Arab minorities in America essays

Arab minorities in America essays The Arab and Muslim minority in the United States seems to be a bit neglected by scholars. Even basic statistical data concerning the number of them living in America is hard to obtain. If we tried to find out how many Arab-Americans live in the United States nowadays, the numbers would vary from 2 to 6 millions. The atmosphere of mystery and neglect has changed significantly since September 11, yet much information about this particular group is still missing, and many questions remain unanswered. One of the reasons that account for numerous misunderstandings concerning Arab-Americans is perhaps the fact that, as Shibley Telhami puts it in his article, most Arabs in America are not Muslim, and most Muslims are not Arabs. Americans got used to associate all the Arabs with the same religion, while the situation is much more complicated. Telhami writes about this misconception and explains, Most Arab Americans came from Lebanon and Syria, in several waves of immigration beginning at the outset of the 20th century. Most Muslim Americans are African American or from South Asia.. Telhami observes that the Arab community is one of the most diverse ethnic communities in the United States. The Arabs differ not only in their religious orientation, but also in their views concerning the advantages and disadvantages of assimilation. Nevertheless, Telhamis view is optimistic. Like other ethnic groups in America, Arabs and Muslims have produced many successful Americans whose ethnic background is merely an afterthought., he claims. He uses the words of a Muslim woman, who was interviewed a few days after the terrorist attack on September 11, to back up his opinion: "I am so used to thinking about myself as a New Yorker that it took me a few days to begin to see myself as a stranger might: a Muslim woman, an outsider. Telhami argues that many Muslims assimilated well in American society&quo...

Drones Attacks and its Effects Essay Essays

Drones Attacks and its Effects Essay Essays Drones Attacks and its Effects Essay Essay Drones Attacks and its Effects Essay Essay Introduction: What is a drone? The US section of defence provinces that. a drone. or remote-controlled aircraft. is an â€Å"aircraft or balloon that does non transport a human operator and is capable of flight under remote control or autonom ous scheduling. †1 It’s a fact that drones are introduced to the universe in recent clip. and at that place started a important argument but its beginning can be traced atleast to World war1. 2 Although drones are largely related to Asia after 2004 but throughout the 20th century. nevertheless. they were used chiefly for surveillance. most notably during the Gulf War and the struggle in the Balkans in the 1990s. 3 After 9/11 drones started its function in the war on panic and the frist drone was flown in Afghanistan in ocotber 2001. 4 Since so. the US has increased its armory of Predator drones from 167 in 2002 to more than 7. 000 today. 5 US Positions About drones: War on panic started to securitize people from terrorists and drones are the chief equipment to securitize people. Harmonizing to US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta â€Å" Drones onslaughts protected Pakistan people every bit good as US†6 He farther said that drones onslaughts merely target the activists and are non counterproductive. Further he said â€Å"We are contending a war in the FATA. we are contending a war against terrorist act. † US believes that drones onslaughts are successful in decreasing terrorists. and the civilian hazard is excessively small. US authorities most of the times garbages of any civilian deceases in drones onslaught. Avary Plaw. an associate professor of political scientific discipline at the University of Massachusetts. provinces â€Å"One point in favour of drone work stoppages is that they are weakening Al Qaeda. the Taliban and affiliated groups. and therefore protecting lives. American and other. Besides. there don’t seem to be better agencies of making so† . He goes on stating that civilian causalities can non be avoided. they must be minimized. This is what drones work stoppages do. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. DEP’T OF DEFENSE. 331 Joint PUBLICATION 1-02. DICTIONARY OF MILITARY AND ASSOCIATED TERMS ( 2010 ) ( amended July 15. 2012 ) . 2 Time Line of UAVs. PBS. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. phosphate buffer solution. org/wgbh/nova/spiesfly/uavs. hypertext markup language ( last visited Aug. 8. 2012 ) . 3 See Mary Ellen O’Connell. Improper Killing with Combat Drones: A Case Study of Pakistan. 2004- 2009 3 ( Notre Dame Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 09-43. 2010 ) . 4 Eric Schmitt. Threats and Responses: The Battlefield: US Would Use Drones to Attack Targets. N. Y. TIMES ( Nov. 6. 2002 ) . hypertext transfer protocol: //www. nytimes. com/2002/11/06/world/threats-responses-battlefield-uswould- use-drones-attack-iraqi-targets. hypertext markup language? pagewanted=all A ; src=pm. 5 Anna Mulrine. Unmanned Drone Attacks and Shape-Shifting Robots: War’s Remote Control Future. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ( Oct. 22. 2011 ) . hypertext transfer protocol: //www. csmonitor. com/USA/Military/2011/1022/Unmanned-drone-attacks-and-shape-shiftingrobots- War-s-remote-control-future. 6. Leon Panetta. US Secretary of defense mechanism. interview to Indian channel on June 6. 2012 08:26 Drones onslaughts Effectss: The other side of image of drones onslaughts is wholly opposite and strongly against the ballad claims of US. One of the informant. a human-centered worker of US said. â€Å"I remember people shouting in the streets. † he says. â€Å"People were afraid about what might go on following. People didn’t know if there would be another onslaught. There was tenseness in the air. This is what it is like. † He’s depicting life today where regular U. S. drone work stoppages happen. â€Å"It is a uninterrupted tenseness. a feeling of uninterrupted edginess. We are scared. † he laments. â€Å"You wake up with a start to every noise. †7 Let the treatment be started with James Jefferey ‘s article. where he speaks as â€Å"On a computing machine screen in the unit’s central office I watched a edifice explode and heard it on the wireless that enemy fire had ceased. Shortly after. we were notified a tractor and auto had arrived at a nearby patrol base’s entryway. loaded with organic structure parts of seven Afghans killed by the work stoppage. Six were kids who had been in a adjacent edifice. The frontward air accountant had said the targeted edifice contained no civilians. I spent the remainder of the twenty-four hours roll uping a study about the incident - composing amid a mental fog of daze. sickness and disgust at what I was portion of. †8 The US functionaries ever claims that drones consequence merely the activists and the civilian casualties are in individual figure. this is misdirecting the universe about the devastation of drones. which largely kill guiltless people. Harmonizing to Stanford study drones merely aim 2 % of activists and the recent are guiltless people. largely kids. Further the policy of drone are counterproductive. harmonizing to the civilization of Pakistan and Afghanistan. all the household battle against those who kill any member of their household. That’s the ground self-destruction bombing took topographic point after 2004 in Pakistan when drones started killing people without any mistakes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Harmonizing to the same study the economic system of people in drones stricken countries ie Waziristan is collapsed badly. The fact is most of the people in FATA work locally. they have stores. vegetable tribunal. or sell things on unfastened land. The fright of drones in the country is huge most of the stores are either destroyed by drones or closed because of the fright. In most instances the gaining male of the households are killed in drones. it should be clear that FATA is like most of Pakistan and Afghanistan countries where merely male work for support and back up their households. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7. Conor Friedersdorf. ‘Every Person Is Afraid of the Drones’ : The Strikes’ Effect on Life in Pakistan. SEP 25 2012.hypertext transfer protocol: //www. theatlantic. com/international/archive/2012/09/every-person-is-afraid-of-the- drones-the-strikes-effect-on-life-in-pakistan/262814/ 8. James Jafferey. The Position From the Wreckage. Bublishesd SEPTEMBER 26. 2012. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. nytimes. com/roomfordebate/2012/09/25/do-drone-attacks-do-more-harm-than-good/the-view-from-the-wreckage One of the member of FATA and effected of drones said that. â€Å"A drone struck my home†¦ I was at work at that clip. so there was cipher in my place and no 1 killed†¦ Nothing else was destroyed other than my house. † he explained. â€Å"I went back to see the place. but there was nil to make - I merely saw my place wrecked†¦ I was highly sad. because usually a house costs around 10 hundred thousand. or 1. 000. 000 rupees [ US $ 10. 593 ] . and I don’t even have 5. 000 rupees now [ US $ 53 ] . I spent my whole life in that house†¦ my male parent had lived at that place every bit good. There is a large difference between holding your ain place and life on rent or mortgage†¦ I belong to a hapless household and my place has been destroyed. †9 Because drones fly most of the clip upon them so largely people sit at place and those who go for work are a batch worried about their places. so the concern and the plants are about now finished. US claims that drones work stoppage merely the activists. possi bly they call kids as activists because in drones largely kids die. In 2006 a drones onslaught on a madrassa in Bajuar. a tribal country of Pakistan. resulted in 80 deceases in which 69 where kids aged 7 to 17. One of the drone affected individual interviewed he said â€Å"My three boies died in drone onslaught. they were 8. 5 and 3 old ages old. They studied at an Islamic spiritual school in our country. I merely have one boy now. I miss all my dead boies. but I miss the eldest the most because he would take attention of the household in my absence. †10 The large figure. in all studies. is of kids and adult females who are the portion of no terrorist groups but the most guiltless animal of God. The official figure of kids decease in drones attaks is 176. while the un official figure is greater that this. Children have stopped traveling to schools because of the fright of the decease of category chaps in drones. The instruction system has to the full collapsed in the part. consequently to the study of Stanford most of the parents have stopped their kids to travel toschool. The parents say that drones are ever fly around the part so if it sees our childs praying in school it will assail and kill them. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9. . Conor Friedersdorf. ‘Every Person Is Afraid of the Drones’ : The Strikes’ Effect on Life in Pakistan. SEP 25 2012. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. theatlantic. com/international/archive/2012/09/every-person-is-afraid-of-the- 10. Mudasir Shah ( interview published ) US Drones Kill Innocent People in South Waziristan Saturday. 03 November 2012 08:15 hypertext transfer protocol: //www. asiacalling. kbr68h. com/en/news/pakistan/2963-us-drones-kill-innocent-people-in-south-waziristan One male parent. after seeing the organic structures of three dead kids in the debris of a work stoppage. decided to draw his ain kids out of school. â€Å"I stopped my childs from acquiring an instruction. † he admitted. â€Å"I told them we will be finished one twenty-four hours. the same as other people who were traveling to school and were killed in the drone onslaughts. † He stated that this is non uncommon: â€Å"I know a batch of people. misss and male childs. whose households have stopped them from acquiring instruction because of drone onslaughts. †11 while questioning people by Stanford squad on of the folk adult male Ismail Hussain uttered. â€Å"the kids are shouting and they don’t travel to school. They fear that their schools will be tragedy by the drones † ( P 89 of Stanford ) beside that drones have affected the metal quality of pupils and have drawn their attending from survey. Lashkar-e-Taibas quote Faheem Quereshi the exclusive subsister of drones onslaughts in Waziristan. Faheem was the most superb pupil in the category and remained topper before a drone came and fractured his skull and do him about blind. Faheem provinces. â€Å"Our heads have been diverted from analyzing. We can non larn things because we are ever in fright of the drones vibrating over us. and it truly scares the little childs who go to school. . . . At the clip the drone struck. I had to take tests. but I couldn’t take tests after that because it weakened my encephalon. I couldn’t learn things. and it affected me emotionally. My [ head ] was so severely affected. . . ( p. 90-91 of Stanford study ) † Most of the pupil have metal jobs and are in injury because of the on traveling regular fright of decease. It’s a incubus when drones are winging around above the houses. When kids sees drones they scream and run to houses. they are in fright all the clip holding in head drones can kill them in no clip. They physicians say that 95 % of people are psychologically disturbed. adult females. work forces and kids.

Making Choices about Exigency, Genre, and Readership Essay - 1

Making Choices about Exigency, Genre, and Readership - Essay Example Thinking about genre will enable the writer to consider the style and manner of writing. Considering about readership will compel the writer to engage with the subject being written and not just to write to comply to the requirements of an assignment. I have to admit that the only person I thought of in my previous writing classes is my teacher on how to satisfy him or her so I can get better grade. Writing for an ideal community of readers compels me to find ways to meet the expectations of those who are already interested in my topic and for them to consider my perspective, accept my explanations, arguments and proposals. Writing for a class is primarily motivated by compliance or as a response to the requirement of a class. This may or may not engage the writer as he or she writes the paper. Writing for â€Å"real† readers on the other hand, engages the writer about the subject being written in order to convince its real readers to adopt his or her point of view or be convince with the persuasion of the

Cellphone (iPhone) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cellphone (iPhone) - Research Paper Example The latest introduction in this line of products is the smart-phone, which has led the way in changing the perceptions previously held by individuals about the mobile device (Vogelstein). One brand that has been one of the frontrunners in this product is the iPhone. The I phone is a brand of smart-phones that have taken the cell phone market by storm ever since its introduction and can be said to be one of the most popular brands across the globe. It is designed as well as sold by Apple inc., a large company in the United States that has been one of the leaders in modern technological devices (Murtazin 23). Apple is also responsible for other brands as well such as the I Mac computer and the I Pad. There are a number of other smart-phones that have entered the market but it can be said that most have not been able to enjoy the worldwide brand recognition that is experienced by Apple as a result of the iPhone (Vogelstein). A number of models of the iPhone have emerged over the years a s the company has sought to stay ahead of the competition. These new models have come with new and improved features that have been designed to make life easier for its user in their daily activities. There are seven generations of models of the iPhone that are currently available to the market but with the introduction of new generations, the older ones gradually lose their popularity. The Impact of the iPhone There are a number of ways in which the iPhone has impacted the field in which it operates in. The introduction of the iPhone can be said to have changed the way that individuals use cell phones and as mentioned earlier, can be referred to as one of the leaders of smart-phone technology (Vogelstein). Some of the positive influences that the iPhone has had on the society include: Improved Communication The iPhone has ensured that the means of communication available to the public have improved drastically in comparison to earlier cell phones and the narrow range of options tha t it offered (Murtazin 21). Communication is an essential part of the society and it takes place between individuals on a daily basis. The lack of communication would lead to a stand still in the operations of the society and can be said to affect the lives of individuals who have, over grown reliant on modern devices for their communication needs (Roy et al 65). The iPhone offers a better means of communication as it has been designed to rival the normal mobile devices that can be found in the market. The iPhone has also widened the range of options that an individual has when choosing to communicate with someone as a result of the various applications that have emerged over the years in support of the smart phone. Previously one could only call an individual they wished to communicate with and no other alternatives were offered for those who perhaps did not exactly wish for this type of communication. It can be said that the iPhone has enhanced the spread of Computer Mediated Comm unication (CMC) by individuals all over the world as its platform have made easier for individuals to use this new technology as a means of contacting one another (McQuail 12). The ability to communicate via different methods allows one to choose their preferred choice. Enhanced Internet Connectivity The introduction

Institutional Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Institutional Investment - Essay Example As compared to other funds that can be termed as passively managed funds, the actively managed funds tend to have a higher expense ratio due to the stock-picking that goes on with this type of portfolio. On the other hand, an index fund is a collective investment scheme focusing on an index movement in the financial market with already set rules that have to remain constant regardless of the market dynamics that are supposedly affecting stock. (Kaushik, 2013, p.1) The tracking in here means it can be approached by holding all securities in the index with the same proportions of the stock being monitored as much statistically sampling the market and holding representative securities. Having the advantage of lower fees, the returns to the investors are few influenced as well as low costs are in the light of taxes. Actively managed equity mutual funds have trillions of dollars in assets, collect tens of billions in management fees, and are the subject of enormous attention from investor s, the press, and researchers; therefore the scrutiny of such funds come from all quarters their active management (Baks, Metrick and Watcher, 2001, p. 43-83). This is due to the fact that they are relevantly required to mature in a shorter period as compared to indexed funds and for years, many experts have been saying that investors would be better off in low-cost passively managed index funds. The brief of the active fund and index fund is two different investment strategy. The former is looking for the market to be misprice securities positively and seek to obtain market performances beyond target. While the later chose a particular index as an investment, not the manifestation of seek the market actively instead of trying to replicate the performance of an index (Philippe, 2002, p. 1-10). According to Jensen (1968, p. 389-400), most studies have found that the universe of mutual funds does not outperform its benchmarks after expenses and this evidence indicates that the average active mutual fund should be avoided hence the preference shifts to the indexed funds for the longer term investments. Other findings reveal that future abnormal returns â€Å"alphas† can be forecast using past returns or alphas, past fund inflows, and manager characteristics such as age, education, and SAT scores which goes a long way in their decision making with regard to financial knowledge. Base on the evidence, those alphas are possible to persistent, and that some managers own positives expectation on alphas as far as about 0.1 percent of all managers in the expectation and none do. Using current data and methods, it is not possible to distinguish between these two possibilities, but at the same time such small differences may have large consequences for investors. There has been rising popularity among the index funds, and this can be attributed to their excellent performance in the long run as they have outperformed their actively managed competitors as a whole. Tak ing a look at the mathematical aspect of the indices, the average active

The role of government in an economy

The role of government in an economy 1. What do you understand by an economic system? Discuss the role of government in a market economy. Do you think that your government should play a more active role in the economy? Elaborate why and why not? An economic system deals with the structure of production, distribution of economic outputs, and consumption of goods and services in an economy The development of economic system is needed in the national community that address the problem of economics like allocating resources and scarcity of the resource. The economic system arranges the relationship among people, institutions and government in order to resolve the problem of economic. It confronted with the different basic economy questions that require answer such as what to produce, how to produce it and for whom to produce. The contemporary economic systems is classify into 4 type including capitalism economy, socialism economy, mixed economy and Islamic economic. In capital economic system, all main economic decision is determined by private owners in capital market with minimal government interference also know as free market economy or laissez faire. Transaction on the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system by the buyer and suppliers in open markets. The socialism economy is an economic system in which the central government controls most of property resource and major economic decisions regarding the production and distribution of goods and services through a central planning boards. The central planning boards decide on the output between capital and consumers goods, and the capital goods are allocated among industries and enterprise according to government directives. A mixed economy reflects both capitalism and socialism to solve basic economic problem involve by both private and public sectors in allocation of good and service. Problem face by some of the public and private ownerships on the resource is based on supply and demand conditioned by price mechanism and economic growth of the country development. Therefore, government intervention in the economy for certain essential service such as illegal product categorized as unsafe goods like military items, and requirement such as schools, hospital, police force and army. And execute certain project or produce products that private sectors consider unbeneficial e.g conduction of low cost house in Malaysia. The role of government in a market economy deals with problem associated with market failure. Market failure has negative effect on the economy because allocation of goods and service by a free market is not efficient. One of the causes of market failure is the existence of monopoly of power by certain party such as the price of resources is higher than marginal costs can lead to allocation of inefficiency and pareto sub-optimal equilibrium in the market. Inequality may also cause market failure through the economy, as the income of different group of individual lead to wide gaps of living standard. Market failure can be corrected through government action or decision to reduce inequality by changes in tax and benefit system such as national minimum wage. Government has the authority to enforce property rights of ownership, protecting public property, encourages production and exchanges of goods and service [1]. Government has the roles to achieve economy stability and growth by attempting to maintain steady growth, provide high level of employment, and ensure price stability in the market. Through vital support in spending and tax rates it can slow down or speed out the economy growth [2]. Malaysia government play significant role in the economic growth of the country, by providing knowledge to the public on the current market and economic development through various tools such as through education and media. Malaysia government has the role to provide goods and service to public such as highway, education, national deference, security etc. Malaysia is the 29th world biggest economy in the world and based 16th largest in the world trading economy with a growth rate of 5% to 7 % since 2004. Malaysia government provides the basic necessities to the public such as clothing, rent, fuel, utilities and transport and communication, where Malaysia government help reduce poverty among the rural population. The effective involvement of government in service and implementation of development program give a huge transformation to the nation growth. . The involvement of Malaysia government in too many firm and industries could lose concentration and less focus on the development of several industries, this factor could lead to unhealthy competition among the private sector without control by the government. [1] Mike P. McKeever, The Mckeever Institute of Economic policy, San Francisco in 2003 [2] Governments Role in the  Economy U.S Department of State. Taken on 10 March 2011 http://economics.about.com/od/howtheuseconomyworks/a/government.htm. 2. What are the characteristics of the Malaysian economy. Discuss its weaknesses and suggest appropriate policy proposals to srengthen the economy in order to realise the objective of becoming a developed country by 2020. Malaysia economic system is based on mixed economy system that both free market and governments have significant effect on the economic development of the country [1]. By year 2009, Malaysia has reached per capital income (GDP/PoP) of RM 24,541(USD 6,812) and from 2004 to 2010, Malaysia economy growth performance at a sustained rapid growth averaging 5% to 7 % annually [2]. Malaysia economy is highly trade dependent of goods with several countries especially in the western market and Asian market such as China, Japan, Korean, and etc. Malaysia government also promote an open developing economy to private enterprises to take part in country development projects [3]. Malaysia is commonly known as a middle-income country, it functions by well distribution of wealth among the country population and equality among the public. Malaysia economy has been depend on export of product from raw material driven by manufacture exports such as electrical and electronic products, petroleum and gas (14th biggest world gas producer), palm oil products, rubber products and timber products. Malaysia economy also focuses on minor products to be export such as agriculture products, tourism, education, ICT, consultancy and etc. In the early economy of Malaysia in year 1957 till 1994, Malaysia economic resource of product tin and rubber is exploit by the British. And in late 1970s, the economic is export oriented industrialization stared with electronic industry at Free Trade Zone. The evolution and development of economy from year 1995-2009, based on knowledge-based economy (KBE) provide the platform where growth is focus on acquisition, utilization and dissemination of knowledge. These accelerate economy to a higher development of knowledge-based activities, innovation of product and intensification of Research and development activities. The changing of economy would strengthen Malaysia toward achieving the government vision 2020 to propel Malaysia to being as an advanced nation with sustainability of economy growth. Malaysia government depends highly on the trade and export system economic, which expose Malaysia to worldwide economy recession. During recession period, economic hardship remain in the country and high rate of unemployment among the workforce affect the living of people in the country. The introduction large scale of foreign labour cause shortage of skilled workers in certain sectors such as construction and manufacturing leading in Malaysia work force whereby a foreign exchange exits drain in Malaysia economic. The domestic private sector failed to deliver target set by the Malaysia plan, where the domestic investors feels that the government is not focusing on domestic investment [4]. The government development plan, called the Malaysian Plan given way to strengthen the growth of Malaysia economy to achieve the ultimate objective aim for Malaysia by the year 2020[5]. The plan was focus on accelerating the growth of economy structure, divided into three sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and services. A unit of agency under the Prime Ministers Department called as Economic Planning Unit, is responsible for driven Malaysias through various measure such as policies and strategies for socio-economic development. [1] Shri V.Mahalingam, First Secretary HOC from University Grants Commission 2006-07 U.G.C [2] Economic of Malaysia, from Wikipedia the free encycolopedia taken on 10 March 2011 http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Economy_of_Malaysia [3] Malaysia Information taken on 10 March 2011 http://www.asia-planet.net/malaysia/information.htm [4] Malaysia Information and Communication Technology taken on March 10 March 2011 http://www1.american.edu/initeb/ym6974a/nationalictpolicies.htm [5] Joseph Chin of the edge Malaysia article on Guan Eng wants allocation detail under Tenth Malaysia Plan on Monday,14 february 2011 16.44 mtbh 01032011 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

gatdream Trading Life for a Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

The Great Gatsby - Trading Life for a Dream What is life? Life embodies ones dreams mixed in with successes and most importantly, love. Following this definition, Jay Gatsby lives a fulfilling existence while Nick stays put and ordinary like stagnant water. Life is full of risks and Gatsby risks his life for love and happiness. Even though he did lose his life, he didn't pay too high a price for living too long a single and farfetched dream of true love. Gatsby is the epitome of the American Dream, "his brown, hardening body lived naturally through the half fierce, half lazy work of the bracing days...as a clam digger and a salmon fisher." (104) From this Gatsby became a robber baron, an American capitalist who became wealthy through exploitation and in Gatsby's case, through bootlegging. Anger is what made Gatsby and wealth and power were his means toward the goals of happiness and true love. Gatsby supports this when he says to Tom, "she only married you because I was too poor and she was tired of waiting for me." (137) Gatsby has never forgotten that if he had had the money when he first met her, then she would be his. So this propels him on a quest to make money and use the money to relive the past. Daisy is currently married and has a daughter. Despite this, Gatsby still wants to make it like old times. After all, his beliefs drive him to do crazy things. Beliefs founded on different principles, "Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can...I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before. She'll see." (116-117) Gatsby's dreams drive him to do the impossible, change the past. Nick struggles to understand why a man would spend so much time and money for something that lasted so short and in no way in favor of Gatsby. "His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was" (117), the idea of a mutual love relationship with Daisy as it was in the past.

Vampire Academy Chapter 1

ONE I FELT HER FEAR BEFORE I heard her screams. Her nightmare pulsed into me, shaking me out of my own dream, which had had something to do with a beach and some hot guy rubbing suntan oil on me. Images – hers, not mine – tumbled through my mind: fire and blood, the smell of smoke, the twisted metal of a car. The pictures wrapped around me, suffocating me, until some rational part of my brain reminded me that this wasn't my dream. I woke up, strands of long, dark hair sticking to my forehead. Lissa lay in her bed, thrashing and screaming. I bolted out of mine, quickly crossing the few feet that separated us. â€Å"Liss,† I said, shaking her. â€Å"Liss, wake up.† Her screams dropped off, replaced by soft whimpers. â€Å"Andre,† she moaned. â€Å"Oh God.† I helped her sit up. â€Å"Liss, you aren't there anymore. Wake up.† After a few moments, her eyes fluttered open, and in the dim lighting, I could see a flicker of consciousness start to take over. Her frantic breathing slowed, and she leaned into me, resting her head against my shoulder. I put an arm around her and ran a hand over her hair. â€Å"It's okay,† I told her gently. â€Å"Everything's okay.† â€Å"I had that dream.† â€Å"Yeah. I know.† We sat like that for several minutes, not saying anything else. When I felt her emotions calm down, I leaned over to the nightstand between our beds and turned on the lamp. It glowed dimly, but neither of us really needed much to see by. Attracted by the light, our housemate's cat, Oscar, leapt up onto the sill of the open window. He gave me a wide berth – animals don't like dhampirs, for whatever reason – but jumped onto the bed and rubbed his head against Lissa, purring softly. Animals didn't have a problem with Moroi, and they all loved Lissa in particular. Smiling, she scratched his chin, and I felt her calm further. â€Å"When did we last do a feeding?† I asked, studying her face. Her fair skin was paler than usual. Dark circles hung under her eyes, and there was an air of frailty about her. School had been hectic this week, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd given her blood. â€Å"It's been like? ­more than two days, hasn't it? Three? Why didn't you say anything?† She shrugged and wouldn't meet my eyes. â€Å"You were busy. I didn't want to – â€Å" â€Å"Screw that,† I said, shifting into a better position. No wonder she seemed so weak. Oscar, not wanting me any closer, leapt down and returned to the window, where he could watch at a safe distance. â€Å"Come on. Let's do this.† â€Å"Rose – â€Å" â€Å"Come on. It'll make you feel better.† I tilted my head and tossed my hair back, baring my neck. I saw her hesitate, but the sight of my neck and what it offered proved too powerful. A hungry expression crossed her face, and her lips parted slightly, exposing the fangs she normally kept hidden while living among humans. Those fangs contrasted oddly with the rest of her features. With her pretty face and pale blond hair, she looked more like an angel than a vampire. As her teeth neared my bare skin, I felt my heart race with a mix of fear and anticipation. I always hated feeling the latter, but it was nothing I could help, a weakness I couldn't shake. Her fangs bit into me, hard, and I cried out at the brief flare of pain. Then it faded, replaced by a wonderful, golden joy that spread through my body. It was better than any of the times I'd been drunk or high. Better than sex – or so I imagined, since I'd never done it. It was a blanket of pure, refined pleasure, wrapping me up and promising everything would be right in the world. On and on it went. The chemicals in her saliva triggered an endorphin rush, and I lost track of the world, lost track of who I was. Then, regretfully, it was over. It had taken less than a minute. She pulled back, wiping her hand across her lips as she studied me. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"I? ­yeah.† I lay back on the bed, dizzy from the blood loss. â€Å"I just need to sleep it off. I'm fine.† Her pale, jade-green eyes watched me with concern. She stood up. â€Å"I'm going to get you something to eat.† My protests came awkwardly to my lips, and she left before I could get out a sentence. The buzz from her bite had lessened as soon as she broke the connection, but some of it still lingered in my veins, and I felt a goofy smile cross my lips. Turning my head, I glanced up at Oscar, still sitting in the window. â€Å"You don't know what you're missing,† I told him. His attention was on something outside. Hunkering down into a crouch, he puffed out his jet-black fur. His tail started twitching. My smile faded, and I forced myself to sit up. The world spun, and I waited for it to right itself before trying to stand. When I managed it, the dizziness set in again and this time refused to leave. Still, I felt okay enough to stumble to the window and peer out with Oscar. He eyed me warily, scooted over a little, and then returned to whatever had held his attention. A warm breeze – unseasonably warm for a Portland fall – played with my hair as I leaned out. The street was dark and relatively quiet. It was three in the morning, just about the only time a college campus settled down, at least somewhat. The house in which we'd rented a room for the past eight months sat on a residential street with old, mismatched houses. Across the road, a streetlight flickered, nearly ready to burn out. It still cast enough light for me to make out the shapes of cars and buildings. In our own yard, I could see the silhouettes of trees and bushes. And a man watching me. I jerked back in surprise. A figure stood by a tree in the yard, about thirty feet away, where he could easily see through the window. He was close enough that I probably could have thrown something and hit him. He was certainly close enough that he could have seen what Lissa and I had just done. The shadows covered him so well that even with my heightened sight, I couldn't make out any of his features, save for his height. He was tall. Really tall. He stood there for just a moment, barely discernible, and then stepped back, disappearing into the shadows cast by the trees on the far side of the yard. I was pretty sure I saw someone else move nearby and join him before the blackness swallowed them both. Whoever these figures were, Oscar didn't like them. Not counting me, he usually got along with most people, growing upset only when someone posed an immediate danger. The guy outside hadn't done anything threatening to Oscar, but the cat had sensed something, something that put him on edge. Something similar to what he always sensed in me. Icy fear raced through me, almost – but not quite – eradicating the lovely bliss of Lissa's bite. Backing up from the window, I jerked on a pair of jeans that I found on the floor, nearly falling over in the process. Once they were on, I grabbed my coat and Lissa's, along with our wallets. Shoving my feet into the first shoes I saw, I headed out the door. Downstairs, I found her in the cramped kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator. One of our housemates, Jeremy, sat at the table, hand on his forehead as he stared sadly at a calculus book. Lissa regarded me with surprise. â€Å"You shouldn't be up.† â€Å"We have to go. Now.† Her eyes widened, and then a moment later, understanding clicked in. â€Å"Are you? ­really? Are you sure?† I nodded. I couldn't explain how I knew for sure. I just did. Jeremy watched us curiously. â€Å"What's wrong?† An idea came to mind. â€Å"Liss, get his car keys.† He looked back and forth between us. â€Å"What are you – â€Å" Lissa unhesitatingly walked over to him. Her fear poured into me through our psychic bond, but there was something else too: her complete faith that I would take care of everything, that we would be safe. Like always, I hoped I was worthy of that kind of trust. She smiled broadly and gazed directly into his eyes. For a moment, Jeremy just stared, still confused, and then I saw the thrall seize him. His eyes glazed over, and he regarded her adoringly. â€Å"We need to borrow your car,† she said in a gentle voice. â€Å"Where are your keys?† He smiled, and I shivered. I had a high resistance to compulsion, but I could still feel its effects when it was directed at another person. That, and I'd been taught my entire life that using it was wrong. Reaching into his pocket, Jeremy handed over a set of keys hanging on a large red key chain. â€Å"Thank you,† said Lissa. â€Å"And where is it parked?† â€Å"Down the street,† he said dreamily. â€Å"At the corner. By Brown.† Four blocks away. â€Å"Thank you,† she repeated, backing up. â€Å"As soon as we leave, I want you to go back to studying. Forget you ever saw us tonight.† He nodded obligingly. I got the impression he would have walked off a cliff for her right then if she'd asked. All humans were susceptible to compulsion, but Jeremy appeared weaker than most. That came in handy right now. â€Å"Come on,† I told her. â€Å"We've got to move.† We stepped outside, heading toward the corner he'd named. I was still dizzy from the bite and kept stumbling, unable to move as quickly as I wanted. Lissa had to catch hold of me a few times to stop me from falling. All the time, that anxiety rushed into me from her mind. I tried my best to ignore it; I had my own fears to deal with. â€Å"Rose? ­what are we going to do if they catch us?† she whispered. â€Å"They won't,† I said fiercely. â€Å"I won't let them.† â€Å"But if they've found us – â€Å" â€Å"They found us before. They didn't catch us then. We'll just drive over to the train station and go to L.A. They'll lose the trail.† I made it sound simple. I always did, even though there was nothing simple about being on the run from the people we'd grown up with. We'd been doing it for two years, hiding wherever we could and just trying to finish high school. Our senior year had just started, and living on a college campus had seemed safe. We were so close to freedom. She said nothing more, and I felt her faith in me surge up once more. This was the way it had always been between us. I was the one who took action, who made sure things happened – sometimes recklessly so. She was the more reasonable one, the one who thought things out and researched them extensively before acting. Both styles had their uses, but at the moment, recklessness was called for. We didn't have time to hesitate. Lissa and I had been best friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was beyond cruel, and we'd – or rather, I'd – responded appropriately. I'd chucked my book at our teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn't known what those words meant, but I'd known how to hit a moving target. Lissa and I had been inseparable ever since. â€Å"Do you hear that?† she asked suddenly. It took me a few seconds to pick up what her sharper senses already had. Footsteps, moving fast. I grimaced. We had two more blocks to go. â€Å"We've got to run for it,† I said, catching hold of her arm. â€Å"But you can't – â€Å" â€Å"Run.† It took every ounce of my willpower not to pass out on the sidewalk. My body didn't want to run after losing blood or while still metabolizing the effects of her saliva. But I ordered my muscles to stop their bitching and clung to Lissa as our feet pounded against the concrete. Normally I could have outrun her without any extra effort – particularly since she was barefoot – but tonight, she was all that held me upright. The pursuing footsteps grew louder, closer. Black stars danced before my eyes. Ahead of us, I could make out Jeremy's green Honda. Oh God, if we could just make it – Ten feet from the car, a man stepped directly into our path. We came to a screeching halt, and I jerked Lissa back by her arm. It was him, the guy I'd seen across the street watching me. He was older than us, maybe mid-twenties, and as tall as I'd figured, probably six-six or six-seven. And under different circumstances – say, when he wasn't holding up our desperate escape – I would have thought he was hot. Shoulder-length brown hair, tied back in a short ponytail. Dark brown eyes. A long brown coat-a duster, I thought it was called. But his hotness was irrelevant now. He was only an obstacle keeping Lissa and me away from the car and our freedom. The footsteps behind us slowed, and I knew our pursuers had caught up. Off to the sides, I detected more movement, more people closing in. God. They'd sent almost a dozen guardians to retrieve us. I couldn't believe it. The queen herself didn't travel with that many. Panicked and not entirely in control of my higher reasoning, I acted out of instinct. I pressed up to Lissa, keeping her behind me and away from the man who appeared to be the leader. â€Å"Leave her alone,† I growled. â€Å"Don't touch her.† His face was unreadable, but he held out his hands in what was apparently supposed to be some sort of calming gesture, like I was a rabid animal he was planning to sedate. â€Å"I'm not going to – â€Å" He took a step forward. Too close. I attacked him, leaping out in an offensive maneuver I hadn't used in two years, not since Lissa and I had run away. The move was stupid, another reaction born of instinct and fear. And it was hopeless. He was a skilled guardian, not a novice who hadn't finished his training. He also wasn't weak and on the verge of passing out. And man, was he fast. I'd forgotten how fast guardians could be, how they could move and strike like cobras. He knocked me off as though brushing away a fly, and his hands slammed into me and sent me backwards. I don't think he meant to strike that hard – probably just intended to keep me away – but my lack of coordination interfered with my ability to respond. Unable to catch my footing, I started to fall, heading straight toward the sidewalk at a twisted angle, hip-first. It was going to hurt. A lot. Only it didn't. Just as quickly as he'd blocked me, the man reached out and caught my arm, keeping me upright. When I'd steadied myself, I noticed he was staring at me – or, more precisely, at my neck. Still disoriented, I didn't get it right away. Then, slowly, my free hand reached up to the side of my throat and lightly touched the wound Lissa had made earlier. When I pulled my fingers back, I saw slick, dark blood on my skin. Embarrassed, I shook my hair so that it fell forward around my face. My hair was thick and long and completely covered my neck. I'd grown it out for precisely this reason. The guy's dark eyes lingered on the now-covered bite a moment longer and then met mine. I returned his look defiantly and quickly jerked out of his hold. He let me go, though I knew he could have restrained me all night if he'd wanted. Fighting the nauseating dizziness, I backed toward Lissa again, bracing myself for another attack. Suddenly, her hand caught hold of mine. â€Å"Rose,† she said quietly. â€Å"Don't.† Her words had no effect on me at first, but calming thoughts gradually began to settle in my mind, coming across through the bond. It wasn't exactly compulsion – she wouldn't use that on me – but it was effectual, as was the fact that we were hopelessly outnumbered and outclassed. Even I knew struggling would be pointless. The tension left my body, and I sagged in defeat. Sensing my resignation, the man stepped forward, turning his attention to Lissa. His face was calm. He swept her a bow and managed to look graceful doing it, which surprised me considering his height. â€Å"My name is Dimitri Belikov,† he said. I could hear a faint Russian accent. â€Å"I've come to take you back to St. Vladimir's Academy, Princess.†

Charles Lindberg essays

Charles Lindberg essays Have you ever heard of a man named Charles Lindberg? He was not just any man; he was great man, a flying man, a man with a goal. When you hear the name Charles and the name Lindberg used in the same sentence in chronological order you think of a pilot from back in the day. What most people dont know is that his story begins on a farm near the banks of the Mississippi river in Little Falls, Minnesota. Aviation came to his liking the first time a plane fly over his house; it was love at first sight. He attended high school in Little Falls, Minnesota; his high school career came to an end in 1918 when he was excused from his senior year to work the farm for the war effort. After that he stayed at home and ran the farm for an additional year before venturing off to the University of Wisconsin which was located in Madison, Wisconsin. He began to study engineering there, in his second year he decided to transfer to Lincoln, Nebraska flying school. He was made and served as a mechanic and parachute jumper. He bought his first plane in 1923 and then made his first solo flight. He loved flying so much that a year later he joined a U.S. Army flying school in San Antonio, Texas. He began to haul mail for the Army between Chicago and St. Louis. In St. Luis he got some business people to invest in him so he could attempt to win 25,000 dollars by winning the Orteig Prize. To win this prize you would have to fly non-stop from New York to Paris. To me that seems like a pretty daunting task, especially if it had never been done before; but I definitely would have gone for it. He did go for it; he started by helping design the plane he was to fly from New York to Paris. It was a monoplane which means it was a one wing plane. The plane was named The Spirit of St. Louis. Lindberg flew the plane from San Diego to St. Louis and then from St. Louis to New York. He set records for each l...

Free Essays on The Aztecs

The Aztecs are Native American people who created a rich civilization and powerful empire in central and southern Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century. They were one of the largest and most advanced Indian nations to ever exist on earth. The Aztecs life style was better than many Europeans of that time but they lacked the military technology of the Europeans. The Aztec nation is more unique in its history, economy, geography and way of life then any other nation at that time. About three thousand years ago small bands of hunting and gathering tribes made their way across the land bridge and migrated southward through Canada and the United States. Eventually they settled in the valley of Mexico. For the next two thousand years the tribes of the valley constantly fought each other for the control of the land. It wasn’t until the eleventh century that the Aztec tribe began their migration in to the valley. They came from their mythical mysterious homeland Aztlan. The conflict in the Central Valley continued and the Aztecs were constantly at war with their neighbors. It seems at first that the other tribes in the area would defeat the Aztecs, but they would prevail and create one of the most powerful Indian tribes in the area. By the 14th century the Aztec civilization flourished they began to construct several great cities in the valley of Mexico. In the days of the Aztec, the area was covered with a series of small lakes. This included lake Texcoco, which had an island in the center. The Aztecs built their greatest city on the island. It would become known as Tenochtitlan and would become their capital. Tenochtitlan was a pre-Columbian city in central Mexico and capital of the Aztecs. It lies on the site of present-day Mexico City. It was founded in 1325 originally on an island in what was Lake Texcoco. It became a flourishing city, protected against floods by well-built dams and connected with the mainland by three causeways. A... Free Essays on The Aztecs Free Essays on The Aztecs The Aztecs are Native American people who created a rich civilization and powerful empire in central and southern Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century. They were one of the largest and most advanced Indian nations to ever exist on earth. The Aztecs life style was better than many Europeans of that time but they lacked the military technology of the Europeans. The Aztec nation is more unique in its history, economy, geography and way of life then any other nation at that time. About three thousand years ago small bands of hunting and gathering tribes made their way across the land bridge and migrated southward through Canada and the United States. Eventually they settled in the valley of Mexico. For the next two thousand years the tribes of the valley constantly fought each other for the control of the land. It wasn’t until the eleventh century that the Aztec tribe began their migration in to the valley. They came from their mythical mysterious homeland Aztlan. The conflict in the Central Valley continued and the Aztecs were constantly at war with their neighbors. It seems at first that the other tribes in the area would defeat the Aztecs, but they would prevail and create one of the most powerful Indian tribes in the area. By the 14th century the Aztec civilization flourished they began to construct several great cities in the valley of Mexico. In the days of the Aztec, the area was covered with a series of small lakes. This included lake Texcoco, which had an island in the center. The Aztecs built their greatest city on the island. It would become known as Tenochtitlan and would become their capital. Tenochtitlan was a pre-Columbian city in central Mexico and capital of the Aztecs. It lies on the site of present-day Mexico City. It was founded in 1325 originally on an island in what was Lake Texcoco. It became a flourishing city, protected against floods by well-built dams and connected with the mainland by three causeways. A...

Macro & Microeconomics Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Macro & Microeconomics Questions - Assignment Example In nominal terms, the projected gross domestic product would either be above the projected value or below the value. This where an output gap exists in the difference between projected gross domestic and the actual gross domestic product or actual output. If all calculations and estimations were right, then output gaps that produce positive or negative values should be of great concern to economists and be the basis for decision making. They should also give a source of concern to economists and predict the trend of macro and micro economic growth. On the whole, an inflationary gap, which is a representation of positive output gap measure, is an indication of growing demand over supply and subsequently an indication of inflation (Lipsey and Chrystal, 2007, p. 423). A recessionary gap, which is on the other hand a representation of negative output gap, indicates deflation in the economy (Lipsey and Chrystal, 2007, p. 423). For the year 2011 and 2012 therefore, the output gap cannot be brushed over easily without concern for worry. This is especially because in most jurisdictions of global economic giants such as the United States and United Kingdom, the output gap was said to be negative, indicating a recessionary gap (Thoma, 2012). In fact apart from deflation, there is the concern over unemployment when a recessionary gap is experienced. Unemployment should be a major cause for concern for a number of reasons. In the first place, the recessionary gap is an indication that because a lot of people were not in employable positions, the State could not make good of their input into the economy and so their part of the ratio of input in gross domestic product to balance the output gap was missing. The government is denied fiscal inputs from unemployed citizens because due to their lack of jobs, the government is denied important tax revenue from them. So apart from the fact that unemployment affects the lives of the unemployed by making his living conditions extrem ely difficult; the government also has a resulting effect. One other cause of concern is for government to be forced to repackage future budgets in such a way that aims at attracting and creating more jobs. What this means is that other government expenditure are always affect by output gap values when they create negations. A major justification in the relationship between recessionary gap and unemployment is given in the Okun’s Law, which states that â€Å"It states that for every one percent increase in unemployment above a "natural" level, that GDP will decrease by anywhere from two to four percent from its potential† (Hill, 2012). REFERENCE LIST Hill A, 2012, What is Okun’s Law? Wise Geeks. [Online] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-okuns-law.htm [May 17, 2012] Thoma B, 2012 The Zero Lower Bound and Output Gap Uncertainty [Online] http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2012/05/the-zero-lower-bound-and-output-gap-uncertainty.html [May 18, 2012] Richa rd G. Lipsey and Alec Chrystal. Economics. Oxford University Press. 11th edition. January 2007. 2. Examine whether the allure of the developing world to multinational enterprises has been affected events over the period 2011/12? In recent times, economic statistics show that there has been a developing situation whereby most developing nations are aligning themselves to international enterprises in terms of economic trade (quote). Generally, when there is such an enterprise, we have the formation of a multinational ent

Research Paper on Drug Testing Welfare for Benefits

On Drug Testing Welfare for Benefits - Research Paper Example One of the consequences of drug abuse can sometimes be joining the welfare system when drugs take over the drives and ambitions that would otherwise allow an individual to be able to work and become independent. Welfare serves a meaningful purpose in society in trying to help those who are in circumstances where they cannot find meaningful employment. Those who are choosing to use drugs, however, are not on a track towards gainful employment and a successful life. I believe that drug testing for welfare recipients will effectively limit the amount of drug abusers collecting money. The initial argument would appear to be part of the criminalization of the poor that is pervasive within this nation. According to Gustafson, â€Å"While lawmakers and the public seem unwilling to devote tax dollars to providing cash benefits to the poor, there seems to be a great willingness to spend money to police the poor – even when doing so seems to be economically inefficient or ineffectiveâ €  (59). The attitude of Americans seems to be that being poor is the equivalent of being immoral or criminal. There is a vast misunderstanding about what it is to be poor. Poverty most often does not occur because of poor choices of a criminal nature, but because of poor choices on a social level. This can mean everything from bad investments to having chosen to work for a company that eventually layoffs its employees. A poor choice is not the same as an immoral choice, and the consequences are not always predictable. Still, the American public does not seem willing to spend real money to help others out of poverty but is more than willing to spend money to criminalize the desperation that comes from being poor. One of the desperations that come from being poor can be drug abuse. While the vast majority of people on welfare are not drug users, there is a portion that are on welfare because of drug abuse or who have turned to drug use to relieve the pain of poverty. According to Gustafson, â€Å"Drug use among welfare recipients appears to be higher than drug use in the general population, but drug dependence which interferes with relationships and work, may not be higher† (60). Furthermore, Gustafson goes on to say that â€Å"even if welfare recipients use drugs, the vast majority who would be subjected to drug testing do not† (60). Therefore, it is not the majority who would be affected by drug testing and in order to combat the social problems associated with drug use, alternative services would need to be provided. It is clear that drug use among welfare recipients is counterproductive to the goals of welfare. The goal of welfare is to provide for people while they climb out of poverty towards a more successful future. Using drugs diminishes the ability of individuals as they endeavor to function in a productive society. Drug users need treatment, however, not to be goal seeking where employment and future success is concerned. Allowing pe ople who are using drugs to continue in the welfare system is a waste of those resources and should not be a part of that system. It would be more cost effective to treat those who test positive, providing care for their children during that time period, than it is to continue criminalizing that behavior. The costs of the ‘drug war’ is three to four times that of providing treatment