Saturday, August 22, 2020

Corporate Responsibility of Enron Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Talk about the Corporate Responsibility of Enron. Answer: Presentation Numerous pundits of the idea of corporate obligation have condemned business interests for their absence of morals all through their activities. Business morals is set of decides that tell how business works, how business choices are made, how individuals (representatives, contenders, providers, partners, investors clients) are dealt with. Moral business conduct improves efficiency expectations for everyday comforts (Crane Matten, 2016). Business morals is tied in with doing beneficial things disregarding awful things at work place. Business morals incorporates all morals related issues that come while we lead business exercises. Corporate social obligation (CSR) is subset of business morals. It is companys obligation towards nature, in which it works. When an individual experience the CSR of organization, can know the mission duty of association towards society economy. It deals with human rights condition insurance. It is imperative to increment upper hand to construct trust with clients representatives (Schmitz Schrader, 2015). It intends to guarantee that an organization works its exercises in a moral manner. Numerous org anizations distribute their data on their CSR movement on their site. In this task moral issue of Enron is taken. Enron was an American vitality, wares administrations organization. The practices outrage that prompted the issue are clarified. Effect on investors, representatives government is additionally examined because of moral issue. About Enron Enron was Americas seventh biggest company. The organization was set up in 1985, by the merger of Houston flammable gas Inter North. At first Enron began as Pipeline Company, extended with propelling broadband administrations online site for exchanging wares 1999. It was the biggest business online webpage the organization was getting 90% of pay from the exchanges over Enron on the web. In 2000 the development of the organization was quick the yearly benefits came to $100 billion. The stock cost topped at $90. Be that as it may, in 2001, the companys condition began breaking down. In the October the organization uncovered lost $618 million. The organization become bankrupted on December 2, 2001. It was the greatest instance of liquidation in US and uncovered that its money related condition was supported by very much arranged bookkeeping misrepresentation, known as Enron outrage. Around 5600 workers lost their employment. The organization finished its chapter 11 in Nov, 2004. Bookkeeping rehearses embarrassment Bookkeeping embarrassments emerges from control of fiscal reports. Bookkeeping rehearses are expectation control of bookkeeping records so as to make a companys budgetary condition better. They generally have unfavorable impact on the business. Bookkeeping arrangements are executed by bookkeeping rehearses. These are criminal operations incorporate abusing reserves, downplaying costs, exaggerating income, under chronicle liabilities, misappropriation of benefits not paying attention to accounting enough (Hong V?n, 2014). Imprint to advertise bookkeeping and unique reason vehicle are a few procedures used to direct such criminal operations. In the imprint to advertise bookkeeping, resources liabilities are esteemed at current cost rather than book esteem. Toward the finish of budgetary year, business evaluates how much the benefits worth is. Particular reason vehicle is auxiliary of organization secures in any event, when the parental organization fails. Monetary profit is the point o f such outrages rehearses. It incorporates inclusion of workers, money related consultant or the association itself to delude financial specialists investors. At the point when an association practices such exercises then that is charged to loss of notoriety, common criminal punishments and loss of human capital (Qi-he, 2013). Enron its bookkeeping firm Arthur Andersen were engaged with the budgetary outrage, that is known as Enron embarrassment uncovered toward the finish of 2001. The CFO Andrew Fastow attempted to counterfeit the record of organization, made it seem as though the organization was developing with tremendous benefits and made the future worth bookkeeping. Future worth bookkeeping was utilized to foresee the eventual fate of Enron that the organization was going to make in future was viewed as the piece of benefits of investors. Therefore, individuals began to look into organization began purchasing the offers. In 1990 the organization recruited Jeffrey Skilling to a nother division Enron fund corp. He included practices, for example, imprint to advertise bookkeeping and specific reason vehicles to conceal gigantic obligation resources from financial specialists. Unique reason vehicle (SPVs) is an auxiliary organization that makes its commitment ensured in any event, when the parent organization fails. The reason for this training was to delude fiscal reports instead of working outcomes. The organization utilized SPVs to pay off dangers shroud obligation to make companys budget summaries look better. As the outrage advanced, share costs of Enron diminished from $90.56 to simply $1. The organization accepted that its stock cost will continue expanding yet it declined. The estimation of SPVs likewise declined and afterward the assurances had to play. Along these lines, the organization unveiled budget summaries and monetary records of the organization. The U.S. Protections and Exchange Commission started an examination the contention player Dynerg y gave a proposal to buy the organization (Nascimento, 2014). The arrangement bombed on December 2, 2001 in light of the fact that the cost offered was low. Enron sought financial protection under U.S. Liquidation Code. It was the biggest chapter 11 case in the U.S. history. Andrew Fastow numerous different officials of organization were charged for various claims, some were rebuffed sent to jail. Andrew Fastow was the principle defaulter of Enron embarrassment alongside the Arthur Andersen who was Enrons examiner, supervised the issue. Arthur Andersen was pressurized to overlook the issue. Arthur Andersen was charged liable of wrecking reports by the U.S. Area Court. The organization lost most of customers, representatives investors got restricted returns despite the fact that losing benefits assets and life time reserve funds. Impact on Stakeholders Partners are the key people of the official of the board. They have stake in the organization. Partners are the people who have enthusiasm for the organization (Rowley, 2017). They can be workers, investors, clients, nearby network, government and administrative organizations. Fundamentally there are two kinds of partners inward outside partners. Inside investors are the individuals from the association. Chiefs, executives, representatives investors are a piece of it. Outside partners have direct intrigue association in the activity of association. There are lethargic partners likewise in the organization. They are the people who have nothing to do with organization, however have share from long time and they have directly in benefits. These lethargic partners are like quiet accomplices in the business. The main significant partner is investors. Proprietors of the business put away the cash accepting on the bogus budget summaries. Companys fiscal summaries were not satisfactory to in vestors. They didn't just lose cash on stock speculation, likewise put cash into the Enron retirement plan with full certainty. Financial specialists lost 60 billion dollars inside a couple of days. Enron property became useless when the organization announced bankrupt. Bankrupt of organization influenced individuals severely. Investors who bought shares between September 1997 December 2001 were qualified for a compensation out. Yet, when the organization failed, nobody was qualified for pay-out. The people, who purchased normal stock, got a normal of $6.79 per share. Workers battled to meet their finishes. The individuals who were working from years lost their employment in a development in addition to the prizes which were pending. Workers put their cash in Enron shares, anticipating more significant expenses in future. The cost of offer was $90.75 however after the chapter 11 the cost of offer tumbles down to $0.67. They didn't just lose the employment, they lose social insurance, life reserve funds likewise the mature age security (Schermer Pinxten, 2014). The main slip-up that representatives submitted was being faithful to their organization needing their own offer return in future. Representatives had confidence in companys development expanding portions of costs (Snellman, 2015). The greater part of the representatives were allowed only thirty minutes to exhaust work area and leave the organization. The greater part of the representatives used to partake in Enron 401 k plan, completely got nothing. They move to their old farmhouse. Represe ntatives surrender their salary to figure organization will settle the issue soon (Petit, 2014). Companys inspector Arthur Andersen lost its accreditation. The top managerial staff were likewise not mindful to companys book of records made by Enron. Chiefs didn't focused on workers since they dont think about any duty towards representatives. They got themselves agents of investors just (Turner, 2015). This thing influenced incredibly the drawn out estimation of the investors speculation. Laborers didn't get any notification of lock down, they couldn't sell the stock. A laborer of the organization needed to sell the offers, however told that they had been bolted out. In 2004, representatives of Enron won a bag of $85 million from their annuity support. By this understanding, a representative got nearly $3100 (Preuss, 2013). In the following year investors got a healthy measure of $4.2 billion from banks. In 2008, investors sum came to $7.2 billion from $40 billion claim. The administration set out the guidelines need of the business to do well to keep the economy sound (Trevino Nelson, 2016). The enthusiasm of residents pulverized in American monetary framework. They needed to confront certain financial difficulties. Swelling started to rise it was difficult for them to endure. The occupation of numerous people influenced in the general public. It cost the economy by raising the expense of products administrations. Andersens firm was cons

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Fantasy Worldbuilding 101 How to Bring a Fictional World to Life

Fantasy Worldbuilding 101 How to Bring a Fictional World to Life In this video, we discuss how to write a great fantasy novel through advice from some of the most well-known fantasy authorsâ€"particularly, George R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.Fantasy novel writers are responsible for taking readers on an unforgettable journey. Their pages must be filled with compelling characters and riveting plot twists. Their words must have the power to penetrate the heart. Their themes must strike a balance between good and evil.When done correctly...readers feel like they are right there in the middle of adventure...alongside the characters.First, we discuss Martins definition of fantasy. He is best known for his series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire and is the inspiration behind HBOs Game of Thrones series. He speaks of including tastes, touch, sounds and sights into the world you build.Next, we go over how to create an in-depth sketch of the fictitious word. Adding these small details to your story will help your reader feel acquainted with t he world you are building, especially if it is different than the real world.Then, we go over questions that will help you pinpoint key details:What is your worlds history?What is its geography?Is the planet similar to Earth?Is there more than one sentient species?Does everyone speak the same language?Does magic exist in your world?Be sure to give this video a thumbs-up and subscribe to our channel for more great videos on writing and publishing your work, grammar tips and more! See you next time!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Being Gay A Matter Of Love Vs. Love - 1242 Words

Before getting into any history of Gay America, a person must simply understand that in the beginning of a Revolution there is always opposition. One person believes one thing and another something else, but what happens when the opposition is to love? For a revolution like this, it was a matter of love vs. love; one side for it, and the other against it. However, in the end it was just a matter of who had better reasoning, or rather who had a valid reason at all. In 1969, being gay was viewed as having a mental condition that could be cured by therapy which left some â€Å"patients† living like robots. In fact, everyone was so afraid of being gay, that certain laws were put in place. Being gay was illegal in 49/50 states, and if you were†¦show more content†¦Both groups worked hand in hand sometimes, and in a way built a foundation for gay pride. They conducted several peaceful protests, none of which ended up creating the desired effect. For these men and women, hiding from the police wasn’t the goal, but their efforts and how they were influencing growing gay communities caught the eyes of the police. At this point in history, any place that could produce a profit, but no one was willing to open up was run by the Mafia. The Mafia ran nearly every gay bar in New York and they sure made a nice profit off of them too, but the bars weren’t all that nice. Stonewall was located in Greenwich village, a city that could be compared to the bad parts of Milwaukee. The bar itself was described as â€Å"a two story structure with a sand painted brick and opaque glass facade,...a mecca for the homosecular element in the village who wanted nothing but a private little place where they could congregate, drink, and do whatever little girls do when they get together† in The New York Daily News. They served watered down drinks and washed their glasses in a tub since there were no proper sinks, but that didn’t matter to them; they had a place to be who they were, and that’s all they wanted. However, other people wanted different things. In the morning of June 28th, 1969, police officer Seymour Pine was given orders from detective Charles Smythe to shut Stonewall down. Now, theShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Essay877 Words   |  4 Pagesrelationship between a man and a woman vs. the relationship between a man and a man or a woman and a woman for that matter. Same-sex marriage is a bi g issue in the United States, many are against it however; many are for it. If you do your research, you can find many negative and positive reasons for which society thinks it should be legal or illegal. What people fail to realize, is that what matters in a marriage is love. Marriage is a commitment between two people that love each other and want to shareRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gay Marriage761 Words   |  4 PagesLove is universal for everyone no matter what race, sexual orientation, or religion. However, one cultural difference that is effected by society is gay marriage. Gay marriage should be viewed as equal to straight marriage and all over the world be viewed as socially equal. Three things that prevent gay marriage from being viewed equal are religion, political issues, and stereotyping in regards to sexual orientation. I have been raised in a gender equal house all my life and this has influenced meRead MoreMarriage Benefits vs. Civil Union Benefits What is the difference between marriage and civil700 Words   |  3 PagesMarriage Benefits vs. Civil Union Benefits What is the difference between marriage and civil unions? There are many differences, mostly consisting of the benefits that married couples get that couples in civil unions do not receive. Marriage is different for homosexual and heterosexual couples. Even when homosexuals are married they do not receive the same benefits as heterosexual married couples. What if couples in a civil union could have the same benefits as a married couple? When heterosexualRead More Views on Gay Marriage in Anna Quindlin’s Essay Evan’s Two Moms1164 Words   |  5 PagesComtemporary Arguments. This essay takes a liberal point of view concerning gay marriage and the ability to raise a child in a gay family. Throughout Quindlen’s essay, her structure introduces ethos, pathos and logos through a variety of court cases to gain the readers trust; she appeals to both emotion and logic in her reader through passion and unwavering intensity, which disapproves of those who take a radical point of view about gay marriage. Anna Quindlen’s structure of â€Å"Evan’s Two Moms† providesRead MoreDiscrimination Against Gay Marriage is the Voice of Ignorance1447 Words   |  6 PagesDiscrimination Against Gay Marriage is the Voice of Ignorance Marriage is one of the fundamental establishments of the United States. As a young person, one looks forward to many goals in their lifetime: career success, a good life, and very often marriage to the person they love and a family together. This is one of the biggest parts of our American life and culture. Very few heterosexuals would be willing to put their right to marry on a ballot for voter approval, or even in their wildestRead MoreGay, Lesbian And Transgender People1382 Words   |  6 PagesBefore I begin today, I’d like to ask you all a question. Raise your hand if you support the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people? Well, unless the government were looking for someone to arrest for homosexuality the question I just asked wouldn’t have even been posed prior to the 1960’s. Why? Simply because unless you were homosexual, it was assumed everyone in society shunned same-sex relationships. 55 years later and there’s been a significant amount of change, according to AustralianRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1251 Words   |  6 PagesFor many years, gay marriage has been banned in most states in the United States. Today there are 14 out of 50 states who ban same-sex marriage but, things are changing and people are taking a stand in what they believe in (ProCon.org.). However, some people still don’t find gay marriage socially acceptable. In 2008, California’s Congress passed Proposition 8 which claimed that gay marriage was unacceptable. This caused controversy with their views that homosexual relationships were â€Å"unworthy ofRead MoreMonotheistic religions, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam promote the belief in One God;1600 Words   |  7 PagesJudaism, Christianity, and Islam promote the belief in One God; all that exists is because of God. Through prophets and scripture, God portrays moral goodness and truth. Essentially, the se three religions believe that God speaks to us, unveils God’s Being, and seeks to guide us through life. In turn, humans should embody the moral goodness and excellence that is revealed to us by God. These religions are taught based upon both scripture and reason. When reading traditional texts, the tools of reasonRead MoreThe Fight for Gay Rights Essay1226 Words   |  5 Pagesfight to legalize gay marriage has won many battles in recent years. It has become available in Canada, England, New Zealand, and here in the United States it is now legal in 13 states (religioustolerence.org). Gay couples have become more prominently accepted in modern society, appearing in popular TV shows such as â€Å"Modern Family† and â€Å"The New Normal†. Gay marriage is even the inspiration for popular songs such as â€Å"Same Love† by Macklemore Ryan Lewis. Even with same sex couples being more commonlyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal Or Not?1558 Words   |  7 Pa gesIn this era you see the biggest issues coming from gay rights to if marijuana should be legal or not. This is where the lines are crossed and our religious beliefs become major components upon where we stand. Religion is the foundation for all societies and cultures; religion makes people who they are. The United States as founded on the principles of religion, the citizens of this country can practice whatever religion they like without being persecuted. Religion influence many aspects of day

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Gun Control And The Second Amendment - 1166 Words

Samuel Wurzelbacher, AKA Joe the Plumber, watched Richard Martinez mourn over the death of his only son who was shot in the Isla Vista rampage. He responded to Richard Martinez with an open letter on a website, Barbwire.com, saying : ‘I am sorry you lost your child. I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through right now. But: as harsh as this sounds---your dead kids don t trump my Constitutional rights.’ This is the type of thing that people find so terrible about the Second Amendment; because pro-gun zealots use the Second Amendment to protect their immoral actions, but this is their twisted and corrupted interpretation on the meaning and intent of the Amendment because this is in no way the original premise of the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms laid out in the Second Amendment is just because guns are weapons for self-defense. Precautions are taken on gun control, such as keeping a permanent reco rd of all gun sales, requiring a license and certain mental certifications, and only allowing certain guns to be distributed to the public. Although some may argue that they can also be used to kill the innocent, the removal of guns from the possession of certified citizens will not stop crime, murder, or the death of innocents because guns are not the only weapons capable of these deaths. First of all, the right to bear arms is just because guns are weapons of self-defense, and can be used to prevent theShow MoreRelatedGun Control And The Second Amendment1391 Words   |  6 Pages In the Constitution, the second amendment gives the American people to have the right to possess and bear arms. This amendment has been the most controversial issue since guns have been around. Issues such as gun control and gun ownership have remained a matter of debate and have been floating around in Congress. It has been rumored that Congress is forced to draft certain legislation in order to come up with a law against unlawful use of arms, and only owning them for safety purposes. When it comesRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe second amendment has always been deeply rooted in the American culture and constitution. The amendment states A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to kee p and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Being able to protect ourselves, gives us Americans a peace of mind, but now-a-days people are thinking otherwise. Being able to access a firearm so easily without a thorough deep background/mental health check is un-nerving. In the last twoRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment1179 Words   |  5 Pages13 colonies. The Second Amendment has been up for many debates, especially in the recent light of mass shootings in the US. But does the entire removal and ban of firearms really work? Gun control and the second amendment has been a never ending conflict between politicians. As we look further into gun control there are more draw backs for the citizens than benefits. The Second Amendment was ratified to the US Constitution on December 17, 1791 by Congress. The Second Amendment states â€Å"A well-regulatedRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesGuns, Guns, Guns. In today’s news Gun Control, has become a controversial topic. I have heard many people say that, â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people†. So, do we need gun control? People talk because they have mouths, they don’t know the extent about gun violence. About half of the country’s population is for / against gun control. Consistently, the media outlets are reporting shootings, that is accidental or intentional whichever way it is trending across the United States. Stronger gunRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment994 Words   |  4 Pagescrimes take place every second and there is nothing we can do about it. Not only that, but, with the dramatic rise in mass shootings in our nation comes a compellin g division between political and legal agendas predicated on the Second Amendment. I want to emphasize that every single crime is violent whether is involves a handgun, knife or nothing at all. Everyone in our nation knows the law and it is the offenders choices to break it and harm others. With that being said, guns dont kill people, butRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1981 Words   |  8 Pages Gun Control has been a controversy for as long as people can remember. This Controversy has increased recently due to the mass shootings taken place all over the United States. Gun control has its pros and cons, Some believe â€Å"Gun control laws state that the Second Amendment was intended for militias; that gun violence would be reduced; that gun restrictions have always existed; and that a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support new gun restrictions.†While others say that the SecondRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment1850 Words   |  8 PagesWhenever the Second Amendment is discussed, gun control is usually the focus of the discussion due to the connections that gun control and the Second Amendment have. Although the Second Amendment protects the individual right to firearms, the unlimited right is not. America was founded through guns, using their own arms to fight the British in order to gain independence, making it natural for America to be heav ily focused on guns. However, many people have abused the weapon, making the controversialRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment922 Words   |  4 PagesGun control has been a long debate to determine if it’s better to have stricter access to firearms. America is one of the few countries that has gun rights embedded in their constitution. But what makes the US exceptional is that it has the right to keep and bear arms, other countries do not provide the right to have access to them, but rather, the government is allowed to regulate its use. The right to bear arms has also been the cause of growing violence and crime, at least according to anti-gunRead MoreGun Control and the Second Amendment2364 Words   |  10 PagesThe Second Amendment to the Constitution says, â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed† (Agresti, 2009, para. 2). Based on a simple read ing of this, it would seem that people do have the right to own and use firearms. So why are so many people trying to ban guns? Maybe it is because they do not understand what the Second Amendment actually means. Maybe it is because the media only reportsRead MoreThe Second Amendment And Gun Control928 Words   |  4 Pagesothers’ view of our own person are sometimes just as or more important. In reference to the Second Amendment and gun control, the author, Saul Cornell, makes a case for how sometimes every group can think they are the ones in the right, but at the same time, every group can ultimately be in the wrong. It is important to think of not just right or wrong and the rights given to citizens by the Second Amendment to the Constitution, but to think back deeper into history as well and what helped to found

The Secret Circle The Hunt Chapter 25 Free Essays

From behind a stand of bulky trees came Max, his dad, and the two hunters who’d escaped from the rooftop – Jedediah and Louvera Felton. Each of them held a stone carved into the shape of the hunter symbol – the same relics they’d used to kill Suzan. Scarlett bolted at first sight of the hunters, disappearing into the woods. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Hunt Chapter 25 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Why wasn’t Cassie surprised? With all her big talk, of course at heart Scarlett was just a coward. A quick look passed between Diana and Max. He frowned at her with shame and sadness in his eyes, like he might have been there against his will. â€Å"Now!† Mr. Boylan screamed, raising his symbol into the air. Adam shot his hands toward the principal, calling out a defense spell. Nick tried throwing his energy at him with a fire blast. But Mr. Boylan and all the hunters appeared to be resistant to their magic. They clung to their relics and chanted their own curse, unhindered by anything cast their way. â€Å"We have to get those stones out of their hands,† Melanie said. Together Chris and Doug charged for Louvera’s relic, but the moment they came within striking distance, they both dropped to the ground, holding their heads. Melanie dove for Jedediah’s relic, but she was also quick to fall, holding her head as if the relic had struck her. Cassie, Diana, and Faye were still wearing the Master Tools. They joined hands and moved toward the hunters, chanting, â€Å"Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, and fire my spirit.† Mr. Boylan showed no fear of the Tools. He stepped forward, holding his symbol out to them, muttering the same words Cassie remembered hearing on the rooftop: I sum eius agens, I occidere in eius nomen – I sum eius agens, I occidere in eius nomen – Cassie could feel that the Tools weren’t working. She felt weak to the bone and powerless, and the bracelet remained cool and lifeless on her arm. Mr. Boylan seemed to grow stronger every second he continued his chant. He was getting the best of them. Laurel, Deborah, and Sean had all fallen down onto the ground. Cassie could no longer see anyone else. Her own head began to throb, her vision blurred, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she also lost all her remaining strength. â€Å"Cassie,† Diana said. â€Å"I’m †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She folded to her knees. Max turned to Diana and cried out. He ran to where she’d fallen, standing between her and his father. Mr. Boylan tried to wave him out of the way, but Max wouldn’t budge. He placed his stone relic on the ground and raised his arms. â€Å"We have to stop this,† he said. â€Å"Stop the curse.† Tears of joy and relief filled Diana’s eyes. Max had come through for her. Adam appeared at Cassie’s side, winded and confused. â€Å"What’s he doing?† he asked. The hunters had been thrown off by Max’s turnaround. For a brief moment they had ceased chanting, looking to Mr. Boylan for direction, but now they resumed again with full force. Max’s father picked up Max’s relic from the ground and held it out for him. â€Å"Take this,† he said. But Max refused to accept it. He stood tall with Diana behind him. â€Å"Don’t make a terrible mistake,† his father said. â€Å"Obey your destiny.† Max glanced back at Diana and then returned his eyes to his father. â€Å"I am obeying my destiny,† he said. The Circle watched Max in awe. There were a few seconds of silence, long enough for Cassie to hear Diana inhale with a quick, shallow breath and stumble to her feet. And then with a swift swipe to the head, Mr. Boylan knocked Max out cold. Diana dashed to Max’s aid, but Jedediah pummeled her with a few ominous words. She spilled onto the ground beside Max’s unconscious body. Laurel crawled over to Cassie, horrified. â€Å"Do something,† she screamed. â€Å"Whatever you did on the roof, do it again.† Faye leaned forward at Cassie’s side, breathless. â€Å"You have to,† she begged. â€Å"You’re our only hope.† But before Cassie could say a word, Adam winced as if he’d been shot. Then he dropped facedown onto the ground. Faye also buckled and then collapsed, holding her head in her hands. Cassie looked around. She was the only Circle member still standing. She locked eyes with Mr. Boylan and burned with a feverish heat. Book or no book, she had the power in her, and she knew it. All she had to do was let it take her over. Cassie centered her mind and took a deep breath. She told herself that just this one time it was okay to give in, to let the darkness wash over her and surge through her veins. But suddenly her legs went out from under her. Her head felt like it had been cracked open, and a splitting pain assured her she’d acted too late. All her energy was being drained from her body. It was the sensation of dying, she was sure of it. Through her hazy vision, she could see that Max had awakened and was trying to rise to his feet, but the other two hunters were restraining him. They held him back as they continued the curse, their relics still in hand. The entire Circle had been overpowered. Each of them lay scattered around the muddy ground like insects left for dead. The hunters’ chant became louder. Mr. Boylan had closed his eyes and raised his arms to the sky, ecstatic and triumphant. Cassie could hardly believe that after such a long, hard fight it could end so pitifully for her Circle. But then Mr. Boylan’s eyes shot open again and he suddenly drew back. â€Å"Not again,† he said. â€Å"It can’t be possible.† The other hunters anxiously scanned the surrounding area. They’d stopped mumbling their curse and tilted their heads toward the woods to listen. Cassie faintly heard what they were hearing. Another language, both foreign and familiar. It was Scarlett. She was in the distance, walking toward them, chanting a dark spell. Jedediah clutched his chest as he had on the roof. His face reddened as he gasped for air, and he screamed for their retreat. He and Louvera backed away from Max and fled in the opposite direction. Max was dazed. He was squinting his eyes, searching the ground for Diana, clambering like a baby deer new to its hooves. And then he shrieked in pain, clutching his heart. Chris, Doug, and Sean rose back up to a standing position. Deborah, Laurel, and Melanie did the same. The Circle was regaining its strength even as Max’s waned. Diana cried out to Scarlett. â€Å"You’re killing him!† But Scarlett was unstoppable. Mr. Boylan hurried to Max and helped him to his feet. â€Å"It’s an ancient,† he said. â€Å"We have to run.† He steadied Max’s arm around his neck. Max, writhing in agony, allowed his father to drag him away, and within minutes they were gone, swallowed up by the shadowy woods. Tragedy had been averted. â€Å"I guess we showed them,† Scarlett said, as she sauntered to the center of the pounded and baffled group. â€Å"Or at least I did.† Her eyes were still dark from the forbidden spell. Cassie recognized the aftermath of intense power and pleasure on Scarlett’s face. It made Cassie envious, resentful even. How was Scarlett able to tap into her dark magic without losing all control? She appeared able to turn it on and off at will. â€Å"Don’t worry,† Scarlett said. â€Å"I don’t expect a thank-you. Not yet anyway.† She made her way toward the car. â€Å"We’d better get out of here, in case they have any more surprises for us. We need time to regroup and restore our energy.† Everyone, a little dazed, obediently followed behind her as if she’d just proven herself the Circle’s most worthy leader. Cassie, Adam, and Diana hung back. â€Å"I hate to admit it,† Diana said. â€Å"But if we hadn’t initiated her, we’d be dead right now.† â€Å"But that was black magic that she used against them.† Adam glanced momentarily at Cassie. â€Å"Wasn’t it?† Cassie nodded. â€Å"Well, whatever it was,† Diana said, â€Å"she did it for us. She had the chance to escape into the woods and leave us for dead, and she didn’t.† Adam was in agreement. â€Å"We still can’t trust her, but maybe she can be useful to us after all.† â€Å"Maybe,† Cassie said. But she knew better than anyone that one good deed didn’t change who someone was. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Hunt Chapter 25, Essay examples

Saturday, April 25, 2020

The Conquest Of Mexico free essay sample

The Spaniards, in the conquest of the Mexican people, relied just as heavily on chance and luck as they did on their on their skills on diplomacy and military prowess. The sicknesses that the Spaniards brought over with them in addition to the political situation that the Mexica had established with their neighbors is what really brought about the downfall of the great Mexican civilizations. In addition to these factors there was also the fact that up to this point in history the Americas have had very little in the way of contact from the outside world and consequently had next to no knowledge of the civilizations across the sea. When they first encountered the Spanish Conquistadors they held the belief that they were from the gods and that Cortez was the reincarnation of one of their gods and as such welcomed them with open arms. When you take into consideration all of the factors mentioned above you will see that the conquest of Aztecs and other Native American civilizations by the Spanish was accomplished by three major factors: diplomacy, military prowess, and no small amount of luck. We will write a custom essay sample on The Conquest Of Mexico or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The first of those factors is the diseases that the Europeans brought across the Atlantic with them. The most notable disease that caused the majority of the deaths among the Native American people was the pestilence of smallpox. An account of just how devastating smallpox was among a populace whose immune systems had no prior experience with or any way to combat European diseases can be found in book twelve of the Florentine Codex. â€Å"Before the Spaniards came to us, first an epidemic broke out, a sickness of pustules. It began in Tepeilhuitl. Large bumps spread on people; some where completely covered. They spread everywhere, on the face, the head, the chest, etc. [The disease] brought great desolation, a great many died of it. (Lockhart, 1993, 190)† The account goes on to describe the horrors that the disease had left behind in the lives of those who were lucky enough to survive. Many of the survivors had been left horribly scared or even blinded if they were unlucky enough for the disease to spread into their eyes. The main reason that these diseases had such a devastating effect on the natives and not on the Spaniards is the fact that the natives had very little in the way of domesticated animals. The Europeans had for thousands of years been in possession of a great many domesticated animal, such as pigs, horses, chickens, and cows, and it is these animals that are usually the incubators and carriers of a great many deadly diseases. Since the Europeans had been around them for so long their immune systems had adapted to the situation and were able to combat the diseases. The Aztecs had no such advantage. The deadly diseases of Europe were something completely new to them and their immune systems had no way to combat them. The Spaniards had no compunctions about taking advantage of the situation in their conquest of Mexico. Another huge factor that the Spanish had in their favor was the superior weapons that they had at their disposal and huge advantage that the weapons gave them in battle. The Aztec people were severely limited in the type of weapon that they could wield in battle due to the simple fact that their civilization had never discovered the art of metallurgy which Europe had discovered long prior. The weapons that they created were made from wood and stone. One such weapon that the majority of the Aztec warriors had in their possession is described in the book titled Victors and Vanquished. â€Å"Their primary weapon was a kind of wooden sword set with obsidian blades designed for slashing and incapacitating rather than killing an opponent. (Schwartz 2000 11)† The weapons of the Aztec warriors were all similar to that in that they were designed to incapacitate instead of kill. The entire reason for the Aztecs to be at war was the capture of prisoners that they could sacrifice to their gods. The Spaniards were not like that. Their weapons were designed for one purpose, to kill. Many of those weapons, such as the musket or crossbow, had a much greater range than any of the weapons that the natives could field in battle and they had no answer at all to the power of the Spaniards canons. The one factor that made all of every weapon that the Spaniards had at their disposal superior to any Aztec weapon is the simple fact that they were made of steel. There was one obstacle that the Conquistadors had that would prevent them from overwhelming the Aztecs even with their superior weaponry. That aforementioned obstacle was the fact that the Spanish only numbered in the hundreds while the Aztecs had their entire civilization backing them. The way that they were able to overcome that obstacle was through the art of diplomacy. The constant invasions and taking of prisoners by the Aztecs for their human sacrifices had earned them many enemies among their neighbors. When Spain began its exploration of the new world those very same neighbors saw their chance to finally bring about the destruction of their oppressors. An example of this can be found in a Spanish account of the invasion of Chapultepec. â€Å"The war was sustained fiercely on both sides, since on our side we had the help of many Tlaxacalan warriors †¦(Aguilar, 1993, 196)† The constant warfare and human sacrifice that the gods of the Aztecs demanded of them had finally helped to bring about the downfall of that great civilization. There was no one thing that brought about the downfall of the Mexican people. It was a conglomeration of events that finally toppled the great civilizations. The sicknesses and plaques that the Europeans brought over with them played no small part. The way in which the natives waged war was also a significant factor. The factor that really broke the back of the Aztecs was the constant need for human sacrifice. In their dealings with their neighbors they had created the foundation that Spaniards used for the negotiating of allies in the conquest of Mexico. In this collision of two previously separate worlds it was the Spanish who came out as the victor and the Aztecs as the vanquished.