The Environmental Impact of Wetland Destruction and...

The Environmental Impact of Wetland Destruction and Deforestation Thesis: The forests and wetlands of the world are being destroyed at unacceptable rates. This destruction is causing many adverse effects on the environment, many of which will not be felt by the global population until they are irreversible. Introduction Human life cannot exist in the absence of complicated interactions of millions of species in biological systems. Yet as humans, we live during a period of the greatest loss of plant and animal species since the mega-extinctions of the Jurassic Period 65 million years ago. Harvard University biologist E.O. Wilson estimates that 50,000 plant and animal species disappear each year due to tropical deforestation,†¦show more content†¦The plants present in the wetlands convert sunlight into plant material and produce oxygen as a byproduct. This production is an integral part of the interdependent system of a food web. The benefits from wetlands are many and generally recognized to include: (1) ecosystem function (2) fish and shellfish habitat (3) waterfowl and other bird habitat (4) furbearer and other wildlife habitat (5) pollution filtration (6) sediment removal (7) heavy metal removal (8) oxygen production (9) nutrient production and recycling (10) chemical pollution absorption (11) aquatic production (12) microclimate regulation (13) world climate (ozone layer) regulation (14) flood control (15) wave damage protection (16) erosion control (17) groundwater and recharge supply (18) energy source (19) livestock grazing (20) fishing (21) fertilizer industry (22) Hunting and Trapping (23) recreation (24) preservation of genetic inventory (25) aesthetics and (26) scientific research (Hinrichsen, 1999). From this list of areas that wetlands effect it is no wonder that global wetlands play a vital role in the earth ecosystem. Destruction of Wetlands When the Europeans first arrived in the United States, there were approximately 215 million acres of wetlands in what are now the forty-eight coterminous states and that number has continued to fall every day since. By the mid- 1970s, only 46Show MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Global Warming On The Environment977 Words   |  4 Pagesrelease large amounts of CO2, and methane a greenhouse gas is produced naturally from wetlands and decay of fossils. Scientific explanations concerning natural causes of global warming argue that solar flares are increasing leading to a rise of heat. Over centuries, the orbit of the earth has changed and is moving to or from the sun fluctuating earth and ocean surface temperatures. Methane is produced naturally in wetlands and arctic tundra causing global warming. The natural causes of global warming areRead MoreThe Green Revolution1629 Words   |  7 Pagessociety with air standards noticeably on the decline and alterations in the climate causing severe na tural disasters to take place. With rapid population growth comes detrimental affects to the environment through means of water contamination, deforestation and desertification, the construction and expansion of cities, and the degradation of air quality. Humans and Water Pollution Water pollution is prevalent anywhere humans reside. Fresh water is essential to human survival and it is being depletedRead MoreDeforestation1213 Words   |  5 PagesCONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION In some cases, deforestation can be beneficial. Given the right mix of social needs, economic opportunities, and environmental conditions, it can be a rational conversion from one type of land use to a more productive one. The tragedy lies in the fact that most lands that have been deforested in recent decades are not suited for long-term farming or ranching and they quickly degrade once the forest has been cut and burnt. Unlike the fertile soils of temperate latitudesRead MoreEnvironmental Issues Of Global Warming1436 Words   |  6 Pagesplanets in the universe that holds enough oxygen and water to support life. Unfortunately, the planet is suffering due to endless amounts of environmental problems which will result in major consequences for daily life. Today; global warming, deforestation and environmental degradation are the biggest issues this planet continues to fight against. Environmental issues result from discussions over the use of resources and pose challenges that are as diverse as Earth’s ecosystems. The environment isRead MoreEffects Of Mining On The Environment1133 Words   |  5 Pagesaffect the local population’s health. Additionally, some methods of mining might have considerable public health and environmental effects. Attrition of the exposed hillsides, tailings dams plus the resultant drainage siltation, mine dumps, rivers and creeks can drastically impact the adjoining areas (Betournay 2011). In wilderness areas, mining might cause disturbance and destruction to habitats and ecosystems, and in farming areas, it might destroy or disturb the croplands and productive grazingRead MoreConstruction Of The Natural Environment1537 Words   |  7 Pagesdemand for Housing and Infrastructure as a result of population growth. In 2000 the United Nation food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that â€Å"the role of population dyn amics in local setting may vary from decisive to negligible and that deforestation can result from â€Å"a combination of population pressure and stagnation of economy, social and technological condition†. 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Although tea has fundamentally become one of the most sought after commodities not only here in North America; it has also sparked and gained a global desire as well. Conceived from the plant Camellia Sinensis and extracted from various countries throughout the world, we see the demand increasing by the day. This increase shows the importanceRead MoreInadequate Sanitary Facilities At Dhaka Water And Sewerage Authority ( Dwasa ) Essay1596 Words   |  7 PagesFacilities Inadequate sanitation facilities pose a serious environmental threat in Bangladesh. Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) can serve only for 15 to 20% of city population. In absence of the sanitation and infrastructural services, 40% having septic tank and soak pit, 15% using pit latrines and 30% using open latrines. The sewage is mostly released into low-lying areas and river water in untreated manner causing great environmental hazards. 4. Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water ArsenicRead MoreGlobal Warming : Causes And Mitigation1319 Words   |  6 Pages Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation Global Warming: Cause and Mitigation Introduction The topic of global warming has received a lot of attention for the past couple of decades. The massive impacts and risks posed by this phenomenon on humans and environment have been severe, thus calling for swift attention. Basically, globalization refers to the rise of average temperature of oceans and earth’s atmosphere. Global warming is a reality which has faced the human society for over a

Confucianism And Legalism - 1556 Words

The law in which the Qin constructed was harsh and unjust. They abolished the Zhou-ist feudal system, replacing it with controlled local administration. The term in which this practice is called is Legalism; the belief in which people are born with evil tendencies. The government demanded total subordination of the people to the ruler. Although there is no commonly recognized founder, there is one person who is credited for the establishment of Legalism: Shang Yang, an important statesman during the Warring States Period for the Qin. â€Å"The policies and measures initiated by Shang Yang were all designed to strengthen the state at the expense of the common people and the nobility, to subjugate the society under state domination.† Through†¦show more content†¦This system was to keep everyone in their place and avoid rebellions and uprisings. There were reports of subordination put into place once every three months, summaries every six, and permanent records every tw elve. There was a doctrine fixed into law, called the Six Parasites. This is however a textual problem, there are actually sixteen. These â€Å"parasites† were rites, music, odes, history, cultivation, goodness, filial devotion, brotherly love, sincerity, trustworthiness, uprightness, integrity, humaneness, rightness, criticism of army, and lastly being ashamed of fighting. To violate any of these laws against the â€Å"six† was subject to punishment. Death to any criminals and any officials who allowed crimes, their punishments were carried out to their families and three generations after. â€Å"When punishments are imposed, they shall not be applied to the guilty party alone.† Punishments were severe. Small crimes were punished severly to make sure the punishment was understood and not repeated, especially if it were a larger crime. When Shang Yang wrote, â€Å"...if they let their ambition go too far, they will become too strong†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it is interpreted tha t knowledge and aspiration for a better life can be power and lead to rebellion against the government. â€Å"More consequential victims were the critical thinking of Legalists and the spirit of ruling by law, blamed for Qin’s demise and condemned for two millennia by Confucians advocating the rule by menShow MoreRelatedConfucianism vs Legalism2475 Words   |  10 Pagesideologies, Confucianism and Legalism. Towards the later part of ancient China (e.g Han dynasty), states started to adopt a mixture of Confucianism and Legalistic ideology. Why did Legalism and Confucianism fall off? In this paper I will explore and provide my own insights on the shortcomings of both ideologies; how Legalism was more persuasive in getting people to accept their ideas and more effective as an ideology and how Confucianism lost out in both aspects. Persuasiveness of Legalism The centralRead MoreConfucianism, Daoism, and Legalism976 Words   |  4 Pagesvariety of methods – Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism to name a few. Each philosophy had its own set of rules of how people should act both in public and privately. The overall goal of each philosophy was to set a standard of acceptable living that would ensure harmony and success for the society. However, each was different and thus had different results. The best way for the people of China to succeed in a harmonious, respectable society occurred when both Confucianism and Legalism were combined. Read MoreConfucianism, Daoism, And Legalism1688 Words   |  7 Pages Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, are three Chinese ideologies in Classic China that held influence on how society should be, how to achieve order and what made government strong. Anyone that was a practitioner of these three philosophies would have had no idea how the Roman Republic or Empire worked in those regards. It would not be surprising if a Confucian, a Daoist and a Legalist had praise and dislike for how Rome was ran. A Confucian who might look upon the Roman society and governmentRead MoreLegalism and Confucianism in the Han Dyansty1670 Words   |  7 Pagesof using two conflicting ideologies at the same time appeared foreign to most dynasties of early China. In early Chinese times, after the Period of the Warring States, two ideologies emerged: Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism stressed a strong central government that expressed harsh laws while Confucianism had a decentralized government, placing trust in conscientious and learned individuals to work together to solve political issues. These two schools of thought were in stark contrast to each otherRead MoreConfucianism, Daoism, and Legalism Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pagesmany matters of China. Confucianism became the paramount school of thinking and later significant philosophies such as Daoism and Legalism gained immense recognition as well. Each party had their own proposals for creating an idealistic political society where the many problems they faced in their everyday lives could be eliminated. All three approaches were very distinct but at the same time, they contained similarities as well. In my reasoning, I find that Confucianism and Daoism could be paralledRead MoreComparing and Contrasting Confucianism and Legalism913 Words   |  4 PagesContrasting Confucianism and Legalism    Confucius once said, â€Å"The more man  meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.† Amidst the chaos of political instability and constant warring of the Zhou era, many philosophers arose that impacted China in the fields of politics, religion, and philosophy. Two of these philosophers were Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E., and Han Feizi, who lived around 233 B.C.E. These two created the Confucianism and Legalism thatRead MoreThe Philosophies Are Confucianism, Mohism And Legalism1497 Words   |  6 Pagesand challenged Confucian ideas. Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi are three different philosophers from Chinese history who have three opposing views in their philosophical ideas of society and human nature. These three philosophies are Confucianism, Mohism and Legalism. Ancient Chinese philosophers built their views of human nature off of the idea that people are either naturally good, or naturally bad. How each philosopher views natural human nature is what they use to decide what they think is theRead MoreThe Differences Between Legalism And Confucianism2116 Words   |  9 Pagesstatecraft and power. Comment on the fundamental differences between Legalism and Confucianism. Han Fei Tzu: Legalism, is an ancient Chinese philosophy concerned with the art of rulership and the stability of the state. Along with hundreds of other philosophical schools, legalism emerged during the Warring States Period (453-422 BC), a time of intense political and intellectual turmoil. Unlike other schools of thought, legalism defined the strength of the state, through a system of punishments andRead MoreLegalism, Taoism, and Confucianism in Ancient China1049 Words   |  4 PagesLegalism, Taoism, and Confucianism in Ancient China Philosophies dictate the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of individuals or groups, even entire civilizations. Since the beginning of time there has been great debate among men over which philosophies to live life by. The list of philosophies that exist in the world today is nearly endless, making it difficult to decide which one is the most suitable to live by. Ancient China was arguably among one of the most philosophical culturesRead MoreExamples Of Legalism During The ChIn Dynasty And Confucianism1538 Words   |  7 Pagesnegatively impacted the daily lives of China’s people. Two examples of these philosophies and their impact on the people of China’s daily lives are Legalism during the Ch’in dynasty, and Confucianism during the Han Dynasty. Legalism during the Ch’in Dynasty had many important beliefs. To the Ch’in, Legalism was the right way of life. The only way of life. Legalism was a philosophy that was created by Han Feizi, a Chinese philosopher, in which the people believed that the government needed to be totalitarian

Succubus Revealed Chapter 16 Free Essays

string(38) " still managed to pat me on the back\." The next week was one of the longest in my life. Every moment that passed was a moment without Seth and another reminder that I’d lost my one great love. Even if I hadn’t quit as Santa’s helper, that job would’ve been done now anyway, so my days were made even longer by their emptiness. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Revealed Chapter 16 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Hugh was over a lot that week, and sometimes he and Roman tried to cheer me up or at least distract me. Mostly, they were holed up together, working on my appeal to Hell. They occasionally consulted me on it, but Hugh had most of the info he needed and simply had to put it all together in the appropriate manner. The two of them discussed other things too, mostly having to do with Hell’s legal system in general. I didn’t entirely understand why, but Roman was very adamant about learning every detail of it. It was like he was trying to pass the bar exam or something. I tried to preoccupy myself with packing for Las Vegas. Even with my appeal, I couldn’t count on anything changing with my current Hellish status. So, I had to go forward with life as though Vegas were definitely in my future. Packing was mindless enough, however, that it didn’t distract me so much as just provide more time for me to ruminate and agonize over being apart from Seth. Packing also had its own pitfalls because I kept running into things that reminded me of him. The worst was when I unearthed a box of keepsakes collected from over the centuries. The most recent addition was a ring Seth had given me last Christmas, just before we broke up. It was a modern twist on a Byzantine wedding ring, decorated with dolphins and sapphires. Even when we’d gotten back together, I’d left it in the box. Little did he know that I also had – in the same box – my actual wedding ring from the fifth century. It was worn with age but hadn’t entirely lost its gleam. Looking at them both gave me a weird moment of disorientation as I tried to grasp the idea that they’d technically been given to me by the same person. During that week, I also received a fair amount of e-mail from the Las Vegas crew. Phoebe, Bastien, Luis, and even Matthias had stayed in touch since my visit, and all seemed to have increased their excitement over my pending move. Messages I would have found so witty and touching a week ago now left a bad taste in my mouth, now that I knew the truth about the transfer. Luis was simply helping to orchestrate Hell’s grand plan to keep me and Seth apart, and I didn’t trust a single word he said. Still, he was a demon, and one could expect a certain amount of insincerity from him. Phoebe and especially Bastien hurt more because they were operating under the pretense of friendship. I didn’t doubt Bastien was still my friend, but everything he sent me seemed forced, since it was coming from the orders of those above him. Matthias was kind of a mystery. I didn’t know what role he played here, if he was just a convenient mortal they’d found to take me on or if he was in league with Hell. Many humans knowingly were, in the hopes of grandiose rewards someday. For all I knew, he could be an innocent in all this, just an ordinary guy who thought he’d lucked out in finding a dancer. Without being able to say for sure, I took no joy in his e-mails either. Notably missing from the Las Vegas gang’s correspondence was Jamie. I’d received no friendly â€Å"Can’t wait to see you!† messages at all from him, something I suspected was also a direct result of Hell’s orders. They wouldn’t want to risk the topic of Milton again. When I mentioned this to Roman and Hugh, they told me it would be surprising if Jamie was even still in Las Vegas. If Hell saw him as a liability that might inadvertently expose the double-contract snafu, Hugh felt the odds were good they’d simply removed him to prevent me from finding him. If so, I hoped it was simply a matter of a transfer and that the imp hadn’t been punished for drunkenly revealing information he didn’t realize was dangerous. On New Year’s Eve, Hugh and Roman told me my petition was finished. They presented it to me, a staggeringly huge stack of paper filled with legalese, and showed me where to sign. There was an air of both gravity and pride around them, like they’d just created a painstakingly crafted work of art. Considering how rare this type of event was, perhaps that wasn’t such a bad assessment. I gave the ream back to Hugh, once I’d signed it about fifteen times. â€Å"Now what?† I asked. â€Å"Now I take it to Mei and say you gave it to me to submit to Hell. I also claim ignorance about what this is in regard to, but the fact that it went through me tips her off that there’s a witness to it all. Not that she’d probably ‘lose it’ or anything, but . . . well, with demons, it’s best to be cautious.† â€Å"Are they really going to believe you’re a hapless messenger ?† I asked. Hugh crooked me a smile and gestured to the paperwork. â€Å"Well, they certainly aren’t going to believe you did this on your own. But there’s no real way to prove my involvement, and anyway, I haven’t technically done anything wrong. I’m an imp. I conduct business for Hell. That’s what this is.† Too many days of pent-up emotion took hold of me, and I flung my arms around Hugh. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. â€Å"Thank you so much.† It was all kind of awkward since he was trying to juggle the papers, but he still managed to pat me on the back. You read "Succubus Revealed Chapter 16" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"It’s nothing, sweetie,† he said, seeming a bit flustered. â€Å"I just hope it actually accomplishes something.† I stepped back and attempted to get myself under control. â€Å"How will we know if it does?† â€Å"When you’re summoned to Hell,† he said. â€Å"Oh.† My heart lurched with fear. â€Å"I actually . . . actually have to go there?† Roman leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. â€Å"How else do you think this is going to get resolved?† â€Å"I’d kind of just hoped they’d send me a letter,† I said. â€Å"You know, like a college acceptance.† Hugh snorted. â€Å"Afraid not. If they respond to it, they’ll summon you to Hell and hold a hearing to examine the contract, your complaints, and whatever evidence either side can muster.† I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to picture what that hearing would be like. â€Å"I’ve never been to Hell. Have either of you?† They shook their heads, which wasn’t a surprise. Lesser immortals were recruited on Earth, where they then served. We had no reason to visit the realm of our employers, not even an imp like Hugh. Roman, as a nephilim, was on Heaven and Hell’s hit list. Walking into Hell would be like showing up in a lion’s den and presenting yourself on a platter. â€Å"I always kind of pictured Hell as a cross between waiting in line at the DMV and watching a marathon of Perfect Strangers,† remarked Hugh. Roman shot him a sharp look. â€Å"What’s wrong with that show?† Overcome, I hugged Hugh again and then Roman. â€Å"Thanks, you guys. I mean it. I owe you . . . more than I can ever pay back.† â€Å"Just win,† said Roman fiercely. â€Å"That’s all the payback I need.† Hugh put the papers into his briefcase and slipped on his coat. â€Å"I’m going to get these over to Mei now, then head off to a party and drink away the memories of wading through all that legalese.† â€Å"You’re going to Peter’s?† I asked. Unsurprisingly, our vampire friend was holding a shindig to ring in the New Year. â€Å"Nah,† said Hugh. â€Å"Not much chance of getting laid there. I’m going to a party one of my nurses is hosting.† We wished him a happy new year and bid him farewell. As soon as he was gone, Roman turned to me. â€Å"What about you?† he asked. â€Å"Are you going to Peter’s?† I knew Peter was counting on it, but it was hard to make myself feel like celebrating. â€Å"No. I’m not in the mood. Besides, I’m not sure I want to risk running into Jerome since I’m sure Mei’s going to tell him about the appeal. I’ll just keep packing.† â€Å"Come on,† Roman said. â€Å"You can’t just sit around tonight. It’s a new year . . . new opportunities. Maybe even the chance to break free of Hell.† I nodded, though it was still hard for me to imagine what â€Å"breaking free† would even look like. It was something we kept talking about, but I really couldn’t feel it yet. And even though I’d talked a good talk to Seth about how the integrity of the soul and eternity were so much more important than any earthly concerns, it all seemed lackluster without him in my life. â€Å"I know,† I told Roman. â€Å"But any celebrating I do is going to be forced. If I’m going to be unhappy, I’d rather do it in a place where I feel comfortable.† He glanced at the clock. â€Å"Let’s at least go out to dinner. Dress up and get a good meal. Then we’ll come back and watch all the New Year’s shows.† I didn’t have much of an appetite but suspected if I said no, Roman would consign himself to the same self-imprisonment as me. I didn’t want his night ruined because of me, especially after everything he’d done this week. One problem presented itself. â€Å"It’s almost five,† I said. â€Å"We’ll never get in anywhere on such short notice. Unless we want to dress up for Taco Bell. Which I’m actually not averse to.† Roman was already reaching for his cell phone. â€Å"I know someone who’s a chef at this Italian place in Green Lake. We’ll get a table.† Sure enough. One mysterious phone call, and we were on our way an hour later. I hadn’t been up for elaborate styling and simply shape-shifted myself into New Year’s finery, with an off-the-shoulder satin dress and my hair cascading in perfect waves. Roman had warned me â€Å"no black,† so the dress was dark purple, which still seemed appropriate for my mood. I paired it with a glittering necklace of white gold and amethysts that had been my Secret Santa gift to myself. I had great taste. â€Å"Have you made any moves to put your condo on the market?† asked Roman as he drove us through the city. â€Å"Contacted a real estate agent?† I gazed out at the bright lights of the downtown skyline. This time of year, darkness came early. â€Å"No. I need to. Unless . . .† I glanced over at him. â€Å"Do you want to keep staying there? I’ll keep it and rent if you want.† He shook his head, a wry smile playing over his lips. â€Å"No. It wouldn’t be the same without you and those furballs. I’ll get another place. Sell it or rent it to someone else.† â€Å"Easier to sell,† I mused. â€Å"Well, in theory. But I’m not concerned with profit, and it saves the hassle of screening and dealing with – † I stopped as a startling thought suddenly came to me. â€Å"Hey. Do we have time for a, oh, fifteen-minute stop? Will your friend get rid of our table?† â€Å"Not if I call. Where do you need to go?† â€Å"The U District. Seth’s place. Don’t worry,† I added, seeing his look of alarm. â€Å"I’m not going to do anything crazy or lovestruck. I’m not even going to see Seth. Please? Just a quick stop?† Roman concurred, though his expression said this was against his better judgment. I almost told him his fears were unfounded because I was only going to actually stop if Margaret was home and Seth wasn’t. The odds against that possibility seemed slim, particularly with the way my luck tended to run. The universe apparently owed me a favor because when we reached Seth’s condo, I saw her car there but not his. A light inside gave me hope that they hadn’t just all carpooled off together. â€Å"Do you need me to come in?† asked Roman, as he pulled into my parking spot. â€Å"No, but thanks. I’ll be right back.† I left the car and walked up to the door, hoping some wacky happenstance wouldn’t actually put me face to face with Seth. Not that I wouldn’t have loved to see him. God, I missed him so, so much. But I knew no good could come of an encounter between us. I rang the bell and waited anxiously. A few moments later, Margaret answered. â€Å"Georgina,† she said, clearly surprised. â€Å"What are you doing here?† She took in my appearance. â€Å"Are you supposed to meet Seth?† â€Å"No . . . can I come in for a minute? I’ll be fast, I promise.† She had on a coat, making me think she’d been about to leave. Either that or she was trying to save Seth money on his heating bills. She gestured me inside and shut the door. â€Å"I was about to go to Terry’s. Seth’s already there.† I didn’t bother asking where Ian was. He probably celebrated New Year’s on January third or something, just to be contrary. â€Å"You haven’t been around in a while.† I wondered what Seth had told his family about us, if he’d even told them anything at all. Maybe he was just going to say nothing until one of them noticed my absence. â€Å"Ah, well,† I said. â€Å"Seth and I are having a disagreement.† She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. â€Å"You two need to sit down and fix it then.† How I wished it was that easy. I forced a neutral smile. â€Å"We’ll see,† I said. â€Å"But the thing is . . . I may be moving. No, I am moving. I have a new job . . . and I was wondering if you’d like to stay in my condo when I leave. I remember you saying you didn’t want to impose on Seth’s space but that you wished you could stick around more to help. Well, now you can. You can have your own place. Mine.† â€Å"I can’t afford to keep my place in Chicago and pay rent somewhere here, though,† she said sadly. â€Å"That’s been the problem.† â€Å"You don’t have to pay rent,† I said. â€Å"You can stay there for free.† She eyed me curiously. â€Å"How will you afford your mortgage?† Yes, how indeed would a poor retail-bound girl like me be able to swing that? â€Å"The condo’s paid off,† I explained. Let her think it was passed down through the family or something. â€Å"And my new job pays well. Look, I really don’t mind you staying. It’d be worth it to me to know that the girls have you close by to help. I mean, they’re going to need a strong woman around, right?† Margaret took a few moments to answer. â€Å"Right. I just thought you’d be that woman.† â€Å"Fate has other plans,† I said. Wasn’t that the damned truth. â€Å"Is that why you and Seth aren’t getting along? Because you’re moving? I’m surprised he doesn’t just go with you. . . .† â€Å"No, no, it’s not that at all,† I assured her. â€Å"It’s . . . complicated. If it was as simple as moving, he would when he was able to . . . you know, when Andrea’s better.† I hesitated, afraid of the answer to the next question, but it was one I had to know. With no contact from Seth, the status of the Mortensens had been a mystery. â€Å"How is Andrea? Is she still doing well?† â€Å"Yes, she’s doing great. We won’t know the details for sure until she sees the doctor in a couple weeks, but on the outside, things look wonderful. We’re all praying.† I found myself smiling, unable to help my joy and relief. Andrea had looked good at Christmas, but I’d worried ever since then that whatever demon had made her sick before would return one of these days. Again, a doctor would have the ultimate answer, but I took Margaret’s own observation as a good sign. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. â€Å"You have no idea how much that makes my night. I’ve needed some good news.† â€Å"Well, thank you for the housing offer. Can I let you know my answer later?† â€Å"Of course,† I said. I wished her a happy new year and told her good night. Then, I hurried off before I cracked and asked her to deliver some sentimental message to Seth. I liked Roman’s company, but I still couldn’t shake the wrongness of being out with him instead of Seth tonight. After last year’s miserable New Year’s Eve, I’d hoped this one would be better. â€Å"That was nice of you,† Roman said, when I explained what I discussed with Margaret. â€Å"It’s an easy thing for me to do that can help a lot of people,† I said. â€Å"No reason not to.† He shook his head, incredulous. â€Å"You shouldn’t even need a technicality to escape Hell’s reach. They should fire you out of principle.† The restaurant was tiny but elegant – and packed. I seriously doubted any connections Roman had would get us in, but through some magic, the hostess beckoned us through the crowd and led us back to a cozy candlelit corner. In it was a table covered with an old-fashioned lace cloth, as well as crystal and china place settings – for three. I looked at her in surprise. â€Å"But there’s only – â€Å" â€Å"Hey, hope I’m not late.† Carter suddenly emerged from the crowd, wearing his usual grunge wear. The hostess didn’t even blink an eye. Seeing us about to sit down, he smiled. â€Å"I guess not.† â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked. I looked to Roman, who appeared just as perplexed as I was. â€Å"I didn’t tell him any details. He called while you were inside Seth’s to see if we were going to Peter’s, and I told him we were going to dinner instead. That’s it.† Carter waved it off. â€Å"That’s as good as a homing beacon. I love this place. You’re getting wine, right?† It wasn’t that I was unhappy to see Carter. It was just that when Carter appeared, there was usually a reason. â€Å"So you heard?† I said, once we’d placed our orders and dispensed with small talk. Carter swirled the wine in his glass. We’d ordered a nice vintage that would probably be wasted on him at the rate he drank. â€Å"That you’re skipping Peter’s party? Yeah, I did. Man, he’s going to be pissed.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"That’s not what I mean. Are you here about the appeal we filed?† â€Å"I’m here to have dinner with friends,† said Carter demurely. â€Å"But now that you mention it . . .† â€Å"Word gets around fast, huh?† I asked. It had been a couple hours since we’d seen Hugh, more than enough time for him to deliver the paperwork to Mei and enough for her to have told Jerome. â€Å"Oh, I found out from him,† said Carter, nodding toward Roman. â€Å"He asked when he called me earlier,† explained Roman. â€Å"He knew we’d been working on it.† â€Å"How?† I asked, startled. â€Å"Hugh and I have had to consult him on a couple of things this week,† said Roman. â€Å"Nothing that breaks any rules, of course.† Carter gave him a mock toast to that. â€Å"But enough to clarify a couple points about Hell’s fucked-up legal system.† I wondered what they had needed to consult Carter on but doubted they’d tell me. I was also kind of amazed that I’d been so out of it this week that I hadn’t even known my legal team had been in touch with the angel. No, on second thought, I wasn’t that surprised. My misery had been pretty all-consuming. â€Å"So what do you think our odds are?† I asked. Carter shook his head. â€Å"I can’t answer that.† â€Å"Because it breaks a rule?† â€Å"Because it’s too tempting for me to answer with a joke about a snowball’s chance in Hell.† I sighed. â€Å"That’s not very comforting.† â€Å"You’re awfully grim about this,† said Carter. â€Å"I figured there’d be a little more excitement from someone trying to win back their soul.† â€Å"It doesn’t mean much without Seth,† I said. â€Å"Oh, for God’s sake,† said Roman. He reached for the wine bottle. â€Å"You’re on the verge of getting your soul and your life back . . . and he’s still what determines your happiness ? You don’t need a relationship to be happy, Georgina.† â€Å"No,† I agreed. â€Å"But Seth’s not just any relationship. He’s tied to my soul. He found me in the world of dreams. We’ve come together, life after life. I’m not just some girl who needs a guy around. Seth and I are connected. We both have done terrible things to each other . . . but also made great sacrifices for each other. It just seems like only half a victory to get my soul back but not be with the person who’s affected it so much.† Roman surprised me by acknowledging the point. â€Å"Okay. I can see where you’re coming from there.† â€Å"And,† added Carter gently, â€Å"you need to replay your own words there. You and Seth have come back together, life after life. What makes you think you won’t again?† â€Å"Well, his recent actions for one,† I remarked bitterly. â€Å"That and . . . I don’t know. Just the look in his eyes.† â€Å"Seth had a lot thrown at him all at once. Whose idea was the hypnosis anyway?† â€Å"Mine,† said Roman. â€Å"And get that accusing tone out of your voice. It was the fastest and easiest way we had to get the information we needed.† â€Å"Perhaps,† said Carter. â€Å"But there’s a reason reborn mortals forget their past lives. It’s a lot to process, and that kind of regression brings on too much, too fast.† â€Å"Hugh kind of said something like that too,† I said. Carter nodded, gray eyes kind. â€Å"Don’t give up on Seth yet. I think he might surprise you once he’s settled down. He loved you enough to always come back to you. He loved you enough to remember you, even when Hell tried to erase you from his mind. That’s powerful stuff, Daughter of Lilith.† It was, and I suddenly questioned how fairly I’d been approaching this situation. My old fears had held me back from truly fighting for Seth. I also hadn’t really tried to imagine what it must be like for him to have ten people in one mind. â€Å"It could take a while,† I said, unable to meet Carter’s eyes. â€Å"For him to come around, I mean. And it could take a while for Hell to respond to my appeal too, right?† Both men nodded. â€Å"What do I do then? What do I do with all that time?† â€Å"You live,† said Carter. â€Å"You go on with the life you have, with the opportunities you have. You want your soul. You want Seth. If it’s within your power to achieve those things, do it. If it’s not, accept it and figure out what else you want.† I muddled over his words. â€Å"Part of my immediate life is dictated for me. I have to go to Las Vegas.† â€Å"What do you want to do there?† prompted Carter. â€Å"Be happy . . . if it’s possible.† I knew I was being melodramatic but couldn’t help it. â€Å"If I have to be there, I’d like some sort of chance at a happy life that I created. Not a fake one Hell fashioned for me.† I thought about it some more. â€Å"I’d like to find out if Bastien is my friend first and Hell’s servant second.† â€Å"There you go,† said Carter. â€Å"Start there. Focus on what you can control.† â€Å"I’d like to help Seth’s family too,† I added, kind of on a roll now. â€Å"I’m already trying to do something for his mom, but before I leave them, I want to do whatever I can. Even if Hell leaves Andrea alone, we don’t know how things will turn out. Even if Seth decides he never wants to see me again, I still care about them. And there are still things they need.† â€Å"Indeed. That pony collection isn’t nearly complete,† Carter mused. When I dared a look back at him, I saw that the angel was smiling at me. â€Å"You see? You aren’t lost. No matter what happens to you, you have a plan. There’s still hope.† â€Å"You told me that once . . . that no matter what happens, there’s always hope. Do you really still believe that?† I asked. Carter topped off all of our wineglasses. â€Å"I’m an angel, Georgina. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.† â€Å"And even though you’re counseling contingency plans, you still think I can pull it all off, don’t you?† I pushed. â€Å"What do you know that I don’t?† â€Å"At this point?† he admitted. â€Å"Nothing more than you do. The only difference is that I think I have more faith in you than you do.† â€Å"You’re an angel,† I pointed out, throwing his words back at him. â€Å"Don’t you have to have faith in everyone?† â€Å"You’d be surprised.† He chuckled. â€Å"I have faith in some more than others. And you? I’ve always been one of your biggest fans. If you believe nothing else, believe that.† â€Å"Here, here,† said Roman, raising his glass. â€Å"To faith and a new year.† I clinked glasses with them and caught Carter’s eye. He winked. Was it enough? His faith? I’d noted before that having him pull for the Mortensens was a powerful thing. Having an angel say he believed in you was equally monumental. But I wasn’t fighting an ordinary adversary. I was fighting Hell, the only force that could stand against Heaven. I’ve always been one of your biggest fans. I would find out soon if it was enough. For now, I drank up and tried to have hope. How to cite Succubus Revealed Chapter 16, Essay examples

SNAP! free essay sample

SNAP! We are a family of beach kids. We live, breath eat and sleep sand, water and sun. Our days and nights are spent surfing, swimming and tanning. Some evenings we ride our bikes down to the beach and have a picnic. Peanut butter and jelly, sun chips, ice pops and Oreos are some of our favorites. Our love for the beach is almost as strong as our love for each other. The night before I left for college my family and I took a bike ride down to the beach. As we peddled onto the boardwalk the air felt crisp and cool. The sun was barely visible in the gigantic sky. The sky was glowing the most beautiful light pink and orange I had ever seen. The sand looked rugged but soft with hundreds of footprints scattered around. The five of us walked down the splinter filled steps onto the sand. My stepdad carried a red cooler and my mom carried a bright green blanket. Gage, Kennedi and I carried a football, soccer ball and sand pails. We walked down really close to the water. We sat down on the green blanket and stared at the ocean for a little while. The sky was silver with a tint of pink and orange. The tip of the moon was rising slowly. It was bright and white, like a large pearl against the deep blue sea. The waves crashed slowly on the sand. The water splashed, spread and was sucked back in. I felt overwhelmed watching the waves. I was like the little wave trying to break free, but I wondered if I would get sucked back into my old ways. Kennedi opened up the peanut butter and jelly. She gave us each a sandwich and we began to eat. We sat there slowly eating our sun chips and sandwiches. We reminisced on the good old times for about an hour. Then, it was picture time. First, we sat on the jetty. The rocks were shiny, black and rough. They hurt a little when I sat down on them, but the pain was bearable. There were coincidentally three rocks to sit on. Of course I took the middle rock because I was the oldest and the tallest. Gage sat on the right of me and Kennedi was on my left. I held them close together, with one arm around each of their shoulders. We gave my mom our biggest smile. SNAP! One picture down, only nineteen more to go. Next we laid down on the sand in a row. Our heads were squished together, our cheeks brushed against each other. Gage put on a fake smile while Kennedi yelled at her dad for spilling her chips. Smile please you little rascals, my mom shouted. We giggled then smiled and rolled our eyes. We were sassy and had attitudes, but my parents dealt with it. Gage was a fighter; he always antagonized us and liked to cause trouble. Kennedi was a whiner and my mom always said she would be in so much trouble if she wasn’t so cute. I was a mediator; calm, cool and collective. SNAP! Eighteen more to go. We rolled on our backs and stuck our hands in the air. The ocean spray tickled our arms; the sun was barely visible and the sky was dim. Stars started to peek out from behind the black abyss. We tried to name constellations but it was a complete failure. My mom stood above us as we stared into the sky and took pictures of us talking, laughing and grinning from ear to ear. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! Fourteen more to go. Its football time, called Keith. Me and Kennedi against Kylie and Gage! We jumped up, eager to tackle each other. What a surprise. You are sooooooo going down old man, I screamed. We ran so hard I thought our legs were going to fall off. Each tackle was captured by my mom. SNAP! Kennedi grabbed Gage by the legs and held on until he fell flat on his face in the sand. SNAP! Keith picked me up with the football still in my hands and slammed me onto the soft sand. SNAP! Gage ran across to the end zone, which consisted of two garbage cans, and scored the touchdown that won us the game. We cheered, twirled and did cartwheels while my mom watched in sheer bliss. Hey lets get on the lifeguards stand and take jumping pictures! yelled Gage. It was a brilliant idea. So we climbed up onto the chair one by one and stood at the top. One. Two. Three! We all jumped off of the chair into the air. We jumped with our feet up, hands flailing, smiles wide, hair flowing, and flying high. We hit the ground with a soft thud and laughed so hard we almost cried. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! There were eight pictures left. We decided to have a fashion shoot. We posed individually. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! We posed together, while lying down, sitting up, in a pyramid and making silly faces. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! There were two pictures left. We stood in a row and took one picture. SNAP! We only had one picture left. It had to be the best picture. I needed a picture that represented each of us and the amazing night we spent together. So we stood in a row on the sand. I stood in the back because once again I was the oldest and clearly the tallest. Gage stood in front of me, and Kennedi in front of him. The flowers on my shirt matched perfectly with the sky, but my tight blue jeans were filled with uncomfortable sand. I was beaming as I looked into the camera. I could not have been happier with my family and that was portrayed in the picture. My brother stood slouched. Trying to be somewhat cool, but it was obvious that he was having more fun than he wanted to admit. His arms were spread; he was the rose between two thorns. His smile was bright and his hair was perfectly flipped. Kennedi could not stand still. She was wearing my green sweater and flopping her arms around. She usually ruined the picture but we loved her anyway. She was fun, cute and silly and it was de picted through her stance. SNAP! As I looked back at the picture I saw the most beautiful beach picture in the world. The sky was like a painting. The ocean had white caps in all of the right spots. The sand was squished and fluffy. Most importantly, we were all there and our true colors were shining through. Gage was a cool surfer boy, Kennedi was a silly little girl, and I was a loving daughter and sister who could not imagine life without her family.

Lord Of The Flies Essays (1237 words) - English-language Films

Lord of the Flies Character Analysis: Ralph: main character- Ralph is the narrator of the story. Jack: Jack is Ralph main enemy in the story. He leads the hunters. Piggy: Piggy is the smart one of the group. Simon: He is my favorite character in the story. He is viewed as the Christ-figure and interprets the mysteries of the island. Roger: Roger is Jack?s ?sidekick? and is a vicious murderer at heart. Sam and Eric: The twins stick close to Ralph until they are forced to join the hunters. Their main job is to watch the signal fire. The littluns: The littluns are basically the younger boys and ride the bandwagon. The two boys Ralph and Piggy meet each other in a thick jungle and discover that they crashed in an airplane and are stranded. They also learn that there are no adults present on the island and that none of the adults survived the crash. As they approach a beach, they find an enormous conch shell. Piggy gives the conch a little toot and summons the rest of the boys on the island to the beach. The boys assemble and elect Ralph as the leader. Ralph then assigns the Choir, led by Jack, to be the hunters. Then Jack, Ralph, and Simon set out to explore the island. Near the end of their journey, they encounter a wild pig. Jack tries to kill it, but is unsuccessful. When the explorers get back, a meeting is held. The explorers explain that the island is deserted but there is enough food to keep them alive. Jack and the hunters promise to supply meat. Ralph makes a rule that whoever is in possession of the conch shell is allowed to speak. Ralph proposes the idea of a signal fire to alert passing ships of their presence. All the boys agree and everybody rushes to the hilltop to start a fire. The fire sparks the gathered wood into a blaze. One of the boys is reported missing but none of the boys will admit to the likelihood of an accident. Everyone is hard at work the next day, either building huts or hunting. Soon the younger boys loose interest and go off to play. A meeting is called and the boys come up with some new ideas and talk about problems. Meanwhile jack wanders off and enjoys the peace and quiet. Soon the boys get into a rhythm of everyday life. In the morning is the best time for activity because it is cool and quiet. Afternoons are associated with napping. Some of the littluns are suffering from diarrhea from eating too much fruit. While Ralph and Piggy sit on the beach they notice a ship on the horizon, and are horrified to see that the signal fire has gone out. The boys rush to the hilltop to try to get it going again but it is too late. Jack and the hunters who were in charge of the fire were nowhere to be found. Ralph scolds Jack about the fire and he apologizes though he does not really care. Another meeting is called at the familiar place and Ralph reprimands them about their irresponsibility. Then the subject of the so called ?beast? comes up. Ralph and Piggy try to give an explanation but it has no effect. Eventually chaos spreads though the crowd and the run off led by Jack, and Ralph is thoroughly agitated. That night, an air battle is going on and a dead pilot, with a parachute, lands next to the signal fire where Sam and Eric have fallen asleep. They are awakened and are terrified by the shadows and the body. The twins scramble down to the beach where a group has assembled, and they tell the story with farfetched details. A team of explorers is sent to investigate. They discover new land and plan what they will do with it, but Ralph reminds them of their mission and they continue. As they approach the hilltop, Jack accuses Ralph of being chicken and starts up by himself. They are frightened by what they see and spread even more panic with their report. Jack decides to hold a meeting and announces the threat of the beast and

Optimize Your Resume for an 8-Second Skim

Optimize Your Resume for an 8-Second Skim You’ve put all this time and effort into your resume. It reads like a perfectly crafted, grammatically perfect dream from the header to the footer. Trouble is, most recruiters and hiring managers will spend approximately 8 seconds perusing your treasured document. The trick is figuring out- in addition to making a quality document through and through- how to make sure whoever glances at your resume gets a great impression, and quickly. Here are a few tips for how to pass the dreaded 8-second skim test.Use keywords like a pro.Load that baby up with as many choice keywords as you can. You better believe the recruiter is spending most of those 8 seconds skimming for precisely those words that matter most to their search. Make it easy for them. Don’t forget to pepper in specific technical skills and knowledge set phrases particular to the job description.Lead with your  best.When you’re bulleting your accomplishments, make sure to put the most impressive ones at th e top of your list. Imagine a recruiter reading only one bullet per section! Make that bullet count.Make smart formatting choices.Looks are almost as important as content. Don’t make your print smaller than size 11, or you’ll make your recruiter spend valuable seconds squinting at your document. And keep everything in the same font/size. Align your text to the left and your dates to the right. Don’t justify so you avoid any unsightly gaps. Bold either your roles or the companies you’ve worked for to make them more eye-catching. And remember: using all CAPS makes text harder to read. Be consistent with your formatting for an easy read.Keep it brief.Keep your bullets short and sweet. Make your language hyper-economical. Remember that skimmers are likely to read the first 5 words of every sentence or bullet. Put the full force of your attention there. Use numeric digits instead of spelling out numbers- it’s more eye catching and saves space.Leave a li ttle blank.Any art student will tell you that a little negative space can affect the way we look at things. Don’t be afraid of a little blank white space. It will help your text to flow.Create  a skills box.Yes, you’ve detailed all or most of these skills in separate subsections anyway, but it never hurts to recap them in a skills box to help the recruiter extract the right information and walk away with what you need them to know.Make a  top heavy document.Some readers won’t skim the whole document but will concentrate their skimming on the top half. Make sure all your biggest achievements and fanciest skills or experience are detailed there. Save the bottom half for the older or less impressive content.

Why You Shouldnt Start Your Cover Letter With To Whom It May Concern

Why You Shouldnt Start Your Cover Letter With To Whom It May Concern You’ve found the job you want. You’ve got your resume all set up, now you just need to write that cover letter.   Keep in mind that your cover letter is your first impression. And the first impression of your first impression is how you open up your letter! You’ll want to make it as effective as possible by tailoring your salutation to its appropriate audience- without offending anyone or showing bias of any kind.Rule 1: If you’re not writing to a particular committee or individual avoid the  dreaded impersonal â€Å"To Whom It May Concern.† Also, steer clear of  the generic â€Å"Dear Sir or Madam,† which is just hopelessly bland.Use What You KnowIf you know exactly who will be reading your letter, address it personally! Really. It’s okay. â€Å"Dear John Smith† will work. If you happen to know that your reader is a doctor or has a PhD, try â€Å"Dear Dr. Smith† instead. OR if you know the company culture to be on the informal side, and you’re sure it won’t backfire: â€Å"Dear John† might do.If the â€Å"Dear† freaks you out, you can drop it entirely and just use the name, or you could try â€Å"Hello† instead. When in doubt, though, use â€Å"Dear.†Do Your ResearchIf you don’t know the hiring manager or the person most likely to receive your letter, you could guess. Do a bit of Googling and at least find the head of the department you’re applying to. Even if you shoot for higher up than the person who eventually receives your letter, you’ll still get points for initiative.If You Can’t Find a Name, Try a TitleThe point is to be as specific as possible. If names are unavailable, you can always try â€Å"Dear Senior Analyst Search Committee† or â€Å"Research Assistant Hiring Manager† instead. For that matter, if you know you will be addressing a committee, a simple â€Å"Dear Search Committee† or  "Dear Hiring Committee† will do nicely. Read through the job description for hints- often it will include the name of the committee or department explicitly.When in doubt, err on the side of formal. And never gender a general salutation. â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen† could work. But often guessing on the position/manger/committee will net you more favorable results.Remember, this is your first impression in a letter that serves as an overall first impression. Don’t blow it in the very first line.