Nike Strategic Plan - 1034 Words

Definition of the Problem How can Nike continue to increase their sales and profitability, not only here in the U.S. but around the world? Nike also needs to improve their public image as well as their customer service to continue to be competitive in the apparel industry. Possible Action Alternatives 1) Continue expansion into global markets where competitors have been successful. There are huge opportunities for Nike to grow across multiple dimensions in terms of international expansion. Nike should take advantage of promoting its brand overseas, beginning with the opening of several stores in the European market. Advantages †¢ Expansion into foreign markets means that sales will be toward people who have not previously had†¦show more content†¦By expanding into foreign markets, improving customer service, and enhancing the company’s public image, Nike could significantly improve their sales as well as their profit margin. Nike s primary focus should be selecting the international markets for expansion, improving the way sales associates assist customers in these stores, and ensuring that the stores are vested in the community and project a more wholesome image of the Nike brand. It is vital that the company seeks out and maintains individuals in leadership positions that are committed to the expansion of the company and to the brand itself. These leaders will need to work together to develop uniform policies and practices to be implemented systemically; provide the resources necessary to achieve these goals; and be patient as Nike continues to grow as a result of these actions. Clearly Nike already has a loyal customer base in the U.S. as they are currently the largest specialty apparel retailer. By opening more stores internationally, improving customer service, and improving the company’s public image, Nike could easily continue to outperform their top competitors such as Underarmour. Evaluation As Nike continues to grow by expanding into foreign markets, improving customer service, and enhancing the company’s public image, the company will see a faster ability to gain share and increase revenue and profits. 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Johnny Got His Gun Free Essays

Melanie Gonzalez English ll March 25, 2012 Miss Hartman Johnny Got his Gun Ever wondered what it’s really like to be in war? Welcome to reality and welcome to Joe’s reality. Joe is a living, breathing, and perfect example of what war is and the effects of it. Some say, Joe might as well not even be living. We will write a custom essay sample on Johnny Got His Gun or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Johnny Got His Gun, Trumbo uses three rhetorical strategies; imagery, rhetorical questions, and mood and tone. Through imagery, we envision the reality of war. Through mood and tone, the author writes in such a way that creates a certain feeling towards war as well as towards Joe. Through rhetorical questions, the author leaves us thoughts to ponder on. Imagery is one of the strategies that appeal to all of our senses. Trumbo does a great job in portraying the realities and encounters of war. Trumbo carefully describes war by using spine-tingling examples. For example, in chapter XII, Joe mentions a young Englishman walking through a field and falling into a decomposing man. The young man couldn’t get out, and he threw up, still with his arm completely lodged in the rotting flesh of what used to be a living, breathing human being. Just the way that Joe describes the situation, it sends chills running down your spine! I suddenly felt as if I was the one who had fallen through the dead man. This is just one of the many traumatizing encounters of the war. Also, in chapter XII, a man with an open-view stomach was brought to be treated. Just imagine that? I don’t think I would’ve been able to bear the sight of a person’s organs out in the open. Imagery allows us to visualize the painful, physical horrors of war. Trumbo appeals to our emotions in a way that makes us feel like we are physically in the war and what Joe must be feeling. Mood and tone is the key to how a reader feels and the way authors express themselves. The mood is depressing while the author expresses a negative tone towards war. Joe strongly dislikes that he is being forced to fight for something without meaning. This becomes depressing as more stories and encounters are told. Trumbo persuades the reader that war is basically just a place where men are sent to die. The tone stays the same throughout the whole book unless Joe mentioned or talked about Kareen, his girlfriend. Whenever Joe talked about her, it was like little by little; everyday he was getting farther and farther away from her. The mood and tone of a book always has a different outcome on the reader’s reaction to the story. It’s used to create a sense of emotion in such a way that you feel as if you were living within the characters. Last but not least, rhetorical questions. Trumbo uses and repeats many questions, leaving the reader to ponder upon. Joe continuously asks, what is honor? What is decency? What is freedom? Doesn’t that leave you thinking? Joe is told that a war is fought for freedom and liberty and to show honor for your country and to die honorably. But who’s idea of honor or decency or freedom? It releases an anti war message. It becomes very powerful throughout the book. Joe starts questioning many aspects of the war as I mentioned before. Trumbo makes it seem as if we were in Joe’s mind or asking ourselves these same questions. In conclusion, I would’ve never come to realize the true, gruesome horrors of war if it wasn’t for this book. What difference does it make for soldiers dying on the frontlines for their country? Killing the opposing army? Or giving up your life when you don’t even know exactly what you’re fighting for and who knows if you’ll ever benefit from it? Imagery, mood and tone, and rhetorical questions have played a big role throughout this book. It’s incredible how the song of WW2 Johnny get your gun was motivating, convincing, and inviting. However, Johnny got his gun and he lost. How to cite Johnny Got His Gun, Essay examples

Design for A Suburban Structure- Free-Samples- Assignmenthelp.com

Question: Critically analyses the Conceptual Design phase of a Systems Engineering Project. Projects might include designing a light rail Network for a City. Answer: Introduction There is an increasingly high demand for green buildings particularly for the commercial and residential constructions and this kind of need calls for a more thoughtful universal consciousness geared towards the environmental sustainability. The green structures despite having a shorter lifetime as compared to the traditional buildings, they significantly offer a greater reduction in the utility costs and bills. Hence, the economic condition will certainly favour this kind of need. In 1998, the United States green building council designed a rating system known as LEED which is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design that basically provides regulations for attaining a sustainable green structure(Norimoto Kashino, 2008, p. 747). Among other features comprising the regulations are construction materials selection, energy sources and site selection. Thus, the aim of this project is to come up with a design that takes into account various environmentally conscious methods as defined by the LEED standard. The building is an assumed one-story home having seven rooms, two full bathrooms, and a two-car garage and employs new technology and practices to meet the minimum certification by LEED standards for green design(Buch, 2006, p. 868). A fire protection system will also be developed and implemented within the design. In 2007, there were 399,000 house structure fires in the United States. The fires caused 2,865 deaths and $7.4 billion in property damage. Due to these high statistics of fire losses, the International Code Council members unanimously passed a motion of implementing residential fire sprinkler requirements for all new homes. Thus, this project will not only entail the design of a safer home by providing sprinklers but also prove its sustainability in any type of building(Thomas, 2006, p. 985). Background The need for constructing environmentally conscious building has resulted in the change of various design and construction aspects to favour the compliance of sustainability. For instance, a green design incorporates the environmental impacts generated by construction materials, the lifetime of the products, and the waste that is generated during the whole process of construction. The basis for the construction of the green buildings is the layout, framing and the cost(Santamouris, 2013, p. 635). Objectives The main goal of this project is to come up with an environmentally conscious building that is more sustainable and cost effective than the conventional traditional one. Additionally, there is need to make the earth more sustainable by avoiding the disruptions of the natural resources within it(Graham, 2009, p. 342). Moreover, an aim of this project is to reduce the overall expense of energy usage and creation of a positive impact on the environment. Scope The scope of this project is to design an environmentally conscious building that is sustainable as compared to the traditional buildings. It also includes a fire protection gadget that lowers the risks of accidents arising from fire faults(Goncalves, 2010, p. 322). Problem Definition and Need Identification With the rise in the universal environmental and economic standards, there is a need for coming up with structures which are environmentally conscious. Sooner, the earth will be unsustainable such that over the years, certain resources that normally occur naturally and required by the human for survival shall get depleted hence there is need to make the earth more sustainable by avoiding the disruptions of the natural resources within it. Disruption of natural resources results in the overall impacts on both the environment and the wildlife. Below are some of the factors which will be taken care of when environmentally conscious buildings are put into place(Moubray, 2009, p. 535). Environmental Benefits: Reduction in wastage of water Conservation natural resources i.e. water, air Improved quality of natural resources i.e. air, water Safeguarding of plant and animal life Economic Benefits: Minimized operating costs Improved human output and health Creation of market for green products and services Social Benefits: Improved quality of human life Reduced stress on indigenous infrastructure Improved human health and productivity Conceptual system design This is a pre-life cycle activity which is potentially projected to address a suitable solution to a specific problem identified. It involves the design of a system which offers a prior basis and also introducing the primary planning and assessment of various high-tech methodologies with the aim of proper implementation the system. A system is designed with various sub-systems, components and attributes that are technically integrated to provide a sustainable and an environmentally conscious state(Alexander Kossiakoff, 2012, p. 532). System Operational Requirements The materials required for the construction of a green building can be manmade or obtained naturally. They include tiles, pipe, glass windows, wood studs, polyvinyl chloride and sheets of plywood(Wolter J. Fabrycky, 2008, p. 552). Timber Timber is renewable and available naturally and most preferred due to its strength and reduced cost. There are various wood types such as girders, plywood, joists and studs .wood can be made into structural insulated panels SIPs which are best suited for the green building since they are very versatile thus providing room for expansion and the presence of the insulating material in between the wooden boards which provide greater thermal protection. In the end, they help to reduce the rate of energy consumption(Benjamin S. Blanchard, 2013, p. 524). Enclosure Protection of various elements is aided by roofings, windows, framings, insulation and the doors. The windows are made of double paned glass to allow natural light and air to pass through thereby promoting environmental conscious. This is dictated by the insulating glass material, solar orientation, frame and the glass spacers. The double paned windows mean that there are two panes of glasses separated by air which acts as a buffer by keeping the house cooler during summer and warmer in winter seasons. The air used is inert which provides a lower thermal conductivity. Concrete Concrete is a mixture of water, cement and aggregate and is used during the setting up of foundations, paved surfaces and the columns. However, for the green building, a coal fly ash is used instead of the cement since the later requires a high amount of energy to produce. Additionally, the coal fly ash provides an environmental advantage by preventing landslides hence environmental conscious(Fred K. Geitner, 2008, p. 522). MEP systems Electrical systems Most home appliances generally rely on electricity for their operation. Conventionally, the main way of generating electricity is by burning coal which lowers the level of fossil fuel and also emits carbon into the atmosphere thereby promoting . The green building will utilize carbon free means of electricity generation and specifically the solar energy which involves the tapping of the solar radiation by means of solar panels and converting them into electrical energy. The energy is taped in a direct current form and then converted into an ac form by the aid of inverters which makes them possible to be used by the appliances. Since solar energy may sometimes fluctuate, there is a provision for storage of the direct current electricity by the help of batteries(Frank A. Tillman, 2012, p. 323). Fire protection system The risk of fire accidents is common in every part of the states and according to NFPA, in 2007, residential fires took place after every 79 seconds. Thus a need to suppress these accidents before spreading further is of great significance. Thus a residential fire sprinkler systems will be connected to the green building. This system has a deflector which has the potential of spraying water to large distances. These fire sprinkler systems are ideal for green structures since they detect the possibility of fire outbreaks earlier thereby preventing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere and thus promoting environmental conscious. Below is the diagram for the sprinkler Plumbing systems The plumbing systems are geared towards conserving both water and money. A grey water system that involves a connection from the sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers is utilized in the flushing system or irrigation. According to American Water Works Association, toilets consume 44% of the residential water annually, hence installing the grey water will help conserve the amount of water usage. Nonetheless, the application of a polypropylene pipe which does not emit toxins into the water will greatly promote environmental conscious(Oliver, 2011, p. 161). There is also the installation of the solar water heater which utilizes the solar radiation to heat up water and not relying on the electrical heating. It is comparatively cheaper and requires little maintenance. Below is its configuration The project is intended to operate in any kind of environment both commercially and residentially by providing a safe and effective work atmosphere acquiescent with all significant and relevant safety standards and regulations and also focuses on conservation of the ecosystem. System Maintenance and Support Any product or system requires maintenance so as to prolong its lifetime and ensure sustainability. The various maintenance practices that may be included for the green building includes regular painting and replacement of worn out items such as washers. Technical Performance Measures These refer to the quantitative processes which define the various measures of a system. They may include reliability and maintainability technical measures which also determines the correct attributes of a system. The above technical measures influence the conceptual design of a project. (Buch, 2006, p. 854). Preliminary System Design The preliminary design has a direct influence on the final developed project. It is a prototype which undergoes various tests to ensure that it saves time and also correct various faults that may arise with the main design project. Various computational tools and softwares are applied to ensure there is reduced risks of failures with the final system(Fred K. Geitner, 2008, p. 775). Documentation The documentation of this project is dependent on the software which assures appropriate quality control checks and is created in Adobe Acrobat Professional and availed electronically. Various tools and software including Microsoft Word, Project, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Achi-CAD. Achi-CAD PID and Adobe Acrobat Professional are used to develop the reports and the presentations. These softwares provide a 3-dimensional outlook of the design(Frank A. Tillman, 2012, p. 976). Analytical Models and Modeling The evaluation of the design process is key to every project. This evaluation process is aided by certain models and methodologies. For instance, the evaluation of the green building is made possible through the use of mathematical and analytical methods and tools which are compilable with a macro-CAD OBJECTIVE. These mathematical models provide major advantages. Several considerations are made based on the system application. For instance operational considerations, support and logistical considerations, and finally recycling and disposal considerations. Further, they compare and contrast various possibilities which help to obtain the relationship between dissimilar structures(Alexander Kossiakoff, 2012, p. 853). Design Review and Feedback A design review and feedback is necessary for any corrections that may arise due to inaccuracies or alterations .the review process will greatly give a reflection on the performance of the design. At this particular stage, the commencing of the project is determined and initiated. Recommendation and Conclusion The designing of a system and its practical implementation requires different aspects and phases which it has to pass through for it to be successful. An organized planning and thorough analysis of various components and their characteristics at the initial stages will thus help to alleviate any impulsive modification in the future. Similarly, the efficiency and performance are only optimized when a dedicated teamwork that entails a majority of personnel, technicians, stakeholders and effective communication is ensured. In conclusion, the project is highly designed and its execution is practical and sophisticated. The need to protect the environment and its constituents in a cheaper and sustainable way is of great significance and should be of priority otherwise the earth will soon be unsustainable(Graham, 2009, p. 554) References Alexander Kossiakoff, W. N. S. S. J. S. S. M. B., 2012. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. New York John Wiley Sons, Benjamin S. Blanchard, W. J. F., 2013. Systems Engineering and Analysis. 2nd ed. Westminister: Pearson Education, Limited. Buch, M. N., 2006. Environmental Consciousness and Urban Planning. 2nd ed. Carlisle: Orient Blackswan. Columbia., B., 2011. Guide to Environmentally Friendly Building and Renovating in the Southern Gulf Islands. 4th ed. Columbia: Islands Trust, Frank A. Tillman, D. T. C., 2012. A Professional's Guide to Decision Science and Problem Solving:. 4th ed. Chicago: FT Press. Fred K. Geitner, H. P. B., 2008. Maximizing machinery uptime. 3rd ed. Carlisle: Elsevier Gulf Professional Pub. Goncalves, J. C. S., 2010. The Environmental Performance of Tall Buildings. 4th ed. Carlisle: Routledge, Graham, P., 2009. Building Ecology: First Principles For A Sustainable Built Environment. 3rd ed. Chicago: John Wiley Sons. Maldonado, E., 2014. Environmentally Friendly Cities. 5th ed. London: Routledge. Moubray, J., 2009. Reliability-centered Maintenance. 3rd ed. New York Industrial Press Inc. Norimoto Kashino, Y. O., 2008. International RILEM Symposium on Environment-Conscious Materials and Systems for Sustainable Development. 3rd ed. Melbourne: RILEM Publications. Oliver, D. W., 2011. Engineering Complex Systems with Models and Objects. 1st ed. New York McGraw-Hill, Santamouris, M., 2013. Environmental Design of Urban Buildings: An Integrated Approach. 2nd ed. Chicago: Earthscan. Thomas, R., 2006. Environmental Design: An Introduction for Architects and Engineers. 1st ed. Leicester: Taylor Francis. Wolter J. Fabrycky, B. S. B., 2008. Life-cycle cost and economic analysis. 2nd ed. Chicago: Prentice Hall. Zeiher, L. C., 2008. The ecology of architecture: a complete guide to creating the environmentally conscious building. 2nd ed. Chicago: Whitney Library of Design.

Water Quality Issues in Developing Countries

The linkage between water quality and public health is derived from the fact that unsafe water is responsible for causing a variety of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, which claims the lives of an estimated 5 million people annually – 6,000 children everyday (NRDC, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Water Quality Issues in Developing Countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to WHO (2010), the quality of drinking water is a foundation for the prevention and control of waterborne ailments, thus water quality is a critical environmental determinant of health for populations using the water. Water that is contaminated with chemicals or bacteria can compromise the state of public health by increasing the risks of various disease outbreaks. Due to inadequate or ineffective water treatment policies in most developing countries, drinking water often gets contaminated wi th chemicals and bacteria from industrial wastes, pesticides, and untreated human waste (NRDC, 2008), setting the stage for the outbreak of notable waterborne diseases as is presently happening in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that occasioned the contamination of drinking water with human effluent. Some water pollutants carry disease-causing agents such as E. coli, giardia, and the typhoid bacteria, which have been known to cause potentially fatal diseases. NRDC (2008) notes that an estimated 3 million children perish each year due to waterborne diseases, 90 percent dying before celebrating their 5th birthday as a direct consequence of their weak immunity systems. Contaminated water is also known to cause skin lesions, cardiac conditions, and several types of cancer. According to Markandya (2004), â€Å"†¦unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in high-mortality developing countries† (p. 3).Advertising Looking fo r essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As such, it can be argued that the quality of water is a foremost determinant of the health of populations globally. Indeed, water is a fundamental component of public health, and failure to avail clean water to people in need places a heavy burden on the entire population (Massoud et al., 2010) Water quality and quantity concerns in the U.S. are remarkably different from concerns raised by a typical developing country. Although various challenges to water quality have been posed (Ashok, 1998), the U.S. has implemented a multiplicity of measures aimed at improving the quality of water, such as source water protection, waste water treatment, water treatment, and effective waste management practices. Lack of adequate resources and political will continue to compromise efforts geared towards ensuring water quality in most developing nations. In terms of quantity, one of the foremost issue facing developing countries is lack of enough water to meet basic human needs (Markandya, 2004). Developing countries often contends with the ever-present challenge of chemical and biological water contamination, arising from improper waste disposal and water treatment mechanisms (NRDC, 2008). This issue has been largely brought under control in the U.S., though some challenges have been reported. However, it should be noted that the issue of water contamination continues to adversely affect the level of water quality in most developing countries. The issue of high water contamination gives rise to rampant outbreak of waterborne diseases. According to Ashok (1998), waterborne diseases continue to cause high incidences of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Massoud et al (2010) notes that â€Å"†¦in developing countries, nearly 80% of all diseases are linked to water and sanitation† (p. 24). The U.S. and other developed countries have mana ged to control the issue of waterborne diseases by putting in place effective strategies, policies, and systems of ensuring water quality. Water quality and quantity issues in the African country of Kenya have taken a centre stage in the government’s efforts to enhance public health. This is after the realization that a sizeable population of children below age 5 were dying annually of curable diarrheal conditions contracted through drinking unsafe water (Ashok, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Water Quality Issues in Developing Countries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The country’s budget has for years been burdened by the frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases due to rampant biological contamination from leaking human sewer pipes and chemical contamination from factories and other installations that directs their effluence into rivers and waterbeds. Inadequate disposal of human and ani mal excrement continues to be blamed for massive water contamination in the country, putting many lives at risk. The magnitude of the mortality and morbidity from waterborne ailments is one of the country’s principal environmental health threats to millions of people. The growth and development of children in the country has been adversely affected by frequent episodes of diarrheal diseases. In rainy seasons, for instance, the country is forced to put up with huge economic costs stemming from lost adult productivity occasioned by waterborne diarrheal diseases (Ashok, 1998). Community members are forced to shoulder extra healthcare costs as they seek treatment for diseases caused by unsafe drinking water. In equal measure, the quantity of drinking water that can be considered safe for human consumption is barely enough due to population pressure and urban migration. Reference List Ashok, G. (1998). Drinking water in developing countries. Annual Review of Energy the Environmen t, 23(11), 253-270. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier Database. Markandya, A. (2004). Water quality issues in developing countries. Web. Massoud, M.A., Al-Abady, A., Jurdi, M., Nuwayhid, I. (2010). The challenges of sustainable access to safe drinking water in rural areas of developing countries: Case of Zawtar El-charkieh, Southern Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Health, 72(10), 24-30. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Natural Resources Defense Council. (2008). Bringing safe water to the world. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/issues/water World Health Organization. (2010). Water sanitation and health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/ This essay on Water Quality Issues in Developing Countries was written and submitted by user Tyler G. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Chad Vs Libya Territorial Dispute Of the Aouzo Strip

Chad Vs Libya Territorial Dispute Of the Aouzo Strip The Aouzo strip was a barren land between the border of Chad and Libya and both countries were claiming it. Chad was claiming the strip because the border was fixed by the treaty of friendship and good neighborliness between Libya and France but not between Libya and Chad. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chad Vs Libya Territorial Dispute Of the Aouzo Strip specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chad further alleged that the treaty included a formal acceptance by Libya’s France claims to the borders of its colonial possessions in Africa. The borders had been the subject of earlier agreements between Italy and Britain. Chad claimed that the 1955 treaty that recognized the validity of these previous colonial agreements still bound Libya. Libya on the other claimed title not only to the strip but also to significance amounts of territory south of it, based on variety of assertions including the invalidity of the 1955 treaty which France illegally coerced Libya’s king into signing, the lack of any recognition in the treaty of the Chad –Libyan border in particular; the allegiance of Libya to various inhabitants of the region and prior title to the territory held by the Ottoman Empire and Italy, the predecessor colonial power to Libya. Libya supported a rebellion by inhabitants of northern Chad against an already weak central government to assert its claims. After the central government lost control of the strip, local leaders allowed Libyan military personnel into the area, following which it set up a de facto administration of the region. Diplomatic negotiations through out the 1970s by OAU failed to reach a solution. In 1980 when Chad’s civil war intensified, Libya invaded a large area of Chad out side the strip, captured the capital, N’Djamena and ousted the official government in favor of its pro Libyan rival. Libya and the new government even discussed the merger of the two states. OAU strongly condemned this invasion and threatened to cancel its scheduled summit to take place in Tripoli. It is then that Libya agreed to pull its trips out of much of the country. In 1983, the Chadian government appealed to UN Security Council to demand Libya’s total withdrawal. The Soviet Union vetoed a UN resolution calling for withdrawal. Chad succeeded in ousting the Libyan military from northern Chad- except for the strip- in a lightning action in august 1987. After two more years of OAU sponsored negation and mediation, the two states agreed to settle the dispute by political means within one year or if they failed to do so, to summit it for determination at the ICJ, in The Hague. In 1990, after negotiations failed, the two states asked the court to determine their mutual border in accordance with principles of international law.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper wi th 15% OFF Learn More The primary actors in the Libyan Chad dispute are former colonial masters i.e. France, Italy and Britain who established the treaty of friendiship and good neighborliness. The 1955 treaty is also a primary actor because it recognized validity of previous colonial agreements. The secondary actors are the two countries in the conflict i.e. Chad and Libya. The main governing legal instruments include the OAU and the ICJ in The Hague. The 1955 treaty of friendship and good neighborliness is also an instrument in this case because it provides the guidelines and principles which were to be adhered to by parties which entered the treaty. A part from the OAU, the UN Security Council and ICJ no other institution or people were involved in arbitration. The ICJ relied heavily on a French colonial map of 1899. The line from the 1919 France- Britain agreement, combined with the line resulting from the France. Italy agreement determined the border, as Chad ha d claimed. The court further considered the attitude of the two parties involved in the conflict. Before the matter got into international arena, Libya had not made any complaint. During this period France submitted reports of this territory to the UN General Assembly. The 1955 report showed the area of Chad’s territory as 1284000 km2 which expressly includes the Aouzou strip. Libya did not challenge the territorial dimension of Chad as set out by France. The ICJ ruled that Chad’s area was 1284000 which include the Aouzou strip. Libya and Chad agreed to abide by the ruling and in April 1994 they reached an agreement on the practicalities of the Libyan withdrawal, removal of mines and demarcation of the border. A team of UN observers was called to monitor the withdrawal. On May 30, in accordance with the withdrawal schedule previously agreed upon, Libya completed its withdrawal and the UN certified the result. The case rainbow warrior The Rainbow Warrior was a convert ed research trawler bought by an NGO called Greenpeace. Rainbow Warrior was used to publicize protests against commercial whaling practices, the dumping of nuclear wastes in the oceans and off shore oil and gas operations. The rainbow warrior was bombed by members of the French Directorate General of External Security (DGSE) which docked in Auckland harbor, New Zealand. The ensuing explosion resulted in the sinking and total destruction of the ship and death of Fernando Pereira, a Dutch crew member. The vessel had been scheduled to protest upcoming French under ground nuclear testing in the Atoll.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chad Vs Libya Territorial Dispute Of the Aouzo Strip specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The sinking of the vessel made France to start restricting certain New Zealand exports to French and French territories. France also began to link the Rainbow Warrior dispute to the question of future acce ss to the European community of New Zealand economy. In response New Zealand filled a formal complaint to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The contentious issue was the fate of major Mafart and captain Prieur. The ICJ ruled that the agents be taken to a military facility of French away from Europe for a period not less than 36 months. They were to stay to the island until both countries could give permission for them to leave. The court further stated that French should submit reports of the two to the government of New Zealand and UN General Assembly. The New Zealand government was free to visit the island with an agreed third party (Thomson 122). France failed to comply by the ruling but manipulated the system and gave lame excuses to remove the two agents from the island before the end of their three year term they were supposed to stay on the island. The tribunal set to arbitrate on the case ruled that a financial kitty be established and France begins by contributing $2,000, 000 to enhance peaceful coexistence among the citizens of the two countries. France complied with this condition and donated the money. The main actor in this conflict was an NGO called Greenpeace and the French government. New Zealand was a secondary actor in the case while the governing legal instruments used for deciding the case were the ICJ and the arbitral tribunal provided in paragraph 5 of Secretary General’s ruling. No other people/institution was involved in the process of arbitration a part from the family of Fernando Pereira that was compensated by the French government. Comparison of the cases The two are different in terms of actors involved because the Libya-Chad case revolves around a stronger state (Libya) trying to undermine the territorial integrity of a weaker state (Chad) by taking advantage of civil unrest to claim parts of its geographical area. In this case also the government of Libya accepted to abide the ruling of the ICJ because of fear of international sanctions from the Security Council. The channel of arbitration is also different because in Libyan – Chadian case the parties did not seek the indulgence of local courts to solve the dispute instead they relied on international bodies like the ICJ and OAU to solve their dispute. This could be based on the fact that the courts in these countries are not independent and prone to manipulation by the executive. In the case of the rainbow warrior however, both countries had independent judicial systems but the difference was in the laws. The means of arbitration and the governing legal instruments are similar in both cases i.e. the use of the UN Security Council (Azevedo 58).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is possible to consider the first case as representing a more traditional (classic) approach to international law because there was no difference in law over the issue but only a matter of proving that a territory belongs to the country. In this case Chad proved beyond doubt that the territory in question was hers. The second case can be considered a move towards more â€Å"contemporary† modus operandi to international law because the two countries had laws that contradicted each other over the issue of committing a crime on official orders. Azevedo, Mario. Roots of Violence: A History of War in Chad, New York: Rutledge, 1998. Print. Thomson, Janice. Mercenaries, pirates, and sovereigns: state-building and extraterritorial violence in early modern Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Pres, 1996. Print.

Babel-Fish Earbud Translators

Babel-Fish Earbud Translators Abstract This paper explores published articles from online resources (internet) that depict a probable solution to near real-time language translation in support of targeting, situational understanding, and/or information collection. As technology shrinks the distance between nationalities and cultures, language remains a barrier that still prevents a shared understanding between the pair. This paper will examine how emerging technology can be leveraged to address language barriers in urban and isolated areas where a translator may not be available. Keywords: Babel-Fish (the first online translator) Emerging Technology: Babel-Fish Earbud Translators The purpose of this paper is to address a problem that most intelligence units face concerning targeting, situational understanding, and information collection. Most intelligence units have 35 series military occupational specialties (MOS) that either require a language or have the ability to learn a language at the Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey, California. Intelligence Soldiers in these MOS use their languages for various intelligence tasks to produce and disseminate timely, relevant, accurate, predictive, and tailored intelligence to decision-makers. Cryptologic Linguists (35P) are responsible for identifying foreign communications using signals equipment. Their role is crucial as the nation’s defense depends largely on information that comes from foreign languages. Many Cryptologic Linguists are assigned to units who do not have the correct coded billet for their specific foreign language. An impact to mission command could be a degrade in timely reporting as reports would need to be transmitted to an inorganic unit for processing. Human Intelligence Collectors (35M) are responsible for information collection operations. They provide Army personnel with information about the enemy force’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential battle areas. Their role is often dependent on the use of a foreign language. Human Intelligence Collectors are often deployed abroad to locations outside their respective foreign languages. An impact to mission command could be a reliance on interpreters to assist Human Intelligence Collectors and a degrade in timely reporting. Interpreter/Translators (09L) are responsible for interpreting and preparing translations between English and a foreign language. These Soldiers are more likely to be assigned to an area abroad where their foreign language would be of benefit. However, they often struggle with varying dialects. An impact to mission command could be from interpreters misinterpreting intent and meaning from key-leader engagements and/or communicating with foreign allies. Additionally, any Soldier abroad may require the use of a foreign language in order to accomplish their mission. Often, these Soldiers do not have the necessary language to do so. An impact to mission command again could be from misinterpreting intent and meaning from key-leader engagements, communicating with foreign allies, providing humanitarian assistance, etc. The problem that is ever apparent is having the correct language for every mission. Units are now deployed to or support operations in various countries utilizing Soldiers who do not have the correct language for that region and/or country. Currently, there are no technological solutions within the Intelligence Warfighting Function (IWfF) to address this issue. However, with advances in technology this could be a problem of the past. Babel-Fish Earbud Translators. Google and various smaller companies unveiled new products between fall 2017 and spring 2018 that could be adapted to address current language barriers Soldiers currently face abroad during their operations. These products consist of a set of Bluetooth earbuds that use babel-fish software that assists in translating between 15 to 40 different languages depending on the company. All of these products have a conversation feature, on both iOS and Android, and let two users speak as the software automatically translates the spoken languages and allows each user to respond to their counterpart. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are working behind the scenes in making the systems more intelligent by creating huge databases with possible word fragments to reduce processing time. Current issues with this technology consist of background noise interference, current language database, and conversational coloquisms. While these are apparent issues, soft ware engineers are making advances in order to improve this product. This technology is still in its infancy and will require additional development until it can be used abroad in austere environments. Analysis on the Problem. Military units with required language billets are not always filled with Soldiers possessing the correct language for that billet. Crytologic Linguists and Human Intelligence Collecters are prime examples of this. Additionally, interpreters run into dialect issues due to differences in slang or the pronunciation of words on mulitple occasions. Further, Soldiers throughout the world operating in various countries do not always have access to Soldiers or interpreters with the necessary language to assist them in their missions. Ultimately as intelligence professionals, we strive to improve intelligence support to situational awareness, information collection, and targeting. Often, intelligence support to these tasks require data translation. This translation is often slow and does not support timely decisions for a commander. Babel-fish earbud translators could be used in future austere environments to assist 35 series Soldiers (35P and 35M) or interpreters translate data in near real-time on the battlefield without necessarily having the correct foreign language or dialect. Soldiers who require language skills to translate data into intelligence could use this device and/or software in these austere environments to translate that data in near real-time and disseminate that information in order to assist in intelligence support to targeting and situational awareness. Additionally, MOS 09L could utilize this device/software to assist in their role as a translator. Further, any Soldier could use this device/software to support their mission through intelligence support to information collection, targeting, and situational understanding. Ultimately, this device/software would speed up processing time for analysts as they would receive the reports from the field at a faster rate. Thus, commanders at all echel ons could target the enemy faster, decreasing processing time between sensors and shooters. Additionally, this would assist in the overall situational understanding not just from an enemy perspective but also in regards to working with multinational partners. Voice data could then be translated in multiple languages assisting unit commanders at all echelons. Further, intelligence collectors could use this emerging technology to derive enemy intent at a quicker rate providing the commander necessary time to process the information and make decisions. Conclusion This paper explored published articles from online resources (internet) that depicted a possible solution to language barriers that Crytologic Linguists, Human Intelligence Collectors, interpreters, and Soldiers face every day throughout the world in various situations and countries. This challenge is often apparent in the IWfF where successful intelligence criteria requires timely, relevant, accurate, predictive, and tailored data. Data in its raw form is often delivered in a foreign language. When language capabilities are sparse, this data is transmitted to outside organizations for translation. This process is far too slow and requires a solution. The babel-fish earbud translator could be the Army’s solution to this problem. Recommendations. The unit should reach out to the private sector, particuarly the companies who produce babel-fish earbud translators, including Google, Company, Company, and Etc for further information. Addtionally, the unit should request hardware and software demonstrations. The unit could submit an ONS for the best product determined from unit requirements and the previous hardware/software demonstration. Further, the unit IWfF should engage TCM-F with their requirements in order to elevate their needs to the Army.

In the last decade voting turnout and political participation in the Essay

In the last decade voting turnout and political participation in the UK has declined. What are the possible reasons for this What could be done to help solve the problem - Essay Example The paper also tries to figure out few steps which can bring back the interest of the people in politics. One of the reasons behind the less turn out of people in the politics is the concept of strong government over the representative government. The main focus of the government is to present the country as a strong one in front of the world so sometimes they overlook the basic requirement of the people and therefore people started to lose interest in voting. Another key reason behind the lesser turnout in the UK vote is the failure of the elected people to fulfill their promises. Another theory related to this lesser turn out is the change in the mindset of the voters. People in the UK in modern age are more worried with policy outcomes than they are with policy commitments. The significantly less turn out in the 2001 UK vote was mainly on the ground of above reason. The supporters of the Labor party not wanted to come out in large number to cast their vote just because in their view, â€Å"their party fails to "deliver the goods" by improving health care, education, transportation a nd other vital public services during its first term in office.† (Clarke, Sanders, Stewart &Whiteley; 2002). Apart from all these factors, some other reasons are also their which play an important role in reducing the turnout in vote and also pull down the people’s interest about politics. The level of education among the people, political knowledge, ethiciency, understanding civic duty all these are also the factors which plays an important role in pulling down people’s interest from politics. It has been noticed that highly educated people, people who have the knowledge of politics, who come from political background or associated with politics directly or indirectly are more reluctant to vote where as people from lower middle class, who just

Scan virus for all domestic animal in Saudi Arabia Research Proposal

Scan virus for all domestic animal in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example Such illnesses spread to humans due to failure to understand the natural environment. Over the past decade, many people have lost their lives globally because of serious infections caused by animals. Examples of such illnesses are Ebola and AIDS. A few years ago, a virus spread by domestic birds affected many people in Eastern Asia. In Saudi Arabia, a virus that spread from domestic animals to humans is corona virus. This virus spread to humans through their interaction with camels. Reports indicate that about 800 people were infected with the virus in the Middle East (Merson, Black & Mills, 2012). The first case of infection was reported in Saudi Arabia in the year 2012. It causes serious respiratory illnesses. About 27 percent of people infected with the virus die. People with weaker immunes systems as such the elderly and those with other illnesses such as diabetes are more vulnerable to the viruses. The public health departments have been focusing on scanning only wild animals fo r virus. It is also crucial for them to start focusing more on scanning domestic animals. If action is not taken in time, more people will die of the infections caused by viruses spread to humans by domestic animals. Failure to scan domestic animals has contributed the deaths of many people in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. This is because animals have viruses that cause deadly infections to humans (Merson, Black & Mills, 2012). Apart from corona virus, another virus that uses domestic animals as hosts is rabies. Rabies is among the most infectious illnesses. Studies show that it is responsible for thousands of deaths each year in the world. Rabies is transmitted to human when bitten by infected dogs and cats. Apart from dogs, poultry farmers are also at high risks of being infected by viruses such as H5N1. In the year 2007 April, Saudi Arabia reported a fist case of H5NI. Birds spread this virus when they

Corporate Parenting Essay Example for Free

Corporate Parenting Essay Children’s homes operate under the directorate of â€Å"Corporate Parenting† meaning that when a child is placed in the children’s home on an interim or full care order or even if the child is voluntary placed by the trust ( once they become looked after), the staff within the home have responsibilities which include safeguarding the young persons welfare when their needs are being considered by the courts and also taking into consideration when making decisions the views of the child, parent and any other person involved with the young person. As a corporate parent the child’s religious identity, racial origin, cultural and linguistic background all need to be considered, also your role includes preparing the young person for life when they will no longer be â€Å"looked after† by the trust. Staff in residential care have a legal responsibility to each young person as directed by the â€Å"Children’s Order (NI) 1995. Under the directorate of corporate parenting social care staff with in children’s homes are obliged to look after and treat any young person as any other good parent would look after their own child. Social workers in residential care strive to involve the child’s parent in the decision making process of the child’s life; and work in partnership with parents, however there can be occasions where a parent does not act in the best interests of their child and the trust as a corporate parent can limit a decision made by the parent. Professional Carer Professional Carers can be employed within the statutory, voluntary and private sector, again professional carers (i.e) foster parents/ fee paid carers or emergency foster carers have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to safeguard and protect the welfare and well being of each child placed with them. Professional carers are also governed by policies and procedures and legislation which are a requirement by law.

The Rules Of Life: Epictetus View Essay -- essays research papers

The Rules of Life: Epictetus’ View   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As rational beings, we can become conscious of the law that guides all things. Virtue consists in conscious agreement with the inevitable order of things. According to Epictetus’ The Enchiridion, one acts with the virtues of Stoicism: human imperfection, prudence, temperance, and courage. We can relate what Epictetus is saying to our own lives. It appears that some comfort comes in knowing that one has no control over the predetermined.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Epictetus represents a myriad of concepts. One concept of which being that one should live with the awareness of human imperfection and finitude. He expresses the sentiment that one is able to relinquish the feelings of disrespect and desire by allowing all that is ill-fated to appear before one’s eyes each day. Epictetus states, â€Å"Let death and exile and everything that is terrible appear before your eyes every day, especially death; and you will never have anything contemptible in your thoughts or crave anything excessively† (XXI). It is important that we are attentive to the fact that there is much unhappiness and despair in this world. If we do not expose ourselves to such matters, these things will consume us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Epictetus also conveys that prudence is key. It is important to look at all the things that surround one’s dealings. If these things are not rendered, the outcome will cause one to disgracefully discontinue that which he is doing. One must recognize what it is that he is getting into before actually partaking in it. Epictetus states it clearly: For each action, consider what leads up to it and what follows it, and approach it in the light of that. Otherwise you will come to it enthusiastically at first, since you have not borne in mind any of what will happen next, but later when difficulties turn up you will give it up disgracefully†¦You must either work on your ruling principle, or work on externals, practice the art either of what is inside or of what is outside, that is, play the role either of a philosopher or of a non-philosopher. (XXIX) The example of an athlete is adapted to clarify this belief. If one wants to be a star athlete, then it is important for one to train properly and work hard before the event. Supposing that one does not prepare for the event, then the expectation sh... ...meone else nor himself† (V). This is, perhaps, one of Epictetus’ most influential ideas. As this is clearly something that those in today’s society can relate and utilize from day to day. Epictetus shows us many instrumental concepts in The Enchiridion. He believes that there is a law that guides all things and that virtue consists in the imminent order of things. Human imperfection and the idea of limit is a realization that many have yet to come to. In addition, caution is valuable when setting out to achieve a goal. It is important to look at all factors before jumping into something that could end up causing one pain and frustration in the end. One must convey a sense of self-control at all times. Epictetus gives us insight on how to live a frugal life. Finally, men are disturbed not by occurrences, but by the views which they take of these happenings. The man of great intelligence accuses neither himself nor another when something goes poorly in his life. As we have seen, it is easy for one to relate Epictetus’ beliefs to his own life in today’s society. It is an amazing feat for Epictetus to have written The Enchiridion so long ago, and for it to a pply to our current world.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 6 FRIENDS

THE MOTORCYCLES DIDN'T NEED TO BE HIDDEN ANY further than simply placing them in Jacob's shed. Billy's wheelchair couldn't maneuver the uneven ground separating it from the house. Jacob started pulling the first bikethe red one, which was destined for meto pieces immediately. He opened up the passenger door of the Rabbit so I could sit on the seat instead of the ground. While he worked, Jacob chattered happily, needing only the lightest of nudges from me to keep the conversation rolling. He updated me on the progress of his sophomore year of school, running on about his classes and his two best friends. â€Å"Quil and Embry?† I interrupted. â€Å"Those are unusual names.† Jacob chuckled. â€Å"Quil's is a hand-me-down, and I think Embry got named after a soap opera star. I can't say anything, though. They fight dirty if you start on their namesthey'll tag team you.† â€Å"Good friends.† I raised one eyebrow. â€Å"No, they are. Just don't mess with their names.† Just then a call echoed in the distance. â€Å"Jacob?† someone shouted. â€Å"Is that Billy?† I asked. â€Å"No.† Jacob ducked his head, and it looked like he was blushing under his brown skin. â€Å"Speak of the devil,† he mumbled, â€Å"and the devil shall appear.† â€Å"Jake? Are you out here?† The shouting voice was closer now. â€Å"Yeah!† Jacob shouted back, and sighed. We waited through the short silence until two tall, dark-skinned boys strolled around the corner into the shed. One was slender, and almost as tall as Jacob. His black hair was chin-length and parted down the middle, one side tucked behind his left ear while the right side swung free. The shorter boy was more burly. His white T-shirt strained over his well-developed chest, and he seemed gleefully conscious of that fact. His hair was so short it was almost a buzz. Both boys stopped short when they saw me. The thin boy glanced swiftly back and forth between Jacob and me, while the brawny boy kept his eyes on me, a slow smile spreading across his face. â€Å"Hey, guys,† Jacob greeted them halfheartedly. â€Å"Hey, Jake,† the short one said without looking away from me. I had to smile in response, his grin was so impish. When I did, he winked at me. â€Å"Hi, there.† â€Å"Quil, Embrythis is my friend, Bella.† Quil and Embry, I still didn't know which was which, exchanged a loaded look. â€Å"Charlie's kid, right?† the brawny boy asked me, holding out his hand. â€Å"That's right,† I confirmed, shaking hands with him. His grasp was firm; it looked like he was flexing his bicep. â€Å"I'm Quil Ateara,† he announced grandly before releasing my hand. â€Å"Nice to meet you, Quil.† â€Å"Hey, Bella. I'm Embry, Embry Callyou probably already figured that out, though.† Embry smiled a shy smile and waved with one hand, which he then shoved in the pocket of his jeans. I nodded. â€Å"Nice to meet you, too.† â€Å"So what are you guys doing?† Quil asked, still looking at me. â€Å"Bella and I are going to fix up these bikes,† Jacob explained inaccurately. But bikes seemed to be the magic word. Both boys went to examine Jacob's project, drilling him with educated questions. Many of the words they used were unfamiliar to me, and I figured I'd have to have a Y chromosome to really understand the excitement. They were still immersed in talk of parts and pieces when I decided that I needed to head back home before Charlie showed up here. With a sigh, I slid out of the Rabbit. Jacob looked up, apologetic. â€Å"We're boring you, aren't we?† â€Å"Naw.† And it wasn't a lie. I was enjoying myselfhow strange. â€Å"I just have to go cook dinner for Charlie.† â€Å"Oh well, I'll finish taking these apart tonight and figure out what more we'll need to get started rebuilding them. When do you want to work on them again?† â€Å"Could I come back tomorrow?† Sundays were the bane of my existence. There was never enough homework to keep me busy. Quil nudged Embry's arm and they exchanged grins. Jacob smiled in delight. â€Å"That would be great!† â€Å"If you make a list, we can go shop for parts,† I suggested. Jacob's face fell a little. â€Å"I'm still not sure I should let you pay for everything.† I shook my head. â€Å"No way. I'm bankrolling this party. You just have to supply the labor and expertise.† Embry rolled his eyes at Quil. â€Å"That doesn't seem right,† Jacob shook his head. â€Å"Jake, if I took these to a mechanic, how much would he charge me?† I pointed out. He smiled. â€Å"Okay, you're getting a deal.† â€Å"Not to mention the riding lessons,† I added. Quil grinned widely at Embry and whispered something I didn't catch. Jacob's hand flashed out to smack the back of Quil's head. â€Å"That's it, get out,† he muttered. â€Å"No, really, I have to go,† I protested, heading for the door. â€Å"I'll see you tomorrow, Jacob.† As soon as I was out of sight, I heard Quil and Embry chorus, â€Å"Wooooo!† The sound of a brief scuffle followed, interspersed with an â€Å"ouch† and a â€Å"hey!† â€Å"If either of you set so much as one toe on my land tomorrow† I heard Jacob threaten. His voice was lost as I walked through the trees. I giggled quietly. The sound made my eyes widen in wonder. I was laughing, actually laughing, and there wasn't even anyone watching. I felt so weightless that I laughed again, just make the feeling last longer. I beat Charlie home. When he walked in I was just taking the fried chicken out of the pan and laying it on a pile of paper towels. â€Å"Hey, Dad.† I flashed him a grin. Shock flitted across his face before he pulled his expression together. â€Å"Hey, honey,† he said, his voice uncertain. â€Å"Did you have fun with Jacob?† I started moving the food to the table. â€Å"Yeah, I did.† â€Å"Well, that's good.† He was still cautious. â€Å"What did you two do?† Now it was my turn to be cautious. â€Å"I hung out in his garage and watched him work. Did you know he's rebuilding a Volkswagen?† â€Å"Yeah, I think Billy mentioned that.† The interrogation had to stop when Charlie began chewing, but he continued to study my face as he ate. After dinner, I dithered around, cleaning the kitchen twice, and then did my homework slowly in the front room while Charlie watched a hockey game. I waited as long as I could, but finally Charlie mentioned the late hour. When I didn't respond, he got up, stretched, and then left, turning out the light behind him. Reluctantly, I followed. As I climbed the stairs, I felt the last of the afternoon's abnormal sense of well-being drain from my system, replaced by a dull fear at the thought of what I was going to have to live through now. I wasn't numb anymore. Tonight would, no doubt, be as horrific as last night. I lay down on my bed and curled into a ball in preparation for the onslaught. I squeezed my eyes shut and the next thing I next I knew, it was morning. I stared at the pale silver light coming through my window, stunned. For the first time in more than four months, I'd slept without dreaming. Dreaming or screaming. I couldn't tell which emotion was strongerthe relief or the shock. I lay still in my bed for a few minutes, waiting for it to come back. Because something must be coming. If not the pain, then the numbness. I waited, but nothing happened. I felt more rested than I had in a long time. I didn't trust this to last. It was a slippery, precarious edge that I balanced on, and it wouldn't take much to knock me back down. Just glancing around my room with these suddenly clear eyesnoticing how strange it looked, too tidy, like I didn't live here at allwas dangerous. I pushed that thought from my mind, and concentrated, as I got dressed, on the fact that I was going to see Jacob again today. The thought made me feel almost hopeful. Maybe it would be the same as yesterday. Maybe I wouldn't have to remind myself to look interested and to nod or smile at appropriate intervals, the way I had to with everyone else. Maybe but I wouldn't trust this to last, either. Wouldn't trust it to be the sameso easyas yesterday. I wasn't going to set myself up for disappointment like that. At breakfast, Charlie was being careful, too. He tried to hide his scrutiny, keeping his eyes on his eggs until he thought I wasn't looking. â€Å"What are you up to today?† he asked, eyeing a loose thread on the edge of his cuff like he wasn't paying much attention to my answer. â€Å"I'm going to hang out with Jacob again.† He nodded without looking up. â€Å"Oh,† he said. â€Å"Do you mind?† I pretended to worry. â€Å"I could stay† He glanced up quickly, a hint of panic in his eyes. â€Å"No, no! You go ahead. Harry was going to come up to watch the game with me anyway.† â€Å"Maybe Harry could give Billy a ride up,† I suggested. The fewer witnesses the better. â€Å"That's a great idea.† I wasn't sure if the game was just an excuse for kicking me out, but he looked excited enough now. He headed to the phone while I donned my rain jacket. I felt self-conscious with the checkbook shoved in my jacket pocket. It was something I never used. Outside, the rain came down like water slopped from a bucket. I had to drive more slowly than I wanted to; I could hardly see a car length in front of the truck. But I finally made it through the muddy lanes to Jacob's house. Before I'd killed the engine, the front door opened and Jacob came running out with a huge black umbrella. He held it over my door while I opened it. â€Å"Charlie calledsaid you were on your way,† Jacob explained with a grin. Effortlessly, without a conscious command to the muscles around my lips, my answering smile spread across my face. A strange feeling of warmth bubbled up in my throat, despite the icy rain splattering on my cheeks. â€Å"Hi, Jacob.† â€Å"Good call on inviting Billy up.† He held up his hand for a high five. I had to reach so high to slap his hand that he laughed. Harry showed up to get Billy just a few minutes later. Jacob took me on a brief tour of his tiny room while we waited to be unsupervised. â€Å"So where to, Mr. Goodwrench?† I asked as soon as the door closed behind Billy. Jacob pulled a folded paper out of his pocket and smoothed it out. â€Å"We'll start at the dump first, see if we can get lucky. This could get a little expensive,† he warned me. â€Å"Those bikes are going to need a lot of help before they'll run again.† My face didn't look worried enough, so he continued. â€Å"I'm talking about maybe more than a hundred dollars here.† I pulled my checkbook out, fanned myself with it, and rolled my eyes at his worries. â€Å"We're covered.† It was a very strange kind of day. I enjoyed myself. Even at the dump, in the slopping rain and ankle-deep mud. I wondered at first if it was just the aftershock of losing the numbness, but I didn't think that was enough of an explanation. I was beginning to think it was mostly Jacob. It wasn't just that he was always so happy to see me, or that he didn't watch me out of the corner of his eye, waiting for me to do something that would mark me as crazy or depressed. It was nothing that related to me at all. It was Jacob himself. Jacob was simply a perpetually happy person, and he carried that happiness with him like an aura, sharing it with whoever was near him. Like an earthbound sun, whenever someone was within his gravitational pull, Jacob warmed them. It was natural, a part of who he was. No wonder I was so eager to see him. Even when he commented on the gaping hole in my dashboard, it didn't send me into a panic like it should have. â€Å"Did the stereo break?† he wondered. â€Å"Yeah,† I lied. He poked around in the cavity. â€Å"Who took it out? There's a lot of damage† â€Å"I did,† I admitted. He laughed. â€Å"Maybe you shouldn't touch the motorcycles too much.† â€Å"No problem.† According to Jacob, we did get lucky at the dump. He was very excited about several grease-blackened pieces of twisted metal that he found; I was just impressed that he could tell what they were supposed to be. From there we went to the Checker Auto Parts down in Hoquiam. In my truck, it was more than a two hour drive south on the winding freeway, but the time passed easily with Jacob. He chattered about his friends and his school, and I found myself asking questions, not even pretending, truly curious to hear what he had to say. â€Å"I'm doing all the talking,† he complained after a long story about Quil and the trouble he'd stirred up by asking out a senior's steady girlfriend. â€Å"Why don't you take a turn? What's going on in Forks? It has to be more exciting than La Push.† â€Å"Wrong,† I sighed. â€Å"There's really nothing. Your friends are a lot more interesting than mine. I like your friends. Quil's funny.† He frowned. â€Å"I think Quil likes you, too.† I laughed. â€Å"He's a little young for me.† Jacob's frown deepened. â€Å"He's not that much younger than you. It's just a year and a few months.† I had a feeling we weren't talking about Quil anymore. I kept my voice light, teasing. â€Å"Sure, but, considering the difference in maturity between guys and girls, don't you have to count that in dog years? What does that make me, about twelve years older?† He laughed, rolling his eyes. â€Å"Okay, but if you're going to get picky like that, you have to average in size, too. You're so small, I'll have to knock ten years off your total.† â€Å"Five foot four is perfectly average.† I sniffed. â€Å"It's not my fault you're a freak.† We bantered like that till Hoquiam, still arguing over the correct formula to determine ageI lost two more years because I didn't know how to change a tire, but gained one back for being in charge of the bookkeeping at my houseuntil we were in Checker, and Jacob had to concentrate again. We found everything left on his list, and Jacob felt confident that he could make a lot of progress with our haul. By the time we got back to La Push, I was twenty-three and he was thirtyhe was definitely weighting skills in his favor. I hadn't forgotten the reason for what I was doing. And, even though I was enjoying myself more than I'd thought possible, there was no lessening of my original desire. I still wanted to cheat. It was senseless, and I really didn't care. I was going to be as reckless as I could possibly manage in Forks. I would not be the only keeper of an empty contract. Getting to spend time with Jacob was just a much bigger perk than I'd expected. Billy wasn't back yet, so we didn't have to be sneaky about unloading our day's spoils. As soon as we had everything laid out on the plastic floor next to Jacob's toolbox, he went right to work, still talking and laughing while his fingers combed expertly through the metal pieces in front of him. Jacob's skill with his hands was fascinating. They looked too big for the delicate tasks they performed with ease and precision. While he worked, he seemed almost graceful. Unlike when he was on his feet; there, his height and big feet made him nearly as dangerous as I was. Quil and Embry did not show up, so maybe his threat yesterday had been taken seriously. The day passed too quickly. It got dark outside the mouth of the garage before I was expecting it, and then we heard Billy calling for us. I jumped up to help Jacob put things away, hesitating because I wasn't sure what I should touch. â€Å"Just leave it,† he said. â€Å"I'll work on it later tonight.† â€Å"Don't forget your schoolwork or anything,† I said, feeling a little guilty. I didn't want him to get in trouble. That plan was just for me. â€Å"Bella?† Both our heads snapped up as Charlie's familiar voice wafted through the trees, sounding closer than the house. â€Å"Shoot,† I muttered. â€Å"Coming!† I yelled toward the house. â€Å"Let's go.† Jacob smiled, enjoying the cloak-and-dagger. He snapped the light off, and for a moment I was blind. Jacob grabbed my hand and towed me out of the garage and through the trees, his feet finding the familiar path easily. His hand was rough, and very warm. Despite the path, we were both tripping over our feet in the darkness. So we were also both laughing when the house came into view. The laughter did not go deep; it was light and superficial, but still nice. I was sure he wouldn't notice the faint hint of hysteria. I wasn't used to laughing, and it felt right and also very wrong at the same time. Charlie was standing under the little back porch, and Billy was sitting in the doorway behind them. â€Å"Hey, Dad,† we both said at the same time, and that started us laughing again. Charlie stared at me with wide eyes that flashed down to note Jacob's hand around mine. â€Å"Billy invited us for dinner,† Charlie said to us in an absentminded tone. â€Å"My super secret recipe for spaghetti. Handed down for generations,† Billy said gravely. Jacob snorted. â€Å"I don't think Ragu's actually been around that long.† The house was crowded. Harry Clearwater was there, too, with his familyhis wife, Sue, whom I knew vaguely from my childhood summers in Forks, and his two children. Leah was a senior like me, but a year older. She was beautiful in an exotic wayperfect copper skin, glistening black hair, eyelashes like feather dustersand preoccupied. She was on Billy's phone when we got in, and she never let it go. Seth was fourteen; he hung on Jacob's every word with idolizing eyes. There were too many of us for the kitchen table, so Charlie and Harry brought chairs out to the yard, and we ate spaghetti off plates on our laps in the dim light from Billy's open door. The men talked about the game, and Harry and Charlie made fishing plans. Sue teased her husband about his cholesterol and tried, unsuccessfully, to shame him into eating something green and leafy. Jacob talked mostly to me and Seth, who interrupted eagerly whenever Jacob seemed in danger of forgetting him. Charlie watched me, trying to be inconspicuous about it, with pleased but cautious eyes. It was loud and sometimes confusing as everyone talked over everyone else, and the laughter from one joke interrupted the telling of another. I didn't have to speak often, but I smiled a lot, and only because I felt like it. I didn't want to leave. This was Washington, though, and the inevitable rain eventually broke up the party; Billy's living room was much too small to provide an option for continuing the get-together. Harry had driven Charlie down, so we rode together in my truck on the way back home. He asked about my day, and I told mostly the truththat I'd gone with Jacob to look at parts and then watched him work in his garage. â€Å"You think you'll visit again anytime soon?† he wondered, trying to be casual about it. â€Å"Tomorrow after school,† I admitted. â€Å"I'll take homework, don't worry.† â€Å"You be sure to do that,† he ordered, trying to disguise his satisfaction. I was nervous when we got to the house. I didn't want to go upstairs. The warmth of Jacob's presence was fading and, in its absence, the anxiety grew stronger. I was sure I wouldn't get away with two peaceful nights of sleep in a row. To put bedtime off, I checked my e-mail; there was a new message from Renee. She wrote about her day, a new book club that rilled the time slot of the meditation classes she'd just quit, her week subbing in the second grade, missing her kindergarteners. She wrote that Phil was enjoying his new coaching job, and that they were planning a second honeymoon trip to Disney World. And I noticed that the whole thing read like a journal entry, rather than a letter to someone else. Remorse flooded through me, leaving an uncomfortable sting behind. Some daughter I was. I wrote back to her quickly, commenting on each part of her letter, volunteering information of my owndescribing the spaghetti party at Billy's and how I felt watching Jacob build useful things out of small pieces of metalawed and slightly envious. I made no reference to the change this letter would be from the ones she'd received in the last several months. I could barely remember what I'd written to her even as recently as last week, but I was sure it wasn't very responsive. The more I thought about it, the guiltier I felt; I really must have worried her. I stayed up extra late after that, finishing more homework than strictly necessary. But neither sleep deprivation nor the time spent with Jacobbeing almost happy in a shallow kind of waycould keep the dream away for two nights in a row. I woke shuddering, my scream muffled by the pillow. As the dim morning light filtered through the fog outside my window, I lay still in bed and tried to shake off the dream. There had been a small difference last night, and I concentrated on that. Last night I had not been alone in the woods. Sam Uleythe man who had pulled me from the forest floor that night I couldn't bear to think of consciouslywas there. It was an odd, unexpected alteration. The man's dark eyes had been surprisingly unfriendly, filled with some secret he didn't seem inclined to share. I'd stared at him as often as my frantic searching had allowed; it made me uncomfortable, under all the usual panic, to have him there. Maybe that was because, when I didn't look directly at him, his shape seemed to shiver and change in my peripheral vision. Yet he did nothing but stand and watch. Unlike the time when we had met in reality, he did not offer me his help. Charlie stared at me during breakfast, and I tried to ignore him. I supposed I deserved it. I couldn't expect him not to worry. It would probably be weeks before he stopped watching for the return of the zombie, and I would just have to try to not let it bother me. After all, I would be watching for the return of the zombie, too. Two days was hardly long enough to call me cured. School was the opposite. Now that I was paying attention, it was clear that no one was watching here. I remembered the first day I'd come to Forks High Schoolhow desperately I'd wished that I could turn gray, fade into the wet concrete of the sidewalk like an oversized chameleon. It seemed I was getting that wish answered, a year late. It was like I wasn't there. Even my teachers' eyes slid past my seat as if it were empty. I listened all through the morning, hearing once again the voices of the people around me. I tried to catch up on what was going on, but the conversations were so disjointed that I gave up. Jessica didn't look up when I sat down next to her in Calculus. â€Å"Hey, Jess,† I said with put-on nonchalance. â€Å"How was the rest of your weekend?† She looked at me with suspicious eyes. Could she still be angry? Or was she just too impatient to deal with a crazy person? â€Å"Super,† she said, turning back to her book. â€Å"That's good,† I mumbled. The figure of speech cold shoulder seemed to have some literal truth to it. I could feel the warm air blowing from the floor vents, but I was still too cold. I took the jacket off the back of my chair and put it on again. My fourth hour class got out late, and the lunch table I always sat at was full by the time I arrived. Mike was there, Jessica and Angela, Conner, Tyler, Eric and Lauren. Katie Marshall, the redheaded junior who lived around the corner from me, was sitting with Eric, and Austin Marksolder brother to the boy with the motorcycleswas next to her. I wondered how long they'd been sitting here, unable to remember if this was the first day or something that was a regular habit. I was beginning to get annoyed with myself. I might as well have been packed in Styrofoam peanuts through the last semester. No one looked up when I sat down next to Mike, even though the chair squealed stridently against the linoleum as I dragged it back. I tried to catch up with the conversation. Mike and Conner were talking sports, so I gave up on that one at once. â€Å"Where's Ben today?† Lauren was asking Angela. I perked up, interested. I wondered if that meant Angela and Ben were still together. I barely recognized Lauren. She'd cut off all her blond, corn-silk hairnow she had a pixie cut so short that the back was shaved like a boy. What an odd thing for her to do. I wished I knew the reason behind it. Did she get gum stuck in it? Did she sell it? Had all the people she was habitually nasty to caught her behind the gym and scalped her? I decided it wasn't fair for me to judge her now by my former opinion. For all I knew, she'd turned into a nice person. â€Å"Ben's got the stomach flu,† Angela said in her quiet, calm voice. â€Å"Hopefully it's just some twenty-four hour thing. He was really sick last night.† Angela had changed her hair, too. She'd grown out her layers. â€Å"What did you two do this weekend?† Jessica asked, not sounding as if she cared about the answer. I'd bet that this was just an opener so she could tell her own stories. I wondered if she would talk about Port Angeles with me sitting two seats away? Was I that invisible, that no one would feel uncomfortable discussing me while I was here? â€Å"We were going to have a picnic Saturday, actually, but we changed our minds,† Angela said. There was an edge to her voice that caught my interest. Jess, not so much. â€Å"That's too bad,† she said, about to launch into her story. But I wasn't the only one who was paying attention. â€Å"What happened?† Lauren asked curiously. â€Å"Well,† Angela said, seeming more hesitant than usual, though she was always reserved, â€Å"we drove up north, almost to the hot springsthere's a good spot just about a mile up the trail. But, when we were halfway there we saw something.† â€Å"Saw something? What?† Lauren's pale eyebrows pulled together. Even Jess seemed to be listening now. â€Å"I don't know,† Angela said. â€Å"We think it was a bear. It was black, anyway, but it seemed too big.† Lauren snorted. â€Å"Oh, not you, too!† Her eyes turned mocking, and I decided I didn't need to give her the benefit of the doubt. Obviously her personality had not changed as much as her hair. â€Å"Tyler tried to sell me that one last week.† â€Å"You're not going to see any bears that close to the resort,† Jessica said, siding with Lauren. â€Å"Really,† Angela protested in a low voice, looking down at the table. â€Å"We did see it.† Lauren snickered. Mike was still talking to Conner, not paying attention to the girls. â€Å"No, she's right,† I threw in impatiently. â€Å"We had a hiker in just Saturday who saw the bear, too, Angela. He said it was huge and black and just outside of town, didn't he, Mike?† There was a moment of silence. Every pair of eyes at the table turned to stare at me in shock. The new girl, Katie, had her mouth hanging open like she'd just witnessed an explosion. Nobody moved. â€Å"Mike?† I muttered, mortified. â€Å"Remember the guy with the bear story?† â€Å"S-sure,† Mike stuttered after a second. I didn't know why he was looking at me so strangely. I talked to him at work, didn't I? Did I? I thought so Mike recovered. â€Å"Yeah, there was a guy who said he saw a huge black bear right at the trailheadbigger than a grizzly,† he confirmed. â€Å"Hmph.† Lauren turned to Jessica, her shoulders stiff, and changed the subject. â€Å"Did you hear back from USC?† she asked. Everyone else looked away, too, except for Mike and Angela. Angela smiled at me tentatively, and I hurried to return the smile. â€Å"So, what did you do this weekend, Bella?† Mike asked, curious, but oddly wary. Everyone but Lauren looked back, waiting for my response. â€Å"Friday night, Jessica and I went to a movie in Port Angeles. And then I spent Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday down at La Push.† The eyes flickered to Jessica and back to me. Jess looked irritated. I wondered if she didn't want anyone to know she'd gone out with me, or whether she just wanted to be the one to tell the story. â€Å"What movie did you see?† Mike asked, starting to smile. â€Å"Dead Endthe one with the zombies.† I grinned in encouragement. Maybe some of the damage I'd done in these past zombie months was reparable. â€Å"I heard that was scary. Did you think so?† Mike was eager to continue the conversation. â€Å"Bella had to leave at the end, she was so freaked,† Jessica inserted with a sly smile. I nodded, trying to look embarrassed. â€Å"It was pretty scary.† Mike didn't stop asking me questions till lunch was over. Gradually, the others were able to start up their own conversations again, though they still looked at me a lot. Angela talked mostly to Mike and me, and, when I got up to dump my tray, she followed. â€Å"Thanks,† she said in a low voice when we were away from the table. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"Speaking up, sticking up for me.† â€Å"No problem.† She looked at me with concern, but not the offensive, maybe-she's-lost-it kind. â€Å"Are you okay?† This is why I'd picked Jessica over Angelathough I'd always liked Angela morefor the girls' night movie. Angela was too perceptive. â€Å"Not completely,† I admitted. â€Å"But I'm a little bit better.† â€Å"I'm glad,† she said. â€Å"I've missed you.† Lauren and Jessica strolled by us then, and I heard Lauren whisper loudly, â€Å"Oh, joy Bella's back.† Angela rolled her eyes at them, and smiled at me in encouragement. I sighed It was like I was starting all over again. â€Å"What's today's date?† I wondered suddenly. â€Å"It's January nineteenth.† â€Å"Hmm.† â€Å"What is it?† Angela asked. â€Å"It was a year ago yesterday that I had my first day here,† I mused. â€Å"Nothing's changed much,† Angela muttered, looking after Lauren and Jessica. â€Å"I know, I agreed I was just thinking the same thing.†

My Memoirs Essay

I am Jack Merridrew, when I was younger I went to a cathedral school where I was head boy and chapter chorister. My choir and I were being evacuated from England because of the cold war. None of us knew where we were going, but wherever it was it would be safe. I thought it would be a great adventure but I was certainly proved wrong. This is how my adventure began. We were on the aeroplane, which was taking us to our new destination, when the lights began to flicker and the windows began to shake. The next thing I knew we had crashed. I woke up the next morning to find myself lying on a patch of grass with some of the choir boys. I was not injured but just a bit shocked at what had happened. I didn’t have a clue where we were but I knew I would survive somehow. The weather was excruciatingly hot and the air was very moist. I led my choir into the forest where we found lots of fruit. I used not to eat much fruit but I was so hungry I ate as much of it as my stomach would take. There was a stream where we were able to drink from, the water tasted so fresh, the freshest I’ve ever tasted. I heard a loud noise, I didn’t know exactly what it was but it sounded like a horn. My choir and I followed the noise, until we came to a platform, where there were lots of other boys. One of the boys was blowing a conch. I can remember ordering the choir to stand in line so that we looked presentable and authoritative. The boy with the conch introduced himself as Ralph and there was a fat boy with him, wearing rounded spectacles. Simon from my choir fainted like he usually did, because he was an epileptic. The other boys and I had discussed our situation and had established that there were no adults on the island, so I suggested that I should be chief because I was head boy. Ralph decided to have a vote on who should be leader. It should have been me, but they chose Ralph because of that ridiculous conch thing that he had. I was extremely furious and disappointed; Ralph said that my choir could be hunters and obviously I was leader of the hunters. Ralph suggested that we should explore where we were to make sure we were on an island. He told me the fat boy’s real name was Piggy. Piggy wanted to come with us. I laughed and told him to go back to the others. If Piggy had come with us he would have slowed us down. As we were exploring we heard a squealing noise. We ran to see what it was. A pig was tangled in some creepers. I pulled out my knife, ready to cut its throat. Something in me stopped me from killing the pig, maybe it was the thought of the knife going through the flesh or maybe it was because I was too innocent. I didn’t care what the reason was at the time. Ralph and Simon were looking at me I felt ashamed and angry, I vowed to myself that I would kill it next time. When we were certain that we were on an island, we agreed to build a signal fire on the top of the mountain so we could be rescued. When we were still down on the platform a littulin said that there was some kind of â€Å"beastie† on the island. I knew that he was just afraid because he was away from home. I wanted everyone to know that I was strong so I promised to kill the beast if I saw it. We managed to get loads of leaves and bits of wood for a fire; but we had no matches to light a fire. I snatched Piggy’s glasses and managed to shine the light through them causing a bit of smoke. I blew it a bit and it lit the leaves and sticks. In minutes the fire got out of control and it swept down the side of the mountain. After the fire some of the littulins had noticed the boy with the birth mark on his face was missing. We came to the conclusion that he was killed during the fire. I didn’t particularly care. It wasn’t at all my fault. The littulin should have been more careful. Hunting was becoming really tedious, as there was nothing to kill. I desperately needed meat; I was prepared to kill, to prove to the rest of the boys that I should be chief not Ralph. All Ralph cared about was making huts, sticking to the rules and getting rescued. I knew that we wouldn’t get rescued straight away; I just wanted to have fun and make the most of our time on the island without any adults. As time passed on the island my clothes got worn and ripped but I didn’t care. I was able to make paints for my face out of berries and mud; I spread it all over my face as camouflage to help me in the forest. It was my new identity. When we went hunting we found a pig, we chased it and killed it with our spears. I felt victorious and triumphant. The flesh and blood did not concern me at all; I just wanted the meat. We marched proudly back to the beach. Ralph didn’t even care that I had got some meat; he just cared about a ship that had gone past, and hadn’t seen us. It wasn’t my fault the signal fire had gone out, we had to go and hunt. The ship probably wouldn’t have seen the fire anyway. I don’t know why but I took my anger out on Piggy and his glasses got broken. As usual Ralph stuck up for Piggy like he always did. When we were roasting the pig I knew that Ralph was jealous that he hadn’t been part of the hunt, which is why he should have let me become chief because I was more fun then he. One day while I was on the beach a something fell from the air. We all thought it was a beast; I was even fooled at first. When Ralph, some other bigguns and I went to look for the beast, I didn’t really know what creature I was looking for. I went up to the top of the mountain alone. There was a huge bulge next to a boulder; I couldn’t make out what kind of creature it was. It was extremely dark; I went back up there with Roger and Ralph. It moved. For the first time I was actually scared. But I soon forgot about it because I wasn’t really bothered. After I got off the island I never found out what it was because when the investigation team went up to the mountain there was nothing there. While we were having a meeting on the platform, I wanted another vote for a new chief. I was surprised and ashamed when they still voted for Ralph. They should have chosen me. I went off on my own to think; I wasn’t surprised though when my hunters came to look for me. My hunters would rather be in a tribe with me than Ralph. I decided I would make a tribe of my own. Everybody knew I was the strongest on the island; I would be able to provide food. If I kept everyone scared they would join my tribe. I invited Ralph to a big feast that I was having, while two of my hunters went to steal fire from them. He did not realise my plan. It was to keep my friends close but my enemies closer. All the boys came to my feast because I could provide them with food. I asked people to join my tribe, nearly everyone joined, apart from Piggy and Ralph. When Simon crawled out of the forest and into our circle I did think for a second that it was a beast. But everyone including myself got carried away beating him as if he was the beast; I just couldn’t stop hitting him with my spear. It was like my body had been taken over by evil. I didn’t mean to kill him. The next day I decided to move my tribe to Castle Rock because it was more enclosed and Ralph wouldn’t be able to invade my location. We had no way of getting fire so we plotted together to go and steal Piggy’s glasses. When I got back from hunting the next day, I found Ralph at Castle Rock, we began to argue then started to fight. My tribe took Sam and Eric hostage so that Piggy and Ralph were now on their own. Ralph was still sticking up for Piggy. He told me to give back Piggy’s glasses but there was no way that I was going to give Piggy his glasses they were now mine. Whilst Piggy was standing in the entrance protesting about his glasses, Roger released a huge boulder. It came hurtling down the cliff and smashed Piggy’s skull in two. It didn’t bother me, I was so glad he was out of the way. Now I just needed to get rid of Ralph. I threw my spear down at him but missed. He got away and ran into the forest. I wanted Ralph dead. My tribe and I went into the forest to hunt him down. We burnt out his hiding place to smoke him out. Ralph ran through the forest and across the platform, he fell to the ground. This was my chance to kill him, to show him I could do what I wanted because I was strong and powerful. But as we looked up a naval officer looked down at us and said, â€Å"Have you been having a war or something?† That is when I knew my adventure was over. I was totally astonished. All the hatred in me went away. Suddenly I didn’t feel so powerful and strong, I felt small and weak like a littulin. When the officer asked who was boss Ralph said, â€Å"I am.† I don’t know why I didn’t say anything. Maybe it was because I was scared or maybe it was because I was never a real chief. We were put onto a ship, which took us back to England. The naval officers were surprised that three people had been killed. They were asking so many questions. I kept quiet; I didn’t want the officers to know I was one of the boys that caused most of the trouble on the island. After we were rescued, the war was over for a month. I was sent back home with the rest of the boys. I found it incredibly hard trying to settle back into a civilised society. I had been back at home for only a week when there was a letter in the post informing me of an inquest into Piggy and Simon’s deaths. I found it difficult to recollect what had happened. But when I thought about it more and more I remembered everything in fine detail. I kept thinking what if they find me guilty for Simon’s death? Would they send me to prison? Throughout the space of two weeks I was taken in and out of the police station to write many statements on the killings, which took place on the island. I did not see any of the boys again until we were up in court, I was found partly guilty for Simon’s death, and I was found guilty of conspiring to kill Piggy and also I was found guilty of attempting to kill Piggy. Most of the boys blamed me for the killings but Roger was also found guilty of killing Piggy. I do not know what happened to the rest of the boys, but I do know that Ralph was let off with just community service. I am writing my memoirs from Celeron detention centre, while serving two life sentences. If I ever get out of here I will visit Ralph and show him the sufferings of solitary confinement. He was also to blame for Simon’s death, why should he be let off? I now realise that when I was on the island, camouflaging my face with paint had hidden my true identity, which led me to do many things I wouldn’t usually have done. The society we had been in on the island was very different, we were all out of control and there was no one there to stop us. I now realise that killing isn’t a game; I saw it as a game because it mitigated the brutality of what I was really doing. The only problem is, I realised it too late. I lost control of my actions and now I have to pay for them. However, I do not regret conspiring to kill Ralph because he is someone I truly hate and I always will. I should have been chief!