Wawa

A single tube of cerebration's fluid is received In the laboratory and the following tests requested: total protein, albumin, Gig quantization, microbial culture, Gram stain, leukocyte count and differential cell count. The specimen should be sent to the various laboratories in which order? A. Chemistry lab, homology lab, microbiology lab b. Homology lab, chemistry lab, microbiology lab c. Microbiology lab, homology lab, chemistry lab d. Homology lab, microbiology lab, chemistry lab 3. You need to prepare a 1 TTT (1 :4 or h) dilution off serum specimen using saline before analysis.Which of the following petting steps would result in this dilution? A. Pipette 0. 5 ml serum, then add 1. 0 ml saline b. Pipette 1. 0 ml serum, then add 2. 0 ml saline c. Pipette 1. 5 ml serum, then add 4. 5 ml saline d. Pipette 2. 0 ml serum, then add 5. 0 ml saline 4. The major components of a spectrophotometer are represented in the following diagram. Which component determines the factor â€Å"b† in Beer's law, A=BBC? A. Component A b. Component B c. Component C d. Component D At pH of 7. 4, which of the enzymes listed catalysts the following reaction? 5. Private + NADIA a. Lactate oxides b. Lactate dehydrogenate .Private kinas lactate * AND pH 8. 6 is used for serum protein electrophoresis so that 6. A. All serum proteins will have a net negative charge b. All serum proteins will have a net positive charge c. Electromagnetisms is avoided d. Heat production is minimized Seasonality measurements determine the 7. A. Activity of ions per kilogram of solvent b. Grams of dissolved solutes per kilogram of solvent c. Moles of dissolved solutes per kilogram of solvent d. Equivalents of dissolved solutes per kilogram of solvent Which of the following formulas can be used to calculate serum seasonality? 8. A. 2. 5 x An+ .An+ +K+ +CIA- +CO content c. (1. 86 x An+) + (1/18 x glucose) + (112. 8 x BUN) +9 (An+ + K+) -? (CLC- + HCI) 11. A serum sample is diluted 1 to 3 (1:3) before analys is and the following results obtained: Total protein – 4. 1 g/del Albumin- 1. 5 g/del Which total protein concentration should be reported? A. 4. 1 g/del b. 8. 2 g/del c. 12. 3 g/del d. 16. 4 g/del 16. Review the following serum test results: Creating 2. 5 MGM/del (0. 75- 1. 5 MGM/del) Cholesterol 220 MGM/del 126 MGM/del b. A serum glucose 200 MGM/del at anytime 38. If OLD receptors are non-functional due to disease, the plasma level of which lipid loud increase the most? . Fatty acids b. Cholesterol c. Cholesterol esters d. Triglycerides 39. Which of the following serum protein electrophoresis patterns is most typical of the nephritic syndrome? Albumin alpha alphas b. Normal d. Normal beta gamma 40. Which analyze is most likely to be elevated in a specimen drawn 2 hours after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction? A. KC- MBA (KC-2) b. Mycologist c. Titration I d. Titration T 41. Which of the following serum results correlates best with the rapid cell turnover associated wit h chemotherapy treatment regimens? A. Creating of 2. 5 MGM/del b. Potassium of 5. Mol/L c.Urea nitrogen of 30 MGM/del d. Uric acid of 10. 0 MGM/del 42. Which set of serum electrolyte results (in Mol/L) is most likely obtain from serum with an elevated lactate level? An+ a. 125 4. 5 b. 135 3. 5 c. 1454. 0 HCI 10 95 28 90 15 43. The following arterial blood gas results are obtained: PH 7. 28 APPC 53 meg POP 75 meg 26 Mol/L HCI- These results correlate best with patient experiencing a. Metabolic acidosis b. Metabolic alkaloids c. Respiratory acidosis d. Respiratory alkaloids 44. The patient with intermittent hypertension has an elevated value for urinary catecholamine metabolites (e. G. Malignancies acid [VIM]). This result may indicate a. Hyperventilation's b. Hyperthyroidism c. Idiopathic hypertension d. Phosphorescently 45. Blood from newborn has low thyroxin (TO) and elevated thyroid – stimulating – hormone (TTS) compared to reference ranges for that age. These result s are most consistent with a. Congenital hypothermia's b. Congenital primary hypothyroidism c. Congenital secondary hypothyroidism d. A normal response to pregnancy – induced changes in maternal thyroid function 47. The following results are obtained from a patient whose admission diagnosis is billiard obstruction TestResult Conjugated blurring increased Serum: Total blurring Blurring Urine: increased positive Which of the results obtained is inconsistent with the admission diagnosis? A. Serum conjugated blurring b. Serum total blurring c. Urinary blurring d. Urinary rebilling 49. Which of the following enzymes provides the best indication of obstructive liver disease, I. E. , schoolmates? A. Amylase b. Alkaline phosphate c. Separate nontransferable d. Lactate dehydrogenate 50. In a cerebration's fluid (SF) sample, which of the following proteins is quantitative to assess the permeability of the blood/brain barrier .Albumin b. Gig c. Transferring d. Preferable 51. The followi ng urinalysis are obtained: Glucose by reagent strip: negative Stones by reagent strip: positive These results are most consistent with a. Starvation b. Polynesia c. Diabetes mellitus d. Diabetes insipid 52. A patient with Type l, IDEM has the following results VBG Patient 1 50 MGM/del Ref Range 70- 110 MGM/del FSP 2. 6 Mol/L 2 – 2. 9 Mol/L 53. The patient has the following thyroid profile TTT: decreased OFT: decreased Thyroid peroxides anybody: positive TTS: decreased This patient most probably has a. Hyperthyroidism b. Hypothyroidism .A normal thyroid d. Grave's disease 53. Choose the diagnosis most consistent with the following: Serum total bill: elevated Serum direct bill: O MGM/del Serum indirect bill: elevated Urine blurring: negative Rebilling: decreased a. UDP – GET deficiency b. Posthypnotic bile obstruction c. Dublin Johnson syndrome d. Intramuscular hemolytic 5. When is a blood sample for determination of the trough level off drug proportionately drawn? A. D uring the absorption phase of the drug b. During the distribution phase of the drug c. Shortly before the drug administration d. Two hours after the administrationWhich of the following is used in the treatment of manic depression b. Lithium c. Calcium d. Chloride Which of the following is a commonly encountered xanthium that could potentially interfere with the determination of Diophantine? A. Nicotine b. Caffeine c. Amphetamine d. Proclaimed Which of the following drugs is used as an instrumentation in organ transplantation, especially in liver transplants? A. Metamorphose b. Emendation c. Cloistering d. Parenting Free drug levels can generally be determined by analyzing what body fluid? 9. A. Whole blood b. Illiterate of the plasma c. Urine .OFF of plasma 10. For what colorimetric reaction is the Trainer's reaction widely used? A. Acetaminophen b. Proponent c. Silicates d. Barbiturates 11. Anticoagulants whole blood is the preferred specimen in determining the exposure to what co mpound? A. Methanol b. Mercury d. Carbon monoxide 12. Free erythrocyte proprietorship (FEE) levels are useful as a screening method to which of the following metals? A. Zinc b. Lead c. Iron d. Mercury 13. Of the following specimens, which would be appropriate for determining the exposure to lead? A. DEED plasma b. Serum c. Whole blood d. SF 14.Identification of the urinary metabolite bioengineering would be useful in determining exposure to which of the following drugs? A. Codeine b. Cocaine c. Amphetamines d. Proponent 15. TECH is the principal active component of what drug? A. Benedictine b. Marijuana c. Morphine d. Codeine 17. When screening urine for toxic substances, which of the following will not be identified be Irenics Test? A. Bismuth b. Arsenic d. Cyanide 18. Which of the following tests would be particularly useful in determining sopranos exposure? A. Serum seasonality and urine acetone b. Urine seasonality and serum seasonality .Urine acetone and urine seasonality d. Se rum sodium and serum acetone 19. Which of the following methods would yield reliable quantification of ethanol in the presence of sopranos a. Reaction with permanganate and chronometric acid b. Conway diffusion followed by dichloride c. Alcohol dehydrogenate reaction d. Gas – liquid chromatography 20. Levels of 8 – 9% chronologically saturation of whole blood are commonly found in which of the following situations? A. Fatal carbon monoxide poisoning b. Acute carbon monoxide poisoning c. Non – smoking residents of rural areas d. Cigarette smokers

Education as a Social Institution Essay

At some point in time everyone is a recipient of some type of education. This can take the form of traditional schooling, home schooling, or mentoring by an individual. Formal schooling, within industrialized nations, typically encompasses one third of an individual’s life. This is one of the reasons sociologists have examined education as it relates to various social perspectives. This paper will explore education in regards to the Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist perspectives/views. (Perspective and views will be used interchangeably throughout this paper). â€Å"Two theories are considered in accounting for the increased schooling required for employment in advanced industrial society: (a) a technical-function theory, stating that educational requirements reflect the demands for greater skills on the job due to technological change; and (b) a conflict theory, stating that employment requirements reflect the efforts of competing status groups to monopolise or dominate jobs by imposing their cultural standards on the selection process† (Collins, 1971). Applying the Functionalist Theory Functionalist theory is explained by asserting that â€Å"societies function like biological systems in that they have differentiated parts that function together to ensure the smooth operation and survival of the organism as a whole† (Morrow, Torres, 1995). It is important to note that within the functionalist theory there are three different functions. â€Å"Manifest functions of institutions are open, stated, conscious functions. They involve the intended, recognized consequences of an aspect of society, such as the university’s role in certifying academic competence and excellence† (Schaefer, 2009). An example of this would be the core classes that are available to students in elementary school. Such as math, history, English, etc. While some schools, dependent on them being private or public institutions, offer various additional classes, they all predominately educate their students in core capabilities. Latent functions are those functions that â€Å"are unconscious or unintended functions that may reflect hidden purposes of an institution. One latent function of universities is to hold down unemployment. Another is to serve as a meeting ground for people seeking marital partners† (Schaefer, 2009). The third sub-function is dysfunction. In the military, dysfunction is referred to as the ten-percent. This means that for every group, unit, etc there will be ten percent of the population that does not conform to the military way of life. More simply, this can be expressed as â€Å"an element or process of a society that may actually disrupt the social system or reduce its stability† (Schaefer, 2009). Today’s educational system teaches students to become integral parts of society. Through public education, teachers are able to influence tomorrow’s workforce in societal norms, ensuring they understand how to become contributors to their society’s stability. An example of the contribution to society the education system provides is: parents that take on extra jobs to fund their child’s education. This provides revenue for the immediate family, while funding and teaching the child the importance of hard work, devotion, and self sacrifice (societal norms). This can be compared to the example in the text about Hindu’s and their devotion to cows. Just as the Hindu understand the benefit the benefits that they receive by ensuring their cows remain available to cultivate and fertilize their agricultural crops, most parents apply the same concept to educating their children. Understanding the benefits an education will provide not only their immediate family, but also their children and the community as a whole. Applying the Conflict Theory The basis of this theory is that conflict theorists assume â€Å"that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power of the allocation of resources, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation† (Schaefer, 2009). As with the functionalist perspective, conflict theory embraces various viewpoints. These include: the Marxist view, an African American view, and the feminist view. These views while differing slightly, each embrace the concern with inequality in society, while focusing on social change and the redistribution of resources. â€Å"The main dynamic of rising educational requirements in the United States has been primarily the expansion of mobility opportunities through the school system, rather than autonomous changes in the structure of employment. It is argued that the effort to build a comprehensive theory of stratification is best advanced by viewing those effects of technological change on educational requirements that are substantiated within the basic context of a conflict theory of stratification† (Collins, 1971). An example of this theory put to use is the April, 2001 strike conducted by Hawaii’s educators. Due to an inability of the state government and the union representatives to come to an understanding approximately 15,000 school teachers, from kindergarten to university, participated in the strike, effectively bringing Hawaii’s education system to a halt. This example while relating to the conflict theory is directly related to the Marxist view. â€Å"Conflict theorists are interested in how society’s institutions―including the family, government, religion, education, and the media―may help to maintain the privileges of some groups and keep others in a subservient position† (Schaefer, 2009). The individual view from this perspective identifies how people are shaped by power, coercion and authority. Specifically, those universities that are considered to be elite provide their students with enhanced career opportunities. â€Å"While there are various criteria by which particular colleges and universities can be placed in this academic hierarchy, the most significant one sociologically is their relationship to the class structure of society. This relationship is understood in terms of the social and economic attainments of their graduates. Elite colleges and universities, therefore, are those whose alumni enjoy disproportionate access to high-status occupations, as well as to other forms of economic and cultural privilege; they are gateways to elite membership in society† (Farnum, 1997). Applying the Interactionist Theory The first two perspectives have dealt with macrosociology or society as a whole. The interactionist perspective looks at portions of society in a microsociological way. This theory can be explained as â€Å"theorists who take the interactionist perspective generalize about everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole† (Schaefer, 2009). Some of the data compiled by interactionist sociologists studying the educational field include: student views/goals in relation to their grade point averages, effectiveness of school programs, and effectiveness of educator abilities. As with functionalist and conflict perspectives, the interactionist perspective incorporates additional concepts. These include symbols, nonverbal communication and face-to-face interaction. â€Å"Symbolic interactionism focuses on the role of language and symbols in the (interpretive) processes of meaning making. Young people are highly social beings deeply engaged in the processes of learning how to act within the culture of which they are a part. This cultural learning is both shaped and reflected by their use of language, dress, music and clothing, for example† (Domine, 2007). Within the education system, interactionists poll students and teachers alike, in order to determine what effect objects, actions, etc have on the subjects. This evaluation enables the sociologists to better understand everyday behaviors and relate them into quantitative or qualitative data to track social patterns. Society’s Views Regardless of your favored perspective, each of these views offers pros and cons, dependent on your topic of study. In the educational realm, the functionalist, conflict and interactionist views provide the sociologist a means to determining their ends. â€Å"Whatever the purpose of sociologists’ work, their research will always be guided by their theoretical viewpoints. For example, sociologist Elijah Anderson embraces both the interactionist perspective and the groundbreaking work of W.E.B. DuBois† (Schaefer, 2009). The works of these individuals and countless others have helped to define and more importantly to understand the how and why educational systems operate the way they do and how they can be improved. Conclusion Three distinct theoretical perspectives have been discussed throughout this paper. The overall tone to take away from the research conducted here is that regardless of the favored view, practitioners must maintain an open mind and be able to incorporate portions or be able to integrate separate perspectives into their work. When considering or examining the education field, the functionalist, conflict and interactionist views all lend themselves to providing quality feedback on the â€Å"snapshot in time† taken by the researcher, regardless of topic. This can come in the form of determining the effects of school lunches on the productivity of students to the quality of programs in relation to independent funding received by an institution. â€Å"A sociologist’s theoretical orientation influences his or her approach to a research problem in important ways―including the choice of what to study, how to study it, and what questions to pose† (Schaefer, 2009).

A Famous South Indian Restaurant In The Uk Marketing Essay

A Famous South Indian Restaurant In The Uk Marketing Essay Mirch Masala, a famous south Indian restaurant in the UK started in the year 1995 in Norbury, establishing branches in Tooting in the year 2001, Southall branch in April 2004, Croydon and East London branch in 2005 and Ilford branch being the latest in February 2009, under the watchful gaze of its owner and founder, Mr. Riaz Hassan Sabir, 49. It bears the name of most basic ingredient of Indian cuisine. The specialties are karahi and barbecue dishes. All food is prepared fresh on the premises, which may explain the massive popularity, as it tastes so fantastic. Mirch Masala has a string of awards to its credit. The Norbury branch won a highly commended in the Croydon Guardian’s Restaurant of the Year awards and the Tooting branch won its region in the Tiffin Cup and has gone on to the national finals. Mirch Masala has been the winner of a number of UK restaurant awards, the latest being TOP 100 RESTAURANTS OF UK voted by EVENING STANDARD (AUG 2003). Business portfolio The ent ire business is build upon a horizontal integration, dealing only with restaurant business. Expanding its wings in the South London with a total of 6 branches, all branches approved by Halal Monitoring committee, UK. Having the same menu and same style of preparing the food in all branches is unique in Mirch Masala. Mission Statement â€Å"To provide customers the authentic taste of Indian cuisine and be the best in the Industry on a consistent level† Overview of Business Mirch masala started with the first branch in Norbury and succeeded over a period of time, developing further with 5 more branches to its profile. Having over six branches, Mr. Riaz Hassan Sabir enjoys reaping a good profit and delivers excellent services with good quality of food equally over all branches even though the branches are decentralized. Employees come from the same Asian background that has enough idea about Indian cuisine. The business comprises of over 60 employees in all the branches with sea ting capacity of 170 in Croydon branch, 320 in Ilford, 130 in Tooting, 160 in Norbury, 140 in Southall and 120 in East Croydon. Branches Norbury Restaurant 1416 London Road, Norbury London SW16 4BZ Tel: 0208 679 1828, 0200 765 1070 Email: norbury@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk Tooting Restaurant 213 Upper Tooting Road London SW17 7TG Tel: 0208 672 7500, 0208 767 8638 Email: tooting@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk Southall Restaurant 171-173 The Broadway Southall, Middlesex UB1 1LX Tel: 0208 867 9222 Email: southall@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk East London Restaurant 111-113 Commercial Road London E1 1RD Tel: 0207 377 0155 Email: eastlondon@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk Croydon Restaurant 40-42 Southend Road Croydon CR0 1DP Tel: 0208 680 3322, 0208-6809898 Email: croydon@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk Ilford Restaurant 7-13 Goodmayes Road, Goodmayes Ilford, IG3 9UH Email: ilford@mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool used to identify internal fa ctors such as strengths, weakness of a business and external factors such as opportunities and threats which should be addressed on the right time in order to be successful over a period of time. SWOT analysis of Mirch Masala Restaurant is identified and specified as follows. Strengths The exterior and interior of the restaurant is clean and tidy The quality and service of the restaurant has created a good brand image over a period of time

Gender Inequality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gender Inequality - Research Paper Example Gender inequality in the workplace particularly has disastrous effects on the overall organization because the more stressful the working environment is the less effective is exhibited by employees. Between the years 1940 to 1995, a large number of women entered the labor force but unfortunately their exposure resulted in a whole new set of inequality problems. Unfortunately, inequality is also prevalent in the US government where men hold more than 85% of the elected positions and about 95% of the corporate executives are also males. On the other hand, women occupy two-thirds of the poor adult population. A substantial amount of the women population is still insecure because of problems such as sexual violence, occupational inequalities and feminization of poverty, continues to threaten them. We have encouraged women to pursue occupations once reserved only for their counterparts yet we have not encouraged men to follow traditional roles performed by women. Therefore, women continue to withstand the burden of undertaking family up bringing which inevitably limits the role they can play in the outside world. Therefore, it signifies that women are capable of contributing extensively towards economic and social development but their traditional responsibilities limit their capabilities. Despite the gender disparities that exist in our society, most of us do not consider it a serious problem and this is the very reason why the paradoxical legacy of inequality continues to plague our nation. (Rhode 2000). Our youth and adults feel comfortable discussing certain sexual issues such as sexual preferences, sexual relationships and sexual deviance but we feel uncomfortable discussing sexual inequality and its implications. In most conversations, the topic of sexual inequality is treated as an intruder which in most cases us unwelcomed. Ironically, most women’s rights activists fail to realize the fact that it’s about time we stopped discussing inequality, instead we need to act now and wage a war to eliminate it. On the other hand, we have only a handful of activists working to elevate the position of women which is another reason why the problem of gender inequality is so deep rooted. Despite the fact that women are continuously subjected to juvenile and benevolent sexism, only a quarter of the American women population believes that

Catholic England under Mary Tudor Research Paper

Catholic England under Mary Tudor - Research Paper Example Eamon Duffy clearly posits that the Marian regime’s religious policies were effective and did not use violence differently to ensure her state policies than other English or European monarchs. In the book, the author states â€Å"I suggest that the Marian restoration of Catholicism had, in fact, displayed high levels of determination and resourcefulness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The author concentrates the attention on the religious ideology of Catholics, which was under the threat of extinction. Duffy explains that the religious revolution was initially predetermined by the financial reasons. The country managed to fall into deep debts and was in a very uncertain position. In the situation of the mass disorders, it was very easy to hide the intentions of the government, whose aim was to fulfill their recourses. To prove this idea, Duffy writes â€Å"in 1552, Edward’s government, desperate for war funds, had turned this religiously inspired repudiation of Catholic externals into a fiscal resource, and had carried through the largest government confiscation of local property in English history.† In this case, it becomes obvious that the reasons for religious revolution were not based on pure belief. Edward’s government ransacking Church property to raise money and Mary’s decision making. Mary was forced to be strict and firm at taking decisions. She understood the fact that no conservative reforms and address to the subjects of the country could provide the order in it.

Law of the European Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law of the European Union - Essay Example The doctrine of pre-emption differs from the Supremacy clause of EC law ruled in Costa v. ENEL4 in that the latter is a guide when two existing norms regulating the same thing are in conflict,5 whereas pre-emption consists in determining whether there is a conflict between a national measure, be it in application or decision, and a rule of Community law. In a further step, in (Case 11/70) Internationale Handelsgesellschaft GmbH6, the Court held that Community law took precedence even over a fundamental rule in the German national constitution. The clearest statement of the implications of the supremacy of Community law came in (Case 106/77) Simmenthal SpA (No. 2)7 where the Court held that national courts, even a lowly court of first instance, have a duty to set aside provisions of national law, which are incompatible with EC law. There was no need to wait for the national law to be amended in line with national constitutional procedures: the national rule had to be set aside immediately if it conflicted with a directly applicable or directly effective Community provision. Nor does the obligation to set aside conflicting national rules only apply to national courts: even an administrative agency dealing with a national social insurance scheme was held to be required to do so in Case C-118/00 Larsy v INASTI8. Although the national me asure is rendered 'inapplicable', this does not absolve the Member State from the need formally to repeal it. In [Case 22-70] the ERTA case (European Road Transport Agreement) the ECJ decided that where the EC concludes a treaty in pursuance of a common policy (Transport, in this case), the possibility of concurrent authority on the part of MS towards non-member states is excluded: and any other purported exercise of concurrently authority will be over ridden to the extent that it conflicts with Community law. However, the ECJ develop pre-emption legal principle. The Court first formulated a principle of pre-emption in the ERTA case where the Court held that "once a Community common policy has been initiated,9 Community competence pre-empts Member State competence". Subsequently in Costa v. ENEL10, the principle of pre-emption has been made pragmatic and more flexible. In the interests of legal certainty, the Court said that Member States must also repeal the offending national rule: (Case 167/73) Commission v France (French Merchant Seamen)11. Even if it is not yet clear whether a person actually has a right which they claim under community law (i.e. it is a 'putative' right, not a definite one), the doctrine of supremacy requires a national court to set aside any national procedural rules which might prevent them from getting the full benefit of the Community right if it IS eventually found that they have it! This was laid down in the case (C-213/89) R v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame Ltd and others12. Spanish fishermen claimed that the UK's Merchant Shipping Act breached a number of EC Treaty articles and wrongly prevented them from fishing in British waters. They asked for interim relief (an injunction setting aside the offending clauses of the Act pending the full hearing of the case). The problem was that under English law, courts could not

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 17

History - Essay Example Most of these movements were socialist in nature advocating for equality of persons regardless of their race, gender or sexuality. However, the antiwar movement stood out since it campaigned against the extensive involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. The social upheaval of the sixties occurred between the late 1950s and early to late 1960s, resulting in public unrests and mass action against the government and other organizations of the day. The campaigners were demonstrating against what they termed as causes of society deterioration; asking responsible authorities to implement changes that would see society improve. First, the movement condemned conservatism, which is the refusal of components of society to accept change. The world had become accustomed to the way things were such that no one wanted any change. Second, the social upheaval wanted an end to the culture of social conformity, where everyone did what they did not because they wanted to, but because it was acceptable to do so. For instance, social conformity made people do evil deeds because they are socially acceptable, instead of doing what is right and taking responsibility for one’s actions. Finally, the social upheaval resulted from the American economic and work force resources that the government was using to support the war in Vietnam. The result of the social upheaval was, among others, the change in social structures to accommodate behaviors perceived as taboos. The aim of this paper is to discuss the social, political and economic conditions of the 1950s that lead to the social upheaval of the 1960s (Land and Lettieri 209). According to Henriksen (28), the atomic bomb that America dropped on Hiroshima had severe effects on the American society. She postulated that the scientists’ attempt and success in breaking down an atom into smaller pieces, resulting in literal breakdown of the American

Refer to assignment criteria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Refer to assignment criteria - Essay Example The paper says that the person sharing the shelter may sometimes pay the mortgage instalments or bear the expenses for the extended portion of the home. Sometimes the person may bear the household expenditure in lieu of the shared shelter on some understanding. Over a period of time, it is creating problems over the ownership of the house when the sharer dies or leaves the shared home for another place (Sharing Homes, The problem). The discussion paper sources these problems to the ambiguity of the current law guiding these shared homes. The present law is not very clear on payments made by the sharer on behalf of the owner. For instance, mortgage payments made by the sharer are enough for staking a claim on the home. But, sometimes, the sharer regularly pays the household bills enabling the owner to pay the mortgage instalments. Sometimes, the sharer may look after the household work like As per the law detailed in the discussion paper, a person who is not a legal owner but sharing the shelter in a home can claim an interest on it only when there is an equity arising by proprietary estoppel, when a resulting or constructive trust has arisen in his / her favour or when the sharer becomes a beneficiary under an express declaration of trust. In any of these circumstances, the sharer has to prove his / her right with sufficient proof. Because of these limited options available to the sharer, the law is termed as complex, arbitrary and uncertain in application. It is also ill suited to determining the proprietary rights of the home sharers. The discussion paper is of the opinion that the rules of implied trusts and proprietary estoppel are not as clear as they should be (Sharing Homes, Part I, introduction). An express trust arises when a person expressly declares that he or she holds property on trust for another or transfers property to another expressly subject to a trust. A

Consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumerism - Essay Example Part of the problem is the â€Å"image† that we are expected to portray. Most people subscribe to the theory, â€Å"if everyone else is buying it, then I want that too.† If one of your friends went out and bought a new Ferrari, even though he already owned four cars, then you would inevitably feel envy towards him. Society would demand that you went and did exactly the same thing because you cannot look â€Å"out of place.† Broken down, consumerism basically is correlated with social standing. If you are of a certain social class, then specific lifestyle choices are expected of you. Take for instance our neighborhood friend who is making not much more than the minimum wage. She is a teenager so there are always expectations that she is cool enough for her peers. Peer pressure plays an enormous part in consumer spending. Our teenage neighbor makes only $8 per hour, which is barely enough to survive; yet she is spending hundreds of dollars on Gucci shoes and Prada bags. We must ask ourselves why she feels the need to be extravagant when she can’t afford it. The reason for this is twofold: (1) she has to uphold an acceptable image to her peers and (2) she is constantly being bombarded with advertising telling her that her life would be incomplete without a certain product. Advertisers generally use famous people to help promote their products because the regular consumer looks up to them as a role model. Our neighborhood friend is no different from the rest of us—she feels pressured to live a lifestyle that is perceived bring happiness in our lives. The problem with consumerism is that it increases the gap between the rich and the poor. According to the World Bank, the richest 10% of people on earth account for over half the total consumption. On the other hand, the poorest 10% only contribute less than 1% towards the global total. Consumerism is contributing to the breakdown of societies as

Facilities management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Facilities management - Assignment Example iness of the owner organization (e.g., the core function of a school is teaching, and custodians or HVAC system maintenance personnel are support personnel.). It is the role of the facility management function (whether it is a separate department or small team) to coordinate and oversee the safe, secure, and environmentally-sound operations and maintenance of these assets in a cost effective manner aimed at long-term preservation of the asset value, and also other janitorial duties such as making sure the environment is properly cleaned and sanitized for its tenants. In those cases where the operation of the facility directly involves the occupants and/or customers of the owner organization, the satisfactory delivery of facility-related services to these people will be an important consideration too; hence, the term "end-user satisfaction" is often used both as a goal and a measure of performance. I further explain the topic by considering a case study of â€Å"THE GHERKINS â€Å" as a high performance work place to make the topic clearly understandable with examples that what are the key features that collectively cover the facility management field . CASE STUDY: The beautiful and exumberant 30 St Mary Axe, also famous as the Gherkin and the Swiss ReBuilding, is a skyscraper in Londons main financial district, the City of London . It was constructed in December 2003 and inaugurated in may 2004 . The building of 30 St Mary is situated on the former site of the Baltic Exchange building and it was designed by Norman Foster an his business partner Ken Shuttleworth and Arup Engineers and was erected by Skanska . The building consists of 40 floors and the building tower is 190 metres tall The eye-catching location of 30 St Mary makes it prominent for the beholders and its location is perfect for commercial and business purpose . As it is located at the centre of London’s financial district there are a number of major transport hubs , wide range of restaurants ,

India Change over Time Essay Example for Free

India Change over Time Essay India is a country with a rich culture and many age-old traditions. Although some of these aspects of indian culture can still be seen today, India has changed greatly over the year. A major contributing factor to this change was British colonization of India in the early and mid-1700s; colonization had both short-term and long-term impacts on India. Prior to British colonization most of India lived in small villages and maintained a predominantly agricultural economy. In most regions of India there is a strong sense of family and community. There are many festivals and occasions for celebration, especially weddings. As each region of India has elements of unique culture, occasions and celebrations can vary widely. Before colonization, people lived in extended families. A son would not leave his parents home when he married. Instead, his new wife would live with her husbands family and work for and serve his household. Women had very few choices or rights. They were expected to obey their father until they married, then they would obey their husband. If their husband died, they would be expected to obey their father-in-law. Houses were built of wood, reeds, mud bricks and straw. People slept, ate and sat on the floor, and furniture in houses was not common prior to colonization. Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism are the three religions that are believed to have shaped Indian thought; religions that are practices world-wide. Many motivations pushed Europeans towards colonizing foreign lands. Primarily, nations established colonies to gain economic profits. In addition to a desire for economic profit, nationalism also served as a reason for colonization. Europeans used the ideas of the White Mans Burden to help justify their colonization of foreign lands. The White Mans Burden was the idea that as supreme beings, it was the job of the white people to spread their superior ways of living to the inferior people of other places. Britain discovered the Indian sub-continent when it was looking to expand its vast empire. In the mid eighteenth century, India became one of Great Britains most important colonies. Great Britain relied heavily on India as a source of raw materials. Britain profited from Indias vast supply of tea and cotton. Beginning in 1757, the East India Company, which was overseen by the British government, ruled India. Britain did benefit from the situation; however, notwithstanding the obvious injustices associated with colonization, India also experienced positive impacts. While Great Britain felt that they were being very generous to the Indian people in colonizing and modernizing the nation, the Indians did not always agree with this. Under British rule, many new roads, railways, and harbors were built, and a telegraph system was created. While the Indians were forced to do much labor in the construction of these things, they were often kept from enjoying and benefiting from the finished products. In fact, the Indian people were treated as second class citizens in their own nation. They were banned from many government positions, and had little rights. They often received lower wages than Europeans working in the same job, and their educations did little for them. The Indians eventually came together to fight against the way that they were treated influenced by the same sense of nationalism that had prompted the British to colonize India more than a century before. After much hard work, India finally gained independence from Great Britain in August 1947; however, although India gained independence all ties with the British nation were not cut. One of the first impacts that colonization had in India was the development of unity. When Britain first acquired India as a colony the country was divided. The British imposed system impacted India by bringing more equality to the country as the caste system which outlined social hierarchy was adapted. It is also significant that Britain accepted all of the religions of India which also allowed unity to prosper. India has also experienced positive impacts from the institution established and then left behind by the colonizers. The institutions established by the British Raj and then inherited by India helped lead to democracy in modern day India. The assistance of these institutions assisted India in becoming the world’s largest democracy today. It is also of note that Britain first introduced India to early capitalism through colonization. Britain transformed India into an agricultural based capitalist economy and established forms of private ownership. These actions led India into creating free trade and competitive business. Today India is the largest provider of services in the world in large part due to colonization; however, it is uncertain if without colonization this would be possible. The Indian population is able to compete in the service sector due to the positive impact of the English language being left behind post British rule. When colonization was occurring in India schools were established which taught and offered instruction in English. It is also of note that the East India Company had a positive impact by establishing some services such as rail throughout the country. The culture of India was also greatly impacted. As the English language spread, indigenous languages were diminished, and the culture, as a whole, began to take on a more European style. Under colonial rule India often depended on Great Britian for such things as technological advances and manufactured goods. Once it became independent, India slowly fell behind the rest of the world, as it had to learn to depend less on other nations and more on itself. India, even today, is considered a third-world country. The nations that were once under colonial rule, such as India, are for the most part the nations that are currently undergoing industrial revolutions. In addition to colonization changing the culture of India, it also affected that of the mother country, Great Britain. Colonization led to an increased diversity of culture in Great Britain. This was because many people from India began to move to Great Britain. Today, Great Britain is still home to many Indian people. The impacts of British colonization were huge and the changes made to India as a nation were great. However, not all of that rich culture was lost. Many of those original religions such as Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism are still practiced world-wide. Also, even though English is common in education and business, the official language of India today is Hindi. Indians continue to be proud of their culture and traditional Indian buildings, attire, and customs can still be seen throughout the country.

Personal Ethics in Nursing Essay Example for Free

Personal Ethics in Nursing Essay Ethics is the discipline that waits in the wings as a health-restoring resource when moral guidelines fail to do the job alone. Ethics provides a language, along with methods, and tools for evaluating the components of personal, societal, and group morality to create a better path for yourself and others. Some of its most important uses are to clarify, organize, and critique morality to highlight what does and does not fit in a particular situation (Purtilo, 2011). A nurse cultivates personal ethics through personal, cultural, and spiritual values which becomes a moral compass for their professional ethics. Personal ethics in combination with the code of ethics often assist the nurses in personal and social decision making during ethical dilemma. This ability prompts them to better respond to needs of the suffering patient and their own well-being. Nursing ethics shares many principles with medical ethics such as beneficence, non-maleficience, and respect for autonomy. Nursing ethics however, can be distinguished by its emphasis on relationships, collaborative care and human dignity, because the health care climate is regularly changing, as is our society, it is crucial that nurses have a grounded understanding of ethics (Ward, 2012). Born in a middle-class Christian family from South India, the strict traditional values helped to embed the concept of service through family and friends who taught me trust, respect, integrity, and responsibility for my education and beliefs. One of my major spiritual values that kindled the concept of service within me is â€Å"do unto others as you would have them do unto you† which is found in the Bible. At an early age I started to practice this concept by not only self-respect for myself but mainly treating others with respect. Individuals may build their moral values from listening to their parents, grandparents, religious beliefs, friends, books, their local societal values and even watching television. Moral values and enthusiasm help an individual to understand one’s accountability to their profession to deliver harmless, a compassionate work atmosphere. This empowers nurses to raise their self-confidence in their profession. Maintaining the existing responsibilities in the nursing field is vibrant to assist patients, families, and the general public. Our ethnic standards play a big role in nursing life. Nurses however should not be judgmental of patient’s beliefs and force their own beliefs in patient care. Hospitals under Joint Commission are responsible for addressing and maintaining patient’s privileges. These privileges include the accommodation; divine, mystical, particular Cultural values and follows while providing care to patients from diverse faiths. Nurses must have reverence and not put down the patient’s faith and values, and provide care consistently. Being acquainted with a variety of different cultures, languages, and religions influence worldly views and nursing decisions in providing culturally sensitive care. The traditional spiritual and cultural morals along with diverse worldviews became the directorial moral compass to take the right decision on behalf of the patients and personal life and empowered to improve the confidence and capability as a nurse. Values, Morals, and Ethics are often thought of as interweaved and to have the same denotation when each of solely have a different meaning for themselves. Values are one’s fundamental beliefs developed from childhood through family and society. Morals are values that attribute to a system of beliefs. Values are the language that has evolved to identify intrinsic things a person, group, or society holds dear. Not all values are moral values either. For instance, some things are cherished for their beauty, novelty, or efficiency they bring to our lives (Purtilo, 2011). When values, morals, and ethics of nurse influence his or her professional conduct, it often tips to conflicting situation in one’s nursing practices. For example, the topic of abortion is frowned upon when looked at from a spiritual Christian standpoint. When a nurses’ spiritual doctrine is against abortion, it would be against their moral to assist in decision making to abort the baby even when the fetus is deformed, thus arising an ethical dilemma between personal values and coming to an ethical conclusion on aborting the baby. Hospital management may develop a strong Code of Ethics in order to help regulate and maintain a professional atmosphere for nurses so that their decision making will be easier when they incur ethical dilemmas. A Code of Ethics not only serves as a guideline for nurses but also sets a standard for them to abide by. Being in the nursing field my tasks vary from caring, communicating, teaching, bedside care, and even advocating therefore the likelihood of ethical dilemmas are inescapable. Thus far I haven’t been faced with any major ethical dilemmas that would violate my spiritual doctrines that I uphold. Most commonly the ethical dilemmas I’ve seen care providers face are usually due to religious and spiritual backgrounds of the patient. Some religions do not support induced death by humans and nurses may have trouble supporting the patient and family about cases like abortion. Although it is the individual’s right to make decisions about their bodies, the religious values do not allow one to be apart of the procedure. Therefore when I’ve been in minor ethical dilemmas while being a care provider I go by what is medically and ethically correct. Nurses are an important element of the health care field because their decisions along with commitment play an essential role for the welfare and safety of humanity. If their decision making is based on personal, cultural, and spiritual values then at times they may be faced with an ethical dilemma. In situations where they’re beliefs may be tested, nurses are expected to either follow the Code of Ethics set out by their management or they should be professional and do what is medically right in order to deliver quality care.

Compare and Contrast Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle

Compare and Contrast Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Something that differentiates animals from other organisms is their ability to voluntarily carry out actions using their muscles. They do this by muscle cells changing length, which is known as contracting. There are three types of muscle, which are distinguished by their structures and functions. These are cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle. Here I shall be comparing the structures of cardiac and skeletal muscle and looking at how their histological, structural and functional differences allow them to carry out their specific roles more effectively. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart and causes contractions, in the heart called systole, which pump the blood out of the heart and around the body supplying the oxygen and other vital substances to cells. Skeletal muscle is attached to tendons, which in turn attach to bones. The contractions of skeletal muscles cause the tendons to pull on the bones, which results in movement of, for example, an arm. There is only one similarity between the structures of cardiac and skeletal muscles. Both their structures are striated (striped), formed by actin and myosin myofilaments. They are tightly organised into repeating patterns so that actin can slide over the myosin during contraction. Figure 1 shows one of those repeating units in cardiac and skeletal muscle, called a sarcomere. For contraction to occur in cardiac and skeletal muscle, the actin filaments slide over the myosin filaments in a process known as the sliding-filament theory. So in figure 1 the thin pink filaments would slide over the dark blue filaments (not true colours). Myosin heads are attached to the actin. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) induces the dissociation of the myosin head, the myosin head then attaches again to the actin and eventually inorganic phosphate (Pi ) is released changing the angle of the myosin head, causing the actin filaments to slide over the myosin filament.  [1]  This causes a decrease in length of the I band but the A band always stays the same length. One of the main differences between the two types of muscle is in the way that their contractions are brought about. If one wanted to raise their arm, their brain would produce an action potential via the somatic nervous system (SNS). The action potential will lead to a muscle action potential and the T-tubules will depolarize and open calcium ion (Ca2+) channels, leading to cross-bridge cycling, where the actin and myosin slide past each other and cause the skeletal muscle to contract, lifting the bone with it. So the muscle will not contract without the input of the nervous system. Cardiac muscle is also connected to the nervous system. But as contractions are involuntary, cardiac muscle is connected to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, unlike in skeletal muscle, the actual action potentials that stimulate muscle contraction are created by myogenic cells in the heart. Myogenic means that it is the cells themselves that create the electrical action potentials, without the need for any external input. The cells are located in the Sino Atrial Node (SAN), which itself is located by the right atrium; the cells in the SAN are known as the pacemaker. They produce a pacemaker potential which sets the frequency of action potentials and thus the intrinsic rhythm of the normal heart.  [2]  The ANS, connected to the SAN, only modulates the heart rate, with the sympathetic nervous system speeding up the heart rate ready for the fight or flight reaction and the parasympathetic nervous system slowing the heart rate down. It is important that the heart is controlled automatically so that we are not conscious of the heart beating, because it would be almost impossible and probably exhausting for us to have to consciously think about making every single heart beat, especially when we are asleep. Moreover, because the heart is myogenic, there are benefits for transplants because the heart muscle can continue beating while the heart is being taken to the new body. Skeletal muscle must be under voluntary control so that every action can be carried out consciously, such as picking up a cup. If it were automatic there would be no conscious control of when the muscles should contract and our limbs would not be under our control. Nevertheless in reflex reactions, the skeletal muscle does come under the control of the ANS. For example, if ones hand was to touch a hot object, the ANS would react following a reflex arc of stimulus, receptor, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron, effector, response; the arm would automatically move away from the heat source. Generally, compared to the beating of the heart, there is no such pattern in our voluntary skeletal muscle contractions thus an automatic myogenic rhythm of action potentials are not required in skeletal muscles. Looking at a fasciculus from both a cardiac and skeletal muscle shows that they are structured slightly differently. Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2 (see below) show simplified versions of the structure of both muscles. Figure 2.1 shows an example of skeletal muscle. It is made of long thin cylindrical fibres, each being innervated by a single somatic alpha motoneuron. The axon enters the muscle and branches, connecting to single muscle fibres. In cardiac muscle the fibres are linked together by a type of intercalated disc called a gap junction. Also the fibres are held together by adherens junctions. These strengthen the overall structure of the cardiac muscle so the forceful contractions in the heart dont tear the fibres. The gap junctions are vital for the functioning of the heart. They allow the electrical signals produced from the SAN to pass between muscle cells so they all contract in a synchronised way and the atria followed by the ventricles undergo systole.  [3]  The heart has Purkinje fibres that conduct the action potential so that they go from the SAN in the right atrium all the way to the left ventricle. Damage to cardiac muscle fibres may cause unsynchronised contractions. This irregular and fast contraction of the heart is called fibrillation. If this occurs in somebody, without treatment they are likely to die. It can be treated by a large electric shock delivered across the chest by the use of a defibr illator. This aims to stop and then restart the APs from the SAN and thus for the heart to beat regularly again. Cardiac and skeletal muscle will both react to a single action potential by producing a single twitch response. When the frequency of signals increase, skeletal muscles show summation, where two APs, which occur very close together, will result in one stronger response rather than two normal responses. Eventually a tetanus can occur and instead of simply undergoing a series of single twitches for each action potential, the muscle remains in a contracted state for brief periods, which is far more efficient. This tetanus occurs because the refractory period is a lot shorter than the time it takes for a single cycle of contraction and relaxation. In cardiac muscle cells however, the duration of the action potential is a lot longer, due to slowly activating calcium channels and the T-tubules being relatively longer. Because another action potential cannot occur until the response of the previous action potential has been completed, cardiac muscle cannot undergo a tetanus. This is extremely important for cardiac muscle because time is needed for the heart to sufficiently fill up with blood before the next action potential arrives. A tetanus would prevent this happening and the heart would undergo systole and relaxation (diastole) at times when there is very little or no blood in the heart. Again, fibrillation is likely to occur. Due to the fact that cardiac muscle relaxes fully between contractions, it doesnt tire like skeletal muscle does. This is a benefit for cardiac muscle because if ones heart started to tire one would get angina and some areas of cardiac muscle may start to die. Due to the heart being constantly active, a lot more ATP is needed in cardiac muscle cells than in skeletal muscle cells, which only contract when required to. Therefore cardiac muscle has a larger number of mitochondria than skeletal muscle. Cardiac muscle undergoes constant oxidative phosphorylation to provide the ATP required for the actin to slide over myosin and thus for the muscle to contract. This means the cardiac muscle also requires its own supply of oxygen and respiratory substrates to respire aerobically. These are supplied via coronary arteries, which branch off from the ascending aorta. Having this supply and consequently producing a lot more ATP, is very effective for contractions. Skeletal muscle though, does not have as many mitochondria because it contracts relatively less frequently and does not need the constant supply of ATP. Relatively there is a huge difference in the length of a cardiac muscle fibre and a skeletal muscle fibre. Each cardiac fibre is up to 100 µm whereas each skeletal fibre is between a few mm to a 10cm  [4]. A muscle fibre is also known as a muscle cell. Most cells, including cardiac muscle fibres (cells), have one nucleus. Skeletal muscle fibres have many nuclei along the fibre (figure 2.1). This can be explained by looking again at the lengths of each type of fibre. Each skeletal muscle fibre is at least ten times the length of a cardiac muscle fibre. It would not be very effective for skeletal muscle to have just one nucleus to supply the whole length of the cell. The rough endoplasmic reticulum, which is positioned in the cell near the nucleus, has ribosomes on its surface where polypeptides are compiled. Therefore even if the nucleus was positioned in the middle of the cell, any polypeptides or proteins will be synthesised near there and would require ATP to transport it to where it is needed along the length of the cell. As a result, it is far more effective to have many nuclei scattered along the muscle fibre. Cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) are relatively a lot shorter, thus one nucleus is enough to provide for the whole fibre (see figure 2.2). Aerobic respiration is vital in cardiac muscle. It is the main source of ATP in cardiac muscle and is as a result of oxidative phosphorylation. The main respiratory substrates in cardiac muscle are fatty acids  [5]  , and also carbohydrates. Approximately 1 2% of the ATP in the heart originates from anaerobic respiration in basal metabolic conditions. This can go up to around 9% in hypoxic conditions, but in any more extreme hypoxic circumstances not enough oxidative phosphorylation occurs so theres not enough ATP produced for cardiac contractions, and the cardiac muscle will begin to die. Skeletal muscles have three sources of phosphate to make ATP as and when it is required: creatine phosphate, glycogen and cellular respiration. The creatine phosphate gives its phosphate to an ADP to leave ATP and creatine. There is about 10 times the amount of creatine phosphate than there is of ATP, so this is provides a good source of ATP. Skeletal muscle only contains about 1% glycogen. It can though undergo glycogenolysis to convert glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate. This goes on to yield just two molecules of ATP, so evidently this is a limited source. Cellular respiration is the main source of ATP during lengthy exercise and when converting lactic acid to glycogen.  [6]   There are many differences between cardiac and skeletal muscle. Both have striations but beyond that, they have special unique features that make their functions more effective. The heart is myogenic making it self-sufficient whereas skeletal muscle is controlled by the nervous system. It is also vital that the hearts cardiac muscle works without any problems, as even the slightest of problems in the heart can lead to death. Both types of muscle are important to not only humans but all animals. Cardiac muscle, as previously mentioned, is vital to our existence; without it we could not survive as it is needed to circulate oxygen and nutrients around the body. Skeletal muscle allows us to interact with our environment with ease and for humans this is most important as it lets us drive a car, use a computer or walk to university for example. For other animals it allows them to chase prey or run from a predator. And if the muscles werent as effective, there may be less ease when carrying out such activities. Literature cited Gillian Pocock, Christopher D. Richards (2006). Human Physiology The Basis of Medicine. Oxford Core texts. Pages 84 85, Page 87 figure 7.6 http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~sjjgsca/MuscleCardiac.html Josà © Marà ­n-Garcà ­a Michael J Goldenthal (2002) The Mitochondrial Organelle and the Heart, Rev Esp Cardiol, Volume 55, Issue 12, pp. 1293 1310, ISSN: 1579-2242 http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/M/Muscles.html

The History Behind Hate Crime and the Existing Legislation Essay

The History Behind Hate Crime and the Existing Legislation Many political scientists and researchers to a number of policy arenas in the United States ranging from corporal punishment to the quality of urban life have applied Daniel Elazar’s concept of political cultures. For a vast majority of these policy programs, a considerable correlation has been found to exist between the region examined and its approach to a specific policy. Elazar focused on three primary political cultures: the Moralist political culture (MPC), the Individual political culture (IPC), and the Traditional political culture (TPC). These cultures have served as a basis for explaining the difference that exist in the political, social, and personal facets of each respective region. These ideas have been consistent throughout the course of this nation’s history, existing even in present times. I have chosen to focus on a policy program that has demanded a great deal of attention in more recent times, namely in the past few years: hate crime policy. With mor e widespread media coverage, hate crimes have become more prevalent and more publicized than ever before. The Benjamin Smith shootings and the murder of Matthew Shepard are only two examples of recent crimes, which have been considered hate crimes that have promoted politicians and legislators to address this ever-growing problem and formulate a solution. This paper will attempt to define and uncover the history behind hate crime and the existing legislation. Furthermore, I will explain my own hypothesis then examine regional difference in the approaches to hate crimes and compare and contrast them to Daniel Elazar’s idea of political cultures. My own hypothesis is that moralist cultures will have been the first to initiate hate crime policy and be most likely to have such policies followed by individualist, then traditionalist political cultures. Hate Crime: Definition and History Every since the body of James Byrd was found in pieces on a road in east Texas, the authorities have been struggling to bring charges to reflect the horror of the crime. â€Å"Murder seems too pat: Mr. Byrd was chained to a truck and dragged for almost three miles†. In Texas, simple murder does not carry the death penalty. But Mr. Byrd was black, apparently murdered by racists, so there is a call for this killing to be labeled a â€Å"hate crime†, for whi... ...tiation of Hate Crime Law in the United States, 1978 to 1995: Innovation and Diffusion in the Criminalization of Bigotry.† American Sociological Review. April, 1998: 286-307. 4. Haider-Markel, Donald P. â€Å"The Politics of Social Regulatory Policy: State and Federal Hate Crime Policy and Implementation Effort.† Political Research Quarterly. March, 1998: 69-88. 5. â€Å"An Unwise Road in Texas.† The Economist. 20 June, 1998: 17. 6. â€Å"The Hate Debate.† The New Republic. 2 November, 1998: 7-8. 7. â€Å"1999 Hate Crime Laws: Anti-Defamation League.† URL: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/constitutionality.html 8. â€Å"The White House Conference On Hate Crimes.† URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/OneAmerica/whc.html 9. Elazar article 10. U.S. Census Bureau Statistical Abstracts of the United States: 1998. â€Å"No. 344- Hate Crimes- Number of Incidents, Offenses, Victims, and Offenders by Bias Motivation: 1996.† Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1998. 21 September, 1998: 215. 11. Wirt Lecture 12. Sharkansky article. 13. â€Å"Map of State Statutes: 1999 Hate Crime Laws.† URL: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/provisions.html

Summary Of The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

Summary of 'The Great Gatsby';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Gatsby is a book about rich people that are fighting about women, money etc. After I read this book I realized that even if you are rich you don't have to be happy. There are two main characters: Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby, both rich men. Here's the story in a short version... Nick Carraway is a young man from a wealthy family, living in a Middle Western city. The Carraway's are something of a clan actually. Nick's grandfather came here in 1851 and started a business, which his father carries on today. Nick graduated from Yale University in 1915, and just a little later he was in the Great War. When he came back he decided to go East and learn the bond business. He came East permanently in the spring of 1922. He found a house on the island which extends due East of New York. He has a beautiful house in a place called West Egg. That was on Long Island.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He made contact with his neighbor living closest to him, Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby was a very rich man with an enormous property. His house had a big lawn, a swimming pool and an exclusive garden. Despite all his money, he wasn't a very happy man. There was no woman in his life, just servants. His way of getting in touch with people was through his parties. He had parties in his home all the time. The house always got messed up, so the servants had a lot to do the day after the party.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick got to know a lot of people, some better than others. One of the people he met was a man called Tom Buchanan. He was the kind of man nobody likes. When he got angry, he would take it out on his wife, Daisy. He would beat her, once he even broke her nose. He always got drunk at parties and started arguments. He was also a cheater. He had a mistress named, Myrtle Wilson. She lived in an expensive apartment in New York, which Tom paid for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daisy knew about Tom's affair with Myrtle she just never spoke a word to him about it. She actually fell in

Free College Admissions Essays - MS Will Not Kill My Dream :: College Admissions Essays

MS Will Not Kill My Dream My story with MS began on December 4, 1999. I arrived at school as usual that cold winter morning feeling pretty good, a little tired, but other wise ok. Upon parking my car and opening the door to get out my right arm went to "sleep." I was totally blown away by it. How bizarre I thought to myself and just sat there a moment trying to figure out what possibly could be wrong with my arm. The next two days brought no relief and if anything it seemed to be getting more intense. My WHOLE arm was asleep and I just couldn't understand it. I visited a chiropractor a couple of days later and she said I was dehyrdrated and that my nervous system was under attack. Little did I know! I became increasingly concerned as the days passed and just couldn't buy what everyone was telling me, that I had a pinched nerve. I just knew it was something more and it was! I found a doctor about two weeks later and by that time my right hand was barely useable and the right side of my face, head and chest had also gone numb. I was scared to death! This doctor was wonderful and immediatly ran tests, sent me to a specialist, (neurologist) and spent hours with me examining me and trying to figure out just what could be wrong with me! MS never crossed my mind. A nurse of over ten years I have taken care of only ONE MS patient, a lady in her 90's! MS just didnt occur to me. After several visits to the neurologist, MRI, spinal tap and a slew of blood work I was told that MS was VERY likely the culprit. I was, to say the least, devastated by this news. I cried and cried and greived over this. It was with great fortune that a lady I worked with became extremly helpful to me during this time and prayed for me, listened to me and on more than one occasion, let me cry on her shoulder. On March 4, 2000 I visited a MS specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital in Lebanon N.H. and he made it official that it was MS and immediatly started me on Avonex. At this point I had researched the disease endlessly, somewhat come to terms with this awful fate and began to think more positively.

Psychosocial Effects Of Aging Health And Social Care Essay

Geriatricss is a subdivision of medical specialty covering with the aged and the jobs of the ripening. The field geriatrics includes of unwellness bar and direction, wellness care, and publicities of quality of life for the aged. Research on a broad assortment subject ramping from household facets of aging economic resources, and the bringing of long-run attention provinces that gender, race, ethnicity, and societal category systematically influenced the quality of the experience of aging. The experience of aging consequences from interaction of physical, mental, societal and cultural factors. Aging varies across civilizations. Culturally, aging every bit good as the intervention of the aged, is frequently determined by the values of an cultural group. Culture besides may find the manner the older individual views the procedure of aging every bit good as the mode in a more heterogenous aged population than any coevals that proceed it can be expected. Health attention professionals wi ll necessitate to cognize non merely diseases and upsets common to a specific age group but those common to a peculiar cultural group every bit good. An grasps of backgrounds can assist the wellness attention professional provide a personal attack when covering with and run intoing the demands of aged patients. Aging is a board construct that includes physical alterations in people ‘s organic structures over big life, psychological alterations in their heads and mental capacities, societal psychological alterations in what they think and believe, and societal alterations in how they are viewed, what they expected of them. Aging is invariably germinating construct. Impressions are a biologic age is more critical than chronologic age when finding wellness position of the aged is valid. Aging is an single and highly variable procedure. The functional capacity of major organic structure organs varies with progressing age. As one grows older, environmental and lifestyle factors aff ect the age-related functional alterations in the organic structure organ. The bulk of the aged seen in the wellness attention puting have been diagnosed with at least one chronic status. Persons who in the seventiess would non be able to last a debilitating unwellness, such as malignant neoplastic disease or a ruinous wellness events like a bosom onslaught, can now populate for more drawn-out periods of clip, sometimes with a assortment of coincident enfeebling conditions. Although age is the most consistent and strongest forecaster of hazard for malignant neoplastic disease and for decease from malignant neoplastic disease, Management of the aged malignant neoplastic disease patient becomes complex because other chronic conditions, such as degenerative arthritis, diabetes, chronic clogging pneumonic disease ( COPD ) , and bosom disease, must besides be considered in their attention. The attitude of wellness attention suppliers towards older grownups affect their wellness attention. Unfortunately, research indicates that wellness attention professionals are significantly more negative in their attitudes towards older patients than younger 1s. This attitude must alter if the wellness attention supplier is to hold a positive interaction with the aged patient. These attitude appear to be related to the permeant stereotyping of the aged, which serves to warrant avoiding attention and contact with them, every bit good as being reminders of our ain mortality. Ageism is a term used to depict the stereotyping of and favoritism against aged individuals and is conside red to be similar to that of the racism and sexism. It emphasized that often the aged are perceived to be abhorrent and that a antipathy for the aging procedure itself exists. Ageism suggests that he bulk of aged are doddering, suffering most of the clip, and dependant instead than independent persons. The media have besides influenced on traveling stereotyped impressions about the aged. Health attention suppliers must larn to appreciate the positive facets of aging so that they can help the aged in holding a positive experience with their imaging process.PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF AGINGThe human organic structure undergoes a multiplicity of physiologic alteration 2nd by 2nd. Small considerations is given sing these alterations unless they are brought on by sudden physical, psychological, or cognitive events. Radiographers must retrieve that each aged individual they encounter is a alone person with distinguishable features. These persons have experienced a life filled with memories and achievement. Young or old, the definition of quality of life is an person and personal 1. Research has shown that wellness position is an first-class forecaster of felicity. Greater societal contact, wellness satisfaction, low vulnerable personality traits, fewer nerve-racking life events have been linked to successful aging. Self-efficacy can be defined as the degree of control one has over one ‘s hereafter. Many aged people feel they have no control over medical exigencies and fixed incomes. Many have fewer picks about their personal life agreements. These environmental factors can take to depression and decreased self-efficacy. An addition in unwellness will normally parallel a lessening in self-efficacy. The aged may see altering functions from life of independency. The household function of an grownup lovingness for kids and grandchildren may germinate into the kids caring for their lovingness aging parents. It is besides a clip of loss. Losses may include the decease of a partner and friends, every bit good as loss of income due to retirement. The loss of wellness may be the ground for the wellness attention visit. The overall loss control may take to isolation and depression in the aged. Death and death is besides an at hand fact of life. The aging procedure entirely does non likely alter the indispensable nucleus of human being. Physical unwellness is non aging, and age-related alterations in the organic structure are frequently modest in magnitude. As one ages, the inclinations to prefer slower-paced activities, take longer to larn new undertakings, go more unretentive, and lose parts of centripetal processing accomplishments increase easy but noticeably. Health attention professionals need to be reminded that aging and disease are non synonymous. The more closely a map is tied to physical capablenesss, the more likely it is to worsen with age, whereas the closer a map depends on experience, the more likely it will increase with age. Joint stiffness, weight addition, weariness and loss of bone mass can be slowed through proper nutritionary intercessions and low-impact exercising. The importance of exercising can non be overstated. Exercise has been shown addition aerophilic capacity and mental velocity. Exercise plans designed for the aged should stress increased strength, flexibleness, and endurance. One of the best forecasters of good wellness in ulterior old ages is the figure and extent of healthy life styles that were established in earlier life. The aged individual may shown lessenings in attending accomplishments during complex undertakings. Balance, coordination, strength and reaction clip all lessening with age. Falls associated with balance jobs are common in the aged population, ensuing in a demand to concentrate on walking. Not overpowering them with instructions is helpful. Their vacillation to follow instructions may be fear instilled from a old autumn. Sight, hearing, gustatory sensation and odor are all centripetal modes that decline with age. Older people have more trouble with bright visible radiations and tuning out background noise. Many aged people become expert at lip reading to counterbalance for loss of hearing. For radiographers to presume that all aged patients are difficult of hearing is non usual ; they are non speaking in a normal tone, while doing volume accommodations merely if necessary, is a good regulation of pollex. Talking easy, straight, and clearly when giving instructions allows older grownup s an chance to screen through waies and improves their ability to follow them with better truth. Cognitive damage in the aged can be caused by disease, aging, and neglect. Dementia is defined as progressive cognitive damage that finally interferes with day-to-day working. It includes cognitive, psychologic, and functional shortages including memory damage. With normal aging comes a decelerating down and a gradual have oning out of bodily systems bit it does non include dementedness. Yet the prevalence of dementedness additions with age. Persistent perturbations in cognitive operation, including memory and rational ability, accompany dementedness. Fears of cognitive loss, particularly Alzheimer ‘s disease, are widespread among older people. Alzheimer ‘s disease is the most common signifier of dementedness. Therefore wellness attention professionals are more likely to meet people with this type. The bulk of aged people work at keeping and maintaining their mental maps by remaining active through mental games and exercisings and maintaining engaged in regular conversati on. When caring for patients with any grade of dementedness, verbal conversation should be inclusive and respectful. One should ne'er discourse the patients as through they are non in the room or are non active participants in the process. One of the first inquiries asked of any patient come ining a wellness attention installations for exigency service â€Å" Do you cognize where you are and what twenty-four hours it is? † The wellness attention suppliers need to cognize merely how watchful the patient is. Although memory does worsen with age, this is experienced largely with short-run memory undertakings. Long-run memory or subconscious memory undertakings show small alteration over clip and with increasing age. There can be a assortment of grounds for confusion or freak out. Medication, psychiatric perturbation, or retirement can confound the patient. For some older people, retirement agencies making a new set modus operandis and seting to them. The bulk of seniors like construction in their lives and have familiar modus operandis for nearing each twenty-four hours.PHYSIOLOGY OF AGINGHealth and well- being depend mostly on the grade to which organ systems can successfully work together to keep internal stablen ess, With age, there is seemingly a gradual damage of these homeostatic mechanisms. Aged people experience nonuniform, gradual, on-going organ map failure in all systems. Many of the organic structure organs bit by bit lose strength with forward age. These alterations place the aged at hazard for disease or disfunction, particularly in the presence of emphasis. At some point the likeliness of unwellness, disease and decease additions. Assorted physical diseases and upset affect both mental and physical wellness of people of all ages. They are more profound among aged people because diseases and upsets among older people are more likely to be chronic in nature. Although aging is inevitable, the aging experience is extremely single and is affected by heredity, lifestyle picks physical wellness, and attitude. A great part of usual aging hazards can be modified with positive displacements in life manner. In aged, the ripening of the variety meats systems is one of the procedure where th ey need to understands and there are as list below: Integumentary systems upsets Nervous systems upsets Centripetal systems upsets Musculoskeletal systems upsets Cardiovascular systems upsets Gastrointestinal system upset Immune system diminution Respiratory system upset Hematologic system upsets Genitourinary systems upsets Endocrine systems upsets.THE RADIOGRAPHER ‘S ROLEThe function of the radiographer is no different than that of all other wellness professionals. The whole individual must be treated, non merely the manifested symptoms of an unwellness or hurt. Medical imagination and curative processs reflect the impact of ongoing systemic ripening in documentable and ocular signifiers. Adapting processs to suit disablements and disease of geriatric patients is a critical duty and a challenge based about entirely on the radiographer ‘s cognition, abilities, and accomplishment. An apprehension of the physiology and pathology of aging, in add-on to an consciousness of the economic the societal, psychologic, cognitive, and economic facets of ripening, are required to run into the demands of the aged population. Conditions typically associated with aged patient constantly require versions or alterations of everyday imagination processs. The radiographer must be able to distinguish between age related alterations and disease procedures. Production of diagnostic images necessitating professional determination doing to counterbalance for physiologic alterations, while keeping the conformity, safety, and comfort of the patient, is foundation of the contract between the aged patient and the radiographer.RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING FOR GERIATRIC PATIENTSThe preceding treatments and apprehension of the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial effects of aging can assist radiographers accommodate to the placement challenges of the geriatric patient. In come instances everyday scrutinies need to be modified to suit the restriction, safety, and comfort of the patient. Communicating clear instructions with the patient is of import. The undermentioned treatment references positioning suggestion for assorted constructions. The common skiagraphy scrutinies for gerontologies are: Chest Spinal column Pelvis/hip Upper appendage Lower appendage Thorax The place of pick for the chest radiogram is the unsloped place ; nevertheless, the aged patient may non be able to stand without aid for this scrutiny. The traditional posteroanterior ( PA ) place is to hold the â€Å" dorsums of custodies on hips. † This may be hard for person with impaired balance and flexibleness. The radiographer can let the patient to falsify his or her weaponries around the chest bases as a agency of support and security. The patient may non be able to keep his or her weaponries over the caput for sidelong projection of the thorax. Supply excess security and stableness while traveling the weaponries up and forwards. When the patient can non stands, The scrutiny may be done seated in a wheelchair, but some issues will impact the radiographic quality. First, the radiotherapist demand to be cognizant that the radiogram is an anteroposterior ( AP ) alternatively of a PA projection, which may do comparing hard. Hyperkyphosis can ensue in the lung vertexs being obscured, and the venters may befog the lung bases. In sitting place, respiration may be compromised, and the patient should be instructed on the importance of a deep inspiration. Positioning of the image receptor for crookback patient should be higher than normal because the shoulder and vertexs are in a higher place. Radiographic landmarks may alter with age, and the focus may necessitate to be lower, if the patient is highly crookback. When positioning the patient for the sitting sidelong chest projection, the radiographer should put a big sponge behind the patient to tilt him or her forward. Siting Chest PA Chest Standing Spinal column Radiographic spinal column scrutinies may be painful for the patient enduring from osteoporosis who is lying on the x-ray tabular array. Positioning AIDSs such as radiolucent sponge, sandbags, and a mattress may be used every bit long as the quality, of the image is non compromised. Performing unsloped radiographic scrutiny may be besides appropriate if a patient can safely digest this place. The combination of cervical hollow-back and pectoral humpback can do placement and visual image of the cervical and pectoral spinal column hard. Lateral cervical projections can be done with the patient standings, sitting, or lying supine. The AP projection in the sitting place may non visualise the upper cervical vertebrae because the mentum may befog this anatomy. In the supine place the caput may non make the tabular array and consequence in magnification. The AP and open-mouth projection are hard to make in wheelchair. The thoracic and lumbar spinal columns are sites for compaction breaks. The usage of positioning blocks may be necessary to assist the patient remain in place. For the sidelong projection, a lead blocker or shield behind the spinal column should be used to absorb every bit much spread radiation as possible. Lateral Spine PELVIS/HIP Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and hurts as the consequence of falls contribute to hip pathologies. A common break in the aged is the femoral cervix. An AP projection of the pelvic girdle should be done to analyze the hip. If indicant is trauma, the radiographer should non try to revolve the limbs. The 2nd position taken should be a cross-table lateral of the affected hip. If hip hurting is the indicant, help the patient to internal rotary motion of the legs with the usage of sandbags if necessary. Immobilization device are topographic point to the patient pes. UPPER EXTREMITY Positioning the geriatric patient for projections of the upper appendages can show its ain challenges. Often the upper appendages have limited flexibleness and mobility. A cerebrovascular accident or shot may do contractures of the affected limb. Contracted limbs can non be forced into place, and cross-table positions may necessitate to be done. The inability of the patient to travel his or her limb should non be interpreted as a deficiency of cooperation. Supination is frequently a job in patients with contractures, breaks, and palsy. The everyday AP and sidelong projections can be supported with the usage of sponges, sandbags, and blocks to raise and back up the appendage being imaged. The shoulder is besides a site decreased mobility, disruption, and breaks. The healer should measure how much motion the patient can make before trying to travel the arm. The usage of finger sponges may besides assist with the contractures of the fingers. Hand Projection Lateral Wrist LOWER EXTREMITY The lower appendages may hold limited flexibleness and mobility. The ability to dorsiflex the mortise joint may be reduced as a consequence of neurologic upsets. Imaging on the x-ray tabular array may necessitate to be modified when a patient can non turn on his or her side. Flexure of the articulatio genus may be impaired and required a cross-table sidelong projection. If digressive projection of the kneecap, such as the Settegast method, is necessary and the patient can turn on his or her side, topographic point the image receptor superior to the articulatio genus and direct to cardinal beam perpendicular through the patellofemoral articulation. Projections of the pess and mortise joints may be obtained with the patient sitting in the wheelchair. The usage of positioning sponges and sandbags support and keep the place of the organic structure portion being imaged. AP Ankle Projection Lateral Ankle ProjectionPATIENT CAREPatient attention must be apply to geriatric patient because they all are all fragile where their bone can easy interrupt or they can be easy fainted during the scrutiny. For communications, take clip to educate the patient and his or her household, talk lower and closer, and handle the patient with self-respect and regard. Transportation and raising patient are besides be need because gerontologies patient is non stronger than normal individual. If possible, give the patient clip to rest between projection and processs. Avoid adhesive tape because aged tegument is thin and delicate. Supply warm covers in cold scrutiny suites, use table tablets and custodies tracks and ever entree the patient ‘s medical history before contrast media is administered. Take clip with the patient Immobilization DeviceDecisionThe imaging professional will go on to see a alteration in wellness attention bringing system with the dramatic displacement in the population of individuals older than age 65. This displacement in the general population is ensuing in an on-going addition in the figure of medical imagination processs preformed on aged patients. Demographic and societal effects aging find the manner in which the aged adapt to and see the procedure of aging. An person ‘s household size and perceptual experiences of aging, economic resources, gender, race, ethnicity, societal category, and the handiness and bringing of wellness attention will impact the quality of the aging experience. Biologic age will be much more critical than chronologic aging when finding the wellness position of the aged. Healthier life styles and promotion in medical intervention will make a coevals of successfully aging grownups, which in bend should diminish the nega tive stereotyping of the aged individual. Attitudes of all wellness attention professionals, whether positive or negative, will impact the attention provided to be turning aged population. Education about the mental and physiologic changes associated with aging, along with the cultural, economic and societal influences attach toing ripening, enables the radiographer to accommodate imagination and curative processs to the aged patient ‘s disablements ensuing from age-related alterations. The human organic structure undergoes a multiplicity of physiologic alterations and failure in all systems. The aging experience is affected by heredity, lifestyle picks, physical wellness, and attitude, doing it extremely individualized. No person ‘s aging procedure is predictable and is ne'er precisely the same as that of any other single. Radiologic engineers must utilize their cognition, abilities, and accomplishments to set imagination processs to suit for disablements and disease encountered with geriatric patients. Safety and comfort of the patient is indispensable in keeping conformity throughout imaging processs. Execution of accomplishments such as good communicating, listening, sensitiveness, and empathy, all lead to patient conformity. Knowledge of age-related alterations and disease procedure will heighten the radiographer ‘s ability to supply diagnostic information and intervention when supplying attention that meets the demands of the increasing aged patien t population.

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 20. COMPROMISE

EVERYTHING WAS READY. I was packed for my two-day visit with â€Å"Alice,† and my bag waited for me on the passenger seat of my truck. I'd given the concert tickets to Angela, Ben, and Mike. Mike was going to take Jessica, which was exactly as I'd hoped. Billy had borrowed Old Quil Ateara's boat and invited Charlie down for some open sea fishing before the afternoon game started. Collin and Brady, the two youngest werewolves, were staying behind to protect La Push – though they were just children, both of them only thirteen. Still, Charlie would be safer than anyone left in Forks. I had done all that I could do. I tried to accept that, and put the things that were outside of my control out of my head, for tonight at least. One way or another, this would all be over in forty-eight hours. The thought was almost comforting. Edward had requested that I relax, and I was going to do my best. â€Å"For this one night, could we try to forget everything besides just you and me?† he'd pleaded, unleashing the full force of his eyes on me. â€Å"It seems like I can never get enough time like that. I need to be with you. Just you.† That was not a hard request to agree to, though I knew that forgetting my fears would be much easier said than done. Other matters were on my mind now, knowing that we had this night to be alone, and that would help. There were some things that had changed. For instance, I was ready. I was ready to join his family and his world. The fear and guilt and anguish I was feeling now had taught me that much. I'd had a chance to concentrate on this – as I'd gazed at the moon through the clouds and rested against a werewolf – and I knew I would not panic again. The next time something came at us, I would be ready. An asset, not a liability. He would never have to make the choice between me and his family again. We would be partners, like Alice and Jasper. Next time, I would do my part. I would wait for the sword to be removed from over my head, so that Edward would be satisfied. But it wasn't necessary. I was ready. There was only one missing piece. One piece, because there were some things that had not changed, and that included the desperate way I loved him. I'd had plenty of time to think through the ramifications of Jasper and Emmett's bet – to figure out the things I was willing to lose with my humanity, and the part that I was not willing to give up. I knew which human experience I was going to insist on before I became inhuman. So we had some things to work out tonight. After everything I'd seen in the past two years, I didn't believe in the word impossible anymore. It was going to take more than that to stop me now. Okay, well, honestly, it was probably going to be much more complicated than that. But I was going to try. As decided as I was, I wasn't surprised that I still felt nervous as I drove down the long path to his house – I didn't know how to do what I was trying to do, and that guaranteed me some serious jitters. He sat in the passenger seat, fighting a smile at my slow pace. I was surprised that he hadn't insisted on taking the wheel, but tonight he seemed content to go at my speed. It was after dark when we reached the house. In spite of that, the meadow was bright in the light shining from every window. As soon as I cut the engine he was at my door, opening it for me. He lifted me from the cab with one arm, slinging my bag out of the truck bed and over his shoulder with the other. His lips found mine as I heard him kick the truck's door shut behind me. Without breaking the kiss, he swung me up so that I was cradled in his arms and carried me into the house. Was the front door already open? I didn't know. We were inside, though, and I was dizzy. I had to remind myself to breathe. This kissing did not frighten me. It wasn't like before when I could feel the fear and panic leaking through his control. His lips were not anxious, but enthusiastic now – he seemed as thrilled as I was that we had tonight to concentrate on being together. He continued to kiss me for several minutes, standing there in the entry; he seemed less guarded than usual, his mouth cold and urgent on mine. I began to feel cautiously optimistic. Perhaps getting what I wanted would not be as difficult as I'd expected it to be. No, of course it was going to be just exactly that difficult. With a low chuckle, he pulled me away, holding me at arm's length. â€Å"Welcome home,† he said, his eyes liquid and warm. â€Å"That sounds nice,† I said, breathless. He set me gently on my feet. I wrapped both my arms around him, refusing to allow any space between us. â€Å"I have something for you,† he said, his tone conversational. â€Å"Oh?† â€Å"Your hand-me-down, remember? You said that was allowable.† â€Å"Oh, that's right. I guess I did say that.† He chuckled at my reluctance. â€Å"It's up in my room. Shall I go get it?† His bedroom? â€Å"Sure,† I agreed, feeling quite devious as I wound my fingers through his. â€Å"Let's go.† He must have been eager to give me my non-present, because human velocity was not fast enough for him. He scooped me up again and nearly flew up the stairs to his room. He set me down at the door, and darted into his closet. He was back before I'd taken a step, but I ignored him and went to the huge gold bed, plopping down on the edge and then sliding to the center. I curled up in a ball, my arms wrapped around my knees. â€Å"Okay,† I grumbled. Now that I was where I wanted to be, I could afford a little reluctance. â€Å"Let me have it.† Edward laughed. He climbed onto the bed to sit next to me, and my heart thumped unevenly. Hopefully he would write that off as some reaction to him giving me presents. â€Å"A hand-me-down,† he reminded me sternly. He pulled my left wrist away from my leg, and touched the silver bracelet for just a moment. Then he gave me my arm back. I examined it cautiously. On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf, there now hung a brilliant heart- shaped crystal. It was cut in a million facets, so that even in the subdued light shining from the lamp, it sparkled. I inhaled in a low gasp. â€Å"It was my mother's.† He shrugged deprecatingly. â€Å"I inherited quite a few baubles like this. I've given some to Esme and Alice both. So, clearly, this is not a big deal in any way.† I smiled ruefully at his assurance. â€Å"But I thought it was a good representation,† he continued. â€Å"It's hard and cold.† He laughed. â€Å"And it throws rainbows in the sunlight.† â€Å"You forgot the most important similarity,† I murmured. â€Å"It's beautiful.† â€Å"My heart is just as silent,† he mused. â€Å"And it, too, is yours.† I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer. â€Å"Thank you. For both.† â€Å"No, thank you. It's a relief to have you accept a gift so easily. Good practice for you, too.† He grinned, flashing his teeth. I leaned into him, ducking my head under his arm and cuddling into his side. It probably felt similar to snuggling with Michelangelo's David, except that this perfect marble creature wrapped his arms around me to pull me closer. It seemed like a good place to start. â€Å"Can we discuss something? I'd appreciate it if you could begin by being open-minded.† He hesitated for a moment. â€Å"I'll give it my best effort,† he agreed, cautious now. â€Å"I'm not breaking any rules here,† I promised. â€Å"This is strictly about you and me.† I cleared my throat. â€Å"So . . . I was impressed by how well we were able to compromise the other night. I was thinking I would like to apply the same principle to a different situation.† I wondered why I was being so formal. Must be the nerves. â€Å"What would you like to negotiate?† he asked, a smile in his voice. I struggled, trying to find exactly the right words to open with. â€Å"Listen to your heart fly,† he murmured. â€Å"It's fluttering like a hummingbird's wings. Are you all right?† â€Å"I'm great.† â€Å"Please go on then,† he encouraged. â€Å"Well, I guess, first, I wanted to talk to you about that whole ridiculous marriage condition thing.† â€Å"It's only ridiculous to you. What about it?† â€Å"I was wondering . . . is that open to negotiation?† Edward frowned, serious now. â€Å"I've already made the largest concession by far and away – I've agreed to take your life away against my better judgment. And that ought to entitle me to a few compromises on your part.† â€Å"No.† I shook my head, focusing on keeping my face composed. â€Å"That part's a done deal. We're not discussing my . . . renovations right now. I want to hammer out some other details.† He looked at me suspiciously. â€Å"Which details do you mean exactly?† I hesitated. â€Å"Let's clarify your prerequisites first.† â€Å"You know what I want.† â€Å"Matrimony.† I made it sound like a dirty word. â€Å"Yes.† He smiled a wide smile. â€Å"To start with.† The shock spoiled my carefully composed expression. â€Å"There's more?† â€Å"Well,† he said, and his face was calculating. â€Å"If you're my wife, then what's mine is yours . . . like tuition money. So there would be no problem with Dartmouth.† â€Å"Anything else? While you're already being absurd?† â€Å"I wouldn't mind some time.† â€Å"No. No time. That's a deal breaker right there.† He sighed longingly. â€Å"Just a year or two?† I shook my head, my lips set in a stubborn frown. â€Å"Move along to the next one.† â€Å"That's it. Unless you'd like to talk cars . . .† He grinned widely when I grimaced, then took my hand and began playing with my fingers. â€Å"I didn't realize there was anything else you wanted besides being transformed into a monster yourself. I'm extremely curious.† His voice was low and soft. The slight edge would have been hard to detect if I hadn't known it so well. I paused, staring at his hand on mine. I still didn't know how to begin. I felt his eyes watching me and I was afraid to look up. The blood began to burn in my face. His cool fingers brushed my cheek. â€Å"You're blushing?† he asked in surprise. I kept my eyes down. â€Å"Please, Bella, the suspense is painful.† I bit my lip. â€Å"Bella.† His tone reproached me now, reminded me that it was hard for him when I kept my thoughts to myself. â€Å"Well, I'm a little worried . . . about after,† I admitted, finally looking at him. I felt his body tense, but his voice was gentle and velvet. â€Å"What has you worried?† â€Å"All of you just seem so convinced that the only thing I'm going to be interested in, afterward, is slaughtering everyone in town,† I confessed, while he winced at my choice of words. â€Å"And I'm afraid I'll be so preoccupied with the mayhem that I won't be me anymore . . . and that I won't . . . I won't want you the same way I do now.† â€Å"Bella, that part doesn't last forever,† he assured me. He was missing the point. â€Å"Edward,† I said, nervous, staring at a freckle on my wrist. â€Å"There's something that I want to do before I'm not human anymore.† He waited for me to continue. I didn't. My face was all hot. â€Å"Whatever you want,† he encouraged, anxious and completely clueless. â€Å"Do you promise?† I muttered, knowing my attempt to trap him with his words was not going to work, but unable to resist. â€Å"Yes,† he said. I looked up to see that his eyes were earnest and confused. â€Å"Tell me what you want, and you can have it.† I couldn't believe how awkward and idiotic I felt. I was too innocent – which was, of course, central to the discussion. I didn't have the faintest idea how to be seductive. I would just have to settle for flushed and self-conscious. â€Å"You,† I mumbled almost incoherently. â€Å"I'm yours.† He smiled, still oblivious, trying to hold my gaze as I looked away again. I took a deep breath and shifted forward so that I was kneeling on the bed. Then I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He kissed me back, bewildered but willing. His lips were gentle against mine, and I could tell his mind was elsewhere – trying to figure out what was on my mind. I decided he needed a hint. My hands were slightly shaky as I unlocked my arms from around his neck. My fingers slid down his neck to the collar of his shirt. The trembling didn't help as I tried to hurry to undo the buttons before he stopped me. His lips froze, and I could almost hear the click in his head as he put together my words and my actions. He pushed me away at once, his face heavily disapproving. â€Å"Be reasonable, Bella.† â€Å"You promised – whatever I wanted,† I reminded him without hope. â€Å"We're not having this discussion.† He glared at me while he refastened the two buttons I'd managed to open. My teeth clamped together. â€Å"I say we are,† I growled. I moved my hands to my blouse and yanked open the top button. He grabbed my wrists and pinned them to my sides. â€Å"I say we're not,† he said flatly. We glowered at each other. â€Å"You wanted to know,† I pointed out. â€Å"I thought it would be something faintly realistic.† â€Å"So you can ask for any stupid, ridiculous thing you want – like getting married – but I'm not allowed to even discuss what I -â€Å" While I was ranting, he pulled my hands together to restrain them in just one of his, and put his other hand over my mouth. â€Å"No.† His face was hard. I took a deep breath to steady myself. And, as the anger began to fade, I felt something else. It took me a minute to recognize why I was staring down again, the blush returning – why my stomach felt uneasy, why there was too much moisture in my eyes, why I suddenly wanted to run from the room. Rejection washed through me, instinctive and strong. I knew it was irrational. He'd been very clear on other occasions that my safety was the only factor. Yet I'd never made myself quite so vulnerable before. I scowled at the golden comforter that matched his eyes and tried to banish the reflex reaction that told me I was unwanted and unwantable. Edward sighed. The hand over my mouth moved under my chin, and he pulled my face up until I had to look at him. â€Å"What now?† â€Å"Nothing,† I mumbled. He scrutinized my face for long moment while I tried unsuccessfully to twist away from his gaze. His brow furrowed, and his expression became horrified. â€Å"Did I hurt your feelings?† he asked, shocked. â€Å"No,† I lied. So quickly that I wasn't even sure how it happened, I was in his arms, my face cradled between his shoulder and his hand, while his thumb stroked reassuringly against my cheek. â€Å"You know why I have to say no,† he murmured. â€Å"You know that I want you, too.† â€Å"Do you?† I whispered, my voice full of doubt. â€Å"Of course I do, you silly, beautiful, oversensitive girl.† He laughed once, and then his voice was bleak. â€Å"Doesn't everyone? I feel like there's a line behind me, jockeying for position, waiting for me to make a big enough mistake. . . . You're too desirable for your own good.† â€Å"Who's being silly now?† I doubted if awkward, self-conscious, and inept added up to desirable in anyone's book. â€Å"Do I have to send a petition around to get you to believe? Shall I tell you whose names would be on the top of the list? You know a few of them, but some might surprise you.† I shook my head against his chest, grimacing. â€Å"You're just trying to distract me. Let's get back to the subject.† He sighed. â€Å"Tell me if I have anything wrong.† I tried to sound detached. â€Å"Your demands are marriage† – I couldn't say the word without making a face – â€Å"paying my tuition, more time, and you wouldn't mind if myvehicle went a little faster.† I raised my eyebrows. â€Å"Did I get everything? That's a hefty list.† â€Å"Only the first is a demand.† He seemed to be having a hard time keeping a straight face. â€Å"The others are merely requests.† â€Å"And my lone, solitary little demand is -â€Å" â€Å"Demand?† he interrupted, suddenly serious again. â€Å"Yes, demand.† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Getting married is a stretch for me. I'm not giving in unless I get something in return.† He leaned down to whisper in my ear. â€Å"No,† he murmured silkily. â€Å"It's not possible now. Later, when you're less breakable. Be patient, Bella.† I tried to keep my voice firm and reasonable. â€Å"But that's the problem. It won't be the same when I'm less breakable. I won't be the same! I don't know who I'll be then.† â€Å"You'll still be Bella,† he promised. I frowned. â€Å"If I'm so far gone that I'd want to kill Charlie – that I'd drink Jacob's blood or Angela's if I got the chance – how can that be true?† â€Å"It will pass. And I doubt you'll want to drink the dog's blood.† He pretended to shudder at the thought. â€Å"Even as a newborn, you'll have better taste than that.† I ignored his attempt to sidetrack me. â€Å"But that will always be what I want most, won't it?† I challenged. â€Å"Blood, blood, and more blood!† â€Å"The fact that you are still alive is proof that that is not true,† he pointed out. â€Å"Over eighty years later,† I reminded him. â€Å"What I meant was physically, though. Intellectually, I know I'll be able to be myself . . . after a while. But just purely physically – I will always be thirsty, more than anything else.† He didn't answer. â€Å"So I will be different,† I concluded unopposed. â€Å"Because right now, physically, there's nothing I want more than you. More than food or water or oxygen. Intellectually, I have my priorities in a slightly more sensible order. But physically . . .† I twisted my head to kiss the palm of his hand. He took a deep breath. I was surprised that it sounded a little unsteady. â€Å"Bella, I could kill you,† he whispered. â€Å"I don't think you could.† Edward's eyes tightened. He lifted his hand from my face and reached quickly behind himself for something I couldn't see. There was a muffled snapping sound, and the bed quivered beneath us. Something dark was in his hand; he held it up for my curious examination. It was a metal flower, one of the roses that adorned the wrought iron posts and canopy of his bed frame. His hand closed for a brief second, his fingers contracting gently, and then it opened again. Without a word, he offered me the crushed, uneven lump of black metal. It was a cast of the inside of his hand, like a piece of play dough squeezed in a child's fist. A half-second passed, and the shape crumbled into black sand in his palm. I glared. â€Å"That's not what I meant. I already know how strong you are. You didn't have to break the furniture.† â€Å"What did you mean then?† he asked in a dark voice, tossing the handful of iron sand to the corner of the room; it hit the wall with a sound like rain. His eyes were intent on my face as I struggled to explain. â€Å"Obviously not that you aren't physically able hurt me, if you wanted to . . . More that, you don't want to hurt me . . . so much so that I don't think that you ever could.† He started shaking his head before I was done. â€Å"It might not work like that, Bella.† â€Å"Might,† I scoffed. â€Å"You have no more idea what you're talking about than I do.† â€Å"Exactly. Do you imagine I would ever take that kind of risk with you?† I stared into his eyes for a long minute. There was no sign of compromise, no hint of indecision in them. â€Å"Please,† I finally whispered, hopeless. â€Å"It's all I want. Please.† I closed my eyes in defeat, waiting for the quick and final no. But he didn't answer immediately. I hesitated in disbelief, stunned to hear that his breathing was uneven again. I opened my eyes, and his face was torn. â€Å"Please?† I whispered again, my heartbeat picking up speed. My words tumbled out as I rushed to take advantage of the sudden uncertainty in his eyes. â€Å"You don't have to make me any guarantees. If it doesn't work out right, well, then that's that. Just let us try . . . only try. And I'll give you what you want,† I promised rashly. â€Å"I'll marry you. I'll let you pay for Dartmouth, and I won't complain about the bribe to get me in. You can even buy me a fast car if that makes you happy! Just . . . please.† His icy arms tightened around me, and his lips were at my ear; his cool breath made me shiver. â€Å"Thisis unbearable. So many things I've wanted to give you – and this is what you decide to demand. Do you have any idea how painful it is, trying to refuse you when you plead with me this way?† â€Å"Then don't refuse,† I suggested breathlessly. He didn't respond. â€Å"Please,† I tried again. â€Å"Bella . . .† He shook his head slowly, but it didn't feel like a denial as his face, his lips, moved back and forth across my throat. It felt more like surrender. My heart, racing already, spluttered frantically. Again, I took what advantage I could. When his face turned toward mine with the slow movement of his indecision, I twisted quickly in his arms till my lips reached his. His hands seized my face, and I thought he was going to push me away again. I was wrong. His mouth was not gentle; there was a brand-new edge of conflict and desperation in the way his lips moved. I locked my arms around his neck, and, to my suddenly overheated skin, his body felt colder than ever. I trembled, but it was not from the chill. He didn't stop kissing me. I was the one who had to break away, gasping for air. Even then his lips did not leave my skin, they just moved to my throat. The thrill of victory was a strange high; it made me feel powerful. Brave. My hands weren't unsteady now; I got through with the buttons on his shirt this time easily, and my fingers traced the perfect planes of his icy chest. He was too beautiful. What was the word he'd used just now? Unbearable – that was it. His beauty was too much to bear. . . . I pulled his mouth back to mine, and he seemed just as eager as I was. One of his hands still cupped my face, his other arm was tight around my waist, straining me closer to him. It made it slightly more difficult as I tried to reach the front of my shirt, but not impossible. Cold iron fetters locked around my wrists, and pulled my hands above my head, which was suddenly on a pillow. His lips were at my ear again. â€Å"Bella,† he murmured, his voice warm and velvet. â€Å"Would you please stop trying to take your clothes off?† â€Å"Do you want to do that part?† I asked, confused. â€Å"Not tonight,† he answered softly. His lips were slower now against my cheek and jaw, all the urgency gone. â€Å"Edward, don't -,† I started to argue. â€Å"I'm not saying no,† he reassured me. â€Å"I'm just saying not tonight.† I thought about that while my breathing slowed. â€Å"Give me one good reason why tonight is not as good as any other night.† I was still breathless; it made the frustration in my voice less impressive. â€Å"I wasn't born yesterday.† He chuckled inmy ear. â€Å"Out of the two of us, which do you think is more unwilling to give the other what they want? You just promised to marry me before you do any changing, but if I give in tonight, what guarantee do I have that you won't go running off to Carlisle in the morning? I am – clearly – much less reluctant to give you what you want. Therefore . . . you first.† I exhaled with a loud huff. â€Å"I have to marry you first?† I asked in disbelief. â€Å"That's the deal – take it or leave it. Compromise, remember?† His arms wrapped around me, and he began kissing me in a way that should be illegal. Too persuasive – it was duress, coercion. I tried to keep a clear head . . . and failed quickly and absolutely. â€Å"I think that's a really bad idea,† I gasped when he let me breathe. â€Å"I'm not surprised you feel that way.† He smirked. â€Å"You have a one-track mind.† â€Å"How did this happen?† I grumbled. â€Å"I thought I was holding my own tonight – for once – and now, all of a sudden -â€Å" â€Å"You're engaged,† he finished. â€Å"Ew! Please don't say that out loud.† â€Å"Are you going back on your word?† he demanded. He pulled away to read my face. His expression was entertained. He was having fun. I glared at him, trying to ignore the way his smile made my heart react. â€Å"Are you?† he pressed. â€Å"Ugh!† I groaned. â€Å"No. I'm not. Are you happy now?† His smile was blinding. â€Å"Exceptionally.† I groaned again. â€Å"Aren't you happy at all?† He kissed me again before I could answer. Another too-persuasive kiss. â€Å"A little bit,† I admitted when I could speak. â€Å"But not about getting married.† He kissed me another time. â€Å"Do you get the feeling that everything is backward?† he laughed in my ear. â€Å"Traditionally, shouldn't you be arguing my side, and I yours?† â€Å"There isn't much that's traditional about you and me.† â€Å"True.† He kissed me again, and kept going until my heart was racing and my skin was flushed. â€Å"Look, Edward,† I murmured, my voice wheedling, when he paused to kiss the palm of my hand. â€Å"I said I would marry you, and I will. I promise. I swear. If you want, I'll sign a contract in my own blood.† â€Å"Not funny,† he murmured against the inside of my wrist. â€Å"What I'm saying is this – I'm not going to trick you or anything. You know me better than that. So there's really no reason to wait. We're completely alone – how often does that happen? – and you've provided this very large and comfortable bed. . . .† â€Å"Not tonight,† he said again. â€Å"Don't you trust me?† â€Å"Of course I do.† Using the hand that he was still kissing, I pulled his face back up to where I could see his expression. â€Å"Then what's the problem? It's not like you didn't know you were going to win in the end.† I frowned and muttered, â€Å"You always win.† â€Å"Just hedging my bets,† he said calmly. â€Å"There's something else,† I guessed, my eyes narrowing. There was a defensiveness about his face, a faint hint of some secret motive he was trying to hide behind his casual manner. â€Å"Are you planning to go back on your word?† â€Å"No,† he promised solemnly. â€Å"I swear to you, we will try. After you marry me.† I shook my head, and laughed glumly. â€Å"You make me feel like a villain in a melodrama – twirling my mustache while I try to steal some poor girl's virtue.† His eyes were wary as they flashed across my face, then he quickly ducked down to press his lips against my collarbone. â€Å"That's it, isn't it?† The short laugh that escaped me was more shocked than amused. â€Å"You're trying to protect your virtue!† I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the giggle that followed. The words were so . . . old-fashioned. â€Å"No, silly girl,† he muttered against my shoulder. â€Å"I'm trying to protect yours. And you're making it shockinglydifficult.† â€Å"Of all the ridiculous -â€Å" â€Å"Let me ask you something,† he interrupted quickly. â€Å"We've had this discussion before, but humor me. How many people in this room have a soul? A shot at heaven, or whatever there is after this life?† â€Å"Two,† I answered immediately, my voice fierce. â€Å"All right. Maybe that's true. Now, there's a world full of dissension about this, but the vast majority seem to think that there are some rules that have to be followed.† â€Å"Vampire rules aren't enough for you? You want to worry about the human ones too?† â€Å"It couldn't hurt.† He shrugged. â€Å"Just in case.† I glared at him through narrowed eyes. â€Å"Now, of course, it might be too late for me, even if you are right about my soul.† â€Å"No, it isn't,† I argued angrily. â€Å"‘Thou shalt not kill' is commonly accepted by most major belief systems. And I've killed a lot of people, Bella.† â€Å"Only the bad ones.† He shrugged. â€Å"Maybe that counts, maybe it doesn't. But you haven't killed anyone -â€Å" â€Å"That you know about,† I muttered. He smiled, but otherwise ignored the interruption. â€Å"And I'm going to do my best to keep you out of temptation's way.† â€Å"Okay. But we weren't fighting over committing murder,† I reminded him. â€Å"The same principle applies – the only difference is that this is the one area in which I'm just as spotless as you are. Can't I leave one rule unbroken?† â€Å"One?† â€Å"You know that I've stolen, I've lied, I've coveted . . . my virtue is all I have left.† He grinned crookedly. â€Å"I lie all the time.† â€Å"Yes, but you're such a bad liar that it doesn't really count. Nobody believes you.† â€Å"I really hope you're wrong about that – because otherwise Charlie is about to burst through the door with a loaded gun.† â€Å"Charlie is happier when he pretends to swallow your stories. He'd rather lie to himself than look too closely.† He grinned at me. â€Å"But what did you ever covet?† I asked doubtfully. â€Å"You have everything.† â€Å"I coveted you.† His smile darkened. â€Å"I had no right to want you – but I reached out and took you anyway. And now look what's become of you! Trying to seduce a vampire.† He shook his head in mock horror. â€Å"You can covet what's already yours,† I informed him. â€Å"Besides, I thought it was my virtue you were worried about.† â€Å"It is. If it's too late for me . . . Well, I'll be damned – no pun intended – if I'll let them keep you out, too.† â€Å"You can't make me go somewhere you won't be,† I vowed. â€Å"That's my definition of hell. Anyway, I have an easy solution to all this: let's never die, all right?† â€Å"Sounds simple enough. Why didn't I think of that?† He smiled at me until I gave up with an angry humph. â€Å"So that's it. You won't sleep with me until we're married.† â€Å"Technically, I can't ever sleep with you.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Very mature, Edward.† â€Å"But, other than that detail, yes, you've got it right.† â€Å"I think you have an ulterior motive.† His eyes widened innocently. â€Å"Another one?† â€Å"You know this will speed things up,† I accused. He tried not to smile. â€Å"There is only one thing I want to speed up, and the rest can wait forever . . . but for that, it's true, your impatient human hormones are my most powerful ally at this point.† â€Å"I can't believe I'm going along with this. When I think of Charlie . . . and Rene! Can you imagine what Angela will think? Or Jessica? Ugh. I can hear the gossip now.† He raised one eyebrow at me, and I knew why. What did it matter what they said about me when I leaving soon and not coming back? Was I really so oversensitive that I couldn't bear a few weeks of sidelong glances and leading questions? Maybe it wouldn't bug me so much if I didn't know that I would probably be gossiping just as condescendingly as the rest of them if it was someone else getting married this summer. Gah. Married this summer! I shuddered. And then, maybe it wouldn't bug me so much if I hadn't been raised to shudder at the thought of marriage. Edward interrupted my fretting. â€Å"It doesn't have to be a big production. I don't need any fanfare. You won't have to tell anyone or make any changes. We'll go to Vegas – you can wear old jeans and we'll go to the chapel with the drive-through window. I just want it to be official – that you belong to me and no one else.† â€Å"It couldn't be any more official than it already is,† I grumbled. But his description didn't sound that bad. Only Alice would be disappointed. â€Å"We'll see about that.† He smiled complacently. â€Å"I suppose you don't want your ring now?† I had to swallow before I could speak. â€Å"You suppose correctly.† He laughed at my expression. â€Å"That's fine. I'll get it on your finger soon enough.† I glared at him. â€Å"You talk like you already have one.† â€Å"I do,† he said, unashamed. â€Å"Ready to force upon you at the first sign of weakness.† â€Å"You're unbelievable.† â€Å"Do you want to see it?† he asked. His liquid topaz eyes were suddenly shining with excitement. â€Å"No!† I almost shouted, a reflex reaction. I regretted it at once. His face fell ever so slightly. â€Å"Unless you really want to show it to me,† I amended. I gritted my teeth together to keep my illogical terror from showing. â€Å"That's all right,† he shrugged. â€Å"It can wait.† I sighed. â€Å"Show me the damn ring, Edward.† He shook his head. â€Å"No.† I studied his expression for a long minute. â€Å"Please?† I asked quietly, experimenting with my newly discovered weapon. I touched his face lightly with the tips of my fingers. â€Å"Please can I see it?† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"You are the most dangerous creature I've ever met,† he muttered. But he got up and moved with unconscious grace to kneel next to the small bedside table. He was back on the bed with me in an instant, sitting beside me with one arm around my shoulder. In his other hand was a little black box. He balanced it on my left knee. â€Å"Go ahead and look, then,† he said brusquely. It was harder than it should have been to pick up the inoffensive little box, but I didn't want to hurt him again, so I tried to keep my hand from shaking. The surface was smooth with black satin. I brushed my fingers over it, hesitating. â€Å"You didn't spend a lot of money, did you? Lie to me, if you did.† â€Å"I didn't spend anything,† he assured me. â€Å"It's just another hand-me-down. This is the ring my father gave to my mother.† â€Å"Oh.† Surprise colored my voice. I pinched the lid between my thumb and forefinger, but didn't open it. â€Å"I supposed it's a little outdated.† His tone was playfully apologetic. â€Å"Old-fashioned, just like me. I can get you something more modern. Something from Tiffany's?† â€Å"I like old-fashioned things,† I mumbled as I hesitantly lifted the lid. Nestled into the black satin, Elizabeth Masen's ring sparkled in the dim light. The face was a long oval, set with slanting rows of glittering round stones. The band was gold – delicate and narrow. The gold made a fragile web around the diamonds. I'd never seen anything like it. Unthinkingly, I stroked the shimmering gems. â€Å"It's so pretty,† I murmured to myself, surprised. â€Å"Do you like it?† â€Å"It's beautiful.† I shrugged, feigning a lack of interest. â€Å"What's not to like?† He chuckled. â€Å"See if it fits.† My left hand clenched into a fist. â€Å"Bella,† he sighed. â€Å"I'm not going to solder it to your finger. Just try it on so I can see if it needs to be sized. Then you can take it right off.† â€Å"Fine,† I grumbled. I reached for the ring, but his long fingers beat me there. He took my left hand in his, and slid the ring into place on my third finger. He held my hand out, and we both examined the oval sparkling against my skin. It wasn't quite as awful as I'd feared, having it there. â€Å"A perfect fit,† he said indifferently. â€Å"That's nice – saves me a trip to the jeweler's.† I could hear some strong emotion burning under the casual tone of his voice, and I stared up at his face. It was there in his eyes, too, visible despite the careful nonchalance of his expression. â€Å"You like that, don't you?† I asked suspiciously, fluttering my fingers and thinking that it was really too bad that I had not broken my left hand. He shrugged his shoulders. â€Å"Sure,† he said, still casual. â€Å"It looks very nice on you.† I stared into his eyes, trying to decipher the emotion that smoldered just under the surface. He gazed back, and the casual pretense suddenly slipped away. He was glowing – his angel's face brilliant with joy and victory. He was so glorious that it knocked me breathless. Before I could catch that breath, he was kissing me, his lips exultant. I was lightheaded when he moved his mouth to whisper in my ear – but his breathing was just as ragged as mine. â€Å"Yes, I like it. You have no idea.† I laughed, gasping a little. â€Å"I believe you.† â€Å"Do you mind if I do something?† he murmured, his arms tightening around me. â€Å"Anything you want.† But he let me go and slid away. â€Å"Anything but that,† I complained. He ignored me, taking my hand and pulling me off the bed, too. He stood in front of me, hands on my shoulders, face serious. â€Å"Now, I want to do this right. Please, please, keep in mind that you've already agreed to this, and don't ruin it for me.† â€Å"Oh, no,† I gasped as he slid down onto one knee. â€Å"Be nice,† he muttered. I took a deep breath. â€Å"Isabella Swan?† He looked up at me through his impossibly long lashes, his golden eyes soft but, somehow, still scorching. â€Å"I promise to love you forever – every single day of forever. Will you marry me?† There were many things I wanted to say, some of them not nice at all, and others more disgustingly gooey and romantic than he probably dreamed I was capable of. Rather than embarrass myself with either, I whispered, â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Thank you,† he said simply. He took my left hand and kissed each of my fingertips before he kissed the ring that was now mine.