Sunday, December 29, 2019

Essential Things to Know About Shakespeares Sonnets

The collection of 154 Shakespeare sonnets remains some of the most important poems ever written in the English language. Indeed, the collection contains Sonnet 18 – ‘Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’ – described by many critics as the most romantic poem ever written. It is strange that, considering their literary importance, they were never supposed to be published! For Shakespeare, the sonnet was a private form of expression. Unlike his plays, which were written expressly for public consumption, there is evidence to suggest that Shakespeare never intended for his collection of 154 sonnets to be published. Publishing the Shakespeare Sonnets Although written in the 1590s, it wasn’t until 1609 that the Shakespeare sonnets were published. Around this time in Shakespeares biography, he was finishing his theatrical career in London and moving back to Stratford-upon-Avon to live out his retirement. It is likely that the 1609 publication was unauthorized because the text is riddled with errors and seems to be based on an unfinished draft of the sonnets – possibly obtained by the publisher through illegitimate means. To make things even more complicated, a different publisher released another edition of the sonnets in 1640 in which he edited the gender of the Fair Youth from â€Å"he† to â€Å"she†. A Breakdown of Shakespeare's Sonnets Although each sonnet in the 154-strong collection is a standalone poem, they do interlink to form an overarching narrative. In effect, this is a love story in which the poet pours adoration upon a young man. Later, a woman becomes the object of the poet’s desire. The two lovers are often used to breakdown the Shakespeare sonnets into chunks. The Fair Youth Sonnets:  Sonnets 1 to 126 are addressed to a young man known as the â€Å"fair youth†. Exactly what the relationship is, is unclear. Is it a loving friendship or something more? Is the poet’s love reciprocated? Or is it simply an infatuation? You can read more about this relationship in our introduction to the Fair Youth Sonnets.The Dark Lady Sonnets:  Suddenly, between sonnets 127 and 152, a woman enters the story and becomes the poet’s muse. She is described as a â€Å"dark lady† with unconventional beauty. This relationship is perhaps even more complex than the Faith Youth’s! Despite his infatuation, the poet describes her as â€Å"evil† and like a â€Å"bad angel†. You can read more about this relationship in our introduction to the  Dark Lady Sonnets.The Greek Sonnets:  The final two sonnets in the collection, sonnets 153 and 154, are completely different. The lovers disappear and the poet muses on the Roma n myth of Cupid. These sonnets act as a conclusion or summing up to the themes discussed throughout the sonnets. Literary Importance It is difficult to appreciate today how important Shakespeare’s sonnets were. At the time of writing, the Petrarchan sonnet form was extremely popular †¦ and predictable! They focused on unobtainable love in a very conventional way, but Shakespeare’s sonnets managed to stretch the strictly-obeyed conventions of sonnet writing into new areas. For example, Shakespeare’s depiction of love is far from courtly – it is complex, earthy and sometimes controversial: he plays with gender roles, love and evil are closely entwined and he speaks openly about sex. For example, the sexual reference that opens sonnet 129 is clear: The expense of spirit in a waste of shameIs lust in action: and till action, lust. In Shakespeare’s time, this was a revolutionary way of discussing love! Shakespeare, therefore, paved the way for modern romantic poetry. The sonnets remained relatively unpopular until Romanticism really kicked in during the nineteenth century. It was then that the Shakespeare sonnets were revisited and their literary importance secured.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Langer and Rodin Study - 2528 Words

Core studies summary - Langer Rodin (1976) Aims and context (Put aims of study background history): Aim: To see whether being given greater personal choice personal responsibility had a positive effect on older people living in a residential home. To see also if being given greater choice in a care home would affect their alertness activity. Langer Rodin aimed to investigate the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice in a group of nursing home patients. Specifically if increased control has generalised beneficial effects, which in turn affect physical and mental alertness, activity, sociability and general satisfaction. Bettleheim’s (1943) description of the ‘Muselmanner’, the walking corpses in the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ The experimental group was also told they could discuss their complaints and tell a nurse how the home should change. †¢ In the control group, the second floor residents were just given a plant with no choice, were told which night they would see the movie and were told their rooms had been arranged for maximum comfort. Also, they were told about the complaints procedure but were not told they could offer suggestions for improving anything. †¢ 3 days the later both groups were again visited and the same message was repeated. †¢ Patients were given a questionnaire by a research assistant who didn’t know aims/hypothesis etc, about how happy and active they felt and how much control they felt they had over life events. They answered on a scale from 0-8, 0=none 8=total. †¢ Nurses filled out the 2nd questionnaire that staffed both floors; they were also unaware of the experimental treatments. They were asked about how happy/alert/sociable/active and dependent the residents were. There were also records taken on their participation in competitions, attendance at movie night etc. Also, some of the residents’ wheelchairs wheels were covered in a white tape so researchers could measure how far they had gone in their wheelchairs!! Perspective developmental Method: Field experiment 3 advantages of the methodology: Sample (e.g. representative) Internal external validity/internal external reliability/ethics any other issues: 1.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Happiness and Health in a Connecticut Nursing Home543 Words   |  3 Pages 2. The question presented in this study is would increasing the power and control an individual have over their life cause them to be more happy and healthy? This is an important question because the results could help patients in nursing homes to be both happier and healthier. Langer and Rodins hypothesis was that if patients in a nursing home were given more control over their lives and activities, they would show improvements in mental alertness, activity level, satisfaction with life, andRead MoreThe Effects Of Enhanced Personal Responsibility And Choice1294 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This experimental study was carried out to examine â€Å"the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice† on a group of residents who were living a decision-free nursing home environment. The experiment consisted of two groups; the experimental group was given effective communication with emphasis on their personal responsibility, while the communication given to the second group stressed the responsibilities of the institutional staff toward them. Furthermore, the experimentalRead MoreThe Effects Of Enhanced Personal Responsibility And Choice1526 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction This experimental study was carried out to examine â€Å"the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice† on a group of residents who were living in a decision-free nursing home environment. The experiment consisted of two groups; the experimental group that was given effective communication with emphasis on their personal responsibility and choice, while the communication given to the second or comparison group stressed the responsibilities of the institutional staff towardRead MoreImproving Student Performance Has Long Been An Issue Contemplated And Researched By Educational Professionals And Psychologists1590 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity. In their study regarding contextualized instruction in the science classroom, Rivet and Krajcik found a strong correlation between contextualized science class projects and learning outcomes, most likely as a result of enhanced student interest and cognitive awareness (Rivet Krajcik, 2007). Personalization is characterized by integrating people, things or beliefs that are of interest to the student, including himself or herself, into the curriculum. In the case of a study regarding personalizationRead MoreRichard Layard Stated â€Å"Happiness Comes from Outside and Within â€Å". Explain This Statement, Drawing from Evidence from Chapters 3 and 5 of the Course.1116 Words   |  5 Pageseffect on levels of happiness. It has been found in many studies that optimists are healthier than pessimists – a positive outlook can have great influence on levels of happiness. For example In a study Toshihiko Maruta (2002) Spears et al – took a group of 839 patients and tested them to measure levels of happiness- by the year 2000 – 200 had died – those measured as optimists had a 19% greater longetivity than the pessimists. In another study - Martin Seligman (2005) Spears et al considered theRead MoreAgeism : An Underestimated Type Of Discrimination1609 Words   |  7 Pagescontrol of vehicles. Additionally, elders are often encouraged to relocate to retirement or assisted care living facilities by their friends and family, despite being able to function well without the supervision and help of others. In a study by Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin, the pair discovered the importance of autonomy in nursing home residents. They found those who were allowed to grow their own plants a nd make their own choices regarding movies and room furniture arrangement were healthier in theRead More To what extent can I determine my own destiny Essays2623 Words   |  11 Pagesexcitement, deep meaning etc) were times of intense self actualisation. Csikszentmihalyi (Stevens2 1996:157) did a similar study, his ‘flow experiences’ was interested in how people felt when they enjoyed themselves the most, it emphasized ’the importance of absorbing activity and the focusing of attention for psychological well-being’. (Stevens3 1996:169) The Langer and Rodin study (1976) (Lalljee 1996:121) based in an American nursing home shows the difference between two groups of elderly residentsRead MoreLate Adulthood2745 Words   |  11 Pagestheir experimental study, Langer and Rodin (1976) stated that by enhancing personal responsibility and choice in a group of nursing home residents, well-being was improved. The finding illustrates the importance of one’s own influence in a typical dependency situation. Locus of control not only influences well-being, but also health, functional capacity as well as the ability to use social support in both old and oldest-old people (BiscontiBergeman, 1999). In fact, in a study including individualsRead MorePsych Exam Chapter 1216262 Words   |  66 Pagesresponse to the missed connection is an example of _____. A) life event; the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome B) stressor; stress C) hassle; the stress contagion effect D) stress; stressor Page 1 5. The branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related behaviors is called: A) social psychology. B) biological psychology. C) health psychology. D) psychoneuroimmunology. 6. Dr. Gordon usesRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages mymanagementlab is an online assessment and preparation solution for courses in Principles of Management, Human Resources, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Friday, December 13, 2019

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 18 Free Essays

When it was over, I rested my cheek against his chest while still staying mostly on my side. His heart beat heavy beneath my hands, and the smell of his skin and sweat nearly overpowered me. I lay there, perfectly still, scarcely daring to breathe. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Heat CHAPTER 18 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I was afraid that if I moved too much, I’d break this spell, this dream that I’d somehow stumbled into. Slowly, carefully, Seth ran his fingers through my hair, idly twining the strands into loops. He let his hand drop and shifted slightly, just enough to press a kiss to my forehead. I exhaled and snuggled closer, realizing that I really wasn’t going to wake from this dream. At least, that’s what I thought until his cell phone rang. The ring was â€Å"Where the Streets Have No Name† by U2, not a particularly hard or jarring song but one that made me flinch anyway. For a moment, we each held our breath, both of us frozen. I wanted the phone to disappear off the face of the earth, to get smote the way I kept fearing some demon would smite me. I needed it to go away because if it kept ringing, it meant none of this was real. That we were going to have to face reality. But it was already too late. The spell was broken. The phone was reality. â€Å"You should answer that,† I said. He hesitated for the space of two heartbeats, sighed, and then slowly disentangled himself from me, still careful of my back. Sitting on the side of the bed, he reached down and pulled the cell phone from his jeans pocket. I shifted over, staying propped up on one elbow, admiring the shape of his body, even as a strange, bittersweet feeling began spilling through my heart. I knew, without knowing how I knew, that it was Maddie. â€Å"Hey. Yeah†¦I got caught up with†¦um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Seth paused, and I sensed something monumental about to take place. â€Å"I got an idea for this latest chapter.† I closed my eyes. In all the time I’d known him, I’d never heard Seth outright lie. â€Å"Right. Yeah. Okay. Um, if I leave now, I can probably make it in†¦oh, twenty minutes. Mmm-hmm. You want me to pick you up, or†¦? Okay. See you there.† He disconnected and continued sitting with his back to me, clasping the phone in his hands. Although he sat up straight, he had the air of someone hunched over, weary with defeat. â€Å"You have to go?† I asked. He looked back at me, anguish on his face. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I managed a weak smile. â€Å"It’s okay. I wasn’t tricked here. I understand the situation.† â€Å"I know, but I want you to realize that it wasn’t†¦that I didn’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn’t need to finish. One of the things I’d always loved about Seth was his open, honest nature. Occasionally he’d been able to hide his feelings from me, but more often than not, they shone through on his features. This was one of those times. With a single look, I saw what was in his heart, that he hadn’t had sex with me because I was easy or available. He’d done it because of how he felt about me, because he loved-still loved-me. It made all of this that much worse. â€Å"I know,† I said softly. After one more kiss to my forehead, he put on his clothes. I watched each move hungrily, uncertain if I’d ever see anything like it again. When he was dressed and ready to go, he sat beside me on the bed, playing with my hair again. Again, those golden brown eyes spilled over with emotion. He was overcome and confused. I was too, but for his sake, I tried to appear strong and articulate. â€Å"It’s okay,† I said. â€Å"It was great. Amazing†¦but I understand that we shouldn’t have and that we can’t ever†¦Ã¢â‚¬  So much for articulation. â€Å"Yeah,† he agreed. â€Å"It was just this once. And it was perfect.† â€Å"Just this once,† he repeated. I couldn’t read his voice, but something told me he wasn’t entirely happy about that. Neither was I, but honestly, what could we do? We’d succumbed to passion, and now he had to go back to his girlfriend. End of story. He tipped my head back, and our lips met in a soft, warm kiss. It was brief, only a few moments, but I felt that same, soul-deep connection that had consumed me during sex. He stood up and studied me for a few moments more, as though he might not ever see me again. I felt a little silly lying there naked, but his expression told me he thought I was beautiful. He left after that, and I stayed in bed, drunk on my own feelings. Aubrey joined me, curling up against my leg. â€Å"Was that how it was supposed to be, Aubrey?† I couldn’t decide. Certainly the sex had been everything I’d ever imagined with Seth. But this afterglow? It was a bit lacking. Nothing about the situation was normal. I had no prior experience to fall back on. After almost a half hour of staring at nothing and reaching no conclusions, I got out of bed. I was still reeling from what had happened, and my body burned with what Seth and I had done. I usually liked to shower after sex, but not today. I could smell Seth on me, his sweat and even a faint trace of the leather-and-apple cologne he used sometimes. I couldn’t stand to wash him off yet, so I put the old cotton robe back on. Ratty or not, its fabric was soft against my bruised skin. As I was about to leave my room, I noticed the photo of the medallion on the floor. I picked it up, intending to set it on my nightstand, and froze. There was writing on it. Inked with a black Sharpie, neat handwriting read: Smoky quartz indicates earth or a oneness with the earth . The symbols on the medallion were circled, with lines drawn out from each one, leading to brief notes: this indicates an affinity for water, a harmonious, blending state; this is similar to the water one, except it’s for the earth; this is a masking symbol, meant to shield the object it protects and keep the seal strong; this one’s strange, indicates blankness or whiteness-maybe white sand or stones?; this is the symbol for tears-combined with the water sign, probably indicates salt water . I reread the notes three times. Where had they come from? When had this happened? I retraced my steps, trying to figure out when I’d abandoned the picture. There’d been no writing when I showed it to Dante. The most likely time would have been while I was out for food. Someone could have also theoretically broken into my home and done it while I was with Carter in the living room, but sneaking past the angel seemed pretty out there. Unless†¦was it possible Carter had helped me after all? He kept saying he couldn’t; he’d even directly denied involvement with my assorted rescues. But the timing here was awfully coincidental. I kept staring at the symbols, at the notes, and the pictures of the seal. Whoever had written this was irrelevant for now. If their notes were correct, then I needed to use them to find Jerome. Carter had said the seal served two purposes. One was to infuse the vessel with power. The other was to serve as a â€Å"lock† that could open the vessel and release Jerome. The parts of the seal itself were with the demon and the summoner, but the symbols should give some clues to the vessel’s location. Supposedly, these symbols would have been used in hiding Jerome, infusing the vessel with a type of energy specific to the location that would help blend and mask Jerome’s presence. An affinity with the earth, as well as markings for water-salt water, specifically. A lot of places that were infused with power tended to be wild, natural places, though some had become centers of civilization and activity. Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle, for example, was one such ancient place of power that had been completely built upon by humanity. But these†¦what did they indicate? Some place near salt water, apparently. The vessel was probably close enough to the water that the symbols would resonate and camouflage its location. And the earth location? Buried in the dirt maybe? Was Jerome buried on some beach near the ocean? Jerome’s kidnappers wouldn’t want to keep him too far away from them, but nonetheless, the Pacific flanked the entire western half of Washington. That was a lot of beach, and I knew there were a lot of places of power along there. I didn’t know of any white sand beaches anywhere in the area; only further investigation could say for sure. Groaning, I lay back on my bed, still holding the picture. The notes had only narrowed down the locations, but that was still a lot of area to cover. Yet what could I do? I had to find the vessel, sooner rather than later, or else Seattle was going to have a new archdemon. Studying the photo further, I willed it to give me some more info. Nothing. Just the medallion, the mystery notes, and Mary’s cataloging info at the top which told me little- I frowned, rereading her header. It was brief, just the materials, name, and date the medallion had been created and then picked up. But the date it had been finished†¦the date stuck in my head. Why? It was from a week ago. Something about that date was important, but I couldn’t figure out why. It felt likes years had passed in this last week, but I nonetheless counted backward, reassessing my recent activities. There. The seal had been made the day after I’d first gone to Vancouver†¦the day the vampire turf war had gone down. Would the seal’s creation have triggered anyone’s immortal radar? I didn’t know, but if it had, Jerome, Grace, and Mei would have all been busy sorting out the ensuing vampire mess. Misdirection. From there, other things began to arrange themselves in my head. I thought back to the Army of Darkness, wondering what events their activities might line up against. The event in Queen Elizabeth Park matched the date the seal had been picked up. And the Army’s impromptu visit to Seattle†¦? That had preceded Jerome’s summoning, though no one would have wanted to direct attention to that, would they? The answer was here. I just couldn’t quite make the pieces fit yet. The Army had staged their show. Jerome, Grace, and Mei had given it their full attention. Jerome had been summoned. Where had this game’s other players been? I left the bed and its aching, alluring memories. Finding my cell phone, I dialed Kristin’s number. â€Å"Hi, Georgina,† she said, pleasant but busy like always. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"How’s it going?† â€Å"Crazy.† I could imagine the grimace on her face. â€Å"Cedric’s stressed to hell-no pun intended-with all these demons in the area. At least that†¦that succubus is distracting him.† â€Å"Tawny?† â€Å"Whatever her name is. Cedric’s actually out with her right now.† Bitterness and the tiniest hint of jealousy came through in Kristin’s voice. I remembered her perpetual devotion to him-and the look on her face when he’d asked Tawny out. I felt for her but had too many romantic hijinks of my own to deal with. â€Å"Huh.† I didn’t really know what else to say. â€Å"Look, I have a question for you. Do you know, did Cedric come to see Jerome the day the Army was down here?† â€Å"Yeah. Cedric came down after you left the message. I thought you knew.† â€Å"No†¦I only heard about it after the fact, and then, the whole summoning kind of took precedence.† â€Å"Why do you want to know?† I hesitated. I liked Kristin, but she was clearly loyal to Cedric. I didn’t think it’d be wise to share my theories with her, like that the Army being in Seattle had provided a convenient reason for Jerome and Cedric to be together when Jerome got summoned. It occurred to me that I might very well owe Hugh an apology for my adamant denial of Cedric’s involvement. Something else also occurred to me. â€Å"Um, it’s a long story,† I said hastily. â€Å"Do you know if he’s been hanging out with Nanette a lot?† â€Å"Why?† Her tone was quickly turning suspicious. She didn’t like me interrogating her about her boss. â€Å"Well†¦I told him the other day that I thought Nanette might be involved with Jerome’s disappearance. He didn’t think so, but he told her†¦and she got really pissed off. She, um†¦. well, let’s just say she got physical, and I have the scars to prove it.† My immortal friends had pointed out that Nanette’s attack made her look guilty. If Cedric had done enough goading to make her angry when he told her, it could have very well sent her to me in a rage-and successfully shifted attention from him. Fuck. I didn’t want another suspect in all of this. I didn’t want it to be Cedric. Nanette had hitherto been a convenient explanation. Kristin was silent for several seconds. â€Å"I didn’t know that,† she said quietly. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Mostly. Mei healed the worst of it, but I’m still a little sore.† â€Å"I can’t imagine†¦Cedric would never have told her if he thought that was going to happen. He likes you. He wouldn’t condone that. He couldn’t have known. I’m sorry.† She was sincerely contrite, hurt at the thought that her boss-even if he was a demon and a servant of evil-could have been involved with something that had turned out so terrible. â€Å"It’s okay,† I said. â€Å"I’ve gotta run, but thanks for the info. Things are kind of crazy here too, as you can imagine.† We said our good-byes and disconnected. I flipped the cell phone around in my hand, feeling overwhelmed. Nanette wasn’t off the table yet, but Cedric was right alongside her now as a culprit-maybe more so. If I had enough evidence, I could possibly take it to Grace and Mei†¦but I didn’t have that yet. Besides, knowing who the culprit was wouldn’t solve the immediate issue: finding Jerome. I glanced back at the photo, resting on my nightstand. Sore back or no, it looked like I had to do a little beachcombing. I nearly knocked Dante over when he came home that night. â€Å"Succubus,† he said, letting me wrap my arms around him. He was careful only to rest his hands on my hips. â€Å"Happy to see you too.† My eagerness was twofold. I was excited to see him because I wanted to pick his brain about the medallion and places of power. But also†¦well, while hanging around today, I’d had a lot of time to think about Seth and what had happened between us. The memory of his body still made mine burn, and I grew breathless recalling that amazing connection and sense of rightness between us. And yet†¦whatever rightness had been between us, it had still been wrong. He was with Maddie-my friend. I’d been upset when she and Seth had first slept together. I was no different. In fact, I’d knowingly done it, which made it worse. Now there was Dante to consider. Dante, who despite that dark, scowling nature really did love me and wanted to win my regard as more than just someone I had sex with. This was where my future lay, not with Seth. I kissed Dante on the lips, lingering several seconds. â€Å"I missed you.† His smile turned wry. â€Å"Don’t look at me like that, or I’m going to have a hard time remembering that you’re injured and that I should keep my hands off you.† Those words triggered a pang of guilt. My injuries certainly hadn’t been enough to keep Seth off me. I could have told Dante that I was better, that it didn’t matter, yet for whatever reason†¦I didn’t. We broke apart, and I found the medallion picture for him. He stared incredulously as I showed him the phantom notes and explained my story. â€Å"What, you have no idea how they got there or who did it?† â€Å"Nope, but at this point, I’m not going to question it.† He shook his head, face still shocked. â€Å"Well. I wish I’d known this before I left. Would have been a lot easier to just wait and have invisible helpers come leave clues.† I recalled how he’d gone out to see what he could find about the medallion. â€Å"What’d you turn up?† He gestured at the picture. â€Å"Same thing.† I rested my hand over his. â€Å"Sorry. I really appreciate your help. And if your research found the same thing, it means I can probably trust this.† â€Å"Maybe,† he said, still not sounding happy about the wasted time. â€Å"What are you going to do? Something crazy?† â€Å"Look for saltwater beaches, I guess.† Dante let out a low whistle. â€Å"There are a lot of those around here. Not to mention you have no way of identifying this vessel anyway.† â€Å"I know. But I’ve got to start somewhere. Can you help me make a list?† We got an atlas of the Pacific Northwest area from my car and laid it flat on the kitchen table. Scrutinizing every detail, we each marked as many places as we knew. Dante knew a lot more than me, which didn’t particularly surprise me. I’d once noted to Erik Lancaster that those who study religion tend to know more about it than those who practice it. Sometimes, I felt the same way about immortal affairs. We found twelve in all that were easy day trips-and many more beyond that. â€Å"Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you,† Dante mused. â€Å"When are you going to look? Too dark now.† I stared at the map with dismay. â€Å"Tomorrow, I guess. Can you go with me?† A psychic like him might able to sense something, as Carter had pointed out. He grimaced. â€Å"Not tomorrow. I’ve actually got a few appointments people have scheduled. Crazy, huh? I probably can go the next day or the day after, if you can wait. I’d feel better if you didn’t go alone.† I was glad for his business but sad at the delay. â€Å"I don’t think I can wait. Don’t worry, though. I’ll find somebody.† â€Å"On the bright side,† he said, trying to cheer me. â€Å"I’ll have money tomorrow. We can go out somewhere nice.† I mustered a smile. â€Å"Yeah, that’ll be-oh, shit. I can’t.† â€Å"What’s going on?† â€Å"Fuck. I promised the people at the store I’d teach salsa after work.† â€Å"Cancel,† he said dismissively. My dance lessons didn’t hold much importance, as far as he was concerned. â€Å"Tell them you’re sick.† That wouldn’t entirely be a lie†¦and yet, I hated to go back on my word. Furthermore, I could still see Maddie’s radiant face, so excited and happy when I’d agreed. How could I deny her that after what I’d done to her today? â€Å"No†¦I’ve got to do it. Let’s go eat out now. My treat.† He drove us over to Belltown for some of Seattle’s best seafood. Wine and conversation flowed, and I discovered I was healing by leaps and bounds. When we got back to my place later and went to bed, Dante snuggled up to me and kissed my neck. â€Å"Looks like you’re on the mend,† he noted, moving his lips up to my earlobe. â€Å"We could do it†¦I could be careful†¦Ã¢â‚¬  All around us were the sheets and blankets where Seth and I had made love earlier. The thought nearly smothered me. God. I really should have washed the bedding. I swallowed and shifted position so that I didn’t meet Dante’s eyes. â€Å"Maybe†¦but I’d rather wait, so we can not be careful.† I hoped there was enough of a seductive growl in my voice to make it believable. Dante sighed, fortunately unwilling to push me. â€Å"Fair enough.† He rolled over and left me to sleep, but it was a long time in coming. How to cite Succubus Heat CHAPTER 18, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Features That Describe Kind Of A Person †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What Is The Features That Describe The Kind Of A Person? Answer: Introducation A tragic hero is made from some of the features that describe the kind of a person who befalls it. Typically, a tragic hero is the character of a high build, from a principled background. An individual who is good in nature but agonizes from self-inflicted downfalls from his own personality flaws. Therefore, Macbeth is one the suitable example that describes the Shakespeares tragic hero(Campbell, 2017). Hence, the play stages those who seek power due to political determinations causing a high corporeal and psychosomatic damage on themselves. Power craving is a political game played by many in pursuit of greatness, but many shortcomings are associated. Macbeth is a political victim labeled to be one of the tragic heroes due to a number of contributing factors that assert him. Macbeth is described to be a person of a high stature at the beginning of the play, an individual who is courageous and he had earned himself a name in Scottish kingdom(Greenblatt, 2015). It is seen from the prophecy of the three witches that he was going to be the next head of the Scottish people, and this indeed shows that Macbeth was someone of an excellent reputation with high political significance. In act 1 scene 2 Duncan describes Macbeth as well-intentioned gentleman and a cousin who is worth a Thane, showing the kind of respect and whom leaders will talk highly of him, not knowing the kind of a man, was going to be(Books, 2013). Macbeth was driven by the prophecy made by the three witches and believed to inherit the throne after Duncan. This thought made him be quick in his mind, and he started thinking of how he was going to achieve this. Macbeth in action was a brave man, but when his ideas started hitting him, he hesitated and was always forced by his wife to do things. Lady Macbeth took the part of thinking for her husband, and Macbeth obtained the courage from the divine prophecy that he was going to be the next king. Macbeth decided to leave the prediction to chance and formed that to be his security since it was already prophesized. However, after the announcement of Malcolm being the heir of Duncan, this made Macbeth realize that he needed to take the cause of action for the revelation to come to pass(Massai, 2017, p. 277). This was to take Duncans life, which made him change his mind five times before doing it. In his confusion, he was persuaded by the Lady Macbeth to be quick in his action, as she told him that it would be done safely. This made Macbeth change his mind again, and the Lady Macbeth eventually enforced him to make his mind to oblige homicide. Macbeth was firm not to be shaken by the fear of his consequences. Seen in act 1 scene 7 that they would overcome what was ahead of them. In addition, Macbeth was an ambitious man who was determined at standing for his people, but all this came to vain. Since he had no sense of brotherhood, and his primary concern was that of what others will say about him. This ambitious of him being a king was invigorated by the prophecy made by the witches, which pushed Macbeth to put this goal into actionable words. The murder was his idea that he already had after the unfolding of Malcolm taking over the thane of Scottish people(Ellis, 2016). Macbeths hunger for the throne made him a fearless man who could not think of anything else but taking Duncans life in order to take the kingship by force of action. This is shown clearly in act 1 scene 3, that if there was any instance of him being a king why then was he not crown the king. Hence, Macbeth acknowledged his way of thinking and went for murder, because he could not stand the throne being ripped off his hands and against the vision. Consequently, after the assassination of Duncan, Macbeth feared to lose his throne to anyone with noble bloodline, hence leading him to descend into a moral dilapidation. He committed several murder cases in the way of safeguarding his throne. Macbeth arranged the killing of the Banquo and Macduffs family when in an unrestrained fury(Bradley, 2013). Thus, making him decree as tyrant instead of an honorable king, his ambition distracted him from viewing the disparaging path he had shaped. And eventually, his leadership ended as he was removed from the throne by the Scottish people. His life was in danger since he made many enemies and individuals wanted revenge, but Macbeth did not care much of that because his thoughts deceived him, since he was told to be bold and fearless. In the end, Macbeth is decapitated by Macduff and Macbeth coagulates himself as a tragic hero. The danger of ambitions and power is something that is learned to be the great downfall to many individuals. That one need not be moved by the political illusions of seeing success not considering the effect of force in achieving all this. Therefore, fight for power is like digging your own grave as seen from the drama of Macbeth, a tragic hero. References Books, M. . (2013). The tragedy of Macbeth. Sweet Cherry Publishing. Bradley, A. C. (2013). Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth (Vol. 1). Library of Alexandria. Campbell, S. (2017). " Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. 2004. London. Ellis, E. S. (2016). The eternal Macbeth: . A Tale of Wicked Transformation. University of California, Santa Cruz. Greenblatt, S. . (2015). The Norton Shakespeare: Third International Student Edition. . WW Norton Company. Massai, S. (2017). 19 Shakespeare, Tradition, and the Avant-garde in Chiara Guidis Macbeth su Macbeth su Macbeth. . Shakespeare, Italy, and Transnational Exchange: Early Modern to Present,, 277.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Financial Statement Analysis Essay Example

Financial Statement Analysis Essay Financial Statement Analysis is an analysis which highlights important relationships in the financial statements. It focuses on evaluation of past operations as revealed by the analysis of basic statements. Financial Statement analysis embraces the methods used in assessing and interpreting the results of past performance and current financial position as they related to particular factors of interest in investment decisions. It is an important means of assessing past performance and in forecasting and planning future performance. Techniques of Financial Analysis: Various techniques can be used in the analysis of financial data to emphasise the comparative and relative importance of data presented and to evaluate the position of the firm. These techniques of financial analysis are intended to show relationships and changes. Among the widely can be used of these techniques are the following: 1. Horizontal Analysis 2. Vertical Analysis 3. Trend Analysis 4. Ratio Analysis Introduction to Finance: FINANCE HAS MANY DICTIONARY MEANING SUCH AS MANAGEMENT OF MONEY, PROVIDE WITH MONEY, FIND CAPITAL ETC. FINANCE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ANY ORGANIZATION. FINANCE HAS NOW DAYS BECOME A SPECIALIZED FUNCTION. IT REQUIRE s overall knowledge of the environment in which it is needed. Finance includes money, banking or credit of different types and classes. Finance is viewed differently by different people depending upon their interests. Management’s promoters, shareholders, lenders (creditors), customers and other have all participated in financing the organization or business enterprise. MEANING DEFINATION: Finance is the process of conversion of accumulated funds to productive use. Finance helps to direct the flow of economic activity and facilitates its smooth operation. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Statement Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Statement Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Statement Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Finances are the agent that produces the result. There are many definitions of Finance. Of all the best was of Howard and Upturn as â€Å"that administrative area of set of administrative functions in an organization which has to do with the management of the flow of cash so that the organization will have the means to carry out its objectives as satisfactorily as possible and at the same time meets its obligations as they become due. Finance is concerned with task of providing funds need by the enterprise on the forms that are most favorable towards the attainment of the organizational goals and objectives. The functions of finance are not merely furnishing funds to the organization. Finance has a broader meaning as it covers financial planning, forecasting of cash receipts and disbursements, rising of funds, use and allocation of funds and financial cash. The area of operation of finance management varies from one company to another, industry-to-industry etc. USERS OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: Financial analysis is the process of identifying the financial strengths and weaknesses of the firm by properly establishing relationships between the items of the Balance sheet and the profit and Loss account. Financial analysis can be undertaken by the management of the firm, or by parties outside the firm, viz.. , owners, creditors, investors and others. The nature of analysis will differ depending on the purpose of the analyst. Trade creditors are interested in firm’s ability to meet their claims over a very short period of time. Their analysis will, therefore. Confine to the evaluation of he firm’s liquidity position. Suppliers of long-term debt, on the other hand, are concerned with the firm’s long-term solvency and survival. They analyse the firm’s profitability over time, its ability to generate cash to be able to pay interest and repay principal and the relationship between various sources of finds (capital structure relationships). Long-term creditors do analyse the historical financial statements, but they place more emphasis on the firm’s projected, or proforma, financial statements to make analysis about its future solvency and profitability Investors, who have invested their money in the firm’s shares, are most concerned about the firm’s earnings. They restore more confidence in those firms that show steady growth in earnings. As such, they concentrate on the analysis lf the firm’s present and future profitability. They are also interested in the firm’s financial structure to the extent it influences the firm’s earnings ability and risk. Management of the firm would be interested in every aspect of the financial analysis. It is their overall responsibility to see that the resources of the firm are used most effectively and efficiently, and that the firm’s financial condition is sound. The different techniques for financial statement analysis are: i) Ratio Analysis ii) Trend Series Analysis ii) Common size statement analysis iv) Comparative statement analysis NEED FOR THE STUDY: The major objectives of financial statement analysis are to provide decision makers information about a business enterprise for use in decision-making. Users of financial statement information are the decision makers concerned with evaluating the economic situation of the firm and predicting its future co urse. This study may intended to know the requisition of financial analysis to communicate data to concerned users and their influence on decision making by users. Hypothesis of the Study: This study is to be conducted with a hypothesis that use of ratio analysis as a financial analysis technique is a very effective device to communicate financial data to users. And it can be done with an intention of communicating financial information and to assist decision making process. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: This study is to be conducted with the following objectives— †¢ To know about financial statements and their interpretation †¢ To study about ratio analysis as a technique of financial analysis †¢ To explain the financial analysis process by way of analysing financial data of sample company i. . Maha Cement. SCOPE OF THE STUDY Scope of the study is to study on financial Statement Analysis on Maha Cement. INDUSTRY PROFILE HISTORY OF CEMENT: It must interest to know how cement is made today visa the historical background. Ever since civilizations stepping in the earth, people sought a material that would bind stones into a solid, formed mass. The Assyri ans and Babylonians used clay for this purpose, and the Egyptians advanced to the discovery of lime and gypsum mortar as a binding agent fro building such structures as the Pyramids. The Greeks made further improvements and finally the Romans developed cement that produced structures of remarkable durability. The secret of Roma success in making cement was traced to the mixing of slaked lime with pozzolana, a volcanic ash from Mount Vensuvius. This process produced cement capable of hardening under water. During the Middle Ages this art was lost and it was not until the scientific spirit of inquiry revived that the rediscovered the secret of hydraulic cement – cement that will harden under water. Most of the building foundations in the Roman forum were constructed of form of concrete, placed in some locations to a depth of 12 feet. The great Roman baths built about 27 B. C. , the Coliseum, and the huge Basilica of Constantine are examples of early Roman architecture in which cement mortar was used. Portland cement today, as in Aspdin’s day, is a predetermined and carefully proportioned chemical combination of calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. Natural cement gave way to Portland cement, which is a predictable, known product of consistently high quality. Aspdin established a plant in Wakefield to manufacture Portland cement, some of which was used in 1828 in the construction of the Thames River Tunnel. But it was almost 20years later when J. D. White and Sons set up a prosperous factory in Kent that the Portland cement industry saw its greatest period of early expansion, not only in England, but also in Belgium and Germany. Portland cement was used to build the London sewer system in 1859-1867. Thomas A. Edison was a pioneer in the further development of the rotary kiln. In 1902, in his Edison Portland Portland_Cement Works in New Village, NJ, he introduced the first long kilns used in the industry 150 feel long in contrast to the customary 60 to 80 feet. Today, some kilns are more that 500 feet long. Parallel improvements in crushing and grinding equipment also influenced the rapid increase in production. Since grinding process consumes most of the energy various grinding systems like ball mill/vertical roller mill/roller presses has been the result of technological developments. Blending takes place in silos with air blown in from the bottom to aerate the contents. Various new designs were also developed to increase the efficiency of mixing. HOW CEMENT IS MADE? :- Two main methods of cement manufacturing were prominent, the Dry process and the Wet process. Dry process now has almost replaced the wet process since wet process consumes high thermal energy for drying the moisture. When rock is the principal raw material, the first step after quarrying in both processes is the primary crushing. Mountains of rock are fed through crushers capable of handling pieces as large as and oil drum. The first crushing reduces the rock to a maximum size of about 6 inches. The rock then goes to secondary crushers or hammer mills for reduction to about 3 inches or smaller. It is then ground in ball mill to fine powder with other ingredients like clay/iron ore/bauxite to create a combination of values for silica/alumina/lime etc in the mixture. If the process is wet, the grinding goes on in with water so that slurry is resulted after grinding. This slurry is further mixed in mixers and pumped to kiln. For a dry process kiln, the ground powder is sending to blending silos for uniform mixing of components added during the grinding stage. This blended material is feed to the preheater/calciner. The preheated is a group of cyclones placed over one another where in material comes down and hot gases goes up heating the material and calcining it in the process. Calcinations means liberating carbon dioxide and converting calcium carbonate to Calcium oxide. Calciner is nothing but a duct added to give more residence time to material for calcinations. This partially calcined material then comes to the kiln, which is refractory lined rotating tube having burner fitted in the other end. This burner fires coal/oil/natural gas to create a temperature of 1600 Deg cent at the discharge end. As the material in the kiln rolls down towards the discharge end, various reactions takes place amongst the components resulting in a mass known as clinker. This clinker is then cooled in coolers. The coolers are either planetary type or grate type. Grate coolers of modern time are much efficient resulting in better heat recuperation and allows reusing this heat in the kiln. The cooled clinker then either goes to storage silo or clinker yard. From the clinker yard it is taken for grinding. In case ordinary Portland cement is made only gypsum(4-6%) is added before grinding. In case of Portland pozzolona cement additives like Flyash/brick etc are added. Grinding again is same like for raw material grinding with ball mill or with latest technologies like vertical mill/Roller press etc. The cement powders then taken to packing plant or discharged from silo to a bulk loader directly. COMPANY PROFILE MAHA CEMENT PROFILE Establishment: The Organization â€Å"My Home Cement Industries Limited† is a fast growing and leading Indian industrial group having its head office at Hyderabad and works at Meelacheruvu in Nalgonda district in Andhra Pradesh. It belongs to the groups of my home constructions limited, a leading construction company in South India. The company is new entrant in the field of cement manufacturing where already leading brankds like Priyadarshini, Ramco, Raasi and Kakatiya have got deep penetration into the market. The brand name of the cement produced by the company is â€Å"Maha Cement† which is expected to have an image of Mahashakti and Mahavalue. M/s My Home Cement Industries Limited is a public limited company, which is incorporated in 1955. The company commenced its commercial products from 1st july 2000. The cement conforms to the ISI standards and is being marketed under the name of Maha Cement. Maha Cement Industries, a leading cement manufacturing company in Andhra Pradesh having an installed capacity of 6 Million Tonns per annum for immediate placement at their 3 plants located in Andhra Pradesh. Location of plant The factory is situated at Mellaceruvu, Nalgonda district . The pricipal raw material for the plant is limestone and is available in abundant quantities near the plan. Location of the plant at Meelacheruvu has the following advantages. 1. Cheap availability of the required land 2. Abundant water resources 3. Proximity of raw materials 4. Proximity of market 5. Availability of financial subsidiary 6. Plant is nearer to head quarter 7. Wearer to railway siding 8. Well connected road and rail transport 9. Availability of labors Salient features of Maha Cement High strength and great durability A very susceptible saving in cost (up to 20-25%) due to low setting time Superior quality of cement resulting in a better overall finish Stronger bonding with aggregates. Till now the company has not faced much difficulty in marketing its products. As the quality of cement produced by the company has been proved to very good. It has been well accepted by the markets in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. The company has established wide dealer network throughout the Andhra Pradesh and Chennai and at some places of Tamilnadu (north). In additions the group companies my home construction projects on hand would by cement from the company. The marketing department is aptly directed by AVP (marketing). The dealers are carefully selected after making a through analysis of the same. The company has marketing officers placed at strategic places to maintain the sales. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Data: Both primary data and secondary data will be used but much stress may give to primary data in the form of financial reports of the company. Primary data with regards to financial data of MAHA CEMENT will be collected from the concerned authorities. Secondary data has to be collected by way of review of existing literature, reference books and articles in accounting and financial journals. This data can be used for gaining an insight into understanding how to interpret financial data and the result thereto. Sample: The sample for this particular study was MAHA CEMENT. Statistical Techniques: Ratios will be used as statistical techniques to analyse the data collected. CHAPTERIZATION I will divide the Total study into five Chapters and I will follow this plan of the study for the better outcome of the Project. 1st Chapter is allotted for the study about Introduction to the Topic, Objectives of the present study, Need, scope, Methodology and Limitations of the Study. 2nd Chapter is allotted for the study about Company and Organization Profile. 3rd Chapter deals with Theoretical background that supports the study. 4th Chapter Mainly emphasizes the Data analysis and interpretation. 5th Chapter is allotted for conclusion and suggestions.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

A Timeline of the Russian Revolution From 1914 to 1916

A Timeline of the Russian Revolution From 1914 to 1916 In 1914, the First World War erupted across Europe. At one point, in the early days of this process, the Russian Tsar was faced with a decision: mobilize the army and make war almost inevitable, or stand down and lose massive face. He was told by some advisors that to turn away and not fight would undermine and destroy his throne, and by others that to fight would destroy him as the Russian army failed. He seemed to have few correct choices, and he went into war. Both advisors might have been right. His empire would last until 1917 as a result. 1914 June - July: General Strikes in St. Petersburg. July 19th: Germany declares war on Russia, causing a brief sense of patriotic union amongst the Russian nation and a downturn in striking. July 30th: The All Russian Zemstvo Union for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Soldiers is created with Lvov as president. August - November: Russia suffers heavy defeats and a large shortage of supplies, including food and munitions. August 18th: St. Petersburg is renamed Petrograd as Germanic names are changed to sound more Russia, and hence more patriotic. November 5th: Bolshevik members of the Duma are arrested; they are later tried and exiled to Siberia. 1915 February 19: Great Britain and France accept Russias claims to Istanbul and other Turkish lands. June 5th: Strikers shot at in Kostrom; casualties. July 9th: The Great Retreat begins, as Russian forces pull back into Russia. August 9th: The Dumas bourgeois parties form the Progressive bloc to push for better government and reform; includes the Kadets, Octobrist groups and Nationalists. Auguest 10th: Strikers shot at in Ivnovo-Voznesà ©nsk; casualties. August 17-19th: Strikers in Petrograd protest at the deaths in Ivnovo-Voznesà ©nsk. August 23rd: Reacting to war failures and a hostile Duma, the Tsar takes over as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, prorogues the Duma and moves to military headquarters at Mogilev. Central government begins to seize up. By associating the army, and its failures, with him personally, and by moving away from the centre of government, he dooms himself. He absolutely has to win, but doesnt. 1917 January - December: Despite successes in the Brusilov offensive, the Russian war effort is still characterised by shortages, poor command, death and desertion. Away from the front, the conflict causes starvation, inflation and a torrent of refugees. Both soldiers and civilians blame the incompetence of the Tsar and his government. February 6: Duma reconvened. February 29th: After a month of strikes at the Putilov Factory, the government conscripts the workers and takes charge of production. Protest strikes follow. June 20: Duma prorogued. October: Troops from 181st Regiment help striking Russkii Renault workers fight against the Police. November 1st: Miliukov gives his Is this stupidity or treason? speech in reconvened Duma. December 17/18th: Rasputin is killed by Prince Yusupov; he has been causing chaos in the government and blackened the name of the royal family. December 30th: The Tsar is warned that his army wont support him against a revolution.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Canadian History (Post-Confederation) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Canadian History (Post-Confederation) - Essay Example Blacks were not left behind since most of them went to Canada after fleeing America where they had been brought as slaves. In Canada, they could not access most social facilities as their skin color betrayed them.3 At the same time, the Jews were treated worse than Blacks as some of the leaders thought they would pollute the Canadians bloodstream. Jews were forbidden from accessing social amenities like the Blacks. In spite of all the discrimination, Canada needed work force which its citizens could not do and therefore relied on the immigrants.4 The history of Chinese people migrating to Canada was fisrt recorded in 1788. During this period, the Chinese people migrated first to Nootka in North America. This was followed by large scale migration of other Chinese as a result of gold mining taking place in Fraser Canyon. During this time, many Chinese settlements were established in the British colonies in America such as New Westminster, Barkerville and Victoria. Due to the increased number of Chinese people, they expanded their centers to the interiors of the towns thereby making permanent settlements. The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway commenced after the gold rush attracting the Chinese people. Due to the newly found job, the Chinese people began moving eastward thereby establishing other settlements in the Canadian cities. In this case, Chinese settlement in Canada was a contrast of their stay in the previous towns. The late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century resulted in the widespread intolerance of Asians in Canada. Canadians viewed the arrival of the Asians as a threat to them since they thought they had come to take jobs from the working groups. The first group of Chinese arrived in Canada in 1858. The group came to work in the gold mines in British Columbia and it consisted mostly of young immigrants.5Most of the Chinese