Saturday, October 12, 2019
Hardys Presentation of Bathsheba and Fannys Experiences in Far from t
Hardy's Presentation of Bathsheba and Fanny's Experiences in Far from the Madding Crowd How does this novel reveal the social reality of the time? In this essay I will look at Thomas Hardy's 'Far from the Madding Crowd' in the first section, I will look at the different ways Hardy portrays Bathsheba and Fanny's experiences. Since Hardy based this novel in the 1840s, and being true to history, it does reveal a lot about the social reality of the time. However, Hardy could have a different perspective, as he is writing in the 1870s, which may have affected his view on the 1840s social ideal. Fanny is offered almost as a complete contrast to Bathsheba Fanny wants to get married (though this could possibly be because she is pregnant), she has no money, no home and no family, while Bathsheba has everything (except the family) that Fanny doesn't have, including her boyfriend too, Troy. Bathsheba at the beginning represents a very rare kind of Victorian woman, one who is proud, strong and independent. While Fanny is the naÃÆ'Ã ¯ve and 'fallen' woman. As you progress through the novel, you see a peculiar change coming over both women, they seem to change their characters, Bathsheba becoming more like Fanny, and Fanny becoming more like Bathsheba. Fanny shows her strength as she almost pulls herself down the road by the will of her mind, 'holding onto the rail she advanced, thrusting one hand forward, then the other, leaning over it whilst she dragged her feet on beneath' a lesser woman would have just sat down and given up, but she shows us her strength of character as she tricks her body into making the steps, that would take her ever nearer, to her death, so to speak.. Bathsheba however, allows herself to b... ... Even through the action of the characters, especially the males, you can see how difficult it was for a female in the 1840's society, the stir Bathsheba cause when she walks into the farmers market 'for at her first entry the lumbering dialogues had ceased, nearly every face turned towards her' and again at the farmers market your attention is brought to the fact she is the only woman there 'the single one of her sex that the room contained' a sign that woman were not readily accepted in the farming world, or any place that had money as its bases. So in conclusion to be a woman in 1840's based on Hardy's description would have been a very trying experience, a woman's role was to be dressed up in pretty clothes and displayed, never to do anything but sit at home and do the needle work, never to go and try something different. To be seen and not heard.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Case Study question
The task that Eileen and Jack are doing on a separate level has set up what seems to be a personal relationship with each other. Jack uses Eileen more like an assistant or peer than one of the regular employees. Although Eileen is t the same level as the other workers she does different tasks as them. The interaction between Eileen and Jack is what is causing the rest of the team to have a negative sentiment towards Jacks leadership. They do not see Jack's behavior as appropriate or worthy Of their trust.If the two Of them continue to separate themselves from the rest of the team, it will cause the other workers to lower their work performance since they will feel unappreciated and that their work is not being noticed. Another problem that could arise is that they could report Jack to Human resources and accuse him of unfair retirement since Eileen is getting time off and preferential treatment. Applying Path-Goal and Attainment-Schmidt Continuum of leader behavior Jack needs underst and he is causing the resentment towards Eileen.He needs to develop every team member with the style that is best for them. Jack seems to be using an Achievement-oriented leadership style with Eileen, and wants the others to just be more like her. Believe Jack needs to be supportive in finding out why the other resent Eileen, by doing this he will discover that they feel he is giving preferential treatment to Eileen. Then he will be able to identify where his team is and change his leadership behavior according to the individual member.According to Attainment and Schmidt, Jack should be more democratic in his decisions. If he wants the group to work like a team then he should be less authoritarian and more democratic. This could limit the preferential treatment given to any employee in the group. Jack will be able to clarify the goals that need to be achieved and explain that Eileen is the best to stay late, or the team will be in agreement another team member would be better for th e task.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
A Day of Happy Moments
Pleasure is something which satisfies our senses but happiness is something deep seated. It is something which is much nearer to our soul. A hot cup of coffee on a chilly day would surely bring pleasure and not happiness. Now I shall say when I was very happy. Even from my early days, I used to take interest in games. My elder brothers used to take me to the sports and matches. Whenever I saw the victors receiving trophies, I eagerly wished that I must be on the victory stand one day. As I came to the secondary school, I took interest in long distance running. With some boys of my class, I used to take to the track and run. In one of the inter-school competitions I came first in the one kilometer race. This gave me not only satisfaction but also encouraged me to put in more and more effort. I was regularly on the track practicing. I learnt the techniques from my physical instructor. From one kilometer I Learnt slowly to run two kilometers within three minutes. The day when I can do it, is still far-off. Still unceasingly I practice long distance running. The Inter-district Sports Meet of the schools came and I was selected for 1000 meter race. It was a red letter day in my life. The event was announced and along with five others, I was standing on the track. Hundreds of people were looking at us. We were set on the mark and the gun went off. I started steadily and knew that I must have spare energy for the last lap. It was a three round business. In the first two rounds, I kept myself the second or third. In the third round, Picked up speed and was running like a colt, left others far behind and breasted the tape in the record time. The excitement was so much that I was almost unconscious for a few minutes. Then I ran to the victory stand. My joy knew no bounds when my name was announced first and I took the salute. It was the glorious day and I enjoyed boundless happiness.
The Indigo Spell Chapter Fifteen
MS. TERWILLIGER WAS WAITING in the lobby when Julia and I returned to the dorm. ââ¬Å"Seriously. Do you have a tracking device on me?â⬠I asked. Julia took one look at our teacher's serious expression and quickly made an exit. ââ¬Å"Just excellent timing,â⬠Ms. Terwilliger replied. ââ¬Å"I understand you have news.â⬠ââ¬Å"Surprisingly, yes.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger's face was hard as she led me back outside to more privacy and yet another top secret outdoor meeting. These days, she hardly resembled the scattered, hippie teacher I'd met when I first started at Amberwood. ââ¬Å"Tell me the news,â⬠she ordered. I told her about Alicia's call, and her dismayed expression didn't really inspire me. I'd kind of hoped she'd reveal some amazing, foolproof plan she'd secretly been concocting. ââ¬Å"Well, then,â⬠she said once I'd finished. ââ¬Å"I suppose I'll have to go out there.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'll go out there,â⬠I corrected. She favored me with a small smile. ââ¬Å"You've done more than enough. It's time I step up and deal with Veronica.â⬠ââ¬Å"But you sent me to that place before.â⬠ââ¬Å"When we weren't even sure where it was or what she was doing there. This time, we have an eyewitness confirming she's there right now. I can't waste this opportunity.â⬠She glanced at a clock near the door and sighed. ââ¬Å"I'd go tonight if I could but haven't made the necessary preparations. I'll start working on them now and go in tomorrow evening. Hopefully I won't miss her again.â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠The defiance in my voice surprised even me. I didn't contradict teachers ââ¬â or any kind of authority ââ¬â very often. Okay, never. ââ¬Å"She eluded us before. Let us scout it out. You don't want to tip your hand yet, just in case something goes wrong. You'll be ready tomorrow night? Then let us go in the day . . . I mean, provided someone could get me out of school. . . .â⬠A little of that tension faded, and she laughed. ââ¬Å"I suppose I could do that. I hate that I keep putting you in danger, though.â⬠ââ¬Å"We passed that point a long time ago.â⬠She couldn't argue against that logic. I made arrangements for Adrian to pick me up the next day ââ¬â after first scolding ââ¬Å"Jetâ⬠for giving out ââ¬Å"Taylor'sâ⬠number. When morning came, Ms. Terwilliger was true to her word. I'd been excused from classes for a ââ¬Å"research trip.â⬠The thing about being a star pupil was that none of my teachers had any problems with me skipping classes. They knew I'd get the work done. I probably could've taken the rest of the semester off. During the drive, I told Adrian that I'd managed to score a trip to St. Louis in order to pursue Marcus's daunting task. Adrian's expression grew darker and darker, but he stayed silent on the matter. I knew what a conflict it was for him. He didn't like Marcus. He didn't like me taking on this potentially dangerous mission. However, he also trusted me to make my own decisions. Contradicting me or telling me what to do wasn't in his nature ââ¬â even though he secretly may have wanted to. His only comment was one of support. ââ¬Å"Be careful, Sage. For God's sake, be careful. I've seen you pull off some crazy shit, but this is extreme, even for you. You're probably the only one who can manage this, but still . . . don't let your guard down, even for a moment.â⬠When I told him about how I was hoping to use Ian to get more in-depth access, Adrian's troubled look turned to one of incredulity. ââ¬Å"Hold on here. Let me make sure I'm following this. You're going to seduce some guy to help you with your espionage.â⬠Seduce Ian? Ugh. ââ¬Å"Don't jump to conclusions,â⬠I warned. ââ¬Å"I'm just going to try to use his feelings for me to get what I want.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wow. Cold, Sage. Very cold.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey, now.â⬠I felt a little indignant at the accusation. ââ¬Å"I'm not going to promise to marry him or something and then dump him later. He wrote me about going to dinner when I'm there. We'll have a nice time, and I'll try to talk him into letting me tour the facility. That's it.â⬠ââ¬Å"And ââ¬Ëtalking him into it' doesn't involve putting out?â⬠I glared at him and hoped he could see me in his periphery. ââ¬Å"Adrian. Do I really seem like the kind of person who'd do that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â â⬠He stopped, and I suspected he'd held back from some snarky comment. ââ¬Å"No, I suppose not. Certainly not with a guy like him. Did you get a dress?â⬠Here we were again, Adrian randomly jumping topics. ââ¬Å"For dinner and the service? I've got plenty.â⬠ââ¬Å"I guess that answers my question.â⬠He seemed to wage a great mental battle. At last, he said, ââ¬Å"I'm going to give you some advice.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh no.â⬠He looked over at me again. ââ¬Å"Who knows more about male weakness: you or me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Go on.â⬠I refused to directly answer the question. ââ¬Å"Get a new dress. One that shows a lot of skin. Short. Strapless. Maybe a push-up bra too.â⬠He actually had the audacity to do a quick assessment of my chest. ââ¬Å"Eh, maybe not. But definitely some high heels.â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian,â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"You've seen how Alchemists dress. Do you think I can really wear something like that into a church service?â⬠He was unconcerned. ââ¬Å"You'll make it work. You'll change clothes or something. But I'm telling you, if you want to get a guy to do something that might be difficult, then the best way is to distract him so that he can't devote his full brainpower to the consequences.â⬠ââ¬Å"You don't have a lot of faith in your own gender.â⬠ââ¬Å"Hey, I'm telling you the truth. I've been distracted by sexy dresses a lot.â⬠I didn't really know if that was a valid argument, seeing as Adrian was distracted by a lot of things. Fondue. T-shirts. Kittens. ââ¬Å"And so, what then? I show some skin, and the world is mine?â⬠ââ¬Å"That'll help.â⬠Amazingly, I could tell he was dead serious. ââ¬Å"And you've gotta act confident the whole time, like it's already a done deal. Then make sure when you're actually asking for what you want that you tell him you'd be ââ¬Ëso, so grateful.' But don't elaborate. His imagination will do half the work for you. ââ¬Å" I shook my head, glad we'd almost reached our destination. I didn't know how much more I could listen to. ââ¬Å"This is the most ridiculous advice I've ever heard. It's also kind of sexist too, but I can't decide who it offends more, men or women.â⬠ââ¬Å"Look, Sage. I don't know much about chemistry or computer hacking or photosynthery but this is something I've got a lot of experience with.â⬠I think he meant photosynthesis, but I didn't correct him. ââ¬Å"Use my knowledge. Don't let it go to waste.â⬠He seemed so earnest that I finally told him I'd consider it, though I had a hard time imagining myself wearing anything like he'd described. My answer satisfied him, and he said no more. When we reached the bed-and-breakfast, I put on the brown wig so that we could be Taylor and Jet again. I braced myself as we approached the door. ââ¬Å"Who knows what we're walking into?â⬠I murmured. I'd been very brave while speaking to Ms. Terwilliger, but the reality that I might be going right up to an evil sorceress was sinking in. I had yet to develop the ability to sense magic in others, so I could very well be taken by surprise if she had a way to hide her appearance too. All I could do was have faith that Adrian's spirit and Ms. Terwilliger's charm would mask me. If Veronica was there, we'd just seem like an ordinary couple. I hoped. Alicia was reading another magazine when we walked in. She still sported the same hipster glasses and clutter of gaudy necklaces. Her face lit up when she saw us. ââ¬Å"You're back.â⬠Adrian's arm immediately went around me. ââ¬Å"Well, when we heard Veronica was in town again, we wanted to come see her right away. Right, honeydew?â⬠ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠I said. At least he was going with healthier nicknames today. ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠Alicia's sunny smile dimmed a little. ââ¬Å"She just left.â⬠ââ¬Å"You have got to be kidding,â⬠I said. How could our luck be this bad? ââ¬Å"So, she checked out?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, she's still renting out the Velvet Suite. I think she was just running errands. But. . . .â⬠She turned sheepish. ââ¬Å"I may have, uh, ruined the surprise.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh?â⬠I asked very carefully. I felt Adrian's hold on me tense, but there was nothing romantic about it. ââ¬Å"I couldn't resist. I told her she might have some unexpected visitors soon. Good visitors,â⬠she added. ââ¬Å"I wanted to make sure she didn't stay out too long.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's very nice of you,â⬠said Adrian. His smile looked as strained as mine felt. In trying to ââ¬Å"helpâ⬠us, Alicia might very well have ruined everything. What did we do now? I was saved from an immediate decision when a middle-aged woman walked through the door. ââ¬Å"Hello,â⬠she told Alicia. ââ¬Å"I wanted to get some information about hosting a wedding here. For my niece.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course,â⬠said Alicia, glancing back and forth between all of us. She looked a little flustered over who to help, and I was quick to jump in. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Since we're here, can we look at the Bunny Suite again? We can't stop talking about it.â⬠Alicia frowned. ââ¬Å"I thought you were going to the coast for your anniversary?â⬠ââ¬Å"We were,â⬠said Adrian, following my lead. ââ¬Å"But then Taylor was thinking about Cottontail the other night, and we thought we should reconsider.â⬠I had to give him credit for jumping in and going along with the story I was making up on the spot. Of course, you'd think he'd remember the name of the fake rabbit he had created. ââ¬Å"Hopper,â⬠I corrected. ââ¬Å"Is the Bunny Suite still vacant?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"We can just take a quick peek in while you help her.â⬠Alicia hesitated only a moment before handing over a key. ââ¬Å"Sure. Let me know if you have any questions.â⬠I took the key and headed toward the stairs with Adrian. Behind us, I could hear the woman asking if it'd be okay to set up a tent in the backyard and how many hot plates the inn could hold before it became a fire hazard. Once we were on the second floor and out of earshot, Adrian spoke. ââ¬Å"Let me guess. You want to go prowl through the Velvet Suite.â⬠I rewarded him with a grin, pleased that he'd guessed my plan. ââ¬Å"Yup. Pretty good idea, huh? Hopefully Alicia will be distracted for a while.â⬠ââ¬Å"I could have just compelled her,â⬠he reminded me. ââ¬Å"You're using too much spirit already.â⬠I found the Velvet Suite and put the key in the lock, hoping Alicia had given us the master key and not one specifically for the Bunny Suite. When she had shown us around last time, she'd only used one key. A click told me we'd lucked out and wouldn't have to use any metal-burning chemicals today. We'd seen the Velvet Suite during our last visit, and for the most part, it looked the same. Velvet bedding, velvet-covered furniture, and even velvet-textured wallpaper. Only, this time, the room wasn't in the pristine and unoccupied state as before. Signs around the room showed recent use. The bed was unmade, and the scent of shampoo from the bathroom indicated a shower not too long ago. ââ¬Å"Alicia might have been wrong about Veronica checking out,â⬠said Adrian. He opened drawer after drawer and found nothing. In the closet, he discovered high-heeled shoes tucked into a corner and a belt on a hanger ââ¬â things that might be easily missed with frantic packing. ââ¬Å"Someone left here in a hurry.â⬠My hopes plummeted. In accidentally revealing our ââ¬Å"surprise,â⬠Alicia had apparently scared Veronica into skipping out on the room. We found no sign that Veronica would actually return, and as Adrian had said, she seemed to have taken off quickly, based on the kinds of easy-to-forget things that were left behind: a razor in the shower, a bottle of perfume on the bathroom counter, and a stack of takeout menus on the nightstand. I sat on the bed and sifted through the menus, not really convinced they'd tell me much. Chinese, Indian, Mexican. Veronica had diverse tastes, at least. I reached the bottom of the stack and threw them on the ground. ââ¬Å"She left,â⬠I said. I couldn't hide from the truth any longer. ââ¬Å"That idiot Alicia tipped her off, and now we've lost her again.â⬠Adrian sat down beside me, his face mirroring my dismay. ââ¬Å"We'll find her. We've slowed her down by hiding the others. Maybe it'll buy us time until the next full moon so you can scry again.â⬠ââ¬Å"I hope so,â⬠I said, though I wasn't optimistic. He brushed aside the wig's hair and turned my face toward him. ââ¬Å"Everything's going to be okay. She doesn't know about you.â⬠I knew he was right, but it was hollow comfort. I leaned my head against his shoulder, wishing I could fix everything. That was my job, right? ââ¬Å"All that means is that someone else could suffer in my place. I don't want that. I need to stop her once and for all.â⬠ââ¬Å"So brave.â⬠He gave me a small smile. His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of goose bumps appeared. How did he keep doing this to me? Marcus ââ¬â who made every girl in the world swoon ââ¬â had zero effect on me. But one whisper of a touch from Adrian completely undid me. ââ¬Å"You could give Castile a run for his money,â⬠he added. ââ¬Å"Stop that,â⬠I warned. ââ¬Å"Comparing you to Castile?â⬠ââ¬Å"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it.â⬠His hands were too dangerous, as was being with him on a bed. Terrified I might be kissed again, I jerked away, and the sudden movement caught him by surprise. His fingers got tangled in my hair, as well as in my two necklaces, which resulted in him snapping both chains and nearly pulling off the brown wig. I quickly caught the garnet before it could fall off, but the cross slipped away. Thank God I'd kept the important one on. ââ¬Å"No more kissing,â⬠I warned. I refastened the charm and straightened the wig. ââ¬Å"You mean no more kissing unless it's a romantic place,â⬠he reminded me. ââ¬Å"Are you saying this place doesn't scream romance?â⬠He nodded around to our tacky velvet surroundings. He then picked up the small cross and held it in the air, growing thoughtful as he studied the way the light played off the gold surface. ââ¬Å"You gave this to me once.â⬠ââ¬Å"And you gave it back.â⬠ââ¬Å"I was angry.â⬠ââ¬Å"And now?â⬠He shrugged. ââ¬Å"Now I'm just determined.â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian.â⬠I sighed. ââ¬Å"Why do you keep doing this? The touching . . . the kissing . . . you know I don't want it.â⬠ââ¬Å"You don't act that way.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stop saying that. It's obnoxious. Next you'll be saying I'm ââ¬Ëasking for it.'â⬠Why did he have to be so infuriating? Okay . . . I hadn't really sent a clear message back at the sorority. Or Pies and Stuff. But this time I'd done better. ââ¬Å"I just pulled away. How much more direct do I have to be?â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not your actions, exactlyâ⬠he said. He still clutched the cross in his hand. ââ¬Å"It's your aura.â⬠I groaned. ââ¬Å"No, no, not that. I don't want to hear about auras.â⬠ââ¬Å"But I'm serious.â⬠He shifted over and stretched out on the bed, lying on his side. He patted the bed near him. ââ¬Å"Lie down.â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I won't kiss you,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I promise.â⬠ââ¬Å"How stupid do you think I am?â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I'm not falling for this.â⬠He gave me a long, level look. ââ¬Å"Do you really think I'd assault you or something?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said quickly. ââ¬Å"Of course not.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then humor me.â⬠Warily, I lay down on my side as well, facing him with only a few powerful inches between us. An enraptured, slightly distracted look appeared in his eyes. He'd given himself over to spirit. ââ¬Å"Do you know what I see in you now? The usual aura. A steady golden yellow, healthy and strong, with spikes of purple here and there. But when I do this. . . .â⬠He rested a hand on my hip, and my whole body tensed up. That hand moved around my hip, slipping under my shirt to rest on the small of my back. My skin burned where he touched me, and the places that were untouched longed for that heat. ââ¬Å"See?â⬠he said. He was in the throes of spirit now, though with me at the same time. ââ¬Å"Well, I guess you can't. But when I touch you, your aura . . . it smolders. The colors deepen, it burns more intensely, the purple increases. Why? Why, Sydney?â⬠He used that hand on me to pull me closer. ââ¬Å"Why do you react that way if I don't mean anything to you?â⬠There was a desperation in his voice, and it was legitimate. It was hard for me to talk. ââ¬Å"It's instinct. Or something. You're a Moroi. I'm an Alchemist. Of course I'd have a response. You think I'd be indifferent?â⬠ââ¬Å"Most Alchemist responses would involve disgust, revulsion, and holy water.â⬠That was an excellent point. ââ¬Å"Well . . . I'm a little more relaxed around Moroi than most Alchemists. Probably this is just some purely physical response driven by hormones and years of evolution. My body doesn't know any better. I'm as susceptible to lust as anyone else.â⬠There was probably a book about that or at least an article in Cosmopolitan. The hint of a smile played over his lips. He was fully in tune with me again. ââ¬Å"No, you aren't. I mean, you are, but not without reason. I know you well enough to realize that now. You're not the kind of person who's ââ¬Ësusceptible to lust' without some emotion to back it.â⬠He moved his hand back to my hip, sliding it down my leg. I shuddered, and his face moved closer to mine. There was so much in his eyes, so much desire and longing. ââ¬Å"See? There it is again. My flame in the dark.â⬠ââ¬Å"Don't kiss me,â⬠I whispered. It was the only defense I could muster. If he kissed me, I'd be lost. I closed my eyes. ââ¬Å"You said you wouldn't.â⬠ââ¬Å"I won't.â⬠His lips were only a breath away. ââ¬Å"Unless you want me to.â⬠I opened my eyes, ready to tell him no, that it didn't matter what my aura allegedly said . . . this couldn't keep happening. There was no emotion backing this desire, and I tried to cling to my earlier argument. I was so comfortable around Moroi now that clearly some primal part of me kept forgetting what he was. This was a base instinct. I was simply having a physical reaction to him, to his hands, to his lips, to his body. . . . He caught hold of my arm and rolled me over. I closed my eyes again and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his lips touch mine, not quite a kiss, just the barest brush of ââ¬â The door opened, and I flinched. Alicia stepped inside, gasped, and put a hand up over her mouth to cover a shocked squeal. ââ¬Å"O-oh,â⬠she stammered. ââ¬Å"I'm so sorry . . . I . . . I didn't realize . . .â⬠Adrian and I jerked away and sat up. My heart was ready to beat out of my chest, and I knew I was blushing. I quickly patted my wig and was relieved to feel it was still in place. He recovered his voice more quickly. ââ¬Å"Sorry . . . we kind of got carried away. We started checking out the other rooms and decided to, uh, try them out.â⬠Despite his sheepish words, there was a smug look on his face, the kind you'd expect from a guy who'd just made a conquest. Was it part of the act, or did he really think he'd gotten away with something? Alicia looked as uncomfortable as I felt. ââ¬Å"I see. Well, this room's occupied. It's ââ¬â â⬠She frowned and did a double take. ââ¬Å"It's Veronica's. It looks like she left.â⬠I finally managed to speak. ââ¬Å"That's why we thought it was empty,â⬠I said hastily. ââ¬Å"There was nothing in here.â⬠Alicia thankfully seemed to have forgotten about our compromising position. ââ¬Å"That's weird. She didn't formally check out. I mean, she paid in advance in cash, but still. It's so strange.â⬠We made a hurried escape of our own after that, once again feeding Alicia lines about how we'd be in touch. Neither of us spoke much when we got in the car. I was lost in my own thoughts, which were equal parts frustration over Veronica and confusion over Adrian. I refused to acknowledge the latter, though, and opted for my usual tactic. The sooner that moment was forgotten, the better. I was pretty sure I could keep telling myself that. Some part of me ââ¬â nearly as snarky as Adrian ââ¬â suggested I pick up a book on denial the next time I was in the self-help section. ââ¬Å"Another dead end,â⬠I said once we were on the road. I texted Ms. Terwilliger: V's gone. No need for action. Her response came a few minutes later: We'll keep trying. I could practically feel her disappointment through the display on my phone. She wasn't the only one. Adrian seemed particularly melancholy on the drive back. He responded whenever I spoke, but it was clear he was distracted. When he dropped me off at Amberwood later that night, I found everything mercifully quiet. No crises, no dangerous missions. It felt like it had been ages since I had a moment to myself, and I curled up on my bed, taking solace in the ordinary tasks of homework and reading. I fell asleep with my face on my calculus book. I experienced one of those nonsensical dreams that everyone has. In it, my family's cat could talk, and he was driving Adrian's Mustang. He asked me if I wanted to take a road trip to Birmingham. I told him I had a lot of homework to do but that if he wanted to go to Fargo, I'd consider it. We were in the middle of negotiating who'd pay for gas when the dream suddenly dissolved to blackness. A cold feeling swept over me, followed by a feeling of dread that rivaled the time Adrian and I had faced down Strigoi in his apartment. A woman's laughter rolled around me, foul and sickening, like some sort of toxic smoke. A voice came out of the darkness, echoing in my mind. She's kept you well hidden, but it can't stay that way forever. You can't conceal power like yours forever. I've caught your trail. I'll find you. Hands suddenly reached out of the darkness for me, wrapping around my throat and cutting off my air. I screamed and woke up in my own bed, surrounded in books. I'd left the light on, and it chased some of the dream's terror away. But only some. Sweat poured off me, making my shirt stick to me. I touched my neck, but there was nothing wrong with it. The garnet hung in place but not my cross. No need to fear a dream, I thought. It didn't mean anything, and really, with everything going on lately, it was a wonder I didn't have nightmares more often. But thinking back on it, I wasn't so sure. There had been something so terrible and real about it, a horror that seemed to reach into my very soul. I didn't want to sleep after that, so I made a cup of coffee and tried to read again. It worked for a while, but somewhere around four, my body couldn't take it anymore. I fell asleep on my books again, but this time, my sleep stayed dream free.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
International Marketing Class Reflection Paper Essay
International Marketing Class Reflection Paper - Essay Example This course allows the students to attain insight into the different cultural patterns, the habits and values of different nations and societies. Probably this is one of the best courses that I have taken so far. By delving into the culture, history, religion, geography and the prevailing law of a nation, it is possible to relate food habits to global business and global marketing. The grading system adopted by my instructor has also enriched me. First and foremost, the instructor conveys that one must be precise with facts and figures ââ¬â no assumptions and no estimations! This implies one must learn to be accurate with information. I have often used the, which the instructor has changed to this (page 1) which teaches one to be specific. No general statements, says the instructor when I mention that Singaporeans eat oftenâ⬠¦or food preferences of different ethnic groups. Not only with information, the instructor, also insists on perfection in the use of language and grammar. In formal essays and papers, the use of informal language like ââ¬Å"â⬠¦gave the rice dishes the thumbs-upâ⬠is not permitted. I have also made mistakes in the use of tenses. Thirdly, since this is a paper for International marketing, and the purpose is to understand the international culture and traditions that affect the marketing process, the instructor is teaching us to get into finer details about the traditions and culture. For instance, on page two, I have just mentioned that ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦the dough is kneaded in the traditional Singaporean wayâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ . This is incomplete and the instructor wants us to explain what that traditional way is. Again, explanation is demanded of why three sides are required! Once again, go deep into details, says the instructor! The whole idea is to develop the market on logical reasoning. Even when I have the details, I am unable to express it the right way. I have demonstrated that I can go into details, when I mention about the
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Direct Manipulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Direct Manipulation - Essay Example The direct manipulation interface is a more efficient mode of interaction where the user points at metaphors on the computer and the commands given on their behalf, unlike the line command that requires them to key in the commands by themselves. Direct manipulation, being easier and faster at executing commands, is a preference of majority computer users today, especially designers and gamers as it supports the creation of virtual environments. A virtual environment is a simulation by means of a computer that creates a false or aped environment in which a computer user can perceive themselves in, and interact with objects in it (Montfort, Nick, & Noah 485). The direct manipulation interface has three main principles that make it a preference for a larger cross-section of computer users today. The first principle is the ability to virtually represent the objects of interest continuously in graphic forms and in almost real appearances. The other principle is the support of fast, revers ible actions that are immediate and the last principle is the ability to directly manipulate a command on an object after using a pointing device to locate it. These principles are universal in that they are almost similar from system to system, therefore allowing frequent users to familiarize with, and use them anywhere. Application of direct manipulation interface in games Direct manipulation supports graphical representation of objects, an application extended and put to use in games, as they require simulation to create virtual environments that enable the user to perceive of them being in them. 3D renderings of virtual environments of action excite the user, further engaging them and letting them take roles and control avatars in games. The user interacts with virtual characters who act as drivers, players, dragons and so on in virtual environments with highways, hills, water, and fire. In order for the user to interact with the virtual characters and environments, they require game controls to direct their subjects. Direct manipulation enables the user to use buttons or other game controls and not type lengthy syntax commands. This makes the user enjoy the game without much cramming of commands. The game controls in the games give instructions or commands to the virtual objects or characters that result in rapid responses that prompt the user to correct their moves or perform moves that are more complex thus actively engaging in the virtual gaming (Montfort, Nick, & Noah 499). Types of game interfaces There are two types of game interfaces: three-dimensional and two-dimensional. 3-D game interface is the representation of geometric data in a form that has length, width, and height (has x, y and z-axes) such that it is visible from all perspectives and has the perception to hold mass. 2-D interface is a representation that displays graphics on a screen by use of pixel arrays. It has an X and Y-axis only (Cellary, Wojciech & Krzysztof 279). These two inter faces apply in gaming and computer aided design but are largely inapplicable in real life applications for several reasons. An example is in word processing or spreadsheet applications where using a 3-D interface will make it impossible or very hard to write and annotate. Another reason is that that due to the additional axis in 3-D
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Truth in painting - The kinds of meaning Assignment
Truth in painting - The kinds of meaning - Assignment Example The purpose of the paper "Truth in painting - The kinds of meaning" is to determine the kinds of meaning made possible by perspective in paintings. The perspectival systems which developed during the following period of Renaissance brought about a contrasting portrayal of space along with the ââ¬Å"illusionistic presentation of objectsâ⬠. The modern concept of perspective is considered to be a formal and defined branch of mathematics, emerging from Cartesian and Euclidean geometry. It is stated to be ââ¬Å"meaninglessâ⬠since this perspective refers to equations, and geometric functions such as lines, angles and points. The second perspective has great meaning, encompassing subjectivity, eternity and other concepts, as evidenced in various academic domains. This perspective which Elkins terms as ââ¬Å"metaphorical perspectiveâ⬠is not in a complicated graphic or related to equations. It is the common type of perspective with which people view the world, and understa nd themselves as viewing subjects. The most common manifestation is the linear perspective. In this type, ââ¬Å"all parallel lines or surface edges converge on one, two or three vanishing points located with reference to the eye-level of the viewerâ⬠. Linear perspective clearly defines a physical point of view, showing the ââ¬Å"location, vantage and orientation of the viewerâ⬠. Linear perspective is one of the significant innovations of European art, with a great impact on the visual arts in the west from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Perspective provides perception.
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