appearance vs reality Essay -- essays research papers

Appearance vs. Reality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Things are not always as they appear. You may think someone is a certain way because of how they dress and carry themselves this is called stereotyping. Many people stereotype without even noticing that they are doing it. Everyone has his or her right to first impressions, but stereotyping is wrong. There are many examples of this topic in literature as well as in our society today. The main population accused of stereotyping is teenagers; they are seen as rude and judgmental. For example, in high school the people are divided into groups by how they dress and whom they hang out with. There are the skaters, freaks, preps, snobs, cheerleaders, jocks and nerds. No one person set up these different groups, they came along as the years went by. It is not fair to automatically say someone is a prep or freak by just looking at them; the people in different groups have many of the same characteristics and the same friends. So, how can they be stereotyped if all the groups mingle anyways? Although the teenagers are usually accused of stereotyping, it occurs no matter what age you are. For example, if an adult sees another one dressed in cheaper clothes, they might assume they are poor. Or if someone sees another with real expensive clothes, they assume they are rich. This is a false accusation, because one cannot tell if another is rich or poor by how they dress or what kind of house they live in. Some people like to save money ...

Staying Informed: Old News

There was a time when news information was disseminated by a select few who had access to the relevant reports, files, and statistics.   When this was the case, the world gathered around a radio, shared a newspaper, or turned on the television—one that had fewer than ten channels).   This â€Å"news† was often like a leftover meal in terms of value: by the time it was released, the world had moved forward, and something new was hot. Progress was made, and television news programs began to delve deeper into stories; reporters suddenly began delivering â€Å"breaking† news reports, and the information was at least lukewarm when the public got its hands it.   It was the era of reporters like Paul Harvey who took what the world knew, dug more deeply, and presented â€Å"the rest of the story† (Radio Legend Paul Harvey Biography, 2003). Today, a cell phone can alert its owner of breaking news stories from around the world; reporters deliver broadcasts live from battlefields; and the internet has made it possible to receive information almost instantly.   Most consumers now get their news online, via one of hundreds of television channels, or through a variety of print media.   Unfortunately, the days of print media and even local reporting seem to be dying, and while their loss may not even create a ripple, what they have to offer the consumer is irreplaceable. It is true that the average printed report cannot provide the live-action, emotionally packed footage of a series of photographs or a streaming video, but words do matter, and while one’s brain struggles to capture the intricacies of backgrounds, sounds, and images that flash in front of the eyes in photographs and videos, the thought-process of the viewer is overwhelmed by the visual imagery. MSNBC online featured a written report and a series of videos and slide shows on October 16, 2006 that captured the story surrounding the earthquake in Hawaii the previous day. When compared, the headline video and headline print report reveal some very interesting trends in the ways in which the news is disseminated. The headlining video report â€Å"Powerful Earthquakes Shake Hawaii† is two and one-half minutes long and features a variety of images that show damage to a local woman’s home, the picture of a landslide caught by a photographer, various tourists being inconvenienced, file footage of volcanic eruption, the Hawaiian coastline, people buying gas, and shoppers at a grocery store. These pictures are accompanied by interview sound bites or voiced-over by reporter Howard Dashefsky, but the entire report is devoid of real information.   What might one expect as the aftermath of an earthquake on a populated island that is also a tourist attraction?   If I had guessed at the â€Å"aftermath,† I would have imagined almost everything I saw in Dashefsky’s report.   Although the images were fascinating and even engaging at times, I left the report with virtually no residual caring and no remnant thoughts: nothing of value had been added to my brain. The headline print report begins with â€Å"officials fanned out across Hawaii early Monday to inspect bridges and roads following the strongest earthquake to rattle the islands in more than two decades, a 6.6-magnitude quake that caused blackouts and landslides, but no immediate reports of fatalities† (Associated Press).   In the opening paragraph of the print report, I found out what happened; I felt sorrow and relief; and I was driven to consider the after-effects of the earthquake in ways not even broached by the video report.   It took me less than one minute to read the print report, but in that minute I learned about what had happened, where it had happened, that no tsunami was expected, what was being done, what would be done—the list is almost endless. Those who watch the video report will stand around water coolers discussing benign elements of the event.   The will recall the semi-ravaged home of one resident and the fight to get gas and groceries; moreover, they will congratulate themselves on not having wasted their own money on a spoiled Hawaiian vacation.   This is the kind of thinking that is being fostered in the United States: superficial, image-based, self-centered, and desensitized. Those who take (less) time to actually read about the earthquake will stand around the water cooler discussing factual details.   They will likely be amazed by the good fortune of such a historically large earthquake resulting in no fatalities; they will wonder if the roads and bridges where they live would be damaged after such an event; they may ponder how long the state of disaster will remain in effect; they will think about how happy they are not to be there on vacation, but it will most likely not be the first thing on which they comment.   This is the kind of thinker that is in danger of dying in the United States: one who craves facts and the chance to critique them while expanding his/her knowledge base. The ability to receive immediate information is a boon to the news consumer; however, the availability of instant images, facts, and reports must be combined with words that are as stimulating, powerful, and informative as the visual clues—or a numbing of the mind and the senses is bound to occur.   Reports that are piping hot can be delivered to the public as a combination of the best of what can be seen, what can be heard, and what can be read.   Like a dinner filled with the necessary food groups, communication needs to combine its sources and resources for the most palatable and healthiest results. References Associated Press, The.   (October 16, 2006).   Hawaii checks bridges, roads after quake: Landslides and power outages but no reports of deaths.   MSNBC.   Retrieved October 16, 2006, from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15286294/. Dashefsky, H.   (October 16, 2006).   Powerful earthquakes shake Hawaii.   MSNBC Video.   Retrieved October 16, 2006, from http://video.msn.com. Radio Legend Paul Harvey Biography.   (2003).   Paul Harvey: The Voice of the New Millennium.   paulharvey.com: ABC Radio Networks.   Retrieved October 16, 2006, from http://www.paulharvey.com/bio.shtml.

Blood Promise Chapter Twelve

Being with Lissa left me with more questions than answers, and so without a course of action, I simply continued to stay with the Belikovs for the next few days. I fell into their normal routine, again surprised by how easy it was. I tried hard to make myself useful, doing any chores they'd let me do and even going so far as watching the baby (something I wasn't entirely comfortable with, seeing as guardian training hadn't left much time for after school jobs like babysitting). Yeva eyed me the whole time, never saying anything but always looking like she disapproved. I wasn't sure if she wanted me to go or if that was simply the way she always looked. The others, however, didn't question me at all. They were delighted to have me around and made it obvious in every action. Viktoria was especially happy. â€Å"I wish you could come back to school with us,† Viktoria said wistfully one evening. She and I had been spending a lot of time together. â€Å"When do you go back?† â€Å"Monday, right after Easter.† I felt a little sadness stir in me. Whether I was still here or not, I would miss her. â€Å"Oh, man. I didn't realize it was so soon.† A small silence fell between us; then she gave me a sidelong look. â€Å"Have you thought†¦ well, have you maybe thought about coming back to St. Basil's with us?† I stared. â€Å"St. Basil's? Your school is named after a saint too?† Not all of them were. Adrian had attended an East Coast school called Alder. â€Å"Ours is a human saint,† she said with a grin. â€Å"You could enroll there. You could finish your last year-I'm sure they'd take you.† Of all the crazy options I'd considered on this trip-and believe me, I'd considered a lot of crazy things-that was one that had never crossed my mind. I'd written school off. I was pretty sure there was nothing else I could learn-well, after meeting Sydney and Mark, it had become obvious there were still a few more things. Considering what I wanted to do with my life, however, I didn't think another semester of math and science would do much for me. And as far as guardian training went, mostly all I had left to do w s prepare for the end-of-year trials. I somehow doubted those tests and challenges would even come remotely close to what I'd experienced with Strigoi already. I shook my head. â€Å"I don't think so. I think I'm pretty much done with school. Besides, it'd all be in Russian.† â€Å"They'd translate for you.† A mischievous grin lit her face. â€Å"Besides, kicking and punching transcend language.† Her smile faded to a more thoughtful expression. â€Å"But seriously. If you aren't going to finish school, and you aren't going to be a guardian†¦ well, why don't you stay here? I mean, just in Baia. You could live with us.† â€Å"I'm not going to be a blood whore,† I said immediately. An odd look crossed her face. â€Å"That's not what I meant.† â€Å"I shouldn't have said that. Sorry.† I felt bad about the comment. While I kept hearing rumors about blood whores in town, I'd only seen one or two, and certainly the Belikov women weren't among them. Sonya's pregnancy was something of a mystery, but working in a drugstore didn't seem that sordid. I'd learned a little bit more about Karolina's situation. The father of her children was a Moroi she apparently had a genuine connection with. She hadn't cheapened herself to be with him, and he hadn't used her. After the baby was born, the two of them had decided to part ways, but it had been friendly. Karolina was now apparently dating a guardian who visited whenever he had leave. The few blood whores I had seen around town very much fit my stereotype. Their clothing and makeup screamed easy sex. The bruises on their necks clearly showed that they had no problem with letting their partners drink blood during sex, which was pretty much the sleaziest thing a dhampir could do. Only humans gave blood to Moroi. My race didn't. To allow it-particularly during sexual activities-well, like I said, it was sleazy. The dirtiest of the dirty. â€Å"Mother would love it if you stayed. You could get a job too. Just be part of our family.† â€Å"I can't take Dimitri's place, Viktoria,† I said softly. She reached out and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. â€Å"I know. No one expects you to. We like you for you, Rose. You being here just feels right-there's a reason Dimka chose to be with you. You fit in here.† I tried to imagine the life she described. It sounded†¦ easy. Comfortable. No worries. Just living with a loving family, laughing and hanging out together each night. I could go about my own life, not having to trail someone else all day. I would have sisters. There'd be no fighting-unless it was to defend. I could give up this plan to kill Dimitri-which I knew would kill me too, either physically or spiritually. I could choose the rational path, let him go and accept him as dead. And, yet†¦ if I did that, why not just go back to Montana? Back to Lissa and the Academy? â€Å"I don't know,† I told Viktoria at last. â€Å"I don't know what I'm going to do.† It was just after dinner, and she glanced hesitantly at the clock. â€Å"I don't want to leave you since we don't have much time together, but†¦ I was supposed to meet someone soon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Nikolai?† I teased. She shook her head, and I tried to hide my disappointment. I'd seen him a few times, and he'd grown more and more likeable. It was too bad Viktoria couldn't kindle any feelings for him. Now, though, I wondered if there might be something holding her back-or rather, someone. â€Å"Oh, spill,† I said with a grin. â€Å"Who is he?† She kept her face blank in a fair imitation of Dimitri's. â€Å"A friend,† she said evasively. But I thought I saw a smile in her eyes. â€Å"Someone at school?† â€Å"No.† She sighed. â€Å"And that's the problem. I'm going to miss him so much.† My smile faded. â€Å"I can imagine.† â€Å"Oh.† She looked embarrassed. â€Å"That's stupid of me. My problems†¦ well, they're nothing compared to yours. I mean, I may not see him for a while†¦ but I will see him. But Dimitri's gone. You won't see him ever again.† Well, that might not be entirely true. I didn't tell her that, though. Instead, I just said, â€Å"Yeah.† To my surprise, she gave me a hug. â€Å"I know what love's like. To lose that†¦ I don't know. I don't know what to say. All I can tell you is that we're here for you. All of us, okay? You can't replace Dimitri, but you do feel like a sister.† Her calling me a sister both stunned and warmed me at the same time. She had to go get ready for her date after that. She hurriedly changed clothes and put on makeup-definitely more than a friend, I decided-and headed out the door. I was kind of glad because I didn't want her to see the tears that her words had brought to my eyes. I'd spent my life as an only child. Lissa had been the closest I had to a sister. I'd always thought of Lissa as one; one I'd now lost. To hear Viktoria call me a sister now†¦ well, it stirred something in me. Something that told me I really did have friends and wasn't alone. I headed down to the kitchen after that, and Olena soon joined me. I was rummaging for food. â€Å"Was that Viktoria I heard leave?† she asked. â€Å"Yeah, she went off to see a friend.† To my credit, I kept my expression neutral. No way would I sell Viktoria out. Olena sighed. â€Å"I'd wanted her to run an errand for me in town.† â€Å"I'll do it,† I said eagerly. â€Å"After I grab something to eat.† She gave me a kind smile and patted my cheek. â€Å"You have a good heart, Rose. I can see why Dimka loved you.† It was so amazing, I thought, how accepted my relationship with Dimitri was around here. No one brought up age or teacher-student relationships. As I'd told Sydney, it was like I was his widow or something, and Viktoria's words about me staying replayed in my head. The way Olena looked at me made me feel like I really was her daughter, and once more, I experienced those traitorous feelings about my own mom. She probably would have scoffed at me and Dimitri. She would have called it inappropriate and said I was too young. Or would she have? Maybe I was being too harsh. Seeing me in front of the open cupboard, Olena shook her head reproachfully. â€Å"But you need to eat first.† â€Å"Just a snack,† I assured her. â€Å"Don't go to any trouble.† She ended up slicing me off big pieces of black bread she'd baked earlier that day and put out a tub of butter because she knew I loved to slather up my slices. Karolina had teased me that Americans might be shocked to know what was in this bread, so I never asked any questions. It was somehow sweet and tangy at the same time, and I loved it. Olena sat down across from me and watched me eat. â€Å"This was his favorite when he was little.† â€Å"Dimitri's?† She nodded. â€Å"Whenever he was on break from school, the first thing he'd do is ask for that bread. I practically had to make him his own loaf each time with the way he ate. The girls never ate that much.† â€Å"Guys always seem to eat more.† Admittedly, I could keep up with most of them. â€Å"And he's bigger and taller than most.† â€Å"True,† she mused. â€Å"But I eventually reached a point where I made him start making it himself. I told him if he was going to eat all my food, he'd best know how much work went into it.† I laughed. â€Å"I can't imagine Dimitri baking bread.† And yet, as soon as the words came out, I reconsidered. My immediate associations with Dimitri were always intense and fierce; it was his sexy, battle-god persona that came to mind. Yet, it had been Dimitri's gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with such precision would carefully brush the hair out of my face. The eyes that could astutely spot any danger in the area would regard me wonderingly and worshipfully, like I was the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world. I sighed, consumed by that bittersweet ache in my chest that had become so familiar now. What a stupid thing, getting worked up over a loaf of bread of all things. But that was how it was. I got emotional whenever I thought about Dimitri. Olena's eyes were on me, sweet and compassionate. â€Å"I know,† she said, guessing my thoughts. â€Å"I know exactly how you feel.† â€Å"Does it get easier?† I asked. Unlike Sydney, Olena had an answer. â€Å"Yes. But you'll never be the same.† I didn't know whether to take comfort from those words or not. After I finished eating, she gave me a brief grocery list, and I set off toward downtown, happy to be outside and moving. Inactivity didn't suit me. While in the grocery store, I was surprised to run into Mark. I'd gotten the impression he and Oksana didn't come to town that often. I wouldn't have put it past them to grow their own food and live off the land. He gave me a warm smile. â€Å"I wondered if you were still around.† â€Å"Yeah.† I held up my basket. â€Å"Just doing some shopping for Olena.† â€Å"I'm glad you're still here,† he said. â€Å"You seem more†¦ at peace.† â€Å"Your ring is helping, I think. At least with the peace. It hasn't done much as far as any decision making goes.† He frowned, shifting the milk he held in one arm to the other. â€Å"What decisions?† â€Å"What to do now. Where to go.† â€Å"Why not stay here?† It was eerie, so similar to the conversation I'd had with Viktoria. And my response was equally similar. â€Å"I don't know what I'd do if I stayed here.† â€Å"Get a job. Live with the Belikovs. They love you, you know. You fit right in with their family.† That warm, loved feeling came back, and I again tried to imagine myself just settling down with them, working in a store like this or waiting tables. â€Å"I don't know,† I said. I was a broken record. â€Å"I just don't know if that's right for me.† â€Å"Better than the alternative,† he warned. â€Å"Better than running off with no real purpose, throwing yourself in the face of danger. That's no choice at all.† And yet, it was the reason I'd come to Siberia in the first place. My inner voice scolded me. Dimitri, Rose. Have you forgotten Dimitri? Have you forgotten how you came here to free him, like he would have wanted? Or was that really what he would have wanted? Maybe he would have wanted me to stay safe. I just didn't know, and with no more help from Mason, my choices were even more muddled. Thinking of Mason suddenly reminded me of something I'd totally forgotten. â€Å"When we talked before†¦ well, we talked about what Lissa and Oksana could do. But what about you?† Mark narrowed his eyes. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Have you ever†¦ have you ever run into, um, ghosts?† Several moments passed, and then he exhaled. â€Å"I'd hoped that wouldn't happen to you.† It astonished me then how much relief I felt to know I wasn't alone in my ghostly experiences. Even though I now understood that having died and been to the world of the dead made me a target for spirits, it was still one of the freakiest things about being shadow-kissed. â€Å"Did it happen without you wanting it?† I asked. â€Å"At first. Then I learned to control it.† â€Å"Me too.† I suddenly recalled the barn. â€Å"Actually, that's not entirely true.† Lowering my voice further, I hastily recapped what had happened on my trip here with Sydney. I'd never spoken of it to anyone. â€Å"You must never, ever do that again,† he said sternly. â€Å"But I didn't mean to! It just happened.† â€Å"You panicked. You needed help, and some part of you called out to the spirits around you. Don't do it. It's not right, and it's easy to lose control.† â€Å"I don't even know how I did it.† â€Å"Like I said, lapse of control. Don't ever let your panic get the best of you.† An older woman passed us, a scarf over her head and a basket of vegetables in her arms. I waited until she was gone before asking Mark, â€Å"Why did they fight for me?† â€Å"Because the dead hate Strigoi. The Strigoi are unnatural, neither living nor dead-just existing in some state in between. Just as we sense that evil, so do the ghosts.† â€Å"Seems like they could be a good weapon.† That face, normally easy and open, frowned. â€Å"It's dangerous. People like you and me already walk the edge of darkness and insanity. Openly calling upon the dead only brings us closer to falling over that edge and losing our minds.† He glanced at his watch and sighed. â€Å"Look, I have to go, but I'm serious, Rose. Stay here. Stay out of trouble. Fight Strigoi if they come to you, but don't go seeking them blindly. And definitely leave the ghosts alone.† It was a lot of advice to get in a grocery store, a lot of advice I wasn't sure I could follow. But I thanked him and sent my regards to Oksana before paying and leaving as well. I was heading back toward Olena's neighborhood when I rounded a corner and nearly walked right into Abe. He was dressed in his usual flashy way, wearing that expensive coat and a yellow-gold scarf that matched the gold in his jewelry. His guardians hovered nearby, and he leaned casually against a building's brick wall. â€Å"So this is why you came to Russia. To go to the market like some peasant.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Of course not.† â€Å"Just sightseeing then?† â€Å"No. I'm just being helpful. Stop trying to get information out of me. You're not as smart as you think you are.† â€Å"That's not true,† he said. â€Å"Look, I told you already. I came here to tell the Belikovs the news. So go back and tell whoever you're working for that that's that.† â€Å"And I told you before not to lie to me,† he said. Again, I saw that odd mix of danger and humor. â€Å"You have no idea how patient I've been with you. From anyone else, I would have gotten the information I needed that first night.† â€Å"Lucky me,† I snapped back. â€Å"What now? Are you going to take me down an alley and beat me up until I tell you why I'm here? I'm losing interest in this whole scary-mob-boss routine, you know.† â€Å"And I'm losing patience with you,† he said. There went the humor, and as he stood over me, I couldn't help but uneasily note that he was better built than most Moroi. A lot of Moroi avoided fights, but I wouldn't have been surprised if Abe had roughed up as many people as his bodyguards had. â€Å"And honestly? I don't care why you're here anymore. You just need to leave. Now.† â€Å"Don't threaten me, old man. I'll leave whenever the hell I want.† It was funny, I'd just sworn to Mark that I didn't know if I could stay in Baia, but when pressured by Abe, I just wanted to dig my feet in. â€Å"I don't know what you're trying to keep me from, but I'm not scared of you.† That also wasn't entirely true. â€Å"You should be,† he returned pleasantly. â€Å"I can be a very good friend or a very bad enemy. I can make it worth your while if you leave. We can strike a bargain.† There was an almost excited gleam in his eyes as he spoke. I recalled Sydney describing him manipulating others, and I got the feeling this was what he lived for-negotiating, striking trades to get what he wanted. â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"I'll leave when I'm ready. And there's nothing you or whoever you're working for can do about it.† Hoping I appeared bold, I turned around. He reached out and grabbed my shoulder, jerking me back, nearly causing me to lose the groceries. I started to lunge forward in attack mode, but his guardians were right there in a flash. I knew I wouldn't get far. â€Å"Your time is up here,† hissed Abe. â€Å"In Baia. In Russia. Go back to the U.S. I'll give you what you need-money, first-class tickets, whatever.† I stepped out of his reach, backing carefully away. â€Å"I don't need your help or your money-God only knows where it comes from.† A group of people turned the corner across the street, laughing and talking, and I stepped back further, certain Abe wouldn't start a scene with witnesses present. It made me feel braver, which was probably stupid on my part. â€Å"And I already told you: I'll go back whenever the hell I want.† Abe's eyes lifted to the other pedestrians, and he too retreated back with his guardians. That chilling smile was on his face. â€Å"And I told you. I can be a very good friend or a very bad enemy. Get out of Baia before you find out which.† He turned around and left, much to my relief. I didn't want him to see just how much fear his words had left on my face. I went to bed early that night, suddenly feeling antisocial. I lay there for a while, flipping through another magazine I couldn't read, and amazingly found myself growing more and more tired. I think the encounters with Mark and Abe had exhausted me. Mark's words about staying had hit too close to home after my earlier conversation with Viktoria. Abe's thinly veiled threats had raised all my defenses, putting me on guard against whoever was working with him to make me leave Russia. At what point, I wondered, would he truly lose patience and stop trying to bargain? I drifted off to sleep and the familiar sense of an Adrian-dream settled around me. It had been a long time since this had happened, and I'd actually thought he'd listened to me when I'd told him to stay away before. Of course, I always told him that. This had been the longest time span to go by without a visit, and as much as I hated to admit it, I'd kind of missed him. The setting he'd chosen this time was a piece of the Academy's property, a woodsy area near a pond. Everything was green and in bloom, and sunlight shone down on us. I suspected Adrian's creation didn't match what Montana's weather was really like right now, but then, he was in control. He could do whatever he wanted. â€Å"Little dhampir,† he said, smiling. â€Å"Long time no see.† â€Å"I thought you were done with me,† I said, sitting down on a large, smooth rock. â€Å"Never done with you,† he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and strolling over to me. â€Å"Although†¦ to tell the truth, I did intend to stay away this time. But, well, I had to make sure you were still alive.† â€Å"Alive and well.† He smiled down at me. The sun glinted off his brown hair, giving it golden-chestnut highlights. â€Å"Good. You seem very well, actually. Your aura's better than I've ever seen it.† His eyes drifted from my face down to where my hands lay in my lap. Frowning, he knelt down and picked up my right hand. â€Å"What's this?† Oksana's ring was on it. Despite the ring's lack of ornamentation, the metal gleamed brightly in the light. The dreams were so strange. Even though Adrian and I weren't together, exactly, the ring had followed me in and kept its power enough that he could sense it. â€Å"A charm. It's infused with spirit.† Like me, this was apparently something he'd never considered. His expression grew eager. â€Å"And it heals, right? It's what's keeping some of the darkness from your aura.† â€Å"Some,† I said, uneasy about his fixation on it. I took it off and slipped it into my pocket. â€Å"It's temporary. I met another spirit user-and a shadowkissed dhampir.† More surprise registered on his face. â€Å"What? Where?† I bit my lip and shook my head. â€Å"Damn it, Rose! This is big. You know how Lissa and I have been looking for other spirit users. Tell me where they are.† â€Å"No. Maybe later. I don't want you guys coming after me.† For all I knew, they were already after me, using Abe as their agent. His green eyes flashed angrily. â€Å"Look, pretend for a moment the world doesn't revolve around you, okay? This is about Lissa and me, about understanding this crazy magic inside of us. If you've got people who can help us, we need to know.† â€Å"Maybe later,† I repeated stonily. â€Å"I'm moving on soon-then I'll tell you.† â€Å"Why are you always so difficult?† â€Å"Because you like me that way.† â€Å"At the moment? Not so much.† It was the kind of joking comment Adrian usually made, but just then, something about it bothered me. For some reason, I got the tiniest, tiniest feeling that I suddenly wasn't as endearing to him as usual. â€Å"Just try being patient,† I told him. â€Å"I'm sure you guys have other stuff to work on. And Lissa seems pretty busy with Avery.† The words slipped out before I could help it, and some of the bitterness and envy I'd felt watching them the other night laced my tone. Adrian raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen, she admits it. You have been spying on Lissa-I knew it.† I looked away. â€Å"I just like to know she's alive too.† As if I could go anywhere in the world and not know that. â€Å"She is. Alive and well, like you. Er†¦ mostly well.† Adrian frowned. â€Å"Sometimes I get this strange vibe off of her. She doesn't seem quite right or her aura will flicker a little. Never lasts long, but I still worry.† Something in Adrian's voice softened. â€Å"Avery worries about her too, so Lissa's in good hands. Avery's pretty amazing.† I gave him a scathing look. â€Å"Amazing? Do you like her or something?† I hadn't forgotten Avery's comment about leaving the door unlocked for him. â€Å"Of course I like her. She's a great person.† â€Å"No, I mean like. Not like.† â€Å"Oh, I see,† he said, rolling his eyes. â€Å"We're dealing with elementary school definitions of ? ®like.'† â€Å"You're not answering the question.† â€Å"Well, like I said, she's a great person. Smart. Outgoing. Beautiful.† Something in the way he said â€Å"beautiful† bugged me. I averted my eyes again, playing with the blue nazar around my neck as I tried to parse my feelings. Adrian figured things out first. â€Å"Are you jealous, little dhampir?† I looked back up at him. â€Å"No. If I was going to be jealous over you, I would have gone crazy a long time ago, considering all the girls you mess around with.† â€Å"Avery's not the kind of girl you mess around with.† Again, I heard that affection in his voice, that dreaminess. It shouldn't have bothered me. I should have been glad he was interested in another girl. After all, I'd been trying to convince him to leave me alone for a very long time. Part of the conditions of him giving me money for this trip had involved me promising to give him a fair shot at dating when-and if-I returned to Montana. If he got together with Avery, it would be one less thing for me to worry about. And honestly, if it had been any other girl except Avery, I probably wouldn't have minded. But somehow, the idea of her enchanting him was just too much. Wasn't it bad enough that I was losing Lissa to her? How was it possible that one girl could so easily take my place? She'd stolen my best friend, and now the guy who'd sworn up and down that I was the one he wanted was seriously considering replacing me. You're being a hypocrite, a stern voice inside of me said. Why should you feel so wronged about someone else coming into their lives? You abandoned them. Lissa and Adrian both. They have every right to move on. I stood up angrily. â€Å"Look, I'm done talking to you tonight. Will you let me out of this dream? I'm not telling you where I am. And I'm not interested in hearing about how wonderful Avery is and how much better than me she is.† â€Å"Avery would never act like a little brat,† he said. â€Å"She wouldn't get so offended that someone actually cares enough to check on her. She wouldn't deny me the chance to learn more about my magic because she was paranoid someone would ruin her crazy attempt to get over her boyfriend's death.† â€Å"Don't talk to me about being a brat,† I shot back. â€Å"You're as selfish and self-centered as usual. It's always about you-even this dream is. You hold me against my will, whether I want it or not, because it amuses you.† â€Å"Fine,† he said, voice cold. â€Å"I'll end this. And I'll end everything between us. I won't be coming back.† â€Å"Good. I hope you mean it this time.† His green eyes were the last thing I saw before I woke up in my own bed. I sat up, gasping. My heart felt like it was breaking, and I almost thought I might cry. Adrian was right-I had been a brat. I'd lashed out at him when it wasn't really deserved. And yet†¦ I hadn't been able to help it. I missed Lissa. I even kind of missed Adrian. And now someone else was taking my place, someone who wouldn't just walk away like I had. I won't be coming back. And for the first time ever, I had a feeling he really wouldn't be.

Mandatory Drug Tests essays

Mandatory Drug Tests essays Should drug tests be given before a person is hired for a job? Yes, they should. Take a teacher for instance. Before a teacher is hired he or she would have a drug test in order to make a students parents feel secure about sending them to school, set a better example for the children, and relieve other staff members about drugs being used around them. Although the teacher may be completely qualified for his or her job, a drug test should still be taken because one wouldnt feel secure about sending his or her child to a place where drugs are possibly being used. A teacher at a local high school was using drugs and a parent took his child out of that school. If a drug test were to be taken in order to get the job, then one would feel safe and secure about sending his or her child to that school. Even though one may be highly qualified and professional about his or her job, it would set a better example to have a drug test before one was hired. The school where the teacher used drugs was looked down on. However, a school that did require a drug test was highly praised. It was a very good example for young adults and children. Because other staff members would feel better about drugs not being used around them, drug tests should be taken. One must take a test in order for others to be certain of a drug-free environment. A teacher once said, If the teachers arent using drugs, then they dont have anything to worry about. This is very true. A drug test not only would make a parent feel secure about sending his or her child to a drug-free environment, but would also set a good example and relive co-workers about drugs being used around them. Not only should this be required for teachers but for anyone that applies for any kind of job. This would set a better example for the world. ...

Instruction and Assessment Unique to Each Student

Instruction and Assessment Unique to Each Student If teaching were as simple as using the one best way to teach everything, it would be considered more of a science. However, there isnt just one best way to teach everything and thats why teaching is an art. If teaching meant simply following a text book and using the same size fits all approach, then anyone could teach, right? Thats what makes teachers and especially special educators unique and special. Long ago, teachers knew that individual needs, strengths and weaknesses must drive instructional and assessment practice. Weve always known that children come in their own individual packages and that no two children learn the same way even though the curriculum may be the same. Instructional and assessment practice can (and should) be different to ensure that learning happens. This is where differentiated instruction and assessment comes in. Teachers need to create a variety of entry points to ensure that student differing abilities, strengths, and needs are all taken into consideration. Students then need varying opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge based on the teaching, hence differentiated assessment. Here are the nuts and bolts of differentiated instruction and assessment: Choice is key to the process. Choice of learning activity as well as choice in the assessment (how the student will demonstrate understanding).The learning tasks always consider the students strengths/weaknesses. Visual learners will have visual cues, auditory learners will have auditory cues etc.Groupings of students will vary, some will work better independently and others will work in various group settings.Multiple intelligence is taken into consideration as are the students learning and thinking styles .Lessons are authentic to ensure that all students can make connections.Project and problem based learning are also key in differentiated instruction and assessment.Lessons and assessments are adapted to meet the needs of all students.Opportunities for children to think for themselves is clearly evident. Differentiated instruction and assessment IS NOT NEW! Great teachers have been implementing these strategies for a long time. What does differentiated instruction and assessment look like? First of all, identify the learning outcomes. For the purpose of this explanation, Ill use Natural Disasters. Now we need to tap into our students prior knowledge. What do they know? For this stage you can do a brainstorm with the whole group or small groups or individually. Or, you can do a KWL chart. Graphic organizers work well for tapping into prior knowledge. You may also consider using a who, what, when, where, why and how graphic organizers individually or in groups. Key to this task is ensuring that everyone can contribute. Now that youve identified what the students know, its time to move into what they need and want to learn. You can post chart paper around the room dividing the topic into sub topics. For instance, for natural disasters I would post chart paper with different headings (hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes etc.). Each group or individual comes to the chart paper and writes down what they know about any of the topics. From this point you can form discussion groups based on interest, each group signs up for the natural disaster they want to learn more about. The groups will need to identify the resources that will help them gain additional information. Now its time to determine how the students will demonstrate their new knowledge after their investigations/research which will include books, documentaries, internet research etc. For this, again, choice is necessary as is taking into consideration their strengths/needs and learning styles. Here are some suggestions: create a talk show, write a news release, teach the class, create an informational brochure, create a powerpoint to show everyone, make illustrations with descriptors, give a demonstration, role play a newscast, create a puppet show, write an information song, poem, rap or cheer, create flow charts or show a step by step process, put on an informational commercial, create a jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire game. The possibilities with any topic are endless. Through these processes, students can also keep journals in a variety of methods. They can jot down their new facts and ideas about the concepts followed by their thoughts and reflections. Or they can keep a log of what they know and what questions they still have. A Word About Assessment You can assess the following: completion of tasks, the ability to work with and listen to others, participation levels, respects self and others, ability to discuss, explain, make connections, debate, support opinions, infer, reason, re-tell, describe, report, predict etc.The assessment rubric should contain descriptors for both social skills and knowledge skills. As you can see, you have probably already been differentiating your instruction and assessment in much of what youre already doing. You may be asking, when does direct instruction come into play? As youre watching your groups, there will always be some students who will need some additional support, recognize it as you see it and pull those individuals together to help move them along the learning continuum. If you can answer the following questions, youre well on your way. How are you differentiating content? (variety of leveled materials, choice, varied presentation formats etc.)How are you differentiating assessment? (students have many options to demonstrate their new knowledge)How are you differentiating the process? (choice and variety of tasks that consider learning styles, strengths, and needs, flexible groupings etc.) Although differentiating can be challenging at times, stick with it, you will see results.

Forces behind technology and innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Forces behind technology and innovation - Essay Example Forces behind technological innovations in the 20th Century Technological innovations in the twentieth Century range from mechanized farming, industrial developments and product enhancements. There are various explanations for these changes depending on the areas one is focusing on. For instance, in the early twentieth Century, mechanized farming was adopted because several countries had acquired vast amounts of land and their territories had expanded. This meant that the ratio of farmers to land was quite low, there was a need to look for more feasible methods of farming hence the rise in mechanized farming. (Berkeley, 2007) Industrial developments were triggered by social trends among many other reasons. First of all, consumers in the western world became quite busy. They were also increasingly affluent and there was more demand for industrially manufactured goods. These consumers required goods on time and they needed to access them conveniently. Consequently, manufacturers had to look for methods that could accommodate these pressures. There was more specialization and commodities were now created in a larger scale. All these changes necessitated the employment of technology and innovation Possible triggers in the future As the world’s consumption rates are increasing day by day, there is increasing concern about sustainability. Many experts agree that current consumption trends may not leave enough resources for future generations. This is especially in relation to exhaustible resources such as fuel, food, water and wood products. As a result, it is likely that most technological innovations in the future will concentrate on sustainability.

Social Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Social Media - Essay Example Today more than 250 million people accesses Facebook. Twitter also has more than 14 million users, and YouTube is viewed by 100 million viewers every month (Zarrella, 2010, p. 1). These statistics data show that a huge chunk of the population is attached with the social media; and if this opportunity is not utilized, it’s a total waste. This paper highlights legal requirements for social media marketing with special reference to Facebook. The Legal components for Social Media Marketing The huge popularity of the social media outlets has made the economists recognize and tap the market by appealing their products and services through these websites. As faster the website grows, the words spread quicker. Many of the marketers have utilized the social media in order to generate attention, promotion and exposure of their brands. But while utilizing the social media, the companies should have a sound knowledge of the legal system and requirement. Trademark and Copyright Issue While using the social media outlets for promoting their brands, the companies should protect their trademark and copyright. Since such a marketing leads to informal and impromptu communication on real time basis, the copyright and trademarks of the company may fall under third party abuse. To avoid this, company should regularly monitor the social media platform to ensure that there is no misuse of the intellectual property. There are special services that monitor the profile or consumer names that are alike to the company’s name or brand. Facebook has provided instructions for submitting takedown notice that relates to â€Å"allegedly copyright infringing content† (Steinman & Hawkins, 2010, p. 3) that comes under the â€Å"Federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act† (Steinman & Hawkins, 2010, p. 3). Deceptive and misleading Contents The law treats the social media marketing and the traditional marketing in the same way. The law states that promotion of any type of de ceptive or unfair practice is unlawful. The law prohibits any type of deceptive conduct like â€Å"advertising misleading price comparisons, rebates or sweepstakes promotions† (Steinman & Hawkins, 2010, p. 4). In 2009, there was a lawsuit for deceptive content against Zynga, which provides games in Facebook. Though it was proved that a third party marketer was responsible for deceptive advertising, but still both Facebook and Zynga were made liable for this act. Being a smart marketer, one has to be careful about such incidents. Terms and conditions of the social Media Social networking websites have their own terms and conditions regulating the advertising and commercial practices that are conducted on the websites like â€Å"consumer sweepstakes, contests, and giveaways† (Steinman & Hawkins, 2010, p. 5). The marketer has to be aware of the terms and conditions and has to act accordingly. The social networking sites often change these rules. One has to strictly monito r them. Facebook prohibits uploading of contents that infringes the right of the third party. Privacy and data security Since through social media, a brand’s product and services get promoted, this may raise an issue of security and privacy. It is important for the marketer of the company to be aware of these issues and take appropriate measures in order to minimize exposure to liabilities related to collection, maintenance and use of data. Facebook has its own privacy policies that regulate the use of third party conduct and consumers