The Effects of Satire essays

The Effects of Satire expositions Regularly writers use parody to put a point across in their composition. Exciting modern lifestyle, Aldous Huxley; Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury; and The Handmaids Tale, Margaret Atwood are on the whole genuine instances of such parody. Every one of these creators mock society in the manner they feel it will be later on if a portion of the moves that society makes go excessively far. They all do this by depicting an alternate sort of Utopia. There are types of indoctrinating, restriction, control and dread in every novel which at that point lead to a type of insubordination due to individual clashes. Huxley utilizes parody in his novel to depict his thought process innovation today. In Brave New World there is where infants are misleadingly delivered. There is nothing of the sort as repeating people explicitly. There is still such a mind-bending concept as sex, yet it is carefully for delight as it were. There are such huge numbers of better approaches to deliver people innovatively today and Huxley is expressing that if society doesnt control such innovation that the innovation will before long assume responsibility for us. Our general public could end up being that of a Brave New World. In Bradburys Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury is ridiculing innovation too. Bradbury utilizes a thing called the Parlor Family. This is a room that has something much like a TV studio. The primary character, Guy Montag has one of these. His better half is continually stuck to it and calls the individuals her family. She is increasingly engaged with her parlor family that she nearly overlooks Guy is ther e more often than not. This parlor speaks to the TV or even the PC and the web. Innovation is so exceptional today that Bradbury is anticipating how mechanical it will be later on. He is portraying individuals of today who are continually stuck to a TV or PC. Bradbury is putting over that society must not let innovation tare you away from your loved ones. Individuals ought to get out and accomplish all the more then wa... <!

Compare between wired and wireless LAN. List the advantages and Essay

Think about among wired and remote LAN. Rundown the focal points and disservices of each - Essay Example Wired LAN utilizes coaxial links or explicit wires and system connectors to interface gadgets. Remote LAN (WLAN) transmits information via air utilizing radio waves, as well as infrared waves and additionally microwaves with no physical connect to the gadgets. At the point when wired LAN and remote LAN are thought about, there are commonly two primary contrasts: security and medium. In any case, they likewise share some significant similarilities; for example, they are for the most part Ethernet based systems, both interface through a web door, and utilizing comparable kinds of execution prerequisites to adapt to organization, functionability, and unwavering quality (Ron and Helen, 2008, pg 179) The decision either to introduce wired and remote LAN is basically fluctuated by singular inclinations, yet in conditions were introducing of links isn't appropriate, the system hubs are generally moved, or the physical setting of the system should be increasingly adaptable, in this manner settling on a remote LAN a superior decision. The medium utilized for remote systems administration, radio recurrence (RF) correspondences, has a few difficulties making a remote LAN not reasonable in all circumstances. A remote LAN has points of interest that make it more reasonable than a wired LAN in certain conditions. To start with, in a WLAN, it is simpler to include more PCs the system or move workstations since it works on radio waves as well as microwaves to help cooperation channels associating the PCs (Azam and Razwan, 2009). Besides, it is the favored method of interfacing versatile or fleeting structures because of its adaptability to associate inside the restricted range. Thirdly, it is simpler to give network in regions where it is hard to lay links because of the medium utilized. Additionally, its establishment is quick and simple, as there are no necessities to lay the link through dividers and roofs. In addition, the system get to is open from inside scope of a passageway. For the most part, the underlying expense for WLAN equipment can be like the expense of wired LAN equipment, however the establishment costs are enormously

Carrie Fisher - Bipolar Disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Carrie Fisher - Bipolar Disorder - Research Paper Example Bipolar Disorder is one that has been influencing such a significant number of lives as of recently. To have the option to comprehend this better, Bipolar Disorder is regularly known as hyper burdensome sickness which is one sort of mind issue that makes one have an extraordinary difference in disposition, vitality, and action levels that forestalls one to do an everyday undertaking. Despite the fact that the side effects are not effortlessly observed as a psychological issue, it is generally extreme (NIMH Â · Bipolar Disorder., n.d.). Instead of emotional episodes that could be influenced by menstrual cycle, an abrupt change or turnaround of conditions, bipolar confusion is a nonstop cycle that can't be controlled. It can result to irregularity, terrible showing at work, or even self destruction. In any case, what is incredible to know is this can be relieved through a progression of restoration programs. One of the most renowned instances of Bipolar issue would be that of Carrie F isher. She is an American on-screen character, author, and a screen essayist that no uncertainty put the vast majority of her life at the center of attention. Be that as it may, things began getting somewhat hazy when Carrie began not having the option to rest or quit talking which she thought was simply part of being in Hollywood. As per one article, she promptly depended on outings to restoration focuses as she unexpectedly acknowledged it was only sadness that was making her demonstration a specific way (Carrie Fisher and her existence with Bipolar Disorder | bphope., n.d.). This introduction of Bipolar Disorder is conflicting as this specific issue is accepted through investigation and experience as one that isn't effectively spotted when it begins. The indications are constantly considered as the impacts of another issue and never thought about the primary issue. For many individuals, they languish over years first before they understand they are experiencing bipolar turmoil. I n the article I am refering to on Carrie Fisher’s fight with Bipolar Disorder, the writer brought up that Carrie began carrying on outrageous feelings when she was in her grown-up years, while she was large and in charge. All things considered, this is a predictable reality about Bipolar Disorder as it is one that typically creates in one’s late adolescents or early grown-up years however practically 50% of all cases start before the age 25 (NIMH Â · Bipolar Disorder., n.d.). Another fascinating reality about how the creator prognosticated the instance of Carrie is that, at last, when Carrie Fisher had the option to find out about her Bipolar malady, she didn't conceal it from people in general or considered it to be something that required covering up. Rather, she decided to make her fight against it part of her open persona by talking about it in broad daylight to help other people who are experiencing a similar disease conquer it. This is steady with the truth of t he ailment as Bipolar Disorder is a drawn out disease that can't be restored by one time admission of medication however is something that could be crushed through a bit by bit exertion ordinary, all through a person’s life. With this moving story that is shared to us until today through the term of Carrie Fisher, we as a whole should realize that psychological maladies are something that we should pay attention to. This is a result of the quantity of families today that stop to

To What Extent Does Animal Cruelty Affect Society - Free Essay Example

Harming animals has been something that has been practiced for a long time, and is still being done in our modern day society. Violence or neglect perpetrated against animals is considered animal cruelty. It commonly takes place in both rural and urban areas intentionally by people who hoard, who make abusive actions, and who are in need of mental health or social services. Victims of animal cruelty are usually dogs, cats, horses, and livestock (humanesociety.org). Countries who are affected greatly by animal cruelty include Iran, Belarus, Ethiopia, and Venezuela. On the opposite side, Austria is a prime country that combats animal cruelty by placing strict laws that punish offenders harshly if they are caught. This contributes to society frequently, and raises the question to what extent does animal cruelty affect society? As said previously, animal cruelty is usually practiced by people who make abusive action. Researchers have found a riveting link between abuse against animals and violent acts such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and other violent behavior (aldf.org). According to them, a study made in 1997 by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that animal abusers are more 5 times more likely to inflict harm on humans. Another study published in 2013 found that 43% of those who commit a school massacre also commit acts of cruelty to animals. This source is deemed to be a reliable source for these types of information due to them being experienced and determined to combat animal cruelty through the legal system. It is not biased because they use factual researches and evidence that supports their cause. Animal cruelty is upsettingly common in Iran and according to the countryrs religion, Islam, dogs are considered dirty and impure and the islamic legal tradition has developed traditional injunctions that warn Muslims against contacts with dogs (animalsinislam.com). Sadly there have been Muslim that use this view to justify abusing and neglecting dogs. A site called Animals in Islam made by a Muslim veterinary surgeon talks about how dogs are treated in the Muslim community in their own perspective. This is to show how animal cruelty in Iran plagues their society. On social media, there have been ani mal cruelty recorded in videos which have been seen by many and over the past several years, there have been complaints about images posted that featured animals being abused. Seeing that, animal activists and protestors have gathered together in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, and other locations, and have been on the rise to combat the issue in Iran. Activists have also resorted to social media using popular apps like Telegram and Instagram to ask people for help to feed and treat the animals that are in distress. They have made a tremendous enough impact that their efforts have been recognized and heard by the Iranian government and spread by others. According to the World Animal Protection, Iran was one of the countries given the lowest rank when it comes to animal protection, which is a ?Gon the Animal Protection Index (API), due to it being one of the poorest countries to apply sanctions for animal cruelty. The World Animal Protection is an international, non-profit organization that aims to end animal suffering and should be considered a reliable source for factual information because of their experience and determination for this matter. I also personally believe that they have a high standing reputation due to them working with other animal welfare organizations, communities, businesses, and governments in the countries they work with (give.org). As for The Animal Protection Index, made by the World Animal Protection, is a ranking of countries around the globe according to their legislation and policy pertaining to protecting animals. The API has given each country an overall score, ?A representing the countries with the hi ghest results, and ?G representing the countries that need improvement in their legislation and policy (api.world animal protection.org). There are no legislation or policies that oppose animal cruelty, however, Farhad Dabiri, a senior adviser to Iranrs Environment Department, told the ILNA(Iran Labour News Agency) that a protest against animal abuse that was held last year in front of the departments offices convinced Massoumeh Ebtekar, who then headed the organization, to prepare a bill. (rferl.org). In the European country, Belarus, animal cruelty is also common due many neglecting the animals and leaving them to starve and such. Just like Iran, Belarus has also ranked the lowest grade by the API when it came to sanctioning animal cruelty (vaci.voiceless.org.au). One incident that occurred was stray cats being locked in basements and starved to death. According to news reports, officials have been foreclosing apartment basements and have trapped stray cats from leaving. Elena Titova, leader of Protect Life, an animal rights group, estimated that about 9,000 cats have been killed. Upon hearing this, people who were upset about the event have made efforts to aid the cats in distress. One is a 72-year-old woman, who took the time to feed the cats trapped through small holes in metal plates that board up the basements so she can prevent them from starving to death. Another, Chris Wolverton has also helped by creating a petition online to help stop the incident, 66,205 people from ar ound the world signed the petition (occupyforanimals.net). On October fourth, world animal day, dozens of pet owners and animal rights activists marched through the streets of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in a demonstration against animal cruelty. Around a hundred animal cruelty activists walked around with their pets holding signed and shouting Here we are, here we are, those that respect animal rights! (aparchive.com). During the march, the activists called on the government to ban bullfighting and Venezuelan style rodeo, known as, coleo, during which a cowboy grips on a bullrs tail and yanks it to the ground; the bulls tend to get harmed for entertainment purposes. As for the African country, Ethiopia, animal neglect is an issue. Just like Iran and Belarus, Ethiopia was given the lowest rank, ?G, for its lack of sanctions against animal cruelty according to the API (vaci.voiceless.org.au). In Ethiopia, transportation animals like horses and donkeys are used to move merchandise and pull carts. They often carry loads much beyond their strength and are beaten when they struggle. When these animals are old age or injured, people abandon them to fend for themselves, they suffer from lack of adequate food and water and are often hit by cars or become targets of animal abuse. Dr. Anteneh Roba a physician in Houston, Texas created an organization called the International Fund for Africa; its main focus is to teach and spread awareness about both animal and human welfare in his native land. The IFA highlights education humanely ways to treat these horses and donkeys, including a provision of water, lighter loads to carry, and discouraging hobbling, which is tying the animal foot to stop them from straying. In common c ases of stray dogs in Ethiopia, Dr. Roba helps to rescue the dogs and with the help of the Homeless Animal Protection Society of Ethiopia (HAPS), he saved four dogs from dying and sent them to the United States where theyll find a better life. Two of the dogs were sent to a rehabilitation center in Utah and two others were sent to Houston where later on, got adopted. IFA has done plenty to help in Ethiopia and their goal is to become a role model and teaching resource project for animal cruelty (advocacy.britannica.com). In Austria, animal welfare is greatly protected there; many laws and legislation there make it difficult to perpetrate harm against the animals. Austria was ranked an outstanding ?A which is the highest a country can get for their sanctions against animal cruelty (api.worldanimalprotection.org). Unfortunately, even with Austria being one of the best to protect animal welfare, there are still abusers who harm and cause animals to suffer. One case being twelve perpetrators that slaughtered seventy-nine sheeps causing them unnecessary suffering while slaughtering them (businessinsider.com). Business Insider is considered to have a high reputation, generally trustworthy for information and their factual reporting is high (mediabiasfactcheck.com). The organizer of this slaughter was fined one thousand two hundred sixty euros, which is one thousand five hundred in American dollars. This is why there are many animal welfare organizations in Austria that aid the animals in distress; these or ganizations may be non-governmental organizations. Along with other animal activists, Carol Byers, an American, founded an organization that focuses on helping the animals of Austria, called Animal Care of Austria in 2006 (animalcare-Austria.at). Byers supported various animal cruelty groups in the US and Austria for years; their main goal is to partner with similar groups just like them so they can combat animal cruelty more efficiently. Although animal cruelty is projecting negatively and usually shows humans at fault, there are exceptions where the animal gets aggressive and attacks the human instead. Animal bites are a major public health issue in Iran and they are associated with infectious diseases that starts from the bacteria tetani which develops the disease tetanus, it develops painful muscle spasms and can ultimately lead to death, and the bacteria perfringens, which is usually causes food poisoning (ams.ac.ir). In Ethiopia, more specifically in the city Addis Ababa, there have been in infestation of hyenas. There were about 300 to 1,000 living in the city and it was a danger. In 2011, airport authorities had to call in hunters for the hyenas that were posing a threat to the planes landing and taking off (bbc.com). Not only that, but the hyenas sometimes attack poor people that sleep on the streets. In December of 2014, authorities organized a cull, which is the slaughter of wild animals, and licensed hunters to kill 10 hyenas that were living near the capital of Ethiopia (bbc.com). This is an example of how some cases arent considered animal cruelty but more of defending and maintaining security in the community of Ethiopia. In my perspective, I do not condone animal cruelty, unless the animal is harmful and causes ravage, animals should not be abused. Although the researches ive done not change my view and opinion on this topic. I do recognize why people abuse animals in some scenarios. It could be due to where people grew up, and their surroundings; it can also be a cultural thing, such as religions, and the environment a person grows up and what country they are in. I believe that animals can be used for beneficial labor like for donkeys being used for transportation, however, I believe that to a degree. I believe that any animal that does not perpetuate harm against humans does not deserve to have harm perpetrated against them and that humans should take animal welfare into consideration.

Essay on Teen Pregnancy - 1244 Words

In this day and age the rate of teenagers who become pregnant has substantially increased. I myself am not one of them, but having a few friends who became pregnant at a very young age Ive learned quite a bit about it. Now, I am not saying that teenage pregnancy is wrong or right. For some teenagers it could be a very joyful experience if they are mature enough to handle it. It can teach them lessons about life and responsibility. For the less mature teens though, its a disaster. In that case, they shouldnt have been having sex in the first place if they werent up to facing the consequences. Some may say, How did this happen? We used protection? Condoms and birth control are not 100% effective when it comes to avoiding pregnancy.†¦show more content†¦Teenage pregnancies bring many problems to young mothers. When a young person between the ages of fifteen or seventeen has a baby, this person is most likely not mature enough to handle a child. As I have seen, young mothers fee l the need to go out and be with friends instead of sitting at home with a crying child. Young mothers will also most likely be less educated than someone who has a baby at 25 years old. Unintended pregnancy may cause girls to drop out of high schools. Some girls may have a chance of going to college after the baby is grown up, but a lot of women may never get another chance of getting valuable education. Not attending a college or a university can mean not attaining a degree which may be necessary for a job. Teenagers are also more likely to use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. These substances are very dangerous to a child’s life and can lead to several emotional and physical disabilities later in life when the baby is born. â€Å"In addition to disruptive psychosocial consequences, adverse biological effects of early childbearing on obstetric course and infant outcome have been reported† (Scott 195). In the world today there are many ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. T he number one method that is not being taught to children today is the complete abstinence from sexualShow MoreRelatedTeen Pregnancy1426 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Teen pregnancy is often unplanned and challenging for the future life of mother and child. The increase risk of health problems for both mother and baby occur during teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy impacts adolescent development in all aspects: physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. Negative consequences result from teen pregnancy include: low income, increased school dropout rates, lower educational levels, and increased rates of substance abuse (Garwood, Gerassi, ReidRead MoreTeen Pregnancy1023 Words   |  5 PagesDoes access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy? Adolescent pregnancies remain a concern in public health worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that annually about 16 million girls between 15 and 19 give birth. Indeed, in many countries policies and programs are developed and implemented for the prevention of teen pregnancy and reduction of risks and consequences it might cause. Furthermore, that a teenager becomes pregnant poses a risk to her health, her life and the fetusRead MoreTeen Pregnancy1246 Words   |  5 PagesA topic in American society that has proved to be an ongoing, and growing issue is that none other than teen pregnancy. In recent years, teen pregnancy rates have been increasing, which ultimately led to the topics increase of public and media attention. In American society teen pregnancy is often associated with negligence, as well as being irresponsible. In American society sex education for children is underdeveloped and instead society tends to use fear and shame to highlight/combat the dangersRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy And Teen Pregnancy1546 Words   |  7 PagesTeenage pregnancy is pregnancy in human females under the age of 20 at the time that the pregnancy ends. Low-income communities have the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the United States. Because of the fact that this is a very controversial issue in the United States, it is very important that most questions be addressed. Questions like, why is a teenage girl in Mississippi four times as likely to give birth as a teenage girl in New Hampshire? Or why is the teen birth rate in Massachusetts 19Read MoreTeen Pregnancy : Teenage Pregnancy1404 Words   |  6 PagesLauryn Jones Block 5 4/27/16 What is Teen Pregnancy? Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in human females under the age of 20. A girl can become pregnant from sexual intercourse after she has begun to ovulate which can be before her first menstrual period, but usually occurs after the onset of her periods. In well-nourished girls, menarche usually takes place around the age of 12 or 13. Most teenage girls don t plan to get pregnant, but many do. Teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to both the motherRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy And Teen Pregnancy1057 Words   |  5 PagesTeenage pregnancy is a common thing here in America. It seems teens are getting pregnant more than the average married couple. There are some risk factors teen moms face and there is also another great turn outs. There is a major difference between the two. It’s important to tell teens the turnouts of teen pregnancy for the good and bad parts. There are risks of having sex, teen moms can make a difference for her and the baby, the risk of having HIV and/or any other STD’s, and the effects on theRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy And Teen Pregnancy1341 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage pregnancy is a prominent dilemma in our nation because it continues to place adolescents into delinquency. According to the United States Health and Human Services, three out of ten American teen girls will become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of twenty. That is nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies in a year (1) (HHS Pg.2 2014). Also according to U.S. Department of State, teen pregnancy budgets the United States and tax payers approximately seven billion dollars annually (2)Read MoreTeenage Pregnancy And Teen Pregnancy1664 Words   |  7 PagesTerrazas English 4 Miss Stahlecker 4 November 2015 Teenage Pregnancy According to cda.org, in 2013, a total of 273,105 babies were born to women that were in between the ages of 15-19 years old. Teenage pregnancy is a major concern in today’s society. This paper will talk about teenage pregnancy, statistics, ways to prevent teenage pregnancy, and after birth options. So why is teenage pregnancy so important? Some people are concerned about teens getting pregnant at such an early age. There are otherRead MoreEffects Of Teen Pregnancy On Teens1643 Words   |  7 PagesEvery teen has dream about how they want to graduate from high school and then go to college, but some teens are not willing to take the challenge. Some of these teens want to drop out of high school and other teens want to keep furthering their education. For some there are obstacle that life throw at them to be able to accomplish their goals. Earning an education is challenging enough, but when there is a teen parent trying to finish their education it becomes more difficult than it would beRead MoreThe Effects Of Teen Pregnancy On Teens978 Words   |  4 Pagesare getting younger in age, and the birth rate is rising higher. Mississippi has the highest birth rates in teen pregnancy, and has held this title for the past few years. This problem has had such a rise to fame becau se this is a problem that can be prevented. Parents and communities should take action to help lower the teen pregnancy birth rate in Mississippi. Since the birth rate in teens is so high that means there is more need of government assistance. This becomes such a problem in states because

Illegal Immigration And The United States - 1388 Words

Illegal immigration has plagued the United States since immigration laws were created, and has worsened in recent history. Since Ronald Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provided amnesty for 3 million illegal aliens in exchange for increased border security, millions of people have entered the country illegally. Over the past 30 years, the illegal immigrant population of the country has more than doubled from 5 million in 1986 to over 11.5 million in 2015. It has become one of the most controversial political issues in America. While not every undocumented alien is a bad or dangerous person, illegal immigrants in general are a national security threat, harmful to the economy, and a burden on the social welfare system. The best solution to the illegal alien problem is to secure and enforce the border, purge American territory of every person unlawfully trespassing upon it, and reform the immigration system to make it easier for foreigners to enter the United S tates legally like people have done for centuries. Illegal immigration to the U.S. is out of control. Almost 20% of the world’s international migrants flock to a nation that consists of less than 5% of the world’s population. This is a huge threat to our security. Some people believe the threat is miniscule, because illegal immigrants commit crime at the same or a lower rate than native-born Americans, and it is unfair to deny a large group of people citizenship because of the crimes of a few. LawShow MoreRelatedIllegal Immigration And The United States1573 Words   |  7 Pagesmillion illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States furthermore, for the United States economy. The correctional prerequisites against migrants were added to enactment to protect it from feedback that acquittal is absolution without outcome. Immigration makes a difference among everybody, and Congress ought to be doing everything in its energy to make it as simple as feasible for settlers to live and work lawfully what s more, openly in the United States. The United States is knownRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1315 Words   |  6 PagesFor ages, the United States has seemed to be the country where people seek to move to for a better life. The United States was built on immigrants. People have always migrated to the United States both legally and illegally. The main problem the country has face with immigrants is the amount that trespass the border illegally. Illegal immigration is the unlawful act of crossing a national border(Illegal Immigration Pros and Cons). The illegal immigrant population keeps growing at an annual averageRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States969 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican businessman, politician, television personality, and author, is the presumptive of the y for president of the United States in 2016having won the most state primaries and caucuses and delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention. Trump’s positions in opposition to illegal immigration, various free trade agreements that he believes are unfair, and most military interventionism have earned him particular support among blue-collar voters and voters without college degrees. Many of hisRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1486 Words   |  6 PagesIllegal immigration has been an issue in the United States for a long time so the issues that come with it should not be a surprise. America was established on the basis of newcomers settling here from abroad. Recently though, thousands of illegal immigrants have come into the U.S. through either the Mexico border, the Pacific Ocean, or the Gulf of Mexico which has created a new an unanticipated issue for the U.S., in the past immigrants came from Europe and passed through the Ellis Island stationRead MoreIllegal Immigration Is The United States1805 Words   |  8 PagesIllegal immigration is the migration of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. Some c ountries have millions of illegal immigrants. Immigration, including illegal immigration, is overwhelmingly upward, from a poorer to a richer country. The easy definition of an undocumented immigrant is someone who was not born in the United States and therefore has no legal right to be or remain in the United States. Not all undocumented immigrantsRead MoreIllegal Immigration : The United States1876 Words   |  8 PagesIllegal Immigration Due to the economic benefits of immigrant labor, the dangers of central American countries, and the basic human rights of noncitizens, the US government must grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants. Illegal immigration has become a rising issue in the US over the past few years, and it will continue to heat up coming into this year s presidential election. This issue is also very present in the local community due to it’s diversity and large Hispanic population. GenerallyRead MoreIllegal Immigration in the United States1864 Words   |  8 PagesIllegal Immigration In The United States: A Controversial Debate Illegal immigration is an on-going issue, which is of much importance in the United States today. It has been overlooked for many years, however it has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored. Most of the illegal immigrants, 54% to be exact, come through the Mexican border. (Hayes 5) Since the early 1980’s, the number of illegal Mexican immigrants has risen at an incredible rate, causing the United States government to takeRead MoreIllegal Immigration in the United States Essay2094 Words   |  9 PagesIllegal Immigration in the United States Illegal Immigration in the United States The United States (US) has always been viewed as the land of opportunity because it is the only true free country in the world. This being the case people have been fighting their way into the country for decades. However, it is becoming more and more of a problem each decade that passes. With the United States border being so close to Mexico it is now seeing the highest population of illegal immigrants toRead MoreDeportation: Immigration to the United States and Illegal Alien2373 Words   |  10 Pagesadvance because of the way the immigration process works. However, one thing we all had in mind, was to see the light of a different country, see different faces and hopefully find ways to stay. Once the airplane took off, words was already spread all over the office of Haiti air in Florida that the airplane left Haiti with more than 30 Haitian illegal on board. The first few 2 hours spent at the arrival office was like a discovery of a new world for every single illegal in that group. This was oneRead MoreIllegal Immigration And Immigration In The United States1091 Words   |  5 Pagesarrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes. (De Leon, K) The new legislation, created by California Senate President Kevin de Leon, officially makes the state of California a â€Å"sanctuary state†. Previously, de Leon determined that Donald Trump is a racist because of his positions on immigration; most notably, Trump’s attempt to defund cities that considered themselves sanctuaries. In a debate that is becoming increasingly more polarized, Brown sought to protect illegal immigrants against

Medea Essay Summary Example For Students

Medea Essay Summary Medea, a play by the Greek playwright Euripides, explores the Greek-barbarian dichotomy through the character of Medea, a princess from theâ€Å"barbarian†, or non-Greek, land of Colchis. Throughout the play, it becomesevident to the reader that Medea is no ordinary woman by Greek standards. Central to the whole plot is Medea’s barbarian origins and how they are relatedto her actions. In this paper, I am attempting to answer questions such as howMedea behaves like a female, how she acts heroically from a male point of view,why she killed her children, if she could have achieved her goal without killingthem, if the murder was motivated by her barbarian origins, and how she dealswith the pain of killing her children. As an introduction to the play, the status of women in Greek societyshould be briefly discussed. In general, women had very few rights. In theeyes of men, the main purposes of women in Greek society were to do houseworksuch as cooking and cleaning, and bear children. They could not vote, ownproperty, or choose a husband, and had to be represented by men in all legalproceedings. In some ways, these Greek women were almost like slaves. There isa definite relationship between this subordination of women and what transpiresin the play. Jason decides that he wants to divorce Medea and marry theprincess of Corinth, casting Medea aside as if they had never been married. This sort of activity was acceptable by Greek standards, and shows thesubordinate status of the woman, who had no say in any matter like this. Even though some of Medea’s actions were not typical of the averageGreek woman, she still had attitudes and emotions common among women. Forinstance, Medea speaks out against women’s status in society, proclaiming thatthey have no choice of whom to marry, and that a man can rid themselves of awoman to get another whenever he wants, but a woman always has to â€Å"keep hereyes on one alone.† (231-247) Though it is improbable that women went aroundopenly saying things of this nature, it is likely that this attitude was sharedby most or all Greek women. Later in the play, Medea debates with herself overwhether or not to kill her children: â€Å"Poor heart, let them go, have pity uponthe children.† (1057). This shows Medea’s motherly instincts in that she caresabout her children. She struggles to decide if she can accomplish her goal ofrevenge against Jason without killing her children because she cares for themand knows they had no part in what their f ather did. Unfortunately, Medea’sdesire to exact revenge on Jason is greater than her love for her children, andat the end of the play she kills them. Medea was also a faithful wife to Jason. She talks about how she helped Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece, thenhelped him escape, even killing her own brother. (476-483). The fact that shewas willing to betray her own family to be with Jason shows her loyalty to him. Therefore, her anger at Jason over him divorcing her is understandable. On the other hand, Medea shows some heroic qualities that were notcommon among Greek women. For example, Medea is willing to kill her own brotherto be with Jason. In classical Greece, women and killing were probably notcommonly linked. When she kills her brother, she shows that she is willing todo what is necessary to â€Å"get the job done†, in this case, to be with Jason. .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .postImageUrl , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:hover , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:visited , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:active { border:0!important; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:active , .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330 .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uecee5309861910140fc56cfc5460a330:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Patriotism EssaySecondly, she shows the courage to stand up to Jason. She believes that she hasbeen cheated and betrayed by him. By planning ways to get back at him forcheating on her, she is standing up for what she believes, which in this case isthat she was wronged by Jason, but in a larger sense, she is speaking outagainst the inferior status of women, which effectively allows Jason to discardMedea at will. Third, she shows that she is clever and resourceful. Ratherthan use physical force to accomplish her plans, she uses her mind instead: â€Å"itis best to†¦make away with them by poison.† (384-385) While physical strengthcan be considered a heroic quality , cleverness can be as well. She does in factpoison the princess and the king of Corinth; interestingly, however, she doesnot poison them directly. â€Å"I will send the children with gifts†¦to

The Scarlet Letter-Analysis Essays - English-language Films

The Scarlet Letter-Analysis The Scarlet Letter - Analysis Nathaniel Hawthorne's background influenced him to write the bold novel The Scarlet Letter. One important influence on the story is money. Hawthorne had never made much money as an author and the birth of his first daughter added to the financial burden (Biographical Note VII). He received a job at the Salem Custom House only to lose it three years later and be forced to write again to support his family (IX). Consequently, The Scarlet Letter was published a year later (IX). It was only intended to be a long short story, but the extra money a novel would bring in was needed (Introduction XVI). Hawthorne then wrote an introduction section titled The Custom House to extend the length of the book and The Scarlet Letter became a full novel (XVI). In addition to financial worries, another influence on the story is Hawthorne's rejection of his ancestors. His forefathers were strict Puritans, and John Hathorne, his great-great-grandfather, was a judge presiding during the S! alem witch trials (Biographical Note VII). Hawthorne did not condone their acts and actually spent a great deal of his life renouncing the Puritans in general (VII). Similarly, The Scarlet Letter was a literal soapbox for Hawthorne to convey to the world that the majority of Puritans were strict and unfeeling. For example, before Hester emerges from the prison she is being scorned by a group of women who feel that she deserves a larger punishment than she actually receives. Instead of only being made to stand on the scaffold and wear the scarlet letter on her chest, they suggest that she have it branded on her forehead or even be put to death (Hawthorne 51). Perhaps the most important influence on the story is the author's interest in the dark side (Introduction VIII). Unlike the transcendentalists of the era, Hawthorne confronted reality, rather than evading it (VII). Likewise, The Scarlet Letter deals with adultery, a subject that caused much scandal when it w! as first published (XV). The book revolves around sin and punishment, a far outcry from writers of the time, such as Emerson and Thoreau, who dwelt on optimistic themes (VII). This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization, and important literary devices enables Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter to the develop the theme of the heart as a prison. The scaffold scenes are the most substantial situations in the story because they unify The Scarlet Letter in two influential ways. First of all, every scaffold scene reunites the main characters of the novel. In the first scene, everyone in the town is gathered in the market place because Hester is being questioned about the identity of the father of her child ( Hawthorne 52). In her arms is the product of her sin, Pearl, a three month old baby who is experiencing life outside the prison for the first time (53). Dimmesdale is standing beside the scaffold because he is Hester's pastor and it is his job to convince her to repent and reveal the father's name (65). A short time later, Chillingworth unexpectedly shows up within the crowd of people who are watching Hester after he is released from his two year captivity by the Indians (61). In the second scene, Dimmesdale is standing on top of the scaffold alone in the middle of the night (152). He sees Hester and Pearl walk through the market place on their way back from Governor Winthrop's bedside (157). When Dimmesdale recognizes them and tells them to join him, they walk up the steps to stand by his side (158). Chillingworth appears later standing beside the scaffold, staring at Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl. In the final scaffold scene, Dimmesdale walks to the steps of the scaffold in front of the whole town after his Election day sermon (263). He tells Hester and Pearl to join him yet again on the scaffold (264). Chillingworth then runs through the crowd and tries to stop Dimmesdale from reaching the top of the scaffold, the one place where he can't reach him (265). Another way in which the scenes are united is how each illustrates the immediate, delayed, and prolonged effects

How to Conjugate the Verb Uscire in Italian

How to Conjugate the Verb Uscire in Italian Uscire Can Be Defined As To leaveTo come/go outTo exitTo emergeTo stick outTo protrudeTo be publishedTo appear What to Know About â€Å"Uscire† It’s an irregular third-conjugation verb, so it does not follow the typical -ire verb ending pattern.It’s an intransitive verb, which does not take a direct object.The infinito is â€Å"uscire.†The participio passato is â€Å"uscito.†The gerund form is â€Å"uscendo.†The past gerund form is â€Å"essendo uscito.† Indicativo/Indicative Il presente io esco noi usciamo tu esci voi uscite lui, lei, Lei esce essi, Loro escono Ad esempio: Esco dall’ufficio. - I’m leaving the office.I bambini escono tra mezz’ora. - Kids will be leaving in half an hour. Il passato prossimo io sono uscito/a noi siamo usciti/e tu sei uscito/a voi siete usciti/e lui, lei, Lei uscito/a essi, Loro sono usciti/e Ad esempio: Sei uscito ieri sera? - Did you go out last night?I cornetti sono appena usciti dal forno! - The sweet-buns have just come out of the oven! L’imperfetto io uscivo noi uscivamo tu uscivi voi uscivate lui, lei, Lei usciva essi, Loro uscivano Ad esempio: Usciva dal carcere e ha deciso di cambiare la sua vita. - He got out of prison, and he decided to change his life.Marco e Giulia uscivano spesso insieme. - Marco and Giulia used to go out together often. Il trapassato prossimo io ero uscito/a noi eravamo usciti/e tu eri uscito/a voi eravate usciti/e lui, lei, Lei era uscito/a essi, Loro erano usciti/e Esempi: Ero uscito/a a bere con amici. - I was out drinking  with friends.Eravate davvero usciti con quella pioggia? - Did you really go out with all  that heavy rain? Il passato remoto io uscii noi uscimmo tu uscisti voi usciste lui, lei, Lei usc essi, Loro uscirono Ad esempio: Il suo primo libro uscà ¬ nel 1975.   - Her first book came out in 1975.Senza dire niente Silvia uscà ¬ dalla stanza. - Without saying a word Silvia left the room. Il trapassato remoto io fui uscito/a noi fummo usciti/e tu fosti uscito/a voi foste usciti/e lui, lei, Lei fu uscito/a essi, Loro furono usciti/e TIP: This tense is rarely used, so don’t worry too much about mastering it. You’ll find it in very sophisticated writing. Il futuro semplice io uscir noi usciremo tu uscirai voi uscirete lui, lei, Lei uscir essi, Loro usciranno Ad esempio: Uscir quando ha finito il suo compito. - She will go out when she has finished her homework.Domani usciremo con mamma e pap! - Tomorrow we will go out with mom and dad! Il futuro anteriore io sar uscito/a noi saremo usciti/e tu sarai uscito/a voi sarete usciti/e lui, lei, Lei sar uscito/a essi, Loro saranno usciti/e Ad esempio: Ieri sera saranno usciti insieme. - They must have gone out together last night.Non so dove sia Giulia, sar uscita e non me ne sono accorta. - I don’t know where Giulia is, she must have gone out and I didnt  realize. Congiuntivo/Subjunctive Il presente che io esca che noi usciamo che tu esca che voi usciate che lui, lei, Lei esca che essi, Loro escano Ad esempio: È fondamentale che tu esca da qui in questo momento. - It’s important that you get out of here now.Speriamo che escano i miei numeri fortunati alla lotteria. - Let’s hope my lucky numbers came out in the lottery. Il passato io sia uscito/a noi siamo usciti/e tu sia uscito/a voi siate usciti/e lui, lei, Lei sia uscito/a essi, Loro siano usciti/e Ad esempio: Penso che il loro primo disco sia gi uscito. - I think their first album already came out. L’imperfetto io uscissi noi uscissimo tu uscissi voi usciste lui, lei, Lei uscisse essi, Loro uscissero Ad esempio: Cosa faremmo se stasera io uscissi con voi? - What would we do if I went out with you all tonight? Il trapassato prossimo io fossi uscito/a noi fossimo usciti/e tu fossi uscito/a voi foste usciti/e lui, lei, Lei fosse uscito/a essi, Loro fossero usciti/e Ad esempio: Vorrei che tu fossi uscito/a con me in discoteca ieri sera. - I wish you could have gone out with me to the club last night.Pensavo che i risultati fossero gi usciti! -   I think the results have already come out! Condizionale/Conditional Il presente io uscirei noi usciremmo tu usciresti voi uscireste lui, lei, Lei uscirebbe essi, Loro uscirebbero Ad esempio: Uscirei con voi, ma sto male. - I would go out with you all, but I’m sick.Se fosse domenica usciremmo con voi. - If it was sunday we would go out with you. Il passato io sarei uscito/a noi saremmo usciti/e tu saresti uscito/a voi sareste usciti/e lui, lei, Lei sarebbe uscito/a essi, Loro sarebbero usciti/e Ad esempio: Avevo promesso che oggi sarei uscito dall’ufficio presto, perà ² gi sono le ventuno. - I promised that today I would have left the office early, but now it’s already 9 PM.

Consumer needs, motivation, behavior, and decision making processes Research Paper

Consumer needs, motivation, behavior, and decision making processes relevant to cough medicine strips - Research Paper Example Some types of cough are caused by bacterial infection like Pertussis that can cause a serious breathing problem in infants. Coughs are mainly caused due to hygiene problems. Cough caused by smoking, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma should be treated well with the consult of doctor. Middle class consumer behavior towards cough medicine is very general. They either avoid medicines for cough or purchase a combination of drug which has various treatments in one. But cough medicines like guaifenesin are very harmful for body. Before purchasing cough medicines for children, certain thing should always be the kept into consideration. One of the major uses of cough medicine containing noscapine is that it helps in controlling birth and growth of tumor of prostate cancer (Illions, Deena, â€Å"Study shows further benefits of noscapine for prostate cancer†). Cough suppression can cause many problems in a human life like airway obstruction, hypoxemia, secretion and secondary infection. Whooping cough caused by Bordetella pertussis can be a reason behind permanent disability and even some time death of infants. This disease is also easily spreadable an can cause epidemics (Articles Base, â€Å"Whooping Cough-Cause, Symptoms and Treatment†). Consumer needs among middle class states that medicines should be cost effective and can treat many diseases at once. But this belief is not fruitful. They also think that cold is a self treated diseases and it does not need any treatment. If the situation gets worse, they prefer to have the counter medicine treatment. The middle class populace can be motivated through educational activities and advertisements in television and news papers about the side effects of cough and why it is important to treat cough and that of doctor’s consultancy. It should explain the side

Managing diversity and equal opportunities Essay - 2

Managing diversity and equal opportunities - Essay Example mmission (2011a) The Equality Act 2010 requires companies to give equal payment for work of same proportion and value to both male and female workers. This act came as a replacement to older acts like Equal Pay Act 1970 and Sex Discrimination Act 1975. Elimination of any form of inequality in pay is extremely important as far as achieving gender impartiality and respecting the dignity of women is concerned. Judges and committees will always interpret the law that promotes equality in pay, purposively because this stipulation is based on the foundation of the law enacted by the European Union (TSO, 2014). The domestic law in the UK has the obligation to adhere to the law enacted by the European Union that imposes rightful obligation in terms of equality in payment which will have an unswerving impact. Therefore, while considering the claims for equal pay clause under the Equality Act 2010, the UK based courts are obligated to consider the pertinent provisions enacted by the European Union. Therefore, if a claimant does not get full assistance from the domestic laws the individual has the option of relying on the European Union law in the British Court (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2011a). While the British amendments are more generalized in nature requiring companies to eliminate any form of gender discrimination associated with unequal pay, the European amendment is more detailed in nature which eliminates any loopholes associated with gender pay inequality. The European amendment is evident in article 141 stipulated within the European Community Treaty which requires every Member State to make sure that the law of equal pay for male and female workers for work of same value and proportion is pursued. The law states that the ordinary minimum wage is kept same for male and female worker who does work of similar nature, value or quantity (Trueel, 2010). The European amendment urges organizations to supervise the cases where pay is determined on the basis

Online vs Brick and Mortar Essay Example for Free

Online vs Brick and Mortar Essay In today’s world, everyone is always so busy and sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to get all your work done. Technology is changing to make everything in our lives easier; like the way we pay bills, online banking, find information, get reviews, order tickets, and so much more. One thing that technology has changed that is beneficial for everyone is the way we shop. Brick-and-mortar has always existed, but now with online shopping it has become a competition to the old-fashioned way. Most people spend their days at work, then come home to clean, cook dinner, help the children with homework, and get them ready for bed. With all that going on people sometimes forget things that they were supposed to do. So now instead of bothering to go to the store, you can comfortably sit on the couch and shop for what you need without all the hassle. Online shopping is becoming more popular these days, because you can now get anything you want without leaving your home, it has many benefits, different sale opportunities, but there are also some inconveniences. When you are at the store, have you ever experienced one of those annoying and eager sales people trying to pressure you to buy a certain product that you have no interest in or just looking at? When shopping online you will not experience that problem any more. Online shopping has many advantages that benefit everyone, which going to the traditional store does not offer. Now you do not have to leave your home when you want to go to the store. You will not be wasting money on the gas to get there and back. Also when you shop online you never have to worry about the Internet closing (Top 10 Benefits Of Online Shopping, 2013). Stores have a closing time, except Wal-Mart, and if you don’t make it before closing you are out of luck until the next day. You will not have to worry about if the store is busy or if the lines will be long, because it will only be you on your computer. Online shopping is perfect if your town or state does not have the store that you love to shop at. Now you can get on the computer and still shop there without all the travel time. The best thing about online shopping is that there is normally more selection (Top 10 Benefits Of Online Shopping, 2013). If you went to the store already and if they did not have what you wanted any more, you could go online and there are normally more or different products you can pick from. Another benefit to online shopping is sending gifts (Top 10 Benefits Of Online Shopping, 2013). If your friends or relatives live in a different state, instead of mailing a gift you can go online, buy the item, and have them ship it to the recipient’s home. When shopping online compared to going to the store, you will receive different promotion or discount opportunities. Instead of going to all the stores checking for the best price on a certain item, you can easily look at all the stores online without all the extra work (Top 10 Benefits Of Online Shopping, 2013). Unlike shopping in the store, when shopping online you can Google discount codes for that store and save more money with the codes they offer. If you find yourself online shopping at the same store frequently it would be a good idea to sign up for their e-mail list. You will receive weekly codes free shipping and deals online that they do not normally have in the stores. Online shopping is marvelous to look at other people’s reviews on the product you are about to buy (Top 10 Benefits Of Online Shopping, 2013). If there are terrible reviews, you will save money by not choosing the poorly reviewed item. That benefit is not offered when shopping in the store. There are always inconveniences to trying to buy things online that you would not experience if you went to the store. If you are trying to buy clothing or shoes, you will have to know what your size is or you could order the wrong one. Most stores very in sizes, so it is not wise to order online if you are not familiar with your size from that particular store. When shopping for things like furniture or home dà ©cor, it may be hard to tell the size or exact color so when you get that item you may not like it in person. If you were shopping online for lotion, perfume, or makeup you may not like the scent, color, or feel of that product, but if you went to the store you would not deal with problem like that. Another thing that causes inconveniences is the shipping costs and the amount shopping time (Advantage Disadvantage Of Shopping Online, 1993). Instead of wasting gas money, you have to spend money shipping the products to your house, and it could take days to get there. At that point you are only saving mileage on your car. When shopping online it will be important to know the return policy of that specific store, because all the stores are different. If you order something online, and you cannot return the item you are stuck with it no matter what (Advantage Disadvantage Of Shopping Online, 1993). Also there can be an issue of not having a credit card. If you are the type of person who chooses not to have one, then you cannot order items online. If you go shopping at the store you have the option of paying by cash, check, or credit card. If you do have a credit card and order online then you have to worry about identity theft and making sure that website has a secure checkout (Advantage Disadvantage Of Shopping Online, 1993). Technology will continue to expand, help make our lives easier, and create less of a hassle. Brick and mortar will always be a way to shop, but online shopping will continue to grow and become more popular as technology adapts to the future. When you online shop it makes your shopping time easier and shorter compared to brick-and-mortar shopping. You would not have to bother getting ready or driving there, you could sit in the comfort of your own home while ordering the items you need without leaving your home. Although brick-and-mortar shopping is better to actually see, touch, and try what you will buy, which is something online shopping does not offer (Advantage Disadvantage Of Shopping Online, 1993). When shopping online it is easy to quickly find a coupon to save you some money, which is another thing you can’t do in the store. Online or brick and mortar shopping, everyone has their own preference.

throwing a football Essays -- essays research papers

Throwing a football   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the football travels through the air for a long pass it always follows a curved path because the force of gravity influences the movement of the ball in the vertical direction. As the ball travels up, gravity slows it down until it stops briefly at its peak height; the ball then comes down, and gravity accelerates it until it hits the ground. Projectile motion is the path of any object that is launched or thrown and has an arched course (howstuffworks)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the football to travel the most accurate and furthest distance, the ball must have the tightest spiral it can develop. â€Å"This will influence how the ball slows down in flight, because the ball is affected by air drag (howstuffworks).† A spiraling throw will have less air drag, will not slow down as much and will be able to stay in the air longer and go farther than a wobble throw. The velocity of the ball and the angle of the throw are the major factors that determine the path of the ball. Vectors are also involved in throwing a football because a vector is the direction in which you are throwing. Also when throwing on the running. For example the quarterback rolls out at a speed of 5m/s and after he twist his body to throw down field the vector is now at an angle of 75 degrees, so the quarterback must understand the speed he is running at in order to make an accurate throw (physics.unl.edu). Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The football has ...

Spirit Bound Chapter Two

MY TRIALS WERE A BLUR. You'd think, seeing as they were the most important part of my education at St. Vladimir's, that I'd remember everything in perfect, crystalline detail. Yet my earlier thoughts were kind of realized. How could these measure up to what I'd already faced? How could these mock fights compare to a mob of Strigoi descending on our school? I'd had to stand against overwhelming odds, not knowing if those I loved were alive or dead. And how could I fear a so-called battle with one of the school's instructors after having fought Dimitri? He'd been lethal as a dhampir and worse as a Strigoi. Not that I meant to make light of the trials. They were serious. Novices failed them all the time, and I refused to be one of them. I was attacked on all sides, by guardians who'd been fighting and defending Moroi since before I was born. The arena wasn't flat, which complicated everything. They'd filled it with contraptions and obstacles, beams and steps that tested my balance–including a bridge that painfully reminded me of that last night I'd seen Dimitri. I'd pushed him after plunging a silver stake into his heart–a stake that had fallen out during his plummet to the river below. The arena's bridge was a bit different from the solid wooden one upon which Dimitri and I had fought in Siberia. This one was rickety, a badly constructed path of wooden planks with only rope rails for support. Every step made the entire bridge swing and shake, and holes in the boards showed me where former classmates had (unfortunately for them) discovered weak spots. The test they assigned me on the bridge was probably the worst of all. My goal was to get a â€Å"Moroi† away from a group of â€Å"Strigoi† that were in pursuit. My Moroi was being played by Daniel, a new guardian who had come with others to the school to replace those killed in the attack. I didn't know him very well, but for this exercise, he was playing completely docile and helpless–even a little afraid, just as any Moroi I was guarding might have been. He gave me a little resistance about stepping onto the bridge, and I used my calmest, most coaxing voice to finally get him to walk out ahead of me. Apparently they were testing people skills as well as combat skills. Not far behind us on the course, I knew the guardians acting as Strigoi were approaching. Daniel stepped out, and I shadowed him, still giving him reassurances while all my senses stayed on alert. The bridge swung wildly, telling me with a jolt that our pursuers had joined us. I glanced back and saw three â€Å"Strigoi† coming after us. The guardians playing them were doing a remarkable job–moving with as much dexterity and speed as true Strigoi would. They were going to overtake us if we didn't get a move on. â€Å"You're doing great,† I told Daniel. It was hard to keep the right tone in my voice. Screaming at Moroi might put them into shock. Too much gentleness would make them think it wasn't serious. â€Å"And I know you can move faster. We need to keep ahead of them–they're getting closer. I know you can do this. Come on.† I must have passed that persuasive part of the test because he did indeed pick up his speed–not quite enough to match that of our pursuers, but it was a start. The bridge shifted crazily again. Daniel yelped convincingly and froze, gripping the rope sides tightly. Ahead of him, I saw another guardian-as-Strigoi waiting on the opposite side of the bridge. I believed his name was Randall, another new instructor. I was sandwiched between him and the group at my back. But Randall stayed still, waiting on the first plank of the bridge so that he could shake it and make it harder for us. â€Å"Keep going,† I urged, my mind spinning. â€Å"You can do it.† â€Å"But there's a Strigoi there! We're trapped,† Daniel exclaimed. â€Å"Don't worry. I'll deal with him. Just move.† My voice was fierce this time, and Daniel crept forward, pushed on by my command. The next few moments required perfect timing on my part. I had to watch the â€Å"Strigoi† on both sides of us and keep Daniel in motion, all the while monitoring where we were on the bridge. When we were almost three quarters of the way across, I hissed, â€Å"Drop down on all fours right now! Hurry!† He obeyed, coming to a halt. I immediately knelt, still speaking in an undertone: â€Å"I'm about to shout at you. Ignore it.† In a louder voice, for the benefit of those coming after us, I exclaimed, â€Å"What are you doing? We can't stop!† Daniel didn't budge, and I again spoke softly. â€Å"Good. See where the ropes connect the base to the rails? Grab them. Grab them as tightly as you can, and do not let go, no matter what happens. Wrap them around your hands if you have to. Do it now!† He obeyed. The clock was ticking, and I didn't waste another moment. In one motion, while still crouched, I turned around and hacked at the ropes with a knife I'd been given along with my stake. The blade was sharp, thank God. The guardians running the trial weren't messing around. It didn't instantly slice the ropes, but I cut through them so quickly that the â€Å"Strigoi† on either side of us didn't have time to react. The ropes snapped just as I again reminded Daniel to hold on. The two halves of the bridge swung toward the sides of wooden scaffolding, carried by the weight of the people on them. Well, ours did at least. Daniel and I had been prepared. The three pursuers behind us hadn't been. Two fell. One just barely managed to catch hold of a plank, slipping a bit before securing his grip. The actual drop was six feet, but I'd been told to regard it as fifty–a distance that would kill me and Daniel if we fell. Against all odds, he was still clutching the rope. I was hanging on as well, and once the rope and wood were lying flat against the scaffolding's sides, I began scrambling up it like a ladder. It wasn't easy climbing over Daniel, but I did it, giving me one more chance to tell him to hang on. Randall, who'd been waiting ahead of us, hadn't fallen off. He'd had his feet on the bridge when I cut it, though, and had been surprised enough to lose his balance. Quick to recover, he was now shimmying up the ropes, trying to climb up to the solid surface above. He was much closer to it than me, but I just managed to grab his leg and stop him. I jerked him toward me. He maintained his grip on the bridge, and we struggled. I knew I probably couldn't pull him off, but I was able to keep getting closer. At last, I let go of the knife I'd been holding and managed to get the stake from my belt–something that tested my balance. Randall's ungainly position gave me a shot at his heart, and I t ook it. For the trials, we had blunt-ended stakes, ones that wouldn't pierce skin but which could be used with enough force to convince our opponents that we knew what we were doing. My alignment was perfect, and Randall, conceding it would have been a killing blow, relinquished his hold and dropped off the bridge. That left me the painful task of coaxing Daniel to climb up. It took a long time, but again, his behavior wasn't out of character with how a scared Moroi might behave. I was just grateful he hadn't decided a real Moroi would have lost his grip and fallen. After that challenge came many more, but I fought on, never slowing down or letting exhaustion affect me. I slipped into battle mode, my senses focused on basic instincts: fight, dodge, kill. And while staying tuned to those, I still had to be innovative and not fall into a lull. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to react to a surprise like the bridge. I managed it all, battling on with no other thoughts beyond accomplishing the tasks before me. I tried not to think of my instructors as people I knew. I treated them like Strigoi. I pulled no punches. When it finally ended, I almost didn't realize it. I was simply standing there in the middle of the field with no more attackers coming at me. I was alone. Slowly, I became more aware of the world's details. Crowds in the stands cheering. A few instructors nodding to each other as they joined in. The pounding of my own heart. It wasn't until a grinning Alberta tugged at my arm that I realized it was over. The test I'd waited for my entire life, finished in what felt like a blink of an eye. â€Å"Come on,† she said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and guiding me toward the exit. â€Å"You need to get some water and sit down.† Dazed, I let her lead me off the field, around which people were still cheering and crying my name. Behind us, I heard some people saying they had to take a break and fix the bridge. She led me back to the waiting area and gently pushed me onto a bench. Someone else sat beside me and handed me a bottle of water. I looked over and saw my mother. She had an expression on her face that I had never seen before: pure, radiant pride. â€Å"That was it?† I asked at last. She surprised me again with genuinely amused laughter. â€Å"That was it?† she repeated. â€Å"Rose, you were out there for almost an hour. You blew through that test with flying colors–probably one of the best trials this school's ever seen.† â€Å"Really? It just seemed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Easy wasn't quite the right word. â€Å"It was a haze, that's all.† My mom squeezed my hand. â€Å"You were amazing. I'm so, so proud of you.† The realization of it all truly, truly hit me then, and I felt a smile of my own spreading over my lips. â€Å"Now what happens?† I asked. â€Å"Now you become a guardian.† I'd been tattooed many times, but none of those events came close to the ceremony and fanfare that occurred while getting my promise mark. Before, I'd received molnija marks for kills I'd made in unexpected, tragic circumstances: fighting Strigoi in Spokane, the school attack and rescue–events that were cause for mourning, not celebration. After all those kills, we'd kind of lost count, and while guardian tattoo artists still tried to log every individual kill, they'd finally given me a star-shaped mark that was a fancy way of saying we'd lost count. Tattooing isn't a fast process, even if you're getting a small one, and my entire graduating class had to get them. The ceremony took place in what was usually the Academy's dining room, a room they were able to remarkably transform into something as grand and elaborate as we'd find at the Royal Court. Spectators–friends, family, guardians–packed the room as Alberta called our names one at a time and read our scores as we approached the tattoo artist. The scores were important. They would be made public and, along with our overall school grades, influence our assignments. Moroi could request certain grads for their guardians. Lissa had requested me, of course, but even the best scores in the world might not compensate for all the black behavioral marks on my record. There were no Moroi at this ceremony, though, aside from the handful who had been invited as guests by the new graduates. Everyone else gathered was a dhampir: either one of the established guardians or about-to-become-guardians like me. The guests sat in the back, and the senior guardians sat near the front. My classmates and I stood the whole time, maybe as some sort of last test of endurance. I didn't mind. I'd changed out of my torn and dirty clothes into simple slacks and a sweater, an outfit that seemed dressy while still retaining a solemn feel. It was a good call because the air in the room was thick with tension, all faces a mix of joy at our success but also anxiety about our new and deadly role in the world. I watched with shining eyes as my friends were called up, surprised and impressed at many of the scores. Eddie Castile, a close friend, got a particularly high score in one-on-one Moroi protection. I couldn't help a smile as I watched the tattooist give Eddie his mark. â€Å"I wonder how he got his Moroi over the bridge,† I murmured in an undertone. Eddie was pretty resourceful. Beside me, another friend of mine, Meredith, gave me a puzzled look. â€Å"What are you talking about?† Her voice was equally soft. â€Å"When we were chased onto the bridge with a Moroi. Mine was Daniel.† She still looked confused, and I elaborated. â€Å"And they put Strigoi on each side?† â€Å"I crossed the bridge,† she whispered, â€Å"but it was just me being chased. I took my Moroi through a maze.† A glare from a nearby classmate shut us up, and I hid my frown. Maybe I wasn't the only one who'd gone through the trial in a daze. Meredith had her facts screwed up. When my name was called, I heard a few gasps as Alberta read my scores. I had the highest in the class by far. I was kind of glad she didn't read my academic grades. They would have totally taken away some of the glory of the rest of my performance. I'd always done well in my combat classes, but math and history†¦ well, those were a bit lacking, particularly since I always seemed to be dropping in and out of school. My hair was pulled tightly into a bun, with every stray wisp held with hairpins so that the artist would have nothing to interfere with his work. I leaned forward to give him a good view and heard him grunt in surprise. With the back of my neck covered in marks, he'd have to be tricky. Usually a new guardian provided a blank canvas. This guy was good, though, and managed to delicately place the promise mark in the center of the nape of my neck after all. The promise mark looked like a long, stretched-out S, with curly ends. He fit it in between the molnija marks, letting it wrap around them like an embrace. The process hurt, but I kept my face blank, refusing to flinch. I was shown the final results in a mirror before he covered it up with a bandage so it would heal cleanly. After that, I rejoined my classmates and watched as the rest of them received their tattoos. It meant standing for another two hours, but I didn't mind. My brain was still reeling with everything that had happened today. I was a guardian. A real, honest-to-goodness guardian. And with that thought came questions. What would happen now? Would my scores be good enough to erase my record of bad behavior? Would I be Lissa's guardian? And what about Victor? What about Dimitri? I shifted uneasily as the full impact of the guardian ceremony hit me. This wasn't just about Dimitri and Victor. This was about me–about the rest of my life. School was over. I would no longer have teachers tracking my every move or correcting me when I made mistakes. All decisions would be on me when I was out protecting someone. Moroi and younger dhampirs would look to me as the authority. And I would no longer have the luxury of practicing combat one minute and lounging in my room the next. There were no clear-cut classes anymore. I would be on duty all the time. The thought was daunting, the pressure almost too great. I'd always equated graduation with freedom. Now I wasn't so sure. What new shape was my life going to take? Who would decide? And how could I reach Victor if I was assigned to guard anyone besides Lissa? Across the room, I met Lissa's eyes among the audience. They burned with a pride that matched my mother's, and she grinned when our gazes met. Get that look off your face, she chastised through the bond. You shouldn't look that anxious, not today. You need to celebrate. I knew she was right. I could handle what was to come. My worries, which were many, could wait one more day–particularly since the exuberant mood of my friends and family ensured that I would celebrate. Abe, with that influence he always seemed to wield, had secured a small banquet room and thrown a party for me that seemed more suited to a royal debutante, not some lowly, reckless dhampir. Before the event, I changed yet again. Prettier party clothes now seemed more appropriate than the formal molnija ceremony outfit. I put on a short-sleeved, emerald green wrap dress and hung my nazar around my neck, even though it didn't match. The nazar was a small pendant that looked like an eye, with different shades of blue circling it. In Turkey, where Abe came from, it was believed to offer protection. He'd given it to my mother years ago, and she'd in turn given it to me. By the time I'd put on makeup and brushed out my tangled hair into long, dark waves (because my tattoo bandages didn't go with the dress at all), I hardly looked like someone capable of fighting monsters or even throwing a punch. No–that wasn't quite true, I realized a moment later. Staring into the mirror, I was surprised to see a haunted look in my brown eyes. There was pain there, pain and loss that even the nicest dress and makeup couldn't hide. I ignored it and set off for the party, promptly running into Adrian as soon as I stepped outside my dorm. Without a word, he swept me into his arms and smothered me with a kiss. I was totally caught off guard. It figured. Undead creatures didn't surprise me, but one flippant royal Moroi could. And it was quite the kiss, one that I almost felt guilty about sinking into. I'd had concerns when first dating Adrian, but many of them had disappeared over time. After watching him flirt shamelessly and take nothing seriously for so long, I'd never expected to see such devotion from him in our relationship. I also hadn't expected to find my feelings for him growing–which seemed so contradictory considering I still loved Dimitri and was concocting impossible ways to save him. I laughed when Adrian set me down. Nearby, a few younger Moroi had stopped to watch us. Moroi dating dhampirs wasn't super uncommon at our age, but a notorious dhampir dating the Moroi queen's great-nephew? That was kind of out there–especially since it was widely known how much Queen Tatiana hated me. There had been few witnesses to my last meeting with her, when she'd screamed at me to stay away from Adrian, but word of that kind of thing always gets around. â€Å"Like the show?† I asked our voyeurs. Realizing they'd been busted, the Moroi kids hastily continued on their way. I turned back to Adrian and smiled. â€Å"What was that? It was kind of a big kiss to throw on me in public.† â€Å"That,† he said grandly, â€Å"was your reward for kicking so much ass in those trials.† He paused. â€Å"It was also because you look totally hot in that dress.† I gave him a wry look. â€Å"Reward, huh? Meredith's boyfriend got her diamond earrings.† He caught hold of my hand and gave an unconcerned shrug as we began to walk to the party. â€Å"You want diamonds? I'll give you diamonds. I'll shower you in them. Hell, I'll get you a gown made out of them. But it's going to be skimpy.† â€Å"I think I'll settle for the kiss after all,† I said, imagining Adrian dressing me like a swimsuit model. Or a pole dancer. The jewelry reference also suddenly brought on an unwanted memory. When Dimitri had held me captive in Siberia, lulling me into blissful complacency with his bites, he'd showered me with jewelry too. â€Å"I knew you were a badass,† continued Adrian. A warm summer breeze ruffled the brown hair he so painstakingly styled each day, and with his free hand, he absentmindedly tried to arrange it back into place. â€Å"But I didn't realize just how much until I saw you dropping guardians out there.† â€Å"Does that mean you're going to be nicer to me?† I teased. â€Å"I'm already nice to you,† he said loftily. â€Å"Do you know how badly I want a cigarette right now? But no. I manfully suffer through nicotine withdrawal–all for you. But I think seeing you out there will make me a little more careful around you. That crazy dad of yours is kind of gonna make me cautious too.† I groaned, recalling how Adrian and Abe had been sitting together. â€Å"God. Did you really have to hang out with him?† â€Å"Hey, he's awesome. A little unstable, but awesome. We got along great.† Adrian opened the door to the building we were seeking. â€Å"And he's a badass in his way too. I mean, any other guy who wore scarves like that? He'd be laughed out of this school. Not Abe. He'd beat someone almost as badly as you would. In fact†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Adrian's voice turned nervous. I gave him a surprised look. â€Å"In fact what?† â€Å"Well†¦ Abe said he liked me. But he also made it clear what he'd do to me if I ever hurt you or did anything bad.† Adrian grimaced. â€Å"In fact, he described what he'd do in very graphic detail. Then, just like that, he switched to some random, happy topic. I like the guy, but he's scary.† â€Å"He's out of line!† I came to a halt outside the party's room. Through the door, I heard the buzz of conversation. We were apparently among the last to arrive. I guessed that meant I'd be making a grand entrance fitting for the guest of honor. â€Å"He has no right to threaten my boyfriends. I'm eighteen. An adult. I don't need his help. I can threaten my boyfriends myself.† My indignation amused Adrian, and he gave me a lazy smile. â€Å"I agree with you. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to take his ‘advice' seriously. My face is too pretty to risk.† His face was pretty, but that didn't stop me from shaking my head in exasperation. I reached for the door's handle, but Adrian pulled me back. â€Å"Wait,† he said. He drew me into his arms again, our lips meeting in another hot kiss. My body pressed to his, and I found myself confused by my own feelings and the realization that I was reaching a point where I might want more than just kissing. â€Å"Okay,† said Adrian when we'd finally broken away. â€Å"Now we can go in.† He had that same light tone to his voice, but in his dark green eyes, I saw the kindling of passion. I wasn't the only one considering more than just kissing. So far, we'd avoided discussing sex, and he'd actually been very good about not pressuring me. I think he knew I just wasn't ready after Dimitri, but in moments like these, I could see just how difficult it was for Adrian to hold back. It softened something inside of me, and standing on my tiptoes, I gave him another kiss. â€Å"What was that?† he asked a few moments later. I grinned. â€Å"Your reward.† When we finally made it into the party, everyone in the room greeted me with cheers and proud smiles. A long time ago, I'd thrived on being the center of attention. That desire had faded a little, but now, I put on a confident face and accepted my loved ones' praise with swagger and happiness. I held up my hands triumphantly, earning more clapping and approval. My party was almost as much of a blur as my trials. You never really realize how many people care about you until they all turn out to support you. It made me feel humble and almost a little teary. I kept that to myself, though. I could hardly start crying at my own victory party. Everyone wanted to talk to me, and I was surprised and delighted each time some new person approached me. It wasn't often that I had all the people I loved best in one place, and, uneasily I realized this opportunity might never come again. â€Å"Well, you've finally got a license to kill. It's about time.† I turned and met the amused eyes of Christian Ozera, a onetime annoyance who'd become a good friend. So good, in fact, that in my joyous zeal, I reached out and hugged him–something he clearly didn't expect. I was surprising everyone today. â€Å"Whoa, whoa,† he said backing up, flushing. â€Å"It figures. You're the only girl who'd get all emotional about the thought of killing. I don't even want to think about what goes on when you and Ivashkov are alone.† â€Å"Hey, look who's talking. You're itching to get out there yourself.† Christian shrugged by way of agreement. It was a standard rule in our world: Guardians protected Moroi. Moroi didn't get involved in battles. Yet after recent Strigoi attacks, a lot of Moroi–though hardly a majority–had begun to argue that it was time for Moroi to step up and start helping the guardians. Fire users like Christian were particularly valuable since burning was one of the best ways to kill a Strigoi (along with staking and decapitation). The movement to teach Moroi to fight was currently–and purposely–stalled in the Moroi government, but that hadn't stopped some Moroi from practicing in secret. Christian was one of them. Glancing beside him, I blinked in astonishment. There was someone with him, someone I'd hardly noticed. Jill Mastrano hovered near him like a shadow. A Moroi freshman–well, soon to be a sophomore–Jill had come forward as someone who also wanted to fight. She had sort of become Christian's student. â€Å"Hey Jill,† I said, giving her a warm smile. â€Å"Thanks for coming.† Jill flushed. She was determined to learn to defend herself, but she grew flustered among others–particularly around â€Å"celebrities† like me. Rambling was her nervous reaction. â€Å"I had to,† she said, brushing her long, light brown hair out of her face. Like always, it was a tangle of curls. â€Å"I mean, it's so cool what you did. At the trials. Everyone was amazed. I heard one of the guardians saying that they'd never seen anything like you, so when Christian asked if I wanted to come, of course I had to. Oh!† Her light green eyes went wide. â€Å"I didn't even tell you congratulations. Sorry. Congratulations.† Beside her, Christian struggled to keep a straight face. I made no such attempts and laughingly gave her a hug too. I was in serious danger of turning warm and fuzzy. I'd probably get my tough guardian status revoked if I kept this up. â€Å"Thanks. Are you two ready to take on a Strigoi army yet?† â€Å"Soon,† said Christian. â€Å"But we might need your backup.† He knew as well as I did that Strigoi were way out of their league. His fire magic had helped me a lot, but on his own? That'd be a different story. He and Jill were teaching themselves to use magic offensively, and when I'd had time between classes, I'd taught them a few combat moves. Jill's face fell a little. â€Å"It's going to stop once Christian's gone.† I turned to him. It was no surprise he'd be leaving. We'd all be leaving. â€Å"What are you going to do with yourself?† I asked. He shrugged. â€Å"Go to Court with the rest of you. Aunt Tasha says we're going to have a ‘talk' about my future.† He grimaced. Whatever his plans were, it looked like they weren't the same as Tasha's. Most royal Moroi would head off to elite colleges. I wasn't sure what Christian had in mind. It was standard practice after graduation for new guardians to go to the Moroi Royal Court for orientation and to get their assignments. We were all due to leave in a couple of days. Following Christian's gaze, I saw his aunt across the room, and so help me, she was talking to Abe. Tasha Ozera was in her late twenties, with the same glossy black hair and ice blue eyes that Christian had. Her beautiful face was marred, however, by some terrible scarring on one side–the result of injuries inflicted by Christian's own parents. Dimitri had been turned into a Strigoi against his will, but the Ozeras had purposely chosen to turn for the sake of immortality. It had ironically cost them their lives when the guardians hunted them down. Tasha had raised Christian (when he wasn't at school) and was one of the main leaders in the movement supporting those Moroi who wanted to fight Strigoi. Scar or not, I admired her and still thought she was beautiful. From my wayward father's attitude, it was clear he did too. He poured her a glass of champagne and said something that made her laugh. She leaned forward, like she was telling him a secret, and he laughed in return. My jaw dropped. Even from this far away, it was obvious they were flirting. â€Å"Dear God,† I said with a shudder, hastily turning back to Christian and Jill. Christian seemed torn between smugness at my discomfort and his own unease at watching a woman he regarded as a mother get hit upon by a pirate mobster guy. A moment later, Christian's expression softened as he turned back to Jill and continued our conversation. â€Å"Hey, you don't need me,† he said. â€Å"You'll find others around here. You'll have your own superhero club before you know it.† I found myself smiling again, but my kindly feelings were suddenly shattered by a jolt of jealousy. It wasn't my own, though. It was Lissa's, coming through the bond. Startled, I glanced around and spotted her across the room, giving Christian the look of death as he spoke to Jill. It's worth mentioning that Christian and Lissa used to date. More than date. They'd been deeply in love, and honestly, they kind of still were. Unfortunately, recent events had badly strained their relationship, and Christian had broken up with her. He'd loved her but had lost his trust in her. Lissa had spun out of control when another spirit user named Avery Lazar had sought to control her. We'd eventually stopped Avery, and she was currently locked away in a mental institution, last I'd heard. Christian now knew the reasons for Lissa's horrible behavior, but the damage was done. Lissa had initially been depressed, but her sorrow had now turned to anger. She claimed she wanted nothing to do with him anymore, but the bond gave her away. She was always jealous of any girl he talked to–particularly Jill, whom he'd been spending a lot of time with lately. I knew for a fact there was nothing romantic going on there. Jill idolized him as some wise teacher, nothing more. If she had a crush on anyone, it was Adrian, who always treated her like a kid sister. We all kind of did, really. Christian followed my gaze, and his expression hardened. Realizing she had his attention, Lissa immediately turned away and began talking to the first guy she found, a good-looking dhampir from my class. She turned on the flirtatious charm that came so easily to spirit users, and soon, both of them were laughing and chatting in a way similar to Abe and Tasha. My party had turned into a round of speed dating. Christian turned back to me. â€Å"Well, looks like she's got plenty to keep her busy.† I rolled my eyes. Lissa wasn't the only one who was jealous. Just as she grew angry whenever he hung out with other girls, Christian became prickly when she spoke to other guys. It was infuriating. Rather than admit they still had feelings and just needed to patch things up, those two idiots just kept displaying more and more hostility toward each other. â€Å"Will you stop already and actually try to talk to her like a rational person someday?† I groaned. â€Å"Sure,† he said bitterly. â€Å"The day she starts acting like a rational person.† â€Å"Oh my God. You guys are going to make me rip my hair out.† â€Å"It'd be a waste of nice hair,† said Christian. â€Å"Besides, she's made her attitude perfectly clear.† I started to protest and tell him how stupid he was, but he had no intention of sticking around to hear a lecture I'd already given a dozen times. â€Å"Come on, Jill,† he said. â€Å"Rose needs to mingle more.† He quickly stepped away, and I had half a mind to go beat some sense into him when a new voice spoke. â€Å"When are you going to fix that?† Tasha was standing next to me, shaking her head at Christian's retreat. â€Å"Those two need to be back together.† â€Å"I know that. You know that. But they can't seem to get it through their heads.† â€Å"Well, you'd better get on it,† she said. â€Å"If Christian goes to college across the country, it'll be too late.† There was a dry–and exasperated–note in her voice when she mentioned Christian going to college. Lissa was going to Lehigh, a university near the Court, per an arrangement with Tatiana. Lissa would get to attend a bigger university than Moroi usually went to, in exchange for spending time at the Court and learning the royal trade. â€Å"I know,† I said in exasperation. â€Å"But why am I the one who has to fix it?† Tasha grinned. â€Å"Because you're the only one forceful enough to make them see reason.† I decided to let Tasha's insolence go, mostly because her talking to me meant that she wasn't talking to Abe. Glancing across the room, I suddenly stiffened. He was now talking to my mother. Snatches of their conversation came to me through the noise. â€Å"Janine,† he said winningly, â€Å"you haven't aged a day. You could be Rose's sister. Do you remember that night in Cappadocia?† My mother actually giggled. I had never heard her do that before. I decided I never wanted to again. â€Å"Of course. And I remember how eager you were to help me when my dress strap broke.† â€Å"Dear God,† I said. â€Å"He's unstoppable.† Tasha looked puzzled until she saw what I was talking about. â€Å"Abe? He's actually pretty charming.† I groaned. â€Å"Excuse me.† I headed toward my parents. I accepted that they'd once had a romance–one that led to my conception–but that didn't mean I wanted to watch them relive it. They were recounting some walk on the beach when I reached them. I promptly tugged Abe's arm away. He was standing way too close to her. â€Å"Hey, can I talk to you?† I asked. He looked surprised but shrugged. â€Å"Certainly.† He gave my mother a knowing smile. â€Å"We'll talk more later.† â€Å"Is no woman safe around here?† I demanded as I led him away. â€Å"What are you talking about?† We came to a stop by the punch bowl. â€Å"You're flirting with every woman in this room!† My chastising didn't faze him. â€Å"Well, there are so many lovely women here†¦. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?† â€Å"No! I wanted to talk to you about threatening my boyfriend. You had no right to do that.† His dark eyebrows shot up. â€Å"What, that? That was nothing. Just a father looking out for his daughter.† â€Å"Most fathers don't threaten to disembowel their daughters' boyfriends.† â€Å"That's not true. And anyway, that's not what I actually said. It was much worse.† I sighed. He seemed to delight in my exasperation. â€Å"Think of it as a graduation gift. I'm proud of you. Everyone knew you'd be good, but no one knew you'd be that good.† He winked. â€Å"They certainly didn't expect you to destroy their property.† â€Å"What property?† â€Å"The bridge.† I frowned. â€Å"I had to. It was the most efficient way. God, that was a bitch of a challenge. What'd the other grads do? They didn't actually fight in the middle of that thing, did they?† Abe shook his head, loving every minute of his superior knowledge. â€Å"No one else was put in that situation.† â€Å"Of course they were. We all face the same tests.† â€Å"Not you. While planning the trials, the guardians decided you needed something†¦ extra. Something special. After all, you'd been out fighting in the real world.† â€Å"What?† The volume of my voice caught the attention of a few others. I lowered it, and Meredith's earlier words came back to me. â€Å"That's not fair!† He didn't seem concerned. â€Å"You're superior to the others. Making you do easy things wouldn't have been fair.† I'd faced a lot of ridiculous things in my life, but this was pretty out there. â€Å"So they had me do that crazy bridge stunt instead? And if they were surprised I cut it, then what the hell else did they expect me to do? How else was I supposed to survive that?† â€Å"Hmm.† He stroked his chin absentmindedly. â€Å"I honestly don't think they knew.† â€Å"Oh, for God's sake. This is unbelievable.† â€Å"Why are you so mad? You passed.† â€Å"Because they put me in a situation they didn't even know how to get out of.† I gave him a suspicious look. â€Å"And how do you even know about this? This is all guardian business.† An expression I didn't like at all came over his face. â€Å"Ah, well, I was with your mother last night and–â€Å" â€Å"Whoa, okay. Just stop,† I interrupted. â€Å"I do not want to hear what you and my mother were doing last night. I think that'd be worse than the bridge.† He grinned. â€Å"Both are in the past, so no need to worry now. Enjoy your success.† â€Å"I'll try. Just don't do me any more favors with Adrian, okay? I mean, I'm glad you came to support me, but that's more than enough.† Abe gave me a canny look, reminding me that underneath that swagger he was indeed a shrewd and dangerous man. â€Å"You were more than happy to have me do you a favor after your return from Russia.† I grimaced. He had a point, seeing as he had managed to get a message into a high-security prison. Even if it hadn't led to anything, he still got points. â€Å"Okay,† I admitted. â€Å"That was pretty amazing. And I'm grateful. I still don't know how you pulled that off.† Suddenly, like a dream you recall a day later, I remembered the thought I'd had just before my trials. I lowered my voice. â€Å"You didn't actually go there, did you?† He snorted. â€Å"Of course not. I wouldn't set foot in that place. I simply worked my network.† â€Å"Where is that place?† I asked, hoping I sounded bland. He wasn't fooled. â€Å"Why do you want to know?† â€Å"Because I'm curious! Convicted criminals always disappear without a trace. I'm a guardian now, and I don't even know anything about our own prison system. Is there just one prison? Are there lots?† Abe didn't answer right away. He was studying me carefully. In his business, he suspected everyone of ulterior motives. As his daughter, I was probably doubly suspect. It was in the genes. He must have underestimated my potential for insanity because he said at last, â€Å"There's more than one. Victor's in one of the worst. It's called Tarasov.† â€Å"Where is it?† â€Å"Right now?† He considered. â€Å"In Alaska, I think.† â€Å"What do you mean, ‘right now'?† â€Å"It moves throughout the year. Right now it's in Alaska. Later, it'll be in Argentina.† He gave me a sly smile, apparently wondering how astute I was. â€Å"Can you guess why?† â€Å"No, I–wait. Sunlight.† It made perfect sense. â€Å"Alaska's got almost nonstop daylight this time of year–but nonstop night in the winter.† I think he was prouder of my realization than of my trials. â€Å"Any prisoners trying to escape would have a hard time.† In full sun, no Moroi fugitive would get very far. â€Å"Not that anyone can escape through that level of security anyway.† I tried to ignore how foreboding that sounded. â€Å"Seems like they'd put it pretty far north in Alaska then,† I said, hoping to worm out the actual location indirectly. â€Å"You get more light that way.† He chuckled. â€Å"Even I can't tell you that. That's information the guardians keep close, buried in their headquarters.† I froze. Headquarters†¦ Abe, despite being usually observant, didn't notice my reaction. His eyes were watching something across the room. â€Å"Is that Renee Szelsky? My, my†¦ she's grown lovely over the years.† I grudgingly waved him away, largely because I wanted to chase this new plan in my mind–and because Renee wasn't anyone I knew very well, which made him hitting on her less appalling. â€Å"Well, don't let me stop you. Go lure more women into your web.† Abe didn't need much prodding. Alone, I let my brain spin, wondering if my developing scheme had any chance of success. His words had sparked a new plan in my mind. It wasn't much crazier than most of my others. Across the room, I met Lissa's jade eyes again. With Christian out of sight, her mood had improved. She was enjoying herself and was excited about the adventures ahead of us, now that we were free and out in the world. My mind flashed back to the anxieties I'd felt earlier in the day. We might be free now, but reality would catch up with us soon. The clock was ticking. Dimitri was waiting, watching. I wondered briefly if I'd still get his weekly letters, now that I'd be leaving the school. I smiled at her, feeling kind of bad that I'd be ruining her mood when I told her we might now have a very real chance of busting out Victor Dashkov.