The 70 Most Conservative Colleges in America

The 70 Most Conservative Colleges in America SAT/ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In the event that you hold solid political convictions, you might need to go to a school where the understudies, workforce, and organization share your qualities. You’ll be bound to discover understudy bunches that are lined up with your inclinations and convictions. The estimations of the school will be bound to harmonize with your own, and you’ll presumably have a progressively pleasant school understanding. In this article, I’ll give you the names of probably the most moderate universities in the United States. Besides, I’ll detail the qualities of moderate universities, clarify the potential focal points and inconveniences of going to a traditionalist school, and exhort you on the most proficient method to locate a preservationist school that is a solid match for you. Qualities of the Most Conservative Colleges Traditionalist universities are politically conservative. The understudies will in general kindness preservationist positions like banning premature birth, lessening the size of government, and securing weapon rights. Christian schools are regularly progressively preservationist. Numerous Christian schools stick to increasingly conventional social perspectives and decides that draw in traditionalist Christian understudies and personnel. Moreover, preservationist universities are more exacting and controlled than liberal schools. Preservationist strict schools like BYU and the College of the Ozarks have exacting guidelines that all understudies must follow. At BYU, male understudies can’t have facial hair or long hair. These schools are significantly less open minded of liquor and medication use than liberal universities. Additionally, the furnished assistance institutes are known for being moderate. They have a lot a larger number of rules than the normal school with respect to individual appearance and lead. At last, the most preservationist schools frequently mirror the political leanings of their areas. A significant number of the most moderate schools are situated in traditionalist states. Instances of traditionalist schools in preservationist areas incorporate Clemson University (South Carolina), Utah State, and the University of Alabama. Be that as it may, there are traditionalist universities in liberal states. Pepperdine and Thomas Aquinas College are traditionalist schools in California, however they’re both Christian universities. Potential Advantages of Attending a Conservative College In case you're a self-portrayed preservationist, you might be increasingly agreeable and cheerful at a school with numerous other moderate understudies. At extremely liberal schools, understudies are regularly not excessively tolerating and consider contrarily traditionalists. In the event that you go to a traditionalist school, you’re bound to meet individuals who share your political and social perspectives, and you won't be excluded for your convictions. Likewise, at a preservationist school, the workforce and organization are bound to acknowledge or put stock in moderate values.Studies have demonstrated that school staff will in general be considerably more liberal. On the off chance that you’re a preservationist understudy, you may not incline toward having your feelings assessed by a teacher who is probably going to hold totally different convictions. Also, moderate schools are commonly all the more tolerating of strict Christian understudies. A considerable lot of the most moderate universities are Christian schools that affirm Christian qualities and draw in Christian understudies. Indeed, even preservationist universities that are not Christian schools have a bigger extent of Christian understudies than liberal schools. Ultimately, moderate universities are bound to pressure discipline. The administration foundations expect understudies to adhere to numerous principles in regards to lead and appearance. While youngsters regularly despise rules, the control of administration foundation graduates may encourage their prosperity. The US Naval Academy and the US Military Academy both completed in the main 10 in Payscale’s rankings of the best schools and colleges by pay potential. Likewise, The College of the Ozarks makes all understudies work, yet it’s an educational cost free school. US Military Academy Potential Disadvantages of Attending a Conservative College Contingent upon your convictions and your optimal school understanding, traditionalist universities may not be a solid match for you. On issues of sexuality, traditionalist schools are less inclined to have assets for and be tolerating of LGBT understudies. Also, the understudies at preservationist universities are bound to be against gay marriage. In the event that you are searching for a school where LGBT understudies are welcome, you may feel like a rebel at a preservationist school. Moderate schools will in general have more structure. On the off chance that you incline toward more opportunity and autonomy to coordinate your instruction and public activities, at that point you may feel limited by the order of preservationist universities. For example, a few schools have brutal guidelines with respect to when you can have guests in your residence, drinking, and medication use. At last, in the event that you need a school where a wide scope of understudies join in and where you can have your convictions all the more consistently tested, preservationist universities might be unreasonably homogeneous for your preferences. Traditionalist universities will in general pull in essentially understudies of preservationist leanings. On the off chance that you need a progressively liberal condition or a wide portrayal of convictions, traditionalist universities may feel one-note for you. Arrangements of the Most Conservative Colleges Specialty Specialty is a site that gives audits, rankings, and insights about neighborhoods and schools. It gives a wide range of school positioning records from the general best universities to the top party schools to the most liberal schools. The Niche rankings of the most preservationist schools depend on a political survey of 50,000 understudies from 747 universities. A full 80% of the rankings depends on understudy overview reactions with respect to the understudies' very own political leanings. The staying 20% depends on understudy study reactions with respect to the political leanings of different understudies at the school. The List Here are the main 50 most traditionalist schools as per Niche, with #1 being the most preservationist. There is a high level of private Christian universities on the rundown. The majority of the open colleges,such as Utah State, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Arkansas, are situated in traditionalist states. College of Mississippi (JR P/Flickr) School Area Acknowledgment Rate 1. Freedom University Lynchburg, VA 24% 2. Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID 24% 3.Brigham Young University Provo, UT 48% 4.Cedarville University Cedarville, OH 69% 5.Bob Jones University Greenville, SC 87% 6.Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH 79% 7.Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO 94% 8.Utah State University Logan, UT 90% 9.Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI 68% 10.Biola University La Mirada, CA 65% 11.Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK 68% 12.LeTourneau University Longview, TX 44% 13.Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR 67% 14.Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OK 61% 15.Samford University Birmingham, AL 91% 16.Cornerstone University Excellent Rapids, MI 63% 17.Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, TX 23% 18.Evangel University Springfield, MO 75% 19.University of Mississippi College, MS 78% 20.Weber State University Ogden, UT 100% 21.University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA 75% 22.Southeastern University Lakeland, FL 46% 23.Anderson University - South Carolina Anderson, SC 54% 24.Lee University Cleveland, TN 87% 25.Grove City College Forest City, PA 82% 26.Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FL 93% 27.Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX half 28.Crown College Holy person Bonafacius, MN 54% 29.Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, OK 60% 30.Harding University Searcy, AR 70% 31.University of Northwestern - St. Paul Holy person Paul, MN 87% 32.Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI 90% 33.Brigham Young University - Hawaii Laie, HI 27% 34.Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX 43% 35.North Greenville University Tigerville, SC 59% 36.Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ 76% 37.Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA 63% 38.Union University Jackson, TN 63% 39.South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 91% 40.Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL 78% 41.Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS 87% 42.University of Dallas Irving, TX 80% 43.South Dakota School of Mines Technology Fast City, SD 85% 44.Ohio Christian University Circleville, OH 65% 45.Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT 72% 46.Campbell University Buies Creek, NC 81% 47.University of Saint Francis - Indiana Fortification Wayne, IN 97% 48.Northwestern College - Iowa Orange City, IA 66% 49.Wheaton College Wheaton, IL 79% 50.Asbury University Wilmore, KY 70% Brigham Young University Princeton Review The Princeton Review rankings for the most moderate universities depend on understudies' reactions to the inquiry Strategically, would you say you are left-wing, Democrat, center, Republican, conservative? The List The entirety of the schools that made the Princeton Review list for the best 20 most moderate universities are strict, situated in preservationist states, or administration foundations. The schools that made both the Niche and Princeton Review records are the University of Dallas, Brigham Young University, Grove City College, and Wheaton College. School Area Acknowledgment Rate 1.Grove City College Forest City, PA 93% 2.College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO 16% 3.Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI 36% 4. College of Dallas Irving, TX 47% 5.Hapden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA 59% 6.Baylor University Waco, TX 39% 7.Wheaton College (IL) Wheaton, IL 85% 8. Coppery University Coppery, AL

Has United States foreign policy been guided Essay Example

Has United States international strategy been guided Essay Example Has United States international strategy been guided Essay Has United States international strategy been guided Essay 2003, p. 3 ) The coherent and advantageous swapping for Communism, after the attacks of September 11, 2001, was Muslim fundamentalism, which needfully push American international strategy in the Middle East to the inside stage. American international strategy in the Middle East is one section where the battle between American optimism and American practicality, each piece great as a disappointment of creativity in surpassing a Cold War-esque great versus evil’ worldview, has caused genuine disappointments in strategy that have gone past the reasonable and influenced the lives and prosperity of 1000000s of individuals non just in the Middle East, yet over the Earth. The most imperative delineations are the for the most part nonreversible help the US has efficiently given to Israel at the disbursal of its neighbors, and the 2003 attack and ensuing business of Iraq, which is presently broadly respected around the world, with the rejection of the most hardline ideologists inside t he Bush Administration and its couple of Alliess, as a calamity. American help for Israel has been, and keeps on being, a profoundly convoluted undertaking represented by a mind boggling blend of echt kindheartedness, optimism, and balanced histrionpractical legislative issues. As the biggest individual state on Earth with a populace owing the greater part of its profound convention to Judeo-christian progress, the United States has a characteristic otherworldly liking to, and proclivity for, the state comprising a piece of the geographics from which Christianity and Judaism sprung, Israel. There is other than an extra, less normal undercurrent of otherworldly fundamentalism to US support for Israel ; numerous Americans of outreaching, or fundamentalist Christian religion believe that Jews are God’s picked individuals and that it is subsequently proverbial that Israel keep a specific topographic point on the universe stage and luxuriate a specific cordial relationship with the US. To Muslims, particularly those in the Middle East, this is a self-obviously a profoundly violative impression ; to Buddhists and other Eastern religions, the full impression of a picked people blessed by a godlikeness who plays top picks to a great extent likely shows up senseless. There is other than a characteristic good inclination toward the difficulty of Jews, who experienced relentlessly flooring race murder during World War II, the comprehension for which is without a doubt a commendable factor in sing any amicable connection between the United States and Israel. At last, there is an extensive sober mindedness to US approach towards Israel: the Middle East, being both a verifiably unpredictable hotbed of power and precariousness and the area of oil key to the advantage of the US. It has ever been in the US’ advantage, so to hold a thoughtful, solid partner in the part which parcels its qualities. Israel has ever served this capacity great, providing both a stabilizer to different states and developments that do non accept amazi ngly of the US each piece great each piece working as an intermediary political histrion in the part. Sadly, there is a pointless politico-strict exceptionalism that controls a piece of US vision, and which the US and Israel divide †viz. , a solid conviction that as reference points of favored opportunity and qualities, they are qualified for stifle others, militarily or socially, who do non hold with that solid conviction, and that the offices by which that coercion happens are, amusingly, much of the time absolved from judgment as being contrary with those equivalent hallowed qualities. The United States and Israel are joined together, for delineation, in the conviction that Iran ought to non be permitted to have nuclear arms, yet the United States has the most destructive hold of all states on Earth. Israel, while denying that is has nuclear arms ( all grounds to the converse ) , lastingly declares its right, regardless of whether by title or power, to ensure itself. Israel has over and over fought back against Palestinian Acts of the Apostless that slight human rights and qu alities, for example self destruction bombardments, by responding with military activities †obvious and secretive †which at any rate fiddle with a similar appalling methodological investigation as their resistances, rendering somewhat tricky Israel’s moral approval. This equivalent forceful position the inclination for oneself advocated pickings of preemptive political, monetary, and additionally military activity upon discretionary assurance has stamped United States international strategy under the removal of George W. Hedge. Basically, the US and Israel as often as possible do whatever they like under the rubric of self-protection, while take a firm standing that the offices of making so are absolved from crystalline good evaluating by different states. The confederation between the two, along these lines, has come at the disbursal of numerous other potential confederations in the Middle East and has built an articulated hesitation and disgrace of the United States among numerous Muslims, who see American approach in the Middle East as badly camouflaged Zionism, a unidimensional perspective which however meritable in some regard, contorts the more sound and kindhearted thought processes the US has for its confederation with Israel. The terminal outcome in any case is that the US as often as possible winds up in hard and dangerous condition of affairss with respect towards its inclusions in the Middle East because of its unbalanced preference towards Israel. Despite the fact that the Clinton and Bush removals publically pushed, and accomplished some work towards guaranting the privileges of Palestinians to hold their ain area existing together with Israel, the perceptual experience of partiality remains and contrarily impacts US incl usions in the Middle East. One of the primary feelings of spite among those Muslim fundamentalists who take part in psychological oppressor exercises is their accusal that the United States favors Israel and disregards Islam. While whatever ethics this accusal may hold can non reason such brutal Acts of the Apostless of power, the issues basic the accusal can non be disregarded in fruitful international strategy dynamic. Notwithstanding, the Bush Administration has shown little association in those issues, prefering punitory activity. The association among Israel and Iraq goes past their unimportant topographical propinquity. In fact, the other sore topographic point in American international strategy in the Middle East is its cataclysmal disappointment in Iraq, and this is non a luck. American optimism, or a rendition of it spread by an ideological movement predominant in the international strategy arrangement of the Bush Administration known as neoconservatism, drove the US to possess and occupied Iraq, the endeavor breaking down into a quagmire that has cost the US over $ 400 billion ( US ) , more than 3,000 existences of American military powers, and estimations of between 30,000 †100,000 Iraqi perishes †with not a single terminal to be seen. What inspired these neoconservatives, and who right? Blending to one of their ain, noted moderate international strategy mind Phillip Zelikow, the thought process behind Iraq needed to make with Israel: For what reason would Iraq attack America or use nuclear arms against us? I ll state you what I think the existent hazard ( is ) and truly has been since 1990 it s the threat against Israel†¦ And this is the danger that challenge non talk its name, in light of the fact that the Europeans do nt care profoundly about that hazard, I will state you sincerely. Furthermore, the American specialists does nt want to tilt too much troublesome on it logically, in light of the fact that it is non a well known sell. ( Zelikow, cited in Mekay, 2006 ) The neoconservatives of the Bush removal owe their discerning motivation for the most part to Leo Straus, a German-brought into the world political savant who fled Nazi Germany to escape mistreatment as a Jew. Strauss †¦ showed his disciples a confidence in absolutes, scorn for relativism, and bliss in dynamic recommendations. He endorsed of Plato s honorable equivocations, ’ loathed quite a bit of present day life, and accepted [ in ] a Straussian world class in government†¦ ( Schlesinger, 2004 ) Neoconservative followers of Strauss fumed at what they saw as American inability to pull off Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The invasions on the US of September 11, 2001, gave the screen to the neoconservatives to work out the Iraq work under the rubric of self-preservation and preemptive activity. The neoconservative phantasy was that Iraq could be simple changed over into a popular government should the U.S. forgo Saddam Hussein in an amazing demonstration of power. The idea , thus, was to set up a second pivot of US intermediary power in the Middle East to enhance the US confederation with Israel, which would in twist lead to a Domino outcome of American qualities being taught into the Middle East and providing a stabilizer to unfriendly Islamic flows and guaranting the wellbeing of American association in oil. Be that as it may, Iraq has now slipped into a partisan common war between Muslim schemes who have little association in working as a signal of American qualities, and the US government’s deceitfulness in jointing its thought processes in the war has now been broadly uncovered. In this occasion, the catastrophe in Iraq was a result of the triumph of dreamer neoconservatism over realist sober mindedness in American international strategy. While American advantage in Middle East oil has ever given a steady pragmatist part to American international strategy, the marriage of and acquiescence of that sober mindedness to the vision of neoconser vative political direction was a fiasco in Iraq. The vision impelling American international strategy in Iraq, all things considered very much proposed it might hold been, experienced incredibly the hubris of self-expected American social, good, and military high caliber. A badly made a decision about blend of optimism and logic has prompted the US mistakes Iraq, and not well made a decision about unconditioned help of Israel, the two of which harmed US inv

2008 Summer (Pics!)

2008 Summer (Pics!) Since I discovered that under my new schedule, I practically have NO classes on Thursday I started writing this entry. =p Summer 2008 was a fruitful one for me. To recap: Late May - Early July: Back in Taiwan, relaxing after a year of MIT. Took a short family vacation to Nagoya, Japan. Went on a volunteer health trip with a medical group (think Doctors Without Borders the Taiwanese version) into the Aborigines villages in Taiwan. Early July - Early August: Back in MIT, working on a UROP dealing with the genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic nematode. Took weekend trips to NYC, Montreal. Saw my first Fourth of July fireworks LIVE. Early August - Late August: Spent 16 days in Central America, traveling from Panama to Nicaragua to Honduras with the same medical group from Taiwan. The medical group is essentially a medical brigade that contained doctors, pharmacists, laboratory technicians (who could chemically analyze blood for components/diseases), and us (volunteers). My primary function was with registration (weight, blood pressure, temperature) and translating for doctors (yay Spanish!) These blog entries may help to explain a bit more. July Fourth My Summer, In Words Whee! Photos! These were generally what the villages that we worked in Taiwan looked like. Most of these were so far into the mountain that there was no cell phone reception, and electricity was only intermittent at night. Saw the Fourth of July fireworks LIVE at Bostons Hatch Shell Went to Montreal for a weekend to visit friends at McGill University. (note: Montreal is a really beautiful city and a great place to get away from Boston if you would like to go on a long weekend trip. Its only one hour by plane from Boston (granted, the plane tickets kind of expensive) and around eight hours by bus. Its such a relaxing city that contrasts so much with Boston! (random fact: did you know that Boston had the fastest pace of life in the United States? Even beating out New York City!)) This is what actual C. elegans look like under the microscope, in case youre curious. Then I went to Central America, and within the brigade, we had dentists A functional lab that could do blood, urine, and feces analysis. Some of the items we would test for include blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, HIV, syphilis, pregnancy, hemoglobin, C-protein, full blood countetc. Each patients results is generally prepared within 30 minutes (were more efficient than hospitals!). A pharmacy that distributed medicine. General types of medicine that were handed out include painkillers, fever reducers, antacids, worm pills, and vitamins although there were probably around 70 different types of medicine. (yes, all the laboratory equipment, the medicine, the dental equipmentetc. were shipped from Taiwan as checked luggage on the airplane. As a result, each member of the brigade could only bring one duffel bags worth of personal items (clothes, toiletriesetc.) for the 16-day trip because it had to be carry-on. We brought a grand total of over 1000 kilograms of medical supplies/equipment to Central America.) This was really cool. When we arrived in Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, had an audience with us. The hour-long meeting was held in the Presidential Office (in reality his house) and was broadcasted live on their national television. Afterwards, President Ortega surprised us by shaking hands with every single one of us! Yes, I got to shake hands with a President!! (note: Later, when we finished our work in Honduras, we also got to shake hands with the First Lady of Honduras.) The kids that came out after our clinic in rural Nicaragua. Since I dont want to flood the entry with pictures, there are actually some more photos here. To summarize, I enjoyed this summer a lot. I got to go back home and visit my family for a month (I even attended the 2008 graduation of my high school!), which provided a very welcoming rest. I was exposed to a deeper level of my UROP that I was working on during the school year in July, and I had the opportunity to travel to Central America and dedicate my time in providing service for the people there. An added bonus is that my UROP and Junction (AP World History class) pay covered my Central America trip plus my weekend trips! A few entries ago, someone asked, How do you get exposed to all of these opportunities? I think the simple answer is just this In college, you have an amazing opportunity to try a lot of new things, and I believe that as long as you look hard enough, you would always find cool things to do. Of course, your idea of whats fun might not entail going to different places or even doing work during the summer, but theres definitely something out there for everyone. Opportunities may not come looking for you, but theyre there you just have to reach out and grasp them. (this also goes for high school!) Random fact: I had lizard meat for the first time this summer! To be honest, it tastes like chicken (just like frogs, rats, and everything else thats exotic) =p

The Artist And The Art Essay - 1146 Words

The Artist and the Art nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The history of art dates back to ancient times. Artwork can be, and was, found around the world. What makes art interesting is that it can be created in any way, shape or form with any materials. It seems that the artwork can also tell us a lot about the artist. Art seems to be simply, a direct, visual reflection of the artist’s life. Therefore, one can assume that an artist’s life experiences and beliefs directly influence their art. If we look at examples from different periods of art we will be able to see the connection between the artist and the art. One of the earliest examples of beliefs and tradition affecting art can be seen in Ancient art. The ancient Egyptians had a strong†¦show more content†¦This could be true, but it just shows how life experiences also directly influence the outcome of a piece. If we look at periods closer to the present we can also see other strong examples of the relevance between art and the artist. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Impressionism began during the 19th century. An example of an artist’s beliefs influencing his art can be seen in the works of Pierre Auguste Renoir. It is documented that he felt that art should be different from the real world, which can be cold and harsh. He said, â€Å"Why shouldn’t art be pretty?† and â€Å"There are enough unpleasant things in the world.† An example of his attitude towards art can be seen in ‘A Girl with a Watering Can’ from 1876. This picture can easily be interpreted as being beautiful and therefore it proves that his belief of art is true. ‘Dance at Bougival’ from 1883, is yet another example of the artist and the inspiration for the art. By painting an attractive scene with two people dancing accompanied by laughing faces in the background we see a correlation between his quotes above and this piece. Therefore, one can conclude that Renoir painted mostly beautiful and attractive art. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Unfortunately, for some artists, the reality of life isn’t so beautiful. One of the most talented, yet mentally ill artists of all time was Vincent Van Gogh. He was also from the 19th century belonging to the post-impressionists. In order for one to analyze the art ofShow MoreRelatedArtists And The Art Trade2204 Words   |  9 Pages‘While artists and the art trade were in the business of presenting the new, this was a conceptual challenge for museums.’ (Altshuler, 2008, 15). Discuss the challenges that advanced artistic practice presented for museums in the late 19th and early 20th century. The period of the second half of the 19th and the beginnings of the 20th century saw some of the most extensive transformations in the art market and the institution of the art museum in history. 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In the past, famous artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo, were mostly known by individuals who had the resources to travel and visit their work. In many ways, art was, and is, seen as a form to demonstrate class superiority in societyRead MoreThe Great Artists Of The Conceptual Art Movement1891 Words   |  8 PagesWhen one thinks of Art the most popular image is of great works, famous for their visually pleasing and intellectually rousing qualities. These works, aside from being visually and intellectually stimulating, have been used to challenge and encourage an audience to think about what it’s representing in flexible and open-minded ways, this is usually done by shocking the audience out of their â€Å"complacency† when viewing artworks. The great artists of the Conceptual Art movement especially emphasised

Sylvia Plath, a Poet and Her Depression - 525 Words

When asked about her autobiographical novel, â€Å"The Bell Jar†, Sylvia plath responded that â€Å"the trouble was, i had been inadequate all along, I simply hadn’t thought about it† (Sylvia Plath Quotes). Plath was the editor for her school newspaper and sent in poems to different magazines (PAL). Junior year is when her depression started, as she couldn’t afford her dream college (PAL). Sylvia Plath struggled a lifetime of depression that was reflected in her writings. Sylvia Plath was a troubled young poet who wrote mostly about the difficulties within her family and marriage. Plath was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 27, 1932 and died on February 11, 1963 in London, England. In her early life she faced many obstacles, one being her father passing away when she was only 8 years old due to complications from diabetes (poets.org). Plath, herself struggled with depression as she tried to kill herself many times. Therefore these feelings of hers reflected in her poetry. 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The marriage between Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath was destructive because of Sylvia’s unstable mental health and Ted’sRead MoreSylvia Plath s Life And Life1425 Words   |  6 Pages2013) This is a quote from Sylvia Plath, a poet who faced many obstacles in her life including attempting suicide; getting divorced due to lies and infidelity; and leaving her children behind. Sylvia Plath was born on October 27, 1932 in Boston Massachusetts Plath’s father Otto Plath author of a book on bees. (The Famous People Website, 2013; About.com, 2013). Her father taught at Boston University, where he met Aurelia Schober Plath’s mother who studied to get her master’s degree in teachingRead MoreEssay about Sylvia Plath: A Novelist and her Brief Life705 Words   |  3 Pagesnovelist and poet, Sylvia Plath, lived a hard and tragic life. Plath was diagnosed with depression, a mood disorder that causes consistent feelings of sadness, at a very young age that made her life complicated in many ways. 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Sylvia Plath effectively expresses her complicated emotions in a form that is bizarre to some. Leaving the reader in curiosity, she uses the stroke of a pen to capture the people who can not capture themselves. Sylvia Plath effectively captivates her readers appeal through her poetry by using emotional appeal, powerful language, and profound and developing structure. Sylvia Plath had a past that represents the type of hell that is unimaginable by a normal mind. Her birth by the seed of her educatedRead MoreSylvia Plath: The Exemplary Confessional Poet1015 Words   |  5 Pagessuicide, it is no surprise that Sylvia Plath wrote poetry in this style. Plath suffered from depression most of her life and used writing as an outlet (Spinello). In her works â€Å"Cut,† â€Å"I Am Vertical,† and â€Å"Lady Lazarus,† Plath exemplifies confessional poetry through the themes of resentment, death, and mental illness. To understand why Plath is placed in the literary category that she is, there needs to be knowledge of her personal life. Born in 1932 in Massachusetts, Plath led a short and tragic lifeRead MoreAnalysis Of Sylvia Plath s Poem, Metaphor s ``996 Words   |  4 PagesSylvia Plath s poem, Metaphor s, is about a woman who is significantly distressed about her pregnancy. The poet playfully pieces together nine metaphors that are vastly unrelated, but she tones the poem so that a sense of depression and emptiness creep over the reader to tie together the theme. The very first line of the poem begins by opening the meaning directly to the reader. â€Å"I’m a riddle in nine syllables,†. (Line 1) It shows the reader it is a nine line riddle to be solved. It is to beRead MoreLady Lazarus, by Sylvia Plath1110 Words   |  5 PagesLazarus† is a poem by Sylvia Plath, written in 1962 shortly before her death in early 1963, and published posthumously by her husband, poet Ted H ughes, in 1965 in the collected volume Ariel. â€Å"Lady Lazarus† is a poem about suicide as a rebirth, and was in part inspired by Plaths own life and draws heavily on Plaths lifelong struggle with bipolar depression and suicidal feelings, and uses holocaust imagery to paint a bleak portrait of suicide and hopelessness. Sylvia Plath was born in Boston, MassachusettsRead MoreAnalysis Of Daddy By Sylvia Platt901 Words   |  4 Pagescharacter explains his dislike of her father and how he is happy that he has died. He stated that she would have rather killed him herself. I believe that his father was a Nazi during the Holocaust. Initially when I first read the story I did not understand the meaning of it, but after reading it a second time I understood why the main character felt the way he felt. The main character was afraid to be around his father, He couldn’t even sneeze the wrong way around him. Her father is described as a bigRead MoreThe Life Of Sylvia Plath Essay1313 Words   |  6 PagesThe Life of Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath was a very dedicated author who lived from 1932-1963. She is best known for her poetry. Plath started writing and was a published poet at a very young age. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Plath’s first poem was published when she was eight years old. â€Å"Plath’s poems explore her own mental anguish, her troubled marriage to fellow poet Ted Hughes, her unresolved conflicts with her parents, and her own vision of herself†(Poetry Foundation). Plath was a devoted

Financial Performance Analysis of Tesco Plc and J Sainsbury Plc. Free Essays

A comparison of the performance of Tesco Plc and Sainsbury Plc, both listed on the London Stock Exchange Introduction: This report will compare Tesco Plc and Sainsbury Plc, paying close attention to selected ratios for comparison. The ratios have been chosen to show profitability, efficiency and liquidity of both companies over a three-year period. Both companies operate in the UK grocery sector, with both classed in the big-4 supermarkets. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Performance Analysis of Tesco Plc and J Sainsbury Plc. or any similar topic only for you Order Now According to the latest Kantar Worldpanel (2014) report, Tesco held 29.6% of the UK grocery market in top place, while Sainsbury held 17% of the market, holding third place after ASDA. In addition to their main grocery business, both companies have business in other services, including clothing, non-food items, banking and insurance services, as well as international operations for Tesco. Of the two, Tesco has more of a focus on its non-food and non-UK business. According to Tesco’s latest Annual Report (2013), sales from non-UK markets represent ?20.8Billion of revenue, with revenue from Asia growing 6% over 2013; while revenue from the UK banking operation is ?1Billion. In comparison, Sainsbury’s total revenue (all-UK) only amounts to ?23.03Billion, with non-food and banking making up a much smaller proportion of sales, Sainsbury’s (2013). Performance analysis of your chosen companies: This section will consider a number of ratios to determine company performance, splitting the ratios up into profitability, efficiency and liquidity. This report will then use the Annual Reports as well as supporting analysis to determine the reasoning behind the results. Liquidity Ratio Liquidity ratios are a sign whether a company has the ability to pay off short-term obligations (debts due to be paid within one year). Generally, a higher value is desired as this indicates greater capacity to meet debt obligations, for example, shareholders may prefer a company to have current assets that are greater than current liabilities, indicating that the company can repay all debts at short-notice if required, (Koller, 2011) The Current ratio measures a businesses ability to repay short-term liabilities such as accounts payable and short-term debt using short-term assets such as cash, inventory and receivables. This would be the value of a company’s current assets that could be converted to cash over the next twelve months compared to the value of liabilities that may mature over the same period, (Peterson, 2012). The Current ratio is useful as it shows whether a company has adequate resources to repay short-term debt or if it will experience cash flow problems in the near term. A ratio of 2:1 is usually considered a benchmark, however, this may vary across industries depending on cash-flow. A ratio of less than one suggests that the company may not have sufficient resources to settle its short-term debt obligations. For a more conservative alternative, Current Assets may be adjusted to remove inventory, as inventory may be viewed as not very readily convertible to cash; for example, to shift inventory fast, the business may have to discount products. With this the value of inventories will be lower than the value recorded on financial statements. This is known as the Quick ratio, (Moyer et al, 2011) The calculations can be seen in Appendix 1. The results are shown below: The results above show that both retailers have low ratios compared with the benchmark mentioned above; however this may be the case due to: There are very few trade receivables on the books, while trade payables are higher suggesting that the business could effectively operate without any cash. Discussed more in Efficiency. Both businesses have a high level of turnover and high level of cash-generation which could be used to meet short-term obligations. Investor confidence in both businesses would allow the ratios to be lower. Investor’s may demand higher ratios from start-up or ‘riskier’ companies. Comparing the two, Tesco plc, has the higher ratio, which may be down to the business having much higher receivables then Sainsbury’s. For example, in 2013, receivables made up 41.7% of total current assets at Tesco, compared with just 15.9% at Sainsbury’s. This may be down to Tesco having a greater focus on higher-value non-food items through its catalogue business. Higher receivables present higher risks, given some consumers may have an in-ability to pay. Profitability Ratio Profitability ratios measure a company’s profitability. As profits are used to fund capital expenditure and pay dividends, these measures will be important to analysts and closely watched in terms of industry comparisons. Earnings per Share (EPS) measures the earnings available of each share, a shareholder may use this calculation to determine the level of earnings available for each share owned; this could then be compared with the actual dividend to determine the payout ratio. Again, this would be important to a shareholder as a company would use income for either dividends or capital expenditure; so, if dividends are low, investors would expect higher capital expenditure in the hope of increasing the future value of the business, increasing share-price, leading to capital gains. Other ratios to be considered are Gross Profit Margin and Net Profit Margin. Gross profit margin considers revenue minus the cost of goods sold. A company’s gross profit margin may also be viewed as a measurement of production efficiency. A company with a gross profit margin higher than that of its competitors, or the industry average, is deemed to be more efficient and is therefore, all things being equal, preferred, (Paramasivan, 2009). Net profit margin considers the net income once all costs are removed. With this, the margin could be seen as determined by a range of factors including competition or rising costs. Given the results above, Tesco appears to be in a better position given its margin; however this may be down to Tesco’s exposure to a greater non-food business through its catalogue, where it can achieve greater margins, (Head, 2013) [Online]. To add, a greater online presence may have also benefitted Tesco’s margin, giving the lower overheads involved. However in its latest results, Tesco took a charge of ?1.26Billion for exiting its U.S business, which impacted on net profit margin and EPS, (Tesco, 2013). The figures are surprising given Sainsbury’s perception as a more expensive grocer compared to rivals Tesco Plc. The figures also show a falling margin for both grocers in 2013, which could be down to the intense competition in the sector, and supermarket ‘price war’. Efficiency Ratio Efficiency ratios determine how efficient a company is using liabilities/ assets to generate revenue for the business. Ratios such Sales to Inventory could be used to determine the efficiency of the business compared with peers. From the results above, it appears that Sainsbury’s has a greater control over its stock levels, as the company is able to turn over its inventory at a faster pace, which will be important in the grocery industry to reduce waste. However, it must again be noted that Tesco Plc, has greater exposure to the non-food business, which will then impact on stock levels, in particular for its catalogue business, which sells higher-value items such as electrical’s. Another efficiency to mention could be the difference seen between average receivables and average payables. For example take Tesco in 2011; receivables turnover (sales / average receivables) was 60,455/ 4,457 = 13.56, which translated into 27 Days (365 / 13.56). Payables turnover was 55,330 / 5,786 = 9.56, which translates into 38 Days (365/ 9.56). With this, Tesco receives the all the money from sales in 27 Days on average, whereas it doesn’t have to pay suppliers for the goods sold for 38 Days on average. Effectively, the business could survive without cash. Given less focus on non-food items, Sainsbury’s position is favorable to Tesco. Receivables turnover comes in at just 5 Days, while payables turnover comes in at 34 Days on average. Conclusion: Based on the ratios above it appears that Tesco would be the favoured choice, given higher margins stemming from operations in non-food items and a greater online presence. To add, Tesco has a greater presence on the high-street, and so an ability to take advantage of the UK economic recovery. Tesco’s exposure outside of the grocery market could also be seen as a benefit when rivals from Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose continue to take grocery market share. According to Kantar Worldpanel (2014), over the past 3 years, the 3 grocers above have taken a combined 3.5 share points from competitors, equating to around ?4.4Billion in sales. Momentum continues with Y-O-Y growth at Aldi accelerating to 33.5%, compared with Tesco, who over the six-weeks to February 2nd 2014, experienced a 2.4% drop in sales, (Webb, 2014) [Online]. Increasing competition in the industry has led to another supermarket ‘price-war’, which is expected to knock margins again as retailers vie for market s hare. Again, Tesco Plc will be the favoured choice due to its exposure to non-food business as well as international operations, which have potential to drive future sales. Recently, Tesco has announced it will enter the Indian market, under a 50:50 joint venture with Tata, making it the first foreign supermarket to enter India’s ?330Billion retail sector. Given this, Tesco Plc, could be seen as less risky than Sainsbury Plc, given the greater scope of income streams. When considering an investment, other figures may be considered to do with investor returns. First is dividend pay-outs; dividend growth has been stagnant for both companies over a three-year period, while Graph 1 below shows the share price performance, showing that over a three-year period, shares in Tesco and Sainsbury are down by 32.41% and 19.48% respectively. Tesco Plc. is favoured given its extensive offering of businesses, both UK and international, which are expected to benefit as the global recovery strengthens. The main benefit is the business scope, with potential risk in the UK grocery market mitigated by improved performance from other operations and international sales. Sainsbury’s is more exposed to the growing competition on the UK market given the UK market represents the lions-share of its revenue. Tesco is well-placed to take advantage of improving sediment through its multi-channel business. In its latest Interim Report (2013)1, Tesco mentioned sales were supported by strong growth in online retailing (+13% in UK and +54% Overseas), and strong clothing sales up 8.4%. To add, the report also mentioned that UK margins had been hit since FY2013 results, falling to 5.2% (possible downside for Sainsbury’s too), however reported a 6% margin from Asian operations and 17.7% margin from its banking operations, showing that expansion is paying off for the company, (Tesco, 2013)1. References: Bloomberg (2014) [Online]: Company Share Prices, Available at http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/, Accessed 25/03/2014. Financial Times (2014) [Online]: Tesco Plc, Available at http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Financials?s=TSCO:LSE, Accessed 25/03/2014. Financial Times (2014)1 [Online]: J Sainsbury Plc, Available at http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Financials?s=SBRY:LSEsubview=IncomeStatement, Accessed 25/03/2014. Head, R (2013) [Online]: This is why I’m considering buying J Sainsbury, Available at http://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2013/10/07/this-is-why-im-considering-buying-j-sainsbury-plc-today/, Accessed 25/03/2014. Kantar Worldpanel (2014): Unprecedented changes in grocery retailing in the UK, UK, Kantar Worldpanel. Koller, T, Goedhart, M and Wessels, D (2011): Valuation; Measuring and managing the value of companies, US, McKinsey Company. Moyer, C, McGuigan, J and Rao, R (2011): Contemporary Financial Management, USA, South-Western Cengage Learning. Paramasivan, P (2009): Financial Management, USA, New Age International. Peterson, P and Fabozzi, F (2012): Analysis of Financial Statements, USA, Wiley Finance. Sainsbury’s (2013): Annual Report 2013, London, J Sainsbury Plc. Tesco (2013): Annual Report 2013, London, Tesco Plc. Tesco (2013)1: Interim Report 2013-2014, London, Tesco Plc. Webb, S (2014) [Online]: Supermarket price war looms, Available at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566542/Every-little-helps-Tesco-slash-prices-attempt-boost-sales-losing-ground-rivals.html, Accessed 25/03/2014. Appendices: Appendix 1 The following tables provide calculations for the chosen ratios. Figures obtained from Financial Times (2014) [Online] and Financial Times (2014)1 [Online]. How to cite Financial Performance Analysis of Tesco Plc and J Sainsbury Plc., Essay examples

Japan Tsunami 2011 free essay sample

As one plate subducts below another (moves underneath), pressure builds for many years resulting in a section of the mega-thrust giving away. As this section gives away, it ruptures the ocean floor, resulting in a massive displacement of water, causing a tsunami. Tsunamis are barely felt as a ripple on the ocean’s surface, but as the waves reach land, they increase in size as the water becomes shallower. Japan earthquake and tsunami At 2:46pm Japanese time, on March 11th 2011, an earthquake with the magnitude of 9. 0 took place 100km of the coast of Japan, and was the 5th most powerful earthquake ever recorded. It was caused by the Pacific plate and the Okhotsk plate. The Pacific plate has always been moving under the Okhotsk plate at a speed of 8. 9cm a year, building up pressure (destructive plate boundary – continental and oceanic plate moving towards each other). Pressure being released caused the Pacific plate to snap back, releasing the pressure as an earthquake that lasted 5 minutes, and also causing a massive displacement of water, the result of which is a tsunami. We will write a custom essay sample on Japan Tsunami 2011 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The tsunami travelled at 500mph towards Sendai, and went up to 10km inland in the Sendai area, reaching a height of about 33ft. It reached Tokyo in 90 seconds from its original point 232 miles away. Tokyo had 60 seconds warning. Ofanato was hit 20 minutes after the earthquake, Onagawa and Sendai were said to be the most effected places. There were two other earthquakes after; one 26. 6km off the coast of Hokkaido at 6:08pm local time. It measured 6. 9 on the Richter scale, and was followed by a 20cm tsunami. The other occurred almost 3 hours after the first earthquake. It measured 5. 7 on the Richter scale, and struck 90km east of Tokyo. Outcomes: 9,079 deaths, 2,628 injured, over 12,000 missing. The final death toll was 15,883. Coast line lowered over 1 metre, rendering the sea walls at Miyako useless. Moved portions of northeast Japan closer to North America by 7. 9ft. Earthquake shifted the Earth’s axis 25cm, and sped up the rotation, shortening the day by 1. 8 microseconds. Towns such as Ofunato and Kuju are said to have been â€Å"swept away†. Cities such as Miyako, Onagawa, Namie, and many more had been destroyed. Early estimates put the economic loss at about $14. 5 $34. 6 billion from the earthquake alone. Full economic loss estimated at $171 – $183 billion. At least 3 nuclear power stations faced explosions; the energy released was equivalent to 9. 32 teratons of TNT. Tsunami was equivalent to 1 million swimming pools being emptied on Japan. The Fukushima nuclear disaster. Said to be the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl 1986. The tsunami knocked out the cooling system’s power supply. Resulted in 10,000 tonnes of contaminated water going into the sea. Massive atmospheric emissions hit peak on March 15th and remained high until March 19th. Surrounding areas were evacuated and was only deemed safe on December the 16th. How did they try and stop it? 10 metre high sea walls in Miyako. The people of Miyako are used to tsunami drills. Hawaii research centre sent out pager messages when detected. Warnings shut down the nuclear reactors. However, the reactors need time to cool. Tectonic Plates. The Earth is made up of 4 layers: inner core, outer core, mantle, and the crust. The crust is made up of Tectonic plates that are constantly in motion. The inner core is the centre of the Earth. It’s a solid made from mostly iron and nickel. The outer core is the liquid layer surrounding the inner core. The mantle is the widest section of the Earth. Made from a semi molten rock called magma. The crust is the outer layer of the earth. It’s fairly thin and made of solid rock. There are two types of crust: continental crust which carries land, and oceanic crust, which carries water. The Earth’s crust is broken up into plates. Heat rising and falling in the mantle creates convection currents, generated by the radioactive decay of the core. The convection currents move the plates. Where the convection currents diverge near the Earth’s crust, the plates move apart. Where the currents converge the plates move together. The movement of the plates and activity inside the Earth is called Plate Tectonics. Plate tectonics cause earthquakes and volcanoes. The point where two plates meet is called a plate boundary. Earthquakes and volcanoes are most likely to occur on or near plate boundaries. Different kinds of plate boundaries. At a constructive plate boundary, the plates move apart. At a destructive plate boundary, the plates move together. At a conservative plate boundary, the plates slide past each other. Constructive. As the plates move apart (very slowly), magma rises from the mantle. The magma erupts to the surface of the Earth. This can also be accompanied by earthquakes. When them magma reaches the surface, it solidifies to form a new crust of igneous rock. Eventually the new rock builds up to form a volcano. Constructive boundaries tend to be found under the sea, e. g. The Mid Atlantic Ridge. Here, chains of underwater volcanoes have formed along the plate boundary (where the tectonic plates meet). Underwater volcanoes, over time, can grow large enough to become volcanic islands, e. g. The Hawaiian islands. Destructive. At a destructive plate boundary, the plates move towards each other. This usually involves and continental and an oceanic plate. The oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate, so when they move together, the oceanic plate is forced underneath the continental plate, the point at which is called the subduction zone. As the oceanic plate is forced under the continental plate, it melts into magma, and the earthquakes are triggered. The magma collects to form a magma chamber. This magma then rises through the cracks in the continental crust. As pressure builds, a volcanic eruption may occur. Destructive plate boundaries can also form mountains. As the plates move together, the continental crust is squashed together and forced upwards. This is called folding. The process of folding creates Fold Mountains. Fold Mountains can also be formed when two continental plates push together. This is how mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and the Alps were formed. Conservative. At a conservative boundary, nothing’s formed and nothing’s destroyed. The plates lock together and pressure builds. As the pressure is released, earthquakes are triggered. An example is the Pacific plate (faster moving) rubbing against the North American plate. This causes earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault line, disturbing cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Earthquakes. Earthquakes are caused by the release of built up pressure in the Earth’s crust. An earthquake’s power is measured on the Richter scale using an instrument called a seismometer. An earthquake is the shaking and vibration of the Earth’s crust. Plates don’t often move smoothly together and sometimes get stuck. When this happens pressure builds up. When pressure is finally released, there is generally and earthquake. Earthquakes can happen along any type of plate boundary. The point inside the Earth’s crust where the pressure is released is called the focus. The point on the Earth’s surface above the focus is called the epicentre. Earthquake energy is released in seismic waves. These waves spread out from the focus. The waves are felt most strongly at the epicentre, weakening as you get further away. Most of the severe damage caused by an earthquake happens at the epicentre. Effects of an earthquake. Earthquakes can destroy settlements and kill many people. Aftershocks can cause even more damage to an area. We can classify the impacts of an earthquake by taking the following into account: Short-term (immediate) impacts. Long-term impacts. Social impacts (impact on the people) Economic impact (impact on the areas wealth) Environmental impacts (the impact on the landscape) Social Economic Environmental Short-Term Deaths and injuries, homes destroyed, transport and communication links disrupted, water pipes burst – water contaminated. Shops and business destroyed, looting, damage to transport. Built landscape destroyed, fires, landslides, tsunamis. Long-Term Disease spreading, people re-housed (sometimes in refugee camps) Have to rebuild everything, income lost, all money spent on repairs. Important landmarks lost. Effects are classified as primary and secondary impacts. Primary effects occur as a direct result of the ground shaking e. g. buildings collapsing, liquefaction etc. Secondary effects occur as a result of primary effects, e. g. fires due to ruptured gas mains. Factors effecting the impact. Distance from the epicentre. How severe the earthquake is. Areas level of development (MEDC or LEDC) – MEDCs are more likely to have the resources and technology for prediction, monitoring, and response. Population density (rural or urban), the more densely populated, the more likely deaths will be. Communication – access to rescue. Time of day – at night people will be in bed, unprepared. Time of year – climate influences survival rate and the rate disease spreads. In LEDCs Undeveloped communication systems. Population uneducated on precautions. Poor construction standards. Evacuation difficult due to lack of funds and resources. Cleaning and repair difficult due to lack of funds. Measuring earthquakes. The power of an earthquake is measured with a seismometer. A seismometer detects vibrations caused by an earthquake. It plots these vibrations with a seismograph. The strength or magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. The Richter scale is numbered 0-10. Earthquakes measuring 1-2 are very common and people don’t even feel them.

How Not to Be an Outcast in College

How Not to Be an Outcast in College Being an outcast, or socially inept in college is rather costly. It translates into a less productive and memorable college experience. Whatever, but if that’s something you would rather learn to avoid, then this article is for you. Though it’s a subjective topic, here’s a step by step breakdown of your typical anti-outcast college strategy. 1. Work on You First The only thing that separates you from anything, any goal or objective, is you. Within reason of course. But there are no real walls between you and a robust social life in college. The only thing in your way is your unique â€Å"narrative† that you define yourself with. Change that first. Work on you first. If your attitude is horrible, nothing else you do will help all that much anyway. 2. Read Some Dale Carnegie If you’re a college student today, chances are good ol’ Dale is a bit before your time. Whether you buy it as an eBook or paperback, read this: How to Win Friends and Influence People. If this were the only book you ever read for personal gain, it’s the perfect choice. Odds are just like the countless millions before you, you’ll not only read it again, but take notes and memorize his simple concepts as well. If readin Dale Carnegie is too much for you at the moment, at least read our article on how to deal with having no friends in college. 3. Be the Good Servant At all times be looking for ways to be of service to people without causing them to lose face in any way, or put yourself in a position where you end up getting taken advantage of. When you do get the chance to be of service, go above and beyond 100% of the time. Both Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill are big fans of the parable (New Testament). Seriously: If you develop this practice into a habit and stick to it, you will undoubtedly live a prosperous life and make many friends throughout your life. Though many people think that making friends after college is a struggle it is not really so. No matter what it is, go above and beyond without asking for extra pay or recognition. 4. Grow Up â€Å"Grow up† could mean all kinds of things. In this context, we’re referring to how you choose to project yourself to other people via your outward appearance. It doesn’t mean caving in completely, or totally selling out. It just means telling the world around you that you respect yourself. By all means sport some personality in your style, but make sure it’s clean. If you don’t take yourself seriously, hardly anyone else will. 5. Say These Two Things All the Time Let’s be clear, these are affirmations and there’s absolutely no question that they work miracles. Successful and worldly well-connected people use them every day of their lives. However, when you say these two things to yourself on a consistent basis (10 times a day in the beginning) embody them. Get into it! Make it real! Every day I meet the perfect people for me. No matter what I choose to do or say, the right people see and hear me. 6. Remember This Statement Check this out, and no, we haven’t the slightest clue who the quote originates from: â€Å"I am not what I think I am, and I am not what they think I am. I am what I think that they think I am.† Once the depth of that statement hits you and you really get it, you’ll never be the same. What you think people think about you (if they think about you at all) is almost complete rubbish. Yet, how much of what we say, do and think every day is influenced by this self-imposed illusion? Get it straight because this is reality: people really care about just one thing (themselves) no matter how you slice it. Regardless of how noble or righteous, at the end of the day all we really experience in this life is ourselves and no one else. 7. Play to Your Strengths In light of the last statement, you should obviously play to your own unique traits (strengths). You’re the only thing that sets you apart from everyone else, so express you and be unafraid. If it’s respect you want, this is the most direct route. When you play to your strengths and stand as yourself, unafraid before the insecure eyes of your peers, they will not only be drawn to you but regard you as a â€Å"really cool person† in that neutral sense that appeals to everyone. 8. Understand the 6 Human Needs The more you know about what every human being needs, the more equipped you are to use this knowledge to your benefit (and theirs). Comfort Uncertainty/Variety Love Growth Contribution Love/Connection As you can see, 99% of what it takes to avoid being an outcast in college is psychological in nature. And no, that doesn’t mean we think you should be a psych-major. What do you think, did we nail it? Tell us in the comments!

What do you need to become a good architect

What do you need to become a good architect Hashtag: #architectureMW What Do You Need to Become a Good Architect? The recent architectural competition at the British Museum revealed over 130 stunning architectural design and structures from around the world. One of them is the reconstructed Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room (left image). The architecture according to German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is the self-conscious act of building with artistry. For this reason, the architect must be knowledgeable of not one but many branches of study and continually learning from theory and actual practice theory. Primarily, an aspiring architect needs a college education and strong focus on art, drawing, and design. He or she may also engage in non-academic activities such as exploration of the built environment, visit architecture firms and schools, and if possible obtain an internship with established architecture firm or get involved in design-related organizations such as a museum. After-school programs can also help an aspiring architect know more about his or her future profession. Good architects have more than passion and patience. They continuously build at whatever scale to enhance their understanding of design and assemblies. Moreover, they often seek opportunities where they can best use their education and talents and fulfill their aspiration to grow. However, since the profession and the role of architect according to study are changing, a good architect often approach his work from this perspective. More interesting information here: Twelve Angry Men: Democracy with Its Flaws Is the Use of Animals for Research Purposes Justified? Art Essay Writing Guide Should You Believe Every Word in an Infomercial? Developing Students Creativity Changes and Trend in Architectural Education Architecture nowadays is gradually becoming a purely design-oriented profession. It is according to literature is reverting back to its traditional â€Å"Master Builder† role as director of shape, form, and organizer of society that operate within the built environment. Choosing a school that can satisfy your interest in design, urban planning, sustainability, and preservation is an important step. Take all relevant classes that can give you adequate knowledge and skills in freehand drawing, painting, sculpture, arts and crafts, sculpture, and furniture design. Moreover, since architect role in today’s practice changed from someone remote from building activity to designers that offer complete building design and construction services, architectural schools are now offering construction studios and classes for building works for architects who want to maintain parity with other professionals. In the United States, continuing education and professional development of architects are mandatory. This is because architects are professionals that affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public or HSW. Unfortunately, such mandate was largely overlooked in traditional architecture education and therefore resulted in licensure and liability issues. For instance, many architects avoid designing condominium because such building type demands knowledge of HSW. In light of these educational needs, architecture schools with urban planning classes include additional housing type specialization classes to cover government’s HSW requirements. Building construction technology is another area that made today’s architectural practice difficult. New building systems in large building types for instance demand general knowledge of the system thus many architects hire qualified consultants for evaluation and solutions. Another challenge for architects is the rapid developments in building materials and construction methods. For instance, architect often fails to specify compelling new product or finish, provide cost considerations, lea times, and so on because of they do not have enough knowledge about new products. Consequently, many architects according to study used the Internet to educated themselves about new products and building types, modern project delivery methods and fast-tracked construction scheduling, and take control of the entire design and construction process.

Public Policies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Public Policies - Term Paper Example These people feel threatened by the public interest groups that jockey for room and influence. However, there are others who believe that these groups prove that America is a vibrant democracy. This latter opinion makes much more sense and will be explored in the course of this essay. America has a truly brilliant political system. Each person has one vote. But by organizing together, groups of people can have a larger impact on the system. For example, people who enjoy owning guns for recreational purposes such as hunting can join together to be members of the NRA. There are millions of people who have done so. This is an issue that is important to them. When a politician suggests that the law should be changed to make possessing guns more dangerous, these millions of NRA members have an effective way of championing their position. Likewise, those who want more gun control are free to organize to present the opposite point of view. The debate will presumably happen in public. The representatives can choose a position and can allow the voters to ratify his or her decision at the next election. That is how democracy works. There is nothing broken about lobbying. As Anderson explains in his book, there are a number of different types of interest groups. Some are professional, some are ad hoc. Some are interested in a single issue, others have multiple interests. Some think tanks provide constant pressure on political issues (Anderson, 64). Others groups are collections of professional activists (Anderson, 72). In all of these forms, these groups contribute to our democracy. One of the transformative decisions of the Supreme Court in recent years regarding interest groups is the Citizens United decision which overturned the campaign financing laws. In the past groups could not spend very much money promoting a candidate during an election period. The Court felt that this was an assault on freedom of expression and overturned the law. In

Describe what set the Young, Middle and Old Guards apart from each Essay

Describe what set the Young, Middle and Old Guards apart from each other and from the Grand'Armee in general - Essay Example The Old Guards were the most prominent and were the creme de la creme of Napoleon’s infantry. In order to be admitted to this group, the aspirant should have at least 10 years of service, not exceeding 35 years of age, can read and write, with exemplary conduct, recognized for a brave act, and must at least have a height of 5’10 and 5’8 for grenadier and chasseur, respectively. Men who have received the Legion of Honor Award are admitted even without reaching the height marks. With this set of requirements, it is not surprising to learn that they were the battle-hardened veterans, the most bold, and the strongest amongst the guards. In fact, they were labeled as â€Å"The Grumblers,† â€Å"The Eagles,† â€Å"The Gaiter Straps,† or â€Å"The Supporters of the Usurper† (Yudice et al., French Guard n. pag). Another group is that of the Middle Guards, which was formed between 1806 and 1809. This group includes veterans with at least 6 years of service – the 3rd Grenadiers, the Amsterdam Veteran Company, corporals and privates of the 2nd Grenadiers, 2nd Chasseurs and Fusiliers, and the Velites of Florence and Turin (â€Å"The Young Guard in Action† 4). In 1811, after the disbandment of 1806 regiment units, this division was restored by admitting 500 men with 5 years of service along with 1,000 men coming from the battalions. The most notable account for Middle Guards was concerning their exceptional skills in artillery (Macready, qtd in Yudice et al., Napoleon’s Guard n. pag). Last of all three groups was the Young Guard, formed around 1809. This group was composed of â€Å"newly raised regiments† (Haythornthwaite 7), rigorously trained by Cadres who came from the Old Guards, as well as by the strongest and best educated Privates. The first trained regiments came out as strong and healthy men, as they flushed their martial air with their great stamina. Moreover, the Young Guards consisted of the best

Analysis of Fences by August Wilson :: essays research papers

The theme of August Wilson’s play â€Å"Fences† is the coming of age in the life of a broken black man. Wilson wrote about the black experience in different decades and the struggle that many blacks faced, and that is seen in â€Å"Fences† because there are two different generations portrayed in Troy and Cory. Troy plays the part of the protagonist who has been disillusioned throughout his life by everyone he has been close to. He was forced to leave home at an early age because his father beat him so dramatically. Troy never learned how to treat people close to him and he never gave any one a chance to prove themselves because he was selfish. This makes Troy the antagonist in the story because he is not only hitting up against everyone in the play, but he is also hitting up against himself and ultimately making his life more complicated. The discrimination that Troy faced while playing baseball and the torment he endures as a child shape him into one of the most dynamic characters in literary history.The central conflict is the relationship between Troy and Cory. The two of them have conflicting views about Cory’s future and, as the play goes on, this rocky relationship crumbles because Troy will not let Cory play collegiate football. The relationship becomes even more destructive when Troy admits to his relationship with Alberta and he admits Gabriel to a mental institution by accident. The complication begins in Troy’s youth, when his father beat him unconscious. At that moment, Troy leaves home and begins a troubled life on his own, and gaining a self-destructive outlook on life. â€Å"Fences† has many instances that can be considered the climax, but the one point in the story where the highest point of tension occurs, insight is gained and a situation is resolved is when Rose tells Troy that Alberta died having his baby, Raynell.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 24

Stefan woke early. He spent the time from dawn until breakfast just watching Elena, who even in sleep had an inner glow like a golden flame through a faintly rose-colored candle. At breakfast, everyone was more or less Stillwrapped up in thoughts of the day before. Meredith showed Matt the picture of her brother, Cristian, the vampire. Matt briefly told Meredith about the inner workings of the Ridgemont court system and painted her a picture of Caroline as werewolf. It was clear that both of them felt safer at the boardinghouse than anywhere else. And Elena, who had woken up with Stefan's mind al around her, embracing her, and her own mind Stillful of light, was completely at a loss for a Plan A or any other letter. She had to be told gently by the others that only one thing made sense. â€Å"Stefan,†Matt said, draining a mug of Mrs. Flowers's pitch-black coffee. â€Å"He's the only one who might be able to use his mind instead of Post-it Notes on the kids.† And, â€Å"Stefan,†said Meredith. â€Å"He's the only one Shinichi might be afraid of.† â€Å"I'm no use at all,†Elena said sadly. She had no appetite. She had gotten dressed with a feeling of love and compassion toward al humankind and a desire to help protect her hometown, but as everyone pointed out, she was probably going to have to spend the day in the root cel ar. Reporters might come to cal . They're right, Stefan sent to Elena. I'm the only logical person to find out what's really going on in Fell's Church. He actual y went while the rest of them were finishing breakfast. Only Elena knew why; only she could feel him at the limits of her telepathic range. Stefan was hunting. He drove into the New Wood, got out, and final y startled a rabbit out of the brush. He Influenced it to rest and not be frightened. Surreptitiously, in this thin woodland without cover, he took a little blood from it†¦and choked. It tasted like some kind of hideous liquid flavored with rodent. Was a rabbit a rodent? He had been lucky enough to find a rat one day in his prison cel and it had tasted vaguely like this. But now, for days, he had been drinking human blood. Not just that, but the rich, potent blood of strong, adventurous, and in several cases paranormal y talented individuals – the crme de la crme. How could he have gotten used to it so quickly? It shamed him now, to think of what he'd taken. Elena's blood, of course, was enough to drive any vampire wild. And Meredith, whose blood had the deep crimson taste of some primordial ocean, and Bonnie, who tasted like a telepath's dessert. And final y Matt, the Al -American red-blooded boy. They'd fed him and fed him by the hour, far past what he needed to survive. They'd fed him until he'd begun to heal, and seeing that he was healing, they'd fed him more. And it had gone on and on, ending with Elena last night – Elena, whose hair was taking on a silvery cast and whose blue eyes seemed almost radiant. Back in the Dark Dimension, Damon hadn't exercised any restraint at all. Elena hadn't exercised any on her own behalf. That silvery cast†¦Stefan's stomach clenched when he thought about it, about the last time he'd seen her hair that way. She'd been dead then. On her feet, but dead just the same. Stefan let the rabbit scamper away. He was taking another oath. He must not make Elena into a vampire again. That meant no significant blood exchange between the two of them for at least a week – either giving or taking might tip her over the edge. He must once again adjust to the taste of animal blood. Stefan shut his eyes briefly, remembering the horror of the first time. The cramps. The shakes. The agony that seemed to tel his entire body that it wasn't getting fed. The feeling that his veins might explode into flame at any moment, and the pain in his jaws. He stood up. He was lucky to be alive. Luckier than he ever could have dreamed he would be in having Elena beside him. He would work through the readjustment without bothering her by tel ing her, he decided. Just two hours later Stefan was back at the boardinghouse, limping slightly. Matt, who met him at the heavy front door, noticed the limp. â€Å"You okay? You'd better get in and ice it.† â€Å"Just a cramp,†Stefan said briefly. â€Å"I'm not used to exercise. Didn't get any back there in – you know.†He looked away, flushing. So did Matt, hot and cold and furious at the people who had put Stefan in this condition. Vampires were pretty resilient, but he had the feeling – no, he knew – that Stefan had almost died in his prison cel . One day under lock and key had convinced Matt that he never wanted to be imprisoned again. He fol owed Stefan to the kitchen where Elena, Meredith, and Mrs. Flowers were – what else? – drinking mugs of tea. And Matt felt a twinge when Elena instantly noticed the limp and got up and went to Stefan, and Stefan held her tightly, running reassuring fingers through her hair. Matt couldn't help but wonder, though – was that glorious golden hair turning lighter? More like the silvery gold it had been when Elena had first gone with Stefan and was on her way to turning into a vampire? Stefan certainly seemed to be inspecting it closely, turning each handful as he raked his fingers through it. â€Å"Any luck?†Elena asked him, tension in her voice. Wearily, Stefan shook his head. â€Å"I went up streets and down streets and wherever I found a – a young girl who was contorted, or whirling round and round, or doing any other of the things the papers mentioned, I tried to Influence them. Well, maybe I shouldn't have bothered with the whirling girls. I couldn't catch their eyes. But the final count is zero for eleven.† Elena turned toward Meredith in agitation. â€Å"What do we do?† Mrs. Flowers busily began rummaging through bundles of herbs that hung above her stove. â€Å"You need a nice cup of tea.† â€Å"And a rest,†Meredith said, patting him lightly on the hand. â€Å"Can I get you anything?† â€Å"Well – I've got a new idea – scrying. But I need Misao's star bal to see if it wil work. Don't worry,†he added, â€Å"I won't use any of the Power in it; I just need to look at the surface.† â€Å"I'l bring it,†Elena offered, getting up promptly from where she was sitting on his lap. Matt started slightly and looked at Mrs. Flowers as Elena went to the door of the root cel ar and pushed. Nothing moved and Mrs. Flowers simply watched benignly. It was Stefan who rose to help her, Stilllimping. Then Matt and Meredith got up, Meredith asking, â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, are you sure we should keep the star bal in that same safe?† â€Å"Ma ma says we're doing the right thing,†Mrs. Flowers answered serenely. After that things happened very fast. As if they'd rehearsed it, Meredith pressed the exact place to open the root cel ar door. Elena fel to her hands and knees. Faster than even he had imagined he could go, Matt went barreling toward Stefan with one shoulder down. Mrs. Flowers was frantical y pul ing great swaths of dried herbs down from where they hung above the kitchen table. And then Matt was hitting Stefan with al the power in his body and Stefan was stumbling over Elena, his head going down and down and meeting no resistance on the way. Meredith was coming at him sideways and helping him do a complete forward flip in the air. As soon as the flip took him out of the doorway and he was cartwheeling down the stairs, Elena got up and shut the door and Meredith leaned against it, as Matt shouted, â€Å"How do you keep in a kitsune?† â€Å"These might help,†gasped Mrs. Flowers, stuffing odiferous herbs into the crack under the door. â€Å"And – iron!†cried Elena, and she and Meredith and Matt al ran to the den where there was an enormous, tripartite iron fire screen. Somehow they bundled it back to the kitchen and set it upright against the root cel ar door. Just then the first crash came from the inside against it, but the iron was heavy and the second crash against the door was weaker. â€Å"What are you doing? Have you al gone crazy?†Stefan shouted plaintively, but as the entire group began to cover the door in Post-it Note amulets, he cursed instead and became pure Shinichi. â€Å"You'll be sorry, damn you! Misao's not right. She cries and cries. You'll make it up to her with your blood, but not before I introduce you to some special friends of mine. The kind who know how to cause real pain!† Elena lifted her head, as if hearing something. Matt watched her frown. Then she cal ed to Shinichi, â€Å"Don't even try to probe for Damon. He's gone. And if you try to track him I'l fry your brains.† Sul en silence greeted her from the root cel ar. â€Å"My goodness gracious, what next?†murmured Mrs. Flowers. Elena simply nodded for the others to fol ow her, and they went al the way to the very top of the house – Stefan's room – and spoke in whispers. â€Å"How did you know?† â€Å"Did you use telepathy?† â€Å"I didn't know at first,†Matt admitted, â€Å"but Elena was acting as if the star bal was in the root cel ar. Stefan knows it's not there. I guess,†he added with a guilty start, â€Å"that I invited him in.† â€Å"I knew as soon as he started groping my hair,†Elena said with a shudder. â€Å"Stefan and D – I mean, Stefan knows I only like it touched lightly, and at the ends. Not mauled like that. Remember al Shinichi's little songs about golden hair? He's a nutcase. Anyway, I could tel from the feel of his mind.† Matt felt ashamed. Al his wondering about Elena maybe changing into a vampire†¦and this was the answer, he thought. â€Å"I noticed his lapis ring,†Meredith said. â€Å"I saw him with it on his right hand as he went out earlier. When he came back he had it on his left hand.† There was a brief pause as they al stared at her. She shrugged. â€Å"It was part of my training, noticing little things.† â€Å"Good point,†Matt said at last. â€Å"Good point. He wouldn't be able to change it in sunlight.† â€Å"How did you know, Mrs. Flowers?†Elena asked. â€Å"Or was it just the way we were behaving?† â€Å"Goodness, no, you're al very good little actors. But as soon as he stepped over the threshold Ma ma fairly shrieked at me: ‘What are you doing, letting a kitsune into your house?'So then I knew what we were in for.† â€Å"We beat him!†Elena said, beaming. â€Å"We actual y caught Shinichi off guard! I can hardly believe it.† â€Å"Believe it,†Meredith said with a wry smile. â€Å"He was off guard for a moment. He'l be thinking up revenge right now.† Something else was worrying Matt. He turned to Elena. â€Å"I thought that you said that both you and Shinichi had keys that could take you anywhere, anytime. So why couldn't he have just said, ‘Take me inside the boardinghouse where the star bal is'?† â€Å"Those were different keys from the Twin Fox key,†Elena said, her brows drawn together. â€Å"They're, like, the Master Keys and Shinichi and Misao Stillhave them both. I don't know why he didn't use his. Although it would have given him away the moment he was inside.† â€Å"Not if he went inside the root cel ar, and stayed there the whole time,†Meredith said. â€Å"And maybe a Master Key can override the ‘not invited inside'rule.† Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"But Ma ma Stillwould have told me. Also there are no keyholes in the root cel ar. at all.† â€Å"‘No keyholes'wouldn't matter, I don't think,†Elena answered. â€Å"I think he just wanted to show how clever he was, and how he could fool us into giving him Misao's star bal .† Before anyone else could say a word, Meredith held out her palm, with a shining key on it. The key was golden with diamonds inset and had a very familiar outline. â€Å"That's one of the Master Keys!†cried Elena. â€Å"It's what we thought the Twin Fox key would look like!† â€Å"It sort of came out of his jeans pocket when he did that flip,†Meredith said innocently. â€Å"When you were flipping him over me, you mean,†said Elena. â€Å"I suppose you picked his pocket too.† â€Å"So, right now, Shinichi doesn't have a key to escape with!†Matt said excitedly. â€Å"No key to make keyholes,†Elena agreed, dimpling. â€Å"He can have fun changing into a mole and burrowing out of the root cel ar,†Meredith said cool y. â€Å"That's if he's got his transforming gear or whatever with him.†She added, with a troubled change in her voice, â€Å"I wonder†¦if we should have Matt tel one other person where he's actual y hidden the star bal . Just†¦Well, just in case.† Matt saw knitted brows al around him. But suddenly the realization hit him that he had to tel someone that he'd hidden the star bal in his closet. The group – including Stefan – had picked him to hide it because he had so stubbornly resisted when Shinichi was using Damon's body as a puppet to torture him a month ago. Matt had proved then that he would die in hideous pain rather than endanger his friends. But if Matt were to die now, Misao's star bal might be lost to the group forever. And only Matt knew how close he had come today to tumbling down the stairs along with Shinichi. Far below they al heard a shout. â€Å"Hel o! Is anybody home? Elena!† â€Å"That's my Stefan,†Elena said and then, without a shred of dignity, she ran to launch herself from the foyer into his arms. He looked startled, but managed to break her fal before they both went down on the porch. â€Å"What's been going on?†he said, his body vibrating infinitesimal y, as with the urge to fight. â€Å"The whole house smel s like kitsune!† â€Å"It's All right,†Elena said. â€Å"Come and see.†She led him upstairs to his room. â€Å"We've got him in the root cel ar,†she added. Stefan looked confused. â€Å"You've got who in the root cel ar?† â€Å"With iron against the door,†Matt said triumphantly. â€Å"And herbs and amulets al over it. And, anyway, Meredith got his key.† â€Å"His key? You're talking about – Shinichi?†Stefan turned on Meredith, green eyes wide. â€Å"While I've been gone?† â€Å"It was mostly an accident. I sort of stuck my hand in his pocket when he was upside down and off balance. And I lucked out and got the Master Key – unless this is an ordinary house key.† Stefan stared at it. â€Å"It's the real thing. Elena knows that. Meredith, you're incredible!† â€Å"Yes, it's the right one,†Elena confirmed. â€Å"I remember the shape – pretty elaborate, yes?†She took it from Meredith's hand. â€Å"What are you going to – â€Å" â€Å"Might as well test it,†Elena said with a mischievous smile. She walked to the door of the room, shut it, said, â€Å"The den downstairs,†inserted the winged key in the lock, and opened the door, stepping through and shutting the door behind her. Before anyone could speak, she was back, with the poker from the den held aloft in triumph. â€Å"It works!†Stefan cried. â€Å"That's amazing,†Matt said. Stefan looked almost feverish. â€Å"But don't you realize what it means? It means we can use this key. We can go anywhere we like without using Power. Even to the Dark Dimension! But first – while he's Stillhere – we ought to do something about Shinichi.† â€Å"You're in no condition to do that now, dear Stefan,†Mrs. Flowers said, shaking her head. â€Å"I'm sorry, but the truth is that we have been very, very lucky. That wicked kitsune was off guard back then. He won't be now.† â€Å"I Stillhave to try,†Stefan said quietly. â€Å"Every one of you has been tormented or had to fight – whether with your fists or your minds,†he added, bowing slightly to Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"I've suffered but I've never had a chance to fight him. I have to try.† Matt said, just as quietly, â€Å"I'l go with you.† Elena added, â€Å"We can al fight together. Right, Meredith?† Meredith nodded slowly, taking Stefan's poker from his fireplace. â€Å"Yes. It may be a low blow, but – together.† â€Å"I say it's a higher blow than letting him live and go on hurting people. Anyway, we'l take care of it†¦together,†Elena said firmly. â€Å"Right now!† Matt started to get up, but his motion was frozen in midair as he stared in horror. Simultaneously, with the grace of hunting lionesses or bal et dancers the two girls closed in on Stefan, and simultaneously they swung their separate pokers; Elena hitting him in the head and Meredith hitting him squarely in the groin. Stefan reeled away from the blow to the head, but simply said, â€Å"Ow!†when Meredith hit him. Matt knocked Elena out of the way and then, turning as precisely as if he were on the footbal field, got Meredith out of â€Å"Stefan's†way too. But this imposter had obviously decided not to fight back. Stefan's form melted. Misao, green leaves woven into her scarlet-tipped black hair, stood before them. To Matt's shock, her face was pinched and pale. She was obviously very il , although Stilldefiant. But there was no mockery in her voice tonight. â€Å"What have you done with my star bal ? And my brother?†she demanded feebly. â€Å"Your brother's safely locked up,†Matt said, hardly knowing what he was tel ing her. Despite al the crimes Misao had committed he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She was clearly desperate and il . â€Å"I know that. I was going to say my brother wil kil you al – not as a game, but in anger.†Now Misao looked wretched and frightened. â€Å"You've never seen him really angry.† â€Å"You've never seen Stefan angry either,†Elena said. â€Å"At least not when he had al his Power.† Misao just shook her head. A dried leaf floated from her hair. â€Å"You don't understand!† â€Å"I doubt we understand anything. Meredith, have we searched this girl?† â€Å"No, but surely she wouldn't have brought the other one – â€Å" Elena said crisply, â€Å"Matt, take a book and read it. I'l tel you when we're done.† Matt was reluctant to turn his back on a kitsune, even a sick one. But when even Mrs. Flowers nodded gently he obeyed. Still, back turned or not, he could hear noises. And the noises suggested that Misao was being held tightly and searched thoroughly. At first the sounds were al negative murmurs. â€Å"Huh-uh†¦huh-uh†¦huh-uh†¦huh- oops!†There was a rattle of metal on wood. Matt only turned when Elena said, â€Å"Okay, you can look. It was in her front pocket.†She added to Misao, who was looking as if she might faint, â€Å"We didn't want to have to hold you and search you. But this key – where in heaven's name did you get keys like this, anyway?† A pink spot showed on Misao's cheeks. â€Å"Heaven is right. They're the only two left of the Master Keys – and they belong to Shinichi and me. I figured out how to steal them from the Celestial Court. That was†¦a long time ago.† At that moment they heard a car on the road – Stefan's Porsche. In the dead silence that fol owed, they could also see the car through Stefan's window as it swung into the driveway. â€Å"No one goes down,†Elena said tersely. â€Å"No one invites him in.† Meredith shot her a keen glance. â€Å"Shinichi could have tunneled out like a mole by now. And he's already been invited in.† â€Å"My fault for not warning you al – but anyway, if it is Shinichi and he's done anything to hurt Stefan he's going to see me when I'm angry. The words Wings of Destruction just popped into my head and something inside me wants to say them.† There was a chil in the room. No one met Stefan, but in a moment they could al hear running footsteps. Stefan appeared at his door, burst through, and found himself confronted with a row of people al looking at him suspiciously. â€Å"What the hell is going on?†he demanded, staring at Misao, who was being held up between Meredith and Matt. â€Å"Misao – â€Å" Elena took two steps toward him – and wound herself around him, drawing him into a deep kiss. For a moment he resisted, but then, bit by bit, his opposition col apsed despite the roomful of observers. When Elena final y let go, she just leaned against Stefan, breathing hard. The others were al crimson with embarrassment. Stefan, flushed as he was, held her tightly. â€Å"I'm sorry,†Elena whispered. â€Å"But you've already ‘come home'twice. First, it was Shinichi and we locked him in the root cel ar. Then it was her.†She pointed, without looking, toward the cowering Misao. â€Å"I didn't know how to make sure that Shinichi hadn't escaped somehow – â€Å" â€Å"And you're sure now?† â€Å"Oh, yes. I recognize you. You're always ready to let me in.† Matt realized that she was shaking and quickly stood up so she could sit, for at least a minute or two, in peace. The peace lasted less than a minute. â€Å"I want my star bal !†Misao cried. â€Å"I need to put Power in it or I'l go on weakening – and then you'l have murdered me.† â€Å"Go on weakening? Is the liquid evaporating out of the star bal or something?†Meredith asked. Matt was thinking about what he'd seen on his home block before the Ridgemont sheriffs had got him. â€Å"You've gathered Power to put in it?†he asked mildly. â€Å"Power from yesterday, maybe?† â€Å"Power from ever since you took it. But it isn't joined with†¦ me. With my star bal . It's mine, but not yet.† â€Å"Like maybe some Power from making Cole Reece eat his guinea pig while it was alive? From making kids burn down their own houses?†Matt's voice was gravel y. â€Å"What does it matter?†Misao retorted sul enly. â€Å"It's mine. They were my ideas, not yours. You can't keep me away – â€Å" â€Å"Meredith, keep me away from her. I've known that kid Cole since he was born. I'l always have nightmares†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Misao perked up like a wilting plant getting water. â€Å"Have nightmares, have nightmares,†she whispered. There was a silence. Then Meredith said, careful y and expressionlessly, as if she were thinking of the stave, â€Å"You're a nasty little thing, aren't you? Is that your food? Bad memories, nightmares, fear of the future?† Misao was plainly stumped. She couldn't see the catch. It was like asking a regular hungry teenager â€Å"How about some pizza and a Coke? Is that what you want?†Misao couldn't even see that her appetites were wrong, so she couldn't lie. â€Å"You were right before,†Stefan said forceful y. â€Å"We have your star bal . The only way to make us give it back would be to do something for us. We're supposed to be able to control you anyway because we have it – â€Å" â€Å"Old-ways thinking. Obsolete,†Misao growled. There was a dead silence. Matt felt his stomach plummet. They had been betting on â€Å"old-ways thinking†al along. To get Shinichi's star bal by making Misao tel them where it was. Their ultimate goal had been to control Shinichi using his star bal . â€Å"You don't understand,†Misao said, pitiful y and yet angrily at the same time. â€Å"My brother wil help me fil my star bal again. But what we did in this town – it was an order, not just for fun.† â€Å"Could'a fooled me,†Elena murmured, but Stefan's head jerked up and he said, â€Å"An order? From who?† â€Å"I†¦don't†¦know!† Misao screamed. â€Å"Shinichi gets the orders. Then he tel s me what to do. But whoever it is should be happy by now. The town is almost destroyed. He ought to give me some help here!†She glared at the group, and they stared back. Without knowing that he was going to say it, Matt said, â€Å"Let's put her in the root cel ar with Shinichi. I've got this feeling that we might al be sleeping in the storage room tonight.†