No chosen yet (sociology) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

No chosen yet (sociology) - Essay Example ..† (Twenge and Campbell 4). The question may then be asked: how did the development of the cultural focus on self admiration led to narcissism? Are there any cures or solutions to this cultural phenomenon? In order to answer this question, the researcher would try to focus on the development of narcisissm, especially on Chapter 4 of Twenge and Campbell’s book â€Å"The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement† entitled â€Å"How Did We Get Here? Origins of the Epidemic.† In addition, the researcher would also try to evaluate whether there is any possible cure or solution to this epidemic, based on an analysis of the text, and as well as incorporating relevant sociological theories to analyze the epidemic of narcissism in American society. The Development of Narcissism in American Society As stated earlier in the paper, Twenge and Campbell actually argue that narcissism may have started in the crucial decade of the 1970’s, just when â₠¬Å"the cultural focus on self admiration† began to arise (Twenge and Campbell 4). ... (Twenge and Campbell 56) Especially as portrayed in the mass media, such excess was actually favores, and even longed for, by many American consumers, given that having such excesses was not only seen as an expression of oneself, but also of making one have a higher sense of self-esteem and be appreciated more by society at thye same time. Therefore, as one indulges himself/herself in exceses, he/she actually thinks that he/she will be appreciated more especially by regular acquaintances in society, and will also make them have a higher confidence and self-esteem. However, Twenge and Campbell was also ready to argue that the culture of narcissism was not originally a â€Å"core American idea,† given that the American constitution actually provided for the ensurance of â€Å"individual freedom tempered with equality† (Twenge and Campbell 57), and that the core American value of indivualism was actually viewed that indivualsim must be grounded not woth self admiration, bu t with â€Å"self reliance† (Twenge and Campbell 58). In this case, Twenge and Campbell argue that â€Å"three social trends† seem to be the main cause for the rise of narcissism: the movement toward self-esteem, the goal of self-exploration, and the culture of moving away from â€Å"community-oriented thinking† (Twenge and Campbell 62-64). In addition, Twenge and Campbell also argues that Americans abandoned the vision of themsleves as a part of an interconnected social system—a connection of parents to children and grandchildren and of community to community—and instead turned to the narcissistic pursuit of the self as a source of value, almost like a religious experience.

External and Internal Environments Research Paper - 5

External and Internal Environments - Research Paper Example The issues related to this segment include obesity and health concerns and product quality concerns, including concerns related to the ingredients of the beverages (Coca-Cola Annual Report 2013). Another segment is the global segment, as the company operates globally, and is planning to expand its operations in developing and emerging markets. The company might fail its global growth strategy because of adverse economic and political conditions, different cultural attributes, limited purchasing power or inability to acquire local bottling companies (Coca-Cola Annual Report 2013). In the soft drink industry, fierce rivalry between dominant producers Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co and the threat of substitution are strong, while the threat of entry, the bargaining power of buyers and the power of suppliers are more benign. The Coca-Cola Company is facing fierce industry competition, and in order to keep its competitive advantage, the company has created and implemented integrated marketing programs, aimed to increase consumers’ awareness and raise appeal for the Coca-Cola’s brands (Coca-Cola Annual Report 2012). Moreover, in order to raise customer preference for Coca-Cola’s brands, the company has been undertaking some joint brand-building initiatives with the customers (Coca-Cola Annual Report 2012). As the threat of substitution is high in the soft drink industry as the popularity of tea, coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages is growing, the Coca-Cola has also diversified its brand portfolio with new products, substitutes for soft drinks, such as bottled waters (Dasani, Ciel), sport drinks (Powerrade), juices (Simply Orange, Del Valle), vitamin water and smartwater (Glacà ©au), tea (Fuze tea, organic bottled tea Honest Tea), etc. (Coca-Cola Company, n.d.). With the same two forces in mind, high industry rivalry and threat of substitution, it is possible to suggest that the Coca-Cola Company might introduce coffee drinks and more healthy (sugar

Teacher As A Resource For Students Essay Example for Free

Teacher As A Resource For Students Essay The boy came from The Dominican Republic and did not speak English. This proved to be a problem not just for the young student but his teacher, classmates, and school as well. How would he learn, cope and thrive is his new environment? How would his new surrounding help him adjust? These were the questions that, after a few interventions, were resolved successfully. The intervention began when an aide was appointed to help the boy by serving as his translator. It helped for a while until lessons were starting to get progress. To facilitate learning, I provided supplementary books for the boy’s teacher to equip her in helping the student. Concurrently, the student was given worksheets. With his aide and teacher by his side, the boy started adjusting to his new environment and was learning. He could speak little English and was able to interact with other children. This is a perfect example of what successful teaching is. Successful teaching is a fusion of personal and interpersonal skills and personal and professional commitment (Day, 1999). They act as resources for students. They are the agents of transferring knowledge, skills and values. In this case, employing an aide was a way of capturing and transferring knowledge. Doing one-on-one with the child was also advantageous for it broke the barrier of transmitting information. The aide, in her own way, became an important resource for the student. The teacher also acted as a vital resource. A teacher’s task is to teach but in this case, the teacher also had to learn. She was willing to learn to be able to teach. That is a marking of successful teaching, if a teacher can be a good source for a holistic development of a student. Continued one-on-one guidance with the boy should be encouraged until the boy has completely managed on his own. It is also favorable to continue exposing the boy to his new environment, allowing him to mingle with others and explore. Field trips and activities that foster cooperation may help.

Forgery And Plagiarism | Analysis

Forgery And Plagiarism | Analysis To falsify something for the purpose of deceiving someone is known as forgery which is a crime. Forgery can be in the form of counterfeiting or art forgery but every kind of forgery is considered a crime. Forgery in the case of counterfeiting is severely punished. Crime has been there since the world came into being but it started to flourish in the twentieth century when several prospects for forged activities arose. Greeks and Romans signed their art with other peoples names and hoped that a big name would be capitalized. Similarly, coins and paper money have been faked by counterfeiters since they were introduced in the world. Some acts of ancient forgery were so impressive that they have been placed in museums for display and in some instances, pieces of art havent been exposed as forged work for centuries after the museums and galleries got hold of them, very much to the shame of the staff. (Smith, 2010) Definition of Forgery To illegally modify or reproduce a document, signature, an instrument, legal tender or any other means of storing information is known as forgery. Any item that is copied is also considered forged. (forgery Definition) When something is forged, a piece of art for the purpose of mimicking the style of a popular artist is made by a person and signed with the name of the artist. Usually, the work of dead artists is forged because their work cannot be testified. A few art forgers are very sharp. They utilize several techniques so that it becomes hard to detect a fake. Similarly, several techniques are used by art historians for examining art in the hopes of detecting forged works from real works of art. To forge documents is a profitable endeavor in several parts of the world. Identification, certificates of title to property and other such documents can be generated by forgers for cheating. In a few cases, documents are forged for kind purposes such as to enter an establishment with age restrictions and in many cases forgery is done for more sinister purposes such as to detect theft. Several precautions are taken when official documents are made like the use of special inks and papers so that forgery is made difficult. Forgery is a growing problem in the financial world. Currencies are actually made by forgers which is known as counterfeiting but fake checks and other important financial documents are also signed which cause a lot of problems even if the crime is detected. To examine suspicious documents and other material that might have been forged is called questionable document examination. Individuals, who choose to study forgery, may select a specific kind of forgery to speci alize. Those who specialize in forgery may analyze things such as medieval paintings, title deeds, currency with the help of several instruments and techniques to detect forgeries. (Smith, 2010) Types of Forgery Forgery is of three main types and all the types of forgery are common these days because of the advanced technology. The three types of forgery are: Altered documents. Signature forgery. False documents. Altered Documents Forgers can change documents for their benefit by altering the information within a particular document. Household bleach, paint thinners or special ink rubbers to a check can be applied to make changes to documents. Forgers can attempt to alter the amount or change the payee on a check easily. Most of the times, these alterations are not detected. Some forgers alter documents by using cut and paste technique. Others alter documents with the help of technology. Nowadays, documents can be easily scanned into a computer and the details along with the image can be altered within a few minutes. With the help of color inkjet printers, new documents can be created by forgers that look just like or even better than the original documents. A student in the United States got admission to New York University (NYU) with the help of a forged college record. The forged college record was obtained by taking the college record of another student going to another college, and then the students name, grades and other details were changed and blank forms were obtained and printed from a local print shop. Fake classes and grades were filled in by the student which he sent to New York University with the admissions application. Signature Forgery Signature forgery is thought to be the easiest type of forgery. The forger obtains a document from another individual and that individuals name is signed on it. It is difficult to find out the forger even if the forgery is uncovered. False Documents Forgers easily create false documents because computers, printers and scanners are easily available all over the world. To create false documents, a check or a business card can be scanned not considering what the business card or check looks like. Forgers can steal large sums of money by cashing forged checks. Just like signature forgery, by the time, forgery is uncovered it becomes impossible to track down the forger. (Forgery ICU 97-02) Forged Writing To make or alter a written instrument for fraudulent activities or to deceive someone such as to sign another individuals name to a check is known as forged writing. Writing payees endorsement or signing a check without the permission of the payee or the related authority. The true owner of a check is the payee to whom the check should be paid. Forgery at common law is the fraudulent making and alteration of a writing to the prejudice of another mans right. (Forgery Defined Explained) It was defined by a modern writer as a false making; a making malo animo, of any written instrument, for the purpose of fraud and deceit. (Forgery Defined Explained) Forgery is a crime which is subjected to punishment by the state and national governing bodies. To make a whole written document in the name of another individual for the purpose of fraud by altering or erasing any material part of the document which gives a new meaning to it, is considered forgery though the document maybe used by someone who is not aware of the forgery. To sign a false document or any other instrument with a true signature for which it was not intended or vice versa is also considered forgery. For example, a person might be asked to draw a will for an ill person in a specific way but what he might do is that he inserts legacies of his own head and then procures the signature of that ill person who asked him to draw the will without letting him know that the legacies have been deceitfully inserted. Sometimes a person may copy a receipt, add words in the original and then offer it as a proof on the basis that the original receipt was lost, that person too may be punished forgery. At times the name and character of another living person is assumed by a party in the writing. But to adopt a false description and to add, when a false name is not written or assumed and no individual answers the description, then it wont be prosecuted as forgery. To make a document in a pretended name or the name of someone who does not exist is a kind of f orgery which is just like creating a document in the name of a living individual and however a document may be made by someone in his own name, if he represents it as the document of another individual of the same name when actually that person does not exist, then it will be considered forgery in the name of the person who does not exist but the accuracy of this decision is doubted. Generally, a person cannot be guilty of forgery on doubt, however in writing a will, a legacy is deceitfully omitted which he was told to insert and by omitting that legacy, a material alteration would be caused, or in other cases, a devise of an estate for life to one is omitted, as a result of which, devise of the same property to another to pass a present estate which would have passed remains only, then it will be considered a forgery. It may be seen that the crime of forgery may be complete without publishing a forged document. For a document to be forged the purpose of making the document must be to defraud another person but it is not necessary that anyone of the persons is hurt. It is enough that the forged document is proven harmful. Laws have been passed in most of the states which make some acts to be considered forgery and Congress has also enacted some laws on forgery. (Forgery Defined Explained) Signs for Forged Checks There are several signs which may detect a forged check. However any one sign does not necessarily mean that the check is forged. The more the number of signs, higher are the chances of forgery. The signs are: Perforations maybe lacked on the check. There is a missing digit from the check number or it does not change. Personal checks having a low check number such as from 101 to 400 and from 1001 to 1500 on business checks. Around ninety percent of forgeries are done on accounts that are less than a year old. The font that has been used to print the customers name seems obviously different from the font used to print the address. Additions have been made to the check such as the phone numbers are written by hand. The address of the customer is not present on the check. The address of the bank is not present on the check. There are marks on the check because of the changes. The MICR coding on the bottom of the check is shiny. Real magnetic ink appears to be dull. The check number and the MICR coding do not match. There are missing MICR digits. The district of the bank and the routing symbol in the upper right-hand corner of the check and MICR coding do not match. The payees name seems to have been printed by a typewriter. Where as payroll, dividend checks and expenses are printed with the help of computers. The word VOID seems to appear on the check. There is no authorized signature. (Check Fraud Prevention: What is Check Fraud-Types of Check Fraud) Famous Forgers Frank Abagnale Frank Abagnale is considered one of the biggest forgers of the world. He cashed around $2.5 million through false checks between 1964 and 1969, assumed identities of eight different people including a lawyer, a pediatrician and even a pilot for Pan Am. A movie, Catch me if you can was made on his life in which Leonardo DiCaprio played his role in 2002. Anatasios Arnaouti Anatasios Arnaouti was a forger who was caught and imprisoned in 2005. He led one of the major of United Kingdoms counterfeiting operations. He produced fake currency in his factory and around  £276,000 was created in one day. It has been estimated that he created around  £10 in fake currency. Abel Buell Abel Buell was a forger who was born in Connecticut in 1742. He attempted to convert  £5 notes into higher denominations. He was caught and punished by printing F on his head which branded him as a forger. Victor Lustig Victor Lustig is known for selling the Eiffel Tower twice by fraud though he did not own it. He was arrested when he was opening a locker with a key in his hand which had $51,000 in fake currency. William Chaloner He was a famous British forger who was known for counterfeiting. He was detected by Royal Mint and Sir Isaac Newton in 1699. He was caught and punished by hanging. Stephen Jory Stephen Jory led the so-called Lavender Hill Mob. He created fake  £20 notes. He was arrested and admitted in his trial that he had created  £50 million of fake  £20 notes but the figure is believed to be much higher. Catherine Murphy Catherine Murphy clipped off small pieces from gold coins to make new ones. She was executed in 1789. (Famous Forgers, 2009) Analysis of major forgery Forging documents by corrupting the records keeping systems is a severe crime against society. Forgers like their work accepted as being genuine and get amused while embarrassing the experts. They like to change history the way they want to see it. People practice forgery for its lucrative benefits and pleasure. Forgery robs society and contaminates the very essence of humanity. Letter Forgery The Salamander Letter Plain one and half page handwritten letter to W.W. Phelps of Canandaigua, New York from Martin Harris, dated 23 October, 1830, depicted an uncanny event that Harris had observed three years back. In the fall of the year 1827 I hear Joseph Smith found a gold bible I take Joseph aside he says it is true I found it 4 years ago with my stone but only just got it because of the enchantment of the old spirit come to me 3 times in the same dream says dig up the gold but when I take it up the next morning the spirit transfigured himself from a white salamander in the bottom of the hole struck me three times held the treasure would not let me have it because I lay it down to cover over the hole when the spirit says do not lay it down. Harriss narration of Prophet Joseph Smiths discovery of golden plates, the plates that were translated to be included in the Book of Mormon that is the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gravely denied Smiths own recollection of the event. It called into question the divine character of the finding. The salamander was of no divine importance or an angel sent by God, it was a common sign that originated from fold magic and medicine. The letter recommended that Prophet Smith was hallucinating while mistaking it with divine communication that could have emerged from folk medicine experiments. The letter damaged the authenticity and divinity of the 150 years old church and no one cared where could have been all these 153 years. It was found by a Mormon dealer in an unstamped envelope, a philately specialty that concerted on postal blotting prior to stamps in late 1840s who paid no attention to the letters origin. The FBI and a prominent manuscript dealer subst antiated that the letter had the genuine look and feel. When the Salamander letter was compared with other documents of the period, it was known that it was written by similar iron gall ink used during that period and had the same chemical composition. The report concluded, there is no evidence to suggest that these documents were prepared at a time other than their reported dates. In 1983, the letter appeared to be indisputable and the leaders of Mormon Church got worried. Subsequently further events revealed that a disenchanted Mormon, Mark Hofmann had forged the letter and used his skills to dishonor the church. He was trying to change the churchs history to destabilize the foundations of the church. He testified during his murder trial, I believed that the documents that I created could have been a part of Mormon history. In effect, I guess, the questions I asked myself in deciding on a forgery[,] one of the questions was, what could have been? I had a concept of church history and I followed that concept. Hoffmans Technique of forgery Hoffman work of forging nineteenth century documents required mastery uncovered broad range of knowledge and abilities like: Artistic and manual dexterity to fabricate smooth and flawless writing according to persons specific writing style. Composition and chemistry of ink that could test positive for the period in question Having contemporary paper sources and postal blots Undertaking historical research to be in command of commonly known facts, day of delivery suitable and mail route for the fabricated letter to gain acceptance as being genuine and Fictional content imagination that is enough to being closer to real, and will be taken for authentic. Hoffman used two conventions, first he made up the documents discovery to someone else such that its real value is recognized. Second he made the document suggest historical connections of individuals that sufferers would eagerly see and unsuspectingly accept (Gracy II). Detection of forgery Detecting forgery of unique objects can be done through the objects evidence of time and place in which it was finished (Forgery, Britannica). Often a forger unconsciously creates style confusion or ingeniously accents elements that spark contemporary bias. For example the work passed as Lucas Cranachs by the bright German forger F. W. Rohrich, by imbuing paintings with a feel of Biedermeier visual, that was common in his own times, that later deceived their falsity. Regardless of modern technological breakthroughs, a great deal of forgery remains impermeable to detection by other than experimental means (forgery, Encyclopedia topics). Success to detect a forgery can only be achieved only if the investigator is precipitous about all related technical, mechanical, physical and historical matter that may be essential in recognizing irregularities in any document. Serendipity is one of the important powers and hence is ranked high for all investigators. Examiner needs to ask the right question at the right instant to spot forgeries and note dissonances. There are various features of a forgery and can be classified into four groups, that is content of forgery, provenance, technology and technique of the forger. Content of the forgery The examiners inexperience surfaces when the document is question is being assessed to validate the content. Examiners do not know all the necessary facts, while skilled forgers have carefully analyzed every aspect. The older the document is, the more the examiner needs to be well-versant with the rule of phraseology and word usage of the period. Configuring dates and the styles of abbreviation have evolved greatly over the last three centuries. Furthermore the shapes of certain letters have also changed over time in their cursive. Provenance Common forgery cases get successful because often the victim believes in the validity of the document. Forgers give victims enough knowledge to lay their provenance basis, and let them build and substantiate the forgery through facts and chance discovery. An old aphorism states that if a proposal appears too good to be true, it is probably false, rightly applies to forged documents. This aphorism can be rephrased for forgery as, If it is remarkable that a document has surfaced all of a sudden, likely there is more to the story of the documents existence than the provenance offered. Technique of the forger Forgers have unique creative abilities, in intellectual conception and styling provenance and content, and in physical area of making of the object to make it appear to something it is not. Forgers do fake repairs to suggest substantial age and attention to the object for the intention of improving provenance. The examiner should critically evaluate the material used in the repair and the condition in which it was done. The examiner should be well versed with the aging techniques that may include staining paper with tea or coffee, or document misuse with tears or holes for book worms. Finally the examiner should doubtful about standard dealers markings. Technology Examiners need to evaluate the appearance of the forgery through use of technology. They should look for the dates when certain technology became common and the technical aspects of their likelihood of applicability. Examiner should check paper under lights for watermarks and for woven or chained patterns of the paper texture. The interaction of paper and ink is vital to exposing any forgery (Gracy II). Detecting forgery in Writing While examining writing for evidence of forgery requires careful comparison between the original writers and other. The author of the writing known is commonly called the original and is referred to by his name. The writing with which it is compared, or is the subject of investigation is a called the suspect. The suspected writings should be separately numbered until the original thoroughly mastered. It is important to put away the suspected writing to avoid confusion having multiple types of writing in front of the eye and mind so as to avoid prejudice to any one type. Any influence to first evaluate the suspect should be resolutely defied. Paper and envelope should be examined carefully for its quality, watermark, size or any inherent feature for clues. Then the overall general style of the document should be studied for top and side margins. Identify words in the writing for usual use of hyphen to divide words. Next measure the distance between the lines and make a note of the distance. Then make a note of the average distance between the words, and see if they appear to be connected without lifting of the pen. Check the slope and top of the letters that have tails. Look for punctuation style frequency and accuracy. Determine the writing class. Note for language peculiarities and errors or spelling of words like if its favor or favour etc. Note particular letters that have two or more touching points like, m, h, d, k, n and so on to check for writing regularity. Lastly look for tailed or topped letters for loops and bars if they are formed by single stroke. Classify and examine the loops or their angular, roundness, s hort or narrow style. Devoting time to this aspect of handwriting will unveil the writers unconscious features, and will reflect upon valuable evidence (Blackburn Caddell). Detecting forgery in Art Forgery detection is done through two major approaches, stylistic and technical analysis; these are complementary and generate best results together. Stylistic analysis is very subjective in nature and resides with the wise eye of the art historians. Each artist has a certain flair, style, and vigor that solely belongs to him and is easily familiar. The style changes and improvises overtime as the artists career flourishes and can be stylistically documented and analyzed (Forgery, Britannica). Expertise in important to authenticate the styles and aesthetics of various periods and remain the principle instrument to detect forgery. Artistic gaucherie or clutter of motifs and styles, and an apparent emphasis of forgers aesthetic values current times constantly reveals the forgery than most of the technical analysis. The technical analysis can involve various techniques and have evolved over time. Sometimes a sketch or an x-ray can be used underneath the original art surface to substanti ate the paintings. In earlier centuries, costumes of an under painting were considered basic characteristic of an art value, and later surface painting emerged as one way of doing forgery (Conklin). Even so contemporary tools like infrared, ultraviolet photography and x-ray are used to expose overpainting and pentimento. Furthermore craquelure can also be microscopically scrutinized. In addition carbon-14 and chemical analysis provide comparatively uncertain evidence in case ancient materials have been utilized. Forgeries in United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates labor ministry has initiated an e-signature card system to prevent scams and forgery to minimize standard procedures. The e-signature system has replaced the signature authorization card scheme which earlier required authorized signatory for any transaction with the ministry. The new e-signature will have a card with a specific code number which is required to be entered before any transaction with the ministry (e-Signature card..). Passport forgeries are very common in United Arab Emirates. Dubai police recently released details of passport forgers including six British born and three Irish individuals suspected in killing key Hamas commander. The suspect used real life individual identifies for forging their passports. One of the British national confirmed the name and passport number that matched has, but had the incorrect birth date. The individual had no clue how and when his passport details were obtained as it was never reported being lost or stolen (Neighbor). The passport forgery was believed to have been done through Israeli government officials. British foreign secretary David Miliband showed his displeasure over Israel involvement, and said that Such misuse of British passports is intolerable, and added that Israel being an ally of UK Miliband only adds insult to injury. The passports were forged using genuine UK identities in a highly sophisticated operations and planning and clearly indicated a gov ernments involvement (UK: Israel behind Forgery, CNN). A Filipino waiter faced trial for theft of credit card and signature forgery. The waiter worked at a local hotel, stole a debit card, three mobile phones, watch, three iPods, and watch. He shopped for 1300 dirhams using the stolen debit card at a nearby supermarket, and used forged owners signatures on the acquired receipts (another phony waiter in UAEà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Numerous universities in UAE are using RFID tags on the degrees and certifications they issue to ensure the document authenticity. The ministry requires academic institutions to standardize data collection of students specifically their personal and academic details. In addition it recommends institutions to publish certificates that are difficult to forge. They are recommended to adopt the Amricons solution that uses diplomas having fitted adhesives with RFID labels that contain specific security codes that are helpful in hindering any forgery attempts to encode the RFID tags using unauthorized means (Wessel). Preventing Check Fraud It is important to go through the checks regularly and check the starting and ending numbers which are important for re-ordering. Keep checking if all the checks are present The financial institution must be notified even if any one check is missing. Bank statement should be reconciled every month. Signs of check forgery must be observed. Checkbook must be kept in a set place and it should not be accessible to guests. Checkbook must not be left in the car. If the car gets stolen, the checkbook will also be lost. Environment should be assessed while traveling. Purse or backpack should be carefully set. Checkbooks should not be kept in pockets. (marthareggie) Conclusion Forgers are very clever and are always honing their skills to manage and master new technologies in their desire and motivation to create fake documents. The forged documents and art are so original to ones view and examination that they are often mistaken for what they are supposed to be. Forgers have personal gains that they earn at the expense of the society and history. Forgery acceptance and use of intentionally false documents deprives individuals understanding of history, and endanger ones sense of present. Forgers success greatly depends on the vigilators record keeping. Therefore keeping records safe is every individuals responsibility as it makes the foundation and basis of who we are. As the scientific techniques are getting more and more sophisticated so are the techniques of the forgers. The finding of the forgery reveals interesting facts; one day a great piece of art will be priceless, and the other day worthless. Therefore without the origin and proof, any arts valuat ion or estimation is purely a matter of subjective human judgment.

The Civil War of Rome :: Ancient Rome Roman History

The Civil War of Rome The Civil War in the eyes of most people is not glorious, but rather one of the worst crimes you could possibly commit when the state is all-important. Only under the most extreme circumstances should one be allowed to (in the eyes of the people that is) begin a Civil War with just cause. Caesar took this into consideration, but too many things were going wrong in Rome for him not to begin the war. The first of many problems was the collapse of the Triumvirate. The Triumvirate was one of the main parts of the government of Rome, with which there were three leaders, which at the time were Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. This was never truly working all that great, but held itself together by the marriage of Caesar's daughter Julia, to Pompey, and the friendship Caesar and Crassus shared. But, all this came to an end when Crassus was killed in a battle against a Parthian army. Then, not too long afterwards, Julia was murdered by someone who had broken into her home. This, destroyed the bond between Caesar and Pompey, and made them drift apart. Caesar seeing all this taking place, attempted to restore the bond by proposing to Pompey's only daughter, but was not allowed to by Pompey. To only make matters worse, Rome was slowly slipping into total anarchy. The government was becoming corrupt with bribery. The elections were being stopped, and there wasn't a consul elected in 53 or 52 B.C. Most authority was lost, the streets became rioted, and unsafe. During this time, Pompey tried to annul the Law of Ten Tribunes without notifying Caesar. If this happen, it would of removed a lot of Caesar's power. Caesar saw what he was trying to do, and stopped it before this action took place, and now knew for sure that Pompey was no longer his ally, but instead an enemy. Pompey tried another devious act against Caesar, which this time worked. He had the senate pass a law that made Pompey and Caesar both give up troops, and send them to the East, where they were supposedly needed against the Parthians. This seemed fair, but it made Caesar lose two legions, one that was lent to him by Pompey in the Gallic Wars, and one of his own. Once they were positioned there, Pompey decided they were no longer needed, and sent them to Capua (a city in Rome) under his command.

Essay --

â€Å"Life puts obstacles in one’s way for a reason, so you can’t give up when there comes one you can’t fight through.† This quote was once said by a great grandpa to his granddaughter. The main point of the quote is that life is full of challenges and one has to find a way to move around it or defeat it. Kaye Gibbons, an outstanding author, suffers from a disorder call bipolarity. Even though the creative, thinking outside the box, and intelligent author fought through many obstacles throughout her life she still managed to never give up, accomplish her goals, and make the best out of her disorder. Childhood is described as the early stage of existence of something. Bertha Kaye Batt Gibbons was born on May 5, 1960, she lived in an old broken down home that lacked heat and electricity (Snodgrass p35). Kaye was born in Nash County in North Carolina. She was the youngest child of her family; however, she was mainly raised by her grandmother, Martha. Kaye was raised by her grandmother because in March 1970, her mother committed suicide by an overdose of pulse suppressing drug digitals (Snodgrass.p35). Her father was not much better than her mother, because he was a self-beating alcoholic. Kaye’s mother killed herself soon after she found out she was suffering from cyclical bipolarity, which is a manic depression (Snodgrass p35). When Kaye was eight she got put into a foster home because her grandmother was extremely ill and the doctors did not think she was going to make it. A woman named Mary Lee, became Kaye’s selected mother (Snodgrass p35). At the age of twelve Kaye was working in tobacco fields and attending the Childrens Bible Mission Camp at Falls of the Neuse River (Snodgrass p35). Kaye was never one to put herself out ther... ... and make the best out of her disorder. Kaye Gibbons, the woman she had become throughout her childhood years, her struggling adulthood, and now, she had wrote amazing novels even when she was bipolar. In this research, one has learned a million facts about Kaye Gibbons. One learned that it is never too late to keep fighting to accomplish your goals and to make miracles happen. Kaye lived a rough life; however, she managed to pick out positives of her disorder. Even though, she went down hill with the painkillers she was prescribed, and prescribed herself, she put them to the side and lived her bipolar eating life the way she should even if there was an obstacle in her way she still goes around it and fought through it because she knew what the right thing to do was. Til this day, Kaye Gibbons is still writing outstanding novels and putting herself out there.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 29. Defection

We sat there all night long, statues of horror and grief, and Alice never came back. We were all at our limits – frenzied into absolute stillness. Carlisle had barely been able to move his lips to explain it all to Jacob. The retelling seemed to make it worse; even Emmett stood silent and still from then on. It wasn't until the sun rose and I knew that Renesmee would soon be stirring under my hands that I wondered for the first time what could possibly be taking Alice so long. I'd hoped to know more before I was faced with my daughter's curiosity. To have some answers. Some tiny, tiny portion of hope so that I could smile and keep the truth from terrifying her, too. My face felt permanently set into the fixed mask it had worn all night. I wasn't sure I had the ability to smile anymore. Jacob was snoring in the corner, a mountain of fur on the floor, twitching anxiously in his sleep. Sam knew everything – the wolves were readying themselves for what was coming. Not that this preparation would do anything but get them killed with the rest of my family. Thesunlight broke through the back windows, sparkling on Edward's skin. My eyes had not moved from his since Alice's departure. We'd stared at each other all night, staring at what neither of us could live through losing: the other. I saw my reflection glimmer in his agonized eyes as the sun touched my own skin. His eyebrows moved an infinitesimal bit, then his lips. â€Å"Alice,† he said. Thesound of hisvoice was like ice cracking as it melted. All of us fractured a little, softened a little. Moved again. â€Å"She's been gone a long time,†Rosalie murmured, surprised. â€Å"Where could she be?† Emmett wondered, taking a step toward the door. Esme put a hand on her arm. â€Å"We don't want to disturb †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"She's never taken so long before,† Edward said. New worry splintered the mask his face had become. His features were alive again, his eyes suddenly wide with fresh fear, extra panic. â€Å"Carlisle, you don't think – something preemptive? Would Alice have had time to see if they sent someone for her?† Aro's translucent-skinned face filled my head. Aro, who had seen into all the corners of Alice's mind, who knew everything she was capable of – Emmett cussed loud enough that Jacob lurched to his feet with a growl. In the yard, his growl was echoed by his pack. My family was already a blur of action. â€Å"Stay with Renesmee!† I all but shrieked at Jacob as I sprinted through the door. I was still stronger than the rest of them, and I used that strength to push myself forward. I overtook Esme in a few bounds, and Rosalie in just a few strides more. I raced through the thick forest until I was right behind Edward and Carlisle. â€Å"Would they have been able to surprise her?† Carlisle asked, his voice as even as if he were standing motionless rather than running at full speed. â€Å"I don't see how,† Edward answered. â€Å"But Aro knows her better than anyone else. Better than I do.† â€Å"Is this a trap?† Emmett called from behind us. â€Å"Maybe,† Edward said. â€Å"There's no scent but Alice and Jasper. Where were they going?† Alice and Jasper's trail was curling into a wide arc; it stretched first east of the house, but headed north on the other side of the river, and then back west again after a few miles. We recrossed the river, all six jumping within a second of each other. Edward ran in the lead, his concentration total. â€Å"Did you catch that scent?† Esme called ahead a few moments after we'd leaped the river for the second time. She was the farthest back, on the far left edge of our hunting party. She gestured to the southeast. â€Å"Keep to the main trail – we're almost to the Quileute border,† Edward ordered tersely. â€Å"Stay together. See if they turned north or south.† I was not as familiar with the treaty line as the rest of them, but I could smell the hint of wolf in the breeze blowing from the east. Edward and Carlisle slowed a little out of habit, and I could see their heads sweep from side to side, waiting for the trail to turn. Then the wolf smell was suddenly stronger, and Edward's head snapped up. He came to a sudden stop. The rest of us froze, too. â€Å"Sam?† Edward asked in a flat voice. â€Å"What is this?† Sam came through the trees a few hundred yards away, walking quickly toward us in his human form, flanked by two big wolves – Paul and Jared. It took Sam a while to reach us; his human pace made me impatient. I didn't want time to think about what was happening. I wanted to be in motion, to be doing something. I wanted to have my arms around Alice, to know beyond a doubt that she was safe. I watched Edward's face go absolutely white as he read what Sam was thinking. Sam ignored him, looking straight at Carlisle as he stopped walking and began to speak. â€Å"Right after midnight, Alice and Jasper came to this place and asked permission to cross our land to the ocean. I granted them that and escorted them to the coast myself. They went immediately into the water and did not return. As we journeyed, Alice told me it was of the utmost importance that I say nothing to Jacob about seeing her until I spoke to you. I was to wait here for you to come looking for her and then give you this note. She told me to obey her as if all our lives depended on it.† Sam's face was grim as he held out a folded sheet of paper, printed all over with small black text. It was a page out of a book; my sharp eyes read the printed words as Carlisle unfolded it to see the other side. The side facing me was the copyright page from The Merchant of Venice. A hint of my own scent blew off of it as Carlisle shook the paper flat. I realized it was a page torn from one of my books. I'd brought a few things from Charlie's house to the cottage; a few sets of normal clothes, all the letters from my mother, and my favorite books. My tattered collection of Shakespeare paperbacks had been on the bookshelf in the cottage's little living room yesterday morning†¦. â€Å"Alice has decided to leave us,† Carlisle whispered. â€Å"What?† Rosalie cried. Carlisle turned the page around so that we all could read. Don't look for us. There isn't time to waste. Remember; Tanya, Siobhan, Amun, Alistair, all the nomads you can find. We'll seek out Peter and Charlotte on our way. We're so sorry that we have to leave you this way, with no goodbyes or explanations. It's the only way for us. We love you. We stood frozen again, the silence total but for the sound of the wolves' heartbeats, their breathing. Their thoughts must have been loud, too. Edward was first to move again, speaking in response to what he heard in Sam's head. â€Å"Yes, things are that dangerous.† â€Å"Enough that you would abandon your family?† Sam asked out loud, censure in his tone. It was clear that he had not read the note before giving it to Carlisle. He was upset now, looking as if he regretted listening to Alice. Edward's expression was stiff – to Sam it probably looked angry or arrogant, but I could see the shape of pain in the hard planes of his face. â€Å"We don't know what she saw,† Edward said. â€Å"Alice is neither unfeeling nor a coward. She just has more information than we do.† â€Å"Wewould not – ,† Sam began. â€Å"You are bound differently than we are,† Edward snapped. â€Å"1/1/e each still have our free will.† Sam's chin jerked up, and his eyes looked suddenly flat black. â€Å"But you should heed the warning,† Edward went on. â€Å"This is not something you want to involve yourselves in. You can still avoid what Alice saw.† Sam smiled grimly. â€Å"We don't run away.† Behind him, Paul snorted. â€Å"Don't get your family slaughtered for pride,† Carlisle interjected quietly. Sam looked at Carlisle with a softer expression. â€Å"As Edward pointed out, we don't have the same kind of freedom that you have. Renesmee is as much as part of our family now as she is yours. Jacob cannot abandon her, and we cannot abandon him.† His eyes flickered to Alice's note, and his lips pressed into a thinline. â€Å"You don't know her,† Edward said. â€Å"Do you?† Sam asked bluntly. Carlisle put a hand on Edward's shoulder. â€Å"We have much to do, son. Whatever Alice's decision, we would be foolish not to follow her advice now. Let's go home and get to work.† Edward nodded, his face still rigid with pain. Behind me, I could hear Esme's quiet, tearless sobs. I didn't know how to cry in this body; I couldn't do anything but stare. There was no feeling yet. Everything seemed unreal, like I was dreaming again after all these months. Having a nightmare. â€Å"Thank you, Sam,† Carlisle said. â€Å"I'm sorry,† Sam answered. â€Å"We shouldn't have let her through.† â€Å"You did the right thing,† Carlisle told him. â€Å"Alice is free to do what she will. I wouldn't deny her that liberty.† I'd always thought of the Cullens as a whole, an indivisible unit. Suddenly, I remembered that it had not always been so. Carlisle had created Edward, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett; Edward had created me. We were physically linked by blood and venom. I never thought of Alice and Jasper as separate – as adopted into the family. But in truth, Alice had adopted the Cullens. She had shown up with her unconnected past, bringing Jasper with his, and fit herself into the family that was already there. Both she and Jasper had known another life outside the Cullen family. Had she really chosen to lead another new life after she'd seen that life with the Cullens was over? We were doomed, then, weren't we? There was no hope at all. Not one ray, one flicker that might have convinced Alice she had a chance at our side. The bright morning air seemed thicker suddenly, blacker, as if physically darkened by my despair. â€Å"I'mnot going down without a fight,† Emmett snarled low under his breath. â€Å"Alice told us what to do. Let's get it done.† The others nodded with determined expressions, and I realized that they were banking on whatever chance Alice had given us. That they were not going to give in to hopelessness and wait to die. Yes, we all would fight. What else was there? And apparently we would involve others, because Alice had said so before she'd left us. How could we not follow Alice's last warning? The wolves, too, would fight with us for Renesmee. We would fight, they would fight, and we all would die. I didn't feel the same resolve the others seemed to feel. Alice knew the odds. She was giving us the only chance she could see, but the chance was too slim for her to bet on it. I felt already beaten as I turned my back on Sam's critical face and followed Carlisle toward home. We ran automatically now, not the same panicked hurry as before. As we neared the river, Esme's head lifted. â€Å"There was that other trail. It was fresh.† She nodded forward, toward where she had called Edward's attention on the way here. While we were racing to save Alice†¦ â€Å"It has to be from earlier in the day. It was just Alice, without Jasper,† Edward said lifelessly. Esme's face puckered, and she nodded. I drifted to the right, falling a little behind. I was sure Edward was right, but at the same time†¦ After all, how had Alice's note ended up on a page from my book? â€Å"Bella?† Edward asked in an emotionless voice as I hesitated. â€Å"I want to follow the trail,† I told him, smelling the light scent of Alice that led away from her earlier flight path, i was new to this, but it smelled exactly the same to me, just minus the scent of Jasper. Edward's golden eyes were empty. â€Å"It probably just leads back to the house.† â€Å"Then I'll meet you there.† At first I thought he would let me go alone, but then, as I moved a few steps away, his blank eyes flickered to life. â€Å"I'll come with you,† he said quietly. â€Å"Well meet you at home, Carlisle.† Carlisle nodded, and the others left. I waited until they were out of sight, and then I looked at Edward questioningly. â€Å"I couldn't let you walk away from me,† he explained in a low voice. â€Å"It hurt just to imagine it.† I understood without more explanation than that. I thought of being divided from him now and realized I would have felt the same pain, no matter how short the separation. There was so little time left to be together. I held my hand out to him, and he took it. â€Å"Let's hurry,† he said. â€Å"Renesmee will be awake.† I nodded, and we were running again. It was probably a silly thing, to waste the time away from Renesmee just for curiosity's sake. But the note bothered me. Alice could have carved the note into a boulder or tree trunk if she lacked writing utensils. She could have stolen a pad of Post-its from any of the houses by the highway. Why my book? When did she get it? Sure enough, the trail led back to the cottage by a circuitous route that stayed far clear of the Cullens' house and the wolves in the nearby woods. Edward's brows tightened in confusion as it became obvious where the trail led. He tried to reason it out. â€Å"She left Jasper to wait for her and came here?† We were almost to the cottage now, and I felt uneasy. I was glad to have Edward's hand in mine, but I also felt as if I should be here alone. Tearing out the page and carrying it back to Jasper was such an odd thing for Alice to do. It felt like there was a message in her action – one I didn't understand at all. But it was my book, so the message must be for me. If it were something she wanted Edward to know, wouldn't she have pulled a page from one of his books†¦ ? â€Å"Give me just a minute,† I said, pulling my hand free as we got to the door. His forehead creased. â€Å"Bella?† â€Å"Please? Thirty seconds.† I didn't wait for him to answer. I darted through the door, pulling it shut behind me. I went straight to the bookshelf. Alice's scent was fresh – less than a day old. A fire that I had not set burned low but hot in the fireplace. I yanked The Merchant of Venice off the shelf and flipped it open to the title page. There, next to the feathered edge left by the torn page, under the words The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, was a note. Destroy this. Below that was a name and an address in Seattle. When Edward came through the door after only thirteen seconds rather than thirty, I was watching the book burn. â€Å"What's going on, Bella?† â€Å"She was here. She ripped a page out of my book to write her note on.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I don't know why.† â€Å"Why are you burning it?† â€Å"I – I – † I frowned, letting all my frustration and pain show on my face. I did not know what Alice was trying to tell me, only that she'd gone to great lengths to keep it from anyone but me. The one person whose mind Edward could not read. So she must want to keep him in the dark, and it was probably for a good reason. â€Å"It seemed appropriate.† â€Å"We don't know what she's doing,† he said quietly. I stared into the flames. I was the only person in the world who could lie to Edward. Was that what Alice wanted from me? Her last request? â€Å"When we were on the plane to Italy,† I whispered – this was not a lie, except perhaps in context – â€Å"on our way to rescue you†¦ she lied to Jasper so that he wouldn't come after us. She knew that if he faced the Volturi, he would die. She was willing to die herself rather than put him in danger. Willing for me to die, too. Willing for you to die.† Edward didn't answer. â€Å"She has her priorities,† I said. It made my still heart ache to realize that my explanation did not feel like a lie in any way. â€Å"I don't believe it,† Edward said. He didn't say it like he was arguing with me – he said it like he was arguing with himself. â€Å"Maybe it was just Jasper in danger. Her plan would work for the rest of us, but he'd be lost if he stayed. Maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"She could have told us that. Sent him away.† â€Å"But would Jasper have gone? Maybe she's lying to him again.† â€Å"Maybe,† I pretended to agree. â€Å"We should go home. There's no time.† Edward took my hand, and we ran. Alice's note did not make me hopeful. If there were any way to avoid the coming slaughter, Alice would have stayed. I couldn't see another possibility. So it was something else she was giving me. Not a way to escape. But what else would she think that I wanted? Maybe a way to salvage something? Was there anything I could still save? Carlisle and the others had not been idle in our absence. We'd been separated from them for all of five minutes, and they were already prepared to leave. In the corner, Jacob was human again, with Renesmee on his lap, both of them watching us with wide eyes. Rosalie had traded her silk wrap dress for a sturdy-looking pair of jeans, running shoes, and a button-down shirt made of the thick weave that backpackers used for long trips. Esme was dressed similarly. There was a globe on the coffee table, but they were done looking at it, just waiting for us. The atmosphere was more positive now than before; it felt good to them to be in action. Their hopes were pinned on Alice's instructions. I looked at the globe and wondered where we were headed first. â€Å"We're to stay here?† Edward asked, looking at Carlisle. He didn't sound happy. â€Å"Alice said that we would have to show people Renesmee, and we would have to be careful about it,† Carlisle said. â€Å"We'll send whomever we can find back here to you – Edward, you'll be the best at fielding that particular minefield.† Edward gave one sharp nod, still not happy. â€Å"There's a lot of ground to cover.† â€Å"We're splitting up,† Emmett answered. â€Å"Rose and I are hunting for nomads.† â€Å"You'll have your hands full here,† Carlisle said. â€Å"Tanya's family will be here in the morning, and they have no idea why. First, you have to persuade them not to react the way Irina did. Second, you've got to find out what Alice meant about Eleazar. Then, after all that, will they stay to witness for us? It will start again as the others come – if we can persuade anyone to come in the first place.† Carlisle sighed. â€Å"Your job may well be the hardest. We'll be back to help as soon as we can.† Carlisle put his hand on Edward's shoulder for a second and then kissed my forehead. Esme hugged us both, and Emmett punched us both on the arm. Rosalie forced a hard smile for Edward and me, blew a kiss to Renesmee, and then gave Jacob a parting grimace. â€Å"Good luck,† Edward told them. â€Å"And to you,† Carlisle said. â€Å"We'll all need it.† I watched them leave, wishing I could feel whatever hope bolstered them, and wishing I could be alone with the computer for just a few seconds. I had to figure out who this J. Jenks person was and why Alice had gone to such lengths to give his name to only me. Renesmee twisted in Jacob's arms to touch his cheek. â€Å"I don't know if Carlisle's friends will come. I hope so. Sounds like we're a little outnumbered right now,† Jacob murmured to Renesmee. So she knew. Renesmee already understood only too clearly what was going on. The whole imprinted-werewolf-gives-the-object-of-his-imprinting-whatever-she-wants thing was getting old pretty fast. Wasn't shielding her more important than answering her questions? I looked carefully at her face. She did not look frightened, only anxious and very serious as she conversed with Jacob in her silent way. â€Å"No, we can't help; we've got to stay here,† he went on. â€Å"People are coming to see you, not the scenery.† Renesmee frowned at him. â€Å"No, I don't have to go anywhere,† he said to her. Then he looked at Edward, his face stunned by the realization that he might be wrong. â€Å"Do I?† Edward hesitated. â€Å"Spit it out,† Jacob said, his voice raw with tension. He was right at his breaking point, just like the rest of us. â€Å"The vampires who are coming to help us are not the same as we are,† Edward said. â€Å"Tanya's family is the only one besides ours with a reverence for human life, and even they don't think much of werewolves. I think it might be safer – â€Å" â€Å"I can take care of myself,† Jacob interrupted. â€Å"Safer for Renesmee,† Edward continued, â€Å"if the choice to believe our story about her is not tainted by an association with werewolves.† â€Å"Some friends. They'd turn on you just because of who you hang out with now?† â€Å"I think they would mostly be tolerant under normal circumstances. But you need to understand – accepting Nessie will not be a simple thing for any of them. Why make it even the slightest bit harder?† Carlisle had explained the laws about immortal children to Jacob last night. â€Å"The immortal children were really that bad?† he asked. â€Å"You can't imagine the depth of the scars they've left in the collective vampire psyche.† â€Å"Edward †¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was still odd to hear Jacob use Edward's name without bitterness. â€Å"I know, Jake. I know how hard it is to be away from her. We'll play it by ear – see how they react to her. In any case, Nessie is going to have to be incognito off and on in the next few weeks. She'll need to stay at the cottage until the right moment for us to introduce her. As long as you keep a safe distance from the main house †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I can do that. Company in the morning, huh?† â€Å"Yes. The closest of our friends. In this particular case, it's probably better if we get things out in the open as soon as possible. You can stay here. Tanya knows about you. She's even met Seth.† â€Å"You should tell Sam what's going on. There might be strangers in the woods soon.† â€Å"Good point. Though I owe him some silence after last night.† â€Å"Listening to Alice is usually the right thing.† Jacob's teeth ground together, and I could see that he shared Sam's feelings about what Alice and Jasper had done. While they were talking, I wandered toward the back windows, trying to look distracted and anxious. Not a difficult thing to do. I leaned my head against the wall that curved away from the living room toward the dining room, right next to one of the computer desks. I ran my fingers against the keys while staring into the forest, trying to make it look like an absentminded thing. Did vampires ever do things absentmindedly? I didn't think anyone was paying particular attention to me, but I didn't turn to make sure. The monitor glowed to life. I stroked my fingers across the keys again. Then I drummed them very quietly on the wooden desktop, just to make it seem random. Another stroke across the keys. I scanned the screen in my peripheral vision. No J. Jenks, but there was a Jason Jenks. A lawyer. I brushed the keyboard, trying to keep a rhythm, like the preoccupied stroking of a cat you'd all but forgotten on your lap. Jason Jenks had a fancy website for his firm, but the address on the homepage was wrong. In Seattle, but in a different zip code. I noted the phone number and then stroked the keyboard in rhythm. This time I searched the address, but nothing at all came up, as if the address didn't exist. I wanted to look at a map, but I decided I was pushing my luck. One more brush, to delete the history___ I continued staring out the window and brushed the wood a few times. I heard light footsteps crossing the floor to me, and I turned with what I hoped was the same expression as before. Renesmee reached for me, and I held my arms open. She launched herself into them, smelling strongly of werewolf, and nestled her head against my neck. I didn't know if I could stand this. As much as I feared for my life, for Edward's, for the rest of my family's, it was not the same as the gut-wrenching terror I felt for my daughter. There had to be a way to save her, even if that was the only thing I could do. Suddenly, I knew that this was all I wanted anymore. The rest I would bear if I had to, but not her life being forfeited. Not that. She was the one thing I simply had to save. Would Alice have known how I would feel? Renesmee's hand touched my cheek lightly. She showed me my own face, Edward's, Jacob's, Rosalie's, Esme's, Carlisle's, Alice's, Jasper's, flipping through all our family's faces faster and faster. Seth and Leah. Charlie, Sue, and Billy. Over and over again. Worrying, like the rest of us were. She was only worrying, though. Jake had kept the worst from her as far as I could tell. The part about how we had no hope, how we all were going to die in a month's time. She settled on Alice's face, longing and confused. Where was Alice? â€Å"I don't know,† I whispered. â€Å"But she's Alice. She's doing the right thing, like always.† The right thing for Alice, anyway. I hated thinking of her that way, but how else could the situation be understood? Renesmee sighed, and the longing intensified. â€Å"I miss her, too.† I felt my face working, trying to find the expression that went with the grief inside. My eyes felt strange and dry; they blinked against the uncomfortable feeling. I bit my lip. When I took my next breath, the air hitched in my throat, like I was choking on it. Renesmee pulled back to look at me, and I saw my face mirrored in her thoughts and in her eyes. I looked like Esme had this morning. So this was what it felt like to cry. Renesmee's eyes glistened wetly as she watched my face. She stroked my face, showing me nothing, just trying to soothe me. I'd never thought to see the mother-daughter bond reversed between us, the way it had always been for Renee and me. But I hadn't had a very clear view of the future. A tear welled up on the edge of Renesmee's eye. I wiped it away with a kiss. She touched her eye in amazement and then looked at the wetness on her fingertip. â€Å"Don't cry,† I told her. â€Å"It's going to be okay. You're going to be fine. I will find you a way through this.† If there was nothing else I could do, I would still save my Renesmee. I was more positive than ever that this was what Alice would give me. She would know. She would have left me a way.