Friday, January 31, 2020
Dog Fighting Essay Example for Free
Dog Fighting Essay Fights between two or more animals have always been popular spectacles. Dog fighting is one of the most in-humane types of animal cruelty out there today; unfortunately pit bulls have been caught in the wrath of it all. Dog fighting is an animal abuse issue. Pit Bulls happen to be the breed most used in dog fights. But if Pit Bulls did not exist, dog fighting would still take place. There is no quenching the blood lust of human ââ¬Ëkindââ¬â¢. Brutality against animals in the form of staged matches or fights between animals or even between man and animal is an activity almost as old as man himself ââ¬â it was in existence long before the Pit Bull. History The original, old-time bulldog was used for all manner of stock-related work, particularly as a catch dog: used by the butcher to manage unruly bulls, and by the hunter for help in catching and holding wild boar and other game. The sport of bull baiting became popular in England, having arisen from these functional jobs that the bulldog performed for humans. The modern bulldog breeds descended from these dogs and those re-created through breeding programs include: alapaha blue blood bulldog, American bulldog, aussie bulldog, banter bulldogge, English Bulldog, French bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge, Olde Boston Bulldogge, and Victorian Bulldog. All of these breeds have kept close to the original type and traits of the ancient bulldogs, even when adapting to their local living conditions (Luca, 2010). Pit Bulls are descendants of the original English bull-baiting dogââ¬âa dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. Bulldogs were bred to hang on without releasing their grip, until the animal was exhausted from fighting and from loss of blood. When baiting large animals was banned in the 1800s, people then started to fight their dogs against each other instead (ASPCA, 2013). Treatment. With fighting Pit Bulls, they are raised in an environment that reinforces and maintains fighting behavior. All fighting dogs are conditioned from a very early age to develop what dog-fighters refer to as ââ¬Å"gameness. â⬠The scope and method of training varies dramatically depending on the level and experience of the dog-fighter. Dogs are run on the treadmills to increase cardiovascular fitness and endurance. Dogs are put on a manmade machine is called a cat mill or jenny also. Jenny: Apparatus that looks like a carnival horse walker with several beams jetting out from a central rotating pole. The dogs are chained to one beam and another small animal like a cat, small dog, or rabbit, is harnessed to or hung from another beam. The dogs run in circles, chasing the bait. Once the exercise sessions are over, the dogs are usually rewarded with the bait they had been pursuing (Gibson, 2005). People that so called train pit pulls for fighting will also have a spring hanging down from a pole to which a rope, tire, or animal hide is affixed that the dogs jump to and dangle from for extended periods of time. This strengthens the jaw muscles and back legs. The same effect is achieved with a simpler spring loaded apparatus hanging from tree limbs. A variation of the spring pole is a hanging cage, into which bait animals are placed. The dogs repeatedly lunge up toward the cage (Gibson, 2005). Granted these people think they are real dog trainers, they will take care of the dogââ¬â¢s health to a certain extent. Dogs are given vitamins, supplements and drugs to condition them for or to incite them to fight. Commonly utilized vitamins, supplements, and drugs include: iron/liver extract; vitamin B-12; Magnum supplement; hormones; weight-gain supplements; speed; steroids and cocaine. The dogs are trained against one another and against older, more experienced dogs. In the early stages of training, the dogs are incited to lunge at each other without touching and engage in quick, controlled fights called ââ¬Å"rollsâ⬠or ââ¬Å"bumps. â⬠Once the dogs appear match ready, they are pitted against stronger dogs to test their ââ¬Å"gamenessâ⬠or tenacity in the face of exhaustion and impending defeat. If the dogs pass the test, they are deemed ready to fight. Types of Dog Fights All across the country, humans abuse dogs in heinous ways. From nonchalant, impromptu ââ¬Ëstreet fightsââ¬â¢ to the large-scale organized matches held on a regular schedule at set locations, dog fighting still occurs every day. Most law enforcement experts divide dog fight activity into three categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting and professional activity. Street fighters engage in dog fights that are informal street corner, back alley and playground activities. Stripped of the rules and formality of the traditional pit fight, these are spontaneous events triggered by insults, turf invasions or the simple taunt, My dog can kill yours. Street fights are often associated with gang activities. The fights may be conducted with money, drugs or bragging rights as the primary payoff. There is often no attempt to care for animals injured in the fight (ASPCA, 2013). Some of the dogs are thrown out the car on the side of the road, left to die. Worst case scenario the dogs are killed immediately with a close range shot from a gun to the head. Hobbyist fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a sideline for both entertainment and to attempt to supplement income. They pay more attention to care and breeding of their dogs and are more likely to travel across state lines for event (ASPCA, 2013). Last but not least Professional fighters. Who would even label themselves as a Professional dog figh ter? People do; Professional dogfighters often have large numbers of animals (as many as 50 or more) and earn money from breeding, selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road. They often pay particular attention to promoting established winning bloodlines and to long-term conditioning of animals. (ASPCA, 2013) Punishment and Prevention Dog fighting, despite its felony status in all 50 states, is still a grave concern to animal advocates. Although the Michael Vick dogfighting case, and his recent release from home detention, have focused the national spotlight on dogfighting cruelties, dogfighting has long been a thriving underground industry across the country in both urban and rural areas (society, 2011). Those who make dog fighting a pit bull issue do the dogs a grave disservice. A new bill in the Senate would outlaw spectatorsââ¬â¢ willful attendance at organized animal fights and impose penalties for bringing a minor to an animal fight. This bill has bipartisan support (society, 2011). The Federal Animal Welfare Act prohibits the interstate transportation of dogs for fighting purposes. A pending federal bill, S. 382, would create the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2005. The Act would amend the United States Code, making it a crime for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture if any animal in the venture was moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Additionally, it would be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, buy, transport, or deliver, or receive for purposes of transportation, in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal for purposes of having the dog or other animal participate in an animal fighting venture. Finally, it would be a crime for any person to knowingly use the mail service of the United States Postal Service or any instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech promoting an animal fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the states of the United States. Penalties for violations of the Act would include a fine, up to two years imprisonment, or both. The Act would repeal any conflicting provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (Gibson, 2005). If a person seeââ¬â¢s or suspect dog fighting they should not hesitate to report the owner to the authority. Conclusion These dogs are VICTIMS in every sense of the word. Exploited, abused, and tortured for human gain, Pit Bulls are innocent beings caught up in a tragic societal issue. The American pit bull has two powerful enemies: the humane groups working for his extinction, and the modern dog fighter who are producing dogs of dubious genetics and characteristics while keeping them in negative headlines. Dogfighting is tremendously widespread and has reached epidemic levels in Americaââ¬â¢s urban communities. The devastating impact of social, economic and racial injustice in these communities that are exposed to such cruelty to animals. Are just the tip of the ice berg? Americaââ¬â¢s finest legal minds, political activists and social advocates have painstakingly dissected the culture of poverty in an attempt to understand the disproportionately high rates of crime, drug use, and social deviance in inner-city communities (Gibson, 2005).
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Prayer in Public Schools Essays -- Religion in Public Schools
Prayer in Public Schools An issue that has been constantly debated for years is whether voluntary prayer in public schools should be permitted. A student should be allowed to pray voluntarily at the beginning of each school day based on many reasons. Prayer based on moral beliefs reinforce good citizenship as defined by our forefathers. A daily reminder of a need for the belief of good over evil is a necessary part of this society. Daily voluntary school prayer should be re-instated in public schools due to three reasons, the historical basis of the beginning of the United States government, the serious moral decline since prayer has been outlawed, and the government infringement on the constitutional guarantee of individual freedom of personal beliefs. First, a student should be allowed to pray voluntarily at the beginning of each school day because the United States government was originally based on Christian principles. The Declaration of Independence, a document written to express the mission and purpose of this new country, states, ? We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that God endows them, with certain unalienable rights?..? Credit for the rights that Americans hold dear is given to God, the Creator, by the founding fathers of this Nation. In order to understand the basic fundamentals of the US form of government, students need to understand the religious teachings that influenced these early leaders; that is the creation, the providence of God and a final judgement day for accountability. Since the government was formed under these principles, it can only stay strong if students understand these beginnings. The first amendment states ?that congress shall make no law respecting the establi shment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof The first clause declares that the federal government cannot establish a common state church. Many of the US forefathers left Europe because they did not agree with nor want to be forced to support the established state church. The second part of this clause insures and encourages individual religious belief. The demonstration that religion is important to the workings of the government of this country can be seen when every session of Congress opens with a prayer. Why are the governing bodies of this nation allowed to pray daily, but schools are prohib... ...ople of color, women, and others fight for individual rights. If told they could not talk of their beliefs in public, this country would probably face another civil war. But for some reason, those who wish to practice their religion publicly are treated as criminals. In one instance a child who brought her Bible to school to read during free reading time, was sent home and told not to bring the Bible to school again. Silent messages are sent to children when disapproval seems the norm. Future generations accept this infringement on personal rights, and so goes the country and moral responsibility to each other. Voluntary prayer in public schools should be reinstated due to this country?s founding principles, moral emphasis, and first amendment rights of individual freedom. Due to the non-confrontational nature of those who ascribe to religious beliefs, the government has adjusted to those who have been confrontational. The elected officials of this nation need to re-evaluate volunteer prayer in school, and pass a resolution supporting that as long as beliefs are not forced on a student (citizen) the practice of faith and morality through volunteer prayer should be encouraged.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Excuses, Excuses
Excuses, Excuses Even though some excuses for turning in work late as seen in ââ¬Å"The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woeâ⬠by Carolyn Foster Segal, some excuses given are legitimate for turning in late work. Some unforeseeable events, such as traffic accidents, death in the family, weather that causes an evacuation, and a fire are just a few are all events that students can not control, which result in turning in late work. It is Monday morning, students are on their way to the first class period of the day, their paper is due first thing as they walk in the door.Tragedy strikes on their way to school as a mo-torists runs a red light, t-boning the students car and causing a major accident. However the stu-dent could have emailed the assignment to the professor, this professor only accepts copies in pe-rson. The student did not predict the accident he/she would be involved in this morning, or maybe he/she would have left a little later, or a little earlier, or even taken a different route to school that day. Family members getting into an accident could go either way, depending on who the family member is and where they are located.If a distant cousin from four hundred miles away gets into a fender bender, teachers will probably be very skeptical to accept late work. However a mother, father, or immediate family member, gets into an automobile accident could be an acceptable excuse for turning in late work. A death in the family is a very tragic occurrence and could have many different effects on the student and their work they are planning to turn in. Segal states ââ¬Å" What heartless student would lie, wish death on a revered family member, just to avoid a deadline? (461) Hopefully no student would use a death in the family to avoid a deadline. Death is not to be taken lightly, nor used in a demeaning manner. Segal also says, ââ¬Å"What heartless teacher would dare to question a student's grief or veracity? â⬠(461). Hopefully no teacher or professor would call their students out or question that their was a death in their family. Letting the professor know exactly what is going on and when the student will turn in their paper is a proper course of action, to avoid receiving an F for the assignment or incomplete in the class.Nothing is more frightening than having to pack bags and evacuate due to serious and catastrophic weather. Students and teachers, not knowing what to expect when the storm passes, or what damage could come of their campus or surrounding areas. When a storm is a brewing miles away and expecting to hit in the next week, students are not worried about an assignment, they are focused on packing the must haves when evacuating and arriving somewhere out of harms way. Most teachers probably allow students to turn their work in after the storm has passed and once the school opens back up to regular hours.Weather is a unstable force, the storm could hit further away or not be as strong as anticipated, but students do not focus on their school work at this time. Giving them a legitimate excuse for not turning their work in on time, because they were forced to evacuate due to storms and unforeseeable damages that may occur. Fires destroy many homes and buildings each year, leaving the occupants without a roof over their head. In the event of a fire, people are taught not to try and save anything from their houses, dorms, and apartments.Their main goal is to get to safety, and let the fire department do their job at extinguishing the fire. A student that is the victim of a fire, should be allowed to turn their work in late, especially if they have lost most if not all of their things in the fire. Sunday night, the student is putting the finishing touches on their paper due Monday morning, and their computer crashes, not allowing them to save any material to a disc, or thumb drive can be very upsetting. The student arrives in class and tells their professor that the reason they are not t urning their paper in was because their computer crashed the night before.This could happen, and not allow the student adequate time to go to their nearest computer lab or library on campus and redo their paper. This common occurrence with computers and technology could give the students an extension to resubmit their assignment at a later day. This would be at the profess-ors discretion of course, or the professor could ask for proof that the action that did happen, truly did happen. This returns to the question from the death in a family section, just in different words: Would a teacher actually question, why a student is turning their work in late or not.Excuses are thrown around colleges and schools like jokes at a comedy club. Some excuses are just absurd and just a reason for students to get out of doing their assignments; others are legitimate reasons as to why they are not turning their assignment in. The bad excuses make the legitimate excuses seem untrue and just another e xcuse, that students will use to get out of an assignment. Work Cited Segal, Carolyn Foster. ââ¬Å"The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woeâ⬠Patterns for College Writing. 12th ed. Ed. Laurie G Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Bedford, 2012 460-463. Print.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Adolescence Is A New Birth - 1106 Words
Throughout the semester we have discussed adolescence in a literary sense applying it to characters and themes. In Latin, the word ââ¬Å"adolescenceâ⬠literally means ââ¬Å"growing upâ⬠. Adolescence can be applied to literature in a sense of its broad message. According to Stanley Hall who wrote the article ââ¬Å"Adolescence is a New Birthâ⬠, during adolescence ââ¬Å"awareness of self and the environment greatly increases; everything is more keenly felt, and sensation is sought for its own sake.â⬠(1844-1924) Psychological terms and concepts being applied to this stage of development would be ââ¬Å"persecution complex,â⬠ââ¬Å"myth of invulnerability,â⬠and ââ¬Å"peer pressure.â⬠The psychological term ââ¬Å"persecution complexâ⬠relates to ââ¬Å"An Ounce of Cureâ⬠because the main character felt as if the world was out to get her so she engaged in risky behavior that resulted in unwanted consequences. ââ¬Å"Greasy Lakeâ⬠r elates to the psychological term ââ¬Å"myth of invulnerabilityâ⬠perfectly when the main characters bold behavior leads into a dangerous situation. Finally, ââ¬Å"peer pressureâ⬠shows up in ââ¬Å"Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?â⬠when the main character falls for peer pressure and is then murdered for it. Adolescent psychology and literacy go hand and hand when discussing the stories, ââ¬Å"An Ounce of Cureâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Greasy Lakeâ⬠, and lastly ââ¬Å"Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?â⬠An Ounce of Cure is a story of a teenage girl s first experience with alcohol. While baby-sitting, she slurps down two full glasses of whiskey;Show MoreRelatedIn This Paper Iââ¬â¢M Gonna Be Talking About The 12 Stages1179 Words à |à 5 Pagesstages I will be talking about is Pre-birth which is the stage of potential, Birth is the stage of Hope, Infancy (Ages 0-3) Vitality, Early Childhood (Ages 3-6) Playfulness, Middle Childhood (Ages 6-8) Imagination, Late Childhood (Ages 9-11) Ingenuity, Adolescence (Ages 12-20) Passion, Early Adulthood (Ages 20-35) Enterprise, Midlife (Ages 35-50) Contemplation, Mature Adulthood (Ages 50-80) Benevolence, Late Adulthood (Ages 80+) Wisdom, Death Dying Life. Pre birth is the period that usually lasts nineRead MoreCurrent Perspectives Of Psychology And Human Development Essay1634 Words à |à 7 Pagestheories of lifespan development from birth through to my adolescent stage. This includes looking at the understanding and major theoretical perspectives of psychology and human development, its process and the influences of domains on human development across the lifespan and how they interrelate. The domains of development including Physical, Cognitive, Emotional and Socio-cultural /or moral. Also some of the human lifespan stages are Prenatal (prior to birth), Infancy (0-2yrs), Early ChildhoodRead MoreThe Brilliant Club Final Assignment1683 Words à |à 7 Pageschanging the meaning and make sure it will have the source links at the bottom of the essay. It will show images of the brain at different ages. It will show; development of the brain, consequences of adolescence for example drink driving, what is fMRI, sMRI, PET and EEG. Main During adolescence the teenagers become more risky (take more risks), the frontal lobe (the brakes) are not fully developed so it canââ¬â¢t cope with the temporal lobe (accelerator) which canââ¬â¢t control itself, energetic, adventurousRead MoreAdolescence : Childhood And Adulthood Essay1326 Words à |à 6 PagesAdolescence is the period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult. It refers to the period of human growth that occurs between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence begins at around age 10 and ends around age 21. Adolescence can be broken into three stages: early adolescence, middle adolescence, and late adolescence. Each stage has its own characteristics. Early adolescence is the first stage and occurs from ages 10 to 14. Puberty usually beginsRead MoreCultural Autobiography : My Life Essay1556 Words à |à 7 Pagessubsistence and some savings. For people in my village, the most generous gift that god could bestow was the birth of a son, who, unlike a daughter, could continue the family generation. For my family, my birth meant their first child and a son. Being born as a son meant a straight pass to male identity and heterosexuality for me. The two identities that I have possessed since my birth, of being a male and heterosexual, have played significant roles in shaping my beliefs and my perspectives.Read More Physical Child Development Essay1583 Words à |à 7 Pagesrule reveals that, as the brain develops, a child responds to more and more sights and sounds in their environment. Furthermore, they learn to respond to much finer details. A general rule is that a baby increases in height by 50% and triples its birth weight in the first year. Clearly, this is a very rapid growth rate; however, the rate of growth slows down after infancy. At three months, a baby is alert and responding to the world. When put on their tummy, they can hold their chest and head upRead MoreThe Problem Of Teenage Pregnancy1720 Words à |à 7 Pagesat an early age.â⬠Among the radical paradigm of early motherhood, Burdette (2012) is convinced that poverty is a huge factor contributing to this problem. She claims, ââ¬Å"high poverty levels have a direct correlation to a regionââ¬â¢s high number of teen births.â⬠To back her claim up, Burdette researched and found ââ¬Å"the South is permeated by high poverty compared to other regions in the nationâ⬠which influenced her to do a study among the southern region (consisting of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, NorthRead MoreWithout Prescription. According To The Center For Disease1040 Words à |à 5 PagesUnited States. (2014) Adolescence is a difficult period not only for the teenager but for the parents as well. A period of physical and mental changes. It can be ââ¬Å"considered the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood.â⬠Teenagers do crazy things without thinking in consequences, like go out without permission in the night, get a tattoo, fight at school, scape from s chool, scape from home or get pregnant. Pregnancy in teenagers is a problem that can be reduce if birth control pills could beRead MoreHuman, Social, And Moral Development1669 Words à |à 7 Pagesand consider developmental knowledge and theories throughout planning, activity selection, and implementation. While prevention and intervention efforts are important during all stages of life, they are especially important during childhood and adolescence, when risk factors may be more easily avoided and protective factors can be established that may last a lifetime (Cohen, Chaà vez, Chehimi, 2007). Brain, human, social, and moral development are critical to prevention program design and implementationRead MoreYouth Problems826 Words à |à 4 PagesYouth problems. Plan: 1) Adolescence: freedom or problem? 2) Addictions. 3) An active sex life and its consequences. 4) Teens-exploiters. 5) Juvenile delinquency. 6) Youth subcultures. 7) The period of risks. It is said that adolescence is the most exciting and striking period of life. It seems that teens have no problems, as they donââ¬â¢t work, take care of their families or have any other responsibilities. On the one hand, it is true. Besides, having become a legal
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Foreign Influence and Its Positive and Negative Impacts
Foreign influence. Colonization. Imperialism. All of these arguably had a very positive impact on the world advancing it technologically. However, foreign influence also causes conflicts. For example, Britain split up the Hindus and Muslims in India which led to years of fighting and hatred. The majority of people believe that there isnt a specific cause for genocide. However ââ¬â as shown by the Sudanese and Rwandan Genocidesââ¬âforeign influence, and the absence of it, plays a big role in causing genocide. Before exmaning the effects of foriegn influence in causing genocide, it is important to understand the concepts of foreign influence and genocide. The UN defines genocide any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bri ng about its physical destruction in whole or in part1; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group(Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide). In lamen terms, genocide is just the organized, systematic killing of a specific group of people. Examples of genocides include the Holocaust, where Hitler and the Nazi party of Germany led the killing of around six million Jews, and the CambodianShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Tourism1039 Words à |à 5 Pagestourism sector is expanding at a fast pace, which results in creating more job opportunities, monetary improvement, external transaction and foreign investment. ââ¬Å"When there is large contrast between the culture of the receiving society and the origin culture, then it is likely that the impacts will be greatestââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢. (Burns and Holden, 1995). The socio-cultural impacts of tourism are the effects on regional socie ty of having direct and indirect relations with the tourist and its management. There is a variationRead MoreThe Positive and Negative Aspects of Job Migration943 Words à |à 4 PagesIntroduction There are many people moving from their native countries to foreign countries. It has many reasons such as educational and economical, religious and political problems. Reason of labor migration lack of work opportunities, and receive sufficient income at home. As we know, the number of people who migrate from their native countries is getting higher and keep increasing. According to statistics, Number of labor immigrants was increase to 145855 all over the world between April andRead MoreMonetary Policy And The Financial Crisis1583 Words à |à 7 PagesThe financial crisis in the early 2000ââ¬â¢s has raised questions on the linkage between the monetary policy and the financial markets. This document will analyze the impact of a countryââ¬â¢s net balance of payments on the exchange rate of the countryââ¬â¢s currency. An analysis of the impact of a countryââ¬â¢s net level of interest rates and nominal inflation rate on the countryââ¬â¢s exchanged rate will also be reviewed. In addition, a review of the growth in a countryââ¬â¢s Gross National Product will be analyzedRead MoreThe Negative Impacts Of Satellite Television On The Society1740 Words à |à 7 PagesHollywood movies. They choose Indian sports channel while following sports. This has huge impact in peopleââ¬â¢s behavior, attitude and choices. Satellite TV channels has both positive and negative impacts on the society. Positive Impacts of the Satellite Television: Satellite television channels have many positive impacts on the audiences. It is helping people in broadening their outlook and destroying stereotypes beliefs. It is also increasing communication and access to diverse ideas. For instancesRead MorePresidential Elections Are Not Isolated From National Or World Macro Events931 Words à |à 4 Pagesplay out with untold influence on economies and stock markets. International macro events are countless; they can even have an impact at a state level in the U.S. Below are a few examples of international macro events as derived from the California Department of Finance (CDOF) website ââ¬Å"Chronology of Significant Eventsâ⬠: â⬠¢ Global conflicts â⬠¢ Foreign energy resources â⬠¢ Foreign trade policies â⬠¢ Foreign political events â⬠¢ Emerging foreign national economies â⬠¢ Troubled foreign national economies Read MoreThe Effects of Globalization on Cambodia Essay888 Words à |à 4 PagesAlmost on every part of the world, citizens have become a part of the global village. Even though various researches stated that there are negative effects of globalization for particular reasons, the positive impacts were clearly shown to be stronger especially in developing countries such as Cambodia. To begin with, tourist travel is one of the main negative impacts of Globalization as it is able pose a serious threat on the society as a whole through the act of human trafficking. According to an articleRead MoreEffects Of Rising Foreign Debt On Australia1237 Words à |à 5 Pages 3.0 Positive and negative: While rising foreign debt is widely viewed as a concern, Glenn Stevens (2009) argues that it is not an issue since the imported capital is being used productively. This may be true to some extent however Australia has been in a significant amount of debt for a while. Although the investment benefits are substantial in Australia and we would be no where without the ability to borrow and accumulate debt, there are is much longer list of negatives linked to foreign debt.Read MoreEvaluation of Effeciveness694 Words à |à 3 Pagesexamples of the negative influence of outside culture on American society, and then stresses the thesis. In terms of his subsidiary claims, he proposes the reason why American people allow the negative impact of immigration take place and even feel helpless about the issue. They are not very related claim because he focuses on criticizing the law makersââ¬â¢instead of explaining why immigration threatens American culture. Besides, his claim is very partial b ecause he ignores all positive influence of immigrationRead MoreThe Role Of External Environment On Firms1042 Words à |à 5 PagesThe influence of external environment on firmsââ¬â¢ activities and survival has been extensively investigated over the last several years (Barkema, Bell, Pennings, 1996; Fagre Wells Jr, 1982; Holburn Zelner, 2010; Kostova Roth, 2002). In corporate governance literature, external constituents, such as, government, institutional investors, security analyst, etc. exert pressure on firms so that they act in the interest of key stakeholders. While financial stakeholders have been given more attentionRead MoreInternational Capital Flow Directly Depends On A Country s Financial Situation And Level Of Development1741 Words à |à 7 PagesServen (2005) have determined that international capital flow directly depends on a countryââ¬â¢s financial situation and level of development. Abadie and Gardeazabel (2007) agreed that the stock markets are the main source of FDI, it is well known. But foreign firms that have been purchased through the stock market are in desperate need of financial services. This way, as a prospective investor makes decisions regarding his investments, he will be able to take into account the countryââ¬â¢s financial development
Saturday, December 21, 2019
ââ¬ËThe commercialization of festivals has eroded their real...
A festival is an occasion for rejoicing and celebration. It conjures up scenes of gaiety and merrymaking. It is an occasion for family rejoicing and community celebrations. Festivals break the monotony of life, bring peace and joy to the masses and above all promote social interaction and harmony. All nations have their religious and colorful festivals. Being a multi-religious, multilingual and multi-racial country, Indians celebrate a number of festivals all through the year. However, Indian festival are known to attract the world due to their harmony variety, color and excitement. But now we see their significance has been eroded by their commercialization. Now these have become just important occasions, to promote personal andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The capital, New Delhi is the seat of national celebration on all occasions. It witnesses one of the most majestic parades on the Republic Day. Apart from the Armed Forces, school children from across the country also participate in the parade. The normal practice is that the states exhibit their talents depicting the states resources or recent achievement and the best one achieve rewards. But now, it is an open fact that achievement has nothing to do with the reward. One, who has great source of authority, places can get the place in the line. Moreover, the glory of those reward doesnââ¬â¢t last long. The winners steal the mediaââ¬â¢s show for the time being. After a time, they are lost in commercial gloom as the commercializing agents make hay while the sun shines. The same is the case in religious festivals. Diwali is celebrated all over India. On this day, the people worship Lakshmi, the goodess of wealth. On this day, everybody illuminates his house with rows of lights. Every town or village appears gorgeous on this night of mirth and festivity. Lights of all descriptions from the ordinary clay lamp to the costliest chandelier are artistically displayed with splendid effect but the ordinary clay lamp to the costliest chandelier are artistically displayed with splendid effect but to show personal supremacy. In the larger cities, gas and electric lights of various colours and degrees of luminosity make the night as bright asShow MoreRelatedRastafarian79520 Words à |à 319 PagesRastafari This page intentionally left blank Rastafari From Outcasts to Culture Bearers Ennis Barrington Edmonds 2003 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the Universitys objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata KualaRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words à |à 522 Pagesof America for the Marketing functions, American Marketing Association (AMA) defines marketing as ââ¬Å"Marketing consists of those activities involved in the flow of goods and services from the point of production to the point of consumption. The AMA has since amended its definition to read as: ââ¬Å"Marketing is an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization andRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words à |à 922 Pages. Organization Theory Challenges and Perspectives John McAuley, Joanne Duberley and Phil Johnson . This book is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive and reliable guide to organisational theory currently available. What is needed is a text that will give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of workRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words à |à 702 PagesAmy Scholz Carly DeCandia Alana Filipovich Jeof Vita Arthur Medina Allison Morris This book was set in 10/12 New Caledonia by Aptaraà ®, Inc. and printed and bound by Courier/Westford. The cover was printed by Courier/Westford. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright à © 2009, 2006, 2004, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1992, 1989, 1986, 1981, 1976 John Wiley Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any formRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words à |à 846 PagesContemporary Issues in Management Accounting This page intentionally left blank Contemporary Issues in Management Accounting Edited by ALNOOR BHIMANI 1 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6dp Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the Universityââ¬â¢s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico
Friday, December 13, 2019
Thorn Queen Chapter Twelve Free Essays
string(34) " he wanted to meet with me again\." Kiyo took off as soon as we got back to Tucson, saying he had to go to work. He also added that I shouldnââ¬â¢t expect him later that night since heââ¬â¢d promised Maiwenn heââ¬â¢d come visit. Normally, that would have set my mood plummeting-and I wonââ¬â¢t lie, I wasnââ¬â¢t thrilled as it was-but after last night, I felt superior and confident in my position with him at the moment. We will write a custom essay sample on Thorn Queen Chapter Twelve or any similar topic only for you Order Now Somehow, I doubted heââ¬â¢d be looking at Maiwenn with the same awe he kept regarding me after Iââ¬â¢d ridden him to exhaustion last night. If the crossroads in Yellow River-which weââ¬â¢d visited before heading out of town-had only yielded some answers this morning, I would have considered the trip a resounding success. ââ¬Å"Nice of you to spend some time around here,â⬠Tim told me when I emerged from the shower. As usual, he appeared to be cooking something. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that?â⬠I asked, watching him roll out dough. ââ¬Å"Cinnamon rolls,â⬠he replied. ââ¬Å"The second batch Iââ¬â¢ve had to make, thanks to someone raiding the kitchen while they cooled.â⬠He shot a glare over in the direction of one of the dogs-Yang, I thought-lying under the table. Yang looked extremely pleased with himself. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠I said, even though it wasnââ¬â¢t exactly my fault. Tim finished rolling out the dough and sprinkled the surface with a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar. ââ¬Å"And donââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢re going to change the subject about never being around.â⬠I found a Coke in the refrigerator and sat down, a little irritated over the scolding. ââ¬Å"Well, sorry you miss my company, but I donââ¬â¢t really see how it matters. Our deal is you live here rent-free in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Me not being here means you have less work. Besides, Iââ¬â¢ve had things to do.â⬠He scowled. ââ¬Å"Yeah, I suppose. But do your ââ¬Ëthingsââ¬â¢ actually involve your job-the one that gets the mortgage paid? Your secretary called last night and said you missed an appointment. And you know, dealing with her isnââ¬â¢t part of my rental agreement.â⬠Despite having never met, Tim and my receptionist, Lara, had an antagonistic relationship over the phone. I had no time to give to their drama today, though. The other news was too startling. ââ¬Å"I did what?â⬠I took out my phone, which also doubled as my planner. In addition to two missed calls from Lara, I discovered I had indeed missed an appointment for a banishing last night. Iââ¬â¢d been so fixated on my quest in Yellow River that Iââ¬â¢d totally forgotten I had it. ââ¬Å"Shit,â⬠I muttered, dialing Laraââ¬â¢s number. As keen as I was on these missing girls, Tim had a point-my human jobs paid the bills. Not the gentry ones. ââ¬Å"What happened?â⬠demanded Lara as soon as she answered. No hello. ââ¬Å"I got distracted by something else,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m really sorry. You think we can reschedule? Give them a discount or something?â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably,â⬠she conceded. ââ¬Å"I mean, itââ¬â¢s not like theyââ¬â¢ve got many other options to get rid of a ghost. In the meantime, though, Iââ¬â¢ve got some other pending clients.â⬠I hesitated. Normally, I wouldnââ¬â¢t think twice about accepting as many jobs as I could. It was good for my bank account and a good deed for the world. With as much as the Otherworld was preoccupying me, however, I couldnââ¬â¢t afford losing the time right now-or possibly missing another appointment. ââ¬Å"Reschedule the one I missed and book only one of the others. Tell the rest we have to wait-list them.â⬠Lara was silent for several seconds. ââ¬Å"Are you serious?â⬠ââ¬Å"Afraid so.â⬠She sighed. ââ¬Å"Okay. You can still pay my salary, though, right?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I laughed. ââ¬Å"I havenââ¬â¢t gone bankrupt yet.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay then.â⬠She sounded only moderately pacified. ââ¬Å"But for the record? Your roommate needs to learn some manners. He was a total asshole when I called last night.â⬠Before we disconnected, Lara made sure to remind me about two jobs I had later that day. She wouldnââ¬â¢t get off the phone until I repeated the times and places back to her. I was just as eager to take care of them as she was, as sort of a mental retribution for the missed one from last night. Iââ¬â¢d never forgotten a job before. My career might be an unusual one, but I still considered myself a professional and didnââ¬â¢t want to start falling into bad habits as a result of all this Thorn Queen business. And yetâ⬠¦as soon as I finished those jobs, I had to send myself back to the Otherworld. I only intended it to be a quick visit, though. I simply needed to check Shayaââ¬â¢s progress and find out if the runaway girl had been located. Questioning her would make this whole search and rescue a lot easier and let me get on with my human life. The news wasnââ¬â¢t good, however. ââ¬Å"No sign,â⬠said Rurik, once I hunted him down in the castle. Iââ¬â¢d found him in a compromising position with one of the cooks. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got people scouring the area but havenââ¬â¢t had any luck. We did, however, find where those bandits have relocated. Do you want us to go after them?â⬠I hesitated. I did want to round them up, both to take the pressure off the villages and see if they knew anything about the girls that my prisoners hadnââ¬â¢t. In the end, I shook my head. If they still had that fire demon summoner, I didnââ¬â¢t want to go after them until we had an overwhelming show of strength. ââ¬Å"No. Not yet. Just keep looking for the runaway.â⬠I gave a sidelong glance toward the kitchen, into which the woman whose skirt heââ¬â¢d just had his hand up had disappeared. ââ¬Å"You know, if itââ¬â¢s not too much of an inconvenience.â⬠At least the news from Shaya was good. The supplies Dorian had sent me home with had been shipped out, and apparently Leith had contacted her to say that after going through the irrigation book, he had some ideas for us. Naturally, he wanted to meet with me again. You read "Thorn Queen Chapter Twelve" in category "Essay examples" I suspected an ulterior motive, but it was something Iââ¬â¢d happily endure to keep the food coming. I at least felt like Leithââ¬â¢s intentions were easier to understand than Dorianââ¬â¢s-and that I was a lot less likely to yield to temptation along the way. I sent the young prince a message back, saying Iââ¬â¢d love to meet with him. On impulse, I also asked if he had anyone who might be capable of summoning water demons. Once that chore was done, I made motions to go back to Tucson. ââ¬Å"Well? Are we going to get this done with or not?â⬠I turned around, surprised to see Ysabel standing there in the hallway, hands on her hips. Iââ¬â¢d been heading out toward the courtyard to do a little communion with the land before returning home. The heat was sweltering, as usual, and most of the women around here had taken to wearing light, gauzy gowns, often with short or no sleeves-not unlike the dress Iââ¬â¢d worn to Maiwennââ¬â¢s party. Ysabel had made no such concessions and stood clothed in a green velvet gown, complete with long bell sleeves. The color looked stunning with her hair, but I knew she had to be miserable. ââ¬Å"Get what done with?â⬠She threw up her hands in exasperation. ââ¬Å"Thisâ⬠¦tutorial. Or whatever it is my lord sent me here to do.â⬠Oh, right. I hadnââ¬â¢t forgotten Ysabel, exactly. Iââ¬â¢d just kind of tried to pretend she didnââ¬â¢t exist, in a feeble (and futile) hope that she might just disappear. No such luck. ââ¬Å"Sorry,â⬠I said, returning her hard look. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t really have time.â⬠ââ¬Å"You promised Dorian,â⬠warned Ysabel. ââ¬Å"And until you do this, I canââ¬â¢t leave this godsforsaken place. I want to go home.â⬠I shrugged and turned away. ââ¬Å"We canââ¬â¢t always get what we want. Kind of like that song. God knows I havenââ¬â¢t.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d barely taken one step when a huge gust of wind shot toward my back, whipping my hair in front of me and rustling the tapestries on the wall. I immediately came to a halt and looked back at her. Her expression was both smug and hostile. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the matter? Afraid you canââ¬â¢t keep up with me?â⬠Charming. The old baiting tactic. She was hoping to get her way by playing on my pride. It was like the lamest trick in the bookâ⬠¦except, well, it was kind of working. Okay, it was more than just my pride here. I was succumbing to temptation. With hardly any effort, Ysabel had just nearly knocked me over. It was more than I could do-much more-and her power nowhere near matched mine. If I had that kind of mastery, I could create hurricanes and blow apart buildings. Being in full possession of my magic would make me a god. That shouldnââ¬â¢t have mattered. I shouldnââ¬â¢t have wanted thatâ⬠¦but some secret part of me did. Well, not the god part. But certainly the rest. Power like that could help my people, I tried to convince myself. ââ¬Å"Okay. Letââ¬â¢s get this over with then.â⬠I acted like getting rid of her was my only concern-not that that wasnââ¬â¢t a huge motivating factor. This castle, I was finding, was filled with rooms-most of which didnââ¬â¢t seem to have much use. Most of the servants and guards had their own quarters, still leaving a ton of rooms unoccupied and gathering dust. I really only had need of my meeting room and parlor when I was there, and the rest had thus far stayed unused. The parlor was apparently being cleaned, so on impulse, I led Ysabel to one of the abandoned rooms. It had a river-rock fireplace that wasnââ¬â¢t going to see use anytime soon, but the striped brocade furniture hadnââ¬â¢t accrued too much dust. I flounced down onto a chair, arms crossed and posture defensive. ââ¬Å"Okay. Make this fast.â⬠Ysabel examined her sofa carefully before easing down and spreading her voluminous skirts around her. She crossed her hands on her lap, and if not for the expression on her face that said she wanted to rip me apart, I would have said she looked dainty and ladylike. ââ¬Å"Dorian says Iââ¬â¢m to teach you to improve your power with air.â⬠ââ¬Å"Something like that.â⬠She eyed me critically. ââ¬Å"Before we begin, I want it made abundantly clear that I am not doing this by choice.â⬠ââ¬Å"Really? I hadnââ¬â¢t noticed.â⬠Her lips curled into a sneer at my sarcasm. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know what Dorian sees in you. You think youââ¬â¢re so clever and witty when really, youââ¬â¢re just a plain, uncouth human.â⬠ââ¬Å"Half-human,â⬠I corrected. ââ¬Å"And plain or not, your boyfriend-and, like, every other guy around here-would give up his right arm to get me into bed.â⬠I really shouldnââ¬â¢t have provoked her like that. Not only was it mean, it was also going to make this whole magic lesson probably even more unbearable. ââ¬Å"Believe me, itââ¬â¢s through no charm of your own. Itââ¬â¢s only the prophecy and your alleged breeding ability, and once thatââ¬â¢s run its course, wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She demurely smoothed the wrinkles out of her skirt, not that there really were any. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s only your child anyone will have interest in, not you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sorry to disappoint you, but there isnââ¬â¢t going to be a child.â⬠Not as long as my doctor kept prescribing me birth control pills. Ysabel looked up, face filled with skepticism. ââ¬Å"Oh? Then why are you with theâ⬠¦kitsune?â⬠She said kitsune like it was a dirty word. Dorian often did too, though he did it mostly to irritate me. I think Ysabel legitimately looked down on Kiyo. ââ¬Å"If you really are a queenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She looked skeptical over this as well. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦then why lower yourself by taking him as a consort? The only reason you would have is in the hopes of him fathering a child on you, just as he did Maiwenn. Clearly, heââ¬â¢s proven his virilityâ⬠¦which might be of particular concern to you. You claim youââ¬â¢re trying not to conceive, but perhaps thatââ¬â¢s a lie to hide the fact that you canââ¬â¢t.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? Thatââ¬â¢s insane!â⬠ââ¬Å"Whereas Iâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She ran her hands proudly along the sides of her hips. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦have already bore two children.â⬠Whoa. That was startling-and a point of pride for her, no doubt, considering the gentry fertility issue. ââ¬Å"To whom?â⬠For some reason, the thought that it might be Dorian bothered me. ââ¬Å"My husband. He was killed years ago in battle.â⬠She frowned slightly, the first sign of soft emotion Iââ¬â¢d seen on her. In a flash, her normal bitchy expression returned. ââ¬Å"They live with my parents right now and are healthy and strong. My lord Dorian knows I can undoubtedly have more. Thatââ¬â¢s why he cast you aside for me, forcing you to turn to the kitsune for your fleeting chances of offspring.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s not what Dorian and I-never mind. Look, for the last time, Iââ¬â¢m not with Kiyo to get pregnant, okay? Iââ¬â¢m with him because I love him.â⬠She sniffed. ââ¬Å"I find that unlikely. If you just wanted a lover for pleasure, you would pine for my lord. No other man can match his skills in the bedroom. When he binds my hands in ropes or paints my flesh, I find no greater ecstasy than-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Whoa, just stop,â⬠I said, holding up both hands. This entire conversation was grating on my last nerve. ââ¬Å"I do not want to hear any details about your sex life with Dorian, okay? That is not part of this deal. No part at all. I donââ¬â¢t want to-wait. Did you say something about painting?â⬠A sly smile lit her features. ââ¬Å"My lord has a great appreciation for art. Often, before we make love, Iââ¬â¢ll lie naked before him and let him use my body as a canvas. He will spend hours adorning my flesh with color and design, often using the paintbrush as a means to pleasure me and-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Okay, okay. Iââ¬â¢m sorry I asked.â⬠As the words left my lips, though, it shocked me that I could envision what she was describing perfectly. Dorianââ¬â¢s magic lessons had often involved tying me up-the necessity of which I was never 100 percent certain of-and he would spend a large amount of that time weaving the silken cords that bound me. Heââ¬â¢d arrange them in interesting patterns and color formations, consumed by the process itself. Somehow, I imagined him being the same with paint. I could see his face lost in thought as he painted flowers or suns or whatever, his clever, sensual hands taking their time as they lightly touched my bodyâ⬠¦. No, not my body. Ysabelââ¬â¢s. I had no part of this. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s get this done with,â⬠I said gruffly, hoping she wouldnââ¬â¢t guess my thoughts. ââ¬Å"Then we can both go home.â⬠ââ¬Å"Very well then. So, you need my help because youââ¬â¢re weak.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s not entirely true.â⬠Jesus Christ. It was all going to be like this, wasnââ¬â¢t it? ââ¬Å"I have a lot of power. I know how to control and use water magic-though I guess I could be better. Everyone assumes I must have inherited wind magic too, but so farâ⬠¦well, Iââ¬â¢ve only been able to use it once.â⬠ââ¬Å"You may simply be deficient,â⬠she said lightly. Her eyes flicked to my chest. ââ¬Å"Like in so many other ways. But we shall see.â⬠It kind of went on like that for a while. Every other sentence of hers was a barb. Yet, a lot of what she explained to me sounded similar to what Dorian had said, which at least gave me some confidence that she wasnââ¬â¢t bullshitting me. In particular, she kept trying to describe how I could reach out and feel different types of air-just as Dorian used to encourage me to do with water. Unfortunately, it had taken a very long time to do that with water, and I felt a little pessimistic about history repeating itself. ââ¬Å"There are different types,â⬠she kept saying. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t try to sense them all. Focus small.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you mean different types of air?â⬠About an hour had gone by at that point, and I was growing weary and longing for Tucson. ââ¬Å"Air is air,â⬠I argued. ââ¬Å"Spoken like a savage,â⬠she remarked. ââ¬Å"Perhaps we should just end this and tell my lord we fulfilled our promise to try.â⬠I gritted my teeth. ââ¬Å"Just explain it one more time.â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"There are different types of air.â⬠When she offered no more, I began to agree with her. It might be best to abandon this after all. A few moments later, though, she elaborated. ââ¬Å"There is different air around plants. Different air after we exhale. Different air when the land is foggy. Not that youââ¬â¢d understand that in this wretched place.â⬠My eyes widened. ââ¬Å"Gas. Molecules. Thatââ¬â¢s what you mean.â⬠Now she was the one wearing the confused expression. ââ¬Å"The different types of air,â⬠I continued, excited in spite of myself. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re saying the magic depends on feeling each kindâ⬠¦oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxideâ⬠¦.â⬠I was speaking a foreign language. Ysabel seemed as confused as ever, but by this point, I was running away without her. It made sense. Dorianââ¬â¢s entire teaching method had been built on baby steps. It had started with me sensing a bucket of water and culminated in me using the water in Aesonââ¬â¢s body to blow him apart. Starting at the molecular level with air seemed daunting, but the human in me clung to the science. And as I sat there, I began to expand my mind out, much as I did when preparing to use water magic. Air had always remained blank and untouchable, yet as I began to simply focus on a tiny part of it, it became more manageable. I thought about Ysabelââ¬â¢s breathing-oxygen in, carbon dioxide out. The world slowed down to a heartbeat, one breath at a timeâ⬠¦. Iââ¬â¢m not sure how long I sat like that. I lost track of where I was or even if she said anything else to me. Only her breathing mattered. At last, I could sense the differences, the changes in the air coming in and coming out. As she exhaled, my mind scooped up the air-the carbon dioxide-leaving her lips and flung it as I would a ball. My control was imprecise; I had no real target. The air brushed past her shoulder, ruffling her hair. ââ¬Å"Youâ⬠¦you touched it,â⬠she said grudgingly, clearly surprised. I was alive and burning with energy now, too consumed by what I was doing to answer her. Using magic always set my senses ablaze, made the world seem more vibrant and real. I wanted to do the trick again but decided to see if I could work it the opposite way and exert control over a different type of air-oxygen. I waited again to get a feel for her breathing, letting my mind actually sense the different particles in the air. When I felt certain I could grasp the oxygen, I did-just as she was about to inhale. Ysabel began to cough, her hands going to her throat as she tried to draw breath. Sucking the oxygen away meant, well, that she couldnââ¬â¢t inhale it. I froze in my surprise at the obvious yet not entirely unreasonable consequences-so much so that I couldnââ¬â¢t stop what I did. I was justâ⬠¦stunned. I was controlling air. The magic burned through me, and her oxygen just kept flowing away and away. It obeyed my commands, and I didnââ¬â¢t have the coherent reasoning to cut it off. After several seconds that felt like years, the realization of what I was doing suddenly penetrated my higher reasoning. I finally cut off the magic, letting go of my hold on her oxygen. By then, Ysabel had fallen to her knees in a desperate attempt to get air-and probably because she was starting to lose consciousness too. At last, free of the magic, she drew a large, shaking breath, face pale and terrified. A few moments later, when sheââ¬â¢d recovered herself, she looked at me accusingly. ââ¬Å"You-you tried to suffocate me!â⬠ââ¬Å"No!â⬠I exclaimed, aghast. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦I didnââ¬â¢t. Iââ¬â¢m sorry. I wasnââ¬â¢t thinking. I was just trying to control the airâ⬠¦.â⬠She stood up, and where once her face had been pale, it was now flushed with anger. She was shaking. ââ¬Å"You deceived Dorian. You already know how to use this kind of magic. This is all part of some elaborate plot.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no,â⬠I said, standing as well. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve never used it before-except once and only for a few seconds.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t believe you. What you just didâ⬠¦you couldnââ¬â¢t have done that if you were as inexperienced as you pretended to be!â⬠What Iââ¬â¢d done-aside from the fact it could have killed her-didnââ¬â¢t seem like it was that big a deal. Iââ¬â¢d sensed air and moved it. It was hardly a hurricane, and it had taken a lot of concentration-so much so that I didnââ¬â¢t think I could repeat it anytime soon. I hardly had the effortless control she exerted over the wind. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorryâ⬠¦I really am. I didnââ¬â¢t mean to hurt you. It was an accident.â⬠Ysabelââ¬â¢s only answer was a scowl, just before she stormed out of the room. As she passed me, I thought I saw both fear and tears in her eyes. Despite her bravado, I realized that what had seemed more like anger in her was actually terror. She was in the home of someone she saw as a rival, someone with a reputation as a warrior and a tyrant-and someone who had just tried to kill her. She was trapped here by Dorianââ¬â¢s orders. ââ¬Å"A terrifying feat, your majesty,â⬠a voice near the doorway said. I took a few steps forward and saw Shaya standing just outside in the hall, her pretty face grim. ââ¬Å"It was an accident,â⬠I said, surprised at the trembling in my voice. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t like her, but I donââ¬â¢t want to hurt her.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know.â⬠Shayaââ¬â¢s expression turned both gentle and sad. ââ¬Å"But her fear isnââ¬â¢t unfounded. You learned that too quickly and too well.â⬠ââ¬Å"It was easy! Itââ¬â¢s the same as moving water around or any other type of air.â⬠ââ¬Å"From what I understand, stealing someoneââ¬â¢s breath-denying them air-is harder than simply creating breezes. Youââ¬â¢re fighting against life itself. Those who suffocate others in this way usually require great strength and stamina. For you to be able to do it alreadyâ⬠¦well, itââ¬â¢s a testament to your power-and thatââ¬â¢s nearly as frightening as the act itself.â⬠The full impact hit me. ââ¬Å"Waitâ⬠¦there are people who do that on purpose? Steal someoneââ¬â¢s air so they canââ¬â¢t breathe?â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"Well, to those with the skill, suffocationââ¬â¢s an effective weapon.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s sickâ⬠¦itââ¬â¢s an inhumane way to die.â⬠ââ¬Å"I agree. And most people donââ¬â¢t have that kind of strength, so itââ¬â¢s not an issue. Among those who do have the strength, most would never consider doing it to another person, enemy or no.â⬠I groaned. ââ¬Å"Well, if thatââ¬â¢s true, then she has to understand that I wouldnââ¬â¢t purposely do it to her either. She has to believe that it was an accident.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢re going to have a lot of luck with that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because while most consider such torture unusually cruel, there was one person who enjoyed denying someone their breath-and who frequently used it as a form of execution and entertainment.â⬠Shayaââ¬â¢s look was meaningful. ââ¬Å"Tirigan Storm King.â⬠How to cite Thorn Queen Chapter Twelve, Essay examples
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