Salem Witch Trials Essays (2386 words) - Witchcraft,

Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch trials started in 1692 resulted in 19 executions and 150 accusations of witchcraft. This is one of the historical events almost everyone has heard of. It is a topic that is talked about, and can be seen as controversial. A quote by Laurie Carlson shows just how controversial the topic can be. (A) character myth is certainly what the witch hunts in Europe and Salem have become, though they have more basis in fact than most myths. The stories of the witch hunts are character myths for our time, to be told by feminists, left-wing intellectuals, and lawyers for President Clinton, each taking what he or she needs from the story, adding or subtracting as it seems fit. (1). The trials began because three young girls, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam began having hysterical fits after being caught engaging in forbidden fortune telling. That's right fortune telling, not dancing naked in the woods like the story has been told to many times (2). The fortune telling occurred because they were trying to find out what type of men they were going to marry. Betty Parris' father was a reverend of the town on Salem, Massachusetts. The Reverend, Samuel Parris called in senior authorities to determine if the girls' affliction was caused by witchcraft. Although Betty was sent away fairly soon, and did not participate in the trials, the remaining two girls were joined by other young and old women in staging public demonstrations of their affliction when in the presence of accused witches. The events in Salem have been used as a theme in many literary works. Anthropologists also take interest in these writings because they display some of the characteristics of village witchcraft as well as some of the features of the European witch craze. Many commentators have seen the Salem witch craze as the last outbreak of the European witch craze which was transported to North America. As in African and new Guinea villages, the original accusations in Salem were made against people who the accusers had reason to resent or fear. Moreover, the first few of the accused fit the definition of marginal persons likely to arouse suspicion. However, as in Europe, the accusations spread, and soon encompassed people not involved in any of Salem's grudges or problems. As in Europe, there was a belief that the accused were in league with the devil. Supposed experts went out to do scientific studies to diagnose witchcraft. Interestingly, during the colonial period in Africa, just after WWII, there was a number of witch finding movements in Africa that closely resembled the Salem episode. Typically in these witch finding movements, the witch finders would come in from outside a village and claim to be able to rid the village of all of it's witchcraft. At this period there was great dislocation, with people moving around because of government employment, suitable farmland, and many other causes. Some people were improving their economic status as a result of these change, and others ended up being worse off. Whereas in the past, everyone in a location had followed the same religion, people were now exposed to Christianity and the local religions of people who had moved to their region, or whose regions they had moved to. In the cities of central and Southern Africa, many local religions and Christian sects could be found, as well as Islam. Belief in witchcraft tended to unite people across religious differences. Frenzies increased throughout time, people began to be accused who had not aroused any particular jealousies, possibly because they possessed a peculiar looking item which might be said to contain magical medicine. These crazes tended to die down, at least after considerable conflict and property damage, and the witch finders would then move on to the next town. As witchcraft accusations still occurred in the areas, we can conclude that the movements did not get rid of witches forever. Witch Trials 4 There have been three basic approaches taken to the analysis of the Salem witch trials. Scholars have sought psychological and biological explanations for the symptoms displayed by the bewitched girls. Sexual repression in Puritan New England, the low status of

Cognitive Changes †Human Sexuality Essay

Cognitive Changes – Human Sexuality Essay Free Online Research Papers There really haven’t experienced any cognitive changes. I took this class because I felt it was going to be very interesting and because I am a very open minded person. I try not to judge and I try to be open to other people’s differences even if they are very different from me. In terms of sexuality someone who has a different sexual orientation than mine I don’t mind. I embrace people’s differences. One subject that we talked about that has really stuck in my mind was the chapter on sexually transmitted diseases. I guess I never really thought about the diseases that you can get by giving oral sex. There are so many young girls these days who don’t think of oral sex as sex. They don’t realize that you can get really serious diseases by doing this. It’s scary because some of these diseases are deadly and they are so young and so inexperienced to truly understand the importance of safe sex. I wish that there were more that we could do to educate them about safe sex earlier. At the beginning of class we discussed the two legacies. The gender role legacy has also stuck in my mind. It’s really sad to know that views towards women haven’t necessarily changed. We are still fighting for our rights to be equal. We are still trying to prove that we are capable of being successful at together things besides cooking, cleaning and taking care of our kids. I know a lot has changed for women since the middle ages, but I hadn’t really realized that lot of men still view women the same way they did back in the 1940’s and 1950’s. I didn’t really think much about it until we talked about it in class. Effective Changes The things that I felt were effective in this class were of course the topic about safe sex and the effects of sexually transmitted diseases. I thing it is always effective when you educate people about safe sex and what can happen when you are not careful. I think it was very effective when we were showed the different contraceptives and how they work. The female condom is still a mystery to me, but I am glad I was able to see it. It makes it nice to know that we have ways of protecting ourselves as females. It’s interesting that there are women out there who still believe that it is the man’s responsibility to use contraceptives. We as women need to realize that we have to protect ourselves. We have to take responsibility for our own bodies and I felt that Page helped us to realize this. Also, I believe our fetish presentations were very beneficial in a couple of ways. We talked about communication and sexuality and how it is difficult for people to talk about sex. A lot of people are embarrassed to talk about sex so it is hard for them to express what they are feeling and they don’t ask questions because of it. I know for me my fetish was very hard to talk about, but it really helped me open up and feel okay to talk about sex. It also educated us on different fetishes and how they develop. I learned a little about how to react to certain paraphilias also. I think this will be helpful in the future because if you are exposed to an exhibitionist you know how to react. You also will know what these things mean and entail so if someone was to ask you to partake in the act you’ll know if you want to join in or not. Even though there are some sexual behaviors that I wouldn’t necessarily engage in, this class helped to see why people feel the way they do. I also learned that it is important to know your body. Chapter 9 taught me that it’s normal to want to get to know your body. Talking about masturbation used to make me feel really uncomfortable. It doesn’t bother me for someone else to masturbate, but I would be very embarrassed to masturbate in front of my partner. I learned that this can help sex between you and your partner because you can relay to them what you like and where you like to be touched. It may also help to put a little more excitement in your sex life. I haven’t gotten brave enough to do this, but maybe I will work on it. (ha-ha) Another topic that we discussed that taught me a lot, and I am actually kind of embarrassed to even admit it, was the topic on female anatomy. I never realized how little I knew about my own body. I really enjoyed this chapter because I really got to see what is going on inside of me. I have had a child and until this class I really wasn’t positive what my cervix was. This seems so crazy since all of these things are in my body, but I never really knew what all was going on. In chapter six when we discussed sexual response I though it was really interesting learning about the changes our bodies go through on the inside when we get aroused and how our body responds. This class has made me feel like I really didn’t know much about sex before. When I though about sexual response the way male’s respond is what always came to mind, but both males and females are going through changes during sexual arousing and intercourse. I really enjoyed this class. I can’t wait to take our field trip to Exotic Pleasures because this will be my first time. Through this class I was really exposed to a variety of topics. This class has taught me a lot about sexual communication, our anatomy, how our gender is formed, etc. I enjoyed hearing my classmate’s points of view on all of these topics. I think sex isn’t always an easy topic for everyone to talk about, but while taking this class I think it has helped many open up and feel more comfortable about talking about it. I think it’s great because maybe now they will feel more comfortable to talk about with someone else and help educate others has well. Research Papers on Cognitive Changes - Human Sexuality EssayTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XResearch Process Part OneThe Hockey Game

Zebra Facts

Zebra Facts Zebras (Equus spp), with their familiar horse-like physique and their distinct black and white striping pattern, are among the most recognizable of all mammals. They are native to both the plains and mountains of Africa; mountain zebras climb over 6,000 feet high. Fast Facts: Zebras Scientific Name: Equus quagga or E. burchellii; E. zebra, E. grevyiCommon Names: Plains or Burchells Zebra; Mountain Zebra; Grevys ZebraBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Grevys and plains, 8.9 feet; mountain, 7.7 feet  Ã‚  Weight: Plains and Grevys zebra, about 850–880 pounds; mountain zebra, 620 poundsLifespan: 10–11 yearsDiet:  HerbivorePopulation: Plains: 150,000–250,000; Grevys: 2,680; mountain: 35,000Habitat: Once widespread in Africa, now in separate populationsConservation Status: Endangered (Grevys zebra), Vulnerable (mountain zebra), Near Threatened (plains zebra) Description Zebras are members of the genus Equus, which also includes asses and horses. There are three species of zebra: Plains or Burchells zebra (Equus quagga or E. burchellii), Grevys zebra (Equus grevyi), and mountain zebra (Equus zebra). Anatomical differences between the zebra species are fairly sparse: In general, the mountain zebra is smaller and has evolutionary differences associated with living in the mountains. Mountain zebras have hard, pointed hooves that are well-suited for negotiating the slopes and they have conspicuous dewlaps- a loose fold of skin underneath the chin seen often in cattle- which the plains and Grevys zebras do not. Various species of asses, including the African wild ass (Equus asinus), have some stripes (for instance, Equus asinus has stripes on the lower portion of its legs). Zebras are nonetheless the most distinctively striped of the equids. Westend61/Getty Images Species Each species of zebra has a unique stripe pattern on its coat which provides researchers with an easy method for identifying individuals. Grevys zebras have a thick black hairy strip on their rump that extends towards their tail and a broader neck than the other species of zebras and a white belly. Plains zebras often have shadow stripes (stripes of a lighter color that occur between the darker stripes). Like Grevys zebras, some plains zebras have a white belly. Zebras can cross breed with other members of equus: A plains zebra crossed with a donkey is known as a zebdonk, zonkey, zebrass, and zorse. The plains or Burchells zebra has several subspecies: Grants zebra (Equus quagga boehmi) and Chapmans zebra (Equus quagga antiquorum). And the now-extinct quagga, once thought to be a separate species, is now considered a subspecies of the plains zebra (Equus quagga quagga). Habitat and Distribution Most zebra species live in arid and semi-arid plains and savannas of Africa: Plains and Grevys zebras have different regions but overlap during migrations. Mountain zebras, however, live in the rugged mountains of South Africa and Namibia.  Mountain zebras are skilled climbers, inhabiting mountain slopes up to elevations of 6,500 feet above sea level. All zebras are extremely mobile, and individuals have been recorded to move distances of greater than 50 miles.  Plains zebras make the longest known terrestrial wildlife migration, a whopping 300 miles between the Chobe River floodplains in Namibia and the Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana. Diet and Behavior Regardless of their habitats, zebras are all grazers, bulk, roughage feeders that need to consume large daily quantities of grasses. They are also all full migrant species, migrating seasonally or year-round depending on seasonal vegetation changes and habitat. They often follow long grasses that grow after the rains, altering their migration patterns to avoid adverse conditions or find new resources. Mountain and plains zebras live in family groups or harems, typically consisting of one stallion, several mares, and their juvenile offspring. Non-breeding groups of bachelors and occasional fillies also exist. During parts of the year, the harems and bachelor groups join together and move as herds, the timing and direction of which are determined by seasonal vegetation changes in habitat.   Breeding males will defend their resource territories (water and food) that range between one and 7.5 square miles; the home range size of non-territorial zebras can be as large as 3,800 square miles. Male plains zebras ward off predators by kicking or biting them and have been known to kill hyenas with a single kick. Robert Muckley / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring Female zebras sexually mature at the age of three and give birth to between two and six offspring over their lifetimes. Gestation periods are between 12 and 13 months, depending on species, and the average female gives birth about once every two years. Male fertility is far more variable.   Reproductive pairing is played out differently for different species. While plains and mountain zebras practice the harem strategy described above, Grevys zebra females do not join males in harems. Instead, they form loose and transitory associations with many other females and males, and females of different reproductive states group themselves into sets that use different habitats. Males do not ally with the females; they simply establish territories around water.   Despite their stable long-term harem structure, plains zebras often coalesce into herds, forming multi-male or uni-male groups, providing polygamous opportunities for males and polyandrous opportunities for females.  Ã‚   Diana Robinson Photography/Getty Images   Conservation Status The Grevys zebra is listed by the IUCN as Endangered; the mountain zebra as Vulnerable; and the plains zebra as Near Threatened.  Zebras once roamed all habitats in Africa, with the exceptions of rain forests, deserts, and dunes. Threats for all of them include habitat loss resulting from drought associated with climate change and farming, continuing political upheaval, and hunting. Sources About zebras. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 2018.Gosling, L.M., et al. Equus zebra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species e.T7960A45171906, 2019.Hoekstra, Jon. Big Discoveries Still Happen – Zebras Make Africa’s Longest-Known Terrestrial Wildlife Migration. World Wildlife Fund, May 27, 2014.King, S.R.B. and P.D. Moehlman. Equus quagga. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species e.T41013A45172424, 2016.Rubenstein, D. et al. Equus grevyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species e.T7950A89624491, 2016  Walker, Martha. Equus zebra: mountain zebra. Animal Diversity Web, 2005.

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Reaction paper - Essay Example There is no marker pointing to any direction at all to guide the visitor. Also, the people can come in anytime from any point which is very much similar to the Jews who were imprisoned at the camps. One could be easily brought into the camp and leave as a dead person; hence, uncertainty was the order of the day during that time. This architectural monument has attracted millions of tourists because they are curious about the structure. Some of them could have been Jews who want to pay respect to their fellowmen who were victims of the Holocaust. The video showed the beauty of the structures yet it exhibited a certain coldness that spells indifference to humanity. If I were there, I would feel sadness because it seems that I have lost my identity and could not find my way out of such as disorienting situation. So many mixed emotions ran over me as I watched the video and imagined how hard it must have been for the Jews. Although the structure really avoided symbolizing anything at all , it provokes visitors to reflect on the plight of the murdered Jews. This just makes me think how man’s heart could be that dark and evil when given a wrong cause.

Management problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Management problem - Essay Example ce, revolves around discrimination based on religion, and in order to advise the Chief Executive, the first thing that will need to be established is whether the court will treat the employee in question as an employee under the legal definition of the term. This argument is substantiated by the recent case of Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher (2011) when Lord Clarke held that work must be exchanged with wage and that intentions of parties did not hold as much importance as the ‘reality’ did – making the test an objective one instead of subjective. Moreover, under the Employment Rights Act 1996, a ‘worker’ is somebody who has a contract for employment and personally performs the work, rather than being the owner of a business or organization. The Housing Services Director asked the Jewish employee to remove the hat he wears as a customary sign of his religion, calling it a ‘skullcap’. This can be considered direct as well as indirection discrimination, subject to the tribunal/court’s interpretation of the matter. Direct discrimination is self-explanatory through its name; suggesting discriminatory practice against an employee for characteristics provided under the Equality Act 2010. Although there is no general defense awarded to the defendant in this case, but an exception is the excuse of a genuine requirement of the occupation that the employee be of a certain age/sex/religion. The test to establish this is an objective one, as can be seen in the case of Shamoon v. Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [2001] where the HOL overturned a tribunal decision where it had found gender discrimination. However, the success of this test may be limited since it is a stringent one – a fact supported by the case of Etam plc v Rowan [1989] is when a man was rejected from the working at a clothing store for women. The Chief Executive can argue that wearing of the hat is genuinely harming the business as it is not only giving a negative impression to

The Compound Pendulum Essay Example for Free

The Compound Pendulum Essay Over here, I will be exploring the different ways in which love is portrayed by authors in their texts. We see love as being supportive in â€Å"Macbeth† and â€Å"The Song Of The Old Mother. † As we progress, we also see love between individuals as being disturbed. We see this in â€Å"My Last Duchess† and â€Å"Porphyria’s lover,† as the speakers in the following poems are very possessive, but the way they treat their partners is very disturbing. In many texts the authors portray love as being supportive and we see many examples of this in â€Å"Macbeth,† by William Shakespeare and in â€Å"The Song of the Old Mother,† by William Butler Yeats. The only major difference between these two is the supportive love is shown in two different relationships: in Macbeth it is shown between a husband and wife relationship and in the Song of the Old Mother it is shown in a parent child relationship. Macbeth is a play written by the famous William Shakespeare in 1606, during the early reign of James I. James I originally was from Scotland but had just become the king of England and was a patron Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. In Macbeth, the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is a very close. They both love each other very much and we get to know this in Macbeths letter to Lady Macbeth, where he calls her his â€Å"dearest partner of greatness. † They love each other a lot and we constantly see Lady Macbeth supporting and leading Macbeth in many different occasions. We see her being concerned about his future a lot as she wants the best for him even by using the evil means, for example the murder of King Duncan. We also see that she also knows Macbeth’s nature very well. We see this right after Lady Macbeth reads the letter from Macbeth about the prophecies made upon the heath, she said: â€Å"Yet I do fear thy nature: it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. † Shakespeare uses metaphors to show that Macbeth is pure; the metaphor â€Å"full o’ the milk of human kindness† tells us the Macbeth’s heart is white and pure like milk suggesting that he is very pure and generous. The phrase â€Å"to catch the nearest way† tells us that Macbeth is an honourable man and likes to earn his titles instead of taking short criminal ways. Over here Lady Macbeth is referring to the murder of Duncan about which Macbeth was really unsure about, however in the end he was convinced by Lady Macbeth. Some readers might think that Lady Macbeth is eager to see her husband as the king and wants it to happen as soon as possible even if he has to use wrong methods of earning better future. However others might think that Lady Macbeth is thinking about herself as she wants to get her hands on the fame and fortune more quickly. She knows that very well that Macbeth will need her support in order to betray others and get the best. Before Macbeth has reached his castle she starts thinking of ways in which she can convince him. Then She found the perfect solution to her problem in which she will use the power of her tongue to convince him. She said: â€Å"Hie thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue all the impedes thee from the golden round. † Over here she decides to use the power of her tongue to clear all of Macbeth’s doubts. The phrase â€Å"pour my spirits in thine ear† suggests that she will inspire him with her passion and her brave words will clear all the hesitations that he has. The phrase â€Å"chastise with the valour of my tongue† shows that she will tell him off for having any doubts. Now Shakespeare here uses a very powerful verb â€Å"chastise,† this verb is very harsh and is used by parents to tell their child off for being extremely naughty. This shows the dominance of Lady Macbeth over Macbeth, which is the total opposite of how husband and wife relationships were in the Elizabethan era. The phrase â€Å"impedes thee from the golden round† over here Lady Macbeth refers to the crown as the â€Å"golden round,† to emphasize its importance. Overall this phrase suggests that Lady Macbeth will help Macbeth overcome all the obstacles which are in his way. Over here the argument is the same as before, some will think that she is doing this for the welfare of Macbeth, while others will say she is doing it for fame and titles. Much later on in the play, after Duncan’s murder Macbeth started hallucinating and brought the daggers with him. When Lady Macbeth orders him to put them back and smear the servants, he refuses as he was too afraid to go. So Lady Macbeth takes on the job and comes backs and gets Macbeth to wash his hand, at that point she insults him of being a coward. She said: â€Å"My hands are of your colour: but I shame to wear a heart so white† Lady Macbeth insults Macbeth by saying â€Å"a heart so white,† suggesting that she is saying that he was a coward and can’t handle a little blood. She then says â€Å"hands are of your colour,† suggesting that is supporting him She means to say that she is his accomplice in the crime. She might have said this due the condition he was in. Over all the argument for all these quotes above are the same as some think she did all this for Macbeth, while others suggest she did this for herself. Now comes â€Å"The Song Of The Old Mother,† in which the poet shows love in a supportive manner in a parent child relationship. This poem is written by William Butler Yeats, who was born in Ireland in 1865. He was really fascinated by Irish history and culture. And this poem that he wrote in 1899 reflects his interest in the Irish peasantry.

Perfect Storm Essay -- essays research papers

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger is an account of an immense storm and its destructive path through the North Atlantic. In late October of 1991, crews of several different fishing ships left their port for their final haul. Little did they know that they would soon cross paths with one of the greatest storms ever recorded. This particular storm would create huge swells, high winds, and hard rain. The system, was said to be a â€Å"perfect storm† because all of the elements were just right to create the worst imaginable storm ever seen, â€Å"†¦ a hundred-year event,† claimed some meteorologists. These types of storms are caused when: â€Å"Warm air is less dense than cool air; it rises off the surface of the ocean, cools in the upper atmosphere, and then dumps its moisture before rushing back to earth. Huge cumulus clouds develop over the zones of rising air, with thunder, lightning, and terrifically strong rain. As long as there's a supply of warm water, th e thunderstorm sustains itself, converting moisture into sheeting rain and downdraft winds. Other thunderclouds might line up along the leading edge of a cold front into a "squall line," a towering convective engine that stretches from horizon to horizon.† (The Perfect Storm Foundation) The descriptions of fishing procedures and equipment are often confusing, they are a vital part of the plot. Which gives the reader a better insight to what these fishermen went though. Without these details, readers would not be able to picture the dangers of the storm the way Junger wanted them to. The book is interesting, but never melodramatic. There is just enough tension in the conflict between man and nature to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Junger never tries to saturate his readers with so much emotion that they roll their eyes in disgust. He makes the fear and desperation realistic and believable. Junger achieves a delicate balance between the factual and fictional elements of the story. The front cover immediately states in bold letters that The Perfect Storm is a true story. Junger’s characters are extremely well developed. It becomes unimportant that Junger may have exaggerated about a character’s experiences. He allows readers to sympathize with Christina Cotter and fear for Bobby Shatfords safety. The thoughts and emotions of every character are stunningly real. My girlfriend pointed out that the book... ...ve damage occurred in New England where federal disaster areas were declared for seven counties in Massachusetts, five in Maine, and one in New Hampshire. Off Staten Island, two men were drowned when their boat capsized. Other fatalities occurred when a man fishing from a bridge was either blown or swept off in New York and a fisherman was swept off the rocks at Narrangansett, RI by heavy surf. Offshore, six lives were lost when the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat, sank. Total damage in the Halloween Storm, as it came to be known because of its date, was in the hundreds of millions of dollars.† The first part of the book focuses on the people and their relationships around the docks and their hometown. It gave an in-depth glimpse into the life and psychological behaviors of fishermen. Given the total length of the book my first reaction to this focus on people was that it was too much. My second reaction was "just right." Less stress would have de-personalized the characters. Towards the end the characters in the book have all learned something about themselves because of this storm. Being that some of the characters are not here anymore makes the book all the more poignant.

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 10. SCENT

IT WAS ALL VERY CHILDISH. WHY ON EARTH SHOULD EDward have to leave for Jacob to come over? Weren't we past this kind of immaturity? â€Å"It's not that I feel any personal antagonism toward him, Bella, it's just easier for both of us,† Edward told me at the door. â€Å"I won't be far away. You'll be safe.† â€Å"I'm not worried about that.† He smiled, and then a sly look came into his eye. He pulled me close, burying his face in my hair. I could feel his cool breath saturate the strands as he exhaled; it raised goose bumps on my neck. â€Å"I'll be right back,† he said, and then he laughed aloud as if I'd just told a good joke. â€Å"What's so funny?† But Edward just grinned and loped off toward the trees without answering. Grumbling to myself, I went to clean up the kitchen. Before I even had the sink full of water, the doorbell rang. It was hard to get used to how much faster Jacob was without his car. How everyone seemed to be so much faster than me. . . . â€Å"Come in, Jake!† I shouted. I was concentrating on piling the dishes into the bubbly water, and I'd forgotten that Jacob moved like a ghost these days. So it made me jump when his voice was suddenly there behind me. â€Å"Should you really leave your door unlocked like that? Oh, sorry.† I'd slopped myself with the dishwater when he'd startled me. â€Å"I'm not worried about anyone who would be deterred by a locked door,† I said while I wiped the front of my shirt with a dishtowel. â€Å"Good point,† he agreed. I turned to look at him, eyeing him critically. â€Å"Is it really so impossible to wear clothes, Jacob?† I asked. Once again, Jacob was bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of old cut-off jeans. Secretly, I wondered if he was just so proud of his new muscles that he couldn't stand to cover them up. I had to admit, they were impressive – but I'd never thought of him as vain. â€Å"I mean, I know you don't get cold anymore, but still.† He ran a hand through his wet hair; it was falling in his eyes. â€Å"It's just easier,† he explained. â€Å"What's easier?† He smiled condescendingly. â€Å"It's enough of a pain to carry the shorts around with me, let alone a complete outfit. What do I look like, a pack mule?† I frowned. â€Å"What are you talking about, Jacob?† His expression was superior, like I was missing something obvious. â€Å"My clothes don't just pop in and out of existence when I change – I have to carry them with me while I run. Pardon me for keeping my burden light.† I changed color. â€Å"I guess I didn't think about that,† I muttered. He laughed and pointed to a black leather cord, thin as a strand of yarn, that was wound three times below his left calf like an anklet. I hadn't noticed before that his feet were bare, too. â€Å"That's more than just a fashion statement – it sucks to carry jeans in your mouth.† I didn't know what to say to that. He grinned. â€Å"Does my being half-naked bother you?† â€Å"No.† Jacob laughed again, and I turned my back on him to focus on the dishes. I hoped he realized my blush was left over from embarrassment at my own stupidity, and had nothing to do with his question. â€Å"Well, I suppose I should get to work.† He sighed. â€Å"I wouldn't want to give him an excuse to say I'm slacking on my side.† â€Å"Jacob, it's not your job -â€Å" He raised a hand to cut me off. â€Å"I'm working on a volunteer basis here. Now, where is the intruder's scent the worst?† â€Å"My bedroom, I think.† His eyes narrowed. He didn't like that any more than Edward had. â€Å"I'll just be a minute.† I methodically scrubbed the plate I was holding. The only sound was the brush's plastic bristles scraping round and round on the ceramic. I listened for something from above, a creak of the floorboard, the click of a door. There was nothing. I realized I'd been cleaning the same plate far longer than necessary, and I tried to pay attention to what I was doing. â€Å"Whew!† Jacob said, inches behind me, scaring me again. â€Å"Yeesh, Jake, cut that out!† â€Å"Sorry. Here -† Jacob took the towel and mopped up my new spill. â€Å"I'll make it up to you. You wash, I'll rinse and dry.† â€Å"Fine.† I gave him the plate. â€Å"Well, the scent was easy enough to catch. By the way, your room reeks.† â€Å"I'll buy some air freshener.† He laughed. I washed and he dried in companionable silence for a few minutes. â€Å"Can I ask you something?† I handed him another plate. â€Å"That depends on what you want to know.† â€Å"I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything – I'm honestly curious,† Jacob assured me. â€Å"Fine. Go ahead.† He paused for half a second. â€Å"What's it like – having a vampire for a boyfriend?† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"It's the best.† â€Å"I'm serious. The idea doesn't bother you – it never creeps you out?† â€Å"Never.† He was silent as he reached for the bowl in my hands. I peeked up at his face – he was frowning, his lower lip jutting out. â€Å"Anything else?† I asked. He wrinkled his nose again. â€Å"Well . . . I was wondering . . . do you . . . y'know, kiss him?† I laughed. â€Å"Yes.† He shuddered. â€Å"Ugh.† â€Å"To each her own,† I murmured. â€Å"You don't worry about the fangs?† I smacked his arm, splashing him with dishwater. â€Å"Shut up, Jacob! You know he doesn't have fangs!† â€Å"Close enough,† he muttered. I gritted my teeth and scrubbed a boning knife with more force than necessary. â€Å"Can I ask another one?† he asked softly when I passed the knife to him. â€Å"Just curious, again.† â€Å"Fine,† I snapped. He turned the knife over and over in his hands under the stream of water. When he spoke, it was only a whisper. â€Å"You said a few weeks. . . . When, exactly . . . ?† He couldn't finish. â€Å"Graduation,† I whispered back, watching his face warily. Would this set him off again? â€Å"So soon,† he breathed, his eyes closing. It didn't sound like a question. It sounded like a lament. The muscles in his arms tightened and his shoulders were stiff. â€Å"OW!† he shouted; it had gotten so still in the room that I jumped a foot in the air at his outburst. His right hand had curled into a tense fist around the blade of the knife – he unclenched his hand and the knife clattered onto the counter. Across his palm was a long, deep gash. The blood streamed down his fingers and dripped on the floor. â€Å"Damn it! Ouch!† he complained. My head spun and my stomach rolled. I clung to the countertop with one hand, took a deep breath through my mouth, and forced myself to get a grip so that I could take care of him. â€Å"Oh, no, Jacob! Oh, crap! Here, wrap this around it!† I shoved the dish towel at him, reaching for his hand. He shrugged away from me. â€Å"It's nothing, Bella, don't worry about it.† The room started to shimmer a little around the edges. I took another deep breath. â€Å"Don't worry?! You sliced your hand open!† He ignored the dish towel I pushed at him. He put his hand under the faucet and let the water wash over the wound. The water ran red. My head whirled. â€Å"Bella,† he said. I looked away from the wound, up to his face. He was frowning, but his expression was calm. â€Å"What?† â€Å"You look like you're going to pass out, and you're biting your lip off. Stop it. Relax. Breathe. I'm fine.† I inhaled through my mouth and removed my teeth from my lower lip. â€Å"Don't be brave.† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Let's go. I'll drive you to the ER.† I was pretty sure I would be okay to drive. The walls were holding steady now, at least. â€Å"Not necessary.† Jake turned off the water and took the towel from my hand. He twisted it loosely around his palm. â€Å"Wait,† I protested. â€Å"Let me look at it.† I clutched the counter more firmly, to hold myself upright if the wound made me woozy again. â€Å"Do you have a medical degree that you never told me about?† â€Å"Just give me the chance to decide whether or not I'm going to throw a fit over taking you to the hospital.† He made a face of mock horror. â€Å"Please, not a fit!† â€Å"If you don't let me see your hand, a fit is guaranteed.† He inhaled deeply, and then let out a gusty sigh. â€Å"Fine.† He unwound the towel and, when I reached out to take the cloth, he laid his hand in mine. It took me a few seconds. I even flipped his hand over, though I was sure he'd cut his palm. I turned his hand back up, finally realizing that the angry pink, puckered line was all that was left of his wound. â€Å"But . . . you were bleeding . . . so much.† He pulled his hand back, his eyes steady and somber on mine. â€Å"I heal fast.† â€Å"I'll say,† I mouthed. I'd seen the long gash clearly, seen the blood that flowed into the sink. The rust-and-salt smell of it had almost pulled me under. It should have needed stitches. It should have taken days to scab over and then weeks to fade into the shiny pink scar that marked his skin now. He screwed his mouth up into half a smile and thumped his fist once against his chest. â€Å"Werewolf, remember?† His eyes held mine for an immeasurable moment. â€Å"Right,† I finally said. He laughed at my expression. â€Å"I told you this. You saw Paul's scar.† I shook my head to clear it. â€Å"It's a little different, seeing the action sequence firsthand.† I kneeled down and dug the bleach out of the cabinet under the sink. Then I poured some on a dusting rag and started scrubbing the floor. The burning scent of the bleach cleared the last of the dizziness from my head. â€Å"Let me clean up,† Jacob said. â€Å"I got this. Throw that towel in the wash, will you?† When I was sure the floor smelled of nothing but bleach, I got up and rinsed the right side of the sink with bleach, too. Then I went to the laundry closet beside the pantry, and poured a cupful into the washing machine before starting it. Jacob watched me with a disapproving look on his face. â€Å"Do you have obsessive-compulsive disorder?† he asked when I was done. Huh. Maybe. But at least I had a good excuse this time. â€Å"We're a bit sensitive to blood around here. I'm sure you can understand that.† â€Å"Oh.† He wrinkled his nose again. â€Å"Why not make it as easy as possible for him? What he's doing is hard enough.† â€Å"Sure, sure. Why not?† I pulled the plug, and let the dirty water drain from the sink. â€Å"Can I ask you something, Bella?† I sighed. â€Å"What's it like – having a werewolf for a best friend?† The question caught me off guard. I laughed out loud. â€Å"Does it creep you out?† he pressed before I could answer. â€Å"No. When the werewolf is being nice,† I qualified, â€Å"it's the best.† He grinned widely, his teeth bright against his russet skin. â€Å"Thanks, Bella,† he said, and then he grabbed my hand and wrenched me into one of his bone-crushing hugs. Before I had time to react, he dropped his arms and stepped away. â€Å"Ugh,† he said, his nose wrinkling. â€Å"Your hair stinks worse than your room.† â€Å"Sorry,† I muttered. I suddenly understood what Edward had been laughing about earlier, after breathing on me. â€Å"One of the many hazards of socializing with vampires,† Jacob said, shrugging. â€Å"It makes you smell bad. A minor hazard, comparatively.† I glared at him. â€Å"I only smell bad to you, Jake.† He grinned. â€Å"See you around, Bells.† â€Å"Are you leaving?† â€Å"He's waiting for me to go. I can hear him outside.† â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"I'll go out the back,† he said, and then he paused. â€Å"Hold up a sec – hey, do you think you can come to La Push tonight? We're having a bonfire party. Emily will be there, and you could meet Kim . . . And I know Quil wants to see you, too. He's pretty peeved that you found out before he did.† I grinned at that. I could just imagine how that would have irked Quil – Jacob's little human gal pal down with the werewolves while he was still clueless. And then I sighed. â€Å"Yeah, Jake, I don't know about that. See, it's a little tense right now. . . .† â€Å"C'mon, you think somebody's going to get past all – all six of us?† There was a strange pause as he stuttered over the end of his question. I wondered if he had trouble saying the word werewolf aloud, the way I often had difficulty with vampire. His big dark eyes were full of unashamed pleading. â€Å"I'll ask,† I said doubtfully. He made a noise in the back of his throat. â€Å"Is he your warden, now, too? You know, I saw this story on the news last week about controlling, abusive teenage relationships and -â€Å" â€Å"Okay!† I cut him off, and then shoved his arm. â€Å"Time for the werewolf to get out!† He grinned. â€Å"Bye, Bells. Be sure you ask permission.† He ducked out the back door before I could find something to throw at him. I growled incoherently at the empty room. Seconds after he was gone, Edward walked slowly into the kitchen, raindrops glistening like diamonds set into the bronze of his hair. His eyes were wary. â€Å"Did you two get into a fight?† he asked. â€Å"Edward!† I sang, throwing myself at him. â€Å"Hi, there.† He laughed and wrapped his arms around me. â€Å"Are you trying to distract me? It's working.† â€Å"No, I didn't fight with Jacob. Much. Why?† â€Å"I was just wondering why you stabbed him. Not that I object.† With his chin, he gestured to the knife on the counter. â€Å"Dang! I thought I got everything.† I pulled away from him and ran to put the knife in the sink before I doused it with bleach. â€Å"I didn't stab him,† I explained as I worked. â€Å"He forgot he had a knife in his hand.† Edward chuckled. â€Å"That's not nearly as fun as the way I imagined it.† â€Å"Be nice.† He took a big envelope from his jacket pocket and tossed it on the counter. â€Å"I got your mail.† â€Å"Anything good?† â€Å"I think so.† My eyes narrowed suspiciously at his tone. I went to investigate. He'd folded the legal-sized envelope in half. I smoothed it open, surprised at the weight of the expensive paper, and read the return address. â€Å"Dartmouth? Is this a joke?† â€Å"I'm sure it's an acceptance. It looks exactly like mine.† â€Å"Good grief, Edward – what did you do?† â€Å"I sent in your application, that's all.† â€Å"I may not be Dartmouth material, but I'm not stupid enough to believe that.† â€Å"Dartmouth seems to think that you're Dartmouth material.† I took a deep breath and counted slowly to ten. â€Å"That's very generous of them,† I finally said. â€Å"However, accepted or not, there is still the minor matter of tuition. I can't afford it, and I'm not letting you throw away enough money to buy yourself another sports car just so that I can pretend to go to Dartmouth next year.† â€Å"I don't need another sports car. And you don't have to pretend anything,† he murmured. â€Å"One year of college wouldn't kill you. Maybe you'd even like it. Just think about it, Bella. Imagine how excited Charlie and Rene would be. . . .† His velvet voice painted the picture in my head before I could block it. Of course Charlie would explode with pride – no one in the town of Forks would be able to escape the fallout from his excitement. And Rene would be hysterical with joy at my triumph – though she'd swear she wasn't at all surprised. . . . I tried to shake the image out of my head. â€Å"Edward. I'm worried about living through graduation, let alone this summer or next fall.† His arms wrapped around me again. â€Å"No one is going to hurt you. You have all the time in the world.† I sighed. â€Å"I'm mailing the contents of my bank account to Alaska tomorrow. It's all the alibi I need. It's far enough away that Charlie won't expect a visit until Christmas at the earliest. And I'm sure I'll think of some excuse by then. You know,† I teased halfheartedly, â€Å"this whole secrecy and deception thing is kind of a pain.† Edward's expression hardened. â€Å"It gets easier. After a few decades, everyone you know is dead. Problem solved.† I flinched. â€Å"Sorry, that was harsh.† I stared down at the big white envelope, not seeing it. â€Å"But still true.† â€Å"If I get this resolved, whatever it is we're dealing with, will you please consider waiting?† â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Always so stubborn.† â€Å"Yep.† The washing machine thumped and stuttered to a halt. â€Å"Stupid piece of junk,† I muttered as I pulled away from him. I moved the one small towel that had unbalanced the otherwise empty machine, and started it again. â€Å"This reminds me,† I said. â€Å"Could you ask Alice what she did with my stuff when she cleaned my room? I can't find it anywhere.† He looked at me with confused eyes. â€Å"Alice cleaned your room?† â€Å"Yeah, I guess that's what she was doing. When she came to get my pajamas and pillow and stuff to hold me hostage.† I glowered at him briefly. â€Å"She picked up everything that was lying around, my shirts, my socks, and I don't know where she put them.† Edward continued to look confused for one short moment, and then, abruptly, he was rigid. â€Å"When did you notice your things were missing?† â€Å"When I got back from the fake slumber party. Why?† â€Å"I don't think Alice took anything. Not your clothes, or your pillow. The things that were taken, these were things you'd worn . . . and touched . . . and slept on?† â€Å"Yes. What is it, Edward?† His expression was strained. â€Å"Things with your scent.† â€Å"Oh!† We stared into each others eyes for a long moment. â€Å"My visitor,† I muttered. â€Å"He was gathering traces . . . evidence. To prove that he'd found you?† â€Å"Why?† I whispered. â€Å"I don't know. But, Bella, I swear I will find out. I will.† â€Å"I know you will,† I said, laying my head against his chest. Leaning there, I felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the number. â€Å"Just the person I need to talk to,† he murmured, and then he flipped it open. â€Å"Carlisle, I -† He broke off and listened, his face taut with concentration for a few minutes. â€Å"I'll check it out. Listen . . .† He explained about my missing things, but from the side I was hearing, it sounded like Carlisle had no insights for us. â€Å"Maybe I'll go . . . ,† Edward said, trailing off as his eyes drifted toward me. â€Å"Maybe not. Don't let Emmett go alone, you know how he gets. At least ask Alice keep an eye on things. We'll figure this out later.† He snapped the phone shut. â€Å"Where's the paper?† he asked me. â€Å"Um, I'm not sure. Why?† â€Å"I need to see something. Did Charlie already throw it out?† â€Å"Maybe. . . .† Edward disappeared. He was back in half a second, new diamonds in his hair, a wet newspaper in his hands. He spread it out on the table, his eyes scanning quickly across the headlines. He leaned in, intent on something he was reading, one finger tracing passages that interested him most. â€Å"Carlisle's right . . . yes . . . very sloppy. Young and crazed? Or a death wish?† he muttered to himself. I went to peek over his shoulder. The headline of the Seattle Times read: â€Å"Murder Epidemic Continues – Police Have No New Leads.† It was almost the same story Charlie had been complaining about a few weeks ago – the big-city violence that was pushing Seattle up the national murder hot-spot list. It wasn't exactly the same story, though. The numbers were a lot higher. â€Å"It's getting worse,† I murmured. He frowned. â€Å"Altogether out of control. This can't be the work of just one newborn vampire. What's going on? It's as if they've never heard of the Volturi. Which is possible, I guess. No one has explained the rules to them . . . so who is creating them, then?† â€Å"The Volturi?† I repeated, shuddering. â€Å"This is exactly the kind of thing they routinely wipe out – immortals who threaten to expose us. They just cleaned up a mess like this a few years ago in Atlanta, and it hadn't gotten nearly this bad. They will intervene soon, very soon, unless we can find some way to calm the situation. I'd really rather they didn't come to Seattle just now. As long as they're this close . . . they might decide to check on you.† I shuddered again. â€Å"What can we do?† â€Å"We need to know more before we can decide that. Perhaps if we can talk to these young ones, explain the rules, it can be resolved peacefully.† He frowned, like he didn't think the chances of that were good. â€Å"We'll wait until Alice has an idea of what's going on. . . . We don't want to step in until it's absolutely necessary. After all, it's not our responsibility. But it's good we have Jasper,† he added, almost to himself. â€Å"If we are dealing with newborns, he'll be helpful.† â€Å"Jasper? Why?† Edward smiled darkly. â€Å"Jasper is sort of an expert on young vampires.† â€Å"What do you mean, an expert?† â€Å"You'll have to ask him – the story is involved.† â€Å"What a mess,† I mumbled. â€Å"It does feel that way, doesn't it? Like it's coming at us from all sides these days.† He sighed. â€Å"Do you ever think that your life might be easier if you weren't in love with me?† â€Å"Maybe. It wouldn't be much of a life, though.† â€Å"For me,† he amended quietly. â€Å"And now, I suppose,† he continued with a wry smile, â€Å"you have something you want to ask me?† I stared at him blankly. â€Å"I do?† â€Å"Or maybe not.† He grinned. â€Å"I was rather under the impression that you'd promised to ask my permission to go to some kind of werewolf soire tonight.† â€Å"Eavesdropping again?† He grinned. â€Å"Just a bit, at the very end.† â€Å"Well, I wasn't going to ask you anyway. I figured you had enough to stress about.† He put his hand under my chin, and held my face so that he could read my eyes. â€Å"Would you like to go?† â€Å"It's no big thing. Don't worry about it.† â€Å"You don't have to ask my permission, Bella. I'm not your father – thank heaven for that. Perhaps you should ask Charlie, though.† â€Å"But you know Charlie will say yes.† â€Å"I do have a bit more insight into his probable answer than most people would, it's true.† I just stared at him, trying to understand what he wanted, and trying to put out of my mind the yearning I felt to go to La Push so that I wouldn't be swayed by my own wishes. It was stupid to want to go hang out with a bunch of big idiot wolf-boys right now when there was so much that was frightening and unexplained going on. Of course, that was exactly why I wanted to go. I wanted to escape the death threats, for just a few hours . . . to be the less-mature, more-reckless Bella who could laugh it off with Jacob, if only briefly. But that didn't matter. â€Å"Bella,† Edward said. â€Å"I told you that I was going to be reasonable and trust your judgment. I meant that. If you trust the werewolves, then I'm not going to worry about them.† â€Å"Wow,† I said, as I had last night. â€Å"And Jacob's right – about one thing, anyway – a pack of werewolves ought to be enough to protect even you for one evening.† â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Of course. Only . . .† I braced myself. â€Å"I hope you won't mind taking a few precautions? Allowing me to drive you to the boundary line, for one. And then taking a cell phone, so that I'll know when to pick you up?† â€Å"That sounds . . . very reasonable.† â€Å"Excellent.† He smiled at me, and I could see no trace of apprehension in his jewel-like eyes. To no one's surprise, Charlie had no problem at all with me going to La Push for a bonfire. Jacob crowed with undisguised exultation when I called to give him the news, and he seemed eager enough to embrace Edward's safety measures. He promised to meet us at the line between territories at six. I had decided, after a short internal debate, that I would not sell my motorcycle. I would take it back to La Push where it belonged and, when I no longer needed it anymore . . . well, then, I would insist that Jacob profit from his work somehow. He could sell it or give it to a friend. It didn't matter to me. Tonight seemed like a good opportunity to return the bike to Jacob's garage. As gloomy as I was feeling about things lately, every day seemed like a possible last chance. I didn't have time to procrastinate any task, no matter how minor. Edward only nodded when I explained what I wanted, but I thought I saw a flicker of consternation in his eyes, and I knew he was no happier about the idea of me on a motorcycle than Charlie was. I followed him back to his house, to the garage where I'd left the bike. It wasn't until I pulled the truck in and got out that I realized the consternation might not be entirely about my safety this time. Next to my little antique motorcycle, overshadowing it, was another vehicle. To call this other vehicle a motorcycle hardly seemed fair, since it didn't seem to belong to the same family as my suddenly shabby- looking bike. It was big and sleek and silver and – even totally motionless – it looked fast. â€Å"What is that?† â€Å"Nothing,† Edward murmured. â€Å"It doesn't look like nothing.† Edward's expression was casual; he seemed determined to blow it off. â€Å"Well, I didn't know if you were going to forgive your friend, or he you, and I wondered if you would still want to ride your bike anyway. It sounded like it was something that you enjoyed. I thought I could go with you, if you wished.† He shrugged. I stared at the beautiful machine. Beside it, my bike looked like a broken tricycle. I felt a sudden wave of sadness when I realized that this was not a bad analogy for the way I probably looked next to Edward. â€Å"I wouldn't be able to keep up with you,† I whispered. Edward put his hand under my chin and pulled my face around so that he could see it straight on. With one finger, he tried to push the corner of my mouth up. â€Å"I'd keep pace with you, Bella.† â€Å"That wouldn't be much fun for you.† â€Å"Of course it would, if we were together.† I bit my lip and imagined it for a moment. â€Å"Edward, if you thought I was going too fast or losing control of the bike or something, what would you do?† He hesitated, obviously trying to find the right answer. I knew the truth: he'd find some way to save me before I crashed. Then he smiled. It looked effortless, except for the tiny defensive tightening of his eyes. â€Å"This is something you do with Jacob. I see that now.† â€Å"It's just that, well, I don't slow him down so much, you know. I could try, I guess. . . .† I eyed the silver motorcycle doubtfully. â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Edward said, and then he laughed lightly. â€Å"I saw Jasper admiring it. Perhaps it's time he discovered a new way to travel. After all, Alice has her Porsche now.† â€Å"Edward, I -â€Å" He interrupted me with a quick kiss. â€Å"I said not to worry. But would you do something for me?† â€Å"Whatever you need,† I promised quickly. He dropped my face and leaned over the far side of the big motorcycle, retrieving something he had stashed there. He came back with one object that was black and shapeless, and another that was red and easily identifiable. â€Å"Please?† he asked, flashing the crooked smile that always destroyed my resistance. I took the red helmet, weighing it in my hands. â€Å"I'll look stupid.† â€Å"No, you'll look smart. Smart enough not to get yourself hurt.† He threw the black thing, whatever it was, over his arm and then took my face in his hands. â€Å"There are things between my hands right now that I can't live without. You could take care of them.† â€Å"Okay, fine. What's that other thing?† I asked suspiciously. He laughed and shook out some kind of padded jacket. â€Å"It's a riding jacket. I hear road rash is quite uncomfortable, not that I would know myself.† He held it out for me. With a deep sigh, I flipped my hair back and stuffed the helmet on my head. Then I shoved my arms through the sleeves of the jacket. He zipped me in, a smile playing around the corners of his lips, and took a step back. I felt bulky. â€Å"Be honest, how hideous do I look?† He took another step back and pursed his lips. â€Å"That bad, huh?† I muttered. â€Å"No, no, Bella. Actually . . .† he seemed to be struggling for the right word. â€Å"You look . . . sexy.† I laughed out loud. â€Å"Right.† â€Å"Very sexy, really.† â€Å"You are just saying that so that I'll wear it,† I said. â€Å"But that's okay. You're right, it's smarter.† He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. â€Å"You're silly. I suppose that's part of your charm. Though, I'll admit it, this helmet does have its drawbacks.† And then he pulled the helmet off so that he could kiss me. As Edward drove me toward La Push a little while later, I realized that this unprecedented situation felt oddly familiar. It took me a moment of thought to pinpoint the source of the dj vu. â€Å"You know what this reminds me of?† I asked. â€Å"It's just like when I was a kid and Rene would pass me off to Charlie for the summer. I feel like a seven-year-old.† Edward laughed. I didn't mention it out loud, but the biggest difference between the two circumstances was that Rene and Charlie had been on better terms. About halfway to La Push, we rounded the corner and found Jacob leaning against the side of the red Volkswagen he'd built for himself out of scraps. Jacob's carefully neutral expression dissolved into a smile when I waved from the front seat. Edward parked the Volvo thirty yards away. â€Å"Call me whenever you're ready to come home,† he said. â€Å"And I'll be here.† â€Å"I won't be out late,† I promised. Edward pulled the bike and my new gear out of the trunk of his car – I'd been quite impressed that it had all fit. But it wasn't so hard to manage when you were strong enough to juggle full-sized vans, let alone small motorcycles. Jacob watched, making no move to approach, his smile gone and his dark eyes indecipherable. I tucked the helmet under my arm and threw the jacket across the seat. â€Å"Do you have it all?† Edward asked. â€Å"No problem,† I assured him. He sighed and leaned toward me. I turned my face up for a goodbye peck, but Edward took me by surprise, fastening his arms tightly around me and kissing me with as much enthusiasm as he had in the garage – before long, I was gasping for air. Edward laughed quietly at something, and then let me go. â€Å"Goodbye,† he said. â€Å"I really do like the jacket.† As I turned away from him, I thought I saw a flash of something in his eyes that I wasn't supposed to see. I couldn't tell for sure what it was exactly. Worry, maybe. For a second I thought it was panic. But I was probably just making something out of nothing, as usual. I could feel his eyes on my back as I pushed my bike toward the invisible vampire-werewolf treaty line to meet Jacob. â€Å"What's all that?† Jacob called to me, his voice wary, scrutinizing the motorcycle with an enigmatic expression. â€Å"I thought I should put this back where it belongs,† I told him. He pondered that for one short second, and then his wide smile stretched across his face. I knew the exact point that I was in werewolf territory because Jacob shoved away from his car and loped quickly over to me, closing the distance in three long strides. He took the bike from me, balanced it on the kickstand, and grabbed me up in another vice-tight hug. I heard the Volvo's engine growl, and I struggled to get free. â€Å"Cut it out, Jake!† I gasped breathlessly. He laughed and set me down. I turned to wave goodbye, but the silver car was already disappearing around the curve in the road. â€Å"Nice,† I commented, allowing some acid to leak into my voice. His eyes widened in false innocence. â€Å"What?† â€Å"He's being pretty dang pleasant about this; you don't need to push your luck.† He laughed again, louder than before – he found what I'd said very funny indeed. I tried to see the joke as he walked around the Rabbit to hold my door open for me. â€Å"Bella,† he finally said – still chuckling – as he shut the door behind me, â€Å"you can't push what you don't have.†

History and Memory Essay

The interrelationship of history and memory show that each is individually limited- memory presents limited perspective while history presents limited account- this conflicting nature ensures that without considering both we have a less reliable history. This concept is portrayed in the prescribed text â€Å"The fiftieth gate† by Mark Baker that involves an individual’s journey into the past to reconstruct his parent’s experiences. Baker’s explores the idea that both history and memory are essential to validate, illuminate and add emotion and colour to the other in order to ultimately form a true representation of history. Through the study of this text one can come to understand that the ultimate role of history is to find self-identity and unlock the barriers of the past. Memory is shaped by and composed of individual emotions and self-reflections; as a result it is influenced by bias and is highly subjective. Therefore memory only provides one bias and subjective perspective of history, making the representation of history to be less reliable and limited. This is portrayed in the line â€Å"It was cold, winter, we had winter boots on, the ones with money sewn inside. He says it was cold. Winter. But it was warm. Autumn†. Here the use of direct speech engages the audience into Yossl’s situation. The audience is then able to realise that the experiences of fear, torment and paranoia that Yossl went through in the holocaust has shaped and influenced his memory. As a result his perspective of history is less reliable and thus highly limited. This is portrayed in the line â€Å"I remember this exactly like yesterday: there was a church with some hills†¦can you see my legs through there? Here through the use of a narrative device, an interview, Baker engages the audience’s attention through the use of first person language and direct speech. This then conveys the idea that memory is limited in representing history because it is influenced by individual experiences that will change their perspective of history. In addition the spontaneous responses add a personal sense to further emphasize the limitation of memory that it can fail at any time. History is shaped by collective memory, providing a common representation of an event, personality or situation. As a result the representation of history is less reliable because it does not account for the views and perspectives of those that are a minority or have been forgotten. Baker uses a wide range of textual features to communicate to the audience how documented evidence paints a picture of the past. The use of archival documents, letters, school reports, council reports and Yiddish and German lullabies engage the reader but also adds a sense of authencity and historical presence. However through Baker’s self-journey in the book, the audience is able to realise that documented evidence cannot account for all stories, this is especially seen with Genia’s story of the holocaust. This is explored in the line â€Å"does history remember more than memory?†¦ I only recognise suffering in numbers and lists and not in the laments and pleas of a human being, of a mother, screaming for acknowledgment† The use of a rhetorical question builds suspense as the audience realises that the persona has come to a stage of realisation where Baker has understood that memory is just as important as the documented evidence that validates it. Documented evidence is able to validate as well as illuminate memory, while memory adds self-emotions and reflections to fill the gaps of documented evidence. In collaboration they create a more reliable and truthful history. Baker uses archival documents, school reports, lullabies, council reports and letters to illuminate hidden fragments of his parent’s memory. This is shown in the line â€Å"I thrust his report card under his eyes and command him to read. He obeys, like an intimidated school child†¦He smothers an involuntary laugh, hiding the thoughts that lie behind it. † Baker through the use of a simile compares his father to a child. This conveys the idea that the documented evidence has allowed Yossl to step back into his youth and bring forward the significant memories of his past. In addition the use of emotive and descriptive language through â€Å"Laughing† and â€Å"intimidated† creates a warm and personal atmosphere to emphasises the idea to the audience of how memory can add emotions to documented evidence, and thus together to create a more reliable and truthful history. Together both documented evidence and memory allow for an â€Å"exchange of pasts† to create a more reliable, valid and truthful history. Through this Baker has shown the interplay of history and memory. Baker has shown that the importance of the interplay of history and memory is to create a reliable history allowing one to explore the recreation of the past to make sense of who they are, where they are and the journey they have gone through. In â€Å"The fiftieth gate† the journey into the past of his parents has allowed Baker to undergo a self-journey of learning. At first Baker observed the past of his parents with an historian point of view, seeking documented evidence to validate and make true his parent’s memory. However the experiences with the past of his mother, made Baker realise the importance of memory in the representation of history. This is shown in the juxtaposition of the line â€Å"His was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to anyone† with the line â€Å"What are these papers anyway except echoes of the past, dark shadows without screams, without smells, without fear†. The juxtaposition of the lines shows the change in attitude of Baker as he realises the importance of memory in the representation of history. The use of emotive language such as dark shadows† creates a dark atmosphere to emphasise the anger and torment he feels because of his ignorance to listen to his Mother’s story of the holocaust. Baker has used a circular structure to convey the idea that the journey into history and memory is a circular one. This is demonstrated in â€Å"The fiftieth gate† through the repetition of the line â€Å"It always begins in blackness, until the first light illuminates the hidden fragment of memory† at the beginning and end of the book. This conveys the idea that the journey will allow for greater insight and understanding of your past and yourself. This will further inspire a self-journey of change and understanding. This has been shown through the changing attitude of Baker himself in the novel. This is demonstrated through the juxtaposition of the lines â€Å"His was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to anyone† with the line â€Å"What are these papers anyway except echoes of the past, dark shadows without screams, without smells, without fear†. This conveys that at first observed the past of his parents with an historian point of view, seeking documented evidence to validate and make true his parent’s memory. However the experiences with the past of his mother, made Baker realise the importance of memory in the representation of history. The use of emotive language such as dark shadows† creates a dark atmosphere to emphasise the anger and torment he feels because of his ignorance to listen to his Mother’s story of the holocaust.

assholes on crack essays

assholes on crack essays If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!! If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!! If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!!If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!!If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!!If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!!If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with submitting your paper. Teachers have no right to get upset with you for publishing your work. IT'S YOURS!!!If you want to be given credit for your work, and you should!!! Please include your name and e-mail address. There is nothing wrong with sub...

Background market and strategies of the nissin group business essay

Background market and strategies of the nissin group business essay Through the evaluation of the background, market situation and business strategies of Nissin Group, this paper provides the explanation on why Nissin instant noodles have achieved a fast development performance in the instant noodles business in Hong Kong The study of Five Forces and PESTEL analyses will lead to the understanding on how the macro-environment and micro-environment affect Nissin performance its business direction and strategy. A further study of the results from the perspective of an internal competence analysis to the results from the Five Forces and PESTEL will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Nissin. These findings will then tell Nissin of what needs to be minimized, eliminated, and to reduce or neutralize risks. All these findings will add up the reasons to justify how Nissin sustains its market leader position in Hong Kong. Suggestions on improvement and implementation of corporate strategy will also be elaborated. 1o. Introduction Intrepid Japanese entrepreneur named Momofoku Ando established Nissin Foods around the middle of the 20th century with the name Chukosasa Co., Ltd. Foreseeing that Japanese society was being economically and socially reengineered toward production speed and efficiency, he also sought to reengineer the Japanese diet in response. His answer to the requisite of speed exerted and demanded of the modern Japanese was simple – the instant noodle. The invention revolutionized the food industry not only in Japan but also throughout the world. Now Nissin Foods, produce not only instant ramen noodles but also fresh and pre-packaged frozen food, and meals-ready-to-eat including cereals and spaghetti. But noodles remained the primary product draw. Mr. Ando stayed ahead of the competitive pack with remarkable innovations. In 1963, he introduced into the market the ramen Yakisoba, which had a separate flavoring packet. A decade later, Momofoku Ando invented cup noodles and in 1984, Nissin Foods established in Hong Kong (Nissin Foods Holdings, 2010). What has been Nissin’s strategy to address the various forces acting upon the instant food industry? How valid and viable would this strategy still be in an age of high technology and rapid global integration? And now, lets start to know the direct key stakeholders in Hong Kong. Management of Nissin – The Management receives strong support from Parent company who has made the sustainability much easier for a stronger market share. Staff of Nissin – They are the executors of the business. Staff would be happy to work for Nissin if the business is stable and with continuous growth. Hong Kong consumers – the market share is large amongst the younger generations and white collars as they accept new trendy food, especially from Japan. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) of Hong Kong Government – the Government has to control the types of incoming food products for consumption, as a statutory body, FEHD will govern the quality of food items importing to Hong Kong. Hong Kong Consumer Council – it regulates the selling of consumer goods to the public in a fair trade practice. By supports of academic references, there will be a careful analysis of macro-environment and micro-environment undertaken by using Five Forces and PESTAL, plus a review of the internal analysis by strategic capabilities. The outcomes from external and internal environment analyses will be combined in a SWOT analysis. From the results of this analysis conclusion on overall business strategy, some improvement or implementation can be drawn through the methods of Porter’s Generic Strategies, Ansoff’s matrix and organic method.

Ethics in Negotiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics in Negotiation - Essay Example It is usually an ‘anything that sells’ approach that is adopted by such sellers. Sellers tend to arbitrarily decide on prices since merchandise is acquired from a plethora of sources with no objective means of deciding on price (Kugel, 2013). They thus pitch a price according to the profile of the customer who visits, based on personal discernments about their willingness and ability to pay for the items. Most customers are however aware of this fact, and the more affluent ones quickly reject the initial price as it borders on exploitation. Hence, bargaining becomes necessary to avoid being taken advantage of by crafty retailers practicing price discrimination to maximize profits. With stalls set up very close to one another, a customer can look through the catalog of a number of vendors whilst standing in one of them. He can thus be aware of the quality of items offered by other vendors, which if greater, can be used as leverage against the current one. Vendors are typically reluctant to let go of customers once they start negotiations, and threats about opting to visit other stalls are extremely effective in getting them to reduce their asking price. They are aware that customers benefit from choice and selection, and if they do not comply with their reasonable wishes, another vendor will. A major factor behind the existence and prevalence of bargaining in flea markets is that of information asymmetry. In a normal market, a customer is aware about the details of merchandise such as the manufacturer, area of production, quality etc. This is not the case with flea markets, where customers are aware that they may be getting anything from a good quality reject of a top notch brand to a used up, ready for scrap item. Sellers in most cases know more about the products origins etc., and can thus often fool customers in believing that the product may be of higher quality than what