The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 5

Elena got into the backseat of the Jaguar and put on a plush aquamarine T-shirt and jeans underneath her nightgown, just in case a police officer – or even someone trying to help the owners of a car apparently stalled by a deserted highway – stopped by. And then she lay down in the Jag's backseat. But although she was now warm and comfortable, sleep wouldn't come. What do I want? Really want right now? she asked herself. And the answer came to her immediately. I want to see Stefan. I want to feel his arms around me. I want to just look at his face – at his green eyes with that special look that he only ever shows to me. I want him to forgive me and tell me that he knows I'll always love him. And I want†¦Elena felt herself flush as a warmth went through her body, I want Stefan to kiss me. I want Stefan's kisses†¦warm and sweet and comforting†¦. Elena was thinking this as for the second or third time she shut her eyes and shifted position, tears once again welling up. If only she could cry, really cry, for Stefan. But something stopped her. She found it hard to squeeze out a tear. God, she was exhausted†¦. Elena tried. She kept her eyes shut and turned back and forth, trying not to think about Stefan for just a few minutes. She had to sleep. Desperate, she gave a mighty heave to try to find a better position – when everything suddenly changed. Elena was comfortable. Too comfortable. She couldn't feel the seat at all. She bolted upright and froze, sitting on air. She was almost hitting her head against the Jag's top. I've lost gravity again! she thought, horrified. But, no – this was different than what had happened when she had first returned from the afterlife, and had floated around like a balloon. She couldn't explain why, but she was sure. She was afraid to move in any direction. She wasn't sure of the cause of her distress – but she didn't dare move. And then she saw it. She saw herself, with her head back and her eyes closed in the backseat of the car. She could make out every tiny detail, from the wrinkles in her plush aquamarine shirt to the braid she'd made from her pale golden hair, which, for the lack of a hair tie, was coming unbraided already. She looked as if she were serenely sleeping. So this was how it all ended. This is what they'll say, that Elena Gilbert, one summer day, died peacefully in her sleep. No cause of death was ever found†¦. Because they could never see heartbreak as a cause of death, Elena thought, and in a gesture even more melodramatic than her usual melodramatic gestures, she tried to fling herself down on her own body with one arm covering her face. It didn't work. As soon as she reached out to begin to fling herself, she found herself outside the Jaguar. She'd gone right through the ceiling without feeling anything. I suppose that's what happens when you're a ghost, she thought. But this is nothing like the last time. Then I saw the tunnel, I went into the Light. Maybe I'm not a ghost. Suddenly Elena felt a rush of exhilaration. I know what this is, she thought triumphantly. This is an out of body experience! She looked down at her sleeping self again, searching carefully. Yes! Yes! There was a cord attaching her sleeping body – her real body – to her spiritual self. She was tethered! Wherever she went, she could find her way home. There were only two possible destinations. One was back to Fell's Church. She knew the general direction from the sun, and she was sure that someone having an O.O.B. (as Bonnie, who had once gone through a spiritualist fad and had read lots of books about the subject, familiarly called them) would be able to recognize the crossing of all those ley lines. The other destination, of course, was to Stefan. Damon might think she didn't know where to go, and it was true that she could only vaguely sense from the rising sun that Stefan was in the other direction – to the west of her. But she'd always heard that the souls of true lovers were connected somehow†¦by a silver string from heart to heart or a red cord from pinky to pinky. To her delight, she found it almost immediately. A thin cord the color of moonlight, that seemed to be stretched taut between the sleeping Elena's heart, and†¦yes. When she touched the cord, it resonated so clearly to her of Stefan that she knew it would take her to him. There was never a doubt in her mind as to which direction she would take. She'd been in Fell's Church. Bonnie was a psychic of some impressive powers, and so was Stefan's old landlady, Mrs. Theophilia Flowers. They were there, along with Meredith and her brilliant intellect, to protect the town. And they would all understand, she told herself somewhat desperately. She might not ever have this chance again. Without another moment's hesitation, Elena turned toward Stefan and let herself go. Immediately she found herself rushing through the air, far too quickly to take note of her surroundings. Everything she passed was a blur, differing only in color and texture as Elena realized with a catch in her throat that she was going through objects. And so, in just a few instants, she found herself looking at a heart-wrenching scene: Stefan on a worn and broken pallet, looking gray-faced and thin. Stefan in a hideous, rush-strewn, lice-infested cell with its damned bars of iron from which no vampire could escape. Elena turned away for a moment so that when she woke him he wouldn't see her anguish and her tears. She was just composing herself, when Stefan's voice jolted through her. He was awake already. â€Å"You try and try, don't you?† he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. â€Å"I guess you should get points for that. But you always get something wrong. Last time it was the little pointed ears. This time it's the clothes. Elena wouldn't wear a wrinkled shirt like that and have dirty, bare feet if her life depended on it. Go away.† Shrugging his shoulders under the threadbare blanket, he turned from her. Elena stared. She was in too many kinds of distress to choose her words: they burst from her like a geyser. â€Å"Oh, Stefan! I was just trying to fall asleep in my clothes in case a police officer stopped by while I was in the backseat of the Jag. The Jag you bought me. But I didn't think you'd care! My clothes are wrinkled because I'm living out of my duffel bag and my feet got dirty when Damon – well – well – never mind that. I have a real nightgown, but I didn't have it on when I came out of my body and I guess when you come out you still look like yourself in your body†¦.† Then she threw up her hands in alarm as Stefan swung around. But – marvel of marvels – there was now a tinge of blood in his cheeks. Moreover, he was no longer looking disdainful. He was looking deadly, his green eyes flashing with menace. â€Å"Your feet got dirty – when Damon did what?† he demanded, enunciating carefully. â€Å"It doesn't matter – â€Å" â€Å"It damn well does matter – † Stefan stopped short. â€Å"Elena?† he whispered, staring at her as if she had only just appeared. â€Å"Stefan!† She couldn't help holding out her arms to him. She couldn't control anything. â€Å"Stefan, I don't know how, but I'm here. It's me! I'm not a dream or a ghost. I was thinking about you and falling asleep – and here I am!† She tried to touch him with ghostlike hands. â€Å"Do you believe me?† â€Å"I believe you†¦because I was thinking about you. Somehow – somehow that brought you here. Because of love. Because we love each other!† And he spoke the words as if they were a revelation. Elena shut her eyes. If only she could be here in her body, she would show Stefan how much she loved him. As it was, they had to use clumsy words – clichs that just happened to be uniquely true. â€Å"I will always love you, Elena,† Stefan said, whispering again. â€Å"But I don't want you near Damon. He'll find a way to hurt you – â€Å" â€Å"I can't help it,† Elena interrupted him. â€Å"You have to help it!† † – because he's my only hope, Stefan! He's not going to hurt me. He's already killed to protect me. Oh, God, so much has happened! We're on our way to – † Elena hesitated, her eyes flicking around warily. Stefan's eyes widened for an instant. But when he spoke his face was deadpan. â€Å"Someplace where you'll be safe.† â€Å"Yes,† she said, just as seriously, knowing that phantom tears were now racing down her bodiless cheeks. â€Å"And†¦oh, Stefan, there's so much you don't know. Caroline accused Matt of attacking her while they were on a date because she's pregnant. But it wasn't Matt!† â€Å"Of course not!† Stefan said indignantly, and would have said more, but Elena was racing on. â€Å"And I think that the – the litter is really Tyler Smallwood's because of the timing, and because Caroline's changing. Damon said that – â€Å" â€Å"A werewolf baby will always turn its mother into a werewolf – â€Å" â€Å"Yes! But the werewolf part is going to have to fight the malach that's already inside her. Bonnie and Meredith told me things about Caroline – like how she was scuttling on the floor like a lizard – that just terrified me. But I had to leave them to deal with that so that I could – could get to that safe place.† â€Å"Werewolves and were-foxes,† Stefan said, shaking his head. â€Å"Of course, the kitsune, the foxes, are much more powerful magically, but werewolves tend to kill before they think.† He struck his knee with his fist. â€Å"I wish I could be there!† Elena burst out with mixed wonder and despair, â€Å"And instead here I am – with you! I never knew I could do this. But I haven't been able to bring you anything this way, not even myself. My blood.† She made a helpless gesture and saw the smugness in Stefan's eyes. He still had the Clarion Loess Black Magic wine she'd smuggled to him! She knew it! It was the only liquid that would – in a pinch – help keep a vampire alive when no blood was available. Black Magic â€Å"wine† – nonalcoholic and never made for humans in the first place, was the only drink that vampires really enjoyed aside from blood. Damon had told Elena that it was magically made from special grapes that were grown in the soil at the edges of glaciers, loess, and that they were always kept in complete darkness. That was what gave it its velvety dark taste, he'd said. â€Å"It doesn't matter,† Stefan said, undoubtedly for the benefit of anyone who might be spying. â€Å"Exactly how did it happen?† he asked then. â€Å"This out of body thing? Why don't you come down here and tell me about it?† He lay back on his pallet, turning aching eyes on her. â€Å"I'm sorry that I don't have a better bed to offer you.† For a moment the humiliation showed clearly in his face. All this time he'd managed to hide it from her: the shame he felt in appearing before her in this way – in a filthy cell, with rags for clothes, and infested with God knew what. He – Stefan Salvatore, who had once been – had once been – Elena's heart truly broke then. She knew it was breaking, because she could feel it inside shattering like glass, with each needle-like shard skewering flesh inside her chest. She knew it was breaking, too, because she was weeping, huge spirit tears that dropped on Stefan's face like blood, translucent in the air as they fell, but turning deep red when they touched Stefan's face. Blood? Of course, it wasn't blood, she thought. She couldn't even bring anything so useful to him in this form. She was really sobbing now; her shoulders shaking as the tears continued to fall onto Stefan, who now had one hand held up as if to catch one†¦ â€Å"Elena – † There was wonder in his voice. â€Å"Wha – what?† she keened. â€Å"Your tears. Your tears make me feel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He was staring up at her with something like awe. Elena still couldn't stop weeping, although she knew that she had soothed his proud heart – and done something else. â€Å"I d-don't understand.† He caught one of her tears and kissed it. Then he looked at her with a sheen in his own eyes. â€Å"It's hard to talk about, lovely little love†¦.† Then why use words? she thought, still weeping, but coming down to his level so she could snuffle just above his throat. It's just†¦they're not too free with the refreshments around here, he told her. As you guessed. If you hadn't – helped me – I'd've been dead by now. They can't figure out why I'm not. So they – well they run out before they get to me, sometimes, you see – Elena lifted her head, and this time tears of pure rage fell right onto his face. Where are they? I'll kill them. Don't tell me I can't because I'll find a way. I'll find a way to kill them even though I'm in this state – He shook his head at her. Angel, angel, don't you see? You don't have to kill them. Because your tears, the phantom tears of a pure maiden – She shook her head back at him. Stefan, if anyone knows I'm not a pure maiden, it's you – – of a pure maiden, Stefan continued, not even disturbed by her interruption, can cure all ills. And I was ill tonight, Elena, even though I tried to hide it. But I'm cured now! As good as new! They'll never be able to understand how it could happen. Are you sure? Look at me! Elena looked at him. Stefan's face, which had been gray and drawn before, was different now. He was usually pale, but now his fine features looked flushed – as if he had been standing in front of a bonfire and the light was still reflecting off the pure lines and elegant planes of his beloved face. I†¦did that? She remembered the first tear droplets falling, and how they had looked like blood on his face. Not like blood, she realized, but like natural color, sinking into him, refreshing him. She couldn't help but hide her face again in his throat as she thought, I'm glad. Oh, I'm so glad. But I wish we could touch each other. I want to feel your arms around me. â€Å"At least I can look at you,† Stefan whispered, and Elena knew that even this is like water in the wasteland to him. â€Å"And if we could touch, I'd put my arm around your waist here, and kiss you here and here†¦.† They spoke to each other this way for a while – just exchanging lovers' nonsense, each sustained by the sight and sound of the other. And then, softly but firmly, Stefan asked her to tell him all about Damon – everything since they'd started. By now Elena was cool-headed enough to tell him about the incident with Matt without making Damon sound too much like a villain. â€Å"And Stefan, Damon really is protecting us as best he can.† She told him about the two possessed vampires who had been tracking them and what Damon had done. Stefan merely shrugged and said wryly, â€Å"Most people write with pencils; Damon writes people off with them.† He added, â€Å"And your clothes got dirty?† â€Å"Because I heard a great big crash – which ended up being Matt on top of the car,† she said. â€Å"But, to be fair, he was trying to stake Damon at the time. I made him get rid of the stake.† She added, in the barest of whispers: â€Å"Stefan, please don't mind that Damon and I have to – to be together a lot right now. It doesn't change anything between us.† â€Å"I know.† And the amazing thing was that he did know. Elena was bathed in the deep glow of his trust for her. After that they â€Å"held† each other, Elena snuggling weightlessly above the curve of Stefan's arm†¦and it was bliss. And then abruptly the world – the entire universe – shuddered at the sound of a gigantic slamming sound. It jerked at Elena. It didn't belong in here with love and trust and the sweetness of sharing every part of her self with Stefan. It began again – a monstrous booming that terrified Elena. She clutched uselessly at Stefan, who was looking at her with concern. He didn't hear the clanging that was defeaning her, she realized. And then something even worse happened. She was torn out of Stefan's arms bodily, and she was rushing backward, back through objects, back faster and faster until with a jar she landed in her body. For all her reluctance she landed perfectly on the solid body that until now had been the only one she'd known. She landed on it and melded into it and then she was sitting up and the sounds were the sounds of Matt rapping at the window. â€Å"It's been over two hours since you went to sleep,† he said as she opened the door. â€Å"But I figured you needed it. Are you all right?† â€Å"Oh, Matt,† Elena said. For a moment it seemed impossible that she was going to be able to keep from crying. But then she remembered Stefan's smile. Elena blinked, forcing herself to deal with her new situation. She hadn't seen Stefan for nearly long enough. But her memories of their short, sweet time together were wrapped in jonquils and lavender and nothing could ever take them away from her. Damon was irritated. As he flew higher on his wide, black crow's wings, the landscape beneath him unfolded like a magnificent carpet, the breaking day making the grasslands and rolling hills glow like emerald. Damon ignored it. He'd seen it too many times. What he was looking for was una donna splendida. But his mind kept drifting. Mutt and his stake†¦Damon still didn't see why Elena wanted to take a fugitive from justice along with them. Elena†¦Damon tried to conjure up the same irritated feelings for her as he had for Mutt, but just couldn't manage it. He circled down toward the town below, keeping to the residential district, searching for auras. He wanted a strong aura as much as a beautiful one. And he'd been in America long enough to know that this early in the morning you could find three sorts of people up and outdoors. Students were the first, but this was summer, so there were fewer to pick from. Despite Mutt's assumptions, Damon seldom sank to high school girls. Joggers were the second. And the third, thinking beautiful thoughts, just like†¦that one down there†¦were home gardeners. The young woman with the pruning shears looked up as Damon turned the corner and approached her house, deliberately hurrying and then slowing his stride. His very footsteps made it clear that he was delighted to take in the floral extravaganza in front of the charming Victorian house. For a moment the girl looked startled, almost afraid. That was normal. Damon was wearing black boots, black jeans, a black T-shirt, and black leather jacket, in addition to his Ray-Bans. But then he smiled and at the same moment began the first delicate infiltration of la bella donna's mind. One thing was clear even before that. She liked roses. â€Å"A full flush of Dreamweavers,† he said, shaking his head in admiration as he looked at the bushes covered with brilliant pink bloom. â€Å"And those White Icebergs climbing the trellis†¦. Ah, but your Moonstones!† He lightly touched an open rose, its petals moonlight-colored but shading to palest pink at the edges. The young woman – Krysta – couldn't help smiling. Damon felt the information flow effortlessly from her mind to his. She was just twenty-two, not married, still living at home. She had precisely the kind of aura he was looking for, and only a sleeping father in the house. â€Å"You don't look like the type to know so much about roses,† Krysta said frankly, and then gave a self-conscious laugh. â€Å"I'm sorry. I've met all sorts at the Creekville Rose Shows.† â€Å"My mother is an avid gardener,† Damon lied fluently and without a trace of misgiving. â€Å"I guess I got my passion from her. Now I don't stay in one place long enough to grow them, but I can still dream. Would you like to know what my ultimate dream is?† By this time Krysta felt as if she were floating on a delicious rose-scented cloud. Damon felt every delicate nuance with her, enjoyed seeing her flush, enjoyed the slight tremor that shook her body. â€Å"Yes,† Krysta said simply. â€Å"I'd love to know your dream.† Damon leaned forward, lowered his voice. â€Å"I want to breed a true black rose.† Krysta looked startled and something flashed through her mind too quickly for Damon to catch. But then she said in an equally hushed voice, â€Å"Then there's something I'd like to show you. If – if you have time to come with me.† The backyard was even more splendid than the front and there was a hammock gently swinging, Damon noted with approval. After all, he would soon need a place to put Krysta†¦while she slept it off. But at the rear of the bower was something that caused his pace to quicken involuntarily. â€Å"Black Magic roses!† he exclaimed, eyeing the wine-dark, almost burgundy-colored blooms. â€Å"Yes,† Krysta said softly. â€Å"Black Magics. The closest anyone has ever gotten to a black rose. I get three flushes a year,† she whispered tremulously, no longer questioning who this young man might be, overwhelmed by her feelings which almost took Damon with her. â€Å"They're magnificent,† he said. â€Å"The deepest red I've ever seen. The closest to black ever bred.† Krysta was still trembling with joy. â€Å"You're welcome to one, if you like. I'm taking them to the Creekville show next week but I can give you one in full bloom now. Maybe you'll be able to smell it.† â€Å"I'd†¦like that,† Damon said. â€Å"You can give it to your girlfriend.† â€Å"No girlfriend,† Damon said, glad to get back to lying. Krysta's hands shook slightly as she cut one of the longest, straightest stems for him. Damon reached out to take it and their fingers touched. Damon smiled at her. When Krysta's knees went boneless with pleasure, Damon caught her easily and went on with what he was doing. Meredith was right behind Bonnie as she stepped into Caroline's room. â€Å"I said, shut the damn door!† Caroline said – no, snarled. It was only natural to look to see where the voice was coming from. Just before Meredith cut off the only sliver of light by shutting the door Bonnie saw Caroline's corner desk. The chair that used to sit in front of it was gone. Caroline was underneath. It might have been a good hiding space for a ten-year-old, but as an eighteen-year-old Caroline had curled into an impossible position in order to fit there. She was sitting on a pile of what looked like shreds of clothing. Her best clothes, Bonnie thought suddenly, as a twinkle of gold lam flashed and was gone when the door shut. Then it was just the three of them together in the darkness. No illumination came from above or below the door to the hall. It's because the hall is in another world, Bonnie thought wildly. â€Å"What's wrong with a little light, Caroline?† Meredith asked quietly. Her voice was steady, comforting. â€Å"You asked us to come and see you – but we can't see you.† â€Å"I said come and talk to me,† Caroline corrected instantly, exactly as she always had in the old days. That should have been comforting, too. Except – except that now that Bonnie could hear her voice sort of reverberating under the desk, she could tell it had a new quality. Not so much husky as – You really don't want to be thinking this. Not in the midnight darkness of this room, Bonnie's mind told her. Not so much husky as snarly, Bonnie thought helplessly. You could almost say Caroline growled her answers. Little sounds told Bonnie that the girl under the desk was moving. Bonnie's own breathing quickened. â€Å"But we want to see you,† Meredith said quietly. â€Å"And you know that Bonnie's scared of the dark. Can I just turn on your bedside lamp?† Bonnie could feel herself trembling. That wasn't good. It wasn't smart to show Caroline you were afraid of her. But the pitch-blackness was making her tremble. She could feel that this room was wrong in its angles – or maybe it was only her imagination. She could also hear things that made her jump – like that loud double clicking noise directly behind her. What had made that? â€Å"All rrright then! Turrn on the one by the bed.† Caroline was definitely snarling. And she was moving toward them; Bonnie could hear rustling and breathing getting closer. Don't let her get to me in the dark! It was a panicked, irrational thought, but Bonnie couldn't help thinking it any more than she could help stumbling blindly sideways into†¦ Something tall – and warm. Not Meredith. Never since Bonnie had known her had Meredith smelled like rancid sweat and rotten eggs. But the warm something took hold of both Bonnie's upraised hands, and there were strange little clicking noises as they clenched. The hands weren't just warm; they were hot and dry. And the ends poked oddly into Bonnie's skin. Then, as a light by the bedside went on, they were gone. The lamp Meredith had found put out a very, very dim ruby light – and it was easy to see why. A ruby negligee and peignoir had been tied around the shade. â€Å"This is a fire hazard,† Meredith said, but even her level voice sounded shaken. Caroline stood before them in the red light. She seemed taller than ever to Bonnie, tall and sinewy, except for the slight bulge of her belly. She was dressed normally, in jeans and a tight T-shirt. She was holding her hands playfully hidden behind her back, and smiling her old insolent, sly smile. I want to go home, Bonnie thought. Meredith said, â€Å"Well?† Caroline just kept smiling. â€Å"Well, what?† Meredith lost her temper. â€Å"What do you want?† Caroline just looked arch. â€Å"Have you visited your friend Isobel today? Had a little talk with her?† Bonnie had a powerful urge to slap that smug smile off Caroline's face. She didn't. It was just a trick of the lamplight – she knew it had to be – but it looked almost as if there was a red dot shining in the center of each of Caroline's eyes. â€Å"We visited Isobel at the hospital, yes,† Meredith said expressionlessly. Then, with unmistakable anger in her voice, she added, â€Å"And you know very well that she can't talk yet. But† – with a triumphant little pounce – â€Å"the doctors say she will be able to. Her tongue will heal, Caroline. She may have scars from all the places she pierced herself, but she's going to be able to talk again just fine.† Caroline's smile had faded, leaving her face looking haggard and full of dull fury. At what? Bonnie wondered. â€Å"It would do you some good to get out of this house,† Meredith told the copper-haired girl. â€Å"You can't live in the dark – â€Å" â€Å"I won't forever,† Caroline said sharply. â€Å"Just until the twins are born.† She stood, hands still behind her, and arched her back so that her stomach protruded more than ever. â€Å"The – twins?† Bonnie was startled into speaking. â€Å"Matt Junior and Mattie. That's what I'm going to call them.† Caroline's gloating smile and impudent eyes were almost too much for Bonnie to stand. â€Å"You can't do that!† she heard herself shouting. â€Å"Or maybe I'll call the girl Honey. Matthew and Honey, for their daddy, Matthew Honeycutt.† â€Å"You can't do it,† Bonnie shouted, more shrilly. â€Å"Especially with Matt not even here to defend himself – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, he did run away very suddenly, didn't he? The police are wondering why he had to run. Of course† – Caroline lowered her voice to a meaningful whisper – â€Å"he wasn't alone. Elena was with him. I wonder what the two of them do in their spare time?† She giggled, a high, fatuous giggle. â€Å"Elena isn't the only person with Matt,† Meredith said, and now her voice was low and dangerous. â€Å"Someone else is, too. Do you remember an agreement you signed? About not telling anyone about Elena or bringing publicity around her?† Caroline blinked slowly, like a lizard. â€Å"A long time ago. In a different lifetime, for me.† â€Å"Caroline, you're not going to have a lifetime if you break that oath! Damon would kill you. Or – have you already – ?† Meredith stopped. Caroline was still giggling in that childish way, as if she were a little girl and someone had just told her a naughty joke. Bonnie felt cold sweat break out all over her body at once. Fine hairs lifted on her arms. â€Å"What are you hearing, Caroline?† Meredith wet her lips. Bonnie could see that she was trying to hold Caroline's eyes, but the copper-haired girl turned away. â€Å"Is it†¦Shinichi?† Meredith moved forward suddenly and grasped Caroline's arms. â€Å"You used to see and hear him when you looked in the mirror. Do you hear him all the time now, Caroline?† Bonnie wanted to help Meredith. She did. But she couldn't have moved or spoken for anything. There were – gray threads – in Caroline's hair. Gray hairs, Bonnie thought. They shone dully, much lighter than the flaming auburn Caroline was so proud of. And there were†¦other hairs that didn't shine at all. Bonnie had seen this brindled coloration on dogs; she knew vaguely that some wolves must look the same. But it was really something else to see them in your girlfriend's hair. Especially when they seemed to bristle and quiver, lifting like the hackles of a dog†¦. She's mad. Not angry mad; insane mad, Bonnie realized. Caroline looked up, not at Meredith, but straight into Bonnie's eyes. Bonnie flinched. Caroline was gazing at her as if considering whether or not Bonnie were dinner or just garbage. Meredith stepped to stand beside Bonnie. Her fists were clenched. â€Å"Don't starrre,† Caroline said abruptly, and turned away. Yes, that was definitely a snarl. â€Å"You really wanted us to see you, didn't you?† Meredith said softly. â€Å"You're – flaunting yourself in front of us. But I think that maybe this is your way of asking for help – â€Å" â€Å"Harrrrdly!† â€Å"Caroline,† Bonnie said suddenly, amazed by a wave of pity that swamped her, â€Å"please try to think. Remember back when you said you needed a husband? I – † She broke off and swallowed. Who was going to marry this monster, who a few weeks ago had looked like a normal teenage girl? â€Å"I understood you back then,† Bonnie finished lamely. â€Å"But, honestly, it won't do any good to keep on saying Matt attacked you! No one†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She couldn't bring herself to say the obvious. No one will believe something like you. â€Å"Oh, I clean up rrrreal prrretty,† Caroline growled and then giggled. â€Å"You'd be surprrrised.† In her mind's eye, Bonnie saw the old insolent flash of Caroline's emerald gaze, the sly and secretive expression on her face, and the shimmering of her auburn hair. â€Å"Why pick on Matt?† Meredith demanded. â€Å"How did you know he was attacked by a malach that night? Did Shinichi send it after him just for you?† â€Å"Or did Misao?† Bonnie said, remembering that it was the female of the twin kitsune, the fox spirits, who had spoken the most to Caroline. â€Å"I went out on a date with Matt that night.† Suddenly Caroline's voice was a singsong, as if she were reciting poetry – badly. â€Å"I didn't mind kissing him – he's so cute. I guess that's when he got the hickey on his neck. I guess I might have bitten his lip a little.† Bonnie opened her mouth, felt Meredith's restraining hand on her shoulder, and shut it again. â€Å"But then he just went crazy,† Caroline lilted on. â€Å"He attacked me! I scratched him with my fingernails, all up and down one arm. But Matt was too strong. Much too strong. And now – â€Å" And now you're going to have puppies, Bonnie wanted to say, but Meredith squeezed her shoulder and she stopped herself again. Besides, Bonnie thought with a sudden twinge of alarm, the babies might look human, and there might only be twins, as Caroline herself had said. Then what would they do? Bonnie knew the way adult minds worked. Even if Caroline couldn't dye her hair back to auburn, they would say, look what stress she's been under: she's actually going prematurely gray! And even if the adults saw Caroline's bizarre appearance and strange behavior, as Bonnie and Meredith just had, they would dismiss it as being due to shock. Oh, poor Caroline, her whole personality has changed since that day. She's so frightened of Matt that she hides under her desk. She won't wash herself – maybe that's a common symptom after what she's been through. Besides who knew how long it would take these werewolf babies to be born? Maybe the malach inside Caroline could control that, make it seem to be like a normal pregnancy. And then suddenly Bonnie was snatched away from her own thoughts to tune into Caroline's words. Caroline was through growling for the moment. She sounded almost like the old Caroline, offended and nasty, as she said, â€Å"I just don't understand why you should take his word over mine.† â€Å"Because,† Meredith said flatly, â€Å"we know both of you. We would have known if Matt had been dating you – and he wasn't. And he's hardly the kind of guy to just show up at your front door, especially when you consider how he felt about you.† â€Å"But you've already said that this monster that attacked him – â€Å" â€Å"Malach, Caroline. Learn the word. You've got one inside you!† Caroline smirked and waved a hand, dismissing this. â€Å"You said these things can possess you and make you do things out of character, right?† There was a silence. Bonnie thought, if we have said it, we've never said it in front of you. â€Å"Well, what if I admitted that Matt and I weren't dating? What if I said that I found him driving around our neighborhood at about five miles an hour, just looking lost. His sleeve was torn to pieces and his arm was all chewed up. So I took him inside my house and tried to bandage his arm – but suddenly he went crazy. And I did try to scratch him, but the bandages were in the way. I scratched them off him. I even still have them, all covered in blood. If I told you that, what would you say?† I'd say that you were using us as a dry run before telling Sheriff Mossberg, Bonnie thought, chilled. And I'd say that you were right, you probably can clean up pretty normal looking when you make an effort. If you'd just stop that childish giggling and get rid of the crafty look, you'd be even more convincing. But Meredith was speaking. â€Å"Caroline – they've got DNA tests for blood.† â€Å"Of course I know that!† Caroline looked so indignant that for a moment she forgot to look sly. Meredith was staring at her. â€Å"That means they can tell if the bandages you've got have Matt's blood on them or not,† she said. â€Å"And if it flows in the right pattern to match your story.† â€Å"There isn't any pattern. The bandages are just soaked.† Abruptly, Caroline strode over to a dresser and opened it, plucking out a length of what might have originally been athletic bandage. Now it shone reddish in the faint light. Looking at the stiff fabric in the ruby light, Bonnie knew two things. It wasn't any part of the poultice that Mrs. Flowers had put on Matt's arm the morning after he'd been attacked. And it was soaked with genuine blood, right to the stiff tips of the cloth. The world seemed to be spinning around. Because even though Bonnie believed in Matt, this new story scared her. This new story might even work – provided that no one could find Matt and test his blood. Even Matt admitted that there was time unaccounted for that night†¦time he couldn't remember. But that didn't mean Caroline was telling the truth! Why would she start out with a lie, and only change it when the facts got in the way? Caroline's eyes were the color of a cat's. Cats play with mice, just for amusement. Just to see them run. Matt had run†¦. Bonnie shook her head. All at once she couldn't stand this house any longer. It had somehow settled into her mind, making her accept all the impossible angles of the distorted walls. She had even grown accustomed to the awful smell and the red light. But now, with Caroline holding out a blood-soaked bandage and telling her that it was Matt who had bled all over it†¦ â€Å"I'm going home,† Bonnie announced suddenly. â€Å"And Matt didn't do it, and – and I'm never coming back!† Accompanied by the sound of Caroline's giggling, she whirled, trying not to look at the nest Caroline had made under her corner desk. There were empty bottles and half-empty plates of food piled in there with the clothes. Anything could be under them – even a malach. But as Bonnie moved, the room seemed to move with her, accelerating her spin, until she had gone twice around before she could put out a foot to stop herself. â€Å"Wait, Bonnie – wait, Caroline,† Meredith said, sounding almost frantic. Caroline was folding her body like a contortionist, getting back under the desk. â€Å"Caroline, what about Tyler Smallwood? Don't you care that he's the real father of your – your kids? How long were you dating him before he joined up with Klaus? Where is he now?† â€Å"Forrr all I know he's dead. You and yourrr friends killed him.† The snarl was back, but it wasn't vicious. It was more of a triumphant purr. â€Å"But I don't miss him, so I hope he stays dead,† Caroline added, with a muffled giggle. â€Å"He wouldn't marrrry me.† Bonnie had to get away. She fumbled for the doorknob, found it, and was blinded. She had spent so long in ruby dimness that the hall light was like the midday sun on the desert. â€Å"Turrn off the lamp!† Caroline snapped from under the desk. But as Meredith moved to do it Bonnie heard a surprisingly loud explosion and saw the red-swathed shade go dark by itself. And one thing more. The hallway light swept across Caroline's room like a beacon as the door swung shut. Caroline was already tearing at something with her teeth. Something with the texture of meat, but not cooked meat. Bonnie jerked back to run and almost knocked over Mrs. Forbes. The woman was still standing in the hall where she had been when they went into Caroline's room. She didn't even look as if she'd been listening at the door. She was just standing, staring at nothing. â€Å"I have to show you out,† she said in her soft, gray voice. She didn't lift her head to meet Bonnie's or Meredith's eyes. â€Å"You might get lost otherwise. I do.† It was a straight shot to the stairs and down and four steps to the front door. But as they walked, Meredith didn't say anything, and Bonnie couldn't. Once outside, Meredith turned to look at Bonnie. â€Å"Well? Is she more possessed by the malach or the werewolf part of her? Or could you tell anything from her aura?† Bonnie heard herself laugh, a sound that was like crying. â€Å"Meredith, her aura isn't human – and I don't know what to make of it. And her mother doesn't seem to have an aura at all. They're just – that house is just – â€Å" â€Å"Never mind, Bonnie. You don't have to go there ever again.† â€Å"It's like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Bonnie didn't know how to explain the fun-house look of the walls or the way the stairs went down instead of up. â€Å"I think,† she said finally, â€Å"that you'd better do some more research. On things like – like possession of the American kind.† â€Å"You mean like possession by demons?† Meredith shot her a sharp look. â€Å"Yes. I guess so. Only I don't know where to start listing what's wrong with her.† â€Å"I have a few ideas of my own,† Meredith said quietly. â€Å"Like – did you notice that she never showed us her hands? That was very strange, I thought.† â€Å"I know why,† Bonnie whispered, trying not to let the sobbing laughter out. â€Å"It's because – she doesn't have fingernails anymore.† â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"She put her hands around my wrists. I could feel them.† â€Å"Bonnie, you're not making any sense.† Bonnie made herself speak. â€Å"Caroline has claws now, Meredith. Real claws. Like a wolf.† â€Å"Or maybe,† Meredith said in a whisper, â€Å"like a fox.†

Capella unit

In The Workplace In many business's today important vital customer information is stored within a company's database, easily accessed by employees with the right verification. The vulnerability of sensitive information is at an alarming risk. Most company's password policies are vague only asking for a one step verification, which entails either the employee's date of birth, or the last four digits of their social security number. I have vast experience working in hotels, and the one common thing I have personally foundIs that the password authentication process can easily be manipulated. As years of working In the hotel business I have had access to customers' credit card numbers, addresses, phone numbers, as well as email addresses. I have personally seen the ease of accessing another person's password. Hypothetically In the hotel business If a customer or any other unauthorized person or persons were able to access the hotel computers, It wouldn't be too difficult to hack one of t he employees' passwords and gain access to the customer files containing all of their information.It is my personal pinion that every company big or small should have a complex password authentication system in place to protect the very customers that keep them afloat. We see it not quite daily but do see it often in the news where business's get hacked into and hundreds of thousands of people are affected. Most of the time these â€Å"hacks† would have been easily avoided had the company put in place a more complex password authentication system. In closing I hope to one day develop a hack proof password system, to protect not only consumers, but corporate database, as well as their integrity.

AA Meeting Review Essay Example for Free

AA Meeting Review Essay ? Walking into the AA meeting made me feel very awkward and out of place, but as the meeting began and everyone started sharing their stories I began to feel comfortable about being there. When I first went in the room the chairs were set up in a circle with some on the outside of it. I decided to take a seat on the outside so I wouldn’t be of focus during the meeting. They started the meeting off with reading some inspirational words and then reading the 12 steps. Their focus tonight was on a higher power and how believing in that higher power helps you stay sober. After brief introductions and stating their names, they began discussion and whoever wanted to speak had the opportunity to do so. Listening to all of their stories was really interesting. Almost all of the members have been sober for at least 30 days and more and about four people were just recently sober, with one being sober only three days now. One of the member’s stories really stood out to me. He said that he has been an alcoholic for years now, but always believed he can cure himself and control how many drinks he has. He mentioned that he went out last week with his buddies and wasn’t able to stop himself from going overboard with the drinking. He said he was in a blackout for four days and lost his job. That’s why he ended up at the treatment center; he said he realized that it isn’t possible to be a social drinker when you are an alcoholic. During his story he explained how he had the shakes and the classic withdrawal symptoms and I began to think about what I had learned in class and related it. Another member’s story was about social drinking. She said that her friend was coming home that she knew from college and wanted to get together. She thought about the friendship and realized that she wasn’t a friend and that she was just an old party buddy. She explained that she has a whole new group of sober friends that she hangs out with and that she can’t hang out with her old friends of whom she always went out and drank with. She started saying how she realized she doesn’t even like the sport of football and that she always went out to bars to watch it with friends because it was a time for social drinking. It brought to light that anything can become an excuse for people to partake in social drinking and too much social drinking can turn into alcoholism for some people. Another patient mentioned that she had her first drink at four years old and was in treatment by ten. I was really perplexed by that comment, thinking how could somebody even know what alcohol is at the age of four. She didn’t elaborate on what or how it happened, so I was just left in shock by that. There were many other stories told and I felt good after hearing all of them. It’s so nice to see everybody get close with each other and be there for one another when they’re having a bad day or week. They celebrate the landmarks of each other’s length of sobriety and that’s really heartwarming to see. They ended the meeting with the 12 promises and a prayer. Overall, after getting over the initial feeling of awkwardness, it was a successful experience and got to hear about the personal effects of alcohol on their lives. AA Meeting Review. (2016, Oct 26).

Activities in Los Angeles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Activities in Los Angeles - Essay Example In the end, the two theme parks offer enough activities for the whole family. Most people see shopping as the most exciting experience in Los Angeles, especially because of the large shopping malls with a variety of products. The Third Street Promenade is among the top shopping centers because of its eccentric shopping atmosphere. It offers vintage stores with unique cultural artifacts, shops with luxury goods, and outdoor dining options. There are several outdoor recreational activities in Los Angeles. L.A.’s 75 miles of coastline and desirable weather provide a perfect outdoor experience for people who enjoy the sun. Activities range from beach surfing in Venice, Malibu or San Pedro beach to outdoor barbeque parties. Several barbeque locations offer exquisite meals and meat delicacies. There are several other engaging activities in Los Angeles such as hiking, golfing, snowboarding, and skiing. The sights of Hollywood and big budget art museums are just a supplementary excitement to the theme parks, beaches, and social experience that Los Angeles

Rhetorical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Rhetorical - Essay Example The rhetorical element of logos was effectively used in terms of providing facts and legal information that assisted in understanding the course of events. Initially, the controversy stemmed from the allegation of Kasem’s death being apparently put on the hands of his daughter, Kerri Kasem. The wife of Casey of 34 years, Jean, reportedly was so infuriated that a Los Angeles Judge â€Å"ruled that Casey Kasem’s daughter, Kerri Kasem, could suspend the artificial delivery of food and water to Casey due to his grave suffering† (Mayoras and Mayoras 1). Jean was cited to have alleged that Casey merely wanted to hasten the death of his father in order to cash in an insurance policy. A legal document, a health care directive, was reportedly signed by Casey in 2007, entrusting his daughter to make the end of life decision, when needed. As disclosed â€Å"Casey did not want to be kept alive if it ‘would result in a mere biological existence, devoid of cognitive fun ction, with no reasonable hope for normal functioning’† (Mayoras and Mayoras 2). These facts were instrumental in providing logical appeal and assisted the readers in understanding the veracity of the arguments. Concurrently, the authors also used pathos, or emotional appeal, as a means to sustain readers’ interest on the subject. The authors used adjectives that touch on the emotions of the readers. For instance, they indicated that â€Å"this is a sad story, with what certainly appears to be a tragic ending. No one knows how long Casey could have lived, or how much enjoyment he could have had during the rest of his life, if he had remained in the nursing home† (Mayoras and Mayoras 2). Likewise, the issue on finding out who really was to blame on the reportedly fast deteriorating condition of Casey was pinpointed to his wife, to wit: â€Å"while Jean obviously blames Kerri for this, it was Jean’s recent actions that

Apple Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple - Assignment Example In addition, the discussion of the assignment also tends to focus on current business performance of Apple pertaining to its financial, operational, managing and strategic background of the company. With regard to the major competitive scenario, business organisations have been often identified to involve significant strategic characteristics in comparison to their competitors. In relation to the current emerging trend in the consumer electronics and computer Hardware and software manufacturing business industry, organisations are often considered attaining significant growth by delivering wide range of streamlined products and services to the target customers. The exceptional strategic measures along with striving pace in research and development have substantially enabled the industry to contribute a large portion in the global economy. The striving business practices and performance of the market leaders have been critically identified to obtain a large financial growth over the last two decades in the global consumer electronics and computer manufacturing industry. In relation to the current industry trend, the industry has witnessed to simultaneously perform in line with the unabated economic transition. According to the current statistical reports, global consumer electronics manufacturing industry has been recorded to US$ 226bn over the past five years with an annual growth of 0.7% in 2014 (IBISWorld, â€Å"Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing: Market Research Report†). In addition, the strategic measures and practices including wider brand differentiation along with unique mode of business operations have substantially enabled the electronic manufacturing market leaders to achieve continuous success than other business sectors. In relation to the current trend in this respective industry, aggressive expansion of business units across

Monetary and Fiscal Policies on Recession Research Paper

Monetary and Fiscal Policies on Recession - Research Paper Example As a result, the rate of unemployment goes up reducing the purchasing power of consumers. Consecutively, money supply in the economy becomes significantly low (Navarro, 2009). Fiscal policy is used by governments to stabilize aggregate demand and aggregate supply in the economy by influencing the government spending, borrowing and taxation. The government uses fiscal policy to change the patterns of people’s spending. According to Keynesian school, fiscal policy helps restore employment rates, demand and output where the economy is operating below capacity. Keynesian recommends two types of fiscal policies; expansionary fiscal policy and contractionary fiscal policy. Expansionary fiscal policy is used where the government requires deficit spending in case of recession while contractionary fiscal policy is used when there is an excess expansion which requires a surplus in the budget (Renee, 2009). Monetary policy is another tool used to manage the aggregate demand and supply by controlling the supply of money in the economy. The government uses the central bank to control growth, liquidity, inflation and consumption due to changes in the amount of money in the economy. The Federal Reserve System responds to excessive money supply by raising the interest rate and lowers the interest rates when there is low money supply in the market (Borio & Disyatat, 2010). The Great Recession of 2008 presented severe economic conditions in the US and also in other countries. Furthermore, the recession was associated with elongated economic slumps and slow economic recoveries. After recession, most of the world economies went into depression and this caused a large gap in the recovery of the currency, as the developing countries have weaker currencies compared to the developed countries.

Raising Individual Financial Awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Raising Individual Financial Awareness - Essay Example One type of personal pension is a defined contribution pension, also known as money purchase scheme, which is bought by contributions made by the employer and the employee. Defined benefit pension, also known as final salary schemes, is another type of pension scheme wherein the benefits are paid based on the scheme rules such as time and changing salary levels and mortality rates, etc. The best way to differentiate between the above mentioned 2 schemes is by identifying the riskholder. Employer is the risk holder as he underwrites the vast majority of costs attached with defined benefit schemes. Employee or the scheme member is the risk holder as contributions are paid back at fixed levels, therefore if the contribution rates are not increased when the returns are poor, the retirement benefits will also be lower than they had planned for (TSSA). Bill Murray, in case of , defined contribution scheme, can increase his contribution if he feels it is necessary to increase his pension. T herefore in case he wants to have ?18,000 as his annual retirement he needs to increase his pension pot to ?284,000, assuming ?100,000 pension pot fetches on average ?6341 to a healthy 65 year old male (Annuity). In case of, defined benefit pension he will know roughly how much he will get, as the amount will depend on the length of time he has worked and his final salary. Therefore, if the scheme is based on 60ths i.e. Bill will get 1/60th of his final salary for his pension each year, and assuming he has been working for 42 years, his final salary should be ?25,714. This should be easily achievable because the average salary in 2010 for marketing was ?37500 (ITJobsWatch). Bill Murray should choose the defined benefit scheme because it gives him certain amount irrespective of the state of the economy. The scheme will also pay him more if his salary is anywhere close to the average salary if not more. Government has proposed to s include an option for a flat rate State Pension of ar ound ?140 a week for a single person and change in the limit of state pension age (DirectGov, State pension Reforms). The reason behind is the need to meet the needs of future pensioners, who are saving lesser, and with people living longer, the burden of pension also increases on the Government. Part B Houses bought to be rented out should have a buy to let mortgage, which is often interest only. The full amount that was borrowed is repaid at the end of the mortgage. Buy to let mortgages often require the rental for the property to be a set percentage above the mortgage repayment (Mortgages). HSBC’s tracker rate mortgage is suitable for Annie. It has a repayment rate of 3.99% plus base rate and costs ?1499 to set up (HSBC). Table 1 below estimates if buying a flat and renting out is a worthwhile investment. The below estimates are based on an assumption the flat is occupied by tenants for all 12 months. Table 1: Estimates of renting the flat (all figures in ?) Rental Income (?1500*12) 18000 Commission (15% of ?18000) (2700) Insurance (assumed) (1000) Interest (based on HSBC rate) (5850) Maintenance (assumed) (1500) Other costs (assumed) (500) Profit/(Loss) 10550 As per the estimates above, Annie would make about ?10,550 annually. Interest payments are low merely because the deposit of ?70,000 which Annie has provided. When Annie intends to sell

Negative impacts of tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Negative impacts of tourism - Essay Example (Smith, 2006) Currently, it is approximated that tourism contributes to 10% of global income with at least 10% of the world workforce earning their daily bread from the sector. Viewed as ‘manna from heaven’ most analysts perceive tourisms as a way of balancing foreign trade and as a source of foreign exchange with minimal discussion on the negative challenges it’s associated with. The discussion in this paper will mainly focus on the negative challenges of tourism with deep analysis on language, religion, customs and tradition, drawing examples from various countries known as tourist destinations across the globe. P.62 One of the strongest signs of negative impacts to tourism is on language spoken by the residents. Most communities staying in areas frequently visited by tourists have lost their original language and have instead adopted languages spoken by most tourists, mainly English. For example, the official language of city of Mumbai is Marathi. Current statistics indicate that only 42% of the populace can fluently speak the language. Apart from Hindi, which is also an official language in Mumbai, English is currently regarded as the most prevalent. As business tourism is on the upsurge, English is widely spoken in various professional workforce and commercial communication. (Desai, 2004 p.41) As business tourist increase in number, Bombay Hindi, a pidgin comprising of English, Hindi and Marathi was developed to ease communication. Changes in language have also been associated with the behavior and attitudes amongst the locals. Tourism also results in imposing of the tourist’s language amongst the locals. Malindi, which is one of the coastal towns in Kenya, known for some of the best beaches in world and often visited by tourists is another example of an area where tourism led to degradation of local language. Originally, residents used to speak Kiswahili before being invaded by

Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Plan - Essay Example Whether you want to start a small consulting business or start selling accessories, you need money to get the business started and operate it until the business is profitable (Attard, ). Finding the money to start your business may be a bit difficult; however, there are ways for you to obtain the cash you need. One way to obtain the cash you need to start your business is to get a part-time job. Savings from working a part time job can add up and in some cases, also many business owners start out by sharing their business time with a part time job. In order to save on money, you can start your business from home. In fact, most successful business owners started out from their home. Later on when the business begin to pick up you may find a suitable location. To save money to start your business you may have to live frugally at times. Living frugally does not mean that you have to starve yourself. It means that you do not have to buy everything you see just for buying sake. In order t o save effectively, you need to buy the necessary things. Another way to save to start your business is by applying for use of a credit card. A credit card is a loan given by a financial institution. The owner of a credit card has in his or her possession whatever amount the financial institution allows them to use with the expectation that they repay back the amount. Banks and other financial institutions often help new entrepreneurs to start their business by giving them business loans to do so. However, most financial institutions require that their customers have enough security to cover for the loan. If you are unable to find the necessary security that is required, you may seek the help of friends or family members to co-sign for you. By co-signing for you friends or family members will use their own assets to secure a loan on your behalf. Most ways persons get capital to start their small business is by borrowing from friends and family members. Unlike financial institutions, when you borrow from friends or family members you may not need to pay them back with interest. Money left as inheritance is another way by which many persons get capital to start their small business. When a person starts a small business through the means of inherited money, he or she does not have anyone to pay back and so the stress of saving for repayment purposes is out of the way. Another way of obtaining capital to start your small business is by using your insurance policy to do so. Life insurance polices that has cash value can be cashed in at any time and this cash used to start your business. If you own stocks and bonds, you can easily turn them into cash and use this money to start your business. In fact, sacrificing your stocks and bonds for your business may prove more profitable for you in the end. After you have your capital taken care of, the first step is to write a business plan. Why must you write a business plan? The reason being is that it is best to have a p lan to follow. Without a business plan to follow, your business may be doom for failure. A business plan should have an executive summary, a description of the business, a plan for how you will market and manage your business, financial projections and the necessary business support documents. In the body of your business plan must consist of a description of the type of business that you are desirous of starting. A marketing plan by which to follow closely is very essential for the success of your

Polish People in UK Essay Example for Free

Polish People in UK Essay How do English people in United Kingdom perceive Poles? What are the stereotypes of Polish Workers? How the image is changing over the years? The subject is very controversial as Poland gives many reasons to not be forgotten at the European stage. Poland is famed for John Paul the 2nd, many beautiful women, Vodka and sausage. A general description is hard to obtain, as there are many points of views and issues. The historical background had a massive impact on cultural and economic development. Not so long ago Poland was a communist country, where human rights were highly oppressed. At this time Poland was a satellite state being hold back by the Communist Soviet Union while Western European development was progressing. Eventually Poland achieved full democracy in 1989, and continues without communist influence to this day. The new fundamentalism was doing very well. For years, the Catholic radio, ‘Radio Maria’ for example, gave voice to the hate priests and politicians that condemned everything that was foreign and is not inline with the narrow, xenophobic vision of parochial Polishness. Regularly young men throw stones at those who seem to them non-native. Taking out the rage on sexual minorities as there is no luck to find any immigrants. Galloping hate speech on the Internet is already pathological standard. In May 2004 Poland joined the European Union. United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden open labour market for Polish citizens and other new members of EU. The huge wave of Polish migrants entered the foreign markets. Base on GUS (Central Statistical Office) research in May 2002, 24,000 Polish Emigrants were living in United Kingdom. In 2008 the number was drastically multiply, by 27 times, the amount of Polish Immigrants in the UK reached the point of 650 thousands. It was the largest number of Polish migrants abroad in Europe. The social approach towards Eastern European Migrants was distinguished by those, who negatively responded to economic threats related with job losses, and those who were aware of their matter in the future development. Depending on where you stand, this phenomenal wave of immigration was either a death knell for British values and the tradition of the blue-collar British worker, or a powerful boost to the British economy while others in Europe stagnate. While industries in other EU countries have been limited in their attempts to expand by an unavailability of high quality, reasonably-priced labour, many UK industries have been able to fuel their expansion and advances with hard working Poles, Slovaks, Lithuanians and Czechs. Demographic studies of those that have entered the UK reveal that over three quarters of immigrants fall into the 18-34 age bracket. The popular estimate is that the average age of the Polish immigrant is 28. Following natural migration trends, the large majority of these are single, with fewer responsibilities, resulting in an increased disposable income and a greater tendency to participate in the consumer culture that has been behind Britain’s economic growth over the past few years, at a time when most of Europe has been desperately trying to rein in escalating unemployment and avoid economic stagnation. While on other fronts increased immigration is a controversial topic, economically the British government can have little cause for complaint. Eastern Europeans have plugged holes in sectors short of labour, helping to keep inflation down, and in the relatively liberal open-market economy of the UK, the extra labour has been an easily absorbed asset. The minimal effect being had on unemployment as a result of immigration in the UK has disproved the theory that there are a finite number of jobs in the labour market and that the immigrant’s gain is the Brits’ loss. Though registered unemployment has crept up recently the government argues that this is not due to the economy failing to create jobs. Indeed, the number of job vacancies remain high and the overall job market continues to expand. From an economic point of view, the fact remains that while almost all immigrant workers in the UK have found full-time employment, the non-migrant unemployment rate has remained steady – proving that immigrants are helping to fuel economic growth rather than undercut British workers in the labour market and steal their jobs. Whether it be reduced costs and waiting times for housing repairs in London as a result of Polish plumbers and builders, or new additions to the high street as a result of Polish demand for imported goods, many towns and cities are coming to appreciate the addition of yet another flavour to the bubbling concoction that is multi-ethnic Britain. Government and big business certainly appreciate the benefits brought by this dynamic new demographic group. According to the Ernst Young Item Club, Polish and other Eastern European immigrants are having a positive economic impact by making the UK workforce ‘younger, more flexible and economical, easing the pensions burden and keeping interest rates lower’. In the past few years Poland lost her best human capital ever – people, who travelled the world, higher educated, fluent with foreign languages, and familiar with new technologies. In the previous waves of emigration the dominant were people with primary or vocational education. Polish is the most commonly spoken non-native language in England and Wales. More than half a million people in Britain now speak Polish as their first language, placing it ahead of Punjabi and Urdu and behind only English and Welsh. The data, extracted from the 2011 census, confirmed the staggering numbers of Polish migrants who are now living, working and putting down roots in the UK. Some 521,000 Polish-born people have made their homes here, a figure that has increased seven-fold since 2003, when just 75,000 were listed in the census. In many parts of Britain, such statistics will come as no surprise. The influx of Poles to this country has long been evident in the swathes of Polish supermarkets, grocers, churches and cultural centres that have appeared across the country – particularly since 2004, when Poland joined the European Union, opening up borders for free movement of workers. In addition to long-established Polish communities – in west London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and Slough – smaller hubs have established themselves in rural areas, such as Carlisle in Cumbria (twinned with the Polish city of Slupsk) and the Scottish Highlands. During the past decade, Polish culture has ingrained itself in British society. Most major supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, now stock Polish food and drink. There are 10 Polish churches in London alone, in locations such as Balham and Ealing, and road signs are translated into Polish in villages around Cheshire. There are hundreds of Polish-owned clubs, pubs and bars, a hugely popular newspaper (founded in 1940) and cultural centres that regularly host sell-out Polish plays and exhibitions. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, Poland is the most common country of birth for non-UK born mothers in Britain, with 20,495 babies born to Polish mothers in 2011. Marriages between Poles and Brits, too, have multiplied. Poles have become British homeowners, business owners and taxpayers. So how have they, unlike any other nationality before them, achieved such full-scale integration into our society – and in such a short time? The ability of Poles to integrate seems to be linked to the reason many of them come to Britain in the first place. Work,† explains Robert Szaniawski of the Polish Embassy in London, â€Å"is the main factor that draws Poles to the UK. Most of them are young – they’re from small towns; they see it as a chance to get out and have an adventure, so they come to Britain. â€Å"They’re flexible and they move with the demands of the labour market. It’s this willingness to go where the work is tha t helps them to ingratiate themselves. † Poland’s GDP is significantly lower than Britain’s ($514. 5 billion, compared to the UK’s $2. 43 trillion); there is high unemployment (averaging 12 per cent since 2008) and the minimum hourly wage is less than half that paid in Britain. As Poland’s economic growth slows down – it halved to 2 per cent in 2012 – still more skilled workers are lured to the UK. In 2011, 45,000 Poles settled here, marking the biggest rise in migrants since the financial crash. Poles have a reputation for being hard workers, especially in the manual labour sector. Adam Zamoyski, a British historian descended from a Polish noble family, says Poles are â€Å"brilliant workers. When they’re abroad, they put their best foot forward and act as ambassadors for their country. They have a better experience in England than they do in Germany or France. They’re treated as menial in other countries; in England, they’re treated with kindness. † But with such mass immigration comes inevitable tension. Many British workers blame the steady flow of cheap, cash-in-hand Polish labourers for keeping them out of jobs. And not all Poles who settle in Britain come here for gainful employment. Of the 371,000 non-UK nationals claiming unemployment benefit, 13,940 are Polish – making it the only previous EU accession state to appear in the top 20. In 2010, 6,777 Poles were convicted of crimes in Britain, and there are currently more than 700 Polish migrants in UK prisons (ranking in the top five nationalities of the 10,592 foreign nationals behind bars). â€Å"As with every large group of migrants, you do get an underbelly,† Zamoyski says. â€Å"There are huge scams going on with benefits, whereby Poles come over to work, bring their families, sign them all up for child benefits and then go back home again with the money. And I have heard of older Poles accosting younger ones on their way to the bus stop and fleecing them for all their money. It was the Second World War that really formed the roots of Britain’s Polish community. The Poles made an important contribution to the Allied war effort, providing troops, intelligence and vital equipment. After the fall of France in 1940, the exiled Polish Prime Minister and his government set up office in London, bringing with them 20,000 soldiers and airmen. Poles made up the largest non-British group in the RAF during the Battle of Britain and, by July 1945, more than 150,000 Polish troops were serving under the command of the British Army. When the war ended, Churchill vowed that the British would â€Å"never forget the debt they owe to the Polish† and pledged â€Å"citizenship and freedom of the British empire† for all. Fleeing the Communist government in Poland, many refused to return home, leading to the passing of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947, the UK’s first mass immigration law. This first generation of Polish migrants laid the foundations for recent immigration. Nicola Werenowska, a playwright from Colchester, is married to Leszek, a second-generation Polish migrant whose parents moved to Reading after the war. While researching for her play Tu i Teraz (â€Å"Here and Now†), staged recently at the Hampstead Theatre in London, she interviewed 50 young Poles in Britain about their experiences of moving here. â€Å"They come over for the jobs, but the history of migration helps them feel connected,† she says. â€Å"There are generally positive attitudes towards the UK in Poland. † Szaniawski agrees: â€Å"It’s a friendly, welcoming country and there’s a huge tradition of our parents and grandparents coming here. The willingness – and ability – of Poles to learn English is another factor that has been crucial to their integration. According to the Polish Central Statistical Office, 40 per cent of Poles aged 25-64 speak at least one foreign language, most commonly English or German. Joanna Pietrzykowska, 27, a trainee accountant from a small town in eastern Poland, came to the UK seven years ago to learn English. â€Å"I initially came for a yea r, but I liked it so much that I am still here,† she says. â€Å"You can get anything you want over here now – Polish food, movies, books from the library. Wherever I go, I meet at least one Polish person. I have an English boyfriend, and I’ve always found it very welcoming. There are more career opportunities than in Poland – so why would I go back? † But not all Poles have such positive experiences of Britain. Some, says Adam Zamoyski, simply don’t want to integrate. â€Å"They don’t ever have to learn the language; they stay in their own communities, where you can go all the way from the obstetrician to the grave without ever having to speak English. Others, like Sofia Pekala, 54, a cleaner who moved to the UK from Poland in 2002, have had bad experiences at the hands of British employers. â€Å"When I first came I worked on a farm in Penzance,† says Pekala, who used to own her own clothes shop. â€Å"I was treated very poorly and paid just ? 2. 75 an hour for very hard work in poor conditions. † Rafal Zbikowski, 34, who moved to Boston, Lincolnshire – where 3,006 out of 62,243 residents are Polish – eight years ago from Krakow, says he has experienced some tension, but adds: â€Å"It has been a great place to work. I came here to work in a food production factory and have had a job ever since. † So what does the future hold for Britain’s Polish migrants? Werenowska believes that the roots many Poles have put down will last. â€Å"Of the Polish migrants I interviewed, there were broadly two types,† she says. â€Å"The first are those who want to earn as much money as they can, as fast as they can, and then go home to their families. The second are those who have come to Britain because they love it, who genuinely want to be a part of British society. Like it or not, they’re definitely here to stay. †

Chinese Cuisine in the United States

Chinese Cuisine in the United States Since last century, Chinese food has become very popular throughout the United States. The history of American Chinese food begins before the 20th century. During the Gold Rush in California, a lot of Chinese immigrants came to the United States to build railways. They started making Chinese food in the United States, and after the Second World War, numerous numbers of Chinese restaurants have been built in this country. Since that time, people can easily find a Chinese restaurant in any city of any state. The reason why Chinese food is so popular in America is because many Americans love it. Although, most Americans do not actually know that most of the Chinese food they are eating in the United States is not authentic. American Chinese food tend to focus more on American style cooking, and contrast significantly from tradition Chinese food. Most Chinese food in the United States is deep-fried or stir-fried, but authentic Chinese food is not. Americans should know that they have the option for a better Chinese diet, which is more delicious and healthier. American Chinese cuisine should be replaced by authentic Chinese cuisine because American Chinese cuisine is unhealthy for us due to the cookings poor quality. Chinese American cuisine started adapting to unhealthy cooking methods. The foundation of American Chinese food started when Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States. The first group of Chinese immigrants came from the Guangdong Province of China mainland. When they just arrived in the United States, they tried to make their hometown food. It was impossible for them to find raw food materials and traditional ingredients here. Cooking authentic Chinese food has a stringent requirement for raw food materials; the requirement requires all meat and vegetable products to be fresh. The Chinese immigrants only used all of what they could find for cooking. When railroad work was no longer available, the Chinese workers started to open restaurants. Their main customer groups were Caucasians Americans and Americans usually prefer a sweeter taste in their food. Thus, in order for the Chinese immigrants to make profits from their restaurants, the Chinese food chefs had to alter the taste of their hometown food to satisfy their local customers. Traditional Chinese food is usually saltier with rich flavors. Although, sugar is a very common ingredient for most dishes in the United States, so Chinese food chefs eventually started using sugar far more often for their dishes. Not only that, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is used very often in American Chinese cuisine for a flavor enhancer to stimulate the customers appetite, and to mask meats that are not fresh. Some problems MSG can lead to are diabetes, headaches, obesity, and addiction to MSG products. All these methods are definitely not a natural and healthy way to make food, leading American Chinese foods with higher fats and calories. The lack of professional chefs is another reason to explain why American Chinese food is dissatisfactory. As mentioned above, the earliest Chinese food chefs were railroad workers. They had never been trained to cook. In China, there are a lot of cooking schools. They provide different styles of cooking lessons and a beginner normally needs to spend two years to graduate. There are also eight distinct Chinese cuisines in China: Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Fujian, Hunan, and Anhui. However, American Chinese cuisine only develops from Guangdong cuisine, so many other authentic Chinese cuisines have not even been exposed in America widely. American Chinese chefs though, they usually learn of the skills from other previous chefs and lack a lot of experience and knowledge. As mentioned previously about adding sugar to their dishes, a lot of cooks use it as a method to cover their inexperienced cooking techniques and make their dishes taste more desirable to the Americ an taste. The American Chinese chefs eventually started to create their own dishes as well. Today, a very popular and good example would be Orange chicken. Orange chicken is deep-fried chicken covered with sweet soy sauce. It is the most popular Chinese dish in the United States and it is usually served at most Chinese restaurants. Unfortunately, in China, no one has ever heard of Orange chicken because the American Chinese chefs created it in the U.S. Therefore, many American Chinese dishes you may have experienced in the U.S., could be foreign to many people in China. American Chinese cuisine is also fast food. The bad dietary habit of Americans leads American Chinese food to be unhealthy. Americans like fast food, so Chinese American restaurants often cook quickly. They normally can prepare one dish in five minutes, but in an authentic Chinese restaurant, a dish would normally take more than fifteen minutes. How can they cook that much faster? It is because they only use one cooking method, which is frying. Fried foods are most definitely unhealthy for us. It can damage our body and brain in many ways. Fried foods can also cause us to be overweight and lead to obesity. A large percentage of people in the United States have problems with their weight. In recent years, people have turned their attention to their daily diets and claim that it is time to give up fast food. Most people only think restaurants such as McDonalds or KFC are fast foods, but American Chinese cuisine is also considered fast food. The quality of the food is poor and cooking a uthentic Chinese cuisine takes more than simply one method of cooking. American Chinese restaurants simply finish your orders in 5 minutes! You can either sit down to eat it or take it home. When you order Chinese take out and go back home to enjoy your delicious orange chicken, you call your friend and tell him you are having Chinese foodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦No! That is not Chinese food. It is American Chinese food and that is fast food. However, many Americans would disagree with the idea of replacing American Chinese food with authentic Chinese cuisine. The Chinese cuisine in America is westernized to appeal to Americans and that is what they are most familiar with. It would be equivalent to taking their Chinese food away, because technically American Chinese food was invented and invested in America. The Chinese food here is deep-fried, grease-soaked, and as well as imitated (i.e. imitation crab). That sounds a lot like most American foods and replacing American Chinese cuisine would be the same as taking away Americas invention of Chinese food. Another factor is complication. The idea of replacing American Chinese cuisine with authentic Chinese cuisine would most definitely use a lot more money and time. That time and money would go into training new chefs, establishing new restaurants, investing in many new cooking styles, and the list would go on. Also, most Chinese restaurants in America are well established a nd are spread across the states. It is not easy to change something that became successful in its own ways. It is not saying authentic Chinese cuisine is bad, but Americans find American Chinese food good, and in America, if something is good, then there doesnt need to be change. It is true that changing American Chinese food to authentic Chinese food will be complicated, but that complication is worth the investment. Unlike the American Chinese cuisine, authentic Chinese food is a lot healthier. Food is very important to Chinese culture. Most Chinese people are highly likely to pay attention to their daily food. The most important nutritional concept is Yin and Yang. Yin means cold. Yang means Hot. Every food has a specific way of heating or cooling humans body. For example, most spicy foods and meats are generally thought to be Yang. Then, green vegetables and soup are thought to be Yin. An authentic Chinese chef would know of the concept and know how to incorporate the concept to make a balanced meal. In an American Chinese restaurant though, meat is always the main role on the table, which is totally against with the Yin and Yang concept. Authentic Chinese cuisine not only promotes a more balanced meal, it promotes a healthier diet, and this is important for changing the bad dietary habit in America as mentioned earlier. Of course an investment such as this would take up a lot of time and money. It doesnt hurt to start small or at least give it a try. Already well-established American Chinese restaurants should consider lowering the number of fat contents and calories as well as balancing their meals in order to promote a healthier diet. New Chinese restaurant chefs should consider going through extensive training, study Chinese culinary, or develop different choices of authentic Chinese cuisine other than the main Guangdong cuisine that most people are familiar with. Yes, if something is good and familiar to us why change it? Although in America, they also love change! If the change is for the better, why not give it a try? America should certainly attempt some effort to give authentic Chinese cuisine a try. Chinese cuisine restaurants are still spreading rapidly throughout America. Americans should know they have the choice for a more delicious and better diet, therefore Chinese cuisine should be replaced by authentic Chinese cuisine because American Chinese cuisine is unhealthy for us due to the cookings poor quality. Most American Chinese restaurants adapt to unhealthy cooking methods, inexperience techniques, and also Americans should know that most Chinese food they are eating is also considered unhealthy fast food. There should be a Chinese food revolution; people should limit themselves fried Chicken and sweet meat as a choice for Chinese food. The only way to escape from this vicious circle fast is to hire many professional educated Chinese chefs from China and start establishing from there on. However, realistically speaking that may be far complicated and may cost a lot of money. Then again, if the change is worth the investment people should certainly give it a try. Some small starting up ideas include, already established restaurants to alter their meals to promote the Yin and Yang balanced meal concept, new chefs to consider being well educated and trained first, and also encouraging restaurants to create more other authentic Chinese cuisines that differs from todays dominant Guangdong cuisine. Variety will bring more culture to the Chinese cuisine and also shows that Americans have better choices to choose from rather than that orange chicken they always order. A lot of people are guilty of that, but if authentic Chinese cuisine can be brought up in America, then we can start bragging about the real good Chinese food we are having.

Louis XIV and Absolutism Principles

Louis XIV and Absolutism Principles The palace of Versailles is considered to be one of the greatest expressions of European Absolutism. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, reigned for 72 years; he is credited for building this monumental palace. Starting in 1661, he transformed a small, quaint hunting lodge into a glittering palace. He drained swamps, built over a village and completely changed the landscape to build one of the most renowned palaces in the world. Thesis Louis XIVs palace of Versailles is a physical and cultural manifestation of the principles of absolutism. Louis XIVs palace embodied the essence of absolutism through its Classicist symbols of power, its sheer size and luxuriousness and through the housing of the nobles on palace grounds. Reason #1: Louis XIVs palace of Versailles is the epitome of the principles of absolutism. As an Absolutist King, Louis XIV was profoundly influenced by Classicism. The influence of Classicism can be seen throughout the palace. These various references to Classicism were meant to reinforce Louis XIVs rule as a strong and centralized authority figure. Reason #2: When Louis XIV moved his court and government to Versailles, he gained more control of the government and the nobility. By keeping potential threats near him, he rendered them powerless. Reason #3: The palace of Versailles sheer size and splendour exhibited Louis XIVs supreme wealth and boasted his power as an absolute monarch. The size and grandeur of the palace sent a message to the people of France and to other leaders that he had complete authority and that no one should dare defy him. Reason #1: As an Absolutist King, Louis XIV was greatly impacted by Classicism. There were various references to Classicism throughout the palace, these references were meant to cement Louis XIVs rule as a strong and centralized figure of authority. The exterior of the palace is considered to have a classical design with Roman columns. The Main Gateway- when people passed through it, they had to pass under a replica of Louis XIVs crown. This served as a constant reminder of his power to all who entered and left Versailles. Louis XIV had a Classicist inspired statue of himself created with the following inscription: World come and see what I see, And what the Sun admires, Rome in one palace, in Paris an Empire, And all the Caesars in one King This engraving on a statue shows Louis XIV belief that he is as strong as Roman Emperors. He also refers to himself as the Sun, which is an allusion to the Greek Sun God Apollo. The Latona Fountain- The fountain tells the story of Apollos mother. This is another indication of Classicism which is what Absolutism was influenced by. His silver throne was 8 feet high; this reinforced the notion that the King was larger than life. Hercules Drawing Room- The room was specifically built to house a Venetian painting. Hercules, who was a Roman demigod, was known for his strength and for making the world safe for mankind. Since Versailles was an embodiment of Louis rule, having a room named after Hercules shows that Louis believed he himself can stand in comparison to Hercules. The Mars Room- The room was originally used to house the guards. Mars was the Roman God of war. Having a room named after Mars depicts Louis XIVs ability to go to war and emerge triumphant Louis XIV also had a very large bronze statue of himself on horseback. He believed that the King and the state were one; this statue all with other art was created to embody that. The Hall of Mirrors- The hall became a symbolic focus of the palace. The walls of the hall housed busts of Roman Emperors. This furthered reinforced Louis XIVs connection to Classicism. Reason #2: When Louis XIV decided to make the palace the new centre for the royal court, he moved his court and the nobles to Versailles. By doing so, he was able to keep an eye out on all nobles and thus preventing them from revolting and maintaining his power. Louis XIV required that nobles of certain standings to spend time at Versailles. This prevented the nobles from developing their own provincial power at the cost of his power. He prevented them from stopping his efforts to centralize the French government and retain absolute authority. There were parts of the palace that were specifically made for housing nobles. All the power of France was centered at Versailles; there were government offices there, the palace acted as the homes of thousands of courtiers. To attract the Louis XIVs attention, the nobles visited the royal residence regularly and observed the rigid rules of conduct the King set out. In return for their constant availability, the nobles were rewarded with royal pensions, living quarters in the palace of Versailles and regular invitations to festivities and ceremonies. Louis XIV was able to draw the nobles favour and keep an eye at them all at once. By holding the nobles at a greater importance than previous Kings had, Louis XIV gave them a sense of service. This sense of service was useful to the kingdom and contributed to control over the nobility, thereby strengthening Louis XIVs absolute authority. Reason #3: The palace of Versailles size and finery exhibited Louis XIVs supreme wealth and boasted his power as an absolute monarch. The palace itself sent a message to the people of France and to other leaders that Louis XIV was in full control. The Park of Versailles has over 2037 acres with over 232 acres of gardens. The palace grounds include over 12 miles of roads, 50 fountains, 67 staircases, 200 000 trees, 6000 paintings, 2100 sculptures, and 6000 pieces of furniture. The palace had a total of 700 rooms. The palace employed nearly 600 people, while housing thousands of courtiers and friends of Louis XIV. The Battle Gallery- The gallery was 120 metres long. It was dedicated to the difference battles fought by the French. These larger than life features of the palace emphasized Louis XIVs power and intimidated any visitors. The Peace Room- It was built to depict France as the arbitrator of peace. The Queen had her own staircase. She even had a whole room in which nobles waited to meet with her. The Royal Chapel- A number of religious ceremonies took place at the chapel. The King and Queen sat at the very top of the chapel. This indicated that they (especially the King) were closer to God making them more important than the rest of the people. Conclusion The palace of Versailles is considered to be one of the greatest expressions of European Absolutism. Louis XIVs palace underwent a transformation from being a small hunting lodge to an extravagant palace the likes of which had never been seen before. The Palace embodied the essence of absolutism through its Classicist symbols of power, its size and luxuriousness and through the housing of the nobles on palace grounds. The palace of Versailles will forever remain an expression of the principles of the Absolutism that dominated the 17th century. CHY4U0- The West and the World How is Louis XIVs palace of Versailles a physical and cultural manifestation of the principles of absolutism? As an Absolute monarch, Louis XIV was significantly influenced by Classicism. There were various references to Classicism throughout the palace of Versailles. These prevalent references were meant to bolster Louis XIVs rule as a strong and centralized leader. The exterior faà §ade of the palace is considered to be inspired by Classicism. The palace includes beautifully crafted Corinthian columns complete with elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves. The Main Gateway that led to the palace had a replica of Louis XIVs crown. The crown served as a constant reminder of his power and presence to all those who entered Versailles. There are also a number of rooms such as the Apollo Room, which compared his powers to that of the Greek and Roman Gods. Louis XIV also had a number of statues of himself in the palace and around palace grounds. These statues along with other forms of artwork were created to embody the Absolutist belief that the King and the state were one. The influenc e of Classicism can be seen throughout the Palace of Versailles; this emphasizes the belief that the palace is a manifestation of Absolutism.

The Royal Hunt of the Sun :: essays papers

The Royal Hunt of the Sun The Royal Hunt of the Sun is a story mainly based on the conquest of Peru by Spain. Along the way it explores many different sub-themes and ideas. Questions are raised about faith, friendship, leadership, greed and two distinctively different ways of life. The two main characters exhibit conflicting views on all the issues. The overthrow of the Peruvian Empire is a phenomenal story as it demonstrates the vulnerability of a society that considered itself almost indestructible. It showed how focused a civilisation can be on one leader, and how simply it can collapse when this leadership is removed. Pizarro recognised this and that is how his small army of almost two hundred conquered a nation of millions. He told his men "One man: that^s all. Get him, the rest collapse." (page 28) The conquest of Peru was a clash between two religions that were immediately very different but similar in principal. Christianity was a religion with a rapidly expanding following. Its leaders virtually granted permission for Christians to kill in order to spread the faith. This occurred in The Royal Hunt of the Sun when the priests inferred that Pizarro should take the life of Attahuallpa so that the Spanish would survive and the Christian belief would spread throughout South America. The priest Valverde said "^the lives of a hundred and seventy of the faithful. Are you going to sacrifice them for one savage?" (page 70) On the other hand the Inca belief was a lot more settled and humane. The Inca God and ruler Atahuallpa claimed "I have priest power^I confess my people of all crimes against the sun." (page 19) They both believed in a supreme being, who would be killed by its enemies and rise from the dead. Pizarro and Atahuallpa came from similar backgrounds but their immediate appearance was quite different. When they came together their similarities became evident and their friendship flourished at an early stage. While Atahuallpa was Pizarro^s captive he said "Make me free. I would fill this room." (With gold) (page 43) However, when Atahuallpa produces the gold Pizarro qualifies his promise thus; " ^Atahuallpa, you must swear to me that you will not hurt a man in my army if I let you go." (page 60) "I will not swear this" Atahuallpa replied. "Three thousand of my servants they killed in the square. Three thousand, without arms. I will avenge them." (page 60) This

Song Of Solomon :: essays research papers

From Beginning to End Toni Morrison begins her novel Song of Solomon in a very unconventional way. Instead of introducing a setting or characters, she retells an incident that without further reading is for the most part incomprehensible. As readers we notice later on in the story the references made throughout the book that relate back to the introductory pages. Some of the main themes such as oral traditions, naming, and especially flight are introduced in the first six pages and are further developed in a very similar format throughout the book. One of the outstanding themes, oral tradition, is used to retell events throughout the book in a manner consistent with the beginning. On the first page we are introduced to an insurance agent by the name of Robert Smith. We shortly thereafter learn that he will "fly" form the top of Mercy Hospital. On the Wednesday of his flight a group of fifty people gather around the building to witness this event. While waiting for his "flight" or jump a woman in a contralto voice begins to sing the words "O Sugarman done fly away/ Sugarman done gone/ Sugarman cut across the sky/ Sugarman gone home…"(6) This lady simply describes Robert Smith's flight "home" which we later learn is really him committing suicide. Much later on in the book Milkman is listening to a group of children singing "O Solomon done fly away/ Solomon done gone/ Solomon cut across the sky/ Solomon gone home."(3) In this song Sugarman, or Robert Smith, is replac ed by Solomon, or the Great Grandfather of Milkman. The song describes his "flight" from Shalimar, his home town, and the events that happened after his "flight." In general, oral traditions are used in this book to retell past events for both our understanding and for the characters. They take the form of song, story, and fairy tale and are very important to the meaning of the story because they are a major medium of narration. Naming is utilized throughout the book for the purpose of creating identification and symbolism for the characters and places. On page four a brief description is given about the history of Mains Ave., or Not Doctor Street., as called by the Southside community. It is called Not Doctor Street. because a prominent black doctor had once lived there, and the people living there always referred to it as Doctor Street.