The Stranger Essays (1044 words) - Absurdist Fiction, The Stranger

The Stranger In The Stranger, as in all Camus works, Camus sees on opportunity and demise one subject to the next are significant topics. For Camus, opportunity emerges in attention to ones life, the each second life, an extraordinary magnificent life that needs no reclaiming, no second thoughts, no tears. Demise is unmerited, crazy; it is nevertheless a reintegration into the universe for a liberated person. Until an individual arrives at this mindfulness, life, similar to death, is foolish, and for sure, conventionally, life stays preposterous, however every individual life can be important and significant to him. It might be said, The Stranger is an illustration of Camus reasoning, with accentuation on that which is required for opportunity. Meursault, legend of The Stranger, isn't an individual one would be able to meet as a general rule in this regard; Meursault doesn't accomplish the enlivening of cognizance, so basic to opportunity and to living Camus theory until the finish of the book, yet he has carried on with as long as he can remember in agreeing with the ethical quality of Camus reasoning. His proportionate in the Christian way of thinking would be a skeptical individual whose country has never experienced Christianity who, after having it clarified by a minister, acknowledges he has never trespassed. What is the profound quality, the characteristics vital for opportunity, which Meursault showed? To begin with, the decision quality of his character is his obsession for the essential fact of the matter. While in Meursault this appears as a reality of being and feeling, it is as yet reality important to the triumph of oneself or of the world. This enthusiasm is significant to the point that it acquires in any event, while denying it may spare his life. Second, and not disconnected to the first, is Meursaults acknowledgment of nature as what it is and that's it, his dismissal of the otherworldly, including any god. As a matter of fact, dismissal of God isn't precise until later when he is tested to acknowledge the idea; Meursault essentially has never considered God and religion beneficial seeking after. The regular bodes well; the otherworldly doesnt. It follows that demise to Meursault likewise is the thing that it is normally; the finish of life, discontinuance, and that's it in a nutshell. Third, and coherently following, Meursault lives totally in the present. The past will be past and staying upon it in any state of mind is essentially a misuse of the present. With regards to the future, a definitive future is passing; to forfeit the present to what's to come is identical to giving up life to death. At long last and clearly, since the present is his sole milieu, Meursault observes every snapshot of life; since there is no outside worth framework, no mind boggling likely arrangement, to gauge against, and because of his energy for truth and therefore equity, he gives each second equivalent significance. One second might be more pleasurable than another, one exhausting, one ordinary, each gets equivalent time in his portrayal of his life. Meursault makes them bomb characteristic, an immediate and coherent consequence of his obviousness of his own perspective on life and theory of living, lack of interest. Maybe on the grounds that his lifestyle and thinking appear to be so normal to him, he has never thought about their underlying foundations, has never stood up to the ludicrousness of death, with the resulting acknowledgment of a mind-blowing estimation. Out of lack of interest he neglects to address and in this way blunders out of apathy he connects powers with brutality and demise, as opposed to with affection and life. Because of lack of concern, he murders a man. Meursault executes a man and is brought to preliminary. Be that as it may, in truth he isn't pursued for homicide, nor for his blunder, he is gone after for his uprightness. Here Camus shows what number of men dread the foolish, deny not to acknowledge it to go up against it by any stretch of the imagination. Rather they make bargains with it, award it significance and powerful importance, and live for it. The outcome is lives based on hoax, bad faith, paper framework. The common man, the man of truth and reality, can just undermine their power, the delicate snare of their lives, that is, his very presence may constrain them to see through themselves. It is for this that they sentence Meursault to death. Confronted with the guillotine, Meursault is compelled to face demise, his own passing. Through the loathsomeness and

Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Social Responsibility - Essay Example Social obligation attempts to the wellbeing of the general public. At the end of the day, social obligation looks to elevate social government assistance subject to the choices and activities taken by business undertakings. The fundamental government assistance is characterized regarding social effects that outcome from the every day business exercises of numerous and various ventures. The business brotherhood is relied upon to play a good and moral job in building up the general public as they progress with their day by day exercises. This infers some portion of their prosperity and advantage ought to be diverted to the general public. Basically, the three essential factors that social duty represents incorporate the economy, condition and society (Allen, 2011). The development, improvement, and maintainability of these three elements include the job of social obligation. Any endeavor working in the cultural setting needs to consider the monetary, natural, and social ramifications of its exercises. A definitive goal of social obligation is to guarantee that undertakings don't antagonistically influence the general public. On a similar note, the new pursuit is figured in the process to guarantee that social duty is figured it out. The new pursuit, subsequently, drives social

When Should You Take the SAT

The College Board administers the SAT most months of the school year. There’s a test every month from October to June except for in February and April. So you have some choices. What’s the difference? What years should you take the SAT? With the â€Å"score choice† option, you might choose to take the test earlier (so you have more scores to choose from), but the vast majority of students take their first SAT either in the spring of junior year or the fall of senior year. That’s partially because of when the test is offered—no summer tests—and partially for convenience’s sake. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions. The youngest student I’ve ever had was a freshman. The oldest was 25. That’s a ten year gap, and it’s not as strange as you might think. I’m not advising taking the test that early (or late); the point is that your situation might not be the typical one. It’s a good idea to take the SAT twice Why would anybody in their right mind subject themselves to a four-hour test more than once? The obvious answer is parents. (That could either mean [a] your parents signed you up twice or [b] you have a burning desire to leave home and get to college.) But there’s more to it than that. Other standardized tests that are for grad students—like the GRE or the GMAT—get repeat test-takers pretty regularly, and there are no parents in that equation. There are a couple of reasons. First, it’s good to get scores well before you send out applications so you can see how much prep you need to do. If you take the SAT once in the spring of junior year, you have room to do some serious studying over the summer if your scores aren’t what you want, and then you can take it again in the fall. Second, scores tend to go up the more times you take a test. That’s a good reason to be doing full practice tests, if I’ve ever heard one. It’s not always true, but it’s pretty common. Of course, actually studying for the test is a better way to raise your scores, but it’s worth doing both. When to take the SAT in the spring You have three options in the spring: March, May, or June. There’s not a huge difference between the months, but I recommend taking the SAT in May. That way, you have a just a little more time to study than you would taking it in March (which may creep up too quickly), and you’re not in danger of having your SAT prep interfere with studying for finals, which may be close to the June date. When to take the SAT in the fall This one is a bit easier to answer. Are you going to apply to any school early action or early decision? I really recommend doing that if you can—it looks much better than applying later because your interest in the school is more obvious, as is your initiative and drive. If you are going to apply early action/decision, then you pretty much have to take the SAT in October. That’s the latest you’ll be able to get in a test to include in applications for a lot of schools, and you don’t want to limit your options because you didn’t get yourself in gear early enough. If you’re not applying early anywhere, then you can put it off and take the later tests. But, truth is, you probably have the most opportunity to prep for the SAT during the summer between junior and senior year, and you want that prep time to be pretty fresh in your mind when you take the test, so October still looks better than November. It’s always the same SAT Your situation might be different than what’s explained here, so maybe the most important thing is remembering this: no one version of the SAT will give you a different outcome than the others. There’s no strategy for getting the â€Å"good† version. Every SAT is scored to be basically the same. So just sign up for the ones that make the most sense to you—but be careful to note when the scores will be released vs. when your schools stop accepting applications. And be sure to take tons of practice SATs beforehand to prepare yourself for this marathon of a test.

Managing in a mixed economy Free Essay Example, 2000 words

The setting up of the Workington police station was majorly meant to offer security to the public and private enterprises in the region. The police organization in the area was to be supported by the government to ensure that their performance becomes a success. The success of the police system in Workington also depended on the structures of the English police unit, the process by which the strategies are implemented and the relationship between the police organization and other security providing systems as well as the external factors that influence the state of security of the nation such us religion and education (Courtney, 2002). The strategies cannot be a successful one if the resources required are not available. The Workington police station had to get the resources from the society which included people who worked in the station and helped in various management positions. Information was also part of the resources needed for the success of the station as it depended mainly on the information from the people about the insecurity problem to make a move in stepping up the security of the region. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing in a mixed economy or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The police station also need a strong financial support mainly from the government for fueling the police patrol and investigation vehicles, buying of machines that were important in investigations as well as for paying the supporting staff that works in the station. The managing strategy also included the management of change that occurred as a result of a change of the behavior of the insecurity causing reasons. Business strategy varies in a greater dimensions as compared to the public organization strategy (Courtney, 2002). A business oriented strategy model requires specific fields that when implemented will give rise to the increase in profit of the firm. These fields the mission and targets. A firm may be set with a mission that focuses on the current and the expected scope that entails the present and the expected levels of profit. The business scope covers a wider range that takes into consideration of the product level of competition, the m arket availability of the product and the future expectation of the performance of the product. The objects may focus on the aims that the company resulting from the changes in technology and the availability of the similar products from the firm competitors. Business strategies may be for either the short period or a long tern planning process Strategies concerns of the public sector such as the Workington police station vary greatly from the private firms because most of the government planning are influenced by the political dimensions on which the country is or looking to be in.

El signifcado de los colores Essay - 980 Words

EL COLOR â€Å"La visià ³n del color es una percepcià ³n. Sin la mente no existirà ­a el color† Isaac Newton. El color es una propiedad de los cuerpos que depende de la luz del entorno y de su intensidad; todo lo que percibimos sobre el color en los distintos objetos que nos rodean es en realidad una sensacià ³n creada por nuestra mente con la ayuda de la luz que se refleja sobre los cuerpos y llega hasta nuestros ojos. La luz del entorno (luz solar) esta compuesta por varios colores, Isaac Newton demostrà ³ esto hace muchos aà ±os, al descubrir que la luz blanca o luz solar se descomponà ­a en siete colores (algunos documentos dicen que son seis, pero que Newton incluyo el cian para completar siete colores por que se asume que el 7 tenà ­a un†¦show more content†¦Nuestro sistema visual esta conformado por dos tipos diferentes de cà ©lulas receptoras los conos y los bastones; como nuestro sistema visual esta basado en el tricromatismo (es decir que con tres colores se pueden generar todos los colores del espectro), en el interior de nuestro ojo se sità ºan los conos que son los encargados de percibir el color, para los tonos rojos con mayor longitud de onda se utilizan los conos L (Large), para los tonos verdes que poseen una longitud de onda media se utilizan los conos M (Medium), y para los tonos azules con menor longitud de onda se utilizan los conos S (small), cada color puede ser representado estimulando en determinadas cantidades a estos tipos de conos; los bastones por otro lado no permiten percibir colores, los bastones perciben principalmente las variaciones de luz por ejemplo en un lugar oscuro lo importante no es percibir el color sino los objetos y su distancia, es allà ­ donde mejor trabajan los bastones. Todos los colores que se pueden percibir por el ojo humano han sido dispuestos en un dibujo llamado el cà ­rculo cromà ¡tico, en el cual à ©stos se han dispuesto de tal manera que

Valuation Report of Two Degree Mobile Limited †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Valuation Report of Two Degree Mobile Limited. Answer: Brief Overview of Two Degrees Mobile Limited This report provide discussion in the valuation of Two Degree Mobiles Limited which is a company operating primarily in New Zealand. The company engages in the business of telecommunication and its been serving the customers since quite long. In the recent years, the growth of the company has been phenomenal. Its revenues and the earnings before depreciation interest and tax have been observed to be increasing. This growth is putting the company in a favorable position in the market and this is the reason that the companys stock may be valued upside (2degreesmobile, 2017). Description of the Valuation Approach There are various models and techniques that could be applied for the purposes of valuation of the companys stock, for example, PE multiple model, dividend discount model, discounted cash flow model, and net assets model (Shim Siegel, 2008). The choice of a particular model or technique would depend upon the prevailing circumstances and the purpose of valuation. In the current case of Two Degree Mobile Limited, the valuation models such as discounted cash flow model, PE multiple model, and net assets value have been applied in order to value the stock of the company. As per the net assets value method, the value of stock of Two Degree Mobile Limited is arrived at $0.28 as shown in the table given below: Net assets value $'000 Total assets 573,608.00 Less: Outsider liabilities (461,614.00) Net assets 111,994.00 No of shares 403,809.00 Net assets value per share 0.28 However, this method of valuation is least preferred because it does not take into account the market value of the assets. It provides only the book value of the stock (Poitras, 2010). As per PE Multiple valuation model, the stocks value of the company has been arrived at $0.71 as shown in the table given below: PE Multiple PE ratio of competitor (Chorus Limited) (Yahoo finance, 2017) 21.5 EPS of Two Degree 0.03 Stock of Value of Two Degree 0.71 In this model, the PE ratio of the competing company namely Chorus Limited has been used to compute the stocks price of the company. It is assumed in this model that the company which is under valuation will also carry on the same PE ratio. The reliability of the results under the PE ratio will depend upon the characteristics of the competing company. If the characteristics of the competing company are similar, the value of the stock would be more reliable (Poitras, 2010). Under the discounted cash flow model, the value of the companys stock is computed with reference to the present value of the future cash flows that the business will generate for the shareholders. Under this method, the company stocks value has been arrived at $0.23 as shown in the table given below: Free Cash Flow for Equity Model Operating cash flows of 2016 107,705.00 Growth rate assumed 20% Return on equity (for discounting) 11.92% Year Free cash flows ($'000) PVF@12% Present value 2016 107,705.00 0.893 96,165.18 2017 129,246.00 0.797 103,034.12 2018 155,095.20 0.712 110,393.70 2019 186,114.24 0.636 118,278.96 2020 223,337.09 0.567 126,727.46 554,599.42 Value of debt 461,614.00 92,985.42 No of shares ('000) 403,809.00 Value per share ($) 0.23 Reverences 2degreesmobile. 2017. 2degrees FY15 results strong growth continues Revenue lifts 43.1% - EBITDA up 43.9% - mobile network reaches 95% population coverage. Retrieved October 20, 2017, from https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/company/news-and-media-releases/2degrees-fy15-results-strong-growth-continues-revenue-lifts-43-1-ebitda-up-43-9-mobile-network-reaches-95-population-coverage/ Yahoo finance. 2017. Chorus Limited (CNU.AX). Retrieved October 20, 2017, from https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CNU.AX?p=CNU.AX Shim, J.K. Siegel. J.G. 2008. Financial Management. Barron's Educational Series. Poitras, G. 2010. Valuation of Equity Securities: History, Theory and Application. World Scientific.

The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity

Introduction Computing devices and the internet are two of the most important inventions of the 21st century. These technological breakthroughs have had a great impact on the personal and professional lives of people all over the world. Mobile devices are some of the equipments that utilize computing technology and the internet to provide communication services.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many organizations have exploited computing devices to increase their productivity. The last decade has witnessed a prevalence of mobile devices in the corporate environment. Glisson and Storer (2013) state that mobile devices have become ubiquitous in the information rich corporate environment with most corporations increasing their usage of these devices each year. This observation is corroborated by Friedman and Hoffman (2008) who declare that mobile devices have become important tools for organizational productivity. While mobile devices have increased the efficiency of employees by enabling them to access organizational information and services at any time and from any location, they have created some security concerns. Mobile devices have a potentially negative impact on the cyber security of an organization and as such, special attention should be given when using mobile devices in the organization. Security Impact of Mobile Devices The very popularity and extent of the use of mobile computing devices and the internet creates a special vulnerability to businesses. Computing devices and the internet have been used expansively by businesses since their invention in the mid 20th century. Many businesses exploited the efficient information processing ability of computers to gain a competitive advantage. Historically, computing devices were restricted to desktop systems that could only be used within the organization†™s environment. Wired technology was the primary means through which the system communicated (Bernik Markelj, 2012). However, there have been incredible developments in technology recently, in the form of wireless technology and mobile computing, which has changed the manner in which organizations access their information. Mobile communication began as a voice service and over the decades, it expanded to include data transmission and today we have 4G mobile communications (Dong, Joo, Chae, Wan, Yoo, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These developments have made it possible for employees to have constant access to data and information. Purchases of mobile devices have already reached the billions and these devices have surpassed the personal computer as the prevalent method for accessing the internet (Patten Harris, 2013). This prevalence of mobile devices has exposed organizations to a wide number of security risks. In addition to the popularity and widespread use of computers by organizations, the ease of use and the compact nature of these devices is another thing that increases their vulnerability to attack. Mobile devices introduce security risks from the physical loss of the devices as employees move from the workplace to their home or client location. This threat of loss is arguably the most important cyber security risk since it can expose the organization to significant losses. Employees store important information in their devices to enable them to work outside the office. Loss and theft of the hand-held device can lead to significant damage to the organization. Friedman and Hoffman (2008) document that an organizations sensitive or intellectual property can be accessed by cyber-criminals once the devices are stolen. Keunwoo, Woongryul and Dongho (2012) confirm that there have been numerous cases of confidential business information bei ng leaked through mobile devices. In addition to this, the devices can expose the company to external attacks. Since the devices might be linked to the organizations database, they might provide an intruder with access to the domain and server system of the organization. When using non-mobile desktop systems, the risk of theft is minimal since most organizations implement good physical security to their offices. For sensitive information, organizations utilize state of the art security measures including biometric security systems. Besides the risk of being stolen, mobile devices also expose the organization by decreasing its ability to protect itself from cyber attacks. The internet is rife with security risks ranging from viruses, worms, and hacking attacks. An organization has to employ security solutions to protect its IT infrastructure from these threats. When dealing with non-mobile desktop systems and servers, the organization can implement a perimeter defense such as firewal ls and intrusion prevention systems (Glisson Storer, 2013).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These security measures ensure that the organizations computing infrastructure is safe from attacks. However, these strong security solutions cannot protect a device once it is outside the corporate perimeter. The mobile devices therefore suffer from an increased vulnerability to external attacks. Another way in which the security of an organization is compromised due to mobile devices is by the introduction of the risk of interception of communication. Mobile devices make use of some form of wireless communication. These communication formats include cellular radio, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth communication. Bernik and Markelj (2012) note that the internet is a crucial element of mobile devices with almost all of these devices providing a wir eless connection to the internet. The various wireless communications available have differing levels of security. Friedman and Hoffman (2008) states that in the non-mobile environment, the organization can impose stringent security protocols to the wireless networks. This security measures render the wireless network secure from external penetration. However, outside the controlled corporate environment, the mobile devices make use of unsecure networks including public Wi-Fi. Malicious elements can easily intercept the communication from these unsecure connections. In addition to the risk of interception, mobile devices cause a negative security impact by increasing risk of access to sensitive information by unauthorized persons. In many causes, employees use their personal devices for business and personal purposes. This convergence of use presents a problem since the device might be handled by the employees’ friends who are not supposed to handle the organization’s information. Bernik and Markelj (2012) observe that when wireless mobile communication devices are used, there is a blurring of the line between business and personal communications. This lack of boundaries can lead to sensitive corporate information being accessed by unauthorized parties through the mobile devices. Addressing the Security Issues Dealing with the cyber security risks introduced by mobile devices is imperative is organizations are to enjoy the benefits of these devices. A number of solutions have been proposed to mitigate or eliminate the security risks. Glisson and Storer (2013) state that organizations should implement specific security policies for mobile devices. All employees should be required to comply with the safety regulations.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These regulations should include preventive measures and protocols for device use outside the corporate environment. Bernik and Markelj (2012) assert that by implementing security regulations for mobile devices, an organization can ensure that all information technology is used safely. Another way in which the security risks can be addressed is by having the IT department develop and implement a mobile device management (MDM) system that will ensure that the organization is able to comprehensively manage its employees’ devices. Keunwoo et al., (2012) state that the mobile device management system should be able to monitor mobile access, identify threats and provide appropriate protection. Being able to identify the mobile devices increases the level of control the organization has over its IT resources. MDM can also assist in preventing compromised mobile devices from accessing the network (Patten Harris, 2013). This effectively reduces the risks that compromised devices mig ht introduce into the main system. Conclusion Mobile devices introduce numerous cyber security risks to an organization that utilizes them. It began by defining mobile devices and highlighting why their usage has become prevalent in many organizations today. It then set out to show some of the inherent risks introduced to the organizations IT infrastructure by the devices. From the discussions presented in this paper, it is evident that mobile devices present risks in the form of unauthorized access to sensitive information contained on the device, attacks from malicious elements, and ease of interception of data due to reliance on unsecure networks. Addressing these cyber security risks is critical if organizations are to enjoy the many benefits of having their employees utilize mobile devices. The paper has shown that mobile devices can be safe if users are educated on the security risks and the devices are used in compliance with stringent safety regulations. However, if these me asures are not employed, these devices will continue to be the cause of great security risks to companies. References Bernik, I., Markelj, B. (2012). Unlimited Access to Information Systems with Mobile Devices: Information Security Perspective. International Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 6(1), 407-417. Dong, W.K., Joo, H., Chae, T., Wan, S., Yoo, J. (2013). A Practical Attack on Mobile Data Network Using IP Spoofing. Appl. Math. Inf. Sci. 7(6), 2345-2353. Friedman, J., Hoffman, V.D. (2008). Protecting data on mobile devices: A taxonomy of security threats to mobile computing and review of applicable defenses. Information Knowledge Systems Management, 7(1), 159–180. Glisson, B.M., Storer, T. (2013). Investigating Information Security Risks of Mobile Device Use within Organizations. NY: Americas Conference on Information Systems. Keunwoo, R., Woongryul, J., Dongho, W. (2012). Security Requirements of a Mobile Device Management System. International Jour nal of Security and Its Applications, 6 (2), 353-358. Patten, K., Harris, M.A. (2013). The Need to Address Mobile Device Security in the Higher Education IT Curriculum. Journal of Information Systems Education, 24(1), 41-52. This essay on The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cybersecurity was written and submitted by user Isai Hardin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tiny Tim Essays

Tiny Tim Essays Tiny Tim Paper Tiny Tim Paper In this paragraph I will focus on the character of Scrooge how he starts to realise his social responsibility. Dickens made Scrooge the main character to represent all the rich people in London, so if he could change Scrooge, he thought he could change all the rich people in London, and to help the poor. At the beginning of the novel Scrooge can be described as:- A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching old sinner. This range of adjectives show what a man Scrooge was. Also this simile shows what Scrooge was like: Hard sharp as a flint. His views on Christmas and on giving money to the poor are very negative. When the members of a charity come to collect money, Scrooge uses humour to express his views:- Everyone who likes Christmas should be buried with a stake of holly through their heart, and should be boiled with their Christmas pudding. This shows what Scrooge thinks of Christmas. Visits from the ghosts help Scrooge realise his social responsibility by showing him what will happen in the future, if he does not change his ways. The ghost of Christmas past takes Scrooge back into episodes from his past life to show him his mistakes. When Scrooge was a boy he was very lonely and he was always by himself, then later Scrooge says:- Nothing, there was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should have given him something. This shows that Scrooge is thinking of that boy as himself and knows what it is like to be lonely, and regrets not giving him something. Also Scrooges sister, Fran was very kind to him, and rescued him at Christmas, then when the spirit asks him if he has any relatives he replies:- Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind, and answered briefly Yes. This shows that Scrooge is remembering how much he loved his sister, and how badly he has been treating his nephew, Fred. Also then they go to Scrooges old bosss Christmas party, his old boss Mr. Fezziwig invites everyone round, stops all work, treats Scrooge very well, he brought in a fiddler to play music, there is lots of food drink, and everyone is happy jolly. Then suddenly Scrooge says:- I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. This shows Scrooge starting to think of other people, and how badly he treated Bob Crachet. After that suddenly Scrooge breaks up with Belle(Scrooges girl friend), Belle says:- But if you were free today, tomorrow, yesterday can even I believe that you would choose a dowerless girl. This shows that Belle is letting Scrooge go, because he will not get a dowery, a dowery is when the father of the bride gives the husband money to take her away. Also a few years later, Belle had a child with someone:- He thought that such another creature, quite as graceful and as full of promise, might have called him father. This shows that Scrooge regrets breaking up with Belle, and wants he to be her husband, and the childs father, so Scrooge is very jealous. In this paragraph I am going to analyse the character of Tiny Tim and why he is significant. When Tiny Tim enters he is described as:- Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little wooden crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame. This shows that Tiny Tim is disabled and cant look after himself. Dickens made Tiny Tim a child because people feel more sympathy towards children. Plus Tiny Tim represents all the poor people and children who need help around the world. Tiny Tim is Bob Crachets son, later Bob talks about his son to his wife, he says:- He hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple. This shows that Tiny Tim wants people to remember Jesus at Christmas through him. Tiny Tim makes Scrooge change by making him realise how poor him and his family are. But the Crachet family are not greedy though; Nobody said or thought it was a small pudding for a large family. This shows that the Crachet family were very grateful for what they had. Tiny Tim also likes to says:- God bless us everyone. This shows Tiny Tim is thinking of others a lot of the time. Near the end of the chapter, Scrooge and the spirit are talking about Tiny Tim:- What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. This shows the spirit is using Scrooges own words back at him when he was talking to the charity workers. Tiny Tim helps Scrooge to change by making him realise how badly he has been treating Bob Crachet, and that if Scrooge does not pay his clerk more salary then Tiny Tim will die, because the Crachet family need the money for more food and medicine. Scrooges nephews views about social responsibility are very different from Scrooges, because Fred does not only care about himself and his money, he cares of others and helping others:- And therefore uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good.

Adam And Eve The Duality Of Humanity Religion Essay

Adam And Eve The Duality Of Humanity Religion Essay Paradise Lost’s Adam is a rational, clever and trustworthy character who has an amazing rapport with the highest power, God. It can even be argued that before he fell, his was the epitome of humanity, as perfect a human as ever existed. He shares this trait with Eve who is the most perfect and complete woman. This view has been reciprocated by many religious denominations but each has interpreted it in their own unique ways; from Calvinists to puritans to Milton each has interpreted the story of Genesis in their own unique way. Like Adam who was perfect, to the belief that eve was flawed, each has built their own mythos around the story of the genesis of mankind. The Adam represented in Milton’s Paradise Lost is an exceedingly rational being, and can understand greatly sophisticated and complex ideas nearly instantaneously. However this perfection hides several deep and critical flaws present within his character. His character and insight is demonstrated when after ob serving Raphael’s descent into Eden, Adam orders eve to, â€Å"go with speed, / And what thy stores contain, bring forth and pour / Abundance, fit to honor and receive / Our Heav’nly stranger† (V, 313-316). To which Eve answers, â€Å"Adam, earth’s hallowed mould, / Of God inspir’d, small store will serve, where store, / All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk† (V, 321-323). These word which at first seem stiff and of an overly formal method, nonetheless helps reveal the relationship of Adam and Eve. Adam is in charge, but his request for Eve to prepare a meal is not in any way dismissive. She understands that and her response, is in accord with that message. This transitory conversation is not that of a master and servant but of two people who hold themselves in equal regard. His relationship with Eve is not the only conversation between equals, as he also talks with Raphael as an equal. He converses with the archangel Raphael as an eq ual both, socially in his standing, and intellectually in his ability to clearly understand the meanings behind the Raphael’s words. However this ends after Adam’s fall from the grace of god. After his fall Adam loses his pure intellect and his rationality leading him to brash and increasingly non-rational actions, stripping him of his ability to converse with the angels as an equal. Adam’s greatest flaw is his unequivocal love for his wife Eve. He falls I love merely upon seeing her for the first, and even confesses to the archangel Raphael that his attraction is nigh overwhelming. Though warned by Raphael to keep his dangerous emotions in check he completely disregards Raphael’s earnest urgings. After Eve eats from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, quickly devours a fruit from the same tree in order to prevent him from being separated from her even momentarily. Eve has become an indispensable companion in his life and he will do anything in order to prevent himself from being separated from his only love. His other major weakness is his insatiable curiosity. He manipulates the angel Raphael to extract more information from him,

The witness beneficiary rule in S.15 of the Wills Act 1837 is outdated Essay

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Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty-Five

I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE anyone after that. I trekked back to my room as quickly as I could, hardly noticing the obstacles and people in my path. Over and over, Dimitri's words played in my head: Love fades. Mine has. Somehow, that was the worst thing he could have said. Don't get me wrong: The rest wasn't easy either. Having him tell me he was going to avoid me and ignore our past relationship made me feel awful too. Yet, within that, no matter how much it hurt, was the tiny hope that there was still some spark of love between us. That he still loved me. But†¦ love fades. That was something else altogether. It meant that what we had would die, going pale until it crumbled and drifted away like dried up leaves in the wind. The thought of it caused a pain in my chest and stomach, and I curled up on my bed, wrapping my arms around myself as though that might lessen the hurt. I couldn't accept what he had said. I couldn't accept that somehow, after his ordeal, his love for me had gone away. I wanted to stay in my room for the rest of the day, curled up in the darkness of my covers. I forgot about Sydney's conversation and my earlier concerns about Lissa's dad. I even let go of Lissa herself. She had a few errands today, but every so often, a message would flit to me through the bond: Come join me? When I didn't contact her, she began to grow worried. I was suddenly afraid that she–or someone else–might come seeking me in my room. So I decided to leave. I had no real destination; I just had to keep moving. I walked around the Court, scouting places I'd never seen before. It was filled with more statues and fountains than I'd realized. Their beauty was lost on me, though, and when I returned to my room hours later, I was exhausted from all the walking. Oh well. At least I'd dodged having to talk to anyone. Or had I? It was late, past my usual bedtime, when a knock came at my door. I was hesitant to answer. Who would be coming by so late? Did I want the distraction or did I want to keep my solitude? I had no idea who it could be, save that it wasn't Lissa. God. For all I knew, it was Hans, demanding to know why I hadn't been showing up for my work detail. After much thinking (and more persistent knocking), I decided to open it. It was Adrian. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said with a small, weary smile. â€Å"You look like you've seen a ghost.† Not a ghost, exactly. Believe me, I knew ghosts when I saw them. â€Å"I just†¦ I just didn't really expect to see you after this morning†¦.† He entered and sat down on my bed, and I was glad to see he'd cleaned up since our earlier talk. He wore fresh clothes, and his hair was back to its normal perfection. I still caught the lingering scent of cloves, but after what I'd put him through, he was entitled to his vices. â€Å"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to come by either,† he admitted. â€Å"But you†¦ well†¦ you got me thinking about something.† I sat down beside him, keeping a healthy distance. â€Å"Us?† â€Å"No. Lissa.† â€Å"Oh.† I'd accused Dimitri of being egotistic, but here I was, naturally assuming love for me was all that could have driven Adrian over. His green eyes turned speculative. â€Å"I kept thinking about what you'd said, about her dad. And you were right–right about the gambling thing. He'd have the money to pay off any debt. He wouldn't have had to keep it a secret. So I went and asked my mom.† â€Å"What?† I exclaimed. â€Å"No one's supposed to know that–â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah, I figured your information had been top secret. Don't worry. I told her that when we were in Vegas, we heard some people talking about it–about Lissa's dad making secret deposits.† â€Å"What'd she say?† â€Å"The same thing I did. Well, actually, she snapped at me first. She said Eric Dragomir was a good man and that I shouldn't spread rumors about the dead. She suggested that maybe he had a gambling problem, but if so, people shouldn't focus on that, when he did so many great things. After the Death Watch, I think she's afraid of me causing more public scenes.† â€Å"She's right. About Eric,† I said. Maybe someone had stolen those records as some part of a slander campaign. Admittedly, spreading rumors about the dead was pointless, but maybe someone wanted to blacken the Dragomir reputation and get rid of any chance of the voting law being changed for Lissa? I was about to say as much to Adrian when he interrupted with something even more shocking. â€Å"And then my dad overheard us, and he was like, ‘He was probably funding some mistress. You're right–he was a nice guy. But he liked to flirt. And he liked the ladies.'† Adrian rolled his eyes. â€Å"That's a direct quote: ‘He liked the ladies.' My dad is such an ass. He sounds twice his age.† I gripped Adrian's arm without realizing it. â€Å"What did he say after that?† Adrian shrugged but left my hand where it was. â€Å"Nothing. My mom got mad and said the same thing to him that she said to me, that it was cruel to spread stories no one could prove.† â€Å"Do you think it's true? Do you think Lissa's dad had a mistress? Was that what he was paying out for?† â€Å"Don't know, little dhampir. Honestly? My dad's the type who would jump on any rumor he could. Or make one up. I mean, we know Lissa's dad liked to party. It's easy to jump to conclusions from there. Probably he had some dirty secret. Hell, we all do. Maybe whoever stole those files just wanted to exploit that.† I told him my theory about it being used against Lissa. â€Å"Or,† I said, reconsidering, â€Å"maybe someone who supports her took it. So that it wouldn't get out.† Adrian nodded. â€Å"Either way, I don't think Lissa's in mortal danger.† He started to rise, and I pulled him back. â€Å"Adrian, wait†¦ I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed. â€Å"I wanted to apologize. The way I've been treating you, what I've been doing†¦ it wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry.† He looked away from me, eyes focused on the ground. â€Å"You can't help the way you feel.† â€Å"The thing is†¦ I don't know how I feel. And that sounds stupid, but it's the truth. I care about Dimitri. I was stupid to think I'd be unaffected by him being back. But I realize now†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Love fades. Mine has. â€Å"I realize now that it's over with him. I'm not saying that's easy to get past. It'll take a while, and I'd be lying to both of us if I said it wouldn't.† â€Å"That makes sense,† Adrian said. â€Å"It does?† He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. â€Å"Yes, little dhampir. Sometimes you make sense. Go on.† â€Å"I†¦ well, like I said†¦ I've got to heal from him. But I do care about you†¦. I think I even love you a little.† That got a small smile. â€Å"I want to try again. I really do. I like having you in my life, but I may have jumped into things too soon before. You don't have any reason to want me after the way I've dragged you around, but if you want to get together again, then I want to.† He studied me for a long time, and my breath caught. I'd meant what I said: He had every right to end things with us†¦ and yet, the thought that he might terrified me. At last, he pulled me against him and lay back against the bed. â€Å"Rose, I have all sorts of reasons to want you. I haven't been able to stay away from you since I saw you at the ski lodge.† I shifted closer to Adrian on the bed and pressed my head against his chest. â€Å"We can make this work. I know we can. If I screw up again, you can leave.† â€Å"If only it were that easy,† he laughed. â€Å"You forget: I have an addictive personality. I'm addicted to you. Somehow I think you could do all sorts of bad things to me, and I'd still come back to you. Just keep things honest, okay? Tell me what you're feeling. If you're feeling something for Dimitri that's confusing you, tell me. We'll work it out.† I wanted to tell him that–regardless of my feelings–he had nothing to worry about with Dimitri because Dimitri had rejected me a number of times now. I could chase after Dimitri all I wanted, and it wouldn't do any good. Love fades. Those words still stung, and I couldn't bear to give voice to that pain. But as Adrian held me and I thought about how understanding he was about all of this, some wounded part of me acknowledged that the opposite was true as well: Love grows. I would try with him. I really would. I sighed. â€Å"You're not supposed to be this wise. You're supposed to be shallow and unreasonable and†¦ and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"And?† â€Å"Mmm†¦ ridiculous.† â€Å"Ridiculous I can manage. And the others†¦ but only on special occasions.† We were wrapped close together now, and I tilted my head to study him, the high cheekbones and artfully messy hair that made him so gorgeous. I remembered his mother's words, that regardless of what we wanted, he and I would eventually have to part ways. Maybe this was how my life was going to be. I'd always lose the men I loved. I pulled him hard against me, kissing his mouth with a force that caught even him by surprise. If I had learned anything about life and love, it was that they were tenuous things that could end at any moment. Caution was essential–but not at the cost of wasting your life. I decided I wasn't going to waste it now. My hands were already tugging at Adrian's shirt before that thought was fully formed. He didn't question it or hesitate in taking my clothes off in return. He might have moments of profoundness and understanding, but he was still†¦ well, Adrian. Adrian lived his life in the now, doing the things he wanted without much second-guessing. And he had wanted me for a very long time. He was also very good at this sort of thing, which was why my clothes came off faster than his. His lips were hot and eager against my throat, but he was careful to never once let his fangs brush my skin. I was a little less gentle, surprising myself when I dug my nails into the bare skin of his back. His lips moved lower, tracing the line of my collarbone while he deftly took off my bra one-handed. I was a little astonished at my body's reaction as we both fought to get the other's jeans off first. I'd convinced myself that I'd never want sex again after Dimitri, but right now? Oh, I wanted it. Maybe it was some psychological reaction to Dimitri's rejection. Maybe it was an impulse to live for the moment. Maybe it was love for Adrian. Or maybe it was just lust. Whatever it was, it made me powerless beneath his hands and mouth, which seemed intent on exploring every part of me. The only time he paused was when all my clothes were finally off and I lay there naked with him. He was almost naked too, but I hadn't quite gotten to his boxers yet. (They were silk because, honestly, what else would Adrian wear?). He cupped my face in his hands, his eyes filled with intensity and desire–and a bit of wonder. â€Å"What are you, Rose Hathaway? Are you real? You're a dream within a dream. I'm afraid touching you will make me wake up. You'll disappear.† I recognized a little of the poetic trance he sometimes fell into, the spells that made me wonder if he was catching a little of the spirit-induced madness. â€Å"Touch me and find out,† I said, drawing him to me. He didn't hesitate again. The last of his clothes came off, and my whole body heated at the feel of his skin and the way his hands slid over me. My physical needs were rapidly trampling over any logic and reason. There was no thought, just us, and the fierce urgency bringing us together. I was all burning need and desire and sensation and– â€Å"Oh, shit.† It came out as kind of a mumble since we'd been kissing, our lips eagerly seeking out the other's. With guardian reflexes, I barely managed to shift away, just as our hips started to come together. Losing the feel of him was shocking to me, more so for him. He was stunned, simply staring in astonishment as I wriggled further from him and finally managed a sitting position on the bed. â€Å"What†¦ what's wrong? Did you change your mind?† â€Å"We need protection first,† I said. â€Å"Do you have any condoms?† He processed this for a few seconds and then sighed. â€Å"Rose, only you would pick this instant to remember that.† That was a fair point. My timing kind of sucked. Still, it was better than remembering it afterward. In spite of my body's rampant desire–and it was still there, believe me–I suddenly had a startling, vivid image of Dimitri's sister Karolina. I'd met her in Siberia, and she'd had a baby that was about six months old. The baby was adorable, as babies often are, but by God, she had been so much work. Karolina had a waitressing job, and as soon as she was home from that, her attention went to the baby. When she was at work, Dimitri's mother took care of the baby. And the baby always needed something: food, changing, rescue from choking on a small object. His sister Sonya had been on the verge of having a baby too, and with the way I'd left things with his youngest sister, Viktoria, I wouldn't be surprised to find she was pregnant before long. Huge life changes made from small, careless actions. So I was pretty confident I didn't want a baby in my life right now, not this young. With Dimitri, it hadn't been a concern, thanks to dhampir infertility. With Adrian? It was an issue, as was the fact that while disease was rare among both our races, I wasn't the first girl Adrian had been with. Or the second. Or the third†¦ â€Å"So do you have any?† I asked impatiently. Just because I was in responsible mode, it didn't mean I wanted sex any less. â€Å"Yes,† said Adrian, sitting up as well. â€Å"Back in my bedroom.† We stared at each other. His bedroom was far away, over in the Moroi section of Court. He slid nearer, putting his arm around me and nibbling my earlobe. â€Å"The odds of anything bad happening are pretty low.† I closed my eyes and tipped my head back against him. He wrapped his hands around my hips and stroked my skin. â€Å"What are you, a doctor?† I asked. He laughed softly, his mouth kissing the spot just behind my ear. â€Å"No. I'm just someone willing to take a risk. You can't tell me you don't want this.† I opened my eyes and pulled away so that I could look at him directly. He was right. I did want this. Very, very badly. And the part of me–which was pretty much all of me–that burned with lust was attempting to win me over. The odds probably were low, right? Weren't there people who tried forever to get pregnant and couldn't? My desire had an okay argument, so it was kind of a surprise when my logic won. â€Å"I can't take the risk,† I said. Now Adrian studied me, and at last, he nodded. â€Å"Okay. Another time then. Tonight we'll be†¦ responsible.† â€Å"That's all you're going to say?† He frowned. â€Å"What else would I say? You said no.† â€Å"But you†¦ you could have compelled me.† Now he was really astonished. â€Å"Do you want me to compel you?† â€Å"No. Of course not. It just occurred to me that†¦ well, that you could have.† Adrian cupped my face in his hands. â€Å"Rose, I cheat at cards and buy liquor for minors. But I would never, ever force you into something you don't want. Certainly not this–â€Å" His words were cut off because I'd pressed myself against him and started kissing him again. Surprise must have kept him from doing anything right away, but soon, he pushed me away with what seemed like great reluctance. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said dryly, â€Å"if you want to be responsible, this is not a good way to do it.† â€Å"We don't have to let this go. And we can be responsible.† â€Å"All of those stories are–â€Å" He came screeching to a halt when I tossed my hair out of the way and offered my neck to him. I managed to turn slightly so that I could meet his eyes, but I said nothing. I didn't have to. The invitation was obvious. â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said uncertainly–though I could see the longing spring up in his face. Drinking blood wasn't the same as sex, but it was a yearning all vampires had, and doing it while aroused–so I'd heard–was a mind-blowing experience. It was also taboo and hardly ever done, so people claimed. It was where the definition of blood whore had originated: dhampirs who gave their blood during sex. The idea of dhampirs yielding blood at all was considered disgraceful, but I'd done it before: with Lissa when she needed food and with Dimitri when he'd been Strigoi. And it had been glorious. He tried again, his voice steadier this time. â€Å"Rose, do you know what you're asking?† â€Å"Yes,† I said firmly. I gently ran a finger along his lips and then slipped in to touch his fangs. I threw his own words back at him. â€Å"You can't tell me you don't want this.† He did want it. In a heartbeat, his mouth was at my neck and his fangs were piercing my skin. I cried out at the sudden pain, a sound that softened to a moan as the endorphins that came with every vampire bite flooded into me. An exquisite bliss consumed me. He pulled me hard against him as he drank, almost onto his lap, pressing my back against his chest. I was distantly aware of his hands all over me again, of his lips upon my throat. Mostly, all I knew was that I was drowning in pure, ecstatic sweetness. The perfect high. When he pulled away, it was like losing part of myself. Like being incomplete. Confused, needing him back, I reached for him. He gently pushed my hand away, smiling as he licked his lips. â€Å"Careful, little dhampir. I went longer than I should have. You could probably grow wings and fly off right now.† It actually didn't sound like a bad idea. In a few more moments, though, the intense, crazy part of the high faded, and I settled back to myself. I still felt wonderful and dizzy; the endorphins had fed my body's desire. My reasoning slowly came back to me, allowing (kind of) coherent thought to penetrate that happy haze. When Adrian was convinced I was sober enough, he relaxed and lay down on the bed. I joined him a moment later, curling up against his side. He seemed as content as I was. â€Å"That,† he mused, â€Å"was the best not-sex ever.† My only response was a sleepy smile. It was late, and the more I crashed down from the endorphin rush, the drowsier I felt. Some tiny part of me said that even though I'd wanted this and cared about Adrian, the whole act had been wrong. I hadn't done it for the right reasons, instead letting myself get carried away by my own grief and confusion. The rest of me decided that wasn't true, and the nagging voice soon faded into exhaustion. I fell asleep against Adrian, getting the best night of sleep I'd had in a long time. I wasn't entirely surprised that I was able to get out of bed, shower, get dressed, and even blow-dry my hair without Adrian waking up. My friends and I had spent many a morning trying to drag him out of bed in the past. Hungover or sober, he was a heavy sleeper. I spent more time on my hair than I had in a while. The telltale mark of a vampire bite was fresh on my neck. So I wore my hair down, careful to style it with a part so that the long waves hung heavy on the bite side. Satisfied the bruise would stay camouflaged, I pondered what to do next. In an hour or so, the Council was going to listen to arguments from factions with varying ideas on the new age decree, Moroi fighting, and the Dragomir vote. Provided they let me in the hall, I had no intention of missing the debates on the hottest issues in our world right now. I didn't want to wake up Adrian, though. He was tangled up in my sheets and slept peacefully. If I woke him up, I'd feel obligated to stick around while he got ready. Through the bond, I felt Lissa sitting alone at a cafe table. I wanted to see her and have breakfast, so I decided Adrian could fend for himself. I left him a note about where I was, told him the door would lock on his way out, and drew lots of x's and o's. When I was halfway to the cafe, though, I sensed something that ruined my breakfast plan. Christian had sat down with Lissa. â€Å"Well, well,† I muttered. With everything else going on, I hadn't paid much attention to Lissa's personal life. After what had happened at the warehouse, I wasn't entirely surprised to see them together, though her feelings told me there had been no romantic reconciliation†¦ yet. This was an uneasy attempt at friendship, a chance to get over their constant jealousy and distrust. Far be it from me to intrude on love at work. I knew another place near the guardians' buildings that also had coffee and doughnuts. It would do, provided no one there remembered that I was technically still on probation and had made a scene in a royal hall. The odds on that probably weren't good. Still, I decided to give it a try and headed over, eyeing the overcast sky uneasily. Rain wouldn't help my mood any. When I got to the cafe, I discovered I didn't have to worry about anyone paying attention to me. There was a bigger draw: Dimitri. He was out with his personal guard, and even though I was glad he had some freedom, the attitude that he needed close watching still angered me. At least there was no giant crowd today. People who came in for breakfast couldn't help but stare, but few lingered. He had five guardians with him this time, which was a significant reduction. That was a good sign. He sat alone at a table, coffee and a half-eaten glazed doughnut in front of him. He was reading a paperback novel that I would have bet my life was a Western. No one sat with him. His escort simply maintained a ring of protection, a couple near the walls, one at the entrance, and two at nearby tables. The security seemed pointless. Dimitri was completely engrossed in his book, oblivious to the guards and occasional spectators–or he was simply making a good show of not caring. He seemed very harmless, but Adrian's words came back to me. Was there any Strigoi left in him? Some dark part? Dimitri himself claimed he still carried the piece that prevented him from ever truly loving anyone. He and I had always had this uncanny awareness of each other. In a crowded room, I could always find him. And in spite of his preoccupation with the book, he looked up when I walked toward the cafe's counter. Our eyes met for a millisecond. There was no expression on his face†¦ and yet, I had the feeling he was waiting for something. Me, I realized with a start. Despite everything, despite our fight in the church†¦ he still thought I would pursue and make some pledge of my love. Why? Did he just expect me to be that unreasonable? Or was it possible†¦ was it possible he wanted me to approach him? Well, whatever the reason, I decided I wouldn't give it to him. He'd hurt me too many times already. He'd told me to stay away, and if that was all part of some elaborate game to toy with my feelings, I wasn't going to play. I gave him a haughty look and turned away sharply as I walked up to the counter. I ordered chai and a chocolate eclair. After a moment's consideration, I ordered a second eclair. I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. My plan had been to eat outside, but as I glanced toward the tinted windows, I could just barely make out the pattern of raindrops hitting the panes. Damn. I briefly considered fighting the weather and going somewhere else with my food, but I decided I wasn't going to let Dimitri scare me off. Spying a table far from him, I headed toward it, going out of my way not to look at or acknowledge him. â€Å"Hey Rose. Are you going to the Council today?† I came to a halt. One of Dimitri's guardians had spoken, giving me a friendly smile as he did. I couldn't recall the guy's name, but he'd seemed nice whenever we passed each other. I didn't want to be rude, and so, reluctantly, I answered back–even though it meant staying near Dimitri. â€Å"Yup,† I said, making sure my attention was only on the guardian. â€Å"Just grabbing a bite before I do.† â€Å"Are they going to let you in?† asked another of the guardians. He too was smiling. For a moment, I thought they were mocking my last outburst. But no†¦ that wasn't it. Their faces showed approval. â€Å"That's an excellent question,† I admitted. I took a bite of my eclair. â€Å"But I figure I should give it a try. I'll also try to be on good behavior.† The first guardian chuckled. â€Å"I certainly hope not. That group deserves all the grief you can give them over that stupid age law.† The other guardians nodded. â€Å"What age law?† asked Dimitri. Reluctantly, I looked over at him. As always, he swept my breath away. Stop it, Rose, I scolded myself. You're mad at him, remember? And now you've chosen Adrian. â€Å"The decree where royals think sending sixteen-year-old dhampirs out to fight Strigoi is the same as sending eighteen-year-olds,† I said. I took another bite. Dimitri's head shot up so quickly, I nearly choked on my food. â€Å"Which sixteen-year-olds are fighting Strigoi?† His guardians tensed but did nothing else. It took me a moment to get the bite of eclair down. When I could finally speak, I was almost afraid to. â€Å"That's the decree. Dhampirs graduate when they're sixteen now.† â€Å"When did this happen?† he demanded. â€Å"Just the other day. No one told you?† I glanced over at the other guardians. One of them shrugged. I had the impression that they might believe Dimitri was truly a dhampir but that they weren't ready to get chatty with him. His only other social contact would have been Lissa and his interrogators. â€Å"No.† Dimitri's brow furrowed as he pondered the news. I ate my eclair in silence, hoping it would push him to talk more. It did. â€Å"That's insane,† he said. â€Å"Morality aside, they aren't ready that young. It's suicide.† â€Å"I know. Tasha gave a really good argument against it. I did too.† Dimitri gave me a suspicious look at that last part, particularly when a couple of his guardians smiled. â€Å"Was it a close vote?† he asked. He spoke to me interrogation style, in the serious and focused way that had so defined him as a guardian. It was a lot better than depression, I decided. It was also better than him telling me to go away. â€Å"Very close. If Lissa could have voted, it wouldn't have passed.† â€Å"Ah,† he said, playing with the edges of his coffee cup. â€Å"The quorum.† â€Å"You know about that?† I asked in surprise. â€Å"It's an old Moroi law.† â€Å"So I hear.† â€Å"What's the opposition trying to do? Sway the Council back or get Lissa the Dragomir vote?† â€Å"Both. And other things.† He shook his head, tucking some hair behind his ear. â€Å"They can't do that. They need to pick one cause and throw their weight behind it. Lissa's the smartest choice. The Council needs the Dragomirs back, and I've seen the way people look at her when they put me on display.† Only the slightest edge of bitterness laced his words, indicating how he felt about that. Then it was back to business. â€Å"It wouldn't be hard to get support for that–if they don't divide their efforts.† I started in on my second eclair, forgetting about my earlier resolution to ignore him. I didn't want to distract him from the topic. It was the first thing that had brought the old fire back to his eyes, the only thing he seemed truly interested in–well, aside from pledging lifelong devotion to Lissa and telling me to stay out of his life. I liked this Dimitri. It was the same Dimitri from long ago, the fierce one who was willing to risk his life for what was right. I almost wished he'd go back to being annoying, distant Dimitri, the one who told me to stay away. Seeing him now brought back too many memories–not to mention the attraction I thought I'd smashed. Now, with that passion all over him, he seemed sexier than ever. He'd worn that same intensity when we'd fought together. Even when we'd had sex. This was the way Dimitri was supposed to be: powerful and in charge. I was glad and yet†¦ seeing him the way I loved only made my heart feel that much worse. He was lost to me. If Dimitri guessed my feelings, he didn't show it. He looked squarely at me, and, like always, the power of that gaze wrapped around me. â€Å"The next time you see Tasha, will you send her to me? We need to talk about this.† â€Å"So, Tasha can be your friend, but not me?† The sharp words were out before I could stop them. I flushed, embarrassed that I'd lapsed in front of the other guardians. Dimitri apparently didn't want an audience either. He looked up at the one who had initially addressed me. â€Å"Is there any way we could have some privacy?† His escort exchanged looks, and then, almost as one being, they stepped back. It wasn't a considerable distance, and they still maintained a ring around Dimitri. Nonetheless, it was enough that all of our conversation wouldn't be overheard. Dimitri turned back to me. I sat down. â€Å"You and Tasha have completely different situations. She can safely be in my life. You can't.† â€Å"And yet,† I said with an angry toss of my hair, â€Å"it's apparently okay for me to be in your life when it's convenient–say, like, running errands or passing messages.† â€Å"It doesn't really seem like you need me in your life,† he noted dryly, inclining his head slightly toward my right shoulder. It took me a moment to grasp what had happened. In tossing my hair, I'd exposed my neck–and the bite. I tried not to blush again, knowing I had nothing to feel embarrassed about. I pushed the hair back. â€Å"That's none of your business,† I hissed, hoping the other guardians hadn't seen. â€Å"Exactly.† He sounded triumphant. â€Å"Because you need to live your own life, far away from me.† â€Å"Oh, for God's sake,† I exclaimed. â€Å"Will you stop with the–â€Å" My eyes lifted from his face because an army suddenly descended upon us. Okay, it wasn't exactly an army, but it might as well have been. One minute it was just Dimitri, me, and his security, and then suddenly–the room was swarming with guardians. And not just any guardians. They wore the black-and-white outfits guardians often did for formal occasions, but a small red button on their collars marked them as guardians specifically attached to the queen's guard. There had to be at least twenty of them. They were lethal and deadly, the best of the best. Throughout history, assassins who had attacked monarchs had found themselves quickly taken down by the royal guard. They were walking death–and they were all gathering around us. Dimitri and I both shot up, unsure what was happening but certain the threat here was directed at us. His table and its chairs were between us, but we still immediately fell into the standard fighting stance when surrounded by enemies: Go back-to-back. Dimitri's security wore ordinary clothing and seemed a bit astonished to see their brethren, but with guardian efficiency, the escort promptly joined the advancing queen's guard. There were no more smiles or jokes. I wanted to throw myself in front of Dimitri, but in this situation, it was kind of difficult. â€Å"You need to come with us right now,† one of the queen's guards said. â€Å"If you resist, we'll take you by force.† â€Å"Leave him alone!† I yelled, looking from face to face. That angry darkness exploded within me. How could they still not believe? Why were they still coming after him? â€Å"He hasn't done anything! Why can't you guys accept that he's really a dhampir now?† The man who'd spoken arched an eyebrow. â€Å"I wasn't talking to him.† â€Å"You're†¦ you're here for me?† I asked. I tried to think of any new spectacles I might have caused recently. I considered the crazy idea that the queen had found out I'd spent the night with Adrian and was pissed off about it. That was hardly enough to send the palace guard for me, though†¦ or was it? Had I really gone too far with my antics? â€Å"What for?† demanded Dimitri. That tall, wonderful body of his–the one that could be so sensual sometimes–was filled with tension and menace now. The man kept his gaze on me, ignoring Dimitri. â€Å"Don't make me repeat myself: Come with us quietly, or we will make you.† The glimmer of handcuffs showed in his hands. My eyes went wide. â€Å"That's crazy! I'm not going anywhere until you tell me how the hell this–â€Å" That was the point at which they apparently decided I wasn't coming quietly. Two of the royal guardians lunged for me, and even though we technically worked for the same side, my instincts kicked in. I didn't understand anything here except that I would not be dragged away like some kind of master criminal. I shoved the chair I'd been sitting in earlier at one of the guardians and aimed a punch at the other. It was a sloppy throw, made worse because he was taller than me. That height difference allowed me to dodge his next grab, and when I kicked hard at his legs, a small grunt told me I'd hit home. I heard a few scattered screams. The people working at the cafe ducked behind their counter like they expected automatic weapons to come out. The other patrons who'd been eating breakfast hurriedly sprang from their tables, heedlessly knocking over food and dishes. They ran for the exits–exits that were blocked by still more guardians. This brought more screams, even though the exits were being cut off because of me. Meanwhile, other guardians were joining the fray. Although I got a couple of good punches in, I knew the numbers were too overwhelming. One guardian caught hold of my arm and began trying to put the cuffs on me. He stopped when another set of hands grabbed me from the other side and jerked me away. Dimitri. â€Å"Don't touch her,† he growled. There was a note in his voice that would have scared me if it had been directed toward me. He shoved me behind him, putting his body protectively in front of mine with my back to the table. Guardians came at us from all directions, and Dimitri began dispatching them with the same deadly grace that had once made people call him a god. He didn't kill any of the ones he fought, but he made sure they were out of action. If anyone thought his ordeals as a Strigoi or being locked up had diminished his fighting ability, they were terribly mistaken. Dimitri was a force of nature, managing to take on both impossible odds and stop me each time I tried to join the fight. The queen's guards might have been the best of the best, but Dimitri†¦ well, my former lover and instructor was in a category all his own. His fighting skills were beyond anyone else's, and he was using them all in defense of me. â€Å"Stay back,† he ordered me. â€Å"They aren't laying a hand on you.† At first, I was overwhelmed by his protectiveness–even though I hated not being part of a fight. Watching him fight again was also entrancing. He made it look beautiful and lethal at the same time. He was a one-man army, the kind of warrior that protected his loved ones and brought terror to his enemies– And that's when a horrible revelation hit me. â€Å"Stop!† I suddenly yelled. â€Å"I'll come! I'll come with you!† No one heard me at first. They were too involved with the fight. Guardians kept trying to sneak behind Dimitri, but he seemed to sense them and would shove chairs or anything else he could get a hold of at them–while still managing to kick and punch those coming at us head-on. Who knew? Maybe he really could have taken on an army by himself. But I couldn't let him. I shook Dimitri's arm. â€Å"Stop,† I repeated. â€Å"Don't fight anymore.† â€Å"Rose–â€Å" â€Å"Stop!† I was pretty sure I'd never screamed any word so loudly in my life. It rang through the room. For all I knew, it rang through the entire Court. It didn't exactly make everyone come to a halt, but many of the guardians slowed down. A few of the cowering cafe workers peered over the counter at us. Dimitri was still in motion, still ready to take everyone on, and I had to practically throw myself at him to get him to notice me. â€Å"Stop.† This time, my voice was a whisper. An uneasy silence had fallen over everyone. â€Å"Don't fight them anymore. I'm going to go with them.† â€Å"No. I won't let them take you.† â€Å"You have to,† I begged. He was breathing hard, every part of him braced and ready to attack. We locked gazes, and a thousand messages seemed to flow between us as the old electricity crackled in the air. I just hoped he got the right message. One of the guardians tentatively stepped forward–having to go around the unconscious body of his colleague–and Dimitri's tension snapped. He started to block the guardian and defend me again, but I instead put myself between them, clasping Dimitri's hand and still looking into his eyes. His skin was warm and felt so, so right touching mine. â€Å"Please. No more.† I saw then that he finally understood what I was trying to say. People were still afraid of him. No one knew what he was. Lissa had said him behaving calmly and normally would soothe fears. But this? Him taking on an army of guardians? That was not going to get him points for good behavior. For all I knew, it was already too late after this, but I had to attempt damage control. I couldn't let them lock him up again–not because of me. As he looked at me, he seemed to send a message of his own: that he would still fight for me, that he would fight until he collapsed to keep them from taking me. I shook my head and gave his hand a parting squeeze. His fingers were exactly as I remembered, long and graceful, with calluses built up from years of training. I let go and turned to face the guy who had originally spoken. I assumed he was some sort of leader. I held out my hands and slowly stepped forward. â€Å"I'll go quietly. But, please†¦ don't lock him back up. He just thought†¦ he just thought I was in trouble.† The thing was, as the handcuffs were clamped onto my wrists, I was starting to think I was in trouble too. As the guardians helped each other up, their leader took a deep breath and made the proclamation he'd been trying to make since entering. I swallowed, waiting to hear Victor's name. â€Å"Rose Hathaway, you are under arrest for high treason.† Not quite what I'd expected. Hoping my submission had earned me points, I asked, â€Å"What kind of high treason?† â€Å"The murder of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Tatiana.†

What Makes Mosquito Bites Itch

Most people experience some kind of skin reaction after being bitten by a mosquito. The pain of the bite and the red bump that follows is tolerable, but the persistent itching is enough to drive you crazy. Why do mosquito bites itch?! Why Mosquitoes Bite Mosquitoes arent biting you for their own entertainment, nor are they doing it in self defense (as is usually the case when bees sting). Both male and female mosquitoes get nourishment from nectar, not from blood.   Mosquitoes require protein and iron to develop their eggs, two substances they can get both from blood. Only the female mosquito feeds on blood, and she only does so when shes developing eggs.   For a small insect such as a mosquito, biting a large mammal like you is a risky proposition. A good number of mosquitoes get slapped and killed in their pursuit of blood, after all. So mama mosquito only resorts to drinking blood when she requires proteins to produce healthy, viable eggs.   If the mosquito wants to survive to produce offspring, shes got to be fast and efficient about getting that blood meal. Shell seek out a blood vessel thats pumping well, and let your veins do the work of filling her belly quickly so she can escape before you have time to react. Why Mosquito Bites Itch Though we commonly call them mosquito bites, shes not really biting you at all. The mosquito pierces the upper layer of your skin with her proboscis, a straw-like mouthpart that allows her to drink fluids. Once she breaks through your epidermis, the mosquito uses her proboscis to search for a pumping blood vessel in the dermal layer underneath. When the mosquito locates a good vessel, she releases some of her saliva into the wound. Mosquito saliva contains anti-coagulants that keeps your blood flowing until she is finished with her meal. Now your immune system realizes something is going on, and springs into action. Your plasma cells produce immunoglobulins (antibodies) and send them to the area of the bite. These antibodies cause your mast cells to release histamines to combat the foreign substance. The histamine reaches the area under attack, causing blood vessels there to swell. Its the action of the histamine that causes the red bump, called a wheal. But what about the itching? When the blood vessels expand, the swelling irritates nerves in the area. You feel this nerve irritation as an itchy sensation. Recent studies of mosquito bite reactions in mice suggest there may be something else causing the itch. The mast cells may release another non-histamine substance that causes peripheral neurons to send itch signals to the brain. How to Stop Mosquito Bites from Itching As should be obvious, the best way to cure the itch of a mosquito bite is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Whenever possible, wear long sleeves and pants when youre outdoors and mosquitoes are active. Studies show that insect repellants containing DEET are effective against mosquitoes, so do yourself a favor and apply some bug spray before venturing outside. If youve already been bitten, your best defense against mosquito bite itch is a good antihistamine (which literally means against histamine). Take a dose of your favorite over-the-counter oral antihistamine to calm the itch and irritation. You can also use a topical antihistamine product on the bites for immediate relief. Sources: Physicians Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, 6th edition, by Jerome Goddard.The Insects: An Outline of Entomology, 3rd edition, by P. J. Gullan and P. S. CranstonMosquito Bite Itch, by Kathryn Eckert, Ross Lab, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh. Accessed online November 2, 2015.Medical Mythbusters - Mosquito Bites!,by John A. Vaughn, MD, and Angela Walker, Med IV, Ohio State University. Accessed online November 22, 2016.When Mosquitoes Bite, Take Antihistamines for Relief, by Delilah Warrick, MD, University of Washington. Accessed online November 22, 2016.