of the time because he fears his mortality. He fears what lies ahead of him. Therefore, he feels chained to time. The narrator dreads a future filled with hammers and nails and saw-toothed blades, which are only metaphors that are talking about hardships that life offers. He wishes to put his thoughts into the reader’s mind so that the latter may well know what he thinks and feels. I feel that this poem is a superb example of how man goes from one phase of life into another, and what wishes and fears he has in his mind while he looks at the clock, doing tick-tick-tick. Anyone can relate to this poem, because it is the story of

Can Domestic Violence Be A Learnt Behaviour Social Work Essay

Can Domestic Violence Be A Learnt Behaviour Social Work Essay In this chapter the researcher will be researching if Domestic violence is a learnt behaviour. There are many different theories as to why men are more violent than women. These theories include biological theories, which focus on hormonal patterns and aggression; psychological theories, which focus on personality types and disorders; psychoanalysis, which looks at projection and displacement and sociological theories, which focus on concepts grounded in interpersonal, collective, institutional, structural or societal processes (Hearn 1998: 17).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Biological explanation suggests that women are understandably less violent than men. Maccoby and Jacklin (1975) explain how women show anger and their relationship towards men are different to men, which indicate that problems are resolved without any violence behaviour.   Biological theories explain how violence is occurred between male and female, this can be due to their chromosomes, hormones, genetics and territoriality. Following the consideration of biological explanation, into the researcher pathological theory. This theory explains the abuser is suffering from a pathological condition; this condition can be related on psychiatric illness or issues from temper of one or both partners. (Hague Malos, 1993; Johnson 1995) This theory was accepted in the 1970s when violence became very popular in families and caused many problems and issues. The United States carried out a study and focused on abused families they found that mothers were discrete of their violence from their children. Gayford (1978) cited in Johnson in 1995 researched that women that have been physically abused have a degree of incompetence. The person responsible for being an abuser are said to be weak, pathological jealous men that are lacking in low self esteem and are experiencing anxiety especially about their manliness. Hague Malos (1993) argue that these issues are still current in psychiatry and psychology; these issues have risen from the individual and not have been able to success through in their relationship (Hague M alos 1993). Finally the researcher explored social learning theory. Johnson 1995 analysed a theory called Social learning theory, this theory explains men being an abuser towards women as a learned behaviour. OLeary (1989) states that violence is taught violence, family members use this role if the family is stressed, has an aggressive personality style. The key features that trigger violence are martial trouble, alcohol abuse, when these factor emerge violence is likely to take place. Marsden (1997) also looked into this theory and argued OLeary statement he suggested the men who are violent in the adulthood were often abused whilst being children. The children became psychologically disturbed and observed the fathers behaviour that repeatedly battered them. Marsden (1997) also studied that if young girls that were also physically abused in their childhood may also think it is norm behaviour and may find themselves in vulnerable position with their partners. Another alternative theory also sugg ests that violence can be learned through life, by neighbours, gangs or certain professions for example police force and the army this can be reflected as the sub- culture model (Hague and Malos, 1993) In a cross culture study of family violence Hague (1997) found that some cultures had some family values and beliefs that highlight aggression and violence. In some family background wife beating and children beating is considered to be allowed in certain groups. Abusers often find themselves a part of a cycle, copying behaviour from their own fathers that had abused their mothers in their Muslim environment. As a result children learn this abusive behaviour and start to abuse their own wives, thinking and accepting this behaviour as normal. This is found to be an important aim because the longer the Muslim community allows abuse; the longer it will be observed and rein act from father to son, from generation to generation this will continue in a continuous cycle (Hague Malos 2003) Anand (2003) research and recognized that mainly women experienced domestic violence in their own homes, and it is due to men being responsible for this behaviour. It has been shown an increasing recognition that living, growing and observing in an environment of violence can lead to effects on children in their development, either to deal with direct abuse, observed violence to their mothers or have had a change in the atmosphere and environment of their home. While there is no consistent reaction to living with domestic violence, Friedberg (2000) highlights those children who have lived in the background of domestic violence may have mild mental health issues, compared to children from a non-violent home. The Department of Health framework working Together to Safeguard Children document (1999) states, prolonged and/or regular exposure to domestic violence can have a serious impact on a childs development and emotional well-being (section 2.21). Domestic violence has showed an influ ence on a wider prospective for children of behavioural, physical and psychological scale line that could affect young children that have experienced this matter may result domestic violence on a short period of time or a longer term. Humphreys (2004) stated that different children react to different situations in a different way. Childrens behaviour responds to life experience of domestic violence are difficult and will vary according to a mass of factors that may influence the level of impact on their physical and mental well-being. These factors include: age, gender, race, disability, sexuality, relationship with main carer and siblings and individual children having a coping mechanism and survival strategies. Humphreys (2004) further outlines that young children between the ages of 3-5years old are more likely to have or show physical symptoms of the anxiety and distress, these children may present these fears by different behaviour and emotionally. When children start to become in their adolescent stage they may try to ignore the memories of past behaviour by turning to drugs for comfort, early marriage or pregnancy, running away, or draw attention by becoming a criminal. Boys and girls are shown to deal with experiences in different ways. A gender role can be stereotypical and may influence children to deal differently. According to Lupton and Gillespie (1994) and Hester et al (2000) Muslim children that are born with a disability may influence the impact of domestic violence, a woman who is pregnant and facing domestic violence may contribute the relation to the disability. Marsden (1978) researched and linked those children that were traumatised and witnessed domestic violence in the home children with show signs of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a type of continuing anxiety disorder following experience of a traumatic event. It is thought that a lack of incorporation from an early of secure attachment relationship can lead to long term cognitive, emotional and social difficulties during later childhood and adult life (Marsden 1978). According to Mernessi (1991), many children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect express insecure attachment patterns. Domestic violence may affect the parents to maintain a consistent relationship with their children and this will lead to further behaviour pattern (Mernessi 1991). Friedberg (2000) does a further study and finds that young children facing day to day life with domestic violence are less likely to have close physical contact with their parents and such parents are unaware of their behaviours and start to show negative signals. Domestic violence is also linked with high levels of child neglect and criticism. The type of relationship a mother gives a child may have an affected by additional factors in the situation of domestic violence such as physical injury, depression, drug and alcohol use and separation due to mother leaving or child running away. Violence and abusive father figures have been seen to be more distress, less physically attached, and use more negative control techniques such as physical punishment and verbal abuse, when having the responsibility to being a the primary carer role ( Friedberg 2000). When a woman is being abused not only is her parenting ability and her relationships with her children likely to be affected; there is also a higher possibility that children may be abused. Clark (2000) researched that domestic violence and child abuse occur together in 45-70% of cases; as a result domestic violence is now alleged to be a vital indicator of risk of harm to children, with the male naturally also the childs abuser. In some conditions women have used violence themselves but this is usually to prevent harsher action from their partner (Presscott Letko 1997). Research carried out (Shostack 2001) states that children who are abused physically and/or sexually and observe domestic violence are twice as much abused and show huge amount of distress. (Shostack 2001) states that children that witness violence to their mothers can have a more of an impact to their lifestyle rather than their own abuse having an impact to their behaviour. Not all theories can provide adequate answers, but when several theories are combined to provide a multi explanation, it presents a clearer picture of why Muslim men are more violent than women. These factors can include violence in Muslim community, family relationship, cultural norms and values, growing up in a Muslim society, the personality of the individual who miss-use substances, these factors may all merge to an explanation where violent behaviour is much more likely to happen (Ainsworth 2000).

Dorothea Dix Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorothea Lynde Dix was quoted as saying, â€Å"In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.† Dix began at the age of 39, and spent the next 20 years as a social reformer for the treatment of the mentally ill. When asked to teach a Sunday School class at a women’s correctional facility, Dix was appalled at the conditions, as well as the fact that many of the women weren’t criminals, but were instead mentally ill. This is where her crusade began. Her work had immediate results throughout the country, and the changes are still being felt even today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/dorotheadix.html. The website is an excellent source that chronicles Dix’s early life. As a child she lived in a household with a mentally unstable mother and an alcoholic father. This site details her first career as a teacher, then her second career as a social reformer. The Webster site gives an abundance of specific detail about how Dix influenced people and how passionate she was about her beliefs. The last portion of the website biography laments the fact that Dix and her accomplishments are sadly under-reported in most history and psychology textbooks, but that this fact would sit very well with Dix herself, as she preferred to not be in the spotlight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/. This website gives a much more detailed description of Dix and her early life, as well as the time she spent in Boston. The writing is more personal and gives more intimate details. The site, in it’s entirety, is for the Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. The hospital history portion gives a stirring and highly detailed account of Dix visit to North Carolina and the events leading up to the state legislature’s decision to give money for a state hospital. It is an informative, as well as entertaining, account. The site also contains many photographs of Dorothea Dix and the hospital. This site and the historical elements that it contains is a microcosm of the change Dix brought about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/dorotheadix.html. This site gives another overview of Dorothea Dix’s early life and career highlights, but does so with an emphasis on her finding her religious home among ... ...nian Institution site gives more detail on Dix ideas and involvement in the Civil War. It tells how Dix modeled her nursing after Florence Nightingale, even down to commissioning a black dress for herself, imitative of her heroine. The article also paints a portrait of Dix as a dour, disciplined and dedicated person who had trouble relating to the nurses and had a troubling relationship with the male doctors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dix’s life work has had a lasting effect on the care and treatment of the mentally ill. Her goals were never concretely set in her mind, she simply did what was best for the people and accomplished immeasurable good in her lifetime. Not only did she bring to light the plight of the mentally ill, she helped to open the door for hospitals and asylums to be built across the country and bring about overall change in the care and treatment of the patients. She believed, and was able to show, that the â€Å"insane† weren’t a lost cause. With proper care and treatment many were able to recover and lead normal lives. This was something that professionals at the time didn’t think was possible. She awoke the nations conscience to the plight of the mentally ill.

Deception Point Page 16

For the next sixty seconds, Marjorie Tench outlined why the President would be sending her to the CNN debate instead of some lowly campaign staffer. When Tench was finished, the President could only stare in amazement. Once again, Marjorie Tench had proven herself a political genius. 18 The Milne Ice Shelf is the largest solid ice floe in the Northern Hemisphere. Located above the Eighty-second Parallel on the northernmost coast of Ellesmere Island in the high Arctic, the Milne Ice Shelf is four miles wide and reaches thicknesses of over three hundred feet. Now, as Rachel climbed into the Plexiglas enclosure atop the ice tractor, she was grateful for the extra parka and gloves waiting for her on her seat, as well as the heat pouring out of the tractor's vents. Outside, on the ice runway, the F-14's engines roared, and the plane began taxiing away. Rachel looked up in alarm. â€Å"He's leaving?† Her new host climbed into the tractor, nodding. â€Å"Only science personnel and immediate NASA support team members are allowed on-site.† As the F-14 tore off into the sunless sky, Rachel felt suddenly marooned. â€Å"We'll be taking the IceRover from here,† the man said. â€Å"The administrator is waiting.† Rachel gazed out at the silvery path of ice before them and tried to imagine what the hell the administrator of NASA was doing up here. â€Å"Hold on,† the NASA man shouted, working some levers. With a grinding growl, the machine rotated ninety degrees in place like a treaded army tank. It was now facing the high wall of a snow berm. Rachel looked at the steep incline and felt a ripple of fear. Surely he doesn't intend to- â€Å"Rock and roll!† The driver popped the clutch, and the craft accelerated directly toward the slope. Rachel let out a muffled cry and held on. As they hit the incline, the spiked treads tore into the snow, and the contraption began to climb. Rachel was certain they would tip over backward, but the cabin remained surprisingly horizontal as the treads clawed up the slope. When the huge machine heaved up onto the crest of the berm, the driver brought it to a stop and beamed at his white-knuckled passenger. â€Å"Try that in an SUV! We took the shock-system design from the Mars Pathfinder and popped it on this baby! Worked like a charm.† Rachel gave a wan nod. â€Å"Neat.† Sitting now atop the snow berm, Rachel looked out at the inconceivable view. One more large berm stood before them, and then the undulations stopped abruptly. Beyond, the ice smoothed into a glistening expanse that was inclined ever so slightly. The moonlit sheet of ice stretched out into the distance, where it eventually narrowed and snaked up into the mountains. â€Å"That's the Milne Glacier,† the driver said, pointing up into the mountains. â€Å"Starts up there and flows down into this wide delta that we're sitting on now.† The driver gunned the engine again, and Rachel held on as the craft accelerated down the steep face. At the bottom, they clawed across another ice river and rocketed up the next berm. Mounting the crest and quickly skimming down the far side, they slid out onto a smooth sheet of ice and started crunching across the glacier. â€Å"How far?† Rachel saw nothing but ice in front of them. â€Å"About two miles ahead.† Rachel thought it seemed far. The wind outside pounded the IceRover in relentless gusts, rattling the Plexiglas as if trying to hurl them back toward the sea. â€Å"That's the katabatic wind,† the driver yelled. â€Å"Get used to it!† He explained that this area had a permanent offshore gale called the katabatic-Greek for flowing downhill. The relentless wind was apparently the product of heavy, cold air â€Å"flowing† down the glacial face like a raging river downhill. â€Å"This is the only place on earth,† the driver added, laughing, â€Å"where hell actually freezes over!† Several minutes later, Rachel began to see a hazy shape in the distance in front of them-the silhouette of an enormous white dome emerging from the ice. Rachel rubbed her eyes. What in the world†¦? â€Å"Big Eskimos up here, eh?† the man joked. Rachel tried to make sense of the structure. It looked like a scaled-down Houston Astrodome. â€Å"NASA put it up a week and a half ago,† he said. â€Å"Multistage inflatable plexipolysorbate. Inflate the pieces, affix them to one another, connect the whole thing to the ice with pitons and wires. Looks like an enclosed big top tent, but it's actually the NASA prototype for the portable habitat we hope to use on Mars someday. We call it a ‘habisphere.'† â€Å"Habisphere?† â€Å"Yeah, get it? Because it's not a whole sphere, it's only habi-sphere.† Rachel smiled and stared out at the bizarre building now looming closer on the glacial plain. â€Å"And because NASA hasn't gone to Mars yet, you guys decided to have a big sleepover out here instead?† The man laughed. â€Å"Actually, I would have preferred Tahiti, but fate pretty much decided the location.† Rachel gazed uncertainly up at the edifice. The off-white shell was a ghostly contour against a dark sky. As the IceRover neared the structure, it ground to a stop at a small door on the side of the dome, which was now opening. Light from inside spilled out onto the snow. A figure stepped out. He was a bulky giant wearing a black fleece pullover that amplified his size and made him look like a bear. He moved toward the IceRover. Rachel had no doubt who the huge man was: Lawrence Ekstrom, administrator of NASA. The driver gave a solacing grin. â€Å"Don't let his size fool you. The guy's a pussycat.† More like a tiger, Rachel thought, well acquainted with Ekstrom's reputation for biting the heads off those who stood in the way of his dreams. When Rachel climbed down from the IceRover, the wind almost blew her over. She wrapped the coat around herself and moved toward the dome. The NASA administrator met her halfway, extending a huge gloved paw. â€Å"Ms. Sexton. Thank you for coming.† Rachel nodded uncertainly and shouted over the howling wind. â€Å"Frankly, sir, I'm not sure I had much choice.† A thousand meters farther up the glacier, Delta-One gazed through infrared binoculars and watched as the administrator of NASA ushered Rachel Sexton into the dome. 19 NASA administrator Lawrence Ekstrom was a giant of a man, ruddy and gruff, like an angry Norse god. His prickly blond hair was cropped military short above a furrowed brow, and his bulbous nose was spidered with veins. At the moment, his stony eyes drooped with the weight of countless sleepless nights. An influential aerospace strategist and operations adviser at the Pentagon before his appointment to NASA, Ekstrom had a reputation for surliness matched only by his incontestable dedication to whatever mission was at hand. As Rachel Sexton followed Lawrence Ekstrom into the habisphere, she found herself walking through an eerie, translucent maze of hallways. The labyrinthine network appeared to have been fashioned by hanging sheets of opaque plastic across tautly strung wires. The floor of the maze was nonexistent-a sheet of solid ice, carpeted with strips of rubber matting for traction. They passed a rudimentary living area lined with cots and chemical toilets. Thankfully, the air in the habisphere was warm, albeit heavy with the mingled potpourri of indistinguishable smells that accompany humans in tight quarters. Somewhere a generator droned, apparently the source of the electricity that powered the bare bulbs hanging from draped extension cords in the hallway. â€Å"Ms. Sexton,† Ekstrom grunted, guiding her briskly toward some unknown destination. â€Å"Let me be candid with you right from the start.† His tone conveyed anything but pleasure to have Rachel as his guest. â€Å"You are here because the President wants you here. Zach Herney is a personal friend of mine and a faithful NASA supporter. I respect him. I owe him. And I trust him. I do not question his direct orders, even when I resent them. Just so there is no confusion, be aware that I do not share the President's enthusiasm for involving you in this matter.†

Aphrodite of Melos

Greek artists tried to create ideal beauty. Statues were not made to represent real, living people, but they were carved to show how the human body should look like. The picture in front of you is a sculpture of Aphrodite of Melos (Venus de Milo, in Roman mythology). For hundreds of years, the statue remained buried in an underground cavern, where it had been damaged and discovered in two parts. It was in 1820 AD (anno domini) when a peasant named Yorgos found her body on the Aegean island of Melos. Later, the sculpture was taken out of Greece under unclear circumstances and was taken to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France where it was admired by the millions of visitor’s of the country. This sculpture is considered by many art historians to be the ideal of Hellenistic beauty. It was carved out of marble and stands approximately 205 cm (6 ft 10 in) high. By looking at her we think, not of wisdom, or force, or power, but just of beauty. She stands resting the weight of her body on one foot, and advancing the other on a bent knee. The posture causes the figure to sway slightly to one side, describing a fine curved line. The lower limbs are draped, but the upper part of the body is uncovered and in some mysterious way, the sculptor has imparted to the marble a seeming softness as of real flesh. The head is as exquisitely set as a flower on its stalk. The parted hair is drawn back in rippling waves over the low forehead. The eyes are not very wide open, having something of a dreamy languor (tiredness). Melting eyes† are indeed characteristic of Aphrodite, and an analytical critic has explained that this effect is produced in sculpture by a â€Å"slight elevation of the inner corner of the lower eyelid. † The nose is perfectly cut. The mouth and chin are molded in adorable curves. Many wise heads have been puzzled to know the position of the missing arms. A hand holding an apple was also found on Melos, and this may have been a part of the figure; if so, Aphrodite was represented as the goddess of the â€Å"apple island†. Some have thought that the goddess carried a shield, and others ave fancied her holding the traditional apple. There have also been many discussions as to the date of the work. Now if the statue had been made in the fifth century B. C. , the goddess would have been fully draped; if in the fourth century, entirely without drapery. Our sculptor then belonged to neither of these periods, and combined the characteristics of both. It is a fault on his part to have placed the drapery in an impossible position, whence in actual life it would immediately fall of its own weight. The beautiful body rising above the drapery reminds us of the myth of Aphrodite emerging from the sea foam. Aphrodite was thus born and arose on a large shell, which was then carried to land,). Her beauty is a union of strength and sweetness, a perfect embodiment of a nature at harmony with itself and its surroundings. Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos), famous marble statue of Aphrodite found on the Greek island of Melos in 1820 and now in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Although it is of a grandiose style that recalls the Classical Period, the Venus de Milo is from the late Hellenistic Age. Beside it stood a herma (stone pillar) on which the arm of the goddess rested. On the base of the herma was inscribed the signature of an artist, Alexandros, or Agesandros, from Antioch on the Meander, and by this signature the work can be dated from 150 bc to 100 bc. A hand holding an apple was also found on Melos, and this may have been a part of the figure; if so, Aphrodite was represented as the goddess of the â€Å"apple island† (Greek melos, â€Å"apple†). The original on which the artist based his work was probably an Aphrodite of the 4th century bc, which showed the goddess holding the shield of Ares with both hands. In the Melos statue, however, Aphrodite may have held her garment in her (now lost) right hand.

Risk Management in the Shipping Industry Essay Example

Risk Management in the Shipping Industry Essay Example Risk Management in the Shipping Industry Essay Risk Management in the Shipping Industry Essay Risk Management in the Shipping Industry Shipping is a business that is extremely in tune with prevailing market sentiment. Its success depends on a prospering economy, due to the increased global trade. It is also partially sheltered from temporary downturns because businesses will switch from more expensive air freight, and save costs by using shipping as their means of transporting their goods instead. The industry is also an extremely competitive one, as there are only two main considerations why businesses will prefer one shipping company over another the price and speed at which their goods are delivered to their destination. This has made it difficult for companies to differentiate themselves and demand a higher premium for their services. As a highly volatile business, shippers are subjected to three main types of risk: freight price risk, fuel price risk and interest rate risk. 1) Freight price risk Freight rates have historically been very volatile, and this has made it difficult to accurately predict the cash inflows of the company. This is due to the impact of unforeseen geo-political influences and the slow speed of adjusting supply to demand. Freight price risk is thus the risk of loss arising from unexpected changes in freight rates. As a result, shippers commonly buy and sell futures contracts called freight forward agreements based on the Baltic Dry Index of bulk rates to hedge against the risk that a rise or fall in the spot rate might cut into the profit they expect from the voyage. 2) Fuel price risk Fuel prices take up a large amount of variable costs and companies try to hedge against any upward spikes. Although, it is possible to pass on these fuel surcharges to the customers, there is a limit to any increases in order for the firm to continue offering competitive pricing. Call options are often used as the solution and bought at a certain fuel strike price, to hedge against a rise in the future. If the actual price rises above the strike price, the company will choose to exercise the option to buy the fuel at the lower strike price, thereby putting a limit to their cash outflows. 3) Interest rate risk Shipping is a capital intensive industry with significant funding needs for fleet expansion and replacement purposes. Yet, it has very little opportunities to diversify its sources of funding, because most of it comes from bank debt. Some loans are at fixed interest rates, while others are at floating rates. The company thus strives to maintain the optimum mix of fixed and floating interest rates on its net debt that best reflects expectations and risks by engaging in interest rate swaps. In conclusion, the issues of variability and uncertainty in the future will always continue to plague businesses. While risk management can do very little to influence variability (markets will continue to fluctuate no matter how advanced risk management techniques become), much can be done to hedge against the uncertainty.

Free Essays on Bridge to Terabithia

â€Å"Bridge to Terabithia† The two main characters in the story are Jesse and Lesley who are the protagonists. Jesse is a sixth grade boy trying to make it through the school year without getting beat up by the antagonist, a girl, who is the biggest bully in school. Lesley, on the other hand, is an outgoing girl with a great attitude towards life. The plot of the story is when Jesse and Lesley decide to create a make believe world just for themselves. They call it Terabithia which is the setting of the story. It’s a secret place in the forest that only they know about. Jesse is a great artist and often brings his work to Terabithia for Lesley see. Lesley also brings the dog that Jesse bought for her to Terabithia. They named him Prince so he could be the prince of Terabithia. The foreshadowing of my story is when Jesse comes home to find that the television is off which was extremely unlikely at his house. Then he was told about the climax, which was when Lesley was trying to cross the bridge to Terabithia and she slipped and fell off in the rain. Jesse was at the Art Museum with his teacher when this happened. Jesse goes through many phases of denial. He has flashbacks of all the great times he and Lesley had together. This is a major conflict for Jesse because of how much Lesley meant to him and how she had become his only best friend. The tone of my book has now changed from exciting, fun, and adventurous to sad and very teary. The mood now is very depressing. Jesse starts to have trouble concentrating in school and is depressed all the time. He doesn’t even care if he’s bullied anymore. When he goes to school for the first day or two after the incident, the children were asking lots of questions. The next day there were fewer questions and then they stopped. The irony of this was that Jesse still knew where their special place was, the one that nobody else knew about. J... Free Essays on Bridge to Terabithia Free Essays on Bridge to Terabithia â€Å"Bridge to Terabithia† The two main characters in the story are Jesse and Lesley who are the protagonists. Jesse is a sixth grade boy trying to make it through the school year without getting beat up by the antagonist, a girl, who is the biggest bully in school. Lesley, on the other hand, is an outgoing girl with a great attitude towards life. The plot of the story is when Jesse and Lesley decide to create a make believe world just for themselves. They call it Terabithia which is the setting of the story. It’s a secret place in the forest that only they know about. Jesse is a great artist and often brings his work to Terabithia for Lesley see. Lesley also brings the dog that Jesse bought for her to Terabithia. They named him Prince so he could be the prince of Terabithia. The foreshadowing of my story is when Jesse comes home to find that the television is off which was extremely unlikely at his house. Then he was told about the climax, which was when Lesley was trying to cross the bridge to Terabithia and she slipped and fell off in the rain. Jesse was at the Art Museum with his teacher when this happened. Jesse goes through many phases of denial. He has flashbacks of all the great times he and Lesley had together. This is a major conflict for Jesse because of how much Lesley meant to him and how she had become his only best friend. The tone of my book has now changed from exciting, fun, and adventurous to sad and very teary. The mood now is very depressing. Jesse starts to have trouble concentrating in school and is depressed all the time. He doesn’t even care if he’s bullied anymore. When he goes to school for the first day or two after the incident, the children were asking lots of questions. The next day there were fewer questions and then they stopped. The irony of this was that Jesse still knew where their special place was, the one that nobody else knew about. J...