The Difference Between A Eighteen Year Old And A Years Old

What’s the difference between a fifteen-year-old and a sixteen-year-old? Freedom. At the age of fifteen, you’re given the training wheels needed to reach freedom; also known as your permit. Nothing is as cool to a fifteen-year-old as driving your mom and dad around for the first couple of months. The roles have finally been reversed. Mark Wahlberg says it best in the Other Guys, â€Å"I’m a peacock and you gotta let me fly.† Getting your permit is the first step to reaching the ultimate goal: getting your license. At the age of sixteen, your training wheels are taken off and your journey to independence has started. To some, this might sound easy. From personal experience, I can say it’s not. You have to endure hours of studying, practicing, and even tests. In the end, the hard work is worth it. You are achieving the goal that every kid looks forward to. Driving isn t a task that anyone can just start doing. Driving a 3 ton vehicle that can take so meone from point A to point B in no time isn’t easy. The first step into becoming a driver, like the first step when building something, is reading the manual. The magazine sized directional discusses common traffic laws, how to park a car up or downhill, and how driving a car works in general. I remember when I was first starting to research about getting my license, I was extremely overwhelmed with the amount of reading I was going to have to do. However rather than getting scared and backing down, I remained dedicated and facedShow MoreRelatedThe Voting Age Should Be Legal1323 Words   |  6 PagesTwenty-one year olds are mature enough to make important decisions such as voting. Most countries around the world have established a voting age. Voting is a topic of heated debate in the United States due to difference of opinions between the democrat and republican parties. In the United States the voting age has been reduced from twenty-one years old to eighteen years old. E ven though the voting age was reduced, some people have been lobbying in order to reduce the voting age to sixteen. ReducingRead MoreDo not Lower the Legal Drinking Age825 Words   |  3 Pagesback, the United States has had a question about the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Through the years of Prohibition halting the sale, shipping, and ingestion of alcohol and the constitutional acts delegating who is accurately fit to drink. Today’s controversy is a lot less infringing on personal rights. It’s regarding whether the legal drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. This has been a huge controversy geared exclusively towards college students due to the fact that alcoholRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Abolished1634 Words   |  7 PagesEra of the 1920s. The Prohibition Era lasted almost thirteen years and banned the production, the distribution, and the sale of alcohol. In 1933, the Prohibition Act was repealed and states designated t heir own legal drinking age. In 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age act was passed and raised the drinking age in the United States to twenty-one. This law caused uproar in states that had declared the minimum drinking age to be eighteen. Alcohol consumption is a major factor in cultural and socialRead More Statutory Rape Essay example1092 Words   |  5 Pagesof morality. Even sex that violates the age-of-consent laws but is neither violent nor physically forced is described as statutory rape. In most jurisdictions, the expressions â€Å"under-age sex† or â€Å"sex with a minor† are more commonly used. After many years of prosecuting statutory rape laws, some people are being to question whether or not these laws when concerning non-violent â€Å"sex with a minor† are actually appropriate and effective in protecting the rights of minors. The people who support statutoryRead MoreThe Legal Ages Of Consent By States Legislations1639 Words   |  7 PagesDue to differences of opinion on legal ages of consent by states legislations, there is an issue concerning the basis of equality established in every case involving statutory rape laws across the United States. Since the welfare reformation of 1996, teen pregnancy was targeted as a large contribution to the issue of having many welfare recipients. Officials agreed upon the enforcement of stricter statutory rape laws with the intent to potentially frighten older men from having relations with youngerRead MoreInvestigating The Ability Of A Controlled Variable1055 Words   |  5 Pages Jhavon Kornegay I. Purpose of Study The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of two, three, and four-year old’s to reply to sentence focused questions, argument focused questions, and predicate focused questions based on both transitive and intransitive events. The authors expected the children to respond with transitivity as well as consistency. II. Rationale for the Study The authors pursued this study to experiment with a controlled variable. The authors suggested that presentlyRead MoreThe Problems with Statutory Rape Essay examples1006 Words   |  5 Pageswith a minor.† The difference between rape and statutory rape is that rape is an adult sexually abusing an adult, and statutory rape is an adult sexually abusing a minor. Statutory rape can occur when an adult and a minor have sex, even if it is voluntary on both sides. (North Carolina General Assembly) In each state, there is an age of consent, which is the age that a person can legally consent to sexual intercourse. There is also an age differential, which is amount of years that the victim andRead More Lowering the Legal Minimum Drinking Age Essay1622 Words   |  7 Pagestwenty-one to eighteen. The minimum legal drinking age was not always twenty-one; it has fluctuated between twenty-one and eighteen over the past few decades. In the article, â€Å"Underage Drinking and the Drinking Age† by Carla T. Main, the issues of voting age during the Vietnam War are discussed. Furthermore, she speaks about how the change of the legal voting age is linked to the change of the minimum legal drinking age. During the Vietnam War, lowering the voting age to eighteen became an issueRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesto legally drink alcohol are very scarce. There are many different points, made by people from both sides of the issue about whether or not to lower the drinking age to eighteen, or leave it where it currently stands at twenty-one. Although each side has its own arguments, the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years of age throughout all fifty United States. When you turn the age of 18 in the United States, you are considered an adult. Becoming an adult comes with its rights and responsibilitiesRead MoreWhat Would Be The Global Impacts Of Reducing The Voting1447 Words   |  6 Pagesa right to do so. Some, such as those under the age of eighteen in most countries, do not get to vote based on the laws that stand within that population. Suffrage is another word for the ‘right to vote’. Voting within a democracy will impact on the actions that are taken. There are many arguments as to whether suffrage should be given to those of a younger age, as decisions made by the population in a vote may also affect them in the years to come despite not having a say in the actual decision

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. He was born in...

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. He was born in the city of Ulm, Wurtemberg, Germany. He was raised in a secular, middle class he was part of a Jewish family. His father was Hermann Einstein. His father was a salesman and engineer with his bother founded a company that made electrical equipment that was in Munich, Germany. The company was called Elektrotechnische is he Fabrik J. Einstein and Cie. Albert Einstein’s mother was Pauline Einstein, she ran the family household. Albert Einstein had only one sister named Maja Einstein she was two years younger than Albert. Albert Einstein went to Luitpold Gymnasium elementary school in Munich, he came through with his studies. Albert liked old music and he played the violin. Albert†¦show more content†¦Without the duplicate of a high school diploma he failed much of the entrance exam but got strange marks in math and medication. As of this, he was accepted to the school added that he complete his official schoolin g first. He went to a special high school ran by Jost Winteler in Aarau, Switzerland, and he passed in the year 1896 at the age of seventeen. He did become friends for life with the Winteler family that he had been boarding with Albert Einstein fell in love with the Wintelers’ Daughter named Mavie. Albert Einstein announced that he had a German Citizenship to avoid having to go into military service and he enrolled in the Zurich school. Einstein recalled the years he was in Zurich was some of the most joyful years of his life. Albert met a lot of students who would be his loyal friends like Marcel Grossman, The mathematician, and Michele Besso he likes lengthy talks with about space and time. Albert also met his future wife Mileva Maric she was a fellow physics student from Serbia. After Einstein passed from the polytechnic Institute Albert had to face a couple of years. As of this he liked to study on his own time Albert skipped classes and got the animosity of some of Alber t’s professors. One in mind Heinrich Weber wrote Albert a letter of recommendation at his request that had led to getting turned down for every one of his academic position that he tried to get into after graduation. While his relationship looking at her

Tragic heroine Essay Example For Students

Tragic heroine Essay In this essay I am going to be talking about the concept of contrast between characters i.e. Antigone and Ismene, in beginning and Antigone and Creon in scene 2, within the play Antigone. I am going to contrast the effects that each character gives in individual senses; most of the effects that are shown are mainly expressed in the effects of language/ imagery, themes, symbols, structure and organisation. In the beginning of the play we see that Antigone and her sister  Ismene are arguing above the situation of their brothers death by each others hand. This effect gives us the impression of conflict throughout the play. We see that Ismene has a deep respect for those how are above her in politics and family, where as Antigone has a different view on how she represents her self towards other people, she dignifies the way how she dose not ask for help but shows that she is determined towards her brothers death, we see this when she says then in future I will not bid you help me. However ismene sees it differently we now left alone do but consider how most miserable we too shall perish in this I think that ismene has lost all hope in the family as well as a human being, she yet tries to confine in her sister by self pity in a sense that antigone would understand where she is coming from as honouring the law.  On the other hand in scene 2 we also see that conflict is the main aspect again between Antigone and her uncle Creon where we see that Antigone is still stubborn in the undone unburied bother Polynices but we see that she is threatened by the authority that Creon brings with him when he speaks that she was seen, and taken in the act here we see that Creon abuses his own family to get his own way, and that he wants to control over any thing and every think that is in his power. In these scenes the way the language is illustrated gives the audience a very dramatic feeling of human rites, between Creon and Antigone. Meaning that although Creon is now king he instead of giving the people a choice in what they want he decides on what he thinks they want, do you I say you with your downcast brow own or deny that you have done this deed, this illustrates the fact that Creon wants to control their lives and take away their freedom of speech as well as their human rites. However in the opening with the two sisters arguing seems to be a persuasive argument, which each of them is trying is to get the other on their own side. Ismene uses her sincerity and pity for her sister my poor sister, how beyond measure I fear for you this illustrates that ismene dose things by the book and obeys the rules and laws, she also makes sure that its for her own benefits but has no self confidence to talk aloud. Although Antigone shows that she has a tough exterior when she says, Do not spend your fear on me we can also see her humanity or helplessness side by when she says will u join me, will you work with me. This illustrates that when people care for others and want to do the best for them they would do anything to make to them happy by this we can see that even if you are a strong person with a voice you will always needs help from others. In these scenes we see that the language illustrates the course of imagery towards different aspect that attract are intentions as an audience. In the opening scene the language used to illustrate the use of personification where Antigone says, do you perceive how heaven upon us two means to fulfil before we come to die this illustrates that she has gone through bad times and is losing hope in life yet is willing to fight for her life and living as part of a family even though there is not much family left. Even though this is seen as a negative aspect towards imagery this conveys her actions and how she acts towards her sister as well as her uncle. .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .postImageUrl , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:hover , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:visited , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:active { border:0!important; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:active , .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298 .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubd729648bef435ddeba5e06bd285d298:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Medea Persuasive EssayHowever we see that creon has no respect for the two sisters as members of the family also as women and not equal to him or to men you made free to overstep my law this illustrates that creon thinks of him self as a god but Antigone brings creon back down to earth by saying it was not Zeus who ordered it and dweller with the nether gods, gave such a law to men, these quotes are very powerful towards the aspects of comparing creon to the gods its like comparing a house cat to a lion where we see that even if you think you are as equal a god you can never come close to it because gods are immortal and humans are mortals and what ever we do wrong will al ways come to a conscience. The themes of this play emphasises what life was like within the time of ancient Greece where men were suppose to be seen as figures of god and women where much below men, however there is a very strong theme of feminism where we see that Antigone and Ismene are the only women who stand alone, however Ismene dose not have to courage to stand up to creon but has the confidence to put blame on herself as well as say she tuck part in the. In the opening scene we an as audience can see that the two characters antigone and ismene are have a privet convocation this illustrates that the structure is put into a privet context where they feel that they can not trust anyone, this is drawn to the fact that as sisters they do not trust their family member which is their uncle, this is only because Creon has forbidden Antigones brother be buried in the proper way. However in the scene with Antigone and Creon the context is portrayed in the opposite way where the convocational argument is out in the public Knew you the order not to do it? Antigone, yes I knew it and and you made free to overstep my law this illustrates that in this scene Creon has no respect for Antigone by disrespecting her in front of the Senator, this gives us the impression that Creon abuses his place and the power he has received as king. In this play we see that Antigone represents a tragic heroine were we see that even though her brother is dead we still see that she still respects him and honours him by trying to give him the proper royal burial it is no shame to pay respect to our own flesh and blood and the dead clay makes no protest this illustrates that she would give her life to do anything for your family and even though she gives her life for her own honour.

Lord Of Flies Essays (435 words) - English-language Films

Lord Of Flies Much symbolism is used in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The nature on the island is used as the primary source of symbolism. There are three main uses of nature's symbolism: a pink conch shell, a pig's head, and fire. Nature is a symbol that parallels to the real world. It helps prove the author's theory that Humankind is foolish and evil in any situation. The first important part of nature's symbolism is a pink conch shell. At the beginning of the book, it was found by Ralph (13). The conch shell represents power and authority. Ralph uses it to call for the boys to come to the meeting (15). In the meetings, whoever has the shell has the power to speak. The conch shows how people use objects to give power, like a king and his scepter and crown, or other things which show who has power. It is also evident that objects don't give power when people choose not to obey it, like Ralph's conch. The pig's head, or Lord of the Flies, is another important use of symbolism through nature. Jack and his hunters killed a pig and cut off its head (125). To Jack, the head is a sacrifice for the beast (127). This object demonstrates that people make religions and rituals to control their world, even though what they think is not true. Lord of the Flies is a symbol of the Devil, or Satan. When Simon communicated with Lord of the Flies, he found out what real evil was, which is the evil in the hearts of people. The pig's head is a symbol of the thing we make up to be the cause for evil, when those things aren't the real reason. Fire is the last symbol of nature. It stands for hope and rescue. When the fire was burning bright, it was because the boys had hope and were working hard to get rescued. When the fire burnt out, it was because too many boys, like Jack, lost hope for being rescued. In the end, the fire that got the attention of naval officers was ironically not meant for rescue. It was there because Jack was trying to flush Ralph out of the forest by burning down the island (182). The fire at the end shows us that we sometimes get things from luck instead of hard work. Lord of the Flies is filled with symbolism through nature, which makes an important comment about Humankind. The objects parallel to things in the real world like power, religion, pride, hope, and authority. They help to show us that what happened in the story happen anyway, just in different ways. They prove Golding's belief that Humankind is foolish and evil under any circumstances.

Essay Sample on Salem Witch Trials A Scientific and Historical Analysis

Essay Sample on Salem Witch Trials A Scientific and Historical Analysis The Salem Witch Trials, of 1692, occurred in Salem Massachusetts. This is a case where people accused other people of witchcraft. Salem was a town governed by strict Puritan religion, and to have such a charge labeled against you could cost you your life. According to Boyer and Nissenbaum, there were many worldly reasons for the events that happened so many years ago. In this essay, the authors make their findings based on scientific analysis and much historical research. Paul Boyer and Stephen argued that the Salem Witchcraft Trials took place because of the separation of the east and west, the choosing of the ministers of the church, and the agricultural and merchant interests. After much research, â€Å"Boyer and Nissenbaum took their list of accusers and accused the noted the location of each village resident on the map†(Boyer Nissenbaum 36). Geographically there was lots of evidence of this theory â€Å"Of the fourteen accused witches living in the village, twelve lived in the eastern section† (Boyer Nissenbaum 36). The whole trial episode seems to have come down to the fact that one side of the village accused the other side. â€Å"That was Salem Village’s uneasy relation to its social parent, Salem Town† (Boyer Nissenbaum 36). As the community grew farther away from the original settlement people began to want their own village. As a result, the new settlers wanted to have their own separate entity â€Å"with their own church, their own taxes, and their own elected officials† (Boyer Nissenbaum 38). This east-west division continued to grow and came to the breaking point over taxes, â€Å"Everyone paid taxes to su pport a minister for the town church, to maintain the roads, and to care for the poor† (Boyer Nissenbaum). The western part of the village commenced to try to break away and form their own town. This is well illustrated in the map that which Boyer and Nissenbaum drew up. The map showed the location of the accusers and the accused. â€Å"The map showed that more accusers lived on the western part of the town and the accused lived on the eastern part.† (Boyer Nissenbaum 37) Another major reason the Salem Trials took place was the choosing of a minister for the new village. â€Å"Not long after the village received the right to build its own meeting house, it settled down to arguing over who ought to preach from its pulpit† (Boyer Nissenbaum 38). James Bayley was the first selection of the house but had to be relieved after complaints were heard. â€Å"Bayley didn’t attend regularly to his private prayers† (Boyer Nissenbaum 38). George Burroughs relieved James Bayley in 1680 but had to leave after other numerous problems. Deodat Lawson than relieved Burroughs and lasted fours years. Samuel Parris than took over the job in 1688. â€Å"His term was equally stormy, and in 1696 his opponents finally succeeded in starving him out of the job by refusing to collect taxes to pay his salary† (Boyer Nissenbaum 38). Boyer and Nissenbaum discovered a major part of this dispute in the churches records. Boyer and Nissenbaum discovered th at the same names were being put together. â€Å"The people who supported James Bayley usually supported George Burroughs and then opposed the second two ministers† (Boyer Nissenbaum 40). The same was found for the other two also. â€Å"Conversely, the supporters of Deodat Lawson and Samuel Parris had been the people who complained about Bayley and Burroughs† (Boyer Nissenbaum 40). This was closely linked to the divisions of the accusers and accused. Salem town was a spot for commerce in New England; those living in the east part were living well. â€Å"By contrast the farmers in the western portion of Salem Village were tied closely to traditional agrarian life† (Boyer Nissenbaum 40). Those living on the east side wanted to close out everything but the western side. Also those people accused lived on â€Å"Ipswich Road, a route that passed by the village rather than through it, a main thoroughfare for travels and for commerce† (Boyer Nissenbaum 40). Those who lived outside of he precepts of Puritan standards were always in danger. Anyone who dressed flamboyantly or ran a tavern could be accused. â€Å"Two tavern keepers, John Proctor and Bridget Bishop, were hung as witches; Elizabeth Proctor barely escaped with her life; and Joshua Rea, another tavern keeper on the road, signed a petition defending Goody Nurse†(Boyer Nissenbaum 41). According to Boyer and Nissenbaum â€Å"Their reconstruction suggest that the Salem body politic was experiencing its own social analogue of conversion hysteria†(Boyer Nissenbaum 41). The conflicts that occurred here in Salem went from disagreements between three factions and lead to accusations of â€Å"a plague from the invisible world†(Boyer Nissenbaum 41). The farmers of Salem were determined to stop the merchants at any costs and as a result the charge of witchcraft was applied.

gaurdian angels essays

gaurdian angels essays Dorothea Tanning was born August 25, 1910 in Galesburg Illinois. She was an artist from a very young age, showing interest in her free time, as she worked first in a library, then doing school publications, and finally a booth at Chicagos World Fair in 1931. She moved to New York and found work as a freelance commercial artist. By 1936, her career had begun, discovering dada and surrealism at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1946, she painted Guardian Angels In an iconographic analysis of a Tanning painting, the viewer is easily lost in the surrealism; I am no exception. The surrealism of her pieces has left me with more questions than answers, but some conclusions can be drawn through a formal analysis, and educated guesses. When I tried to understand Tannings intent from my normal point of view, I only noticed how it was unlike reality, a dream. I hardly can understand my own dreams, much less someone elses , so I changed my point of view. I attempted to enter Tannings realm of expression. Inside I found the depth of Tannings perception, a work of detailed symbols and emotion. The first thing I noticed in Guardian Angels was the overall feeling I got from the painting. I noticed its overall coldness and solitude. I believe this was the general intent Tanning had when she made the background blue and green; the top of the painting is the background, resembling ice creeping forward like a glacier of sheets over the beds. This creates such a cold, lonely overtone that Tanning probably felt as she painted The Guardian Angels. If I look deep into the image, as though I were standing on the sheets, I can see the coldness surrounding me with nowhere to run, the next in line to be carried off. This effect was reached deliberately by Tanning, with her use of lighting on the sheets. The blackness on the background on the right creates a sense that t ...

Social psychology essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Social psychology essays - Essay Example because of technical ineptitude in the fingerprinting or DNA laboratory for example, perjured testimony, eyewitness misidentification, and also because of overzealous law enforcement officers who are eager to close the case and mete out justice. A courtroom is a place wherein many evidence are presented that are at best circumstantial and are then judged by ordinary people if it works for or against the defendant—a room wherein people not experts at lie detection weigh witness testimonies. Thus, wrongful convictions are not unexpected as the justice system is composed of imperfect human beings. Some states wherein there is a high rate of erroneous convictions have already enacted bills to address this problem. Because the United States rely on juries to ultimately decide on a person’s guilt, I believe that there should be a seminar or lecture regarding lie detection in order to minimize wrongful convictions. The jurors should be fully aware of what their decision could mean and what the evidences signify. In this way, they can create a more educated verdict. They are better equipped to intelligently weigh the evidences and testimonies that are presented during the trial. The polygraph relies on the physiological changes in the body, like pulse and blood pressure, to detect deception. It starts with a series of control questions to set the tone like â€Å"What is your name?† This is then followed by an explanation of what the polygraph is and what it does. Next comes the â€Å"stim test† wherein the person attached to the polygraph will be asked to lie so that the tester can see if the machine has picked up on this lie and is working properly. Then the test itself ensues. The questions alternate between some that are irrelevant, some control questions, and those that are relevant to the case. If the tester is not satisfied with the results, there is a post-test interview that is conducted. The polygraph has been known as the lie detector test that some highly

Describe the journey of a Red Blood Cell around the body Essay

Describe the journey of a Red Blood Cell around the body - Essay Example A spectrin network attached to the lipid bilayer contains several organic proteins, phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol. This type of attachment increases the stiffness of the RBC. Moreover, this sort of spectrin protein allows the free diffusion of vital component from extracellular fluid to intracellular fluid. (Li & Lykotrafittis, 2012). The journey of red blood cells (erythrocytes) usually begins in the circulatory system. During their passage through the blood vessels the erythrocytes undergo several important changes in shape and structure particularly when needed to pass through the narrow passages in the circulatory system. An erythrocyte is a biconcave disc of a diameter ranging between 6-8 microns, with mean thickness of 2.5 micrometres at the periphery and approximately 1 micrometre towards the centre of the cell (Guyton & Hall, 2006). Transporting of oxygen from lung to various other organs is the function of the RBCs during their journey in the human circulatory system. Importantly, this oxygen available for the functioning of organs is stored into the haemoglobin of RBC and when it reaches its particular destination, oxygen is liberated from haemoglobin and it moves through the cellular passive diffusion. Furthermore, carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released after cellular activities is then again fused with haemoglobin of RBC. This deoxygenated blood due to presence of CO2 into the haemoglobin then enters into the heart, and is finally diffused to the lungs. It was reported that in some lower animals (some invertebrates), Hb is present as a free protein in plasma and it is not bound to the RBCs like in human beings. The total life span of each erythrocyte in the circulation is 120 days (Dean, 2005). But during this period if any of them gets damaged, then they could be eliminated from the circulatory system with the help of macrophages which is usually present in the bone marrow, spleen or in the liver (Premkumar, 2004). A normal man has an average of 5,200,000 red blood cells (RBC) per cubic millimetre and a normal woman has an average of 4,700,000 RBCs per cubic millimetre (Guyton & Hall, 2006). Around 3 million red blood cells (RBC) enter the circulation each second (Starr & McMillan, 2012). Haemoglobin is usually concentrated in the red blood cells (RBC); the metabolic limit of haemoglobin-forming mechanism of the body allows only a maximum concentration of 34grams of Haemoglobin in each 100 millilitres of cells (Guyton & Hall, 2006). In any normal and healthy individual, the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration remains at this maximum permitted level. 2. Bone marrow, Journey and Production of erythrocytes: Production of the erythrocytes from the bone marrow is called erythropoiesis (Schlossberg & Zuiderna, 1997). Apart from bone marrow, red blood cells are also produced by various other organs during the early development of human body. Yolk Sac is the primary site of the production of RBCs during the early embryonic p eriod (Guyton & Hall, 2006, p. 421). Liver serves as the main organ for RBC production during the middle trimester of gestation while lymph nodes and spleen also produce an amount of RBCs during this stage of development (Guyton & Hall, 2006, p. 421). Bone marrow is an important part of human body for the production of red blood cells (RBC) during the last month of gestation and soon after the birth (Guyton & Hall, 2

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Essay Example for Free

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Essay In ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’ by Charles Dickens, there were two characters that have many different personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses. But they also had a few things in common as well. These two characters are Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge. Although these two characters are alike, they both have different motives. Sydney Carton is a very strong and intelligent man. Fist, Carton presents himself as a drunk, lazy attorney, who feels as though his life has no meaning. Carton professes his love to Lucie Manette, but later on Carton becomes a changed man. He transform into a Christ-like figure. He begins to shoulder his way through life. His goals are positive and lead to his â€Å"recalled to life,† in book the first. Carton only wants to do what he knows will please Lucie, because he wants to die with the knowledge that one human being in the world who thought he was worth something and cared for him. Another character in the book named Stryver, describes Carton as â€Å"summons, no energy, and purpose.† Sydney also describes himself as, â€Å"like one who died young.† The only time in which Carton’s motivation kick in is towards the end, when he sacrifices his own life for Charles Darnay because he knows it is what would make Lucie Manette happy. The next character I will describe is Madame Defarge. Madame Defarge is completely motivated as well as Carton is, but Madame Defarge is also driven with revenge. It appears that Madame Defarge goals are only of vengeance. Madame Defarge is self-centered; app her goals are reflected around herself and her own revenge, which is shown when she says, â€Å"Tell the wind and fire where to stop; not me.†

Red Death Essay -- essays research papers

Edgar Allan Poe's short story entitled The Mask of the Red Death is an artistic example of vivid symbolism. Throughout the sinister tale Poe writes in a style that appeals to all five senses and captivates the reader's curiosity until the story's dour conclusion. Upon first glance, the story seems to be a complex tale of good versus evil. If the reader were to examine the story more deeply, they would then discover that the plot and symbolism intertwined throughout the narrative is no more than a simple metaphor for life and death. A quick synopsis of the story tells the account of the affluent and overly confident Prince Prospero and his faulted attempt to escape death. Poe illustrates that Prospero is blinded by his riches and believes that he can escape death. A heavy dose of figurative language is used to create a struggle in which the mood goes from elation to somberness in just a mere three pages. The characters of the story are well defined in that the reader can ascertain certain traits, good or bad, of the characters. For instance, Poe writes, "When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court." (Poe 41) This line identifies the Prince as a smug, insecure, and even foolish character all while foreshadowing a dark conclusion. These lines identify the Prince as the axis of the story by illustrating a few ... Red Death Essay -- essays research papers Edgar Allan Poe's short story entitled The Mask of the Red Death is an artistic example of vivid symbolism. Throughout the sinister tale Poe writes in a style that appeals to all five senses and captivates the reader's curiosity until the story's dour conclusion. Upon first glance, the story seems to be a complex tale of good versus evil. If the reader were to examine the story more deeply, they would then discover that the plot and symbolism intertwined throughout the narrative is no more than a simple metaphor for life and death. A quick synopsis of the story tells the account of the affluent and overly confident Prince Prospero and his faulted attempt to escape death. Poe illustrates that Prospero is blinded by his riches and believes that he can escape death. A heavy dose of figurative language is used to create a struggle in which the mood goes from elation to somberness in just a mere three pages. The characters of the story are well defined in that the reader can ascertain certain traits, good or bad, of the characters. For instance, Poe writes, "When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court." (Poe 41) This line identifies the Prince as a smug, insecure, and even foolish character all while foreshadowing a dark conclusion. These lines identify the Prince as the axis of the story by illustrating a few ...

Financial Statements and Stakeholders

Introduction In this report six different users of financial statements will be identified. Each user group will be described and the reasons why they use financial statements will be examined. Analysis and calculations of relevant and specific financial information will be performed to reflect the performance of the company, and how this is seen by the different stakeholder groups.The two companies I have chosen are J.Sainsbury plc and WM Morrison’s Supermarkets plc, hereafter known as Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s. This is because these two companies are two which have a large number of stakeholders who will be affected by the company’s financial statements. Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s also compete within the same sector and thus the financial statements and companies are obviously comparable, this will help with benchmarking to analyse the data .(Mclaney and Atril.2008). This will help to determine, along with the relevant analysis and calculations, which stakeholders will be more pleased with the financial statements out of the two supermarkets. As of May 2014, Morrison’s had 11% of the market, and Sainsbury’s 16.6% (Garner.2014). The financial statements we will be assessing are income statements and balance sheets. These are the two statements which are of greatest importance to the majority of stakeholders. I have attained the most recent financial statements from the two companies from their recent annual reports. This report will use financial ratio’s to assess the profitability, efficiency, Liquidity, Financial Gearing and Investment potential within Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s.(Mclaney and Atril.2008.). Boards of Directors The owners and boards of directors of both Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s would use financial statements to review the performance of management and assess the overall performance of the company. For the smooth operation of the organisation, the managers and owners also need the financial reports to make essential business decisions. For example the current debt to equity ratio is important in deciding the amount of long term capital that would be required to be raised for making certain business decisions. This can be determined by using the following formula. Total liabilities Total assets x 100% Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 10535 16540 x 100% =63.7% 6037 10792 x 100% = 55.9% As can be seen Sainsbury’s debt to equity ratio is 63.7% with Morrison’s at 55.9%, a difference of 7.8%. This ratio is one of the key set of 10 identified by Laurent (2006) in being able to predict a firms performance. This thus means that they are financing their growth more by debt than they are by their current assets than Morrison’s. However this is not necessarily a bad thing, and this could mean that they growing more than if they did not utilise this outside financing. If this increases earnings by a greater amount than the debt interest that would be incurred then it is definitely beneficial to do so, thus the board would be pleased with what they have seen from the financial statements. Shareholders Shareholders receive a set of financial statements as a right, and are the only stakeholders to do so. The shareholders interest will be in what the company is doing with the money they have invested, and whether it is making a profit or loss. If it is profitable, they will want a return in the form of dividends, so they will be concerned with the level of dividends the company is paying out year on year and the potential for future profits and dividends. If profit levels and dividend pay-outs diminish noticeably, or if no dividends are paid out because the company has made a loss, then they will consider selling their shares and investing in something else which will give them a higher return. Obviously operating profit margin is also needed to measure overall performance and this can be calculated as follows. Profit before interest and tax Sales x 100% Sainsbury’s (?m) Morrison’s (?m) 1009 23949 x 100% =4.2% (95) 17680 x 100% =-0.5% Supermarkets usually operate at low operating margins, so these results are not wholly surprising (McLaney and Attril.2008) Morrison’s extremely poor performance this year is down to incredibly high administrative costs, this could be seen as possibly due to a new initiative or launch of service which required high costs to get this off the ground, and therefore this may pay dividends in the future. Thus it will be imperative to see how they will perform in the next year without these high administrative costs. Sainsbury’s operating profit margin can be compared with the previous year to see how they are progressing, and this was 3.8%. Thus their net profit margin has increased and the shareholders will be pleased with this performance as it could increase shareholder dividends. Banks Banks are extremely interested in a companies such as Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s financial statements. For example if a company has an overdraft or a bank loan, then the banks need to make sure that a company can afford to pay these loans it owes off (Palepu and Healy.2008). If a company is applying for a loan, similar considerations apply, although the bank would in addition insist on looking at more up to date information than the last set of statutory accounts as these could be rather out of date. The banks would calculate this by with the acid test ratio. This shows the company’s ability to pay its current liabilities from liquid assets. This is calculated as follows. Current assets less inventory Current liabilities Sainsbury’s (?m) Morrison’s (?m) 4362-1005 6765 = 0.5 : 1 1430-852 2873 = 0.2 : 1 Supermarkets by nature have very low acid test ratio scores due to some stock on their shelves not selling as quickly as they would like. However Morrison’s at 0.2:1 is much lower than the company would be wanting to have, whereas Sainsbury’s at 0.5:1 is relatively healthy for a company that operates as a supermarket. Creditors A company’s trade creditors and suppliers will also obviously be interested in a companies financial statements such as the balance sheet and income statement. Such stakeholders will be concerned with whether the company can pay regularly for its purchases from them, so they will have an eye to the cash position of the company – its liquidity. They will also be interested consequently in any items in the accounts which may affect this liquidity such as bank overdrafts or loans, as such items would usually indicate cash problems in the company which may render it an insecure buyer for the future. Creditors are also extremely interested in creditor days. This is the average payment period to payables expressed in days. This can be calculated by the following formula. Trade payables x 365 Purchases Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 2272 x 365 16606 = 50 days 2692 x 365 22562 = 44 days As can be seen, Sainsbury’s creditors will be the more pleased out of the two sets of stakeholders for both supermarkets. This is because they are paid on average six days faster than Morrison’s creditors and thus will have a more efficient flow of cash. This could mean building a better relationship with these creditors. However Morrison’s may also be pleased as it means they are able to hold on to this cash for longer and maximise cash flow with longer creditor days payable. Trade debtors/customers. These persons would be interested in the company’s likely continuance into the future as a secure source of supply, and so would look for any items affecting this, such as production difficulties, sales price increases etc. These will also be most interested in debtor (receivables) days, this is the Average collection period for receivables expressed in days. It is calculated as follows. Trade receivables x 365 Sales Revenue Sainsbury’s (?m)Morrison’s (?m) 433 x 365316 x 365 23949 = 7 days17680 = 7 days Here both Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s debtors will be equally as pleased when analysing the financial accounts for both of these companies. This is because they both receive a similar amount of time in which to pay their debts. Equally both of the supermarket chains will be relatively pleased with this as they will be in a similar position to each other in receiving the money from debtors. Similarly this is much shorter than the time it takes both to pay their creditors, and thus their cash flow efficiency will be maximised. Competitors Competitors will also be interested in the financial results of a rival in the same industry sector to see whether its results are better or worse than its own, whether it has brought new products to the market place and how these have been doing (Palepu and Healy.2008). Competitors of Sainsbury’s such as Asda and Tesco may also be interested to compare things such as costs of goods on the income statement to compare this to their own performance. A rival’s bad result, when its own is good, would enhance performance in the eyes of its own shareholders. A rival’s similar adverse performance may reflect that both are hit by the same business factors. In the retail business something that both Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s would be interested in seeing is how their inventories turnover period compares with that of their rivals. It can be calculated as follows. Inventories x 365Cost of sales*Sainsbury’s Morrison’s 1005 x 365852 x 36522562= 17 days16062= 20 days Here Sainsbury’s will have the more pleased boards of the two supermarkets when analysing their competitors in terms of inventory turnover. This is because on average they manage to turn over their inventory 3 days quicker than Morrison’s. This demonstrates that they have a more efficient stock system and are selling their products at a faster rate, which could lead to a better overall performance. Conclusion As can be seen, a range of different stakeholders have reason to be interested in a companies financial statements. These stakeholders range from being interested in their own personal gain, those such as Shareholders, as well as being interested in how it impacts upon other stakeholders, through the analysis of both debtor days and creditor days. Financial reports are important for all different stakeholders so they can decide whether or not it is beneficial to be involved with a certain company, they are always interested in the going concern of the company. It is important for numerous reasons that these stakeholders have access to the accounts to gain clarity and for the continuation of the working relationship with companies such as Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s. It is therefore important that the accounting is accurate and up to standards for these different stakeholders of financial statements, it is also useful for comparison of companies and as can be seen from the analysis Sainsbury’s stakeholders will be more pleased with the financial statements than Morrison’s. Bibliography Garner, E. (2014). Kantar, UK grocery growth at lowest level for 11 years, [Online] http://uk.kantar.com/consumer/shoppers/070514-kantar-worldpanel-uk-grocery-share-data-april-2014/ [Accessed online on 01/11/2014] J.Sainsbury’s plc, 2014. Annual Report and accounts 2013-2014. [Online]. http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/2064053/sainsbury_s_annual_report_and_ accounts_ 13-14.pdf. 2014. [Accessed online on 01/11/2014] Laurent, C.R. Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of financial ratio analysis. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting. [Online] Vol 6(3). 2006. p401-413. McLaney, E. J., Atrill. P. (2008). Accounting and finance : an introduction. Fourth edition. Harlow: Pearson. Palepu, K. Healy, P. (2008) Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements. Mason:Thomson Learning WM Morrison’s Supermarkets plc , 2014. Morrison’s Annual Report 13-14 [Online]. http://annualreport.marksandspencer.com/downloads/MS_AR2014_Annual_Report.pdf [Accessed online on 01/11/2014]

Main Trends in Births and Deaths in the United Kingdom Essay

The birth rate of a country refers to the number of live births per thousand of the population per year. The general trend for the UK is that there has been a decline in the birth rate since 1900 however there have been fluctuations in the rate due e.g. After World War 1 & 2 and in the 1960s. Sociologists believe this is because of four major factors: changes in gender roles, falling infant mortality, children being seen as an economic burden and our society becoming more child centred. A main part of the decline can be explained in terms of women simply choosing to have fewer children. As the position of women in society has changed overtime, they have chosen to delay childbearing and to limit the number of children they are having because of several factors. Women now have equality with men because of the Equality Act 2010 as well as receiving increased educational and employment opportunities. Other ways in which women’s position has changed is that there is now easier access to divorce, contraception and abortion meaning that they can avoid unwanted pregnancy so have full choice over when they have a child. Beck and Back-Gernsheim(1995) said that the changes in the birth and fertility rate are due to individualisation meaning that people have more choice to follow their own norms and values as well as making their own decisions, rather the following what society deems acceptable. Also the falling infant mortality rate (number of children dying before their first birthday per thousand of live births) has fallen dramatically as a result of factors such as better living standards, improved hygiene and sanitation, improvements to healthcare and the developments made to the welfare state. Geographers explain that these circumstances lead to a demographic revolution in which birth and fertility fall because women no longer feel they need to have a large number of childre n to protect against the risk of infant mortality. It is clear that the attitudes towards children have changed and society in general has become more child-centred, meaning that we are now more concerned about the welfare of children than in the past. The social norms about childcare have changed significantly and the time and costs involved in raising children have significantly increased, therefore making a large family economically unattractive. In the early 19th century children were often seen as an economic asset because they were able to work and contribute towards the family income at a relatively young age however nowadays legislation has  banned children from working and has also increased the time that children have to stay in education for..Because of this, children are financially dependent on their parents for longer so are seen more as an economic burden rather than an asset. As well as this, due to the improvement of the welfare provision for the elderly, parents no longer need to worry as much about having large a mounts of children to look after them once they are elderly. Since people are now having fewer children, the dependency ratio, along with the birth rate has decreased meaning that there are fewer dependents within the population leading to less childcare and school services needed. Although there has been a decline in the birth rate, the amount of deaths occurring in the UK remains steady and the death rate is decreasing because of the growing population since 1900. The death rate refers to the number of people dying per thousand of the population per year. The average life expectancy is now around 78 years for men and 82 years for women whereas in 1900 it was 45 years for men and 48 for women. This tells us that people are staying healthier for longer and this is because of a number of factors including: improved nutrition and living standards, developments in medicine and improved government provisions of welfare and health. It has been said that over half the decline is the death rate is due to the decrease of infectious diseases and McKeow n(1972) argues that most of the fall in the death rate took place before immunisation and was based mainly on good nutrition and hygiene. Studies by Rowntree and others (1899, 1950) found a rapid decline in absolute poverty meaning that people have better living standards which have allowed significant improvements to diet that help increase resistance to some infectious diseases Medical knowledge has improved dramatically since 1900 because of the establishment of the NHS in 1949 as well as a better knowledge of antibiotics, surgery, treatment and immunisation which have helped decrease the death rate. The government also continues to make provisions for those who need it e.g. EMA, careers allowance, working class credits which allow people to have a better quality of life. After the Beveridge Report of 1944, the range of welfare provisions available has expanded and become more universally available. It provided protection against risk factors such as old age through pensions, and low income through housing benefits, unemployment benefit and the benefit now called income support. There are many of other factors involved in the  decrease of the death rate including that there are a lot less dangerous occupations available to people e.g. mining and factory working as well as having higher incomes meaning that people are able to afford better foods and medicines which contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals. It is evident that even as the population of the UK increases, the death rate and birth rate are both decreasing. These are both because of a number of factors however the most important for both seem to be the improvement of medical knowledge and practices which stop people from becoming ill and include important things such as medicines, contraception and support services for those who become pregnant or suffer with diseases.

Sleep Disorders in Children Medicine Essay

Sleep Disorders in Children Medicine Essay Sleep Disorders in Children Medicine Essay Sleep Disorders in Children Medicine Essay Sleep is an intricate neurological state, which has a main function of providing rest and restoring the energy levels of the body. The importance of sleep can be witnessed from the fact that person’s spends a third of his or her live in sleep. It is an active rhythmic neurological process stimulated by numerous areas of the brain. Moreover, sleep can also be a tool for measuring the overall health of a person. Often, healthy individuals tend to sleep well, while people suffering from different medical or mental conditions can experience repeated sleeping problems. Changes in the quantity, quality, as well as the pattern of sleep may lead to the development of sleep disorders. Continuous or regular interruption of sleep also affects the health of an individual. Sleep disorders, also known as somnipathy, can be defined as a medical condition that interferes with the sleep patterns of an individual or an animal. Some deviations can be more serious to the extent that they affect the normal mental, physical, and emotional functioning of a person. The number of cases of sleep- related disorders has been on the rise over the last few years, especially among the students. More than a third of students experience some sleeping problems (Monti, Jaime, and Daniel 33). The disorders are harmful to students’ daily life, so students should go to sleep on time. The current paper reviews the causes, types, prevention, and effects of sleep related disorders among school going children. The Role and Effects of Sleep Loss Sleep is the foundation of behavior and physiology. The scientists divide sleep pattern is into two forms: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) phases. The alternation between the two occurs at an interval of about ninety minutes, making it between four to five cycles during a night of a normal sleep. Sleep plays a significant role in human life and wellbeing. Even though scientists have not yet found the reason why people need sleep, studies on animals suggests that it is a necessity for survival. In fact, sleep enables the body to repair and rejuvenate. During sleep, most of the body cells exhibit an increased production of proteins, which are necessary for the cell growth and repair of damages from stress and environmental factors, like UV rays. Studies claim that many biochemical and physiological processes take place during sleep, which has made many researchers agree that sleep is crucial for health and wellness. The purpose of sleep can also be seen from a different angle by assessing the impacts of sleep loss on the physiological and cognitive functions of a person. Some of the activities include emotional control, memory, complex thought, and motor response. Apart from the above functions, previous studies have shown that the loss of sleep may have detrimental effects on the immune and the endocrine systems, and may lead to several health concerns such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Moreover, sleep loss affects moods of an individual. In fact, the irritation increases for a person after a sleepless night. Increasing evidence has linked inadequate sleep with anger, sadness, and anxiety. Students and Sleep Patterns Students are more probable to suffer from excessive study pressure, and short sleeping hours, hence may have sleep disorders. Since the sleeping disorders affect the physiological and cognitive functions of a person, such students may show a poor emotional control and decreased memory. The students may also have poor concentration ability in class and will have a problem in learning. The complex thought of the sleep deprived people will also be affected. In most cases, the affected students are likely to choose simple tasks and avoid the difficult ones. The complex thought enables a person to stand up to challenges and develop solutions for complicated challenges. Hence, the sleep deprived person will tend to avoid the difficult tasks when the complex thought is compromised (Hsu et al. 112). Causes of Sleep-Related Disorders The causes of sleep-related disorders are numerous. Although the contributing factors are different, the end result of the sleep-related disorder is that the natural cycle of rest at night and activity at daytime is disrupted or inhibited. The causative aspects of sleep problems include physical disturbances, medical conditions such as asthma, psychiatric disorders, as well as environmental factors. Other recognized causes of sleeping disorders are the changes in the student’s daily schedules, emotional and health conditions, adoption to the adult world, the exam proximity, stress, physical disorders, and lifestyle factors. An alteration in the plan of an individual’s daily schedule may cause some problems in the sleeping arrangement of the person. A shift of a work schedule may be a cause of discomfort. In fact, people who work at night often suffer from sleeping disorders. The reason is that the subjects may not be able to sleep when they feel drowsy due to their responsibilities. Thus, their duties and activities conflict with their biological clocks. The emotional distress, physical illnesses, as well as medical states also lead to sleep problems. The health issues such as asthma causes problems in proper breathing, which in turn interferes with sleep of the individual. Other physical disturbances such as pains from ulcers or other traumas affect the rest cycles, leading to a sleeping problem. Moreover, external issues such as alcohol and other substance abuse cause sleep-related problems. Moreover, substance abuse can result in other conditions like delirium tremors that include sleep loss as a symptom. The most significant causes of sleeping disorders in students are the psychiatric or psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. The conditions generally result to stress, which is one of the main reasons why students develop sleep-related problems. The students might be anxious because of proximity of an exam, or they may be depressed due to the unsatisfying exam results. In fact, the proximity of an exam may force the students to change their rest-activity patterns, or may reduce the number of sleeping hour by increasing study time. In most of the cases, sleep problems are temporary, but they may last for a long time. Moreover, other causes of sleep-related disorders are genetics and aging. Researchers have found that narcolepsy, a brain disorder of sleep regulation that interferes with the control of sleep and wakefulness is genetically predisposed. Store (76) confirms that persons over the age of sixty five experience some sorts of sleep challenges or even disorders. The primary sleep disorders are caused by disturbance in mechanisms related to sleep-wake generating and timing, which may be either dyssomnias or parasomnias. Dyssomnias are related to the quality, amount or timing sleep disfunctioning. Parasomnias are associated with the unusual experiences or behaviors that occur during sleep. The conditions and the psychological events may interfere with certain processes of normal functioning, leading to a disruption of sleep-wake cycle transition. In general, most of the sleep disorders relate to another mental condition, which may medically, environmentally, or substance induced (Monti, Jaime, and Daniel 37). Generally, the indications of sleep disorders differ from one disorder to another. Most of the disorders include the symptoms listed below. Lack of the ability to fall and stay asleep at night and persistent daytime sleepiness are correlated contributing factors. Also, loud snoring sounds during sleep disrupt the rest cycles. Sleep doses, or unintended episodes of falling asleep are another factor leading to sleep disorders. Loss of muscle control or inability to move during sleep affects the organism functioning. Finally, abnormal behaviors such as sleepwalking or sleep terrors are a major issue for people. Individuals are encouraged to discuss any sleep-related problem they may experience with a neurologist or any primary care provider because the symptom often might be caused by an underlying medical condition. The neurologist will be able to diagnose and assist in managing the disorder. Diagnosis of sleeping disorder entails an evaluation of the symptoms by the neurologist, in addition to some tests such as daytime sleepiness. Keeping of sleep history is also important in the process of diagnosis. Types of Sleeping Disorders There are more than a hundred recognized sleep disorders as per the international classification manual. However, the most common sleep problems are divided into three main groupings including disorders that produce insomnia, disturb sleep, and cause daytime drowsiness. They are grouped into insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, sleepwalking, and sleep-related disorders. The types are discussed below in detail. Insomnia Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep issue across the general population. It describes as the inability to fall asleep for a sufficient time to give a feeling of being rested or refreshed the following day. Insomnia can be viewed as constitutional in nature, but evidence has shown that it can develop due to psychiatric problems, including depression or substance abuse if untreated. In fact, depression can cause insomnia, while insomnia can also cause depression. Individuals suffering from sleep condition experience a general increase in arousal and secretion of cortisol. Treatment of insomnia requires medication usage, and there are several pharmacological choices available. Among the chemical treatment choice, the benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines are the most approved. Treatment of insomnia can also be done by addressing the underlying problem, especially by use of medication. Finally, cognitive behavioral treatment, although time consuming, may also be successful if properly strategized (Roth and Thomas 32). Sleep Apnea The condition is one of most prevalent sleep disorder, in which breathing momentarily stops during sleeping due to the obstruction of the upper respiratory system. The blockage may be a consequence of a fall in the blood oxygen. The halts in breathing interrupt sleep, resulting in many awakenings in the night. Although most people with sleep apnea do not remember the awakenings, they will experience exhaustion during the following day. Moreover, the condition also causes irritation and depression, and reduces productivity. Sleep apnea is a warning light of a possible presence of a cardiac condition or type 2 diabetes. The disorder is serious and life threatening illness; hence should be addressed as soon as possible. Symptoms include loud persistent snoring, regular choking during sleep, exhaustion during the day, chest pain, and nasal blockage among others. A sleep disorder test polysomnography is used to confirm the diagnosis of apnea and to measure the seriousness. Narcolepsy The neurological disorder affects one in two thousand persons. It is symptomized by a propensity to fall asleep during the day, despite having sufficient amount of sleep in the night. The other symptoms include sudden short attacks of muscle weakness, hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations, automatic behavior, and sleep paralysis. The study of narcolepsy has revealed that wakefulness and sleep are not equally distributed states; and that one state can encroach into the other, normally resulting in striking consequences. Narcolepsy is genetically predisposed, although environmental factors can also trigger the condition. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) RLS is a sleep disorder causing a stout, mostly irresistible desire to move one’s legs accompanied by tingling and uncomfortable sensations. The condition causes a problem in attaining proper sleep and maintaining it. It results from prolonged sitting or lying down. The discomforts of RLS occur particularly during the transition from wake to sleep. Although it cuts across all ages, RLS is more common in older adults and is more prevalent among women than men. Development of RLS is caused by several medical problems including renal disease, RA, and other illnesses. Research has also found that it is genetically predisposed; and the fact explains why RLS is often seen to run in families. Treatment varies with intensity, ranging from massage to pharmaceutical medication. The majority of the cases respond to benzodiazepines, anti-Parkinsonian agents, anticonvulsants, and opiates. Treating of the underlying medical condition is paramount. Sleepwalking Sleepwalking happens when an individual seems to be awake, with open eyes, but he or she is actually in a deep slumber. It is more common in children between six to twelve years, but it also affects adults. The duration of episodes varies on individual basis, and patients usually have little or no memory of their undertakings. Sleep-Related Disorders A good number of mental, neurological, as well as other medical disorders are related to disturbances of sleep and wakefulness. The line between physiological and mental is very thin, and they often intertwine. Nearly all mental disorders are related to sleep disturbances. Mood disorders, psychoses, alcoholism, panic disorders, and anxiety disorders are mostly present in patients who have sleep complaints. Also, most psychotic patients suffer from some degree of sleep disturbance across the course of the disease. Degenerative disorders, headaches, and epilepsy are the most common neurological conditions associated with sleep deprivation and disorders. They also include Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and cerebral degenerative disorders (Kim and Woo Sung 173). Moreover, the other medical conditions have presentations occurring during sleep or interfering with the normal sleep cycle. Gastro esophageal reflux, sleep related asthma and nocturnal cardiac ischemia are the examples of the medical conditions that happen during sleep. For example, sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease found rarely in Africa, which presents disturbed sleep cycle with night-time insomnia and daytime sleepiness. Prevention and Treatment of Sleeping Disorders Most of the sleep disorders can be prevented and treated at all stages. Regardless of the advances in the recognition and description of sleeping disorders, a slight progress in prevention, suggestions to personalized care and treatment has been developed. More research is necessary to develop prevention plans, discover more available and affordable diagnostic techniques, establish personalized treatment, and improve the prevailing management. It is estimated that most individuals with sleep disorders misdiagnosed, undiagnosed and insufficiently treated. Furthermore, accessibility to care and treatment is restricted due to the fact that the management of such disorders often requires specialized training, which is costly and time-consuming engagement. There is an unmet necessity for personalized treatment and pocket-friendly methods. The available knowledge and data on sleep disorders provides scientific background for the much needed advances. Generally, sleep disorders can be prevented through various conventional methods. The best approaches are to avoid the known predisposing risk factors, and most importantly is to treat the underlying medical conditions. The importance of programs directed at the community service and public awareness of sleep disorders is a crucial factor in prevention strategy. There should be a close partnership between sleep medicine and basic science which could lead to a positive contribution to medical research and patient management. Treatment of sleep disorders can be achieved either through the use of medications, or by the application of behavioral methods. On the one hand, the medication approach employs neurological-acting drugs, such as depressants, which treat the underlying mental or medical conditions. On the other hand, behavioral treatment employs several techniques like relaxation training, cognitive therapy, stimulus control, sleep restriction therapy, as well as sleep hygiene (Moon and Hwa Sik 267). Sleep disorders are a group of medical conditions that interferes with the sleep patterns of an individual. Some of the disorders can be severe to the degree that poses tremendous effects to the normal functioning of the mental, emotional, and physical components of an individual. There has been a rising trend of sleep disorder cases globally, especially among students. Sleep is very important for life, as it helps the body rejuvenate and rest. Moreover, lack of sleep makes a person drowsy during the day, hence reduces productivity. The biggest problem of most students is that they choose such lifestyle. The amount of sleep that a student gets influences academic achievements and success. Generally, sufficient sleep improves the physical health and mental concentration. On the contrary, lack of sleep increases the chances of various medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. However, the advantageous fact is that most of these disorders can be prevented and treated, whereby treatment can either by use of drugs or behavioral treatment. However, students should not allow the sleep deprivation to reach critical levels, as there is a challenge of accessing the services. Indeed, accessibility to care and treatment is restricted due to the fact that the management often requires specialized training that is a costly and time consuming engagement. In order to address the problem, the stakeholders should work together closely to improve the medical science, so as to increase the quality of managem ent and care given to the individuals suffering from sleep disorders as well as sleep-related problems.

Revising with the Present Perfect

Revising with the Present Perfect Revising with the Present Perfect Revising with the Present Perfect By Maeve Maddox The following item appeared in the column of one-sentence news items on the front page of my morning newspaper: William Bradford Bishop Jr., who was a State Department employee in 1976 when he is suspected of killing his wife, mother and three sons, was added to the FBI’s list of â€Å"Ten Most Wanted Fugitives,† drawing renewed attention to the case. Conveying a coherent report in 50 words or less is quite a feat, and the writers in my paper usually do an amazingly good job of it. Nevertheless, this strange assortment of verb tenses left my grammar nerve twitching. The principal fact being reported is that the FBI has added Bishop to the list of â€Å"Most Wanted Fugitives.† Next in importance is the reason for which Bishop was added to the list: he is a suspected murderer. Last in importance is the fact of Bishop’s employment at the time of the murders. All three facts refer to past events, so present tense is definitely does not belong. Changing the is to was would help, but then we would have: â€Å"Bishop, who was an employee in 1976 when he was suspected, was added to the list.† Not only does this revision produce a litany of three wases in a row, it obscures the most recent event being reported: the fact that the man has been added to the â€Å"Most Wanted Fugitives† list. What we need is a tense that will distinguish the most recent past from the remoter past. Enter the present perfect: William Bradford Bishop Jr., suspected of killing his wife, mother and three sons in 1976 when he was a State Department employee, has been added to the FBI’s list of â€Å"Ten Most Wanted Fugitives,† drawing renewed attention to the case. Both was added (simple past) and has been added (present perfect) describe completed actions, but the present perfect describes a completed action that is still relevant in the present. The present tense auxiliary has adds an immediacy to the news item that alerts the reader to which of the three facts being reported is the most recent. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?45 Synonyms for â€Å"Old† and â€Å"Old-Fashioned†30 Nautical Expressions

Glass Ceiling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Glass Ceiling - Research Paper Example This means that even though women are currently able to move up to higher positions, at a certain point they are stopped by an unseen barrier. This is experienced by those who are hindered from being promoted because of their ethnic affiliation and/or because they are women. Still, progress has been made in the last ten years. According to the CEO of Highfield Human Solutions, Sherilyn Shackell, â€Å"There is no doubt that women have progressed considerably among our global workforce, especially over the last few decades† (AMA, 2010, para 7). She further added, â€Å"Yet, despite reports that women are breaking through the ‘glass ceiling,’ it appears that the ceiling is just ‘slightly cracked’ rather than broken† (AMA, 2010, para 7). The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) research in 2010 reported several disturbing trends: a mere 20 per cent of all executives are women, with almost 50 per cent of respondents admitting the total absence of women within the executive committee group; and, roughly 10 per cent of executive members belong to minority groups (AMA, 2010, para 4-6). Still, in spite of all the protests against the glass ceiling, corporate America is in fact accomplishing much in terms of allowing women to occupy powerful corporate positions. In fact, as stated in the survey of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States has the least discrepancy between the percentage of women occupying senior management posts and the percentage of male senior managers (Rampell, 2013). Since the 1960s’ social turmoil, the American government has been vigorously engaged in prohibiting gender discrimination in organizations. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the key statute addressing the issues of glass ceiling. The law firmly forbids all kinds of discrimination based on national origin, sex, religion, or race in the workplace (Palmer &

Reactions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reactions - Assignment Example Its current liabilities have witnessed unsteady change, increasing between 2009 and 2011 and decreasing steadily between 2012 and 2013. Both the shareholders equity and borrowings have been at acceptable levels. This company is economically stable and growing upwards. This is the company that has been advocating for standards of media communication that observes certain values and principles of integrity, liberty and voluntary press. The financial muscles of this Santa Ana based communication company have grown over the years. It has seen a steady growth in terms of the profits accrued over the period of five years from 2009 to 2013. This has seen the marginal profit go to figures above 12 million US dollars. Its long term obligations have also decreased with huge little marginal figures between 2009 and 2013 to an amount of 11 billion US dollars. The rate of recuperation for this company is admirable and it’s one of the fastest growing companies. This company is one of the major modern publishers in the rapidly growing economy of China. The company operates mostly on the cultural publications. It operates on academic material and referencing tools with Chinese dictionaries like the Xhinua dictionary. This company has grown in revenue with 2005 figures amounting to about 540 Yuan. The company has also realized profits of over 50 million Yuan over the period of time form 2005. The company majors in reference book publishing which contribute over 60% of the profit. I think the production strategy should be changed as the company relies majorly on the production of reference books. This can be disastrous for the company if returns in this area of business go down. It should therefore distribute the publications evenly across all the products it offers for more security. This is a television network providing company with numerous TV channels

Peter Singer's All Animals are Equal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peter Singer's All Animals are Equal - Essay Example I am urging that we extend to other species the basic principle of equality that most of us recognize should be extended to all members of our own species.† (Singer, 1989) In my opinion, Singer would better communicate his point if he preached on the necessity of compassion for animals, but in this instance, he suggests a quality of rights with humans. To show how quickly Singer’s logic contradicts itself or quickly spirals to the absurd, we can begin with the innumerable treaties that exist in international law that define the extent of Human Rights as decided among humans themselves at the United Nations and other locations. First, we must ask ourselves – can even one animal read the â€Å"Universal Declaration of Human Rights†? We can accept that any human being, in any human culture on the planet, generally save instances of abnormal injury, can learn to read and understand the document. In comparison, of what may be anywhere from 30 to 230 million different species of animals on the planet, depending on the number of insects, and the number of individual animal beings literally exponential and uncountable to human mind or science – not one of these animals can read. In recognizing that some higher mammals can be taught, should one extend the right of education and free speech to insects? It is not in my interest to encourage in any way cruelty to animals, nor to belittle animal intelligence, and dismiss animal culture. I understand the ways in which speciesism may unfold, as defined by Skinner, and support vegetarianism. However, I would suggest that Singer spend years in a jungle or forest location and teach vegetarianism to animals. It may be possible, and I have seen cats for example raised as vegetarians by their owners but not renounce killing by their own choice.

Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character Essay Example for Free

Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character Essay Steinbeck is interested in the ways hardship and suffering human character. Discuss how this is portrayed in Of Mice And Men Of Mice and Men is a novel very much affected by the time in which its author lived. Steinbeck wrote and set Of Mice And Men in a time of great economic change in America, when the countrys 125,000 threshers (men who harvested grain- Californias major product) were slowly being replaced for the new and more efficient form of harvesting-mechanical combines. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 heralded the start of the Great Depression that swept America in the 1930s, and the consequences of this on farming was compacted and increased with the famous dust bowl crisis, forcing many farmers into poverty and immense debt. Migrant farm workers such as Lennie and George fuelled and made possible the intensive farming economy. They travelled many miles by foot or other cheap forms of transportation for a temporary job that would pay enough to survive on, only to be told to leave when they were no longer needed. They would then have to wait for the next vacancy available. In these conditions men most usually travelled alone- it was hard to form any stable relationships in a life where it was vital to travel so often and when self-survival was more important than anyone elses. Its in this world of self survival that John Steinbeck based Of Mice And Men, which is a portrayal of effects these conditions can have on human nature. The most prominent of these effects in the novel itself is loneliness, (a major theme) which is present in some way in every one of Steinbecks characters. The book itself has been described as a symphony of lonliness. In a world where ones own survival and well-being is priority and you are mostly alone, the workers became very isolated. The effects of the lack of friendship, love or compassion on the workers have made them unable to relate in any way to anyone but themselves, and the self-importance that is forced to become their priority renders them unable to feel much pity or empathy for anyone or anything, turning them inwards and embittered towards a world which hasnt treated them well. They all live an existence in which every day is taken as it comes, each one matters in the fight for survival. They do not think in the long term, they spend the small wages they receive as soon as they can in taverns and whore-houses, they do not have dreams of the future. Loneliness effects some characters in other ways. For example, Curleys wife lives a life rivalling and arguably, exceeding the workers in isolation and loneliness. She has entered into a loveless and -the suggestion is- brutal marriage on a ranch full of wary, frightened and suspicious men with no-one to talk to, no love or tenderness, no prospect of change or escape from it. Unlike the men, she also has no motivation to survive. The workers aim in life is to survive, to keep on going, to keep on surviving through all the deprivation, as some still have prospects for change. Curleys wife is stuck at a figurative dead-end. She has arrived at the place she will remain for most probably the rest of her life, in an incessant routine of lonely, endless monotony. It is this isolation and the dissapointment of niave dreams of Hollywood and broken trust that has turned her into the character we are presented with in the beginning chapters of the book. The whore, the slut, the jail-bait, and the tart are her own form of survival- whereas the men have had to become totally self-interested and self-dependent in order to survive, Curleys wife has had to survive by attempting to gain power and attention in the only way she can in a ranch full of men- through sexual supremacy. However it appears there are infact two characters in the novel less affected by the isolation than the other characters, Slim and Lennie. It could be argued that George is also less affected, as his friendship with Lennie saves him from turning totally inward. Lennies friendship and care stop George from becoming like the other ranch workers, as he has to think about Lennies well being in addition to his own. George and Lennies relationship is almost more like that of a parent and child than of friends, and George has to look after Lennie, therefore George thinks about someone other than himself. So far his relationship has had its downsides, because as this isnt a normal friendship and Lennie is less capable mentally, Lennie keeps getting George into trouble. This proves that George needs to become isolated, lonely and inward as the others if he wants to be able successfully to survive. The conditions of the workers affect them in sad, terrible ways, yet its interesting that they actually need to be behave in this way if they want to survive. There is a strange need for loneliness and isolation, and this is how loneliness effects George and ultimately, George and Lennies friendship.

Sports in Tibet :: Buddhism Recreation Culture Papers

Sports in Tibet When one hears mention of Tibet certain things initially come to mind, most commonly images of an isolated, peaceful, extremely religious society. One of the last things one would imagine from such a seemingly docile people would be a history deeply entwined with athletic showmanship, yet this actually is the case. Unfortunately most historians overlook this pivotal piece of information when studying the Tibetans’ rich culture and consequently the casual scholar rarely sees this side of the Tibetan people. One of the factors that may have influenced this attitude towards Tibetan sports is that the Dalai Lama has in fact previously banned certain sports citing various religious reasons. This may lead people to believe that the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism, in principal, are against all sport, although in reality many of the Dalai Lamas have been quite the opposite. The banning of certain sports was mainly due to the fear of outside influence corrupting Tibet as o pposed to actual problems with the sports themselves. Tibetans have a strong historical bond with sport and use religion as an excuse to expel foreign authority. Sports have played an integral role in defining the culture of Tibet. They are commonplace at the various religious festivals throughout the year. Oftentimes entire religious festivals are based around traditional athletic sporting events. Sir Charles Bell, an English diplomat who was an intimate of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, witnessed one of these annual festivals noting that, During the concluding days of the ‘Great Prayer’ there were sports of various kinds, gun-firing and arrow-shooting on galloping ponies, a pony race without riders, a foot-race over a 6-mile course, wrestling, and the carrying of a heavy weight. These sports are presided over by two masters of ceremonies, who are chosen from the youngest officials just beginning their career. They are attended by a large staff, including six Maids of Honour chosen from the ladies of Lhasa.[1] Heinrich Harrer, another westerner who found himself immersed in Tibetan culture, witnessed a similar annual festival, this one taking place during the Tibetan New Year.[2] Both of these festivals show the deep connection between religious activities and athletic events. The sporting events not only take place during religiously significant festivals but they are presided over by monks and other religious figures. Sports in Tibet :: Buddhism Recreation Culture Papers Sports in Tibet When one hears mention of Tibet certain things initially come to mind, most commonly images of an isolated, peaceful, extremely religious society. One of the last things one would imagine from such a seemingly docile people would be a history deeply entwined with athletic showmanship, yet this actually is the case. Unfortunately most historians overlook this pivotal piece of information when studying the Tibetans’ rich culture and consequently the casual scholar rarely sees this side of the Tibetan people. One of the factors that may have influenced this attitude towards Tibetan sports is that the Dalai Lama has in fact previously banned certain sports citing various religious reasons. This may lead people to believe that the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism, in principal, are against all sport, although in reality many of the Dalai Lamas have been quite the opposite. The banning of certain sports was mainly due to the fear of outside influence corrupting Tibet as o pposed to actual problems with the sports themselves. Tibetans have a strong historical bond with sport and use religion as an excuse to expel foreign authority. Sports have played an integral role in defining the culture of Tibet. They are commonplace at the various religious festivals throughout the year. Oftentimes entire religious festivals are based around traditional athletic sporting events. Sir Charles Bell, an English diplomat who was an intimate of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, witnessed one of these annual festivals noting that, During the concluding days of the ‘Great Prayer’ there were sports of various kinds, gun-firing and arrow-shooting on galloping ponies, a pony race without riders, a foot-race over a 6-mile course, wrestling, and the carrying of a heavy weight. These sports are presided over by two masters of ceremonies, who are chosen from the youngest officials just beginning their career. They are attended by a large staff, including six Maids of Honour chosen from the ladies of Lhasa.[1] Heinrich Harrer, another westerner who found himself immersed in Tibetan culture, witnessed a similar annual festival, this one taking place during the Tibetan New Year.[2] Both of these festivals show the deep connection between religious activities and athletic events. The sporting events not only take place during religiously significant festivals but they are presided over by monks and other religious figures.

Review of Own Leadership Behaviour Essay

B Braun Medical Ltd is one of the worlds leading healthcare suppliers. Our company’s success can be attributed to its employee’s belief in the overall goal of the company and the dedication to achieve them. I work within the Supply Chain Customer Care Department as a Leader of the Emerald Prescription Service, a home delivery business supplying long or short term patients delivery off stoma and incontinence products to there home address. We are a dedicated, compassionate team consisting of six personnel, we look after approximately 2,000 patients who use our service around the UK. We as a team pride ourselves on the fact we are all cross trained and have the ability to undergo anyone’s role if required. I as a leader believe it is important for everyone in the team including myself to be able to carry out any of our procedures with confidence and ease. Various roles within our team are carried out daily in order to supply a slick pro-active service to our patients, which include regular telephone contact with the patients, monthly ordering to ensure they always have supply, contacting GP’s on there behalf to obtain there prescription to dispense there products. Offering hospital specialist stoma and urology nurses a dedicated telephone line so we are able to supply urgent stock to there patients, regular contact with our field based sales staff to communicate wins and falls in achievement and how to improve if something does go wrong. We are a compassionate team pod and have to be when dealing with people. I naturally sit in a democratic leadership model and have strengths which sit in this style, I am a motivated, supportive, calm self confident leader. I listen and communicate well using positive banter and body language. I will encourage idea’s from my team and I give praise and recognition on a good job done. I can adapt well to change and will try new things. Sometimes faced with office culture (tickle tackle) I can face this head on and any problems within my team are ironed out as soon as they occur. I can read a persons personality and situation well and will deal with whatever happens in an appropriate way. To support my theory on my democratic leadership style I carried out a questionnaire with my team please see appendix 1 attached. Our team constantly bring new ideas to the table and our business is in growth and in order to meet this growth we hold monthly meetings. These meetings have advantages and are interactive. They are great for instant feedback, the same information is outlined at the same time making it fair and avoids Chinese whispers. You can get an instant verification of understanding with a clear action plan in place before leaving the meeting and as we are currently looking at improving our procedures to meet business demands the meeting is a priceless tool! Minutes are also issued to backup any member who needs clarification. I also carry out one on ones with my team members a company procedure with yearly objectives set please see examples off these objectives in appendix two. We discuss achievements of these objectives and I give praise, feedback and guidance if required. This helps me to build a strong, flexible and highly effective team with mutual trust for one another.

Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 28

Remember the time we broke Mothers crystal bowl? And I was so worried about how she would react that I cried?† I asked. â€Å"Yes, and then Father decided I was to blame and whipped me and called me wicked,† Damon said dully. â€Å"I tried to make your life easier, little brother. But Im done. This time, I want you to get exactly what you deserve.† â€Å"What do you want me to say, Damon?† I asked angrily, so loudly the two guards looked up in surprise. Damon paused, his eyes at half-mast. â€Å"Ill tell you exactly what I want you to say right before I kill you.† I rolled my eyes in angry frustration. â€Å"I thought you were the one who wanted to die. And now youre going to kill me?† Damon chuckled. â€Å"You know, now that I think about it, being a beast from hell might not be so bad. In fact, I think its a role I could take to, immensely. Perhaps it wasnt my newfound state I despised. It wasyou. But if youre gone–â€Å" â€Å"If Im gone youll be in Patrick Gallaghers freak show forever,† I interrupted. â€Å"But admit it, brother. Dont you think Patrick Gallaghers freak show is more fun than hell? And once I get some strength, I think I can plan an escape quite easily.† â€Å"And then Im sure youll get caught, just as you did the first time,† I said in disgust. I leaned my head back against the cage bars. The fight was one short hour away, and I hadnt given up on trying to engage Damon, to spark any possible thread of connection between us. But no matter what Id say, hed taunt me or ignore me. It was impossible to know just how long wed been trapped. Since I had become a vampire, time had taken on a different quality. Seconds and minutes no longer mattered. I found being imprisoned gave time back its importance, because every second brought us closer to our battle. As I waited, I played out in my mind the various scenarios the fight could take. I pictured Damon snapping my neck, roaring triumphantly for the crowd. I saw myself succumbing to anger, accidentally stealing life from my brother–again. But what would happen if we both refused to fight? Could we take on the entire audience together? Could we somehow engineer an escape? Yes, Gallaghers minions had vervain and stakes, but we had Power. If only I had Callie on my side My heart panged painfully at the thought of Callies betrayal. The image of her flame-red hair and gleaming eyes floated to my mind constantly, inflaming my anger–and hurt–over and over. I curled my fists. If only Id listened to Lexi. If only I hadnt let a human in. My only goal for the battle was that, if I should die, I would die with my eyes closed, instead of searching the crowd for her face. â€Å"Lets go, boys!† Gallagher called out, pushing open the door as if he were rousing two children for a bright and early hike. He wore a black waistcoat and a brand-new gold watch that glinted in the weak sunlight. He snapped his fingers, and instantly the guards jumped to their feet, bustling to put on the makeshift uniform of a vampire handler: gloves, boots, and vervain-soaked garlands. The door of the cage flew open, and guards roughly yanked us out, tightened muzzles around our fangs, and shackled our hands behind our backs. We were blindfolded, then marched out of the attic and into the back of a black iron wagon. The wagon took off, bumpily heading down to the lake. When we arrived at the tent, we were marched in opposite directions. â€Å"Boo!† â€Å"Freak!† I heard the sideshow acts hiss as I was marched through the backstage area. I tightened my jaw. I wondered if Lexi wondered where I was, if she thought I was already dead. Though I was still blindfolded, I knew every inch of this tent. To the left was the tattooed woman, and to the right was Caroline, the bearded lady. The floor dipped down, and I knew I was in the arena. I felt something grab my arm. â€Å"Ive told a lot of people about what a crafty one you are. But dont try too hard for my benefit, Mr. Salvatore. My money is on your brother,† Jasper whispered gleefully. Finally, the blindfold was removed from my eyes. The tent was lit up like it was midday, and all the stands were crammed with people. At the center of the ring, Gallagher had set up a betting pool, where people frantically waved bills in the air. Organ music filled the tent, and the air smelled like candied apples and rum punch. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Callie was weaving through the stands, and behind her was Buck, carrying a tin box. Her hair was plaited with vervain stems, and her face was pale. Shed obviously been dispatched to collect bets in the stand. She was certainly her fathers daughter, and she fulfilled her duties well. She did not look at me once. I tore my gaze away from her and forced it over to Damon on the opposite side of the ring. Damon had always been a good fighter, and his recent bouts had only strengthened him. If Damon wanted to kill me, he would. Moreover, I would let him. I owed him that much. Jasper struck the starting bell, and the crowd hushed. Gallagher stood up from his post in the betting pit and boomed: â€Å"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another fine evening of sport made possible by yours truly, Patrick Gallagher. Only days ago, we brought you the first-ever fight between a vampire and a mountain lion. Tonight, we bring you the first-ever fight between two vampires, including the winner of that previous match. And not only that,† he said, dropping his voice and causing the crowd to hush and lean forward, â€Å"these two monsters are brothers. They came from the same womb, and now one of them will be heading straight to hell.† A rock hit me in the back of the head, and I whirled around. Vervain was everywhere, causing the sea of faces to blend together in a nightmarish collage of eyes, noses, and open mouths. â€Å"Brother, I'm sorry for anything I've done. Please. If we die, let's not die in anger. We're all we have,† I whispered, clenching my jaw and trying, one last time, to reach Damon. Damon looked up for a split second and jerked his head, but his expression was unreadable. In the center of the ring, Gallagher was still commanding the audiences attention. â€Å"The book will be open for another five minutes for final bets. But!–† He raised his hand in the air, attempting to silence the crowd. The noise in the tent dulled, if only slightly. â€Å"Stay after the show, when well be selling the losers blood. Even a dead vampires blood has healing powers. Cures all ailments. Even ones in the bedroom.† Gallagher winked showily. The crowd catcalled and cheered. I stiffened, wondering whether the crowd thought this was all an act: that we were down-on-our-luck actors and that the blood Gallagher sold after the show would be some type of cherry cordial. Did anyone know that all the blood would be real, that the fallen loser in the center of the ring wouldnt be standing up and heading home once the tent was emptied? Callie knew. Callie knew, and she had decided that this would be my fate. I again clenched my jaw, ready to fight, ready to give the audience the show it was looking for. Suddenly, I found myself being led around the ring by Jasper, giving the audience one final chance to scrutinize my strength before raising their stakes. I could hear snatches of conversation from all sides of the tent: That one's got an inch on the other. I'm swapping sides. How'd your old lady like one of those for your anniversary? I wonder how they'd do against a real lion. A man dressed in clerical robes stood next to Gallagher, raising his frocked arms to quiet the crowd. I recognized him as the snake charmer from the sideshow. â€Å"May all good light shine upon this fight and return the losers soul to the cleansing fires of hell!† he yelled, causing the tent to erupt in a cacophony of noise. A whistle blew, and the fight was on. Damon circled toward me, his stance low to the ground, like when we were kids and practiced boxing. I imitated his stance. â€Å"Blood!† one drunken man yelled, practically hanging over the railing of the ring. â€Å"Blood! Blood! Blood!† The entire tent seemed to be cheering. Damon and I continued to circle each other. â€Å"Let's not do this,† I said.†Let's refuse. What can they do?† â€Å"We're beyond that, brother,† Damon said.†The two of us can't survive in the same world.† Anger seeped into my limbs from the center of my being. Why couldnt we? And why couldnt Damon forgive me? I no longer thought he was haunted by the memory of Katherine. Instead, I believed he was haunted byme. Not who I was, but who he thought I was–a monster who killed without fear or awareness of consequence. How dare he not even recognize the lengths Id gone to to try to make him happy, to try to save him? I swung, connecting with Damons cheek. Blood spurted under his eye, and the crowd roared. Damon wound up and swung back, hitting me on my shoulder and knocking me down to the ground. â€Å"Why did you do that?† Damon hissed, baring his teeth to the delight of the crowd. â€Å"Because you wanted it,† I hissed back, baring my own teeth, then flipped him over into a headlock. He freed himself quickly and returned to his corner. We stood at opposite sides of the ring, staring at each other, both confused, angry, alone. â€Å"Fight!† the crowd roared again. Gallagher glared at us, unsure what to do. He snapped his fingers, and Jasper and Buck ran toward us with stakes, determined to force us to fight each other. They prodded us until our bodies were only inches apart and both of our fists were raised, when a huge, echoing, booming crack that sounded like the sky splitting in two echoed from above. A cold wind whipped around us, causing a cloud of sawdust and debris to rise at our feet. I smelled smoke. â€Å"Fire!† a panicked voice yelled. I looked around wildly. Part of the tent was on fire, and people were running in all directions. â€Å"Comeon!† I felt hands shoving my shoulders. Callie. My eyes opened wide in surprise. â€Å"Go, go, go!† Callie yelled, pushing me. She held an axe in her hand, and slowly I began piecing together what had happened. Had she actually cut down the supports of the tent structure, then set the fire? â€Å"Move!† Callie pushed me one more time. She was surprisingly strong for a human, and after a few seconds of stupidly standing and blinking in place, I grabbed Damon by the wrist, and we ran, past the tents, away from the river, faster and faster, heading toward my home.