Population Growth Causes Poverty :: Expository Cause Effect Essays

Everywhere in the world, in every kind of culture, the poorest people have the most children. Does having many children make people poor? Or does being poor make people have many children? That is a hot question in the continuous struggle over how to spend foreign aid money. Those who think population growth causes poverty advocate programs in family planning and population education. Those who think poverty causes population growth favor direct economic aid, jobs, capital investment. Take care of development, they say, and the birth rate will take care of itself. Advocates of both sides have come to the village of Manupur in the province of Punjab in north India to prove themselves right. There is nothing special about Manupur. It is a typical Indian village, with a population in 1950 of about 1200, mostly farmers. Its people are not well off, though their lives are slowly improving. New seeds, fertilizers, and credit systems have caused wheat yields to quadruple since 1950. In 1953 a team from the Harvard School of Public Health came to Manupur to try out one of the world's first family planning programs. They visited all homes regularly, took a census, registered all births and deaths. They also instructed people about modern methods of birth control and handed out free contraceptives. The Harvard team expected that the birth rate would fall. The Punjabis were rural, poor and uneducated. They had an average of seven children per family. Many young people migrated to the city to find jobs; the ones who stayed inherited smaller and smaller plots of land. Surely if families knew how to prevent having so many children, they would have fewer. The people of Manupur politely accepted the contraceptive foams and jellies. At the beginning of the Harvard study their birth rate was about 40 babies per 1000 people per year. Six years later the birth rate had gone down a little, to 37.7. But the birth rate had also gone down all over the Punjab, even where there were no family planning programs. The Harvard researchers concluded that the villagers were not so ignorant after all. Family size had always been controlled with crude methods such as abstinence and self-induced abortion. Increasing prosperity caused people to want smaller families, because there was less need for children to work in the fields or support parents in their old age. Once that happened, birth rates went down. Modern contraceptives helped them go down more easily and quickly.

Big Bang Theory Development Essay

The Theory of the Big Bang started from observations and scientific facts. The Big Bang theory states that after the â€Å"Big Bang† the universe expanded from its original pea-sized origin to astronomical proportions, and the expansion of the universe still continues today but at a much slower rate. In the twentieth century many scientific developments were made by scientists that contributed to the creation of the Big Bang Theory. In 1910 Vesto Slipher was the first person to observe shifts in spectral lines in galaxies. What he had discovered was the galactic redshifts. A galactic redshift is a displacement of spectral lines toward longer wavelengths. What Slipher specifically observed was that the spectral lines of many nebulas exhibited a red shift that indicated motion away from planet earth. Around 1912 Carl Wilhelm Wirtz like Vesto Slipher observed a systematic redshift of nebulae. While observing the redshift he came to the conclusion that relative to the present location of the solar system the spiral nebulae is moving away from the solar system. He later discovered that it is moving away from the solar system at 656 kilometers per second. This provided observational evidence that the universe was expanding. In 1916 Albert Einstein published his Theory of General relativity. The General relativity Theory states that gravitation arises from the curvature of space and time. It also said that the universe was either contracting or expanding. Today the theory is used to describe gravitation in physics. Einstein’s theory was influential to the development of the Big Bang theory because it created the cosmological constant. Alexander Friedmann used Einstein’s theory in order to come up with his own findings. He applied general relativity to cosmology without using the cosmological constant. He found solutions to field equations that created the preliminary work of the Big Bang Theory. His solutions created the Friedmann-Lemaà ®tre-Robertson-Walker Universe. Friedmann’s work was crucial to the advancement of the Big Bang Theory because his work showed that it is possibility of a changing universe. Georges Lemaà ®tre stated that the universe began with an explosion of a primeval atom in 1927. This idea was later called the Big Bang. Lemaà ®tre used the Friedmann-Lemaà ®tre-Robertson-Walker Universe and Einstein’s General Relativity as a base to his hypothesis. With his hypothesis he created a model of the universe to observe the shifts in the Spiral Nebulae. With this model he was able to prove that the universe was in fact expanding. Edwin Hubble discovered that other galaxies exist other than the Milky Way Galaxy. With this discovery it made the possibility of a â€Å"Bang† more plausible. In 1929 Edwin Hubble published â€Å"Hubble’s Law†. This law states that the recession velocity of a distant extragalactic object is directly proportional to its distance. His observation concluded that the universe was once compacted matter. His law led to the creation of the Big Bang Model. All of these scientists contributed to the creation to the Big Bang theory, as we know it is to be today. Many of these scientists used each other’s work I order to advance or explain their own observations or findings. Even though these scientists were eventually able to explain the process of the Big Bang they were not successful in clarifying why the Big Bang occurred.

Marijuana Use An Ethical Examination Essay - 1849 Words

Works Cited Missing Instead of addressing the tiresome argument about whether or not marijuana should be legalized in the United States, I would like to examine a much more fundamental question: whether or not it is right to use the drug. This problem is strictly an ethical one. If we are to examine only the moral implications of the action then we must discard governmental laws from the equation, for this decision could be made anywhere, at any time, under any sort of governmental regime, under any set of laws, which after all are only that particular government’s best guess at morality and who’s to say their judgment is any better than yours? Knowing that this decision is a rather daunting one, I’ve enlisted the help of three†¦show more content†¦Aristotle says in his first sentence concerning the goal of men, â€Å"Every expertise and method of investigation, and likewise every action and choice, seem to aim at some good; hence the good ha s been well described as that at which all things aim† (Bostock 8). Where all of this comes into play concerning our situation is when we begin to wonder how it is we achieve this eudaimonia. Will using marijuana help or hinder our quest for eudaimonia? Aristotle’s answer to this is clear, but precisely what the answer means is unclear. His answer is that we should act in accordance with what he calls the mean, or the golden mean. In each situation in which we are called on to make practical decisions, like the one at hand, we can distinguish two extremes and a mean between them. We must hit the mean to act virtuously (Holmes 41). For example, if you eat too much, that is an extreme, while if you eat too little that is the other extreme. Eating the right amount would be the mean. For our particular situation, the two extremes would be abstaining from marijuana and smoking a lot. Aristotle addresses the role of â€Å"bodily pleasures† in life, under which marijuana would certainly fall. Aristotle says, â€Å"the bodily pleasures of food and drink and sex are good only ‘up to a point’. For this kind of pleasure can be indulged to excess, and this is the mark of a bad man† (Bostock 145). It should be noted that the mean is oftenShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"When Your Conscience Says Law Is Immoral, DonT Follow1038 Words   |  5 Pagesdeeply with the proponents of legalizing marijuana use, despite it originally referring to assisted suicide. The legalization of marijuana use had become one of the biggest hot button issues of the last decade, and is being fiercely debated across the United States. First made illegal in 1970 with the passing of the Controlled Substances Act, which declared it an addictive drug with no medical value, many are now fighting against this law, citing medicinal uses and an apparent lack of fierce addictivenessRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Used For Recreational And Medical Use1063 Words   |  5 Pagessay give in. In recent decades â€Å"cannabis† or marijuana legalization has been a recent topic of interest in the U.S. government and the minds of the common people. Marijuana and its first implementation into society have gone far back even before the times of Christ. It was first used for soothing pain and also for construction of paper, rope, and canvas. However, recent controversy on whether the drug should be used for recreational and medical use is widely argued over. â€Å"Weed† has a chemical calledRead MorePredictive Policing And Its Effect On The Sphere Of Power Controlling1525 Words   |  7 Pagesmajority of people to law. Predictive policing is used to detect the probability of crime in any area thus helping police to protect the crime before it happens. One of the most current policing instruments is called PredPol. It s a product program that uses enormous information to foresee where crime is destined to happen, down to the accurate square. Many police offices ar ound the nation are as of now using PredPol, and officers say it decreases crime by up to 30%. Be that as it may, a few critics areRead MoreModern World s Highest Incarceration Rate1341 Words   |  6 Pagesimplementing harsh punishment for crimes, the thought is that possible criminals will fear the punishments and not even attempt to commit crimes. For example, the use of drugs is typically considered a negative action, and is a crime. By creating long terms for drug crimes, individuals will fear the punishment and not become involved in drug use, or any drug-related activity. The idea of setting an example, has many second-guessing their decisions regarding crimes. The major reasoning behind shiftingRead MoreThe Potential Influences Of Attitude And Attitude Change1715 Words   |  7 Pagesattitude change, the topic used as stimulus for this study is cannabis use. Cannabis use is progressively developing a controversial reputation in todays’ society. Research has shown that on one hand, some of the strongest evidence for marijuana’s therapeutic potential derives from treating long term illnesses such as multiple sclerosis by providing highly reported pain relief (Kmietowicz, 2005). On the other, frequent cannabis use predicts later depression and anxiety (Moore et al., 2007), and posesRead MorePHL 612: Philosophy of Law5882 Words   |  24 Pagesto be covered concern controversial issues such as Battered Woman Syndrome, Euthanasia/ Physician Assisted Suicide, Hate Speech, Marijuana Use, Obscenity/ Pornography, Prostitution, or topics in human rights (i.e., freedom of expression, national security and the right not to be tortured , or religious freedom). Analysis of cases will include exploration and examination of the  philosophical aspects of crucial terms and concepts that appear in Canadian law, such as in the  Criminal Code of Canada, orRead MoreOrigins of Concepts of Justice2088 Words   |  9 Pagesin the criminal justice system serve and promote the interests of law and justice. An underlying theme of this chapter is that the ends of law and justice are different—perhaps even, at times, contradictory. Although criminal justice professionals use the word justice all the time, it may be the case that they are not at all familiar with the philosophical foundations of the concept. This chapter discusses justice and Chapter 5 discusses the administration of law. ORIGINS OF THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE Read MoreEassy in Gujarati2422 Words   |  10 Pageswith systems and theories in psychology.    The Scheme of the Question Paper : 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The paper will consist of five units. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   There will be two chapter in each unit. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Every chapter in the unit should be given equal weightage in the examination. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Question paper should be drawn with the Internal Option in such a way that students should not   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   omit any chapter.    Marking Scheme : *  Ã‚  Ã‚   Total Marks : 100 *  Ã‚  Ã‚   Each unit carry equal marks in the question paper *  Ã‚  Ã‚   Each chapterRead MoreThe Underlying Foundations Of America s Mass Imprisonment Arrangements2045 Words   |  9 PagesAmerica’s War on Drugs. With this issue the law has put many drug offenders, nonviolent, in prison. The war on drugs was declared by Richard Nixon, president of the time, in June 1971. In the early stages on this â€Å" war on drugs† case, it consisted of marijuana, cocaine, opium, and psychedelic. In July, President Obama even declared that the country has â€Å"locked up more and more nonviolent drug offenders than ever before, for longer than ever before. And that is the real reason our prison population is soRead MoreComputer Engineering Ethics4002 Words   |  17 Pagesknowledge area ï‚ · Contrast between ethical and legal issues ï‚ · Contrast between a patent, a trademark, and a copyright ï‚ · Identify some ways of credentialing a person to practice computer engineering ï‚ · Describe issues that contrast risk issues with safety issues ï‚ · Identify some issues in computer engineering that address privacy ï‚ · Describe whistle blowing and the conflicts between ethics and practice that may result from doing so ï‚ · Describe how computer engineering uses or benefits from social and professional

Media s Influence On Body Image - 1697 Words

Ultra-thin models are plastered all over the media today, but have these influential sources thought of the negative outcomes that could change society forever? The notions represented by the media silently incline girls to conform to an ideal that is impossible to reach. Due to their malleable brains, adolescent females are subjected to the image of a perfect body through media’s adverse influence of what a quintessential girl is supposed to look like and the permanent impact it has on a girl’s life. The definition of body image stems from a subjective picture of one’s own physical appearance established by both self-observation and by noting the reactions of others (Medical Dictionary). Young girls are influenced by†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Advertisers are so manipulative,† Christy Turlington, a Calvin Klein model, confessed to a magazine company (Rowland 54). The pictures are not only fake, but airbrushed to a point where the actress, model, or famous individual barely resembles an actual human being. Christy Turlington’s experience with airbrushing is an unpleasant one and she deems it necessary to call out the media that continuously allows this to happen. The idea of perfection and ultimate, top-notch beauty shows adolescents that flawless beauty is the only type that will be accepted in society today. Airbrushing and other devices that are capable of fixing imperfections can lead to â€Å"depression and eating disorders† (Issitt). This only emphasizes that the media is affecting the overall psychological progress young minds adapt to. Additionally, at age thirteen, 53% of American girls dislike their bodies because of the media’s influence; that number continues to grow as they get older (Teen Health and the Media). This directly correlates with problems that follow such as self-consciousness, lack of confidence, and depression. The effect media has on an individual lasts a lifetime and becomes a serious problem to overcome as a result. Society is also affected by models and the theory of the â€Å"thin ideal† which in turn discourages a positive body image. Many individuals are also

Dna And The Human Body - 1485 Words

Inside the human body there lies something very unique to us that we call the DNA. It is predicted that there are over 3 billion base-pairs of DNA inside the average human. DNA itself is huge so let’s cover the basics you need to know about it. The DNA includes, RNA, Double-Helix, Base-pairing and an alternate DNA structure. It may seem amazing but beware your DNA can be damaged and or Replicated. In crime DNA comes very handy because detectives use forensics. Every living thing on the planet or most things have a DNA inside of them, therefore DNA is said to have evolved over the trillions of years. Translation is the final step on the way from the DNA to a protein. It is the synthesis of which proteins are directed by mRNA template. The information contained within the nucleotide sequence of the mRNA is read as three letter word, called codons. Each word stands for just one amino acid. During translation of the amino acids, they are linked together to form the polypeptide chain in which will later folded into the protein. The translation is also dependent on many components, of which the two are extra important. To start off the ribosome which is the cellular factory responsible for a protein synthesis. It is made up of two different subunits, one very small and one very large and is built up from rRNA and a protein. Inside the ribosome the amino acids are linked into a chain through many biochemical reactions. The other component is the tRNA, a specialized RNAShow MoreRelatedDna And The Human Body1772 Words   |  8 Pages Each cell in the human body has the same exact geneti c material, with a few exceptions, and yet each cell does something different than all the other cells. Contained within the nucleus, the entire genome can be found, and within the genome, there is all the information needed to construct a specific organism. The genome is composed of deoxyribose nucleic acids, also called DNA, which breaks down into smaller units called genes. A gene has a specific sequence of adenine, thymine, cytosine, andRead MoreGene Therapy Essay779 Words   |  4 Pagesremoved functioning ADA gene into the viral DNA so that recombinant circular DNA (cDNA) can be created. Viral DNA is obtained from a virus, such as an adenovirus (often used for gene therapy treatments) which has been ‘purified’ so that it does not cause harm (infect host with the virus) to the human body when introduced. The ADA gene is then spliced into the open vector (viral cDNA), using the enzyme ligase which glues the ADA gene into the viral DNA by bonding the sugar phosph ate groups togetherRead MoreThe Role Of Proteins Of A Cell Range From Structural, Enzymatic And Hormonal Functions1345 Words   |  6 Pages The DNA encodes specific characteristics of an organism which breaks down into genes. The genes goes through a transcription process. Transcription is where the language of the body s building blocks is transcribed from DNA to RNA and the body will recognize it so it can carry out the next process. Translation of the information collected from RNA is the next step. The information collected is transported to the protein. Certain proteins play specific roles so the body synthesizes the right proteinRead MoreThe Human Body Limits Iron Stores1287 Words   |  6 PagesGenes are small segments of DNA (on a specific locus of a chromosome) that contain the code used to synthesise a protein and mRNA molecule (Khan Academy, 2014). The ‘normal’ function of the HFE protein involved with haemochromatosis is to regulate the production of the protein hepcidin, produced in the liver, which determines levels of dietary iron absorption and the it’s release from storage sites in t he body (Haemochromatosis.org.au, 2014). The human body limits iron stores through the HFE proteinRead MoreThe Role Dna Serves For The Human Cell1267 Words   |  6 Pages The Role DNA Serves For The Human Cell Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) accommodates a variety of purposes, including data storage and replication, in the human cell and in the cells of many other organisms. DNA in a human cell is primarily responsible for storing genetic information that is utilized to control virtually every aspect of cellular expression. This genetic information is passed down from parents to progeny, resulting in progeny with some genetic traits of each parent. DNA is withal replicatedRead MoreWhat is DNA? Where is it found? Essay660 Words   |  3 Pages What is DNA? Where is it found? What makes it so special? How does it work? DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), is defined as a heredity material in humans or all over other organisms in this world. In a person’s body, nearly every cell has a same DNA. Mostly DNA can be found in cell nucleus and few are found in Mitochondria. (Christine A.Evers, 2012). †¢ COMPONENTS OF DNA: The DNA information is stored as a code and they are made up of four chemical bases:Read MoreGene Therapy And Delivery Methods1245 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Each human body consists of net numbers of genes in which half of genes are defective in nature. We do not suffer any injurious effects from that defective genes as we carry two copies of DNA that carries two copies of the specific gene present in somatic cells. The gene which is likely to be harmful is recessive gene so if we inherit two copies of recessive gene from our parent, then disease will occur ( Carroll, 2011).Now days every year noticeable children are born with geneticRead MoreEssay about DNA: The Basis for Sustaining Life1334 Words   |  6 Pagesof DNA Have you ever asked yourself â€Å"why my eyes are this color?â€Å" Have you questioned why you look the way you do? All of your physical features come from our genetics. Those genetics are family traits that are passed down through our individual bloodline. All of these individualities come from what is considered the fundamental building blocks of life, DNA. DeoxyriboNucleic Acid is the scientific name for DNA (SITE). A Swiss medical student named Johann Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA inRead MoreEssay The Benefits Genetic Engineering for Medical Purposes677 Words   |  3 Pagesscientific, and many other organizations. Most are centered on the idea of using Stem cells as a way of curing diseases. Stem cells are cells that have the capabilities to develop into many different types of cells in the body. Serving as a type of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to take over for other cells for as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become anotherRead MoreThe Ethics of Cloning Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages The first area of cloning is DNA cloning which is the copying of genes to better understand how they work and find cures for genetic malfunctions. DNA cloning is, perhaps, the oldest of the three types of cloning with it being around since the 1970’s (Cloning Fact Sheet, 2009). This form of cloning is the most widely accepted form since it does not cross into the realm of human cloning which is one of the largest debates that exists. One of the things that DNA cloning can accomplish is curing

The Twilight Saga 4 Breaking Dawn 4. GESTURE Free Essays

The wedding flowed into the reception party smoothly – proof of Alice’s flawless planning. It was just twilight over the river; the ceremony had lasted exactly the right amount of time, allowing the sun to set behind the trees. The lights in the trees glimmered as Edward led me through the glass back doors, making the white flowers glow. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 4. GESTURE or any similar topic only for you Order Now There were another ten thousand flowers out here, serving as a fragrant, airy tent over the dance floor set up on the grass under two of the ancient cedars. Things slowed down, relaxed as the mellow August evening surrounded us. The little crowd spread out under the soft shine of the twinkle lights, and we were greeted again by the friends we’d just embraced. There was time to talk now, to laugh. â€Å"Congrats, guys,† Seth Clearwater told us, ducking his head under the edge of a flower garland. His mother, Sue, was tight by his side, eyeing the guests with wary intensity. Her face was thin and fierce, an expression that was accented by her short, severe hairstyle; it was as short as her daughter Leah’s – I wondered if she’d cut it the same way in a show of solidarity. Billy Black, on Seth’s other side, was not as tense as Sue. When I looked at Jacob’s father, I always felt like I was seeing two people rather than just one. There was the old man in the wheelchair with the lined face and the white smile that everyone else saw. And then there was the direct descendant of a long line of powerful, magical chieftains, cloaked in the authority he’d been born with. Though the magic had – in the absence of a catalyst – skipped his generation, Billy was still a part of the power and the legend. It flowed straight through him. It flowed to his son, the heir to the magic, who had turned his back on it. That left Sam Uley to act as the chief of legends and magic now___ Billy seemed oddly at ease considering the company and the event – his black eyes sparkled like he’d just gotten some good news. I was impressed by his composure. This wedding must have seemed a very bad thing, the worst thing that could happen to his best friend’s daughter, in Billy’s eyes. I knew it wasn’t easy for him to restrain his feelings, considering the challenge this event foreshadowed to the ancient treaty between the Cullens and the Quileutes – the treaty that prohibited the Cullens from ever creating another vampire. The wolves knew a breach was coming, but the Cullens had no idea how they would react. Before the alliance, it would have meant an immediate attack. A war. But now that they knew each other better, would there be forgiveness instead? As if in response to that thought, Seth leaned toward Edward, arms extended. Edward returned the hug with his free arm. I saw Sue shudder delicately. â€Å"It’s good to see things work out for you, man,† Seth said. â€Å"I’m happy for you.† â€Å"Thank you, Seth. That means a lot to me.† Edward pulled away from Seth and looked at Sue and Billy. â€Å"Thank you, as well. For letting Seth come. For supporting Bella today.† â€Å"You’re welcome,† Billy said in his deep, gravelly voice, and I was surprised at the optimism in his tone. Perhaps a stronger truce was on the horizon. A bit of a line was forming, so Seth waved goodbye and wheeled Billy toward the food. Sue kept one hand on each of them. Angela and Ben were the next to claim us, followed by Angela’s parents and then Mike and Jessica – who were, to my surprise, holding hands. I hadn’t heard that they were together again. That was nice. Behind my human friends were my new cousins-in-law, the Denali vampire clan. I realized I was holding my breath as the vampire in front – Tanya, I assumed from the strawberry tint in her blond curls – reached out to embrace Edward. Next to her, three other vampires with golden eyes stared at me with open curiosity. One woman had long, pale blond hair, straight as corn silk. The other woman and the man beside her were both black-haired, with a hint of an olive tone to their chalky complexions. And they were all four so beautiful that it made my stomach hurt. Tanya was still holding Edward. â€Å"Ah, Edward,† she said. â€Å"I’ve missed you.† Edward chuckled and deftly maneuvered out of the hug, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder and stepping back, as if to get a better look at her. â€Å"It’s been too long, Tanya. You look well.† â€Å"So do you.† â€Å"Let me introduce you to my wife.† It was the first time Edward had said that word since it was officially true; he seemed like he would explode with satisfaction saying it now. The Denalis all laughed lightly in response. â€Å"Tanya, this is my Bella.† Tanya was every bit as lovely as my worst nightmares had predicted. She eyed me with a look that was much more speculative than it was resigned, and then reached out to take my hand. â€Å"Welcome to the family, Bella.† She smiled, a little rueful. â€Å"We consider ourselves Carlisle’s extended family, and I am sorry about the, er, recent incident when we did not behave as such. We should have met you sooner. Can you forgive us?† â€Å"Of course,† I said breathlessly. â€Å"It’s so nice to meet you.† â€Å"The Cullens are all evened up in numbers now. Perhaps it will be our turn next, eh, Kate?† She grinned at the blonde. â€Å"Keep the dream alive,† Kate said with a roll of her golden eyes. She took my hand from Tanya’s and squeezed it gently. â€Å"Welcome, Bella.† The dark-haired woman put her hand on top of Kate’s. â€Å"I’m Carmen, this is Eleazar. We’re all so very pleased to finally meet you.† â€Å"M-me, too,† I stuttered. Tanya glanced at the people waiting behind her – Charlie’s deputy, Mark, and his wife. Their eyes were huge as they took in the Denali clan. â€Å"We’ll get to know each other later. We’ll have eons of time for that!† Tanya laughed as she and her family moved on. All the standard traditions were kept. I was blinded by flashbulbs as we held the knife over a spectacular cake – too grand, I thought, for our relatively intimate group of friends and family. We took turns shoving cake in each other’s faces; Edward manfully swallowed his portion as I watched in disbelief. I threw my bouquet with atypical skill, right into Angela’s surprised hands. Emmett and Jasper howled with laughter at my blush while Edward removed my borrowed garter – which I’d shimmied down nearly to my ankle – verycarefully with his teeth. With a quick wink at me, he shot it straight into Mike Newton’s face. And when the music started, Edward pulled me into his arms for the customary first dance; I went willingly, despite my fear of dancing – especially dancing in front of an audience – just happy to have him holding me. He did all the work, and I twirled effortlessly under the glow of a canopy of lights and the bright flashes from the cameras. â€Å"Enjoying the party, Mrs. Cullen?† he whispered in my ear. I laughed. â€Å"That will take a while to get used to.† â€Å"We have a while,† he reminded me, his voice exultant, and he leaned down to kiss me while we danced. Cameras clicked feverishly. The music changed, and Charlie tapped on Edward’s shoulder. It wasn’t nearly as easy to dance with Charlie. He was no better at it than I was, so we moved safely from side to side in a tiny square formation. Edward and Esme spun around us like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. â€Å"I’m going to miss you at home, Bella. I’m already lonely.† I spoke through a tight throat, trying to make a joke of it. â€Å"I feel just horrible, leaving you to cook for yourself – it’s practically criminal negligence. You could arrest me.† He grinned. â€Å"I suppose I’ll survive the food. Just call me whenever you can.† â€Å"I promise.† It seemed like I danced with everyone. It was good to see all my old friends, but I really wanted to be with Edward more than anything else. I was happy when he finally cut in, just half a minute after a new dance started. â€Å"Still not that fond of Mike, eh?† I commented as Edward whirled me away from him. â€Å"Not when I have to listen to his thoughts. He’s lucky I didn’t kick him out. Or worse.† â€Å"Yeah, right.† â€Å"Have you had a chance to look at yourself?† â€Å"Urn. No, I guess not. Why?† â€Å"Then I suppose you don’t realize how utterly, heart-breakingly beautiful you are tonight. I’m not surprised Mike’s having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married woman. I am disappointed that Alice didn’t make sure you were forced to look in a mirror.† â€Å"You are very biased, you know.† He sighed and then paused and turned me around to face the house. The wall of glass reflected the party back like a long mirror. Edward pointed to the couple in the mirror directly across from us. â€Å"Biased, am I?† I caught just a glimpse of Edward’s reflection – a perfect duplicate of his perfect face – with a dark-haired beauty at his side. Her skin was cream and roses, her eyes were huge with excitement and framed with thick lashes. The narrow sheath of the shimmering white dress flared out subtly at the train almost like an inverted calla lily, cut so skillfully that her body looked elegant and graceful – while it was motionless, at least. Before I could blink and make the beauty turn back into me, Edward suddenly stiffened and turned automatically in the other direction, as if someone had called his name. â€Å"Oh!† he said. His brow furrowed for an instant and then smoothed out just as quickly. Suddenly, he was smiling a brilliant smile. â€Å"What is it?† I asked. â€Å"A surprise wedding gift.† â€Å"Huh?† He didn’t answer; he just started dancing again, spinning me the opposite way we’d been headed before, away from the lights and then into the deep swath of night that ringed the luminous dance floor. He didn’t pause until we reached the dark side of one of the huge cedars. Then Edward looked straight into the blackest shadow. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward said to the darkness. â€Å"This is very†¦ kind of you.† â€Å"Kind is my middle name,† a husky familiar voice answered from the black night. â€Å"Can i cut in?† My hand flew up to my throat, and if Edward hadn’t been holding me I would have collapsed. â€Å"Jacob!† I choked as soon as I could breathe. â€Å"Jacob!† â€Å"Hey there, Bells.† I stumbled toward the sound of his voice. Edward kept his grip under my elbow until another set of strong hands caught me in the darkness. The heat from Jacob’s skin burned right through the thin satin dress as he pulled me close. He made no effort to dance; he just hugged me while I buried my face in his chest. He leaned down to press his cheek to the top of my head. â€Å"Rosalie won’t forgive me if she doesn’t get her official turn on the dance floor,† Edward murmured, and I knew he was leaving us, giving me a gift of his own – this moment with Jacob. â€Å"Oh, Jacob.† I was crying now; I couldn’t get the words out clearly. â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"Stop blubbering,Bella. You’ll ruin your dress. It’s just me.† â€Å"Just? Oh, Jake! Everything is perfect now.† Hesnorted. â€Å"Yeah – the party can start. The best man finally made it.† â€Å"Now everyone I love is here.† I felthis lips brush my hair. â€Å"SorryI’m late, honey.† â€Å"I’m just so happy you came!† â€Å"That was the idea.† I glanced toward the guests, but I couldn’t see through the dancers to the spot where I’d last seen Jacob’s father. I didn’t know if he’d stayed. â€Å"DoesBilly know you’re here?† As soon as I asked, I knew that he must have – it was the only way to explain his uplifted expression before. â€Å"I’m sure Sam’s told him. I’ll go see him when†¦ when the party’s over.† â€Å"He’ll beso glad you’re home.† Jacob pulled back a little bit and straightened up.He left one hand on the small of my back and grabbed my right hand with the other. He cradled our hands to his chest; I could feel his heart beat under my palm, and I guessed that he hadn’t placed my hand there accidentally. â€Å"I don’t know if I get more than just this one dance,† he said, and he began pulling me around in a slow circle that didn’t match the tempo of the music coming from behind us. â€Å"I’d better make the best of it.† We moved to the rhythm of his heart under my hand. â€Å"I’m glad Icame,† Jacob said quietly after a moment. â€Å"I didn’t think I would be. But it’s good to see you†¦ one more time. Not as sad as I’d thought it would be.† â€Å"I don’t want you to feel sad.† â€Å"I know that. And I didn’t come tonight to make you feel guilty.† â€Å"No – it makes me very happy that you came. It’s the best gift you could have given me.† He laughed. â€Å"That’s good, because I didn’t have time to stop for a real present.† My eyes were adjusting, and I could see his face now, higher up than I expected. Was it possible that he was still growing? He had to be closer to seven feet than to six. It was a relief to see his familiar features again after all this time – his deep-set eyes shadowed under his shaggy black brows, his high cheekbones, his full lips stretched over his bright teeth in the sarcastic smile that matched his tone. His eyes were tight around the edges – careful; I could see that he was being very careful tonight. He was doing all he could to make me happy, to not slip and show how much this cost him. I’d never done anything good enough to deserve a friend like Jacob. â€Å"When did you decide to come back?† â€Å"Consciously or subconsciously?† He took a deep breath before he answered his own question. â€Å"I don’t really know. I guess I’ve been wandering back this direction for a while, and maybe it’s because I was headed here. But it wasn’t until this morning that I really started running. I didn’t know if I could make it.† He laughed. â€Å"You wouldn’t believe how weird this feels – walking around on two legs again. And clothes! And then it’s more bizarre because it feels weird. I didn’t expect that. I’m out of practice with the whole human thing.† We revolved steadily. â€Å"It would have been a shame to miss seeing you like this, though. That’s worth the trip right there. You look unbelievable, Bella. So beautiful.† â€Å"Alice invested a lot of time in me today. The dark helps, too.† â€Å"It’s not so dark for me, you know.† â€Å"Right.† Werewolf senses. It was easy to forget all the things he could do, he seemed so human. Especially right now. â€Å"You cut your hair,† I noted. â€Å"Yeah. Easier, you know. Thought I’d better take advantage of the hands.† â€Å"It looks good,† I lied. He snorted. â€Å"Right. I did it myself, with rusty kitchen shears.† He grinned widely for a moment, and then his smile faded. His expression turned serious. â€Å"Are you happy, Bella?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Okay.† I felt his shoulders shrug. â€Å"That’s the main thing, I guess.† â€Å"How are you, Jacob? Really?† â€Å"I’m fine, Bella, really. You don’t need to worry about me anymore. You can stop bugging Seth.† â€Å"I’m not just bugging him because of you. I like Seth.† â€Å"He’s a good kid. Better company than some. I tell you, if I could get rid of the voices in my head, being a wolf would be about perfect.† I laughed at the way it sounded. â€Å"Yeah, I can’t get mine to shut up, either.† â€Å"In your case, that would mean you’re insane. Of course, I already knew that you were insane,† he teased. â€Å"Thanks.† â€Å"Insanity is probably easier than sharing a pack mind. Crazy people’s voices don’t send babysitters to watch them.† â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Sam’s out there. And some of the others. Just in case, you know.† â€Å"In case of what?† â€Å"In case I can’t keep it together, something like that. In case I decide to trash the party.† He flashed a quick smile at what was probably an appealing thought to him. â€Å"But I’m not here to ruin your wedding, Bella. I’m here to .. .† He trailed off. â€Å"To make it perfect.† â€Å"That’s a tall order.† â€Å"Good thing you’re so tall.† He groaned at my bad joke and then sighed. â€Å"I’m just here to be your friend. Your best friend, one last time.† â€Å"Sam should give you more credit.† â€Å"Well, maybe I’m being oversensitive. Maybe they’d be here anyway, to keep an eye on Seth. There are a lot of vampires here. Seth doesn’t take that as seriously as he should.† â€Å"Seth knows that he’s not in any danger. He understands the Cullens better than Sam does.† â€Å"Sure, sure,† Jacob said, making peace before it could turn into a fight. It was strange to have him being the diplomat. â€Å"Sorry about those voices,† I said. â€Å"Wish I could make it better.† In so many ways. â€Å"It’s not that bad. I’m just whining a little.† â€Å"You’re†¦ happy?† â€Å"Close enough. But enough about me. You’re the star today.† He chuckled. â€Å"I bet you’re just loving that. Center of attention.† â€Å"Yeah. Can’t get enough attention.† He laughed and then stared over my head. With pursed lips, he studied the shimmering glow of the reception party, the graceful whirl of the dancers, the fluttering petals falling from the garlands; I looked with him. It all seemed very distant from this black, quiet space. Almost like watching the white flurries swirling inside a snow globe. â€Å"I’ll give them this much,† he said. â€Å"They know how to throw a party.† â€Å"Alice is an unstoppable force of nature.† He sighed. â€Å"Song’s over. Do you think 1 get another one? Or is that asking too much?† I tightened my hand around his. â€Å"You can have as many dances as you want.† He laughed. â€Å"That would be interesting. I think I’d better stick with two, though. Don’t want to start talk.† We turned in another circle. â€Å"You’d think I’d be used to telling you goodbye by now,† he murmured. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but I couldn’t force it down. Jacob looked at me and frowned. He wiped his fingers across my cheek, catching the tears there. â€Å"You’re not supposed to be the one crying, Bella.† â€Å"Everyone cries at weddings,† I said thickly. â€Å"This is what you want, right?† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"Then smile.† I tried. He laughed at my grimace. Tm going to try to remember you like this. Pretend that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"That what?That I died?† He clenched his teeth. He was struggling with himself – with his decision to make his presence here a gift and not a judgment. I could guess what he wanted to say. â€Å"No,† he finally answered. â€Å"But I’ll see you this way in my head. Pink cheeks. Heartbeat. Two left feet. All of that.† I deliberately stomped on his foot as hard as I could. He smiled. â€Å"That’s my girl.† He started to say something else and then snapped his mouth closed. Struggling again, teeth gritted against the words he didn’t want to say. My relationship with Jacob used to be so easy. Natural as breathing. But since Edward had come back into my life, it was a constant strain. Because – in Jacob’s eyes – by choosing Edward, I was choosing a fate that was worse than death, or at least equivalent to it. â€Å"What is it, Jake? Just tell me. You can tell me anything.† â€Å"I – I†¦ I don’t have anything to tell you.† â€Å"Oh please. Spit it out.† â€Å"It’s true.It’s not†¦ it’s – it’s a question. It’s something I want you to tell me† â€Å"Ask me.† He struggled for another minute and then exhaled. â€Å"I shouldn’t. It doesn’t matter. I’m just morbidly curious.† Because I knew him so well, I understood. â€Å"It’s not tonight, Jacob,† I whispered. Jacob was even more obsessed with my humanity than Edward. He treasured every one of my heartbeats, knowing that they were numbered. â€Å"Oh,† he said, trying to smother his relief. â€Å"Oh.† A new song started playing, but he didn’t notice the change this time. â€Å"When?† he whispered. â€Å"I don’t know for sure. A week or two, maybe.† His voice changed, took on a defensive, mocking edge. â€Å"What’s the holdup?† â€Å"I just didn’t want to spend my honeymoon writhing in pain.† â€Å"You’d rather spend it how? Playing checkers? Ha ha.† â€Å"Very funny.† â€Å"Kidding, Bells. But, honestly, I don’t see the point. You can’t have a real honeymoon with your vampire, so why go through the motions? Call a spade a spade. This isn’t the first time you’ve put this off. That’s a good thing, though,† he said, suddenly earnest. â€Å"Don’t be embarrassed about it.† â€Å"I’m not putting anything off,† I snapped. â€Å"And yes I can have a real honeymoon! I can do anything I want! Butt out!† He stopped our slow circling abruptly. For a moment, I wondered if he’d finally noticed the music change, and I scrambled in my head for a way to patch up our little tiff before he said goodbye to me. We shouldn’t part on this note. And then his eyes bulged wide with a strange kind of confused horror. â€Å"What?† he gasped. â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"About what†¦ ? Jake? What’s wrong?† â€Å"What do you mean? Have a real honeymoon? While you’re still human? Are you kidding? That’s a sick joke, Bella!† I glared at him. â€Å"I said butt out, Jake. This is so not your business. I shouldn’t have†¦ we shouldn’t even be talking about this. It’s private – â€Å" His enormous hands gripped the tops of my arms, wrapping all the way around, fingers overlapping. â€Å"Ow, Jake! Let go!† He shook me. â€Å"Bella! Have you lost your mind? You can’t be that stupid! Tell me you’re joking!† He shook me again. His hands, tight as tourniquets, were quivering, sending vibrations deep into my bones. â€Å"Jake – stop!† The darkness was suddenly very crowded. â€Å"Take your hands off her!† Edward’s voice was cold as ice, sharp as razors. Behind Jacob, there was a low snarl from the black night, and then another, overlapping the first. â€Å"Jake, bro, back away,† I heard Seth Clearwater urge. â€Å"You’re losing it.† Jacob seemed frozen as he was, his horrified eyes wide and staring. â€Å"You’ll hurt her,† Seth whispered. â€Å"Let her go.† â€Å"Now!† Edward snarled. Jacob’s hands dropped to his sides, and the sudden gush of blood through my waiting veins was almost painful. Before I could register more than that, cold hands replaced the hot ones, and the air was suddenly whooshing past me. I blinked, and I was on my feet a half dozen feet away from where I’d been standing. Edward was tensed in front of me. There were two enormous wolves braced between him and Jacob, but they did not seem aggressive to me. More like they were trying to prevent the fight. And Seth – gangly, fifteen-year-old Seth – had his long arms around Jacob’s shaking body, and he was tugging him away. If Jacob phased with Seth so close†¦ â€Å"C’mon, Jake. Let’s go.† â€Å"I’ll kill you,† Jacob said, his voice so choked with rage that it was low as a whisper. His eyes, focused on Edward, burned with fury. â€Å"I’ll kill you myself! I’ll do it now!† He shuddered convulsively. The biggest wolf, the black one, growled sharply. â€Å"Seth, get out of the way,† Edward hissed. Seth tugged on Jacob again. Jacob was so bewildered with rage that Seth was able to yank him a few feet farther back. â€Å"Don’t do it, Jake. Walk away. C’mon.† Sam – the bigger wolf, the black one – joined Seth then. He put his massive head against Jacob’s chest and shoved. The three of them – Seth towing, Jake trembling, Sam pushing – disappeared swiftly into the darkness. The other wolf stared after them. I wasn’t sure, in the weak light, about the color of his fur – chocolate brown, maybe? Was it Quil, then? Tm sorry,† I whispered to the wolf. â€Å"It’sall right now,Bella,† Edward murmured. The wolf looked at Edward. His gaze was not friendly. Edward gave him one cold nod.The wolf huffed and then turned to follow the others, vanishing as they had. â€Å"All right,† Edward said to himself, and then he looked at me. â€Å"Let’s get back.† â€Å"But Jake – â€Å" â€Å"Sam has him in hand. He’s gone.† â€Å"Edward, I’m so sorry. Iwas stupid – â€Å" â€Å"You did nothing wrong – â€Å" â€Å"I have such a big mouth! Why would I†¦ I shouldn’t have let him get to me like that. What was I thinking?† â€Å"Don’t worry.† He touched my face. â€Å"We need to get back to the reception before someone notices our absence.† I shook my head, trying to reorient myself. Before someone noticed? Had anyone missed that? Then, as I thought about it, I realized the confrontation that had seemed so catastrophic to me had, in reality, been very quiet and short here in the shadows. â€Å"Give me two seconds,† I pleaded. My insides were chaotic with panic and grief, but that didn’t matter – only the outside mattered right now. Putting on a good show was something I knew I had to master. â€Å"My dress?† â€Å"You look fine. Not a hair out of place.† I took two deep breaths. â€Å"Okay. Let’s go.† He put his arms around me and led me back to the light. When we passed under the twinkle lights, he spun me gently onto the dance floor. We melted in with the other dancers as if our dance had never been interrupted. I glanced around at the guests, butno one seemed shocked or frightened. Only the very palest faces there showed any signs of stress, and they hid it well. Jasper and Emmett were on the edge of the floor, close together, and I guessed that they had been nearby during the confrontation. â€Å"Are you – â€Å" Tm fine,† I promised. â€Å"I can’t believe I did that. What’s wrong with me?† â€Å"Nothing is wrong with you† I’d been so glad to see Jacob here. I knew the sacrifice it had taken him. And then I’d ruined it, turned his gift into a disaster. I should be quarantined. But my idiocy would not ruin anything else tonight. I would put this away, shove it in a drawer and lock it up to deal with later. There would be plenty of time to flagellate myself for this, and nothing I could do now would help. â€Å"It’s over,† I said. â€Å"Let’s not think of it again tonight.† I expected a quick agreement from Edward, but he was silent. â€Å"Edward?† He closed his eyes and touched his forehead to mine. â€Å"Jacob is right,† he whispered. â€Å"What am I thinking?† â€Å"He is not.† I tried to keep my face smooth for the watching crowd of friends. â€Å"Jacob is way too prejudiced to see anything clearly.† He mumbled something low that sounded almost like â€Å"should let him kill me for even thinking †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Stop it,† I said fiercely. I grabbed his face in my hands and waited until he opened his eyes. â€Å"You and me. That’s the only thing that matters. The only thing you’re allowed to think about now. Do you hear me?† â€Å"Yes,† he sighed. â€Å"Forget Jacob came.† I could do that. I would 60 that. â€Å"For me. Promise that you’ll let this go.† He stared into my eyes for a moment before answering. â€Å"I promise.† â€Å"Thank you. Edward, I’m not afraid.† â€Å"I am,† he whispered. â€Å"Don’t be.† I took deep breath and smiled. â€Å"By the way, I love you.† He smiled just a little in return. â€Å"That’s why we’re here.† â€Å"You’re monopolizing the bride,† Emmett said, coming up behind Edward’s shoulder. â€Å"Let me dance with my little sister. This could be my last chance to make her blush.† He laughed loudly, as unaffected as he usually was by any serious atmosphere. It turned out there were actually lots of people I hadn’t danced with yet, and that gave me a chance to truly compose and resolve myself. When Edward claimed me again, I found that the Jacob-drawer was shut nice and tight. As he wrapped his arms around me, I was able to unearth my earlier sense of joy, my certainty that everything in my life was in the right place tonight. I smiled and laid my head against his chest. His arms tightened. â€Å"I could get used to this,† I said. â€Å"Don’t tell me you’ve gotten over your dancing issues?† â€Å"Dancing isn’t so bad – with you. But I was thinking more of this,† – and I pressed myself to him even tighter – â€Å"of never having to let you go.† â€Å"Never,† he promised, and he leaned down to kiss me. It was a serious kind of kiss – intense, slow but building†¦. I’d pretty much forgotten where I was when I heard Alice call, â€Å"Bella! It’s time!† I felt a brief flicker of irritation with my new sister for the interruption. Edward ignored her; his lips were hard against mine, more urgent than before. My heart broke into a sprint and my palms were slick against his marble neck. â€Å"Do you want to miss your plane?† Alice demanded, right next to me now. â€Å"I’m sure you’ll have a lovely honeymoon camped out in the airport waiting for another flight.† Edward turned his face slightly to murmur, â€Å"Go away, Alice,† and then pressed his lips to mine again. â€Å"Bella, do you want to wear that dress on the airplane?† she demanded. I wasn’t really paying much attention. At the moment, I simply didn’t care. Alice growled quietly. â€Å"I’ll tell her where you’re taking her, Edward. So help me, I will.† He froze. Then he lifted his face from mine and glared at his favorite sister. â€Å"You’re awfully small to be so hugelyirritating.† â€Å"I didn’t pick out the perfect going-away dress to have it wasted,† she snapped back, taking my hand. â€Å"Come with me, Bella.† I tugged against her hold, stretching up on my toes to kiss him one more time. She jerked my arm impatiently, hauling me away from him. There were a few chuckles from the watching guests. I gave up then and let her lead me into the empty house. She looked annoyed. â€Å"Sorry, Alice,† I apologized. â€Å"I don’t blame you, Bella.† She sighed. â€Å"You don’t seem to be able help yourself.† I giggled at her martyred expression, and she scowled. â€Å"Thank you, Alice. It was the most beautiful wedding anyone ever had,† I told her earnestly. â€Å"Everything was exactly right. You’re the best, smartest, most talented sister in the whole world.† That thawed her out; she smiled a huge smile. â€Å"I’m glad you liked it.† Renee and Esme were waiting upstairs. The three of them quickly had me out of my dress and into Alice’s deep blue going-away ensemble. I was grateful when someone pulled the pins out of my hair and let it fall loose down my back, wavy from the braids, saving me from a hairpin headache later. My mother’s tears streamed without a break the entire time. â€Å"I’ll call you when I know where I’m going,† I promised as I hugged her goodbye. I knew the honeymoon secret was probably driving her crazy; my mother hated secrets, unless she was in on them. â€Å"I’ll tell you as soon as she’s safely away,† Alice outdid me, smirking at my wounded expression. How unfair, for me to be the last to know. â€Å"You have to visit me and Phil very, very soon. It’s your turn to go south – see the sun for once,† Renee said. â€Å"It didn’t rain today,† I reminded her, avoiding her request â€Å"A miracle.† â€Å"Everything’s ready,† Alice said. â€Å"Your suitcases are in the car – Jasper’s bringing it around.† She pulled me back toward the stairs with Renee following, still halfway embracing me. â€Å"I love you, Mom,† I whispered as we descended. Tm so glad you have Phil. Take care of each other.† â€Å"I love you, too, Bella, honey.† â€Å"Goodbye, Mom. I love you,† I said again, my throat thick. Edward was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I took his outstretched hand but leaned away, scanning the little crowd that was waiting to see us off. â€Å"Dad?† I asked, my eyes searching. â€Å"Over here,† Edward murmured. He pulled me through the guests; they made a pathway for us. We found Charlie leaning awkwardly against the wall behind everyone else, looking a little like he was hiding. The red rims around his eyes explained why. â€Å"Oh, Dad!† I hugged him around the waist, tears streaming again – I was crying so much tonight. He patted my back. â€Å"There, now. You don’t want to miss your plane.† It was hard to talk about love with Charlie – we were so much alike, always reverting to trivial things to avoid embarrassing emotional displays. But this was no time for being self-conscious. â€Å"I love you forever, Dad,† I told him. â€Å"Don’t forget that.† â€Å"You, too, Bells. Always have, always will.† I kissed his cheek at the same time that he kissed mine. â€Å"Call me,† he said. â€Å"Soon,† I promised, knowing this was all I could promise. Just a phone call. My father and my mother could not be allowed to see me again; I would be too different, and much, much too dangerous. â€Å"Go on, then,† he said gruffly. â€Å"Don’t want to be late.† The guests made another aisle for us. Edward pulled me close to his side as we made our escape. â€Å"Are you ready?† he asked. â€Å"I am,† I said, and I knew that it was true. Everyone applauded when Edward kissed me on the doorstep. Then he rushed me to the car as the rice storm began. Most of it went wide, but someone, probably Emmett, threw with uncanny precision, and I caught a lot of the ricochets off Edward’s back. The car was decorated with more flowers that trailed in streamers along its length, and long gossamer ribbons that were tied to a dozen shoes – designer shoes that looked brand-new – dangling behind the bumper. Edward shielded me from the rice while I climbed in, and then he was in and we were speeding away as I waved out the window and called â€Å"I love you† to the porch, where my families waved back. The last image I registered was one of my parents. Phil had both arms wrapped tenderly around Renee. She had one arm tight around his waist but had her free hand reached out to hold Charlie’s. So many different kinds of love, harmonious in this one moment. It seemed a very hopeful picture to me. Edward squeezed my hand. â€Å"I love you,† he said. I leaned my head against his arm. ‘That’s why we’re here,† I quoted him. He kissed my hair. As we turned onto the black highway and Edward really hit the accelerator, I heard a noise over the purr of the engine, coming from the forest behind us. If I could hear it, then he certainly could. But he said nothing as the sound slowly faded in the distance. I said nothing, either. The piercing, heartbroken howling grew fainter and then disappeared entirely. How to cite The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 4. GESTURE, Essay examples

Business Level Strategies for Alchemy of Growth-myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Level Strategies for Alchemy of Growth. Answer: The above quoted lines of John Steinbeck from his famous work East of Eden clearly outline the importance of routine in the lives of the individuals. Therefore, many individuals find it very difficult to leave their well established routines. This particular paper intends to shed light on the process of disrupting the normal routine of the lifestyle of a person named Raj. It is to be noted that although the process focuses on disrupting the life of Raj but it will be applicable to the life of other individuals in almost similar situations. This paper will use the 3 horizon model to develop the required strategy for the disruption of the life of Raj. The concept of the three horizons model emerged with the book The Alchemy of Growth[1]. This is a model which is used by the various companies as well as business organizations with a window to assess potential opportunities for growth without neglecting performance in the present[2]. It is to be noted that as the name of the model suggests there are three horizons which this particular model utilizes for the analysis[3]. Horizon one deals with the identification of those core activities which contributes the maximum amount of business returns to the company or the business organization[4]. Horizon two takes into consideration the emerging opportunities which can be utilized by the company or the business organization concerned to gain more profit and finally the third horizon contains ideas for profitable growth down the road[5]. The following figure provides a rough overview of the three horizons- Figure 1: Three Horizons Model Source: (Created by the Author) The best way to find whether a person has optimized his or her life on the basis of his or her routine daily life or not is the analysis of his or her daily life on the basis of the framework which we will narrate here. According to this particular framework if the person is able to spend some amount of leisure time with himself or herself or with his or her friends or family members then he or she has not optimized his life. It is to be noted that another factor is how much the person is flexible with his or her daily life routine. Therefore, if it is found that the person is not flexible enough and is not able to take time out of his or her daily life then that person needs to disrupt his or her daily routine. In the particular case under analysis here Raj leads a very structured life and follows his daily routine sacrosanct manner. The disruptive innovation theory innovated in the year 1995 can be utilized for this purpose. The first thing that Raj or people in this particular situation need to do is to make room for some extra or free time from their daily routine. This can be done by outsourcing their work or making others do their work for them. Therefore the first horizon will enable Raj or other people in similar situation to take time out of their daily routine. The second step would be the utilization of that free for the purposes of the usage of that free time for the pursuit of some passion or talent. Therefore, if Raj devotes his time or energy to the pursuit of a particular passion or talent which he thinks he has then this can lead to a significant disruption in his daily routine. The passion might include activities like playing music, acting, dance and other activities. It i s to be noted that every individual has a particular passion or hobby about which he or she is passionate about. Therefore, if he or she decides to go in pursuit of that particular talent or hobby then that will take a significant amount of their time and this will result in the disruption of their normal life routine[6]. The next horizon or strategy which can be used by Raj for the process of disruption of his normal life routine can be entering a group which undertakes road adventures on a nightly basis. It is to be noted that if Raj undertakes nightly adventures with these bikers groups or any other groups then his day routines will be significantly disrupted. It is to be noted that many people who work in the day time have a fantasy to indulge in nightly activities[7]. Many of the people want to go out in the night time instead of sleeping and do adventurous things like biking, hanging out with friends and others. However, the daily routine of their life and their hectic lives l eaves them with very little time or enthusiasm to indulge in such activities. Therefore, Raj can disrupt his daily monotonous routine life by indulging in such activities. Another strategy which Raj can utilize is the opening of a Youtube channel wherein he will upload his own videos or the videos related to the life of his society. It is to be noted that for this purpose he will need to go around his locality on a regular basis and observe as well as capture the life of the individuals in the society[8]. This will take up a significant amount of his time and will lead to a disruption of his normal routine of life. It is to be noted that every individual has an inherent desire within them to indulge in activities which will bring them fame as well as a significant amount of money[9]. However, many people because of their hectic routine as well as responsibilities do not get the requisite time to indulge in such activities[10]. Therefore, if Raj indulges in such activities then he wi ll not only satisfy his inherent desires but can also significantly disrupt his daily routine. Therefore, from the above discussion it becomes apparent that routine forms an important aspect of the life of the individuals. It is to be noted that the individuals try to adhere to a specific routine in their lives in a bid to keep their lives in order. There are several ways by which the life of an individual can be disruptive and their particular daily routine can be disrupted. This might include indulging in hobbies or the things about which the individual or the person concerned is passionate about. Socializing can be another factor which can disrupt the normal routine of the individuals. Indulging in various activities like youtube channels and other activities can also disrupt the normal routine of the individuals. References "Disrupt Yourself".Harvard Business Review. 2018 https://hbr.org/2012/07/disrupt-yourself-3. "What Is Disruptive Innovation?".Harvard Business Review. 2018https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation. Alloway, Tracy Packiam, John Horton, Ross G. Alloway, and Clare Dawson. "Social networking sites and cognitive abilities: Do they make you smarter?."Computers Education63 (2013): 10-16. Coibion, Olivier, and Yuriy Gorodnichenko. "Information rigidity and the expectations formation process: A simple framework and new facts."American Economic Review105, no. 8 (2015): 2644-78. Iwata, Tomoharu, Amar Shah, and Zoubin Ghahramani. "Discovering latent influence in online social activities via shared cascade poisson processes." InProceedings of the 19th ACM SIGKDD international conference on Knowledge discovery and data mining, pp. 266-274. ACM, 2013. Sharpe, Bill.Three Horizons. Triarchy Press, 2013. Thunnissen, Marian, Paul Boselie, and Ben Fruytier. "Talent management and the relevance of context: Towards a pluralistic approach."Human Resource Management Review23, no. 4 (2013): 326-336.