Lifes Lessons in The Once and Future King :: Once and Future King Essays

Life's Lessons in The Once and Future King   The best thing for being miserable, answered Merlyn, starting to puff and blow, is to get the hang of something. That is the main thing that never comes up short. You may develop old and trembling in your life structures, you may lie conscious around evening time tuning in to the confusion of your veins, you may miss your solitary love, you may see the world about you crushed by insidious crazy people, or realize your respect stomped on in the sewers of baser personalities. There is just a single thing for it at that point - to learn. Realize why the world sways and what sways it. That is the main thing, which the psyche can never deplete, never estrange, never be tormented by, never dread or doubt, and never fantasy about lamenting. Learning is the main thing for you. Look what a ton of things there are to learn.   All through The Once and Future King, Wart learns numerous exercises in some impossible spots. Youthful Wart is the embraced child of an aristocrat when he meets Merlyn, a performer, who takes him on numerous undertakings, transforming him into a few unique creatures and showing him aptitudes, both mental and physical. Mole figures out how to approach individuals with deference and thoughtfulness. Before long, Wart pulls a mystical blade from a stone, which demonstrates him the legitimate ruler of England. Merlyn, who knew this from the beginning, prompts Wart-now called Arthur on the most proficient method to be a decent lord. What Arthur truly needs to do is end the confusion that goes for law in his nation. He needs his men-the knights of the round table-to support helpless individuals and keep the rich and solid from essentially overwhelming everybody. Numerous youthful knights love the gallant thought and appreciate Arthur.   Arthur's better half Guenever engages in extramarital relations with probably the best knight, Lancelot. Since he is a simply ruler, Arthur feels committed to abuse them for infidelity and conspiracy. This obliged Mordred's arrangement to disturb the court and, since he was the main child of Arthur (not with Guenever be that as it may), to become King of England. Lancelot slaughters Gareth, Gaheris, and Agravaine, all knights of the Roundtable. Mordred persuades an enduring knight, Gawaine that Lancelot slaughtered them out of his own disdain of England. Life's Lessons in The Once and Future King :: Once and Future King Essays Life's Lessons in The Once and Future King   The best thing for being dismal, answered Merlyn, starting to puff and blow, is to pick up something. That is the main thing that never falls flat. You may develop old and trembling in your life structures, you may lie conscious around evening time tuning in to the turmoil of your veins, you may miss your solitary love, you may see the world about you crushed by malicious maniacs, or realize your respect stomped on in the sewers of baser personalities. There is just a single thing for it at that point - to learn. Realize why the world sways and what sways it. That is the main thing, which the psyche can never deplete, never estrange, never be tormented by, never dread or doubt, and never fantasy about lamenting. Learning is the main thing for you. Look what a great deal of things there are to learn.   All through The Once and Future King, Wart learns numerous exercises in some improbable spots. Youthful Wart is the received child of an aristocrat when he meets Merlyn, a performer, who takes him on numerous undertakings, transforming him into a few distinct creatures and showing him abilities, both mental and physical. Mole figures out how to approach individuals with deference and benevolence. Before long, Wart pulls a mystical blade from a stone, which demonstrates him the legitimate ruler of England. Merlyn, who knew this from the beginning, exhorts Wart-now called Arthur on the most proficient method to be a decent ruler. What Arthur truly needs to do is end the tumult that goes for law in his nation. He needs his men-the knights of the round table-to support helpless individuals and keep the rich and solid from just ruling everybody. Numerous youthful knights love the gallant thought and appreciate Arthur.   Arthur's better half Guenever has an unsanctioned romance with probably the best knight, Lancelot. Since he is a simply ruler, Arthur feels committed to aggrieve them for infidelity and injustice. This obliged Mordred's arrangement to agitate the court and, since he was the main child of Arthur (not with Guenever be that as it may), to become King of England. Lancelot executes Gareth, Gaheris, and Agravaine, all knights of the Roundtable. Mordred persuades an enduring knight, Gawaine that Lancelot slaughtered them out of his own disdain of England.

Mental Retardation Essay -- Papers

Mental Retardation Mental hindrance is characterized as, a person with restrictions in intellectual capacity and versatile practices that meddle with learning. People with mental hindrance learn at a more slow pace, have low Intelligence levels, and may arrive at a level where learning stops. There are no definite foundations for mental hindrance however a few things are related with the inability. Pre-birth improvement issues, labor challenges, furthermore, a youth cerebrum injury would all be able to prompt mental impediment. A person with mental impediment may have issues in learning what's more, social abilities. Learning issues can include: trouble making choices, limited ability to focus, and restricted methodologies for managing with changes. Issues they face with social abilities are being to benevolent, trouble naming feelings, and being careful about new places. Regardless of the mishaps and individual with mental hindrance can get training and lead a gainful job in the public arena. I Am Sam is about an intellectually impeded man named Sam (Sean Penn). In...

Considering Overdraft Protection Here Are the Pros and Cons

Considering Overdraft Protection Here Are the Pros and Cons Considering Overdraft Protection? Here Are the Pros and Cons Considering Overdraft Protection? Here Are the Pros and ConsOverdraft protection can be a handy last line of defense. But the more you use it, the more dangerous it becomes to your financial wellbeing.Nobody likes having a card declined. That’s why people sign up for overdraft protection, Even if you don’t have the cash in your account, overdraft protection will have you covered.But here’s the thing: overdraft protection could actually be providing you the opposite of protection. It could be posing a huge threat to your long-term financial stability.So which is it? Well, the answer’s a little more complicated than that. What is overdraft protection?Overdraft protection comes in a couple different forms, but the basic idea is this: If you make a transaction on your debit card that exceeds the funds in your account, overdraft protection will provide you with the extra money you need to cover it. Of course, this service won’t often be performed free of charge, but it does save one the embarrassment of having their card declined.The first type of overdraft protection comes by linking the checking account to another account, most likely a savings account or a credit card. (Some banks will let you link multiple accounts.) If the account owner then overdraws their checking account, funds are transferred in from that linked account to cover the transaction. A transfer fee will usually be charged.The other type of overdraft protection is an overdraft line of credit. With this form of overdraft protection, your bank is essentially loaning you money to cover the cost of your overdraft. Depending on the bank, you might get charged interest on this line of credit, and you will almost always be charged an overdraft fee to cover the transaction.What are the pros of overdraft protection?The most obvious upside to overdraft protection is that it will save you the embarrassment of having your card declined or having a check bounce. While having a card declined can be d eeply embarrassing, a bounced check will likely result in a hefty Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee and a black mark on your banking history.If your overdraft protection involves a linked savings account, you’re not actually borrowing money to cover the shortfall. You’re using your own money, which can prevent you from overloading yourself with debt. And the transfer fees for linked account transfers are usually fairly reasonable.A final argument for overdraft protection is that it allows you to cover emergency expenses, even if you don’t currently have the funds in your account. Otherwise, you’d be stuck with high-interest bad credit loans and predatory no credit check loans like cash advances and title loans.Even if overdraft protection isn’t a great option, it’s definitely better than a predatory payday loan, right?What are the cons?Actually, overdraft protection might not be much better than a predatory payday loan. Even after legal reforms in the wake of the 2008 finan cial crisis that prevented banks from automatically opting customers into overdraft protection, overdraft fees are still a huge business.And those fees are on the rise. In 2017, American consumers paid over $34 billion in overdraft fees alone, the most they’ve paid since 2009.In some ways, overdraft protection is a much better proposition for banks that it is for their customers. So much so that the line between overdraft protection and predatory lending can get very blurry indeedâ€"starting with the fees.Overdraft fees are high, with an average fee of $30. And when customers are using an overdraft line of credit instead of a linked account, many banking institutions will charge a separate overdraft fee for every transaction that exceeds the account balance. Imagine paying $34 on a five small $4 transactions. That’s $170 in fees for $20 in spending, an effective interest rate of 850 percent!And since many banks prioritize processing large transactions before they process smaller ones, the likelihood that you’ll rack up multiple overdraft fees is high. Getting charged one $34 fee on a $600 transaction wouldn’t leave you feeling great, but it’s a heck of a lot better than getting charged those $34 fees on the ten smaller transactions that came after it.Lastly, while avoiding an NSF fee is great for your Chexsystems Consumer Score (which is like a credit score for your banking history), overdrafts are also recorded on your Chexsystems report. Too many overdrafts and you could find yourself unable to open a checking account for the next five years.So is overdraft protection a good idea?Sort of. The thing about overdraft protection is that its just like any other kind of emergency bridge financing. Overdraft protection can be great as your last line of defenseâ€"an account feature that gives you peace of mind, even if you almost never use it. But if you find yourself regularly overdrafting your account, overdraft protection is a bad idea.For people with l ow incomes and bad credit, overdraft protection can end up trapping them in a dangerous cycle of debt. Those fees eat away at their account balances, which then lead them to  overdraft  even more frequently.If this sounds like you, go ahead and shut off your overdraft protection. Sure, dealing with the embarrassment of having your card decline is going to suck, but clawing back all that money that’s currently going towards overdraft fees is well worth the trade-off.Finally, if you are going to use overdraft protection, make sure it’s through a linked savings account instead of a credit line. Even linking a credit card to your checking account is a better option than an overdraft line of credit. The fees are lower, the interest rates are more manageable, and you can use your cards 30-day interest-free grace period to your advantage.There are very few easy answers in personal finance. The pros and cons of overdraft protection will ultimately be decided on a case by case basisâ€"by what works best for you. To learn more about managing your finances, check out these related posts from OppLoans:What’s the Quickest Way to Fix Bad Credit?How to Save Money When You’re Already on a Tight BudgetFrom Budget to Baller: 6 Tips to Grow Your Money8 Ways To Save Money Today, Tomorrow and Every Day AfterWhat other questions do you have about personal finance? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.Visit OppLoans on  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIN

The Moral Issue of Death Penalty Free Essay Example, 1250 words

The argument is especially credible because a criminal who is fully aware that the criminal justice system will hand him or her death penalty will seek more favorable penalties by refraining from murder. It is rational, therefore, to argue that the average criminal may refrain from robbery even if they did not have the intention of murdering the property owner or possessor, because they are aware that ordinary cases of crime might lead to the death of those who are in the scene of crime (Moore, 2014). The argument is particularly logical in the sense that if the average criminal was aware of the fact that they might be forced to use excessive force in their commission of a property crime, most cases are likely to be dissuaded from executing the crime in the first place in a jurisdiction where death penalty is real and generously applied. Apart from crime deterrent functions, death penalty brings about closure for victims of murder. There are numerous victims of every murder case, in cluding relatives, friends, workmates and the immediate community in which a deceased party belonged. We will write a custom essay sample on The Moral Issue of Death Penalty or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The quest for settlement of every murder case starts with the apprehending of the criminal, his or her trial, and conviction (Rachels, 1997). During the long and tedious process, the victims normally anticipate that courts will hand in the severest of punishment to bring about some settlement in the case even if the penalty will not bring the dead person back to life. Despite the fact that the overwhelming grief of the loss of a loved one begins with the knowledge of the murder and may not end with the execution of the culprit, capital punishment creates a sense of relief that the criminal has been handed a punishment that is commensurate to his or her murderous actions or inactions. The primary argument against death penalty is that it does not punish the criminals. Neither does it work towards rehabilitating the individuals who are condemned of murder (Moore, 2014). The punishment test requires all criminals to be handed some kind of experience th at is commensurate with the crime they committed.

A Graphic History Of The First Atomic Bomb - 918 Words

Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb takes the reader back in time to the beginning of where the atomic bomb comes from. The story starts out with Marie Curie and Pierre’s findings of new radioactive elements known as polonium and radium. From there the story talks about the science behind the findings of this element and how scientists believed that this new element could be used for great energy sources and nuclear fission. The scientists took these findings extremely seriously and disclosed the information to the President of the United States at that time. The President, Franklin Roosevelt, saw that this nuclear fission was important but did not think that it was such a big deal. As soon as Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, sending the U.S. into the war, the leaders of the country decided that it was necessary to be the first country to build this atomic bomb. Once the United States joined the war, the efforts to create this bomb were put at the highest priority due to the fact that most of the leaders believed with this bomb being created, it would end the war completely. The most brilliant scientists were recruited to get the job done. These bombs were built and tested on the secure site in New Mexico. Once they were tested it was time that these bombs were going to be put to use. The United States offered the Japanese the chance to surrender or they would have to release this technology on them and let them feel the wrath of this weapon. The JapaneseShow MoreRelatedThe Enola Gay Exhibit At The National Air And Space Museum1552 Words   |  7 PagesEnola Gay exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) has helped to revive a spirited debate between professional, scholarly historians and amateur historians who are likely to have some first hand experience with significant historical events. Questions have arisen concerning the ownership of history and the role that professionals and amateurs should have in the retelling of events in our nations past. Regardless of the different answers to these questions what is clear is that it is upsettingRead More Was the U.S. Right or Wrong Using the Atomic Bomb in ?Hiroshima?674 Words   |  3 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The history over few centuries shows that the Japanese never gave up, that they always choose â€Å"death† than â€Å"surrender†. These two articles which I was studying very carefully, shows two opposite opinions about the necessity of using the atomic bomb to the end of World War II. Gar Alperowicz, in his article, â€Å"Hiroshima Remembered: The U.S. was Wrong†, the evidence to prove that America didn’t need to use atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagashaki to end the war. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ContraryRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson Analysis1085 Words   |  5 Pagesmade by appeasing to this violent and sadistic tradition of stoning, in like manner the propelling of the stones reference the propelling of The Atomic Bomb. Consequently, the people of this village were forced to conform with the inability to observe humanity. Jackson’s purpose of writing â€Å"The Lottery† was, â€Å"to shock the story’s readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives† (236). In this story, she was trying to present a barbarous traditionRead MoreThe Cold War And The War Era1687 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War era was an infamous time in United States history. 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Another argument suggests that the need for new luxury technologies does not arise until these technologies are marketed. Simply there would not have beenRead MoreWar Is A Very Traffic And Devastating Event That Not Only1637 Words   |  7 Pageswaiting back in their homes. The idea of war such as the Cold War being associated with Dr.Suess s, The Butter Battle Book, should not be the focus of a children s book. People like Joseph Stalin and events such as the creation of missiles and bombs and the cuban missile crisis played a significant role in the Cold War. Joseph Stalin was a powerful and aggressive soviet leader. Stalin focused on creating a model communist state. I m doing so, he made both agricultural and industrial growth theRead MoreThe Graphic Novel Watchmen By Allen Moore967 Words   |  4 PagesThe graphic novel Watchmen by Allen Moore paints a picture of an alternate history. There are many differences between our history and the history of Watchmen, the first being that superheroes exist. Other differences such as Nixon being the president in 1985 and the United States winning the Vietnam War all contribute to Watchmen’s alternate history. In our history by 1985 the communist paranoia, and threat of nuclear war in America was winding down. The United States president and the leader ofRead MoreThe On The Gaming Industry1323 Words   |  6 PagesThe gaming industry took America so far in entertainment for generations of young and old to play for decades to come. Starting from one of the developers of the atomic bomb used in World War II to the present day console wars of PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo games have been played. Computer engineers took steps and chances with their ideas, making them into successful business men in a brand new industry, creating new products of imagination, science, and reality. If there were no video gamesRead MoreTheme in Literature Essay4725 Words   |  19 Pages Name__________________ CH. 14 America and World War II Study Guide It was the bloodiest, deadliest war the world had ever seen. More than 38 million people died, many of them innocent civilians. It also was the most destructive war in history. Fighting raged in many parts of the world. More than 50 nations took part in the war, which changed the world forever. For Americans, World War II had a clear-cut purpose. People knew why they were fighting: to defeat tyranny. Most of Europe hadRead MoreEssay on A Century of Physics3573 Words   |  15 Pages In the cosmic realm, General Relativity provided the theoretical framework, and the giant telescopes built in the clear air of California the observational foundation, for the emergence of physical cosmology-- the science of the structure and history of the universe. An essential preliminary step was a test of General Relativity. In 1919, when the bending of starlight by the sun, as predicted by Einstein, was observed, he instantly became an international media star. The curvature of of space

Creative Writing A Short Story - 2216 Words

Oh my goodness look at how tall you’ve gotten, oh my.† â€Å"hi grandma missed you.† Jennifer’s mom, Elizabeth, hugged Ruth, â€Å"Hi mom how are you feeling?† â€Å"I’m fine honey, how are you, are you hungry i made some breakfast,† Ruth looked back at Jennifer, â€Å"I made some chocolate chip pancakes.† Jennifer ran to the kitchen and met her grandfather at the table with a large stack of pancakes and sat next to her grandpa. He looked up from his newspaper and gave her a smile, he set the paper next to her and Jennifer smiled at him, and then glanced at it and saw an article that read, â€Å"Beware Going Out at Night!†. Local police say to avoid going out after dark at any cost, late on Friday night a deranged psycho had escaped the city jail 5 miles out of†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Are you sure you’re ready to date again? It’s only been a year since the accident.† â€Å"Yes mother I kno w I’m ready, Mark is very nice and a gentleman. He is as nice as he was.† Jen was listening from the stairs, she started to tear up when she heard this, â€Å"Alright as long as you think you’re ready I’ll support you, just call me tomorrow ok?† â€Å"Yes mom,† Jen quietly stood up and walked up the stairs to her room. She had a large room with a big french window and a balcony, she liked to sit out there before she went to bed to look at the bright moon, she could see it so clearly no matter where it was in the dark sky. She set her suitcase down on her bed and opened the windows and let the wind flow through her room, she did this out of habit. She heard her name being called, it sounded like her mother. She went to the staircase and waited to hear her name again, but this time she did not hear it downstairs†¦ it was down the hall, she sprinted down the hall and waited again, she called out, â€Å"Yes? Where are you?† She heard her name again, â€Å"...Jennifer†¦Show MoreRelatedCreative Writing : A Short Story1020 Words   |  5 PagesThe girls sat seperated in two stark, cold rooms. Each of the girls was sat at a table with a clear plastic cup of water sitting at arm’s length from them, both cups untouched. How could they drink when their best friend was no where to be seen? They had been having an innocent night of fun at Mercedes’ house three weeks ago, the first of many planned for the spring break, watching movies on Netflix and eating a pizza they ordered. The night was full of rambling about how classes were, drama floatingRead MoreShort Story : Creative Writing1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn the woods when the sun was just starting to set, there was a van driving on a long-abandoned road, behind the wheel of said van was a tired looking girl who seemed to be about 19. She took a sip of the long cold coffee, and turned to the turquoise haired girl sitting next to her. Hey uhhhh Cas, Cassie? Where are we? Noting the headphones, she stopped the car and turned around to inquire of the two boys in the back, Kenny, Timmy, do either of you have an idea where we are? It seems like weveRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1281 Words   |  6 PagesSMACK! I was on my back, peering up at Josh as he laid on top me. â€Å"Gotc....† He begins to say but stopped. The look of victory slowly vanished from his face at the realization of how little space was between us. I could feel his heart hammering in his chest or maybe it was mine. Because, Josh was now searching my eyes as if he was looking for an answer to a question. His lips were only inches from mine and I could feel the heat coming off of them. Everything inside of me screamed to move awayRead MoreShort Story : Creative Writing865 Words   |  4 Pages Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! â€Å"What is someone doing calling at 2am† whispers Dave groggily as he wipes his eyes and p icks up the phone. Yawning, somehow he manages to make something comprehendible come out of his mouth, â€Å"Hello? This is Dave speaking.† â€Å"Dave! This is Joe†¦ your old roommate from college. How are you doing?† â€Å"I am doing fine.† says Dave thinking and thinking about who Joe is when suddenly he remembers. At that moment he groans but manages to put out a polite response,Read MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1037 Words   |  5 PagesThere she goes again. Mother can’t ever mind her own business, Seriously will it kill her to just leave her thoughts to herself. Little Mike came up tugging at her sleeve, his soft little fingers grasping at the cloth, a pull then another. â€Å"Yes sweetheart.† Mike looked at her, his finger pointed forwards, just at the edge of my vision. â€Å"It’s our turn now mommy.† She looked up; Mike quickly ran forward. â€Å"Woah slow down buddy, you can’t walk away by yourself.† Mike came to a sudden stop;he turned toRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1102 Words   |  5 PagesWhen their parents entered their room, Charlie watched as Maggie walked to the window and kept her back to them. They could al l tell she was upset about something. Looking at Elliot, she pushed herself up further in the bed, as Callum grabbed Ian and took a seat on the chair next to her. Ben clasped his hands in front of him as he took a deep breath. â€Å"Ive been asked to stay here in order to help Rachel on her work supplying the Republic with power. I plan on asking Miles to let all of you andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1148 Words   |  5 Pagesbench nearby. And that’s what she was doing now. She sighed and stood up to go home. The next day she went to school and her best friend Sarina asked, â€Å"What’s wrong?† She then told her the whole story as she didn’t know what happened yesterday because she was absent. Hearing the story she said, â€Å" It’s a good thing that I upgraded my remote few days ago. You should go to the remote shop today after school.† Then they both went to class. When Maya entered her first class she saw Tasha andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1583 Words   |  7 Pagesforbid, if you don’t find it within two seconds, then youre most definitely an incompetent driver. Almost needless to say, Jason didn’t follow in the outlier’s footsteps, and he aced the questionnaire. Though he did take note that his examiner was creative with her questions. She was probably was deeply saddened that there wasn’t a convoluted touch screen to inquire about, Jason thought to himself. Finally all the formalities were complete, consequently, he took a second to get himself mentally, andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1440 Words   |  6 PagesPayday arrived for both me and Patsy, giving us the opportunity to attend the luxurious cinema and a wider variety of movies. As we stand before the array of movie posters, deciding between an action or comedy, somehow, how conversation shifts over to John. â€Å"He was so excited about the other night,† says Patsy. I abandon the posters and give her a questioning look. â€Å"About what?† â€Å"Well, first of all spending the evening with you, and then because you hugged him the way you did.† She taps her fingerRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1615 Words   |  7 Pagestown to barter, we’ll ask around.† Shocked that her husband knows about Miles tattoo on her arm, Rachel clings to him in the silence, her mind racing at the possible implications. XXX Rachel sits stunned at the table, listening to Ben relay the story that he’s heard over and over in the village nearest to the house they’ve decided to ride out the winter in. â€Å"Soul Marks? How is that possible? These are just replicas of tattoos,† she replies with a disbelieving shake of her head. Ben shrugged

Minicase Raines and Warren Finance free essay sample

The disadvantage of using company collateral to back the bonds is, the asset used as collateral cannot be sold during the term of the bond and must maintain its value. 2. Seniority of the bond. The seniority of the bond is the order in which bonds will be paid in the event of bankruptcy. The more senior the bond, the higher priority of being paid if there is a bankruptcy, and the lower the coupon rate because the risk to the bond owner is lower. 3. The presence of a sinking fund. A sinking fund is an account set up by the trustee of the bonds. The trustee saves and pools money to purchase, pay off, or call bonds early. Setting up a sinking fund will lower the risk, thus lowering the coupon rate. The risk to the company is not having available funds to feed the trust. 4. A call provision with specified call dates and call prices. We will write a custom essay sample on Minicase Raines and Warren Finance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A call provision could be included to call the bonds if interest rates drop substantially. The call provision will raises the coupon rate but protect you from paying a high rate for a long period in the event rates drop. 5. A deferred call accompanying the call provision. A deferred call accompanying the call provision would give the bond purchaser a protection period where the bond could not be called. Adding this provision will prohibit you from calling the bond for a set time (call period), and puts you at risk of paying a high interest rate for the deferred period. Therefore, you have a lower coupon rate than a call provision with no deferral period but still higher than a bond with no call provision at all. 6. A make-whole call provision. A make-whole call provision is the safest call for the investor and a lower coupon rate for you. The discount rate is based on the current Treasury rate plus a small-specified percentage. The investor is protected by being made whole if there is a call. 7. Any positive covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Positive covenants on bonds are proactive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying positive covenants to the bond makes it more attractive and secure to the investor by applying conditions that protect the investor’s interest. You may wish to consider a covenant to furnish your audited financial statements to the investors. This is something you already do and it would decrease the coupon rate. If you choose to secure with assets (see number 1), including a covenant to assure that the asset is in good working condition would lower the coupon rate. 8. Any negative covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Negative covenants on bonds are restrictive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying negative covenants to the bond makes it more attractive to the investor but may hinder the operation by putting limitations on your business actions. You may want to consider a clause that you will not merge with another firm and that you will not issue any additional long-term debt. 9. A conversion feature. A conversion feature allows a bond to convert to stock and unless your company is planning to go public, this would not apply to you. If SS has any plans to go public, you should consider a conversion feature. This feature would benefit the bondholders if the company did go public and if included could lower the coupon rate. 10. A floating-rate coupon. A floating-rate coupon is much like an adjustable rate loan. The coupon rate, tied to a published rate such as the Treasury bill interest rate over a set period, is adjusted per a set schedule such as every six months. There is a disadvantage of doing this when rates are low but will be more attractive to the investor, thus a lower margin. A cap on how much the rate can be increased or decreased would be a good addition if you choose this option. This would be a consideration if you choose not to have a call provision.

Plagiarism Impact on Academics free essay sample

This is a true statement; however these terms mask a bigger sue ? the issue being the commission of literary theft that amounts to fraud. While this may seem extreme and overly critical, to steal anothers work and claim it as original material disdains the time and energy with regard to the research effort put forth by the original author and exhibits a lack of respect for research material in general. If plagiarism is the root of academic dishonesty, why is it so prevalent?Many factors set the stage for plagiarism to occur in an academic setting. They range from pressure to meet an assignment deadline, the tool as a means to remain academically eligible for athletics, procrastination, and the ease with which the internet enables one to download portions, if not the entire contents of a paper. In a review study conducted by Park (2003), the motives for plagiarism included a lack of understanding, poor personal values, denial, opportunity and lack of deterrence (Park 2003, 479). We will write a custom essay sample on Plagiarism: Impact on Academics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page By and large, academic dishonesty lies in the passive deception of knowledge. This occurs when the passive deceiver allows another to copy material be it an assignment or a whole paper. The passive deceiver uses the logic that they are helping a friend, when in reality they are s culpable of fraud as the person copying the work. In a study done by Waistcoat (2008), academic dishonesty was regarded as the students attempt to appear more knowledgeable or skillful than was really the case.Students who reach levels of higher education do not wish to appear as though they dont belong. This desire to perform well in the classroom nurtures the condition whereby control is shifted from student to external sources. It has been shown that a substantial number of university students have committed plagiarism to some extent; either cutting or pasting parts of papers to archiving an entire ghost-written paper from an online paper mill source (College and Flint 2006).Even as the internet is recognized as an easy way to find and copy material, the temptation to plagiarism e ncompasses the old fashioned format of printed matter. Students view books as a covert way to plagiarism and not get caught; however many, if not all printed books are now available online. Whilst these practices may be seen as having a negative affect on students alone, the bigger picture shows a different perspective.In an effort to combat plagiarism, universities have invested much in the way of racking and monitoring academic dishonesty. The consequence comes in the form of substantial monetary and physical resources directed towards the development and implementation of online plagiarism detection tools. This has resulted in what Young (2001 ) labels as a cat-and-mouse game of plagiarism detection between universities and students that now constitutes a multi-million dollar time consuming enterprise of university administration.The end products of this venture are online tools such as [emailprotected], My Drop Box, EVE, Wisconsin and Workforce available as either free or commercially sciences products. Although these tools can be a n effective means of detecting where plagiarism is occurring, the onus remains with the teaching professional to determine if plagiarism exists within the context of his or her students by way of experience, depth of knowledge of the subject matter and familiarity of the students. The philosophical and practical debate rages on with regard to the ethical usage of detection software.Opponents contend that if plagiarism is to be clearly understood, simply using a software program to detect verbatim copying of words rather than understanding plagiarism in he broader context of misappropriation of ideas signals a fallacy in the reliance of technology to distinguish academic dishonesty. Insofar as cheating remains at the forefront of academic integrity, it can be argued that the possibility exists for dishonest behavior to extend beyond the classroom. A person may learn that cheating and suffering no repercussions equates to dishonest behavior being acceptable.This behavior modeled early on in a students life tends to carry over from one environment to another. The student who cheats in high school and receives no reprimand will likely intention the behavior in college. More so, the behavior, once established has the potential to permeate into the workplace. A survey facilitated by (Harding, Carpenter, Finely and Passes 2004) attempted to identify a link between dishonest behavior in school and the same dishonest behavior in the workplace. Of those surveyed, 80% admitted to cheating at least once in college (p. 14) while only 30% thought about dishonest behavior at work. Sims (1993) does not view the data as being accurate because employees dont view themselves as violating company policy even when they do so. Though the majority of employees would consider it stealing for someone to take a box of stationery, they themselves see nothing wrong with using an occasional piece of paper for their own personal use. This occasional piece added up and multiplied by the entire work force turns out to be a much greater total loss than the stealing that rarely happens (Sims, 1993, Dishonesty).There also seems to be an unawareness of respective university policies regarding plagiarism. Notwithstanding an institutions policy on dishonest practices, the fear of being caught does little to dissuade a student from heating. On the contrary, students polled in the united Kingdom stated that with the dawn of the internet, it has become morally acceptable to copy information and pass it off as original work. Most students surveyed proffered that online plagiarism is not necessarily a bad thing, unless I get caught (Selwyn, 2008).Whereas plagiarism is widely perceived as fraud, students in todays academic arena make a good case that while cheating is not an acceptable practice; universities have not done an adequate job of defining exactly what plagiarism constitutes. Some students interpret a cheers request for facts in a paper to mean that they need to copy verbatim from a source in order to receive credit. One response from a student elicited an alleged ignorance of teaching material: l did not know we had to use what we learned in tutorials.You know, we just do the tut orials and then forget about them (Leery, 2008). In conclusion, it is clear that academic dishonesty remains an issue of both student ignorance and university clarification. Students are at fault for failing to take teaching materials as serious tools towards higher learning. The institution can likewise be faulted for failing to roved clarity with regard to plagiarism in its all-encompassing form. The best way in which both parties can bridge this gap is to view academic writing as a process and not merely a product to gain a degree.Although there exist writing programs, university workshops, peer review and other tools to assist in preventing plagiarism, there must be continued support for inexperienced writers to gain the skills necessary to communicate clearly and effectively in both the academic and professional world. If we are serious about avoiding plagiarism and improving the writing skills of students, there need be reference assessments incorporated in all levels of study.

Cynognathus Facts and Figures

Cynognathus Facts and Figures Name: Cynognathus (Greek for dog jaw); pronounced sigh-NOG-nah-thus Habitat: Woodlands of South America, South Africa, and Antarctica Historical Period : Middle Triassic (245-230 million years ago) Size and Weight: About three feet long and 10-15 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Dog-like appearance; possible hair and warm-blooded metabolism About Cynognathus One of the most fascinating of all prehistoric creatures, Cynognathus may have been the most mammalian of all the so-called mammal-like reptiles (technically known as therapsids) of the middle  Triassic period. Technically classified as a cynodont, or dog-toothed, therapsid, Cynognathus was a fast, fierce predator, much like a smaller, sleeker version of a modern wolf. Clearly it thrived in its evolutionary niche, since its remains have been discovered on no less than three continents, Africa, South America and Antarctica (which were all part of the giant landmass Pangea during the early Mesozoic Era). Given its wide distribution, you may be surprised to learn that the genus Cynognathus includes only one valid species, C. crateronotus, named by the English paleontologist Harry Seeley in 1895. However, in the century since its discovery, this therapsid has been known by no less than eight different genus names: besides Cynognathus, paleontologists have also referred to Cistecynodon, Cynidiognathus, Cynogomphius, Lycaenognathus, Lycochampsa, Nythosaurus and Karoomys! Further complicating matters (or simplifying them, depending on your perspective), Cynognathus is the only identified member of its taxonomic family, the cynognathidae. The most interesting thing about Cynognathus is that it possessed many features normally associated with the first prehistoric mammals (which evolved from therapsids tens of millions of years later, during the late Triassic period). Paleontologists believe Cynognathus sported a thick coat of hair and may have given birth to live young (rather than laying eggs, like most reptiles); we know for a fact that it possessed a very mammal-like diaphragm, which enabled it to breathe more efficiently. Most startlingly, evidence points to Cynognathus having a warm-blooded, mammalian metabolism, quite unlike most of the cold-blooded reptiles of its day.

Issue 15 yes 2510 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Issue 15 yes 2510 - Essay Example assessment covered studies that had information on Africa, calculated cost and effectiveness, transmission rates and methods, drugs prices and their availability. The data from the studies were a spun of thirteen years. In most of the studies, the investigators depended on cost from the provider perspective only. Therefore, in order to ensure a wide comparability among the interventions, the report gives a standardized cost and effectiveness data (Haacker 25). However, the report has several limitations. The information was limited since not all the studies focused on the same things. The cost data was not enough to under go a standardized analysis. In addition, the study may underestimate the effects of some of the interventions. Therefore, the interpretation needs caution (Haacker 26). Despite the challenges in coming up with data, the information can still be accurately used to advice on the intervention in Africa. This is because it shows that despite the little information provided, it gives the direction needed to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. The studies show that preventive methods are to be in place first, and then followed by the treatment cost on those already affected. Thus, the interventions potential maximizes and results to a general cost-effective mechanism (Haacker

Combine sources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Combine sources - Essay Example This includes ensuring that excessive updates do not fill in the inboxes and screens of social media users. Smart usage of social media has paid dividends in form of increased sales, higher rate of turn outs and improved customer to service provider relationship. Relevance to the purpose of sales and client interest must be kept for a priority in overall process. B.B.C undertakes a study with regard to the usage of social media and it has found out that it is not just limited to commercial aspects, rather routine life social activities. One similar example came forth when in Lake District a dog went missing from its owner. An online activity through the social networking websites where the post went in the community like the jungle fire allowed for finding the pet dog. B.B.C further states that the page so set in the name of â€Å"Just Giving† had portion for collecting money for the purpose of undertaking the operation and search activities (Cumbria, 2014). It was ultimately through the Face Book that allowed for finding the dog in the same region. The rescue teams were brought into action that ultimately brought the pet dog to its

Human sexuality Essay Example for Free

Human sexuality Essay Incestuous inbreeding is the act of mating or having any sexual relations between two beings of close kinship. In people, this is prohibited by law to marry and engage in any sexual activity with any member of a person’s own family and with his/her relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity. Aside from it being a legal prohibition, it is also a considered a social taboo in most cultures. However, the considerations for incest are different depending on the beliefs and customs of these cultural groups. Some have more liberal qualifications for the situation to be called incest, and others are more conservative in the sense that people could not marry even those who are adopted into the family. Nevertheless, there are also some places wherein they permit this kind of familial setup to preserve their royal lineage. There are various kinds and forms of incest. The most common and considered a kind of abuse is the father-daughter incest and other forms of parental incest. However, there are also other forms such as sibling incest and other matches which usually come unreported. Although most cases of incest are born out of coercion, consensual incest also exists in some societies. The rationale behind the incest taboo must have stemmed from social group processes in ancient civilized and uncivilized societies. As studied by anthropologists, older cultures follow the rule of exogamy which enables families and groups to merge with others to form alliances. If incest was allowed, this rule would be violated. Religious groups and sects also have their various takes on this issue and most of them push that incest must not be tolerated and patronized. In modern societies, this legal prohibition now has scientific basis. It was found that since the two people involved in incestuous inbreeding have the same genetic makeup, their offspring would contract inherited congenital malformations. In the event that this becomes the result, future generations would be at risk of catching the same genetic defects. As a product of incestuous inbreeding, an offspring has a tendency to develop recessive disorders such as mental retardation, deaf-mutism, congenital ichthyosis, retinitis pigmentosa, adiposogenital syndrome, and homocystinuria. Previous studies show that more than half of the children born out of incest acquire some abnormality. The reason behind this is that there in an increase in homozygosity in the offspring’s genes, which means that there would be â€Å"the same allele at the same locus on both members of a chromosome pair† (â€Å"Incest,† n. d. ). In other words, if the parents of the child belong to the same family, there is a greater tendency for the child to get a defective gene from both parents. Because of this, it is assumed that there is a specific biological mechanism which prevents species from engaging in incestuous inbreeding. In detail, this mechanism could be more easily described in a comparison between incestuous inbreeding and mating between beings of different blood. Every human being carries some defective genes which are masked in a recessive expression. When two people belong in the same family, for example, as in the case of siblings, half of their genes are identical as they are from the same parents. This means that when they mate, there is a greater likelihood that the defective gene would be expressed in their offspring. However, for two people of no blood relation to each other, there isn’t any identical gene which means that it would be less likely for a genetic defect to be developed in their offspring. This biological constraint and medical risk is a consequence that incestuous inbreeding would bring. It would not only be harmful for the offspring because of the defects that would be acquired or a greater risk for mortality, nonetheless, it would also contribute to the deterioration of future generations. Finally, aside from these aforementioned medical considerations, it would also be appropriate to regard the psychological side effects as important in these situations. There are lots of cases which show that incest, especially those situations which could be considered as forms of abuse, result in psychological, mental, and emotional trauma. This probably might be because of the fact that it is established as a taboo and the behavior is a contradiction to that belief or attitude. Whatever the case may be, there would always be a negative outcome when two people engage in incestuous relations and inbreeding. References Children born as a result of incest. (1981). British Medical Journal Vol. 282. p. 250. Incest. (n. d. ) In Cambridge encyclopedia. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://encyclopedia. stateuniversity. com/pages/10516/incest. html The Columbia encyclopedia (10th ed. ). (2007). New York: Columbia University Press.

The ID3 Algorithm :: Classification Algorithms

The ID3 Algorithm Abstract This paper details the ID3 classification algorithm. Very simply, ID3 builds a decision tree from a fixed set of examples. The resulting tree is used to classify future samples. The example has several attributes and belongs to a class (like yes or no). The leaf nodes of the decision tree contain the class name whereas a non-leaf node is a decision node. The decision node is an attribute test with each branch (to another decision tree) being a possible value of the attribute. ID3 uses information gain to help it decide which attribute goes into a decision node. The advantage of learning a decision tree is that a program, rather than a knowledge engineer, elicits knowledge from an expert. Introduction J. Ross Quinlan originally developed ID3 at the University of Sydney. He first presented ID3 in 1975 in a book, Machine Learning, vol. 1, no. 1. ID3 is based off the Concept Learning System (CLS) algorithm. The basic CLS algorithm over a set of training instances C: Step 1: If all instances in C are positive, then create YES node and halt. If all instances in C are negative, create a NO node and halt. Otherwise select a feature, F with values v1, ..., vn and create a decision node. Step 2: Partition the training instances in C into subsets C1, C2, ..., Cn according to the values of V. Step 3: apply the algorithm recursively to each of the sets Ci. Note, the trainer (the expert) decides which feature to select. ID3 improves on CLS by adding a feature selection heuristic. ID3 searches through the attributes of the training instances and extracts the attribute that best separates the given examples. If the attribute perfectly classifies the training sets then ID3 stops; otherwise it recursively operates on the n (where n = number of possible values of an attribute) partitioned subsets to get their "best" attribute. The algorithm uses a greedy search, that is, it picks the best attribute and never looks back to reconsider earlier choices. Discussion ID3 is a nonincremental algorithm, meaning it derives its classes from a fixed set of training instances. An incremental algorithm revises the current concept definition, if necessary, with a new sample. The classes created by ID3 are inductive, that is, given a small set of training instances, the specific classes created by ID3 are expected to work for all future instances. The distribution of the unknowns must be the same as the test cases.

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 25. Battle Worn

Plink. Plink. Plink. Beep. Beep. Beep. The many noises of the machines were slowly making their way down the hallway towards room four-oh-eight. Emotions were flooding me, my body not knowing which ones to recognize. Alice was eyeing me with apprehension, the future obvious in her mind. You're not going to like this. Alice stood up and paced back and forth, becoming impatient with the slowness of the nurse pushing Bella down the hall. I was still standing, my hand resolutely on the door, afraid to open it, afraid of what I'll see. I dove into her mind for only a fraction of a second to see that Bella was hooked up to so many machines it almost made her look like she was some sort of mechanical apparatus or contrivance. My many threads of thought were lost when I caught a scent that was unfamiliar to me, yet I knew it all the same. I finally yanked on the door, flinging it open to see Carlisle walking quietly behind the nurse, a despondent look upon his face. My eyes ignored him and everything else that was going on around the busy nurses' station. The only room I had in my brain right now, in my heart, was for the precious soul laying in the bed, beaten and battle worn. Taking in a deep breath, I tried to find the scent that would reassure me that she was still Bella, still okay†¦still mine. But, the scent was off, wrong†¦possibly vulgar. For a moment I thought there was something wrong with me, that maybe my brain was fooling me†¦tricking me, a mere product of my own mental invention. Possibly a fantastic notion ?C like her blood finally was unappealing to me. Shaking my head, I realized the only scent in the world I wished for right now was her scent, her very human, very Bella scent. My eyes followed a red tube from her arm up to a blood red bag. Blood. Not any blood, but human blood. Sitting there ?C for the taking. But the aroma was off, offensive†¦extremely unpleasant. Ignoring the now erroneous smell wafting off of her, I concentrated on her face, her bandages†¦her wrist. My teeth automatically clenched so hard that if steel were to meet them it would be ripped in half. James. Pushing my angry thoughts aside, I brought myself back to the angel, the beauty that was lying in this bed, unconscious and broken. At the sight of her my extremities felt like they were going numb. She was broken. I broke her. The nurse had finally made sure she was hooked up to all the appropriate machines, that everything was working correctly before checking her pulse and her temperature. Carlisle and Bella's doctor were standing outside the door talking. I was barely paying attention to the conversation, choosing to pick key words from their minds. She'll be fine. Probably another pint of blood. Temporary medically induced coma until she heals more. My head snapped up. Coma? †¦ Coma? What? I reached for Bella's hand, bringing it to my lips, kissing her lightly, caressing her face. Automatically I began to try and probe her mind, even though I knew the effort was useless. Maybe I could reach into her brain, pull out her thoughts. Did she forgive me? Was she okay? How was the pain? Silence. Fear bubbled like acid in my stomach. The only thing that slightly soothed my frenzied nerves was her warmth†¦her pulse in the air, on my skin. I was seeing double, watching Bella from two different views, mine and Alice's. How revolting. She didn't care much for the blood being forced into Bella's veins either. We both continued to watch Bella's check's lightly turn a tinge of pink as the blood swirled under her clear skin. Every second the pain at her broken body lashed at me. I tried to form some kind of enchantment, to make it so we could magically change places; that I could feel the pain, that it was me lying there unconscious. To think how this could have happened, how she was almost reduced to ash†¦to a cold and fiery death. The picture of a fleshless Bella entered my mind and the feeling of disgust was present on my tongue. Each second I felt like I was becoming emotional deranged. I needed an outlet, some way to focus my thoughts. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. I whipped around to see Alice flipping a tiny video in her hands. Resentment began bubbling to the surface. Without thinking I rounded on her. â€Å"What happened? How did you let this happen? Bella†¦Ã¢â‚¬  my voice was overly accusatory. My hostility began swelling in the air, slowly consuming me. Alice stepped back two steps before sitting down. She placed her head in her tiny hands and very quiet sobs escaped her lips. The afternoon's events were finally catching up to her. â€Å"After you boarded the plane†¦I saw it. Bella, in the ballet studio. I saw it all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked up at me as her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, tears that would never come. â€Å"I†¦I didn't realize it was because she planned to meet him.† â€Å"You left her alone with Jasper? Seriously†¦Jasper? Come on Alice!† I kept my voice low, not wanting to upset anyone outside this room. â€Å"Jasper can handle himself,† she cut across me. â€Å"Maybe she hadn't completely made up her mind, but when she did, she was already on her feet, running towards the exit. By the time this future presented itself to me I knew I'd be too late.† She breathed in a quick breath, trying to calm her nerves. â€Å"She wrote a letter to her mom. It was still in my hand. On a hunch I opened it. That's when I very nearly ran into you. Edward†¦ I'm†¦I'm so sorry.† â€Å"Not as sorry as I am,† I barely muttered. My anger had left as quickly as it had come on. Sorry†¦ â€Å"It's not your fault, it's mine.† I whispered. I turned to bring myself back to Bella. My eyes followed every bruise, every bump and every blackened spot. Each second little quiet explosions of pain were erupting through my body. Now, more than ever, I was vividly aware of her fragile, breakable body. How is this your fault? Alice challenged. â€Å"If it wasn't for me, she would never be in this hospital. She would be safely in Forks, probably having a nice dinner with her father. Instead†¦she's here, broken†¦comatose.† Her arm wrapped around my shoulder. â€Å"No, this is his fault.† She waved the tape in front of me. â€Å"Do you want to see what Bella was talking about?† I looked at Bella and then looked at Alice, giving her a pleading look. â€Å"Carlisle,† Alice called over her shoulder. â€Å"Excuse me, Dr. Jones.† Carlisle said politely. â€Å"Yes, of course. I'll check on Ms. Swan later,† Dr. Jones responded. Carlisle strode into the room. â€Å"Alice?† â€Å"Carlisle, will you please stay with Bella while Edward and I watch this tape?† He looked over her to see my face. I wasn't looking, my face was resolutely focused on Bella, my focal point, the one I cherished, loved and adored above all others. No, I wasn't leaving this room. â€Å"You guys go ahead,† I waved them away. Alice huffed lightly. â€Å"I'll watch it outside the hospital.† You can just watch it through my mind. â€Å"Okay,† I answered blandly. They both left me, not another thought in their minds about my decision. Carlisle had already known that I wouldn't leave her side. Not now, not when she needed me more than ever. Fear fluttered in my chest at the thought of what she might think when she does wake. Would this be the thing that finally makes her snap? Another sharp stab of pain prickled my insides. Bella continued to lay there, silent and still†¦unmoving except her tiny chest movements. There was a light rapt on the door before the Doctor walked in with his clipboard in hand. I rose, hand out. â€Å"I'm Edward Cullen. Thank you for taking care of her.† I spoke reverently, more thankful than he will ever know or understand. Love. â€Å"Yes, of course. You're welcome. Dr. Cullen wanted me to stop in and explain what will happen with her next.† â€Å"Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I pressed. Eager chap, isn't he? â€Å"She has many injuries. Her skull is fractured, she has several broken ribs and her leg was badly mangled, but we were able to fix that with surgery. A few pins will hold her bone in place until it heals,† he answered while taking her vitals. â€Å"Why isn't she waking up?† I coaxed, trying to get him to get to the coma part. â€Å"Yes, well, because of the extensive damage I have purposefully had her placed in a comatose state to help her heal. I'm not sure how long she will need to be in a coma. It could be a day, it could be several. Don't worry, she'll be okay.† Clumsy girl. You ain't kidding, I thought. â€Å"Well, thank you, Dr. Jones.† He nodded once and exited the door. He had good timing, because as soon as he shut the door a thought burst through my mind. Edward! Pay attention! I'm about to watch this video. Alice shouted from her head. They found a cord to plug into one of their laptops and were sitting outside in our car that Jasper brought back for us to use. This is going to be hard to watch, son. Please keep your cool. Carlisle warned. Sitting, I pulled Bella's hand back into mine. To watch this video, I knew I would have to feel her warmth to remind me she was still alive, that she was still with me†¦even if she was unconscious. Watching her actions like they were my own, Alice's finger slowly appeared in my vision as she pressed the play button. I felt a pang of unease. Accompanying my thoughts were Alice's and Carlisle's. A face appeared on the screen. James. I took in a heavy breath, preparing myself for the onslaught of pain†¦torture that watching this will cause me. Deep down, I probably deserve to watch this, to make me see what I did to her. â€Å"Edward, I'm so sorry we couldn't meet today, but I have a prior appointment with your Bella.† A sick laugh. â€Å"I hope you enjoy the show. Hope to†¦see you very soon.† I could hear the thoughts of revulsion radiating off of Carlisle. The screen shook, as I could imagine James placing it upon the stereo. His face was now facing the camera again. â€Å"I just got off the phone with Bella. Looks like she will be here shortly. You shouldn't have let her out of your sight. She's all mine now.† He licked his lips. My stomach jolted, I felt sickened at the thought. The screen no longer showed what he was doing, but I heard him fiddling with something. My fault, Alice thought again. Another minute had passed. I focused on Bella, reminding myself once more that she was here, safe. I heard the door crack open slowly in the video as the air conditioner thrummed quietly in the background. â€Å"Bella? Bella?† I heard a voice call out. Suddenly Bella was running through the studio, looking around in alarm. â€Å"Bella, you scared me! Don't you ever do that to me again! â€Å" There was a trill of a laugh and Bella whirled around, looking for the noise. I watched as Bella slowly walked towards something out of the camera lens' vision. There was a sudden blue light and she backed away, the light reflecting off her perfect face and her white shirt. She turned around slowly, anxiety obvious in her deep depths. Oh no, Alice thought weakly. My heart ached to watch her panic. She must have been terrified. My desire to throttle James had reached such a pitch, but there was no vampire left to kill, to rip apart and burn. Bella's eyes focused on something past the camera. â€Å"Sorry about that, Bella, but isn't it better that your mother didn't really have to be involved in all this?† His voice was mellow. He really is a cruel creature, Carlisle added to my already angry thoughts. Poison rippled through my veins. He had no right to even talk to her, to even look in her direction. I wanted to reach out and bring death to him. A sudden surge of jealousy hit me as I realized I didn't get this opportunity and never will. â€Å"Yes,† Bella answered as relief broke across her face. She was†¦relieved? My teeth met with an audible snap as I realized she was being selfless, sacrificing herself for her mother. A trait I loved in Bella, yet hated all at the same time. And she truly is a magnificent creature, Carlisle added to his previous thought. â€Å"You don't sound angry that I tricked you.† A light laugh. â€Å"I'm not.† She actually sounded brave. Brave little Bella, Alice sniffled. â€Å"How odd. You really mean it† James appeared in the picture now. He was slowly walking towards Bella. â€Å"I will give your strange coven this much, you humans can be quite interesting. I guess I can see the draw of observing you. It's amazing — some of you seem to have no sense of your own self-interest at all.† He had no idea how selfless she actually was. He also had no idea how she was absolutely unique, different, not like any human he would have encountered before. He was standing a few feet away from her now, arms folded, looking at her curiously. â€Å"I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you?† James asked. Avenge? If only I were so lucky! The thought of bringing my teeth to his neck to rip him to pieces, slowly†¦ the satisfaction was almost overwhelming in my sick fantasy. My wish was for him to suffer my retribution and it pained me more to not be able to rip him to shreds with my bare hands. â€Å"No, I don't think so. At least, I asked him not to.† Bella's voice trembled. My heart plummeted while a sick feeling swept over me. â€Å"And what was his reply to that?† James looked hopeful at the prospect. â€Å"I don't know. I left him a letter.† I could feel it slowly burning in my pocket, I placed my free hand over the letter. It would be a keepsake, a reminder of how close this angel got to death. I should have known†¦Alice tormented. â€Å"How romantic, a last letter. And do you think he will honor it?† His voice was dripping with sarcasm marring his polite tone. â€Å"I hope so.† Bell was a fool to think I would honor that letter. Of course I would kill him. I would probably play golf with his appendages just for fun. The surge of savage pleasure rippled through me. Sometimes she is so blind, Alice stifled a small laugh, understanding exactly what I was thinking without reading my mind. â€Å"Hmmm. Well, our hopes differ then. You see, this was all just a little too easy, too quick. To be quite honest, I'm disappointed. I expected a much greater challenge. And, after all, I only needed a little luck.† Silence. â€Å"When Victoria couldn't get to your father, I had her find out more about you. There was no sense in running all over the planet chasing you down when I could comfortably wait for you in a place of my choosing. So, after I talked to Victoria, I decided to come to Phoenix to pay your mother a visit. I'd heard you say you were going home. At first, I never dreamed you meant it. But then I wondered. Humans can be very predictable; they like to be somewhere familiar, somewhere safe. And wouldn't it be the perfect ploy, to go to the last place you should be when you're hiding — the place that you said you'd be. â€Å"But of course I wasn't sure, it was just a hunch. I usually get a feeling about the prey that I'm hunting, a sixth sense, if you will. I listened to your message when I got to your mother's house, but of course I couldn't be sure where you'd called from. It was very useful to have your number, but you could have been in Antarctica for all I knew, and the game wouldn't work unless you were close by.† Oh course, Carlisle practically shouted in his head. Realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. â€Å"Then your boyfriend got on a plane to Phoenix.† I wanted to hit myself for my stupidity! â€Å"Victoria was monitoring them for me, naturally; in a game with this many players, I couldn't be working alone. And so they told me what I'd hoped, that you were here after all. I was prepared; I'd already been through your charming home movies. And then it was simply a matter of the bluff. â€Å"Very easy, you know, not really up to my standards. So, you see, I'm hoping you're wrong about your boyfriend. Edward, isn't it?† Memories flooded me as I remembered our pointless and rambling journey to Canada, Victoria's odd behavior. Each second she was searching†¦looking. I became instantly angry at myself. Why didn't I see this? I should have known. I read his mind. He never failed†¦his special gift was tracking. Bella stayed silent. Secretly I wished she would have taunted him, called him names†¦at least argued with him. Put up a fight, even if it were a feeble attempt. â€Å"Would you mind, very much, if I left a little letter of my own for your Edward?† Sick, Alice thought angrily. His hand reached out to grab the camera. He was going to gloat†¦to show her that he was doing this to get to me. I didn't want to murder him anymore, I wanted to slice him into pieces and cook them one at a time. Feed it to the furry creatures of the forest. He readjusted the camera a few times. â€Å"I'm sorry, but I just don't think he'll be able to resist hunting me after he watches this. And I wouldn't want him to miss anything. It was all for him, of course. You're simply a human, who unfortunately was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, I might add.† The camera moved closer to Bella†¦he moved closer to Bella. â€Å"Before we begin†¦I would just like to rub it in, just a little bit. The answer was there all along, and I was so afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun. It happened once, oh, ages ago. The one and only time my prey escaped me. â€Å"You see, the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made the choice that your Edward was too weak to make. When the old one knew I was after his little friend, he stole her from the asylum where he worked — I never will understand the obsession some vampires seem to form with you humans — and as soon as he freed her he made her safe. She didn't even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature.† There was an audible gasp from Alice, as she realized he was talking about her. â€Å"She'd been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her visions. In the nineteen-twenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments. When she opened her eyes, strong with her fresh youth, it was like she'd never seen the sun before. The old vampire made her a strong new vampire, and there was no reason for me to touch her then.† He sighed. â€Å"I destroyed the old one in vengeance.† Alice's thoughts were running wild. Her mind trying to reach back into her old memories to try to find her human times. There was nothing but velvety blackness. It all makes sense now, why she was left alone. Her creator was killed before she awoke! Carlisle was fitting the puzzle pieces together in his mind. â€Å"Alice,† Bella gasped, sadness in her tone. A rush of affection came flooding out of Alice as she realized how much Bella loved her, too. â€Å"Yes, your little friend. I was surprised to see her in the clearing. So I guess her coven ought to be able to derive some comfort from this experience. I get you, but they get her. The one victim who escaped me, quite an honor, actually.† A growl ripped up Alice's throat at his comment. Mine wasn't far behind. Honor, scoffed Carlisle. â€Å"And she did smell so delicious. I still regret that I never got to taste†¦ She smelled even better than you do. Sorry — I don't mean to be offensive. You have a very nice smell. Floral, somehow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  To think of him even being close enough to smell her about drove me mad. I could slowly feel the savagery creeping into my veins. Many violent brutal acts flashed through my mind. The camera moved so close to Bella's perfect features that he was probably only inches away from her. Violence was struggling to break free of my body, but there was no one to fight, no one to beat. His hand reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair; he sniffed it and patted it back in place. At this, I stood, letting go of Bella's hand. Fury was bursting out of me. I wanted to inflict a punishment so brutal, so horribly unthinkable that he would have to suffer for years in horrid pain. He reached up to stroke her cheek once quickly with his thumb. The hospital cup that was lying next to Bella's bed was suddenly in my grasp, crunched like it was a soda can and slowly crumbled into little pieces. Choice swear words came shooting out of my mouth. â€Å"No,† he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand, â€Å"I don't understand.† He sighed. â€Å"Well, I suppose we should get on with it. And then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you, and my little message.† Absolutely revolting, Carlisle's thoughts were almost incoherent with disgust. Slowly I could see the camera backing away from her face. Her body was quavering in fear. I brought my hand out in mid air, like I could soothe her; tell her everything would be okay, though I knew any minute that the pain would be inflicted, that she would be violently hurt and bitten by a vicious and cruel vampire. Every particle of my body was screaming in protest. The camera was circling around her†¦he was circling around her. The movement of the camera was almost like I could tell he had just crouched, preparing to spring. Her pupils dilated in terror. She bolted. In all my anger I almost laughed at the comical move. It was humorous for two reasons. One, trying to outrun a vampire? She knew better. Two, she actually feared a creature she should be afraid of. So, her braveness did have a limit. I sat back down, holding Bella's hand again. I closed my eyes, knowing the next little bit was going to be rough. I might not even make it through it all. He flew in front of Bella, where there was then a loud thud and the camera whipped around to show Bella almost slowly sliding down the glass mirror as it rippled and broke, falling to the floor. Anger throbbed through me as did sadness, pain. I wanted to make him†¦suffer. The fury that was pounding through my body was so violent it was shocking me like a jolt of electricity, each time burning me. James walked slowly towards her; the camera bringing Bella's dazed expression into view. What kind of creature†¦Carlisle was full of despair. A growl ripped up my throat, long and feral. â€Å"That's a very nice effect. I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That's why I picked this place to meet you. It's perfect, isn't it?† Bella began crawling on the floor. Without thinking I slowly propped myself up on her bed, lightly tracing the features of her face which was now only inches from mine. How could I ever let her out of my sight? What happened next burned me so much that I begged that we could trade places, or that I could suddenly go back in time. The camera lowered, to show what his next move would be. He lifted his foot, and stomped on her leg. There was a sickening snap as Bella's scream came flying out of her mouth. I could feel an exertion of force or power slowly brewing inside me as violence pulsed through me. â€Å"Would you like to rethink your last request?† A smile obviously in his voice. With a light flick on his foot he nudged her leg while another piercing scream echoed through my brain. A cry echoed through all our thoughts at once. â€Å"Wouldn't you rather have Edward try to find me?† I would have found you, James. If I would have just arrived a little earlier I would have pulled his eyes out of his sockets and chewed them, spit them out and stomped them into the dirt. â€Å"No!† Bella barely croaked. â€Å"No, Edward, don't–â€Å" Before Bella could finish her plea she was being thrown into the broken mirrors. Through Alice's vision I could tell she had flinched, and suddenly her hand went up to cover her eyes. Not Bella†¦ Alice sighed a lament as her hand slowly slid back down her face. Each torture continued to hit me relentlessly. When my vision was restored I watched as each second the darkness ran down her face and flooded her white shirt, staining it red. Blood. Beads of blood were trickling at an alarming rate through her hair. I could remember the outrageous flavor floating on the air around her when I arrived at the studio. It was easy to ignore the thought as explosions of agony possessed me, like I was bursting with the pain of it all. I brushed my fingers lightly over her face again, a reminder she was still here, safe†¦protected. â€Å"It's entirely my fault,† I whispered to Bella. In the video her eyes began to close as James dropped the camera. The angle was not good, so the view was distorted, but that was a good thing. Bella slowly melted onto the floor, bringing her hand up to her face as protection. There was a guttural noise, the sound of flesh breaking. That's when he bit her. Seeing this, knowing how close she was to death felt like I was being pierced with scalding hot knives. This video just made it that much more horribly vivid. Each blow felt like I had been fatally wounded. As if it were my own hand, Alice reached out and pressed the stop button. I was thankful, I didn't think I could watch those painful moments when I thought she was possibly dead or dying, the memory was clear enough, no need to add to the agony†¦though I deserved it. Alice and Carlisle began talking with each other about what they just saw. I pushed their thoughts and their conversation from my mind. I couldn't think about it anymore. It was bad enough she was lying here, broken, mangled†¦bruised†¦unconscious. Grief began weighing on my heart. I wished, prayed, even that this was all just a horrible nightmare; that I could sleep so I could wake from this. My stance around Bella was a continuance of looking like a body guard in hostile territory, even though she was safe in this hospital. I felt the ripping of my heart, slowly being shredded. Halfway curling myself up on her bed, I kept my face close to hers. Kissing her every minute, just to feel the warmth on my lips. A reminder of how precious the life was that was laying here in front of me. My love†¦my existence. Each second realizing that she was my life, without her I would die. Not only would I die, I would beg for it, embrace it. Other thoughts swam through my already troubled mind. I couldn't keep her. To have her be in my life would be like keeping her in the line of danger. She deserved more than me†¦she deserved marriage, kids, a family†¦college. Each thought lashed at me, leaving angry lacerations. I couldn't leave her now, but one day I will have to leave her. It pained me to think it, to know it had to be that way, but that is the only way it could be. I loved her too much to damn her to this existence, to take away her soul. Hadn't I already been selfish enough? Hadn't Bella proven how unselfish, brave, and trusting she is already? I kissed her forehead once more as hopelessness threatened to engulf me. Hey, bro, it's me. Can I come in? I sat up. Emmett? â€Å"Come in.† He came bursting through the door with a smile on his face, which slid away quickly once he saw Bella. He noticed the blood hanging down and held his breath quickly, though it didn't bother him like it would Jasper. â€Å"Here ya go!† Emmett threw a bag towards me. Man, he looks bad. â€Å"Wash up. You look how I do when I get done fighting a grizzly.† He chuckled. â€Å"Thanks,† I rummaged through the bag, glad to see clean clothes. â€Å"Alice told me that Rene will be here in half an hour and it would probably be prudent if you didn't look like a train wreck.† Another chuckle. â€Å"Yes, I guess it would be best if I wasn't covered in her daughter's blood.† I looked back at Bella. I'll stay here with her if you want me too, Emmett added, coaxing me to clean myself. â€Å"Okay, yeah. I'll just be right in here. There's a shower†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yeah, yeah,† he interrupted. When I was in the bathroom I could feel the contacts slowly dissolving in my eyes. Having red eyes would probably scare her mother. I dug through my bag, hoping Alice would have predicted this. Bingo. Contacts. Thank you, Alice! Before I put my new contacts in, I threw all of my dirty clothes away, making sure I kept the letter she wrote me. I turned the water on hot, hoping it might actually ease some of the tension and strain I was under. At the same time, I was looking through Emmett's eyes as he watched over Bella. Though he barely knew her, he was slowly learning to love her, to appreciate who she was. It was so easy to be in Emmett's mind sometimes. I let the warm water trickle over my body, cleaning any remaining blood off of my skin. The water tinged pink for a few moments and then the luscious scent swirled down the drain. I could still feel a heavy weight on my chest, as if there was something constricting my heart from healing from the lashes that were constantly being engraved on my tethered and worn body. She was so close to death, so close to not living. Her heart†¦my heart was on the verge of never beating again. Searching for her face, I found it instantly in Emmett's view. I sighed, turned off the water and began toweling off. Rene would be here shortly and I needed to look my best. Quickly dressing, I placed the contacts in my eyes, letting them obstruct my vision once again before I exited, relieving Emmett of his duty. â€Å"Thanks,† I put my hand on his shoulder. â€Å"Oh, it's no problem,† he smiled, winked and then strode from the room. Again, I waited by her bedside, holding her hand gently, caressing her face lightly. The blood that was slowly dripping in her veins had started to mix with her blood, the scent finally beginning to smell more like Bella. The luxurious, the delicious, the palatable aroma progressively growing stronger. Then, there was a sudden awareness as I heard thoughts that were so overwhelmed with fear that they were producing nothing but hysterical ramblings. It had to be Rene. No one else in this whole hospital knew what it was like to love someone like Bella. She was different, amazing†¦wonderful. The door flew open and I stood, the doctor hurriedly following behind Rene's ever impatient noises. Rene, completely ignoring my presence, flew towards Bella, though her touch was gentle, her sobs loving. Her panicking seemed to clear my thoughts. â€Å"Oh, Bella. Bella!† she turned to face the doctor. â€Å"When will she be awake?† â€Å"I'm keeping her in a medically induced coma until I feel she has healed some.† He stated. She turned away from the doctor, her eyes finally meeting my presence. â€Å"And you must be†¦Edward?† He sure is handsome. I didn't realize Bella†¦ Oh, well, maybe I'm wrong. I tried not to smile at her thoughts. â€Å"Yes,† I held out my hand. She gripped my hand for a second before plopping down next to Bella. â€Å"My baby, please get better. I love you,† she murmured. Went through a window! I just can't believe Charlie let her leave like that. So irresponsible. I'm just going to have to take her home†¦back to Florida. And I would let her.

The Captive Audience By Allan Gurganus - 1492 Words

The Captive Audience was written by Allan Gurganus, Gurganus writes on the subject of how the military changed his views on a political view. Gurganus starts the short story by mentioning that he was ashamed of photographs with his uniform on. In contrast to his subordinates, Gurganus wore his uniform in a depressing manner. The soldier was not proud of his service, to the extreme point Allan would keep his clothes in a dark meat locker. The reason for this recluse manner was because of Iraq’s capturing Prisoners of War (POW), the POW shown innocence and shock causing Gurganus to grief and confesses his true feelings about the subject of war in America. The theme of the Captive Audience is more on the form of past recollection; Allan becomes more self-aware of his country’s acts based on the recruits that usually are enlisted from backgrounds as a last effort of deciding towards career wise. As the story becomes more influenced on experience, Allan realizes that the you th of America is actually filled with fantasy and the youth treats the army as a way to be a hero. Gurganus’s issue with the recruitment of the military is that the recruits themselves do not know why that they are in the military. The whole passage itself goes on forth on the reason why the recruits are so young and inexperienced is because of the parents themselves. Gurganus uses the example of his own recruitment to further this argument, when his parents were informed that enlisting was in need for the