Miranda Lambert Essay

Although most will probably say someone close to them is inspiring, like their mother, grandmother, sister. In my opinion, they are your family, and you will always love and be inspired by them. Therefore I decided to write this on how a singer is inspiring to me. Her name is Miranda Lambert. Almost none of my friends have even heard of her. I guess because maybe she’s a country singer and they don’t really like country music? Who knows, but she is quite an amazing person. She grew up in a small town in Texas. â€Å"Not having money toughened me up a bit, but I’ll always be grateful. Texas people are really strong in their roots. I started writing and playing guitar at 17. I’ve always loved music, and my dad is a singer-songwriter. † Miranda once said. She was influenced personally by her father to take an interest in music. Her music is wonderful, and she has a beautiful voice. She writes almost all of her own songs, and they are full of meaning. For example a hit song of hers, ‘Gunpowder and Lead’, is about women and how they should not take any shit from any one, let alone a man who hits them. I’m even sitting here writing this, listening to her music. I mean not all of her songs have such a deep meaning, but they all are certainly songs you can just sit back, and rock out too. I’m in love with it, and such a huge fan. In my eyes, Miranda is unlike any star. She isn’t a skinny, overrated, prissy little bitch who is only popular for one song, or how pretty they are. Miranda isn’t even that main-stream, but still does what she loves. When she was a teen, she was on a show kind of like American Idol that got her career started. She went to Nashville, and came back to Texas almost immediately because she hated the â€Å"pop† sound of music, and wanted to stay original, and straight up country. She’s a country-rock girl, with meat on her bones, a strong head on her shoulders, and doesn’t take shit from anyone, and will speak up if she has too. I mean, I don’t know the woman personally, but she sure comes off as this way, and it rocks! Oh and who wouldn’t be inspired by her! She is only engaged in my opinon, to the best man in country music, Blake Shelton! Ha Ha. Well, anyways, I saw her in concert a few months ago, and it was outstanding. I was so close, and as crazy as it seems, I think she made eye contact with me at one point! I sound so cheesy, but she is a real role model for me. She is so successful in life, and just acts herself at all times. â€Å"There are a million blonde chicks who can sing. I’ve always wanted to be different. This quote, straight from Miranda’s mouth, has inspired me a lot. I know I cannot sing what so ever, and I’m not blonde, but I want to be different, and for the most part I am. I am my own person, and I hope I can continue to be true to myself, and not let anyone tell me otherwise. I’m not here to please anyone, or do what they want, I’m here to please myself, and do what I like, and what makes me happy. And Miranda is a great example of this. This is why Country Singer, Miranda Lambert inspires me.

High school days worth remembering as I found myself Essay

Life is all but a matter of constancy, with the changing seasons and tides cutting the remaining days of the lives of men. The progression of the life of being a student retains a significant room in my thoughts as my high school days will always be remembered, if not by everybody else, at least by myself. Or so I think at least by myself, lest I forget that I had the company of good friends along the way. They never abandoned me in times when I need them most. I was there for them when they, too, need someone to be with. It is only a fraction of what sum of good deeds I must or feel to give them in return. And this is what I liked most in my high school days, apart from everything else that contributed to my identity of who I am today. High school has given me the highest chances of expanding my view not only of myself but also to the people around me. This is whether they liked me or not, or whether they ever know me at all. I must say, friendship has given a deeper sense of camaraderie and that my friends have occupied my thoughts everyday. The bond of friendship I had is what I liked most, although at times tests on friendship seem to erode the rigid relationship I had with my folks. My friends and I usually hung-out on one of our â€Å"camps†, the term we call the official hang-out place of the group. And more often than not, these â€Å"camps† were usually the houses of those who were just nearby the school. My friends always bring with them loads of food, and stuff that we can use to spend our time away especially during weekends. As much as we love listening to music, my friends also play several instruments, bringing with them guitars and percussion instruments as we fill the room with melody—albeit gruesome in lazy days. I remember the days and nights that our circle of friends spent together, lazy afternoons that encircled us until dawn with frivolous stories and flights of our fantasies as the clouds hover above us like sluggish cottons against a background of sunburst orange, cold and rainy days that made us huddle together and make remarks on our facial expressions. I remember, too, the high school gatherings we attended and left without hesitation and without anticipation of what may stand ahead of us. All we know is that we have each other and the world did not matter much anymore. I remember these and them very well. These friends of mine in high school are the some of the classmates I had during those years, expanding as time moved ahead of us effortlessly while we toil in our daily tasks in the academe. We were classmates, and we were friends, treating each other more like brothers and sisters whose family names never really mattered, or from which place each of us came from, or from what little we know or from what much we oftentimes misunderstand. We were an eager bunch of students, whose friendship gathered itself across the days and months, sweeping us together amidst the diversity we were into. I hated moments that were spent on the nothingness of empty thinking; of sitting alone with no one to talk to as people pass me by as if I was not there, not even my shadow. I also hated those times when I could hardly pass my exams and quizzes just because I was not able to remember the details in the subjects after memorizing in agonizing hours during the most unholy hours of the night. But above all these, the one thing I hated the most during my high school years was my inability to completely beat deadlines for I was always short in passing requirements although I make certain that I pour my best efforts in completing what has to be done. Perhaps I took a lot of time finishing-off my requirements never being full aware that my time is greatly affected. Adjustments had to be made, and during those years I kept on adjusting, never knowing exactly where I am heading to but still braving the path that few dared to wander through. And so, in the end, I remembered them all even though I seem to have lost myself. I thought I was never really able to arrive at a point wherein I can know more about myself, of who I really am. Yet my friends were my eyes, and in them I saw myself clearly reflected in those precious organs of vision that gripped my being far tighter than any embrace could offer. I remember my high school days very well, and I remember myself even more as much as I remember my friends.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Nineteen

SOMEHOW, I STILL LOST. If Adrian were capable of on-the-fly calculations, I'd swear he was using his powers to affect the way the dice rolled. Most likely, he either had some innate and inexplicable Monopoly skills I just couldn't understand – or he was very, very lucky. But through it all, I had fun, and losing to him was a lot better than having Veronica haunt me in my sleep. He continued the dream visits for the next few days, and although I never felt completely safe from her, I at least didn't have her occupying the forefront of my mind at all times. That honor was saved for my weekend trip to St. Louis, which came around more quickly than I expected. Once I was on the plane, the reality of what I was about to attempt hit me. This was it, the point of no return. In the safety of Palm Springs, I'd been able to maintain a somewhat cool and collected attitude. St. Louis had seemed far away back then. Now the tasks ahead of me seemed daunting and kind of crazy. And dangerous. There was no part of this that wouldn't get me into serious trouble. Lying to Stanton. Breaking into top secret servers. Even charming information out of Ian could have repercussions. And really who was I to think I would have any ability to lure secrets from him? I wasn't like Rose or Julia. They had men fawning all over them. But me? I was socially awkward and pretty inept when it came to romance. Maybe Ian liked me, but that didn't mean I'd have some magical power over him. Of course, if that part of the plan with him failed, then I'd be free of my other tasks. Every single part of this was overwhelming, and as I stared out the plane's window, watching St. Louis grow closer and closer, my feelings of dread grew. My palms were too sweaty to hold a book, and when I refused food, it was because of the queasiness in my stomach, not some obsession with calories. I'd gone back and forth on whether to get a hotel room or stay at the facility itself, which provided guest housing for visiting Alchemists like me. In the end, I opted for the former. The less time I spent under the watchful eyes of my masters, the better. It also meant I didn't have to worry about my outfit attracting attention. I hadn't exactly followed all of Adrian's suggestions, but the dress I'd purchased for this trip was a bit racier than my normal business casual wardrobe. Okay, a lot racier. It would have been completely out of place among the modest and neutral-colored attire Alchemists usually wore. But when Ian met me in the hotel's lobby for dinner, I knew I'd made the right choice. â€Å"Wow,† he said, eyes widening. â€Å"You look amazing.† Apparently, his Alchemists sensibilities weren't offended by my outfit. It was a form-fitting minidress that went about to my mid-thigh, with an open back and a disconcertingly low V-neck that gave me cleavage I hadn't even known was possible. Any demureness the dress's long sleeves might have offered was undone by the fabric combination: a beige underdress covered in black and maroon lace. It gave the illusion that I was wearing lace with nothing underneath. The saleswoman had assured me that every part of the dress was supposed to fit that snugly (for once in my life, I'd actually suggested a larger size) and that I needed at least four-inch black heels to make it all work. With the help of a lot of hairpins, I'd even managed to pull my hair up into a bun, which wasn't easy with my layered haircut. I felt conspicuous walking through the lobby, but no one gave me any shocked looks. The few I did get were admiring ones. The hotel was pretty posh, and I was just one of a number of women dressed in holiday cocktail dresses. Nothing scandalous or out of the ordinary. You can do this, Sydney. And wearing a revealing dress wasn't nearly as difficult as breaking into a server, right? Right? I smiled as I approached Ian and gave him a quick hug, which was weird both because it was with Ian and because I felt naked in the dress. This femme fatale thing was harder than I'd thought it'd be. â€Å"I'm glad I got to see you again,† I said. â€Å"I know what an inconvenience this must be, with no notice.† Ian shook his head so adamantly that I almost expected to hear rattling. â€Å"N-no. No trouble at all.† Satisfied he'd gotten a look, I slipped on my coat, a mid-length black trench, and gestured toward the exit. â€Å"Time to brave the elements?† He hurried ahead of me to open the door. A scattering of snowflakes drifted down, resting on my coat and hair. My breath made a frosty cloud in the air, and I had a momentary flashback to traipsing across that field with Adrian. Little had I known that search for Marcus would lead to me running errands for him in a tight dress. Ian had parked in the hotel's front circle drive. He drove a Toyota Corolla, which was made even more boring by the fact that he'd chosen it in white. A little air freshener shaped like a tree hung from the rearview mirror, but rather than the usual pine scent, a small label declared it to be â€Å"New Car Scent.† Mostly it smelled like plastic. I put on a brave face. Marcus really owed me one. â€Å"I made us a reservation at this really great seafood place,† he told me. â€Å"It's close to the facility, so we can head on over to the service right away.† â€Å"Sounds great,† I said. I never ate seafood in any landlocked state. The restaurant was called Fresh Cache, which didn't improve my opinion of it. Still, I had to give it credit for attempts at a romantic atmosphere. Most of the lighting came from candles, and a pianist in the corner played covers of easy-listening songs. More well-dressed people filled the tables, laughing and chatting over wine and shrimp cocktails. The host showed us to a corner table, covered with burgundy linen and decorated with a scattering of green orchids. I'd never seen any up close and was actually quite taken with how exotic and sensual they were. If only I was here with anyone but Ian. I was hesitant to take my coat off. It made me feel exposed, and I had to remind myself of the consequences of Alchemists and Warriors working together. As soon as the dress was unleashed again, I had the satisfaction of seeing Ian melt once more. I remembered Adrian's advice about confidence and put on a smug smile, hoping I gave the impression that I was doing Ian a great favor by allowing him to be in my presence. And, to my complete and utter amazement, it seemed to work. I even allowed myself to indulge in a dangerous thought: maybe it wasn't the dress wielding such power here. Maybe it was me. Opening the menu, I began skimming for a beef or poultry option. â€Å"What do you recommend?† â€Å"The mahi mahi is great here,† he said. â€Å"So is the swordfish.† The waiter stopped by, and I ordered a chicken Caesar salad. I figured they couldn't really mess up the anchovies in the dressing. We were left alone to wait, with nothing to do now but move on to small talk. Ian picked up the ball. â€Å"I suppose you still can't tell me much about where you're at, huh?† â€Å"Afraid not. You know how it is.† I buttered a sourdough roll with what I was pretty sure was exactly half a tablespoon. I didn't want to go too crazy, but I could allow myself a little indulgence since I ordered a salad. â€Å"I can tell you I'm in the field. I just can't say much else.† Ian's attention shifted off my neckline as he stared into the candle's flame. â€Å"I miss that, you know. Being in the field.† â€Å"You used to be, right? What happened?† I hadn't thought much about it lately, but when Ian had accompanied Stanton and me to the Moroi court, he had been pulled from his post to make the trip. He'd been assigned somewhere in the south, Florida or Georgia, I thought. â€Å"Those Moroi holding us prisoner is what happened.† He shifted his gaze back to me, and I was startled at the fierceness I saw. â€Å"I didn't handle it very well.† â€Å"Well, none of us did.† He shook his head. â€Å"No, no. I really didn't handle it well. I kind of freaked out. They sent me to anger management training afterward.† I nearly dropped the roll. I had in no way expected that. If someone had asked me to name the top ten people who needed anger management, Ian wouldn't have even made the bottom of the list. My father, however, would have been near the top. â€Å"How – how long were you there?† I stammered. â€Å"Two weeks, and then I was good to go.† Admittedly, I didn't know the extent of the rage that had landed him in anger management, but I found it interesting that two weeks was good enough to deem him ready to work again. Meanwhile, Keith's scheme to use Moroi to make money had earned him at least two months in re-education – maybe more, since I hadn't heard any updates in a while. â€Å"But they wouldn't let me work in the field,† Ian added. â€Å"Figure I shouldn't be around Moroi for a while. So that's why I'm stuck here.† â€Å"In the archives.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Doesn't sound so bad,† I told him. I wasn't entirely lying. â€Å"Lots of books.† â€Å"Don't fool yourself, Sydney.† He began tearing a pumpernickel roll into pieces. â€Å"I'm a glorified librarian.† Maybe so, but that wasn't my concern. What was my concern was Wade telling me that the archives were on a secure level, one floor up from the surveillance room that held security footage. He'd drawn me a map of each floor, making sure I memorized the layout and the best ways to get in and out. â€Å"I'd still love to see them,† I said. â€Å"I mean, the history they contain is amazing.† Again, not entirely a lie. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes drop to my plunging neckline again. This wasn't that difficult! Really, I didn't know why I hadn't been using my â€Å"womanly charms† a long time ago. Actually, I never really knew I had any, until now. â€Å"Could you get me in for a tour? Of the archives specifically. You seem like the kind of guy who could get access to . . . a lot of places.† Ian choked on his roll. After a bout of coughing, he glanced up at my face, then my cleavage (again), and then back to my face. â€Å"I'd, um, love to, but it's not really open to the public – I mean, even the Alchemist public. Only those with special scholar access are allowed in. We could look at the general access parts of the building, though.† â€Å"Oh. I see.† I looked down at my plate, pouting slightly, but didn't say anything else. As the waiter arrived with our food, I hoped my silence was making him reconsider what he could be missing out on. Eventually, Ian couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his throat, maybe because there was still bread stuck in it. â€Å"Well, I might be able to . . . you see, the problem is just getting you down to the secure levels. Once you're through that checkpoint, it's not hard to get you into the archives – especially if I'm working.† â€Å"But you can't do anything about the main checkpoint?† I coaxed, as if all real men should be able to do that. â€Å"No, I mean . . . maybe. I've got a friend who works there. I don't know if he's got a shift tomorrow, but he still might be able to help. He owes me some money, so I can use this as a trade. I hope.† â€Å"Oh, Ian.† I flashed him a smile that I hoped rivaled one of Marcus's. â€Å"That's amazing.† I remembered what Adrian had said. â€Å"I'd be so, so grateful if you could pull it off.† My reaction clearly delighted Ian, and I wondered if Adrian had been right about how â€Å"so, so grateful† was translated. â€Å"I'll call him tonight after the service,† Ian said. He looked determined now. â€Å"Hopefully we can make it happen before your flight tomorrow.† I rewarded him by hanging on his every word for the rest of dinner, as though I'd never heard anything quite so fascinating. All the while, my heart raced with the knowledge that I was now one step closer to fulfilling Marcus's task, one step closer to potentially proving a connection to a bunch of gun-toting zealots and the organization I'd served my whole life. The salad was tiny, so I agreed to see the dessert menu after dinner. Ian suggested we share, but that was a little too intimate for me, not to mention unhygienic. So, I ate an entire lemon tart by myself, confident in the knowledge that I was still a long ways from the five-pound mark. When Adrian had told me I'd look healthier if I gained a little weight, he'd added that it would improve my bra size. I couldn't even imagine what that would do for this dress. The Alchemist center in St. Louis was contained inside a giant, industrial building that went undercover as a manufacturing plant. Moroi facilities – the court and their schools – usually posed as universities. How ironic that â€Å"creatures of the night† would live among beautifully landscaped gardens while â€Å"servants of the light† like us skulked in ugly buildings with no windows. Inside, however, everything was pristine, bright, and well-organized. A receptionist checked us in when we arrived at the main desk and buzzed us through, along with many others who arrived for the service. There were golden lilies everywhere. For many, this was a fun-filled family event, and lots of children trailed their Alchemist parents. It made me feel strange as I watched them, these kids who had been born into our profession. I wondered how they'd feel ten years from now. Would they be excited to step up to the plate? Or would they start questioning? The center had three floors aboveground and five underneath. People off the street could hardly just come wandering in, but we still took precautions by keeping the more benign offices on the main floor. As we all walked down the corridor to the auditorium, we passed Payroll, Travel, and Maintenance. All the offices had clear windows looking into them from the hall, maintaining the Alchemist ideal that we had nothing to hide. The secure offices belowground weren't quite so open, however. I'd been in this facility once before for a training seminar, and it had actually taken place in the auditorium we entered for the service. Despite the spiritual theme of tonight's event, the room bore little resemblance to a church. Someone had gone to the effort of decorating the walls with red-bowed evergreen garlands and setting pots of poinsettias on the stage. The room had a state-of-the-art audio-visual system, including a giant screen that gave a larger-than-life look at whatever was happening onstage. The auditorium's seating was so efficient that even those in the farthest corners had a pretty clear view, so I think the screen was just for emphasis. Ian and I found two seats near the middle of the auditorium. â€Å"Aren't you going to take off your coat?† he asked hopefully. No way was I going to unleash the dress in this den of taupe and high collars. Besides, if I kept the coat on, it would just give him something to keep looking forward to. Adrian would be proud of my ability to manipulate the opposite sex . . . and I couldn't help but wonder just how well Adrian would be able to stand up to this dress. Clearly, I was getting overly confident with this new power. â€Å"I'm cold,† I said, pulling the coat tighter. It was kind of ridiculous since the lights from the stage and high number of bodies had already made the room stifling, but I figured since it was so cold outside, I could get away with it. For someone who always seems to be so cold, you sure can warm up pretty fast. â€Å"Sydney? Is that you?† I froze, not from the shock of hearing my name, but from the voice that had said it. I'd know that voice anywhere. Slowly, I turned away from Ian and looked up into my father's face. He was standing in the aisle, wearing a heavy wool suit, with melted snowflakes in his graying dark blond hair. â€Å"Hi, Dad,† I said. Then I saw who was standing beside him. â€Å"Zoe?† It was all I could do not to jump up and hug her. I hadn't seen or spoken to my younger sister since that night I'd been pulled out of bed and sent on my Palm Springs mission. That was the mission she believed I'd stolen from her, no matter my protests. It was the mission that had driven her away from me. I eyed her now, trying to assess where we stood. She didn't wear the blatant hatred she had at our last meeting, which was a good sign. Unfortunately, she didn't look all that warm and friendly either. She was cautious, studying me carefully – almost warily. She did not, I noticed, have a golden lily on her cheek yet. â€Å"I'm surprised to see you here,† said my father. His parting words to me had been â€Å"Don't embarrass me,† so I wasn't really astonished by his low expectations. â€Å"It's the holidays,† I said. Forcing a smile now was far more difficult than it had been with Ian. â€Å"It's important to be here with the group. Do you know Ian Jansen?† Ian, wide-eyed, jumped up and shook my father's hand. Clearly, he hadn't expected a parental meeting so soon. â€Å"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.† My father nodded gravely and looked back and forth between the two of us. Whatever surprise he'd had at seeing me here had just been trumped by me being here with a date. Glancing at Ian, I tried to guess how he'd appear to someone like my dad. Clean cut, respectful, an Alchemist. The fact that Ian tended to bore me was irrelevant. I doubted my father had ever thought much about me dating, but if so, he probably hadn't thought I'd get a catch like this. â€Å"Would you like to join us, sir?† asked Ian. I had to give him credit; he'd overcome his initial shock and was now in proper suitor mode. â€Å"It would be an honor.† At first, I thought Ian was just laying it on thick. Then I realized meeting my father might actually very well be an honor. Jared Sage wasn't a rock star, but he did have a reputation among the Alchemists that, by their standards, was outstanding. My father seemed to like the flattery and agreed. He took a seat beside Ian. â€Å"Sit by your sister,† he told Zoe, nodding in my direction. Zoe obeyed and stared straight ahead. She was nervous too, I realized. Looking her over, I felt an ache from how much I'd missed her. We'd inherited the same brown eyes from our father, but she'd gotten Mom's brown hair, which made me a little jealous. Zoe also looked a lot more put together than the last time I'd seen her. She wore a pretty dark brown cashmere dress and didn't have a single hair out of place. Something about her appearance bothered me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it at first. It soon hit me. She looked older. She looked like a young lady, like my peer. I supposed it was silly of me to feel sad, since she was fifteen, but I kind of wished she could stay a little kid forever. â€Å"Zoe.† I kept my voice low, not that I needed to worry about the men overhearing. My dad was interrogating Ian. â€Å"I've been wanting to talk to you for so long.† She nodded. â€Å"I know. Mom tells me each time you call.† But there was no apology for dodging my calls. â€Å"I'm sorry about the way we left things. I never meant to hurt you or one-up you. I thought I was doing you a favor, saving you from getting involved.† Her mouth tightened, and something hard flashed in her eyes. â€Å"I don't mind being involved. I want to be involved, you know. And it would've been great! Being in the field at fifteen. I could have a stellar career. Dad would be so proud.† I chose my next words very carefully so that she wouldn't take offense. â€Å"Yeah, but another year with Dad will really be, um, stellar. He's got so much experience – and you want to get as much as you can, believe me. Even if you have to wait for an assignment at sixteen, you'll still be ahead of the rest of us.† Each word out of my mouth made me feel sick, but Zoe seemed to buy it. I wasn't bothered by her wanting to be part of the cause – but it killed me that she was clearly doing it to impress our dad. â€Å"I suppose. And I am learning a lot. I wish I could at least get some field experience – even if it's not my own post. It's all theory with Dad. I've never even seen a Moroi.† â€Å"I'm sure he'll fix that.† I didn't like encouraging this, but at least she was speaking to me. The lights dimmed, ending our conversation. Organ music filled the room, and the scent of frankincense drifted around us. Incense and resin were common components in magic, and my mind was instantly starting to make associations from the spell books I'd painstakingly copied. Frankincense is used to heal burns. It can also be used when casting divining or purifying spells – I immediately stopped that train of thought. Even if I was keeping it to myself, thinking about magic in the middle of an Alchemist church service was pretty sacrilegious. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering what all these people would think if they knew the truth about me: that I practiced magic and had kissed a vampire. . . . Alchemist priests were called hierophants. They performed blessings and offered moral advice, when needed. In day-to-day affairs, they wore suits, but for this occasion, the lead hierophant wore robes that reminded me uncomfortably of the robes some of the Warriors had donned. It was yet another reminder of our shared history – and maybe our shared future. Marcus had been right. This was a mystery I had to solve, regardless of where I stood on breaking the tattoo. I'd attended services like this off and on throughout my life and knew the Latin prayers by heart. I chanted along with the rest of the congregation and listened avidly as the hierophant reaffirmed our goals, his voice echoing through the sound system. Even though the Alchemists' religion had loose connections to Christianity there was very little mention of God or Jesus or even Christmas. Most of his sermon was about how we had to help protect humanity from the temptation of following Strigoi who offered unholy immortality. That warning, at least, wasn't exaggerated. I'd heard stories and even seen for myself what happened when humans decided to serve Strigoi. Those Strigoi promised to turn their servants as a reward. Those humans helped Strigoi spread their evil and became monsters themselves, no turning needed. Keeping those dark vampires hidden was for the good of weak humans who couldn't protect themselves. I paid especially close attention when the hierophant mentioned the Moroi offhandedly in his sermon, as a means to an end in defeating the Strigoi. He didn't exactly inspire warm and fuzzy feelings about them, but at least he wasn't calling for Moroi and dhampir destruction either. I agreed with a good part of the message, but it no longer filled me with the fire it once had. And when the hierophant started droning on and on about duty, obedience, and what was â€Å"natural,† I really began feeling disconnected. I almost wished there was more talk of the divine, like you'd find at a normal church service. With everything going on in my life, I wouldn't have minded a connection to a higher power. Sometimes, when I listened to the hierophant, I wondered if everything he was saying had just been made up by a bunch of people sitting around in the Middle Ages. No holy mandate required. I felt like a traitor when the service ended. Maybe Adrian's joke had been right: I didn't even need Marcus to break my tattoo and connection to the group. Glancing at my companions – and even the other Alchemists in the room – it was clear I was alone. All of them looked captivated by the sermon, devoted to the cause. I was again eerily reminded of the Warriors and their fanatical devotion. No, no, whatever else the Alchemists are guilty of, we have nothing to do with that kind of unhinged behavior. And yet . . . it was more complicated than that, I realized. The Alchemists didn't shoot first and ask questions later or make our members battle each other. We were civilized and logical, but we did have a tendency to just do what we were told. That was the similarity, one that could be dangerous. Zoe and my father walked out with Ian and me. â€Å"Isn't it amazing?† she asked. â€Å"Hearing that . . . well, it just makes me so glad Dad decided to raise another Alchemist in the family. It's good to boost our numbers.† Had that truly been his motivation? Or was it because he didn't trust me after I'd helped Rose? It was infuriating that the only conversation I could have with Zoe centered around Alchemist rhetoric, but I'd take it over the silence of the last few months. In my heart, I longed to talk the way we used to. I wanted it back. Even though she'd warmed up a little, that old familiarity that had once existed between us was gone. â€Å"I wish we had more time,† I told her once our groups were ready to part in the parking lot. â€Å"There's so much I want to talk to you about.† She smiled, and there was a genuineness in it that warmed me. Maybe the distance between us wasn't irreparable. â€Å"Me too. I'm sorry about . . . well, the way things were. I hope we get some time together soon. I . . . I've missed you.† That nearly broke me down, as did her hug. â€Å"We'll be together soon, I promise.† Ian – whom my father now seemed to regard as a future son-in-law – drove me back to my hotel and couldn't stop gushing about how awesome it had been to meet Jared Sage. As for me, I could still feel where Zoe had hugged me. Ian promised he'd get in touch with me in the morning about a tour of the archives. Then, weirdly, he closed his eyes and leaned forward. It took me a moment to realize that he expected a good-night kiss. Seriously? That was how he went about it? Had he ever even kissed anyone before? Even Brayden had displayed a little more passion. And, of course, neither guy measured up to Adrian. When I did nothing, Ian finally opened his eyes. I gave him another hug – with the coat on – and told him how happy I was that he'd met my dad. That seemed to satisfy him. Adrian made his nightly check-in with me once I was asleep later on. Naturally, he wanted to know about my dress. He also kept trying to find out how exactly I'd won Ian over and seemed amused at the few details I decided to give him. But mostly I couldn't stop talking about Zoe. Adrian soon gave up on the other topics and simply listened to me gush. â€Å"She spoke to me, Adrian!† I paced around the reception hall, clasping my hands in excitement. â€Å"And she wasn't mad. By the end, she was happy to see me. Do you know what that's like? I mean, I know you don't have any brothers or sisters, but to have someone you haven't seen in a while welcome you back?† â€Å"I don't know what it's like,† he said quietly. â€Å"But I can imagine.† I was too caught up in my own joy at the time, but later, I wondered if he was talking about his incarcerated mother. â€Å"It's nice to see you so happy,† he added. â€Å"Not that you've been miserable lately, but you've had a lot to worry about.† I couldn't help but laugh at that and came to a halt. â€Å"Are you saying evil witches and espionage are stressful?† â€Å"Nah.† He walked over to me. â€Å"All in a day's work for us. But I'm going to make my way to bed now. You seem like you can get by without me tonight.† He'd visited me every night since Veronica's dream. Most of the trips were short now, but I still knew it was a lot of effort and spirit for him. â€Å"Thank you. I feel like I can't say that to you enough.† â€Å"You don't have to say it at all, Sage. Good luck tomorrow.† Right. Stealing top secret info from a highly secure facility. â€Å"Thanks,† I said again. A little of my mood dimmed, but not all of it. â€Å"No matter what happens, though, patching things up with Zoe makes me feel like this mission is already a success.† â€Å"That's because you haven't been caught.† He cupped my face in his hands and leaned close. â€Å"See that you aren't. I don't want to have to dream visit you in prison . . . or wherever it is bad Alchemists go.† â€Å"Hey, at least I'd have you for company, right?† He gave me a rueful headshake, and the dream vanished around me.

Competition in the Golf Industry

An Analysis of â€Å"Competition in the Golf Industry† It is unknown when the game of golf originated, but it is believed that people began playing in Europe during the middle ages. In the United States, golf was a sport primarily played by the wealthy individuals until tournaments began being televised. Since then, golf has grown to be a very lucrative industry with over 27 million golfers nationwide by the end of the 1990’s. â€Å"Competition in the Golf Equipment Industry,† a case study written by John E. Gamble of the University of South Alabama, is an overview of the problems currently facing major companies in the golf equipment industry: technological limitations (due to golf’s governing organizations), a decline in the number of golfers, and the economic recession, and the threat of counterfeit products. These limitations are causing leading competitors in the golf industry, namely Calloway Golf, to rethink their strategies in 2010. PLAC Analysis for Calloway Golf Ely Reeves Calloway Jr. , Calloway’s original owner, CEO and President, bought a manufacturing company of hickory shaft wedges and putters in 1983. Calloway, originally restricted to reproducing antique golf clubs, has extended its product breadth across the golf equipment industry. Calloway Golf now encompasses drivers (with the introduction of Big Bertha), putters (with the acquisition of Odyssey), irons (designed to compete against Titleist), golf balls (with the acquisition of Top-Flite), footwear and clothes branding, and GPS units (with the acquisition of UPlay). See Timeline in Appendix 1. Calloway has differentiated itself from its competitors by its innovation, beginning with the success of their driver, Big Bertha, which initiated the technology race among firms. Calloway and its’ competitors introduce more innovative products every 12-18 months to remain competitive. Furthermore, Calloway has acquired several firms since its origination in 1983 in order to expand its product breadth. Although in 2009, Calloway Golf Company was the â€Å"second largest seller of drivers and fairway woods,† revenues have declined by 17% in 2009 compared to the first six months of 2008. Challenges facing this firm will be assessed in the SWOT analysis. SWOT Analysis for the golf industry, Calloway Golf & Recommendations See Appendix 2 for Matrix Strengths: Calloway’s technological innovation in making a driver that pushed the limits of USGA standards shows motivation to become the best. Marketing to recreational golfers in an attempt to help them enjoy the game more by offering an opportunity to drive 6-10 yards further was a benchmark and pushed Calloway’s product to the best golf product of the century by a two-to-one margin. Calloway’s recognizable name also gives them a competitive edge. Weaknesses: Although these technological advances may have boosted sales, there is still little evidence that these advances help golfers lower their scores. Another weakness of the industry is sustainability. With the development of new products every 12-18 months, it is crucial that companies market their products and have strong sales shortly after introduction. Also, a weakness with Calloway’s golf balls was their brand image with the acquisition of Top-Flite golf balls, which quickly coined the game â€Å"Rock-Flight. † Opportunities: Although sales have declined 5. 7% during 2008, continued marketing efforts and remaining a household name could prove beneficial to all firms after the recession has subsided. Due to the recession, discretionary spending has declined and savings has risen, but this could quickly change after a turn in the economy. Furthermore, Calloway has recently cut their endorsements of PGA professionals to only encompass 10 men’s PGA professionals and 5 women. If they expanded these numbers, it would give them more brand exposure and possibly higher revenues since many recreational golfers base their decisions on the type of equipment successful, professional golfers are using. Threats: There are a number of threats affecting the golf industry as a whole: effects of technological limitations by USGA, a decline in the number of golfers due to the economy and lack of leisure time, and the rise of counterfeiting. The state of the current economy paired with the decline in the number of golfers, has caused companies to focus more on price and volume. Counterfeiting is largely attributable to the decisions by executives to outsource for cheaper labor to manufacturers in China; who can produce a golf club for less than $3 per club. Recommendations Companies currently operating within the golf industry, specifically Calloway Golf, must change their current marketing approaches and strategies to withstand the recession and threats facing the industry. Although Calloway has a strong R&D department that tends to remain competitive with products and technology, there have been little results in reference to scores. It is imperative that if companies are going to market a product that will help golfers drive further and straighter that the results depict this so that not to damage the brand name of a product. Secondly, due to the decline in equipment sales and the number of golfers, prices are dropping and companies are outsourcing to maintain the volume needed to remain competitive. Companies must be cautious and aware so that counterfeiting may be reduced. This reduction would also allow companies to reduce their pricing and have more sales without the competition of these cheaply priced knock-offs. In the instance of Calloway, an increase in marketing and endorsements would boost their sales due to brand recognition. Calloway has recently fallen to second place in the amount of sales of drivers. In aiding in cutting down on counterfeiting, lowering prices, and increasing marketing and endorsements, Calloway may have the opportunity to reposition themselves as number one in the marketplace. Appendix 1 Calloway Timeline 1983- Ely Reeves Calloway, Jr. purchased a 50% interest in a Temecula, California manufacturer and marketer of hickory shafted wedges and putters for $400,000. 1985-Ely Reeves Calloway, Jr. , hired aerospace and metallurgical engineers to design the most technologically advanced golf clubs. 1991- Introduction of Big Bertha 1996- Acquisition of Odyssey (leading brand of putters)

Policy of Neutrality and the United States of America

In 1792, the European struggle began which started when the French Revolution concluded with the Napoleonic Wars. During the same year, the American government first noticed that a state of war subsisted when Thomas Jefferson, then the American Secretary of State, received a message from the French Minister at Philadelphia. In reply to the notification, Jefferson assured that the United States will remain forthcoming to France â€Å"and render all those good offices which shall be consistent with the duties of a neutral nation.†(Hyneman) During that time, President Washington was art Mount Vernon, this statement from the Secretary of State seemed to be the only direct acknowledgement by the government; thus, the United States was placed in an arrangement of a neutral state. Alongside the implementation of the policy, there were various acts and bills that were made and ratified to effectively compromise with the current state of the nation. Amongst the bill, acts, treaties that were made during that time were the Non-Intercourse Act, Macon’s Bill No.2, Pickney’s Treaty, Treaty of 1778 and the Convention of 1800 (Brodeur). For most of the treaties and acts that were made, it became ineffective and unimportant for most of its existence. The Neutrality Policy fulfilled the idealistic objectives of the nation but it did not fulfill the realistic objectives of the country. The United States did not want to partake in the European War and they were successful in doing so by agreeing with France; however, the acts and bills that were signed to further protect themselves from war caused them futile or even more losses. Works Cited: Brodeur, Paul. â€Å"Restitution: The Land Claims of the Mashpee, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Indians of New England.† American ndian Quarterly 12.4 (1988): 337-39 pp. MArch 2, 2008 . Hyneman, Charles S. â€Å"Neutrality During the European Wars of 1792-1815: America's Understanding of Her Obligations † The American Journal of Internationla Law 24.2 (1930): 279-309 pp. March 2, 2008 .      

Problems in Public Transport

Safe and fast travel is what the commuters expect from our public transport system. It is supposed to be the cheapest and best option. But for the students of Skirts Sanity College and the other neighboring colleges, that is not the case. The number of BOMB buses operating from Henry main road to Katmandu Is found to be highly insufficient during the morning peak hours. The students commuting In this route find It very difficult to reach their college safely in the right time. They are of the opinion that the bus services In the morning are Irregular and lack punctuality.Most of the colleges begin their classes at 9 AM. And every student would obviously want to reach In time. † says Meek, a 1st semester BCC student of Skirts Jaunty College. â€Å"Because there Is very less bus service In the morning, we have no choice but to rush Into heavily crowded buses. This Is very tiring and sometimes dangerous. † The lack of buses and Irregularity In their arrival Increases the nu mber of students walling. They are then left with no choice but to travel boatyard or hanging out of the bus which Is extremely dangerous.There is a high chance of them falling off the bus. Hence, the students experience a very frustrating and perilous journey every morning. â€Å"It is not lust the college students that go through this kind of hardship. People on their way to work and children on their way to school are also part of the crowd. We are all crushed together in the bus. Finding foot space in the bus itself is a tricky task. † says Pungent, a 1st semester BAA student of Skirts Sanity College. â€Å"The actual problem is that all the institutions begin their daily schedule almost at the same time.So there tends to be a need for everyone to reach their destination in time. If there is no adequate amount of buses, they choose to step into the first bus they find and this leads to the crowding up of the bus. † As the public transport is highly unreliable, the students who use the BOMB bus passes are sometimes forced to use the private buses. This leads to unnecessary expenditure of money. Leveraging the lack of frequency of buses, a number of auto-rickshaws at the Henry Junction ferry passengers on a shared basis.They charge the passengers much more than the meter fare. These are the problems that the students have to face every day. National Service Scheme (INS) operating in Skirts Sanity College have found that much of the students of the college use public transportation and that they find It very problematic to commute in the morning. INS has decided to raise this Issue to the respective authorities and strive to find an appropriate solution. -Sashay Balkan, 1st Semester Bagging.Problems in Public Transport By Sashay-Balkan room Henry main road to Katmandu is found to be highly insufficient during the morning peak hours. The students commuting in this route find it very difficult to services in the morning are irregular and lack punc tuality. â€Å"Most of the colleges begin their classes at 9 AM. And every student would obviously want to reach in time. † says Meek, a 1st semester BCC student of Skirts Sanity College. â€Å"Because there is very less bus service in the morning, we have no choice but to rush into heavily crowded buses. This is very tiring and sometimes dangerous.The lack of buses and irregularity in their arrival increases the number of students waiting. They are then left with no choice but to travel boatyard or hanging out of the bus which is students experience a very frustrating and perilous Journey every morning. â€Å"It is not just the college students that go through this kind of hardship. People on their way to much of the students of the college use public transportation and that they find it very problematic to commute in the morning. INS has decided to raise this issue to Balkan, 1st Semester BAA Spend.

Missing Children

INTRODUCTION Over the years our country, Malaysia has been bombarded with abundance of missing children/ children abduction cases. A statistic released by police of Malaysia, stated that a total of 3223 children below 18 went missing between 2008 and April last year (2012). Of this figure, only about 1000 cases were solved. From the statistic, it’s clearly shown that, over 3223 cases reported 2223 cases still unsolved. The questions are, how does it happen? Who should be blamed? What the impact of this scenario? And what are the best ways to prevent children from missing?Thus, in this essay, the priority will be given to the causes, the effects and some suggestions to overcome missing children cases. THE CAUSES OF MISSING CHILDREN Figure 1 : The Causes Of Missing Children Family Problems This is the prominent causes of the missing children cases happened not just in Malaysia but also around the globe. Many people agree with it as basically, parents play an important role on ho w to nurture the family, to treat the children and to solve any problems happen to the members of the family.Family problems can be included in term of financial problem, misunderstanding among family members and lack of intention and in search of freedom. When a certain family is having some financial problems, it will slightly affect the children because children actually are still young to know any problems related to the financial status of their family. So, parents should aware about this problem, never reveal or expose any financial problem to your children. Apart from that, children need intention from their family.They are still young and at these ages (below 18) they really need the intention from their family or parents negligence. If they do not get the full intention from the family, they might be in influenced in much bad behaviour like vandalism, gangsterism and they might tend to run away from home. Hence, ever Picture 1 : parents have to play an important role in rai sing up the children. Peer Influence When the children do not get the full intention from their parents, they tend to share their problems with their friends. They share most everything with their friends from school issues to their feelings.Sometimes the missing of children happens because of love matter. At these ages they are easily falling in love with somebody. This is because those children feel that their lover can give them freedom and better life. Picture 2 : peers have the ability to influence the children to be good or bad Job Opportunities Lastly, the cause that leads to children missing is the job opportunities. It usually happens to the children that don’t like to go for education at school. They think that education is just wasting their time, so they quit their school and start working.However, parents usually prohibit them from working because this is not a time for them to find money and work. Then, when the children don’t be given the opportunity to work, they decide to run away from home and work. THE EFFECTS OF MISSING CHILDREN Penalising Errant Parents People argue that we need to blame the parents first because of the missing children cases. It is because; they are the ones who close to their children more than anyone else. It is therefore, not surprising that more and more voice are being raised in favour of penalising errant parents.According to the law, these errant parents will be penalised under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 that result them to be liable to a fine not exceeding RM 5000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Section 33 of the Child Act 2001| Provides that any person who, being a parent, guardian or person with temporary care of a child, leave that child 😠 * Without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child;| * For a period which is unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances; or | * Under conditions which are unreasonable having regard t o all the circumstances. Commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM 5000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. | Figure 2 : Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 The Missing Children Life And Safety Are Not Guaranteed. In some cases, not all missing children reported that they are running away from home. It is because they might be missing due to the kidnap. Those children who are kidnaped by the criminals might live in a dangerous and awful life. Some of them are kidnaped to be slaves of criminals; helping the criminals to find money just like what is happening in our countries.These children are forced to become beggars and ask donation from the public. In some other cases, we may find out that those children are forced to become prostitutes. This happens mostly in Middle Eastern Countries. The world we live in is no stranger to one of the biggest reasons many of our children disappear without a trace. Many children are abduc ted and sold for body parts throughout the United States, Central America, South America and Europe. The Internet has become one of the greatest sources of business and the organized underground business is one of the most successful businesses anywhere in the world.Can you imagine having the need of life and searching the Internet and finding a broker who can find you the organ of your choice? Here in the U. S. A. , in Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, anywhere in Central, North and South America, anywhere for a price you can pay for and get the organ of your choice. If you don't believe it, search the net right here right now in Orange County, New York or anyplace in the world. Many missing children are abducted and sold for these body parts. This is a multi-million dollar a year business. Be careful when your child is talking to a friendly little girl in a chat room.The Internet is worldwide and sometimes deceptive. The chat room your child uses could be somewhere in Mexico or New York, India, The Middle east or Korea. Your child could be talking to anyone, anywhere with the touch of a button, so close. SUGGESTIONS TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM GOING MISSING. * Do not leave children unsupervised in public places. Children especially in early ages between 4 to 9 years old cannot handle themselves very well. They need someone to rely on. So, never leave your children unsupervised especially in public places because they don’t know what to do and to whom they should rely on. Teach children to be suspicious of strangers and not be lured by them. It is a good technique that every parent should implement to their children, teach your children to be suspicious of strangers and not to be lured by them. We cannot simply believe in strangers that we meet. Maybe they are bad people that intend to kidnap your children. * Teach children how to respond in dangerous situations. Next, parents should teach their children to respond in dangerous situation. So, when it comes to any dangerous situations they will be able to react and find the solution. * Make sure children keep a note with emergency contact numbers.Furthermore, good parents are them who always make sure that their children memorize and keep a note with emergency contact number especially the official contact number of police. So, when it comes to the dangerous situation, your children will be able to call for help. * Society should be alert to, and help, children seen to be wandering around alone. Here, the highlight will be the society. We should never rely on parents only. Society also has to play their role in preventing children from going missing. When we see any children wandering around alone, we need to take action by helping them to find their home.CONCLUSION All in all, we can conclude that missing children is not a case that we should not pay attention. This issue has been discussed around the year for years and still happen in many countries. We need to aware that children a re the asset of the country, they are precious and we need keep them safe from any harm. Ultimately, each of us including parents, teachers and society has to play an important role to curb children missing. We need to cooperate together to find solutions of this issue. Together we can create a better life and place for our children.

Clyne’s Revision of Grice’s Maxims Essay

Grice’s Maxims have been criticised for being too Anglo-centric. Michael Clyne proposes revisions to the four maxims in his 1994 book Intercultural Communication at Work. Do Clyne’s revisions of this model go far enough in universally accounting for intercultural conversation? Why or why not? Grice’s General Cooperative Principle has been under continuous debate for the past three decades. It is mainly through the maxims that Grice’s paradigm has been challenged as highly ethnocentric, however such readings may tend to take the maxims too literally rather than as â€Å"reference points for language interchange† (Allan as cited in Clyne, 1994, p. 11). There is some agreement in this, but as suggested by Mey (1994, p. 74), the principle and maxims are â€Å"always defined relative to a particular culture†. It is this idea of cultural values underlying communication that has caused the contention of Grice’s cooperative principle and its subordinate maxims. Many linguists (Keenan, 1976; Wierzbicka, 1985; Clyne, 1994; Bowe & Martin, 2007) have criticised Grice’s Maxims for being too ethnocentric – claiming that its assumptions are based on Anglo-Saxon norms and culture. This Anglo-centric nature is problematic for intercultural communication as the maxims are inapplicable to many cultural values systems; namely European and Southeast Asian cultures where harmony, respect and restraint play a key role (Clyne, 1994, p. 192). In an attempt to better reflect intercultural conversation, Clyne (1994) has proposed a set of revised ‘maxims’ to make Grice’s principles more universal. His revision of Grice’s model certainly accounts for a wider variety of contexts and cultures, however it cannot be said to universally account for intercultural conversation. As conversation is unique to its context and participants, in reality no single theory could universally embody real life language use. Although people of all backgrounds generally do attempt to facilitate successful communication (if it doesn’t conflict with their purpose or cultural values), factors unique to each participant can affect any given conversation. Thus, it c an be said that while individuals are conditioned by their culture and environment, discourse patterns will always be influenced by personality factors (Watts, 1991) and pragmatic and intercultural competence. On the surface, Grice’s cooperative principle seems to provide little  difficulty for intercultural analysis; its degree of uncertainty is certainly appropriate for discussions of cultural diversity. Making a contribution â€Å"such as is required, at the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged† (Grice, 1975, p. 45) seems to allow for the acceptance of different purposes and requirements in different contexts, and does not exclude the influence of norms associated with a variety of different speech communities. Although intercultural analysis was not Grice’s main concern, he has defined the discourse of his cooperative principle as â€Å"concerted enterprises† that allow â€Å"a high degree of diversity in the motivations underlying quite meagre common objectives† (1989: 369). Grice himself makes no explicit claims of universality, using characteristically modest language to refe r to a â€Å"first approximation of a general principle† (1989: 26). He is extremely careful not to overstate the case for ‘cooperation’; suggesting that â€Å"each participant recognizes in them (talk exchanges), to some extent, a common purpose, or at least a mutually accepted direction† (1989, p. 26). It should be pointed out however, that Grice’s maxims depict an idealised and simplified language use, whereas reality is much more complex and multi-dimensional. In everyday conversations, telling the entire truth might be seen as impolite or inappropriate in certain cultures. There also tend to be intercultural differences that do not always follow a universal principle. Some cultures and languages (i.e. Chinese) often dictate that their speakers use indirect speech in conversation, which means they are unable to follow Grice’s maxims of quantity and manner. In such cases, there is a clash between Grice’s maxims and the pragmatic rules of conversation, which are culturally sensitive. For example, when being offered a drink, a typical Chinese person would automatically say no the first time, while expecting the offer to be made at least two or three times more. This resembles a kind of phatic language communication; saying no, but not really meaning no. In this sort of situation, if someone doesn’t adhere to the cultural norm – choosing to follow Grice’s maxims instead, then they would sound odd and out of place. The above example demonstrates that Grice’s maxims aren’t relevant in all contexts as they clash with certain cultural values systems. Many linguists  (Clyne, 1994; Hymes, 1986; Loveday, 1983; Walsh, 2009) have picked up on this discrepancy between theory and data, claiming that the maxims are only relevant to the English speaking Western world. In particular, Clyne (1994) has pointed out that they have limited relevance to cultures where content and knowledge are core values. For example, speakers of Malagasy, â€Å"whose form of co-operation seems to consist in making their contributions as opaque, convoluted and non-perspicuous as possible† (Keenan as cited in Mey, 1994, p. 74) could be seen as flouting the Maxim of Quantity. This is because information, especially ‘new’ information gives the holder a certain amount of prestige, thus Malagasy people tend to use indirect, evasive language. It is obvious then, that environmental factors, social interaction and cultural norms need to be considered when interpreting conversational implicature. This is reinforced by Hymes (1986), who notes that Grice was correct in assuming that any culture will have some sort of orientation towards telling the truth (quality), being informative (quantity), staying on topic (relation), and being clear (manner), but that this orientation and how it is articulated cannot be assumed to be the same in all cultures. It is necessary then to recognize that each language and/or culture will have its own settings for each of the maxims (Bowe & Martin, 2007). In an attempt to reduce the cultural bias of Grice’s maxims, Clyne (1994) has proposed revisions to the four maxims (quantity, quality, relation, manner) by considering different cultural norms and expectations. An example of this is the modification of the maxim of quality so that it reads ‘do not say what you believe to be in opposition to your cultural norms of truth, harmony, charity, and/or respect.’ This revision accounts for situations in which the hearer may not want to respond truthfully in order to preserve face or harmony (Lakoff, 1973). This cultural value of harmony is especially prevalent in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures. Nguyen (1991) claims that communalism and collectivism has enforced harmony as a central cultural value in the Vietnamese people. Because of this emphasis on harmonious relations, Vietnamese frequently utilise ambiguous communication behaviours in order to avoid conflict. Although this language use could flout one or more of Grice ’s maxims, by introducing cultural parameters such as truth, harmony and face, Clyne’s (1994) revisions can better account for  intercultural conversation. Clyne’s (1994) revised maxims for intercultural analysis certainly have more regard for the communicative patterns of non-English cultures; however, they don’t altogether meet the needs of intercultural communication. In intercultural communication a high level of pragmatic competence is central to an interlocutors performance. As Thomas (1984) points out, it is commonly the differences in pragmatic competence that are problematic in intercultural conversation. Furthermore, it is possible to have achieved a very high level of linguistic proficiency, while having a relatively low level of socio-pragmatic proficiency. This can result in speakers using a language, which for some reason is deemed inappropriate, incomprehensible or even offensive (Thomas, 1984). This will be demonstrated by the following example: An Australian manager has been reassigned to the Athens office of his organization and is assigned a Greek secretary. On a daily basis, he assigns work to her by using conventional indirect requests such as ‘Could you type this letter?’ One day, she complains to a colleague, ‘I wish he would just tell me what to do instead of asking me. After all, he’s the boss and I’m here to do what he wants.’ In the above example, we have a mixture of assumptions about the rights and obligations of two parties in a relationship characterized by asymmetrical distribution of power, and the way this power will be exercised and acknowledged. The Australian boss attends to the face wants of his secretary by attempting to minimize the power distance between the two. This is done by the use of politeness strategies that seemingly give the subordinate the option not to perform a requested act – ‘Could you type this letter?’ Thomas (1995, p. 161) observes that ‘allowing options (or giving the appearance of allowing options) is absolutely central to Western notions of politeness’. An Australian secretary would presumably know that a direct, on-record refusal of this request would be face threatening to her boss – as well as threatening to her own job. She could potentially employ indirect refusal strategies (i.e. hints), which would avoid on record refusal and  sustain the appearance of harmony. As Green (cited in Thomas, 1995, p. 147) points out â€Å"the speaker is really only going through the motions of offering options or showing respect for the addressee’s feelings. The offer may be a facade, the options nonviable, and the respect a sham. It is the fact that an effort was made to go through the motions at all that makes the act an act of politeness.† It is clear that in this example the two parties have not yet negotiated a shared set of norms. The secretary acknowledges and accepts the power difference between herself and her boss. She is dependent on him for work, and she accepts that he has the right to tell her to carry out various secretarial duties. To her, the Australian boss seems insincere when he requests her to do something for him, because as far as she is concerned, the power relationship admits no options. That is; she does not interpret the deference that her boss displays towards her as an act of politeness. There are obviously socio-pragmatic differences between the two parties. The Australian boss has carried his socio-pragmatic norms into the Greek setting, where they violate the expectations of his Greek subordinate. Each party is defining and acting within the situation differently. Despite this, their encounters are not entirely unsuccessful: the boss makes requests for work that the secretary completes. However, the Greek secretary feels dissatisfied with her boss’s politeness strategies. It can be said that neither party is completely interculturally competent. That is; communicating in a culturally competent way requires interlocutors to learn about the ways culture influences communicative utterances of individuals concerned. After all, if the secretary constantly doubts the sincerity of her boss, the relationship is threatened. And if the boss is unaware of the effects of this, he may experience a rude awakening in the near future. Based on what has been discussed, it can be concluded that Grice’s maxims cannot be taken as absolute rules; this would be neither right nor practicable. Language is not as clear-cut as mathematical formulas; it frequently integrates with culture and society. Thus cultural and pragmatic considerations are vital to successful intercultural communication. Moreover, linguistic competency may not always cause a breakdown in  communication; very often when language form and cultural norm clash, culture supersedes language form. Clyne’s (1994) revisions of the conversational maxims better reflect cultural variation, however they do not universally account for intercultural communication. The examples aforementioned demonstrate that factors such as pragmatic and intercultural competence also play a key role. Intercultural communication then becomes something that is negotiated at local level by participants, involving mutual adaptation. Difficulties may arise, of course, in the process of negotiation through limitations in the socio-pragmatic and strategic competence of some or all participants. After all, there are individual differences in these competencies, and as Agar (1994) points out, we have to remember that in any intercultural conversation, ‘it’s persons not cultures that are in contact’. References: Agar, M. (1994). The intercultural frame. In International Journal of Intercultural Relations 18/2:221-237. Bowe, H. J. & Martin, K. (2007). Communication across cultures: Mutual understanding in a global world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Clyne, M. (1994). Inter-cultural Communication at Work: Cultural Values in Discourse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and Conversation. In P. Cole & J. Morgan (Eds.), Syntax and Semantics 3: Speech Acts. New York: Academic Press. Grice, P. (1989). Studies in the Way of Words. London: Harvard University Press. Hymes, D. H. (1986). Discourse: Scope without depth. In International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 57, 49-89. Keenan, E. O. (1976). On the universality of conversational implicatures. Language in Society 5.67-80. Lakoff, R. (1973). The logic of politeness, or minding your p’s and q’s. In Papers from the Ninth Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society. 292-305. Loveday, L. (1983). Rhetoric patterns in conflict: The sociocultural relativity of discourse organizing processes. In Journal of Pragmatics, 7, 169-90. Mey, J. (1994). Pragmatics. An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell. Thomas, J. (1984) Cross-cultural discourse as â€Å"unequal encounter†: Toward a pragmatic analysis. In Applied Linguistics, 5(2), 226-235. Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in Interaction. An Introduction to Pragmatics. Harlow /Munich: Longman. Walsh, M. (2009). Some neo-Gricean maxims for aboriginal Australia. Retrieved from http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/research/docs/alw/Walsh09.pdf (accessed 22/10/2013) Watts, R. J. (1991). Power in family discourse. Berlin: Mouton. Wierzbicka, A. (1991). Cross-Cultural Pragmatics. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter Wierzbicka, A. (1985). Different cultures, different languages, different speech acts. In Journal of Pragmatics 9.145-78.

Trends in Cad Industry

INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE INDUSTRY CAD SOFTWARE HISTORY CAD software, also referred to as Computer Aided Design software and in the past as computer aided drafting software, refers to software programs that assist engineers and designers in a wide variety of industries to design and manufacture physical products ranging from buildings, bridges, roads, aircraft and automobiles, large aerospace and automotive companies, ships and cars to digital CAD CAM software (‘CAM' is the acronym for Computer Aided Machining). Sketchpad was the world's first CAD software but the first commercial CAM software system, a Dr. Patrick J. Hanratty. For that reason it is Dr. Hanratty who is most often referred to as â€Å"the father First-generation CAD software systems were typically 2D drafting applications developed by a manufacturer's internal IT group (often collaborating with university researchers) and prim arily intended to automate repetitive drafting chores. The first CAD/CAM software tools emerged in the late 1950s and early 60s for use by automobile and airplane manufacturers with highly detailed McDonnell-Douglas (CADD released in 1966), Ford (PDGS released in 1967), Lockheed (CADAM AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CAD SOFTWARE INDUSTRY CAD software, or computer-aided design software, is used to expedite the process of 2-D and 3-D design and drafting. CAD software can be used on projects as small as a single room in a house, such as a kitchen or bathroom, or as large as a municipal master plan. CAD software also lets engineers and manufacturers design components such as car parts or circuit boards; this process is referred to as CAM, or computer-aided manufacturing. Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computer technology for the design of objects, real or virtual. CAD often involves more than just shapes. As in the manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD often must convey also symbolic information such as materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances, according to application-specific conventions. and technical manuals. The modern ubiquity and power of computers means that even perfume bottles and shampoo dispensers are designed using techniques unheard of by engineers of the 1960s. Because of its enormous economic importance, CAD has been a major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential CAD enables designers to lay out and develop work on screen, print it out and save it for future modeling, in which case it may be marketed as CADD — computer-aided design and drafting Current Computer-Aided Design software packages range from 2D vector-based drafting systems to The CAD software industry can be used solely for creating 2-D and 3-D designs, other products can be linked to construction cost databases, thus giving users the option to click on a window and see data such as a model number and its cost. Finally, today's CAD systems also provide functionality for Web-based collaboration, for turning 3-D models into animations or videos for prospective clients, and for publishing designs onto surveying applications such as Google Earth. Computer-Aided Design is one part of the whole Digital Product Development (DPD) activity within the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process, and as such is used together with other tools, which are either integrated modules or stand-alone products, such as: Computer-aided engineering (CAE) and Finite element analysis (FEA) Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) including instructions to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines Photo realistic rendering Document management and revision control using Product Data Management (PDM). CAD standards Comparison of CAD editors for AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) Comparison of CAD editors for CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) Comparison of CAD editors for CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) Comparison of Free EDA software (Electronic Design Automation) 3D computer graphics software Comparison of 3D computer graphics software Digital architecture Electronic design automation ISO 128 List of CAD companies Molecular design software INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE COMPANY EGS Computers India Private Limited, since inception in 1993, has been providing solutions in the areas of product design, Validation and Engineering Simulation for customers in India. EGS India is an authorized reseller of SolidWorks CAD/CAE/PDM Software Since 1999. EGS is a World-Wide consulting company in Product Design, Finite Element Analysis, Simulation and Development for Machinery, Automobile OEM's and their suppliers, Agriculture, Automotive, Process, Machine Tool, Material Handling Applications and Special Purpose Machines (SPM) SolidWorks Technical support team at EGS India has been delivering Engineering Design Solutions to demanding customers requirements in applications ranging from automotive, material handling, machinery development to power, process and allied industries world-wide for Services, Software and Training Requirements. EGS India has invested in latest engineering tools in the areas of CAD and FEA to augment the Design Capabilities and Complement Engineering Experience built over years of delivering successful customer-driven solutions. Activities at EGS India Array of Product Design activities ranging from concept design to engineering drawing release while focussing on Fit, Form and Function using SolidWorks for Customers in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and Rest of India Simulation and Validation using Finite Element Analysis techniques from Linear to Highly Non-Linear Domains Reseller SolidWorks CAD, SolidWorks Simulation ( Cosmos FEA ), PDMWorks Software Solutions, Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India in the areas of Computer Aided Engineering Customization using SolidWorks for Automation of Design functions including Modelling, Drawing Generation and Knowledge Based Engineering Functions ACADEMIX Training on Advanced Engineering functions to augment Design expertise and refine design procedures for accelerated product development using SolidWorks, Cosmos FEA, Nastran, Patran, LMS, Abaqus software. GD & T Training is conducted by EGS India for customers in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi and other parts of India to help Indian Manufacturers deliver on High Quality Products ACADEMIX, technical training Division of EGS India has contributed to devolution of knowledge in the areas of Design, Validation, Drawing Development using GD&T concepts for numerous companies in India. Software Sales and Support EGS India has been associated with SolidWorks Corporation – USA, as a Value Added Reseller since 1999, delivering Design Solutions to customers in India. Commitment and Passion to help customers in their Design Functions has helped EGS India earn the trust of Companies, Large and Small, India-wide.

Ratan Tata

Strategist: Sir Ratan Tata When Ratan Tata became Group Chairman in 1991 he ushered an era of change. According to him â€Å"A company or business that remains static will die. A company that constantly changes and accepts that there are better ways to do things than they are done today is a company that will survive in the global market that we face. † He is admired not only for managing the Tata Empire but creating history by making Tata group an MNC by acquiring steel companies like Chorus and legendary automotive brands of Land Rover & Jaguar. It was his vision to come up with Tata Nano, affordable car for common man in India, and with Tata ACE in the commercial segment to cater the ever going needs of cargo transport. All this has revolutionized not only the Indian industry but also created niche in global space. He is recipient of Padma Bhusan, Padma Vibhusan , NASSCOM Leadership, Carneige Mellon medal of philanthropy, ranked among World’s most powerful businessmen, and conferred honorary citizenship of Singapore etc. His personality has distinguishable features–Very dignified, Ethical, Dependable, Believes in keeping promises, questioning the unquestionable, Risk taker not a speculator, Great Motivator, Loyal and believes in making relationships He is an exemplary leader who is a Visionary, Strategist, Initiator/ change champion, Risk taker, Expertise and a man of integrity. His leadership is admired by the corporate of almost every generation. In his Leadership Managerial roles, he exhibits role of– Figurehead Entrepreneur Resource allocator role Disturbance Handler Besides, he is a philanthropist and has taken many initiatives for society and people.

Movies Good or Bad

Division Classification Essay| Tabitha NewberryFridays 8:30-11:30| Is the theaters Movies worse or better than Home movies? | | While I do not generally care for television, I do enjoy movies. Movies, however, present both a financial and a time commitment. When my family and I go to a movie, we spend roughly $20 for admission and an additional $20 for popcorn, sodas, and other snacks. At this cost, a night at the movies will often function as the evening meal as well. Occasionally my mom and I or my sister and I will go see something I especially want to see and leave my son with a sitter.Still the financial obligation is significant. Movies generally last somewhere between an hour and a half to two hours, plus time to dress, drive, park the car, buy tickets, get snacks, find a seat, and watch previews. Thus, there isn't always room in a busy schedule–or a tight budget– to go to movies. In other words, I can't see them all at the theater. For these reasons, I've devise d a ranking of movies to include those that I can watch at home. The films belong in these categories: 1) Films I will pay to watch in a theater; 2) Films I will rent; and 3) Films I will watch on television.I will pay to see three different types of movies: family pictures, Funny, and what can I say I’m a hopeless Romantic. Sometimes these all overlap, making me truly happy but usually not. With a young son the pressures to see every child’s, or family, film is tremendous. He does not sit still long enough to even watch a 30 minute television show. At daycare, they hear all about â€Å"Brother Bear† and â€Å"Dore the Explore,† or â€Å"Go Diego Go. † The actual quality of these films is meaningless to children. Deny them the opportunity and they feel cheated. Take them to a bad film, and they become instant film critics.My son has a little bit before he gets to that point, but you get my drift. Yet I still try taking him, I do. As a family, we al l including my son like the funny movies. It is a given that we will see every new â€Å"Romantic Comedy† or â€Å"Kids Movie † film that makes its way to theaters within the opening week. Some other adaptations or other very film-not-movie type films warrant their own special experience for me, I suppose, due to my Romantic interest. Not terribly long ago I dragged my Sister to see a film entitled â€Å"The Vow† This film deals with a real love story of faith, the tale of a love that refuses to be forgotten, and is ased on the actual relationship of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who wrote a book about their marriage, also known as The Vow. Most movies that I will rent but not pay theater prices to view are the free kids movies or worse†¦BARNEY AND FRIENDS! These movies were the movies my mom used to say were a treat for us kids if we were good. â€Å"Free and funny† she called it. The previews sell them quite well but not well enough to put them on th e must-see list. So they end up in my home during one of those hey-want-to-rent-a-movie times. Unfortunately, finding time to watch a rented video or DVD is not an easy feat at my house.My son likes to fight his sleep and then homework and dishes and extra cleaning on the weekends when company comes over. The weekends are about the only times my son and I feel like staying up late to watch a movie. (Probably the only time he stays up late EVER), and not surprising we fall asleep just minutes into our rented films. Sometimes these films go unwatched back to the movie store. About once every couple of months when there's nothing I want to see on the Lifetime Channel, ill flip through the channels and find a movie.I don't pay for any of the special movie channels because I would never see a return on my investment. But I first saw â€Å"The day after tomorrow,† â€Å"The Alamo,† â€Å"The Shawshank Redemption,† and numerous others this way. Of course, they were fou r or five years old when I finally saw them. One plus to; waiting this long to see them is that I won't be influenced by the viewpoints of others when I formulate my critical analyses. Regardless of the genre and regardless of my personal classification, I find most films to be a bit of a let-down, especially if someone has raved to me about how wonderful a particular film is.I always seem to think the â€Å"industry† could do better. For this reason, many of them make it to the watch it on television group. On the other hand, those that do make it to the theater group are often suitable enough to make it to the purchase for home group, but that's really another class altogether. So with all that said and done; I think I would rather just chill at home with my son and wait 4-5 years to watch a movie on television, than spend almost 40 bucks on a movie I will probably only watch once at the theater. And save me a lot of time and effort as well.

My hobbies Essay

Badminton is my favourite sport. It is the fastest racket game in the world. It is played with rackets and a shuttlecock. There are six main shots: the serve, the clear, the drop, the smash, the forehand drive and the backhand drive. The court on which badminton is played is in the shape of a rectangle and is divided in half by a net. I started playing badminton when I was old enough or strong enough to swing the rackets. I love racket sports, especially badminton because badminton involves a lot of running, stopping, and changing directions, it is very easy to become tired while playing. A high level of physical fitness is required for a person to play several games continuously. I usually last only about two games. After two games I usually just stand on the court, rather than running to get the shuttle. It’s in my blood but I rarely play anymore. Where I live now, it’s hard to find a partner to play with. One of my favourite hobbies is calligraphy. Learning proper calligraphy has been top of my to-do list for ages. Learning calligraphy will give you a much more intimate sense of each letter and it will help you to learn how to manipulate each one or many together to create a beautiful composition.The principal tool for a calligrapher are the pen, which may be flat- or round-nibbed, and the brush. For some decorative purposes, multi-nibbed pens, steel brushes can be used. Ink for writing is usually water-based and much less viscous than the oil based inks used in printing. High quality paper, which has good consistency of porosity, will enable cleaner lines. I am not that good at calligraphy still; I try to practice the strokes and curves in my leisure time. I believe that life is a learning experience and being able to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses can help us become better individuals in anything we choose to do, whether it is positive abilities and skills that can help achieve our goals or negative personal areas that need improvement. Knowing yourself and what you can do, can help you recognize and overcome your weaknesses. One of my greatest strengths is that I am flexible person. I know how to adapt according to atmosphere. My positive attitude never fails me. I also enjoy having a good impact on peoples’ lives and  giving people a reason to smile. I am able to drift deep in thought and start imagining things basically anytime. I am interested in learning from others and my own mistakes easily. I can handle myself in difficult situation by sweet communication with patience. My weaknesses are that I am not expressive. I am someone who tends to shrink from social contacts and becomes preoccupied with my own thoughts. Stage fright is my biggest weakness. I am a person who shares less with others and tries to resolve problems by over thinking. I also over think even simple and minor things and end up complicating them. That is the downside of having too much alone time.

Dental Records and Income Monitoring System

Companies suffer from file-based management system in handling information. Secretaries or person-in-charge who manipulates records manually aren’t assured that each record is properly monitored, due to work loads. It was May 21, 2001, when Dr. Torres an associate dentist opens his own dental clinic with Mrs. Miranda as his personal assistant. As the process of the clinic goes, from ‘walk-in’ patients they also have appointments. Today, they are now accepting (H. M. O-patient with company accreditation).Complexity of records turns out as the problem of their clinic, as well as keeping records properly and secure. The existing system deals with problems that needed to be carried out from the management such as the difficulty in accessing data, problems in updating records, data redundancy and the integrity problem with regards on the stored data and its security. Statement of the Problem Proper record managing is a big work upon having a file-based system. First th ing to consider is the data accuracy which is the main goal of managing records then the security, but as it goes problems arises such as: 1.What is the status of the current system in terms of: 2. 1. Data collection and retrieval? 2. 2. Accessing of specific record? 2. 3. Updating of patient’s information? 2. 4. The security of their patient’s files? 2. 5. Income monitoring? System Design Paradigm Input Process Output Dental Records And Income Monitoring System System Analysis and Design Life Cycle -Patient Information -Reports -Billing Statement -Acquired Services Figure1. System Design Paradigm This illustration shows the basic procedure undertaken in this study.System Analysis and Design Life Cycle has an important role in the development of the new system to track records of patients. The Dental Record and Income Monitoring System will be developed for the monitoring and managing records of patient’s information and the clinic’s income. Patientâ€⠄¢s profile, reports, billing statement and acquired services will be gathered, reviewed, and analyzed through Systems Analysis and Design process. This procedure will result to the development of the Dental Record and Income Monitoring System.Objectives of the Study Dental Records and Income Monitoring System is proposed to lessen some concern with regards in managing the patient’s records, as well as the income of Dr. Torres Dental Care Center. 1. The said system will be developed having objectives as follows: 1. 1. To provide an accurate data collection and retrieval. 1. 2. To provide an easy access to the records. 1. 3. To provide a more secured patient’s files system. 1. 4. To provide the user an easily updated patient’s information. 1. 3. To generate their income.Significance of the Study Dental clinics and even other business institutions keep their record as their basis in doing actions and decisions to offer better services. On the other hand, they are also profitable organizations. So the group comes to the idea of Dental Records and Income Monitoring System proposed to D. Torres Dental Care Center. With the study, researchers expect that it will benefit the following: Dentist – The said system will provide the dentist reports that monitor the income of the clinic. Secretary – The proposed ystem will minimize the workload of the secretary upon managing patient’s record as well as the billing transactions. Patients – With the system, patients will be easily accommodated and served for easy schedule and billing transactions. Clinic – The benefit of the clinic is that it can now provide fast and easy process for patient, doctor and the secretary. Other researchers – This will benefit them in their future research with regards in this kind of system. Scope and Delimitation Technology has always been a major means of creating new physical and human environment.In this case data managing is the prior concern. How data or information will be handled properly and secured. In the proposed system, the patient’s records are computerized and being stored in the database for easy access and accurate retrieval of data which is the main priority of this study. This includes the medical history of the patient, the treatment that should be done and their schedule. There is also an income and service fee computations. Managing of appointments is also included. There is a secure log-in for the dentist and the secretary.On the other hand, the process of automatic scheduling for patients is not included. Printing of receipt will not also be covered. The diagnosis of the particular treatment that will be given to the patient and the prescription of medicine for each treatment are also not included. Assumptions On the implementation of Dental Records and Income Monitoring System, the D. Torres Dental Care Center can now offer faster and easier services. Regarding of patient’ s charges and transactions, payment is easily computed and manipulated, as well as the clinic’s income.Design Methodology To come up with the design, the proponent has chosen the Iteration Approach as the Software Development Methodology. Figure 2. Iteration Approach The figure shows the System Development Life Cycle that provides a phase approach to analyze, design, and implement a system that could solve the encountered problem by the company. 1. Identifying problems, opportunities and objectives. In this phase the group determines whether the problem exist and has a solution. The group has created a project plan, which will help or serve as a guide in solving the problem.The researchers also conducted a feasibility study that will determine whether a system is needed. 2. Determining information needed. In this phase, the group analyzes and understands what information the D. Torres Dental Care Center needs in their system. 3. Analyzing system needed. In this stage the rese archers prepared the system proposal that summarizes the details that been found, provide cost-benefit analysis of alternatives and make recommendations of what should be done. 4. Designing the recommended system. In this stage the group will work on designing the output that will meet the information needs.After recommendation and approval, the group will eventually design a database system. 5. Developing and documenting software. The group will provide the original software that is needed. Documentation lets the user know how to use the software and manages the problem occurs. 6. Testing and maintaining the system. Information is not applicable to use unless it is undergoing several test. In this stage, the group will conduct a series of tests to pinpoint the problems. System maintenance includes modification of the system use to changes within the inventory process. . Implementation and evaluating the system. In this stage, the group needs to verify and test the information gathe red, train the user to handle the system and install the system. Definition of Terms The D. Torres Dental Care Center has these following terms that they used on their center. Here are the following terms: Braces – an orthodontic appliance consisting or brackets cemented to the surface of each toothand wires of stainless steel or nickel titanium alloy. Braces are used to treat malocclusionby changing the position of the teeth.Dentist – the one who needed and reads the patients information that is given by the secretary. H. M. O. – Health Maintenance Organization, an organization that provides medical and dental Oral Prophylaxis – cleaning or polishing of the teeth. Pasta or Restoration – the action or process of restoring. Patient –  is the recipient of the information. Retainer Fee – a retainer fee is a fixed amount of money that a client agrees to pay, in advance, to secure the services of a consultant or freelancer. Retainer â₠¬â€œ an appliance or device that keeps the tooth or partial denture in proper position.Root Canal – That aspect of endodontic dealing with the treatment of diseases of the dental pulp, consisting of partial (pulpotomy) or complete (pulpectomy) extirpation of the diseased pulp, cleaning and sterilization of the empty root canal, enlarging and shaping of the canal to receive sealing material, and obturation of the canal with a nonirritating hermetic sealing agent. It is also called pulp canal therapy. Secretary – the one, who gathers the information of the patient, gives it to the dentist and also computes the income of the clinic.Surgery – is an ancient  medical specialty  that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a  patient  to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as  disease  or  injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance. Teeth Whitening – the process of using bleach or other materials to mak e teeth look whiter. The materials remove stains or other discoloration from the tooth surface. Tooth Extraction –  (also referred to as  exodontia) is the removal of a  tooth  from the  mouth. Tooth Impacted – is a tooth that gets blocked as it is pushing through the gum onto your mouth (erupting).

Literary Analysis Paper – Cathedral

Literary Analysis paper – Cathedral â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver tells us short story about a blind man who comes to visit his friend and her husband. In the story, even though the husband can technically see and has a normal sight, in the beginning of the story he is the one who shows the signs of true â€Å"blindness† through inability to see Robert beyond his blindness, incapability to communicate with Robert, him feeling uncomfortable and acting awkward around Robert. The husband does not realize how Robert's blindness changes him as human being.Carver skillfully shows the occurrence of change in the personality of the husband from being very awkward around a blind man to coming to realization that Robert is a person and not just a blind man. In the story, â€Å"Cathedral† Carver brings out the concept of husband's spiritual blindness and the theme of broke marriage to shows what is wrong with the modern world. Carver portrays husband's spiritual blindness to show parallel to the spiritual blindness of the modern world.The narrator sees his wife's blind friend as handicap and not as a whole person. The narrator is not enthusiastic about the visit because blind people make the narrator uncomfortable â€Å"†¦ and his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movie the blind move slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. The blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to† (114). In this way, Carver shows how spiritual blindness can limit people in our everyday life just as it did the husband.In reality, spiritually blind people are unable to understand matters beyond their physical site. The theme that Carver touched in the â€Å"Cathedral† of the spiritually blind verses physically blind has been touched in the Bible as well. Passage in John 9:1-41 points out an interesting comparison between physical and spiritual blindness that take s place in this passage. It mainly describes how a blind man who believed in Jesus as the Son of God was forgiven and men with sight who could not see what the blind man saw remained in their sin.It very much gives reassures that personal understanding of the truth, understanding of the things beyond your physical sight are far more important that the physical. Carver brings this theme in order to show the reader the problematic spiritual blindness of our modern society that looks more at the physical rather than looking at thing in a more deeper and meaningful prospective. Another way in which Carver points out the concept of broken marriage relationships in our society is by portraying characters as being in an unhappy, depressed marriage relationship.The narrator lacks true marriage relationship with his wife, as is evident not only in their sparring in the narrative present, but also in the remoteness of perspective as he tells the story of her attempted suicide a few years befo re: â€Å". . . one night she got to feeling lonely and cut off from people she kept losing in that moving-around life. She got to feeling she couldn't go it another step. She went in and swallowed all the pills and capsules in the medicine chest and washed them down with a bottle of gin. Then she got into a hot bath and passed out. But instead of dying she got sick. She threw up.Her officer—why should he have a name? he was the childhood sweetheart and what more does he want? —came home from somewhere, found her and called the ambulance† (115). Although an attempt to suicide may be considered a personal weakness, nether the less, the unhappy marriage relationship had its influence in this matter. Relationship with a person who has mental health problems can lower the satisfaction levels. It surely takes a toll to live with a depressed person. Like in the case with the narrator and his wife, the more depressed and more anxious they become, the more dissatisfied is the marriage.Untreated depression poses a very real threat to a marriage such as in the situation with the wife. This is in reality a big problem in our society today. Such as in the story husband and wife experienced depressed relationship and indeed, in the reality the depressed spouse will experience less happiness, satisfaction and contentment in the marriage. Narrator mentions â€Å"†¦ every night I smoked dope and stayed up as long as I could before I fell asleep. My wife and I hardly ever went to bed at the same time†¦ and in reality the partner will struggle with handling the increased isolation and social withdrawal of the depressed spouse, the loss of emotional intimacy, (and often sexual intimacy as well), and the prevalent negativity in the relationship. When one spouse is depressed, the depression colors everything in the relationship. The depressed spouse sees the world through a darkened lens that limits his or her perspective. The author wants to point out that the negative events are interpreted even more negatively; neutral events are also interpreted negatively, and the positive appenings are often overlooked. The depressed spouse often loses interest in activities that used to bring pleasure and may experience fatigue and listlessness. There can be loss of sleep or sleeping too much; eating too much or be like the husband that smokes marijuana to bring some excitement in to his life. Feelings of love and sexual desire may become dulled or absent when an individual is depressed. The biggest danger when this happens is that the depressed spouse may erroneously conclude that this means he or she is no longer in love with the mate.In conclusion, I would like to draw parallel between the story of â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver to our modern society. In our modern society, we continue to meet individuals similar to the character of the â€Å"husband† who have physical but not spiritual vision as well as facing simi lar broken marriage problems. The issues that Carver touched in his story are rather social and relevant to our modern society rather than related to single individual. In addition, we see individuals similar to the â€Å"blind man† who are physically disabled; however, they exhibit a truer intuition into life and their surroundings.They have the ability to see spiritual concepts and understand people and the world around them. We learn from the story that those who are physically enabled can still learn from those who may seem disabled but have in reality a better understanding of life. Sometimes experiencing the hard ships of life helps, us grow and experience life in a different way than we normally would. It is like one who cannot see the forest for the trees. Work Cited Jan Zlotnik Schmidt, Lynne Crockett. â€Å"Portable Legacies: Raymond Carver's ‘Cathedral'. â€Å"