Light in August by William Fau essays

Light in August by William Fau essays In the novel by William Faulkner, Light in August there is alienation in the novel. The alienation occurs with Joe Christmas. He is a stranger that comes into the town of Jefferson with a unkonwn past. Prior to his arrival, he went under the name of Lucas Burch. Whne Joe Christmas arrives at Jefferson, he alienates himeself from almost everybody for about 2 years. His past has taught him to do so, with all the bad things that We get extended interior monologues from Christmas, and the story of his past occupies a third or more of the book. Despite the amount of information provided, Christmas remains hard to comprehend. It isn't that he is not what he seems to be. Rather, he "seems" to be many things, but the reader can never be quite certain which of these are Christmas' tragedy is that he does not know himself what he is. He seems certain that he is part "nigger" but there is no reliable evidence that this is true. Certainly, he looks white. Christmas moves back and forth between white society and black society. Every time he does so, he reveals himself as an outsider. In white society he exposes his own "nigger" blood; in black society he portrays himself as white. When he does so, he expects a violent reaction from which he has provoked. Being both black and white he cannot truly be a part of either society. Nor can he simply deny this dichotomy. Rather, as quoted on page 69, "his awareness of this dichotomy makes him take up the role of antagonist in all situations". He is born into a social system which has defined the categories of white and black, and has established rituals for dealing with any behavior by either, which depicts an image to the reader of his alienation and difference he is from the rest of the population in Jefferson.. Joe believes in these categories and rituals. When a white prostitute is not outraged by his Negro blood, he beats her. He expects her ...

Exploring the Academic Credibility of Investigative Journalism

Exploring the Academic Credibility of Investigative Journalism Figure out what an investigative journalism is and how it is connected with the academic credibility. Hashtag: #SwissLeaks World of Superficiality Journalism in its original form is a separate world and far removed from academic sphere. The reason is that superficial thought and research are contradictory attributes of a scholarly article that by nature are systematic, in-depth, and well-structured pieces of writing. An academic complaint article is normally coherent, discusses all sides of the issue, makes use of scientifically acquired facts, properly acknowledged its sources, peer-reviewed, written and presented in technical language for informed readers. In contrast, popular journalistic publications such as newspapers, magazines, and others are mostly for the lay audience, thus informal, skimmed, and speculative. They are sometimes sketchy and one-sided, no author, and lack the credibility of scholarly works. However, the form of journalism responsible for #SwissLeaks or expose of secret billion Swiss bank accounts allegedly owned by HSBC clients seems unusual and more academic in nature than traditional journalism. The reporters that divulged secret bank accounts of known personalities (some may be facing tax invasion charges afterward) are practitioners of Investigative Journalism, an academic compliant form of journalism. This is the same form of journalism (best known as â€Å"Watchdog† journalism) responsible for unmasking corruptions, abuse of power, environmental and health scandals, and publishing of well-researched and written news articles in recent years. Academic Intellectual in Politics Academic Credibility of Investigative Journalism The definition of Investigative Journalism varies from author to author but it is commonly about a journalist’s own initiative to look into the significance of the issue, conduct a comprehensive and exhaustive research, make detailed information public, and inspire reform. Creating an outline of Investigative Journalism features found in literature would give us a form of journalistic undertaking that is truth-seeking, objective, systematic, in-depth, facts and evidence oriented, and consistent. Similarly, a careful analysis of academic research requirements will give us an idea that a certain result of a certain research must add value to existing knowledge. This new knowledge must be acquired through scientific methodologies, ethical, analytical, synthesized, and presented in succinct style and appropriate terminology. In other words, academic research is an objective, systematic, in-depth, and original piece of writing. Given that Investigative Journalism reports or articles are objective in its quest for truth, systematically and thoroughly researched, structured and presented with supporting facts and evidence, then they must be compliant to the  academic standard. The problem, however, is the fact that their method of data gathering will not pass academic ethical scrutiny. Certainly, scientific data gathering in academic sphere is never about #SwissLeaks or systematically stealing data from anyone. In fact, an academic research is about consent and confidentiality. It should be reactive to the welfare of data sources. There is no doubt that investigative journalists and academic intellectuals both seek after the truth. In fact, they are both systematic and support their claims with facts. However, they strangely vary in their values and ethical practices. For instance, although generating and promoting new knowledge is critical, the academic sphere gives more weight to the transparency and integrity of the research process. It is rational but passionate and sensitive to partiality, exploitation, and morality of its quest for truth.

Death Dying - Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Death Dying - Final Exam - Essay Example My negative perception of death possibly roots back to the folklore I have learned as a child as well as how the media portrays death as something gruesome and painful. Religious beliefs are also factors that contributed to my personal definition of death. Uncertainty on my destination in life after death and the fear that I may be destined to the lake fire shaped my insight of death. After studying the readings and conducting further research on the topic, I have learned that death does not solely pertain to the expiration of the flesh but may also mean spiritual death. Worrying about death of the soul is more of a concern than the death of our flesh. Though our flesh dies, our souls will continue to exist, it is not just death of the flesh that we should worry about but more of the spiritual death or decadence. As my outlook on death changed, my notion about birth remained to be based on the fact that we came from a Creator and after dying we will go back to our Creator. The course about death, dying and religion taught me as well that life is truly in the decisive hands of the Almighty. In examining the teachings of different religions pertaining to death, I have encountered some obscure beliefs and practices while some are unnecessary for the dead since the people left behind by the deceased cannot make amends for the mistakes committed by the dead as with the practices of the Chinese and Catholics (Handbook of Death and Dying 62). The differences and similarities on religious practices on death prodded me to research more on the subject in the Biblical perspective. The Bible speaks of two kinds of death, the physical and the spiritual. The physical death pertains to the state when the body ceases to exist (Lizza 37) while spiritual death concerns the dissipation of morality and corruption of the human soul. When an individual dies, the soul cannot come back and do the usual things a living human performs or haunt the living (Soriano, â€Å"Adam Died Long Before His Flesh Did†). This is contrary to beliefs of many countries and cultures where the souls of the dead people were thought to linger in this world and perform daily tasks as if they are still alive. Another popular belief in cultures is the notion that souls of dead people immediately goes to a specific destination such as hell, heaven and purgatory or limbo. Biblically, purgatory and limbo do not exist. Purgatory is a place where souls that are not fit for heaven or hell while Limbo is where babies not baptized by the Catholic Church end up when after they die. The centuries-old belief of limbo was later on declared null by the previous Pope Benedict XVI (Soriano, â€Å"Learn a Little Mathematics†). These additional readings has somehow changed my views and reduced my fear of death and dying because some of the vague destinations after dying such as Limbo and Purgatory that causes uncertainties are eliminated. The various approaches to death and dying made me r ealize that I should live sensibly by not wasting time on hating, arguing and finding other people's faults. After reading The Death of Ivan Illych, I have learned that I should be spending my life building good relationships with people and extend help to those who are in need. Tolstoy’s character was not well-received by the people he worked with thus the news of his death was not devastating (Tolstoy 12) I have also learned that it would be best to alleviate the pain and sufferings of

Tiger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tiger - Essay Example Tiger shows how, in the modern world, as individuals get older, they want their children close, while at the same time their children wish to live their own lives independent of their parents. In this story, Essie is depicted as a mother who wants only the best for her daughter and she does all that she can to ensure that Marian not only marries an Indian man but also settles down close to her (Jones 2). However, this does not happen and Marian instead ends up marrying Daniel, a man from far off America who Essie does not approve of because of his mild demeanor as well as his not being Catholic. This is a scenario which is often played out in many families as mothers, believing that they know what is best for their children, tend not to approve of their choices in life and instead choose to interfere in their lives. This creates a situation where it is difficult for mothers and these children to get along because it seems that each is living firm in their own beliefs. Such an incident has taken place in my family where an aunt of mine did not approve of her son’s choosing to marry a woman from another country and his decision to settle in his wife’s homeland . This situation brought a lot of friction between my aunt and her son and it has gone on for more than a decade now with none of them becoming flexible in their position. My aunt took an instant dislike to her daughter in-law and whenever they visited, she all but ignored her. However, despite my aunt’s dislike for her son’s wife, she adores their three children to such an extent that she would do anything for them. She always waits anxiously for them to visit every year so that she can spend her time with them. It is these children who have ensured that the connection between my aunt and cousin does not die because their being born made it possible for the latter to at least live on good terms for their sake. In

The HTML page Essay Example for Free

The HTML page Essay HTML which stands for Hyper Text Markup Language is a scripting language which is primarily used for building web pages (W3C. org, 2007). The language is an interpreted language and used extensively to build a standard website. The web pages are linked together using the features of the HTML alone where it creates hyperlinks to join pages. All these combined web pages are hosted to the internet and is registered under a domain that facilitates it to have an Internet Protocol address to access it over the internet domain. The HTML can be explained as follows: †¢ Hyper Text – It usually implies several variants of text that can be used for displaying information over the web page to the internet users. It can also embed objects like pictures, static and moving graphics and video in the web pages using the options available for its representation. †¢ Markup Language – It is called so as it belongs to the family of markup languages which puts or assigns tags to the text so that their representation is enhanced (W3Schools.com, 2007). For example, representing text in paragraphs, tables and others. Internet browsers use the HTML in a very unique manner. The process is as follows: †¢ To generate a web page, a request for the page requires to be made. The IP address or the domain name is typed in the address bar and pressed enter. †¢ The request now travels across the network and hits the nearest DNS (Domain naming service) server where the domain name is resolved. †¢ The web page request is done at this moment. †¢ The HTML page once fetched is interpreted by the browser and displayed in the browser using the tags specified. †¢ The page layout is according to the instructions in the HTML source. Internet browsers provide an excellent facility to interpret the HTML page with the specified instructions. References W3Schools. com (2007). Retrieved 10, November 2007 from http://www. w3schools. com/html/html_intro. asp. W3C. org (2007). Retrieved 10, November 2007 from http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/

British Imperialism and the Crisis in the Sudan Essay -- Darfur Region

British Imperialism and the Crisis in the Sudan Introduction One of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis is currently unfolding in the Darfur region of the Sudan. For the past 22 months, more than 70,000 Sudanese have been killed, and nearly 2 million people have fled their homes to neighboring countries. This paper attempts to explore this present day civil war and genocide taking place in the Sudan. This is an event of epic proportions that will have vast implications for the future of the country and the continent. Understanding the history of European colonialism in Africa, as focused through the lense of the Sudan, is the purpose of this paper. Primarily, the paper will analyze the history of European imperialism in the region of the Sudan, and attempt to understand how the British occupation of the country provided the framework and foundation for many of the problems today. Furthermore this paper will explore the implications that this genocide will have in the international realm of politics; the lack of media expos ure of such an horrific event is another avenue of exploration in this paper. In present day Sudan the country is divided across political and religious lines that are so deeply rooted that a peace resolution does not seem likely in the near future. The world is simply waiting and hoping that the conflict will be resolved internally without aid from the outside world. The manner in which the world is responding to the conflict in the Sudan is indicative of the manner in which the world has always viewed Africa and its people. Dating back to as early the 1400s the world has always viewed the people of Africa as second-class citizens and have treated them as such. This mindset still p... ...aphy Anderson, G. Norman. Sudan in Crisis: The Failure of Democracy. Gainesville: University Press of Florida,1999. Khalid,Mansour. War and Peace in Sudan.London: Kegan Paul, 2003. Thomas, Graham F. Sudan: Struggle for Suvival. London: Darf Publishers Ltd., 1990. Voll, John O. Sudan: State and Society in Crisis. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991. The Economist. 31 July 2004. â€Å"Human Rights Watch.† http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/08/27/darfur9268.htm 27 August 2004. â€Å"Socialist Party.† http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/sep04/ â€Å"Oxfam News†.http://oxfam.ca/news/Sudan/Q&A2.htm. November 2004. â€Å"Socialist.net†.http://www.socialistworld.net/index2.html?/eng/2004/09/07sudan.html. â€Å"BBC News†.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm. â€Å"U.S. Department of State†.http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm. October 2004.

Bloodlines Chapter Three

THE DRIVE TO PALM SPRINGS WAS AGONY. I was exhausted from being dragged out of bed, and even when Keith took over the wheel, I couldn't fall asleep. I had too much on my mind: Zoe, my reputation, the mission at hand†¦. My thoughts spun in circles. I just wanted to fix all the problems in my life. Keith's driving did nothing to make me less anxious. I was also upset because my father hadn't let me say goodbye to my mom. He'd gone on and on about how we should just let her sleep, but I knew the truth. He was afraid that if she knew I was leaving, she'd try to stop us. She'd been furious after my last mission: I'd gone halfway around the world alone, only to be returned with no clue as to what my future held. My mom had thought the Alchemists had used me badly and had told my dad it was just as well they seemed to be done with me. I don't know if she really could've stood in the way of tonight's plans, but I didn't want to take my chances in case Zoe got sent instead of me. I certainly hadn't expected a warm and fuzzy farewell from him, but it felt strange leaving on such unsettled terms with my sister and mother. When dawn came, briefly turning the desert landscape of Nevada into a blazing sea of red and copper, I gave up on sleep altogether and decided to just power through. I bought a twenty-four-ounce cup of coffee from a gas station and assured Keith I could drive us the rest of the way. He gladly gave up the wheel, but rather than sleep, he bought coffee as well and chatted me up for the remaining hours. He was still going strong with his new we're-friends attitude, almost making me wish for his earlier animosity. I was determined not to give him any cause to doubt me, so I worked hard to smile and nod appropriately. It was kind of hard to do while constantly gritting my teeth. Some of the conversation wasn't so bad. I could handle business talk, and we had plenty of details to still work out. He told me all he knew about the school, and I ate up his description of my future home. Amberwood Preparatory School was apparently a prestigious place, and I idly wondered if maybe I could treat it as pretend college. By Alchemist standards, I knew all I needed for my job, but something in me always burned for more and more knowledge. I'd had to learn to content myself with my own reading and research, but still, college – or even just being around those who knew more and had something to teach me – had long been a fantasy of mine. As a â€Å"senior,† I would have off-campus privileges, and one of our first orders of business – after securing fake IDs – was to get me a car. Knowing I wouldn't be trapped at a boarding school made things a bit more bearable, even though it was obvious that half of Keith's enthusiasm for getting me my own transportation was to make sure I could shoulder any work that came along with the job. Keith also enlightened me about something I hadn't realized – but probably should have. â€Å"You and that Jill girl are being enrolled as sisters,† he said. â€Å"What?† It was a measure of my self-control that my hold on the car never wavered. Living with a vampire was one thing – but being related to one? â€Å"Why?† I demanded. I saw him shrug in my periphery. â€Å"Why not? It explains why you'll be around her so much – and is a good excuse for you to be roommates. Normally, the school doesn't pair students who are different ages, but†¦ well†¦ your ‘parents' promised a hefty donation that made them change their normal policy.† I was so stunned that I didn't even have my normal gut reaction to slap him when he concluded with his self-satisfied chuckle. I'd known we'd be living together†¦ but sisters? It was†¦ weird. No, not just that. Outlandish. â€Å"That's crazy,† I said at last, still too shocked to come up with a more eloquent response. â€Å"It's just on paper,† he said. True. But something about being cast as a vampire relative threw my whole order off. I prided myself on the way I'd learned to behave around vampires, but part of that came from the strict belief that I was an outsider, a business associate distinct and removed. Playacting as Jill's sister destroyed those lines. It brought about a familiarity that I wasn't sure I was ready for. â€Å"Living with one of them shouldn't be so bad for you,† Keith commented, drumming his fingers against the window in a way that put my nerves on edge. Something about the too-casual way he spoke made me think he was leading me into a trap. â€Å"You're used to it.† â€Å"Hardly,† I said, choosing my words carefully. â€Å"I was with them for a week at most. And actually, most of my time was spent with dhampirs.† â€Å"Same difference,† he replied dismissively. â€Å"If anything, the dhampirs are worse. They're abominations. Not human, but not full vampires. Products of unnatural unions.† I didn't respond right away and instead pretended to be deeply interested in the road ahead. What he said was true, by Alchemist teaching. I'd been raised believing that both races of vampires, Moroi and Strigoi, were dark and wrong. They needed blood to survive. What kind of person drank from another? It was disgusting, and just thinking about how I'd soon be ferrying Moroi to their feedings made me ill. But the dhampirs†¦ that was a trickier matter. Or at least, it was for me now. The dhampirs were half human and half vampire, created at a time when the two races had mingled freely. Over the centuries, vampires had pulled away from humans, and both of our races now agreed that those kinds of unions were taboo. The dhampir race had persisted against all odds, however, in spite of the fact that dhampirs couldn't reproduce with each other. They could with Moroi or humans, and plenty of Moroi were up to the task. â€Å"Right?† asked Keith. I realized he was staring at me, waiting for me to agree with him about dhampirs being abominations – or maybe he was hoping I would disagree. Regardless, I'd been quiet for too long. â€Å"Right,† I said. I mustered the standard Alchemist rhetoric. â€Å"In some ways, they're worse than the Moroi. Their race was never meant to exist.† â€Å"You scared me there for a second,† Keith said. I was watching the road but had a sneaking suspicion he'd just winked at me. â€Å"I thought you were going to defend them. I should've known better than to believe the stories about you. I can totally get why you'd want to gamble at the glory – but man, that had to have been harsh, trying to work with one of them.† I couldn't explain how once you'd spent a little time with Rose Hathaway, it was easy to forget she was a dhampir. Even physically, dhampirs and humans were virtually indistinguishable. Rose was so full of life and passion that sometimes she seemed more human than I was. Rose certainly wouldn't have meekly accepted this job with a simpering, â€Å"Yes, sir.† Not like me. Rose hadn't even accepted being locked in jail, with the weight of the Moroi government against her. Abe Mazur's blackmail had been a catalyst that spurred me to help her, but I'd also never believed that Rose had committed the murder they'd accused her of. That certainty, along with our fragile friendship, had driven me to break Alchemist rules to help Rose and her dhampir boyfriend, the formidable Dimitri Belikov, elude the authorities. Throughout it all, I'd watched Rose with a kind of wonder as she battled the world. I couldn't envy someone who wasn't human, but I could certainly envy her strength – and refusal to back down, no matter what. But again, I could hardly tell Keith any of that. And I still didn't believe for an instant, despite his sunny act, that he was suddenly okay with me coming along. I gave a small shrug. â€Å"I thought it was worth the risk.† â€Å"Well,† he said, seeing I wasn't going to offer anything more. â€Å"The next time you decide to go rogue with vampires and dhampirs, get a little backup so you don't get in as much trouble.† I scoffed. â€Å"I have no intention of going rogue again.† That, at least, was the truth. We reached Palm Springs late in the afternoon and got to work immediately with our tasks. I was dying for sleep by that point, and even Keith – despite his talkativeness – looked a little worn around the edges. But we'd gotten the word that Jill and her entourage were arriving tomorrow, leaving very little time to put the remaining details in place. A visit to Amberwood Prep revealed that my â€Å"family† was expanding. Apparently, the dhampir coming with Jill was enrolling as well and would be playing our brother. Keith was also going to be our brother. When I questioned that, he explained that we needed someone local to act as our legal guardian should Jill or any of us need to be pulled from school or granted some privilege. Since our fictitious parents lived out of state, getting results from him would be faster. I couldn't fault the logic, even though I found being related to him more repulsive than having dhampirs or vampires in the family. And that was saying a lot. Later on, a driver's license from a reputable fake ID maker declared that I was now Sydney Katherine Melrose, from South Dakota. We chose South Dakota because we figured the locals didn't see too many licenses from that state and wouldn't be able to spot any flaws in it. Not that I expected there to be. The Alchemists didn't associate with people who did second-rate work. I also liked the picture of Mount Rushmore on the license. It was one of the few places in the United States that I'd never been. The day wrapped up with what I had most been looking forward to: a trip to a car dealer. Keith and I did almost as much haggling with each other as we did with the salesman. I'd been raised to be practical and keep my emotions in check, but I loved cars. That was one of the few legacies I'd picked up from my mom. She was a mechanic, and some of my best childhood memories were of working in the garage with her. I especially had a weakness for sports cars and vintage cars, the kinds with big engines that I knew were bad for the environment – but that I guiltily loved anyway. Those were out of the question for this job, though. Keith argued that I needed something that could hold everyone, as well as any cargo – and that wouldn't attract a lot of attention. Once more, I conceded to his reasoning like a good little Alchemist. â€Å"But I don't see why it has to be a station wagon,† I told him. Our shopping had led us down to a new Subaru Outback that met most of his requirements. My car instincts told me the Subaru would do what I needed. It would handle well and had a decent engine, for what it was. And yet†¦ â€Å"I feel like a soccer mom,† I said. â€Å"I'm too young for that.† â€Å"Soccer moms drive vans,† Keith told me. â€Å"And there's nothing wrong with soccer.† I scowled. â€Å"Does it have to be brown, though?† It did, unless we wanted a used one. As much as I would've liked something in blue or red, the newness took precedence. My fastidious nature didn't like the idea of driving â€Å"someone else's† car. I wanted it to be mine – shiny, new, and clean. So, we made the deal, and I, Sydney Melrose, became the proud owner of a brown station wagon. I named it Latte, hoping my love of coffee would soon transfer to the car. Once our errands were done, Keith left me for his apartment in downtown Palm Springs. He offered to let me stay there as well, but I'd politely refused and gotten a hotel room, grateful for the Alchemists' deep pockets. Honestly, I would've paid with my own money to save me from sleeping under the same roof as Keith Darnell. I ordered a light dinner up to my room, relishing the alone time after all those hours in the car with Keith. Then I changed into pajamas and decided to call my mom. Even though I was glad to be free of my dad's disapproval for a while, I would miss having her around. â€Å"Those are good cars,† she told me after I began the call by explaining my trip to the dealership. My mother had always been a free spirit, which was an unlikely match for someone like my dad. While he'd been teaching me chemical equations, she'd showed me how to change my own oil. Alchemists didn't have to marry other Alchemists, but I was baffled by whatever forces had drawn my parents together. Maybe my father had been less uptight when he was younger. â€Å"I guess,† I said, knowing I sounded sullen. My mother was one of the few people I could be anything less than perfect or content around. She was a big advocate of letting your feelings out. â€Å"I think I'm just annoyed that I didn't have much say in it.† â€Å"Annoyed? I'm furious that he didn't even talk to me about it,† she huffed. â€Å"I can't believe he just smuggled you out like that! You're my daughter, not some commodity that he can just move around.† For a moment, my mother reminded me weirdly of Rose – both possessed that unflinching tendency to say what was on their minds. That ability seemed strange and exotic to me, but sometimes – when I thought about my own carefully controlled and reserved nature – I wondered if maybe I was the weird one. â€Å"He didn't know all the details,† I said, automatically defending him. With my father's temper, if my parents were mad at each other, then life at home would be unpleasant for Zoe – not to mention my mom. Better to ensure peace. â€Å"They hadn't told him everything.† â€Å"I hate them sometimes.† There was a growl in my mom's voice. â€Å"Sometimes I hate him too.† I wasn't sure what to say to that. I resented my father, sure, but he was still my father. A lot of the hard choices he made were because of the Alchemists, and I knew that no matter how stifled I felt sometimes, the Alchemists' job was important. Humans had to be protected from the existence of vampires. Knowing vampires existed would create a panic. Worse, it could drive some weak-willed humans into becoming slaves to the Strigoi in exchange for immortality and the eventual corruption of their souls. It happened more often than we liked to admit. â€Å"It's fine, Mom,† I said soothingly. â€Å"I'm fine. I'm not in trouble anymore, and I'm in the U.S. even.† Actually, I wasn't sure if the â€Å"trouble† part was really true, but I thought the latter would soothe her. Stanton had told me to keep our location in Palm Springs secret, but giving up that we were domestic wouldn't hurt too much and might make my mom think I had an easier job ahead of me than I likely did. She and I talked a little bit more before hanging up, and she told me she'd heard from my sister Carly. All was well with her at college, which I was relieved to hear. I wanted desperately to find out about Zoe as well but resisted asking to talk to her. I was afraid that if she got on the phone, I'd find out she was still mad at me. Or, worse, that she wouldn't speak to me at all. I went to bed feeling melancholy, wishing I could have poured out all my fears and insecurities to my mom. Wasn't that what normal mothers and daughters did? I knew she would've welcomed it. I was the one who had trouble letting myself go, too wrapped up in Alchemist secrets to be a normal teenager. After a long sleep, and with the morning sunlight streaming through my window, I felt a little better. I had a job to do, and having purpose shifted me out of feeling sorry for myself. I remembered that I was doing this for Zoe, for Moroi and humans alike. It allowed me to center myself and push my insecurities aside – at least, for now. I picked up Keith around noon and drove us outside of the city to meet Jill and the recluse Moroi who'd be helping us. Keith had a lot to say about the guy, whose name was Clarence Donahue. Clarence had lived in Palm Springs for three years, ever since the death of his niece in Los Angeles, which had apparently had quite a traumatic effect on the man. Keith had met him a couple of times on past jobs and kept making jokes about Clarence's tenuous grip on sanity. â€Å"He's a few pints short of a blood bank, you know?† Keith said, chuckling to himself. I bet he'd been waiting days to use that line. The jokes were in poor taste – and stupid to boot – but as we got closer and closer to Clarence's home, Keith eventually became very quiet and nervous. Something occurred to me. â€Å"How many Moroi have you met?† I asked as we pulled off the main road and turned into a long and winding driveway. The house was straight out of a Gothic movie, boxy and made of gray bricks that were completely at odds with most of the Palm Springs architecture we'd scene. The only reminder that we were in southern California was the ubiquitous palm trees surrounding the house. It was a weird juxtaposition. â€Å"Enough,† said Keith evasively. â€Å"I can handle being around them.† The confidence in his tone sounded forced. I realized that despite his brashness about this job, his comments on the Moroi and dhampir races, and his judgment of my actions, Keith was actually very, very uncomfortable with the idea of being around non-humans. It was understandable. Most Alchemists were. A large part of our job didn't even involve interacting with the vampiric world – it was the human world that needed tending. Records had to be covered up, witnesses bribed. The majority of Alchemists had very little contact with our subjects, meaning most Alchemists' knowledge came from the stories and teachings passed down through the families. Keith had said he'd met Clarence but made no mention of spending time with other Moroi or dhampirs – certainly not a group, like we were about to face. I was no more excited to hang around vampires than he was, but I realized it didn't scare me nearly as much as it once would have. Rose and her companions had given me a tough skin. I'd even been to the Moroi Royal Court, a place few Alchemists had ever visited. If I'd walked away from the heart of their civilization intact, I was certain I could handle whatever was inside this house. Admittedly, it would've been a little easier if Clarence's house didn't look so much like a creepy haunted manor from a horror movie. We walked up to the door, presenting a united front in our stylish, formal Alchemist attire. Whatever his faults, Keith cleaned up well. He wore khaki pants with a white button-up shirt and navy silk tie. The shirt had short sleeves, though I doubted that was helping much in the heat. It was early September, and the temperature had been pushing ninety when I left my hotel. I was equally hot in a brown skirt, tights, and a cap-sleeved blouse scattered with tan flowers. Belatedly, I realized we kind of matched. Keith lifted his hand to knock at the door, but it opened before he could do anything. I flinched, a bit unnerved despite the assurances I'd just given myself. The guy who opened the door looked just as surprised to see us. He held a cigarette pack in one hand and appeared as though he'd been heading outside to smoke. He paused and gave us a once-over. â€Å"So. Are you guys here to convert me or sell me siding?† The disarming comment was enough to help me shake off my anxiety. The speaker was a Moroi guy, a little older than me, with dark brown hair that had undoubtedly been painstakingly styled to look messy. Unlike Keith's ridiculously over-gelled attempts, this guy had actually done it in a way that looked good. Like all Moroi, he was pale and had a tall, lean build. Emerald green eyes studied us from a face that could have been sculpted by one of the classical artists I so admired. Shocked, I dismissed the comparison as soon as it popped into my head. This was a vampire, after all. It was ridiculous to admire him the way I would some hot human guy. â€Å"Mr. Ivashkov,† I said politely. â€Å"It's nice to see you again.† He frowned and studied me from his greater height. â€Å"I know you. How do I know you?† â€Å"We – † I started to say â€Å"met† but realized that wasn't quite right since we hadn't been formally introduced the last time I had seen him. He'd simply been present when Stanton and I had been hauled to the Moroi Court for questioning. â€Å"We ran into each other last month. At your Court.† Recognition lit his eyes. â€Å"Right. The Alchemist.† He thought for a moment and then surprised me when he pulled up my name. With everything else that had been going on when I was at the Moroi Court, I hadn't expected to make an impression. â€Å"Sydney Sage.† I nodded, trying not to look flustered at the recognition. Then I realized Keith had frozen up beside me. He'd claimed he could â€Å"handle† being around Moroi, but apparently, that meant staring gape-mouthed and not saying a word. Keeping a pleasant smile on, I said, â€Å"Keith, this is Adrian Ivashkov. Adrian, this is my colleague, Keith Darnell.† Adrian held out his hand, but Keith didn't shake it. Whether that was because Keith was still shell-shocked or because he simply didn't want to touch a vampire, I couldn't say. Adrian didn't seem to mind. He dropped his hand and took out a lighter, stepping past us as he did. He nodded toward the doorway. â€Å"They're waiting for you. Go on in.† Adrian leaned close to Keith's ear and spoke in an ominous voice. â€Å"If. You. Dare.† He poked Keith's shoulder and gave a â€Å"Muhahaha† kind of monster laugh. Keith nearly leapt ten feet in the air. Adrian chuckled and strolled off down a garden path, lighting his cigarette as he walked. I glared after him – though it had been kind of funny – and nudged Keith toward the door. â€Å"Come on,† I said. The coolness of air conditioning brushed against me. If nothing else, Keith seemed to have come alive. â€Å"What was that about?† he demanded as we stepped into the house. â€Å"He nearly attacked me!† I shut the door. â€Å"It was about you looking like an idiot. And he didn't do a thing to you. Could you have acted any more terrified? They know we don't like them, and you looked like you were ready to bolt.† Admittedly, I kind of liked seeing Keith caught off guard, but human solidarity left no question about which side I was on. â€Å"I did not,† argued Keith, though he was obviously embarrassed. We walked down a long hallway with dark wood floors and trim that seemed to absorb all light. â€Å"God, what is wrong with these people? Oh, I know. They aren't people.† â€Å"Hush,† I said, a bit shocked at the vehemence in his voice. â€Å"They're right in there. Can't you hear them?† Heavy French doors met us at the end of the hall. The glass was frosted and stained, obscuring what was inside, but a low murmur of voices could still be heard. I knocked on the door and waited until a voice called an entry. The anger on Keith's face vanished as the two of us exchanged brief, commiserating looks. This was it. The beginning. We stepped through. When I saw who was inside, I had to stop my jaw from dropping like Keith's had earlier. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. I'd mocked Keith for being afraid around vampires and dhampirs, but now, face-to-face with a group of them, I suddenly felt trapped. The walls threatened to close in on me, and all I could think about were fangs and blood. My world reeled – and not just because of the group's size. Abe Mazur was here. Breathe, Sydney. Breathe, I told myself. It wasn't easy, though. Abe represented a thousand fears for me, a thousand entanglements I'd gotten myself into. Slowly, my surroundings crystallized, and I regained control. Abe wasn't the only one here, after all, and I made myself focus on the others and ignore him. Three other people sat in the room with him, two of whom I recognized. The unknown, an elderly Moroi with thinning hair and a big white mustache, had to be our host, Clarence. â€Å"Sydney!† That was Jill Mastrano, her eyes lighting up with delight. I liked Jill, but I hadn't thought I'd made enough of an impression on the girl to warrant such a welcome. Jill almost looked like she would run up and hug me, and I prayed that she wouldn't. I didn't need Keith to see that. More importantly, I didn't need Keith reporting about that. Beside Jill was a dhampir, one I knew in the same way I knew Adrian – that is, I'd seen him but had never been introduced. Eddie Castile had also been present when I was questioned at the Royal Court and, if memory served, had been in some trouble of his own. For all intents and purposes, he looked human, with an athletic body and face that had spent a lot of time in the sun. His hair was a sandy brown, and his hazel eyes regarded me and Keith in a friendly – but wary – way. That's how it was with guardians. They were always on alert, always watching for the next threat. In some ways, I found it reassuring. My survey of the room soon returned me to Abe, who had been watching and seemed amused by my obvious avoidance of him. A sly smile spread over his features. â€Å"Why, Miss Sage,† he said slowly. â€Å"Aren't you going to say hello to me?†

There’s more to life than meets the eye

Mary knows everything about the color, red, except to experience the experience of seeing it for the first time. Would she sigh when sees red? Would she hug the person standing next to her out of joy, because she is seeing the color red, a beautiful color, for the first time? Would Mary be reminded of a happy or sad memory when she sees the color, red, for the first time? In other words, would she experience a flashback in black and white? If the answers to all these questions are in the affirmative; it is true that Mary also experiences thoughts and feelings that cannot easily be explained through the physical senses. What is the nature of the mind, after all? Churchland does not even explain how the nature of imagination could be described in terms of things that can be sensed with the five senses alone. Of course, Mary has read about the color, red. Then again, how would she describe the joy she feels in terms of the physical world? If physicalism is the only way to describe and understand the nature as well as experiences of human beings, then Mary should know everything about the color red, just because she has studied everything under the bright blue sky (Vinueza, 2004). This is the belief of people that believe there are only facts to describe about the physical world. There are no bases for feelings, such as joy, in this belief system. So, Mary must essentially feel like a robot. Because Mary is not a robot – she is a human being – it is essential for her to experience the color red for the first time as something breathtaking, even if books had taught her to expect that. In that case, books must also have taught her how she would see the color red for the first time, that is, what she would experience within herself to boot – her thoughts and feelings. If this is true, then physicalism cannot truly be false, according to those that believe in it. After all, it is now possible to reduce everything to physical notes and tones – neurons and electric signals within the brain – in order to understand thoughts, feelings and imagination. Given that it is possible to argue for both physicalism and metaphysical philosophies – it can be stated with confidence that both the knowledge argument and physicalism were developed by reasonable people. It was only their belief systems, and the way they explained their experiences in life and facts about the world – with both metaphysical examples and arguments based on materialism – that made them either for or against physicalism or another philosophy. The example of creative writing or fiction shows that it is possible to explain almost everything with words, regardless of how human reason is applied to create an argument or philosophy. The active human mind makes it possible to believe anything whatsoever.

The Nevada Silver Rush

The Nevada Silver Rush Some of us keep watching the skies, as the old movie told us to do. Geologists watch the ground instead. Really looking at whats around us is the heart of good science. Its also the best way to start a rock collection or to strike gold. The late Stephen Jay Gould told a story about his visit to Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey Institute digs up ancient human fossils. Institute staffers were attuned to the mammals whose fossil bones occur there; they could spot a mouse tooth from several meters away. Gould was a snail specialist, and he didnt find a single mammal fossil during his week there. Instead, he turned up the first fossil snail ever recorded at Olduvai! Truly, you see what you look for. Horn Silver and the Nevada Rush The Nevada silver rush, which began in 1858, may be the truest example of a gold rush. In the California gold rush, like those before and after, the Forty-Niners swarmed into the land and panned the easy nuggets from the stream placers. Then the geologic pros moved in to finish the job. The mining corporations and hydraulic syndicates thrived on the deep veins and low-pay ores that the panners couldnt touch. Mining camps like Grass Valley  had a chance to grow into mining towns, then into stable communities with farms and merchants and libraries. Not in Nevada. Silver there formed strictly on the surface. Over millions of years of desert conditions, silver sulfide minerals weathered out of their volcanic host rocks and slowly turned, under the influence of rainwater, to silver chloride. The climate of Nevada concentrated this silver ore in supergene enrichment. These heavy gray crusts were often polished by dust and wind to the dull luster of a cow horn- horn silver. You could shovel it right off the ground, and you didnt need a Ph.D. to find it. And once it was gone, there was little or nothing left beneath for the hard-rock miner. A big silver bed could be tens of meters wide and more than a kilometer long, and that crust on the ground was worth up to $27,000 a ton in 1860s dollars. The territory of Nevada, along with the states around it, was picked clean in a few decades. The miners would have done it faster, but there were dozens of remote ranges to prospect on foot, and the climate was so damnably harsh. Only the Comstock Lode supported silver mining by large combines, and it was depleted by the 1890s. It supported a federal mint in Nevadas capital, Carson City, which made silver coins with the CC mint mark. Mementos of the Silver State In any one place, the surface bonanzas lasted only a few seasons, long enough to put up saloons and not much else. Ultimately producing lots of ghost towns, the rough, violent life of so many Western movies reached its purest state in the Nevada silver camps, and the economy and politics of the state have been deeply marked ever since. They dont shovel silver off the ground anymore but sweep it instead, off the tables of Las Vegas and Reno. Nevada horn silver seems to be gone forever. Scouring the Web for specimens pans out nothing. You can find silver chloride on the Web under its mineral name of chlorargyrite or cerargyrite, but the specimens arent horn silver, even though thats what cerargyrite means in scientific Latin. Theyre little crystals from underground mines, and the sellers seem apologetic about how unexciting they look. Still. Take a moment to imagine  the thrill of stepping back into this period of American history and picking up chunks of silver right off the surface of the ground, like so much gravel... and gaining a fortune.

American Revolution - New York, Philadelphia, Saratoga

American Revolution - New York, Philadelphia, Saratoga Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South The War Shifts to New York Having captured Boston in March 1776, General George Washington began shifting his army south to block an anticipated British move against New York City. Arriving, he divided his army between Long Island and Manhattan and awaited British General William Howes next move. In early June, the first British transports began appearing in lower New York Harbor and Howe established camps on Staten Island. Over the next several weeks Howes army grew to over 32,000 men. His brother, Vice Admiral Richard Howe commanded the Royal Navys forces in the area and stood by to provide naval support. The Second Continental Congress Independence While the British amassed strength near New York, the Second Continental Congress continued to meet in Philadelphia. Convening in May 1775, the group contained representatives from all thirteen American colonies. In final effort to reach an understanding with King George III, the Congress drafted the Olive Branch Petition on July 5, 1775, which asked the British government to address their grievances in order to avoid further bloodshed. Arriving in England, the petition was discarded by the king who was angered by the language used in confiscated letters written by American radicals such as John Adams. The failure of the Olive Branch Petition gave strength to those elements in Congress that wished to press for full independence. As the war continued, Congress began to assume the role of a national government and worked to make treaties, supply the army, and build a navy. Since it lacked the ability to tax, Congress was forced to rely on the governments of the individual colonies to provide the needed money and goods. In early 1776, the pro-independence faction began to assert more influence and pressured colonial governments to authorize reluctant delegations to vote for independence. After extended debate, Congress passed a resolution for independence on July 2, 1776. This was followed by the approval of the Declaration of Independence two days later. The Fall of New York In New York, Washington, who lacked naval forces, remained concerned that Howe could outflank him by sea anywhere in the New York area. Despite this, he felt compelled to defend the city due to its political importance. On August 22, Howe moved around 15,000 men across to Gravesend Bay on Long Island. Coming ashore, they probed the American defenses along the Heights of Guan. Finding an opening at Jamaica Pass, the British moved through the heights on the night of August 26/27 and struck American forces the next day. Caught by surprise, American troops under Major General Israel Putnam were defeated in the resulting Battle of Long Island. Falling back to a fortified position on Brooklyn Heights, they were reinforced and joined by Washington. Though aware that Howe could cut him off from Manhattan, Washington was initially reluctant to abandon Long Island. Approaching Brooklyn Heights, Howe turned cautious and ordered his men to begin siege operations. Realizing the dangerous nature of his situation, Washington left the position on the night of August 29/30 and succeeded in moving his men back to Manhattan. On September 15, Howe landed on Lower Manhattan with 12,000 men and at Kips Bay with 4,000. This forced Washington to abandon the city and assume a position to the north at Harlem Heights. The next day his men won their first victory of the campaign in the Battle of Harlem Heights. With Washington in a strong fortified postion, Howe elected to move by water with part of his command to Throgs Neck and then on to Pells Point. With Howe operating to the east, Washington was forced to abandon his position on northern Manhattan for fear of being cut off. Leaving strong garrisons at Fort Washington on Manhattan and Fort Lee in New Jersey, Washington withdrew to a strong defensive position at White Plains. On October 28, Howe assaulted part of Washingtons line at the Battle of White Plains. Driving the Americans off of a key hill, Howe was able to compel Washington to retreat again. Rather than pursue the fleeing Americans, Howe turned south to consolidate his hold on the New York City area. Assaulting Fort Washington, he captured the fortification and its 2,800-man garrison on November 16. While Washington was criticized for attempting to hold the post, he did so on Congress orders. Major General Nathanael Greene, commanding at Fort Lee, was able to escape with his men before being attacked by Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis. The Battles of Trenton Princeton Having taken Fort Lee, Cornwallis was ordered to pursue Washingtons army across New Jersey. As they retreated, Washington faced a crisis as his battered army began to disintegrate through desertions and expiring enlistments. Crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania in early December, he made camp and attempted to reinvigorate his shrinking army. Reduced to around 2,400 men, the Continental Army was poorly supplied and ill-equipped for winter with many of the men still in summer uniforms or lacking shoes. As in the past, Howe displayed a lack of killer instinct and ordered his men into winter quarters on December 14, with many strung out in a series of outposts from New York to Trenton. Believing an audacious act was needed to restore the publics confidence, Washington planned a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton for December 26. Crossing the ice-filled Delaware on Christmas night, his men struck the following morning and succeeded in defeating and capturing the garrison. Evading Cornwallis who had been sent to catch him, Washingtons army won a second victory at Princeton on January 3, but lost Brigadier General Hugh Mercer who was mortally wounded. Having achieved two unlikely victories, Washington moved his army to Morristown, NJ and entered winter quarters. Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South Burgoynes Plan In the spring of 1777, Major General John Burgoyne proposed a plan for defeating the Americans. Believing that New England was the seat of the rebellion, he proposed cutting the region off from the other colonies by moving down the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor while a second force, led by Colonel Barry St. Leger, advanced east from Lake Ontario and down the Mohawk River. Meeting at Albany, Burgoyne and St. Leger would press down the Hudson, while Howes army advanced north. Though approved by Colonial Secretary Lord George Germain, Howes role in the plan was never clearly defined and issues of his seniority precluded Burgoyne from issuing him orders. The Philadelphia Campaign Operating on his own, Howe prepared his own campaign for capturing the American capital at Philadelphia. Leaving a small force under Major General Henry Clinton at New York, he embarked 13,000 men on transports and sailed south. Entering the Chesapeake, the fleet traveled north and the army landed at Head of Elk, MD on August 25, 1777. In position with 8,000 Continentals and 3,000 militia to defend the capital, Washington dispatched units to track and harass Howes army. Aware that he would have to face Howe, Washington prepared to make a stand along the banks of the Brandywine River. Forming his men in a strong position near Chadds Ford, Washington awaited the British. In surveying the American position on September 11, Howe elected to use the same strategy he employed at Long Island. Using Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausens Hessians, Howe fixed the American center in place along the creek with a diversionary attack, while marching the bulk of this army around Washingtons right flank. Attacking, Howe was able to drive the Americans from the field and captured the bulk of their artillery. Ten days later, Brigadier General Anthony Waynes men were beaten at the Paoli Massacre. With Washington defeated, Congress fled Philadelphia and reconvened at York, PA. Outmaneuvering Washington, Howe entered the city on September 26. Eager to redeem the defeat at Brandywine and re-take the city, Washington began planning a counterattack against British forces located at Germantown. Devising a complicated assault plan, Washingtons columns became delayed and confused in the thick morning fog on October 4. In the resulting Battle of Germantown, American forces achieved early success and were on the verge of a great victory before confusion in the ranks and strong British counterattacks turned the tide. Among those who had performed badly at Germantown was Major General Adam Stephen who had been drunk during the fighting. Not hesitating, Washington sacked him in favor of the promising young Frenchmen, the Marquis de Lafayette, who had recently joined the army. With the campaign season winding down, Washington moved the army to Valley Forge for winter quarters. Enduring a hard winter, the American army underwent extensive training under the watchful eye of Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Another foreign volunteer, von Steuben had served as a staff officer in the Prussian army and imparted his knowledge to the Continental forces. The Tide Turns at Saratoga While Howe was planning his campaign against Philadelphia, Burgoyne moved forward with the other elements of his plan. Pressing down Lake Champlain, he easily captured Fort Ticonderoga on July 6, 1777. As a result, Congress replaced the American commander in the area, Major General Philip Schuyler, with Major General Horatio Gates. Pushing south, Burgoyne won minor victories at Hubbardton and Fort Ann and elected to move overland towards the American position at Fort Edward. Moving through the forest, Burgoynes progress was slowed as the Americans felled tree across the roads and worked to obstruct the British advance. To the west, St. Leger laid siege to Fort Stanwix on August 3, and defeated an American relief column at the Battle of Oriskany three days later. Still commanding the American army, Schuyler dispatched Major General Benedict Arnold to break the siege. As Arnold approached, St. Legers Native American allies fled after hearing exaggerated accounts regarding the size of Arnolds force. Left on his own, St. Leger had no choice but to retreat west. As Burgoyne neared Fort Edward, the American army fell back to Stillwater. Though he had won several minor victories, the campaign had cost Burgoyne heavily as his supply lines lengthened and men were detached for garrison duty. In early August, Burgoyne detached part of his Hessian contingent to search for supplies in nearby Vermont. This force was engaged and decisively defeated at the Battle of Bennington on August 16. Three days later Burgoyne made camp near Saratoga to rest his men and await news from St. Leger and Howe. Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South Two miles to the south, Schuylers men began fortifying a series of heights on the west bank of the Hudson. As this work progressed, Gates arrived and took command on August 19. Five days later, Arnold returned from Fort Stanwix and the two began a series of clashes over strategy. While Gates was content to remain on the defensive, Arnold advocated striking at the British. Despite this, Gates gave Arnold command of the left wing of the army, while Major General Benjamin Lincoln led the right. On September 19, Burgoyne moved to attack the American position. Aware that the British were on the move, Arnold secured permission for a reconnaissance in force to determine Burgoynes intentions. In the resulting Battle of Freemans Farm, Arnold decisively defeated the British attack columns, but was relieved after a fight with Gates. Having suffered over 600 casualties at Freemans Farm, Burgoynes position continued to worsen. Sending to Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton at New York for aid, he soon learned that none was forthcoming. Short on men and supplies, Burgoyne resolved to renew the battle on October 4. Moving out three days later, the British attacked American positions at the Battle of Bemis Heights. Encountering heavy resistance, the advance soon bogged down. Pacing at headquarters, Arnold finally departed against Gates wishes and rode to the sound of the guns. Aiding on several parts of the battlefield, he led a successful counterattack on the British fortifications before being wounded in the leg. Now outnumbered 3-to-1, Burgoyne attempted to retreat north towards Fort Ticonderoga on the night of October 8. Blocked by Gates and with his supplies dwindling, Burgoyne elected to open negotiations with the Americans. Though he initially demanded an unconditional surrender, Gates agreed to a treaty of convention whereby Burgoynes men would be taken to Boston as prisoners and permitted to return to England on the condition that they not fight in North America again. On October 17, Burgoyne surrendered his remaining 5,791 men. Congress, unhappy with the terms offered by Gates, overruled the agreement and Burgoynes men were placed in prisoner camps around the colonies for the remainder of the war. The victory at Saratoga proved key in securing a treaty of alliance with France. Previous: Opening Campaigns | American Revolution 101 | Next: The War Moves South

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 72

Marketing - Essay Example With the sun extremely harsh in New Zealand, information on safety is imperative. The researcher can access this information from libraries and databases in universities, colleges, and technical institutions. As much as the secondary data will help the researcher to know much about the New Zealand environment, primary data is crucial in the study. The wristband is a newly invented product through the innovation of the people hence primary data will boost the research objectives. The researcher will be interested in getting firsthand information from the people hence surveys and self-administered interviews will be used widely. Through the surveys and interviews, the researcher will aim at understanding the attitude and feelings of the people towards the wristband. The researcher will also be interested in knowing the reasons that would prompt the people to shun the use of the wristband and why some people would not think of using the wristband in the first place. However, the researcher will be careful with the information in order to ensure it is reliable and valid. Rix (2010) argues that the researcher must work to limit error and possibility of a biased