Locate and Identify Black Locust in North America

Locate and Identify Black Locust in North America Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as the black locust, is a prickly tree within the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family called  Fabaceae and is considered to be a legume with flattened pea pods several inches long. Black locust is native to the southeastern United States, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe and Asia. The original range of the locust is in the Appalachian, Ozark and Ouachita range  located in the middle mountains of Eastern North America.  They are now considered an invasive species in some areas even within the natural range. Black locust was introduced into Britain in 1636 where it has slowly garnered a universal appeal to tree lovers. Black Locust Identification One major identifier is the long compound leaves with up to 19 leaflets which present  the typical and unique locust leaf profile (not to be confused with the twice compound leaves of honey locust). The other ID marker is a small stout briar spine  on branches, often curved and in pairs at each leaf node. Late spring to early summer flowers can be showy, white and drooping  with 5-inch flower clusters. These flowers are fragrant with a vanilla and honey scent. The leguminous fruit developing from the flower has 4-inch papery thin pods with small, dark-brown, kidney-shaped seeds. These autumn seeds will persist until the next spring. You will find this tree primarily  in areas where it colonizes open fields and roadsides. Its ability to grow in poor soils, fast growth, ornamental foliage and fragrant flowers make for a favorite tree to plant. More on Black Locust Black locust is sometimes called yellow locust and grows naturally on a wide range of sites but does best on rich moist limestone soils.  Black locust is not a commercial timber species but is useful for many other purposes. Because it is a nitrogen fixer and has rapid juvenile growth, it is widely planted as an ornamental, for shelterbelts, and for land reclamation. It is suitable for fuelwood and pulp and provides cover for wildlife, browse for deer, and cavities for birds. We must recognize that black locust is not an important tree for logging purposes as there is very little timber value and it has little lumber or paper pulp potential. We still need to remember that the tree has and is used  in the United States to be manufactured into a wide variety of products. Robinia pseudoacacia is planted for many specialized purposes. Black locust is used for fence posts, mine timbers, poles, railroad ties, insulator pins, ship timber, tree nails for wooden ship construction, boxes, crates, pegs, stakes, and novelties. Pulp with satisfactory mechanical properties can be made from the tree, particularly by the sulfate process but commercial value awaits  further investigation.

How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship

How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship â€Å"Toxic† is not just the name of a famous song by Britney Spears. It’s also a definition of a relationship that brings destruction and sadness. A toxic relationship is something that people often fall into without realizing how bad the situation is. They usually dont even try to escape this cage. Why? Because of love, affection, or fear. But if you feel unhappy with your relationship, its time to change something, and this article will help you understand if you are in a toxic relationship. Why Is It Important to Exit a Toxic Relationship? We all love love, and we all love being loved back. Thats why sometimes people prefer not to pay attention to little details that might ruin the magic of the world that this person has made up. He or she might not see the influence of the partner and their bad attitude because of a subconscious (or conscious) fear of loneliness. This is what makes a toxic relationship even worse – not all people are ready to end this nightmare. A toxic relationship often causes various mental problems – depression, neurosis, and anxiety alongside with low self-esteem or even suicidal thoughts. A relationship should bring joy, a sense of protection, care, and stability. A toxic partner takes all this away, creating an unhealthy atmosphere. The following are the most common signs that your relationship is slowly destroying you. 1. You Always Feel Guilty Guilt, in general, is a healthy emotion that we face throughout our lives. It helps us understand whats right and whats wrong or how to avoid making mistakes in the future. However, a constant sense of guilt is unnatural and unhealthy as it has a bad influence on your self-esteem and your psychological balance. Does your partner always comment on your actions or the way you look, making you feel like you do everything wrong? Then you should make it stop. 2. You Feel Lonely Even When You Are Together A great relationship means that your partner is also your best friend, someone whom you can talk to about anything in the world, who supports you and cares about you. However, if you feel like you are lonely and not understood even after trying to communicate with your partner, you may be involved in a relationship with the wrong person. If being together with your partner doesnt bring you any joy (and especially if it makes you feel worse than being alone), consider ending this relationship. 3. You Dont Share Much with Your Friends and Family Some partners are just too jealous. It can get so extra that it makes you talk less to the people closest to you. Toxic relationships make people distance themselves from their families and friends, which results in losing the chance to get help from people who know you the best. If your partner presses you to give up contacts with your friends and family, it is truly a bad sign. Ask yourself, why does your partner do that to you? Maybe he or she understands that this way you will become more dependent on your relationship. This is a manipulative move that ties you down and limits your freedom. 4. You Feel Emotionally Drained Not all vampires look like Edward from Twilight. Some of them look just like regular people. Of course, we are not talking about the ones who crave blood but about the ones who actually take your energy and will away. Emotional vampires might seem like a myth, but they do exist. They dont have fangs and dont make you fall into some hypnotic sleep. They just exhaust people around them and make people emotionally weak, suppressed, and dependent. By taking your inner calmness away with scandals, blaming, suspicions, and insults, they make you do what they want. Energy vampires might not look as scary as Dracula, but their toxic influence is as dangerous as sharp teeth of any bloodsucking immortal. 5. You Are Careful with What You Say and Do Are you always afraid of making your partner angry with what you say or do? Do your conversations feel more like tipping on your toes? If instead of expressing your thoughts and feelings genuinely, you have to be very careful with your words, that means that you dont have the kind of emotional bond that has to exist in a really deep relationship. Being with someone means understanding the needs of your partner and their experience. If you cant share what bothers you with your significant other, ask yourself if they are really the one who you should be with. 6. You Give up Things that You Like for Your Partner It doesnt matter what it is that your partner makes you give up (a hobby, a friend, a job), its not a good sign. If you like to dance, sing, meet with your friends, visit galleries, or if you have some other hobbies etc., but have to avoid doing it in order not to annoy your partner, this is one of the surefire signs of being in a toxic relationship. 7. You Dont Have Privacy Does your partner check your phone and emails? Does he or she want to spend all your time together? Is he or she against you spending quality time with your friends? If you can recognize your partners behavior in these questions – consider ending this relationship. If there is no trust in a relationship, there is no future for the couple at all. Think about the joy that you are forced to give up when you are not allowed to do what you want. You are in a relationship where you both are equal in rights, so there can be no â€Å"I dont allow you to do that.† Come on! 8. You Are Forced to Do What You Dont Want To A lot of toxic partners are really demanding, especially when it comes to plans, activities, etc. They usually consider your opinion irrelevant and decide everything for you. For example, if you are going to see a movie together, you might suggest some particular film, but in the end you always go see what you partner wanted. It also might be applied to other spheres of life. For example, sexual, social, professional, etc. If you feel like you have no voice in this relationship, its the time for changes. What to Do if You Are Trapped in a Toxic Relationship? Toxic relationships can rarely be fixed, as there is little to no understanding and willingness to change something. If you feel unhappy with your relationship, try to talk to your partner about your feelings. Comminucation is the key! However, if all of your efforts end up a disaster and your partner stays indifferent, dont blame yourself. Basically, what you have to do in this case is end the relationship with the least amount of damage as possible. Its not always easy, as toxic partners usually are afraid of losing the power they have over another person. Sometimes this might lead to aggressive behavior. So, be careful and try to distance yourself as much as possible. Dont fall for provocations and be strong – they might tell you that you wont find anybody else, that they love you like nobody ever will, or that they cant live without you. Your happiness should be the priority #1, and you can be happy, just believe it.

Exotic and unique Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Exotic and unique Australia - Essay Example Kangaroo island’s economy mainly comprised of agriculture with lobster fishing and while service sector grew with prominence. Kingscote is the administrative center, and it is the largest town. The island has numerous nature sanctuaries to guard the fragments of its native animals and natural vegetation, with the Flinders Chase National Park being the biggest and the best-acknowledged park (Smith 9). Mathew Flinders, a British explorer, alit near Kangaroo Head on Dudley Peninsula in 1802. Nicolas Baudin, a French explorer, followed later on and mapped most of the Island. Kangaroo Island became the first free settlement in Australia with runaway sailors, escaped convicts and sealers calling it home. Kangaroo Island is bestowed with inborn animals in primeval settings. They include the sea lions in their habitation at Seal Bay and petite penguins swaying to shore in Penneshaw (Wakefield 12). The island has jagged adventurous landscapes and pleasurable beaches. The island also has a Hike Hanson Bay for hiking and Kelly Hill Conservation Park for caving. One of the unique elements of the Kangaroo Island is the remarkable ancient rocks. The island coast, on the other hand, has dolphins that people swim with, snorkel vivid reefs and dive shipwrecks. The wildlife in Kangaroo Island is comprised of birds like pelicans, ducks, swans, wader and little penguins. The Island is a home to two hundred sixty seven bird species and hundreds of peaceful kangaroos. Other animals include wallabies, possums and kangaroos that are most active on their nocturnal tour from American River (Wakefield 12). Flinders Chase National Park has awe-inspiring rock formations and Admirals Arch. Still the island is bequeathed with historic lighthouse surroundings where people learn about the introverted existences of light custodians and their families. The infinite coastal escapades dive with sporadic leafy sea

Information system Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Information system Master - Essay Example We will focus on how information system works in a dynamic and turbulent environment and how it helps in the development of strategic, tactical and operation system of organizations. Moreover, we will give a glimpse of different information systems that are used like executive information systems, management information systems, risk management systems etc. In modern organizations it is very important that technology works according to the needs of the people and it works on continuous basis ensuring reliability and effectiveness. Information systems collaborate with the managers and play an important role in implementing proper technology in the organizations (Ralf, 2009). Information systems help in every aspect like creating a business plan, generation of formal reports, maintaining databases, preparing accounts etc. Decision making is the utmost task of every manager and the information system helps a lot in developing a proper and a formal decision making process (Alter, 2002). Usually the information flow from top to bottom or from bottom to top and in most of the organizations the information is managed by information management systems. Since, the decision making process is an important practice in every organization and information system provides with the decision makers with information in the form of reports, researches and huge amounts of data is compressed into shorter forms and this helps the mangers to take decisions. System generated reports are widely used by all departments and it makes the work easier for managers. The flow of information is used by managers for the decision making process and the information systems mentors the information and make sure that it will flow smoothly and will not affect the decision making process. Managers on the other hand higher professionals that can manage the flow of information and they must know that how the information in flowing in the organization. Usually the information flows from the top management to the down line workers, but in certain organization the flow of information is from down line workers to the top management and actually the flow of information varies from organization to organization. Managers of information system and the computers plan research and coordinate the computer related activities of the organization. They coordinate with each other and determine technical and organizational goals. Although this requires a proper and strong understanding of the computer systems and the technology but formal reports and detailed information can be stored and developed and can easily be presented to the top management for the purpose of decision making. Information systems are also related to the hardware and the networking side but the core purpose is related to the management side only. The needs of the organization are identified at all levels and utmost importance is given to operational and strategic perspective. Competition is also kept in mind and that's why information systems are equipped with the state of the art technology to ensure that the organization won't lag behind its competitors. An information system

Relation between jew of malta and merchant of venice Essay Example for Free

Relation between jew of malta and merchant of venice Essay The two novels, Christopher Marlowe’s ‘The Jew of Malta’ and William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’, the main characters are Jews, a characteristic that makes the comparison of the books easier. However, the way the characters are presented has made the two stories have deep and active anti-Semitic notions and messages. Right from the beginning of the play, we can see some clear negative stereotypes towards Jews. Barabbas is undoubtedly portrayed as a man who loves money to an extent that he seems addicted to them. In the opening, we see a merchant, counting his money with passion, and later on complaining about not having made enough by his recent business activities. Marlowe straightly defines his whole character and attitude by this portrayal, showing us that Barabbas is nothing more than a greedy Jew. As the story progresses and the plot unfolds, the character of Barabbas also unfolds, showing us how he doesn’t even hesitate doing unethical and heartless things just so that he can protect himself from losing money. When his wealth is taken away, after he refuses to give half of it like the other Jews did, he unleashes his ruthless effort to regain his wealth. He doesn’t hesitate using his daughter to retrieve the gold and jewels he has hidden in his house, and it is meaningful to see how he reacts after Abigail throws him the bags of gold out of the window and he embraces them while ignoring his own daughter. Although this is not the only example of how he puts money over more important things, the fact that he seems to place money above Abigail, his own daughter, shows his general attitude. But of course it doesn’t stop there, as apart from his avaricious self, he has to quench his thirst for revenge and execute his plan for retaliation. His plan consists mainly of taking revenge from the man who took away the most precious thing he has, his wealth. That man of course is Ferneze, the governor of Malta. So, Barabbas decides to kill Ferneze’s son, Lodowick, that way taking the revenge he so passionately seeks. Once again he uses his own daughter as decoy, to execute his plan, showing that she has mainly a functional purpose for him. After he completes his plan and kills not only Lodowick but also Mathias, the man that his daughter loves, he feels betrayed by his daughter, as she converts to Christianity. I believe that this is where the insanity and sickness of Barabbas reaches a peak. He is determined to kill his own daughter, because he feels that she disrespects her family’s name. The epilogue to this madness comes when finally Barabbas gets killed by his own evil plots. In the end of the story we can easily identify the negative characteristics that Barabbas has, which are also strongly connected to the fact that he is Jewish. His elitist nature, his illogical actions that are all driven by his avarice, and his lack of sentiments towards other people, make him fit ideally the stereotypes of Jews that existed at the time. So, every single part of his hateful and insane being, is justified by the fact that he is Jewish, and thus it is natural that he is unstable and inferior to Christians. The next example of anti-Semitic portrayals comes from ‘The Merchant of Venice’. The main character, Shylock is portrayed as a greedy Jewish moneylender that is just like Barabbas, when it comes to hate towards Christians and other people in general. He is also a heartless man, not feeling pity for anyone, showing a rather sadistic nature. The hate he feels for Antonio is so immense that makes us question to what extent he is actually rational at all. Throughout the development of the plot he seems to hold so many negative values that it is impossible not to make a connection between his character and the fact that he is a Jew. Just like Marlowe, Shakespeare makes the fact that he is Jewish the root of all evil, as from that very fact all the other negative traits arise. As Bloom mentions in his essay, Shylock is a walking nightmare, and that should be the only way that anyone portrays him. As we can see from his speeches, he clearly has a great love for his wealth and he is not jeopardizing his financial position for any reason. It is not a coincidence that when Jessica runs away with his money, he mostly worries about his wealth and not so much about his daughter. Also, the fact that Jessica had to run away shows that Shylock is far from an ideal father. His speeches also show that he has an extremely negative attitude towards Christians that he justifies as the retaliation for all the anti-Semitism he has faced. He seems very resentful towards the people that have acted in a bad way towards him and as I mentioned earlier, especially Antonio. So, his actions are mainly driven by his rage and what he thinks as retribution. By the portrayal of Barabbas and Shylock, a logical question approaches. Are the two writers inspired and influenced by racism and the anti-Semitic ideas of their time? In ‘The Jew of Malta’ it is hard not to recognize all the negative Jewish stereotypes presented in the form of a very unappealing character, Barabbas. Barabbas is not just an unethical and evil man, he is the typical money-loving Jew, with all the disgusting characteristics that the racist society of the two writers has attributed to Jews. Such a racist society had created all these negative stereotyping for Jews, making them seem like greedy monsters. So I find it impossible that Marlowe as an author hasn’t been affected and influenced by the stereotypes of his time. That is mainly because in societies that racism towards a specific religion is so acceptable, there is very high tolerance for reproduction of such ideas and thus such a portrayal would not arise any questions or hate. Such situation reminds me of what happens with many fictional evil characters like the devil. I doubt that even a single reader would object if a writer attributed evil characteristics to the devil! Although it may seem like an oversimplified example, I believe it captures the very essence of the attitude of people at the time. That is, because the society had condemned Jews of being the cause of everything bad. Such portrayals are very similar to what Carl Marx has written hundreds of years later, describing Jews as mere worshipers of money. Although in our days the Jew of Malta can be viewed as a cynical work, I seriously doubt that Marlowe has such an intention, as he characterized it atragedy. Â  It is clear to me that no matter how anti-Semitism is viewed today after many important events like the Holocaust, the play was influenced by a lot of religious racism and prejudice, and Barabbas’ characteristics were nothing but the actual portrayal of ‘evil Jews’ as the English at the time viewed them. Consequently, Barabbas seems like the epitome of a real ‘Jew’, the epitome of evil, greed and lack of conscience. The case is similar in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, as Shylock is also portrayed like a perfect example of a Jew, as stereotyped in the Elizabethan times. I personally feel that Shakespeare was also influenced by the general anti-Semitic environment he lived in. Although a verdict of whether he was actually racist in his story is hard to be reached, I find it impossible that a play meant for Christians would not follow the trends of the time. The examples in the story are numerous and clear, straightforwardly proving the position of the Jews. From the fact that the Jews are presented the way they are, up to the point that they are forced to convert to Christianity or give up a part of their wealth, it is evident how negative the Jewish religion was as a characteristic. The fact that it was the same thing for the government to gain wealth and convert a Jew, show the deep-rooted hatred against this religious group, and the fact that Christians simply wanted to get rid of them as they viewed them like parasites. Such sort of treatment reminds us, newer generations, of the Nazis and their monstrous acts but at the time of the original play, as aforementioned, racism was perfectly fine! Nevertheless, Shakespeare does act in a racist way, if we assume that a writer is judged by what he actually writes. I would strongly doubt that Shakespeare intended to make his play anything similar to a parody or a criticism of stereotypes, and I believe that he expresses what he purely thinks. As we have seen from the two plays, the Jewish protagonists, Barabbas and Shylock have a very negative and unethical personality. Their vile and evil acts, paired with their appalling characters, seem to be the actual description of a negative stereotype towards the Jews. Although it may seem ambiguous whether these portrayals are actual and literal or simply ironic, it is clear to me that the answer is simple. The two authors have no intention at all of criticizing racism and simply portray Jews just as a normal Elizabethan would. So, the two stories, although politically incorrect and really prejudiced, are the result of truthful portrayals and honest approaches of the description of characters with a Jewish religion. No matter how wrong and inaccurate, these descriptions were made with complete seriousness by writers living in an environment were such sort of prejudice was rooted from many years ago and continued to bloom.

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride I wouldn't want anyone to think that I'm trying to have the last word here but I thought it only appropriate that the bride speaks and those of you who know me well enough will agree that it's usually hard to keep me quite. Well today is no exception, so here we go! I feel privileged to be sharing our day with most of the friends and family who have been important to us during our lives. Many of you have travelled from afar:- South Africa, Botswana and even the UK, and some of you have had 0to take time off work to be here. Thanks to all of you for the efforts and sacrifices you have made to be with us today. Of course there are those who are unable to be with us and there is one person in particular who I would dearly have loved to be here today to see me married and that is my Dad. He's certainly been in our thoughts today,a s he is everyday. I'd like to thank Allan for his earlier compliments and would like to add how wonderful he looks today. Allan and I have been together for about 14 years (as has been mentioned a number of times tonight) and during that time we've been through a lot. But he has many wonderful qualities - charms, brains & beauty are sadly the only ones missing! No seriously, I would like to thank Allan for being the person that he is. He is good company and is funny, affectionate and loving and he's a friend as well as a partner and it means a lot to be is wife after so many years. I would now like to drink my own private toast to him and or future together. To Allan, you know everything about me and love me just the same. Now I don't mean to bore you with repetition but I would like to say a few personal thank you's to some very special people who have contributed enormously to our day:- * Firstly, to the most wonderful mother a child could ever have – not only for all the love, support and guidance over the years but also for everything you've done towards today. Your massive contribution has been priceless and without you we would never have managed and today would not have been possible, never mind so special.

Compare handmaids tale and 1984 Essay

In The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood puts across the sense of mystery, things that were once there but are no more. She talks about ‘the pungent smell of sweat, shot through with the sweet smell of chewing gum and perfume’ which came from the girls who once watched the basketball matches that were ‘formally played there’. In the first section of this book we get the feeling that the character is quite lost, lost in what once was and not in the here and now. She tells us about the dances that ‘would have been held there’ and the lingering music that she could still hear very faintly. We get the feeling that this women has very little, no personal belongings, no wealth; nothing. The fact that the women in this building were not even allowed to exchange names tells the reader that this is some kind of prison, the women have no freedom they are constantly being watched by the ‘Angels’ likewise in Nineteen Eighty-Four written by George Orwell there is a significant similarity between the ‘Angels’ in The Handmaid’s Tale and the Posters in Nineteen Eighty-Four. The Angels watch over the women and in Nineteen Eighty-Four the poster which is described as a ‘one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move.’ Watch over everyone who passes by it. Beneath it the caption read ‘BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU’ giving off the impression that someone, somewhere is watching this middle aged man. The man described on the poster some might say could only be the description of Hitler; ‘a man of about forty-five, with s heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features’ Winston also tells us that the posters were ‘plastered everywhere’ also revealing, like The Handmaid’s Tale that nowhere is safe. Adding to this is the telescreen, which cannot be switched off again may be a sign that someone or something is always watching you, and that you are never alone. Both the Angels and the Posters in these books are very intimidating figures or ‘objects of fear.’ The Angels did not look or talk to the women just stood with their backs to them to show domination. Correspondingly the ‘enormous face, more than a metre wide’ plastered on the walls with the eyes that followed you when you move is also seen as a sign of domination. The two figures show signs of both aggression and great importance, the fact that the Angles will not talk or look at the women tells us that they are  seen as more significant than them. In addition to this the fact that there are so many of these posters and the fixating look on the enormous face also shows great discomfort and stress.

Novel: Family and Stella

Practice 1 – one story you like the best & what lessons you have learned from the story The novel Step by Wicked Step by Anne Fine which I have studied, all the stories are special in their own way but the one that strikes a chord with me is Claudia’s Stories: The Green Pyjamas. The story is about Claudia’s slow but sure acceptance of her stepmother, Stella. In the beginning, she is depicted as young girl who struggles to accept the changes in her life. Her parents have decided to separate ways as their marriage fails with the emergence of Stella, the new woman in her father’s life.Claudia finds it difficult to accept Stella at first but despite Stella’s effort to be friendly to her. However, one eventful incident changes their relationship. The dinner party to celebrate her father’s birthday breaks the ice between Stella and Claudia. Claudia goes out of her way to make the guests realize how rude they have been to Stella. There are many lessons I have learned from this story. First, Claudia is a mature and sensible girl. At the dinner party, she shows that she can put aside her ego and pride by making the guests treat Stella politely.She purposely shows off the green pyjamas given by Stella. The guests act like Stella is invisible and Claudia is angry because Stella is actually a very nice person. This shows her good nature despite her young age. Second, the message in the story is acceptance and tolerance. Learning to cope with her stepmother for Claudia is challenging. It takes a lot of patience and understanding from both sides. This event certainly triggers the beginning of a better relationship between Claudia and Stella.Clearly sometimes in life, we do not have a choice but to accept the circumstances. Practice 2 – one character that you admire/like/ taught you important lessons/attract your attention Important lessons: we should be responsible towards our family and friends. I choose the novel Step by Wicked Step written by Anne Fine. The character that I admire the most/attract my attention is Claudia. There are many reasons why I admire her very much. Firstly, Claudia is a very kind girl. During her father’s birthday party, Claudia wears her green pyjamas given by her stepmother, Stella.She put aside her ego and pride because she feels that the guests in the party are rude when they refuse to talk with Stella and does not compliment Stella on her cooking. They act like Stella is invisible and Claudia feels angry because Stella is actually a very nice person. Apart from that, Claudia is a very responsible daughter to her mother. She knows the fact that her mother hates the fact that her father is happy with a new women in his life so she pretends that she is unhappy when she has to go to her father’s house. Claudia also refuses to accept Stella’s kindness because she is a loyal daughter to her mother.In addition, I really admire Claudia because she is a fai r and sensible person. She does not blame Stella for her parents' break-up. At the dinner party, she thinks that the guests are rude for not appreciating Stella's hard work. She realizes that ignoring Stella would not help solving matters between her parents. Feeling sorry for Stella who is being ignored by the guests, she decides to help her get accepted by showing off the green pyjamas which Stella gave her. In a nutshell, the character that I like the most is Claudia because she is very kind, loyal, fair and sensible person. I think I can learn a lot from her character.Practice 3 – one theme you like. Give evidences. I choose the novel Step by Wicked Step by Anne Fine. One of the themes in the novel is family love. This is seen in some characters in the story. After Richard leaves home, his mother and sister never stop looking for him. They wait desperately for his return. His mother uses up the family funds to find him. In doing so, she suffers her husband’s wrath. Not surprisingly, she soon dies of heartbreak. Charlotte is a caring and loving sister to Richard. Unlike him, she makes an effort to get along with her stepfather as she wants a happy and peaceful home life.She tries to mediate between her brother and stepfather. After her mother’s death, charlotte marries at sixteen to a man she does not love in order to enable her to continue looking for her brother, Richard. As a last attempt, she leaves a sad letter in the tower room for him, telling Kim what has happened in his absence. Colin loves his stepfather, Jack, like his own as his real father has left his mother and him when he is just a baby. He and Jack do all the things a father and son would do. Jack too loves him as his own son. After his mother leaves Jack, Colin misses him very much.He spends his hours daydreaming of the times they have spent together. He goes to the skating rink not to skate but to listen to their favourite song, The Bluebird of Happiness. He never giv es up hope of finding Jack and is saving money to do so once he is old enough. Practice 4 – memorable event I choose novel Step by Wicked Step written by Anne Fine, an interesting event is the death of Richard’s father. This event/ incident is memorable because it changed Richard’s life and in the end, his whole family. The first change that Richard had to face is his mother’s marriage to Reverend Coldstone.Richard hated his stepfather because he enforced strict rules and made Richard feel that his house was like a prison. He also sent Richard away to Mordanger School for four years. Another change is betrayal. Richard felt that his mother had betrayed when she allowed Reverend Coldstone to treat him badly. He also felt betrayed when Charlotte persuaded him not to hate his stepfather. Finally, Richard decided to run away and vanish. His departure caused financial ruin and heartbreak to his mother and sister. His mother spent a lot of money to search for h im.Charlotte married a man she did not love to continue the search after their mother died. The death of Richard’s father brought about a lot of changes in Richard’s family. Most of them are sorrowful. From this incident, we must remember that we should be courageous in difficult times. Practice 5 – moral values I choose novel Step by Wicked Step written by Anne Fine. An important moral value that I have learnt from the novel is love and devotion. The first character who showed love and devotion is Richard’s mother. She spent a lot of money seeking for Richard although she had to suffer Reverend Coldstone’s anger and disapproval.Another character who demonstrated love and devotion is Charlotte. She continued her mother’s search for her brother, Richard. She did not have any money, she married a rich man she did not love at sixteen in order to continue the searching of Richard. Apart from that, Colin also showed love and devotion. He kept his dad’s tobacco tin and hummed their favourite song. He does three paper rounds to earn money to search for his dad when he is old enough. These characters have greatly showed their love and devotion. They proved that people will do anything for the ones they love.

Recycling Old Paper to Make Beautiful Handmade Paper

Recycling Old Paper to Make Beautiful Handmade Paper You can make paper from recycled scraps of just about any paper  you can find. By adding decorative items, such as petals, you can create beautiful personalized stationary. This is a fun craft that teaches about recycling while making a useful handmade product. Types of Paper You Can Recycle You can use pretty much any type of paper product for this project, but steer clear of waxed cardboard.   Construction paperPrinter paperMagazinesToilet paperPaper towelsPaper bagsNewspapers (will produce a grayish paper)CardstockNon-waxed cardboardNapkins Decorations There are many materials you can add to the paper for a decorative effect. You may wish to add flower or vegetable seeds to the paper, which can be planted. Flower petalsSeedsFine leaves or grassFoilString or yarnDryer lintFood coloring (for dyeing your paper)Liquid starch (to make your paper less-absorbent so that you can write on it with ink) Build a Frame While you can pulp your paper and make a rough product just by pouring it out and allowing it to dry, you can also form your paper into a rectangular sheet if you use a frame. You can make a frame by duct-taping an old piece of window screen onto a small rectangular picture frame. You could also staple the screening onto the frame to make the mold. Another option is to bend a wire coat hanger into a shape and slip old pantyhose around it to act as a screen. Make Your Own Paper You are going to pulp the old paper together with water, spread it out, and allow it to dry. Its that simple! Tear the paper (feel free to mix different types) into small bits and put it into a blender.Fill the blender about 2/3 full with warm water.Pulse the blender until the pulp is smooth. If you are going to write on the paper, blend in 2 teaspoons of liquid starch.Set your mold in a shallow basin or pan. You can  use a cookie sheet or a sink. Pour the blended mixture into the mold. Sprinkle in your mix-ins (thread, flower petals, etc.). Shake the mold from side to side, keeping it in the liquid, to level out your paper pulp mixture.You have few different options to absorb the excess water. You could remove the mold from the liquid, let the paper dry in the mold, without absorbing the liquid. You can also flip the paper  paper out onto your countertop and use a sponge to wick away excess water or you could press a cookie sheet onto the paper to squeeze out the excess liquid.

Make Use of These Connecting Words and Phrase All Writers Apply

Make Use of These Connecting Words and Phrase All Writers Apply Here is a list of words and phrases that are used to connect the sentences, the ideas and thoughts in any type of essays. Although, to many students, a writing assignment may seem like a very cruel form of torture, writing, in reality, can serve as a very useful tool in developing one’s critical thinking skills, and can help build one’s expertise in using their language. Also, writing enhances one’s ability to communicate effectively, which is a critical and much-needed skill in the workplace. It is a skill that will, to put it bluntly, help people get what they want in life and in their career.  For example, the effective communicator accesses the job interview and lands a good job over the person who isn’t an effective communicator. The same applies to educational writing. When it comes to written communication (especially when writing the major essay types: argumentative essay, or persuasive essay, cause and effect essay, compare and contrast essay or  expository essay), the better the student conveys a point, makes a solid argument, and presents a well-detailed treatise on a certain subject, the more likely they will obtain a high grade on the writing assignment. This is usually accomplished through the use of connection words and phrases. Regardless of the kind of an essay, a student is assigned to write, a working knowledge of connection words and phrases (as well as how to correctly incorporate them into a written assignment) is always advantageous. These can help support a claim, make an argument, help to defend one’s reasoning and especially illustrate cause and effect; they help provide a thorough explanation and can certainly persuade the reader to believe or agree with an argument. Connection/connecting or linking verbs and phrases can illustrate objection or a rebuttal of something (with words like however, but, and on the contrary); they can provide an illustration (for example, for instance), can incorporate transitional phrases for enumeration (first, secondly, next, finally, lastly), and can demonstrate consequence (therefore, consequently, as a result). List of Connecting Words and Phrases Before looking through the list of connecting words and phrases, you may read another article on the similar topic: The Importance of the Transition Words and Phrases Some of these phrases and words begin a sentence, while others are used to connect two separate thoughts – either with the use of a semicolon or well-placed comma, and are therefore inserted in the middle of a sentence. The purpose Connecting words and phrases Example To indicate a contrast in comparison; however; on the contrary; rather; alternatively; however; though; nevertheless; notwithstanding; in spite of this; although; similarly; conversely Writing well is a product of hard work, education, and extensive reading; however, some people are natural-born storytellers. To provide an illustration for example; that is to say; in other words; namely; such as; including; chiefly; mainly; most importantly Prohibition was a terrible, dreadful failure, mainly because it did nothing but make a lot of criminals – namely bootleggers – filthy rich. To extend a point similarly; equally; likewise, furthermore; also; indeed; above all; as well; in addition It has been said that writer Ernest Hemingway had no other interests beyond violence, and sports; and, indeed, he published several books that confirm this observation To demonstrate cause and effect, or a conclusion between two notions therefore; thus; hence; as a result; consequently; this suggests that; in short; this implies; in all There have been recent discoveries that amoebas do not leave behind a carbon footprint; therefore it is virtually impossible to determine exactly how long they have been on Earth. Transitional, to indicate the next step first of all; next; secondly; to begin with; first and foremost; then; finally; ultimately; lastly First of all, Christopher Columbus should not be considered a hero to Americans. Secondly, Columbus was not even the first explorer to discover the Americans. To summarize overall; in sum; to sum it up; in conclusion In conclusion, this essay examined two entirely different – yet effective – methods of teaching math to fifth-graders. Connecting words and phrases are very important while writing an academic paper. If you feel you need assistance with the correct use of connecting words in your essay or you need any other help with your essay writing, contact our friendly support team.

Impact of the Virtual Private Network on Businesses Research Paper

Impact of the Virtual Private Network on Businesses - Research Paper Example VPNs are categorized according to the role they play in business, and there are three different categories of VPNs, one being remote access VPNs that allows remote users like mobile employees to securely access the business network. Furthermore, we have intranet VPNs enables a company to connect its remote sites to the corporate backbone, and lastly, extranet VPNs facilitates an organization’s suppliers, strategic associates and customers to be connected to the company network (Bidgoli, 2005). Introduction The growth of internet users globally has been phenomenal from a meager four computers in 1969 that formed the ARPANET to an estimated 2.4 billion users in 2012(internet world statistics). Businesses depend on the internet for real-time information; thus, the accessibility and easy availability of the internet has enabled an unprecedented growth, and the need for secure networks became essential. However, businesses that have dispersed locations are faced with the issue of l ong-distance private communication (Wallace, 1998); this is considering that communication with others privately across long distances previously was too expensive and difficult. Business exchange information securely within computers and devices on these networks provided that only persons with real access to the network could share that information. Thus, communication across long distances enabled large businesses to lease private phone lines from service provider AT&T, and this meant that only business information was transmitted on the line. Therefore, a business establishment in Los Angeles was able to lease an entire phone line from AT&T to connect to their office in Atlanta, Georgia. The business paid for the line without due regard to the volume of data exchanged on it. This leased line solution used by business for private communication turned out to be costly that several businesses could not use this method of connectivity. The growth of VPNs A Virtual Private Network co nceals the line between the open public internet and a closed private leased line network (Wouters and Bantoft, 2006). Kosiur (1998) calls them virtual to indicate that although circuit between two sites could be treated as a private line, it was not physically wired and served only as a linkage when traffic was passing over the circuit. The evolution VPNs started with the earlier usage of frame relay technology, whereby businesses would enjoy secure method of communication by utilizing a router at each endpoint. They became important because of the usage of less equipment to form a secure connection than leased lines (Dern, 1992). Moreover, they were comparatively cheap than leased lines, considering the overall expense and the inability to exhaust all the bandwidth of the leased line. Considering all the advantages it had, there were still costly issues that accompanied its usage; for example, maintenance, and this led to the development of an Internet-based VPN. This technology u sed open and the readily available Internet to form a secure connection amongst multiple users including those in remote locations and connections were established when needed and terminated after data transmission (Berger, 2012).  

Life along the silk road ( tang dynsaty) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Life along the silk road ( tang dynsaty) - Essay Example Merchants and traders both traveled and did business on the Silk Road and faced numerous challenges that always confronted them. Harsh Weather Conditions One of the more obvious challenges that merchants faced along the Silk Road was the harsh weather conditions. In fact, the Silk Road is surrounded by the Taklimakan Desert, whose severe and hostile climate would cause temperatures to soar to as high as 50 degrees Celsius in the summer or fall to as low as minus 20 degrees in the winter. Aside from this, strong winds brought about numerous dangerous sandstorms in the Taklimakan Desert (Mon). Moreover, the Taklimakan Desert had fewer oases than the neighboring Gobi Desert (Wild). Lastly, clouds of dust and silt may blow with the wind and persist for days (Wood 16). Wars and Conflicts There were numerous routes along the Silk Road, and because of this, â€Å"The issues caused by the development of the route included invasion and robbery by nomadic tribes and increased merchant costsâ €  (What is the History of the Silk Road?). the increased merchant costs were necessary as the need for escort and protection increased through the years. Based on the account of a robbery as retold by the Sogdian merchant Nanaivandak, a number of his fellow merchants who wandered along the routes in smaller groups were ambushed, robbed and killed by bandits (Whitfield 48). There was indeed a great risk of traveling along the Silk Road in small groups as Central Asian bandits would often seize the opportunity to inflict harm on the merchants and steal their goods and kill them if they resisted. Besides, it was not only silk that was being traded along these routes but also â€Å"jewels, ivories, pearls†¦corals, diamonds†¦bronze ware, porcelains† whether being sold by merchants or carried home by them (The Great Tang Dynasty). These products from various parts of the world would be very attractive to all robbers and bandits of Central Asia. Disease According to Wi lliam McNeill’s Plagues and Peoples, there was â€Å"diffusion of diseases via the Silk Road† (Rossabi). Even before the Black Death ravaged Europe, there may have already been several diseases that have come from Europe and which may have spread throughout China and Asia through the Silk Road. Nevertheless, there was little evidence on this. However, one of these diseases that may have spread through Asia through the Silk Road was Behcet’s disease. Behcet’s disease, which currently affects Far Eastern and Middle Eastern countries, may have come from Western Europe and affects 4 for every 1,000 people even now. Behcet’s disease is a vascular disease characterized by an overactivity of the body’s inflammatory immune response thus resulting in the destruction of blood vessels, severe mouth and genital ulcers, skin lesions and in severe cases, blindness (Disease genes that followed the Silk Road identified). According to medical experts, the ge nes for this disease may have come from the interactions of infected people along Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty. Negative Influences There was also an exchange of religious ideas along the Silk Road in addition to trading (Culture). However, this was the introduction of new religions to