Does Bottled Water Have a Shelf Life

Although bottled water has an expiration date, it doesnt actually go bad. Why is there an expiration date on a product that doesnt go bad? This is because New Jersey requires all food and beverages, including water, to carry an expiration date on its packaging. It doesnt matter if you dont live in New Jersey... your water may carry an expiration date anyway to make it easier to standardize packaging. Some bottled water only carries its bottling date or a best by date. These dates are helpful because the flavor of the water will change over time as it absorbs chemicals from its packaging. The flavor will not necessarily be bad, but it may be noticeable. Changes in Bottled Water on the Shelf Leaching of chemicals from packaging is a health concern, but as far as toxic chemicals go, you can get exposure to most of those chemicals from freshly bottled water as well as bottled water that has been on the shelf a while. A plastic taste is not necessarily an indicator that the water is bad; absence of an unpleasant flavor does not mean the water is free from contaminants. While algae and bacteria will not grow in sealed bottled water, the situation changes once the seal has been broken. You should consume or discard water within 2 weeks after opening it. If you drink directly from the bottle, you introduce bacteria into the water, which may reproduce. Once you take that first swig, its best to finish the bottle the same day. Can You Drink Too Much Water? | Hard Versus Soft Water Does Bottled Water Have a Shelf Life Most bottled water has an expiration date stamped on the bottle, but does the bottled water actually go bad? If so, how long is bottled water good? The answer to this common question is fairly simple. Expiration Dates Come From a State Law Although bottled water has an expiration date, it doesnt actually go bad. Why is there an expiration date on a product that doesnt go bad? This is because the state of New Jersey requires all food and beverages, including water, to carry an expiration date on its packaging. It doesnt matter if you dont live in New Jersey...your water may carry an expiration date anyway to make it easier to standardize packaging. Some bottled water only carries its bottling date or a best by date. These dates are helpful because the flavor of the water will change over time as it absorbs chemicals from its packaging. The flavor will not necessarily be bad, but it may be noticeable. Any Leaching From Plastic Is Unrelated to Time Leaching of chemicals from packaging is a health concern, but as far as toxic chemicals go, you can get exposure to most of those chemicals from freshly bottled water as well as bottled water that has been on the shelf a while. A plastic taste is not necessarily an indicator that the water is bad; conversely, the absence  of an unpleasant flavor does not mean the water is free from contaminants. Keep Bottled Water Sealed While algae and bacteria will not grow in sealed bottled water, the situation changes once the seal has been broken. You should consume or discard water within two weeks after opening it.

Culture of Australia and Corporate Social Responsibility

What is Corporate Social Responsibility and how could this influence the organizational behavior of â€Å"BreadTalk†? Corporate Social Responsibility refers to a company’s sense of responsibility towards the community and environment in which it operates. Companies express this citizenship through their waste and pollution reduction processes, by contributing educational and social programs, and by earning adequate returns on the employed resources. CSR is also considered as a strategy to create, develop and sustain positive company reputation and brand images. BreadTalk who owns businesses in China had practiced in CSR programme during one of the world’s most horrifying disasters – the Sichuan earthquake which happened on 12th May 2008.†¦show more content†¦Why is an understanding of cultural differences important to the Business Managers at ‘BreadTalk’? To assist the Managers of ‘BreadTalk’ to decide if they should expand to Australia, briefly describe the Australian culture. Understanding of cultural differences is important to Business Managers when it comes to international business. With the understanding of cultural differences and cultural sensitivity, it helps organizations ensure that communication across borders is effective and business transactions are successful. As every country have their own cultural standards which strongly influence workplace values and business communication, what may be considered perfectly acceptable and natural in one country can be considered confusing or offensive in another country. Hence, it is important for Business Managers at BreadTalk to fully understand the culture of Australia before deciding if they should expand ‘BreadTalk’ to Australia. The Australia FB industry is recognized worldwide for its high quality and healthy image, innovative manufacturing and packaging technologies. The country also has a reputation as a clean, healthy and disease-free environment. Food quality and safety issues are becoming important considerations to consumers globally. Australia has a wide variety of takeaway food as well and one of them is Asian bakery stores which sells different toppings over a thick piece of bread. Managers at BreadTalk should also research on theShow MoreRelatedBackground: Riordan Manufacturing952 Words   |  4 Pagesmarketing and sales efforts in the United States but, due to demand, has decided to open up their international marketing efforts with sales to Australia. There were several reasons for this decision: less language barriers, strong economic growth, and, with global shipping improvements, easier access than in the past. As a corporation, Riordan has a Corporate Compliance Plan that is specific for plastic designs. 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Human Trafficking Research Proposal Sample -Trafficking of Women

QUESTION What are the key factors leading to the trafficking of WOMEN from low socioeconomic status in India? BACKGROUND Trafficking is the most difficult phenomenon faced by India. This issue is driven by cultural, economic and social factors. There is a rise in the trafficking of woman due mainly for sex. Sex trafficking is the purchase of a women as a personal property. The women who are purchased are compelled to engage in sexual activities and benefit the trafficker (Outshoorn, 2005). Some of the common factors that are giving rise to such a vulnerable issue are oppression, lack of education, poverty, lack of human and social rights, less economic opportunities for the low socio-economic people etc. These factors are exerting pressure on the victims which push them to migrate and therefore come into the control of the traffickers. In some states of India, parents sell their children to get rum some amount in return to escape from poverty. Also the cultural or the social practices in some states gives rise to trafficking like devaluation of girls and women makes them excessively weak to trafficking (unodc.org, n.d.). Does Your Busy Schedule Spare No Time for You Due Research? Procure Time-Bound Research Writing from Experts and Never Miss A Deadline. RESEARCH QUESTIONS This study will focus on the following three research questions: How did the women get to be included in human trafficking? What are the reasons led them to involve in human trafficking? What were their encounters? AIM The purpose of the study is to identify the key factors among the above discussed factors that are contributing towards trafficking of women from low socioeconomic status in India. Therefore, the study will identify the reasons that have forced the women to get into human trafficking and will also analyze their experiences so that further study can be made about how to assist these women to overcome from the human trafficking issue. METHODOLOGICAL PARADIGM The researcher basically focuses on recognizing the significance and connotation of each and every method that will be used in this research. The researcher mainly emphasizes on understanding the literature review and then based on that the researcher derives the objectives of the research. Then the researcher mainly focuses on collecting the data and then analyzes and discusses the data. Lastly the research will be concluded by aligning the findings with the objectives of the research. The researcher decides to focus on deductive research approach which helps the researcher to study various previous studies related to trafficking of women, which will be described in the literature review and then test those theories or concepts by collecting data from the victims of human trafficking. However the findings of the study will differ based on the data analysis. Further the researcher focuses on descriptive research design to support the findings with the described research questions. The data collected will be based on qualitative study. (Bailey, 2008) METHOD Information gathered for this study, is mainly intended to identify the factors that has led the women to become the victim of human trafficking. This is done by understanding the reasons behind their trafficking and also their experiences. Since there are some difficulties in communicating and identifying the victims of human trafficking, the sample size considered for this present is 30-40 participants. To obtain relevant information related to the research topic, the target audiences are the trafficking victims of age 13-25. The present study of trafficking of women mainly emphasizes on snowball sampling. Collection of data began from the most convenient participants located in the North, South, East, and West regions of India and expands by their referrals who are willing to participate in this research. The data will be collected by taking the interview of the participants for about an hour with pre-defined structured questions. These questions are developed based on the literat ure review and the research questions derived to conduct this study. The questions will revolve around the physical, emotional or mental issues they have faced after or during the trafficking, what has made these women to become the victim of human trafficking. Interviews that will be taken are expected to be easy and simple that will help the participants to explain their answers. During the interview the research might also skip the questions that the participant is uncomfortable with or might ask some extra information so that will be helpful for the study. During the interview notes will be taken and overall discussions will be recorded. Discussions, notes, and all other documentation will be safely stored with password protection in the computer to secure the privacy of the members. All members were asked to sign a form of consent before partaking to guarantee members were decently informed about that they were utilized to for the research and make sure about the protection of the participants and guarantee close to insignificant danger. To examine the information discovered patterns and likenesses will be observed at and over all topics created to get it how every class identifies with each other. PARTICIPANTS The participants involved in the present research are the women who have been the victim of human trafficking at some point of time in their life. These participants are from all the four regions of India, North, South, East, West. This is because since the human trafficking victims in India in the year 2013 was about 4566 (stophumantrafficking-mha.nic.in, 2013), and it is not possible to understand the reasons of the trafficking from all 4566. Thus the researcher has decided to collect the information from four different reasons from atleast 30-40participants which would atleast give an idea about the key factors that is contributing towards rise in human trafficking. The data will be collected from the women participants of age 13-25 as they will better understand the purpose of the research and can explain their answers in a better way that will be helpful in successful completion of this research. All the information collected will be documented well in a word file and also in computer for future study and to make an effective conclusion for the present study. Since it is not easy to reach to victims and communicate easily with them, the researcher will take help of the NGOs to reach to the victims and understand their experiences. Snowball sampling is the sampling method that is used to identify the target audience easily. In this sampling type, the researcher the initial participant to identify another participant who are the victims of the trafficking. The researcher focuses on this type of sampling because the chain referral methodology permits the scientist to achieve populaces that are hard to specimen when utilizing other testing systems; the procedure is simple, cheap and cost-proficient and also this sampling procedure needs small planning and fewer workforces contrasted with other techniques of sampling (Offredy and Vickers, 2013). RECRUITMENT The researcher will partnership with Asia foundation that mainly emphasizes on combating TIP (Trafficking in Persons).This is because this organization has presence in atleast 21 countries in almost every region (Hameed et al., 2010). They have lots of information about human trafficking. The researcher will contact with this organization initially through phone to brief them about the research and the purpose of conducting this research. Then as documentation the researcher will mail all the details of research to the concerned person so as to start the research soon. If in any case the organization denies helping, a proper header letter will be issued from the university so that they can understand this research is conducted with some significant person. As soon as the organization agrees to the terms and conditions of the research, the participants will be approached with the help of one their team member who have ideas about human trafficking and also the victim cases. Then while conducting the interview a set of questions will be asked to victim keeping in mind that it does not hurt them and then will be asked for their referral to a different victim. LIMITATION The limitation of the study lies in the choice of methodology. Due to time constraint the researcher decides to use the non- probability sampling method, snowball sampling. The downside of utilizing this method is that it does not focus on random sample. Participants in this method do not get involved in the trafficking of women research by chance; instead they are recruited by chain process. The conclusion of the study may end up with biased results like the sample may include an over-representation of women with various issues having similar characteristics for example 25-30 out of 40 might say that due to poverty they were involved in the trafficking (Sadler et al., 2010). Another limitation is that the study revolves around qualitative data. The findings from this data can't be extended out to more extensive populaces with the same level of conviction that quantitative data can. This is on account of the research findings are not tried to find whether they are measurably huge or because of chance (Atieno, 2009). ANALYSIS As the data that will be collected is qualitative in nature, documentation is the analysis process that will be followed by the researcher to make an effective conclusion of this present research. All the conversation with the participants will be jotted down and recorded during the process of interview. Then each interview sessions will be commented by the researcher. The researcher will reconstruct the conversation based on the feelings and observation and will align with the research questions. Thus the researcher will preserve the written documents, tapes, interviews, contacts that are listed while conducting the research. The reason for selecting documentation as the process of analyzing the qualitative data is this process helps the researcher develop and outline the analytic process and also encourages in continuous strategizing and conceptualizing about the overall text (sagepub.com, n.d.). ETHICS There are two types of issues that may arise while conducting this research (Halley, n.d.): One is issues that may arise due to complexities involved in assessing the well-being of the target audiences or participants like consent, confidentiality, harm and risk. Another is the issues that may arise due to the research nature like sample size, methodology, subjectivity. Thus the researcher will ensure that all the relevant information related to the present research is well-informed to all the participants of the study. The researcher will also identify the risks before conducting the survey that the participants may face while participating in this research process so effective actions can be taken initially. Since the researcher will emphasize on collecting the data using interview process there is main issue of confidentiality with the sharing of information. The researcher will plan foolproof strategies that will help to store the conversation and the documentation safe. Initials or Pseudonyms will be used wherever necessary to make the identifications easier(Richards and Schwartz, 2002). TIMELINE Below is the time frame in the form of Gantt chart that the researcher will follow to complete the overall research. Key Activities Week 1 Week2+3 Week 4+5 Week 6 Week 7 Choosing Topic and its scope Identifying sources for collecting secondary data Preparing research proposal Writing literature review Describing research methodology Preparing interview, ethics form Collecting primary data Data Analysis Findings and Results Conclusion and recommendations Final Submission of Report REFERENCES Atieno, O. (2009). An analysis of the strengths and limitation of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms. Bailey, K. (2008). Methods of social research. 4th ed. New York: Free Press. Halley, K. (n.d.). Ethical Issues in Qualitative Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research Resear. Hameed, S., Hlatshwayo, S., Tanner, E., Trker, M. and Yang, J. (2010). Dynamics, Current Efforts, and Intervention Opportunities for The Asia Foundation. [online] asiafoundation.org. Offredy, M. and Vickers, P. (2013). Developing a Healthcare Research Proposal: An Interactive Student Guide. 2nd ed. Oxford: John Wiley Sons, p.139. Outshoorn, J. (2005). The political debates on prostitution and trafficking of women. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society, 12(1), pp.141--155. Richards, H. and Schwartz, L. (2002). Ethics of qualitative research: are there special issues for health services research?. Family Practice, 19(2), pp.135--139. Sadler, G., Lee, H., Seung-Hwan Lim, R. and Fullerton, J. (2010). Recruiting hard-to-reach United States population sub-groups via adaptations of snowball sampling strategy. Nursing health sciences, 12(3), pp.369 - 374. sagepub.com, (n.d.). Qualitative Data Analysis. stophumantrafficking-mha.nic.in, (2013). Data on human trafficking in India during 2013. unodc.org, (n.d.). Addressing the root causes of trafficking.

The Formalist Approach Essay Example

The Formalist Approach Essay The above poem by Robert Frost is very interesting to me. This poem captured my attention immediately, and held it to the end. The images created were easy to become engulfed in. The descriptions created the feeling of literally being at the beginning of the path deciding which way to go. I will be using the Formalist approach to analyze this poem. â€Å"This approach is most widely used in literary criticism; it focuses on the form and development of the literary work itself. Every writer chooses particular literary tools to create a representation of something that exists in his or her imagination. †(Clungston, R. (2010) Ch. 16. para. 3. ) This method uses a series of questions to evaluate the literary work. This approach appealed to me because it helps reveal what the poem means in a way that the reader can understand. This poem by Robert Frost tells a very unique story that I will attempt to unravel using the Formalist Approach. The setting of this poem is one of a man standing in the wilderness alone. Not surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the world. The author creates an allusion of being alone by describing the path as being overgrown with brush. The author also creates the illusion of being alone in line twelve â€Å"no step had trodden black† meaning that there were no visible footprints of recent travelers. This creates a mental image of a man walking alone in the wood down a very overgrown bushy path. We will write a custom essay sample on The Formalist Approach specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Formalist Approach specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Formalist Approach specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The plot of the story is memorable because after reading the poem, the statement it is making gives the reader something to ponder. What path would you choose, or have you choosen in the past that brought you to where you stand today. The character in the poem was not physically described. It dose not say what he was wearing, how tall, alone or happy. It simply stated that that he was â€Å"one traveler†. This creates an image of being alone. This also creates a mood of solace. Solace is enforced in line eight, â€Å"it was grassy and wanting wear† meaning that no one had

Reading Tips to Improve Pronunciation for ESL Students

Reading Tips to Improve Pronunciation for ESL Students If youre working on pronunciation, these tips can help you use reading as a way to practice outside of class, either by yourself or with a couple of friends. Top Tips Choose a paragraph and read aloud.Choose a paragraph and mark each sentence with a sound script (helpful pronunciation markup). This will help you read more naturally, and thus pronounce correctly.Choose a few sentences from your reading material and highlight content words. Read these sentences focusing on accenting these content words while quickly speaking over the structure words.Once you become comfortable reading a single paragraph aloud, read an entire page by reading a paragraph aloud and then reading one silently.Choose some nursery rhymes to practice. They will help you with pronunciation through rhythm.Read a short story or a few paragraphs to a friend who is also studying English. Compare the differences and discuss what might be the reasons for the differences.Choose a paragraph, short article, or newspaper story with new vocabulary. Use the Babylon dictionary or another online pronunciation resource to help you learn the correct pronunciation of these words.Read a play with some friends. Each friend takes a different part. Start with short scenes. Once you are comfortable, read longer pieces together.

How to Cite a Website in IEEE Referencing

How to Cite a Website in IEEE Referencing How to Cite a Website in IEEE Referencing With so much information available online these days, it is vital to know how to cite online sources. In this post, then, we’re looking at how to cite a website in an essay or paper using IEEE referencing. Referencing a Website with In-Text Citations In IEEE referencing, you cite sources with a number in the text. These numbers each point to a different source in the reference list: The internet relies on standardized communication protocols [1]. Number sources in the order that you first cite them. The source in the example above, for instance, would be the first source cited in the document and the first source in the reference list. And if you cite a website more than once, make sure to use the same number in each citation. As shown above, you will usually give citations at the end of a clause before terminal punctuation. However, if you name the author in your writing, you should give the citation number immediately afterwards: Rouse [1] identifies TCP/IP as key for networking devices. This clearly shows the connection between author and source. Listing a Website in an IEEE Reference List The reference list is where you provide full information for every source you use. If you cite a website, this means using the following format: [#] INITIAL(S). Surname, â€Å"Page Title,† Website Name, date of publication. [Online]. Available: URL. [Accessed Date]. In practice, then, the entry for an online source would look like this: [1] M. Rouse, â€Å"TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol),† SearchNetworking, Aug. 2017. [Online]. Available: https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/TCP-IP. [Accessed Sept. 19, 2018]. Usually, you will find all this information if you look closely enough. However, IEEE does supply rules for handling missing information: If a page does not name its author, use an organizational author (e.g., the publishing company or the overall website). If no organizational author is available, use the source title in its place in the reference list entry. The date of publication can be the date the page went online or when it was last updated. If neither is available, use the abbreviation â€Å"n.d.† instead. Finally, don’t forget to include a hanging indent for each line after the first in each reference list entry, as this is required in IEEE referencing. And if you need any help checking the referencing in your work, let us know.

Journal entry #7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal entry #7 - Essay Example experience as a previous ESL student, the responses were gathered and evaluated addressing the specific research question, to wit: â€Å"On their own, outside of the structure of ESL classes, to what degree do International students use technology to practice English language and communication skills?† (KasapoÄŸlu-Akyol, 2010, p. 231). The findings revealed that all students relayed manifesting problems in at least one language skill from the identified speaking, writing, reading or listening skills. Further, all those interviewed confirmed that they used diverse technological tools such as software programs through the Internet, their laptops, digital cameras to record lip movements, and electronic dictionaries, among others. Finally, when asked how technology assisted them in improving language and communication skills, the participants responded that these tools facilitated learning enabling them to save time and effort and providing opportunities for practicing and learn ing in a more conducive and interesting environment. The article is useful for educators of ESL students in terms of enhancing awareness on the crucial role that technology plays in improving both communication and language skills. Through the experience of six ESL students from diverse cultural orientations, the study illumined academic practitioners in identifying which specific technological tools are instrumental in providing opportunities to practice and learn outside the classroom

Explain (with examples) the extent to which SSM was supportive of a Essay

Explain (with examples) the extent to which SSM was supportive of a group approach - Essay Example Today, SSM has become a useful tool in any situation (or problem) involving human activity. Take for instance this trivial situation of two friends watching TV and arguing if the programs were good or bad. Using the SSM model, there will be no point arguing because both are right. Friend A may like it because of the pact action sequences and Friend B may not like it because the plot is too predictable. Whichever it is, SSM model argues that the standard for a good TV programs is inherent in both and one value judgment is not necessarily superior or more right than the other. If these ideas were explicit, the two friends may still argue on some points but their ideas would cease being unsubstantiated opinion and become defensible. Wilson (2001) points that defensibility should be the main criterion in an argument since ‘what is right’ in most cases, is likely unachievable. Such concept is important to complex situations in any social organization that capitalizes on defen sible arguments. This report will then put primary focus on SSM supporting group approach by discussing how SSM rallies group dynamics. Checkland introduced the steps to be followed methodically in SSM. The first step being the identification of the unstructured problem – is best accomplished as a group. For example, when the A.REthinking group was tasked to identify an ill-structured problem, it became easier to consolidate and develop ideas because feedbacks, whether positive or negative, help process and systematize insights. The more diverse the members’ backgrounds are the more enriching the discussion will be. Wilson discussed that the â€Å"people-components† can attribute meaning to their situation and define their own purpose for the organization. Checkland’s collaborators even suggested that the real potential of SSM is best exemplified in its early stages since it is the period when members of the organization achieve

Psychic Skills Exploration & Development Essay Example for Free

Psychic Skills Exploration Development Essay Introduction: Welcome to my Free Ebook : Psychic Skills Exploration Development. Through this book I will be combining the courses I taught originally. The first part of the book is the very basics, the absolute beginnings of learning to understand the other senses, learning to find and meet with your Spirit Guides and more. The Second part is the content from my more advanced course. It includes a lot of development exercises, things to explore, and more. Although I am not teaching classes in a structured online forum anymore you may like to join the free discussion group that I moderate called Psychic Living (formerly Acheiving Psychic Awareness). In this group we discuss psychic ability and more from a Spiritual perspective that  welcomes and honors all paths as sacred. We also hold topic specific and general chats and have other files of interest etc. You can access the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/psychicliving and feel free to strike up a conversation with like minded folks, use the group features etc. I am also including a list of FAQs. These small chapters will be at the end of the book and will cover questions that many students have asked. You may find some of your questions have been answered previously. If not feel free to email me, and as time allows I will be happy to answer some of your questions. I may even include the answers (anonymously of course) to this book or to the website. There is also a resource chapter at the end of the book with links to great internet sites, other learning resources etc. Keeping with the feel of the original courses I have still included the class projects, assignments, and exercises. Although there are no grades and you dont have to turn them in, please do them for your own growth and benefit. You will learn a lot in the process guaranteed. It is highly recommended that you follow the first part of this book in order, it goes through the first class and then as you move on to the more advanced stuff you can jump around to whatever interests you. The Beginning Psy section is what the rest of the book builds from, so even if you are more adept please work through it first. Also, please know that there are no experts in this arena, and that we all grow and learn in our own ways. Take what resonates with you from this course, and leave behind what doesnt. Feel free to grow and explore in the forum, or to share this book with anyone you feel may enjoy it. You may even offer it as a free Ebook on your site so long as you agree to the following Terms: This book may be distributed FREELY, without Charge, not as a bonus for paying for something else, but FREELY. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/courseintro.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Introduction to Psychic Skills Development It must remain UNALTERED, do not edit things out, do not present it as your own work. This book may not be reproduced in any other form without express written permission from the author. It may not be excerpted etc. It must be  distributed in its entirety. If you agree to those very simple terms I encourage you to share this book with others :). Should this book be a help to you, and you find you have learned a lot from it, please consider making a small donation. To date I have received one donation, although hundreds have used this content. I use the proceeds to keep my site up and running and to continue to develop/promote great free content for the seeker. Your gifts are great Karma and greatly appreciated as they allow me to continue to offer great services and information, I thank you 🙂 Click the button below to be taken to a secure server where you can donate any amount every penny helps. Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/courseintro.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider This Free Ebook brought to you by SpiritualGuidanceTarot.com Important Things to Consider Before Persuing This Path I would like to take this time to discuss a few issues that I feel are important to consider. Developing psychic abilities is not the same as pursuing spiritual growth. One does not have to be enlightened at all to use these abilities, this being said it is always important to be cautious about whom you trust, and first and foremost you should learn to trust yourself. Although I do approach psychic ability from a Spiritual perspective, psychic senses are only one aspect of spirituality. Many people get sidetracked on developing these abilities and forget to explore other areas of spiritual growth. This is a mistake, and that is why I am writing this in big bold print on the front of this book. I encourage all of you to further explore and walk your path, the truth will set you free, but each persons path to the truth is uniquely different. Dont expect developing your psychic skills to enlighten you or make your life easy. Psychic skills alone do not hold the keys to magic power or ha ppiness etc. Happiness is not a quest it is  a choice, and work with Spirit is wonderful, but you have to walk your own path. We are all on our personal path to the truth, and many are the paths that lead to it. There are no simple solutions so dont have unrealistic expectations in this area. Psychic abilities can enhance your connection to the Holy Spirit, to your own inner Spirit and help you to be more receptive to assistance from the Angels, Ascended masters, guides etc., but that brings me to my next important point. Dont give away your personal power! I was very surprised when I was teaching these classes online, by the number of people who incorrectly answered a question from the first course. The question said True or False: Spirits always have our best interest at heart and know more than we do so we should always listen to their direction. False is the correct answer, most answered true. I would like to state that it is always important that what you receive feel right to you. Often our ego will tell us what we want to hear and mask itself as spiritual guidance. There is a part of each of us that wants to be in control, when we branch out into these areas, our ego feels challenged, this can lead us to color some of the advice we receive. One of the most difficult parts of the process is learning to be objective when dealing with yourself. This requires a willingness to be extremely honest, facing parts of yourself you may not want to accept right away. Also, as on earth, sometimes you will encounter many different personalities, not all have your best interest at heart. To be sure you are receiving good advice remember the following: Spirit will never tell you what you have to do, they may show you different options, nudge you in a certain direction, but they will never demand you to do anything. If you spirit guide is a drill sergeant, chances are you are communicating with your own subconscious or ego, and not Spirit Spirit Guides, Angels, and the Masters are here to support and lend guidance and teaching, they are not going to solve your problems or walk your path for you. Dont have unrealistic expectations, you are file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (1 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider  here to learn, and they are your mentors, not your mommies. I know many who  get angry that their guides dont tell them what they want to hear, or tell them what they should do. A teacher who has your best interest at heart adn wants to love you and watch you grow is not going to give you the answers. You are here to learn, and it would be a disservice to you if you were not encouraged to stretch and grow for yourself. Truth is, there is no growth without effort and growing pains. You get the idea ;). If in doubt ASK. A true guardian spirit doesnt care if you ask him/her to identify him/herself, or if you need a little assurance. If you get negative feedback from asking for validation chances are you are not talking to an enlightened being and/or you are talking to your subconscious again. Fear and old programming do funny things to the human psyche, and as you work through these chances are you may face some demons from your own subconscious. These are most often your own fears made manifest. Knowing what this is can help you work through these things more comfortably. There is a saying that says You are what you fear I dont remember the origin offhand, but it does hold great truths. Spirit will always talk to you with respect, which doesnt mean that they dont tell you how it is, or sometimes share things that youd rather not hear. There is a degree of integrity like no other, and they expect that respect and integrity to be reciprocated, so approach this with an open heart and mind, gratitude and respect folks:) use discernment, and know that you are in control of your own destiny. I recommend getting in touch with your soul first, work through any fears or misgivings you may have, we touched on this a bit previously, but many people have a big sense of disconnection from God/ Creator and this needs to be bridged to be the most successful. Cultivate a habit of expressing gratitude and compassion. These two emotions come from purity of spirit and not from ego, remembering to be thankful and compassionate brings humility, and shows your sincerity. This is where our true power lies, in our spirit, not our minds ;). Again, lets review. Psychic abilities and the extra senses are present in all beings. Some choose to develop them from a place of ego, to impress people, or to try to control others. Unfortunately, as with any other skill it can be used for noble intentions, and for purposes not so noble. I choose to persue psychic skills from a spiritual perspective, where they become a tool along the individuals spiritual path to God and to Self-Realization. I know some write to me and say I dont  believe in God you shouldnt teach that God is necessary. Well Im sure for these people that is correct, but for my experience, a connection to God is necessary because that is who I am. I believe God to be the inherint intelligence and source of energy present within and beyond all beings. I believe we all are connected through the same source ie God. My beliefs however arent important, they arent the only ones, and anyone with any belief system can use this course. I wont modify it however ;), so you will get bits and pieces of my own philosophy throughout. I can only share my perspective. If it offends, then this course may not be for you. As with anything in life, take what works for you and leave behind what does not. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (2 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider I recognize these abilities to have great healing capacity, and to be empowering. That being said developing psychic skills is not synonymous with spiritual growth spiritual growth is a life long process embarked on by each individual soul. Some people mistakingly believe that developing psychically will make them more enlightened or spiritual and therefor make life easy. Those who believe this are often in for a big disappointment. It is also important to say here that it is important not to become distracted by psychic abilities again it is only one aspect of development. They are a tool, not the be all and end all. If you get hung up on it you stop growing and then the abilities that were intended to be for your highest good end up sabotaging you. You should be willing to continue to persue growth in all areas. Love and blessings, and enjoy exploring the rest of the book 🙂 Return to Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (3 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Download Free eBook Psychic Skills Development Free e-Book Psychic Skills Exploration Development This book combines much of the information that was contained in my psychic development classes. I dont teach classes formally any longer, so I decided to make the information available for free. This book provides a comprehensive look at psychic abilities, what they are, how they work, and how to develop them through a variety of activities and exercises. Main Menu As this is another free resource I am providing I ask that all of you respect a few rules. Please download only one copy to save on Bandwidth. The more copies downloaded the more I have to pay in server fees. If you dont want a copy on your PC, you can also view all of the content online as well HERE Please feel free to share it with others, but Please do NOT alter the content, sell the book, or use it as an incentive to get other people to buy your products/services etc. Other than that, Im pretty flexible ;). So, if you agree to these simple terms you can begin your download below. This file is an executable file .exe format. Download it to your computer and save it on your own harddrive. keep track of what folder you save it to, then click it and it runs itself. *Please note I am revamping this file to add more material to it and to fix a couple of bugs, this file will be placed again for download ASAP. In the meantime enjoy reading the material on the site. This Free Ebook brought to you by www.MysticalTreasures.net Below is one of several articles I have written. If you would like to read more of my writing visit my public portfolio for a range of different self-improvement/psychic related articles Psychic Phenomenon: Gifts, Powers, or Abilities? In my work as a psychic who seeks to mentor those developing their own skills, I find it important to discuss this subject. I refer to psychic abilities as just what they are skills or abilities. The other terms, gifts and powers, I find to be damaging as they infer that this is unattainable by others, or that psychic senses are much more â€Å"supernatural† than they actually are. Often I hear others speak of their developing abilities as â€Å"gifts†, as though they were so special that God gave them this unique and special ability and not others. Unfortunately, many famous psychics also do this, insinuate that some great mystical super-secret society power has been bestowed on them. This is harmful to those who would love to develop psychically but feel that they â€Å"arent enough† somehow, or havent been â€Å"chosen†. Are psychic abilities gifts? Indeed they are. Those of us who have developed them recognize that we are blessed, but I also recognize that every breath I take on this planet is also a gift. I also know that we all breathe. Therefor oxygen, while still a beautiful, precious gift that should not be taken for granted, is something that we can all partake in. Psychic ability is no different. Just as everyone can pick up a  pencil and write with it, everyone can also learn to develop the intuition to some degree. Not everyone will become a pulitzer prize winning novelist, or famous poet, but that doesnt stop all of the rest of us from writing, so why should it stop beginners in Metaphysical studies from even trying? It is amazing to me the number of people who come to me and say â€Å"I dont think I am gifted† or â€Å"Can you tell me if I have gifts?†. My answer: Are you standing here, breathing, having a life experience right now? then yes you are gifted. The key is not focusing on lack or what one doesnt have, but appreciating what is. What we believe tends to become self-fulfilling prophecy. Psychic abilities are not elusive foreign phenomenon that only the chosen few can bring forward, they are an innate set of senses, hidden deep within the psyche and soul of each being that must be allowed to come forward. Many people dont agree with this, they believe that because they want psychic abilities that they must already be allowing it and it just isnt coming. This is very untrue. Developing these skills means adjusting to a different reality that what is presently understood and accepted both by society and the individual. The body/mind have a natural resistance to this in place as a protective mechanism. In order to reach our fullest potential psychically, we have to work at peeling away the barriers. It can take considerable time and effort to allow these abilities to manifest to their fullest potential, and as with anything worth having they require sincerity, persistence, and dedication. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/psyskills.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Untitled We live in a society that pushes heavily the â€Å"instant gratification† syndrome, and this tends to cause many developing psychics to throw in the towel much to soon. When we add the stigma of â€Å"being gifted† to it, many dont even try at all. They are falsely led to believe that these abilities just manifest in others who have been fortunate enough to have them bestowed upon them by Creator. News Flash, God/ Creator loves all of creation, so why then would He/She/It only give gifts to some of the Earths children and not  to all? Thats not unconditional love, but it is a human condition ;). Every one of you reading this also has psychic ability, and yes it is a gift, but so is everything else. Another word I hear misused a lot is â€Å"powers†. Psychic ability does not give us â€Å"power† over anyone, and those psychics who believe it does usually find their careers short-lived, or find that Karma catches up eventually. Any genuine psychic is humbl e enough to tell people that they too can do what he/she is doing. A good psychics goal is to empower others not to wield some false sense of power over them. When I hear psychics and/or aspirants refer to their â€Å"powers† it is one of my biggest pet peeves. That word implies not only that it is a super secret society elite thing again, but also propogates fear and contributes to the already abounding social ignorance surrounding psychic phenomenon. Those who do this to puff up their own egos by portending they have super-hero like â€Å"powers† make it difficult for genuine psychics to get established and the outlook for ever being taken seriously in our field becomes even more grim. I have the upmost respect for psychics and healers as well, who seek to empower others by demystifying this process. John Edward is one prime example of a mainstream psychic who has done a lot of work in this area. Thanks to his work, more people are seeing this as something that is not just a power for the chosen ones, but something anyone with the dedication to do so can develop. I hope that as more of us establish our careers we will also take the â€Å"high road† and continue to promote more personal empowerment and less hocus-pocus. Knowledge is the true â€Å"power†. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christin Snyder is an author, psychic, mentor, and pesonal success coach. She works on demystifying psychic phenomenon and helping others to expand their consciousness. Visit her website today for free guided meditations, spiritual guidance tarot readings, free psychic skills development courses and more: http://www.spiritualguidancetarot.com Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/psyskills.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Untitled This Free Ebook brought to you by www.MysticalTreasures.net Formatting Journals to help you through this book and the course contents: Formatting your Main Journal For your main class journal, I recommend buying a binder with loose-leaf paper and divider tabs. This allows you to move things around, and easily keep things divided into organized sections. You can add and remove material also. You will want a journal section for each part of the course. Exercises should be recorded in your journals. Also post to it daily if you are able about any insights you receive etc. You will enjoy referring back to this later on. Spend some time on your journal. It doesnt have to be expensive, but spend some time making it and personalizing it. Make it special and all your own. As time goes on through the course you will get very attached to your journal and it will hold reviews of all of yoru progress. I can tell you that honestly through this process I often neglected my journal, thinking I wouldnt forget certain experiences etc.. and I really regretted later on that I didnt write things down as I worked on them. That practice would have saved me a lot of repetition and heartache, so please be persistent in keeping yoru preogress recorded. You will be glad you did. Formatting your Dream Journals: Dream journals are personal and all your own. I suggest having two sections, one where you record dreams, and another where you list your common symbols, recurring themes, anything extraordinary that occurs, etc. This will be your own window into your soul, and developing your own personal dream dictionary of sorts is far more effective than using a standard dream dictionary. Although some meanings are somewhat universal, that isnt necessarily true. I suggest a small journal that can be kept easily and unobtrusively by your bedside. This will ensure easy access enabling you to record more of your dream experiences. If you find that writing dreams down doesnt work for you and you are able, buy a small tape recorder and keep that by your bed. When you wake you can record a message for yourself. This may also help those of you who forget very quickly upon waking. Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/journals.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:0 1 AM Untitled file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/journals.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Psychic Skills Exploration Development This Free Ebook brought to you by MysticalTreasures.net Beginning Psychic Skills Development : Lesson I Learning to Still the Mind This is the first step in learning basic meditation methods and in preparing yourself to receive the subtle messages of Spirit communication. Our first lesson delves into learning to relax our conscious mind. Often this is the most difficult part of the whole process, learning to still our thoughts and come to an inner sense of calm quiet. Remember this is a new habit you are developing and plan on sticking with it without immediate gratification. More than learning to absolutely silence the mind, it is more of a process of learning to take control of your mind/thoughts. Knowing where they go and why, and how to bring them back to center and quiet them as much as possible. You will want to work with this lesson first, until you are fairly comfortable with it before attempting to move forward. This is important so that you proceed step by step and not sabotage yourself by trying to do everything at once. Even if you are an all or nothing type, please do this step by step, taking as much time between lessons as you need. 🙂 Youll be happier with the results if you do. It is important to learn how to control and be conscious of our thoughts and emotions to be effective as a psychic and/or to be successful in meeting our guides. By being able to control our response to outside stimulus, we are better able to tune in to the more subtle frequencies involved in using the extra senses and/or communicating with spirit. There are a few things to remember: 1) Dont struggle trying to force your mind to be silent, in the struggle itself you create more thoughts and sabotage the process. You should not latch on to thoughts either, let them float by you, acknowledging your willingness to release them. 2) If you dont succeed at first dont give up. It takes time to  develop a new habit. Dont be hard on yourself if you just dont get it the first few times. .. anything worth doing is worth the effort, and trust me this is worth the effort. the benefits are not just in developing psychically, the benefits of meditation are numerous and include increased energy, clearer thought process, improved health on many levels. 3) Remember to find a time where you will not be interupted and a place as free from outside interference as possible. No music, TV, etc. There are times when you can use soothing music, but for the purpose of psychic development it is best to have a very quiet environment. It makes it easier to pick up on subtle energies around you. As you start, you may wish to select a specific time of day, each day or as many days a week as you can. You will want to start off with a 5 minute time frame which you can increase as you progress. By choosing a specific time of day you are developing a habit, conditioning a response pattern and preparing your body and mind for the process of Meditation. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/lessonI.html (1 of 3)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Psychic Skills Exploration Development Once you have become more adept at relaxation and meditaiton you can remove the scheduled time and increase your meditation time, but for our purposes here, 5 minutes per day at around the same time if possible. Use this time to just deeply relax and become aware of yourself, the environment you are in, etc. etc. Total awareness naturally expands the consciousness. Remove yourself from as much outside interference as possible.. if earplugs or covering the eyes helps you please consider adding them to your routine. Learning to Relax the Mind: Once you are ready to begin, stretch out and release any tensions you may be feeling in the body. You will want to do this exercise sitting and not laying down as we dont want to indicate to the body that it is time to sleep, just simply relax. Sit in a comfortable but firm chair, not one that you slump down into.. you want to sit up straight with your back against the back of the chair, feet flat on the floor, and arms either rested gently on th e arms of the chair, or down to your sides. You should be in an attentive but relaxed position. Once you are  situated take a deep breath in through the nose and breath out through the mouth making the exhale longer than the inhale. As you exhale focus on pushing out any negative emotions, stress, etc that you may have built up within you. Do 3 -5 breaths, whatever it takes to help you start to feel the body relax. Each breath should have you relaxing even further. Once you have done this just sit with your eyes closed. Try to just focus on the stillness. If thoughts seem to keep coming dont struggle against them trying to push them down just allow them to come and go gently. Remove yourself from your thoughts and watch them float by. You Don t want to attempt to catch them and analyze them, and you dont want to struggle against them they just are, you just are. You can also do a visualization. Imagine yourself sitting in a quiet theater, there is a screen in front of you. On the screen appears anything that you need to know, that your higher self wishes you to know. Dont try to analyze the symbols, colors, or other messages, let them float on the screen. Here there is no time limits , pressures, or outside influences, this is just you in the fullness of the present moment without regard to past or future. Enjoy being in this moment a while longer and then gradually bring yourself back with a cleansing breath. Repeat this exercise until you have come to a place where you are comfortable in redirecting random thoughts for a minute or more before moving on. This most likely will not happen right away, so please dont get discouraged. Continue to practice this daily as you can. As you get into this more you will find the time you spend may naturally increase just because of the sheer pleasure of taking a break from our busyness. Thats great and even if you dont get this right file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/lessonI.html (2 of 3)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM

The Japanese Entertainment Industry Essay -- Japan Animation Anime Art

The Japanese Entertainment Industry Thirty-five years ago, Japan’s entertainment industry found an answer to its problems. Still developing in the aftermath of defeat in World War II, and the subsequent restructuring plan instituted by the United States, Japan was without surplus resources. There was no money for the production of films. American films soon began invading the Japanese entertainment industry. Yet the Japanese people longed for entertainment which would reflect their own culture. And so â€Å"animation...developed in Japan to fill the void of high-budget film-making† (Marin, 69). In the years that followed, animation would take a pop-cultural foothold in Japan that has grown and transformed, and yet exists today. Even with the onset of increasing economic fortitude, animation continued to flourish within Japan’s entertainment industry. The creative possibilities of animation’s unparalleled visual story-telling capacities had been discovered by Japanese filmmakers, and would co ntinue to be exploited into the present age.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Japanese animation, more commonly referred to as anime, or Japanimation, has somewhat different origins than western animation. Where animation developed to entertain European and American children through comedic exploits, anime was created to entertain wider audience groups. Indeed, one might find difficulty in characterizing all anime together; the Japanese have viewed animation as a medium of creation rather a form of entertainment limited in audience and expression. Anime is included in a group from which the United States has traditionally banned animation; specifically, anime is considered a form of creative expression, much as are literature, modern art, live-action films, and other arts. A man by the name of Osamu Tezuka first envisioned animation’s possibilities in Japan in the 1960s (Ledoux, 1). Tezuka realized the power animation could lend to story-telling, and produced a myriad of animated films and television programs from which modern-day anime has made its genesis. At first heavily influenced by Disney’s animation, Tezuka’s animation soon transcended the confines within which American animation had placed itself. Tezuka can be credited today with being the first to produce animation for a sophisticated audience. Osamu Tezuka adapted comics, the most popular form of entertainment in Japan, to his animatio... ...on’s superiority over American animation. In fact, most do not even consider the two comparable. Japanimation has proven its quality on various levels, and certainly deserves the respect it is beginning to receive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Japanese animation is superior to American animation in form and content. Fans prefer anime’s audiovisual presentation. Fans thrill to Japanimation’s action, and become enthralled in its story lines. Japanese animation has proven itself superior not only to American animation, but also to animation the world over, and today anime is starting a revolution in the idea of animation as a hobby. A multitude of fresh, exciting adventures that have until present remained unexperienced in the United States wait overseas. If Japanese animation is given a warm enough reception in the years to come it could provide entertainment for many walks of American society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trish Ledoux’s sentiment regarding anime is perhaps most significant in the comparison of Japanese animation to American animation: In technique, style, and above all, maturity...[sic] - Japanese animators have long since gone where no American animators have gone before. They’ve gone beyond. [Ledoux, 14]

Mindanao should not be an independent state Essay

Mindanao should not become an Independent State â€Å"One of the essential attributes of a state under International Law is external sovereignty, the right to exercise freely the full range of power a state possesses under international law. Recognition of a state as independent necessarily implies that the recognizing states have no legal authority over the independent state. The status of a fully independent state should be contrasted with that of dependent or vassal states, where a superior state has the legal authority to impose its will over the subject, or inferior, state.† How can Mindanao practice the said definition of an independent state where in fact, there are many aspects which can fail us Mindanaoans in attaining such? We lack sustainability, there is a conflict in religion, and division hurts economically and culturally. These are just some of the aspects I was talking about which fails the Mindanao in becoming an Independent state. Before independence is declared, Mindanao must show that we have the resources to be independent. Yes, we can say that we some of the resources; in fact, people from Luzon, Visayas, and even from other countries come to Mindanao to buy our resources. But the question is who will sustain them? We lack sustainability; we lack businessmen to run these said resources. In another aspect, we can never be confident that Muslims and Christians populating Mindanao will be able to live in harmony and prosperity. We would need to go extra-mile in and work harder in order to go under one agenda. But diversity does not necessarily result in unity. That was what I meant when I mentioned about a conflict in religion. Muslims can not accept that Christians eat lechon during fiestas or other special occasions, their culture and faith says it is strictly forbidden. On the other hand hand, Christians, if for their faith as well, frown on Muslim husbands having four legal wives and call this practice adulterous. How can we really reconcile both parties? Third, division hurts both economically and culturally. Personally, it would be so absurd and ridiculous if us travelling now to Luzon or Visayas, which some of my relatives live, would require a passport or visa. Wouldn’t it be just a hassle? Now, with all these aspects, where will Mindanao get the source of people, peace, and comfort to run the people? If independence means unchaining Mindanao from the shackles of our national debt, that would be good, but it sounds fine  only in theory. Mindanao has been receiving developmental aids yet we remain in the stage of desolation. For so long, the people of Mindanao cannot be united, in fact, no other territory in the Philippines is so fractious as Mindanao. Being an independent state will not justify conditions of governing itself. Over all, Mindanao cannot afford to become an independent state.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Nine

Where r u? Elena texted impatiently. Stefan was supposed to meet her at her dorm room more than twenty minutes ago. Surely his study group was over by now? She was starving. She paced around the room, occasional y glancing at the dark tree branches beyond the windows. It wasn't like Stefan to be late. She checked her phone. It was too soon to try to reach him again. Outside, something dark moved, and she gasped. Then she shook her head. It was just the branches of the trees out there, waving in the breeze. She moved closer, trying to see past the reflections on the glass. Their room was on the third floor; there wouldn't be anyone sitting that high up. At least not anyone human. Elena shuddered. â€Å"Elena,† said a cool, clear voice from outside. With a squeak that sounded like a frightened rabbit, Elena jerked backward, pressing one hand to her pounding heart. After a moment, she stepped up to the window and threw it open. â€Å"Damon,† she said. â€Å"You scared me to death. What are you doing out there?† There was a flash of white teeth in the shadows. A mocking tone rang through his answer. â€Å"Waiting for you to invite me into your room, of course.† â€Å"You don't need an invitation,† Elena said. â€Å"You helped me move in.† â€Å"I know,† Damon said, smiling. â€Å"I'm being a gentleman.† Elena hesitated. She trusted Damon, of course she did, but this seemed so intimate. Damon outside in the dark, Elena alone in her bedroom, neither of her roommates around. He'd been in her room at home, but Aunt Judith and Robert had been just down the hal . She wondered if Stefan would mind her being alone here with Damon, but she shook off the thought. He trusted Elena, that was what mattered. â€Å"Elena,† Damon's voice was soft but insistent. â€Å"Let me in before I fal .† Rol ing her eyes, she said, â€Å"You'd never fal . And if you did, you'd fly. But you can come in anyway.† With a soft whoosh, faster than her eye could fol ow, Damon was suddenly beside her. She had to step back a pace. Eyes and hair as dark as night, pale luminous skin, perfectly cut features. He even smel ed good. His lips looked so soft†¦. Elena caught herself leaning toward him, her own lips parting, and pul ed away. â€Å"Stop it,† she said. â€Å"I'm not doing anything,† Damon said innocently. When Elena arched a skeptical eyebrow at him, he shrugged and shot her a brief, bril iant smile. There, Elena thought. That's why Stefan might mind Damon being here. â€Å"Oh, al right. I'm only teasing you.† He looked around the room and quirked an eyebrow of his own. â€Å"Why, Elena,† he said, â€Å"I'm almost disappointed. You and your friends are running so true to type here.† Elena fol owed his eyes. Bonnie's side of the room was a mess, a tumble of stuffed animals, rejected outfits, and Dalcrest paraphernalia. In contrast, Meredith's area was rigidly tidy, books lined up alphabetical y, a single silver pen on the desk next to her slim silver laptop, her bed neatly draped in a silk duvet in subtly patterned gray and white. Her dresser and closet were closed, but inside, Elena knew, Meredith's clothes would be organized by type, color, and season. Damon was right: just by looking at their parts of the room, you could tel that Meredith was rational, sophisticated, careful y control ed, and private, while Bonnie was fluffy, fun-loving, and disorganized. What about Elena's own things? What did they say about her? She looked over her part of the room with a critical eye. Framed art prints from her favorite exhibits, her silver brush and comb lined up on her dresser, deep-blue sheets that she knew set off her eyes and hair. Someone who held on to what she liked and didn't change easily? Someone who was very aware of what suited her? She wasn't sure. Damon smiled at her again, without the mocking edge this time. â€Å"Don't give it a second's thought, princess,† he said affectionately. â€Å"You're more than your possessions.† â€Å"Thanks,† Elena said shortly. â€Å"So, did you just drop in my window to say hel o?† He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. They were standing very close together, and Elena backed away a little. â€Å"I thought maybe, now that you're a col ege girl, we could go out tonight and have some fun.† â€Å"Fun?† Elena said, stil distracted by his mouth. â€Å"What kind of fun?† â€Å"Oh, you know,† he said, â€Å"just a little dinner, a few drinks. Friend stuff. Nothing too daring.† â€Å"Right,† Elena said firmly. â€Å"It sounds nice. But I can't tonight. Stefan and I are going out to dinner.† â€Å"Of course,† Damon said. He gave her a firm little nod and what was so obviously supposed to be a supportive smile that she had to stifle a giggle. Supportive, friendly, and unassuming were not natural looks on Damon's face. He was trying so very hard to be her friend even though they al knew there was more than that between them. Since he had died and come back, he had been trying to change his relationships with Stefan and with her, she knew, to be with them in a way he never had before. It couldn't be easy on poor Damon, trying to be good. He was out of practice. Elena's phone chimed. She read the text from Stefan: I'm sorry. The study group's running late. I think it'll be at least another hour. Meet later? â€Å"Problem?† Damon was watching her, the same innocent, friendly smile on his face, and affection for him washed over Elena. Damon was her friend. Why shouldn't she go out with him? â€Å"Change of plans,† she said briskly. â€Å"We'l go out, but just for a little while. I need to be back here to meet Stefan in an hour.† She texted Stefan quickly to let him know she was going to grab some food and looked up to see a triumphant smile on Damon's face as he reached to take her arm. Bonnie walked across campus, practical y skipping in time to the happy tune in her head. A date with Zander, la la la la la. It was about time, too. She'd been eagerly anticipating seeing Zander again al week, and although they'd talked on the phone, she hadn't laid eyes on him around campus at al , even though of course she'd been looking. At last she was about to see him. La la la la la. Lovely, gorgeous Zander. She had on jeans and a sort of silvery, draping top that at least made it look like she might have some cleavage. It was a good outfit, she thought, understated enough for just hanging out but also a little bit special. Just in case they decided to go out clubbing or something at the last minute. Zander hadn't told her what he'd planned, just asked her to meet him outside the science building. La la la la la, she hummed. Bonnie's footsteps slowed, and the tune in her head died off as she saw flickering lights il uminating a group of people up ahead. They were gathered in the courtyard in front of one of the dorms. Approaching, she realized it was a group of girls holding candles. The wavering light from the candles sent shadows across their serious faces. Propped against the wal of the dorm were three blown-up photos, two girls and a guy. Al across the grass in front of them were heaped flowers, letters, and teddy bears. Hesitant to break the silence, Bonnie touched the arm of one of the girls. â€Å"What's going on?† she whispered. â€Å"It's a candlelight vigil for the missing people,† the girl whispered back. Missing people? Bonnie scanned the faces in the photographs. Young, smiling, about her age. â€Å"Are they al students here?† she asked, horrified. â€Å"What happened to them?† â€Å"Nobody knows,† the girl said, her gaze serious. â€Å"They just vanished. You didn't hear about this?† Bonnie's stomach dropped. She knew that a girl was attacked – or something – on the quad the first night, but she hadn't known about any disappearances. No wonder her gut instinct had warned her to be scared walking across campus the other day. She could have been in danger. â€Å"No,† she said slowly. â€Å"I didn't hear anything.† She dropped her eyes and bowed her head, silent as she sent out a fervent hope that these three happy-looking people would be found, safe and sound. In the distance, a siren began to wail. â€Å"Something's happened.† â€Å"Do you think someone was attacked?† A babble of frightened voices rose as the sirens got closer. A girl near Bonnie began to sob, a hurt, scared sound. â€Å"Al right, what's the trouble here?† said a new, authoritative voice, and Bonnie looked up to see two campus police officers shouldering their way through the crowd. â€Å"We †¦ uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The girl who had spoken to Bonnie gestured at the photos and flowers against the wal . â€Å"We were having a vigil. For the missing people.† â€Å"What are those sirens for?† another girl asked, her voice rising. â€Å"Nothing to worry about,† said the officer, but his face softened as he looked at the sobbing girl. Bonnie realized with a slight shock that he wasn't much older than she was. â€Å"Miss?† he said to the crying girl. â€Å"We'l help you get home.† His partner looked around at the crowd. â€Å"It's time to break things up and head inside,† he said sternly. â€Å"Stick together and be careful.† â€Å"I thought you said there was nothing to worry about,† said another girl angrily. â€Å"What aren't you tel ing us?† â€Å"There's nothing you don't know already,† the man said patiently. â€Å"People are missing. You can never be too careful.† If there's nothing to worry about, why do we have to be careful? Bonnie wondered, but she bit back the words and hurried away down the path, toward the science building where Zander had suggested they meet. The idea of trying to have a vision, to see if she could learn anything about the missing people, nudged at Bonnie's mind, but she pushed it away. She hated that. She hated the loss of control when she slid into one of her visions. It was unlikely to work, anyway. Her visions had always been about people she knew, about immediate problems facing them. She didn't know any of the missing people. She bit her lip and walked faster. The excitement about her date had fizzled out, and she didn't feel safe now. But at least if she got to Zander, she wouldn't be alone. When she arrived at the science building, though, Zander wasn't there. Bonnie hesitated and looked around nervously. This corner of campus seemed to be deserted. She tried the door of the science building, but it was locked. Wellof course it was – there weren't any classes this late. Bonnie shook the handle of the front door in frustration. She reached into her bag, then groaned as she realized she'd left her phone back in her room. Suddenly, she felt very exposed. The campus police had said to stick together, not to wander around alone at night, but here she was, al by herself. A cool breeze ruffled her hair and she shivered. It was getting awful y dark. â€Å"Bonnie. Psst, Bonnie!† Zander's voice. But where was he? Bonnie saw nothing but the dark quad, streetlights throwing little circles of light on the paths. Above her, leaves rustled in the wind. â€Å"Bonnie! Up here.† Looking up, she final y spotted Zander on the roof, peering down over the side at her, his pale hair almost glowing in the moonlight. â€Å"What're you doing up there?† she cal ed to him, confused. â€Å"Come on up,† he invited, pointing to the fire-escape ladder on the side of the building. It was lowered to just a couple of feet above the ground. â€Å"Real y?† said Bonnie dubiously. She walked over to the fire escape. She could make it onto the ladder, she was pretty sure, but she was going to look clumsy and awkward scrambling up on it. And what if she got caught? She hadn't actual y read the campus regulations thoroughly, but wouldn't climbing the fire escape up to the roof of a closed building be against the rules? â€Å"Come on, Bonnie,† Zander cal ed. His feet clanging loudly against the iron steps, he ran down the fire escape, shimmied down the ladder, and leaped to the ground, landing catlike on his feet beside her. He went down on one knee and held his hands out together. â€Å"I'l boost you up so you'l be able to reach.† Bonnie swal owed, then stepped up onto Zander's hands and stretched for the ladder. Once she swung her leg up onto the bottom rung, it was a piece of cake, although the slightly rusty metal was rough against her hands. She spared a moment to thank al the powers of the universe that she had decided to wear jeans rather than a skirt tonight. Zander trailed behind her up the fire escape from one landing to another until final y they arrived on the roof. â€Å"Are we al owed to be up here?† Bonnie asked nervously. â€Å"Well,† Zander said slowly, â€Å"probably not. But I come up here al the time, and no one's ever told me not to.† He smiled that warm, wonderful smile at her and added, â€Å"This is one of my favorite places.† It was a nice view, Bonnie had to admit that. Below them, the campus stretched, leafy and green and mysterious. If anyone else had brought her up here, though, she would have complained about the rusty fire escape and the concrete roof, suggested that maybe a date should involve going somewhere. This was a date, wasn't it? She froze momentarily in a panic, trying to recal exactly what Zander had said when he suggested meeting here. She didn't remember the words themselves, but they definitely had a date-y feel to them: she wasn't a kid anymore, she knew when she was being asked out. And Zander was so cute, it was worth making an effort. â€Å"It's pretty up here,† she said lamely and then, looking around at the flat dirty concrete, â€Å"I mean being so high up.† â€Å"We're closer to the stars,† Zander said, and took her hand. â€Å"Come on over here.† His hand was warm and strong, and Bonnie held on to it tightly. He was right, the stars were beautiful. It was cool to be able to see them more clearly, here above the trees. He led her over to the corner of the roof, where a ratty old army blanket was spread out with a pizza box and some cans of soda. â€Å"Al the comforts of home,† he said. Then, quietly, â€Å"I know this isn't a very fancy date, Bonnie, but I wanted to share this with you. I thought you would appreciate what's special about being up here.† â€Å"I absolutely do,† Bonnie said, flattered. A secret little cheer went up inside her: Hurray! Zander definitely knows we're on a date! Pretty soon Bonnie found herself tucked up against Zander's side, his arm around her shoulders, eating hot, greasily delicious pizza and looking at the stars. â€Å"I come up here alone a lot,† Zander told her. â€Å"One time last year I just lay here and watched a big fat ful moon get swal owed up by the earth's shadow in an eclipse. It was nearly pitch black without the light of the ful moon, but I could stil see its dark red shape in the sky.† â€Å"The Vikings thought eclipses were caused by two wolves, one who wanted to eat the sun, and one who wanted to eat the moon,† Bonnie said idly. â€Å"I forget which one wanted to eat the moon, but whenever either a solar or a lunar eclipse happened, people were supposed to make a lot of noise to scare the wolf away.† Zander looked down at her. â€Å"That's a random piece of information to know.† But he smiled as he said it. Bonnie wriggled with delight under the sheer force of his smile. â€Å"I'm interested in mythology,† she said. â€Å"Druid and Celtic, mostly, but myths and stories in general. The Druids were into the moon, too: they had a whole astrology based on the lunar calendar.† She sat up straighter, enjoying the admiring look on Zander's face. â€Å"Like, right now, from late August to late September, we're in the month of the Artist Moon. But in a couple of weeks, we'l be in the month of the Dying Moon.† â€Å"What does that mean?† Zander asked. He was very close to her, gazing straight into her eyes. â€Å"Well, it means it's a time of endings,† Bonnie said. â€Å"It's al about dying and sleep. The Druid year begins again after Hal oween.† â€Å"Hmm.† Zander was stil watching her intently. â€Å"How do you know so much, Bonnie McCul ough?† A little smile played around his mouth. â€Å"Um, my ancestors were Druids and Celtics,† Bonnie said, feeling stupid. â€Å"My grandmother told me we were descended from Druid priestesses, and that's why I see things sometimes. My grandmother does, too.† â€Å"Interesting,† Zander said softly. His tone grew lighter. â€Å"So you see things, do you?† â€Å"I real y do,† Bonnie said, seriously, staring back at him. She hadn't meant to tel him that. She didn't want to weird him out, not on their first date, but she also didn't want to lie to him. So blue. Zander's eyes were as deep as the sea, and she was fal ing farther and farther into them. There was nothing above her, nothing below, she was ceaselessly, gently fal ing. With a wrench, Bonnie pul ed her eyes away from Zander's. â€Å"Sorry,† she said, shaking her head. â€Å"That was weird. I think I almost fel asleep for a minute.† â€Å"Don't worry about it,† Zander said, but his face looked stiff and strange. Then he flashed that warm, enchanting smile again and got to his feet. â€Å"Come on, I want to show you something.† Bonnie stood slowly. She felt a little strange stil , and she pressed her hand briefly against her forehead. â€Å"Over here,† Zander said, tugging her by the other hand. He led her to the corner of the roof and stepped up onto the narrow ledge running around it. â€Å"Zander,† Bonnie said, horrified. â€Å"Come down! You might fal !† â€Å"We won't fal ,† Zander said, smiling down at her. â€Å"Climb on up.† â€Å"Are you crazy?† Bonnie said. She'd never liked heights much. She remembered crossing a high, high bridge once with Damon and Elena. They'd had to if they were going to save Stefan, but she never would have been able to do it, except Damon had used his Power and convinced her she was an acrobat, a tightrope walker to whom heights were nothing. When he'd released her from his Power, after they crossed the bridge, her retroactive fear had been nauseating. Stil , she'd made it across that bridge, hadn't she? And she had promised herself she would be more confident, stronger, now that she was in col ege. She looked up at Zander, who was smiling at her, sweetly, eagerly, his hand extended. She took it and let him help her climb onto the ledge. â€Å"Oh,† she said, once she was up there. The ground swam dizzyingly far below her, and she yanked her eyes away from it. â€Å"Oh. No, this is not a good idea.† â€Å"Trust me,† Zander said, and took her other hand so that he was holding on to her securely. â€Å"I won't let you fal .† Bonnie looked into his blue, blue eyes again and felt comforted. There was something so candid and straightforward in his gaze. â€Å"What should I do?† she asked, and was proud when her voice was steady. â€Å"Close your eyes,† Zander said, and when she'd done that, â€Å"and pick your right foot up off the ledge.† â€Å"What?† Bonnie asked, and almost opened her eyes again. â€Å"Trust me,† Zander said again, and this time there was a rich undercurrent of laughter in his voice. Hesitantly, Bonnie lifted her foot. Just then, the wind picked up, and Bonnie felt like it was about to scoop her off the ledge and throw her into the sky like a kite whose string had snapped. She tightened her grip on Zander's hands. â€Å"It's al right,† he said soothingly. â€Å"It's amazing, Bonnie, I promise. Just let yourself be. Life isn't worth living if you don't take risks.† Inhaling deeply and then letting the breath out, Bonnie forced herself to relax. The wind was blowing her curls everywhere, whistling in her ears, tugging at her clothes and her raised leg. As she relaxed into it, she felt almost as if she was being lifted, gently, into the sky, the air al around supporting her. It was like flying. Bonnie realized she was laughing with sheer delight and opened her eyes, gazing straight into Zander's. He was laughing, too, and holding on to her tightly, anchoring her to the earth as she almost flew. She had never been so conscious of the blood thrumming through her veins, of each nerve catching the sensations of the air around her. She had never felt so alive.

Second Grade Math Worksheets

Second Grade Math Worksheets The following 2nd grade math worksheets address the basic concepts taught in the second grade. Concepts addressed include: money, addition, subtractions, word problems, subtraction and telling time. You will need the Adobe reader for the following worksheets. 2nd Grade Word ProblemsAddition - 2 more than.Ten MoreHundreds Chart ActivitiesCounting by 5 WorksheetsAdding DoublesAdding 5 more than.Mixed addition.Mixed addition.Mystery boxes.Number Sentences to 20.Addition: vertically.2 Digit Adding With Regrouping3 Digit Addition - No RegroupingWord Problems.More Word Problems.Basic Subtraction FactsSubtraction Facts with Missing Blanks2 Digit Subtraction - no regroupingBeginning FractionsCounting US coins to 50 centsShow the Money AmountsCounting Canadian coins to 50 centsTelling Time WorksheetsI Have, Who Has Math Game   Second-grade worksheets have been created to emphasize understanding of the concept and should not be used in isolation to teach a concept. Each concept should be taught using math manipulatives and many concrete experiences. For instance, when teaching subtraction, use cereal, coins, jelly beans and provide many experiences with physically moving the objects and printing the number sentence (8 - 3 5). Then move to the worksheets. For word problems, students/learners should have an understanding of the computations required and then exposure to word problems are necessary to ensure they can use the computation in authentic situations.    When beginning fractions, many experiences with pizzas, fraction bars and circles should be used to ensure understanding. Fractions have two components for understanding, parts of a set (eggs, rows in gardens) and parts of the whole (pizza, chocolate bars etc.)   I have, who has, is a fun game to enhance learning.

Global Capitalism -- Critiques from Sociologists

Global Capitalism Critiques from Sociologists Global capitalism, the current epoch in the centuries-long history of the capitalist economy, is heralded by many as a free and open economic system that brings people from around the world together to foster innovations in production, for facilitating exchange of culture and knowledge, for bringing jobs to struggling economies worldwide, and for providing consumers with an ample supply of affordable goods. But while many may enjoy benefits of global capitalism, others around the world in fact, most do not. The research and theories of sociologists and intellectuals who focus on globalization, including William I. Robinson, Saskia Sassen, Mike Davis, and Vandana Shiva shed light on the ways this system harms many. Global Capitalism is Anti-Democratic Global capitalism is, to quote Robinson, â€Å"profoundly anti-democratic.† A tiny group of global elite decide the rules of the game  and control the vast majority of the world’s resources. In 2011, Swiss researchers found that just 147 of the world’s corporations and investment groups controlled 40 percent of corporate wealth, and just over 700 control nearly all of it (80 percent). This puts the vast majority of the world’s resources under the control of a tiny fraction of the world’s population. Because political power follows economic power, democracy in the context of global capitalism can be nothing but a dream. Using Global Capitalism as a Development Tool Does More Harm than Good Approaches to development that sync with the ideals and goals of global capitalism do far more harm than good. Many countries that were impoverished by colonization and imperialism are now impoverished by IMF and World Bank development schemes that force  them to adopt free trade policies in order to receive development loans. Rather than bolstering local and national economies, these policies pour money into the coffers of global corporations that operate in these nations under free trade agreements. And, by focusing development on urban sectors, hundreds of millions of people around the world have been pulled out of rural communities by the promise of jobs, only to find themselves un- or under-employed  and living in densely crowded and dangerous slums. In 2011, the United Nations Habitat Report estimated that 889 million people- or more than 10 percent of the world’ population- would live in slums by 2020. The Ideology of Global Capitalism Undermines the Public Good The neoliberal ideology that supports and justifies global capitalism undermines public welfare. Freed from regulations and most  tax obligations, corporations made wealthy in the era of global capitalism have effectively stolen social welfare, support systems, and public services and industries from people all over the world. The neoliberal ideology that goes hand in hand with this economic system places the burden of survival solely on an individual’s ability to earn money and consume. The concept of the common good is a thing of the past. The Privatization of Everything Only Helps the Wealthy Global capitalism has marched steadily across the planet, gobbling up all land and resources in its path. Thanks to the neoliberal ideology of privatization, and the global capitalist imperative for growth, it is increasingly difficult for people all over the world to access the resources necessary for a just and sustainable livelihood, like communal space, water, seed, and workable agricultural land. The Mass Consumerism Required by Global Capitalism is Unsustainable Global capitalism spreads consumerism as a way of life, which is fundamentally unsustainable. Because consumer goods mark progress and success under global capitalism, and because neoliberal ideology encourages us to survive and thrive as individuals rather than as communities, consumerism is our contemporary way of life. The  desire for consumer goods and the ​cosmopolitan way of life they signal is one of the key pull factors that draws hundreds of millions of rural peasants to urban centers in search of work. Already, the planet and its resources have been pushed beyond limits due to the treadmill of consumerism in Northern and Western nations. As consumerism spreads to more newly developed nations via global capitalism, the depletion of the earth’s resources, waste, environmental pollution, and the warming of the planet are increasing to catastrophic ends. Human and Environmental Abuses Characterize Global Supply Chains The globalized supply chains that bring all of this stuff to us are largely unregulated  and systemically rife with human and environmental abuses. Because global corporations act as large buyers rather than producers of goods, they do not directly hire most of the people who make their products. This arrangement frees them from any liability for the inhumane and dangerous work conditions where goods are made, and from responsibility for environmental pollution, disasters, and public health crises. While capital has been globalized, the  regulation of production  has  not. Much of what stands for regulation today is a sham, with private industries auditing and certifying themselves. Global Capitalism Fosters Precarious and Low-Wage Work The flexible nature of labor under  global capitalism  has put the vast majority of working people in very precarious positions. Part-time work, contract work, and insecure work are the norm, none of which bestow benefits or long-term job security upon people. This problem crosses all industries, from manufacturing of garments and consumer electronics, and even for  professors at U.S. colleges and universities, most of whom are hired on a short-term basis for low pay. Further, the globalization of the labor supply has created a race to the bottom in wages, as corporations search for the cheapest labor from country to country and workers are forced to accept unjustly low wages, or risk having no work at all. These conditions lead to poverty, food insecurity, unstable housing and homelessness, and troubling mental and physical health outcomes. Global Capitalism Fosters Extreme Wealth Inequality The hyper-accumulation of wealth experienced by corporations and a selection of elite individuals has caused a sharp rise in wealth inequality within nations and on the global scale. Poverty amidst plenty is now the norm. According to a  report released by Oxfam  in January 2014, half of the world’s wealth is owned by  just one percent  of the world’s population. At 110 trillion dollars, this wealth is 65 times as much as that owned by the bottom half of the world’s population. The fact that 7 out of 10 people now live in countries where economic inequality has increased over the last 30 years is proof that the system of global capitalism works for the few at the expense of the many. Even in the U.S., where politicians would have us believe that we have â€Å"recovered† from the economic recession, the wealthiest one percent captured 95 percent of economic growth during the recovery, while  90 percent of us are now poorer. Global Capitalism Fosters Social Conflict Global capitalism  fosters social conflict, which will only persist and grow as the system expands. Because capitalism enriches the few at the expense of the many, it generates conflict over access to resources like food, water, land, jobs and others resources. It also generates political conflict over the conditions and relations of production that define the system, like worker strikes and protests, popular protests and upheavals, and protests against environmental destruction. Conflict generated by global capitalism can be sporadic, short-term, or prolonged, but regardless of duration, it is often dangerous and costly to human life. A recent and ongoing example of this surrounds the  mining of coltan in Africa for smartphones and tablets  and many other minerals used in consumer electronics. Global Capitalism Does the Most Harm to the Most Vulnerable Global capitalism hurts people of color, ethnic minorities, women, and children the most. The history of  racism  and gender discrimination within Western nations, coupled with the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, effectively  bars women  and  people of color from accessing  the wealth generated by global capitalism. Around the world, ethnic, racial, and gender hierarchies influence or prohibit access to stable employment. Where capitalist based development occurs in former colonies, it often targets those regions because the labor of those who live there is â€Å"cheap† by virtue of a long history of racism, subordination of women, and political domination. These forces have led to what scholars term the â€Å"feminization of poverty,† which has disastrous outcomes for the world’s children, half of whom live in poverty.