Bansonyi Essays - Hardstone Carving, Chinese Culture, Jade

Bansonyi Art can be used to study the progression of a civilization through time. Art is usually used to express one's beliefs religiously, politically, and sometimes as a source of communication, which is accomplished through imagery. Symbols in works of art can be related to nature and myths.1 From the beginning of Chinese history, art and philosophy worked hand-in-hand with the creation of a work of art. Chinese art was used as evidence of a person's behavior and attitude towards nature and other beings (e.g. the nicer the painting the better the person.)2 During the seventh and eighth centuries Chinese art was at its peak. China at this time was under the jurisdiction of the T'ang Dynasty. Because of the beautiful work being manufactured China became a multinational society. Paintings and sculptures were not the only works that China would receive admiration for. Their music and literature (poems which sometimes explained works of art) were also at their richest points,3 T'ang art has incomparable vigor, realism, dignity... There is an optimism, an energy, a frank acceptance of tangible reality which gives the same character to all T'ang art, whether it be the most splendid fresco from the hand of a master or the humblest tomb figurine made by the village potter. (Sullivan 160) When a piece of artistic work was considered good all that really mattered was the amount of effort that went into the piece and not the derivation of the person's economic class. Scarce materials were used very often in the creation of Chinese artifacts. One of the mot famous and revered stones used was Jade, which was very hard and indestructible. Jade cannot be found in China; it was traded with Burma, which is located on the outer edge of China, so it is amazing to know how much work was done with it in the 600 and 700 era. Jade was usually used in burials in the sealing of the orifices of the body. This mineral was also recognized for having a beautiful reverberating tone. Jade was carved by pulverizing it with the assistance of an abrasive powder, a skill that was modified from the Shang craftsmen from their Neolithic craftsmen.4 The fine work on the Emerald was done through the use of a wire saw for fine details. Then it is smoothed with a polishing wheel.5 In the process of working with Jade the artisan would have to form a respect induced relationship between self and the material. When the artist first receives the material he would not begin to carve because the contour, proportions, and decoration of the piece would depend on religious ceremony. Craftsmen would sometimes study a piece of Jade for many years before deciding what to do with it. Jade comes in an array colors ranging from yellow to brown and from light green to bright green, black and dark purple and those of the highest value were white. Each color of Jade had a specific classification such as ink black, snow, kingfisher green, sea green, grass green, vermilion red and mutton-fat. Green stones in Chinese culture are deemed for having healing powers. That was my main reason for having such an interest in relics made from green minerals.6 The piece I chose to study is called the Nine Elders of the Huichang, Mountain Scene of the celebrated gathering in 845 C.E. The Jade used is green nephrite from Hotan. This piece sits in the Peking Palace Museum. It stands 4 ft. high, 3 ft. wide and weighs 1,830 pounds. This piece was completed in 1786 with the addition of a poem engraved on the back of the figurine by the Qianlong emperor. The frontal view illustrates a scene of the first and second elders playing chess in the gazebo and the third elder observing. Below that a small servant boy is boiling water for tea. The fourth and fifth elders are conversing and strolling over the bridge, followed by another boy servant. The remaining four elders can be seen on the reverse side of the effigy. The sixth elder has his hand on a boy's head and they are both absorbing the beauty of nature. The seventh senior is walking with the assistance of a bamboo stick and his boy attendant is following behind him. The eighth superior is playing a string instrument called a Qin making music for the listening pleasure of the ninth senior and his boy servant.7 I was drawn to this piece because it contained such great detail and symbolism. This artifact shows the

Free Essays on Bon-Odori

Bon-Odori Bon-Odori is the annual memorial dance to commemorate the lives of loved ones who have passed away during the previous 12 months. Over a two-day period in August many Buddhists celebrate the Bon Odori Festival. Bon Odori originates from the story of a Buddhist disciple, Moggallana, who envisioned his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was suffering for her selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to Buddha to ask how he could release her from this upside down world. The Buddha advised his disciple to perform some charitable act in memory of his mother. The disciple did this and, thus, secured her release. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple was so happy for his mother’s release and grateful for her kindness he couldn’t help but to dance with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori (Memorial Dance), a time when our ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated. Today, Bon Odori Festival participants continue this custom as they dance in traditional Japanese dress such as kimono, yukata, and hapi. The dances, usually performed in a circle, may include the use of round or folding fans, castanets, sticks or cotton towels and recall both daily life in Japan and remembrance of ancestors. The music is usually a simple rhythm with or without vocals. This celebration helps Buddhist come to terms with the passing of loved ones. It is a time to celebrate and appreciate the lives of the friends and family they have lost.... Free Essays on Bon-Odori Free Essays on Bon-Odori Bon-Odori Bon-Odori is the annual memorial dance to commemorate the lives of loved ones who have passed away during the previous 12 months. Over a two-day period in August many Buddhists celebrate the Bon Odori Festival. Bon Odori originates from the story of a Buddhist disciple, Moggallana, who envisioned his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was suffering for her selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to Buddha to ask how he could release her from this upside down world. The Buddha advised his disciple to perform some charitable act in memory of his mother. The disciple did this and, thus, secured her release. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple was so happy for his mother’s release and grateful for her kindness he couldn’t help but to dance with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori (Memorial Dance), a time when our ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated. Today, Bon Odori Festival participants continue this custom as they dance in traditional Japanese dress such as kimono, yukata, and hapi. The dances, usually performed in a circle, may include the use of round or folding fans, castanets, sticks or cotton towels and recall both daily life in Japan and remembrance of ancestors. The music is usually a simple rhythm with or without vocals. This celebration helps Buddhist come to terms with the passing of loved ones. It is a time to celebrate and appreciate the lives of the friends and family they have lost....

People, Power and Politics in Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

People, Power and Politics in Canada - Essay Example What this entire level of government involvement is intended for is to provide a level of oversight and funding with regards to how the culture of Canada is growing as well as ensure that certain key cultural functions remain funded and well developed; thereby helping to create a more extensive and well nuanced culture within the country itself. It is therefore the opinion of this particular author that the utilization of public funds to encourage such results is not only permissible but highly advantageous for the growth and development of the nation. When one considers the key factors that help to differentiate a nation and give it a degree of culture that it would otherwise have, these are ultimately factors that help the nation and/or people groups represented therein to develop themselves in an even more effective way than they normally would. One need look no further than the other nations of the developed world to note that similar programs utilizing public funds to effect such an end have been highly successful and have helped to develop art and culture that otherwise may have passed into oblivion had it not been for the injection of government funds and interests into such arenas. Although one may consider the term â€Å"responsible government† to merely be some type of over-arching premise by which the government should behave in a responsible manner towards the people it ultimately represents, the fact of the matter is that the term itself is far more nuanced than this. In essence, the term â€Å"responsible government† represents a type of governmental system in which the government is responsible to the people and the executive ultimately responsible both to the people and the House of Assembly. Although this type of rational has long existed in other representative governments throughout the world, what exists in Canada represents a type of implementation of the â€Å"vote of

How ERP Can Help Companies Become Lean Coursework

How ERP Can Help Companies Become Lean - Coursework Example In the current economic climate, there is cut-throat competition and a rat race has emerged to capture and retain a large customer base. The larger a firm’s customer base, the stronger it shall become. A firm’s customers are its most valuable asset, as they are the ones who spread positive word of mouth if the company is delivering good value and this in turn drives demand and subsequently the growth of an organization. Firms nowadays recognize the importance of delivering ‘customer delight’ more than ever before and this has led a change in their business strategies whereby companies are striving to eliminate as many costs as possible and streamline their business processes in order to provide better service at lower costs and pass this benefit down to their customers. Availability of information, or rather the lack of it, is often cited as one of the main reasons why delays occur in business processes and often results in two or more departments doing sim ilar paperwork thus duplicating the work, something which is totally unnecessary and only consumes more time and money than necessary. An ERP system in this case shall be an ideal addition to the company’s resources as it makes available information across all functional departments thus ensuring transparency and availability of information at all times. ... fers and are adopting measures to integrate this system into their operations or, in case of those using older computer systems, migrate to the newer ERP platform. The proponents of Lean have recognized that ERP can help organizations achieve the objective of becoming lean. The five basic principles that form the basis of the idea of Lean - value definition and specification, value stream mapping, uninterrupted flow, customer pull and the pursuit of perfection - are â€Å"all supported and enhanced by comprehensive information control and management tools that an end-to-end enterprise software suite delivers.† How an ERP system streamlines a company’s business processes An ERP system can help a company move towards a lean structure in many ways. These include helping reduce waste, moving towards continuous improvement, exploiting and satisfying sales and customer service opportunities, keeping suppliers and production up-to-date with the use of order less manufacturing and Kanban and creating an environment of perfect information and collaboration. Waste Reduction An ERP system, if implemented, becomes the main information carrying artery of a company, carrying data pertaining do day-to-day activities, measuring progress and using metrics to identify opportunities where a company can improve its processes. Some ERP systems also allow companies to conduct ‘What-If’ analyses and help determine activities that have the quickest payback times. A transparent system with perfect information flow allows all departments to visibly see where each activity lies in terms of progress and ensures that duplication of work doesn’t take place. With an ERP system in place, firms can effectively use the most efficient methods of routing and workflow such as using the most

Scientific method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Scientific method - Essay Example icides, monoculture, and the Green Revolution), and industry and urban development (linked to the utilization of more ecological resources and the production of more pollution and wastes (Hester and Harrison 56-7 & Likens and Bormann 17). Micro to macro processes in an ecosystem - Micro ecosystems exist in locations characterized by elements such as nutrient supply, temperature, pH, etc. within small areas. Macro ecosystems are identified as a community of living organisms interacting with each other, and their physical setting that increases spontaneously into a group of communities (Hester and Harrison 27). Impact that human activities have on the biosphere – The biosphere is a closed system consisting of dependent ecosystems thriving in a symbiotic environment. It does not need a lot of trigger to upset this balance. Human activities such as population can lead to the usage of resources and lower biodiversity (Hester and Harrison 89-90). Nonrenewable and renewable natural resources – Renewable resources are those that can be replaced through natural means. A good example of this is the forests. Non-renewable resources are those that cannot be replaced through natural means. A good example of this is the fossil fuel (Likens and Bormann 47 &

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence What is your definition of love? Domestic violence is not considered love or affection. It is violence abuse. In your eyes what is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation (thehotline,org). If you’re experiencing this you might have been hit, kicked, choked, and/or controlled. Physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economical abuse are key warning signs. Abuse is a repetitive pattern of behaviors to maintain power and control over an intimate partner (thehotline.org). The following are behaviors that physically harm, arouse fear, prevent a partner from doing what they wish, or force them to behave in ways they do not want (thehotline.org). This also includes threats and intimidation. Warning signs you are in an abusive relationship include forbidding you from eating or sleeping, damaging your property when they’re angry by either throwing objects, punching walls, kicking doors, etc., and or using weapons to threaten to hurt you, or actually hurting you with weapons (thehotline.org). A woman of the name Jessica was stuck in an abusive relationship. She said, â€Å"I was a prisoner in my own home† (Axelord). Her boyfriend beats her, verbally abused her, and controlled her. He made sure she didn’t leave the house without him. He tapped her phone and made sure she knew not to eat, sleep, or shower without him being home to watch her every move. He installed cameras around the house to make sure Jessica wasn’t doing anything behind his back. If they trap you in your home or keep you from leaving, you’re in an abusive relationship. Jessica’s boyfriend claimed abusing her was his sign to show her he loved her and didn’t want to lose her (Axelord). Jessica said, â€Å"His excuse was he was afraid to lose me cause he loved me so much and that was his way of showing me that he loved me† (Axelord). This is what goes on in the minds of abusers. Jessica knew she was in a domestic relationship, but she had no way to get out until one day Jessica’s sister called the cops on her boyfriend and got a restraining order (Axelord). Not everyone knows they are in a domestic violence, the victims are manipulated into thinking it is a sign of compassion and love. More red flags include abandoning you in unfamiliar places, driving recklessly or dangerously when you are in the car with them, and or forcing you to use drugs or alcohol are red flags (thehotline.org). Calling you names, insulting you or continually criticizing you, refusing to trust you and acting jealous or possessive, and or trying to isolate you from family or friends are the first warning signs (thehotline.org). Monitoring where you go, who you call and who you spend time with, demanding to know where you are every minute, threatening to hurt you, the children, your family or your pets is when you seek help (thehotline.org). The first people to notice what is going on are family, friends, and neighbors. Domestic violence happens to both men and women on a daily basis. Women 20-24 years old are at the greatest risk. 1 in 3 women are homicide victims and murdered by their partner each year (SafeHorizon.org). Four million women experience physical assault and rape by their partner each year (SafeHorizon.org). 517 children witness domestic violence each year. Three in four children see the violence happening to their mother or father. 21% of children hear the violence going on. 3.3-10 million children are exposed to domestic violence yearly (SafeHorizon.org). Many children are not safe from this violence. Most of the time, the abuser also goes after the child. More likely than not the child is emotionally scarred for life. According to race, 53% White people are abused, 20% African American people, 16% Latino, and 6% Other (SafeHorizon.org). According to income the following are abused, 28% under $20,000, 30% making $20,000-$50,000, 18% making $50,000-$75,000, and 24% making more than $75,000 (SafeHorizon.org). Some risk factors related to domestic violence include young pregnant women because they are more likely to be targeted compared to older women (apa.org). The younger the easier to be manipulated and used. Domestic violence takes place between 6pm and 6am (apa.org). 60% of incidents happen at home (apa.org). 30%-60% of families experiencing domestic violence include poverty, substance abuse, and other violence (SafeHorizon.org). Domestic is the third leading cause of homelessness among families (apa.org). 1/3 of abusers are using New York shelters (apa.org). This is what you can do to help yourself when the abuser is not around; call a local battered womens shelter or domestic violence hotline and tell them what happened, ask them what your choices are to protect yourself, and what to do to end the violence (venetiservices.eu). Discuss the abusers pattern of violence with someone at a shelter or crisis line and think about what risks, there might be if you talk about leaving (venetiservices.eu). You should encourage your abuser to go to a group for batterers (venetiservices.eu.) If you’re a friend or family member you can encourage the victim to get to safety and help keep that person safe. Confront the abuser if you can do it safely (SafeHorizon.org). Dont accept excuses for violence from the people you love. If your loved one starts controlling your life and taking advantage of you, it is time to leave. Your significant other should always be there for you and care for you. If they ever lay a hand on you immediately call the police. On average it is said that it takes 7 tries to officially get out of an abusive relationship (Axelord.) A significant other should never lay a hand on you if it is not for comfort or affection. If you are physically, mentally, or emotionally abused, it is not love. That does not show that your significant other cares for you. You need to stand up for yourself and get help. Being in an unstable relationship may cause harm to you or your family. People have died, and people have been injured. Children are scared for the rest of their lives. Pay attention to the warning signs and seek help immediately if there are any red flags. The ones you love should respect you and care for you and your family. Works Cited Abuse Defined. The National Domestic Violence Hotline RSS2. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. http://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/>. Axelord, Jim, â€Å"I was a prisoner in my own home.† 17 May 2013. CBS News. Carter, Lucy, Weitnom, Louis, and Behman. â€Å"Domestic violence and children.† Volume 9 number 7 Winter 1999. Domestic Violence: Statistics Facts. Safe Horizon. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. http://www.safehorizon.org/page/domestic-violence-statisticsfacts-52.html>. Partner Violence: What Can You Do? Http://www.apa.org. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/violence/partner.aspx>. Partner Violence: What Can You Do? Veneti CPT Services Ltd. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. http://www.venetiservices.eu/nuepsilonalpha/partner-violence-what-can-you-do>.

The Second Most Powerful Man in Germany Essay -- Heinrich Himmler, Adol

Greed, covetousness, avarice, cupidity; these are what killed Heinrich Himmler, the second most powerful man in Germany to Adolf Hitler during World War II. As the second most feared man in the Nazi regime, (Smith) he could not handle just being the second most; he had to be the most powerful. Himmler was in charge of the SS, SA, SD, Gestapo, and eventually provisional president of the police of Munich. The Holocaust began in Germany in the early 1920s and ended in 1945. The Holocaust caused the death of 6 million Jewish people and 5 million non-Jewish people. At least 1.1 million of that 11 million were children. The SS (Schutzstaffel) was the secret police of the Nazis, Hitler’s bodyguard. By the end of the Holocaust, two thirds of the Jews from Europe were killed by these men. The SA, a force similar to the SS but much less authoritative, was originally led by Ernst Roehm, but Himmler persuaded Hitler to kill him. (Encyclopedia of World Biography) When Roehm was dead, Himmler took authority over his division. The Gestapo was the police force that was in charge of all of the camps. They worked in camps and took the lives of millions of prisoners in the camps that Himmler designed. Even though Himmler had so much power, he constantly wanted more and more, worrying that he would lose supremacy over these divisions, and relentlessly doing anything possible to become the number one most powerful man in this era. Heinrich Himmler was born on October 17, 1900 to the son of a Catholic school teacher. (Encyclopedia of World Biography) He was brought up as a devout Roman Catholic in a close middleclass family. He had two brothers, Ernst Himmler and Gebhard Ludwig Himmler, with Heinrich being the middle child. (Worth) ... ... Oxford UP, 2012. Print. Source G: Trueman, Chris. â€Å"Heinrich Himmler.† Heinrich Himmler. History Learning Site, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. Source H: â€Å"Heinrich Himmler (German Nazi Leader).† Encyclopedia Britannica online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 30 Jan 2014. Source I: â€Å"Heinrich Himmler.† Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004, â€Å"Himmler, Heinrich.† The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed. 2013, and â€Å"Himmler, Heinrich.† World Encyclopedia 2005. â€Å"Heinrich Himmler.† Encyclopedia.com Highbeam Research, 01 Jan, 2004. Web. 30 Jan 2014. Source J: Bessel, Richard. . Oxford: Oxford UP, 1987. N. pag. Print. Source K: â€Å"Love Letters of a Nazi Monster: Newly revealed private papers of death camp chief, Himmler, shows how he deluded himself. He was a ‘decent’ family man.† Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, Jan, 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Forty-One

It seemed like he and Bonnie had been waiting forever in the tiny back office of the library, Matt thought. They had strained to catch a sound, to try and learn anything at al about what was happening down there. Bonnie paced, wringing her hands and biting her lips, and he leaned against the wal , head lowered, and kept a good grip on Samantha's stave. Just in case. He knew about al the doors and passages and tunnels down there, many of which he had no idea where they led, but he didn't realize the soundproofing was so good. They hadn't heard a thing. Then suddenly the trapdoor was pushing up, and Matt tensed, raising the stave, until he saw Elena's face. Meredith, Elena, Stefan, and Damon climbed out, covered in blood, but basical y fine, if the eager way Elena and Meredith were tel ing Bonnie what happened, their words tumbling over each other, was any indication. â€Å"Ethan's dead,† Stefan told Matt. â€Å"There were some other Vitales down there in the fight, but none of the pledges. He'd sent them out to hunt.† Matt felt sick and weirdly happy at the same time. He'd pictured them dead at Damon and Stefan's hands, Chloe, al his friends from pledging. But they weren't. Not dead, not real y. But transformed, vampires now. â€Å"You're going to hunt them,† he said, aiming his words at Stefan and Damon, and at Meredith, too. She nodded, her face resolved, and Damon looked away. â€Å"We have to,† Stefan told him. â€Å"You know that.† Matt stared hard at his shoes. â€Å"Yeah,† he said, â€Å"I know. But, if you get a chance, maybe talk to some of them? If you can, if they're reasonable and no one's in danger? Maybe they could learn to live without kil ing people. If you showed them how, Stefan.† He rubbed at the back of his neck. â€Å"Chloe was †¦ special. And the other pledges, they were good people. They didn't know what they were getting into. They deserve a chance.† Everyone was silent, and, after a moment, Matt looked up to find Stefan regarding him, his eyes dark green with sympathy, his mouth pul ed taut in lines of pain. â€Å"I'l do my best,† he said kindly. â€Å"I can promise you that. But new vampires – vampires in general, real y – can be unpredictable. We might not be able to save any of them, and our priority has to be the innocent. We will try, though.† Matt nodded. His mouth tasted sour and his eyes burned. He was beginning to realize just how tired he was. â€Å"That's about the best I can expect,† he said roughly. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"So there's a whole room ful of dead vampires down there?† Bonnie asked, wrinkling her nose in disgust. â€Å"Pretty much,† said Elena. â€Å"We chained the doors closed again, but I wish we could close the chamber off more permanently. Someone's going to go down there eventual y, and the last thing this campus needs is another murder investigation, or another gruesome legend.† â€Å"Ta-da!† Bonnie said, grinning brightly and pul ing a little bag out of her pocket. â€Å"Final y something I can do.† She held the bag up. â€Å"Remember al the hours Mrs. Flowers made me spend studying herbs? Well, I know spel s for locking and warding, and I've got the herbs to use right here. I thought they might come in handy, as soon as Matt told us we were going to a secret underground chamber.† She looked so pleased with herself that Matt had to smile a little despite the heaviness inside him at the thought of Chloe and the others somewhere out in the night. â€Å"They might not work for more than a day or two,† she added modestly, â€Å"but they'l definitely discourage people from investigating the trapdoor for that long.† â€Å"You're a wonder, Bonnie,† Elena said, and spontaneously hugged her. Stefan nodded. â€Å"We can get rid of the bodies tomorrow,† he said. â€Å"It's too close to dawn to do it now.† Bonnie got right to work, sprinkling dried plants across the trapdoor. â€Å"Hyssop, Solomon's seal, and damiana leaves,† she said when she saw Matt watching her. â€Å"They're for strengthening of locks, protection from evil, and general protection. Mrs. Flowers dril ed me on this stuff so much I final y got them al down. It's too bad I didn't have her helping me with my homework in high school. Maybe I would have learned some of those French verbs.† Damon was watching them, his eyes half hooded. â€Å"We should look for the new vampires, too,† he said. â€Å"You know vampires aren't pack animals. They won't hunt together for long. Once they split up, we can pick them off,† he told Stefan. â€Å"I'm coming, too,† Meredith said. She looked at Damon chal engingly. â€Å"I'l just walk Matt home and then meet up with you both.† Damon smiled, a peculiarly warm smile that Matt had never seen him direct at Meredith before. â€Å"I was talking to you, too, hunter,† he said. â€Å"You've gotten better.† After a second, she smiled back, a humorous twist of her lips, and Matt thought he saw something that might be the beginnings of friendship flickering between them. â€Å"So the Vitales were definitely behind al the murders and disappearances?† Matt asked Stefan, feeling sick. How could he have spent so much time with Ethan and not suspected that he was a murderer? Bonnie's face went so white that her few freckles showed like little dark dots on plain paper. And then her color came flooding back, her cheeks and ears turning a bright pink. She climbed unsteadily to her feet. â€Å"I should go see Zander,† she said. â€Å"Hey,† Matt said, alarmed, and moved to block the door. â€Å"There's stil a whole bunch of vampires outside, Bonnie. Wait for somebody to walk you over.† â€Å"Not to mention that you have other commitments,† Damon said dryly, looking meaningful y at the herbs scattered across the trapdoor. â€Å"After you work your witchy mojo, then you can go see your pet.† â€Å"We're sorry, Bonnie,† Meredith said, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. â€Å"We should have trusted you to know a good guy when you saw one.† â€Å"Right! Al is forgiven,† Bonnie said brightly, and plopped down in front of the trapdoor again. â€Å"I just need to say the spel .† She ran her hands through the herbs. â€Å"Existo signum,† she muttered. â€Å"Servo quis est intus.† As she scooped some of the herbs back into her bag, Bonnie kept smiling, and stopping, and staring into space, and then bouncing a little. Matt smiled at her tiredly. Good for Bonnie. Someone ought to have a happy ending. He felt a strong, thin hand take his and turned to see Meredith beside him. She smiled sympathetical y at him. Nearby, Elena laid her hand tentatively on Stefan's arm, and they both had their eyes on Bonnie. Damon stood stil , watching them al with an almost fond expression. Matt leaned against Meredith, comforted. No matter what happened, at least they were together. His true friends were with him; he had come home to them at last. The sun was low in the east when Bonnie climbed up the fire escape, her feet clanging on each step. As she came over the side of the building, she saw Zander sitting with his back against the rough concrete wal at the edge of the roof. He turned to stare at her as she came toward him. â€Å"Hi,† she said. She'd been so excited to see him on her way over here, enough so that Elena and Meredith got over their guilt and started to laugh at her, but now she felt weird and uncomfortable, like her head was too big. It was, she realized, total y possible that he wouldn't want to talk to her. After al , she'd accused him of being a murderer, which was a pretty big mistake for a girlfriend to make. â€Å"Hi,† he said slowly. There was a long pause, and then he patted the concrete next to him. â€Å"Want to sit down?† he asked. â€Å"I'm just watching the sky.† He hesitated. â€Å"Ful moon in a couple of days.† Mentioning the ful moon felt like a chal enge, and Bonnie settled next to him, then squeezed her hands together and jumped right in. â€Å"I'm sorry I cal ed you a kil er,† she said. â€Å"I know now that I was wrong to accuse you of being responsible for the deaths on campus. I should have trusted you more. Please accept my apology,† she finished in a little rush. â€Å"Because I miss you.† â€Å"I miss you, too,† Zander said. â€Å"And I understand it was a shock.† â€Å"Seriously, though, Zander,† Bonnie said, and shoved him a little with her hip. â€Å"You just tel me you're a werewolf? Did you get bitten when you were a kid or something? Because I know getting bitten is the only way to become a werewolf without kil ing someone. And, okay, I know you're not the kil er now, but Meredith saw you with a girl who'd just been attacked. And †¦ and you had bruises, real y bad bruises everywhere. I think I had every right to think something was hinky with you.† â€Å"Hinky?† Zander laughed a little, but there was an edge of sadness to it, Bonnie thought. â€Å"I guess it's kind of hinky, if you want to put it that way.† â€Å"Can you explain?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"Okay, I'l try,† Zander said thoughtful y. He reached down and took her hand, turning it over in his and playing with her fingers, pul ing them lightly. â€Å"As you apparently know, most werewolves are created either by being bitten, or by having the werewolf virus in their family and activating it by kil ing someone in a special ritual. So, either a terrible attack, which usual y screws the victim up, or a deliberate act of evil to grab the power of the wolf.† He grimaced. â€Å"It kind of explains why werewolves have such a bad reputation. But there's another kind of werewolf.† He glanced at Bonnie with a sort of shy pride. â€Å"I come from the Original pack of werewolves.† Original. Bonnie's mind raced. Immortal, she thought, and remembered Klaus, who had never been a human. â€Å"So†¦ you're real y old, then?† she asked hesitantly. It was fine, she guessed, for Elena to date guys who had seen centuries go by. Romantic, even. Sort of. Despite the crush she'd had on Damon, though, Bonnie always pictured dating someone close to her own age. Even Meredith's cute, smart Alaric seemed kind of old to her, and he was only in his twenties. Zander snorted with sudden laughter and squeezed her hand tight. â€Å"No!† he said. â€Å"I just turned twenty last month! Werewolves aren't like that – we're alive. We live, we die. We're like everybody else, we just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Turn into superstrong, superfast wolves,† Bonnie said tartly. â€Å"Yeah, fine,† Zander said. â€Å"Point taken. Anyway, the Original pack is like, the original family of werewolves. Most werewolves are infected by some kind of mystical virus. It can be passed down, but it's dormant. The Original pack is descended from the very first werewolves, the ones that were cavemen except during the ful moon. It's in our genes. We're different from regular werewolves. We can stop ourselves from changing if we need to. We can learn to change when the moon's not ful , too, although it's difficult.† â€Å"If you can stop yourself from changing, do some of you stop being werewolves?† Bonnie asked. Zander pul ed her closer. â€Å"We would never stop being werewolves, even if we never changed at al . It's who we are. And it hurts to not change when the moon is ful . It's like it sings to us, and the song gets louder and clearer the closer it gets to being ful . We're aching to change by the time it happens.† â€Å"Wow,† said Bonnie. Then her eyes widened. â€Å"So, al your friends are members of the Original pack, too? Like, you're al related?† â€Å"Um,† Zander said. â€Å"I guess. But the relationship can go back pretty far – it's not like we're al first cousins or anything.† â€Å"Weird,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Okay, Original pack, got it.† She snuggled her head comfortably against Zander's shoulder. â€Å"Tel me the rest.† â€Å"Okay,† Zander said again. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and wrapped one arm around Bonnie. It was getting a little cold sitting on the concrete, and she nestled grateful y against the warmth of his side. â€Å"So, Dalcrest is on what's sort of a hot spot for paranormal activity. There's these things cal ed ley lines, see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Already know it,† Bonnie said briskly. â€Å"Go on with your part.† Zander stared at her. â€Å"O †¦ kay,† he said slowly. â€Å"Anyway, the High Wolf Council sends some of us to Dalcrest every year as students. So that we can monitor any dangers. We're kind of like watchdogs, I guess. The original watchdogs.† Bonnie snorted. â€Å"The High Wolf Council.† Zander poked her in the ribs. â€Å"Shut up, it's not funny,† he said. â€Å"They're very important.† Bonnie giggled again, and he elbowed her gently. â€Å"So, with al the disappearances and attacks, things have been bad on campus this year,† he continued, sobering. â€Å"Much worse than they usual y are. We've been investigating. A pack of vampires in a secret society on campus is behind it, and we've been fighting them off and protecting people when we can. But we're not as strong as they are, except at the ful moon, even if we change. And so the bruises. And your friend seeing me guarding a girl who'd just been attacked.† â€Å"Don't worry. We took care of the Vitale Society tonight,† Bonnie said smugly. â€Å"Well, the leader at least, and some of the others,† she amended. â€Å"There's stil a bunch of vampires on campus, but we'l get rid of them.† Zander turned and stared at her for a long moment before he spoke. â€Å"I think,† he said at last in a careful y neutral voice, â€Å"that it's your turn to explain.† Bonnie wasn't actual y that great at properly organized, logical explanations, but she did her best, going back and forth in time, adding side notes and remembering things as she went along. She told him about Stefan and Damon, and how everything had changed when the vampire brothers came to Fel ‘s Church last year and Elena fel in love with them. She told him about Meredith's sacred duty as a vampire hunter, and she told him about her own psychic visions and her training as a witch. She left a lot of stuff out – everything about the Dark Dimension, and Elena's bargain with the Guardians, for instance, because that was real y confusing, and maybe she should tel him about it later so he didn't just overload – but the tel ing stil took a long time. â€Å"Huh,† Zander said when she was finished, and then he laughed. â€Å"What?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"You're a weird girl,† Zander said. â€Å"Pretty heroic, though.† Bonnie pushed her face into his neck, happily breathing in the essential Zander smel of him: fabric softener, worn cotton, and clean guy. â€Å"You're weird,† she said, and then, admiringly, â€Å"and the real hero. You've been fighting off vampire attacks for weeks and weeks, to protect everybody.† â€Å"We're quite a pair,† Zander said. â€Å"Yeah,† Bonnie said. She sat up and faced him, then reached out and ran her hand through his soft pale hair, pul ing his head closer to her. â€Å"Stil ,† she said, just before their lips touched, â€Å"normal is overrated.†

Big Creek Ecosystem essays

Big Creek Ecosystem essays In this report I will discuss the relationships and interactions between abiotic and biotic compounds found in big creek. Furthermore I will discuss the two main phenomena, which occur in big creek, this includes energy flow and nutrient cycling. First of all, as a class we found eight organisms that live and grow in the big creek habitat. These organisms are the biotic components that live in big creek. The abiotic components are comprised of the water, soil, and inorganic nutrients that are found in big creek. Within the biotic component there is a population, which would be a group of a single species. Many populations found together in the same area would be a community. In the community we are looking at we found two producers, green algae and diatoms. These producers are the beginning of the nutrient cycle in big creek. They take in sunlight and through photosynthesis they build proteins or sugars, which will be used by the next organisms in the nutrient cycle. The herbivores found were protozoans and water fleas. Both of these organisms feed on substances such as green algae and diatoms. The original sunlight has been made into sugars, which water fleas and protozoans can use to further the nutrient cycle in big creek. All of the organisms we will discuss have a particular niche in the big creek habitat. They all depend on each other to continue the cycle of growth in big creek. The two carnivores observed by the class were snails and fly larvae. Both of these organisms not only consume protozoans and water fleas, but they also consume diatoms and green algae. Once again cycling the nutrients further through the ecosystem. Also present in the ecosystem is the flow of energy through all of these organisms. All original energy came from the sun, which was then used by our producers, diatoms and green algae and converted into another form of energy that is used by herbivores and carnivores t ...

Standard, Standardize, and Standardized

Standard, Standardize, and Standardized Standard, Standardize, and Standardized Standard, Standardize, and Standardized By Maeve Maddox A reader has asked for a discussion of the words standard, standardize and standardized: I ask because of a statement I made sometime ago, where I said, we took a standard test. But my friend thought it should have been we took a standardized test. I think Im correct since standard in this context is an adjective that qualifies the noun test. On the other hand, standardize is a transitive verb and it should convey a sense of action. However, when I surfed the internet to see how these words are used, I found a puzzling example: â€Å"There was no standardized time until train travel became common.† Would you consider this a correct way of using the word standardized? The verb standardize derives from the noun standard. Among the different meanings of the noun and the verb, these are the ones relevant to this discussion: standard noun: An authoritative or recognized exemplar of correctness, perfection, or some definite degree of any quality. standardize verb: To bring to a standard or uniform size, strength, form of construction, proportion of ingredients, or the like. Both standard and standardized function as adjectives, but with different meanings. One can speak of a â€Å"standard test† or a â€Å"standardized test,† but the two phrases do not mean the same thing. A standard test is the usual test given. For example, a â€Å"standard driving test† requires the learner to parallel-park. A â€Å"standard joke† is one that is often repeated. A â€Å"standard excuse† for not doing something is â€Å"I didn’t have time.† A  standardized test  is a  test designed, administered and scored according to specific guidelines based on a standard that has been established by some authoritative body. It’s even possible to speak of a â€Å"standard standardized test.† For example, a particular standardized test like the PARCC or ACT might be the â€Å"standard standardized test† in one state or district, but not in another. As for the phrase â€Å"standardized time,† the same sort of contextual considerations apply. One may speak of â€Å"standardized time† and â€Å"standard time.† Before train travel became common, local times, based on the sun or a locally chosen meridian, were sufficient. Once people had to plan journeys with departure and arrival times in different regions, a standardized method of telling time became necessary. The result of the nineteenth-century century standardization of time is standard time: a standard system of reckoning based on geographical time zones. Context, of course, rules, but generally speaking, standard conveys â€Å"the usual,† whereas standardized conveys something systematically designed and administered. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing Prompts 101One Fell SwoopApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns

Hitler's table talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hitler's table talk - Essay Example He categorically states that our body follows the cycle of nature. He advises humans to conform to the laws of nature and take inspiration from it and that is the way one can triumph over religion. He asserts that in nature a will of stronger prevails and it is perfectly a natures way of doing the things (38). He vehemently put his views on social class stating that "as long as social classes existed, it was impossible to set free the forces of the nation" (108). He never believed in rejecting anyone from the national community (108). He was clear in his thinking that class prejudices had no place in a socially advanced state like Germany (255). Hitler believed in shaping the Germany in such a fashion that whosoever happened to visit Germany would be relieved off his or her prejudices against Germany (22). Hitler made a special mention about Germany describing its uniqueness in a sense that it was the only country having no unemployment issue (42). He also argued about the Germany having several towns in its fold of a high cultural level and because of that Germany did not suffer either from any inferiority complex or from any superiority feelings (47). His views on Church and Christianity described his philosophy to govern people as well. He did not believe in making a pact with the Church for it could not offer long lasting benefits. The scientific advancement sooner or later, in all likely hoods, would expose the harmful effects that such compromise might bring. For this reason he kept party matters separate from the religious beliefs – that is how one could keep confrontation between Catholic and Protestant groups. He further stated that it was better to be clever in this matter rather than invite the trouble in the long run. He accepted the fact that the human beings were afraid of so many unknown things of nature for which no explanation is available. Science would resolve enquiries of metaphysical nature

Discuss whether or not plea bargaining should be abolished Essay

Discuss whether or not plea bargaining should be abolished - Essay Example However, this fact can not be ignored that plea bargaining is an essential component of the justice system because it allows the trial convictions, to be more thoroughly considered when the judges are not under the pressure of too many cases. Plea bargaining reduces the number of cases that would otherwise go for trial conviction to less than half, thus improving the efficiency of the trial conviction cases. Without the facility of plea bargaining, the whole justice system is likely to collapse under the immense and unbearable work load. If the option of plea bargaining is eliminated, this would overcrowd the courts and the attention will have to be focused also on futile and pointless cases along with potentially strong and complicated cases that genuinely require trial convictions. Every day, thousands of cases of petty crimes are taken to the court, and if each and every case was given the highest consideration, the idea of a functional justice system would become unapproachable. Therefore, it is important to have a system in place that would cater for crimes of petty nature, and plea bargaining sufficiently serves this purpose. Plea bargaining allow the defendants to enter into reasonable agreements in a very short period in comparison to the lengthy trials that are conventionally conducted in cases of severe crime cases.