1984 Personal Response Essay - 821 Words

Fear is something all humans share. This unity of having fear connects all of us together, along with many other things. Fears themselves are not universal, and every human may have different fears. In the novel 1984 written by George Orwell many common fears are brought into perspective, many of which I can say I fear myself. While the question asked for the implications of the ending, for me to fully understand the ending I must start from the beginning. The concern about the truth of history and truth of the past, that the people in power are always watching you, and not being allowed to have real emotions except towards the government are all fears brought on in the novel, especially with the implications of the ending. As much as†¦show more content†¦Ultimately this all leads up to the ending, with 2 + 2 = 5. Mathematical laws of addition would show that the equation of 2 + 2 would equal 4. Yet what is shown by the party’s manipulation is that it is possible to make someone believe that 2 + 2 = 5. By physically and mentally completely breaking people down to an almost breaking point, it is possible to reprogram their thought process to really think it equals five. ThisShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Article Hustle As The Strategy `` By Amar Bhide1168 Words   |  5 Pagesobjective of the essay is a critical review of the article Hustle as the strategy by Amar Bhide. First of all, it will look into the position of the article in the broader debate on strategies. Secondly, it will examine the suppositions and theoretical bases of the article. It will then assess the strengths and weaknesses of the viewpoints presented in this article. And lastly, author’s personal thoughts on strategy will be terminated alongside the conclusion of the entire essay. Position in theRead MoreUnderstanding Personality1579 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction This essay is a concise guide to the understanding of personality in terms of Theories, structure and testing, looking at Trait, situation and interactional theories in particular. Every individual has a unique personality, which is known as their psychological makeup. This is known as the relatively stable, psychological structures that shape a person’s actions in a specific environment. (Gill, 1986) This essay will look at the established theoretical psychological understand of personalitiesRead MoreGeorge Orwell Character Analysis1422 Words   |  6 Pageslife, either for better or for worse. There is that one person who made a difference. For George Orwell, it is easy to assume, that person was his first wife, Eileen O’shaughnessy. She not only impacted his life, but also his writing, for example, 1984, and some of his female characters. Orwell first met Miss O’shaughnessy in 1935 at a party that he and his landlord was hosting. He described her as â€Å"talkative and lively† and she had lifted her first impression him him. After the party had endedRead MoreDiscuss the Roles of Language and Reason in History1695 Words   |  7 PagesTOK- Essay Question 9 â€Å"Discuss the roles of language and reasoning in history† 1451 words Nadia Lotze 000 865-015 Mr Skeoch History is the past written by the present. The very nature of this statement creates the predicament of historical knowledge. The historians of the present are under constant pressure of rapidly changing society; therefore what we discover from the past is dependent on our perceptions that are forever changing. History and historical explanations are deduced and manipulatedRead MoreLearning Expirience907 Words   |  4 Pagesexperiences contribute to our development over time. Learning process occurs when we experience situation that have negative or positive effect on us. In this essay I will briefly describe my personal learning experience; I will also define the concept of learning, and will provide analysis of what I have learned from this experience. In addition my essay will include the analysis and application of classical and operant conditioning as well as cognitive- social learning. My Experience Every person’sRead MoreMy Teaching Toolbox.. Educ 6513: Teaching Adult Learners.1101 Words   |  5 Pageslike a skilled archer with a quiver full of powerful arrows.† (p.7). According to Kolb (1984) s model of learning styles, I selected two common learning styles that I usually observe in my classes. The first one is the diverger style that focuses on the big picture and relies on emotions and are characterized by their tendency to learn through feeling and watching. Learners who adopt this style prefer personal interaction and discussion as in group work and they are usually good at generating ideasRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Class This Year928 Words   |  4 Pages(This does not need to be academic growth. It can be personal, social, etc.) Explain. * ⠁Æ' I have grown the most in this class in terms of my writing. Compared to last year, where only one essay reached an A-, this year I have exceed my own expectations. In the first essay written outside of school, I scored B but in the more recent Canterbury essay revision, I managed to score an A for that outside of class assignment. My performance in in-class essays has been a little surprising, since I always expectedRead MorePneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesEthelind Scott THEO201_D02_LUO Short Essay # 3 Short Essay on Topic Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Spiritual Gifts are gifts that are given to believers by God that enable them to complete the jobs that He has called them to perform. Spiritual gifts differ from the Fruit of the Spirit in that everyone can possesses each Fruit of the Spirit but God gives Spiritual Gifts according to your service in the church and in the body of Christ. You need to possess specific Spiritual Gifts in order toRead MoreReflection, Activities of Daily Living1446 Words   |  6 PagesFor the purpose of this essay the Kolb’s model of reflection (1984) has been chosen as a guide to reflect on administration of oxygen therapy. Administration of oxygen therapy is the aspect of nursing practice that I selected as a result of completing the case-based learning scenarios. I will explain how the administration of oxygen therapy can have an effect on a patient’s activities of daily living (ADL), including some of the psychological and ethical issues. Breathing is the selected ADL thatRead MoreCo mpare and Contrast Two Methods for Achieving Attitude Change through Persuasion1502 Words   |  7 Pagesof information in which attitudes can be based (Breckler, 1984; Rosenberg Hovland, 1960; Zanna Rempel, 1988) : cognitions or beliefs, affect or feelings and actions or behaviour. As defined by Richard Perloff, persuasion is the process which moulds and shapes attitudes. It is through persuasion that changes in attitudes can occur. The two methods for achieving attitude change through persuasion that will be the main focus of this essay are: the Ingratiation and Door-in-the face techniques. Discussed

An Analysis of a Dolls House - 1535 Words

A Doll’s House 1. DRAMATIC STRUCTURE ‘A Doll’s House’ is widely considered by many to be Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s magnum opus. The play is tightly structured with 3 acts that take place over a short span of three days. Each act contains just one long scene. The scenes are primarily two person scenes that are interleaved with temporary entrances and quick exits by the other characters in the play. Furthermore, the play has a strong sense of unity of action, in the sense that events in the play take place in a causal manner, where each character’s actions on inaction have a significant impact on the course of events that follow. I shall elucidate this point in a latter part of the essay. The dramatic structure of the play is†¦show more content†¦The climactic moment of the play occurs when Torvald finally reads the letter from Krogstad. This climactic moment fully heightens the tension between Nora and Torvald. All of Nora’s worst nightmares come true as Torvald unleashes insult upon insult onto her. He shames her for being â€Å"a hypocrite, a liar – worse, worse – a criminal!† and he threatens to cut her out from the lives of their children. However, as soon as he receives the bond papers from Krogstad he goes back to his patronizing self and he presents himself as some sort of a God who’s benevolently accepted the apologies of a devotee. This moment leads nicely to the strong resolution of the play. The climactic clash between Nora and Torvald jolts Nora into facing the truth about their marriage and she immediately sees through the illusion of happiness that existed in their marriage. Nora realizes that her relationship with Torvald has never been one between a wife and her husband; instead it resembles the relationship between a child and the child’s doll. This leads to the resolving moment of the play where Nora decides that she is going to leave Torvald and her children and venture out into the world to finally live as a human being and not as someone’s plaything and by doing so she resolves the conflict between her and Torvald. 2.Show MoreRelatedCriticle Analysis of a Dolls House2519 Words   |  11 PagesCritical Analysis of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House was a controversial play for its time because it questioned societys basic rules and norms. Multiple interpretations can be applied to the drama, which allows the reader to appreciate many different aspects of the play. This paper examines how both Feminist and Marxist analyses can be applied as literary theories in discussing Ibsens play because both center on two important subject matters in the literary work:Read MoreA Dolls House -H.Ibsen ,Critical Analysis1554 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Subject : Drama B Writer : Henrik Johan Ibsen Genre : Realistic Modern Drama Name of the Work / Play : A Doll’s House ( 1897 ) in three acts Characters : Major Characters / Minor Characters Nora Helmer ( wife of Torvald Helmer ,mother of three children ) Torvald Helmer( husband of Nora Helmer , a lawyer ,father of three children ) Dr. Rank ( doctor ,friend of Nora Torvald Helmer, confidant ,commentator ) Mrs. Kristine Linde ( old friend of Nora Helmer ) Nils Krogstad ( barristerRead MoreA Dolls House Character Analysis1555 Words   |  7 Pages Title â€Å" As I am now, I am no wife for you†(Ibsen 887) This statement is from Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll House, is a play based in 1879, and it sets the tone of the remainder of the story. Ibsen seems to be making a statement that women need to mature and be independent before they have a family of their own. All of the women in this play leave their loved ones behind to gain their independence. Ibsen’s statement and character portrayal helps make Ibsen’s play take on feminist characteristicsRead MoreA Dolls House And The Awakening Analysis740 Words   |  3 PagesTimes may have changed a lot over the years with people and their ways. There were times when people would be better at hiding things from being out in the open, and the only way you would find out was if a person put it in a book. The Novels â€Å"A Doll’s House† and â€Å"The Awakening† have a common twist to it. The novels both are telling a story about these two busines s men/ husbands, and two wives who lived their lives taking care of their children, while also feeling trapped inside. It is always goodRead More Analysis Of Ibsens A Dolls House Essay1839 Words   |  8 PagesA Doll House A critical Analysis When Nora slammed the door shut in her dolls house in 1879, her message sent shockwaves around the world that persist to this day. I must stand quite alone, Nora declared after finding out that her ideal of life was just a imagination of her and that all her life had been build up by others peoples, specifically her husband and her dad ideas, opinions and tastes. Nora is the pampered wife of an aspiring bank manager Torvald Halmer. In a desperate attemptRead MoreA Dolls House Character Analysis1222 Words   |  5 PagesTorvald as she believes it would ‘completely wreck their relationship’ and therefore, Ibsen utilises other characters to become her confidante, as it is in this way he shows the audience her inner thoughts. Just like Hardy’s use of Liddy, in A Doll’s House, this role is found in Christine Linde: an old friend. Christine is the first person Nora tells about the loan, and admits the loan has caused her ‘a frightful lot of worry’. This indicates that Nora has been having a difficult time dealing withRead MoreA Dolls House Character Analysis872 Words   |  4 PagesA Dolls House Essay on Love By comparing Ibsens play A Dolls House and the movie Me Before You one can see that gender roles play a big factor in love. A romantic relationship that involves gender roles will bring out love’s most raw form; the emergence of one’s true feelings towards his/her significant other whether it is a negative or positive view. A Doll’s House and the movie Me Before You shows how gender roles impact the lives of Nora [from Doll’s House] and Will Traynor [from Me BeforeRead MoreA Dolls House As A Tragic Hero Analysis967 Words   |  4 Pagesgreatness but who through a weakness, or tragic flaw in his character, falls into the depths of misery and often to his death† (Ingham 1). Within Oedipus Rex, Sophocles laid the foundation for what is now considered the ideal tragic hero. Within A Doll’s House, Ibsen creates a modern hero in Nora Helmer; a woman who was oppressed for going against social rules for saving her husband. Nora follows the Aristoteli an journey of a tragic hero, from hamartia through her tragic fall into catharsis. She is consideredRead More Analysis of Act 3 of A Dolls House Essay661 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Act 3 of A Dolls House For most of the play, we see Torvald delighting in Nora’s dependence upon him but not in his control over her, but as the play progresses the side of Torvald we see is more pushover than dictator. In the scene following the party, Torvald’s enjoyment of his control over Nora takes on a darker tone. He treats her like his possession, like the young girl he first acquired years ago. Contributing to the feeling of control that Torvald is exercising over NoraRead MoreA Dolls House Play And Movie Analysis852 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast the Play â€Å"A Doll’s House† To the Movie Introduction The play â€Å"A Dolls House† by Henrik Ibsen was written in 1879. Joseph Losey and Patrick garland in 1973 used the play to adopt a movie version of the play going by the same name. The cast in the movies depicted the characters in the play as described by Henrik Ibsen. This essay will analyze the similarities and the differences between the play by Henrik Ibsen and the films adopted from the play by Joseph Losey and Patrick garland

Martin Luther King Jr. Paper Free Essays

Juan Lopez Professor Lonsdale English 1A 27 September 2012 America’s Freedom Call We as all Americans know of our past history, Americans were never given the same rights as every person living in America. America was known for its unequal, unjust laws, and segregation. As a result of the segregation occurring in American, African Americans were the most involved ethnic group fighting for equal rights, as defined by in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness† (80). We will write a custom essay sample on Martin Luther King Jr. Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Throughout our history we have had extraordinary civil rights leaders such as Frederick Douglass, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and Malcolm X who have sacrificed their lives for equal rights in the United States of America. Between the years 1958 to 1968, it was Martin Luther King Jr. who engaged in fighting for the equal rights of African Americans, primarily in the South. King was the most influential civil rights leader in America for a long period of time. During his struggle for civil rights, he was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for a program of sit-ins at luncheon counters without a permit. As a result of this incident, King composed a famous letter, â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† in response to the criticism he received after these nonviolent demonstrations. King states in the very beginning his reasoning for writing the letter as a response to the clergymen’s statement calling his â€Å"present activities unwise and untimely†(King 213). He wanted to make clear the misunderstandings from his fellow clergymen. The purpose in his letter was to clarify to them his reasons for engaging in the demonstration. To get his reasoning across to his fellow Clergymen, King uses two compelling rhetorical strategies of logos and pathos to demonstrate his intelligence and ability to compose a direct argument for the clergymen of Birmingham. He refutes all the points that his fellow clergymen make by using logical reasoning and tells them about the unjust situation in Birmingham. In his accomplishment of the letter, King seeks to convince his fellow clergymen as well as the entire world that civil rights should be granted to African Americans along with ending segregation once and forall. King’s use of logos makes his argument strong and evident. He ratifies facts that cannot be argued. Throughout the letter he supports his technique very adequately; for example explaining the difference between a just and unjust law. In his letter King states, â€Å"Let us consider a more concrete example of just and unjust laws. An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made equal† (219). Here King is basically saying that if a majority does not follow a law, but the law is enforced on a minority, it would be difficult to argue that this is a fair ruling. Any â€Å"just† law is obligated and must be followed by all the citizens of that country, majority or minority. Another vivid logic reason in his letter is when King remarks on the crooked methods that were being used to prevent African Americans from voting in public elections. As he states, â€Å"Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state’s segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negros from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured? † (219-220). The United States having a establish legal system set up on the bases of representative democracy, meaning that the population of that country elect officials and by default, choose who makes the laws. By delivering his used of logos, if a majority of the people is not granted to take democratic action, therefor the United States â€Å"legal system† is failing its goal. Another very effective rhetorical strategy that King uses to convince his audience his claim is pathos. King attempts to create a feeling of sympathy and proximity for the civil rights cause. To establish this point, he uses in his letter an emotional and powerful complex example to relate to the emotion felt by the African American, patiently waiting for their Constitutional rights. It states as follow, â€Å"But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and father .. when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you are forever fighting a degeneration sense of â€Å"nobodiness†Ã¢â‚¬â€ then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait† (King 217-218). King acknowledges and understands that people who have never experienced segregation might not be able to fully put themselves in the position to make a fair decision through the use of pathos. He describes seeing police officers, people who are supposed to uphold the law killing African Americans or failing to enforce order when mobs make it their duty to lynch an innocent mother because of their skin color. He uses allusion as in â€Å"your tongue twisted and your speech stammering† in describing the disgrace he felt as a father having to tell his six-year-old daughter that she was â€Å"not good enough† to go the segregated amusement park (218). Kings use of pathos helps visualize and focus his audience on the words and imagine a clear mental image. Lastly, through the use of specific rhetorical strategies such as logos and pathos, Martin Luther King Jr. effectively refuted the clergymen’s argument. Kings success was also due to his unique strategy of directly addressing his audience, the clergymen, to create the basis of his argument. From that point on, King was able to slowly blame and refute the clergymen’s claims. This effective method allowed King to present his counterargument with more conviction and authority and achieve his goal: justifying the reasons for nonviolent demonstrations and ending segregation once and forall. Works Citied Jefferson, Thomas. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence. † A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 77-85. Print. King Jr. , Martin Luther. â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail. † A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. 211-231. Print. How to cite Martin Luther King Jr. Paper, Essay examples

Financial Markets and Institutes Market Trend

Question: Describe about the Financial Markets and Institutes of Private Banking? Answer: Introduction The objective of the report is to shed light on the present behavior of the money market rates in Singapore and to forecast the future market trends for the money market interest rates in Singapore. For the purpose of evaluation, the Development Bank of Singapore Limited has been selected within the report (mas.gov.sg, 2015). The report has been structured in a sequential manner where the initial discussion is about the present money marled behavior followed by the future forecasting of trends. The report ends with the analysis of the strategies and their risks (Forbes, 2014). Past and future behavior of money market in Singapore The money market interest rates in Singapore are controlled by SIBOR (Dbs.com.sg, 2015). The SIBOR offers the reference rate based on which the banks in Singapore like DBS offers unsecured loans to the other commercial banks and the public at large. The bench mark for the interest rate in Singapore was recorded at 0.39 percent. From the year 1988 to 2015, the interest rate in Singapore has been recorded at 1.69 percent. It reached the all time high in the year January 1990. The rate of interest at that period of time was 20 percent. In the year 1993, the interest rate was at a record low of -0.75 percent. The rate of interest of Singapore has been set by the monetary authority. i.) Current and Historical Trend of the Interest rate / Current yield The historical and current trend of the interest rate can has been set by the reference rates known as the SIBOR and the SOR. The SIBOR SIBOR is the reference rate which is based on the rate of interest that is set by the banks for lending the unsecured funds to one another in the Singapore interbank market. The interest rate of Singapore is controlled by the monetary authority of Singapore (MAS). They do not focus on controlling the interest rate by monitoring the rate of interest. It is involved in the management of the Singapore dollar (SGD) exchange rate against the trade weighted basket of the currencies of the major trading partners in Singapore. In 2015, the slope was reduced by which SGD appreciates against the major currencies of the economy. The fall in the oil prices resulted in lower expectations of inflation (phillipfunds.com, 2015). The SOR The SOR is the Swap offer rate. It is the FX implied rate that will reflect the interest rate that has been projected that will cost once the same amount of money has been borrowed in US dollars. The news of the US economy has impact on the rate as it varies the USD interest rate and the exchange rates. The SIBOR and SOR are the benchmark rates loans in Singapore. Both the residential rates and the commercial rates are very popular among the consumers as the concept is very open and transparent. Fig : SIBOR rate (Parrado, 2015)., (Secure.sgs.gov.sg, 2015) Factors affecting the money market interest rates The economy of Singapore is a small domestic economy. The economy is dependent on the external sector. Thus the exchange rate is considered as an important instrument in order to achieve the policy objective of the economy. The rate of import of the expenditures is high in Singapore and the rate of exports is also high. It comprises 60-70% of the income of the economy. Thus the fluctuation of the interest rates of the money market instruments of DBS i.e. treasury bills, commercial papers and certificates of deposits largely depends on the exchange rate (Mihaljek, 2015). The rate of interest in the money market is influenced by various factors are discussed below US interest rates: The interest rates or the market expectations in the United States have significant impact on the domestic interbank rate and interest rates of the money market instruments. The SIBOR is affected by the supply and demand for the funds in the interbank market (Economywatch.com, 2015). When there is more supply than the demand for the funds in the interbank market, the SIBOR is expected to have a lower rate but when the demand is high than the supply, the SIBOR is expected to be higher (Dbs.com.sg, 2015). Inflation rate The domestic cost pressures affect the fiscal and monetary policies of the country. The inflation rate of the Singapore is low. The country does not suffer from the inflationary pressures. The interest rate set by the MAS is not affected by the monetary policy of the country. It is affected by the exchange rates (Gente and Ledesma, 2015). Influence of International Banks The International banks play a major role in formulating the interest rates of Singapore. The monetary policy and the liquidity rules of Singapore are based on the new liquidity rules of the country which are set according to standards set by the foreign banks. The interest rate of the money market instruments in Singapore are influenced by the monetary policy in the International market. There has been shift in the currency composition of the lending from the banks (Room, 2015). Forecast and Future trends of Interest rate s for the next 6 months The forecast of the interest rate of the money market instruments is based on the economic growth of the country, the interest rates expectations in United States and SGS yield of the Government (Secure.mas.gov.sg, 2015). Economic growth The growth rate of Singapore will be similar to that has been tailed in the year 2014. The major contributors to the growth will be due to the restructuring of the labor market. The expansionary fiscal policy will promote growth in the country. It will support the growth in 2016. It is projected that the economy will grow by 3.0% in 2015. The growth of the economy will pick up to 3.2% in the year 2016. Expectations for Interest rates in United States The interest rates are expected to increase as the employment report of the country is declining. There will be decline in the oil prices. These factors will affect the interest rate in Singapore (Rudnitsky, 2015). SGS yield of Government The interest rates in Singapore have decreased from 0.39% in January 2015 to 0.33 % in February 2015. It is expected that there will be further decline in the interest rate. The above factors will be the reason for decline in rate of interest. The interest rate will decline to 1.80% in the year 2016 (Tradingeconomics.com, 2015). Month Interest rate (%) April 0.33 May 0.30 June 0.26 July 0.24 August 0.22 September 0.20 In 2016, the bond of Singapore Government for 10 years is expected to decrease and it will be 1.80% (Ieconomics.com, 2015). In long-term, the Government bond of Singapore for 10 years is projected to have a trend of 1.81, 2.10 and 2.20 % for the year 2020, 2030 and till 2050 (Asianbondsonline.adb.org, 2015). Evaluation of the strategy There will be two strategies that will be undertaken. Strategy 1 Low cost long term funding The strategy will generate low cost funds from long term investors. The 12 months deposit rates will be fixed. The fixed rate of interest will be offered to the depositors. The price of bidding will be set at 0.32% for 12 months. The main emphasis will be to lock the borrowing cost for the 12 months tenure will meet the objectives. This will increase the reserves of the bank. Strategy 2 Low cost short term funding It is expected that the rate of interest will increase in the next 6 months. At the present moment the bank will lock in a borrowing cost which is low. Keeping this is mind, the 6 months SIBOR offer price is fixed at 0.72 % and the 12 month of SIBOR is fixed at 0.84% Scenario of Profitability The quantum of loan of $100 million and the cost of borrowing is 0.32% Borrowing cost at 0.32% from the depositors = 0.32% x $100 million = $320,000 Lending @ SIBOR for 12 months = 0.84 % x $100 m Profit of bank = 0.52% * $100 m = $520,000 There are several threats that may affect the bank which includes threat of war, threat of economic recession and loss of the bank due to under performance of the short term securities. The money would be borrowed from the investors and lend out for mortgage loans @2.5%. The money could be borrowed at SIBOR and loans could be made. Strategy involving speculation In this case, a 3 month SIBOR is borrowed at 0.65% and it is invested in short term discount securities. It is invested in 3 month commercial bill, treasury bills and certificates of deposits. The quantum of loan is $100 million and the cost of borrowing for 3 months is = $100 m x 0.65% = $650000 Rate of discount of the commercial bill = 0.78% x $100 m = $780,000 Profit of Bank = $127100 Margin of the bank = 0.13% Conclusion The report provided a brief idea of the money market instruments issued by DBS. The money past and future performance of the interest rates of the money market instruments has been analyzed. It is seen that the interest rate of Singapore are dependent on the fluctuations of the exchange rate internationally. The country encourages foreign investment. The interest rate fluctuations are dependent on the demand and supply of the International market. The country is the major exporter of electronic goods. The yield on the money market products has been analyzed. It is seen that the money market in Singapore is stable. This is due to the stability of the economic performance of the country. There has been a potential increase in the interest rates on the money market instruments. Thus the yield on the money market instruments is more. This has resulted in the increase in the investment in the money market instruments. Two strategies has been discussed in the report. The profit of the bank from the strategies has been calculated. The strategies include the low cost short term funding and low cost long term funding. The speculation strategy involving money market instruments like commercial bills has been discussed. It is seen that the first strategy is generating the bank a profit of $520,000 and the second strategy is generating a profit of $ 127100. Thus the first strategy will optimize the profitability of the bank and it is a feasible strategy for the bank to make profits. References Asianbondsonline.adb.org, (2015).AsianBondsOnline - Bond Market Data. [online] Available at: https://asianbondsonline.adb.org/singapore/data/marketwatch.php?code=government_bond_yields [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. Dbs.com.sg, (2015).Money Market Instruments | DBS Private Banking. [online] Available at: https://www.dbs.com.sg/private-banking/investments/preserve-wealth/money-market-instruments.page [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Dbs.com.sg, (2015).Money Market Instruments | DBS Treasures Private Client. [online] Available at: https://www.dbs.com.sg/treasures-private-client/investments/preserve-wealth/money-market-funds.page [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Economywatch.com, (2015).Money Market Instruments: Treasury Bills and Certificate of Deposit | Economy Watch. [online] Available at: https://www.economywatch.com/market/money-market/money-market-instruments.html [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Forbes, (2014).Why Singapore's Economy Is Heading For An Iceland-Style Meltdown. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2014/01/13/why-singapores-economy-is-heading-for-an-iceland-style-meltdown/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Gente, K. and Ledesma, M. (2015).Does the world real interest rate affect the real exchange rate? The South East Asian experience. [online] kent.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.kent.ac.uk/economics/documents/research/papers/2004/0405.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Ieconomics.com, (2015).Singapore - Interest Rate - Forecast - Actual Data - Historical Charts. [online] Available at: https://ieconomics.com/singapore-interest-rates-forecast [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. mas.gov.sg, (2015).Singapores Exchange Rate-Based Monetary Policy. [online] Available at: https://www.mas.gov.sg/~/media/MAS/Monetary%20Policy%20and%20Economics/Monetary%20Policy/MP%20Framework/Singapores%20Exchange%20Ratebased%20Monetary%20Policy.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Mihaljek, D. (2015).How have external factors affected monetary policy in the EMEs?. [online] bis.org. Available at: https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap57.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Parrado, E. (2015).Singapore's Unique Monetary Policy: How Does it Work?, Issues 2004-2010. phillipfunds.com, (2015).The lure of money market funds. [online] Available at: https://www.phillipfunds.com/file/press/The%20Lure%20of%20Money%20Market%20Funds.pdf [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Room, R. (2015).Monetary Policy. [online] Sgs.gov.sg. [Available at: https://www.sgs.gov.sg/The-SGS-Market/Monetary-Policy.aspx Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Rudnitsky, J. (2015).Here's the Next Biggest Threat to Global Crude Oil Prices. [online] Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-20/russian-teapots-pose-next-big-threat-to-global-crude-oil-prices [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. Secure.mas.gov.sg, (2015).Monetary Authority of Singapore. [online] Available at: https://secure.mas.gov.sg/msb/InterestRatesOfBanksAndFinanceCompanies.aspx [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. Secure.sgs.gov.sg, (2015).Daily SGS Prices. [online] Available at: https://secure.sgs.gov.sg/fdanet/SgsBenchmarkIssuePrices.aspx [Accessed 15 Mar. 2015]. Tradingeconomics.com, (2015).Singapore Interest Rate Forecast. [online] Available at: https://www.tradingeconomics.com/singapore/interest-rate/forecast [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015].

The Pros and Cons of Commercial Surrogacy Essay Example

The Pros and Cons of Commercial Surrogacy Essay The advancement of technology in relation to artificial reproductive techniques have thrown open a social debate that has wide-ranging implications. The society is challenged to find a balance between new commercial opportunities and their moral underpinnings. In this essay, salient points in favor and against such reproductive practices will be presented from a neutral perspective. One of the clear dangers of scientifically engineered reproduction is the unprecedented social and moral complications entailing a cloned human being. The debate on cloning is a subject in its own right and hence this essay will only pertain itself to surrogate motherhood in its traditional and modern versions which categorically excludes the concept of cloning. It is believed that nearly one in eight heterosexual couple in the United States cannot have babies due to infertility of one or the other. Reproducing and having a family of one’s own is a basic human objective. In this context, artificial reproduction techniques will prove to be a blessing for these couple, who are perfectly capable of raising a healthy child, if only they can have one. But, there is a catch though, as the following paragraph will show (Annas, 1998). We will write a custom essay sample on The Pros and Cons of Commercial Surrogacy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Pros and Cons of Commercial Surrogacy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Pros and Cons of Commercial Surrogacy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer While it is perfectly agreeable to facilitate infertile married couple to have a child of their own, the process gets complicated if the surrogate mother is hired. The passion associated with the act of copulation is an essential ingredient that binds the couple emotionally. When this act is mechanized, as is usually the case with surrogacy, then it is equitable to prostitution. Feminists would argue that this is one more way in which men try to control women and their concern is not unfounded (Callahan, 1999). Another objection that is raised against artificial reproductive techniques is that it will lead to making babies and surrogates mere commodities. There are already certain websites in the Internet that offer these services and it won’t be long before it spawns an industry of its own. It is appalling to think of a commercial enterprise in which price tags are attached to human eggs, ovaries and surrogate mothers. This will undermine the long-standing tradition of family values and relationships. A renowned anthropologist raises questions about unusual relationship dynamics that could unfold in the future, thus: â€Å"A woman can give birth to her own grandchild, for example, by carrying a pregnancy from her daughter’s egg. Embryos can be frozen and a child brought into the world long after its genetic parents are dead. The existence of such choices makes once apparently secure connections between biology, folk biology, conception ideology, and kinship categories less stable than they were.† (Konrad, 2002) But, people who welcome commercial surrogacy have more to say. The conventional option for infertile couple is adoption. But the process of adoption had become increasingly more complicated in the modern world. The red tape involved can also be quite tedious. Moreover, the adopted baby will not be genetically related to the couple. Some studies have shown that the available pool of babies for adoption is also decreasing. Commercial surrogacy on the other hand can off-set or mitigate these drawbacks. The skeptics make a pertinent objection when they say that commercial surrogacy can lead to deepen the social fissures existing in the contemporary world. They point to a particular statistic in the surrogacy cases registered so far in the United States to support their argument. For instance, most of the surrogate mothers who offer their service are almost always from the lower strata of society. They opted to this mode of â€Å"employment† not because of altruistic or humanitarian reasons but for basic sustenance. Another relevant fact is that most women are either of African American or Hispanic lineage. If this phenomenon is left unchecked, there will come a time in the near future when a separate demographic category of surrogate women would develop, which would comprise the racially oppressed and economically backward women participating unwillingly in a baby-making industry (Mcewen, 1999). The above argument is countered in equal measure by the following rationale in support of artificial reproduction methods. To quote: â€Å"Means of assisted reproduction are also used frequently with couples who have difficulty conceiving or gestating a child, including women who have no uterus, have miscarried, or have conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that could be worsened by pregnancy. Surrogacy also affords parenting opportunities to women who suffer from illnesses, such as phenylketonuria (PKU), or HIV or AIDS that could damage the fetus either during gestation or the birthing process. Women now have the benefit of assistive techniques such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation, and surrogacy.† (Levine, 2003) But it has to be remembered that the surrogate mother loses her right over the baby as soon after she delivers it. This can be very painful for both biological and gestating surrogates, although the pain of severance from her baby must be more intense for the former. Since this is a commercial enterprise, she can be tried for breach of contract, if she were to show attachment toward the baby, however natural this might be. So, this can be inhumane and cruel to the surrogate mother and this is one of the more pressing issues that should be debated and discussed by the general public (Naraya, 2000). On the other hand, the financial compensation that the surrogate mother receives from her patron is quite substantial. The lump sum that she receives will take care of her basic expenses for a long time to come. Even legislations are made to ensure that the surrogate mother gets paid for miscarriage and partial term completions. More importantly, according to updated law, she is entitled to full compensation even if the child is stillborn. So, the judicial climate is quite favorable to women who participate in commercial surrogacy (Daly, 1994). In conclusion, we have to admit that this is a complex debate – one that concerns a broad range of social institutions. The foremost among them will be the ethical and legal implications of commercial surrogacy. There are strong arguments cited both in support and in opposition to this modern day concept and it is not easy to take a decisive stance on the issue. Contemporary society and its public intellectuals need to debate and discuss in earnestly so that the conundrums posed by commercial surrogacy are resolved in favor of the future human generations. References: Annas, G. J. (1998). Death without Dignity for Commercial Surrogacy: The Case of Baby M., The Hastings Center Report, 18(2), 21+. Callahan, S. (1999). The Worth of a Child., The Hastings Center Report, 29(3), 44. Daly, L. K. (Ed.). (1994). Feminist Theological Ethics: A Reader (1st ed.). Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press. Human Life a Gift, Not a Commodity. (2002, November/December)., Canadian Speeches, 16, 14+.

Free Essays on Mcarthyism

McCarthyism and its Effects on America McCarthyism not only destroyed the lives and careers of many Americans but also the innocent image of the country. Senator Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin was the same as any man. But when he cried Communism the world seemed to listen. Following the Cold War between Russia and the United States there came many hardships, such as unemployment and high inflation. These hardships produced a restless society. The society then looked for something or someone to blame (Fried, 39). They found someone to blame. Communists. Throughout the country there was a witch hunt known as the Red Scare. A basic idea was formed: Communism was evil. Anyone who participated in such evil was considered illegitimate and were to be excluded from such things as sharing ideas, and jobs (Reeves, 136). This fear of Communism or anti-Communism as it was called could be described as a type of "virus." When all was calm in America the virus would fade, but the moment a crisis struc k, the virus came back stronger than ever (Feuerlicht, 35). Communism was a threat not only for countries overseas but a threat for America and its people. It was a threat on the American way of life, a bruise on the phrase "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (Feuerlicht, 45) And McCarthy helped spread this fear. McCarthy and his ways challenged the Bill of Rights. "When free speech or due process are denied to any individual everyone’s rights are jeopardized. Today’s oppressors may become tomorrow’s accursed group." (Feuerlicht, 154) And nothing is guaranteed more than the destruction of America when the freedoms promised by the Bill of Rights are denied (Feuerlicht, 154). McCarthy installed a fear in the people. But people feared tremendously the loss of their jobs. They feared that their political afflictions would reflect on their job status (Reeves, 99). By trying to keep America from becoming a Communist nation, McCarthy a... Free Essays on Mcarthyism Free Essays on Mcarthyism McCarthyism and its Effects on America McCarthyism not only destroyed the lives and careers of many Americans but also the innocent image of the country. Senator Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin was the same as any man. But when he cried Communism the world seemed to listen. Following the Cold War between Russia and the United States there came many hardships, such as unemployment and high inflation. These hardships produced a restless society. The society then looked for something or someone to blame (Fried, 39). They found someone to blame. Communists. Throughout the country there was a witch hunt known as the Red Scare. A basic idea was formed: Communism was evil. Anyone who participated in such evil was considered illegitimate and were to be excluded from such things as sharing ideas, and jobs (Reeves, 136). This fear of Communism or anti-Communism as it was called could be described as a type of "virus." When all was calm in America the virus would fade, but the moment a crisis struc k, the virus came back stronger than ever (Feuerlicht, 35). Communism was a threat not only for countries overseas but a threat for America and its people. It was a threat on the American way of life, a bruise on the phrase "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (Feuerlicht, 45) And McCarthy helped spread this fear. McCarthy and his ways challenged the Bill of Rights. "When free speech or due process are denied to any individual everyone’s rights are jeopardized. Today’s oppressors may become tomorrow’s accursed group." (Feuerlicht, 154) And nothing is guaranteed more than the destruction of America when the freedoms promised by the Bill of Rights are denied (Feuerlicht, 154). McCarthy installed a fear in the people. But people feared tremendously the loss of their jobs. They feared that their political afflictions would reflect on their job status (Reeves, 99). By trying to keep America from becoming a Communist nation, McCarthy a...

EU LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EU LAW - Essay Example Article 18(1) of the E.C. Treaty provides that every citizen can move and reside freely in any part of the E.U. Article 39 (1) provides for free movement of workers. Article 43 provides for freedom of establishment by which individuals can get self employed. Article 49 gives freedom to provide and receive service in any part of the E.U.1. Citizens are bound by the law of the European Union and decision of the European Union Court of Justice is final. The individuals and Government officials should consult the legislation relating to the European parliament which represents people of Europe, the Council of the European Union which represents national governments of member states, and the European Commission that takes care of the common interest of the E.U. The Sarbotinians should exercise their votes in European Parliament elections. Some of the benefits that Sarbotinians can enjoy because of this membership in the EU are that they can travel across EU regions without passports and border checks. They can buy goods of their choice in any other member state where they may get at cheaper prices without custom duties. The single currency Euro makes it easier for all EU members to travel in any part of EU without having to convert it to local currency. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain are already using Euro even for their local transactions. Hereafter it will be a single market without frontiers for member states thus intensifying competition and ensuring the highest possible quality for goods and services at the lowest possible prices. As per ascension treaty, there can be restrictions on work in other member states for new Sarbotinians between January 2010 and December 2015 but they will be phased o ut gradually. While the U.K.,

The Rationality of the American Voter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Rationality of the American Voter - Essay Example Can charisma alone be enough to win an election when faced with a public that is generally ignorant of the political process and the important issues at stake By improving the education of the voter, we can elevate the level of leadership in politics. In the absence of information, a candidate's charm, likeability, and charisma all contribute to an image that the voter seizes upon to make their electoral decision. A candidate's ability to project an image of almost super-human proportions resonates well with a public that is caught in times of crisis. Wars, a bad economy, depreciating social structures, and cultural turmoil all play into the hand of the charismatic leader as voters look for relief from their hardships and despair (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p.64). During these periods of political upheaval, voters are less interested in the issues and more interested in salvation from the looming dire situation. Candidates will take this opportunity to exploit the current situation or negatively characterize the opponent's alternatives. The 1992 election saw a charismatic Bill Clinton defeat the incumbent George Bush. Bush was characterized as a 'wimp' and Clinton was able to capitalize on his charming appeal with the slogan 'it's the economy stupid'. Had there been a booming economy, the American voter would have been more reluctant to change and would have been more likely to stay with the stabil ity of the sitting president (Alvarez & Nagler, 1998, p.1362). In addition, Clinton was able to portray the economy in bleaker terms than the voter understood. The slight economic downturn of 1992 was enough to create an opportunity for a charismatic candidate. The education of the voter, as portrayed by the candidate, was less important than the situation that they were caught up in. When voters are ignorant on the issues, under-informed, and generally politically naive about the electoral process, charisma can be an overriding factor. Media outlets that have a political agenda that they promote often influence voters, but offer limited information. Talk shows, pundits, radio talk show hosts, and pop culture all contribute to an air of confusion and irrationality for the average citizen. It is more likely the case that a voter loyal to a party will may make a decision based on who informed them rather than if they were informed. Therefore, the effect of charisma on the voter will be most heavily felt among the independents that will ultimately decide the election. According to Silva and Costa (2006), "rational ignorance is not to explain the behavior of the entire population of voters, but rather only that of swing voters" (p.39). Widely known figures will emphasize their accomplishments and record, but a relatively unknown challenger may have to rely on image an d charisma (Miller, 1990, p.530). Silva and Costa conclude that, "factors like the candidate's image and charisma may dominate a rigorous evaluation of his performance" (p.40). Often, uneducated voters cannot delineate between the truth and the fiction in political campaign ads. In today's climate of ideologues, characterizations, and partisanship, charisma can be a deciding factor in a close election. To rely on charisma alone to carry a candidate to victory is dependent upon a voting public, particularly the independent middle, which is

The Underlying Causes of Women Empowerment as in a Management Level Literature review

The Underlying Causes of Women Empowerment as in a Management Level across the past decade in the United Kingdom - Literature review Example This research methodology is designed to understand and gauge the reasons for increased women empowerment across managerial levels in the United Kingdom. Although laws and regulations have been in place for quite some time, research has showed that there has been a spike in women’s involvement in managerial position in the United Kingdom. This comprehensive research methodology provides a brief overview of the hypothesis, the research strategy and design for the research. The research methods that will be employed to gather the necessary information, followed by the data analysis methods, will also be discussed. At the end of the module, a brief statement about ethical issues at hand and a conclusive statement will be provided. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AT A MANAGERIAL LEVEL IN UNITED KINGDOM: United Kingdom has been considered as a pioneering modern society that has embraced the changing societies and ideas; they are the prime example of a modern society. For the literature review to be objective and the research to be authentic, the sources that were used for the gathering of the theoretical material was done from scholarly articles and researches that have been conducted in the past. These researches substantiate the theory that there has been an increase in the development of women empowerment, especially in the Managerial level positions in the United Kingdom. ... Women were not considered for strategically important positions in the past. The race towards the top for the women was slow and steady. Women have now reached an epitome of success; 15 out of 500 fortune companies have women CEO’s and this figure are expected to improve with each passing year (CNNMoney, 2010). In order to understand the causes and reasons for the increase in women empowerment, researches have been conducted in the past to see if literacy levels, understanding from the other gender, increase in the women’s career oriented personalities, their likelihood to come back to work after marriage and maternity. Research has shown that the increase in the inclination shown from the women to develop their career as seriously as men do, has increased the level of their competency and has made the opposite gender notice the increase in managerial capability. The work life balance of women has definitely increased over the years, now that they are given flexible wor k hours, and presence of child care options etc. This inclines the women to come back after childbirth and work full time, a phenomena that was not present about 20 years ago. Women working full time would become homemakers and stay back to take care of their children, leaving their careers behind. This is definitely changing today, increasing women participation in the managerial layer (Walby, 2002). There still exists a perception in the minds of the male gender, about the way women handle situations in managerial positions. It has been proven that women have a different management style than men and men mostly do not agree with that style as being as effective as their own. A recent study by Harvard Business Review has shown the majority of the male gender

Strategies to Reduce Hospital Acquired Infections

Strategies to Reduce Hospital Acquired Infections REVIEW OF LITERATURE When we think about hospital, one thing comes to our mind is â€Å"Hospital is the place for cure†. This revolutionary idea of treating the patients under the same roof was considered to ease the job of healing. But due to lack of knowledge of sterilization and antisepsis, it turned wrong in Pre- Listerian era leading to gangrene and death of patients which were suffering from wounds. Due to this reason a new discipline was emerged called as senics which was mainly dealing with the Hospital Acquired Infection (Nosocomial Infection). Semmelwis in 1861 with the help of medical officer and students observed the association of Puerperal sepsis in patients. Thus by the introduction of hand washing with chlorinated lime, he was successful to bring dramatic reduction in infection rate. Hospital acquired infection (HAI) are infections acquired during hospitalization, which are not present at eh time of admission (Atata et al, 2006). According to Baveja in 2002, the term hospital acquired infection, hospital- associated infection, hospital infection or nosocomial infection(nosocomion,meaning hospital) is defined as infection developing in patients after admission to the hospital ,which was neither present nor in the incubation period at the time of hospitalization . Such infections may become evident during their stay in the hospital or sometimes after their discharge. Due to its increased mortality and morbidity in the hospital patients these HAIs are of significant cause. HAIs are also caused due to prolonged hospital stay which are inconvenient for the patient and constitute economic burden on health care (Malhotra S, et al 2014). Dancer in 1999, depicts that microorganisms which are associated with hospital acquired infection displays two important characteristics, firstly those are the pathogens of well-established medical importance and secondly they also can withstand the hospital environment which benefits them outside temperature. Thus providing an appropriate environment niche for their survival until they transfer back to patients. Some pathogens originate from patients own flora especially those who are immunocompromised whereas others can survive in human tissues and thus rely upon person to person spread in order to disseminate. The patients who are immunocompromised due to underlying diseases, medical or surgical treatment, age are typically affected by nosocomial infections. In pediatric ICU, the hospital acquired infections are approximately three times higher than elsewhere in hospitals (Weistein 2006). Pathogen transference occurs most commonly by presence of bacterial or fungi in inanimate surfaces and equipment or between the hands of health professionals and patients (Kayabas et al., 2008). The transmission of microorganisms from hands of health care workers, medical equipment and surfaces which has become contaminated with a wide variety of pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms has become a significant proportion of hospital environment infection which ultimately results in crosscontamination (Sehulster et al., 2003). When compared to other hospital patients, the patients who are hospitalized in ICUs are 5-10 times more likely to acquire nosocomial infection. The risk of infection and the frequency of infection vary by infection site. The increasing incidence of infection is caused mainly by antibiotic-resistant pathogens leading to seriousness of hospital acquired infection (Weber 2006). Some of the common human pathogens like, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter spp, En ­terococcus spp and Escherichia coli can survive for longer periods of time on the hospital surfaces or formites that can potentially transmit infectious organisms (Kramer et al., 2006). The primary sources of indoor air contamination are the microorganisms. When compared to outside air environment, the indoor air environment can potentially place patients a greater risk because enclosed spaces can confine aerosols and allow them to build up to infectious level. The relative humidity and/ or the moisture content of the materials determine that to what extent different micro-organisms are able to grow on indoor or outdoor materials (Dhanasekaran et al., 2009). Adebolu and Vhriterhire in 2002 reported that magnitude of hospital acquired infection is dependent upon the number and type of visitors, mechanical movement within the enclosed space, quality of hospital systems and level of hygienic conditions in hospital environment. Sites where infections acquired in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. To be classified as a nosocomial infection, the patient must have been admitted for reasons other than the infection. He or she must also have shown no signs of active or incubating infection. Depending on the hospital involved, 1 to 10 percent of the patients affected die as a result of the nosocomial infection (George Krucik 2014). Most of these infections can be prevented while others are unavoidable. In hospitals the contaminated surfaces are increasing the cross transmission which is shown in figure-2. Figure-2 Showing the contaminated surfaces in hospitals (source: Wikipedia). These infections occur: Up to 48 hours after hospital admission Up to 3 days after discharge Up to 30 days after an operation In a healthcare facility when a patient was admitted for reasons other than the infection. In the United States, it has been estimated that 9.2 out of every 100 patients acquire a nosocomial infection Pathogens Causing Infection According to the CDC, the most common pathogens that cause nosocomial infections are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, and E. coli (C.Glen May hall 2004). Based in biological and clinical criteria, the national Healthcare Safety network (NHSN) has categorized into 50 infection sites under 13 major types for the surveillance purpose (W. Bereket et al., 2012). When choosing the test organisms that are clinically relevant to human pathogens, six different organisms are considered to be major threats. These pathogens cannot cause the most devastating illnesses but majority of them will compromise with antibiotic resistant infections that are seen in most healthcare settings. These are commonly called as ESKAPE pathogens namely Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus Klebsiella pneumonia, Actinobacter baumanni, Paeudomonas aeruginosa and several species of Enterobacter. These (ESKAPE Pathogens) pose a biggest threat that physician face today. To fight with them we definitely need some new drugs and need some cooperation among industry and government to setup RD (research and development) infrastructure to fill the needs of new drugs tha t will tackle tomorrow’s infectious diseases threats. Escherichia Coli It is oxidase negative, Gram negative, and facultative anaerobic. It is one of the common organisms that are involved in Gram negative sepsis and endotoxin-induced shock. It is one if the leading cause of blood stream infections among all other Gram-negative pathogens. It is the fifth leading pathogen for causing blood stream infection in United States (Maazuddin t al., 2014). According to Bijay Kumar Chandra 2012, a study was concluded that Escherichia coli were most common agent found in nosocomial diarrhea. Some of the common infection caused by this organism includes wound infection, urinary infection, meningitis in neonates, pneumonia in immunocompromised hospitalized patients and E. coli associated diarrheal disease or gastroenteritis. It also possess broad range of virulence factors which are responsible for disease such as UTIs and gastroenteritis (Brooks GF et al., 2007). Enterococcus spp These are gram-positive cocci typically arranged in short chains and pairs. These grow optimally at 350C on a complex media which requires carbon such as glucose, nucleic acid base and vitamin B. when enriched with sheep blood agar, it supports the growth with large and white colonies. Enterococcus species are facultative anaerobic and are considered as a part of normal flora in genitourinary tract and gastrointestinal tract of humans. Enterococcus species have emerged as a one of the most important pathogen of hospital environment. The major enterococcal infections of humans are caused by two species namely Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Enterococci are one of the most important hospital acquired pathogens. Isolates of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis are the third most prevalent pathogens worldwide. The most common infection produced by this organisms are intra-abdominal infection, urinary tract infection, pelvic infection, surgiclal wound infection, endocarditis, bacteremia, neonatal sepsis and rarely meningitis. Enterococcus faecalis is the most common cause of infection (80-90%) followed by Enterococcus faecium (10-15%) (Marothi YA et al., 2005). Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus is by far the most important pathogen in the hospital environment in all the genus staphylococcus. It is non-spore forming, non-motile, gram positive, catalase positive facultative anaerobe arranged in clusters (Wahington CW et al., 2006). The indicence of nosocomial blood stream infection is more known to be caused by S. aureus (Rodrigo et al., 2012). S. aureus is rarely isolated from urinary tract infection (T.Grace et al., 1993). This S. aureus is both pathogen and commensal. Approximately 30% individuals are intermittently colonized with S. aureus whereas 20% are persistently colonized. It is one of the leading cause of hospital acquired infections. Methicillin resistance staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are the one which causes most of the infection and its isolation is continuously increasing (S Khono et la., 2007). Infections may occur during hospital stay by streptococcus and staphylococcus species when compared to other Gram-negative bacteria. Coagulase Negative Staphylococci The coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) species are widely known to cause NTs specifically bacteraemia in patients with prosthetic implants and catheter and also in patients who are immunocompromised. Staphylococcus epiermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus are the teo well known species and occur most common in CNS species (C.Geary et al., 1997). Coagulase negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus are the three most widely isolated pathogens which tends to cause blood stream infections. After hospitalization of the patient, the CNS usually takes 19 days to cause bacteraemia. The mortality rate of CNS is less when compared to some other pathogens (Aldof et al., 200). For the colonization of CNS, the main reason is its antimicrobial resistance. This CNS isolates is resistant to Oxacillin or nafcillin and methicillin (T Grace et al., 1993). Pseudomonas aeruginosa It is a Gram-negative with mucoid polysaccharide capsule typically arranged in pairs. It is a well known cause of pneumonia, endophthalmitis, conjunctivitis, sepsis and also associated with high mortality rates. Potential reservoirs include humidifiers, equipment, incubators, sinks, tap water and hands of health care workers. The identification of this pseudomonas aeruginosa is mainly based on simple biochemical test and colony characteristics. It colonizes the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of the hospitalized patients. When normal defense mechanism is impaired, the pathogenesis by this organism is initiated. Pseudomonas aeruginosa attaches and colonizes the mucous or skin and invades locally to produce systemic disease. This process is mediated by different virulent factors like enzymes (proteases, elastases, phospholipase C), Pili and toxins (endotoxin A). P. aeruginosa produces infection such as blue-green pus, urinary tract infection, meningitis, and necrotizing pneumon ia (Contreras GA et al., 2008). Many contemporary studies showed that, the antibiotic resistance among the gram-negative bacteria is increasing especially of pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rate of resistance towards ceftazidime and imipenem by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was increasing dramatically. Prevention of Infection There are number of simple care practices that can reduce the probability of developing a Hospital acquired infection. Some of them include sterilization of resuscitation bags and masks, elimination of overcrowding, decreasing number of heal sticks, use of sterile suctioning technique, careful preparation and storage of infants formulas, using single dose administration of medications and avoiding drugs associated with increased risk of nosocomial infection. Infection Control Committee The infection control committee is a board which deals with the preventionof hospital acquired infections. It involves multidisciplinary personals like pharmacists, physicians, clinical microbiologists and others. This committee works on co-operation, information sharing principles and inputs. It has many different tasks to perform for the eradication and prevention of hospital acquired infection. It has to review and approve the surveillance data when needed. It has to examine and encourage the infection control practices and provide proper staff training in infection control safety. It also need to assess the new devices used in the hoapital for their risk in violating infection control stratergies and slso to communicate and co-operate with the hospital control committees for information. According to infection committee statistics, the infection rate were increased from 13.8- 22.1 per 1000 catheter days (Jeffery et al., 2005). Therefore infection control committee plays a key rol e in preventing the nosocomial infection. Hand Hygiene Hand hygiene has been considered to be the most important tool in nosocomial infections control. One of the significant contributors to the outbreaks of this hospital environment infection is failure to perform appropriate hand hygiene. Resident and transient microorganisms are known to be the natural microflora of the skin of hands. The resident microorganisms survive and multiply on skin and does not cause any harm to human flora whereas transient microorganisms represent recent contamination of hands which is acquired from colonized or infected patients/clients or contaminated environment or equipment. These transient microorganisms are not isolated consistently from most of the persons. When compared to resident microorganisms, the transient microorganisms which are found on the hands of health care personnel will become as a primary source of infections. Gram negative coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus has been known to be the most common transient microorganisms (Sarmad et al. , 2009). Appropriate hand washing results in reduced incidence of both nosocomial and community infection (Kampf et al., 2004).An estimated 40 percent of nosocomial infections are caused by poor hand hygiene (WHO). Hospital staff can significantly reduce the number of cases with regular hand washing (Figure-8). They should also wear protective garments and gloves when working with patients (James Chin 2000).

Robert Frost Essay -- essays research papers fc

â€Å"Good fences makes good neighbors,† is a small portion from the Mending Wall written by one of modern times most proficient writers, Robert Frost. Two of the critical articles I examined were quite helpful in gaining a better understanding of the â€Å"Mending Wall† and also of Robert Frost’s poetry. The Gale Research shows the best and most effective understanding of the â€Å"Mending Wall,† mainly because it deals specifically with that poem. It basically states that the poem is built around two attitudes, that of the speaker, which the Gale critic presumes is the poet, who is imaginative and an independent thinker and that of the neighbor, who prefers not to question anything (Gale). The other article deals more with other poetry that Robert Frost has written and helps explain common themes. One critic states that Frost’s poetry contains a theme of nature and mankind being one entity (Wagner 12).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the Gale Research article, the poet is describing the relationship between the two different men who have the same common interest in repairing the wall. It goes on explaining how they walk on each of their sides of the wall, picking up stones and replacing the oddly shaped and shattered ones. It shows the mental differences between the speaker and the neighbor by stating that the speaker, the more imaginary one, wanted to use a spell to fix the oddly shaped stones, while the more down to earth one wanted to use his hands and labor (Gale).   &...

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 2 STITCHES

CARLISLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO STAYED calm. Centuries of experience in the emergency room were evident in his quiet, authoritative voice. â€Å"Emmett, Rose, get Jasper outside.† Unsmiling for once, Emmett nodded. â€Å"Come on, Jasper.† Jasper struggled against Emmett's unbreakable grasp, twisting around, reaching toward his brother with his bared teeth, his eyes still past reason. Edward's face was whiter than bone as he wheeled to crouch over me, taking a clearly defensive position. A low warning growl slid from between his clenched teeth. I could tell that he wasn't breathing. Rosalie, her divine face strangely smug, stepped in front of Jasperkeeping a careful distance from his teethand helped Emmett wrestle him through the glass door that Esme held open, one hand pressed over her mouth and nose. Esme's heart-shaped face was ashamed. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Bella,† she cried as she followed the others into the yard. â€Å"Let me by, Edward,† Carlisle murmured. A second passed, and then Edward nodded slowly and relaxed his stance. Carlisle knelt beside me, leaning close to examine my arm. I could feel the shock frozen on my face, and I tried to compose it. â€Å"Here, Carlisle,† Alice said, handing him a towel. He shook his head. â€Å"Too much glass in the wound.† He reached over and ripped a long, thin scrap from the bottom of the white tablecloth. He twisted it around my arm above the elbow to form a tourniquet. The smell of the blood was making me dizzy. My ears rang. â€Å"Bella,† Carlisle said softly. â€Å"Do you want me to drive you to the hospital, or would you like me to take care of it here?† â€Å"Here, please,† I whispered. If he took me to the hospital, there would be no way to keep this from Charlie. â€Å"I'll get your bag,† Alice said. â€Å"Let's take her to the kitchen table,† Carlisle said to Edward. Edward lifted me effortlessly, while Carlisle kept the pressure steady on my arm. â€Å"How are you doing, Bella?† Carlisle asked. â€Å"I'm fine.† My voice was reasonably steady, which pleased me. Edward's face was like stone. Alice was there. Carlisle's black bag was already on the table, a small but brilliant desk light plugged into the wall. Edward sat me gently into a chair, and Carlisle pulled up another. He went to work at once. Edward stood over me, still protective, still not breathing. â€Å"Just go, Edward,† I sighed. â€Å"I can handle it,† he insisted. But his jaw was rigid; his eyes burned with the intensity of the thirst he fought, so much worse for him than it was for the others. â€Å"You don't need to be a hero,† I said. â€Å"Carlisle can fix me up without your help. Get some fresh air.† I winced as Carlisle did something to my arm that stung. â€Å"I'll stay,† he said. â€Å"Why are you so masochistic?† I mumbled. Carlisle decided to intercede. â€Å"Edward, you may as well go find Jasper before he gets too far. I'm sure he's upset with himself, and I doubt he'll listen to anyone but you right now.† â€Å"Yes,† I eagerly agreed. â€Å"Go find Jasper.† â€Å"You might as well do something useful,† Alice added. Edward's eyes narrowed as we ganged up on him, but, finally, he nodded once and sprinted smoothly through the kitchen's back door. I was sure he hadn't taken a breath since I'd sliced my finger. A numb, dead feeling was spreading through my arm. Though it erased the sting, it reminded me of the gash, and I watched Carlisle's face carefully to distract me from what his hands were doing. His hair gleamed gold in the bright light as he bent over my arm. I could feel the faint stirrings of unease in the pit of my stomach, but I was determined not to let my usual squeamishness get the best of me. There was no pain now, just a gentle tugging sensation that I tried to ignore. No reason to get sick like a baby. If she hadn't been in my line of sight, I wouldn't have noticed Alice give up and steal out of the room. With a tiny, apologetic smile on her lips, she disappeared through the kitchen doorway. â€Å"Well, that's everyone,† I sighed. â€Å"I can clear a room, at least.† â€Å"It's not your fault,† Carlisle comforted me with a chuckle. â€Å"It could happen to anyone.† â€Å"Could† I repeated. â€Å"But it usually just happens to me.† He laughed again. His relaxed calm was only more amazing set in direct contrast with everyone else's reaction. I couldn't find any trace of anxiety in his face. He worked with quick, sure movements. The only sound besides our quiet breathing was the soft plink, plink as the tiny fragments of glass dropped one by one to the table. â€Å"How can you do this?† I demanded. â€Å"Even Alice and Esme† I trailed off, shaking my head in wonder. Though the rest of them had given up the traditional diet of vampires just as absolutely as Carlisle had, he was the only one who could bear the smell of my blood without suffering from the intense temptation. Clearly, this was much more difficult than he made it seem. â€Å"Years and years of practice,† he told me. â€Å"I barely notice the scent anymore.† â€Å"Do you think it would be harder if you took a vacation from the hospital for a long time. And weren't around any blood?† â€Å"Maybe.† He shrugged his shoulders, but his hands remained steady. â€Å"I've never felt the need for an extended holiday.† He flashed a brilliant smile in my direction. â€Å"I enjoy my work too much.† Plink, plink, plink. I was surprised at how much glass there seemed to be in my arm. I was tempted to glance at the growing pile, just to check the size, but I knew that idea would not be helpful to my no-vomiting strategy. â€Å"What is it that you enjoy?† I wondered. It didn't make sense to methe years of struggle and self-denial he must have spent to get to the point where he could endure this so easily. Besides, I wanted to keep him talking; the conversation kept my mind off the queasy feeling in my stomach. His dark eyes were calm and thoughtful as he answered. â€Å"Hmm. What I enjoy the very most is when my enhanced abilities let me save someone who would otherwise have been lost. It's pleasant knowing that, thanks to what I can do, some people's lives are better because I exist. Even the sense of smell is a useful diagnostic tool at times.† One side of his mouth pulled up in half a smile. I mulled that over while he poked around, making sure all the glass splinters were gone. Then he rummaged in his bag for new tools, and I tried not to picture a needle and thread. â€Å"You try very hard to make up for something that was never your fault,† I suggested while a new kind of tugging started at the edges of my skin. â€Å"What I mean is, it's not like you asked for this. You didn't choose this kind of life, and yet you have to work so hard to be good.† â€Å"I don't know that I'm making up for anything,† he disagreed lightly. â€Å"Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what I was given.† â€Å"That makes it sound too easy.† He examined my arm again. â€Å"There,† he said, snipping a thread. â€Å"All done.† He wiped an oversized Q-tip, dripping with some syrup-colored liquid, thoroughly across the operation site. The smell was strange; it made my head spin. The syrup stained my skin. â€Å"In the beginning, though,† I pressed while he taped another long piece of gauze securely in place, sealing it to my skin. â€Å"Why did you even think to try a different way than the obvious one?† His lips turned up in a private smile. â€Å"Hasn't Edward told you this story?† â€Å"Yes. But I'm trying to understand what you were thinking† His face was suddenly serious again, and I wondered if his thoughts had gone to the same place that mine had. Wondering what I would be thinking whenI refused to think ifit was me. â€Å"You know my father was a clergyman,† he mused as he cleaned the table carefully, rubbing everything down with wet gauze, and then doing it again. The smell of alcohol burned in my nose. â€Å"He had a rather harsh view of the world, which I was already beginning to question before the time that I changed.† Carlisle put all the dirty gauze and the glass slivers into an empty crystal bowl. I didn't understand what he was doing, even when he lit the match. Then he threw it onto the alcohol-soaked fibers, and the sudden blaze made me jump. â€Å"Sorry,† he apologized. â€Å"That ought to do it So I didn't agree with my father's particular brand of faith. But never, in the nearly four hundred years now since I was born, have I ever seen anything to make me doubt whether God exists in some form or the other. Not even the reflection in the mirror.† I pretended to examine the dressing on my arm to hide my surprise at the direction our conversation had taken. Religion was the last thing I expected, all things considered. My own life was fairly devoid of belief. Charlie considered himself a Lutheran, because that's what his parents had been, but Sundays he worshipped by the river with a fishing pole in his hand. Renee tried out a church now and then, but, much like her brief affairs with tennis, pottery, yoga, and French classes, she moved on by the time I was aware of her newest fad. â€Å"I'm sure all this sounds a little bizarre, coming from a vampire.† He grinned, knowing how their casual use of that word never failed to shock me. â€Å"But I'm hoping that there is still a point to this life, even for us. It's a long shot, I'll admit,† he continued in an offhand voice. â€Å"By all accounts, we're damned regardless. But I hope, maybe foolishly, that we'll get some measure of credit for trying.† â€Å"I don't think that's foolish,† I mumbled. I couldn't imagine anyone, deity included, who wouldn't be impressed by Carlisle. Besides, the only kind of heaven I could appreciate would have to include Edward. â€Å"And I don't think anyone else would, either.† â€Å"Actually, you're the very first one to agree with me.† â€Å"The rest of them don't feel the same?† I asked, surprised, thinking of only one person in particular. Carlisle guessed the direction of my thoughts again. â€Å"Edward's with me up to a point. God and heaven exist and so does hell. But he doesn't believe there is an afterlife for our kind.† Carlisle's voice was very soft; he stared out the big window over the sink, into the darkness. â€Å"You see, he thinks we've lost our souls.† I immediately thought of Edward's words this afternoon: unless you want to dieor whatever it is that we do. The lightbulb flicked on over my head. â€Å"That's the real problem, isn't it?† I guessed. â€Å"That's why he's being so difficult about me.† Carlisle spoke slowly. â€Å"I look at my son. His strength, his goodness, the brightness that shines out of himand it only fuels that hope, that faith, more than ever. How could there not be more for one such as Edward?† I nodded in fervent agreement. â€Å"But if I believed as he does† He looked down at me with unfathomable eyes. â€Å"If you believed as he did. Could you take away his soul?† The way he phrased the question thwarted my answer. If he'd asked me whether I would risk my soul for Edward, the reply would be obvious. But would I risk Edward's soul? I pursed my lips unhappily. That wasn't a fair exchange. â€Å"You see the problem.† I shook my head, aware of the stubborn set of my chin. Carlisle sighed. â€Å"It's my choice,† I insisted. â€Å"It's his, too.† He held up his hand when he could see that I was about to argue. â€Å"Whether he is responsible for doing that to you.† â€Å"He's not the only one able to do it.† I eyed Carlisle speculatively. He laughed, abruptly lightening the mood. â€Å"Oh, no! You're going to have to work this out with him.†But then he sighed. â€Å"That's the one part I can never be sure of. I think, in most other ways, that I've done the best I could with what I had to work with. But was it right to doom the others to this life? I can't decide.† I didn't answer. I imagined what my life would be like if Carlisle had resisted the temptation to change his lonely existence and shuddered. â€Å"It was Edward's mother who made up my mind.† Carlisle's voice was almost a whisper. He stared unseeingly out the black windows. â€Å"His mother?† Whenever I'd asked Edward about his parents, he would merely say that they had died long ago, and his memories were vague. I realized Carlisle's memory of them, despite the brevity of their contact, would be perfectly clear. â€Å"Yes. Her name was Elizabeth. Elizabeth Masen. His father, Edward Senior, never regained consciousness in the hospital. He died in the first wave of the influenza. But Elizabeth was alert until almost the very end. Edward looks a great deal like hershe had that same strange bronze shade to her hair, and her eyes were exactly the same color green.† â€Å"His eyes were green?† I murmured, trying to picture it. â€Å"Yes† Carlisle's ocher eyes were a hundred years away now. â€Å"Elizabeth worried obsessively over her son. She hurt her own chances of survival trying to nurse him from her sickbed. I expected that he would go first, he was so much worse off than she was. When the end came for her, it was very quick. It was just after sunset, and I'd arrived to relieve the doctors who'd been working all day. That was a hard time to pretendthere was so much work to be done, and I had no need of rest. How I hated to go back to my house, to hide in the dark and pretend to sleep while so many were dying. â€Å"I went to check Elizabeth and her son first. I'd grown attachedalways a dangerous thing to do considering the fragile nature of humans. I could see at once that she'd taken a bad turn. The fever was raging out of control, and her body was too weak to fight anymore. â€Å"She didn't look weak, though, when she glared up at me from her cot. â€Å"Save him!' she commanded me in the hoarse voice that was all her throat could manage. â€Å"I'll do everything in my power,' I promised her, taking her hand. The fever was so high, she probably couldn't even tell how unnaturally cold mine felt. Everything felt cold to her skin. â€Å"You must,† she insisted, clutching at my hand with enough strength that I wondered if she wouldn't pull through the crisis after all. Her eyes were hard, like stones, like emeralds. ‘You must do everything in your power. What others cannot do, that is what you must do for my Edward.† â€Å"It frightened me. She looked it me with those piercing eyes, and, for one instant, I felt certain that she knew my secret. Then the fever overwhelmed her, and she never regained consciousness. She died within an hour of making her demand. â€Å"I'd spent decades considering the idea of creating a companion for myself. Just one other creature who could really know me, rather than what I pretended to be. But I could never justify it to myselfdoing what had been done to me. â€Å"There Edward lay, dying. It was clear that he had only hours left. Beside him, his mother, her face somehow not yet peaceful, not even in death.† Carlisle saw it all again, his memory unblurred by the intervening century. I could see it clearly, too, as he spokethe despair of the hospital, the overwhelming atmosphere of death. Edward burning with fever, his life slipping away with each tick of the clock I shuddered again, and forced the picture from my mind. â€Å"Elizabeth's words echoed in my head. How could she guess what I could do? Could anyone really want that for her son? â€Å"I looked at Edward. Sick as he was, he was still beautiful. There was something pure and good about his face. The kind of face I would have wanted my son to have. â€Å"After all those years of indecision, I simply acted on a whim. I wheeled his mother to the morgue first, and then I came back for him. No one noticed that he was still breathing. There weren't enough hands, enough eyes, to keep track of half of what the patients needed. The morgue was emptyof the living, at least. I stole him out the back door, and carried him across the rooftops back to my home. â€Å"I wasn't sure what had to be done. I settled for recreating the wounds I'd received myself, so many centuries earlier in London. I felt bad about that later. It was more painful and lingering than necessary. â€Å"I wasn't sorry, though. I've never been sorry that I saved Edward.† He shook his head, coming back to the present. He smiled at me. â€Å"I suppose I should take you home now.† â€Å"I'll do that,† Edward said. He came through the shadowy dining room, walking slowly for him. His face was smooth, unreadable, but there was something wrong with his eyessomething he was trying very hard to hide. I felt a spasm of unease in my stomach. â€Å"Carlisle can take me,† I said. I looked down at my shirt; the light blue cotton was soaked and spotted with my blood. My right shoulder was covered in thick pink frosting. â€Å"I'm fine.† Edward's voice was unemotional. â€Å"You'll need to change anyway. You'd give Charlie a heart attack the way you look. I'll have Alice get you something.† He strode out the kitchen door again. I looked at Carlisle anxiously. â€Å"He's very upset.† â€Å"Yes,† Carlisle agreed. â€Å"Tonight is exactly the kind of thing that he fears the most. You being put in danger, because of what we are.† â€Å"It's not his fault.† â€Å"It's not yours, either.† I looked away from his wise, beautiful eyes. I couldn't agree with that. Carlisle offered me his hand and helped me up from the table. I followed him out into the main room. Esme had come back; she was mopping the floor where I'd fallenwith straight bleach from the smell of it. â€Å"Esme, let me do that.† I could feel that my face was bright red again. â€Å"I'm already done.† She smiled up at me. â€Å"How do you feel?† â€Å"I'm fine,† I assured her. â€Å"Carlisle sews faster than any other doctor I've had.† They both chuckled. Alice and Edward came in the back doors. Alice hurried to my side, but Edward hung back, his face indecipherable. â€Å"C'mon,† Alice said. â€Å"I'll get you something less macabre to wear.† She found me a shirt of Esme's that was close to the same color mine had been. Charlie wouldn't notice, I was sure. The long white bandage on my arm didn't look nearly as serious when I was no longer spattered in gore. Charlie was never surprised to see me bandaged. â€Å"Alice,† I whispered as she headed back to the door. â€Å"Yes?† She kept her voice low, too, and looked at me curiously, her head cocked to the side. â€Å"How bad is it?† I couldn't be sure if my whispering was a wasted effort. Even though we were upstairs, with the door closed, perhaps he could hear me. Her face tensed. â€Å"I'm not sure yet.† â€Å"How's Jasper?† She sighed. â€Å"He's very unhappy with himself. It's all so much more of challenge for him, and he hates feeling weak.† â€Å"It's not his fault. You'll tell him that I'm not mad at him, not at all, won't you?† â€Å"Of course.† Edward was waiting for me by the front door. As I got to the bottom of the staircase, he held it open without a word. â€Å"Take your things!† Alice cried as I walked warily toward Edward. She scooped up the two packages, one half-opened, and my camera from under the piano, and pressed them into my good arm. â€Å"You can thank me later, when you've opened them.† Esme and Carlisle both said a quiet goodnight. I could see them stealing quick glances at their impassive son, much like I was. It was a relief to be outside; I hurried past the lanterns and the roses, now unwelcome reminders. Edward kept pace with me silently. He opened the passenget side for me, and I climbed in without complaint. On the dashboard was a big red ribbon, stuck to the new stereo. I pulled it off, throwing it to the floor. As Edward slid into the other side, I kicked the ribbon under my seat. He didn't look at me or the stereo. Neither of us switched it on, and the silence was somehow intensified by the sudden thunder of the engine. He drove too fast down the dark, serpentine lane. The silence was making me insane. â€Å"Say something,† I finally begged as he turned onto the freeway. â€Å"What do you want me to say?† he asked in a detached voice. I cringed at his remoteness. ‘Tell me you forgive me.† That brought a flicker of life to his facea flicker of anger. â€Å"Forgive you? For what?† â€Å"If I'd been more careful, nothing would have happened.† â€Å"Bella, you gave yourself a paper cutthat hardly deserves the death penalty.† â€Å"It's still my fault.† My words opened up the floodgate. â€Å"Your fault? If you'd cut yourself at Mike Newton's house, with Jessica there and Angela and your other normal friends, the worst that could possibly have happened would be what? Maybe they couldn't find you a bandage? If you'd tripped and knocked over a pile of glass plates on your ownwithout someone throwing you into themeven then, what's the worst? You'd get blood on the seats when they drove you to the emergency room? Mike Newton could have held your hand while they stitched you upand he wouldn't be righting the urge to kill you the whole time he was there. Don't try to take any of this on yourself, Bella. It will only make me more disgusted with myself.† â€Å"How the hell did Mike Newton end up in this conversation?† I demanded. â€Å"Mike Newton ended up in this conversation because Mike Newton would be a hell of a lot healthier for you to be with,† he growled. â€Å"I'd rather die than be with Mike Newton,† I protested. â€Å"I'd rather die than be with anyone but you.† â€Å"Don't be melodramatic, please.† â€Å"Well then, don't you be ridiculous.† He didn't answer. He glared through the windshield, his expression black. I racked my brain for some way to salvage the evening. When we pulled up in front of my house, I still hadn't come up with anything. He killed the engine, but his hands stayed clenched around the steering wheel. â€Å"Will you stay tonight?† I asked. â€Å"I should go home.† The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse. â€Å"For my birthday,† I pressed. â€Å"You can't have it both wayseither you want people to ignore your birthday or you don't. One or the other.† His voice was stern, but not .is serious as before. I breathed a silent sigh of relief. â€Å"Okay. I've decided that I don't want you to ignore my birthday. I'll see you upstairs.† I hopped out, reaching back in for my packages. He frowned. â€Å"You don't have to take those.† â€Å"I want them,† I responded automatically, and then wondered if he was using reverse psychology. â€Å"No, you don't. Carlisle and Esme spent money on you.† â€Å"I'll live.† I tucked the presents awkwardly under my good arm and slammed the door behind me. He was out of the truck and by my side in less than a second. â€Å"Let me carry them, at least.† he said as he took them away. â€Å"I'll be in your room.† I smiled. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Happy birthday,† he sighed, and leaned down to touch his lips to mine. I reached up on my toes to make the kiss last longer when he pulled away. He smiled my favorite crooked smile, and then he disappeared into the darkness. The game was still on; as soon as I walked through the front door I could hear the announcer rambling over the babble of the crowd. â€Å"Bell?† Charlie called. â€Å"Hey, Dad,† I said as I came around the corner. I held my arm close to my side. The slight pressure burned, and I wrinkled my nose. The anesthetic was apparently losing its effectiveness. â€Å"How was it?† Charlie lounged across the sofa with his bare feet propped up on the arm. What was left of his curly brown hair was crushed flat on one side. â€Å"Alice went overboard. Flowers, cake, candles, presentsthe whole bit.† â€Å"What did they get you?† â€Å"A stereo for my truck.† And various unknowns. â€Å"Wow.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. â€Å"Well, I'm calling it a night.† â€Å"I'll see you in the morning.† I waved. â€Å"See ya.† â€Å"What happened to your arm?† I flushed and cursed silently. â€Å"I tripped. It's nothing.† â€Å"Bella,† he sighed, shaking his head. â€Å"Goodnight, Dad.† I hurried up to the bathroom, where I kept my pajamas for just such nights as these. I shrugged into the matching tank top and cotton pants that I'd gotten to replace the holey sweats I used to wear to bed, wincing as the movement pulled at the stitches. I washed my face one-handed, brushed my teeth, and then skipped to my room. He was sitting in the center of my bed, toying idly with one of the silver boxes. â€Å"Hi,† he said. His voice was sad. He was wallowing. I went to the bed, pushed the presents out of his hands, and climbed into his lap. â€Å"Hi.† I snuggled into his stone chest. â€Å"Can I open my presents now?† â€Å"Where did the enthusiasm come from?† he wondered. â€Å"You made me curious.† I picked up the long flat rectangle that must have been from Carlisle and Esme. â€Å"Allow me,† he suggested. He took the gift from my hand and tore the silver paper off with one fluid movement. He handed the rectangular white box back to me. â€Å"Are you sure I can handle lifting the lid?† I muttered, but he ignored me. Inside the box was a long thick piece of paper with an overwhelming amount of fine print. It took me a minute to get the gist of the information. â€Å"We're going to Jacksonville?† And I was excited, in spite of myself. It was a voucher for plane tickets, for both me and Edward. â€Å"That's the idea.† â€Å"I can't believe it. Renee is going to flip! You don't mind, though, do you? It's sunny, you'll have to stay inside all day.† â€Å"I think I can handle it,† he said, and then frowned. â€Å"If I'd had any idea that you could respond to a gift this appropriately, I would have made you open it in front of Carlisle and Esme. I thought you'd complain.† â€Å"Well, of course it's too much. But I get to take you with me!† He chuckled. â€Å"Now I wish I'd spent money on your present. I didn't realize that you were capable of being reasonable.† I set the tickets aside and reached for his present, my curiosity rekindled. He took it from me and unwrapped it like the first one. He handed back a clear CD jewel case, with a blank silver CD inside. â€Å"What is it?† I asked, perplexed. He didn't say anything; he took the CD and reached around me to put it in the CD player on the bedside table. He hit play, and we waited in silence. Then the music began. I listened, speechless and wide-eyed. I knew he was waiting for my reaction, but I couldn't talk. Tears welled up, and I reached up to wipe them away before they could spill over. â€Å"Does your arm hurt?† he asked anxiously. â€Å"No, it's not my arm. It's beautiful, Edward. You couldn't have given me anything I would love more. I can't believe it.† I shut up, so I could listen. It was his music, his compositions. The first piece on the CD was my lullaby. â€Å"I didn't think you would let me get a piano so I could play for you here,† he explained. â€Å"You're right.† â€Å"How does your arm feel?† â€Å"Just fine.† Actually, it was starting to blaze under the bandage. I wanted ice. I would have settled for his hand, but that would have given me away. â€Å"I'll get you some Tylenol.† â€Å"I don't need anything,† I protested, but he slid me off his lap and headed for the door. â€Å"Charlie,† I hissed. Charlie wasn't exactly aware that Edward frequently stayed over. In fact, he would have a stroke if that fact were brought to his attention. But I didn't feel too guilty for deceiving him It wasn't as if we were up to anything he wouldn't want me to be up to. Edward and his rules â€Å"He won't catch me,† Edward promised as he disappeared silently out the door . . and returned, catching the door before it had swung back to touch the frame. He had the glass from the bathroom and the bottle of pills in one hand. I took the pills he handed me without arguingI knew I would lose the argument And my arm really was starting to bother me. My lullaby continued, soft and lovely, in the background. â€Å"It's late,† Edward noted. He scooped me up off the bed with one arm, and pulled the cover back with the other. He put me down with my head on my pillow and tucked the quilt around me. He lay down next to meon top of the blanket so I wouldn't get chilledand put his arm over me. I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed happily. â€Å"Thanks again,† I whispered. â€Å"You're welcome.† It was quiet for a long moment as I listened to my lullaby drift to a close. Another song began. I recognized Esme's favorite. â€Å"What are you thinking about?'† I wondered in a whisper. He hesitated for a second before he told me. â€Å"I was thinking about right and wrong, actually.† I felt a chill tingle along my spine. â€Å"Remember how I decided that I wanted you to not ignore my birthday?† I asked quickly, hoping it wasn't too clear that I was trying to distract him. â€Å"Yes,† he agreed, wary. â€Å"Well, I was thinking, since it's still my birthday, that I'd like you to kiss me again.† â€Å"You're greedy tonight.† â€Å"Yes, I ambut please, don't do anything you don't want to do,† I added, piqued. He laughed, and then sighed. â€Å"Heaven forbid that I should do anything I don't want to do,† he said in a strangely desperate tone as he put his hand under my chin and pulled my face up to his. The kiss began much the same as usualEdward was as careful as ever, and my heart began to overreact like it always did. And then something seemed to change. Suddenly his lips became much more urgent, his free hand twisted into my hair and held my face securely to his. And, though my hands tangled in his hair, too, and though I was clearly beginning to cross his cautious lines, for once he didn't stop me. His body was cold through the thin quilt, but I crushed myself against him eagerly. When he stopped it was abrupt; he pushed me away with gentle, firm hands. I collapsed back onto my pillow, gasping, my head spinning. Something tugged at my memory, elusive, on the edges. â€Å"Sorry,† he said, and he was breathless, too. â€Å"That was out of line.† â€Å"I don't mind,† I panted. He frowned at me in the darkness. â€Å"Try to sleep. Bella.† â€Å"No, I want you to kiss me again.† â€Å"You're overestimating my self-control.† â€Å"Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body?† I challenged. â€Å"It's a tie.† He grinned briefly in spite of himself, and then was serious again. â€Å"Now. why don't you stop pushing your luck and go to sleep?† â€Å"Fine,† I agreed, snuggling closer to him. I really did feel exhausted. It had been a long day in so many ways, yet I felt no sense of relief at its end. Almost as if something worse was coming tomorrow. It was a silly premonitionwhat could be worse than today?' Just the shock catching up with me, no doubt. Trying to be sneaky about it, I pressed my injured arm against his shoulder, so his cool skin would sooth the burning. It felt better at once. I was halfway asleep, maybe more, when I realized what his kiss had reminded me of: last spring, when he'd had to leave me to throw James off my trail, Edward had kissed me goodbye, not knowing whenor ifwe would see each other again. This kiss had the same almost painful edge for some reason I couldn't imagine. I shuddered into unconsciousness, as if I were already having a nightmare.