Monday, December 30, 2019

The Great Gatsby The American Dream - 927 Words

Tj Hesse Ms Labouff English 3 1 November 2017 The Poor Man’s Dream Many believe that America is the land of riches, where anyone can become rich and wealthy. This idea is known as the American Dream, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for a successful living. However, this ethos is completely false, and is nothing more than exactly that - a dream. Throughout the award-winning work of F. Scott Fitzgerald, â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, he gathers criticism about the American Dream. He denounces the dream by shedding the light on topics such as the selfish pursuit of pleasure that always follows such attempted pursuit of the dream, the illegal ways that people attempt to undergo in order to obtain the dream, and the fact that†¦show more content†¦He will never actually join or take part in these parties, but just sits there waiting for Daisy to show up.Her voice is full of money, he said suddenly. That was it. I d never understood before. It was full of money – that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fel l in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals song of it†¦ high in a white palace the king s daughter, the golden girl.† This quote clearly describes that he wishes to get Daisy using only his wealth and money. â€Å"He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher — shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, and monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.† This also shows that he only wants to get Daisy using his wealth, or in this case his shirts. When people talk about the American Dream, they usually describe it as coming to America, getting a job and become rich. Although being rich comes with a lot of perks such as living life without consequences and very comfortable living, it is easy to always get what is needed or to fix what doesn t needed to be fixed like when â€Å"The idea staggered me. I remembered, of course, that theShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream : The Great Gatsby Essay1568 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream: The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story on the surface, but its most commonly understood as a suspicious critic of the American Dream. In the novel Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor past to gain an incredible amount of money and a limited amount of social cache of in the 1920s NYC, only to be rejected by the â€Å"old money† crowd. The focus of my paper would be the pathway towards the American Dream and how it affects the person and others around. The American dreamRead MoreThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream1401 Words   |  6 PagesThe Real American Dream Since its institution, the United States has been revered as the ultimate land of ceaseless opportunity. People all around the world immigrated to America to seek quick wealth, which was predominately seen in the new Modern era. Beginning in the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the period introduced progressive ideas into society and the arts. Accompanying these ideas was a loss of faith in the American Dream and the promise America once guaranteed, especially after WorldRead MoreThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream1442 Words   |  6 PagesPursuit of Happiness. This sentiment can be considered the foundation of the American Dream, the dream that everyone has the ability to become what he or she desires to be. While many people work to attain their American dream, others believe that the dream is seemingly impossible to reach, like F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby examines the Jazz-Age generations search for the elusive American Dream of wealth and happiness and scrutinizes the consequences of that generationsRead MoreThe American Dream ( The Great Gatsby )1173 Words   |  5 PagesSLIDE. *POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE AMERICAN DREAM (THE GREAT GATSBY). Did anyone notice anything that caused a change in society between these two pictures? *POINTS TO SOMEONE WITH ONE OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ/QUESTION. READS OUT THE RAPID ECONOMIC BOOMING AND GREED. *NEXT SLIDE. That’s correct! During the 1920s of the Jazz Age in concurrence with the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, America had experienced a rapid economic booming after World War I. The American society experienced an economic and politicalRead MoreThe Great Gatsby American Dream1414 Words   |  6 Pagesfilm is based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It follows Jay Gatsby, a man who molds his life around one desire: to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier. Gatsby s quest leads him from poverty to wealth, into the arms of his beloved, and eventually to death. Nick Caraway is the narrator, or storyteller, of The Great Gatsby, as well as Daisy s cousin who happens to live next door to Great Gatsby. Daisy represents the paragon of perfection. She has the aura of charmRead MoreThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream773 Words   |  3 Pagesimportant items. The American Dream is a huge achievement that everyone wants to reach. Whether people want to admi t it or not, it is a symbol all it’s self. It can be anything really, a great job, a family, white picket fence, even music or attending concerts of your favorite band. The American Dream is something that makes you so happy and what you can achieve or want achieve in your lifetime. The main AMerican Dream is money, a family, and happiness. In The Great Gatsby the american dream is a green lightRead MoreAmerican Dream In The Great Gatsby1366 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream has various implications for diverse individuals. For some people, the concept implies that one can accomplish his or her objectives and goals through living this dream. To others, it provides a beacon of hope, as an open door that individuals desperately desire to enter in pursuit of opportunities. The Americans after World War I, boosted by the emotions of the war, had an uncontrollable vigor about accomplishing and displaying an extravagant way of life and achieving a high socialRead MoreThe Ame rican Dream In The Great Gatsby1097 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was one that was highly centralized around the American Dream. The American Dream is the belief that anyone can become successful in America if they worked hard enough. The dream did not discriminate anyone and that is why many people worked towards it. In the novel, it shows that not everyone was living the American Dream but were separated by the social classes of wealth, race, and intelligence. The 1920s in America was a roaringRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And The American Dream1771 Words   |  8 Pages 5/30/17 Of Gatsby and His Unattainable Dream The American dream is a concept that has been wielded into American literature throughout history. Projecting the contrast between the American dream and reality, F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporates his opinions, primarily based off of his experiences and tribulations in World War I, throughout his literary works.Many people believe that deplorable moral and social values have evolved from the materialistic pursuit of the American dream especially throughoutRead MoreThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream592 Words   |  2 PagesRed, white , and blue are iconic to the American culture we know of. They can show our passion, desire, and pride for our country, but you will always have you might have to give in, against what your morals tell you.In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald uses the colors red, blue, and white to symbolize the American dream. To accomplish the American dream you need passion and desire but you will face situations where your morals will compromised. Passion is a necessity

Sunday, December 22, 2019

A Stolen Community Where Are The Victims - 1466 Words

Latavia Hawkins Ms. Whittington English IV Honors 15 April 2015 A Stolen Community: Where Are The Victims? â€Å"However you dress, wherever you go, yes means yes and no means no† -Dr. Suese. Within 48 hours of leaving home, one in three teens on the street will be lured toward prostitution. Approximately 300,000 children are at risk of being prostituted in the United States. In fact, human trafficking generates $9.5 billion yearly in the United States. The median age of entry into prostitution for a child victim in the United States is 13-14 years old. The average victim may be forced to have sex up to 20-48 times a day. Human trafficking has disgustingly shaped today’s society and has robbed us of our children and parents; It is an illegal recruitment of defenseless young teens and adults. They unwillingly transport people from place to place, country to country. Although this criminal activity violates human rights on so many levels, statistics still continue to grow and there have been so little done about it. Generally, trackers lure their victims under false pretense. Unfortunately the victims are trafficked by family members or by someone that can be trusted into having a better way of schooling, housing or even a job offer. Then unknowingly the victims voluntarily flee the country to somewhere else and become trapped by criminals. Once the potential victim has fallen for the offer then he or she is on the journey to being trafficked. OnceShow MoreRelatedCrime And Its Effects On Society1540 Words   |  7 Pagesmonetary. In today’s world, people spend a lot of money to protect themselves from becoming victims of crimes. When a serious crime happens in one community, people in that community will take the necessary precautions that they believe will prevent that crime from happening again. Depending on the severity of the crime, it can also affect people in other communities not only the people in the community where the crime happened. However, many times the psychological cost of a particular crime can haveRead MoreA Report Of A Stolen Bike957 Words   |  4 PagesWhen compared to other crimes, the case of a stolen bike seems like one that does not require a team of investigators. Actually, if asked to describe situation involving a report of a stolen bicycle, one might envision the victim being a child or young adult. The reality of the case is that there is an average of $50 million worth of bikes stolen each year in the United States (Jouvenal, 2007, p.26). The underground network of stolen bikes can be attractive to criminals for some bikes can cost upwardRead MoreWhat Did The Stolen 3 Generation Affected The Australian Population1423 Words   |  6 Pagestreated callously, anguished and tortured due to their race. The Stolen Generation was the event where children, who were of an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, were removed from their families. Many Indigenous children were forcefully removed from their families, neve r being able to see them again. The treatment towards the Indigenous Australian’s was horrific, as these children were taken away from their community, placed into an institution to be changed into the ‘white’ waysRead MoreStreet Crime in Pakistan. and to Curb It1375 Words   |  6 Pagestaking place in  public places. It has moved to occupy the place once held by  mugging. According to  London s  Metropolitan Police Force,  street crime  is: Robbery, often called mugging , and also includes thefts from victims in the street where property is snatched and the victim is not assaulted.  [1] Crime on the  streets  of a  city  may include many other types of offences, for example  pickpocketing, the open carrying-on of the  illegal drugs trade, prostitution in the form of  soliciting  outsideRead MoreThe Role Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People1586 Words   |  7 PagesThe ‘Stolen Generations’ is a term used to describe the actions of which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mostly children, were taken away from their families between the 1890’s and the 1970’s (Korff, 2014). Children were taken to institutions or adopted by non-Indigenous families and most never saw their families again. In the early 1900’s the Australian public was persuaded into believing Aboriginal children were deprived, mistreated and at risk in their own communities. People believedRead MorePersuasive Essay On Stolen Car767 Words   |  4 Pagesone of their victims, then dont be freaked out. Getting your car stolen is the mos t awful thing, but its not the end of the world. If you car is stolen, then you need to remain calm and think about the ways to get your stolen car back. You can go through the most effective ways to identify the exact location of the thief and get back your car without having any damage. Find Out Your Stolen Car In Your Parking Place Before you apply the different methods to finding your stolen car, better youRead MoreEffects Of The Colonization Of Indigenous People860 Words   |  4 Pagescountry and the wisdom and authority of Elders. This situates a strong emphasis on kinship and relationships within families and other members of Aboriginal communities. The Stolen Generation was the result of the trauma that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face today. Due to this trauma, this has led to them to losing their culture where they have now fallen at a disadvantage such as their immediate socioeconomic causes, low levels of education and employment and poorer health. This has alsoRead MoreAssimilation Of Stolen Generations1413 Words   |  6 PagesHave you ever wondered what the Stolen Generations are and why they were taken from their families? Between 1910-1970, many Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families because of many government policies. The generations of children removed under these policies became known as the Stolen Generations. These policies left a heritage of trauma and loss that continues to affect Indigenous communities, families, and individuals to this current day. The violent removal of IndigenousRead MoreIdentity Theft1365 Words   |  6 PagesTrade Commission, identity theft complaints have decreased since year 2008 (314,521 to 250,854). It is estimated by the FTC that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. As information technology progresses along with society, there is always an increased risk of having one’s identity stolen. â€Å"Identity theft was the number one complaint category in the CSN for calendar year 2010 with 19% of the overall complaints, followed by Debt Collection (11%); Internet Services (5%);Read MoreThe Death Penalty On The Criminal Justice System1491 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom of justice that he introduces is justice before the law, the type of justice that can equalize what has been taken. Aristotle focuses on the city as a community that both the offender and the victim live in. To rectify what has been taken, the victim must be restored. The way to do this is to take from the offender and give to the victim. This sort of corrective or rectificatory justice is known as ‘Aristotle’s standard interpretation’ (Brickhouse 188). When a person gets their life taken from

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Secret Circle The Captive Chapter Six Free Essays

They drove to the school. Despite the tension between them, the night seemed clear and cool and filled with magic, and the gym was transformed. It was so big that it seemed part of the night, and the twinkling lights woven around the pipes and girders overhead were like stars. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Captive Chapter Six or any similar topic only for you Order Now Cassie looked around for any other members of the Circle. She didn’t see any. What she saw were outsiders looking in surprise at her and Adam. And in the boys’ eyes there was something more than surprise, something Cassie wasn’t at all used to. It was the kind of openmouthed stare guys turned on Diana when Diana was looking particularly beautiful. A sudden warmth and a glow that had nothing to do with Suzan’s artistry swept over Cassie. She knew she was blushing. She felt conspicuous and overwhelmed-and at the same time thrilled and excited. But through the wild mixture of emotions, one thing remained clear and diamond-bright within her. She was here to play a part and to keep her oath to be true to Diana. That was what mattered, and she clung to it. But she couldn’t just stand here with everyone staring at her any longer; it was too embarrassing. She turned to Adam. It was an awkward moment. They couldn’t sit down together in some dark corner-that would never do. Then Adam gave a crooked smile and said, â€Å"Want to dance?† Relieved, Cassie nodded, and they went out onto the dance floor. In a matter of seconds they were surrounded by other people. And then the music started, soft and sweet. They stared at each other, helplessly, in dismay. They were in the middle of the dance floor; to get out they would have to forge their way through the crowd. Cassie looked into Adam’s eyes and saw he was as confused as she was. Then Adam said under his breath, â€Å"We’d better not be too conspicuous,† and he took her in his arms. Cassie shut her eyes. She was trembling, and she didn’t know what to do. Slowly, almost as if compelled, Adam laid his cheek against her hair. I won’t think about anything, I won’t think at all, Cassie told herself. I won’t feel. . . But that was impossible. She couldn’t help feeling. It was dark as twilight and Adam was holding her and she could smell his scent of autumn leaves and ocean wind. Dancing is a very witchy thing-oh, Laurel had been right. Cassie could imagine witches in ages past dancing under the stars to wild sweet music, and then lying down on the soft green grass. Maybe among Cassie’s ancestors there had been some witch-girl who had danced like this in a moonlit glade. Maybe she had danced by herself until she noticed a shadow among the trees and heard the panpipes. And then maybe she and the forest god had danced together, while the moon shone silver all around them†¦. Cassie could feel the warmth, the course of life, in Adam’s arms. The silver cord, she thought. The mysterious, invisible bond that had connected her to Adam from the beginning†¦ just now she could feel it again. It joined them heart to heart, it was drawing them irresistibly together. The music stopped. Adam moved back just slightly and she looked up at him, cheek and neck tingling with the loss of his warmth. His eyes were strange, darkness just edged with silver like a new moon. Slowly, he bent down so that his lips were barely touching hers-and stayed there. They stood that way for what seemed like an eternity and then Cassie turned her head away. It wasn’t a kiss, she thought as they moved out through the crowd. It didn’t count. But there was no way that they could dance together again and they both knew it. Cassie’s knees were shaking. Find some people to join-fast, she thought. She looked around desperately. And to her vast relief she glimpsed a sleek auburn crop and a head of long, light-brown hair interwoven with tiny flowers. It was Melanie and Laurel, in animated conversation with two outsider boys. If they’d seen what happened on the dance floor a minute ago†¦ But Laurel swung around at Adam’s â€Å"hello† and said, â€Å"Oh, there you are!† and Melanie’s smile was quite normal. Cassie was grateful to talk with them while the boys talked about football. Her lightheartedness, inspired by the magic of the dance, began to return. â€Å"There’s Deborah. She always gets one dance in before heading off to the boiler room with the Hendersons,† Laurel murmured, smiling mischievously. â€Å"What do they do there?† Cassie asked as she followed Laurel’s gaze. Deborah was wearing a black micro-mini and a biker’s hat decorated with a gold link bracelet. Her hair was mostly in her eyes. She looked great. â€Å"Play cards and drink. But no, not what you’re thinking. None of the guys would dare try anything with Deb-she can outwrestle them all. They’re just in awe of her.† Cassie smiled, then she spotted someone else, and her smile faded. â€Å"Speaking of awesome†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said softly. Faye had on a flame-colored dress, sexy and elegant, cut in her usual knockout style. Her hair was black and glossy, hanging untamed down her back. She was like some exotic creature that had wandered onto campus by accident. Faye didn’t see the three girls scrutinizing her. Her entire attention seemed to be focused on Nick. Cassie was surprised Nick was even here; he wasn’t the type to go to dances. He was standing by a blond outsider girl who looked frankly spooked. As Cassie watched, Faye made her way over to him and placed a hand with red-tipped fingers on his arm. Nick glanced down at the hand and stiffened. He threw a cold glance over his shoulder at Faye. Then, deliberately, he shrugged her hand off, bending over the little blonde, whose eyes widened. Throughout the whole incident his face remained as wintry and remote as ever. â€Å"Uh-oh,† Laurel whispered. â€Å"Faye’s trying to hedge her bets, but Nick isn’t cooperating.† â€Å"It’s her own fault,† Melanie said. â€Å"She kept after Jeffrey until the last minute.† â€Å"I think she’s still after him now,† said Cassie. Jeffrey was just coming off the dance floor with Sally. His expression was the exact opposite of wintry; he looked as if he was having a wonderful time, flashing his lady-killing smile in all directions. Proud, Cassie thought, to have the Homecoming Queen on his arm. But it was funny, she thought the next minute, how quickly people stopped smiling when they ran into Faye. Jeffrey tried to hustle Sally back onto the dance floor, but Faye moved as quickly as a stalking panther and cut them off. Then she and Sally stood on either side of Jeff, like a big, glossy black dog and a little rust-colored terrier fighting over a tall, slim bone. â€Å"That’s stupid,† Laurel said. â€Å"Faye could have almost any guy here, but she only wants the ones who’re a challenge.† â€Å"Well, it’s not our problem,† Melanie said sensibly. She turned to the outsider boy beside her and smiled, and they went together onto the dance floor. Laurel looked nettled for an instant, then smiled, shrugged at Cassie, and collected her own partner. Cassie watched them go with a sinking heart. She’d been able to block out Adam’s presence for the last few minutes, but here they were alone again. Determinedly, she looked around for some distraction. There was Jeffrey-he was in real trouble now. The music had started, Faye was smiling a lazy, dangerous smile at him, and Sally was bristling and looking daggers. The three of them were standing in a perfect triangle, nobody moving. Cassie didn’t see how Jeffrey was going to get out of it. Then he looked up in her direction. His reaction was startling. His eyes widened. He blinked. He stared at her as if he had never seen a girl before. Then he stepped away from Faye and Sally as if he’d forgotten their existence. Cassie was dismayed, confused-but flattered. One thing-it certainly got her out of her present dilemma with Adam. When she turned and looked into Adam’s eyes, she saw he understood, without even nodding. Jeffrey was holding out his hand to her. She took it and let him lead her onto the dance floor. She cast one glance back at Adam and saw that his expression was a paradox: acceptance mixed with something darker, more disturbing. It was another slow dance. Cassie held herself at a decent distance from Jeffrey, staring uncertainly down at his shoes. They were dark brown loafers with little tassels, the left one slightly scuffed. When she finally looked up at his face, her awkwardness vanished. That smile was not only blinding but openly admiring. When we first met he was trying to impress me, Cassie thought dizzily. Now he’s impressed. She could see the appreciation in his eyes, feel it in the way he held her. â€Å"We make a good couple,† he said. She laughed. Trust Jeffrey to compliment himself in complimenting her. â€Å"Thank you. I hope Sally isn’t mad.† â€Å"It’s not Sally I’m worried about. It’s her.† â€Å"Faye. I know.† She wished she had some advice for him. But nobody knew how to deal with Faye. â€Å"Maybe you’d better be worried too. What’s Diana going to say when she finds out you were here with Adam?† â€Å"Diana asked me to come with him, because she was sick,† Cassie said, flaring up in spite of herself. â€Å"I didn’t even want to, and-â€Å" â€Å"Hey. Hey. I was just teasing. Everybody knows Di and her prince consort are practically married. Although maybe she wouldn’t have asked you if she’d known how beautiful you were going to look.† He was still teasing, but Cassie didn’t like it. She looked around the dance floor and saw Laurel, who winked over her partner’s shoulder. Suzan was dancing, too, very close with a muscular boy, her red-gold hair shining in the gloom. And then it was over. Cassie looked up at Jeffrey and said, â€Å"Good luck with Faye,† which was the best she could offer him. He flashed the smile again. â€Å"I can handle it,† he said confidently. â€Å"Don’t you want to dance again? No? Are you sure?† â€Å"Thanks, but I’d better get back,† Cassie murmured, worried about the way he was looking at her. She managed to escape his restraining hand and started toward the sidelines, but before she could get there another boy asked her to dance. She couldn’t see Adam anywhere. Maybe he was off enjoying himself-she hoped so. She said â€Å"yes† to the boy. It didn’t stop with him. All sorts of guys, seniors and juniors, athletes and class officers, were coming up to her. She saw boys’ eyes wander from their own dates to look at her as she danced. I didn’t know dances were like this. I didn’t know anything was like this, she thought. For the moment she was entirely swept up in the magic of the night, and she pushed all troublesome reflection away. She let the music take her and let herself just be for a while. Then she saw Sally’s face on the sidelines. Jeffrey wasn’t with her. Cassie hadn’t seen Jeffrey in a while. But Sally was focused on Cassie specifically, and her expression was venomous. When that dance was over, Cassie evaded the next boy who tried to intercept her, and headed for Laurel. Laurel greeted her with glee. â€Å"You’re the belle of the ball,† she said excitedly, tucking her arm through Cassie’s and patting Cassie’s hand. â€Å"Sally’s furious. Faye’s furious. Everybody’s furious.† â€Å"It’s the magnet perfume. I think Suzan used too much.† â€Å"Don’t be silly. It’s you. You’re a perfect little-gazelle. No, a little white unicorn, one of a kind. I think even Adam has noticed.† Cassie went still. â€Å"Oh, I doubt that,† she said lightly. â€Å"He’s just being polite. You know Adam.† â€Å"Yes,† said Laurel. â€Å"Sir Adam the Chivalrous. He turned around and asked Sally to dance after you left with Jeffrey, and Sally almost decked him.† Cassie smiled, but her heart was still pounding. She and Adam had promised not to betray their feelings for each other, not by word or look or deed-but they were making a horrible mess of things tonight on all fronts. Now she was afraid to look for Adam, and she didn’t want to dance any more. She didn’t want to be the belle of the ball; she didn’t want every girl here to be furious with her. She wanted to go to Diana. Suzan arrived, her extraordinary chest heaving slightly in her low-cut dress. She directed an arch smile at Cassie. â€Å"I told you I knew what I was talking about,† she said. â€Å"Having a good time?† â€Å"Wonderful,† Cassie said, digging her nails in one palm. She opened her mouth to say something else, but just then she glimpsed Sean making his way toward her. His face was eager, his usually slinking step purposeful. â€Å"I should have warned you,† Laurel said in an undertone. â€Å"Sean’s been chasing you all night, but some other guy always got there first.† â€Å"If he does catch you he’ll be all over you like ugly on an ape,† Suzan added pleasantly, rummaging in her purse. â€Å"Oh, damn, I gave my lipstick to Deborah. Where is she?† â€Å"Hi there,† Sean said, reaching them. His small black eyes slid over Cassie. â€Å"So you’re free at last.† â€Å"Not really,† Cassie blurted. â€Å"I have to-go find Deborah for Suzan.† What she had to do was get away from all this for a while. â€Å"I know where she is; I’ll be right back,† she continued to the startled Suzan and Laurel. â€Å"I’ll come along,† Sean began instantly, and Laurel opened her mouth, but Cassie waved at both of them in dismissal. â€Å"No, no-I’ll go by myself. It won’t take a minute,† she said. And then she was away from them, plunging through the crowd toward the double doors. She knew where the boiler room was, or at least where the door that led to it was. She’d never actually been inside. By the time she reached C-wing she’d left the music of the dance far behind. The door marked custodian’s office opened onto a long narrow room with unidentifiable machinery all around. Generators were humming, drowning out any other noise. It was cool and dank†¦ spooky, Cassie thought. There were NO smoking signs on the walls and it smelled of oil and gas. A stairway descended into the school basement. Cassie slowly went down the steps, gripping the smooth metal handrail. God, it’s like going down into a tomb, she thought. Who would want to spend their time here instead of in the light and music up in the gym? The boiler room itself smelled of machine oil and beer. It wasn’t just cool; it was cold. And it was silent, except for the steady dripping of water somewhere. A terrible place, Cassie thought shakily. All around her were machines with giant dials, and overhead there were huge pipes of all kinds. It was like being in the bowels of a ship. And it was deserted. â€Å"Hello? Deborah?† No answer. â€Å"Debby? Chris? It’s Cassie.† Maybe they couldn’t hear her. There was another room behind the boiler room; she could glimpse it through an archway beyond the machines. She edged toward it, worried about getting oil on Laurel’s pristine dress. She looked through the archway and hesitated, gripped by a strange apprehension. Drip. Drip. â€Å"Is anybody there?† A large machine was blocking her way. Uneasily, she poked her head around it. At first she thought the room was empty, but then, at eye level, she saw something. Something wrong. And in that instant her throat closed and her mind fragmented, single thoughts flashing across it like explosions from a flashbulb. Swinging feet. Swinging feet where feet shouldn’t be. Somebody walking on air. Flying like a witch. Only, the feet weren’t flying. They were swinging, back and forth, in two dark brown loafers. Two dark brown loafers with little tassels. Cassie looked up at the face. The relentless dripping of water went on. The smell of oil and stale alcohol nauseated her. Can’t scream. Can’t do anything but gasp. Drip and swing. That face, that horrible blue face. No more lady-killer smile. I have to do something to help him, but how can I help? Nobody’s neck bends that way when they’re alive. Every horrible detail was so clear. The fraying rope. The swinging shadow on the cinder-block wall. The machinery with its dials and switches. And the awful stillness. Drip. Drip. Swinging like a pendulum. Hands covering her mouth, Cassie began to sob. She backed away, trying not to see the curly brown hair on the head that was lolling sideways. He couldn’t be dead when she’d just danced with him. He’d just had his arms around her, he’d flashed her that cocksure smile. And now- She stepped back and hands fell on her shoulders. She did try to scream then, but her throat was paralyzed. Her vision went dark. â€Å"Steady. Steady. Hang on there.† It was Nick. â€Å"Breathe slower. Put your head down.† â€Å"Nine-one-one,† she gasped, and then, clearly and distinctly so that he would understand, â€Å"Call nine-one-one, Nick. Jeffrey-â€Å" He cast a hard glance at the swinging feet. â€Å"He doesn’t need a doctor. Do you?† â€Å"I-† She was hanging on to his hand. â€Å"I came down to get Deborah.† â€Å"She’s in the old science building. They got busted here.† â€Å"And I saw him-Jeffrey-â€Å" Nick’s arm was comforting, solid. â€Å"I get the picture,† he said. â€Å"Do you want to sit down?† â€Å"I can’t. It’s Laurel’s dress.† She was completely irrational, she realized. She tried desperately to get a grip on herself. â€Å"Nick, please let me go. I have to call an ambulance.† â€Å"Cassie.† She couldn’t remember him ever saying her name before, but now he was holding her shoulders and looking her directly in the face. â€Å"No ambulance is going to do him any good. You got that? Now just calm down.† Cassie stared into his polished-mahogany eyes, then slowly nodded. The gasping was easing up. She was grateful for his arm around her, although some part of her mind was standing back in disbelief-Nick was comforting her? Nick, who hated girls and was coldly polite to them at best? â€Å"What’s going on here?† Cassie spun to see Adam in the archway. But when she tried to speak, her throat closed completely and hot tears flooded her eyes. Nick said, â€Å"She’s a little upset. She just found Jeffrey Lovejoy hanging from a pipe.† â€Å"What?† Adam moved swiftly to look around the machine. He came back looking grim and alert, his eyes glinting silver as they always did in times of trouble. â€Å"How much do you know about this?† he asked Nick crisply. â€Å"I came down to get something I left,† Nick said, equally short. â€Å"I found her about ready to keel over. And that’s all.† Adam’s expression had softened slightly. â€Å"Are you okay?† he said to Cassie. â€Å"I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. Then Suzan said you’d gone to look for Deborah, but that you were looking in the wrong place.† As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out to take her from Nick-and Nick resisted. For a moment there was tension between the two boys and Cassie looked from one to the other with dawning surprise and alarm. She moved away from both. â€Å"I’m all right,† she said. And, strangely, saying so made it almost true. It was partly necessity and partly something else-her witch senses were telling her something. She had a feeling of malice, of evil. Of darkness. â€Å"The dark energy,† she whispered. Adam looked more keen and alert. â€Å"You think-?† â€Å"Yes,† she said. â€Å"Yes, I do. But if only we could tell for sure†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her mind was racing. Jeffrey. Jeffrey’s body swinging like a pendulum. â€Å"Usually we use clear quartz as a pendulum †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She snatched Melanie’s necklace off and held it up, looking at the teardrop of quartz crystal. â€Å"If the dark energy was here, maybe we can trace it,† she said, fired with the idea. â€Å"See where it came from-or where it went. If you guys will help.† Nick was looking skeptical, but Adam cut in before he could speak. â€Å"Of course we’ll help. But it’s dangerous; we’ve got to be careful.† His fingers gripped her arm reassuringly. â€Å"Then-we have to go back in there,† Cassie said, and before she could change her mind she moved, darting into the far room where the feet still swung. Nick and Adam were close behind her. Without letting herself think, she held the crystal up high, watching it shimmer in the light. At first it just spun in circles. But then it began to seesaw violently, pointing out a direction. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Captive Chapter Six, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Obesity Global Burden among Indigenous Population-Free Samples

Question: Obesity in Two Indigenous Populations of Australia and Thailand? Answer: Introducation: The prevalence of obesity among the Indigenous population across various countries has thwarted the lives of many. The threats due to overweight and obesity have underpinned the health status of the people of these nationalities to a vast extent and efforts are in progress to mitigate the conditions and offer resolutions to the nagging issues thereby decreasing the chances of occurrence of health disparity (United Nations 2009). Hence I feel that the social determinants of health that encompass the complex and integrated system constituting the personal, economic, social, environmental factors that in turn influence the health of individuals should be critically analyzed. Such analysis will pave the way for better understanding the situations relevant to two nations, one having the developing status and the other one having an emerging economy (Perrin 2013). In the following report I will try to compare and contrast the global burden of obesity in the context of developed nation Aust ralia to that of the developing country of Thailand for their social determinants as well as the intervention modalities. I will use information retrieved from suitable academic journal articles to discuss and provide an insight into the chosen topic of obesity among the two populations and the subsequent interventions that are rampant to curb the throbbing condition holistically. Social determinants of health influencing obesity in the Australian and Thai populations In my exploration for finding pertinent data with respect to the social determinants of health among the Australian population I came across findings that stated that in this developed nation, obesity has spread like epidemic with gravely affecting its inhabitants. More than half of the adult population fell victim to obesity or are found to be overweight. I also came to know that the relative prevalence of obesity is higher among the males compared to the females in Australia. The greater value of the markers for obesity in the form of Body Mass Index (BMI) is found to be the second highest contributor to the burden of disease that in turn is reflected upon the morbidity and mortality (Rahman and Harding 2013). In my endeavor to identify the social determinants of obesity I also came across a modeling study that predicted the epidemiology of obesity progression and its subsequent outcomes. The model estimated that the rising levels of obesity will bring upon wrath to the younger mas s in contrast to the older adult cohort. In the situation relevant to the population, as per their predictions the healthy weight gain level is likely to decline with steady level maintenance of overweight. However, the rates of incidence pertaining to obesity as well as severe obesity are predicted to be increased manifold beyond 2016 thereby indicating for substantial increase of healthcare expenditures and concomitant implications in contrast to the bygone decades (Hayes et al. 2017). Further from these studies, I found that sedentary lifestyle comprising of lack of physical activities, improper nutritional intake and dearth of awareness regarding the potential hazards of obesity or overweight affected the Australian population more rigorously than anything else. In contrast to the Australian population, I will try to compare the social determinants of health in the Thai population where the rates of industrialization as well as the per capita source of income are less that has acquired Thailand the developing status. While investigating on the specific issue I came across articles that vividly discussed and explained the prevalence of obesity in the Thai population and mentioned it to be the second highest in terms of prevalence in the Southeast Asian region. Thailand has been recognized as a nation with low and middle level incomes that in turn affects the cause of obesity because of potential strain imposed on the limited resources. On information procured from this study I found that the etiology of obesity may be attributed to the causes of leading of unhealthy mode of lifestyle that further accentuates the risk of the disease prevalence among the children, adolescents and elderly Thai population. The epidemiological survey related to th e gender, age and geographical distribution of the obesity prevalence revealed that unhealthy consumption of food added to deteriorate the situation with increasingly higher rates of overweight and obesity. All these factors lead to increased levels of associated co-morbidities due to obesity that accounted for higher economic costs. I also found that the social impact of obesity is also greater in this population which again added for serious health consequences (Teerawattananon 2017). In another study that I referred to, findings based o the cross-sectional research suggested that significant lifestyle changes among the community dwellers in Bangkok in Thailand harbored negative health outcomes with increased prevalence of overweight or obesity. Alteration in dietary habits from traditional eating of consuming rice with vegetables were shifted to taking rice with animal meat among the current population that further lead to increase the consumption of energy dense food and caused for increased incidence of overweight and obesity in the relevant population. Irrespective of gender, dietary diversity through rise in the consumption of diversified food also contributed to the emanation of obesity in the Thai residents (Tsuchiya et al. 2017). Thus I feel that the impact of globalization has hit the Thai dwellers as well compelling them to shift their cultural and dietary patterns grossly from their traditional beliefs and practices. Interventions to combat obesity in the Australian and Thai populations According to the scenario in Australia, I came to know that the children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to encounter the adverse health impacts of obesity. Hence measures to resolve this issue has highlighted on tackling the nutritional policies and governing the food supply and food markets initiatives stringently. Studies have emphasized on taking strict control and actions to mitigate the sedentary lifestyle, consumption of energy dense in addition to nutrient poor food products and beverages (Lobstein 2015). On further probing into the matter regarding the promulgation of appropriate interventional strategies to ameliorate the condition of obesity, I came across article that indicated towards the cost effectiveness of engaging in the non-surgical obesity interventions in the concerned population. The suggestions and recommendations made in these studies relied on health education and healthy eating promotional schemes among the vulnerable population to safeguard agai nst the negative impacts of obesity. Sex specific elements were found to majorly contribute towards cost effectiveness of the projected interventions and males were found to be likely benefited from adopting such practices (Boyers et al. 2015).Thus I believe, safe and suitable interventions in regulating the social determinants of health are vital to the Australian population. On the contrary in the Thai population, the trends and prevalence of obesity as per the National Health Surveys data for the duration of 1991-2009 showed that socio-economic status of the inhabitants accounted for the onset of obesity. The average increase in the rate of prevalence was greater in both males and females irrespective of their level of educational attainment. I found that the researchers have constantly hammered on the issue of providing sufficient education for abating the problems that ensue due to obesity among the men and women in Thailand (Aekplakorn et al. 2014). As per the findings from another study I also came across the vital issue pertinent to the economic burden of obesity on the Thai population. The propositions made by the Thai policymakers suggested on the enhancement of public awareness and promotion of healthy lifestyle to abate the condition of obesity amongst the concerned population. Large scale and effective strategies in line with the situation rel evant to the Thai population has been opined by appropriate authorities to resolve the scenario (Pitayatienanan 2014). Thus I feel that national health expenditure, and cost of productivity loss, cost of hospital related absenteeism and cost incurred due to premature mortality may be curtailed to a large extent on following of interventions in a satisfactory manner. Thus comparing and contrasting the social determinants of health and the associated interventions in the developed and developing countries of Australia and Thailand respectively, I can infer that the nature of problem and the root causes behind the disease burden is primarily attributed to the unhealthy lifestyle and lack of physical activity. Therefore the interventions should aim to foster public awareness and knowledge to educate the vulnerable population and ensure their quality of life, wellbeing and healthy weight management. Hence, I further feel that tackling of chronic metabolic syndrome like obesity needs greater and collaborative approaches involving the stakeholders and the policymakers to harbor optimal and effective solutions. References Aekplakorn, W., Inthawong, R., Kessomboon, P., Sangthong, R., Chariyalertsak, S., Putwatana, P. and Taneepanichskul, S., 2014. Prevalence and trends of obesity and association with socioeconomic status in Thai adults: national health examination surveys, 19912009.Journal of obesity,2014. Boyers, D., Avenell, A., Stewart, F., Robertson, C., Archibald, D., Douglas, F., Hoddinott, P. and van Teijlingen, E., 2015. A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of non-surgical obesity interventions in men.Obesity research clinical practice,9(4), pp.310-327. Hayes, A.J., Lung, T.W.C., Bauman, A. and Howard, K., 2017. Modelling obesity trends in Australia: unravelling the past and predicting the future.International Journal of Obesity,41(1), pp.178-185. Lobstein, T., Jackson-Leach, R., Moodie, M.L., Hall, K.D., Gortmaker, S.L., Swinburn, B.A., James, W.P.T., Wang, Y. and McPherson, K., 2015. Child and adolescent obesity: part of a bigger picture.The Lancet,385(9986), pp.2510-2520. Perrin, V.A., 2013. Social determinants of health.Health Affairs,32(11), p.2060. Pitayatienanan, P., Butchon, R., Yothasamut, J., Aekplakorn, W., Teerawattananon, Y., Suksomboon, N. and Thavorncharoensap, M., 2014. Economic costs of obesity in Thailand: a retrospective cost-of-illness study.BMC health services research,14(1), p.146. Rahman, A. and Harding, A., 2013. Prevalence of overweight and obesity epidemic in Australia: some causes and consequences.JP Journal of Biostatistics,10(1), p.31. Teerawattananon, Y., 2017. Obesity in Thailand and Its Economic Cost Estimation. Tsuchiya, C., Amnatsatsue, K., Sirikulchayanonta, C., Kerdmongkol, P. and Nakazawa, M., 2017. Lifestyle-Related Factors for Obesity among Community-Dwelling Adults in Bangkok, Thailand.Kokusai Hoken Iryo (Journal of International Health),32(1), pp.9-16. United Nations. Department of Economic, 2009.State of the World's Indigenous Peoples(Vol. 9). United Nations Publications.