Nuclear Power Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Nuclear Power - Research Paper Example The possibility of switching to another fuel as the main provider of energy involves complex problems since many machines that are in use at present would not be able to make the switch without incurring huge financial expenditure. It would, thus, involve a huge initial cost that would result in many protests. It is not, however, the case that other forms of fuel that are held up as viable alternatives are able to fulfil most of the requirements that are set for a form of fuel. Hydroelectric power, apart from causing a massive initial expenditure for the setting up of dams and other machinery, also causes the dislocation of many communities which live around the place where the dam is to be located. This has led to many disputes in the past. Apart from this, the portability of hydroelectric power is also a problem that is cited as a disqualifying factor when the sustainability of different fuels is spoken of (Ryan, 2009). The importance f different renewable sources must be taken int o account while looking at an alternative to fossil fuels as the major source of energy for the world as a whole. It is in this context that the use of nuclear energy needs to be assessed. The advantages and negatives of the fuel need to be looked into and their relative merits scrutinized. For this, one must initially make oneself familiar with the process by which energy is extracted from nuclear fuel. Nuclear energy is created by inducing reactions within the nuclei of an atom. The energy that binds the parts of the nuclei is released when the parts disintegrate. This is what leads to the production of nuclear energy. This can be harnessed to be channelled into constructive activities. It can also be used for making explosives that may then lead to disasters. The process of harnessing this energy is a tricky one and must be done with great care to avoid disasters (â€Å"Nuclear Energy†, n.d.). The disaster that happened at Chernobyl was one such accident. It was, however, not due to the inherent faults of nuclear energy but due to the inability of the people who were employed at the plant to oversee the production of the energy. The aspect of the disaster that needs to be noted while looking at the viability of nuclear fuel is the fact that it was avoidable. In the sense that the disaster was the result of negligence, the lives of many could have been saved (â€Å"Chernobyl Accident 1986†, 2012). This does not mean that nuclear fuel should be abandoned as a whole. This was what happened in Japan following the earthquake related disaster in 2011. The shutting down of nuclear power generators followed public protests and the very option of nuclear fuel for energy was abandoned (McKeating, 2012). Nuclear energy does have its own disadvantages. The waste that forms as a by-product during the production of nuclear energy is difficult to dispose of. Apart from this, carelessness on the part of the people who operate the reactors can lead to massive loss of life and property. The operation of reactors needs to be done with the utmost of care for the safety of the people who work at the reactor and the ones who live near it. The problem of the lack of fuel is also something that needs to be looked into while assessing nuclear fuel as a viable option (â€Å"Disadvantages of nuclear power†, 2010). The advantages, however, are many. The waste that is produced is very small since very small quantities are required for the

The expository essay

The expository essay This essay is about oil and gas prices. The essay has lots of facts on gas and oil by showing people how the prices are increasing instead of decreasing. Also it shows how it is putting an effect on people. In this essay it shows readers how they prep the land for drilling process, special tools the oil companies need for drilling the whole and shows how the inspector has to test the ground to make sure it is safe before drilling. It also shows how to be safe before dealing with gas and oil, and shows people how dangerous it can be if you dont use safety. The thesis of my essay is how the prices of oil and gas are increasing than decreasing over the last couple of years. Also in my thesis statement our gas and oil prices are affecting our economy day by day. Gas and oil prices are at their highest costs since more than a year ago. Fuel costs are gaining twelve cents a gallon for the average in the United States. Gas costs were at a record of four dollars a gallon in the year 2008. In year 2008 through 2009 the gas prices are continuing to rise and not dropping, gas is at an average of two dollars and 94 cents a gallon in the United States. With the crude oil, petroleum oil is more than half a gallon of gasoline. Also when they raise the prices of gasoline they are from competitors of other marketplaces. The crude prices when they rise, all the gas stations prices rise because they have no choice it is all for the government. When all market places raise the prices of gasoline is because of the crude prices, and when the crude prices lower down the market places back down the prices. This is all competition between one gas station to another. We are high in demand of our gas prices these days; our world consumption of our gas and oil pric es is roughly a percentage of the economy. Most of the high prices you got to think are coming from our high volume of wars; the wars are costing us millions of dollars each day of the week. Which caused a huge inflation in the United States of America on gas and oil, also food prices? Robinson (2009) noted that we are returning to a record of fuel and oil prices of 2008. Predicted that the average, of gasoline prices; would stay under three dollars, a gallon nationwide in 2010. The refining of gasoline costs are gaining up to thirty five percent, gasoline contributed a twenty three percent gain of the crude oil prices. Refiners want to phase out toxic waste to add in ethanol; also the refineries want to add ultralow sulfur for gasoline and diesel. The refining of operations is having a difficult time to make fuel cleaner. OSHA inspected almost five hundred refineries; the inspections of refineries have proven to be effected. The oil and gas faces a huge challenge for environmental protection on price control. Technologies are increasing gas and oil on environmental impact. The smaller investors are putting money into stocks for major oil companies. Gasoline and home heating oil are made from plastics, toothpaste, shampoo, antihistamines and house paint they all contain a similar form of petroleum. Also the gas and oil industries is increasing on a daily basis, and not showing a decrease in price. Also when the oil gets refined through distillation it involves heating it until it turns into vapor, then they collect the oil and they let the vapor cool. When the temperature rises on oil eventually only carbon and tar are left behind. According to Marland, (2000) heating oil using three million of appropriated funds, taking the inventory to 1,984,253 barrels. Also the gas and oil are not just affecting us, but it is also putting an impact on fish and marine organizations. By our toxic waste, are polluting our water boundaries. That is affecting all of our species, by going through their gills into their blood that is going into others by killing the species. The reason most of our natural gas is polluting our water is because of our offshore and on land terminals for the crew ships and submarines are at least burning thirty percent of their toxic gases into our water which is hurting our species. It is also putting an effect on us in our economy by putting a three percent gain of our money into our penny stock for the oil and gas industries. The supplies they need before drilling is a process of getting, because the big machines and some of their other equipment they need to dig an oil well, are shipped to the location where they are digging the oil well. The task of finding oil is assigned before getting the equipment and prepping the land. They use magnetometers to measure the flowing of oil, most commonly they use seismology to put shock waves through rock layers, and are reflected back to the surface of the ground. The crew needs special equipment for the job to drill out the oil wells. Like hammer bits, tricone bits, adapter subs, air perforators, well casing, drill steel, casing alignment clamps and torch guides, diverter boxes, shock absorbers, retract hammers, thread lubes, oilers, rock drill oilers, polymers and a lot more equipment to complete the job. Prepping the land is a major job for the crews, because all the process they have to go through before they can drill. The first step before drilling the oil wells, an inspector has to test the ground to make sure it is safe before the process of drilling. Then to prep the land for oil drilling they reserve a pit which they use for the dispose of rock cuttings. During the drilling process they line the whole with plastic to protect the economy. When the oil is prepared they dig a main hole which is in a shape of a rectangle which is called a cellar. Then the crew begins lining the main hole with a large diameter conductor pipe. Also before you can drill a well you need an exploration license. The cost to drill a well is 2.5 million dollars each. The reserves for the oil to make oil wells are all under the ground. Oil exploration represents the value of the gas they bring to the gas station. It can be difficult when bad weather like hurricanes and tropical storms can be hard for oil and gas companies for oil fields for drilling. Marland (2004) stated our staff is trained to help you tackle the easiest to the most difficult projects. the supply of gas and oil been increasing, gasoline supplies are the highest level of price since the early 90s, refineries have been cutting back of low margins. Everyone that relies on gas and oil prices, believe that it is high on demand and they think that gas should decrease instead of increasing. Everyone thinks that gas and oil prices are affecting our economy, because every week of the year oil and gas keep rising, and it is affecting people because all the money we spend in our gas tanks. People think with all the money we spent into gas they want to really know when prices are ever going down. Just think everyone in America dumped at least two hundred and forty billion dollars cash into stock for gas and oil companies. Golf god (2007) stated decline in inventories and demand outstripping supply for the jump into gas prices. When the crews for oil companies are working in the oil tanks and working with gas it can be a highly hazardous work environment for them. Especially working with low pressure tanks that contain potential hazards like, fire and explosion, oxygen deficiency and when they are exposed to toxic substances. When they are working with hazardous gasses and oil it can be a result of vapors, fumes, chemicals, or excessive heat or cold. When a creation, of oxygen deficient; it may cause, serious injury; or death. A result from government officials and policy makers, are providing lessons learned for better of planning storms and flood events, can better prevent hazardous conditions caused by leaking oil and gas. To prevent the land from destroying what we need some most, and keep chemical particles away. Natural gas is released during venting operations, when there are leaks in equipment used during oil and gas development. (Anonymous 2003) My essay on oil and gas prices, gives a lot of information and process of the gas and oil industry. The readers that read my essay should get a lot of good facts, details and news about gas and oil procedures. Hopefully to all the readers out there you got a lot of enjoyment out of this. Author, Chris, Baldwin, Author, William hardy (January 10th, 2010). Ice Brent, gas and oil up on cold weather. Published on gas and oil recruitment, single page 1. Retrieved January 12th, 2010, from author. Author, Pablo, Gorondi, Author, Alex Kennedy. (2005). winter eases grip and oil cools, but higher gas prices on the way. Retrieved January 12th, 2010 from author. Website: http://www.stockhouse.com/news/financialnewsdetailfeeds.aspx?n=9188288src=cp

Understanding Hypnosis Essay -- Hypnotherapy

I feel it useful to provide a definition of hypnotherapy as well as hypnosis before moving on and answering this question of this essay. Linnenkamp Doyle writes, ‘hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis to treat disease’ something that she documents in her case study. This medical idea of hypnosis needs further exploration in terms of how it has evolved and sparked debate amongst medical and dental practitioners. Four very significant hypnotherapists are arguably Mesmer, Braid, Esdaile and Elliotson, all putting emphasis on the medical aspect of hypnotherapy. Mesmer, for example, devoted his 1779 27 Propositions concerning animal magnetism. Closer to modern day, in his book Hypnotherapy, Dave Elman not only concentrates on relaxation (a topic which is relevant in this essay), but also puts forward the fundamental medical idea of hypnosis, specifically concentrating on factors such as the use of anesthesia in subjects of hypnosis before they have dental or medical procedures. This medical and dental use of hypnosis, which provides the transition from hypnosis to hypnotherapy, also introduced the related problem of people falsely claiming to have special skills in this area. For Instance, D Zimmerman, chairman of the council for medical and dental hypnosis, wrote to the British Medical Journal in 1968, expressing concerns that ‘hypnotherapeutic charlatans’ had been invading and jeopardizing medical and dental procedures. Zimmerman writes that ‘it has been brought to the notice of this Society that courses in hypnotherapy are being offered to medical and dental practitioners by persons who hold no recognized professional qualifications’. Zimmerman adds to this a request for the validation of the official society for medical and d... ...s identified, analyzed, and made me understand the various definitions of hypnosis. It has also demonstrated the psychological and physiological effects to the role of relaxation. Works Cited Hypnotherapy: A Handbook Michael Heap and Windy Dryden (Milton Keynes: Open University Press) Hypnotherapy Dave Elman (New York: Westwood Publishing, 1983) Hidden Depths: The Story of Hypnosis Robin Waterfield (New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2003) The British Medical Journal, ‘Hypnotherapy’ D Zimmerman (Vol. 3, No. 5616 (Aug. 24, 1968), p. 501) Hypnotherapy A Practical Handbook Helmut Karle and Jennifer Boys, (New York: Free Association Books, 1987) http://web.archive.org/web/20040710162753/http://www.unbf.ca/psychology/likely/readings/mesmer.htm Franz Mesner (27 Propositions, 1779) http://www.brainandhealth.com/Brain-Waves.html

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 14

I wasn't prepared for Dana to answer Bastien's door the next day. Oh my God, I thought. He finally slept with her. The truth turned out to be far less exciting. Bastien – as Mitch – was covered up to his elbows in flour, his hands busily kneading a medium-sized lump of dough. â€Å"Hey Tabby Cat,† he said upon seeing me and my startled expression. â€Å"Dana's teaching me to bake bread.† â€Å"Wow,† I said. Really, there was no other way to respond to a statement like that. I had personally seen Bastien make bread in far more primitive conditions, but he apparently believed the old teacher-student routine was going to pave the way to Dana's bed for him now. It did have its merits, of course. Human nature liked showing superiority in areas of expertise, and a teaching relationship provided lots of alone time together. I suspected that even with that tactic, Dana might still be out of reach, but hey, maybe it was worth a shot. The fact that she actually made time for this struck me as odd. I figured she'd be too busy bombing abortion clinics and handing out school uniforms. Speaking of alone time, I worried that I'd blundered into some meaningful opportunity for the incubus. I met his eyes. â€Å"I can come back later if it's a bad time,† I told him. â€Å"No, no. Dana's got to go to a meeting soon. You can keep me company once this baby's in the oven.† His tone was genuine. He'd probably already exhausted efforts to get her to stay. Uneasy in her presence, I sat on one of the stools by the counter and sipped the white-chocolate mocha I'd picked up on my way over. Dana sat down beside me. I resisted the urge to move away. Glancing at his kitchen table, I saw stacks of CPFV pamphlets and brochures. â€Å"Why the interest in cooking?† I asked blandly when no one said anything. â€Å"A bachelor can't live on fast food and frozen dinners forever, huh?† He turned up the dial on his smile. â€Å"And hey, I'm always open to new experiences. Next time she's going to teach me to make creme brulee.† I grunted. â€Å"You learn to makecreme brulee, and I might have to move in.† Dana turned to me, elegantly crossing her legs, showing that oh-so-wholesome slip obtained during the infamous shopping trip. I'd given up on slips a while ago. They just delayed the main event. â€Å"I could show you too.† Hell no. I'd gotten roped into yard work by pursuing a similar vein of conversation with Jody. No more domestic vices for me. Besides, I knew Bastien wouldn't welcome my presence. â€Å"Thanks, but I'll just leave it to Mitch. He's the brilliant one in this family anyway.† Bastien gave the bread a final pat. â€Å"Okay, now what?† â€Å"Now we put it in the pan.† She walked over to show him. As she did, he leaned in extra close, supposedly to get a better look. He even reached out his hand to brush hers, following her motions as they transferred the bread. Perhaps it would have been polite to look away, but there was nothing overtly romantic going on, and besides, I felt a professional interest in the matter. Histechniquewas good, I had to admit. Very subtle. Nothing that could be misconstrued as more than a polite accident. Yet, I saw Dana – just as subtly – stiffen and step away once the bread was in its pan. â€Å"Now you just let it rise,† she said, in a somewhat cooler tone. â€Å"Then it goes in the oven.† Interesting. She hadn't liked Bastien's proximity. That didn't bode well for him. I didn't think he noticed, however. I would have expected her to leave, but she sat down next to me again. I could never think of anything interesting to say around her; she unnerved me too much. So I let the two of them talk, answering only when spoken to and otherwise letting Bastien run the show. He positively glowed. Dana tried to draw me in a number of times, again asking me things about my life I really didn't want to answer. When she finally rose to go, she commented, â€Å"I'm off to a board meeting to plan our upcoming rally against gay marriage. You two should join us when it happens.† â€Å"Absolutely,† said Bastien, who probably would have agreed to an anti-incubus rally at this point. She glanced over at me. My tongue suddenly felt thick, words again eluding me. â€Å"Are you for gay marriage?† she asked with surprise. â€Å"I thought when we talked about this at the mall, you had implied you were more in favor of helping them see the error of their ways.† Christ. Had we discussed this on the mall trip? I couldn't remember. The only thing I recalled clearly was the lingerie debacle. I wanted to argue right then that I didn't think homosexuality was a â€Å"choice† for all people, nor did I believe there should be laws about who people loved. Fortunately, my control switch was fully operational. That, combined with Bastien's heavy gaze, made me redirect my answer and evade the question. â€Å"I'd love to go to the rally,† I said flatly. â€Å"It'll depend on my schedule.† She smiled thinly, made a few parting remarks, and then left. I exhaled. â€Å"Sorry about that, Bas. I nearly choked up on you.† â€Å"Not a problem. You recovered. Besides, I think things are turning around. I thought of it the last time she and Jody were over. This cooking thing is going to be what does it.† He peered into the oven at his now-baking bread before sitting at the kitchen table happily. â€Å"Can't you see it? We'll be like, I don't know, baking a cake together, and I'll say, ‘Why Dana, you have chocolate frosting on your cheek.' Then she'll say, ‘Will you get it off for me?' Then I will, only I'll lick it off – â€Å" â€Å"Okay, just stop now, please. I get the picture. I really don't want to hear about you two rolling around in cake batter.† â€Å"You'll have to once it's on the evening news.† I smiled, relieved to see him so cheered up after our last encounter. I couldn't bring myself to tell him I didn't think the cooking lessons were making Dana quite as hot and heavy as he would have liked. If we were going to save Bastien from demonic wrath, I believed we needed a better understanding of what – if anything – turned that woman on. And I had the distasteful feeling that I would be a better agent for that particular piece of reconnaissance than he would be. One more thing to add to my list. â€Å"So what's new with you?† â€Å"Oh, the usual. Another awkward physical encounter with Seth. Not nearly as big a deal as the last one, but still.† Bastien shrugged. â€Å"Alas for mortal weakness.† Dana left my mind as my own personal relations came to the forefront. â€Å"That's the thing. Everyone's been going on and on about how he wouldn't be able to handle our relationship, but it's not his weakness that's the problem. It's me. I'm the faulty piece here. Seth's done exactly what he's supposed to. He handles every horrible thing I tell him about myself, and he never does anything to cross the sexual line. His one moment of weakness was when I initiated things. He's perfect.† â€Å"Nobody's perfect, Fleur .If there's anything I feel certain of in this world, it's that. Even the angels themselves are imperfect.† I thought about Carter's chain-smoking and penchant for hard liquor. â€Å"That's for damned sure. But Seth comes pretty close. At least as mortals go. Whereas me†¦I don't know. I feel so useless in our relationship.† He stood up and drew me to him. â€Å"What is this, your day to feel melodramatic and depressed? Look. No way are you useless – not if you've been with him this long. He's in it for more than sex. He's in it for you. For that delightful wit and charm that manages to cheer even grumpy bastards like me up. What I can't figure out is what the hell you're getting out of it.† â€Å"Plenty,† I said, thinking of Seth's humor and intelligence, his serious and steady nature. â€Å"And I suppose he's happy with what he's got, but he must still, you know, feel unfulfilled. He's a man, right? I see him looking at me sometimes, and I know what he's thinking†¦what he wants.† I thought about my toe-teasing. â€Å"I don't think I really make it easy on him either. I flirt without thinking about it. I wish I could give him, I don't know, something. Something nonlethal to reward his amazing celibate strength – and overall amazingness with everything that's happened so far. â€Å" â€Å"Nonlethal's going to be hard for you. You're the ultimate look-don't-touch girl.† My slumping head shot up. â€Å"That's it.† â€Å"What's it?† â€Å"Looking without touching. You're going to help me.† I felt my natural optimism and vigor seizing me as I flashed the incubus a saucy grin. â€Å"You're going to be my photographer.† His eyebrows rose, but I think he already knew where I was going with this. â€Å"And pray tell, what will I be photographing, my dear?† â€Å"Me. In a bevy of alluring poses and skimpy underwear. Or nothing at all. We'll do a whole spread.† His smile twitched at the word spread. â€Å"And you think this will help him? All it'll do is drive him into the bathroom alone for ten hours.† â€Å"Hey, he can do whatever he wants with them, but it's a great idea. It'll be a treat. A safe way of having me without having me.† I poked the incubus in the arm. â€Å"You'll help, won't you? You're the only person I trust to take these.† â€Å"Of course I'll help you. Why'd you even ask?† I sighed happily, like a great load had been taken off of me. â€Å"Of course, even if this is good for Seth, it doesn't solve the problem of me being a weak-willed strumpet. I'll still be thinking about him all the time. Still wondering what it'd be like to touch – really touch – him. Still breaking down with him in moments of weakness.† I sighed again, this time with frustration. â€Å"There's no helping me, I guess. Pictures of him won't do it.† â€Å"Hey,† said Bastien, touching my chin. â€Å"Smile again. You'll figure out something. And if not, I promise you I will. The brother you never had, remember? We're here for each other, n,est-ce pas ?† I smiled and leaned my head against his chest. â€Å"Oui.† We stayed like that for a few pleasant minutes until I remembered far less sentimental issues. I sat up. â€Å"Oh, hey, you have got to check something out.† I picked up my purse and pulled out the bag of crystals Alec had given me. Bastien recoiled when I held them out to him. â€Å"What the hell are those?† â€Å"That's the million-dollar question. These are what's causing my friend at the bookstore to act so weird.† Regaining his composure, he leaned in to look closer but wouldn't touch the bag. â€Å"They're strange,† he said slowly. â€Å"They give off something†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Like an immortal signature,† I agreed. â€Å"But I've never felt an inanimate object that did this. It's not the same as an enchantment.† â€Å"It doesn't feel bad exactly†¦just not right.† â€Å"I asked Seth about it. Mortals don't feel anything, only us. Ever come across anything like this?† â€Å"No, but then I'm the novice next to you, right?† I slid the crystals back into my purse, to the relief of both of us, and then explained what Alec had said about mixing them in liquid. â€Å"Curiouser and curiouser,† mused Bastien. â€Å"Not like any drug I know, but it's not giving off any legitimate potion vibes either. If you want to know what this is, Fleur ,you're going to have to break out the big guns.† I knew he was right. We hung out together a while longer, moving on to less weird subjects. The bread smelled so good cooking that there was no way I could leave until I'd tried a piece. Upon tasting it, I decided that whatever her other faults, Dana knew what she was doing with food. I ended up getting away with a good half loaf of the bread and then drove back downtown to find the â€Å"big guns.† I got a lucky break, and Jerome actually answered his cell phone and gave me his location. Even if he hadn't, it would have been on my list of places to try. The Cellar was an old, dark pub in Pioneer Square, Seattle's historic district. You had to take a flight of stairs down to get to the Cellar, and I always had the feeling the place wouldn't survive the Northwest's next big earthquake. The Cellar was one of Jerome and Carter's favorite haunts. I found them both there in their usual corner. The place was dark, as always, and was starting to pick up a little with happy-hour traffic. Angel and demon watched me enter with their typically amused expressions, both having sensed me before I cleared the door. Jerome always gave the impression over the phone that I was taking up his time, but neither seemed particularly busy now. I ordered a gimlet at the bar, smiling at the two guys who made conversation while I waited, and then moved on to join the dynamic duo. â€Å"A working lunch?† I asked, inclining my head at the empty shot glasses in front of them. The two practically sat side by side, so the only other chair was across from them, like I was at an interview. Carter picked up one of the empty glasses and offered me a mock toast. I clinked my glass with his. â€Å"Don't question the divine workings of the universe, Daughter of Lilith. â€Å" â€Å"The Lord's work is never done,† added Jerome solemnly. They both seemed a little loopy, but I wasn't fooled. Higher immortals like angels and demons could control their levels of intoxication. The other lesser immortals and I had said a number of stupid things in front of them when we thought either Jerome or Carter had been wasted. Their eyes held a shrewd scrutiny even now that told me they were both curious about why I'd sought out my supervisor in the middle of the day. â€Å"Been to see the incubus?† Jerome asked a moment later. I nodded. â€Å"He thinks he's making progress.† â€Å"Thinks?† asked the demon, raising one eyebrow. I wondered if John Cusack could actually do that. â€Å"Is there a doubt?† â€Å"I didn't say that.† â€Å"But you also didn't say that he is making progress.† â€Å"A slip of the tongue. I misspoke.† â€Å"You don't misspeak often, Georgie. And I've come to actually believe you do know something about seduction after all. And maybe even human nature.† â€Å"Something?† Carter laughed at my incredulous tone. â€Å"So,† continued Jerome, â€Å"in your expert opinion, is your friend going to be able to do this or not?† I was about to say â€Å"of course,† but knew Carter would recognize the lie. Hell, even Jerome probably would. â€Å"I don't know. She's hard to read. Very strange woman.† I pursed my lips, thinking. â€Å"If anyone is capable of seducing her, though, it'll be him. With my help.† I hesitated before adding, â€Å"You know about the Barton thing, don't you?† â€Å"Of course. Very foolish on Bastien's part.† â€Å"I guess.† I didn't want to slam one of my best friends in this company. â€Å"But it's not like our side is really known for impulse control. And it seems kind of stupid for Barton to get so worked up over a woman who sleeps around all the time anyway. What's one more person, immortal or not?† â€Å"Because the immortal meant something,† said Carter seriously. â€Å"You of all people should recognize the nuances here. What would Seth think if you slept with me?† â€Å"Are you offering?† I turned to Jerome, feigning excitement. â€Å"I get to retire if I bag an angel, right? Full pension and everything?† â€Å"Depends on the angel,† yawned Jerome. Carter kept his complacent smile, unfazed by jokes about his celibacy or immortal standing. â€Å"You know what I mean. There's a difference between business and choice.† I nodded. I did know what he meant, and he was right – being with Seth made me especially cognizant of the subtleties. â€Å"You know, I didn't come here to discuss this,† I told them. Both had the tendency to steer me off topic into subjects I didn't want to explore. â€Å"Well, do enlighten us then,† said the archdemon indulgently. â€Å"I'm dying to know what would draw you away from suburban conspiracy and mortal intrigue in the middle of the day.† â€Å"Actually, it involves mortal intrigue.† I gave them a debriefing on the Doug situation. Jerome maintained his perpetual look of disinterest. Carter almost did, but snide or not, he was still an angel, and I saw compassion flicker in his eyes as I spoke. He couldn't help it. â€Å"So, I finally managed to get Alec to give me the stuff, and now I need to know what it is. You two seemed like my best shots at identification. â€Å" Jerome's disinterest turned to astonishment. â€Å"This is what we've been reduced to? Drug identification? Do we look like the DEA?† Carter stretched lazily. â€Å"Remember the good old days when succubi used to want our help defending them from nephilim and other lethal creatures? This is a sign of the times, I tell you. â€Å" I let them have a good laugh at my expense, forcing myself to stay calm and not say something that would get me into trouble. â€Å"Are you guys done?† I asked a minute later. â€Å"Because I'd really like to get moving on this.† â€Å"Are you going to share some of it with us if we can tell you what it is?† asked Jerome. Rolling my eyes, I reached into my purse. With a flourish, I tossed the little bag out onto the table so it slid across the surface and came to rest just in front of both of them. Their smiles disappeared. They stared at the bag for a moment and then – in almost perfect synchronization – looked at each other and back to me. When Carter spoke, he was amused, but grimly amused. â€Å"Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to rule out supernatural monsters after all.† â€Å"How,† exclaimed Jerome, nostrils flaring, â€Å"do you always manage to get yourself mixed up in the middle of this shit?† I looked back and forth between the two of them. â€Å"What? What is it?† â€Å"This, Georgina,† announced Carter, tapping the bag with his finger, â€Å"is the Food of the Gods.†

Primary school Essay

Schooldays are the most pleasurable gift that are directly gifted by god to every human. It is filled with happiness. It also acquaints me to some precious friends and unforgettable thoughts to my life. I am privileged to share my reminiscence of my school The name of my school is sithi vinayagar primary school in agathapati. I reside in venkatayapuram. My native is pastoral background devoid of basic needs. Even for catering our necessity we depend on the nearby village sundrapandium. Due to non-availability of transport, I and my friends used to walk half hour to reach my school. It was a management school of belonging to a particular caste group. These prevails the dominance of the caste students over the other sects of students There were five teachers working under a single head master. People from the surrounding villages work in different posts. My school locked good infrastructure, as it is located in the outskirts of the village. No one pays respect to my school . only for earning a good income management dares to function the school. My school commence from 9 am to 5 pm. by 9. 00am prayer song would be sung leading up to the announcement with the national anthem in the end of the prayer session. After that we enter into our respective classes as regular sessions commences then. At 12. 30 am all the students gathered under the neem tree and share their lunch wit their friends. After that we played together. The school routine comes to an end at 5 pm and we return home happily. During Friday and Monday, students were strictly advised to wear uniform. Personally I hate those two days because my friends and I enjoy wearing colour dresses than uniform. Every year I wait for annual day function. The preparations begin almost two or three weeks in advance with a lot of rehearsals. My friends and I eager in participating in drama. While doing my third standard, I earned a first prize by participating in a drama. In my school days I had the passion to participate in other activities than subjects. So my friends and I were not interested in going school. Contrary to that our parents strictly forced us to go to school. Usually I try to invent reasons to be away from tedious school hours. But all my attempts remain futile. During rainy days, flood encounters our two villages. So holidays may be announced from schools. I enjoyed those days and my mind long to cherish those days. I was not interested in studies, so even solving simple calculations seem to be a complex issue for me. Exams take a shape of the giant before me always. Any how I managed exams easily by keeping the books open. When I was in school, the importance of my school life was not known to me. When I was in fifth standard my school was in critical condition. The management decided to utilize the area of land constructed for a marriage hall. After a long search, they allotted a big house as our school premises. After completing my fifth standard, I shift my home to near down for my higher studies. But my school was not able to survive for a long time. At present I in my college ,but I will never forget my primary school. Eventhogh it was a past experience. A school plays a vital role in everyone’s life. So don’t forget your school. I wish that everyone should enjoy their school life with full joy and pleasure.

Free Essays on Ethan Frome

PURPOSE: To examine the character of Zenobia Pierce in the novel â€Å"Ethan Frome† by Edith Wharton. AUDIENCE: Readers who have not read the book â€Å"Ethan Frome and Other Short Fiction† and are interested in the character of Zenobia Pierce, Ethan Frome’s wife. THESIS: Zenobia Pierce represents a character that is bitter and cold, making everyone around her miserable. The Character of Zenobia Pierce in Wharton’s â€Å"Ethan Frome† Zenobia Pierce, known as Zeena throughout the novel â€Å"Ethan Frome† by Edith Wharton, is a very unhappy, bitter woman. Wharton seems to depict her ex-husband, Edward Wharton, through the remarkable details she uses to characterize Zeena. Zeena, Ethan Frome’s cousin, comes to help Ethan during his mother’s illness. She is a great relief to Ethan during this time. As Wharton remarks, â€Å"Zeena seemed to understand his case at a glance. She laughed at him for not knowing the simplest sick bed duties and told him to â€Å"go right along out† and leave her to see to things† (35). Zeena at this time is attractive, healthy, and fun for Ethan to be with. Then Ethan’s mother dies during the winter and Ethan can not bear the cold, harsh Massachusetts winter alone, so he asks Zeena to marry him. After Zeena’s marriage to Ethan, the relationship changes, as Zeena becomes silent. She goes to bed immediately after supper leaving Ethan without any companionship. Wharton describes the change â€Å"When she came to take care of his mother, she had seemed to Ethan like the very genius of health, but he soon saw that her skill as a nurse had been acquired by the absorbed observations for her own systems† (36). Throughout the entire story, Zeena is described as sickly. She is a hypochondriac who takes medicine and visits doctors all the time causing Ethan to become attracted to Mattie Silver, Zeena’s cousin and caretaker during her illnesses. What attraction Ethan has to Zeena ... Free Essays on Ethan Frome Free Essays on Ethan Frome Ethan Frome, the main character in the book entitled Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, has many complex problems going on at the same time. His family has died and he has a wife that is continually sick, and the only form of happiness he has is from his wife's cousin Mattie. This, however, at times proves to be hard because of Ethan's wifes interference. Nothing seems to be going in Ethan's favor. The main theme of the book is failure, and this is shown through marrying his wife, not being able to stand up to his wife, and his involvement concerning the "smash up." The first way failure is shown in the book is through the marriage of Ethan and his wife. He married her because she had tried to help his mother recover from an illness, and once his mother died he could not bear the thought of living in the house alone. His wife was seven years his senior and always seemed to have some kind of illness. It seemed all she ever did was complain, and he resented this because it stifled his growing soul. Since his wife was continuously ill, and her cousin needed a place to stay, they took her in to help around the house. Ethan took an immediate propensity to her cousin, Mattie, because she brought a bright light upon his dismal day. He seemed to have found someone that cared for him, was always happy and could share his youth, unlike his sickly wife who always nagged him. He longed to be with Mattie, however he had loyalty to his wife. Being married to the wrong person proved to be Ethan's first failure. Ethan's second failure was not being able to stand up against his wife. His wife claimed that a new doctor said that she was extremely sick, and needed more help around the house. She told him without any discussion that Mattie had to go. Ethan could not find the words to make her alter her decision. His wife also decided that Mattie had to leave the next day itself and Ethan could not do anything about it. It was stated in the book that hi... Free Essays on Ethan Frome Ethan Frome Critical Lens Thorton Wilder believes, â€Å"Most writers firmly guide their readers to what they should think about the characters and events.† This means the author helps you to understand what his message is. I agree with this statement. Edith Wharton applies this declaration in her novel, Ethan Frome. She as the author, steers the readers to what he or she thinks about the characters and events by using certain literary elements. Such techniques used are characterization, setting, symbolism, irony, and imaging. These methods help us as the reader, to form an opinion about characters that Edith Wharton has created. It is difficult as the reader, to form an attitude for a character in a novel without the author using characterization. Edith Wharton does a marvelous job in illuminating for us, the main character, Ethan Frome. His appearance is constantly depicted throughout the tale. It is altered when interacting with the many unique people that Edith Wharton has created. This is an insight to what Ethan feels for these human beings. In the prologue of this novel, he is seen at the Starksfield post office by a curious and unaccustomed newcomer to the town. Through him, he is described as a â€Å"ruin of a man.† He drags his leg and looks old, as though he were â€Å"dead in hell.† Ethan is â€Å"a part of mute melancholy landscape.† He is quiet, voiceless, and has no communication with anyone or anything. This is the one side of Ethan that we first meet. The stiff, elderly, and unsociable man he has become, due to an untimely â€Å"smash up†, convinces read ers that he may have not always been like this. Up until Ethan meets a young vibrant girl name Mattie Silver, Ethan is the old man he is destined to become. Even as a young man he had a hard time with people. In college they called him â€Å"Old Stiff,† and he kept largely to himself. Despite all these negative attributes, Ethan was intelligent and info... Free Essays on Ethan Frome In the novel Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton draws many parallels between the plot of the novel and its setting. The setting of a cold and gloomy winter makes for an inevitably cold and gloomy plot. Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie all contribute to the gloominess of this plot by either making it worse, or having the chance to improve their circumstances and not taking it. Ethan Frome, a New England farmer, is a very complex, sensitive, and emotional man, yet no one besides the reader is let in on this little secret. He feels a great deal of love towards Mattie, and a great deal of hate towards Zeena, but these feelings are unknown to the women because he cannot express them. Like most men, Ethan is afraid to express his feelings to anyone, and because of this problem, he and Mattie end up crippled and in a constant state of misery, while the one from whom they are trying to escape ends up as their caretaker. Ethan's feelings are like the sun that does not shine during this gloomy winter. And had this sun shone down on the trio, they could have ended up in a much better state than they did. Perhaps Mattie and Ethan wouldn't have felt that a double suicide was their only way out, and maybe (but probably not) Zeena would have understood that Ethan never loved her, and that it was a one-sided marriage from the beginning. Zeena is a mean, bitter, hypochondriac who has nothing better to do with her time than to make her husband's life a living hell. Actually, she has better things to do with her time, but she's a hypochondriac, so she always has an excuse for why she can't. She shows no sensitivity towards anyone other than herself. Even when she realizes that Ethan loves Mattie, instead of her, she shows no sensitivity towards the couple, and instead ruins the fate of them and herself by trying to send Mattie away. Zeena is much like the bitter winter that shows no sympathy to the rest of the world. She has a bad attitude about life, and she need... Free Essays on Ethan Frome In many stories written about or during the 1800’s, it is not uncommon to see serving people as characters. During this era, young girls were often brought into households to tend to the â€Å"dirty work† that their masters were too proud or too frail to do themselves. As a result of being servants, these girls were looked down upon and often not even seen as people. Serving was nothing less than degrading. In Edith Wharton’s novel, Ethan Frome, Mattie Silver breaks all the rules about how hired people are seen, how they act and how they are treated. It is true that she comes into her situation with all the qualities of a stereotypical maid; but by looking at the way Ethan regards Mattie, the way Mattie sees herself, and through the twist at the end, it is clear to see how Mattie defies the norm. As soon as Mattie settles into Starkfield, she ignites a spark of youthful exuberance in the dreary town. Once Ethan finds himself preoccupied with love for Mattie, all expectations of her to become a mere humble maid are abolished. Because Ethan is unable to communicate his feelings to Mattie, his heart is clouded with pent up adoration that brings him to do anything for the girl. Zeena often expresses her disappointment in the quality of Mattie’s housework. Ethan â€Å"...did his best to supplement her unskilled efforts, getting up earlier than usual to light the kitchen fire, carrying in the wood overnight, and neglecting the mill for the farm that he might help her about the house during the day. He even crept down on Saturday nights to scrub the kitchen floor after the women had gone to bed...† (32). It is unheard of for a master to act in such a way to please his servant. One can conceive that Ethan would hardly do such a thing for his own wife, who is si ck. â€Å"All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise† (35). Ethan’s uses the fact of Mat... Free Essays on Ethan Frome PURPOSE: To examine the character of Zenobia Pierce in the novel â€Å"Ethan Frome† by Edith Wharton. AUDIENCE: Readers who have not read the book â€Å"Ethan Frome and Other Short Fiction† and are interested in the character of Zenobia Pierce, Ethan Frome’s wife. THESIS: Zenobia Pierce represents a character that is bitter and cold, making everyone around her miserable. The Character of Zenobia Pierce in Wharton’s â€Å"Ethan Frome† Zenobia Pierce, known as Zeena throughout the novel â€Å"Ethan Frome† by Edith Wharton, is a very unhappy, bitter woman. Wharton seems to depict her ex-husband, Edward Wharton, through the remarkable details she uses to characterize Zeena. Zeena, Ethan Frome’s cousin, comes to help Ethan during his mother’s illness. She is a great relief to Ethan during this time. As Wharton remarks, â€Å"Zeena seemed to understand his case at a glance. She laughed at him for not knowing the simplest sick bed duties and told him to â€Å"go right along out† and leave her to see to things† (35). Zeena at this time is attractive, healthy, and fun for Ethan to be with. Then Ethan’s mother dies during the winter and Ethan can not bear the cold, harsh Massachusetts winter alone, so he asks Zeena to marry him. After Zeena’s marriage to Ethan, the relationship changes, as Zeena becomes silent. She goes to bed immediately after supper leaving Ethan without any companionship. Wharton describes the change â€Å"When she came to take care of his mother, she had seemed to Ethan like the very genius of health, but he soon saw that her skill as a nurse had been acquired by the absorbed observations for her own systems† (36). Throughout the entire story, Zeena is described as sickly. She is a hypochondriac who takes medicine and visits doctors all the time causing Ethan to become attracted to Mattie Silver, Zeena’s cousin and caretaker during her illnesses. What attraction Ethan has to Zeena ... Free Essays on Ethan Frome Ethan Frome The main character in the book entitled Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is in fact Ethan Frome who has many complex problems going on at the same time. Ethan’s family has died which is taking it’s toile on Ethan. Plus his wife is always sick and nagging Ethan. The only escape that he seems to get is with his wife’s cousin Mattie. This, however, at times proves to be hard because of Ethan's wife’s interference. Nothing seems to be going in Ethan's favor. The main theme of this book is failure, and this is shown through marrying his wife. The first way failure is shown in the book is through the marriage of Ethan and his wife. He married her because she had tried to help his mother recover from an illness, and once his mother died he could not bear the thought of living in the house alone. His wife was seven years his older and always seemed to have some kind of illness. It seemed all she ever did was complain, and he resented this because it stifled his growing soul. Since his wife was continuously ill, and her cousin needed a place to stay, they took her in to help around the house. Ethan took an immediate liking to her cousin, Mattie, because she brought a bright light upon his dismal day. He seemed to have found someone that cared for him, was always happy and could share his youth, unlike his sickly wife who always nagged him. He longed to be with Mattie; however he had loyalty to his wife. Being married to the wrong person proved to be Ethan's first failure. Ethan's second failure was not being able to stand up against his wife. His wife claimed that a new doctor said that she was extremely sick, and needed more help around the house. She told him without any discussion that Mattie had to go. Ethan could not find the words to make her alter her decision. His wife also decided that Mattie had to leave the next day itself and Ethan could not do anything about it. It was stated in the book that his wife had ... Free Essays on Ethan Frome Ethan Frome was considered by many to be Edith Wharton’s finest novel. This dismal and depressing tale of tragedy and hopelessness won her great acclaim as an author. Wharton engaged the reader with her usage of a clear theme, literary devices, and fascinating characters. The end result of her work on the novel is a tale of such sadness and despondency that emotional readers are overwhelmed. Edith Wharton was born in 1862 to a wealthy family involved in New York City society. Her career began with her use of clever satire to demean her New York society. Her reputation and place in history as a novelist was established beyond a doubt with the publication of The House of Mirth in 1905. (another satire) In 1911, Wharton wrote her finest novel Ethan From while in France with her husband Edward. Wharton spent the remainder of her life in France, but still involved her writing with subjects about America. Her last novel Bunner Sisters was published in 1909, and Edith Wharton passed away in 1937. Wharton was a writer of the twentieth century. Therefore, her ideas went along with those of other American writers of that time period. Wharton, like such successful writers as Faulkner and Fitzgerald, concentrated on the immense new subject of American values. She did not follow the pattern of writing about European topics and pursuits in the novel Ethan Frome. This novel was a perfect example of the writer’s examination of America’s new set of cultural boundaries and morals the twentieth century’s arrival entailed. The setting of the novel Ethan Frome was notably important to the formation of this novel’s plot. The novel was technically set in the small town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. Emotionally this novel took place in frozen isolation. The main character in this novel stood out because of his pathetic life and depressed outlook. One character joked that his condition was brought on by â€Å"to many winters in Starkfield†. That ... Free Essays on Ethan Frome Poems relate to many people in society. Two poems that relate to a character in a novel are â€Å"Desert Places† by Robert Frost and â€Å"Mirage† by Christina Rossetti; they relate to the main character, Ethan Frome, in the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. In the poem â€Å"Desert Places,† Robert Frost portrays snow falling down to the point where all you can see is bright white with a little bit of shrubs and weeds sticking out of the ground. He describes the frozen desert very vividly. In one of the stanzas Robert Frost says, â€Å"All animals are smothered in their lairs.† The word â€Å"smothered† can relate to the feelings of Ethan Frome. Ethan is smothered in a way by his duties and missions in Starkfield, and can’t do what he truly wants to do. Moreover, the setting of the poem is also much like the setting of Ethan Frome. It was a harsh and bitter winter in which the town of Starkfield is covered entirely with snow with some weeds stick out the ground. Another fact that is noteworthy would be that like the animals from Robert Frosts, â€Å"Desert Places,† were just as trapped in their lairs as the people in Ethan From were trapped in Starkfield. In the poem â€Å"Mirage,† Christina Rosetti talks about her hopes of her dream and that she is now awakened, and she knows that her dream can not be accomplished. In the third line of her poem she says, â€Å"Exceeding comfortless, and worn and old.† This line, along with the theme of theme of this poem, can go along with the themes of Ethan Frome. Ethan had a dream. His dream was to leave Starkfield and live a happy life with Mattie. However, this dream did not come true. Instead, it led to disaster, heartache, and pain. He was himself caught up in a real life dream in which he was awakened by catastrophe. The line from the poem can somewhat show the state that Ethan is in many years after his dream has been traumatized. He is now â€Å"comfortless, worn, and old.† He has given up...

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve been sitting in front of a blank screen, unsure of exactly how to start a personal statement for college, then believe me- I feel your pain. A great college essay introduction is key to making your essay stand out, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. Luckily, being able to craft the perfect beginning for your admissions essay is just like many other writing skills- something you can get better at with practice and by learning from examples. In this article, I’ll walk you through exactly how to start a college essay. We'll cover what makes a great personal statement introduction and how the first part of your essay should be structured. We'll also look at several great examples of essay beginnings and explain why they work, how they work, and what you can learn from them. What Is the College Essay Introduction For? Before we talk about how to start a college essay, let's discuss the role of the introduction. Just as your college essay is your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions office of your target college, your essay's beginning is your chance to introduce your writing. Wait, Back Up- Why Do Colleges Want Personal Statements? In general, college essays make it easier to get to know the parts of you not in your transcript- these include your personality, outlook on life, passions, and experiences. You're not writing for yourself but for a very specific kind of reader. Picture it: your audience is an admissions officer who has read thousands and thousands of essays. This person is disposed to be friendly and curious, but if she hasn’t already seen it all she's probably seen a good portion of it. Your essay's job is to entertain and impress this person, and to make you memorable so you don't merely blend into the sea of other personal statements. Like all attempts at charm, you must be slightly bold and out of the ordinary- but you must also stay away from crossing the line into offensiveness or bad taste. What Role Does the Introduction Play in a College Essay? The personal statement introduction is basically the wriggly worm that baits the hook to catch your reader. It's vital to grab attention from the get-go- the more awake and eager your audience is, the more likely it is that what you say will really land. How do you go about crafting an introduction that successfully hooks your reader? Let’s talk about how to structure the beginning of your college essay. Teenagers hard at work on their college applications. How to Structure a Personal Statement Introduction To see how the introduction fits into an essay, let's look at the big structural picture first and then zoom in. College Essay Structure Overview Even though they’re called essays, personal statements are really more like a mix of a short story and a philosophy or psychology class that's all about you. Usually, how this translates is that you start with a really good (and very short) story about something arresting, unusual, or important that happened to you. This is not to say that the story has to be about something important or unusual in the grand scheme of things- it just has to be a moment that stands out to you as defining in some way, or an explanation of why you are the way you are. You then pivot to an explanation of why this story is an accurate illustration of one of your core qualities, values, or beliefs. The story typically comes in the first half of the essay, and the insightful explanation comes second - but, of course, all rules were made to be broken, and some great essays flip this more traditional order. College Essay Introduction Components Now, let’s zero in on the first part of the college essay. What are the ingredients of a great personal statement introduction? I'll list them here and then dissect them one by one in the next section: A killer first sentence: This hook grabs your readers' attention and whets their appetite for your story. A vivid, detailed story that illustrates your eventual insight: To make up for how short your story will be, you must insert effective sensory information to immerse the reader. An insightful pivot toward the greater point you're making in your essay: This vital piece of the essay connects the short story part to the part where you explain what the experience has taught you about yourself, how you've matured, and how it has ultimately shaped you as a person. You've got your reader's attention when you see its furry ears extended †¦ No, wait. Squirrel. You've got your squirrel's attention. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: How to Write a College Essay Introduction Here’s a weird secret that’s true for most written work: just because it'll end up at the beginning doesn’t mean you have to write it first. For example, in this case, you can’t know what your killer first sentence will be until you’ve figured out the following details: The story you want to tell The point you want that story to make The trait/maturity level/background about you that your essay will reveal So my suggestion is to work in reverse order! Writing your essay will be much easier if you can figure out the entirety of it first and then go back and work out exactly how it should start. This means that before you can craft your ideal first sentence, the way the short story experience of your life will play out on the page, and the perfect pivoting moment that transitions from your story to your insight, you must work out a general idea about which life event you will share and what you expect that life event to demonstrate to the reader about you and the kind of person you are. If you're having trouble coming up with a topic, check out our guide on brainstorming college essay ideas. It might also be helpful to read our guides to specific application essays, such as picking your best Common App prompt and writing a perfect University of California personal statement. In the next sections of this article, I'll talk about how to work backwards on the introduction, moving from bigger to smaller elements: starting with the first section of the essay in general and then honing your pivot sentence and your first sentence. Don't get too excited about working in reverse- not all activities are safe to do backwards. (Jackie/Flickr) How to Write the First Section of Your College Essay In a 500-word essay, this section will take up about the first half of the essay and will mostly consist of a brief story that illuminates a key experience, an important character trait, a moment of transition or transformation, or a step toward maturity. Once you've figured out your topic and zeroed in on the experience you want to highlight in the beginning of your essay, here are 2 great approaches to making it into a story: Talking it out, storyteller style (while recording yourself): Imagine that you're sitting with a group of people at a campfire, or that you're stuck on a long flight sitting next to someone you want to befriend. Now tell that story. What does someone who doesn’t know you need to know in order for the story to make sense? What details do you need to provide to put them in the story with you? What background information do they need in order to understand the stakes or importance of the story? Record yourself telling your story to friends and then chatting about it: What do they need clarified? What questions do they have? Which parts of your story didn’t make sense or follow logically for them? Do they want to know more, or less? Is part of your story interesting to them but not interesting to you? Is a piece of your story secretly boring, even though you think it’s interesting? Later, as you listen to the recorded story to try to get a sense of how to write it, you can also get a sense of the tone with which you want to tell your story. Are you being funny as you talk? Sad? Trying to shock, surprise, or astound your audience? The way you most naturally tell your story is the way you should write it. After you've done this storyteller exercise, write down the salient points of what you learned. What is the story your essay will tell? What is the point about your life, point of view, or personality it will make? What tone will you tell it with? Sketch out a detailed outline so that you can start filling in the pieces as we work through how to write the introductory sections. Baron Munchausen didn't know whether to tell his story sad that his horse had been cut in half, or delighted by knowing what would happen if half a horse drank from a fountain. How to Write the First Sentence of Your College Essay In general, your essay's first sentence should be either a mini-cliffhanger that sets up a situation the reader would like to see resolved, or really lush scene-setting that situates your audience in a place and time they can readily visualize. The former builds expectations and evokes curiosity, and the latter stimulates the imagination and creates a connection with the author. In both cases, you hit your goal of greater reader engagement. Now, I’m going to show you how these principles work for all types of first sentences, whether in college essays or in famous works of fiction. First Sentence Idea 1: Line of Quoted Direct Speech "Mum, I'm gay." (Ahmad Ashraf '17 for Connecticut College) The experience of coming out is raw and emotional, and the issue of LGBTQ rights is an important facet of modern life. This three-word sentence immediately sums up an enormous background of the personal and political. "You can handle it, Matt," said Mr. Wolf, my fourth-grade band teacher, as he lifted the heavy tuba and put it into my arms. (Matt Coppo ’07 for Hamilton College) This sentence conjures up a funny image- we can immediately picture the larger adult standing next to a little kid holding a giant tuba. It also does a little play on words: "handle it" can refer to both the literal tuba Matt is being asked to hold and the figurative stress of playing the instrument. First Sentence Idea 2: Punchy Short Sentence With One Grabby Detail I live alone- I always have since elementary school. (Kevin Zevallos '16 for Connecticut College) This opener definitely makes us want to know more. Why was he alone? Where were the protective grown-ups who surround most kids? How on earth could a little kid of 8-10 years old survive on his own? I have old hands. (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s nothing but questions here. What are "old" hands? Are they old-looking? Arthritic? How has having these hands affected the author? There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre) There’s immediately a feeling of disappointment and the stifled desire for action here. Who wanted to go for a walk? And why was this person being prevented from going? First Sentence Idea 3: Lyrical, Adjective-Rich Description of a Setting We met for lunch at El Burrito Mexicano, a tiny Mexican lunch counter under the Red Line "El" tracks. (Ted Mullin ’06 for Carleton College) Look at how much specificity this sentence packs in less than 20 words. Each noun and adjective is chosen for its ability to convey yet another detail. "Tiny" instead of "small" gives readers a sense of being uncomfortably close to other people and sitting at tables that don't quite have enough room for the plates. "Counter" instead of "restaurant" lets us immediately picture this work surface, the server standing behind it, and the general atmosphere. "Under the tracks" is a location deeply associated with being run down, borderline seedy, and maybe even dangerous. Maybe it's because I live in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where Brett Favre draws more of a crowd on Sunday than any religious service, cheese is a staple food, it's sub-zero during global warming, current "fashions" come three years after they've hit it big with the rest of the world, and where all children by the age of ten can use a 12-gauge like it's their job. (Riley Smith '12 for Hamilton College) This sentence manages to hit every stereotype about Wisconsin held by outsiders- football, cheese, polar winters, backwardness, and guns- and this piling on gives us a good sense of place while also creating enough hyperbole to be funny. At the same time, the sentence raises the tantalizing question: maybe what is because of Wisconsin? High, high above the North Pole, on the first day of 1969, two professors of English Literature approached each other at a combined velocity of 1200 miles per hour. (David Lodge, Changing Places) This sentence is structured in the highly specific style of a math problem, which makes it funny. However, at the heart of this sentence lies a mystery that grabs the reader's interest: why on earth would these two people be doing this? First Sentence Idea 4: Counterintuitive Statement To avoid falling into generalities with this one, make sure you're really creating an argument or debate with your counterintuitive sentence. If no one would argue with what you've said, then you aren't making an argument. ("The world is a wonderful place" and "Life is worth living" don't make the cut.) If string theory is really true, then the entire world is made up of strings, and I cannot tie a single one. (Joanna ’18 for Johns Hopkins University) There’s a great switch here from the sub-microscopic strings that make up string theory to the actual physical strings you can tie in real life. This sentence hints that the rest of the essay will continue playing with linked, albeit not typically connected, concepts. All children, except one, grow up. (J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan) In just six words, this sentence upends everything we think we know about what happens to human beings. First Sentence Idea 5: The End- Making the Rest of the Essay a Flashback I’ve recently come to the realization that community service just isn’t for me. (Kyla ’19 for Johns Hopkins University) This seems pretty bold- aren’t we supposed to be super into community service? Is this person about to declare herself to be totally selfish and uncaring about the less fortunate? We want to know the story that would lead someone to this kind of conclusion. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendà ­a was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. (Gabriel Garcà ­a Mrquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude) So many amazing details here. Why is the Colonel being executed? What does "discovering" ice entail? How does he go from ice-discoverer to military commander of some sort to someone condemned to capital punishment? First Sentence Idea 6: Direct Question to the Reader To work well, your question should be especially specific, come out of left field, or pose a surprising hypothetical. How does an agnostic Jew living in the Diaspora connect to Israel? (Essay #3 from Carleton College’s sample essays) This is a thorny opening, raising questions about the difference between being an ethnic Jew and practicing the religion of Judaism, and the obligations of Jews who live outside of Israel to those who live in Israel and vice versa. There's a lot of meat to this question, setting up a philosophically interesting, politically important, and personally meaningful essay. While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe? (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s a dreamy and sci-fi element to this first sentence, as it tries to find the sublime ("the universe") inside the prosaic ("daily path of life"). First Sentence Idea 7: Lesson You Learned From the Story You’re Telling One way to think about how to do this kind of opening sentence well is to model it on the morals that ended each Aesop's fable. The lesson you learned should be slightly surprising (not necessarily intuitive) and something that someone else might disagree with. Perhaps it wasn't wise to chew and swallow a handful of sand the day I was given my first sandbox, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. (Meagan Spooner ’07 for Hamilton College) The best part of this hilarious sentence is that even in retrospect, eating a handful of sand is only possibly an unwise idea- a qualifier achieved through that great "perhaps." So does that mean it was wise in at least some way to eat the sand? The reader wants to know more. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina) This immediately sets readers to mentally flip through every unhappy family they’ve ever known to double-check the narrator’s assertion. Did he draw the right conclusion here? How did he come to this realization? The implication that he will tell us all about some dysfunctional drama also has a rubbernecking draw. Now go! And let your first sentences soar like the Wright Brothers' first airplane! How to Write a Pivot Sentence in Your College Essay This is the place in your essay where you go from small to big- from the life experience you describe in detail to the bigger point this experience illustrates about your world and yourself. Typically, the pivot sentence will come at the end of your introductory section, about halfway through the essay. I say sentence, but this section could be more than one sentence (though ideally no longer than two or three). So how do you make the turn? Usually you indicate in your pivot sentence itself that you are moving from one part of the essay to another. This is called signposting, and it's a great way to keep readers updated on where they are in the flow of the essay and your argument. Here are three ways to do this, with real-life examples from college essays published by colleges. Pivot Idea 1: Expand the Time Frame In this pivot, you gesture out from the specific experience you describe to the overarching realization you had during it. Think of helper phrases such as "that was the moment I realized" and "never again would I." Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I’d been in this type of situation before. In fact, I’d been born into this type of situation. (Stephen '19 for Johns Hopkins University) This is a pretty great pivot, neatly connecting the story Stephen's been telling (about having to break into a car on a volunteering trip) and his general reliance on his own resourcefulness and ability to roll with whatever life throws at him. It's a double bonus that he accomplishes the pivot with a play on the word "click," which here means both the literal clicking of the car door latch and the figurative clicking his brain does. Note also how the pivot crystallizes the moment of epiphany through the word "suddenly," which implies instant insight. But in that moment I realized that the self-deprecating jokes were there for a reason. When attempting to climb the mountain of comedic success, I didn't just fall and then continue on my journey, but I fell so many times that I befriended the ground and realized that the middle of the metaphorical mountain made for a better campsite. Not because I had let my failures get the best of me, but because I had learned to make the best of my failures. (Rachel Schwartzbaum '19 for Connecticut College) This pivot similarly focuses on a "that moment" of illuminated clarity. In this case, it broadens Rachel's experience of stage fright before her standup comedy sets to the way she has more generally not allowed failures to stop her progress- and has instead been able to use them as learning experiences. Not only does she describe her humor as "self-deprecating," but she also demonstrates what she means with that great "befriended the ground" line. It was on this first educational assignment that I realized how much could be accomplished through an animal education program- more, in some cases, than the aggregate efforts of all of the rehabilitators. I found that I had been naive in my assumption that most people knew as much about wildlife as I did, and that they shared my respect for animals. (J.P. Maloney '07 for Hamilton College) This is another classically constructed pivot, as J.P. segues from his negative expectations about using a rehabilitated wild owl as an educational animal to his understanding of how much this kind of education could contribute to forming future environmentalists and nature lovers. The widening of scope happens at once as we go from a highly specific "first educational assignment" to the more general realization that "much" could be accomplished through these kinds of programs. Pivot Idea 2: Link the Described Experience With Others In this pivot, you draw a parallel between the life event that you've been describing in your very short story and other events that were similar in some significant way. Helpful phrases include "now I see how x is really just one of the many x’s I have faced," "in a way, x is a good example of the x-like situations I see daily," and "and from then on every time I ..." This state of discovery is something I strive for on a daily basis. My goal is to make all the ideas in my mind fit together like the gears of a Swiss watch. Whether it's learning a new concept in linear algebra, talking to someone about a programming problem, or simply zoning out while I read, there is always some part of my day that pushes me towards this place of cohesion: an idea that binds together some set of the unsolved mysteries in my mind. (Aubrey Anderson '19 for Tufts University) After cataloging and detailing the many interesting thoughts that flow through her brain in a specific hour, Aubrey uses the pivot to explain that this is what every waking hour is like for her "on a daily basis." She loves learning different things and finds a variety of fields fascinating. And her pivot lets us know that her example is a demonstration of how her mind works generally. This was the first time I’ve been to New Mexico since he died. Our return brought so much back for me. I remembered all the times we’d visited when I was younger, certain events highlighted by the things we did: Dad haggling with the jewelry sellers, his minute examination of pots at a trading post, the affection he had for chilies. I was scared that my love for the place would be tainted by his death, diminished without him there as my guide. That fear was part of what kept my mother and me away for so long. Once there, though, I was relieved to realize that Albuquerque still brings me closer to my father. (Essay #1 from Carleton College’s sample essays) In this pivot, one very painful experience of visiting a place filled with sorrowful memories is used as a way to think about "all the other times" the author had been to New Mexico. The previously described trip after the father's death pivots into a sense of the continuity of memory. Even though he is no longer there to "guide," the author's love for the place itself remains. Pivot Idea 3: Extract and Underline a Trait or Value In this type of pivot, you use the experience you've described to demonstrate its importance in developing or zooming in on one key attribute. Here are some ways to think about making this transition: "I could not have done it without characteristic y, which has helped me through many other difficult moments," or "this is how I came to appreciate the importance of value z, both in myself and in those around me." My true reward of having Stanley is that he opened the door to the world of botany. I would never have invested so much time learning about the molecular structure or chemical balance of plants if not for taking care of him. (Michaela '19 for Johns Hopkins University) In this tongue-in-cheek essay in which Michaela writes about Stanley, a beloved cactus, as if "he" has human qualities and is her child, the pivot explains what makes this plant so meaningful to its owner. Without having to "take care of him," Michaela "would never have invested so much time learning" about plant biology. She has a deep affinity for the natural sciences and attributes her interest at least partly to her cactus. By leaving me free to make mistakes and chase wild dreams, my father was always able to help ground me back in reality. Personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments are all values that are etched into my mind, just as they are within my father’s. (Olivia Rabbitt '16 for Connecticut College) In Olivia's essay about her father's role in her life, the pivot discusses his importance by explaining his deep impact on her values. Olivia has spent the story part of her essay describing her father's background and their relationship. Now, she is free to show how without his influence, she would not be so strongly committed to "personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments." Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. A great pivot is like great parkour- sharp, fast, and coming on a slightly unexpected curve. (Peter Waterman/Flickr) College Essay Introduction Examples We've collected many examples of college essays published by colleges and offered a breakdown of how several of them are put together. Now, let's check out a couple of examples of actual college essay beginnings to show you how and why they work. Sample Intro 1 A blue seventh place athletic ribbon hangs from my mantel. Every day, as I walk into my living room, the award mockingly congratulates me as I smile. Ironically, the blue seventh place ribbon resembles the first place ribbon in color; so, if I just cover up the tip of the seven, I may convince myself that I championed the fourth heat. But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place. Two years ago, I joined the no-cut swim team. That winter, my coach unexpectedly assigned me to swim the 500 freestyle. After stressing for hours about swimming 20 laps in a competition, I mounted the blocks, took my mark, and swam. Around lap 14, I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. "I must be winning!" I thought to myself. However, as I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans, I looked up at the score board. I had finished my race in last place. In fact, I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes. (From "The Unathletic Department" by Meghan ’17 for Johns Hopkins University) Why Intro Sample 1 Works Here are some of the main reasons that this essay's introduction is super effective. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence The sentence is short but still does some scene setting with the descriptive "blue" and the location "from my mantel." It introduces a funny element with "seventh place"- why would that bad of a showing even get a ribbon? It dangles information just out of reach, making the reader want to know more: what was this an award for? Why does this definitively non-winning ribbon hang in such a prominent place of pride? #2: It Has Lots of Detail In the intro, we get physical actions: "cover up the tip," "mounted the blocks," "looked around at the other lanes," "lifted my arms up," and "stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes." We also get words conveying emotion: "mockingly congratulates me as I smile," "unexpectedly assigned," and "stressing for hours." Finally, we get descriptive specificity in the precise word choice: "from my mantel" and "my living room" instead of simply "in my house," and "lap 14" instead of "toward the end of the race." #3: It Explains the Stakes Even though everyone can imagine the lap pool, not everyone knows exactly what the "500 freestyle" race is. Meghan elegantly explains the difficulty by describing herself freaking out over "swimming 20 laps in a competition," which helps us to picture the swimmer going back and forth many times. #4: It Has Great Storytelling We basically get a sports commentary play-by-play here. Even though we already know the conclusion- Meghan came in 7th- she still builds suspense by narrating the race from her point of view as she was swimming it. She's nervous for a while, and then she starts the race. Close to the end, she starts to think everything is going well ("I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. 'I must be winning!' I thought to myself."). Everything builds to an expected moment of great triumph ("I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans") but ends in total defeat ("I had finished my race in last place"). Not only that, but the mildly clichà ©d sports hype is hilariously undercut by reality ("I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes"). #5: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the time expansion method of pivoting: "But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place." Coming last in the race was something that happened once, but the award is now an everyday experience of humility. The rest of the essay explores what it means for Meghan to constantly see this reminder of failure and to transform it into a sense of acceptance of her imperfections. Notice also that in this essay, the pivot comes before the main story, helping us "hear" the narrative in the way she wants us to. Sample Intro 2 "Biogeochemical. It’s a word, I promise!" There are shrieks and shouts in protest and support. Unacceptable insults are thrown, degrees and qualifications are questioned, I think even a piece of my grandmother’s famously flakey parantha whizzes past my ear. Everyone is too lazy to take out a dictionary (or even their phones) to look it up, so we just hash it out. And then, I am crowned the victor, a true success in the Merchant household. But it is fleeting, as the small, glossy, plastic tiles, perfectly connected to form my winning word, are snatched out from under me and thrown in a pile with all the disgraced, "unwinning" tiles as we mix for our next game of Bananagrams. It’s a similar donnybrook, this time ending with my father arguing that it is okay to use "Rambo" as a word (it totally is not). Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life: from silly games like Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite "word game," to stunted communication between opposing grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language; from trying to understand the cheesemonger behind the counter with a deep southern drawl (I just want some Camembert!), to shaping a script to make people laugh. Words are moving and changing; they have influence and substance. From an Essay by Shaan Merchant ‘19 for Tufts University Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Why Intro Sample 2 Works Let's take a look at what qualities make this essay's introduction particularly memorable. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence With the first sentence, we are immediately thrust into the middle of the action- into an exciting part of an argument about whether "biogeochemical" is really a word. We're also immediately challenged. Is this a word? Have I ever heard it before? Does a scientific neologism count as a word? #2: It Shows Rather Than Tells Since the whole essay is going to be about words, it makes sense for Shaan to demonstrate his comfort with all different kinds of language: Complex, elevated vocabulary, such as "biogeochemical" and "donnybrook" Foreign words, such as "parantha" and "Camembert" Colorful descriptive words, such as "shrieks and shouts," "famously flakey, "whizzes past," and "hash it out" "Fake" words, such as "unwinning" and "Rambo" What’s great is that Shaan is able to seamlessly mix the different tones and registers these words imply, going from cerebral to funny and back again. #3: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the value-extraction style of pivot: "Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life." After we see an experience linking Shaan’s clear love of his family with an interest in word games, he clarifies that this is exactly what the essay will be about- using a very straightforward pivoting sentence. #4: It Piles On Examples to Avoid Vagueness The danger of this kind of pivot sentence is slipping into vague, uninformative statements, such as "I love words." To avoid making a generalization the tells us nothing, the essay builds a list of examples of times when Shaan saw the way that words connect people: games ("Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite ‘word game,’"), his mixed-language family ("grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language"), encounters with strangers ("from trying to understand the cheesemonger"), and finally the more active experience of performing ("shaping a script to make people laugh"). But the essay stops short of giving so many examples that the reader drowns. I'd say three to five examples is a good range- as long as they're all different kinds of the same thing. Several keys offer a good chance of unlocking a door; a giant pile of keys is its own unsolvable maze. The Bottom Line: How to Start a College Essay The college essay introduction should hook your reader and make her want to know more and read more. Good personal statement introductions will contain the following features: A killer first line A detailed description of an experience from your life A pivot to the bigger picture, in which you explain why and how this experience has shaped you, your point of view, and/or your values. You don’t have to write the introduction first, and you certainly don’t have to write your first sentence first. Instead, start by developing your story by telling it out loud to a friend. You can then work on your first sentence and your pivot. The first sentence should either be short, punchy, and carry some ambiguity or questions, or be a detailed and beautiful description setting an easily pictured scene. The pivot, on the other hand, should answer the question, "How does the story you’ve told connect to a larger truth or insight about you?" What’s Next? Wondering what to make of the Common Application essay prompts? We have the complete list of this year’s Common App prompts with explanations of what each is asking as well as a guide to picking the Common App prompt that’s perfect for you. Thinking of applying to the University of California system? Check out our detailed guide on how to approach their essay prompts and craft your ideal UC essay. If you’re in the middle of the essay-writing process, you’ll want to see our suggestions on what essay pitfalls to avoid. Working on the rest of your college application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Learning to Fly How to Become a Flight Attendant

Learning to Fly How to Become a Flight Attendant ever since commercial flying became a travel option for the masses, the role of flight attendant has been one full of appeal and mystique. travel the world! smile brightly as you usher people through the aggravations and indignities of modern travel! it sounds great, right? even as air travel has become both more common and more complicated, the flight attendants still have an air of glamour about them. their job is to make sure we’re safe and happy as we sit in a steel sky bus for hours at a time, and they do it well. idealized dreams of travel and adventure are one thing, and a solid career path is another. if you’re not prone to airsickness, and don’t mind the idea of traveling almost constantly, this really can be a great line of work for you. now that we’ve thankfully moved beyond the days of barbie-esque flight attendants with short skirts and even shorter career spans due to â€Å"aging out,† the flight attendant world is bigger and more dive rse than ever before. let’s take a look at what it takes to become a flight attendant.the benefitsagain, the passport stamps are nice, but being a flight attendant comes with a pretty appealing set of pluses. according to the flight academy, most airlines offer their flight attendants:paid, on-the-job trainingmedical, dental, and life insurancea 401(k) retirement planlong-term disability coverageperformance-based bonusespaid vacation and holidaysdiscounts on other travel and hospitality servicesthe qualificationsalthough restrictions on age and weight have loosened over the years, there may be some limited physical requirements, born out of working in a small space and needing to be mobile for hours at a time on a moving aircraft. typically, flight attendants are physically:4’11†³- 6’4† tall (requirements vary according to airline requirements), with weight proportional.19 to 60  years old.without tattoos, facial piercings, or other obvious body mod ifications.able to wear contacts if they have vision issues.neat in appearance and well-groomed.able to stay on their feet for long periods of time.there are also usually minimum educational, experience, and language requirements. depending on a particular airline’s policies, flight attendants will likely need to be:a u.s. citizen or able to work legally in the u.s., if applying for a u.s.-based airline.free of a criminal background, particularly felonies.fluent in english.a high school graduate, ged recipient, or higher.well-versed in customer service.adept at problem solving on the fly (pun intended).although the image of a cookie cutter flight attendants are more a relic of the mad men era, each airline may have additional appearance standards for their customer-facing flight attendants.the decisionif you meet these initial criteria, your next step is to decide whether you want to move forward with becoming a flight attendant. questions you should consider:can you pass a c riminal background check and a drug test?can you work in tight spaces and stay mobile for extended periods of time?can you sell in-flight services and products on behalf of your airline?do you possess strong customer service skills? (meaning, are you likely to keep your cool when people are less-than civil in a contained space?)are you willing to learn and perform basic emergency medical and lifesaving skills as necessary (anti-choking maneuvers, cpr, etc.)?are you willing to relocate as necessary, travel frequently, and be away from home?are you willing to work unpredictable shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays?can you commit to a rigorous training program?if the answer to any of those questions is â€Å"no,† then perhaps it’s time to look at a different career path. but if you’re full of â€Å"yes†es all the way down the list, then the next step is looking at what it takes to become a flight attendant.the trainingairlines typically have in-h ouse training programs, but there are also independent educational programs (like this one) that coach you on the daily tasks and responsibilities of the job, as well as teaching necessary skills like cpr/first aid, crisis management, customer service, and more.all flight attendants need to be certified by the federal aviation administration (faa). this certification typically follows the intensive 3 – 6 week training course offered by the hiring airline. as they get closer to completing their training, flight attendants go on test flights before they can receive their faa certificate of demonstrated proficiency.the outlookaccording to the u.s. bureau of labor statistics, the median salary for flight attendants is $44,860 per year, with about average growth over the next ten years.if you have people skills and a roaming spirit, becoming a flight attendant could be a fantastic career option for you. what do you think- are you ready to take to the skies for your next big career opportunity?looking to start a career as a flight attendant, or find a new job in the field? search for flight attendant jobs in your area of the country. happy flying!

Law of International Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Law of International Trade - Essay Example The two agreed that payment would be done through a letter of credit, through a bank that the two parties would agree on. However, on Feb 17, 2012, NASS suggested to MSC that they could transfer the goods through the M/S Speedy Delivery, which was already at the port of Mumbai. The two CEOs agreed on how this would be done. The challenge During loading the goods to the ship, it is indicated that the crane snapped causing loss of 1,000 units instantly. However, upon leaving the port, the Master M/S Speedy Delivery recorded that all the materials, which had been requested by NASS, had been loaded on the ship. This is despite the fact that 1,000 units had already accidentally dropped in water and therefore, remaining only 9,000 units. On March 20, 2012, Somalia pirates attacked the ship where 3,000 units of speakers were stolen. In the process of struggle, further 1,000 units were destroyed. This was a loss that had not been anticipated by any of the parties in the contract. In addition to this loss, it is indicated that as the ship left for Southampton, it faced challenges at the Mediterranean Sea. Due to dangerous and unexpected waves, about 1,000 more units were lost. The remaining units (4,000) arrived at the Southampton Port on 10th, April 2012. According to the NASS representatives at the port, only 9,000 units had been loaded in the ship before it left from Mumbai. This was against had been indicated in the bill of lading. Of the 4,000 units delivered, only 3,000 were functional. The inspectors indicated that the 1,000 units, which were malfunctioned, could trace their defect from the manufacturing company in Mumbai. For that reason, NASS has the right to make claims for damages both from the owners of the ship and the manufacturing company. Question 1 you are a trainee solicitor in a Golden Circle law firm in London. You have been asked by the Chair of the International Sale Contracts Department of the law firm to explain what rights, if any, NASS may have against MSC in respect of the breach, if any, of the international sale of goods contract entered into between the CEOs of both corporations. The Chair does not want you to consider the breach, if any, of any carriage of goods contract by the owner(s) of the M/S Speedy Delivery, nor the Rome 1 Regulation of the European Union. In the above statement of the case, it is clear that NASS is guaranteed compensation by both the owners of the ship and the exporting company. The losses suffered could be attributed to the mistakes by both the owners of the ship and the exporters. From the terms and conditions of sale, the contract will only remain valid if all goods delivered to NASS were quality goods. However, upon inspection by NASS, 1,000 units of goods delivered were found to be defective. This is a good ground for the company to sue for damages. In international trade laws, the importing companies would receive compensation through two main ways. Firstly, the 1,000 units which were ma lfunctioned could be replaced with quality others. For that reason, MSC would be required to compensate NASS by providing 1,000 units. This owes to the fact that the company was to blame for the malfunctioned goods. Secondly, NASS has a right to ask for a refund of amount equivalent to that of the malfunctioned goods. As indicated in the agreement, each of the unit was to cost 400 pounds. With 1000 units destroyed, NASS has a right