Culture Jamming - Definition and Examples

Culture Jamming s Culture sticking is the act of upsetting the unremarkable idea of regular daily existence and the state of affairs with astonishing, frequently hilarious or mocking acts or works of art. The training was promoted by the counter consumerist association Adbusters, which frequently utilizes it to compel the individuals who experience their work to scrutinize the nearness and impact of publicizing and industrialism in our lives. Specifically, culture sticking frequently requests that we consider the pace and volume at which we devour and the unchallenged job that the utilization of merchandise plays in our lives, regardless of the numerous human and ecological expenses of worldwide large scale manufacturing. Key Takeaways: Culture Jamming Culture sticking alludes to the making of pictures or practices that power watchers to scrutinize the status quo.Culture sticking disturbs accepted practices and is frequently utilized as a device for social change. Activists have utilized culture sticking to bring issues to light of issues including sweatshop work, rape on school grounds, and police mercilessness. The Critical Theory Behind Culture Jamming Culture sticking regularly includes the utilization of an image that updates or plays off of a usually perceived image of a corporate brand, (for example, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Nike, and Apple, to give some examples). The image is commonly intended to raise doubt about the brand picture and qualities joined to the corporate logo, to scrutinize the purchaser relationship to the brand, and to enlighten destructive activities with respect to the enterprise. For instance, when Apple propelled the iPhone 6 of every 2014, the Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) organized a dissent at a Hong Kong Apple Store where they spread out an enormous standard that included the picture of the new gadget sandwiched between the words, iSlave. Harsher than harsher. Still made in sweatshops. The act of culture sticking is roused by the basic hypothesis of the Frankfurt School, which concentrated on the intensity of broad communications and publicizing to shape and direct our standards, qualities, desires, and behaviorâ through oblivious and subliminal strategies. By undermining the picture and qualities joined to a corporate brand, the images sent in culture sticking plan to deliver sentiments of stun, disgrace, dread, and at last annoyance in the watcher, since it is these feelings that lead to social change and political activity. Once in a while, culture sticking utilizations an image or an open exhibition to evaluate the standards and practices of social establishments or to address political suspicions that lead to disparity or foul play. The craftsman Banksy is a striking case of this kind of culture sticking. Here, well look at some ongoing cases that do likewise. Emma Sulkowicz and Rape Culture Emma Sulkowicz propelled her presentation piece and senior postulation venture Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight at Columbia University in New York Cityâ in Septemberâ 2014, as an approach to cause basic to notice the universitys misusing of disciplinary procedures for her supposed attacker, and its misusing of rape cases by and large. Talking about her presentation and her experience of assault, Emma told the Columbia Spectator that the piece is intended to take her private experience of assault and disgrace in the consequence of her assault into the open circle andâ to truly inspire the mental weight she has conveyed since the affirmed attack. Emma promised to convey the weight in broad daylight until her supposed attacker was ousted or left grounds. This never occurred, so Emma and supporters of the reason conveyed her sleeping cushion all through her graduation function. Emmas day by day execution not just broughtâ her asserted assaultâ into the open circle, it additionally stuck the notionâ that rape and its results are private issues, and lit up the truth that they are oftenâ hidden from see by the disgrace and dread that survivors experience. Declining to endure peacefully and in private, Emma madeâ her individual understudies, workforce, chairmen, and staff at Columbia face the truth of rape on school grounds by making the issue noticeable with her presentation. In sociological terms, Emmas execution served to disappear the no-no on recognizing and talking about the broad issue of sexual viciousness by disturbing the accepted practices of every day grounds conduct. She brought assault culture into sharp spotlight on Columbias grounds, and in the public eye when all is said in done. Emma got a load of media inclusion for her way of life sticking execution piece, and individual understudies and graduated class of Columbia joined her in conveying the weight every day. Of the social and political intensity of her work and the boundless media consideration it got, Ben Davis of ArtNet, the pioneer in worldwide news about the workmanship world, composed, I can scarcely think about a fine art in late memory that legitimizes the conviction that craftsmanship can at present helpâ lead a conversationâ in a remarkable way Mattress Performanceâ already has. People of color Matter and Justice for Michael Brown While Emma was hauling that weight around Columbias grounds, most of the way the nation over in St. Louis, Missouri, dissenters innovatively demandedâ justice for 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed Black manâ who was executed by a Ferguson, MO cop Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014. Wilson had by then yet to be accused of a wrongdoing, and since the slaughtering happened, Ferguson, a dominatingly Black cityâ with an overwhelmingly white police power and a past filled with police provocation and brutality,â had been raked by day by day and daily fights. Similarly as recess finished up during an exhibition of Requiem by Johannes Brahms by the St. Louis Symphony on October 4, a racially differing gathering of vocalists remained from their seats, individually, singing the exemplary Civil Rights song of devotion, Which Side Are You On? In a delightful and frequenting execution, nonconformists tended to the transcendently white crowd with the tunes nominal inquiry, and beseeched, Justice for Mike Brown is equity for every one of us. In a recorded video of the occasion, some crowd individuals look on disapprovingly while many applauded the artists. Dissenters dropped bannersâ from the gallery recognizing Michael Browns lifeâ during the performanceâ and recited Black lives matter! as they calmly left the orchestra corridor at the finish of the melody. The astonishing, inventive, and delightful nature of this culture sticking dissent made it especially viable. The dissidents profited by the nearness of a calm and mindful crowd to disturb the standard of audienceâ silence and stillnessâ and rather madeâ the crowd the site of a politically connected with execution. At the point when accepted practices are upset in spaces in which they are generally carefully complied, we will in general rapidly pay heed and spotlight on the disturbance, which makes this type of culture sticking effective. Further, this exhibition disturbs the favored solace that individuals from an ensemble crowd appreciate, given that they are basically white and well off, or if nothing else working class. The presentation was a viable method of reminding individuals who are not troubled by bigotry that the network wherein they live is right now under ambush by it in physical, institutional, and ideological waysâ and that, as individuals from that network, they have an obligation to battle those powers. Both of these exhibitions, by Emma Sulkowicz and the St. Louis nonconformists, are instances of culture sticking at its best. They shock the individuals who take the stand concerning them with their disturbance of accepted practices, and in doing as such, call those very standards, and the legitimacy of the organizations that sort out themâ into question. Each offers an ideal and profoundly importantâ commentary on upsetting social problemsâ and constrains us to go up against that which is all the more helpfully cleared aside. This issues on the grounds that instinctively going up against the social issues of our day is a significant advance toward important social change.

The Barn free essay sample

At the point when my grandparents presented giving me my very own pony, I attempted to work out an arrangement. My Papa had quite recently educated me regarding the way that on the off chance that I had a pony, I would be answerable for taking care of it, practicing it, messing its slow down, and the entirety of different errands that mark the life of an equestrian. â€Å"Well, Papa,† I started in my best adult voice, â€Å"I was believing that I would be the mentor, you know? So I’d get the chance to work and train the ponies, and you’d get the chance to do the taking care of and messing slows down and stuff.† As delighted as my Nana and Papa were by this suggestion, they didn’t give it an excessive amount of thought. Throughout the previous fourteen years of my life, I have been a glad and cheerful slow down mucker. It didn’t take long for me to get into the daily schedule of ascending before the sun each morning, tossing on a couple of boots and a coat, and advancing sluggishly out to the horse shelter. We will compose a custom exposition test on The Barn or then again any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page The stable has been remaining in our terrace for such a long time that I can’t even recall what the property resembled without it. It was worked by my Papa and a portion of his companions when I was only an infant, and however it’s required a couple of touch-ups and fixes throughout the years, it is as yet a similar natural, inviting spot in which I spent such a large amount of my youth. Similarly as the remainder of my home, little leftovers of my Papa’s life are wherever in the horse shelter. Despite the fact that he spent away nine years back, I can nearly observe his face each time I go all over the steps to the silo. The steps are an aftereffect of his craftsmanship, and the reason for some contorted lower legs and â€Å"close calls† of tumbling down the steps. They start with four stages, at that point a bit of landing, at that point a more extended arrangement of steps opposite to the main set. The issue is that the principal set of steps are unadroitly near one another, similar to they were worked for a little youngster or maybe a smaller person. The second arrangement of steps is a remarkable inverse, with such a great amount of room between every step that you need to lift your knees up to your chest to climb them. â€Å"Gives ‘em character,† my Papa used to state when Nana or I would gripe about his carpentry. Obviously, at whatever point he needed to utilize the steps himself, each progression was joined by a brilliant slew of condemnations. I took in another assortment of jargon during my time spent at the animal dwellingplace a healthy blend of â€Å"horse lingo† and swears. Obviously, this wasn’t the main thing that I got the hang of, growing up as a â€Å"horse kid.† I was really scared by ponies when I was more youthful. The sheer size of them made me somewhat uncomfortable. Presently I’m the kind of individual who takes a gander at the biggest of draft ponies and broadcasts, â€Å"Well aren’t you just adorable!† When I started my duties as a â€Å"horse owner,† I imagined that pony compost was appalling, and 5am appeared to be a crazy time for any animal to require food, horse or not. In any case, it wasn’t some time before hungry pony whinnies turned into my preferred sort of good-mornings, and I found that nothing could perk me up like a fluffy horse kiss. Cleaning a few slows down wasn’t about such an errand as cleaning my own room, and little hooves against the solid horse shelter floor delivered a more lovely stable than any music I had ever heard. The main thing that’s changed about my stable from that point forward are the ponies who dwell in it. The outbuilding right now houses four ponies, one of which is mine. Be that as it may, we have had upwards of seven ponies one after another. My Nana has been known to change over the attach space to a pony slow down to suit her assortment of ponies (â€Å"A tack room is an extravagance; it’s similarly as simple to keep the attach the yard and put a pony in there!†). According to my observation, we have had somewhere close to fifteen and twenty ponies throughout the years, every one of whom has added to the horse shelter somehow or another. A while ago when we had our first pregnant female horse, we concluded that we required a foaling slow down and an a framework to screen it. Right up 'til the present time, one of our slows down remains observably bigger than the remainder of them, and there is a camcorder that investigates the slow down and connects to our TV. We had a steed who got a kick out of the chance to raise up and flaunt for the horses in the stable, and we were anxious about the possibility that that he would stall out over the entryway. Despite the fact that we haven’t had a steed in quite a long while now, there stays a lot of bars that can be established over the slow down entryway, similarly as a safeguard. Much more than each pony has had an effect on the animal dwellingplace, the horse shelter has had an effect on me. I esteem things distinctively on account of the time that I’ve spent at the animal dwellingplace, and have figured out how to welcome the little things throughout everyday life. Being an equestrian has instructed me to think and react quickly, be versatile, have tolerance, and follow what I need throughout everyday life. I have increased a feeling of administration, certainty, and classic good judgment that I don’t figure I could have accomplished anyplace else. The outbuilding has remained steadfast against wind, downpour, sun, and snow for whatever length of time that I can recollect. Inside those dividers, it houses four ponies, yet my biography. Bits of my history are dissipated about like dandelion seeds in the breeze. Bits of who I am can be discovered lying in the base of the brush can, settled between parcels of feed, laced into a horse’s mane. The horse shelter speaks to my past, incorporates my present, and is something that I expectation will remain everlastingly in my future.

The Types of Aptitude Testing

The Types of Aptitude Testing Student Resources Print The Types of Aptitude Testing By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on January 31, 2020 Ragip Candan / Getty Images More in Student Resources APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Careers An aptitude test is designed to assess what a person is capable of doing or to predict what a person is able to learn or do given the right education and instruction. It represents a persons level of competency to perform a certain type of task. Such aptitude tests are often used to assess academic potential or career suitability. Such tests may be used to assess either mental or physical talent in a variety of domains. A Few Examples of Aptitude Tests Some examples of aptitude tests include: A test assessing an individuals aptitude to become a fighter pilotA career test evaluating a persons capability to work as an air traffic controllerAn aptitude test is given to high school students to determine which type of careers they might be good atA computer programming test to determine how a job candidate might solve different hypothetical problems  A test designed to test a persons physical abilities needed for a particular job such as a police officer or firefighter Students often encounter a variety of aptitude tests throughout school as they think about what they might like to study in college or do for as a career someday. High school students often take a variety of aptitude tests designed to help them determine what they should study in college or pursue as a career. These tests can sometimes give a general idea of what might interest students as a future career. For example, a student might take an aptitude test suggesting that they are good with numbers and data. Such results might imply that a career as an accountant, banker,  or stockbroker would be a good choice for that particular student. Another student might find that they have strong language and verbal skills, which might suggest that a career as an English teacher, writer, or journalist might be a good choice. Unlike achievement tests, which are concerned with looking a persons level of skill or knowledge at any given time, aptitude tests are instead focused on determining how capable of a person might be of performing a certain task. Aptitude Tests Versus Intelligence Tests So what exactly makes an aptitude test different from an intelligence test? Many intelligence tests are designed to measure what is known as general intelligence, or an underlying global mental capacity that affects performance in all areas. Intelligence encompasses many different abilities including problem-solving, reasoning, memory, knowledge, and ability to adapt to a changing environment. Aptitude tests, on the other hand, are designed to measure a much narrower range of abilities than IQ tests do. However, some aptitude tests might have a very narrow focus that limits what they are able to predict. Other tests that look at multiple domains are much more similar to intelligence tests. Special aptitude tests are those designed to look at an individuals capacity in a particular area.?? For example, imagine that a business wants to hire a computer programmer to work for their company. They will likely look at a range of things including work history and interview performance, but they might also want to administer an aptitude test to determine if job candidates possess the necessary skill to perform the job. This special aptitude test is designed to look at a very narrow range of ability - how skilled and knowledgeable the candidate is at computer programming. Multiple aptitude tests are designed to measure two or more different abilities.?? In some cases, such tests may even resemble intelligence tests in terms of their focus and scope. The Scholastic Assessment Test (or SAT) that high-school students take during their senior year is a good example of a multiple aptitude test. The SAT measures aptitudes in areas including math, reasoning, and language and is often used by colleges and universities to determine if an applicant is prepared and has the ability to do well in college. The Graduate Requisite Exam (GRE), as well as the specialized tests required in order to get into medical, law and business graduate programs, are also examples of multiple aptitude tests. A Word From Verywell Aptitude tests can be a good way to get an idea of what you are good at or what you might be good at given the right training. However, such tests cannot tell you everything. Consider your results carefully but also evaluate other factors such as your interests and experiences and then use this information when exploring different career options.

A Critical Evaluation of Consumers Attitude Formation towards the Purchasing of Jeans - Levis Jeans Example Free Essay Example, 3000 words

Though jeans have been embraced across all culture, their acceptability is varied. In most cases, they have been branded as casual wear. The choice to purchase jeans is dependent on a number of consumer-related needs. Levi s is an international company that has built a brand based on its innovativeness that has fostered continued development. Started by the Strauss family around 1875, the company was focused on developing jeans made from denim that could be sold to the miners. Above the initial focus on the jeans trousers, the company has diversified into other products such as shirts and suits. Through the introduction of the Levi 501s products, the company experienced rising sales in the early 1990s. The uniqueness and the strong brand of the Levis products have greatly promoted its sales. Jeans are capable of attracting customers based on the sensory attributes, which can help develop a perception towards the products. The consumers will be motivated to purchase a particular styl e or brand of jeans based on its attributes which appeal to their senses (Son 2007). Through vision, the aesthetics of the jeans can make the consumer to have a desire to purchase. We will write a custom essay sample on A Critical Evaluation of Consumers Attitude Formation towards the Purchasing of Jeans - Levis Jeans Example or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Persuasive Essay Homework - 1361 Words

Homework has been a topic of conversation and controversy in elementary education for as long as many people can remember, the pros and cons have been argued and researched time and time again. While most professionals in the field agree that homework is needed and helpful in middle and high school grade levels, when it comes to younger grades the information strongly shows that it is a waste of time. At its core homework has two possible effects in the home. Homework can be seen as a rule over parents from the school to manage their children’s time outside of school or as a way to inform parents on what their children are currently studying and allow them a participation in their children’s education (Wright). Around the time leading†¦show more content†¦But when it comes to the elementary grade levels, the cons of homework far outweigh the pros. The research shows time and time again that higher levels of homework in elementary school cause more issues than i t does benefits. So, what are the cons? And how can learning be encouraged outside of the classroom without it having a negative impact? In 2008 the MetLife American Teacher series polled students, teachers, and parents on their feelings and thoughts about homework and the results were as follows; one-third of parents rated the quality of homework given as fair or poor, one-quarter of students say that they as if their homework is busywork and unrelated to what they were learning in class (MetLife). But, one of the leading reasons that people support homework in elementary levels is because they believe it can kick-start healthy and even necessary habits. These habits include; time-management, study skills, independent working, etc. It is unrealistic to expect students to gain important life skills from poorly created and unrealistic homework. Jay Matthews of the Washington Post says â€Å"What most people do not know about elementary school homework is that the research strongly suggests that it is a waste of time, something I began to suspect after my daughters eighth or ninth collage.† Matthews consulted with a Duke psychologist who helped him to conclude that in elementary education the correlationShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Homework Is Homework1077 Words   |  5 Pagesstill has thirty more minutes to read, and a math test to study for. It might take another aggravating hour, that feels like days, to finish. He thinks about skipping the rest of the homework that is required of him to do, but it is strictly due the next day. In other words, he has approximately seven hours until his homework is due, and only five hours until his alarm is screaming at him to wake up and get out of bed. It’s like a very time consuming neverending corn maze that you have to go through everyRead MorePersuasive Essay Homework1054 Words   |  5 PagesShould homework be given in school? Although homework gives students a chance to succeed in a very competitive world, it takes up a lot of time in the day, it doesn’t help students grow academically, and it also takes a toll on the personal lives and the health of many students. Kids go to school everyday for 6-7 hours a day, and are stuffed with things to memorize and ‘understand’ everyday until test day comes and they throw up all the information on the test, only to forget it after a weekRead MoreThe Importance Of Writing In Writing1094 Words   |  5 PagesEssays tend to stress everyone involved in the process of creating them. Why, then do teachers still expect students to write these old-fashioned assignments? We have developed an entire language made solely of pictures. People hardly write in complete sentences while communicating with one another. As long as this trend keeps up, eventually proper grammar will be practically non-existent and the English language almost obsolete (Why Do We Make Our Students Write Essays? ). Yet, every year afterRead MoreEssay about Should Electronic Devices Be Used in School?616 Words   |  3 PagesPersuasive Essay Do you like your electronic devices? Do you want to use it at school? Well, you have come to the right place. By electronics in school can mean you can use your phones, laptops, Ipods, and tablets in school. Not only these devices but more like a Playstation Portable(PSP) or a Dual Screen(DS). You would only use these devices for school work nothing else, but only after school. Electronic devices should be used in school because they can be used in an emergency, increases studentsRead MoreBeing An Academic Writer Is More Of Your Attitude Than Your Capabilities931 Words   |  4 Pagesthat your essay is qualified and convincible. About a month ago, I was carrying out my plan of my research project of my writing class. As an international student, I spend most of time on this course because I need to improve my writing and reading abilities within a short period. Before last month, I never wrote this kind of essay that explain your thesis statement based on your research. You need to collect authoritative data and facts to support your idea in order to make your essay more persuasiveRead MoreMy First Attempt At Redemptive Accomplishment935 Words   |  4 Pageseffort. Southern New Hampshire University’s English Composition course is my first attempt at redemptive accomplishment. When I began this writing course, I was asked what I hoped to accomplish. I even wrote a reflective essay as a journal entry on the topic. Looking back at the essay and reading it again, I am struck by how much I have learned in such a brief time span. My initial concerns were surrounded in a perceived fear of academia. I was insecure in my ability to convey thoughts in a structuredRead MoreThe Mom2180 Words   |  9 Pages |10 Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Persuasive Text. Students analyze and draw conclusions about persuasive text and | | |provide evidence from text to support their analysis | |(Include TEK number and (SE) |10A Evaluate how the author’s purpose and stated or perceived audience affect the tone of persuasive texts | |student expectationRead MoreEssay on should students be allowed to use cell phones in school1043 Words   |  5 PagesVernon School Room 218 Persuasive Essay / Cellular Telephone Cell Phones: Many American youth now have cell phones that they carry with them everywhere .Should cell phones be allowed at school ?Many teachers and students claim that phones are distracting while many parents and students insist that phones are necessary. Write a persuasive essay explaining your position on the issue. Although not everybody would agree,Read MorePersuasive Essay on Social Networking: Con1115 Words   |  5 PagesPERSUASIVE ESSAY ON SOCIAL NETWORKING: CON In today’s society, billions of people across the world are accessing the internet multiple times a day. Why wouldn’t they? Many people have the internet on their smart phones, and at the touch of a button can check their email, their Facebook, their bank account balance, movie times, you name it. One of these things, however, usually consumes more of the user’s time than the others. Yes, you guessed it: Facebook. Any social networking site or applicationRead MoreSpeech Against Procrastination1290 Words   |  6 Pagesmany parents have in common? No, itæŠ ¯ not that they all have Golgi bodies and retinas. Let me give you a hint. They put off 憈ill tomorrow what they should do today... get my drift? About right now, Joey is late for an audition, Spongebob is writing an essay due in five minutes, my theatre teacher is dilly dallying on who to cast for the upcoming show, high school students are too tired to do anything and parents are putting off their mor ning meetings until the afternoon! And do you know what causes all

Athens vs Sparta Free Essays

Jocelynn Grabowski Social Studies P. 6 Ms. Kaputa 2-10-13 Athens vs. We will write a custom essay sample on Athens vs Sparta or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sparta In Greece, Sparta and Athens society was very different in many ways. However, at the same time the two shared a number of character in common. The differences are what set the two apart while the things that they shared in common are what united them as Greek city-states. Sparta and Athens shared similarities and differences in their systems of government, and in education. One of the bigger differences between Sparta and Athens was their systems of government. There were many statuses to the Spartan government. There were the two kings who ruled the city, but a 28-member council of elders limited their power. The 28-member council of elders were 60 year old men or older elected for life by the citizens. These citizens voted for these men at the assembly. They also voted for five overseers, ephors, annually and ran the day to day operations of Sparta. The assembly was where they voted on and decided political issues. Only men of age 30 or older could attend. They were able to support or veto the councils recommendations by shouting out their votes. Women did not participate in the political life of Sparta. The differences and similarities coincide with each other in Athens. Athens had an assembly just like Sparta did. The assembly was at the hill of prnx at the foot of the Acropolis. During Pericles age the citizens were paid to go to assemblies so it wouldn’t just be the wealthy men. This was called jury service. They were a direct democracy, which meant everyone attended the assembly not just men or politicians (the wealthy). Athens had a council of elders like the 28 elder, but with a lot more people, 500 more people and citizens elected officials such as 10 generals (strategous), magistrates (archons), and others. Women, as well as in Sparta, did not participate in the political life, such as voting, of Athens. The government and how it was handled was very good and important, maybe not to fair but important, education is a highly needed subject to have in a Greek city-state. Education has big differences and similarities between the two great city-states. In Athens it was quite unfair for education. Boys got taught from ages 5-16 but if you came from a wealthier family you could be taught from ages 5-18, some in their twenties. Boys entered military training for two years until age of twenty. Foreign and slaves got taught only basic Greek education and they were not excluded from the public. Girls received very little formal education. They were usually kept at home and had no political powers. The women would learn spinning, weaving, and domestic art. If they were to learn any formal education it would be from their fathers or their brothers teaching them. There were not all equal differences and similarities between Athens and Sparta for their education. There were more differences than similarities. At age 7 boys were taken and trained in the art of warfare. The boys were given only a cloak and they were under fed. This required them to steal food and clothing. It was for survival. If the boys got caught stealing food they would get in trouble for getting caught not actually stealing the food. At age twenty they went to a higher rank of military. At 30 they could marry and live in the barracks with other soldiers. Military was all they learned though. They were educated in choral dance, reading, and writing. Military and athletics were favored more in Sparta. So Athens and Sparta’s boys education both mainly focused on warfare tactics and raising them to be soldiers. Spartan girls got taught at age 7 in gymnastics, athletics, and survival skills. They could participate in the sports boys did, but not play with the boys. The girls were more equal to the men in Sparta compared to in Athens. Athens girls had pretty close to no rights. Education and the system of government in Athens and Sparta were shared in similarities and in differences. Athens and Sparta’s government did not let women participate in their political life, but their statuses were quite alike in many stations. Sparta treated their women with more equal right than Athens did. Athens gave girl close to no rights through education. Both city-states were focused of war and teaching young men to fight in battle and survive. Both of these city-states were great, but was Sparta better than Athens, or Athens better than Sparta, or were they both as great as the each other? How to cite Athens vs Sparta, Essay examples

Presence Of A God Essay Paper Example For Students

Presence Of A God Essay Paper Either God exists or He doesnt. There is no middle ground. Any attempt to remain neutral in relation to Gods existence is automatically synonymous with unbelief. It is far from a moot question, for if God does exist, then nothing else really matters; if He does not exist, then nothing really matters at all. If He does exist, then there is an eternal heaven to be gained (Hebrews 11:16) and an eternal Hell to be avoided (Revelation 21:8). The question for Gods existence is an extremely important one. One might wonder why it is necessary to present evidence for the existence of God. As Edward Thomson so beautifully stated it: the doctrine of the one living and true God, Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor of the universe, as it solves so many problems, resolves so many doubts, banishes so many fears, inspires so many hopes, gives such sublimity to all things, and such spring to all noble powers, we might presume would, as soon as it was announced, be received by every healthy mind. Some, however, contrary to their higher interests, have refused to have God in their knowledge and thus have become vain in their reasonings and foolish in their philosophy (Romans 1:21,22,28). They do not see the folly (Psalm 14:1) of saying there is no God. The Christian has not only the obligation to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you.. . (I Peter 3:15), but an obligation to carry the Gospel message to a lost and dying world (Mark 16:15-16, et al.). There will be times when carrying the Gospel message to the world will entail setting forth the case for the existence of God. In addition, we need to remember that Christians are not agnostics. The agnostic is the person who says that Gods existence is unknowable. As difficult as it is to believe, some Christians take that same stance in regard to Gods existence. They assert that they believe there is a God, but that they cannot know it. They state that Gods existence cannot be proved. This is false! Gods existence is both knowable and provable. Acceptance of Gods existence is not some blind leap into the dark as so many have erroneously asserted. The Christians faith is not a purely emotional, subjective leap, but instead is a firm conviction regarding facts based upon reasonable evidence. Gods existence can be proved to any fair-minded person. Granted, we do not mean by the word proved that Gods existence can be scientifically demonstrated to human senses as one might, for example, prove that a sack of potatoes weighs ten pounds. But we need to be reminded (especially in our day of scientific intimidation) that empirical evidence (that based solely upon experiment and/or observation) is not the only basis for establishing a provable case. Legal authorities recognize the validity of a prima facie case. Such a case exists when adequate evidence is available to establish the presumption of a fact which, unless such can be refuted, legally stands as a fact. Inferential proof (the culmination of many lines of evidence into only one possible conclusion) is an invaluable part of a prima facie case which simply cannot be refuted. But an important question which serves as a preface to the case for Gods existence is this: From whence has come the idea of God in mans mind? The inclination to be religious is universally and peculiarly a human trait. As one writer observed, even today the evidence indicates that no race or tribe of men, however degraded and apparently atheistic, lacks that spark of religious capacity which may be fanned and fed into a mighty flame. If, therefore, man is incurably religiousand has the idea of God in his mindand if we assume that the world is rational, it is impossible that a phenomenon so universal as religion could be founded upon illusion. The question is highly appropriate therefore: what is the source of this religious tendency within man? Alexander Campbell, in his celebrated debate April 13-23, 1829 in Cincinnati, Ohio with Robert Owen, provided the answer to this question in a very positive fashion. He asked Owen from whence the idea of God had come in mans mind. Owen (and all skeptics) had (have) stated that the idea of God has not come from reason (skeptics hold, of course, that the concept is unreasonable), and that it has not come from revelation. Campbell pressed Owen to tell him from whence the idea of God had come. Owen retorted, by imagination. Campbell then quoted both John Locke and David Hume, two philosophers who are highly respected in the secular community. Hume stated that the creative power of the mind amounts to nothing more than the faculty of combining, transposing, augmenting and diminishing the materials afforded to us by sense and experience. The imagination, it turns out, has no creative power. Neither reason nor imagination create. Reason, like a carpenters yardstick, is a measure, not an originator. Imagination works only on those items already in the mind; it does not create anything new. Sigmund Freud, German psychoanalyst of the first part of the 20th century, attempted to explain Gods existence by stating that man had indeed formed the heavenly father from the idea in his mind of his earthly father. But this idea will not suffice either. Is the God of the Bible the God man would invent if asked to do so? Hardly. Look around at the god man invents when left to his own devicesthe god of hedonism, epicurianism, subjectivism, or the god of if it feels good, do it. The God of the Bible is not the God man would invent, if left to his own devices. Freuds attempt to explain the idea of God in mans mind failed miserably. Campbell pointed out to Owen, in a very forceful way, that the idea of God in mans mind could only have come through revelation. There is no other choice. The concept of God, therefore, though greatly perverted in heathen hands, is ultimately traceable to an original communication between the Creator and the creature. There is no other alternative, all the disclaimers of the atheist notwithstanding. But suppose the unbeliever objects: If the idea of God is basic to human nature, we would not be able to deny it; we do deny it, however; therefore it is not intuitive. It is sufficient to observe in rebuttal to such a claim that man, under the enchantment of a deceptive philosophy, can deny the most obvious of things. Those deluded, for example, by Christian Science religion deny the existence of matter and death. Some today deny that the earth is spherical or that man has ever been to the moon. But a denial of facts does not automatically negate the facts. Mans attitude toward Truth does not change Truth. Can Gods existence be proven? Can we know God exists? The answer is a resounding YES! The psalmist said, Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10) as he echoed the Creators sentiments to man. The allusions to th e manifestations of Deity in the created world are profuse. David exclaimed, O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, Who has set thy glory upon the heavens? (Psalm 8:1). In the same psalm, the inspired writer was constrained to say that the heavens are the work of thy fingers and the moon and stars thou hast ordained (Psalm 8:3). Later David was to utter the beautiful words of Psalm 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Isaiah graphically portrayed the majesty and power of natures God when he wrote that God hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance (40:12). Dr. E. A. Maness once remarked, If the word God were written upon every blowing leaf, embossed on every passing cloud, engraved on every granite rock, the inductive evidence of God in the world would be no stronger than it is. John C. Monsma, in the text which he edited entitled, The Evidence of God in an Expanding Universe (which is a compilation of testimony from forty outstanding American scientists), affirmed that science can establish, by the observed facts of Nature and intellectual argumentation, that a super-human power exists. . Dr. A. Cressy Morrison, former President of the New York Academy of Sciences, affirmed that so many essential conditions are necessary for life to exist on our earth that it is mathematically impossible that all of them could exist in proper relationship by chance on any one earth at one time. Dr. Arthur H. Compton, Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago and Nobel laureate, wrote: It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is a plan there is intelligencean orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever utteredIn the beginning, God.' . Louis Agassiz, M.D., Ph.D. , Harvard University (and a life-long opponent of Darwinian evolution), made these remarks:.. Though I know those who hold it to be very unscientific to believe that thinking is not something inherent in matter, and that there is an essential difference between inorganic and living and thinking beings, I shall not be prevent ed by any such pretentions of a false philosophy from expressing my conviction that as long as it cannot be shown that matter or physical forces do actually reason, I shall consider any manifestation of physical thought as an evidence of the existence of a thinking being as the author of such thought, and shall look upon intelligent and intelligible connection between the facts of nature as direct proof of a thinking God.. .. All these facts in their natural connection proclaim aloud the one God whom man may know, adore, and love, and natural history must in good time become the analysis of the thoughts of the Creator of the universe as manifested in the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Lord Kelvin, the famed English thermodynamicist once said, I cannot admit that, with regard to the origin of life, science neither affirms nor denies Creative Power. Science positively affirms Creative Power. It is not in dead matter that we live and move and have our being, but in the creating and directing Power which science compels us to accept as an article of belief . There is nothing between absolute scientific belief in a Creative Power, and the acceptance of the theory of a fortuitous concourse of atoms . Forty years ago I asked Liebig famed chemist Justus von LiebigBT, walking some-where in the country, if he believed that the grass and flowers that we saw around us grew by mere chemical forces. He answered, No, no more than I could believe that a book of botany describing them could grow by mere chemical forces.. .. Do not be afraid of being free thinkers! If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God, which is the foundation all religion. You will find science not antagonistic but helpful to religion. . One cannot help but wonder what has caused many of the most prominent and brilliant minds of both days gone by and of our day to make such statements. No doubt, at least a partial explanation lies in the fact that they saw a few, or many, of the thousands of signposts or ensigns scattered throughout the natural world which point clearly to the unseen Designer of nature. These signposts are multitudinous in our world, and plainly obvious to those whose minds have not been blinded by the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4), refusing to have God in their knowledge (Romans 1:28). Immune-mediated diabetes (formerly called insulin- Essay If there are roughly 5 billion people on the earth, and it took two cells to make each of them, thats approximately 10 billion cells (remember: this is the DNA it took to give every living person every physical characteristic he or she has), and that DNA would fit into no more than 1/8th of a cubic inch! Does that tell you how powerful the DNA is? Are we to then understand that this kind of design came by accident? Hardly! The Hebrew writer was correct when he said, For every house is builded by someone; but he that built all things is God(3:4). Consider the skin of the human. It is a nearly waterproof layer, enclosing the bodys contents, almost 60% of which is water. It prevents the exit or entrance of too much moisture, and acts as a protector for the rest of the body. At the same time it is both a radiator and retainer of heat, helping to regulate the bodys temperature in conjunction with the two hypothalamus glands in the brain. Skin may be as thick as 5/16th of an inch (e.g., the eyelid). The skin contains over 2,000 sweat glands which form one of the most ingenious air-conditioning systems ever known to man. Skin acts as a barrier to protect the sensitive internal organs, and even has the power to regenerate itself. Consider the skeletal system of the body. It is composed of 206 bones, more durable and longer lasting than mans best steel. Each joint produces its own lubrication and the system as a whole is able to provide not only structure, but great protection (e.g., the 24 ribs guarding the internal viscera). There are 29 skull bones, 26 spinal vertebrae, 24 ribs, 2 girdle bones, and 120 other bones scattered over the body. The bones range in size, from the tiny pisiform bone in the hand, to the great femur (over 20 inches long in the thigh of an average man). Yet in a man weighing 160 pounds, the bones weigh only 29 pounds. Remember Pauls comment about all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, making the increase of the body into the building up of itself.. . (Ephesians 4:16). And consider, of course, the muscles. There are over 600 of them in the human, with the function of contraction and release. From the smile on the face of the newborn baby to the legs of the marathon runner, the muscles are in charge. They are placed, however, into two systemsthe voluntary system over which you have control (reach out and grab a ball), and the involuntary system over which you have little or no control (try stopping a kidney). Are we to believe that the skeletal and muscle systems, in all their complexity, just happened? No one could ever convince you that, for example, a Cadillac limousine just happened. Yet something infinitely greater in design and structure the human bodywe are asked to believe just happened. What kind of incongruous logic is that, to reach such a conclusion? As G.K. Chesterton once said: When men stop believing in God, they dont believe in nothing. They believe in anything!' How true. One does not get a poem without a poet, or a law without a lawgiver. One does not get a painting without a painter, or a musical score without a composer. And just as surely, one does not get purposeful design without a designer! Consider, for example, the human ear and the human eye. The average piano can distinguish the sounds of 88 keys; the human ear can distinguish over 2,500 different key tones. In fact, the human ear can detect sound frequencies that flutter the ear drums as faintly as one- billionth of a centimeter (a distance one-tenth the diameter of a hydrogen atom).. The ear is so sensitive that it could even hear, were the body placed in a completely soundproof room, the blood coursing through the veins. Over 100,000 hearing receptors in the ears are sending impulses to the brain to be decoded and answered. The human eye is the most perfect camera ever known to man. So perfect is it that its very presence caused Charles Darwin to say, That the eye with all its inimitable contrivances could have been formed by natural selection seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree. Darwin also commented: If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. The eye, as it turns out, is such an organ, and Darwins theory, as such, has broken down. Each human eye is composed of over 107 million cells with 7 million cones (allowing the eye to see in full, living color) and 100 million rods (allowing the eye to see in blacks, whites, and greys). The eyes are connected to the brain by over 300,000 nerves, and can detect light as feeble as 1/100 trillionth of a watt. How is the eye supposed to have evolved? What intermediate state between no eye and a perfect eye could nature have selected to be passed on to successive generations? As Mark Twain once c ommented, Its amazing what men will believe, so long as its not in the Bible! There are so many systems in the human body that could be discussed, but since space precludes discussing them all, it is now to the brain that we turn our attention. The brain, of course, regulates the rest of the body. It contains over 10 billion nerve cells, and 100 billion glia cells (which provide the biological batteries for brain activity). These cells float in a jellied mass, sifting through information, storing memories, creating what we call consciousness, etc.. Over 120 trillion connections tie these cells together. The brain sends out electrical impulses at a speed of 393 feet per second (270 mph), and receives nerve impulses being produced at a rate of over 2,000/second. The brain receives signals continuously from 130,000 light receptors in the eyes, 100,000 hearing receptors in the ears, 3,000 tastebuds, 30,000 heat spots on the skin, 250,000 cold spots, and 500,000 touch spots. The brain does not move, yet consumes 25% of the bloods oxygen supply. It is constantly bathed in blood, its vessels receiving 20% of all the blood pumped from the heart. If the blood flow is interrupted for 15-30 seconds, unconsciousness results. If blood is cut off to the brain for longer than 4 minutes, brain damage results. Four major arteries carry blood to the brain as a sort of fail-safe system. And, the brain is protected from damage by not one, but three major systems: (1) the outer skull bone; (2) the dura mater (Latin for hard motherthe protective lining around the brain), and; (3) the absorbing fluid, which keeps the brain from hitting the inner skull. With the brain properly functioning, all the other body systems (hormones, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, etc. ) can be overseen and controlled. Are we, as Dr. George Gaylord Simpson of Harvard stated some years ago, an accident in a universe that did not have us in mind in the first place? Or, are we created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26,27)? Sir Isaac Newton once said, In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of Gods existence. How much more, then, should the cells, the brain, the lungs, the heart, the reproductive system, etc. , be shouting to us that there is a God, and He is not silent. As the psalmist so well said, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Or, as Imogene Fey has observed: The birth of every new baby is Gods vote of confidence in the future of man. Dr. Lewis Thomas, the renowned medical doctor and author of The Medusa and the Snail, commented in that work about the miracle of how one sperm cell forms with one egg cell to produce a single cell that will, nine months later, become a new human being. His conclusion: The mere existence of that cell should be one of the greatest astonishments of the earth. People ought to be walking around all day, all through their waking hours, calling to each other in endless wonderment, talking of nothing except that cell.. .. If anyone does succeed in explaining it, within my lifetime, I will charter a skywriting airplane, maybe a whole fleet of them, and send them aloft to write one great exclamation point after another around the whole sky, until a ll my money runs out. Yet we are told that such a miracle has just happened. Carl W. Miller once stated: To the reverent scientist the simplest features of the world about us are in themselves so awe-inspiring that there seems no need to seek new and greater miracles of Gods care. In order to get a poem, one must have a poet. In order to have a law, one must have a lawgiver. In order to have a mathematical diagram, one must have a mathematician. A deduction commonly made is that order, arrangement, or design in a system suggest intelligence and purpose on the part of the originating cause. In the universe, from the vastness of multiplied solar systems to the tiny world of molecules, marvelous design and purposeful arrangement are evidenced. In the case of man, from the imposing skeletal system to the impressive genetic code in all of its intricacy, that same design and purposeful arrangement are evidenced. The only conclusion that a reasonable, rational, unbiased mind can reach is that the existing systems of our world, including all life, have been purposefully designed by an Intelligent Cause. We call that Cause God. Conclusion Alan Devoe significantly writes, Some naturalists have become convinced that there is an unknown force at worka force that guides creatures by influences outside the entire sphere with which science ordinarily works. We would prayerfully urge those who speak of this unknown force to turn to the God that made the world and all things therein (Acts 17:24), and ascribe honor and glory to Him. The revelation He has left of Himself in nature simply could speak no louder of His existence than it already does. Furthermore, this examination of arguments for Gods existence has not even touched upon the historical arguments which come to bear on the case. For example, the historical Christ, the resurrection, the Bible, the system of Christianity, and other such arguments are equally as important. The arguments from historical fact are additional proof that there is a God, and He is not silent. That Christ existed cannot he doubted by any rational person. His miracles and other works are documented, not only in biblical literature, but in profane, secular history as well. The empty tomb stands as a silent but powerful witness that God does exist (Acts 2:24; Romans 10:9) and that Christ is His Son. The Bible exists; therefore, it must be explained. The men who wrote it were either deceivers, deluded, or telling the truth. What do the evidences say? The internal and external evidences are enough to tell the story of Gods existence, and the fact that He has spoken to us from His inspired word. Additional evidences are available at every turn. Little wonder Paul stated that in him we live, and move, and have our being.. . (Acts 17:28). Moses statement still stands as inspired testimony to the fact of the existence of God: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).Bibliography:

The Role Of Women In Tartuffe English Literature Essay Essay Example

The Role Of Women In Tartuffe English Literature Essay Paper Tartuffe written in 1664 by Jean-Baptise Poquelin Moliere both challenges and supports traditional gender stereotypes for adult females. During this clip period adult females were looked at much otherwise than they are today. Womans were supposed to be subservient to the work forces in their lives. The adult females I chose to speak about are Dorine and Mariane. These two adult females displayed opposite features doing the traditional function of adult females conflicting throughout the narrative. Dorine is the first adult females I will speak about in this paper. She had many features throughout this drama that I found to be really amusing but at the same clip baronial. I believe that Dorine s character challenges the tradition functions for adult females. Dorine is considered to be Mariane s retainer or lady in waiting. Dorine s character in this drama is really honorable and blunt. She did non keep back what she was believing. She had no job stating Mariane, Orgon and Tartuffe how she felt. This was really unusual behaviour for adult females in this clip, particularly for a lady in waiting. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role Of Women In Tartuffe English Literature Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Role Of Women In Tartuffe English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Role Of Women In Tartuffe English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The first brush I am traveling to speak about is that between Dorine and Orgon. Orgon is seeking to hold a private conversation with his girl and Dorine walks in an interrupts. In Act II, Scene II we see Dorine talk her head about Mariane get marrieding Tartuffe. Get downing about line 13 we see a Dorine interrupt Mariane and speak on her behalf: ORGON. Daughter, I mean it ; you re to be his married woman. DORINE. No, do nt believe your male parent ; it s all a fraud ( 2.2. 12-14 ) Back in these times no adult females would talk back to a adult male like that, allow entirely person they worked for. This demonstrates her bold character. Dorine and Orgon s controversy goes back and Forth for the remainder of the scene. Around line 86 we Dorine keeps disrupting Orgon and he is acquiring really angry: ORGON. Do nt disrupt me farther. Why ca nt you larn That certain things are none of your concern? DORINE. It s for your ain interest that I interfere ( 2.2.86-88 ) For every remark, statement or inquiry that Orgon threw out during this scene Dorine has a witty response really rapidly. The following brush is between Dorine and Mariane. Even though this is non a male/female brush it still shows Dorine s bluntness. Dorine is supposed to be Mariane s amah, but yet she is really honorable with her. In the following scene we see Dorine outraged at the fact that Mariane did non lodge up for herself: DORINE. Well, have you lost your lingua, miss? Must I play Your portion, and say the lines you ought to state? Faced with a destiny so horrid and absurd, Can you non express one dissenting word? MARIANE. What good would it make? A male parent s power is great. ( 2.3.1-5 ) These two lines truly show the contrast between the two misss. Mariane is clearly showing the subservient miss that does what she is told. Knowing that you are non allowed to oppugn what is being said. Then you have Dorine that disagrees wholly. She wants Marianne to be more unfastened and to lodge up for herself. Very opposing female functions played between these two characters. The last brush I am traveling to speak about is between Dorine and Tartuffe in Act V, Scene VII. This is the mildest effusions we see from Dorine, but yet she is still there seting her two cents in. We see Dorine say: How he exploits the name of Heaven! It s shameless. ( 5.7.5 ) She has no fright to talk what is on her head. Again we see her bell in and state: All that we most revere, he uses to dissemble his secret plans and camouflage his artifices. ( 5.7.25 ) It seems that whenever there is an statement traveling on Dorine is as if by magic there seting in her remarks. She depicts the complete antonym of how adult females in the clip were expected to move. I think it added a great trade of comedy to the drama. Mariane is the other adult female I will speak about in this paper. She is the female character that represents the traditional gender stereotypes during this clip period. Mariane is Orgon s girl and is really willing to make whatever her male parent asks of her. The readers get the image and feeling that Mariane is a quiet character throughout his play.A We see her described by Madame Pernelle in Act I, Scene I when she says: And you, his sister, seem so pure, So shy, so guiltless, and so coy ( 1.1.22-23 ) . Throughout the remainder of the drama many actions prove that she is diffident and innocent.A A A A A The first of those actions is Mariane is non able to lodge up for herself as the other characters do. For illustration in Act II, Scene II Orgon is forcing Mariane to accept the matrimony to Tartuffe.A Even though Mariane is in love with Valere and wants to get married him she does non lodge up for herself and protest. Alternatively, it is her maid Dorine that is seeking to convert Orgon to alter his mind.A It becomes clear in the undermentioned scenes that she does non desire to travel against her father.A Traveling on to Act II, Scene III we see Mariane talk about non desiring to travel against her male parent, A male parent s power is great ( 2.3.5 ) . A adult female s function during this clip was to be subservient to their male parents and so to their hubbies. Mariane is really afraid to travel against her male parent because she has ever obeyed him. We see Dorine attempt to convert Mariane to lodge up for herself in Act II, Scene III: DORINE. Tell him one can non love at a male parent s caprice ; That you shall get married for yourself, non him ; That since it s you who are to be the bride, It s you, non he, who must be satisfiedaˆÂ ¦ MARIANE. I ve bowed so long to Father s rigorous control, I could nt oppose him now, to salvage my psyche ( 2.3.7-14 ) Mariane did non desire to travel against her male parent. She wanted to hear the advice of Dorine but yet did non desire to follow it. Mariane seems to move really dramatic and helpless. Mariane demonstrates the quality of being really fleeceable. In Act II, Scene IV Mariane is speaking with Valere. She asks him for his advice and he explains that he thinks it s a good thought for her to get married Tartuffe, and she believes him. As you can see there are two really opposite adult females represented throughout this drama. Dorine is outspoken and vey direct, whereas Mariane is quiet and obedient. Mariane fits the traditional function of a adult female during this clip. She was faithful to her male parent and would make what he asked of her, this is what was expected of adult females. Dorine on the other manus challenged the traditional function of adult females during this clip. She was a amah and spoke what was on her head. It did non affair who it was, she was ever honest. This created a humourous tone to the drama, but for this clip she was really out of line.

Snow Whte essays

Snow Whte essays Sound is a very important element in the creation of movies. Without sound, many people (the viewers) would not be able enjoy the full effect of watching movies on the big screen. For example, sound creates and sends messages or sensations that a viewer would usually not be able to feel from just watching the film. Also, sound allows us to receive a better understanding of a characters mood, tone, and or feeling. In Disneys first fully animated motion picture Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the connection between sound and animation is magnificent and before its time. The first scene in the movie where the viewer may see this, is in the beginning. Snow White is looking inside a well while singing and the echo of her voice reverberates off of the water and back to her. The synchronization of the ripples and echo is perfect and the fluidity of Snow Whites movement is graceful and elegant. Sound is also used to distinguish between different characters or occurrences in the film. Every time the evil queen enters the scene the music suddenly turns dark and heart-wrenching. This happens especially when she creates the potion to age her appearance, and when she unexpectedly appears in the window of the cottage. Two other scenes where this is noticeable are when Snow White runs into the forest, and when the dwarfs are chasing the evil queen. At both times the music is quick and full of excitement. The music in this movie is aesthetically pleasing to both the mind and the ears. One scene that is very appealing is when the dwarfs are all sleeping, and the viewer gets to hear every snore and movement of each of the characters. Another intriguing part of the movie is when the queen is mixing her brew; it is very interesting how every drop, lightening bolt, or spray is a different sound. The scene towards the end of the movie where the dwarfs are chasing the queen is another exciting scene because the music is ver...

The role of the concepts of the seduced & repressed Essay

The role of the concepts of the seduced & repressed - Essay Example This part will discuss how the society is build up. It describes the modern life of the people living in UK and how their streets have improved over time. It will also show how the ways in life have changed due to existence of material. Every day people are faced with various kinds of goods but choice really matters. It also depends on placements for example the young, old, employed and unemployed that describes a consumer society. There are various kinds of inequalities present in a society which include people with differing lifestyles and abilities. Consumer society tries to define people by the way they consume in terms of class or knowledge. Consumption is where goods and services reach the end user and the satisfaction that comes with the process. People consume for many reasons for example for fun, other consume to be different from the rest, to represent a type of group or for pleasure. To study the contemporary consumer society it is important to examine material things that surround consumers for example luxuries that represent an individual’s status. According to Jackson (1998) today’s society for example people really choose on where to shop as shopping activities are seen as leisure unlike 20 years ago where people use to shop in order to have essentials. The shopping centers have developed as more malls are coming up and due to migrants in various parts of the world; there has been diversification of products to cater for all the needs of customers. The society has now changed in qualities and features where infrastructure has been improved thus making it easy to get what consumers needed. One description of a street in New York includes Broadway located near Manhattan and with various kinds of shopping centers for example the central mall. Others include art galleries, boutiques, designer stores and jewelry shops. It is therefore necessary to consider certain social factors in the process

Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Biology - Essay Example According to The American Lung Association (2007) pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching the blood. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body cells cant work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death. Different causes of pneumonia manifest different signs and symptoms. In patients with pneumonia caused by bacteria (streptococcus pneumoniae), the temperature may rise as high as 105Â º F. The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patients mental state may be confused or delirious. If caused by a virus (influenza), there are fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours, there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes worse and produces a small amount of mucus. Th ere is a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips. In mycoplasma (are the smallest free-living agents of disease in humankind, unclassified as to whether bacteria or viruses, but having characteristics of both) pneumonia, there is a cough that tends to come in violent attacks, but produces only sparse whitish mucus. Chills and fever are early symptoms, and some patients experience nausea or vomiting. Patients may experience profound weakness that lasts for a long time. Other causes of pneumonia are fungi and other chemicals. Some types of pneumonia develop when the immune system weakened. Pneumonia can be acquired from community, hospital, and thru aspiration when foreign bodies enter the lungs (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008). According to MayoClinic.com (2008), pneumonia treatments vary, depending on the severity of symptoms and the type of pneumonia that the patient have. Bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonias are treated with

Market structures in the Agriculture industry

Market structures in the Agriculture industry There are many types of market structure which are perfect competition, pure monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. The market structure of Agriculture is perfect competition and sometimes referred to as pure competition. Agriculture firm is a perfect competition because it market structure characterized by a large number of firms so each of the firm in perfect competition produces an insignificant percentage of total market output and thus that no single firm can influence or control over the ruling market price. Â   (Geoff Riley, 2006) Besides, the agriculture product is said to be standardized or homogenous. Its means that, agriculture product is a product where buyer cannot differentiate in terms of quality, packaging or labeling. Therefore, in agriculture market customers dont care which specific firm they buy from because it is absolutely identical. Therefore, the firms cannot charge different prices for the same product in the market. (AmosWEB Encyclonomic) Besides that, There are freedom of entry and exist from the market in perfect competition. This type of market is feasible in the long run and no firm will dominate the market and evict other firm. (Geoff Riley, 2006) Furthermore, each firms product supplied to the markets that are prefect substitutes for the product of others firms, so the demand for each firms product is perfectly elastic. Therefore, the firms in the perfect competition have no power to set the price they have to sell the product at the going market price. This type of firm are said to be price takers. (AmosWEB Encyclonomic) As a price taker, individual firms in perfect competition will sell their product at the equilibrium price. This can be shown in both figure 1a and figure 1b. Market Firm Price Price S P* P D Quantity Quantity Figure 1a Figure 1b At the equilibrium price, the quantity demand and quantity supply of the market is balance. The equilibrium price can be shown in figure 1a, where the supply and demand curve intersects with each others. The equilibrium price is at P*. At any price below P*, the market shortage of the product would exist. At this price the quantity demand is higher than quantity supply therefore it will causes excess demand in this product. Due to the product shortage, the buyer would bid among themselves for the limited supply and price would rise to eliminate the shortage. (Grey Parry and Steven Kemp, 2000). Conversely, if the price is above the P*, the market surplus of the product would exist. Therefore, it will cause excess supply in this product. Sellers will want to eliminate the surplus by lowering prices. That is because, when the price falls, the quantity of demand would rise to eliminate the shortage. (Grey Parry and Steven Kemp, 2000). When either supply or demand changes, the equilibrium price will change. As shown in figure 2a below, the increase of food demands from D1 to D2 cause the both price (P1 to P2)and quantity sold(Q1 to Q2) to increase. At the old equilibrium price of P1, quantity demanded will now greater than the quantity supplied. Therefore, the excess demand will result the quantity supply movement along the supply curve to a higher equilibrium price where the quantity of demand and supply is once again in balance. A decrease in demand for food would have the opposite effect, the equilibrium price will decrease and the quantity also will decrease. (Grey Parry and Steven Kemp, 2000) Food Price D2 S P2 D1 P1 Q1 Q2 Quantity Figure 2a A change in demand will result in number of factors which are: Bio-fuel production increase Furthermore, the diversion of food for making bio-fuels has lead to increased demand for bio-fuel raw material, such as wheat, soy, maize and so on. Therefore, the increasing in biofuel production causing less food available for human consumption and the price of food crops were increase dramatically. The most clearly example are the use of corn in the United States for the production of biofuels. In the about 25 to 30% of corn output in the US is used for ethanol biofuels. (CNET News, 2008 )Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75 per cent and these prices are higher than the previously estimated, a study by the recent report of World Bank (Sumanjeet Singh, 2009) As shown in figure 2b below, when the supply of food increase from S1 to S2, the food price will fall from P1 to P2 and the quantity demand will be movement along the demand curve to a new equilibrium price where the supply curve intersects with demand curve. Finally the new equilibrium price and quantity will P2 and Q2 . Food Price D S1 P1 S2 P2 Q1 Q2 Quantity Figure 2b A change in supply will result in number of factors which are: Natural disaster First and foremost, that cannot denied that the natural disaster bring a seriously influence on the food production. The worst drought happened in Russia last year damaged a largely number of wheat crop and cause the Russian government to cease grain export for the year. Seriously flooding in Australia also damages wheat crops and causes some of the crops were downgraded for use only as animal food. Consequently, the wheat crops were faced shortage in the past year and cause the price of grain food has risen sharply. (Dr. Grary Peters, 2011) Negative climate changes Beside that, the word agriculture suppliers were significantly decreased due to the global warming. Therefore, in the global warming period will result in additional price increase for the most important agricultural crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and soya beans. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute showed in December, it states that the global warming will increase the price of corn, wheat and rice by at least two-thirds by 2050. (Bloomberg, 2011) Beside that, according to the Integrated Regional Information Networks, IRIN, it state that within the next four decades maize prices could rise by up to 131 percent due to the global temperature and some of the African farmer might have to give up agriculture if the weather are getting hotter. (IRIN News, 2010)

Comparative Analysis

Pony and Identify 3 things that have changed and 3 things that have not changed. In the five (5) State of the Nation Addresses (Jonas) delivered by President Benson S. Aquinas Ill before the Joint Session of the House of Representatives and the Senate from 2010-2014, there are several issues that are common or consistent with all Jonas. However, for purposes of highlighting the most obvious ones, we could enumerate it according to its prominent appearance in the SOON speeches.These are the following: 1. The issue on rice importation and ice sufficiency as part of the government's overall campaign on agricultural modernization and food production to make the country a rice exporting and rice self-sufficient nation. 2. The implementation of the APS or the Pantywaist Paying Filipino Program also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer Program intended to augment the financial capability of poor families to send their students to school. 3.The Armed Forces of the Philippines (APP) Moderni zation Program that will ensure the country's external security needs by providing war materials and military equipment hence upgrading and bolstering our country's military capability. In the aspect that highlights each Sonar's uniqueness and distinctiveness, it is worth noting that there are at least 3 items in each particular SOON that shows its differences with other SOON speeches delivered from 2010-2014.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 1. ENGAGED

No one is staring at you,I promised myself. No one is staring at you. No one is staring at you. But, because I couldn't lie convincingly even to myself, I had to check. As I sat waiting for one of the three traffic lights in town to turn green, I peeked to the right – in her minivan, Mrs. Weber had turned her whole torso in my direction. Her eyes bored into mine, and I flinched back, wondering why she didn't drop her gaze or look ashamed. It was still considered rude to stare at people, wasn't it? Didn't that apply to me anymore? Then I remembered that these windows were so darkly tinted that she probably had no idea if it was even me in here, let alone that I'd caught her looking. I tried to take some comfort in the fact that she wasn't really staring at me, just the car. Mycar. Sigh. I glanced to the left and groaned. Two pedestrians were frozen on the sidewalk, missing their chance to cross as they stared. Behind them, Mr. Marshall was gawking through the plate-glass window of his little souvenir shop. At least he didn't have his nose pressed up against the glass. Yet. The light turned green and, in my hurry to escape, I stomped on the gas pedal without thinking – the normal way I would have punched it to get my ancient Chevy truck moving. Engine snarling like a hunting panther, the car jolted forward so fast that my body slammed into the black leather seat and my stomach flattened against my spine. â€Å"Arg!† I gasped as I fumbled for the brake. Keeping my head, I merely tapped the pedal. The car lurched to an absolute standstill anyway. I couldn't bear to look around at the reaction. If there had been any doubt as to who was driving this car before, it was gone now. With the toe of my shoe, I gently nudged the gas pedal down one half millimeter, and the car shot forward again. I managed to reach my goal, the gas station. If I hadn't been running on vapors, I wouldn't have come into town at all. I was going without a lot of things these days, like Pop-Tarts and shoelaces, to avoid spending time in public. Moving as if I were in a race, I got the hatch open, the cap off, the card scanned, and the nozzle in the tank within seconds. Of course, there was nothing I could do to make the numbers on the gauge pick up the pace. They ticked by sluggishly, almost as if they were doing it just to annoy me. It wasn't bright out – a typical drizzly day in Forks, Washington – but I still felt like a spotlight was trained on me, drawing attention to the delicate ring on my left hand. At times like this, sensing the eyes on my back, it felt as if the ring were pulsing like a neon sign: Look at me, look at me. It was stupid to be so self-conscious, and I knew that. Besides my dad and mom, did it really matter what people were saying about my engagement? About my new car? About my mysterious acceptance into an Ivy League college? About the shiny black credit card that felt red-hot in my back pocket right now? â€Å"Yeah, who cares what they think,† I muttered under my breath. â€Å"Urn, miss?† a man's voice called. I turned, and then wished I hadn't. Two men stood beside a fancy SUV with brand-new kayaks tied to the top. Neither of them was looking at me; they both were staring at the car. Personally, I didn't get it. But then, I was just proud I could distinguish between the symbols for Toyota, Ford, and Chevy. This car was glossy black, sleek, and pretty, but it was still just a car to me. â€Å"I'm sorry to bother you, but could you tell me what kind of car you're driving?† the tall one asked. â€Å"Urn, a Mercedes, right?† â€Å"Yes,† the man said politely while his shorter friend rolled his eyes at my answer. â€Å"I know. But I was wondering, is that†¦ are you driving a Mercedes Guardian?† The man said the name with reverence. I had a feeling this guy would get along well with Edward Cullen, my†¦ my fiance (there really was no getting around that truth with the wedding just days away). â€Å"They aren't supposed to be available in Europe yet,† the man went on, â€Å"let alone here.† While his eyes traced the contours of my car – it didn't look much different from any other Mercedes sedan to me, but what did I know? – I briefly contemplated my issues with words like fiance, wedding, husband, etc. I just couldn't put it together in my head. On the one hand, I had been raised to cringe at the very thought of poofy white dresses and bouquets. But more than that, I just couldn't reconcile a staid, respectable, dull concept like husband with my concept of Edward. It was like casting an archangel as an accountant; I couldn't visualize him in any commonplace role. Like always, as soon as I started thinking about Edward I was caught up in a dizzy spin of fantasies. The stranger had to clear his throat to get my attention; he was still waiting for an answer about the car's make and model. â€Å"I don't know,† I told him honestly. â€Å"Do you mind if I take a picture with it?† It took me a second to process that. â€Å"Really? You want to take a picture with the car?† â€Å"Sure – nobody is going to believe me if I don't get proof.† â€Å"Urn. Okay. Fine.† I swiftly put away the nozzle and crept into the front seat to hide while the enthusiast dug a huge professional-looking camera out of his backpack. He and his friend took turns posing by the hood, and then they went to take pictures at the back end. â€Å"I miss my truck,† I whimpered to myself. Very, very convenient – too convenient – that my truck would wheeze its last wheeze just weeks after Edward and I had agreed to our lopsided compromise, one detail of which was that he be allowed to replace my truck when it passed on. Edward swore it was only to be expected; my truck had lived a long, full life and then expired of natural causes. According to him. And, of course, I had no way to verify his story or to try to raise my truck from the dead on my own. My favorite mechanic – I stopped that thought cold, refusing to let it come to a conclusion. Instead, I listened to the men's voices outside, muted by the car walls. â€Å"†¦ went at it with a flamethrower in the online video. Didn't even pucker the paint.† â€Å"Of course not. You could roll a tank over this baby. Not much of a market for one over here. Designed for Middle East diplomats, arms dealers, and drug lords mostly.† â€Å"Think she's something?† the short one asked in a softer voice. I ducked my head, cheeks flaming. â€Å"Huh,† the tall one said. â€Å"Maybe. Can't imagine what you'd need missile-proof glass and four thousand pounds of body armor for around here. Must be headed somewhere more hazardous.† Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? Nice. What had happened to good old-fashioned bulletproof? Well, at least this made some sense – if you had a twisted sense of humor. It wasn't like I hadn't expected Edward to take advantage of our deal, to weight it on his side so that he could give so much more than he would receive. I'd agreed that he could replace my truck when it needed replacing, not expecting that moment to come quite so soon, of course. When I'd been forced to admit that the truck had become no more than a still-life tribute to classic Chevys on my curb, I knew his idea of a replacement was probably going to embarrass me. Make me the focus of stares and whispers. I'd been right about that part. But even in my darkest imaginings I had not foreseen that he would get me two cars. The â€Å"before† car and the â€Å"after† car, he'd explained when I'd flipped out. This was just the â€Å"before† car. He'd told me it was a loaner and promised that he was returning it after the wedding. It all had made absolutely no sense to me. Until now. Ha ha. Because I was so fragilely human, so accident-prone, so much a victim to my own dangerous bad luck, apparently I needed a tank-resistant car to keep me safe. Hilarious. I was sure he and his brothers had enjoyed the joke quite a bit behind my back. Or maybe, just maybe,a small voice whispered in my head, it's not a joke, silly. Maybe he's really that worried about you. This wouldn't be the first time he's gone a little overboard trying to protect you. I sighed. I hadn't seen the â€Å"after† car yet. It was hidden under a sheet in the deepest corner of the Cullens' garage. I knew most people would have peeked by now, but I really didn't want to know. Probably no body armor on that car – because I wouldn't need it after the honeymoon. Virtual indestructibility was just one of the many perks I was looking forward to. The best parts about being a Cullen were not expensive cars and impressive credit cards. â€Å"Hey,† the tall man called, cupping his hands to the glass in an effort to peer in. â€Å"We're done now. Thanks a lot!† â€Å"You're welcome,† I called back, and then tensed as I started the engine and eased the pedal – ever so gently – down___ No matter how many times I drove down the familiar road home, I still couldn't make the rain-faded flyers fade into the background. Each one of them, stapled to telephone poles and taped to street signs, was like a fresh slap in the face. A well-deserved slap in the face. My mind was sucked back into the thought I'd interrupted so immediately before. I couldn't avoid it on this road. Not with pictures of my favorite mechanic flashing past me at regular intervals. My best friend. My Jacob. Thehave you SEENthis boy? posters were not Jacob's father's idea. It had been my father, Charlie, who'd printed up the flyers and spread them all over town. And not just Forks, but Port Angeles and Sequim and Hoquiam and Aberdeen and every other town in the Olympic Peninsula. He'd made sure that all the police stations in the state of Washington had the same flyer hanging on the wall, too. His own station had a whole corkboard dedicated to finding Jacob. A corkboard that was mostly empty, much to his disappointment and frustration. My dad was disappointed with more than the lack of response. He was most disappointed with Billy, Jacob's father – and Charlie's closest friend. For Billy's not being more involved with the search for his sixteen-year-old â€Å"runaway.† For Billy's refusing to put up the flyers in La Push, the reservation on the coast that was Jacob's home. For his seeming resigned to Jacob's disappearance, as if there was nothing he could do. For his saying, â€Å"Jacob's grown up now. He'll come home if he wants to.† And he was frustrated with me, for taking Billy's side. I wouldn't put up posters, either. Because both Billy and I knew where Jacob was, roughly speaking, and we also knew that no one had seen this boy. The flyers put the usual big, fat lump in my throat, the usual stinging tears in my eyes, and I was glad Edward was out hunting this Saturday. If Edward saw my reaction, it would only make him feel terrible, too. Of course, there were drawbacks to it being Saturday. As I turned slowly and carefully onto my street, I could see my dad's police cruiser in the driveway of our home. He'd skipped fishing again today. Still sulking about the wedding. So I wouldn't be able to use the phone inside. But I had to call___ I parked on the curb behind the Chevy sculpture and pulled the cell phone Edward had given me for emergencies out of the glove compartment. I dialed, keeping my finger on the â€Å"end† button as the phone rang. Just in case. â€Å"Hello?† Seth Clearwater answered, and I sighed in relief. I was way too chicken to speak to his older sister, Leah. The phrase â€Å"bite my head off was not entirely a figure of speech when it came to Leah. â€Å"Hey, Seth, it's Bella.† â€Å"Oh, hiya, Bella! How are you?† Choked up. Desperate for reassurance. â€Å"Fine.† â€Å"Calling for an update?† â€Å"You're psychic.† â€Å"Not hardly. I'm no Alice – you're just predictable,† he joked. Among the Quileute pack down at La Push, only Seth was comfortable even mentioning the Cullens by name, let alone joking about things like my nearly omniscient sister-in-law-to-be. â€Å"I know I am.† I hesitated for a minute. â€Å"How is he?† Seth sighed. â€Å"Same as ever. He won't talk, though we know he hears us. He's trying not to think human, you know. Just going with his instincts.† â€Å"Do you know where he is now?† â€Å"Somewhere in northern Canada. I can't tell you which province. He doesn't pay much attention to state lines.† â€Å"Any hint that he might†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He's not coming home, Bella. Sorry.† I swallowed. â€Å"S'okay, Seth. I knew before I asked. I just can't help wishing.† â€Å"Yeah. We all feel the same way.† â€Å"Thanks for putting up with me, Seth. I know the others must give you a hard time.† â€Å"They're not your hugest fans,† he agreed cheerfully. â€Å"Kind of lame, I think. Jacob made his choices, you made yours. Jake doesn't like their attitude about it. ‘Course, he isn't super thrilled that you're checking up on him, either.† I gasped. â€Å"I thought he wasn't talking to you?† â€Å"He can't hide everything from us, hard as he's trying.† So Jacob knew I was worried. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Well, at least he knew I hadn't skipped off into the sunset and forgotten him completely. He might have imagined me capable of that. â€Å"I guess I'll see you at the†¦ wedding,† I said, forcing the word out through my teeth. â€Å"Yeah, me and my mom will be there. It was cool of you to ask us.† I smiled at the enthusiasm in his voice. Though inviting the Clearwaters had been Edward's idea, I was glad he'd thought of it. Having Seth there would be nice – a link, however tenuous, to my missing best man. â€Å"It wouldn't be the same without you.† â€Å"Tell Edward I said hi, ‘kay?† â€Å"Sure thing.† I shook my head. The friendship that had sprung up between Edward and Seth was something that still boggled my mind. It was proof, though, that things didn't have to be this way. That vampires and werewolves could get along just fine, thank you very much, if they were of a mind to. Not everybody liked this idea. â€Å"Ah,† Seth said, his voice cracking up an octave. â€Å"Er, Leah's home.† â€Å"Oh! Bye!† The phone went dead. I left it on the seat and prepared myself mentally to go inside the house, where Charlie would be waiting. My poor dad had so much to deal with right now. Jacob-the-runaway was just one of the straws on his overburdened back. He was almost as worried about me, his barely-a-legal-adult daughter who was about to become a Mrs. in just a few days' time. I walked slowly through the light rain, remembering the night we'd told him___ As the sound of Charlie's cruiser announced his return, the ring suddenly weighed a hundred pounds on my finger. I wanted to shove my left hand in a pocket, or maybe sit on it, but Edward's cool, firm grasp kept it front and center. â€Å"Stop fidgeting, Bella. Please try to remember that you're not confessing to a murder here.† â€Å"Easy for you to say.† I listened to the ominous sound of my father's boots clomping up the sidewalk. The key rattled in the already open door. The sound reminded me of that part of the horror movie when the victim realizes she's forgotten to lock herdeadbolt. â€Å"Calm down, Bella,† Edward whispered, listening to the acceleration of my heart. The door slammed against the wall, and I flinched like I'd been Tasered. â€Å"Hey, Charlie,† Edward called, entirely relaxed. â€Å"No!† I protested under my breath. â€Å"What?† Edward whispered back. â€Å"Wait till he hangs his gun up!† Edward chuckled and ran his free hand through his tousled bronze hair. Charlie came around the corner, still in his uniform, still armed, and tried not to make a face when he spied us sitting together on the loveseat. Lately, he'd been putting forth a lot of effort to like Edward more. Of course, this revelation was sure to end that effort immediately. â€Å"Hey, kids. What's up?† â€Å"We'd like to talk to you,† Edward said, so serene. â€Å"We have some good news.† Charlie's expression went from strained friendliness to black suspicion in a second. â€Å"Good news?† Charlie growled, looking straight at me. â€Å"Have a seat, Dad.† He raised one eyebrow, stared at me for five seconds, then stomped to the recliner and sat down on the very edge, his back ramrod straight. â€Å"Don't get worked up, Dad,† I said after a moment of loaded silence. â€Å"Everything's okay.† Edward grimaced, and I knew it was in objection to the word okay. He probably would have used something more like wonderful or perfect or glorious. â€Å"Sure it is, Bella, sure it is. If everything is so great, then why are you sweating bullets?† â€Å"I'm not sweating,† I lied. I leaned away from his fierce scowl, cringing into Edward, and instinctively wiped the back of my right hand across my forehead to remove the evidence. â€Å"You're pregnant!† Charlie exploded. â€Å"You're pregnant, aren't you?† Though the question was clearly meant for me, he was glaring at Edward now, and I could have sworn I saw his hand twitch toward the gun. â€Å"No! Of course I'm not!† I wanted to elbow Edward in the ribs, but I knew that move would only give me a bruise. I'd told Edward that people would immediately jump to this conclusion! What other possible reason would sane people have for getting married at eighteen? (His answer then had made me roll my eyes. Love. Right.) Charlie's glower lightened a shade. It was usually pretty clear on my face when I was telling the truth, and he believed me now. â€Å"Oh. Sorry.† â€Å"Apology accepted.† There was a long pause. After a moment, I realized everyone was waiting for me to say something. I looked up at Edward, panic-stricken. There was no way I was going to get the words out. He smiled at me and then squared his shoulders and turned to my father. â€Å"Charlie, I realize that I've gone about this out of order. Traditionally, I should have asked you first. I mean no disrespect, but since Bella has already said yes and I don't want to diminish her choice in the matter, instead of asking you for her hand, I'm asking you for your blessing. We're getting married, Charlie. I love her more than anything in the world, more than my own life, and – by some miracle – she loves me that way, too. Will you give us your blessing?† He sounded so sure, so calm. For just an instant, listening to the absolute confidence in his voice, I experienced a rare moment of insight, i could see, fleetingly, the way the world looked to him. For the length of one heartbeat, this news made perfect sense. And then I caught sight of the expression on Charlie's face, his eyes now locked on the ring. I held my breath while his skin changed colors – fair to red, red to purple, purple to blue. I started to get up – I'm not sure what I planned to do; maybe use the Heimlich maneuver to make sure he wasn't choking – but Edward squeezed my hand and murmured â€Å"Give him a minute† so low that only I could hear. The silence was much longer this time. Then, gradually, shade by shade, Charlie's color returned to normal. His lips pursed, and his eyebrows furrowed; I recognized his â€Å"deep in thought† expression. He studied the two of us for a long moment, and I felt Edward relax at my side. â€Å"Guess I'm not that surprised,† Charlie grumbled. â€Å"Knew I'd have to deal with something like this soon enough.† I exhaled. â€Å"You sure about this?† Charlie demanded, glaring at me. â€Å"I'm one hundred percent sure about Edward,† I told him without missing a beat. â€Å"Getting married, though? What's the rush?† He eyed me suspiciously again. The rush was due to the fact that I was getting closer to nineteen every stinking day, while Edward stayed frozen in all his seventeen-year-old perfection, as he had for over ninety years. Not that this fact necessitated marriage in my book, but the wedding was required due to the delicate and tangled compromise Edward and I had made to finally get to this point, the brink of my transformation from mortal to immortal. These weren't things I could explain to Charlie. â€Å"We're going away to Dartmouth together in the fall, Charlie,† Edward reminded him. â€Å"I'd like to do that, well, the right way. It's how I was raised.† He shrugged. He wasn't exaggerating; they'd been big on old-fashioned morals during World War I. Charlie's mouth twisted to the side. Looking for an angle to argue from. But what could he say? I'd prefer you live in sin first? He was a dad; his hands were tied. â€Å"Knew this was coming,† he muttered to himself, frowning. Then, suddenly, his face went perfectly smooth and blank. â€Å"Dad?† I asked anxiously. I glanced at Edward, but I couldn't read his face, either, as he watched Charlie. â€Å"Ha!† Charlie exploded. I jumped in my seat. â€Å"Ha, ha, ha!† I stared incredulously as Charlie doubled over in laughter; his whole body shook with it. I looked at Edward for a translation, but Edward had his lips pressed tightly together, like he was trying to hold back laughter himself. â€Å"Okay, fine,† Charlie choked out. â€Å"Get married.† Another roll of laughter shook through him. â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But what?† I demanded. â€Å"But you have to tell your mom! I'm not saying one word to Renee! That's all yours!† He busted into loud guffaws. I paused with my hand on the doorknob, smiling. Sure, at the time, Charlie's words had terrified me. The ultimate doom: telling Renee. Early marriage was higher up on her blacklist than boiling live puppies. Who could have foreseen her response? Not me. Certainly not Charlie. Maybe Alice, but I hadn't thought to ask her. â€Å"Well, Bella,† Renee had said after I'd choked and stuttered out the impossible words: /Worn, I'm marrying Edward. Tm a little miffed that you waited so long to tell me. Plane tickets only get more expensive. Oooh,† she'd fretted. â€Å"Do you think Phil's cast will be off by then? It will spoil the pictures if he's not in a tux – â€Å" â€Å"Back up a second, Mom.† I'd gasped. â€Å"What do you mean, waited so long? I just got en-en . . .† – I'd been unable to force out the word engaged – â€Å"things settled, you know, today.† â€Å"Today? Really? That is a surprise. I assumed †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What did you assume? When did you assume?† â€Å"Well, when you came to visit me in April, it looked like things were pretty much sewn up, if you know what I mean. You're not very hard to read, sweetie. But I didn't say anything because I knew it wouldn't do any good. You're exactly like Charlie.† She'd sighed, resigned. â€Å"Once you make up your mind, there is no reasoning with you. Of course, exactly like Charlie, you stick by your decisions, too.† And then she'd said the last thing that I'd ever expected to hear from my mother. â€Å"You're not making my mistakes, Bella. You sound like you're scared silly, and I'm guessing it's because you're afraid of me.† She'd giggled. â€Å"Of what I'm going to think. And I know I've said a lot of things about marriage and stupidity – and I'm not taking them back – but you need to realize that those things specifically applied to me. You're a completely different person than I am. You make your own kinds of mistakes, and I'm sure you'll have your share of regrets in life. But commitment was never your problem, sweetie. You have a better chance of making this work than most forty-year-olds I know.† Renee had laughed again. â€Å"My little middle-aged child. Luckily, you seem to have found another old soul.† â€Å"You're not†¦ mad? You don't think I'm making a humongous mistake?† â€Å"Well, sure, I wish you'd wait a few more years. I mean, do I look old enough to be a mother-in-law to you? Don't answer that. But this isn't about me. This is about you. Are you happy?† â€Å"I don't know. I'm having an out-of-body experience right now.† Renee had chuckled. â€Å"Does he make you happy, Bella?† â€Å"Yes, but – â€Å" â€Å"Are you ever going to want anyone else?† â€Å"No, but – â€Å" â€Å"But what?† â€Å"But aren't you going to say that I sound exactly like every other infatuated teenager since the dawn of time?† â€Å"You've never been a teenager, sweetie. You know what's best for you.† For the last few weeks, Renee had unexpectedly immersed herself in wedding plans. She'd spent hours every day on the phone with Edward's mother, Esme – no worries about the in-laws getting along. Renee adored Esme, but then, I doubted anyone could help responding that way to my lovable almost-mother-in-law. It let me right off the hook. Edward's family and my family were taking care of the nuptials together without my having to do or know or think too hard about any of it. Charlie was furious, of course, but the sweet part was that he wasn't furious at me. Renee was the traitor. He'd counted on her to play the heavy. What could he do now, when his ultimate threat – telling Mom – had turned out to be utterly empty? He had nothing, and he knew it. So he moped around the house, muttering things about not being able to trust anyone in this world___ â€Å"Dad?† I called as I pushed open the front door. â€Å"I'm home.† â€Å"Hold on, Bells, stay right there.† â€Å"Huh?† I asked, pausing automatically. â€Å"Gimme a second. Ouch, you got me, Alice.† Alice? â€Å"Sorry, Charlie,† Alice's trilling voice responded. â€Å"How's that?† â€Å"I'm bleeding on it.† â€Å"You're fine. Didn't break the skin – trust me.† â€Å"What's going on?† I demanded, hesitating in the doorway. â€Å"Thirty seconds, please, Bella,† Alice told me. â€Å"Your patience will be rewarded.† â€Å"Humph,† Charlie added. I tapped my foot, counting each beat. Before I got to thirty, Alice said, â€Å"Okay, Bella, come in!† Moving with caution, I rounded the little corner into our living room. â€Å"Oh,† I huffed. â€Å"Aw. Dad. Don't you look – â€Å" â€Å"Silly?† Charlie interrupted. â€Å"I was thinking more like debonair† Charlie blushed. Alice took his elbow and tugged him around into a slow spin to showcase the pale gray tux. â€Å"Now cut that out, Alice. I look like an idiot.† â€Å"No one dressed by me ever looks like an idiot.† â€Å"She's right, Dad. You look fabulous! What's the occasion?† Alice rolled her eyes. â€Å"It's the final check on the fit. For both of you.† I peeled my gaze off the unusually elegant Charlie for the first time and saw the dreaded white garment bag laid carefully across the sofa. â€Å"Aaah.† â€Å"Go to your happy place, Bella. It won't take long.† I sucked in a deep breath and closed my eyes. Keeping them shut, I stumbled my way up the stairs to my room. I stripped down to my underwear and held my arms straight out. â€Å"You'd think I was shoving bamboo splinters under your nails,† Alice muttered to herself as she followed me in. I paid no attention to her. I was in my happy place. In my happy place, the whole wedding mess was over and done. Behind me. Already repressed and forgotten. We were alone, just Edward and me. The setting was fuzzy and constantly in flux – it morphed from misty forest to cloud-covered city to arctic night – because Edward was keeping the location of our honeymoon a secret to surprise me. But I wasn't especially concerned about the where part. Edward and I were together, and I'd fulfilled my side of our compromise perfectly. I'd married him. That was the big one. But I'd also accepted all his outrageous gifts and was registered, however futilely, to attend Dartmouth College in the fall. Now it was his turn. Before he turned me into a vampire – his big compromise – he had one other stipulation to make good on. Edward had an obsessive sort of concern over the human things that I would be giving up, the experiences he didn't want me to miss. Most of them – like the prom, for example – seemed silly to me. There was only one human experience I worried about missing. Of course it would be the one he wished I would forget completely. Here was the thing, though. I knew a little about what I was going to be like when I wasn't human anymore. I'd seen newborn vampires firsthand, and I'd heard all my family-to-be's stories about those wild early days. For several years, my biggest personality trait was going to be thirsty, it would take some time before I could be me again. And even when I was in control of myself, I would never feel exactly the way I felt now. Human†¦ and passionately in love. I wanted the complete experience before I traded in my warm, breakable, pheromone-riddled body for something beautiful, strong†¦ and unknown. I wanted a real honeymoon with Edward. And, despite the danger he feared this would put me in, he'd agreed to try. I was only vaguely aware of Alice and the slip and slide of satin over my skin. I didn't care, for the moment, that the whole town was talking about me. I didn't think about the spectacle I would have to star in much too soon. I didn't worry about tripping on my train or giggling at the wrong moment or being too young or the staring audience or even the empty seat where my best friend should be. I was with Edward in my happy place.