3 Types of Not Only . . . But Also Errors

3 Types of Not Only . . . But Also Errors 3 Types of â€Å"Not Only . . . But Also† Errors 3 Types of â€Å"Not Only . . . But Also† Errors By Mark Nichol Confusion about the proper arrangement of words in sentences in which the correlative conjunctions â€Å"not only† and â€Å"but also† appear is manifested in various forms of erroneous syntax. The following sentences, accompanied by discussion and corrected versions, demonstrate three categories of mistaken sentence construction. 1. â€Å"Digital cameras are not only changing photography, but our lives.† The placement of â€Å"not only† here implies that the sentence will refer both to changing and to some other action that will occur because of the existence of digital cameras. (For example, â€Å"Digital cameras are not only changing photography but also altering our culture’s norms about privacy.†) But because changing is the operative verb for both parts of the comparison, it should precede â€Å"not only† and should be shadowed by also after the conjunction: â€Å"Digital cameras are changing not only photography but also our lives.† 2. â€Å"His hard work in math class has not only helped him make the most of his abilities but also to gradually improve them.† The phrase â€Å"not only† is misplaced in this sentence it should follow the verb phrase â€Å"has helped,† rather than be inserted between the two words which is also complicated by an extraneous use of to before the phrase â€Å"gradually improve them.† That placement would be appropriate only if it matched a to inserted before â€Å"make the most of his abilities.† But to following a form of help and a noun or pronoun is unnecessary: â€Å"His hard work in math class has helped him not only make the most of his abilities but also gradually improve them.† 3. â€Å"I think of her both as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride but also as someone who treats others respectfully.† This sentence mixes two phrasing forms for making comparisons: â€Å"both . . . and† and â€Å"not only . . . but also.† For the sentence to make sense, use one or the other: â€Å"I think of her both as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride and as someone who treats others respectfully† or â€Å"I think of her not only as an example of someone who does her work with care and pride but also as someone who treats others respectfully.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Punctuate References to Dates and TimesPeople versus Persons50 Plain-Language Substitutions for Wordy Phrases

Descriptive Essay on Nature

Descriptive Essay on Nature Descriptive Essay on Nature Nature surrounds us wherever we are and go. Even in the concrete jungle of New York City a red flower, a green tree will break the harshness of dirty grey concrete, glass and neon. In the sunset in Miami, nature gives a breathtaking display of beauty every evening painting the sky with glorious colors. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon on sees a breathtaking view of natures handicraft as it gouges out a canyon so big it is breathtaking. Each scenario is completely different yet each has its own splendor, no matter if it is a sunset, a desert, mountain, prairie, lake or ocean. Man has appreciated nature and still does. He is both challenged and pacified by it. Not only is nature beautiful, it is every changing through different seasons, or timelessly unchanged in it fixed elements such as its great mountain ranges. It has a wild beauty to it. There is a valley in central Africa that when you are there it seems as if you went back in time. This is the Zambezi river valley that starts in the wetlands of the Okavango swamps. The valley is 1500 miles of wilderness, totally unspoiled by mans encroachment. You see only the wildness of nature. The river flows proudly through the valley. It is a surging force as it goes thru rocky rapids, or wide and tranquil where it finds space. On its banks are mud flats and reeds, where crocodiles lie in the sun, and further away dense trees and forests of Mopani trees, interspersed with huge grey prehistoric baobab trees with branches that look like roots. In the day, the sun is a burning yellow fire, and everything wilts und er it. Even the wild life finds shade and lies down. As the evening comes the setting sun paints the sky with streaks of pink and orange, and the animals emerge. They come individually or in groups. In the water large hippopotamus frolic, not intimidated by the presence of crocodiles. Nervous buck come dancing to the river. Large tan colored kudu, as tall as a horse, with their white flashes and meter long spiral horns, smaller dark brown impala with short spiked horns, tiny brown duiker. They carefully approach; stopping to be sure, no predators are near. They dip their heads gracefully to drink. Some suddenly will jump and struggle as a crocodile grabs it and drags it under the water. Elephants come and splash around squirting water over themselves with their long trunks, or rolling in the mud, which is to them a treat. Lions eventually arrive in a pride, causing the buck to move nervously away. The dusk gives way to the sudden blackness of the night sky studded with silver stars and a huge silver moon. Soon the animals were gone; the river flows on into the night. Not far away there was a noise like thunder that sounded constantly. In the early morning, flowing the river alive and sparkling in the sun, crocodiles basking in the warmth, animals drinking while it was still cool, the river broadened and flowed in channels around green islands. Then it fell down a 100-meter chasm as a magnificent waterfall, 1708 meters wide. As the river fell down the chasm the sound was as thunder, and water spray rose high in the sky, white like the smoke of a bush fire. The bush is like a tropical forest as the spray rains down on it continually, and it is untouched by man. From here, it flows into a great lake and thence to the Indian Ocean. It is a place, and a moment in time, where one feels time warped to the beginning of time, where everything is still as it always was. Tips on writing a good descriptive essay about nature: This essay form is personal. It describes your personal experience and view. The goal is to create a vivid picture in the reader’s imagination. Brainstorm by using your power of observation and make notes. Carefully choose descriptive words that bring out a vivid picture of what you describe. Ensure you apply all your senses. The reader must be brought into the picture in his imagination. If you use words such as hot, cold, warm, dark, light, sunshine, fragrant, and the like. Describe, where you can, your emotions and feelings. Most of the readers will identify and connect with emotion. Do not lose your focus and make sure you organize your paper correctly. At service you can get a quality custom descriptive essay from professional writers. All you need is to contact our website!

E-Commerce business model Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

E-Commerce business model - Coursework Example In fact, the business has been making a profitable use of its e-commerce platform to attract new customers as well as retain existing customers. For this purpose the business model that this business has adopted is known as business2customer (B2C) model. This business model allows GAP Enterprise to perform transactions directly with its customers. The web site contains a wide variety of dresses for both males and females including with other accessories. In this report I will analyze the business structure of GAP Enterprise by paying a particular attention on its e-commerce business. In this report I will discuss its e-commerce model and how it makes use of its e-commerce business to attract its customers. In this report I will present some of recommendations regarding e-procurement, e-marketing, and improvement of online ordering and for Internationalization of the GAP website. Introduction In the past few years, traditional business practices have been replaced with modern and inno vative business environment. In this scenario, e-commerce is a very attractive trend that has attained the attention of the majority of business organization. Basically, e-commerce is a way of carrying out business tasks using the Internet or over the Internet. In this scenario, business and customers can communicate with each other. There are so many benefits of using an e-commerce business platform (Laudon & Laudon, 1999; Turban et al., 2005). This report will present a detailed analysis of an ecommerce platform. For this report I have chosen GAP’s e-commerce platform. Basically, this firm uses a business2customer business model for attracting different customers. In this report I will present an analysis of its different aspects. Though, the GAP Corporation is a web based e-commerce platform however it also works through a physical store can provide its customers with a wide variety of products varying from outfit and accessories such as head to toe with a well established brand. In addition, GAP Enterprise is aimed at offering and meeting the customer’s requirements and expectations in a unique manner. Thus, currently the GAP has also established the business offering a full range of â€Å"accessories and furnishings† for business customers to individualize their home, with a unique style of living and wearing. This report presents a detailed analysis of GAP’s e-commerce platform, e-commerce model and major recommendations for e-procurement, e-marketing, improvement of online ordering and for Internationalization of the GAP website. Figure 1Web site of GAP Enterprise, Image Source: www.GAP.com Organizational Overview Gap Inc. is a well-known retailer which presents a wide variety of accessories, clothing, and personal care products specially designed for women, men, babies and children under the Gap, Old Navy, banana republic, Athleta and Piperlime brands. Additionally, the staff working at Gap Inc. consists of more than 132,000 people. In addition, it has more than 3,000 corporate stores and more than 250 franchise stores all around the world. Some of the well-known brands of Gap Inc. are: (Gap Inc., 2012) Gap GapKids babyGap GapMaternity GapBody Banana Republic Old Navy Piperlime Athleta Figure 2 A Banner to Attract the customers Attraction for Customers GAP Inc. offers a wide variety of accessories and dressing styles developed through high quality fabrics and materials. Historically, this business started by offering outfit and access

Case Study in Managerial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case Study in Managerial Accounting - Essay Example The cost endor being placed at $5.50 is referred to as the variable cost since it is believed to be the market cost though it tends to vary depending on the market situations. The $5.75 is referred to as the period cost since used for accounting purposes to record the actual expense to be incurred when the product is purchased The $14,000 that Alderon received from Solo Industries is referred to as fixed price that Solo Industries fixed for the tatooine. The $20,000 that Alderon paid is referred to as the product cost since Aalderon actually incurred the cost and it was used for accounting purposes.10If the tatooine was purchased today by Alderon, then it would cost $11.00 which is therefore referred to as the market price. The $1,000 is referred to as indirect labor cost as the price cannot be directly traced back to the product. The $10,000 that would have been a donation of each of the 10 percent viewers of the wildlife show is an opportunity cost as the best forgone alternative. The $5000 is referred to as the outlay cost as it would be the future cash flow. The $25,000 is the revenue cost likely to be collected once the wildlife show is sold to another television show. The wildlife show has a smaller viewing percentage but have high income of $10000Ãâ€"10=$100,000 as compared to the manufacturing show with a big viewing percentage but low income of $5000Ãâ€"15=$75000. It is therefore of significance to show wildlife as opposed to manufacturing

Ethics Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ethics Philosophy - Essay Example Second, Mill considers the possible grounds of justification for this mindset: the higher party's position, he says, could be attributed to pride, love of freedom, love of autonomy, or to the love of power or excitement. But, he returns, justification of holding onto one's position, refusing to trade places regardless of the degree of happiness of the pig/fool that surpasses his/hers, rests in human dignity. This, Mill reasons, is so imperative to intelligent, superior beings, that they would for no reason outside it compromise it. Further, Mills admonishes anyone contesting his approach as one who is confusing the definitions/conditions of happiness and contentment. He concedes that 1) a higher being has higher (and/or greater) needs-he/she needs more to make him/her happy; and 2) a lower being with a lesser range of (and thereby need for) the capacity for happiness will have a better chance of complete happiness, whereas one with greater needs is at risk for having a smaller percentage of his/her needs fulfilled. If a person has only one bucket to fill as opposed to twenty, for example, the person with only one bucket will have a better likelihood of walking away from the fountain of happiness and saying, "I have successfully filled all of my buckets." But after conceding, Mill returns to the higher party's ability to tolerate more, and therefore to bear greater burdens. Such is the opinion of the higher, intelligent being-with the capacity to tolerate, appreciate, and understand that to be a superior being who is momentarily unhappy is far better than to be an inferior being with constant happiness. And, he claims, if the other party does not agree, it is only because he/she is incapable of understanding Mill's position and is therefore basing his/her [inferior] contention on a lack of information. That is, the lower being cannot fully comprehend the options of both sides, does not have the capacity or range to choose, even, and does not, therefore, understand what it is to have the dilemma of choosing in the first place: if you are not smart enough to understand the difference in stations (the higher and the lower's stations in life), then you have not the ability to choose between the two-and do have, as Mills does, the grounds upon which to base your opinion. 2. For Nietzsche, anything which intrudes upon or impedes one's will to power is suspect. In this case, two select characteristics threaten this will to power-weakness and humility. Nietzsche grants the possibility that within a collective, it might be good and possible to not hurt others and protect oneself from being hurt, if everyone in the group "mutually" "refrains from injury, from violence, from exploitation." (Solomon, 392) But, Nietzsche notes, the moment the practice is made a principle, a law, the effort becomes one of a kind of anarchy, of "dissolution and decay"-what he calls a "Will to Denial." (392) This is for him in direct

Acute And Chronic Forms Of Inflammation Biology Essay

Acute And Chronic Forms Of Inflammation Biology Essay Katharine Buzzbee is a pleasant young girl of 9 years old. She was brought to the health center with complaints of sore throat with difficulty swallowing. Her mother states that Katharine has had similar symptoms three separate times this year. The illnesses begin with irritation in the throat that progress to pain. The pain radiates to her ears and she generally develops a fever during the course of each attack. The patient also has a history of developing frequent colds where she experiences headaches, a stuffy nose and frequent sneezing. Her older brother and sister have both recently had the common cold. The patient is otherwise healthy with no major illnesses or injuries. Clinical manifestations: On examination, Katharines palatine tonsils are swollen, red and surrounded by exudate. She has a temperature of 101.1Â °F and complains of a running nose and headache. She appears tired and isnt as energetic as in our previous encounters. Diagnosis: acute tonsillitis. Throat culture confirmed strep. bacterial infection. Etiology: Acute tonsillitis is generally caused by a viral infection1, most commonly caused by common cold viruses such as: adenovirus, rhinovirus, influenza, coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus. The Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus and HIV occasionally manifest as tonsillitis. The second cause of acute tonsillitis is bacterial1 (about 30% of patients). The common bacterium is group A Beta hemolytic streptoccal. Other strains of bacteria are less common. The patient listed above has this type of infection. Pathogenesis: virus or bacteria attacks tonsil tissue exiting the response of innate immunity and adaptive immunity of T and B cells contained in the tonsils. The lymphocytes fight the infection, which leads to inflammation. As long as the lymphocytes and other cells can weaken the virus/bacteria the damage to the cells within the tonsils will remain reversible. Treatment: 10-day course of oral penicillin2, rest and hydration. Prognosis: symptoms should resolve during course of treatment. If frequent onset of tonsillitis continues tonsillectomy may be recommended. Inflammatory response The bacteria is ingested or inhaled and attaches to the palatine tonsils (injury). At the gross level the tonsils become swollen with erythema causing pain and difficulty completing normal tasks such as swallowing. In the study by Liljaa, Raisanenb and Stenfors3, the researchers studied bacterial and epithelial cells from palatine tonsils of nine patients with positive streptococcus pyogenes infection. The reported findings showed, S. pyogenes could be identified both in the mucous layer covering the tonsils and attached to the surface epithelial cells. Long chains of coccus-shaped bacteria could be seen encroaching on the epithelial cell borders. S. pyogenes can apparently penetrate the mucous barrier, attach to the epithelial cells, spread from cell to cell and possibly penetrate into the outermost layer of the epithelial cells. These events in turn provoke cytokine production and/or complement activation, which induce inflammatory reaction in the tonsillar tissue (activation). Dead bacteria and bacterial debris will remain at the site of the infection and must be removed (phagocytosis) from this area by neutrophils and macrophages5. Once the bacterium has been removed through phagocytes the tonsillar tissue will resume its normal form through resolution (healing process). Swelling and pain will cease. Chronic inflammation: Ulcerative Collitis Case study Jedediah Jones is a 24-year-old student pursing a degree in chiropractic medicine. He presents today with abdominal pain and frequent diarrhea containing mucus and blood. The onset of these symptoms began 2 months ago, but Jedediah decided to seek treatment when his frequent bowel movements began to disrupt his studies. Patient states that on average he has approximately 8 bowel movements per day, most frequently occurring after a meal. His abdominal pain is most severe before a bowel movement, but remains constant at the pain level of 4 out of 10. Patient says pain is 6 out of 10 at its worse. Patient attributes the symptoms to his newly adopted diet mostly consisting of fast food. Until recently he lived at home where all his meals were homemade. Patient has experienced an increased level of stress since beginning his studies (6 months ago) and subsequently quit smoking cigarettes. Patient exercises regularly, but has experienced a decrease in energy levels since the onset of symptoms. Patient denies other illness or injuries and is currently not taking any medication. Patients twin brother was recently diagnosed with Crohns disease and his maternal grandfather died of colon cancer at 48 years old. Clinical manifestations: LLQ tender upon palpation and entire abdomen appears distended. Patient claims 8 bowel movements per day with a watery consistency containing mucus and blood. Conjuctiva and finger nail beds appear pale. Diagnosis: ulcerative colitis, confirmed by positive biopsy removed during sigmoidoscopy. Inflammation of bowel appeared to extend no further than the descending colon with most severe inflammation and ulceration in the sigmoid section. Stool cultures ruled out parasitic infection. Etiology: the cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, but factors such as genetics7, psychological stress, smoking cessation and poor diet have been attributed to onset of disease. Pathogenesis: as stated in the pathology textbook7, Most investigators believe that [ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease] result from a combination of defects in host interactions with intestinal microbiota, intestinal epithelial dysfunction, and aberrant mucosal immune responses. Treatment: Sulfasalazine 2 pills by mouth, 3 times per day. Rowasa (mesalamine) rectal suspension enema, at bedtime until bleeding stops. Prognosis: continue medication until symptoms have resolved completely. Maintenance therapy will be recommended indefinitely to avoid relapse. Inflammatory response Podolsky8 explains in his article that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is believed to be the result of an ongoing activation of the mucosal immune system. This abnormal response is likely due to the defects in both the intestinal epithelium and the mucosal immune system (injury). Podolsky8 clearly defines the inflammatory response of IBD, Chronic, recurrent intestinal inflammation appears to result from stimulation of the mucosal immune system by-products of commensal bacteria in the lumen. Stimulation may occur as a result of the penetration of bacterial products through the mucosal barrier, leading to their direct interaction with immune cells, especially dendritic cells and lymphocyte populations (chemotaxis). Alternatively, bacterial products may stimulate the surface epithelium, possibly through receptors that are components of the innate immune-response system; the epithelium can, in turn, produce cytokines and chemokines that recruit and activate mucosal immune cells (transmigration). Cellular changes occur in ulcerative colitis as the chronic inflammation may lead to mucosal atrophy7, damage to the muscularis propria and disrupt neuromuscular function leading to colonic dilation and risk of perforation (cellular changes). As stated in the textbook7, The inflammatory process is diffuse and generally limited to the mucosa and superficial submucosa. Submucosal fibrosis, mucosal atrophy and distorted mucosal architecture remain a residual of healed disease but histology may also revert to near normal after prolonged remission (healing process).

What is Plagiarism Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction Because students often are confused about what is and is not plagiarism, I have prepared this handout to help you understand what is acceptable. There are some gray areas and if you have any questions, ask your instructor. Plagiarism is very serious and it can be grounds for failure in a course. So ask first. Another important point is that as you progress in your education the standards become higher. As a College student you are expected to have your own ideas. To read information and explain it in your words. If you complete an assignment by copying material, you are not showing that you understand something. Only that you can repeat what the textbook says. This does not show that you understand. Definition Lets start with a definition: Plagiarize 'pla-je-,riz also j - - vb -rized; -riz ·ing vt [plagiary] : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (a created production) without crediting the source vi: to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source - pla ·gia ·riz ·er n FROM: Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary 9th ed, (Springfield, Ma: Merriam 1981, p. 870). What to do Now what does this mean for you? First, it is unacceptable to copy something out of a book, newspaper, journal or any other printed source. The most blatant example of this is to directly copy something word for word. It does not matter if it is only a phrase. If it is not yours, either do not use it or...

Twilight 17. THE GAME

17. THE GAME It was just beginning to drizzle when Edward turned onto my street. Up until that moment, I'd had no doubt that he'd be staying with me while I spent a few interim hours in the real world. And then I saw the black car, a weathered Ford, parked in Charlie's driveway – and heard Edward mutter something unintelligible in a low, harsh voice. Leaning away from the rain under the shallow front porch, Jacob Black stood behind his father's wheelchair. Billy's face was impassive as stone as Edward parked my truck against the curb. Jacob stared down, his expression mortified. Edward's low voice was furious. â€Å"This is crossing the line.† â€Å"He came to warn Charlie?† I guessed, more horrified than angry. Edward just nodded, answering Billy's gaze through the rain with narrowed eyes. I felt weak with relief that Charlie wasn't home yet. â€Å"Let me deal with this,† I suggested. Edward's black glare made me anxious. To my surprise, he agreed. â€Å"That's probably best. Be careful, though. The child has no idea.† I bridled a little at the word child. â€Å"Jacob is not that much younger than I am,† I reminded him. He looked at me then, his anger abruptly fading. â€Å"Oh, I know,† he assured me with a grin. I sighed and put my hand on the door handle. â€Å"Get them inside,† he instructed, â€Å"so I can leave. I'll be back around dusk.† â€Å"Do you want my truck?† I offered, meanwhile wondering how I would explain its absence to Charlie. He rolled his eyes. â€Å"I could walk home faster than this truck moves.† â€Å"You don't have to leave,† I said wistfully. He smiled at my glum expression. â€Å"Actually, I do. After you get rid of them† – he threw a dark glance in the Blacks' direction – â€Å"you still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend.† He grinned widely, showing all of his teeth. I groaned. â€Å"Thanks a lot.† He smiled the crooked smile that I loved. â€Å"I'll be back soon,† he promised. His eyes flickered back to the porch, and then he leaned in to swiftly kiss me just under the edge of my jaw. My heart lurched frantically, and I, too, glanced toward the porch. Billy's face was no longer impassive, and his hands clutched at the armrests of his chair. â€Å"Soon,† I stressed as I opened the door and stepped out into the rain. I could feel his eyes on my back as I half-ran through the light sprinkle toward the porch. â€Å"Hey, Billy. Hi, Jacob.† I greeted them as cheerfully as I could manage. â€Å"Charlie's gone for the day – I hope you haven't been waiting long.† â€Å"Not long,† Billy said in a subdued tone. His black eyes were piercing. â€Å"I just wanted to bring this up.† He indicated a brown paper sack resting in his lap. â€Å"Thanks,† I said, though I had no idea what it could be. â€Å"Why don't you come in for a minute and dry off?† I pretended to be oblivious to his intense scrutiny as I unlocked the door, and waved them in ahead of me. â€Å"Here, let me take that,† I offered, turning to shut the door. I allowed myself one last glance at Edward. He was waiting, perfectly still, his eyes solemn. â€Å"You'll want to put it in the fridge,† Billy noted as he handed me the package. â€Å"It's some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry – Charlie's favorite. The fridge keeps it drier.† He shrugged. â€Å"Thanks,† I repeated, but with feeling this time. â€Å"I was running out of new ways to fix fish, and he's bound to bring home more tonight.† â€Å"Fishing again?† Billy asked with a subtle gleam in his eye. â€Å"Down at the usual spot? Maybe I'll run by and see him.† â€Å"No,† I quickly lied, my face going hard. â€Å"He was headed someplace new†¦ but I have no idea where.† He took in my changed expression, and it made him thoughtful. â€Å"Jake,† he said, still appraising me. â€Å"Why don't you go get that new picture of Rebecca out of the car? I'll leave that for Charlie, too.† â€Å"Where is it?† Jacob asked, his voice morose. I glanced at him, but he was staring at the floor, his eyebrows pulling together. â€Å"I think I saw it in the trunk,† Billy said. â€Å"You may have to dig for it.† Jacob slouched back out into the rain. Billy and I faced each other in silence. After a few seconds, the quiet started to feel awkward, so I turned and headed to the kitchen. I could hear his wet wheels squeak against the linoleum as he followed. I shoved the bag onto the crowded top shelf of the fridge, and spun around to confront him. His deeply lined face was unreadable. â€Å"Charlie won't be back for a long time.† My voice was almost rude. He nodded in agreement, but said nothing. â€Å"Thanks again for the fish fry,† I hinted. He continued nodding. I sighed and folded my arms across my chest. He seemed to sense that I had given up on small talk. â€Å"Bella,† he said, and then he hesitated. I waited. â€Å"Bella,† he said again, â€Å"Charlie is one of my best friends.† â€Å"Yes.† He spoke each word carefully in his rumbling voice. â€Å"I noticed you've been spending time with one of the Cullens.† â€Å"Yes,† I repeated curtly. His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Maybe it's none of my business, but I don't think that is such a good idea.† â€Å"You're right,† I agreed. â€Å"It is none of your business.† He raised his graying eyebrows at my tone. â€Å"You probably don't know this, but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation.† â€Å"Actually, I did know that,† I informed him in a hard voice. This surprised him. â€Å"But that reputation couldn't be deserved, could it? Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation, do they?† I could see that my less than subtle reminder of the agreement that both bound and protected his tribe pulled him up short. â€Å"That's true,† he acceded, his eyes guarded. â€Å"You seem†¦ well informed about the Cullens. More informed than I expected.† I stared him down. â€Å"Maybe even better informed than you are.† He pursed his thick lips as he considered that. â€Å"Maybe.† he allowed, but his eyes were shrewd. â€Å"Is Charlie as well informed?† He had found the weak chink in my armor. â€Å"Charlie likes the Cullens a lot,† I hedged. He clearly understood my evasion. His expression was unhappy, but unsurprised. â€Å"It's not my business,† he said. â€Å"But it may be Charlie's.† â€Å"Though it would be my business, again, whether or not I think that it's Charlie's business, right?† I wondered if he even understood my confused question as I struggled not to say anything compromising. But he seemed to. He thought about it while the rain picked up against the roof, the only sound breaking the silence. â€Å"Yes,† he finally surrendered. â€Å"I guess that's your business, too.† I sighed with relief. â€Å"Thanks, Billy.† â€Å"Just think about what you're doing, Bella,† he urged. â€Å"Okay,† I agreed quickly. He frowned. â€Å"What I meant to say was, don't do what you're doing.† I looked into his eyes, filled with nothing but concern for me, and there was nothing I could say. Just then the front door banged loudly, and I jumped at the sound. â€Å"There's no picture anywhere in that car.† Jacob's complaining voice reached us before he did. The shoulders of his shirt were stained with the rain, his hair dripping, when he rounded the corner. â€Å"Hmm,† Billy grunted, suddenly detached, spinning his chair around to face his son. â€Å"I guess I left it at home.† Jacob rolled his eyes dramatically. â€Å"Great.† â€Å"Well, Bella, tell Charlie† – Billy paused before continuing – â€Å"that we stopped by, I mean.† â€Å"I will,† I muttered. Jacob was surprised. â€Å"Are we leaving already?† â€Å"Charlie's gonna be out late,† Billy explained as he rolled himself past Jacob. â€Å"Oh.† Jacob looked disappointed. â€Å"Well, I guess I'll see you later, then, Bella.† â€Å"Sure,† I agreed. â€Å"Take care,† Billy warned me. I didn't answer. Jacob helped his father out the door. I waved briefly, glancing swiftly toward my now-empty truck, and then shut the door before they were gone. I stood in the hallway for a minute, listening to the sound of their car as it backed out and drove away. I stayed where I was, waiting for the irritation and anxiety to subside. When the tension eventually faded a bit, I headed upstairs to change out of my dressy clothes. I tried on a couple of different tops, not sure what to expect tonight. As I concentrated on what was coming, what had just passed became insignificant. Now that I was removed from Jasper's and Edward's influence, I began to make up for not being terrified before. I gave up quickly on choosing an outfit – throwing on an old flannel shirt and jeans – knowing I would be in my raincoat all night anyway. The phone rang and I sprinted downstairs to get it. There was only one voice I wanted to hear; anything else would be a disappointment. But I knew that if he wanted to talk to me, he'd probably just materialize in my room. â€Å"Hello?† I asked, breathless. â€Å"Bella? It's me,† Jessica said. â€Å"Oh, hey, Jess.† I scrambled for a moment to come back down to reality. It felt like months rather than days since I'd spoken to Jess. â€Å"How was the dance?† â€Å"It was so much fun!† Jessica gushed. Needing no more invitation than that, she launched into a minute-by-minute account of the previous night. I mmm'd and ahh'd at the right places, but it wasn't easy to concentrate. Jessica, Mike, the dance, the school – they all seemed strangely irrelevant at the moment. My eyes kept flashing to the window, trying to judge the degree of light behind the heavy clouds. â€Å"Did you hear what I said, Bella?† Jess asked, irritated. â€Å"I'm sorry, what?† â€Å"I said, Mike kissed me! Can you believe it?† â€Å"That's wonderful, Jess,† I said. â€Å"So what did you do yesterday?† Jessica challenged, still sounding bothered by my lack of attention. Or maybe she was upset because I hadn't asked for details. â€Å"Nothing, really. I just hung around outside to enjoy the sun.† I heard Charlie's car in the garage. â€Å"Did you ever hear anything more from Edward Cullen?† The front door slammed and I could hear Charlie banging around under the stairs, putting his tackle away. â€Å"Um.† I hesitated, not sure what my story was anymore. â€Å"Hi there, kiddo!† Charlie called as he walked into the kitchen. I waved at him. Jess heard his voice. â€Å"Oh, your dad's there. Never mind – we'll talk tomorrow. See you in Trig.† â€Å"See ya, Jess.† I hung up the phone. â€Å"Hey, Dad,† I said. He was scrubbing his hands in the sink. â€Å"Where's the fish?† â€Å"I put it out in the freezer.† â€Å"I'll go grab a few pieces before they freeze – Billy dropped off some of Harry Clearwater's fish fry this afternoon.† I worked to sound enthusiastic. â€Å"He did?† Charlie's eyes lit up. â€Å"That's my favorite.† Charlie cleaned up while I got dinner ready. It didn't take long till we were sitting at the table, eating in silence. Charlie was enjoying his food. I was wondering desperately how to fulfill my assignment, struggling to think of a way to broach the subject. â€Å"What did you do with yourself today?† he asked, snapping me out of my reverie. â€Å"Well, this afternoon I just hung out around the house†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Only the very recent part of this afternoon, actually. I tried to keep my voice upbeat, but my stomach was hollow. â€Å"And this morning I was over at the Cullens'.† Charlie dropped his fork. â€Å"Dr. Cullen's place?† he asked in astonishment. I pretended not to notice his reaction. â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"What were you doing there?† He hadn't picked his fork back up. â€Å"Well, I sort of have a date with Edward Cullen tonight, and he wanted to introduce me to his parents†¦ Dad?† It appeared that Charlie was having an aneurysm. â€Å"Dad, are you all right?† â€Å"You are going out with Edward Cullen?† he thundered. Uh-oh. â€Å"I thought you liked the Cullens.† â€Å"He's too old for you,† he ranted. â€Å"We're both juniors,† I corrected, though he was more right than he dreamed. â€Å"Wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"Which one is Edwin?† â€Å"Edward is the youngest, the one with the reddish brown hair.† The beautiful one, the godlike one†¦ â€Å"Oh, well, that's† – he struggled – â€Å"better, I guess. I don't like the look of that big one. I'm sure he's a nice boy and all, but he looks too†¦ mature for you. Is this Edwin your boyfriend?† â€Å"It's Edward, Dad.† â€Å"Is he?† â€Å"Sort of, I guess.† â€Å"You said last night that you weren't interested in any of the boys in town.† But he picked up his fork again, so I could see the worst was over. â€Å"Well, Edward doesn't live in town, Dad.† He gave me a disparaging look as he chewed. â€Å"And, anyways,† I continued, â€Å"it's kind of at an early stage, you know. Don't embarrass me with all the boyfriend talk, okay?† â€Å"When is he coming over?† â€Å"He'll be here in a few minutes.† â€Å"Where is he taking you?† I groaned loudly. â€Å"I hope you're getting the Spanish Inquisition out of your system now. We're going to play baseball with his family.† His face puckered, and then he finally chuckled. â€Å"You're playing baseball?† â€Å"Well, I'll probably watch most of the time.† â€Å"You must really like this guy,† he observed suspiciously. I sighed and rolled my eyes for his benefit. I heard the roar of an engine pull up in front of the house. I jumped up and started cleaning my dishes. â€Å"Leave the dishes, I can do them tonight. You baby me too much.† The doorbell rang, and Charlie stalked off to answer it. I was half a step behind him. I hadn't realized how hard it was pouring outside. Edward stood in the halo of the porch light, looking like a male model in an advertisement for raincoats. â€Å"Come on in, Edward.† I breathed a sigh of relief when Charlie got his name right. â€Å"Thanks, Chief Swan,† Edward said in a respectful voice. â€Å"Go ahead and call me Charlie. Here, I'll take your jacket.† â€Å"Thanks, sir.† â€Å"Have a seat there, Edward.† I grimaced. Edward sat down fluidly in the only chair, forcing me to sit next to Chief Swan on the sofa. I quickly shot him a dirty look. He winked behind Charlie's back. â€Å"So I hear you're getting my girl to watch baseball.† Only in Washington would the fact that it was raining buckets have no bearing at all on the playing of outdoor sports. â€Å"Yes, sir, that's the plan.† He didn't look surprised that I'd told my father the truth. He might have been listening, though. â€Å"Well, more power to you, I guess.† Charlie laughed, and Edward joined in. â€Å"Okay.† I stood up. â€Å"Enough humor at my expense. Let's go.† I walked back to the hall and pulled on my jacket. They followed. â€Å"Not too late, Bell.† â€Å"Don't worry, Charlie, I'll have her home early,† Edward promised. â€Å"You take care of my girl, all right?† I groaned, but they ignored me. â€Å"She'll be safe with me, I promise, sir.† Charlie couldn't doubt Edward's sincerity, it rang in every word. I stalked out. They both laughed, and Edward followed me. I stopped dead on the porch. There, behind my truck, was a monster Jeep. Its tires were higher than my waist. There were metal guards over the headlights and tail-lights, and four large spotlights attached to the crash bar. The hardtop was shiny red. Charlie let out a low whistle. â€Å"Wear your seat belts,† he choked out. Edward followed me around to my side and opened the door. I gauged the distance to the seat and prepared to jump for it. He sighed, and then lifted me in with one hand. I hoped Charlie didn't notice. As he went around to the driver's side, at a normal, human pace, I tried to put on my seat belt. But there were too many buckles. â€Å"What's all this?† I asked when he opened the door. â€Å"It's an off-roading harness.† â€Å"Uh-oh.† I tried to find the right places for all the buckles to fit, but it wasn't going too quickly. He sighed again and reached over to help me. I was glad that the rain was too heavy to see Charlie clearly on the porch. That meant he couldn't see how Edward's hands lingered at my neck, brushed along my collarbones. I gave up trying to help him and focused on not hyperventilating. Edward turned the key and the engine roared to life. We pulled away from the house. â€Å"This is a†¦ um†¦ big Jeep you have.† â€Å"It's Emmett's. I didn't think you'd want to run the whole way.† â€Å"Where do you keep this thing?† â€Å"We remodeled one of the outbuildings into a garage.† â€Å"Aren't you going to put on your seat belt?† He threw me a disbelieving look. Then something sunk in. â€Å"Run the whole way? As in, we're still going to run part of the way?† My voice edged up a few octaves. He grinned tightly. â€Å"You're not going to run.† â€Å"I'm going to be sick.† â€Å"Keep your eyes closed, you'll be fine.† I bit my lip, fighting the panic. He leaned over to kiss the top of my head, and then groaned. I looked at him, puzzled. â€Å"You smell so good in the rain,† he explained. â€Å"In a good way, or in a bad way?† I asked cautiously. He sighed. â€Å"Both, always both.† I don't know how he found his way in the gloom and downpour, but he somehow found a side road that was less of a road and more of a mountain path. For a long while conversation was impossible, because I was bouncing up and down on the seat like a jackhammer. He seemed to enjoy the ride, though, smiling hugely the whole way. And then we came to the end of the road; the trees formed green walls on three sides of the Jeep. The rain was a mere drizzle, slowing every second, the sky brighter through the clouds. â€Å"Sorry, Bella, we have to go on foot from here.† â€Å"You know what? I'll just wait here.† â€Å"What happened to all your courage? You were extraordinary this morning.† â€Å"I haven't forgotten the last time yet.† Could it have been only yesterday? He was around to my side of the car in a blur. He started unbuckling me. â€Å"I'll get those, you go on ahead,† I protested. â€Å"Hmmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he mused as he quickly finished. â€Å"It seems I'm going to have to tamper with your memory.† Before I could react, he pulled me from the Jeep and set my feet on the ground. It was barely misting now; Alice was going to be right. â€Å"Tamper with my memory?† I asked nervously. â€Å"Something like that.† He was watching me intently, carefully, but there was humor deep in his eyes. He placed his hands against the Jeep on either side of my head and leaned forward, forcing me to press back against the door. He leaned in even closer, his face inches from mine. I had no room to escape. â€Å"Now,† he breathed, and just his smell disturbed my thought processes, â€Å"what exactly are you worrying about?† â€Å"Well, um, hitting a tree -† I gulped â€Å"- and dying. And then getting sick.† He fought back a smile. Then he bent his head down and touched his cold lips softly to the hollow at the base of my throat. â€Å"Are you still worried now?† he murmured against my skin. â€Å"Yes.† I struggled to concentrate. â€Å"About hitting trees and getting sick.† His nose drew a line up the skin of my throat to the point of my chin. His cold breath tickled my skin. â€Å"And now?† His lips whispered against my jaw. â€Å"Trees,† I gasped. â€Å"Motion sickness.† He lifted his face to kiss my eyelids. â€Å"Bella, you don't really think I would hit a tree, do you?† â€Å"No, but I might.† There was no confidence in my voice. He smelled an easy victory. He kissed slowly down my cheek, stopping just at the corner of my mouth. â€Å"Would I let a tree hurt you?† His lips barely brushed against my trembling lower lip. â€Å"No,† I breathed. I knew there was a second part to my brilliant defense, but I couldn't quite call it back. â€Å"You see,† he said, his lips moving against mine. â€Å"There's nothing to be afraid of, is there?† â€Å"No,† I sighed, giving up. Then he took my face in his hands almost roughly, and kissed me in earnest, his unyielding lips moving against mine. There really was no excuse for my behavior. Obviously I knew better by now. And yet I couldn't seem to stop from reacting exactly as I had the first time. Instead of keeping safely motionless, my arms reached up to twine tightly around his neck, and I was suddenly welded to his stone figure. I sighed, and my lips parted. He staggered back, breaking my grip effortlessly. â€Å"Damn it, Bella!† he broke off, gasping. â€Å"You'll be the death of me, I swear you will.† I leaned over, bracing my hands against my knees for support. â€Å"You're indestructible,† I mumbled, trying to catch my breath. â€Å"I might have believed that before I met you. Now let's get out of here before I do something really stupid,† he growled. He threw me across his back as he had before, and I could see the extra effort it took for him to be as gentle as he was. I locked my legs around his waist and secured my arms in a choke hold around his neck. â€Å"Don't forget to close your eyes,† he warned severely. I quickly tucked my face into his shoulder blade, under my own arm, and squeezed my eyes shut. And I could hardly tell we were moving. I could feel him gliding along beneath me, but he could have been strolling down the sidewalk, the movement was so smooth. I was tempted to peek, just to see if he was really flying through the forest like before, but I resisted. It wasn't worth that awful dizziness. I contented myself with listening to his breath come and go evenly. I wasn't quite sure we had stopped until he reached back and touched my hair. â€Å"It's over, Bella.† I dared to open my eyes, and, sure enough, we were at a standstill. I stiffly unlocked my stranglehold on his body and slipped to the ground, landing on my backside. â€Å"Oh!† I huffed as I hit the wet ground. He stared at me incredulously, evidently not sure whether he was still too mad to find me funny. But my bewildered expression pushed him over the edge, and he broke into a roar of laughter. I picked myself up, ignoring him as I brushed the mud and bracken off the back of my jacket. That only made him laugh harder. Annoyed, I began to stride off into the forest. I felt his arm around my waist. â€Å"Where are you going, Bella?† â€Å"To watch a baseball game. You don't seem to be interested in playing anymore, but I'm sure the others will have fun without you.† â€Å"You're going the wrong way.† I turned around without looking at him, and stalked off in the opposite direction. He caught me again. â€Å"Don't be mad, I couldn't help myself. You should have seen your face.† He chuckled before he could stop himself. â€Å"Oh, you're the only one who's allowed to get mad?† I asked, raising my eyebrows. â€Å"I wasn't mad at you.† â€Å"‘Bella, you'll be the death of me'?† I quoted sourly. â€Å"That was simply a statement of fact.† I tried to turn away from him again, but he held me fast. â€Å"You were mad,† I insisted. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"But you just said -â€Å" â€Å"That I wasn't mad at you. Can't you see that, Bella?† He was suddenly intense, all trace of teasing gone. â€Å"Don't you understand?† â€Å"See what?† I demanded, confused by his sudden mood swing as much as his words. â€Å"I'm never angry with you – how could I be? Brave, trusting†¦ warm as you are.† â€Å"Then why?† I whispered, remembering the black moods that pulled him away from me, that I'd always interpreted as well-justified frustration – frustration at my weakness, my slowness, my unruly human reactions†¦ He put his hands carefully on both sides of my face. â€Å"I infuriate myself,† he said gently. â€Å"The way I can't seem to keep from putting you in danger. My very existence puts you at risk. Sometimes I truly hate myself. I should be stronger, I should be able to -â€Å" I placed my hand over his mouth. â€Å"Don't.† He took my hand, moving it from his lips, but holding it to his face. â€Å"I love you,† he said. â€Å"It's a poor excuse for what I'm doing, but it's still true.† It was the first time he'd said he loved me – in so many words. He might not realize it, but I certainly did. â€Å"Now, please try to behave yourself,† he continued, and he bent to softly brush his lips against mine. I held properly still. Then I sighed. â€Å"You promised Chief Swan that you would have me home early, remember? We'd better get going.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† He smiled wistfully and released all of me but one hand. He led me a few feet through the tall, wet ferns and draping moss, around a massive hemlock tree, and we were there, on the edge of an enormous open field in the lap of the Olympic peaks. It was twice the size of any baseball stadium. I could see the others all there; Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie, sitting on a bare outcropping of rock, were the closest to us, maybe a hundred yards away. Much farther out I could see Jasper and Alice, at least a quarter of a mile apart, appearing to throw something back and forth, but I never saw any ball. It looked like Carlisle was marking bases, but could they really be that far apart? When we came into view, the three on the rocks rose. Esme started toward us. Emmett followed after a long look at Rosalie's back; Rosalie had risen gracefully and strode off toward the field without a glance in our direction. My stomach quivered uneasily in response. â€Å"Was that you we heard, Edward?† Esme asked as she approached. â€Å"It sounded like a bear choking,† Emmett clarified. I smiled hesitantly at Esme. â€Å"That was him.† â€Å"Bella was being unintentionally funny,† Edward explained, quickly settling the score. Alice had left her position and was running, or dancing, toward us. She hurtled to a fluid stop at our feet. â€Å"It's time,† she announced. As soon as she spoke, a deep rumble of thunder shook the forest beyond us, and then crashed westward toward town. â€Å"Eerie, isn't it?† Emmett said with easy familiarity, winking at me. â€Å"Let's go.† Alice reached for Emmett's hand and they darted toward the oversized field; she ran like a gazelle. He was nearly as graceful and just as fast – yet Emmett could never be compared to a gazelle. â€Å"Are you ready for some ball?† Edward asked, his eyes eager, bright. I tried to sound appropriately enthusiastic. â€Å"Go team!† He snickered and, after mussing my hair, bounded off after the other two. His run was more aggressive, a cheetah rather than a gazelle, and he quickly overtook them. The grace and power took my breath away. â€Å"Shall we go down?† Esme asked in her soft, melodic voice, and I realized I was staring openmouthed after him. I quickly reassembled my expression and nodded. Esme kept a few feet between us, and I wondered if she was still being careful not to frighten me. She matched her stride to mine without seeming impatient at the pace. â€Å"You don't play with them?† I asked shyly. â€Å"No, I prefer to referee – I like keeping them honest,† she explained. â€Å"Do they like to cheat, then?† â€Å"Oh yes – you should hear the arguments they get into! Actually, I hope you don't, you would think they were raised by a pack of wolves.† â€Å"You sound like my mom,† I laughed, surprised. She laughed, too. â€Å"Well, I do think of them as my children in most ways. I never could get over my mothering instincts – did Edward tell you I had lost a child?† â€Å"No,† I murmured, stunned, scrambling to understand what lifetime she was remembering. â€Å"Yes, my first and only baby. He died just a few days after he was born, the poor tiny thing,† she sighed. â€Å"It broke my heart – that's why I jumped off the cliff, you know,† she added matter-of-factly. â€Å"Edward just said you f-fell,† I stammered. â€Å"Always the gentleman.† She smiled. â€Å"Edward was the first of my new sons. I've always thought of him that way, even though he's older than I, in one way at least.† She smiled at me warmly. â€Å"That's why I'm so happy that he's found you, dear.† The endearment sounded very natural on her lips. â€Å"He's been the odd man out for far too long; it's hurt me to see him alone.† â€Å"You don't mind, then?† I asked, hesitant again. â€Å"That I'm†¦ all wrong for him?† â€Å"No.† She was thoughtful. â€Å"You're what he wants. It will work out, somehow,† she said, though her forehead creased with worry. Another peal of thunder began. Esme stopped then; apparently, we'd reached the edge of the field. It looked as if they had formed teams. Edward was far out in left field, Carlisle stood between the first and second bases, and Alice held the ball, positioned on the spot that must be the pitcher's mound. Emmett was swinging an aluminum bat; it whistled almost untraceably through the air. I waited for him to approach home plate, but then I realized, as he took his stance, that he was already there – farther from the pitcher's mound than I would have thought possible. Jasper stood several feet behind him, catching for the other team. Of course, none of them had gloves. â€Å"All right,† Esme called in a clear voice, which I knew even Edward would hear, as far out as he was. â€Å"Batter up.† Alice stood straight, deceptively motionless. Her style seemed to be stealth rather than an intimidating windup. She held the ball in both hands at her waist, and then, like the strike of a cobra, her right hand flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasper's hand. â€Å"Was that a strike?† I whispered to Esme. â€Å"If they don't hit it, it's a strike,† she told me. Jasper hurled the ball back to Alice's waiting hand. She permitted herself a brief grin. And then her hand spun out again. This time the bat somehow made it around in time to smash into the invisible ball. The crack of impact was shattering, thunderous; it echoed off the mountains – I immediately understood the necessity of the thunderstorm. The ball shot like a meteor above the field, flying deep into the surrounding forest. â€Å"Home run,† I murmured. â€Å"Wait,† Esme cautioned, listening intently, one hand raised. Emmett was a blur around the bases, Carlisle shadowing him. I realized Edward was missing. â€Å"Out!† Esme cried in a clear voice. I stared in disbelief as Edward sprang from the fringe of the trees, ball in his upraised hand, his wide grin visible even to me. â€Å"Emmett hits the hardest,† Esme explained, â€Å"but Edward runs the fastest.† The inning continued before my incredulous eyes. It was impossible to keep up with the speed at which the ball flew, the rate at which their bodies raced around the field. I learned the other reason they waited for a thunderstorm to play when Jasper, trying to avoid Edward's infallible fielding, hit a ground ball toward Carlisle. Carlisle ran into the ball, and then raced Jasper to first base. When they collided, the sound was like the crash of two massive falling boulders. I jumped up in concern, but they were somehow unscathed. â€Å"Safe,† Esme called in a calm voice. Emmett's team was up by one – Rosalie managed to flit around the bases after tagging up on one of Emmett's long flies – when Edward caught the third out. He sprinted to my side, sparkling with excitement. â€Å"What do you think?† he asked. â€Å"One thing's for sure, I'll never be able to sit through dull old Major League Baseball again.† â€Å"And it sounds like you did so much of that before,† he laughed. â€Å"I am a little disappointed,† I teased. â€Å"Why?† he asked, puzzled. â€Å"Well, it would be nice if I could find just one thing you didn't do better than everyone else on the planet.† He flashed his special crooked smile, leaving me breathless. â€Å"I'm up,† he said, heading for the plate. He played intelligently, keeping the ball low, out of the reach of Rosalie's always-ready hand in the outfield, gaining two bases like lightning before Emmett could get the ball back in play. Carlisle knocked one so far out of the field – with a boom that hurt my ears – that he and Edward both made it in. Alice slapped them dainty high fives. The score constantly changed as the game continued, and they razzed each other like any street ballplayers as they took turns with the lead. Occasionally Esme would call them to order. The thunder rumbled on, but we stayed dry, as Alice had predicted. Carlisle was up to bat, Edward catching, when Alice suddenly gasped. My eyes were on Edward, as usual, and I saw his head snap up to look at her. Their eyes met and something flowed between them in an instant. He was at my side before the others could ask Alice what was wrong. â€Å"Alice?† Esme's voice was tense. â€Å"I didn't see – I couldn't tell,† she whispered. All the others were gathered by this time. â€Å"What is it, Alice?† Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority. â€Å"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before,† she murmured. Jasper leaned over her, his posture protective. â€Å"What changed?† he asked. â€Å"They heard us playing, and it changed their path,† she said, contrite, as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her. Seven pairs of quick eyes flashed to my face and away. â€Å"How soon?† Carlisle said, turning toward Edward. A look of intense concentration crossed his face. â€Å"Less than five minutes. They're running – they want to play.† He scowled. â€Å"Can you make it?† Carlisle asked him, his eyes flicking toward me again. â€Å"No, not carrying -† He cut short. â€Å"Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting.† â€Å"How many?† Emmett asked Alice. â€Å"Three,† she answered tersely. â€Å"Three!† he scoffed. â€Å"Let them come.† The steel bands of muscle flexed along his massive arms. For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was, Carlisle deliberated. Only Emmett seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at Carlisle's face with anxious eyes. â€Å"Let's just continue the game,† Carlisle finally decided. His voice was cool and level. â€Å"Alice said they were simply curious.† All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds. I had listened carefully and caught most of it, though I couldn't hear what Esme now asked Edward with a silent vibration of her lips. I only saw the slight shake of his head and the look of relief on her face. â€Å"You catch, Esme,† he said. â€Å"I'll call it now.† And he planted himself in front of me. The others returned to the field, warily sweeping the dark forest with their sharp eyes. Alice and Esme seemed to orient themselves around where I stood. â€Å"Take your hair down,† Edward said in a low, even voice. I obediently slid the rubber band out of my hair and shook it out around me. I stated the obvious. â€Å"The others are coming now.† â€Å"Yes, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please.† He hid the stress in his voice well, but I could hear it. He pulled my long hair forward, around my face. â€Å"That won't help,† Alice said softly. â€Å"I could smell her across the field.† â€Å"I know.† A hint of frustration colored his tone. Carlisle stood at the plate, and the others joined the game halfheartedly. â€Å"What did Esme ask you?† I whispered. He hesitated for a second before he answered. â€Å"Whether they were thirsty,† he muttered unwillingly. The seconds ticked by; the game progressed with apathy now. No one dared to hit harder than a bunt, and Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper hovered in the infield. Now and again, despite the fear that numbed my brain, I was aware of Rosalie's eyes on me. They were expressionless, but something about the way she held her mouth made me think she was angry. Edward paid no attention to the game at all, eyes and mind ranging the forest. â€Å"I'm sorry, Bella,† he muttered fiercely. â€Å"It was stupid, irresponsible, to expose you like this. I'm so sorry.† I heard his breath stop, and his eyes zeroed in on right field. He took a half step, angling himself between me and what was coming. Carlisle, Emmett, and the others turned in the same direction, hearing sounds of passage much too faint for my ears.

Organizing an Exploratory Essay on Earthquake Prediction

Organizing an Exploratory Essay on Earthquake Prediction This is the last part of the guide which will assist you in writing an exploratory essay on Earthquake Predictions. Just to recap, the first part of this guide was 10 facts on earthquake prediction for an exploratory essay, the second part was 20 topics on earthquake prediction for an exploratory essay, in which we also discussed a sample essay, and in this final part, we’re going to tackle the art of organizing an exploratory essay on earthquake prediction. Writing an exploratory essay about earthquakes is going to be a little different than the essays you’re used to writing. In this essay you won’t just be writing about the topic itself but rather establish arguments on popular beliefs. You aren’t just supposed to fill up the word count on validating a thesis, but also critique an existing study or research, and present your take on the matter. There is another thing that you need to know which is essential to the essay: your exploratory essay on earthquakes should be a retrospect of your thinking process, while you’re working your way through a problem. The essay should complement your research, explaining how you did it and where you got the information from. That’s what differentiates an exploratory essay from a normal one; you need to tell the reader how you worked through that problem. How to Start It Off The introduction to your essay should have a clear outline of what the problem is and why it caught your attention. You have to tell your reader what the cause of the problem is, who  bears the responsibility and what the possible solutions are. It should also have a brief overview of your research sources. Body The body should have the inquiry process that you used to learn about the problem and solve it. This section will contain most of the information and should be able to sell your idea to the reader. You should include where you got the information from. The section should be detailed with proper references. End At the end of the essay, the conclusion should connect everything together. It all needs to fit in harmoniously; i.e. recalling the problem you found in the subject, the main causes to that problem and finally, wrap it up with the solutions you proposed. This is just a single essay, not a research paper. So naturally you would have to cut it short, but you should mention this in the conclusion that there are still a few concerns you have with the subject in question. Express that you’ll pursue this in your further education and write a proper paper about it.

The End of a Miracle v1 Essays - Terry Fox, Canadian People

The End of a Miracle v1 Essays - Terry Fox, Canadian People 388620044259500The End of a Miracle By: Sean Julien Terry Fox passed away from a coma at the age of 22 on June 28, 1981 at 4:35 am at the Royal Columbian HospitalinNew Westminster. Terry's coma was caused by osteogenic sarcoma which is a type of cancer that he was diagnosed with at the age of 18. Terry fox had been living with osteogenic sarcoma for four years, but instead of terry just taking it easy, resting and getting treatment, he chose to spend 18 months running over 5,000 kilometers. But Terry Fox didn't stop there, then he started is run across Canada, starting in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980. Terry ran approximately 42 kilometers a day during his journey. On September 1st, 1980, Terry was forced to stop running after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers because the cancer spread to his lungs. Even though terry didn't finish his goal by running across Canada, "I felt like I had won. I felt like I had made it, even though I hadn't." After terry finishes running he was told by Isadore Sharp that a run will be held each year in terry's name, "we will not rest until your dream to find a cure for cancer is realized." For more information visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox or read "Terry Fox his story" written by Leslie Scrivener.

Finacial Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finacial Analysis - Research Paper Example Proctor and gamble operates in more than 100 countries and serves around 4 billion people tall over the world through their products of around 300 brands. It operates in segments of three business units, which are - beauty, health and wellbeing, and household segment. It also has global operations group that is divided into- global business service and market development organization. These help P & G to be able to remain ahead of competitors in terms of market share and also innovative products and services to the consumers. Proctor and G amble is the largest consumer goods company in the world based on the 2011 revenues. Closely behind it are Nestle and unilever respectively. Since demand for its products continue to increase, proctor and gamble has moved into several countries in terms of manufacturing and sales. P & G now has offices and factories in Europe, Asia, Middle East and even Africa. Products manufactured by proctor and gamble cover the overall market of consumer goods. Their three business units (beauty, wellbeing and household) have products like cosmetics, skin care, hair care, fabric care, baby and family care products. With the acquisition of Gillette, P & G introduced Duracell batteries, razors and electric razors to its already rich and diversified variety of products. Proctor and Gamble’s brands are (but not limited to) Pampers, Ariel, Always, and Crest. Other than manufacturing consumer goods, which is its core business, proctor and gamble also has in recent years sponsored television series like the young and the restless. It also became the first company to produce and to sponsor a prime TV show when it produced our private world, a soap opera. It is also a sponsor of the Olympics 2012 games and other sports events. VULNERABILITY Proctor and Gamble operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. Each of the countries that it operates in has its own economy which also affects the operations of P & G. in the current world, companies face extensive challenges and threats in the course of their operations and achievement of their organizational goals. P & G being a multinational company operating in many countries, it faces a lot of competition from other multinational companies like Johnson and Johnson, Sara Lee corporation, Unilever Plc and national companies that also operate and produce consumer goods in the country where proctor and gamble also operates in. Proctor and gamble leads the pack based on revenues and variety of consumer product considerably more after acquisition of Gillette. It is able to beat global competition through product innovation (improving efficiency, effectiveness and usability of its products). It also spends more in research and development of its products than their competitors do; this ensures that their products meet the needs, wants and expectations of their potential consumers. In terms of competition and business practices, proctor and gamble together with unilever plc were ac cused of running a price fixing cartel, and in April 2011, the European commission subsequently fined them. Proctor and Gamble is able to lead Consumer Goods Company by having strong brand names (Gillette, dolce and gabbana and bounty), increased dwelling on research and development of its products and it has strong distribution infrastructure as compared to its competitors. Most of proctor and gambles’ products are needed in the day-to-day life of consumers. We all need to use soaps, toothpaste and skin

The Bank of America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Bank of America - Essay Example Presently, the bank is the biggest institution of finance services globally. The Bank of America is the second largest commercial bank globally, continuing to record the best credit ratings despite the credit crunch in the 1970s (Johnston, 1990). The Bank of America has a variety of leadership and talent programs which enable it to nurture and promote talent among both the existing employees and upcoming and promising talents. As a result, the bank has put in place various talent management programs that have led to its success in the industry. This paper will evaluate the strength of the talent management program, assess available opportunities for growth and recommend the best approaches in dealing with the challenges in the talent management program. Talent Management Programs That Led to Success for the Company Bank of America has for a long time been a leader in talent management, especially in the financial services sector. The main philosophy of the bank in connection to manag ement and development of talent is steered by a number of principles which guide the company in creating the way forward that is supported across the executive ranks of the bank. According to Effron, Greenslade and Salob (2005), some of the principles include: Leaders are important people in the process of managing and steering accountability, output and tradition. Rules of performance where excellent performers have high ability. The most precious resource is the person’s talent. The current excellent performers are not fundamentally future top performers. A wide set of experience and exercise is the preeminent lesson; but a mutual approach is essential for growth. Venture in the top talent and spotlight the rest. The current best 100 performers leave a heritage of potential talent by training, guiding and being the exemplars to others on features of success. In putting this philosophy into practice, the efforts of talent management and growth of the bank are modeled on the main set of systems consisting of the core values of the bank which have a common 70-20-10 growth framework. When broken down, the model represents 70% of experience based growth, 20% of training and response and 10% of learning (Goldsmith, 2006). The main objective is to have a transitional growth for the leaders at every phase of the leadership development and a constant evaluation to have an intense in-depth analysis into the knowledge, leadership potentials, susceptibility and aspiration for top executives. This joint philosophy and system give room for an incorporated approach to management of talent and development of leadership that centers on promoting the current performance and shaping the future leaders. With this kind of firm foundations for the growth of leaders already in place, the Bank of America has shifted its attention to upgrading the top team’s line of sight to the bank’s high ranking 50 executives and selecting leaders with the ability to take up positions at the top level of the bank for the next five years of operation. The action program has been named Next Generation Leadership forum which comprises intensive evaluation program as a section of the experience in learning process (Goldsmith, 2006). Using these evaluations, every member is assessed based on experience, inspiration and leadership potentials by use of a multifaceted evaluation tools, observation and interviews. The merging of intensive evaluat