A Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism Essay - 1233 Words

Tennessee Williams was a well-recognized writer who wrote dramatic plays such as, The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire, which resembled his own personal life and experiences. In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is an unstable and desperate woman who travels to New Orleans in search of a new life and to live with her sister Stella and abusive husband Stanley Kowalski. The story follows her journey over a year as she navigates through the unsophisticated streets of New Orleans living in her own delusions covering the real truth. Tennessee Williams uses symbolism and imagery in A Streetcar Named Desire to convey the idea that appearances can be deceiving, hiding what really lies below the surface†¦show more content†¦As the play progresses, Blanche’s act starts to crack and her past is uncovered through the symbolism of cleansing and music. Blanche’s habits start to become more noticeable including bathing for extende d periods of time. She believes â€Å"A hot bath and a long, cold drink always give [her] a brand new outlook on life!† (Williams 128). Williams uses bathing as a representation of baptism, attempting to convey Blanche’s need to wash away her sins. She constantly tries to rid herself of her objectionable past-sexual encounters with previous men and her husband’s suicide, but it is impossible, therefore she’ll never finish her bath. During her bath time, she always seems to be singing the lyrics, â€Å"It’s only a paper moon, just as phony as it can be-But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me!† (Williams 121). The lyrics of â€Å"It’s Only a Paper Moon† represent a person imagining in a fantasy world. At this point, Blanche is losing a concrete reality to hold onto, she truly believes that the fabrication of lies lead to a better life. Throughout the play, Blanche is reminded of what happened to her husband Allan, during intense and violent situations where Blanche is greatly devastated. One of the most memorable scenes is when Stanley abuses and rapes her. When this occurs, the Varsouviana polka music starts to play in the background. â€Å" The ‘Varsouviana’! The polka tune they were playing when Allan- Wait! [ A distant revolver shot isShow MoreRelatedA Streetcar Named Desire Symbolism Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesIn Tennessee Williams’, A Streetcar Named Desire he uses a variety of symbols to add depth to his work. It makes the readers become skeptical of the character’s real intentions, either in a positive or negative way. Without the symbols the play would not have the same effect that it does. The usage of the symbols, also adds to the play’s overall themes and the understanding of the characters, like Blanche DuBois. Blanche DuBois is one of the characters that has many layers and many secrets that sheRead More Symbolism in A Streetcar Nam ed Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay example3841 Words   |  16 PagesDuring the late nineteen-forties, it was common for playwrights such as Tennessee Williams to use symbolism as an approach to convey personal thoughts, through the attitudes of the characters and the setting. Williams actors have used symbolism to disguise the actuality of their thoughts and to accommodate the needs of their conservative audience. A Streetcar Named Desire has a few complicated character traits and themes. Therefore, they have to be symbolised using figures or images Read More Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay810 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams In Tennessee Williams’ play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the character of Blanche Dubois is a vivid example of the use of symbolism throughout the play. Blanche wants to view things in an unrealistic way. â€Å"I don’t want realism. I want magic†¦I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Blanche p.117). She doesn’t want reality; instead she wishes to view a rose-coloredRead MoreEssay about Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams1270 Words   |  6 Pages Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams â€Å"Symbols are nothing but the natural speech of drama†¦the purest language of plays.† Once, quoted as having said this, Tennessee Williams has certainly used symbolism and colour extremely effectively in his play, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. A moving story about fading Southern belle Blanche DuBois and her lapse into insanity, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ contains much symbolism and clever use of colour. This helps the audience to link certainRead More The Raw Power of A Streetcar Named Desire Essay example2254 Words   |  10 PagesThe Raw Power of A Streetcar Named Desire      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tennessee Williamss play A Streetcar Named Desire contains more within its characters, situations, and story than appears on its surface. As in many of Williamss plays, there is much use of symbolism and interesting characters in order to draw in and involve the audience.   The plot of A Streetcar Named Desire alone does not captivate the audience.   It is Williamss brilliant and intriguing characters that make the reader Read Morestreetcar named desire and macbeth critical lens essay1184 Words   |  5 PagesRabiha Sabir November 14, 2013 Critical Lens Essay There are many situations in life which are related to reality and they can be illusional because of your own perspective. a quote that supports this is â€Å" Reality is that which, when you stop believing it, doesn’t go away†. This quote explains that reality is something that even if you don’t believe in it or if you don’t think its true it still doesn’t go away. You can’ deny theRead MoreRomantic Essay, The Streetcar Named Desire: The Catcher In The Juliet1899 Words   |  8 Pageschosen to be apart of my portfolio are the Catcher in the Rye essay, the American rebels powerpoint, the Streetcar Named Desire essay and the Catcher In The Rye fishbowl. I chose to include the Catcher in the Rye essay because it showcased my ability to explain in detail quotes from the book and expand on one idea. I also chose this essay because I got an 82% which I believe is a good grade for a hard essay topic such as the symbolism of the ducks. In addition, I chose the Catcher In The Rye fishbowlRead MoreStreet Car Named Desire Essay2447 Words   |  10 PagesPRACTICE ESSAY truth is a mutating, subjective figure in streetcar with each of the principals having different relationship with the idea of truth How does Tennessee Williams express these relationships and what role do they have on the narrative? †¢ Make sure you think carefully about the play, details, allusions, themes of the play that you can incorporate †¢ Undermining the academics of the play †¢ Have insights from the play that leak into your own ideas and narrative Read MoreReality and Illusion in Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire1691 Words   |  7 PagesA Streetcar Named Desire, first published in 1947, is considered a landmark play for the 20th century American drama, bringing author Tennessee Williams a Pulitzer Prize. One of its most important themes deals with the contrast between reality and illusion. The aim of this essay is to examine how this contrast is reflected in the way the main character constructs her identity. As Ruby Cohn calls it in his essay â€Å"The Garrulous Grotesque of Tennessee Williams†, A Streetcar Named Desire is â€Å"a poignantRead MorePsychoanalytical Study of A Streetcar Named Desire Essays2039 Words   |  9 Pagesuma introdu#231;#227;o by Terry Eagleton (1994), there is a chapter dedicated to psychoanalysis and I think that some of the topics referred to in that chapter need to be mentioned here before the most important symbols found in the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams are discussed. One of the ideas discussed by Eagleton is that if after coming across psychoanalysis for the first time you happen to like it, it will probably become a useful tool to help you understand literature

Essay on The Sociological Perspective on Basketball

The Sociological perspective on basketball In sociology, there are 3 paradigms. There is the conflict theory perspective, the symbolic-interaction perspective and the structural-functionalist perspective. From a conflict paradigm point of view, the essay would focus on gender and how the assumption that girls lack the same level of strength and stamina as men. The WNBA (Women National Basketball League) doesn’t get the same amount of respect as the males do in the NBA (National Basketball League). Another issue could be that the NBA players have a higher annual salary than an average teacher. A structural-functionalist approach could be focused on how it creates jobs (the NBA) and academically too. Basketball could also be focused on how†¦show more content†¦How does playing basketball for a school can help a student academically in high school from a structural-functionalist perspective? You notice that playing basketball for a high school can help physically, mentally, socially, and academically. Not only do es playing basketball for a school not only build friendships between team members, but could also give them that competitive edge to become better than who they are physically and mentally. For a student to continue playing basketball for a school, he’ll have to stay in shape for the season and be able to keep the grades above average. Academically, at a college level, basketball is a good and bad thing. Majority of universities pay attention to the student skill level at the sport rather than his grades, just to ensure the schools success. Paragraph 5 = From a structural-functionalist perspective, you realize that by the game of basketball, you can build friendships easily just by having something in common like loving the game. You also notice how job opportunities can be given by playing the sport or becoming a trainer in the game and help the athletics stay in shape. By having more job opportunities, it expands the economy. From a young age, basketball can not only help you academically, but help you get into colleges. Paragraph 1 = the 3 paradigms Paragraph 2 = friendships are built thru basketball. Gyms, reck team, common love for a team or player Paragraph 3 = the job oppuritiesShow MoreRelatedA Sociological Perspective Of A Parent Playing Basketball At A Park With A Child1441 Words   |  6 PagesPicture a parent playing basketball at a park with a child, the child acknowledges the parent’s authority on rules of the game. The child begins to challenge this parent role. The interaction between the two has heated up. How do define this counter, what is this in a sociological perspective? Process and micro interactions defines our roles in society. For Example, â€Å"The very organization of the self-conscious community is dependent upon individuals taking the attitude of the other individuals.†Read MoreThe Media s Influence On Society s Attitude Toward Pointing Out An Apparent Ongoing Struggle Between Whites And Blacks1668 Words   |  7 Pagesthe news strongly influences society’s attitude towards racism. Chapter eleven in â€Å"Introduction to Sociology†, by OpenStax states that â€Å"issues of race and ethnicity can be observed through three major sociological perspectives†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (237). Interactionism is the first of these theoretical perspectives. According the book, â€Å"†¦some interactionists propose that the symbols of race, not race itself, are what lead to racism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (237). An example of this might be if an individual whose primary source of newsRead MoreAmerican Patriotism : The Functionalist, Conflict, And Symbolic Interactionist Perspective845 Words   |  4 Pageseveryone. However, to a socialist, patriotism can be viewed within three main perspectives: the functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspective. A functionalist views society like one main living organism in which each part contributes to the survival of the whole. In other words, a functionalist perspective emphasizes how the parts of society are structured to maintain its stability. In this sociological approach, if an aspect of social life does not contribute to a society sRead MoreAnalysis Of Melvin Juette And Ronald J. Bergers Wheelchair Warrior1630 Words   |  7 PagesThe life story of Juette, contributes to the understanding of sport and society, reveals the American notion of social differences, and portrays sport in similar ways compared to many other books and films. This book is written in two different perspectives including the first-person point of view and the third person point of view. Juette writes three components of the book using first person. He writes Part I Beginnings, Part II Transitions, and Part III Resolutions. By using the first-person pointRead MoreSociological Imagination1391 Words   |  6 Pagesof the sociological perspective. This involves looking at a certain behavior like it has never been looked at it before. When done right one can come to a deeper level of understanding about behavior. Using your sociological imagination you are able conceptualize how a persons macro level, which consists of the larger aspects of life such as family and government, and their micro level, (which is the individual itself) combine in order form the person they are. Using my sociological imaginationRead More Symbolic Interactionism Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pagesthe sociological perspective. This involves looking at a certain behavior like it has never been looked at it before. When done right one can come to a deeper level of understanding about behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Using your sociological imagination you are able conceptualize how a person’s macro level, which consists of the larger aspects of life such as family and government, and their micro level, (which is the individual itself) combine in order form the person they are. Using my sociological imaginationRead MoreRacism Is Alive By F. Wright Mills1726 Words   |  7 Pagesthat many minorities are not lucky enough to have. I have realized this by looking at my life and reflecting through C. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination(Lambert Lecture). I connected this to my collage through two photos. One photo is of C Wright Mills. This is because he coined the term sociological imagination and this essay was written through the sociological imagination. The second is a photo of an anti Jim Crow button. This is because I thought racism died with Jim Crow, but in reality itRead MoreWeek 1 Sociology Notes1548 Words   |  7 PagesWeek One Assignment Chapter One The Sociological Perspective The sociological perspective provides a specific view of the world. Briefly describe this perspective and the assumptions this perspective is based on. The sociological perspective puts emphasis on the social context in which people live in and how these contexts influence their lives. At the center of this perspective is the question of how groups influence people, especially how people are influence by their society. SociologistsRead MoreSociological Group Matrix Essay1689 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity of Phoenix Material Melanie Deutsch * August 20, 2012 Sociological Group Matrix Schaefer (2011) defines a group as â€Å"any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis† (p. 111). Complete the Social Group Matrix by identifying and describing the relationship between yourself and the members of any social group you are a part of. Group description IdentifyRead MoreRacism And Aversive Racism1618 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"leap out of [their] own ancestry just to earn it’s approval† (Bryant 2014). When considered theoretically, racism is rationalized and problematized differently by various schools of sociological thought, with each also arriving at distinct methods of rectification. In this paper, I will examine the perspectives of non-Marxist Conflict Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Symbolic Interactionism on these aspects of anti-black racism, and make the case for the strength of the explanatory power

An Inspector Calls In this Play the inspector plays various roles Essay Example For Students

An Inspector Calls: In this Play the inspector plays various roles Essay In this Play the inspector plays various roles. He plays a socialist as he is against capitalist views and because he is not just looking out for himself but others as well. Also he is known to be a catalyst as he brings a split in the Birling family. He plays a ghost as we find out he is not real. Additionally he plays a fraud because he is not a real inspector, but he does act as an Inspector. The inspector adds a great deal of tension and drama to the play. Priestley does this because he brings tension between the younger generation consisting of Sheila and Eric and the older generation consisting of Gerald, Mrs. Birling and Birling because of the inspector. Priestley uses the inspector as a substitute of him self to put his socialist points across this adds drama because we have to think about what he is trying to do. The four Birlings and Gerald are happily seated around the dinner table having an enjoyable night celebrating Sheila and Geralds engagement. All of them are feeling happy and are comfortable and relaxed and do not seem to have a care in the world but all of that is about to change. The scene is set in 1912, which is a pre war time. Also this is the time when the suffragettes were fighting for womens rights. Additionally this was the time that the Titanic was built. The unsinkable ship, which ironically sank, would set sail in a weeks time. The life that the Birlings live is very nice and easy but Priestley is showing how great things always end in disaster like the evening they are having. This is also ironic as he starts by telling us how the Titanic was unsinkable and it ended and just like he will go on to tell us how the Birlings lives are good at the moment but this will soon come to an end. The story does have some relevance to the early nineties even if the novel it was written in 1945. All these points are there to remind us of how not all good things last and how we should all look out for each other and not just for ourselves. An example is We are members of one body, said the inspector. This shows us that the inspector is enforcing the point of being part of one community and that we should look out for one and other. This also shows the link of how the inspector could just be Priestley in another form such as a ghost. I believe that Priestley is reminding us to look out for each other just in case any major wars happen and we have to rely on each other so thats maybe why he is enforcing this. When the inspector first enters the stage the atmosphere changes but not a great deal on first sight of the inspector. The inspector does not appear to be a big man but he does make him self appear strong and confident. He gives an impression that he will destroy them if they toy with him. Sheila changes the way she thinks and decides from now on she is going to be good. She has come to this decision as a result of the influence the inspector has had on her. His socialist views have been understood by Sheila and have changed her because she is going to start to care for other people. For example whoever that inspector was it was anything but a joke. You knew it then. You began to learn something. And now youve stopped, said Sheila. This shows us that the Inspector really has influenced Sheila and she has learnt something from what he is trying to say. Also she is showing the divide between the Birlings when they find out the inspector was not real as they now will not take responsibility for the death of Eva Smith but the youngsters will. The Inspector creates a split between the family by dividing the younger and older generations. Many have paralleled Sylvia Plath's novel, The Bell Jar, to her very own life EssayPriestley puts across message of capitalism verses socialism as he shows the Inspector, the socialist saying how we should not be like a capitalist but more like a socialist and care for one another. The inspector is a socialist as is Priestley and have socialist views. They are against capitalism, as they do not feel you should just earn a living for money and for yourself but you should help other people. The inspectors name is a pun for ghoul. This then leads us to believe that the inspector does not exist. He is some sort of ghost or phantom who is a nightmare to the Birlings. The Birlings have other beliefs that prove the inspector does not exist like Gerald. He finds out from another police sergeant from the county force that there is no one like or called the inspector they had met. In addition, the older generation seem to think it is all a hoax. For example Its a hoax of some kind, said Gerald. This shows that the older generation thinks it is some old fool playing a trick on them causing a scandal. There is nothing wrong with them believing this as they now have evidence that the inspector really is not an inspector but a fraud but that is only if he really does exist which is unknown to everyone. It could also show that the inspector is a bad ghoul playing tricks on family to have fun. He seems to know about he future because he knows what will happen to Eva Smith that no one else knows about, which may give the audience an idea that he is not a human being. He is another type of life such as a spirit that does not exist in our world, as it is virtually impossible to predict the future. He does make the Birlings scared of him as he breaks them down one by one leading them to confess. This may also show why he is a ghoul because he is scary. The inspector being a ghoul makes the audience more interested in the story because there is no obvious thing at the beginning of the story that gives him away but we all have our suspicions and this leads to tension as we want to continue to view the play to find out whether our suspicions were correct or not. This is another aspect that makes the play so good and again it involves the truth hidden behind the inspector. The inspector had an enormous affect on the Birlings. He caused them to fall out with each other and go against each other. From all what he told them the only people that actually learnt their lesson was the younger generation. The elders did not as when they found out the inspector was a fraud they were celebrating so what the inspector said went through one ear out the other. I think the family could get back to how they were before but it would be on Sheila and Erics conscience that they once helped lead a girl to suicide. Priestleys over all message in this story was we are all part of one community and we have to look after each other rather than just looking out for ourselves. If one person is affected in the community than all of us are. That is what Priestleys over all message is. I believe the over all role of the inspector was to play a substitute of Priestley to get Priestleys messages across to the audience and the Birlings. The Inspector has many hidden messages in him. He plays so many different roles and the he himself makes the whole story. He makes you think and puts across the messages, which to me is the point of the book. He is very effective and adds a great deal of drama.

Sinas Story Multidimensional Approach in Understanding of Human Behavior

Through the Dimensions of Person, Environment, and Time Attempting to gain a deeper understanding of human behavior, scientists have developed a multidimensional approach that includes observation of such influential factors of human life as person, environment and time.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Sina’s Story: Multidimensional Approach in Understanding of Human Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although in reality those factors are inseparable from each other, it is possible to focus on them separately, and later on superpose them in a well-ordered image of one’s behavior. An ideal case to analyze using multidimensional approach is the story of Sina (as presented in Hutchinson 2007), a woman who survived through the changing conditions of the time and the environment owing to her excellent personal characteristics. From the dimension of person, Sina appears to possess an ideal com bination of qualities to go through the hardships of her life. Biologically, her body is fit enough to survive the challenges of bearing five children in the extreme conditions of famine, hard toil, infectious diseases, and the stress of escape. Despite all that, Sina still has enough milk to feed her children and enough energy to run through the jungle. Her psychological qualities also contribute to her success: being able to control emotions, Sina directs her mental efforts at finding the optimal way-out from the seemingly hopeless situation. Using her persuasive leadership skills she convinces the whole family of the necessity to risk the escape; and once being in the USA, she uses her quick cognitive abilities to learn the language and adapt to the new reality (Hutchinson 2007). The latter could not be possible without her determined yet flexible spiritual self: together with possessing a strong inner pivot and feeling of justice that did not allow Sina to put up with her misery , she is adaptable enough to integrate into the US society and accept its language, educational and even values.Advertising Looking for coursework on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Environment is the factor that continuously puts Sina to the test. For one thing, her physical environment constantly changes: from the comfort of her suburban life she is moved to the middle of nowhere to work in the rice fields; then she flees through the jungle and lives in a UN camp, to gain final comfort in the US suburban house (Hutchinson 2007). The social institution of family is a strong supporting factor for Sina: surrounded at first by a large group of extended family, she loses many of her relatives during the hardship times, but the ones who survive maintain close contact and provide emotional support to each other. It appears that due to personal characteristics of both, Sina and her husband have changed social roles: whil e Sina acts as a strong determined head of the family, her submissive partner is on the verge of a nervous breakdown ever since action was taken to resist the unfavorable life conditions. Social relations also alter, as Sina gains more support from the state social services in the US and even receives financial help from a sponsor. US environment lets Sina develop herself in the spheres of education and work and reveal her leadership skills in practice. Time is another decisive factor in Sina’s life: it seems that time speeds up and slows down depending on the life circumstances. Sina demonstrates a bright example of fast acculturation as she merges with the US society. She also experiences abrupt shifts in her life when evacuation, escape and resettlement occur. She is able to efficiently survive those shifts due to her time orientation to the future: confessing that immigration to the US was necessary for the future of her children, Sina demonstrates an opposition to her hu sband’s time perception that is directed to the past (Hutchinson 2007). The combination of personal, environmental, and time dimensions is decisive for success or failure in the challenges of life.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Sina’s Story: Multidimensional Approach in Understanding of Human Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sina’s story appears to be a perfect example illustrating how those three factors interact and determine the course of one’s existence. Therefore it is crucial to foster the knowledge of those dimensions for a better understanding of human behavior. References Hutchinson, Elizabeth D. (2007). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and Environment (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. This coursework on Sina’s Story: Multidimensional Approach in Understanding of Human Behavior was written and submitted by user Hezekiah Valenzuela to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Wizard of Oz and Populism essays

The Wizard of Oz and Populism essays Since 1964 the story as well as the movie known as The Wizard of Oz has lost much of its innocence. Prior to 1964 The Wizard of Oz was a tale of innocence that adults and children alike enjoyed. They viewed The Wizard of Oz as an escape and thought the story to be fun, exciting and pleasurable. However, in 1964 Henry M. Littlefield published The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism. Littlefields theories on populist allegory throughout The Wizard of Oz sparked much controversy with the public. Henry M. Littlefield was able to convincingly connect scenes, characters, and objects in The Wizard of Oz to populism in his essay The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism. The movie opens up with a very drab view of Kansas in the late 19th century. Everything is gray as far as the eye can see, as all the land has become barren, and dust storms are now very prevalent. The farmhouse where Dorothy lives is barren too, and the paint has chipped off and blown away. Uncle Henry never laughs, and Auntie Em (whose face is completely gray) never smiles. This is parable to the beginnings of populism because farmers they were facing a widespread drought causing many problems with their farming. Ultimately this barren land is what led the populist movement to start up. When Dorothy lands in Oz she is first confused. Just as the populists were having many confusing problems so was Dorothy. However, Dorothy, with the aid of the Munchkins, devised a plan to see The Wizard in order to achieve her goal of retuning home. This is similar to how the farmers banded together to achieve their goal to nationalize the populist movement. Along the way Dorothy meets three diverse characters, which symbolize how William Jennings Bryan attracted more members to the populist movement on the road. Together Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion all had the same goal comparative to the populist movement. When the four finally reached their destination ...

Timbuktu, Mali and Today

Timbuktu, Mali and Today The word Timbuktu (or Timbuctoo or Tombouctou) is used in several languages to represent a far-away place, but Timbuktu is an actual city in the African country of Mali. Where Is Timbuktu? Located near the edge of the Niger River, Timbuktu is situated near the middle of Mali in Africa.  Timbuktu had a 2014 population of approximately 15,000 (the recent drop more in half due to its 2012–2013 occupation by Al Qaeda). The 2014 estimate is the latest data available. The Legend of Timbuktu Timbuktu was founded by nomads in the 12th century, and it rapidly became a major trading depot for the caravans of the Sahara Desert. During the 14th century, the legend of Timbuktu as a rich cultural center spread through the world. The beginning of the legend can be traced to 1324, when the Emperor of Mali made his pilgrimage to Mecca via Cairo. In Cairo, the merchants and traders were impressed by the amount of gold carried by the emperor, who claimed that the gold was from Timbuktu. Furthermore, in 1354 the great Muslim explorer Ibn Battuta wrote of his visit to Timbuktu and told of the wealth and gold of the region. Thus, Timbuktu became renown as an African El Dorado, a city made of gold. During the 15th century, Timbuktu grew in importance, but its homes were never made of gold. Timbuktu produced few of its own goods but served as the major trading center for salt across the desert region. The city also became a center of Islamic study and the home of a university and extensive library. The citys maximum population during the 1400s probably numbered somewhere between 50,000 to 100,000, with approximately one-quarter of the population composed of scholars and students. The Legend Grows A 1526 visit to Timbuktu by a Muslim from Grenada, Spain, Leo Africanus, told of Timbuktu as a typical trading outpost. Still, the mythical legend of its wealth persisted. In 1618, a London company was formed to establish trade with Timbuktu. Unfortunately, the first trading expedition ended up with the massacre of all its members, and a second expedition sailed up the Gambia River and thus never reached Timbuktu. In the 1700s and early 1800s, many explorers attempted to reach Timbuktu, but none returned. Many unsuccessful and successful explorers were forced to drink camel urine, their own urine, or even blood to attempt to survive the Sahara Desert. Known wells would be dry or would not provide enough water upon an expeditions arrival. Mungo Park, a Scottish doctor, attempted a trip to Timbuktu in 1805. Unfortunately, his expedition team of dozens of Europeans and natives all died or abandoned the expedition, and Park was left to sail along the Niger River, never visiting Timbuktu but merely shooting at people and other objects on the shore with his guns as his insanity increased. His body was never found. In 1824, the Geographical Society of Paris offered a reward of 7,000 francs and a gold medal valued at 2,000 francs to the first European who could visit Timbuktu and return to tell the story of the mythical city. European Arrival in Timbuktu The first European acknowledged to have reached Timbuktu was Scottish explorer Gordon Laing. He left Tripoli in 1825 and traveled for 13 months to reach Timbuktu. On the way, he was attacked by the ruling Tuareg nomads, was shot and cut by swords, and broke his arm. He recovered from the vicious attack and made his way to Timbuktu, arriving in August 1826. Laing was unimpressed with Timbuktu, which had, as Leo Africanus reported, become simply a salt trading outpost filled with mud-walled homes in the middle of a barren desert. Laing remained in Timbuktu for just over one month. Two days after leaving Timbuktu, he was murdered. French explorer Rene-Auguste Caillie had better luck than Laing. He planned to make his trip to Timbuktu disguised as an Arab as part of a caravan, much to the chagrin of proper European explorers of the era. Caillie studied Arabic and the Islamic religion for several years. In April 1827, he left the coast of West Africa and reached Timbuktu a year later, even though he was ill for five months during the trip. Caillie was unimpressed with Timbuktu and remained there for two weeks. He then returned to Morocco and then went home to France. Caillie published three volumes about his travels and was awarded the prize from the Geographical Society of Paris. German geographer Heinrich Barth left Tripoli with two other explorers in 1850 for a trek to Timbuktu, but his companions both died. Barth reached Timbuktu in 1853 and did not return home until 1855. During the interim, he was feared dead by many. Barth gained fame through the publication of five volumes of his experiences. As with previous explorers to Timbuktu, Barth found the city quite the anticlimax. French Colonial Control In the late 1800s, France took over the Mali region and decided to take Timbuktu away from the control of the violent Tuareg. The French military was sent to occupy Timbuktu in 1894. Under the command of Major  Joseph Joffre (later a famous World War I general), Timbuktu was occupied and became the site of a French fort. Communication between Timbuktu and France was difficult, making the city an unhappy place for a soldier to be stationed. Nonetheless, the area around Timbuktu was well protected, so other nomad groups were able to live without fear of the hostile Tuareg. Modern Timbuktu Even after the invention of air travel, the Sahara was unyielding. The plane making an inaugural air flight from Algiers to Timbuktu in 1920 was lost. Eventually, a successful airstrip was established; however, today, Timbuktu is still most commonly reached by camel, motor vehicle, or boat. In 1960, Timbuktu became part of the independent country of Mali. The population of Timbuktu in a 1940 census was estimated at approximately 5,000 people; in 1976, the population was 19,000; in 1987, 32,000 people resided in the city. In 2009, Mali statistical office census estimates put the population at more than 54,000. In 1988, Timbuktu was designated a United Nations World Heritage Site, and efforts were underway to preserve and protect the city and especially its centuries-old mosques. In 2012, due to regional fighting, the city was placed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, where it still remains in 2018.

Health Policy Issue on lack of Preventive health Care in the Uninsured Research Paper

Health Policy Issue on lack of Preventive health Care in the Uninsured - Research Paper Example Failure to pay for medial bills by the uninsured people can result into the increase in costs for the insured ones through higher premiums. According to the health policy regarding the insurance coverage, the people between the ages of 55 to 65 do not qualify for the public insurance coverage, yet they are the ones with many medical problems. The government should ensure that the uninsured persons can access the public insurance covers (Georgetown University, 2003). The adults are not as healthy as the younger ones; therefore, they need preventive care regularly. The large percentages of adults have chronic illnesses and cannot access the preventive health care. Persons who can access the private insurance constitute a small percentage (Georgetown University, 2003). Moreover, the only adults of age 55 to 65 who get public insurance are the disabled and they are very few. Since the people without the insurance mostly get primary care at emergency rooms, there are increased risks of overstraining of their organisms by traumas. This makes it difficult for the emergency rooms to deal with traumas. The overburdening of the emergency rooms can lead to the increase of the local taxes (Georgetown University, 2003). Many old people die due to late diagnosis of chronic illnesses which can be screened and treated in time. Those who have the insurance regularly go for checkups; therefore, the screening of the chronic diseases like cancers can be more effective. Additionally, the lack of insurance can make individuals go without health care. This is because the uninsured are more likely to spend more on the medical services compared to the insured individuals, since they pay more of their medical fees from their pockets. The prescription drugs for the chronic diseases are very expensive, especially for the uninsured elder individuals. Inability to pay for the health care due to its high costs makes most of the people live without the preventive health care

The Legislative Department (United States Goverment) Research Paper - 1

The Legislative Department (United States Goverment) - Research Paper Example The House contains of four hundred and thirty five members who are elected from fifty states of the country. In addition to that there are also six other members with non-voting rights. The person presiding the House proceedings is the Speaker of the House who is chosen after an election between the representatives (Tocqueville, Alexis & Goldhammer 2004). The House of Representatives are brought into power following an electoral process. Elections take place in all fifty states of the country and they decide who will make it to the House and who will lag behind the race to make it to the Congress. As a general rule, all members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. Moreover, they should be at least twenty five years old at the time of election. Also, it is a pre requisite that they must hold the citizenship of the USA for a period of at least seven years alongside being a resident of the State that they wish to represent (US Congress 2007). As far as the Senators are concerned, the Congress comprises of one hundred of them, of which two represent each State of the country. They are also elected by the people of their respective states for a period of six years. They are elected in such a manner that one third of the Senators have to be re-elected after every two years. Moreover, it is a must that the Senators should be at least thirty years of age, residents of the State they wish to represent and citizens of the United States for a period of at least nine years (Quirk, Paul & Binder 2005). As mentioned above, the Legislative Branch consists of two organizations which together make up the Congress of the United States of America. Those two organizations are known as the Senate and the House of Representatives. These together are responsible for carrying out the legislative process that is required to maintain proper running of the economy. One of the many

Defining Personal Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Defining Personal Responsibility Essay Abstract Personal responsibility is the choices and obligations we make in life. Everyone is responsible for their own actions no one else. We all must have good character, moral values and a healthy lifestyle in order to accept personal responsibility. Once we use our good character and moral values to help us know what is right and wrong, it is up to us to be responsible and make the right decisions. Also promoting a healthy life style show you are responsible mentally, physically and emotionally. All in all, once we accept the fact that we are the only ones who can change our lives by making good choices, we have accepted personal responsibility! Defining Personal Responsibility and Obligations to Oneself Personal Responsibility is realizing that you are responsible for the choices and obligations you make in your life! According to Dr. Dlugokinski, â€Å"Accepting personal responsibility may be one of the keys to happiness. † It is our responsibility to make sure we have good character, moral values and a healthy life style, no matter who influences you or how you grew up. Then and only then can you achieve this ultimate happiness. As we grow as people we develop many responsibilities throughout our life and we will always experience difficult choices. As a responsible person, it is up to us to decide what is good or bad, right or wrong and to accept the consequences of our actions. Good character refers to the many qualities that distinguish one individual from another. (Merriam-Webster). Everyone has character, it is just up to us to decide which characteristics are our strengths and which are our weaknesses. Having qualities such as being trustworthy or punctual are good characteristics in a person, which if used correctly will have good results to our actions. Where does personal responsibility fit in? Well we are responsible to choose which characteristics define us as a person. Making the choice to be punctual instead of late all the time shows that we are personally responsible about our good character. If we choose to be late instead of punctual, we are not accepting our personal responsibility that we must be punctual so we suffer from the consequences. Moral values are the values of good and evil, which help us make the right and wrong choices in life. We develop these moral values throughout our life time and it is our personal responsibility to use them when making choices or obligations. Having moral values is important in personal responsibility because the moral values you live by will help you determine what’s right and what’s wrong. Once we’ve determined what’s right or wrong we use those values to help make sure we are doing the right thing which is the responsible way to do it. Finally, having a healthy life style is the most important key to personal responsibility. Everyone is responsible for how they live their lives but it is important to make sure you are mentally, emotionally and physically stable in order to live a good life. We as people like to blame everyone else for our problems but the only real person to blame are ourselves. We ourselves are personally responsible for the way we live are lives no one else. If you don’t live a healthy lifestyle it is your responsibility to change that or accept the burdens that come with not living a healthy life style. When you accept responsibility, you admit you are the one responsible for the choices made in your life. We, no other person or thing, are responsible for what we choose and think. It is our life, and we are the only ones responsible for it. Roman statesman Claudius Caecus quoted, â€Å"Each man the architect of his own fate. † Meaning we are responsible for our lives will turn out, no one else. Once we decide what we want in life and take responsibility for it, we have accepted personally responsibility. References character. (n. d. ). Merriam-Websters Medical Dictionary. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from Dictionary. com website: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/character * I used this reference from the dictionary to give my readers a better understanding to what character means. I also wanted to explain that it is good character that is needed in a person’s personality that will help them achieve personal responsibility. People must avoid victimization mindset. (1995, May 24). Journal Record, pp. NOPGCIT. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/259366813?accountid=35812 * Dr. Eric Dlugokinski, psychologist and professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, says accepting your own responsibility requires determination, commitment and a recognition of reality. Dlugokinski said, If you dont know where your responsibilities start and stop, you continue blaming others and stay in an emotional rut forever. Defining personal responsibility, in many cases, requires soul-searching. Responsibility. (2007). Bloomsbury Business Library U. S. Business Quotations, 133. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. * The article presents quotes related to responsibility from U. S. journalist Ambrose Bierce, Roman statesman Claudius Caecus and British poet Richard Aldington. This specific quote was delivered by the Romas statesman Clausius Caecus (fl. 300 b. c. ). It was quoted in De Civitate (Sallust), sect. 1. This quote was perfect on concluding how I feel about personal responsibility. He says we are the arichetect of our own fate. He is saying that we decide how our lifes will turn out, no one else and that is accepting personal responsibility. It is a quote that sums up my whole paper in a single phrase. I have found out that it was quite difficult to find resources on the University Library for my essay. The library offers amazing resources for research but not much for personal essays. I did however manage to find a few quotes that fit perfectly in my essay. My first reference is not from the library, it is an internet resource from a reliable dictionary. This site is published so it is stating that it is reliable. The two sources given from the library are reviewed and published which means they are very reliable sources. I believe these resources strengthen my essay because it gives my reader a factual understanding.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston Essay -- essays resea

Farewell To Manzanar In the true story "Farewell to Manzanar" we learn of a young girl's life as she grows up during World War II in a Japanese internment camp. Along with her family and ten thousand other Japanese we see how, as a child, these conditions forced to shape and mold her life. This book does not directly place blame or hatred onto those persons or conditions which had forced her to endure hardship, but rather shows us through her eyes how these experiences have held value she has been able to grow from. Jeanne Wakatsuki was just a seven year growing up in Ocean Park, California when her whole life was about to change. Everything seemed to be going fine, her father owning two fishing boats, and they lived in a large house with a large dining table which was located in an entirely non-Japanese neighborhood. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese was the moment Jeanne's life was critically altered. This started WWII and all Japanese were seen as possible threats to the nations safety. It is not difficult to see, but difficult to justify this view, and therefore Jeanne Wakatsuki, just a child, was now seen as a monster. Her father was immediately arrested and taken away, being accused with furnishing oil to Japanese subs off the coast. And now, Jeanne left without a father, her mother was trapped with the burden of Jeanne's rapidly aging grandmother and her nine brothers and sisters. Too young to understand, Jeanne did not know why or where her father had been taken. But she did know that one very important part of her was gone. Jeanne's father was a very strong, military-like, proud, arrogant, and dignified man. He was the one who was always in control, and made all the decisions for the family. He grew up in Japan, but left at the age of seventeen, headed for work in Hawaii, and never again went back. Leaving his own family behind and never contacting them ever again. But now it was time for Jeanne's family to do something. They found refuge at Terminal Island, a place where many Japanese families live either in some transition stage or for permanent residents. Jeanne was terrified. " It was the first time I had lived among other Japanese, or gone to school with them, and I was terrified all the time." Her father, as a way ... ...ruly come to know a place: Farewell." This says it all. She had finally been able to see that Manzanar was one giant stepping stone she had climbed, and that gave her worth, so she could feel at peace with herself. Her life had really begun at Manzanar, but she isn't about to let it end there. In conclusion, this story was well written and I could sympathize with every trial and tribulation she encountered. Some may say she didn't value her Japanese heritage enough or was pitying herself for being Japanese. But she, in my view is a hero because she took everything that was imposed on her and endured through it. She was able to accept herself through a kind of spiritual growth, which was both revelational, and inspirational. I only hope that one day I can make some sense of the things gone wrong in my life, or at least grow from them. Jeanne is a woman now, who as a child was thrown around in a racial roller coaster, and can accept herself as an important part of society and life, rather than needing others to accept it for her. Note: I really enjoyed this book and the next time I head out to Mammoth Lakes I will definitely try and find Manzanar.

Meaning of life †Evolution Essay

Everyone wonders about the meaning and purpose of life. What is our origin: evolution or creation? Should we seek material wealth, pleasure, and education, or are we here to serve and honor God? Will we be judged for our lives and face eternal destinies in heaven or hell? Please consider the answers that can be found only in the Bible. Introduction: What is the meaning of life? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider. People throughout history have pondered the purpose of life. Philosophers spin theories. Poets write songs. Young people drop out of society to â€Å"find out what it’s all about. † Older people may remain within the â€Å"establishment,† but they still wonder. Obviously life is real. No one can deny that the world exists and people exist. You live, eat, sleep, breathe, and move. But do you understand why you exist? Please consider with me the challenging question of life. What is it really all about? To answer this question, we will look at three specific questions. Question #1: Where Did You Come From? How do you explain the origin of the human race? Since we are alive, it is natural to wonder where we came from. One reason many people are confused about the meaning of life is that they do not understand the origin of life. To know why we are here, we must know where we came from. Many People Hold Mistaken Ideas about the Origin of Life. A commonly accepted explanation for the origin of life is organic evolution – the hypothesis that man evolved from â€Å"lower animals,† which in turn came from simpler life forms, all the way back to the first microscopic life, which sprang accidentally from non-living matter. But this theory has major problems. Where did the first living thing come from? What caused life to begin where there had never been life before? Science has repeatedly demonstrated that life comes only from life. This is a law of science called the â€Å"Law of Biogenesis. † The opposite of this law would be spontaneous generation – life beginning spontaneously from non-living matter. But science has repeatedly proved this cannot happen. So every living thing must come from a previous living thing. You received life from your parents, who in turn received it from their parents, etc. The same is true for all living things. But evolution requires that, when you go back far enough, non-living matter somehow came to life by chance where there was no life before. Evolution requires spontaneous generation in complete violation of scientific evidence. So evolution cannot explain even the origin of the very first form of life. Where is the evidence that all modern kinds of living things came from an original kind? Living things can adapt to their environment, but where is the proof they can develop into entirely different kinds of organisms such that all kinds came from one original kind? Years of human experience and scientific experimentation confirm that living things reproduce â€Å"after their own kind. † The offspring of a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man. Scientists have searched for years for the â€Å"missing links† – fossils of organisms that were halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now. Millions of fossils have been found around the world. If evolution is true, there should be thousands of fossils of missing links, but there is no evidence of these remains anywhere. Why not? Why is man so unique from animals? If man evolved from animals and is really an animal but just slightly more complex, why do we have characteristics so vastly different from animals? Why do people appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Do animals create new paintings, sculptures, symphonies, and books of poetry that they and other animals can enjoy? Why do men have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we feel guilty when we have done wrong, even when we have not been caught or punished? Do animals naturally possess these spiritual qualities? Why do only people wonder about such issues as where we came from? Do animals debate even such issues as creation vs. evolution? Why do we possess rational thought so much higher than animals? We can find minute variations in degrees of â€Å"intelligence† among animals, but there is a vast gulf between any animal and man. Men build machines and tools to work for us, train animals, use fire, perform mathematic and scientific calculations, read and write, and pass our knowledge on to others. If we developed from the animals, why are there no animals that possess these characteristics almost as much as we do? If we develop from the animals, why are we so different from them? Evolution is not an adequate explanation. Consider the Bible Explanation for the Origin of Life. Genesis 1:11,12,21-28. All kinds of life were originally created by God in six days. God is an eternal, living, all-wise, all-powerful Creator (cf. Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4). Instead of life coming from non-living matter, life came from life – the eternally living God. Living things reproduce after their own kind, because God created them that way. And man is unlike the animals, because he is â€Å"in the image of God. † We did not evolve from animals, but we share God’s nature. Acts 17:24,25,28 The world and everything in it were made by God. He is the source of life and gives all the blessings that are necessary to life. Here is an explanation for the origin of life that fits what we see around us, fits the nature of man as compared to animals, and we will see that it provides a satisfying explanation for the meaning to life. There is sufficient evidence to compel any honest person to believe God exists and the Bible is His word. We do not have time here to examine all the evidence, but we encourage those who have doubts to investigate it. We simply observe that the Bible explanation makes far more sense than any other alternative, and that those who do not accept the Bible really cannot satisfactorily explain their own existence! If you would like to study evidence for the inspiration of Scripture or for creation vs. evolution, please see the links at the end of this study. Question #2: Why Are You Here? Do you really understand why you exist? Surely this is a fundamental question that everyone wants answered. Without meaningful goals, life is senseless and empty. Lack of purpose leads to unhappiness and even mental disorders. People need a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in life. Many People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life. This is one consequence of evolution. If organic evolution is true, then there is no purpose in life. Life is an accident, and people search in vain for any meaning to it. So, many conclude that there is no higher purpose than to make life enjoyable for themselves and others. Some pursue riches and material possessions. They believe material things will make life happy and pleasant. But then they always want more: a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes and furniture, etc. They are never satisfied. All people need some material goods, but is this the highest goal of life? Some pursue pleasure: entertainment, recreation, travel, etc. Their goal in life is â€Å"fun, fun, fun. † â€Å"Wine, women, and song† (or â€Å"drugs, alcohol, and free love†). â€Å"Be a party animal. † â€Å"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. † This philosophy is emphasized by modern entertainment. It is the beer-commercial mentality: â€Å"You only go around once, so reach for all the gusto you can. † â€Å"It doesn’t get any better than this! † One of them even names its beer â€Å"High Life. † But does life really not have any better purpose than to booze it up? Many modern entertainers have achieved â€Å"the high life† to the ultimate, but are they happy? If so, why are so many of them plagued by drug and alcohol addiction, divorce, mental breakdowns, early deaths, and suicide? Is that really a satisfying life? Some pursue education. They want to accumulate knowledge and worldly wisdom. Like the Athenians, they spend their time in nothing else than to hear or tell some new thing. In all these areas, there may be some wholesome activities that may have some benefit. But is there really no higher goal in life than these? Whatever benefits they activities provide are temporary and incomplete at best. No matter how much you have, you always want more. In fact, modern Americans have achieved these goals to a degree beyond the imagination of most people of the world and of history. We have gadgets and toys, houses and lands, college degrees, and every kind of entertainment imaginable. But do you see evidence that Americans in general are truly satisfied with life? Society is filled with crime, broken relationships, mental illness, addiction, and unhappiness. Politicians profess to see â€Å"crises† on every hand. Many people in the world never achieve these goals. And those who do achieve them are still looking for the purpose of life. There must be something more. The Bible Teaches the True Purpose of Life Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14. The author experienced every enjoyment of life that some people pursue: wealth, pleasure, and education as great as anyone who ever lived. Did it satisfy? What was his conclusion? It was all â€Å"vanity and vexation of spirit† (2:11). The earthly pursuits that most people emphasize simply do not satisfy in the end. What is the real purpose of life? â€Å"Fear God and keep His commands† (12:13). God created man, because He had a purpose for us to accomplish. And He designed us so that, unless we fulfill that purpose, we have no real sense of accomplishment. Instead we create problems for ourselves. What would happen if you tried to bake lasagna in the clothes dryer? What if you tried to run your car on Jell-O instead of gasoline? What if you tried to eat with a shovel and pitchfork instead of spoon and fork? What if you tried to mow your lawn with fingernail clippers? Problems often result when things are created for one purpose, but we try to use them for a completely different purpose. Likewise, our lives are not satisfactory when we do not accomplish the purpose we were created for. Matthew 6:19-21,24,33 Our main concern in life must be to work in God’s kingdom and have a right relationship with Him. Other concerns may have some value but are far less important. Note v24. You can have only one master. You cannot put two things in first place in your life. God requires that serving Him must be the most important thing in life to us. Each of us must make a choice. Either God will be first, or something else will be first. Matthew 22:36-39 The most important work God intends for us to accomplish life is to love God and love our fellowman. John 14:15 – But love for God requires us to obey Him (1 John 5:2,3). 1 Corinthians 14:37 – God’s commands are revealed in the Bible. Lasting fulfillment in life comes only from obeying God’s word and thereby serving God and man. We will not discuss here all that is involved in serving God, but we simply emphasize the importance of understanding our purpose in life. Until you understand the teaching of the Bible, you do not really understand the purpose of life. (See also 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 12:15-21. ) III. Question #3: Where Are You Going? Do you understand what comes after death? You may or may not feel that your life on earth is secure, but what happens when you die? What will your destiny be when life is over? Many People Are Confused or Unsure about What Comes after Death. We can be certain that death is coming. We may not like it, but death is a fact of life. * Sometimes people contract cancer or heart disease that is diagnosed as terminal. But, â€Å"Life is a terminal disease. † No one stays here permanently. * Criminals are sometimes given a death sentence for their crimes. But we all live under a death sentence! * In college a hippie type roomed in the same house I did. He subscribed to Time magazine, and one day when the mail came we kidded him saying, â€Å"Your Time has come! † He became upset. But sooner or later, for every one of us, â€Å"Your time will come. † Death is uncertain only in that we do not know when or how it will come. But there can be no doubt that it will come. Death is sad and fearful for many because they do not know what lies beyond. Or worse yet, they do know and are not ready to face it! Sooner or later, we all must face death. What then? Science does not even try to answer this question! Philosophers or religious leaders sometimes speculate that we cease to exist at death or that we will be reincarnated. But they have no proof. Here is another major question of life for which, apart from the Bible, you cannot know the real answer. The Bible Tells Us What Follows Death. Hebrews 9:27 – It is appointed to man once to die, then comes the judgment. Jesus may come before we die; but if we die first, we will be raised from the dead when He returns. Either way, we will face God and be judged for our lives, good or bad. Someday, God will hold every one of us accountable for whether or not we have accomplished the purpose for which He created us. [John 5:28,29; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10] Matthew 25:31-46 – At judgment, the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them by God (v34). This is eternal life (v46). The wicked will go into eternal fire (v41). This is eternal punishment (v46). Romans 2:6-11 – What determines the reward we receive? Our works. We receive wrath if we work evil and do not obey truth. We receive eternal life if we continue to work good. Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we accomplish our Maker’s purpose! You may ask, â€Å"How do you know we don’t cease to exist after death? How do you know we won’t be reincarnated? How do you know we will be raised and judged? † Acts 17:30,31 – We can know what comes after death because Someone has already died and come back to tell us what comes after death. In fact, He will be the One to judge our lives! [1 Cor. chap. 15] The resurrection of Jesus, the miracles of the Bible, and the fulfilled prophecy of Scripture are the proofs that the Bible is from God. If the Bible is from God, then we can be sure it tells us the origin and purpose of life and our destiny after life. Conclusion Since you will be judged for whether or not you have accomplished your Maker’s purpose, please consider further: How can you receive eternal life? Romans 3:23 – The problem we all have is that at times we have failed to do the Creator’s will. We are all guilty of sin (1 John 1:8,10). What can be done about that? The good news is that Jesus came and died to forgive your sins (Romans 5:6-10; 6:23; John 3:16). To receive this forgiveness, you must be willing to live the rest of your life in His service – â€Å"Repent. † Acts 2:28; 22:16 – If you come to Christ believing in Him, confessing Him, and being baptized, He will forgive you and make you a new creature so you can have eternal life (Romans 6:3,4; Mark 16:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Why continue life without investigating God’s way for your life? Suppose you are about to buy a house, but a friend promises you that he knows that house and it is in terrible shape in ways that are not obvious. Suppose he assures you that you are about to pay thousands of dollars more than the house was worth. Would you ignore the friend’s advice, or would you investigate? In a similar way, we are advising you in love that living life apart from obedience to God may seem pleasurable and attractive, but in the end it will lead to catastrophe. Surely you need to investigate before it is too late! Someday you will wish you had lived your life for God. If you are not living it for Him now, we urge you to find out what His will requires of you. If you already know, we urge you to obey while you have opportunity. The Bible has the answer to the most important questions of life. There is no need to go through life wondering â€Å"what it is all about. † Why not find out and begin to live according to the purpose for which you were made? Note: If you would like to study further about life after death, eternal destinies or other related Bible topics, we have a number of other study materials on our web site that should interest you.

Multicultural nature of the American nation Essay

In an in-depth interview with a subject of Japanese origin (twenty years old, living in the U. S. for three years) the differences between Western and Far-East cultures became evident. Given the multicultural nature of the American nation, the subject has not encountered any direct discrimination or intolerance; however, she had problems with adjusting to cultural norms and everyday lifestyle of Americans. In college, the subject was respected for her academic achievements, honesty, and desire to help. Unfortunately, she was unable to integrate fully in the social life of her classmates. She had problems making nodding acquaintance and starting small talks. At the same time, she truly treasured friendship and was spending long hours talking to her friends back in Japan on a messenger. This can be explained by the fact that Japanese society favors long-term orientation. Another problem with social integration was that the subject was not perceived as a party person. She was very anxious about breaking camp or traffic rules and preferred not to drink alcohol. Although the general attitude towards her was friendly, she could not develop a feeling of belonging. As concerns private life, the subject has only dated persons from her own cultural background (i. e. preferably Japanese but Asian in general). This can be attributed to the subject’s views on the role of woman in the society: Japan is a country where traditional masculine dominance is still preserved. Therefore, the subject is looking for stability and protection from the side of her partners, and few young American mean are able to deliver this, in her opinion. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that persons from other cultures encounter difficulties in the process of integrating in the American society.

Free Essays on Death Of A Fairytale

Flick through any book of Fairy Tales, and you will be forced to confront the tragic extents to which the population of talking frogs, obese godmothers, and fairy princesses has plummeted in recent centuries. (And to qualify as a genuine fairy princess, one must be beautiful, sweet of voice and a sufferer of acute insomnia when in a five-mile radius of legumes. If you believe yourself to be a member of this excessively rare breed, please contact Smith & Rumpilstiltskin, Bounty Hunters) The dying out of the world’s LIPS (Ludicrous and Impossible Peoples) has been so gradual, that some of the world may have forgotten that they had existed to begin with, so minor a minority group are they. It’s a disgrace when the breeding habits of Bengel Tigers get more media attention than the recent ingenious plots of that devilish feline in knee-high boots. But what is the cause of this decline? Has our society doomed the wicked stepmothers and flying carpets of the world to extinction with logic and political correctness? Is it something in the water? In her book, ‘A Watcher’s Guide to Elf-Spotting’, Professor C. Derella explains, "Like rabbits to other rabbits, elves and faeries are inevitably drawn to fast-moving water, mainly because of their love of raucous and highly social games, frequently involving the highly anti-social water nymphs." Granted, this enlightening piece of information does not answer our question, but it does explain why - in these censored times of ours - elves and water nymphs are never heard of, or even mentioned, in the same story. However Fairy Tales, as anyone who has ever heard a bedtime story would know, do not merely contain faeries. And some say that this very diversity is what is saving the living-genre of the Fairy Tale; the argument being that, while faeries and gold-laying geese may be a thing of the past, the wicked stepmothers of the world have not disappeared - they have merely evolved. To unsur... Free Essays on Death Of A Fairytale Free Essays on Death Of A Fairytale Flick through any book of Fairy Tales, and you will be forced to confront the tragic extents to which the population of talking frogs, obese godmothers, and fairy princesses has plummeted in recent centuries. (And to qualify as a genuine fairy princess, one must be beautiful, sweet of voice and a sufferer of acute insomnia when in a five-mile radius of legumes. If you believe yourself to be a member of this excessively rare breed, please contact Smith & Rumpilstiltskin, Bounty Hunters) The dying out of the world’s LIPS (Ludicrous and Impossible Peoples) has been so gradual, that some of the world may have forgotten that they had existed to begin with, so minor a minority group are they. It’s a disgrace when the breeding habits of Bengel Tigers get more media attention than the recent ingenious plots of that devilish feline in knee-high boots. But what is the cause of this decline? Has our society doomed the wicked stepmothers and flying carpets of the world to extinction with logic and political correctness? Is it something in the water? In her book, ‘A Watcher’s Guide to Elf-Spotting’, Professor C. Derella explains, "Like rabbits to other rabbits, elves and faeries are inevitably drawn to fast-moving water, mainly because of their love of raucous and highly social games, frequently involving the highly anti-social water nymphs." Granted, this enlightening piece of information does not answer our question, but it does explain why - in these censored times of ours - elves and water nymphs are never heard of, or even mentioned, in the same story. However Fairy Tales, as anyone who has ever heard a bedtime story would know, do not merely contain faeries. And some say that this very diversity is what is saving the living-genre of the Fairy Tale; the argument being that, while faeries and gold-laying geese may be a thing of the past, the wicked stepmothers of the world have not disappeared - they have merely evolved. To unsur...

Learn About the Sirenians

Learn About the Sirenians Sirenians (Sirenia), also known as sea cows, are a group of mammals that includes dugongs and manatees. There are four species of sirenians alive today, three species of manatees and one species of dugong. A fifth species of sirenian, the Stellars sea cow, became extinct in the 18th century due to over-hunting by humans. The Stellars sea cow was the largest member of the sirenians and was once abundant throughout the North Pacific. Identifying a Sirenian Sirenians are large, slow-moving, aquatic mammals that live in shallow marine and freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical regions. Their preferred habitats include swamps, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal waters. Sirenians are well-adapted for an aquatic lifestyle, with an elongated, torpedo-shaped body, two paddle-like front flippers, and a broad, flat tail. In manatees, the tail is spoon-shaped and in the dugong, the tail is V-shaped. Sirenians have, over the course of their evolution, all but lost their hind limbs. Their hind limbs are vestigial and are tiny bones embedded in their body wall. Their skin is gray-brown. Adult sirenians grow to lengths of between 2.8 and 3.5 meters and weights of between 400 and 1,500 kg. All sirenians are herbivores. Their diet varies from species to species but includes a variety of aquatic vegetation such as seagrass, algae, mangrove leaves, and palm fruit that falls into the water. Manatees have evolved a unique tooth arrangement due to their diet (which involves the grinding of a lot of coarse vegetation). They only have molars that are replaced continuously. New teeth grown in at the back of the jaw and older teeth move forward until they reach the front of the jaw where they fall out. Dugongs have a slightly different arrangement of teeth in the jaw but like manatees, teeth are continuously replaced throughout their life. Male dugongs develop tusks when they reach maturity. The first sirenians evolved about 50 million years ago, during the Middle Eocene Epoch. Ancient sirenians are thought to have originated in the New World. As many as 50 species of fossil sirenians have been identified. The closest living relative to sirenians are the elephants. The primary predators of sirenians are humans. Hunting has played a major role in the decline of many populations (and in the extinction of the Stellars sea cow). But human activity such as fishing, and habitat destruction can also indirectly threaten sirenian populations. Other predators of sirenians include crocodiles, tiger sharks, killer whales, and jaguars. Key Characteristics The key characteristics of sirenians include: large aquatic herbivoresstreamlined body, no dorsal fintwo front flippers and no hind legsflat, paddle-shaped tailcontinuous tooth growth and replacement of molars Classification Sirenians are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Sirenians Sirenians are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Dugongs (Dugongidae) - There is one species of dugong alive today. The dugong (Dugong dugong) inhabits coastal marine waters of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The dugong has a V-shaped (fluked) tail and males grow tusks.Manatees (Trichechidae) - There are three species of manatees alive today. Members of this group are usually solitary animals (except for mothers with their young). Manatees prefer freshwater aquatic habitats and coastal saltwater marshes. Their distribution includes the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin, and parts of West Africa such as the Senegal River, Kwanza River, and Niger River.

Augustines Tribute to his Mother Monica Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Augustines Tribute to his Mother Monica - Essay Example Augustine commented later in his life that, "to her merit, I think, I owe everything that is best in me. (Bonner, p.38) Monica has been raised in a Christian family with the traditional customs of the African Church. She was not, however, given a formal education. She was married to Patricius, who was not a Christian. And, as with her son, she prayed continually for her husband, and waited in silence, so that at "the end of his earthly existence" he converted to God. (Bourke, p.148) Monica's strict teachings about sin and faith inflicted a tormenting burden on her son rather than supplying inner peace. His Confessions witnesses to the painful struggle of faith that such an education promoted. However, Augustine never mentions his mother in any negative way. The commitment and love of Monica is valued as the basis of Augustine's faith. The simple teaching and model of Christianity, given to him in his youth would last a lifetime. Nevertheless, Monica's direct influence on her son continued only until he was shaken as a result of his intellectual experience through books. (Brown, p.31) Monica is more than just a doting housewife; rather, she is a "handmaid of God" whose pious living, prayer, and visionary zeal bring Augustine to a spiritual birth in his conversion. Monica belonged to Numidian society where culture provides no status to women and they play only a submissive role despite all their positivity and diligence. They were vulnerable to men's violence in routine. It was surprising for other women that Monica didn't have any scars or other signs of her husband's violence on her face or body. She explained them that her husband was also very strict but for past many years she had adopted the policy of silence and quiet obedience and finally been able to strengthen bond of love with her children by being submissive to her husband and gradually succeeded to convert them according to her will (Hunter, p. 63-85). This conventional thought of marriage was then inherited by Augustine also and he believed the relation of husband and wife sort of master and slave wh ich worsened women's status in the society. He even justifies men for practicing violence over their wives. According to him the sole purpose of marriages was procreation. (Stark, p. 57-58) Monica Compared with Rebekah of Genesis Rebekah is a godly character from Genesis, and possesses all the attributes of sacred women but if we analyze her character and compare it with that of Monica; we realize that she was not as submissive to her husband as Monica. She had lot of patience and was powerful enough to decide when to bow down before the husband's will and when to resist. She believed that as a Godly woman it was her duty to realize weaknesses of her husband and must pray to god to overcome them in addition to her own efforts. She also seems to be bold enough to face her husband as she motivated her son Jacob to go against his father. Whereas, having no ifs and buts, Monica was evidently submissive to her

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Economics - Essay Example Economics has been called and is known as a Social Science one that actually focuses on the subject matter that is concerned with the fair distribution, proper level production and the over all consumption of various Goods( products and services). It is estimated that the history of Economics can be divided up into three distinctive eras, the first era being named, the pre-modern era, the second era being named the early modern era, and the third and final time span being named the modern era of economics. Regardless of that though the three eras are not very important as it has been observed that the systematic theory the most advances have been made with the advent or let say the birth of the modern era. The complete amount of credit for the development in this field can be attributed as it is seen through history to the late Scholastics and to be more specific the development can be attributed to the finding and contribution, rather to the overall over done in the study of economic to the Scholastics of the 15th and 16th century Spain. Economics has been defined in many ways some say it’s the measurement of cost and production with reference to its actually consumption, some say it’s the level of production with respect to the distribution, some even say that economics generally refers to the developmental area of a country however one very specific definition that sort of does complete justice in explaining Economics is that one which calls economic that science that studies that human behavior as a relationship that occurs between the ends and the scarce means an those could have alternative uses. The word scarce here generally holds the meaning that the productivity or the availability of a certain resource is insufficient enough to fulfill the complete needs of the people. Economics has two very main stream branches those

Nurses as Entrepreneurs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nurses as Entrepreneurs - Research Paper Example Largely, the practices enable the nurses to intervene for patients as caregivers. Various faculties in nursing prepare nurses for the entrepreneurship projects for example community health, mental health among others. Ideally, the opportunity that the nurses have does not only help them to utilize their potential but also promote assistance to the community. Benefits of Nurse as Entrepreneur The nursing business does not necessarily need to take place in an office or room. Nurses are able to make mobile community visits where there are able to conduct their services. Studies show that nurse entrepreneurs conduct their activities using electronic terminal (Fero, et.al. 2010). In addition, a nurse may have a small office where patients can report to or place their request for services. Instituting a nursing business enables a nurse to increase her or his visibility, direct their creativity in providing services to the society. Ideally, challenges in the business would expose the nurse thereby influencing his or her approach in the profession. The adventures is rewarding because it does not constraint the nurse to achieve a given job target. However, it makes the nurse to work at her own convenience. The nurses who operate their activities as entrepreneurs show credible work because they have to demonstrate high standard of service delivery. Failure to supply the same would lead to low profits. The entrepreneurial skills required in the business are similar to the ones in other business activities (Fero, et.al. 2010). For examples, nurse entrepreneurs must demonstrate the following attributes in order to be successful excellent interpersonal skills, collaboration skills, critical thinking, and credibility. Nurse as an entrepreneur has numerous rewards ranging from financial benefits to professional benefits. Many nurses who opt to practices as entrepreneurs demonstrate satisfaction to the services and the duties they conduct. Barriers Entry into the nursing busine ss may poses challenges to nurses. Some of the barriers identified in nursing entrepreneurship include lack of skills to operate successful as an entrepreneur nurse. Knowledge is critical in defining the model of the business. While nurses attend professional training, business skill is not the central subject they do learn. Thus, the success of the business would depend on the business skills that the nurse has acquired from other forms of training. Critical evaluation and administration of the business skills is vital to the future of the success of any given business. Some nurses are unable to acquire the privileges they receive while practicing in hospitals. Since the duty depends with the work input of the nurse, it means that failure to input enough effort would lead to business failure. Studies shows that requirements such as malpractice insurance cover, statutory requirements and start up cost may hinder the efforts of nurses that wish to start their own business (Fitzpatric k & Ea, 2011). Largely, any business model has requirements, which influence the entry behavior. The government requirement or a restriction is another factor that influences nurse entrepreneur. While financial capability of the individual willing to institute the business would be instrumental in its growth, the outcome or the service trend of the business will also influence the number of client that the business is likely to receive (Fitzpatrick & Ea, 2011). For instance, the government evaluates and offer license for

The Term Of Nakakainis In The Philippines English Language Essay

The Term Of Nakakainis In The Philippines English Language Essay Have you encountered a time when you are feeling really irritated or annoyed that you would just like to punch or slap a pesky person? When you are being disturbed by an utterly foolish person who asks nonsense questions? Or when you did not get to watch your favorite soap opera? These situations make you say NAKAKAINIS!!, right? But Filipino youth these days barely use the original meaning of nakakainis irritated, annoyed and troubled (Nakakainis in English, Yahoo Answers. June 2010). Filipino youth would say NAKAKAINIS if they find things which are interesting like after watching this video (Ayos sa Trip si Manong, You Tube . June 2010), seeing this very cute picture (Baby Cheeks, Flickr [picture file]. November 2005) or cracking Filipino funny jokes like Q: bakit bawal maligo ng sabay-sabay ang mga kalbo sa Jacuzzi? A: Kasi, magmu-mukha silang pinipritong squid ball!! They would say NAKAKAINIS!! even if they are not feeling irritated or annoyed. This is the NAKAKAINIS of our youth . We can also say that it is the modern nakakinis for the youth. NAKAKAINIS is a form of expression that is used by Filipino youth. They use it when they see interesting pictures, videos, mannerisms or stuffed toys. The word nakakainis has a prefix nakaka- and a root word inis. In Filipino, the prefix or unlaping naka- is used when the word will be used as a conjugate in the sentence. If the essay or sentence must be written in formal, the conjugate should be written having its prefix nakaka- first, and the root word itself. Example: nakakabaliw, nakakamatay, nakakagalit. If it is informal, the prefix naka- should be written fist, followed by the first syllable of the word, and the root word itself. Example: nakababaliw nakamamatay, nakagagalit. (Panlapi, Gintong Pamana: Aklat sa Wika 3. 2006) The word nakakainis has two different meanings the feeling of irritation or annoyance and the reaction of the showing of interest in a thing. Nakakainis, in English, means irritating or annoying. According to the definition of annoyance, if the feeling of irritations and annoyance mount up, our feeling outbursts and thus, the feeing of irritation and annoyance will be changed or result in anger or frustration.(Annoyance, Experience Festival. n.d.) It is an uncomfortable feeling that can be the reason of a sudden outburst of anger. Sometimes, if a person is really irritated or annoyed, he could not control his emotions and do something rush that would result to a big problem. People who doesnt have control in their feelings would shout or hurt the feelings of the person who irritates or annoys them. When we get angry because of irritation and annoyance, we should have presence of mind to prevent unwanted events to happen like fighting. The expression nakakainis, in a high-pitched tone, can mean the reaction after seeing interesting things. For example, a teenager sees you carrying a cute Crayola pillow and her reaction will surely be: Its so cute! Where did you buy that? Nakakainis! or I would also like to have one! Nakakainis ang pagka-cute nya! In my high school, my classmates used nakakainis as an expression whenever they find cute and interesting things. Making a person happy of satisfying a persons need is the same as pleasing them while annoyance or irritation is when somebody or something making you feel uneasy by continuously bothering you. Pleasing a person is not easy as annoying or irritating a person. We can contrast irritation or annoyance to pleasing a person. It takes time and effort to please somebody. Most of the time, people please others because they are scared of rejection. They are scared to be left alone and thus, making themselves always available even though they are busy. People-pleasers, those people who please others, feel that people are taking advantage of them because of their low self esteem. People-pleasers always suffer because of low esteem and they cant say no to people who ask them favors or requests. Ms. Carla Valencia stated in her blog that those people who like to please others are scared of people rejecting them, preventing problems between other people, problem on always degrading themselves beca use they are not confident enough on their abilities, skills or knowledge. (Low Self Esteem and Pleasing People, More Self Esteem. n.d.) Stress can be the result of being irritated and annoyed always. As stated earlier, being irritated or annoyed can lead to emotions such as anger and frustration. We all know that stress has a great effect in our lives. It makes us age prematurely, can lead us to have psychosomatic illness and greatly affect our job. Stress can be more of a factor in determining your physical age than the number of candles you blow out each year. (#7 Effects of Stress, About. November 2007) Because of stress, a person can look older than his present age. A good example for this one is the commercial from the StressTabs. In the commercial, Giselle Sanchez, the host of the bar, thought that a looking sick and old girl was already in her 50s so she called her as lola. Then the boyfriend of the girl told Giselle Sanchez that she is his girlfriend and she looks like that because she is stressed and tired from work. But the girl, after taking StressTabs, looked like she transformed into a pretty, fine, youn g-looking girl. This commercial is telling us that being stress always would ruin our beautiful face and will only look older. According to the number five of the effects of stress, it is stated that thinking negative things and being emotionally stressed results in psychosomatic illness. We should be worrying about it because it can be treated like in any other kind of sickness. (#5 Effects of Stress, About. November 2007) People can cure themselves by attending Yoga classes. By doing Yoga, stress will go away and it can refrain us from getting or acquiring psychosomatic illnesses. People should always think positive things to also prevent from being stressed and sick. We, people, need to have energy to work. But, if we are always stressed, we cant do our job well. People need to rest to have energy. The Filipino expression kakagigil or a intense emotion, urge or feeling that a person gets over with something that he/she thinks is totally wonderful and together describes carefully how a person responds or want to respond (Getting Gigil with It, Culture Fried. March 2010), can be compared to kakainis. NAKAKAINIS is a form of expression that is used by Filipino youth. They use it when they see interesting pictures, videos, mannerisms or stuffed toys. The expressions that we daily use reflects on our attitudes. Most expressions are slang and vulgar words. We should be wary of people because they will base their first impressions on other people by just hearing their expressions. Especially here in the Philippines, most expressions used are curses, slang and other vulgar words. We should be careful in every word we say. Expressions are like any other words we encounter. As we all know, words are dynamic. Thus, the expressions we daily use could also evolve its meaning in years to come.

Essay --

ME: I spent nearly 15 years harboring un-forgiveness against an individual. I was 7 years old I lost my Mother .My father was left to raise seven children. We didn’t have much and it showed in my appearance and unkempt hair. I remembered sitting in class one particular day; the teacher asked each of us what we wanted to be when we grew up. When the time came for me to answer I stood up and said that â€Å"I wanted to be a teacher† and she looked at me and said â€Å"you should think of something else more realistic. I had heard hurtful words repeatedly as a child but that day, I was crushed by them. I recall how the entire class laughed and made fun of me and years later I believed that I was never going to amount to anything, and everything I attempted failed. It was as if those words were like a ball and chain on me. My Dad was a weekend alcoholic back then and he worked hard during the week but on the weekends he was never around. My childhood was a very lonely one, I didn’t have any friends, only associates, but there was this guy name Chris, he was a sweet and very nice boy. I use to talk to him from time to time but he was very reserved and was always by himself. I felt badly for him, after all, I felt that we were both misfits. We had become good friends, and even though he wasn’t much of a talker, neither of us seemed to mind, we were just grateful to have the other as a friend. Then one day I learned that he had committed suicide. We hadn’t been friends all that long but he was the only friend I had and I was really hurt, angry, and I even questioned and blamed God for allowing it to happen. I couldn’t understand how he would allow it and I had a hard time dealing with it. I had to get away, so when I turned 18 I decided to ... ...e command, or any Holy words provided, as they are in the other two Sacraments. Also, a foot washing is void of evangelical grace, or pardon of sin, which is why it should not be practiced in the church as Sacrament. I pray that you learned from this study of Jesus’s example, and I pray that God continue to stir us up to live lives which are pleasing in His sight and from which He get all the honor and glory. It was due to this study that I was able to free myself by forgiving the teacher who spoke nothingness into my life and those who made my life a living hell growing up. Immediately when I forgave them I felt as if that ball and chain that was attached to me just broke into and fell off. I no longer receive the report of others; I believe what God said about me. I perform feet washing according to the teaching of Jesus; I just do not perform them as Sacrament.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 26. Shiny

â€Å"I don't know how much we should tell Renee about this,† Charlie said, hesitating with one foot out the door. He stretched, and then his stomach growled. I nodded. â€Å"I know, i don't want to freak her out. Better to protect her. This stuff isn't for the fainthearted.† His lips twisted up to the side ruefully. â€Å"I would have tried to protect you, too, if I'd known how. But I guess you've never fit into the fainthearted category, have you?† I smiled back, pulling a blazing breath in through my teeth. Charlie patted his stomach absently. â€Å"I'll think of something. We've got time to discuss this, right?† â€Å"Right,† I promised him. It had been a long day in some ways, and so short in others. Charlie was late for dinner – Sue Clearwater was cooking for him and Billy. That was going to be an awkward evening, but at least he'd be eating real food; I was glad someone was trying to keep him from starving due to his lack of cooking ability. All day the tension had made the minutes pass slowly; Charlie had never relaxed the stiff set of his shoulders. But he'd been in no hurry to leave, either. He'd watched two whole games – thankfully so absorbed in his thoughts that he was totally oblivious to Emmett's suggestive jokes that got more pointed and less football-related with each aside – and the after-game commentaries, and then the news, not moving until Seth had reminded him of the time. â€Å"You gonna stand Billy and my mom up, Charlie? C'mon. Bella and Nessie'll be here tomorrow. Let's get some grub, eh?† It had been clear in Charlie's eyes that he hadn't trusted Seth's assessment, but he'd let Seth lead the way out. The doubt was still there as he paused now. The clouds were thinning, the rain gone. The sun might even make an appearance just in time to set. â€Å"Jake says you guys were going to take off on me,† he muttered to me now. â€Å"I didn't want to do that if there was any way at all around it. That's why we're still here.† â€Å"He said you could stay for a while, but only if I'm tough enough, and if I can keep my mouth shut.† â€Å"Yes†¦ but I can't promise that we'll never leave, Dad. It's pretty complicated___† â€Å"Need to know,† he reminded me. â€Å"Right.† â€Å"You'll visit, though, if you have to go?† â€Å"I promise, Dad. Now that you know/usf enough, I think this can work. I'll keep as close as you want.† He chewed on his lip for half a second, then leaned slowly toward me with his arms cautiously extended. I shifted Renesmee – napping now – to my left arm, locked my teeth, held my breath, and wrapped my right arm very lightly around his warm, soft waist. â€Å"Keep real close, Bells,† he mumbled. â€Å"Real close.† â€Å"Love you, Dad,† I whispered through my teeth. He shivered and pulled away. I dropped my arm. â€Å"Love you, too, kid. Whatever else has changed, that hasn't.† He touched one finger to Renesmee's pink cheek. â€Å"She sure looks a lot like you.† I kept my expression casual, though I felt anything but. â€Å"More like Edward, I think.† I hesitated, and then added, â€Å"She has your curls.† Charlie started, then snorted. â€Å"Huh. Guess she does. Huh. Grandpa.† He shook his head doubtfully. â€Å"Do I ever get to hold her?† I blinked in shock and then composed myself. After considering for a half second and judging Renesmee's appearance – she looked completely out – I decided that I might as well push my luck to the limit, since things were going so well today___ â€Å"Here,† I said, holding her out to him. He automatically made an awkward cradle with his arms, and I tucked Renesmee into it. His skin wasn't quite as hot as hers, but it made my throat tickle to feel the warmth flowing under the thin membrane. Where my white skin brushed him it left goose bumps. I wasn't sure if this was a reaction to my new temperature or totally psychological. Charlie grunted quietly as he felt her weight. â€Å"She's†¦ sturdy.† I frowned. She felt feather-light to me. Maybe my measure was off. â€Å"Sturdy is good,† Charlie said, seeing my expression. Then he muttered to himself, â€Å"She'll need to be tough, surrounded by all this craziness.† He bounced his arms gently, swaying a little from side to side. â€Å"Prettiest baby I ever saw, including you, kid. Sorry, but it's true.† â€Å"I know it is.† â€Å"Pretty baby,† he said again, but it was closer to a coo this time. I could see it in his face – I could watch it growing there. Charlie was just as helpless against her magic as the rest of us. Two seconds in his arms, and already she owned him. â€Å"Can I come back tomorrow?† â€Å"Sure, Dad. Of course. We'll be here.† â€Å"You'd better be,† he said sternly, but his face was soft, still gazing at Renesmee. â€Å"See you tomorrow, Nessie.† â€Å"Not you, too!† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Her name is Renesmee. Like Renee and Esme, put together. No variations.† I struggled to calm myself without the deep breath this time. â€Å"Do you want to hear her middle name?† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"Carlie. With a C. Like Carlisle and Charlie put together.† Charlie's eye-creasing grin lit up his face, taking me off guard. â€Å"Thanks, Bells.† â€Å"Thank you, Dad. So much has changed so quickly. My head hasn't stopped spinning. If I didn't have you now, I don't know how I'd keep my grip on – on reality.† I'd been about to say my grip on who I was. That was probably more than he needed. Charlie's stomach growled. â€Å"Go eat, Dad. We will be here.† I remembered how it felt, that first uncomfortable immersion in fantasy – the sensation that everything would disappear in the light of the rising sun. Charlie nodded and then reluctantly returned Renesmee to me. He glanced past me into the house; his eyes were a little wild for a minute as he stared around the big bright room. Everyone was still there, besides Jacob, who I could hear raiding the refrigerator in the kitchen; Alice was lounging on the bottom step of the staircase with Jasper's head in her lap; Carlisle had his head bent over a fat book in his lap; Esme was humming to herself, sketching on a notepad, while Rosalie and Emmett laid out the foundation for a monumental house of cards under the stairs; Edward had drifted to his piano and was playing very softly to himself. There was no evidence that the day was coming to a close, that it might be time to eat or shift activities in preparation for evening. Something intangible had changed in the atmosphere. The Cullens weren't trying as hard as they usually did – the human charade had slipped ever so slightly, enough for Charlie to feel the difference. He shuddered, shook his head, and sighed. â€Å"See you tomorrow, Bella.† He frowned and then added, â€Å"I mean, it's not like you don't look†¦ good. I'll get used to it.† â€Å"Thanks, Dad.† Charlie nodded and walked thoughtfully toward his car. I watched him drive away; it wasn't until I heard his tires hit the freeway that I realized I'd done it. I'd actually made it through the whole day without hurting Charlie. All by myself. I must have a superpower! It seemed too good to be true. Could I really have both my new family and some of my old as well? And I'd thought that yesterday had been perfect. â€Å"Wow,† I whispered. I blinked and felt the third set of contact lenses disintegrate. The sound of the piano cut off, and Edward's arms were around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. â€Å"You took the word right out of my mouth.† â€Å"Edward, i did it!† â€Å"You did. You were unbelievable. All that worrying over being a newborn, and then you skip it altogether.'7He laughed quietly. â€Å"I'm not even sure she's really a vampire, let alone a newborn,† Emmett called from under the stairs. â€Å"She's too tame.† All the embarrassing comments he'd made in front of my father sounded in my ears again, and it was probably a good thing I was holding Renesmee. Unable to help my reaction entirely, I snarled under my breath. â€Å"Oooo, scary,† Emmett laughed. I hissed, and Renesmee stirred in my arms. She blinked a few times, then looked around, her expression confused. She sniffed, then reached for my face. â€Å"Charlie will be back tomorrow,† I assured her. â€Å"Excellent,† Emmett said. Rosalie laughed with him this time. â€Å"Not brilliant, Emmett,† Edward said scornfully, holding out his hands to take Renesmee from me. He winked when I hesitated, and so, a little confused, I gave her to him. â€Å"What do you mean?† Emmett demanded. â€Å"It's a little dense, don't you think, to antagonize the strongest vampire in the house?† Emmett threw his head back and snorted. â€Å"Please!† â€Å"Bella,† Edward murmured to me while Emmett listened closely, â€Å"do you remember a few months ago, I asked you to do me a favor once you were immortal?† That rang a dim bell. I sifted through the blurry human conversations. After a moment, I remembered and I gasped, â€Å"Oh!† Alice trilled a long, pealing laugh. Jacob poked his head around the corner, his mouth stuffed with food. â€Å"What?† Emmett growled. â€Å"Really?† I asked Edward. â€Å"Trust me,† he said. I took a deep breath. â€Å"Emmett, how do you feel about a little bet?† He was on his feet at once. â€Å"Awesome. Bring it.† I bit my lip for a second. He was just so huge. â€Å"Unless you're too afraid†¦ ?† Emmett suggested. I squared my shoulders. â€Å"You. Me. Arm-wrestling. Dining room table. Now.† Emmett's grin stretched across his face. â€Å"Er, Bella,† Alice said quickly, â€Å"I think Esme is fairly fond of that table. It's an antique.† â€Å"Thanks,† Esme mouthed at her. â€Å"No problem,† Emmett said with a gleaming smile. â€Å"Right this way, Bella.† I followed him out the back, toward the garage; I could hear all the others trailing behind. There was a largish granite boulder standing up out of a tumble of rocks near the river, obviously Emmett's goal. Though the big rock was a little rounded and irregular, it would do the job. Emmett placed his elbow on the rock and waved me forward. I was nervous again as I watched the thick muscles in Emmett's arm roll, but I kept my face smooth. Edward had promised I would be stronger than anyone for a while. He seemed very confident about this, and I felt strong. That strong? I wondered, looking at Emmett's biceps. I wasn't even two days old, though, and that ought to count for something. Unless nothing was normal about me. Maybe I wasn't as strong as a normal newborn. Maybe that's why control was so easy for me. I tried to look unconcerned as I set my elbow against the stone. â€Å"Okay, Emmett. I win, and you cannot say one more word about my sex life to anyone, not even Rose. No allusions, no innuendos – no nothing.† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Deal. I win, and it's going to get a lot worse.† He heard my breath stop and grinned evilly. There was no hint of bluff in his eyes. â€Å"You gonna back down so easy, little sister?† Emmett taunted. â€Å"Not much wild about you, is there? I bet that cottage doesn't have a scratch.† He laughed. â€Å"Did Edward tell you how many houses Rose and I smashed?† I gritted my teeth and grabbed his big hand. â€Å"One, two – â€Å" â€Å"Three,† he grunted, and shoved against my hand. Nothing happened. Oh, I could feel the force he was exerting. My new mind seemed pretty good at all kinds of calculations, and so I could tell that if he wasn't meeting any resistance, his hand would have pounded right through the rock without difficulty. The pressure increased, and I wondered randomly if a cement truck doing forty miles an hour down a sharp decline would have similar power. Fifty miles an hour? Sixty? Probably more. It wasn't enough to move me. His hand shoved against mine with crushing force, but it wasn't unpleasant. It felt kind of good in a weird way. I'd been so very careful since the last time I woke up, trying so hard not to break things. It was a strange relief to use my muscles. To let the strength flow rather than struggling to restrain it. Emmett grunted; his forehead creased and his whole body strained in one rigid line toward the obstacle of my unmoving hand. I let him sweat – figuratively – for a moment while I enjoyed the sensation of the crazy force running through my arm. A few seconds, though, and I was a little bored with it. I flexed; Emmett lost an inch. I laughed. Emmett snarled harshly through his teeth. â€Å"Just keep your mouth shut,† I reminded him, and then I smashed his hand into the boulder. A deafening crack echoed off the trees. The rock shuddered, and a piece – about an eighth of the mass – broke off at an invisible fault line and crashed to the ground. It fell on Emmett's foot, and I snickered. I could hear Jacob's and Edward's muffled laughter. Emmett kicked the rock fragment across the river. It sliced a young maple in half before thudding into the base of a big fir, which swayed and then fell into another tree. â€Å"Rematch. Tomorrow.† â€Å"It's not going to wear off that fast,† I told him. â€Å"Maybe you ought to give it a month.† Emmett growled, flashing his teeth. â€Å"Tomorrow.† â€Å"Hey, whatever makes you happy, big brother.† As he turned to stalk away, Emmett punched the granite, shattering off an avalanche of shards and powder. It was kind of neat, in a childish way. Fascinated by the undeniable proof that I was stronger than the strongest vampire I'd ever known, I placed my hand, fingers spread wide, against the rock. Then I dug my fingers slowly into the stone, crushing rather than digging; the consistency reminded me of hard cheese. I ended up with a handful of gravel. â€Å"Cool,† I mumbled. With a grin stretching my face, I whirled in a sudden circle and karate-chopped the rock with the side of my hand. The stone shrieked and groaned and – with a big poof of dust – split in two. I started giggling. I didn't pay much attention to the chuckles behind me while I punched and kicked the rest of the boulder into fragments. I was having too much fun, snickering away the whole time. It wasn't until I heard a new little giggle, a high-pitched peal of bells, that I turned away from my silly game. â€Å"Did she just laugh?† Everyone was staring at Renesmee with the same dumbstruck expression that must have been on my face. â€Å"Yes,† Edward said. â€Å"Who wasnt laughing?† Jake muttered, rolling his eyes. â€Å"Tell me you didn't let go a bit on your first run, dog,† Edward teased, no antagonism in his voice at all. â€Å"That's different,† Jacob said, and I watched in surprise as he mock-punched Edward's shoulder. â€Å"Bella's supposed to be a grown-up. Married and a mom and all that. Shouldn't there be more dignity?† Renesmee frowned, and touched Edward's face. â€Å"What does she want?† I asked. â€Å"Less dignity,† Edward said with a grin. â€Å"She was having almost as much fun watching you enjoy yourself as I was.† â€Å"Am I funny?† I asked Renesmee, darting back and reaching for her at the same time that she reached for me. I took her out of Edward's arms and offered her the shard of rock in my hand. â€Å"You want to try?† She smiled her glittering smile and took the stone in both hands. She squeezed, a little dent forming between her eyebrows as she concentrated. There was a tiny grinding sound, and a bit of dust. She frowned, and held the chunk up to me. Til get it,† I said, pinching the stone into sand. She clapped and laughed; the delicious sound of it made us all join in. The sun suddenly burst through the clouds, shooting long beams of ruby and gold across the ten of us, and I was immediately lost in the beauty of my skin in the light of the sunset. Dazed by it. Renesmee stroked the smooth diamond-bright facets, then laid her arm next to mine. Her skin had just a faint luminosity, subtle and mysterious. Nothing that would keep her inside on a sunny day like my glowing sparkle. She touched my face, thinking of the difference and feeling disgruntled. â€Å"You're the prettiest,† I assured her. Tm not sure I can agree to that,† Edward said, and when I turned to answer him, the sunlight on his face stunned me into silence. Jacob had his hand in front of his face, pretending to shield his eyes from the glare. â€Å"Freaky Bella,† he commented. â€Å"What an amazing creature she is,† Edward murmured, almost in agreement, as if Jacob's comment was meant as a compliment. He was both dazzling and dazzled. It was a strange feeling – not surprising, I supposed, since everything felt strange now – this being a natural at something. As a human, I'd never been best at anything. I was okay at dealing with Renee, but probably lots of people could have done better; Phil seemed to be holding his own. I was a good student, but never the top of the class. Obviously, I could be counted out of anything athletic. Not artistic or musical, no particular talents to brag of. Nobody ever gave away a trophy for reading books. After eighteen years of mediocrity, I was pretty used to being average. I realized now that I'd long ago given up any aspirations of shining at anything. I just did the best with what I had, never quite fitting into my world. So this was really different. I was amazing now – to them and to myself. It was like I had been born to be a vampire. The idea made me want to laugh, but it also made me want to sing. I had found my true place in the world, the place I fit, the place I shined.