Three really is a crowd

â€Å"Would you like some pretzels with your wine.† The airhostess said, I never drink when I fly but in this case I need a drink to steady my nerves I have called my old friend Lauren to see if she knows where nick is living now and I am in luck she had just seen nick. â€Å"How was he?† I asked impatiently â€Å"He was kind of distant, not his usual laid back self. Why are you asking about nick you never want to talk about him what has happened?† Lauren sounded concerned. I couldn't keep secrets from Lauren she was my oldest friend and my rock when things go wrong. I had to tell her so for the next half an hour I poured my heart out I told her everything about Pierre and nick and the engagement ring. † Well he sounded really upset now I know why, what are you going to do.† She sounded genuinely sorry for me. † I am just going to turn up at his flat and try to talk him round I love him Lauren, it has always been him I was happy with Pierre sure, but he was always in the back of my mind.† I am never one to pour out my heart but I couldn't help myself. Lauren offered me her spare bedroom to stay at her house, which is less than a mile away from nicks so it would be perfect. I wake up as I look out the window and can just see the sky through all the buildings there is a deep blue sky just like the day me and nick went on a weekend away the sky was like that all weekend I can't help but smile at all the good memories of me and nick. The time at the new years the night nick and me first got together ‘ I was all alone no one to kiss at midnight 4,3,2 I am going to look like such an idiot 1 nick suddenly appears from no where and kisses me a real kiss I had never been kissed the way he kissed me.' There it is that all to familiar feeling when I think of me and nick. Later that day I was in the local cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, all of a sudden Lauren made excuses for herself and left quickly as I watched her leave my eyes wandered to the bar where nick was sitting I nearly spilled my coke I hadn't even noticed him come in. What should I do I didn't want to talk to him here and now I wanted to be alone with him I couldn't just chicken out not after giving up my relationship with Pierre and possibly my dream job. All of a sudden with out any notice nick turns his head he sees me I don't know what to do I end up sitting their like an idiot pretending not to notice him. To my surprise nick gets up and walks out. I nearly burst into tears I knew that I hurt nick but I didn't think he could not even bare to look at me anymore. When I get back to Laurens I tell her everything she has a great idea † How about I ring nick and ask him if he wants some company tonight you turn up instead of me and explain how you love him.† She was the best friend a girl could have I agreed to the idea. In the taxi on the way to nicks house I couldn't help but feel sick with nerves the way he had just blanked me as if he didn't even know me as if I meant nothing to him as if nothing had never happened between us I know I hurt him but he is the man I love, I would give up the whole world for him. It takes me what 10 to15 minuets to knock on the door suddenly my phone rings I open my bag in such a hurry everything falls out onto the floor. I hear the latch on the door turning I look up to see nick staring down at me, I wonder is he going to slam the door in my face but to my surprise he bends down and starts picking all the contents of my handbag up as he passes it to me our eyes meet he holds my glance I can't breath thinking what I have done to this man how I lied to him how I hurt him so much. † We better go inside.† He finally says he hands my bag to me and opens the door letting me in. why is he being so cool about all this, what happened today in the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½? His flat is so nice his shinny leather sofa and his modern art that is so cool and laid back like himself, they say people's house tells you most things about them when nick came to my flat their were dark lies in all of Pierre's stuff. â€Å"Nick I am so sorry I came here to explain everything!† I sound desperate but I can't help it. â€Å"You hurt me.† † I know I was just starting to get my life on track after I left you and then you walk back into my life and my whole world turns upside down and with one look at you I fall completely head over heels in love with you.† Nick says nothing he just stares at the floor he can't even bare to look at me. â€Å"I didn't want to tell you about Pierre I knew it would wreck all our chances together.† † So you just lied to me, as if I meant nothing to you.† He sounds hurt â€Å"You know I don't think you are nothing I think you are everything. I would never intentionally hurt you.† A tear rolls down my cheek I suddenly realise how much I have hurt nick. â€Å"I should leave.† I go to get up and leave to my surprise nick jumps up he reaches for my arm to stop me â€Å"Why are you going?† He almost sounds desperate like I did earlier. † I don't know I don't see how I can undo what I have done and it is like a knife through my heart seeing the pain in your eyes the pain I have caused and it is in your eyes now as I try helplessly to try and explain what I have done to you.† I can hardly see nick through tears. Nick reaches up and wipes my tears away, why is he being so nice I don't understand. † I love you Sarah even if you lied and even if you left me to go to nice I will always love you.† † But can you forgive me?† Nick let's go of me he sits down on his cool leather sofa he puts his head in his hands. † Let me explain myself, you see I had left you behind it took me at least a year to get over you, then one day Pierre walked into my office he was the new guy he was so gorgeous and charming.† † Do I really have to hear about you and Pierre.† He says almost in disgust, am I digging myself a hole but I have to tell him everything. † Just listen to me no more lies, I never thought I would find love again it wasn't the love we shared but my life had to go on me and Pierre were happy the night before I saw you he proposed if I had known I was going to see you again I would have called everything off right then and there but I thought I was never going to see you again I thought you had moved on and made a new life of your own.† I was trying my best to make nick see that I didn't purposely try to hurt him. † I understood all that, I just can't understand why you lied cause I asked you if you had a boyfriend and you lied straight to my face, I actually remember seeing the ring on your finger and thinking nothing of it thinking that it was your right hand or something.† He looked so tiered and fed up. † Did you take the ring off?† he asks, I can't lie to him not now even as much as I'd like to I just can't. † Yes but again I can explain you asked me if I had a boyfriend so I took the ring off hoping you hadn't already noticed, I know you want to know why because I love you and wanted to see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I can't get out the words and when I do they sound all wrong. † To see what?† he is starting to get annoyed â€Å"To see if we ever had a chance together.† I am nearly in tears again † Don't cry please.† He sounds concerned † How can I not cry I am trying to undo the mess I have done, I have said I am sorry I can't say anymore I have described the way I feel, but I now am asking you what you think!† I can't help but ask I know it sounds selfish but I am giving loads and getting nothing back this was it truth time when I had to know what my future with nick was going to be. † I said earlier that I still love you.† He seems kind of distance not to sure of what he is saying. † But can you forgive me nick I need to know.† I have to know I can't bare it; nick is the type of guy not to let you know what he is thinking even if I know him as well as I do. † I forgive you, but you have hurt me.† I nearly burst into tears with happiness, we both catch each others gaze and in those blue eyes my happiness is restored. Nick stands up he comes right up to me and wraps those warm and protective arms around me. ‘Ring, ring' nicks phone is ringing, I can't believe it who could it be, it is nearly half ten at night. † Who could that be?† I have to ask † I don't know.† ‘Ring, ring' † Aren't you going to answer it then.† Nick walks over and picks up his phone to see who is calling; to my surprise he switches his phone off without even answering it. † Who was it?† † Oh no-one, I have more important stuff here and now.† Nick takes me by the hand and sits me down on the sofa, I am expecting him to sit next to me, to my horror he gets down on one knee and produces this jewellery box, he opens it and in there is the most perfect ring in the world. † I know it isn't the size of Pierre's ring†¦Ã¢â‚¬  † No, no it is perfect.† † I think you know the question I am going to ask but I am going to ask it anyway, Sarah will you marry me.† I look down into those perfect blue eyes. † I think you know the answer, yes.† I shout it so loud, nick puts the ring on my finger, then jumps up and lifts me up spinning me around he starts to slow down just as he is putting me on the floor he leans in and kisses me a real kiss a nick kiss, my nick. I later discovered that nick had bought the ring in nice and had come for a job interview so he could live with me in nice. I can't wait to tell Lauren I am so excited, I walk back to Laurens it is such a clear and perfect night the stars are so bright and clear. † Lauren you will never guess what has happened!† I feel like I can't get the words out fast enough. † What?† she sounds confused and worried † Are you alright?† † I am the best, you know how I was going to nicks, well when I got there my phone rang and he opened the door and I was scrambling†¦Ã¢â‚¬  † So you and nick got back together then.† She sounds weird and not her usual self. † Not only that he asked me to marry him.† I have to scream † No way, oh my god I don't believe it!† she sounds so surprised † I think I am going to bed.† She says, what the hell I wanted to stay up most of the night planning it. † Oh what, don't you want to help me with ideas.† † No I am so tired, but we will talk in the morning.† She gives me a faded smile and goes off to bed. I can't possibly sleep now so I deicide to go back to nicks. I don't bother to buzz because someone is coming out of the building, as I reach out to knock on nicks door it opens and out walks Lauren in tears. † What the hell are you doing here and why are you crying.† I say confused. † Lauren wait I can explain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  nick walks out after Lauren but stops dead when he see's me. † Lauren what is the matter.† I look at nick for an answer but he is staring at the ground, what is going on? I want to know I thought she said she was going to bed. † Why don't you let nick explain, let nick explain everything.† Lauren runs off in tears. I have no idea what is going on † Nick what the hell is going on, why is Lauren crying, why was she even here?† I don't understand any of this. † We need to talk, lets go inside.† Nick walks into the flat I follow behind him, when I get into his flat there is a smashed glass on the floor. † What has happened let me clear it up.† I walk over to clear it up † Just leave it, I need to tell you something.† He sounds guilty and worried. † Nick what is going on, first Lauren comes out of your flat crying then there is a smashed glass on the floor and now you are looking guilty and asking to talk to Me.† am I being paranoid? † You might want to sit down I have to tell you something.† † What nick tell me now don't give me all this crap about sitting down tell me.† † Lauren was crying because she didn't want you and me to get married.† † What, why?† I don't understand. † Because she loves me.† I don't believe it he doesn't look like he is lying I look into his eyes he is telling the truth nick never lies not to me. Suddenly it all makes sense when nick walked into the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ this morning how Lauren walked out and why she didn't want to talk about my wedding plans. † Why would she be in love with you?† I can't believe I am asking this and I try to not to sound like I want to know but the question has to be asked. † Because, we had a thing!† † What do you mean a thing?† he better not be saying what I think he is saying. † Me and Lauren together.† † You're not giving me enough information, what the hell are you trying to say here?† I can't believe what he is trying to tell me. † Me and Lauren we had a thing together, right after you left.† † I don't believe what you are saying, how long for?† I feel like I want to scream. Nick whispers something but I can't quite here him. † Don't whisper I need to hear this.† † Two years the same time as you and Pierre were together.† † Pierre you didn't even know, whereas my best friend.† † You slept with my best friend, don't even try to get out of it and you leave me standing on the prom in nice crying my eyes out because I got engaged while you are sleeping with my best friend who I have known and trusted for over ten years.† I am nearly in tears and I feel pathetic but I am angry, angry at being so stupid not to see it and angry at nick for making me feel bad and guilty when he has been doing exactly the same but worse. † I'm sorry, I can explain give me a chance like I gave you a chance earlier.† He sounds desperate and upset. I look over to him he has tears in those big blue eyes he stands up and walks over to me. † You had gone and Lauren understood what I was going through so we became friends and one night we got really really drunk and one thing led to another†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"So you slept together at least me and Pierre were in a stable relationship.† I am so mad I am crying in anger. Nick reaches out to wipe my tears away but I push his hand away. † Don't touch me, how could you and you blamed me for getting engaged and you, you were†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I can't even say the words; suddenly a thought comes into my head. † Wait a minute when I spoke to Lauren on the phone last night on the plane she said that she had seen you in the last twenty four hours that means you slept with Lauren after you had seen me didn't you.† I am really crying now. † Didn't you!!!† I scream at him he looks up with tears in his eyes and nods his head. † You bastard.† I run over to him and hit him again and again I am like those sad and depressed woman in the movies but I can't help it nick is holding me down and trying to hug me. † Get off me.† I am crying so so much, I can smell nick his gorgeous smell, nick is still trying to hug me I give up we just stand there holding each other for what seems like hours after a while nick speaks. â€Å"Let me explain just give me that much of a chance.† He sounds like he is crying I look up to see that he is, I nod and sit down on the sofa to listen I don't want to hear this but I want to know I have to know. † You had just gone and Lauren was there the first time we slept together we were drunk, then it became a regular thing.† I look away as tears spill out my eyes I can't take it but I've got to know, nick lifts my head up and looks me right in the eyes, he is nearly crying as well. † I knew I couldn't have you, so Lauren was the closest thing to you, what me and Lauren had was like a drop in the ocean compared to us, Lauren was growing more and more attached but all I wanted was you, before I knew it me and Lauren had been doing it for two years and she just wasn't you so I decided to come and get you when I got there you were with Pierre.† He gets up and walks into the kitchen, I follow him when I get into the kitchen he has his back to me I swear he just wiped a tear away from his eye he turns to me and looks into my eyes. † Sarah I love you.† † But can I forgive you?† † That is up to you, what me and Lauren did is horrible and I will never forgive myself.† † I don't know I have to think this through until then I think you should have this.† I slide off mine and nicks engagement ring I reach out to give it to him but he refuses to take it so I put it on the granite worktop and leave. Where should I go I can't go to Laurens I defiantly can't go to nicks. ‘Knock knock' it is taking ages for them to answer after what seems like hours later the door opens. † Mum!† I burst into tears † Sarah what has happened come in what has happened.† So I tell her everything right from the start the two engagement rings, Pierre, nice, Lauren and nick. By the time my story has finished it is beginning to get light. † What should I do mum I don't know what to do.† † First you should get some sleep then we will talk about it.† She smiles at me. It is weird sleeping in my old room so many times I cried myself to sleep in this bed, when dad left, when granddad died, when I failed my GCSE's, the night before I left for nice and left nick behind. I get up to the smell of home when I go downstairs mum is sitting in her usual spot I remember as I child whenever she had to think something through she would sit their and no one was allowed to disturb her for hours. † Hey how did you sleep?† She pats the spot next to her I go and sit with her. † Not well, I kept thinking about nick and how he is, I did try to stop thinking about him but he just kept coming back into my mind.† â€Å"I know sweetie it is horrible.† † What should I do mum?† † My advice is, Lauren is the main one to blame I am not saying nick is innocent in all this but he was looking for a replacement of you, whereas Lauren knew full well what she was doing and lied to you every time she spoke to you.† † Still I don't know what to do.† † Go and talk to nick and if you love him give it one last try I am not saying it will be easy.† So I took mums advice. I press the buzzer outside nicks flat, so many things are running through my head I don't know what is going to happen I don't even know weather to forgive him or weather I can forgive him. † Hello† † It's me, can I talk to you.† He buzzes me in without saying another word, when the lift doors open he is standing by his door wearing boxers and a t-shirt. † I was asleep I wasn't expecting you to come back.† He looks really tiered and upset I can't look him straight in the eyes just yet. † You better come in.† he walks in leaving the door open behind him when I come into the flat I find him in his bedroom sitting on the end of the bed, he looks up at me † I didn't get much sleep after you left I obviously feel asleep, how have you been?† he looks concerned † I didn't sleep much every time I tried to sleep I just kept thinking about you.† I look at nick and ask myself how can I still love him after what he is done to me and if I was being honest with myself I don't actually know the answer. † Can I ask you one thing?† I say curiously † Anything but are you sure you want to hear it?† † It isn't about you and Lauren.† I say † Ok then what is it?† he looked surprised did he want me to ask about him and Lauren or was their more he hadn't told me, that he had left out hoping I wouldn't know maybe I was just being paranoid it was hard to tell this whole lie was so unexpected. † If you were sleeping with Lauren†¦Ã¢â‚¬  nick looks away ashamed † When you came to nice and found out about me and Pierre how come you were so mean to me when you were doing the same with Lauren?† it is a harsh question but it has to be asked. † Because you obviously had strong feelings for Pierre, I don't know maybe the thought of you even liking someone else also maybe the fact that you lied to me.† He sounds annoyed at that. How can he be annoyed at me I didn't sleep his best friend did I? † Why are you getting annoyed at me for lying.† I sound like a spoilt child â€Å"I don't know?† † Well I suggest you find out, you're the one who told me after I agreed to marry you.† † You're the one who let me find out when your fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ turned up when I was topless just about to kiss you.† Nick stands up, I can't believe him. † Oh that is low even for someone that sleeps with my best friend when he says he was madly in love with me.† I say spitefully † Don't you dare for a second say I wasn't in love with you.† † So why didn't you come and get me?† † I did.† † What three years later, three years to late.† I am shouting now thank god it is the middle of the day and not the night. † What did you expect me to come after you?† † Yes.† I say almost in a whisper, Nicks face instantly changes † What?† † Yes, I wanted you to come and get me but you never showed up.† Nick comes closer to me † I never knew.† † You didn't have to know were weren't supposed to know.† I turn away from nick, I have come here to try and sort things out and end up saying things that were just stupid thoughts ages ago and they don't even help now. I can't think of anything to say and nick is just looking at me, I seriously have no idea what to do I want to tell him so much I love him but I just can't not now. I look at nick hard to see what he is thinking looking into his eyes I just can't work it out. Suddenly I thought crosses my mind. † I need to go.† † What, why I thought we need to talk.† Does he think this is it. † I have to speak to Lauren see what she has to say and pick up my stuff.† † Why are you going, are you coming back.† † I don't know, I just have to talk to her to see what she has to say about all of this.† I leave the flat as I am pressing the bottom for the lift door to close nick suddenly comes out of his flat and holds the lift door open. † Promise you will come back and talk to me.† He says I don't know what to say I have to hear Laurens side of the story before I make any decisions. † Even if you can't forgive me at least come and say goodbye.† I nod and nick lets go of the lift door I look at him as the door closes I look at his light brown ruffled hair, his perfectly tanned skin, his strong hands, and those perfect sea blue eyes. I really don't want to see or hear Laurens side of the story but it has to be done; I suppose I owe it to our friendship or something like that. I don't bother to knock or buzz because being one of her oldest friends I have a key it is, seeing as it is a Sunday she is sure to be in. when I walk in she turns around and smiles † Sarah where have you been did you stop over at nicks.† She winks at me, Why is she acting normal when she knows what is going on. † Isn't that more your style!† I know I sound like a fifteen year old but before I can stop myself I have said it. Lauren sighs † So he told you† † Well what did you expect him to do not tell me?† † Oh I don't know, I didn't expect you to even come after him.† † What you knew.† † Of course, all of a sudden I was dumped for you.† now she sounds like a fifthteen year old † Lauren you can try to match you and nick to me and nick but as nick said your relationship was like a drop in the ocean compared to ours. So don't you dare compare, I am here for one thing only and that is to hear your pathetic excuse of a side of the story.† I have to stay strong and not cry I try to remember revenge is a dish best served cold, cold like Laurens heart has to be. † Sarah don't be like this.† She sounds desperate † So come on then I want to get this over with lets here it from start to finish the whole feeble excuse for an affair.† â€Å"Sarah don't be like this.† † Why not.† I shout at her I hate being like this but I am so mad at her. â€Å"Ok, I'll tell you just after you left nick was really upset so I went round to cheer him up and we got really really drunk and ended up in bed together and from then it become a regular thing.† She looks away ashamed of herself exactly like Nick. † So what is your excuse then nick had a reasonable one.† I ask impatiently † What I just told you about me and nick.† † No you told me what happened I want an excuse for sleeping with my ex boyfriend when you knew I still liked him.† I know I am being really unfair on her but she deserves it. † You knew I always liked nick I knew he was just using me because he couldn't have you.† † Is that it.† I say in disgust † Is that your excuse cause if it was I wasn't buying it.† I shake my head at her and walk into my room get my stuff and go to leave as I am getting to the door Lauren runs after me. † You left nick it was over can't you let someone else have him I shouldn't be ashamed of what we had or still have.† † What do you mean still have?† † He told me he loved me.† She says looking pleased with herself, I look at her with tears in my eyes. † How could you Lauren I thought you were my best friend and your just a desperate †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stop myself † Go on Sarah it's not like you to not finish saying what you like.† Lauren says sneering at me. † I wouldn't want to waste my breath.† I walk out leaving her standing there. When I am outside Laurens I am trying to get a taxi as I begin to give up and start walking a taxi slows down inside it is nick he opens the window and tells me to get in. † Where to then?† The taxi driver asks, I look at nick for an answer † Just drive us around for a while we need to have a talk without one of us running away.† The taxi driver grunts a bit before agreeing and we start to drive nick leans over and closes the hatch. † Nick what are you doing here?† I ask † I never trusted Lauren, I had to come and get you so she doesn't feed you a pack of lies.† I say nothing and just stay silent † Well come on then tell me what she said I know she has said something.† How can he tell that by just looking at me. I can't stand this I need more time to think so I reach over and open the hatch and tell the taxi driver to stop. † She said you loved her.† I say as I scramble out of the taxi with my bags I begin to walk off all I can hear is Nick shouting my name. â€Å"Sarah wait.† He shouts from somewhere behind me † Just leave me alone!† I shout back people are stating to stare but I don't care. Nick is right behind me when he catches up with me he stops me and spins me round so I am facing him I didn't realise he was so close to me he is right behind me. † I don't love Lauren I never have I like her but I would never love her.† † So why did you tell her that you did?† I look up at nick he is not going to reply so I carry on talking. † I can take the fact that you have been sleeping with her for the past two years but telling her you love her when you say you love me, I am sick of this Nick all the lies and dirty little secrets.† I look across the street at all the people walking in and out of the shops. † Did you tell Pierre you love him?† nick asks † Of course I did.† I reply, this is it right here me and nick standing in the middle of a busy London street this is when I realise the future. † It looks like we are both in love.† I say to nick, he begins to smile I raise my hand for a taxi † But it looks like we are in love with the wrong people.† I say as tears spill out of my eyes I reach up and kiss nick on the head † Goodbye nick.† I get in the taxi † Heathrow airport please.† I can hardly see nick through tears † Sarah don't do this I love you.† Nick shouts from the pavement I can't bear to look at nick † Just drive please,† I say my voice wobbling cause I am crying so much. This has to be the hardest thing to do; all I can see is nicks face when I got in the taxi the way he looked at me. I am sitting at gate waiting to be called wondering if I am doing the right thing. † Could people sitting in business class please come to the desk with your boarding cards and passports ready.† The airhostess was saying into the microphone this was it all over again leaving nick but this time it felt a hundred times worse. I have to do this I am strong enough to do this I know I am. So why am I still sitting here? I get up and walk over to the airhostess giving her my boarding pass and passport, she smiles brightly at me all I can manage is a brief smile I feel so rude but I am not in the mood to be polite. She hands my passport back and lets me through to go down to plane my stilettos are killing me and all I want to do is kick them off and run, run into nicks arms and forget all my troubles but I just can't not now not ever again. As I reach the aeroplane I am almost in tears again luckily no one has noticed, I get on to the plane and into my seat all I can think about is nick nothing else everything around me seems to remind me of nick like the guy sitting next to me got out his briefcase and I happened to notice his card that clearly explained that he was a lawyer like nick and the lady in front of me asking for a martin without the olive just like nick would ask, I keep telling myself I am being paranoid. After what feels like days I am home. I open all the windows in my flat to let out all the heat it is nearly midnight and still boiling, I try to get some sleep but just can't I keep thinking about nick and wondering what he is doing. I decide that I am not going to sleep at all and end up watching dirty dancing the best romantic film if only love could really be that simple even though her dad doesn't like them together he accepts it in the end and they dirty dance dance together. I wouldn't normally cry at the end but after everything that has happened I can't help but cry. I end up falling asleep in front of the TV all I can see in my dreams is nick screaming my name but none one can hear him I wake up to the my phone ringing no wait not the phone the door bell I look up at the clock it is 3.30 who on earth could it be. I stagger to the door still half asleep yawning I open the door and standing in a white checked shirt and jeans is nick. I can't speak I don't know what to say I look around for a conversation starter and end up catching sight of myself in a mirror I look terrible I am wearing and oversized t-shirt and bed socks my hair is all messed up. I look up at nick and he is just looking into my eyes. † I have been shouting your name for ages haven't you heard me?† he says in a gentle voice. † I was asleep, sorry.† Why am I apologising he shouldn't be here. † Nick why are you here?† I ask † Because I am not going to let it end like this.† Nick walks into my apartment and sits down on the sofa, I close the door behind him and end up sitting on my dinning room table cause my apartment is open plan you don't have to sit on one particular chair I can sit anywhere. † Do you want anything to drink?† I ask politely † No, I want you.† I have no idea how to reply to that so I just end up sitting their not being able to think of anything to say luckily I don't have to say anything. † I know you don't want it to end like this, and I am not going to let it end like this.† † How do you know what I want?† I ask getting angry â€Å"Because I love you and if you love someone you know every little thing about them.† † Like what?† I ask â€Å"Like the way they take their coffee, their shoe size, what their favourite movie is or when they are lying or unsure about something.† † So do you know all of that?† I challenge him † You don't like coffee or tea, your shoe size is 6 which you hate cause you think it is to big, your favourite movie is dirty dancing probably cause of Patrick Swayze and I do know when you are lying cause I knew the minuet after you left that you were lying.† I get out and walk on to the balcony I don't know what to say? By this time nick has followed me. † I love this view.† Nicks say looking out on to the sea and the moon. † You have seen it before.† † True but I didn't pay much attention to it last time all of my attention was you, it looks like you have done really well for yourself.† † Well running a billion euro cosmetic company does have its upsides.† I laugh nicks says nothing and just smiles

How Earth Supports Life Essay

Basically, Earth is not the only planet that supports life. In a broader sense, Earth is the only planet capable of supporting complex life forms. Other planets and their moons can sustain life such as that of bacteria but only the Earth can constitute evolution into more complex species. Major components that sustain life are water and oxygen and only Earth has an abundant supply of both. Futuristic views point to Mars as another planet which is capable of sustaining life because it is able to sustain life for bacteria and there are traces of water and oxygen. However, one problem is that all water on Mars is frozen in its polar ice caps. Earth is the only planet that is strategically positioned wherein water can remain in its liquid state in order to sustain life (Springboard Magazine). The Earth also has the right temperature levels. Mercury and Venus are too close to the Sun that the heat would make it impossible to sustain life. Also, there is no sign of water on the planet. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are positioned way too far from the Sun resulting in extremely cold temperatures which makes it impossible for humans or any other life forms to survive. On the other hand, Jupiter and Saturn are formed from gas. Hydrogen, methane and helium make up the atmosphere of these two planets. They have no oxygen which is essential in sustaining life (Springboard Magazine). The Earth’s size and position also plays an important factor in the planets ability to preserve life. If the planet is larger, the pull of gravity would be greater which would affect the organisms living in the planet in a sense that hydrogen will not be able to escape from the atmosphere. On the other hand, if the pull of gravity was less, oxygen would escape from the atmosphere which would make it impossible to sustain life. The planet’s rotation period is also perfect otherwise; plant life would not be able to survive (A Planet Perfect for Life) These are just some of the factors that describe why the Earth is perfect for the sustainability of life, particularly the complex life forms. Although there are discoveries that may prove that there are other planets that may be similar to the Earth that may support life, it is difficult to confirm because of such great distances. Scientists can only make assumptions based on evidence but now, the only planet that is known to sustain human life is the Earth. Works Cited Only Earth Supports Life. Springboard Magazine. Accessed April 28, 2008, from A Planet Perfect for Life. United Church of God. Accessed April 28, 2008, from

Ensuring Collegiate Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ensuring Collegiate Success - Essay Example Although many people are gifted intellectually, there are also those that lack the natural mental ability. However, this does not mean that academic success in college would be elusive for these people. There are many ways by which students' mental ability may be enhanced so as to prepare them for the rigors of college. For instance, recent study conducted by ACT, a non-profit organization that issues the widely administered college aptitude test, shows that improving reading skills is strongly correlated with academic performance in college (Brand). In this regard, students, even in the early years of schooling, may acquire the habit of reading voraciously so that they may train themselves in focusing and absorbing the voluminous reading materials they would encounter in college. Such would aid in honing their comprehension skills and would enable them to have full grasp of lessons in college. Apart from cognitive ability factors, certain personality traits also consistently predict academic performance (Ridgell & Lounsbury). This means that collegiate success is not only determined by a student's natural abilities but more so by his/her attitude about studying. As posited by Barrick and Mount, the personality traits identified that students would have to imbibe include extroversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience. These traits are dubbed as the "Big Five" (Barrick & Mount). To illustrate how the "Big Five" figures in college life, it is vital to recognize that these traits hone students' mind frame in facing academic challenges. For example, extroversion in students helps them focus their interest on people and things. This makes it easier for them to be aware of the components of their environment and facilitate learning with an outward perspective. Similarly, emotional stability makes students more adaptive as they deal with the complexities brought about by college life. Emotionally stable students are better able to cope with the ups and downs of college and remain focus on the main goal of academic accomplishment. Another relevant trait that should be emulated by college students is agreeableness. This attitude enables them to innovate and discover means by which they could make studying conditions more conducive. In this regard, students possessing this trait aim to establish good study habits. Such may include going through lessons recently taken up so that new and difficult concepts may be easily absorbed even before major exams. Furthermore, they intend to read ahead of discussions so they could actively participate in, follow lectures, and be prepared for surprise quizzes. Aside from these, conscientiousness is also deemed significant especially during college. A conscientious student exerts great effort in fulfilling course requirements. Such student, who is geared for academic success, painstakingly ensures that he/she has accomplished homework, papers and projects, among others. Note that someone, who is conscientious, is not satisfied by merely completing these requisites. This is because conscientious students go beyond simple completion of requirements, rather they strive to meet the said requirements such that above average results are obtained. Openness to experience is also important for college students to succeed

The United States Economic Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The United States Economic - Term Paper Example It is thus important to analyze the macroeconomic causes and implications of price increase of commodities, collapse of the housing market and the ensuing financial turmoil. Main Body The global economy is currently in the grip of the maximum macroeconomic uncertainty in the last 25 years because prices of major commodities such as corn, coal, natural gas and oil have been consistently increasing in being triggered partly by the rapid increase in demand in developing countries such as China and India. However the prices in the housing sector, especially in the US have been declining. Housing prices in the US have fallen by almost 25 percent in relation to the 2006 peak period. The consequent financial turbulence that overwhelmed the world economy after September 2007 continues to retain its intensity in adversely impacting several sectors in the US economy. Although a number of economic forces have worked in creating this adverse macroeconomic situation, the two main causes have been the increase in the prices of basic commodities and the quick weakening of the housing market. ... Prices rose sharply because of many reasons but primarily due to the increasing demand for oil in many developing countries, even while prices of other commodities were rising. It is noteworthy that during the last 20 years global oil demand and consumption has increased considerably. For instance, consequent to the economic downturn in 2008, there was a decline in demand for oil in the US and in many European countries, but the decline was equalized by increased demand for the commodity in countries such as India, Middle East and China. In the US, factors such as poor crop yield, macroeconomic volatility and supply disruption appeared to have contributed in worsening the movement of prices (Jones, 2008). Another major macroeconomic shock to the US has been the large scale decline in housing prices that have been declining since 2006. Housing demand in the US was fuelled by demand created by the new economies of the late 1990s, by low interest rates during the initial years of the 20 00s and because of the constant loosening of lending policies. In view of such artificially created economic circumstances, housing prices in the US rose drastically prior to 2006 but soon started declining and by 2008 had declined by 20 percent. The beginning of the financial turmoil and America’s economic woes lies in the position of its housing market after 2006. People were attracted by low interest rates, flexible lending norms and by the perceptions that housing prices will continue to increase. As a result, large number of subprime borrowers who did not meet the credit standards in terms of credit record and application requirements were allowed to take credit and to buy homes. It is on record that during

Scenario Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scenario Analysis - Essay Example fact that the business that CB is involved in is more customer-oriented, I would recommend as it is in the process of idea generation, it must endeavor to ensure that they customer appreciated and embrace them. They can perform an in-house research to identify products that currently exist in the market, their flavor components, as well as their health effects-this in-house research can be broadened and widened by using the computer-assisted discovery (Goffin et al., 2010). The health effects and flavor components of other products, CB can use the symbiotic idea generation technique to standardize combine and correlate those effects and components into one whole new product idea. The most important idea generation technique that I will recommend to CB will be the evolutionary technique, coupled with internal or in-house brainstorming, since it must be able to meet or even surpass the market health and flavor standards for chocolate products in the US market. Already, CB is a major distributor of chocolate manufacturing ingredients, thus it will be sensible for them to discuss and brainstorm on viable ideas. They can complement this process by using the technique of computer-aided discovery; this will enable them broaden and widen their base and their research possibilities, with regards to ideas of what the customers want or need (Bragg & Bragg, 2005). To carry out the ideation, I would recommend that CB should gather a team made up of people from various departments, with various skillsets and experiences to brainstorm, carry out concept screening, and recommend an idea that can be developed into a viable concept. On top of this list will recommend personnel from the product development and design department, manufacturing department, the marketing and sales department, accounting and costing department, and personnel from CB’s management. This team should also include an external product design and development consultant, who will bring an outsiders or

If Only Film Analysis Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

If Only Film Analysis - Movie Review Example Samantha portrays literal non-listening when Ian tells her that he loves her. Shesimplysayssheloves him too while also stressing to the fact that it is raining and thus missing out on the point that Ian tries to put forward. In the scene, Ian wants to confess his love for Samantha including the history of his love and how much she meant to him, but her nonlistening made her miss the point. In the film, the method used to manage the Ian and Samantha conflict is Collaboration. Sam and Ian are in a conflict when Ian blows away a student of Samantha and their relationship almost boils over. Upon realizing his mistake, Ian follows Sam (who runs away crying) begging for forgiveness. The method is very effective as Sam sees clearly that Ian’s apology is from the heart.The dynamics of self-disclosure is clear when the couple undergoes the integration stage. When having drinks, Ian reveals a secret that Sam was never going to know from anyone but Ian. Ian reveals that his father died n ine years ago from the then-present day from alcoholism as a result of losing his beloved job. Sam replies by telling him that he was too young to save his father and wherever his father was, he was proud of him. The only type/level of relational de-escalation shown in the movie is differentiating and circumscribing. Ian and Samantha are involved in a conflict when Ian blows of a student of Samantha. After explaining her frustration, Samantha gets furious and leaves crying and furious but Ian.

The Critical Success Factor Report for Oriental Mart Nottingham Coursework

The Critical Success Factor Report for Oriental Mart Nottingham - Coursework Example This growth in business prompted its expansion into traditional retailing by opening its first store in 2008 locating it in the busy city centre. The reason for this move was to provide a convenience store for people at the city and for people who are visiting it on a daily basis. 1.2 `Research Objectives The significance of carrying out this Critical Success Factor Report (CSF) was to establish the factors that contributed to the success of a business. This report is aimed at researching on the factors that made orient mart to be successful in the online retail business sector. This is to be achieved through collecting feedback from customers and asking the management questions relating to the strategies and practices that make the company a success. This is in order to determine what makes the business a success in its area of specialization. The rationale of this study was to gather information regarding the company’s success in the retail sector. 1.3 Methodology In carryin g out the research process, the use of questionnaires was employed to get the required data from customers. This research process involved the printing a total of 200 questionnaires that were distributed to the public. Half of these questionnaires totalling 100 were given to regular customers who were willing to take part in this survey. The other half was distributed among the public consisting mostly of the people passing near the store. This was to ensure that the individuals participating in the study were aware of the store. This was necessary for the research to collect accurate data. The research was done for a period of one week, and the participants came from the different parts of the city. For this research, 165 of the 200 questionnaires were valid, and their feedback was relevant to the exercise. The remaining 35 were discarded since they were invalid. It was important that the customers took part in the exercise since the data will give a reflection of the customersâ₠¬â„¢ thoughts and perceptions in the subject. Out of the 165 questionnaires that were valid, the customers filled only 62. The number was relatively lower compared to the 97 forms questionnaires that were filled by the public. In addition to the data collected, the manager of the store participated in an informal interview to give added information that was useful for the research. This was to get information from the management’s perspective. This provided a balance in the data collected in that it was all inclusive of both the consumers and the convenience store. 2. The Retail Audit The retail audit is carried out to determine the target market and the factors that affect this market in relation to the business. These factors influence how the market responds to the retail business. This is essential since markets are dynamic in that their needs and preferences change over time (Bullen, 1995, p14). . 2.1 The Market The market refers to the section of the population have a d emand for the goods or services of a business. For any business to be flourishing, they require to have the capability to attract and maintain their market. If a business realizes this, it will have a profitable turnover leading to further growth and expansion of the business. Nottingham’s market consists of the city dweller and visitors that come to the city. Their market is broad since a convenience store offers products that are needed by the public in

Supreme court cases and the concept of Federalism. How they relate to Essay

Supreme court cases and the concept of Federalism. How they relate to the Federalists 10, 46 or 78 arguments - Essay Example Raich (2005), South Dakota V. Texas (1987) and Lawrence V. Texas (2003). Moreover, the discussion will also highlight how these cases relate to the Federalists 10, 46 or 78 arguments. The case of Gonzalez v. Raich (2005) is mainly related to the legal medical use of marijuana. In relation to this case, it can be ascertained that during the year 1996, California law passed the ‘Compassionate Use Act’, authorizing the use of marijuana for medical treatment. On the other hand, Controlled Substances Act (CSA) banned the use of the same. This difference in the viewpoints persisting between California law and CSA eventually led towards a conflicting situation. The major issue, which emerged in relation to the case, is mainly determining whether Congress is having the power to regulate marijuana production agreeable to the interstate commerce clause. Specially mentioning, this case addresses the federalism concept in the form of witnessing the involvement of both federal government and individual states concerning the regulation of producing and consuming marijuana (Oyez, Inc., â€Å"GONZALES v. RAICH†). South Dakota v. Dole (1987) is related to the case wherein South Dakota sued district court against Dole and the US government in relation to the violation of Section 158. This particular Section sets the constitutional limits on Congress regarding the power based on â€Å"21st amendment to the US constitution.† In accordance with the South Dakota law, individuals aged 19 and above are permitted to buy beer having 3.2% alcohol. The case illustrates the dispute regarding the state and the power of federal government in relation to the implementation of a minimum drinking usage. Again, the involvement of state as well as the federal government in this jurisdiction issue relates the aforesaid case with the concept of federalism (Thomson Reuters, â€Å"SOUTH DAKOTA v. DOLE, 483 U.S.

Teaching Styles & Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Teaching Styles & Technology - Essay Example Because teaching and learning are at best semi-structured activities, neither is conducive to automation. Yet certain aspects of instruction, particularly the delivery of information characteristics or teaching styles are prone to automation. Information classroom technologies facilitate student access to information to improve the availability or reality of learning materials. In contrast to automated classrooms that improve the efficiency of information delivery, the goal here is to make new, qualitatively better information available that would otherwise not be. Learning networks, hypermedia, simulations, and virtual reality are information classroom technologies. While IT infrastructure developments represent attempts to provide technology tools to improve the teaching and/or learning processes, they are often undertaken without a thorough assessment of the learning gains desired or even possible. For instance, high expectations without clear objectives and realistic goals may lead to the development of state-of-the-art facilities, at once impressive yet intimidating, replete with potential yet lacking clear guidelines on how to use the technology to achieve learning improvements. Learning models are often classifie... The primary competing cognitive model is constructivism. The objectivist model of learning is based on Skinner's stimulus-response theory: learning is a change in the behavioral disposition of an organism (Jonassen, 1993) that can be shaped by selective reinforcement. The tenet of the model is that there is an objective reality and that the goal of learning is to understand this reality and modify behavior accordingly (Jonassen, 1993). The goal of teaching is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the expert to the learner. Errors in understanding are the result of imperfect or incomplete knowledge transfer. The model makes several pedagogical assumptions regarding learning and instruction. In terms of learning, the first assumption is that there exists a reality that is agreed upon by individuals. Second, this reality can be represented and transferred to a learner. Third, the purpose of the mind is to act as a mirror of reality rather than as an interpreter of reality (Jonassen, 1993). Fourth, all: learners use essentially the same processes for representing and understanding the world. In terms of instruction, the objectivist model assumes that the goal of teaching is to efficiently transmit knowledge from the expert to the learner. Instructors structure reality into abstract or generalized representations that can be transferred and then recalled by students (Yarusso, 1992). The objectivist model may be the most appropriate model in some contexts--for example, in factual or procedural-based learning. However, models challenging objectivism have emerged. The most widely accepted alternate model is

Result of Evas Story Essay Example for Free

Result of Evas Story Essay ohn Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 and died in 1984. He was famous for contemplating science and philosophy, and wrote many plays to put forward his socialist views. An Inspector Calls was one of these, and is about a wealthy upper-middle class family, the Birlings, and how their views on living change as a result of a visit from an inspector. The main characters are the Birlings, Inspector Goole and Eva Smith. Arthur Birling is a successful businessman; his wife, Sybil, is very pretentious; and their rather peculiar son, Eric, is an alcoholic. Erics sister, Sheila, has recently engaged to Gerald Croft, a gentleman of a slightly higher social class than the Birlings Mr. Birling feels a little inferior because of this. We do not know a lot about the Inspector he is given an air of mystery and importance but it is possible that he could be an apparition of some kind or perhaps a figure to represent Priestleys own views. Eva Smith is an absent character who nevertheless plays a huge part in the storyline. The play takes place solely in the dining room of the Birlings house, which is heavily comfortable but not homelike. This unified setting is beneficial in many ways. One thing is that it lowers the costs and requirements of the production of the play, meaning that it can be performed in a wider variety of settings and therefore be shown to more people. In addition, the audience will focus on the actors and the plot rather than the set so much if it does not keep changing, which helps retain attention to the play. The play begins as Gerald Croft and the Birlings are celebrating as a family Sheila Birling and Geralds engagement, when the evening is interrupted by the arrival of Inspector Goole. The Inspector tells them the story of the tragic suicide of a young girl, whose name is Eva Smith, but she calls herself Daisy Renton after Mr. Birling sacks her, as an attempt to make a fresh start. He forces them to see how each of the people present contributed to her taking her own life by swallowing disinfectant. Gradually, he picks away at the protective, self-satisfied shell that the Birlings have built up around themselves, and eventually manages to pull apart the whole sense of the family. He then exits, leaving them to blame each other and argue amongst themselves. The play was written in 1945 but is set in 1912. I think this is to emphasise the point that rich people are not always right, as Mr. Birling in particular makes several predictions that we, as the audience, know to be incorrect. For example, he says, Youll hear some people say that wars inevitable. And to that I say fiddlesticks! and There isnt a chance of war. However, we know that two years later, WWI began. He speculates about Sheila and Geralds future In twenty or thirty years time lets say, in 1940 you may be giving a little party like this your son or daughter might be getting engaged and I tell you, by that time youll be living in a world thatll have forgotten all these silly war scares. This is ironic because in fact in 1940 WWII took place. He also makes predictions about labour struggles when he says, theres a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Dont worry. Weve passed the worst of it, and the Titanic, as he says, Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable, both of which we know are wrong. Mr. Birling is confident about all of these predictions, but we know how wrong he is. This is an example of dramatic irony, and I think J.B. Priestley used it to great effect in portraying Mr. Birling as someone who is entirely ignorant about what the future holds, though the other characters are unaware of this. In Act One, the family is celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. Sheila is presented as excitable and eager to please her family and Gerald: after she has received her ring she says, (excited) Oh its wonderful! Look Mummy isnt it a beauty? Oh darling (She kisses Gerald hastily.) She is also rather materialistic, as the stage directions, (still admiring her ring) imply, though she still shows empathy and compassion towards Eva SHEILA: (Rather distressed) Sorry! Its just that I cant help thinking about that girl destroying herself so horribly.  She plays up to Gerald, saying, Oh is it the one you wanted me to have? and I think this suggests that she wants to keep on everyones good side, and avoid any conflict. She behaves in the same way to her parents, meekly saying, Im sorry, Daddy. Actually I was listening.

Criminal Theory Case Study: Whitey Bulger

Criminal Theory Case Study: Whitey Bulger Criminal Behavior James Joseph Bulger III (better known as) Whitey Bulgers criminal behavior started early on in life. Whitey ran away to join the circus at ten years old. According to Biography.com, Whitey Bulger was first arrested when he was 14 years old, for stealing, and his criminal record continued to escalate from there. As a youth, he was arrested for larceny, forgery, assault and battery, and armed robbery and served five years in a juvenile reformatory. Upon his release, he joined the Air Force where he served time in military jail for assault before being arrested for going AWOL. Nonetheless, he received an honorable discharge in 1952. (Biography.com) After the military, Bulger returned to Boston and committed multiple bank robberies in multiple states. In 1956 he was sentenced to 25 years in Federal prison for those bank robberies. After his release from prison Bulger immersed himself into Bostons organized crime, and by 1979 he was one of the top figures in Bostons underworld. After work ing with the FBI, he led the FBI on a 16-year manhunt. Whitey Bulger was finally caught by the FBI in 2011. In 2013, Bulger faced a 33-count indictment, including money laundering, extortion, drug dealing, corrupting FBI and other law-enforcement officials and participating in 19 murders. He was also charged with federal racketeering for allegedly running a criminal enterprise from 1972 to 2000. (Biography.com) Bulger was not convicted of everything, after a two-month trial, a jury of eight men and four women deliberated for five days and found Bulger guilty on 31 counts, including federal racketeering, extortion, conspiracy and 11 of the 19 murders. They found he was not guilty of 7 murders and could not reach a verdict on one murder. (Biography.com) Whitey Bulgers Life Whitey Bulgers childhood was rough. James Joseph Bulger Jr. was born on September 3, 1929, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, (Where I was born) as second of the six children, to Roman Catholic Irish parents who immigrated to America. (www.thefamouspeople.com) Whiteys father was a longshoreman that lost his arm in an industrial accident forcing him and his family to move to government housing in South Boston (Where I attended elementary school). When Bulger was ten years old, he attempted to run away and join the circus. When Whitey was 14, he was charged with stealing and forgery and other crimes resulting in being held in a juvenile reformatory for five years. Bulger joined the Air Force and was charged with AWOL ultimately being honorably discharged. Once Bulger returned to Boston, he returned to a life of crime and ultimately rose to the top crime boss in Boston. Bulger reigned over Bostons underworld for nearly 20 years. Oddly enough he was an informant for the FBI against another cr ime family which ultimately help Bulgers enterprises. When indictments against Bulger came down his connections at the FBI tipped him off to the impending arrest allowing Bulger to go on the run from 1996 until he was ultimately arrested in California 2011. Bulger was convicted of most of the charges levied against him, and he is currently incarcerated at Coleman Federal Penitentiary in Sumter County. Bulger was disciplined for sexual activity while in prison in 2016. Theories of Criminal Behavior I believe that the first of three theories that could describe White Bulgers criminal lifestyle would be Albert Cohens Theory on Delinquent Boys. Cohens research and resulting theory were a reaction to the limitations and oversimplifications he saw in Robert Mertons strain theory, according to the University of Portsmouth. Cohen agreed that criminal behavior was in part the result of the strain of being unable to accomplish ones goals, but he disagreed with Mertons hypothesis that crime was individual, gain-based and could occur at any socioeconomic status. In 1955, his book Delinquent Boys, Cohen investigated trends of criminal behavior in lower-class urban areas of the United States, then built on emerging findings about the delinquent subculture. Florida State Universitys College of Criminology and Criminal Justice states that Cohens investigation of gangs revealed that the groups were mostly lower-class males who seemed to be retaliating against a world that had given them empty promises regarding the American Dream. Cohens theory on the delinquent subculture also predicts that the existence of the subculture would likely draw in lower-status persons exposed to it, therefore creating more delinquency among anyone who might believe that their only opportunities for progress existed in the ranks of gangs. (www.reference.com) I believe Whitey Bulger also fit into the Durkheims Deviance theory, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦his discoveries were so deviant that people had a hard time accepting them. And they still do! Which is why Durkheims views of deviance have been pretty much ignored by sociologists for over 100 years. Durkheim was a firm believer in observation. So he began his study of deviance by observing as many societies as he could. He studied his own, those in neighboring European countries, and even those of the ancient past. What did he notice? They all had deviance! It didnt matter where or when he looked. In every society, there was something that got defined as deviant, and someone who did that deviant thing. (http://www.nonjudgmentday.org) I also believe that Whitey Bulger would fit into the Social Disorganization Theory. The theory of social disorganization states a persons physical and social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioral choices that a person makes. At the core of social disorganization theory, is that location matters when it comes to predicting illegal activity. Shaw and McKay noted that neighborhoods with the highest crime rates have at least three common problems, physical dilapidation, poverty, and a higher level of ethnic and culture mixing. Shaw and McKay claimed that delinquency was not caused at the individual level, but is a normal response by normal individuals to abnormal conditions. Social disorganization theory is widely used as an important predictor of youth violence and crime. (Mark Bond, Ed.D) There is little doubt that South Boston or Boston, in general, could fit this theory just as well as Chicago. Theoretical Application to Whitey Bulgers Life History Growing up in South Boston with a father that was a longshoreman and that was ultimately disabled allowed Whitey to do as he pleased and he did just that fitting the Albert Cohens Theory on Delinquent Boys. As a young man, Whitey was arrested for assault and battery, armed robbery, larceny, and assault. Those charges resulted in Whitey being sentenced to five years in a juvenile reformatory. After his release from the reformatory, Whitey joined the Air Force and subsequently went AWOL. Despite this, he was granted an honorable discharge. I included the military factor in this theory because as we know, men dont fully mature until at least 25 years old. Due to Whiteys now developed deviant behavior as a youth, I believe that he fits into Durkheims Deviance theory. As we all know there is deviance everywhere and I think that during Whitey Bulgers criminal rise he just took advantage of the deviance and rose to the top of Bostons underworld. Some say his power made him like a Robin Hood for the city, For years, James Whitey Bulger was viewed as a Robin Hood-like figure on the streets of South Boston, valued by his neighbors who saw him as a tough guy who kept drug dealers out of their neighborhood. That image was shattered when authorities began digging up bodies. (www.boston.cbslocal.com) Finally, Whitey Bulgers criminal activities fit in my opinion into the Social Disorganization Theory. Boston, like Chicago, was ripe for the picking when it comes to poor neighborhoods, high crime rates, socially disadvantaged people. Whitey dominated a city that had many poor areas that were very ethnically diverse just like Chicago. The mixture of these three theories, I feel, created Whitey Bulger. In my opinion, many of these theories are interchangeable and could fit almost any powerful crime figure. The mixture of these three theories, I feel, created Whitey Bulger. In my opinion, many of these theories are interchangeable and could fit almost any powerful crime figure. References http://www.biography.com/people/whitey-bulger328770#early-life http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/whitey-bulger-5588.php#5aP3OvO2zXd6OAzH.99 https://www.reference.com/world-view/albert-cohen-s-delinquent-subculture-theory-56a567cc29ecb061 http://www.nonjudgmentday.org/judgment-card-galleryblog/-durkheims-deviant-view-of-deviance https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/criminology-social-disorganization-theory-explained-mark-bond http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/06/23/whitey-bulger-described-as-robin-hood-diabolical-killer/

Comparison of the Chartres towers :: essays papers

Comparison of the Chartres towers The cathedral of Notre-Dame at Chartres must be one of the most beautiful and famous architectural specimens in the world today. The cathedral owns an exquisite silhouette against the sky of La Beauce. Two towers rise uncontested, to take watch over miles and miles of French countryside. Up close, the two towers, along with their spires, seem mismatched or unrelated. Yet, the two together provide for one of the most interesting juxtapositions in architecture. â‚ ¬Chartres cathedral has had a tumultuous history with both tragedies and triumphs. Charpentier notes that the site of the cathedral has also served various other purposes. The Romans had used the higher ground for a military camp, part of which still exists on the eastern side of the cathedral by the transition of apse to choir. In addition to the camp site, there was also the existance of a Gallo-Roman temple on the same site as Chartres cathedral. This temple is believed to have the same orientation as the cathedral and the cathedral's round apse uses the foundation of a Gallo-Roman defensive tower. This use of the Gallo-Roman defensive tower is also present at Bourges cathedral. The lower parts of the defensive tower formed a crypt which was incorporated into the ninth century Church of Gislebert, also known as Saint Lubin's chapel. On the night of September seventh 1020, the Church was completely razed by fire. â‚ ¬After the destruction of the church in Chartres, the bishop of Chartres, Saint Fulbert, spearheaded the campaign to build a church in Chartres. Only the crypt remained from the earlier Caroligian church and Fulbert built his Romanesque church around the enduring crypt. Fulbert's church lasted 200 years, but in 1134 the front faÅ“ade was damaged by another fire. It was at this time that a effort to update and restore the church was put into motion. The religious powers, along with the Crusaders longed for a greater monument. Thus, Chartres decided to beg in a separate tower.â‚ ¬This adding on to Romanesque churches was not unusual for the day. The abbey-church at Cluny, outside Italy, was given a new magnificent five-bay narthex and two bell-towers. A similar renovation was attempted at La CharitÅ’, but funds ran short and the upgrades could not be completed. â‚ ¬Hence, in 1134 the tower forming the north-west corner of the present-day cathedral, (the left tower of the west faÅ“ade elevation), underwent construction.

The Life of Vincent Van Gogh Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

The Life of Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists of all time. He is known for his paintings and is hailed as the quintessential expressionist painter in history. Yet, Van Gogh lived one of the most troubling lives one could ever imagine. Almost every painting can be viewed as a look into his troubled soul. Van Gogh’s Paintings today can be sold for millions of dollars, but during his life time he sold a single painting for a measly 40 francs. Van Gogh’s legacy has left behind stories of greatness and sadness having to do with both his personal life and his career as an artist. Vincent Van Gogh was born near Brabant, Belgium, the son of a minister. In 1869, he got a position at the art dealers, Goupil and Co. in The Hague, through his uncle, and worked with them until he was dismissed from the London office in 1873. He worked as a schoolmaster in England (1876), before training for the ministry at Amsterdam University (1877). After he failed to get a post in the Church, he went to live as an independent missionary among t...

Roswell Crash Government Coverup :: essays research papers

Phenomena of the Roswell crash in 1947 July 8, is one the most famous incidences in our time, the reason we have computers, mobile phones, night vision goggles and Kevlar armor. All this was made possible within one year of the Roswell crash. Roswell crash was covered up for more than 30 years. Then, in 1978, ufologist Stanton T. Friedman restarted the investigation behind the Roswell crash. From what he fond out about the crash showed us that the governments' cover-up was a fraud and we have all the proof we need. In the Roswell cover-up they stated that the debris they found was parts of a weather balloon. A year later they confessed that they lied about the weather balloon and that the debris was part of a secret government project called ?Project Mogul? which was planed to spy on the Russians just in case of a nuclear attack and that they had to cover-up for the security of the nation. The ?Project Mogul? could not be part of a secret government project that cost the government more than $5 million dollars. The project it self looks like someone put together a big balloon kite thing from household things, and our reports also mention 3 people confirming that the RAAF (Roswell Army Air Field) got instructions to bribe some soldiers to pretend that they were part of the construction of the ?Project Mogul?. Even fake files have been made to prove it. In total RAAF bribed 10 people (entire ?Project Mogul? staff was composed of only 10 people) but 3 people mysteriously disappeared, 2 people were shot dead proclaimed for going AWOL, 2 more people still refusing to cooperate from the fear of what the RAAF might do to them and only 3 cooperated knowing they would die from natural causes, so they confirmed that there was a UFO and some of the 500 first hand witnesses said that they saw ?little people? on the crash sight. The government said that the ?little people? were not people, or in that case aliens, but test dummies from ? Roswell Crash Government Coverup :: essays research papers Phenomena of the Roswell crash in 1947 July 8, is one the most famous incidences in our time, the reason we have computers, mobile phones, night vision goggles and Kevlar armor. All this was made possible within one year of the Roswell crash. Roswell crash was covered up for more than 30 years. Then, in 1978, ufologist Stanton T. Friedman restarted the investigation behind the Roswell crash. From what he fond out about the crash showed us that the governments' cover-up was a fraud and we have all the proof we need. In the Roswell cover-up they stated that the debris they found was parts of a weather balloon. A year later they confessed that they lied about the weather balloon and that the debris was part of a secret government project called ?Project Mogul? which was planed to spy on the Russians just in case of a nuclear attack and that they had to cover-up for the security of the nation. The ?Project Mogul? could not be part of a secret government project that cost the government more than $5 million dollars. The project it self looks like someone put together a big balloon kite thing from household things, and our reports also mention 3 people confirming that the RAAF (Roswell Army Air Field) got instructions to bribe some soldiers to pretend that they were part of the construction of the ?Project Mogul?. Even fake files have been made to prove it. In total RAAF bribed 10 people (entire ?Project Mogul? staff was composed of only 10 people) but 3 people mysteriously disappeared, 2 people were shot dead proclaimed for going AWOL, 2 more people still refusing to cooperate from the fear of what the RAAF might do to them and only 3 cooperated knowing they would die from natural causes, so they confirmed that there was a UFO and some of the 500 first hand witnesses said that they saw ?little people? on the crash sight. The government said that the ?little people? were not people, or in that case aliens, but test dummies from ?

Arya Samaj

CHAPTER-III THE ARYA SAMAJ AS A MOVEMENT Every religious movement aims at not only initiating a spiritual awakening but also reforming the contemporary society by trying to remove ignorance,superstitions,doubts and dogmas from the minds of people,thus ushering in a new kind of religious renaissance. In this respect,the Arya Samaj,as a religious movement,did not fall far behind,as it made a dynamic impact upon the Indians,forming a interesting and conspicuous chapter in the modern Hindu thought.Through the preaching of Vedic ideals,it succeeded to a great extent,in reforming the then Indian society,inculcating in the people the moral values of life. In this chapter,we shall attempt to throw light on how the Arya Samaj as a movement was able to achieve its desired goalof revitalising the Indians from their stupor of lethargy and ignorance,initiating them to learn the invaluable greatness of the Vedic ideals and making them understand and accept these ideals as a way of life.To be preci se,the Arya Samaj tried its best to remove the social ills such as untouchability,cow-slaughter,forced widowhood,child-marriage and bringing above reforms through female educastion,permission for going abroad for higher learning,reconversion to Hinduism,and many other philanthropic work to inject a new life and vigour into the then morbid socio-religious enviromentof the Indian society. The major thrust of the movement was in the field of religion. The religious scene among the Hindus in the nineteenth century had become morbid.Many religious beliefs and practices prevailed among the Hindu society which were not an essential inseparable part of true Hinduism. The puranik Hinduism had practically usurpesd the rightful place of the Vedas and the Upanishads. Hinduism had evolved many sects like Saivism,Vaisnavism,Saktism,Tantrism,the Swaminarayan and others. Religion degenerated intothe performance of religious worship of idol and rigid rituals and its spiritualism began to be clouded and confused.Religion began to be equated with temple going ,the observance of shradha ceremony,pilgrimage to the holy places,observance of vratas and fasts in the expectation of fantastic earthly rewards,and beliefs in astrology. They did not know much about their holy books. They believed that anything written in Sanskrit was sacred. They often read books in Sanskrit which were not really good,only a few of them read Gita which was supposed to be composed by Lord Krishna:some read the Ramayana and the Mahabharata,the two great epics of India;but very few of them knew anything about the four Vedas,the sacred books of Hindus.As a matter of fact the so called religious leaders of Hinduism,the members of the preistly class,upported by the pandits of Banaras,were interested in keeping the established order of things unchanged,as it brought them pecuinary gains and rewards in the form of charity and religious fees. Apart from the internal disease in the form of priestly domination,there were Christian missionaries,who with the tactit backing of European officials,were reaping a rich harvest by the religious conversions of the lower classes of Hindus.In the religious sphere,the Arya Samaj has vigorously campainged for the freedom of thought. Earlier all the words uttered by a Holy person were regarded as authoritative. None dared to criticise the interpolated Sanskrit verses and non-Vedic teachings of the orthodox schools. It was the Arya Samaj that revolutionised the religious thought and ideas of the people. The Arya Samaj taught the people to think rationally. They were asked to determine the value of a percept in terms of the degree of truth it contained. They were urged to use their intellect and to reason out things for themselves before accepting them.The scientific truths and the laws that govern nature were given their rightful place in religion. Dayananda wasd inspired by his Vedic knowledge and his deeo study of the Shastras to reform Hinduism and make i t free all vices. He was of the opinion that in order to appreciate religious truth in its proper perspective,one should absolutely be free from prejudices and superstitions. He was of the view that human beings had the capacity to follow the path of truth which was the essence of religion, but were prevented from so doing by selfishness,ego,greed and avarice.The Arya Samaj is not a new religion. It preaches the doctrines of the Vedas revealed to mankind by God in the beginning of the universe. It attemps at rehabilitating and reviving the Vedic truths which mankind had forgotten through ignorance and the advent of puranic literature, which blurred our vision and sent the vedic culture into the background. The Arya Samaj has dug out the Vedas down from the debris of the puranas,and installed them on the high pedestal of morality and infallibility they deserve. The Arta Samaj teaches the unity and oneness of God,the brotherhood pf God:the conception f the God head-given in the vedas is the loftiest. It is this conception which the Arya Samaj has put forth before the world. It does not believe in idol worship,reincarnation of God,shradhas,satisfaction of the departed souls by offerings in their name. It believes in the transmigration of the souls and the beginningless and endlessness of God,soul and matter. It believes in the return of the soulin the form of Mukti,a state of beautitude and immense happiness for a long period. There is no place in the Arya Samaj for the hereditary priest or for an ecclesiastical authority over the people.It does not accept the innumerable rituals and ceremonies which choke the spirit and mock the religion. They interpreted the Vedas to justify the puranic mythology and thus they tried to give the present degenerate popular Hindu religion a Vedic sanction. Dayananda tried to interpret the Vedas on the basis of original texts without being influenced by the works of the commentators of the later age. In the book Satyarth Prakash Sw ami Dayananda tries to establish the thesis that the Vedic religion was absolutely monotheistic in nature.In the Vedas there are hymns which assert the unity of God. In the words of Benjamin Walker,â€Å"Whereas Rammohan Roy had been attracted by the Upanishads and Vivekananda by the Vedanta,Dayananda went straight to the source of both these systems,the Vedas. He regarded the Vedas as the eternal,inaffiable,perfect and complete revelation of God,given to the world one hundred billion years ago. †Rishi Aurobindo accepts that,â€Å"There is then nothing fantastic in Dayananda’s idea that Veda contains truth of science as well as truth of religion. †Lastly Rishi Aurobindo says:Dayananda will be honored as the first who discovered the right clues,amidst the chaos and obscurity of ignorance and age-long misunderstanding. His was the eye of direct vision that pierced to the truth and fastened on that which was essential. He found the keys of the doors that time had c losed and rent asunder the seals of the imprisoned fountains. His lion like roaring voice ‘Back to Vedas’ appealed highly to the contemporary Indian sensitibility groping since long In the dark. It was the origin of this Arya Dharma advancing with the motto:- We are Aryans’and our religion is ‘Veda’ ‘Om’ is our God and Truth the duty. We would establish the Arya Samaja’s’ i. e the societies of the noble men,throughout The world and teach all and sundry to practice all the true principles of course,having practiced them first ourselves. The Arya Samaj is nort a religious sect as it does not believe in the human representation of God in the form of prophet,mediator or savior or Avatar(incarnation). Every man is directly connected with the supreme being and the worship of God means the holding of direct spiritual communion with Him.Thus the Arya Samaj is deadly against all kinds of fetish-worship,idolatory,image-worship,tree-w orship,river-worship,mountain-worship,star-worship,cow-worship,bird-worship or even man-worship. The worshiper’s heart is the real temple of God,and meditation on the attributes of God is the true worship. Swami Dayananda has prescribed a simple mode of worship called prarthana or prayer consisting of eight Veda mantras and sandhya or worship which consists o the recitation of some Vedic mantras which speak of the attributes of God and seeking His blessings of one’s efforts. It included yogic pranayam,that is the breath exercise.All this does not take more than 15 to 20 mins a day. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century,the Arya Samaj movement was perhaps the most powerful of socio-revival movements,which gave a new,more dynamic and concrete dimension to the social and religious regeneration movement in the country. The Arya Samaj has had a greater dynamic impact on Indians over several generations than any other religious or social reform movement has in modern times. It is the most conspicuous movement of the tim,es and one of the most important and interesting chapters of modern Hindu thought.Not only did it want to bring about spiritual regeneration of India by purifying Hindu religion and Indian society,but also it tried to reestablish the pristine glory of Vedas and the Vedic religion. It was a crusade against socio-religious superstitions and prejudices like idolatory,child-marriage,rituals,etc,it upheld supremacy and the infallibility of the Vedas and the vedic knowledge. It was a part of the nineteenth century renaissance movement,that believed in Hindu revivalism and back to the Vedas was its call to the people. A number of social thoughts and practices were operating as erious obstacles to the growth and development of the nation’s economy and traditions;to the state of ridicule and scorn of the western educated men and women. Some of these social evils were :untouchability,child-marriage,enforced widowhood,the denial of equality to women in religions and education,the ban on crossing the seas,the forced extravagance on marriage and death events,the compulsory use of fireworks in the public,the dowry system,the barter system in girls marraige and several other social ills,the Hindu society of the period suffered.These evil customs were regarded as ordained by God and,therefore,they were as inseparable essential part of Hinduism. The Arya Samaj struggled hard to cure the society of this malady and make it socially healthy and culturally strong. Its contribution in the social fiels was so singular and distinct that even if it had done nothing else,it would still have a place of pioneer in the social reformation movement of this period. It aimed at establishing a universal religion and purifying the Indian society of its evils.Lala Lajpat Rai says:The social ideals of the Arya Samaj are the ideals of the ancient Rishis of India. They were based on :- (1) The father of God and the brotherhood of men. (2 ) The equality of sexes. (3) Absolute justice and fair play between men and men and nations and nations. Equal oppurtunities to all according to their nature,karma and merit. (4) Love and charity towards all. The stigma that had darkened the name of the Hindu was the practice of untouchability,which was an off-shoot of the pernicious caste system. Dayananda had farsighted vision to see that the caste is the greater curse on India.Based on a wrong interpretation of the well known purushsa-sukta,it had been working for the disruption of the Hindu society. Dayanada first thought to exorcise the obnoxious spell of untouchability. He vehemently opposed the practice of untouchability and worked for the upliftment of the oppressed and the so-called low castes of the society. Dayananda quoted the Vedas to prove that the varna of a person was determined by his character,good deeds and his sanskar. Truthfulness,self-sacrifice,knowledge of God and the Vedas can enable a sudra to enter into a h igher varna.Similarly,due to bad conduct,evil deeds,selfishness,a person belonging to the higher varna,may be degraded to a lower one in the social hierarchy. A person may be born of Brahmin parents,but he may become a sudra if he acts like one. Swami Dayananda preached the equality of mankind. He did not believe in any kind of distinctions between high and the low,the high-caste and the low-caste. He taught the people to love one another and root out all thoughts of hate from the heart. Love was highest religion. One could win over enemies by Love.Nut Love should not be confined to Human beings;even animals should be loved. It was cruel to inflict any kind of pain to them. The temples of the Arya Samaj are ever open to all the depressed classes. Many missionaries sacrificed their lives to secure equal social and religious status for the so called untouchables. They were not only declared for the first time eligible to study Sanskrit and the Vedas,but many of them became the preache rs and teachers of Vedas in the Aryan Samaj. In many Arya Samaj temples there were preists who were born in the tso called untouchables castes.They now performed sacramental rituals such as marriage,sacred thread ceremonial havans and other rituals,which were formerly performed exclusively by Brahamans. The Arya Samaj took up the cudgels for the people of the Hindu society,who were the victims of the then prevailing social ills as of child marriage and old marriage resulting in increased number of young widows,women who were ignorant of the world around them and they had turned widows at a tender age. The young widow’s life was intolerable in the Hindu society.She was held responsible for all the misfortune of the family and was treated worse than a servant. Generally she was not allowed to marry again,and sometimes she was forced to burn herself to death with her husband. Swami Dayananda began his tirade in favour of wodow-remarraige and favoured the institution of Niyoga,as Niyoga was in vogue in ancient times. In 1856,Pt Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s praise-worthy advocacy was successful in getting the widow-remarriage Act passed. But it was rotting in the shelves of the lawyers as public prejudices were too strong to drive benefits from the law.The Arya Samaj took the masses and succeeded in popularizing widow-remarraige. In bringing out reforms to the life to these young widows Sir Gangaram Trust has done a notable work. The trust has opened many Vidhwa-Ashrams in the northeren parts of India. Thousands of widows for whom life was truly a living hell were leading a pourposeful and meaningful lives under the roofs of these Ashrams. Today,of course,marriage of the widows has become an acceptable fact in the Hindu society. Another evil was the child marriage and the Arya Samaj did not leg behindin its attempts to remove this social evil.Child-marriage was introduced into the Hindu society when the hordes of invaders began to pour into India at abo ut the beginning of the Christian era,and the honour and chastity of women became unsafe. The Arya Samaj carried on a velement crusade against this institution,and may be congratulated on the success it has met with in rallying public opinion in favour of its view. As regards the age of marriage,Swami Dayananda says in the 4th chapter of the Satya Prakashâ€Å"the best time of for the marriage of girls is from sixteen to twenty-four years of age.The lo0west age for a girls for marriage is sixteen and for a man twenty-five. †He was aware of the evil if after impacts of child marriage,hence he suggested that there should be legislation to stop this evil practice. Social legislations sponsored by the Arya Samajists were passed as Acts in the central legislature. The Child Marriage Act known designed by prominent Arya Samajist were milestones on the road of the Indian Society. In the nineteenth century,among the orthodox Hindu,there was a strong prejudice against the education of girls.They thought they should not be sent to school,as they believed that if women learnt to read and write they would come to grief and as a result they were married illiterate. The old saying was accepted Stei-Shudras-Nadhiyetam which meant women and low castes should never be taught. The custom of child marriage erected further barrier to the education of girls. Swami Dayananda pleaded for the equality of men and women and laid emphasis on the education for girls. He argued that an uneducated wife will be a liability to her husband and will also fail to discharge the real duties of a mother.He condemned the economic and social injustice to which women were subjected. 50 years ago,all female education was under the direct management of the Arya Samaj. The Arya Samaj educational institutions were the first to open special and separate institutions for girls,where they were taught Sanskrit and Vedas,for which they were not eligible according to the orthodox Hindus. Besides learnin g Sankrit and Vedas,girls were declared entitled to wear the sacred thread like the boys. Noe female education has become so common that the people of his generation can’t imagine what formidable opposition Arya Samaj had to encounter even for such a simple thing ,as it now appears. Then also an unhealthy system was in full force which forbade the women to expose their face to the view of the males. as a result her face,was kept practically covered both indoors and outdoors during the day. Hence the Arya Samaj tried its best to remove the purdah system,following the line of the great ancient Indian tradition. In the nineteenth century,for some reason,the orthodox Hinduism had turned its head resolutely against the indulgence of foreign travel by its members.Crossing a sea outside the country was considered to be a veritable sin,the dire consequences for which was the out-casting of such culprits. This tended to cut off the contact of the Hindus with the outside world which ma de their thoughts and practices in various fielsd of life-culture,religion,social educational and politics narrow and stale. Dayananda’s repudiation of the Hindu taboo against foreign travel was also motivated with similar concern for the welfare of the and the prosperity of the country.Rejecting the popular Hindu belief that to go abroad is aginst Hindu religion,he said: This is all nonsense and propagated by ignorant and foolish people. Formerly people Aryavarta(India) used to go outside country for trade,state affairs and even as tourists,Now-a-days the fear of losing caste and religion is wrongly spread. Those who do not hesitate to visit different countries and Islands come in contact with different kinds of people and learn their customs and ways of living thus help the progress and better relations of their country.They develop fearlessness and bravery. They adopt whatever is good in other countries and shun what is not good and thus achieve prosperity. Another,bold st ep undertaken by the Arya Samaj was to initiate the process of reconversion to Hinduism despite the stiff resisitance of the orthodox religionists. Vedic religion is meant for all,it is universal in its teachings thus the Arya Samaj opens the door of the Vedic Dharma to all non-Hindus,to-what-so ever religion they may belong. For centuries the Hindus have been the victimsof religious fantacism and proselytization by Muslim and Christian preachers.In the Shuddhi Movement,Maharshi Dayananda introduced one revolutionary item in the programme of the Arya Samaj. He believed that ‘lost’Hindus,that is the Hindus converted to other religions,should be brought back within the process known as the Shuddhi Movement. With Vedic liberalism and rationalism,he believed that the door of Hinduism should not remain closed to those who once had left it for some reason or other. In the years before World War I Shuddhi campaign was conducted among various untouchable groups in the northwest :On June 23,1911 at Allahabad,the all India Shuddhi Sabha was founded by Ram Bhaj Dutta.The Arya Samaj had developed Shuddhi as a weapon of defence fom the conversion threaht posed by both Christianity and Islam. Keeping in line the sentiment of the Hindus,the Arya Samaj also took up the cause of the protection of the cows. ’Goraksha’ or protection of the cow was an integral part of Swami Dayananda’s teachings and work. He was the first great man who raised his voice against cow-slaughter. Wherever he went,he vigorously preached against it,not on religious grounds,but for purely utilitarian,humanitarian and economic considerations.It is because cow’s milk is so essential for the sustenance and the well-being for human life physically,intellectually,mentally and spiritually that he so strongly pleaded for cow protection and condemned their slaughter. He appealed to high British administrative officials wherever he met them,for instance,at Ajmer to Col. Bro oke,the Agent Governor for Rajputana,at Farukhabad to Mr. Muri Lt. Governor of the Northwest province to abolish the slaughter of cows explaining to them the material benefits the cow yields to mankind.Later,he wrote ‘Gokaunanudhi’,fully showing the harm that the slaughter of cows was doing,and recounting the benefits that man derived from the cows. He even preached a memorial to ne signed by two or three crores of people from all over the country including the Indian Princes,to be submitted to Queen Victoria and the British Parliament asking for the abolition of cow slaughter in India. Lakhs of signatures were obtained those of several ruling princes such as their Highness Moharana of udaipur,Maharaja of Jodhpur and Maharaja of Bundi.His premature death,however,put a stop to the movement. In India,the land of Gods,because of their innocence and implicit faith in the supernatural,the people were victims of a number of superstitions. People believed in planetary influenc e like astrolgy,omens,evil spirits and ghosts. They tried to satisfy the deities for the fullfilment of their desires and believed in miracles. The Arya Samaj is the institution which strove hard to fight against the superstitions in India and abroad. Superstitious beliefs are responsible for the degradation of a nation.Untill and unless these beliefs are not wiped out no nation can progress. Arya Samaj deserves credit for this revolutionary action. It will be curious to note that even the Bhagabat Purana deprecates superstitious beliefs and hypocrisy. The Arya Samaj was the first body to denounce these malpractrices. The Arya Samaj engages in philanthropic work on a large scale. Outside Christian circle it was the first purely Indian Association to organize orphanages and widow homes. The first Hindu orphanage was established in Ferozepur,on Punjab in the lifetime of the founder of the Samaj.It still retains its position as the premier Hindu orphanage in India,has splendid ans comm odius buildings,all erected by private charity,and maintains schools and workshops for the training of boys and girls,There are a number of other orphanages on similar lines in Northern India,controlled by the Arya Samaj;besides these,many Hindu institutions and orphanages apread over India bear the impress and influence of the Arya Samaj. The Arya Samaj has also organised relief in the times of distress caused by natural calamities like famine,flood and earthquake. During the famine of 1897-98,1900,1902,1907-08.The Arya Samaj provided reliefs to the people affected by the calamities in effected areas in India. It was a very commendable service rendered by the Arya Samaj in organising reliefs operations for the famine stricken people. An important episode in the history of the Arya Samaj concerns its educational programme. In the 19th century India had come under the british rule and the conduct with the west began in a direct and more powerful and effective way. The social renaissa nce movement in the country opened up new vistas inder the impact of the spread of western education.There was introduction of English education in India. Indian youths lost their cultural moorings and national pride about glorious ancient cultural heritage. Though in body and colour of their skin,they remained Indians,yet in everything else;in dress,in mode of living,in opinion,in habits,in manners,in values,in attitude they became Englishmen,Disintegration set in,communalism went deep into the Indian mind and education didn’t help for the enlightenment,character,social change,national integration,but it became a tool for getting jobs as clerks in government offices or as subordinate