Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Lab Report on milk co-motion. Sample

Lab Report on milk co-movement. Paper At the point when cleanser is added to drain and the food shading, the non-polar closures of the cleanser atoms pulls in towards the non-polar fat of milk, and the communication of the cleanser with the fat in milk delights the food shading to twirl around. At whatever point the cleanser contacts the milk, it separates the drops of fat, which spread out, permitting the food shading and milk to blend. The food shading whirls into the spots where the fat was. Cleanser atoms break down fat of milk by having one hydrophobic end (which interfaces well with the fat) and one hydrophilic end (which communicates well fluid piece of the milk). 2. How might the aftereffects of this analysis contrast if: a)Skim milk was utilized? (Milk from which the cream (fat) has been taken is called skimmed milk. ) If skim milk was utilized, the drops of food shading would scattered in milk without the need of cleanser since all the fats has been removed from milk and it permits the food shading to break down in it. )Homogenates milk was utilized? (Homogenates milk is the milk wherein all the fat are blended with the goal that it doesn't ascend on the top) Fat is insoluble in water. Water-solvent food hues will spread and break up in water, yet their movement would be moderate if homogenates milk was utilized, in light of the fact that milk contains globules of fat, the fat that is blended in. The twirling and agitating movement would be somewhat because of the fascination among cleanser and the milks fat articles. 3. Examination emulsifying specialists and how they are utilized in the food in the food business? We will compose a custom article test on Lab Report on milk co-movement. explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom exposition test on Lab Report on milk co-movement. explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom exposition test on Lab Report on milk co-movement. explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer EMULSIFIER A fixing used to tie oil solvent and water dissolvable fixings. Substances that are dissolvable in both fat and water and empower fat to be consistently scattered in water are emulsifiers. Emulsifying operators utilized in nourishments incorporate agar, egg whites, alginates, casein, egg yolk, glycerol religious communities, gums, Irish greenery, lecithin, cleansers. Emulsifying operators work by decreasing surface strain, shaping complex movies on the outside of emulsified beads and making awful obstruction on emulsified beads to forestall their mixture. . What is an emulsifying specialist in the body? Clarify how it functions? Emulsifying operator in the body: The emulsifying specialist in the human body is bile. It is a harsh, soluble, caramel yellow or greenish-yellow liquid that is emitted by the liver, put away in the gallbladder, and released into the duodenum. Bile contains bile acids, which are basic for processing and retention of fats and fat-dissolvable nutrien ts in the small digestive system. Many waste items are disposed of from the body by discharge into bile and end in dung.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

9 Resume Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb by Lauren Gartner

9 Resume Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb 9 Resume Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb What is a resume? It isn't something you convey that rundowns your professional training and your instructive foundation, in the expectations that somebody will understand it and figure you may be useful for a meeting. A resume is a promoting apparatus, and you need to get into the â€Å"feel† of showcasing on the off chance that you are going to sell yourself on a bit of paper. Resume Designs and Formats Resume structures have changed, and you can change your plan dependent on the sort of association to which you are applying †traditionalist, moderate, genuinely dynamic, and â€Å"out there.† These are things you can find out about anyplace. The other thing about resumes today is that you can organize your experience data in a few unique manners †you don’t need to go with the standard sequential request fundamentally. Once more, you can discover instances of a wide range of arrangements on the web, and great suggestions about which to utilize subordinate upon your conditions and the associations to which you are applying. Imbecilic Mistakes You may have the best, most-attractive structure and the ideal configuration fit for a position opening, however in the event that you commit any of these imbecilic errors, your work will locate its next home in â€Å"resume heaven.† Putting an Objective at the Top of Your Resume Goals are good for nothing since they don't address what you can offer the association; they just address what you need. A potential manager doesn’t care about what you need. S/he needs somebody who can be an issue solver for the association. On the off chance that you should have a feature, and those are a great idea to have once in a while, cause it about the particular position and what you to can bring to that position. Long Prose and Sentences Consider it. When you need to peruse something rapidly, what would you like to see? You need to see short sentences and expressions, visual cues, and extremely significant stuff in strong or underlined. An analyst of our resume is the same. Quick track your achievements with activity action words, expressions, and projectiles. Connecting to All of Your Social Media Accounts Who cares in the event that you are on Facebook †so is a large portion of humankind. On the off chance that a potential boss needs to get to your page, s/he will. Presently, on the off chance that you have an extremely incredible LinkedIn profile or an online portfolio, at that point that is very another story. Unquestionably, connection to those. Linguistic Errors and Typos Your school teachers didn’t like sentence structure mix-ups, and continue analysts don’t either. You look either extremely lethargic or compositionally tested. You don’t need to â€Å"look† either. Along these lines, check your resume a lot of times for any English missteps and have another person check it as well. Lying You absolutely need to paint yourself as somebody who has achieved a great deal, particularly in those particular regions remembered for the activity posting. However, exaggerating your achievements, misrepresenting your instructive execution, expressing you surrendered when you were ended †these things have a method of getting up to speed, particularly when historical verifications, references, and online research can uncover to such an extent. In the event that you don’t need to state you were terminated, don’t. You can discuss the conditions during the meeting in the event that you are inquired. Excessively Long Toning it down would be ideal with regards to resumes. Be compact, and brief. At the point when you address achievements, stop with the clothing records. Incorporate those that straightforwardly identify with the position you are looking for. In the event that there isn’t a great fit, at that point list the most critical ones. There will be a great opportunity to address the others during a meeting on the off chance that they become applicable. Great general guideline: If you don’t have a ton of work understanding, one page is the maximum; in the event that you are an increasingly prepared proficient with a few positions and additionally various long periods of business, two pages ought to be the maximum. Same Words Over and Over How frequently would you be able to state â€Å"developed,† or â€Å"organized,† or â€Å"lead,† or â€Å"produced?† In a resume, the appropriate response is many! Discover a few equivalent words for words that you are utilizing again and again †perhaps some that â€Å"pop† or include some â€Å"sparkle.† Utilizing Passive Voice You need to give the feeling that you make a move; you do that with activity action words. All achievements that you rundown should start with an activity action word (not the word â€Å"I† either). â€Å"Increased deals by 15% over a time of one quarter;† â€Å"Created new promoting systems which expanded changes by 46%.† Now you’re an activity figure! Inability to Customize On the off chance that you don’t tweak your resume for each position, utilizing watchwords that will be gotten via robotized screening instruments, at that point you won’t look idiotic to somebody checking on your resume. Your resume will never make it to that somebody. Any peruser can choose conventional resumes †they are ambiguous and don't address points of interest of the position s/he has accessible †erased! Utilize the data accessible to you with respect to plan and configuration. At that point experience this rundown and ensure that you are not submitting the deadly blunders that will execute your odds for a meeting.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Heart of Darkness1 essays

Heart of Darkness1 expositions Heart of Darkness is a novel of unbelievable revulsions and activities that lie outside the human brain. It depicts a keeps an eye on (Marlowe) journey on a West African stream to locate an individual, Kurtz. The genuine excursion really is towards the core of haziness, where it takes Marlowe by proof of European outrage towards the locals. Marlowe needs to see this land for himself, he doesn't exactly have confidence in himself of what is to be sure there. This story alludes to detestations that Marlowe is unequipped for portraying, which thus leaves the peruser to envision activities that are outside of typical, regular day to day existence. The journey that Marlowe has taken has been long and debilitating. Its an undertaking for him; he has encountered a lot of showdown with the locals, wilderness threats, and merciless viciousness. There is no enthusiasm of the people who lie here, for they are incredibly abused. However to them, this is typical human conduct; nothing has been done any other way. No place did we stop sufficiently long to get a particularized impression, however the general sense of unclear and abusive marvel developed upon me. It resembled an exhausted journey among This depicts Marlowes journey to the core of dimness, the strict heart of haziness, Africa, in a manner of speaking. He was completely cautioned against, and very much aware of the underhanded he would experience; notwithstanding, he decided to overlook that perspective in endeavors to fulfill his interest. Here, the creator is moreover saying something regarding human instinct when all is said in done. Human interest in an obscure spot can make one go too far of humanized human conduct and enter a universe of bad dreams. Marlowe needed to see it just for himself; however what made it most interesting was this land was something he had never experienced. He realized he would be a fatigued journey among clues for bad dreams, however he needed to demonstrate s ... <!

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

How to Write an HBS MBA Essay Sample

How to Write an HBS MBA Essay SampleWhen you're just starting out in life, one of the most important things that you can do is to learn how to write an HBS MBA Essay Sample. Some people think that just because a business school has MBA as part of their curriculum, they don't need to take a business writing course. This couldn't be further from the truth.Students who are entering business schools to take the MBA program want to know how to write an HBS MBA Essay Sample so that they can get the attention of admissions officers and the faculty. Without an HBS MBA Essay Sample, they may not get admitted into the business school of their choice. With this article, you will learn some tips that will help you in writing an HBS MBA Essay Sample.A business school needs different types of essays that it accepts each year. In fact, most business schools require an essay to include different subjects, depending on the type of business school that their admission. To make it easier for students t o remember what they have to do when they enter the essay, the format of an HBS MBA Essay Sample will also differ from school to school. Here are some HBS MBA Essay Sample formats that you might come across when doing research for your MBA admissions:You'll be able to find the different essays when you do research for your MBA application. The first question that you will ask yourself is: How much time will I have to prepare? If the answer is too short, you may consider saving money by choosing a less-conventional format and sticking with it through the process.Writing a HBS MBA Essay Sample is a challenge that will demand that you are creative with your writing. You will need to incorporate your personality and talents into the whole business writing process, so that you are able to stand out from other candidates and make it easy for admissions officers to pick you out of the crowd.Make sure that you are familiar with the rules of an MBA essay. This is a requirement that a busines s school will use to select students that will attend their MBA program, so you'll want to know how to write an HBS MBA Essay Sample before writing it.For every subject that you write about, be sure to include the key words, and facts and figures that will relate to the essay. Keep your essay short so that you will have enough space to discuss the important points that are going to help you with your MBA admissions. If you can fit all the information that you have to offer into the space provided, then that is better for your MBA application.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay about Nelson Mandela’s Childhood Defined His Identity

When a child is born, he knows little about the world that he will spend the rest of his life in. Through experiences as a young child – such as experiences with parents, culture, family values, etc. – it is possible for one’s childhood environment to shape many aspects of his life. Indeed, one could argue that a childhood environment can greatly influence how one will spend the rest of one’s life. The life of Nelson Mandela is an interesting example of this ideology. In his case, the connection between childhood and life is special and goes even further than the first instinctive connections that often come to mind. When one examines the interesting details the childhood of Nelson Mandela, one is compelled to conclude†¦show more content†¦But while the British tended to adopt a policy of benign neglect, the inclusion of a highly discriminatory â€Å"colour bar clause† in the Union Act sowed the seeds of black protest, opposition, and revolution. What followed was blatant discrimination, which included the introduction of blacks-only territorial reserves under the Natives Land Act of 1913, more stringent enforcement of the system to restrict blacks from entering urban areas, and the disenfranchisement of blacks (Gibson, 34). Mandela earned a law degree from University of South African in 1942 and he was a prominent member of Johannesburg’s African National Congress (ANC). In 1952, he became ANC deputy national president advocating nonviolent resistance to apartheid (racial segregation). However, after a group of peaceful demonstrators were massacred in 1960, Mandela organized a paramilitary branch of the ANC to carry out guerrilla warfare against the oppressive government. After being acquitted in 1962 on charges of treason, he was arrested in 1964, convicted of sabotage, and sentenced to life in prison, where he became the leading symbol of South Africa’s black majority. Mandela was released in 1990 after over twenty years of imprisonment as an expression of President DeKlerk’s commitment to change. He was later elected as the President of South Africa. Mandela and DeKlerk were jointly awarded the peace prize in 1993 (Wesley).Show MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesUniversity, for their work on the supplement on making oral and written presentations; Gretchen Spreitzer of the University of Southern California for her work on the chapter on gaining power and influence; Richard M. Steers of the University of Oregon for his work on the motivation chapter; Pat Seybolt and Troy Nielsen of the University of Utah for their work on the chapter on managing conflict; Cathy German of Miami University for her assistance in revising Supplement A, and John Tropman, University of

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Price of Unethical Behavior

Questions: Prepare a paper in which you evaluate the Tyco International case study provided in Kaplan (2009)and Stephen et al. (2012). Be sure to address the following in your paper: Briefly summarize the historical scenario surrounding Tyco International. How do you think the spending and the loans were able to go on for so long? Evaluate the outcome of events. Was the punishment justified? Why or why not? Is it difficult for us to see ethical breaches that we ourselves commit? Answers: Introduction: There are several ways to define ethics, which are linked with morality. Any organizations code of ethics would be valuable. Organizational ethics embrace the moral principle to develop the ethical standards of employees, workers and top most managers. This principle just moved beyond the accepted values to behave constantly in a moral way. It is not only just appearing to be moral, but acting morally. As a natural fact, it is important that each corporation, firm and professional organizations must have ethical guidelines. AICPA, PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board), IMA and the SEC, these all are having their own code of ethics, which are based upon moral principle. This code of moral principle need to be prompted widely, so that both the inside and outside stakeholders become aware to take permission on their actions being constituents of the organization. It is also necessary that the CEOs, directors or the other top managers should clearly state about the personal responsibility and their code of ethics to the all employers, clients, investors and vendors. Summarization on the historical scenario surrounding Tyco International: In 1960, Tyco Inc. was formed as a holding and investment company with the two segments: Tyco Semiconductors and the Materials Research laboratory. In 1970 stock holders and sales equity reached $15million and $34 million respectively. In 1980 Tyco management focused on the acquisition of subsidiaries. Tyco divided the company into three business segments. Dennis Kozolowski became the CEO of the Tyco International and adaptation of aggressive acquisition strategy is made by the company again in 1990. Tycos aggressive strategy continued till 2000 purchasing general surgical innovation. In The 2001, the fiscal year, Mallinckrodt Inc. is acquired by the Tyco Complexity grew within Tycos subsidiaries, in January 2002 A scandal occurred due to the dishonesty of CEO (Dennis) on February 3, 2003. After removing the scandal, Tyco made international moves in 2003, within the company and formed its Adhesives and plastic business segments. To enhance the consumer awareness and to revive the corporate image Tyco launched a global print-advertising campaign in June 2004. In 2005 VSNL acquired Tyco Global Network from Tyco International for $130 million. Tycos revenue downfall caused about $17 billion by the end of the fiscal year 2006. Though there was a strong cash flow, decreased debt and growing revenue, Tyco and its board of director give approval to separate Tyco into three segments. In June 2007, there was a corporate separation of Tyco which split the company into three independent companies: Covidien Ltd. (Tyco Healthcare), Tyco International (Tyco Engineered products, Fire and Security services) and TE Connectivity Ltd. (Tyco Electronics). In the past years Dennis was considered as the highest paid and most celebrated CEOs. With a market cap of $1.5 billion, Dennis named a company as TYCO from backwater manufacturer into industrial conglomerate, which is worth more than $100 billion. He was lauded as one of the top 25 managers of the year. In 2002, it was time when fall came. Dennis was accused by the Manhattan district attorney for the cheating of 1 million in sales tax on his art purchases. This led to a larger investigation made by DA and Tyco board on Dennis. With the following year Dennis was found to cheat his company over hundreds of millions of dollars, which includes unauthorized bonus also. Dennis was sentenced to prison for anindeterminate period of 8 to 25 years. Reason behind the spending and loans weretaken for so long: According to the Tyco Fraud Information center, there were accounting errors but there was no fraud problem. Tycos CEO, Dennis Koslowski was accused with other top managers of giving themselves loans with low interest or without interest, which are not approved by the Tyco board. Some of these loans were part of key employee loan program offered by the company. They were also accused of selling their stocks, without telling the investors. These are the reason behind to spend and to take loans were so easy for Dennis and other top managers for so long. Evaluation of the outcome of the event: As an outcome of this event, people, who have destroyed Bear Streams, Lehman or AIG, are now spending time with the Dennis behind the bar. After being removed from the scandal, Tyco made international moves in 2003 within the company by forming its adhesives business segments. Other changes also took place in Tycos corporate governance (Stephens, Vance, and Pettegrew, 2015). Tycos board chose John Krol as the lead director. Tycos board adopted new governance principles and policies on delegation of authority, which in turn strengthened the control over the disbursements of cash within the company (Brown, 2005). Then the final improvement took place on corporate governance, which has come under the guidance of the Ethical Conduct. The guidance was imposed to make the employees aware about the correct procedures and to give warning for unethical behavior and practices (Tyco to split into 3 separate companies, 2006). Opinion over the justification of the punishment: The punishment was not justified. Though, bail was not granted to Dennis due to not having access to the prosecutorial evidence. The New York governor has the power to give mercy and criminals are released on parole, in an indeterminate sentence a vast discretion is there, such as, based on good behavior Dennis could be released in a couple of years (Gardiner, 2006). Still it is a fact that Tyco always remains strong as WorldCom and Enron, whose downfall is caused by its leaders. The Shareholders, workers get affected too (Clarke, 2011). Our possibilities to see and to commit the ethical breaches: A study by Touche and Deloitte in 2009 indicated that a large number of teenagers suffer from the contradiction on ethical readiness for workforce. There are 80% of teens, who appreciated their confidence for being prepared to take ethical decision in future; even they are able to accept their unethical behavior in present. There are only 25% of teens, who have admitted that they would be very likely to revel knowledge of unethical behavior in the work font (Dresser-Rand buys valve business from Tyco, 2007). These are not only cases; in the case of the parents, they do not even want to accept the possibility that their children can do anything wrong (Johnson, 2012). Even when their children are fully admit their unethical act. Some teachers and the school administrators punish student for their classroom misdeeds (Kaplan, 2015). This situation may lead to leave the profession or taking the other way to make the students realized about their misdeeds. There are few cases, where no accountability for the misdeed, allows students to cheat them without the punishment and they started believing that cheating is an acceptable activity (Ferrara and LaMeau, 2012). Conclusion: Ethics says about the individual value system started developing while the education of a person reaches to the college and further education contribute a little to bring out the changes. There are varieties of reason, to the people, who performs unethical acts. Kohlberg made classification on cognitive frameworks to divide ethical behavior into 6 categories, which are considered as a 6 levels of moral reasoning, they are- stage one indicates being ethical for fear of being punished. Stage two describes being ethical is out of concern. Stage three describes to be ethical for the peer pressure to do the same. Stage four says to ethical due to the rules, laws, regulations and standards, Stage five describes social responsibility for being ethical out of concern to do good for others. Lastly stage six describes the concern for the moral principle and knowing the correct thing to do. References Brown, M. (2005). Corporate integrity. New York: Cambridge University Press. Dresser-Rand buys valve business from Tyco. (2007). World Pumps, 2007(489), p.6. Ferrara, M. and LaMeau, M. (2012). Corporate disasters. Detroit: Gale, Cengage Learning. Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. and Ferrell, L. (2010). Business ethics. Mason, Ohio: South-Western, Cengage learning. Gardiner, S. (2006). A Perfect Moral Storm: Climate Change, Intergenerational Ethics and the Problem of Moral Corruption. Environmental Values, 15(3), pp.397-413. Gavai, A. (2010). Business ethics. Mumbai [India]: Himalaya Pub. House. Johnson, C. (2012). Organizational ethics. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications. Kaplan, D. (2015). KOZ MAKES HIS CASE. Fortune, 160(11), pp.14-16. Stephens,, W., Vance,, C. and Pettegrew,, L. (2015). Embracing Ethics and Morality. The CPA Journal, 82(1). Tyco to split into 3 separate companies. (2006). Pump Industry Analyst, 2006(1), p.16.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

The Relationship between Advertising Industry and Media in 20th Century free essay sample

Introduction Advertising is a key for the economy of consumers. Without it, people would face difficulty knowing what services and products are available. Adverting indeed is vital to a prosperous social order. It is also the financial basis of important contemporary mass media (John Vivian, 1997: 315). Advertising performs the dual role of informing and entertaining in the media. It informs us of the products and services that are available for us to buy and use. Along the way, it also entertains us with some amusement, witty, or clever use of words and photos. Media advertising has another vital function. It helps offset the price of the media communication itself to customers. If we didn’t have ads on radio or television, the expense of programming would need to return through taxes, government monies, or sponsorships (Helen Katz, 2003: 5-7). Advertisers know the value of product placement. As the personal media turned into the standard and mass media fragment, advertisers are again trying how they reach consumers. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Advertising Industry and Media in 20th Century or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page More dollars of total advertising budgets are diverted to more targeted technologies while a smaller percentage will be spent on traditional media. Data mining and personalized electronic approaches are increasingly critical to marketplace success. Researchers and advertisers used data mining process to see what websites a person visits, what media the consumer uses, what did she/he buy and other to uncover economic data and demographic to define and classify prospective customers. Looking out databases for prior purchase information and assumptions concerning spending habits based on each home’s location, provides advertisers with clues on how to focus on specific customers (Peter B. et al, 2007. P. 254). For many decades, the newspaper, magazine, radio and television media have been the main sources for manufacturers to advertise their products (Wilson, James and Wilson, Stan Le Roy. 998. P. 319). In this essay, we are going to find out how has the relationship between media and advertising changed in 20th century? And how both worked together? Our focus will be on radio, television and Internet, because they came to exist in 20th century and had a big influence on the world of advertising. After giving a short history of advertising, we will discuss them one by one. History of Advertising The first advertising was oral, in ancient times used by barkers in the marketplace shouting the wares of merchants. Nowadays some advertisements are still oral. If we tune in television we will hear barkers shouting the stuff of automobile dealers. The history of outdoor advertising can go back to posted notices on papyrus in ancient Egypt for runaway slaves. Notices of runaway slaves and bond servants, with rewards offered, may have been the first written advertising, instead of something for sale. During all the centuries of slavery such notices were posted for the logical reason that these valuable pieces of property did not enjoy their lifes condition (Irving Fang, 1997: 61). Even at this early point in the history, advertisements were of key importance, when it came to informing consumers about new products. Coffee is one of such example; in the Middle East coffee was introduced as a drink for the first time, in the fifteenth century. The quick spread of coffee as both a drink and a pattern of behaviour (coffeehouses became social gathering places) advertising of coffees benefits was taking a huge place in newspapers (Mediaknowall). Advertising agency was another facet of advertising in the late nineteenth century, an American phenomenon which spread to Europe and then all over the world. The notion of agency began earlier in the century in France, where newspaper publishers considered the acceptance of ads directly from advertisers as beneath their dignity. Instead, they retailed space in bulk to contractors who sold the space to those with goods to sell. Later on, this concept was adopted by American agencies (Fang, 1997: 62). Wilson and Le Roy Wilson declare that establishing the first advertising agency goes to Volney Palmer, who started the agency in Philadelphia in 1841. By 1870, however, N. W. Ayer, the Americas oldest ad agency functioning today, began representing advertisers, helping them get the best results for their advertising dollars (1998: 296). In the World War II many civilian firms cut back on their advertising budgets. Others simply changed the content of their ads and instructed consumers how to make their products last until after the war instead of selling their products . The growth of advertising can be described as fantastic from the end of the war in 1945 to the late 1980s. The exchange from a war economy to a consumer economy encouraged a spurt in advertising as manufacturers hurried to get the order for all the goods and services that people had gave up buying because of the war (Joseph R. Dominick, 1990: 366). By the 1950s, advertising in its own right was considered as a profession, not just the remit of newspapermen or poets who were unsuccessful. It draw the attention both men and women who wanted to enjoy using their creativity in order to make some serious cash. Hard-working, hard drinking, unconventional and often amoral, the flannel suited Ad Man became a recognisable archetype, the personification of a new kind of cool (Mediaknowall). The period from 1950 to 1975, saw the incredible increasing 490 percent amount of money which spent on advertising. Also during this period a number of significant developments took place. TV’s growth which was of the most important significant developments as a national advertising medium had an impact on both radio and magazines. Radio became a medium and primarily used by local advertisers. Magazines that designed for particular audiences attracted more advertisers, but general publications (such as Colliers and Look) were unable to compete with TV and finally went under. Also in this period, the consumer became a more powerful force in the Responding marketplace. To increased consumer pressure, during the 1970s the Federal Trade Commission introduced corrective advertising. From 1950 to 1980, direct advertising which was done mostly through the mail, increased by more than 800percent. This increase was due to the growth of computerized mailing lists the expanded use of credit card shopping, and the coming out of the telephone as a marketing tool. Finally, the advertisers have become more stylish in their methods appreciation goes back to the emergence of computers and other electronic data processing devices. (R. Dominick, 1990: 366) Types of media like newspaper, magazine, radio and television were the main sources for manufacturers to advertise their products but that began changing in the 1980s and 1990s. For example, in the 1980s some advertisers like Coca Cola began operating commercials in theaters before showing the coming attraction trailers; the aim was targeting untapped audience of moviegoers. The reaction of clients was not too positive. In a 1988 survey, one-third of the audiences stated that they favored the advertising in movie theaters one-third were opposed to, and one-third didnt care. By1996, a similar survey found that between two-thirds and three-quarters of movie goers only 2 to 3 percent objected the commercials and others all liked it. By increasing the advertising time to follow the lead of European nations was the next step. At that time theater patrons in France could expect to see an average of 20 minutes of advertising before the movies started. And England was running around 7 minutes of commercials in movie houses. During the1990s the traditional media also became concerned as many large department store chains turned to the World Wide Web not only to advertise their products using the Internet for mail orders but also to sell them (Wilson and Le Roy, 1998: 319). Advertising and radio The 1920s was the beginning of radio as an advertising medium. Radio became an attractive vehicle for national advertisers by the rise of network broadcasting. About $27 million was spent on network advertising by 1930, and advertising agencies were responsible of producing the most popular shows of the day. The stock market collapse of 1929 had a terrible effect on the U. S. economy. Total dollars spent on advertising dropped from $2. 8 billion in 1929 to $1. 7 billion in 1935. It would take a decade for the industry to recover (R. Dominick, 1990. P. 366). The rapid growth of radio1920s was a means of free home entertainment, the only cost after the initial purchase of a radio set was to hear such advertising as the jingle. That was no cost at all, to a population suffering the economic effects of the Depression. Prices were not mentioned in radio ads until 1932. Catchy tunes like â€Å"Pepsi cola hits the spot, twelve full thats ounces, a lot † spun around in peoples heads as often as any song on the Hit Parade. Jingles even appeared in outdoor advertisements, such as the famous Burma Shave signs that motorists read, line after line, as they sped along the American highways (Fang, 1997: 64). The Queensboro Realty Company in 1922 for five radio talks that praised the benefits of living in the country paid $300. Immediately after that other companies realized the advertising potential of this system and followed suit. Other stations began to copy arrangement, and broadcasting would be supported by advertising, so the problem of financing radio was solved (R. Dominick, 1990: 178). The idea of broadcasting commercials in 1922 took a little selling. Broadcasters worried about how the government which licensed them, would feel about what Herbert Hoover and after that Secretary of Commerce referred to as being â€Å"drowned in advertising chatter†. Broad casters and advertisers also worried about ads that spread without having control on them or without anyone having any idea about who was getting the message and what effect it was having, or whether any one at all was paying attention. An answer that was comforting came when a commercial for Mineralava cosmetics offered a free photo of actress Marion Davies, who had spoken about How I Make Up for the Movies. † Many requests poured in from listeners. Albert Lasker, an important figure in advertising industry during the first half of the twentieth century, heavily led his agency, Lord Thomas, into radio. Many of the early radio shows were produced by Lasker’s agency including the most popular of all, Amos ‘n’ Andy (Fang, 1997: 64). Reasonably inexpensive, radio lends itself to repeated play of advertisements to drive home a message introduced in more expensive media like television. Nonetheless, radio does not propose any opportunities for the visual display. Radio lends itself to jingles that can contribute to a lasting image. Even though the images listeners create in their minds from audio suggestions can be more effective than those set out visually on television. (Vivian, 1997: 322) Television and advertising Televising Advertising Jingles typified an effort to be creative, to make an ad something more than the notification that goods were for sale. Advertisers acknowledged, before most of the rest of society did, that is to be expected for the public to remember something enjoyable. That helps to explain for people who have seen the same commercial many times sit entranced to watch it again without getting bored. It is also when the program is on why a child who runs off will come back running for the commercial. More thought, cold cash, effort, and energy go into television commercials nowadays than into television programs. (Fang, 1997: 64-65) TVs prospective as an advertising medium wasnt realized until 1948, although J. Walter Thompson agency in 1930 was the one first aired the television commercial. The advertisers name has been carried by many early programs, such as Milton Berles popular Texaco Star Theater the Camel News Caravan and The Hallmark Hall of Fame (which is still on the air today), because there was only for the one sponsor total program. Soon the masses in the United States preferred the Television advertising medium among other adverting medium (Wilson and Le Roy, 1998: 298). Television can offer unmatched impact, as a moving and visual medium, and the rapid growth of both network and local television advertising, far outpacing other media, indicates its success in reaching a diverse mass audience. Drawbacks include the fact that production costs can be high (Vivian, 1997: 322). In the 1980s, a new form of electronic advertising developed: direct-response home shopping services with the development of cable and satellite TV. These cable networks (HSN, QVC, etc. ) sell on sale products directly to consumers, who telephone in their orders to banks of operators. Home-shopping networks pay a percentage of the profits from sales generated in their viewing area to the cable operators, instead of buying air time from these cable operators. This type of direct selling is expected to take on new dimensions when interactive-TV and virtual reality technologies find their position in the marketplace (Wilson and Le Roy, 1998: 298). Vivian states that advertisers were forced by the expense of television time to make their advertisements shorter and shorter. A result is ad clutter, a phenomenon in which advertisements compete against each other and reduce the impact of all of them (1997: 322). 15 second ads started running by all three television networks in 1986, this allowed them to reduce the cost of per ad, and then they could run ads twice more than before, and maintain revenue levels. The 15-second advertisements called â€Å"15s† posed a new creative challenge to the industry: covering a powerful message in half the time and they were still able to sell the product to the consumer. The popularity of 15s started to decline by the early 1990s, and they could only represent 32 percent of the market. (Wilson and Le Roy, 1998: 310) Advertising and Internet Gary Thuerk was the creator of the first spam email advertisement ever to hit the inbox, also known as the father of spam, not a very inspiring title (â€Å"The History of Online Advertising†). The earliest documented junk e-mailing was written May 1 but It was sent May 3, 1978 (Brad Templeton). In the year 1980 the time Usenet, which was an online debate forum where people were capable of posting messages on new groups, was created, it used to get flooded with new posts, but as soon as the spam and mass messaging was introduced, people were sending out huge number of emails (â€Å"The History of Online Advertising†). Rachel argued that the first online advertisement appeared on the web in 1994, prompting the starting of the online advertising world. The period of experimentation by the advertisers and publishers was the first part, pioneering on ad formats and technology. DoubleClick was one of the first ad-serving technologies which was launched in 1995, (2011). The quick growing world of computers during the 1990s also brought about a new arena for advertising: the World Wide Web. Like other newspapers in the mid 1990s, the San Jose, California Mercury News founded a news Web site on the Internet. Editors put news from the newspaper on the Web site, thus people with computers were able to select news online. Every time an electronic reader tapped into Mercury Center, as the Mercurys Web site dubbed it was recorded as a hit. (Vivian, 1997: 322) During the first half of 1996, companies spent around $66. 7 million to advertise on the web with two-thirds of the spending coming from computer and telecommunications companies. The two biggest advertisers were Microsoft ($2. 9 million) and Netscape ($2. 1 million) while IBM was the third largest spender (s2. 0 million) and ATT (s17 million came in sixth. Toyota was the 13th largest web advertiser. In the meantime, a major U. S. cereal company started dabbling in this new technology in 1996. Kellogg Company launched what was seen as the worlds largest test of interactive TV advertising. (Wilson and Le Roy, 1998: 298) In 1995, Mercury Center was receiving 325,000 hits per a day, compared with the 270. 000 circulation of the newsprint product. The potential of web sites as advertising vehicles has not been lost on newspapers or other organizations including ATT and Microsoft, which also have established news sites online. Obviously, one pro of online advertising is that readers can click deeper and deeper levels of information about advertised goods Much more information can be packed into a layered online message than within the space and time limits of a print or broadcast ad (Vivian, 1997: 322). Conclusion In this study, we attempted to a good extent to discuss the main changes and developments in advertising and its relation with mass media. As we mentioned previously that adverting is essential to a prosperous social order. It is also the financial basis of important contemporary mass media. For many decades, the newspaper, magazine, radio and television media have been the main sources for manufacturers to advertise their products and goods. The major advent in the beginning of 20th century was radio as an advertising medium. The rise of network broadcasting made radio attractive vehicle for national advertisers. Also, radio freed advertising from its relationship to literacy by communicating through music, jingles, and the spoken word. Advertising agencies were not persuaded at first, but soon radio became their new medium and advertisers discovered its seemingly endless possibilities. Next, television arrived, and its rise was a significant improvement as a national advertising medium. TVs progress had an influence on both radio and magazines. Radio became a medium used primarily by local advertisers. Magazines that intended for specific audiences attracted more advertisers. Later on, in the late of the century, the quickly increasing world of computers during the 1990s also introduced a new ground for advertising: the World Wide Web. Like other newspapers in the mid 1990s. The quick growth of the Internet as a consumer medium was huge in the history of media. As a result, we found out how has the relationship between media and advertising changed in 20th century.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Crime and Punishment analysis essays

Crime and Punishment analysis essays Everyone in his or her life experiences some type of mischief or wrong doing in which causes some type of mental disturbance. In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky uses the five basic literary elements in order to show the atrocities of crime; that crime is an unnecessary evil that only brings about suffering such as guilt, illness, loneliness and punishment. The five basic literary elements utilized by Dostoyevsky are setting, plot, characterization, style and theme. For instance, Dostoyevsky uses the literary element of setting to show that crime is consequentially followed by guilt, and only causes a negative effect on that person who is culpable of the crime. The setting of Crime and Punishment takes place in St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, in the midst of its troubled transition to the modern age. Through Dostoyevsky use of setting we see that crime causes suffering and guilt. For example, he uses normal occurrences at a police station to exacerbate the protagonists (Roskolnikov) guilt. Furthermore, we see the suffering of Roskolnikov through Dostoyevskys vivid descriptions of his impoverished room; He woke up tense, bilious, irritable, and looked with hatred at his tiny room. It was a minute cubicle, six steps long...the ceiling was so low that a man of any height could not stand there without the sense that he was about to bump his head.(37) Secondly, through the use of plot, Dostoyevsky displays his feelings that crime is accompanied with loneliness. Ive really got to go. I wanted to tell you mother...and you Dunia, it would be better off if we ...separated for a while.(336) This statement by Roskolnikov indicates the extent to which his crime has isolated him, further demonstrating Dostoyevsky belief that crime entails loneliness. Furthermore, ...

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic - Assignment Example Schematic diagrams of pharmacokinetic model that distinguishes oral versus transmucosal absorption and how the whole process works is presented below, iIn figure 1 Lozenge level is higher than in figure 2. Folates in human beings form a group of water-soluble vitamins B that have similar chemical structures to folic acid and are vital for methionine and nucleotide biosynthesis. Low folate status has been associated with altered DNA methylation, which may affect gene expression, and uracil-induced genomic instability which may result into an increased cancer risk. Pharmacokinetics has a component of vitamin C recommendable for diet allowance. The study has found it that the oral vitamin C has potential for use as a non-toxic, sustainable, therapeutic agent. The amount of vitamin C required for good health represents a challenging aspect of scientific nutrition. The oral vitamin D supplements are well-absorbed from the small intestine amongst human beings. The presence of bile is necessary for absorption of vitamin D which is related to serum proteins and is widely distributed throughout the body. It is stored primarily in the liver and fat. Both forms of vitamin D are inactive and must undergo conversion in the liver and kidneys to form biologically active compounds. Ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol are hydroxylated by hepatic microsomal enzymes to 25 (OH) D. Further conversion of this intermediate form in the kidneys produces the physiologically active form, of dihydroxyvitamin D. Although it is not the biologically active form, the intermediate form, 25 (OH)D, is used to assess vitamin D status since 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels do not typically decrease until clinical symptoms of vitamin D deficiency have become severe. The maximum clinical response typically occurs approximately a month after therapy has been initiated.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

The challenges of finding talent in pharmaceutical MNEs Essay

The challenges of finding talent in pharmaceutical MNEs - Essay Example Powell and Lubitsh (2007) conjecturally pointed out that talented human resource pool is the supportive pillar for organizations and organizations also know the fact that developing talent can benefit them in long term manner. Collings and Mellahi (2009) highlighted the importance of finding right talent for MNEs. According to these research scholars, MNEs maintains a large portfolio of business spanning in different countries and they need the intellectual and participatory help from its employees in order to incorporate innovation and adapt to changing environment. In addition, Cappelli (2008) also stated the same views; they claimed that if employees failed in their job, it means some parts of organization also fail. Therefore, finding appropriate talent is the major and minor premise in developing and retaining talent. Schuler et al. (2011) claimed that the talent challenges have become a significant human resource issue for global firms. The biggest problem is whether the organi zation is able to get the right people in the right place at the right time. Collings and Mellahi (2009) suggested that MNEs could not find their most talented employees and where they are located around the world. Abbasi et al. (2010) stated that talented human capital is the most organic and living asset for organization and there is no doubt that a firm can achieve competitive advantage by using the talented human capital. Abbasi et al. (2010) concentrated their study on pharmaceutical industry and came to the conclusion that finding talent in pharmaceutical industry is not an easy task. According to them, pharmaceutical industry is a sensitive industry in terms knowledge integration or technology integration. Developing a medicine needs sheer amount scientific knowledge and natural talent for innovation and unfortunately, very few pharmaceutical companies have the opportunity to access talented human resource pool (Abbasi et al., 2010). According to Richard (2001), number of pha rmaceutical MNEs has been increased in recent times due to increase in merger and acquisition activities. As result of this industry boom, need for talent has increased manifold for pharmaceutical MNEs in order to ensure smooth operation. Increasing labour market demand is cause of concern for pharmaceutical MNEs and interesting fact is that, McAlearney (2006) classified pharmaceutical industries as late adapter contemporary human resource management activities (HRM) such as training and development, global talent management (GMT) etc. In such context, it will be challenging for pharmaceutical MNEs to meet the labour market demand for talented professionals. Although, topic like ‘finding talent in pharmaceutical industry’ is exciting one but surprisingly very few researchers have tried to shed light on the topic from literary viewpoint. Apart from the research work of Abbasi et al. (2010), literature on â€Å"talent management in pharmaceutical Multinational Enterprise (MNE) is pretty scarce hence in this paper, the researcher will try shed some

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Marketing plan for mercedes benz Essay Example for Free

Marketing plan for mercedes benz Essay Dear Parents You must be informed about the laws that Current Legislation in UK produced in order to protect the children and young people. Current Legislation 1. Children Act (2004) identify five outcomes for children 1. Education Act (1993) Parents of children under 2 years have the right to ask for the child to be formally assessed 2. Sex Discrimination Act (1975) Ensure that individuals are not discriminated against on the grounds of their sex 3. Race Relation Act (1976) Equality of opportunity must be promoted 4. Public Health Act (1984) Covers the notification and exclusion periods for certain infectious diseases 5. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation (RIDDOR) (1995) Specify certain accidents and incidents that must be by law, reported 6. Equality Act 2010 Aims to ensure that rights of disabled individuals are met 7. Special Educational Need and Disability Act (2004) Protects children from discrimination on the basis of disability , and settings must make reasonable adjustments to their provision to meet the need and right of the child 8. Code of Practice for First Aid (1997) Gives guidance on the provision of trained first aiders and first aid provision 9. Protection of the Children Act (1998) Requires a list to be kept of people considered to be unsuitable to work with children 10. Care of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002) Deal with the identification, storage and use of potentially harmful substances, such as cleaning fluids 11. Childcare Act (2006) the law that sets out: Duties on local authorities to improve outcomes for children and to ensure access to information about provision in their area Legal frameworks for regulation and inspection of provision for children from birth to age 17 The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): this is the framework for the delivery of quality integrated care and education for children from birth to the 31 August following their fifth birthday. The EYFS includes requirements for the provision of young children’s welfare, learning and development that all providers must meet, as well as good practice guidance. Dear Parents You must be informed about the role of Regulatory Bodies that made all the inspection, investigation and enforcements to my premises in order to improve the overall well-being of the children. OFSTED Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They report directly to Parliament and they are independent and impartial. Ofsted is responsible for the inspection of a range of educations and children’s services, and for the inspection and regulation of registered Early Years and Childcare provision.  The aim of all this work is to promote improvement and value for money in the services they inspect and regulate, so that children and young people, parents and carriers benefits.  The registration process with Ofsted looks at my ability and suitability if I deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is the framework for the delivery of quality integrated care and education for children from birth to the 31 August following their fifth birthday. The EYFS includes requirements for the provision of young children’s welfare, learning and development that all providers must meet, as well as good practice guidance. An Ofsted inspector will make regular visits to my premises and discuss about how I will meet the welfare requirements: The Inspection report produced by Ofsted will covers the followings: If, I and every other person looking after children on my premises, are suitable to care for children Every person living or working on my premises is suitable to be in regular contact with children My premises is suitable for looking after children If, I meet or will meet all the welfare, learning and development requirements of Early Years Foundation Stage and all the regulations and any conditions of registration imposed by. After an inspection, Ofsted publishes a report on Childminder home based environment website. In addition to written comments on a number of areas, schools and childminder premises are assessed on each area and overall on a 4-point scale: 1 (Outstanding), 2 (Good), 3 (Satisfactory) 4 (Inadequate). Ofsted Register Early Years Childminders to: Protect the children Ensure that they meet the requirements of Early Years Register Ensure that they provide good outcomes for children that keep children healthy, safe, ensure that they enjoy what they do and achieve well, make a positive contribution and develop skills for the future Promote high quality in the provision of care and learning and development Provide reassurance to parents Failure to complying with this welfare requirements would attract complains or concerns from parents or other people side. The law gives to Ofsted as regulatory body a range of powers to regulate children’s social care services, which set out the action that can take in order to enforce compliance with the law. They consider the particular circumstances of each case before deciding what action they need to take. However, it is very important for me not to lose sight of the overriding principle of ensuring the welfare of children and young people.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Pride in Young Goodman Brown and The Ministers Black Veil Essay

Pride in Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many of Hawthorne's characters wrap themselves in a pride of intellect. The characters become victims of their pride and consequently suffer.   Goodman Brown, from "Young Goodman Brown" and Hooper, from "The Minister's Black Veil" are two characters that suffer from a pride of intellect.   Their pride causes them similar problems and they end up living similar lives, although they came from different backgrounds.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hooper and Goodman Brown both become isolated from society.   Hooper had a revelation, and he feels that he truly understands human nature and sin. However, he believes that he is above everybody else because he has this understanding.   This is what causes the major separation between Hooper and society.   After Hooper dawns the veil he can no longer function or act as a normal person, because of this feeling of superiority.   His perception of an ultimate human isolation leaves him the man most isolated in what Hawthorne describes as that saddest of all prisons, his own heart . . . "(The Minister's Black Veil,228).   The veil affects all parts of his life, his fiance leaves him and he can no longer relate to his congregation the same way. "As a result of wearing the veil, Hooper becomes a man apart, isolated from love and sympathy, suspected and even feared by his congregation"(Minister's Black Veil, 228). Goodman Brown suffers the same fate because he also has a feeling of superiority over the rest of the village.   He attains this feeling after he sees all the people that he though were good and pure participating in satanic rituals in the fore... ...de.    Works Cited and Consulted Benoit, Raymond.   "'Young Goodman Brown': The Second Time Around."   The Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 19 (Spring 1993): 18-21. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Complete Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc.,1959. James, Henry. Hawthorne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997. Kaul, A. N., Ed..   "HAWTHORNE: A Collection of Critical Essays." Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1966. Martin, Terence. Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Twayne Publishers Inc., 1965. Morris, Lloyd., "THE REBELLIOUS PURITAN: Portrait of Mr. Hawthorne." Port Washington: Kennikat Press. Van Doren, Mark., Ed. "The Best of Hawthorne." New York: The Ronald Press Company. 1951. Wagenknecht, Edward. Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Man, His Tales and Romances. New York: Continuum Publishing Co., 1989.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Twilight 17. THE GAME

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