Birth of a New Nation essays

Birth of a New Nation essays In the mid-18th century, the colonists in America were becoming upset with the way the English government was taking advantage of them. Their rights as Englishmen had been compromised and they wanted to show the Mother Country that they would not stand for this much longer. After looking at the big picture, it could be determined that a war between the two was unavoidable. The Revolution commenced and when the colonists finally won, this let our Founding Fathers establish a new, unique form of Republican government. There were still problems, however, as ethnocentrism still existed. The nation was free, but this was not true for all its citizens. Women could still not vote, slavery continued until the Civil War, and the Americans were still pushing around the Native Americans. For a revolution, some things still did not change. Society remained a hierarchy with the male landowners on top, just as it was under English rule. The American Revolution was described as a fight between a young group of colonies yearning to gain political freedom and a tyrannical monarchy that denied them the rights they deserved. If this was the case, then our Founding Fathers who established our Constitution and Republican government were not that much different than the monarchy of England. Of course there was no one absolute ruler, but being former Englishmen influenced their judgment and compelled them to put several policies of the British government into effect, as well as their own unique ones. They had been used to the English system and did not want to make any radical changes so quickly. The majority of these ideas that came from England were used to keep the minorities below the white, male, landowner class. The nation was based upon freedom and equality, but apparently it was only for that one male class. Slavery was still a large business in the United States. The Southern farmers were used to having the free labor and did not ...

How To Grow Sodium Nitrate Crystals

How To Grow Sodium Nitrate Crystals Sodium nitrate is a common chemical, found in food, fertilizer, glass enamel, and pyrotechnics. Sodium nitrate, NaNO3, forms colorless hexagonal crystals. Although these crystals are a bit more challenging to grow than some of the beginner crystals, the interesting crystal structure makes them worth the effort. The crystal somewhat resembles calcite, exhibiting some of the same properties. Sodium nitrate crystals can be used to examine double refraction, cleavage, and glide. Sodium Nitrate Crystal Growing Solution Dissolve 110 grams sodium nitrate per 100 ml hot water. This will be a supersaturated solution. One method of growing crystals is to allow this solution to cool in an undisturbed location and allow it to produce crystals as the liquid evaporates.Another method of growing this crystal is to grow a single crystal in a sealed container from a supersaturated solution. If you choose to follow this method, prepare the aforementioned solution, allow this solution to cool, then add a couple of grains of sodium nitrate and seal the container. The excess sodium nitrate will deposit on the grains, producing a saturated sodium nitrate solution. Allow a couple of days for this to occur.Pour off the saturated solution. Pour a small amount of this solution into a shallow dish. Allow the liquid to evaporate, to produce small seed crystals. Select a crystal or two for further growth.To prepare the supersaturated growing solution, to your existing solution add 3 grams of sodium nitrate per 100 ml of w ater in the original solution. So, if you prepared 300 ml of solution, you would add an extra 9 grams of sodium nitrate. Carefully add your seed crystal to this liquid. You can suspend the crystal from a nylon monofilament. A nylon monofilament or wire is used because it wont wick up the solution, causing evaporation.Seal the jar and allow the crystals to grow at a constant temperature, someplace they wont be disturbed. Sodium nitrate is very sensitive to temperature changes, so maintaining a constant temperature is important. If you have difficulty maintaining a temperature, you can place the sealed jar inside a water bath. If you dont see crystal growth after a few days, try lowering the temperature slightly.

The Important of Simulations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Important of Simulations - Assignment Example They only need to be totally within the computer environment to play any game. Another interesting part of simulation is how the whole concept works. It is hard to believe that something good can come out of mimicking. However, this is made to look more serious where one earns that simulation is not about imitation alone (Pidd, 2003). 2-In the case of any decision making type, the makers of the decisions will have to understand, plan, analyse as well as manage the system. These activities are involved in decision making. Typically, the decisions involve real systems comprised of complex methods with highly interdependent components that exhibit vulnerability as well as change over time. With the absence of a model, makers of decisions would make use of various processes for information gathering from a system that is real, process it and finally select an action which creates some change within the system. In general, model based decision making as well as simulation based decision making particularly do offer decision makers a way of investigating the system’s representation, use alternatives to experiment and then predict the proposed changes effects, that are external to the system. The approach does increase the decision space greatly. This means that it allows for the evaluation of many alternatives. The approach is not invasive on the system and allow for the assessment of risk of actions. For a decision maker to directly interact with simulation models effectively, models require to be entrenched in decision support systems, which enable data entering within the model as well as enhance the model’s output presentation (Pidd, 2003). 3-Some highly complex operations that benefit from simulation include transportation of raw material. Trains or truck, which transport finished goods or raw materials are scheduled as well as planned on the simulation basis. The

Consumer Behavior Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consumer Behavior Analysis - Essay Example Economists have analyzed that all types of goods and services need not be advertized for the purpose of sales. Producer’s decisions to incur advertisement expenses largely depend on the market or industry concerned. Competitive market producers never go for advertisement expenses, like the sellers and producers of potatoes (Yeshin, 2006). When business firms face high monopolistic or imperfect competitive markets then they resort to high advertisement expenses. Personal care products are consumer goods products and its trading involves cut thought competition. Large number of business firms enter in such trading and the major differences between their products is qualitative in nature. Thus while targeting the young generations between 18 to 35 years in U.S.; the company must select an appropriate advertising strategy. A good slogan or message for advertisement is the one that is simple, clear and short. The slogan should be easy so that most of the buyers in the market of dif ferent classes can relate to it. â€Å"Every Man is Unique† can be an appropriate message for the personal care products for young men. This is because personal care products like shaving accessories; face wash etc. helps to keep the looks fresh and good (Pure Health, 2011). The viewer ship ratings of a product largely depend on the popularity of the advertisement slogan. ... Demand for personal care products depends on the tastes and preferences of the consumers. For some buyers requirement of personal care products may be an act of necessary consumption. While for others it may be a type of comfort good. While marketing a range of consumer care products for men in U.S., a seller might have several difficulties to attract the consumers. This is because U.S. exhibits different types of cultures in its society. The culture in U.S. is primarily western in nature but still influenced by African, Asian and Latin American cultures. Thus the company must consider different types of culture in U.S. and carry its business activities. There are also many other cultures in U.S. like Polynesian and Native American cultures. The essay tries to analyze different cultures appeal for personal care products, the three cultures considered are African, Asian and Latin American. Africans in America resemble the Black Culture in the society. They are traditional in their tho ught and firmly follow the heritage and culture of Africa (FROST, 2012). It is empirically found that despite of the global crisis, the industry for toilet soap has remained successful in Africa (FROST, 2012). The Africans create high demand for personal care products. Thus appeal for male personal care products would be high from the Africans in U.S. The demand for male grooming products in Asian countries is rising significantly. Many natives in U.S. are from Asian families. So it can be analyzed that the demand for male grooming products will be good from the Asians living in U.S. Latin American men consider themselves to be good looking. The consumers of Latin American cultures are demand for large quantities of cosmetics in

Compare and contrast teachers and administrator Essay Example for Free

Compare and contrast teachers and administrator Essay During my interviews I realized that being a teacher or an administrator has its ups and downs to it. The teacher answered her questions as someone who deals and interacts with children every day. The administrator answered his questions as someone who deals with more what’s best for the children with little interaction with them. Knowing what I found out about the two professions I would lean more towards as being a teacher because an administrator has too many responbilieties. There are many things that the teacher and the administrator have in common. First off they both are in education and want to help children grow into adults as the graduate. They both try to help educate the children without offending any religion or beliefs that the children may have. The teacher and the administrator both went to college to get a bachelor and master’s degree in education. They both have the similar reasoning for being in education field. Finally both of them share the love of being around children to help them be the best they can. Teachers and administrator have many things that are different from each other as well. They both have different degrees in education. An administrator has a master’s in business and a teacher has bachelors in science childhood education. The administrator went to college longer than the teacher. The teacher is there to have one on one time with the students if they need to stay for help. The administrator does not really have one on one time with the students they are to help keep students in school and any other problems that might occur. When I interviewed the administrator he was calm and very well spoken and knew a lot about running a school. He did not have any teachers in his family. He got his influence from his college English professor named Body The greatest benefit he has as an administrator is having the joy of knowing that he is helping educate and keeping children safe. The administrator does live in the same community has the children do? Yes, he believes that living around them will help to understand where the children come from and what kind of students they want to become. When I asked the administrator if he would recommend the education profession to others he said it is not for everyone. But the ones who do have what it takes to be teacher or work with children will have compassion towards them and understand what they want. So I asked myself is becoming a teacher still what I want and â€Å"yes† it is. To teach early childhood education is what I am called to do. I also learned during this interviewing process is that this job takes a lot patience, courage, and strength to help reach and teach students. I want to get to know each child as individual and what kind of goals they want for themselves. I want to help them reach it. I get closer to reaching my goal even though it has not been an easy road. I have had tons of support to do this. I would say being in administrator or a teacher is a great career a lot of responsibilities go with each one but at the end of the day it is worth it all.

Slavery and Sex Trafficking Essay -- Ethical Issues, HIV/AIDS

When we hear the word slavery our mind paints a picture of colonial America down in the South with big plantation houses harvesting wheat, with workers being unpaid and unfairly treated. At this time in our county we were struggling with the idea of equality for all. America has come a long way from those days but not with out a fight. Abraham Lincoln, the Civil Rights moment and free and public education has been addressed. Today, we face a new conflicts and a different type of slavery. Slavery and sex trafficking is occurring not just abroad but at home as well. In 2004, â€Å"800,000 to 9000,000 men women and children are trafficked across international borders every year, including 18,000 to 20,000 in the US. Worldwide slavery is in the millions† But the issue doesn’t stop at just slavery but at also includes sex trafficking and prostitution. (p. 506) In Kate Butchers article she discusses the difference between prostitution and sex trafficking and that solution to this problem is to address and promote human rights and working with laws that are already in place to address health issues such as HIV/AIDS and the human rights of people in the sex industry. In John R. Millers article he believes that sex trafficking should be put under strict regulations and do to so we must support and ask for action to be done at home and aboard and the government must have willingness to impose economic penalties on counties that give antislavery laws meaning. In 2003 the Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003 was passed. Its said, â€Å"No funds made available to carry out this Act†¦may be used to provide assistance to any group to organization that does not have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex traffickin... ...e face corrupy and complit police and trying to fight diseases such as HIV/AIDS it’s a challenge. (p.506) Miller poses that here at home and abroad we need to support action taken against antislavery and have a willingness to impose economic penalties. I do agree that something needs to be done but I believe that Miller is over looking the economic effects his plan has on normal everyday children, women and men in those counties that benefit from exports and imports. If the government is corrupted they won’t care about the workers or the poor man. They want to make money in any possible way. To solve the problem of prostitution, sex trafficking, human trafficking, the speed of HIV/AIDS and slavery something has to be done. However, we should keep in mind the people we will be affecting and all the ripples are laws will create in every aspect of their life’s.

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 5. Invitations

High school. Purgatory no longer, it was now purely hell. Torment and fire†¦yes, I had both. I was doing everything correctly now. Every â€Å"i† dotted, every â€Å"t† crossed. No one could complain that I was shirking my responsibilities. To please Esme and protect the others, I stayed in Forks. I returned to my old schedule. I hunted no more than the rest of them. Everyday, I attended high school and played human. Everyday, I listened carefully for anything new about the Cullens – there never was anything new. The girl did not speak one word of her suspicions. She just repeated the same story again and again – I'd been standing with her and then pulled her out of the way – till her eager listeners got bored and stopped looking for more details. There was no danger. My hasty action had hurt no one. No one but myself. I was determined to change the future. Not the easiest task to set for oneself, but there was no other choice that I could live with. Alice said that I would not be strong enough to stay away from the girl. I would prove her wrong. I'd thought the first day would be the hardest. By the end of it, I'd been sure that was the case. I'd been wrong, though. It had rankled, knowing that I would hurt the girl. I'd comforted myself with the fact that her pain would be nothing more than a pinprick – just a tiny sting of rejection – compared to mine. Bella was human, and she knew that I was something else, something wrong, something frightening. She would probably be more relieved than wounded when I turned my face away from her and pretended that she didn't exist. â€Å"Hello, Edward,† she'd greeted me, that first day back in biology. Her voice had been pleasant, friendly, one hundred and eighty degrees from the last time I'd spoken with her. Why? What did the change mean? Had she forgotten? Decided she had imagined the whole episode? Could she possibly have forgiven me for not following through on my promise? The questions had burned like the thirst that attacked me every time I breathed. Just one moment to look in her eyes. Just to see if I could read the answers there†¦ No. I could not allow myself even that. Not if I was going to change the future. I'd moved my chin an inch in her direction without looking away from the front of the room. I'd nodded once, and then turned my face straight forward. She did not speak to me again. That afternoon, as soon as school was finished, my role played, I ran to Seattle as I had the day before. It seemed that I could handle the aching just slightly better when I was flying over the ground, turning everything around me into a green blur. This run became my daily habit. Did I love her? I did not think so. Not yet. Alice's glimpses of that future had stuck with me, though, and I could see how easy it would be to fall into loving Bella. It would be exactly like falling: effortless. Not letting myself love her was the opposite of falling – it was pulling myself up a cliff-face, hand over hand, the task as grueling as if I had no more than mortal strength. More than a month passed, and every day it got harder. That made no sense to me – I kept waiting to get over it, to have it get easier. This must be what Alice had meant when she'd predicted that I would not be able to stay away from the girl. She had seen the escalation of the pain. But I could handle pain. I would not destroy Bella's future. If I was destined to love her, then wasn't avoiding her the very least I could do? Avoiding her was about the limit of what I could bear, though. I could pretend to ignore her, and never look her way. I could pretend that she was of no interest to me. But that was the extent, just pretense and not reality. I still hung on every breath she took, every word she said. I lumped my torments into four categories. The first two were familiar. Her scent and her silence. Or, rather – to take the responsibility on myself where it belonged – my thirst and my curiosity. The thirst was the most primal of my torments. It was my habit now to simply not breathe at all in Biology. Of course, there were always the exceptions – when I had to answer a question or something of the sort, and I would need my breath to speak. Each time I tasted the air around the girl, it was the same as the first day – fire and need and brutal violence desperate to break free. It was hard to cling even slightly to reason or restraint in those moments. And, just like that first day, the monster in me would roar, so close to the surface†¦ The curiosity was the most constant of my torments. The question was never out of my mind: What is she thinking now? When I heard her quietly sigh. When she twisted a lock of hair absently around her finger. When she threw her books down with more force than usual. When she rushed to class late. When she tapped her foot impatiently against the floor. Each movement caught in my peripheral vision was a maddening mystery. When she spoke to the other human students, I analyzed her every word and tone. Was she speaking her thoughts, or what she thought she should say? It often sounded to me like she was trying to say what her audience expected, and this reminded me of my family and our daily life of illusion – we were better at it than she was. Unless I wrong about that, just imagining things. Why would she have to play a role? She was one of them – a human teenager. Mike Newton was the most surprising of my torments. Who would have ever dreamed that such a generic, boring mortal could be so infuriating? To be fair, I should have felt some gratitude to the annoying boy; more than the others, he kept the girl talking. I learned so much about her through these conversations – I was still compiling my list – but, contrarily, Mike's assistance with this project only aggravated me more. I didn't want Mike to be the one that unlocked her secrets. I wanted to do that. It helped that he never noticed her small revelations, her little slips. He knew nothing about her. He'd created a Bella in his head that didn't exist – a girl just as generic as he was. He hadn't observed the unselfishness and bravery that set her apart from other humans, he didn't hear the abnormal maturity of her spoken thoughts. He didn't perceive that when she spoke of her mother, she sounded like a parent speaking of a child rather than the other way around – loving, indulgent, slightly amused, and fiercely protective. He didn't hear the patience in her voice when she feigned interest in his rambling stories, and didn't guess at the kindness behind that patience. Through her conversations with Mike, I was able to add the most important quality to my list, the most revealing of them all, as simple as it was rare. Bella was good. All the other things added up to that whole – kind and self-effacing and unselfish and loving and brave – she was good through and through. These helpful discoveries did not warm me to the boy, however. The possessive way he viewed Bella – as if she were an acquisition to be made – provoked me almost as much as his crude fantasies about her. He was becoming more confident of her, too, as the time passed, for she seemed to prefer him over those he considered his rivals – Tyler Crowley, Eric Yorkie, and even, sporadically, myself. He would routinely sit on her side of our table before class began, chattering at her, encouraged by her smiles. Just polite smiles, I told myself. All the same, I frequently amused myself by imagining backhanding him across the room and into the far wall†¦ It probably wouldn't injure him fatally†¦ Mike didn't often think of me as a rival. After the accident, he'd worried that Bella and I would bond from the shared experience, but obviously the opposite had resulted. Back then, he had still been bothered that I'd singled Bella out over her peers for attention. But now I ignored her just as thoroughly as the others, and he grew complacent. What was she thinking now? Did she welcome his attention? And, finally, the last of my torments, the most painful: Bella's indifference. As I ignored her, she ignored me. She never tried to speak to me again. For all I knew, she never thought about me at all. This might have driven me mad – or even broken my resolution to change the future – except that she sometimes stared at me like she had before. I didn't see it for myself, as I could not allow myself to look at her, but Alice always warned us when she was about to stare; the others were still wary of the girl's problematic knowledge. It eased some of the pain that she gazed at me from across a distance, every now and then. Of course, she could just be wondering what kind of a freak I was. â€Å"Bella's going to stare at Edward in a minute. Look normal,† Alice said one Tuesday in March, and the others were careful to fidget and shift their weight like humans; absolute stillness was a marker of our kind. I paid attention to how often she looked my direction. It pleased me, though it should not, that the frequency did not decline as the time passed. I didn't know what it meant, but it made me feel better. Alice sighed. I wish†¦ â€Å"Stay out of it, Alice,† I said under my breath. â€Å"It's not going to happen.† She pouted. Alice was anxious to form her envisioned friendship with Bella. In a strange way, she missed the girl she didn't know. I'll admit, you're better than I thought. You've got the future all snarled up and senseless again. I hope you're happy. â€Å"It makes plenty of sense to me.† She snorted delicately. I tried to shut her out, too impatient for conversation. I wasn't in a very good mood – tenser than I let any of them see. Only Jasper was aware of how tightly wound I was, feeling the stress emanate out of me with his unique ability to both sense and influence the moods of others. He didn't understand the reasons behind the moods, though, and – since I was constantly in a foul mood these days – he disregarded it. Today would be a hard one. Harder than the day before, as was the pattern. Mike Newton, the odious boy whom I could not allow myself to rival, was going to ask Bella on a date. A girl's choice dance was on the near horizon, and he'd been hoping very much that Bella would ask him. That she had not done so had rattled his confidence. Now he was in an uncomfortable bind – I enjoyed his discomfort more than I should – because Jessica Stanley had just asked him to the dance. He didn't want to say â€Å"yes,† still hopeful that Bella would choose him (and prove him the victor over his rivals), but he didn't want to say â€Å"no† and end up missing the dance altogether. Jessica, hurt by his hesitation and guessing the reason behind it, was thinking daggers at Bella. Again, I had the instinct to place myself between Jessica's angry thoughts and Bella. I understood the instinct better now, but that only made it more frustrating when I could not act on it. To think it had come to this! I was utterly fixated on the petty high school dramas that I'd once held so in contempt. Mike was working up his nerve as he walked Bella to biology. I listened to his struggles as I waited for them to arrive. The boy was weak. He had waited for this dance purposely, afraid to make his infatuation known before she had shown a marked preference for him. He didn't want to make himself vulnerable to rejection, preferring that she make that leap first. Coward. He sat down on our table again, comfortable with long familiarity, and I imagined the sound it would make if his body hit the opposite wall with enough force to break most of his bones. â€Å"So,† he said to the girl, his eyes on the floor. â€Å"Jessica asked me to the spring dance.† â€Å"That's great,† Bella answered immediately and with enthusiasm. It was hard not to smile as her tone sunk in to Mike's awareness. He'd been hoping for dismay. â€Å"You'll have a lot of fun with Jessica.† He scrambled for the right response. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he hesitated, and almost chickened out. Then he rallied. â€Å"I told her I had to think about it.† â€Å"Why would you do that?† she demanded. Her tone was one of disapproval, but there was the faintest hint of relief there as well. What did that mean? An unexpected, intense fury made my hands clench into fists. Mike did not hear the relief. His face was red with blood – fierce as I suddenly felt, this seemed like an invitation – and he looked at the floor again as he spoke. â€Å"I was wondering if†¦well, if you might be planning to ask me.† Bella hesitated. In that moment of her hesitation, I saw the future more clearly than Alice ever had. The girl might say yes to Mike's unspoken question now, and she might not, but either way, someday soon, she would say yes to someone. She was lovely and intriguing, and human males were not oblivious to this fact. Whether she would settle for someone in this lackluster crowd, or wait until she was free from Forks, the day would come that she would say yes. I saw her life as I had before – college, career†¦love, marriage. I saw her on her father's arm again, dressed in gauzy white, her face flushed with happiness as she moved to the sound of Wagner's march. The pain was more than anything I'd felt before. A human would have to be on the point of death to feel this pain – a human would not live through it. And not just pain, but outright rage. The fury ached for some kind of physical outlet. Though this insignificant, undeserving boy might not be the one that Bella would say yes to, I yearned to crush his skull in my hand, to let him stand as a representative for whoever it would be. I didn't understand this emotion – it was such a tangle of pain and rage and desire and despair. I had never felt it before; I couldn't put a name to it. â€Å"Mike, I think you should tell her yes,† Bella said in a gentle voice. Mike's hopes plummeted. I would have enjoyed that under other circumstances, but I was lost in the aftershock of the pain – and the remorse for what the pain and rage had done to me. Alice was right. I was not strong enough. Right now, Alice would be watching the future spin and twist, become mangled again. Would this please her? â€Å"Did you already ask someone?† Mike asked sullenly. He glanced at me, suspicious for the first time in many weeks. I realized I had betrayed my interest; my head was inclined in Bella's direction. The wild envy in his thoughts – envy for whoever this girl preferred to him – suddenly put a name to my unnamed emotion. I was jealous. â€Å"No,† the girl said with a trace of humor in her voice. â€Å"I'm not going to the dance at all.† Through all the remorse and anger, I felt relief at her words. Suddenly, I was considering my rivals. â€Å"Why not?† Mike asked, his tone almost rude. It offended me that he used this tone with her. I bit back a growl. â€Å"I'm going to Seattle that Saturday,† she answered. The curiosity was not as vicious as it would have been before – now that I was fully intending to find out the answers to everything. I would know the wheres and whys of this new revelation soon enough. Mike's tone turned unpleasantly wheedling. â€Å"Can't you go some other weekend?† â€Å"Sorry, no.† Bella was brusquer now. â€Å"So you shouldn't make Jess wait any longer – it's rude.† Her concern for Jessica's feelings fanned the flames of my jealousy. This Seattle trip was clearly an excuse to say no – did she refuse purely out of loyalty to her friend? She was more than selfless enough for that. Did she actually wish she could say yes? Or were both guesses wrong? Was she interested in someone else? â€Å"Yeah, you're right,† Mike mumbled, so demoralized that I almost felt pity for him. Almost. He dropped his eyes from the girl, cutting off my view of her face in his thoughts. I wasn't going to tolerate that. I turned to read her face myself, for the first time in more than a month. It was a sharp relief to allow myself this, like a gasp of air to long-submerged human lungs. Her eyes were closed, and her hands pressed against the sides of her face. Her shoulders curved inward defensively. She shook her head ever so slightly, as if she were trying to push some thought from her mind. Frustrating. Fascinating. Mr. Banner's voice pulled her from her reverie, and her eyes slowly opened. She looked at me immediately, perhaps sensing my gaze. She stared up into my eyes with the same bewildered expression that had haunted me for so long. I didn't feel the remorse or the guilt or the rage in that second. I knew they would come again, and come soon, but for this one moment I rode a strange, jittery high. As if I had triumphed, rather than lost. She didn't look away, though I stared with inappropriate intensity, trying vainly to read her thoughts through her liquid brown eyes. They were full of questions, rather than answers. I could see the reflection of my own eyes, and I saw that they were black with thirst. It had been nearly two weeks since my last hunting trip; this was not the safest day for my will to crumble. But the blackness did not seem to frighten her. She still did not look away, and a soft, devastatingly appealing pink began to color her skin. What was she thinking now? I almost asked the question aloud, but at that moment Mr. Banner called my name. I picked the correct answer out of his head while I glanced briefly in his direction. I sucked in a quick breath. â€Å"The Krebs Cycle.† Thirst scorched down my throat – tightening my muscles and filling my mouth with venom – and I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate through the desire for her blood that raged inside me. The monster was stronger than before. The monster was rejoicing. He embraced this dual future that gave him an even, fifty-fifty chance at what he craved so viciously. The third, shaky future I'd tried to construct through willpower alone had crumbled – destroyed by common jealously, of all things – and he was so much closer to his goal. The remorse and the guilt burned with the thirst, and, if I'd had the ability to produce tears, they would have filled my eyes now. What had I done? Knowing the battle was already lost, there seemed to be no reason to resist what I wanted; I turned to stare at the girl again. She had hidden in her hair, but I could see through a parting in the tresses that her cheek was deep crimson now. The monster liked that. She did not meet my gaze again, but she twisted a strand of her dark hair nervously between her fingers. Her delicate fingers, her fragile wrist – they were so breakable, looking for all the world like just my breath could snap them. No, no, no. I could not do this. She was too breakable, too good, too precious to deserve this fate. I couldn't allow my life to collide with hers, to destroy it. But I couldn't stay away from her either. Alice was right about that. The monster inside me hissed with frustration as I wavered, leaning first one way, then the other. My brief hour with her passed all too quickly, as I vacillated between the rock and the hard place. The bell rang, and she started collecting her things without looking at me. This disappointed me, but I could hardly expect otherwise. The way I had treated her since the accident was inexcusable. â€Å"Bella?† I said, unable to stop myself. My willpower already lay in shreds. She hesitated before looking at me; when she turned, her expression was guarded, distrustful. I reminded myself that she had every right to distrust me. That she should. She waited for me to continue, but I just stared at her, reading her face. I pulled in shallow mouthfuls of air at regular intervals, fighting my thirst. â€Å"What?† she finally said. â€Å"Are you speaking to me again?† There was an edge of resentment to her tone that was, like her anger, endearing. It made me want to smile. I wasn't sure how to answer her question. Was I speaking to her again, in the sense that she meant? No. Not if I could help it. I would try to help it. â€Å"No, not really,† I told her. She closed her eyes, which frustrated me. It cut off my best avenue of access to her feelings. She took a long, slow breath without opening her eyes. Her jaw was locked. Eyes still closed, she spoke. Surely this was not a normal human way to converse. Why did she do it? â€Å"Then what do you want, Edward?† The sound of my name on her lips did strange things to my body. If I'd had a heartbeat, it would have quickened. But how to answer her? With the truth, I decided. I would be as truthful as I could with her from now on. I didn't want to deserve her distrust, even if earning her trust was impossible. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I told her. That was truer than she would ever know. Unfortunately, I could only safely apologize for the trivial. â€Å"I'm being very rude, I know. But it's better this way, really.† I would be better for her if I could keep it up, continue to be rude. Could I? Her eyes opened, their expression still wary. â€Å"I don't know what you mean.† I tried to get as much of a warning through to her as was allowed. â€Å"It's better if we're not friends.† Surely, she could sense that much. She was a bright girl. â€Å"Trust me.† Her eyes tightened, and I remembered that I had said those words to her before – just before breaking a promise. I winced when her teeth clenched together – she clearly remembered, too. â€Å"It's too bad you didn't figure that out earlier,† she said angrily. â€Å"You could have saved yourself all this regret.† I stared at her in shock. What did she know of my regrets? â€Å"Regret? Regret for what?† I demanded. â€Å"For not just letting that stupid van squish me!† she snapped. I froze, stunned. How could she be thinking that? Saving her life was the one acceptable thing I'd done since I met her. The one thing that I was not ashamed of. The one and only thing that made me glad I existed at all. I'd been fighting to keep her alive since the first moment I'd caught her scent. How could she think this of me? How dare she question my one good deed in all this mess? â€Å"You think I regret saving your life?† â€Å"I know you do,† she retorted. Her estimation of my intentions left me seething. â€Å"You don't know anything.† How confusing and incomprehensible the workings of her mind were! She must not think in the same way as other humans at all. That must be the explanation behind her mental silence. She was entirely other. She jerked her face away, gritting her teeth again. Her cheeks were flushed, with anger this time. She slammed her books together in a pile, yanked them up into her arms, and marched toward the door without meeting my stare. Even irritated as I was, it was impossible not to find her anger a bit entertaining. She walked stiffly, without looking where she was going, and her foot caught on the lip of the doorway. She stumbled, and her things all crashed to the ground. Instead of bending to get them, she stood rigidly straight, not even looking down, as if she were not sure the books were worth retrieving. I managed not to laugh. No one was here to watch me; I flitted to her side, and had her books put in order before she looked down. She bent halfway, saw me, and then froze. I handed her books back to her, making sure that my icy skin never touched hers. â€Å"Thank you,† she said in a cold, severe voice. Her tone brought back my irritation. â€Å"You're welcome,† I said just as coldly. She wrenched herself upright and stomped away to her next class. I watched until I could no longer see her angry figure. Spanish passed in a blur. Mrs. Goff never questioned my abstraction – she knew my Spanish was superior to hers, and she gave me a great deal of latitude – leaving me free to think. So, I couldn't ignore the girl. That much was obvious. But did it mean I had no choice but to destroy her? That could not be the only available future. There had to be some other choice, some delicate balance. I tried to think of a way†¦ I didn't pay much attention to Emmett until the hour was nearly up. He was curious – Emmett was not overly intuitive about the shades in other's moods, but he could see the obvious change in me. He wondered what had happened to remove the unrelenting glower from my face. He struggled to define the change, and finally decided that I looked hopeful. Hopeful? Is that what it looked like from the outside? I pondered the idea of hope as we walked to the Volvo, wondering what exactly I should be hoping for. But I didn't have long to ponder. Sensitive as I always was to thoughts about the girl, the sound of Bella's name in the heads of†¦of my rivals, I suppose I had to admit, caught my attention. Eric and Tyler, having heard – with much satisfaction – of Mike's failure, were preparing to make their moves. Eric was already in place, positioned against her truck where she could not avoid him. Tyler's class was being held late to receive an assignment, and he was in a desperate hurry to catch her before she escaped. This I had to see. â€Å"Wait for the others here, all right?† I murmured to Emmett. He eyed me suspiciously, but then shrugged and nodded. Kid's lost his mind, he thought, amused by my odd request. I saw Bella on her way out of the gym, and I waited where she would not see me for her to pass. As she got closer to Eric's ambush, I strode forward, setting my pace so that I would walk by at the right moment. I watched her body stiffen when she caught sight of the boy waiting for her. She froze for a moment, then relaxed and moved forward. â€Å"Hi, Eric,† I heard her call in a friendly voice. I was abruptly and unexpectedly anxious. What if this gangly teen with his unhealthy skin was somehow pleasing to her? Eric swallowed loudly, his Adam's apple bobbing. â€Å"Hi, Bella.† She seemed unconscious of his nervousness. â€Å"What's up?† she asked, unlocking her truck without looking at his frightened expression. â€Å"Uh, I was just wondering†¦if you would go to the spring dance with me?† His voice broke. She finally looked up. Was she taken aback, or pleased? Eric couldn't meet her gaze, so I couldn't see her face in his mind. â€Å"I thought it was girl's choice,† she said, sounding flustered. â€Å"Well, yeah,† he agreed wretchedly. This pitiable boy did not irritate me as much as Mike Newton did, but I couldn't find it in myself to feel sympathy for his angst until after Bella had answered him in a gentle voice. â€Å"Thank you for asking me, but I'm going to be in Seattle that day.† He'd already heard this; still, it was a disappointment. â€Å"Oh,† he mumbled, barely daring to raise his eyes to the level of her nose. â€Å"Maybe next time.† â€Å"Sure,† she agreed. Then she bit down on her lip, as if she regretted leaving him a loophole. I liked that. Eric slumped forward and walked away, headed in the wrong direction from his car, his only thought escape. I passed her in that moment, and heard her sigh of relief. I laughed. She whirled at the sound, but I stared straight ahead, trying to keep my lips from twitching in amusement. Tyler was behind me, almost running in his hurry to catch her before she could drive away. He was bolder and more confident than the other two; he'd only waited to approach Bella this long because he'd respected Mike's prior claim. I wanted him to succeed in catching her for two reasons. If – as I was beginning to suspect – all this attention was annoying to Bella, I wanted to enjoy watching her reaction. But, if it was not – if Tyler's invitation was the one she'd been hoping for – then I wanted to know that, too. I measured Tyler Crowley as a rival, knowing it was wrong to do so. He seemed tediously average and unremarkable to me, but what did I know of Bella's preferences? Maybe she liked average boys†¦ I winced at that thought. I could never be an average boy. How foolish it was to set myself up as a rival for her affections. How could she ever care for someone who was, by any estimation, a monster? She was too good for a monster. I ought to have let her escape, but my inexcusable curiosity kept me from doing what was right. Again. But what if Tyler missed his chance now, only to contact her later when I would have no way of knowing the outcome? I pulled my Volvo out into the narrow lane, blocking her exit. Emmett and the others were on their way, but he'd described my strange behavior to them, and they were walking slowly, watching me, trying to decipher what I was doing. I watched the girl in my rearview mirror. She glowered toward the back of my car without meeting my gaze, looking as if she wished she were driving a tank rather than a rusted Chevy. Tyler hurried to his car and got in line behind her, grateful for my inexplicable behavior. He waved at her, trying to catch her attention, but she didn't notice. He waited a moment, and then left his car, sauntering up to her passenger side window. He tapped on the glass. She jumped, and then stared at him in confusion. After a second, she rolled the window down manually, seeming to have some trouble with it. â€Å"I'm sorry, Tyler,† she said, her voice irritated. â€Å"I'm stuck behind Cullen.† She said my surname in a hard voice – she was still angry with me. â€Å"Oh, I know,† Tyler said, undeterred by her mood. â€Å"I just wanted to ask you something while we're trapped here.† His grin was cocky. I was gratified by the way she blanched at his obvious intent. â€Å"Will you ask me to the spring dance?† he asked, no thought of defeat in his head. â€Å"I'm not going to be in town, Tyler,† she told him, irritation still plain in her voice. â€Å"Yeah, Mike said that.† â€Å"Then why – ?† she stared to ask. He shrugged. â€Å"I was hoping you were just letting him down easy.† Her eyes flashed, then cooled. â€Å"Sorry, Tyler,† she said, not sounding sorry at all. â€Å"I really am going to be out of town.† He accepted that excuse, his self-assurance untouched. â€Å"That's cool. We still have prom.† He strutted back to his car. I was right to have waited for this. The horrified expression on her face was priceless. It told me what I should not so desperately need to know – that she had no feelings for any of these human males who wished to court her. Also, her expression was possibly the funniest thing I'd ever seen. My family arrived then, confused by the fact that I was, for a change, rocking with laughter rather than scowling murderously at everything in sight. What's so funny? Emmett wanted to know. I just shook my head while I also shook with fresh laughter as Bella revved her noisy engine angrily. She looked like she was wishing for a tank again. â€Å"Let's go!† Rosalie hissed impatiently. â€Å"Stop being an idiot. If you can.† Her words didn't annoy me – I was too entertained. But I did as she asked. No one spoke to me on the way home. I continued to chuckle every now and again, thinking of Bella's face. As I turned on to the drive – speeding up now that there were no witnesses – Alice ruined my mood. â€Å"So do I get to talk to Bella now?† she asked suddenly, without considering the words first, thus giving me no warning. â€Å"No,† I snapped. â€Å"Not fair! What am I waiting for?† â€Å"I haven't decided anything, Alice.† â€Å"Whatever, Edward.† In her head, Bella's two destinies were clear again. â€Å"What's the point in getting to know her?† I mumbled, suddenly morose. â€Å"If I'm just going to kill her?† Alice hesitated for a second. â€Å"You have a point,† she admitted. I took the final hairpin turn at ninety miles an hour, and then screeched to a stop an inch from the back garage wall. â€Å"Enjoy your run,† Rosalie said smugly as I threw myself out of the car. But I didn't go running today. Instead, I went hunting. The others were scheduled to hunt tomorrow, but I couldn't afford to be thirsty now. I overdid it, drinking more than necessary, glutting myself again – a small grouping of elk and one black bear I was lucky to stumble across this early in the year. I was so full it was uncomfortable. Why couldn't that be enough? Why did her scent have to be so much stronger than anything else? I had hunted in preparation for the next day, but, when I could hunt no more and the sun was still hours and hours from rising, I knew that the next day was not soon enough. The jittery high swept through me again when I realized that I was going to go find the girl. I argued with myself all the way back to Forks, but my less noble side won the argument, and I went ahead with my indefensible plan. The monster was restless but well-fettered. I knew I would keep a safe distance from her. I only wanted to know where she was. I just wanted to see her face. It was past midnight, and Bella's house was dark and quiet. Her truck was parked against the curb, her father's police cruiser in the driveway. There were no conscious thoughts anywhere in the neighborhood. I watched the house for a moment from the blackness of the forest that bordered it on the east. The front door would probably be locked – not a problem, except that I didn't want to leave a broken door as evidence behind me. I decided to try the upstairs window first. Not many people would bother installing a lock there. I crossed the open yard and scaled the face of the house in half a second. Dangling from the eave above the window by one hand, I looked through the glass, and my breath stopped. It was her room. I could see her in the one small bed, her covers on the floor and her sheets twisted around her legs. As I watched, she twitched restlessly and threw one arm over her head. She did not sleep soundly, at least not this night. Did she sense the danger near her? I was repulsed by myself as I watched her toss again. How was I any better than some sick peeping tom? I wasn't any better. I was much, much worse. I relaxed my fingertips, about to let myself drop. But first I allowed myself one long look at her face. It was not peaceful. The little furrow was there between her eyebrows, the corners of her lips turned down. Her lips trembled, and then parted. â€Å"Okay, Mom,† she muttered. Bella talked in her sleep. Curiosity flared, overpowering self-disgust. The lure of those unprotected, unconsciously spoken thoughts was impossibly tempting. I tried the window, and it was not locked, though it stuck due to long disuse. I slid it slowly aside, cringing at each faint groan of the metal frame. I would have to find some oil for next time†¦ Next time? I shook my head, disgusted again. I eased myself silently through the half-opened window. Her room was small – disorganized but not unclean. There were books piled on the floor beside her bed, their spines facing away from me, and CDs scattered by her inexpensive CD player – the one on top was just a clear jewel case. Stacks of papers surrounded a computer that looked like it belonged in a museum dedicated to obsolete technologies. Shoes dotted the wooden floor. I wanted very much to go read the titles of her books and CDs, but I'd promised myself that I would keep my distance; instead, I went to sit the old rocking chair in the far corner of the room. Had I really once thought her average-looking? I thought of that first day, and my disgust for the boys who were so immediately intrigued with her. But when I remembered her face in their minds now, I could not understand why I had not found her beautiful immediately. It seemed an obvious thing. Right now – with her dark hair tangled and wild around her pale face, wearing a threadbare t-shirt full of holes with tatty sweatpants, her features relaxed in unconsciousness, her full lips slightly parted – she took my breath away. Or would have, I thought wryly, if I were breathing. She did not speak. Perhaps her dream had ended. I stared at her face and tried to think of some way to make the future bearable. Hurting her was not bearable. Did that mean my only choice was to try to leave again? The others could not argue with me now. My absence would not put anyone in danger. There would be no suspicion, nothing to link anyone's thoughts back to the accident. I wavered as I had this afternoon, and nothing seemed possible. I could not hope to rival the human boys, whether these specific boys appealed to her or not. I was a monster. How could she see me as anything else? If she knew the truth about me, it would frighten and repulse her. Like the intended victim in a horror movie, she would run away, shrieking in terror. I remembered her first day in biology†¦and knew that this was exactly the right reaction for her to have. It was foolishness to imagine that if had I been the one to ask her to the silly dance, she would have cancelled her hastily-made plans and agreed to go with me. I was not the one she was destined to say yes to. It was someone else, someone human and warm. And I could not even let myself – someday, when that yes was said – hunt him down and kill him, because she deserved him, whoever he was. She deserved happiness and love with whomever she chose. I owed it to her to do the right thing now; I could no longer pretend that I was only in danger of loving this girl. After all, it really didn't matter if I left, because Bella could never see me the way I wished she would. Never see me as someone worthy of love. Never. Could a dead, frozen heart break? It felt like mine would. â€Å"Edward,† Bella said. I froze, staring at her unopened eyes. Had she woken, caught me here? She looked asleep, yet her voice had been so clear†¦ She sighed a quiet sigh, and then moved restlessly again, rolling to her side – still fast asleep and dreaming. â€Å"Edward,† she mumbled softly. She was dreaming of me. Could a dead, frozen heart beat again? It felt like mine was about to. â€Å"Stay,† she sighed. â€Å"Don't go. Please†¦don't go.† She was dreaming of me, and it wasn't even a nightmare. She wanted me to stay with her, there in her dream. I struggled to find words to name the feelings that flooded through me, but I had no words strong enough to hold them. For a long moment, I drowned in them. When I surfaced, I was not the same man I had been. My life was an unending, unchanging midnight. It must, by necessity, always be midnight for me. So how was it possible that the sun was rising now, in the middle of my midnight? At the time that I had become a vampire, trading my soul and my mortality for immortality in the searing pain of transformation, I had truly been frozen. My body had turned into something more like rock than flesh, enduring and unchanging. My self, also, had frozen as it was – my personality, my likes and my dislikes, my moods and my desires; all were fixed in place. It was the same for the rest of them. We were all frozen. Living stone. When change came for one of us, it was a rare and permanent thing. I had seen it happen with Carlisle, and then a decade later with Rosalie. Love had changed them in an eternal way, a way that never faded. More than eighty years had passed since Carlisle had found Esme, and yet he still looked at her with the incredulous eyes of first love. It would always be that way for them. It would always be that way for me, too. I would always love this fragile human girl, for the rest of my limitless existence. I gazed at her unconscious face, feeling this love for her settle into every portion of my stone body. She slept more peacefully now, a slight smile on her lips. Always watching her, I began to plot. I loved her, and so I would try to be strong enough to leave her. I knew I wasn't that strong now. I would work on that one. But perhaps I was strong enough to circumvent the future in another way. Alice had seen only two futures for Bella, and now I understood them both. Loving her would not keep me from killing her, if I let myself make mistakes. Yet I could not feel the monster now, could not find him anywhere in me. Perhaps love had silenced him forever. If I killed her now, it would not be intentional, only a horrible accident. I would have to be inordinately careful. I would never, ever be able to let my guard down. I would have to control my every breath. I would have to keep an always cautious distance. I would not make mistakes. I finally understood that second future. I'd been baffled by that vision – what could possibly happen to result in Bella becoming a prisoner to this immortal half-life? Now – devastated by longing for the girl – I could understand how I might, in unforgivable selfishness, ask my father for that favor. Ask him to take away her life and her soul so that I could keep her forever. She deserved better. But I saw one more future, one thin wire that I might be able to walk, if I could keep my balance. Could I do it? Be with her and leave her human? Deliberately, I took a deep breath, and then another, letting her scent rip through me like wildfire. The room was thick with her perfume; her fragrance was layered on every surface. My head swam, but I fought the spinning. I would have to get used to this, if I were going to attempt any kind of relationship with her. I took another deep, burning breath. I watched her sleeping until the sun rose behind the eastern clouds, plotting and breathing. I got home just after the others had left for school. I changed quickly, avoiding Esme's questioning eyes. She saw the feverish light in my face, and she felt both worry and relief. My long melancholy had pained her, and she was glad it seemed to be over. I ran to school, arriving a few seconds after my siblings did. They did not turn, though Alice at least must have known that I stood here in the thick woods that bordered the pavement. I waited until no one was looking, and then I strolled casually from between the trees into the lot full of parked cars. I heard Bella's truck rumbling around the corner, and I paused behind a Suburban, where I could watch without being seen. She drove into the lot, glaring at my Volvo for a long moment before she parked in one of the most distant spaces, a frown on her face. It was strange to remember that she was probably still angry with me, and with good reason. I wanted to laugh at myself – or kick myself. All my plotting and planning was entirely moot if she didn't care for me, too, wasn't it? Her dream could have been about something completely random. I was such an arrogant fool. Well, it was so much the better for her if she didn't care for me. That wouldn't stop me from pursuing her, but I would give her fair warning as I pursued. I owed her that. I walked silently forward, wondering how best to approach her. She made it easy. Her truck key slipped through her fingers as she got out, and fell into a deep puddle. She reached down, but I got to it first, retrieving it before she had to put her fingers in the cold water. I leaned back against her truck as she started and then straightened up. â€Å"How do you do that?† she demanded. Yes, she was still angry. I offered her the key. â€Å"Do what?† She held her hand out, and I dropped the key in her palm. I took a deep breath, pulling in her scent. â€Å"Appear out of thin air,† she clarified. â€Å"Bella, it's not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant.† The words were wry, almost a joke. Was there anything she didn't see? Did she hear how my voice wrapped around her name like a caress? She glared at me, not appreciating my humor. Her heartbeat sped – from anger? From fear? After a moment, she looked down. â€Å"Why the traffic jam last night?† she asked without meeting my eyes. â€Å"I thought you were supposed to be pretending I don't exist, not irritating me to death.† Still very angry. It was going to take some effort to make things right with her. I remembered my resolve to be truthful with her†¦ â€Å"That was for Tyler's sake, not mine. I had to give him his chance.† And then I laughed. I couldn't help it, thinking of her expression yesterday. â€Å"You – † she gasped, and then broke off, appearing to be too furious to finish. There it was – that same expression. I choked back another laugh. She was mad enough already. â€Å"And I'm not pretending you don't exist,† I finished. It was right to keep this casual, teasing. She would not understand if I let her see how I really felt. I would frighten her. I had to keep my feelings in check, keep things light†¦ â€Å"So you are trying to irritate me to death? Since Tyler's van didn't do the job?† A quick flash of anger pulsed through me. Could she honestly believe that? It was irrational for me to be so affronted – she didn't know of the transformation that had happened in the night. But I was angry all the same. â€Å"Bella, you are utterly absurd,† I snapped. Her face flushed, and she turned her back on me. She began to walk away. Remorse. I had no right to my anger. â€Å"Wait,† I pleaded. She did not stop, so I followed after her. â€Å"I'm sorry, that was rude. I'm not saying it isn't true† – it was absurd to imagine that I wanted her harmed in any way – â€Å"but it was rude to say it, anyway.† â€Å"Why won't you leave me alone?† Believe me, I wanted to say. I've tried. Oh, and also, I'm wretchedly in love with you. Keep it light. â€Å"I wanted to ask you something, but you sidetracked me.† A course of action had just occurred to me, and I laughed. â€Å"Do you have a multiple personality disorder?† she asked. It must seem that way. My mood was erratic, so many new emotions coursing through me. â€Å"You're doing it again,† I pointed out. She sighed. â€Å"Fine then. What do you want to ask?† â€Å"I was wondering if, a week from Saturday†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I watched the shock cross her face, and choked back another laugh. â€Å"You know, the day of the spring dance – â€Å" She cut me off, finally returning her eyes to mine. â€Å"Are you trying to be funny?† Yes. â€Å"Will you let me finish?† She waited in silence, her teeth pressing into her soft lower lip. That sight distracted me for a second. Strange, unfamiliar reactions stirred deep in my forgotten human core. I tried to shake them off so I could play my role. â€Å"I heard you say that you were going to Seattle that day, and I was wondering if you wanted a ride?† I offered. I'd realized that, better than just questioning her about her plans, I might share them. She stared at me blankly. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Do you want a ride to Seattle?† Alone in a car with her – my throat burned at the thought. I took a deep breath. Get used to it. â€Å"With who?† she asked, her eyes wide and bewildered again. â€Å"Myself, obviously,† I said slowly. â€Å"Why?† Was it really such as shock that I would want her company? She must have applied the worst possible meaning to my past behavior. â€Å"Well,† I said as casually as possible, â€Å"I was planning to go to Seattle in the next few weeks, and, to be honest, I'm not sure if your truck can make it.† It seemed safer to tease her than to allow myself to be serious. â€Å"My truck works just fine, thank you very much for your concern,† she said in the same surprised voice. She started walking again. I kept pace with her. She hadn't really said no, so I pressed that advantage. Would she say no? What would I do if she did? â€Å"But can your truck make it there on one tank of gas?† â€Å"I don't see how that is any of your business,† she grumbled. That still wasn't a no. And her heart was beating faster again, her breath coming more quickly. â€Å"The wasting of finite resources is everyone's business.† â€Å"Honestly, Edward, I can't keep up with you. I thought you didn't want to be my friend.† A thrill shot through me when she spoke my name. How to keep it light and yet be honest at the same time? Well, it was more important to be honest. Especially on this point. â€Å"I said it would be better if we weren't friends, not that I didn't want to be.† â€Å"Oh, thanks, now that's all cleared up,† she said sarcastically. She paused, under the edge of the cafeteria's roof, and met my gaze again. Her heartbeats stuttered. Was she afraid? I chose my words carefully. No, I could not leave her, but maybe she would be smart enough to leave me, before it was too late. â€Å"It would be more†¦prudent for you not to be my friend.† Staring into the melted chocolate depths of her eyes, I lost my hold on light. â€Å"But I'm tired of trying to stay away from you, Bella.† The words burned with much too much fervor. Her breathing stopped and, in the second it took for it to restart, that worried me. How much had I scared her? Well, I would find out. â€Å"Will you go to Seattle with me?† I demanded, point blank. She nodded, her heart drumming loudly. Yes. She'd said yes to me. And then my conscious smote me. What would this cost her? â€Å"You really should stay away from me,† I warned her. Did she hear me? Would she escape the future I was threatening her with? Couldn't I do anything to save her from me? Keep it light, I shouted at myself. â€Å"I'll see you in class.† I had to concentrate to stop myself from running as I fled.

Review on Michael Moore’s “Capitalism, a Love Story”

The way the stock market works in the world today is if there is a Stock (Piece or share of a company) that are being bought out by a lot of investors, the price of the stock will increase extraordinary high. If the stock does not get bought, the price of the stock will lower to a cheaper price. To buy the best stock that will soon be more valuable is a race as brokers try and fight to find the potential grossing stock and buy tons of them at a cheap price to later on earn tons of money as it becomes more valuable to invest and sell as the stock value increases and grosses.The stock market consists of a lot of people with different positions as an Investor is someone who commits capital in order to gain financial returns. A broker is a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others. A trader is a person who buys and sells the stock in the market. A corporate raider is an investor who buys a large number of shares in a corporation whose assets appear to be undervalued.The stock market has a lot of terms that define small things that broker/traders need to know to work in the stock market as like derivatives which are contracts between two or more parties. Other small stuff come into play as in commodities which are marketable items produced to satisfy wants or needs of the people. Dividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members which are basically the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders.Now here are the big terms that people should be aware of to try to make it big as like Equity which is the residual claim or interest of the most junior class of investors in assets, after all liabilities are paid. Golden Parachutes are agreements that are made between a company and an employee (usually upper executive) specifying that the employee will receive certain significant benefits if employment is terminated which put a lot of CEO’s in the jackpot and have them rich for a long while.And finally, Liquidation which is the process by which a company (or part of a company) is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. This brings a lot of businesses down and suffers. Insider trading used all the time by brokers and traders to get ahead of the game and earn big bucks and live life. It’s a strategy that a lot of the brokers live by and use to make them successful as it’s the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities (such as bonds or stock options) by individuals with access to non-public information about the company.It brings the inside scoop about businesses to brokers to give them a chance and advantage to invest and make a lot of money before News is released to the public. Fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. The economy can be harmed by these types of strategies as Insider trading can be used for unfair advantage for investors as it helps them show what to invest before everyone els e and BIG Bucks before anyone.Fraud is harmful as it steals money away from people that are rightfully theirs and brings people into debt with the people stealing their money come out to become very wealthy and use their stolen money on special interests and personal gains when none of that money is earned by them. So insider trading helps investors cheat the game of the stock market and fraud helps investors steal the money that is rightfully own to the people which is basically stealing money from the economy of the U. S.The SEC tries to prevent those things by for insider trading; they try to track down anyone they believe is to be involved as they obtain warrants for financial records and wiretaps, and find any other means to pursue the evidence that comes their way. If enough evidence is found to indict someone for insider trading, the individuals will be arrested and the case is handed over to a U. S. attorney. They do it because insider trading is unfair to the stock market g ame and the other investors and traders who are not involved in insider trading.For fraud, the SEC tries to prevent that by first to help educate investors to protect themselves against fraud, second, they conduct regulatory examinations to ensure that firms have robust compliance systems to prevent and detect fraud and other violations, and finally, they aggressively prosecute securities fraud, working together with criminal prosecutors. They do this because they believe that businesses should deserve this horrible incident to happen to them financially and should protect themselves from cunning con artists out there in society. Finally, about the movie Wall Street (1987)†¦..The movie â€Å"Wall street† was a really good and educational movie at some points as it was well-directed and helped showed the pros and cons of working in the stock market and how people entering that type of field should be fearless and aware of anything that is going on underground or in public and be picky on who to trust as there are a lot of â€Å"Gordon Gekko’s† in the world befriending many traders/brokers and stabbing them in the back at any moment based on their feelings/impression about them. Some key scenes in the movie were to be the â€Å"Greed is good† speech as it helped pictured an image what the U.S. is truly is and where it will be with the economy. The scene which Bud fox found out the sale of Blue-Star was pretty dramatic as it helped Bud realize how cruel and Greedy Gordon Gekko was. And another key Scene was the confrontation between Gordon and Bud after Bud found out about the sale of Blue-Star. The Movie showed that stock market is hectic and scary and people should watched their step on which path they’re going to take as they could fall into a hole anytime with either having SEC involved with it or lose a ton of money and be sent on to the streets.The stock market is a scary and hectic field to pursue a career in but if people have the brains, the charm and the look, through strategically planning and working, they can come out very successful and be at the top. But the market can always change people, physically, mentally and personality wise like once they go into the field it’s hard to get out and it sometimes changes them into a different person probably into a person with Greed to make more and more, probably a â€Å"Gordon Gekko†.

Free Essays on Hypnosis

, hypnosis is a relaxed condition where an individuals’ mind is focused and receptive to suggestion. The word hypnosis comes from the Greek meaning of sleep, hypnos, it is also called suggestive therapy, which is the one of the oldest therapeutic methods. The human mind has many layers. The first layer is our conscious mind which helps with the daily decision-making process. It is intelligent, realistic and logical, especially in situations where rational thinking is applied. However, it can only deal with a certain number of things at one time because it can be easily overloaded. The subconscious is a layer that works on ‘auto pilot’, reacting to the principle of avoiding pain, obtaining pleasure and managing survival, regardless of external circumstances. It is concerned with emotion, imagination and memories, as well as our nervous system that controls internal organs automatically. There are many different scales used to determine the depth of hypnosis. These stages are not always clear and not everyone achieves all of the signs. There are a number of factors that can determine the depth that an individual can reach. First, the methods used by the hypnotist to induce are important. In addition, the natural ability of the client, along with their emotional state and motivation, are key factors. Finally, there should be complete trust between the individual and the hypnotist. Studies show that as few as one in twenty people are capable of entering a deep state easily, but most can achieve the lighter states, where most therapy can be accomplished. There are several levels or phrases in a hypnotic state. First is the light phase, very little happens in this stage, relaxation is the main objective. The individual often believes they are not being hypnotized or that the... Free Essays on Hypnosis Free Essays on Hypnosis Hypnosis is a state of inner concentration and focused attention. It is defined as an altered state of awareness, consciousness and perception. In other words, hypnosis is a relaxed condition where an individuals’ mind is focused and receptive to suggestion. The word hypnosis comes from the Greek meaning of sleep, hypnos, it is also called suggestive therapy, which is the one of the oldest therapeutic methods. The human mind has many layers. The first layer is our conscious mind which helps with the daily decision-making process. It is intelligent, realistic and logical, especially in situations where rational thinking is applied. However, it can only deal with a certain number of things at one time because it can be easily overloaded. The subconscious is a layer that works on ‘auto pilot’, reacting to the principle of avoiding pain, obtaining pleasure and managing survival, regardless of external circumstances. It is concerned with emotion, imagination and memories, as well as our nervous system that controls internal organs automatically. There are many different scales used to determine the depth of hypnosis. These stages are not always clear and not everyone achieves all of the signs. There are a number of factors that can determine the depth that an individual can reach. First, the methods used by the hypnotist to induce are important. In addition, the natural ability of the client, along with their emotional state and motivation, are key factors. Finally, there should be complete trust between the individual and the hypnotist. Studies show that as few as one in twenty people are capable of entering a deep state easily, but most can achieve the lighter states, where most therapy can be accomplished. There are several levels or phrases in a hypnotic state. First is the light phase, very little happens in this stage, relaxation is the main objective. The individual often believes they are not being hypnotized or that the...

SAT Literature Subject Test Information

SAT Literature Subject Test Information    When some people hear the word, Literature, they cringe out of habit. Literature makes things like movies, magazines, books and plays – stuff you actually want to enjoy – seem stuffy or out of date. But, if youll remember that the term is just a fancy way of saying, entertainment it wont be so daunting when its time to be tested on something like the SAT Literature Subject Test. Note: The SAT Literature Subject Test is not part of the SAT Reasoning Test, the popular college admissions exam. Its one of the many SAT Subject Tests, which are also offered by the College Board. SAT Literature Subject Test Basics So, what should you expect when you register for this SAT Subject Test? Here are the basics: 60 minutes60 multiple-choice questions based on 6 to 8 different literary passages200-800 points possible SAT Literature Subject Test Passages The SAT Literature Subject Test is very narrow in its scope. Remember, this is a Literature test, not a reading test, which is quite different. You will not be reading nonfiction like excerpts from memoirs, passages from biographies or samples from textbook. Nope! These six to eight passages of literature excerpts will look like this: The Genres: Approximately 3-4 of the passages will be prose (excerpts from novels, short stories, and essays).Approximately 3-4 of the passages will be poetry (either complete or shortened if the poem is long).Approximately 0-1 of the passages could be drama or other forms of literature (legends, fables, myths, etc.). The Sources: Approximately 3-4 of the passages will come from American Literature.Approximately 3-4 of the passages will come from British Literature.Approximately 0-1 of the passages could come from literature from other countries. (Indian, Caribbean, and Canadian excerpts have been used in the past.) The Age of the Passages: 30% of the passages will come from the Renaissance or 17th century.30% of the passages will come from the 18th or 19th century.40% of the passages will come from the 20th century. SAT Literature Subject Test Skills Since this is a Literature test, and not merely your average reading exam, youll be required to do a lot of analytical thinking about the passages youre reading. Youll also be expected to understand the basics about literature, itself. Heres what you should brush up on: Common Literary and Poetic TermsNarrators and Authors ToneMeaning and Vocabulary in Context Word Choice, Imagery, MetaphorThemeCharacterizationBasic Plot Structures Why Take the SAT Literature Subject Test? In some cases, it wont be a matter of choice; youll have to take the SAT Literature Subject Test based on the requirements of the program in which youre choosing to apply. You must check with your programs requirements to see if youre one of the lucky applicants that must sit for the test. If a particular program doesnt require the test, then some people choose to take the exam to show off their skills if theyre masters in Literature. It can really give your application score a boost if your SAT Lit score is through the roof. How to Prepare for the SAT Literature Subject Test Mostly, if youve done really well in your 3-4 years of Literature-based classes in high school, love to read outside of class, and can usually understand and analyze whats going on in various literary passages, you should do just fine on this exam. For those of you who have to take the test and Literature isnt your strongest suit, then Id definitely recommend hitting up your English teacher for some extra assignments to help you get better at analyzing the material. Good Luck!

Literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Literature review - Essay Example The model is basically represented in a mathematical equation which is equated with the â€Å"expected rate of return on a stock to risk free rate plus a risk premium for the stock’s systematic risk† (Keown, 1998, p.242). Risk premium for a particular security is basically defined as the required return after deducting the risk free rate existing in the market. Total risk which is calculated as a standard deviation of return is generally fragmented into two parts. They are unsystematic and risk systematic risk, Beta () (Strong, 2008, p.168). The investors are rewarded bearing through this risk only and is very crucial. The equation for CAPM can be given as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. (1) The above equation is a CAPM equation and it is also known as the security market line. In this equation, is the expected return, is the risk free return, is the required return for a particular market portfolio. , measure the systematic risk (Keown, 1998, p.242). 1.2 Application T he model provides a logical approach for analyzing the return that an investor should receive from an investment. More interestingly, the model is applied in a wide spectrum in the field of modern finance for the purpose of estimating the cost of equity and the performance of a company. Evaluating performance of companies in a particular industrial area is of great importance as it reflects the economic functioning of the area and further decides the strength of investor’s attraction in that particular area (Armitage, 2005, p.278). 2. Research Aims and Objectives The rationale thus created is that the CAPM model helps to calculate expected return of an investor and evaluate the performance of the companies. The concentration in this paper will be on the later trajectory i.e. performance of the companies. The aim of the paper is to find proper application of CAPM model in a real world scenario. The objective of the paper is centered on finding out the intensity of the companie s creating value for their shareholders with data on ten US companies listed in the New York Stock Exchange. 4. Research questions The research questions that will be discussed in this paper are discussed below: 1. What is the importance of CAPM model in corporate finance? 2. What are the fields where the model is applicable and what important results it yield? 3. What decision criterion the model generates that drives the financial managers to take important business decisions? 3. Research hypothesis The research hypothesis that will be tested in this paper can be represented in a tabular format as given below: H0: The companies selected are not performing strongly to create value for the shareholders H1: The companies selected are performing strongly to create value for the shareholders H0 is the null hypothesis which will be tested against the alternative hypothesis H1. The data and testing procedure will be explained in a detailed manner in the methodology section. Now, the subs equent section will focus on a brief literature review on this particular financial model i.e. CAPM. 4. Literature Review Rigorous testing has been employed with CAPM model in the last three decades. Studies of Jensen and Scholes in 1972, Blume and Friend in 1973, Reinganum in 1981, Banz in 1981 founded that there exist a positive correlation between the realized return and as well as that between risk and return is a linear function. Through the