Monday, August 24, 2020

Global and International Business Context Essay

Worldwide and International Business Context - Essay Example It was worth $263.8bn in 2009 and is estimate to keep developing, but gradually (on the same page, p.2). Europe is the biggest market for wine, holding 80.5% of the market by esteem. The Asia-Pacific locale, which incorporates Australia, is worth 6.9%. The fundamental purchasers are general stores and hypermarkets, taking 37.9% of the market volume (on the same page, p.14). Section to the market doesn't require a huge organization or significant capital venture as top notch wines order premium costs (in the same place, p.15) yet Datamonitor survey the probability of new participants as being frail with moderate serious competition. The Australian wine advertise is genuinely divided with the best three makers holding just shy of half of the market by volume (Datamonitor 2010b). It was worth $5,768.4mln in 2009 and is gauge to develop at around 2% every year, which is quicker than the worldwide wine showcase (in the same place, p.2). The principle supplier of wine is Foster’s Group Limited, holding 20.8% piece of the overall industry by volume. Purchaser power is increasingly significant in Australia as there are low changing expenses to choices and an uncommon grouping of food and refreshment providers (in the same place). For new participants, there are obstructions to passage: import obligations, expenses and enormous circulation expenses of imported wines (in the same place). Serious competition is viewed as moderate. Makers can utilize marking to emphatically separate their items, giving a wide range. The essential wholesalers are authority retailers, holding a portion of 73.4% by volume in 2009 (in t he same place, p.23). For outside makers, the alternatives for entering the market incorporate beginning another organization or trading. In the event that trading, there are various roundabout expenses and obligations that represent half of the estimation of the imports (in the same place, pp.14-15) yet on the off chance that bringing in a superior brand, showcase passage can be accomplished effectively by adding a huge edge to represent the charges. Datamonitor survey, notwithstanding, that the probability of new contestants is

Saturday, August 22, 2020

An alternative in language testing research

An option in language testing research Free Online Research Papers Approval in language testing all in all and in cloze testing specifically has been predominantly founded on standard related legitimacy notwithstanding develop and content legitimacy. As the legitimacy of the previous approval procedure wherein tests are viewed as either legitimate or invalid dependent on their relationships with other as far as anyone knows substantial model tests is earnestly under inquiry, the current examination presents another subjective method for approval purposes. Analyst look into, as it is called here, alludes the researcher’s examination of his/her own interior manners of thinking simultaneously as he/she is stepping through an exam. The eccentric element of this strategy is that while exploring others, the inductions of what's going on are just made in a roundabout way and may consequently not be right, utilizing this method, the scientist, being associated with the assignment, himself/herself legitimately encounters what others can just watch. Su ch a strategy was applied to 11 cloze tests, built out of the researcher’s past works. The cloze-accepting procedures as experienced by the specialist uncover that diverse cloze things set various expectations for the test-taker. Further utilizations of the procedure and furthermore suggestions for cloze legitimacy as a proportion of perusing appreciation are examined. ________________ Foundation Legitimacy which alludes to how far an instrument truly gauges what it is expected to is one of the qualities of a decent test, others being dependability and common sense. Generally legitimacy has been examined and explored in the types of substance legitimacy, develop legitimacy, and rule related legitimacy including simultaneous and prescient legitimacy. Content legitimacy alludes to the degree a test gauges an agent test of the substance region it is proposed to quantify. Develop legitimacy manages whether a testing instrument truly gauges the fundamental build the test should quantify. The model legitimacy alludes to the degree a test estimates what another test quantifies either (simultaneously) or sometime in the not too distant future (presciently). While the two previous legitimacy types have been utilized to examine the legitimacy of a test in essence without contrasting it with others, in model related legitimacy, one tests legitimacy has been looked into dependent on anot her measure. This last sort of approval considers has won language testing research, and thus, recently developed tests have been professed to be either substantial or invalid proportions of the measure tests utilized. In rule related approval explore, the legitimacy of a test has been set up dependent on the level of connection between's the new (exploratory) test and the old (standard) test. In particular, if the watched level of connection between's two tests has been high and noteworthy, the new test has been viewed as substantial, and if the relationship has not been sufficiently high, the test being approved 86 has been viewed as invalid. In light of such an approval strategy, the new test, whenever finished up as legitimate, could supplant the more established test and be utilized for precisely what that test had been or could be utilized. Such an approval system has been a standard in language testing research and has been polished by some notable testing specialists including Taylor (1957), Carroll at al. (1959), Bormuth (1967), Rankin Culhane (1969), Oller Conrad (1971), Oller (1973), Stubbs Tucker (1974), Irvine et al. (1974), Jonz (1976), Alderson (1979a, b), Hinofotis (1980), Shohamy (1983), Hanania Shikhani (1986), Illyin et al. (1987), Hale at al. (1989), Stansfield Hansen (1989), Chapelle Abraham (1990), Fotos (1991), and Greene (2001) to give some examples. (For an audit of these examinations, see Sadeghi, 2002c). Genuine questions have been thrown on this sort of approval in which one test has been proposed to substitute the other basically on the grounds that they are tolerably to profoundly connected. The worry over the legitimacy of measure approval originates from the way that the factual strategy of connection, which is the principle measurable apparatus utilized in this sort of approval, has been conceived and planned to show the level of relationship between two factors, and that the nearness of a high level of relationship or even an ideal connection coefficient between two factors isn't expected to imply that they are of a similar sort or that they are compatible. Albeit nothing of the sort has been asserted in the basic idea of relationship, the method has been incomprehensibly utilized for this inappropriate reason, whereby dependent on high connections between's two tests, for instance, cloze and understanding tests, they have been finished up to quantify something very similar, and along these lines being compatible. The contentions against this exploration pattern in language testing have been advanced by Sadeghi (2002a, b, and c). The use of correlational methods for approval reason whereby one test is proposed to be a substantial proportion of another, and subsequently, to have the option to supplant that test is, notwithstanding, conceivable just if three conditions are met: 1) The tests are of a similar sort and character (for instance, if both are trial of language capability with comparable thing types); 2) The tests are expected for a similar reason (both planned to gauge language capability, for instance); and 3) The level of connection and the fluctuation cover between two measures is close to consummate, and in the event that we have to lose no huge data by subbing one test for another, the relationship ought to be +1.00. (For additional conversation, see Sadeghi, 2002c). Because of his disappointment with model approval in language-testing and especially in cloze testing where endeavors of substance approval and build approval have been futile in light of the fact that it isn't at all reasonable what cloze tests are estimating, the current specialist proposes another approval strategy, called ‘researcher research’, which is would have liked to explain increasingly about what cloze tests are actually doing and whether cases made on cloze tests regarding what they measure are validated or not. ‘Researcher research’ alludes to the dynamic and cognizant commitment of a scientist in the test-taking procedure and is a sort of research wherein the specialist and the subject of the exploration both allude to a similar person. Rather than by implication watching the test-taking procedure in others, the specialist turns into an insider and increases direct access to direct information by straightforwardly encountering the issue under scrutiny. The use of the strategy to a couple of cloze tests are introduced beneath, and proposals are made with respect to how the method might be applied in other testing settings. 87 Technique Subjects. The main subject of this examination was simply the analyst. Materials. The examination and estimation instruments utilized in this investigation were 11 cloze tests. The cloze tests, with the cancellation pace of each seventh word, were produced using the researcher’s past compositions which went from a quarter of a year to one year old. Someone else was told to make cloze tests structure removes that the specialist had just chosen so as not to contain a lot of cited material. To permit what is called lead-in and lead-out, the first and the last sentences of every entry were left flawless. The cloze tests built fluctuated long: while the most limited cloze test contained 34 things, the longest had 53 spaces. An example of the cloze tests utilized in the investigation shows up in the informative supplement. Method. After cloze tests were developed, the specialist sat half of the tests in a single meeting, and the other half in another meeting and made a note of the time utilized for each cloze test independently. In the wake of finishing the spaces, cloze tests were scored utilizing both accurate word scoring and satisfactory word scoring strategies by the specialist himself. In spite of the fact that there is inconsistency in inquire about discoveries with regards to in the case of permitting satisfactory scoring makes critical contrasts to the outcomes and befuddling ends appear to have been shown up in various examinations, utilizing adequate scoring, in any event for non-local speakers of the language, is by all accounts more pleasant regardless of whether the distinctions are not enormous enough. In light of such a defense, the cloze tests utilized here were additionally scored utilizing worthy scoring technique. Discoveries Quantitative information. The accompanying table speaks to the watched mean score in both precise and satisfactory scoring for the entirety of the tests utilized, and furthermore the mean score that could be acquired if all things in all tests were addressed effectively. Table 1: mean watched and anticipated score on cloze tests in precise and adequate scoring Distinct trademark Scoring technique Watched mean Anticipated mean Definite scoring 34.36 43.18 Satisfactory scoring 42.00 43.18 An examination of the normal for accurate scoring (watched mean) with the all out conceivable normal (anticipated mean) shows that if precise scoring just was to be permitted, and if cloze was to be viewed as a proportion of understanding cognizance, the outcomes acquired would imply that the scientist was exceptionally far structure understanding what he had himself composed. As the table above shows, the scores have improved a great deal with adequate scoring. This was a lot of expected particularly in light of the fact that the writings were the scientists own past composed examples, with the substance and the composed style of which the analyst was well recognizable. To give all the more significance to the quantitative information in the above table, the accompanying discoveries ought to likewise be considered. 88 Adequate answers that could be tallied unsuitable. As the accompanying models appear, a portion of the appropriate responses viewed as worthy were satisfactory considering the relevant pieces of information in the content, however on the off chance that the significance proposed by the first word was to be the measure for worthiness, a large portion of the things considered ‘acceptable’ here would have been cou

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Get Inspired With These 13 Mind Map Examples

Get Inspired With These 13 Mind Map Examples Mind mapping is best known as a brainstorming exercise. You start with a central topicâ€"surrounded by a bubbleâ€"then expand your ideas by adding additional bubbles that are each connected together with lines to create relationships. But mind mapping is useful for much more than just brainstorming. You can use mind maps to learn or teach new information faster, plan a meeting, create an outline for an essay or blog post, convey complex information more clearly, and much more. To help you come up with new ideas for how to use mind maps, we’ve pulled together 13 creative mind map examples you can use for inspiration. But First, Here’s How to Create a Mind Map There are lots of ways to create mind maps. The most basic approach is to just use pen and paper. Start with a central bubble, and then expand outward from there, adding as many ideas as you can in subsequent bubbles and connecting related ideas together with lines. And while the pen and paper method works for basic mind mapping, it’s not an ideal tool. You may run out of room on the paper. You can’t easily reorganize or rearrange bubbles. And the end result isn’t likely going to be clean enough to share it with others. For these reasons, a simpler way to create a mind map is to use a mind mapping tool like MindMeister. MindMeister makes it easy to build professional mind maps that can be as large as you need them to be, are easy to reorganize, and support features that pen and paper simply can’t, such as hyperlinking your bubbles, adding images, and collaborating on your mind map with others. Build beautiful mind maps quickly and easily 13 Mind Map Examples to Use for Inspiration There are an endless number of ways to use mind maps in all aspects of your life. To help you get inspired to create your next mind map, we put together this list of 13 mind map examples. 1. Brainstorming Suffering from writer’s block? Not sure what to name your new app? At a loss for ideas for your next essay assignment? Creating a mind map is a great way to brainstorm, get your mind working, and generate ideas via associations. Find a quiet space where you can feel creative, start with a central bubble, and then create additional bubbles as ideas flow into your mind. By the time you’re finished, you’ll either have an idea you’re excited about or lots of new ideas to share and consider. Get step-by-step instructions on how to use mind maps for brainstorming in our online brainstorming with mind maps tutorial. 2. Writing an essay You can use a brainstorming mind map to come up with ideas for an essay you need to write, and then you can take it a step further and use a mind map to figure out what you should write about in your essay. Just start with your main topic in the center and then branch out with ideas for topics you’ll cover in your essay. And if you’re using an online mind mapping tool like MindMeister, you can even link your bubbles to the sources you plan to cite in your essay. Want to see a few more mind map examples? Check out our guide to mind maps for essay writing. Or if you’ve graduated from essay writing and are working as a professional writer, consider these mind mapping tips for bloggers. 3. Taking notes While taking a class, attending a workshop, or listening to a talk or lecture, you could jot notes down in a notebook, but you’ll recall what you learned better if you take notes in a mind map, instead. Say a topic comes up frequently during the lecture. With linear notes, there’s no way to connect new things you learned back to the original notes you took on that topic. That’s not an issue with mind maps because all of your notes stem from related topics. Learn more about how to take notes with mind mapsâ€"and see some additional example note-taking mind mapsâ€"in our guide to effective note-taking in lectures and class. 4. Learning a new language Because mind maps are visual, they help you recall information better. For this reason, they’re a great tool when you’re trying to learn a new languageâ€"whether you’re taking a language class, preparing for an international vacation, or just expanding your knowledge for fun. When you’re at a loss for the right word in a new language, it’s easier to picture the mind map you created while learning to come up with the word you’re looking for. Find additional tips and mind map examples in our guide to learning a second language with mind maps. 5. Planning an event Eventsâ€"anything from a wedding to a major industry conferenceâ€"can be notoriously difficult to plan. There are a lot of details to keep track of. Using a mind map to plan your event is a great way to collect options for your event, evaluate those options when making decisions, keep track of everything that needs to be done, and share your plans with others. Discover more tips and mind map examples in our guide to event planning with mind maps. 6. Organizing information A great way to use mind mapping as a business professional is for organizing information. If you’re trying to create a knowledge base for your business, a great way to get started is to create a knowledge map. Or maybe you’re a lawyer or paralegal who’s planning a case. The mind map example above shows how several lawyers use MindMeister to plan their cases, including the evidence they’ll share and the questions they’ll ask people who testify. 7. Teaching mind mapping Students can use mind mapping while in school to learn, study, brainstorm, organize, take better notes, and much more. Then, they can use them throughout the rest of their lives at both home and work to do things like plan projects, organize their finances, and host productive meetings. For this reason, mind mapping is a great technique to teach to your students, and you can even use a mind map to teach about mind maps. You can also use mind maps to plan your lessons or to encourage group work and group brainstorming. Want more mind map examples for teachers? Here’s how one teacher uses MindMeister to inspire students and how another uses it to activate global citizens in a 5th-grade classroom. 8. Studying for an exam Creating a mind map is a great way to study for an upcoming exam. It forces you to review the information you’ve learned and look at that information critically to form connections. Plus, the visual nature of a mind map makes information easier to recall when you’re actually taking the exam, which could improve your grades. You might also want to check out these 10 ways students can use mind maps or our guide to staying organized at college using MindMeister. 9. Planning a business strategy When it’s time to plan your business strategy for next yearâ€"or to plan your strategy for the first timeâ€"creating a mind map is a great first step. It helps you brainstorm ideas and keep track of your research, and it’s a great visual to reference after you start implementing your strategy. And if you’re using a tool like MindMeister, you can easily share your strategy mind map with other members of your team to collect additional ideas, receive feedback via comments, and ultimately turn your mind map entries into tasks using MindMeister’s MeisterTask integration. Want to learn more? Here are four example business strategy mind maps to use for inspiration. 10. Designing user experiences Another great way to use a mind map is as a substitute for a flow chart when designing user experiences. The mind map above shows an example of how customers might flow through a mobile app, but it’s just one of many ways to brainstorm and outline customer experiences through mind mapping. Other ways to use UX mind maps include outlining the navigation of a website and structuring all of its pages, determining where blog posts and landing pages fall within the buyer’s journey, figuring out how to connect blog posts together via hubs and internal links, and much more. 11. Planning your finances Need to create a budget or plan for sending your kids to college, for an upcoming vacation, or for retirement? A mind map is a great way to outline all of the expenses you need to account for. Mind maps are such a good tool for financial planning that there are even financial planning firms that use MindMeister to present the financial plans they’ve developed to their clients, replacing spreadsheets and piles of paper with a one-page, accessible and visual roadmap. Mind maps are a great way to make large amounts of information more accessible to clients. Want to learn more? Check out our guide to using mind maps for client presentations. 12. Preparing a meeting agenda One of the best ways to conduct effective meetings is to distribute a meeting agenda to all participants ahead of time. This lets people prepare for the meeting, write down any questions they might like to ask, or submit ideas for additional topics they might want to discuss. And if you use MindMeister to create your meeting agenda, you can take notes during your meeting and easily convert action items to assignable tasks in MeisterTask. 13. Onboarding new employees You don’t want to be the company that shows employees to their desks and then leaves them to fend for themselves and figure out what they need to know on their own, so consider creating a mind map for employee onboarding. You can hand your finished mind map off to your HR representatives and recruiters to use as a sort-of checklist they can reference to make sure they do everything that needs to be done to ensure a smooth onboarding process for every one of your new hires. Want to learn more? Check out our guide to using MindMeister as a recruitment and HR tool. Discover Even More Mind Map Examples Want to see even more creative and inspiring ways to use mind maps? Check out our Public Maps Universe: a library that contains more than 300,000 example mind maps created by MindMeister users. The best part: if you like any of the examples, you can copy them to your MindMeister account in just two clicks to start editing your mind map instantly. Use Mind Mapsat home, work, schoolâ€"everywhere!

Friday, May 22, 2020

Diet And Exercise Of Living A Healthy Life - 1307 Words

Jessica Gourneau Professor Vanderlinde English 101 8 November 2015 Diet and Exercise Many people struggle with living a healthy life or struggle to know what exactly a healthy life means. Having good diet and exercise habits are an important part of living a healthy life. Just because someone may look fit and healthy, does not mean they are healthy. In fact, they could be just as unhealthy as an obsess person. This is also the same for someone who may not look like they are healthy. Even if they are overweight, they can still have a clean diet and a healthy heart. The only true way to determine if someone is living a healthy life and eating properly along with getting the right amount of exercise is by taking a closer look at their activity level and diet. The foundation to staying healthy is having a good meal plan. There are many different factors to consider when customizing a meal plan for someone. Their age, existing health issues, and the amount of activity are some of the main factors. For example, a younger person who is physical ac tive will not have to limit their diet as much as someone who is older and is not physical active. The average person should aim for 6-11 servings of grains, 3-5 of fruits and vegetables, 2-3 of dairy and meat, and also limit the amount of sugar and fats. This is a good base for someone to start off with until a meal plan can be written specifically for them. Even though diet is the most important part of living a healthyShow MoreRelatedPractice Healthy Lifestyle and Live Longer1488 Words   |  6 PagesPractice Healthy Lifestyle and Live Longer By  Apo Practice healthy lifestyle and live longer. You cannot fail to be healthy with it. Healthy lifestyle involves all good habits in life. It covers the physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspect of life. Healthy lifestyle means living with optimum health. It means living with vigor, joy and zest for life. It is eating nutritious food,   doing regular physical exercise, practicing good habits, having positive mental attitude, and trust in God. PracticeRead MoreBenefits Of Living A Healthy Lifestyle Essay983 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle, and there are many aspects that lead into it. Three important aspects that are most beneficial to a healthy life include sleep, diet and nutrition, and exercise. To live a healthy life starts at a young age. Living a healthy lifestyle when young is beneficial for adult life. One important aspect that is beneficial to adult health is sleep. Not getting the correct amount of sleep has immediate effects that are often overlooked. One importantRead MoreHow Does A Healthy Diet And Exercise Help Prevent The Risk Of Getting Type 2 Diabetes? Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Questions: What is Type 2 diabetes? What are the impacts of Type 2 diabetes? How does a healthy diet and exercise help prevent the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes? There are over 240,000 people in NZ who are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the largest and fastest growing health issue in NZ. According to a set of data from an Otago University researcher, Dr Kirsten Coppell from Sciblogs(an organization of scientists in NZ), said, â€Å"7% of New Zealanders over the age ofRead MoreHealthy Living Equals Longer Living1270 Words   |  6 Pagesadults. The very first day of our existence our body starts to age. As the body ages it starts to deteriorate. If a person does not take care of their body as they age, it shows that those are the main people that have the most complications later in life. All of these diseases would not be ruining peoples’ lives if they would take better care of themselves. Instead of eating a bag of chips one should grab and apple or orange, there are substitutes for the bad things people consume. 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ThereRead MoreEssay on Nutrition Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease1536 Words   |  7 Pagesthem implement healthy life choices, while living with a disease and possibly the comorbidities caused by the disease. Specifically, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the comorbidities associated can be highly preventable with adequate nutrition, regular exercise and management of a healthy weight throughout life. It is the care provider’s duty to educate patients on prevention and risk reduction for CVD, and to work together with patients with CVD so that they maintain quality of life. The purpose

Friday, May 8, 2020

Sherron Watkins And Enron Case Analysis - 1880 Words

Sherron Watkins and Enron Mylissa Hess I have chosen to write a response to the questions assigned that exposes Sherron Watkins’s experiences at Enron and the events leading to her Time Magazine â€Å"Persons of the Year† 2002 nomination. Watkins was Vice President of Enron Corporation who alerted then-CEO Ken Lay in August 2001 to accounting irregularities within the company. Some biography information regarding Ms. Watkins, who entered employment with Enron in late 1993, was initially employed to work for Andrew Fastow. Her role was to manage Enron’s $1 billion-plus portfolio of energy related investments, a position that she held for just a little of over 3 years. In 1997 she transferred to Enron’s international group focusing primarily on mergers and acquisitions of energy assets around the world. In 2001 after having spent a year in Enron’s broadband unit she went back to work for Mr. Fastow where he was responsible for the mergers and acquisitions group of Enron Corp. It was not un til November 2002 that Ms. Watkins resigned from Enron, almost a year after Enron filed for bankruptcy that lead to financial devastation. How did Watkins become aware of the financial reporting problems within the Enron Company? In 2001, after almost eight years with Enron, returned to work for Andrew Fastow, Enron’s chief financial officer (CFO), on a special assignment. These assignment was to estimate the economic effect of potential sales of some of Enron’s assets. This special assignment wasShow MoreRelatedPower Failure : The Inside Story Of The Collapse Of Enron980 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral: Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron, Mimi Swartz and Sherron Watkins, 432 pages, March 25, 2003, Crown Publishing Group, ISBN: 978-0-767-91368-3 Authors: The book is written by two authors: Mimi Swartz and Sherron Watkins. Mimi Swartz is a journalist who graduated from Hampshire College. She has written for many publications. Her work has been included in Slate, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. Currently, she serves asRead MorePower Failure : The Inside Story Of The Collapse Of Enron1837 Words   |  8 PagesGeneral Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron, Mimi Swartz and Sherron Watkins, 432 pages, March 25, 2003, Crown Publishing Group, ISBN: 978-0-767-91368-3 Authors The book is written by two authors: Mimi Swartz and Sherron Watkins. Mimi Swartz is a journalist who graduated from Hampshire College. She has written for many publications. Her work has been included in Slate, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. Currently, she serves as an executiveRead MoreJaclyn Givens. Kathy Osburn. Management 101. 5/8/17. 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Vampire Diaries Dark Reunion Chapter Six Free Essays

Vickie’s house was on a corner, and they approached it from the side street. By now the sky was filled with heavy purple clouds. The light had an almost underwater quality. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Six or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Looks like it’s going to storm,† Matt said. Bonnie glanced at Damon. Neither he nor Stefan liked bright light. And she could feel the Power emanating from him, like a low thrum just under the surface of his skin. He smiled without looking at her and said, â€Å"How about snow in June?† Bonnie clamped down on a shiver. She had looked Damon’s way once or twice in the barn and found him listening to the story with an air of detached indifference. Unlike Stefan, his expression hadn’t changed in the slightest when she mentioned Elena-or when she told about Sue’s death. What did he really feel for Elena? He’d called up a snowstorm once and left her to freeze in it. What was he feeling now? Did he even care about catching the murderer? â€Å"That’s Vickie’s bedroom,† said Meredith. â€Å"The bay window in the back.† Stefan looked at Damon. â€Å"How many people in the house?† â€Å"Two. Man and woman. The woman’s drunk.† Poor Mrs. Bennett, thought Bonnie. â€Å"I need them both asleep,† Stefan said. In spite of herself, Bonnie was fascinated by the surge of Power she felt from Damon. Her psychic abilities had never been strong enough to sense its raw essence before, but now they were. Now she could feel it as clearly as she could see the fading violet light or smell the honeysuckle outside Vickie’s window. Damon shrugged. â€Å"They’re asleep.† Stefan tapped lightly on the glass. There was no response, or at least none Bonnie could see. But Stefan and Damon looked at each other. â€Å"She’s half tranced already,† Damon said. â€Å"She’s scared. I’ll do it; she knows me,† said Stefan. He put his fingertips on the window. â€Å"Vickie, it’s Stefan Salvatore,† he said. â€Å"I’m here to help you. Come let me in.† His voice was quiet, nothing that should have been heard on the other side of the glass. But after a moment the curtains stirred and a face appeared. Bonnie gasped aloud. Vickie’s long, light brown hair was disheveled, and her skin was chalky. There were huge black rings under her eyes. The eyes themselves were fixed and glassy. Her lips were rough and chapped. â€Å"She looks possessed,† Bonnie whispered back, unnerved. Stefan just said, â€Å"Vickie, open the window.† Mechanically, like a windup doll, Vickie cranked one of the side panels of the bay window open, and Stefan said, â€Å"Can I come in?† Vickie’s glazed eyes swept over the group outside. For a moment Bonnie thought she didn’t recognize any of them. But then she blinked and said slowly, â€Å"Meredith†¦ Bonnie†¦ Stefan? You’re back. What are you doing here?† â€Å"Ask me in, Vickie.† Stefan’s voice was hypnotic. â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a long pause and then: â€Å"Come in.† She stepped back as he put a hand on the sill and vaulted through. Matt followed him, then Meredith. Bonnie, who was wearing a mini, re-mained outside with Damon. She wished she’d worn jeans to school today, but then she hadn’t known she’d be going on an expedition. â€Å"You shouldn’t be here,† Vickie said to Stefan, almost calmly. â€Å"He’s coming to get me. He’ll get you too.† Meredith put an arm around her. Stefan just said, â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Him. He comes to me in my dreams. He killed Sue.† Vickie’s matter-of-fact tone was more frightening than any hysteria could have been. â€Å"Vickie, we’ve come to help you,† Meredith said gently. â€Å"Everything’s going to be all right now. We won’t let him hurt you, I promise.† Vickie swung around to stare at her. She looked Meredith up and down as if Meredith had suddenly changed into something unbelievable. Then she began to laugh. It was awful, a hoarse burst of mirth like a hacking cough. It went on and on until Bonnie wanted to cover her ears. Finally Stefan said, â€Å"Vickie, stop it.† The laughter died into something like sobs, and when Vickie lifted her head again, she looked less glassy eyed but more genuinely upset. â€Å"You’re all going to die, Stefan,† she said, shaking her head. â€Å"No one can fight him and live.† â€Å"We need to know about him so we can fight him. We need your help,† Stefan said. â€Å"Tell me what he looks like.† â€Å"I can’t see him in my dreams. He’s just a shadow without a face.† Vickie whispered it, her shoulders hunching. â€Å"But you saw him at Caroline’s house,† Stefan said insistently. â€Å"Vickie, listen to me,† he added as the girl turned away sharply. â€Å"I know you’re frightened, but this is important, more important than you can understand. We can’t fight him unless we know what we’re up against, and you are the only one, the only one right now who has the information we need. You have to help us.† Stefan’s voice was unyielding. â€Å"I have a way to help you remember,† he said. â€Å"Will you let me try?† Seconds crawled by, then Vickie gave a long, bubbling sigh, her body sagging. â€Å"Do whatever you want,† she said indifferently. â€Å"I don’t care. It won’t make any difference.† â€Å"You’re a brave girl. Now look at me, Vickie. I want you to relax. Just look at me and relax.† Stefan’s voice dropped to a lulling murmur. It went on for a few minutes, and then Vickie’s eyes drooped shut. â€Å"Sit down.† Stefan guided her to sit on the bed. He sat beside her, looking into her face. â€Å"Vickie, you feel calm and relaxed now. Nothing you remember will hurt you,† he said, his voice soothing. â€Å"Now, I need you to go back to Saturday night. You’re upstairs, in the master bedroom of Caroline’s house. Sue Carson is with you, and someone else. I need you to see-â€Å" â€Å"No!† Vickie twisted back and forth as if trying to escape something. â€Å"No! I can’t -â€Å" â€Å"Vickie, calm down. He won’t hurt you. He can’t see you, but you can see him. Listen to me.† As Stefan spoke, Vickie’s whimpers quieted. But she still thrashed and writhed. â€Å"You need to see him, Vickie. Help us fight him. What does he look like?† â€Å"He looks like the devil!† It was almost a scream. Meredith sat on Vickie’s other side and took her hand. She looked out through the window at Bonnie, who looked back wide eyed and shrugged slightly. Bonnie had no idea what Vickie was talking about. â€Å"Tell me more,† Stefan said evenly. Vickie’s mouth twisted. Her nostrils were flared as if she were smelling something awful. When she spoke, she got out each word separately, as if they were making her sick. â€Å"He wears†¦ an old raincoat. It flaps around his legs in the wind. He makes the wind blow. His hair is blond. Almost white. It stands up all over his head. His eyes are so blue-electric blue.† Vickie licked her lips and swallowed, looking nauseated. â€Å"Blue is the color of death.† Thunder rumbled and cracked in the sky. Damon glanced up quickly, then frowned, eyes narrowed. â€Å"He’s tall. And he’s laughing. He’s reaching for me, laughing. But Sue screams ‘No, no’ and tries to pull me away. So he takes her instead. The window’s broken, and the balcony is right there. Sue’s crying ‘No, please.’ And then I watch him-I watch him throw her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vickie’s breath was hitching, her voice rising hysterically. â€Å"Oh, please, no-Sue! Sue! Sue!† â€Å"Vickie, stay with me. Listen. I need just one more thing. Look at him. Tell me if he’s wearing a blue jewel-â€Å" But Vickie was whipping her head back and forth, sobbing, more hysterical each second. â€Å"No! No! I’m next! I’m next!† Suddenly, her eyes sprang open as she came out of the trance by herself, choking and gasping. Then her head jerked around. On the wall, a picture was rattling. It was picked up by the bamboo-framed mirror, then by perfume bottles and lipsticks on the dresser below. With a sound like popcorn, earrings began bursting from an earring tree. The rattling got louder and louder. A straw hat fell off a hook. Photos were showering down from the mirror. Tapes and CDs sprayed out of a rack and onto the floor like playing cards being dealt. Meredith was on her feet and so was Matt, fists clenched. â€Å"Make it stop! Make it stop!† Vickie cried wildly. But it didn’t stop. Matt and Meredith looked around as new objects joined the dance. Everything movable was shaking, jittering, swaying. It was as if the room were caught in an earthquake. â€Å"Stop! Stop!† shrieked Vickie, her hands over her ears. Directly above the house thunder exploded. Bonnie jumped violently as she saw the zigzag of lightning shoot across the sky. Instinctively she grabbed for something to hang on to. As the lightning bolt flared a poster on Vickie’s wall tore diagonally as if slashed by a phantom knife. Bonnie choked back a scream and clutched tighter. Then, as quickly as if someone had flicked a power switch off, all the noise stopped. Vickie’s room was still. The fringe on the bedside lamp swayed slightly. The poster had curled up in two irregular pieces, top and bottom. Slowly, Vickie lowered her hands from her ears. Matt and Meredith looked around rather shakily. Bonnie shut her eyes and murmured something like a prayer. It wasn’t until she opened them again that she realized what she had been hanging on to. It was the supple coolness of a leather jacket. It was Damon’s arm. He hadn’t moved away from her, though. He didn’t move now. He was leaning forward slightly, eyes narrowed, watching the room intently. â€Å"Look at the mirror,† he said. On the glass surface of the bamboo mirror two words were scrawled in Vickie’s hot coral lipstick. Goodnight, Sweetheart. â€Å"Oh, God,† Bonnie whispered. Stefan turned from the mirror to Vickie. There was something different about him, Bonnie thought-he was holding himself relaxed but poised, like a soldier who’s just gotten confirmation of a battle. It was as if he’d accepted a personal challenge of some kind. He took something out of his back pocket and unfolded it, revealing sprigs of a plant with long green leaves and tiny lilac flowers. â€Å"This is vervain, fresh vervain,† he said quietly, his voice even and intense. â€Å"I picked it outside Florence; it’s blooming there now.† He took Vickie’s hand and pressed the packet into it. â€Å"I want you to hold on to this and keep it. Put some in every room of the house, and hide pieces somewhere in your parents’ clothes if you can, so they’ll have it near them. As long as you have this with you, he can’t take over your mind. He can scare you, Vickie, but he can’t make you do anything, like open a window or door for him. And listen, Vickie, because this is important.† Vickie was shivering, her face crumpled. Stefan took both her hands and made her look at him, speaking slowly and distinctly. â€Å"If I’m right, Vickie, he can’t get in unless you let him. So talk to your parents. Tell them it’s important that they don’t ask any stranger inside the house. In fact, I can have Damon put that suggestion in their mind right now.† He glanced at Damon, who shrugged slightly and nodded, looking as if his attention was somewhere else. Self-consciously, Bonnie removed her hand from his jacket. Vickie’s head was bent over the vervain. â€Å"He’ll get in somehow,† she said softly, with terrible certainty. â€Å"No. Vickie, listen to me. From now on, we’re going to watch your house; we’re going to be waiting for him.† â€Å"It doesn’t matter,† Vickie said. â€Å"You can’t stop him.† She began to laugh and cry at the same time. â€Å"We’re going to try,† Stefan said. He looked at Meredith and Matt, who nodded. â€Å"Right. From this moment on, you will never be alone. There will always be one or more of us outside watching you.† Vickie just shook her bent head. Meredith gave her arm a squeeze and stood as Stefan tilted his head toward the window. When she and Matt joined him there, Stefan spoke to all of them in a low voice. â€Å"I don’t want to leave her unguarded, but I can’t stay myself right now. There’s something I have to do, and I need one of the girls with me. On the other hand, I don’t want to leave either Bonnie or Meredith alone here.† He turned to Matt. â€Å"Matt, will you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Everyone looked at him, startled. â€Å"Well, it’s the logical solution, isn’t it?† Damon seemed amused. â€Å"After all, what do you expect one of them to do against him anyway?† â€Å"They can call for me. I can monitor their thoughts that far,† Stefan said, not giving one inch. â€Å"Well,† Damon said whimsically, â€Å"I can call for you too, little brother, if I get into trouble. I’m getting bored with this investigation of yours anyway. I might as well stay here as anywhere.† â€Å"Vickie needs to be protected, not abused,† Stefan said. Damon’s smile was charming. â€Å"Her?† He nodded toward the girl who sat on the bed, rocking over the vervain. From disheveled hair to bare feet, Vickie was not a pretty picture. â€Å"Take my word for it, brother, I can do better than that.† For just an instant Bonnie thought those dark eyes flicked sideways toward her. â€Å"You’re always saying how you’d like to trust me, anyway,† Damon added. â€Å"Here’s your chance to prove it.† Stefan looked as if he wanted to trust, as if he were tempted. He also looked suspicious. Damon said nothing, merely smiled in that taunting, enigmatic way. Practically asking to be mistrusted, Bonnie thought. The two brothers stood looking at each other while the silence and the tension stretched out between them. Just then Bonnie could see the family resemblance in their faces, one serious and intense, the other bland and faintly mocking, but both inhumanly beautiful. Stefan let his breath out slowly. â€Å"All right,† he said quietly at last. Bonnie and Matt and Meredith were all staring at him, but he didn’t seem to notice. He spoke to Damon as if they were the only two people there. â€Å"You stay here, outside the house where you won’t be seen. I’ll come back and take over when I’m finished with what I’m doing.† Meredith’s eyebrows were in her hair, but she made no comment. Neither did Matt. Bonnie tried to quell her own feelings of unease. Stefan must know what he’s doing, she told herself. Anyway, he’d better. â€Å"Don’t take too long,† Damon said dismissively. And that was how they left it, with Damon blending in with the darkness in the shadow of the black walnut trees in Vickie’s backyard and Vickie herself in her room, rocking endlessly. In the car, Meredith said, â€Å"Where next?† â€Å"I need to test a theory,† said Stefan briefly. â€Å"That the killer is a vampire?† Matt said from the back, where he sat with Bonnie. Stefan glanced at him sharply. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"That’s why you told Vickie not to invite anyone in,† Meredith added, not to be outdone in the reasoning department. Vampires, Bonnie remembered, couldn’t enter a place where humans lived and slept unless they were invited. â€Å"And that’s why you asked if the man was wearing a blue stone.† â€Å"An amulet against daylight,† Stefan said, spreading his right hand. On the third finger there was a silver ring set with lapis lazuli. â€Å"Without one of these, direct exposure to the sun kills us. If the murderer is a vampire, he keeps a stone like this somewhere on him.† As if by instinct, Stefan reached up to briefly touch something under his T-shirt. After a moment Bonnie realized what it must be. Elena’s ring. Stefan had given it to her in the first place, and after she died he’d taken it to wear on a chain around his neck. So that part of her would be with him always, he’d said. When Bonnie looked at Matt beside her, she saw his eyes were closed. â€Å"So how can we tell if he’s a vampire?† Meredith asked. â€Å"There’s only one way I can think of, and it isn’t very pleasant. But it’s got to be done.† Bonnie’s heart sank. If Stefan thought it wasn’t very pleasant, she was sure she was going to find it even less so. â€Å"What is it?† she said unenthusiastically. â€Å"I need to get a look at Sue’s body.† There was dead silence. Even Meredith, normally so unflappable, looked appalled. Matt turned away, leaning his forehead against the window glass. â€Å"You’ve got to be kidding,† Bonnie said. â€Å"I wish I were.† â€Å"But-for God’s sake, Stefan. We can’t. They won’t let us. I mean, what are we going to say? ‘Excuse me while I examine this corpse for holes’?† â€Å"Bonnie, stop it,† Meredith said. â€Å"I can’t help it,† Bonnie snapped back shakily. â€Å"It’s an awful idea. And besides, the police already checked her body. There wasn’t a mark on it except the cuts she got in the fall.† â€Å"The police don’t know what to look for,† Stefan said. His voice was steely. Hearing it brought something home to Bonnie, something she tended to forget. Stefan was one of them. One of the hunters. He’d seen dead people before. He might even have killed some. He drinks blood, she thought, and shuddered. â€Å"Well?† said Stefan. â€Å"Are you still with me?† Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Meredith’s hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window. Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Meredith’s hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window. â€Å"There’s a viewing of the body from seven to ten at the funeral home,† Meredith added, her voice low. â€Å"We’ll have to wait until after the viewing, then. After they close the funeral home, when we can be alone with her,† said Stefan. â€Å"This is the most gruesome thing I’ve ever had to do,† Bonnie whispered wretchedly. The funeral chapel was dark and cold. Stefan had sprung the locks on the outside door with a thin piece of flexible metal. The viewing room was thickly carpeted, its walls covered with somber oak panels. It would have been a depressing place even with the lights on. In the dark it seemed close and suffocating and crowded with grotesque shapes. It looked as if someone might be crouching behind each of the many standing flower arrangements. â€Å"I don’t want to be here,† Bonnie moaned. â€Å"Let’s just get it over with, okay?† Matt said through his teeth. When he snapped the flashlight on, Bonnie looked anywhere but where it was pointing. She didn’t want to see the coffin, she didn’t. She stared at the flowers, at a heart made of pink roses. Outside, thunder grumbled like a sleeping animal. â€Å"Let me get this open-here,† Stefan was saying. In spite of her resolve not to, Bonnie looked. The casket was white, lined with pale pink satin. Sue’s blond hair shone against it like the hair of a sleeping princess in a fairy tale. But Sue didn’t look as if she were sleeping. She was too pale, too still. Like a waxwork. Bonnie crept closer, her eyes fixed on Sue’s face. That’s why it’s so cold in here, she told herself staunchly. To keep the wax from melting. It helped a little. Stefan reached down to touch Sue’s high-necked pink blouse. He undid the top button. â€Å"For God’s sake,† Bonnie whispered, outraged. â€Å"What do you think we’re here for?† Stefan hissed back. But his fingers paused on the second button. Bonnie watched a minute and then made her decision. â€Å"Get out of the way,† she said, and when Stefan didn’t move immediately, she gave him a shove. Meredith drew up close to her and they formed a phalanx between Sue and the boys. Their eyes met with understanding. If they had to actually remove the blouse, the guys were going out. Bonnie undid the small buttons while Meredith held the light. Sue’s skin felt as waxy as it looked, cool against her fingertips. Awkwardly, she folded the blouse back to reveal a lacy white slip. Then she made herself push Sue’s shining gold hair off the pale neck. The hair was stiff with spray. â€Å"No,† said Stefan oddly. â€Å"But there’s something else. Look at this.† Gently, he reached around Bonnie to point out a cut, pale and bloodless as the skin around it, but visible as a faint line running from collarbone to breast. Over the heart. Stefan’s long finger traced the air above it and Bonnie stiffened, ready to smack the hand away if he touched. â€Å"What is it?† asked Meredith, puzzled. â€Å"A mystery,† Stefan said. His voice was still odd. â€Å"If I saw a mark like that on a vampire, it would mean the vampire was giving blood to a human. That’s how it’s done. Human teeth can’t pierce our skin, so we cut ourselves if we want to share blood. But Sue wasn’t a vampire.† â€Å"She certainly wasn’t!† said Bonnie. She tried to fight off the image her mind wanted to show her, of Elena bending to a cut like that on Stefan’s chest and sucking, drinking†¦ She shuddered and realized her eyes were shut. â€Å"Is there anything else you need to see?† she said, opening them. â€Å"No. That’s all.† Bonnie did up the buttons. She rearranged Sue’s hair. Then, while Meredith and Stefan eased the lid of the casket back down, she walked quickly out of the viewing room and to the outside door. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself. A hand touched her elbow lightly. It was Matt. â€Å"You’re tougher than you look,† he said. â€Å"Yes, well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She tried to shrug. And then suddenly she was crying, crying hard. Matt put his arms around her. â€Å"I know,† he said. Just that. Not â€Å"Don’t cry† or â€Å"Take it easy† or â€Å"Everything’s going to be all right.† Just â€Å"I know.† His voice was as desolate as she felt. â€Å"They’ve got hair spray in her hair,† she sobbed. â€Å"Sue never used hair spray. It’s awful.† Somehow, just then, this seemed the worst thing of all. He simply held her. After a while Bonnie got her breath. She found she was holding on to Matt almost painfully tightly and loosened her arms. â€Å"I got your shirt all wet,† she said apologetically, sniffling. â€Å"It doesn’t matter.† Something in his voice made her step back and look at him. He looked the way he had in the high school parking lot. So lost, so†¦ hopeless. â€Å"Matt, what is it?† she whispered. â€Å"Please.† â€Å"I’m not so sure.† Bonnie didn’t even think she wanted to. It was too scary. But she was overwhelmed by an urge to comfort him, to wipe that lost look from his eyes. â€Å"Matt, I-â€Å" â€Å"We’re finished,† Stefan said from behind them. As Matt looked toward the voice the lost look seemed to intensify. â€Å"Sometimes I think we’re all finished,† Matt said, moving away from Bonnie, but he didn’t explain what he meant by that. â€Å"Let’s go.† How to cite The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Six, Essay examples

Monday, April 27, 2020

Is Judaism Composed Of Many Small Religions Or One Underlying Religion

Is Judaism composed of many 'small religions' or one underlying religion? Judaism or Judaisms? It has been argued that Judaism can be seen not only as a single religion, but as a group of similar religions. It has also been pointed-out that through all the trials and tribulations that Judaism has suffered through, that there have been common themes that have proven omni-pervasive. Any institution with roots as ancient and varied as the religion of the Jews is bound to have a few variations, especially when most of its history takes place in the political and theological hot spot of the Middle East. In this discussion, many facets of Judaism will be examined, primarily in the three temporal subdivisions labeled the Tribal / Pre-Monarchy Period, the Divided Monarchy, and the Hasmonean / Maccabean and Roman Era. Among all the time periods where the religion has been split, these three seem to be the most representative of the forces responsible. As for a common thread seen throughout al l Judiasms, the area of focus here is the place associated with the religion : Jerusalem. This topic will be covered in detail first, and then the multiple Judaism arguments will be presented. In this way, it is possible to keep a common focus in mind when reading about all the other situations in which the religion has found itself. A brief conclusion follows the discussion. A Place to Call Home No other religion has ever been so attached to its birthplace as Judaism. Perhaps this is because Jews have been exiled and restricted from this place for most of their history. Jerusalem is not only home to Judaism, but to the Muslim and Christian religions as well. Historically this has made it quite a busy place for the various groups. Jerusalem is where the temple of the Jews once stood; the only place on the whole Earth where one could leave the confines of day to day life and get closer to God. In 586 BCE when the temple was destroyed, no Jew would have denied Jerusalem as being the g eographic center of the religion. From that point on, the Jewish people have migrated around the world, but not one of them forgets the fact that Jerusalem is where it all began. It is truly a sacred place, and helps to define what Judaism means to many people; a common thread to run through all the various splinters of the religion and help hold them together. Even today, as the Jewish people have their precious Jerusalem back (through the help of other nations and their politics) there is great conflict and emotion surrounding it. Other nations and people in the area feel that they should be in control of the renowned city, and the Jews deny fervently any attempt to wrestle it from their occupation. It is true that there is no temple in Jeruslaem today, nor are all the Jews in the world rushing to get back there. But it is apparent that the city represents more to the religion of Judaism than a mere place to live and work. The city of Jerusalem is a spiritual epicenter, and throug hout Judaism's long and varied history, this single fact has never changed. Tribal / Pre-Monarchy Judaism's roots lie far back in the beginnings of recorded history. The religion did not spring into existence exactly as it is known today, rather it was pushed and prodded by various environmental factors along the way. One of the first major influences on the religion was the Canaanite nation. Various theories exist as to how and when the people that would later be called Jews entered into this civilization. But regardless of how they ultimately got there, these pioneers of the new faith were subjected to many of the ideas and prejudices of the time. Any new society that finds itself in an existing social situation, can do no more than to try and integrate into that framework. And this is exactly what the Jews did. Early Judaism worshipped multiple gods. One of these gods was known as Ba'al, and was generally thought-of as a ?statue god' with certain limitations on his power. The oth er primary deity was