Runaway free essay sample

Last year, I was a runaway for a grand total of 27 hours. I stormed out of my house in complete confusion. I couldnt understand why, after all the awards Id managed to win, after Id been set as the model of success by our relations, my own mother preferred my sister. Why wasnt I doted over? Why did my mother seem just a little sad every time I came home with more good news? Why? I simply couldnt understand it. That day had started out normally enough. It was the ending that had been abnormal. Get out! My mother had screamed. Get out and never come back! I didnt even argue. It was a testament to my naivety, my rashness, and above all, my immaturity that I took her words at face value and actually left when shed told me to. I hadnt even turned back, so convinced was I that I was the victim. We will write a custom essay sample on Runaway or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was dusk when I finally calmed from my righteous indignation and called my friend to come pick me up. I stayed at his equally ratty apartment until I heard sirens in the driveway around midnight the following day. My mother had called the police on me. After that, I had literally no choice but to return home. I was greeted with shouts about what an idiot I was as soon as I stepped through the door. My temper started to rise at the clear provocation, but before I could really get in gear I caught sight of my mother. My mother, who was usually incredibly well groomed and collected, had clear bags under her eyes. She was pale. Her clothes were mismatched and she was nursing a cup of coffee at one in the morning. It was clear shed been worried about me, even after Id acted like a complete selfish ass. I shut my mouth immediately. Despite the constant attentions she showered over her age, the stress of raising an arrogant, know-it-all kid was shining through. A kid who constantly needed to be praised by others. A kid who never got awards because she deserved them, but more because she sought them. A shallow girl who thought she was better than her sister because she had more medals more like lumps of metal and never considered to factor in how much more self-confident and fulfilled her sister was. I suddenly felt very small. Im sorry, I told her. It came out awkward and stilted and demeaning, but I said it, and when I looked up, she was downright smiling. Smiling. My chest filled with an emotion that was hard to place, but it was filled nevertheless. For the first time in a long while, my mother and I stood in mutual respect and understanding, and I was truly happy. I had admitted I was wrong, Id bowed my head, and the world had not fallen to pieces. On the contrary, I felt stronger and more sure than ever. It was a strangely reassuring thing to be, not being empty. I was able to mature and grow and see past what I wanted to recognize what my mother and I both needed. More than shaking the Congressmans hand, more than winning the award Id been hoping for, it was my stuttered, horribly stilted apology that brought out the best in who I was. It had only taken me 16 years to realize that the external the awards, the titles, the prestige doesnt determine a person. Its whats inside that allows for understanding and other important things, like love. Its the inside that makes you truly great. The rest come second.

The wars essays

The wars essays Sigmund Freud once argued that "our species has a volcanic potential to erupt in aggression . . . [and] that we harbour not only positive survival instincts but also a self-destructive 'death instinct', which we usually displace towards others in aggression" (Myers 666). Timothy Findley, born in 1930 in Toronto, Canada, explores our human predilection towards violence in his third novel, The Wars. It is human brutality that initiates the horrors of World War I, the war that takes place in this narrative. Findley dedicated this novel to the memory of his uncle, Thomas Irving Findley, who 'died at home of injuries inflicted in the First World War" (Cude 75) and may have propelled him to feel so strongly about "what people really do to one another" (Inside Memory 19). Findley feels a great fondness for animals, and this affection surfaces faithfully in many of his literary works. The Wars is a novel wrought with imagery, and the most often recurring pattern is that of animals. Throughou t the novel, young Robert Ross' strong connection with animals is continually depicted in his encounters with the creatures. Findley uses Robert to reveal the many similarities between humans and animals. The only quality, which we humans do not appear to share with our animal counterparts, is our inexplicable predisposition to needless savagery. In his video documentary, The Anatomy of a Writer, Findley describes his affinity for animals when he says that he has "always been in awe of . . . animals. [He has] never understood where [humankind] picked up the idea that [animals] are less than [people] are-that man is everything". In The Wars, Findley stresses his belief that humans are "no better and no worse-no larger and no smaller than any other creature that walks or crawls or flies or swims. [They are] merely different" (Roberts 56). Parallels are drawn between the protagonist, Robert Ross, and many of the animals that appear throughout the novel. Rob...

Doctrine of Precedent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Doctrine of Precedent - Essay Example This is opposite to the European legal system as it is founded on legal examples and possibilities. The substance of precedent is known as "common law" and it bonds future determinations. When parties are in disagreement in the future and if the nature of the conflict is similar then the common law court bases its decision with the help of Presidential decisions of applicable courts2. The court is bound to follow the reasoning of a past similar disagreement in which the issue was resolved. This principle is called ‘stare decisis’. But if the present disagreement is different from all other previous cases then the judges have the right and responsibility to formulate new law which thus creates a precedent as in Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803); "It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases, must of necessity expound and interpret that rule. If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each". From then on, the new verdict became precedent, and is binding on future courts. The English legal system is based on the common law and the precedents. The doctrine of precedent is defined as ‘The common law principle which binds a judge or a magistrate to follow previous similar decision of higher courts in the same hierarchy; also known as stare decisis’ (Vickery & Pendleton 2006), which implies the decision stands. The doctrine of precedent derives from common law and law of equity, which is ‘English-made’ laws that aims to be fair and treat all equally, so that the decisions by the courts are predictable and consistent in resolving disputes. There are binding and persuasive precedents, of which binding precedents are known as ‘ratio decidendi’ when the final order or ‘res judicata’ by the

Ingredients for Success at Maples Research Paper

Ingredients for Success at Maples - Research Paper Example The company I have chosen to research for this assignment is Maples and Calder. Specifically, I am focused on the position of Assistant Manager of Operations at their Cayman Islands site. I have chosen this particular company because it exemplifies the qualities I value in a company. They are a professional international law firm that helps financial, institutional and business clients around the world to safeguard and build their financial and global security by advising them on the laws of the Cayman Islands, Ireland, and British Virgin Islands. I respect a service orientation in business. They recruit and pay attention to retaining top legal and professional talent, requiring that their people demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and help Maples to grow. Along with these business basics, they emphasize being likeable, well-rounded, and respectful of colleagues, clients and themselves. They value quality work but also place great value on their approach to each other. I am impre ssed by this balance in their recruitment and retention thinking. I think one can learn a lot about a company’s values by careful inspection of their website. ... Instead of bragging about how rich, ambitious and accomplished they are, they turned the focus onto some intriguing employee profiles. I found this a mature and effective way to give clients insight into company resources and competence, and to hold out a clear recruitment standard, at the same time. They particularly stressed their legal team, of course, but they also included some support staff, showing that they recognize and value both. This, along with a statement of their commitment to the client, and not merely the transaction, indicates Maple’s appreciation of the micro-environment and not only of the macro-environment. The company provides opportunities for continuing education, and they have innovative training programs in place. One of the profiles revealed that Maples had generously sponsored a clerk all the way through law school, and then promoted her to the legal team. They also emphasize the collegiate atmosphere of their company, and how they value innovation. I was left with an impression that they value dynamic inquiry and personal growth, things I also value. Of course, the Cayman Islands provide a tropical paradise backdrop and ocean resort lifestyle for this career opportunity. The Cayman Islands is an international financial and business center, so again I like the balance I see in this living equation. I am under no illusions about how hard I would need to work to retain a position that is obviously a dream job, but I also think that this location would provide both beach time and powerful contacts. Should I ever want to sample a larger world than the Cayman Islands provides, Maples has branches in Dubai, Hong Kong, Dublin, London, and British Virgin Islands. A job description for my targeted position, as Assistant

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 55

Reflection - Essay Example Language is important resource which also serves as critical tool for disseminating information. Effectiveness of teaching and learning is indeed a constant effort which teachers apply by testing new approaches with learners. Thus methods of teaching need to be looked from new perspective of bonding with learners which can address their learning capabilities and make teaching and learning effective. I strongly agree with the writer that ELT has gradually lost its relevance as the basic purpose of ELT has been overridden by the researchers who believe that semantics of the language is more important. Language is important tool of communication and ELT becomes relevant for foreign students in English speaking nations. The fundamental aim of ELT was to ensure that foreign students were better equipped to assimilate within mainstream population and communicate effectively. But now ELT has evolved into important method of teaching to foreign students and become controversial as its theoretical aspects obstruct learners’ ability to communicate in the real world which actually defeats the very purpose of the language! Theories become effective only when their efficacy is tested in real world. Consequently, practice should be the basis of evolving theories. (words:

Effect of Gender Equality in the Economy

Effect of Gender Equality in the Economy Michael .O. Sanni Hypothesis: There is a positive correlation between gender equality with respect to economic development. My Initial Hypothesis In the labor market, one may assume that a rà ©sumà © and credentials are the only significant factor contributing to securing a job in an organization, but that proves to be wrong especially for women. Increasing job opportunities and decent work for women is essential for growth that vital for advancing social and economic development (ADB, 2003). After careful observation of countries where social, behavioral, and cultural attributes are the criteria by which individual’s performance is evaluated. I wondered whether or not gender equality had an effect on how well a country’s economy is developing. Based on the mental representation of what we know and expect about girls and women, we tend to be bias in our perception of females being less intelligent, under-skilled and not being clever enough to partake in economic activities. If employers have this type of mindset, I am curious to know under what circumstances gender equality affects the development of a country’s economy. The Empirical Evidence There are numerous factors that determine the social and economic development of a nation, one of which is gender equality. It is a critical component of economic development, it is a basic right that does not need economic vindication. Gender inequality proves to be the causes of poverty in the society as a whole. Yet gender equality has broad and positive implications for social and economic development. A number of studies have attempted to establish a positive correlation between them.Kuznets (1995) thesis regarding a curvilinear relationship between economic development and inequality, propose that economic development and gender equality also exhibit a non-monotonic relationship, marked by three phases. Economic development should improve gender equality in the first phase; in the second phase equality increases or decline slightly; and in the third phase, it should rise again (Eastin Prakash, 2012). Every sector of a nation affect the economy directly or indirectly, take for instance; equality in the educational sector. Hill and King (1993) estimated that the correlation between female education and the gender gap in primary and secondary enrollment on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita between 1975 and 1985 is statistically and economically significant. Countries with a lower level of inequality have higher GNP compare with similar countries that have a higher level of gender inequality. Which means the more equality we have in a country the greater the impact on the economy development. Breaking the barriers of inequality in education matters instrumentally, because greater equality contribute to economic efficiency, achievement and other key developmental outcomes. Human capital is define as the skill, knowledge and physical capacity that allows the labor force to be economically productive. Increasing educational opportunities for women offers them the freedom to accumulate greater skills and expertise in the labor force and thus raise the potential for economic development. More so, women who are learned can undertake valuable economic activities. Abu-Ghaida and Klasen (2002) further provides empirical reseach indicating that a country failing to close the gender gap in education could experience a decrease in per capita income by 0.1 to 0.3 percentage points. Countries are rarely wealthy if they have poor gender equality in education. It has become widely understood that promoting gender equality is crucial for of an effective economic and human development strategy. According to world bank(2013)â€Å"Development community have come to understand that development policies and actions that fail to take gender inequality into account and fail to address gap between males and females will have limited effectiveness and serious cost implications.† The process of development may also lead to the adoption of institutions that favor gender equality. For example, if women are given the chance to participate in various sectors of the economy such as; agriculture, can help put an end to gender discrimination barrier to improve agricultural productivity. Breaking the obstacles of unequal distributions of resources, including credit extension, labor, and fertilizer that leads to inefficiencies which lower yields and profits; and markedly reduces incomes in some countries. This is mostly true for low-income countries, notably sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture makes up a large proportion of the total economy and where a large number of women participate in this sector. Gender equality will provide educational and employment opportunities for women which will help in alleviating poverty and hunger. More so, children who receive more education are likely to profit more, but girls typically benefit more from extra education than boys according to Psacharapoulos Patrinos, (2002). In many developing countries, this benefit seems greater from secondary and tertiary education than from primary education. Women will also receive higher wages from entering the formal sector than from the agricultural sector, implying that expanding these opportunities for women will further alleviate poverty (Kingdon Soderbom, 2007). The accessible of health care and antenatal health care services will be easier for educated women and those in employment, thus reducing child mortality rates also has an impact on economic development. My Current Opinion My hypothesis was supported. After reading the empirical evidence regarding the effect gender equality has on economic development, I believe it is critical to societal progress both socially and economically. We live in a male-dominated world, but to foster economic growth, alleviate poverty and provide a better standard of living, both male and female have their roles to play, and we need to have a shift in our thinking. Feminist have argued that women and men are born with equal human capacity to learn, develop, and contribute to shaping the world. In 1995 more than 47,000 women and men participated in the creation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. The Platform clearly stated that the empowerment of women and gender equality were critical to international development, peace, and human right. Investing in women education as Lawrence Summers (1992) says, ‘may well be the highest return investment available in the developing world’. Creating opportunities for girls and women to acquire knowledge has reduced the gender gap in almost all countries. In secondary education, these gaps are closing rapidly and have reversed in many countries, especially in Latin America, the Caribbean, and East Asia. Among developing countries, girls now outnumber boys in secondary schools in 45 countries and there are more young women than men in universities in 60 countries (ADR 2012). Empowering women as economic, political, and social stand-in characters can change policy choices and make institutions more representative of a range of voices. In India for instance, giving power to women at the local level led to increases in the provision of public goods, and basic social amenities which mattered more to women (ADR 2012). The mismanagement of women’s skills and talent comes at a high economic cost, gender equality can have large impacts on productivity. Women now represent a majority of the global labor force, 43 percent of the agricultural workforce, and more than half of the world’s university students. Women’s skills and talents should be engaged in activities that make the best use of those abilities, for an economy to be functioning at its optimum capacity. References Doepke, M., and M. Tertilt. 2010. â€Å"Does Female Empowerment Promote Economic Development?† BREAD Working Paper 281, Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development. 20 Dollar, D., and Gatti, R. 1999. Gender, Inequality, Income, and Growth: Are Good Times Good for Women? Background paper for Engendering Development. World Bank, Washington, D.C. Klasen, S., and Lamanna, F. 2009. The Impact of Gender Inequality in Education and Employment on Economic Growth: New Evidence for a Panel of Countries. Feminist Economics 15 (3): 91-132 World Bank. 2011. World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development. Washington DC: The World Bank. Munshi, K., and Rosenzweig, M. 2006. Traditional Institutions Meet the Modern World: Caste, Gender, and Schooling Choice in a Globalizing Economy. American Economic Review 96 (4): 1225-52. Klasen, S. 1999. â€Å"Does Gender Inequality Reduce Growth and Development? Evidence from Cross-Country Regressions.† Background paper for Engendering Development, World Bank, Washington D.C. Klasen, S. 2002. Low Schooling for Girls, Slower Growth for All? Cross-Country Evidence on the Effect of Gender Inequality in Education on Economic Development. World Bank Economic Review 16 (3): 345-73 Hill, A., and E. King. 1993. â€Å"Women’s education in developing countries: an overview† in Women’s Education in Developing Countries. Ed. Elizabeth M. King and M. Anne Hill, 1-50. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press. Bertocchi, G. 2008. The enfranchisement of women and the welfare State. Center for Economic Research (RECent) 018, University of Modena and Reggio E., Dept. of Economics.

Distinguish Between the main Features of Perfect Competition and Monopo

Distinguish Between the main Features of Perfect Competition and Monopoly Market Structure There are three main features that distinguish between a perfect competition and monopoly market structure: the type of firm, the freedom of entry and the nature of the product (Sloman and Norris 1999, pg, 161). A table of these features is contained in Appendix A. These two market structures are on opposite ends of the scale and consequently, the features and benefits of each structure vary quite dramatically. Firms In a perfectly competitive market structure, there must be many firms in the market competing for business. In contrast to this, within a monopoly there is only one firm operating in the market. A firm that is operating within a perfect market is referred to as a price taker. Duffy (1993, pg. 107) explains that a condition of working within a perfectly competitive market is that â€Å"a price taker cannot control the price of the goods it sells; it simply takes the market price as given.† In a monopoly, the firm does not have to take the given price. It is able to search the market for the best price to charge relative to the demand for the product, profitability and availability of the resources for manufacture. This is particularly relevant when there is a shortage of supply. As there is only one seller of the product, consumers are forced to purchase the goods at a higher price. The International Encyclopaedia of Economics (1997, pg. 1041) states, ...

Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 3

first it looked like a speck, then like an insect on a lightbulb, then like a kite. Gillian watched, too frightened to run, until it got close enough for her to realize what it really was. It was an angel. Her fear drained away as she stared. The figure seemed to shine, as if it were made of the same light as the mist. It was tall, and had the shape of a perfectly formed human. It was walking, but somehow rushing toward her at the same time. An angel, Gillian thought, awed. An angel†¦ And then the mist cleared and the shining faded. The figure was standing on the grass in front of her. Gillian blinked. Uh-not an angel, after all. A young guy. Maybe seventeen, a year older than Gillian. And†¦ drop dead gorgeous. He had a face like some ancient Greek sculpture. Classically beautiful. Hair like unburnished gold. Eyes that weren't blue, but violet. Long golden lashes. And a terrific body. I shouldn't be noticing that Gillian thought, horrified. But it was hard not to. Now that his clothes had stopped shining, she could see that they were ordinary, the kind any guy from earth might wear. Washed and faded jeans and a white T-shirt. And he could easily have done a commercial for those jeans. He was well built without being over-musdy. His only flaw, if it could be called that, was that his expression was a little too uplifted. Almost too sweet for a boy. Gillian stared. The being looked back. After a moment he spoke. â€Å"Hey, kid,† he said, and winked. Gillian was startled-and mad. Normally, she was shy about speaking to guys, but after all, she was dead now, and this person had struck a raw nerve. â€Å"Who're you calling kid?† she said indignantly. He just grinned. â€Å"Sorry. No offense.† Confused, Gillian made herself nod politely. Who was this person? She'd always heard you had friends or relatives come and meet you. But she'd never seen this guy before in her life. Anyway, he's definitely not an angel. â€Å"I've come to help you,† he said. As if he'd heard her thought. â€Å"Help me?† â€Å"You have a choice to make.† That was when Gillian began to notice the door. It was right behind the guy, approximately where the mist had been. And it was a door†¦ but it wasn't. It was like the luminous outline of a door, drawn very faintly on thin air. Fear crept back into Gillian's mind. Somehow, without knowing how she knew, she knew the door was important. More important than anything she'd seen so far. Whatever was behind it was-well, maybe beyond comprehension. A different place. Where all the laws she knew didn't apply. Not necessarily bad. Just so powerful and so different that it was scary. Good can be scary, too. That's the real gateway, she thought. Go through that door and you don't come back. And even though part of her longed desperately to see what was behind it, she was still so frightened that she felt dizzy. â€Å"The thing is, it wasn't actually your time,† the guy with the golden-blond hair said quietly. Oh, yes, I should have known. That's the clich†, Gillian thought. But she thought it weakly. Looking at that door, she didn't have room left inside for cute remarks. She swallowed, blinking to clear her eyes. â€Å"But here you are. A mistake, but one we have to deal with. In these cases, we usually leave the decision up to the individual.† â€Å"You're saying I can choose whether or not I die.† â€Å"To put it sort of loosely.† â€Å"It's just up to me?† â€Å"That's right.† He tilted his head slightly. â€Å"You might want to think your life over at this point.† Gillian blinked. Then she took a few steps away from him and stared across the supernaturally green grass. She tried to think about her life. If you'd asked me this morning if I wanted to stay alive, there would have been no question. But now†¦ Now it felt a little like being rejected. As if she weren't good enough. And besides, seeing that she'd come this far †¦ did she really want to go back? It's not as if I were anybody special there. Not smart like Amy, a straight A student. Not brave. Not talented. Well, what else is there? What would I be going back to? Her mom-drinking every day, asleep by the time Gillian got home. Her dad and the constant arguments. The loneliness she knew she'd be facing now that Amy had a boyfriend. The longing for things she could never have, like David Blackburn with his quizzical smile. Like popularity and love and acceptance. Like having people think she was interesting and-and mature. Come on. There's got to be something good back there. â€Å"Cup Noodles?† the guy's voice said. Gillian turned toward him. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"You like those. Especially on a cold day when you come inside. Cats. The way babies smell. Cinnamon toast with lots of butter, like your mom used to make it when she still got up in the morning. Bad monster movies.† Gillian choked. She'd never told anyone about most of those things. â€Å"How do you know all that?† He smiled. He really had an extraordinary smile. â€Å"Eh, we see a lot up here.† Then he sobered. â€Å"And don't you want to see more? Of life, I mean. Isn't there anything left for you to do?† Everything was left for her to do. She'd never accomplished anything worthwhile. But I didn't have much time, a small wimpy voice inside her protested. To be quashed immediately by a stern, steady voice. You think that's an excuse? Nobody knows how much time they've got. You had plenty of minutes, and you wasted most of them. â€Å"Then don't you think you'd better go back and try again?† the guy said, hi a gentle, prodding voice. â€Å"See if you can do a better job?† Yes. All at once, Gillian was filled with the same burning she'd felt when she got out of the creek. A sense of revelation and of purpose. She could do that. She could change completely, turn her life in a whole new direction. Besides, there were her parents to consider. No matter how bad things were between them now, it could only make it worse if their daughter suddenly died. They'd blame each other. And Amy would get one of her guilt complexes for not waiting to drive Gillian home from school†¦ The thought brought a little grim satisfaction. Gillian tried to quell it. She had the feeling the guy was listening. But she did have a new perspective on life. A sudden feeling that it was terribly precious, and that the worst thing you could do was waste it. She looked at the guy. â€Å"I want to go back.† He nodded. Gave the smile again. â€Å"I thought maybe you would.† His voice was so warm now. There was a quality in it that was like-what? Pure love? Infinite understanding? A tone that was to sound what perfect light was to vision. He held out a hand. â€Å"Time to go, Gillian,† he said gently. His eyes were the deepest violet imaginable. Gillian hesitated just an instant, then reached toward him. She never actually touched his hand, not in a physical way. Just as her fingers seemed about to meet his, she felt a tingling shock and there was a flash. Then he was gone and Gillian had several odd impressions all at once. The first was of being†¦ unfixed. Detached from her surroundings. A falling feeling. The second was of something coming at her. It was coming very fast from some direction she couldn't point to. A place that wasn't defined by up or down or left or right. And it felt huge and winged, the way a hawk's shadow must feel to a mouse. Gillian had a wild impulse to duck. But it wasn't necessary. She was moving herself, falling away. Rushing backward through the tunnel, leaving the meadow-and whatever was coming at her-behind. The huge thing had only registered for an instant on her senses, and now, whizzing back through the darkness, she forgot about it. Later, she would realize what a mistake this had been. For now, time seemed compressed. She was alone in the tunnel, being pulled down like water down a drain. She tried to look between her feet to see where she was going, and saw something like a deep well beneath her. At the bottom of the well was a circle of light, like the view backwards through a telescope. And in the circle, very tiny, was a girl's body lying on the snow. My body, Gillian thought-and then, before she had time to feel any emotion, the bottom of the well was rushing up toward her. The tiny body was bigger and bigger. She felt a tugging pressure. She was being sucked into it-too fast. Way too fast. She had no control. She fit perfectly in the body, like a hand slipping into a mitten, but the jolt knocked her out. Oooh†¦ something hurts. Gillian opened her eyes-or tried to. It was as hard as doing a chin-up. On the second or third attempt she managed to get them open a crack. Whiteness everywhere. Dazzling. Blinding. Where†¦ ? Is it snow? What am I doing lying down in the snow? Images came to her. The creek. Icy water. Climbing out. Falling. Being so cold†¦ After that†¦ she couldn't remember. But now she knew what hurt. Everything. I can't move. Her muscles were clenched tight as steel. But she knew she couldn't stay here. If she did, she'd†¦ Memory burst through her. I died already. Strangely, the realization gave her strength. She actually managed to sit up. As she did, she heard a cracking sound. Her clothes were glazed with solid ice. Somehow she got to her feet. She shouldn't have been able to do it. Her body had been cold enough to shut down earlier, and since then she'd been lying in the snow. By all the laws of nature, she should be frozen now. But she was standing. She could even shuffle a step forward. Only to realize she had no idea which way to go. She still didn't know where the road was. Worse, it would be getting dark soon. When that happened, she wouldn't even be able to see her own tracks. She could walk in circles in the woods until her body gave out again. â€Å"See that white oak tree? Go around it to the right.† The voice was behind her left ear. Gillian turned that way as sharply as her rigid muscles would allow, even though she knew she wouldn't see anything. She recognized the voice. But it was so much warmer and gentler now. â€Å"You came back with me.† â€Å"Sure.† Once again the voice was filled with that impossible warmth, that perfect love. â€Å"You don't think I'd just leave you to wander around until you froze again, do you? Now head for that tree, kid.† After that came a long time of stumbling and staggering, over branches, around trees, on and on. It seemed to last forever, but always there was the voice in Gillian's ear, guiding her, encouraging her. It kept her moving when she thought she couldn't possibly go another step. And then, at last, the voice said, â€Å"Just up this ridge and you'll find the road.† In a dreamlike state, Gillian climbed the ridge. And there it was. The road. In the last light before darkness, Gillian could see it meandering down a hill. But it was still almost a mile to her house, and she couldn't go any farther. â€Å"You don't have to,† the voice said gently. â€Å"Look up the road.† Gillian saw headlights. â€Å"Now just get in the middle of the road and wave.† Gillian stumbled out and waved like a mechanical doll. The headlights were coming, blinding her. Then she realized that they were slowing. â€Å"We did it,† she gasped, dimly aware that she was speaking out loud. â€Å"They're stopping!† â€Å"Of course they're stopping. You did a great job. You'll be all right now.† There was no mistaking the note of finality. The car was stopped now. The driver's side door was opening. Gillian could see a dark figure beyond the glare of the headlights. But in that instant what she felt was distress. â€Å"Wait, don't leave me. I don't even know who you are-â€Å" For a brief moment, she was once again enfolded by love and understanding. â€Å"Just call me Angel.† Then the voice was gone, and all Gillian could feel was anguish. â€Å"What are you doing out-Hey, are you okay?† The new voice broke through Gillian's emptiness. She had been standing rigidly in the headlights; now she blinked and tried to focus on the figure coming toward her. â€Å"God, of course you're not okay. Look at you. You're Gillian, aren't you? You live on my street.† It was David Blackburn. The knowledge surged through her like a shock, and it drove all the strange hallucinations she'd been having out of her mind. It really was David, as close as he'd ever been to her. Dark hair. A lean face that still had traces of a summer tan. Cheekbones to die for and eyes to drown in. A certain elegance of carriage. And that half-friendly, half-quizzical smile†¦ Except that he wasn't smiling now. He looked shocked and worried. Gillian couldn't get a single word out. She just stared at him from under the icy curtain of her hair. â€Å"What hap-No, never mind. We've got to get you warm.† At school he was thought of as a tough guy, an independent rebel. But, now, without any hesitation, the tough guy scooped her up in his arms. Confusion flashed through Gillian, then embarrassment-but underneath it all was something much stronger. An odd bedrock sense of safety. David was warm and solid and she knew instinctively that she could trust him. She could stop fighting now and relax. â€Å"Put this on †¦ watch your head†¦ here, use this for your hair.† David was somehow getting everything done at once without hurrying. Capable and kind. Gillian found herself inside the car, wrapped in his sheepskin jacket, with an old towel around her shoulders. Heat blasted from the vents as David gunned the engine. It was wonderful to be able to rest without being afraid it would kill her. Bliss not to be surrounded by cold, even if the hot air didn't seem to warm her. The worn beige interior of the Mustang seemed like paradise. And David-well, no, he didn't look like an angel. More like a knight, especially the kind who went out in disguise and rescued people. Gillian was beginning to feel very fuzzy. â€Å"I thought I'd take a dip,† she said, between chattering teeth. She was shivering again. â€Å"What?† â€Å"You asked what happened. I was a little hot, so I jumped in the creek.† He laughed out loud. â€Å"Huh. You're brave.† Then he glanced at her sideways with keen eyes and added, â€Å"What really happened?† He thinks I'm brave! A glow better than the heated air enveloped Gillian. â€Å"I slipped,† she said. â€Å"I went into the woods, and when I got to the creek-† Suddenly, she remembered why she'd gone into the woods. She'd forgotten it since the fall had put her own life in danger, but now she seemed to hear that faint, pathetic cry all over again. â€Å"Oh, my God,† she said, struggling to sit upright. â€Å"Stop the car.†

Basics of the Food Industry essays

Basics of the Food Industry essays The food that we ingest will be separated into many biochemical energies giving to different organs in their bodies after digestions. In other words, food will become a part of their bodies, and that determines their bodies' performance. Therefore the quality of food will directly reflect on their health, and that is the thing they should care about the most. Unfortunately, as the rapid development of economy, advanced science, and technology, the pace of people's lives are constantly accelerating. Consequently, people wish everything can be faster and faster just like cell phones, internet, as well as food, so that many of them ignore the importance of eating healthy. As a result, they offer an opportunity for more and more food companies to procure business advantage by producing convenient, low cost, and industrial food, and leave their health behind. As Robert Kenner states in the book Food, Inc. that food industry influences "our health, our environment, our economy, and the rights of workers" (27). He points to the bad influences of the food industry which impact every corner of people's lives. The food industry leads people to an unhealthy lifestyle by excessive advertising, abundant People's lifestyles are easily misled by the food industry via media excessive advertising. In the recent three decades, telecommunication technology is widely used in this world. Internet, television, radio, and cellphones have already broken through the traditional limit of time and space, logistics, and information flow. That provides an excellent opportunity for commercials. As Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson say in their book, Chew On This, "During the course of a year, the typical American child watches more than 40000 TV commercials. About 20000 of those ads are for junk food: soda, candy, breakfast cereals, and fast food" (57). From that statistic number I find that the kids watch an ave...

Free Essays on Runaways

A Family Torn Apart â€Å"This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.† When reciting these vows to a loved one, an individual is committing oneself to a life long relationship which goes far beyond the lines of â€Å"dating.† For many this can prove to be a promise that is not always easy to keep. Whether because of infidelity, violence, or other reasons, separated families affect more than just the couple in the relationship. In Karen Brennan’s short story â€Å"Runaways,† we observe how physical abuse and infidelity leads to a family’s separation and the resulting destructive impact on family and friends. Physical abuse in a relationship is a key factor of failing marriages. Lou’s husband beats her so often, she is afraid to go to sleep. This is illustrated in Lou’s statement, â€Å"The night before I left, I lay on the living-room couch with the front door ajar in case he came down in the middle of the night in one of his furies. I was afraid to go to sleep† (Brennan 583). In 1999, Roger Sider, M.D. wrote the article, â€Å"Living Together Risky for Young Women and Children,† which talks about domestic violence and the risks undertaken by young women and children. In his findings he observes that the increase of domestic violence is a result of poverty, the easy availability of guns, alcohol and substance abuse, the glorification of violence in Hollywood, and the â€Å"macho† stereotype that equates masculinity with power, control, and domination (Sider). He also notes that one in every five women who are in relationships are assaulted. In Lo u’s case, she realizes that she cannot continue to fear going to sleep as she states, â€Å"this is no life† (583). Lou fights back in the beginning but she realizes what an unfair advantage her husband has over her. Some marriages may seem like they are perfect until one realizes that their spouse is having some extramarital encounters. In... Free Essays on Runaways Free Essays on Runaways A Family Torn Apart â€Å"This ring I give you, in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.† When reciting these vows to a loved one, an individual is committing oneself to a life long relationship which goes far beyond the lines of â€Å"dating.† For many this can prove to be a promise that is not always easy to keep. Whether because of infidelity, violence, or other reasons, separated families affect more than just the couple in the relationship. In Karen Brennan’s short story â€Å"Runaways,† we observe how physical abuse and infidelity leads to a family’s separation and the resulting destructive impact on family and friends. Physical abuse in a relationship is a key factor of failing marriages. Lou’s husband beats her so often, she is afraid to go to sleep. This is illustrated in Lou’s statement, â€Å"The night before I left, I lay on the living-room couch with the front door ajar in case he came down in the middle of the night in one of his furies. I was afraid to go to sleep† (Brennan 583). In 1999, Roger Sider, M.D. wrote the article, â€Å"Living Together Risky for Young Women and Children,† which talks about domestic violence and the risks undertaken by young women and children. In his findings he observes that the increase of domestic violence is a result of poverty, the easy availability of guns, alcohol and substance abuse, the glorification of violence in Hollywood, and the â€Å"macho† stereotype that equates masculinity with power, control, and domination (Sider). He also notes that one in every five women who are in relationships are assaulted. In Lo u’s case, she realizes that she cannot continue to fear going to sleep as she states, â€Å"this is no life† (583). Lou fights back in the beginning but she realizes what an unfair advantage her husband has over her. Some marriages may seem like they are perfect until one realizes that their spouse is having some extramarital encounters. In...

Innovation In the Emerging Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Innovation In the Emerging Markets - Essay Example In short, it’s just something fancy that can suit the taste of some people. In the case of MAC 400, innovation even meant a lower price tag since it sells for a third of a price of a conventional ECG as reported in an article in the Economist last 2010. Indeed, continuous innovation would certainly usher better medical products that are even handy and provide quick diagnosis of a medical condition. Doctors can go to remote places and attend to indigent patients who need an MRI using MAC 400. Although big companies are creating more innovative products to suit customer’s needs based on marketing research, a newer form of innovation has been shaped for the past few years. This innovation is a far cry from complex systems that sell for thousands of dollars; rather, the new trend in innovation is geared towards addressing basic concerns of humanity such as potable drinking water. This type of innovation is known as† reverse innovation â€Å"or† frugal innovatio n†. The World Health Organization’s Millennium Development Goals for 2015 included providing potable drinking water to 884 million people who still depend on unsafe water sources for their drinking, cooking and sanitation.

Analyzing Black Historical Sites Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analyzing Black Historical Sites - Essay Example The aftermath of the end of slavery raised the need for various reforms. Racial discriminations still went on in the US, and minor cases of slavery were still prevalent. The African American society held talks and rallies to empower each other and fight for their rights. The bay area in California was a place where radical changes within the African American society that revolutionized the fight against racism. The freeing of prisoners through the underground railroads was prevalent in the bay area. Economic development amongst the African American took root in the bay area leading to the establishment of estates by both men and women. Perhaps the most influential woman of this era was Mary Ellen Pleasant who raked a total sum of US $30,000,000 in the stock market that she used in the fight for equality. She has been christened â€Å"the mother of human and civil rights in California†. Her contribution to black history remains phenomenal as she had a massive amount of wealth t hat she did not hesitate to contribute to the struggle for equality. The Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial at 1661 Octavia, San Francisco, California, was setup in memory of her dedication to the liberation of the black people in California. Her incessant effort to aid the African American society has ranked among the outspoken women of her era of slavery, segregation and violation of numerous civil and human rights of African Americans. Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park and its Background The Mary Ellen Memorial Park is the smallest park within San Francisco preserved in honor of the abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant and her work in the era. The park is adorned with six gigantic eucalyptus blue gum trees that run down along Octavia Street. The six trees the only surviving ones out of the 20 that Ms. Pleasant herself had planted along the street. The City of San Francisco landmarked these trees to protect them from human interference. This street was once filled with the property of Mary Ellen Pleasant along its full length from Bush to Sutter. Her house once occupied this street, boasting 30 rooms and an entertainment avenue for several people back in the day. It was famous for cards, liquor and beautiful women. To others, this boarding house provided jobs for the African Americans. However, this house burnt down in 1925, and in its place Green Eye’s hospital built the Healing Arts Building1. A plaque adorns the front of her former 30-room home in her honor at the intersection of Bush and Octavia Streets. The disc-shaped plaque within the southwest corner of this intersection has a brief history of life and works of Mary Ellen Pleasant written on its cement structure2. The park remains a historical site for African Americans as it stands for the appreciation of the work of Mary Ellen Pleasant, whose philanthropy led to the efficacy of the black struggle in the freeing of slaves and the Civil War. Mary Ellen Pleasant was born at around 1814 as a slave in the East Coast, but she fled by boat in 1852 to San Francisco to establish herself in the bay area. She legally identified herself as white in the society to avoid being bound to slavery again and to empower herself financially. The Fugitive Slave Act would have led to her recapture in California so she developed a new identity with freedom papers, Mrs. Ellen Smith. She mixed with the top crop of the society