Essay about Tension in David Leans Great Expectations

Tension in David Leans Great Expectations In this essay I will be analysing the opening scene of David Leans version of Great Expectations to see how tension is brought to the screen. Great Expectations is a novel wrote by Charles Dickens in 1861 but set in 1812. The film version I will be analysing was produced in 1945. In the scene I will be analysing, it shows a young boy, Pip visiting the grave of his parents. While Pip is in the graveyard an escaped convict grabs him and questions Pip and when he finds out that he is living with a blacksmith he demands Pip to get him a file so he can free himself and some whittles which are scraps of food. The scene ends with Pip running off home.†¦show more content†¦From the appearance the viewer would think that he is a nice boy due to him being all clean, tidy and smartly dressed. This contrasts to the convict who looks dirty and wears dirty clothes and has a scary facial expression, this makes the convict seem frightening. The weather added to the rundown look of the graveyard, Pips actions in the graveyard as well as the appearance of the convict sets the scene and makes you know something is going to happen. The second area I will be analysing is camera angles, camera angles can change the way you perceive a scene, for instance if a low angle shot is used then it creates a feeling of power to the person or object it is being used on. In this scene lots of P.O.V shots are used. P.O.V shots are point of view shots; they show you what the character is seeing through their eyes. This helps you too see how scary the place is looking from hi eyes it is the way the director, David Lean, makes you feel sorry for Pip. At the start of the scene there is a long shot of Pip running to the graveyard it looks very dismal and very bleak. This adds to the impression of it being a bad place. When Pip meets Magwitch lots of low angle and high angle camera shots are used to show the power difference between the two characters. The camera never goes above Pips height in this scene this shows the dominance Magwitch hasShow MoreRelatedThe Opening Sequences of David Lean and Alfonso Cuarons Film Version of Great Expectations1582 Words   |  7 PagesThe Opening Sequences of David Lean and Alfonso Cuarons Film Version of Great Expectations In this media assignment I shall be analyzing and comparing the similarities and differences of two famous directors film versions of Great Expectations. The two directors are David Lean and Alfonso Cuaron. David Leans version was more popular and well known than Alfonso Cuarons because Lean was the first director to actually direct Great Expectations. This made it more difficultRead MoreEssay about A Comparison of Two Film Openings to Great Expectations1356 Words   |  6 Pagesof Two Film Openings to Great Expectations The story Great Expectations is based in Victorian times and was written by Charles Dickens in the 1860s. This novel which Charles Dickens wrote has been produced as a film one version by David Lean and another by B.B.C. The B.B.C version is the modern version and the version produced by David Lean is the traditional version. I will be comparing these two versions of the openings to Great Expectations. These two openingsRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations2277 Words   |  10 PagesAlthough Charles Dickens’ classic novel Great Expectations was published in 1861, modern-day playwrights, authors, and directors go to great lengths to preserve its timelessness. Many of these writers feel that the best way to keep the novel relevant to society is to alter the original novel to make it culturally relevant or acceptable. The idea of cultural studies in regards to literature and literary criticism began in the 1950s and â€Å"involves viewing and analyzing practically any recorded phenomenon

Essay about Interwar Avant-Garde Artwork And Its Community...

The â€Å"art and life† aspects of the interwar avant-garde are an advanced socially trivial form of art which to a bigger extent is symbolic of the visual setting of the human community. It is the art of expressionism in any artistic work which greatly influence its adaptation by the target audience. It has been evidently claimed that most artistic works of the early twentieth century have had a number of varied themes all encompassing the political environment of the time. The interwar avant-garde is a direct expression of the modernism in a society marked with low levels of civilization. It is indeed the expressive nature of artistic works that we claim high levels of civilization in our human society. This is the reason why art is quite†¦show more content†¦It is to be noted and comprehended that such aspects need not to be typically true but should in their presentation give the impression of reality or highly probability. It was such advanced expressionism that greatly influenced military professionals while at war during the early twentieth century. It is also noted that avant-grades gesture generally carries with it the notion of judgment on actions that are considered shocking. Many modern society artworks are rarely acted without incidences of bloody conflicts. This is particularly evidently witnessed in the warfare framed artworks. It is the art of expressing irresponsibility and might I add chaotic revolution within a movie or a working medium that makes the piece of art a truly unique masterpiece. It has evidently been noted that the adaptability of any piece of art is highly reliant on the element of visual modernity rather than an expression of the ultimate reality in the society. It is by involving exaggerative acts in a movie that assimilation of the intended social aspect is easily realized. Artworks must be appealing to the eyes of the audience. It is only from the visual appearance of the artwork that determines whether or not the audience will give it a chance or not. The suspense brought in art by the use of choki ng notion of judgment is what keeps the audience watching to find out what happens

Strategic Management for Gaining and Sustaining Competitive

Question: Discuss about theStrategic Management for Gaining and Sustaining Competitive. Answer: The advent of globalization and also the recent advancements in the technological fields have made the business world much more competitive than it was a few decades ago (West, Ford and Ibrahim 2015). Therefore, the various business organizations often take the help of various strategic and competitive market analysis frameworks to analyze the level of competition faced by them in the business market (West, Ford and Ibrahim 2015). The Porters five forces framework is one such framework which helps the various business organizations to analyze the level of competition faced by them in the current business market (Porter 1996). Spotify is a Sweden based company which was founded in the year 2008 and is generally considered to be one of the best music, podcast, and video streaming service providers in the industry presently (Spotify.com. 2018). The company was initially started in the nation of Sweden however presently the company caters to the needs and the requirements of the customer s from the various diverse parts of the globe (Spotify.com. 2018). A Porters five forces analysis of the company would reveal the following facts- Threat of new entrants The company Spotify is one of the leading ones in the world and caters to the needs and the requirements of the customers from the various parts of the world (Spotify.com. 2018). In addition to that, the company provides free as well as premium services to the customers (Spotify.com. 2018). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the company faces a very low level of threat from the various new entrants in the market in which the company Spotify conducts its business. Threat of substitutes The company in addition to the premium services also provides free services to the customers (Spotify.com. 2018). Furthermore, it is seen that many customers opt for the premium services provided by this particular company. However, it is seen that many companies provides the same kind of services to the customers at a much lower rate. Therefore, the company faces a significant amount of threat from the various substitutes which are operational in the same sector as the company Spotify. The following figure provides a list of the various competitors of the company Spotify in terms of the revenue earned by them since the year 2013- Figure 1: Monthly royalties for the top companies in the music sector Source: Spotify official website Bargaining power of the buyers It is significant to note that if the bargaining power of the customers is high then that is likely to affect the prospects or the interests of the company concerned (Porter 2008). The company Spotify has numerous competitors in the market which provide almost the same kind of services to the customers and that too at a much lower rate. Moreover, the switching cost is very low and this acts as an added advantage to the customers. Thus, it would be apt to say that the company Spotify faces a considerable amount of threat as the bargaining power of the customers who take the services offered by them is very high. Bargaining power of the suppliers In the opinion of Porter, if the bargaining power of the various suppliers whose services a particular company takes the help of is high then that is likely to impact the business of the concerned organization in a significant manner (Porter 2008). It is significant to note that the suppliers of the company Spotify are the various engineers as well as the developers who constantly upgrade the software as well as the website of the company Spotify (Spotify.com. 2018). Furthermore, the various users of the services provided by the company listen to the music over their mobile phones or computer systems. Moreover, it is to be noted that these suppliers exert a considerable influence on the business of the company Spotify. Thus, it can be said that the company faces a considerable amount of threat on this particular score. Thus, it can be said that the level of competition faced by the various companies or the business organizations in the present times has increased significantly. Therefore, it becomes essential for the various business organizations to conduct a thorough market analysis to develop new strategies so that they can overcome the market competition faced by them in the most effective manner. Thus, the various business organizations also conduct regular market as well as competitive analysis to find out the needs and the requirements of the customers and design their products or services as per the requirements of the customers. Competitive advantage can be defined as the process by means of which puts a business organization or a particular company in a superior advantage over the other companies or the business organizations (Amini, et al. 2012). In other words, the concept of competitive advantage can be defined as the process, which allows a particular company or country to produce a good or service at equal value but at a lower price or in a more desirable fashion (McGrath 2013). It is significant to note that the various companies or the business organizations often take the help of various innovative strategies to gain a competitive advantage over their rival business organizations. This strategies or policies might include price competition, quality service or goods and others. The concept of sustainable competitive advantage, on the other hand, can be defined as the process by means of which the various business organizations gain a sustainable advantage over their rivals (McGrath 2013). In other words, these advantages are the ones which are company assets, attributes, or abilities that are difficult to duplicate or exceed; and provide a superior or favorable long term position over competitors (McGrath 2013). Thus, it can be said that the concepts of competitive advantage and sustainable competitive advantage form an important part of the overall business strategy of the various business organizations (McGrath 2013). In the opinion of Barney articulated in his 1991 article "Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage", resource-based view can be seen as a reaction against the positioning school and its somewhat prescriptive approach which focused managerial attention on external considerations, notably industry structure (Barney 2014). Furthermore, his article states that the emergent resource-based view argued that the source of sustainable advantage derives from doing things in a superior manner; by developing superior capabilities and resources (Barney 2014). Thus, the primary focus of this particular theory articulated by Barney is on the way the various business organizations do the basic things of their business in a much superior manner in a bid to develop sustainable advantage over their rivals (Barney 2014). The business operations of the company Spotify when viewed in the light of the theories of competitive advantage of Barney and Porter will reveal the fact that although the company started less than a decade ago yet the company has been able to gain to gain to a sufficient amount of competitive advantage over its rivals (Barney 2014). This becomes very apparent from the above given analysis of the company in terms of the Porters five forces. Furthermore, the theory of Barney focuses on the need of the various business organizations to do things in a superior manner to gain a kind of competitive advantage over their rivals. The business operation of the company Spotify when viewed in this particular light will seem very superior in comparison to the same kind of services provided by the company Spotify. The company Spotify, for example, provides not only premium services to its customers from various parts of the world but also provides free services to the customers as well. The cust omers who take the help of the premium services offered by the company get some additional benefits as well. For example, the customers belonging to the premium section not only get access to unlimited number of songs belonging to various languages as well as genres but also get the option to download these songs and music albums. In addition to these, the premium clients of the company do not have to listen to the various kinds of advertisements which the normal customers who take the help of the free services had to. It is significant to note that these are very unique features which very few companies or business organizations in the present times offer to the customers or in the manner which the company Spotify provides to its customers. Therefore, it can be said that the company Spotify possesses a certain level of advantage over its competitors. To conclude, it becomes clear that competitive advantage forms an important part of the overall business strategy of the various business organizations. Thus, the various business organizations often take the help of various innovative business strategies to gain a considerable amount of competitive advantage over their competitors. Therefore, it is often seen that the various business organizations undertake a thorough market analysis to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. References Amini, A., Darani, M., Afshani, M. and Amini, Z., 2012. Effectiveness of marketing strategies and corporate image on brand equity as a sustainable competitive advantage.Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business,4(2), pp.192-205. Barney, J. 1991. Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. Barney, J.B., 2014.Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Pearson higher ed. McGrath, R.G., 2013.The end of competitive advantage: How to keep your strategy moving as fast as your business. Harvard Business Review Press. Porter, M. E. 1996. What is strategy? Harvard Business Review, 74(6), 61-78 Porter, M. E. 2008. The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, 86(1), 78-93. Spotify.com. 2018.Music for everyone.. [online] Available at: https://www.spotify.com/int/why-not-available/ [Accessed 11 Apr. 2018]. West, D.C., Ford, J. and Ibrahim, E., 2015.Strategic marketing: creating competitive advantage. Oxford University Press, USA.

International managers

Introduction Complex cultural realities are a common phenomenon for global business systems. The paradigm shift of the business world as a result of globalization has resulted in a mixture of cultures that make up a society. For example, the numbers of employees working in international companies has risen in the recent past, bringing the totals to an approximate 73 million people working in foreign companies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International managers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is worth noting that in all these business ventures, humans and all that is encompassed in humanity form the bedrock of discourses handling corporate social responsibility, human resource management, corporate governance, and sustainability (Palthe, 2008). Recognizing the importance of the person as a driving force in any organization is very essential. Culture is one of the parameters that define a human person. Ther efore, understanding the different cultures that define the different classes of people has become a rising concern for managers because they need to be aware of the different beliefs, preferences, and values of the different people. This is important for the successful running of any organization and this paper will focus on culture at an international level in the business context. Understanding Culture The definition of culture is very complex as is evident from the various definitions by different scholars. Engelen (2010) denotes that Kluckhohn’s (1951) definition of culture is the most renowned and consists â€Å"in patterned ways of thinking, feeling and reacting, acquired and transmitted mainly by symbols, making up the discrete achievements of human groups, including their embodiment in artefacts’†. The question whether a society is made up of one culture is very relative because different traditional ideas and their attached values are the fundamental p rinciples of culture. Practically, there is no single society consisting of a single culture in the contemporary society. However, such a society ideally exists, and may have existed, when people lived and were restricted to their specific cultures centuries ago, probably before colonization. In the contemporary world where globalization is the order of the day, a society is made up of numerous cultures and an example is the United States where people from all walks of life with different cultures are found. Hofstede’s Dimensions Hofstede’s dimensions have been at the forefront in describing culture and these have been extensively accepted by management and entrepreneurship scholars for application in the business world (Marino, Strandholm, Steensma Weaver, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Different cultures are defined on the basis of these dimensions a nd are used to govern management of international businesses. These dimensions are four and they are used to define different cultures. They are power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity vs. femininity (Hofstede, 1980). Importance of understanding cultural variation in International ventures It is important that international managers effectively manage their human resources because this is regarded as the key to competitive success (Rodrigues, 2009). The human resources are essential factors that keep an organization running, and if poorly managed, the involved organization would be headed for a downfall. The human resources however are influenced by traditional values and norms stemming from the cultural background, which is responsible for shaping the character, beliefs, personality, and behaviour of the human resource fraternity. Decision making is very important in companies and this is greatly affected by poor management of organiza tional variant culture (Parboteeah Cullen, 2011). When effective management and appreciation of cultural variation is lacking in a company, the degree of centralization in that company is very high, and is an impediment to the success of the company. When the structure in an international company is decentralized, then every person in the organization is empowered enough to air out their views and opinions. In so doing, they will be bringing in innovative ideas into the company since idea generation is likely to happen at lower hierarchical levels as indicated by Henard Szymanski (2001). Appreciation of cultural variation leads to cross-functional integration, which is the â€Å"interaction, communication, information-sharing, and coordination across departments in an organization† (Engelen, 2010). Cross-functional integration is very essential during the launch of a new product when all the staff within an organization need to come together and give their views, ideas and opinions on how to bolster the new product. When cultural variation is not accorded the attention it deserves, there is a lot of potential from the employees that goes unrecognized hence untapped due to lack of harmony and poor interpersonal relations within the organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International managers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Cultural variation also affects the manner in which a company/organization is run. When a manager goes to a foreign land, he or she is expected to run the company in a way that is culturally sensitive to the lives of the local people in the foreign land (Mead Andrew, 2009). This is because issues like culture shock may occur if the international manager just imposes his or her ideas and opinions as borrowed from his/her previous area of work/stay. Consequently, this negatively affects the daily operations of the company/organization. The figure below sh ows the various ways through which culture influences business contexts: Cross-cultural business contexts When international managers fail to address these parameters that are affected by cultural variation, the resultant are the marketing mistakes and communication blunders that define marketing folklore. An example is when Ford’s low-cost truck was marketed using the brand â€Å"Feira†, a Spanish name which apparently means ugly old woman. Caliente was used in Mexico to market the Ford Comet but apparently, this word is a local slang for prostitute (International Culture, 2008). Such misconception can gravely impede the performance and productivity of an organization, and consequently affect the general achievement of the organization’s objectives. Means to Understanding cultural variation by International Managers The first and most important means through which international managers can gain understanding on appreciating cultural variance when running over seas ventures is to learn the different cultures in the area where the venture is located. Hofstede’s dimensions are a means of enabling the managers to be aware of the different cultures that exist. These dimensions can be presented to the managers in form of a model during a workshop as a means to create awareness and show case examples of incidences where cultural variation has affected the success of companies if not handled effectively and professionally. Hofstede’s dimensions provide a means that can be used by international managers in cross-national comparison since national cultures are perceived as core entities that define organizational culture (Shimoni, 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Language is another important means that can be used to understand culture in general. An example is that of Chinese and American cultures where differences in language are obvious. Language may be a barrier in such a situation since Chinese mainly speak in Chinese and have to go to class to learn English. The same case applies to the Americans in as far as the Chinese language is concerned. International managers should ensure that a formal language, one that is understood by everyone, is adopted in the organization. This is because speaking the same language by a people with a similar cultural orientation hides the cultural differences that prevail and these differences may gradually accrue to culminate in detrimental effect to the organization. In addition, the use of a common language within an organization facilitates good interpersonal relations (Voigt, 2001). International managers can ensure that cultural variation does not become a threat to the overall productivity of an o rganization through effective management, as well as establishing standards to govern corporate social behaviour (Palthe, 2008). Effective management of human resources within international organizations is achieved by engagement in ethically acceptable activities. A company that upholds such ethical norms is perceived to be socially responsible and is associated with success like high returns due to its ability to attract customers, and recruit great talent and investors (Vance Paik, 2011). The impact of corporate social responsibility is a means through which managers can understand the essence of international cultural variation. Such impact include profitability as indicated in a 2007 Grant Thornton survey of U. S. Business Leaders and Fortune companies, which showed a comparative $2.5 million increased annual revenue in companies with CSR reputation as opposed to those without CSR reputation (Palthe, 2008). When managers witness such impacts, their understanding of cultural va riation and why it should be appreciated is enhanced. The pressure from stakeholders and the general public alike is an impetus drive for international managers to understand the importance of cultural variation. This is because these two groups of people have a heavy input to the success of the business since the public are the customers whereas the stakeholders are the resources that shape up an organization. The success of any international company is dependent of the ability of the international managers to understand their employees in relation to culture. According to Thomas (2000), it was not until two pharmaceutical companies from the same advanced and industrialized world merged, that the involved managers realized the essence of cultural variation in determining the success of international companies. Management cultures are used by international managers as a guide to gain understanding and act in companies in stated time and space. The means by which international manage rs manage the existing cultures within their companies is very important. In an example of Swedish and American companies in Thailand and Israeli, the manner in which the different cultures within the organizations are managed determines the success of the organization. In this example, Thai and Israeli managers review and appraise the management cultures within these multi-national companies instead of simply absorbing them (Cohen 1991; Frenkel Shenhav, 2003). This way, the managers are able to embrace those cultures that are congruent to the companies’ goals and sideline those that appear not to augur with these goals. The result is a hybridization of management, which is not a complete hybrid form, but one which is characterized by temporal and not clearly demarcated boundaries. The Thai offices are governed by local practices that are characterized by harmonious personal relations and maintenance of healthy interpersonal relations. In addition, the corporations’ p ractices are defined as active, assertive and involving every person in the organization. Conclusion The increase in global activity has resulted in the need for international managers to have a clear understanding of culture. This is due to the cultural influence on people’s work and interactions with others. International mergers should develop structures and procedures that are accommodative to both the local and foreign cultures within the organization. The success of any international business venture is dependent on the ability of the involved managers to balance the effect of involved cultures without highly regarding one over another. The human resource workforce in the organization is imperative regardless of hierarchy. International managers should learn to adopt a neutral approach that is not influenced by their own cultural standing when running multi-national organizations. References Cohen, E., (1991). Thai Society in Comparative Perspective. (Collected Essays). Bangkok: White Lotus. Engelen, A. (2010). Entrepreneurial orientation as a function of national cultural variations in two countries. Journal of International Management, 16, 354-368. Frenkel, M., Shenhav, Y. (2003). From Americanization to colonization: the diffusion of productivity models revisited. Organization Studies, 24, 1537– 1561. Henard, D., Szymanski, D. (2001). Why some new products are more successful than others. Journal of Marketing Research, 38 (3), 362–375. Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work Related Values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. International Culture. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.unice.fr/crookall-cours/iup_cult/_docs/_RUGM_Chapter-05.pdf Kluckhohn, C. (1951). The Study of Culture. In Lerner, D., Lasswell, H. Eds. The Policy Standard, pp. 393–404. Stanford. Marino, L., Strandholm, K., Steensma, K., Weaver, M. (2002). The moderating effect of national culture on the relationship betwe en entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance portfolio extensiveness. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 26 (4), 145–160. Mead, R., Andrew, T. G. (2009). International Management: Culture and Beyond. 4th ed. Chichester: John Wiley Sons. Palthe, J. (2008). Managing Human Rights and Human Resources: The Dual Responsibility of Global Corporations. Forum on Public Policy. Parboteeah, P., Cullen, J. B. (2011). Strategic International Management. 5th ed. Australia: South-Western Cengage Learning. Rodrigues, C. (2009) International Management: A Cultural Approach. 3rd ed. LA: Sage. Shimoni, B. (2011). The representation of cultures in international and cross cultural management: Hybridizations of management cultures in Thailand and Israel. Journal of International Management, 17, 30-41. Thomas, R. J. (2000). Irreconcilable Differences. Accenture Outlook, vol. 1. Vance, C. M., Paik, Y. (2011). Managing a Global Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities in International H uman Resources Management. 2nd ed. New York: Sharpe Incorporated. Voigt, K. (2001). Japanese Firms Want English Competency. Wall Street Journal, B7B. This essay on International managers was written and submitted by user Luciano O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

20 Terms Every Content Writer Needs to Know

20 Terms Every Content Writer Needs to Know Crafting content for businesses and their marketing agencies can be a decent earner for aspiring writers. But if you want to be taken seriously, you need to get the lingo right. Dan Brotzel of UK agency Sticky Content walks us through some of the essential terminology So, youve got your first content commission – a series of blog posts perhaps, or some new web copy. What usually comes next is a briefing form. The brief may be a detailed document of several pages, or it may be a couple of pages in an email. It may have been written just for you, or – more likely – for lots of other people working on the project as well, from marketers to web developers. ​​​​​​​ Your first job is to go through the brief, understand whats required, and come back with any questions. Heres a handy guide to some of the phrases you may come across Amends. Content work always goes through several rounds of amends on its way to approval. Your agreement may cite a certain number of rounds of amends that you will carry out; if not, its worth asking about this up front. While you shouldnt worry that there will be things to tweak, you should make sure that the amount of amends isnt getting unreasonable or turning into a rebrief. Brand voice. This is the verbal personality that your copy should convey. Guidance may come in a tone of voice document or in a brief description, e.g. friendly, straightforward, positive. If in doubt, ask for examples of voice they like. Call to action (CTA). All content should lead to a next step you want your reader to take, such as Call us now or Get a quote. Knowing the CTA will help you focus your writing. Compliance. In heavily regulated industries such as finance, a Compliance team will review the copy for potential issues such as making claims (the cheapest cover ever!) that cant be backed up. Its worth asking up front what sorts of things they normally look for. Conversion. The action that you want people reading a piece of content to take, such as downloading a report or making a purchase. Copydeck. Simply the document that contains your copy. This may take the form of a templated doc that you are asked to write content into. Distribution. How your content will reach people, for example via email, social channels or search results. Engagement. A slippery word that really just means people acting on your content in some way, e.g. Evergreen content. Content thats designed to have a very long shelf-life so needs to be written in a way that wont quickly date. Hygiene content. Essential content that keeps a website working, such as FAQs, Help content and About us content. This is distinct from Hub content (regular editorial-style content such as posts and articles) and Hero content (big campaign material). Key phrases. Words you may be asked to work into your copy, to help it appear in relevant search results pages. Landing page. The page that people arrive at after clicking on a search result, especially a paid-for one. There is a whole best practice for writing and designing these to drive conversions. Listicle. An article written in list form, usually beginning with a number. Localization. Translation. Sometimes you will be asked to write copy thats easy to localize, meaning it should steer clear of idioms and very specific cultural references that could get lost in translation. Newsjacking. The practice of creating some content triggered Optimization. Basically, improving things through an ongoing process of testing and learning. A page thats been optimized for search, for example, is one that has been written and designed to have the best chance of driving search traffic. Personas. Many bigger companies will have developed character sketches that stand in for key segments of their target audience. Often theyll have a nickname such as Sally, the savvy shopper or Dave, the silver surfer. These profiles can be very useful to help you pitch your copy correctly. Pay Per Click. The paid-for ads that appear among your search results when you look for something via a search engine. Pay per click is abbreviated PPC. The search engine gets a small fee whenever anyone clicks on an ad. Stakeholders. People with a governance interest in your content, such as Compliance, Product, and Brand. All review the content, and some may have an input into its creation. Stakeholder reviews inevitably lead to amends. Traction. A fancy word for response. As in: We want to see how much traction this first ebook gets, then well decide whether to do another one. Wash-up. A meeting where the work is reviewed after its gone live. You may not be asked to attend this, but you may hear feedback from it thats useful for your next commission. When interrogating a brief (as marketers like to say) you can inspire confidence

Brigadier General Adolph von Steinwehin the Civil War

Brigadier General Adolph von Steinwehin the Civil War Adolph von Steinwehr - Early Life: Born at Blankenburg, Brunswick (Germany) on September 25, 1822, Adolph von Steinwehr was a member of a long-standing military family.   Following in these footsteps, which included a grandfather who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars, Steinwehr entered the Brunswick Military Academy.   Graduating in 1841, he received a commission as a lieutenant in the Brunswick Army.   Serving for six years, Steinwehr grew dissatisfied and elected to move to the United States in 1847.   Arriving at Mobile, AL, he found employment as an engineer with the US Coastal Survey.   As the the Mexican-American War was underway, Steinwehr sought a position with a combat unit but was declined.   Disappointed, decided to return to Brunswick two years later with his American-born wife, Florence Mary. Adolph von Steinwehr - The Civil War Begins: Again finding life in Germany not to his liking, Steinwehr permanently immigrated to the United States in 1854.   Initially settling in Wallingford, CT, he later moved to a farm in New York.   Active in the German-America community, Steinwehr proved well-placed to raise a largely German regiment when the Civil War began in April 1861.   Organizing the 29th New York Volunteer Infantry, he was commissioned as the regiments colonel in June.   Reporting to Washington, DC that summer, Steinwehrs regiment was assigned to Colonel Dixon S. Miles division in Brigadier General Irvin McDowells Army of Northeastern Virginia.   In this assignment, his men took part in the Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21.   Held in reserve during much of the fighting, the regiment later helped cover the Union retreat.    Noted as a competent officer, Steinwehr received a promotion to brigadier general on October 12 and orders to assumed command of a brigade in Brigadier General Louis Blenkers division in the Army of the Potomac.   This assignment proved short-lived as the Blenkers division was soon transferred to western Virginia for service in Major General John C.  Frà ©monts Mountain Department.   In the spring of 1862, Steinwehrs men took part in operations against Major General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons forces in the Shenandoah Valley.   This saw them defeated at Cross Keys on June 8.   Later in the month, Steinwehrs men were moved east to help form Major General Franz Sigels I Corps of Major General John Popes Army of Virginia.   In this new formation, he was elevated to lead the Second Division.   Ã‚      Adolph von Steinwehr - Divisional Command: In late August, Steinwehrs division was present at the Second Battle of Manassas though was not heavily engaged.   Following the Union defeat, Sigels corps was ordered to remain outside of Washington, DC while the bulk of the Army of the Potomac moved north in pursuit of General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia.   As a result, it missed the Battle of South Mountain and Antietam.   During this time, Sigels force was re-designated XI Corps.   Later that fall, Steinwehrs division moved south to join the army outside Fredericksburg, but played no role in the battle.   The following February, following Major General Joseph Hookers ascent to lead the army, Sigel left XI Corps and was replaced by Major General Oliver O. Howard. Returning to combat in May, Steinwehrs division and the rest of XI Corps were badly routed by Jackson during the Battle of Chancellorsville.   Despite this, Steinwehrs personal performance was commended by his fellow Union officers.   As Lee moved north invade Pennsylvania in June, XI Corps followed in pursuit.   Arriving at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, Howard directed Steinwehrs division to remain in reserve on Cemetery Hill while he deployed the rest of the corps north of town in support of the late  Major General John F. Reynolds I Corps.   Later in the day, XI Corps collapsed under Confederate assaults leading the entire Union line to fall back on Steinwehrs position.   The next day, Steinwehrs men aided in repelling enemy attacks against East Cemetery Hill.    Adolph von Steinwehr- In the West: Late that September, the bulk of XI Corps along with elements of XII Corps, received orders to shift west to Tennessee.   Led by Hooker, this combined force moved to relieve the besieged Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga.   On October 28-29, Steinwehrs men fought well in the Union victory at the Battle of Wauhatchie.   The following month, one of his brigades, led by Colonel Adolphus Buschbeck, supported Major General William T. Sherman during the Battle of Chattanooga.   Retaining leadership of his division through the winter, Steinwehr was dismayed when XI Corps and XII Corps were combined in April 1864.   As part of this reorganization, he lost his command as the two formations were consolidated.   Offered command of a brigade, Steinwehr refused to accept a tacit demotion and instead spent the rest of the war in staff and garrison posts. Adolph von Steinwehr - Later Life: Leaving the US Army on July 3, 1865, Steinwehr worked as a geographer before accepting a teaching post at Yale University.   A gifted cartographer, he produced a variety of maps and atlases over the next several years as well as authored numerous books.   Moving between Washington and Cincinnati later in his life, Steinwehr died at Buffalo on February 25, 1877.   His remains were interred at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, NY.               Selected Sources Find a Grave: Adolph von SteinwehrOfficial Records: Adolph von Steinwehr

Analysis of an Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of an Argument - Essay Example group meeting argument where Tannen defines agonism as a ritualized position for example in a debate whereby the competing groups are assigned positions and one group wins, rather than an argument resulting from the two groups natural disagreement. The book has been constructed based on the effects and roles of agonism in politics, journalism and law. A basic issue addressed in this book is the rampant agonism in the academic world. Many issues concerning academics are agonistics in nature, for example, when teachers and professors prepare the scholarly papers, they usually follow a framework that is in a position to oppose someone else’s work which they prove wrong. In this book’s context agonism is well explained by the fact that teachers and lecturers train their students and usually don’t allow them to think and work hard to interrogate ideas because they assign them with researched scholarly works. This fosters narrow-mindedness and arrogance amongst the stu dents and this does not implement the fundamental goals of education (Tannen 24). Tannen in her book explores the differences between a debate and a discussion in class in order to explain the Agonism culture deeply. In a classroom, if students are engaged in a debate, few of them will participate in the debate, some will pay attention but many of the students will indeed get turned off. Those students who are arguing will tend to simplify their points and avoids complexity in thinking. They deliberately refuse to concede a point raised by their opponents, even if they are aware that it is valid, because such a concession would render them as uncompetitive in the debate. If a class engages itself in discussing a book which involves intellectual activities such as freedom in exploring ideas, comparing the different interpretations of the book by the students and uncovering nuances, more students participate and gains a deeper and accurate understanding of the book. The students in a class discussion

Disscuss the posiible future structure of British airway Essay

Disscuss the posiible future structure of British airway - Essay Example he decision making process, â€Å"†¦British Airways’ learning division has used to promote organizational values is its ‘Owning Our Future’ program, which every employee across the enterprise—from in-flight crews to customer service staff—must go through at some point. Summerfield quotes Windeatt (n.d.), â€Å"It’s about helping people understand the business direction, the environment that we’re operating in and the way we’re positioning ourselves in the business. By understanding that, they’ll understand the actions we’re taking in driving the business forward†¦We really like this concept of our own people leading the business discussion.† British Airways must also use innovative products and processes in order to deal with the negative aspects of business. For example, its merger with American Airlines did not pass the airline regulatory board, which caused a $330 million loss in the year 2000. Loss of international market share, terrorists’ attacks, hijacked planes, etc. forced the company to meet the demands and develop innovative products and processes. (Sachdev, Dodge, and McSurely, n.d.) offered improvements to cater to the premium class. As stated by Sachdev, Dodge, and McSurely (n.d.), the innovations that were implemented include â€Å"the Club World ‘lounge in the sky,’ which in certain major airports (e.g., Heathrow) provided passengers with the comforts of a home (e.g., private showers, toiletries, valet service, message, mini gym, etc.). Additionally, the business class passengers would get the comforts of flying beds during their flight (horizontal adjustable beds).† These innovations led to a market share increase of five percent. An increase in income, quality of life, social factors, and mobility has increased the number of air passengers. Easier bookings and reservations, discounted pricing, and convenience are advantages that have been provided to consumers via technology and the Internet. With these

Architecture of Bramante Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Architecture of Bramante - Term Paper Example Peter by Pope Julius Caesar. Bramante meticulously designed and centralized the basically around a large cupola. Before Bramante, earlier Gothic and Antic architectural work had completely missed the finer points in gracing buildings. For example, most 15th century artists had completely ignored inclusion of a charming and graceful outlook suggested by buildings, as revealed in living subjects (Anonymous, 1996). Importantly, it was Bramante who revolutionalised the earlier dull renaissance by incorporating aspects of human anatomy, and making architectural work charming and with finer details to reveal more to the eye, a concept which had all along being ignored. Bramante ideologies largely emanated from his love for nature, from which he was ready to study and had a good understanding of antique styles collaborated by his enlightened patronage (Onioans, 1984). The awakening in classical ideas dates back to between 1400 and 1600 when Renaissance period marked changes in architectural work throughout Europe. The main features of renaissance were symmetrical arrangement of doors and windows, triangular shaped pediments, extensive use of pilasters and classical columns, square lintels, niches, and sculptures, arches, and domes (Onioans, 1984). These designs looked monotonous and evoked no human feelings to Bramante; who was earlier inspired by both human anatomy and nature. To modify the above artistic styles in evoking feelings, Bramante began his new career at the Church of S. Maria Presso, a small nineteenth century church; the church had no chancel; a street outside had limited the span of a t-shape as most churches were designed (Pile, 2005 ). Using his knowledge in optical perspectives, Bramante initiated a new artistic work in Renaissance. The main contribution in this was to make the end wall of the church into an illuminating deep space using a painted vas relief where when viewed from the nave direction looks as a barrel – vaulted chancel which ap pears to complete the cruciform plan (Pile, 2005). Another breakthrough that was remarkable in high Renaissance was the monastery of S. Peitro in Montario, Rome. Bramante having proved his amazing designs was awarded the task of reconstructing the cloister to include a small chapel. In this, Bramante plan included a circular sphere surrounded by a ring of columns that matched the order that wrapped the round chapel with sixteen columns portico supporting an entablature (Pile, 2005). It was such interesting designs that Bramante was requested by the Pope to redesign and plan St Peter’s Basilica, which was earlier designed by Michelangelo. The architecture in this case put more emphasis on the harmony of proportions, making all volumes simple through a cylindrical structure, with the circular plan symbolizing Devine perfection (Kleiner, 2009). The church therefore illuminated both the antique styles, while at the same time representing the Christian memorial. These were the hum anistic feelings that Bramante in all his architectural work invented a new dimension in High Renaissance. Bramante in St Peter’s Basilica came up with a complex plan which had to include a domed crossing, four radiating arms which formed the Greek cross, and several smaller domed chapels at the resulting corners. Though the basilica has over the time undergone major changes, his designs and plans were maintained except the cross which

Angina pectoris

Angina pectoris 1.0 Summary Angina pectoris is the chest discomfort which occurs when the heart muscle could not received sufficient oxygenated blood. It is due to atherosclerosis which is the buildup of the plaque at the coronary arteries that reduce the flow of blood to the heart. Also, angina can leads a patient to heart disease such as coronary artery disease (CAD) or myocardial infection (MI). There are three kinds of angina which is the stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina and each of them are different from their signs and symptoms and treatments. Angina is diagnosed based on medical and family history, physical examination and test such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and coronary angiography. However, the patients conditions will determine which methods need to be used in order to cure angina. Lastly, pharmacists play an important role besides doctors in treating the angina patients. 2.0 Introduction Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort which is a common symptom indicating the sign of heart diseases, for example, coronary heart disease (CHD). The pain is caused by the insufficient of oxygen rich blood supply to the heart muscle which leads to cardiac ischaemia.1 Other than that, the cause is due to the build up of plaque called atherosclerosis which is the gradual buildup of fatty deposits and blocks several coronary arteries. As a result, the heart could not receive blood supply as the coronary arteries become narrow and stiff and this minimizes the oxygen supply to the heart.1, 2 Besides that, angina can be categorized into four different types of categories such as stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina. There are differences in these four types of angina such as signs and symptoms therefore, they required specialized treatments. For example, stable angina is very common compare to variant angina. Other than that, doctors will do some physical exam or examines the patients histories in order to diagnose whether they are in the risk of getting angina and they will uses several methods such as the exercise electrocardiogram (ECG), radioisotope scan and coronary angiography. After that, doctors will determine whether which treatment such as surgeryor medication is needed to treat the patients. However, the patients cannot recover if they didnt change their lifestyles and follow the doctors advices. 2.1 Signs and Symptoms People who are diagnosed with angina pectoris will often express the feeling of tightness, pressure, squeezing and burning in or around the chest. The patients will have an attack such as the central chest pain which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, throat, back or upper abdomen. Also, they may also encounter shortness of breath during physical activity and follow by nausea, fatigue, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness. However, not all chest discomfort is angina and sometimes it is caused by acid reflux (heart burn) and lung infection or inflammation. Also, the signs and symptoms are vary depends on the type of angina. 2.2 When does angina occur? As it was stated, angina occurs when there is an increase in the demand of oxygenated blood to the heart. Most of the time, angina occurs when the patients are doing some vigorous exercises or physical activities such as climbing hill or carrying heavy groceries. At the same time, it will occurs when the patients experiencing emotional stress, digesting heavy metal and at extreme temperature. The patients who were diagnosed with variant angina could get angina attack even when they are resting. 2.3 Causes of Angina Coronary arteries are the arteries which deliver oxygenate blood to the heart muscle in order to keep the heart pumping. However, when the heart could not receive adequate amount of blood, it can causes angina attack. There are three important coronary arteries, left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery and right coronary artery in heart which can causes angina when one of them are blocked.7 This situation reflects the symptom of coronary arteries diseases (CAD) where the arteries are narrowed down due to the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries. Also, the buildup of plaque can cause the blood clot to form and block the arteries.2, 7 Figure 2 shows the differences between a normal and healthy artery and a block artery. Blood flows easily along the healthy arteries to the heart and the heart muscles can function normally without any interruption. However, this scene cant be seen in block arteries. Coronary arteries diseases (CAD) occurs when one of the important arteries are narrowed by the plaque and angina could be felt as the arteries are having a hard time in supplying oxygenated blood to the heart. Also, blood maybe clot at the blocked arteries and stop the blood from flowing to the heart, when this happens, patients will face myocardial infection (MI). Besides that, atherosclerosis could be cause by high level of cholesterol in blood, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus and alcohol. Smoking boosts atherosclerosis by maximized blood pressure and heart rate which induce the heart to demand for more myocardial oxygen. It lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity and increases the recurrence of angina. 3.0 Classification 3.1 Stable Angina Stable angina can be described as the frequency, duration or precipitating causes remain unchanged in the past 60 days and it is the most common type of angina.3 The attack last for about 10 minutes or less than that and can be relieved by resting or medication. Hence, patients who are diagnosed with stable angina will experience episode of chest discomfort which will spreads to the arms, back, or other areas that is usually predictable. The stimulus which will maximize the myocardial oxygen demand will induces stable angina by increasing the heart rate or blood pressure of the patients.5 During physical activity, sympathetic nervous system will be activated and causes increase of the heart rate, blood pressure and contraction demanding more oxygen. When the oxygen demand is more than the heart is able to supply, chest discomfort maybe be felt and this reflects the presents of MI.4 Also, several arteries which are narrowed down due to the buildup of plaque is one of the factors. 3.2 Unstable Angina Unstable angina is more dangerous than stable angina as it is an acute coronary syndrome and should be treated as emergency and be evaluated in the hospital carefully. Also, it does not follow a pattern can happen without any physical exertion.2, 3 Patients will experience an unexpected pain or discomfort which last longer and does not relieve by rest or medication. This scenario is causes by the narrowing of the coronary arteries by atherosclerosis. However, blood clots are the major factors which contribute to the blockage of the arteries. If the plaque ruptures, blood clot may form and block the arteries as the blood clot can divide into larger clot which can cause heart attack.2 Chest discomfort can attack each time the blood is clot when the clots slightly dissolve which will later reform again. Besides that, patients will be in the risk of myocardial ischemia, severe cardiac arrhythmias or even sudden dead.6 3.3 Variant Angina Variant angina also known as Prinzmetals angina is due to the coronary artery spasm which causes the artery walls to tighten and narrow.2, 3, 6 As a result, it reduces the flow of the blood to the heart and thus, causing chest discomfort. Usually, variant angina happens during the night or early hours when a patient is at rest because of the momentary reduction of the coronary oxygen supply rather than the increase of myocardial oxygen demand.2 It may occur in a person with or without CAD as the spasms in at artery can be cause by exposure to the cold weather, emotional stress, medication which causes vasoconstriction, smoking and the use of cocaine.2 4.0 Diagnose If a person is having the angina symptoms, he or she should consult their doctor in order to find out more about their complication. Doctors, who are in duty will conducts a physical exam on the patients, ask about the symptoms and get to know the risk factors and the family history of CAD or other heart disease. Other than that, doctors also will conduct some of the following test in order to diagnose angina. 4.1 Exercise Electrocardiogram (ECG) ECG is one of the most widely used tests which measure the rate and regularity of the heartbeat.2, 5 It records the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart and thus, indicating the severity of coronary artery diseases. The patients will exercises on a treadmill while doing the ECG test since angina occurs during physical activities. ECG will show an abnormal reading if the patients have narrowing coronary arteries. However, some people with angina also have a normal ECG readings and therefore, exercise stress testing is carried out. 4.2 Coronary Angiography It is a blood vessels or heart chambers examination using X-ray and it is tested during catheterization. A catheter (fine, hollow tube) will be placed into an artery in the patients forearm or groin and advance it till it reaches the coronary artery. Next, a dye which can be detected by X-ray will injected into the coronary artery and several pictures will be obtained. These pictures are called angiograms and it is helpful for the doctors to observe which arteries are narrowed or blocked.6 4.3 Radioisotope scan It is also known as radionuclide scan which emits gamma rays. A small amount of radioactive isotope will be injected into the vein while the patients exercise. Then, the gamma rays will be detected by the gamma camera which will be placed close to the chest in order to detect which parts of the heart muscles are blocked.9 5.0 Treatment The primary cause for angina is lack of oxygen supply which cannot meet the demand of the heart. Therefore, the treatment for angina is to make sure that the heart will receives sufficient oxygen by balancing the oxygen demand and supply. There are few ways of treatment which include medication, surgery and changing the patients lifestyle. 5.1 Medical treatment 5.1.1 Nitrates Nitrates are the most popular used medicines to treat angina as it open up the blood vessels and widens the coronary arteries (vasodilation), which allow more blood to flow to the heart muscles and reduce the work of the heart.5 It plays the same effects of the endogenous nitrous oxide which result in the powerful vasodilating effects.1 Nitrates act by dilating the coronary arteries and peripheral circulation, increase the myocardial oxygen supply by maximized the coronary flow and lower the left ventricular blood pressure. Other than that, it can improve exercise tolerance in order to prolong the angina occurring by preventing coronary spasm and coronary arterial vasoconstriction caused by exercise.1, 6 Usually, sublingual nitroglycerin (GTN) tablets or spray are used to prevent ischemia before any exercise as it can quickly absorbed into the buccal mucosa to provide a relief within 3 minutes.5 Besides that, long-term nitrates for regular oral administration such as isosorbide mono nitrate are common practice among the patients. Although nitrates are non-toxic and well tolerated, it can cause headache, flushing and postural dizziness.5 5.1.2 Beta-blockers Patients who are diagnosed with angina but not contraindications will take beta-blockers as the first-line therapy.5 Beta-blockers act by reducing the rate and force of cardiac contraction, arterial blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen demand of the heart during physical activities and improve coronary perfusion during diastole. Other than that, there is an increase in survival rate of patients with MI who are taking beta-blockers. However, patients who have the history of bronchial asthma should not be prescribed with beta-blockers as they tend to increase coronary vasospasm due to unopposed alpha-agonist activity.3 There are a few of approved beta-blockers which are water-soluble and are used to treat angina such as perpanolol, metaprolol, atenolol, nadolol and timolol. Since they are water-soluble, it is less likely they will enter the brain and cause central adverse effects. Besides that, beta-blockers also cause side effects such as bradycardia and hypotension, lethargy, fatigu e and impotence.11 5.1.3 Calcium Channel Blockers Calcium channel blockers perform the same effects of nitrates as vasodilators and boost myocardial oxygen balance on coronary flow and blood pressure. They relieve angina and extend the exercise time to onset of angina. Calcium channel blockers inhibit calcium ions from flowing into the cells through open calcium channel and mediate the contraction of cardiac muscles. There are two types of calcium channel blockers, dihydropyridines such as nifedipine, amlodipine and felodipine and non-dihydropyridines such as diltiazen and verapamil. They act on the peripheral vasodilation, coronary vasodilation and lower the rate and force of cardiac contraction. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from heart failure should avoid varapamil and diltiazen as they cause negative inotrophic action. Other side effects of calcium channel blockers are facial flushing, headache, postural dizziness, mind ankle oedema and constipation.2 5.1.4 Antiplatelets Platelets are important in blood clotting and play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Also, it can blocks the coronary arteries and causes the heart muscles from getting sufficient oxygenated blood. Therefore, antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin are use in reducing the risk of death or nonfatal MI for patients with unstable angina. They can minimize the platelet aggregation by irreversible inhibiting the platelet enzyme cyocooxygenase-1 which prevents thrombaxane A2 formation.11 5.2 Surgery Doctors will advise the patients to undergo coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery if they cannot relieved by any medication or it is life threatening. 5.2.1 Coronary Angioplasty This is a treatment which opens blocked arteries and improves blood flow to the heart muscle, reduce chest pain and prevent heart attack. Before the doctors perform coronary angioplasty on the patients, they will do an angiogram and take an X-ray picture of the patients arteries. A catheter with a terminal balloon is introduced into an artery at the patients groin or arm. X-ray screening directs the catheter until it reaches the blocked arteries and few pictures are taken. Then, the balloon will be inflated to push the fatty tissues outward against the artery wall. A ‘stent which is a small stainless mesh tube will be placed at the newly opened arteries as it can hold up the arteries and decrease the arteries from narrowed down.2, 3 Figure 3 shows the clogged artery before and after the surgery. 5.2.3 Coronary Bypass Surgery It is the most common type of heart surgery and it has cures at least 240,000 patients in United States each year. It diverts blood around blocked arteries in the heart by attaching a vein from the leg or artery from the chest or another part of the body between the aorta and the blocked area. As a result, it creates a new route for the blood to flow to the heart and the heart muscle will receive the oxygenated blood. Increasingly, the left internal mammary artery is being used as the grafting blood vessel since it results in a better long-term result and less likely to narrow over the time compare to veins.3 Before the surgery, the patients will undergo coronary angiography to locate the narrowed arteries, have an electrocardiogram, blood test, urine test and chest X-ray to provide the latest health information for the doctors in charged. During the process, the heart of a patient will be arrested and the breastbone will be divided while the blood is send through a heart-lung machin e. After the surgery, there will be scars left on the patients and they may feel chest discomfort which will tone down over time.10 5.3 Lifestyle Changes A patient will not recovers from angina if he or she did not change his or her lifestyle after taking medication or surgery as it plays a major role in their life. By changing their lifestyles, patients can avoid the symptom of angina and improve their heart health. For example, patients should adapt a healthy diet which is full of vegetables and fruits and quit smoking. Also, patients who are obese should try to lose their weight until it reaches the BMI (Body Mass Index) scale. Other than that, they should exercise regularly as directed by the doctors. However, the most important things are to avoid bringing on an episode of angina such as taking a break or rest when the angina comes on with exertion. Also, the patients need to avoid taking a large amount of food at a time after a heavy meal. Finally, patients need to learn how to distress when they facing difficulties as it will causes the angina to attack. 6.0 Clinical Scenario 6.1 Clinical Scenario 1 A 52 years old man has been presented to his doctor with a chest pain on exertion, which has occurred over the previous two weeks. He is diagnosed with angina. He received the following prescription Aspirin 75mg One tablet in the morning Atenolol 100mg One tablet in the morning GTN spray One dose as required for chest pain Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug which is to prevent the aggregation of platelets and thus, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. 75mg of aspirin is prescribed to the old man is adequate to prevent the thromboxane A2 production and it is the initial dose given for long term treatment.11 Since aspirin is an acetylsalicylic acid, the old man should take the tablets in the morning after food in order to reduce the stomachache irritation. Patients who are diagnosed with asthma, pregnancy, haemophilia, hypertension and other bleeding disorders should avoid taking aspirins. Atenolol is a ÃŽ ²1 blocker which treats angina by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system. It lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, reduces the intake of oxygen and so, minimizes the frequency of angina. 100mg of atenolol is recommended daily in the morning because the blood pressure is at lowest level and thus, it can maintains the blood pressure.3 Atenolol should be keeps away from the light and heat and stored in a tightly sealed container. Doctors should explain to the patients about the side effects of the drug such as dizziness, fatigue and sexual dysfunction. However, patients cannot stop the medication as sudden withdrawal of atenolol may cause exacerbation of angina.11 GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) spray is an aerosol spray which is used to dilate and widen the walls of coronary arteries and increase the flow of blood to the heart.3 It is a common and most effective drug to ease angina as it provides a rapid relief of angina. Therefore, the patients should always carry the spray with them at all time. It should be used before the patients engaging any physical activities like climbing stairs which might lead to an acute attack of angina. The side effects of GTN spray are throbbing headache, flushing, nausea and dizziness.11 6.2 Clinical Scenario 2 A 79 years old lady with a history of congestive heart failure and angina receives the following prescription: Aspirin 75mg One tablet in the morning Imdur 60mg One tablet in the morning GTN tablets 500mcg One tablet as required for chest pain In scenario 2, the functions of aspirin are been described in scenario 1 but the dosage given to this lady is lower than in scenario 1. The prescription was given based on the decrease in bodyweight, total body water and mass. It is important to give a maximum level of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of medication in elderly patients with fewer side effects. Imdur, which contains isosorbite mononitrate is used to prevent the onset of angina. Nitrates are powerful vasodilators which minimizes the workload of the heart which leads to a decease in the myocardial oxygen demand. In this case, Imdur is given instead of beta-blocker because beta-blocker will reduce a patients heart rate and blood pressure which may lead to heart failure and therefore, it is not suitable for this lady with a history of congestive heart failure. Also, a dosage of 60mg Imdur is adequate and should taken once in the morning because the duration of its action can be up to 12 hours and to reduce the development of tolerance with respect to anti-angina effect.3, 11 Lastly, GTN tablets were prescribed instead of spray in order to provide relieve for angina. It has the same effects as GTN spray and it is administered under the tongue and being absorbed while the tablet dissolves when the pain develops. A dose is able to provide relief within a minute. The side effects of GTN tablets are the same as the spray. 7.0 Role of Pharmacist Doctors play a very important role in curing the patients who are diagnosed with heart attack and other diseases. However, the process is not complete without pharmacists because they are the people, who are well known for their responsibilities in prescribing medicines for the patients. Also, pharmacists also educate the public about angina by deliver the messages to the patients, making sure the patients understand about their condition and helping them to combat angina. So, an effective communication skill is needed in order to council the patients on their medication without any mistakes. There are some people who are not aware that they are suffering from angina due to the lack of knowledge about angina. As a result, some of them will simply prescribe themselves with painkiller or any medicines which can relief their chest pain without knowing about the dangerous of their condition. Thus, the pharmacists are responsible to deliver the information about angina to create awareness in the public. The information about the signs and symptoms can surely help the public to aware about their health and to go for a medical check up and seek treatment. Every patient are different and therefore, it is important that they are treated differently based on their condition, sex, age and existing condition such as hypertension, congestive heart failure and diabetes. This is because different conditions need different kind of medications in order to avoid any complications. For example, a patient who had heart failure and suffers from angina should not be prescribed with beta-blocker as beta-blocker will worsen the patient condition. Other than that, pharmacists should advise the patients on when and how to take the medication, the dosage of medication and how to keep the medication. This is crucial as a simple mistake can lead the patients to death such as overdose. Also, the pharmacists will advise the patients on what to avoid and how to take care of themselves so that they can faster recover from angina. For example, the pharmacists will advise them that they should avoid any vigorous activities and watch their diets. Lastly, a pharmacist should keep his/her patients conditions private and confidential as this is the trust which his/her patient had given them. Also, it can help the pharmacist to monitor the condition of their patients and to make sure that they will benefit most on the drug prescribed with the least side effects. 8.0 Conclusion As been described, angina is not a disease but a symptom indicating heart disease. It required a long term treatment in order to prevent angina from recurrence and should be taken seriously. So, the role of pharmacist is very essential by helping the patients in managing their life and educating them on angina in order to lead them to healthier life. 9.0 References Williams, H. Stevens, M. (2002) Chronic stable angina. Pharm.J.. 269:363-365 National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Disease and Condition Index. Angina. Khan, M.G., Topol, E.J., Saksena, S. Goodwin, J.F. (1996) Heart Disease Diagnosis and Therapy, A Practical Approach. William Wilkins, Baltimore. Pages 133-183. Lily L. S. Pathophysiology of Heart Disease: A Collaborative Project of Medical Student Faculty. 3rd Edition (2203) Lippincott. William Wilkins. Timmis A. D. and Nathan A. W. (1997) Essential of Cardiology. 3rd Edition. American Heart Association, Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke. Angina. eHealthMD, Angina Pectoris. http://www.ehealthmd.com Accessed 28 Aug 2007. iVillage Total Health, Angina. http://heart.health.ivillage.com Accessed 29 Aug Patient UK, Radionuclide (Isotope) Scan. http://www.patient.co.uk Texas Heart Institute, Coronary Artery Bypass. http://texasheart.org British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. British National Formulary 43, March 2002. 2.4 Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, 2.6.1 Nitrates, 2.6.2 Calcium-channel blockers and 2.9 Antiplatelet drugs.

The Hidden Life Of Dogs: Book Review :: essays research papers

The Hidden Life of Dogs: Book Review The Hidden Life Of Dogs was written by Elizabeth Thomas who is currently well know and highly re-spected for her books. Elizabeth Thomas was born in America and currently lives in New Hampshire. This is a book that is unlike any book ever written as it takes the perspective from a different angle. It was first published in the United States in 1993 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Elizabeth has written five books, all bestsellers. It is evident that her success is due to her intense research as she has travelled the world while writing her books. With international success, Elizabeth plans to continue her career that currently seems to be skyrocketing. "The Hidden Life Of Dogs" was not just any book. Clearly there was much more effort involved. Beginning with an introductory character, Misha who was a Husky, began the book well. This book tried to get the idea across that humans knew only very little about dogs and their patterns. After intense observations on Misha, some ideas were brought up. How did the dog know how to cross a highway on its own? How did its navigational skills work? How was it that this dog knew exactly where it was and could travel through different cities without becoming lost and other dogs couldn't? Continuing on to bringing in other dogs Elizabeth was studying, she pointed out that some had skills that others did not. Misha was clearly able to navigate himself but when with another dog, he would become lost. After careful observation it was seen that the other dog could easily loose track of where she was and mislead Misha. Another interesting topic covered is how dogs behave with each other. How they achieve their social status, why some dogs don't become accepted and how they react to each other. By comparing the dogs with the wolves and dingoes some of the dogs' actions become clearer, but there is one thing a dog really wants and that is to be with others, and to love their owner. It was explained how a dog defended a bird and mouse in a cage from another excited dog in the same house. Likely explanations for this could be because the older dog felt that the peace was not being maintained or perhaps he knew that the mouse and bird were his master's belongings and he should protect them. The book goes on to explaining what occurs between the dogs when they mate, why some dogs kill their litter and many other topics.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 2. LONG NIGHT

â€Å"I miss you already.† â€Å"I don't need to leave. I can stay___† â€Å"Mmm.† It was quiet for a long moment, just the thud of my heart hammering, the broken rhythm of our ragged breathing, and the whisper of our lips moving in synchronization. Sometimes it was so easy to forget that I was kissing a vampire. Not because he seemed ordinary or human – I could never for a second forget that I was holding someone more angel than man in my arms – but because he made it seem like nothing at all to have his lips against my lips, my face, my throat. He claimed he was long past the temptation my blood used to be for him, that the idea of losing me had cured him of any desire for it. But I knew the smell of my blood still caused him pain – still burned his throat like he was inhaling flames. I opened my eyes and found his open, too, staring at my face. It made no sense when he looked at me that way. Like I was the prize rather than the outrageously lucky winner. Our gazes locked for a moment; his golden eyes were so deep that I imagined I could see all the way into his soul. It seemed silly that this fact – the existence of his soul – had ever been in question, even if he was a vampire. He had the most beautiful soul, more beautiful than his brilliant mind or his incomparable face or his glorious body. He looked back at me as if he could see my soul, too, and as if he liked what he saw. He couldn't see into my mind, though, the way he saw into everyone else's. Who knew why – some strange glitch in my brain that made it immune to all the extraordinary and frightening things some immortals could do. (Only my mind was immune; my body was still subject to vampires with abilities that worked in ways other than Edward's.) But I was seriously grateful to whatever malfunction it was that kept my thoughts a secret. It was just too embarrassing to consider the alternative. I pulled his face to mine again. â€Å"Definitely staying,† he murmured a moment later. â€Å"No, no. It's your bachelor party. You have to go.† I said the words, but the fingers of my right hand locked into his bronze hair, my left pressed tighter against the small of his back. His cool hands stroked my face. â€Å"Bachelor parties are designed for those who are sad to see the passing of their single days. I couldn't be more eager to have mine behind me. So there's really no point.† â€Å"True.† I breathed against the winter-cold skin of his throat. This was pretty close to my happy place. Charlie slept obliviously in his room, which was almost as good as being alone. We were curled up on my small bed, intertwined as much as it was possible, considering the thick afghan I was swathed in like a cocoon. I hated the necessity of the blanket, but it sort of ruined the romance when my teeth started chattering. Charlie would notice if I turned the heat on in August___ At least, if had to be bundled up, Edward's shirt was on the floor. I never got over the shock of how perfect his body was – white, cool, and polished as marble. I ran my hand down his stone chest now, tracing across the flat planes of his stomach, just marveling. A light shudder rippled through him, and his mouth found mine again. Carefully, I let the tip of my tongue press against his glass-smooth lip, and he sighed. His sweet breath washed – cold and delicious – over my face. He started to pull away – that was his automatic response whenever he decided things had gone too far, his reflex reaction whenever he most wanted to keep going. Edward had spent most of his life rejecting any kind of physical gratification. I knew it was terrifying to him trying to change those habits now. â€Å"Wait,† I said, gripping his shoulders and hugging myself close to him. I kicked one leg free and wrapped it around his waist. â€Å"Practice makes perfect.† He chuckled. â€Å"Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldn't we? Have you slept at all in the last month?† â€Å"But this is the dress rehearsal,† I reminded him, â€Å"and we've only practiced certain scenes. It's no time for playing safe.† I thought he would laugh, but he didn't answer, and his body was motionless with sudden stress. The gold in his eyes seemed to harden from a liquid to a solid. I thought over my words, realized what he would have heard in them. â€Å"Bella†¦,† he whispered. â€Å"Don't start this again,† I said. â€Å"A deal's a deal.† â€Å"I don't know. It's too hard to concentrate when you're with me like this. I – I can't think straight. I won't be able to control myself. You'll get hurt.† â€Å"I'll be fine.† â€Å"Bella . ..† â€Å"Shh!† I pressed my lips to his to stop his panic attack. I'd heard it before. He wasn't getting out of this deal. Not after insisting I marry him first. He kissed me back for a moment, but I could tell he wasn't as into it as before. Worrying, always worrying. How different it would be when he didn't need to worry about me anymore. What would he do with all his free time? He'd have to get a new hobby. â€Å"How are your feet?† he asked. Knowing he didn't mean that literally, I answered, Toasty warm.† â€Å"Really? No second thoughts? It's not too late to change your mind.† â€Å"Are you trying to ditch me?† He chuckled. â€Å"Just making sure. I don't want you to do anything you're not sure about.† â€Å"I'm sure about you. The rest I can live through.† He hesitated, and I wondered if I'd put my foot in my mouth again. â€Å"Can you?† he asked quietly. â€Å"I don't mean the wedding – which I am positive you will survive despite your qualms – but afterward†¦ what about Renee, what about Charlie?† I sighed. â€Å"I'll miss them.† Worse, that they would miss me, but I didn't want to give him any fuel. â€Å"Angela and Ben and Jessica and Mike.† â€Å"I'll miss my friends, too.† I smiled in the darkness. â€Å"Especially Mike. Oh, Mike! How will I go on?† He growled. I laughed but then was serious. â€Å"Edward, we've been through this and through this. I know it will be hard, but this is what I want. I want you, and I want you forever. One lifetime is simply not enough for me.† â€Å"Frozen forever at eighteen,† he whispered. â€Å"Every woman's dream come true,† I teased. â€Å"Never changing†¦ never moving forward.† â€Å"What does that mean?† He answered slowly. â€Å"Do you remember when we told Charlie we were getting married? And he thought you were†¦ pregnant?† â€Å"And he thought about shooting you,† I guessed with a laugh. â€Å"Admit it – for one second, he honestly considered it.† He didn't answer. â€Å"What, Edward?† â€Å"I just wish†¦ well, I wish that he'd been right.† â€Å"Gah,† I gasped. â€Å"More that there was some way he could have been. That we had that kind of potential. I hate taking that away from you, too.† It took me a minute. â€Å"I know what I'm doinq.† â€Å"How could you know that, Bella? Look at my mother, look at my sister. It's not as easy a sacrifice as youimagine.† â€Å"Esme and Rosalie get by just fine. If it's a problem later, we can do what Esme did – we'll adopt.† He sighed, and then his voice was fierce. â€Å"It's not right I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for me. I want to give you things, not take things away from you. I don't want to steal your future. If I were human – â€Å" I put my hand over his lips. â€Å"You are my future. Now stop. No moping, or I'm calling your brothers to come and get you. Maybe you need a bachelor party.† â€Å"I'm sorry. I am moping, aren't I? Must be the nerves.† â€Å"Are your feet cold?† â€Å"Not in that sense. I've been waiting a century to marry you, Miss Swan. The wedding ceremony is the one thing I can't wait – † He broke off mid-thought. â€Å"Oh, for the love of all that's holy!† â€Å"What's wrong?† He gritted his teeth. â€Å"You don't have to call my brothers. Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to let me bow out tonight.† I clutched him closer for one second and then released him. I didn't have a prayer of winning a tug-of-war with Emmett. â€Å"Have fun.† There was a squeal against the window – someone deliberately scraping their steel nails across the glass to make a horrible, cover-your-ears, goose-bumps-down-your-spine noise. I shuddered. â€Å"If you don't send Edward out,† Emmett – still invisible in the night – hissed menacingly, â€Å"we're coming in after him!† â€Å"Go,† I laughed. â€Å"Before they break my house.† Edward rolled his eyes, but he got to his feet in one fluid movement and had his shirt back on in another. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. â€Å"Get to sleep. You've got a big day tomorrow.† â€Å"Thanks! That's sure to help me wind down.† â€Å"I'll meet you at the altar.† â€Å"HI be the one in white.† I smiled at how perfectly blase I sounded. He chuckled, said, â€Å"Very convincing,† and then suddenly sank into a crouch, his muscles coiled like a spring. He vanished – launching himself out my window too swiftly for my eyes to follow. Outside, there was a muted thud, and I heard Emmett curse. â€Å"You'd better not make him late,† I murmured, knowing they could hear. And then Jaspers face was peering in my window, his honey hair silver in the weak moonlight that worked through the clouds. â€Å"Don't worry, Bella. We'll get him home in plenty of time.† I was suddenly very calm, and my qualms all seemed unimportant. Jasper was, in his own way, just as talented as Alice with her uncannily accurate predictions. Jasper's medium was moods rather than the future, and it was impossible to resist feeling the way he wanted you to feel. I sat up awkwardly, still tangled in my blanket. â€Å"Jasper? What do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not taking him to a strip club, are you?† â€Å"Don't tell her anything!† Emmett growled from below. There was another thud, and Edward laughed quietly. â€Å"Relax,† Jasper told me – and I did. â€Å"We Cullens have our own version. Just a few mountain lions, a couple of grizzly bears. Pretty much an ordinary night out.† I wondered if I would ever be able to sound so cavalier about the â€Å"vegetarian† vampire diet. â€Å"Thanks, Jasper.† He winked and dropped from sight. It was completely silent outside. Charlie's muffled snores droned through the walls. I lay back against my pillow, sleepy now. I stared at the walls of my little room, bleached pale in the moonlight, from under heavy lids. My last night in my room. My last night as Isabella Swan. Tomorrow night, I would be Bella Cullen. Though the whole marriage ordeal was a thorn in my side, I had to admit that I liked the sound of that. I let my mind wander idly for a moment, expecting sleep to take me. But, after a few minutes, I found myself more alert, anxiety creeping back into my stomach, twisting it into uncomfortable positions. The bed seemed too soft, too warm without Edward in it. Jasper was far away, and all the peaceful, relaxed feelings were gone with him. It was going to be a very long day tomorrow. I was aware that most of my fears were stupid – I just had to get over myself. Attention was an inevitable part of life. I couldn't always blend in with the scenery. However, I did have a few specific worries that were completely valid. First there was the wedding dress's train. Alice clearly had let her artistic sense overpower practicalities on that one. Maneuvering the Cullens' staircase in heels and a train sounded impossible. I should have practiced. Then there was the guest list. Tanya's family, the Denali clan, would be arriving sometime before the ceremony. It would be touchy to have Tanya's family in the same room with our guests from the Quileute reservation, Jacob's father and the Clearwaters. The Denalis were no fans of the werewolves. In fact, Tanya's sister irina was not coming to the wedding at all. She still nursed a vendetta against the werewolves for killing her friend Laurent (just as he was about to kill me). Thanks to that grudge, the Denalis had abandoned Edward's family in their worst hour of need. It had been the unlikely alliance with the Quileute wolves that had saved all our lives when the horde of newborn vampires had attacked___ Edward had promised me it wouldn't be dangerous to have the Denalis near the Quileutes. Tanya and all herfamily – besides Irina – felt horribly guilty for that defection. A truce with the werewolves was a small price to make up some of that debt, a price they were prepared to pay. That was the big problem, but there was a small problem, too: my fragile self-esteem. I'd never seen Tanya before, but I was sure that meeting her wouldn't be a pleasant experience for my ego. Once upon a time, before I was born probably, she'd made her play for Edward – not that I blamed her or anyone else for wanting him. Still, she would be beautiful at the very least and magnificent at best. Though Edward clearly – if inconceivably – preferred me, I wouldn't be able to help making comparisons. I had grumbled a little until Edward, who knew my weaknesses, made me feel guilty. â€Å"We're the closest thing they have to family, Bella,'7he'd reminded me. â€Å"They still feel like orphans, you know, even after all this time.† So I'd conceded, hiding my frown. Tanya had a big family now, almost as big as the Cullens. There were five of them; Tanya, Kate, and Irina had been joined by Carmen and Eleazar much the same way the Cullens had been joined by Alice and Jasper, all of them bonded by their desire to live more compassionately than normal vampires did. For all the company, though, Tanya and her sisters were still alone in one way. Still in mourning. Because a very long time ago, they'd had a mother, too. I could imagine the hole that loss would leave, even after a thousand years; I tried to visualize the Cullen family without their creator, their center, and their guide – their father, Carlisle. I couldn't see it. Carlisle had explained Tanya's history during one of the many nights I'd stayed late at the Cullens' home, learning as much as I could, preparing as much as was possible for the future I'd chosen. Tanya's mother's story was one among many, a cautionary tale illustrating just one of the rules I would need to be aware of when I joined the immortal world. Only one rule, actually – one law that broke down into a thousand different facets: Keep the secret. Keeping the secret meant a lot of things – living inconspicuously like the Cullens, moving on before humans could suspect they weren't aging. Or keeping clear of humans altogether – except at mealtime – the way nomads like James and Victoria had lived; the way Jasper's friends, Peter and Charlotte, still lived. It meant keeping control of whatever new vampires you created, like Jasper had done when he'd lived with Maria. Like Victoria had failed to do with her newborns. And it meant not creating some things in the first place, because some creations were uncontrollable. â€Å"I don't know Tanya's mother's name,† Carlisle had admitted, his golden eyes, almost the exact shade of his fair hair, sad with remembering Tanya's pain. â€Å"They never speak of her if they can avoid it, never think ofherwillingly. â€Å"The woman who created Tanya, Kate, and Irina – who loved them, I believe – lived many years before I was born, during a time of plague in our world, the plague of the immortal children. â€Å"What they were thinking, those ancient ones, I can't begin to understand. They created vampires out of humans who were barely more than infants.† I'd had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat as I'd pictured what he was describing. â€Å"They were very beautiful,† Carlisle had explained quickly, seeing my reaction. â€Å"So endearing, so enchanting, you can't imagine. You had but to be near them to love them; it was an automatic thing. â€Å"However, they could not be taught. They were frozen at whatever level of development they'd achieved before being bitten. Adorable two-year-olds with dimples and lisps that could destroy half a village in one of their tantrums. If they hungered, they fed, and no words of warning could restrain them. Humans saw them, stories circulated, fear spread like fire in dry brush___ â€Å"Tanya's mother created such a child. As with the other ancients, i cannot fathom her reasons.† He'd taken a deep, steadying breath. â€Å"The Volturi became involved, of course.† I'd flinched as I always did at that name, but of course the legion of Italian vampires – royalty in their own estimation – was central to this story. There couldn't be a law if there was no punishment; there couldn't be a punishment if there was no one to deliver it. The ancients Aro, Caius, and Marcus ruled the Volturi forces; I'd only met them once, but in that brief encounter, it seemed to me that Aro, with his powerful mind-reading gift – one touch, and he knew every thought a mind had ever held – was the true leader. â€Å"The Volturi studied the immortal children, at home in Volterra and all around the world. Caius decided the young ones were incapable of protecting our secret. And so they had to be destroyed. â€Å"I told you they were loveable. Well, covens fought to the last man – were utterly decimated – to protect them. The carnage was not as widespread as the southern wars on this continent, but more devastating in its own way. Long-established covens, old traditions, friends†¦ Much was lost. In the end, the practice was completely eliminated. The immortal children became unmentionable, a taboo. â€Å"When I lived with the Volturi, I met two immortal children, so I know firsthand the appeal they had. Aro studied the little ones for many years after the catastrophe they'd caused was over. You know his inquisitive disposition; he was hopeful that they could be tamed. But in the end, the decision was unanimous: the immortal children could not be allowed to exist.† I'd all but forgotten the Denali sisters' mother when the story returned to her. â€Å"It is unclear precisely what happened with Tanya's mother,† Carlisle had said. â€Å"Tanya, Kate, and irina were entirely oblivious until the day the Volturi came for them, their mother and her illegal creation already their prisoners. It was ignorance that saved Tanya's and her sisters' lives. Aro touched them and saw their total innocence, so they were not punished with their mother. â€Å"None of them had ever seen the boy before, or dreamed of his existence, until the day they watched him burn in their mother's arms. I can only guess that their mother had kept her secret to protect them from this exact outcome. But why had she created him in the first place? Who was he, and what had he meant to her that would cause her to cross this most uncrossable of lines? Tanya and the others never received an answer to any of these questions. But they could not doubt their mother's guilt, and I don't think they've ever truly forgiven her. â€Å"Even with Aro's perfect assurance that Tanya, Kate, and Irina were innocent, Caius wanted them to burn. Guilty by association. They were lucky that Aro felt like being merciful that day. Tanya and her sisters were pardoned, but left with unhealing hearts and a very healthy respect for the law___† I'm not sure where exactly the memory turned into a dream. One moment it seemed that I was listening to Carlisle in my memory, looking at his face, and then a moment later I was looking at a gray, barren field and smelling the thick scent of burning incense in the air. I was not alone there. The huddle of figures in the center of the field, all shrouded in ashy cloaks, should have terrified me – they could only be Volturi, and I was, against what they'd decreed at our last meeting, still human. But I knew, as I sometimes did in dreams, that I was invisible to them. Scattered all around me were smoking heaps. I recognized the sweetness in the air and did not examine the mounds too closely. I had no desire to see the faces of the vampires they had executed, half afraid that I might recognize someone in the smoldering pyres. The Volturi soldiers stood in a circle around something or someone, and I heard their whispery voices raised in agitation. I edged closer to the cloaks, compelled by the dream to see whatever thing or person they were examining with such intensity. Creeping carefully between two of the tall hissing shrouds, I finally saw the object of their debate, raised up on a little hillock above them. He was beautiful, adorable, just as Carlisle had described. The boy was a toddler still, maybe two years of age. Light brown curls framed his cherubic face with its round cheeks and full lips. And he was trembling, his eyes closed as if he was too frightened to watch death coming closer every second. I was struck with such a powerful need to save the lovely, terrified child that the Volturi, despite all their devastating menace, no longer mattered to me. I shoved past them, not caring if they realized my presence. Breaking free of them altogether, I sprinted toward the boy. Only to stagger to a halt as I got a clear view of the hillock that he sat upon. It was not earth and rock, but a pile of human bodies, drained and lifeless. Too late not to see these faces. I knew them all – Angela, Ben, Jessica, Mike†¦. And directly beneath the adorable boy were the bodies of my father and my mother. The child opened his bright, bloodred eyes.