Essay about Socrates Delphi and City

Essay about Socrates Delphi and City Essay about Socrates: Delphi and City Socrates uses arrogance to defend himself to the city of Athens, while on the other hand he does not use ignorance . The city of Athens is at odds with Socrates’ philosophy; it contradicted several Athenian beliefs. The city believed that Socrates was an atheist, that he was responsible for corrupting the youth, and that he made the weaker argument the stronger. Socrates believed that he was the most important teacher in the city therefore he continued to defend his actions and beliefs even when his life was on the line. He saw himself as the most important teacher after his visit to the oracle. This gave him much arrogance to his arguments and questioning, which ultimately gave Socrates great confidence . He was a great philosophizer and he knew how important he was to the city. The city did not share Socrates' own view of himself as the most important teacher. They believed his philosophies were evil and they were willing to put him to death for his ideas. In Socratesâ€℠¢ first defense, he uses the story of the Delphic oracle. According to Socrates, the oracle once declared that no one was wiser than Socrates. At first Socrates thought the oracle to be wrong so he began to obtain evidence by conversing with wise people in order to refute the oracle "...he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser than he to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know" (26) Socrates claims he will admit to being unknowledgeable, which proves ignorance is not expressed by him. Thus Socrates began to believe that he was the wisest person in the city. The oracle was a turning point in his life. Instead of focusing on astronomical and physical studies, he began to concern himself with moral and political opinions. The fact that Socrates knew he was the wisest and that he began to concern himself with philosophies of the city shows that he saw himself as the most impo rtant teacher in the city. He knew that what he was teaching was in contradiction to the beliefs of Athens, but he also believed that what he taught would eventually bring about change. Arrogance is shown here through the claims Socrates makes about being the wisest and contradicting a whole cities teachings. Socrates was on a mission to change the city’s beliefs and outlook on life. He truly believed he was essential to changing the Athenians. Socrates was completely against how the Athenians valued money and material possessions over ones soul. Socrates showed his belief of his own importance as a teacher by how he relentlessly questioned and examined the beliefs of the Athenians. He taught the young because he knew that they would be able to produce change whereas the elders would not change their beliefs. Socrates knew that what he was teaching would anger most of the people in Athens. He was in reckless pursuit of the truth and he knew that he could be put to death for w hat he was teaching but he went ahead and did it anyway. He wanted to make change and that is why he taught the young and not the old. He regarded himself as so important that he was willing to die in order to make change. Although this seems like it is the right thing to do, Socrates would not be able to accomplish any of this without arrogance. Socrates believed that being dead is one of two things. It is either like being nothing without any perception, or it is a change of place and a transition of the soul from one place to another place. He regarded either one to be great so he had no fear of dying. He truly felt that he had something worth dying for and he was truly convinced of his importance to the city. In class we had discussed what each of us individually thought of death and majority ruled

Matisse essays

Matisse essays Henry Matisse illustrates five women dancing around in a circular pattern in his painting Dance. The nude, fair-skinned women all have slender bodies with black hair pulled back on their shoulders. They look very carefree and alive dancing around with joined hands. The tallest woman looks as if she is the leader because she is not holding hands with the woman on her right. Matisse may have done this to show where the circle begins. This painting is very simple and consists of very few colors. The two loudest colors are green, being the grass that the women dance on, and blue, that is the sky in the background. The two could also represent the world. Natalalie Safirs poem about Matissess painting is very well written and describes the painting in great detail and life. She describes the happy, carefree women as being joyful sisters because they look alike. Focusing on the breaking of the circle, the speaker says the tallest woman is pulling the circle. She also notes, in the last stanza, that the girl being pulled at the end of the circle is frightened because she may lose her grip. The speaker assumes that if the girl does not grab on the circle will be broken and a black sun will swirl from that space. Also, according to Safir, the green mound of which the ladies are dancing on is grass. My initial interpretation of the painting was that it was symbolizing sisterhood. It is clearly evident that their bodies portray pride in being a woman. Also, it looked to me like the women were dancing on top of the world, thus implying that they were celebrating dominance of the earth. After reading the poem and studying the painting more carefully, however, I now feel that the women are practicing some ritual or sance. The last stanza says that if the circle is broken a black sun swirls from that space. This suggests that if their worshipping circle is broken, a certain evil wi ...

Political and Social Analysis of America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Political and Social Analysis of America - Essay Example This took place from the earlier 15th Century. Moreover, the 15th century saw a great increase in African immigrants, who the explorers brought in to America as slaves (Vigdor 184). However, after the end of slave trade, these Africans settled in America to raise the Afro-American race. Immigration to the US still exists even today. Besides, the US also has illegal immigrants. This manuscript will look into these US immigrants, considering the factors and impacts of their immigrants. Factors that Led to the US immigration settlements Various factors led to the immigrants settling in the US. For instance, due to the increase in industrialization, most of the immigrants’ home nations failed to provide them with employment opportunities (Coates 83). Conversely, the US provided these immigrants with better working conditions and increased wages. Consequently, these immigrants had to settle in the US. Additionally, some immigrants settled in America as a result of natural calamitie s. They left their home nations as they escaped from disasters such famine, drought and other adverse weather conditions. For instance, most Irish immigrants to the US came because of the potato famine. Some American government policies also resulted in an upsurge of these immigrants. In the mid 1800, the US government passed a bill that gave the settlers over 150 acres of land. This resulted in an increase in the number of immigrants, since their driving force was the free land on offer. Many immigrants settled in America based on their own free will. However, some former immigrants came to the US through force. For instance, the African American settlers came into America as slaves that provided inexpensive labor and also helped during wars. Moreover, some illegal immigrants settled in America because of political unrest and peace in the US. Nations such as China, Germany, Cuba, and Russia and others faced various forms of political instabilities and their citizens had to move to the US where there were peace and better policies (Vigdor 185). Moreover, the US had enacted regulations that encouraged foreigners into settling in the land, since they were in serious need of both skillful and non-skillful employees to drive their growing economy. Effects of the Immigrations to America Positive Effects Some natives liked the idea of the immigrants settling in the US, citing that they provided cheap labor that steered economic growth (Coates 83). However, others opposed this idea, claiming that the immigrants were the core reasons for their labor problems. As a result, there were positive as well as negative consequences that resulted from the immigrations. Among the positive impacts of these migrations included the cheap and readily available workforce (Coates 84). The immigrants provided inexpensive skilled and unskilled labor, thereby improving the productivity of most companies, resulting from lower production costs. This in turn led to reduction of the prices of goods and services, and thus it improves the lives of both American natives as well as other immigrants. Besides, immigrants have resulted in a significant population increase in America. Despite the fact that an increased population leads to other negative implications, the huge population also comes with its advantages. For instance, the large population provides the US with a steady market for the goods and

Chinese Economic Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chinese Economic Reform - Essay Example This led to a situation, where by 1978 seventy five percent of the industrial output was state controlled, and there was hardly any private enterprise worth mentioning. The foreign trade of China was restricted, and consisted of only those items that were not available, or could not be produced in the country. The economy remained stagnant and inefficient, as a result of the policies followed by the Chinese government. There was hardly any competition, and the price and production controls by the government led to severe distortion of the economy. All these factors led to the living standards being extremely low in comparison to all its neighbors. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping took over the reigns of the country, which saw the start of the reform era. The realization of the poor economic state of the country, and the need for economic reforms to revitalize the country, and maintain its strategic importance caused the Chinese government to reconsider its policy of centrally controlled economy, and initiate economic reforms. The Chinese government set about a gradual reform process in the belief that this would cause significant economic growth, and raise the living standards in China, and restore its importance in a region, where its traditional rivals like Japan and South Korea, were displaying steady economic growth, and as result boosting their relevance in the region. (Morrison, M. Wayne, 2006). The economic reform in China has two sides to it. The positive side of the reform has seen greater efficiency in the economy, which has led to the boosting of output, and increased resources for even more investment in the economy. The Chinese have traditionally demonstrated a high rate of savings, and the boost in the economy has seen these savings rates rise to forty percent of the GDP, making the domestic savings rate in China rank among the highest in the world. The GDP of China for 2005 was estimated at $1.9 trillion, and its per capita GDP at

Sociology Functionalist Essay Example for Free

Sociology Functionalist Essay â€Å"Assess the Functionalist view that religion benefits both society as a whole and it’s individual members. † According to research carried out by sociologists, almost 90% of the world population follow a religion. There are numerous theories that attempt to explain the role of religion in our lives. The Functionalist outlook is a consensus perspective that sees religion performing positive functions for society as a whole and on an individual level. On the other hand, Marxism and Feminism offer conflicting perspectives that highlight the ideological function of religion. Marxists see religion as exploiting the proletariats and creating false consciousness. Feminists see religion as an instrument of patriarchy. This paper will attempt to assess the Functionalist claim that religion benefits both society and the individual. In any attempt to reach a considered view the arguments proposed by each theory will be reviewed. The approach will therefore remain analytical, critical and at all times engaged. Functionalists believe that society is a system of interrelated parts or social institutions, such as religion, the family and the economy. According to them society functions because of the existence of value consensus, that is, sets of norms and values by which society’s members live. Functionalists emphasise the social nature of religion and the positive functions it performs. For functionalists, religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining the value consensus, social order and solidarity. Emile Durkheim was the first functionalist to develop this idea. For Durkheim the key feature of religion was not a belief in God, spirits or the metaphysical, but he argues that religion provides a distinction between the sacred and the profane. Religion is more than just simply a set of beliefs; it involves rituals in relation to the sacred. These sacred things evoke such powerful feelings, which lead Durkheim to believe that something this powerful can only be society itself, which clearly suggests that religion is in fact less valuable than society. Durkheim believed that the essence of all religion could be found by studying its simplest form, in the simplest type of society. For this reason he used studies of an Australian Aboriginal tribe, with a clan system. For Durkheim when clan members worship their totemic animal, they are in fact worshipping society. He states that the totem inspires feelings of awe in the clan members precisely because it represents the power of the group on which the individual is dependent. Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion provides solidarity, however in his view it does so by performing psychological functions for the individuals. Malinowski identifies two situations in which religion performs its role. These are; when the outcome is important but is uncontrollable and therefore uncertain, and secondly at times of life crises. He uses his study of the Trobriand islanders to explain how religion performs its role. In his study he contrasts fishing in the lagoon and ocean fishing. Fishing in the lagoon involves no rituals because the method is easy and the outcome is predictable. However, ocean fishing is dangerous and the outcome is uncertain, this uncertainty promotes rituals, which are performed to ensure a safe a successful expedition. In this context, rituals provide the people with a sense of control which eases the psychological tensions and gives them confidence. Similarly, Talcott Parsons sees religion as a means to allow individuals to cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes. However he puts forward two essential functions performed in modern society. This includes creating and legitimising society’s central values and making of the primary source of meaning. Quintessentially, for Parsons then, the function of religion is an instrument of law making. Karl Marx brings forth a differing perspective to the abovementioned. For Marx religion operates as an ideological weapon used by the bourgeoisie (that is the upper class in society) to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and God-given. Religion misleads the poor into believing that their suffering is virtuous and that they will be favoured in the afterlife. Marxists believe that religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation by masking its pain rather than treating its cause. Therefore, religion masks the underlying problem of exploitation that creates the need for it. However he ignores the positive functions of religion as functionalists suggest such as, psychological adjustment to misfortune. Unlike functionalists who see society as based on harmonious consensus, Marxists see all societies as divided into two classes. In modern capitalist societies, the upper classes that own the means of production exploit the proletariats. Whereas functionalists see religion as a unifying force that strengthens the value consensus. Marx predicts that the proletariats would become conscious of their exploitation and unite to overthrow capitalism. As such there will be no need for religion in a classless society and it will disappear. This view is a direct contrast with functionalists, as they believe that religion is a crucial part in society in terms of maintaining social solidarity and social integration. While, Marxists see religion as playing a crucial part in maintaining the status quo. On the other hand, Feminists take a totally different perspective on the function of religion in terms of benefiting both societies and individual members. For Feminists religion is patriarchal and an ideology that legitimises female subordination. Although the formal teachings of religion often stress the equality between sexes, there is still a considerable amount of patriarchy within many of them, such as women’s participation being restricted, for example not being allowed to preach or to read from sacred texts. In the same way, taboos that regard menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting may also prevent participation. Furthermore, religious laws and customs may give women fewer rights than men for example in access to divorce, how many spouses they can marry, decision making, dress codes et cetera. Religious influences on cultural norms can also lead to unequal treatment such as, genital mutilation or punishments for sexual transgressions. This contrasts with the functionalist definition that defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration. This definition proves problematic for feminists who argue the restrictions imposed on women’s participation in religious organisations, do not consent with such functionalist claims. In effect, divisions in society based on gender, for example regarding menstruation or pregnant women as taboos, break social integration. According to Durkheim the fact that sacred things evoke such powerful feelings in believers indicate to Durkheim that this is because they are symbols representing something of great power. However, feminists argue that sacred texts largely feature the doing of male prophets and are usually written and interpreted by men. This has the effect of dividing society by gender and causing conflict between the two. In conclusion, functionalism is a consensus perspective that sees religion performing positive functions for society and individuals, providing a moral framework for society, providing identity as well as providing individuals with buoyancy in times of uncertainty and misfortune. In contrast to functionalist theory, Marxism and feminism offer conflicting perspectives, which highlight the ideological functions of religion. Marxists see religion as exploiting the proletariat and creating false consciousness. Feminists see religion as an instrument of patriarchy. Each theory posits valuable arguments and insight into the role of religion.

Nemean Stadium :: essays papers

Nemean Stadium Based on Legend, approximately around 776 BCE, Koroibos crossed the finish line at the altar of Zeus and was crowned the first winner in Olympic history. Thus was the beginning of the ancient phenomenon of the Olympic Games. A time where all war would come to a pause as men would test their valor against fellow man in peaceful physical competition. This competition was partaken in stadiums at select locations. These men were considered elite athletes and representative of many men. This made the games important in more ways than competition. They were also political, social and a major source of pride within ancient Greece. But these Olympic games only came around every four years, so others followed. Along with the Olympic games three others joined forming the Panhellenic athletic festivals. They were the Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean games. The sites for these games grew in extravagance as well as popularity over time and in turn the stadiums the games were to be held in also grew in extravagance. The stadium at Nemea was particularly one of extravagance and prestige. The University of California at Berkley has done a great deal for the Nemean site in the past 25 years. They have uncovered a stadium dated circa 330 BCE along with a tunnel, which is said to have been an athlete entrance to the stadium. Extensive study of the Nemean stadium and tunnel has been done and the site is well documented. The impacts of such a great archaeological find is wonderful and has inspired many to even reenact the infamous Nemean Games. Through basic review of fact and study the following will briefly detail the findings of the stadium at Nemea and its tunnel. The site at Nemea had many visitors, known to have started as early as 1766, excavating parts mostly in search of treasures from the Sanctuary of Zeus. The earliest mention of the stadium was from Colonel William Leake, approximately during the 18th century, from where he located the stadium. Unfortunately no real excavation was done until 1973 when the University of Berkley began a large scale dig under the advisory of the American School of Classical Studies, Athens and the guidance of Stephen G Miller. The investigation began an extensive yearly excavation from 1974- 1983 and since then many smaller projects have steadily occurred. Nemean Stadium :: essays papers Nemean Stadium Based on Legend, approximately around 776 BCE, Koroibos crossed the finish line at the altar of Zeus and was crowned the first winner in Olympic history. Thus was the beginning of the ancient phenomenon of the Olympic Games. A time where all war would come to a pause as men would test their valor against fellow man in peaceful physical competition. This competition was partaken in stadiums at select locations. These men were considered elite athletes and representative of many men. This made the games important in more ways than competition. They were also political, social and a major source of pride within ancient Greece. But these Olympic games only came around every four years, so others followed. Along with the Olympic games three others joined forming the Panhellenic athletic festivals. They were the Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean games. The sites for these games grew in extravagance as well as popularity over time and in turn the stadiums the games were to be held in also grew in extravagance. The stadium at Nemea was particularly one of extravagance and prestige. The University of California at Berkley has done a great deal for the Nemean site in the past 25 years. They have uncovered a stadium dated circa 330 BCE along with a tunnel, which is said to have been an athlete entrance to the stadium. Extensive study of the Nemean stadium and tunnel has been done and the site is well documented. The impacts of such a great archaeological find is wonderful and has inspired many to even reenact the infamous Nemean Games. Through basic review of fact and study the following will briefly detail the findings of the stadium at Nemea and its tunnel. The site at Nemea had many visitors, known to have started as early as 1766, excavating parts mostly in search of treasures from the Sanctuary of Zeus. The earliest mention of the stadium was from Colonel William Leake, approximately during the 18th century, from where he located the stadium. Unfortunately no real excavation was done until 1973 when the University of Berkley began a large scale dig under the advisory of the American School of Classical Studies, Athens and the guidance of Stephen G Miller. The investigation began an extensive yearly excavation from 1974- 1983 and since then many smaller projects have steadily occurred.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Thirteen

Elena stood within the circle of adults and police, waiting for a chance to escape. She knew that Matt had warned Stefan in time-his face told her that-but he hadn't been able to get close enough to speak with her. At last, with all attention turned toward the body, she detached herself from the group and edged toward Matt. â€Å"Stefan got out all right,† he said, his eyes on the group of adults. â€Å"But he told me to take care of you, and I want you to stay here.† â€Å"To take care of me?† Alarm and suspicion flashed through Elena. Then, almost in a whisper, she said, â€Å"I see.† She thought a moment and then spoke carefully. â€Å"Matt, I need to go wash my hands. Bonnie got blood on me. Wait here; I'll be back.† He started to say something in protest, but she was already moving away. She held up her stained hands in explanation as she reached the door of the girls' locker room, and the teacher who was now standing there let her through. Once in the locker room, however, she kept on going, right out the far door and into the darkened school. And from there, into the night. Zuccone! Stefan thought, grabbing a bookcase and flinging it over, sending its contents flying. Fool! Blind, hateful fool. How could he have been so stupid? Find a place with them here? Be accepted as one of them? He must have been mad to have thought it was possible. He picked up one of the great heavy trunks and threw it across the room, where it crashed against the far wall, splintering a window. Stupid,stupid . Who was after him? Everybody. Matt had said it. â€Å"There's been another attack†¦ They think you did it.† Well, for once it looked as if the barbari , the petty living humans with their fear of anything unknown, were right. How else did you explain what had happened? He had felt the weakness, the spinning, swirling confusion; and then darkness had taken him. When he'd awakened it was to hear Matt saying that another human had been pillaged, assaulted. Robbed this time not only of his blood, but of his life. How did you explainthat unless he, Stefan, were the killer? A killer was what he was. Evil. A creature born in the dark, destined to live and hunt and hide there forever. Well, why not kill, then? Why not fulfill his nature? Since he could not change it, he might as well revel in it. He would unleash his darkness upon this town that hated him, that hunted him even now. But first†¦ he was thirsty. His veins burned like a network of dry, hot wires. He needed to feed†¦ soon†¦ now. The boarding house was dark. Elena knocked at the door but received no answer. Thunder cracked overhead. There was still no rain. After the third barrage of knocking, she tried the door, and it opened. Inside, the house was silent and pitch black. She made her way to the staircase by feel and went up it. The second landing was just as dark, and she stumbled, trying to find the bedroom with the stairway to the third floor. A faint light showed at the top of the stairs, and she climbed toward it, feeling oppressed by the walls, which seemed to close in on her from either side. The light came from beneath the closed door. Elena tapped on it lightly and quickly. â€Å"Stefan,† she whispered, and then she called more loudly, â€Å"Stefan, it's me.† No answer. She grasped the knob and pushed the door open, peering around the side. â€Å"Stefan-† She was speaking to an empty room. And a room filled with chaos. It looked as if some great wind had torn through, leaving destruction in its path. The trunks that had stood in corners so sedately were lying at grotesque angles, their lids gaping open, their contents strewn about the floor. One window was shattered. All Stefan's possessions, all the things he had kept so carefully and seemed to prize, were scattered like rubbish. Terror swept through Elena. The fury, the violence in this scene of devastation were painfully clear, and they made her feel almost giddy. Somebody who has a history of violence, Tyler had said. I don't care, she thought, anger surging up to push back the fear. I don't care about anything, Stefan; I still want to see you. But where are you? The trapdoor in the ceiling was open, and cold air was blowing down. Oh, thought Elena, and she had a sudden chill of fear. That roof was so high†¦ She'd never climbed the ladder to the widow's walk before, and her long skirt made it difficult. She emerged through the trapdoor slowly, kneeling on the roof and then standing up. She saw a dark figure in the corner, and she moved toward it quickly. â€Å"Stefan, I had to come-† she began, and broke off short, because a flash of lightning lit the sky just as the figure in the corner whirled around. And then it was as if every foreboding and fear and nightmare she'd ever had were coming true all at once. It was beyond screaming at; it was beyond anything. Oh, God†¦ no. Her mind refused to make sense of what her eyes were seeing. No. No. She wouldn't look at this, she wouldn't believe it†¦ But she could not help seeing. Even if she could have shut her eyes, every detail of the scene was etched upon her memory. As if the flash of lightning had seared it onto her brain forever. Stefan. Stefan, so sleek and elegant in his ordinary clothes, in his black leather jacket with the collar turned up. Stefan, with his dark hair like one of the roiling storm clouds behind him. Stefan had been caught in that flash of light, half turned toward her, his body twisted into a bestial crouch, with a snarl of animal fury on his face. And blood. That arrogant, sensitive, sensual mouth was smeared with blood. It showed ghastly red against the pallor of his skin, against the sharp whiteness of his bared teeth. In his hands was the limp body of a mourning dove, white as those teeth, wings outspread. Another lay on the ground at his feet, like a crumpled and discarded handkerchief. â€Å"Oh, God, no,† Elena whispered. She went on whispering it, backing away, scarcely aware that she was doing either. Her mind simply could not cope with this horror; her thoughts were running wildly in panic, like mice trying to escape a cage. She wouldn't believe this, she wouldn'tbelieve . Her body was filled with unbearable tension, her heart was bursting, her head reeling. â€Å"Oh, God,no-† â€Å"Elena!† More terrible than anything else was this, to seeStefan looking at her out of that animal face, to see the snarl changing into a look of shock and desperation. â€Å"Elena, please. Please, don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Oh, God,no !† The screams were trying to rip their way out of her throat. She backed farther away, stumbling, as he took a step toward her. â€Å"No!† â€Å"Elena, please-be careful-† That terrible thing, the thing with Stefan's face, was coming after her, green eyes burning. She flung herself backward as he took another step, his hand outstretched. That long, slender-fingered hand that had stroked her hair so gently- â€Å"Don't touch me!† she cried. And then she did scream, as her motion brought her back against the iron railing of the widow's walk. It was iron that had been there for nearly a century and a half, and in places it was nearly rusted through. Elena's panicked weight against it was too much, and she felt it give way. She heard the tearing sound of overstressed metal and wood mingling with her own shriek. And then there was nothing behind her, nothing to grab on to, and she was falling. In that instant, she saw the seething purple clouds, the dark bulk of the house beside her. It seemed that she had enough time to see them clearly, and to feel an infinity of terror as she screamed and fell, and fell. But the terrible, shattering impact never came. Suddenly there were arms around her, supporting her in the void. There was a dull thud and the arms tightened, weight giving against her, absorbing the crash. Then all was still. She held herself motionless within the circle of those arms, trying to get her bearings. Trying to believe yet another unbelievable thing. She had fallen from a three-story roof, and yet she was alive. She was standing in the garden behind the boarding house, in the utter silence between claps of thunder, with fallen leaves on the ground where her broken body should be. Slowly, she brought her gaze upward to the face of the one who held her. Stefan. There had been too much fear, too many blows tonight. She could react no longer. She could only stare up at him with a kind of wonder. There was such sadness in his eyes. Those eyes that had burned like green ice were now dark and empty, hopeless. The same look that she'd seen that first night in his room, only now it was worse. For now there was self-hatred mixed with the sorrow, and bitter condemnation. She couldn't bear it. â€Å"Stefan,† she whispered, feeling that sadness enter her own soul. She could still see the tinge of red on his lips, but now it awakened a thrill of pity along with the instinctive horror. To be so alone, so alien and so alone†¦ â€Å"Oh, Stefan,† she whispered. There was no answer in those bleak, lost eyes. â€Å"Come,† he said quietly, and led her back toward the house. Stefan felt a rush of shame as they reached the third story and the destruction that was his room. That Elena, of all people, should see this was insupportable. But then, perhaps it was also fitting that she should see what he truly was, what he could do. She moved slowly, dazedly to the bed and sat. Then she looked up at him, her shadowed eyes meeting his. â€Å"Tell me,† was all she said. He laughed shortly, without humor, and saw her flinch. It made him hate himself more. â€Å"What do you need to know?† he said. He put a foot on the lid of an overturned trunk and faced her almost defiantly, indicating the room with a gesture. â€Å"Who did this? I did.† â€Å"You're strong,† she said, her eyes on a capsized trunk. Her gaze lifted upward, as if she were remembering what had happened on the roof. â€Å"And quick.† â€Å"Stronger than a human,† he said, with deliberate emphasis on the last word. Why didn't she cringe from him now, why didn't she look at him with the loathing he had seen before? He didn't care what she thought any longer. â€Å"My reflexes are faster, and I'm more resilient. I have to be. I'm a hunter,† he said harshly. Something in her look made him remember how she had interrupted him. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then went quickly to pick up a glass of water that stood unharmed on the nightstand. He could feel her eyes on him as he drank it and wiped his mouth again. Oh, he still cared what she thought, all right. â€Å"You can eat and drink†¦ other things,† she said. â€Å"I don't need to,† he said quietly, feeling weary and subdued. â€Å"I don't need anything else.† He whipped around suddenly and felt passionate intensity rise in him again. â€Å"You said I was quick-but that's just what I'm not. Have you ever heard the saying ‘the quick and the dead,' Elena? Quick means living; it means those who have life. I'm the other half.† He could see that she was trembling. But her voice was calm, and her eyes never left his. â€Å"Tell me,† she said again. â€Å"Stefan, I have a right to know.† He recognized those words. And they were as true as when she had first said them. â€Å"Yes, I suppose you do,† he said, and his voice was tired and hard. He stared at the broken window for a few heartbeats and then looked back at her and spoke flatly. â€Å"I was born in the late fifteenth century. Do you believe that?† She looked at the objects that lay where he'd scattered them from the bureau with one furious sweep of his arm. The florins, the agate cup, his dagger. â€Å"Yes,† she said softly. â€Å"Yes, I believe it.† â€Å"And you want to know more? How I came to be what I am?† When she nodded, he turned to the window again. How could he tell her? He, who had avoided questions for so long, who had become such an expert at hiding and deceiving. There was only one way, and that was to tell the absolute truth, concealing nothing. To lay it all before her, what he had never offered to any other soul. And he wanted to do it. Even though he knew it would make her turn away from him in the end, he needed to show Elena what he was. And so, staring into the darkness outside the window, where flashes of blue brilliance occasionally lit the sky, he began. He spoke dispassionately, without emotion, carefully choosing his words. He told her of his father, that solid Renaissance man, and of his world in Florence and at their country estate. He told her of his studies and his ambitions. Of his brother, who was so different than he, and of the ill feeling between them. â€Å"I don't know when Damon started hating me,† he said. â€Å"It was always that way, as long as I can remember. Maybe it was because my mother never really recovered from my birth. She died a few years later. Damon loved her very much, and I always had the feeling that he blamed me.† He paused and swallowed. â€Å"And then, later, there was a girl.† â€Å"The one I remind you of?† Elena said softly. He nodded. â€Å"The one,† she said, more hesitantly, â€Å"who gave you the ring?† He glanced down at the silver ring on his finger, then met her eyes. Then, slowly, he drew out the ring he wore on the chain beneath his shirt and looked at it. â€Å"Yes. This was her ring,† he said. â€Å"Without such a talisman, we die in sunlight as if in a fire.† â€Å"Then she was†¦ like you?† â€Å"She made me what I am.† Haltingly, he told her about Katherine. About Katherine's beauty and sweetness, and about his love for her. And about Damon's. â€Å"She was too gentle, filled with too much affection,† he said at last, painfully. â€Å"She gave it to everyone, including my brother. But finally, we told her she had to choose between us. And then†¦ she came to me.† The memory of that night, of that sweet, terrible night came sweeping back. She had come to him. And he had been so happy, so full of awe and joy. He tried to tell Elena about that, to find the words. All that night he had been so happy, and even the next morning, when he had awakened and she was gone, he had been throned on highest bliss†¦ It might almost have been a dream, but the two little wounds on his neck were real. He was surprised to find that they did not hurt and that they seemed to be partially healed already. They were hidden by the high neck of his shirt. Herblood burned in his veins now, he thought, and the very words made his heart race. She had given her strength to him; she had chosen him. He even had a smile for Damon when they met at the designated place that evening. Damon had been absent from the house all day, but he showed up in the meticulously landscaped garden precisely on time, and stood lounging against a tree, adjusting his cuff. Katherine was late. â€Å"Perhaps she is tired,† Stefan suggested, watching the melon-colored sky fade into deep midnight blue. He tried to keep the shy smugness from his voice. â€Å"Perhaps she needs more rest than usual.† Damon glanced at him sharply, his dark eyes piercing under the shock of black hair. â€Å"Perhaps,† he said on a rising note, as if he would have said more. But then they heard a light step on the path, and Katherine appeared between the box hedges. She was wearing her white gown, and she was as beautiful as an angel. She had a smile for both of them. Stefan returned the smile politely, speaking their secret only with his eyes. Then he waited. â€Å"You asked me to make my choice,† she said, looking first at him and then at his brother. â€Å"And now you have come at the hour I appointed, and I will tell you what I have chosen.† She held up her small hand, the one with the ring on it, and Stefan looked at the stone, realizing it was the same deep blue as the evening sky. It was as if Katherine carried a piece of the night with her, always. â€Å"You have both seen this ring,† she said quietly. â€Å"And you know that without it I would die. It is not easy to have such talismans made, but fortunately my woman Gudren is clever. And there are many silversmiths in Florence.† Stefan was listening without comprehension, but when she turned to him he smiled again, encouragingly. â€Å"And so,† she said, gazing into his eyes. â€Å"I have had a present made for you.† She took his hand and pressed something into it. When he looked he saw that it was a ring in the same fashion as her own, but larger and heavier, and wrought in silver instead of gold. â€Å"You do not need it yet to face the sun,† she said softly, smiling. â€Å"But very soon you will.† Pride and rapture made him mute. He reached for her hand to kiss it, wanting to take her into his arms right then, even in front of Damon. But Katherine was turning away. â€Å"And for you,† she said, and Stefan thought his ears must be betraying him, for surely the warmth, the fondness in Katherine's voice could not be for his brother, â€Å"for you, also. You will need ft very soon as well.† Stefan's eyes must be traitors, too. They were showing him what was impossible, what could not be. Into Damon's hand Katherine was putting a ring just like his own. The silence that followed was absolute, like the silence after the world's ending. â€Å"Katherine-† Stefan could barely force out the words. â€Å"How can you give that tohim ? After what we shared-† â€Å"What you shared?† Damon's voice was like the crack of a whip, and he turned on Stefan angrily. â€Å"Last night she came to me. The choice is already made.† And Damon jerked down his high collar to show two tiny wounds in his throat. Stefan stared at them, fighting down the bright sickness. They were identical to his own wounds. He shook his head in utter bewilderment. â€Å"But, Katherine†¦ it was not a dream. You came tome †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I came to both of you.† Katherine's voice was tranquil, even pleased, and her eyes were serene. She smiled at Damon and then at Stefan in turn. â€Å"It has weakened me, but I am so glad I did. Don't you see?† she continued as they stared at her, too stunned to speak. â€Å"This is my choice! I love you both, and I will not give either of you up. Now we all three will be together, and be happy.† â€Å"Happy-† Stefan choked out. â€Å"Yes, happy! The three of us will be companions, joyous companions, forever.† Her voice rose with elation, and the light of a radiant child shone in her eyes. â€Å"We will be together always, never feeling sickness, never growing old, until the end of time! That is my choice.† â€Å"Happy†¦ with him ?† Damon's voice was shaking with fury, and Stefan saw that his normally self-contained brother was white with rage. â€Å"With thisboy standing between us, this prating, mouthing paragon of virtue? I can barely stand the sight of him now. I wish to God that I should never see him again, never hear his voice again!† â€Å"And I wish the same ofyou , brother,† snarled Stefan, his heart tearing in his breast. This was Damon's fault; Damon had poisoned Katherine's mind so that she no longer knew what she was doing. â€Å"And I have half a mind to make sure of it,† he added savagely. Damon did not mistake his meaning. â€Å"Then get your sword, if you can find it,† he hissed back, his eyes black with menace. â€Å"Damon, Stefan, please! Please, no!† Katherine cried, putting herself between them, catching Stefan's arm. She looked from one to the other, her blue eyes wide with shock and bright with unshed tears. â€Å"Think of what you are saying. You are brothers.† â€Å"By no fault of mine,† Damon grated, making the words a curse. â€Å"But can you not make peace? For me, Damon†¦ Stefan?Please .† Part of Stefan wanted to melt at Katherine's desperate look, at her tears. But wounded pride and jealousy were too strong, and he knew his face was as hard, as unyielding, as Damon's. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"We cannot. It must be one or the other, Katherine. I will never share you withhim .† Katherine's hand fell away from his arm, and the tears fell from her eyes, great droplets that splashed onto the white gown. She caught her breath in a wrenching sob. Then, still weeping, she picked up her skirts and ran. â€Å"And then Damon took the ring she had given him and put it on,† Stefan said, his voice hoarse with use and emotion. â€Å"And he said to me, ‘I'll have her yet,brother .' And then he walked away.† He turned, blinking as if he'd come into a bright light from the dark, and looked at Elena. She was sitting quite still on the bed, watching him with those eyes that were so much like Katherine's. Especially now, when they were filled with sorrow and dread. But Elena did not run. She spoke to him. â€Å"And†¦ what happened then?† Stefan's hands clenched violently, reflexively, and he jerked away from the window. Not that memory. He could not endure that memory himself, much less try tospeak it. How could he do that? How could he take Elena down into that darkness and show her the terrible things lurking there? â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"I can't. Ican't .† â€Å"You have to tell me,† she said softly. â€Å"Stefan, it's the end of the story, isn't it? That's what's behind all your walls, that's what you're afraid to let me see. But you must let me see it. Oh, Stefan, you can't stop now.† He could feel the horror reaching for him, the yawning pit he had seen so clearly, felt so clearly that day long ago. The day when it had all ended-when it had all begun. He felt his hand taken, and when he looked he saw Elena's fingers closed about it, giving him warmth, giving him strength. Her eyes were on his. â€Å"Tell me.† â€Å"You want to know what happened next, what became of Katherine?† he whispered. She nodded, her eyes nearly blind but still steady. â€Å"I'll tell you, then. She died the next day. My brother Damon and I, we killed her.†

Education at Risk, a Nation at Risk

Education of the young has been part of society’s needs of the modern times. Colleges and universities that offer quality education most often implies high financing.And though our world pushed to modernization, it seems that education has been deteriorating. Despite the fact that education in our country has long proven to be superb, it is not a justification in its dwindling quality. It is affirmed that education of the youth help them in future careers and endeavours but slowly, the education system has become less significant to us.That we have compromised this commitment is, upon reflection, hardly surprising, given the multitude of often conflicting demands we have placed on our Nation’s schools and colleges. They are routinely called on to provide solutions to personal, social, and political problems that the home and other institutions either will not or cannot resolve. We must understand that these demands on our schools and colleges often exact an educational cost as well as a financial one (A Nation at Risk, 1983).The above quoted article from the National Commission on Excellence in Education dates back decades ago and yet, it states a present reality in our society.Though our educational institutions call to educate the youth in academic matters, our society today imparts too many varying demands from these institutions. Education should not begin in our schools and colleges. One’s learning should be initiated from the family and the environment a child lives in. And yet, it is not unexpected that some of us demand these responsibilities from our educational institutions.Personal, social and political concerns that seek to develop each man are solely handed over to school professors and teachers that actually do not have time for each student in class. Truly, these concerns are part of classroom discussions and curriculums; nevertheless, they should first be encountered by the youth at home.Schools and universities only act as guides in a person’s quest for his principles. These schools and universities are not sole educators but are team members in shaping our future citizens. It does not mean that if we pay for the education we get, we will leave all the responsibilities to them. No. they are just our collaborators in teaching the youth the values we wish them to have to face the challenges of career life, nationalism and personal identity.Our increasing dependence on the learning of our youth to colleges and universities must be one of the many causes of the decline in quality of our country’s education. And so, though we have much to be proud of from the history of achievements our country had, we are faced with a predicament which should have been eradicated in advance.Horace MannHorace Mann, an advocate of equality in terms of education, would probably uphold that the various extra demands of our people on these institutions are just fitting. Since he believes in the extended education al curriculum in public schools, he would rather include personal, social and political concerns in the education of the youth. It might be an extra baggage for the educators but it is his way of shaping a person’s identity. Even so, he upholds the educators in high esteem. And though he purges them with great responsibilities, he regards them justly.Mann believes that â€Å"education prevents both the revenge and madness† of society (Mann, 1848). He believes that to prevent tyranny as well as poverty, education should be granted with higher significance. Total civilization comes with education and so, educators should have that sense of significance with the work they do to help uplift man’s development.Educators are makers of civilized men. Thus, it is only fitting that all areas of a man’s identity be taken up by the lessons one encounters inside the classroom. The thought of degradation in the quality ofeducation we have today might somehow depress Ho race Mann in his quest for equality and justice.

Inorganic Chemistry Definition and Introduction

Inorganic Chemistry Definition and Introduction Inorganic chemistry is defined as the study of the chemistry of materials from non-biological origins. Typically, this refers to materials not containing carbon-hydrogen bonds, including metals, salts, and minerals. Inorganic chemistry is used to study and develop catalysts, coatings, fuels, surfactants, materials, superconductors, and drugs.  Important chemical reactions in inorganic chemistry include double displacement reactions, acid-base reactions, and redox reactions. In contrast, chemistry of compounds that contain C-H bonds is called organic chemistry. The organometallic compounds overlap both organic and inorganic chemistry. Organometallic compounds typically include a metal directly bonded to a carbon atom. The first man-made inorganic compound of commercial significance to be synthesized was ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate was made using the Haber process, for use as a soil fertilizer. Properties of Inorganic Compounds Because the class of inorganic compounds is vast, its difficult to generalize their properties. However, many inorganics are ionic compounds, containing cations and anions joined by ionic bonds. Classes of these salts include oxide, halides, sulfates, and carbonates. Another way to classify inorganic compounds is as main group compounds, coordination compounds, transition metal compounds, cluster compounds, organometallic compounds, solid state compounds, and bioinorganic compounds. Many inorganic compounds are poor electrical and thermal conductors as solids, have high melting points, and readily assume crystalline structures. Some are soluble in water, while others are not. Usually the positive and negative electrical charges balance out to form neutral compounds. Inorganic chemicals are common in nature as minerals and electrolytes. What Inorganic Chemists Do Inorganic chemists are found in a wide variety of fields. They may study materials, learn ways to synthesize them, develop practical applications and products, teach, and reduce the environmental impact of inorganic compounds. Examples of industries that hire inorganic chemists include government agencies, mines, electronics companies, and chemical companies. Closely related disciplines include materials science and physics. Becoming an inorganic chemist generally involves gaining a graduate degree (Masters or Doctorate). Most inorganic chemists pursue a degree in chemistry in college. Companies That Hire Inorganic Chemists An example of a government agency that hires inorganic chemists is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Albemarle, and Celanese are companies that use inorganic chemistry to develop new fibers and polymers. Because electronics are based on metals and silicon, inorganic chemistry is key in the design of microchips and integrated circuits. Companies that focus in this area include Texas Instruments, Samsung, Intel, AMD, and Agilent. Glidden Paints, DuPont, The Valspar Corporation, and Continental Chemical are companies that apply inorganic chemistry to make pigments, coatings, and paint. Inorganic chemistry is used in mining and ore processing through the formation of finished metals and ceramics. Companies that focus on this work include Vale, Glencore, Suncor, Shenhua Group, and BHP Billiton. Inorganic Chemistry Journals and Publications There are numerous publications devoted to advances in inorganic chemistry. Journals include Inorganic Chemistry, Polyhedron, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Dalton Transactions, and Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan.

Liberal Arguments Against the Death Penalty

Liberal Arguments Against the Death Penalty The problem with the death penalty was on stark display last week in Arizona. No one disputes that Joseph R. Wood III committed a horrific crime when he killed his ex-girlfriend and her father in 1989. The problem is that Woods execution, 25 years after the crime, went horribly wrong as he gasped, choked, snored, and in other ways resisted the lethal injection that was supposed to kill him quickly but dragged on for nearly two hours. In an unprecedented move, Woods attorneys even appealed to a Supreme Court justice during the execution, hoping for a federal order that would mandate that the prison administer life-saving measures.Woods extended execution has many criticizing the protocol Arizona used to execute him, especially whether it is right or wrong to use untested drug cocktails in executions.  His execution now joins those of Dennis McGuire in Ohio and Clayton D. Lockett in Oklahoma as questionable applications of the death penalty. In each of these cases, the condemned men appeared to experience prolonged suffering during their executions.   A Brief History of the Death Penalty in America For liberals the larger issue is not how inhumane the method of execution is, but whether the death penalty itself is cruel and unusual. To liberals, the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is clear. It reads, Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. What is not clear, however, is what cruel and unusual means. Throughout history, Americans and, more specifically, the Supreme Court have gone back and forth on whether the death penalty is cruel. The Supreme Court effectively found the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972 when it ruled in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was often too arbitrarily applied. Justice Potter Stewart said that the random way that states decided on the death penalty was comparable to the randomness of being struck by lightning. But the Court seemingly reversed itself in 1976, and state-sponsored executions resumed. What Liberals Believe To liberals, the death penalty is itself an affront to the principles of liberalism. These are the specific arguments liberals use against the death penalty, including a commitment to humanism and equality. Liberals agree that one of the fundamental underpinnings of a just society is the right to due process, and the death penalty compromises that. Too many factors, such as race, economic status, and access to adequate legal representation, prevent the judicial process from guaranteeing that each of the accused receives due process. Liberals agree with the American Civil Liberties Union, which states, The death penalty system in the U.S. is applied in an unfair and unjust manner against people, largely dependent on how much money they have, the skill of their attorneys, race of the victim and where the crime took place. People of color are far more likely to be executed than white people, especially if the victim is white.Liberals believe that death is both a cruel and unusual punishment.  Unlike conservatives, who follow the biblical eye for an eye doctrine, liberals argue that the death penalty is merely state-sponsored murder that violates the human right to life. They agree with t he U.S. Catholic Conference that we cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. Liberals argue that the death penalty does not reduce the prevalence of violent crimes.  Again, according to the ACLU, The vast majority of law enforcement professionals surveyed agree that capital punishment does not deter violent crime; a survey of police chiefs nationwide found they rank the death penalty lowest among ways to reduce violent crime...The FBI has found the states with the death penalty have the highest murder rates. The recent death penalty executions have graphically illustrated all of these concerns. Heinous crimes must be met with firm punishment. Liberals do not question the need to punish those who commit such crimes, both in order to affirm that bad behavior has consequences but also to provide justice for victims of those crimes. Rather, liberals question whether the death penalty upholds American ideals or violates them. To most liberals, state-sponsored executions are an example of a state that has embraced barbarism rather than humanism.

Market Analysis of the Natural Gas industry in Mexico Case Study

Market Analysis of the Natural Gas industry in Mexico - Case Study Example research is to provide a brief overview of the current stage of the natural gas industry in Mexico and to analyze the potential effects of the recent economic reforms for the private industry. According to the EIA estimates, Mexico is one of the four leaders in shale gas reserves. By 2013 Mexico’s natural gas reserves have reached 488bn cubic metres (Mexico Oil & Gas Report, 2014). Even though the natural gas production in Mexico has grown almost by 50% since 2000, demand for this natural resource also has grown significantly (by 80% since 2000) (Seelke et al., 2014). Natural gas in Mexico is mainly consumed for the national electricity generation and for oil operations support. The figure 1 visually illustrates that the increase of production scales still fail to satisfy current demand for natural gas. According to the Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s gas reserves are on the decline and fail to satisfy local demand because of underinvestment in exploration of the natural gas resources. Due to continuously rising demand of natural gas, Mexico relies heavily on the import of natural gas from the US. Thus, for example, in 2000, Mexico imported about 100% of its natural gas imports. However, by 2006, the country has diversified the range of countries-importers of the natural gas, and began to import liquefied natural gas from Peru, Qatar, and Nigeria (Seelke et al., 2014, 2014). There are three liquefied natural gas import terminals in Mexico: one on the Atlantic side and two terminals on the Pacific side (Seelke et al., 2014, 2014). The experts believe that the natural gas reserves have potential for growth and forecast that it will reach 500 bn cubic metres by 2018 and 505 bn cubic metres by 2023 (Mexico Oil & Gas Report, 2014). Partially this positive forecasts are referred to the Pemex’s activities in relation to deepwater natural gas exploration, and, partially, as a result of expected increase of private sector participation in result of new

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance - Essay Example Moreover, an increase in EPS is also increasing dividend paid to NEXT plc shareholders, thus satisfying more the shareholders. This increase in EPS is also tested for quality based on the information from cash flows. Increase in EPS is strengthening positive operating cash flows; as increase in EPS is sometimes shown only on income statement and cash flow statement provides real picture with negative cash flows for operations (Next Plc, 2012).. This increase in EPS in line directors stated objective to provide sustainable long term growth in EPS. For this purpose, NEXT has adopted two strategies; one to increase the sales of the company by increasing the product quality and new stores along with increased cost control. The second strategy is buying back of outstanding shares. Buy backed shares reduces the number of shares outstanding in the market and hence, allows greater proportion of net income to individual share, thus it will lead to same earnings with less outstanding shares, t herefore lower EPS. EPS increase also puts positive impact in share price (though not always) and has also benefitted NEXT plc. CORPORATE BONDS FROM BALANCE SHEET For year 2012 NEXT plc has increased corporate bonds liability amounting to 652.1 million as compare to 471.2 million in year 2011. In the current year firm has issued 10 year 325m bond. Increase in corporate bonds has increased interest expense to 28m (Next Plc, 2012). Increase corporate bonds indicate that firm is extending its debt source of financing as against equity financing to take tax benefit. Equity financing is the most expensive source of financing; therefore, firms are more inclined to debt financing that is relatively cheaper as per Pecking theory (Zhao, Katchova, and Barry, 2004). Moreover, increase in debt facilitates firms firm with cash flows without giving any rights of decision making. Since in difficult economic situation firms have to make tough decisions therefore, management is interested to maintai n decision making more in their own hands. In addition to this, increase in debt gives the opportunity to firms to take advantage of the leverage concept which in return increases its Return on Equity (ROE) (Booth, Aivazian, Demirgue-Kunt and Maksimovic, 2001). This makes the firm more attractive for investors against competitors and it gives a positive signal to the investors according to Signal Theory. Benefit of this strategy has started to be reflecting as NEXT plc share has been ranked as the second best performing firms on FTSE-100 companies and has led its earnings per share increased by compound rate of 18 percent. NEXT Plc has been increasing its debt source of financing to facilitate two objectives; first, to tender cash flows for operations and capital investment. And second to gain the sustainable long term growth in EPS. To continue growth strategy in terms of location, product and sales firm and also EPS, NEXT plc has planned to increase the debt further and has also i ncreased its bank facility by 300 million for 5 years. Moreover, NEXT plc has planned to increase debt max by 700m in order to support the share buyback strategy. REPURCHASE OF OWN SHARES FROM STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS NEXT plc has been following to continue share buy back from on market and off market. In year 2012 firm conducted in investment activity of buying back its own shares