Life’s Fragility free essay sample

He lay there, immobilized, while blood flowed down his arms and pooled in his hands. The concrete parking lot was not an ideal resting spot, but apparently he had no choice. I noticed his gray hair was taking on a reddish tone. He must have hit his head, I thought. I saw him fall. My mom and I were driving through the grocery store parking lot around 9 o’clock on a Tuesday night. A plastic bag in either hand, he exited the store. I saw him struggling to find his car. I looked away, probably engaging in some banter with my mom. I looked back and saw him fall hard on his back. A woman in her mid-twenties, the only other person around, rushed over. I saw him struggling to regain consciousness. The woman darted into the store for help. My mom stopped the car and we ran over just as the store employees arrived. We will write a custom essay sample on Life’s Fragility or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He tried to get to his feet, but instead fell painfully on his face. My mom managed to help him up as he struggled to regain his balance. â€Å"Do you know this man?† the store owner asked. â€Å"Yes,† Mom replied. â€Å"He’s her father.† She was referring to me, of course; the elderly man was my dad. I was standing next to a man whom I had not seen or heard from in almost a year. How could I be his daughter? I thought. I noticed his footing was still unstable as he began to laugh. A fierce smell of alcohol exuded from his mouth. He recognized me, at least, but his words were so slurred I had no clue what he was trying to say. Honestly, I didn’t care. He had hurt me more than humanly possible and now I was supposed to listen to his drunken rambling? We drove him home. My eyes filled with tears. Apparently, I actually cared about the guy. That night I could not stop crying as the scene played over and over in my head. The vivid pictures still appear a year later. As we entered the unlocked door to his apartment, I noticed the kitchen. A pizza lay half-eaten on the stove. Empty pill bottles covered the counter. A bottle of vodka sat in the sink, and the trash was loaded with beer cans. As a matter of fact, the entire place reeked of beer. The living room carpet was so stained, I was unsure of its original color. A DVD player, which I gave him for Christmas, lay unopened on his filthy couch. I continued to explore his place since I had not been here since elementary school. In the bedroom, I opened his closet and found a huge pile of clothes on the floor. What happened to my dad? Where was I when he went through this horrible transformation? Could I have helped? I have only seen my dad a few times since that day. The first was at the hospital. He supposedly had what they call an alcoholic seizure. He recovered, as always. The next time was Christmas. Instead of being inundated with expensive, unwanted gifts, I received nothing from him, not even a card. I remember the last time I saw him as clearly I see these words forming in front of my eyes. He was moving to Florida and my mom, being the nice person she is, offered to help him pack. I unwillingly came along. It started out like so many of their fights: he refused to admit he was an alcoholic. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I remember how it felt. He began cursing. The excruciating sound of those words filled my ears. I couldn’t take it. My dad, who did absolutely nothing to help me in my life, started verbally abusing the only person who has always been there for me. I started crying and quickly exited the apartment, slamming the screen door. â€Å"See, you got what you wanted,† he yelled at my mom as I was leaving. That was the last sentence I heard him speak. When I’m asked who influenced my life the most, I’m expected to say my mom or my grandma – someone who has actually been there for me. But instead, I think of the person who only made an impact on my life during this last year, and not a good one either. He made me see life in a whole new light. That line is cheesy, I know, and it’s probably used by thousands of high school seniors attempting to write the most heartfelt essay, but I don’t know how else to explain it. I was hurt. I hated him for a time. I even occasionally pitied him. However, I have never regretted having him as my father. He showed me the dangerous side of alcohol, so I will never end up like him. His troubles made me realize the fragility of life. That night I saw him for what he had become and I’m a better person because of it.

A Childs Mind in the Hand of a Genius essays

A Childs Mind in the Hand of a Genius essays Drunken Kaiser, that is the nickname Theodor Geisel was called as a child. The brewery owned by his father and his German descent contributed to the name, a name that only led to rocks, bottles and obscenities tossed in his direction. There was no fighting back, instead over the course of his 86 years he created some of the greatest cartoons, books and even films to grace the eyes and ears of adults and children everywhere. Described by Jonathan Cott, an author in his own right as, ...a genre, a category, an institution, Mr. Geisel contributed more to a society than his stories but gave the world something to hold onto forever. His sixty plus books have been translated into 15 languages and are read in over 45 countries. Looking back on his lifetime he witnessed and shaped the minds of children, adults and politicians. Either through cartoons during WWII or in books so simple the vocabulary rarely reached over 400 words. The messages werent always clear but the morals dealt with nuclear arms, the environment, war, racial tolerance, and antifascism. Still the text was simple enough for a five-year old to read. Youth, its something we all possess, others hold onto it while some let it slide from their grasps as they seemingly age. Dr. Seuss captured the minds of children starting after the end of the Second World War. Helen Geisel, his 1st wife, said once, His mind never grew up, and that was true in a sense; he showed children something they could understand. His logic regarding important issues of the time and those to come in the future was easily understandable by the youth. But not only did parents read the books to children they read them for themselves. The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Lorax are all classics, the hundred year old grandma that lives down the block still remembers the first time she encountered Dr. Seuss...

Why is it important to have a Masters Degree Essay

Why is it important to have a Masters Degree - Essay Example Bachelor Degree is basically the minimum qualification required for a profession whereas Masters Degree is essential for higher opportunities in career. This paper briefly analyses the importance of Masters Degree for one’s career development. In industry sector, Masters Degree is essential for the career development. For example, it is difficult for a person with a Bachelor of business administration degree to excel whereas a person with a Master of Business Administration may help him to achieve higher places in his organization. Some people use Master degree for a change of their profession. For example, a Bachelor in economics can opt for a Master in Business Administration if he/she decides to change their profession after the completion of their bachelor degree in economics. Master Degree provides the maturity in learning to the student. Most of the students up to their bachelor degree may not give much emphasize to their education. On the other hand, most of the Master Degree students avoid all other leisure activities and give more importance to their studies. In other words, most of the students become well matured during their Master Degree studies. For a teaching profession in universities and colleges, Masters Degree is essential since majority of the college or university students are studying either the Masters Degree courses, Graduate courses or undergraduate courses. It is impossible for a Bachelor Degree holder to teach a Master Degree student. Even for doctoral degree, it is better for a person to achieve Masters Degree first. In fact Masters Degree is the base for a Ph.D. In terms of course works, Masters Degree always provides the base of Ph.D. People often achieve Masters Degree during their early twenties during which they would be more matured compared to other stages of their student-hood. Masters Degree often gives the choice of specialization. Up to Master Degree level, students often study subjects on a

Answers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Answers - Essay Example Hot rolling is a metal processing process that occurs above the material’s recrystallization temperature. It uses large pieces of metals in the process, such as slabs. On the other hand, cold rolling entails metal processing below the material’s recrystallization temperatures. It involves passing small pieces of metals through rollers. Hardwood has straighter and cleaner grain patterns. They possess higher density and are more fire resistant compared to softwoods. Hardwood is more applicable for engineering works, making of floors and high-quality furniture. They also have slower growth rates. Softwoods have a lower density and relatively cheap to in terms of cost. Softwoods have reduced fire resistance capacity. The woods also possess rugged grain patterns. Soft woods use is limited to low-quality furniture and is not preferred for engineering works (Bawa, 2009). By definition, OSB is a material of high mechanical properties, such that it becomes particularly suitable for use in heavy load-bearing applications especially in construction works and industries. On the other hand, MDF is a wood product that is engineered by breaking down softwood or hardwood residuals to make wood fibers. The process often takes place in a defibrator, where it gets combined with resin and binder. The product has a higher density than plywood. Stress is pressure or tension exerted on a material object. Strain is a force that tends to pull or stretch an object to an extreme degree, usually, damaging levels. By definition, elastic modulus is the ratio of force exerted on an object to the resultant deformation it undergoes. Plastic deformation is a process whereby force is exerted to a metal or plastic object to change its shape permanently. For the yield strength, it is a stress point where it is possible to produce a given particular plastic deformation amount. Toughness is the actual ability of any material to absorb energy without fracturing

Los angeles city Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Los angeles city - Essay Example The question thus arises if this is really something to be bothered about and if it does pose a threat to users of technological devices. There may be disadvantages to the use of gadgets however it is not as bad or destructive to people’s interpersonal relationships or social life as some experts claim it to be, as documented in this paper. For many parents, cell phones are viewed as instruments for them to keep in touch with their children and also for emergency purposes. Nevertheless, the increasing number of virtual communications is now causing alarm because it is viewed as a threat to the development of interpersonal skills of children. Such problem is presented by Sherry Turkle in her article entitled â€Å"No Need to Call†. She cites some examples of people who seem to be unable to communicate well with others but are now able to hide behind their computers to communicate with friends. For instance, the author tells that Elaine, a teenager, views texting and emailing as a preferred means of communication for shy people and even for outgoing people because they are able to edit and think about what they say before they send the message to the recipient (374). Unlike telephone calls and face to face interactions wherein the response should be quick and could not be edited or even taken back, texting serves as a convenient way of communicating. However, the confidence one has when he is communicating virtually, is often not displayed during close encounters and this worries experts. The same concern is shared by some parents but some disagree with the idea. Hilary Stout also gives examples of parents who are optimistic about social networking that strengthens some of the examples given by Turkle. For instance, she mentions Robert Wilson, a father of a 14-year-old shy and introverted Evan, who is worried about his son’s social life. When Evan signed up for facebook, Robert was glad to find

The Financial Effect of Bernie Madoffs Ponzi Scheme

The Financial Effect of Bernie Madoffs Ponzi Scheme Bernard L. Madoff, simply known as Bernie is an American allegedly the operator of what is known as the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Bernie before his capture, acted as the stock broker, investment advisor and non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market (Cherry and Wong 11). It was not later than 2009 when Madoff pleaded guilty; he was guilty for turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme. This scheme according to various sources defrauded thousands of investors billions of dollars (Cherry and Wong 16). In 1960, Bernard Madoff founded one of the biggest firms in Wall Street. He was the chairman of his company Madoff Investment Securities LLC, until his arrest was warranted on the December of 2008 (Forbes 21). Before his arrest, the Madoff Investment Securities emerged as one of the top market maker businesses on the Wall Street (Forbes 27). After his arrest, Madoff explained to his children as a confession that most of his asset management unit of his firm was none other but a big fraud. The aim of this paper is to find out how Bernard L. Madoff managed to pull up the largest Ponzi scheme in history as well as the financial effects that this scheme had on the investors in the stock market. The Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme left a lot of people financially wounded and as many people may think that this scheme only affect the Wall Street, research will prove otherwise. The Wall Street was just one of the victims of Madoffs Ponzi scheme. Others include BSBC and Maxam Capital Management LLC. Just to name a few. A Ponzi scheme is an investment where by fraud is involved. Usually when this scheme involves operations that pays returns to separate investors, not from the actual profit earned by the organization in question, but by profit from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors (Times 15). Due to its abnormally high but short term returns on investment, this scheme enables to entice new investors. Failure chances for this system are high mainly due to the fact that earning is usually less that the payment of the investors. How it started and its Benefiters According to Madoff, the Ponzi scheme began in early 1990s (All Sports New York 1). However, to the beliefs of the investigators or what they managed to scoop out of their investigations this scheme began earlier than that. Some say that the scheme began somewhere in the 1970s while others have different views. During the time huge amounts of money went missing from the clients accounts. The missing amounts included fabricated gains that were said to reach an estimate of $65 billion dollars (credit card compare 13). However, in order to pull out such a Ponzi is not an easy task. For one to be able to convince people to venture into a particular investment requires money and genius mind. Nevertheless, the main factor that made sure that Madoff was successful in his Ponzi scheme was his respect by other investors. He was also a well-established and esteemed financial expert with a reputation that was strengthened due to the reason that he was one of the founders of the renowned NASDAQ stock exchange and had a one term tenure as its chairman (How stuff works 2). He managed to earn the trust of his investors by his genius mind, since he ran his scheme concurrently; his was a legitimate business. He ensured that whenever his investors requested a withdrawal, Madoff Investment Company got their money to them promptly (How staff works 1). In addition to that, Madoff did not tempt his investors with unbelievable returns which were a problem of other schemers. On the contrary, this scheme did not just benefit Madoff. Jeffrey Picower, appear to have benefited the most in the scheme as his estate settled the claims against it for a figure estimated to be around $7.2 billion (Cherry and Wong 19). Another company that benefited more in the scheme is J.P. Morgan Chase Co. their benefits were seen in terms of interest and fees charged which were to the tune of a billion dollars. Other investors too were included in the scheme and while some of them have decided to return the money that they gained from the scheme some have decided to deny their involvement in the Madoff Ponzi scheme. Examples of the investors that have refused the charges include New York Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz as well as other associated individuals and firms. These investors collectively received a collective amount of approximately $300 million; however Wilpon and Katz have rejected their involvement (Forbes 4). Other investors are still unknown but with time it is assumed that most or all the parties involved in this so called one big lie investment will be found with time. His victims The Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme was declared as the largest Ponzi scheme in history. The so called largest fraud however has left big financial effects on the investors in the market. Most of these investors were directly linked to it while others were not. Thus in this section I am going to point out some of the victims that were affected by Madoff Ponzi scheme. To begin with, HSBC appeared to be among the largest victims of Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. The company became a victim of the fraud with a potential exposure of about $1billion to the investment managers collapsed venture (huffingpost 1). In addition to that, HSBCs revelation resulted from loans it offered its institutional clients, mainly hedge funds that wanted to invest with Mr. Madoff (huffingpost 1). However, the $1billion is said to be just a part of the cash provide in loans by customers who invested an approximate of $500million of their own funds in Mr. Madoffs venture (huffingpost, 2011). To ease their lose, HSBC has been put first on the list whose money will be return, however this will only be to the success of the US authorities recovering any funds that went into Madoffs ventures. On the contrary, Fairfield Greenwich Group was viewed as the greatest loser in this con of the century. The company lost an estimated amount of $7.3 billion in their Fairfield Sentry Ltd (businessinsider, 2011). Fairfield Sentry has a record of more than 15 years with an annual return of 4 to 6 percentage points above benchmark interest rates, this is a report put forward by a marketing document prepared by Zurich-based NPB New Private Bank Ltd (businessinsider, 2011).In a ten year period that ended in 2000, the companys interest rates ranged from 6.4% to 9.8%. This was due to the split-strike conversion, where the investment manager is made to buy shares belonging to large companies in the US and then entering into options contracts to limit the risk (businessinsider 2). In the wake of the Madoff Ponzi scheme, Fairfield Sentry Ltd Fixed Asset Management opened an account worth $400 million with the Madoff investments. The news of their investment falling into fraud came to them as a shock since then they had been checking with lawyers. Other potential victims to the Madoff Ponzi scheme are the giant French bank BNP Paribas, the Tokyo Based Nomula Holding Inc. and Neue Privat Bank in Zurich (WSJ 2). These two companies which raised lots of funds from investors and farmed out to hedge funds also suffered significant losses even though their loss was not compared to what Tremont Capital Management and Fairfield Greenwich Group, both of New York, had on the Madoff con of the century. Another firm that suffered as victims of the fraud was Kingate Management Ltd who lost an approximate amount of $2.5 billion while investing with Madoff (businessinsider 1). Thus while this seem to be a big loss Santander, which is known as the Eurozones largest bank by market value lost an allegedly $3.1 billion to the Madoff con (businessinsider 2). Santander had most there assets (2 billion euros) belonging to the institutional investors and international clients of its private-banking businesses (businessinsider 1). The Madoff scam did not just affect corporations but also individuals who had invested heavily in the Ponzi scheme. According to Times a family in America was clearly wiped of their wealth overnight. On the 11 of December 2008, a wife received a call that they had been waiting for 5 years in the morning from the person handling their financial matters just to tell her that they were clearly wiped of their investment. To their knowledge, they did not know it but they had been involved in the grand scheme masterminded by Bernard Madoff (Times website 1). Their investment began after they had sold their home at the peak of the market; the wife had a divorce earlier so the settlement from the divorce too was included in the investment together with other petite amounts they had saved. This however, is not the shocking news since the two lovers never really heard of the name Madoff. According to Times, their investment was carried on by a network organizer associated with Madoff. What attracted them what his 40 years fantastic achievement. Also the fact the wifes entire family was in the business for decades was enough to make them believe that their investment in Madoffs scam was a way forward. However, that is not the only family that was affected by the Madoff scandal. Thyssen Family, although not much of a family but a corporation, was also at the mist of the saga. Businessinsider.com reported that the family had been fund of funds since 1989 (businessinsider, 2011). Their involvement in the Madoff Ponzi Scheme came as a guarantee that the investment was going to bring to them a huge return. Ira Roths Family too was affected by the saga. The family had their $1 million invested through Mr. Madoffs firm. Ira found this to be a legitimate investment after finding out that his mother in law had been living on the investments return (businessinsider 2). The list of Madoffs victims goes on and on and thus making his story a very curious case to study. Most of the victims did not have a ware about of what they were doing. Despite the fact that Madoff himself was the owner of one of the top market makers companies on Wall Street was perhaps enough to blind people and make them think that all that he was offering them was a legitimate deal. After effects Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme is seen as the biggest financial scam in history. However, this scam has left not just victims but also big after effects. Many corporations and individuals were left wondering which way forward they should take. Some of the individuals were completely wiped off their investment savings as well as ventures while others even though did not end up having nothing, need to return what they ventured in the scam. The New York Mets owners Wilpon and Katz involvement in the Madoffs Ponzi is said to affect the Mets record in various ways. The Wilpons are said to have invested heavily with Madoff, however they did not just invest their money but the Mets money and money that did not belong to them (Forbes 4). The worst part is that the Wilpons invested money that belonged to the players as well as money they used to fund other projects and TV stations. Despite the fact that, the Wilpons managed to get a lot of returns before the Madoff saga blew off, the saga has caused them now to put Mets on sale. At the beginning their allegations were that they were going to sell 20-25% of the team and none of the SNY but in April 2010 Forbes valued the team together with the SNY at around $825 million (Forbes 2). Their debt is still increasing and now both their team and the SNY are valued at around $225 million. however much the Wilpons are trying to revive the Mets and prevent it from being sold, it is quite clear that their the teams after effects from the Madoff Ponzi Scheme has robbed them off the every other alternative but to sell both the SNY and the team. However, the Madoff Ponzi scheme after effects was not just felt by individuals or corporations. This Ponzi scheme also had an effect on the stock prices as it forced scores of other hedge funds to dispose holdings and increase downward pressure on the stock prices (Forbes 2). These effects were seen after the arrest of the 70 year old investor who was widely considered to have a magic touch as an investor. In addition to that, investors across New York who had clamored to be in Ascot because of their stability of double-digit returns proficiency and the findings of wealth multiplication have all been left with neither head nor tail of what was going on in the corporation (Forbes 3). However, while others were being affected financial wise, the exposure of the fraud on a substantial scale was a upsetting to individuals who put their trust on Madoff with their fortunes and also to non-profit organizations which include Yeshiva University. This university, counted much on Madoffs alleged clandestine trading system to assist operate its institutions (Forbes 2). Justification on the Ponzi Despite the fact that the Madoff Ponzi scheme left so many remnants, a question still remains can financial scam be justified? Many people who fall into financial scams are usually the wealthy type. However, seeming like that is not enough, it has been found that most of the big players of a financial scam are also the wealthy people. For instance the Mets proprietors spent a lot of cash in the scam and thus it was until the whole business failed that they all lost. Despite that this Ponzi left a lot of financial effects of people and corporations, it also left a lesson that will never be forgotten. Madoffs Ponzi just like any other financial scam was not costly to only those who were directly involved but it also had a significant and a far reaching effect among societies nations and even worldwide (creditcardcompare.com.au 2). The Ponzi scheme was bigger than any other financial scandals which have included social security and mortgage mess. The people who have been following the story as it was being air on television and also in court are now asking themselves how much they can trust a corporation they want to invest in. Bernard Madoff Scam cost around $50 billion, and while it appeared to be the worst scam in history, it had its effects which were not just felt by the rich. However, its effects spanned to all nations in the worldwide. The rich together with the poor were all pulled by its magnet. The effect of this Ponzi scheme however has ensured that people will be more careful when it comes to investment. For instance, the two couples that sold all their properties just to invest on Madoffs ventures had not acquired the right information that would have enabled them to actually know what kind of investment they were entering. In a statement published on Times web site the couple stated that they did not know Madoff and thus their financial investment was being carried on by one of his network organizer. This is what smart investors will call lack of legitimate knowledge. More than that, other corporations were caught into the saga since they wanted to increase their profits. Also the fact that Madoff owned a big corporation on Wall Street was enough to actually convince people that his dealings were not just profitable but also legitimate. This backfired for many of the investors. Thus it is very important to actually know the company in which you are investing on. Many financial scams have come up before the Madoff Ponzi scheme but yet people are still being coned by these scam bugs. During the scam the effects are not realized. Even the person orchestrating the scam does not even think of what may happen at the end. It is until the end or after all hell has broken loose that many people come to realize that they were being coned. Thus this is what happened with the Madoff Ponzi scheme. It was not until people received phone calls that they realized that their investment ventures were just lies. However, Forbes has it that, if Madoff had not faced the $7 billion in redemption, the Ponzi scheme had not have been discovered (Forbes 2). This brings us to another lesson learned from this Ponzi greed. Some believe that greed is virtuous, especially when referring to money. However how much greed is good also becomes a question that people need to ask themselves. Madoff clearly knew that what he was doing was not right and thus probably he could have continued with it if he had kept it to the down low. Nonetheless, it is still astonishing the rewards that Madoff managed to pull out of this false investment and thus smart people could have pulled out of it. This is because it is virtually impossible to actually accumulate hefty returns similar to what Madoff gained, and it should have served as a warning to the involved parties (Forbes 1).Instead of waiting until the end where you will be left shocked how such a financial fraud was possible it would have been better if people had actually got smart and start questioning the amount of wealth that was being generated by the Madoff invisible company. Madoff may have conned many individuals, he may have left an investment scare on the financial market as many people are now left wondering where they should invest but in the long run people have to open their eyes. Conclusion In a nutshell it is quite clear that a financial investment can bring huge fortunes to someone. However, financial investments can also leave someone not knowing what has actually happened. Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme is the latest financial scandal to have taken place and as if that is not enough it has also been labeled as the largest financial scam in history. This financial scam has left many people and corporations until now feeling the effects of the Ponzi but the question still remains will this stop people from being financially conned?

Reasons for Being in College Essay

If your child ever asks, â€Å"Why should I go to college?† here are five reasons! 1. Make more money. People who graduate from college make more money than those with just a high school diploma. A lot more money, actually. People with a college degree make around $1,100 a week. Someone with a high school diploma makes just $638. 2. Have more opportunity. People who go to college open up their choices for jobs. Many jobs these days require a college degree. Plus, college graduates have less chance of losing their jobs. In 2009, there were 9.7 million unemployed high school graduates, compared with 5.2 million college graduates without jobs. 3. Make connections. In college, students make new friends and other connections that will be helpful when it’s time to get started in a career. Those friends they make in college will help them get jobs, and these connections and networks will help them throughout their lives. 4. Live a healthier and happier life. Studies have shown that college graduates are healthier and are less likely to get divorced. The divorce rate for college graduates who married between 1990 and 1994 is about 25 percent. That’s compared with more than 50 percent for those without a four-year college degree. Plus, people with just a high school diploma are nearly twice as likely to be in poorer health than college graduates. 5. Start a tradition. If your child goes to college, your grandchildren will be more likely to go too: 71 percent of students with at least one parent who has a bachelor’s degree apply to college themselves. Only 26 percent of first-generation students (those with no parent who went beyond high school) apply to college.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 7

We stood rooted in the bedroom, frozen, both of us too terrified to blink. Downstairs, the door shut and footsteps could be clearly heard on the hardwood floor. A low murmur of voices drifted up, the words inaudible. â€Å"What are we going to do?† I whispered. Invisible we might be, but I still didn't want to slink through the house with others around. It would also make leaving inconspicuously a problem. Bastien frowned, apparently trying to discern the words below. â€Å"Those are all male voices. Not Dana. Come on.† He grabbed my arm, and we crept out into the hallway where we could hear more clearly. â€Å"You sure they aren't coming home?† asked an anxious voice. â€Å"Yup. They'll be out 'til, like, midnight.† â€Å"Cool.† Bastien grinned at me. â€Å"Reese,† he breathed. Reese. The son. The son who was supposed to be down the street at a friend's house. That was better than Dana, but still disconcerting. I shot Bastien a questioning look. What's he doing here? I mouthed. Bastien shrugged by way of answer and gestured for me to follow him the rest of the way downstairs. Reese and his friend obliviously made enough noise to cover any of our movements. I hadn't really seen Reese yet and was curious. I'd expected a clean-cut, dutiful altar-boy type, but he seemed perfectly average – in that sullen, T-shirt wearing sort of way. He had Dana's black hair and blue eyes, paired with some of Bill's unfortunate facial features. His friend had long hair and wore a beat-up army coat with jeans. â€Å"Where should we do it?† asked the friend. Reese glanced around. â€Å"Outside. Otherwise they'll smell it later.† â€Å"Okay. But roll it in here.† They huddled around the kitchen table. Reese produced a tin of rolling papers and a plastic Baggie with enough marijuana in it to keep a family of five stoned for a week. The friend skillfully rolled an enormous joint, and the boys took it outside, going out the same door we'd come in. Bastien and I exchanged glances, both of us barely holding back hysterical laughter. We walked into the still-dark living room and stood at the window, watching the boys outside. They left all the outdoor lights off, not wanting to attract neighborly attention. The joint made a pinpoint of orange light in the blackness as they passed it back and forth. â€Å"Oh my God,† I gasped. â€Å"This just justified the whole break-in.† Bastien's expression was speculative. â€Å"Maybe we can use this against her.† I turned on him. â€Å"What? Come on. He's just a kid. No need to drag him down with her. Besides, if I had his parents, I'd want to be high too. â€Å" Bastien looked momentarily uncertain, finally yielding with a small nod. â€Å"Okay. You're right. So. You want to finish the bedroom and then head out? I doubt they're going to notice much going on around them. â€Å" We went back upstairs, still hoping for some incriminating photo or piece of paper. No such luck. We left Reese and his friend alone, using the front door to make our getaway. Once we were safely back at Bastien's, we settled into the immaculate living room, defeated. â€Å"Well. That was pointless,† I said. â€Å"Not entirely.† Bastien reached into his pocket and tossed over Reese's plastic bag. I caught it and straightened up in my chair. â€Å"Jesus H. Christ! You swiped that poor kid's pot?† â€Å"He shouldn't have left it out like that.† I held it up. It was half-full. â€Å"There's a special hell for people like you.† â€Å"Yeah, I own a condo there. Besides, it's for his own good. Pot's a gateway drug, you know. â€Å" â€Å"I can't believe this. You don't think they're going to notice this is missing?† â€Å"Nah. By the time they come back in, they'll be so far gone they won't remember where they left it. They'll spend the next few days accusing each other of losing it.† I shook my head. â€Å"I know I've said it before, but this really is a new low. I†¦I'm so shocked now, I don't even know what to do.† â€Å"7 do.† An hour later, we were both on the floor, giggling endlessly, though I wasn't entirely sure what about. Bastien passed the joint to me, and I took a hit off it, sighing happily. I handed it back. â€Å"I'm not saying Monique wasn't a bitch,† he was explaining, â€Å"but you have to admit, she knew how to get things done.† I leaned against the back of the couch, letting my head roll around on the cushions. â€Å"Yeah, but†¦she was†¦you know, sloppy. Like, no creativity whatsoever. Being in the business isn't just about sex. It's about†¦pride†¦pride in your work.† He inhaled and passed the joint back. â€Å"Oh, she had pride in her work, believe me. Used to ride me like a horse.† He paused a moment, then started laughing. â€Å"She totally did me proud.† I sat back up. â€Å"What, you slept with her?† â€Å"Sure, why not?† I poked him with my foot. â€Å"You fucking slut.† â€Å"Look who's calling the cauldron black.† â€Å"Kettle. It's a kettle. Get your metaphors right. â€Å" â€Å"That wasn't a metaphor. It was a, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stared off into space, blinking. â€Å"One of those things that's symbolic of another thing. But isn't the same thing. Just like it.† â€Å"You mean a metaphor?† â€Å"No! It's like a story†¦like†¦a proverb! That's it.† â€Å"I'm pretty sure that wasn't a proverb. Maybe it was an analogy. â€Å" â€Å"I don't think so.† â€Å"Look, I know these things. I work in a – oh!† â€Å"Oh what?† â€Å"How am I going to get home?† â€Å"You're leaving? Or is that an analogy?† â€Å"I'm not leaving yet†¦but you drove me†¦you can't drive me back.† â€Å"Sure I can. I feel fine.† â€Å"You wish. I haven't smoked that much.† I rummaged through my purse, found my cell phone, and dialed the first number in it. Beside me, Bastien muttered about analogies while staring entranced at the smoke swirling off the joint. â€Å"Hello?† answered Seth. We hadn't really spoken since our awkward morning. â€Å"Hey, it's me.† â€Å"Hey.† â€Å"So†¦I, uh†¦need a favor.† â€Å"What is it?† When I didn't say anything right away, he asked, â€Å"You still there? You okay?† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I started laughing uncontrollably. â€Å"I am 50 okay.† â€Å"Urn, all right. What do you need?† It took me a moment to remember. â€Å"A ride.† â€Å"A ride?† â€Å"Yeah. A ride.† Bastien made a rude gesture at the mention of â€Å"a ride,† and I kicked him again. I gave the address to a clearly confused Seth and then disconnected. â€Å"Idiot!† I yelled at Bastien, even though I thought the whole situation was hilarious, as did he. I went in for a tackle. â€Å"What were you – â€Å" The doorbell rang. Our eyes went wide as we froze mid-grapple, panic flooding us like two kids who had just been busted hardcore. â€Å"Shit,† I said. â€Å"Damn. That author drives fast.† â€Å"It's not him, you dork. Don't move. They'll go away.† He lumbered to his feet. â€Å"No†¦I gotta see who it is†¦maybe it's Jack Daniels†¦could use a drink†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Don't do it!† I begged, suddenly terrified for no reason I could identify. He turned invisible and strolled over to the door. Half a second later, he came tearing back. â€Å"It's Dana! She's back early.† He ran his hand frantically over Mitch's neat, blonde hair. â€Å"What's she want? What's she doing here?† â€Å"Maybe she wants Reese's pot back.† â€Å"This is my chance! She's here alone. She wants me. Quick.† He yanked my arm and dragged me to the stairs. I cried out in surprise. â€Å"Get out of sight. Throw that away.† â€Å"I'm not throwing this away! Besides, you don't think she'll notice that your whole fucking house smells like this? Jesus. Your pupils are the size of her granny panties. Virtuous or not, she isn't stupid.† â€Å"Just go! Hurry! Don't come down.† Grumbling, I went upstairs while Bastien scurried to the door. Turning invisible, I sat cross-legged at the top of the stairs and kept smoking. Below, I heard him greet Dana. â€Å"Well, hello,† he bellowed. â€Å"Sorry if I kept you waiting†¦I was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He trailed off stupidly, and I shook my head. Sloppy, sloppy. He would have never been at a loss for words sober, but then, his sober self would have immediately noticed the foolishness afoot. â€Å"I was†¦um, busy. Upstairs.† â€Å"I see,† replied Dana. Her tone was once again set to cool and formal. I decided Bastien had imagined the warm and friendly rapport he kept claiming they had when alone. â€Å"Well, I apologize for disturbing you, but when I dropped off the cookies earlier, I think I may have lost an earring.† I straightened up. Cookies? He hadn't mentioned that. Maybe he was making progress after all. Cookies. I wondered what kind she'd brought. Peanut butter? Chocolate chip? Oh. Maybe even white chocolate macadamia. He and Dana commenced a search for the earring, coming up empty. The whole time, Bastien tried to act like he wasn't stoned, but Dana couldn't have been fooled. Not with those cyborg eyes of hers. Hell, I didn't even need to see it. The audio track alone was entertaining enough. Meanwhile, I couldn't stop thinking about those goddamned cookies. They sounded good. Really good. Suddenly, I wanted them more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life. â€Å"Well,† I heard Dana say, â€Å"I must have lost it somewhere else. Thanks for looking.† â€Å"Sorry I couldn't help you.† â€Å"It's all right.† She allowed an elegantly crafted pause. â€Å"Isn't that Tabitha's purse over there? Is she here?† Oh, shit. I had a feeling Bastien was thinking the same thing. â€Å"Uh, well, yeah†¦but†¦um, she's upstairs lying down,† he faltered. â€Å"Has a headache.† â€Å"Oh, that's too bad. Did she take anything for it?† â€Å"Um, yeah, she did.† I looked at the joint. Had I ever. Bastien and Dana started talking about something else, and I decided then that I had to get those cookies. I was starving. The lovebirds sounded like they had moved to the living room, so I could sneak invisibly down the stairs and raid the kitchen without them knowing. Standing up, I put the joint out in the upstairs bathroom and moved on to my covert descent. Pot doesn't usually mess with motor control the way alcohol can, but it can certainly distract you from ordinary things. Like watching where you're going. About three steps down, my foot slipped out from under me. I uttered a sailor-worthy expletive and slid painfully down the rest of the way, landing hard on my butt at the bottom, my legs twisting into unnatural positions underneath me. I had barely enough sense to snap back to a visible Tabitha, lest Bastien and Dana think a clumsy ghost had just fallen down. A moment later, they came running. â€Å"What happened?† exclaimed Bastien. He sounded more upset about the interruption than my immediate health. â€Å"I†¦I tripped†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Looking down, I tried moving my left ankle to a more comfortable position. I winced. It hurt like hell, but at least it moved. â€Å"Well,† he said crisply, â€Å"so long as you're okay. I'm sure you'll want to go and – â€Å" â€Å"Okay?† Dana gave him an incredulous look. â€Å"We need to get her to the couch so she can straighten that out.† â€Å"Oh no,† I protested, seeing Bastien's murderous expression. â€Å"I†¦I'm fine†¦really†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But there was no arguing with Dana. She supported me under one arm, and he took the other. I hobbled over to the couch, putting my weight only on the right foot. Once I was stretched out, she pushed my jeans up over my calf and felt the ankle with cautious, expert precision, carefully examining each inch. I appreciated her solicitous concern and apparent first-aid know-how, but the thought of this wretched woman touching my leg repulsed me. Besides, what I really wanted were those cookies. Fuck my ankle. â€Å"It doesn't feel broken,† she finally decided. â€Å"Probably just a sprain, lucky for you. We should ice it.† When Bastien neither did nor offered anything useful, she went into the kitchen. I could hear her opening drawers and the freezer. â€Å"Do you hate me or something?† he hissed once we were alone. â€Å"This wasn't my fault,† I countered. â€Å"I think you've got a defective stair.† â€Å"Defective my ass. The only thing that's defective is your sense of timing. Do you know how close I was to scoring?† â€Å"Close? Close? Not to use a cliche, but hell was closer to freezing over than you were to scoring. I don't think she really goes for the babbling, high kind of guy.† â€Å"I wasn't babbling. And there's no way she knows I'm high.† â€Å"Oh, come on. If you were any higher, you'd – â€Å" I shut my mouth as Dana returned with the ice pack. She knelt by my feet and carefully set the pack on the injured ankle. I grimaced at the sudden change of temperature, but the shocking cold did numb the throbbing. Still concerned, she surveyed the rest of my lower leg with those sharp eyes. Again, she felt around the ankle area, her hands gently touching here and there. She frowned. â€Å"I could be wrong about how serious it is. You should keep icing it and take ibuprofen. If it doesn't get better in a couple days, go see your doctor.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said, looking away. Honestly, what I found most disconcerting now was how sincerely concerned she seemed. Maybe we'd misjudged her all along. Nah. â€Å"Well,† breezed Bastien, â€Å"if Tabby Cat's okay, maybe we should go to the kitchen and have some coffee – â€Å" â€Å"Do you know how it happened?† Dana asked me, ignoring him. â€Å"Oh†¦just a misstep I think†¦or maybe the stair is defective.† â€Å"I doubt there's anything wrong with the stairs,† said Bastien. â€Å"Tabitha's always been clumsy, that's all. It's legendary in our family.† Dana, oblivious to me glaring at the incubus over the slam to my gracefulness, glanced over at my shoes sitting near the door. They were strappy and black, with three-inch heels. â€Å"Are those what you've been wearing?† She fixed me with a stern, motherly look. â€Å"I know how strong societal pressure can be in making you think you need to fit a certain mold. But walking around in shoes like that all day will do serious damage to your feet. Not only that, they send a message that you have no shame when it comes to – â€Å" The doorbell rang then. None of us moved at first, and then Bastien rose, looking amazed that this night could get any worse. Dana dropped her wardrobe lecture and switched to a medical one. â€Å"You really need to be careful with this. Too much stress will agitate it. â€Å" Bastien returned a moment later with an utterly puzzled Seth, whom I suspected had no idea who had just let him in. Indeed, his bewilderment grew as he scanned Dana and me, no doubt wondering if he had the right house. â€Å"Hi Seth,† I said pointedly, in too loud of a voice, â€Å"thanks for coming to pick me up.† He continued to stare, and then the faintest gleam of understanding showed in his eyes. He'd seen me shape-shift clothes often, but this was the first time he'd ever seen me in another body. Dana looked around expectantly. â€Å"Oh,† I said, my mind still running a little slow from the pot. â€Å"This is, um, Seth. Seth, Dana.† â€Å"Hello,† she said, rising smoothly and shaking his hand. â€Å"Nice to meet you.† â€Å"Um, yeah. You too.† I had a feeling he would bolt if given half a chance. â€Å"Seth is Tabitha's boyfriend,† explained Bastien. â€Å"I imagine they'll want to be on their way now.† â€Å"I'd heard you were single. How long have you two been dating?† she asked, steering us toward casual conversation. Neither of us answered. â€Å"A couple months,† I said at last, wondering if my virtue was once again being assessed. She smiled. â€Å"How nice.† I started feeling those creepy vibes again, and suddenly I did want to leave. I tried to sit up, and she rushed to my side. â€Å"Someone grab her other arm.† When Bastien didn't move, Seth was finally spurred into action. He supported my other side and helped me stand. It was clear, however, that touching me in this body unnerved him, and he tried to manage it while staying as far away from me as possible. Consequently, all of his movements seemed awkward and unnatural, and no doubt Dana thought we were even weirder than before. She and Seth helped me to the car, Bastien following with a pout. When I was situated in the passenger seat, Dana offered a few parting words of instruction to both Seth and me on how to care for the ankle. â€Å"Thanks for the help,† I told her. â€Å"Happy to. Just try to be more careful from now on.† She glanced at her watch. â€Å"Well. I should probably go home myself.† â€Å"Do you have to?† asked Bastien stupidly. â€Å"Er, I mean, no need to feel rushed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Thank you, but no. Bill will wonder what happened to me.† I saw her walk back to her house as Seth pulled out. I also saw the look on Bastien's face. The morning after was not going to be pretty. We were almost in the city when Seth finally spoke. â€Å"Can you†¦uh†¦you know†¦change? This is really weird.† â€Å"Huh?† I had been staring bleary-eyed out the window, intrigued by the blur of city lights. â€Å"Oh. Yeah.† A moment later, I was the Georgina Kincaid he knew. â€Å"Thanks. So, uh†¦I don't suppose I really want to know what was going on back there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Nope.† I craned my head to look in the backseat. â€Å"You really don't.† â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"You don't have any cookies back there do you?† â€Å"Uh†¦no. I'm all out.† I sighed and sank into my seat. â€Å"I am starving. I don't think I can hold on much longer. You sure you don't have any other food?† The ghost of a smile curled his lips. â€Å"Nope. Sorry. You want to stop somewhere?† â€Å"Yes!† He pulled into a Taco Bell drive-thru, looking surprised when I gave him my order. When it came up, he wordlessly handed me my bag of four tacos, two bean burritos, and a tostada. I dove into them before he'd even accelerated away. When we got back to my place, he didn't give me the chance to limp in. He scooped me up effortlessly, almost like O'Neill might have in one of his novels. If not for me being stoned and clinging to a taco, it would have been terribly romantic. â€Å"You think I'm a freak, don't you?† I asked, once I was situated in bed and he sat on its edge. Seth had tended me once before, after a night of heavy drinking. I felt so irresponsible compared to him. â€Å"Well, the tostada was kind of excessive, but I've seen freakier.† â€Å"No†¦you know. I mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I hesitated. â€Å"Well, you may not realize this, but I've sort of been smoking†¦some stuff.† â€Å"Yeah. I kind of picked up on that.† â€Å"Oh. Well. Sorry.† I bit into one of the burritos savagely. â€Å"Why are you apologizing?† â€Å"Because†¦well, you don't do this.† â€Å"Do what?† â€Å"Smoke pot. Or drink. Geez, you even avoid caffeine. Don't you think I'm like, I don't know†¦corrupt?† â€Å"Corrupt?† He laughed. â€Å"Hardly. Anyway, you don't think I've ever done any of that?† The idea was just shocking enough to give me pause. I put my gluttony on hold. â€Å"Well†¦I don't know. I just figured, well, no. Either that, or you had some tragic history†¦like you got drunk and hit a mailbox or took off all your clothes in public and now avoid all such vices.† â€Å"That would be tragic. But rest easy, I indulged in plenty of ‘vices' in college. That's why it took me six years to graduate. Well, that and changing my major a few times. In the end, I just decided to abstain altogether. Didn't like myself otherwise. Sobriety's better for writing, and I say too many stupid things when I'm drunk or high.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said uneasily, trying to remember what I'd said tonight. It was kind of a haze. â€Å"So you don't think I'm like†¦I don't know, a shameless lush?† â€Å"Nope. So long as you don't do yourself harm.† He eyed the ankle suspiciously. â€Å"It doesn't matter to me. Honestly, half the reason I like you is because you're so†¦I don't know. You like life.† He looked away from my eyes, amused as his thoughts spun, considering. â€Å"You're fearless. Bold. Not afraid to enjoy yourself. You just go out there and do what you want. I like the whirlwind you exist in. I envy it. It's funny, really.† He smiled. â€Å"I used to think I wanted someone exactly like me, but now I think I'd be bored to death with another version of myself. I'm surprised I don't bore you sometimes.† I gaped. â€Å"Are you kidding? You're the most interesting person I know. Aside from Hugh maybe. But then, he installs breast implants and buys souls. That's a hard combination to beat. But he's not nearly as cute.† Seth's smile increased, and he squeezed my hand. Silence fell between us again, but this time it was kind of cozy. â€Å"Thanks for rescuing me,† I said slowly, â€Å"and for†¦well†¦I mean, I'm sorry about last night. Sorry I shut down.† His face sobered. â€Å"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have – â€Å" â€Å"No,† I said firmly. â€Å"Don't blame yourself. It was me too. My fault too. And really, I was the one who started it. I should have just talked to you about it then. Especially after you made me pancakes this morning. You know, those suddenly sound really good again.† I looked at him meaningfully. â€Å"We shouldn't have done what we did†¦in bed†¦but, at least we did manage to stop. That's worth something.† I nodded, crumpling up the Taco Bell bag and tossing it across the room into my wastebasket. Score. He studied me, eyes warm and affectionate. He sighed and turned pensive again. There apparently was more seriousness to come. â€Å"I'd like to try sleeping together again, but I suppose†¦we should take a break from that. â€Å" I mirrored his sigh. â€Å"Yeah. I suppose.† Remembering something, I cocked my head and gave him a sharp look. â€Å"Hey, hypothetically – and I'm not offering this, so don't get any ideas – would you, like, give up part of your life to sleep with me? Er, but I mean†¦not actually sleep†¦ â€Å" He laughed out loud, the laughter underscored with a wry edge. â€Å"Thetis, I'd give up part of my life to do any number of things with you.† My interest flared. â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"Well†¦isn't it obvious?† I leaned toward him. Maybe I was still high and suffering from weed-induced horniness – and hey, in another reality, shouldn't we have been entitled to make-up sex? – but I suddenly and desperately wanted to hear him articulate what he wanted to do to me. â€Å"Tell me.† He shook his head. â€Å"I can't. You know how I am.† His eyes narrowed intently. â€Å"I could maybe†¦I could maybe write it for you, though.† â€Å"Really? Not in published story form this time?† â€Å"Yes, not in published story form.† â€Å"I'd like that.† I must have looked expectant because he laughed. â€Å"Not tonight, Thetis. Not tonight. I think we both need some sleep.† I was disappointed but could see the wisdom here. Having more time would ensure some good writing, I guessed. Furthermore, it was hard to be too sad when the tension from last night's mishap appeared to be gone. Our rapport and affection had returned, and watching him, I felt my feelings for him practically increase by the second. We chatted a bit more, and then he kissed me lightly on the mouth and rose. I wistfully watched him go, wishing he were staying. Drifting off to sleep, I finally contented myself by thinking about all the things I wanted to do to him. It was a long list, and I was out before even getting through a fraction of it.

Analysis of ancient sculptures

Analysis of ancient sculptures The large kneeling statue of Hatshepsut The large kneeling statue of Hatshepsut is a Granite model of the goddess Hatshepsut. Hatsehpsut was the goddess of justice and order which is represented by the balancing weights on each of her hands. There is a kilt on her head which was mainly worn by male pharaohs. Hatshepsut was the first Egyptian female pharaoh, so in order to give it a solid presence the creators of the statue put a beard on it, just like the one that is on all statues of male pharaohs. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of ancient sculptures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A critical look at the statue’s face reveals a lack of any emotions. The majestic design of the statue is typical of artworks of the time which depicted the subject candidates as powerful individuals. The statue by its sheer size allows one to appreciate the power and greatness that was associated with the pharaoh. Fin esse of the statue even in its current run-down state can still be appreciated by means of the committed craftsmanship that was applied into the piece. The piece matches my standards of beauty because it is a combination of both realistic and surrealistic ideas. Some elements, for instance, the beard, bear a hidden message making the statue both an aesthetically-appealing and educative piece. Terracotta hydria (water jar) The Terracotta hydria is a black water jar embellished with an image of the prince Triptolemos as he delivers wheat to mankind on his winged chariot. The prince had been reputed to have received agricultural secrets from the goddess and the piece is one of numerous that depicted the youth travelling around Greece spreading his knowledge. The container presents some form of artistic inspiration in its design. However, the golden painting makes it even more interesting to look at the art. The artist who painted the image of the prince on the pot intended to present it vividly to the target audience and he clearly presented it in his work. The winged chariot is a symbolic indicator of how effective the prince was in spreading his agricultural knowledge, while the huge ears of wheat on his hands represent the big harvests made. Like any great art piece, the painting leaves one with unanswered questions allowing him/her to expand his imagination. Advertising Looking for essay on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, I cannot understand why the prince would dress so elegantly on the painting but would have no shoes on his feet. I also would like to know how he controlled the chariot because there are no apparent control levers. The terracotta Kylix: siana cup (drinking cup) The Terracotta Kylix: siana cup is a drinking cup with an inscription of a mythological narrative depicting Achilles chasing a man riding a horse while pulling another (horse) on the side . Running on the side of the horsemen is a hare and a bird, strategically put there to emphasize the speed at which Achilles was running. The artwork blends well with the sculptural techniques of the ancient Greece, which mainly dwelled on mythical heroes, who dedicated their time to protecting the kingdom. The cup would have been like any other ceramic cup had the painting not been impressed on it. The paintwork makes it interesting to look at and also provides a chance for individuals to learn something from ancient Greece. Because of the seemingly long amount of time taken to emboss the image on the cup, it is almost obvious that very few of the kind were made. This is among the items that would only be affordable to a select class had it been created in modern days. The marble statue of a Kouros (youth) The statue of a Kouros (male youth), depicts a naked boy striding forward with hands dropped on the sides. In ancient Greece, such sculptures were used to mark graves. The stri de has been put there to give the sculpture balance, which would not have been the case had the character been presented standing straight. This fits well with the other sculptures of the time, which unlike those from Egypt, were completely life-like. In all the pieces that have been analyzed in this exercise, the marble statue of a Kouros wins my vote for both perfection and creativity because the sculptor(s) who worked on the Kouros placed emphasis on finesse in order to end up with a piece that anyone could stop and take time to study. However, unlike pieces such as the kneeling statue of Hatshepsut, the Kouros does not appear to have any representational purpose and was most likely used for decorative purposes. Having been carved from one block of granite, the compactness of the piece tells that the sculptors were very keen on accuracy. However, given a choice, I would not prefer to have this piece in my house since with time, nudity has come to be given some form of sanctity and I am sure my parents and other people of their generation would not appreciate it as art were they to find it in my house.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of ancient sculptures specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Ideal Office Temperatures for Productivity

Ideal Office Temperatures for Productivity Conventional wisdom says that finding the ideal office temperature is important to worker productivity. A difference of just a few degrees can have a significant impact on how focused and engaged employees are. For decades, the available research suggested keeping the office temperature between 70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit would be best for the majority of workers.   The problem was that the research was outdated. It was primarily based on an office full of male employees, as most workplaces were until the latter half of the 20th century. Todays office buildings, however, are likely to have as many women as men. So should that factor into decisions about office temperatures? Women and Office Temperature According to a 2015 study, womens different body chemistry must be considered when setting the office thermostat, especially in the summer months when air conditioners run all day long. Women have lower metabolic rates than men and tend to have more body fat. This means women will tend to be more susceptible to cold than men. So if there are a lot of women in your office, some temperature adjustment may be required. Even though the research may recommend 71.5 F as the minimum acceptable temperature, office managers should consider not only how many women are in the office, but how the building is designed. Large windows that let in a lot of sunlight may make a room feel warmer. High ceilings may create poor air distribution, meaning heaters or air conditioners have to work harder. Knowing your building, as well as the people in it, is crucial to getting that ideal temperature. How Temperature Affects Productivity If productivity is the driving factor in setting office temperatures, looking at old research is not going to help create comfortable workplaces. But research shows that as temperature rises, productivity declines. It makes sense that male and female workers would be less productive in an office with a temperature over 90  F. The same is true as the temperature decreases; with the thermostat set below 60 F, people are going to spend more energy shivering than focused on their work.   Other Factors Affecting Temperature Perception A persons weight, specifically body mass index or BMI, can affect how they react to temperature. Those who weigh more will feel warm more quickly, while those with lower-than-average BMI usually get cold easier.Age also plays a role. As we get older, particularly above 55, we tend to be more easily affected by the cold. So an older workforce may benefit from a slightly warmer office temperature.Humidity  affects how we perceive temperature. If the air is too humid, it can affect peoples ability to sweat, which can lead to heat exhaustion. A relative humidity level of 40 percent is optimal for year-round comfort. And while high humidity can feel oppressive, low humidity can make the air feel colder than it is, which is also problematic. This can cause skin, throat, and nasal passages to feel dry and uncomfortable.Being either too humid or not humid enough affects perceived temperature and comfort levels. So keeping a good relative humidity level is key to maintaining a healthy and p roductive office environment.

Film Beethoven Lives Upstairs Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film Beethoven Lives Upstairs - Movie Review Example It is not as simple as the introduction infers. In order for the musical score of a film to add a sense of immersion and dynamism to the viewer's experience, it has to merge flawlessly with other, crucial elements of cinematography. Unfortunately, for "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" the music of the master is sometimes used to mask other, less well constructed areas of filming. For example, the score often hides inconsistencies in the verbal story: in the introduction the Narrator tells the viewer that: Presented without the distraction of the music which intersperses the scene with flawless elegance, the two statements regarding the weather seem ludicrous. Yet the "hook" of this particular scene is the powerful and evocative musical form, and for many viewers at least, they are too enthralled by the music to notice the inaccuracy. That being said, it is all too easy to simply focus on the negative aspects of the film. Unsurprisingly, in a film about Beethoven one would expect the music to powerfully develop and contribute to the strength of the plot. By and large, it manages to achieve this. For example, the fictional Beethoven is sent out into the wet, stormy Vienna night, apparently just to make room for the storm passage from the Sixth Symphony. He does so without much build up in terms of plot; but thanks to the music it attains a certain status as being an overwhelming moment in the film; for Beethoven it marks the moment where he realises the power of his own capabilities-the powerful, evocative key supplements this moment perfectly: in technical terms the functional harmony, leading to the cadences' serve as a mini build up as the score plays out. This happens all while Beethoven is in the Vienna storm, metaphorically trying to discover the depth of his musical ability. It is unquestionably one of the film's strongest moments with regard to how the music supplements the plot In terms of musical quality, the sound engineers generally manage to accurately replicate the beauty of Beethoven's work. Identifying the timbre, or tone colour, is a task easily accomplished thanks to the sharp, crisp sound of the orchestra, conducted by Walter Babiak. The orchestra manages to produce a full symphonic sound. Four vocalists are also used-most frequently in the Ninth Symphony. Use of a synthesizer was also noted as well as violin and flute solos. The pianist, who appears in the credits as simply "D Bodle" performs exquisitely as he alters musical form in performances of diminutive pieces, sonata and concerto movements. Sometimes, he is let down as it is hard to identify the exact pitch and rhythm he was trying to achieve, due to what appears to be dubious microphone placement which creates a dull, muffled sound; when it should resonate clearly and assertively. Sound effects abound, adding wonderful sparkle and drama to the story, making listeners feel as if they are r ight in the streets of nineteenth-century Vienna. In Conclusion, the film "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" manages to portray a relatively accurate portrait of, albeit a relatively small excerpt, the composer's life. The strength of the music is undeniably the films greatest asset. Where

Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Immigration - Essay Example The massive numbers of illegal aliens pouring across mainly the southern border has and continues to cause substantial economic, social and physical harms to legal citizens. These harms occur predominantly to those who are among the most vulnerable segments of the population: minorities, children and the poor. This discussion will examine the cause, effects and solutions to the immigration of Latin Americans to the U.S. The fundamental reason for the flood of immigration from Latin America, specifically Mexico, is the disintegration of the Mexican economy predominantly resulting from free-trade strategies employed by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The rampant corruption within the Mexican government has also contributed significantly to the collapse of the Mexican economy. Due to IMF policies regarding Mexico, its economic output dropped 33 percent in the past two decades. During this period, its foreign debt rose 359 percent because of widespread looting of the national coffers. These factors caused the â€Å"collapse of all areas of productive economic activity and employment, is the primary driver of the flood of emigrants desperate to leave Mexico, to find some livelihood for themselves and their families in the United States† (Small, 2005). Throughout the history of America, people of differing ideologies have generally agreed on immigration controls. Public opinion polls have continually shown an overwhelming opposition to illegal immigration as well as for the concept of amnesty. The most persuasive rationale to be in opposition to this latest bill again does not respect the rule of law. Amnesty for illegal aliens is merely a reward for law-breaking and by whatever name, causes ever escalating future illegal immigration. â€Å"No system depending on a strict regard for the rule of law can treat law-breaking so casually† (Erler,