Fist Language Aquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fist Language Aquisition - Essay Example The first step in language acquisition of small children is the determination of sounds. Children learn words by imitating the words they hear from the people around them (people.umass.edu 4). They may have difficulty at first to pronounce the words correctly, but as time goes by, they acquire the correct pronunciation of the words. O’Grady and Sook, however, argue that children do not just imitate, they make their own rules based on what they observe from adults (OGrady and Sook 327). This theory is proven by a common feature of small child’s language, which is the presence of grammatical mistakes. An example of this is when kids say â€Å"goed† instead of â€Å"went† or â€Å"gooder† instead of â€Å"better.† Children might not have heard these words but have concluded that they were the right words to say based on their observation of the speech of those who surround them. There are two patterns in the child word learning, namely the referential and the expressive (pandora.ci.wwu.edu). Referential are the names of objects such as â€Å"dog† or â€Å"toy,† while expressive are the personal desires and social interactions such as â€Å"hi† or â€Å"good.† This characteristic reflects how parents are very influential in the first language acquisition of children. It is essential that when kids make a grammatical error, they should be corrected. Another characteristic of the language of small children is the deletion of unstressed syllables and the retention of stressed syllables in their pronunciation (OGrady and Sook 332). This is because the stressed syllables are more noticeable than the unstressed ones. An example cited by O’Grady and Sook is â€Å"kangaroo† which is often pronounced as â€Å"wu† and â€Å"telephone† which may be pronounced by a child as â€Å"fow† (333). From this feature of a child’s language, it can be said that their â€Å"ability to perceive the phonemic contrasts of their language develops well in advance of their ability to

Economics game theory paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Economics game theory paper - Essay Example Rationality is the first basic assumption of consumer behaviour in microeconomic theory. The implication of rationality is that the consumer’s decisions are motivated by the pursuit of maximizing his/her own utility. In the context of long term health insurance, the rational consumer’s objective is to maximize his utility over the long run by insuring against possible utility losses resulting from ailments. Therefore, if the consumer is rational, under certainty, that is if the consumer knew the exact health contingencies that will occur, the purchase will be made only if the resulting long run utility of the purchase is (weakly) greater than the long run utility of the consumer if he/she does not make the purchase. However, what complicates the situation is that the occurrence of some event that causes damage to health is random and the consumer does not know whether it will occur or not at the time of making the purchase. Therefore, the consumer can maximize only his/ her expected utility through buying or not buying the insurance (Varian, 1997). We now turn to the other important assumption regarding the consumer that we shall abide by – intelligence. The assumption of intelligence comes from nomenclature of game theory. Game theory is essentially a method of mathematically modeling situations of conflict or co-operation (Gibbons, 1992). Intelligent players are players who have the capacity to infer anything about the game that we, the studiers of the game are. More precisely, the implication of the players being intelligent is that if we are able to infer that a given strategy is optimal for any particular player subject to the strategy choice of the rival players, then each and every player of the game will be able to draw the same inference as well (Kreps, 1990). We shall assume that the consumer under consideration is both rational and intelligent. We model the given situation as that of a two player stage game. Player one is a ration al and intelligent consumer and Player two is Mother Nature. To keep things simple we assume that there are two possible states of the world - accident and no accident; and which one is to be realized is a decision made by Mother Nature. Suppose Mother Nature chooses the no-accident state with probability P and this probability is common knowledge. At the time of deciding on the purchase, Player 1 does not know whether he faces an accident or not. Suppose Player 1 earns X1 if the no accident state materializes and earns X2 if the accident state materializes, where X1> X2. Essentially we are assuming that the monetary value of the consumer’s health to himself if there are no accidents is X1 and this reduces to X2 if there is an accident. Define U(X) as the consumer’s utility function with U’ > 0 and U’’ U (X1) > U (X2). Now, to bring in the role of insurance in this setup, suppose that the consumer can purchase insurance against the accident state. Particularly, assume that if the consumer pays a premium ‘K’ then a lump sum transfer of ‘L’ is made to him if the accident state is realized in stage 2. Therefore, contemplating purchasing insurance can be rational only under the following condition: U (X2) < U (X2 +L-K). Mother Nature picks the state of the world. We assume her to be indifferent between the ‘

Descartes Dream Argument Essay

Descartes Dream Argument Essay In Meditation One Rene Descartes brings up the theory concerning those things that can be called into doubt. At the beginning of the meditation Descartes tells us that he wants to reject (or try to reject all of his beliefs). He is trying to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat because as he has matured he has witnessed how numerous were the false opinions that in [his] youth [he] had taken to be true and he had built all his other ideas on those foundations. He also mentions that in order to establish anything firm and lasting then he must free his mind of all presuppositions and see which beliefs are still valid. To accomplish this goal, it would be impossible to call into question every single belief. Descartes believes that if he eliminates his foundation beliefs, then the other beliefs that have been built on top of them will crumble. To be able to doubt any of his foundations, Descartes believes that two steps must be taken in order to truly call in to question or make dub itable these beliefs. The first step is to explain how ones beliefs went wrong, and the second is to explain how things would be different if this belief were to be false. This second step is the most important because if Descartes is unable to imagine a world where one of his beliefs is wrong how can that idea possibly be questioned? The easiest way for Descartes to question his beliefs would be to believe that the senses are unreliable and that they trick us at times. Descartes goes on to tell us that the senses are sometimes deceptive and the senses have tricked him in the past, so they could be tricking him now. This gives weight to cases where the object is a long was off, in bad light, etc. An ordinary sense deception provides a reason for doubting beliefs about objects a long way off, but not objects that are up close and personal in plain view. To be able to bring into question things that are up close and personal in plain view Descartes creates the dream argument and it ha s a very unique view on how dreams can be so real at times that one may not be able to tell the difference when he is dreaming or awake. The dream argument is designed to call into question the existence of the material world. The reason that Descartes creates the dream argument is for the sake of calling into doubt sensory judgments; these are judgments about material things. Descartes believes that ordinary misperception occurs quite often and that the senses lead one to make false judgments. The example that Descartes provides in his meditation is a very simple and clear one. First Descartes has an experience (we will call this E1) that prompts the judgment where he is sitting next to a fire, wearing his winter dressing gown. During this first experience (E1) Descartes has a visual experience of himself sitting next to the fire and wearing his winter dressing gown. Next, Descartes lets us know that he had another experience (E2) and this prompts the same judgment where he is sitt ing next to the fire and wearing his winter dressing gown. The distinctive thing about his last experience (E2) is that he had this experience during a dream. Through these two experiences Descartes comes to the conclusion that there are no definitive signs by which to distinguish being awake from being asleep. Descartes later goes on to explain the significance of the dream argument. First off, all judgments about the material world are based on experience. Secondly, if an experience is dreamt, that is a reason to doubt the judgment based on it. Finally, for any experience (E) there is no way to tell if it is a dreamt or waking experience. These three rules lead to a final conclusion that all judgments based on experience are dubitable. With this conclusion Descartes has shaken the foundations of all of his beliefs. Of course not everything can be answered by the dream argument; there are questions that arise that Descartes is unable to provide an answer for solely with his one the ory. It could be argued that the images we form in dreams can only be made up of bits and pieces of real experience combined in novel ways. This obviously means that without reality and the act of being awake we would not be able to create the things that we could misinterpret without ever waking. Although we can doubt the surface structure of our reality, we have no reason to doubt the things that make up the basics of our daily life. (In particular, there is no reason to doubt the arithmetic and geometric properties that the material world is made out of.) However, in the Sixth Meditation Descartes adopts a position calling into doubt the dream argument and states that there is an obvious way of telling the difference between dreaming and being awake, because dreams are never joined by [his] memory with all the other actions of life. However, to bring a counterpoint to what is said in the Sixth Meditation, Descartes might have stated the following justifications. Just because experiences in dreams are not remembered or interrelated to our waking life does not mean that the dream world during sleep is not another form of reality. Many times I have had dreams that are very vivid and completely leave my mind while awake. However, as I return to bed and prepare to go to sleep these vivid dreams come rushing back as though my psychic being is preparing to enter the dream world. The dream world experienced while asleep may indeed be a completely different dimension that our psychic consciousness goes to. There may be an infinite amount of pl ains that we visit while we are in this dream world. They have no relation to the physical world or experiences that we have while awake therefore; that is why we encounter persons, places and things that are completely unknown and irrelevant to us in the reality we experience while awake. Therefore, who is to say which state is the most real? As we spend almost as much time sleeping as we do awake. Some experiences while awake are primarily to nourish our physical bodies. However, our psychic emotional states may be nourished more while in the dream state as opposed to the repetitive mundane experiences from daily life. It is highly possible that our consciousness develops more while being immersed in the dream state more so than in the waking state which goes hand in hand with the statement reality sucks.

Slavery In Latin America Essay -- Slavery Essays

Slavery In Latin America   Ã‚  Ã‚  Slavery in the Americas was quite diverse. Mining operations in the tropics experienced different needs and suffered different challenges than did plantations in more temperate areas of Norther Brazil or costal city’s serving as ports for the exporting of commodities produced on the backs of the enslaved peoples from the African continent. This essay will look at these different situations and explore the factors that determined the treatment of slaves, the consequences of that treatment, and the conditions that lead to resistance by the slaves working in their various capacities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the initial conquest of Mexico and South America it was time to develop the economy and export the resources that would benefit the monarchy back home in Spain and Portugal. Silver and Gold were two such commodities. Silver mines in Northern Mexico were supervised by blacks who directed the Indians in the arduous task of extracting the precious metal. Gold in Central Mexico was also mined by blacks. The Gold mining regions were hot, tropical, isolated areas of the jungle. The regions were sparsely populated and it was difficult to keep the locals as a work force. The introduction of disease in the tropics made these areas death zones to the indigenous people as they had no resistance to the virulent plagues. There was a need to get cheap or free labor that would be capable of resisting the disease and who would be easier to dominate than the locals who could run off and establish themselves elsewhere relatively easily. The natural answer was to obtain slaves from the African continent. The slave trade was already in operation on the African continent. Coastal cities there often enslaved inland peoples so it was not difficult to obtain the stock and export them to the Americas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Slaves in the mining regions were subject to harsh, isolated conditions. There were few females and little or no community amongst the slaves. Some of the workers did have access to money and as a result could negotiate there freedom for a price. In 1732 1/3 of the African population of Choco was free as a result. Less fortunate slaves who found the conditions unbearable fled to even more isolated areas of the back country to survive on their own or in small colonies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Sugar plantations of Northern Brazil were a major c... ...so manumission possibilities increased. Slaves isolated from family life and culture working in miserable conditions were often flight risks as they had no real options and the terrain lent to good hiding. There were also no whites around to hire as cheap labor to search them out and return them. Mulatto and Criollo slaves were higher on the socioeconomic ladder than the Bozal and were therefore less likely to resist as they were a step away from freedom which meant they would not consider fleeing as good an option as remaining in the social circle and family they had established.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Slavery under any conditions is not the optimum existence for human beings. It is a fact that human nature seeks to dominate. Greed and money are often at the root of such efforts. The Israelites, the Irish, the Africans, and enumerable other groups have heritage that includes a period of slavery or of enslaving or both. African Cimarron communities even enslaved other African fleeing the plantations. It is not rooted in race as much as it is rooted in human nature. The preceding essay is just a synopsis of how it functioned for African’s in certain regions during a space in history.

Why We Should Legalize Marijuana

We should legalize marijuana because it would be a great tax source for the government, it would help out farmers, it would create many jobs, it would eliminate a good majority of the jail population, it would lessen the amount of tension that we see around us, and it is a safe drug. Although there are many good reasons that we should legalize marijuana, there are also some good reasons that we should not legalize it. These include it would increase the amount of lazy people, it might be hard to tax and control it, and it would increase the availability of marijuana to underage people. Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction. † 1 This quote comes from internationally acclaimed Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician Bob Marley. In this quote he is trying to tell us that herb (aka marijuana) is not a bad thing, but instead it is a good thing. It is recognized as a healing herb because of its many calming effects. Marijuana has what are called psychoactive c hemicals, the main one being ‘tetrahydrocannabinol' or THC for short. This is what causes the calming or healing effect of marijuana.Some of the medical uses for marijuana include cure or prevention of Glaucoma a serious eye disease, used by Aids and Terminal Patients to ease nausea and delirium, a natural Sedative and sleep aid if you use the Sativa instead of Indica, a natural nontoxic tranquilizer depending on dosage, and strain, and lastly it improves creativity in some for writing, speaking, drawing, painting, song writing, poetry, and has been used by very many college students to make typically boring subjects and professors interesting.Enables many students who have problems studying the ability to retain information and make it more interesting. Another reason that marijuana should be legalized is because it would vastly increase the amount of money that our government would have available. Our government spends around $7. 7 billion per year on the â€Å"war against marijuana†. If it were to be legalized then our government would make around $6. 2 billion per year, just from taxes. Even the poor would be able to afford marijuana as prices would drop considerably if it were to be legalized.It is estimated that inmates incarcerated on marijuana related offences costs our prison system about $1 billion annually. Legalizing marijuana would also relieve some of the taxes that taxpayers have to pay. Marijuana Prohibition Costs Taxpayers $41. 8 Billion A Year, according to a report from Forbes. It would also help the farmers that farm it. In California, marijuana is its most valuable crop. It brings in roughly $14 billion per year. California's zip tie program aimed at regulating medical marijuana growing by charging permits for each plant raised $600,000 in revenue in for the Sheriff's department in 2011.Legalizing marijuana would not just help the farming business. The city of Oakland, California raised $1. 3 million in tax revenue from medica l marijuana dispensaries in 2011, 3 percent of the city's total business tax revenue. The Sacramento News and Review saw a big boost in ad revenue when it offered advertising space for more than 60 medical marijuana dispensaries, enabling the publication to hire three additional employees. Illegal marijuana is estimated to be a $36 billion a year industry, which could increase to a $100 billion a year industry if it were to be made legal.One of the main reasons that marijuana is illegal is because of the safety concerns of it. Some people consider marijuana to be what is called a â€Å"gateway† drug. A gateway drug is a drug that once taken, leads to the user taking harder drugs such as crack, meth, and heroin. Although there is neither evidence to prove or disprove this theory, the so called â€Å"gateway† effect has only been observed in a small quantity of marijuana users. The high from marijuana might make some people lazy, but it exponentially increases their crea tive capability.Marijuana is also said to be very harmful to the children of pregnant women. Studies show prenatal exposure to marijuana can cause impaired neurological development in the unborn child. Because marijuana causes Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch), problems with memory and learning, loss of coordination, trouble with thinking, and problem-solving it is harmful to drive after consuming it. Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating more rapidly and the blood pressure drops.Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time. Because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate, researchers found that users' risk for a heart attack is four times higher within the first hour after smoking marijuana, compared to their general risk of heart attack when not smoking. It is also said that marijuana has a negative effect on your brain cel ls. But, a Harvard study showed that the negative effects of marijuana on your brain cells was nill.

A ShortStory Based On: Conrades an Eposode

I knew that it was coming, the day I had been dreading. Everyone was saying that it was great, time we taught those Germans a lesson and that we had a duty to do for our country. But I was different. I knew what it was going to be like but whenever I tried to speak out no one listened and said that I was a coward. May be it was true I didn't want to die. I packed up my stuff it had been eight days since I had received the letter informing me that I had to go to war. I had no choice. I had to go. I thought I would be better off just killing my self right now. I had no hope in war. Just look at me 5 feet 2†³ and weighing just 8 stones. What good will I be in the Great War? I said an emotional farewell to my family my mum especially I had always been closest to her. My Dad had always thought of me as a â€Å"no hoper†. He was big and strong nothing like me all he said was â€Å"good luck† with a firm handshake. I could tell he didn't think I was going to last very long what possibly could someone like me do on the battlefield. I was taken to Chesterfield rail station along with another 150 young recruits. We were then to be taken to Winchester army base .I was sitting in the first carriage seat 6a. I was nervous and tired but slightly excited .I was the fist in my seat. It was alphabetically but with a name like Alfred Ambrose I had no choice. I could hear people giggling and looking and pointing. I could imagine what they were saying † I have seen an ear wig bigger than that†. I sat down and took out a book. We were told that it was going to be a six-hour journey. I was disturbed by a deep voice â€Å"Hi nice to meet you I'm Tim Bright†. Tim was a big man, he made me look like a dwarf but my first impression was that he was a gentle giant. He sat down and took out a comic he was 23 and still reading comics but he explained that he had never been taught to read I felt sorry for him. But I was sure that no one was going to mess with him. I read up to chapter six but I was tired, I had not had too much sleep the night before, I couldn't get to sleep because I was nervous and sad to leave my family. I shut my eyes and tilted my head. I was woken by the sound of the steam engine stopping. I heard a whistle and the doors flung open. The 22 men from my carriage departed and formed an orderly queue. When all 150 men ranging from 17 – 23 had left the train a little man with a moustache came round the corner with a green uniform on with socks tucked into shorts and a black cane under his arm. He didn't look scary but looked as if he could get angry very easily. He introduced him self as Corporal Blake † Right lads, you are to be based here for 4 days, during this time you will go through basic training and get to know your fellow comrades. Then you will be shipped of to France and split into pontoons you will be driven to Shrewsbury dock and transported across the English Channel to Normandy.† We were then taken to our dormitories, they were small and were full of old bunk beds made out of thin metal. There was a musty smell in the room but this didn't make much difference I was only here for 4 days. Training was due to start tomorrow. I sat on the bed and thought about what was to come. I was sharing with the same people from my carriage so at least I had seen all the faces before. I was on the bottom bunk and Tim was on the top he came down and we played a nice friendly game of black jack with a few of the other guys. It was getting dark and I was feeling tired I lied down on the bed but it wasn't very comfortable but It would do. † Ding a ling, ding a ling† I was woken at 7o'clock by the sound of a large bell fitted in all dormitories. It was earlier than I was used to but I had had a long sleep so I was feeling refreshed. This gave us time to have a shower and eat breakfast, which wasn't particularly nice, warm lumpy porridge had never been my favourite. This was our last day before we set off for Normandy. Today we were due to received our kit. It took all day for everyone to get kited out, I was near the beginning due to my name but this did give me time to think and write my parents a letter. It was six thirty by the time every one was ready. Then we were called to the briefing room (a really big long room with a desk). We were given our orders and instructed to be ready by four thirty for a five o'clock sharp leave. Once again the bell was to be sounded there was to be 35 trucks full of men and 12 full of equipment. † Ding a ling, ding a ling† up we got and out side we went, lining up next to our assigned truck. We climbed in, when given the order as warned we left at 5 0'clock.A convoy of 47 trucks. In my truck there were the men from my dorm but my only real friend was Tim I sat next to him and we just talked of home. The journey was only going to be 2 hours so it wasn't that bad but it was really uncomfortable. We arrived at Shrewsbury dock at 4 minutes past seven. Our so-called â€Å"ferry† was to leave at seven thirty. It was more of a raft than a proper boat made out of iron with a small sheltered area with a little engine only capable of a top speed of 8 knots. We were told that we couldn't travel in anything to big, as it was too DANGEROUS because we ran the risk of being bombed. I thought it would still be pretty easy to see 32 boats crossing the English channel but that was the reason we had to go at a time of low light ready to be there at noon so we could fight straight away. The crossing was rough but not quite as bad as I had expected. We arrived at a small naval port in west Normandy there were only a few other men waiting our arrival but they did let of a small cheer to make us feel welcome which was enough for me. We unloaded and received our equipment it was so heavy I could hardly stand up. But the worst of it was still to come we had to march 6 miles with our equipment to get used to the weight and the amount of walking that was to come in the future. We set off in good sprits but after almost 2 hours we still had not arrived at our string hold on the front. But we had seen and heard our first exchange of bullets and shells this just reminder us of the reality and the reason that we are here. It was scary but I was ready to fight, I might not be much good but I had come this far there was no point backing out now. We marched through a small French town deserted but under close watch from our allies. The trenches were just 200 yards but we had to walk another half mile along them before we got to the fighting. We were to be stationed along the trenches as backup and reserve's for the troops already there. As I had expected Tim had been put in charge of our pontoon it was only twelve strong. He had been chosen because of his outstanding performance in the training. The noise was amazing there were non-stop firing and exploding. I just wondered how you were supposed to sleep. I was told that you didn't even try to sleep just for the fear of a grenade or shell landing near by. I wasn't concentrating when I heard a bellow â€Å"section 2† it was Tim our pontoon were needed on the front line for the first time and it was only our fourth day here. â€Å"Right lads, we are needed the others have been drooping like flies lets do it for our selves and our country.† † One last thing good luck†. It wasn't the best speech but Tim wasn't that good with words. We moved forward as a team, for the first time I loaded my rifle and looked out over the trench wall for to see a mess of mud and barbed wire, craters and even dead bodies. I had got through 56 rounds off ammo in 3 days we had only lost 2 lives which was a good ratio compared to things before. â€Å"Lets go lads we are going over the top† This is what I had been dreading, there were 4 other sections going with us to try and make 12 yards to the next set of trenches where we were needed as back up. This was the most dangerous part of the job so far as we were venerable to German fire as well as our own sides as they try to protect. â€Å"1,2,3,4,5†¦10 OK lets go† I was running with my head down when my first nightmare came true. Tim had been hit only in the leg but it looked bad he was like a sitting duck, there was no way he could survive. I luckily made it to the other side, we had suffered 6 deaths and 4 injuries. I looked back to see Tim still alive in pain I couldn't leave him I had to try and save him. I knew I was mad and stupid but he was my best mate I had to. I climbed over the back of the trench with a determined look in my eye, I ran as quickly as I could and reached him in good health, he looked bad, pale and weak, blood pouring out of his wound. I grabbed him by the arms and pulled with my little strength luckily it was enough. I was only a meter away when I felt an unbearable pain in my lower back, I collapsed and couldn't move. I knew it was bad but even worse I had failed Tim what kind of a friend was I. Fortunately we were close to the trench and we had a chance, as expected two men crawled out and dragged us back to the safety of our own trench. The medic was called for and looked at Tim first because he was more important than I was. The verdict was good he and his leg could be saved. It was bandaged and he was taken away. I was not quite so lucky I thought I had no change of walking again and would be lucky to still be a live in 12 hours I was taken to the nearest hospital along with Tim. It didn't hurt that much mainly because I had no feeling up to my navel. 12 WEEKS LATER I had been lucky the doctors had managed to save me but I was paralysed from the lower back down. I was in a wheel chair and in the same ward as Tim. He was staggering about and was on course for a full recovery. Tim and my self were due to go home in three hours there was no use for us anymore. We were both injured and could do nothing to help our country. All I was happy about was that I had managed to save my friend he said he owed every thing to me and promised to look after me for as long as he could. I was sedated for the crossing to stop pain and discomfort I thought back 16 weeks ago when I was on my way to France not on the way back in a wheel chair. We arrived earlier than expected and my parents were not there yet it wasn't long until they arrived and were shocked when they saw me. Tim went over and explained what had happened and how I was a hero in his and everyone else's eyes. My Dad came over and said, † I'm proud of you my son† This was the first time he had ever said anything like that to me. I went home to a hero's welcome, totally unexpected every one in the town lined the streets to cheer me home. They thought of me as someone special who gave his ability to walk to save another persons life. That's not the end of it I was even given a bravery award presented to me by Her Majesty the Queen. But if anyone asks I would do the same again to save my best and only friend Tim.

Pandillas como MS-13 y leyes migratorias de EE.UU.

Pandillas como MS-13 y leyes migratorias de EE.UU. Ser miembro de una pandilla como la MS-13 o la Mara Salvatrucha, o incluso la simple sospecha de pertenencia actual o pasada causa problemas migratorios gravà ­simos para todos los extranjeros presentes en el paà ­s. Por su gran impacto migratorio, este artà ­culo informa sobre quà © es una pandilla, conocida tambià ©n como mara, cà ³mo las autoridades migratorias obtienen informacià ³n sobre quià ©n es o puede ser pandillero, cules son las consecuencias migratorias y quà © se puede hacer si se tienen problemas por esta razà ³n.  ¿Quà © se considera que es una pandilla o mara? No hay una definicià ³n legal à ºnica sobre quà © es una pandilla. Sin embargo, el Departamento de Seguridad Interna (DHS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s), del que dependen organismos migratorios como ICE y USCIS, considera que una pandilla es una asociacià ³n formal o informal de tres o ms personas que tiene como uno de sus principales objetivos cometer uno o ms delitos. Es decir, una mara no tiene que ser una organizacià ³n grande y conocida como la Mara Salvatrucha, la MS-13 o los Latin Kings.  ¿Cà ³mo saben las autoridades migratorias que un migrante es pandillero? Las autoridades migratorias consultan una o varias bases de datos que incluyen informacià ³n sobre las personas que pertenecen a alguna de esas organizaciones o de quienes se sospecha que tienen algà ºn tipo de afiliacià ³n con las mismas o, incluso, quienes pertenecieron en el pasado. Entre la informacià ³n que se registra en las bases de datos se encuentran los nombres de los pandilleros, apodos, direccià ³n, descripcià ³n fà ­sica y marcas, como por ejemplo lunares o cicatrices, tatuajes, nacionalidad, identificacià ³n de la pandilla a la que pertenecen o con la que se sospecha que estn afiliados y posicià ³n dentro de la misma. Entre las bases de datos ms utilizadas destaca GangNet. Se sabe que la utilizan al menos el FBI, ICE - la agencia encargada de ejecutar las leyes migratorias- , 14 estados y el Distrito de Columbia. En 2016, ICE dejà ³ de utilizar ICEGangs y ahora busca informacià ³n sobre posibles pandilleros en la citada GangNet y en otras bases de datos como, ICM, EID y FALCON. Adems, estados, condados o ciudades pueden tener sus propias bases de datos para este fin. Una de las ms completas es CalGang, a la cual aà ±aden informacià ³n todos los departamentos de policà ­a del estado de California. Se da por hecho entre los abogados migratorios que el Departamento de Seguridad Interna, del cual dependen ICE y USCIS, tiene acceso a la informacià ³n que contienen muchas de esas bases de datos locales o estatales, pero se desconoce el alcance de la colaboracià ³n.  ¿Cà ³mo se incluye una persona en una base de datos sobre pandillas o maras? Segà ºn el Centro de Recursos Legales Migratorios (ILRC, por sus siglas en inglà ©s), el nombre de una persona puede incluirse en una base de datos sobre pertenencia o afiliacià ³n con maras en cuatro situaciones. En primer lugar, como resultado de la investigacià ³n de un delito. En segundo lugar, por lo que se declara cuando se est en custodia de la policà ­a. En tercer lugar, por condena en un juicio y, en cuarto lugar, como consecuencia de lo que un agente anota durante lo que se conoce como una entrevista de campo (field interview, en inglà ©s). En este contexto, debe entenderse como una entrevista de campo una interaccià ³n entre un pandillero o sospecho de serlo y un agente de la policà ­a que tiene lugar en un vecindario de una ciudad con un alto à ­ndice de presencia pandillera. Cada estado establece sus propias reglas para determinar cundo el agente puede incluir a una persona en una base de datos de pandillas, por lo que es imposible brindar reglas generales. Sin embargo, en California, donde la presencia pandillera es notable, la ley permite la inclusià ³n de una persona en CalGang si cumple al menos dos de los siguientes requisitos: Ha reconocido pertenecer a una maraHa sido arrestada en compaà ±Ãƒ ­a de personas conocidas como pandillerosHa sido identificada como miembro de una pandilla por un informanteExhibe sà ­mbolos o gestos manuales propios de pandillasTiene tatuajes propios de pandillasFrecuenta lugares en los que se reà ºnen las pandillasViste ropa que se identifica con una determinada mara Como consecuencia de la laxitud de los requisitos para ser incluido en una base de datos sobre pandillas, entre los defensores de los migrantes se argumenta que muchas de las personas incluidas en las mismas no son, en realidad, pandilleros. Adems, cuando una persona est detenida en una crcel o prisià ³n no migratoria frecuentemente se registra su afiliacià ³n con una pandilla - verificada o presunta- para evitar colocar en el mismo mà ³dulo carcelario a miembros de distintas organizaciones. Asimismo, agencias migratorias como la Policà ­a Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) e ICE tambià ©n registran si una persona es sospechosa de pertenecer a pandillas e incluso agencias privadas que gestionan crceles migratorias, como CCA y GEO, tambià ©n realizan esta clase de anotaciones. Por otro lado, hay que tener en consideracià ³n que cada jurisdiccià ³n establece las reglas sobre si es obligatorio notificar a una persona que ha sido incluida en alguna de dichas bases de datos o registros sobre pertenencia a pandillas, por lo que en muchos casos el interesado no sabe que su nombre ha sido incluido. Una vez que el nombre ha sido incluido, es muy difà ­cil sacarlo de la base de datos. Estar incluido en una base de datos de maras,  ¿cà ³mo afecta a los asuntos migratorios? La pertenencia a pandillas se considera, desde el punto de vista migratorio, como una amenaza a la seguridad nacional de los Estados Unidos, lo cual significa que si un migrante es calificado como tal, tiene un problema migratorio gravà ­simo. Hay que destacar distintas situaciones. En primer lugar, si una persona extranjera est detenida por Inmigracià ³n y se sabe o sospecha que es miembro de una pandilla como los Latin King, MS-13 o Mara Salvatrucha, no va a obtener una fianza o, si la obtuviese, va a ser por un monto muy alto. Adems, se inicia un procedimiento de deportacià ³n o expulsià ³n en su contra. No cabe duda de que la pertenencia actual o pasada a una pandilla o mara es causa prioritaria de deportacià ³n. En el caso de migrantes no detenidos que solicitan un beneficio migratorio, como un ajuste de estatus, por ejemplo, DACA para jà ³venes indocumentados que llegaron a Estados Unidos siendo nià ±os o la visa U para và ­ctimas de violencia, dicho beneficio puede ser negado y, de hecho, eso es lo que sucede en la mayorà ­a de los casos. La denegacià ³n del beneficio migratorio puede deberse porque se pregunta especà ­ficamente en el formulario de aplicacià ³n sobre pertenencia a pandillas y, en caso de que asà ­ sea, se aplica lo que se conoce como causa de inadmisibilidad (a)(3)(B) que da lugar a que no se pueda estar en EE.UU. y se inicie un proceso de deportacià ³n. En otros casos en los que no se se realiza esa pregunta, como es el caso de los formularios de DACA, el beneficio ser negado casi siempre porque el oficial del USCIS tiene el poder discrecional de decidir si aprueba el beneficio que se solicita y, en el caso de los pandilleros, la regla general es no aprobarlo.  ¿Quà © se puede hacer cuando un migrante es sospechoso de pandillero? Estos son casos muy delicados y que deben ser siempre tratados en confidencialidad con un abogado que tenga experiencia en este tipo de casos y que conozca las reglas y reglamentos del estado respecto a pandillas y bases de datos. Si una persona extranjera se ha movido en cà ­rculos pandilleros, aunque no haya pertenecido a ninguna pandilla o si realmente ha tenido membresà ­a en alguna de ellas, deberà ­a consultar con un abogado antes de solicitar cualquier tipo de beneficio migratorio, ya que podrà ­a estar provocando el inicio de un proceso de deportacià ³n en su contra. Es importante que el abogado conozca si el estado est obligado a comunicar la inclusià ³n de una persona en la base de datos. En el caso de que se produzca dicha comunicacià ³n, se debe contratar a un abogado para que intente apelar y borrar el nombre del migrante de dicha base de datos. Si se vive en una jurisdiccià ³n donde la autoridad no est obligada a notificar la inclusià ³n de una persona en un registro de maras, es importante que el abogado intente recabar esa informacià ³n indirectamente. Por ejemplo, solicitando rà ©cords de posibles arrestos, de oficiales de libertad condicional o parole o, incluso, de high school, ya que en muchas escuelas se realizan anotaciones sobre posible pertenencia a pandillas de los estudiantes. Puntos clave Las pandillas o maras son consideradas una amenaza a la seguridad de EE.UU.Membresà ­a o sospecha de pertenencia a pandillas es causa de problemas migratorios graves.Existen varias bases de datos de pandilleros. Es posible estar en una sin saberlo. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Is the ACT Easier Than the SAT

Is the ACT Easier Than the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Because all US colleges accept scores from either the ACT or SAT, picking the test on which you’ll perform better is critical to your admission chances. But when parents and students ask whether the ACT is easier than the SAT, it can be hard to give a good answer. You might not know how the tests compare with each other or which one you're more likely to do better on. There aredifferences between the SAT and ACT that can make one or the other legitimately easier or harder for test takers. So how do you know whether the SAT or ACT is easier for you? Keep reading to learn the eight key factors that'll help you determine whether the ACT or SAT is easier. Although theACT and SAT differ in a lot of ways, only a few are really important to understanding whether the ACT or SAT is a better fit for you. Each student is different in each of the below factors. As a result,one testwill be easier for you depending on your own strengths and weaknesses. We’ve broken down our analysis into two major sections: content-related and format-related. ACT and SAT Content-Related Abilities: 6 Factors Before we get into specific content-related abilities, let's quickly go over the structures of the two tests. The SAT contains three sections: Reading Writing and Language (hereafter Writing) Math By contrast, the ACT contains four sections: English Math Reading Science Both tests also have an optional essay.Each section has a different format on the ACT than on the SAT, but only some of these differences really matter. Here are the most crucial factors to consider as well as our tips on what these might indicate about which test is easier for you. Factor 1: HowBroad Is Your Mathematical Knowledge? While the SAT and ACT both emphasize algebra questions in their math sections,the ACT's Math section typically tests a wider range of mathematical concepts- such aslogarithms, graphs of trig functions, and matrices- that the SAT doesn't cover. The ACT also has significantlymore questions dealing with geometry and trigonometrythan the SAT does.On the ACT's Math section, about a quarter to a third of the questions will be about geometry or trigonometry, while less than 10% of the SAT's math questions will focus on either of these topics. More SAT Math questions will focus on algebra, along with some other topics such as data analysis and modeling. In addition to testing a wider range of math topics,the ACT doesn't give you any math formulas at the beginning of the Math section, so you’ll need to have them all memorized. On the contrary, the SAT will give you most of the major math formulas you'll need for the test. Here are some key questions to ask yourself: Can I memorize all the formulas I'll need to know? Do I have strong geometry and trigonometry skills? Would I prefer to have primarilyalgebra-related questions? Bottom Line:If you’re more comfortable with algebra than you are with geometry and trigonometry, SAT Math will likely be easier for you than ACT Math will be. Factor 2: How Confident Are You Without a Calculator? Students are not allowed to have a calculator for part of the SAT Math section. The SAT Math section has two parts: a No Calculator part (20 questions) and a Calculator part (38 questions). By contrast, the ACT allows you to use a calculator for all math questions. Every question on the SAT No Calculator subsection is solvable by hand; however, these problems will sometimes require complicated calculations. If you aren't comfortable solving these questions without having a calculator to help you out, this part of the SAT might be challenging for you. Bottom Line:If you prefer always having access to a calculator on math problems, you might find ACT Math easier. Factor 3: Are You Comfortable With Scientific Terminology for ACT Science? Lots of people make a big deal out of the ACT Science section, but the truth is thatit's not actually about science. It doesn't test much knowledge of actual scientific facts, such as freezing points or solubility rules, but it does use a lot of scientific language. The Science sectionalso uses charts and graphs that will be familiar to students with strong science backgrounds. While the SAT incorporates some of these concepts into its three sections, you'll still be answering more questions like thison the ACT. The sample data below is typical of the ACT Science section: Source: Official ACT Practice Test 2005-06 You can answer questions about this information without knowing thatMg means magnesium, or that mol stands for the unit of measurement mole, or that˚C means degrees Celsius. That said, it's a lot faster and easier if you do know these things. And because your Science score factors into yourACT composite score, if you don't know Science well, the Science section can lower your overall score. Bottom Line:Comfort with scientific terms and experience gathering scientific data from charts and graphs will give you a greater advantage on the ACT. While you don't need experience in a lab, you should have some basic science knowledge for the ACT. Factor 4: Can You Remember the Location of Details in Reading Passages? An often-overlooked aspect concerning whether the SAT or ACT is easier for a student is the detail questions on the Reading sections of each test. In short, the SAT gives you more information to work with than the ACT does. Look at it like this: after you read about two pages of an academic book, do you tend to remember where the different pieces of information are located in that reading? Or do you need to go back over it to find specific details? Your answer to these questions canmake adifference between your SAT and ACT Reading scores. This is because one big, somewhat odd difference between the SAT and ACT is their treatment of details in their respective Reading sections. While both tests have questions about small, specific details from the readings,the SAT will usuallytell you what line they're referring to, whereas the ACT frequently does not. Here's a simple example from an ACT Reading section: This kind of question (we call it "fact-finding" at PrepScholar) isn't a challenge if you have the line numbers where the information is located. During the ACT, though, it can be difficult and time-consuming to skim a passageto figure out which specific parta question is referring to. On the SAT, most questions have a line number. Even if they don't, SAT Reading questions always proceed in chronological order. This means you'll have a general idea of where the key information is even if you're not given an exact line reference. If you can easily remember where information is located in a passage, these ACTquestions will be a piece of cake and give you extra time for the harder ones. If you don't, ACT Readingwill frustrate you and simply suck up your precious time. Bottom Line:The ability to remember the locations of details in reading passageswill give you a greater advantage on the ACT. Factor 5: How Easily Can You Cite Evidence for Your Answers? On Reading, the SAT has questions calledevidence-support questions, whichthe ACT doesn't have. These are two-part questions: thefirst question will ask you something general about the passage, whereasthe following question will ask you to cite the specific evidence that supports your answer to the previous question. Here's an exampleof one of these question pairs on the SAT: Source: Official SAT Practice Lesson Plans for Teachers by Teachers As you can see, these questions can be tricky because theyrequire higher-level thinking and strong reasoning skills. If you're stuck on the first question, you likely won't get the second one right either. Take the ACT, though, and you won't have to worry about Reading questions like these. Bottom Line:If you aren’t used to finding evidence to support your reasoning, SAT Reading might be more challenging for you than ACT Reading. Factor 6: Which Types of Writing Questions Do You Prefer? Both the SAT and the ACT Writing/English sections have passage-based questions, but the topics these questions focus on differ between the two tests. ACT English is slightly more focused on grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. This sectionalso includes big picture questions thatask about the main idea of the passage, whereas SAT Writing doesn't include these types of questions. On the other hand,the SAT focuses more on questions about writing style. It also includes what are known as precision questions; these require you to select the most appropriate word or phrase. Because of precision and other similar questions, the SAT tends to test vocabulary a little more than the ACT does. Bottom Line:The Writing/English sections for both testsare highly similar. However, if you have a solid knowledge of grammar and sentence structure, youmight find ACT English easier, whereas if you prefer questions aboutwriting style and vocabulary,SAT Writing might be easier for you. Instead of flipping through a dictionary to learn vocab, why not check out our SAT vocab list? ACT and SAT Format-Related Abilities: 2 Factors For this section major section, we look at format-related abilities. Unlike content-related abilities, which deal with the content of the ACT and SAT, format-related abilities deal with the overall structures of the two tests and the testing requirements of your state. Below are the top two format-related factors to consider as well as our advice on whether the ACT or SAT might be easier for you. Factor 7: Are You Able to Avoid Getting Stuck on Challenging Questions? Especially in the Math sections of both tests and theSciencesection of the ACT, it's easy for many students to get wrapped up in trying to figure out a particularly challenging problem. This can turn into spending four or five minutes on a single question and missing other ones as a result. Why is this important? The ACT gives much less time per question. Here is a chart showing the time per question on both tests, for reference: Test Section Total Time # of Questions Time per Question ACT English 45 minutes 75 36 seconds Math 60 minutes 60 60 seconds Reading 35 minutes 40 53 seconds Science 35 minutes 40 53 seconds SAT Reading 65 minutes 52 75 seconds Writing 35 minutes 44 48 seconds Math No Calculator: 25 minutes Calculator: 55 minutes No Calculator: 20 Calculator: 38 No Calculator: 75 seconds Calculator: 86 seconds As you can see from this comparison chart, in all sections the ACT offers less time per question than the SAT does.While the ACT English and SAT Writing sections only differ by 12 seconds per question, the two tests' Reading sections differ by 22 seconds- that's almost half a minute more per question! With the Math sections, too, the ACT offers far less time per question. On the SAT Math Calculator subsection, you'll get about 86 seconds per question; however, you'll get 26 seconds less on each ACT Math question. Bottom Line:The ability to move on from difficult questions and work quickly will give you a greater advantage on the ACT. Factor 8: Do You Live in a State That Requires ACT or SAT Testing? This last factor is pretty cut and dried: if your state requires you to take one of the two tests, you'll likely find that test easier. The following 15 states use the ACT as part of their statewide testing regimen: Alabama Hawaii Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina North Dakota (students must take ACT or WorkKeys) South Carolina Utah Wisconsin Wyoming And the following eight regions use the SATas part of their testing regimen: Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Maine Michigan New Hampshire Having a required test can help you be more prepared for that exam. For example, if you live in a state that requires you to take the ACT, you'll likely receive significant in-school preparation for that exam, and yourteachers will be more familiar with how the ACT is formatted and what skills it tests. Even though you can still take the test your state doesn't require, you'll likely be less familiar with it and won't have had as much exposure to it as you did with the one required by your state. Bottom Line:Living in one of the states where the ACT or SAT is requiredwillgive you a slight advantage on that test.That said, if you’re committed toprepping seriously, you’ll get so much exposure to whichevertest you choose that this initial boost won’t make much of a difference in the end. What's your move: ACT or SAT? ACT vs SAT: How Do I Decide Which Test to Take? In this article, we’ve listed tons of important factors to help you figure out whether the ACT or SAT will be easier for you. But is there a quicker way to determine which test you should take? We recommend using the chart below to help organize your thoughts. For each question, answer yes or no (by marking it with an X or check mark) in accordance with your own personal strengths and weaknesses. Once finished, tally up your yes marks and give yourselfonepoint for each yes. For example, if you answered yes to the first question about trigonometry, you'd get one point. However, if you answered no, you'd earn zero points for that question. Question Yes No Are you good at applying trigonometry and geometry skills? Do you like being able to use a calculator on math questions? Are you good at memorizing lots of math formulas? Are you comfortable with scientific terms? Can you easily remember the locations of details in passages? Do you have strong grammar and punctuation skills? Can you work quickly and efficiently? Do you live in one of the mandatory ACT testing states? Are you OK with answering questions that arenot in chronological order? Is it difficult for you to find evidence in passages to support your answers? Do you struggle to answer questions about writing style? Do you often have trouble with vocabulary questions? Once you've tallied up your points, find your score below to learn what it means about which test will be easier for you: 1-4 points: The SAT's got your name on it! If you answered mostly "no" in the chart above, then you'll likely find the SAT easier than the ACT. With the SAT, you don't have to worry about as many geometry questions or a science section, and you'll get more time per question. 5-8 points: You can take the ACT or SAT If you answered "yes" and "no" an equal (or nearly equal) number of times, you can take either test. In other words,the SAT and ACT will be roughly the same difficulty based on the combination of strengths and weaknesses you noted above. 9-12 points: The ACT's the one for you! If you answered mostly "yes," then the ACT will be the easier test for you. With the ACT, you'll get to flex your science and trig muscles. You'll also get to focus more on grammar and punctuation knowledge and less on vocab and writing style. What's the Best Way to Figure Out Whether to Take the ACT or SAT? The above factors we covered are just general principles to guide your thinking. In the end, the best gauge of which test fits you better is to take a full-length practice test of each test and compare your scores on them.You can access all officialSAT practice tests and ACT practice testsfor free on our blog. We’ve also written guides on how to figure out what your target SAT score and target ACT score should be. Knowing this can help you determine how far you'll have to improve on each test. If your practice test score for one test is higher than it is for the other in relation to your target score, you'll likely have a better shot at getting into your target colleges using that test! What's Next? If you're aiming for a top ACT or SAT score, check out our guides togettinga perfect SAT scoreand a perfect ACT score. Both were written by our resident full scorer! Not sure when to take the ACT or SAT? Figure out the best test dates to take the SAT or ACT, and learn how to create an ACT/SAT study schedule for yourself. Whether you decide to take the SAT or ACT,youhaveto know what your target score is. Figure this out using ourSAT target score guideandACT target score guide. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT and ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160+ points or your ACT score by 4+ points. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Definition and Examples of Dynamic Verbs

Definition and Examples of Dynamic Verbs In English grammar, a dynamic verb is a  verb used primarily to indicate an action, process, or sensation as opposed to a state. Also called an action verb or an event verb. Also known as  a  non-stative verb or  action verb.  Contrast with stative verb. There are three major types of dynamic verbs: 1) accomplishment verbs (expressing action that has a logical endpoint), 2) achievement verbs (expressing action that occurs instantaneously), and 3) activity verbs (expressing action that can go on for an indefinite period of time). Examples and Observations They throw the ball, I hit it.They hit the ball, I catch it.(Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Mays)He had learned to walk and run and fight in the twisting alleys and dirty gutters of Rome.(Howard Fast, Spartacus. Blue Heron Press, 1951)I ate a banana and drank a glass of nonfat chocolate milk for breakfast. After that, I washed the breakfast dishes with liquid soap and lemon juice. I threw them in the dish drainer so they could dry naturally and left the house.(Lori Aurelia Williams, Broken China. Simon Schuster, 2006)They roared and clapped, sang and shouted as I performed, and with each moment my heart filled fuller.(Emmanuel Jal, War Child: A Child Soldiers Story. St. Martins Griffin, 2010)America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair.(Arnold Toynbee, BBC news summary, July 14, 1954)[I]n summer everything fills. The day itself widens and stretches almost around the clock; these are very high latitudes, higher than L abradors. You want to run all night. Summer people move into the houses that had stood empty, unseen, and unnoticed all winter. The gulls scream all day and smash cockles; by August they are bringing the kids.(Annie Dillard, Mirages, 1982) Brandt ran back to the deepest corner of the outfield grass, the ball descended beyond his reach and struck in the crotch where the bullpen met the wall, bounced chunkily, and vanished.(John Updike, Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, 1960)Verbs act. Verbs move. Verbs do. Verbs strike, soothe, grin, cry, exasperate, decline, fly, hurt, and heal. Verbs make writing go, and they matter more to our language than any other part of speech.(Donald Hall and Sven Birkerts, Writing Well, 9th ed. Longman, 1997) Whats the Difference Between a Dynamic Verb and a Stative Verb? A dynamic verb (such as  run, ride, grow, throw) is primarily used to indicate an action, process, or sensation. In contrast, a stative verb (such as be, have, seem, know) is primarily used to describe a state or situation. (Because the boundary between dynamic and stative verbs can be fuzzy, its generally more useful to talk of dynamic and stative meaning and usage.) Three Classes of Dynamic Verbs If a​  clause can be used to answer the question What happened?, it contains a non-stative (dynamic) verb. If a clause cannot be so used, it contains a stative verb. . . . It is now accepted practice to divide dynamic verbs into three classes. . . . Activity, accomplishment and achievement verbs all denote events. Activities denote events with no built-in boundary and stretching out over time. Achievements denote events conceived of as occupying no time at all. Accomplishments denote events with an activity phase and a closure phase; they can be spread out over time, but there is a built-in boundary.(Jim Miller, An Introduction to English Syntax. Edinburgh University  Press, 2002)

Customer Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Customer Care - Essay Example This is an opportunity for the business to introduce new changes in order to retain its competitive in the market (Shaw, 2011). In case the company was not the leading firm in the market, it can take this as an opportunity to make the first changes, an aspect that would attract the loyalty of the customers towards its products or services. Therefore, it can gain a competitive edge in the market by introducing new changes that aim at satisfying the needs of the target market. Complaints by the customers create an opportunity for the business to initiate a research on how to satisfy the interests of the target market. This is through coming up with innovative ideas which are recent (Shaw, 2011). Many of the companies have identified new avenues of improving the business performance while trying to look for ways to address the complaints made by the customers. Therefore, customer complaints can act as a turning point for the

Theory and concepts of creating a financial model Essay

Theory and concepts of creating a financial model - Essay Example Management should be skeptical of the model assumptions that will be related to the recommendation. There are different types of financial models that are used for various purposes. For example, a cash flow model is regarded as a powerful tool that can assist a financial team with project future performance in a business venture by evaluating the effect of that type transaction such as an an acquisition and LBO(Shim 2007, 67)2. It is also able to calculate returns and perform ration analysis. Financial models for investment options or product services are often custom developed in excel sheets as they take into account for unique characteristics such as cost structure, product market and competitive situation. The following guidelines should be used: Outline the model the type of model structure that would include the general output and the key components.The weight cost and the advantages of the type of model will also be factored in. The forecasting future method should be used in any financial model (Fernholz 2002, 56). When constructing a cash flow model there are a number assumptions that must be included. In this kind of financial model, there is a deterministic approach that uses certain simplifications.Among them is the investment of return that is known and does not usually vary from year to year. Another important aspect is that this rate is the same rate that will be used to discount the reserves and the third aspect is that the ultimate loss ration will be accurately predicted. There are some concepts that one has to know when creating a financial model like a cash flow model. Firstly, you have to have to start with the in mind- This will be inclusive of whether you are pricing options of an investment or building3. With the Cash flow model, you should be able to check for assumptions. From this you would be able to get truthfully generate outputs with a certain number of inputs. This kind of model should be one that you are able to adjust automatic ally and should be dynamic depending on your inputs. This model does not give room for a formula, like for instance, that will multiply a specific number of units with the determined price (Hambrook 2003, 95). This gives room in case the price might change in future. If you use a fixed formula and the prices change in the future, you will be forced to go the right cell of the Excel sheet and make changes every time the price changes. One of the major concerns that most investors have is determining the relationship between the risk and the return of a financial asset. This kind of information can be obtained in his portfolio. It is general knowledge that there is a good relationship between the risk and the expected return of a financial asset. In other words, when the risk of an asset increases, so does its expected return. What this means is that if an investor is taking on a big risk, he is expected to be compensated for doing so with a higher return of sales in the futures. Simi larly, if the investor wants to boost or increase the the expected return of the investment, he needs to be prepared to take on more risk. This is the reason why a portfolio is used to give this important relationship. It is important to note that the concept of Modern Portfolio Theory to show the connection between the risk and return of a portfolio of financial assets. The three types of portfolios that will help us

Attitude Towards Different Age Groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Attitude Towards Different Age Groups - Essay Example This essay will discuss peoples attitudes when treating those in different ages in different cultures (Baumeister et al 33). In most European Countries, most young people treat the old harshly. Young people assume that older people are more prone to accidents, slow learners, slow thinkers, and have a rapid physical deterioration. This is an unfair assumption since statistics from the world health organization, show that road traffic deaths involving young people under the age of 25 years are more compared to those involving the older people. In fact, one out of three road accidents involve the younger people. It is unfair for the younger people to assume that the older are slow learners and slow thinkers since there is no evidence to show that a person’s intellect decreases, as one grows older. There is also an assumption among the young people in Europe that older people are always sick. They believe the common myth that diseases are synonymous with aging, which is false sinc e there are many older people who have perfect health and do not look frail or old (Diller 47). Outright prejudice and discrimination towards the old are not only in Europe. In many developed Western countries, the majority treats the youth as the backbone of the future. This has created the image that the old no longer hold their place in society. There is brainwashing of the media, to view the old as people who should not serve anymore. This has, in turn, instilled a negative public image towards the old. Most professions exclude the old and leave them out in essential programs that could benefit them. It is a general view among most doctors that older people are too late for preventive care. This has led to late response to medical conditions in older people. Most receive inferior medical care, particularly when facing minor medical problems such as loss of teeth; hearing loss, loss of vision among others.

Compare and Contrast Three Computers and Recommend the Best Essay

Compare and Contrast Three Computers and Recommend the Best - Essay Example Compare and Contrast Three Computers and Recommend the Best Considering the importance of computer to a business organization, the decision of choosing one is highly significant. While choosing the best computer for a business organization one has to evaluate all aspects. At least three computers must be chosen and their features should be compared and contrasted and then the best one should be chosen. Best computer for an organization should have a fast processor, ample storage capacity, fulfill audio video needs and should support optical device. Other features like ability to upgrade and expand and support/warranty should also be considered. Acer Veriton VM670G-UQ9501C Acer Veriton is designed for business organization and is capable of running all business applications and software. It has 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Processor and 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM. 320GB memory means that there is enough space for the organization to record all its data and store various documents. This memory can be expanded to 8GB and storage capacity can also be do ubled with the installation of memory cards. The dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4350 PRO video   in the machine one feature that distinguishes it with most other corporate desktops. This video card enables users to create a variety of new and vibrant brochures designs and make use of multimedia tools and applications in order to make the organization more profitable and productive . The machine has 10 Usb ports, Ethernet pert and DVD drive. It enables connection with printers, multimedia and other devices that aid business process. Moreover the machine comes with three year warranty and users have complete support and assistance from the manufacturer. Apple iMAC Apple iMAC is easily available in stores and online. Apple iMac is ideal for viewing high definition content and using application that require high resolution. The machine has 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB of memory. It has 500GB SATA hard drive which is more than sufficient for data storage for average business us er. â€Å"Hard drive storage can be expanded to a huge capacity of 2TB. The maximum levels of hard drive space, processor speed and memory capacity are far greater than the average business user will ever need.†( â€Å"Apple iMac Review†, n.d). Though the led technology screen displays colors accurately it is reported that the screen lacks reflective coating. â€Å"Especially under fluorescent lights, the screen acts as a mirror and reflects its surroundings, making the completion of tasks difficult at best.† ( â€Å"Apple iMac Review†, n.d) The iMAC has highly effective data transfer tools. The thunderbolt port transfers data up to 12 times faster than any usb port and it is also more versatile.(apple, 2011). It does not have Ethernet port but it has an in built Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The iMAC comes with 90 days of support over the telephone for any sort of assistance and a 1 year warranty. Apple iMAC is ideal for firms that make use of high definition con tent for instance advertisement agencies but for other firms for instance accountancy firm, its massive memory and high resolution might be of little use. HP Compaq 6000 Pro The base processor of HP Compaq 600 pro is the Intel Celeron 450 that runs at 2.20 GHz. It can be upgraded to a maximum of 2.66 to 3.0 Core 2 Quad processor. It has 2 GB memory which can be extended to 16

Substantive Law Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Substantive Law - Movie Review Example This paper intends to analyze from the substantive law point of view of the unfolding events within the movie â€Å"The Accused† as written by Tom Topper in 1988 (Ebert para 1-10). The movie is a description of unfortunate happenings that involve Sarah Tobias who is the accused of luring herself into the unfortunate rape ordeal and who is accused of the same. Moreover, in a rather twisty way, the case moves from her accusation and she becomes the accuser in trying to seek justice for her own misfortune. The movie therefore depicts that rape victims would stand to be accused in causing it to happen. The drunkards in the bar where she goes and drinks uncontrollably, shows the substantive sides of the legal movie through the abuse of Tobias rights. The drunkard men blamed the accused for first over-drunkard-ness after which she engaged in provocative dance, which leads to her rape. Under the substantive law provisions, the public (represented by the people who were drinking withi n the bar at the time of the happening) had the right to disciplined dance by the accused, which was not observed when the accused engaged in dancing provocatively. On the other hand, the accused had the right to personal security as against the assault through rape and jeering by the drunkards in the bar. ... Moreover, while drunk, the accused disrupts the peace of the customers who were enjoying themselves in the bar through indecent dances, which provoked the men to rape her. This was therefore offensive and the accused would be rightfully accused under the criminal law of engaging in risky behavior in the public. On her side as the defendant, Sarah would argue that she was entitled to taking alcohol in the bar just as any other adult person was. She would justify her dance with the fact that though she was drunk, she was allowed by the law to dance and as such, she was not responsible for any possible offence she would cause the other people through her dance. She was therefore not rightfully being accused for being the cause to her rape but rather, the rapists should have been accused for physically assaulting her and emotionally hurting her through the chanting and the jeers, which encouraged her perpetrators to continue with harassing her. On the other side of the case was the accus ed accusing the rapists of causing physical and emotional harm to her through the rape as well as the jeers and the chants. With the plaintiff deciding to lower the charges against the accused in the cases for â€Å"aggravated assault,† the complainant feels rather assaulted in that the case involved had the magnitude of brutal rape in front of other people. The court under the substantive law framework had the responsibility to treat the case with the seriousness of such a crime against the complainant’s rights and freedoms. The complainant’s argument was therefore that though she as a woman who acted indecently in the bar had the right to say no to the atrocities and be heard which was not

Medium is the Message Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medium is the Message - Essay Example In considering the overarching nature of the song medium there are a number of reasons I chose this as my primary area of investigation. The primary reason I chose this medium relates to the subject matter embodied in the song. While the song is well over a decade old, when one examines the current political climate they recognize that there is great strife. For instance, one can consider the conflict that has arisen between the United States and the Middle Eastern states. While America has been progressively withdrawing forces, it goes without saying that there continues to be significant emotional conflict. In addition to this, I recognize that the medium of music is extremely powerful in its visceral appeals and this made me excited to investigate the medium. The song itself was recorded by Michael Jackson on his Dangerous album in 1991 (Michael Jackson: Dangerous’). It can broadly be categorized as pop, or soft rock and gospel. When one considers the target audience for th e song, it’s clear that while it has mainstream appeal, it is also intended for a more specific audience. In these regards, it seems that the song indicates that earth needs everyone to be as one in order to make a better world, especially the ones who creates war such as dictators or terrorist, as well as children because they are the new generation who can give hope for the future. Indeed, the song is open to the public sphere and encourages them to end the deterioration that is occurring as a direct result of war and conflict. Ultimately, the ideology that is being advanced is simply that it’s time to heal the world. In considering the reason that Michael Jackson wrote the song it’s clear there are a number of possible interpretations. From a cynical perspective one can argue that Michael Jackson was primarily interested in releasing a pop song that would sell to a mass audience. In considering the song it’s clear that the themes and message relate to a broad audience. The song’s can be listened to by individuals across the globe and they can equally relate to its message. In these regards, t

Substantive Law Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Substantive Law - Movie Review Example This paper intends to analyze from the substantive law point of view of the unfolding events within the movie â€Å"The Accused† as written by Tom Topper in 1988 (Ebert para 1-10). The movie is a description of unfortunate happenings that involve Sarah Tobias who is the accused of luring herself into the unfortunate rape ordeal and who is accused of the same. Moreover, in a rather twisty way, the case moves from her accusation and she becomes the accuser in trying to seek justice for her own misfortune. The movie therefore depicts that rape victims would stand to be accused in causing it to happen. The drunkards in the bar where she goes and drinks uncontrollably, shows the substantive sides of the legal movie through the abuse of Tobias rights. The drunkard men blamed the accused for first over-drunkard-ness after which she engaged in provocative dance, which leads to her rape. Under the substantive law provisions, the public (represented by the people who were drinking withi n the bar at the time of the happening) had the right to disciplined dance by the accused, which was not observed when the accused engaged in dancing provocatively. On the other hand, the accused had the right to personal security as against the assault through rape and jeering by the drunkards in the bar. ... Moreover, while drunk, the accused disrupts the peace of the customers who were enjoying themselves in the bar through indecent dances, which provoked the men to rape her. This was therefore offensive and the accused would be rightfully accused under the criminal law of engaging in risky behavior in the public. On her side as the defendant, Sarah would argue that she was entitled to taking alcohol in the bar just as any other adult person was. She would justify her dance with the fact that though she was drunk, she was allowed by the law to dance and as such, she was not responsible for any possible offence she would cause the other people through her dance. She was therefore not rightfully being accused for being the cause to her rape but rather, the rapists should have been accused for physically assaulting her and emotionally hurting her through the chanting and the jeers, which encouraged her perpetrators to continue with harassing her. On the other side of the case was the accus ed accusing the rapists of causing physical and emotional harm to her through the rape as well as the jeers and the chants. With the plaintiff deciding to lower the charges against the accused in the cases for â€Å"aggravated assault,† the complainant feels rather assaulted in that the case involved had the magnitude of brutal rape in front of other people. The court under the substantive law framework had the responsibility to treat the case with the seriousness of such a crime against the complainant’s rights and freedoms. The complainant’s argument was therefore that though she as a woman who acted indecently in the bar had the right to say no to the atrocities and be heard which was not

The Two Waiters At The Café Essay Example for Free

The Two Waiters At The Cafà © Essay Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place† is about two waiters discussing an old customer late in the night.   The younger waiter is anxious to go home, while the older waiter is in no hurry whatsoever.   The latter would like to stay at the cafà © to serve customers who might drop by unexpectedly, seeing that the cafà © is a clean and well-lighted place while bars are not as clean and well-lighted.   The younger waiter, on the other hand, is in a hurry to get into bed with his wife.    The older waiter lives by himself and finds it difficult to sleep in the night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An obvious difference between the older waiter and the younger waiter is that the latter poses questions and expects the older waiter to possess answers for each of them.   The older waiter is asked about the old customer in detail.   Although he does not possess all answers to the younger waiter’s questions, he makes inferences to develop the conversation.   Moreover, the younger waiter mentions that he is full of confidence, which the older waiter says that he lacks.   The younger waiter does not mention lack in his life in any way, while the older waiter feels that he is deprived of everything other than work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, while the younger waiter is focused on ending his work for the night and returning home, the older waiter indulges in a great deal of thinking.   He speculates about the life of the old customer, and also tries to engage the younger waiter in deep thinking.   When the younger waiter mentions that he would like to return home, the older waiter asks him the meaning of an hour.   To this, the younger waiter replies that an hour is more precious to him than to the old customer.   The old waiter explains that an hour is the same to both individuals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even as he goes home, the older waiter must decide to stop thinking.   He says to himself, nevertheless, that many people may be experiencing insomnia.   The younger waiter is not expected to think so much.   It can be inferred that the younger waiter’s life is based on actions rather than thoughts for the most part. Works Cited Hemingway, Ernest. â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.†

The Benefits Of Bilingualism Toward Career Advancement English Language Essay

The Benefits Of Bilingualism Toward Career Advancement English Language Essay Being fluent in more than one language has not been popular until this past decade. Since the Internet has made our world smaller, more and more businesses have become global and have a lot of branches all over the world. They hire both local and international personals. When the demand of bilingual workers is higher, being able to communicate more than one language has become a better choice for students and adults. Nowadays, there are many skills that can make your job application and resume stand out from other competitions. The ability to communicate a foreign language is very valuable in many career fields, such as teachers, government officials, or social workers. Bilingualism attracts international employers, helps to better understand diverse customers, and has more financial perks. First of all, being bilingual attracts international employers. Since more and more businesses become interconnected, with companies establishing branches abroad and hiring from local people, it is important that employees in the states increase their marketability. In Foreign Language Needs of US Businesses, William Kordsmeier, Joe Arn, and Betty Rogers explore how US multicultural firms are in need of foreign language speakers. The authors study which language is the most in demand language by the US businesses, and how the firms prefer an applicant with two or more fluency in foreign languages. They also show that foreign language fluency is the initial reason to hire someone for a multicultural firm (169-71). Similarly, in Cultural and Linguistic Ambidexterity, Peter Galuszka explains that employers in a global economy look to hire bilingual and multilingual students as soon as they graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso, also known as UTEP. Galuszka shows that UTEP is situated near the US-Mexico border, and it has economic appeal in itself. Plus, the students who attend UTEP are from both the US and Mexico, so most of them speak both English and Spanish (29-31). Both articles foreground the idea of international firms are interested in hiring more bilingual or multilingual candidates. To emphasize that more businesses look to hire more bilingual personals, Kordsmeier, Arn, and Rogers cites Inman who states Proficiency in a foreign language is highly desirable in the marketplace. Whereas many fields seek employees, who possess foreign language proficiency in addition to expertise in the particular disciplines, the field of business places the greatest emphasis on both foreign language capability and knowledge of a specific subject area. (169) The authors are suggesting that more businesses prefer employees who are able to communicate in another language, in addition to other skills that those employees already possess. Similarly, Galuszka cites Michael Hissam, a Delphis regional director for communications in Mexico, who says work starts at 5 a.m. so specialists can be in touch with other Delphi teammates across the world, from Asia to Europe, to the United States (30). This means that Delphi is an international business and has divisions all over the world. Because of how they have to communicate with every part of the world, they need staff that can at least speak two or more languages. As you can see that both articles emphasize how important it is for a global business to have efficient bilingual or multilingual personals. Secondly, being bilingual can help the company to better understand the need of diverse customers. If the company is in an area with a diverse population, being bilingual has a big advantage. In Cultural and Linguistic Ambidexterity, Galuszka states it might sound like a no-brainer that being bilingual or multilingual helps students planning a career Whats more, being able to go beyond mere language ability and understand cultural distinctions are extra advantages (29). This shows that not only understanding the language is important, but to have deeply knowledge of the culture of the spoken language is also even more significant. Similarly, in Fluency in a foreign language can translate into a world of professional possibilities, Sonja Brown Stokely writes about an experience of an African-American man named Edward Harley, who teaches English in Japan. In order for Harley to be able to teach English, he is required to be fluent in Japanese and understand Japanese culture. Harley is currently working in New York City as a copy editor. He handles all clients from Japan for the company and makes sure that everything goes smoothly with no misunderstanding between cultures (126). As you can see that both articles emphasize that bilingual can help the company to better understand the need of diverse customers, it opens the connections between the firm and the customer. Understanding the culture is also a factor of earning customers loyalty to the business. Lastly, bilingualism has more financial perks. As a bilingual employee, you have the benefit of being able to negotiate a higher salary because the business with bilingual staff can also attract more diverse customers. Therefore, the more bilingual acquaintances, the more money you earn. To support this claim, in Fluency in a foreign language can translate into a world of professional possibilities, Stokely says In some careers in the US, the ability to speak and write languages such as Spanish, French, or German is looked upon as having a specialized skill. And employers are willing to pay for that skill. For example, in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California, police officers and fire fighters can make an extra 5% to 10% on their salaries if they are fluent in Spanish (126). Stokely is suggesting that being fluent in another language can help you earn more in your career. Her article is full of examples of a few people who succeed because of being a bilingual. Another support for the claim is about a sales position, which is also where the second language skills are in high demand. A sales person is able to speak Spanish and he earns from commission. He is the only salesman who can speak Spanish at that company, therefore he handles all the Spanish customers. So, he is the only one that earns the highest commission (128). Similarly, in rewarding workplace bilingualism, Amado M. Padilla explores the economic gain of being bilingual. He asks a series of questions to different fields of business. The overall result is that bilingual gets paid more than their peers. To support the claim, he writes A hotel manager or a customer-service representative who knows English and Spanish or English and Korean may look much better at promotion time than one who knows only English (21). This shows that being bilingual adds a chance to being considered to get promoted and advance further in your career. Both articles foreground the idea that being bilingual has more financial perks and adds a chance to get promoted easily. In conclusion, being bilingual or multilingual has benefits toward career advancement. It helps your application or resume stand out when you apply for a job at a global company that has many divisions around the world. Being bilingual can also help you reach further for customers in a diverse society, as you understand more of their cultures. This leads to gaining more clients for the company and therefore earning more salaries and promotions toward you.

Analysis of The Ending of Jacobs Wake Essay -- Papers

Analysis of The Ending of Jacob's Wake The ending of a play can be one of purpose, one that leaves you with a sense of completion and fulfillment. In the play â€Å"Jacob’s Wake† the ending was, to say the least, odd. I didn’t really get a sense that the ending belonged to the play. The whole time during the play I was waiting for things to turn around in the family, then all of a sudden the ghost came into play. Though I wasn’t much of a fan of the whole play, I did think the ending could have been done a little better. I thought the ending was trying to portray how things were going to be turned around and that the family was going to work together. Having said this, I think the ending that the director said he was going to leave the play at would have been worse. If the play ended where Rose threw the glass at Winston, I would have left the play completely disappointed. Throughout the whole play, it was the same redundant story line where basically family members would argue. I wouldn’t have felt that I had seen the ending if nothing seemed to change. I felt that even though the ending seemed to just come out of the blue, that it did put things together. All of the brothers and the father pulled together to save the ship, which seemed to symbolize how they actually did care about each other, and wanted to change their way of life. I also felt that until the ending the Skipper never really had a meaningful part, yet the play was supposed to revolve around him. The ending, when the S kipper’s ghost appeared, made me feel for the first time in the play that he had an important part. It made me see that he was the head of the family and that he would guide the family. I thought that the ending finally put some meaning... ... see that the only character that was trying to make things better, Brad, was so tormented that he committed suicide. I didn’t leave the play with a sense hat I learned something from it. The play for me just seemed to carry on into this long path of unhappiness. I would have felt better if something, such as the death of Brad, would have changed the characters’ attitudes. Little seemed to make these characters see that they lived in a destructive household. I did not particularly like the ending, but I do think that it was maybe trying to portray what I was hoping to see. At least the ending did have a change of pace for the play, but I thought that it was just too out of place. I think an ending that was a little more defined or true to life would have suited the play better, and left the audience with a better outlook on the play or even life in general.

Theme of Loneliness in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men :: Steinbeck Of Mice and Men Essays

Theme of Loneliness in Of Mice and Men In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and the poem "Eleanor Rigby" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, many of the characters are experiencing loneliness. When people feel lonely their way of lifestyle are different then that of someone's who's not lonely or them if they were not lonely. Also because they are lonely their actions are different. They portray this in both the novel and the poem. The effects of loneliness on people are displayed in the novel Of Mice and Men through the character of Curley's Wife. As stated, when people feel lonely their actions and way of life are affected. In the plot they show that if it wasn't for Curley's Wife's loneliness she may not have died the way she did. Because she is so lonely she goes to the other men in the bunkhouse for company. When all of the men refuse to spend time with her because of the reaction Curley has on this, she goes to the one person on the ranch that she knows will talk to her, the mentally retarded man, Lennie. While talking to him she asks him to feel her hair, which he does and this leads to her death by breaking her neck. If it wasn't for Curley's Wife's loneliness, she would have never gone to Lennie for company and she wouldn't have died on that day in that way. Because this happens in the novel and there are so many other lonely characters in the novel, such as Curley, Candy, Crooks and George in the end, the theme of the novel Of Mice and Men is loneliness and the need for companions. The affects of loneliness on people are displayed in the poem "Eleanor Rigby" through the characters of Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie. Through figurative language they show that Eleanor Rigby is very lonely and that she never sees many people. They say "Waits at the window wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door, who is it for?" Through this they show that everyday she puts on makeup, a face, that no one will see because she is lonely.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 20. New

Everything was so clear. Sharp. Defined. The brilliant light overhead was still blinding-bright, and yet I could plainly see the glowing strands of the filaments inside the bulb. I could see each color of the rainbow in the white light, and, at the very edge of the spectrum, an eighth color I had no name for. Behind the light, I could distinguish the individual grains in the dark wood ceiling above. In front of it, I could see the dust motes in the air, the sides the light touched, and the dark sides, distinct and separate. They spun like little planets, moving around each other in a celestial dance. The dust was so beautiful that I inhaled in shock; the air whistled down my throat, swirling the motes into a vortex. The action felt wrong. I considered, and realized the problem was that there was no relief tied to the action. I didn't need the air. My lungs weren't waiting for it. They reacted indifferently to the influx. I did not need the air, but I liked it. In it, I could taste the room around me – taste the lovely dust motes, the mix of the stagnant air mingling with the flow of slightly cooler air from the open door. Taste a lush whiff of silk. Taste a faint hint of something warm and desirable, something that should be moist, but wasn't†¦ That smell made my throat burn dryly, a faint echo of the venom burn, though the scent was tainted by the bite of chlorine and ammonia. And most of all, I could taste an almost-honey-lilac-and-sun-flavored scent that was the strongest thing, the closest thing to me. I heard the sound of the others, breathing again now that I did. Their breath mixed with the scent that was something just off honey and lilac and sunshine, bringing new flavors. Cinnamon, hyacinth, pear, seawater, rising bread, pine, vanilla, leather, apple, moss, lavender, chocolate†¦. I traded a dozen different comparisons in my mind, but none of them fit exactly. So sweet and pleasant. The TV downstairs had been muted, and I heard someone – Rosalie? – shift her weight on the first floor. I also heard a faint, thudding rhythm, with a voice shouting angrily to the beat. Rap music? I was mystified for a moment, and then the sound faded away like a car passing by with the windows rolled down. With a start, I realized that this could be exactly right. Could I hear all the way to the freeway? I didn't realize someone was holding my hand until whoever it was squeezed it lightly. Like it had before to hide the pain, my body locked down again in surprise. This was not a touch I expected. The skin was perfectly smooth, but it was the wrong temperature. Not cold. After that first frozen second of shock, my body responded to the unfamiliar touch in a way that shocked me even more. Air hissed up my throat, spitting through my clenched teeth with a low, menacing sound like a swarm of bees. Before the sound was out, my muscles bunched and arched, twisting away from the unknown. I flipped off my back in a spin so fast it should have turned the room into an incomprehensible blur – but it did not. I saw every dust mote, every splinter in the wood-paneled walls, every loose thread in microscopic detail as my eyes whirled past them. So by the time I found myself crouched against the wall defensively – about a sixteenth of a second later – I already understood what had startled me, and that I had overreacted. Oh. Of course. Edward wouldn't feel cold to me. We were the same temperature now. I held my pose for an eighth of a second longer, adjusting to the scene before me. Edward was leaning across the operating table that had been my pyre, his hand reached out toward me, his expression anxious. Edward's face was the most important thing, but my peripheral vision catalogued everything else, just in case. Some instinct to defend had been triggered, and I automatically searched for any sign of danger. My vampire family waited cautiously against the far wall by the door, Emmett and Jasper in the front. Like there was danger. My nostrils flared, searching for the threat. I could smell nothing out of place. That faint scent of something delicious – but marred by harsh chemicals – tickled my throat again, setting it to aching and burning. Alice was peeking around Jasper's elbow with a huge grin on her face; the light sparkled off her teeth, another eight-color rainbow. That grin reassured me and then put the pieces together. Jasper and Emmett were in the front to protect the others, as I had assumed. What I hadn't grasped immediately was that was the danger. All this was a sideline. The greater part of my senses and my mind were still focused on Edward's face. I had never seen it before this second. How many times had I stared at Edward and marveled over his beauty? How many hours – days, weeks – of my life had I spent dreaming about what I then deemed to be perfection? I thought I'd known his face better than my own. I'd thought this was the one sure physical thing in my whole world: the flawlessness of Edward's face. I may as well have been blind. For the first time, with the dimming shadows and limiting weakness of humanity taken off my eyes, I saw his face. I gasped and then struggled with my vocabulary, unable to find the right words. I needed better words. At this point, the other part of my attention had ascertained that there was no danger here besides myself, and I automatically straightened out of my crouch; almost a whole second had passed since I'd been on the table. I was momentarily preoccupied by the way my body moved. The instant I'd considered standing erect, I was already straight. There was no brief fragment of time in which the action occurred; change was instantaneous, almost as if there was no movement at all. I continued to stare at Edward's face, motionless again. He moved slowly around the table – each step taking nearly half a second, each step flowing sinuously like river water weaving over smooth stones – his hand still outstretched. I watched the grace of his advance, absorbing it with my new eyes. â€Å"Bella?† he asked in a low, calming tone, but the worry in his voice layered my name with tension. I could not answer immediately, lost as I was in the velvet folds of his voice. It was the most perfect symphony, a symphony in one instrument, an instrument more profound than any created by man___ â€Å"Bella, love? I'm sorry, I know it's disorienting. But you're all right. Everything is fine.† Everything? My mind spun out, spiraling back to my last human hour. Already, the memory seemed dim, like I was watching through a thick, dark veil – because my human eyes had been half blind. Everything had been so blurred. When he said everything was fine, did that include Renesmee? Where was she? With Rosalie? I tried to remember her face – I knew that she had been beautiful – but it was irritating to try to see through the human memories. Her face was shrouded in darkness, so poorly lit___ What about Jacob? Was he fine? Did my long-suffering best friend hate me now? Had he gone back to Sam's pack? Seth and Leah, too? Were the Cullens safe, or had my transformation ignited the war with the pack? Did Edward's blanket assurance cover all of that? Or was he just trying to calm me? And Charlie? What would I tell him now? He must have called while I was burning. What had they told him? What did he think had happened to me? As I deliberated for one small piece of a second over which question to ask first, Edward reached out tentatively and stroked his fingertips across my cheek. Smooth as satin, soft as a feather, and now exactly matched to the temperature of my skin. His touch seemed to sweep beneath the surface of my skin, right through the bones of my face. The feeling was tingly, electric – it jolted through my bones, down my spine, and trembled in my stomach. Wait,I thought as the trembling blossomed into a warmth, a yearning. Wasn't I supposed to lose this? Wasn't giving up this feeling a part of the bargain? I was a newborn vampire. The dry, scorching ache in my throat gave proof to that. And I knew what being a newborn entailed. Human emotions and longings would come back to me later in some form, but I'd accepted that I would not feel them in the beginning. Only thirst. That was the deal, the price. I'd agreed to pay it. But as Edward's hand curled to the shape of my face like satin-covered steel, desire raced through my dried-out veins, singing from my scalp to my toes. He arched one perfect eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. I threw my arms around him. Again, it was like there was no movement. One moment I stood straight and still as a statue; in the same instant, he was in my arms. Warm – or at least, that was my perception. With the sweet, delicious scent that I'd never been able to really take in with my dull human senses, but that was one hundred percent Edward. I pressed my face into his smooth chest. And then he shifted his weight uncomfortably. Leaned away from my embrace. I stared up at his face, confused and frightened by the rejection. â€Å"Urn†¦ carefully, Bella. Ow.† I yanked my arms away, folding them behind my back as soon as I understood. I was too strong. â€Å"Oops,† I mouthed. He smiled the kind of smile that would have stopped my heart if it were still beating. â€Å"Don't panic, love,† he said, lifting his hand to touch my lips, parted in horror. â€Å"You're just a bit stronger than I am for the moment.† My eyebrows pushed together. I'd known this, too, but it felt more surreal than any other part of this ultimately surreal moment. I was stronger than Edward. I'd made him say ow. His hand stroked my cheek again, and I all but forgot my distress as another wave of desire rippled through my motionless body. These emotions were so much stronger than I was used to that it was hard to stick to one train of thought despite the extra room in my head. Each new sensation overwhelmed me. I remembered Edward saying once – his voice in my head a weak shadow compared to the crystal, musical clarity I was hearing now – that his kind, our kind, were easily distracted. I could see why. I made a concerted effort to focus. There was something I needed to say. The most important thing. Very carefully, so carefully that the movement was actually discernible, I brought my right arm out from behind my back and raised my hand to touch his cheek. I refused to let myself be sidetracked by the pearly color of my hand or by the smooth silk of his skin or by the charge that zinged in my fingertips. I stared into his eyes and heard my own voice for the first time. â€Å"I love you,† I said, but it sounded like singing. My voice rang and shimmered like a bell. His answering smile dazzled me more than it ever had when I was human; I could really see it now. â€Å"As I love you,† he told me. He took my face between his hands and leaned his face to mine – slow enough to remind me to be careful. He kissed me, soft as a whisper at first, and then suddenly stronger, fiercer. I tried to remember to be gentle with him, but it was hard work to remember anything in the onslaught of sensation, hard to hold on to any coherent thoughts. It was like he'd never kissed me – like this was our first kiss. And, in truth, he'd never kissed me this way before. It almost made me feel guilty. Surely I was in breach of the contract. I couldn't be allowed to have this, too. Though I didn't need oxygen, my breathing sped, raced as fast as it had when I was burning. This was a different kind of fire. Someone cleared his throat. Emmett. I recognized the deep sound at once, joking and annoyed at the same time. I'd forgotten we weren't alone. And then I realized that the way I was curved around Edward now was not exactly polite for company. Embarrassed, I half-stepped away in another instantaneous movement. Edward chuckled and stepped with me, keeping his arms tight around my waist. His face was glowing – like a white flame burned from behind his diamond skin. I took an unnecessary breath to settle myself. How different this kissing was! I read his expression as I compared the indistinct human memories to this clear, intense feeling. He looked†¦ a little smug. â€Å"You've been holding out on me,† I accused in my singing voice, my eyes narrowing a tiny bit. He laughed, radiant with relief that it was all over – the fear, the pain, the uncertainties, the waiting, all of it behind us now. â€Å"It was sort of necessary at the time,† he reminded me. â€Å"Now it's your turn to not break me.† He laughed again. I frowned as I considered that, and then Edward was not the only one laughing. Carlisle stepped around Emmett and walked toward me swiftly; his eyes were only slightly wary, but Jasper shadowed his footsteps. I'd never seen Carlisle's face before either, not really. I had an odd urge to blink – like I was staring at the sun. â€Å"How do you feel, Bella?† Carlisle asked. I considered that for a sixty-fourth of a second. â€Å"Overwhelmed. There's so much. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I trailed off, listening to the bell-tone of my voice again. â€Å"Yes, it can be quite confusing.† I nodded one fast, jerky bob. â€Å"But I feel like me. Sort of. I didn't expect that.† Edward's arms squeezed lightly around my waist. â€Å"I told you so,† he whispered. â€Å"You are quite controlled,† Carlisle mused. â€Å"More so than expected, even with the time you had to prepare yourself mentally for this.† I thought about the wild mood swings, the difficulty concentrating, and whispered, â€Å"I'm not sure about that.† He nodded seriously, and then his jeweled eyes glittered with interest. â€Å"It seems like we did something right with the morphine this time. Tell me, what do you remember of the transformation process?† I hesitated, intensely aware of Edward's breath brushing against my cheek, sending whispers of electricity through my skin. â€Å"Everything was†¦ very dim before. I remember the baby couldn't breathe___† I looked at Edward, momentarily frightened by the memory. â€Å"Renesmee is healthy and well,† he promised, a gleam I'd never seen before in his eyes. He said her name with an understated fervor. A reverence. The way devout people talked about their gods. â€Å"What do you remember after that?† I focused on my poker face. I'd never been much of a liar. â€Å"It's hard to remember. It was so dark before. And then†¦ I opened my eyes and I could see everything† â€Å"Amazing,† Carlisle breathed, his eyes alight. Chagrin washed through me, and I waited for the heat to burn in my cheeks and give me away. And then I remembered that I would never blush again. Maybe that would protect Edward from the truth. I'd have to find a way to tip off Carlisle, though. Someday. If he ever needed to create another vampire. That possibility seemed very unlikely, which made me feel better about lying. â€Å"I want you to think – to tell me everything you remember,† Carlisle pressed excitedly, and I couldn't help the grimace that flashed across my face. I didn't want to have to keep lying, because I might slip up. And I didn't want to think about the burning. Unlike the human memories, that part was perfectly clear and I found I could remember it with far too much precision. â€Å"Oh, I'm so sorry, Bella,† Carlisle apologized immediately. â€Å"Of course your thirst must be very uncomfortable. This conversation can wait.† Until he'd mentioned it, the thirst actually wasn't unmanageable. There was so much room in my head. A separate part of my brain was keeping tabs on the burn in my throat, almost like a reflex. The way my old brain had handled breathing and blinking. But Carlisle's assumption brought the burn to the forefront of my mind. Suddenly, the dry ache was all I could think about, and the more I thought about it, the more it hurt. My hand flew up to cup my throat, like I could smother the flames from the outside. The skin of my neck was strange beneath my fingers. So smooth it was somehow soft, though it was hard as stone, too. Edward dropped his arms and took my other hand, tugging gently. â€Å"Let's hunt, Bella.† My eyes opened wider and the pain of the thirst receded, shock taking its place. Me? Hunt? With Edward? But†¦ how? I didn't know what to do. He read the alarm in my expression and smiled encouragingly. â€Å"It's quite easy, love. Instinctual. Don't worry, I'll show you.† When I didn't move, he grinned his crooked smile and raised his eyebrows. â€Å"I was under the impression that you'd always wanted to see me hunt.† I laughed in a short burst of humor (part of me listened in wonder to the pealing bell sound) as his words reminded me of cloudy human conversations. And then I took a whole second to run quickly through those first days with Edward – the true beginning of my life – in my head so that I would never forget them. I did not expect that it would be so uncomfortable to remember. Like trying to squint through muddy water. I knew from Rosalie's experience that if I thought of my human memories enough, I would not lose them over time. I did not want to forget one minute I'd spent with Edward, even now, when eternity stretched in front of us. i would have to make sure those human memories were cemented into my infallible vampire mind. â€Å"Shall we?† Edward asked. He reached up to take the hand that was still at my neck. His fingers smoothed down the column of my throat. â€Å"I don't want you to be hurting,† he added in a low murmur. Something I would not have been able to hear before. Tm fine,† I said out of lingering human habit. â€Å"Wait. First.† There was so much. I'd never gotten to my questions. There were more important things than the ache. It was Carlisle who spoke now. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"I want to see her. Renesmee.† It was oddly difficult to say her name. My daughter, these words were even harder to think. It all seemed so distant. I tried to remember how I had felt three days ago, and automatically, my hands pulled free of Edward's and dropped to my stomach. Flat. Empty. I clutched at the pale silk that covered my skin, panicking again, while an insignificant part of my mind noted that Alice must have dressed me. I knew there was nothing left inside me, and I faintly remembered the bloody removal scene, but the physical proof was still hard to process. All I knew was loving my little nudger inside of me. Outside of me, she seemed like something I must have imagined. A fading dream – a dream that was half nightmare. While I wrestled with my confusion, I saw Edward and Carlisle exchange a guarded glance. â€Å"What?† I demanded. â€Å"Bella,† Edward said soothingly. â€Å"That's not really a good idea. She's half human, love. Her heart beats, and blood runs in her veins. Until your thirst is positively under control†¦ You don't want to put her in danger, do you?† I frowned. Of course I must not want that. Was I out of control? Confused, yes. Easily unfocused, yes. But dangerous? To her? My daughter? I couldn't be positive that the answer was no. So I would have to be patient. That sounded difficult. Because until I saw her again, she wouldn't be real. Just a fading dream†¦ of a stranger†¦ â€Å"Where is she?† I listened hard, and then I could hear the beating heart on the floor below me. I could hear more than one person breathing – quietly, like they were listening, too. There was also a fluttering sound, a thrumming, that I couldn't place___ And the sound of the heartbeat was so moist and appealing, that my mouth started watering. So I would definitely have to learn how to hunt before I saw her. My stranger baby. â€Å"Is Rosalie with her?† â€Å"Yes,† Edward answered in a clipped tone, and I could see that something he'd thought of upset him. I'd thought he and Rose were over their differences. Had the animosity erupted again? Before I could ask, he pulled my hands away from my flat stomach, tugging gently again. â€Å"Wait,† I protested again, trying to focus. â€Å"What about Jacob? And Charlie? Tell me everything that I missed. How long was I†¦ unconscious?† Edward didn't seem to notice my hesitation over the last word. Instead, he was exchanging another wary glance with Carlisle. â€Å"What's wrong?† I whispered. â€Å"Nothing is wrong† Carlisle told me, emphasizing the last word in a strange way. â€Å"Nothing has changed much, actually – you were only unaware for just over two days. It was very fast, as these things go. Edward did an excellent job. Quite innovative – the venom injection straight to your heart was his idea.† He paused to smile proudly at his son and then sighed. â€Å"Jacob is still here, and Charlie still believes that you are sick. He thinks you're in Atlanta right now, undergoing tests at the CDC. We gave him a bad number, and he's frustrated. He's been speaking to Esme.† â€Å"I should call him†¦,† I murmured to myself, but, listening to my own voice, I understood the new difficulties. He wouldn't recognize this voice. It wouldn't reassure him. And then the earlier surprise intruded. â€Å"Hold on – Jacob is still here?† Another glance between them. â€Å"Bella,† Edward said quickly. â€Å"There's much to discuss, but we should take care of you first. You have to be in pain___† When he pointed that out, I remembered the burn in my throat and swallowed convulsively. â€Å"But Jacob – â€Å" â€Å"We have all the time in the world for explanations, love,† he reminded me gently. Of course. I could wait a little longer for the answer; it would be easier to listen when the fierce pain of the fiery thirst was no longer scattering my concentration. â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"Wait, wait, wait,† Alice trilled from the doorway. She danced across the room, dreamily graceful. As with Edward and Carlisle, I felt some shock as I really looked at her face for the first time. So lovely. â€Å"You promised I could be there the first time! What if you two run past something reflective?† â€Å"Alice – ,† Edward protested. â€Å"It will only take a second!† And with that, Alice darted from the room. Edward sighed. â€Å"What is she talking about?† But Alice was already back, carrying the huge, gilt-framed mirror from Rosalie's room, which was nearly twice as tall as she was, and several times as wide. Jasper had been so still and silent that I'd taken no notice of him since he'd followed behind Carlisle. Now he moved again, to hover over Alice, his eyes locked on my expression. Because I was the danger here. I knew he would be tasting the mood around me, too, and so he must have felt my jolt of shock as I studied his face, looking at it closely for the first time. Through my sightless human eyes, the scars left from his former life with the newborn armies in the South had been mostly invisible. Only with a bright light to throw their slightly raised shapes into definition could I even make out their existence. Now that I could see, the scars were Jasper's most dominant feature. It was hard to take my eyes off his ravaged neck and jaw – hard to believe that even a vampire could have survived so many sets of teeth ripping into his throat. Instinctively, I tensed to defend myself. Any vampire who saw Jasper would have had the same reaction. The scars were like a lighted billboard. Dangerous, they screamed. How many vampires had tried to kill Jasper? Hundreds? Thousands? The same number that had died in the attempt Jasper both saw and felt my assessment, my caution, and he smiled wryly. â€Å"Edward gave me grief for not getting you to a mirror before the wedding,† Alice said, pulling my attention away from her frightening lover. Tm not going to be chewed out again.† â€Å"Chewed out?† Edward asked skeptically, one eyebrow curving upward. â€Å"Maybe I'm overstating things,† she murmured absently as she turned the mirror to face me. â€Å"And maybe this has solely to do with your own voyeuristic gratification,† he countered. Alice winked at him. I was only aware of this exchange with the lesser part of my concentration. The greater part was riveted on the person in the mirror. My first reaction was an unthinking pleasure. The alien creature in the glass was indisputably beautiful, every bit as beautiful as Alice or Esme. She was fluid even in stillness, and her flawless face was pale as the moon against the frame of her dark, heavy hair. Her limbs were smooth and strong, skin glistening subtly, luminous as a pearl. My second reaction was horror. Who was she? At first glance, I couldn't find my face anywhere in the smooth, perfect planes of her features. And her eyes! Though I'd known to expect them, her eyes still sent a thrill of terror through me. All the while I studied and reacted, her face was perfectly composed, a carving of a goddess, showing nothing of the turmoil roiling inside me. And then her full lips moved. â€Å"The eyes?† I whispered, unwilling to say my eyes. â€Å"How long? â€Å"They'll darken up in a few months,† Edward said in a soft, comforting voice. â€Å"Animal blood dilutes the color more quickly than a diet of human blood. They'll turn amber first, then gold.† My eyes would blaze like vicious red flames for months? â€Å"Months?† My voice was higher now, stressed. In the mirror, the perfect eyebrows lifted incredulously above her glowing crimson eyes – brighter than any I'd ever seen before. Jasper took a step forward, alarmed by the intensity of my sudden anxiety. He knew young vampires only too well; did this emotion presage some misstep on my part? No one answered my question. I looked away, to Edward and Alice. Both their eyes were slightly unfocused – reacting to Jasper's unease. Listening to its cause, looking ahead to the immediate future. I took another deep, unnecessary breath. â€Å"No, I'm fine,† I promised them. My eyes flickered to the stranger in the mirror and back. â€Å"It's just†¦ a lot to take in.† Jasper's brow furrowed, highlighting the two scars over his left eye. â€Å"I don't know,† Edward murmured. The woman in the mirror frowned. â€Å"What question did I miss?† Edward grinned. â€Å"Jasper wonders how you're doing it.† â€Å"Doing what?† â€Å"Controlling your emotions, Bella,† Jasper answered. â€Å"I've never seen a newborn do that – stop an emotion in its tracks that way. You were upset, but when you saw our concern, you reined it in, regained power over yourself. I was prepared to help, but you didn't need it.† â€Å"Is that wrong?† I asked. My body automatically froze as I waited for his verdict. â€Å"No,† he said, but his voice was unsure. Edward stroked his hand down my arm, as if encouraging me to thaw. â€Å"It's very impressive, Bella, but we don't understand it. We don't know how long it can hold.† I considered that for a portion of a second. At any moment, would I snap? Turn into a monster? I couldn't feel it coming on†¦. Maybe there was no way to anticipate such a thing. â€Å"But what do you think?† Alice asked, a little impatient now, pointing to the mirror. â€Å"I'm not sure,† I hedged, not wanting to admit how frightened I really was. I stared at the beautiful woman with the terrifying eyes, looking for pieces of me. There was something there in the shape of her lips – if you looked past the dizzying beauty, it was true that her upper lip was slightly out of balance, a bit too full to match the lower. Finding this familiar little flaw made me feel a tiny bit better. Maybe the rest of me was in there, too. I raised my hand experimentally, and the woman in the mirror copied the movement, touching her face, too. Her crimson eyes watched me warily. Edward sighed. I turned away from her to look at him, raising one eyebrow. â€Å"Disappointed?† I asked, my ringing voice impassive. He laughed. â€Å"Yes,† he admitted. I felt the shock break through the composed mask on my face, followed instantly by the hurt. Alice snarled. Jasper leaned forward again, waiting for me to snap. But Edward ignored them and wrapped his arms tightly around my newly frozen form, pressing his lips against my cheek. â€Å"I was rather hoping that I'd be able to hear your mind, now that it is more similar to my own,† he murmured. â€Å"And here I am, as frustrated as ever, wondering what could possibly be going on inside your head.† I felt better at once. â€Å"Oh well,† I said lightly, relieved that my thoughts were still my own. â€Å"I guess my brain will never work right. At least I'm pretty.† It was becoming easier to joke with him as I adjusted, to think in straight lines. To be myself. Edward growled in my ear. â€Å"Bella, you have never been merely pretty.† Then his face pulled away from mine, and he sighed. â€Å"All right, all right,† he said to someone. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"You're making Jasper more edgy by the second. He may relax a little when you've hunted.† I looked at Jasper's worried expression and nodded. I didn't want to snap here, if that was coming. Better to be surrounded by trees than family. â€Å"Okay. Let's hunt,† I agreed, a thrill of nerves and anticipation making my stomach quiver. I unwrapped Edward's arms from around me, keeping one of his hands, and turned my back on the strange and beautiful woman in the mirror.