Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Fiscal Reforms Of The United States - 890 Words
Previous Reforms of Policy In 1984, Medicare was introduced in Australia, in 2000, the Lifetime Cover scheme was introduced and in 2004, the Extended Medicare Safety Net was introduced (Hajizadeh, Connelly, Butler, 2014). According to Donato, and Segal, (2013) the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed a national partnership agreement in 2008. This partnership encompassed explicit targets which included the closing the life expectancy gap and halving infant mortality rate gaps. As well as, halving the gap in reading, writing, numeracy achievements, year 12 attainment, and the differential unemployment outcome between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The building blocks to achieve this were early childhood, schooling, health, economic participation, healthy homes, safe communities, and governance and leadership (Donato, Segal, 2013). Why do Policy Reforms Fail? Fotaku, (2010) found that it was extensively recognised that public policies often fail. There have been numerous explanations presented, which encompassed various practical and political impediments inherent to their conception and implementaà ¬tion (Feldman, 2005; Fotaku, 2010). Policy failures are commonly attributed to the nonexistence of incentive arrangements that should encourage individuals to pursue their reliable and established preferences, according to economists. Whereas, political scientists look to numerous political groups inside and outside government to identify the causalShow MoreRelatedThe United States Fiscal Policy1378 Words à |à 6 PagesThe United States has gone through economic successes and turmoil since its independence in 1776. Some of these peaks and troughs were quite severe, but the economy tends to self-correct itself. Prior to the Great Depression, the United States had a laissez-faire approach to economic matters, including on how to balance the budget. However, once the Great Depression started, economists decided the government needed to be involved in the U.S.ââ¬â¢s economic affairs as the unemployment rate reached 25%Read MoreBudget Wars : Debt And Sequestration1029 Words à |à 5 Pages Nicole Betts Budget Wars 7/26/2015 Debt and Sequestration in the United States The United States has adopted a persona of uncontrollable spending policies, and short term solutions. As the spending trajectory continues in a downward spiral, fueled by unsustainable policies, and current tax revenues, the national debt continues to grow. For many years, the United States has implemented policies that failed to address mandatory spending costs, which, unfortunately continue to outpace the nationalRead MoreThe Oil Prices : Comparison Of Policy Between Kuwait And The Uae1605 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Plummeting Oil Prices: Comparison of Policy Between Kuwait the UAE Introduction The Gulf Cooperation Council states (GCC) are heavily dependent on oil to generate economic growth. Oil and natural gas are the two main sources of capital inflow that enters into these countries. GCC countriesââ¬â¢ dependency creates economies that are sensitive to any decline in oil prices. After four years of relatively stable oil prices of around $105 per barrel (bbl), a sharp and notable decline occurred in JuneRead MoreEducation: The Down Fall of the U.S.1680 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe report sent off a firestorm of reform efforts at the local, state, and federal levels. Almost thirty years later, has the commissionââ¬â¢s recommendations been implemented, or have any of the reform efforts from governmental levels changed the United States educational outlook? This paper will discuss the recommendations set out in the report A Nation at Risk from the National Commission on Excellence in Education, what the issues are with current education reform, and how the current social, politicalRead MoreEconomics And Immigration : The Economics Of U.s. Immigration Policy964 Words à |à 4 Pagesissue of immigration because of the fiscal impacts of immigrants on our labor markets. Orrenius and Zavodny relate a plethora of facts about the economics of immigration, both legal and illegal, and explain the current system and its effects. All of these examples show the brokenness of our policies. At the end of their article, the authors suggest reform for the United States immigration policies. They suggest that the government should comprehensively reform polici es to boost the economic gainRead MoreGreece : A Common Euro Zone1486 Words à |à 6 Pagesrates, and controlling the Euro supply (Alessi, 2012). ECB was the only institution capable of intervening and making decisive decision on how the debt crisis should be handled. However, critiques, like Germany, oppose ECB for getting involved in any fiscal activities. ECB, wanted to be a lender of last resort like the US Federal Bank of Reserve; such as printing money and lend money to countries or buy government bonds to help relieve the debt crisis. This did not happen until 2010 when Greece reallyRead MoreThe Tax Reform Act Of 19861413 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe U.S. corporate tax system. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 reduced a corporate tax rate from 46 percent to 34 (Gross Schadewald, 2012, p. 40). The federal budget deficit forced the government to lower the corporate tax rate. The level of corporate tax rate in the USA was lower than it was in Canada, Germany, and France. The tax rate f or corporations remained unchanged until 2011. In 2011, fiscal barriers led to changes of the tax reform. Today, the reform package includes the exclusion of deductionsRead More Chinaââ¬â¢s Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status Essay917 Words à |à 4 PagesChinaââ¬â¢s Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status If the United States is going to stand by and let China break the agreement that we have set then what is the point of having rules or laws in the first place? If we can accept the fact that China is breaking our laws then we can also understand that this behavior can very well lead to a state of anarchy and lawlessness. These are all things that are breed by a lack of law, and also facilitated by a lack of proper enforcement of our current laws. This isRead MoreShould Immigration Be Illegal Immigrants?1257 Words à |à 6 Pagesimmigration does create several fiscal problems because of undocumented immigrants and unstable borders, with growing evidence immigration may be helping the economy. Taking a look at one side of the debate, immigration has posed several fiscal problems for the nation. The reasons for these fiscal problem are illegal immigrants. As time passed, illegal immigration rose, and more people begun to ignore the laws set for citizenship, allowing themselves to enter the United States illegally. Thus immigrantsRead MoreU.s. Japanese Government Policies Essay1048 Words à |à 5 Pageswhether Abenomics was the best option for Japanese government for reviving the economy from the prolonged recession. Was Abenomics effective? Research questions are as follows: A) Were the uses of monetary and fiscal policies effective during recession in Japan? B) Will the structural reforms be effective solution for Japanese economy? I will examine the effectiveness of Abenomics by looking at the historical economic data in Japan from 1980 to 2015. In addition, I will introduce some of literatures
Monday, December 23, 2019
Business for the Glory of God Book Review Essay - 3161 Words
Book Review For Business for the Glory of God By: Wayne Grudem October 10, 2011 The Review: Business for the Glory of God Wayne Grudem wrote the book ââ¬ËBusiness for the Glory of God,ââ¬â¢ this book is based on biblical teachings. The book discusses issues such as ownership, productivity, employment, commercial transactions, profit, money, inequality of possessions, competition, borrowing and lending, attitudes of heart and effect on world poverty from a biblical standpoint, each are ââ¬Å"fundamentally good and provides many opportunities for glorifying God but also many temptations to sin.â⬠(Grudem, 2003, p. 19) Grudem claims that business can glorify God. He states ââ¬Å"I am going to argue that many aspects of business activity areâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦This confirms that employment to produce goods and services for others IS good and so is the earning of profit from the sales of these goods. Profit usually refers to money earned, caution is taught in 1 Timothy 6:10 ââ¬Å"For the love of money is the root of all evilâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Thomas Nelson , Inc., 1982) This does not have to be the case though, for money can be used to glorify God. Money in itself is not evil; it is what is done with it that may be evil. God must always be first and foremost in our lives, not money and the things it can buy us. Matthew 6:24 ââ¬Å"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.â⬠(Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982) Money brings the inequality of possessions, also called ââ¬Å"the haves and the have notââ¬â¢s.â⬠We may all be equal in the eyes of God, but here on earth some eyes grow green with envy. Children come home from daycare complaining that Little Jimmyââ¬â¢s truck was bigger than his, husbands and fathers are forever eying the Jones; new corvette, and entire wars have erupted over the ââ¬Å"you have it and Iââ¬â¢m gonna get itâ⬠mentality. Inequality of possessions is not bad though m any passages in the Bible teach that even in heaven there are different degrees of rewards. Even Godââ¬â¢s spiritual gifts are not given equally to each of us, but this does not mean He loves one person more than the other. It is what we do withShow MoreRelatedBusiness for the Glory of God Book Review Essay2084 Words à |à 9 PagesBusiness for the Glory of God: The Bibleââ¬â¢s teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business Book Review by: Marquetta Preston Liberty University Abstract Grudem, W. (2003). Business for the Glory of God: The Bibleââ¬â¢s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business. Wheaton: IL: Crossway. ISBN: 978-1581345179. The book, ââ¬Å"Business for the Glory of Godâ⬠, By Wayne Grudem, is a book that gives insight to how business as a whole can be a blessing to the world. God gave His people abilities to conduct businessRead MoreBusiness for the Glory of God1318 Words à |à 6 PagesRunning head: THE BIBLEââ¬â¢S TEACHING ON THE MORAL GOODNESS OF BUSINESS Business for the Glory of God: The Bibleââ¬â¢s Teachings on the Moral Goodness of Business A Review Assignment Write a 5-7 page review, you should briefly articulate the authorââ¬â¢s main positions or themes and then interact with them. That is, choose one or two main points that you agree with and/or two in which you do not agree, supporting your thoughts with well-reasoned arguments. Jessica N. Eppes Liberty University ProfessorRead MoreBusiness For The Glory Of God1506 Words à |à 7 PagesBusiness for the Glory of God is a book that helps Christians work in Business for God. Wayne Grudem did an excellent job of sharing and providing the purpose and meaning of business and ways to glorify God while conducting said business. The main themes Grudem talks about include; ownership, productivity, employment, commercial transactions, profit, money, inequality of possessions, competition, borrowing and lending, attitudes of the heart and the effect on world poverty. He kept his thoughts shortRead MoreThe Philosophy Of The Bible1560 Words à |à 7 PagesBelieving that business has been long neglected as an important avenue to Glorify God. In this book Professor Grudem turns his attention to areas that were unlikely to provoke controversy or offense. In my opinion the main idea or impression of this book is that the bible teaches as well as, shows us that profitable, productive, and competitive business is an important way Christians should glorify God. This text explains that the following theories were created by God. The first theory thatRead MoreThe Seven Principles Of Corporate Chaplaincy1284 Words à |à 6 PagesTransform Any Business Through The 7 Simple Principles of Corporate Chaplaincy (Wake Forest, NC: Lamphier, 2005). This review will discuss and evaluate the seven principles ââ¬â Christ, Call, Confidentiality, Compassion, Control, Consistency, and Conversion - and briefly discuss their relevance and importance and the way the author has presented and discussed each principle. In addition I will critique two things I disagree with, and in conclusion I will give a final assessment of the book including moreRead MoreIn the Mist of A Storm: The Book of Ruth Essay1241 Words à |à 5 Pagesdissertation will explore the book of Ruth and challenge the reader to see Gods glory in the mist of a storm. What storm you might ask? I will explain that in just few paragraphs, but before we look closely at the details of the book will take some time to comprehend the key characters that makeup the book of Ruth. Will also review what I believe to be their purpose for being intricately woven into this great revelation of Gods grace and mercy. The Characters of the book of Ruth The protagonist ofRead MoreOvercoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team1501 Words à |à 7 PagesLiberty University Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team 4-Mat Book Review A 4-MAT BOOK REVIEW SUBMITTED TO DR. DEBBIE WARREN IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE CLED 610 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011 ABSTRACT In order to be an effective team you must accomplish your set goals. To achieve this task a team must first discover and overcome the five dysfunctions of a team. According to Lencioni (2005), ââ¬Å"DysfunctionRead MoreThe Effectiveness of Motivation Theory1309 Words à |à 6 PagesRunning head: Motivation Theories: A Literature Review Motivation Theories: A Literature Review ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Motivation Theories: A Literature Review Motivation is an important concept for managers to understand. Motivation affects direction, intensity and duration (Locke Gary, 2004). High task motivation has been found to correlate with high firm growth (Miner, Smith, et. alRead More A Life of Purpose Essay981 Words à |à 4 Pagesby tradition, it is an enemy of progress. Live by purpose. Ask yourself, ââ¬Å"How can I do it better this year than I did last year?â⬠Success brooks no argument. It announces itself. Every morning before you set about the dayââ¬â¢s work, ask God for directions. He is a God of plan and productivity. He set to work for 6days and the whole of the universe came into existence. Our Lord ministered for three and a half years and the whole world changed. That is effectiveness. ââ¬Å"Efficiencyâ⬠means to do things well;Read MoreA Practical Manual For Job Hunters And Career Changers By Richard Bolles Essay1700 Words à |à 7 Pagesgoing in the light of rejection and disappointment. It coaches the reader on identifying weaknesses and pitfalls and strengthens oneââ¬â¢s position in todayââ¬â¢s competitive marketplace. The book is especially helpful for those who are new to the job seeking process and struggling with the job search process. Half of the book offers common sense tips and advice on the typical job search process, interviewing tips, and salary negotiations. However, if the job search is determined unsuccessful, the second
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sunshine Chapter 22 Free Essays
Pat took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"Maââ¬â¢am, Milenkovicââ¬â¢s field notes clearly record ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Jesse was arguing with the guys at the backup combox. I wanted to hear what was going on there but I didnââ¬â¢t want to appear interested in anything while the goddess was still staring at me. We will write a custom essay sample on Sunshine Chapter 22 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I didnââ¬â¢t think she was listening to Patââ¬â¢s dogged description of poor Milenkovicââ¬â¢s misfortunes. I concentrated on looking stunned and blank. And maybe stupid. I was a marginal high school grad who baked bread for a living. Intellect was not a big feature. Hold that thought. Behind the blank look I was testing the memory of what had happened while I was plugged in. Had I found anything, or had I been repelled before I could make a fix? I wasnââ¬â¢t going to stand up and make a directional cast as I had done the last time in this office, not with the goddess watching. But it felt a littleâ⬠¦directional. And I was afraid if I didnââ¬â¢t try it soon I might lose it, if there was anything to lose. Aimil moved into my line of vision. She was looking at me too, but her look said, Can I help? I stood up slowly. I felt shaky anyway, but I made myself look shakier yet. Aimil rushed to take my elbow. As I moved, I felt itâ⬠¦ Yes. Iââ¬â¢d found something. And I hadnââ¬â¢t lost it yet. I think Aimil felt the shiver run through me, and she probably guessed why. ââ¬Å"Raeââ¬â¢s pretty knocked around,â⬠Aimil said, and I recognized her placate-the-inquisitor voice: one of the area library bosses got that voice, and when she was in residence at Aimilââ¬â¢s branch library Aimil found special projects across town to attend to. ââ¬Å"May I take her home?â⬠ââ¬Å"Tell me, Rae,â⬠said the goddess. ââ¬Å"Do you think you discovered anything useful this evening?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠I said carefully. ââ¬Å"It was over pretty suddenly, and now I have a terrific headache.â⬠ââ¬Å"Usually,â⬠said the goddess, ââ¬Å"the sooner the interview after the experience, the more information is obtained.â⬠I tried to look as if I would like to be cooperative. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"It was like I was falling into chaos, and then I went over backward in the chair and the combox exploded.â⬠The goddessââ¬â¢ radar was telling her I was holding something back. With a great effort I raised my eyes again and met hers. There was no way I was going to try to read any shadows on her face: it was as much as I could do to look at her at all. What the hell was this? Some kind of wild personal warding system? Iââ¬â¢d never met anything like it. We stared at each other. She wasnââ¬â¢t my boss ââ¬â and she wasnââ¬â¢t a vampire ââ¬â and life with my mother had taught me not to intimidate easily, although this last took some effort, and my head was spinning even worse thanâ⬠¦Uh. What? She was trolling meâ⬠¦ This was strictly illegal: a violation of my personal rights, and anything an illegal fishing expedition found was automatically forfeit too, in theory, but once you know something you know it, donââ¬â¢t you? There is a license you can get to do a mind search under certain circumstances but there is a list of prior requirements as long as the global councilââ¬â¢s charter ââ¬â besides that, you need to be a magic handler particularly talented in etherfo interchange ââ¬â and in practice there are only a few specialist cops and specialist lawyers who get one. And likely some SOFs: but if the goddess had the license, she was misusing it now. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said, and put up my arm, as if to ward off a physical blow. Trolling isnââ¬â¢t an exact science for even the best searcher, and the searchee has to hold still. Big police stations have a mind-search chair as standard equipment, and a medic standing by with a shot of stuff that on the street is called delete, which makes you hold still all right and you may not move real well again for a long time afterward. I was pretty sure she hadnââ¬â¢t had the chance to pull anything out of me but I sure didnââ¬â¢t like her trying. I also thought I understood why those I disconcertingly found myself thinking of as my gang ââ¬â Pat and Jesse and Aimil and Theo ââ¬â looked so jumpy. ââ¬Å"I am so sorry,â⬠she said, not sorry at all. ââ¬Å"I am accustomed to assisting recall in our agents. I did it automatically.â⬠The hell you did, lady, I didnââ¬â¢t say. You were hoping I wouldnââ¬â¢t notice. I did say, ââ¬Å"Good night. If I remember anything, Iââ¬â¢ll let you know.â⬠She would have liked to stop me, but perhaps she didnââ¬â¢t quite dare. I had noticed what sheââ¬â¢d tried to do, and an accusation of illegal mind search would be embarrassing to SOF even if they denied it convincingly. It occurred to me that she must really, really want anything I could tell her, to have taken the chance. Was she that flash on vampires or was there something else going on? Silly me. Of course there was something else going on. If she was just megahot on vampires, she and Pat would be buddies, and they werenââ¬â¢t. It also occurred to me that she couldnââ¬â¢t have pulled anything out of me, because if she had, sheââ¬â¢dââ¬â¢ve found a way to hold me, and she was letting me go. I turned very carefully to the door, wanting to get through it before she changed her mind. I also didnââ¬â¢t want to shake my fix loose till Iââ¬â¢d had a chance to explore it. I felt it swimming, the way a compass needle swims as you turn the casing. Aimil clung solicitously to my elbow. ââ¬Å"My carââ¬â¢s in back,â⬠she said. We were halfway down the final corridor when we heard someone running up behind us: Pat. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve left Jesse trying to deal with the goddess,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Sorry, Sunshine, can you move any faster? I want us all out of here before she thinks of a reason to yank us back in.â⬠They hustled me along between them. Pat was holding his wounded arm pressed against his body, but his grasp on me was strong enough. Once I was outdoors I felt the fix run through me again. ââ¬Å"I have to stop,â⬠I said. Pat didnââ¬â¢t argue, but he glanced over his shoulder. We stood at the top of the little flight of stairs into the parking lot. I took a deep breath and tried to settle myself, wait for the compass needle to stop waving back and forth. It didnââ¬â¢t want to stop waving back and forth. A void needle will presumably be confused by moving around in ordinary reality, the way an ordinary compass needle will be confused by steel beams and magnetic fields. I hoped there werenââ¬â¢t any steel-beam and magnetic-field equivalents nearby. Settle, I told it. I havenââ¬â¢t lost it, I thought, please donââ¬â¢t tell me Iââ¬â¢ve lost itâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Um,â⬠said Aimil. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know if this might be of any help to you,â⬠and she pulled a bit of exploded combox from her pocket and offered it to me. ââ¬Å"You darling,â⬠I said. Sympathetic magic is never the best and is usually the crudest, but when you wanted grounding there is nothing better, and any damn fool with a drop of magic-handler blood six generations back can tap it. I held the scrap of plastic in both hands. This time I didnââ¬â¢t have to turn around. I felt it slamming in over my right shoulder ââ¬â no, through it ââ¬â toward my heart. Like a stake into a vampire. I dropped the bit of combox and threw myself away from its line of flight. The chain round my neck and the knife and seal in my pockets blazed up again ââ¬â and I seemed to have a friction burn across the front of my right shoulder where the whatever-it-was had grazed me in passing ââ¬â it felt like someone had taken an electric sander to me. Pat caught me, or I might have fallen down the steps onto the pavement. ââ¬Å"Wow,â⬠he said, and almost dropped me, as if heââ¬â¢d caught hold of something burning; but he was a true SOF, or he had his damsel-rescuing hat on that evening, or he was more worried about me than about the skin of his hands or the stitches in his shoulder. He flinched but his grip tightened. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"That was a little of what blew the combox.â⬠Aimil shook her head, slowly went to where the bit of broken combox was still rocking on its curved edge where it had landed, bent down even more slowly, and picked it up. Brave woman. But it wasnââ¬â¢t the sort of clue we could afford to leave lying around: everybody knows about sympathetic magic, which would include all the goddessââ¬â¢ spies. Pat rubbed his hands down the sides of his legs. ââ¬Å"Shiva wept,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Sunshine, you okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"More or less.â⬠I looked in the direction that the invisible stake had come from. No Town again. I looked back. ââ¬Å"Your stitches are bleeding.â⬠ââ¬Å"Did you get anything?â⬠ââ¬Å"No Town. We knew that.â⬠Pat expelled his breath in an angry sigh. ââ¬Å"So we blew out the com system, destroyed a lot of equipment, and got the goddess of pain on our butts, and all we know is that itââ¬â¢s No Town. Bloody hell.â⬠I glanced at Aimil, who was valiantly not saying ââ¬Å"I told you so.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Not your fault, Sunshine. Iââ¬â¢m sure weââ¬â¢re on to something with you, we just have to figure out how to use it. Some day weââ¬â¢re going to cruise you around and see if it is No Town at all, and if we can get some kind of angle on it.â⬠I thought this sounded like trying to find the epicenter while youââ¬â¢re falling into the cracks in the earth, but I didnââ¬â¢t say anything. ââ¬Å"But thatââ¬â¢s the long way and Iââ¬â¢m impatient. Damn. Johnââ¬â¢s a com whiz. I should have asked him before. He could take on the goddessââ¬â¢ little waiters; I just thought Sanchez ââ¬â well. It plays as it plays, and the goddess is going to be watching our every move now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Who is she?â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"The goddess of pain? Sunshine, youââ¬â¢re slipping. Sheââ¬â¢s second in command here at div HQ, but we keep hoping sheââ¬â¢ll get promoted out of regional and out of our hair. Jack Demetrios ââ¬â heââ¬â¢s the boss ââ¬â heââ¬â¢s okay.â⬠I did know that. But I didnââ¬â¢t know how to ask about the goddessââ¬â¢ weird vibes. ââ¬Å"Does she have any ââ¬â er ââ¬â unconventional personal wards or anything?â⬠Pat looked at me in that too-alert way I didnââ¬â¢t like. ââ¬Å"You mean other than the fact that her walking into a room makes any sane person want to run out of it? You mean sheââ¬â¢s got that effect as a switch on her control board? Hey, Sunshine, what are you picking up?â⬠I shook my head. ââ¬Å"Nothing. Too much happened tonight is all.â⬠ââ¬Å"She tried to troll you, didnââ¬â¢t she?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"But you blocked her,â⬠said Pat. ââ¬Å"Thank the listening gods. Iââ¬â¢m glad you blocked her anyway, but I always like seeing the goddess screw up.â⬠I had some trouble convincing them to let me drive myself home. I had a lot of trouble convincing them. Aimil knows me well enough to know to stop arguing eventually, but I left Pat scowling and furious. But he wasnââ¬â¢t scowling and furious as hard as he should have been. That meant that they already had something planted out at Yolandeââ¬â¢s to check up on me. Hell. The Wreck was in a good mood. We got home at a steady thirty-five mph and it didnââ¬â¢t diesel for more than fifteen seconds after I turned the key off. I fumbled in the side pocket for something to write on and something to write with: all the usual glove compartment things had got crowded out of the glove compartment by charms. I scribbled, Yolande, help. SOF is monitoring here for Other activity. S, and stuck it under her door. I tried to listen for any tickers in the neighborhood but that wasnââ¬â¢t in my job description and I didnââ¬â¢t know what to listen for. I dragged myself upstairs. I hadnââ¬â¢t cleaned up all that well from last night, so it was easy to fish out a few wax chips from the candles Yolande had given me and dump them into a smudge bowl and light a candle under them. I waited till the chips began to grow soft, and I could smell, faintly, their aroma. Then I closed my eyes and aligned myselfâ⬠¦ I didnââ¬â¢t want to go anywhere. I just wanted to leave a message. The chain around my neck began to feel warm. Only a little warm. â⬠¦Sunshine?â⬠¦ â⬠¦Foundâ⬠¦ â⬠¦Tomorrowâ⬠¦ â⬠¦Bewareâ⬠¦ SOF hereâ⬠¦ It was a good thing my hands knew what to do because the rest of me was barely responsive to automatic pilot the next day, or anyway the gear assembly needed its chain tightened up several links. I got through the morning, the Wreck took me home, I fell asleep several steps from the top of the stairs but my feet carried me the rest of the way into my bedroom and I woke up at three, lying slantways across my unmade bed, my feet hanging over one end, my cheek painfully creased and my bruised jaw made sorer by a wad of bedspread. The sin of untidiness chastised. ââ¬Å"Oh, ow,â⬠I said, rolling over. Bath time. When in doubt, take a bath. My family (especially those of them who remembered clearly what it had been like to share a one-bathroom house with me) every year at Winter Solstice give me enough bubble bath to last me till next Winter Solstice. I wasnââ¬â¢t going to make it this year though. I always got through a lot of bubble bath, but this year was in a category of its own. When I was dressed I went out onto my balcony to brush my wet hair in the sunlight. Yolande was in the garden, cutting off deadheads. She looked up at the sound of my doors opening. ââ¬Å"Good afternoon,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"May I make you a cup of tea?â⬠ââ¬Å"Love it,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Give me five minutes.â⬠When I came downstairs her door was open. I closed it behind me and made my way to her kitchen. My apartment was one of the attics; hers was the whole of the ground floor, and it was a big house. I didnââ¬â¢t linger to stare, but I found myself looking around at everything I had seen before with the new idea that any of it might be possible secret wards; and it did seem to me that the shadows lay differently on certain things than on others, and some of those certain things were pretty unexpected. Could that faded, curling postcard that said A Souvenir of Portland leaning drunkenly against a candlestick be anything but a worthy candidate for a housecleaning purge? Yolande was fitting the tea cozy over the pot when I came in. There were cups on the table. I knew where her cookie plates lived, so I got one down and put my offerings on it: chocolate chip hazelnut, Jamdandies, Cashew Turtles, plus butterscotch brownies and half a dozen muffins. (Fortunately I hadnââ¬â¢t landed on the bakery bag when I fell asleep.) Technically we arenââ¬â¢t supposed to take anything home from the coffeehouse till the end of the day, but Iââ¬â¢d like to see anyone try and stop me. ââ¬Å"It is ironic,â⬠she said, ââ¬Å"that SOF, our white knights against the darkness, are causing you such bother. But I think I can guarantee they will not notice your friend if he comes again. You will forgive me if I made my obstructions specific again to him only. Were you successful the other night?â⬠I didnââ¬â¢t mean to laugh, but a sort of yelp escaped me. ââ¬Å"Yes. If anything too successful.â⬠Yolande said, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m afraid that is sometimes the inevitable result of the possession of real power. That it is stronger than you are, and not very biddable.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think itââ¬â¢s my so-called power thatââ¬â¢s the problem,â⬠I said bleakly. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the trouble it gets me into.â⬠Yolande pulled my cup toward her, settled the tiny silver sieve over it, and poured. Before I met her I had thought you made tea by throwing a tea bag in a mug and adding hot water. Four years ago Iââ¬â¢d convinced Charlie to inaugurate loose tea in individual teapots at Charlieââ¬â¢s. I told him that a coffeehouse that sold champagne by the glass could stretch to loose tea. Our postlunch afternoon crowd had instantly ballooned. Must be more Albion exiles in New Arcadia than we thought. Albion had been hit very badly by the Wars. ââ¬Å"I doubt your interpretation,â⬠said Yolande. ââ¬Å"If I may be blunt, I donââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢d still be alive if you were a mere pawn.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know this is pathetic of me, but sometimes I think Iââ¬â¢d rather be a pawn. Okay, a live pawn.â⬠Yolande was smiling. She had that inward remembering look. ââ¬Å"Responsibility is always a burden,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Next youââ¬â¢re going to tell me it doesnââ¬â¢t get any easier.â⬠ââ¬Å"Quite right. But you do grow more accustomed to it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wardskeepers have this whole rigorous training thing. So you arenââ¬â¢t doing anything ââ¬â stuff doesnââ¬â¢t happen till youââ¬â¢re ready for it.â⬠She laughed, and it was a real laugh. ââ¬Å"Only in theory. Tell me, what were your first cinnamon rolls like? And didnââ¬â¢t the recipe look simple and pure and beautiful on the page? And the instructions your teacher gave you, before he left you to get on with it, were perfectly clear and covered everything?â⬠I smiled reminiscently, stirring sugar into my tea. ââ¬Å"They were little round bricks. I still donââ¬â¢t know how I did it. They got heavier. They canââ¬â¢t have weighed more than the flour I put into them, you know? But I swear they did. Thereââ¬â¢s a family myth that Charlie used them in the wall he was building around Momââ¬â¢s rose garden. I wouldnââ¬â¢t be surprised.â⬠ââ¬Å"The first time I cut a ward sign ââ¬â cutting a sign is your first big step up from drawing all the basic ones, over and over and over, and you long for it ââ¬â I managed to wreck the workshop. Fortunately my master believed my talent was going to be worth it. If we all survived my apprenticeship.â⬠ââ¬Å"I blew out the ovens once, but that wasnââ¬â¢t entirely my faultâ⬠¦Okay. Point taken. But I donââ¬â¢t think anyone knows how to travel through nowheresville.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then I hope you are taking good notes, to make teaching your students easier.â⬠ââ¬Å"You are a hard woman,â⬠I said. She leaned forward and lightly touched the chain around my neck. ââ¬Å"That is a potent thing. You have others, I think, but this is new. It has a great sense of darkness around it, and yet it is a clear dark. Like a bit of jewelry in a black velvet case. A gift from your friend, I imagine.â⬠I nodded, trying not to be unnerved by her perceptiveness. ââ¬Å"My master would be most interested, but he lives on the other side of the country.â⬠ââ¬Å"Your master?â⬠I said, startled out of politeness. ââ¬Å"But youââ¬â¢re ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Old,â⬠she said composedly. ââ¬Å"Yes. Older perhaps than you think. Magic handling has that effect. Surely you know that?â⬠ââ¬Å"I thought it was a fairy tale. Like pots of gold and three wishes.â⬠ââ¬Å"It is not a very reliable effect, and ordinary ward- and spell-crafters wonââ¬â¢t notice much difference. But to those of us who soak ourselves deeply in a magical source, it can have profound consequences. This is not a chosen thing, you know. Or it chooses you, not the other way around.â⬠ââ¬Å"I always thought my grandmother looked very young,â⬠I said slowly. ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t seen her since I was ten. When I was in my teens I decided it was just that she had long dark hair and didnââ¬â¢t look like other peopleââ¬â¢s grandmothers.â⬠ââ¬Å"I never knew your grandmother, although I knew some of the other Blaises at one time. But my guess is that she was much older than you had any idea of.â⬠ââ¬Å"Was,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"None of it got her through the Voodoo Wars. Or my father either.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know theyââ¬â¢re dead. But I canââ¬â¢t believe my gran wouldnââ¬â¢t have let me knowâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ My voice trailed off. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦I have been my motherââ¬â¢s familyââ¬â¢s kid all my life ââ¬â even when we were still living with my dad, I think ââ¬â till four months ago. Almost five months ago. Itââ¬â¢s a shock to the system.â⬠She looked at me thoughtfully. ââ¬Å"Consider the possibility that you had to be a certain age to bear it, when it finally came to you.â⬠ââ¬Å"There must have been an easier way.â⬠She laughed again. ââ¬Å"There is always a better way, in hindsight.â⬠I said, trying to smile, ââ¬Å"The cousins I know ââ¬â my motherââ¬â¢s sistersââ¬â¢ kids ââ¬â are married by the time theyââ¬â¢re my age. The younger ones do stuff like play varsity sports or collect stamps or dollhouse furniture. The two in college, Anne wants to be a marine biologist and William wants to teach primary school. Itââ¬â¢s like the Other side doesnââ¬â¢t exist. Even Charlie, who youââ¬â¢d think of anyone would remember, says heââ¬â¢d almost forgotten who my dad was.â⬠I paused. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t even know how my parents met. It doesnââ¬â¢t seem very likely, does it? That Miss Drastically Normal should fall for Mr. All That Creepy Stuff. All I know is that my mom worked at a floristââ¬â¢s before she married my dad. ââ¬Å"What happened to the safety net, you know? If I was going to turn out this way, why didnââ¬â¢t I get apprenticed? Why didnââ¬â¢t my gran leave a codicil in her will asking someone to keep an eye on me? She taught me to transmute. She knew Iââ¬â¢d inherited something.â⬠Yolande didnââ¬â¢t say anything for several minutes while I sat there trying not to be embarrassed for my outburst. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t believe in fate,â⬠she said at last. ââ¬Å"But I do believe inâ⬠¦loopholes. I think a lot of what keeps the world going is the result of accidents ââ¬â happy or otherwise ââ¬â and taking advantage of these. Perhaps your gran guessed you might be one of those loopholes. Perhaps she left a codicil in her will saying to leave you alone at all costs. What if youââ¬â¢d been apprenticed, and learned that there is no way through nowheresville?â⬠I couldnââ¬â¢t settle down to read that evening ââ¬â anything about the Others made me twitchy, anything else was so irrelevant as to be maddening. Child of Phantoms, another favorite comfort-read for over a decade, failed to hold me. Reading was of course a problem with my dark vision getting in the way, but in fact flat black type on a flat white page was easier to deal with than almost anything else. I did pretty well so long as I remembered to keep my head and the page perfectly still; if I didnââ¬â¢t, the print jumped sick-makingly into three dimensions. It was like the advertising about some latest thriller or other: This story is so exciting it will leap off the page at you! For me it did. This is disconcerting when youââ¬â¢re reading Professional Baking Quarterly, which I usually tried to do. It made me feel I had some of the right attitude, and the letters page was always good for a laugh. Mom renewed my subscription every year as a supportive-maternal present. Surprise. I did shut myself into the closet for half an hour with my combox. I had to screw up my courage to hit the ââ¬Å"liveâ⬠button. But nothing happened except what is supposed to happen. Whew. Perhaps the com cosmos isnââ¬â¢t so homogenous after all. I knew that the official line is that the comcos is entirely a human creation, but then the official human line would be that, wouldnââ¬â¢t it? And if there is a lot of vampire engineering in it, that would help to explain both where a lot of vampire money came from and why every authority on the planet ââ¬â business, ecosyn, social service, governmental, all of them ââ¬â is droolingly paranoid about vampires. However, if my combox was still in one piece and the comcos equivalent of the Big Ugly Thing That Ate Schenectady hadnââ¬â¢t burst out of the screen and seized me, there must still be enough human input to the workings of the comcos to keep itâ⬠¦heterogeneous. How to cite Sunshine Chapter 22, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Poetry Persuasive Essay Example For Students
Poetry Persuasive Essay An author writes a book or novel to have the whole story put right out for you with a clear cut beginning middle and end. A poet can write a novel in very minimal lines or a few verses. They tell a story but give the rest for you to think and ponder about. A poet uses multiple literary devices In one single poem. When reading a poem you have to decode or decipher what the poet is really trying to say. They may use metaphors, irony and much more, in the poem l Finally managed to speak to her, he poet, Hal Sorority uses both of these literary devices. The first literary device that is used in this poem is a metaphor. The poem l finally managed to speak to her is about a young man sitting across from a young girl on a bus. They are driving through New York City, and he would Like to talk to her. He says The trees look so much greener is this part of the country. In New York City everything looks so drab. Although he is referring to the trees, Sorority uses the trees as a metaphor for him. Despite the fact that he has written about the trees you have to look deeper and the meaning and decipher what is trying to be said. Since the metaphor is really talking about him rather than the trees it really brings out the meaning of the poem. In an Interview Sorority said she was too self-involved. Or to put it in nicer terms, she wasnt into When he said this what I got is that when he wrote that she said when you find another one let me know is that she didnt really want to talk to him so she Is finishing the conversation. The metaphors in this poem are outstanding and really give you a glimpse into the authors life. Until you actually really take a deeper look into the poem and realize what he Is trying to say you may think that he Is literally talking about the trees In different parts of the country. The second literary device that Sorority uses in his poem l finally managed to speak to her Is Irony. Irony Is used In Sorority poem l Finally Managed to Speak to Her because originally reading the poem you blatantly see that he is talking to a girl n the bus about trees. While you reread the poem you start to realize that it is not lust the trees he Is talking about, It Is her. Even though you want to think one thing there are multiple ways to look at this poem. This is where the irony comes in. Is it ironic that he says everything looks so drab? If he is trying to talk about her is he trying to refer to every other girl being drab so that she can feel special? Despite the fact that we can look at this many ways Sorrow; says, l wanted her to see me rather than the differences In the trees. Interview) It is very ironic that the author is using trees to talk about a love life that never happened. Its Like he Is trying to put the trees and the girl he is talking to out there for others to realize that you may get turned down every now and then but dont give up. The literary devices Hal Sorority used In his poem, l finally Managed to Speak to Her was metaphor and Irony. He used them in two similar ways but when you look at them they are completely differ ent. The way he uses his metaphors is astonishing. Epic Poetry And Beowulf Analysis EssayIt doesnt have to have this deeper meaning to it but has to be genuine to the poet and have something real to them. Above for inspection, imaginary gardens with real toads in them shall we have it. This creates images in the readers head and creates that sense of imagery by giving it direction on how anything can be imaginative but adding reality to it can be worthwhile and she be taken for accounted for. In the meantime, if you demand on the one hand, the raw material of poetry in all its rawness and that which is on the other hand genuine, you are interested in poetry. The ending to this poem stands out to me the most because this part says that even raw poetry can be good, and having that rawness as a good thing can make it genuine since anything can be poetry but it has to be genuine. The speaker address the reader by saying if you can appreciate rawness in all its power, then you can appreciate poetry in all its rawness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)