Symbolism in Kiss of the Spiderwoman and No One Writes

â€Å"It’s a sin to take the food out of our mouths to give it to a rooster† (Garcia Marquez 31). This essay portrays the different types of symbolism throughout the novels Kiss of the Spiderwoman by Manuel Puig and No One Writes to the Colonel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The fighting cock is the dominant symbol in the former, representing both positive and negative matters; such is the case of hope in bringing some improvement to the Colonel’s living conditions while for his wife, being a reminder of their son’s death along with the repression they live in due to political corruption. In the novel Kiss of the Spider Woman, symbols such as the films, the food and most importantly, the Spider Woman, represent the characters’ peculiar relationship transitioning from a neutral one to a sexual and affectionate one. Both these novels are linked by the political corruption in their environment while the emotional atmosphere revealed by the symbols make them complementary to each other. In No One Writes to the Colonel, the linking of symbols and images represent the inner tensions of the characters throughout the novel. The main symbol, the fighting cock, is an interesting one in its ability to depict contrasting sentiments as one being. The first one is the hope the Colonel attains from it because of the value it possesses for the town. If the cock wins in the cock fights, the poverty they find themselves struggling with would have a chance to improve. This gives the cock a special treatment where ironically, it will be put first than them. â€Å"When the corn is gone we’ll have to feed him on our own livers. (Garcia Marquez 11) Evidently, the Colonel and his wife are eating insufficiently, unable to afford more corn for the cock, let alone food for themselves. The Colonel however maintains a positive attitude towards the cock, faithful that it will in the end lead to helping their harsh conditions. Not only for him but for the people of the town too, the rooster will come to hold a great value representing collective hope for the town as a whole. We can see this when the Colonel talks to a group of young men who were his son Agustin’s friends and after his death, always helped maintain the cock healthy not only with hope, but with the belief that it will win all of the bets and as a result, win a lot of money for them. The Colonel asks about how much he owes them for repairing his clock and they assure him the cock will reward it. â€Å"Don’t worry about it, Colonel. In January, the rooster will pay for it† (Garcia Marquez 34). It seems that there is an assurance of what the symbol of the rooster signifies and is valued for in the town. This is where the main conflict comes in between him and his wife, in which the cock’s symbolism of hope will turn into one of hatred and resentment. â€Å"It’s because the situation we’re in,† she said. â€Å"It’s a sin to take the food out of our mouths to give it to a rooster† (Garcia Marquez 31). For her, the rooster will represent something quite the contrary; where rather than it symbolizing hope for an improvement to their living conditions, it will symbolize the misery they are in, especially by being the source of their son’s death. She cannot relate with neither her husband’s wish to maintain Agustin’s aspirations for the cock alive nor the town’s value and belief for it as a symbol of opposition continuing even after the death of its owner. The cock, as a legacy of Agustin, is a symbol of collective hope for the town symbolizing resistance for opposition to authority. He and his rooster were the part of the family who possessed the highest appreciation and value from the people of the town. When he is killed, the survival of the cock is what gives his parents any respect from the people. Later on, the Colonel considers selling it since his wife constantly puts pressure on him to do so because she believes that it is only putting their own lives at risk. â€Å"Get rid of that rooster right now† (Garcia Marquez 30). However, he finally realizes as he sees and lives through the excitement of a cock fight that the cock is more meaningful than just the money it can bring. He thinks that by selling the cock, it would not only mean a glimpse of help to their situation but also a betrayal to the people of the town, â€Å"They said the rooster didn’t belong to us but to the whole town† (Garcia Marquez 56); and the problem of hunger they find themselves struggling with would still not be solved. The political standpoint in which this symbol stands is conflictive no matter what decision he makes. There is always a constant shift in which the symbolism of the cock varies from a positive tone of hope and value to a more negative one of misery and death. The rooster in itself is not suggested just as a representation of the repression the couple lived in but is truly signified as Agustin, the son who was killed as a form of punishment for selling clandestine information that the political figures of authority did not want for the public, in other words, not allowing freedom of expression. For Kiss of the Spider Woman, the symbols are portrayed by a more consistent representation of love and care between Molina and Valentino, a peculiar relationship where a homosexual man, Molina, will trap the heterosexual man, Valentino, into a â€Å"trap of webs† through seduction and a much needed care for him in times of sickness. First of all, the symbol of the films that Molina shares with him as a way of entertainment in the jail cell have stories that represent how he is feeling along with his fantasies about love. An essential film Molina told Valentino about was the last one he told before he was held free from jail, the story of a romantic tragedy. â€Å"And then suddenly you see a giant giant close-up of just her face, with her eyes flooded with tears, but with a smile on her lips†¦ And well†¦ that’s all†¦ folks†¦ -†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Puig 259) The telling of this film represented the setting of a melancholic atmosphere since after growing such a strong bond, it was now time for them to part. What these films as symbols also emphasize is the entirely different points of views that these two men attain. – It’s a question of learning to accept things as they come, and to appreciate the good that happens to you, even if it doesn’t last. Because nothing is forever. –Yes, it’s easy to say. But feeling it is something else. † (Puig 259) Molina sees himself as a female figure rather than a male one with the fantasy of finding love wi th a wonderful man, with this; he is more led by his emotions rather than reason. Valentin, on the other hand, thinks in the opposite way being led more by reason. He rejects Molina’s idea of a forever lasting love and sees personal relationships as secondary to the cause of justice. These films are constantly triggering their discussions about their opposite points of views. Valentin criticizes Molina for his desire to escape into a world of fantasy but ironically, he denies that his own expectancy for a revolution is also virtually a fantasy. We can then call upon the symbols of food in the novel representing the love, care and affection that in the end Molina has won from Valentin, a man who tends to avoid this sort of attachment with someone else. When Valentin is sick from food poisoning in the cell, Molina finds a way to treat him with delicious food that makes him feel much better after being sick from poisonous food from the jail. As their time to depart arrives, Valentin makes reference to some of the food as his way of telling him he loves him and will actually miss him, â€Å"Every time I see a piece of glazed fruit, I’m going to remember you† (Par. 5, Pg. 259). The glazed fruit will be a symbol of caring and nurturing that Molina gave to Valentin. He also mentions the chicken spit, one of the other foods he brought him that will remind him of Molina. And every time I see a chicken on a spit, turning in a deli oven† (Puig Pg. 260). The symbol of the chicken spit turning in an oven will represent two vital things: one being the foreshadowing of Valentino and the burns he will suffer later as punishment from the authority for not giving out information they asked of him and the other is how along with this physical pain, he will also live with the pain of knowing that Molina died not long before he got parole because he got involved in Valentino’s political affairs as a favor to him. And finally most importantly, we see the symbol of the spider woman representing Molina’s character, the consuming female who relishes her predator after a sexual encounter yet also the mother who nurtures. â€Å"- You, you’re the spider woman, that traps men in her web. † (Par. 5, Pg. 260). Molina is symbolized as the spider woman since in his relationship with Valentin; he was not a man but a feminine figure who won Valentin’s trust and affection through his profound care of him. In conclusion, the role of symbolism in these two pieces of literature will play a significant role in representing important aspects of the themes, the atmosphere, the social relationships, the emotions, etc. In No One Writes to the Colonel, we see that the cock will be a symbol of two main different things: the optimism in the hope for the town and the Colonel and a more negative note for the Colonel’s wife who sees it as the repression and death of their son. In Kiss of the Spider Woman, the symbols of the film stories, the food and the spider woman will also reveal how the relationship between Molina and Valentin is grandly valued despite their sexuality differences. For both of these novels, we are able to see the symbols all of hope, love, affection and misery; all vital in expressing what is needed and putting together two classical pieces of literature.

Crtical thinking responses

On a sheet of paper, apply the general overview of court structure In the united States (Figure 1. 2) to your local community. A. Within my community we have a Trial court that is capable of handling both minor violations (Misdemeanors crimes, DID, Bail hearings) and a Higher court system which deals with capital offenses and has the ability to convict, sentence and reprimand defendants. 2. On a sheet of paper, apply the list of actors In the courthouse (Table 1 . ) to your immunity. If you live In a rural area, how does your list differ from that of someone who lives in a larger community? If you live in a large metropolitan area, how does your list differ from that of someone living in a more rural area? A. Both rural and metropolitan areas share similar actors in the courthouse such as victim/plaintiff, defendant/accused, the prosecution working on behalf of the state, the defense attorney or public defender assigned to the defendant, and a Judge depending on the case or circumsta nce a Jury maybe unnecessary as the case doesn't require.What private, nongovernmental organizations are important to the criminal justice system of your community? A. Lass Cruses Police Department has assigned officers capable of coordinating with local community leaders in creating a Neighborhood watch program which in turn can reduce crime in certain areas. By doing so they utilize a crime control method with this action. 4. Use newspapers, radio, and criminal Justice discussion lists or chat groups to monitor discussion concerning the criminal Justice system. Do citizens make distinctions among police, courts, and corrections, or do they lump everything under

Building a Character in a Monologue

Whether it is still possible to create six female characters from a monologue written for men. This is a challenge and we addressed this challenge when we made Mark Ravenhills products. When applying practitioners like Bertolt Brecht and Konstantin Stanislavski, I will discuss further on how to accomplish this work. My greatest concern when I began creating text was that it was obvious in the early stages of the rehearsal process as we were challenging to create persuasive and realistic characters is. A monologue is a monologue but it's not a side: a monologue is a speech, one role can solve other characters and audiences, or a spontaneous speech, next to the character's comment on the audience (usually an emergency Although short), the character may be talking with him or herself in the play. Shakespeare's monologue includes his most primitive and powerful sentences. In his greatest tragedy, he was exploring ways how some people are struggling under pressure on personal thoughts. In the monologue (if tweet) When I finish ... Macbeth uncover the fear of cursing his image unconsciously. This is part of it; he actually has various ideas. But he was not aware that he hindered killing his king: simply say this is the wrong fact The inner monologue is the record of the inner idea of ​​the character. The inner monologue is similar to a monologue because it depicts the inner thoughts and feelings of the character, but unlike a monologue, the inner monologue does not mean acting. Even more frankly, even if the monologue reveals the idea of ​​the character, it is also a speech act. We must say that a monologue becomes a monologue, and basically a defined inner monologue never is told: it is a record of the character's idea.

Nursing - Use of Herbals Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nursing - Use of Herbals - Research Paper Example Studies have also shown improvements in the control of quality and evaluation of these compounds. Considering that many herbal compounds do not undergo chemical processing, many people think that they are safe, and have no side effects even when taken beyond measure (Cassileth, Yeung, and Gubili & 2008). They also tend to use these compounds alongside prescribed medicines having the impression that they will improve treatment. Despite their proven values, herbals do not have the perceived safety, and neither do they all improve treatment when used alongside prescribed drugs. One of the emerging issues in modern times is that herbal compounds are not as safe as they are thought to be. In fact, they may be counterproductive when used by patients undergoing certain treatments and those on prescription medications. History of herbal medicine use The use of herbals has a long history dating back about ten thousand years. Some of the longest records of the use of herbal medicines include t hose found in Egypt, India and ancient China. Herbals also have a long history in other indigenous cultures including the Native American and African cultures. With the advent of chemical analysis in the 19th century, scientists started extracting and modifying active ingredients contained in plants and came up with pharmaceuticals. Even with the development of pharmaceuticals, natural remedies to human health still represent a significant portion of the US market, and other parts of the globe. In places like Germany, for example, the sales turnover of one herbal product called silymarin amounts to $180 million annually (Breevort, 1996). This herbal compound is used almost exclusively for treating liver problems. Almost a third of outpatients seeking medical care from liver clinics use this product according to Breevort (1996). Breevort (1996) also explains that marketing of herbals between 1992 and 1996 increased threefold. Studies also reveal that over the last two decades, there has been growth in the level of public dissatisfaction with the prices of prescription medications, coupled with a growing interest in organic or natural remedies in the United States. This essentially has led to an increase in herbal medicines use. How herbals work Unlike doctors practicing conventional medicine, herbalists try to find and deal with the underlying causes of a health problem instead of treating individual symptoms. This is done based on the belief that the use of herbal tonics and tinctures can help the body heal itself by restoring harmony and balance, and activating the life force of the body (Cassileth, Yeung, and Gubili & 2008). Just like naturopathic medicine, it aims at supporting the body’s natural ability to achieve optimal health, and facilitating the innate healing mechanisms of the body. The compounds used for conducting herbal treatments are extracted from roots, barks, berries, seeds, leaves, flowers and petals of plants, and are presented as com plex mixtures of many different compounds. Efficacy and safety of herbal products There are a number of scientific literatures that have documented the safety and efficacy of herbal products including their toxic effects. Many of these reports contradict the popular view asserting that herbals are natural compounds and, therefore, are harmless. A study conducted by the National Poison Information Service during the period 1991-1995 recorded 785Â  cases of confirmed or probable cases of adverse reactions to

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Accounting - Essay Example From the annual report 2011 of the Toyota, it is clear that company attained $214,318 million in sales of products. The net income of the company for the financial year 2011 is $4,909 million. When the company’s net income per share is $1.57, its cash dividends per share is $0.60. In addition, Toyota’s total current assets stand at $142,270 while total current liabilities represent the figure $129,778. The annual report 2011 indicates that the company’s total assets or total liabilities are $358,607 million. Finally, the consolidated balance sheet also shows that the total shareholder’s equity of Toyota for the year 2011 is $131,329 (Toyota, 2011). While assessing the management discussion and analysis section of the annual report, it is clear that the company management greatly emphasizes on automotive operations as this segment accounts for 89% of the Toyota’s total revenues. The report specifically states that Japan and North American are the potential market segments for the company on the basis of vehicle unit sales for the fiscal year 2011. The general tone of the management’s comments indicates that the firm would have attained much more profitability if its operations had not been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Toyota, 2011). The company’s vehicle unit sales declined in its major markets including Japan and North America. However, Toyota could achieve notable improvements in Asia and other market segments as compared to the previous year. This trend indicates that Asia is developing as a potential market segment for Toyota while the company is gradually losing its roots in North Ameri ca. However, the overall vehicle unit sales have been increased from 72, 37,000 in 2010 to 73, 08,000 in 2011 despite the adverse impacts of the earthquake (Toyota, 2011). In total, the fiscal 2011 was good year for the company. The discussion summary shows that the

The Culture of Poland Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

The Culture of Poland - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that Poland has a total population of thirty-nine million people and is richly endowed with natural resources. In addition to the inhabitants of the country is good entrepreneurs, Poland has attracted numerous foreign investors, thereby making its economy dynamic. The country is a member of the European Union and is the sixth biggest country in the union. The main sectors supporting the economy include information technology, automotive electronics, food processing, tourism, and the banking. According to Skarzynska, the Polish people have a unique business culture where they are ambitious individuals who are hard negotiators and always eager to do business. They have also acquired western methods of business management and are bureaucratic. To successfully invest in a country and market your products, it is important to understand the cultural environment. Language is an important aspect of the people’s culture and is critical when c ommunicating with others. Comprehending the language of the people in a country is important when carrying out business with the inhabitants of the country or in daily general interactions. Poland is made up of four main ethnic groups: Poles, Germans, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. The Poles are the majority making up 96.7 percent of the total population according to a census carried out in 2002; Germans are 0.4 percent; Ukrainians and Belarusian are 0.1 percent each.

BUSN300 UNIT 5DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

BUSN300 UNIT 5DB - Research Paper Example In general both of them can be used interchangeably in studying, meaning that one can be used while implementing a project (Haugan, 57). The primary role of PERT is to identify the critical path that a project takes from planning to completion. It lays down the activities that need to be done in the entire project period giving the timelines to be used in implementing a series of activities performed either sequentially or parallel with other activities. In the flow chart, the initial stage of project implementation must start from step 1 before it proceeds to step 2. Some part of the project can directly go straight to step 5 from step 2 so long as at this stage it is independent. A part of the project can go through step 3, on the diagram, before finalizing at step 5. Still, some task can take the direction through step 4 and end at step, so long as it is independent of step 2 and 3. Each step has planned number of days, weeks or months to complete. It can be in terms of days, weeks or even months. Step 1 to step 4 and eventually to step 5 can take months while in the other hand, step 1 to step 2 can take days or weeks and step 2 to step 5 can take months or several weeks. Through step 3, the timeline can be months but eventually ending at step 5. Each step’s timeline can be different, but when implemented either in parallel or concurrently, it will all end at step 5 at the project completion stage. All stages of the process are what are referred to as the critical path that the project takes in order to realize completion as planned. The stages have to be meticulously planned and implemented as planned in order not to delay the entire project from completion. The steps have to be synchronized accordingly, and necessary resources should be allocated and availed in time. Such resources include tools and equipment, labor and materials. The necessary inspection and servicing of tools and equipment should be done to reduce chances of breakdown. All materials

The topic can be proposed by the writer Assignment - 2

The topic can be proposed by the writer - Assignment Example This is the reason for having proficient computer skills in Microsoft office. Derrick has excellent leadership skills from his ability to handle issues step-by-step; that is, prioritizing urgent and most important issues first. This he has proven from his capacity to balance school and work while ensuring that efficiency is not compromised. His leadership skills surpass his organization skills. For this reason, he acknowledges that job delegation is part of the working environment. He appreciates that everyone should create a suitable working environment to maximize their capabilities. His ability to handle difficult situations is an indication that he can work in a team and has team leadership skills. His knowledge on how to handle difficult situation in the working environment indicates that he can work under minimum supervision while maintaining a high level of discipline and professionalism. Derrick understands how to perfectly perform tasks. He explains that he once surpassed his supervisor’s requirements by adding value to an assignment that involved contacting customers using a spreadsheet. Derrick attributes his diverse skills to his educational background. He acquired an Associate Degree of Business Administration as he was working at a full-time job: Again, an indication of his capacity to balance school and work. He agrees that combining school with work can be a hectic undertaking. However, that does not deter him from doing so. He has proven to apply effective techniques on how to handle pressure. He attests that he is slow to react and ensures that he is calm when prioritizing tasks. This ensures that important tasks are carried out first, and meet the required standards. Such a technique is an indication of his ardent leadership skills. Derrick’s attitude is built around patience, honesty, and humility. Such qualities are what

US History 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

US History 2 - Essay Example It is important to note that the anti-federalists argued that the proposed constitution posed several challenges to the government. In this respect, they argued that the proposed constitution would encourage the issue of corruption to the government. Corruption was viewed as a major social vice that would threaten the development of several sectors in government, including the developmental sector, economic, social as well as political sectors among others2. The anti federalists also advocated for a weaker federal government as opposed to stronger state legislatures. This is because most of them argued that a stronger government would most likely infringe on the liberties that Americans had fought for and won in the Revolutionary War. In regards to this, it is important to note that the anti federalists viewed liberty as the specific rights of the people that the government had to respect, protect and encourage. They maintained that the government had to observe, respect as well as protect the Bill of Rights in order to protect that

The so called threat Essay Example for Free

The so called threat Essay Computer Viruses, what are they? Deadly programs wrote by the best of the best, or super weapons used by powerful countries against their enemies? Or, just harmless (mostly) little creations made by bored programmers? I think the latter is more correct. Most viruses are harmless, only a very small percentage causes harm to a computer, either deliberately or due to errors in the code. But, it is certainly due to the media that everyone is scared of them. All most all just spread and do something annoying, not format your hard drive. Take the Stoned virus for example, all it does is infect the boot sector of a disk then loads itself in memory. When the Stoned virus is in memory, it waits for the 13^th of any month then displays on your screen Your computer is now stoned. While in memory it infects any disk that is in your computer and any entered after that. In this essay I intend to describe the different types of viruses, how they work, how they are written, how to get rid of them and how to find out if you have one. There are many different types of computer viruses. They cover a wide area of infecting your computer. In fact, there are more viruses than legitimate programs, about 3 or 4 times more! Boot sector viruses are a strange type of viruses. They dont infect files, but instead they infect the disk directly. When you double click on a disk the disk I `run like an application (such as Word, Claris or Windoze itself). It is when the disk is run that is usually tells the computer that it is a disk and to open a window saying what is in it. But, if the disk is infected with a boot sector virus then the virus is run instead. Usually the virus will call the `real part of the disk so that it appears to run normally. Also the virus is almost never the size of the boot sector so it has to install partly in the boot sector and the rest hidden somewhere on the disk. So your disk will be smaller than usual even if you have no files installed. File viruses usually add a copy of themselves to the beginning or end of a program, usually to files that end in exe, com, cpl or dll. There is now a new type of viruses that infect vbs or js files either as well or instead. The I_Love_You virus is an example of a virus that infects vbs files. Although the I_Love_You virus isnt correctly speaking a file virus, it is more of a worm than a file virus, but as infects files as well Ill just use it for this example. Macro viruses only infect MS Word and MS Excel. MS Word and MS Excel. have their own programming language built into them, Visual Basic. VB (Visual Basic) enables programmers to write programs to automate tasks in Word Documents or Excel Spreadsheets. But it also enables virus writers to create viruses that can spread through the most popular package documents by just reading the documents. And, MS Word and MS Excel has another stupid feature, it comes by the name of normal. dot. It enables the user to put macros in it so that they are run every time you open any document or create a new one. You can also put viruses there. Microsoft at their best as usual. Worms are not actually viruses. Normal computer viruses have to be run by the user somehow to spread, but worms spread all by themselves, with no human intervention at all. They almost always spread through either networks or the Internet. You probably have heard of the second most famous worm ever, the I_Love_You letter worm that took the worlds media by storm in late 1999, early 2000. Or maybe youre old enough to remember the most famous and most destructive worm ever, the Morris Worm that brought down the entire Internet and most electronic communication. It worked by using a flaw in SendMail, a program that is used to send and received emails by almost every ISP in the world to spread. Basically it was an accident that it brought down the Internet because it was spreading to quickly for the primitive computers to handle, and just crashed them. Worms generally use flaws in programs that are wide spread like Windoze and Outlook Express to spread. The I_Love_You letter virus used Outlook Express to spread, Morris Worm, SendMail. The Tune. G worm uses a flaw in Microsofts (Oh, no surprise there then! ) Network Server to spread around the network. Generally all worms do is spread. In this next section, I intend to list the basic methods of getting rid of viruses, not forever though, but for the meanwhile. 1) Boycott Microsoft Almost all viruses are written for Windoze or DOS (What Microsoft brought out before Windoze, very primitive, but very good) 2) Get one or more decent anti-virus and update them regularly I personally use CA Inoculate IT get it at [1]www. antivirus. cai. com, you can update it every day if you want for free, but I usually only update it every 2 weeks. 3) Be careful where you get your software from Only get it from reputable stores or websites. If you are suspicious, dont buy / download / run it! 4) Read, read and read Keep up to date on all security issues and virus information. Good sites include [2]www. bugtraq. com, [3]www. rootshell. com and [4]www. microsoft. com (Hmmm, isnt that the source of all the problems? Well, they do have all the updates for Windoze and Microsoft products). Basically viruses arent as big a threat as the media makes them out to be. I personally have a collection of around twenty or more viruses, some harmful, some not. In the finally edit / copy of this essay there will be a floppy disk containing the source code for some of the most famous and not so (but just a dangerous) famous viruses. But, before you go mental at me for giving out viruses to anyone, I have edited them so that they dont do any damage unless you know good programming then you could change it back. But, I leave that choice to you, and remember, if you use the source (edited or not) and get caught, then dont blame me, I didnt tell you to do it. (PS. You can get the full unedited source code and a few of my own at my website. Ill tell you where it is in the next edit / copy). Graeme Ford,3K1. References 1. http://www. antivirus. cai. com/ 2. http://www. bugtraq. com/ 3. http://www. rootshell. com/ 4. http://www. microsoft. com/.

A Dolls House Noras Emancipation Proclamation English Literature Essay

A Dolls House Noras Emancipation Proclamation English Literature Essay A Dolls House, by Henrik Ibsen, demonstrates the powerful independence of the constrained and confined wife figure, Nora. The symbolism of the macaroons, the lamp, costumes, the Christmas tree, the lark and Noras departure demonstrate the characterization of Nora as an individual who is at first treated like an object, but later fights as a woman who wants to live for her own merit. Her husband Torvald sets the typical standard of a man who controls and manipulates his wife like a doll, Noras break from the oppressors in her life are unheard of at the time the play was written; Nora thus being an exceptional individual who was ready to emancipate herself from a male driven household. Early in the play, Nora subconsciously seeks her own freedom. She craves macaroons which her husband explicitly forbids her to eat. Despite this, she often sneaks them anyways for her own pleasure. Hasnt Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today? Taken a bite at a macaroon or two? (Ibsen 1091) The macaroons and Dr. Ranks love for her are symbolic for an escape from Torvalds dominant nature. Nora acknowledges that Dr. Rank loves her and is thoroughly aware of it; however, she refuses to tell her husband and keeps it secret from him, just like the macaroons. Though Nora does not turn on Torvald and leave with Dr. Rank, she acknowledges him as a friend, which effectively brings forth camaraderie between the two that is separate from Torvalds grasp. Noras persona is brought forth as a doll to be dressed up according to her masters whims. Noras father would consistently be unhappy and disgruntled with her if her opinions differed from his own, and she was later haunted by forging her fathers signature as well as Krogstads loan, even if it was just to help her husband. Perhaps she is afraid to tell Torvald because it would demean him as a man to know he owed anything to his wife. Nora states, How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! (Ibsen 1128) Her husband also further established the idea of Nora as a doll of his own. He dressed her up in costumes for their masquerade. This dress up is also seen in the Christmas tree that Nora and Torvald decorate. Like their marriage, the beauty and light of the Christmas tree is a faà §ade. Torvald often enjoyed calling Nora his little lark, Miss. Obstinate, my little squirrel, my little songbird. This terminology reaffirms that though he felt she was endearing and cute, her desires ultimately were subordinate to his own. This is especially true in the symbolism of the lark. Torvald questions Nora, Is that my little lark twittering out there? (Ibsen 1137). Birds are typically a symbol of flight and freedom, for him to compare her to a bird becomes ironic due to the lack of freedom he gives her in their home environment. She lives by and for her husband, in his house, with her wings clipped. Towards the end of the play, Nora has an epiphany and brings forth the claim that thought she has been oppressed her whole life, she no longer will be. Our home has been nothing but a play-room. Ive been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papas doll-child (Ibsen 1146). For Nora, this realization is vital to her development as a free woman. The two primary men in her life, her father and Torvald, have been treating her not as equal persons, but as a plaything. Torvald states, I wouldnt be a man if I didnt find you twice as attractive because of your womanly helplessness (Ibsen 1143). The ugliness and falsities of their love have also come forth when Torvald reveals how its Noras job to be solely, helplessly rely on her husband. This is brought forth especially in the symbolism of the Christmas tree. Like their marriage, it was thought to be beautiful and ornate, but is now ugly and desolate after the truth is revealed. Though Torvald descents and says that Nora has an equally important duty as a mother and wife, this does not sway Noras resolve. She proclaims, I have another duty equally sacred (Ibsen 1147). The duty Nora speaks of is the duty of self-actualization. She wants to be recognized as her own person, not just as a wife or a mother. This ideology was very much considered blasphemy at the time the play was written; however, now one can look at it as one of the first steps toward the feminist movement. Noras ending scenes demonstrate the validity and reality of her break from her oppressors. She goes so far as to say she cannot spend another night in a strangers household, showing that her husband never really knew her. Torvald feels Noras deceit would poison the children, stating, I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare not trust them to you (Ibsen 1142). This is Torvalds way of stripping Nora of her motherhood. Nora, however, realizes that it was not her debt that would poison the children, but rather the treatment of the children that would poison them. If it continued, they would become dolls like her. Along with the Christmas tree being stripped and dismantled, Nora also changes out of her tarantella costume. The costume that Torvold adored and made him feel so in love with her. She leaves the disguise of her costume and exposes her true self. This is symbolic of Noras departure from a man who enjoyed making her dress up for his amusement. I pretend you are my s ecret love, my young, secret bride-to-be, and nobody has the slightest suspicion that there is anything between us (Ibsen 1137). Torvalds fantasies of Nora in some sort of peril, almost a different person, show the illusion and faà §ade behind their marriage. Torvald believes in his honor as a man; he does not consider the validity and moral backing behind Noras loan until its too late. He reprimands Nora until he realizes she wont be charged. Only when his reputation is not at stake is he willing to make amends. This is characteristic of a man who loves his wife when it best suites him, instead of a man who loves his wife through turmoil. Torvald exclaims, What a horrible awakening! All these eight yearsshe who was my joy and pridea hypocrite, a liarworse, worsea criminal! (Ibsen 1142) Nora sacrifices incredibly for Torvald, but he is not willing to repay the favor because of his honor, even willing to disgrace her. Torvald also says, Nora, I would gladly work for your sake. But no man can be expected to sacrifice his honor, even for the person he loves (Ibsen 1111). Noras rebuttal shows that his hypocrisy is sex based, and that women give for their husbands all their life. Millions of women have done it (Ibsen 1149). This shows that Nor a recognizes that she and many women of her time sacrifice for their husband to the point of it being excessive and unfair. By the end of the play, Nora has entirely realized that she can no longer survive as a doll to be toyed and paraded around. She slams the door behind her after announcing to Torvald that she wants nothing to do with him anymore. By shutting the door on Torvald and her family, Nora opens a new door to a life where she can live how she wants. She could never love Torvald unless he treated her like an equal, not a doll. Nora left a man who looked at her like a commodity or a pet, his little lark. She did what most women even in the modern era do not have the courage to do; she broke free.

Moses Essay -- essays research papers

"Born a slave and raised by kings, he was chosen to lead. His name is revered by millions......Moses. By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." Hebrews 11:23 Revered as a prophet but even more importantly as a teacher and a lawgiver, Moses was the leader of the Israelite people 3,300 years ago during their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom as a nation in the land of Israel. For 40 years Moses led the people through the desert on their way to Israel and helped shape them into a nation that could live under the laws of God. Moses oversaw the creation and development of the first Israelite systems of worship, the anointing of the family line of his brother Aaron as priests, and the creation of a legal system of governance for the community. Ancient Israel had a long oral tradition of laws and legends, and it is likely that some parts of the story of Moses were written long after his lifetime. Modern scholarship recognizes that while the core of the biblical story of Moses contains real history, there is disagreement as to the accuracy of every action and every word attributed to Moses by the biblical writers. Whether one views the Bib le as the revealed word of God or as the writing of inspired people, the figure of Moses towers over the early history of the Jewish people. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions revere Moses for his central role in communicating the Ten Commandments and the Torah directly from God to the Jewish people soon after their escape from Egypt. Thus, the Torah is also known as the Five Books of Moses. According to Genesis, the first book of the Bible, the Israelite people first came to Egypt in search of food during a famine that affected the entire ancient Near East. At first welcomed by the Egyptians, after about 400 years the Israelites, or Hebrews, were perceived as a threat and were enslaved. In addition, the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, decreed that all newborn male Israelites were to be killed. It was at this time that Moses was born. His older siblings, Aaron and Miriam, would join him later in his life to help lead the Israelite people. Moses was saved from death when his mothe r, Yocheved, floated him down the Nile River in a small basket, where he was discovered and saved by the daughter of ... ...he Ten Commandments. Moses next prepared to lead the people from Mount Sinai to the promised land of Israel. However, the Israelite people, accustomed to slavery and uncertain of freedom, soon rebelled against God. They became convinced that they could not conquer the new land, and they constantly questioned Moses' leadership and their own faith in God. As a consequence, the generation that left Egypt was not allowed to enter the promised land. The Bible describes Moses himself as once losing patience with the people and seeming to doubt God: rather than speaking to a rock to get water as God commanded, Moses struck the rock with his staff. For this, Moses was also destined not to enter the new land. Near the end of his life, Moses taught the laws of the Torah to the new generation that had grown up in the desert. He then transferred leadership to Joshua. The Torah ends with Moses' final blessing to the people, after which he ascended Mount Nebo, which is identified with Mount Pi sgah, on the eastern edge of the Jordan River. Moses died there, able to see, but not to enter, the promised land. Moses was true to himself and his beliefs, even though his path was uncertain and painful.

Palm Essay -- essays research papers

Hawkins is an inventor, and he walked away from PDA’s because he saw cell phones were everywhere and wanted to invent the best voice based application. He new there was a need for an application that could combine all the features of the mobile communication and organization tools in the market today. I believe he was not only creative, but very smart about the market place, because, he foresaw that PDA’s were becoming commodities. The price, at which PDA’s were being sold, would severely cramped margins of any company expecting large returns from these devices. Every person on the block could now knock off a version of a Palm Handheld, Hawkins found a complimentary market, and handspring was nimble enough to beat all the big players to that market. The Treo is the hottest device on the market because it was first to market, and has very little competition. It appears that the advance features of the Treo blows away the competition when it comes to providing a small convenient tool that replaces all the other gadgets. I believe the main competitive advantage is that the Treo wasn’t tied to one specific carrier by contract, so they were able to build a network of sales through their affiliation with different cellular carriers. Another competitive advantage of the Treo is the fact that it’s not a phone masquerading as a PDA or even a PDA trying to be a cell phone. The Treo was designed from the ground up to be more than a phone, while I believe the phone makers are trying to... Palm Essay -- essays research papers Hawkins is an inventor, and he walked away from PDA’s because he saw cell phones were everywhere and wanted to invent the best voice based application. He new there was a need for an application that could combine all the features of the mobile communication and organization tools in the market today. I believe he was not only creative, but very smart about the market place, because, he foresaw that PDA’s were becoming commodities. The price, at which PDA’s were being sold, would severely cramped margins of any company expecting large returns from these devices. Every person on the block could now knock off a version of a Palm Handheld, Hawkins found a complimentary market, and handspring was nimble enough to beat all the big players to that market. The Treo is the hottest device on the market because it was first to market, and has very little competition. It appears that the advance features of the Treo blows away the competition when it comes to providing a small convenient tool that replaces all the other gadgets. I believe the main competitive advantage is that the Treo wasn’t tied to one specific carrier by contract, so they were able to build a network of sales through their affiliation with different cellular carriers. Another competitive advantage of the Treo is the fact that it’s not a phone masquerading as a PDA or even a PDA trying to be a cell phone. The Treo was designed from the ground up to be more than a phone, while I believe the phone makers are trying to...

The History of the Home Vidieo Game :: essays research papers

How to be an Air Head   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Have you ever noticed how guys tend to flock around airheads? Have you ever wanted to be an airhead, but did not know how? Well worry no more, this short essay will provide you the basics on how to be an air head.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, we will start with the appearance. You should wear platform sneakers, or platform shoes (if you do not have any, then wear the hokiest pair of shoes you have). An inadequate walk helps the over all image of an airhead. Moving on to your outfit, all your pants should be about four inches below your knee. For your top, a short sleeved, brightly colored, crop top will do. Carry a purse that is not long enough to carry on your shoulders, but is a little too long to carry by hand. Make sure to swing the purse back and forth when walking. Wear your hair either up in a ponytail, or just the top layer up, big bangs are a necessity. The more hairspray you use the better. The Second, most important part, of being an airhead is the mind set. For this you will have to get a pack of bubbleishis bubble gum, and pop a piece in your mouth. Chew the gum with your mouth open. Now it is time for the hardest part. Forget everything you have learned from first grade on up, this is vital to being an airhead. Then perfect the look a puppy gets, when it's first yelled at for doing something wrong. (The wag the tail look of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re talking louder than Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve ever heard, but Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll keep waging my tail until I know why.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?) Use this whenever someone asks you any kind of questions. Use a clueless smile the rest of the time. You can also try bouncing your head from side to side or some hair swinging, which- ever technique you feel more comfortable using.

Public Speaking – Friends and Friendship.

HPD 111 – PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGLISH MOHD HAFIZAN BIN MOHAMAD SAH 2010319793 OUTLINE TOPIC: Friends and friendship. OUTLINE Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about who are friend, and what is friendship. Central Idea: friends are people whom will always be at your side whenever you need to express or share your feeling and do some activities with them. Introduction I. It was a few years ago when I saw a group of teenagers do some bully to a teenager. However, that teenager didn’t report their activities to police but he got back up by some other teenagers whose are his friend came to elp him out. II. When I saw this incident, I have learnt that friends are essential whenever we are in pinch. III. They could help us out whenever we in serious trouble. IV. Today, I would like to inform you about friend and friendship. (Transition: Let’s start with the first point about friendship. ) Body I. Friendship is a blessing for us. A. Friends will help us whenever we are in a pinch. 1. True friends will help us from any trouble. 2. Friends will challenge us to attain our original limits with encouragement when we allow ourselves not to go beyond our easonable boundaries. B. They will cheer us when we’re sorrowful or depressed. 1. Friends will motivate us when we’re ready to give in, and they can provide for us when life falls apart. 2. Friendship is a blessing, and a friend is the channel through whom great emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even physical blessings flow. (Transition: Now you knew that friendship is like blesses to us, let’s look about the other meaning of friendship. ) II. Friendship is everlasting relationship. A. Friendship is the only everlasting feature in the world. 1. Friends will try to find new ways to make you not to fall into depression. 2. Friends can also make us realised that depression won’t help us from solving any trouble. B. Friendship will grow slowly as we experienced new things with friends and it will not be removed easily. 1. They will find innovative ways to stop us from falling, failing and try to get help to lift us up. 2. They will give us some good advice to rebuild strength on facing any troubles. (Transition: Given there about everlasting friendship, I’m sure you want to know what’s next. ) III. Friendship will give us courage to go through life. A. Friends, they are the only source of our brave hearts. 1. Friends will make us show more efforts and spirits when doing something that we can’t do before. 2. Friends will come to us to help us solve our problems. B. Friendship is one of our sources to become brave while making some activities that need more courage. 1. Friendship gives courage to our mind and body. 2. Friends will help us to escape from big troubles. Conclusion I. As we have look through there are lots things to consider about friends and friendship. II. Friends are the most precious treasure to us and we need to keep it in good condition. III. In case of getting some friends, you need to find the loyal friends in your life so that your relationship will become worthy at the end. Bibliography Albert, Prakash (2010). Friends and Friendship – Who are friends, and what are friendship. Lepp, Ignace (1966). The Ways of Friendship. New York: The Macmillan Company. L'Abate, Luciano (2007). Friendship, social support, and health. Low-cost approaches to promote physical and mental health: Theory, research, and practice. (pp. 455–472). xxii, 526 pp. New York.

Arranged Marriage vs. Free-choice Marriage Essay

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry† (Tom Mullen, 2005, p.1). It is argued that free-choice marriages based on love or romance, offer more independence and freedom as compared to arranged marriages where the man and woman are chosen by the parents and so there is pressure and is not so suitable and independent. However, no marriage is necessarily an ideal sort of marriage. Therefore, it becomes difficult to predict the ideal sort of marriage. The decision is upon the individual, whether he or she wants to be part of an arrange or free-choice marriage. There are two main types of marriages that are practiced in various societies and cultures and they are: arranged marriages and free-choice marriages. Both type of marriages have benefits and particular expectations for the man and woman. Research shows that the type of marriage chosen often reflects a person’s values, traditions, beliefs, and cultural custom s. Both arranged and free-choice marriages have similarities and differences. An arranged marriage is an union between two prospective spouses chosen by the parents and sometimes between the extended family. In most cases of arranged marriages the two partners can have a say in it after several meetings with one another or even just once. However, in some cases the parents make the final decision and do not let the daughter or son have a say in it after that. This is explained well in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, â€Å"Arranged marriages can also be very flexible. In one scenario, the parents introduce their son or daughter to several potential mates, while giving two the final decision, given sometime† (2005). The relationship in an arranged marriage starts off from not knowing each other and or no feelings, and as time moves on, the love is built on together as the partners get to know each other more and spend more time together. The partners learn to love each other and in many cases the partners are more conservative and it takes longer for th em to develop a bond. Unlike love or romantic marriages, arranged marriages have learned to love. Even after taking these facts in consideration, arranged marriages are being practiced all over the world. However, it depends on different cultures around the world. If research is done, arranged marriages would be most  likely be happening in parts of Africa, most of Asia, and a good portion of Eastern Europe. Knowing where arranged are being practiced, it is also important to know that arranged marriages are practiced when the two partners are chosen by others for some specific reasons or due to the person’s traditions, beliefs, and culture. When deciding an arranged marriage, special requirements need to be fulfilled from both sides of the couple. Therefore, these requirements should be acceptable from both the parents and the couple. For example, in some cases, women get the opportunity to work and some are usually forced to be stay-at-home moms. Also sometimes the two partners have to be the same nationality, have the same beliefs, belong in the same culture and etcetera. â€Å"The importance of good family background and compatibility as far as upbringing and family is concerned are vital for two individuals entering into a relationship† (Alochona, 2004, p.1). However, most people believe that there is a low rate of divorce. If the two people do not know much about each other, it would be better for their marriage because they will find out new and interesting facts about each other during the time they spend together after marriage. As in free-choice, also called love or romance marriages, both partners know each other from before and do not have much left to find out or maybe in some cases, a number of new things can be found between couples. So, it is more likely to get bored of the marriage life if that is the case and it could lead up to divorce. In different cultures around the world, this type of marriage is a type of an advantage for people who need money, therefore they will find someone who will be willing to marry the person because they cannot afford money to arrange the marriage function or give to their daughters as a dowry. Also, this type of marriage is chosen because of social status. A rich family will want their heir to marry into a family that is worth their status. And lastly, very religious and cultural son and daughters will just agree to an arranged marriage because of the way they have been brought up since childhood and they know that they will not have to worry about their parents of not approving or rejecting of their choice of spouse. On the other side, a free-choice marriage can be based on romance or  friendship. The relationship between this type of marriage can be based on admiration and with a person known really well from before. If the relationship has been brought together because of romance, it often seems for both of the partners that they are not able to live without each other. In this type of marriage, timing is important. It takes time for the two people to fully understand each other and make this big decision. Romance allows the two people to spend more time together and get to know each other better. This marriage is considered very sweet and romantic. Many people imagine themselves having this type of marriage one day. The idea of falling in love with someone is great because if the person is known from before, it makes it easier knowing that the rest of the upcoming marriage life will be spent with that person. Sometimes it also makes it easier when two people are in love, they are comfortable around each other and they have a certain understanding of what the other expects. A free-choice marriage can also be based on friendship. If a person is very good friends with another person, it could lead up to romance. It is heard quite often that â€Å"Friendship is the first step towards love and the last step†. Knowing that a free-choice marriage has so many great feelings stored within it, it is being practiced all over the world. This type of marriage is not based on religious and cultural beliefs however it is based on feelings and emotions. Love just happens, no one can ignore it or even try to ignore it. If it cannot be ignored , it cannot be stopped. This leads to the two people thinking they are ready and have chosen their partner to move onto the next step, and that step is marriage. However, before making such a big decision, most people think about their values, traditions, beliefs, and cultural customs because they know this will have a large amount of impact on their upcoming future. Even in this type of marriage certain circumstances have to be taken in consideration. Such examples include when two people are in love they are at their best to impress the other person, they wear their best clothes, they are at their best behaviour and project many things that they are actually not, and also it takes a while between couples to shed the veil after marriage when they are more open and comfortable towards each other. When a person thinks about a free-choice marriage they think of love and freedom and automatically agree to it, to the great feelings stored within the marriage. A person would choose this type of marriage because they would not have to worry about not knowing the person from before. They know the person he or she is going to be with, have all the qualities they are looking for and have no doubt about it. Being comfortable with each other and when around each other is a big factor and in this relationship, this is all included. In this type of marriage, there is no pressure of their family, friends, culture, and society because the marriage is based on freedom and own choice. There is no involvement of the parents and there is no worry about dowry and so on. Also, in this type of marriage the couples understand each other well and they decide this from over looking at all the factors that would need to be considered after marriage. Such examples include: children, work, homes, etcetera. In this generation, it does not matter what love is or what relationships are, most people just want to do what they want and what they think is right. Whether it is an arranged marriage or a free-choice marriage, it takes two people who are very responsible, honest, and committed for the union to succeed. Arranged or free-choice, people seek perfect husband and wives but no one is hundred percent perfect. The success of marriage is in mutual understanding and acceptance, and also in mutual love and respect. Neither arranged marriages nor free-choice marriages are better than one another, it is up to the individual who is involved to decide which is best for them.†Getting married is a complete package. One does not marry the person as such but his or her habits, family, emotional problems, background, experiences, career, and many other things that are required to be dealt with† (p.1). â€Å"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate† (Barnett Brickner,2002, p.2). References August, P. (2005, October). Arranged Marriages in the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriageBowman, H. & Spanier, G. (1978). Modern Marriage. McGraw-Hill Book Company. Mullen, T. (2005). Love Marriages. iloveindia. http://weddings.iloveindia.comNighat, S. (2005) personal Interview. 7 December. O’Neil, N. & O’Neil, G. (1973, February). Open Marriage. Dushkin Publishing Company Group Inc. Sabreen, F. (2005, May). Arranged versus Love Marriage. The New Nationhttp://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/30/18526

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 13

Min, Doug's saxophonist, rummaged through the array of liquor bottles on Wyatt's counter. â€Å"I don't think he has any,† he finally said. â€Å"Can you make a gimlet without lime juice?† â€Å"Um, no,† I replied. â€Å"That kind of defeats the whole purpose. â€Å" â€Å"Oh. Okay. Well, then, you just want a shot or something?† He held up a bottle of – God help me – Skyy vodka. â€Å"I think I'll pass.† I surveyed the humming, thumping party around me. Tons of people had showed up as usual; I doubted the band even knew half of them. The wages of fame, I guessed. Also as usual, there were drugs and drinks aplenty for those who wanted such things – as long as one's vices didn't stray to lime juice, apparently. I turned back to Min. â€Å"You seen Alec tonight?† â€Å"Nope. Said he'd be here. I hope he shows soon.† Min shifted restlessly, and I wondered just how many people Alec was stringing along. The whole band, after all, had displayed that crazy, uncaring behavior. I'd spent most of the day planning for tonight, trying to figure out what it would take to get information and possibly the drug itself from Alec. Finally, as the party drew nearer, I accepted that I was overthinking the matter. Alec was hardly a criminal mastermind. If I wanted something from him, it was a safe bet that the removal of clothing and an orifice would suffice. With that in mind, I'd dressed for the part in another little dress. Like the one I'd worn to the last concert, this too had a V-neck, straps, and short skirt. Unlike that one – which had been cotton and more like a sundress – this one was silk and looked kind of like a nightgown. Its rich, emerald green mirrored the green flecks in my eyes. I'd made sure of that, enhancing the color in both. â€Å"Finally,† I muttered to myself, catching sight of Alec's blue-streaked hair across the crowd. He saw me, and I waved, making him grin smugly at my acknowledgment. â€Å"Hey,† he said, looking me over. â€Å"Wow.† â€Å"About time you showed,† berated Min, handing over a beer. They greeted each other with some kind of weird, shoulder-punching guy thing. Then Min held up a bottle of Tropical Soiree Key Lime Schnapps. â€Å"Hey, look what I found. Will this work?† â€Å"Sure. Whatever,† I said. I wanted to start working Alec, putting him at ease. If it involved some unholy drink concoction, then I'd have to take that risk. Min handed me a plastic cup filled with bright green liquid, and Alec and I wandered off to mingle. â€Å"You're letting Min experiment on you?† he asked, pointing at the cup. Inspiration hit. â€Å"He's been experimenting on me all night.† I laughed, a bit too loudly and held on to his arm. Alec didn't need to know this was my first drink. â€Å"But none of the other stuff he made looked this bad.† He smiled and casually placed his arm around my waist. â€Å"Have I told you how great you look?† â€Å"Yeah, I kind of got the message,† I told him. Sniffing the cup, I detected nothing but sugar. Tentatively, I brought the cup to my lips and tasted. Bleh. It was like Kool-Aid and mouthwash. Fortunately, I don't have much of a gag reflex, so I managed to swallow without choking. Alec flattered me a little more, and then I steered him toward the one topic guaranteed to captivate him: himself. It worked. Within a few minutes, I discovered that subject area was even more limited than I'd suspected. He only wanted to talk about the band. â€Å"So yeah, we figure we should start expanding out of Seattle and hit some of the other big cities in the area. You know, like Portland and Vancouver. If we can start getting a following in the Northwest, we can hit the rest of the west coast, you know? And Corey's dad knows this guy who knows someone at a record company, and he's going to send him the review that was in the SeattleTimes†¦ â€Å" I let him go on, nodding my head and saying â€Å"uh-huh† a lot. I should point out that I really was interested in Nocturnal Admission's success. I believed in them and their talent. Just not tonight. Other things demanded my attention. â€Å"You know,† he suddenly said out of nowhere, â€Å"I didn't think you really liked me.† Yeah. Good observation. I smiled. â€Å"Sorry about that. There are so many jerks out there that I come off a little bitchy at first, until I know a guy. But the rest of the band swears by you, and I trust them. Besides† – I leaned closer, lowering my voice to a sultry purr – â€Å"I know you now, and I definitely like you now.† To my astonishment, Alec broke away from me. How unexpected was that? Weirder still was that I saw interest in his eyes but only his eyes. The rest of him was plainly distressed about something. My surprise must have been reflected in my expression, because a moment later, he laughed like nothing had happened and returned the hand to my waist. â€Å"I wouldn't really trust the guys on much, but hey, if they've convinced you, whatever.† I turned the smile back on, pretending I hadn't noticed the weird reaction. We started talking again, and I continued to let him dictate the parameters of our conversation. When he brought up skateboarding and the benefits of one board brand over another, I decided Doug didn't appreciate the extent of my love for him. Slightly bored, I leaned into Alec and drank from the cup without thinking about it. â€Å"Son of a bitch!† I swore, tasting that mess again. â€Å"What?† â€Å"This.† I set the cup down on a rickety coffee table, sloshing the green liquid. â€Å"It's terrible.† I realized this was my opening. â€Å"God, I've had such a fucked-up week.† I turned so that I stood even closer, resting a hand on his back, sliding it down to his waist. â€Å"I'm glad you had this party. You guys must need to get a little crazy too to handle all the stuff you've been doing.† He seemed happy about my proximity but didn't move his hand from my waist. â€Å"We know when to work, and we know when to play.† He spoke with a ridiculous swagger, again attempting to project a wisdom he was too young to have. I grinned at him. â€Å"I like to play too.† Like before, the look in his eyes said he did want to play – especially if we played doctor. But his body language didn't match it. He was holding himself back for some reason, which didn't fit with my image of him as a womanizing drug lord. But he kept smiling, even if the rest of him was stiff. â€Å"How do you like to play?† â€Å"Not with that.† I pointed at the jettisoned cup and looked back up at him with doe eyes, both innocent and provocative. I tried to recall the stupid expression he'd used at the first party. â€Å"You maybe got anything†¦harder?† A pleased and – unless I was mistaken – relieved smile danced on his face. â€Å"Maybe I do.† I punched him lightly, then snaked my arm around his neck. â€Å"I know you do. I saw you give it to Doug. You guys are in on something good, and you won't share. Whereas me†¦well, I always share†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He still didn't take the physical bait or go for my over-the-top vixen lines, but the rest had piqued his interest. â€Å"I've got something,† he said, glancing around carefully. â€Å"Let's go talk in the bedroom. â€Å" Ah. Now we were getting somewhere. I followed him back to Wyatt's small messy bedroom which miraculously wasn't occupied yet. I sat on the unmade bed, crossing my legs, keeping my body language as open and relaxed as possible. â€Å"Are we going to play now?† He answered with a question of his own: â€Å"You sure you can handle the hard stuff?† I arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Baby, I can take it as hard as you can give it. â€Å" Reaching into his coat pocket, he sat down on the bed beside me and held up a tiny plastic bag, much smaller than the bag Reese kept his pot in. In the poor lighting, I could discern tiny glittering crystals. Almost like red sugar. â€Å"This,† he said in a low voice, â€Å"is what you've been waiting for your whole life. This is the stuff that's going to change your world. Make you who you were born to be.† I was rendered speechless, but not from his melodramatic prologue. It was the crystals. This close to them, I†¦well, felt them. They had an aura, almost the same way an immortal has a signature. Only this wasn't exactly a pleasant aura. The crystals felt strange to me. They sent little Shockwaves into the air. They made my skin crawl. And weirdest of all, I'd felt them before. Once with Doug, once with the band. I hoped Alec would interpret my frown as cute confusion. â€Å"What is that?† A sly smile spread over his face. â€Å"A magic potion, Georgina.† I smiled back, not having to feign puzzlement. â€Å"I don't believe in magic.† â€Å"Oh, you will after this.† He pressed the bag into my palm, and I squelched a sharp cry. I didn't like touching the crystals. â€Å"Go grab something to drink and put them in it. Mix it all up and then drink – preferably as fast as you can. You'll get the effects sooner.† â€Å"What'll they do?† â€Å"Something good. Something you'll like.† He ran his hand through the strands of my hair. â€Å"Man, I can't wait to see how you react to them.† How I reacted? I didn't like the sound of that. Maybe I wasn't getting the same thing as Doug after all. Maybe I was getting the date-rape drug. Of course, with as inviting as I was trying to be, he had to realize those kinds of extremes weren't necessary. I pushed the unease out of my head. â€Å"What do I owe you for these?† The smoke in my voice clearly told him how I'd like him to extract payment. â€Å"Nothing. It's a gift.† â€Å"Nothing?† I trailed my hand across his leg. Believe me, I really didn't want to sleep with this guy, but I wanted to stay in his good graces to figure out what the hell this stuff was. And yeah, okay, I sort of wanted to see him suffer from the energy loss. â€Å"Are you sure?† I slid my body closer to his, gently pushing him back on the bed. His eyes widened as I lay down next to him, brushing my lips over his neck. Turning his face toward mine, I moved my lips closer to his, lightly kissing the area just by his mouth. â€Å"Are you really sure?† I asked, voice lower. His breathing grew heavy, and he stroked my side, tracing the shape of my hip and moving down to my bare leg. Looking half-terrified, he moistened his lips in anticipation. My tongue snaked up to them, dancing around their edges before gently probing inside. He stifled a moan and then pushed me aside. â€Å"No†¦I†¦no. No.† He sat up, shaking. â€Å"Not yet.† I sat up as well, moving in one fluid and graceful motion. Tossing my hair over one shoulder, I gave him a languid smile. â€Å"Come on, I want to.† â€Å"I can't†¦but maybe, well maybe later we can work something out.† Both longing and reluctance showed in his expression, which I found relieving. Nice to know my charms were still working and he wasn't all business after all. Maybe this was just a first-one's-free type of deal, and he'd be more thorough in his demands later. Fine by me. It wasn't the end of the world if I didn't sleep with him, and hopefully we wouldn't even need the second batch. â€Å"Here.† Having seized control of himself, Alec held out his beer to me. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Go ahead and try them. You can mix them in this.† I looked down at the sparkling red granules. They almost had a light of their own. That weird sensation pulsed out at me, grating my immortal senses. No way was I going to ingest the contents of this bag. I shook my head. â€Å"I can't right now. I've got to go to another party. I promised a friend. I'll try them later, okay?† He didn't look happy about that. â€Å"I wanted you to try it now.† â€Å"What's wrong with later?† â€Å"Nothing I guess†¦just, look, don't let anyone else know, okay? I don't have a lot of this stuff. If word gets out, everyone'll want some. Right now I'm only letting special people try it.† â€Å"Am I special?† I teased. Alec gave me a long, searching look, blatantly studying my face and the way the silk fit me. Again, the appreciation and attraction shone in his eyes, but he held himself back from my smile of invitation. â€Å"Very special.† I managed to extract myself from the party shortly thereafter but not before Alec had warned me again to keep the crystals to myself. He also urged me to let him know how I liked them. â€Å"The second dose is even better,† he promised. Finally escaping, I breathed a sigh of relief, alone in the cool night air. As I walked to my car, I shoved the crystals into my purse, still creeped out by how they felt. They were supernatural; that much was obvious. I knew I had to get them to someone who could identify them. That, however, would have to wait a little longer since I was already past when I'd said I'd call Seth. Happily, I discovered I could no longer sense the packet once it was encased in the fabric. That was something, at least. â€Å"Where are you at?† I asked Seth when he answered his cell phone. â€Å"Terry and Andrea's. You want to come over?† Spending the evening with his family sounded refreshingly ordinary after the sleaze and debauchery of Alec and that party. In fact, compared to everything else weird in my life at the moment, it sounded downright wonderful. Identical blonde faces greeted me at the door when I arrived, both sets of lips forming a perfect ‘o' when they saw me. A moment later, Brandy appeared behind her little twin sisters. â€Å"Oh, Georgina, that dress is so pretty.† She pushed Morgan and McKenna out of the way, both still starstruck. I stepped inside the Mortensen home and found complete chaos. Sheets of clear plastic lay everywhere. Masking tape covered the wall trim. Most of the furniture had been pushed out of the living room, shoved into a pile in the hallway beyond. Those items remaining were wrapped in thick cocoons of more plastic sheeting. Paint buckets, trays, and brushes littered most of the free space, and everything – the people included – was splattered with yellow paint. â€Å"Georgina!† squealed eight-year old Kendall, tearing toward me. Her mother, walking into the room, leapt out and tackled her daughter. â€Å"Don't touch her!† Andrea exclaimed, tumbling to the ground. â€Å"Not in that dress.† I laughed, wanting to sweep up each one of the girls in an enormous hug, the dress be damned. â€Å"Seth,† chastised Terry, standing on top of a ladder, â€Å"why didn't you tell her this was a war zone?† The Mortensen Brothers always entertained me. Despite being younger, Terry always seemed exasperated by Seth's scattered behavior and often had to prod him into reality. Seth sat cross-legged on the floor with Kayla, youngest of the Mortensen daughters, on his lap. Like everyone else, he had paint all over him – including his Writers Do It at Their Desks shirt. Looking as serene as a Buddhist monk, he flashed me one of his distracted smiles. â€Å"Because it's always a war zone over here. â€Å" â€Å"Well, get her out of here and take her somewhere nice,† Terry said. â€Å"No need to drag her down into this.† This immediately triggered cries of outrage from the girls. â€Å"I don't mind staying,† I told them. â€Å"I'd like to help.† Andrea rose from her tackle, one arm still around Kendall. â€Å"We're going to have to cover you up then. Come on, let's see if I've got anything that'll fit.† She released Kendall. The little girl took a step toward me but didn't touch anything. â€Å"You look like one of the ladies in the Victoria's Secret catalog.† â€Å"My favorite reading material,† I told her solemnly. â€Å"Daddy's too.† Her mother groaned and led me to her bedroom, forcing us to squeeze through the furniture packed hallway. Being in Terry and Andrea's bedroom was a lot different than being in Dana's. It was messier for one thing, with an unmade bed and piles of laundry on the floor. The color scheme and decorating were a lot less coordinated too, suggesting it had all been pieced together over the years, not preplanned with a designer's cold eye. Pictures of the girls at various ages covered the walls and dressers, and free surfaces held odd pieces of jewelry, books, and change. And yet, despite that clutter, the whole room felt filled with love, like the people who occupied it were happy and cared about each other. It made the place warm and cozy, not sterile and sharp as Dana's had been. It made me feel good to be in here, jealous that I had nothing like it with another person, and almost intrusive to be in such an intimate setting. It was like eavesdropping. â€Å"Ah, here we are,† murmured Andrea, rummaging through drawers. She handed me some clothes. I slipped out of the dress and tried them on. While she had a fantastic body for having birthed five daughters, Andrea was still taller and bigger than me, so the clothes hung loose and long. Changing her mind, she handed me denim overalls instead of the jeans. They had to be rolled up at the cuffs, but the straps kept them on me. I tied my hair in a ponytail and was ready to go. Seth laughed when he saw me. â€Å"Hey,† I said, poking him with my foot, â€Å"be nice.† â€Å"I think this is the first time I've ever seen you look anything less than†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused, playing with word choice. â€Å"Well-planned.† â€Å"Why, you silver-tongued romantic devil. That is the look I usually go for. Other women go for sexy or chic or beautiful. But me? Well-planned all the way.† â€Å"You know what I mean. Besides, unplanned isn't a bad look for you. Not bad at all.† His voice sounded deliciously low and dangerous, and something ignited between us as we held each other's eyes. â€Å"You guys can flirt on your own time,† said Terry briskly, handing me a roller and tray of paint. â€Å"Right now, you work for us. Think you can do this part of the wall?† â€Å"Sure.† I glanced over at Seth, whose main job still seemed to be restraining Kayla. â€Å"Why aren't you painting?† â€Å"Because he isn't allowed to,† answered Brandy, painting deftly around a doorway. â€Å"Uncle Seth's a libation,† explained Kendall. â€Å"Liability,† corrected her mother. She grinned at me. â€Å"The odds say you have to be a better painter than him. Correction: the laws of the universe say you have to be.† â€Å"Of course she is. She's good at everything.† Seth watched me apply a smooth, even coat. â€Å"See?† Painting with the Mortensens made for an utterly normal and utterly enjoyable evening. They were so funny and nice that it was hard not to love them. Working side by side, I could almost pretend I was really one of them. Like this could be my own family. They included me in everything and spoke as though Seth and I were a done deal, assuming I would be with them not only for Thanksgiving but also for Christmas and an assortment of other get-togethers. The simple, casually extended affection made me feel happy inside, and sad too. I would never be able to quite fit in with any mortal family, even if this wacky relationship with Seth did ever stabilize. I pushed aside a plastic-covered box and got a peek inside. Moving the sheet further, I smiled down at a framed picture of Terry and Andrea's wedding party – including a much younger Seth. â€Å"Look at you,† I teased. â€Å"You used to shave.† He rubbed the stubble on his lower face. â€Å"I still shave.† â€Å"So this is the infamous occasion Seth almost missed?† â€Å"Yup,† said Terry, a rueful tone in his voice. â€Å"Apparently finishing A Talented Heat was more important than witnessing my nuptials.† â€Å"Oh,† I said neutrally, â€Å"that's a really good one.† I wasn't sure if it was missing-a-wedding good, but it was still one of my favorites. It might have been worth the sacrifice. â€Å"Who's the other guy beside you?† â€Å"Our other brother. Ian.† â€Å"Another Mortensen? You guys are abundant.† â€Å"Tell me about it,† said Terry. â€Å"Ian's the black sheep.† â€Å"I thought I was the black sheep,† said Seth, sounding almost hurt. â€Å"No. You're the unfocused artistic one. I'm the responsible one. Ian's the wild, hedonistic one.† â€Å"What's hedonistic?† asked Kendall. Her father considered. â€Å"It means you run up a lot of credit card bills you can't pay, change jobs a lot, and have a lot of†¦lady friends.† Brandy rolled her eyes. â€Å"Good euphemism, Dad.† Only in the Mortensen family, I decided delightedly, would a fourteen-year old use a word like â€Å"euphemism.† Andrea walked over to the portrait and admired her younger self. In the picture, she wore a long-sleeved lace dress that left her shoulders bare. â€Å"Ah, those were the days,† she sighed. â€Å"Back before pregnancy ruined my body.† â€Å"Well, that wasn't entirely before pregnancy,† observed her husband in an undertone. She shot him a dangerous look. Brandy groaned. Seth tried to hide a smile and changed the subject. â€Å"That church had horrible carpet. Burgundy shag.† He shook his head. â€Å"I think I'm going to get married outdoors.† â€Å"Oh my God,† said Terry with mock horror, â€Å"I can't believe you just acknowledged you might get married. I thought you were married to your writing.† â€Å"Hey, I've never had a problem with polygamy.† Kendall's eyes widened. â€Å"What's polygamy?† Later, when we'd finished the living room, Seth and I offered to start cleaning up while Terry and Andrea put the brood to bed. The girls resisted, clinging to Seth and me, wanting us to talk and come back tomorrow. â€Å"My nieces think you're a rock star,† he observed as we washed brushes in the kitchen. â€Å"I think they like you better than me.† â€Å"I'm not the one they had to tear Kayla from. Hey, does she ever talk?† â€Å"Sometimes. Usually when there's bait involved – like candy or small objects she might choke on.† We washed the brushes in silence until I brought up the topic that had been on my mind ever since he'd mentioned it. â€Å"An outdoor wedding, huh?† The notion of Seth getting married held a perverse fascination for me. Fascinating because I was female and attracted to such things. Perverse because I knew I wouldn't be the bride at such an event. Succubus logistics obviously made that impossible. Then, of course, there was the fact that my mortal marriage had not gone so well. In addition to me cheating and pushing my husband into a debilitating depression, it had later resulted in me selling my soul and joining the ranks of hell. That didn't make for a good matrimonial track record. Seth cut me a look, eyes amused. â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"I didn't know guys ever thought about that kind of stuff.† â€Å"Sometimes we do.† â€Å"You got any other details worked out? Or just the outside lovefest part?† He pondered this as we returned to the living room. He wore the intense expression that seized him when he was trying to write a certain line or think of something clever to say. â€Å"I want a good buffet,† he said. â€Å"Not one of those cheap ones with cold cuts. And no bows on the chairs or anything like that. Man, I hate those.† â€Å"Wow. I guess you've got it all figured out.† I began pulling masking tape off the trim while he knelt down to gather more brushes. He continued on, still considering. â€Å"And I want my bride to wear open-toed shoes.† â€Å"Why open-toed?† He looked up with astonishment. â€Å"Because toes are sexy.† I looked down at my own bare feet. They were small and cute, each toenail painted a pale lavender. Andrea hadn't had any shoes my size. I gave him a sly smile. â€Å"Like these toes?† He looked away and returned to his work. Forgetting my masking tape, I strolled over to him, trying not to laugh. â€Å"Why Seth Mortensen, do you have a fetish?† â€Å"It's not a fetish,† he replied evenly. â€Å"Just an appreciation.† This time I did laugh. â€Å"Oh yeah?† I moved my foot out to tickle his arm, wiggling the toes. â€Å"You appreciate these toes?† â€Å"I appreciate everything about you – even how mean you are.† I crouched beside him and slung an arm around him. â€Å"To think, all this time I've been prancing around you in low-cut shirts and no underwear, in awe of your stalwart resistance, when really it was my toes – â€Å" â€Å"No underwear?† he interrupted. â€Å"Wait. Are you wearing any now?† â€Å"My lips are sealed. You'll have to find out the old-fashioned way. I'm not going to talk. â€Å" â€Å"Oh,† he said in a warning voice, â€Å"we have ways of making you talk.† â€Å"Like what?† In one surprisingly quick motion, Seth sprang up and rolled me onto my back. One arm pinned me and the other held a paintbrush over me, wet with paint. â€Å"Hey!† I cried. â€Å"That's not sexy. That's not even cool.† Actually, being pinned to the floor by him was about as sexy as it got. He stabbed it toward me playfully, never actually making contact, but I flinched anyway. â€Å"What's the problem?† he teased. â€Å"You can just shape-shift it away.† â€Å"Oh! You're a twisted bastard.† His lips quirked into a wicked smile, and he dabbed the brush at my cheek, leaving a small streak of paint. A second later, he added a matching mark on the other cheek. â€Å"Ready for battle,† he declared. I yelped in dismay, then used his momentary satisfaction to break free and reverse the situation, rolling him over. Now I hovered on top of him, one hand on his chest, the other on his arm. â€Å"I'm learning more about you every day,† I observed, leaning my face toward his. My hair had come undone from its haphazard ponytail and now hung down, almost creating a curtain around him. â€Å"You've got a real dark side.† â€Å"Is that a problem?† â€Å"Actually I kind of like it.† I lowered my mouth and gave him what we had now dubbed a â€Å"stealth kiss† – the kind of semi-deep kiss perfected at the concert that just pushed the envelope of succubus absorption. I pulled up a moment later, my lips still tingling from where we'd touched. He shifted one hand to the small of my back while his other tangled itself up in my hair. A lazy and contented smile played on his face. â€Å"You want to go grab something to eat after this?† â€Å"What do you have in mind?† â€Å"Anything. So long as the company stays this good.† I smiled and leaned down to kiss him again, only this time I had trouble keeping the kiss as stealthy as it should have been. When I should have broken away, I kissed him a little harder instead, letting my tongue probe more boldly into his mouth. Surprisingly, what abruptly stopped this indiscretion was not the twinge of energy transfer, but Seth himself. â€Å"Thetis,† he warned, pushing me away – not harshly, but not gently either. I stared, my better judgment suddenly scrambled. I wanted to kiss him again. And again. To hell with the succubus thing. And it wasn't just because of the chemistry or the physical roughhousing, the comments about my toes and lack of underwear. It was about everything tonight. Pretending I was part of his family. Talking about weddings that could never happen. I was suddenly overcome with emotion. Joy and delight over the way just being around him felt. Knowing he loved me for both my inner and outer selves. A warm contentment that his presence naturally brought on. And, of course, the dark emotions were there too. Anger that our relationship could never be complete. Despair that he was not immortal. Jealousy that I could never be his bride. What had Jerome said? That being with me denied Seth all the normal things in life? Kissing him was a base, anxious reaction to all these emotions I couldn't otherwise deal with. â€Å"Thetis,† he repeated, studying my face and whatever crazy expression was on it. â€Å"Come on. You're stronger than this.† He sounded sad and sympathetic, yet stern and parental too. His words snapped me out of my emotional vortex, suddenly making me feel, well, inadequate compared to him. Terry walked back into the living room, looking rightfully startled to see me on top of his brother. â€Å"Do you guys need to go to bed too?† Seth and I exchanged bitter, amused smiles. â€Å"If only,† I said. Once everything was cleaned up, Seth and I left to find a very late dinner. We stayed quiet, neither of us bringing up what had happened earlier. I think he knew I was taking it harder than he had and wanted to say something to cheer me up. But nothing apparently came to mind, so silence reigned until we returned to Terry's house to get our respective cars. â€Å"Georgina,† he said suddenly, hesitantly, as we stood by my car. â€Å"I have to know something.† I looked at him wearily, not liking the seriousness in his voice. I really didn't want to deal with any more weighty issues tonight. I sighed. â€Å"What?† He studied me a moment, apparently assessing my emotional state. â€Å"So†¦ areyou wearing any underwear now?† I blinked in astonishment, taken aback. Then I saw how hard he fought to keep a straight expression. It was too funny. Seth was trying to make me feel better, very much in a goofy way I might have attempted. The tight coil of frustration inside of me unwound. â€Å"Yes,† I told him with a smile. â€Å"Oh,† he said, looking relieved to see me relax but disappointed by the answer. â€Å"But you know what the real beauty of shape-shafting is?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I'm not anymore.†

The Scarlet Letter: Significance of Hester Prynne

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne reveals that although society attempts to confine people, those with inner strength are able to break free of their restrictive labels. Even though the public shunned Hester and forced her into solitude, she still, at the end of her â€Å"term of confinement†, found a way to overcome societys stereotypes.Hester's inner strength allowed her to rise above the negative connotations of the scarlet letter, and now viewed the symbol as a representation of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril† (112). She, through her determination and toughness, turned the scarlet letter from a marking of shame into a symbol of charity and ability by also dedicating herself to being kind to her community.Hester's generosity towards the people that shunned her despite their negative opinions regarding her â€Å"sinful† actions is representative of her ability to defy the stereotype that society has given h er. Hester is now known to society as a woman â€Å"who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted† (1 12). She assumed a â€Å"freedom of speculation†, allowing her to view the once burning symbol on her chest as a symbol of which she could be proud.Hester's mental toughness and boldness was compared to that of â€Å"men of the sword overthrowing nobles and kings† (1 14), as she was fiercely determined to reconstruct the image denoted by the scarlet letter. By overcoming the restrictions society tries to place on her, such as solitary confinement and banishment, she allows herself to emerge an admirable public fgure. Society now ceases to uphold a negative representation of Hester. Furthermore, Hester's mental strength allowed her to aintain the idea that â€Å"the world's law was no law for her mind [114]. In other words, she believes that the stereotypes and labels that society puts on people are never permanent, and is a symbol of how an image can be augmented if one possesses the will and mental toughness. Hester could have simply accept the label society has put on her, but instead through this mindset she found the strength to overcome her derogatory reputation that was bestowed upon her and turned it into one in which she could be confident. The Scarlet Letter: Significance of Hester Prynne By mnunziante

Health Risks Associated with Obesity Research Paper

Health Risks Associated with Obesity - Research Paper Example The report mainly outlines the problems that theses diseases may cause and to a certain extent their side effects as well. Obesity is not only a cosmetic glitch but a very serious future health issue. Many researches show that an over-weight person with excessive fat has more probability to develop certain diseases such as heart problems, diabetes, certain cancer-forms and many more (Sims, 2012). Some of the major diseases will be explained in this report. Risks Involved The diseases listed in the introductory section will be explained formulating the main theme of this report on Health risks linked with obesity. Every year, in the U.S alone, over 150 billion dollars are spent on obesity-related disease which causes about 300000 deaths, only in the U.S.A (Stanford, 2012). Some of the issues caused by obesity are listed and explained below. High Blood Pressure Additional fat tissues in the body need oxygen and nutrition to survive, which in turn need the blood vessels to provide exces sive blood to the fats. This in-turn increases the amount of blood-pumping by the heart, making it work overtime. It also means that the pressure on the artery walls in more than required by a low quantity of fat tissues. This high pressure exerted on the artery walls will cause a higher blood pressure in the body. ... Obesity causes resistance to insulin, the hormone that polices the blood sugar. Blood sugar level goes up as excessive fat resists the formation of insulin. Even a low amount of unwanted fat in the body can cause the peril of diabetes (Stanford, 2012). Heart Diseases The arteries of obese people are more prone to be hardened, research says by almost 10 percent compared to those people who are not obese. Coronary artery disease also prevails as the fat deposits on the arteries en-route the heart. Smaller passage for the blood in the arteries mean that the flow of blood is decreased which can cause angina or an in simple terms a â€Å"heart attack†. The fat deposit can also cause blood clotting which can also result in a heart attack (Stanford, 2012). Joint Problems Excessive fat can also affect the knees and hips as extra fat makes up extra weight causing more stress on the bones where joints exist. Any kind of a surgery on the bone joints is not advisable for a fat person as a rtificial or treated joints may not be sufficient enough to hold extra weight, causing further damage to the most used bones in the body. It also causes day to day pains in various joints like the knees and ankles which eventually become life threatening injuries or ones which can cause excessive pain (Stanford, 2012).. Sleep apnea and Respiratory Issues Sleep apnea causes lack of breath for short period of times is also a side effect of obesity. As stated before obesity causes many diseases indirectly on a later stage of life. This stoppage of breath causes lack of sleep as it may interfere in the sleep at night and stop from sleeping in the daytime. This can also be one of the prime reasons of snoring while sleeping. Due to excessive weight around the chest area, the lungs are

Horror Films In American Cinema Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9000 words - 1

Horror Films In American Cinema - Movie Review Example Horror movies are an all-time favorite for those looking to learn from the world of the unknown that surrounds us. Although most of the movies are fictional stories with fictional depictions, the research that goes into developing the story and the screenplay rely vastly on real-life incidents and imaginative capacities of the production team. Although the 1890s was when horror movies began in cinematic history, it was not till epic creations like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and movies of the 1920s which took over the horror film industry, which had thrived on petty popularity till then, and comprised of vampire, monsters and ghost stories. Fables that had witches and angels fighting over the safety of human life were also created during this age. Prominent movies that dotted the timeline till 1920 include the Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1911 (French), The Vampires 1915 (German), The Vampire in 1913, A Fool There Was in 1915, and so many more. While these films were mostly silent and marked the explorations of imagination by directors of the silent era, prominent movies started emerging with better-defined screenplays and images after the year of 1920. The 1921 European movie The Death of Dracula and the 1922 German movie Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror were prominent creations that rocked the American movi e industry, owing to the creation and growth of Hollywood the ultimate American movie industry. Although Hollywood had a long time to grow, there were other movies like the Frankenstein films like the 1915 movie Life Without Soul by Joseph Smiley and the 1910 movie Frankenstein by J. Searle Dawley. These movies would be of variable length and would be of historic importance to students of cinema making one day, but at that point in time, these movies were various adaptations of the novels that inspired them and were more of a pre-film idea of how to adapt the story to the screen effectively.