Thursday, November 28, 2019

Mystical Petersburg Review Essay Example

Mystical Petersburg Review Paper Essay on Mystical Petersburg I live in Petersburg. I admire your favorite city, its architecture and monuments. Opportunity to delve into the mystique Petersburg teased me for a long time. Finally, the desire has come true and I plunged into the mysterious world of Petersburg entirely, and woke up only read to the end! Here, I met with the ghost of Kirov at the Smolny, I learned about the terrible sworn sphinxes time of Amenhotep, about the mysteries of the Field of Mars, of Petersburg nekromantakh and Marquis de Beers, on the severed head of the famous raiders 20s Lonki Panteleyev, met with St. Petersburg witchcraft, with a sinister secret of the bypass channel. Learn about the damn place, ghost Kronwerk, Rasputin Petersburg hotels and subway, a ghost in my neighborhood park Ekateringofsky. Since childhood, I walk out there and never met a ghost! :)) I got to know the mysteries of the St. Petersburg cemetery pets, learned about the horrors of the dead houses, the Flying Dutchman, a fucking swamp, those who wander with us, on the curse Lindulovskaya groves, about the mysteries of Ropshinskoye palace We will write a custom essay sample on Mystical Petersburg Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mystical Petersburg Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mystical Petersburg Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer So many things! But I live here, this St. Petersburg native. Fortunately, I have never come across any mysticism, I did terribly afraid of such things! And you? Read was funny and scary. The author has spent on the writing and layout of this for decades. He says, digging in various city archives in search of facts, including the KGB, NKVD, the police. But IMHO, the truth in this book are a small fraction. No matter what facts I do not believe as long as she did not run into similar! Oh, how I would not want to! 8) Still, the book I really liked, and certainly worthy of Petersburgers and curious personalities. The main thing is the ability to weed out unnecessary information, or at least do not take it seriously The language in Stepakova light and humorous.. The author skillfully inserts humorous notes of where it should be creepy and scary Also, in the book there is an application consisting of works:. 1. NV Gogols Nevsky Prospect; 2. FM Dostoevskys The Dream of a Ridiculous Man; 3. AP Chekhovs old house; 4. AS Greens Pied Piper. In general, I liked it!

Sunday, November 24, 2019

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog

5 Reasons To View The Nicholas C. Rossis Author Blog Its not every day that a writer offers free content and book marketing advice. When I encounter one- especially one that can help writers get past major hurdles in selling their work- its hard to keep quiet about it. Thats why I want to share five reasons to view the Nicholas C. Rossis author blog.Reason #1: Nicholas C. Rossis is a fascinating authorFrom the opening lines of his introduction- I live to write and do so from my cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece- Nicholas C. Rossis shows his unique brand of epic description. Upon additional perusing through his author blog, his work in both the fiction and nonfiction realms is alive with humor, humility, and imagination.To get to know him better as an author, listen to one of the many interviews available on his website. These are the best introduction to learn who he is and why he loves writing. For example, there is this interview with Ron Yates for RRBC Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio, along with this one focusing on book marketing tips with Bernard Kelvin Clive.Reason #2: All of his writing is free to readRossis work includes fiction (of the dark, epic fantasy kind), nonfiction, childrens stories and short stories- all of which are available free on Kindle Unlimited or for a small fee on Amazons free reading apps.His most recent book, A Heaven For Toasters, is described as a science fiction crime adventure with plenty of humor and romance, set in the near future. The back cover reads:A souvlaki and some sun. That is all Detective Mika Pensive wanted from her fun weekend away on the Greek island of Hydra. Instead, she finds herself caught up in a sinister plot, hatched by a reclusive billionaire with a penchant for illegal genetic engineering. As if that wasnt bad enough, she has to put up with her new partner, Leo. Leo is an android- or toaster, as people scornfully call his kind. The only thing that could make things even worse would be for the headstrong Mika to fall for Leo. But people dont fall for toasters- do they?Nicholas C. Rossis, A Heaven For ToastersThe cover of Rossis book, A Heaven for ToastersIf you dont have Kindle Unlimited, you can still purchase his books at low prices. Here are the links to some of the other books he has published:Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings (Author Tools Book 1)Summary: This emotional thesaurus includes hundreds of examples that you can use for your inspiration, so that you, too, can harness this technique to easily convert your writing into palpable feelings. Genre fiction authors can use Emotional Beat as a feeling thesaurus and watch their writing take off!Runaway Smile: An unshared smile is a wasted smile (Mystery Smiles Book 1)Summary: A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy SeriesSummary: Combining fantasy with science fiction, Pearseus is filled with passion, warfare, and betrayal. Described as ancient Greece in space, it gives readers who want a different kind of fantasy an exciting new series to devour.Musiville: Lets face the music and conduct (Mystery Smiles Series) (Volume 2)Summary: The only thing that can save Musiville is a musical symphony. Sounds easy enough. But in a world where everyone believes only their own music to be worth playing, it is the hardest task the villages musical animals have ever faced.Reason #3: He offers valuable advice about writing and marketing your bookThere is an entire section on the Nicholas Rossis blog dedicated to marketing your book. If you are an indie author and in the throes of gaining an audience for your writing, these tips will be absolutely indispensable during the marketing process. Among them, he provides information on marketing your book across various platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Amaz on.Here is a sampling of the many tips he offers:A-Z guide: How both my books reached #1 on AmazonHow to Score Great Amazon Reviews: Resources and MoreHow to Tame Amazons Algorithm to Increase your Sales RankHow to Use Facebook Ads to Gain Subscribers and to Promote a GiveawayUnderstanding Amazon ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale): What is it?Advertise with Amazon: a Step-by-step TutorialHow to Increase Your Amazon Click-Through Rate (CTR)Book Marketing Essentials: Positioning your WorkI Just Published my Book. Now What?7 fool-proof marketing tips to promote your blogAdditionally, on the Author Resources tab, Rossis advertises his work with an online media company, Istomedia. He mentions that for the past 25 years, his day job has been working to develop websites. As an author who has built his own website, he works specifically with other authors who want to have their own author website to market their work. He also offers a 30% discount for readers of his blog. Since the blog is so informative, this is certainly a win-win! He will also help you create your book cover for a reasonable price.Reason #4: Optimism (and entertainment) aboundsIn a world where bad news and political scandal fills the media, its nice to run across a blog that offers optimistic, fun, and useful entertainment. The Nicholas C. Rossis blog is one such blog. While much of the content is focused on writing and the literary world, there are some posts that are written simply for a fun, optimistic read.For example, the recent post, How the world got better in 2018, he notes multiple ways in which things got better last year, including increasing use of green energy around the world, increasing environmental protection for the worlds oceans, 50 animals species that were on the endangered list are now removed, falling global poverty levels, and greater access to electricity around the world, among others. Although these topics have little to do with writing or marketing books, the piece is well- written and informative- two aspects of a blog that make it worth your time to read.Author Nicholas C. RossisReason #5: His writing is superbRossis has won numerous awards for his writing. His first childrens book, Runaway Smile, was awarded the Gelett Burgess Childrens Book Award, and was a finalist in the 2015 International Book Awards, in the Childrens Fiction category and a Childrens Fiction Finalist in the 2015 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards.His collection of short stories and flash fiction, entitled Infinite Waters: A Collection of Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction Short Stories (Exciting Destinies Book 2), was voted as one of the best 50 Indie books of 2015. Both of these titles, along with the rest of his work, is available for free on Kindle and Amazon.Here is an excerpt from Simulation Over, one of the stories in The Power of Six, a collection of seven short stories.Without waiting for my reply, the elevator started its calm descent again. This time i t headed straight for the basement where the heart of the building was located. Or, should I say, its brain. I gazed with longing as the ground floor button lit up, then desperate hope turned into trepidation as it went dark again. The indication changed to a simple red hyphen and the elevator finally stopped with a gentle jolt. The doors slid apart and cool air caressed our faces. After the stifling heat above, the result of the many small fires around the building, this felt like balm on our skin.Nicholas C. Rossis, Simulation OverMy overall impressionThere are many author blogs available online that are created and written solely to market the authors work. However, the Nicholas C. Rossis blog seems to go a step beyond that to help other authors market their work, and provide valuable guidance from a fellow author who has learned the ropes. Specifically, I found Rossis advice on understanding the various marketing platforms- such as Amazon and Facebook- to be extremely valuable, since these two platforms can be confusing for new authors who are first-timers in the realm of book marketing and sales.Additionally, Rossis writing is fun, imaginative, and easy to read- particularly for those interested in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Whether you are an author looking for advice, or just an avid reader, be sure to check this one out. You wont be disappointed.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

MicroEconomics Supply and Demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MicroEconomics Supply and Demand - Essay Example The world’s leading brands are accessing the Japanese departmental stores to sell their limited edition products. The sales of chocolates in the Valentine season pick up like anything. Primary Economic Elements The soaring demand for chocolates in Japan near the Valentine season presents a positive opportunity for the local and international Chocolatiers. It is not that the Japanese are particularly fond of chocolates. In general, the Japanese are not avid chocolate fans and their panache for the local delicacy â€Å"Wagashi† does tend to have precedence over chocolates. However, the Valentine’s-Day celebrations are a different thing. The contemporary Japanese youth closely associates the Valentine season with love and romance and the consumption of chocolates registers an exceptional spike in the Valentine’s season. Not only the local Chocolatiers do their best to profit from this surge in chocolate consumption, but the Chocolatiers hailing from around th e world, including Belgium, Switzerland and other European countries do know well that during this time of the year, the price is not a big consideration for the local chocolate lovers. The demand for chocolates in Japan during the two weeks preceding the Valentine’s-Day augments to the extent that it is getting really difficult for the suppliers to import and manufacture a commensurate stock. Most of the malls and departmental stores do run out of stock just a few days before the Valentine’s-Day. The sales of chocolate that rest at a conservative monthly average of 34 billion yen during the regular season incredulously soar to 55 billion yen during the valentine season. People do not hesitate to buy boxes of chocolates costing as high as 28, 350 yen or $ 340. The Chocolatiers play on the fantasies of the consumers by offering variations like chocolate doll houses and even chocolate furniture costing 10, 000 yen a piece. The foreign and local Chocolatiers leave no ston e unturned to accrue sales from niche segments that have a particular predilection for â€Å"Kawaii† chocolate, exchanged amongst women as a part of a local custom, comprising of a menagerie of chocolate animals like chickens, flying pigs, bugs and bunnies. This trend for chocolate is expected to become stronger in the times to come. The global players in the chocolate business have already taken cognizance of this fact. Graphical Analysis During the regular season, the demand for chocolate in Japan, as any other perishable consumer good is price elastic and follows the classic law of demand. As the Price of chocolate increases from P to P’, the demand for chocolate falls from D to D’. Besides, people start opting for local substitutes like Wagashi. Price of Chocolate P’ P D1 D’ D Units of Chocolate During the Valentine season, the things are different. The increase in the demand for chocolates moves the demand curve up along the supply curve from D1 to D2. This movement along the supply curve gives way to a new equilibrium price. This not only leads to an increase in the price of chocolates, but also results in a commensurate increase in the demand for chocolates. The Chocolatiers can benefit from this situation by pouring in more supplies in the Japanese markets. Price of Chocola

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Management Accounting (I WILL UPLOAD THE SUBJECT) Assignment

Management Accounting (I WILL UPLOAD THE SUBJECT) - Assignment Example Under the following sections, each of the budget and projected financial statements are briefly discussed along with the assumptions taken to complete these projections. Assumptions 1. There are two types of raw materials to produce the final product named as Kungfu and Jodu respectively. 2. As far as the labour is concerned, two types of labour, is used according to their level of skills namely as skilled and non-skilled labour. 3. The company has invested in two types of capital expenditures such as furniture and equipment. Other non-current assets are acquired on rentals by the company. 4. Two selling prices are set by the company for first and last six months of the year such that the selling price for first six months is set to be ?300 and for the last six months, it is set as ?320 per unit. 5. For material and labour prices, it is assumed that these prices will remain same in the whole year. 6. For overheads, it is assumed that they are going to be 60% of the labour cost. 7. Cl osing stock is estimated to be 15% of the sales volume of the upcoming month. 8. Collection for sales is to be completed in such a manner that around 70% of the sales are to be obtained in the month of sales whereas the remainder of the collection is going to be completed in the next month. 9. For purchases, the company has estimated that around 80% of the purchases are going to be made in their corresponding months whereas the remaining amount will be paid in the next month. 10. For other expenses like labour and overheads, the payments are to be made the moment they arise. 11. Around ?2,500 is going to be taken out in the form of drawings every month by the owners. 12. Income tax rate is going to be applied at 30% of the income before tax. 13. The rate of depreciation is set to be 30% with the straight-line method Discussion Unit Cost The unit cost of the product â€Å"Karate† consists of three basic ingredients such as direct material cost, direct labour cost and overheads (Kinney and Raiborn, 2009). The total unit cost of Karate is expected to be ?221. If this per unit cost is split in all three components, direct material consumes around ?165, direct labour consumes around ?35 and overheads constitutes around ?21. Budgets The product budgeting purpose is served with the preparation of six kinds of budgets namely as Fixed Expenditure, Sales, Purchases, Production, Direct Labour, and Cash Budget. Comprehensive figures are accounted for the preparation of these budgets such that each budget consists of, not only having the annual figures but also monthly figures. Since this is the first year of the operations of the business, therefore, it is assumed that the start-up capital of the business is ?50,000. The following discussion takes into account each budget briefly: The fixed expenditure budget consists of ?50,000 cumulatively such that the business has planned to spend ?45,000 at the start and ?5,000 after six months of the start of the business. Fo r furniture, ?10,000 amount is reserved and for equipment, ?40,000 will be used. As far as the sales budget is concerned, 300 units are anticipated for the sale purpose in the 1st three months, followed by 365 units in the next six months and in the last quarter, the sales unit are expected to be 400 units. The

Monday, November 18, 2019

London Life Insurance Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

London Life Insurance Company - Assignment Example Sales and administrative operations of the company were supported by a professional team of around 2,700 and 2,600 working as the sales and administrative workforce for the company respectively. The product mix of London Life Insurance Company was duly optimized through encompassing a large number of benefits pertaining to life, disability, medical and group insurance products with also existence of other retirement and saving plans. Through the use of the Group Insurance Plans the company was able to enhance its sales network with the corporate client base encompassing around 16,000 different concerns. The management and administrative functions within the London Life Insurance Company was effectively synchronized through the use of information technology connecting the activities of the different branches. Moreover, London Life Insurance Company being a member of the Trilon Financial Corporation concern an its enhanced affiliation with the Royal Trust in the region contributed in d evelopment of its network base in gaining potential customers in the region. Strategic activities carried out by the company relating to market and product development along with restructuring the organizational objectives contributed to the gaining of assets amounting to around $ 8.5 Billion. Enhanced focus rendered to the parameters of customization and personalization helped the company in becoming a market leader pertaining to financial and insurance products in Canada (London Life Insurance Company 854-855). Problem Statement The main problem that Ralph Simon faces relating to the salespersons pertains to the failure in understanding of the process of motivating them to sustain and enhance their sales activities pertaining to insurance and financial products. The compensation received by the people in terms of commissions and bonuses failed to effectively distinguish between the new sales force and the old thereby reflecting a lack of motivation in terms of enhancing the spirit of the new members. Ralph Simon also countered a problem relating to the Monthly Activity Report for the Points rendered refer more to the ‘Efficiencies’ of the individuals in gaining appointments and closed and open deals rather than assessing the ‘Effectiveness’ of the individuals based on the amount of insurance business sourced from the market. This feature was inferred by Simon in reducing the operational effectiveness of the company for increasing the inability of the company in gaining new leads. Simon also visualized the existence of a problem wherein the new sales persons were required to handle surmountable amount of work loads and responsibilities pertaining to the meeting of targets and gaining new contacts while the experienced sales people enjoyed over the existing contacts and other renewals carried out by the customers. This feature reflected the existence of role conflicts and role ambiguity that in turn contributed in reduction of the mot ivation of the sales people and thereby required adequate management intervention (London Life Insurance Company 858-859). Analysis of Alternative The first alternative that can be sought relates to the creating of a basic salary slab for the sales people in the concern. This salary slab can range from $20,000 to $52,000 relating to the composition of new and old people in the sales tea

Friday, November 15, 2019

Negative Effects Of A Patriarchal Society

Negative Effects Of A Patriarchal Society Many literary men experienced this century as the Age of anxiety while many female counterparts experienced this time as en era of exuberance. An important reason for such a reaction was the increase in female power which marked the new culture of the 20th C. During this time, women of both sides of the Atlantics achieved not only the vote but entered every profession in ever greater numbers. The images of women portrayed by modernist men were largely negative. There was a notable obsession to write about what women should and should not be. In many of her writings, Virginia Woolf observed that while the Victorian cook lived like a leviathan in the lower depthsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The Georgian cook is a creature of sunshine and fresh air (Fernandez, 2009: 1233). In this sense, women were no longer defined through their erotic relationship with men; the task of the woman writer instead was to trace the prospects and problems of an expanding female intellectual community. Accompanied by oth er modernist writers, Virginia composed experimental books concerning the ideas of female power, such the case of to the lighthouse in which Mrs. Ramsay the mystical and mysterious mother, became an emblem of independence and endurance (Fernandez, 2009: 1240). The novel is divided into 3 sections; The window, Time Passes and To the Lighthouse. Each section is narrated in a stream of consciousness style from various narrators. The central plot of the novel centers on the story of a journey to the lighthouse. James Ramsay, son of the Ramsays marriage, wants to achieve this journey at the age of 6 with her mother but only after 10 years he can do this trip. He achieves this aim after he had gained strong feelings of hatred against his father because of causing him a difficult path during childhood.;Had there been an axe handy, a poker, or any weapon that would have gashed a hole in his fathers breast and killed him, there and then, James would have seized it. Such were the extremes of emotion that Mr. Ramsay excited in his childrens breasts by his mere presence; standing, as now, lean as a knife, narrow as the blade of one, grinning sarcastically, not only with the pleasure of disillusioning his son and casting ridicule upon his wife, who was ten thousand times better in every way than he was (James thought), but also with some secret conceit at his own accuracy of judgment (Woolf, 1987: 1). By focusing on the contrast between male a female characters, Virginia Woolf has paid attention to the necessity of each one for the other in mental terms. In this sense, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay are contrasted with other characters so as to show the discrepancy of a mind belonging of a man or a woman. Mrs. Ramsay is the sentimental one who possesses a poetical mind while Mr. Ramsay is the egoistic one who contrasts his ideas with that of her wife (McCarthy, 2002: 2 ). Mrs. Ramsay is first presented as a typical Victorian mother, preaching to her daughters the superiority of the male sex; Indeed, she had the whole of the other sex under her protection; for reasons she could not explain, for their chivalry and valour, for the fact that they negotiated treaties, ruled India, controlled finance and woe betide the girl-pray Heaven it was none of her daughters! Who did not feel the worth of it (Woolf, 1987: 2). By the time the novel was written, women had to comfort and serve men. That patriarchal society imposed the differences between women and men by proving the stereotypes of feminity and masculinity. Mr. Ramsay is the representative male character whose views of life as object or subject as well as his thinking in linear terms were the result of the intelligence and education achieved through the alphabet theory. It was his splendid mind like the alphabet is ranged in twenty-six letters all in order, then his splendid mind had one by one, firmly and accurately, until it had reached, say, the letter Q. He reached Q. Very few people in the whole of England ever reach Q (Woolf, 1987: 16). On the other hand, Lily Briscoe is the female character affected by this theory of the alphabet as well as by Mr. Tansley way of disapproving her by saying that women cant paint, cant write (Woolf, 1987: 24). In this way, she does not fit into that idealized stereotype of women required by the dominated society of the period. She mirrors Woolf own ideology as regards the inequalities of both sexes (McCarthy, 2022: 2). In fact, Lily Briscoe feels undermined by men; She felt a sudden emptiness, a frustration (Woolf, 1987: 77). Nevertheless, she does not obey to that tradition and tries to impose her independence. By portraying Mrs. Ramsays picture, she fights against the society which idealized the female with domesticity and maternity in order to become a painter (McCarthy, 2002: 3). Women have always fought to break the boundaries between them and men in order to free themselves. Such conflict was also present in literature where men were the ones who dominate while women should address a phallocentric language in their works of art. That is why, lily transcends the barriers separating the experience of life and production of art (Baker:3). The feminine is not beautiful but a masquerade or performance while beauty is questionable since a beautiful woman is a construction from a patriarchal society (Humm, 2007: 239). Mrs. Ramsay is essential since her beauty causes an effect in every character when it is perceived. This beauty is seemed through her different roles; as a beautiful mother when warming her child Yes, of course, if its fine tomorrow, said Mrs. Ramsay. But youll have to be up with the lark, she added; James Ramsay, sitting on the floor cutting out pictures from the illustrated catalogue of the Army and Navy stores, endowed the picture of a refrigerator, as his mother spoke, with heavenly bliss. It was fringed with joy (Woolf, 1987: 1). Or as a woman increasing her beauty through the time, from men perspectives; or even when she dies and Lily Briscoe is portraying her as if she has never died. Lily Briscoe is the artist who comprehends the necessity as regards men and women. She finishes her painting since she perceives the fusion of apparently opposites. Both characters are the vital contrasts in the novel who, however, agree with one striking similarity; Mrs. Ramsay herself at some points deconstructs her role expressing doubts and dissatisfaction about the gender role into which she has been forced (Ingman, 1998: 133). Lily Briscoe instead, has to deconstruct the rigid Victorian gender identities in order to become a painter. Mrs. Ramsay ends on a note of dissatisfaction that she carries a notebook of statistics in her bag, in the hope that thus she would case to be a private woman whose charity was half a sop to her own indignation, half a relief to her own curiosity and become, what with her untrained mind she greatly admired, an investigator elucidating the social problem (Woolf, 1987: 4). She also adds in this her admiration for Lily; there was in Lilyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Something of her own which Mrs. Ramsay liked very much indeed (Woolf, 1987: 53). In the same way, Lily shows admiration for Mrs. Ramsay when she dies; for if she did not do it nobody would do it (Woolf, 1987: 67). Virginia Woolf highlights how strong were the influences and effects caused by the phallocentrism lived during the Victorian period; especially the consequences produced in children and family life. Mr. Ramsay, the domineering and self-centered husband (Woolf, 1987: 1), blocks the maturity of his son James since he does not want to comfort his sons desire of going to the Lighthouse. What he said was true. It was always true. He was incapable of untruth; never tampered with a fact; never altered a disagreeable word to suit the pleasure or convenience of any mortal being, least of all of his own children, who, sprung from his loins, should be aware from childhood that life is difficult; facts uncompromising; and the passage to that fabled land where our brightest hopes are extinguished, our frail barks founder in darkness (here Mr. Ramsay would straighten his back and narrow his little blue eyes upon the horizon), one that needs, above all, courage, truth, and the power to endure (Wool f, 1987: 1). He just imposes obstacles in his children happiness, Mr. Ramsay is the one who controls and dominates his family, women and children. Even when he has too much work, he looks for support in women; he is always trying to be satisfied by her wife;He wanted sympathy. He was a failure, he said. Mrs. Ramsay flashed her needles. Mr. Ramsay repeated, never taking his eyes from her face, that he was a failure. She blew the words back at him. Charles Tansley she said. But he must have more than that. It was sympathy he wanted, to be assured of his genius, first of all, and then to be taken within the circle of life, warmed and soothed, to have his senses restored to him, his barrenness made fertile, and all the rooms of the house made full of life-the drawing-room; behind the drawing-room the kitchen; above the kitchen the bedrooms; and beyond them the nurseries; they must be furnished, they must be filled with life (Woolf, 1987: 18). Mr. Ramsay refuses to let James to fulfill his desire so his son hated him. He hated him for coming up to them, for stopping and looking down on them; he hated him for interrupting them; he hated him for the exaltation and sublimity of his gestures; for the magnificence of his head; for his exactingness and egotism (for there he stood, commanding them to attend to him) but most of all he hated the twang and twitter of his fathers emotion which, vibrating round them, disturbed the perfect simplicity and good sense of his relations with his mother (Woolf, 1987: 18). However, Mr. Ramsay changes his mind after ten years later when his wife Mrs. Ramsay dies. He changes especially his view of the world in linear terms which is left aside. At this precise moment, Lily Briscoe finishes Mrs. Ramsay portrayal making her seem as if she has never died; Lily had taken the wrong brush in her agitation at Mr. Ramsays presence, and her easel, rammed into the earth so nervously, was at the wrong angle. And now that she had put that right, and in so doing had subdued the impertinences and irrelevances that plucked her attention and made her remember how she was such and such a person, had such and such relations to people, she took her hand and raised her brush. For a moment it stayed trembling in a painful but exciting ecstasy in the airà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ That woman sitting there writing under the rock resolved everything into simplicity; made these angers, irritations fall off like old rags; she brought together this and that and then this, and so made out of th at miserable silliness (Woolf, 1987: 80). Mr. Ramsays change is finally achieved by his acceptance to go to the lighthouse with his children; without the presence of his wife but making feel Woolfs aim that it was possible to take out the phallocentrism during the Victorian period (McCarthy, 2002: 3). Adding Lilys painting which represents the change in ideology between the old and the new generation of women at that time (Ingman, 1988: 132). To conclude, in the Lighthouse it is symbolically represented the tensions and negative effects of the age of tyranny felt by most women, children and feminist artists during the Victorian period. James Ramsay could finally fulfilled his dream but, unfortunately, he has grown up full of hatred for his father lack of love and comprehension; Cam, his brother, feels too disappointed and dos not know if joining his brother or fathers side. How many children or men like them there must have been, it is impossible to measure but what is certainly true is that scars from childhood mostly are never cured. children dont forget, children dont forget (Woolf, 1987: 32) That is why, with the stream of consciousness technique as well as Woolfs unique style, the portrayal of a family governmed by such a patriarchal man was magnificently felt; not only for the well developed dramatization of each character but because the complexity of the novel shows that women writers were also capable of creating such significant work of art without following a phallocentric language or a language imposed by men. I was not going to let myself be diminished, neutralized; I would not ever let them make me over their image (McCarthy, 2002: 2).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Intersection of Race, Sexual Orientation and Religion in the Gay Co

Intersectionality is a relevant theory for some gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals. Intersectionality studies "the relationships among multiple dimensions and modalities of social relationships and subject formations" (McCall, 2005). The theory argues, pursues and considers how gender, race, sexual orientation and other categories of identity interact on many and often concurring levels of social relationships, therefore allowing discrimination and social inequity. Intersectionality explains how the notion of social injustice, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and belief-based bigotry such as religion are not independent of one another; instead, they are interconnected, and thereby reflect â€Å"intersectionality† in regards to social relationships. Humans are multifaceted beings; we move, maneuver and adjust, to present different and appropriate representations of ourselves to others, based on the circumstances. Perhaps we look for a reflection of ourselves within the groups with we associate. We strive to understand ourselves, in part by the people with whom we come in contact the most, namely our family, friends and co-workers. Race, sexual orientation and religion, individually, are hot bed topics of discussion, but how do each one of those issues, or all of them intersect in the life of someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, and how do those individuals manage those identities as they negotiate the multicultural experience that we call life? Does culture have an impact on the identity of homosexual persons? To what extent may devotion to a particular faith cause discordance between gay and religious identities? The research examines, and attempts to determine what effect racial identity, sexual orientation, an... ...d Participants of a Gay-Positive Church. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 39(3), 333. doi: 10. 1111/0021-8294. 00028 Schulte, L. J. , & Battle, J. (2004). The Relative Importance of Ethnicity and Religion in Predicting Attitudes Towards Gays and Lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 47(2), 127-142. doi: 10. 1300/J082v47n02_08 Tajfel, H. , & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds. ), The Social psychology of intergroup relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole Pub. Walton, G. (2006). "Fag Church" : Men Who Integrate Gay and Christian Identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 51(2), 1-17. doi: 10. 1300/J082v51n02_01 Ward, E. G. (2005, September). Homophobia, hypermasculinity and the US black church. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 7(5), 493-504. doi: 10. 1080/13691050500151248

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirty-Five

Initiation night for the newest members of the Vitale Society had arrived at last. The cavernous room was lit only by golden candlelight from long tapers placed around the space and by the fire of high-flaming torches against the wal s. In the flickering light, the animals carved in the wood of the pil ars and arches almost seemed to be moving. Matt, dressed in a dark hooded robe like the other initiates, gazed around proudly. They'd worked hard, and the room looked amazing. At the front of the room, beneath the highest arch, a long table had been placed, draped in a heavy red satin cloth and looking like some kind of altar. In the center of the table sat a huge deep stone bowl, almost like a baptismal font, and around it roses and orchids were set. More flowers had been scattered on the floor, and the scent of the crushed blossoms underfoot was so strong that it was dizzying. The pledges were lined up, evenly spaced, before the altar. As if she'd picked up on his pride at how everything had turned out, Chloe pushed her dark hood back a bit and leaned toward him to mutter, â€Å"Pretty fabulous, huh?† Matt smiled at her. So what if she was dating someone else? He stil liked her. He wanted to stay friends, even if that was al there could be between them. He tugged at his robe self-consciously; the fabric was heavy, and he didn't like the way it blocked his peripheral vision. The current masked members of the Vitale Society wove silently among the pledges, handing out goblets ful of some kind of liquid. Matt sniffed his and smel ed ginger and chamomile as Wellas less familiar scents: so this was where the herbs had been used. He smiled at the girl who gave it to him, but got no response. Her eyes behind the mask slid over him neutral y, and she moved on. Once he was a ful member of the Vitale Society, he would know who these current members were, would see them without their masks. He sipped from his goblet and grimaced: it tasted strange and bitter. The soft rustlings of cloaked figures moving across the floor were silenced as the last of the goblets was handed out and the masked Vitales quietly retreated under the arch behind the altar to watch. Ethan stepped forward, up to the altar, and pushed back his hood. â€Å"Welcome,† he said, holding out his hands to the assembled pledges. â€Å"Welcome to true power at last.† The candlelight flickered over his face, twisting it into something unfamiliar and almost sinister. Matt twitched nervously and took another swal ow of the bitter herbal mixture. â€Å"A toast!† Ethan cal ed. He raised his own goblet, and before him, the pledges raised theirs. He hesitated for a moment, then said, â€Å"To moving beyond the veil and discovering the truth.† Matt raised his goblet and drained it with the other pledges. The mixture left a gritty feeling on his tongue, and he scraped it absently against his teeth. Ethan looked around at the pledges and smiled, locking gazes with one after another. â€Å"You've al worked so hard,† he said affectionately. â€Å"Each of you has reached his or her personal peak of intel igence, strength, and leadership ability now. Together, you are a force to be reckoned with. You have been perfected.† Matt managed to politely restrain himself from rol ing his eyes. It was nice to be praised, of course, but sometimes Ethan was a little too over the top: perfected? Matt doubted it was even possible. It seemed to him that you could always strive to be a little more, or a little less, something. You could always wish to be better. But even if he could, after al , be perfected, he suspected that it would take more than a few obstacle courses and group problem-solving exercises to do it. â€Å"And now it is time to at last discover your purpose,† Ethan continued. â€Å"Time to complete the final stage in your transformation from ordinary students into true avatars of power.† He took a clean and shining silver cup from the altar and dipped it into the deep stone bowl in front of him. â€Å"With every step forward in evolution, there must be some sacrifice. I regret any pain this wil cause you. Be comforted by the knowledge that al suffering is temporary. Anna, step forward.† There was a slight uneasy stirring among the pledges. This talk of suffering and sacrifice was different than Ethan's usual emphasis on honor and power. Matt frowned. Something was wrong here. But Anna, looking tiny in her long robe, walked without hesitation up to the altar and pushed back her hood. â€Å"Drink of me,† Ethan said, handing her the silver cup. Anna blinked uncertainly and then, her eyes on Ethan, tipped back her head and drained the cup. As she handed it back to Ethan, she licked her lips automatical y, and Matt tried to peer more closely at her. In the flickering candlelight, her lips looked unnatural y red and slick. Then Ethan led her around the side of the altar and into his arms. He smiled, and his face twisted, his eyes dilating and his lips pul ing back in a snarl. His teeth looked so long, so sharp. Matt tried to shout a warning but realized with horror that he couldn't move his lips, couldn't draw the breath to cal out. He knew, suddenly, that he had been a fool. Ethan sank his fangs deep into Anna's neck. Matt strained, trying to run toward them, to attack Ethan and throw him away from Anna. But he couldn't move at al . He must be under some kind of compulsion. Or perhaps something in the drink, some magic ingredient, had made them al docile and stil . He watched helplessly as Anna struggled for a few moments, then went limp, her eyes rol ing back in her head. Unceremoniously, Ethan let her body drop to the ground. â€Å"Don't be afraid,† he said kindly, gazing around at the horrified, frozen pledges. â€Å"Al of us† – he gestured toward the silent, masked Vitale behind him – â€Å"went through this initiation recently. You must brace yourself to suffer what is only a smal , temporary death, and then you wil be one of us, a true Vitale. Never growing old, never dying. Powerful forever.† Sharp white teeth and golden eyes shining in the candlelight, Ethan reached out toward the next pledge as Matt struggled again to shout, to fight. Ethan continued, â€Å"Stuart, step forward.† Elena smel ed so good, rich and sweet like an exotic ripe fruit. Damon wanted to simply bury his head in the soft skin at the crook of her neck and just inhale her for a decade or two. Snaking his arm through hers, he pul ed her closer. â€Å"You can't come in with me,† she told him for the second time. â€Å"I might be able to get James to talk to me because it's a question about my parents, but I don't think he'l tel me anything if someone else is there. Whatever the truth is about the Vitale Society and my parents, I think he's embarrassed about it. Or afraid, or †¦ something.† Without paying attention to what she was doing, Elena shifted her grip and held on to Damon's arm more firmly. â€Å"Fine,† Damon said stubbornly. â€Å"I'l wait outside. I won't let him see me. But you're not to walk across campus at night by yourself. It's not safe.† â€Å"Yes, Damon,† Elena said in a convincing imitation of meekness, and rested her head on his shoulder. The lemony scent of her shampoo mixed with the more essential Elena smel of her. Damon sighed with contentment. She cared for him, he knew that, and Stefan had taken himself out of the picture. She was stil young, his princess, and a human heart could heal. Maybe, with Stefan gone, she would final y see how much closer she was, mind and soul, to Damon, how perfectly they fit together. In any case, she was his for now. He lifted his free hand and stroked her head, her silky hair pliant beneath his fingers, and smiled. The professor's house was barely off campus, just across the street from the gilded entrance gates. They'd almost reached the edge of campus when a familiar presence that had been lurking nearby at last came very close. Damon wheeled to scan the shadows, pul ing Elena with him. â€Å"What is it?† Elena said, alarmed. Come out, Damon thought with exasperation, sending his silent message toward the thickest shadows at the base of a crowd of oak trees. You know you can't hide from me. One dark shadow detached itself from the rest, stepping forward on the path. Stefan simply gazed at the ground, shoulders slumped, his hands loose and open by his sides. Elena gasped, a smal hurt sound. Stefan looked terrible, Damon thought, not without sympathy. His face seemed hol ow and strained, his cheekbones more prominent than usual, and Damon would have bet that he wasn't feeding properly. Damon felt a twinge of disquiet. He didn't take pleasure in causing his brother pain. Not anymore. â€Å"Well?† Damon said, raising his eyebrows. Stefan glanced up at him. I don't want to fight with you, Damon, he said silently. So don't, Damon shot back at him, and Stefan's mouth twitched in a half smile of acknowledgment. â€Å"Stefan,† Elena said suddenly, sounding like the word had been jerked out of her. â€Å"Please, Stefan.† Stefan stared down at the path under his feet, not meeting her eyes. â€Å"I sensed you were nearby, Elena, and I felt your anxiety,† he said wearily. â€Å"I thought you might have been in trouble. I'm sorry, I was mistaken. I shouldn't have come.† Elena stiffened, and her long dark lashes fel over her eyes, hiding, Damon was almost sure, the beginnings of tears. A long silence stretched between them. Final y, irritated by the tension, Damon made an effort to ease it. â€Å"So,† he said casual y, â€Å"we broke into the campus security office last night.† Stefan looked up with a flicker of interest. â€Å"Oh? Did you find anything useful?† â€Å"Crime scene photos, but they weren't very helpful,† Damon said, shrugging. â€Å"The folders were marked with black Vs, so we're trying to figure out what that means. Elena's going to talk to her professor about the Vitale Society, see if it could have anything to do with them.† â€Å"The†¦ Vitale Society?† Stefan said hesitantly. Damon waved a hand dismissively. â€Å"A secret society from back in the day when Elena's parents were here,† he said. â€Å"Who knows? It may be nothing.† Drawing a hand across his face, Stefan seemed to be thinking hard. â€Å"Oh, no,† he muttered. Then, looking at Elena for the first time, he asked, â€Å"Where's Matt?† â€Å"Matt?† Elena echoed, startled out of her wistful contemplation of Stefan. â€Å"Um, I think he had some kind of meeting tonight. Footbal stuff, maybe?† â€Å"I have to go,† Stefan said tightly, and was immediately gone. With his enhanced abilities, Damon could hear Stefan's light footsteps racing away. But to Elena, he knew, Stefan had been nothing but a silently vanishing blur. Elena turned to Damon, her face crumpling in what he recognized as a prelude to more tears. â€Å"Why would he fol ow me if he doesn't want to talk to me?† she said, her voice hoarse with sorrow. Damon gritted his teeth. He was trying hard to be patient, to wait for Elena to give him her heart, but she kept thinking of Stefan. â€Å"He told you,† he said, keeping his voice even. â€Å"He wants to make sure you're safe, but he doesn't want to be with you. But I do.† Firmly recapturing her arm with his, he tugged her lightly forward. â€Å"Shal we?†

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Great Gatsby Study Guide

The Great Gatsby Study Guide The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, is F. Scott Fitzgeralds most famous novel. Set during the Roaring 20s, the book tells the story of a group of wealthy, often hedonistic residents of the fictional New York towns of West Egg and East Egg. The novel critiques the idea of the American Dream, suggesting that the concept has been corrupted by the careless pursuit of decadence. Though it was poorly received in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby is now considered a cornerstone of American literature. Plot Summary Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, moves to the Long Island neighborhood of West Egg. He lives next door to a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties but never seems to show up at his own events. Across the bay, in the old-money neighborhood of East Egg, Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan lives with her unfaithful husband Tom. Toms mistress, Myrtle Wilson, is a working-class woman married to mechanic George Wilson. Daisy and Gatsby were in love before the war, but they were separated due to Gatsby’s lower social status. Gatsby is still in love with Daisy. He soon befriends Nick, who agrees to help Gatsby rekindle his affair with Daisy by acting as go-between. Gatsby and Daisy restart their affair, but it is short lived. Tom soon catches on and becomes furious over Daisys unfaithfulness. Daisy chooses to stay with Tom due to her unwillingness to sacrifice her social position. After the confrontation, Daisy and Gatsby drive home in the same car, with Daisy driving. Daisy accidentally hits and kills Myrtle, but Gatsby promises to take the blame if need be. Myrtle’s suspicious husband George approaches Tom about the death. He believes that whoever killed Myrtle was also Myrtles lover. Tom tells him how to find Gatsby, suggesting that Gatsby was the driver of the car (and thus indirectly suggesting that Gatsby was Myrtles lover). George murders Gatsby, then kills himself. Nick is one of only a few mourners at Gatsby’s funeral and, fed up and disillusioned, moves back to the Midwest. Major Characters Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a mysterious, reclusive millionaire who climbed from a poor upbringing to immense wealth. Hes an idealist fixated on grandeur and romance, but his relentless attempts to woo Daisy and free himself from his past only brings more tragedy upon him. Nick Carraway. Nick, a bond salesman whos new to West Egg, is the narrator of the novel. Nick is more easygoing than the wealthy hedonists around him, but he is easily awed by their grand lifestyles. After witnessing the fallout from Daisy and Gatsby’s affair as well as the careless cruelty of Tom and Daisy, Nick becomes more jaded and leaves Long Island for good. Daisy Buchanan. Daisy, Nicks cousin, is a socialite and flapper. She is married to Tom. Daisy displays self-centered and shallow characteristics, but the reader occasionally sees glimmers of greater depth beneath the surface. Despite renewing her romance with Gatsby, she is too unwilling to give up the comforts of her wealthy life. Tom Buchanan. Tom, Daisys husband, is wealthy and arrogant. He also displays hypocrisy, as he regularly carries on affairs of his own but becomes furious and possessive when he realizes Daisy is in love with Gatsby. His anger over the affair leads him to mislead George Wilson into believing his wife had an affair with Gatsby- a lie that ultimately results in Gatsbys death. Major Themes Wealth and Social Class. The pursuit of wealth unites most of the characters in the novel, most of whom live a hedonistic, shallow lifestyle. Gatsby- a â€Å"new money† millionaire- finds out that even immense wealth does not guarantee crossing over the class barrier. In this way, the novel suggests that there is a significant difference between wealth and social class, and that social mobility is more illusory than the characters think. Love. The Great Gatsby is a story about love, but it is not necessarily a love story. No one in the novel truly feels â€Å"love† for their partners; the closest anyone comes is Nick’s fondness for his girlfriend Jordan. Gatsby’s obsessive love for Daisy is the center of the plot, but he is in love with a romanticized memory rather than the real Daisy. The American Dream. The novel critiques the American Dream: the idea that anyone can achieve anything if they work hard enough. Gatsby works tirelessly and acquires enormous wealth, but he still winds up alone. The misfortune faced by the novels wealthy characters suggests that the American Dream has become corrupted by the greedy pursuit of decadence and wealth. Idealism. Gatsby’s idealism is his most redeeming quality and his biggest downfall. Although his optimistic idealism makes him a more genuine character than the calculating socialites around him, it also leads him to hold onto hopes that he should let go of, as symbolized by the green light he stares at across the bay. Historical Context Fitzgerald was famously inspired by both the Jazz Age society and the Lost Generation. The novel is steeped in the historical context of the era, from flapper and bootlegging culture to the explosion of â€Å"new money† and industrialization. In addition, Fitzgerald’s own life was reflected in the novel: like Gatsby, he was a self-made man who fell in love with a bright young ingenue (Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald) and strived to be â€Å"worthy† of her. The novel can be read as Fitzgerald’s attempt to critique Jazz Age society and the concept of the American Dream. The decadence of the era is portrayed critically, and the idea of the American Dream is depicted as a failure. About The Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was a key figure in the American literary establishment. His work often reflected on the excesses of the Jazz Age and the disillusionment of the post-World War I era. He wrote four novels (plus one unfinished novel) and over 160 short stories. Although he became something of a celebrity in his lifetime, Fitzgeralds novels didn’t achieve critical success until they were rediscovered after his death. Today, Fitzgerald is hailed as one of the great American authors.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

4 Tips to Sneak Soft Skills in Your Resume

4 Tips to Sneak Soft Skills in Your Resume What should your resume looks like? There are plenty of standard resume tips and resume best practices  out there, but only a few provides actionable tips.  Here are some savvy tips you can incorporate soft skills into your resume. It’s often easier to just list your last five positions than to think of creative ways to sell your personality, but consider these steps to include soft skills into your resume! 1. Use Soft Skills Mentioned in the Job PostingWhen in doubt, always harvest from the ad that told you the job was available! Odds are they’ll mention â€Å"detailsWhenever you’re stuck, think of the STAR method- â€Å"Situation, Task, Action, Result†- to back up what you did, how you did it, and why it matters.Situation:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"As the medical clinic’s head receptionist†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Tasks:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦responsibilities included maintaining schedules, administering paperwork, filing appointment records†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Action:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"â € ¦.and developing a systematized approach to the coordination of care between offices.†Result:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"This coordinating system has now been adopted by all five clinics in the building and facilitates clearer communication and speedier medical care across the clinic.†4. Highlight Your Leadership QualitiesEmphasize the roles in which you’ve supervised others, developed flagship protocols or policies, or headlined important projects! Once again, make sure you have  specific examples to support each instance. If you make it to the interview, you’ll want to illustrate your claims  with quantitative experience.

Monday, November 4, 2019

The effects of alcohol on teenage Research Paper

The effects of alcohol on teenage - Research Paper Example Alcohol-related fatalities remain an important concern across the globe and alcohol abuse has been proven to lead to conflict and violence. Seeking to explore the ramifications of alcohol use and abuse teenagers within society, the following will analyze the negative ramifications of teenage alcohol use. There are many consequences of alcohol use for teenagers including health problems, an increased risk for accidents and anti-social behavior. Teenagers who drink are more likely to drink in excess and this can cause damage to the growing bodies and minds of young people. According to the US Federal Government, â€Å"Exposing the brain to alcohol during this period (under 21 years old) may interrupt key processes of brain development† and â€Å"alcohol–induced brain damage may persist.† (Hanson 2009). Long term effects of alcohol abuse include liver damage and impaired organ functioning. In addition to the health risks – not to mention hangovers and the ensuing effects of alcohol on everybody – young people are also more prone to take risky behavior while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol use leads to drunk driving, accidents and other dangerous behavior. Injuries are common as people loose their inhibitions when drunk. Other social problems c an include poor grades, dropping out of school and a handful of other anti-social behaviors. Young people face a variety of challenges growing up and alcohol use can only complicate an already complicated existence for young people today (see Herd 2001). Hanson, Dr. David J. (2009). "Drinking Alcohol Damages Teenagers’ Brains". Alcohol: Problems and Solutions. Last Accessed March 23 2009,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 16

Analysis - Essay Example The writer also deduces that the â€Å"sublimity and intrinsic dignity that lies in the command in duty† is evident, is not subjective, and does not go against the law. The reasons provided support the thesis by providing the two sides of binary deduction in the thesis. Since the thesis averred that duty should not be derived from human characteristics but from practical unconditional necessity; the passage explains the consequences when duty is derived from the two perspectives. When it is derived from human characteristics, it results to subjective principle, but when derived from unconditional necessity of action, it bears an objective principle. This way, the reader is able to compare and contrast the outcome of the two approaches. The passages plays a significant role because the reader is able to discern that sometimes we act because of being compelled by human characteristics; however, we should act with a sense of good faith, and that is the true sense of