Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Investment - Essay Example Shareholders are the biggest players in any investment and their attitudes towards risks cannot be ruled out. Modern portfolio theory fails to incorporate the needs of all shareholders and uses a single set of shareholders resulting in an unrealistic indifference curve in the modern world. A period of 60 years calls for appropriate adjustments to the practical aspects of the theory. However, the modern portfolio is anchored in a single time period that is used to risks and returns scrutiny. Financial managers are assessed through a series of successive time periods as opposed to the proposition of a single period from modern portfolio theory. Additionally, a single period cannot be used for any meaningful predictions on returns. Therefore, Modern portfolio theory does not cover all the components required to come up with investment strategies for risk reduction. Investing in Apple and Microsoft shares on an equal basis is misguided because the companies have different financial prospects. Microsoft has a higher growth potential than Apple. The 50/50 basis would create a tolerance risk, but it would not realize much returns when compared to when clients invested more money in Microsoft than Apple. The valuation and expected growth for Microsoft will grow considerably because of the popularity of its operating systems and smartphones worldwide (Tilson and Heins, 2011). The clients should also track the stock prices of both companies to check earnings per stock in the last five years. EMH suggests that an investor should assess both historic and current patterns of share prices. Additionally, technical analysis would allow the clients to track share price movements for each company. An increase in the shares prices of either Apple or Microsoft should be reflected in the way they invest their lottery jackpot. Therefore, based on the potential o f growth for Microsoft and Apple’s share price performance, a 70/30 investment in favor of Microsoft would

Correct the grammar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Correct the grammar - Essay Example Additionally, the living room contains three tables. The first one is 2† X 2† and it is in the left side of the couch, the second one is in front of the couch with measurement of 7† X 5† X4† h. The third one is a TV table and it is in the front of the door, the table measuring 12† L X 3† W X 5† H. Between the window, which is in the opposite side of the door, and the TV table there is a Christmas tree measuring 5† X 5†. On the right side of the couch there will be the trashcan. The floor of the living room is furnished by half carpet and half wood. The interior walls are covered with decoration sheets, and the window is covered with a curtain. Based on the fuel, heat and oxygen, the fire will ignite and spread easily. The fire will start from the trashcan and will be spread by the wall decoration and the couch by the convection and conduction transfer of heat. However, most of the fuels are sitting horizontally so the fire will spread slowly because of the limited heat transfer, the air way opposite to the fuel (counter flow flame spread). Few minutes later the fire will get to the point of flame over, and then to the flash over, which will make the fire to spread because the smoke will spread all over the room, and by the heat transfer of radiation, which is coming from the smoke will ignite anything far away from the main fire. Additionally, the living room contains good ventilation so it is possible to have a back

The Employment Non Essay Example for Free

The Employment Non Essay On Wednesday November 7, 2007, a landmark bill was passed in the house. A bill that will guarantee equal treatment of gays and lesbians in the workplaces. This bill is referred to as the Employment Non discrimination Act and is a climax to the aspirations pursued by gays and lesbians since 1974(www. alternet. org/workplace/67650/). It is indeed a journey that has taken over two hundred years, since the ratification of the United States constitution, which categorically guarantees every individual in the United States equal access to facilities regardless of gender, race, creed or any other basis, whatsoever. The human rights commission in its creeds vows to champion for equality in the society by rooting out all forms and manner of discrimination. Despite the key statements by the constitution and Human Rights Commission, inequality still thrives in our midst. The different societal norms and orientation have shaped peoples minds such that they are dead set against people who may display certain different characteristics from them. Inequality in the society is not only based on gender, race or creed but it also extends to sexual orientation. Discrimination against homosexuality has raged on for years and the debate on the topic is as thorny as they can get. Past legislations against discrimination have not been categorical when it comes to homosexuality. This is a fact that emerges from deep down in the society and from the conservative nature of the values that are closely guarded by people. Despite the massive campaigns conducted by human rights and gay movements, the society is yet to reconcile that gays and lesbians are normal and that they deserve equal rights just like the so called â€Å"straight people. † Homophobia thrives in the society and despite any legislation it is bound to rage on for long till the sexual stigma wanes gradually (Gerald H, 38). The public is mindset about gays and lesbians such that anything close to respecting their rights is not easily taken. There are a number of reasons why homophobia thrives in the society and why people will discriminate against them in the workplaces, friendships and even in the family. There is a common belief among most heterosexuals that homosexuality is not natural. They believe that it is a weird trait that only befits animals. People do not accept the fact that this sort of orientation has been there deep in history even in the biblical times. Homosexuals are believed to be sexual perverts who should be avoided at all costs. It is hence hard to find heterosexuals in the society who accord equal treatment to those that they suspect having a homosexual orientation. Very few heterosexuals will employ people they believe of possessing homosexual tendency no matter their credentials (Ronni L. Sanlo, 17). Religious fanatics are the ones that mostly have been dead set against gays. Despite their being a separation of state and religion, rarely will you find those in authority appreciating the sexual orientation disparities that exist in the society and champion for equality along those lines. Religion has played a great role in imparting a negative sentiments and treatments against its own rank. The Catholic Church and the Anglican have failed to embrace unanimity on the issue of ordaining gay priests despite the practice being evident among priests. Africa has nigh broken away from the Anglican mother church and mainstream for its ordination of gay priests. Most religions in spite of their liberal nature preach hatred against gays and lesbians in the belief that their teachings prohibit same sex relationships. Followers of these religions become fanatically set by the religious dogmas and cease to see the gay and lesbian as their equal. They believe that homosexuality is against Gods commandments as His first creations were of both gender rather than unisex. This is the root cause of all forms of discrimination and sexual orientation inequality in the society, as these values further shape both social and professional relations. Discrimination against lesbians in the belief that they are disgusting is rife and it mainly originates from schools. In most learning institutions, it almost escalates to a point of turning physical. Verbal harassment however is the most prevalent. A poll for example conducted by CBS in 1999 indicated that over 28% of all those polled admitted to making remarks that can be considered offensive and discriminatory to the gay community (Michael B and A. W. Brown, p31). Societal norms and cultures are passed on from one generation to another. These values include the long held beliefs and prejudices held in regarding to the core issues affecting the society. For example a look at the history of inequality and discrimination of the African American and the Hispanics population reveals that the negative sentiments expressed against these two races in the United States have their root to the early times. Slavery was perpetrated and perpetuated as a way of life. It was not unusual for people to own slaves and yet claim that they respected and stood for equality. U. S is full of such past leaders who were great and led the nation to greater heights but they still owned slaves. This is because slave ownership was the norm and failure to own one was an exception. Blacks and women in America took long before they could get an equal footing to their white males counter parts. The struggle for blacks civil rights lasted for two centuries before law could grant them equal access to public facilities in terms of employment and other vital services. This culture of discrimination against the blacks had taken root and become entrenched deeply into the way of life. The same case is happening today only this time discrimination is not along racial or religious backgrounds, it is based on sexual orientation. Majority of the people are dead set that heterosexual is the only way of life, it is the only acceptable norm and any deviation from such a norm is frowned upon. People are not open minded enough to accept other ways of living. This form of discrimination and unequal access to opportunities is imparted in children in their formative stage. Schools are the most important agents of socialization. It is where positive or negative values are imparted. Beliefs and attitudes towards various topics life are shaped in schools (Donald Moss, 22). Learning institutions and families have a long impact on how people view various subjects in life. Homophobia is one such subject that becomes sensitive in schools. Discrimination against gays and lesbians starts early in childhood especially in high schools where the students suspected to be gays are verbally and physically attacked. This discrimination may later extend to the teachers and staff who might be dismissed on mere suspicious of being lesbians or gays hence making it clear to the students that such a sexual orientation is unacceptable in life (Bruce Galloway, 22) Homophobia has also been further perpetuated by the school curriculum. Most sex education syllabuses ignore homosexuality, describing it using negative connotations. In a sex education class; sex is only taken to mean intercourse between a man and a woman while disregarding any form of sexual interactions between people of the same sex. This develops a negative attitude in people, meaning that homosexuality is a form of an abnormality or disability. Intense studies have not been conducted to get to the root cause of the negative attitude and the hostility for people who are homosexuals. Most research conducted focuses on how it can be avoided rather than how the society can be taught to integrate such a community. Homosexuality is seen as a psychopathological case as most of those who exhibit homosexually traits are advised to seek psychiatric help (John P, 2). The gays and lesbian movement also experiences problems when trying to meet and consult with each other. Some gay organizations decry lack of conference halls whenever they would want to meet. They experience open rejection, as not many people would want to be associated with them. This means that there are few forums through which the public can be taught on how to relate with homosexuals (Samantha W, P. 16). As mentioned before about socialization in schools as one source of discrimination even the educators themselves conform to this notion, viewing and accepting that homophobia is the right attitude and then imparting on the students. (Ronnil S. , 13). Homophobia is a culture that has been imparted from one generation to the next deeply entrenched into our social organization systems. It emanates from the belief that is an act of perversion that should not be tolerated by heterosexuals and hence the prevalent discrimination against those suspected or known to be gays or lesbians. Discrimination is a way of societies reaction towards people they view as outcasts. There are no enough forums through which heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals can interact with each other to create more understanding due to the preconceived ideas held against each other. Works cited Deb Price, Gay? U. S houses that’s okay creators syndicate.November 12, 2007. Retrieved on 13/11/2007 from http://www. alternet. org/workplace/6760 Bruce, Galloway. Prejudice and pride: discrimination against gay people in modern Britain. Rout ledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 1984: 19-34 Gerald Hunt, Laboring for rights. Unions and sexual diversity across nations. Temple University Press 1999 32-42 John P. De Cero, Homophobia an overview, Haworth Press Inc. 1984;2 Samantha Wehbi: Community organizing against homophobia and heterosexism the world through rainbow colored. Glasses, Haworth Press. 2004; 16-24 Gail Mason, The spectacle of violence: Homophobia, Gender and Knowledge. Rout ledge 2001; 17-32 Warren J. Bluefield. Homophobia: how we all pay the price. Beacon press, 1992: 46-9 Ronni L. Sanlo, Unheard Voices: The effects of silence on lesbian and gay educators. Bergin Goerly Greenwood. 2004; 13-24 Donald Moss, Hating in the first person, plural: psychoalytic essays on racism, homophobia misogyny and terror. Other press LLC . 2003; 20-29

The Regulation of Prostitution Essay Example for Free

The Regulation of Prostitution Essay Prostitution is defined, as a person who engages in sexual acts for money. Although the extreme long-term effects of decriminalized prostitution are not certain, the short-term effects have been economically beneficial. This is a controversial issue because many people feel that prostitution is immoral. Religions, such as Christianity, look down on this issue claiming it sinful. According to religious beliefs, sex should be performed only between a husband and wife. The idea of prostitution becoming legal intimidates some people because they feel it will have a negative impact on the United States. The divorce rate, the spread of HIV/STDs, and the American perception of moral values will supposedly be affected according to these people. Prostitution should be legal because it would help America with its economic disaster, it would also provide jobs, support families, and reduce crime. To truly explain the reason for prostitutions illegalities one has to touch upon the history of the American society itself. Most of the early English settlers were Anabaptists, who made up the largest number of religionists among the colonists. They brought with them a dynamic form of pietistic (having reverence and love for God) perfectionism that was a cornerstone of American civilization (Pivar 18). The concept of prostitution was foreign to the new American culture. England, on the other hand, has a history of experimenting with prostitution. During the twelfth century Henry II gained the credit for legalizing prostitution into England on a grand scale (15). Regardless of his effort, his opinions did not agree with yeoman farmers (A farmer who cultivates his own land) and London merchants. They resisted this policy. 1381 is quoted as â€Å"Perhaps one of the most influential moments in English history† (Anonymous). In the early summer of 1381, a group of people from the lower class came together to take part in the first and only true agrarian revolt, or a rebellion that involved the people of the land, against the government. During the passion of their rebellion, the rebellious destroyed the brothels (licensed sex houses) on the outskirts of London, resisting the Council’s attempts to introduce licensed brothels into the city (Pivar 15). The legalization of prostitution was constantly under attack by the Puritans, and after an epidemic spread of a treacherous disease, syphilis, Henry VIII withdrew state authorization for legalized vice, or prostitution. During the early nineteenth century, an amazing wave of social improvement crashed upon the shores of the American society. Morality was not to be regulated by outside sources of authorities enforcing the law, but rather from an internalized morality that gave strength to the individual in his fight with temptation (Pivar 25). Most English- speaking countries viewed prostitution as evil and it should be suppressed. Middle–class women played a significant role in the anti-prostitution movement, arguing that prostitution is sexual slavery, it threatens family life, and prostitutes are principal carriers of venereal disease. Before 1900 most legislation dealing with prostitution sought merely to control it. After World War 1, usually considered the end of the Progressive era (the era of America’s reform), the goal was to stamp it out completely (Adams). Between 1900 and 1918, more than forty vice (refers to crimes or offenses of an allegedly moral nature) commissions recommended eliminating urban sex districts. In 1909, Iowa was the first of some thirty states that passed red-light abatement laws permit citizens to obtain injunction and close buildings promoting commercial sex (Gilfoyle). By the 1920’s the era of the brothel and open prostitution had ended, and considerable Municipal officials grow less tolerant of prostitution as a whole. Changes emerged over the next four decades that sent prostitution plummeting, from brothels (prostitution establishments), to having them conduct their business in tenement (apartments), dance halls, massage parlors, â€Å"call houses,† and even taxi caps (Gilfoyle). During Prohibition, prostitution developed closer ties with the alcohol trade and organized crime, giving it an even worse reputation. During 1950 and 1951 many prostitutes were forced to work alone. Considering the conditions, the â€Å"Street Walker† prostitute became pray for many of societies psychos. The Customers (also known as a johns or tricks), the pimps, and any other neighborhood scum became a daily obstacle. Even the police were considered a hazard since prostitution was illegal. With no one to protect them, prostitutes had to avoid being robbed, stabbed, shot, raped, harassed, and jailed by police officers if they did not get a â€Å"freebie†. But in all actuality, no one can expect prostitution to vanish completely. It is considered â€Å"The oldest profession in the book†. No benefits, no sick days, and the work sucks, but what job is a great job? Flipping burgers for five dollars an hour compared to five hundred dollars a night. Prostitution is considered a high-risk profession, but what profession isn’t at high risk. If someone wants to run into a burning building for a living, it’s his or her right. From time to time a few people made noise about changing U.S. prostitution laws. The best known is Margo St. James, a college educated prostitute, whose hooker – rights organization COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics) surfaced in 1973 (Adams 3). She argued that prostitution laws gave the cops an excuse to harass women; prosecution of their male customers was far less frequent. Margo St. James and her supporters attracted their share of feminist allies, who felt that a woman’s right to control her body included the right to rent it out. Prostitutes themselves grew more assertive, similar organizations followed in other states. St. James and her supporters defended prostitution as a privacy issue, demanding that it be accepted as legitimate women’s work (Gilfoyle). Today, in 49 of America’s 50, states prostitution is an illegal misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine and a short stretch in jail. Only in parts of Nevada is it legal, organized, and regulated. All Nevada counties except the biggest one, Clark County that contains Las Vegas, are allowed to legalize and regulate brothels, houses of prostitution. According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, incorporated towns and cities in counties that allow prostitution may regulate the trade further or prohibit it altogether. Most sex-workers who work in states where prostitution is illegal, work for different reasons but they are the most common amongst prostitutes. Some sex-workers work because they are poor, hungry, uneducated, and too under skilled to get a job in a society that requires a minimum high school education. Some sex-workers work because their addition to drugs prevent them from getting a legal job. The money that they do earn is quick cash, and is normally used to support their habit. Some prostitutes are forced into the role by a dept, pimp, or abusive spouse. Other sex-workers realize they can make more money in one night compared to putting in forty hours a week at most places they could get employment. The legalization and regulation of prostitution would be highly profitable and economically beneficial to the United States. Without the twenty-first century anti- prostitution laws, the oldest profession in the book could become a taxable, clean, and safe occupation. If legalized the enormous amount of money spent each year on prostitution prevention could be spent on more urgent issues such as programs to help women who are beaten by their spouses, rehab for female drug abusers, or women shelters. Instead of oppressing prostitution and spending millions of dollars a year on prevention, the American government should support it and use the profits in a wise and useful manner. If brothels and prostitutes were to be taxed like any other place of business, millions of extra revenue dollars would become available. Another benefit to legalizing prostitution, is that the profession could become a healthy, publicly sanctioned place of business. Since American laws can never permanently prevent prostitution, it would make sense to make it as safe and healthy as possible. During a 20/20 interview with Joe McNamara, a former police chief of Kansas and San Jose, stated that â€Å"The law makes [prostitution] a lot worse [than it is]. It drives up the potential for corruption and it invites violence† (20/20). If sex work were to be legalized it would then become monitored and protected by law, preventing violence amongst sex workers. With prostitutes and police officers on the same side of the law, the communication could be helpful in the prevention of a crime or arrest of a crime offender. As far as health issues are concerned, legalizing sex work would be the most logical idea in the prevention of the spread of HIV/STDs. Nevada, the only American state that allows brothel prostitution, has state mandatory policies preventing the spread of diseases that would work nationally. According to Wikipedia encyclopedia, state law requires that registered brothel prostitutes be checked weekly for several sexually transmitted diseases and monthly for HIV; furthermore, condoms are mandatory for all oral sex and sexual intercourse. Brothel owners may be held liable if customers become infected with HIV after a prostitute has tested positive for the virus. Legalizing prostitution is economically profitable for governments in need of financial resources. The anti-prostitution laws, which are intended to help the prostitutes and society, instead force prostitution underground where women are in the most danger. Without these anti- prostitution laws, prostitution could become a healthy and safe occupation for the willing; due to the fact that prostitution and the law would be on the same side. Present day prostitution laws are unconstitutional and should be abolished because of their unconstitutional nature. Works Cited Adams, Cecil. â€Å"Why is Prostitution illegal?† Straight Dope. Jan 14, 2000. 2 Dec. 2004. Anonymous Author. â€Å"The English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381†. http://www.wiu.edu/users/isb100/revolt1381.pdf Gilfoyle, Timothy J. â€Å"Prostitution† Reader’s Companion to American History 3 Dec. 2004. Jenness, Valerie. â€Å"The Prostitutes’ Right Movement in Perspective.† Making It Work. New York, New York: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 1993. Pivar, David J. â€Å"The Genesis of Purity Reform.† Purity Crusade. Westport, Conn./ London, England: Greenwood Press, Inc, 1973, 13-49. 20/20. â€Å"Sex for Sale.† Should Prostitution be legal in America? ABC. 1997 http://www.20/20.com

CAD for Electromagnetic Devices Laboratory Exercise

CAD for Electromagnetic Devices Laboratory Exercise An introduction to numerical modelling techniques for electromagnetic problems using finite element analysis Contents 2. Introduction 3. Simulation Results 3.1 Electric Potential 3.2 Magnetic Flux Density 3.3 Magnetic Flux Density For Single Conductor 3.4 Finite Difference vs Finite Element 3.5 Comb Drive Micro Actuator 3.6 Magnetic Circuit 4. Discussion Finite element analysis (FEA) is the modelling of products and systems in a virtual environment, for the purpose of solving potential (or existing) structural or performance issues. (1) FEA is the practical application of the finite element method (FEM), a numerical technique for approximating solutions to boundary value problems for partial differential equations (2) which cannot be solved analytically. This method works by separating a large system into smaller parts called finite elements, known as discretization (3). The simple equations governing these finite elements are accumulated to form an overall system of equations for the problem, which FEM uses to approximate a solution. Computational Electromagnetics is the process of modelling the interaction of electromagnetic fields with physical objects and the environment. (4) The electromagnetic analysis that this involves is based on solving Maxwells equations subject to given boundary conditions. Maxwells equations can be expressed in general differential form and therefore the solutions to electromagnetic problems governed by these equations can be modelled and solved using FEM. (5) The electromagnetic problems outlined in this report have been modelled and approximated in two-dimensional space using the finite element program pdetool in MatLab. This is done through the use of linear triangular elements. 3.1 Electric Potential The aim of this experiment was to model the electric potential between two circular metallic conductors of radius 30 cm and centre distance 120cm. The left and right conductors were subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions and given potentials of 1 and -1 respectively. The enclosed area was modelled using the Neumann boundary condition (6) and the current source set to 0. The following model was observed: The purple to blue shading demonstrates the varying electric potential across the model, with V = 0 at the midpoint of the two conductors as anticipated due to the equation†¦ The electric field is visualised through the red arrows, confirming the expectation that the current would flow from the positively charged conductor to the negatively charged conductor. 3.2 Magnetic Flux Density This experiment aimed to model the magnetic field between two cylindrical, current-carrying conductors of radius 5cm and centre distance of 60cm. The magnetic permeability of both conductors was set to and the current density set to 1 and -1 respectively. The enclosed area was modelled using Dirichlet boundary conditions with magnetic potential set to 0, and the magnetic potential and current density set to and 0 correspondingly. The following model was observed: The red arrows show the direction of the magnetic field at certain points, while the shading demonstrates the magnitude of the magnetic flux density, clearly highlighting that the strength of magnetic flux decreases with distance away from the conductors. The current in each conductor is given by the equation , where J is the current density and A is the cross sectional area of the conductor. Using this equation yields a current of 7.85mA for the left conductor and -7.85mA for the right conductor. 3.3 Magnetic Flux Density For Single Conductor The experiment from 3.2 was then replicated using a single, circular, current-carrying conductor of radius 0.2cm. The boundary conditions for the enclosed area remained the same while, for the conductor, magnetic permeability was set to and current density to 1. The following model was observed: The magnetic flux density was then measured from the FEM model for a number of distances and compared with results calculated from theory; this comparison can be found in table 1 below. 3.4 Finite Difference vs Finite Element For this electrostatic model, a 16cm x 12cm square was plotted to represent four electric diodes of differing electric potential, shown in figure 4. The dielectric permittivity of the electric diodes was set to 1 and the electric potential and electric field for the system was modelled as shown below: The variation of electric field between the positive and negative diodes is represented through the shading and the electric field lines are shown in black. Values for the electric potential at particular geometric coordinates were then measured from the FEM model and compared against the results calculated from FDM; this comparison can be found in table 2. 3.5 Comb Drive Micro Actuator This experiment aimed to model the electric field distribution of a voltage controlled, comb-drive, electrostatic micro-actuator, consisting of a movable comb and a fixed comb, with the latter containing four fingers. The dimensions of the comb were specified as follows: w=1, d=1, dl=0.6 and Lc=3 (all figures are in mm) and explained through figure 6: The movable comb was given a potential of 5V and the fixed comb a potential of -5V to simulate a 10V applied voltage. The electric potential of the enclosed area was set to 0 and the space charge density to 0 as well. The following model, demonstrating electric field distribution, was observed: 3.6 Magnetic Circuit A model for an electromagnet was created as shown in figure 8 below: The magnetic permeability of the iron was set to 500 and current density 0. The coil was represented in the model by two rectangles either side of where the coil appears in figure 6, one with positive and one with negative current density. Given that the current in the coil is 10 A-turns, the current density is given by the equation, where A is equal to the area of the approximated coil. The magnetic permeability of both the coil and the enclosed area were set to and models for the magnetic flux density and magnetic field were achieved. These are shown below: The experiment was then altered to model the effects of the coil if the material of the magnet was plastic, with a relative permeability of 1, and therefore the magnetic permeability of the magnet was set to . All the other values remained constant. The magnetic flux density and magnetic field were then found and are shown below:

Observation Essay †The Clown -- Observation Essays

Observation Essay – The Clown He’s a young man, the clown, with white socks striped in black, and black suspenders over a white T-shirt. White face, red nose. His MO is to follow people and imitate their motion without their noticing, to the glee of the sizeable, ever-changing audience. We’re sitting here on the steps of the Museum, hot and sweaty, watching the show. The clown can follow anyone: a slinky woman wearing pink ruffles, a kid with a mountain bike, a muscle-shirted dude talking Spanish on a cell phone, an old man walking his schnauzer, a big gray pigeon bobbing this way and that in search of food, and then taking flight. Now he slides behind high-school girlfriends, floppy-sandaled flirts leaning toward each other and flinging back their hair with unthinking charm, the clown their vampy shadow. When he bids them goodbye, he flourishes a soft, velvet-bodied top hat, and you can see his head is shaven, except for a forelock. Now he’s got a routine with a bottle of water. It’s stuck in his mouth and silently he implores a guy to get it out for him. He has a way of getting sudden spurts of water to cascade from it, while he looks surprised and delighted at once. I have persuaded my friend Kati to leave me here for an hour in the afternoon sun while she completes her tour of the Impressionists inside. She’s in New York this once, visiting from Hungary, while I live in Philadelphia and can come back any time I choose. I became hot and dizzy while standing on a Rouen street, basking in the sun before Monet’s Cathedral. A red tide rose inside my eyeballs. Kati found me clinging to a bench in front of Seurat’s Circus Sideshow and hauled me off to the Ladies’ Room, where she sprinkled cool water on my neck an... ...e gently, informing me that I have a virus, melodramatic old fool that I am. The clown has taken his place at the foot of the stairs and conducts us spectators like an orchestra, getting us to applaud in counterpoint. Then he mimes a family, three kids, all of whom need to eat and drink, and proffers his floppy hat for our sustenance. When I hold out two dollars, he comes over and mimes opening the doors of his chest, so that the heart within flutters out to me. Kati comes and we head home, our minds full of the art we saw today. As I rise from my spot on the steps, I see the clown shadow a man walking six dogs all at once, working his body back and forth on the leash of the unruliest, a sheep-dog. Then he takes a bottle of water offered by a vendor and puts it in his ear. Water squirts from his mouth, and he smiles, looking briefly skyward, one hand on his hip.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND :: essays papers

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND Tears rolled down my face as I tried to smile. Prolonging the dreaded good-bye, I kept busy organizing the small stuff in her new home. Her home with out me. It was one of those moments I anticipated but would not accept the reality until the time finally came. I had never been good with good-byes. An hour later, my dad looked at me and I knew this time we were leaving. I had given her a hug without looking at her and we whispered I love you’s to each other. She was having a hard enough time leaving everything behind so I wanted to stay strong for her. I wanted to stay. Walking from that dorm room felt like I was saying good-bye to my very best friend. As I reached the car and we drove off I began to cry, trying hard not to let my dad see. I did not want to talk about it. Through life, many people turn away but family is always there. When you are away from the ones that mean the most to you, it is then when you realize how much they mean to you. Just like the old saying goes, â€Å"absence makes the heart grow fonder†. I found this saying to be true when my oldest and only sister moved away for the first time to go to college. Losing one mom was hard enough but when I had to say goodbye to my second I thought I was going to die. On March 12, 1992 my mother passed away of acute leukemia and my older sister moved up in the family tree. She became my mother, my sister, and my best friend. When she left, it was hard to imagine life without her around. We seem to be the perfect age apart to completely understand each other. She is the person who keeps me going. She is my conscience and role model. She teaches me everyday to live and learn and always try my best. My friends and father all mean so much to me but whenever anything goes wrong my very first reaction is â€Å"What will Allison think? What would she say?† In 1936, many say that 14 year-old Mary Stevenson wrote the poem