Writing an opinion essay
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Red Scare Created McCarthyism
Dread. Dread is an upsetting feeling brought about by the conviction that a person or thing is risky, prone to cause torment, or a danger. Dread is a chain response in the mind that causes unpleasant upgrade, causing the arrival of synthetic concoctions. This is the thing that makes your heart race, quick overwhelming breathing, and stimulated or tense muscles. Dread can be the chain response through your own body and through your friends. In the 1950ââ¬â¢s, after World War Two, there was the across the nation dread called the Red Scare. The ââ¬ËRed Scareââ¬â¢ is a timeframe where there was solid antiâ communism in the United States. Representative Joseph McCarthy turned into the open essence of that development. His goals powered dread of Communist disruption to the country. The ââ¬Å"Red Scareâ⬠made America be in dread of socialism, rousing Senator Joseph McCarthy to exploit his capacity. Harry S. Truman was the president during McCarthyism. On March 21, 1947 Truman marked United States Executive Order 9835, once in a while known as the ââ¬Å"Loyalty Orderâ⬠. This request was created to build up reliability for the United States, and root out socialist assumption in the government. Truman pointed the assessment of socialism on people in general. Official Order 9835 likewise was the principle inspiration for the production of the Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations. This got known as McCarthyism. The Loyalty Order was a piece of the prologue to the ascent of Joseph McCarthy.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Insatiable Emptiness free essay sample
This is a short perused, and I have put twenty minutes aside to chip away at it. I could most likely peruse this in a short time yet I am setting an additional fifteen minutes to re-read and take notes en route. 2. The Title, ââ¬Å"An Insatiable Emptinessâ⬠The title may propose that the creator will discuss the amount she appreciates adoring in her hopelessness. The title can be method of saying that she is battling where it counts inside mentally. The title may propose that she is expounding on her craving for a greater amount of what she knows is awful however has a profound requirement for whatever it might be. It can likewise imply that she is discouraged and self-destructive, maybe even a medication someone who is addicted. Does this imply she faced the hardship and is presently better today? 3. The writer, Evelyn Lau Evelyn Lau is an author who was conceived in Vancouver. She has accomplished work, for example, composed verse, books, short stories and even autobiographyââ¬â¢s. We will compose a custom paper test on Voracious Emptiness or on the other hand any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Lau is an acclaimed essayist whom has won honors, for example, the Milton Acorn Poetry Award and named for the Governorââ¬â¢s General Award. Her first book, Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid (1989) was a Canadian blockbuster and was made into a CBC-TV film. Her most recent book, Inside out: Reflections on a Life So Far, was distributed in 2001. Her little life story demonstrates her to be a lady who is solid willed and has experienced a great deal. This might be a marker concerning what I will peruse, which might be a personal history about her and maybe her battles with drugs. 4. The wellspring of the article This is one of Evelyn Lauââ¬â¢s individual diaries which showed up in one of her books: Georgia Straight (1995). 5. Obvious Cues to significance There were no intense or italic words all through the entire article, in this way, I read the principal passage for viewable prompts. Through the primary section I see that Lau will discuss her fight with bulimia and how everything began and what the consequences of her creation basic choices are currently. I additionally observe that she figured out how to make herself upchuck simpler by perusing it in a womanââ¬â¢s magazine. This could recommend that the womanââ¬â¢s magazine played a turn in making her an undeniable bulimic on the grounds that before she read it she ââ¬Å"inexpertâ⬠and experiencing difficulties making herself hurl. Since this article is a case of a circumstances and logical results paper I accept that through perusing the main passage that the writer will probably be experiencing the procedure of her turning into a bulimic and the impacts of it now. 6. Make a guide for your perusing? Who did she hurt by doing this to herself? What were the circumstances and end results of her activities? Where did she go for help, on the off chance that she did? When did this all happen to her? Why didnââ¬â¢t she get any assistance before everything turned crazy? How could she manage her sickness?
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Management Control System Definition, Characteristics and More
Management Control System â" Definition, Characteristics and More If youâd have to name a single function in the organization that can make or break it, you might mention management. The control of the operations and the people behind them is what management is about and it can be a tougher task than many imagine.So, what could make it easier and guarantee results that are more effective? According to a number of proponents, management control systems can help provide plenty of benefits to organizations of all shapes and sizes.What are these management control systems? Letâs examine the definition, the function, the characteristics and the benefits of it. Weâll also venture a little into the implementation process and the factors that can help or hinder when applying the system to your organization. DEFINING MANAGEMENT, SYSTEMS AND CONTROLOne of the best ways to understand management control systems or MCS is by examining the different components that make it. The concept is built on three distinct elements: management, systems and control.ManagementAs you know, management is about organizing people and processes in a manner that helps the organization achieve specific objectives. The management process wants to ensure different parts work together to attain these goals.How can this be done? Well, this in most instances means dealing with different resources and allocating them to correct roles and purposes. Management includes guidance and monitoring of these resources as well. You are essentially managing how other people perform a specific role and use resources, instead of doing it yourself. As a manager, you are essentially a facilitator â" if A needs to be done, you find B to do it and provide him the strategy and the resources to do it.OK, so that explains the core conce pt, but what about the functions of management? You need to identify and understand the key components of management as well. The first component is the different functions of management. The definitions can be different depending on the situation, but generally, five functions are identified as the core functions of management. These are planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. You can watch the YouTube clip below to learn more about the functions and the specific processes they entail. The other key part of management is the resource types it entails. The most common forms of resourcing include: human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources. You could use the above functions to allocate, control and monitor the different forms of resources. In essence, you are combining the functions you have at hand â" planning, staffing and so on â" with the resources, such as financial resources. The clearest example is having the functio n of staffing and using the human resource funding to hire in new staff.The definition of management in the context of MCS is important because of how organizations can be viewed. Think of an organization as a system. Now the role of management is therefore facilitating the production of beneficial outcomes from the system. If you want the system, i.e. the organization, to produce a result A, you use management to gather the resources, i.e. the human and other resources, to guarantee A gets done. You are essentially the engine, which gathers the other parts together to move the car forward.SystemsWhat about systems? As mentioned above, you can view organizations as systems. The Business Dictionary gives two definitions to systems, which are both good to understand in the context of MCS. Systems are:âa set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific activity, perform a duty, or solve a problemâor you could view them as:âan organized, purposeful structure that consists of interrelated and interdependent elementsâThe key to systems, especially in the case of MSCs, is the structure of which they are formed and often perform. Every system comes with input, output and feedback mechanism. The system is able to maintain itself even when the surroundings are changing and it has a specific set of boundaries within which is operates. The picture here illustrates the idea of a system in a business context perfectly.You have an input, the business system and the output. You also have the feedback mechanism. The business system would be the strategy the business uses to create a specific output. If the output is to provide cheap shoes, the business strategy is manufacturing of the shoes with the specific elements this entails.The input, therefore, is the resources (materials, labor, equipment) you need to achieve the output. So, you take the resources, you implement them with your chosen strategy and you get the results. The results then provide feedback to inputs on the performance of the system. Perhaps you didnât receive as many shoes as you wanted and so, you can increase input. For example, buy more materials, hire more people and so on. Source: Based on SlideShare presentation by Paul TurnerThe objective of the system is to achieve a pre-determined result each time it is executed.In a business environment, the sale process can be viewed as an example of the process. The organization has a set of policies and processes in place to guarantee the sale effort would always lead to a same result (i.e. the sale). As mentioned in the above section, management would be one of the methods used to guarantee the result occurs in the system each time.In the case of the example above, your pre-determined result might be to have 1,000 good quality shoes with an individual shoe costing $50 to make. The feedback might show you that occasionally the cost of shoes rises to $70 and you know you need to tweak the input or the processes you use, as youâve deviated from the wanted results.ControlFinally, you have the concept of control. As stated above, control is one of the functions of management. In this context, it refers to the pro cess of analysis and corrective action. When controlling, you are essentially monitoring whether you are receiving an expected result of a process (or during it) or if the outcome deviates from the expectation.If there is a deviation, you take corrective action to ensure the expected results occur. Previously, the concept of control was mainly focused on correction after an error had occurred. In the example of the shoe production, you would notice there was a deviation when you count the shoes and instead of getting 1,000, youâve made 999.But with the rise of modern technology, control can be used to foreseeing an error. This has changed the function and made it increasingly important part of the management process. For example, your shoe production facility might have monitoring systems that help you realize the shoes are not being finalized as quickly as they should in order to make 1,000 pairs. You are essentially able to see that you would encounter a problem; instead of just realizing a problem has occurred.If you consider the process in the forms of steps, control in relation to management would look like this:Setting a goal and establishing desired objectives.â" âI want to create 1,000 pairs of shoes in a month.âMeasuring the achievements of goals and objectives.â" âIâve made 999 pairs of shoes in a month.âComparing the achieved goals and objectives with the original goals and objectives. â" âI wanted 1,000 and I got 999. I wanted to do it in a month and Iâve spent a month.âAnalyzing variances and reporting on them. Determining the underlying causes for the variations.â" âIâm one pair of shoes short, but Iâve met the deadline. I did not have enough materials on day two and I got behind in my goals.âTaking corrective action to eliminate the variations.â" âIâve recalculated the requirements for fabrics and Iâve ordered enough for next month.âFollowing up and repeating the process.â" âIâve now created the right amount of shoes every month.âWHAT IS A MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM?The above has hopefully started your mind to process the concept of MCS, as you are aware of the special meaning and interconnectedness of the specific concepts that make it. But letâs look a bit closer to what MCSs are and how they are defined in the modern context.One of the first definitions of MCSs is from 1972 when Ernest Anthony Lowe, professor at the University of Sheffield, published an article called On the Idea of a Management Control System. According to Anthony Lowe, an organization would need to establish a specific system to control and plan the different operations it is going through. He identified four reasons for the necessity of the systematic management control:All organisations have definable organisational objectives.Management has hierarchy, with managers being in sub-units. Each manager has to define personal goals, which are aligned with the organisationâs objectives.Organisational situat ions, together with human behaviour, create an uncertain situation and this uncertainty is present in internal and external circumstances.Objectives must be economised and the human endeavour must be a variable in these objectives.Anthony Lowe also described in his book how management control systems are the processes âby which managers ensure that resources are obtained and used effectively and efficiently in the accomplishment of the organizations objectivesâ. Nonetheless, he felt the MCS to be different from strategic planning or the operational control businesses conduct.In essence, while strategic planning is about giving your organization the direction in which it should go, and operational control provides the management the authority to perform the strategic functions, MCS is about ensuring the above two happen in the first place. Without proper MCS in place, you donât know if the business can achieve its goals and if the strategies youâve chosen will work according to plan. You might notice a pattern here: the management control system is about providing the check and balances to the system.Other theorists began building on top of Anthony Loweâs writings. Horngreen, Datar and Foster have defined MSCs âas means of gathering and using information to aid and coordinate the process of making planning and control decisions throughout the organization and to guide the behavior of its managers and employeesâ.Essentially what they are saying is that a management control system is a tool businesses can use to measure its performance and to compare its desired objectives against its actual objectives. By establishing a management control system, the business makes it easier to align individual decision making with the larger organizational objectives. The system is rather comprehensive, creating a framework in which not only are the internal aspects controlled and monitored, but the external behaviors and environments are also looked after.An exam ple of both would be the control of internal actors such as accounting and human resources as an internal factor, with external changes represented by industry developments like new regulations for products. At this point it must be said that theorist donât always agree on the definitive definition of MCSs. If you are looking for a quick, few sentences, you probably wonât have much luck. While the concept in the broader sense is clearly outlined, the finer definitions can be muddled.So, what can you actually do with such as system? It essentially allows you to perform the following functions:Document operational objectives â" You are able to outline what the organization wants to achieve in terms of short- and long-term goals. This could be directly related to financial performance, but it could also entail social objectives such as waste reduction, for example.Document the operational strategies and policies â" Of course, you also need to ensure you are aware of the how. How will you achieve the above? You will need to document the policies in place in the organization, the different equipment and resources needed, and the strategies you implement. This could deal with things like employee management (salary, working hours, etc.)Assess the performance of organizational processes â" You then need the tools to assess the performance of what you are trying to achieve and how. This includes gathering information from different sources, whether financial or non-financial. Weâll look at these more in the next section. At this point you are looking closer to the organization and checking what it is doing and how. You are detailing and outlining what the result of your policies and strategies are.Compare performance in relation to the objectives and policies â" Finally, you compare the actual performance to the objectives you set at the start. You can clearly notice this is the essence of the business system. You have the structures in place, you add the r esources, and you see what the result is, after which you can check what you got in comparison to what you wanted to get. Another great analogy would be cooking food with an oven. Consider you want to make a crispy baked potato. You take the input (the potatoes) and you use the strategies (oiling the potato, adding salt, putting it into the oven for a set amount of time). You take out the baked potato and you check if you have the right result (is it crispy?).THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMSSo, you now can understand the functions of MCS and the purpose of the system, but what about the characteristics? What makes something a management control system?As the above showed, MCSs generally describe the design, installation and operation of different planning and control frameworks within management. But there are two distinct control systems within the concept. While these are different from each other, they are also interrelated and sometimes hard to separate from eac h other.First, the MCS refers to the structure, either organizational or the relationship of different components, of the different responsibility structures within the company. It further outlines the performance measures and how the information moves within and between the different responsibility structures. For example, in a complex and large organization, such as a production facility for creating different car parts, the responsibility would be divided into multiple units. The management would therefore be in charge of different aspects of the organization, and there would be a number of sub-units. On the other hand, a small business, like a family bakery, is unlikely to have many responsibility centers. MCSs core characteristic is the organizing and planning of the relationship between these different structures and centers of responsibility.The other core characteristic, on the other hand, is about the processes or set of activities the organization takes in order to achieve its objectives. This part of the system refers to the steps the organization, and especially its management, needs to perform in order to set objectives, allocate resources to achieving these objectives, and to achieve the objective. The different processes that MCS performs and monitors is essentially looking at these phases and creating the right ways of going about the processes. This could involve things like monitoring the budgeting, measuring the performance of subordinates and so on.Essentially, the first characteristic is about the structure of the MCS and the second characteristic refers to the processes. To understand it, you can consider it like this:The systemâs design is about the structure of your management control system.The systemâs performance is an indicator of the process of your management control system.The other key thing to realize about the characteristics of MCSs is about two separate natures the system has. MCS essentially has an informal and a formal control system. Letâs examine them in detail:Formal control systemInformal control systemThe organization has clear procedures, rules and guidelines in place to explain the different managerial requirements. These guide, motivate and direct the management, as well as the subordinates, to perform their tasks in a manner that helps achieve the operational goals. They are also used to co-ordinate behaviors of superiors and subordinates.The organization will also have informal and unwritten processes in place for management control. These are aimed to provide higher motivation amongst the employees and ensure organizational goals and strategies are appropriately implemented. Informal control systems also boost goal congruence.An example of a formal system would be the rules and guidelines used by the human resource department in terms of functions such as hiring and developing staff.An example of informal control system would be the good behavior expected from managers and subordinat es, such as loyalty towards the organization and respect of the organizational culture.Finally, you should notice the distinction between financial-based functions and non-financial functions. Most of MCSs are actually use accounting and other financial metrics as the key evaluation metric. This means you have an emphasis on financial measures, such as how many sales were made or what it cost to hire a new person.The reason for using these as the basis is rather obvious. Measuring performance with a real data set, such as a financial metric, is easy and straightforward. The management can tell a lot about performance by understanding the underlying financial factors of a specific behavior. If you were to sell 1,000 pairs of shoes, while your other peers sold only 400, the manager would want to focus on your specific behaviors to boost overall performance.But there are certain essential non-financial factors at play as well. These can be measured with surveys and other feedback forms , and they include things such as customer satisfaction and product quality. The management can learn more, improve planning, and enhance control with information they receive directly from the customers. What makes them happy? What has disappointed them in the past?Knowing, for instance, how customers continuously complain about waiting times will help the management direct the organizations resources much better. The other example of these non-financial functions of MCS would be product quality. This can be an important tool for managers, as it reveals how well certain development strategies are working. If your products are constantly breaking down, you can take corrective action and find out where in the production line the quality is compromised.CORE ELEMENTS OF IMPLEMENTING MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMSNow if you were to implement an MCS at your organization, you would, just as with most systems and strategies, need to focus on certain essential factors to guarantee efficiency. F or MCS, three core elements can determine the success and the effectiveness of this framework. They should be at the heart of your strategy from the start. The three are:The MCS is aligned with the organizations strategies and goals. Before the implementation of the system, you need to understand and outline the current strategies in use, as well as define the objectives the organization wants to fulfill. These need to be the overall operational goals and not simply the aims you have for the MCS. Itâs crucial to ensure the framework you choose to implement is in harmony with these existing processes and objectives. If the processes are not aligned, then your MCS will end up being ineffective or insufficient for your needs. Itâs important to understand that the implementation of the system does not require the organization to change its core policies or redirect its objectives, but that the system can be made to fit within the current system.MCS is not there to transform the orga nization, but ensure it operates with maximum efficiency!Designed to fit the organizational structure. Furthermore, the MCS must consider the current organizational structure carefully. You want the management control system to fit the how the company operates and how it has structured these operations, especially in terms of its management. The key part of this is the understanding of the decision-making structures currently in place. Itâs essential to create a management control system, which understands these decision-making structures and enhances them, instead of turning them around or hindering them. This can easily be done through the study of management structures and aligning the new model by dividing the responsibilities according to these structures. The control shouldnât shift from the current models; it just will become more focused under the new system.Motivate people through different reward systems. The final key element of the implementation should be focused on the reward structures you will use as part of MCS. The idea of the system is about motivating the managers, as well as the subordinates, to work towards attaining the organizational goals in place. The effectiveness of the motivation can be improved by tying a variety of rewards to the achievement of these goals. The rewards themselves can change and include a variety of different types, depending on the task achieved or the performance the person displays. They can be purely monetary rewards, such as bonuses or increases in salary, or have a more material benefit, such as access to gyms or health clubs or updates on tools and other equipment. Furthermore, you should also have clear promotional structures in place to reward and motivate those people that show the highest productivity and creativity.Later in the article, weâll discuss some of the other factors that influence the implementation of MCS. But the above are the elements you need to focus on when applying the system wit hin your organizations and the key factors, which can guarantee a successful implementation. If you focus on the above factors during the implementation process, you can start enjoying some of the benefits management control systems provide for organizations.THE BENEFITS OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMSSo what about the benefits? What are the tangible reasons for using MCSs? The benefits of implementing the framework focus largely on different ways operational efficiency is enhanced and improved.First, implementation of an MCS can reduce risks. The organization will remove non-conformity by ensuring the actual performance and results relate to the main objectives of the organization. The organization doesnât just set goals and then pursue them blindly, but has systems in place to ensure the processes are moving the organization towards the objectives.Since you are aware of the effectiveness of your systems, you can notice problems quicker. You reduce risk as you notice problems befor e they turn into a disaster. Consider you are aiming to boost sales to increase the organizations bottom line. Due to having an Management Control System in place, youâll be alerted if the cost of production goes up and the targets become harder to obtain.In even simpler turns, imagine you are driving down the road. Now if your car just stops suddenly because it ran out of fuel, you are in trouble and you didnât have a warning system in place. On the other hand, if you have a system in place monitoring your fuel levels, you can have an alarm notify you when you are running low on fuel. This allows you to take corrective action (find a gas station), before you are stuck on the side of the road.The framework also improves your organizations ability to plan future actions. The information flows faster under the MCS system, as each part of the organizations process is being monitored and analyzed. The enhanced information flow makes it easier to plan and organize future processes an d ensure objectives are set properly.Without the kind of information MSC provides, you would find long-term planning difficult, as you wouldnât have the right facts or the control to guarantee you are aware of the current situation and on top of future predictions. In the car example, knowing how much fuel you have in each moment and the distance you need to travel, will make it easier to plan when you need to stop to refuel.Organizational efficiency also improves in the form of better facilitation of co-ordination. For any business to succeed, a good communication between the management and other parts of the business is the key. With MSC in place, the workers, their tasks and objectives are aligned with the managementâs tasks and objectives.The control systems in place create a middleman between the management and the employees and feeds information to both directions. As you, the manager, become more aware that sales numbers are increasing due to a specific result, you can us e the information to tweak and perfect the system further. On the other hand, this also improves employee motivation and gives them feedback on the things they are doing right.MSC naturally provides benefits in a pure managerial point of view. The first is how managerial problems are much easier to notice. Each organization will face problems related to the other managerial functions of planning, staffing and organizing, but with a proper control system in place, the impact of these can be limited. You gain more information, you receive early notifications when the management is not working to its standard, and you are able to remedy the situation before it gets worse.Furthermore, supervision becomes much easier under the systematic control system, since the deviations are easier to spot. The data and information you receive as a manager will make it easier to notice the issues, instead of having to monitor each employee constantly. Supervision is smoother and more focused on spotti ng the actual problems and deviations in the system.Finally, MCS supports organizational decentralization, without the loss of control. The system creates an environment of knowledge and understanding of the objectives. A key part of the framework is the proper communication of the goals and policies in place to subordinates. Since the subordinates and lower level managers are on top of the current situation and are fully aware of the expectations, they can have more confidence in doing the right things.Since the framework doesnât require constant monitoring by the manager, the subordinates are able to make decisions and solve problems on their own. The motivation and the belief to know you can do it is much deeper under the system, since you know the MSC will pick up any key deviations and help you correct them.ELEMENTS INFLUENCING MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMSSo, we talked about the key factors to focus when implementing the system, but itâs also a good idea to figure out the ele ments that have an impact on the implementation. These are essentially the elements that make MCS work for your organizations benefit and smoothen the process. You want to focus on these factors, as they can impact the cost of implementation and the effectiveness of it. There are four key factors to look out for:The size, the reach and the structure of the organization. Larger enterprises are naturally different to smaller organizations in terms of operations. The nature of control and the content specifics of the MCS. The larger the enterprise, the more complex the MCS will be. Each organization also has its own statutes and conventions, which need to be taken into account when implementing the system. The management philosophy of McDonaldâs will be different to that of Apple. The difference might also be even steeped when you have a small family business or a large international corporation. The organization will also have its unique delegation and decentralization strategies in place, which must be considered as an influence on the MCS.The nature of the operations and their divisibility. Management is influenced by the nature of the operations it is supposed to manage and this will impact the implementation of MCS. Part of the nature of operations deals with their divisibility into sub-sections. Depending on the industry, you might not have a lot of division. For example, if you are working on a single product industry, such as oil, sub-units are relatively unimportant. The management of the production and the product cannot, therefore, be divided into a variety of sub-sections. The less divisibility there is, the different the MCS process will be.The variety of responsibilities within the organization. MCS is also driven by the different responsibility centres an organization might have. The more responsibilities, the more different control systems are needed to keep operations flowing. Control of different responsibilities in terms of results can vary. You might measure the success by expenses, profitability or return on investment. MCS need to be implemented with the specific criteria of performance in mind and therefore, the variety of these responsibilities will be a key determining factor.The people of the organization and their perceptions. The final factor influencing the implementation of MCS deals with the people within the organization. Peopleâs perceptions of the MCS need to be taken into account and considered before you implement the framework. Different people might have a varying view in terms of the effect the system has on their work, job satisfaction and security, and the general well-being and motivation to perform tasks. The perceptions might change from department to department, but understanding them will help ensure the system has the right impact. When you are designing MCS and implementing the system, consideration of these perceptions can help you monitor performance, implement the right type of system, and ensure peopleâs perceptions are either fulfilled, if positive, or changed around, if negative.In broader terms, effective control systems have a broad variety of factors that are required for successful implementation. When you are implementing a management control system, you should also keep those in mind. The below video clip is a good summary of the essentials of functional and effective control systems. FINAL THOUGHTSTo recap the above, management control systems are designed to gather information and to use this information in order to help the organization to reach its objectives. The system focuses on the performance of the different organizational elements from human performance to financial performance.The informal and formal MCSs will ensure the organizations resources perform as efficiently as possible. Whether itâs about finding ways to cut down production cost through performance or ensuring your employees donât suffer from burnout, an MCS will help direct re sources into the right places and monitor performance level.The system can provide real benefits to organizational efficiency â" you are more able to notice problems, plan your strategies and ensure better co-ordination amongst the different departments and units. Not to mention it can make the world of management easier.We all know how hard it can be to be a manager, but with an MCS, your workload is reduced, youâll become better at communicating and controlling the different functions, and you can ensure other people take responsibility to get things done. Management control systems smoothening out the process of being a manager and anything that boosts performance is a good thing!
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Aristotleââ¬â¢s Account of Pleasure - 1276 Words
Aristotleââ¬â¢s Account of Pleasure We are a pleasure driven society always waiting to be amused. Self indulgence is a very natural aspect of human life. Does pleasure affect our lives? Will it make us happy at the end? Well, Aristotle will let us know what it means to be happy and have a good life in the Nicomachean Ethics. In the process, he reveals his own account of pleasure as well as other philosophers opposing views on the subject. The author highlights the key them by telling us that pleasure is not the chief good. However, it is an end in itself, which makes it good. In addition, pleasure is also not a process because it doesnââ¬â¢t involve any movement from incompleteness to completeness. According to Aristotle, happiness isâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦It is not complete therefore itââ¬â¢s a movement, e.g. blocks of a building. Another example to illustrate this would be a temperate man avoids pleasures (1152b, 13-17). He is avoiding the temptation of pleasure because itââ¬â¢s distractin g him from making the right choice. For example, one avoids going to the bar because he is alcoholic. Having stated, all the views of other philosophers, Aristotle tries to attack against those who say that pleasure is wholly negative. In his opinion, there are many types of pleasures and some come from doing good deeds while others come from base sources, e.g. the pleasure of helping a handicapped person wouldnââ¬â¢t be considered bad. According to Aristotle, humans are above the animals and plants because humans have the power to reason, therefore they can live actively in accordance with the virtues. One cannot get the pleasure of the just man without being just (1173b, 29-31). Again, they are depended upon the situation and the agent, e.g. a person with a sick mind would find disgraceful pleasures pleasant and a normal person would find them unpleasant. What is good for one person and bad for another. One might enjoy drinking too much liquor and the diabetic person eating sugary things. These are just temporary pleasures, but have a negative effect on the body. Ther e are many things we should do, even if they donââ¬â¢t bring any pleasure, e.g. seeing and remembering. Therefore pleasure is not good nor itââ¬â¢sShow MoreRelatedAristotle on Friendship Essay1134 Words à |à 5 Pagesand IX of the Nicomachean Ethics deal solely with this topic. A modern day definition of a friend can be defined as ââ¬Å"one joined to another in intimacy and mutual benevolence independently of sexual or family loveâ⬠. (Oxford English Dictionary). Aristotleââ¬â¢s view on friendship is much broader than this. His arguments are certainly not flawless. In this essay I will outline what Aristotle said about friendship in the Nichomachaen Ethics and highlight possible flaws in his arguments. FriendshipRead MoreThe Aristotles Idea of a Good Life Essay1037 Words à |à 5 PagesQuestion: What is Aristotleââ¬â¢s idea of a good life and why does he view a good life in this way? Is Aristotleââ¬â¢s understanding of a good life accurate? Why or why not? (Make sure to talk about the concept of the mean). To Aristotle leading a good life, for the most part, means fulfilling oneââ¬â¢s purpose in a way that is good by balancing lifeââ¬â¢s pleasures. In order to determine if an object fulfills its function in a good way, we must first consider the object. If we were to agree that a car shouldRead MoreAristotle s Views On Human Happiness1022 Words à |à 5 Pagesmust be repeated throughout oneââ¬â¢s life. Aristotleââ¬â¢s view can be considered to be flawed as he says that only human beings can fully use reason or be described truly happy as happiness derives from reasoning. He argues that the distinction between human beings and animals is due to human capability to perform certain actions that only human beings can perform due to having reason. However, in the instance of a young child who is not yet able to reason, Aristotleââ¬â¢s statements are highly problematic. CanRead MoreAristotleââ¬â¢s Theory of Virtue and Happiness1621 Words à |à 7 PagesAristotleââ¬â ¢s Theory of Virtue and Happiness Aristotle was one of the most respected philosophers of all time. He wrote on many subjects covering a wide range of topics; politics, psychology, metaphysics, logic and ethics. In the article ââ¬Å"Nature of Virtueâ⬠written by Aristotle, his theory of a persons happiness and good morals is explained. I agree that a humanââ¬â¢s goal in life is to be happy, and to live a good life but happiness and good do not come hand in hand. In this paper, I disagreeRead MoreThe Ethical Theories Of Aristotle s Theory Of A Life Well Spent On The Planet959 Words à |à 4 PagesI am unwilling to commit to only one view presented by Anthony Kenny in his chapter on ethics. Aristotleââ¬â¢s theory on how we should live our lives is noble and worthy of being used as an example of what humans should attempt to become during the time allotted on the earth, but his theory seems to be unnecessarily complicated and tedious. Epicurus provides a theory that is more holistic but also is not without its defects, primarily that of treating the virtues as merely a means to an end. My wantRead MoreAristotle s Theory Of Aristotle1629 Words à |à 7 PagesAristotle Exam Similar to the teachings of his mentor, Plato, Aristotleââ¬â¢s philosophy finds its answers to major questions from the perspective of the teleological worldview. In the very first sentence of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle introduces his teleological world view by asserting that every activity is aimed at a telos, or end, and how men move from potency to act. Aristotle then proceeds to outline his argument using the Teleological approach as he tries to answer the question: ââ¬Å"what isRead MoreAristotle s Virtue Ethics Principles1380 Words à |à 6 PagesAristotleââ¬â¢s Virtue Ethics foundational principle resides in happiness. Aristotle believes that the goal of human life is to be happy, but to live a happy, moral life; an individual needs to be virtuous in character. To help us understand this, Aristotle first explains that there are two kinds of virtues: intellectual virtue and moral virtue. Intellectual virtue can be learned through teaching, which requires experie nce and time. Moral virtue on the other hand, comes as the result from habit. AristotleRead MoreFootball And Aristotle s Philosophy Of Friendship880 Words à |à 4 PagesFriendshipâ⬠, McMahonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Seinfeld Subjectivity, and Sartre,â⬠Condellaââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Why canââ¬â¢t we be virtual friends,â⬠and finally Thalosââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Why I am not a friend,â⬠we can determine the reasons why we hold friendships so dearly to us. In Gallagherââ¬â¢s essay, he reveals Aristotleââ¬â¢s view that friendship is separated into three types, and what we get from these types of friendships. While in McMahonââ¬â¢s essay we will see the hidden connotations of the show ââ¬Å"Seinfeld,â⬠as well as Philosopher Sartreââ¬â¢s view of how friendships playRead MoreAristotle s Philosophy On Moral Virtue1274 Words à |à 6 Pageslearning a musical instrument. However in Book III, Aristotle argues that a person s moral virtue is voluntary, as it results from many individual actions which are under his own control. Thus, Aristotle confronts us with an inherently problematic account of moral virtue. Aristotle offers four cardinal moral virtues: prudence, temperance, courage, and justice, the last of which he elaborates on greatly in Book V. He states that there are two components of justice: lawfulness and equality. Within theRead MoreComparing Aristotle And John Stuart Mill1130 Words à |à 5 PagesChelsea Kearney PHIL 231: Ethics 28 April 2015 Essay 2 Comparisons on Pleasure in Morality The role of pleasure in morality has been examined thoroughly throughout the beginning of philosophy and continues to be a questionable issue. With these in-depth examinations, some similar outlooks as well as differing views have been recorded. Many philosophers have dissected this important topic, however I intend to concentrate of the famous works of Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
What Is Land Pollution - 1278 Words
What is Land Pollution? When we talk about air or water pollution, the reactions garnered are stronger. This is because we can see the effects caused by the pollutants and their extent very clearly. It is normal human psychology to believe in what you see first hand. Our land on the other hand is living a nightmare too. We may not be able to see the effects with clarity, but land is being polluted and abused constantly and we are unable to calculate the damages incurred. Land Pollution has come to become one of the serious concerns that we collectively battle. Land pollution, in other words, means degradation or destruction of earthââ¬â¢s surface and soil, directly or indirectly as a result of human activities. Anthropogenic activities are conducted citing development, and the same affects the land drastically, we witness land pollution; by drastic we are referring to any activity that lessens the quality and/or productivity of the land as an ideal place for agriculture, forestation, construction etc. The degradation of land that could be used constructively in other words is land pollution. Land Pollution has led to a series of issues that we have come to realize in recent times, after decades of neglect. The increasing numbers of barren land plots and the decreasing numbers of forest cover is at an alarming ratio. Moreover the extension of cities and towns due to increasing population is leading to further exploitation of the land. Land fills andShow MoreRelatedPollution And Polution Solution722 Words à |à 3 PagesPollution Solution When you think of the environment, what do you see? There are beautiful oceans, scenery, and wonderful fresh air. But, if you take a closer look, you will see all of the pollution in every one of these places. We will discuss each of these places and the pollution in them. We will also see the types of pollution and how we can help to minimize it. Everybody needs to take care of the Earth and take action to minimize pollution because with everyones help, we can do it. PollutionRead MoreLand Pollution : The Solutions, Causes And Effects Of Land Pollution1613 Words à |à 7 Pagesexplaining our topic (land pollution) on a broad scale, relating things to the whole world. As we get deeper into our topic we will go more in depth into how land pollution affects our community and how we can relate to it in our everyday life. The main questions that we will be answering in this paper is;what is land pollution?, what are the causes and effects of land pollution?, what are the different types of land pollution?, and how can we prevent land pollution? According to eschooltodayRead MoreEssay on Pollution in The Bahamas1640 Words à |à 7 Pagesrights too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humansâ⬠(Pollution Quotes, 2013). Hence, attention must be provided to this devastating issue. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse changes (Wieman, 2013). There are numerous types of pollution, such as light, air, land, water, noise, thermal and radioactive pollution. In an article, the authorRead MorePollution Context1192 Words à |à 5 Pages | |Subject: Life Skills Grade: 3 | |Environmental theme: Pollution | |Learning outcomes: Personal and social well-being. The learner will |Assessment standards: Baseline, and formative Ask the learner to Read MoreMain Causes of Pollution in Urban and Rural Areas743 Words à |à 3 Pagesyour assignment task regarding to the Main Causes Of ââ¬Å"Pollution In Urban And Rural Areasâ⬠.Kindly go through the report thoroughly and give feedback accordingly. T.A ââ¬Å"MAIN CAUSES OF POLLUTION IN URBAN AND RURAL AREASâ⬠CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION: [pic] REASON: Land pollution is a major global health concern, and occurs when humansRead More Land Destruction Essay1522 Words à |à 7 PagesLand Destruction What is land destruction? Land destruction involves many different things. It can be logging of trees and rain forest. Nuclear waste is one that is very serious that is harmful to the land. As well, pollution, air, water and land all do damage of some kind. Land destruction is something that doesnââ¬â¢t need to be taking lightly. There are many other items such as building and dams that cause damage to the land as well. This is a topic that needs to be addressed and fixed.Read MorePollution And Its Effects On The Environment973 Words à |à 4 Pages Pollution As a society, we have come to understand that pollution is the process of discharging harmful substances into our atmosphere, water or soil. There are campaigns all across the world educating us to the different types of pollution. Humankind has become more aware of the rising problems with pollution and recycling is constant in most households. We know about the effects that pollution has on the environment, but how do the types of pollution affect each otherRead More14 billion. Thatââ¬â¢s how many pounds of garbage are thrown into the ocean every year. 46%. Thatââ¬â¢s the1200 Words à |à 5 Pagesbut before you can REDUCE your impact on the earth, you must first know HOW youââ¬â¢re impacting the Earth. Pollution is one way to negatively impact the Earth, but what is pollution? Defined literally it is the presence or introduction of a substance that has harmful or poisonous effects. The main types of pollution are air, water, land, noise, and light. Air pollution is a serious problem. It occurs when there are harmful amounts of gases, dust, fumes, or odors in the atmosphere.Read MoreEssay On Marine Pollution1401 Words à |à 6 PagesPollution is introduced into our oceans by humans both indirectly and directly or by substances of energy. Not only does this pollution affect our oceans and all sea life, but it also affects the consumers of sea-food. Ultimately what we put into our oceans goes into what is collected and eaten out of the ocean. It is a vicious cycle that we have brought upon ourselves. Luckily, there are big advancements in technology that are helping and problem-solving ways that we can reduce the amount of pollutionRead MoreEnvironmental Problem in Mongolia Essay875 Words à |à 4 Pages1. ENVIRONMENT 2.1 What are the important environmental problems in Mongolia today? 2.2 What are the biggest changes in the environment in Mongolia? 2.3 How can we solve some of the environmental problems in UB? 1.1 What are the important environmental problems in Mongolia today? The environment is everything around us. It is the air, water, land, climates and so on. A clean, well balanced environment has far reaching effects over all life forms and mankind. However, Mongolians
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Twilight 17. THE GAME Free Essays
string(39) " his thick lips as he considered that\." 17. THE GAME It was just beginning to drizzle when Edward turned onto my street. Up until that moment, Iââ¬â¢d had no doubt that heââ¬â¢d be staying with me while I spent a few interim hours in the real world. We will write a custom essay sample on Twilight 17. THE GAME or any similar topic only for you Order Now And then I saw the black car, a weathered Ford, parked in Charlieââ¬â¢s driveway ââ¬â and heard Edward mutter something unintelligible in a low, harsh voice. Leaning away from the rain under the shallow front porch, Jacob Black stood behind his fatherââ¬â¢s wheelchair. Billyââ¬â¢s face was impassive as stone as Edward parked my truck against the curb. Jacob stared down, his expression mortified. Edwardââ¬â¢s low voice was furious. ââ¬Å"This is crossing the line.â⬠ââ¬Å"He came to warn Charlie?â⬠I guessed, more horrified than angry. Edward just nodded, answering Billyââ¬â¢s gaze through the rain with narrowed eyes. I felt weak with relief that Charlie wasnââ¬â¢t home yet. ââ¬Å"Let me deal with this,â⬠I suggested. Edwardââ¬â¢s black glare made me anxious. To my surprise, he agreed. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s probably best. Be careful, though. The child has no idea.â⬠I bridled a little at the word child. ââ¬Å"Jacob is not that much younger than I am,â⬠I reminded him. He looked at me then, his anger abruptly fading. ââ¬Å"Oh, I know,â⬠he assured me with a grin. I sighed and put my hand on the door handle. ââ¬Å"Get them inside,â⬠he instructed, ââ¬Å"so I can leave. Iââ¬â¢ll be back around dusk.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you want my truck?â⬠I offered, meanwhile wondering how I would explain its absence to Charlie. He rolled his eyes. ââ¬Å"I could walk home faster than this truck moves.â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t have to leave,â⬠I said wistfully. He smiled at my glum expression. ââ¬Å"Actually, I do. After you get rid of themâ⬠ââ¬â he threw a dark glance in the Blacksââ¬â¢ direction ââ¬â ââ¬Å"you still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend.â⬠He grinned widely, showing all of his teeth. I groaned. ââ¬Å"Thanks a lot.â⬠He smiled the crooked smile that I loved. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be back soon,â⬠he promised. His eyes flickered back to the porch, and then he leaned in to swiftly kiss me just under the edge of my jaw. My heart lurched frantically, and I, too, glanced toward the porch. Billyââ¬â¢s face was no longer impassive, and his hands clutched at the armrests of his chair. ââ¬Å"Soon,â⬠I stressed as I opened the door and stepped out into the rain. I could feel his eyes on my back as I half-ran through the light sprinkle toward the porch. ââ¬Å"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jacob.â⬠I greeted them as cheerfully as I could manage. ââ¬Å"Charlieââ¬â¢s gone for the day ââ¬â I hope you havenââ¬â¢t been waiting long.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not long,â⬠Billy said in a subdued tone. His black eyes were piercing. ââ¬Å"I just wanted to bring this up.â⬠He indicated a brown paper sack resting in his lap. ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠I said, though I had no idea what it could be. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you come in for a minute and dry off?â⬠I pretended to be oblivious to his intense scrutiny as I unlocked the door, and waved them in ahead of me. ââ¬Å"Here, let me take that,â⬠I offered, turning to shut the door. I allowed myself one last glance at Edward. He was waiting, perfectly still, his eyes solemn. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll want to put it in the fridge,â⬠Billy noted as he handed me the package. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s some of Harry Clearwaterââ¬â¢s homemade fish fry ââ¬â Charlieââ¬â¢s favorite. The fridge keeps it drier.â⬠He shrugged. ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠I repeated, but with feeling this time. ââ¬Å"I was running out of new ways to fix fish, and heââ¬â¢s bound to bring home more tonight.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fishing again?â⬠Billy asked with a subtle gleam in his eye. ââ¬Å"Down at the usual spot? Maybe Iââ¬â¢ll run by and see him.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I quickly lied, my face going hard. ââ¬Å"He was headed someplace newâ⬠¦ but I have no idea where.â⬠He took in my changed expression, and it made him thoughtful. ââ¬Å"Jake,â⬠he said, still appraising me. ââ¬Å"Why donââ¬â¢t you go get that new picture of Rebecca out of the car? Iââ¬â¢ll leave that for Charlie, too.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where is it?â⬠Jacob asked, his voice morose. I glanced at him, but he was staring at the floor, his eyebrows pulling together. ââ¬Å"I think I saw it in the trunk,â⬠Billy said. ââ¬Å"You may have to dig for it.â⬠Jacob slouched back out into the rain. Billy and I faced each other in silence. After a few seconds, the quiet started to feel awkward, so I turned and headed to the kitchen. I could hear his wet wheels squeak against the linoleum as he followed. I shoved the bag onto the crowded top shelf of the fridge, and spun around to confront him. His deeply lined face was unreadable. ââ¬Å"Charlie wonââ¬â¢t be back for a long time.â⬠My voice was almost rude. He nodded in agreement, but said nothing. ââ¬Å"Thanks again for the fish fry,â⬠I hinted. He continued nodding. I sighed and folded my arms across my chest. He seemed to sense that I had given up on small talk. ââ¬Å"Bella,â⬠he said, and then he hesitated. I waited. ââ¬Å"Bella,â⬠he said again, ââ¬Å"Charlie is one of my best friends.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠He spoke each word carefully in his rumbling voice. ââ¬Å"I noticed youââ¬â¢ve been spending time with one of the Cullens.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I repeated curtly. His eyes narrowed. ââ¬Å"Maybe itââ¬â¢s none of my business, but I donââ¬â¢t think that is such a good idea.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re right,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"It is none of your business.â⬠He raised his graying eyebrows at my tone. ââ¬Å"You probably donââ¬â¢t know this, but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation.â⬠ââ¬Å"Actually, I did know that,â⬠I informed him in a hard voice. This surprised him. ââ¬Å"But that reputation couldnââ¬â¢t be deserved, could it? Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation, do they?â⬠I could see that my less than subtle reminder of the agreement that both bound and protected his tribe pulled him up short. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s true,â⬠he acceded, his eyes guarded. ââ¬Å"You seemâ⬠¦ well informed about the Cullens. More informed than I expected.â⬠I stared him down. ââ¬Å"Maybe even better informed than you are.â⬠He pursed his thick lips as he considered that. You read "Twilight 17. THE GAME" in category "Essay examples" ââ¬Å"Maybe.â⬠he allowed, but his eyes were shrewd. ââ¬Å"Is Charlie as well informed?â⬠He had found the weak chink in my armor. ââ¬Å"Charlie likes the Cullens a lot,â⬠I hedged. He clearly understood my evasion. His expression was unhappy, but unsurprised. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not my business,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"But it may be Charlieââ¬â¢s.â⬠ââ¬Å"Though it would be my business, again, whether or not I think that itââ¬â¢s Charlieââ¬â¢s business, right?â⬠I wondered if he even understood my confused question as I struggled not to say anything compromising. But he seemed to. He thought about it while the rain picked up against the roof, the only sound breaking the silence. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠he finally surrendered. ââ¬Å"I guess thatââ¬â¢s your business, too.â⬠I sighed with relief. ââ¬Å"Thanks, Billy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Just think about what youââ¬â¢re doing, Bella,â⬠he urged. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠I agreed quickly. He frowned. ââ¬Å"What I meant to say was, donââ¬â¢t do what youââ¬â¢re doing.â⬠I looked into his eyes, filled with nothing but concern for me, and there was nothing I could say. Just then the front door banged loudly, and I jumped at the sound. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s no picture anywhere in that car.â⬠Jacobââ¬â¢s complaining voice reached us before he did. The shoulders of his shirt were stained with the rain, his hair dripping, when he rounded the corner. ââ¬Å"Hmm,â⬠Billy grunted, suddenly detached, spinning his chair around to face his son. ââ¬Å"I guess I left it at home.â⬠Jacob rolled his eyes dramatically. ââ¬Å"Great.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, Bella, tell Charlieâ⬠ââ¬â Billy paused before continuing ââ¬â ââ¬Å"that we stopped by, I mean.â⬠ââ¬Å"I will,â⬠I muttered. Jacob was surprised. ââ¬Å"Are we leaving already?â⬠ââ¬Å"Charlieââ¬â¢s gonna be out late,â⬠Billy explained as he rolled himself past Jacob. ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠Jacob looked disappointed. ââ¬Å"Well, I guess Iââ¬â¢ll see you later, then, Bella.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"Take care,â⬠Billy warned me. I didnââ¬â¢t answer. Jacob helped his father out the door. I waved briefly, glancing swiftly toward my now-empty truck, and then shut the door before they were gone. I stood in the hallway for a minute, listening to the sound of their car as it backed out and drove away. I stayed where I was, waiting for the irritation and anxiety to subside. When the tension eventually faded a bit, I headed upstairs to change out of my dressy clothes. I tried on a couple of different tops, not sure what to expect tonight. As I concentrated on what was coming, what had just passed became insignificant. Now that I was removed from Jasperââ¬â¢s and Edwardââ¬â¢s influence, I began to make up for not being terrified before. I gave up quickly on choosing an outfit ââ¬â throwing on an old flannel shirt and jeans ââ¬â knowing I would be in my raincoat all night anyway. The phone rang and I sprinted downstairs to get it. There was only one voice I wanted to hear; anything else would be a disappointment. But I knew that if he wanted to talk to me, heââ¬â¢d probably just materialize in my room. ââ¬Å"Hello?â⬠I asked, breathless. ââ¬Å"Bella? Itââ¬â¢s me,â⬠Jessica said. ââ¬Å"Oh, hey, Jess.â⬠I scrambled for a moment to come back down to reality. It felt like months rather than days since Iââ¬â¢d spoken to Jess. ââ¬Å"How was the dance?â⬠ââ¬Å"It was so much fun!â⬠Jessica gushed. Needing no more invitation than that, she launched into a minute-by-minute account of the previous night. I mmmââ¬â¢d and ahhââ¬â¢d at the right places, but it wasnââ¬â¢t easy to concentrate. Jessica, Mike, the dance, the school ââ¬â they all seemed strangely irrelevant at the moment. My eyes kept flashing to the window, trying to judge the degree of light behind the heavy clouds. ââ¬Å"Did you hear what I said, Bella?â⬠Jess asked, irritated. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, what?â⬠ââ¬Å"I said, Mike kissed me! Can you believe it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s wonderful, Jess,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"So what did you do yesterday?â⬠Jessica challenged, still sounding bothered by my lack of attention. Or maybe she was upset because I hadnââ¬â¢t asked for details. ââ¬Å"Nothing, really. I just hung around outside to enjoy the sun.â⬠I heard Charlieââ¬â¢s car in the garage. ââ¬Å"Did you ever hear anything more from Edward Cullen?â⬠The front door slammed and I could hear Charlie banging around under the stairs, putting his tackle away. ââ¬Å"Um.â⬠I hesitated, not sure what my story was anymore. ââ¬Å"Hi there, kiddo!â⬠Charlie called as he walked into the kitchen. I waved at him. Jess heard his voice. ââ¬Å"Oh, your dadââ¬â¢s there. Never mind ââ¬â weââ¬â¢ll talk tomorrow. See you in Trig.â⬠ââ¬Å"See ya, Jess.â⬠I hung up the phone. ââ¬Å"Hey, Dad,â⬠I said. He was scrubbing his hands in the sink. ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢s the fish?â⬠ââ¬Å"I put it out in the freezer.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll go grab a few pieces before they freeze ââ¬â Billy dropped off some of Harry Clearwaterââ¬â¢s fish fry this afternoon.â⬠I worked to sound enthusiastic. ââ¬Å"He did?â⬠Charlieââ¬â¢s eyes lit up. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s my favorite.â⬠Charlie cleaned up while I got dinner ready. It didnââ¬â¢t take long till we were sitting at the table, eating in silence. Charlie was enjoying his food. I was wondering desperately how to fulfill my assignment, struggling to think of a way to broach the subject. ââ¬Å"What did you do with yourself today?â⬠he asked, snapping me out of my reverie. ââ¬Å"Well, this afternoon I just hung out around the houseâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Only the very recent part of this afternoon, actually. I tried to keep my voice upbeat, but my stomach was hollow. ââ¬Å"And this morning I was over at the Cullensââ¬â¢.â⬠Charlie dropped his fork. ââ¬Å"Dr. Cullenââ¬â¢s place?â⬠he asked in astonishment. I pretended not to notice his reaction. ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠ââ¬Å"What were you doing there?â⬠He hadnââ¬â¢t picked his fork back up. ââ¬Å"Well, I sort of have a date with Edward Cullen tonight, and he wanted to introduce me to his parentsâ⬠¦ Dad?â⬠It appeared that Charlie was having an aneurysm. ââ¬Å"Dad, are you all right?â⬠ââ¬Å"You are going out with Edward Cullen?â⬠he thundered. Uh-oh. ââ¬Å"I thought you liked the Cullens.â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s too old for you,â⬠he ranted. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re both juniors,â⬠I corrected, though he was more right than he dreamed. ââ¬Å"Waitâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He paused. ââ¬Å"Which one is Edwin?â⬠ââ¬Å"Edward is the youngest, the one with the reddish brown hair.â⬠The beautiful one, the godlike oneâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Oh, well, thatââ¬â¢sâ⬠ââ¬â he struggled ââ¬â ââ¬Å"better, I guess. I donââ¬â¢t like the look of that big one. Iââ¬â¢m sure heââ¬â¢s a nice boy and all, but he looks tooâ⬠¦ mature for you. Is this Edwin your boyfriend?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s Edward, Dad.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is he?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sort of, I guess.â⬠ââ¬Å"You said last night that you werenââ¬â¢t interested in any of the boys in town.â⬠But he picked up his fork again, so I could see the worst was over. ââ¬Å"Well, Edward doesnââ¬â¢t live in town, Dad.â⬠He gave me a disparaging look as he chewed. ââ¬Å"And, anyways,â⬠I continued, ââ¬Å"itââ¬â¢s kind of at an early stage, you know. Donââ¬â¢t embarrass me with all the boyfriend talk, okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"When is he coming over?â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢ll be here in a few minutes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where is he taking you?â⬠I groaned loudly. ââ¬Å"I hope youââ¬â¢re getting the Spanish Inquisition out of your system now. Weââ¬â¢re going to play baseball with his family.â⬠His face puckered, and then he finally chuckled. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re playing baseball?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, Iââ¬â¢ll probably watch most of the time.â⬠ââ¬Å"You must really like this guy,â⬠he observed suspiciously. I sighed and rolled my eyes for his benefit. I heard the roar of an engine pull up in front of the house. I jumped up and started cleaning my dishes. ââ¬Å"Leave the dishes, I can do them tonight. You baby me too much.â⬠The doorbell rang, and Charlie stalked off to answer it. I was half a step behind him. I hadnââ¬â¢t realized how hard it was pouring outside. Edward stood in the halo of the porch light, looking like a male model in an advertisement for raincoats. ââ¬Å"Come on in, Edward.â⬠I breathed a sigh of relief when Charlie got his name right. ââ¬Å"Thanks, Chief Swan,â⬠Edward said in a respectful voice. ââ¬Å"Go ahead and call me Charlie. Here, Iââ¬â¢ll take your jacket.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks, sir.â⬠ââ¬Å"Have a seat there, Edward.â⬠I grimaced. Edward sat down fluidly in the only chair, forcing me to sit next to Chief Swan on the sofa. I quickly shot him a dirty look. He winked behind Charlieââ¬â¢s back. ââ¬Å"So I hear youââ¬â¢re getting my girl to watch baseball.â⬠Only in Washington would the fact that it was raining buckets have no bearing at all on the playing of outdoor sports. ââ¬Å"Yes, sir, thatââ¬â¢s the plan.â⬠He didnââ¬â¢t look surprised that Iââ¬â¢d told my father the truth. He might have been listening, though. ââ¬Å"Well, more power to you, I guess.â⬠Charlie laughed, and Edward joined in. ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠I stood up. ââ¬Å"Enough humor at my expense. Letââ¬â¢s go.â⬠I walked back to the hall and pulled on my jacket. They followed. ââ¬Å"Not too late, Bell.â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t worry, Charlie, Iââ¬â¢ll have her home early,â⬠Edward promised. ââ¬Å"You take care of my girl, all right?â⬠I groaned, but they ignored me. ââ¬Å"Sheââ¬â¢ll be safe with me, I promise, sir.â⬠Charlie couldnââ¬â¢t doubt Edwardââ¬â¢s sincerity, it rang in every word. I stalked out. They both laughed, and Edward followed me. I stopped dead on the porch. There, behind my truck, was a monster Jeep. Its tires were higher than my waist. There were metal guards over the headlights and tail-lights, and four large spotlights attached to the crash bar. The hardtop was shiny red. Charlie let out a low whistle. ââ¬Å"Wear your seat belts,â⬠he choked out. Edward followed me around to my side and opened the door. I gauged the distance to the seat and prepared to jump for it. He sighed, and then lifted me in with one hand. I hoped Charlie didnââ¬â¢t notice. As he went around to the driverââ¬â¢s side, at a normal, human pace, I tried to put on my seat belt. But there were too many buckles. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s all this?â⬠I asked when he opened the door. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s an off-roading harness.â⬠ââ¬Å"Uh-oh.â⬠I tried to find the right places for all the buckles to fit, but it wasnââ¬â¢t going too quickly. He sighed again and reached over to help me. I was glad that the rain was too heavy to see Charlie clearly on the porch. That meant he couldnââ¬â¢t see how Edwardââ¬â¢s hands lingered at my neck, brushed along my collarbones. I gave up trying to help him and focused on not hyperventilating. Edward turned the key and the engine roared to life. We pulled away from the house. ââ¬Å"This is aâ⬠¦ umâ⬠¦ big Jeep you have.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s Emmettââ¬â¢s. I didnââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢d want to run the whole way.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where do you keep this thing?â⬠ââ¬Å"We remodeled one of the outbuildings into a garage.â⬠ââ¬Å"Arenââ¬â¢t you going to put on your seat belt?â⬠He threw me a disbelieving look. Then something sunk in. ââ¬Å"Run the whole way? As in, weââ¬â¢re still going to run part of the way?â⬠My voice edged up a few octaves. He grinned tightly. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re not going to run.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m going to be sick.â⬠ââ¬Å"Keep your eyes closed, youââ¬â¢ll be fine.â⬠I bit my lip, fighting the panic. He leaned over to kiss the top of my head, and then groaned. I looked at him, puzzled. ââ¬Å"You smell so good in the rain,â⬠he explained. ââ¬Å"In a good way, or in a bad way?â⬠I asked cautiously. He sighed. ââ¬Å"Both, always both.â⬠I donââ¬â¢t know how he found his way in the gloom and downpour, but he somehow found a side road that was less of a road and more of a mountain path. For a long while conversation was impossible, because I was bouncing up and down on the seat like a jackhammer. He seemed to enjoy the ride, though, smiling hugely the whole way. And then we came to the end of the road; the trees formed green walls on three sides of the Jeep. The rain was a mere drizzle, slowing every second, the sky brighter through the clouds. ââ¬Å"Sorry, Bella, we have to go on foot from here.â⬠ââ¬Å"You know what? Iââ¬â¢ll just wait here.â⬠ââ¬Å"What happened to all your courage? You were extraordinary this morning.â⬠ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t forgotten the last time yet.â⬠Could it have been only yesterday? He was around to my side of the car in a blur. He started unbuckling me. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll get those, you go on ahead,â⬠I protested. ââ¬Å"Hmmmâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ he mused as he quickly finished. ââ¬Å"It seems Iââ¬â¢m going to have to tamper with your memory.â⬠Before I could react, he pulled me from the Jeep and set my feet on the ground. It was barely misting now; Alice was going to be right. ââ¬Å"Tamper with my memory?â⬠I asked nervously. ââ¬Å"Something like that.â⬠He was watching me intently, carefully, but there was humor deep in his eyes. He placed his hands against the Jeep on either side of my head and leaned forward, forcing me to press back against the door. He leaned in even closer, his face inches from mine. I had no room to escape. ââ¬Å"Now,â⬠he breathed, and just his smell disturbed my thought processes, ââ¬Å"what exactly are you worrying about?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, um, hitting a tree -â⬠I gulped ââ¬Å"- and dying. And then getting sick.â⬠He fought back a smile. Then he bent his head down and touched his cold lips softly to the hollow at the base of my throat. ââ¬Å"Are you still worried now?â⬠he murmured against my skin. ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠I struggled to concentrate. ââ¬Å"About hitting trees and getting sick.â⬠His nose drew a line up the skin of my throat to the point of my chin. His cold breath tickled my skin. ââ¬Å"And now?â⬠His lips whispered against my jaw. ââ¬Å"Trees,â⬠I gasped. ââ¬Å"Motion sickness.â⬠He lifted his face to kiss my eyelids. ââ¬Å"Bella, you donââ¬â¢t really think I would hit a tree, do you?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, but I might.â⬠There was no confidence in my voice. He smelled an easy victory. He kissed slowly down my cheek, stopping just at the corner of my mouth. ââ¬Å"Would I let a tree hurt you?â⬠His lips barely brushed against my trembling lower lip. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I breathed. I knew there was a second part to my brilliant defense, but I couldnââ¬â¢t quite call it back. ââ¬Å"You see,â⬠he said, his lips moving against mine. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s nothing to be afraid of, is there?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I sighed, giving up. Then he took my face in his hands almost roughly, and kissed me in earnest, his unyielding lips moving against mine. There really was no excuse for my behavior. Obviously I knew better by now. And yet I couldnââ¬â¢t seem to stop from reacting exactly as I had the first time. Instead of keeping safely motionless, my arms reached up to twine tightly around his neck, and I was suddenly welded to his stone figure. I sighed, and my lips parted. He staggered back, breaking my grip effortlessly. ââ¬Å"Damn it, Bella!â⬠he broke off, gasping. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll be the death of me, I swear you will.â⬠I leaned over, bracing my hands against my knees for support. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re indestructible,â⬠I mumbled, trying to catch my breath. ââ¬Å"I might have believed that before I met you. Now letââ¬â¢s get out of here before I do something really stupid,â⬠he growled. He threw me across his back as he had before, and I could see the extra effort it took for him to be as gentle as he was. I locked my legs around his waist and secured my arms in a choke hold around his neck. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t forget to close your eyes,â⬠he warned severely. I quickly tucked my face into his shoulder blade, under my own arm, and squeezed my eyes shut. And I could hardly tell we were moving. I could feel him gliding along beneath me, but he could have been strolling down the sidewalk, the movement was so smooth. I was tempted to peek, just to see if he was really flying through the forest like before, but I resisted. It wasnââ¬â¢t worth that awful dizziness. I contented myself with listening to his breath come and go evenly. I wasnââ¬â¢t quite sure we had stopped until he reached back and touched my hair. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s over, Bella.â⬠I dared to open my eyes, and, sure enough, we were at a standstill. I stiffly unlocked my stranglehold on his body and slipped to the ground, landing on my backside. ââ¬Å"Oh!â⬠I huffed as I hit the wet ground. He stared at me incredulously, evidently not sure whether he was still too mad to find me funny. But my bewildered expression pushed him over the edge, and he broke into a roar of laughter. I picked myself up, ignoring him as I brushed the mud and bracken off the back of my jacket. That only made him laugh harder. Annoyed, I began to stride off into the forest. I felt his arm around my waist. ââ¬Å"Where are you going, Bella?â⬠ââ¬Å"To watch a baseball game. You donââ¬â¢t seem to be interested in playing anymore, but Iââ¬â¢m sure the others will have fun without you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re going the wrong way.â⬠I turned around without looking at him, and stalked off in the opposite direction. He caught me again. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t be mad, I couldnââ¬â¢t help myself. You should have seen your face.â⬠He chuckled before he could stop himself. ââ¬Å"Oh, youââ¬â¢re the only one whoââ¬â¢s allowed to get mad?â⬠I asked, raising my eyebrows. ââ¬Å"I wasnââ¬â¢t mad at you.â⬠ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËBella, youââ¬â¢ll be the death of meââ¬â¢?â⬠I quoted sourly. ââ¬Å"That was simply a statement of fact.â⬠I tried to turn away from him again, but he held me fast. ââ¬Å"You were mad,â⬠I insisted. ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠ââ¬Å"But you just said -ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"That I wasnââ¬â¢t mad at you. Canââ¬â¢t you see that, Bella?â⬠He was suddenly intense, all trace of teasing gone. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t you understand?â⬠ââ¬Å"See what?â⬠I demanded, confused by his sudden mood swing as much as his words. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m never angry with you ââ¬â how could I be? Brave, trustingâ⬠¦ warm as you are.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then why?â⬠I whispered, remembering the black moods that pulled him away from me, that Iââ¬â¢d always interpreted as well-justified frustration ââ¬â frustration at my weakness, my slowness, my unruly human reactionsâ⬠¦ He put his hands carefully on both sides of my face. ââ¬Å"I infuriate myself,â⬠he said gently. ââ¬Å"The way I canââ¬â¢t seem to keep from putting you in danger. My very existence puts you at risk. Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger, I should be able to -ââ¬Å" I placed my hand over his mouth. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t.â⬠He took my hand, moving it from his lips, but holding it to his face. ââ¬Å"I love you,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a poor excuse for what Iââ¬â¢m doing, but itââ¬â¢s still true.â⬠It was the first time heââ¬â¢d said he loved me ââ¬â in so many words. He might not realize it, but I certainly did. ââ¬Å"Now, please try to behave yourself,â⬠he continued, and he bent to softly brush his lips against mine. I held properly still. Then I sighed. ââ¬Å"You promised Chief Swan that you would have me home early, remember? Weââ¬â¢d better get going.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, maââ¬â¢am.â⬠He smiled wistfully and released all of me but one hand. He led me a few feet through the tall, wet ferns and draping moss, around a massive hemlock tree, and we were there, on the edge of an enormous open field in the lap of the Olympic peaks. It was twice the size of any baseball stadium. I could see the others all there; Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie, sitting on a bare outcropping of rock, were the closest to us, maybe a hundred yards away. Much farther out I could see Jasper and Alice, at least a quarter of a mile apart, appearing to throw something back and forth, but I never saw any ball. It looked like Carlisle was marking bases, but could they really be that far apart? When we came into view, the three on the rocks rose. Esme started toward us. Emmett followed after a long look at Rosalieââ¬â¢s back; Rosalie had risen gracefully and strode off toward the field without a glance in our direction. My stomach quivered uneasily in response. ââ¬Å"Was that you we heard, Edward?â⬠Esme asked as she approached. ââ¬Å"It sounded like a bear choking,â⬠Emmett clarified. I smiled hesitantly at Esme. ââ¬Å"That was him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Bella was being unintentionally funny,â⬠Edward explained, quickly settling the score. Alice had left her position and was running, or dancing, toward us. She hurtled to a fluid stop at our feet. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s time,â⬠she announced. As soon as she spoke, a deep rumble of thunder shook the forest beyond us, and then crashed westward toward town. ââ¬Å"Eerie, isnââ¬â¢t it?â⬠Emmett said with easy familiarity, winking at me. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go.â⬠Alice reached for Emmettââ¬â¢s hand and they darted toward the oversized field; she ran like a gazelle. He was nearly as graceful and just as fast ââ¬â yet Emmett could never be compared to a gazelle. ââ¬Å"Are you ready for some ball?â⬠Edward asked, his eyes eager, bright. I tried to sound appropriately enthusiastic. ââ¬Å"Go team!â⬠He snickered and, after mussing my hair, bounded off after the other two. His run was more aggressive, a cheetah rather than a gazelle, and he quickly overtook them. The grace and power took my breath away. ââ¬Å"Shall we go down?â⬠Esme asked in her soft, melodic voice, and I realized I was staring openmouthed after him. I quickly reassembled my expression and nodded. Esme kept a few feet between us, and I wondered if she was still being careful not to frighten me. She matched her stride to mine without seeming impatient at the pace. ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t play with them?â⬠I asked shyly. ââ¬Å"No, I prefer to referee ââ¬â I like keeping them honest,â⬠she explained. ââ¬Å"Do they like to cheat, then?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh yes ââ¬â you should hear the arguments they get into! Actually, I hope you donââ¬â¢t, you would think they were raised by a pack of wolves.â⬠ââ¬Å"You sound like my mom,â⬠I laughed, surprised. She laughed, too. ââ¬Å"Well, I do think of them as my children in most ways. I never could get over my mothering instincts ââ¬â did Edward tell you I had lost a child?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I murmured, stunned, scrambling to understand what lifetime she was remembering. ââ¬Å"Yes, my first and only baby. He died just a few days after he was born, the poor tiny thing,â⬠she sighed. ââ¬Å"It broke my heart ââ¬â thatââ¬â¢s why I jumped off the cliff, you know,â⬠she added matter-of-factly. ââ¬Å"Edward just said you f-fell,â⬠I stammered. ââ¬Å"Always the gentleman.â⬠She smiled. ââ¬Å"Edward was the first of my new sons. Iââ¬â¢ve always thought of him that way, even though heââ¬â¢s older than I, in one way at least.â⬠She smiled at me warmly. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s why Iââ¬â¢m so happy that heââ¬â¢s found you, dear.â⬠The endearment sounded very natural on her lips. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s been the odd man out for far too long; itââ¬â¢s hurt me to see him alone.â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t mind, then?â⬠I asked, hesitant again. ââ¬Å"That Iââ¬â¢mâ⬠¦ all wrong for him?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠She was thoughtful. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re what he wants. It will work out, somehow,â⬠she said, though her forehead creased with worry. Another peal of thunder began. Esme stopped then; apparently, weââ¬â¢d reached the edge of the field. It looked as if they had formed teams. Edward was far out in left field, Carlisle stood between the first and second bases, and Alice held the ball, positioned on the spot that must be the pitcherââ¬â¢s mound. Emmett was swinging an aluminum bat; it whistled almost untraceably through the air. I waited for him to approach home plate, but then I realized, as he took his stance, that he was already there ââ¬â farther from the pitcherââ¬â¢s mound than I would have thought possible. Jasper stood several feet behind him, catching for the other team. Of course, none of them had gloves. ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠Esme called in a clear voice, which I knew even Edward would hear, as far out as he was. ââ¬Å"Batter up.â⬠Alice stood straight, deceptively motionless. Her style seemed to be stealth rather than an intimidating windup. She held the ball in both hands at her waist, and then, like the strike of a cobra, her right hand flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasperââ¬â¢s hand. ââ¬Å"Was that a strike?â⬠I whispered to Esme. ââ¬Å"If they donââ¬â¢t hit it, itââ¬â¢s a strike,â⬠she told me. Jasper hurled the ball back to Aliceââ¬â¢s waiting hand. She permitted herself a brief grin. And then her hand spun out again. This time the bat somehow made it around in time to smash into the invisible ball. The crack of impact was shattering, thunderous; it echoed off the mountains ââ¬â I immediately understood the necessity of the thunderstorm. The ball shot like a meteor above the field, flying deep into the surrounding forest. ââ¬Å"Home run,â⬠I murmured. ââ¬Å"Wait,â⬠Esme cautioned, listening intently, one hand raised. Emmett was a blur around the bases, Carlisle shadowing him. I realized Edward was missing. ââ¬Å"Out!â⬠Esme cried in a clear voice. I stared in disbelief as Edward sprang from the fringe of the trees, ball in his upraised hand, his wide grin visible even to me. ââ¬Å"Emmett hits the hardest,â⬠Esme explained, ââ¬Å"but Edward runs the fastest.â⬠The inning continued before my incredulous eyes. It was impossible to keep up with the speed at which the ball flew, the rate at which their bodies raced around the field. I learned the other reason they waited for a thunderstorm to play when Jasper, trying to avoid Edwardââ¬â¢s infallible fielding, hit a ground ball toward Carlisle. Carlisle ran into the ball, and then raced Jasper to first base. When they collided, the sound was like the crash of two massive falling boulders. I jumped up in concern, but they were somehow unscathed. ââ¬Å"Safe,â⬠Esme called in a calm voice. Emmettââ¬â¢s team was up by one ââ¬â Rosalie managed to flit around the bases after tagging up on one of Emmettââ¬â¢s long flies ââ¬â when Edward caught the third out. He sprinted to my side, sparkling with excitement. ââ¬Å"What do you think?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"One thingââ¬â¢s for sure, Iââ¬â¢ll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again.â⬠ââ¬Å"And it sounds like you did so much of that before,â⬠he laughed. ââ¬Å"I am a little disappointed,â⬠I teased. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠he asked, puzzled. ââ¬Å"Well, it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didnââ¬â¢t do better than everyone else on the planet.â⬠He flashed his special crooked smile, leaving me breathless. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m up,â⬠he said, heading for the plate. He played intelligently, keeping the ball low, out of the reach of Rosalieââ¬â¢s always-ready hand in the outfield, gaining two bases like lightning before Emmett could get the ball back in play. Carlisle knocked one so far out of the field ââ¬â with a boom that hurt my ears ââ¬â that he and Edward both made it in. Alice slapped them dainty high fives. The score constantly changed as the game continued, and they razzed each other like any street ballplayers as they took turns with the lead. Occasionally Esme would call them to order. The thunder rumbled on, but we stayed dry, as Alice had predicted. Carlisle was up to bat, Edward catching, when Alice suddenly gasped. My eyes were on Edward, as usual, and I saw his head snap up to look at her. Their eyes met and something flowed between them in an instant. He was at my side before the others could ask Alice what was wrong. ââ¬Å"Alice?â⬠Esmeââ¬â¢s voice was tense. ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t see ââ¬â I couldnââ¬â¢t tell,â⬠she whispered. All the others were gathered by this time. ââ¬Å"What is it, Alice?â⬠Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority. ââ¬Å"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before,â⬠she murmured. Jasper leaned over her, his posture protective. ââ¬Å"What changed?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"They heard us playing, and it changed their path,â⬠she said, contrite, as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her. Seven pairs of quick eyes flashed to my face and away. ââ¬Å"How soon?â⬠Carlisle said, turning toward Edward. A look of intense concentration crossed his face. ââ¬Å"Less than five minutes. Theyââ¬â¢re running ââ¬â they want to play.â⬠He scowled. ââ¬Å"Can you make it?â⬠Carlisle asked him, his eyes flicking toward me again. ââ¬Å"No, not carrying -â⬠He cut short. ââ¬Å"Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting.â⬠ââ¬Å"How many?â⬠Emmett asked Alice. ââ¬Å"Three,â⬠she answered tersely. ââ¬Å"Three!â⬠he scoffed. ââ¬Å"Let them come.â⬠The steel bands of muscle flexed along his massive arms. For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was, Carlisle deliberated. Only Emmett seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at Carlisleââ¬â¢s face with anxious eyes. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s just continue the game,â⬠Carlisle finally decided. His voice was cool and level. ââ¬Å"Alice said they were simply curious.â⬠All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds. I had listened carefully and caught most of it, though I couldnââ¬â¢t hear what Esme now asked Edward with a silent vibration of her lips. I only saw the slight shake of his head and the look of relief on her face. ââ¬Å"You catch, Esme,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll call it now.â⬠And he planted himself in front of me. The others returned to the field, warily sweeping the dark forest with their sharp eyes. Alice and Esme seemed to orient themselves around where I stood. ââ¬Å"Take your hair down,â⬠Edward said in a low, even voice. I obediently slid the rubber band out of my hair and shook it out around me. I stated the obvious. ââ¬Å"The others are coming now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and donââ¬â¢t move from my side, please.â⬠He hid the stress in his voice well, but I could hear it. He pulled my long hair forward, around my face. ââ¬Å"That wonââ¬â¢t help,â⬠Alice said softly. ââ¬Å"I could smell her across the field.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know.â⬠A hint of frustration colored his tone. Carlisle stood at the plate, and the others joined the game halfheartedly. ââ¬Å"What did Esme ask you?â⬠I whispered. He hesitated for a second before he answered. ââ¬Å"Whether they were thirsty,â⬠he muttered unwillingly. The seconds ticked by; the game progressed with apathy now. No one dared to hit harder than a bunt, and Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper hovered in the infield. Now and again, despite the fear that numbed my brain, I was aware of Rosalieââ¬â¢s eyes on me. They were expressionless, but something about the way she held her mouth made me think she was angry. Edward paid no attention to the game at all, eyes and mind ranging the forest. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, Bella,â⬠he muttered fiercely. ââ¬Å"It was stupid, irresponsible, to expose you like this. Iââ¬â¢m so sorry.â⬠I heard his breath stop, and his eyes zeroed in on right field. He took a half step, angling himself between me and what was coming. Carlisle, Emmett, and the others turned in the same direction, hearing sounds of passage much too faint for my ears. How to cite Twilight 17. THE GAME, Essay examples
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Stare Way to Heaven free essay sample
As with all song analysis, well look at the song form, the arrangement, the sound and the production. The Song Stairway To Heaven is one of the most interesting songs ever in terms of song form. Everything about it breaks the rules of what we consider pop song form, but thats what makes it so cool. Heres what the form looks like: Intro (8 bars of guitar), Intro (16 bars with Maelstrom), Verse (20 bars), Interlude (8 bars), B section (8 bars), Verse (8 bars), Interlude (1 bar), B section (16 bars), Verse (16 bars), Interlude (1 bar), B section (16 bars), Verse (16 bars), Interlude (1 bar) Thats Just the first part of the song!As you can see, every section is somewhat different length-wise. Now comes the C section up-tempo outer: Intro (2 bars of 7/8), Guitar Solo (36 bars), Vocal (36 bars), Outer (16 bars). Ending There are a couple of interesting things here. First of all the C section intro is in 7, which is highly unusual for a rock song, then both the solo and vocal are 36 bars each, or 9 times through the pattern instead of 8. We will write a custom essay sample on Stare Way to Heaven or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Once again, this is so much different than what youd expect, yet it works.The Arrangement The arrangement for Stairway is brilliant in that there are only 7 instruments, yet it the sounds much bigger. The beginning of the song is mostly acoustic guitar and maelstrom flutes, and a Fender Rhodes electric Plano holds down the bass from the 1st B section onwards to the C section. On the earth verse, the drums and bass enter, along with a 12 string electric. A Telecaster then doubles the riff during the interludes.Take notice that the electric piano continues to play even after the bass enters, with the bass mostly (but not always) doubling it. The C section outer is built around the 12 string electric, bass and drums, and the solo Telecaster (In one of Pages best solos). On the 7th time through the pattern, a enters its back to the bass, drums and 12 string, with the Telecaster playing an answer line on the 3rd time through the pattern. On the 8th time through, the chords are accented, but continue through for a 9th time (really unusual! . The song then ands with a solo vocal, which is, once again, unusual. Ere Sound Stairway was recorded on 16 track at Island Studios in London as well as on location at Hadley Grange using the Rolling Stones mobile studio. The acoustic guitar on the Intro is interesting in that its panned to the left with a somewhat long plate revere that you hear more on the right side. Later in the song, the 12 string is pretty much bathed in this revere. Ere drums are heavily compressed, and are actually recorded in stereo.This, in fact, might have been one of the earliest examples of stereo drums, but its a pretty mild erosion, with Just a little of the crash cymbal and floor tom slightly panned to the left. Ere vocal has a very short delayed plate revere to put it in an environment, but its still pretty much in the forefront of the band. Ere Production limy Page considers this his masterpiece and I think so to, although you have to give props to bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones for his arrangement skills for the boards.The maelstrom parts could have been boring if they were repeated with every section, but each section is different, which keeps it interesting. Ere song starts quietly, builds to a crescendo, and ends almost in silence, in an excellent example of tension and release. Listen how the instruments weave in and out of the track, even though the instrumentation and tracks are limited. Remember that the song is 8:03 and you want to listen to the whole thing all the way through.
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