Shianne Buie Professor Hairr PHI 215-FN1 December Essays

Shianne Buie Professor Hairr PHI 215-FN1 December Essays Shianne Buie Professor Hairr PHI 215-FN1 December first, 2017 Towards the finish of his scandalous preliminary, the prestigious savant Socrates is said to have articulated the announcement, a n unexamined life was not worth living before his capital punishment. Many have contemplated over what the man implied by this and have thought of their own different answers. Some accept that Socrates was alluding to an existence of being unexamined, as an existence of individuals not recognizing his reality, to be futile. While others state that he was just alluding to the way that outcast would be more awful than death due to the fatigue or disconnection he would confront. Anyway I sense that the words have an a lot further significance totally. Since Socrates thought a piece uniquely in contrast to average men, I feel that he accepted his life would have no significance if he somehow managed to disavow his convictions and rather capitulate to those of others. By taking a gander at what sor t of man Socrates had been, what he showed his understudies and his steadfast purpose to remain by his standards until the end. I have accumulated that h is explanation implied that carrying on with a real existence which spun around submitting to the convictions of another person was not worth living by any stretch of the imagination. It is the premise of reasoning to pose inquiries and think of better approaches for survey ones whole presence and everything about existence itself. The quantity of thoughts that have originated from individuals who have conflicted with the norm just demonstrates how significant deduction for ones self truly is. Socrates himself is known as the clench hand present day rationalist for a valid justification, he addressed everything that was viewed as completely concrete inside his general public. While others acknowledged what they were advised to decisively, Socrates rather addressed everything that he was told was valid. Accordingly he thought of his own thoughts in regards to the Gods which the Greek individuals had adore for such a long time. His freshly discovered ways of thinking in the long run lead to him to be marked by the senior age as an untouchable and even a backstabber. Despite the fact that even notwithstanding difficulty he stayed honorable and kept on spreading his insight any place he went, even in court. His preliminary itself is an ideal case of Socrates' opinion of life and how he decided to live it. Fortunately his understudies were there to record the occasions in light of the fact that in any case reality and intelligence of his words may have been lost until the end of time. Socrates put together his lessons with respect to his convictions and instructed his adherents to have an independent mind so they would not lead a unexamined life. He didn't need people in the future just following in the strides of past, he needed to verify that the youngsters were more imaginative than their forerunners. His goa ls were neither vindictive or deceptive, he had no desire to lead an uprising or turn his understudies against their families and over and over expressed the same amount of during his preliminary. Socrates multiple times took up the charge that he tainted the youthful, demanding that, on the off chance that he debased them, he did so reluctantly; yet assuming reluctantly, he ought to be told, not indicted ( Mulvaney , 2012) However his investigators and a significant number of his understudy ' s families totally would not see things that way. They saw his lessons as a methods for turning the more youthful age against the very estimations of their general public and requested Socrates be accused of treachery. All on the grounds that the man just needed to show the youthful grown-ups how to have an independent mind, how startling to be sure. In spite of the fact that I will say that he had a significant impact on his understudies, genuinely they even appeared to have adored him a pi ece. In spite of the fact that it is my sentiment that this appreciation was because of him really allowing them to shape their own thoughts instead of have some else power their convictions on them. Significantly after death Socrates had a significant impact western way of thinking through crafted by his understudies. They went on to incredible things furnished with his lessons, his most well known understudy Plato become a famous thinker himself and his own

The Rocking Horse Winner vs the Destructor Free Essays

â€Å"The Rocking Horse Winner† by DH Lawrence and â€Å"The Destructors† by Graham Greene were both composed post wars where neediness was rich. These two fiction stories are expounded on the insidiousness brought about by realism. Looking at the two short stories, we find that ravenousness causes decimation. We will compose a custom paper test on The Rocking Horse Winner versus the Destructor or on the other hand any comparative point just for you Request Now In the two stories, the hero is a kid not yet developed. Lawrence makes a kid, Paul, who endeavors to change the karma of himself, however that of his whole family. Greene recounts a kid, T, who drives a pack into destructing the home of an affluent man since it despite everything stands where others around it were crushed by bombs from the war. This prompts the conspicuous difference that one kid is endeavoring the procurement of material products while the other is endeavoring the devastation of material merchandise. Still it remains that in the two cases, covetousness causes demolition of incredible worth. Essentially in the two stories, the boy’s moms could be viewed as the rival since the two of them are exceptionally materialistic and dazzle on the youngsters the should be viewed as superior to other people. Lawrence depicts Paul’s mother, â€Å"felt themselves better than anybody in their neighborhood† and Greene portrays T’s mother, â€Å"considered herself better than the neighbors†. The Rocking Horse Winner† is set in London not long after World War I. â€Å"The Destructor† was set after World War II in a spot where pretty much everything had been pulverized by bombs. The two stories are told as an outsider looking in account. What's more, the two stories end up with a similar subject: insatiability and realism. â€Å"The Rocking Horse Winner† starts by portraying Paul’s mother, â€Å" There was a lady who was delightful, who began with all the preferences, yet she had no karma. † She clearly turned into an unpleasant and desirous individual incapable to cherish even her youngsters. In light of her avarice and conviction that more cash was constantly required, the house got spooky and was continually reciting, â€Å"There must be more cash. † In this story the house was representative of people’s avarice and endless want to consistently have more. Paul is persuade that no one but karma can carry enough cash into the old house so he embarks to locate his own karma. He finds that karma by wildly riding a toy shaking horse that â€Å"takes him there† so, all things considered he finds the name of the pony that will win the following enormous race. After some time, Paul makes a great deal of cash betting, yet at the expense of his own life at long last. In â€Å"The Destructors†, a gathering of young men choose to demolish the wonderful house that sat alone in the center of a bombsite. The house was emblematic of all they, and the majority of the town, had lost to the war. The proprietor of the house had consistently been benevolent to the young men, yet T didn’t trust anybody or their thought processes. Subsequent to wrecking the house, he told Mr. Thomas â€Å"There’s nothing close to home. † Although the group decimated everything Mr. Thomas had and consumed his life’s investment funds, they took care to ensure Mr. Thomas was not in the house and was not do any harm. So at long last, all his material assets were gone, yet he despite everything had his life. The plot of the two stories was about eagerness and disdain; Paul’s moms insatiability for to an ever increasing extent and failing to be fulfilled and T’s ravenousness of ensuring Mr. Thomas had close to any other individual. The intricacy found in â€Å"The Rocking Horse Winner† was found in Paul having to wildly ride the pony at the expense of his own wellbeing so as to discover the name of the following victor. In Destructors, the difficulty was the time it took to wreck the old house from the back to front without anybody seeing before Mr. Thomas came back from his excursion. For each situation, the end result was the decimation that happened on account of eagerness. For Paul, regardless of how fortunate he was and regardless of how much cash he made, he never procured what implied most to him, his mother’s love. At long last, Paul picked up cash and could have bought material things, yet lost his life. What's more, in Greene’s story, despite the fact that T pulverized the home and all it’s magnificence, he spared the life of Mr. Thomas. So for this situation, every single material thing were lost, yet the life was spared. These accounts are here and there altogether different, yet both arrive at a similar resolution †avarice annihilates. Covetousness resembles Satan, it takes and takes yet is perpetually discontent with what it has, it generally needs more. Avarice just prompts demolition. Instructions to refer to The Rocking Horse Winner versus the Destructor, Papers

Free Song of Solomon Essays: Erotica :: Song Solomon essays

Erotica in Song of Solomon   The utilization of erotica can be seen unmistakably in the Tune of Solomon. As a matter of first importance, one must remember that it originates from the book of scriptures so one won't here disgusting things or even words that you know are legitimately discussing sex. Nonetheless, on the off chance that you read intently, you can here the verifiable comments that these youthful darlings is by all accounts making, about every others body, yet in addition about what each might want to do with the other.       The first occasion when that the male of the class discusses his darling he portrays her physical traits. The most clear is the portrayal of her bosom wherein he says, Thy two bosoms resemble two youthful roes that are twins(7:3). At the point when you here this announcement one can just feel that he is alluding to her huge enthusiastic (since she says youthful) superbly round bosom. At the point when he discusses his darlings thighs, he not just lauds them, he depicts what the exceptionally most upper piece of his sweethearts thighs resemble: the joints of thy thighs resemble jewels(7:1). One can just pose the inquiry of how might this individual think about somebody's most upper piece of their thigh, the part that is directly close to the genitalia? This leaves a lot to the creative mind. He additionally discusses her navel saying, thy navel resembles a round challis, which wanteth not liquor(7:2). When attempting to decipher this statement, one shoul d initially remember the way this is occurring during scriptural occasions. During these occasions it was not legitimate for individuals to see, what was then taken a gander at as X-evaluated portions of each other. Obviously the special case to this standard would be if two individuals were hitched (or engaging in extramarital relations). So one can pose the inquiry of how might this individual think about the size and state of someone else's navel, which is covered up underneath regular garments? It appears in addition to the fact that he knows about its size and shape how it tastes. Once more, the creative mind of the peruser is permitted to look through the alternatives.       Not just is there sexual discussion about physical appearances, however there is additionally talk about what will happen when both of them are as only one. She is at one point searching for him and when she discovers him she says that she held him and had him follow her and would not give up, .

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The elements of a contract - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2184 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? 1.0 Introduction I am the Human Resource Manager for a recording company. My director who name Mr. Abu requested me to rent an apartment accommodation for three employees who came from oversea to stay in my state. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The elements of a contract" essay for you Create order So I am as the Human Resources Manager, I am expected to deal with the landlord. I need to find out the main element for binding a valid house rent contract. Apart from that, I need to brief the main element to my directors Mr. Abu and design a contract to show to Mr. Abu. Then, to assume that the landlord claim that my employees was damage the kitchen cabinets after one month they have stay in the rented apartment, so I am expect to write a report to Mr. Abu on what kind of legal solution that might can be taken by the landlord and how I am go to solve the situation and I need to justify my answer to avoid my legal liability on such damage to property in apartment. Apart from that, I need to describe the nature contractual liability arising from the damages that found in the house and whether tenants are partially or wholly liable for damages done to the premises. 2.0 The Main Element for Binding a Valid House Renting Contract 2.1 Offer An offer or proposal for the cr eation of an agreement is necessary. Section 2(a) Contract Act 1950 provides that if a person means another who is willing to do or omit to do something to the consent of the other as the act or abstinence could be obtained, it is said, on to make a suggestion. The first part of the Section 2(c) in the Contracts Act 1950 calls the person who make the proposal promisor. Under the contracts Act 1950 and English Law, an offer or proposal is something which is capable of being changed into the agreement by its acceptance. The proposal should be a definite promise to be bound provided certain specified terms that are accepted. The promisor or also called as the offeror must have stated his willingness to an obligation to undertake certain specific terms, leaving the option of its refusal or acceptance to the offeree, the person to whom that offer is made. Then contract is complete once the offeree is accept the offer. (GILLIES, P, 2004). Thus, offer is one of the parties made a promis e to do or prevent from doing some specified action in the future. (Jec.unm.edu, 2015). Apart from that, the offeror may make the offer to a particular person or to the whole world. 2.2 Acceptance To form a binding valid house renting contract, the offer must have an acceptance. Acceptance of an offer is the offer was accept unambiguously. The acceptance must be an agreement to each of the terms of the offer. Section 2(b) of the contract Act 1950 provides that when a person made signifies his assent thereto to whom, the proposal is said to have been accepted. When a proposal was accepted, it will become a promise. Apart from that, the person that who is accepted the proposal is called promisee. In additional, acceptance must be communicated to the offeror. The communication of acceptance may be express or implied. (Gulshan, Kapoor and Paliwal, 2008). Furthermore, acceptance of any promise which is made in performance or words that could say to be express. In contrast, accep tance that made other than words and performance is say to be implies. For proposal to be changed in a promise, the acceptance of the proposal must be absolute and unqualified, so that the acceptance is complete consensus. Then, if the parties are still bargaining, agreement is still not yet formed and the proposer cannot prescribe silence as a manner of acceptance. 2.3 Intention to Create Legal Relations A statement to be an offer, it must be made with the intention that it be binding upon acceptance. It is also necessity that all the parties to an agreement have an intention to create legal relations which is meaning the parties intend the legal consequences attach to their agreement. (JONES, L, 2013). In short, the parties intend that the agreement will be binding with recourse to some external judge for this enforceability. In determining whether the parties intend their agreement to be legally binding, the courts are guided by two presumptions such as parties to a dome stic or social agreement do not intend to be legally bound and parties to business agreement intend to be legally bound. These are presumptions only and can be rebutted by sufficient evidence to the contrary. 2.4 Consideration Considerations is something of legal value that each party gives to the contract to bind the agreement. (Goldman and Sigismond, 2014). So, the consideration is especially important where the agreement involves a promise to the act in a particular way in future. In exchanges where there is an immediate, simultaneous transfer of, for example, good for money, the doctrine of consideration applies in theory but rarely will causes practical problems. An agreement without consideration can consider is void. Apart from that, consideration need not be adequate and not be too vague. The words consideration defined as when, at the desire of the promisor, the promisee or any other person has done or refused from doing, or does or refused from doing, or promises to do and refused from doing something, such act or abstinence or consider as promise is called a consideration for the promise. 2.5 Certainty Certainty is the terms of a contract are certain when each of the provision is described or explained properly and clearly set forth. (Definitions.uslegal.com, 2015). The terms of an agreement cannot be vague but must be certain. An agreement which is not capable of being made certain or uncertain is consider as void. An enforceable contract requires certainty of terms. Which means for an agreement to be a contract, it must be apparent what is the terms of the contract are. If the important term in the agreement is not settled, the agreement is not a contract. 2.6 Capacity Capacity to contract is legal and mental ability to understand the nature of an enforceable agreement. (Goldman and Sigismond, 2011). Furthermore, capacity is mean that the legal competence of a person to enter into a valid contract. The parties entering into a contract should be also competent to contract, that is to said, they must have the legal capacity to do so. Capacity refers to the ability of the parties to a contract to fully understand its terms and obligations. For example, a contract made with person mentally unsound, a bankrupt person and person under age 18 in Malaysia is void. Every person is competent to a contract if who is of the age of majority which is eighteen years old to the law to which he is subject, and who is healthy and not disqualified from contract by a law which it is subject there. However, there are some exceptions to this rule which are Contracts for necessaries, Contracts of scholarship and Contracts of insurance as well. 3.0 The Damaged level of kitchen by Alex Recording Sdn Bhd employee Alex Recording Sdn Bhd employees have damaged a part of the premise which is kitchenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cabinet. The damaged cabinet has been left for a long period without any maintenance or repair. 3.1Legal action take by landlord Due to Alex Recording employee Sdn Bhd employees had damaged the kitchenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cabinet and left for a long period without any maintenance or repair. Therefore, the landlord is going to take legal actions towards Alex Recording Sdn Bhd based on the rental agreementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s conditions as follows: (Please refer to Appendix 1.1 Rental Agreement number 11 and 12) 3.2 Landlord takes action to against Alex Recording SdnBhd The landlord will takes civil action to against Alex Recording Sdn Bhd due to Alex Recording Sdn Bhd is breach of contract cases. According to wiseGEEK (no date) has reported that a civil action is usually brought for the purpose of resolving private legal issues that arise between business, people, or other entities. There also mentioned some of the most common kinds of civil actions include family law proceedings, civil rights violations, breach of contract cases, and personal injury lawsuits. Landlord ca nà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t takes criminal action to against Alex Recording Sdn Bhd due to criminal action is brought by government (society) to determine whether the guilty person committed the unlawful act and to determine the accused personà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s punishment reported by NDSU (no date). NDSU also reported that criminal action punishment will be imprisonment or a fine paid to the government, and the case of criminal action such as Armed Rubbery. 3.3 The Argument to against landlord According to Alex Recording Sdn Bhd employees said that the kitchenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cabinet was broken before they move in. However, Alex Recording Sdn Bhd employees still used the cabinet but without repair it. That mean that the cabinet is not broken by Alex Recording Sdn Bhd employees and it should by someone else who had rented the premises before. Basically, Alex Recording Sdn Bhd is not liable to pay the repair fee to the landlord due to the cabinet is not broke by their employees and also the Rental Agreement didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t notice or mention that the RESIDENT should check all the items is on the good condition before move in the premises. 3.4 Element of the contract between Alex Recording Sdn Bhd and landlord Offer Is a proper offer. Acceptance Is a proper acceptance. Consideration The agreement have consideration. Certainly The agreement is certain. Capacity Both parties have legal capacity. Intention to create legal relations -The agreement is intention to create legal relations. (Please refer to Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“2.1 Case lawà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to check the similar case) 4.0 Contractual Liability for the damages of house The employees of Alex Recording have damaged the kitchenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cabinet. Hereby, there are several elements of contract which has existed in this case. The elements are offer, certainty, consideration, capacity, intention to create legal intention as well as acceptance. 4.1 Offer Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a valid offer which offered by Alex Recording, which proved by the signature of Director of Alex Recording. Moreover, terms and condition has written down in the contract by offering the landlord to have the signature. 4.2 Acceptance The acceptance in this situation is valid. We assume that the landlord has read the terms and condition only the landlord sign the contract. Meaning to say that the landlord has agreed to the contract before the landlord sign and accept this offer by Alex Rec ording. 4.3 Consideration Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s consideration in this contract which state in the first terms and condition in the contract, that the Alex Recording will pay RM1300 in advance for the first month as well as the security deposit of RM300, in total is RM2050 are to be paid to the landlord, Lim Wei Shang. 4.4 Certainty This contract is definitely certainty and thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s no vague terms and condition written, and labeled neatly. 4.5 Capacity The offeror and offeree has been officially 18 and above. Apart from that, both of the parties are not mentally unsound. Furthermore, theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re not in bankrupt. Thus, this is a valid contract. 4.6 Intention to create legal relation In this case, thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s an intention to create legal relation which is business relation between landlord and director. Our party will only agree to take the responsibility of partially liable since the cabinet in the kitchen is alre ady not in a good and well condition before we starting the agreement contract and entered into rented the room. We will only take half of the responsibility as we are only partially liable for the damage of kitchen cabinet. The cabinet is too old can be see it was use many year and it is the landlords responsibility in change of a brand-new or a well-fixed cabinet before renting the room out. The landlord should also be partially liable for the damage as the landlord should take care of the safety of the customer. The landlord had already broken a condition called contributory negligence. As such, we will only be partially liable of the damage as we should not be the only party that should be responsible for the damage. As the supported by judicial precedent which is previous case law. (Please refer to Appendix 3.1 Case Law to check the similar case) 5.0 Conclusion Law can define as the body of customary rules recognized by a community as binding. Apart from that, law is d efining as a body of rules which are enforced by the state. Contract may be defined as an agreement enforceable by law. Contract is an agreement which is legally binding between parties. The main element of law of contract is offer, consideration, certainly, capacity, acceptance of an offer and intention to create legal elations. In conclusion, Alex recording Sdn Bhd only partially liable on the damages of kitchen cabinet because of the kitchen cabinet is already damages before employees of Alex recording is starting the agreement and entered the rental apartment. The landlord should also be partially liable for the damage as the landlord should take care of the safety of the customer. Introduction to Law 1

Taking a Look at the Missouri Compromise - 766 Words

Missouri Compromise Most white Americans of the 1800’s agreed that the US push western was hard and crucial to good health of this nation. But the big question was at what cost it should be. When President Thomas Jefferson made the Louisiana Purchase from the French he was very happy with the thought of gaining the mighty Mississippi river and the port in New Orleans for America interest but if he could only see the can of worms it would open for the newly forming United States. Like many modern day purchase there is always some gray areas that get over looked from time to time. For President Jefferson and Congress it was should any states that got carved out of this area to be admitted to the Union as a slave state or a free state. The Louisiana Purchase had been bought and accepted as a slave territory in 1812, but no other territory had petitioned for statehood until Missouri did in 1818. The incorporation of new eastern states into the United States made slavery a very slippery slope for national politics. In 1818 there were an even amount of states, eleven free and eleven slave states. In 1818 the state of Missouri which was a large slaveholding state petition for statehood to the Union due to its ever growing population. The northern states were in large opposition to this act for fear that the larger slave holding southern states would have too much power in the Senate and House of Representatives. The issue was that the constitution allowed states to count theShow MoreRelatedThe End Of The Civil War1483 Words   |  6 PagesTaking a look through America’s history, even in the original thirteen colonies, there was a distinct line between the North and South. This line differentiated everything from crops to religion. As the country expanded and evolved this line not only become clearer but also started to cause more conflict. 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Challenges in Highway Road Construction in Nigeria Essay Example For Students

Challenges in Highway Road Construction in Nigeria Essay Dissertation Proposal Challenges in Highway Road Construction in Nigeria. Research Questions: Why is at that place a high figure of main road roads in hapless conditions particularly in the eastern portion of the state? Why is at that place abandoned main road roads across Nigeria despite immense investings in main road building? Why this there a hapless care civilization of roads across the state? Therefore, this proposed thesis would take to turn to this spread in cognition by challenges confronting the main road route building, concentrating more on the supervising of main road roads of autochthonal building companies. Purpose To reexamine and place the challenges confronting the building of main road roads in Nigeria and to supply relevant recommendations for understating these jobs. The aims of this research proposal are: To clearly place the challenges confronting main road building in Nigeria through literature reappraisal. To carry on a questionnaire study and interview of professional organic structures and applied scientists and obtain their perceptual experiences on main road building challenges in Nigeria ( peculiarly professionals with 30years and over of experience ) . Analysis of the study informations. To urge possible alterations in the supervising of main road building in Nigeria. Background Introduction Nigeria is the largest state in Africa in footings of size and population of 174 million with land mass of 923,768 sq. kilometer with diverse cultural and civilizations. It has 36 provinces with the Federal capital at Abuja with commercial provinces at Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt stand foring the northern, southern and eastern parts of the state. The Construction industry contributes about 7 % of the GDP ( Gross Domestic Product ) in Nigeria yearly and the GDP per capital was about $ 2,800 in 2013 and is made up of little, medium and big graduated table companies. It is dominated by foreign companies commanding approximately 95 % of the building works across the state with top building companies viz. Julius Berger, Dantana A ; Sowoe, Borini Prono, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, etc. OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IN NIGERIA Nigeria has the largest route web in West Africa with a sum of over 193,000km length which is by and large funded and managed by authorities. Road transit is the major agencies of motion in Nigeria and it accounts for approximately 90 % of motion of goods and services ( Akpogomeh, 2002 ) . In footings of graduated table and value, the conveyance substructure sector is dominated by the roads and Bridgess which make up approximately 17.2 % of the entire building industry in 2014. However less than 20 % of the route web is paved. With the government’s committedness to development, big investings in main road roads has been awarded across the state and the sector is expected to turn. The route web in the South and eastern portion of the state are denser than the other parts owing to the high population densenesss in the countries ( Ubogu et al, 2011 ) . For illustration, the population in Lagos is about 6 million which was the former capital province and is the commercial and production portion of the state and hence the volume of use of the main road roads to and fro Lagos is rather high. The entire main road roads are individually owned with the duty for building, care, and rehabilitation.The Federal roads are about 17 % , State owned roads 16 % , rural and Local Government Areas ( LGAs ) about 67 % . The support of the building of the main road roads comes from the allotment of budget and besides grosss from extra rough oil gross revenues. Besides, some provinces generate financess through private partnering which is used in Lagos States. However, merely approximately 27 % of Federal roads are reported to be in good status, of which a major cause is likely to be the instability of the state during the military government, which subsequently became civilian regulation since 1999. Annual loss to the economic system is estimated in the part of N175b ( N75b due to decrease in plus value ; N88b due to increased vehicle runing cost ; N12b due to increased bend about and increased travel clip ) . Due to the high cost of building of main road roads particularly in the southern portion of the state characterized with hapless dirts, high cost of labor, the Federal authorities relies to a great extent on international assistance particularly from China and the World Bank. With the World Bank, funding eroding undertakings across the state worth over $ 500 million. In October 2012, in the Northern portion, Kaduna State approved $ 176million for 31 rural and township roads, and the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) agreed a loan of $ 170million for roads as portion of the Nigeria Agriculture Transformation Agenda ( NATA ) , which targets rural development. Besides, a 128km route contract in Zamafara province worth $ 43.47million was awarded in 2013. Over in western portion of Nigeria November 2012, in one of the biggest route developments, Ogun province awarded four companies a portion of $ 568million for route contracts. Borini Prono, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation ( CCECC ) , Hi Tech and PW Construction will finish eight new roads by 2014, with a 2nd stage of building worth over $ 250 million. Besides, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is one of the major route undertakings under development. The Infrastructure Bank Plc. is to raise NGN117bn for the Reconstruction of the 127km route. Child Labour Is Not Always Bad For Society EssayBesides there is a deficiency of modern method of route building particularly the place based building companies and therefore many main road undertakings, such as main roads and Bridgess, do non run into cost and clip public presentation demands. There is a hapless care civilization of main road roads across the state and with the immense investings in main road building, the mean Nigerian lacks care civilization. In some metropoliss across the state, some of the main roads are constructed without the side drains and in some other instances merely one side of the drains are constructed, which subsequently causes failure of the roads. Besides, litters can be seen in some of the main road roads particularly in the eastern and western parts of the state which is a really serious issue which should be addressed. In the rural countries, most of the side drains are wholly blocked particularly in the eastern portion which is prone to erodings. Another major issue within the main road building in Nigeria is the failure of the Federal Government in paying contractors. For illustration, in the Reconstruction of the 125km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which was re-awarded to Julius Berger and R.C.C in which the building is due to get down due deficiency of payment by the authorities which is one of the grounds for abandoned main road undertakings across the state. Nigeria still uses the traditional catching attack in which procurance is done through advertizement and command processes has failed in public presentation in both the quality of building and the direction of the main roads, in many developed states following performance-based contract in route building and care. The Federal Ministry of Works which has subdivisions across the 36 provinces with caput office in Abuja the capital is responsible for all the federal main roads building which involves planning, design, building, and rehabilitation. It is responsible for presenting for major main road contracts across the state. It besides supervises and proctors building and care of the federal roads. In footings of quality, the pick of stuffs used, methodological analysis and supervising are key in bettering the quality and life span roads. In this respect, ( Arumala 1987 ; and Akpododje 1986 ) investigated how the design criterions, hapless supervising and the failure of main roads and found little or no grounds back uping it. Besides, surveies on route failure caused by usage of sub-standard stuffs and cognition on the geotechnical belongingss of the dirts in which the roads are built ( Ibrahim 1980 ; and Ola 1978 ) . For illustration, the cost of route building in the South and eastern portion of the state is higher than that in the northern portion chiefly on the bad conditions of the dirt, high cost of labor and handiness of building stuffs. The British codification of Highway pattern ( BS codifications ) are still used in Nigeria for both in main road building and edifices as it was a former settlement of the Britain and presently a member of the Common Wealth. The Federal ministry besides supervises the activities of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency ( FERMA ) which is responsible for carryout care works on the federal and province main roads across the state. Research Method My proposed research method would be a qualitative research ( questionnaire and interview study ) . Interview study for adviser applied scientists who have over 30 years’ experience in main road building and questionnaire study for contractors in main road building in Nigeria. The ground being that the research requires an in deepness position and in footings of Numberss there are few applied scientists with over 30 years’ experience I can run into. The construction of the interview would be semi structured to let for flexibleness for 3 adviser applied scientists home based average scale houses. Possible Problems A ; Potential Solutions Possible restrictions to my proposed survey is the foremost the clip direction and a timetable has been drafted as shown below. Besides the reactivity of the interview study could be disputing happening professional applied scientists and advisers with over 30 years’ experience. The research limited to place based building companies and professionals. Decision Hopefully, at the terminal of research work, solutions could be recommended in the main road building industry in Nigeria particularly in the supervising country which would assist in future planning of undertakings. Mentions Alaba Adetola, et.al ( 2011 ) A critical assessment of route conveyance substructure direction in Nigeria International council for research and invention CIB, pp.77-95. Abdulkareem, Y. and Adeoti, K. ( 2003 ) , Road care and National Development available at unilorin.edu.ng Adams, O. ( 1995 ) Indigenous Contractors’ Perceptions of the restraints on Contractors Performance and Development Programmes required in Nigeria. Habitat International, 19 ( 4 ) , pp.599-613. Adetola, A. ( 2011 ) A critical assessment of route conveyance substructure direction in Nigeria. International council for research and invention CIB, pp.77-95. Aibinu, A. and Jagboro, G. ( 2002 ) The effects of Construction Industry, international Journal of Project Management. 20 ( 8 ) , pp.593-599. Nigerian Infrastructure study, 2013 ; 2014. ( 2014 ) . A.E Okezie ( 2013 ) A instance for Performance based route care in Nigeria available at www.nseph.org Odeh, A. and Battaineh, H. ( 2002 ) Causes of building holds: traditional contracts. International Journals of Project Management, 20, pp.67-73. Okigbo, N. ( 2012 ) Causes of Highway failures in Nigeria. International Journal for Engineering Science and Technology, 4 ( 11 ) .

Homosexual Education Essays - Same-sex Sexuality, Sexual Orientation

Homosexual Education Teaching sex education in public schools alone has become a very controversial subject with some parents and other community members. So one can only imagine the reaction to teaching about homosexual lifestyles as part of the sex education program. There are basically two different views on the subject of homosexuality. Some people are perfectly okay with it, while others cringe at the thought. Many parents would be highly upset if their child came home from school one day and said, Mommy, guess what? We got to learn about homosexuals today. Ms. Conner said we are supposed to accept them no matter what their sexual behavior. Why did you and daddy tell me it was bad? Ms. Conner said it was okay. The issue of teaching homosexuality in the sex education curriculum is important because it affects all of our children. Some of us may not have our own children, but most of us have children in our life which we care about deeply, such as nieces, nephews, and god children. Sometimes the public schools overstep their boundaries when teaching young children subjects such as homosexuality. For example, in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the school board has voted to begin teaching preschoolers about homosexual lifestyles. They also want to back hiring preferences for sexual minorities ( Clinton's homosexual agenda 2). There is also a school in New York City that have told their students they must come to an assembly for two days in a row to talk about how normal homosexuality is, and how indecent, undemocratic, and homophobic it is to have any negative views of such sexual functioning (Socarides 3). It is hard for me to accept this type of teaching in the public school. When it comes to l earning about homosexual lifestyles, I believe a child should be aware that these types of people are in the world, but I would never condone the matter. I would also never discriminate against homosexuals. Children should never hear their teacher say good page 1 of 4 things or bad things about homosexuality. At school, they should just learn the basic facts and leave the morals and values to be taught at home by the parents. I do not believe that homosexuality is the right way to live, but that does not give me the right to judge. Our children should not be so sheltered of the fact that there are homosexuals, but I believe it is the parent's responsibility to talk their children about this matter. I do understand, though, that many parents will not discuss this subject with their children. They either believe it is not important, or feel they just do not have the time. Someone should take time to speak to the children about it. We cannot wait until Little Johnny comes home from school one day and says, Why does Georgie have two moms? I told him that was weird. It is so important to discuss this different way of life to the children, but is it the school's responsibility? Some educators believe that it is important while teaching sex education to help the students unlearn negative feelings and stereotypes about gay and lesbian people (Roleff 53). On the other hand, other educators feel certain that teaching children to be open-minded about gays undermines the authority of the parents who consider homosexuality to be morally wrong (Roleff 63). Public schools used to try and teach moral practices such as abstinence before marriage, but schools have stopped trying to legislate morals and have started teaching responsibility (Roleff 9-10). I do not necessarily believe as some do, that teaching sex education in public schools is a bad thing as long as the teacher knows where to draw the line. Some educators believe that the lack of sex education is one of the major causes of the sex variant (Burt 151). page 2 of 4 Like I have already mentioned, I do think it is the parent's responsibility to talk to their children about homosexuality. Most parents try to explain this issue to their children in a neutral way, but occasionally they have to deal with their own complicated reaction to this lifestyle (The Study Group of New York 252). If I were a parent with a child

Dowry System Essay Essays

Dowry System Essay Essays Dowry System Essay Essay Dowry System Essay Essay In India. dowery ( Hindi: . Daheja ) is the payment in hard currency or some sort of gifts given to a bridegroom’s household along with the bride. By and large. they include hard currency. jewelry. electrical contraptions. furniture. bedclothes. dishware. utensils and other family points that help the honeymooner set up her place. Marrying gifts of the boy of the imaum of Delhi India with soldiers and 2000 guests The dowery system is thought to set great fiscal load on the bride’s household. It has been cited as one of the grounds for households andwomen in India fall backing to arouse choice in favour of boies. This has distorted the sex ratio of India ( 940 females per 1000 males ) and may hold given rise to female foeticide. The payment of a dowery has been prohibited under The 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act in Indian civil jurisprudence and later by Sections 304B and 498a of the Indian Penal Code ( IPC ) . Contentss 1 Prevalence2 Laws3 Social factors4 Economic factors5 Domestic force5. 1 Physical maltreatment5. 2 Emotional maltreatment5. 3 Murder6 See besides7 Mentions8 External links PrevalenceThe tendencies sing dowery in India vary across the state. [ 6 ] Over the last few decennaries. there has been an ascertained passage from the brideprice system. where wealth flows from the groom to the bride’s household. to the dowery system where wealth flows in the opposite way. Harmonizing to surveies. countries in south India have traditionally practiced the brideprice system. even among upper castes. In the North. social differences in matrimony led upper castes to pattern a dowery system. while in lower categories brideprice was more common. Marrying Procession- Bride Under a Canopy with Gifts. Circa 1800 In the last 100 old ages. the dowery system has taken over the brideprice system. and the bing dowery system is going more entrenched in civilizations that have practiced it traditionally. Harmonizing to research. brideprice has been worsening since the beginning of the twentieth century. and today really small is still in pattern. Rather. dowery has been turning both in households take parting and in cost across India. Studies show there are besides fluctuations on dowery prevalence based on geographics and category. States in the North are more likely to take part in the dowery system among all categories. and dowery is more likely to be in the signifier of stuff and movable goods. [ 5 ] In the South. the brideprice system is still more likely. and is more frequently in the signifier of land. or other heritage goods. This system is tied to the societal construction of matrimony. which keeps matrimony indoors or near t o household dealingss. [ 5 ] Dowry besides varies by category. or caste. in India. Upper-class households are more likely to prosecute in the dowery system than the lower category. This could be in portion due to women’s economic exclusion from the labour market in upper categories. Laws See besides: Dowry jurisprudence in IndiaDowry became prohibited by jurisprudence in 1961 with the intent of forbiding the demanding. giving and taking of dowery. Although supplying dowery is illegal. it is still common in many parts of India for a hubby to seek a dowery from the wife’s household. in some instances taking to extortion or force against the married woman. To halt offenses of inhuman treatment by the hubby or his relations against the married woman. subdivision 498A was added to the Indian Penal Code and subdivision 198A to the Criminal Procedure Code in 1983. Section 498A has been criticised by many in India as being prone to misapply. The jurisprudence was challenged in tribunal. but upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2005. Social factors Social alterations across clip have contributed to the modern dowery system in India. Some of the societal factors act uponing dowry include tradition. increased women’s rights. and the â€Å"marriage squeeze† . which is the deficit of eligible work forces for matrimony. Tradition is surely one account given by bookmans to turn to the prevailing dowery system. One facet of this is the construction and affinity of matrimony in parts of India. In the North. matrimony normally follows a patrilocal ( lives with husband’s household ) system. where the groom is a non-related member of the household. This system encourages dowry possibly due to the exclusion of the bride’s household after matrimony as a signifier of premortem heritage for the bride. In the South. matrimony is more frequently conducted within the bride’s household. for illustration with close relations or cross-cousins. and in a closer physical distance to her household. In add-on. brides m ay hold the ability to inherit land. which makes her more valuable in the matrimony. diminishing the opportunity of dowery over the bride monetary value system. In add-on to marriage imposts that may act upon dowery. societal imposts or rites. and parents outlooks of dowery are of import factors to see. Several surveies show that while attitudes of people are altering about dowery. the establishment has changed really small. and even continues to predominate. In a survey conducted by Rao ( 1980 ) . 75 % of pupils responded that dowery was non of import to marriage. but 40 % of their parents’ probably expected dowery. The societal and traditional influence on dowery is non to be neglected. While India has been doing advancement for women’s rights. adult females continue to be capable of their household and hubby. Women’s instruction. income. and wellness are some important factors that play into the dowery system. and for how much control a adult female has over her matrimony. Harmonizing to informations. India still limits women’s societal interactions. and restricts economic and societal rights. In add-on. the emphasis and fiscal load of the dowery system may take to son penchant. which can take to a skewed sex ratio ( see besides the economic factors an d domestic force subdivisions ) . Last. there is a strong statement given for the â€Å"marriage squeeze† tendency for dowery. This theory explains that increased birthrate coupled with reduced mortality has caused a deficit of eligible work forces has declined. raising the dependance on and cost of dowery. This increases women’s competition in the matrimony market. and decreases their value compared to other brides. unless dowery is competitory. Harmonizing to Rao ( 1993 ) . these conditions will be less critical as matrimony age additions for adult females. and force per unit area to happen a mate diminutions. Indian nuptialss can be munificent events that can last multiple yearss Economic factorsThere are many economic factors that contribute towards the system of dowery. Some of these include heritage systems and the bride’s economic position. Because female-based heritage was non legal in India until jurisprudence reforms in the fiftiess. dowery may hold begun as a signifier of legal heritage for girls. The system would give adult females economic and fiscal security in their matrimony in the signifier of movable goods. This helped forestall household wealth break-up and provided security to the bride at the same clip. This system can besides be used as a premorteminheritance. as one time a adult female is presented with movable gifts. she may be cut off from the household estate. The act of command farewell to one’s ain household members as the bride leaves her place and stairss into that of her husband’s is frequently an emotional one However. as the system evolved. dowery has become a greater fiscal load on the household. and can go forth households destitute based on the demands from the groom. Harmonizing to research done by Heyer ( 1992 ) and Srinivasan ( 2005 ) . the sum of gold demanded as dowery has increased from around five pavun ( 1 Pavun= 8 gms ) in 1930 to 100 or more pavun in 2000. The addition in dowery monetary values has huge deductions on households and on adult females in Indian society including physical and emotional maltreatment. slaying. and sex selective abortion and infanticide ( see # Domestic force subdivision ) . Another factor impacting dowery is the bride’s economic position. When a bride’s household is from a upper category ( or caste ) . the household is expected to pay more for her dowery. and suppl y a expansive show of wealth. This can be damaging to a bride’s nuptials chances if the household can non afford the dowery. and can take to some adult females either being forced into an unfavourable matrimony or non get marrieding at all. Womans in higher castes are besides sometimes non expected to lend financially to the household she enters. besides family work. which may do the prevalence of dowery over brideprice. Domestic force Dowry is considered a major subscriber towards observed force against adult females in India. Some of these offenses include physical force. emotional maltreatments. and even slaying of brides and misss. National Crime Records in India reported about 6. 000–7. 000 dowry-related deceases every twelvemonth and about 43. 000–50. 000 instances of mental and physical anguish over the old ages from 1999-2003. indicating that force and dowery are a serious national concern. Physical maltreatment Physical force against adult females has been a turning concern in India over the last few decennaries. Recently married adult females can be a mark for dowery related force. because she is tied economically and socially to her new hubby. As discussed in old subdivisions on societal and economic factors. dowery can sabotage the importance of adult females in society. which might take to farther domestic force. because dowery may lend to women’s inferior position in her household and in her civilization. In add-on. there are surveies bespeaking dowery as a menace. or hostage type state of affairs. in order to achieve greater financess from the bride’s household. This can be seen in immature ( and frequently pregnant ) brides. who are most vulnerable in the state of affairs. [ 16 ] This type of stuation can happen with the menace or happening of force. so that the bride’s household is left with no pick but to give more dowery to protect their girl. In these instanc es. the hubby and his household hold huge power. while the bride is left powerless ; this can take to slay and suicide. The countries of the greatest ascertained dowery related force is in the Indian statesof Haryana. Uttar Pradesh. and Bihar. Emotional maltreatment The impact of dowery can go forth a adult female helpless and desperate. which can conglomerate in emotional injury and maltreatment. Brides are frequently considered owned by their hubbies. and frequently have really small power in the matrimony. which can take to depression and self-destruction. Dowry reinforces these beliefs and is considered to intensify effects of emotional injury in a matrimony. Murder The system of dowery has besides been linked to slaying of immature brides. Physical maltreatments described above can besides ensue in slaying. These slayings can originate due to the fiscal demands from a hubby. or dissatisfaction of the bride from the groom’s household. In add-on. the construct of â€Å"Bride Burning† refers to the sacrificial slaying of a bride who is unsatisfactory to her hubby in the signifier of dowery. In these instances. the adult female is considered a forfeit to her hubby due to her insufficiency. and is glorified as an honest adult female. These instances reinforce the structured force against adult females. piece glorified as being â€Å"purer or more sacred than a dowry death† . In add-on to bride slaying. the establishment of dowery may besides reenforce sex-selective abortion and female infanticide. [ 14 ] Due to the societal and economic loads of dowery. households may take male childs over misss. so that they avoid effects of th e system. This so may beef up gendered force and discriminatory male intervention in society. There are Torahs like Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 that help to cut down domestic force and to protect women’s rights. Mentions 1. Jump up^ Godrej ‘Nupur Jagruti’- Dahej Ke Khilaf Ek Awaz 2. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius Anderson. Siwan ( 2007 ) . â€Å"The Economicss of Dowry and Brideprice† . The Journal of Economic Positions 21 ( 4 ) : 151–174. doi:10. 1257/jep. 21. 4. 151. 3. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g H Srinivasan. Sharada ( 2005 ) . â€Å"Daughters or Dowries? The Changing Nature of Dowry Practices in South India† . World Development 33 ( 4 ) : 593–615. doi:10. 1016/j. worlddev. 2004. 12. 003. 4. Jump up^ Census of India – India at a Glance: Sexual activity Ratio 5. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g H one J K cubic decimeter m Dalmia. Sonia ; Pareena G. Lawrence ( 2005 ) . â€Å"The Institution of Dowry in India: Why It Continues to Prevail† . The Journal of Developing Areas 38 ( 2 ) : 71–93. doi:10. 1353/jda. 2005. 0018. 6. ^ Jump upto: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g H I Bha t. P. N. Mari ; Shiva S. Halli ( 1999 ) . â€Å"Demography of Brideprice and Dowry: Causes and Consequences of the Indian Marriage Squeeze. † . Population Studies 53 ( 2 ) : 129–148. doi:10. 1080/00324720308079. 7. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f Rao. V. ( 1993 ) . â€Å"Dowry ‘inflation’ in rural India: A statistical investigation† . Population Studies 47 ( 2 ) : 283–293. doi:10. 1080/0032472031000147016. 8. Jump up^ Hutton. J. H. ( 1963 ) . Caste in India: Its Nature. Function and Origins. Bombay: Oxford University Press. 9. Jump up^ Srinivas. M. N. ( 1989 ) . The Cohesive Role of Sanskritization and Other Essays. Delhi: Oxford University Press. 10. Jump up^ â€Å"Amend dowery jurisprudence to halt its abuse. SC tells govt† . The Times Of India. 2010-08-17. 11. Jump up^ â€Å"Sushil Kumar Sharma vs Union Of India And Ors on 19 July. 2005† . Indiankanoon. org. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 12. ^ Jump up to: a B K rishnaswamy. Saroja ( 1995 ) . â€Å"Dynamics of personal and societal factors act uponing the attitude of married and single working adult females towards dowry† . International Journal of Sociology of the Family 25 ( 1 ) : 31–42. 13. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g Rao. V. V. Prakasa ; V. Nandini Rao ( 1980 ) . â€Å"The Dowry System In Indian Marriages: Attitudes. Expectations And Practices† . International Journal of Sociology of the Family 10 ( 1 ) : 99–113. 14. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f SRINIVASAN. SHARADA ; ARJUN S. BEDI ( 2007 ) . â€Å"Domestic Violence and Dowry: Evidence from a South Indian Village† . World Development 35 ( 5 ) : 857–880. doi:10. 1016/j. worlddev. 2006. 08. 005. 15. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius Seager. Joni ( 2009 ) . The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World. New York: Penguin Group. 16. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g H I Teays. Wan da ( 1991 ) . â€Å"The Burning Bride: The Dowry Problem in India† . Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 7 ( 2 ) : 29–52. 17. ^ Jump up to: a B Srinivasan. Padma ; Gary R. Lee ( 2004 ) . â€Å"The Dowry System in Northern India: Women’s Attitudes and Social Change† . Journal of Marriage and Family 66 ( 5 ) : 1108–1117. doi:10. 1111/j. 0022-2445. 2004. 00081. ten. 18. ^ Jump up to: a B Bloch. Francis ; Vijayendra Rao ( 2002 ) . â€Å"Terror as a Bargaining Instrument: A Case Study of Dowry Violence in Rural India† . The American Economic Review 92 ( 4 ) : 1029–1043. doi:10. 1257/00028280260344588. 19. ^ Jump up to: a B degree Celsius vitamin D vitamin E f g PRASAD. B. DEVI ( 1994 ) . â€Å"Dowry-Related Violence: A Contented Analysis of News in Selected Newspapers† . Journal of Comparative Family Studies 25 ( 1 ) : 71–89. 20. ^ Jump up to: a B Hackett. Michelle T. ( 2011 ) . â€Å"Domestic Violence against Women: Sta tistical Analysis of Crimes acrossIndia† . Journal of Comparative Family Studies 42 ( 2 ) : 267–288. External links [ edit ]

Illegal Immigrants in United States Research Paper

Illegal Immigrants in United States - Research Paper Example According to statistics from 2006, immigrants originate mostly from North America, with a few exceptions, such as the 12% from Asia and 8% from South America (Colton-Sonnenberg, pp.4). The topic of illegal immigration, however, is more complex than it appears to be, since there is misinformation, opposing views as well as lack of information about certain matters (Haines & Rosenblum, pp.1). Furthermore, the legal, moral, and economic aspects add controversy to this topic, resulting in its frequent debate in the matter of politics. Not everyone sees it as a terrible crime however. Some consider it a harmless situation, since illegal immigration provides cheap labor to the US citizens. However, since these immigrants often end up draining the fiscal resources of the country, their presence is not favorable, making those people suffer, who have a lower socio economic standing in society (APRA, 2006). Although immigration brings prosperity to the country in terms of contribution of skilled individuals, as well as enriched cultural diversity, however, illegal immigration has been causing economic, social, and cultural losses to the country. In this regard, the paper will look at different aspects of illegal immigration to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the issue. In particular, illegal immigrants are those people who enter a country undocumented, live there without any formal documentation and authorization, or are living there longer than the authorization. Such immigration occurs in every country, though not with the same high frequency as in the United States. These immigrants are usually from developing countries such as the Philippines, India, and Korea. They perform arranged marriages solely to get a green card, not caring about having a compatible spouse to live with. In addition, after settling down, they create several problems for the US government by engaging in several crimes such as drug trafficking, violent acts and robberies (Edmonston, pp. 45-50). Some illegal immigrants, however, are simply those people who entered the country through legal means, for example as a student, tourist, or businessperson, and then outstayed their allowed time, thus becoming illegal immigrants. They only make up around 1.5 percent of the US populat ion, as research shows. However, their presence in the US has a significant effect on the economy. In addition, since the country often requires specific skills and knowledge from different parts of the world, they are high in demand. In fact, the highly developed lifestyle, economy, and environment of the US often tempt these immigrants into wanting to stay in the country despite their expired visas. Thus, they succumb to becoming illegal citizens (Srivastava, pp-18). The table below divides these immigrants according to the states in which they illegally reside: Names of the State Number of Immigrants California New York Texas Florida New jersey Arizona Georgia Virginia Washington North Carolina Michigan 343,693 159,126 134,597 122,430 60,361 28,918 28,376 28,340 27,301 26,903 24215 (Hansen, pp-64) These results show how the illegal

Stereotype Logic and Programming Paper Assignment

Stereotype Logic and Programming Paper - Assignment Example The current paper critically discusses three stereotypes encountered in life and the effects they can have on others. The common stereotype about bullying is that the perpetrator is always a big, dumb and violent boy, while the victim is smaller and weaker. This notion is embedded in traditional views among schoolchildren that bullying is a rite of passage. From a social perspective, prejudice bullying is viewed as a social crisis deeply rooted in the wider social discourse with individuals justifying the use of negative behavior towards an out-group (Boyle, 2005). Traditionally, bullies were seen as having high self-esteem and those who did not do it were viewed as weak. The bullying stereotypes are largely based on the traditional perception that circumstances of imbalance of power must exist for bullying to occur. Other arguments include the perception that bullies struggle with academics and are socially detached. However, a critical analysis suggests that these arguments are mis taken. With the increased use of social networking sites, the nature of bullying has changed dramatically. Information and communication technology enables people to harm others using text messages via cell phones, emails or via social sites. Girls have become cyber-bullies and the traditional view that the perpetrator is stronger and bigger is becoming more obscure. Bullying is now not limited to schools or to people we know. Any one with a harmful intent can bully. The bully must not have any physical advantage in terms of body size or any other form of leverage. A common gender stereotype is that women are not good in competitive sports. Gender stereotypes are biased generalizations about the roles of individuals based on gender attributes. A predominant view about women is that they are generally poor in competitive sports. The main argument for this stereotype is based on traditional perceptions and beliefs about gender roles and sexuality. Other arguments are based on the fact that different performance measures and fitness levels are administered for female athletes. On the contrary, women are as good as men in competitive sports. While women and girls comprise a large part of the population, popular media do not cover women sports as equally as they cover men’s sports (Center for Gender Equality, 2006). Gender stereotyping is common in televised sports, hence, cementing the notion that women are sex objects and humorous fans, but not athletes. The Center for Gender Equality (2006) asserts that gender stereotypes and socialization contribute to the traditional gender roles of women and men, with the media playing a critical role in perpetuating this perception. One of the common stereotypes about old people and aging is that they are lonely and conservative homebodies, who live with relatives. This stereotype is perpetuated via the traditional patterns of behavior associated with Christianity, a predominant religion in our area. The arguments are based on the perception that terminally old people are heavily incapacitated by diseases and depend on other before death. Such generalizations affect the behavior and experiences of old people. People can be persuaded to believe they are elderly, even when they are still healthy and capable of taking care of themselves. More importantly, stereotypes about aging are constructed many years before individuals actually become old. On the contrary, there is a strong association between health and wellbeing. A critical analysis suggests the ‘lonely’ stereotype emanates from the fact that many old people live in houses with relatives. However, old people have a diverse social networking established throughout the years. This

Article Public Opinion of Police by Different Ethnic Group Essay Example for Free

Article Public Opinion of Police by Different Ethnic Group Essay Down though the years there has always been tension and an on and off relationship between the community they serve and law enforcement agencies. And as with any relationship between two people there are misunderstanding, break-up and disagreements and the same is with the relationship between the community and its law enforcement agencies but just with any relationship at day’s end both the community and law enforcement have and share common concerns such as justice and deterrence. With many of communities in America being incursion of immigrants within the last few decades; with this incursion of immigrants many communities are being bombard with so many new language and cultures diversity. Because of this wide range of ethnicity now living within many the walls of our communities and society on a whole now have different opinions and views of law enforcement. Now due to the various ethnicities flooding our communities the author will investigate how a few of these ethnicity groups like: African Americans, Asians and the Hispanics neighborhoods views racial profiling, discrimination and past experience with law enforcement agencies. Taking a look at the traumatized relationship and association between the two, as well as the interaction and reaction from the law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Since the conception of the law enforcement agencies race has long since been a vital playing card in policing. Even with the knowledge, awareness and understanding of this there has been some improvement but not enough. Racial opus of law enforcement alongside the racial outline of arrest, the raise in the number of arrest of non- minority like â€Å"Caucasian† by non-white law enforcement officers, while there were lower numbers of arrest by the same officers on other ethnic groups. On the flip side of that coin, more. â€Å"Caucasian† officers had a boost in the number of non-white arrest in comparison to the number of arrest involving â€Å"Caucasians†. Race has been a polarizingelement the in the society of America for years. And this is every so prevalent within the criminal justice system. Clashes involving both the communities and law enforcement are the flashpoint for practically every current inner- city riot. Ethnic Groups The raise of culture variety and immigration has from time to time made interaction with law enforcement difficult. Hispanics and Asian neighborhoods are often apprehensive of law enforcement officers due to their past occurrence. Their past incidents vary from their motherland of origin that was overwhelmed by civil unrest and war. This included exploitation of power by those of authority as well as much dishonesty within law enforcement agencies of that country. For this cause many minorities groups have a apprehension and more often than not an aversion to law enforcement officers. Like within the Hispanic neighborhoods, they often feel that law enforcement agents differentiates them by racial profiling them all because of their nationality. In Arizona this is a very contentious SB 1070 unlawful migration bill that passed given law enforcement agents the power and authority to inquire of certain individual (Hispanic) of proof of documentation of legal right to be in America. This law is being adopted in other states as well like New Jersey and Texas, any where there is a high population of Hispanics. IthasbeenreportedbytwoethnicgroupsAfricanAmericansandHispanic/Latinos affirm subordinate levels of agreement concerning their relationship with police officers as compared to those of their counterpart â€Å"Caucasians†. African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos claims that there is less willingness to obey and to follow orders given by authorities especially of Caucasian origin. Racial profiling has consistently been one of the most confounding, divisive and controversial issues the police department confronts. A perception that police target members of specific ethnic or racial groups creates a deep divide between the police and the communities we serve. But as an officer who has spent a lot of time patrolling the citys streets, I just dont think the perception is accurate. (Dutta, 2010) True racial profiling, in which people are targeted solely because of race or ethnicity, is both illegal and immoral. It destroys public trust and reduces the effectiveness of the police. There is no place for it in law enforcement. And I firmly believe that most LAPD officers support that viewpoint. Even the reported statement of the officer that he couldnt do his job without racial profiling was most likely misinterpreted. (Dutta, 2010) Differentiation between minorities and Caucasians is how they relate and response to law enforcement agents and how fairly or unjustly he or she feels their treatment was. This is a how many African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos responded when asked by authorities regarding their relationship with law enforcement agencies this is less equality than when Caucasians reported.

Career of Larry Bird :: essays research papers

Some player's wish of winning a NBA Title but 'Larry Legend' won 3. Being the 5th overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft Larry Bird played 13 seasons as a Boston Celtic, winning 3 NBA Championships in 1981, '84, and '86. He was Finals MVP twice in 1984, and '86, NBA MVP 3 straight years in 1984, ?85, and ?86, NBA All- Star for 9 straight years 1980- '89, elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1998, Nine- time All NBA 1st Team 1980- '88, and Olympic Gold Medalist in 1992 with the 'Dream Team'. Born on December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana, Larry Bird was raised in French Link, Indiana, he went to Springs Valley High School, and he also attended and played basketball for Indiana, and Indiana State University. Growing up Larry's family always struggled financially so Georgia and Joe Bird would often send their son Larry to live with his grandparents. In 1975 after Larry's parents had divorced his father Joe Bird committed suicide due to alcoholism and personal difficulties. Despite everything he had been through by the time he was a sophomore in high school Larry had become one of the best players in French Link. In 1976 Larry received a basketball scholarship to Indiana University where he would've played for coach Bobby Knight, but he left school after a week because he was homesick. A few months later Larry enrolled himself into Indiana State University. In his senior season at ISU Larry led the Sycamores to the NCAA Championship game where they played the Michigan State Spartans led by Larry's soon to be rival Earvin 'Magic' Johnson. Unfortunately for Larry and the Sycamores they lost to the Spartans, but Larry left ISU as the 5th highest scorer in NCAA history. Shortly before the deadline Larry finally signed with the Boston Celtics for $650,000, making him the highest paid rookie in NBA history. Larry's collegiate rival Earvin 'Magic' Johnson had also entered the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only did they fight for the National Championship a year before, but their rookie seasons they were both in the run for Rookie of the Year. Magic may have taken the NCAA title but Larry took the Rookie of the Year award and was voted into the Eastern Conference All- Star team in the 1979- '80 season.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Nine

She was not the reincarnation of Katherine. Driving back to the boarding house in the faint lavender hush before dawn, Stefan thought about that. He'd said as much to her, and it was true, but he was only now realizing how long he'd been working toward that conclusion. He'd been aware of Elena's every breath and move for weeks, and he'd catalogued every difference. Her hair was a shade or two paler than Katherine's, and her eyebrows and lashes were darker. Katherine's had been almost silvery. And she was taller than Katherine by a good handspan. She moved with greater freedom, too; the girls of this age were more comfortable with their bodies. Even her eyes, those eyes that had transfixed him with the shock of recognition that first day, were not really the same. Katherine's eyes had usually been wide with childlike wonder, or else cast down as was proper for a young girl of the late fifteenth century. But Elena's eyes met you straight on, looked at you steadily and without flinching. And sometimes they narrowed with determination or challenge in a way Katherine's never had. In grace and beauty and sheer fascination, they were alike. But where Katherine had been a white kitten, Elena was a snow-white tigress. As he drove past the silhouettes of maple trees, Stefan cringed from the memory that sprang up suddenly. He would not think about that, he would not let himself†¦ but the images were already unreeling before him. It was as if the journal had fallen open and he could do no more than stare helplessly at the page while the story played itself out in his mind. White, Katherine had been wearing white that day. A new white gown of Venetian silk with slashed sleeves to show the fine linen chemise underneath. She had a necklace of gold and pearls about her neck and tiny pearl drop earrings in her ears. She had been so delighted with the new dress her father had commissioned especially for her. She had pirouetted in front of Stefan, lifting the full, floor-length skirt in one small hand to show the yellow brocaded underskirt beneath†¦ â€Å"You see, it is even embroidered with my initials. Papa had that done. Mein lieber Papa †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and she stopped twirling, one hand slowly settling to her side. â€Å"But what is wrong, Stefan? You are not smiling.† He could not even try. The sight of her there, white and gold like some ethereal vision, was a physical pain to him. If he lost her, he did not know how he could live. His fingers closed convulsively around the cool engraved metal. â€Å"Katherine, how can I smile, how can I be happy when†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"When?† â€Å"When I see how you look at Damon.† There, it was said. He continued, painfully. â€Å"Before he came home, you and I were together every day. My father and yours were pleased, and spoke of marriage plans. But now the days grow shorter, summer is almost gone-and you spend as much time with Damon as you do with me. The only reason Father allows him to stay here is that you asked it. Butwhy did you ask it, Katherine? I thought you cared for me.† Her blue eyes were dismayed. â€Å"I do care for you, Stefan. Oh, you know I do!† â€Å"Then why intercede for Damon with my father? If not for you, he'd have thrown Damon out into the street†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Which I'm sure would have pleasedyou , little brother.† The voice at the door was smooth and arrogant, but when Stefan turned he saw that Damon's eyes were smoldering. â€Å"Oh, no, that isn't true,† said Katherine. â€Å"Stefan would never wish to see you hurt.† Damon's lip quirked, and he threw Stefan a wry glance as he moved to Katherine's side. â€Å"Perhaps not,† he said to her, his voice softening slightly. â€Å"But my brother is right about one thing at least. The days grow shorter, and soon your father will be leaving Florence. And he will take you with him-unless you have a reason to stay.† Unless you have a husband to stay with . The words were unspoken, but they all heard them. The baron was too fond of his daughter to force her to marry against her will. In the end it would have to be Katherine's decision. Katherine's choice. Now that the subject was broached, Stefan could not keep silent. â€Å"Katherine knows she must leave her father sometime soon-† he began, flaunting his secret knowledge, but his brother interrupted. â€Å"Ah, yes, before the old man grows suspicious,† Damon said casually. â€Å"Even the most doting of fathers must start to wonder when his daughter comes forth only at night.† Anger and hurt swept through Stefan. It was true, then; Damon knew. Katherine had shared her secret with his brother. â€Å"Why did you tell him, Katherine? Why? What can you see in him: a man who cares for nothing but his own pleasure? How can he make you happy when he thinks only of himself?† â€Å"And how can this boy make you happy when he knows nothing of the world?† Damon interposed, his voice razor-sharp with contempt. â€Å"How will he protect you when he has never faced reality? He has spent his life among books and paintings; let him stay there.† Katherine was shaking her head in distress, her jewel-blue eyes misted with tears. â€Å"Neither of you understand,† she said. â€Å"You are thinking that I can marry and settle here like any other lady of Florence. But I cannot be like other ladies. How could I keep a household of servants who will watch my every move? How could I live in one place where the people will see that the years do not touch me? There will never be a normal life for me.† She drew a deep breath and looked at them each in turn. â€Å"Who chooses to be my husband must give up the life of sunlight,† she whispered. â€Å"He must choose to live under the moon and in the hours of darkness.† â€Å"Then you must choose someone who is not afraid of shadows,† Damon said, and Stefan was surprised by the intensity of his voice. He had never heard Damon speak so earnestly or with so little affectation. â€Å"Katherine, look at my brother: will he be able to renounce the sunlight? He is too attached to ordinary things: his friends, his family, his duty to Florence. The darkness would destroy him.† â€Å"Liar!† cried Stefan. He was seething now. â€Å"I am as strong as you are,brother , and I fear nothing in the shadows or the sunlight either. And I love Katherine more than friends or family-† â€Å"-or your duty? Do you love her enough to give that up as well?† â€Å"Yes,† Stefan said defiantly. â€Å"Enough to give up everything.† Damon gave one of his sudden, disturbing smiles. Then he turned back to Katherine. â€Å"It would seem,† he said, â€Å"that the choice is yours alone. You have two suitors for your hand; will you take one of us or neither?† Katherine slowly bowed her golden head. Then she lifted wet blue eyes to both of them. â€Å"Give me until Sunday to think. And in the meantime, do not press me with questions.† Stefan nodded reluctantly. Damon said, â€Å"And on Sunday?† â€Å"Sunday evening at twilight I will make my choice.† Twilight†¦ the violet deep darkness of twilight†¦ The velvet hues faded around Stefan, and he came to himself. It was not dusk, but dawn, that stained the sky around him. Lost in his thoughts, he had driven up to the edge of the woods. To the northwest he could see Wickery Bridge and the graveyard. New memory set his pulse pounding. He had told Damon he was willing to give up everything for Katherine. And that was just what he had done. He had renounced all claim to the sunlight, and had become a creature of darkness for her. A hunter doomed to be forever hunted himself, a thief who had to steal life to fill his own veins. And perhaps a murderer. No, they had said the girl Vickie would not die. But his next victim might. The worst thing about this last attack was that he remembered nothing of it. He remembered the weakness, the overpowering need, and he remembered staggering through the church door, but nothing after. He'd come to his senses outside with Elena's scream echoing in his ears-and he had raced to her without stopping to think about what might have happened. Elena†¦ For a moment he felt a rush of pure joy and awe, forgetting everything else. Elena, warm as sunlight, soft as morning, but with a core of steel that could not be broken. She was like fire burning in ice, like the keen edge of a silver dagger. But did he have the right to love her? His very feeling for her put her in danger. What if the next time the need took him Elena was the nearest living human, the nearest vessel filled with warm, renewing blood? I will die before touching her, he thought, making a vow of it. Before I broach her veins, I will die of thirst. And I swear she will never know ray secret. She will never have to give up the sunlight because of me. Behind him, the sky was lightening. But before he left, he sent out one probing thought, with all the force of his pain behind it, seeking for some other Power that might be near. Searching for some other solution to what had happened in the church. But there was nothing, no hint of an answer. The graveyard mocked him with silence. Elena woke with the sun shining in her window. She felt, at once, as if she'd just recovered from a long bout of the flu, and as if it were Christmas morning. Her thoughts jumbled together as she sat up. Oh. She hurt all over. But she and Stefan-that made everything right. That drunken slob Tyler†¦ But Tyler didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered except that Stefan loved her. She went downstairs in her nightgown, realizing from the light slanting in the windows that she must have slept in very late. Aunt Judith and Margaret were in the living room. â€Å"Good morning, Aunt Judith.† She gave her surprised aunt a long, hard hug. â€Å"And good morning, pumpkin.† She swept Margaret off her feet and waltzed around the room with her. â€Å"And-oh! Good morning, Robert.† A little embarrassed at her exuberance and her state of undress, she put Margaret down and hurried into the kitchen. Aunt Judith came in. Though there were dark circles under her eyes, she was smiling. â€Å"You seem in good spirits this morning.† â€Å"Oh, I am.† Elena gave her another hug, to apologize for the dark circles. â€Å"You know we have to go back to the sheriff's to talk to them about Tyler.† â€Å"Yes.† Elena got juice out of the refrigerator and poured herself a glass. â€Å"But can I go over to Vickie Bennett's house first? I know she must be upset, especially since it sounds like not everybody believes her.† â€Å"Do you believe her, Elena?† â€Å"Yes,† she said slowly, â€Å"I do believe her. And, Aunt Judith,† she added, coming to a decision, â€Å"something happened to me in the church, too. I thought-† â€Å"Elena! Bonnie and Meredith are here to see you.† Robert's voice sounded from the hallway. The mood of confidence was broken. â€Å"Oh†¦ send them in,† Elena called, and took a sip of orange juice. â€Å"I'll tell you about it later,† she promised Aunt Judith, as footsteps approached the kitchen. Bonnie and Meredith stopped in the doorway, standing with unaccustomed formality. Elena herself felt awkward, and waited until her aunt left the room again to speak. Then she cleared her throat, her eyes fixed on a worn tile in the linoleum. She sneaked a quick glance up and saw that both Bonnie and Meredith were staring at that same tile. She burst into laughter, and at the sound they both looked up. â€Å"I'm too happy to even be defensive,† Elena said, holding out her arms to them. â€Å"And I know I ought to be sorry about what I said, and Iam sorry, but I just can't be all pathetic about it. I was terrible and I deserve to be executed, and now can we just pretend it never happened?† â€Å"Youought to be sorry, running off on us like that,† Bonnie scolded as the three of them joined in a tangled embrace. â€Å"And with Tyler Smallwood, of all people,† said Meredith. â€Å"Well, I learned my lesson on that score,† Elena said, and for a moment her mood darkened. Then Bonnie trilled laughter. â€Å"And you scored the big one yourself-Stefan Salvatore! Talk about dramatic entrances. When you came in the door with him, I thought I was hallucinating. How did youdo it?† â€Å"I didn't. He just showed up, like the cavalry in one of those old movies.† â€Å"Defending your honor,† said Bonnie. â€Å"What could be more thrilling?† â€Å"I can think of one or two things,† said Meredith. â€Å"But then, maybe Elena's got those covered, too.† â€Å"I'll tell you all about it,† Elena said, releasing them and stepping back. â€Å"But first will you come over to Vickie's house with me? I want to talk to her.† â€Å"You can talk tous while you're dressing, and while we're walking, and while you're brushing your teeth for that matter,† said Bonnie firmly. â€Å"And if you leave out one tiny detail, you're going to be facing the Spanish Inquisition.† â€Å"You see,† said Meredith archly, â€Å"all Mr. Tanner's work has paid off. Bonnie now knows the Spanish Inquisition is not a rock group.† Elena was laughing with sheer ebullience as they went up the stairs. Mrs. Bennett looked pale and tired, but invited them in. â€Å"Vickie's been resting; the doctor said to keep her in bed,† she explained, with a smile that trembled slightly. Elena, Bonnie, and Meredith crowded into the narrow hallway. Mrs. Bennett tapped lightly at Vickie's door. â€Å"Vickie, sweetheart, some girls from school to see you. Don't keep her long,† she added to Elena, opening the door. â€Å"We won't,† Elena promised. She stepped into a pretty blue-and-white bedroom, the others right behind her. Vickie was lying in bed propped up on pillows, with a powder-blue comforter drawn up to her chin. Her face was paper-white against it, and her heavy-lidded eyes stared straight ahead. â€Å"That's how she looked last night,† Bonnie whispered. Elena moved to the side of the bed. â€Å"Vickie,† she said softly. Vickie went on staring, but Elena thought her breathing changed slightly. â€Å"Vickie, can you hear me? It's Elena Gilbert.† She glanced uncertainly at Bonnie and Meredith. â€Å"Looks like they gave her tranquilizers,† said Meredith. But Mrs. Bennett hadn't said they'd given her any drugs. Frowning, Elena turned back to the unresponsive girl. â€Å"Vickie, it's me, Elena. I just wanted to talk to you about last night. I want you to know that I believe you about what happened.† Elena ignored the sharp glance Meredith gave her and continued. â€Å"And I wanted to ask you-† â€Å"No!† It was a shriek, raw and piercing, torn from Vickie's throat. The body that had been as still as a wax figure exploded into violent action. Vickie's light-brown hair whipped across her cheeks as she tossed her head back and forth and her hands flailed at the empty air. â€Å"No! No!† she screamed. â€Å"Do something!† Bonnie gasped. â€Å"Mrs. Bennett! Mrs. Bennett!† Elena and Meredith were trying to hold Vickie on the bed, and she was fighting them. The shrieking went on and on. Then suddenly Vickie's mother was beside them, helping to hold her, pushing the others away. â€Å"What did you do to her?† she cried. Vickie clutched at her mother, calming down, but then the heavy-lidded eyes glimpsed Elena over Mrs. Bennett's shoulder. â€Å"You're part of it! You're evil!† she screamed hysterically at Elena. â€Å"Keep away from me!† Elena was dumbfounded. â€Å"Vickie! I only came to ask-† â€Å"I think you'd better leave now. Leave us alone,† said Mrs. Bennett, clasping her daughter protectively. â€Å"Can't you see what you're doing to her?† In stunned silence, Elena left the room. Bonnie and Meredith followed. â€Å"It must be drugs,† said Bonnie once they were out of the house. â€Å"She just went completely nonlinear.† â€Å"Did you notice her hands?† Meredith said to Elena. â€Å"When we were trying to restrain her, I got hold of one of her hands. And it was cold as ice.† Elena shook her head in bewilderment. None of it made sense, but she wouldn't let it spoil her day. She wouldn't. Desperately, she searched her mind for something that would offset the experience, that would allow her to hold on to her happiness. â€Å"I know,† she said. â€Å"The boarding house.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I told Stefan to call me today, but why don't we walk over to the boarding house instead? It's not far from here.† â€Å"Only a twenty-minute walk,† said Bonnie. She brightened. â€Å"At least we can finally see that room of his.† â€Å"Actually,† said Elena, â€Å"I was thinking you two could wait downstairs. Well, I'll only get to see him for a few minutes,† she added, defensively, as they looked at her. It was odd, perhaps, but she didn't want to share Stefan with her friends just yet. He was so new to her that he felt almost like a secret. Their knock on the shining oak door was answered by Mrs. Flowers. She was a wrinkled little gnome of a woman with surprisingly bright black eyes. â€Å"You must be Elena,† she said. â€Å"I saw you and Stefan go out last night, and he told me your name when he came back.† â€Å"You saw us?† said Elena, startled. â€Å"I didn't see you.† â€Å"No, no you didn't,† said Mrs. Flowers, and chuckled. â€Å"What a pretty girl you are, my dear,† she added. â€Å"A very pretty girl.† She patted Elena's cheek. â€Å"Uh, thank you,† said Elena uneasily. She didn't like the way those birdlike eyes were fixed on her. She looked past Mrs. Flowers to the stairs. â€Å"Is Stefan home?† â€Å"He must be, unless he's flown off the roof!† said Mrs. Flowers, and chuckled again. Elena laughed politely. â€Å"We'll stay down here with Mrs. Flowers,† said Meredith to Elena, while Bonnie rolled her eyes in martyrdom. Hiding a grin, Elena nodded and mounted the stairs. Such a strange old house, she thought again as she located the second stairway in the bedroom. The voices below were very faint from here, and as she went up the steps they faded entirely. She was wrapped in silence, and as she reached the dimly lit door at the top, she had the feeling she had entered some other world. Her knocking sounded very timid. â€Å"Stefan?† She could hear nothing from inside, but suddenly the door swung open.Everyone must look pale and tired today , thought Elena, and then she was in his arms. Those arms tightened about her convulsively. â€Å"Elena. Oh, Elena†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Then he drew back. It was just the way it had been last night; Elena could feel the chasm opening between them. She saw the cold, correct look gather in his eyes. â€Å"No,† she said, hardly aware that she spoke aloud. â€Å"I won't let you.† And she pulled his mouth down to hers. For a moment there was no response, and then he shuddered, and the kiss became searing. His fingers tangled in her hair, and the universe shrank around Elena. Nothing else existed but Stefan, and the feel of his arms around her, and the fire of his lips on hers. A few minutes or a few centuries later they separated, both shaking. But their gaze remained connected, and Elena saw that Stefan's eyes were too dilated for even this dim light; there was only a thin band of green around the dark pupils. He looked dazed, and his mouth-that mouth!-was swollen. â€Å"I think,† he said, and she could hear the control in his voice, â€Å"that we had better be careful when we do that.† Elena nodded, dazed herself. Not in public, she was thinking. And not when Bonnie and Meredith were waiting downstairs. And not when they were absolutely alone, unless†¦ â€Å"But you can just hold me,† she said. How odd, that after that passion she could feel so safe, so peaceful, in his arms. â€Å"I love you,† she whispered into the rough wool of his sweater. She felt a quiver go through him. â€Å"Elena,† he said again, and it was a sound almost of despair. She raised her head. â€Å"What's wrong with that? What could possibly be wrong with that, Stefan? Don't you love me?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked at her, helplessly-and they heard Mrs. Flowers's voice calling faintly from the bottom of the stairs. â€Å"Boy! Boy! Stefan!† It sounded as if she were pounding on the banister with her shoe. Stefan sighed. â€Å"I'd better go see what she wants.† He slipped away from her, his face unreadable. Left alone, Elena folded her arms across her chest and shivered. It was so cold here. He ought to have a fire, she thought, eyes moving idly around the room to rest finally on the mahogany dresser she'd examined last night. The coffer. She glanced at the closed door. If he came back in and caught her†¦ She really shouldn't-but she was already moving toward the dresser. Think of Bluebeard's wife, she told herself. Curiosity killedher . But her fingers were on the iron lid. Her heart beating rapidly, she eased the lid open. In the dim light, the coffer appeared at first to be empty, and Elena gave a nervous laugh. What had she expected? Love letters from Caroline? A bloody dagger? Then she saw the thin strip of silk, folded over and over on itself neatly in one corner. She drew it out and ran it between her fingers. It was the apricot ribbon she'd lost the second day of school. Oh, Stefan. Tears stung her eyes, and in her chest love welled up helplessly, overflowing. That long ago? You cared about me that long ago? Oh, Stefan, I love you†¦ And it doesn't matter if you can't say it to me, she thought. There was a sound outside the door, and she folded the ribbon quickly and replaced it in the coffer. Then she turned toward the door, blinking tears from her eyes. It doesn't matter if you can't say it right now. I'll say it for both of us. And someday you'll learn.