Spirit Bound Chapter One Free Essays

THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN death threats and love letters–even if the person writing the death threats still claims to actually love you. Of course, considering I once tried to kill someone I loved, maybe I had no right to judge. Today’s letter had been perfectly timed, not that I should have expected any less. We will write a custom essay sample on Spirit Bound Chapter One or any similar topic only for you Order Now I’d read it four times so far, and even though I was running late, I couldn’t help but read it a fifth time. My dearest Rose, One of the few downsides to being awakened is that we no longer require sleep; therefore we also no longer dream. It’s a shame, because if I could dream, I know I’d dream about you. I’d dream about the way you smell and how your dark hair feels like silk between my fingers. I’d dream about the smoothness of your skin and the fierceness of your lips when we kiss. Without dreams, I have to be content with my own imagination–which is almost as good. I can picture all of those things perfectly, as well as how it’ll be when I take your life from this world. It’s something I regret having to do, but you’ve made my choice inevitable. Your refusal to join me in eternal life and love leaves no other course of action, and I can’t allow someone as dangerous as you to live. Besides, even if I forced your awakening, you now have so many enemies among the Strigoi that one of them would kill you. If you must die, it’ll be by my hand. No one else’s. Nonetheless, I wish you well today as you take your trials–not that you need any luck. If they’re actually making you take them, it’s a waste of everyone’s time. You’re the best in that group, and by this evening you’ll wear your promise mark. Of course, that means you’ll be all that much more of a challenge when we meet again–which I’ll definitely enjoy. And we will be meeting again. With graduation, you’ll be turned out of the Academy, and once you’re outside the wards, I’ll find you. There is no place in this world you can hide from me. I’m watching. Love, Dimitri Despite his â€Å"warm wishes† I didn’t really find the letter inspiring as I tossed it onto my bed and blearily left the room. I tried not to let his words get to me, though it was kind of impossible to not be creeped out by something like that. There is no place in this world you can hide from me. I didn’t doubt it. I knew Dimitri had spies. Since my former instructor-turned-lover had been turned into an evil, undead vampire, he’d also become a sort of leader among them–something I’d helped speed along when I killed off his former boss. I suspected a lot of his spies were humans, watching for me to step outside my school’s borders. No Strigoi could have stayed on a twenty-four-hour stakeout. Humans could, and I’d recently learned that plenty of humans were willing to serve the Strigoi in exchange for the promise of being turned someday. Those humans considered eternal life worth corrupting their souls and killing off others to survive. Those humans made me sick. But the humans weren’t what made my steps falter as I walked through grass that had turned bright green with summer’s touch. It was Dimitri. Always Dimitri. Dimitri, the man I’d loved. Dimitri, the Strigoi I wanted to save. Dimitri, the monster I’d most likely have to kill. The love we’d shared always burned within me, no matter how often I told myself to move on, no matter how much the world did think I’d moved on. He was always with me, always on my mind, always making me question myself. â€Å"You look like you’re ready to face an army.† I shifted out of my dark thoughts. I’d been so fixated on Dimitri and his letter that I’d been walking across campus, oblivious to the world, and hadn’t noticed my best friend, Lissa, falling into step with me, a teasing smile on her face. Her catching me by surprise was a rarity because we shared a psychic bond, one that always kept me aware of her presence and feelings. I had to be pretty distracted to not notice her, and if ever there was a distraction, it was someone wanting to kill me. I gave Lissa what I hoped was a convincing smile. She knew what had happened to Dimitri and how he was now waiting to kill me after I’d tried–and failed–to kill him. Nonetheless, the letters I got from him every week worried her, and she had enough to deal with in her life without my undead stalker to add to the list. â€Å"I kind of am facing an army,† I pointed out. It was early evening, but late summer still found the sun up in the Montana sky, bathing us in golden light as we walked. I loved it, but as a Moroi–a peaceful, living vampire–Lissa would eventually grow weak and uncomfortable in it. She laughed and tossed her platinum hair over one shoulder. The sun lit up the pale color into angelic brilliance. â€Å"I suppose. I didn’t think you’d really be all that worried.† I could understand her reasoning. Even Dimitri had said these would be a waste of my time. After all, I’d gone to Russia to search for him and had faced real Strigoi–killing a number of them on my own. Maybe I shouldn’t have been afraid of the upcoming tests, but all the fanfare and expectation suddenly pressed in upon me. My heart rate increased. What if I couldn’t do it? What if I wasn’t as good as I thought I was? The guardians who would challenge me out here might not be true Strigoi, but they were skilled and had been fighting a lot longer than me. Arrogance could get me into a lot of trouble, and if I failed, I’d be doing it in front of all the people who cared about me. All the people who had such faith in me. One other thing also concerned me. â€Å"I’m worried about how these grades will affect my future,† I said. That was the truth. The trials were the final exam for a novice guardian like me. They ensured I could graduate from St. Vladimir’s Academy and take my place with true guardians who defended Moroi from the Strigoi. The trials pretty much decided which Moroi a guardian would be assigned to. Through our bond, I felt Lissa’s compassion–and her worry. â€Å"Alberta thinks there’s a good chance we can stay together–that you’ll still be my guardian.† I grimaced. â€Å"I think Alberta was saying that to keep me in school.† I’d dropped out to hunt Dimitri a few months ago and then returned–something that didn’t look good on my academic record. There was also the small fact that the Moroi queen, Tatiana, hated me and would probably be going out of her way to influence my assignment–but that was another story. â€Å"I think Alberta knows the only way they’d let me protect you is if I was the last guardian on earth. And even then, my odds would still be pretty slim.† Ahead of us, the roar of a crowd grew loud. One of the school’s many sports fields had been transformed into an arena on par with something from Roman gladiatorial days. The bleachers had been built up, expanded from simple wooden seats to luxuriously cushioned benches with awnings to shade the Moroi from the sun. Banners surrounded the field, their bright colors visible from here as they whipped in the wind. I couldn’t see them yet, but I knew there would be some type of barracks built near the stadium’s entrance where novices waited, nerves on edge. The field itself would have turned into an obstacle course of dangerous tests. And from the sound of those deafening cheers, plenty were already there to witness this event. â€Å"I’m not giving up hope,† Lissa said. Through the bond, I knew she meant it. It was one of the wonderful things about her–a steadfast faith and optimism that weathered the most terrible ordeals. It was a sharp contrast to my recent cynicism. â€Å"And I’ve got something that might help you out today.† She came to a stop and reached into her jeans pocket, producing a small silver ring scattered with tiny stones that looked like peridots. I didn’t need any bond to understand what she was offering. â€Å"Oh, Liss†¦ I don’t know. I don’t want any, um, unfair advantage.† Lissa rolled her eyes. â€Å"That’s not the problem, and you know it. This one’s fine, I swear.† The ring she offered me was a charm, infused with the rare type of magic she wielded. All Moroi had control of one of five elements: earth, air, water, fire, or spirit. Spirit was the rarest–so rare, it had been forgotten over the centuries. Then Lissa and a few others had recently surfaced with it. Unlike the other elements, which were more physical in nature, spirit was tied into the mind and all sorts of psychic phenomena. No one fully understood it. Making charms with spirit was something Lissa had only recently begun to experiment with–and she wasn’t very good at it. Her best spirit ability was healing, so she kept trying to make healing charms. The last one had been a bracelet that singed my arm. â€Å"This one works. Only a little, but it’ll help keep the darkness away during the trial.† She spoke lightly, but we both knew the seriousness of her words. With all of spirit’s gifts came a cost: a darkness that showed itself now as anger and confusion, and eventually led to insanity. Darkness that sometimes bled over into me through our bond. Lissa and I had been told that with charms and her healing, we could fight it off. That was also something we had yet to master. I gave her a faint smile, moved by her concern, and accepted the ring. It didn’t scald my hand, which I took as a promising sign. It was tiny and only fit on my pinky. I felt nothing whatsoever as it slid on. Sometimes that happened with healing charms. Or it could mean the ring was completely ineffectual. Either way, no harm done. â€Å"Thanks,† I said. I felt delight sweep through her, and we continued walking. I held my hand out before me, admiring the way the green stones glittered. Jewelry wasn’t a great idea in the kind of physical ordeals I’d be facing, but I would have gloves on to cover it. â€Å"Hard to believe that after this, we’ll be done here and out in the real world,† I mused aloud, not really considering my words. Beside me, Lissa stiffened, and I immediately regretted speaking. â€Å"Being out in the real world† meant Lissa and I were going to undertake a task she’d–unhappily–promised to help me with a couple months ago. While in Siberia, I’d learned there might be a way to restore Dimitri back to being a dhampir like me. It was a long shot–possibly a lie–and considering the way he was fixated on killing me, I had no illusions that I would have any other choice but to kill him if it came down to him or me. But if there was a way I might save him before that happened, I had to find out. Unfortunately, the only lead we had to making this miracle come true was through a criminal. Not just any criminal either: Victor Dashkov, a royal Moroi who had tortured Lissa and committed all sorts of other atrocities that had made our lives hell. Justice had been served, and Victor was locked away in prison, which complicated things. We’d learned that so long as he was destined for a life behind bars, he saw no reason to share what he knew about his half-brother–the only person who had once allegedly saved a Strigoi. I’d decided–possibly illogically–that Victor might give up the information if we offered him the one thing no one else could: freedom. This idea was not foolproof, for a number of reasons. First, I didn’t know if it would work. That was kind of a big thing. Second, I had no idea how to stage a prison break, let alone where his prison even was. And finally, there was the fact that we would be releasing our mortal enemy. That was devastating enough to me, let alone Lissa. Yet as much as the idea troubled her–and believe me, it did–she’d firmly sworn she would help me. I’d offered to free her from the promise dozens of times in the last couple months, but she’d stood firm. Of course, considering we had no way to even find the prison, her promise might not matter in the end. I tried to fill the awkward silence between us, explaining instead that I’d really meant we’d be able to celebrate her birthday in style next week. My attempts were interrupted by Stan, one of my longtime instructors. â€Å"Hathaway!† he barked, coming from the direction of the field. â€Å"Nice of you to join us. Get in there now!† Thoughts of Victor vanished from Lissa’s mind. Lissa gave me a quick hug. â€Å"Good luck,† she whispered. â€Å"Not that you need it.† Stan’s expression told me that this ten-second goodbye was ten seconds too long. I gave Lissa a grin by way of thanks, and then she headed off to find our friends in the stands while I scurried after Stan. â€Å"You’re lucky you aren’t one of the first ones,† he growled. â€Å"People were even making bets about whether you’d show.† â€Å"Really?† I asked cheerfully. â€Å"What kind of odds are there on that? Because I can still change my mind and put down my own bet. Make a little pocket money.† His narrowed eyes shot me a warning that needed no words as we entered the waiting area adjacent to the field, across from the stands. It had always amazed me in past years how much work went into these trials, and I was no less impressed now as I saw it up close. The barrack that novices waited in was constructed out of wood, complete with a roof. The structure looked as though it had been part of the stadium forever. It had been built with remarkable speed and would be taken down equally quickly once the trials were over. A doorway about three people wide gave a partial glimpse onto the field, where one of my classmates was waiting anxiously for her name to be called. All sorts of obstacles were set up there, challenges to test balance and coordination while still having to battle and elude the adult guardians who would be lurking around objects and corners. Wooden walls had been constructed on one end of the field, creating a dark and confusing maze. Nets and shaky platforms hung across other areas, designed to test just how well we could fight under difficult conditions. A few of the other novices crowded the doorway, hoping to get an advantage by watching those who went ahead of them. Not me. I would go in there blind, content to take on whatever they threw before me. Studying the course now would simply make me overthink and panic. Calm was what I needed now. So I leaned against one of the barrack walls and watched those around me. It appeared that I really had been the last to show up, and I wondered if people had actually lost money betting on me. Some of my classmates whispered in clusters. Some were doing stretches and warm-up exercises. Others stood with instructors who had been mentors. Those teachers spoke intently to their students, giving last-minute words of advice. I kept hearing words like focus and calm down. Seeing the instructors made my heart clench. Not so long ago, that was how I’d pictured this day. I’d imagined Dimitri and me standing together, with him telling me to take this seriously and not to lose my cool when I was out on the field. Alberta had done a fair amount of mentoring for me since I’d returned from Russia, but as captain, she was out on the field herself now, busy with all sorts of responsibilities. She had no time to come in here and hold my hand. Friends of mine who might have offered comfort–Eddie, Meredith, and others–were wrapped up in their own fears. I was alone. Without her or Dimitri–or, well, anyone–I felt a surprising ache of loneliness flow through me. This wasn’t right. I shouldn’t have been alone. Dimitri should have been here with me. That’s how it was supposed to have been. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to pretend he was really there, only inches away as we spoke. â€Å"Don’t worry, comrade. I can do this blindfolded. Hell, maybe I actually will. Do you have anything I can use? If you’re nice to me, I’ll even let you tie it on.† Since this fantasy would have taken place after we’d slept together, there was a strong possibility that he would have later helped me take off that blindfold–among other things. I could perfectly picture the exasperated shake of his head that would earn me. â€Å"Rose, I swear, sometimes it feels like every day with you is my own personal trial.† But I knew he’d smile anyway, and the look of pride and encouragement he’d give me as I headed toward the field would be all I needed to get through the tests– â€Å"Are you meditating?† I opened my eyes, astonished at the voice. â€Å"Mom? What are you doing here?† My mother, Janine Hathaway, stood in front of me. She was just a few inches shorter than me but had enough fight in her for someone twice my size. The dangerous look on her tanned face dared anyone to bring on a challenge. She gave me a wry smile and put one hand on her hip. â€Å"Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come to watch you?† â€Å"I don’t know,† I admitted, feeling kind of guilty for doubting her. She and I hadn’t had much contact over the years, and it was only recent events–most of them bad–that had begun to reestablish our connection. Most of the time, I still didn’t know how to feel about her. I oscillated between a little girl’s need for her absent mother and a teenager’s resentment over abandonment. I also wasn’t entirely sure if I’d forgiven her for the time she â€Å"accidentally† punched me in a mock fight. â€Å"I figured you’d have, you know, more important things to do.† â€Å"There’s no way I could miss this.† She inclined her head toward the stands, making her auburn curls sway. â€Å"Neither could your father.† â€Å"What?† I hurried toward the doorway and peered out onto the fields. My view of the stands wasn’t fantastic, thanks to all the obstacles on the field, but it was good enough. There he was: Abe Mazur. He was easy to spot, with his black beard and mustache, as well as the emerald green scarf knotted over his dress shirt. I could even barely make out the glint of his gold earring. He had to be melting in this heat, but I figured it would take more than a little sweat for him to tame down his flashy fashion sense. If my relationship with my mother was sketchy, my relationship with my father was practically nonexistent. I’d met him back in May, and even then, it wasn’t until after I’d gotten back that I found out I was his daughter. All dhampirs had one Moroi parent, and he was mine. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him. Most of his background remained a mystery, but there were plenty of rumors that he was involved with illegal business. People also acted like he was the kneecap-breaking type, and though I’d seen little evidence of this, I didn’t find it surprising. In Russia, they called him Zmey: the serpent. While I stared at him in astonishment, my mom strolled over to my side. â€Å"He’ll be happy you made it in time,† she said. â€Å"He’s running some big wager on whether you’d show. He put his money on you, if that makes you feel any better.† I groaned. â€Å"Of course. Of course he’d be the bookie behind the pool. I should have known as soon as–† My jaw dropped. â€Å"Is he talking to Adrian?† Yup. Sitting beside Abe was Adrian Ivashkov–my more-or-less boyfriend. Adrian was a royal Moroi–and another spirit user like Lissa. He’d been crazy about me (and often just crazy) ever since we first met, but I’d had eyes only for Dimitri. After the failure in Russia, I’d returned and promised to give Adrian a shot. To my surprise, things had been†¦ good between us. Great, even. He’d written me up a proposal of why dating him was a sound decision. It had included things like â€Å"I’ll give up cigarettes unless I really, really need one† and â€Å"I’ll unleash romantic surprises every week, such as: an impromptu picnic, roses, or a trip to Paris–but not actually any of those things because now they’re not surprises.† Being with him wasn’t like it had been with Dimitri, but then, I supposed, no two relationships could ever be exactly alike. They were different men, after all. I still woke up all the time, aching over the loss of Dimitri and our love. I tormented myself over my failure to kill him in Siberia and free him from his undead state. Still, that despair didn’t mean my romantic life was over–something it had taken me a while to accept. Moving on was hard, but Adrian did make me happy. And for now, that was enough. But that didn’t necessarily mean I wanted him cozying up to my pirate mobster father either. â€Å"He’s a bad influence!† I protested. My mother snorted. â€Å"I doubt Adrian will influence Abe that much.† â€Å"Not Adrian! Abe. Adrian’s trying to be on good behavior. Abe will mess everything up.† Along with smoking, Adrian had sworn he’d quit drinking and other vices in his dating proposal. I squinted at him and Abe across the crowded stands, trying to figure out what topic could be so interesting. â€Å"What are they talking about?† â€Å"I think that’s the least of your problems right now.† Janine Hathaway was nothing if not practical. â€Å"Worry less about them and more about that field.† â€Å"Do you think they’re talking about me?† â€Å"Rose!† My mother gave me a light punch on the arm, and I dragged my eyes back to her. â€Å"You have to take this seriously. Keep calm, and don’t get distracted.† Her words were so like what I’d imagined Dimitri saying that a small smile crept onto my face. I wasn’t alone out here after all. â€Å"What’s so funny?† she asked warily. â€Å"Nothing,† I said, giving her a hug. She was stiff at first and then relaxed, actually hugging me back briefly before stepping away. â€Å"I’m glad you’re here.† My mother wasn’t the overly affectionate type, and I’d caught her off guard. â€Å"Well,† she said, obviously flustered, â€Å"I told you I wouldn’t miss this.† I glanced back at the stands. â€Å"Abe, on the other hand, I’m not so sure of.† Or†¦ wait. An odd idea came to me. No, not so odd, actually. Shady or not, Abe had connections–ones extensive enough to slip a message to Victor Dashkov in prison. Abe had been the one to ask for info about Robert Doru, Victor’s spirit-wielding brother, as a favor to me. When Victor had sent back the message saying he had no reason to help Abe with what he needed, I’d promptly written off my father’s assistance and jumped to my prison-break idea. But now– â€Å"Rosemarie Hathaway!† It was Alberta who called me, her voice ringing loud and clear. It was like a trumpet, a call to battle. All thoughts of Abe and Adrian–and yes, even Dimitri–vanished from my mind. I think my mother wished me good luck, but the exact wording was lost on me as I strode toward Alberta and the field. Adrenaline surged through me. All my attention was now on what lay ahead: the test that would finally make me a guardian. How to cite Spirit Bound Chapter One, Essay examples

Is hypnosis and effective method to Improve Health Essay Example For Students

Is hypnosis and effective method to Improve Health Essay ?Is Hypnosis an Effective Method to Improve Health?Many high schools have hypnotists come to their school to entertain the students. Once a hypnotist came to the Fletcher High School gymnasium and hypnotized about a half dozen people. He convinced these six people into believing they were five years old watching their favorite cartoon. Their mannerisms were shocking. They truly believed they were five-years-old, throwing a fit when the hypnotist told them their mother just turned off the cartoons. Knowing that it is very hard to remember back to when a person is five-years-old, it was amazing that the power of hypnosis made them remember so easily. It seemed as if the hypnotist could make them remember anything. Just before the students woke from their hypnosis, the hypnotists told them they would be fully rested and feel extremely good about his or herself. Afterwards, they remarked on how rested they felt. A hypnotist can make people feel completely rested while being under hypnosi s, and make people believe things that are not true. Why stop there though? If something hurts, then tell the hypnotherapist to suggest under hypnosis that the pain is gone and does not bother them anymore and the person will feel better. If someone has a stuttering problem, then they can visit a hypnotherapist and he should be able to straighten up their speech so they can speak more clearly. Likewise, a persons self-confidence could be uplifted and they Stayton 2could begin to believe in his or herself. Some people could even be anesthetized for surgery using hypnosis. Many people are hypnotized for entertainment purposes, so maybe it should also be used to help people with problems that are hard to resolve. Hypnosis can be used to relieve pain, conquer almost any fear, eliminate the use unnecessary prescription medicines, and help a person to overcome alcoholism and to overcome drug addictions. Also, upon finding support from a hypnotherapist, many have been able to quit addictiv e habits such as smoking. Conquering phobias is a specialty of hypnotherapists. A phobia is a compulsive fear of a specified situation or object (Knight 2). A few types of phobias are fear of open spaces, fear of snow, fear of the cold, fear of marriage, fear of insanity, fear of being alone, fear of darkness, fear of disease, fear of beards, fear of birds, fear of being stared at, fear of being buried alive, fear of the unknown, fear of animals, and there are also many other fears that ruin peoples lives or pursuit of happiness (Knight 2). People find that it is easier to turn away from the thing they are afraid of, or simply run from the fear avoiding the feared object as much as possible. When the phobia is avoidable, there is not a strong need for medical attention, but when the phobia interferes with the persons quality of life, a hypnotherapist may be needed (Knight 2-3). Hypnotherapists claim to be able to get rid of numerous unnecessary prescription medicines. Dr. Thomas Nicoli states that many rely on pharmaceuticals as a crutch that they may not need. Nicoli supports his thinking by saying, If you break or badly injure your leg, you need crutches. Of course. But, would you expect to need those crutches for a very long time? How about the rest of your life? Of course not. Well, thats how I began looking at Stayton 3pills. As a continual internal crutch (Nicoli 1). In order to alleviate the need for this internal crutch, the root of the problem must be found and the problem worked out from the there. Some people may not even remember the initial incident or cause of their discomfort. Their feelings may be so repressed in their subconscious that they do not remember the root of their problem. Hypnosis may be the only way a person could find these lost emotions or actions (Nicoli 2). Can Environmental Protection and Free Trade Coexis EssayThe psyche rarely appears in dermatoses as a sole cause, but mental states and conflicts can be converted into skin disorders just as they can be converted into hysteria or phobias. The skin acts not only as a protective and defensive agent for the body, but also occasionally for the mind. The availability and erogenicity of the skin renders it vulnerable to patients with exhibitionistic, masochistic, paranoid, obsessional, compulsive, or abnormal sexual tendencies (Schneck 123). Whatever happens in the mind is reflected in the body, and any alteration in the latter has repercussions in the former (qtd. in Schneck 124). These skin disorders caused by mental breakdowns or stress can be avoided or treated by just visiting hypnotherapists. In some instances, hypnotherapy can be used to help a problem in a pregnancy that may take the mothers life while she is delivering the baby. Hypnosis can rarely be life saving, but Stayton 6will often be beneficial to the childbearing female (qtd. in Schneck 145). Hypnotherapy, along with dietary supplements, can be most helpful to losing weight quicker and less expensive (qtd. in Schneck 146). Many other diseases in dermatology, gynecology, obstetrics, surgery, psychiatry, and other diseases that are caused from different brain activities can also be helped and treated with hypnotherapy. It is remarkable that the high school students could remember most of the emotions they felt at the age of five. Is it not possible then to turn someones mind into a machine capable of remembering virtually everything? This is definitely something that could be used for school purposes. Imagine going to class and being able to remember and understand every word. Maybe the person would even be able to recite every syllable the instructor spoke during the entire hour of class. Maybe some day someone could be hypnotized and given information and just take every bit of it into their memory. Instead Stayton 7of going to school for years and years information could just be programmed into a person like in the Matrix where Keanu Reeves could learn anything he wanted to learn in only a few seconds. But learning and remembering is only one aspect of hypnosis. If a hypnotist can make someone remember something so far back and make that person reenact those memories, hypnosis could be a powerful tool regarding many health problems caused by brain activities.There is so much more that has yet to be discovered. Estabrooks, George H., Hypnotism. New York: E.P. Dutton Co. Inc., 1957. Hypnosis and Smoking: The Mighty Power of Suggestion. Smoking Cessation. N. pag. Online. Internet. 13 Apr. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.hypnosis.about.com/smoking.hypnos.htm Kirsch, Irving, Antonio Capafons, Etzel Cardea-Buelna, Salvador Amig. Clinical Hypnosis and Self-Regulation. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1999. Knight, Bryan. You Can Conquer Your Phobia. Hypnogenesis. N. pag. Online. Internet. 13 Apr. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.hypnos.co.uk/hypnomag/drknigh3.htm Nicoli, Thomas. Pain and Physical Disorder Relief Through Hypnosis. Hypnogenesis. N. pag. Online. Internet. 13 Apr. 2000. Available WWW: http://www.hypnos.co.uk/hypnomag/nicoli1.htmSchneck, Jerome M. Hypnosis in Modern Medicine. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1953. Wolff, Michael. Personal Interview. 28 Apr. 2000. Words/ Pages : 1,950 / 24

American Roots Music

American Roots Music Evolution is often thought of as a process in which man has evolved from a single cell life form to the complex being we are now. The music we listen to today has also evolved from its simplistic beginnings to the modern, sophisticated, commercial, and digital era that has become the listening buffet we seat ourselves to everyday. This evolution that music realizes is a trend that continues in its growth today and will always be a changing, metamorphic entity that enriches and guides our cultural and social identities.The music that began in its simplest form here in America over 100 years ago was brought here by immigrants from their homeland. If America is known as the melting pot, then its music would surely be the broth that gives the soup its distinct flavor. This music that manifests itself in these early American times is as complex as the individuals that enjoyed it.English:This complexity and ability to adapt and change gives music it roots system. This roots system gives mu sic its canvas to paint on, and as music has endured, so have the patrons that utilize this form of expression. This is where we find our American roots music.For many hundreds of years, man has enjoyed and played music for various reasons: meditation, dancing, rituals, entertainment, to express feelings, to reflect on past events and to display what is happening in his world. In the coming of age in this country, music has been used for all of these, but none have been so important in making this country what it is today as the music that has reflected on past events and that shows what is happening in the country at the time that it was written.American roots music has one of its contributors in...

Free Essays on Amish Culture

Paper Two- Folk Culture There are many folk cultures still alive throughout the world, but the one that seems to be the most vivid of all has to be the Amish folk culture. First we have to have a clear idea of what a folk culture represents to understand the Amish way of life, their beliefs and their values. The word folk describes a rural group that still lives the old-fashioned way, following some simple rules and practices. A group of people that generally stick together and are less influenced by modern technology than the overall population. The Amish people fall under all these characteristics. The Amish are a very conservative Christian faith group. Many of their beliefs are identical to those of Fundamentalist and other Evangelical churches, including baptism, a literal interpretation of the Bible, etc. Of course, there is some differences such as their belief in remaining separate from the rest of the world and their rejection of involvement with the military or warfare. Each district is self-governing, there is no centralized Amish organization. They have traditionally avoided attempts to seek adaptation. Recently, some Amish groups have become active in converting to Christianity. The Ordnung is an oral tradition which regulates the Amish way of life, specific details of the Ordnung differ among various church districts. Some Amish migrated to the United States, started in the early 18th century, and started settling in Lancaster County, PA during the 1720's. Other groups settled in or moved to New York, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. They have attempted to preserve the elements of late 17th century European rural culture. They reject most of the developments of the modern society. During the 1860's, a series of conferences were held in Wayne County OH to deal with modern pressures. Partly as a result of these conferences, the Amish split into a number of divisions, including t... Free Essays on Amish Culture Free Essays on Amish Culture Paper Two- Folk Culture There are many folk cultures still alive throughout the world, but the one that seems to be the most vivid of all has to be the Amish folk culture. First we have to have a clear idea of what a folk culture represents to understand the Amish way of life, their beliefs and their values. The word folk describes a rural group that still lives the old-fashioned way, following some simple rules and practices. A group of people that generally stick together and are less influenced by modern technology than the overall population. The Amish people fall under all these characteristics. The Amish are a very conservative Christian faith group. Many of their beliefs are identical to those of Fundamentalist and other Evangelical churches, including baptism, a literal interpretation of the Bible, etc. Of course, there is some differences such as their belief in remaining separate from the rest of the world and their rejection of involvement with the military or warfare. Each district is self-governing, there is no centralized Amish organization. They have traditionally avoided attempts to seek adaptation. Recently, some Amish groups have become active in converting to Christianity. The Ordnung is an oral tradition which regulates the Amish way of life, specific details of the Ordnung differ among various church districts. Some Amish migrated to the United States, started in the early 18th century, and started settling in Lancaster County, PA during the 1720's. Other groups settled in or moved to New York, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. They have attempted to preserve the elements of late 17th century European rural culture. They reject most of the developments of the modern society. During the 1860's, a series of conferences were held in Wayne County OH to deal with modern pressures. Partly as a result of these conferences, the Amish split into a number of divisions, including t...

Contemporary vampire saga, twilight Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contemporary vampire saga, twilight - Essay Example tive of the vampire as one that went for what it desired, contrary to the modern vampire who exhibits better reasoning capabilities towards relationships and has human values. The vampire series gives the perception of love and relationships as being indiscriminate and binding in that Bella and Edward fall deep in love despite their different natures. On matters of gender, the contemporary vampire does not portray the woman as inferior and as only a target for vampires; Bella and Edward’s intense love relationship proves this. The ancient/gothic depiction of the vampire painted it as ruthless, bloodthirsty, and horrific, only driven by its desires, and portraying minute (insignificant) humanity in it. This is most evident in that it was seen mostly attacking women and children after destroying their protectors (men), and has to kill in order to live. However, the contemporary vampire is portrayed as being attractive and reasonable, with few [necessary] killings. Another aspect is that in the new form of the vampire, it possesses emotion and even falls in love with real humans, exhibiting acts of romance and chivalry, all of which are admirable. This is so unlike the gothic vampire who only perceives of women as targets to kill. Finally, and with regard to social relationships and values, the contemporary vampire constructs, rather than destroy. In the ancient ones’ portrayal, the vampire would invade relationships thus destroy them; however, the contemporary one actually takes part in constructing and maintaining them, as it is seen relating closely with people. All of these support that indeed, what we now have is a reformed-for –the-better vampire, who leans more to their human than animal nature. In Polidori’s Vampyre, there is the contrary perception of the vampire as a creature that lives underground, only coming into the world to attack its prey, and drag them into the dark ages. In the short narration, the â€Å"new† vampire, Lord Ruthven, lives

Paraphrase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Paraphrase - Essay Example If a firm is operating at or near capacity, it is not very likely to instigate a price war because it wants to raise its prices to increase profits. Also, a firm may not have the resources to dramatically reduce the price of a significant product. 6. â€Å"Pricing cooperation is more likely to emerge in markets where one firm raises a price and competitors follow suit and market shares remain unchanged. It is less likely to work well in markets where price matching may not leave market shares constant. Evaluate this statement. Can you think of circumstances under which price matching behavior could alter market shares? Greater prices will always benefit a company. Also, it is easier for a company to observe higher prices rather than lower prices. In this instance, the price of a good acts like an identical feature of the market. A firm that could gain a significant market share due to reducing prices would be inclined to employ price matching behavior. Firms that are perceived to produce high quality products may also think about this strategy. 7. Suppose that you were an industry analyst trying to determine whether the leading firms in the automobile manufacturing industry are playing a tit-for-tat pricing game. What real-world data would you want to examine? What would you consider to be evidence of tit-for-tat pricing? The real-world data that I would want to consider would be the advertised price for a product. To get a better understanding of the market, I would compare the current price with the last financial period. 8. Studies of pricing in the airline industry show that carriers that dominate hub airports (Delta in Atlanta, USAir in Pittsburgh, American in Dallas) tend to charge higher fares on average for flights into and out of the hub airport than other, non-dominant carriers flying in and out of the hub. What might explain this pattern of prices? First of all, carriers that

Reflection On Interpersonal Skills In Clinical Practice

Reflection On Interpersonal Skills In Clinical Practice This is a reflective essay based on my experiences whilst on my five week surgical placement in a local hospital. The aim of this essay is to explore the use of communication and interpersonal skills in clinical practice. I have chosen this particular incident as I spent a considerable amount of time communicating verbally and non verbally with this particular patient. To protect the identity and maintain confidentiality of the patient I have chosen to discuss they shall be known as John, this is accordance with the NMC code of professional conduct (2008). To assist me in the process of reflection I will be using Gibbs (1988) reflective model. The structure of this framework allows the reflection to be written in a clear way, which provides opportunities to look at the incident from a number of perspectives; this will help to highlight areas of practice which could be changed in the future (Jasper, 2003). There are numerous reasons why reflection is important to nurses. Through refle ction we can get to know more about what we do and what limits our abilities and this gives the opportunity to improve the way we care (Ghaye and Lillyman, 2001). Description John was a 74 year old man admitted onto the ward from the emergency department 2 days previous to me starting my first late shift of that week. He had been suffering from retention of urine, and was in considerable pain. My mentor and I were informed during handover that we would be looking after John on this particular shift and could we change the dressing on his right leg as he had an ulcerated leg due to suffering from a condition known as Peripheral Vascular Disease (Alexander el al, 2004). As a consequence of this disease he also had his left leg amputated below the knee some years ago and mobilised using a wheelchair. It became clear during the handover that John had been very difficult the last couple of days. The nurse in charge went on to say that he had thrown items across his room and was constantly pressing his nurse call button and shouting all day, he had also refused to have a wash and change his pyjamas. As we left the room where the handover had taken place, my men tor said she thought that we should change Johns dressing now but first we should get him washed and changed and could I assist her. We gathered all the equipment we needed from the treatment room and made our way to Johns room. I knocked on his door and introduced myself as a student nurse, I then asked John for his consent for me to assist him in having a wash and change of clothing (NMC, 2008). John was sat on his bed, he appeared to be quite tense, he looked up at me and shouted no, I want to see a doctor and I havent had a cigarette for 2 days. I explained that I was here to assist in changing the dressing on his leg and to help him to have a wash and change. I moved closer towards his bed and lowered myself to his eye level. I then began to engage in conversation with him by maintaining a soft tone of voice and asking him if he would like a cup of tea after we had finished. His body language softened and he looked up and smiled, he said I would love one. I smiled back at John, I then repeated the question of assisting him with having a wash and change, whilst maintaining a relaxed posture and eye contact with him. John gave me his consent and I proceeded to assist him in maintaining his personal hygiene with respect and dignity (NMC, 2008). With Johns co operation my mentor and I were then able to go on and change his dressing on his leg. Feelings Through this learning experience I encountered different feelings towards the situation. From the initial handover, the staff nurse in charge did not paint a positive picture of John. I wondered why this particular patient was so aggressive and demanding and the staff described him as being difficult. I felt anxious, as this was my first placement as a first year student and I did not feel experienced enough to deal with the situation. During my encounter with John it became clear why he would feel so angry and frustrated. I noticed he didnt have a wheelchair in his room, and it became apparent that he was a smoker. He also hadnt been given any nicotine replacement therapy to help him cope with his withdrawal symptoms. When the full extent of Johns situation became clear to me, I felt immense frustration for him. According to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2008), nurses should treat patients with respect and maintain their dignity. With John not having a wheelchair, he was con fined to his bed and therefore had lost his autonomy. The situation also made me very angry, reflecting back I feel I should have been more assertive and maybe questioned why Johns requests had been ignored by the staff. Evaluation It was a shame that the professional staff acted the way that they did, ignoring how angry and frustrated John had become and not acting upon it. The nurses compassion and communication skills seemed to be very much lacking, not listening to his requests and showing no feeling towards him. This breakdown in communication in the nurse patient relationship with john, left him feeling frustrated and not in control of his own wellbeing (Garnham, 2001). At first, I could not see any good points in this situation; however looking back I can see that it did have its positive side, in as much as allowing me to examine myself and to search for my short fallings in relation to the incident. The incident has also given me the opportunity to link theory to practice. The way I communicated with John had a positive outcome for both of us in that his personal hygiene needs were met, and I learnt that effective communication is essential in building a trusting bond between the patient and the nurse (Almond Yardley, 2009). The bad points of this experience were that I judged John based on the information I received during handover without meeting him first. This could have created a barrier between myself and the patient. Accepting a patient as a unique individual and without judgment is very important in the communication process. I have learnt from this experience that as nurses we should respect a patients beliefs and values, and we should not let our own beliefs and values affect our decision making in patient care (Rogers, 1957). I also feel I should have been more assertive when it came to the way John was being treated by the staff. As a first year student I did not feel comfortable questioning the way a professional staff nurse carried out her nursing care. However, from this experience I will question bad practice in future, as the NMC (2008) states that I am personally accountable for my actions and omissions in my practice and I must always be able to justify my decisions. Analysis According to Briggs (2006) as cited in compendium of clinical skills Communication is the process of conveying information between two or people. Communication is essential in building relationships with patients and gaining trust. In the NHS the majority of the complaints brought against them were for poor communication from healthcare staff (Pincock 2004). To highlight how important communication is in the nursing profession, the NMC identified it as being an essential skill and only if a student is competent in this skill can they then go on and register as a nurse (NMC 2007b). In order to communicate with John the situation required the use of interpersonal skills, known as non verbal and verbal communication. Non verbal communication is described by lister and dogherty p62 as being information transmitted without speaking. Johns body language indicated that he was tense and anxious therefore approaching him with empathy ensured that he is being understood and that his participation in communication was valued (Peate 2006)nurs 21st. Given the history of Johns aggressive outbursts it was necessary to consider the proxemics in the situation. It is recommended that keeping within a distance of 4 to 12 feet away from a person is less intimidating for them (Egan 2002). In order to engage in conversation with John, Egans (2002) acronym SOLER was used. This is a process of using body language to actively listen to a person. By sitting squarely towards John, having an open posture, leaning in towards him, maintaining eye contact and maintaining a relaxed posture, encouraged him to relax and feel less intimidated and therefore talk more openly (Lister and Dougherty). Verbal communication with John was enhanced by the use of facial expression and paraverbal communication. (Fund Nursing p195) states that Facial expressions give clues that support, contradict or disguise the verbal message, therefore the use of a smile when approaching John indicated warmth and friendliness. This was assisted further by the use of para communication; these are the cues that accompany verbal language. These include tone, pitch, speed and volume of the person speaking, therefore by communicating with John with a soft tone of voice added further meaning to the spoken words (fund nurs). The barriers in communication during this incident were Johns aggressiveness. This could have been due to the withdrawal from cigarettes, as according to Bruce (2008) irritability is a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. If a patient is unable to smoke in hospital then nicotine replacement therapy should be introduced and the patient treated like any other dependant. Bruce (2008) suggests that Withdrawal from nicotine needs to be recognised and treated appropriately in the acute hospital and it will often be the ward nurses who are relied on to recognise the symptoms. These symptoms were overlooked by the staff and to add to his frustration he had no means of mobility to be able to leave the ward for a cigarette. This may account for his outbursts of anger. Peplau (2004) suggests that when there is an obstacle or obstruction preventing a person from achieving their goals this may lead to frustration which in turn often leads to anger. Action Plan Using Gibbss reflective cycle has assisted me in making sense of the situation and to put things into perspective, recognising how I can put this learning experience to positive use in my future practice as a Nursing professional. If this situation were to arise again I know I would now have the courage to question the nurses attitude at an earlier stage pointing out that bad practice by anyone is not acceptable. From this experience I have learnt that I need to be more assertive and if I feel the needs of a patient are not being met, my first consideration should be to protect the interests and safety of patients, in line with the NMC (2002) Code of Professional Conduct, (clause 8). This reflection has highlighted the need to increase my knowledge and understanding of the process of communicating with patients from different cultural backgrounds, I will address these issues by, listening and learning from the qualified staff and by reading relevant literature. Conclusion In conclusion it can be seen that the nurse has a very important role in communicating with patients through their treatment. When a patient is admitted to hospital, assessments should be made based on the activities of daily living, Roper, Logan Tierney (2000). Johns assessment not only should have identified the level of care needed, it should also have established his normal routine, and the fact that he was a smoker and required a wheelchair for mobility. If Johns needs had been assessed correctly the breakdown in the relationship between John and the professional staff could have been prevented. Overall, through this reflection I have learnt that communication is an essential skill that requires as much practice and consideration as any other aspect of nursing.