Monday, August 24, 2020
Examining Disadvantages of U.S. High School System Essay
Considering a great deal of questionable issues over instruction matters, various individuals take various sides and offer out individual thoughts. There is a typical conviction that great instruction would furnish a nation with a ton of advantages, for example, all the more encouraging monetary development and higher expectations for everyday comforts. As the worldwide monetary downturn is paid attention to increasingly, an ever increasing number of individuals are presently directing their concentration toward training in America, the most impressive nation on the planet, asking whether it will be still up to its name later on and what sort of progress to instruction can make commitment to the social economy. Furthermore, media additionally gives information on Americaââ¬â¢s stale training result. In an investigation discharged in September 2009, what stands apart is that U.S. understudies scored the most reduced in Math and Science, with a Math result ââ¬Å"in the base quarter of the considerable number of nations that took an interest, including Finland, China and Estoniaâ⬠(Lattimore). Too, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan guaranteed that understudies are going to battle in the worldwide market rivalry without scholarly development. Consequently, instruction issues become exceptional among all the difficulties individuals are going to meet in the ongoing future. Since optional instruction plays an essential and transitional job in oneââ¬â¢s entire training venture, here are assessments of significant factors in the current U.S. open secondary educational system that prompt its instruction quality to decay. Understudies are not being helped by tests since guidelines are not thorough in American secondary schools. As indicated by Dr. Kristy Vernille, a specialist in Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction, American understudies as a rule move from evaluation to review effectively and ââ¬Å"without exhibiting competency in any subject matterâ⬠, because of the free and dubious test measures in America (Vernille 5). Albeit American understudies are frequently solicited to take a great deal from state sanctioned tests, in view of the American Federation of Teachers, the tests consequences of understudies generally don't impact their advancement through the framework. Besides, state and business tests have lower level of trouble and spotlight on less-propelled critical thinking than the worldwide tests; simultaneously, universal tests incorporate progressively open-reaction things (in which understudies need to show how they take care of the issues), though ââ¬Å"the United States tests are transcendently various decision things with minimal scholarly interest related with deciding the answerâ⬠(AFT 15). Under these conditions, U.S. understudies are not inspired for additional examination or higher scholarly achievement, bringing about their lower competency than their global friends. Be that as it may, building up progressively thorough test norms in the U.S. government funded educational system will improve American studentsââ¬â¢ scholastic execution. To illustrate, in China, there is an exceptionally government sanctioned test named ââ¬Å"the National College Entrance Examinationâ⬠. It likewise showed up in Time magazine as the ââ¬Å"most pressure stuffed assessment in the worldâ⬠(Siegel). The Entrance Examination is held for choosing understudies for advanced education and authority, and is taken by each Chinese twelfth grader consistently. In each state, schools are educated what to instruct understudies and what will most likely show up in the test (Schaack 5). During the groundwork for the test, understudies need to get an incredibly enormous measure of data from educators lastly execute it into the Entrance Exam. The individuals who perform uncommonly well are admitted to the nationââ¬â¢s top colleges; ââ¬Å"the rest discover spots in c ommon colleges or two-and three-year collegesâ⬠(Siegel). Because of the way that Chinese understudies are under such sort of weight, they are bound to learn things so as to be serious and arranged for their future. To a huge degree, their scholarly accomplishment is identified with their instructive strategies and condition. They donââ¬â¢t have numerous choices in their testing framework, which is viewed as reasonable and normalized. This strategy can be received by American government funded educational system to decrease their test options, as it were, to make a standard in the testing framework. With an all the more clear and thorough norm, American understudies will have better comprehension of what instructors pass on and what aptitudes they should get. In this manner, scholarly improvement will consequently be cultivated. Other than the absence of a thorough testing standard, American schools set up their educational plans dependent on the instruction arrangement endorsed by law, bringing about negative results. Since the No Child Left Behind program was marked into law in 2002, test scores have become the most fundamental proportion of school quality (Ravitch 15). Schools at that point needed to adjust the educational programs to improve their grades all together not to lose understudies. How does training bode well when the reason for testing goes past the substance of learning? Diane Ravitch, a student of history of training and instructive strategy investigator, composes this program ââ¬Å"demanded that schools create higher grades â⬠¦ It disregarded such significant examinations as history, civics, writing, science, expressions of the human experience, and topography. Despite the fact that the law expected states to test understudies in the end in science, the science scores didnââ¬â¢t rely on the government scorecardâ⬠(Ravitch 16). She watched her desire for better instruction fall however she was at first strong of the supposed training change. Under this situation, combined with the contemporary, obscure, unchallenging test standard, schools are somewhat far-fetched to have educational programs that can assist understudies with growing completely or assist them with accomplishing high scores in those further developed and exhaustive universal tests. To outline, information gathered by NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) shows that U.S. understudies play out the most noticeably terrible in regions like Math and Science. Particularly in Math, U.S. secondary school understudies scored a lot of lower than different nations that took an interest (Lattimore). By and by, the circumstance can be changed if the entire educational system overhauls the educational plans for studentsââ¬â¢ better turn of events, which is the first goal of instruction. From that point onward, tests ought to be founded on the educational plans that schools are giving. How is it workable for understudies to accomplish passing marks while the test doesn't at all relate to the courses they are taking? Albeit numerous individuals accept that the opportunity of instructing and the opportunity of learning are both huge, specialists guarantee that an accomplished individual has a very much outfitted brain, ââ¬Å"shaped by perusing and pondering history, science, writing, expressions of the human experience, and politicsâ⬠, and is equipped with information and abilities that help him read, tune in and furthermore clarify (Ravitch 16). Without essential information and abilities, individuals can't think basically, to discuss or to address, not to mention ready to tackle issues in tests or in their genuine lives. The nonstop training changes truly uncover the exertion that America is continually attempting to make for its country. In any case, giving an excess of consideration to testing other than educational plan will just prompt an explode of its past endeavors. Also, school assets, PC innovation particularly, are not being utilized viably by educators and understudies, causing a decrease in school profitability. It is presently amidst the data age when innovation use is generally spread. In spite of the fact that the objective of President Bill Clinton, ââ¬Å"a PC in each classroomâ⬠, has for all intents and purposes been acknowledged by American state funded schools and ââ¬Å"the number of PCs in U.S. schools has developed dramaticallyâ⬠(Evans 272), an exploration led by Harvard University business analyst Caroline Hoxby has indicated that the profitability (the proportion of understudy execution to spending) has not expanded true to form. Rather, it is declining (Woessmann 73). Initially, schools trust that innovation can assist understudies with accomplishing better scholastic execution, rather than being an interruption for understudies. Subsequently, as can be seen in many schools, there are a great deal of unwritten stand ards for understudies prohibiting them from utilizing electronic gadgets during class. Be that as it may, numerous understudies despite everything carry on not surprisingly, making innovation a destraction of class condition. Thus, American schools are befuddled about whether their understudies are the recipients or casualties of this new age (Evans 272). Since it is a mechanical time, why not exploit it? There are as yet numerous understudies in creating nations longing for this bit of leeway that American understudies understanding. Also, it certainly can't be squandered. On the off chance that understudies were guided to utilize school assets, the instructing pace and quality would expand; schoolwork assignments would get progressively positive criticism; the testing weight would be lighter. As needs be, the entire nationââ¬â¢s understudies would improve scholastically. Notwithstanding the equipment and programming assets not being utilized well, grown-ups are not giving enough consideration to American understudies. During a studentââ¬â¢s scholarly excursion, grown-ups around him can affect him. Specifically, parental inclusion has an extensively basic effect on their childrenââ¬â¢s instruction experience. In the event that a childââ¬â¢s guardians join extraordinary significance to instruction, at that point the kid would likewise will in general worth their school work (Schaack 10). Once more, to exhibit utilizing Chinese guardians for instance, more often than not, they manage their childrenââ¬â¢s conduct in school by going to parent-instructor gatherings intermittently, finding out about their evaluations, examining school projects and exercises with their youngsters, checking their schoolwork, etc. They additionally give private mentoring, paying private educators, when their kids are not proceeding just as others or when they have to breeze through some particular assessments and
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Asthma Essay Research Paper AsthmaWhat is Asthma
Asthma Essay, Research Paper Asthma What is Asthma? Asthma is a vexed that influences 20 % of Australians in their youth. It causes air entries to contract doing it difficult to calmly inhale. Side effects may remember loss of relax for cold conditions, wheezing and whistling. It might happen irregularly in abrupt fresh invasions. At the point when an assault happens The musculuss around the air current funnel fix shrinking the air sections. The air current funnel run alonging so crestless waves ( picture ) and a mucous discharge called aloofness creates doing the hack to heighten and to some degree increasingly agonizing. What are the Causes and Triggers for asthma? Assaults of Asthma happen because of a hindrance in the bronchial tubing. This impediment results from an issue that limits the trachea doing take a breathing difficulty for the wiped out individual. Asthma Gun triggers are things that exacerbate Asthma. Normal triggers are # 8211 ; Respiratory diseases eg. Colds, grippe, sore pharynxs and bronchitis Unfavorably susceptible responses here and there cause Asthma eg. Dust, supplements, dust, enliven being pelt or some seed. Air thistles ( like Allergic responses ) eg. Tobacco smoke, gases or residue. Unreasonable/exhausting practicing can do an Asthma surge. Enthusiastic Stress can other than trip an Asthma attack. Indications of Asthma Indications incorporate wheezing from the chest or a little whistle is heard while breathing in. It # 8217 ; s considerably stronger while lapsing. Severity of the chest, lung and lung nation are firmly connected with Asthma. Treatment for asthma There is no solution for Asthma however there are stairss that doctors take to help ease the manifestations of Asthma. As a first measure doctors attempt to take or secure the patient to maintain a strategic distance from Asthma triggers, for example, # 8220 ; lustful dander # 8221 ; ( eg. Hide or hairs ) . These are extremely liable to trip an Asthma assault. Topographic focuses where quicken creatures stay are educated to be saved clear with respect to for a wiped out individual. Since it is difficult to take or maintain a strategic distance from all triggers there are medications that can be tak en. For example, â⬠Against # 8211 ; Inflammatory Drugs: these chop down puffiness of the trachea and it # 8217 ; s liner. Oral Steroids # 8211 ; Orasone and Pediapred quickly chop down redness during an assault. Breathed in clinical claims to fame # 8211 ;, for example, cromoyln Na and breathed in corticoids keep up redness from fire uping up. Bronchodilators: extricate up the musculuss which have fixed around the trachea. Adrenergic bronchodilators ( # 8221 ; Beta 2 agonists # 8221 ; ) give ephemeral lightening however do non handle redness. These are accessible as an Inhaler or a tablet signifier. Sadly the tablets are increasingly slow a couple of side effects. Theophylline is accessible in a fluid, container or tablet signifier. This medication has a long continuation of activity doing it a great soother for # 8220 ; dim clasp # 8221 ; Asthma. Wayss of preventing asthma There are no methods of preventing Asthma since it is regularly familial, adversely related or following a dose of bronchitis, however there are approaches to thwart it from fire uping up and transforming into an invasion. A wiped out individual can be extremely cautious about his or hers eating regimen in light of the fact that the eating regimen can significantly affect the Asthma. Because of hypersensitive responses and so forth. Remaining off from dusts and animalistic pelt settees down Asthma. The unfavorably susceptible responses are the most noteworthy reasons for Asthma. Ensure you ever have medication with you, for example, Intal and Becotide. These preventive clinical fortes will stop an assault happening. Summery For an Asthma debilitated individual outer breath can at times be an incredible difficulty because of the way that at any clasp their air current channel can wilt because of redness, doing it extremely difficult to calmly inhale. Be that as it may, with the correct medication eg. Inhalers and Theophylline their life can be a lot simpler. On the off chance that they other than remain off from triggers, for example, dust, pelt and final resting place nail smoke the aviation routes may non be so powerless. Regardless of whether you wear # 8217 ; Ts have Asthma you ought to keep up an oculus out for the manifestations which are # 8211 ; chest and lung toughness, wheezing and loss of breath especially in chilly conditions. 314
Sunday, July 19, 2020
The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior
The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior Theories Print The Psychology Behind Consumer Behavior By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on September 24, 2019 Betsie Van Der Meer / Getty Images More in Theories Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology Are you interested in why and how people buy some products and not others? Have you ever wondered how media messages influence a shoppers buying choices? If so, then you might be interested in the growing field known as consumer psychology. Consumer psychology is a specialty area that studies how our thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and perceptions influence how people buy and relate to goods and services.?? One formal definition of the field describes it as the study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society. Consumer psychologists investigate how the decision-making process, social persuasion, and motivation influence why shoppers buy some things but not others. In this overview of the profession, learn more about what consumer psychologists do and where they work. The Science of Consumer Behavior According to the Society for Consumer Psychology, Division 23 of the American Psychological Association, consumer psychology employs theoretical psychological approaches to understanding consumers.?? This field is often considered a sub-specialty of industrial-organizational psychology and is also known as the psychology of consumer behavior or the psychology of marketing. Consumer psychologists study a variety of topics including:?? How consumers choose businesses, products, and servicesThe thought processes and emotions behind consumer decisionsHow environmental variables such as friends, family, media, and culture influence buying decisionsWhat motivates people to choose one product over anotherHow personal factors and individual differences affect peoples buying choicesWhat marketers can do to effectively reach out to their target customers What Do Industrial-Organizational Psychologists Do? What Consumer Psychologists Do So what exactly does a typical consumer psychologist do? These professionals play a critical role not only in helping businesses understand what their customers want and need but also in helping sellers promote and market their products and services to buyers.?? Conduct Market Research Because businesses need to understand their consumers in order to develop products and marketing campaigns that appeal to their target audience, consumer psychologists often spend a great deal of time learning more about what makes shoppers tick. This often involves first figuring out the target audience for a particular product including the gender, age, and socioeconomic status of the typical shopper.?? Next, the consumer psychologist might begin researching the types of products and marketing messages that appeal to these types of buyers. Develop Marketing Messages Other consumer psychologists might focus on social marketing, or how ideas and messages spread among groups. Researchers might be interested in getting out information about a product or an important public health message. Learning how beliefs and attitudes spread among groups can help organizations learn how to better get their message out and encourage word-of-mouth marketing. Research Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors Consumer psychologists often conduct research to learn more about buyer behavior. Common research methods used by these professionals include experiments, phone surveys, focus groups, direct observations, and questionnaires.?? Chances are good that you have participated in at least one market research survey in your life. These are often conducted by phone, but may also be done online or through direct mail. In a survey, consumers are often asked to describe their past shopping behavior, factors that influenced their decision-making, and their future buying plans. Researchers also typically gather details about each respondents sex, age, race, educational history, and current financial situation. This type of information can be very useful since it allows researchers to look for patterns and learn more about who buys certain products.?? For example, using a survey might allow researchers to discover that women between the ages of 30 and 45 who have a household income between $50,000 to $100,000 are most likely to buy a particular product or service. By knowing this, they can then begin designing marketing campaigns aimed at this target audience. How Do Attitudes Form and Change? Education and Training Requirements So what kind of training do you need if you want to be a consumer psychologist? Most entry-level jobs in consumer psychology require at least a bachelors degree in psychology. Entry-level jobs with a bachelors degree typically involve planning, conducting, and interpreting the results of market research campaigns. Those interested in more advanced positions or in teaching at the university level will need a masters or doctorate degree in an area related to consumer psychology. Such degree options include general psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, marketing, and consumer studies.?? If you are interested in becoming a consumer psychologist: Focus on taking courses that will build your understanding of human behavior, marketing, social psychology, personality, and cultureTake courses in advertising and marketingTake courses in experimental methods, particularly experimental design and statistics Career Options The career path you ultimately choose will depend a great deal upon your interests and educational background. For example, if you have an interest in conducting theoretical research and teaching, consider earning a doctorate degree so that you can teach courses and perform original research at a university. If you prefer to work in an area like market research, advertising, or sales, a bachelors degree might be sufficient. Other job options include acting as a consultant for private businesses or working for government agencies. In such jobs, consumer psychologists might be asked to perform a wide range of duties including development marketing campaigns, researching buyer trends, designing social media advertising, or analyzing statistics.?? A Word From Verywell? Understanding what makes people buy the things they do is much more than a guessing game. Businesses now employ consumer psychologists to scientifically evaluate their customers decisions and choices. The next time you look at an advertisement or take a consumer survey, consider the role that consumer psychologists may have played in developing those messages and questionnaires. Career Options In Psychology
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Manufacturing Execution Systems Join The Cyber Physical...
Manufacturing becomes more and more complicated when production series are short, products are diversified and production technology is variable. In the case of short-series production, Manufacturing Execution Systems join the cyber physical part of production with virtual manufacturing services and business level operations. Unfortunately, most of the existing architectures follow the paradigm of hierarchical MES placed between the control systems and business application level. They have fixed interfaces to production facilities and a predefined set of services. The main argument in favour of such a solution is the global optimisation of manufacturing operations but in the case of highly dynamic, short-series production, it isâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The traditional design of manufacturing control systems does not allow for rapidly expanding options in materials, processes, interfaces to product models that have a number of variants. Holons allow the implementation of product ion variants and the rapid reconfiguration of the machines and robots. Proposed MES architecture supports the capability of production systems. Demand chain management will allow for a significant reduction in waste and will increase the profitability of production systems. Flexible production planning will effect in reducing the setup and changeover time and costs. The strategic target of proposed MES solution is one piece flow production that means the feasibility of short series production (up to one element) by using the production lines designed formerly for mass manufacturing. Like all industrial solutions, the proposed MES also has to fit the existing standards accepted by industry. The authors define an MES functional model that complies with the third part of the widely accepted ANSI/ISA-95 (IEC/ISO 62264) standard. Since ISA95 represents a hierarchical vision of MES, this model has been adapted to the heterarchical agent-based architecture. ISA 95 defines the workflow and information exchange for Manufacturing Operations Management. This includes the structure of manufacturing management functions and their interactions with business systems. ISA95 defines these
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Whiskey Rebellion Of 1794 Essay - 1556 Words
BADERO 1 OLAMIDE BADERO PROF. PATKE HISTORY 1301 N0VEMBER, 10 2016 THE WHISKEY REBELLION OF 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 brings about the death of the elite Federalist Government in favor of the democratic Republican Government, concerned with the needs of all of its citizens. United States of America suffered many growing pains when trying to balance its commitment to liberty with the need for order, but with the help of their greatest ally (France) and the people of the thirteen colonies of America they defeated the greatest empire in the world. A new U.S. federal government started operating in 1789 after the new constitution was made, the previous government under the Article of Confederation were too weak after the revolutionary war, the state did as they please, the congress were unable to impose tax, enforce foreign treaties, or draft troops. It was mainly a friendly government; thus the expression ââ¬Å"the do-nothing congressâ⬠. Each state considered itself free and independent, and easterners and westerners were separated by g eography as well as their own concerns. This new constitution was a brilliant one; it expressed how there is no true ruler power because the power ultimately lies in the people. This document was created in a Convention in Philadelphia, it became the foundation for the United States and is still theShow MoreRelatedWhiskey Rebellion ( 1794 )1139 Words à |à 5 PagesWhiskey Rebellion (1794) In 1791, congress had placed a federal tax on whiskey to help get rid of the national debt the consisted of $54 million. Whiskey was extremely valuable for it was an all purpose liquor used by many. So in 1794 thousands of pennsylvanian farmers in opposition to the tax got together and rebelled against federal law, and eventually George Washington had to send in enforcement and peace commissioners. The enforcement helped George Washington to establish the authority of theRead MoreThe Whiskey Rebellion Essay875 Words à |à 4 PagesBook Review By Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx HIS 1111 The Whiskey Rebellion: Frontier Epilogue to the American Revolution. By Thomas P. Slaughter. (New York: Oxford University Press, l986, 291 pp.) In October of 1794, in response to a popular uprising against the federal government, President Washington sent an army of nearly 13,000 men across the Allegheny Mountains into the frontier regions of Western Pennsylvania. This event marked the greatest internal crisis of Washingtons administration and wasRead MoreThe First American Party System Essay1646 Words à |à 7 PagesToday, political parties are an authoritative and essential component of the United States political system. However, it is important to examine how the political parties began and evolved over hundreds of years, since they were first established. In 1794, the major political parties were the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. The major difference between these two was that the Federalists favored a strong central government, while the Democratic-Republicans preferred a central government withRead MoreThe United States And The Revolutionary War952 Words à |à 4 PagesImagine one day after a long day off work in the fields, you go to your local pub or watering hole and you ask for your favorite brand of whiskey on the rocks. Then bam, thereââ¬â¢s a tax on it. Not much, but not only do you have not just pay the 2 cents for your whiskey but youââ¬â¢re paying an extra penny for your favorite drink to the government. You thought your Government was getting rid of taxes forever but no, you have to pay for the cost of your freedom, because freedom is never free. In 1791, almostRead MoreCompare and Contrast the Whiskey Rebellion with Shayââ¬â¢s Rebellion.838 Words à |à 4 PagesShays Rebellion was an armed uprising in western Massachusetts that run from 1786 to 1787. The rebels, led by Daniel Shays were small farmers angered by debilitating debt and taxes and failure to repay such debts often resulted in imprisonment in prisons. This was viewed by many as unjust, unfair and primarily favoring those with money. The levying of the taxes was orchestrated so as to put money back to the coffers after the American revolution. Those adversely affected were small scale subsistenceRead MoreThe Whiskey and Shay Rebellion Essay1100 Words à |à 5 Pages There were many rebellions in the United States history, some peaceful and some violent. Shays Rebellion in 1786 and the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 are examples of two brutal rebellions that led to death of many innocent people. Rebellions can develop due to many conditions including unfair laws, unfair treatment, and a disagreement over a sensitive topic. The Shays Rebellion showed the Articles of Confederation was too weak, while the Whiskey Rebellion proved the Constitution to be a strong frameworkRead More history Essay1637 Words à |à 7 Pagesthat would stop the national debt from growing or even reduce it. This bill, which was approved by both houses in the winter session of Congress in 1791, put an excise tax on all spiritus fermenti, or whiskey (Pike 1). The tax was an ad valorem tax that added twenty five percent to the value of whiskey. Needless to say, this was not well accepted and the peoplesââ¬â¢ opposition to it would become one of the first tests of power the new government would have to face. The thing about this tax is that theRead MoreThe American Revolutionary War Of The United States1196 Words à |à 5 Pagesmillion dollars between federal and state. So Hamilton believed that he could create a solution to generate the revenue needed to pay back the debt, but also give room for the US to prosper. Hamilton came up with the ââ¬Å"Whiskey Taxâ⬠which would raise taxes for distillers of whiskey, which was very popular if not the most popular drink at the time. The official name of the law, passed in 1791 by congress was entitled ââ¬Å" An Act Repealing, after the Last Day of June Next, the Duties Heretofore Laid uponRead More The Whiskey Rebellion Essay1436 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Whiskey Rebellion CONTENTS 1. Introduction to the French and Indian War 2. Domestic and social differences in the region 3. Washington?s statement 4. Attack on the Lys 5. Battle for the Fort Lydius 6. Battle for Forts William Henry and Bull 7. Battle for Fort Oswego 8. Battle for Quebec 9. Treaties Senecas and Paris à à à à à The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 helped bring about the demise of the aristocratic Federalist Government in favor of the democratic Republican Government, concernedRead MoreWhiskey Rebellion Proclamation Essay1000 Words à |à 4 Pagesabout the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 was a proclamation which is an official announcement dealing with a subject of great importance. The Whiskey Rebellion Proclamation was written by the President of the United States at the time which was George Washington. This proclamation was intended for the people of the United states to respond to the protest of the whiskey tax that had been put in place. The Whiskey Rebellion started off as the people of the united states getting mad that whiskey had been
Reality Shows Their Effect on American Teens Free Essays
Their Effect on American Teens Martha Wallace ENG 122: English Composition II Professor Kathy Conner August 8, 2011 The values of our forefathers for America have disappeared. Each year more and more of American children are Judging themselves based upon the lives portrayed in popular media. Certain media in the music industry portrays the life of getting rich fast and having a lot of girls. We will write a custom essay sample on Reality Shows: Their Effect on American Teens or any similar topic only for you Order Now Movies depict a life of fast cars, many sexual partners, and dishonesty. The latest media that has become very popular in portraying negative values Is reality shows. Reality shows have replaced traditional family values wows such as: Happy Days, Seventh Heaven, The Cowboys Show, Family Matters, and Growing Pains. Todayââ¬â¢s family values are now being portrayed through shows like: Keeping up with the Sardinian, Teen Moms, The Real World, Jersey Shore, and all of the Real Housewives shows. Reality shows have changed the way American teens view family and the values of marriage, honesty, and respect. Todayââ¬â¢s teenagers view marriage as a commitment between two people who are in love. Once the love is gone, the marriage is over. On the other hand, some adults may think differently. Marriage is not Just the result from love between two people. There is much more to it. A successful marriage is like a good recipe whose main ingredients, besides love, are commitment, understanding, concern and loyalty. If you can include these qualities In your married life you can find happiness In your marriage. Yet, the future of the stability In American marriage Is slowly decaying. Adults and teens alike are viewing marriage In a different way. This view Is being persuaded by new television shows called Reality television. It Is a known fact the media plays an important part In how teens view themselves and others. Almost every person in the united States has excess to television and the younger generation is the ones who watch it the most (Cheeseboard, 2003, Para 4). Considering the average teen spends more time watching television than with their parents. The majority of them are also learning about the basic values of life, also from television. This bring about a serious concern of reality showsââ¬â¢ effects on teens attitude, values, and behavior. The traditional family value of marriage is portrayed on reality shows as an option for couples who are living together. The reality show Keeping up with the Sardinian is a perfect example of his type of arrangement. One of the older sisters, Courtney, currently lives with her boyfriend and when approached by another slang asking her why she refuses to get married. Courtney replies, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not sure If he Is really the oneâ⬠(Bravo, 2011, Para 2). When her mother approaches her about the same thing, Courtney replies, ââ¬Å"Mom, Iââ¬â¢m lust not Into ten traditional thingsâ⬠(Bravo, 2011, Para According to David Opened, a Rutgers sociology professor and report co-author, ââ¬Å"Cohabitation is here to stay. I donââ¬â¢t think it is good news, especially for childrenâ⬠, he says, ââ¬Å"As society shifts from arraign to co-habitation, which is whatââ¬â¢s happening, you have an increase in family instabilityââ¬â¢ Canyons, 2005, Para 8). The reality shows that have married couples on it either end up in divorce, the wife shows no respect for her husband, or one spouse cheats on the other. These are the lessons reality shows are teaching American teens today. The broadcasting station, Bravo, has a series of shows titled, The Real Housewives of some very popular cities in America. One of those cities is Atlanta. This reality show is about six women who are married or were once married. The show aired for three years detailing the lives of women who were to represent the real lives of American married women living in Atlanta. Only one of the six was actually married and before the end of the three year series, she was filing for a divorce. Americans by the million were tuning in each week to watch the drama unfold. According to Nelson Media Research, 4. 4 million viewers watched the shows season finale January 30, 2011 and 1. 3 million of those viewers were under the age of 18 (2011). What does this mean for the future of marriage? Many teenagers no longer look forward to their wedding day. In fact in a conversation with teenagers through a youth organization, Youth for Prevention, Action, and Change Through Thought (HAPPY), which aims to develop community leaders by teaching teens about social, racial, and health disparities in their neighborhoods, many of them do not see the need for marriage. One participant stated, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m not looking forward to marriage and I donââ¬â¢t think we [people in general] should be married, because I see how other marriages ended up in my family and on television. Itââ¬â¢s always a disaster. When asked which television shows she mainly watches, she replied, ââ¬Å"Reality shows, they ell you how life really isâ⬠, Cones, 2006, Para 2). As this tenââ¬â¢s comments indicate, views about marriage are formed by what they see in their lives and in popular media. Shows such as ââ¬Å"The Real Worldâ⬠and the mediaââ¬â¢s focus on the latest celebrity break-up do not paint a perfect picture of marriage. It is a sign of the growing decline in the value of one of the greatest institutions developed in America. It is these factors that may explain why the U. S. Divorce rate approaches 40 percent. Marriage is not the only American value which seems to be affected by reality shows, honesty s another value among teenagers that is almost invisible and reality shows does not appear to make the view any clearer. There was a time when a man was held to his word and a handshake was the only deed required. Those days are long gone. No one can trust the other. Prenuptial are written before marriages, contracts are required between businesses, and even teenagers are signing contracts with parents. One reality show, Teen Moms, broadcasted a show which detailed a written contract between one teen and her parents. The purpose of the contract was to validate the parentsââ¬â¢ words to help their daughter financially after she gives birth to he child. Reality television shows and their effects on teenagers can depend on the desires and motives they see themselves in these stars and somehow these stars are living their lives through the show. Each reality show portrays and fulfills certain desires like powerful high class living, survival and outwitting others, beauty, revenge Ana amnesty. Many teenagers enjoy a certain sense AT pleasure Ana satisfaction when they watch these reality television shows and their effects are continuously mirrored in the way they interact with others, deal with various situations, and face certain challenges. According to the teens in HAPPY, the reality shows are entertaining Cones, 2006, Para 5). Yet, most of these shows are built upon other peopleââ¬â¢s failures, sadness, frustrations, depressions, and other mental and physical handicaps. There are some reality shows that have a positive effect on tenââ¬â¢s lives. Broadcasting station, FOX, had a show, Trading Spouses, where two families, usually of different social classes, swap wives or husbands for a week. Each family is awarded $50,000, with the stipulation that the guest mother decides how her host family must spend the money (Schneider ; Italian, 2004). The adults show how families can come together and grow. It gives hope to the value of family and honesty. Each participant is required to react normally and to come to an understanding on how to handle differences. The children are given an opportunity to express themselves and this usually results in their parents making some changes to include the opinions of their children. The parents come face to face with the honesty of some mishaps in their family and agree to make an honest effort to correcting them. These types of reality show effect teens in a positive way. For those menââ¬â¢s that may not have been able to express their thoughts or opinions to their parents, the show gives them suggestions and allow them to see an honest possibility of the outcome. Most teenagers see their parents as difficult people to compromise with. This type of reality television shows the vulnerable side of parents and how they can make mistake too. Teens begin to see their parents as human and someone they can talk to. Honesty is rarely played out in reality shows, therefore our teens have a front row view of how to become a liar and deceive people. Some of these wows are so deceitful; it is hard to imagine someone would have agreed to be a participant. For example, ââ¬Å"Joe Millionaireâ⬠, is a reality show where women compete to win the heart of a supposed millionaire. At the end, the women find out the ââ¬Å"Joe Millionaireâ⬠is actually an ââ¬Å"Average Joeâ⬠and have to decide if they want to stay with him. This show is probably one of the most dishonest reality shows and unethical of them all. Teens and adults alike are shown ways to be dishonest and degrade the true meaning of finding love and honesty in an individual. Respect has great importance in everyday life. As children we are taught ,one hopes, to respect our parents, teachers, and elders, school rules and traffic laws, family and cultural traditions, other peopleââ¬â¢s feelings and rights, our countryââ¬â¢s flag and leaders, the truth and peopleââ¬â¢s differing opinions (Dillon, 2010, Para 1). If we are to live by this description of respect, then reality shows has gotten it wrong. A study called, ââ¬Å"Kids These Days: What Americans Really Think About the Next Generationâ⬠, surveyed 2,000 adults who characterized teenagers and young children as ââ¬Å"irresponsibleâ⬠, ââ¬Å"rudeâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"lazyââ¬â¢ (Kids these days, 1997). Those words are scarcely new attitudes towards Americanââ¬â¢s youth. The reality show, Keeping up with the Sardinian, portrays a family with two teenage daughters who are often rude to their parents, constantly shows disrespect towards each other, and uses profanity towards their parents. This reality show is rated number one among teenagers in America. Yet this show, ââ¬Å"Keeping up with the Sardinianâ⬠, shows very little respect towards the parents Trot any AT ten SIX centre Foul language Is town across ten room Trot ten teen daughters, young adult children, their boyfriends, and the parents. There is no respect for other peopleââ¬â¢s feeling, rights or differing opinions. One particular episode, the teen daughters swore at her mother and told her dad she will make her own decision and didnââ¬â¢t need his help. After consulting with his wife, they agreed to allow their 13 year old daughter to make her decision on a career move that would affect her for the rest of her life. This is not a good message to send to teenagers today. Raising oneââ¬â¢s voice and slamming doors is not the way to gain respect. Yet, reality shows often show teenagers acting this way and the results are often the arenas bending the rules to allow the teens to make their own decisions. Showing respect is the best way for anyone to receive respect. Everyone should have an opinion, be able to express them and feel good about that relationship. No one should feel pressured to do something Just because it seems like everyone else is doing it, or because someone else is trying to get you to do it. Yet that is precisely what most reality shows are doing. Teens are being pursued to make decisions and react to certain things according to celebrities on reality television. The reality show reduced by MAT, The Real World, gave American Teens a real look at honor and respect in it episode featuring Pedro Somoza. Pedro Somoza was a young man chosen to be one of the six young adults sharing a house in New York City, who Just happened to have AIDS. Pedro died of the disease and America tuned in the watch every episode as it unfolded on television. This series of The Real World, New York taught many people the truth about AIDS. The effect this show had on American teens open their eyes to respect other people, taught valuable lessons on safe sex, and gave AIDS a new found respect. Since the rising of these popular reality elevation shows, American teens have changed the way they view ââ¬Å"entertainmentâ⬠. This genre has influenced the way teenagers express themselves. Considering many of these shows are geared towards teens, they are the ones who are more susceptible to its various influences. With each passing year more and more of American children are Judging themselves based upon the lives portrayed in popular media. Certain media portrays the life of getting rich fast, having a lot of girls, a life of fast cars, many sexual partners, and dishonesty. There are not many good values portrayed in these reality shows. Yet, reality shows can give insight to teens about many different types of people and cultures. They can also prepare teenagers for the outcome of bad choices people make about the values of marriage, honesty, and respect. The core role is to see what people reactions in certain scenarios are, and how they face these given situations. American teens can learn and apply these outcomes to their lives. They can learn about teamwork. They can become motivated in life to achieve their goals and can even chase a dream. References Dillon, S. (2010). Respect, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2010 Edition). How to cite Reality Shows: Their Effect on American Teens, Papers
Sunday, April 26, 2020
The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold English Literature Essay Essay Example
The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold English Literature Essay Paper Alice Sebold was born September 6, 1963, in Madison, Wisconsin, ( 4 ) . She was born to an alcoholic, demented female parent, Jane, who was a journalist, and a male parent who was Spanish professor. She was their 2nd kid, and had an older sister, Mary. Her household moved around a twosome of times because of her pa s occupation and publicities: from Madison, Wisconsin to Rockville, Maryland, and so from at that place to Paoli, Pennsylvania. Sebold was a good pupil, but her older sister was the smarter, straight A pupil. Sebold was a originative individual and loved authorship, among other things. She described herself as, excessively smart, excessively fat, excessively loud, excessively arty, ( 4 ) . She frequently argued with her parents, and was the jokester of the household. She was proud to state, I wanted to be the idiot of the household, because idiots seemed to hold more merriment, more freedom and more personality ( 4 ) . Bing the idiot was her manner to get by life in th e tense family. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold English Literature Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold English Literature Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Sebold was an alienated, anomic 2nd kid. At a immature age, she suffered through many adversities. When her female parent began to imbibe, and became an alky, her sister, Mary, took attention of her. After a clip, Mary began to be embarrassed of her female parent, and did non desire to be seen with her. Subsequently, she stopped taking attention of her, go forthing Sebold to take attention of her herself, and to maintain everything together. Sebold was the one to compensate- comforting her female parent and reprobating her sister ( Glaug, 1 ) . After graduating from Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania in 1980, Sebold attended Syracuse University in upstate New York, ( 1 ) . During her first-year twelvemonth in college, at age 18, she was harshly beaten and raped in a hallway that led to a now shut down amphitheater. She so found the adult male subsequently on, and went to tribunal where he was found guilty and given a maximal sentence. Surprisingly, she still decided to go to the same university after the incident, determined to compose out her sorrows and acquire her grade. Sebold struggled in many ways with the colza and the deficiency of support from her parents. She so dropped out and after many events, including working as a waitress and making drugs, such as diacetylmorphine, she decided to compose her first book. Her first book, a novel called Lucky, was a memoir to her colza as a college fresher. It was called so because a bull told her that she was lucky to hold been able to walk out alive, as a piece earlier, a miss had been killed and dismembered in that same tunnel. Sebold so moved to California and attended a university at that place to go on prosecuting her composing calling. There, she met her hubby, the novelist Glen David Gold. Now a successful author herself, Sebold presently lives in California with her hubby. Sebold became really successful after her 2nd book. Her first book, Lucky, was a memoir of her colza. Her 2nd book was what hit the top charts. At first called Monsters, this novel was about a 14 twelvemonth old miss named Susie Salmon who is raped, killed, and so dismembered by her neighbour, Mr. Harvey. The narrative is told from her point of position in Eden, and goes through the events that happen after her decease. Subsequently on, the name was changed, and was published as The Lovely Bones. She besides wrote another book, The Almost Moon. Her books were influence by colza and the force she sees in the universe. The 2nd book is besides influenced by her battles with her female parent. Sebold won the American Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction in 2003, ( 1 ) . In add-on, she achieved the Bram Stoker Award for First Novel in 2002. Sebold was nominated in the Novel class in 2002 as good. The Lovely Bones besides became a # 1 National Bestseller. Susie Salmon, a 14 twelvemonth old miss, was murdered on December 6, 1973. Susie, a immature funny miss, was walking place through the corn field one dark when she ran into her older neighbour, Mr. Harvey. He leads her into a manmade room under the Earth in the corn field, and at that place he rapes, putting to deaths, and dismembers her. Susie goes to heaven, where Eden is whatever you want and tantrums to your demands and personality. However, she still yearns for her lost life, and is still attached to life on Earth. As a consequence, Susie goes through her hereafter in her Eden and tickers over her household. She besides learns how the intelligence of her decease spreads and affects her household, those who were near to her, and others around them. As she watches her household header with her decease in different ways, she besides looks into Mr. Harvey s yesteryear, meets some of his other dead victims, and keeps some checks on him. She watches as her household goes through life through the old ages to come, and besides tickers over Ruth, a friend of hers, and Ray, a male child that she had truly liked. Lindsey copes with her sister s decease, and over the old ages, has a fellow named Samuel, who she finally marries in the terminal. Her small brother does non understand things every bit good, and at first, is angry at her for deceasing and go forthing him at that place with Lindsey to cover with the jobs. However, as he grows older, he learns to accept her decease. Her male parent has a harder clip, with the guilt of non being at that place for her pressed on his shoulders. All he sees is Susie and he can hardly populate with himself. He starts to turn further apart from his married woman. He besides, subsequently on, grows clo ser to his other two kids, going really protective. Her female parent likely took Susie s decease the hardest. It knocked her down difficult and made her lose her stableness and saneness. She grew further apart from her hubby and her other kids. She besides commits criminal conversation with the investigator in charge of Susie s instance. Later on, she leaves her household and travels across the state, seeking to get away it all. Ray and Ruth become closer, and Ruth subsequently discovers that she can pass on or see the dead. She subsequently lets Susie into her organic structure and Susie and Ray, via Ruth s organic structure, reunite and do love. After her clip is up, she is taken to Heaven. She is eventually able to allow travel of her connexion to the Earth and her decease. In the terminal, her household became even closer, including her lone life grandma, who was normally excluded. Her female parent comes back every bit good, and everyone, including Ruth and Ray, understand that Susie is genuinely gone and eventually accept her decease. This shows that because Susie was eventually able to break up her connexion to the Earth and accept her decease, she could go forth her Eden to travel to Heaven. Her concluding credence of her decease is what allows her household, friends, and others to eventually allow her travel, retrieve her in memory, and to travel on. This book was banned due to holding expressed stuff. The book opens up with a 14 twelvemonth old miss who gets raped, murdered, and so dismembered. Though this book deals with hope and healing, it is on a deeper degree, ( 5 ) . Younger kids, like fifth and 6th graders, may non hold reached the adulthood degree needed to read and understand this novel. Young grownups and high school teens, for illustration, will understand it better. Some parents are oppugning whether or non it should be available in in-between school libraries, and other schools have either banned it or moved it into a restricted country for staff members. Parents are worried about how their immature teens will grok the book, and if it will do them depressed, scared, or even scarred. For illustration, a parent of a sixth-grade miss at Coleytown Middle School wanted the book removed from the school library because she believed that the novel was, right for an grownup audience, but was non appropriate for a 6th grader ( 3 ) . In add-on, many believe that The Lovely Bones inquiries some facets of faith. For illustration, they believe that the writer s thought of Eden has no God or judgement for those come ining it, ( 5 ) . This raised many inquiries and negative responses to the book, which the writer so replied by stating that that was her manner of seeing things and that everyone interprets things otherwise. The book was besides banned due to maturate subjects, criminal conversation, decease, linguistic communication, and other expressed scenes. I knew he was traveling to kill me. I did non recognize so that I was an carnal already deceasing. Why do nt you acquire up? Mr. Harvey sad as he rolled to the side and so crouched over me. His voice was soft, encouraging, a lover s voice on a late forenoon. A suggestion, non a bid. I could non travel. I could non acquire up. When I would non was it merely that, merely that I would non follow his suggestion? he leaned to the side and felt, over his caput, across the shelf where his razor and shaving pick sat. He brought back a knife. Unsheathed, it smiled at me, swerving up in a smile. He took the chapeau from my oral cavity. State me you love me, he said. Gently, I did. The terminal came anyhow. The Lovely Bones, pgs. 14-15 While Len took her manus and brought her away from the wall into the tangle of pipes where the nose operating expense added its ain chorus, Mr. Harvey began to pack his properties ; my brother met a little miss playing Hula- Hoop n the circle ; my sister and Samuel lay beside each other on her bed, to the full dressed and nervous ; my grandma downed three shootings in the empty dining room. My male parent watched the phoneaÃâ Ã ¦ aÃâ Ã ¦ Mr. Harvey left his house for the concluding clip while my female parent was granted her most temporal want. To happen a room access out of her destroyed bosom, in merciful criminal conversation. The Lovely Bones, pgs. 196-197 The Lovely Bones is a good book that shows you a whole new manner to look at life that truly is nt just sometimes. However, it is besides a book of hope and healing and shows how a household is lacerate apart and later brought together once more. This novel is deep and better understood by an grownup or older audience. I understand why it was banned and agree with it. It has many expressed scenes, like the colza, slaying, and dismembering of Susie Salmon, every bit good as her household having the bosom wretching intelligence of her disappearing, and, subsequently on, her decease. The criminal conversation committed by her female parent, the mental instability of her male parent after her decease, and the departure of her female parent may besides non be good understood by a younger audience. This includes some linguistic communication and the sex scenes between Lindsey and Samuel and Susie and Ray, via Ruth s organic structure. Some scenes are a small spot distressing, and others are dejecting, which is why it is non good for younger readers. However, I believe that The Lovely Bones was a good, and deep novel, and Teachs us all many different lessons. I do non believe it should be banned. Alternatively, it should be marked for an older audience so that readers are cognizant of the mature content it contains. In this manner, people may bask this novel and cognize whether or non it is appropriate for their age degree. For illustration, some people believe that 7th and 8th graders should non be allowed to read The Lovely Bones because of its mature content and deep significances. However, some of these younger readers are mature plenty to understand what is go oning in the book. Though it may be good to censor it from certain schools, others should be able to get and bask this novel.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Evolution Of Profanity Essays (1482 words) - Blasphemy, Censorship
Evolution Of Profanity Essays (1482 words) - Blasphemy, Censorship Evolution of Profanity The evolution of written profanity began roughly in the sixteenth century, and continues to change with each generation that it sees. Profanity is recognized in many Shakespearean works, and has continually evolved into the profane language used today. Some cuss words have somehow maintained their original meanings throughout hundreds of years, while many others have completely changed meaning or simply fallen out of use. William Shakespeare, though it is not widely taught, was not a very clean writer. In fact, he was somewhat of a potty mouth. His works encompassed a lot of things that some people wish he had not. "That includes a fair helping of sex, violence, crime, horror, politics, religion, anti-authoritarianism, anti-semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, jealousy, profanity, satire, and controversy of all kinds" (Macrone 6). In his time, religious and moral curses were more offensive than biological curses. Most all original (before being censored) Shakespearean works contain very offensive profanity, mostly religious, which is probably one of many reasons that his works were and are so popular. "Shakespeare pushed a lot of buttons in his day- which is one reason he was so phenomenally popular. Despite what they tell you, people like having their buttons pushed" (Macrone 6). Because his works contained so many of these profane words or phrases, they were censored to protect the innocent minds of the teenagers who are required to read them, and also because they were blasphemous and offensive. Almost all of the profanity was removed, and that that was not had just reason for being there. Some of the Bard's censored oaths are; "God's blessing on your beard" Love's Labors Lost, II.i.203 This was a very rude curse because a man's facial hair was a point of pride for him. and "to play with someone's beard" was to insult him. "God's body" 1 Henry IV,II.i.26 Swearing by Christ's body, (or any part thereof,) was off limits in civil discourse. "God's Bod(y)kins, man" Hamlet, II.ii.529 The word bod(y)kin means "little body" or "dear body," but adding the cute little suffix does not make this curse any more acceptable. "By God's [blest] mother!" 2 Henry VI, II.i; 3 Henry VI, III.ii; Henry VIII, V.i Swearing by the virgin was almost as rude as swearing by her son, especially when addressing a catholic cathedral as Gloucester did in 2 Henry VI, II.i Perhaps the two worst of these Shakespearean swears were "'zounds" and "'sblood." "'Zounds" had twenty-three occurrences. Ten of them were in 1 Henry IV. The rest appear in Titus (once), Richard III (four times), Romeo and Juliet (twice), and Othello ( six times). Iago and Falstaff were the worst offenders. 'Zounds has evolved into somewhat of a silly and meaningless word, but was originally horribly offensive. This oath, short for "God's wounds," was extremely offensive because references to the wounds or blood of Christ were thought especially outrageous, as they touched directly on the crucifixion. "'Sblood" had twelve occurrences in all. There were eight times in 1 Henry IV (with Falstaff accounting for six), plus once in Henry V, twice in Hamlet, and once in Othello. 'Sblood occurs less than 'zounds, but is equally offensive and means basically the same thing. Several other words came from Great Britain, but were not included in Shakespeare's works. Today the expression "Gadzooks!" is not particularly offensive to most. Of course, most don't know what it originally meant. Gadzooks was originally slang for "God's hooks," and was equally offensive to 'zounds and 'sblood as it also referred to the crucifixion. An interesting note is that there is a store called Gadzooks which everyone thinks of as a pop-culture vendor to America's youth. Some (but not many) of Gadzooks' shoppers would be very offended if they knew the true meaning of the store's name. Another word from this region is a Cockney expression, "Gorblimey," which is a word used to swear to the truth, and is a shortened form of "God blind me." Also, in England, words such as "bloody," "blimey," "blinkin'," beginning with the letters "BL" are taken offense to because they, once again, refer to the blood of Christ and the crucifixion. The military has an interesting technique for swearing their brains
Monday, March 2, 2020
Important Facts About the Plateosaurus
Important Facts About the Plateosaurus Plateosaurus was the prototypical prosauropod, the family of small-to-medium sized, occasionally bipedal, plant-eating dinosaurs of the late Triassic and early Jurassic periods that were distantly ancestral to the giant sauropods and titanosaurs of the later Mesozoic Era. Because so many of its fossils have been unearthed across the expanse of Germany and Switzerland, paleontologists believe Plateosaurus roamed the plains of western Europe in sizable herds, literally eating their way across the landscape (and staying well out of the way of comparably sized meat-eating dinosaurs like Megalosaurus). The most productive Plateosaurus fossil site is a quarry near the village of Trossingen, in the Black Forest, which has yielded the partial remains of over 100 individuals. The most likely explanation is that a Plateosaurus herd became mired in deep mud, after a flash flood or a severe thunderstorm, and perished one on top of each other (in much the same way the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles have yielded numerous remains of the Saber-Toothed Tiger and the Dire Wolf, which likely got stuck while trying to pluck out already-mired prey). However, its also possible that some of these individuals accumulated slowly at the fossil site after drowning elsewhere and being carried to their final resting place by the prevailing currents. Features One feature of Plateosaurus that has caused raised eyebrows among paleontologists is the partially opposable thumbs on this dinosaurs front hands. We shouldnt take this as an indication that the (fairly dumb by modern standards) Plateosaurus was well on its way to evolving fully opposable thumbs, which are believed to have been one of the necessary precursors of human intelligence during the late Pleistocene epoch. Rather, its likely that Plateosaurus and other prosauropods evolved this feature in order to better grasp the leaves or small branches of trees, and, absent any other environmental pressures, it wouldnt have developed any further over time. This presumed behavior also explains Plateosaurus habit of occasionally standing on its two hind legs, which would have enabled it to reach higher and tastier vegetation. Classification Like most dinosaurs discovered and named in the mid-19th-century, Plateosaurus has generated a fair amount of confusion. Because this was the first prosauropod ever to be identified, paleontologists had a hard time figuring out how to classify Plateosaurus: one notable authority, Hermann von Meyer, invented a new family called platypodes (heavy feet), to which he assigned not only the plant-eating Plateosaurus but the carnivorous Megalosaurus as well! It wasnt until the discovery of additional prosauropod genera, like Sellosaurus and Unaysaurus, that matters were more or less sorted out, and Plateosaurus was recognized as an early saurischian dinosaur. (Its not even clear what Plateosaurus, Greek for flat lizard, is supposed to mean; it may refer to the flattened bones of the original type specimen.)
Saturday, February 15, 2020
International management - WHO, cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
International management - WHO, cancer - Essay Example The high tar and nicotine contents in the cigarettes sold contribute to increase lung cancer. Due to heavy smoking the fertility rate of a person decreases and sometimes may become impotent. Smoking causes ulcers in stomach and duodenum that are called as peptic ulcers that take time in incidence and healing. A disease called tobacco amblyopia that causes defective vision and other eye diseases such as cataract might result due to smoking. Smoking cessation services has been included in Health Plan Implementation Programme in 2001/2002. One of the important factors of smoking cessation services is effective monitoring. The main objective was to get feedback from the field and keep improving the monitoring schemes and obtain essential information on the usage of smoking cessation aids. The positive results reflect the success of smoking cessation schemes. Show personal intervention and interest in combating smoking, have a clear understanding about the problem or menace, have a good understanding with the members of the staff and should be a respectable person and should be in a senior position. Prohibition of smoking by pupils in the school premises, the staff and senior members including principal should follow the same, proper counselling should be provided for those who are addicted to smoking and those who are at starting stage and be able to explain the importance behind the policy. 4. Incorporate smoking related topics in class teaching Class teaching on smoking: Classes on smoking should be conducted and continued for the five to sixteen, about long term and short-term ill effects on health, disadvantages of smoking, psychological effects of smoking, disadvantages of addiction, should be able explain so that pupils understand the importance of teachings on smoking and counter the myth of smoking beneficial effects. 5. Link up with the wider community Involvement in schemes such as No Smoking Day, participating in anti-smoking promotion, join up with other schools, involve local shopkeepers in discussions so that they stop selling cigarettes to pupils and linking up with higher education departments to increase the awareness programme. 6. Conduct anti-smoking campaigns. This includes: Participating in discussion groups, campaigns through signing of anti-smoking posters, presentations, conducting smoking breathe tests and smoker's clinics. 7. Construct a
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Excel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words
Excel - Essay Example But if the average is considered, then S & P 500 is a better company to invest in. Mean and median are two types of averages and are the most common. Mean is the average which is realized when you add up all the numbers and then divide by the count of the numbers, in this case after calculating the mean value for each of the firms, we realized the following data outputs, Abbots Laboratories 34.51503, Unilever realized a mean of 37.05433 while S & P500 realized a mean of 1654.891. The median is the middle value in the list of various numbers, to obtain median the numbers are listed in numerical order, after calculations we realized the following data, Abbotts Laboratory a median of 34.75, Unilever realized a median of 38.11 and S&P 500 realized 1649.6. The range on the other hand is the difference between the largest and the smallest values in a group of data, the range of the firms were as follows, Abbotts Laboratory realized a range of 21.14, the Unilever realized a range of 16.57 and finally S&P 500 realized a range of 810.96. Median =where L is the lower limit of the interval containing the median, N the total number of scores, FW is the frequency or the number of scores within the interval containing the median, and I is the range of the interval. In finance and accounting, variance is a term used to measure the degree of risk in an investment. It is obtained by calculating the average of the squared deviations from the mean rate of return. The standard deviation is the representation of the risk associated with a given security (stocks, bonds) or the risk of a portfolio of securities and it is obtained by taking the square root of the variance. Table below shows the report on the mean, median, range, variance and Standard deviation based on the weekly returns of each of the three assets. Statistically these value returns helps investors understand he financial market
Friday, January 24, 2020
The Maturation Of Huckleberry Finn Essay -- essays research papers
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins with Huck introducing himself. He is wild and carefree, playing jokes on people and believing them all to be hilarious. When his adventures grow to involve new moral questions never before raised, there is a drastic change in his opinions, thoughts, and his views of "right and wrong", and Huck's "rejection of the values of society has tried to instill in him" (Wright 154). By the time the book is over, it is apparent that he has matured greatly since the beginning of the novel. Certainly the people and events Huck comes in contact with through his adventures causes this change, which include: Jim, the Duke and the King with the Wilks' family, Pap and the Widow Douglas, and the time spent with the Grangerfords. The person who affected Huck the most was Jim. Jim was Huck's companion throughout the entire journey. At first Huck considers Jim only as a "nigger" because of the way he was brought up, yet Jim is much more than a stereotypical slave and Huck develops a deep feeling of loyalty toward him. During their adventure together, Huck always feels a duty to reveal Jim's identity as a runaway slave, but is held back when he remembers Jim's kindness and integrity "Jim would always call me honeyâ⬠¦ and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was" (Twain 95). An example when Huck questions his morals and helps Jim is when they are traveling down the river when they come across m... The Maturation Of Huckleberry Finn Essay -- essays research papers The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins with Huck introducing himself. He is wild and carefree, playing jokes on people and believing them all to be hilarious. When his adventures grow to involve new moral questions never before raised, there is a drastic change in his opinions, thoughts, and his views of "right and wrong", and Huck's "rejection of the values of society has tried to instill in him" (Wright 154). By the time the book is over, it is apparent that he has matured greatly since the beginning of the novel. Certainly the people and events Huck comes in contact with through his adventures causes this change, which include: Jim, the Duke and the King with the Wilks' family, Pap and the Widow Douglas, and the time spent with the Grangerfords. The person who affected Huck the most was Jim. Jim was Huck's companion throughout the entire journey. At first Huck considers Jim only as a "nigger" because of the way he was brought up, yet Jim is much more than a stereotypical slave and Huck develops a deep feeling of loyalty toward him. During their adventure together, Huck always feels a duty to reveal Jim's identity as a runaway slave, but is held back when he remembers Jim's kindness and integrity "Jim would always call me honeyâ⬠¦ and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was" (Twain 95). An example when Huck questions his morals and helps Jim is when they are traveling down the river when they come across m...
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Two
ââ¬Å"And that's all I remember,â⬠Bonnie concluded as she and Meredith walked down Sunflower Street between the rows of tall Victorian houses. ââ¬Å"But it was definitely Elena?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, and she was trying to tell me something at the end. But that's the part that wasn't clear, except that it was important, terribly important. What do you think?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mouse sandwiches and open graves?â⬠Meredith arched an elegant eyebrow. ââ¬Å"I think you're getting Stephen King mixed up with Lewis Carroll.â⬠Bonnie thought she was probably right. But the dream still bothered her; it had bothered her all day, enough to put her earlier worries out of her mind. Now, as she and Meredith approached Caroline's house, the old worries returned with a vengeance. She really should have told Meredith about this, she thought, casting an uneasy sideways glance at the taller girl. She shouldn't let Meredith just walk in there unpreparedâ⬠¦ Meredith looked up at the lighted windows of the Queen Anne House with a sigh. ââ¬Å"Do you really need those earrings tonight?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, I do; yes, absolutely.â⬠Too late now. Might as well make the best of it. ââ¬Å"You'll love them when you see them,â⬠she added, hearing the note of hopeful desperation in her own voice. Meredith paused and her keen dark eyes searched Bonnie's face curiously. Then she knocked on the door. ââ¬Å"I just hope Caroline's not staying home tonight. We could end up stuck with her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Caroline staying home on a Saturday night? Don't be ridiculous.â⬠Bonnie had been holding her breath too long; she was starting to feel lightheaded. Her tinkling laughter came out brittle and false. ââ¬Å"What a concept,â⬠she continued somewhat hysterically as Meredith said, ââ¬Å"I don't think anybody's home,â⬠and tried the knob. Possessed by some crazy impulse Bonnie added, ââ¬Å"Fiddle-dee-dee.â⬠Hand on doorknob, Meredith stopped dead and turned to look at her. ââ¬Å"Bonnie,â⬠she said quietly, ââ¬Å"have you gone completely through the ozone?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠Deflated, Bonnie grabbed Meredith's arm and sought her eyes urgently. The door was opening on its own. ââ¬Å"Oh, God, Meredith, please don't kill meâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Surprise!â⬠shouted three voices. ââ¬Å"Smile,â⬠Bonnie hissed, shoving the suddenly resistant body of her friend through the door and into the bright room full of noise and showers of foil confetti. She beamed wildly herself and spoke through clenched teeth. ââ¬Å"Kill me later-I deserve it -but for now just smile.â⬠There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. ââ¬Å"Nothing I can't break with an iron crowbar,â⬠Meredith replied. But she smiled back with wry warmth and Bonnie relaxed. Sue had been a Homecoming Princess on Elena's court, along with Bonnie, Meredith, and Caroline. She was the only girl at school besides Bonnie and Meredith who'd stood by Elena when everyone else had turned against her. At Elena's funeral she'd said that Elena would always be the real queen of Robert E. Lee, and she'd given up her own nomination for Snow Queen in Elena's memory. Nobody could hate Sue. The worst was over now, Bonnie thought. ââ¬Å"I want to get a picture of us all on the couch,â⬠Caroline said, positioning them behind the flower arrangement. ââ¬Å"Vickie, take it, will you?â⬠Vickie Bennett had been standing by quietly, unnoticed. Now she said, ââ¬Å"Oh, sure,â⬠and nervously flicked long, light brown hair out of her eyes as she picked up the camera. Just like she's some kind of servant, Bonnie thought, and then the flashbulb blinded her. As the Polaroid developed and Sue and Caroline laughed and talked around Meredith's dry politeness, Bonnie noticed something else. It was a good picture; Caroline looked stunning as ever with her auburn hair gleaming and the pale green orchids in front of her. And there was Meredith, looking resigned and ironic and darkly beautiful without even trying, and there she was herself, a head shorter than the others, with her red curls tousled and a sheepish expression on her face. But the strange thing was the figure beside her on the couch. It was Sue, of course it was Sue, but for a moment the blond hair and blue eyes seemed to belong to someone else. Someone looking at her urgently, on the verge of saying something important. Bonnie frowned at the photo, blinking rapidly. The image swam in front of her, and a chilling uneasiness ran up her spine. No, it was just Sue in the picture. She must've gone crazy for a minute, or else she was letting Caroline's desire for them ââ¬Å"all to be together againâ⬠affect her. ââ¬Å"I'll take the next one,â⬠she said, springing up. ââ¬Å"Sit down, Vickie, and lean in. No, farther, farther-there!â⬠All of Vickie's movements were quick and light and nervous. When the flashbulb went off, she started like a scared animal ready to bolt. Caroline scarcely glanced at this picture, getting up and heading for the kitchen instead. ââ¬Å"Guess what we're having instead of cake?â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"I'm making my own version of Death by Chocolate. Come on, you've got to help me melt the fudge.â⬠Sue followed her, and after an uncertain pause, so did Vickie. The last traces of Meredith's pleasant expression evaporated and she turned to Bonnie. ââ¬Å"You should have told me.â⬠ââ¬Å"And that makes it all worthwhile?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, it helps,â⬠Bonnie said, with an air of being reasonable. ââ¬Å"And really, it probably won't be so bad. Caroline's actually trying to be nice, and it's good for Vickie to get out of the house for onceâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"It doesn't look like it's good for her,â⬠Meredith said bluntly. ââ¬Å"It looks like she's going to have a heart attack.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, she's probably just nervous.â⬠In Bonnie's opinion, Vickie had good reason to be nervous. She'd spent most of the previous fall in a trance, being slowly driven out of her mind by a power she didn't understand. Nobody had expected her to come out of it as well as she had. Meredith was still looking bleak. ââ¬Å"At least,â⬠Bonnie said consolingly, ââ¬Å"it isn't your real birthday.â⬠Meredith picked up the camera and turned it over and over. Still looking down at her hands, she said, ââ¬Å"But it is.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠Bonnie stared and then said louder, ââ¬Å"What did you say?â⬠ââ¬Å"I said, it is my real birthday. Caroline's mom must have told her; she and my mom used to be friends a long time ago.â⬠ââ¬Å"Meredith, what are you talking about? Your birthday was last week, May 30.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, it wasn't. It's today, June 6. It's true; it's on my driver's license and everything. My parents started celebrating it a week early because June 6 was too upsetting for them. It was the day my grandfather was attacked and went crazy.â⬠As Bonnie gasped, unable to speak, she added calmly, ââ¬Å"He tried to kill my grandmother, you know. He tried to kill me, too.â⬠Meredith put the camera down carefully in the exact center of the coffee table. ââ¬Å"We really should go in the kitchen,â⬠she said quietly. ââ¬Å"I smell chocolate.â⬠Bonnie was still paralyzed, but her mind was beginning to work again. Vaguely, she remembered Meredith speaking about this before, but she hadn't told her the full truth then. And she hadn't said when it had happened. ââ¬Å"Attacked-you mean like Vickie was attacked,â⬠Bonnie got out. She couldn't say the word vampire, but she knew Meredith understood. ââ¬Å"Like Vickie was attacked,â⬠Meredith confirmed. ââ¬Å"Come on,â⬠she added, even more quietly. ââ¬Å"They're waiting for us. I didn't mean to upset you.â⬠Meredith doesn't want me to be upset, so I won't be upset, Bonnie thought, pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. Then Bonnie shook her head determinedly. She couldn't think about this right now; she had a party to think about. And I'll make sure it's a good party and we all get along somehow, she thought. Strangely, it wasn't even that hard. Meredith and Vickie didn't talk much at first, but Bonnie went out of her way to be nice to Vickie, and even Meredith couldn't resist the pile of brightly wrapped presents on the coffee table. By the time she'd opened the last one they were all talking and laughing. The mood of truce and toleration continued as they moved up into Caroline's bedroom to examine her clothes and CDs and photo albums. As it got near midnight they flopped on sleeping bags, still talking. ââ¬Å"What's going on with Alaric these days?â⬠Sue asked Meredith. Alaric Saltzman was Meredith's boyfriend-sort of. He was a graduate student from Duke University who'd majored in parapsychology and had been called to Fell's Church last year when the vampire attacks began. Though he'd started out an enemy, he'd ended up an ally-and a friend. ââ¬Å"He's in Russia,â⬠Meredith said. ââ¬Å"Perestroika, you know? He's over there finding out what they were doing with psychics during the Cold War.â⬠ââ¬Å"What are you going to tell him when he gets back?â⬠asked Caroline. It was a question Bonnie would have liked to ask Meredith herself. Because Alaric was almost four years older, Meredith had told him to wait until after she graduated to talk about their future. But now Meredith was eighteen-today, Bonnie reminded herself-and graduation was in two weeks. What was going to happen after that? ââ¬Å"I haven't decided,â⬠Meredith said. ââ¬Å"Alaric wants me to go to Duke, and I've been accepted there, but I'm not sure. I have to think.â⬠Bonnie was just as glad. She wanted Meredith to go to Boone Junior College with her, not go off and get married, or even engaged. It was stupid to decide on one guy so young. Bonnie herself was notorious for playing the field, going from boy to boy as she pleased. She got crushes easily, and got over them just as easily. ââ¬Å"I haven't seen the guy so far worth remaining faithful to,â⬠she said now. Everyone looked at her quickly. Sue's chin was resting on her fists as she asked, ââ¬Å"Not even Stefan?â⬠Bonnie should have known. With the only light the dim bedside lamp and the only sound the rustle of new leaves on the weeping willows outside, it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to Stefan-and to Elena. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. ââ¬Å"I still can't believe she's gone,â⬠Sue said quietly, shaking her head and shutting her eyes. ââ¬Å"She was so much more alive than other people.â⬠ââ¬Å"Her flame burned brighter,â⬠said Meredith, gazing at the patterns the rose-and-gold lamp made on the ceiling. Her voice was soft but intense, and it seemed to Bonnie that those words described Elena better than anything she'd ever heard. ââ¬Å"There were times when I hated her, but I could never ignore her,â⬠Caroline admitted, her green eyes narrowed in memory. ââ¬Å"She wasn't a person you could ignore.â⬠ââ¬Å"One thing I learned from her death,â⬠Sue said, ââ¬Å"is that it could happen to any of us. You can't waste any of life because you never know how long you've got.â⬠ââ¬Å"It could be sixty years or sixty minutes,â⬠Vickie agreed in a low voice. ââ¬Å"Any of us could die tonight.â⬠Bonnie wriggled, disturbed. But before she could say anything, Sue repeated, ââ¬Å"I still can't believe she's really gone. Sometimes I feel as if she's somewhere near.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, so do I,â⬠said Bonnie, distracted. An image of Warm Springs flashed through her mind, and for a moment it seemed more vivid than Caroline's dim room. ââ¬Å"Last night I dreamed about her, and I had the feeling it really was her and that she was trying to tell me something. I still have that feeling,â⬠she said to Meredith. The others gazed at her silently. Once, they would all have laughed if Bonnie hinted at any-thing supernatural, but not now. Her psychic powers were undisputed, awesome, and a little scary. ââ¬Å"Do you really?â⬠breathed Vickie. ââ¬Å"What do you think she was trying to say?â⬠asked Sue. ââ¬Å"I don't know. At the end she was trying so hard to stay in contact with me, but she couldn't.â⬠There was another silence. At last Sue said hesitantly, with the faintest catch in her voice, ââ¬Å"Do you thinkâ⬠¦ do you think you could contact her?â⬠It was what they'd all been wondering. Bonnie looked toward Meredith. Earlier, Meredith had dismissed the dream, but now she met Bonnie's eyes seriously. ââ¬Å"Is that the only way to communicate with dead people? What about a Ouija board or something?â⬠Sue asked. ââ¬Å"My parents have a Ouija board,â⬠Caroline said a little too loudly. Suddenly the hushed, low-key mood was broken and an indefinable tension filled the air. Everyone sat up straighter and looked at each other with speculation. Even Vickie looked intrigued on top of her scaredness. ââ¬Å"Would it work?â⬠Meredith said to Bonnie. ââ¬Å"Should we?â⬠Sue wondered aloud. ââ¬Å"Do we dare? That's really the question,â⬠Meredith said. Once again Bonnie found everyone looking at her. She hesitated a final instant, and then shrugged. Excitement was stirring in her stomach. ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"What have we got to lose?â⬠Caroline turned to Vickie. ââ¬Å"Vickie, there's a closet at the bottom of the stairs. The Ouija board should be inside, on the top shelf with a bunch of other games.â⬠She didn't even say, ââ¬Å"Please, will you get it?â⬠Bonnie frowned and opened her mouth, but Vickie was already out the door. ââ¬Å"You could be a little more gracious,â⬠Bonnie told Caroline. ââ¬Å"What is this, your impression of Cinderella's evil stepmother?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, come on, Bonnie,â⬠Caroline said impatiently. ââ¬Å"She's lucky just to be invited. She knows that.â⬠ââ¬Å"And here I thought she was just overcome by our collective splendor,â⬠Meredith said dryly. ââ¬Å"And besides-â⬠Bonnie started when she was interrupted. The noise was thin and shrill and it fell off weakly at the end, but there was no mistaking it. It was a scream. It was followed by dead silence and then suddenly peal after peal of piercing shrieks. For an instant the girls in the bedroom stood transfixed. Then they were all running out into the hallway and down the stairs. ââ¬Å"Vickie!â⬠Meredith, with her long legs, reached the bottom first. Vickie was standing in front of the closet, arms outstretched as if to protect her face. She clutched at Meredith, still screaming. ââ¬Å"Vickie, what is it?â⬠Caroline demanded, sounding more angry than afraid. There were game boxes scattered across the floor and Monopoly markers and Trivial Pursuit cards strewn everywhere. ââ¬Å"What are you yelling about?â⬠ââ¬Å"It grabbed me! I was reaching up to the top shelf and something grabbed me around the waist!â⬠ââ¬Å"No! From inside the closet.â⬠Startled, Bonnie looked inside the open closet. Winter coats hung in an impenetrable layer, some of them reaching the floor. Gently disengaging herself from Vickie, Meredith picked up an umbrella and began poking the coats. ââ¬Å"Oh, don't-â⬠Bonnie began involuntarily, but the umbrella encountered only the resistance of cloth. Meredith used it to push the coats aside and reveal the bare cedarwood of the closet wall. ââ¬Å"You see? Nobody there,â⬠she said lightly. ââ¬Å"But you know what is there are these coat sleeves. If you leaned in far enough between them, I'll bet it could feel like somebody's arms closing around you.â⬠Vickie stepped forward, touched a dangling sleeve, then looked up at the shelf. She put her face in her hands, long silky hair falling forward to screen it. For an awful moment Bonnie thought she was crying, then she heard the giggles. ââ¬Å"Oh, God! I really thought-oh, I'm so stupid! I'll clean it up,â⬠Vickie said. ââ¬Å"Later,â⬠said Meredith firmly. ââ¬Å"Let's go in the living room.â⬠Bonnie threw one last look at the closet as they went. When they were all gathered around the coffee table, with several lights turned off for effect, Bonnie put her fingers lightly on the small plastic planchette. She'd never actually used a Ouija board, but she knew how it was done. The planchette moved to point at letters and spell out a message-if the spirits were willing to talk, that is. ââ¬Å"We all have to be touching it,â⬠she said, and then watched as the others obeyed. Meredith's fingers were long and slender, Sue's slim and tapering with oval nails. Caroline's nails were painted burnished copper. Vickie's were bitten. ââ¬Å"Now we close our eyes and concentrate,â⬠Bonnie said softly. There were little hisses of anticipation as the girls obeyed; the atmosphere was getting to all of them. ââ¬Å"Think of Elena. Picture her. If she's out there, we want to draw her here.â⬠The big room was silent. In the dark behind her closed lids Bonnie saw pale gold hair and eyes like lapis lazuli. ââ¬Å"Come on, Elena,â⬠she whispered. ââ¬Å"Talk to me.â⬠The planchette began to move. None of them could be guiding it; they were all applying pressure from different points. Nevertheless, the little triangle of plastic was sliding smoothly, confidently. Bonnie kept her eyes shut until it stopped and then looked. The planchette was pointing to the word Yes. Vickie gave something like a soft sob. Bonnie looked at the others. Caroline was breathing fast, green eyes narrowed. Sue, the only one of all of them, still had her eyes resolutely closed. Meredith looked pale. ââ¬Å"Keep concentrating,â⬠Bonnie told them. She felt unready and a little stupid addressing the empty air directly. But she was the expert; she had to do it. ââ¬Å"Is that you, Elena?â⬠she said. The planchette made a little circle and returned to Yes. Suddenly Bonnie's heart was beating so hard she was afraid it would shake her fingers. The plastic underneath her fingertips felt different, electrified almost, as if some supernatural energy was flowing through it. She no longer felt stupid. Tears came to her eyes, and she could see that Meredith's eyes were glistening too. Meredith nodded at her. ââ¬Å"How can we be sure?â⬠Caroline was saying, loudly, suspiciously. Caroline doesn't feel it, Bonnie realized; she doesn't sense anything I do. Psychically speaking, she's a dud. The planchette was moving again, touching letters now, so quickly that Meredith barely had time to spell out the message. Even without punctuation it was clear. CAROLINE DONT BE A JERK, it said. YOURE LUCKY IM TALKING TO YOU AT ALL ââ¬Å"That's Elena, all right,â⬠Meredith said dryly. ââ¬Å"It sounds like her, but-â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, shut up, Caroline,â⬠Bonnie said. ââ¬Å"Elena, I'm just so gladâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Her throat locked up and she tried again. BONNIE THERES NO TIME STOP SNIVELING AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS And that was Elena too. Bonnie sniffed and went on. ââ¬Å"I had a dream about you last night.â⬠TEA ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠Bonnie's heart was thudding faster than ever. ââ¬Å"I wanted to talk to you, but things got weird and then we kept losing contact-ââ¬Å" BONNIE DONT TRANCE NO TRANCE NO TRANCE ââ¬Å"All right.â⬠That answered her question, and she was relieved to hear it. CORRUPTING INFLUENCES DISTORTING OUR COMMUNICATION THERE ARE BAD THINGS VERY BAD THINGS OUT HERE ââ¬Å"Like what?â⬠Bonnie leaned closer to the board. ââ¬Å"Like what?â⬠NO TIME! The planchette seemed to add the exclamation point. It was jerking violently from letter to letter as if Elena could barely contain her impatience. ââ¬Å"Danger?â⬠Vickie repeated, looking as if she might jump off the chair and run. WAIT LISTEN FIRST THE WHOLE TOWN IS IN DANGER ââ¬Å"What do we do?â⬠said Meredith instantly. YOU NEED HELP HES OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE UNBELIEVABLY STRONG NOW LISTEN AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS YOU HAVE TO DO A SUMMONING SPELL AND THE FIRST INGREDIENT IS H- Without warning, the planchette jerked away from the letters and flew around the board wildly. It pointed at the stylized picture of the moon, then at the sun, then at the words Parker Brothers, Inc. ââ¬Å"Elena!â⬠The planchette bobbed back to the letters. ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE ââ¬Å"What's happening?â⬠Sue cried, eyes wide open now. Bonnie was frightened. The planchette was pulsing with energy, a dark and ugly energy like boiling black tar that stung her fingers. But she could also feel the quivering silver thread that was Elena's presence fighting it. ââ¬Å"Don't let go!â⬠she cried desperately. ââ¬Å"Don't take your hands off it!â⬠MOUSMUDKILLYOU, the board reeled off. BLOODBLOODBLOOD. And thenâ⬠¦ BONNIE GET OUT RUN HES HERE RUN RUN RU- The planchette jerked furiously, whipping out from under Bonnie's fingers and beyond her reach, flying across the board and through the air as if someone had thrown it. Vickie screamed. Meredith started to her feet. And then all the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
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